That's awful for her and her cousin, and the tiger, of course -- that's like, the best "I missed a meeting" excuse ever.

Also, hands up(!) for llama drama.

Oy. So much to catch up on, and my office is a mess.

ita !, I was going to ask this last night, but was too tired: what is it about being predictable that makes your skin crawl? I'm not being snarky; I'm just curious.

I have a good memory, and when I was in retail or in other jobs, I found most people were pleased to know that I remembered them, and I was pretty proud of it. I didn't assume, but I would ask "The usual today?" or "Hey, check this stuff out -- I think you'll like it!"

Is it that predictability can be dangerous (like maybe you've watched too many movies like me, and always stand to the side of a door when you open it, not in front, even thought I'm 99% sure there will never be an assassin waiting to shoot me as I walk into my suburban home -- yes, I'm a freak -- whenever I hear a weird noise or a knock on the door unexpectedly, I shove a box cutter or scissors on my pocket), or that you don't like people getting, so to speak, into your head?

Oh, dear. Re: the above -- perhaps I should watch more romantic comedies and less spy and action movies/books...NAW.

Ditto on feeding the cats in different rooms. My challenge is that the cats can push open most doors in my 60-year-old house.

Actually Clio spends most days when I am work in the dining room, in an attempt to keep the cat on cat bullying down. I don't know if it's really working, or if it's the non-clay based kitty litter that's also in the room, but her fur seems to be growing back.

I had to do separate rooms with closed doors.I had to put Maddie in the bathroom. I tried putting her in the bedroom, but Dean got upset and claw at the carpet, and then go pee on the bedroom rug to show his displeasure.

I don't mind being predictable at restaurants--woot for fresh-made sushi after they ran out for the night!--but I resent the proprietors thinking that my regular patronage is equivalent to some sort of friendship. It's a congenial, profitable business arrangement--I get something I like, they get a dependable customer. This does not mean I want to know how their kid is doing at school or answer questions about my personal life.

So I need massive ~ma to my Aunt W, her son, and grandson. I don't know what is going on, but I was talking to Mom and she got another call. She said she had to go because there was some kind of family emergency.

Connie -- I get that; I think people's MMV massively on that.

askye -- -ma to the family!

I've been put off by overly familiar wait service too; it makes me feel uncomfortable if someone I don't know is making assumptions about what I like or acting as if we're old friends. Of course, I don't mind that sort of thing from people who've dealt with me frequently at places where I'm a regular. In that case the familiarity feels earned.

it makes me feel uncomfortable if someone I don't know is making assumptions about what I like or acting as if we're old friends

Oh, yeah--"Hi, I've never seen you before, but we're going to be the bestest of friends!" No, thank you.

I have one restaurant that "knows" us. But it doesn't cause the bug. It is the fact that the pharmacy staff has my stuff pulled as soon as they see me in line. While it gets me out of there fairly quickly, it still feels weird.

Family~ma, askye!

There's a restaurant that I go to nearly every week where they recognize me. They don't assume I'll order the same thing, even though I will about 3/4 of the time. But when their credit card reader went down for about an hour, and I didn't have cash, they just waved me along and asked me to check back after I finished lunch. I saw them put a sign on the door telling people they couldn't accept credit card payments until things were fixed, so I think I got "regular patron" preferred treatment there.