Can I eat fish on Fridays during Lent?

[Underdog]

Pam--You bet. She's sending some cheer your way. Don't forget to look for it, because it is undoubtedly wrapped in a pretty bizarre looking package!

Ocean journaling...

Before I left the office, I got an e-mail from Mr. Wonderful's uncle--the husband of Paulette, who was his mom's youngest sister (she passed away in November).

I called Mr. W. from my cell at the house to tell him...

Me: "Hey, I got an e-mail from your Uncle Dick."

MW: "I don't have an Uncle DICK."

Me: "Um, Paulette's husband?"

MW: "I DO have an Uncle DICK... Why did he write you?"

Me: "He sent a picture of his newest granddaughter. Deanna--your cousin--had a baby girl this morning."

MW: "Son of a gun."

Me: "I wrote him back and congratulated him on his grandchild. I told him we'd celebrate with D7 tonight."

MW: "That was nice."

What I'm nice or because I just told you your cousin's name?

We had a good dinner and cake thing. D7 and N (her best friend) were wild and having fun. Before the festivities began, D10 asked me if she could spend the night with her friend across the street (flaky dentist neighbor, who always convinces D10 to turn my NO into a YES).

There is no school tomorrow or Friday. I said NO.

Ms. Tween Thing started protesting and asked me why I said NO. I reminded her that her friend broke her foot and was not going to gymnastics, so the chauffeur job was all mine and I didn't want to go out of my way to stop by the house to head there.

When we were opening presents, the neighbor girl called to speak to D10. Know that tween girls are very secretive about their inane phone calls--she took it in her room.

The next thing I knew, she was shoving the phone at me, saying "S wants to talk to you." S is B's mom...

I put it on hold and said sternly, "D10, if she's calling to convince me to turn a NO into a YES, I'm going to be furious."

I got off the phone and Mr. W. was standing there, along with N and her mother. I was angry and turned to her saying, "D, you lied!"

She went running off to her room and left me with a room full of puzzled people. Note to me: call N's mom tomorrow to apologize for my outburst. They left... and I phoned S back to talk it through. She agreed to help me by dropping D10 off at my office before I had to leave for gymnastics--if things get a little hairy. So my NO did become a YES.

Mr. W. piped in, "Bets, I think you were a little hard on D10 after the first call."

I knew he was bracing for an outburst from me, so I pulled a 180. I replied, "Yes, I will agree that I didn't handle myself very well. I was very upset and frustrated."

MW: "I can see that. And I don't blame you."

Me: "K, I swear to God that they are the only people I know who are friends with her and whose parents ultimately try to talk me out of my NO. Why do you think this is true? Because A's mom would rather die than tell me to say yes to D10."

MW: "I think B is sweet, but she's also very stubborn and self-centered. I think she probably fights her mother on just about everything, so it's not just you. That girl just doesn't know how to take NO for an answer."

Me: Nodding. "Maybe that's it."

MW: "I think D10 (who was sitting on the steps listening at this point) comes across as very tentative, which gives her a way in. Maybe we should talk to her and tell her that when B tries to get her to cave in to say, "B, NO! My mom/dad said no, and that's final."

D10: "Dad, that's exactly how it is. She makes me feel dumb for not trying to get Mom to change her mind. Mom, it's okay, I won't go."

Me: "D10, B was jumping up and down when I said yes. You can go with my blessing, but I'm really looking for some words from you."

D10: "I'm sorry."

Me: "Well, I like those words and your apology is accepted, but I was hoping for thank you instead."

D10: Smiling. "Thanks, Mom. I just wonder what kind of people can't accept the word NO."

Me: "Well, you're talking to one of them."

Mr. Wonderful and D10 turned to me in surprise. I knew this was going to be good.

Me: "Just ask Dad."

Mr. W. stood there with his mouth hanging open.

Me: "Dad used to say no to me on lots of things, but I refused to hear it. I pushed and I pushed until he caved. Then he got mad. Then he left. Now you see how this story ends."

MW: "Huh?"

Me: "Yep, Dad said no to lots of things but I only saw them as a means to convince him to say yes. Just ask him how resentful he was of me."

MW: "Uh, yes. D7, want to watch a movie with me?

Ah, the old switcheroo!!!!

D7: Shakes her head yes and signs for movie.

And off D10 went to the neighbor's and off Mr. Wonderful and D7 went to the TV. See Hud's thread on how this went down...

He was just getting ready to leave when I said,

"Hey, Mr. W., would you like to take the cake to work for your vultures?"

MW: "Vultures? Oh, yes, the work vultures. I don't have as many of them now that I've started my new job. But yes, I'll take it if you don't want it and put a sign on the pan next to the coffee pot."

Me: "Well, make sure you put on that note that it's not a wedding invitation."

MW: "Huh? What?"

Me: "Remember?"

MW: "Remember what?"

Me: "Many moons ago when I was baking a lot, you took my cakes into work. Some guy washed the empty pan and put a card to me in it that said 'Betsey, will you marry me?'"

MW: Chuckling heartily. "Oh, yeah. Jason. He DID love you, didn't he?"

Me: "Yep, and I cost a lot more than a cake."

MW: Puzzled. "Uh, okay. I think it's time for me to head home for a nap."

He was hovering in the kitchen. Weird feeling.

MW: "Bets, if you need me to do anything tomorrow, let me know. Maybe I can go get D10 for gymnastics."

Me: "Thanks, maybe I'll take you up on that."

MW: Pacing a little nervously. "Uh, I feel bad about offering and then saying this, but I need to make sure it doesn't make me late for bowling."

I was looking down and smiling... but he started stammering.

MW: Talking a little faster than normal. "Uh, I told Gary I'd bowl for him tomorrow. He and his brother are going to his grandmother's 97th birthday party in WY."

Me: "That's really sweet of Gary. K, I'm okay with things. Really."

MW: "Well, I feel a little bad about the fact that you have to drive everywhere and I can't help. It doesn't seem nice."

Me: OMG! You've finally realized this? "I'm really fine. I'll make this up as I go."

MW: "Did you tell me that the girls were off school for the rest of the week?"

Me: "Yes, but it might have been right before your mom died. It's okay. So go to bed."

MW: "Uh, okay, I'm out of here. Guess I'll see you sometime. When?" I shrugged. "Uh, I'll call you tomorrow. Bye Pee Wee (D7)... give me a kiss."

And the alien left the building... with Elvis.

Weird stuff....

Time to check on my own MVP--Most Valuable Primate!