So... as I was tellin Mick else where... [Big Grin]
the In-laws... H's parents... pulled their annual trick... "hi we're here!" They drive for two or three days from their city to ours... never give us advance warning and we rarely know when they are gonna show up. [Roll Eyes]

I used to get very pissed with this complete respect for our time but H and I decided about 5 or 6 years ago that we aren't going to change them. They can show up but we are not changing our plans if they are not considerate enough to talk to us in advance. Several years they've missed us completely because we were heading out of town, or out to friends, and they STILL don't get it. sigh...

So they show up and H is knee deep in um... toilet fixtures and removing yucky flooring.

I watch this man turn to complete mush as his father walks in the door. EVERYTHING he does from the moment that man crosses the threshhold is about looking for dad's approval. I am at work in my office in the "penthouse" and refuse to budge... except to say "hello must get back to work!"

H leaves powder room in shambles, and starts figuring out what to do for dinner. OMG... it was unbelievable watching this capable, talented, articulate man start to do ANYTHING to get dad to say something decent. MIL is a martyr and really just follows along and does what she is told. sigh.... complaining about it to anyone who will listen. She is not well, but has been complaining about her variety of illness for the last twenty years too.

It alwyas gets stressful as I have a hard time buying into this set of family dynamics and saw myself reverting back to some bitchiness. NOW I realize why it's happening. THANKS oh wise COunsellor! H is working hard to get attention from the old man, tries too hard, gets me to buy into the drama and I look at him WTF? it's just a bad movie all the way around. IT's truly surprising I haven't told the old man to bugger off looooooong before now! Respect for H has usually kept me zipped up!

THIS year... I just went with the flow... ignored MILs martyr statements, played sous-chef to H and just stayed calm....

In laws can't stay with us - no spare room for the time being, so off they go to their OTHER home away from home, shortly after dinner. H goes back to powder room demolition, and I grab a glass of wine and go play poker with the 9 yr old... She beat me... plays for pennies. [Eek!] that's a whole other story!

tree...
piecing... with a torn bit... but mending it nicely!
[Cool]