Upon reflection, I believe it is worth it. It's hammertime.

Wow, not funny at all. Yeesh. As a change of pace, let me refresh everyone's memory about the single greatest Shouts & Murmurs column in recent memory: http://www.newyorker.com/humor/shouts-m…

Congrats on the baby — PS make sure you and your dh are up to date with your vaccinations. I didn't know that I needed a pertussis booster before my son was born. I am not sure what is and isn't okay during pregnancy, but ask your OB and make sure your spouse gets up to date, too!

That is terrible about your frien'ds child. I am so sorry. It may be possible that this nutbag's son did not have a bad case of pertussis — it does happen. My doctor was freaking out when I came in recently with a bad cough that wouldn't go away and was very relieved when he confirmed I had been vaccinated with the…

Argh. I have done that. Hanging head in shame. (For an event at a local bookstore, though, not party at person's house. Does that make it at all less annoying?)

Ditto. I'm also teaching my kids the "if you get two invites, you go to the one you were invited to first" rule (not like we're the social kings and queens of our small town and drowning in invitations to the ball, but the few times we've had a conflict, that's been my requirement for them).

This was really interesting to hear it's growing problem. If you want to feel like the world's biggest jackass, try to be the dorky mom hunting down an RSVP for your kid's dopey bday party. (The only reason you need the RSVP is if you do it at some local gym/bounce house/etc. they will hire a gym assistant for each X…

Wonderful and thoughtful piece of writing. Thank you for sharing.

Emma, I was also really shocked at how tone-deaf that line was. I found reading that entire passage very uncomfortable. I also found it surprising that she'd think it was okay to write about this, as it involves someone else and their body. I assume her sister okay'd the MS before it was published, but as a reader,…

Did you make that up? SO CUTE!

Wow, I am El Pollo Grande b/c these all look terrifying to me now. PS RL Stine is making an appearance at a bookstore in Upstate NY this month. People are stoked. http://www.oblongbooks.com/event/rlstine

Awesome, and thank you. Agreed 100%. It seems insane NOT to use the correct names of body parts. That said, I do stick with "vagina" and "penis" only, whereas I have a friend who gets more specific and uses terms like vulva and clitoris. I figure I'm good with vagina, but more power to her.

In re-reading my post I am concerned someone thinks he was my date. Although that would have been delightful, I meant to say went to a press event FOR HIM. All the rest stands.

I like him, too. Endearing as a celeb, decent actor. Went to a press event with him once way back in the day and he was extremely polite and a tiny bit shy. Also super cute.

Possibly along these lines? http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/28/fas…

Appreciate this — straight up good advice. I waited tables but never had a customer with an allergy so I was a bit nervous taking my food allergic child out to eat, but we've had a (mostly) good run.

#8. If you just bought an awesome H&M tight-fitting red dress that demands the wearer go braless and you plan to wear it and then hook up with cute dudes (or dude-ettes, doesn't matter), you are not invited.

So extremely upsetting. I'm sorry to everyone who had to work sick (and honestly, to anyone who was served by a sick server or cook). I've worked as a wait person and had no clue how bad things were for most servers. Thank you for shining a light on this.

I am finding one to watch now!

Yes, good point! The trooper I spoke with did say pretty much everything needed to be strapped down, and that he'd seen sunglasses become deadly weapons in a car crash due to speed/force/etc.