Mmmmm ... ribs!!

I have a friend who *insists* on putting her daughter in headbands with BIG flowers ... every ... god ... forsaken ... day. I'm serious ... from the moment the child slid out her hoohoo for three solid years ... unless the child is currently IN the bathtub, she will have a headband with a GIANT Blossom-esque flower…

This is SO heartbreakingly true. We were convinced my ex-husband would show up at his daughter's wedding a couple years ago.

Agreed. It seems to be a thing in my family as well. My grandfather died before I was born ... and my grandmother didn't just not-remarry ... she didn't even date. She basically wanted nothing to do with men. Her two sisters ... same thing. When their husbands died? That was it. My father died ten years ago and…

Someone really should.

I was always kind of apathetic about my aunt. Her behavior was more neglectful than actively harmful for the most part. But once grandma went into the nursing home, it was like something shifted and she became purposefully destructive.

OMIGOD ... it's like we come from the same family! My aunt (who is also named "B") lived about a hour away from the rest of the family. When my grandmother was put in a home due to extreme dementia and failing health, Aunt B only came to see her two or three times over the three years she was there. She would come…

Thanks, Mocena ... hug your friend tightly the next time you see her ... life can change on a dime and the ones we love can be here one day and gone the next. Hugs.

I agree. I had a terribly strong reaction. In fact, re-reading the text above, I got teary again. Anyone who has been in that situation can appreciate how horrific that situation is ... and I appreciated they have a commercial out there to bring awareness? My only negative thought is that the people who were…

You know, until I read this piece, I'd forgotten how "in love" I was with my best friend. Not in a sexual way? But in a utterly devoted way ... that we were sisters. I only had one older half-brother ... so to feel like I had a Sister? It was intoxicating. She even called my mom "Mom" her entire life. We were…

Coming from someone (me) who used to work for the federal agency who compiles these maps, each dot equals 500 goats. So if you're in a county that has a low goat population, it won't display.

I agree ... it's brave. My Mom's cousin declared himself an atheist years ago and has never wavered. He never throws it in anyone's face ... but he's honest and upfront about it when the subject of God comes up. When his mother died, my Mom was heartbroken ... she told him it was "time" for him to accept God. It…

Holy moly ... I think I just dropped an egg ...

I'm losing hope that it will ever happen. I honestly believed that we were heading in the right direction when they started letting girls serve as "altar boys" ... and although I'm not practicing ... I thought we were headed to a place where I might be able to participate again.

The worst thing to remember is that this was about 15 years ago ... maybe 16. So $100 per kid, while excessive now, is REALLY excessive when you put it in the "16 years ago" frame of mind ... I can't shake my head enough.

I guess I've never had that kind of financial freedom? I can't imagine letting kids into Build a Bear and just saying, "Go wild!" Because ... common! Some of those little outfits are REALLY pricey! Yeah ... after that, I'd let the girls rent a few movies or games ... and let them have the downstairs to build…

When my twins were about 13, their best friend was having a birthday. They came home and told me that this girl's mother was taking them to the mall, feeding everyone at the food court, and then giving them each $100 to spend. I was horrified ... I was convinced they mis-heard. I was SURE the plan was that WE were…

Omigosh ... when my step-daughters were eight, I had a Backstreet Boys themed sleepover. (Don't judge ... BSB was at the height of their glory and my girls ADORED them.) So I made goody bags with custom t-shirts ("I'm with the birthday girl" or "I'm the birthday girl" and transfers of the band and such) ... burned…

No lie. I had the same thought ... then immediately thought, "Goddamn I'm old ..."

My ex told everyone how hurt he was that his first wife cheated on him ... how he demanded honesty from everyone because of her betrayal ... how cheating was the lowest of the low. He said all of that with a straight face while making eye contact ... and was cheating on me the entire time. I don't blame every man…