And we're back...

To a working day - a Tuesday which means my morning oxygen is sucked up in meetings of which only 15 minutes of the hour is anything I need to pay attention to...

Thankfully the trip from PA to MD was uneventful, even Shelby laid down and was mellow for most of the trip. Loving Violet gets in the truck finds her spot and generally doesn't move - unlike Shelby who bounces from place to place until Violet blocks a bouncy spot and she's stuck -

I gave passing thought of going grocery shopping and decided I really didn't want to go and would deal with what I had at home. It was a quiet night.

Bubba called early, we chatted - nothing major he asked about the weekend the drive home, his dog (Shelby) yadda yadda yadda - and I wonder why I miss him. For all the conversation I get from him the dogs would work just as well some days.

Now the big issue I did want to talk to Bubba about he brushed aside with a "do what you think is best here" comment... idiot MAN. The issue? Let me 'splain...

My mother-in-law has apparently developed a new radar to call me when I'm at MY mother's without her son. She's done it twice now... but this call Monday was--- well -- uncomfortable to say the least and I'm not sure I was graceful under pressure.

My mother-in-law called to inform me that my niece Ay had a baby girl TWO WEEKS AGO. Now Bubba's darling sister (whom I just love dearly and she feels just as wonderfully toward me as well) sarcasm here... told her mother the day this bundle of joy entered the world that she would call her brother and his wife informing us that the unmarried high-school dropout niece had just given birth to her second child at the age of 22... (WOW - that was bitter laced wasn't it? Apparently I have issues)

Of course darling sister didn't call, neither did darling Mother-in-law until 2 weeks later - as I said to My mother at the time - because a gift hasn't arrived yet. Hey I didn't know when she was due - last I heard was "sometime in March" last time I checked we're still in the month of March so what the heck do I know? Now I did talk to my Mom-in-law several weeks ago needing an address and she said the niece was in labor - but she wasn't sure if it was the real thing... what the heck do I know... but I did make reference that she was in labor for the better parts of two weeks...

Now I will also say that said Mom-in-law made a production of stating how unhappy she was with her daughter (Bubba's sister) and that she should have called as well... bla bla bla... I half heartily made the joke about well I figured we'd meet the kid the same way we found out she was knocked up in the first place - some strange kid will walk in a room and we'll ask who she is... Not to mention the fact why didn't YOU call two weeks ago? Wouldn't it have been better to get two calls than none for weeks on end? Is the only reason you thought of us was because of a lack of monetary acknowledgment? Is that all we are good for?

(And we're back to my Wheezer reference of yesterday - apparently "the only reason people are nice to me is because I have more money than God."-- again refer to your copy of Steel Magnolias for that reference)

Well I sit here more than a bit ticked that NO ONE thought of Bubba - (he is their SON) after all to tell him that at least niece Ay was all right. Granted we can't put a happy face on this - I cannot put a happy face on this - it's very personal and its my personal issue AND it's a girl without the basics of education, shelter and the ability to feed, clothe and raise these children adequately - which has been displayed in dramatic fashion with the FIRST child she's brought into the world. I cannot support the choices this side of the family make in thinking this practice is a good thing. I'm sorry if this makes me an awful person it's how I feel.

My Mother-in-law tried to make me feel bad that "she said that they don't like me as it is... now they didn't find out... " No! My dear - you're family we will love you as family, what we don't love and won't support are your continued poor choices.

Now my issue - DO I send a gift up there? Frankly I don't want to, I did get a gift to the shower but frankly I'm of a mind set to send a card with a note stating that we'll always love you and we hope that she will work very hard to raise good kids. I am tired of being the family cash cow - even if they don't admit that is what they think we are good for.

Boy - this got long and angry.

Ok - reality check did an informal office poll with my female co-workers the vote is card with note. I think we're going with that... stay tuned.

Oh and did I mention they are coming Sunday for Easter Supper? Just the in-laws not the entire side of the family... that I know of. Pray for me.