Weird – falls somewhere between Good and Bad but I thought of it because of all the in/un/outlaw stuff – My sister-in-laws family and my family in the waiting room together for that long! It was, well, I just didn’t have access to my yoga. The two groups together was simply weird. Some of the hospital staff treating us ALL like outlaws was weird, “For patient confidentiality reasons we can’t…blah, blah, blah.” It reminded me of all the old movies where the dad stood outside the door and waited for a scream and a baby’s cry – that is how you learned of the arrival.

Bad – aside from the reason for the season and that I’m in a really great mood w/o bah-humbug this year – Christmas is a financially hard time of year. Not that my kids are over privileged but you just don’t want them to be disappointed, right? We haven’t bought a single gift. *sigh*

Oh, did I mention I have a new nephew! :)

So, Havi, young children can make A LOT of stuff worth while. Sometimes making the situation much lighter and providing a distraction. Other times they can be a source of unwanted info during family gatherings…”She looks ok mommy, I like her! Why do you say she is nasty?” At which point you snicker and move on. Yeah for surviving and Yeah for NYT!

In laws….ya, that’s been a tough one around here the past few weeks.

Amidst, the normal holiday issues that come up with family (both sides) we got some bad news about Hubby’s Mom. It’s an odd and sad situation, but I have just been trying to be there for my Hubby, if he needs me.

In the meantime, I have been trying to re-create my freelance businesses (into the blog side of the world) the past few weeks (from static web sites..which I’m used to), so this has been alot of learning for me on the in’s and out’s. But, it has helped me take my mind off of the other things that are happening…even for a little bit at a time.

Amy Mommaertss last blog post..Taking Yourself Seriously in Business

@Kate – I’m totally identifying with you. Having friends in the States (and in the same city as me) is totally new for me. And still it feels like most of the people I’m close to are either in Tel Aviv or Berlin.

And yes, having someone there to witness it all … it’s a big deal. I have a duck for that. She was very useful in that sense when we first became friends.

@OH-EVERYBODY-ELSE, I’m overjoyed that you’re celebrating with me, just wanted to say though that the NYT piece (or the NYFT piece as I’ll now think of it) isn’t *really* about me or anything. I’m just a source! And if this interview goes anything like most press experiences I’ve had, it will be a tiny mention.

Still, Selma and I are flattered, of course.

@Johnny – my whole damn blog is a nerd-off, honey. The internet: the place where I can admit that I talk to a duck and for some reason people think that makes me cool.

And for that, I love them and shake my head.

@Hiro – Thai Tofu Green Curry! Thai Tofu Green Curry! Hooray for that. Good that people are taking care of you. You deserve it.

@David + @Lisa – that’s so beautiful that you’ve found your own way, after what you’ve been through, and then to create/find the thing you need now. Very reassuring!

@Ruth – Mmmmm, what a lovely description. So beautiful.

@Mark aka Crispy Mark – You, my friend, are a nut. And that’s why I like you.

Noone to tell stuff to – I empathise. I’m 5,000 miles and 8 time zones away from my tell-anything people. It does kinda make parts of your life feel unicorn-y. In the not-existing sense, in case that wasn’t clear. It probably was. Sh, Kate.

Actually, I remember that being one of the oddest things after breaking up with my ex. I’m naturally a singleton, really, but after eight years together coupledom becomes normal. Anyway, after he moved out, I had the weirdest feeling; it felt almost as if I was slightly invisible, simply because there was noone there to witness the tiny events of my daily life – as if those things were just happening ‘into the void’, and so not really happening. Very odd. I got better.

Kates last blog post..Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome

NO

FREAKING

INTEREST

WHATSOEVER

in any of it. So I’ll do something really awesome and I’ll be all excited about it and I’ll tell her and she gets this blank look and says, “Huh, uh… good job.” And she’s the only person I talk to offline (pretty literally the only person) and I get nothing. I want someone to tell me how fantastic I am for my great achievement.

Which is why I absolutely NEED my online friends at the training forum I spend all day on. I need folks who understand.

Which is why it’s good that you have all of us. Offline friends are not NOT friends, you know. So you did have someone to tell. And you told. And Johnny says

GREAT FUCKING JOB!!!

and it’s all good.

By the way, luckily, we also share that SpongeBob interest.

(Come on, let that nerd out. I know there’s something you want to admit in my nerd-off.)

Johnny Truants last blog post..Unfortunately, pants

And more Happy Dance for fan letter from un-named celebrity. Not surprised, but happy! :-)

As for in-laws: oy and oy! Lovely that you found heart-connections in the midst of fire-and-brimstone land. And so great for them to have you in their family, loving their son, bringing your beautiful heart to visit.

The good in my week: that wonderful, mind-enriching, heart-expanding, business-nourishing session with you yesterday. Woke up this morning feeling very happy. And with Ideas buzzing around like bees in my belly.

And my beautiful friend Anne, who is a divinely gifted chef, sent me a whole freezer full of home-made meals so I don’t have to cook for a while. Thai Tofu Green Curry anyone?

The hard in my week: Still having trouble standing or walking for more than a few minutes.

But doing Dance of Shiva arm movements! Yaay!

Love and hugs to you,

Hiro

Hiro Bogas last blog post..Happy Thanksgiving, Baby

I have always struggled with my identity when visiting my in-laws and feel like a nobody whilst I’m there. This, of course, makes it a struggle for my wife too.

A number of factors make it difficult, I can’t blame it on any particular one of them. There’s the closed-in-ness of the house so crowded full of stuff that it could burst, the fact that wife’s dad never makes eye contact with me(at least I don’t think he does, I hardly ever check), the tiny room we have to sleep in on a plastic air mattress, and if I have work to do that’s where I have to sit to do it, and if I need space that’s where I have to hide, and it’s stuffy and warm and urgh.

And then there are the wonderful things about visiting. That they go to a gorgeous 15th century church. Mother-in-law’s brownies and chocolate chip cookies. That they live on the outskirts of Edinburgh, the most beautiful city (I have yet discovered) in the UK. That wife’s little sister always beats me at supermario on the DS.

Change of subject: Don’t get me started on the focus-on-the-family story tapes of my childhood car journeys. Since then I have dragged and cajoled my family (sometimes kicking and screaming, sometimes through their curiosity, mostly because we love and respect each other) into a more progressive approach to the Christian faith.

*Warning of Incoming Unsolicited Advice*
Rob Bell has a cool book called ‘Velvet Elvis’ which might help you find some connection with your in-laws.

All best wishes to you.

David

David Masterss last blog post..7 Acts of Randomness to Disturb and Enrage Buried Creativity

In regard to the inlaws (or outlaws), I can totally relate. I grew up with a mother and grandmother who were DEVOUT evangelicals (my grandmother still is – my mother would be, but she passes away a few years ago). I went to summer bible camp as a kid (which I loved, BTW, only because I learned to water ski, I climed Mt. Washington, we camped overnight on an island, etc…). However, with all those teachings came a HUGE amount of guilt and self doubt. I never passed that on to my kids because I don’t believe that anything with that much negativity and hypocrisy can be associated with good.

Anyway, I’m thrilled for you. Go continue your calming rituals :)

Lisa

Lisas last blog post..Is Microsoft’s FrontPage Dead?

I’ve been listening to Pema Chodron talk about Buddhist ideas, and reading yours reminded me of her talking about how who we think we are is a fluid illusion.

Thankfully, who our in-laws think we are is an illusion too.

And underneath it all are our shaky, queasy, tender hearts.

I’m happy reading your blog.