Sinner's Alley Happy Hour (Part 1)

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<p>drb,</p>

<p>Strategies to get said senior to deal with things in August vary and are limited only by parental creativity. They can involve begging, pleading, threatening, coaxing, vehicle witholding, grounding, crying, screaming, and the ever-popular financial incentives.</p>

<p>Another good way I know is to plan something rocking for Xmas break that PRECLUDES application work. Boy that would be sad if we all went to Borneo but you had to stay home with grandma because your apps weren't done. </p>

<p>At our house (2 writers on parent staff here) we just said that decent writing requires thinking time and editing time-- and we did not want it to intrude on her leisure time once school had started. We just made going out contingent on meeting easy monthly deadlines for brainstorming, first draft, & second draft.</p>

<p>Then again this is an easy kid.</p>

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<p>The Diviners of Sinner's Alley welcome all who enter this temple of wisdom. Pick a mage and choose a barstool. Select a magic potion and tell your story. Never mind the fumes seeping up from floor. We specialize in the suspicious and the unusual. We see through the Past, the Present, and the Future in search of truth and the knowledge that our kids will graduate. </p>

<p>Questions such as, "Will I be able to defeat the Barbarian?" (a.k.a. the high school junior) and "Where is my electric shaver?" shall be answered. All who enter the Temple of Dodd must make an offering to the chicken bucket. Stand close to your favorite goddess statue and address the Oracle. :cool: </p>

<p>The Oracle will listen and silently telecommunicate with Dodd while she contemplates the cost of back-to-school sandals. She will go into her office (a.k.a. the unisex bathroom) and write down her answer on a 2-ply scroll of Sinner's Alley papyrus. She will roll it up and seal it with ABC gum. Do not look at it until you have returned to your home and have consumed a couple of goblets of wine. </p>

<p>Disclaimer: Our standard responses are usually quotes from recent movies, such as "Gird your loins!" (The Devil Wears Prada) and "Now, where is that monkey? I need to shoot something!" (Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest). :rolleyes:</p>

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<p>And don't forget those marmots, descendants of those who heard John Muir's scream when he first entered the great valley of Yosemite...those little yellow marmots have a role to play as well!</p>

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<p>TGIF! Got a call from the sluggkids last night. Hmm, they wanted money...Hahahahahah!</p>

<p>Buggson: (8 p.m.) I just checked my bank account, and I have minus $5.71 in my bank account.</p>

<p>(Snorts of laughter from both sluggs...)</p>

<p>Sluggdad: Really? That's too bad. See you on Sunday.</p>

<p>Buggson: *Wait! Can you deposit my last paycheck, so I can use it this weekend? I need some money for food.<a href="Cue%20the%20violins...">/i</a></p>

<p>Sluggdad: I got my foot x-rayed this afternoon, and I'm not going to drive to the ATM tonight. Borrow $20 from your sister.</p>

<p>Buggson to his bugggirl: *Hey, can you front me twenty bucks, and I'll reimburse you when I deposit my paycheck?<a href="Muffled%20responses%20from%20bugggirl...">/i</a></p>

<p>Buggson: She's down to her last 20 dollars because she's paying off her credit card. Can Mom deposit my check tonight?</p>

<p>More snorts of laughter as sluggdad hands the phone off to slugg. Helllooo! I can't endorse your check. That would be against the law, and I don't want you to press charges (heh). Ask your sister to make an online transfer from her savings account. </p>

<p>Buggson: We're both down to zero in our savings accounts. If you deposit my check tonight, I can withdraw up to $100 tomorrow. I'm kinda worried about that minus balance.</p>

<p>By this time, the sluggparents had sprouted horns and long tails.</p>

<p>EvilSlugg: Well, we're watching, Bumpin' Miss Daisy, right now, but I'll go after the movie...(silence)...Hello?</p>

<p>Buggson: That's hilarious. So, you're going to deposit my check.</p>

<p>EvilSlugg: Yup. See you on Sunday! :D</p>

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<p>
[quote]
DH, close behind, noted that while the bed was nicely made, the duvet cover now had the button-end on the side of the bed, not the bottom. ~jmmom

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Good eyes, jmdad. ;)</p>

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<p>Must be payday all over the world.</p>

<p>I am such a sucker.</p>

<p>S1 moved last weekend in 100+ temps without our help, so I took pity & asked him to lunch today, followed by a grocery run. S1 readily accepts & asks if we could hit Wal-Mart, too. No ethics issues with this kid.</p>

<p>I drive up at appointed time, having tried his cell 3 times to warn of impending arrival. Door of flat wide open with 2 sweet young things on front porch appearing to be waiting for someone. I ask if S1 lives here. Oh, yes, he's asleep. After all it is only 11 a.m., but they offered to wake him.</p>

<p>Pleasant looking, dred-locked young man comes out of flat, introducing himself and explaining that S1 had "a pretty rough night last night." I blanch, thinking black eyes, bruises, etc. Heck, no, it was the friendly bartender who didn't charge them for nearly all they consumed, and the last time friend saw S1, he was "hugging the toilet." Oh, yeah, he was in the house, but maybe not up for shopping?</p>

<p>It's all I can do to not raise my fingers in the shape of a cross, and yell, "TMI!!!" Sweet young things return. S1 is up and showering. I run to Starbucks for fortification.</p>

<p>Upon return, S1 is on porch, looking no worse than usual. He climbs into front seat, turns & asks, "Did Friend really tell you I was hugging the toilet?" I look at him balefully as he slides down. "I was just sleeping when you came!!!!" Well, there's sleep & then there's sleep.</p>

<p>About $300 later, I ask where he'd like to go for lunch. Oddly enough, he's not terribly hungry, but could we stop by his employer to pick up paycheck?
Oh, sure.</p>

<p>I got out of Dodge, feeling somewhat used, but by that time I didn't really want to have lunch with him anyway.</p>

<p>It's Friday night, and I'm off to look for a friendly bartender. I hear there's one in S1's neighborhood.</p>

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<p>Amdgmom, one tall tropical drink with a little umbrella in the top -- coming up. The marmots will rub your feet. :) Sluggon....</p>

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<p>


Yes, Starbucks can provide fortification. But it is Sinner's Alley which provides that precious Misery Loves Company validation that * you.... are..... not.....alone*. :cool:</p>

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<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>I haven't been posting much as of late. But, anyway, congratulations to Sluggblug on her daughter's coming of age, and having the sense to jettison the old BF and then the new BF. Did I get that right?--though I haven't been posting, I do like to lurk in Sinner's Alley and try to keep up with what is going on with my Sinner's Alley Buds . . . So, here's sort of an update from me. . .</p>

<p>Today was totally fun. We (me and my two older daughters) went to see the 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee, and I got to be one of the contestants in the show! The thing is, my theatre loving daughters were supposed to be the ones to say, "sure, I'll do it." So, I was the one that said, "Yeah, I'd like to do that," while they politely declined the chance. Well, that kind of threw me, but I decided "what the heck." --Now that I'm hurtling toward the half century mark, age-wise, I find that I am starting to say that more and more. WHAT THE HECK. WHY NOT??? So after a 31 year break from anything related to theatre (Last play was the Senior Class Play in 1975, and last spelling bee was in elementary school in the 60's, I think), I got to be on stage for a few minutes. Sadly, I blew it and was given the boot and a juice box (nice touch) on my very first word, "Gardyloo." I spelled it gardiloo. DANG. Oh well, I've learned a fantabulous new word, so now I just need to think of ways to incorporate it into my everyday life. I'm sure I can come up with occasions to use it. GARDYLOO!</p>

<p>Anyway, third child is going to be a senior this year and will have to start sending in some applications to colleges soon. HAHAHAHAHA. Here we go again. I'm so tired of this!</p>

<p>Boy#2 called while I was out and was "chatty" again, according to his father, and they talked for awhile. He's the one at University of Chicago, spending the summer in Chicago. So, he says he wants to take a trip to the East Coast to visit his friend before he comes home for a little while before school starts in the fall again. So, his dad asks him, about his friend, "So, where does he live?" And our sons says "SHE lives in (insert name of town)." Well, how about that. He wouldn't elaborate anymore than that, though, as to exactly what kind of friend exactly SHE is . . . Is it possible he has a girlfriend? Will we ever know??</p>

<p>Goodnight my cyberfriends!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I find that I am starting to say that more and more. WHAT THE HECK. WHY NOT???

[/quote]
</p>

<p>oh mstee, I so agree with you. Go for it!!!</p>

<p>2006: I am experiencing the summer of my midlife crisis. I find that going belly up and admitting "I am having a midlife crisis" to my family and friends has been quite liberating. It is amazing how much support I have gotten (and how many of my friends are in my same boat). </p>

<p>Now I sense my mission is to find the path that will make the next ~50 years as interesting and exciting as the first ~50. This will not be easy (as I have had a pretty sweet first half) but I am sure with creativity and commitment, it can be done. I do not want to stagnate. I do not want to coast. I have more to do-- and I will do it!</p>

<p>My Dad told me today that, though he felt sad as we grew into adulthood, it was also like setting down a very heavy backpack at the end of a long march-- he found he had all sorts of energy (and much less stress) than when he was busy keeping track of us.</p>

<p>Has anyone else felt that as your kids become sexual and 'adult' it is sort of a hard moment, where you feel that you are being 'bumped up' a generation against your will?</p>

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<p>I need a bucket in which to bury my head. Turns out that one of the posters here met my son this last week and I was outed -- now son knows all about my posts, including the one where I supposedly guaranteed he'd win a first place at this last week's convention -- and he came in third. Oh where, oh where did my anonymity go?</p>

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<p>LMAO!!! Wow, I keep thinking that something like that will happen to me - "Oh, are you AriesAthena's mom/dad/friend/roommate?" </p>

<p>Have a drink on me. Heck, have two. Nothing like having your kid seeing you double-fisting in Sinner's Alley to round out the day. ;)</p>

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<p>Don't worry. It will pass. And BTW, we still don't know who you are:). We will just make sure that that bucket into which you are dunking your head is filled with a suitable beverage. What is your preference?</p>

<p>Midlife crises pass too. Or so I have been told. It's just a question of which shores they wash you up on....As mstee says, OH HECK WHY NOT? However, there usually is a why not. It's just a question of how much attention you pay to it.</p>

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<p>Burn, baby-- i am feelin ya!! Nice ice cold bucket of limoncello? Or maybe an XL tureen of Domaine Ott? (The NYT style section said that it is all the rage these days...)</p>

<p>Alu, my problem is that when I pose myself the question "Why Not?" I get dozens upon dozens of truly excellent reasons why not... And really only one good reason "Why." </p>

<p>So why do I keep asking myself the question?</p>

<p><em>pouts</em></p>

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<p>Ooooh...cyber hugs to you SB.</p>

<p>Regarding midlife crisis, take note that only ONE spouse gets to claim that territory. If two spouses try to get int he midlife boat, whoopsie daisy the boat goes over. </p>

<p>In my case, it's DH who has a bad case--and has had since 2004. Mind you, it took me until mid 2005 to figure it out. I've got all sorts of remedies in play, trying to keep some 25 year old from running off with this man who is an amazing father. From the outside, I'd say that socialization is key.</p>

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<p>Cheers I am intrigued by your 'remedies', please share!! ;), I think we'll agree that we are all past the bind yourself in saran wrap stage...</p>

<p>SBmom, I find that when the 'Why not?' doesn't work, 'So What!!' is a good stand by.</p>

<p>My biggest grievance these days (apart from hot flashes & chin hairs), is being corrected by my children over 'minor' grammatical errors. My daughter suggested I might be growing a brain tumor in the part of my brain that eliminates the improper use of the word "like"....after I sew my lips shut I'll need a strong drink that I can sip through a straw...</p>

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<p>The only problem with "So what!!", is that when you find yourself saying it over and over again, you wind up in that sort of oh-god-not-another-40-years-of-this, everything-is-endorphinless decline that precipitates, guess what, a Midlife Crisis!!!</p>

<p>Cheers, some how I imagine that your DH will find the 25-year olds less than fascinating when push comes to shove. If not, bring him in here and we will make him drink tequila shots until he turns green and pukes. Oh wait, that's what the 25-year olds do:).</p>

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<p>Alumother has penned the best definition I have ever seen for a midlife crisis. get her to wikipedia IMMEDIATELY!!!</p>

<p>
[quote]
oh-god-not-another-40-years-of-this, everything-is-endorphinless decline

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Thanks for the support Alu, cheers, & BHappy.</p>

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<p>Hi Alu, SB, Cheers, Bhappy, et al,</p>

<p>In some unkind cosmic twist of fate in this house, hubby is in the midst of his midlife crisis whilst I am in the midst of those hot flashes and chin hairs you so apty describe, BHM. (Hubby is 4 1/2 yrs my junior). But, I am not going down without a fight. I , too, find myself saying "why not?" While hubby is driving around in that new convertible of his, I am now out jogging (well-- let me be fair-- he is out jogging with me, and encouraging me every step of the way. He goes out in the convertible and out with "the boys" later- when I come home to sit and sweat). Oh, and why not?? What kind of fool am I? Its 100 degrees in the shade at 8pm around here! have I lost what little is left of my mind?? How 'bout a cosmo, please. After all, why not.</p>

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<p>Oh... by the way, is it wrong of me to refer to that new convertible of his as "a year's college tuition on 4 wheels under your butt"??!!???</p>