AgathaC

Probably so. Dogs do tend to choose “their” human. Our little dachshund rescue is a major mama’s boy (not surprising, since his previous owner was an elderly female). He’s very much attached to me. My 13-year-old stepson tried for the first few weeks to make the dog attach more to him — constantly calling to him and trying to hold onto him. Hubby and I called him out on it and made him knock it off. Dog now avoids him most of the time. Our pit bull mix is much more of the “humans! I love humans! All humans!” type. Poor dog if it’s being “restrained” and not allowed to just be, forced to worship that narcissistic freak show.

A big part of it is, as she’s admitted “I just can’t stand to see him upset.” Which, as we know, makes for awesome parenting. 🙄 A wise person once told me, “If your kids are never upset with you, you’re doing it wrong.”

Let me tell you, step parenting is not for the faint of heart. As I’ve said before, my situation is better than most (Hubby and his Ex mostly communicate and can interact, Ex doesn’t seem to hate me and SS13 isn’t warm or friendly but is mostly agreeable). But even with all that, it can be infuriating. Last month, I vented about problems with SS faking sick to stay home from school. Well, it’s still going on. SS does have acid reflux and has had it for years. He has a prescription and it’s not something that should send him home, as he’s not contagious and it doesn’t make him sick enough he can’t be at school. Two weeks ago, Ex texted Hubby to let him know SS threw up at school and got sent home. This was a Wednesday. He had to stay home Thursday because that’s district policy. He was fine. Guess what happened before school Friday? He told his mom he threw up. Another day at home. When he came back to our house, he had an OTC med with him. He has a prescription (which he hasn’t been taking), but instead of calling the doctor, Ex went to Walgreens and bought an OTC — one he can’t take long term (she didn’t read the box). So Hubby called the doctor, got the scrip refilled and made sure SS was taking it. He was fine all week. He’s back at his mom’s this week. Like clockwork: she gets a call to pick him up yesterday. This time she took him to the doctor where they could find nothing wrong and said he needs to take his medicine consistently for a couple more weeks for it to be fully effective and to call if it persists. It’s beyond frustrating. Both Ex and Hubby have talked to SS to see if there’s a problem at school. He says no. The school says no. Yet: 1) These episodes never happen on weekends or holidays. 2) They never happen on weeks he’s at our house. 3) On days he has to stay home, he’s perfectly fine. Yet Ex seems utterly oblivious about how to deal with it. She admitted to Hubby she had noticed the pattern. But does nothing. Thing is, he tried this at our house twice two years ago. The first time, we realized he wasn’t sick and made his stay at home incredibly boring. No gaming or TV, etc. The second time, Hubby told the nurse “he has reflux. He’s fine. Send him back.” Never happened at our house again. She picks him up and then he spends his days sleeping in and playing PS5. Hubby suggested to her that they get a doctor note telling the nurse “this kid has reflux. If he doesn’t have fever, don’t send him home.” No response from her. This is a highly educated, intelligent woman. And she’s getting snowed by her kid left and right. There’s not much Hubby can do because none of this happens here. That makes it extra frustrating because this kid is allowed to continue his manipulations and faces no consequences. He just gets what he wants. Not to mention the impact this has on education. His grades are good (he’s underchallenged in regular classes when he’s capable of advanced), but you miss a lot by not being in class.

Same here. Not a fan of him as an actor, but I am as a human. I loved this movie so much back in the day and it holds up so well. Great action, plenty of humor, awesome characters, clever plot. My sociology teacher in high school actually used this movie as an example of how people can develop tight, rapid bonds and form a community in intense situations. She couldn’t show it (rated R), but we all discussed it.

Maybe it’s early or my brain is overloaded, but what the hell does “White Already to Harvest” even mean?

Oh my — I LOVE that movie!’ Kevin Kline trying to read the teleprompter without his glasses never fails to slay me. And he does it with such dignity. Then Whoopi’s rant about having to write for a character who’s been decapitated and Sally’s trips to New Jersey. It’s a gold mine.

Hubby and I watched Dave last night for the first time in a while. Such a funny, poignant, hopeful movie — especially now. I absolutely love Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver in it. And then all the “real people” cameos… Just so satisfying to see a nice, normal guy stepping up to help people and the good guys winning.

Add me to the group sick of that damn Wicked Target ad. I saw it on Broadway years ago, bought the cast recording, but I feel no real compulsion to see the film. That commercial makes me even less inclined because I’m sick of hearing that song. (And the fan art drama doesn’t help.) I have mixed feelings about the Roku TV commercial with the couple screaming at each other. Obnoxious as hell. But yesterday I saw another version and have to admit, I chuckled when the woman bellowed “EVERY DAY WITH YOU IS A GIFT!” Now that the surprise has passed, I’ll go back to hating.

Well, there was the episode where Rachel talked about how she would probably eventually be phased out just like Monica’s boyfriend Kip. She convinced Phoebe to go with her and they planned to “take Joey.” Not that any of that actually happened. And I don’t recall anyone outside of Rachel and Phoebe discussing it.

I’m at your table on that one. Nothing against Jessica Lange, but Teri Garr was perfection in her role. She was also absolutely spot-on as Phoebe’s mom and I loved her in my many childhood rewatches of Mr. Mom. I remember on my 12th birthday, my dad gave me a tape (yes, tape) of Young Frankenstein because he felt I was old enough to be introduced to Mel Brooks. It was eye-opening, a rite of passage and a way of bonding with my dad. I will forever love everyone associated with that movie. RIP

Exactly. There have been plenty of celebrities over the years I’ve disagreed with and it didn’t impact my thoughts or feelings. No issue with people thinking differently than I do. But if they do or say things that are truly offensive or dangerous, that’s a different issue and, yeah, I’ll probably look elsewhere for entertainment.

I was also a huge Chuck fan. Also saw the filmed performance of She Loves Me. I always liked him and thought he was charming, but never knew much about him otherwise. Usually when I love a show, I learn all I can about the casts, but, for some reason, I didn’t on this one. Maybe it was instinct? Anyway, when I first stumbled on his vaccination stuff, I was disappointed, but not really surprised, somehow. I’m not one who can easily separate an artists’ work from what I know about their private lives, so I think any Chuck rewatch will likely be pushed many years into the future.

According to my grandparents, one of my great uncles was so upset and traumatized, he never watched that show again.

Agreed. That’s largely how it works for both of them. She’s not always that bad and she can be cooperative and accommodating. But otherwise, she‘s going to do her thing. Same with her whole family really. SS definitely has a “I only have to follow the rules I want to” mentality. Frustrating, but I’m largely an observer at this point.

Too true — and part of the reason I doubt she’d agree to adjusting the week on/week off. She might also start to see the problem if no one else is keeping up with schoolwork and grades. As it is, she believes whatever SS tells her (though she knows he lies often). Hubby is the one who says “show me.” I think she might realize there are problems if she doesn’t have someone to be the bad guy.