IR5, I just want to point out that you never vent. In fact you never say anything about yourself at all. How do we know you aren't a plant from MTL posing as a jokester with a cat who has a remote hmmmm?

I am not a weed choking out all the pretty flowers (that one was for vnoe and the rest of the Seinfeld fans out there). With Len and Laura, the Cloacina twins, I don't think there's a need for any more venting. What specifically would you like to know? I wear a size 14 1/2 size shoe and XXL gloves, if that helps. The personnel at the Department of State, last time I checked, have no sense of humor. Actually here's a picture of me with one of my cats.

Ok, now see that wasn't so hard, we all feel we know you just that little bit better

Nice monocle btw

Thanks.

El vento:

So Canada Post attempts to deliver a parcel to us Saturday, while we are out, they leave the card.

Last night, after work, my Husband goes to the post office, stands in line for 20 minutes and then hands the woman the pick up card.

"And she is"?

"My Wife"

do you have the SAME LAST NAME??

"no"

No, can't give you the package, you need written permission blah blah blah.

He has picked up numerous parcels at the post office that were addressed to only me, never any problem - but after searching I found a reference on their website that says you have to have written permission to pick up the parcel. (Might be an idea to print it on the slip that they leave in the mailbox - I emailed them and suggested this, so look for it on your next pick up slip!!)

You know, I understand the whole privacy thing, but I mean really - we have the same address and the thing is she would have bent the rule if we had the same last name.

Stupidity reigns.

AGHHHH silly...

But isn't there a place on the card to Designate someone else to pick up the parcel for you? I remember there being a place to fill out saying - i can't pick this package up but i designate so and so to do it? Perhaps?

No nothing like that on there (maybe there used to be and then they decided that was too straight forward) - it says "present this card with photo and address identification" - that's it - harumph.

GAH!! silly postal system. I was talking to our postman the other day and he was saying that new people are added to the system all the time and they use the wrong terminology and the wrong forms and messing up things.. so let's blame it on a NEWBIE!!

Ok I am for that - silly newbies!!!!

Oh that is ridiculous!

Hehe, maybe this is why my mother is encouraging me to change my name.

Funny, you don't look at all like an Elmer J. Fudd, Millionaire.

I once had a Postal Employee give me hassle because the letter I went to pick up had my last name wrong by one letter.

Well she moved to Calgary so you are safe now.

Ok, forgive my cynicism here, but this was delivered with the mail today. Glossy cover, full color, double sided pages, of course. Am I the only one who thinks sending unsolicited material reminding people to recycle milk containers is just...dumb?

I believe that's the definition of irony. Encouraging you to recycle on a non-recyclable piece of paper.

Different last name from a spouse and that was a problem at a Canadian post office??!!
Have they not heard the (actual) news:

more people live common law in Canada than are "legally" married!

Have you tried that half and half yet??? I'm getting anxious to hear your results...mmmmmmm half and half. Actually if you look around, you can sometimes find 18% cream as well. I buy that at Christmas/birthday etc. for a special treat.

Gene was away for three days last week in Washington. I baked cookies, and did all my Christmas shopping. It was nice during the day, but I did miss him during the night. I used two pillows laying end to end in his spot in the bed. He didn't sleep for 48 hours due to missing me. I felt very needed!

Needless to say we had a lovely homecoming. We should do this more often.

Carla

Eggnog lattés are the yummiest...mmmm...with a touch of nutmeg powder on top.
Drool!

Today I noticed that my MIL had left her addressed holiday cards on the table, addressed as "Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so".

Me: If anyone ever referred to me as "Mrs. Bee Leibowitz" I think I would sh*t a brick.

Bee: Well, you're gonna have to get used to it.

Me: So you're saying that you wouldn't be offended if someone called you "Mr. Nini"?

Bee: I don't think I'd be so much offended as just confused...

Me: *facepalm*

Kind of a small gripe, but ongoing and building up since we got married. I wanted to take Bee's last name, but worried about the cost of people acting like I gave up my independence or identity after marriage. It's frustrating that Bee's mom and aunt are kinda old-school and they're always calling me "Mrs Leibowitz" like they're reminding me of who I belong to now. I think it really hasn't clued into their heads that I'm using both our names

OK Mrs. Leibowitz.... please, do not sh!t a brick... sounds painful

Yeah, Nini, that is one of the reasons I am not planning to change my name. It's the Mrs His-first-name His-last-name bit that really irks me. It's one thing to change your last name, especially if you plan to have kids and/or don't particularly like the name you were born with to begin with, but to not even be allowed your own first name---what is that all about?

It's so hard to stay mad when you're funny, Len.



Exactly, hun. I can deal with being called "Mrs. L" from my kids' friends or something, but being addressed as "Mrs [first name] [last name]" would drive me into a bender.

Man, I sound like a total feminist.

Eeek, I sounded like I was criticising any woman who would change her last name. That was not what I meant.

I always thought I'd add his name and use both but I don't want to lose my middle name (I am named after my grandfather--his name was Irving and my middle name is Irene), I can't be bothered changing all my documents and such after also dealing with immigration for my honey, and I don't want to be known as Mrs [his first name] [his last name].

My name is boring as bat guano. If he had a really cool last name, I might get my first name legally changed and take his last name.

And so...

is there anything wrong with that?

What has happened to people?
Why has that word become a "bad" word?

Do read stuff by Emma Goldman written circa 1900 about men owning women and anything that woman brought into the marriage once married.
(This is how it was in the U.S.)
If she had to exit the marriage no matter what the reason, she could not even take her clothes.

There is nothing "wrong" with a woman keeping her last name intact.
BTW it came most probably from her father, unless you are Swedish...they are very progressive there.
We are far behind on this continent.
Patriarchy still rules...hence the mayhem on this planet.

This does not mean she does not want to be married to her man.
Get a grip old fashioned people!

Yay feminism!

To me that means being able to chose whatever the heck you like and that's got to be good.

Ok half and half update. I did try it in my second cup of coffee. I give it an 8 out of 10, which is pretty darn good I think. So I will continue to use the half and half (supplied by happy cows in a field of milk containers per the picture on the calendar in previous post).

OMG I am soooo curious:

Who here has heard of, or better yet met, a feminist man??


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy cows, huh, Trailmix?

I would definately say my Husband is a feminist, so is my Son, I don't think I know any males who aren't, which isn't surprising because if I did I would stop talking to them

I think Bren is more of a feminist than I am LOL

One of my good friends in Georgia has a t-shirt that he wears, "This is what a feminist looks like". I love watching people do double takes ... so many people think only women can be feminist.

I dub thee, Colonel Bat Guano (if you didn't see Dr. Strangelove you won't understand the reference).

BTW, I'm still hoping they pass the Equal Rights Amendment.

The name change thing is driving me nuts. I had always thought I would take my husband's last name, mostly because, for me, I want our children to have the same last name and, with our names, did not like the sound of hyphenating. I find myself putting it off more and more though!!! When we first got married, I said I would change it after the formal wedding, then it became, when we have kids. Well, I am 4 months preggie and still haven't made a move to change it. BTW, hubby is supportive of whatever I want to do. He has 2 sisters. One took her husband's name, the other kept her maiden name.

My plan thus far is to keep my maiden name professionally (which is actually very beneficial when you practice in a small town and know that your husband, in his profession, will end up working with numerous current or former clients! Gives a little bit of distance.). I am going to add his last name to mine, not hyphenated, but I am just going to have a long ### name with my birth middle name and maiden name becoming my middle names.

Ok, they probably aren't all that happy

You'd be surprised sister. When I taught Women Studies, there were a couple of dudes in the class that were actually more excited about it than the rest of the students. Also, a lot of theorists have emerged claiming the inclusion of the term "gender studies" -- most of them are doing amazing work actually (example: R.W. Connell).
ok, enough nerdiness.

I got an "A" in Women's Studies (that's true).

Not from me you did not - chances are I would have failed you miserably and relished in your sadness - me, being a b!tch and all

Oh thankgodd for all of you.
I swear I thought the world I live in (my well chosen friends and I) were some of the very rare people that understood this.
I think I am marrying the wrong man.
He laughed when I asked him if he was a feminist back when we were first getting to know each other.
He knows what it is now....although I would have to ask him if he believes he is one.

Please stand by...



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have a button for years that says that:
this is what a feminist looks like
They loved in it Vancouver.
Didn't appreciate it in Greece.
Go figure. Hahaha.
I haven't worn it in a 5 years I think.
Maybe I will find it for conversation sake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An A in women's studies...nice figures??
Hee hee.
Actually, I believe it Mumsie.

Thanks, but I do a pretty good job of making myself miserable.





I also got an "A" in human sexuality and boy was I relieved that there wasn't a practical exam (I'll bet not half as much as the females in the class ).

OMG!!! Bahaha.
I thought I was the only person that had even heard of this course.
I took it in CEGEP in Montreal as an elective...so young all of us, we were red-faced half the time in class.
The demonstrative videos!!!
Other kids would stand at the door's window and watch from there.

The best was congregating before an exam in the caf and being a little too loud all of us with the terminology and stuff we were going over.

(picture red cheeks on this emoticon)

I never brought the text book home.

IF I SEE ANOTHER POST ABOUT I-693A'S AND INCORRECT RESPONSES I AM GOING TO....

LOSE....

MY....

MIND....!!!! Click to view attachment

There. I'm feeling better now.

Sooo... aha.... WTF is an I-693A?????
So i can go post an incorrect response and drive you
Luvyah, L.

Uh oh----- never mind, i read your pin-this-up suggestion to Ewok. sister!

Hi Len

I just called the NVC re Husband's interview. After hearing this:

Thank you for calling, our staff is working hard to take your call next, when we return to the line, please let us know how we may serve you

All of our operators are still busy, we apologize for the delay, please hold and we will answer your call as soon as possible, thank you for your patience

We appreciate your patience while waiting, and assure you assistance is just a moment away, your call is very important to us and we look forward to speaking with youuu (this is my favorite).

We know your time is valuable, thank you for holding

Because of the personal attention given every caller, you may experience a brief delay, please remain on the line a representative will assist you momentarily.

I got an operator who read to me from a card or something, how the interviews are scheduled in the 2nd week of the month for the next month blah blah blah and how he isn't scheduled for December, honestly when she started reading I just zoned out.

The nice "hardworkers" at MTL neglected to send my visa off half of Thursday, all of Friday, and Monday as well, so as of yesterday, my passport is still only sitting at the Post Office in Montreal. This means that the 12 days I'm sitting here in snow-land waiting for my visa before I hop a plane back to my husband in NC may still not be enough, and if I have to change my plane ticket, I'm going to snap!
I'm becoming Obsessive-Compulsive just checking the Canada Post tracker every ten minutes to see if my visa has left Montreal yet. I can't wait until all this is finally over so I can surgically detach myself from the computer screen

Yeah. I had a mini meltdown after seeing post upon post, day after day, regarding the same question, in the AOS Forum. I mean, literally, they were piled on top of each other.... a minimum of five per day. Why people can't take a browse through the forum before posting the exact same question, I'll never know. I couldn't take it no more. (Bad grammar intended.)

Yeah, uhhh.... don't trust the tracker. It'll probably be in your hands long before they change the status online.

Uh -oh.... do i hear voices from the underworld? that's creepy shite. Uh-oh, and it smells like shite also.... must be LAURA!!!
Yoohoooo babeee!!!!! The stench seems to be getting less: are you using Lush products now
Luvyah

I just discovered soap yesterday

Waaaiit a sec...so are you saying that possibly MTL did send it out earlier than the date they are showing on the Canada Post website (Tuesday), and that it may only be showing Tuesday because that is the day they finally got around to updating their site?
I hope that's what it is:) I just want to have that thing in my hands so I can do a happy dance and drool all over the page that has the visa stamped in it.

tee hee you are so cute Misty.. and it's true.. don't trust the tracking system.. it's often updated when they drop the package at your door and not before!!!

i know the feeling of just WANTING IT NOW!!! Hang in there!! HOpefully today you'll see it!!