Did You Guys Hear it's 2013?

Chinese New Year is not
until next week, so I am
actually early for wishing you
Happy New Year.

I am figuring by now most of you know, but just in case...it's 2013.  It's also already February!  Do you guys even remember me anymore?  I'm the one with the whistle (but still no stun gun, which is total bullshit).  January was a little crazy, but I'm back.

So, here's where I've been...my poor mother (you remember her; you've seen her down in the comments as my personal heckler/fan) was supposed to have her hip replaced.  While waiting, her own hip broke!  Insert new hip, everyone is happy.  Buzzzzzz.  There is an infection.  Out comes new hip and in goes a spacer.  You can only be partial weight bearing with that - so walker and no driving for Sue.  Oh yeah, at-home IV for 6 weeks to clear up the infection.  So after 3+ plus weeks of the hospital and rehab, my mom finally came home and is feeling more like herself, albeit having to make a lot of accommodations.  She's been quite a good sport about the whole thing, which is pretty impressive (I would NOT be a good sport).

This is how my mother will have
to shovel this winter.  

And, now I am back to DTC.  I am also still writing for Babble Pets.  I have avoided being fired since October, so I'm feeling pretty good about that.  I recently did a hard-hitting piece on how animals are causing unemployment.  It's really a wonder CNN hasn't come looking for me as some kind of special correspondent.

In case I was worried that Boy and SB were overly upset by our stressful month, our exchange, recounted below, shows that I needn't have worried.  Their main worry was who would get what car in the hypothetical situation - that won't happen for at least a year and half!

Boy drives a 2006 Accord.  This is the car that The Party replaced when he got a new car about a year ago.  Please note that this car belongs to us and is no way the property of Boy (please remind Boy of that if you see him).  I tell you what kind of car it is so you can see this is not a crappy junker.  It's a perfectly nice car and Boy has been grateful to have it to drive.

Next year Boy will not take this car to college.  Next spring SB will be able to get her driver's license and will have this car to drive.  The following fall (of 2014!) we would have to decide if Boy could take car to school and if we would purchase another used car for SB to use.  Are you with me so far?  I have no idea how this will pan out.  Many factors to consider, most especially, the cost.  I have no intention of thinking about this at all until sometime next spring or summer.

My refusal to make any kind of decision is infuriating to my children who need this matter settled immediately - on principle.  Boy feels any car purchased that is nicer or newer than what he drives now should go to him due to him being the older child.  He feels it would be completely outrageous for us to consider giving SB a "better" car than he has.  Essentially, on seniority alone, he should have the "better" car.  SB cannot believe he would think something so ridiculous.  She feels that he cannot expect to always get the "better" anything just because he is older.  Further, Boy only got a once "recycled" car, if we give it to her, it would be "more recycled." 

OMG - how perfect would
this be?!  It's a stun gun
brass knuckles combo!

After several more minutes (that I will never get back) of this hypothetical conversation, SB tells Boy that he is really bad at understanding anyone else's point of view.  She then looks at me and says "It is not fair that I am forced to live in a society where I have to live in a house with all first-borns."  Really!?!?  I told SB that I did not believe this was actually a societal problem, but more of a personal problem.  I then suggested she start a support group with her Aunt and Uncle.

And this is why I need a whistle and a stun gun.  And a drink.