crashtestpuppets

My husband's family is beyond FUBAR and no one has time to get into that mess. Though, for the most part, I understand the motives behind their reactions and behavior. But there is one thing that I think I just lack the patience for.

His mother and and sister both do this. Essentially, they will invite you to their home, for whatever reason, celebrate a holiday or birthday, have dinner, visit because someone is in town, ect. Regardless of what your reason is for not going, they get EXTREMELY upset. You can apologize and say you had plans already, that you have to work, that the time and day doesn't work for you.... they react the SAME way. And please don't infer that the reasons are untrue so its not that they are being lied to.

What makes a person react that way? What is so offensive by "I can't make it."?

My husband and I are pretty easy going. We have fun no matter where we have to go and we honestly don't care who shows and who doesn't. We enjoy who does show up.

And I haven't had to spend too much time dealing with my mother-in-law but my sister-in-law is another story. I do have a bad habit of pointing out the obvious so its been a problem between us. The only thing worse than dealing with her when you have to decline an invitation, is actually going. Because if you do go, she is a very unhappy host and if you ask what is wrong, she will start complaining about who she invited and didn't show up.

And as an example of how she just doesn't care what your reason for not coming is, she is the same level of upset, the last time I went to a get together at her house, she was extremely upset and quiet. I knew better than to ask her so I asked her oldest son. He said that she was mad her middle child did not show up. While it can be disappointing to not have a kid home for the holiday, shouldn't you be realistic about the situation? The boy is barely 21, lives in a city 3.5 hours away, and works part time as a grocery bagger. She didn't offer him $ to make the trip or buy him a bus ticket. I just don't get how you can be mad at a kid with no resources, and very much thanks to you he is in that situation, for not showing up. I mean he had no money, no means, no way. What do you expect?

Sorry, I am kind of venting and I was kind of long. But really I need some ideas for why someone would get so offended you cant attend every single invite regardless of what you have going on. Normally their problems stem from lack of education, abuse, just in general their past.

Honestly and sincerely, thank you in advance.

Typically I am an over-planner. I worked really hard on my evacuation kit last year and I plan on adding/updating it this year. I have searched tons of sites and made notes on what to do and plan for. I was just wondering if anyone out there has any other helpful, been there done that, tips for hurricane evacuation plans?

I have a trunk packed with supplies (we have a dog and a cat) ready to be loaded in a car at a moments notice. It has a crank radio, some pet supplies, emergency information, preplanned routes and hotels that allow pets, some small things like battery powered candles, tools, ect.

I have various items through out the house marked with hurricane stickers so that anyone in the family can easily see that its marked and that it needs to be packed.

I have all of our photos scanned and saved to a drive along with important papers (contacts, insurance, health) in a fire proof/ water proof safe.

Do you have any other helpful tips?

I have used my black one for months and it accidently got washed and stopped working. I have the white one, but I can't figure out how to change that setting on the game. I don't want to make a new character, I want to just use the other one now.

How do I do that?

I am going to over explain this just in case. Its inventory.

What I have is say Coconuts. First I bought 5 coconuts at $1 each. Then I bought 10 coconuts at $2 each.

I used 6 coconuts. I want to use FIFO First In First Out. So I use the first 5 and then start using the 10 I got in.

I know that the math would mean that I have 9 coconuts at $2 each. BUT how do I get Excel to calculate that?

Total cost is 5 times $1 (minus used until =0) plus 10 times $2 (minus what's left over after I used up the start).

She tried out last year but didn't make it. It really sucked because it was the one sport she really wanted to be a part of. But this year, even though she missed try outs because of a funeral, was able to do a make up try out. AND SHE MADE IT! I want to get her something that says congrats. Any ideas? All i can think of is a volleyball signed by all of her friends and family but I am not too sure.

I will start working out here shortly before I go to work but I am not sure what's best. Should I eat before I go work out? Or after? I usually eat a little bit of cereal and some fruit.

I have noticed that where I walk to most, the snow on the ground went away. Even though it snowed several days, the ground was never covered up again. Now the snow has melted away and where there was snow, there is grass.

But its pretty barren. Does anyone know if more grass will grow?

Is it affected because I run so much?