Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter http://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Daughter-Kate-Clifford-Larson/dp/0547250258/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453950842&sr=8-1&keywords=rosemary+kennedy+the+hidden+daughter

I just want to say, if you're drinking your coffee from your @$$hole, you're doing it wrong.

My purse has: wallet, which holds the checkbook small make up bag with lip color, mirror, tweezers, nail clippers, safety pins, perfume roller small make up bag with tylenol, tube of first aid ointment, hand sanitizer, shout wipes, daily meds, kleenex, cough drops tube of hand lotion phone keys. It's taken me a while to come up with this, but I find I've used these items regularly, so those are what stay with me.

I'm going to have to go watch The Office now. LOL

Back in November, the executive director at work wanted people to start a "fun committee" for social events. I joined, along with about 5 other people. I'm not sure how it happened, but one person placed herself as the "head" of this committee, which is totally fine. However, every event the "fun" committee has had has involved drama, complaining, bitching, moaning and the ever famous, "I'm the HEAD of the fun committee!" She booked our Thanksgiving pot luck on the same day as an orientation meeting for new institutions. She refused to move the potluck, despite being told by the deputy director to move it. We got it worked out, but still, it was really bitchy of her and of course, she threw the "head of the fun committee" card. Then came the Christmas party. She didn't bother to check the agency calendar to see what meetings were planned and she booked the party on the day 1/3 of the agency would be out. She, again, refused to budge, saying it was those people's fault and she was the HEAD of the committee and despite half of us wanting her to move it, she adamantly refused. So, the event the 1/3 planned was moved. Also, part of Christmas is that the agency sponsors a needy family through a local charity. I was in charge of organizing this whole thing, and part of our donations to this family was a catered Christmas dinner, which one person offered to pay for. This person came to me quietly, so I didn't announce who the donor was to the whole agency. Well, within 5 minutes of my emailing everyone that the meal had been provided, she zoomed to my desk to ask who paid for it. I refused to tell her and she tried to pull the "head of the committee" card. I didn't budge. The "fun" committee really has nothing to do with this. This brings us to yesterday. The board chair wanted to thank us for working so hard with out a budget. The Executive Assistant was who the one who coordinated the lunch on the board chair's behalf was putting platters of food on the table, getting it set up for everyone. The HEAD of the fun committee came in and was literally rearranging things behind her. I was in there, trying to help. I finally asked her what she was doing. She said, "I don't like it like this. And i AM the HEAD of the fun committee!" So, I said, "Well, this isn't a party YOU are in charge of." and I put everything back. After the luncheon, the executive director had an all-agency meeting and this woman was called upon to share some projects she's been working on. The first words out of her mouth were, "I'm the HEAD of the FUN committee!" I swear, if I have to hear about how she's the HEAD of the freeking committee, I may just pop her up the side of her HEAD.

Our youth leader would plan things my dd hated, so she'd not go. Then he or his wife would question her about why she was "isolating" herself. So, she started going to events she hated, but would just stay on the sidelines and talk to her friends. Then she'd be chastised for not participating. It was a no-win situation. Now that she's out of high school, she's questioned about why she isn't a youth group sponsor. She helps with junior church, she helps with music ministry, she has a part time job and goes to college full time. I don't know wth they want from her. I'm starting to really, really dislike youth groups.

I think it can bring in a set of problems that people don't have if they aren't lottery winners. I think how it affects the winner depends on what the winner thinks the money will do for them. I can only compare this to when I got my lump sum divorce settlement, but honestly, I liked seeing the big balance in my account a LOT more than shopping and spending it! I have no desires to be a jet-setter or to live like the rich and famous. I think if I did win mega millions, I'd still be who I am today, just with a bigger bank account. For me, having that kind of money would mean I could have a nicer house, but not a mansion or even a house in the ritziest neighborhoods. Just something larger but manageable for my kids to come home to (and grand-kids, someday). It would mean my DD could go to college debt free. I'd buy a Subaru. I'd set up trusts for my kids and donate a lot to charity. I'd even consider starting a Charlotte Mason type of school or co-op. My boss and I were sort of day dreaming today about opening some sort of place for single moms (an apartment building or something) with a day care and school for the kids so the moms could go to work or school. So, millions wouldn't change who I am, I don't think, because I don't want $$ to just live luxuriously. I'd want the money to help others find better lives.

Thanks, all. I immediately go to the worst case scenario, so my first worry was that this would devolve into some Lifetime movie special. I don't plan to engage her. I wasn't going to at the restaurant and in retrospect, I should have not even reacted to her gesture. She's on ignore on FB for both me and DD and I'll keep her on ignore IRL. What a nut. I did talk with DD last night. Since DD is friends with her sister, I told her to be careful to not say anything about this person to her sister. Even though the sister is mortified, families can turn on friends on a dime if there's a common enemy, even a perceived one. Thanks for the advice and input.

I think it would be fun to start a Charlotte Mason type of co-op or school here. We already have Classical Conversations, and we have a few regular co-ops, and a Montessori school. I think there are enough CMers around to make it work.

As a Christian, I don't mind questions, as long as they're genuine questions and not veiled tricks to drag me into a debate. I also ask a lot of questions. I have a coworker who's Lutheran and I've asked him a lot of questions and he didn't mind at all. As it's been stated above in the thread, I think people get defensive over questions because they're insulted anyone would dare ask, or they can't back anything up, or their faith is so shaky that questions that force them to examine their beliefs might shatter their faith system and no one wants to deal with that.

A couple of months ago, DD posted something innocuous about the weather on FB. A friend of hers (someone we've known for 16 years) posted a dramatic response. I (not giving this any real thought whatsoever, because who gives weather that much thought?) posted something in response to the friend. The friend FREAKED OUT and responded very rudely to me. I was floored. I decided this wasn't worth the drama, so I blocked her. End of story. Or so I thought. Later that evening, DD came home, and told me the friend's sister was absolutely mortified at what the friend did and then went on to explain that friend and sister have been at odds for a while. Friend has been alienating everyone in their circle by being very aggressive, hostile and outright cruel. When she over-reacted to my comment, she demanded her sister stand up for her to me and the sister said, "Mrs. OTB didn't DO anything to you!" DD said that for the past year, Friend has been extremely unkind to people and will do hurtful things and laugh about it. For example, at a cousin's bridal shower, she said her favorite memory of her cousin was making fun of her for not being able to come out and play. Just mean stuff like that. Well, ever since the FB drama, I've not seen Friend, and DD said she's not had any contact with her. I figured it died down. Today, I was at a restaurant, sitting in the waiting area for my lunch companion to arrive, and Friend and her DH and baby walked in. I didn't say anything to her, just sat there quietly. Their backs were to me, so I figured she hadn't seen me. So, the hostess walks them back to towards their table and just as her DH walked in front of her, she spun around and flipped me off and laughed. I responded with "Well, that was classy" and she laughed and walked off. Her DH didn't see her do it. In fact, I don't think he even saw me at all--he back was to me the whole time. Here's what disturbs me about this: That little "bird" maneuver was planned. She made sure no one saw it but me. But what disturbs me more about this girl is that I found out that this is a pattern of behavior with her. She'll be really mean or hateful, but only in sight of the intended target. She'll put on an act like she's bubbly and chatty and fun, but if she's crossed (or think she's been crossed) she will sneakily pull some aggressive or angry behavior. Because she's still mad that her sister didn't defend her honor, she put all the pictures of her and her sister together, along with gifts she's given into a box and gave it to her sister for Christmas, just to hurt her sister. It also disturbs me that she doesn't see that nothing was said or done to her on that FB post. Other people have pointed out to her that I didn't do anything to her (including her mother). But, she's offended at....nothing and is holding a grudge. At first, when I became aware of her odd behavior, I thought it might be some ppd or something, as she has a baby who's under a year. But when talking to DD and Friend's cousin (DD's BFF), this behavior is not new and it's gotten worse since Friend got married, specifically the sneaky meanness. Apparently, Friend's DH is aware of this side of his wife and is completely embarrassed by her but doesn't know what to do about it. They are both very young--just 21 years old. So, my issue is, I'm a little concerned about what this girl may do next. If simply seeing me in a restaurant set her off to flip me the bird months after a perceived sleight, what else will she do? She's clearly still mad. She thinks DD and Cousin have taken her sister from her and she blames everyone but herself for the alienation she's caused. I don't know if this is some sort of personality disorder, mental disorder or what, but I'm not sure what to do to be prepared for any other sneaky or rude expressions. Any ideas on what we're dealing with or any ideas what to do about it?

There are 22 of us at work who've pooled for tickets. I look at it as entertainment, too. It's fun to think about, fun to decide what charities to contribute to, etc. Although, if we win, I'm afraid the state will be minus an entire agency. We'd all quit! LOL

You apply what you've been doing and make it relate to what you want to do. I was a SAHM for 12 years before I went back to work. I honestly told the interviewer that I'd been homeschooling and then started enumerating the skills required to educate two kids who are 10 years apart in age while maintaining a home. Don't sell yourself short! Just because you weren't earning a salary doesn't mean you have no marketable skills. You have to take what you know and can do and make it relevant to the job you're wanting.

I wish I went to a church that acknowledged such events.

My church has a potluck and talent show--except you can't do anything serious, it has to be "funny". So, if you have a serious talent, you're out of luck. :/

Mine said New Mexico. I've never lived there at all. Texas, and CA, along with the midwest, but never NM.

We did co-ops and group field trips. I hated it, tbh. I never fit in with the other moms because I'm (whisper) divorced. I was delighted when DD aged out of those activities. I found most of the other moms to be shallow, judgmental and very, very proud of themselves for being such wonderful mothers and wives. It made me want to hurl, most of the time.

Not. At. All.

Aww, fantastic! Merry Christmas!!

Who does this? a 50 year old woman who thinks she's still 17. Ugh. We were at a party and she took a bunch of pictures of me from odd angles--behind, the side, etc. I'd had a particularly bad day that day--I was still working at the hospital and I stayed past my shift to help find the chart and infant demise documentation for a still born baby, because the mortician was waiting for them, so I wasn't feeling particularly perky at the time. She knew of my bad day because staying late made me late for the party, and I explained to everyone why I was late when I got there. Anyway, I didn't know she took them. She posted them on FB then tagged me. When I saw them, I asked her to take them down. At first, she refused, but because I have a gaze that will level the Hulk if I'm p*ssed, she relented. Then she unfriended me, blocked me, had her dh unfriend me, and hasn't spoken to me in a year and a half. And, I've known this woman for 15 years and she KNEW how I felt about pictures. Insane. People are just...insane.

This year, gifts are tricking in, as we've had a few different celebrations with different groups of people. So far: $50 gc to Crate and Barrel from my son and his gf $10 gc to Starbucks from my son and his gf $65 gc to Amazon from the people in my division (with which I bought books) $25 gc to B&N from my boss (with which I bought more books) Fiestaware 4 pc entertaining set from EX $200 from my dad (with which I'll use some to buy a Swarovsky necklace--I probably spelled that wrong, but I don't care at the moment.) And I have one wrapped gift under the tree from DD, which I'll open Christmas Eve.

What about one of those all-in-one tool things you can put on your keychain? Every man can be a hero if he's toting a portable screwdriver or pliers. LOL

I abhor it. I feel it's a violation of my person and I have lost friends over this, because they felt their right to take pictures of me and post them on FB superseded my right to privacy.

Yes. They know exactly what they're doing. I'm referring specifically to my mother and ex.

Not from the company, but I work for a state agency. My boss took our division out to lunch to a place that averages $15 a plate for the entree alone, and he encourages everyone to get appetizers and desserts, too. And, they give support staff very generous gift cards (well, my boss celebrates Winter Solstice, so he doesn't call it a Christmas gift).