I survive the work thing. Heart daughter thanked me for coming. She also apologized for stranding me when she had to leave early and the other person I am comfortable with didn’t show up at all due to a child in the hospital. I think my own exit at the end was less graceful. I have a tendency just to leave when things are done, and realized halfway out the door that people were doing that fake social thing and I had no idea what to say. Then after I got into my car away from people I thought of some things. (Like I should have thanked someone for including me - even though I never wanted to be included)
anyway, heart daughter wanted me to know it was a real emergency and not an escape, but everything was ok. It was only 15 minutes, but she would have gotten me out the door.
i took time for myself at the pottery studio afterwards. It was the first time in a long time I have worked in clay until I actually got tired of it and wanted to stop for a while. (My hands are sore) (unfortunately?) I got home in time to spend 40 minutes with my brother in law. I actually like him, but I like him on his turf. He is loud and opinionated. He had many opinions on my lifestyle and my choices.
Sample conversation:
him: “is that homemade ice cream?”
me “yes.”
Dh (dealing with the fact that a normal person would have offered bil some) “it’s goat milk.”
bil “gross.”
dh “actually it’s pretty good.”
bil “well i’m Not eating it. Maybe it’s not as bad a goat cheese. Goat cheese is disgusting. It smells like dog sh**.”
me (i’m Eating) “I am perfectly happy with you not eating my ice cream.”
bil continues to expound on the grossness of goat cheese.
also he informed me that I “need to just get a dumpster and throw all that stuff out.” I just said “no. I don’t.” Then I was able to listen to his story of how his family has radically downsized since the fire that left them homeless for six months with compassion and appreciation for his enjoyment of his new life. Without making it about me at all. Which I think frustrated him because it was intended as a lesson for me. But i’m Good.
He did really like our new room, although he can’t figure out how we can stand not having real floors in yet, but he felt a need to compliment it by contrasting it with the rest of our house, which “sucks”.