Thanks for the heads up on the book Amy. Bought it.

re. rude comments; Yesterday I started and ultimately quit an argument on the refugee question.

Got tired of Bible verses being thrown my way and simply insisted that wanting to know details about "the plan" in place to enable cities/towns to handle numbers of refugees consisting of babies, school-age kids, elderly, as well healthy easily bored young men is not a bad thing.

The most detailed response I got was that "the State Dept. handled refugees".

I asked for an example of "where" (resisted the temptation to add "other than Gitmo (which is military but ...) and then quit.

I did post the below about being careful about wishful thinking but I think those on high horses like the view too much.

Ephesians 5:15-17
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
"Here it is more general; it bids men not to trust wholly to general rightness of heart, in which “the spirit is willing,” but to be watchful over themselves, and to be a law to themselves, “because the flesh is weak.” "

My solution is to try and avoid my crazy uncle. And I do mean that in the clinical sense. I don't really know his politics or usually what the conversation we are having is about. There is just no telling what will set him off.

Bob, thank you so much for buying my book!

Bob, the answer to those folks, especially those throwing out Bible verses is as follows: so, how many refugees will you be hosting in your home? how many will your neighbors take in?

Jesus didn't look at the Roman coin used to pay taxes and the say let Caesar care for the sick, the poor, the alien in your midst. No, He said to his followers you do this.

I have a feeling that the answer to my question is 0. They want to judged as being for the right things, they just want someone else to have to bear the burden.

Amy, I'm shocked that you don't support the DNC's advice to Thanksgiving: http://www.yourrepublicanuncle.com

I hate Thanksgiving. Why is this even a holiday? It's a gathering where family members try to push unhealthy food on each other, and I end up being health-shamed because I refuse to eat garbage. No, I don't want any of the sugar water you call apple cider. None of the stuff you call cranberry sauce that is 90% sugar. And I don't see any reason that my food choices should bother so many people.

"You have to have a slice of your Aunt Gussie's sweet potato pie! You'll hurt her feelings!"

Gosh, if Aunt Gussie can't respect another person's boundaries, and is in the business of using emotional blackmail to coerce health-conscious people into eating things they don't want, maybe her feelings should be hurt?

And please spare me the "It's only one day a year!" argument. It's not one day a year. It's Thanksgiving, it's Christmas, it's Easter, it's birthdays, it's weddings, it's every stupid occasion known to man. If you want to eat unhealthy, that's your business, but kindly stop being so threatened by those who don't want to join you.

Thanks Amy, I bought the kindle edition of "Rude People", I already had the dead tree version.

I use humor to deflect the BS at the dinner table, it usually works. Most people can't stay on point or obnoxious if people are laughing.

Note to self: don't invite Patrick to any soirees.

My soiree? I'm bringing the home made (but not home grown) rhubarb pie. It's been a while since I made pie. It smelled good coming out of the oven, but I'm concerned the crust maybe a bit dodgy. Eh, you learn by doing.

Sometimes that means making something even the dogs turn their nose up at.