caninelover's Blog
Chapter 12: Bratty McBratFace: College Graduate!
In May of 2018, Bratty McBratFace was set to graduate with a B.A. in Gender Studies. SO and I were invited to attend the ceremonies, along with a couple of aunts and uncles. Bratty was really excited and planned activities for family that were travelling in from out of town. SO travelled out a few days earlier than I did – as I was still getting comfortable in my new job I couldn’t take a lot of time off. So I flew out separately for the long weekend, primarily to attend the ceremony.
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Chapter 11: Bratty’s Weekend Visit
Peace had returned to the caninelover household. SO and I were getting along great. I was relieved it was now clear that Bratty was not welcome to live with us after graduation. Towards the end of 2017, and just prior to my job ending, I received a wonderful new job offer that started the week after New Year’s. The timing was perfect – I could collect my nice fat severance, stuff it in the bank, and start the New Year with a great new gig.
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Chapter 10: Can Bratty Live With Us?
Shortly after Bratty McBratFace returned to college, she called SO and they had a long conversation. SO told me about it afterwards. Bratty had described an ambitious plan to become a doctor.
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Chapter 9, Part 7: Solo Therapy, and the End of the Long Summer of Terror 2.0
So let me start off by saying that I’m really not into therapy. I dislike talking about myself to start with, and I generally operate under the principle of I’d rather be happy than perfect. But in this case I was less than happy after Bratty’s arrival in our home and I needed to do something to alleviate the anxiety I was feeling.
Chapter 9, Part 6: The Many Ailments of Bratty McBratFace
Hypochondria (as defined by The Mayo Clinic): Obsession with the idea of having a serious but undiagnosed medical condition. Symptoms include a long-term and intense fear of having a serious condition and worry that minor symptoms indicate something serious. A person may frequently visit or switch doctors.
Chapter 9, Part 5: Bratty McBratFace: Climate Change Warrior or Cycling Menace?
Bratty McBratFace is a social justice champion. There is no cause too big or too small for Bratty to support, mostly manifested through self-righteous Facebook posts. These posts always include links to educate the rest of us simpletons about the politically correct position to take on all current events.
Chapter 9, Part 4: Summer Vacations According to a Mini-Wife
One of Bratty’s summer goals was to take a few trips. She put together a few different schemes during the summer. In the end, the only trip she ended up taking was a weekend trip for her birthday that SO and I took her on. Let’s take a closer look at Bratty’s plans to see why nothing worked out.
Chapter 9, Part 3: Workplace Etiquette According to Bratty McBratFace
In 2017, during Summer of Terror 2.0, Bratty McBratFace was eventually hired as a part-time hostess at a local chain restaurant. The good news is Bratty did not get fired this time as she did during her high school part-time job (spoiler alert – that wasn’t her fault! She was discriminated against! The store manager was against her! She was the victim!). The bad news (for the restaurant, the other workers and customers) was that Bratty did not get fired so unfortunately they were stuck with her.
Chapter 9, Part 2: Summer of Terror 2.0 – I Am Not Bratty’s Mother
During the next few weeks Bratty made a half-hearted effort at a job search. She slept in, watched TV, and ate all day. Dishes piled up in the sink. I would leave for work having put breakfast dishes in the dishwasher, and would come home to a sink full of Bratty’s dirty dishes from the day. She also left the patio door open when the air conditioning was on full blast, left the front door unlocked, lost the pool key (which SO paid $25 to the HOA to replace), kept parking crooked in the driveway blocking my car every morning, wouldn’t clean her bathroom, kept leaving the ironing board ou
Chapter 9, Part 1: Summer of Terror 2.0, and Bratty McBratFace Sets Goals
Chapter 9 will be split into a few parts – it was an action-packed summer with Bratty living with us full time!
In May, a newly bald Bratty returned from Amsterdam. Shortly after her return, SO had to depart on a quick business trip. So it was just Bratty and I for her first couple of days.