I am in a sour mood because I can't blow off a friend's materialism.

[Bertha Venation]

We went to help D. go through her late father's stuff. A herculean task, because D. comes by her pack-rat-ism honestly; neither of her parents, it seems, ever threw anything away. To thank us D. treated us to dinner.

Being extremely shrewd and talented in money matters (and a CPA), D. is somewhat well off. Mrs. V. is quite used to hearing D. talk about money, having known her for about fifteen years. But I don't know her very well. I love her and consider her a friend, and until tonight it's never bothered me to hear her talk about her plans for buying and buying.

Maybe it's because the eggplant parmesan was the worst I've ever had.* Maybe it's because I have rotten pains that are pretty severe tonight. Maybe it's hormonal (I have no way of knowing, actually). Maybe it's because I grew up in the Consider the Lilies of the Field School of Economix and am content with having basic needs met, and I'm just too stuck up today to consider that it's okay that that's not enough for some people.

Maybe I'm just an asshole.

No need to say "no, Bertha, you're okay, it's your friend." I just needed to blow this off. I don't want to go to bed sullen. Thank you for reading my rant.

* In what part of Italy do they batter strips of eggplant, rather than breading slices of it and lightly frying them in olive oil before baking in marinara? Weeeeird and blechy.

[bigwillq]

1. Hey Bertha--

:loveya: :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

4. bigwillq

that is exactly what i needed and i didn't know it. Thank you from the bottom of my liver.

[bigwillq]

5. What you really need to be worrying about

is you and those rotten pains. Get better.:hug:

[Ellen Forradalom]

2. Consider the Lilies of the Field School of Economix

I love it!

[Bertha Venation]

6. wish i could take credit...

I think I read a similar line in a Rita Mae Brown book. So I can't take credit, even though I know it wasn't exactly that. But I DO like it so much. :)

[Ellen Forradalom]

11. It's just perfect

whoever came up with it.

[supernova]

3. Part of it may be the grief talking

so your friend's materialism may be more pronounced than usual.

It's very hard to let go of "things" that belonged to the deceased. Because it really means letting them go fromm this reality.

Supernova,

Reforming pack rat.

[Bertha Venation]

8. oh, my. excellent point...

I hadn't thought of that. Thank you, SN.

[Kenneth ken]

7. well

of course the eggplant was in strips rather than round slices. Look at the country, it's long and narrow, not round. :D :silly:

It does sound like that would be a yucky eggplant parmasean.

I do understand how you could get overdosed on someone else's materialism. I know some very materialistic people; some days it doesn't bother me much, other days, it just makes me wonder what they could possibly be thinking, and how it is they became friends of mine. :crazy:

I hope you have a lovely evening, and a better tomorrow. :hi:

[Bertha Venation]

9. TY, Ken, I appreciate that so much.

:silly: indeed. But doesn't that mean that my eggplant parmesan should taste like shoe leather? Italy's long, yes, but it also looks like a boot... ba dum pum!

[ET Awful]

10. Every time I see the phrase "lillies of the field" now, I can't help but

flash on "Oh Brother Where Art Thou"

"Pete, the personal rancor reflected in that remark I don't intend to dignify with comment, but I would like to address your general attitude of hopeless negativism. Consider the lilies of the goddamn field, or-hell take a look at Delmar here as your paradigm a hope."

[Bertha Venation]

12. oh, yeah, man... "consider the lilies of the goddamn field"

what a good movie

:hi: ET

and with that, my friends, it's time for me to say goodnight.

'night, all

[Fridays Child]

13. Know what, Bertha? The older and more politically aware I become...

...the more that shit grates on my nerves, too. But, like you say, some of it may be hormonal, too. Politics and peri-menopause have helped me to re-prioritize things, and I no longer suffer fools quite as gladly as I did in my younger years.

[Bertha Venation]

14. I guess politics & peri-menopause affect some of us differently.

I imagine that they've had the same affect on me as on you. But not on everyone... Actually, I can't say that and be fair. I don't think D.'s hit P-M yet. :shrug:

Thank you for the perspective.

[zanne]

15. My sister told me my politics are "extreme" because of

my fluctuating hormones. I said "Do I know you"?

[Bertha Venation]

16. Oh, give me a break.

If everything that is blamed on the fluctuating hormones of women were actually attributable to the fluctuating hormones of women, men would have come up with a way either to remove hormones from women's bloodstreams -- or to outlaw the possession of hormones -- or simply to imprison all women when their hormones (which have become, by congressional mandate, subject to spot-check at the whim of any man) reach a certain level.

And this came from your sister? You have my sympathies.