Letters to the Editor
imogen_june
Published Letters: 86 Editor's Choice: 10
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Art Storage
[Read the article: My walls are covered with my mother's paintings]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If you do decide to store the work you don't want hanging in your place, here are a few things I learned when I was in a similar situation:
- Oil paintings should be stored upright (not flat, as the canvas can sag causing cracking and flaking) in low humidity and safe from temperature extremes, dirt, rodents, pets, and children. A closet would work, but putting them in the garage, basement, attic or under the bed could damage them.
- Rolling up the canvases could also crack the paint, depending on their condition. I wouldn't do it without consulting a professional first.
- "Long-term" storage might be more economical than you think. I looked into one place that would crate artwork in climate-controlled conditions, where the month-to-month costs were quite low (as little as $40), but you have to pay when you want to access the stored items. If you wanted to set them aside and reassess later, this could be perfect.
I think it would also probably feel good to give stuff away to people who knew and loved your mom, if you decide there are some pieces you definitely don't want to keep. Because really the point is to honor your mother's memory and artistic achievement, isn't it? It's nice to have some other people helping you with that.
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Little Piggies
[Read the article: This little piggy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If she was acting like a little pig, who taught her to act that way? Her parents. With all the passive-aggressive crap going on in that custody battle, who can blame the girl for dealing with her problems by dodging a phone call or two?
My dad used to call me "a little snot" every time he wanted attention from me and I didn't give it to him (generally because I was holed up in my room like a normal teenager). At the time it made me feel misunderstood and worthless, and like I must somehow be doing something bad without knowing it. So yes, Heather, name calling hurts.
In retrospect I realize it all had a lot more to do with my dad's own vulnerability and neediness. This incident reminds me a lot of that. At least my mom wasn't leaking our private matters to the media ... though I wish she would have stepped in and defended me.
Ah, issues I dealt with in therapy ...
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Ack
[Read the article: My girlfriend's stepfather is a real a-hole ... and a dying man]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Sorry you're getting slammed, LW. I don't think you're a self-absorbed a-hole.
When my mom was dying she got very distant and withdrawn, even with people she was quite close to. My boyfriend at the time was convinced she didn't like him much, and to be honest, I, too, was disappointed that she didn't seem more interested in getting to know him. But I think she was basically depressed and scared, and didn't have the energy to connect socially.
There's no way I would have anticipated that, though, before I experienced it first hand, and I don't think it's fair, LW, that you're getting slammed for the letter you wrote while navigating this very new, very serious situation.
I'd just try to remember it really isn't personal; it's most likely not about you. If he doesn't want to shoot the breeze with you, probably the kindest thing you can do when you go over there is be polite and say hi, but then don't worry about trying to connect with him. I think it would be fine to talk to your girlfriend about it - not to say "your stepdad's an a-hole," but maybe just tell her you feel a little awkward with the situation and aren't sure how to handle it. I bet she'd be understanding if you put it that way. It might help just to know she's on your side as you go through the motions of your one-sided courtesies.
It's a stressful time for everyone, and that's going to impact you, too. Your feelings in the matter might not be the top priority, but they aren't completely irrelevant.
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Hilton's Hissy Fit
[Read the article: America without makeup]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't think there'd be nearly as much pity over the "scapegoating" of Hilton if she hadn't lost it so completely. If she had gone to jail (both times) with her head held high, I doubt there'd be nearly as much concern for the severity of her punishment.
As it is, it's as though she's thrown a massive temper tantrum and manipulated the "grown-ups" into feeling sorry for her. I imagine she has lots of practice with that. She's also probably not the first person who got upset about going to jail - we just didn't get to see video footage of all the others.
She didn't get a jail sentence for being a celebrity, she got it because she demonstrated repeatedly through her behavior that she had nothing but contempt for the ruling of the court. She got a series of chances before the judge sent her to prison. I admire him for not being intimidated by her celebrity status and meting out a consequence that she couldn't disregard.
Btw, I believe the quote was "It's not right," rather than "not fair."
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Forget Harry Potter
[Read the article: Harry Potter and the prediction pool]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Instead I'm on pins and needles to know if chickadee and Rob Anderson went on bowling dates in the summer of '66.
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Yes
[Read the article: A 19-year-old wants my husband]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Totally, go for it. Have this young lady over for family dinners. Be a shoulder to cry on. Talk to her about her troubles. Leave her alone at your house to babysit for the kids. Tell your husband to enter into a dominant/submissive relationship with her, so he can control completely, and maybe even have wild BDSM sex with her, too.
I think you've answered your own questions here! Not such a dilemma after all, was it? Enjoy the fun ...