Your mom sounds like she'd be a blast at a party . . .
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I know a person who acts a bit like her, in the sense that she finds fault in everything and everyone. Could never figure out why someone would want to go around in life being miserable all the time.
Glad to hear that you and your sis had fun, despite your mom. Sounds to me like there were plenty of upbeat activities for the weekend. You mentioned a market that was near your sister's home. Was it a specialized sort of food store, and was it an independent store versus a chain, like Whole Foods, for example? Did you pack a doggie bag and bring it home in your carry-on bag, to Walt?