Dina Koutas Poch Blog

I’ve received some provocative in-law stories. Here’s Annabel’s ditty. What do you think she should do?

Annabel’s STORY:

I have been married for about 3 years now. Been with my husband for almost 7 years 

total. His mother doesn’t know how to deal with girls. She has two boys and 

isn’t very feminine herself. 

Nothing I do is right and sometimes I find it very difficult to deal with her.

#1: When we first started dating I helped them paint their deck to get ready for a party. 

Apparently I didn’t do it correctly, because as I would finish with a section of the 

railing, she would come behind me and paint over it.  

#2: I was up at the cabin one time, and on the insistence of my father-in-law went 

into the cabin to help her with lunch. She told me to cut an onion for burgers. 

To my dismay I did not cut it right, she pulled it away from me and recut the leftovers.

She never has asked me to cut an onion again. When I have volunteered to cook dinner, 

she butts in and tells me what I need to do. 

#3: I was putting together a ceasar salad a few weeks ago (Lettuce, Dressing, Cheese & 

Croutons) and she was trying to tell me how to do it.

I need help in understanding how to deal with her. I plan on going to get your book 

today and read up! Thanks for writing something like this. I have passed it on to my 

sister-in-law who has the same problems that I do.

Hi ANNABEL…Your mother-in-law is a CONTROL freak.  Sorry babe.  It sucks.  I’d just let her cut the onion her way.  I mean, it’s CLEARLY the best way.  And Caesar salad does has a certain flair - ha!

Flatter her; ask her to teach you all the uses white vinegar has in the house. Because flattery gets you 100% everywhere. Or how to make a poached egg. She’ll love that.

Or, don’t take her SGT. GENERAL BOSSY approach to life, to heart. Next time, when she hip-checks you out of the kitchen, to re-julienne the peppers, grab a Pepsi and sit outside in the garden. You’re never going to change her. Until she’s 95 and then you’ll literally have to change her underwear.

‘Twas a lovely evening.  Ronnie and Mara are the best HOSTS ever.

They even found me an adorable antique desk to sign books at and A FEATHER PEN. So, 1919!! I love it!

At the party, I heard GREAT in-law stories from brides getting their dress-on.  In-laws were present.

That’s MY mother-in-law above smiling with a Dr. from NYU.  How cute!  Also,we kinda forgot to take pictures — why? what? how?  I don’t know.  But here’s a moment of sheer unadulterated JOY!

What does Blue think?

Sparkling vodka? Wedding Dresses? Men reading about in-laws? Ada, you can run, but you can’t hide.

Apparently the book tastes good.  Like a juicy pureed steak. Ah, baby food.

Hello. Dina and Geraldo kissing in a tree! K-i-s-s-i-n-g.

I’m dressed in crazy-ass STAGE make-up. Geraldo is dressed as a pirate going to a day job.

Do you like THE SATELLITE SISTERS radio show?  I do!  These ladies are hilarious!  (Also, they’re originally from my hometown, Fairfield, CT.)

I was on their show today.  Just before my interview, I was feeling:

Thankfully, post-interview, I learned that they have like a *million* listeners! What-what-what?  I’m happy that I didn’t know that beforehand.

Callers phoned the show with in-law questions!  One Satellite Sister asked me to interpret her bizarre in-law gifts!  I used the phrase: “I’m possessed.”  Good stuff.

Here’s a link to their show to download the podcast:

http://satellitesisters.com/audio.php and the show date was 07/09/07

Also, I woke up this morning to my Earl Gray Tea and a 2-page spread in NEWSDAY featuring the book.  Hello!

I ran out my front door and screamed. And then had to come home again. It was hot outside.

Anyway! Send me your in-law stories. I’ll post them so we can start chatting about them.  Love!

Hello world! THE BOOK IS HERE!

The mother ship delivered it to your local bookstore. So…RUN — don’t walk, stop and chat with your neighbor, Pat, or fix your sock — and buy the book. Oh, while you’re there, can you strategically place the book on the display table? Thanks. Um, I did that at the Barnes& Noble on 23rd street. Guilty.

So to express my JOY and EXCITEMENT I did a little drawing: “Life before book” and “Life after book.”

Also, check out Blueprint magazine this month. There’s a little sumptin’ sumptin’ about in-laws and el book-o. Pretty cool.

Alright party peeps. I’ve got lots of press coming up. Check out the news page to learn about the Kleinfeld’s party this month (brides, cocktails, and dresses - oh my.) Talk in a bit!

I Heart My In-Laws
Falling in Love With His Family — One Passive-Aggressive, Over-Indulgent, Grandkid-Craving, Streisand-Loving, Bible-Thumping In-Law at a Time

A practical, laugh-out-loud guide to adopting your man’s family — from your first date to your firstborn

Girlfriends, fiancées, and wives rejoice! Here, at last, is a book you can turn to in times of stress, panic, and family vacations to the smallest cottage ever built on the island of Nantucket. Mirroring the natural progression of a relationship and incorporating interviews from women just like you, this hilarious, savvy guide will help you survive your first meeting with future in-laws, from the holidays, weddings, and new babies, to the day they retire to the house next door because “it’s a great real estate investment.”