Revolt against your oppressors! (free thread)
July 31, 2023 9:48 AM Subscribe
Here's your Monday Morning cup of free thread. Fly! Be Free! (Mork & Mindy clip).
I can't overstate how formative this was for me as a kid. Mork & Mindy and Robin Williams' antics left a permanent imprint on my brain. Mork was zany, childlike, funny, and kind... what a great combination for a kid.
We have too many cats, but the local rescue has a pair named Mork & Mindy that are bonded and haven't been adopted yet. I keep checking their page to see if anyone has spoken for them yet, but no one has. I feel like the universe is telling me they need to be ours. My wife disagrees, but I don't know how much longer I can stand them not having a forever home.
posted by jzb at 10:00 AM on July 31, 2023 [13 favorites]
We have too many cats, but the local rescue has a pair named Mork & Mindy that are bonded and haven't been adopted yet. I keep checking their page to see if anyone has spoken for them yet, but no one has. I feel like the universe is telling me they need to be ours. My wife disagrees, but I don't know how much longer I can stand them not having a forever home.
posted by jzb at 10:00 AM on July 31, 2023 [13 favorites]
News from the weekend: Walrus proportions are surprisingly tricky to draw.
(Also, "The Walrus Proportions" would be a good band name.)
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:00 AM on July 31, 2023 [6 favorites]
(Also, "The Walrus Proportions" would be a good band name.)
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:00 AM on July 31, 2023 [6 favorites]
And I agree with jzb, Robin Williams was a huge influence on me (along with Steve Martin and George Carlin). My sense of humor has been warped ever since.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:03 AM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:03 AM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
This thread is your omen, jzb.
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:03 AM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:03 AM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
Mork was a huge inspiration to me as a kid!
posted by The otter lady at 10:03 AM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by The otter lady at 10:03 AM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
Mork & Mindy had more non-cruel laughs per minute than most shows had in half an hour. It was revolutionary, and for me also foundational, that humour doesn't have to be cruel.
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:04 AM on July 31, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:04 AM on July 31, 2023 [8 favorites]
Mork, Hawkeye in M*A*S*H, Judge Harry Stone in Night Court, Doctor Who #4... Funny, but kind, exactly
posted by The otter lady at 10:10 AM on July 31, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by The otter lady at 10:10 AM on July 31, 2023 [8 favorites]
"Mork, Hawkeye in M*A*S*H, Judge Harry Stone in Night Court, Doctor Who #4... Funny, but kind, exactly"
I'd add to my list Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP and Burt and Jodie from Soap. (Hell, most of the cast of Soap, really.)
posted by jzb at 10:19 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
I'd add to my list Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP and Burt and Jodie from Soap. (Hell, most of the cast of Soap, really.)
posted by jzb at 10:19 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
Welp, I'm already a failure at work this morning. I had a giant fuckup I can't even explain why I fucked up, and I did not get into the show I auditioned for this weekend, which should have been a slam dunk since as far as I know very few people auditioned and it was an improvised show. So it's not a case of you don't fit a role, it's just that you suck.
I am so tired of being a failure and always sucking.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:22 AM on July 31, 2023 [12 favorites]
I am so tired of being a failure and always sucking.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:22 AM on July 31, 2023 [12 favorites]
Thank you sean. This is (probably) (going to be) another amazing free thread. I enjoy free threads. And so should you.
posted by flamewise at 10:26 AM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by flamewise at 10:26 AM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think Monday definitively sucks but I hope you don't let it rub off on you, jenfullmoon
posted by elkevelvet at 10:27 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by elkevelvet at 10:27 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
I took the leap of moving in with the boyfriend and I gotta say it fucking rocks. We have a better place and he continues to just be wonderful. Both of us have scars from previous long term relationships so we are not counting on things to last forever or making assumptions. But we're pretty fucking happy now and that's plenty.
posted by emjaybee at 10:31 AM on July 31, 2023 [18 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 10:31 AM on July 31, 2023 [18 favorites]
"I am so tired of being a failure and always sucking."
Please be kind to yourself. You are not your performance at work, or elsewhere. I'm sorry that you're going through a tough time, and it's OK to acknowledge when we fall short of our or others' expectations but those things aren't what make you a worthy person. You have lots of value and worth whether you are in the right job or not.
It'll get better. Sorry you've had a bad day so far!
posted by jzb at 10:33 AM on July 31, 2023 [18 favorites]
Please be kind to yourself. You are not your performance at work, or elsewhere. I'm sorry that you're going through a tough time, and it's OK to acknowledge when we fall short of our or others' expectations but those things aren't what make you a worthy person. You have lots of value and worth whether you are in the right job or not.
It'll get better. Sorry you've had a bad day so far!
posted by jzb at 10:33 AM on July 31, 2023 [18 favorites]
I cycled to work despite being hungover. So there's a silver lining to Monday's suckiness.
posted by Gorgik at 10:37 AM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by Gorgik at 10:37 AM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
Work continues to be a complete nightmare shit show. Home life not much better, tbh. I really need one or the other to settle down, so I have secretly set a work exit date in my head and it's actually making me feel much better. I have a deadline to work towards and that helps.
I'm really sad, because I don't want to leave my job, but I keep telling myself, look, an (un)natural disaster hit your job and eradicated it. You were right in the path of a tornado, or, more appropriately, the path of the Uruk-Hai. I am collateral damage and it isn't my fault. I could maybe stay, for a while, before they decide to turn the Eye my way or use me to test out a new death ray, but it turns out I do not have the capacity or compartmentalizing ability or whatever it would take to work for Voldemort, Vader & Sauron, LLC.
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:41 AM on July 31, 2023 [16 favorites]
I'm really sad, because I don't want to leave my job, but I keep telling myself, look, an (un)natural disaster hit your job and eradicated it. You were right in the path of a tornado, or, more appropriately, the path of the Uruk-Hai. I am collateral damage and it isn't my fault. I could maybe stay, for a while, before they decide to turn the Eye my way or use me to test out a new death ray, but it turns out I do not have the capacity or compartmentalizing ability or whatever it would take to work for Voldemort, Vader & Sauron, LLC.
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:41 AM on July 31, 2023 [16 favorites]
"The Walrus Proportions" would be a good band name.
Or perhaps a Tom Robbins novel.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:43 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
Or perhaps a Tom Robbins novel.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:43 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
My NYT crossword streak ended yesterday. I'm very annoyed because I think my answer was OK.
Spoiler for yesterday's crossword:
I spent over a half hour checking each square, looking in vain for my mistake.
So for the third year in a row my goal to finish every NYT crossword on time and get the solid "gold" completion for a calendar year falls by the wayside. Even more embarrassingly, this is actually the first puzzle in years that I legit failed to solve, usually my streak craps out because I just missed a day.
posted by mark k at 10:46 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
Spoiler for yesterday's crossword:
There was one of those pair of clues where 37-down was "counterpart for 42-across" and 42-across was "see 37-down". I wrote "TIC" and "TAC" which seemed like counterparts to me. What the constructor actually wanted was "TIT" and "TAT"; I agree tit-for-tat is better but I still think tic/tac is valid. And they intersected on the last letter so the my "mistake" wasn't something that I could catch by look at the down or across options.
I spent over a half hour checking each square, looking in vain for my mistake.
So for the third year in a row my goal to finish every NYT crossword on time and get the solid "gold" completion for a calendar year falls by the wayside. Even more embarrassingly, this is actually the first puzzle in years that I legit failed to solve, usually my streak craps out because I just missed a day.
posted by mark k at 10:46 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
The weather is warm but tolerable for a change. I've had both breakfast and lunch on the back patio today!
posted by May Kasahara at 10:52 AM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by May Kasahara at 10:52 AM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
jenfullmoon, I'm full of a lot of those feelings today and I know it's a mirage even while it feels horribly real. I hope your day gets better.
In other news, I did not get killed by a bear yesterday even though one came onto our back porch and there are paw prints inside our car (which apparently we did not lock, but did you know bears can open car door handles? I certainly didn't).
posted by joannemerriam at 10:54 AM on July 31, 2023 [13 favorites]
In other news, I did not get killed by a bear yesterday even though one came onto our back porch and there are paw prints inside our car (which apparently we did not lock, but did you know bears can open car door handles? I certainly didn't).
posted by joannemerriam at 10:54 AM on July 31, 2023 [13 favorites]
Failure, you say? Well, I went to RAGBRAI last week... and dropped out on day 3 of 7. I'm used to having a slightly rough (or more than slightly rough, depending) time on the first day, then my body adjusting to sleeping outdoors and my mind adjusting to pedaling for hours every day. This year, that did not happen. Some possible and definite reasons:
- The first day, I forgot to take my morning medications, because I was trying to get an early start to beat as much of the heat as I could. I take several, mostly for diabetes but some for other things. I need my meds. I got about 60 hilly miles out of the approx. 75 and then threw up. A kindly farmer sagged me to the overnight town. The next day, I made sure to take my meds, and did better, although the day was shorter (about 55, less hilly). The third day, I take my meds, get about 20 miles out... and I completely run out of go juice. For only the second time in the ten RAGBRAIs that I've done (in fact, since the first day of the first one), I pull over to the side of the road and wait for the official RAGBRAI sag wagon. It takes a while, and I know that the week is going to get hotter and that the hilliest day is also on the longest day. By the time I've made it to the next overnight town, I've decided to drop out. I think that the culprit may have been that I went on another medication--Ozempic (semaglutide), you may have heard of it--and that my other medications may need to be adjusted in order for me to do long rides on successive days.
- This was the 6th longest and 6th hilliest RAGBRAI, during a widespread heat wave. The humidity in particular made it brutal as the week wore on. Last year, the heat wave was the week before the ride, and the ride went fine.
- It was crowded. The ride was previously capped at 8500 week-long riders, with more showing up for individual days; the rumor mill varied on how many more there were this year, but it was noticeable.
- I am, as they say, not getting any younger. At least my knees weren't a particular problem.
So, I'll see if my docs will fiddle with my meds a bit, although this may be a thing of the past for me. I certainly enjoyed getting back to a real bed and air conditioning, got my Barbenheimer on, and went to a nice Lughnasadh service yesterday. And later this week, I'm going to Gen Con, which involves being still, in a chair, inside.
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:00 AM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
- The first day, I forgot to take my morning medications, because I was trying to get an early start to beat as much of the heat as I could. I take several, mostly for diabetes but some for other things. I need my meds. I got about 60 hilly miles out of the approx. 75 and then threw up. A kindly farmer sagged me to the overnight town. The next day, I made sure to take my meds, and did better, although the day was shorter (about 55, less hilly). The third day, I take my meds, get about 20 miles out... and I completely run out of go juice. For only the second time in the ten RAGBRAIs that I've done (in fact, since the first day of the first one), I pull over to the side of the road and wait for the official RAGBRAI sag wagon. It takes a while, and I know that the week is going to get hotter and that the hilliest day is also on the longest day. By the time I've made it to the next overnight town, I've decided to drop out. I think that the culprit may have been that I went on another medication--Ozempic (semaglutide), you may have heard of it--and that my other medications may need to be adjusted in order for me to do long rides on successive days.
- This was the 6th longest and 6th hilliest RAGBRAI, during a widespread heat wave. The humidity in particular made it brutal as the week wore on. Last year, the heat wave was the week before the ride, and the ride went fine.
- It was crowded. The ride was previously capped at 8500 week-long riders, with more showing up for individual days; the rumor mill varied on how many more there were this year, but it was noticeable.
- I am, as they say, not getting any younger. At least my knees weren't a particular problem.
So, I'll see if my docs will fiddle with my meds a bit, although this may be a thing of the past for me. I certainly enjoyed getting back to a real bed and air conditioning, got my Barbenheimer on, and went to a nice Lughnasadh service yesterday. And later this week, I'm going to Gen Con, which involves being still, in a chair, inside.
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:00 AM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
I cycled to work despite being hungover.
For two years (2018-2020), I rode a bike to work almost every day. Seven miles both ways. I alternated between 3 routes in because I had to be on time. On the way home though, I took about a dozen and it was exhilarating.
If you have spent a few years driving home from work every day in a large city, you know what that's like. Stuck in traffic and dealing with other drivers just adds to the stress of work.
Leaving work and riding a bike like I did when I was twelve - under, through, behind, around - the feeling was magical.
posted by mmrtnt at 11:04 AM on July 31, 2023 [9 favorites]
For two years (2018-2020), I rode a bike to work almost every day. Seven miles both ways. I alternated between 3 routes in because I had to be on time. On the way home though, I took about a dozen and it was exhilarating.
If you have spent a few years driving home from work every day in a large city, you know what that's like. Stuck in traffic and dealing with other drivers just adds to the stress of work.
Leaving work and riding a bike like I did when I was twelve - under, through, behind, around - the feeling was magical.
posted by mmrtnt at 11:04 AM on July 31, 2023 [9 favorites]
We just told the kids about some vacation plans for a few months from now, and the VRBO host cancels our room a few hours after we can't cancel the airline tickets. DAMMIT. The next-best decent option is a lot more money.
Apparently asking if they can confirm that the teal couch was a hide-a-bed -- twice, after no reply for 24 hours -- was a bit too much harassment. Burn down the rent-seekers.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:13 AM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
Apparently asking if they can confirm that the teal couch was a hide-a-bed -- twice, after no reply for 24 hours -- was a bit too much harassment. Burn down the rent-seekers.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:13 AM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
Here's a joke to cheer up your Monday:
What did the drummer name her twin daughters?
Anna 1, Anna 2!
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:14 AM on July 31, 2023 [15 favorites]
What did the drummer name her twin daughters?
Anna 1, Anna 2!
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:14 AM on July 31, 2023 [15 favorites]
At my desk after a whole week of vacation and my birthday (a numerologically interesting one if not quite a milestone.)
Sadly yesterday I overdid it gardening, I had not weeded in some time and all the grass is now in seed and I was trying to hoe it out - so today is a hot pad in the low back and regular ibuprofen kind of day. Interesting how much I don't want to bend over. I have a scheduled massage tomorrow and I hope she can give it some attention without further strain.
In the garden: cucumbers galore! Tomatoes beginning to ripen. Garlic dug and curing in the basement. Flowers coming in. We planted some late veg, including brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and pumpkins. I don't know how I can dig the potatoes with this back, though.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 11:16 AM on July 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
Sadly yesterday I overdid it gardening, I had not weeded in some time and all the grass is now in seed and I was trying to hoe it out - so today is a hot pad in the low back and regular ibuprofen kind of day. Interesting how much I don't want to bend over. I have a scheduled massage tomorrow and I hope she can give it some attention without further strain.
In the garden: cucumbers galore! Tomatoes beginning to ripen. Garlic dug and curing in the basement. Flowers coming in. We planted some late veg, including brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and pumpkins. I don't know how I can dig the potatoes with this back, though.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 11:16 AM on July 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
joannemerriam, not only can bears open car doors, but bears in Colorado and bears in North Carolina all learned to do this in about the same time frame! I started seeing references to it in the mid 2000s and now they can all do it. Ever since I discovered this - and it may be anecdata; I'm not a bear scientist; I am extrapolating from news articles and people's reports in bear heavy western North Carolina, where I used to live and southwestern Colorado where I have friends - I have been kind of joyful and terrified simultaneously, because it sure looks like the bears are passing on learned knowledge.
posted by mygothlaundry at 11:17 AM on July 31, 2023 [10 favorites]
posted by mygothlaundry at 11:17 AM on July 31, 2023 [10 favorites]
My NYT crossword streak ended yesterday. I'm very annoyed because I think my answer was OK.
That answer pairing was abysmal. ARGGGH. It started my day angry. It took several hours of murdering nephews and cousins in Crusader Kings 3 to set me back on an even keel. PS they had it coming. They know what they did.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 11:17 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
That answer pairing was abysmal. ARGGGH. It started my day angry. It took several hours of murdering nephews and cousins in Crusader Kings 3 to set me back on an even keel. PS they had it coming. They know what they did.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 11:17 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
It's the last few hours of July. The nights are drawing in, tomorrow will see August begin, and five weeks from today the supermarkets start selling Christmas puddings, mince pies and other seasonal foods. Yay!
Another marker that the summer is coming to an end is the conclusion, just a few minutes ago, of the latest Ashes series. 2-2 seems a fair result; Australia are currently the World Champions with a formidable batting line-up; England had home advantage and arguably the best bowling line-up, plus their radical 'Bazball' approach to test match cricket. It's been absorbing to follow, and bitter-sweet in seeing Stuart "bail flipper" Broad end his career but in style (a 6 off his last ball faced, a wicket off his last ball bowled).
Speaking of summer; people in England have been complaining about the weather (then again, when do English people not complain about the weather?). It has been oddly but pleasantly cool, and constantly showery, and to be honest - I'm loving it, after last year's heatwave, and am relieved I made the risky choice to stay put this summer, rather than disappearing to Scandinavia. And I personally feel that this summer, here, should be enjoyed in terms of the weather, as future summers ... probably less so.
Today also marks the end of my three month informal research project. Tomorrow I ratchet things up in terms of research effort and putting in the hours, so I'll be spending much less time on social media for a while.
Time for a halloumi salad. Enjoy your late summer, y'all.
posted by Wordshore at 11:18 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
Another marker that the summer is coming to an end is the conclusion, just a few minutes ago, of the latest Ashes series. 2-2 seems a fair result; Australia are currently the World Champions with a formidable batting line-up; England had home advantage and arguably the best bowling line-up, plus their radical 'Bazball' approach to test match cricket. It's been absorbing to follow, and bitter-sweet in seeing Stuart "bail flipper" Broad end his career but in style (a 6 off his last ball faced, a wicket off his last ball bowled).
Speaking of summer; people in England have been complaining about the weather (then again, when do English people not complain about the weather?). It has been oddly but pleasantly cool, and constantly showery, and to be honest - I'm loving it, after last year's heatwave, and am relieved I made the risky choice to stay put this summer, rather than disappearing to Scandinavia. And I personally feel that this summer, here, should be enjoyed in terms of the weather, as future summers ... probably less so.
Today also marks the end of my three month informal research project. Tomorrow I ratchet things up in terms of research effort and putting in the hours, so I'll be spending much less time on social media for a while.
Time for a halloumi salad. Enjoy your late summer, y'all.
posted by Wordshore at 11:18 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
not only can bears open car doors,
suddenly the strength tests in Project Grizzly where he gets them to ram a vehicle into him while he's wearing the suit seem less ludicrous..
posted by elkevelvet at 11:20 AM on July 31, 2023
suddenly the strength tests in Project Grizzly where he gets them to ram a vehicle into him while he's wearing the suit seem less ludicrous..
posted by elkevelvet at 11:20 AM on July 31, 2023
My NYT crossword streak ended yesterday. I'm very annoyed because I think my answer was OK.
When I read this I knew exactly what it was going to be. Not only was your answer "OK", it was correct. I had it too. The answer the puzzle "wanted" is correct as well, but our answer is perfectly acceptable and it's simply not OK to have two answers that are both right and count one as wrong.
I finally figured it out after almost an hour, totally screwing my time but saving my streak (which is getting on three years). But it's bullshit and you can be sure the NYT will get a lot of angry letters. I'm sorry that happened to you. It sucks.
posted by The Bellman at 11:21 AM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
When I read this I knew exactly what it was going to be. Not only was your answer "OK", it was correct. I had it too. The answer the puzzle "wanted" is correct as well, but our answer is perfectly acceptable and it's simply not OK to have two answers that are both right and count one as wrong.
I finally figured it out after almost an hour, totally screwing my time but saving my streak (which is getting on three years). But it's bullshit and you can be sure the NYT will get a lot of angry letters. I'm sorry that happened to you. It sucks.
posted by The Bellman at 11:21 AM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
But it's bullshit and you can be sure the NYT will get a lot of angry letters.
I wonder if non-crossword people can appreciate this
The last family reunion when my dad was still alive, I will never forget coming over to the common area the first morning to see all the siblings with their individual papers open, all of them working on crosswords and exchanging the occasional grunt or reluctant question. The level of competition and determination was something to see. I'm a complete dilletante when it comes to crosswords but I've had a glimpse into the Beyond and I kind of get it
posted by elkevelvet at 11:34 AM on July 31, 2023 [8 favorites]
I wonder if non-crossword people can appreciate this
The last family reunion when my dad was still alive, I will never forget coming over to the common area the first morning to see all the siblings with their individual papers open, all of them working on crosswords and exchanging the occasional grunt or reluctant question. The level of competition and determination was something to see. I'm a complete dilletante when it comes to crosswords but I've had a glimpse into the Beyond and I kind of get it
posted by elkevelvet at 11:34 AM on July 31, 2023 [8 favorites]
We got yesterday's crossword without that kind of search, but I have resorted to the answer key (available to subscribers via the Wordplay blog) to solve a problem like that when our streak was previously at risk (usually on a Thursday when I know what the rebus answers are supposed to be, but not how they want me to enter them to be counted as "correct").
posted by fedward at 11:35 AM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by fedward at 11:35 AM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
I remember eating lunch in a cafe, last summer, at a table next to an elderly couple who were doing their crossword puzzles. Their conversation sounded like:
"Italian white wine"
"What?"
"Italian white wine"
"Italian what?"
"Italian white wine"
"How many letters?"
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 11:44 AM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
"Italian white wine"
"What?"
"Italian white wine"
"Italian what?"
"Italian white wine"
"How many letters?"
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 11:44 AM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
Our cat Rico has always been kind of obnoxious -- wanting attention ALL NIGHT, but especially right at sunrise, sticking his tail in my ear, flopping over dramatically onto my foot, standing on body parts he shouldn't be standing on, jumping off the bed and then howling because he's no longer in the bed, not staying in one place for more than about 38.2 seconds, stage-diving off the headboard behind us, and occasionally drawing blood more out of clumsiness than malice, etc.
A couple of weeks ago we had a 3-day power outage, and Rico was super mellow, spending a lot of time sleeping under the bed and only occasionally looking for affection. I guessed that maybe he just prefers the warmer temperatures (too hot for us to sleep well), so I got him a cozy self-warming cat bed (it reflects body heat). It has worked extremely well. So I want to leave a review saying "since we bought this bed, my wife and I have never slept better!"
posted by Foosnark at 11:48 AM on July 31, 2023 [12 favorites]
A couple of weeks ago we had a 3-day power outage, and Rico was super mellow, spending a lot of time sleeping under the bed and only occasionally looking for affection. I guessed that maybe he just prefers the warmer temperatures (too hot for us to sleep well), so I got him a cozy self-warming cat bed (it reflects body heat). It has worked extremely well. So I want to leave a review saying "since we bought this bed, my wife and I have never slept better!"
posted by Foosnark at 11:48 AM on July 31, 2023 [12 favorites]
Despite the old adage, today the bastards ARE getting me down.
posted by eekernohan at 12:14 PM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by eekernohan at 12:14 PM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
Spoiler for yesterday's crossword:
As everyone above, I knew what this would be before I clicked. And yes, the "wrong" answer was 100% right, so far as I'm concerned. (I'm also totally okay with finding stray squares by looking at the answer key if all else fails since I'm only competing against myself!)
posted by uncleozzy at 12:17 PM on July 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
As everyone above, I knew what this would be before I clicked. And yes, the "wrong" answer was 100% right, so far as I'm concerned. (I'm also totally okay with finding stray squares by looking at the answer key if all else fails since I'm only competing against myself!)
posted by uncleozzy at 12:17 PM on July 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
I decided to upgrade my desktop CPU but ended up frying the mainboard - or something. Urg. So ashamed.
In March had a massive crush on a friend who initially reciprocated, but the story now is that she had fallen in true love in April with someone that I have to admit is probably more appropriate for them, upon which the reciprocation ended. Damn, but this is still all so bloody painful remaining friends.
posted by porpoise at 12:32 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
In March had a massive crush on a friend who initially reciprocated, but the story now is that she had fallen in true love in April with someone that I have to admit is probably more appropriate for them, upon which the reciprocation ended. Damn, but this is still all so bloody painful remaining friends.
posted by porpoise at 12:32 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
That crossword answer could also have been a certain Australian chocolate biscuit
posted by librosegretti at 12:33 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by librosegretti at 12:33 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
I'm still shaking my head why a neighbour would call the police over a mis-addressed parcel ... and that the neighbour and the police ignored the return label (with the company's phone number on it) and destroyed my stuff.
posted by scruss at 12:57 PM on July 31, 2023 [11 favorites]
posted by scruss at 12:57 PM on July 31, 2023 [11 favorites]
Re: the crossword hoo-ha - "Tic Tac" is a brand name (not sure how the NYT feels about those), or part of a trio "Tic Tac Toe". I don't recall ever hearing that pair outside of those contexts. Not a puzzle expert (barely even an amateur), just speculating...
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:00 PM on July 31, 2023
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:00 PM on July 31, 2023
not sure how the NYT feels about those
Brand names and proper names are fine in the NYT crossword -- it's not Scrabble. For example, it's extremely rare to go a week without an Oreo or two. That cookie was apparently invented to provide vowels to crossword designers.
posted by The Bellman at 1:10 PM on July 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
Brand names and proper names are fine in the NYT crossword -- it's not Scrabble. For example, it's extremely rare to go a week without an Oreo or two. That cookie was apparently invented to provide vowels to crossword designers.
posted by The Bellman at 1:10 PM on July 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
In that case consider my speculation withdrawn. :)
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:16 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:16 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
Dinner now done, guests gone.
I feel particularly proud of this dinner, because the menu was so harmonious. Till now I haven't been very good at thinking the separate courses as a whole (though I had the ambition). But, I literally spent all day on a meal for three people (including shopping and foraging for mushrooms). Not really a problem for me right now, when I am on holiday and making food is really good therapy for my mental health issues. But obviously not something I could do during the work months. Still, it's an experience, and the three of us won't forget it.
Jenfullmoon, there is nothing wrong with you, at all. Don't even think so. Every single human being makes mistakes every now and then, it is a fundamental human skill.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
posted by mumimor at 1:21 PM on July 31, 2023 [11 favorites]
I feel particularly proud of this dinner, because the menu was so harmonious. Till now I haven't been very good at thinking the separate courses as a whole (though I had the ambition). But, I literally spent all day on a meal for three people (including shopping and foraging for mushrooms). Not really a problem for me right now, when I am on holiday and making food is really good therapy for my mental health issues. But obviously not something I could do during the work months. Still, it's an experience, and the three of us won't forget it.
Jenfullmoon, there is nothing wrong with you, at all. Don't even think so. Every single human being makes mistakes every now and then, it is a fundamental human skill.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
posted by mumimor at 1:21 PM on July 31, 2023 [11 favorites]
Deep in work here.
It's been a busy few weeks in Vermont following the floods on July 10th. Today I had the opportunity to contribute to the conversation on our daily noon radio show Vermont Edition. I'm pleased with how the discussion went and hopeful that it's a step on the road to a more sustainable and resilient future here in the state. Proud if the episode, so want to share.
posted by meinvt at 1:59 PM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
It's been a busy few weeks in Vermont following the floods on July 10th. Today I had the opportunity to contribute to the conversation on our daily noon radio show Vermont Edition. I'm pleased with how the discussion went and hopeful that it's a step on the road to a more sustainable and resilient future here in the state. Proud if the episode, so want to share.
posted by meinvt at 1:59 PM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
I have spent the day having an extremely ridiculous argument with a coworker and getting very little work done as a result. This is not generally the kind of workplace where arguments drag out, and I can't figure out whether this is some weird politicking or just someone having a bad day (or both of us having a bad day of the same sort at the same time). At this point I could long since have fixed the issue that triggered this argument, and done a handful of other things beside. This sort of thing is getting more and more common in my department and I would absolutely give a whole finger to know WHY.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 2:10 PM on July 31, 2023
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 2:10 PM on July 31, 2023
This might be WHY you should start looking at job listings.
posted by hippybear at 2:15 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 2:15 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
I've been looking at job listings for four years now, and have yet to see a single one that looks worth applying for, honestly. Have you seen jobs? They're terrible.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 2:24 PM on July 31, 2023 [17 favorites]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 2:24 PM on July 31, 2023 [17 favorites]
My husband died unexpectedly 2 weeks ago. The kids & I are sad and angry and scared, but I know we will be ok in the end. We have been grasping at bits of joy wherever we can find it - a new kitten who is a whirlwind of chaos and love, the Barbie movie where I let them buy ALL the treats at the snack bar, petting every goat at the county fair.
Tomorrow is the day weed becomes legal in our state. My husband would have liked to see it. I'm sorry he doesn't get to sit around the campfire with his friends to celebrate.
posted by belladonna at 2:38 PM on July 31, 2023 [43 favorites]
Tomorrow is the day weed becomes legal in our state. My husband would have liked to see it. I'm sorry he doesn't get to sit around the campfire with his friends to celebrate.
posted by belladonna at 2:38 PM on July 31, 2023 [43 favorites]
OMG belladonna! So many condolences and all the emotional support an internet stranger can offer you. Kittens and Barbie sound like a great way to hold back the wall of grief. Virtual hugs if you want them.
posted by hippybear at 2:44 PM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 2:44 PM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
I'm still shaking my head why a neighbour would call the police over a mis-addressed parcel ... and that the neighbour and the police ignored the return label (with the company's phone number on it) and destroyed my stuff.
Thought same, I read your thread and thought, WTF?!?!? Who does that?! Unless they have stalkers or are afraid of getting busted for something, I have no clue.
I've been looking at job listings for four years now, and have yet to see a single one that looks worh applying for, honestly. Have you seen jobs? They're terrible.
Yes, very much so. They have sucked the entire time I've been job hunting off and on, and periodically I stop hunting because I can't stand reading the same shit over and over and I'm always looking at jobs I don't want. I'm tired of fast-paced office environments with many interruptions, phones and front counter, can you lift 50 pounds/work weekends/have a car/do our finances, blah de blah.
I have had an intake phone appointment with potential therapist #3 and made an appointment for a few days from now. Honestly, I don't feel like we hit it off--she felt very formally polite and I can't say we had any rapport in particular--but any port in a storm at this point. I don't expect it to really work out, but am going to give it my best to try. She said she specializes in trauma and I feel traumatized here, so.
You guys are very sweet. I wish my office felt that way. At least I have a couple of vacation days to burn this week so I won't be in tomorrow.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:59 PM on July 31, 2023 [7 favorites]
Thought same, I read your thread and thought, WTF?!?!? Who does that?! Unless they have stalkers or are afraid of getting busted for something, I have no clue.
I've been looking at job listings for four years now, and have yet to see a single one that looks worh applying for, honestly. Have you seen jobs? They're terrible.
Yes, very much so. They have sucked the entire time I've been job hunting off and on, and periodically I stop hunting because I can't stand reading the same shit over and over and I'm always looking at jobs I don't want. I'm tired of fast-paced office environments with many interruptions, phones and front counter, can you lift 50 pounds/work weekends/have a car/do our finances, blah de blah.
I have had an intake phone appointment with potential therapist #3 and made an appointment for a few days from now. Honestly, I don't feel like we hit it off--she felt very formally polite and I can't say we had any rapport in particular--but any port in a storm at this point. I don't expect it to really work out, but am going to give it my best to try. She said she specializes in trauma and I feel traumatized here, so.
You guys are very sweet. I wish my office felt that way. At least I have a couple of vacation days to burn this week so I won't be in tomorrow.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:59 PM on July 31, 2023 [7 favorites]
Oh belladonna, I’m so sorry. Hold the kitten while it sleeps and laugh while it zooms.
posted by meinvt at 3:07 PM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by meinvt at 3:07 PM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
belladonna, I am so sorry. I hope you find bits of joy every day in the coming months. Ghost hugs to each and every one of you.
Spouse is starting week 2 of unemployment. Week 1 was all about decompressing from being officially fired. This week is additional decompression. Week 3 is when I start holding him to his promise to get the basement and garage cleaned up. He is applying and screening and interviewing and a lot less miserable than he was 10 days ago.
During this period I am going to try very hard not to rage at the individuals who assume that “unemployed” means “he has nothing to do”. The requests have already started.
I have to have physical therapy, as just existing has caused a clicky rotator cuff and trapped muscle in my neck. So that is fun. This is actually the third most painful thing I have experienced and I am looking forward to PT as no amount of painkillers, heat or ice have been able to relieve the relentless discomfort.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:08 PM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
Spouse is starting week 2 of unemployment. Week 1 was all about decompressing from being officially fired. This week is additional decompression. Week 3 is when I start holding him to his promise to get the basement and garage cleaned up. He is applying and screening and interviewing and a lot less miserable than he was 10 days ago.
During this period I am going to try very hard not to rage at the individuals who assume that “unemployed” means “he has nothing to do”. The requests have already started.
I have to have physical therapy, as just existing has caused a clicky rotator cuff and trapped muscle in my neck. So that is fun. This is actually the third most painful thing I have experienced and I am looking forward to PT as no amount of painkillers, heat or ice have been able to relieve the relentless discomfort.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:08 PM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
PT will surprise you. If you're extra lucky they will do the deep heat probe thing on your sore parts. I didn't know that existed until I was in PT for a frozen shoulder, and if I could find that same thing at home it would be AMAZING.
posted by hippybear at 3:10 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 3:10 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
belladonna, I'm so sorry. I hope his memory may be a blessing. Barbie and goats and kittens sound like good ideas. Hugs if they are welcome.
posted by joannemerriam at 3:23 PM on July 31, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by joannemerriam at 3:23 PM on July 31, 2023 [6 favorites]
och belladonna, I'm sorry.
posted by scruss at 3:25 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by scruss at 3:25 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
All the sympathy in the world, Belladonna.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 3:25 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 3:25 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
Belladonna, so sorry.
And all y'all complaining about jobs and about applying for jobs - well, y'all can just rock ME to sleep tonight because I am starting the temp job tomorrow that is going to tide me over while I look for another job after being LAID OFF A COUPLE WEEKS AGO GOD DAMMIT
(That time I know it was "just business", because a. my boss swore up and down to me that it was and I trust him, and b. they cut a FULL THIRD of their staff all told. It was a freakin' bloodbath over there.)
I have finished unpacking from a trip to Woodstock (I'd already booked the trip and kept it because HOO BOY did I need the escape) and I am now sullen and cranky because I don't wanna do any of this damn stupid job hunting crap, I just want someone to issue me something.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:37 PM on July 31, 2023 [9 favorites]
And all y'all complaining about jobs and about applying for jobs - well, y'all can just rock ME to sleep tonight because I am starting the temp job tomorrow that is going to tide me over while I look for another job after being LAID OFF A COUPLE WEEKS AGO GOD DAMMIT
(That time I know it was "just business", because a. my boss swore up and down to me that it was and I trust him, and b. they cut a FULL THIRD of their staff all told. It was a freakin' bloodbath over there.)
I have finished unpacking from a trip to Woodstock (I'd already booked the trip and kept it because HOO BOY did I need the escape) and I am now sullen and cranky because I don't wanna do any of this damn stupid job hunting crap, I just want someone to issue me something.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:37 PM on July 31, 2023 [9 favorites]
Just wanted to say that I love that Metafilter is still around, that while many have left many are still here, and it's still a great place to post links to interesting things you've found online. And I just made an IRL post! Are any of you going to DragonCon this year?
posted by JHarris at 3:47 PM on July 31, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 3:47 PM on July 31, 2023 [8 favorites]
belladonna, when I think about my partner's life ending my mind and body clench up and I am sleepless and in a panic and I feel like crying and I don't know how I'm going to be or live or do anything when it happens.. it's terrible to waste one second fearing what will happen, because it will happen one day, and I should be happy with the time we have. I am sorry for your loss.
posted by elkevelvet at 3:50 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by elkevelvet at 3:50 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
they cut a FULL THIRD of their staff all told. It was a freakin' bloodbath over there.
I went through one of those once, when the company I worked for was bought by another, larger company. Funsies. Fortunately I'd gotten a little advance notice from my supervisor, who liked me and hated to see me go, so it wasn't out of the blue (unlike the other 7 or 8 people, for whom it was a huge shock).
I later heard from someone who'd continued to work there that every year thereafter, a few more people would get laid off, until the place eventually closed entirely. Meanwhile everyone was miserable with worry over who'd get the ax next time. So it sounds like those of us in the "vanguard" were sort of the lucky ones...
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:50 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
I went through one of those once, when the company I worked for was bought by another, larger company. Funsies. Fortunately I'd gotten a little advance notice from my supervisor, who liked me and hated to see me go, so it wasn't out of the blue (unlike the other 7 or 8 people, for whom it was a huge shock).
I later heard from someone who'd continued to work there that every year thereafter, a few more people would get laid off, until the place eventually closed entirely. Meanwhile everyone was miserable with worry over who'd get the ax next time. So it sounds like those of us in the "vanguard" were sort of the lucky ones...
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:50 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
hippybear, I have been promised some fashion of deep tissue probing, which is frankly one of the things I am looking forward to in therapy, as I know exactly where the spot is and all of our at home attempts to release it have failed.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 4:09 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 4:09 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
I have been promised some fashion of deep tissue probing
Not the safest thing to google, really. but yay! I hope you find the relief you need.
posted by hippybear at 4:13 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
Not the safest thing to google, really. but yay! I hope you find the relief you need.
posted by hippybear at 4:13 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
Well, I got a job offer that I think I'm going to take. It's a lead infant teacher position and the director said she'd start me at $19.50 an hour. And then there are benefits. And a not horrible commute. Longer than the 4 minutes I have right now, closer to 20, but zero freeway driving and the area is completely residential until you get to the main road. I told my boss today and we're going to talk tomorrow. I know I'm leaving her in a lurch without a Head Start teacher, but I also need to take care of myself. If she would offer me the same, I'd stay even though I wouldn't get benefits. There are a few kids that are so dear to my heart, I just want to cry at the thought of leaving.
posted by kathrynm at 4:17 PM on July 31, 2023 [14 favorites]
posted by kathrynm at 4:17 PM on July 31, 2023 [14 favorites]
Im so sorry, belladonna.
posted by clew at 4:41 PM on July 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by clew at 4:41 PM on July 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
From one grieving person to another belladonna, I'm sorry for your loss. Sending you warm thoughts and comfort. May the memories of your husband provide solace and may you find the support and love you need from those around you.
posted by Ceridwen at 4:46 PM on July 31, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by Ceridwen at 4:46 PM on July 31, 2023 [6 favorites]
Ack, my DragonCon comment seems really jarring now, I hadn't seen belladonna's comment when I posted it! I'm so sorry!
posted by JHarris at 5:08 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 5:08 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
I am so very sorry for your loss, belladonna.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 6:10 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 6:10 PM on July 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
JHarris - Please don't feel bad! I didn't intend to take over the thread!
Metafilter has been a major part of my life since before I was married & many of the people here are friends, so I just wanted to share a little. I appreciate all the hugs & good thoughts, but please - keep chatting about other things, too. I need some distraction.
posted by belladonna at 6:37 PM on July 31, 2023 [14 favorites]
Metafilter has been a major part of my life since before I was married & many of the people here are friends, so I just wanted to share a little. I appreciate all the hugs & good thoughts, but please - keep chatting about other things, too. I need some distraction.
posted by belladonna at 6:37 PM on July 31, 2023 [14 favorites]
It's a lead infant teacher position and the director said she'd start me at $19.50 an hour.
Quite the precocious toddler, aren't you!
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:51 PM on July 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
Quite the precocious toddler, aren't you!
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:51 PM on July 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
Psychic hugs, folks.
On other topics, my sweet baboo got his new local library card this week. It turns out that they really do disable service after a long period of inactivity.
I know that he had national code books checked out for electric, plumbing and HVAC installation back in 2010 to 2016. Or maybe those books were under my name.
Librarians were always delighted to see the laminated cards from our college days, issued back in the 1980s.
The new books are definitely on my card. But never fear, I keep a weather eye out for overdues and holds. I expect my card to continue working just fine for another 40 years.
Not so sure about the reciprocal service at the neighboring library system. I may need to take a road trip this week and find out if their card still works.
I do love to explore a library.
posted by TrishaU at 8:02 PM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
On other topics, my sweet baboo got his new local library card this week. It turns out that they really do disable service after a long period of inactivity.
I know that he had national code books checked out for electric, plumbing and HVAC installation back in 2010 to 2016. Or maybe those books were under my name.
Librarians were always delighted to see the laminated cards from our college days, issued back in the 1980s.
The new books are definitely on my card. But never fear, I keep a weather eye out for overdues and holds. I expect my card to continue working just fine for another 40 years.
Not so sure about the reciprocal service at the neighboring library system. I may need to take a road trip this week and find out if their card still works.
I do love to explore a library.
posted by TrishaU at 8:02 PM on July 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
It looks like I'll be helping Crush (and another coworker, her new roommate) move this Sat. Will meet Crush's Love during, likely.
Took the desktop to the Memory Express in Burnaby - holy fuck. Not only did the guy spend an hour+ diagnosing a CPU swap that I did (buying the part from them) and fucked up myself - without the original box on the CPU, replaced it with something in stock, made sure it worked, did a RMA on the spot, costed me $15 (+tax) for "cleaning."
I only had a $20 in my wallet but gladly gave it to the tech dude with a "For you. Paying by debit."
posted by porpoise at 9:30 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
Took the desktop to the Memory Express in Burnaby - holy fuck. Not only did the guy spend an hour+ diagnosing a CPU swap that I did (buying the part from them) and fucked up myself - without the original box on the CPU, replaced it with something in stock, made sure it worked, did a RMA on the spot, costed me $15 (+tax) for "cleaning."
I only had a $20 in my wallet but gladly gave it to the tech dude with a "For you. Paying by debit."
posted by porpoise at 9:30 PM on July 31, 2023 [3 favorites]
I derailed the free thread a couple weeks ago because I needed to cry about my divorce being finalized but all of my accessible-by-telephone friends were asleep. So in case anyone is wondering: the current state of mind is overwhelmingly relief. I'm in a good place. I've needed to get to this place for a long time.
I also lost my crossword streak because "Tic Tac" was a perfectly correct solution to that pair of clues. Annoying.
posted by fantabulous timewaster at 10:23 PM on July 31, 2023 [12 favorites]
I also lost my crossword streak because "Tic Tac" was a perfectly correct solution to that pair of clues. Annoying.
posted by fantabulous timewaster at 10:23 PM on July 31, 2023 [12 favorites]
It has can a rough handful of months in my household. My father in law passed away in April, and we only got the ashes and held the funeral (such as it was) a couple weeks ago. Meanwhile we are dealing with suddenly having care responsibilities for my mother in law, who it turns out it's effectively incapable of unassisted living through a lifetime of learned helplessness enabled by my father in law, greatly accelerating in their retirement. It is incredibly frustrating in so many ways. Especially wearing in my husband, who is also juggling a new full time job, and has his PhD viva today. But you do what you must.
The viva thing is cool though. Culmination of many years of hard work on his part. I'm making banh mi to celebrate.
In personal good news, all I have to offer is that I had six consecutive days where this British summer was uncharacteristically kind enough to let enough of a dry period development that I could get out on my skateboard. Been at it since the end of March, as much as life and weather have allowed, and I have just learned to do a switchblade so I can now do a trick on a skateboard, which I never thought I'd say.
(I also managed to find a guy local who is selling me a freestyle complete for my husband's birthday present, which is a win, since there are currently none in stock in the UK at all, basically.)
So life is hard, but we are enjoying our mid life crisis at least.
posted by Dysk at 10:58 PM on July 31, 2023 [6 favorites]
The viva thing is cool though. Culmination of many years of hard work on his part. I'm making banh mi to celebrate.
In personal good news, all I have to offer is that I had six consecutive days where this British summer was uncharacteristically kind enough to let enough of a dry period development that I could get out on my skateboard. Been at it since the end of March, as much as life and weather have allowed, and I have just learned to do a switchblade so I can now do a trick on a skateboard, which I never thought I'd say.
(I also managed to find a guy local who is selling me a freestyle complete for my husband's birthday present, which is a win, since there are currently none in stock in the UK at all, basically.)
So life is hard, but we are enjoying our mid life crisis at least.
posted by Dysk at 10:58 PM on July 31, 2023 [6 favorites]
Dysk, sympathies and congratulations! My parents just went to an assisted care facility after a tree smashed their home to smithereens, and it had already been an issue on the table because they are really too old to be on their own. So sad. but glad. Sad that they no longer have their lovely little lakeside cottage or total independence, sad about the extremely traumatic transition, but relieved that they landed in a nice place with nice people (thanks to my sister), and are much safer now.
mark k, I had exactly the same experience! bleh.
In other news, I have a sore throat, which 👀. I haven't had a cold or flu or anything similar in three or four years, bc of Covid precautions, so hmmm. Please don't be Covid.
In other other news, I'm going to make corn chowder today. Something like this. The video for that is here, and I'm not usually too hep on cooking vids, but Carla is fun and I ended up watching the whole thing. We'll see if my chowdah is brown. (also realizing that there's probably a reason cream based chowders are mostly a northern thing, and that August in Greece during climate armaggedon is probably not actually the best time/place/reality for this, so I should only make enough for tonight. 🍜)
posted by taz at 11:24 PM on July 31, 2023 [6 favorites]
mark k, I had exactly the same experience! bleh.
In other news, I have a sore throat, which 👀. I haven't had a cold or flu or anything similar in three or four years, bc of Covid precautions, so hmmm. Please don't be Covid.
In other other news, I'm going to make corn chowder today. Something like this. The video for that is here, and I'm not usually too hep on cooking vids, but Carla is fun and I ended up watching the whole thing. We'll see if my chowdah is brown. (also realizing that there's probably a reason cream based chowders are mostly a northern thing, and that August in Greece during climate armaggedon is probably not actually the best time/place/reality for this, so I should only make enough for tonight. 🍜)
posted by taz at 11:24 PM on July 31, 2023 [6 favorites]
What did the drummer name her twin daughters?
Anna 1, Anna 2!
I know a German sound engineer. And a Czech one too.
posted by alby at 12:16 AM on August 1, 2023 [7 favorites]
Anna 1, Anna 2!
I know a German sound engineer. And a Czech one too.
posted by alby at 12:16 AM on August 1, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by kathrynm at 9:17 AM
Unrelated to anything, but I could have sworn your username was kathrynn with two ns for the longest time (like more than a decade now, I guess, wow).
In other news, it is still wildly hot here, but the humidity broke a bit and it is almost tolerable outside. There are these wild water playgrounds around town that are like mini water parks for kids, and I have been taking my kids so that I can play in the water. :)
Aside from that, and this is a ridiculous complaint, but I have been living in the same apartment for seven years and have worked at the same job for nine. I never really thought that I would be the type of adult who had that type of stability and it is wearing on me. I'm lucky enough to be successful at work and to live in a great city (with water playgrounds for kids!), but I am getting itchy feet and have started to casually look at what jobs are available out there. Unfortunately, as We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese put it upthread, jobs are terrible. To complicate matters, I am fundamentally opposed to returning to the US, and there are very few international positions that match my experience.
I will probably end up staying where I am at because it is good for the kids and safe for me since I am I in a stable job now and am fast approaching an age where finding a new job becomes increasingly unlikely. Ah well, I should count my blessings.
posted by Literaryhero at 1:00 AM on August 1, 2023 [4 favorites]
Unrelated to anything, but I could have sworn your username was kathrynn with two ns for the longest time (like more than a decade now, I guess, wow).
In other news, it is still wildly hot here, but the humidity broke a bit and it is almost tolerable outside. There are these wild water playgrounds around town that are like mini water parks for kids, and I have been taking my kids so that I can play in the water. :)
Aside from that, and this is a ridiculous complaint, but I have been living in the same apartment for seven years and have worked at the same job for nine. I never really thought that I would be the type of adult who had that type of stability and it is wearing on me. I'm lucky enough to be successful at work and to live in a great city (with water playgrounds for kids!), but I am getting itchy feet and have started to casually look at what jobs are available out there. Unfortunately, as We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese put it upthread, jobs are terrible. To complicate matters, I am fundamentally opposed to returning to the US, and there are very few international positions that match my experience.
I will probably end up staying where I am at because it is good for the kids and safe for me since I am I in a stable job now and am fast approaching an age where finding a new job becomes increasingly unlikely. Ah well, I should count my blessings.
posted by Literaryhero at 1:00 AM on August 1, 2023 [4 favorites]
I like that MetaFilter still exists and that y'all keep coming here and helping it keep existing.
It makes me happy.
posted by But tomorrow is another day... at 3:25 AM on August 1, 2023 [8 favorites]
It makes me happy.
posted by But tomorrow is another day... at 3:25 AM on August 1, 2023 [8 favorites]
In particular, I love how these free threads have evolved into this little subcommunity where people can share their successes, and their failures. To remember that neither are permanent- there will be another thread next week, and things will be different then. And that there’s people out there who would like to hear how they went differently, and how you’re feeling about it.
posted by notoriety public at 4:32 AM on August 1, 2023 [14 favorites]
posted by notoriety public at 4:32 AM on August 1, 2023 [14 favorites]
I am in a bad situation that is actually funny from the outside I believe.
I got diagnosed with adhd and asd almost two years ago after a big crisis. Therapy and medication took a few months to start working and the worked great for me. I feel that happy is a very strong word, but I have been more contented than I ever since I was a child.
Now to the story.
For the last year I’ve been seeing my doctor once a month on a Saturday for therapy and a new prescription. There is a psychiatric medication shortage, I would get separate prescriptions for every individual bottle of pills and for an alternative medication in case the first choice was unavailable.
I have a good routine for Mental Saturdays. Wake up early. drive to a favorite cafe two blocks from the doctor’s office and have a full English breakfast. Walk to the doctor’s. Have my session and get my prescriptions. Pay and schedule the next visit. Walk back to my car and buy fresh baked bread and produce on the way. Spend a few hours calling pharmacies and driving around the city to get all my pills. Drive back home and make lunch for the family with the bread and the produce. Finish the day doing monthly maintenance for the animals and plants. One Saturday of the month completely sorted out and predictable.
Three weeks ago on Friday the secretary called to inform me that for the next 4 months my doctor will be working Saturdays at a hospital on the other side of town. I told her I could not make it and that I would reschedule later.
I spent all Saturday watching tv.
Now every day I see the number of pills go closer to zero. I was lucky I could stash an extra month for emergencies. And every day I remind myself that i have to schedule an appointment.
Easy, right? Just make a phone, drive to the new place on Saturday and everything is fine.
I have not been able to call and make the appointment. I have tried all kinds of tricks on myself. I am writing this comment to share the story and to maybe get some supporting comments or something to make me make the call somehow. But I probably won’t. Until it is a real emergency.
If I could just make the call (use of the word just completely intentional), then I would be cured (use of the word cured is an attempt at levity) and would not need to make the call. If I do not make the call then I am not cured and need to make the call.
posted by Dr. Curare at 8:51 AM on August 1, 2023 [13 favorites]
I got diagnosed with adhd and asd almost two years ago after a big crisis. Therapy and medication took a few months to start working and the worked great for me. I feel that happy is a very strong word, but I have been more contented than I ever since I was a child.
Now to the story.
For the last year I’ve been seeing my doctor once a month on a Saturday for therapy and a new prescription. There is a psychiatric medication shortage, I would get separate prescriptions for every individual bottle of pills and for an alternative medication in case the first choice was unavailable.
I have a good routine for Mental Saturdays. Wake up early. drive to a favorite cafe two blocks from the doctor’s office and have a full English breakfast. Walk to the doctor’s. Have my session and get my prescriptions. Pay and schedule the next visit. Walk back to my car and buy fresh baked bread and produce on the way. Spend a few hours calling pharmacies and driving around the city to get all my pills. Drive back home and make lunch for the family with the bread and the produce. Finish the day doing monthly maintenance for the animals and plants. One Saturday of the month completely sorted out and predictable.
Three weeks ago on Friday the secretary called to inform me that for the next 4 months my doctor will be working Saturdays at a hospital on the other side of town. I told her I could not make it and that I would reschedule later.
I spent all Saturday watching tv.
Now every day I see the number of pills go closer to zero. I was lucky I could stash an extra month for emergencies. And every day I remind myself that i have to schedule an appointment.
Easy, right? Just make a phone, drive to the new place on Saturday and everything is fine.
I have not been able to call and make the appointment. I have tried all kinds of tricks on myself. I am writing this comment to share the story and to maybe get some supporting comments or something to make me make the call somehow. But I probably won’t. Until it is a real emergency.
If I could just make the call (use of the word just completely intentional), then I would be cured (use of the word cured is an attempt at levity) and would not need to make the call. If I do not make the call then I am not cured and need to make the call.
posted by Dr. Curare at 8:51 AM on August 1, 2023 [13 favorites]
Dr. Curare, I have no diagnosis like yours, but I have very similar experiences.
Remember: there's fresh bread for everyone who makes a call. Mmmmmm, breaaaaaad.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:54 AM on August 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
Remember: there's fresh bread for everyone who makes a call. Mmmmmm, breaaaaaad.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:54 AM on August 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
Dr. Curare, can you take a moment and make the call and report back here?
In solidarity: There's a work-related email reply I have to write and I've totally been putting off because an old friend made an incredibly gracious offer to help me and I lost confidence in my ability to advance with the offer so I didn't follow up and now I'm wondering whether this friend will think less of me or maybe revoke the offer altogether, and I realize that when I do write, I'll have to face either one outcome or the other, so my solution is to not write at all? Which makes it worse. So much worse. And the irony of this is if I'd just written to her earlier and been candid about it, I could have avoided any of this anxiety in the first place.
Anyway, my point is, I'm going to go drink this here coffee and go write that there email and cross my fingers and see where it lands.
posted by mochapickle at 9:46 AM on August 1, 2023 [5 favorites]
In solidarity: There's a work-related email reply I have to write and I've totally been putting off because an old friend made an incredibly gracious offer to help me and I lost confidence in my ability to advance with the offer so I didn't follow up and now I'm wondering whether this friend will think less of me or maybe revoke the offer altogether, and I realize that when I do write, I'll have to face either one outcome or the other, so my solution is to not write at all? Which makes it worse. So much worse. And the irony of this is if I'd just written to her earlier and been candid about it, I could have avoided any of this anxiety in the first place.
Anyway, my point is, I'm going to go drink this here coffee and go write that there email and cross my fingers and see where it lands.
posted by mochapickle at 9:46 AM on August 1, 2023 [5 favorites]
What is it with calling doctors? I had an appointment with my psych NP scheduled for the 10th. I now have to be in court that day to deal with my asshole brother. I can't seem to bring myself to make the call. It's not even like I have to go there in person. The psych people are doing med checks mostly remotely. I suppose I could send her a message on my chart and get a refill for a month with the promise to schedule in September. Sigh. Adulting is so hard sometimes.
In other news I talked to me current boss yesterday and am supposed to talk to her again today. I'm so torn about leaving. On one had, it's almost $5/hr more and benefits. On the other hand, right now I have the devil I know. And I'm selfishly thinking about leaving my kids, but now I'm worried about my Londynn who is like my own child. I think I've done her a disservice in letting her get so attached to me.
posted by kathrynm at 10:40 AM on August 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
In other news I talked to me current boss yesterday and am supposed to talk to her again today. I'm so torn about leaving. On one had, it's almost $5/hr more and benefits. On the other hand, right now I have the devil I know. And I'm selfishly thinking about leaving my kids, but now I'm worried about my Londynn who is like my own child. I think I've done her a disservice in letting her get so attached to me.
posted by kathrynm at 10:40 AM on August 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
I recently finished making my friend's seven-year-old daughter Olivia a handknitted doll and a little wardrobe of seven handknitted outfits. I made the doll look as much like Olivia as I could by choosing yarns for the doll's skin, eyes, and hair that resembled Olivia's colouring. The outfits include a princess outfit, a Christmas outfit, a Valentine's Day outfit, a pinafore and sweater outfit, a striped dress outfit, a Scottish Highland dress outfit, and a onesie with teddy bear slippers. I'm proudest of the Scottish outfit, which is complete with a tam, sash, and kilt in the Wallace tartan (Olivia's father is a Wallace), as well as a kilt pin and a lace jabot I made myself. But the best thing about the doll is the name Olivia chose for it: Rainbow Sparkle Unicorn-Animals. I consider that name to be peak seven-year-old girl taste.
Next fall Olivia is going to get a knitted witch outfit, broom, and a little black stuffed cat for her doll.:D
posted by orange swan at 12:14 PM on August 1, 2023 [13 favorites]
Next fall Olivia is going to get a knitted witch outfit, broom, and a little black stuffed cat for her doll.:D
posted by orange swan at 12:14 PM on August 1, 2023 [13 favorites]
That doll is adorable -- good work!
posted by wenestvedt at 12:25 PM on August 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 12:25 PM on August 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
Bella Donna, I'm so sorry to hear that. Didn't get to saying that yesterday.
Orange Swan, I love the doll name ;) The entire wardrobe is great, but especially that. And that it looks like her.
I also really goddamned hate making any kind of phone calls, medical included. Obviously I've been forced to do so lately, but initiating calls sucks. The only incentive I got is that you probably want to start working on it before it becomes a huge emergency, and given how there's pill shortages everywhere, it might kind of have the tendency to become one? Also, let's face it, some people are only motivated by super fast impending consequences.
My particular stalling delay right now is applying for a job I would normally not apply for, other than the union guy recommended the location as a great place to work at and people get promoted out of there. It lists way too much financial stuff I've never even done once and I honestly don't think I could or should be hired for it. (I note my industry is very "we don't want to train you, we only interview if you have 95% of the requirements," so "give it a try even if you're short" is not in my brain.) I redid the resume, which I am good at doing the plug-n-play as to what to put at the top vs. the bottom, but arguing why I should be hired for something I don't personally think I should be hired for in a damn cover letter makes me wanna do this. I finally had an appointment with my therapist today and she helped me on the cover letter issue. We'll see if I actually do it. I despise AI replacing us all, but getting AI to write a cover letter is about the one thing I'd want to use it for :P
I have a first appointment with a potential new one tomorrow (sadly during in-person workday, but what can you do, it's gonna be like that all summer), so we'll see how it goes.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:48 PM on August 1, 2023 [3 favorites]
Orange Swan, I love the doll name ;) The entire wardrobe is great, but especially that. And that it looks like her.
I also really goddamned hate making any kind of phone calls, medical included. Obviously I've been forced to do so lately, but initiating calls sucks. The only incentive I got is that you probably want to start working on it before it becomes a huge emergency, and given how there's pill shortages everywhere, it might kind of have the tendency to become one? Also, let's face it, some people are only motivated by super fast impending consequences.
My particular stalling delay right now is applying for a job I would normally not apply for, other than the union guy recommended the location as a great place to work at and people get promoted out of there. It lists way too much financial stuff I've never even done once and I honestly don't think I could or should be hired for it. (I note my industry is very "we don't want to train you, we only interview if you have 95% of the requirements," so "give it a try even if you're short" is not in my brain.) I redid the resume, which I am good at doing the plug-n-play as to what to put at the top vs. the bottom, but arguing why I should be hired for something I don't personally think I should be hired for in a damn cover letter makes me wanna do this. I finally had an appointment with my therapist today and she helped me on the cover letter issue. We'll see if I actually do it. I despise AI replacing us all, but getting AI to write a cover letter is about the one thing I'd want to use it for :P
I have a first appointment with a potential new one tomorrow (sadly during in-person workday, but what can you do, it's gonna be like that all summer), so we'll see how it goes.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:48 PM on August 1, 2023 [3 favorites]
I've been inspired to respond to some emails that I have put off answering, so this thread is doing me some good.
One of the things I do like about OVERLY LARGE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM is that most of the departments will allow you to send a request for a scheduler to call you to make an appointment. I've spoken with a lot of them over the past several months and all of them to a person have been some of the nicest human beings on the planet.
Good news today too - my PT appointment was moved up to this Friday. I just about cried when they called and said I was next on the waitlist and did I want to come in sooner?
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 2:16 PM on August 1, 2023 [5 favorites]
One of the things I do like about OVERLY LARGE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM is that most of the departments will allow you to send a request for a scheduler to call you to make an appointment. I've spoken with a lot of them over the past several months and all of them to a person have been some of the nicest human beings on the planet.
Good news today too - my PT appointment was moved up to this Friday. I just about cried when they called and said I was next on the waitlist and did I want to come in sooner?
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 2:16 PM on August 1, 2023 [5 favorites]
Just had a long conversation with my boss. She is going to meet the salary at the other place is offering. While increasing my hours to 40 from 35. In my heart, I know I don't want to leave and I start crying everytime I think about it. With the interest I've gotten in my resume over the last few months, I'm confident if the time comes I have to leave, I'll be able to find something else. Childcare places are desperate to hire folks.
I feel better making a decision, but damn it was hard.
posted by kathrynm at 4:10 PM on August 1, 2023 [16 favorites]
I feel better making a decision, but damn it was hard.
posted by kathrynm at 4:10 PM on August 1, 2023 [16 favorites]
My spouse is the co-author on a chapter in this academic book about The Mandalorian. How cool is that?
Unfortunately, life at the public university where she has worked for the last 14 years is becoming unbearable so she is exploring private practice options. If it helps her overall stress levels, I’m all for it but I know she has loved the work she does. The problem is the management, because it always is.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 7:14 PM on August 1, 2023 [7 favorites]
Unfortunately, life at the public university where she has worked for the last 14 years is becoming unbearable so she is exploring private practice options. If it helps her overall stress levels, I’m all for it but I know she has loved the work she does. The problem is the management, because it always is.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 7:14 PM on August 1, 2023 [7 favorites]
Very cool Big Al 8000.
My daughter got her master's degree in gay star trek.
And is about to get her Ph.D in a similar vein
posted by Windopaene at 7:50 PM on August 1, 2023 [5 favorites]
My daughter got her master's degree in gay star trek.
And is about to get her Ph.D in a similar vein
posted by Windopaene at 7:50 PM on August 1, 2023 [5 favorites]
Well, new upper management at work has rolled in and I've been informed that there will be "no future in [org]" for me unless I uproot my entire life to move back to the main office. I'm torn between dragging things out for the remaining six months in my current agreement before taking a nice long vacation ("if you want me out you'll have to pry me out") and handing in my notice tomorrow morning ("no future, well actually my future starts two weeks from today, asshole"). I'm fairly confident in my ability to secure a soft landing, but am, as you can possibly tell, quite irritated that all this is happening because one particular guy got promoted and wants to, and I quote, "see all our smiling faces" in the office again (THERE WAS A COVID OUTBREAK AFTER THE COMPANY PICNIC LAST WEEK)
posted by btfreek at 11:06 PM on August 1, 2023 [10 favorites]
posted by btfreek at 11:06 PM on August 1, 2023 [10 favorites]
First Day at the Part-Time Test Run Temp Gig was yesterday. And...yeah, I could see myself working there longterm now, but who knows if that's going to happen.
Still it's about 6-8 weeks of some income, at least, so I'm putting off any further "job hunt" stuff until this Friday because I literally just can't deal, okay, and I can afford to give it a couple days' break.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:25 AM on August 2, 2023 [7 favorites]
Still it's about 6-8 weeks of some income, at least, so I'm putting off any further "job hunt" stuff until this Friday because I literally just can't deal, okay, and I can afford to give it a couple days' break.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:25 AM on August 2, 2023 [7 favorites]
orange swan, that is amazing work! I can't imagine how much effort it took to make such a lovely doll!
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 6:09 AM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 6:09 AM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
orange swan... the teddy bear slippers. I can't even. So dang cute!
Please post the witchy outfit and the kitty cat when it's done. Olivia is blessed with her crafting auntie.
posted by TrishaU at 6:20 AM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
Please post the witchy outfit and the kitty cat when it's done. Olivia is blessed with her crafting auntie.
posted by TrishaU at 6:20 AM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
mmrtnt: Leaving work and riding a bike like I did when I was twelve - under, through, behind, around - the feeling was magical.
Word. You nailed it. 12 was my age when I was gifted with my "big" bike (26" CCM with coaster brake, red) - something that one could really cover some distance on, and from that point I was always out doing "bike hikes" all over my small home city. I've had a fondness for bikes ever since, and too many in the basement.
When I was commuting downtown to one job, the train station was an easy water-side 15 minute bike-ride from home. Coming home, that 15 min early-evening bikeride home was the best 15 minutes of the workday. At one point, I started using a folding bike, so I had a ride at each end of the commute. (or all the way - 16km - the day the trains didn't run)
Just into retirement, I've made biking an important part of my fair-weather activities. No RAGBRAI, no more centuries... rail-trails and exploring new areas are my new passion. Did a lovely 28km yesterday, trying a bikepath i hadn't ridden before.
Exploring by bike, I still feel like a 12-yr-old. But with a better bike and enhancements like Google Maps with the biking overlay on a smartphone.
posted by Artful Codger at 9:42 AM on August 2, 2023 [7 favorites]
Word. You nailed it. 12 was my age when I was gifted with my "big" bike (26" CCM with coaster brake, red) - something that one could really cover some distance on, and from that point I was always out doing "bike hikes" all over my small home city. I've had a fondness for bikes ever since, and too many in the basement.
When I was commuting downtown to one job, the train station was an easy water-side 15 minute bike-ride from home. Coming home, that 15 min early-evening bikeride home was the best 15 minutes of the workday. At one point, I started using a folding bike, so I had a ride at each end of the commute. (or all the way - 16km - the day the trains didn't run)
Just into retirement, I've made biking an important part of my fair-weather activities. No RAGBRAI, no more centuries... rail-trails and exploring new areas are my new passion. Did a lovely 28km yesterday, trying a bikepath i hadn't ridden before.
Exploring by bike, I still feel like a 12-yr-old. But with a better bike and enhancements like Google Maps with the biking overlay on a smartphone.
posted by Artful Codger at 9:42 AM on August 2, 2023 [7 favorites]
There is a bolognese sauce on my stovetop. I'm doing it the super-classic way, no tomatoes (just a bit of tomato paste), and 3 hours cooking time. The fragrance is intoxicating. My plan is to make lasagne tomorrow, for my aunt, the nice neighbor and my niece who is arriving by train.
The weird thing is that I haven't had any appetite today. I woke up at 4AM, saw that Trump had been indicted, and was swallowed up completely by all the news and punditry. So I haven't slept properly and haven't really done any of the things I planned, except for this food odyssey. I guess it's because I promised the others that I would cook this I have soldiered on. I know it will be good and it will feel gratifying to me that they are happy eating.
Reliability is so important with old and infirm people. My aunt asked me to help her hang up her sheets on the clothes line, and I told her I'd come over after shopping for the lasagne. When I arrived, she had given up on me and was trying to do it herself, which she can't. I was there and all was good, but for someone who can't move like before, and perhaps not even think like before (she had a stroke before she broke her leg), even a planned 30 minute delay is overwhelming.
My niece will stay for a week when I leave, and then my cousin will arrive. We are sharing as we always do, But it is effing hard. I feel no-one really told me about this aspect of adulting when I was younger. My cousin and I are really working on getting the young involved in this, so they don't get shocked like we did when our grandparents became old and ill. When my kids were here, they went over every day on their own accord, and I was proud of them.
We grew up in a totally dysfunctional family, with drugs and alcohol and violence and well, more. The reason we are so close is that both our mothers dumped us at our grandparents' and we have lived together like siblings. So we feel that we have advanced one step. He even has a happy marriage.
posted by mumimor at 12:51 PM on August 2, 2023 [5 favorites]
The weird thing is that I haven't had any appetite today. I woke up at 4AM, saw that Trump had been indicted, and was swallowed up completely by all the news and punditry. So I haven't slept properly and haven't really done any of the things I planned, except for this food odyssey. I guess it's because I promised the others that I would cook this I have soldiered on. I know it will be good and it will feel gratifying to me that they are happy eating.
Reliability is so important with old and infirm people. My aunt asked me to help her hang up her sheets on the clothes line, and I told her I'd come over after shopping for the lasagne. When I arrived, she had given up on me and was trying to do it herself, which she can't. I was there and all was good, but for someone who can't move like before, and perhaps not even think like before (she had a stroke before she broke her leg), even a planned 30 minute delay is overwhelming.
My niece will stay for a week when I leave, and then my cousin will arrive. We are sharing as we always do, But it is effing hard. I feel no-one really told me about this aspect of adulting when I was younger. My cousin and I are really working on getting the young involved in this, so they don't get shocked like we did when our grandparents became old and ill. When my kids were here, they went over every day on their own accord, and I was proud of them.
We grew up in a totally dysfunctional family, with drugs and alcohol and violence and well, more. The reason we are so close is that both our mothers dumped us at our grandparents' and we have lived together like siblings. So we feel that we have advanced one step. He even has a happy marriage.
posted by mumimor at 12:51 PM on August 2, 2023 [5 favorites]
My stepdad is recovering from open heart surgery but the doctors are saying he can go home tomorrow! He'll need to rest for a couple months before he can go back to work but at least he got the surgery and it went well. Knowing him though two months of rehab and recovery though is gonna be tough. He's not the type of person who likes to just sit around the house.
posted by downtohisturtles at 1:11 PM on August 2, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by downtohisturtles at 1:11 PM on August 2, 2023 [4 favorites]
saw that Trump had been indicted, and was swallowed up completely by all the news and punditry.
If only we could charge him rent for all the headspace he's taken, anxiety caused, the oxygen depleted, the harms caused when every other consideration gets pushed to the margins.
And I hear you both re the difficulties in seeing after elderly relatives. I'm 200km away from my Mom, and I'm the closest kid... it's not easy. When age and infirmity shrinks their world, little annoyances often become huge crises to them.
posted by Artful Codger at 1:23 PM on August 2, 2023 [5 favorites]
If only we could charge him rent for all the headspace he's taken, anxiety caused, the oxygen depleted, the harms caused when every other consideration gets pushed to the margins.
And I hear you both re the difficulties in seeing after elderly relatives. I'm 200km away from my Mom, and I'm the closest kid... it's not easy. When age and infirmity shrinks their world, little annoyances often become huge crises to them.
posted by Artful Codger at 1:23 PM on August 2, 2023 [5 favorites]
Mmmm, lasagna! I can't make it during the heat of summer since the sauce involves so much stovetop cooking, but I'm looking forward to both that and bowls full of hearty chili this fall. I've been thinking about making smoked pulled pork to use in the lasagna sauce next time...
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:40 PM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:40 PM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
Tomorrow is a team sit-down with the new boss, and an all-hands. And my sister gave me a ton of apples from her tree. So I may bake a sheet-cake version of the un-screwupable apple cake and bring it to the office tomorrow.
I got my new staff member on board, but it'll be next week before he has any email or computer access, so I'm just randomly emailing crap to his hotmail address. Hotmail, I ask you.
posted by suelac at 2:55 PM on August 2, 2023 [4 favorites]
I got my new staff member on board, but it'll be next week before he has any email or computer access, so I'm just randomly emailing crap to his hotmail address. Hotmail, I ask you.
posted by suelac at 2:55 PM on August 2, 2023 [4 favorites]
Due to a fortunate alignment of an open feral neuter appointment slot, and a timely appearance of a local tom we’ve been trying to get snipped for years, we have successfully gotten the neighborhood-notorious Mr Orange trapped and into the clinic today!
posted by notoriety public at 7:27 AM on August 3, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by notoriety public at 7:27 AM on August 3, 2023 [9 favorites]
Day 3 of Unexpected Temp Gig. The first couple days were like a baby centipede learning to walk (a lot of moving parts I'm trying to coordinate for the first time), but today the maelstrom is settling a bit (largely because my two trainers are not in the office and I can fall back on "I haven't been shown that yet" or using my own brain instead of getting hung up on "am I doing it the way you want me to do it").
Tomorrow I'm home all day and will finally turn my attention to the complete shit-heap that my house has become in the past week. Cleaning and organizing is a super-comforting grounding sort of thing for me and HOO BOY I need that.
....I did have an encouraging call with someone last night...last week I saw a job posting to be the office manager for an acting studio, but I wasn't sure how my resume would look (it's more tech and finance heavy). I mentioned that to my career coach, and she said "how about you see if you can find someone there for an informational interview". Turns out a friend worked with a director who teaches a class there, and we chatted last night; she reassured me that the resume wouldn't matter so much as me and the owner meeting and getting a sense of each other, so I should go for it. So that's also happening tomorrow.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:18 AM on August 3, 2023 [7 favorites]
Tomorrow I'm home all day and will finally turn my attention to the complete shit-heap that my house has become in the past week. Cleaning and organizing is a super-comforting grounding sort of thing for me and HOO BOY I need that.
....I did have an encouraging call with someone last night...last week I saw a job posting to be the office manager for an acting studio, but I wasn't sure how my resume would look (it's more tech and finance heavy). I mentioned that to my career coach, and she said "how about you see if you can find someone there for an informational interview". Turns out a friend worked with a director who teaches a class there, and we chatted last night; she reassured me that the resume wouldn't matter so much as me and the owner meeting and getting a sense of each other, so I should go for it. So that's also happening tomorrow.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:18 AM on August 3, 2023 [7 favorites]
Empress that new thing sounds really interesting!
I cleaned most of the house today, and while I particularly hate vacuuming, I'm fine with the rest, and it is so nice to lean back now, and everything smells nice and looks good. I'm thinking of taking some stuff to a local flea market on Sunday, and see if I can't cut down on my insane amount of everything. Because I was relatively old when my dad and stepmother and grandparents died, I had a full home of stuff, and now I have enough tableware, pots and pans, books and much other stuff for three homes. A large barn can be a blessing and a curse.
Dinner went fine, though I feel the lasagne wasn't up to my standards. I followed this recipe to a t out of curiosity, though I have earlier actually gone into a discussion in the comments with the creator, because I felt it doesn't have enough bechamel. I agree with myself, though the ragu is to die for. But the others seemed happy, and they did eat every last scrap, and all the salad and all the strawberries. Good.
posted by mumimor at 12:24 PM on August 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
I cleaned most of the house today, and while I particularly hate vacuuming, I'm fine with the rest, and it is so nice to lean back now, and everything smells nice and looks good. I'm thinking of taking some stuff to a local flea market on Sunday, and see if I can't cut down on my insane amount of everything. Because I was relatively old when my dad and stepmother and grandparents died, I had a full home of stuff, and now I have enough tableware, pots and pans, books and much other stuff for three homes. A large barn can be a blessing and a curse.
Dinner went fine, though I feel the lasagne wasn't up to my standards. I followed this recipe to a t out of curiosity, though I have earlier actually gone into a discussion in the comments with the creator, because I felt it doesn't have enough bechamel. I agree with myself, though the ragu is to die for. But the others seemed happy, and they did eat every last scrap, and all the salad and all the strawberries. Good.
posted by mumimor at 12:24 PM on August 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
I say "Fly! Be free!" all the time and nobody ever gets it and I am so happy to see it here.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:22 PM on August 3, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:22 PM on August 3, 2023 [6 favorites]
My favorite quote from that show is from the episode where Mork and his upstairs neighbor (played by Tom Poston) decide to go to a nightclub - I can't remember why. At some point a woman comes up to their table and says "Hi, what's your sign?". Mork replies "Nefarious, with Egg rising!" I don't know why that answer tickled me as much as it did (and still does).
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:51 PM on August 3, 2023
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:51 PM on August 3, 2023
I opened a box of life remnants shipped to me from my mother recently and found an old Scholastic poster, in basically mint condition [considering it was shipped folded, I didn't do that], of Robin Williams in full Mork red space outfit in a pose with Nanu Nanu in some appropriate font up in the corner.
I have no idea what to do with it. It feels like a treasure and a relic and also that it has no meaning whatsoever for anyone else who might encounter it after me.
posted by hippybear at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2023 [5 favorites]
I have no idea what to do with it. It feels like a treasure and a relic and also that it has no meaning whatsoever for anyone else who might encounter it after me.
posted by hippybear at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2023 [5 favorites]
Oh hey, I found that poster photo! And a couple of other posters from the same era-ish. Another Mork And Mindy and a McD's poster.
posted by hippybear at 3:05 PM on August 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 3:05 PM on August 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Has Mork & Mindy held up well? I tried to get a young person to watch Soap with me recently and he made it through a few minutes. I'll be honest -- one episode was enough for me. I loved that show but maybe it's best as I remember it.
Speaking of Soap: there was an amusement park I went to in Finland in the 1970s that had a Soap-based ride, or something? I don't remember the details and if I ever went on it.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:15 PM on August 3, 2023
Speaking of Soap: there was an amusement park I went to in Finland in the 1970s that had a Soap-based ride, or something? I don't remember the details and if I ever went on it.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:15 PM on August 3, 2023
If you can clearly remember the 70s, did you really live through them?
posted by hippybear at 3:17 PM on August 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 3:17 PM on August 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oh hey, I found that poster photo!
"Nano nano"??!?
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:28 PM on August 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
"Nano nano"??!?
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:28 PM on August 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
It's a Scholastic poster! It was decades before Harry Potter, when they couldn't afford research and copy editors.
posted by hippybear at 3:34 PM on August 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 3:34 PM on August 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Or even a TV to watch the show on
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:59 PM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:59 PM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Honestly, paper was really new at that point.
posted by hippybear at 4:10 PM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 4:10 PM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Well, Soap had the first gay character I can remember on network TV. Also played mental illness for laughs, but back then, you took what you could get.
posted by Windopaene at 4:37 PM on August 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 4:37 PM on August 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
All I remember about Soap is that it had a young Billy Crystal in it, and at one point some South American dictator kidnapped Katherine Helmond's character (can't recall why) and he was always talking about "Con-nec-ti-coot".
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:38 PM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:38 PM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Katherine Helmond's character was Jessica Tate. Benson, it's sometimes forgotten I think, was a spinoff of Soap, with a very different (although still comic) tone. Jessica's ghost (apparently her character had passed away) appeared to Benson in one episode.
Soap gained notoriety at the time for having an openly gay character, who sadly was the butt of a number of jokes, I seem to remember.
posted by JHarris at 10:49 PM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Soap gained notoriety at the time for having an openly gay character, who sadly was the butt of a number of jokes, I seem to remember.
posted by JHarris at 10:49 PM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Metafilter: " If you're extra lucky they will do the deep heat probe thing on your sore parts"
posted by mecran01 at 8:29 AM on August 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by mecran01 at 8:29 AM on August 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Oh, I know how significant Soap is, historically. But after watching the pilot episode in 2023: eh, it’s better left as a fond memory.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:35 AM on August 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:35 AM on August 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
I don't think the first order of Soap reflected how it went later in its run. The first two episodes were highly controversial and the reviews of the early show were mainly about the talent of the cast and not about the actual show itself. As with many shows, it probably got an initial order of eight episodes and underwent significant retooling as part of it being continued to a full season order.
Maybe start with season 2. Wikipedia is telling me that each season was designed to start with a ninety-minute recap of the previous season, so maybe if you can find that recap and then go into Season 2, you'll find it to be more like what you remember it being.
posted by hippybear at 1:38 PM on August 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Maybe start with season 2. Wikipedia is telling me that each season was designed to start with a ninety-minute recap of the previous season, so maybe if you can find that recap and then go into Season 2, you'll find it to be more like what you remember it being.
posted by hippybear at 1:38 PM on August 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
it had a young Billy Crystal in it
It just now hit me why it felt a little weird writing that: I sound like Slappy the Squirrel from the Animaniacs cartoon, who was always telling people "You remind me of a very young (whoever)"! I guess that officially makes me an Old Coot.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:52 PM on August 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
It just now hit me why it felt a little weird writing that: I sound like Slappy the Squirrel from the Animaniacs cartoon, who was always telling people "You remind me of a very young (whoever)"! I guess that officially makes me an Old Coot.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:52 PM on August 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
You are pretty much Slappy Squirrel. I mean that in the best way, but yes.
posted by hippybear at 1:58 PM on August 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 1:58 PM on August 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
You remind me of a very young Norville Rogers.
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:14 PM on August 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:14 PM on August 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
.....So, okay: my roommate and I live in a duplex apartment. But instead of each of us taking one of the bedrooms in the upstairs part and using the downstairs as a den or something, he took over the entire downstairs as his room and I have the upper half.
The stairs from the top half to the bottom are open....and the kitchen is right next to the stairs.
And I didn't notice that the paper bag of baby potatoes I got from the farmer's market had a hole in it, big enough for one potato to drop out and happily roll towards the stairs - and escape my grasp. So that's why my roommate just came home to find a note from me saying that "you may want to find the potato I managed to drop into your room. Don't EVEN ask me to explain how that happened."
...when I fuck up, I fuck up with ORIGINALITY.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:39 PM on August 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
The stairs from the top half to the bottom are open....and the kitchen is right next to the stairs.
And I didn't notice that the paper bag of baby potatoes I got from the farmer's market had a hole in it, big enough for one potato to drop out and happily roll towards the stairs - and escape my grasp. So that's why my roommate just came home to find a note from me saying that "you may want to find the potato I managed to drop into your room. Don't EVEN ask me to explain how that happened."
...when I fuck up, I fuck up with ORIGINALITY.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:39 PM on August 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
....But the recruiters for the theater studio manager job, one I thought I might not be qualified for, emailed me back after only 4 hours to ask when we could have an initial interview, so I'm not a total fuckup.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:47 AM on August 5, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:47 AM on August 5, 2023 [4 favorites]
I posted it on mefi.social, but I wanted to add it here too. I thought I remembered someone say their comfort game was Bloons and they wanted a new version. Bloons TD6 is a free game of the week on Epic this week.
posted by ob1quixote at 9:22 AM on August 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by ob1quixote at 9:22 AM on August 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Speaking of games, someone mentioned a match-3 RPG on here a while back, and I forgot to add the game to my wish list and now I can't find it. It looked adorable, though. Anybody know what it might have been?
posted by MrVisible at 10:11 AM on August 5, 2023
posted by MrVisible at 10:11 AM on August 5, 2023
There's a lot of job-stuff on this week's free thread, so I thought it would be OK to add my own thoughts/worries.
Since 2016, I've been doing part time jobs, recently two different ones, that are underpaid. It started because a terrible job situation triggered my barely dormant PTSD and sort of combined to a new situation, where a lot of the core things I do were also triggering. Like writing, or drawing.
After more than a year of intense therapy, I feel much more confident and almost happy -- able to feel the world, which I wasn't while I was struggling. But I am also very, very broke. In March, one of my part-time jobs will run out, not to be prolonged, and I am thinking about what now. Specifically, I would like the last decade of my work-life to be decently paid, so I can save a bit for old age. I have some ideas, but surprisingly, offers are coming in unasked for. Which leads up to today.
I went to have lunch with a nice lady and meet her talented daughter, and it was a great lunch that moved into the afternoon. That daughter is really talented! But driving home, I realized that maybe it was a kind of a job offer. I don't even really know what the job is, and I certainly didn't pick up on it during our leisurely lunch. But it is interesting, because it might let me move up here to the farm permanently. That would be wonderful, and also save me a lot of money.
Interesting times, but in a good way.
posted by mumimor at 10:25 AM on August 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
Since 2016, I've been doing part time jobs, recently two different ones, that are underpaid. It started because a terrible job situation triggered my barely dormant PTSD and sort of combined to a new situation, where a lot of the core things I do were also triggering. Like writing, or drawing.
After more than a year of intense therapy, I feel much more confident and almost happy -- able to feel the world, which I wasn't while I was struggling. But I am also very, very broke. In March, one of my part-time jobs will run out, not to be prolonged, and I am thinking about what now. Specifically, I would like the last decade of my work-life to be decently paid, so I can save a bit for old age. I have some ideas, but surprisingly, offers are coming in unasked for. Which leads up to today.
I went to have lunch with a nice lady and meet her talented daughter, and it was a great lunch that moved into the afternoon. That daughter is really talented! But driving home, I realized that maybe it was a kind of a job offer. I don't even really know what the job is, and I certainly didn't pick up on it during our leisurely lunch. But it is interesting, because it might let me move up here to the farm permanently. That would be wonderful, and also save me a lot of money.
Interesting times, but in a good way.
posted by mumimor at 10:25 AM on August 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
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That is all.
posted by Artful Codger at 9:59 AM on July 31, 2023 [4 favorites]