Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 13, 2019 16:31:39 GMT
Funny today I was just thinking how annoying it is when one of my friends gets to everything 15-20 minutes early She always makes people feel like they are late even when they aren’t. We just went scootering today and of course she was there first waiting for everyone. Good thing none of us were actually late, we were all there before the start time of 10. I had a friend like that, too. She'd try to make me feel bad for being my standard 5-10 minutes early instead of her standard 30-40 minutes early. I think having friends is overrated. LOL.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 12, 2019 17:59:51 GMT
I feel like I spend way too much time waiting for other people to show up for whatever we have planned to do. Right now I'm waiting for an older friend who I invited over for lunch and a movie. I told her to come over around 11:30 or 12. She called me a little after 12 and said she was on her way. It's 1:00 and she's still not here. I'm hungry and annoyed!
It's not just this person, it seems like my time is wasted a lot and I'm tired of it. Either the other person is late, or they call you a half hour before you're supposed to meet and postpone or cancel. It doesn't happen all the time, but it makes me hot when it does.
Just had to vent, carry on with your day.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 12, 2019 3:49:22 GMT
I have CNN, MSNBC and Fox in that order on my cable...I was flipping through tonight and CNN was covering this story, MSNBC was covering it...and Sean Hannity on Fox was talking about all the crimes immigrants supposedly commit. It truly is two different realities, and you really see it on a big news day (ie, every day in Trump's America) when you click through the channels in succession. I mean, by any rational measure, this is a big news story when the President--any president!--is being investigated by the FBI, and yet nothing on Fox "News."
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 12, 2019 0:29:40 GMT
I follow the show on FB and there were a ton of comments about this week's episode, so I meant to watch it, and your post reminded me to track it down. OMG. That show usually makes me weepy (because I'm a sap) but this one was a three-kleenex show (because I'm a hormonal sap today!) I just love Andy Samberg, and you could tell it meant to much to him to be able to give this gift to his mom.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 11, 2019 23:02:18 GMT
Thanks for posting about Slow Burn, flute4peace . I was a preschooler during the Watergate years. My mom loves to tell me about how mad I would get when I wanted to watch New Zoo Revue and the Watergate hearings were on instead. I guess I would stomp my foot and say, in great disgust, "Those old Watergates!" I thought they did a great job of giving you the overview along with good little human interest bits. I want to listen to season two, but I actually do remember the Clinton impeachment, and I'm afraid it will make me mad all over again!
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 11, 2019 20:51:11 GMT
As much as I loathe trump, I can't being myself to comment on his appearance. It's low-level unimportant gibberish compared to the off-the-charts imperative issues we are facing daily because of him and the GOP Congress. Even short and simple references to him as "orange" are distracting to me. There are far too many other things to focus on, and none of them have to do with what he looks like. While I really do agree with you, I have to admit I’m occasionally guilty of referring to him as The Orange One. I call him the Orange Menace. But I try to use it sparingly, lol.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 10, 2019 22:53:16 GMT
My husband is WAY more into thrift shopping than I am! I have a hard time finding nice plus-size clothes, and I ran out of room for more books, so I gave up long ago. But he loves to buy his clothes at thrift prices if he can. A couple months ago, he got really interested in looking again, so we have been hitting a ton of stores lately. We had to be in Virginia Beach last night (about an hour away from where we live) and we had time to kill, so we hit one of the nicest Goodwills I've ever seen. It was bright, clean, and carried much nicer stuff than most. Between us, we got 8 or 9 pieces of clothing for 40 bucks.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 10, 2019 14:59:59 GMT
Conan O'Brian Leslie Mann Kristen Wiig ...to name but a few... Does it help if I tell you that Conan O'Brian quietly donated the money for a meal center in the town next to me that serves hundreds of people a day. It's an amazing place. He was roommates in college with the pastor of the church that runs it. Actually, that does help! I love hearing about that kind of generosity!
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 10, 2019 4:31:54 GMT
Nigerian? Nepalese?
Ukrainian?
Welsh?
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 10, 2019 4:25:34 GMT
Who is the “you had me at hello” actress from Jerry Mcguire? I can’t stand her. Renee Zellweger. Also on my list.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 10, 2019 1:29:50 GMT
Conan O'Brian Leslie Mann Kristen Wiig
...to name but a few...
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 9, 2019 20:19:32 GMT
I saw this at lunch but didn't have time to respond till now. I'm so, so sorry this happened. Thank God you found him. I pray he will recover quickly physically, and that he will get the very best care and make a good recovery emotionally, too.
This is the exact time of year my good friend's son took his life four years ago. He was 18. I'm just so, so relieved for you that your dear boy is alive.
Please take good care of yourself, too. I can only imagine the stress you're under. Remember there are tons of Peas who care about you!
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 9, 2019 20:09:56 GMT
No real problems over the holidays, but I'd like to take this opportunity to say I'm OVER Target and their under-staffing and other random stupidity. I had a giftcard to use today, I used it, and now Target officially goes right under WalMart on my "do not shop" list. I used to love that store years ago, it's sad.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 7, 2019 18:41:31 GMT
I just want to validate you on the pile of year-end and holiday expenses that added up. My husband and I spend more in November and December than the rest of the year combined! We shop the holiday sales for big household purchases and of course Christmas adds up. The difference is that he and I do a lot of that shopping together, and he's aware of the rest. I just felt bad that you're getting dinged here for over-extending when that happens to a lot of people, and doesn't sound like a regular occurence.
Like others, I'm not sure you're going to find specific answers for your budget, and I also think the problem goes far deeper. I would try to set a grocery limit that's a little less than what you have now and just see if you can meet it for a few weeks, while making other dietary cuts as you can. If you xan't meet that limit, then you'll have the data to prove that it's unrealistic.
For entertainment expenses, I'd total up a reasonable (to you) amount of outings. Two movies a month plus one family dinner out a month, or whatever you and your kids like within reason.
But none of your budget calculations are going to work until you and your husband can start communicating. I completely understand your anger...are you willing to be the one to cave and start the conversation? Will he be willing to sit down and really look at numbers with you, treating you as an equal partner? If the answer to either of those questions is no...then I'd suggest making a line-item in your budget for therapy for yourself. It seems to me you could use a place to sort out some of your feelings about his control.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 7, 2019 17:33:05 GMT
I finished two last week:
American Eden: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic by Victoria Johnson. David Hosack's 21st century claim to fame is that he was the doctor who attended the Hamilton-Burr duel, and was good friends with them both. But the book is mostly about his efforts to create America's first botanical garden, on his property in Manhattan in the early 1800s.
The Mirage Factory: Illusion, Imagination and the Invention of Los Angeles by Gary Krist. Krist zeroed in on three key people who helped to create Los Angeles in the years between 1900 and 1930: engineer William Mulholland, director D. W. Griffith, and evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson.
Both of these books were on Amazon's top books of 2018 list...I liked them both but I think the L.A. book was a better read, more tightly constructed and more compelling.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 5, 2019 17:38:00 GMT
I make a VERY similar beef stew my family LOVES ...it is almost the same except I use a bottle of Coopers stout and a single beef stock cube instead of the beef broth . When nearly done I add 1/2 cup of pearl barley which matches the flavour of the stout. Great with mashed potatoes on a cold night Also makes a lovely filling for a pie That sounds awesome. I've splashed a bit of beer into mine from time to time, and it does add something. As does a splash of red wine. I never thought about adding barley--and I LOVE barley! Thanks for the suggestion.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 5, 2019 3:49:07 GMT
Wow, I've never been summoned before! Glad Eddie-n-Harley found it for you. That recipe really is one of my mainstays, glad you found it helpful!
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 4, 2019 4:47:30 GMT
I'm really sorry. Waiting is so hard.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 3, 2019 23:17:17 GMT
My husband is a contractor at NASA, and we've been fortunate that he's simply been able to work from home. No disruption in pay, and we're grateful for that. Apart from his being home jacking up my daily routine, it's okay. Lol.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 2, 2019 23:31:48 GMT
My husband despises beans, lentils, anything mushy with a skin. We were in the grocery store a couple days ago and they had a huge display with piles and piles of bags of black-eyed peas. I told him I was going to cook him some for New Year's. He just stared at me in silent disgust and I told him he was no fun to tease.
Maybe you had to be there. Lol.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 1, 2019 2:38:30 GMT
Elvis, baby! He's been cleaning with me for years.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 1, 2019 2:36:12 GMT
I'm watching a Reno 911 marathon on Comedy Central and eating homemade Chex mix while my husband hems his pants upstairs. So we're right in the lead for lamest, but you Pimple Popper watchers may win for grossest! I can't watch stuff like that! I'm watching Reno 9-1-1 too! I'm sick haven't eaten in two days. DH is going to a party real quick and coming back home before midnight. He would stay home too but we had already sent in our RSVP so we didn't want to completely flake. Oh and I have a bunch of Dr. Pimplepoppers on my DVR, just in case. I love Reno 911! It's just so ridiculous! So sorry you're sick, hope you feel much better tomorrow. I'm sort of amazed I've made it through the holiday season and traveling without getting sick (knocking on wood as I type.) I lost most of my January (2018) because of a bug I picked up in Ohio at Christmas (2017). I hope you're on the mend!
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 1, 2019 2:30:00 GMT
My husband and I were talking about this at dinner tonight. I was telling him about being in our local used music store today looking at records and this guy came up to the register with a Bill Cosby comedy record in with his other stuff. The owner gave it to him for free because he said he just wanted it out of the store. And the guy with the record said yeah, he's awful, but he (the guy) had fond memories of listening to Cosby's stand-up with his friends when he was a kid. I can understand that because I have similar fond memories. My friends and I used to just about pee ourselves listening to Bill Cosby.
So my husband said (not defending Cosby at all, but he likes to play devil's advocate sometimes) that there's almost no artist you can truly enjoy if you know anything about their personal life. And I think he has a point. I mean, Cosby is a criminal and a rapist, and that puts him on another level, but there's not a lot of nice people in entertainment. I would think almost any man who's been in music, movies or TV more than five years probably has some bad behavior toward women (and maybe other men, ala Kevin Spacey) in his past, something he probably thought nothing of at the time, but we know it's wrong now.
Garrison Keillor has been one of my favorite writers for more than 30 years. Do I throw away all his books? Probably not. Will I buy anything else he's written, if he has enough of a career left to publish something new? Probably not.
I think everybody has to make their own decisions, both about the person's past creations, their future creations, and the attitude they have about being hauled up in front of society for their misdeeds, if they're still alive. And that's not going to be the same for every person. Personally, I could never listen to a Bill Cosby routine again or watch The Cosby Show again because his actions were so heinous and he is without remorse. But I'm sure I do own books and music made by people who've done some terrible things, it's just that they were never called on it because society wasn't "there" yet.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 1, 2019 1:54:02 GMT
I'm watching a Reno 911 marathon on Comedy Central and eating homemade Chex mix while my husband hems his pants upstairs. So we're right in the lead for lamest, but you Pimple Popper watchers may win for grossest! I can't watch stuff like that!
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Jan 1, 2019 1:00:27 GMT
I just want to read MORE. I track my books on Good Reads, and my numbers have fallen off drastically in the past three years. I don't know if I'll set a goal number or not, but I want to be more intentional with my free time and spend less of it on my phone.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Dec 31, 2018 15:43:26 GMT
I've wanted a turntable for several years (so as to relive childhood memories, I guess) and my husband surprised me with one for Christmas. Turns out digital music sounds a lot better! But I'm enjoying trying out records and having that tactile experience again.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Dec 31, 2018 14:34:18 GMT
I finished Slaves in the Family by Edward Ball, which is a book I started about 18 months ago! It's a very good book, but I got sidetracked about 2/3 through it and never got back to it. So I finished it off this week to squeak one more book into my yearly total. The book is about 20 years old, the author's ancestors were rice planters around Charleston (where i bought the book) and slave owners. The author tried to trace descendants of the slaves his family owned. Fascinating read.
And i finished The Ruin by Dervla Mctiernan, a mystery about a cold case that resurfaces in the life of the Irish cop who was involved with it. I really enjoyed it. This was one of Amazon's top books of 2018...I went through the list a couple weeks ago and got a stack of them from my library, so I'll be reporting on more soon.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Dec 30, 2018 21:34:50 GMT
Your couch looks so comfy! Your house looks so cozy!
I had missed the update about your ex...I'm glad he's off to his new life and that you can get back to yours. I really admire you for all you did for him--and for knowing when enough was enough!
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Dec 30, 2018 2:43:04 GMT
I missed this thread before (I was out of town and not on my phone) and started another one. Here are my best and worst from that.
My five-star books this year (rated on GoodReads):
Stories from Jonestown by Leigh Fondakowski. Collected survivor stories, an oral history of Jim Jones' cult.
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. A 400-year-old immortal human searches for is daughter in modern England.
America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray. A novel narrated by Thomas Jefferson's daughter Martha.
Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl. A memoir of the Gourmet writer's growing-up years and encounters with food.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. An American missionary family encounters the Belgian Congo in the 1960s.
Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Learning to Love the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans. (On sale for $1.99 for Kindle right now!)
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. A young black girl witnesses a police shooting of her friend and its aftereffects on her family and community.
Calypso by David Sedaris. Essays about David's family, partner and travels, a little more sentimental than his usual tone.
The Novel of the Century: The Extraordinary Adventure of Les Miserables by David Bellos. The story of how this huge novel came to be written.
The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish. A novel about modern scholars and the Elizabethan Jewish scribe they're trying to identify.
My worst reads: The Thinnest Air by Minka Kent and Transcription by Kate Atkinson.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on Dec 29, 2018 23:51:43 GMT
Well dang, I did a search and everything. Lol.
|
|