No Chains Can Bind The MeFite! Your Weekly Thread, Freed
January 20, 2025 3:56 AM Subscribe
What have you broken free from? Have you shed an extra obligation or an anxiety that's stalked you for years? Are you finally putting on the weight you want and having to let go of too-tiny clothing? Have you freed a link? Have you freed yourself from Free Willy? Have you freed yourself from "Free Bird?" If free is not free, is it still free, and for whom? This is your weekly MetaFilter free thread, so how do you do, fellow kids?
I went and did some litterpicking on my street this morning - it felt really good to do something small but tangible to make my area instantly nicer. My brain is enjoying the reward chemicals in a way that suggests litterpicking might be benignly habit forming for me.
posted by norabelle at 5:26 AM on January 20 [17 favorites]
posted by norabelle at 5:26 AM on January 20 [17 favorites]
Meth, fentanyl, alcohol and crack addiction. 1 1/2 years off the booze and 3 months on the rest.
posted by nTeleKy at 5:44 AM on January 20 [54 favorites]
posted by nTeleKy at 5:44 AM on January 20 [54 favorites]
The news. After the election, I finally bit the bullet and entirely stopped listening to NPR, which was driving me crazy with sanewashing Trump, and also with every other feature being about some poor Israeli who was mildly inconvenienced by the war—the final straw was about a town right near Gaza where "we're going back to sitting on our balconies!" and I was like "the Gazans don't HAVE balconies because you blew them up!" and switched it off and have never gone back. And I say this as someone who if forced at gunpoint to take one side in the conflict would pick the Israeli side, that's how fucking awful NPR became.
I got rid of CNN, the Times, the Post, just all of it, purely for what remains of my own shredded sanity. I unfollowed nearly all the pages on Facebook and unfollowed about 120 of the 600 "friends" I had. I had zero Trumpers, but I had to get rid of anyone who constantly posted outrage about him, or constantly harped on the same topic and got at most two likes and no comments, or posted more than once a day, or posted Wordle results. Got rid of Instagram entirely. Never had Tik Tok. I'm going to spend four years keeping That Fucking Guy out of my head. This won't make it suck less—I have two teenage daughters who get to come of age under patriarchal fascism, now!—but I'm going to let it take up as little space in my head as possible.
posted by outgrown_hobnail at 6:01 AM on January 20 [26 favorites]
I got rid of CNN, the Times, the Post, just all of it, purely for what remains of my own shredded sanity. I unfollowed nearly all the pages on Facebook and unfollowed about 120 of the 600 "friends" I had. I had zero Trumpers, but I had to get rid of anyone who constantly posted outrage about him, or constantly harped on the same topic and got at most two likes and no comments, or posted more than once a day, or posted Wordle results. Got rid of Instagram entirely. Never had Tik Tok. I'm going to spend four years keeping That Fucking Guy out of my head. This won't make it suck less—I have two teenage daughters who get to come of age under patriarchal fascism, now!—but I'm going to let it take up as little space in my head as possible.
posted by outgrown_hobnail at 6:01 AM on January 20 [26 favorites]
Still a work in progress, but I’m working more on body neutrality everyday. I’ve always had poor body image. My “measured build” means my life insurance company is dangling the carrot of “lose 15 pounds and you’ll save $20/month on your premiums.” Nah. I’m focused on making small sustainable changes for my health. If that winds up looking like 15 pounds down at the end of the day, fine. But if it doesn’t, I don’t care. Since I started weight training two years ago (just once per week, but very consistently) the scale hasn’t budged. But the weights I lift, my stamina, and what exercises I have been successful at have all progressed. So I’m doing good.
posted by eekernohan at 6:01 AM on January 20 [13 favorites]
posted by eekernohan at 6:01 AM on January 20 [13 favorites]
Just about one month ago was my last day at a job with the worst boss I have ever had. I have a very promising lead on a new job (temp to start, but a non-zero chance it will go perm) and I am finding ways to stretch the money so the savings I have will last longer if I don't get it, so I'm still thinking it was the right move.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:06 AM on January 20 [16 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:06 AM on January 20 [16 favorites]
...entirely stopped listening to NPR, which was driving me crazy with sanewashing Trump
I pretty much stopped listening to NPR news, and watching MSNBC years ago, because during Trump's first run for president they became "All Trump, All The Time" news stations and never stopped. I know how shitty Trump is and I expect most of their listeners do too, we don't need to hear the minutiae of it all day long.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:10 AM on January 20 [6 favorites]
I pretty much stopped listening to NPR news, and watching MSNBC years ago, because during Trump's first run for president they became "All Trump, All The Time" news stations and never stopped. I know how shitty Trump is and I expect most of their listeners do too, we don't need to hear the minutiae of it all day long.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:10 AM on January 20 [6 favorites]
I've spent the last three or four weeks in varying amounts of pain probably due to a severely impacted wisdom tooth. Both of my lower wisdom teeth are fully sideways, crown into the adjacent tooth. The gum opened up to expose the side of one of them years ago, and some periods of minor infection were painful then, but it settled fairly quickly. The one on the other side, basically just a pinhole has opened up, leading to pericoronitis and serious pain when chewing or using my jaw, and just intermittently the rest of the time. Because the tooth is entirely sideways (and lodged in the major nerve that's supposed to run under your teeth) it would be a major (and somewhat risky) operation to have it out. Theoretically NHS dentistry is a thing, but in practice... I'm hoping it settles down at some point on its own, because I really don't fancy paying an outrageous sum of money to have a fucking horrible and protracted experience.
posted by Dysk at 6:13 AM on January 20 [11 favorites]
posted by Dysk at 6:13 AM on January 20 [11 favorites]
Less news consumption! Reading too much news gave me an illusion of productivity. With an added side of feeling shitty afterwards.
posted by nostrada at 6:17 AM on January 20 [9 favorites]
posted by nostrada at 6:17 AM on January 20 [9 favorites]
I’d like to breathe freely again! As I posted toward the end of the last free thread, I have been struggling with asthma for the last week. I had a third nighttime spasm last night, although thankfully mild compared to the really nasty one I had Wednesday night. I got overconfident last night and didn’t take a proactive inhaler hit before going to sleep, sigh.
I’ve gotten a ton of stuff done this week with respect to getting the house reorganized for solo living again. I’ve moved my bedroom down to the basement because the basement bedroom is nice and tiny and a humidifier can actually move the needle there, compared to the cavernous master bedroom on the top floor. I was planning on doing this for winter asthma reasons anyway even before I had the attacks. It’s definitely helping!
The rest of the basement area is coming together too. I have my computer and hobby project workspace set up, and placed so that the monitor can double as a nice entertainment center for watching TV from the couch. The cats are all settling into the basement as the primary living space. It feels like somebody lives down here now. It’s also quite snug down here compared to upstairs. The bedroom especially but the main space is also quite comfortable. We’re having a serious arctic blast in Chicago for the next few days so this is the real stress test for comfort.
The rest of the house is pretty desolate and empty except for the kitchen. I don’t have any plans to tackle that till spring at least. But it’s starting to feel like a peaceful empty more than a sad one. It may not be anyone else’s home here anymore. But it’s still mine.
posted by notoriety public at 6:25 AM on January 20 [17 favorites]
I’ve gotten a ton of stuff done this week with respect to getting the house reorganized for solo living again. I’ve moved my bedroom down to the basement because the basement bedroom is nice and tiny and a humidifier can actually move the needle there, compared to the cavernous master bedroom on the top floor. I was planning on doing this for winter asthma reasons anyway even before I had the attacks. It’s definitely helping!
The rest of the basement area is coming together too. I have my computer and hobby project workspace set up, and placed so that the monitor can double as a nice entertainment center for watching TV from the couch. The cats are all settling into the basement as the primary living space. It feels like somebody lives down here now. It’s also quite snug down here compared to upstairs. The bedroom especially but the main space is also quite comfortable. We’re having a serious arctic blast in Chicago for the next few days so this is the real stress test for comfort.
The rest of the house is pretty desolate and empty except for the kitchen. I don’t have any plans to tackle that till spring at least. But it’s starting to feel like a peaceful empty more than a sad one. It may not be anyone else’s home here anymore. But it’s still mine.
posted by notoriety public at 6:25 AM on January 20 [17 favorites]
I guess I freed myself of "I guess this non-creative office job is all I'll do the rest of my life" -- up until about 2014 I had a lot of creative side work, but it started to die off (I call it "writer's block" but it applied to creativity in general), which lasted until I decided to return to college. My job isn't horrible, but it's not what I want to do, and I had settled into I'll just stay here for now. Now that I'm in school and have various outside projects, that 'block' is still there in the background, but I'm exercising those creative muscles in film school and it feels good. When I was putting together my "creative resume" -- the kind where you list projects and productions and other creative work -- I was sad at that black hole from 2014 to 2022, there's a few things in there but mostly just a void.
If you're a creative, I suggest doing that: make a spreadsheet of everything you've done for your creative world: mark down individual works of art and when you made them, times you were interviewed in the newspaper, every performance, that time your photo was used in the local co-op's calendar, etc., etc, anything you're proud of, and look at things from the perspective of "I DID THIS". It's very empowering, especially if you're only looking at the work and frustration of making new stuff in the future.
Oh, did I mention I'm in film school? First week of classes, a film analysis class focused on marginalized and non-anglo-american-romance-european films. I know the teacher, and had heard he's difficult, but I find that positive. My other higher-level, writing-focused classes have been cake walks, expectations really low, but this instructor basically said "do the reading and take notes outside of class, we don't cover the reading in class, you need to bring your understanding of the reading to the in-class discussion," which is invigorating. I literally did this for the first class -- read a book, write a paper on the book -- and I filled that book with highlighting and handwriting in the margins and post-it note flags, which didn't help me at all, there wasn't that level of analysis expected. It is for this film class.
The independent film that's in pre-production is going well; sat in on my first production meeting, walking through the shotlist, which was fun (the teaser was released but it's only on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, which all require logins sadly, my LinkedIn post is here). The film I made with director/professor/friend did our last ADR recording, and I have to get my end-of-grant paperwork turned in next week. Tonight I'm bringing my camera to a MLK Jr Day event; the director/cinematographer I've worked with before asked me if I wanted to shoot it, and I'm always down for quick, easy, paid gigs.
Tomorrow, I join my wife for an art opening: she was selected for a juried art show in a nearby town. That job I mentioned she would be great for and wanted to be talked into it? She decided not to apply. She's thinks the universe is testing her: various things have appeared in her life which would require her to devote time to, and she believes these are all distractions to take away from her art. She wants to be a capital-A Artist, and she has enough distractions, and I respect that.
posted by AzraelBrown at 7:08 AM on January 20 [9 favorites]
If you're a creative, I suggest doing that: make a spreadsheet of everything you've done for your creative world: mark down individual works of art and when you made them, times you were interviewed in the newspaper, every performance, that time your photo was used in the local co-op's calendar, etc., etc, anything you're proud of, and look at things from the perspective of "I DID THIS". It's very empowering, especially if you're only looking at the work and frustration of making new stuff in the future.
Oh, did I mention I'm in film school? First week of classes, a film analysis class focused on marginalized and non-anglo-american-romance-european films. I know the teacher, and had heard he's difficult, but I find that positive. My other higher-level, writing-focused classes have been cake walks, expectations really low, but this instructor basically said "do the reading and take notes outside of class, we don't cover the reading in class, you need to bring your understanding of the reading to the in-class discussion," which is invigorating. I literally did this for the first class -- read a book, write a paper on the book -- and I filled that book with highlighting and handwriting in the margins and post-it note flags, which didn't help me at all, there wasn't that level of analysis expected. It is for this film class.
The independent film that's in pre-production is going well; sat in on my first production meeting, walking through the shotlist, which was fun (the teaser was released but it's only on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, which all require logins sadly, my LinkedIn post is here). The film I made with director/professor/friend did our last ADR recording, and I have to get my end-of-grant paperwork turned in next week. Tonight I'm bringing my camera to a MLK Jr Day event; the director/cinematographer I've worked with before asked me if I wanted to shoot it, and I'm always down for quick, easy, paid gigs.
Tomorrow, I join my wife for an art opening: she was selected for a juried art show in a nearby town. That job I mentioned she would be great for and wanted to be talked into it? She decided not to apply. She's thinks the universe is testing her: various things have appeared in her life which would require her to devote time to, and she believes these are all distractions to take away from her art. She wants to be a capital-A Artist, and she has enough distractions, and I respect that.
posted by AzraelBrown at 7:08 AM on January 20 [9 favorites]
I know too much about history to see the light at the end of the tunnel right now. Consequently, I have expunged Meta products and current news from my life. I guess I'll see if it helps.
posted by tommasz at 7:27 AM on January 20 [9 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 7:27 AM on January 20 [9 favorites]
I’m 998 days sober!
posted by punchtothehead at 7:30 AM on January 20 [48 favorites]
posted by punchtothehead at 7:30 AM on January 20 [48 favorites]
^ HELL YEEEEEAH ^
I love this for you, punchtothehead.
posted by Kitteh at 7:33 AM on January 20 [5 favorites]
I love this for you, punchtothehead.
posted by Kitteh at 7:33 AM on January 20 [5 favorites]
I broke free of the billable hour. Last week was my first as a civil servant and while this will come with many sacrifices it will also mean that a lot more of my life belongs to me. That feels amazing.
posted by 1adam12 at 7:51 AM on January 20 [16 favorites]
posted by 1adam12 at 7:51 AM on January 20 [16 favorites]
I'll have thirteen years sober at the end of January, and am still amazed at how much I got back by giving alcohol up. I also gave up AT&T as an internet service provider after something like two decades, and even though that just means that I switched big corporations, I'm astonished at how much my service has improved.
The Johnny Cash version of "Rusty Cage."
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:58 AM on January 20 [20 favorites]
The Johnny Cash version of "Rusty Cage."
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:58 AM on January 20 [20 favorites]
I dunno about breaking free, but we're bracing for 2-4" of snow down here in Texas, which'll be fun, fun, fun. The kid's got the day off tomorrow, and maybe Wednesday too. I can work from home, so I'll be doing that this week.
posted by Spike Glee at 8:07 AM on January 20 [5 favorites]
posted by Spike Glee at 8:07 AM on January 20 [5 favorites]
I quit my research job in academia last fall. I’ve had a good run at being a researcher and industry and academia for 30 years. It was really sad when I realized that I just couldn’t do it anymore because of my mental health deteriorating. I have enough money to pay for my insurance for myself and my child, but that will someday run out. It’s all about the insurance. I have plenty to do to keep me busy with a teenager so I’m certainly not bored, but I am very self-conscious that people think I am a slacker. I would like to learn to let go of that idea and embrace my choice to improve my life. Everybody seems to ask “well what are you going to do now?” I really don’t know except I’m exercising daily, not drinking alcohol, I’m going to tournaments for my daughter on Saturdays,
doing a lot of projects around my house. I’m lucky.
posted by waving at 8:15 AM on January 20 [15 favorites]
doing a lot of projects around my house. I’m lucky.
posted by waving at 8:15 AM on January 20 [15 favorites]
Per other threads, I have finally gotten free of my hell job. And I'm trying to get rid of stuff at my house, though that's going to take a long-ass time to handle.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:22 AM on January 20 [19 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:22 AM on January 20 [19 favorites]
got married & had a baby eight days later, feeling like a Sim on ultra fast speed
posted by taquito sunrise at 9:16 AM on January 20 [31 favorites]
posted by taquito sunrise at 9:16 AM on January 20 [31 favorites]
It is about time to free myself from the weight of my hair.
I don't like haircuts, so I tend to get a pixie cut and then ignore my hair for 18 months to 2 years, until I'm sick enough of dealing with long hair to book an appointment.
If you've never cut off a foot of hair at a time, it feels great! Strongly recommend.
posted by the primroses were over at 9:30 AM on January 20 [10 favorites]
I don't like haircuts, so I tend to get a pixie cut and then ignore my hair for 18 months to 2 years, until I'm sick enough of dealing with long hair to book an appointment.
If you've never cut off a foot of hair at a time, it feels great! Strongly recommend.
posted by the primroses were over at 9:30 AM on January 20 [10 favorites]
I did two mock interviews for one of my kids today, and it's amazing to hear him talk: he has his own voice and his own priorities and his own thoughts. It's wild!
When your kids are young, you wonder if they'll ever grow up -- and occasionally you have time to wonder what they'll be like as adults. When you finally catch sight of it, it's...moving.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:54 AM on January 20 [14 favorites]
When your kids are young, you wonder if they'll ever grow up -- and occasionally you have time to wonder what they'll be like as adults. When you finally catch sight of it, it's...moving.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:54 AM on January 20 [14 favorites]
the primroses were over: If you've never cut off a foot of hair at a time, it feels great! Strongly recommend.
Will you donate it, once it's cut off? My daughter did that once, and it was an amazing transformation -- and also a cool donation. (I am aware that not all human hair that's donated is used for sick kids, please don't correct me. No wigist.)
posted by wenestvedt at 9:57 AM on January 20 [5 favorites]
Will you donate it, once it's cut off? My daughter did that once, and it was an amazing transformation -- and also a cool donation. (I am aware that not all human hair that's donated is used for sick kids, please don't correct me. No wigist.)
posted by wenestvedt at 9:57 AM on January 20 [5 favorites]
my step-daughter signed a lease on her own apartment today, fully subsidized by odsp disability and toronto housing support. i haven't shared much about the enormous upheavals and trauma responses associated with her over the past few years but the fact that she'll be under a clean roof with an actual lease with her name on it (not just subletting or in an airbnb) is an enormous relief. well, will be, eventually. when the anxiety responses mellow out. which will take months/years. anyway. it's good news.
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:54 AM on January 20 [18 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:54 AM on January 20 [18 favorites]
punchtothehead, that's FANTASTIC!
And seanmpuckett, I am very happy for your leap forward!
posted by wenestvedt at 11:01 AM on January 20 [5 favorites]
And seanmpuckett, I am very happy for your leap forward!
posted by wenestvedt at 11:01 AM on January 20 [5 favorites]
I'm currently the Energizer Bunny running at maybe 1/8 power, which is a strangeness. Like have you ever felt every single finger and the joints of those fingers articulated as you click any key verrrry slowly on your keyboard to type things like words and sentences? And brain to match? I'm getting over anesthesia from an operation this AM (went okay, we think!), and it's way weird. BUT trying to get free of a lot health stuff overlooked lately, because of, um, health stuff ... so finally taking care of some of that business. Getting some of it behind us will feel good! Also, not really here officially, until next Sat. Also, added this to the sidebar and Best Of blog!
Enjoy the freelings, friends!
posted by taz at 11:06 AM on January 20 [10 favorites]
Enjoy the freelings, friends!
posted by taz at 11:06 AM on January 20 [10 favorites]
While I haven't broken free of clutter and unwanted belongings, lately I've been thinking about doing a "death cleaning" sort of thing...not that I expect to die soon (though of course ya never know). I've coexisted peacefully with clutter for many decades, but lately I've started to feel like it's getting a little tiresome.
A pile of stuff I've been meaning to put on Ebay has been quietly nagging at me from one corner of the living room for ages, and I'm sure I've got more to add to it; for instance I'm finally willing to sell off most (except for a special few) of the musical instruments I haven't played in ages, and I've also got a multitude of trumpet and sax mouthpieces I've tried and rejected over the years. I also need to gather all the things I want to donate to Goodwill, as well as things to drop off at a recycling center. Then - and this is the big one - actually get all that stuff out of the house. Once I get past that big hump it should be a bit easier to continue refining and paring down what's left until I have only what I actually need and use.
And I'm hoping that laying it all out in public like this will give me the push I need to get going on the project. Fingers crossed.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:19 AM on January 20 [12 favorites]
A pile of stuff I've been meaning to put on Ebay has been quietly nagging at me from one corner of the living room for ages, and I'm sure I've got more to add to it; for instance I'm finally willing to sell off most (except for a special few) of the musical instruments I haven't played in ages, and I've also got a multitude of trumpet and sax mouthpieces I've tried and rejected over the years. I also need to gather all the things I want to donate to Goodwill, as well as things to drop off at a recycling center. Then - and this is the big one - actually get all that stuff out of the house. Once I get past that big hump it should be a bit easier to continue refining and paring down what's left until I have only what I actually need and use.
And I'm hoping that laying it all out in public like this will give me the push I need to get going on the project. Fingers crossed.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:19 AM on January 20 [12 favorites]
It took A&E (aka ER) six hours yesterday to find that the shortness of breath and chest pains were because I'd managed to get a chest infection *and* trapped a nerve, both at the same time. Relief all round to find as well that the heart is A-OK.
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 11:45 AM on January 20 [18 favorites]
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 11:45 AM on January 20 [18 favorites]
I'm dismantling an old cat tree that needed to be gotten rid of a few years ago. Don't worry, the replacement is already here bc my kitty loves sleeping high on one of the platforms. I'm also working hard to free myself of guilt, things that happened in the past that I cannot change now.
posted by honey badger at 11:45 AM on January 20 [6 favorites]
posted by honey badger at 11:45 AM on January 20 [6 favorites]
Mr Epigrams tested positive for COVID this morning. I'm spending my day cancelling all our plans for this week. (I have not tested but am assuming I have it or will have it.)
posted by gentlyepigrams at 12:36 PM on January 20 [8 favorites]
posted by gentlyepigrams at 12:36 PM on January 20 [8 favorites]
I'm almost free from my standard after vacation cold! I have several boxes to donate, but that'll have to wait to next week when it warms up and once they're out of the house I'll be free from feeling guilty about them
posted by Higherfasterforwards at 12:48 PM on January 20 [5 favorites]
posted by Higherfasterforwards at 12:48 PM on January 20 [5 favorites]
>>
gentlyepigrams, thank you for keeping yourself and all of us safe - hope your Mr recovers quickly and painlessly from COVID.
posted by edithkeeler at 1:50 PM on January 20 [10 favorites]
gentlyepigrams, thank you for keeping yourself and all of us safe - hope your Mr recovers quickly and painlessly from COVID.
posted by edithkeeler at 1:50 PM on January 20 [10 favorites]
I am freeing another room in this house of my mothers craft hoard. I did the yarn (two minivans stuffed to the roof) and now its the fabric. There's a de-stash market at the end of Feb so I'm hauling out the tubs of fabric, the drawers of fabric, the piles of fabric, and enough coloured thread to go around the earth several times and trying to get it ready for the sale table. Expect an AskMe about this soon because I am getting overwhelmed and panicking. But the room is being turned into an office for my husband and we are freeing ourselves of our old house and I cannot wait for that shackle to drop.
posted by ninazer0 at 3:09 PM on January 20 [6 favorites]
posted by ninazer0 at 3:09 PM on January 20 [6 favorites]
I’ve already shed some social media and am utilizing alternate news sources. There are a couple of hell sites I can’t let go of yet for various reasons, but I’ve worked to curate them to be as pleasant as possible.
I’m also freeing myself of the idea I need to be thinner to be healthier and working on becoming stronger. I even have a goal - I want to be able to haul the 42lb of cat litter from the basement to the upstairs office by the end of the year without wheezing.
In the meantime, both the piriformis muscle and a shoulder joint decided to throw a tantrum over the weekend., so I’m consciously and carefully weight lifting around those issues. The line between therapeutic and pain inducing is very thin.
I have a dental appointment early next month to replace a cracked filling. The filling is old and needs to be replaced anyway. I will most likely have to get a crown. My dentist, bless him, has already prepared me for needing a crown. So I’ll also be free of several hundred dollars, since my dental insurance pays shit for crowns.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:27 PM on January 20 [6 favorites]
I’m also freeing myself of the idea I need to be thinner to be healthier and working on becoming stronger. I even have a goal - I want to be able to haul the 42lb of cat litter from the basement to the upstairs office by the end of the year without wheezing.
In the meantime, both the piriformis muscle and a shoulder joint decided to throw a tantrum over the weekend., so I’m consciously and carefully weight lifting around those issues. The line between therapeutic and pain inducing is very thin.
I have a dental appointment early next month to replace a cracked filling. The filling is old and needs to be replaced anyway. I will most likely have to get a crown. My dentist, bless him, has already prepared me for needing a crown. So I’ll also be free of several hundred dollars, since my dental insurance pays shit for crowns.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:27 PM on January 20 [6 favorites]
Well, I'm free of the household I shared with my (now ex) boyfriend and my metamour/ex boyfriend for 4.5 years. (Yeah we were a Triad. for most of that time. Been a Vee for over a year.) Thankfully it was quiet at the end, but mostly because neither of them know how to express negative feelings like sadness or loss in a neutral manner, so they said nothing or grey rocked me. Which leaves me to think I was only there because I did most of the Adulting (utilities in my name, I wrote the rent check, I paid 2/3 of the bills to acknowledge ex's domestic and emotional labor because metamour wouldn't) and it seemed like a good idea at the time (early 2020). Live and learn?
I'm staying with my folks for a bit to a)help get my debt down to increase cash flow so I can afford housing in LA County, b)help them save for the roof they're gonna need, c) save up for the few long weekends I have planned for this year.
posted by luckynerd at 4:35 PM on January 20 [4 favorites]
I'm staying with my folks for a bit to a)help get my debt down to increase cash flow so I can afford housing in LA County, b)help them save for the roof they're gonna need, c) save up for the few long weekends I have planned for this year.
posted by luckynerd at 4:35 PM on January 20 [4 favorites]
I freed my lemon tree of about a dozen ripe lemons, then left them out in a bucket in front of my house and emailed the neighbors to help themselves.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 4:41 PM on January 20 [6 favorites]
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 4:41 PM on January 20 [6 favorites]
Free lemons? Damn, wish I was closer!!
Had pasta tonight with spinach, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and a sauce made of cashews, pasta water, salt, and lemon juice.
Since my wife switched us all to vegetarianism last year, we use a lot of fresh lemon juice to brighten up all them beans.
posted by wenestvedt at 4:50 PM on January 20 [4 favorites]
Had pasta tonight with spinach, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and a sauce made of cashews, pasta water, salt, and lemon juice.
Since my wife switched us all to vegetarianism last year, we use a lot of fresh lemon juice to brighten up all them beans.
posted by wenestvedt at 4:50 PM on January 20 [4 favorites]
Hey Ninazer0, do you live anywhere within a couple hundred miles of Atlanta?
posted by outgrown_hobnail at 5:38 PM on January 20 [2 favorites]
posted by outgrown_hobnail at 5:38 PM on January 20 [2 favorites]
I have shed the shackles of Sweden in winter to spend a couple of weeks in California. Got here yesterday; it was a good call. Congratulations to all the sober folks!
posted by Bella Donna at 6:47 PM on January 20 [7 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 6:47 PM on January 20 [7 favorites]
thank you for keeping yourself and all of us safe
You're all welcome, but of course. It really boggles me that people don't stay home when they're sick. Mr E went on a business trip (sales conference; he's a tech guy but he's in the sales organization) last week and we're sure that's how he got it. It's not over, y'all.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 6:51 PM on January 20 [4 favorites]
You're all welcome, but of course. It really boggles me that people don't stay home when they're sick. Mr E went on a business trip (sales conference; he's a tech guy but he's in the sales organization) last week and we're sure that's how he got it. It's not over, y'all.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 6:51 PM on January 20 [4 favorites]
The AWS annual conference is named "reinvent" but everyone calls it "reinfect" because of the inescapable con crud they get.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:06 PM on January 20 [6 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 7:06 PM on January 20 [6 favorites]
The flood destroying my home and all my stuff has freed me in lots of ways. I was scared for a while but I have very low expenses now and I'm not pressured to do things I dislike because the pay is good. The farm had become a real burden after my mother died.
My son started college last fall and I don't worry about him anymore. I feel my mental health is positively reinforced by my job and that's a big deal to me.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 9:23 PM on January 20 [11 favorites]
My son started college last fall and I don't worry about him anymore. I feel my mental health is positively reinforced by my job and that's a big deal to me.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 9:23 PM on January 20 [11 favorites]
Speaking of lemons, Finnish writer and playwright Sofi Oksanen's instagram post earlier today made me smile :-)
posted by fridgebuzz at 3:58 AM on January 21 [2 favorites]
posted by fridgebuzz at 3:58 AM on January 21 [2 favorites]
I’m free this week because I am on holiday in Malta. And I realized this is the first time ever I’m on a holiday abroad alone! It feels very liberating. I’m staying at a resort, also a first, and I have my own little cottage/bungalow, complete with a cat, now sleeping and farting on the couch.
The first day was a bit dramatic. The village nearby is a 30 minute walk along a noisy road, so when the map app on my phone suggested an alternative route back through the fields, I was happy. That was a BIG mistake. The pathways were unmarked, very narrow, sometimes almost invisible, sometimes flooded, and mostly very rocky. Not at all easy to manuver in white city sneakers. After my shoulder was crushed in September, I’ve been very afraid of falling, and this was all terrifying. There was noone up there, and my anxiety* was skyrocketing. At the last ten meters (I later learnt) I just couldn’t anymore. I was afraid of feeling paralysed again, and of staying all night on the hillside. But I could see a little truck filled with crates of lemon and oranges, and I guessed the farmer had to be somewhere.
Eventually, he turned up, and couldn’t believe I couldn’t walk those few metres. After a bit of convincing, he did help me, however, and I could walk home. With a lemon straight off from the tree in my bag.
In retrospect, I’m happy I saw how farming works in this rugged land, with tiny terrassed plots and an intricate watering system. But I’m not going there again. Another farmer has a little shop next to the resort, where I can buy all sorts of freshly harvested fruit and vegetables, and wine, olives and capers. Oranges and lemon are in season, and they are so delicious.
I’m mostly cooking for myself, because the area is frankly very touristy, and nearly all restaurants are adapted to suit British tastes. Including a lot of Indian restaurants, which is somehow quite funny. The resort is Danish, but even here the food is influenced by the Brits, which doesn’t matter much to me, traditional Danish food would perhaps be even worse here than steaks and fish and chips. I love shopping in other countries, and there is some really interesting stuff here, some of which I may bring home with me.
*The fear of falling is entirely in my head: the physiotherapist, my GP and the neurologist all tell me I have above average stability for my age. As does the step-app on the phone, for what it’s worth. But the mind is a powerful thing, and I can’t control it.
posted by mumimor at 5:59 AM on January 21 [10 favorites]
The first day was a bit dramatic. The village nearby is a 30 minute walk along a noisy road, so when the map app on my phone suggested an alternative route back through the fields, I was happy. That was a BIG mistake. The pathways were unmarked, very narrow, sometimes almost invisible, sometimes flooded, and mostly very rocky. Not at all easy to manuver in white city sneakers. After my shoulder was crushed in September, I’ve been very afraid of falling, and this was all terrifying. There was noone up there, and my anxiety* was skyrocketing. At the last ten meters (I later learnt) I just couldn’t anymore. I was afraid of feeling paralysed again, and of staying all night on the hillside. But I could see a little truck filled with crates of lemon and oranges, and I guessed the farmer had to be somewhere.
Eventually, he turned up, and couldn’t believe I couldn’t walk those few metres. After a bit of convincing, he did help me, however, and I could walk home. With a lemon straight off from the tree in my bag.
In retrospect, I’m happy I saw how farming works in this rugged land, with tiny terrassed plots and an intricate watering system. But I’m not going there again. Another farmer has a little shop next to the resort, where I can buy all sorts of freshly harvested fruit and vegetables, and wine, olives and capers. Oranges and lemon are in season, and they are so delicious.
I’m mostly cooking for myself, because the area is frankly very touristy, and nearly all restaurants are adapted to suit British tastes. Including a lot of Indian restaurants, which is somehow quite funny. The resort is Danish, but even here the food is influenced by the Brits, which doesn’t matter much to me, traditional Danish food would perhaps be even worse here than steaks and fish and chips. I love shopping in other countries, and there is some really interesting stuff here, some of which I may bring home with me.
*The fear of falling is entirely in my head: the physiotherapist, my GP and the neurologist all tell me I have above average stability for my age. As does the step-app on the phone, for what it’s worth. But the mind is a powerful thing, and I can’t control it.
posted by mumimor at 5:59 AM on January 21 [10 favorites]
I am ten weeks sober. I have "quit drinking" many times before, but I'm realizing this time those stints were less like sobriety and more like proof of concept tests to show that I wasn't so bad and no one needed to take my booze away or make me go to rehab.
My spouse is away training for a new job, and the worst I have done is eating more than my share of the cookies that were supposed to be mostly for my kid.
Life is okay.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:54 AM on January 21 [18 favorites]
My spouse is away training for a new job, and the worst I have done is eating more than my share of the cookies that were supposed to be mostly for my kid.
Life is okay.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:54 AM on January 21 [18 favorites]
Well, shit - I had a really promising first-round interview on Friday, but i've learned that they're skipping me over for the second round.
Still in frequent contact with all the recruiters but that was a bummer. I'm reminding myself that the last job hunt I had, I didn't work with any recruiters and still found a job within only 3 months.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:54 AM on January 21 [2 favorites]
Still in frequent contact with all the recruiters but that was a bummer. I'm reminding myself that the last job hunt I had, I didn't work with any recruiters and still found a job within only 3 months.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:54 AM on January 21 [2 favorites]
I've been slowly trying to break free of being so ANGRY at people. Not much success yet.
In the meantime I've upgraded my rats' cage with ramps and levels because they are getting OLD. It was an excellent project, the most enjoyable thing I've done in months. Figuring out how to create ramps and levels that are cheap, easy to clean, not chewable, and keep the rats from falling off by accident was an interesting challenge. They seem to like it.
I do have quite a big sad as they are getting old and they are such amazing little individuals. After these two, I'm not sure I'll get rats again soon.
posted by Zumbador at 9:21 AM on January 21 [6 favorites]
In the meantime I've upgraded my rats' cage with ramps and levels because they are getting OLD. It was an excellent project, the most enjoyable thing I've done in months. Figuring out how to create ramps and levels that are cheap, easy to clean, not chewable, and keep the rats from falling off by accident was an interesting challenge. They seem to like it.
I do have quite a big sad as they are getting old and they are such amazing little individuals. After these two, I'm not sure I'll get rats again soon.
posted by Zumbador at 9:21 AM on January 21 [6 favorites]
I’m unexpectedly free from work tomorrow… because I was out of town and my flights back into New Orleans have been canceled because of the winter storm. We found accommodations and are making out ok, but my kids are sad not to be seeing their home covered in snow.
posted by Night_owl at 9:29 AM on January 21 [2 favorites]
posted by Night_owl at 9:29 AM on January 21 [2 favorites]
We got a cat! Obligatory cat tax and he and Harvey are getting along, which is amazing, since only 10 days ago I was going to post a desperate AskMe: what to do when your new cat and old dog want to murder each other? They got past murdering really quickly and are rapidly moving into buddy stage; it's fantastic. Now Mr. Binks does need to stop seeing Harvey's tail as an irresistible toy or he will screw this up, but all in all it's going super well and I'm very happy to have a cat again. It's been years since my last cat Okra passed and we are all glad to be a five species* household again.
I'm freeing myself from the news as much as I can. I am going to try to make more friends, be more involved with my community, do what I can here. There is nothing I can do at all about the national and international stage so I'm making a conscious decision to be less informed. Will it stick? Probably not but I'm really trying. Nothing that happens now is surprising and I just feel so enraged when I hear people express shock and dismay. Yes, dismay, but I can't with the shock, sorry. I'm trying hard not to be cynical and resigned but honestly? I'm cynical, distressed and resigned and just hoping to keep my little family alive in these rough waters. I dreamt last night the streets were flooded and there were orca leaping alongside buses and cars. It was beautiful and terrifying and I'm taking it as hopeful.
*the dog, the cat, the humans, the fish, the plants - five who can get along. As long as the fish tank is covered and I remember to water the plants.
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:59 AM on January 21 [12 favorites]
I'm freeing myself from the news as much as I can. I am going to try to make more friends, be more involved with my community, do what I can here. There is nothing I can do at all about the national and international stage so I'm making a conscious decision to be less informed. Will it stick? Probably not but I'm really trying. Nothing that happens now is surprising and I just feel so enraged when I hear people express shock and dismay. Yes, dismay, but I can't with the shock, sorry. I'm trying hard not to be cynical and resigned but honestly? I'm cynical, distressed and resigned and just hoping to keep my little family alive in these rough waters. I dreamt last night the streets were flooded and there were orca leaping alongside buses and cars. It was beautiful and terrifying and I'm taking it as hopeful.
*the dog, the cat, the humans, the fish, the plants - five who can get along. As long as the fish tank is covered and I remember to water the plants.
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:59 AM on January 21 [12 favorites]
"And he increases the number of clocks by exactly one..."
Mr. Binks is a looker! (Harvey is also a good boi)
Also, like your art on the wall.
posted by Windopaene at 12:00 PM on January 21 [5 favorites]
Mr. Binks is a looker! (Harvey is also a good boi)
Also, like your art on the wall.
posted by Windopaene at 12:00 PM on January 21 [5 favorites]
Hey Ninazer0, do you live anywhere within a couple hundred miles of Atlanta?
Alas outgrown_hobnail, I'm in Australia.
posted by ninazer0 at 1:45 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
Alas outgrown_hobnail, I'm in Australia.
posted by ninazer0 at 1:45 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
I put a deposit down on a car today. It is not the make I thought I wanted, but it is very nice and hits all the requirements I have for a new-to-me car, including a downpayment, APR and repayment schedule that I am comfortable with.
As a little social experiment, I applied for financing and title in my name only. I want to see if the terms change.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 1:59 PM on January 21 [6 favorites]
As a little social experiment, I applied for financing and title in my name only. I want to see if the terms change.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 1:59 PM on January 21 [6 favorites]
Hershey's Canada has decided to stop making Cherry Blossoms candy.
One thing about it you could not share it. so messy ,gooey
I haven't had it since I was a kid
Maybe I'll have to buy some now
posted by yyz at 2:15 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
One thing about it you could not share it. so messy ,gooey
I haven't had it since I was a kid
Maybe I'll have to buy some now
posted by yyz at 2:15 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
thank you, windopaene! That is actually a painting of me and my son done in the early 90s by a dear friend of mine who has sadly since departed this plane of existence. And the painting on the right that you can't see very well was done by my mother who is also no longer with us, so while writing this I realize it seems a bit macabre, in actual fact seeing those artworks - and paintings by my aunt, I have those in my room as well - every day makes it feel like some of my favorite people are still around.
posted by mygothlaundry at 3:06 PM on January 21 [5 favorites]
posted by mygothlaundry at 3:06 PM on January 21 [5 favorites]
I am jealous that you could buy Cherry Blossoms in singles. I feel like the minimum here in the US is 6 in a package. My god, who can eat 6 of those in less than a month?
posted by soelo at 3:19 PM on January 21
posted by soelo at 3:19 PM on January 21
6 in a package is frightening. Diabetes in a box
posted by yyz at 4:22 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
posted by yyz at 4:22 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
I still have the same cold / flu / allergies as I did last week and I am truly ready to be free of the sneezing, wheezing, dripping, draining, ongoing outpouring of mucus from my sinuses.
I should have shares in facial tissue stocks.
Good news -- I actually can take decongestants and antihistamines with my current prescription medications.
Also, good news -- my doctor's office was open on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so I was able to confirm this on Monday.
Unfortunately, I began reading the warning labels on the pill boxes after they had closed on Friday, so it was a long, moist weekend.
Steamy showers help, but only so much.
So far I haven't taken anything over-the-counter today, which means I might be able to spend my birthday with family instead of huddled beneath the covers with only Kleenex for company.
Life goals, yay.
Also, I lost several pounds somewhere, but they are bound to return along with my appetite.
Also, what is with this weather? We do not "do" snow in the South!
The mosquitoes are dead, truly y'all can take your snow back, y'hear?
posted by TrishaU at 8:01 PM on January 21 [4 favorites]
I should have shares in facial tissue stocks.
Good news -- I actually can take decongestants and antihistamines with my current prescription medications.
Also, good news -- my doctor's office was open on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so I was able to confirm this on Monday.
Unfortunately, I began reading the warning labels on the pill boxes after they had closed on Friday, so it was a long, moist weekend.
Steamy showers help, but only so much.
So far I haven't taken anything over-the-counter today, which means I might be able to spend my birthday with family instead of huddled beneath the covers with only Kleenex for company.
Life goals, yay.
Also, I lost several pounds somewhere, but they are bound to return along with my appetite.
Also, what is with this weather? We do not "do" snow in the South!
The mosquitoes are dead, truly y'all can take your snow back, y'hear?
posted by TrishaU at 8:01 PM on January 21 [4 favorites]
a long, moist weekend
Sockpuppet name up for grabs
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:00 PM on January 21 [3 favorites]
Sockpuppet name up for grabs
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:00 PM on January 21 [3 favorites]
I attend a therapy group on zoom. It's for people who deal with depression and we meet four times a week for fifty minutes. I've known them and the therapist since the COVID lockdowns and they've been an important part of my life for a long time. These days I usually do it sitting on my bunk in the late morning. I don't have any privacy so people hear us.
Today, two people here at the shelter asked me about it. Said they were interested in getting into something like that. I told them my group was run out of Asheville, but I would ask about resources here in Knoxville because my therapist used to practice here. Asheville has much better community mental health resources than here so we'll see.
My search for a place to live continues. I was interested in one but the guy's poor kids came across as desperate and needy so I passed on that one.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 10:19 PM on January 21 [5 favorites]
Today, two people here at the shelter asked me about it. Said they were interested in getting into something like that. I told them my group was run out of Asheville, but I would ask about resources here in Knoxville because my therapist used to practice here. Asheville has much better community mental health resources than here so we'll see.
My search for a place to live continues. I was interested in one but the guy's poor kids came across as desperate and needy so I passed on that one.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 10:19 PM on January 21 [5 favorites]
I’m staying at a resort, also a first, and I have my own little cottage/bungalow, complete with a cat, now sleeping and farting on the couch.
would you be so kind as to extend this into a genre thx
posted by ginger.beef at 10:24 PM on January 21 [3 favorites]
would you be so kind as to extend this into a genre thx
posted by ginger.beef at 10:24 PM on January 21 [3 favorites]
So exactly 7 hours after learning that I lost out on the promising temp gig, I got word about another possible gig - and got confirmation that an earlier one hasn't died yet. So I have two temp gig irons in the fire, and both would pay extremely well so even if they are truly temp jobs I'd come out pretty damn good.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:26 AM on January 22 [8 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:26 AM on January 22 [8 favorites]
On occasion I have mentioned that I live across the street from a neighbor who is not a good human. Last night his attempt at entertaining ended with his injured, intoxicated, naked guest sheltering in our home. Emergency services were called. It got ugly and my kid witnessed part of it.
This is the second time in three months that his behavior has spilled over into our lives and there will be no consequences for him. He is a horrible, mediocre, middle-aged white man with juuust enough connections and street smarts to skate through facing consequences for any of his actions.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:00 AM on January 23 [3 favorites]
This is the second time in three months that his behavior has spilled over into our lives and there will be no consequences for him. He is a horrible, mediocre, middle-aged white man with juuust enough connections and street smarts to skate through facing consequences for any of his actions.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:00 AM on January 23 [3 favorites]
That seems to be *all* of those kinds of men, especially now.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:40 AM on January 23 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:40 AM on January 23 [1 favorite]
jenfullmoon it has been utterly demoralizing.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 9:33 AM on January 23 [2 favorites]
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 9:33 AM on January 23 [2 favorites]
I'm in the process of freeing myself from using Meta products. I don't have a modern smartphone (my phone is an old Nokia E7-00) and you really can't setup desktop Signal (for instant messaging) without first registering your phone number in the smartphone app. I do have my dead mother's old Sony Xperia from when they switched to iPhones laying around for.. I guess situations like this? And luckily it is new enough to run a version of Android that runs Signal, so GOODBYE Messenger. You were the last reason why I was still on Fb, along with some hobby groups, luckily none very dear or local or that important. I joined Bluesky and Mastodon, will have to see which I'll end up using. I've already messaged my closest Messenger friends (and my father) via desktop Signal on my Mac Mini, will yet have to get my Thinkpad working with it too.
posted by fridgebuzz at 10:29 AM on January 23 [3 favorites]
posted by fridgebuzz at 10:29 AM on January 23 [3 favorites]
Now that I don't drink, I'm thinking it would be a good time for me to stop eating like a starving teenager who just found a $50 bill at a state fair.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:38 AM on January 23 [5 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:38 AM on January 23 [5 favorites]
Right there with you, Dirty Old Town. Time to free myself from the creeping sedentariness that's set in over the past year or so and start walking again, too.
posted by mollweide at 10:58 AM on January 23 [2 favorites]
posted by mollweide at 10:58 AM on January 23 [2 favorites]
I just lost the filling that was scheduled for replacement and my dentist’s office is closed until Monday. Thankfully it is not painful. I left a message on the regular line, but I’m considering calling the emergency number and ask if there is anything else I should do until I get the appointment moved up.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:46 PM on January 23 [1 favorite]
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:46 PM on January 23 [1 favorite]
I came to work at eleven and everyone was in bed and the place was spotless except the toilet so I cleaned that and had nothing to do so I texted my therapist because she's a night owl and we haven't had our session this week. I'm doing pretty well so the zoom session was short. Then she started telling me about a new job she starts next month. She was excited.
She'll be in charge of mental health services for a new halfway house program. They are starting with 3 houses and need a housing manager and she wants me to do it. I'd have a free place to live, a car and a salary and I can keep my current job. I'd have to cut my hours down to 40 and lose the overtime but the package offered would more than make up for that. I think I'd like working with ex-cons so I said yes.
She wants me to search through the people at the shelter and see if there's anyone who would make a good house manager. I have a couple in mind and I think they will be excited.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 12:22 AM on January 24 [18 favorites]
She'll be in charge of mental health services for a new halfway house program. They are starting with 3 houses and need a housing manager and she wants me to do it. I'd have a free place to live, a car and a salary and I can keep my current job. I'd have to cut my hours down to 40 and lose the overtime but the package offered would more than make up for that. I think I'd like working with ex-cons so I said yes.
She wants me to search through the people at the shelter and see if there's anyone who would make a good house manager. I have a couple in mind and I think they will be excited.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 12:22 AM on January 24 [18 favorites]
They are starting with 3 houses and need a housing manager and she wants me to do it. I'd have a free place to live, a car and a salary and I can keep my current job.
that's really great!! hope it all goes well
posted by taquito sunrise at 7:21 PM on January 24 [2 favorites]
that's really great!! hope it all goes well
posted by taquito sunrise at 7:21 PM on January 24 [2 favorites]
That’s amazing, Mr. Yuck. Hope is out there for US all.
posted by mumimor at 12:43 AM on January 25 [3 favorites]
posted by mumimor at 12:43 AM on January 25 [3 favorites]
Welp, spent the night taking a friend to the ER. She's still not getting anywhere (her test results came in and she checked them long before anyone has come to talk to her about it), but her dad finally got here, so I went home to finally eat dinner at 12:30. It's pretty ridiculous because the pharmacy decided to give her the generic version of the drug that keeps her stable, generic drug has in fact made her very sick feeling, and because there is still a nationwide fluid shortage, they said she won't get any unless she's dying. They won't start her on the regular medication (IF they can get it) until the bad stuff is flushed out. I have no idea if they will even do anything. She was rather comically loopy.
Oddly enough, two theater people I know also turned up in the ER, as one of them started having a heart issue during their show and there's a doctor in the show who said to go to the ER. They weren't getting help either...oh, and someone else in the cast had also gone to the ER, presumably elsewhere.
Oh, what a night. January, you continue to January.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:45 AM on January 25 [3 favorites]
Oddly enough, two theater people I know also turned up in the ER, as one of them started having a heart issue during their show and there's a doctor in the show who said to go to the ER. They weren't getting help either...oh, and someone else in the cast had also gone to the ER, presumably elsewhere.
Oh, what a night. January, you continue to January.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:45 AM on January 25 [3 favorites]
My kid's School of Rock band had its concert today and in addition to playing a mean bass, he also sang Petula Clark's "Downtown." I'd share the video but teenagers, privacy, etc. The wild thing is, his singing voice is remarkably like Adam Green from the Moldy Peaches, as he sounds on songs like "Jessica." So if you get that reference, you can sort of imagine it.
Anyway, he kicked ass. Super proud.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:58 PM on January 25 [10 favorites]
Anyway, he kicked ass. Super proud.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:58 PM on January 25 [10 favorites]
So I'm back from Malta. I strongly recommend Malta.
On the way back, I finally read The Road. I haven't read any fiction (or seen any movies except for one childrens' movie) for all the time I've been dealing with the PTSD, and The Road was probably not the best start. On the other hand, I kept on thinking about Dee Xtrovert's famous post about Sarajevo, and other stuff I've read about terrible break-downs of humanity, and nothing is like The Road. Not even the worst. There are never https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=marauding&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 bands of cannibals who look like Mexican gangs. So I could look at Cormac McCarthy's book more as how some Americans think about themselves and their neighbors, which was sobering, but not as terrifying as if it was a known reality. I left the book on the plane.
Here, reality will kick in very soon. I hope to fix things before I get kicked out of my apartment. It's possible, but the next week will be tough, I'm sure. I'm encouraged by all the good news on this thread.
posted by mumimor at 8:01 AM on January 26 [6 favorites]
On the way back, I finally read The Road. I haven't read any fiction (or seen any movies except for one childrens' movie) for all the time I've been dealing with the PTSD, and The Road was probably not the best start. On the other hand, I kept on thinking about Dee Xtrovert's famous post about Sarajevo, and other stuff I've read about terrible break-downs of humanity, and nothing is like The Road. Not even the worst. There are never https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=marauding&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 bands of cannibals who look like Mexican gangs. So I could look at Cormac McCarthy's book more as how some Americans think about themselves and their neighbors, which was sobering, but not as terrifying as if it was a known reality. I left the book on the plane.
Here, reality will kick in very soon. I hope to fix things before I get kicked out of my apartment. It's possible, but the next week will be tough, I'm sure. I'm encouraged by all the good news on this thread.
posted by mumimor at 8:01 AM on January 26 [6 favorites]
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posted by Kitteh at 4:04 AM on January 20 [15 favorites]