New Old Folks Home

[SoCal]

Anti, it was brutal out here Fri-Sun. On Friday, in my little town it was 106!! Went down to 100 on Saturday and then low 90's on Sunday.

Today it was just the high 80's. What a relief. We get these stupid heat waves out here at all times of the year, because basically we live in the desert. Just a desert that has good irrigation. At least, unlike the east, it cools down at night...to at least the low 60's.

I didn't mind the heat so much as a kid, I suppose because hot weather meant summer vacation, the beach, the pool and no school. Now it just wears me out, melts the make-uo off my face and puts me in a bad mood.

As soon as the temps go to the 70's, I'll be normal again, but until then........watch out.

[AntiArbitrator]

This weekend was not my usual quiet weekend. I received a text on Friday from the 14 year old that his mother was dropping him off later. I asked "why?" and received another text that she needed to study.

Around 8:30 PM, I heard the door open and footsteps. It was the 21 year old instead of the 14 year old. Even though he had received an award for "employee of the quarter", the first thing I asked him was if he was in trouble. He laughed and said he decided to make a surprise visit home. A thousand miles is more than a whim, but okay...

So, I wound up with both guys for the weekend. It has been a pleasure to have them to chat with and to catch up on what is going on in their lives.

[SoCal]

Hope you're enjoying a nice family weekend, Anti. You deserve a little relaxation.

Do a 21-year ol and a 14-year old provide that?

[AntiArbitrator]

They are no problem as long as I feed the 14 year old every other hour. I had bought frozen pizzas, and the 14 year old decided to bake one. When he was sliding it into the oven, I asked if he was going to slide it off of the cardboard, and he looked at me and burst out laughing. I did too. He's willing to try, but I have to watch him.

As soon as you wash your car, I will vacuum my car. No rush!

[SoCal]

If you're going to wait on me, then your car is going to have lots of dust?

The first Thanksgiving after my brother got married, he decided he would fix the turkey. He called my mon to get some pointers and when she told him to take the giblets out of the cavity, he found the bag and then looked into the neck cavity and asked her, "What's this 'U' shaped thing?" He had just discovered the turkey neck!!

So the pizza/cardboard incident reminded me of that.

[AntiArbitrator]

I can imagine.

[AntiArbitrator]

Hurricane Sandy is definitely going to hit my city and schools have already been declared closed on Monday. If the power shuts down, I am going to be hungry because I will not join the panic crowds at the supermarkets. Missing a meal won't bother me as much as missing Revolution.

I wanted to get the portable heaters from the shed and cannot get the lock open. I might also need the wet vac.The shed has a combination lock and I think the combination was accidentally "reset" to a different number. I don't have a bolt cutter.

[captivefan]

Oct 28, 2012 13:25:17 GMT -5 AntiArbitrator said:

Hurricane Sandy is definitely going to hit my city and schools have already been declared closed on Monday.

Stay safe, Minnie. Prays have already been said.

P.S. I won't tell a certain about your avatar.

[novemberschild]

Stay safe Minnie!
Could you borrow a bolt cutter from a neighbor?

[AntiArbitrator]

Thank you Captive and November. My daughter called and wants me to keep the 14 year old with me either at her house or my house. I think I'll go to her house because her grid never lost power and my area was out of power for a week in June.

I was trying to break the lock and realized that was not going to work. Then I realized my #1 had painted the lock when he painted the shed. Do you know any 14 year olds who would bother to remove the lock? I stood in the cold, windy yard and scraped flecks of paint off of the combination tumblers; then I said a little prayer; and it opened! I'm not even mad, just grateful.

[SoCal]

The most important thing is that you're safe and your family is safe. Wouldn't you know you'd get hit twice this hurricane season: at the beginning and at the end.

As for "Revolution," you can see that episode a couple of days later.

"ln Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire hurricanes hardly ever happen...”

Be careful.

[AntiArbitrator]

SoCal! Yes ma'am, will be careful. I asked my daughter what time do they "lock the doors" and she said 8:30. I said I'll come in the morning. Of course, they go to work early. Our entire transit system is also closing and we don't do that during blizzards.

How are you doing?

[SoCal]

I;m doing good. Kind of busy with stuff this weekend and dealing with horrible Santa Ana winds. Everything is filty and blown away....it seems to be dying down today and I hope by tomorrow the devil winds will be gone. And with them the heat that they bring.

I long for fall weather, but I draw the line at hurricanes.

[AntiArbitrator]

During my lifetime, our state has never done what they are doing now. They have closed our bridges and major roads and told people to stay off the roads. Airports are closed, all public transportation cancelled, $15 penalty fee for any taxi service to discourage people from getting stuck somewhere.

The governor just announced that the government is closed tomorrow. Then, he looked at all the people in the room and said "Sorry, all of you are essential so you have to show up." I am safe so far.

[SoCal]

Looks scary on TV. FNC just showed a NASA view of the storm and it's H-U-G-E.

Be careful. Be safe.

[AntiArbitrator]

Thank you. I hope your evil winds are gone.

[SoCal]

The strongest winds have died down, but it's still blowing a bit. Hope to see the end of the winds by tonight. Then it should start to really cool off.

[novemberschild]

I just hope everyone is OK out East. for all

[SoCal]

I guess there's a little bit of good news. Sandy has been downgraded from a hurrican to a tropical storm. Still lots of wet weather, though.

Let me join you in that all around.

[AntiArbitrator]

Nice that it has been downgraded, but our local media are playing it up like it's the end of the world.

Why are they preempting programs nationwide? I'm surprised California programming is preempted for weather coverage.

[jaredisawesome]

Hello everyone!

I have not been here forever but thought I would stop by and see how you all were doing. Went to ChiCon this past weekend and had an awesome time meeting Jared and Jensen. They are absolute sweethearts and do not disappoint. Photo ops turned out great. You know I am a Jared/Sam girl so my pic with Jared of course had the hug. He is gorgeous! Had nice conversations with J2. Hoping to attend another con in 2013.

Been keeping busy with my daughter and I have been lucky enough to now work only 2 days a week. Loving that! Otherwise all is well. We mainly got a lot of rain from Hurricane Sandy but luckily no snow or power loss. Thoughts are with all who are on the coast.

Take care!

[AntiArbitrator]

Hello, jaredisawesome I am so happy you stopped by. I bet you enjoyed every minute of the convention, especially being able to chat with your favorite. Please come back soon and tell us more.

[SoCal]

Is anyone else as irritated as I am that some stores (K-Mart, Sears and Walmart) are going to open their doors on Thankgiving night?!?! No longer content to wait until 3 am Friday ("Black Friday"), they're going to intrude on the actual holiday.

And we all know that people just don't have the money to spend this holday season, so they will put everything on credit cards and just go deeper and deeper into debt. Can we just put a hold on all the "conspicuous consumption?" Jeez, how many TV's, IPhones, tablets and stereos do we need?

[AntiArbitrator]

Nov 9, 2012 12:03:47 GMT -5 SoCal said:

Is anyone else as irritated as I am that some stores (K-Mart, Sears and Walmart) are going to open their doors on Thankgiving night?!?! No longer content to wait until 3 am Friday ("Black Friday"), they're going to intrude on the actual holiday.

And we all know that people just don't have the money to spend this holday season, so they will put everything on credit cards and just go deeper and deeper into debt. Can we just put a hold on all the "conspicuous consumption?" Jeez, how many TV's, IPhones, tablets and stereos do we need?

I know I am tired of it. They brainwash people into thinking we are saving money by shopping earlier and earlier. I hate crowds, but I know I used to fall for the hype because I did not want stores to run out of what I wanted.

I got tired of it and kept asking my family to stop buying gifts for the entire family and limit the gifts to the children. They would not cooperate. Two years ago, I told them my two boys were the only ones I was giving gifts. I reminded them that I was at a stage of life where I do not need material things and I understand the million commercials cause us to purchase unnecessary gifts. It was an uphill battle and nothing changed until I walked into their house with no gifts; then they believed me.

Credit card purchasing put me and my family members in debt. We have learned our lessons. We now come together for holiday dinners without any interest in who got what for whom. We have fun giving each other $20 gift cards to the store of our choice. We enjoy the holiday much more now.

[SoCal]

Christmas is supposed to be a time for families to come together and celebrate the TRUE meaning of the day.

Little gifts as a token of appreciation, love and friendship were always a part of the season, but it has morphed into something that makes the whole season a time of tension, stress and pettiness.

I like to find little things that might make someone smile or laugh and would not have thought of getting for themselves. As for the littlest kids, I will continue to get them a toy and other trinkets, but I refuse to part of this galloping herd of conspicuous consumers whose only desire to get the next biggest, most expensive piece of electronics.

We have let the merchadisers persuade us that we have to spend a lot to prove to our loved ones that we DO love them.

Sorry if my spending more than I can is the only thing separting your store from liquidity and banckruptcy, but if someone is going bankrupt, it's going to have to be you and not me.

[AntiArbitrator]

SoCal, you make several great points. Our local news network will feature a small business owner who will explain that maybe 70% of their annual profit comes from Christmas sales and it is difficult for them to compete with stores like Walmart; therefore, if Holiday spending is down, they could go out of business. They do this every year!

Horror story: A former girlfriend called me the day after Christmas and said she was "going through something and needed to talk". So, we rode around for awhile until she was ready to tell me what was wrong. For half an hour, she ranted that her adult daughter had spent two or three times more money on the daughter's boyfriend than on her. She made the girl sound like the worst person in the world. The most shocking part was she had told her daughter exactly how she felt. I let her vent without saying a word. The next day, I called her and told her I hope she gets an opportunity to mend her relationship with her daughter and I suggested that never in this lifetime should she exchange gifts with anyone. She never called me again.

Buying small gifts is fun and I enjoy that. My daughter has always been a material girl and wants expensive gifts whether or not someone can afford them. They drive around in two top-of-the-line BMWs and borrow money. Let's have dinner and forget about the gifts.

[SoCal]

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la-la!

[evilsquirre1]

Nov 11, 2012 14:38:09 GMT -5 AntiArbitrator said:

SoCal, you make several great points. Our local news network will feature a small business owner who will explain that maybe 70% of their annual profit comes from Christmas sales and it is difficult for them to compete with stores like Walmart; therefore, if Holiday spending is down, they could go out of business. They do this every year!

Horror story: A former girlfriend called me the day after Christmas and said she was "going through something and needed to talk". So, we rode around for awhile until she was ready to tell me what was wrong. For half an hour, she ranted that her adult daughter had spent two or three times more money on the daughter's boyfriend than on her. She made the girl sound like the worst person in the world. The most shocking part was she had told her daughter exactly how she felt. I let her vent without saying a word. The next day, I called her and told her I hope she gets an opportunity to mend her relationship with her daughter and I suggested that never in this lifetime should she exchange gifts with anyone. She never called me again.

Buying small gifts is fun and I enjoy that. My daughter has always been a material girl and wants expensive gifts whether or not someone can afford them. They drive around in two top-of-the-line BMWs and borrow money. Let's have dinner and forget about the gifts.

It's an amazing that if you really know someone you can get them an inexpensive gift that means more then any other expensive thing on sale. One of my most precious gifts is a stick. My Father in Law was a very gifted artist. He found a stick that was perfect as a walking stick. He craved this stick with a wizard's head and had started detailed grape vines down the sides. He died of cancer before the stick was finished. I have an artistic side, and have done some wood craving and ceramic sculpture. I'm not anywhere near as talent as my father in law was. My mother in law (who is a wonderful person) knew we had this in common she gave me the unfinished walking stick as a gift. This gift cost no money and means more then anything that can be purchased at a Wal-mart.

There is expressing love and there is pure greed. Sounds like your ex friend as greedy.

Your daughter sounds like she is in love with the appearance of wealth.

This is my view: If you have to lease or finance it and don't really own the object (BMW, fancy handbag, and shoes on credit card) then you don't have real wealth, just the appearance of wealth. I prefer my Hyundai that I own free and clear to a BMW that I have to make high monthly car payments. My Hyundai is real wealth and suits my income level.

[evilsquirre1]

What's on the menu this Thanksgiving?

My Mother in Law is having Thanksgiving so I'm not doing the turkey this year, which feels strange. My hubby is in love with my high heat turkey it's so moist. Last time I injected it with Liquid smoke and creole butter damn that was yummy. I really hope my Mother in law cooks the turkey all the way this time. Last time it was still pink not good for a turkey. She has requested that I make my mom's secret rice stuffing recipe. For my work potluck is the honeyed pumpkin pie. Here's a link to the pie recipe. One warning this pie takes closer to 45 minutes to cook check it with a toothpick to be sure it's done. allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Honey-Pie/

My mom and dad will be on the Golden Princess (Cruise ship) heading to Hawaii. I'm so jealous. Both my hubby and I have wanted to take a Hawaiian cruise. I'm eyeballing a 15 day cruise round trip from San Francisco. This means we wouldn't have to fly to Hawaii. For my So Cal people my mom's cruise is round trip from San Pedro.

[Aeryn]

I've always wanted to try deep frying a turkey, but I've heard you have to be REALLY careful.

Or you can burn your house down.