The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Goofyernmost]

I'm glad your daughters read you the riot act. You remind me of one of my brothers. I remember (years ago) that he injured his leg rather seriously, but the space monkey drove himself home--across multiple states!! His response was about the same as yours . . .

Yea, but it's not like I was listening to them!

I know I have a problem with that kind of thing. I'm not sure where it came from even, but, about 5 years ago I had an accident where I slipped on some stairs with my hands full and fell landing on my knee on a concrete floor. Amazingly I didn't even so much as crack a bone, but managed to completely sever the quad muscle in my right leg. I was out of commission for a number of weeks. During that time I was completely dependent on my daughter, girlfriend and sister for anything outside of my home. I couldn't drive or get around inside very well and although I managed to more or less take care of myself, I was miserable.

It wasn't the pain or the hardship of doing everyday things that bothered me, it was the fact that whenever I had to go to the doctor or buy groceries or get meds, I had to have someone do it for me or drive me there. I hated that. The day my surgery was scheduled my daughter had to get up at 4 AM drive to my house to pick me up and take me to the hospital for early morning surgery. I felt bad about that for months. I did everything I could to get independent again and before long I figured out how to drive my car (safely) and felt so much better after those chains of dependance were cut. That is why, I know that, if I am fortunate enough to live long enough to be a burden, I am going to be a very unhappy camper. Then the facial expression in my Avatar will probably become permanent.

 

[MinnieM123]

Trappist Preserves...amazing jelly but yes, orange marmalade wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be

Yup even the Trappist Monks can't do much with marmalade. I love their jams, by the way. My favorites are their Blueberry Jam, and their Boysenberry Seedless Jam. (I've been known to take a spoon and just eat it plain, right out of the jar . . . !! )

 

[Goofyernmost]

I found this little guy in Ottawa. Still haven't got a name for him yet.
View attachment 85671

Reminds me of my X. She was from Canada too!

 

[Eric1955]

Reminds me of my X. She was from Canada too!

That's too funny!

 

[MinnieM123]

Yea, but it's not like I was listening to them!

I know I have a problem with that kind of thing. I'm not sure where it came from even, but, about 5 years ago I had an accident where I slipped on some stairs with my hands full and fell landing on my knee on a concrete floor. Amazingly I didn't even so much as crack a bone, but managed to completely sever the quad muscle in my right leg. I was out of commission for a number of weeks. During that time I was completely dependent on my daughter, girlfriend and sister for anything outside of my home. I couldn't drive or get around inside very well and although I managed to more or less take care of myself, I was miserable.

It wasn't the pain or the hardship of doing everyday things that bothered me, it was the fact that whenever I had to go to the doctor or buy groceries get meds, I had to have someone do it for me or drive me there. I hated that. The day my surgery was scheduled my daughter had to get up at 4 AM drive to my house to pick me up and take me to the hospital for early morning surgery. I felt bad about that for months. I did everything I could to get independent again and before long I figured out how to drive my car (safely) and felt so much better after those chains of dependance were cut. That is why, I know that, if I am fortunate enough to live long enough to be a burden, I am going to be a very unhappy camper. Then the facial expression in my Avatar will probably become permanent.

My brother didn't listen to any of us, either. He's always been fiercely independent. You wouldn't believe the things he's done on his own. I guess control is the underlying element here. If some people aren't in charge, they feel life spinning out of control. However, I wish people like him would realize that sometimes, it's really o.k. to accept a helping hand from those people who love you. People want to help.

 

[MinnieM123]

I found this little guy in Ottawa. Still haven't got a name for him yet.
View attachment 85671

He's scary. I like Johnny and Bucky much better.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Oh, goody... a philosophical discussion! Since all but the "native American" came from other places and historical studies indicate that even they came from someplace else, there can never be a ethnic American based on original route philosophy. I say hogwash.

Humanity didn't just start to pop up in random areas across the globe like Dandilions on the front lawn. It all had to start from someplace so I will leave that determination up to each individual belief, or in simpler terms, whatever floats your boat. Everyone started someplace. Ethnicity is a defining of culture and tradition. It only matters where you were actually born. For example, My X's Father was born in England and spent his first five years there. He was, technically English. His Daughter was born and raised in Canada. She never was anywhere else until she was over 21 years old. She is not English (she does have an English Father) but, she is Canadian, ethnically! I am a mixture of French, German and American Indian... I am none of those things, I am ethnically American and it does not matter one little snip where my ancestors are from, that is just the route that was taken to get here.

Years ago, when immigration was at it's highest, people from the other nations tended to accumulate in set areas, be they Italian, English, French, German, etc. because that was where the people that they could identify with were located. It made a difference because then they could gradually transition without losing their heritage, language and culture. People at that time got in the habit of calling themselves by their originating home because they were proud of it and they didn't really know, yet, how they fit in with their new culture.

The last three generations of my family were all born on United States soil. It doesn't matter where their parents came from we were all American Culture by then, and therefore Ethnically American. We just, for some reason, have a tough time accepting that. I'm not sure how many more generations it is going to take before we all feel comfortable with being just plain American, but, it should happen before too long, I would think.

Some of us are proud that our ancestors had the b*lls to leave all they knew behind and come to America to start a new life. It may not matter to you but to some of us our roots run deep in our heritage. Life's path for the future has been shaped by those who have walked it in the past.

 

[Goofyernmost]

My brother didn't listen to any of us, either. He's always been fiercely independent. You wouldn't believe the things he's done on his own. I guess control is the underlying element here. If some people aren't in charge, they feel life spinning out of control. However, I wish people like him would realize that sometimes, it's really o.k. to accept a helping hand from those people who love you. People want to help.

You're absolutely correct. It is a control issue, but, it is opposite of someone that attempts to control other people, it is a completely self control thing. I know my daughters would be more then happy to help me out. We have had a mutual thing going like that for years, but, I still know that they are busy people and I also know how having to do things like that completely disrupts ones routine and plans. They would do it and feel good about helping me out, I'm sure, it is me that would feel bad because I want to take care of myself for as long as I physically and mentally can. I want them to live their own lives and not be tied down to an old codger like me.

 

[MinnieM123]

You're absolutely correct. It is a control issue, but, it is opposite of someone that attempts to control other people, it is a completely self control thing. I know my daughters would be more then happy to help me out. We have had a mutual thing going like that for years, but, I still know that they are busy people and I also know how having to do things like that completely disrupts ones routine and plans. They would do it and feel good about helping me out, I'm sure, it is me that would feel bad because I want to take care of myself for as long as I physically and mentally can. I want them to live their own lives and not be tied down to an old codger like me.

Oh I get it completely; my bro is exactly the same with the self-control aspect. He also has no desire to control anyone else's life either. His own is a full-time job.

And I doubt that your daughters would ever feel tied down, offering assistance to you in years ahead.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Some of us are proud that our ancestors had the b*lls to leave all they knew behind and come to America to start a new life. It may not matter to you but to some of us our roots run deep in our heritage. Life's path for the future has been shaped by those who have walked it in the past.

OK, no argument there. But being proud of your historic heritage and being a product of your current heritage are completely compatible. Just like it was when their ancestors ventured out, with far more hardships then more current ones did, and landed them in the cultures that they now claim as their own. I still need to know why people cannot be proud to be American and not as a secondary label. One can be an American of (fill in the blank) descent, if anyone asks.

 

[Gabe1]

So, I haven't really mentioned it here, but, I've been battling some allergies over the last three weeks. I've never been afraid to go to the Dr., especially when it comes to monitoring my heart condition, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, etc.. But, although I've had them plenty bad many times over the years, I've never had to go for allergies before. Finally had to relent last night and head to an after hours care place. The coughing was driving me (and, everyone around me) insane.
They gave me a breathing treatment (yep, the good ol' neb, which I've never had before). That helped a little, but, not as much as the attending had hoped. Next, chest x-ray. Bronchitis along with the potential beginnings of Pneumonia. So, I'm home for the rest of the week.
I HATE this! Before I left the office last night, I sent 3 PDF design solutions to the partner who's project I was working on. When I called out this morning and talked to him, he said they were all good and not to worry, it would give him time to analyze them further, and to get well.
Even so, I HATE this! I need to be producing. It's what I do.

Oy. Be well. I wound up with pneumonia quite a few years back. I hadn't been sick at all. I basically beat the DH awake in the middle of the night to take me to the ER room, felt like someone was sticking me with a knife. From there it was a blurrr...something about an infection spreading from my gallbladder. Drugs helped quickly but it took forever for my energy level to come back. You're going to hate just sitting a laying there and half day Friday won't be meaning as much tomorrow, be good and listen to the Doc and DWifey.

Good gosh.
I'm sooooo behind on this thread...!

I right there with ya. I have been trying to catch up but I'm only catching a few pages at a time. I think I skipped 20-30 pages or more over the last week+ Oooops.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

@StarWarsGirl95 Did you see Harrison Ford crashed his plane? He's in the hospital in stable condition.

 

[Gabe1]

OK, no argument there. But being proud of your historic heritage and being a product of your current heritage are completely compatible. Just like it was when their ancestors ventured out, with far more hardships then more current ones did, and landed them in the cultures that they now claim as their own. I still need to know why people cannot be proud to be American and not as a secondary label. One can be an American of (fill in the blank) descent, if anyone asks.

One of my DD friends is from Korea but a US citizen. When asked for college about race, they were working on financial aide I believe, she said American. They continued to try and get her to nail it down and she got very put off, I am American! American! DD said she had to control her own laughter as the dude kept looking at my DD with a pleading look for help.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I'm glad your daughters read you the riot act. You remind me of one of my brothers. I remember (years ago) that he injured his leg rather seriously, but the space monkey drove himself home--across multiple states!! His response was about the same as yours . . .

I think my dad still wins the stubborn injured story.

When I was four, my mom and I were going to a get-together at my bff's grandparent's house (this was pre-brother days). My dad, being the stubborn man he is, never goes to these things. The foyer needed painting. My mom said, "Do not paint when I'm not home; that ladder is not stable." But did my dad listen? Nope. He decides to paint anyway. While he was painting, the ladder slippes. Thankfully, he didn't let go of the ladder as it slid down, then went, "THUD", otherwise he would have been even more injured, but he cracks his head open on the hardwood floor.

So he goes to get the phone. But does he call 911? Nope. These were the days before cell phones, so he looks up the number for where we were. He accidentally dials the number for bff's uncle instead of her grandparents. Then he has an entire conversation with bff's uncle like everything is fine and dandy. Then he finally calls bff's grandparents. Someone at the gathering picks up the phone, and he just asks to speak to my mom. She gets on the phone and he tells her that he fell off the ladder. She thinks he's joking and says, "Yeah, what's up?" And then once she realizes he's serious, she leaves me there and rushes home to get him and take him to the emergency room. After a bunch of stitches, he's okay, but still. I think he would have driven himself if both hands had been free, but he had a towel on his head that he had to hold on. But 911 would have been a better option.

Lesson learned; he does not use the ladder when Mom is not home anymore.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Ha! You said sack. We call them bags up here. (Oh, I had lots of tuna and cheese sammies, too. In grade school, we didn't have a cafeteria, so we had to bring lunch in a BAG every day. We didn't have a cafeteria until jr. high school.

I grew up saying sack (like a sack of potatoes) until I started working in a restaurant that had "take home bags".

 

[StarWarsGirl]

@StarWarsGirl95 Did you see Harrison Ford crashed his plane? He's in the hospital in stable condition.

Yeah, my mom told me. At least he's in stable condition, just got a head injury.

 

[Eric1955]

He's scary. I like Johnny and Bucky much better.

Aw, I think he's cute, but I seem to be the only one who thinks so. Everyone who has seen him has expressed the same opinion as you. I got him at the gift shop in the Centre Block of Parliament. He looks like this guy at the top of the Peace Tower.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Some of us are proud that our ancestors had the b*lls to leave all they knew behind and come to America to start a new life. It may not matter to you but to some of us our roots run deep in our heritage. Life's path for the future has been shaped by those who have walked it in the past.

Two sides to every coin: yes I'm proud that my ancestors came here and started a new life. But they also displaced thousands of Native Americans. And mine were also plantation owners, meaning they probably owned slaves. Not proud of that either.

As far as I'm concerned, though, my heritage is American. For one, I am part Native American, but second, my ancestors came here hundreds of years ago; the first ones came almost 400 years ago. I grew up here, as did my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. My heritage is American.

So while I am proud of my heritage, I recognize that what my ancestors did was not all great. And what I do in the present is far more important. Past is in the past.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

So weird. 10 inches of snow on the ground and we're watching: spring training baseball.

Also, not sure I want to know how my car fared in this weather.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Or heart attack in a sack....White Castles !

All of our White Castles closed. Back in the day that was our late night snack (or very early breakfast ) after a concert.