Post by rootbeerfloat on Aug 1, 2022 12:51:28 GMT -5
I started the latest Outlander book. I've forgotten a lot of what happened in the last book, but she spent the first part rehashing it, so that helped.
QOTW: I watch a fair amount of sports. Favorite teams include my college alma mater, Las Vegas Raiders, Golden State Warriors. There aren't any pro teas where I live, but H and I have talked about traveling for March Madness or other events.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jul 27, 2022 16:47:06 GMT -5
Yes, we do sleepovers. DD (12) only invites her close friends. DS (15) has had more or less the same friend group since elementary, so we know them, too. When the kids were younger (pre-COVID), there was more effort made to coordinate with the parents, but that gets more casual as the kids age.
I wouldn't host one during the week, but they can attend during the summer.
Not that often, maybe a couple of times a year. I'm not a huge fan of hosting.
Just have lots of food available and prepare for a messy house and not a lot of sleep. It gets easier as they get older and entertain themselves.
Sooo…has anyone’s school started talking about Covid protocols for fall? I mean those places that has restrictions (masks, contact tracing, testing, etc in place in the spring). I’m curious to see what we’re going to do and no one seems to be talking about it yet (obvs realize that things can change a lot in a month but it was weird for me to hear that the t pandemic team hadn’t even discussed fall yet in abstract terms)
Masks were required through the end of the last school year, so we're pretty cautious. We were notified that masks will be optional this year (though everyone was asked to mask at schedule pick-up today). I'm guessing they will forgo contact tracing. I don't remember what the rules on testing were (it never came up for either kid), but I bet those will go away, too.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jul 14, 2022 13:00:53 GMT -5
DD's MS has school required tshirts/hoodies, which she wears with black leggings (Target) or high-waisted mom jeans (also Target).
Outside of school, she wears crop tops (AE/Aerie) or the occasional tshirt (black from anywhere, anime from Hot Topic or similar). She also wears my clothes when her preferred clothes are dirty lol.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jul 13, 2022 19:38:17 GMT -5
Mine are 12 and 15. We started summer with a vacation.
Movies (in theater or streamed at home) and going to out to eat are the main activities we all do together.
We try to go to the beach, but DD only likes to go if a friend comes, and DS needs to be bribed.
DD likes cooking/baking and organizing the house, so she and I take a lot of trips to Target lol. DS and H have their own hobbies together (tabletop games).
DS, H and I run/walk in the evenings; sometimes DD comes. Also, the kids and I play Pokemon GO.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jun 1, 2022 13:23:10 GMT -5
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel - 3* The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - 3* The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - 3* Ariadne by Jennifer Saint - 2.5*
Post by rootbeerfloat on May 31, 2022 12:51:37 GMT -5
We watched the whole season the other day. So good!
I also love always-the-babysitter-Steve and his banter with both Dustin and Robin. I won't be mad if he gets back together with Nancy, though I preferred her with Jonathan in the earlier seasons. Erica is a scene stealer, and I enjoy that the Wheeler house is still the hangout when Mike is out of town.
The parts with Jonathan/Will/Mike dragged a little, as did the early scenes of Hopper, but I assume they will be better integrated in part 2.
In ep 7, I loved the back and forth between the real Hawkins and upside down.
TR , I think the music saving him was a happy coincidence and how the gang/Eddie will save Nancy.
Speaking of music, 12 yo DD is now playing Pass the Dutchi on repeat, which should probably be concerning lol.
Post by rootbeerfloat on May 26, 2022 13:02:21 GMT -5
This book was fine. I read it in a day and have the next book on my Kindle. None of the twists were too surprising, and the plot moved quickly enough.
Xander is my favorite brother because he solved everything on his own with none of the angst of the two in the love triangle. I read enough YA to not mind love polygons, but it is irritating that these gorgeous genius brothers can only be interested in the same girls. I expect Avery to end up with Grayson, though.
I didn't think too hard about the puzzles. I thought the one with their middle names should've been obvious to the brothers. And what a lucky coincidence that the random girl Grandpa had stalked from a distance ended up having the same birthday as the day the first girlfriend died lol!
Post by rootbeerfloat on May 5, 2022 12:53:16 GMT -5
Oh, may I butt in? We're staying near the Space Needle, and H wants to do a day trip to Olympic National Park. How doable is this? Any other suggestions for nearby hikes? Kids are 12 and 15.
Food (not too fancy) recommendations are also welcome.
Post by rootbeerfloat on May 4, 2022 13:26:06 GMT -5
We got our first dog when the kids were 7 and 10. DS picked her. She was 2, so already house-trained and used to being home alone, though hadn't been socialized with other dogs. To this day, she hates dog parks, etc. We're lucky to have my mom or sister to dog-sit when needed, and she's still young and healthy, so vet bills have been minimal.
During COVID, I really wanted to get another dog, so we adopted a senior dude. Everybody loves the addition, except for our first dog lol, but she has adapted. Due to his age and history, he has been a bigger investment, but no regrets.
Both dogs are small breeds with similar diet/exercise needs. At this point in my life, I'm not interested in a puppy. Maybe that will happen when the kids are out of the house.
We previously had fish and a guinea pig, which we got when the kids were younger and asked for pets. They were fine, but not pets we would get again. (We also have a tortoise, which is nuts, but DD is attached and does most of his care.)
That said, honestly, H and I do most of the care. Kids will feed when reminded and help with walks and baths, but it's really H and me. H grew up in a no-pet house and has agreed we would always have one from now on. But in your shoes, I would only get a dog if YOU want one.
Post by rootbeerfloat on May 2, 2022 13:46:59 GMT -5
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner - 3* Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr - 4* Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo - 4* Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner - 4.5*
Post by rootbeerfloat on Apr 25, 2022 17:23:50 GMT -5
DS is in 9th grade. He's asleep between 10:30-11, I think; it's after I fall asleep. He's up at 7:20. Homework is usually done by 9 at the latest, though it doesn't seem to be a lot to me, but I can tell through the grading app that he turns things in.
Here’s a real random question. I’ve been sucked into the Greys Anatomy videos on FB.
**possible TW-child loss**
What came first, Private Practice or Greys? I saw where Amelia gave birth to a son on PP (I think?), but a quick google search says she has another son who’s still living.
Grey's came first. She was introduced on PP, then after it ended, she came to GA. The son she had on PP didn't survive, but she had another son on a recent season of GA.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Apr 18, 2022 14:39:40 GMT -5
I finished Cloud Cuckoo Land last week. It came together in the end, but the first half was a slog. It needed at least 100 fewer pages describing a march to war and every possible bird species.
I'm now reading Crooked Kingdom, sequel to Six of Crows.
QOTW: I want a pool, view of the ocean, garden for my plants, office/workout room, and most importantly, a separate building for H's music gear and equipment.
devonpow , but where are your leftovers? When we cook on the weekends, we make enough for the week and keep them in pyrex containers.
We keep the largest area on the middle shelf open for leftovers (and takeout containers). We use glass Pyrex, which often stack. It's all about the zones lol.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Apr 4, 2022 15:55:18 GMT -5
I found my dad easily. My mom was adopted, and I can't find her. I found her adopted family, who didn't have her yet, and her bio mom. I tried searching with her bio mom's last name, but no dice.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Mar 28, 2022 13:12:43 GMT -5
I liked it, but Anthony's book is one of the better books in the series. For me, the worst books were Benedict's and Eloise's, so I'm glad the show seems to be taking them in different directions, though I agree with whoever says that making them more complex sacrifices likability somewhat. We'll see, I guess.
I feel similarly about the Eloise/Penelope drama. The reveal (esp between the two of them) is glossed over the in the books. Colin is one of my faves, so I'm glad that's been more or less consistent.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Feb 25, 2022 19:31:58 GMT -5
I read this awhile back and mostly liked it, especially the diversity and the ability to control earth/nature. The ending was pretty upsetting if I recall correctly, though all 3 stories came together nicely.
I started the second book in the trilogy and couldn't get into it. I guess I'll never know how things end.