Thursday 5/28 randoms

[Leeham Rimes]

Windows forced an upgrade of---something-- on my computer last night and now NONE OF MY EDITING PROGRAMS work. I am so frustrated right now, I realllly am hating microsoft. 

sigh. 

[Deleted]

They are constantly pushing security upgrades to our computers. I just had to restart for one this morning and now Google is blocked, so that's super.

[steph96]

I bought one of those weird oval shaped foundation brushes. OMG. Where has this thing been all my life? I can use less foundation and get better coverage. I’m throwing away all of my other applicators.

[notoriousmeg]

May 28, 2020 9:42:57 GMT -5 steph96 said:

I bought one of those weird oval shaped foundation brushes. OMG. Where has this thing been all my life? I can use less foundation and get better coverage. I’m throwing away all of my other applicators.

I keep seeing ads for those. Which one did you get? I’m intrigued. Thanks!

[wildrice]

I'm pretty annoyed at our house inspector. Our HVAC system works fine, but was put together extremely sloppily. The filter is impossible to change because the unit housing it is completely tilted, and the duct work above the unit is also screwed up because it's essentially holding the unit in place, which it isn't designed to do. Anyway, an HVAC company came over this morning and were generally like "WTF?" at the whole thing. They are sending me a quote today but it sounds like it will be in the ballpark of $800 to fix. I have no idea why this wasn't identified in the inspection. The inspector mentioned that some of the ducts needed taping to avoid leaks and that the filter was "hard to change" and should be fixed to make it easier. This goes way beyond that, IMO, and even someone with no HVAC experience like me can plainly see this by looking at it.

We also had 2 leaky faucets which were not on the inspection at all, but I find it really unlikely 2 of them broke in the 5 weeks between inspection and taking possession of the house. I think he did a shoddy job and since we weren't able to be present due to the pandemic, there wasn't much we could do about it.

I like our house but I am definitely feeling some buyers remorse, mostly because I feel really unprepared to identify problems and I'm afraid there are going to be more (I mean, there always are). Thankfully the cost of these things is annoying but not going to break us, but it just feels like a lot of responsibility to take care of and fix problems in a house.

[soccermama]

I have so much I need to do today, arrghhhh. We are taking our camper to the beach tomorrow (come on, sun!) and I have a million things to do.....normally DH would be doing so much to get ready today but he's on shift for 24. Yikes. Deep breaths. Need to make my to-do list so I can have some prayer of getting at least most of this done?!??

[ssmjlm]

I had a spa appointment this morning and it was so nice to get a hour to myself in the quiet. JUST KIDDING, it was a dentist appointment, but still, basically the same thing these days, right? They did everything really well, I was the only one in my section and it was so nice to be "off" for a hour while away from the house.

Then I ran to TJs since I figured a Thursday morning wouldn't be crowded and walked right in. Got a bunch of stuff to stock up on and then realized I had some time and went to the Aldi right there too. So overall a productive morning.

Now back online working, but it was a nice little break from the monotony.

[wildrice]

So, when do we trust that we can go out and do things again?

Apparently Maryland is opening up some things. The ones that would have opportunity for me are restaurants with outdoor seating, and retail stores. Of course I am dying to sit at a restaurant and drink a nice drink and eat freshly prepared food. My birthday is June 9th and it would be amazing to GO somewhere and celebrate. I also can't wait to go to Homegoods and browse for stuff for our house. But I am really not sure about this. I have said all along that I trust our governor because he was listening to science and data. But this ended up being more quick than I expected, and now I'm not sure. I don't think it's ideal to sit at home until there is a vaccine, but I also don't want to rush back out in droves just because I can. So where is the line?

I hate that we can't trust leadership and there is so much conflicting information out there. I trust our governor as much as I can trust anyone in a leadership position, especially a (moderate, not crazy) Republican. But that isn't saying much!

[nospaekae]

PDQ, I may DD

I started a new job a month before all this hit. I was in the office for 3 weeks before transitioning to full-time WFH. We've had so much turnover. First 2 colleagues within my first week. Then the VP of my dept, director my my dept, and my direct manager all within the past 2 weeks. Another colleague that started a week after I did resigned last week with no notice and a project director I was working closely with did the same at the end of March. Yesterday another colleague gave her resignation. I have no clue what is going on. Our industry and company in particular have been doing relatively well, no layoffs. It all seems to be coincidence, but I'm nervous that they know something I don't.

Meanwhile I am struggling because I feel that there is so much I don't know and don't know who to turn to. My new manager is completely overwhelmed with all of her reports. I know my job and am good at it, but the details of how things work at this company and their internal processes have me barely keeping my head above water. And from my new managers tone when we spoke yesterday, it sounds like my workload is pretty heavy ( I have nothing to compare it to and was just thankful to have work.) I just feel so lost.

[pandora89]

Argh H washed his phone in the laundry last night. He literally destroys a phone every 6 months. He got this phone in November after having the phone he previously had for 6 months and then dropping it multiple times and destroying it, after he spent several hundred dollars fixing it because I gave him shit since the phone he also had before lasted barely 6 months as well.

I was contemplating upgrading my phone this past week and selling it, but now probably wont. I also suggested that I get a new phone and H just take my perfectly good working phone but he refused because "he hates iphones".

[VillainV]

wildrice, I think the hardest part of this is that nothing is really guaranteed to be 100% safe. There are obviously some activities that are safer than others, and some that are more dangerous, and a whole lot in between that sits in a massive grey area. Making it harder, some things might be safer or more dangerous based on where you live.

Thea best we can all do is educate ourselves, find way to mitigate risks as much as possible, then weigh the remaining risks against the benefit of doing that activity. That equation is going to be different for everyone. I think as long as you do your research/pay attention to what experts are saying and mitigate risks with your community in mind and not just yourself, you’re doing better than most Americans.

[Deleted]

pandora89, does he at least have insurance? Because ugh. I would be incensed if my H kept breaking his phone like that. We keep our phones for 2-3 years easy, heck, I just upgraded my DS after 4.5 years. Phones are way too expensive to be replacing every 6 months.

wildrice, I can't speak for everyone obviously, but I have no plans of returning to normal any time soon, even once things open back up. The thought of a second, worse wave, is enough to keep me holed up for a while.

[Leeham Rimes]

May 28, 2020 10:54:47 GMT -5 wildrice said:

So, when do we trust that we can go out and do things again?

Apparently Maryland is opening up some things. The ones that would have opportunity for me are restaurants with outdoor seating, and retail stores. Of course I am dying to sit at a restaurant and drink a nice drink and eat freshly prepared food. My birthday is June 9th and it would be amazing to GO somewhere and celebrate. I also can't wait to go to Homegoods and browse for stuff for our house. But I am really not sure about this. I have said all along that I trust our governor because he was listening to science and data. But this ended up being more quick than I expected, and now I'm not sure. I don't think it's ideal to sit at home until there is a vaccine, but I also don't want to rush back out in droves just because I can. So where is the line?

I hate that we can't trust leadership and there is so much conflicting information out there. I trust our governor as much as I can trust anyone in a leadership position, especially a (moderate, not crazy) Republican. But that isn't saying much!

I have no idea, I just watched a rant from a PA representative over Repubs that tested positive for covid and only told a handful of other republicans reps. Dems learned a week later from the media, so that did nothing for my anxiety.


www.pennlive.com/news/2020/05/pa-house-democrats-say-keeping-gop-colleagues-exposure-to-covid-19-private-is-unacceptable.html

I see our restaurants with outside seating with '6 feet of distance' but it still looks incredibly crowded (and some of the tables have had 6-8 people b/c they allow groups of 10 or less) but perhaps the restaurants just poorly manage their table spacing. I just really worry about the 6 feet distance being taken as gospel bc that's the minimum and it still could be too close depending on the situation. Watching sneezing videos makes me never want to go out into public ever again, lol. 

I like this chart to help weigh risk vs benefit, it pretty much repeats a lot of articles that I've read but the chart is pleasing to the eye, www.vox.com/2020/5/22/21266756/coronavirus-pandemic-covid-risks-social-distancing-chart

This article is good b/c it's specific for restaurants www.eater.com/21262619/is-it-safe-to-eat-out-coronavirus-restaurant-safety-risks-covid-19

[pandora89]

@sameoldstory - no insurance or warranty on the phone, blah. We didnt spend too much on this phone since I had an available upgrade at the time and we got a fairly large corporate discount through my work but still! Also not a good time to be without a phone since H works at job sites and isnt reachable if he doesnt have a cell phone and I am super pregnant. We will probably have to order a new one tonight.

[Leeham Rimes]

pandora89 the fact that you haven’t murdered your husband shows you have great restraint. I hope he appreciates that. Also the “I hate iPhones”‘would infuriate me and totally thrown me over the edge bc “I hate people that can’t be responsible for their electronics and ruin them over and over”

[jane6672]

May 28, 2020 11:18:05 GMT -5 pandora89 said:

Argh H washed his phone in the laundry last night. He literally destroys a phone every 6 months. He got this phone in November after having the phone he previously had for 6 months and then dropping it multiple times and destroying it, after he spent several hundred dollars fixing it because I gave him shit since the phone he also had before lasted barely 6 months as well.

I was contemplating upgrading my phone this past week and selling it, but now probably wont. I also suggested that I get a new phone and H just take my perfectly good working phone but he refused because "he hates iphones".

My friend who’s very hard on phones has a Cat Phone (as in, Caterpillar, the construction brand) and says it’s basically indestructible.

[steph96]

May 28, 2020 9:55:34 GMT -5 notoriousmeg said:

May 28, 2020 9:42:57 GMT -5 steph96 said:

I bought one of those weird oval shaped foundation brushes. OMG. Where has this thing been all my life? I can use less foundation and get better coverage. I’m throwing away all of my other applicators.

I keep seeing ads for those. Which one did you get? I’m intrigued. Thanks!

I’m too lazy to look it up, but I got it from target. It was the real techniques blur something? They have one for powder and one for liquid foundation. It was only $16.99

[litskispeciality]

I'm so afraid to go anywhere other than maybe take out if I know that I pay ahead and pick it up in the lobby or outside. My hope is that they were already Serv-safe approved, and now just extra cautious. I have a hair apt. next week, part of me doesn't want to go, but I saw on the news that they had to take new training to be extra clean, and this salon is always clean. I'll wear a mask, and assume they have PPE and limit customers.

My friend is a Dental Assistant in a different state where they've started apts. They wear full gowns, masks, shields, parents have to wait outside, they walk you back to the door when you're done etc. They also have a member who's OSHA trained on their team, so they're extra careful. All this I guess to say you have to use your judgement about what will be clean and safe...but I worry about the slippery slope that once everything's "open" employers will push for us to go back. I know I'm a broken record, but I have no social distance at my work so I'm really freaked out.

[litskispeciality]

I'm going to a birthday car parade tomorrow night. I kind of think they're silly, but this girl really needs a lift (pre-COVID tragedy). The FB invite says 80 people have RSVP'd yes so I'm curious how long this will take?

[pandora89]

Leeham Rimes - right! I am trying my best not to lose it. Just telling myself that H works really hard and doesnt splurge on as many things as I do blah blah. But man does it suck having to order him a new phone every 6 months. I told him I am just going to order him a pay as you go flip phone if my iphone isnt good enough for him. The super petty part of me is slightly hoping I go into labour and cant get ahold of H and go to the hospital along so I can forever hold it over my H's head LOL. "Remember that time I had to give birth alone because YOU KEEP BREAKING YOUR PHONE".

jane6672 , - I wonder if its available in Canada! Will check this out.

[steph96]

Has anyone tried Taco Bell’s pineapple whip? I heard it’s a lot like the dole whip from Disney. I’ve been trying to get one for two days and there’s been an issue each time. Is it worth trying a third time? Lol

[Leeham Rimes]

May 28, 2020 12:12:49 GMT -5 steph96 said:

Has anyone tried Taco Bell’s pineapple whip? I heard it’s a lot like the dole whip from Disney. I’ve been trying to get one for two days and there’s been an issue each time. Is it worth trying a third time? Lol

I’ve never had a dole whip but the pineapple whip is delicious. It’s quite sweet though so I can’t eat too much of it. H and I share with the kids.

[mel]

May 28, 2020 12:08:09 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

I'm going to a birthday car parade tomorrow night. I kind of think they're silly, but this girl really needs a lift (pre-COVID tragedy). The FB invite says 80 people have RSVP'd yes so I'm curious how long this will take?

My senior had a graduation parade last night. There were almost 180 vehicles. We were within the first 20 cars and it took us just over an hour (we also went 8.5 miles). We had a police escort and roads were closed around the parade route, however. YMMV.

[circa1978]

I would like to brag about DS9 a little. This is long but we actually went to a car parade for his last day of third grade today. On the way back, we decided to do a drive by of my mom and dad's house - we talk to them from the driveway and stay in the car.

After a while, my mom and I started talking about my uncle, who is ill. He and my aunt have had financial issues their entire marriage, running through substantial inheritances, twice declaring bankruptcy, it's s mess. My aunt has never worked. Their "plan" for retirement is literally my uncle's life insurance policy - he has advanced lung cancer and has not expected to live this long. With COVID, he can't return to work and will need to retire but the insurance policy cost will balloon and there has been some discussion about their health insurance and other things. Anyway, obviously, the kids need to pitch in and my mom is helping sort through health insurance costs and it's a thing.

On the way home, DS told me he was worried about what he overheard and why my uncle has to worry about health insurance. We talked a little about health care inequality and the importance of saving and how he doesn't' need to worry about this because they are grown-up problems and mom and dad and his grandmas and grandpas are fine. He doesn't even know my uncle that well because he's been ill his whole life. And he said, "Mom, if they need help, we should help them. Can we give them money?" And I said that's what I'm working with my cousins on but that my uncle and aunt see me as a little kid and they don't like to take money from the "kids." So he said, can we find a way to give them money so they don't know it's from us? And what can *I* do to earn some money to help them?"

And I just love him. He is the best kid. My heart.

[Deleted]

I want to hug whoever brought up the Suave Clarifying shampoo in yesterday's randoms post. My hair has been kind of of gross lately and I thought that it was just because I haven't been doing anything with it and have been wearing it pulled back every day. This is the shampoo my husband uses to I gave it a try in the shower today and my hair is so much better! I guess that what I was actually dealing with was build up (I actually started using new shampoo/conditioner at the beginning of the pandemic) and not just lazy hair syndrome. Who knew!

[litskispeciality]

I have to buy Suave Clarifying next time I go to the store. I used to use it at my parents house that had really hard water. After trying to expensive hard water stuff last night I'm still not totally clear. After all this some vinegar and Suave will probably do the trick. *sigh*

[jenny1223]

May 28, 2020 14:37:53 GMT -5 @sameoldstory said:

I want to hug whoever brought up the Suave Clarifying shampoo in yesterday's randoms post. My hair has been kind of of gross lately and I thought that it was just because I haven't been doing anything with it and have been wearing it pulled back every day. This is the shampoo my husband uses to I gave it a try in the shower today and my hair is so much better! I guess that what I was actually dealing with was build up (I actually started using new shampoo/conditioner at the beginning of the pandemic) and not just lazy hair syndrome. Who knew!

That was me! Yay! I'm glad you liked it. I read about it years ago in some beauty magazine I think.

[katfco]

Meet my new foster doggy, named Superman.

[litskispeciality]

katfco what a hunk!

[katfco]

Our cute new foster dog just buried a rawhide bone in my hosta bed. Fortunately, he didn’t dig up any plants.