Monday randoms

[sometimesrunner]

Started my Monday off at the derm for a skin check. He took two spots off my back. I have a tennis match tonight and it's an hour away, so I'm probably not going to get home until 10:30ish. Ugh ugh ugh.

[lavenderblue]

I was just outside with my dogs and a Praying Mantis landed on me. I really hope this is a good omen.

[pinkdutchtulips]

I've held off on saying anything bc I didn't want to jinx it but ... my notoriously easily irritated, wants to isolate herself in her room and have nothing to do w any of us 15yo did the following Fri and Sat: 
Hung out in the living areas w us
Ate dinner w us
Played Song Quiz w us during dinner
Played board games w us after dinner
Helped me clean up dinner (J cooked, I cleaned)
Went to bed between 9:30-10p 
Made and kept her own therapy appointment
Went on walks 20 mins+ (and even asked me to join to her!)

most importantly .. no screaming, yelling, cussing at me  

She quit nicotine vaping 2 weeks ago. She was NOT a casual user. She's experiencing some withdrawal symptoms that are spiking her anxiety. 

Sunday she was having really bad headaches so she stayed in her room but wanted me there w her from time to time. She wanted to join everyone but she just wasn't feeling it. Progress  

[maudefindlay]

spindle92 so happy for you and your Mom. Hope things remain calm and that she continues to get stronger.

circa1978 My oldest did that trip at 13 and DS2 will be doing that trip next month also at 13. They do not get back to the hotel till 1030 at night and lights out at 11, so really not much time to text or call. We maybe got one text from him the whole trip. When they are on tours they cannot have phones on them per our school which is majority of the day. The school sent a message a day with photos and brief blurb. If there is something you need to know they will call you. No news is good news! When my parents dropped me off at college I didn't call home for a week. I was just so busy and having fun. My Mom developed the mantra "She's at the library studying" when it had been a stretch with no call.

[Nonny]

The Chris Isaak concert last week was really fun. I like his music, but don't really consider myself a super fan or anything, and we really only went because it SIL's dream concert. But it turns out he's super funny, and his artist banter between songs was basically a comedy routine that had the audience rolling. I think it's the best artist banter of any concert I've been to.

[sent]

I usually WFH on Mondays but last Monday my stupid spouse decided at 6:30 am that he would also WFH. When he is home the same days at me, it kills me inside. I feel anxious all day and am so unproductive. I try to set our schedules every week so we don't end up WFH on the same days. This would help my mental sanity and also decrease relying on my dad to shuffle the kids after school if both of us are at work. Of course he refuses to make a serious commitment to my suggested ideal schedule and just changes things on a whim. I get that his commute sucks so if he can get away without traveling obviously he prefers that but IDK the best solution either so these last minute changes don't affect me. I may just have to go to the library in the future once I get a few more things in order.

Today he did not pull a last minute WFH so I have been alone at home since 8 am. I love the silence. Since DS started at his new school, I have gotten 2 hours of my life back on my WFH days and it has been AMAZING. I'm finally getting a chance to think about ME. I've used the last 3 weeks when they've been in school to "heal" my brain. It sounds so hokey but it's true. Now I feel I am ready to start cleaning up my life again, physically and mentally.

Just wanted to put the good vibes out there in the universe.

[circa1978]

maudefindlay, thanks, and it is helpful to hear others' experiences. The school has not said they would do that and we've gotten no communication from them. I thought when he brought his phone (and the school encouraged it) he could at least text "I'm here" or good morning but apparently that's too much to expect lol. THey said they would use designated times to call.

[maudefindlay]

circa1978 our middle school also does not use parent volunteers for overnight trips. They have found parents mean well, but tend to focus more on their own kid, so know your son is likely getting even attention.

[emilyinchile]

circa1978 did your 8th grade class not do a DC trip? Mine did (from CA), and we ran into tons of groups from other schools all over the country, so I thought this was a pretty standard right of passage for our generation. ETA: Obviously I realize there is a potentially prohibitive cost associated with a trip like this, I'm just saying this to me has been "a thing" that a lot of people our age did/are familiar with.

Anyway, clearly back in 1999 we did not have personal phones or stay in touch with our parents...I assume the school staff told all our parents we'd arrived ok, I'm not sure if they gave them more regular updates. I also went on church choir trips in HS around the US and to the UK where staff set up a (very early 2000s) website where they could share photos every few days, and they made sure to try to get everyone in photos so that all parents would know their kids were alive, but agin, no regular direct personal contact from me. He'll be fine!

[egishere]

Sept 16, 2024 11:20:44 GMT -5 Nonny said:

The Chris Isaak concert last week was really fun. I like his music, but don't really consider myself a super fan or anything, and we really only went because it SIL's dream concert. But it turns out he's super funny, and his artist banter between songs was basically a comedy routine that had the audience rolling. I think it's the best artist banter of any concert I've been to.

I saw him last year at Red Rocks with Lyle Lovett and loved CI!  He's very funny!  Not a huge fan of either but I went with my Dad.

[InBetweenDays]

The house next door to us sold a month ago. Big old house that needs a TON of work and the new owners started working on it immediately tearing out carpets, etc. H has met the new owner once. We think it is just a single guy in his late 20s with two dogs, but his girlfriend is there quite a bit so not sure if she lives there or not. Anyway we were gone for Labor Day weekend and when we got home they were out of town (the house was completely quiet). They haven't been home since. Their cars have tickets for parking the wrong way on the street (which is very common and allowed here on side streets but they parked on an arterial where that isn't allowed) so we know they haven't been home. But the strangest part is just over a week ago H said "Oh, the neighbors are back" because he saw someone standing on their back deck staring at the sunset/mountains. The person was wearing a hoodie and had the hood up, and just stood there for probably 15 minutes. But now we are fairly sure it wasn't the neighbor since their cars haven't moved and we haven't seen any other evidence of them being around.

So I'm now anticipating being interviewed for a true crime podcast

[maudefindlay]

We had a great weekend. After DS1's meet on Saturday DH and I went into town to a local men's store in business 108 years. They are going out of business as the owner wants to retire and the younger family do not want to carry on. Everything is 75% off. They had 2 pair of jeans in DH's size 34/34 which we don't always see. Each pair normally $175. I told him they would be my anniversary gift to him. I remember he gave me an odd look, but then the owner distracted me and I didn't follow up on it. 2 pair of jeans just under $100, a deal! Later that day DH, DD, and I took DS1 shopping in the city for a homecoming dance outfit. After we stopped for dinner and I said " 19 years ago tonight was my last night as a single woman" and again DH looked at me and said "You keep saying this, but it's not October". I was like are we just stating facts now, because you are correct, it is September and we got married on September 15th. Oh he felt bad. I think with all the new house stuff he was just thrown off. So yesterday he took care of breakfast and lunch and got me fresh flowers and my favorite candy.

[circa1978]

emilyinchile , no, I went to a pretty standard public school but there were no trips outside our metro area (we may have gone to the state capital but that's 1.5 hour away) and no overnights. I wasn't on a sport either. So I did go to Europe with my AP History teacher, but I was 18. Cost wouldn't have been a concern for my parents or our district but size would have been a PITA - I think my 8th grade class was easily 400 kids? Probably more. That does not seem doable to keep track of in DC.

[maudefindlay]

InBetweenDays our current house is on a cul de sac and we live on a lake. Years ago DH was out front with our then little kids and a woman he had never seen started walking thru our yard. DH asked her if she needed anything and she looked straight ahead, not at DH and said "It's fine, it's fine" and kept going all the way to our backyard. DH could not immediately follow her with the 3 kids. But when he got to the back she was gone. We've wondered if she went in the lake, but we never saw any missing person reports and we looked.

[fernweh]

I saw a cat last week that I feel in love with and wanted so bad. I walked away for a couple reasons
1. We are at max capacity for animals- 3 dogs and a cat
2. Our existing cat is 17 - he used to adapt really well to new pets coming into the home, but the last dog we adopted it took a really long time. I don’t want to throw his life into disarray when he is so old. Not to mention the territorial thing and I don’t want anyone to start peeing everywhere.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the cat all weekend though so we called the rescue last night and he has a pending adoption. I so happy that he is getting a home but selfishly I’m kind of sad that he isn’t going to be mine.

[wildrice]

My H and I witnessed a car accident leaving our neighborhood this morning - one car turned left right in front of oncoming traffic for some reason, so they collided. I felt so bad that we didn't stop and stick around to be helpful, but I had a hard start time today and had to take the commuter bus into the city, so if I had stopped I would have missed the bus and had no way to get to work (there are only 3 busses in the morning and this was the last one). I doubt anyone was seriously injured and there were several other cars that stopped anyway, so I am sure it was fine, but I still felt like a shit person just driving past them.

I had a really nice weekend visiting friends. We had a lot of fun and it was so good to catch up. Old friends just hit different, it's nice knowing people who knew you at other stages of your life, have hung out with your family, etc. One of my friends' mom died last year and I feel really bad about that, too - she and I haven't been in regular touch in the last few years (just a short text/call here and there) so I didn't know any details and the situation was much sadder than I could have ever imagined. Basically substance abuse and being scammed by one of those text scammers who took almost all of her money. Just real nightmare stuff that I can't believe happened to her I wish I had been better about keeping in touch so I could have been a better (or heck, ANY) support to her during that time.

[mysteriouswife]

Sept 16, 2024 10:44:48 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

The Perfect Couple is awful and I'm on episode 1.

Nicole Kidman's wig isn't working for me. I swear she looks like she's about to start screaming about wire hangers.

I actually liked the show. H couldn’t get past the first episode. I’m hearing mixed reviews on it.

[ssmjlm]

Sept 16, 2024 12:00:55 GMT -5 mysteriouswife said:

Sept 16, 2024 10:44:48 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

The Perfect Couple is awful and I'm on episode 1.

Nicole Kidman's wig isn't working for me. I swear she looks like she's about to start screaming about wire hangers.

I actually liked the show. H couldn’t get past the first episode. I’m hearing mixed reviews on it.

I just have it on the background for WFH. So far no one has really said it was any good in my circle, but I'm not expecting much. 

I did not read the book, I think I read maybe 1 Elin Hildebrand book and DNF'd a second. It was very mid-life crisis women whining for both of them.

[abs]

pinkdutchtulips yay! I am very happy for y’all and hope you continue to see progress. Great update!

circa1978 I hope your DS is having a great time! Those kids are so busy. DD went to a band camp this summer and it was her first camp experience. She texted me all of twice and one of the times was with directions to pick her up as late as possible. She loved it and lived her best life for a week at college campus. It was strange not being needed whatsoever but a great thing, too. They learn so much independence on these trips. Truly assume no news is good news and know you will get some amazing stories when he gets home.

[dish2501]

My city took out the sideway end piece in my neighborhood where the kids get on the bus. They have a lot of excuses why, and I’ve been petitioning to get it back. The kids can either stand in the street or in someone’s grass. This is totally a first world problem, but I’m so annoyed. They promised to reinstall it a few months ago in October and backed out last week. So I’ve been rallying the neighbors and was prepared to go to a city meeting. Lo and behold, now it’s back on track to be reinstalled. I’ll believe it when I see it.

A 2 storey house in our neighborhood is for sale. We love our split level house, but as the kids get older, it would be so nice to have a big basement. It’s listed for about $125k more than we’d sell ours for, but we redid our kitchen and our kitchen is just so much nicer. Lots to think about! My DD has cried 4 times already about this possibility. It is literally 3 houses away.

[eb777888]

Sept 16, 2024 10:44:48 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

The Perfect Couple is awful and I'm on episode 1.

Nicole Kidman's wig isn't working for me. I swear she looks like she's about to start screaming about wire hangers.

Hahaha. We're a couple episodes in but took a break because H had to go OOT for work. It's not great but I can't turn away. Also, I've always been neutral on Nicole Kidman but I think her face is so frozen she can't make expressions anymore and it's really distracting. She is so stoic all the time. I notice this in the Undoing as well. 

[InBetweenDays]

maudefindlay 😳 that is creepy

[Nonny]

I just discovered the Old Navy '94 reissue - I really want a green track suit, and mid-rise cargo jeans. And a color block puffer vest. 

I had so many of those stripped t-shirts as a teen. But mine were 1) v-necks (I actually like the crew necks better) and 2) Union Bay, not Old Navy.

I don't need any of these things. But I might get the jeans.

[TR]

Sept 16, 2024 10:44:48 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

The Perfect Couple is awful and I'm on episode 1.

Nicole Kidman's wig isn't working for me. I swear she looks like she's about to start screaming about wire hangers.

omg Mom and I watched episode 1 last night and hard agree. Her face looks…not good, the hair is terrible, Dakota Fanning doesn’t even look like herself, she looks more like maybe a cousin? And everyone’s acting is abysmal. But I’m sure we’ll keep watching 🤣

[NewGirlNic]

Sept 16, 2024 12:49:49 GMT -5 TR said:

Sept 16, 2024 10:44:48 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

The Perfect Couple is awful and I'm on episode 1.

Nicole Kidman's wig isn't working for me. I swear she looks like she's about to start screaming about wire hangers.

omg Mom and I watched episode 1 last night and hard agree. Her face looks…not good, the hair is terrible, Dakota Fanning doesn’t even look like herself, she looks more like maybe a cousin? And everyone’s acting is abysmal. But I’m sure we’ll keep watching 🤣

yes, H and I were saying the same thing about Dakota Fanning. Especially in the close up shots when she's in the interrogation room. H didn't even realize it was her until I said something. 

We are 2 episodes in. H is surprisingly watching with me, but I don't know if he'll last all episodes. I almost just watched without him this weekend while he was out of town, but ended up watching the first 3 episodes of Tell me Lies season 2. Equally as bad. 

[pixy0stix]

I started the wfh portion of my new hybrid job today, and my dogs have forgotten how to be good coworkers.

[mysteriouswife]

Sept 16, 2024 12:49:49 GMT -5 TR said:

Sept 16, 2024 10:44:48 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

The Perfect Couple is awful and I'm on episode 1.

Nicole Kidman's wig isn't working for me. I swear she looks like she's about to start screaming about wire hangers.

omg Mom and I watched episode 1 last night and hard agree. Her face looks…not good, the hair is terrible, Dakota Fanning doesn’t even look like herself, she looks more like maybe a cousin? And everyone’s acting is abysmal. But I’m sure we’ll keep watching 🤣

It wasn’t until the last episode I realized which one was Dakota. They did not do her any favors in this movie. Maybe they were going for the basic look for all of them.

[beerlover]

Cat people, help -

This is gross, but I am going to post anyway. The new cat we got a couple of months ago likes to hang out in our bathroom sinks and on top of toilets, which are all white. She's been leaving trails behind her (like, a few specks of dirt) and I've just been thinking that this cat is oddly dirty despite never going outside, and I've just been Clorox wiping after her constantly, lol. But after doing some more research on this I think it's flea dirt, because some of the little specks look bloody. I've never had a cat with fleas (and I will call her vet here soon) but is this something that I can buy over the counter products to deal with at home, or should I not even bother? Ew.

[ny96]

Sept 16, 2024 12:00:55 GMT -5 mysteriouswife said:

Sept 16, 2024 10:44:48 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

The Perfect Couple is awful and I'm on episode 1.

Nicole Kidman's wig isn't working for me. I swear she looks like she's about to start screaming about wire hangers.

I actually liked the show. H couldn’t get past the first episode. I’m hearing mixed reviews on it.

I was thinking of watching this over the weekend when I was under the weather and stuck in bed, but I hate Nicole Kidman’s acting so I watched How to Die Alone on Hulu which I highly recommend.

[starburst604]

I just placed an order on a medical supply site for something from work, and in the payment area there was an option to "support X Company by adding a tip".

The world has officially gone mad.