PRgal

I LOVE Granny Smith apples. And almost every store only carries ones from the US. Until I went to a local franchise a couple of days ago. Organic Granny Smiths from Argentina.

Domestic cars will also have to up their prices because they need parts that are tariffed. Everyone is screwed. All over the world.

And NO ONE is surprised that the futures are down as of 9:30-ish pm ET. I know I probably sound like some weird snob who focuses on the markets (trust me, I’m far from being an expert!) but politics DOES affect it and it affects MORE people than a lot of the general public might believe. screenshot of the futures via my CNBC app:

So with USMCA items exempt, does this mean things are staying normal for us...for now, anyway? In any case, I'm still trying to avoid buying US products (though not 100% avoiding US STORES) whenever I can (I love Granny Smith apples but had to refrain from buying them because most are from the US....well, until I found some from Argentina). I can't if it's health related or if similar products from Canada, Europe or Asia can lead to health issues.

These jacked up prices...all in the name of celebrities. And I'm assuming this is Denzel's last time in the role (he's a bit too old IMHO. I'd like to see someone like Regé-Jean Page (aka the Duke from Bridgerton)).

$900 for a ticket???!!! All because the production is celebrity led? Holy MOLY! I don't mind modern settings - 20 years ago, I saw Julius Caesar set in the (then) present, complete with cellphones. I don't remember too much of it, only that it had a very corporate vibe.

If Maher owns any publicly traded shares, then his wealth is probably going to be pretty affected. If the stock market were a human being, they'd likely be diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

I see a lot of more wealthier (including upper middle class) NON-WHITE folks who are not fans of DEI (just ask my boomer aged, immigrant parents. And my dad came from family that was barely middle class) or believe the way it was discussed/handled, at least in the workplace and in non-profit volunteer groups as being flawed (e.g. me), considering the voices that have been silenced/not validated just by talking about certain experiences/facts (see my reply to a woman's note on Substack). That said, by US standards, I probably lean towards the middle left (though still right of people like AOC). By Canadian standards, I'm more right of centre (so I was surprised that I came just left of the middle on a political spectrum quiz I recently took).

You don’t have to watch anything with an InstantPot or other electric pressure cooker/multicooker either.

Do you live in an area with a significant Chinese population? I feel like they target certain area codes (e.g. 416, 905, 604, 212, 415, 213).

I have neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). It puts me in the high risk category. I also have dense breasts, which is why I require all the additional scans. Not to mention surgery to remove an NF tumour this past June, which may or may not have caused scarring near the breasts.

This is why I don't answer the phone unless I recognize the number. Otherwise, it goes straight to voicemail. I also get calls with VMs in Mandarin. The spelling of my maiden name clearly indicates its Hong Kong/Cantonese speaking roots (Mandarin speakers Anglicize it with a Z) so why bother? I also immediately delete those messages. Note: I think it's demographic related. If your area code indicates you're from a certain part of the country, they'll do bilingual English/Chinese.

Rice setting or pressure?

She DOES use a rice cooker though. People living in Asia wouldn’t be caught dead without one. It’s as normal as a microwave.

Do you have a rice cooker? The YouTuber and his family probably own a rice cooker (unless they’re like me. I gave up my rice cooker 12 years ago. I don’t make rice at home frequently enough (we mostly eat quinoa or bulgur if we want a rice adjacent side)) and it’s much easier on that (or an electric pressure cooker like an InstantPot). Maybe check out Miwa’s Japanese Cooking? She’s a YouTube influencer from Japan. All her videos are in English (loads of super healthy/clean Japanese dishes). https://youtube.com/@miwasjapanesecooking?si=weOnXgSKcPtjD9tv

WTF??? He's crazy. Does he not understand how things work?

General x 2 in under a year. It was already past 7 pm after my June surgery and I was an inpatient for 10 nights or so. It didn't really matter. The one last week was day surgery and I was home by noon. I was mostly with it, so I had lunch (takeout) and then took a nap until dinner (takeout again). I was fine the next day but was hunkered at home 2020 style until the following Wednesday.

Is it pronounced Sandsbawllas? If I recall correctly, the Bermuda parish, Sandys is pronounced Sands - the y is silent.

I've had mammos since I was in my late 30s and this year, I not only had to have a breast MRI, but an ultrasound and will need a contrast mammo in about a month (it was postponed due to my recent surgery). I'd get them out, but having had two operations in less than a year, I'm really hesitant in getting anything (unless absolutely necessary) for at least a year.

My balance has never been good, but in the healthcare world, having good balance can mean something VERY DIFFERENT. When I was at my pre-op appointment, the nurse asked about my balance. I said it could be better. To me, "could be better" means "one who cannot hold a tree pose for more than five seconds." Her follow up question was "so you're always worried you'd fall?" Ummm, no. Not that. It means I can't hold certain yoga poses as long as I SHOULD be able to. And I can't do deadlifts standing on one leg. But I can do deadlifts with both feet on the floor or at a staggered stance.

Forgot to mention: my mail in ballot came in a few days ago. I registered ON THE DAY Canada announced its federal election. My husband is also going to be voting by mail and should get his in a few days.

This reminds me of my family. My maternal grandparents lived with us when I was growing up and despite receiving old age security, depended on my parents for support. My parents were basically supporting three people (grandparents and me), paying for the mortgage and car as well as other expenses. We were in a pretty nice suburb, too. I really don't know how they did it.

Someone upthread posted about imposter syndrome and I'm not sure if my post on Threads really counts. Or if it should be here or in the Pet Peeves section. Anyway, it's something I think all children and grandchildren of immigrants face. And are sometimes shamed not only by people from the same/similar heritages but by multigeneration people who live in the country their parents/grandparents settled in. I don't really see it here, but it's everywhere ELSE I see and probably why I believe that inclusion/diversity needs to be reworked. It shouldn't be taken out all together, of course, but all voices need to be heard. I can't say this enough.

False/fake spring is very, very real. Though snow in May is very rare in Toronto. It was close to freezing one Mother's Day though.

Update on my surgery recovery: I was FINALLY able to properly wash my hair rather than just washing the tip because I had to keep the dressing on my scalp for a few days. It was great to FINALLY wash off the medical/clinical/OR scent. UGH. Plus I was able to show my face in public (there was an event at my son's school yesterday).