Chit-Chat: What's On Your Mind Today?

[Yeah No]

14 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I actually don't feel sorry for these young men because they are choosing to marry these women. They also grew up in homes where mom worked full-time plus being in charge of the household. They too learned the wrong lessons from watching their mothers try to balance everything, and some of them resent their mothers for working outside of the home. They want to come home after a day of work to a clean home, a homemade dinner on the table, clean laundry, etc. and at some point have their spouse taking care of the kids.

Interestingly where I live and have come from (NY-CT suburbs/Hartford metro. area) a lot of young men from the suburbs grew up with SAHMs or "Soccer Moms", not mothers that worked, or if they worked, it was only after they started high school or somewhere around that age in part time employment, not a big career job. I am talking about Millennial and some Gen Z men. So the lessons they are learning are that the housework miraculously gets done without them having to lift a finger, which is very unfair to any women they marry or live with.

I have noticed that the young men that grew up with either single or married working moms are more self-sufficient and willing to do housework. I don't personally know any young men who have any resentment toward their mothers for working but have internalized the value that both partners are equally responsible for housework and cooking. Of course that's only my experience but around here it may be different than in other areas.

[shapeshifter]

5 hours ago, Ancaster said:

bake scrubbed ones for 90 minutes or so depending on size

90 minutes is way to long for me to cook something anymore.

[Absolom]

1 hour ago, Anduin said:

Tech question! I no longer have a physical media player. But I'd like to be able to play all my old CDs and DVDs, and even get some blu rays. Since I don't have a TV, I want to plug it into my PC. Exactly what gadget do I want? This question came from one of my favourite old movies getting a surprising and frankly awesome 4K HDR release.

I'd also like it to be multi-region, because all players used to be that once, so my collection acquired stuff from all over.

If I understand the question correctly you just need an external blu-ray drive.  They're available on Amazon in the $30 to $50 price range and on up and are back compatible with CDs and DVDs.  Be sure to check the one you want for compatibility and features.  All of the ones I've seen have been back compatible. There are drives that are not region blocked.  You'd need to check compatibility with your system also to see if it will run on your operating system and if you would need additional software for blu-ray.  

[Ancaster]

3 hours ago, Yeah No said:

 

Hah, yeah, I had that selectric in college thanks to my mother working in a big law firm that sold its used typewriters to employees at discount prices. Then when I went to grad. school in the late '80s she had an Olivetti electronic typewriter, which had an LED readout that let you make corrections before it printed the next line. But by that time I was working and had my own word processor at work. This was before Windows existed. I was allowed to use it after work to type up my papers. I REALLY thought I'd died and went to heaven THEN! 🤓

 

Thank you for the memory of that miracle!   (I don't often think of myself as old, but sometimes there are reminders 😂 )

2 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

90 minutes is way to long for me to cook something anymore.

But the whole point is you're not cooking, you just need a timer so you can get on with the rest of your life.

Edited April 18 by Ancaster

[Anduin]

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

If I understand the question correctly you just need an external blu-ray drive.  They're available on Amazon in the $30 to $50 price range and on up and are back compatible with CDs and DVDs.  Be sure to check the one you want for compatibility and features.  All of the ones I've seen have been back compatible. There are drives that are not region blocked.  You'd need to check compatibility with your system also to see if it will run on your operating system and if you would need additional software for blu-ray.  

Thank you!

[PRgal]

5 hours ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

Location: NYC/Bronx, urban, poorest Congressional district of the country. Many migrants, many immigrants, almost all POC. 

Which is why it's shocking to hear the girls idolizing the trad-wife content online. It's certainly so far removed from their actual lives.

Is it a cultural thing? However, I can guarantee you that zero East Asian families would approve.  I know families that practically have their kids’ majors picked out while they’re still in elementary school!  

[Yeah No]

9 hours ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

Location: NYC/Bronx, urban, poorest Congressional district of the country. Many migrants, many immigrants, almost all POC. 

Which is why it's shocking to hear the girls idolizing the trad-wife content online. It's certainly so far removed from their actual lives.

You know I just thought of this this morning - given what you're saying about many of these young women being migrants and immigrants, we have to remember that many people just coming to the US do not necessarily subscribe to our general values about women's roles and rights. Some of them come from cultures that we think oppress women and don't support them having careers or identities outside the home. So some of what you're seeing may be because this is what is normal for them in their cultures. Sometimes it takes a generation or so for immigrant women or children of immigrants to adopt certain values that may conflict with those of their country of origin or descent. And some may never adopt them.

4 hours ago, PRgal said:

Is it a cultural thing? However, I can guarantee you that zero East Asian families would approve.  I know families that practically have their kids’ majors picked out while they’re still in elementary school! 

LOL, yeah, I think it is a cultural thing and the Asian culture is a perfect example of one that would generally not discourage women from pursuing careers. But certain Hispanic cultures probably do, amongst others.

[Is Everyone Gone]

5 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

You know I just thought of this this morning - given what you're saying about many of these young women being migrants and immigrants, we have to remember that many people just coming to the US do not necessarily subscribe to our general values about women's roles and rights. Some of them come from cultures that we think oppress women and don't support them having careers or identities outside the home. So some of what you're seeing may be because this is what is normal for them in their cultures. Sometimes it takes a generation or so for immigrant women or children of immigrants to adopt certain values that may conflict with those of their country of origin or descent. And some may never adopt them.

Their parents all work though. Their moms often work night shifts. The only moms that don't work are the ones who are more "established" in the US and more Americanized.

[Yeah No]

Just now, Is Everyone Gone said:

Their parents all work though. Their moms often work night shifts. The only moms that don't work are the ones who are more "established" in the US and more Americanized.

They probably work because they have to to survive, but it's still not their ideal situation given the values of their culture. I would bet that their female children see their American dream as being able to live out the lifestyle that their mothers couldn't achieve but wished they could have. Being a trad. wife is seen as having arrived, living the dream to them. It's aspirational. Here in CT where the cost of living is slightly lower there are far more such married and cohabiting women staying home with children and not working. It's a struggle to survive in one of the most expensive cities in the world, even in the Bronx and even on public assistance. I could write volumes about that based on first hand experience (although I was never on public assistance)!

[Yeah No]

Speaking of being able to write volumes on struggling to survive in NYC, I have to say that I watched my own mother, who was a champion of women's rights in the '60s and '70s work full time and go to college at night as well as take care of me, my father and an apartment. Her struggle was immense given that she also had thyroid/energy issues. There was actually a BIG part of me that did not want to have to struggle that much. I saw what it did to her and did not want to have to do it all like she did.

Unfortunately even today young men are not stepping up as much as women think they should to share equally in household and childcare responsibility. And I am sure that's one reason I didn't try harder to have a child when that didn't happen for us as we had hoped. I worked in a high stress occupation and I couldn't see how we'd be able to do it all. And like most men even today, my husband thought he was doing more than he was around the house. I know it's commonly thought that today's young men are on board with sharing home responsibilities equally, but there are many studies that say that in young women's eyes that's by far STILL not the case even today!

Edited April 18 by Yeah No

[fastiller]

.

 

Edited April 18 by fastiller
Moving to the proper place.

[PRgal]

Just remember that as a teacher, it's really important to learn about your kids' cultures and expectations from the old country.  It often takes three generations to fully integrate to the social norms and the actual immigrant adult is unlikely to do so unless they came when they were very young (we're talking under 25 or even younger (think undergrad)) to attend school or some sort of apprenticeship/internship.  There's A LOT of stress and anxiety coming from the child because they often have one set of expectations at school and another at home.  And it's even harder if the parents don't speak English and/or are working all the time.  Also, some might appear to be privileged to an outsider, but at home?  Different story.

[Is Everyone Gone]

Ok so about 20 years ago I got into an accident and my front tooth fell out and was capped. That cap died a sudden death this week, and now the doctors want to push a dental implant. I really don't want to -- I'd rather have a crown. The idea of a dental implant just sounds so drawn out and unappealing.

Has anyone had an implant? What's the plusses and minuses?

[Absolom]

I have one.  I talked about it in another thread.  Possibly a health thread.  I had a tooth saved by two or three crowns and we finally reached a point where another crown wasn't possible.  It did take awhile, but I'm very glad I did it.  The implant is just like a regular tooth in how it feels and functions.

The drawbacks are yes it takes quite a bit of time for the entire process to finish and it is pricey.  I had no real choice it was implant, a bridge, or no tooth.  I'm not sure a crown is realistic if the dentist is already talking implant.  The crown might not hold up well.  You could always get another opinion or two if you have doubts.

[lookeyloo]

Oh gosh.  I am having a sick tooth pulled Wednesday.  I am going for a permanent bridge because it is in the back but not the last tooth.  I know I could get an implant and can pay for it, but, having talked to several people with the permanent bridge, that is my choice now.  They look a lot nicer than the metal stuff my mother had 60 years ago.  If it was the last tooth I would do nothing.  I have that on the other side.  I don't miss that last upper at all.  Plus I am 81 and it doesn't have to last that long!!

[Bastet]

14 minutes ago, Absolom said:

I have one.  I talked about it in another thread.  Possibly a health thread.

Yeah, we're supposed to put discussion of health & wellness subjects in that subforum.  Here's where the dental implant conversation started.

[graybrown bird]

On 4/17/2025 at 10:59 PM, Is Everyone Gone said:

Location: NYC/Bronx, urban, poorest Congressional district of the country. Many migrants, many immigrants, almost all POC. 

Which is why it's shocking to hear the girls idolizing the trad-wife content online. It's certainly so far removed from their actual lives.

Do you have any idea if their male peers have similar aspirations?  If not, who are going to be their Prince Charmings?

[Is Everyone Gone]

1 hour ago, graybrown bird said:

Do you have any idea if their male peers have similar aspirations?  If not, who are going to be their Prince Charmings?

The boys I work with idolize Andrew Tate. Ugh.

[graybrown bird]

1 hour ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

The boys I work with idolize Andrew Tate. Ugh.

This is all so sad.

[Yeah No]

3 hours ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

The boys I work with idolize Andrew Tate. Ugh.

Oy vey, it's even worse than I thought.🙁

[Ancaster]

8 hours ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

The boys I work with idolize Andrew Tate. Ugh.

I hope you might be able to find a better place to work.

[Cloud9Shopper]

I just signed back on to Facebook after getting home from Easter Mass. It was my first time on after a month and a half since Lent started and I will say it was a valuable experience.

Just from an initial scroll through, I have not really missed much but I did realize I get a lot of useless notifications so I’ll have to fix my settings so I get less of them. One friend of mine got engaged…but she also had given up Facebook for Lent so I didn’t miss anything with her announcement since she didn’t post it until today. Other than that, though, even looking through my fandom groups, it’s the same old, same old discussions and posts. So I don’t think I need to go through all 40 days of activity from the last month.

Going forward, I’m not going to apologize for opinions I have (as long as they’re not discriminatory or hateful to someone, as I know I went too far with some things I said in heated fandom discussions), but I will do my best to state them more civilly and back away if someone is getting mean or nasty with me. I also need to exist more in the real world and am trying to set more no-phone limits for myself, although this part is a bit harder, since I still tend to retreat into my phone at times when I don’t really know the people I’m interacting with (like at a family gathering that has a lot of people I really have no close relationship with). And I could definitely use my evenings after work better instead of scrolling my phone and worrying about writing fanfic, even if it’s being more absorbed in a TV show (another time I just should put the phone away if it’s something I’ve never seen before) or reading a book. 

I’d probably do this again, and it’s making me think about what social media platforms I really do want and need. 

[fastiller]

[meep.meep]

On 4/17/2025 at 8:59 PM, Is Everyone Gone said:

Location: NYC/Bronx, urban, poorest Congressional district of the country. Many migrants, many immigrants, almost all POC. 

Which is why it's shocking to hear the girls idolizing the trad-wife content online. It's certainly so far removed from their actual lives.

These are young people who were really affected by COVID.  They may well see settling into the "traditional" male/female roles as comforting, even though it goes against their entire upbringings.

The sacrifices that kids went through during COVID and the changes in social order and custom seem to be doing a number on the mental health of a large part of the population.  All my employees with kids in those age brackets say that depression is a big problem - I'm also seeing that with my younger employees.

This was a period in their lives when most people do a lot of bonding, and that was not available to them no matter how hard their teachers and parents tried.  I've seen a couple of episodes of a show called The Class that David Diggs produced about a high school class during COVID.  The joy they express at the end over having an actual in-person graduation is amazing.

[Ohiopirate02]

On 4/17/2025 at 11:59 PM, Is Everyone Gone said:

Location: NYC/Bronx, urban, poorest Congressional district of the country. Many migrants, many immigrants, almost all POC. 

Which is why it's shocking to hear the girls idolizing the trad-wife content online. It's certainly so far removed from their actual lives.

Another aspect of why so many young women are enamored with the "tradwife life" is because they only see the edited content. They are not seeing the work that goes into producing said content nor are they seeing the day-to-day drudgery that is the reality of most tradwives. All they see is a woman who appears to be well cared for living her best life without any real struggle.

[Yeah No]

42 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Another aspect of why so many young women are enamored with the "tradwife life" is because they only see the edited content. They are not seeing the work that goes into producing said content nor are they seeing the day-to-day drudgery that is the reality of most tradwives. All they see is a woman who appears to be well cared for living her best life without any real struggle.

Good point! I also think that they are taking their cues from the young men they're around and find attractive who may have been sucked into the "toxic manosphere" if the Andrew Tate thing has any meaning. They're trying to be attractive to them and their "new" form of sexism. Unfortunately, women have been compromising themselves and their achievements/equality for generations to be attractive to men.

[fastiller]

26 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

Good point! I also think that they are taking their cues from the young men they're around and find attractive who may have been sucked into the "toxic manosphere" if the Andrew Tate thing has any meaning. They're trying to be attractive to them and their "new" form of sexism. Unfortunately, women have been compromising themselves and their achievements/equality for generations to be attractive to men.

From just this past weekend:

Barking at female staff and blocking doorways: teachers warn of rise in misogyny and racism in UK schools

 'Andrew Tate phenomenon’ blamed for misogyny surge in UK classrooms.

Spot the (wishful thinking?) typo:

Edited April 21 by fastiller
Added a second source.

[Rushmoras]

On 4/18/2025 at 8:17 AM, Anduin said:

Tech question! I no longer have a physical media player. But I'd like to be able to play all my old CDs and DVDs, and even get some blu rays. Since I don't have a TV, I want to plug it into my PC. Exactly what gadget do I want? This question came from one of my favourite old movies getting a surprising and frankly awesome 4K HDR release.

I'd also like it to be multi-region, because all players used to be that once, so my collection acquired stuff from all over.

Aren't there external disc drives to buy? EDIT: Oh, it was already answered. Nevermind.

Edited April 21 by Rushmoras

[shapeshifter]

Oh dear. All this "trad wife" chat is making me want to do a podcast of what's wrong with that picture — having more or less (mostly less) lived it for 8 years of what should have been the best years of my life.

But I'm too tired.

I remember a local pastor in the 90s suggesting my time would be well spent teaching other women how to clean house.
I think he absorbed the dumbfounded look I gave him. 
Soon after that and a much bigger scandal related to his father, he left the church to be a newspaper journalist.

[Dimity]

I grew up in the 60s/70s when so many 'housewives' were bored, discontented and getting hooked on Valium.  Never wanted that life and still don't. 

[lookeyloo]

3 hours ago, Dimity said:

I grew up in the 60s/70s when so many 'housewives' were bored, discontented and getting hooked on Valium.  Never wanted that life and still don't. 

Oh gosh exactly that.   I was one of them minus the Valium.  I didn't even know about wine back then  😄 It can be very boring unless one works very hard to cultivate like minded friends close enough by not to spend a long time in the car. And where we lived, parking was at a premium so didn't take the car out very often.  Our finances were limited and I was alone a lot with two very small children.   funny enough, I am old now, retired, just me and Mr lookeyloo and for some reason my days go by pretty fast and are mostly enjoyable.

[PRgal]

Some 50s/60s housewives read A LOT of tabloid news.  My maternal grandmother was one of them - at least AFTER she came to Canada.  She'd read imported magazines from Hong Kong.  I can't read Chinese, but recall covers with celebrities, etc....I think that's where she got her fake news from...(e.g. you get HIV from swimming pools).  My mom either didn't know what she was telling me or didn't correct her because it was improper for her to do so.  

[Dimity]

15 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

funny enough, I am old now, retired, just me and Mr lookeyloo and for some reason my days go by pretty fast and are mostly enjoyable.

Recent retiree  here as well and I totally agree.  Completely different vibe!  It can be a little disconcerting to have to stop and figure out what day it is 😃 but otherwise I am enjoying my retirement and am never bored.  The only downside is having a little too much time to devote to worrying about the state of the world and what it will be like for the grandchildren down the road! 

[PRgal]

18 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Recent retiree  here as well and I totally agree.  Completely different vibe!  It can be a little disconcerting to have to stop and figure out what day it is 😃 but otherwise I am enjoying my retirement and am never bored.  The only downside is having a little too much time to devote to worrying about the state of the world and what it will be like for the grandchildren down the road! 

I don't think you should be too worried about the grandkids.  They're going to be just fine just like my little guy will.  As for my 70-something parents:  my mom recently started taking singing lessons!!!  And my dad?  He's looking forward to golf season.

[shapeshifter]

3 minutes ago, PRgal said:

As for my 70-something parents:  my mom recently started taking singing lessons!!! 

And now I'm imagining moving to Toronto and taking singing lessons with your mom. 😍🎶
My sister and her family live in Ontario, and my daughter and son-in-law work from home, so they and the lambchops can come too. 
Kidding. But fun to imagine. 

[RealHousewife]

On 4/21/2025 at 8:28 AM, Ohiopirate02 said:

Another aspect of why so many young women are enamored with the "tradwife life" is because they only see the edited content. They are not seeing the work that goes into producing said content nor are they seeing the day-to-day drudgery that is the reality of most tradwives. All they see is a woman who appears to be well cared for living her best life without any real struggle.

Yes, a lot of women would love to spend their days baking in pretty dresses. I know I would. But even for trad wives whose husbands make enough to live comfortably on one income, what percentage of those women would be okay if their partner is abusive, cheats, or passes away? Most of the creators I've seen online don't appear to be married to high earners, and they tend to play down the work they do themselves and money they make by blogging, YouTube, various links, etc.

 

Edited April 23 by RealHousewife

[Yeah No]

11 hours ago, RealHousewife said:

Yes, a lot of women would love to spend their days baking in pretty dresses. I know I would. But even for trad wives whose husbands make enough to live comfortably on one income, what percentage of those women would be okay if their partner is abusive, cheats, or passes away? Most of the creators I've seen online don't appear to be married to high earners, and they tend to play down the work they do themselves and money they make by blogging, YouTube, various links, etc.

My husband and I have been talking about how half or more of the stuff like that on YouTube is increasingly just generated and not authentic. Much of it doesn't pass the sniff test. It's fake and even the people pushing it don't buy into it. They're putting on an act for the $$$. It's like they're "shtick". It's sad but so much of what we see today is like that. Young people have grown up online exposed to many scams and other come-ons so they have accepted this as just the way life is and go on to perpetuate the problem.

Of course that doesn't rule out that there are actually young women that naive and/or in denial about the inherent misogyny that tends to accompany the philosophy of men that insist on this arrangement.

[PRgal]

Again, some of it is culture (since @Is Everyone Gone) brought up teaching at a school with a non-White majority, assuming that many of the kids are children of immigrants.  Some of the girls might very well just be saying what their parents are telling them rather than how they REALLY feel.  Elders and authoritative figures (i.e. teachers) are to be respected.  You don't correct elders.  That said, despite traditional cultural values in the "old country."  You really don't know how toxic these parents can be until you've either lived it yourself or are very adjacent to it. 

[fastiller]

WFH means a lunchtime walk in the park along the trails.  Which allowed me to visit this friend.

[Yeah No]

On 4/23/2025 at 10:14 AM, PRgal said:

Again, some of it is culture (since @Is Everyone Gone) brought up teaching at a school with a non-White majority, assuming that many of the kids are children of immigrants.  Some of the girls might very well just be saying what their parents are telling them rather than how they REALLY feel. 

Yes, I made a similar point upthread.

[Yeah No]

I just wanted to share that I've been going through hell lately and have been exhausted and pushed to my limit every day for a week now. My house is finally being renovated over a year after a huge tree fell on our roof. We were living with tarps and water leaking through the ceiling in one spot for all that time. Thanks to insurance and construction delays it's taken this long to get started. We had to have our living/dining area packed up and moved into a storage pod while our roof and front wall are being taken off and rebuilt. We're also taking the opportunity to add a little square footage with new windows, etc.

To say the stress level has been high would be an understatement. And we're no spring chickens either. My husband is 69 and I'm 66. We're currently living in a suite hotel that's like a mini one bedroom apartment. Of course our first suite was lovely but after two days it was obvious that the air conditioning didn't work so today I had to pack everything up and have it moved to another room. It's been over the top for me and I've been in tears all morning. My husband is working today which doesn't help. Of course we brought more than a few things because we might have to be here for at least a couple of weeks. So moving it all across the hotel wasn't any fun even with help.

Also I have to add that this came right after a month of lymphedema therapy in my legs, which I posted about in (I think) the medical thread. For 5 days a week I had to have my legs wrapped tightly with 4.5 lbs. of bandages, foam and fabric. It was hard to walk and I even got a handicapped placard for my car. I couldn't lead a normal life and things got put off and I felt out of control of basic stuff. Unfortunately my husband got busy at work at the same time so it made it all the harder on me. And I'm not even sure that it's going to do much for me in the long run thanks to the leg hose they ordered me not fitting and being very thick and hard to put on and take off and wear under clothing, not to mention how hot as blazes they make you feel in the warm weather.

Anyway if I seem a little crankier than usual, that's why! My apologies in for anything I might have said to offend anyone.

Edited April 24 by Yeah No

[Mindthinkr]

@Yeah No Sending you a virtual hug. 
 

I hope that your workers will be swift and this will all just be a nightmare in the past when you are enjoying looking out the new window. 

[annzeepark914]

@Yeah No Whatever you do...make sure you're not watching the news! Give yourself a mental vacation by watching old shows (you know the ones, where everything works out & everyone is relieved/happy/etc 😉) or British shows on PBS...or rent a bunch of good movies. Just give yourself a mega big break while coping with this temporary crap. We'll keep a beady eye on "stuff" while you try to keep calm 😊

[shapeshifter]

On 4/14/2025 at 2:59 PM, EtheltoTillie said:

I thought the NY licenses were good for 10 years . . .  I have to check into this. 

Yes, my "enhanced" license obtained in 2019 is good until 2028. 

On 4/14/2025 at 5:45 PM, shapeshifter said:

This page says 8 years:
https://www.iihs.org/topics/older-drivers/license-renewal-laws-table

My new “enhanced” driver’s license arrived today and is good for 8 years.
I guess being able to fly with it warrants the label “enhanced.”😉

[quip intended to cheer up @Yeah No]

[lookeyloo]

4 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I just wanted to share that I've been going through hell lately and have been exhausted and pushed to my limit every day for a week now. My house is finally being renovated over a year after a huge tree fell on our roof. We were living with tarps and water leaking through the ceiling in one spot for all that time. Thanks to insurance and construction delays it's taken this long to get started. We had to have our living/dining area packed up and moved into a storage pod while our roof and front wall are being taken off and rebuilt. We're also taking the opportunity to add a little square footage with new windows, etc.

To say the stress level has been high would be an understatement. And we're no spring chickens either. My husband is 69 and I'm 66. We're currently living in a suite hotel that's like a mini one bedroom apartment. Of course our first suite was lovely but after two days it was obvious that the air conditioning didn't work so today I had to pack everything up and have it moved to another room. It's been over the top for me and I've been in tears all morning. My husband is working today which doesn't help. Of course we brought more than a few things because we might have to be here for at least a couple of weeks. So moving it all across the hotel wasn't any fun even with help.

Also I have to add that this came right after a month of lymphedema therapy in my legs, which I posted about in (I think) the medical thread. For 5 days a week I had to have my legs wrapped tightly with 4.5 lbs. of bandages, foam and fabric. It was hard to walk and I even got a handicapped placard for my car. I couldn't lead a normal life and things got put off and I felt out of control of basic stuff. Unfortunately my husband got busy at work at the same time so it made it all the harder on me. And I'm not even sure that it's going to do much for me in the long run thanks to the leg hose they ordered me not fitting and being very thick and hard to put on and take off and wear under clothing, not to mention how hot as blazes they make you feel in the warm weather.

Anyway if I seem a little crankier than usual, that's why! My apologies in for anything I might have said to offend anyone.

I am sending you a big virtual hug and if I had the right words would put them here.  It isn't a fun situation where you are at.  🥰

[Anela]

2 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

My new “enhanced” driver’s license arrived today and is good for 8 years.
I guess being able to fly with it warrants the label “enhanced.”😉

[quip intended to cheer up @Yeah No]

My State ID card is good for another seven years, too. 

[Yeah No]

Thanks everyone, you are the best!!! Many hugs in return. 🤗 🤗🤗

Of course the new room stinks of deodorizer so bad it's bothering me. Sometimes I am sensitive to scents, which makes them smell weird and stronger than they should. It figures. I passed on the offer to put a window air conditioner in the original room before I moved out of it. I have not had good experiences with them in the past, so I think that had something to do with it. I almost regretted not taking them up on that after moving to a room that just doesn't have that "somethin' somethin" that the first one did. The first one was brighter and the floor plan was flipped. Somehow it looked bigger and the view was better. Even my husband liked it better. At least this one is also on the top floor. If it didn't stink so bad I probably wouldn't dislike it so much. Sometimes I feel like this kind of no-win situation is the story of my life. I felt like the first room was too good to be true the moment I stepped inside of it. And it turned out it was. Is it not really that big a deal? Well this kind of stuff happens to me a lot so I guess I've got a complex about it now.

This is a big very well known chain, too. I would expect more. They apologized for the situation and told me they had compressors on order that were taking forever to come in. The manager said they usually have them on hand in case this happens but they had run out thanks to the shipping delay. They also thanked me for being so nice about it because they say not everyone is so nice under similar circumstances. Well, it's not their fault. The help is doing the best they can, I know that.

But it's even worse than that. Suddenly my husband's job has gotten a LOT busier. From a few jobs a week he's gone to driving over 1,000 miles a week and at the absolute WORST time, too! Suddenly one of the daughters of the family he drives for is using his services to bring her from near Boston, MA to Fairfield County, CT and back on a different date every week. She used to drive it herself but gave the excuse that her car needed a service. He thought it would be temporary but it's been going on for over a month now with no end in sight. And just this week he saw her pulling out of a parking space in her car near her apartment and pulling it into her garage. And this not the only job he does. He has to drive her grandmother to church in Ft. Lee, NJ once a week on Sundays and their other daughter is now using him more often because although she lives in California she just bought a condo. in CT. Then he also drives his boss and wife when they go on vacation to the airport in NYC which is often, and if they have guests, he drives them too.

What we don't get is that the daughter in MA could easily take the train. She goes to her father's business, which incidentally is a very short walk to the train station. So we don't get it. These people are filthy rich, too. They have usually been the nicest people ever but these days I don't know if they know exactly what my husband is up against. If he'd only SAY something!

Anyway it has become a LOT for a man of almost 70 to handle in addition to having his house renovated. The problem is he is afraid to say anything about it to his boss. We don't even know how aware he is of how much work my husband is doing.  I am worried about him all the time out there and now with all we have going on and the additional driving I'm even more worried. I can't seem to convince him that he needs to tell his boss what's going on.

So what do they say, "When it rains it pours"?

And @annzeepark914, I know what you mean, I'm avoiding the news but I don't have the time or the energy to pay attention to it these days anyway. I read the other thread and that's bad enough. I haven't watched many TV shows either. This has been an all-consuming situation.

And now I have to be up early to let the workmen in the house and I'm exhausted. Ugh. 😖

[ECM1231]

Oh, my goodness, @Yeah No, I'm getting whiplash reading about all the driving your husband has been doing. I'm so sorry this has added more stress to an already stressful situation, dealing with a home renovation, moving out, and medical issues. Hopefully soon, this nightmare will be but a distant memory as you enjoy your newly renovated home. I hope your husband can get some time off, soon. Hugs!

[annzeepark914]

@Yeah No I order Mainstays Charcoal Closet Odor Eliminator, Fragrance Free, from Walmart ($5.38 each). I usually order 6. It really eliminates any odors. They don't sell it in the stores, so you have to order it.  Is it possible for you to remove the deodorizer(s)?

[Yeah No]

35 minutes ago, ECM1231 said:

Oh, my goodness, @Yeah No, I'm getting whiplash reading about all the driving your husband has been doing. I'm so sorry this has added more stress to an already stressful situation, dealing with a home renovation, moving out, and medical issues. Hopefully soon, this nightmare will be but a distant memory as you enjoy your newly renovated home. I hope your husband can get some time off, soon. Hugs!

Thanks so much, ECM! On the up side the house is looking FANTASTIC! Tomorrow the new roof goes on and windows in. The old gutters are already off. Next week it's drywall and electrical. My head is spinning! Of course we worry about everything too much. Like of course on the news they're telling us about there being a "brush and house fire alert" due to the warm weather. So of course I'm worried that there will be an electrical mishap and the house will burn down.

But we do have reason to worry. My husband just got here and told me he went by the house and the front door wasn't locked. He had to lock it himself and set the alarm. I don't know how many times I told these workmen to remember to lock it and yet if we're not there this happens. So this is why we're nervous wrecks...

1 minute ago, annzeepark914 said:

@Yeah No I order Mainstays Charcoal Closet Odor Eliminator, Fragrance Free, from Walmart ($5.38 each). I usually order 6. It really eliminates any odors. They don't sell it in the stores, so you have to order it.  Is it possible for you to remove the deodorizer(s)?

That's the thing, there are no deodorizers. I think they sprayed the carpet with something when they were cleaning the room. Maybe this room had pets in it so they gave it a more aggressive dose? This is a pet friendly hotel. The other room didn't smell of this at all. I've kept the windows open all day and the smell doesn't seem to be dissipating at all!