Small Talk: The Prayer Closet

[Oldernowiser]

It rained here on Friday evening, finally, for the first time in weeks, maybe months. And it didn’t kid around...it poured for two hours and has rained a little on and off ever since.

The smoke is mostly gone from the air, you can feel the relief of all the trees and wildlife, and I can stop lying awake at night with my escape kit next to the bed and trying to figure out if the smoke smell has gotten stronger and looking out of all the windows. 

[Nysha]

It's a nice cool day and I don't have anything planned but puttering around the house.

[emma675]

It's not cool here, dammit, but I'm on vacation this week and driving down to the coast. I'm leaving my work computer at home so I will be completely cut off and my team can't have an excuse to call with a question for me.

[awaken]

1 hour ago, iwantcookies said:

I was thinking maybe every Sunday those who want can share something good/what they are happy  in their life with.
 

Positive Sunday news: 

 

I am happy that I got a place to sleep and food to eat! 

Gorgeous days here too. Happy to be healthy. Happy to be in a more pleasant, less stressful and dysfunctional job situation. 

[Happyfatchick]

I haven’t read anything on any threads except the Prayer Closet in forever.  So tonight I’ve used some time to catch up a little.  I learned that Jessa is still a favorite target - she posts stupid conversations with her kids constantly and is on constant pregnancy watch.   there must be a hint about a courtship, the J’s thread is ablaze. 
but on THIS thread, there is no winner.  

I read all the way back and caught up.  Sometimes I went back several times to make sure I understood intent.  I slept on it.  Pondered it.  There is MUCH vitriol and MUCH hate here.  Much hate.  I was able to read it, see it clearly because I’m coming in with clear eyes.  Its been actually a little disturbing.  

Here’s my context.  I grew up Southern baptist.  I know all about Lottie Moon and the cooperative program and the burning of the books and albums in the 70’s.  Back then, we wore pants though never EVER at church, the SBC was what Independent Baptist is now.  (I personally didn’t OWN a pair of pants until 8th grade - but generally girls were just more apt to wear dresses then.  I had shorts for summer). Church was an integral every day part of my life.  I played piano and never once played music outside the realm of worshipful music.  Never questioned that once.  My parents were active and social.  My mother in particular year was also very active in the community.   She was in some ladies groups, and I remember her being particularly drawn to elderly people - buying and delivering groceries, mending clothes, that kind of thing).  We kept foster children.   In no way did we try to shut ourselves away from others, although we were Taught that gayness was a choice and a wrong one, we were never taught to hate gays.  In fact, I would honestly say that racism was a MUCH larger problem, even tho we had 2 active and vocal black congregants.  I remember being involved in and having planning sessions for southern baptists to integrate churches without losing them entirely when neighborhoods transitioned to mixed.  I worked at the Baptist Home Mission Board for maybe 10 years in the 80’s, early 90’s.   Even my JOB was religious!  I was very active in my church.  In no way did I consider myself a hater.  Ever.  

I promise I’m going somewhere with this.

i (along with many people in our congregation) went to what we called the “Bill Gothard Seminars” every single year from probably 1976 to 1985.  IBLP.  It was huge, it was packed, it was pricey and my parents happily forked over the money every year.  My mother thought there was no wiser human than BG.  She paid for other people to attend, she lobbied for greater participation every year.  It was akin to a huge camp meeting.  We all brought food, met new people, made new friends.  I never complained, I never balked, I never questioned.  To this very day, I don’t feel like I was badgered to participate.  I do not feel I was beaten down or abused, even emotionally. My father was admittedly heavy fisted with us, mentally.  Raised Amish, left there and went career Army to the highest enlisted rank - he didn’t play.  But my mom was no wilting daisy.  She was from South Georgia, raised picking cotton, married the army guy and was a force to be reckoned with on her own.  I didn’t see myself being beaten down, I was taught (seriously!) to stand up and be whatever I wanted.  (But if your gonna mess with it at all, BE A GOOD ONE!).  My dad was my biggest fan till the day he died.  But.  I also never rocked the boat growing up.  Lots of koolaid.  I married my first boyfriend (at 17!!!) in a dress buttoned up to my throat and long sleeves -my mother made it.  I made my own bridesmaid dresses.  

what I’m saying is, I have the card, the belt buckle, several t-shirts and somewhere probably some IBLP notebooks.  I was a soft kind natured,  giving/caring/compassionate person, spewing what I’d been taught was good and true and right.  That’s what I was.  
 

I was Jill.  
 

so I’m saying.  I’m asking.  I’m begging.  Please cut this precious girl  some slack.   There is not a mean, nasty, vindictive bone in her body.  She’s a brand new person stepping out and seeing the real world for the very first time.  

I’m 60 now, and there’s several million gallons of water under the bridge.  I’m no longer married to the man I married at 17.  How COULD I have married at 17, when I didn’t even know my own mind?  I had no idea what I wanted, what I needed, how to accomplish anything.  I didnt know my favorite color, much less what I wanted to BE when I grew up!!!  How could my parents have happily let that happen???  
 

the difference is that my husband was entrenched in that life (still is - as far as I know, he’s never sipped any alcohol).  Derick, OTOH, was raised more mainstream, had endured some Hardships, been to college.  He was more willing for his wife to open the windows to the outside world.  I know Derick said some mean and hateful things about Jazz and LGBTQ in general - Derick isn’t 60.  Derick is young and not as far away as me.  You seriously have to step back and shut up long enough to SEE what you’re saying.  I believe he will.  I do.  

and back to Jill - I see a precious, sweet little girl realizing that everything she lived through and participated in, in her life may have been jaded and she never even knew.  It’s not hard to go along with your upbringing until you can back up far enough to know (to KNOW) you aren’t going to be struck by lightening for saying ... wait... is this TRUE???   Honestly.  You get so engrained, so entrenched, you feel real, palpable SCARY guilt if you say “wait.  What??”

plus, she’s a sweetheart of a person from what I’ve ever seen.  I think she’s gentle and maybe a little timid - and has pretty much been blasted out of her family like a rocket - after being told every day of her life that God is love and above all else, we want to be Godly.  She’s a rabbit.  She wants to stick her toes out there and see what happens, but she’s terrified.  She doesn’t have 18 siblings and 2 parents with welcome open arms any more.  She has nothing she grew up knowing.  

I love her.  Obviously I feel some kinship with her.  I don’t hate Derick.  I feel he just hasn’t found his feet yet.  I hope he does finish law school.  I see him encouraging and supporting Jill and that makes me proud.  I don’t know them, but i sort of suspect when he finishes school and gets into a practice, Jill may do something about her education.  I can (like) hope.  

I don’t think Derick is as harsh as perceived. I think we’d be fascinated to know how many times he (himself) believes he’s spoken out of turn.  I wish he’d never addressed Jazz, as I feel like the issues going on there are not ours (anyone in the public) to discuss openly.  I don’t.  I wish they hadn’t gone public with that at all.  I fear major repercussions for them, for her.  It’s heart wrenching.  I have to say, I’ve known several people who transitioned, but they were ADULTS.  If I’m her parents, I don’t know what I would have done.  It’s bizarre and I just... don’t know.  I do not know.  
 

i know that I know that I KNOW I am a different breed of cat today than I was when I married at 17.  I know I had to give myself permission (STILL struggle with that) just to CONSIDER other things.  Other options.  Other opinions. Other possibilities.  I no longer have the ability to open up like a large mouth bass and swallow the shiny bait.  Prove it.  Disprove it.  Why?  How do you know?  How do you know THAT?  Who told you that?  Show me.  Argue with me.  Make me believe or get out.  Prove it.  

I think Jill is only very marginally coming into that person.  I think every day of her life she has to question something.  Why?  Why did I think that?  Is that true??  

I don’t care for Jilly’s parents.  Fingernails on a chalkboard.  But I dearly loved my own and helped both of them over into whatever there was at the end.  Adored them.  And I’m okay; honestly ok for my upbringing.  I feel like a good, strong, morally upstanding citizen.  The world has changed, I’VE CHANGED.  I’m going to make room for their baby steps and not be so negative and try to understand where they are in their journey.  I honestly (swear!) I wish I could know J&D both.  To let them see that I’m 40 years out from that tight orbit, that I’m happy, and that I didn’t get throat cancer, die of a heart attack or struck by lightening for questioning my original beliefs.  I seriously believed that, but also believed God is love.

my train fell off the tracks when my son and his wife lost an infant 15 years ago.  To that point, I was entrenched in church (not SBC but not far off either), Still playing piano, teaching Sunday school.  Still very trusting, loyal and vocal.  The baby was 4 days old when she died (for @doodlebug, it was NEC).  She suffered every inch of her life.  Not “im a fussy baby”but a horrid, contorted face of pain.  They weren’t able to hold her.  The mother had 9 months of carrying, the pain of childbirth - and a dead infant.  The father (my son), for many years a non believer had grief (his own and for his wife) and helplessness.  The grand baby had a grandma praying every minute that God would heal that baby, that He would provide a miracle so that my son could see I’d been right the whole time.... and she died.  She DIED.  She was beautiful, looked perfect, was wanted and loved, and she DIED.  Full term.  Weighed 9 lbs.  Wait.  What???  So yes, it was catastrophic.  Seemed useless and cruel.  It STILL seems useless and cruel.  Welllllllll..... cuz you know.... everything happens for a reason.  I hate that sentence.  What’s the reason?  Huh?  Why did she go through childbirth?  Why did the baby live through birth only to suffer horribly for 4 days?  Why?  Whyyyyyyyyyyy?????????

and the wheels came off, just. Like. That.  

There was looooooong discussion about whether people can change.  Really change.    @doodlebug said they can, and do constantly.  I absolutely believe this.  I am NOT the person I was at 17.  (Or 27, 37 or even 47).   Once you’ve put down the umbrella and stopped trying to be the star of Oklahoma!, life happens.  Kids are sick.  Stuff happens.  Ohmygoshowdidthishappen, I’m SCREWED!!!  Or you’re betrayed, or lost, or hurt, or you lose someone, or your child comes out and you are HORRIFIED to consider what this child must now endure for having been brave enough to accept and announce - but you realize at the same time how much you ADORE this child and that you would never ever reject them, or you realize you cannot FORCE yourself to stay in a relationship one minute longer, or your father dies, or CORONAVIRUS shuts the entire PLANET down, or you fully look at your hero - your Daddy - and realize “dude... you really aren’t all that, are you??”,  or you wake up GOBSMACKED to find that you aren’t sure you believe ANYTHING you believed as a child and you are just a broken little sparrow of a human,  

it is my fervent hope I won’t be attacked.  It’s just my opinion - and you know what we say about those...

[Happyfatchick]

What a great and fabulous idea @iwantcookies!!!  Seriously! 

maybe you should establish a bad news day - cloudy news Wednesday or something - and we’ll just all avoid reading that day.  

I have 2 things (because I’m a blog hog, as we all know).  
I read on FB that my neighbor down the street (I’ve mentioned before - they don’t wave when you go past, so we all know them as “the mean people”) had complications and more surgery this week from a double mastectomy during the summer.  (That’s not the good news).  So I took one whole chicken (just one!) and made chicken pot pie, chicken salad and chicken soup.  (Pretty impressive for one bird!!) took it over there and discovered they are actually not mean at all.  Just reticent.  Keep to themselves mostly.  I’m so thrilled to know that, that they aren’t really mean!!

also:  4 days ago I tried to do some work outside and was sweating like CRAZY!!!  It was so DANG hot and muggy!!!  But the next day (it was rainy, so hard to tell) the switch got flipped and PRESTO, we have apparently started some easier weather.  YAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!  [truthfulky, I’m a full-on SUMMER girl, I live for the hot weather.  But that garden nearly killed me this year, so a little 70’s feels like swweeeeeeeet!!!!!].  I’m in a new season of life 😜

[crazycatlady58]

My good news is that it is cool where I am and raining.  Beta is coming to visit us and I am thinking posithT she will just bring us cool weather and much needed rain.

[doodlebug]

It's a gorgeous sunny fall day here in the Midwest.  Spent the afternoon on the patio listening to the Indians' game with my sister and brother, eating a nice lunch of fried chicken and the fixin's while we watched my sister's new puppy play with my dogs.  It doesn't get any better than that.

[MargeGunderson]

I spent the day reading on my couch, snuggling with my cat and watching TV. It feels like fall here, which makes me happy!

[ginger90]

Worked today, thankful for a job. 😁

[Bewitched]

What a lovely idea.

Both my teenagers had socially distanced friend gatherings this weekend.  The kids all behaved and followed the rules. They needed that visit  since school is all virtual.  And the weather is beautiful (I love fall!)

[lookeyloo]

Our weather is nice

[emmawoodhouse]

Perfect weather and clear skies. 🌞

[Zella]

Happy/positive thought: thanks to all of you who chatted up Lark Rise. I started it last night, and it is just adorable. I'm still trying to learn everyone's name, so in my mind, Mr. Bates's daughter is working for Mrs. Horatio Hornblower, who has a complicated history with Group Captain Townsend. And the Queen Mum runs a shop in town. LOL

Oh and forgot to add that Phyllis Crane is married to Cato/Mumbly Cop from Hot Fuzz! 

This is like half the fun of British television for me. Seeing all the familiar faces! 

Edited September 21, 2020 by Zella

[rue721]

Great idea, @iwantcookies

Very happy for the exam score that came in on Friday, and for getting to spend this weekend with my very lovely boyfriend. Also grateful for my dog’s two “best friends,” who she has a blast playing with (and I have a blast watching her!).

My dog, on the other hand, is most grateful for her new fall wardrobe.

[Suzn]

Beautiful fall weather.

Adorable (nearly grown) kittens who find new ways to be adorable and hilarious.

[Love2dance]

Love this idea @iwantcookies.

I’m enjoying the weekly group Skype meetings with our California families including the adult kids, grandkids, and a sibling. We chat awhile then rotate online games like scavenger hunts, what’s the sketch and a few others. I miss the hugs so much, but at least I can see them.

[ChiCricket]

13 hours ago, iwantcookies said:

Positive Sunday news: 

Eating yummy beefsteak tomatoes from my garden.

[Minivanessa]

I had a nice quiet Sunday. Grocery store run, puttered around the house, read a book, watched some football on TV. (The air quality's still bad from wildfire smoke including a couple in our state; it was a little better yesterday but now one of the fires has flared up bigtime so today the warnings are still up. Ugh.)

@doodlebug, I thought of you Thursday night as I watched that really good game between the Browns and the Bengals. The socially distanced Dawg Pound was odd to see, but I'm glad they didn't cram the place full. 

[QuinnInND]

A friend of mine saw this on Instagram. It's the last line that reminded me of the Duggars. And I almost gagged at it. 

[Oldernowiser]

Sounds like maybe someone is covering for a “premature” 9 pound baby born 6 months post-wedding?

[Zahdii]

21 minutes ago, Oldernowiser said:

Sounds like maybe someone is covering for a “premature” 9 pound baby born 6 months post-wedding?

No need to cover up an early baby.  Everyone knows the first baby can come at anytime.  The rest take nine months.

[Ijustwantsomechips]

I’m going to need for Ree Drummond to keep her story straight.  There is at least one episode of the The Pioneer Woman where she comments about getting married and then having Alex (I think she’s oldest) 8 months later. I’m paraphrasing but she basically said you do the math and chuckled.  Why she’s lying twenty plus years later is beyond me.

[GeeGolly]

25 minutes ago, Ijustwantsomechips said:

I’m going to need for Ree Drummond to keep her story straight.  There is at least one episode of the The Pioneer Woman where she comments about getting married and then having Alex (I think she’s oldest) 8 months later. I’m paraphrasing but she basically said you do the math and chuckled.  Why she’s lying twenty plus years later is beyond me.

Google says they were married on September 21, 1996 and Alex was born June 25, 1997. 

[Nysha]

The math is right for a honeymoon baby.

 

[iwantcookies]

I called the office and was told to wait for a call back. Still waiting.

Office assistant told me that in her experience if it was bad I would have gotten a call back very quickly. No news is good news? 
 

 

Edited September 21, 2020 by iwantcookies

[jjane]

@iwantcookies, sorry for the late reply but I echo the sentiment that there are a lot of people in here that care about you. We may not know you in real life but your interactions here have shown us that you are a person who matters. This is a place where you will always find someone to encourage you and lift you up. I have found this to be true for myself on several occasions. I wish you had people in your real life to do this for you but don't give up, better things could be around the corner. As for the ones in your life who don't make any effort to show they care, well, excuse the language, but "screw 'em".  Much love and hugs. Janet.

[iwantcookies]

My uncles ex is truly unhinged. Called me 10+ times to scream that I’m spreading rumors about her. Ahhh all I said is she calls me to ask me to tell her ex to give her $$$. All truth. 
 

I changed my number and WILL not be giving it out to my cousin or his momsy from hell. My cousin gave her my number without my permission. 
 

Unhinged upset me so much and raised my blood pressure. Can’t post this on Facebook because cousin will read it.

 

 

[Happyfatchick]

11 minutes ago, iwantcookies said:

My uncles ex is truly unhinged. Called me 10+ times to scream that I’m spreading rumors about her. Ahhh all I said is she calls me to ask me to tell her ex to give her $$$. All truth. 
 

I changed my number and WILL not be giving it out to my cousin or his momsy from hell. My cousin gave her my number without my permission. 
 

Unhinged upset me so much and raised my blood pressure. Can’t post this on Facebook because cousin will read it.

 

 

Did you call the docs office to change your number?

[Turquoise]

I don't usually check in on the weekends, so I missed the Sunday part. Here's my belated: it was a gorgeous day, Mr Turquoise made lunch, and we did little else except walk the dog and take a little drive. It was so nice!

Now, I'm going to vent. LOL. I've had fibroids for several years, doctor told me to wait a bit because insurance wouldn't do anything yet. OK, fine. Started having more symptoms in late winter, get an appointment for spring. Said appointment canceled because COVID. I finally got in a couple weeks ago. They run an ultrasound, I am now up to 5, with the largest baseball sized (sorry if TMI). Now we're ready to move. Surgical referral. After a few days I inquire how long it takes. Give it a week. Fine. Gave it 8 days to be nice. Contact nurse back. She contacts doctor directly. Doctor looks at ultrasound report, decides I need to see the doctor who specializes in fibroids. I was referred by the referral Friday afternoon. Waiting. I'm normally a very patient person, but my rarely-seen Irish temper is starting to warm up. Just frustrated. Thanks for "listening".

[Oldernowiser]

Oh, man. I feel for you both. A few years ago I injured my tailbone and couldn’t sit down or lie down without pain meds , which I hate, for eight months. I waited four months to hear back about an MRI appointment...finally found out it had never been requested.
I did not take it well. 

Annnd I have been waiting all day for a call back from my vet’s office to find out whether my retriever is actually having surgery tomorrow, which is what I thought, or if I am getting him there at 7 freaking a.m. for what will turn out just to be pre-surgery bloodwork and vet exam. And do I feed him breakfast or not? Water or not? And why did the text and email reminders say “medical” appointment, not surgical? THIS IS MY SPOILED ROTTEN STINKER ADORED NERVOUS BABY BOY AND GENERAL ANESTHESIA AND THEY ARE TAKING THIS WAAAAAY TOO CASUALLY!!!!! 

So move over on the WTF Sofa, Medical Edition, and at least we can sit together and eat cake.

 

[Turquoise]

4 minutes ago, Oldernowiser said:

Oh, man. I feel for you both. A few years ago I injured my tailbone and couldn’t sit down or lie down without pain meds , which I hate, for eight months. I waited four months to hear back about an MRI appointment...finally found out it had never been requested.
I did not take it well. 

Annnd I have been waiting all day for a call back from my vet’s office to find out whether my retriever is actually having surgery tomorrow, which is what I thought, or if I am getting him there at 7 freaking a.m. for what will turn out just to be pre-surgery bloodwork and vet exam. And do I feed him breakfast or not? Water or not? And why did the text and email reminders say “medical” appointment, not surgical? THIS IS MY SPOILED ROTTEN STINKER ADORED NERVOUS BABY BOY AND GENERAL ANESTHESIA AND THEY ARE TAKING THIS WAAAAAY TOO CASUALLY!!!!! 

So move over on the WTF Sofa, Medical Edition, and at least we can sit together and eat cake.

 

Thanks for the offer...I love cake!
My mom and I call the bolded "having a Shirley" from Terms of Endearment when she has the come-apart at the nurse's desk. My mom lives in a different state from me, but she has offered to road-trip in order to have a Shirley on my behalf. We're not to that point yet. I just don't feel great, an answer is on the horizon, and no one is calling me.

[Oldernowiser]

Ha. “Having a Shirley.” I love that!

If you need me, have your mom conference me in on the call. I can shriek backup.

[DangerousMinds]

41 minutes ago, Turquoise said:

I don't usually check in on the weekends, so I missed the Sunday part. Here's my belated: it was a gorgeous day, Mr Turquoise made lunch, and we did little else except walk the dog and take a little drive. It was so nice!

Now, I'm going to vent. LOL. I've had fibroids for several years, doctor told me to wait a bit because insurance wouldn't do anything yet. OK, fine. Started having more symptoms in late winter, get an appointment for spring. Said appointment canceled because COVID. I finally got in a couple weeks ago. They run an ultrasound, I am now up to 5, with the largest baseball sized (sorry if TMI). Now we're ready to move. Surgical referral. After a few days I inquire how long it takes. Give it a week. Fine. Gave it 8 days to be nice. Contact nurse back. She contacts doctor directly. Doctor looks at ultrasound report, decides I need to see the doctor who specializes in fibroids. I was referred by the referral Friday afternoon. Waiting. I'm normally a very patient person, but my rarely-seen Irish temper is starting to warm up. Just frustrated. Thanks for "listening".

5 years ago, I went to a doctor for the first time in years (I had had no Health insurance until the ACA/Obamacare kicked in). While doing my Pap smear, she wondered if I was pregnant because I had a huge bump in my uterus (I hadn’t really noticed, I had gained some weight). Well, pregnancy was impossible because I hadn’t been sexually active for some time. So she sent me to have an ultrasound, which confirmed a mass in my uterus. What kind and whether it was cancerous, they couldn’t tell me. I was then sent to a gynecologic oncologist! Which was scary! An oncologist?? So he then did the same pelvic exam and found a large mass. Sent me for several more tests, including an MRI and cat scan. None of which told us any more than that there was a mass there, fibroid tumor or tumors. They were so large that I was told a hysterectomy was the only solution. No way to know if the fibroids were cancerous or not otherwise. I looked into other options and saw another couple doctors on my own. They all said the same thing, that a hysterectomy was my only option given the size of the fibroids. I really liked the last gynecologist I found, and scheduled the surgery with him. This whole process took an entire summer, months of medical appointments! Anyway, I finally had the hysterectomy and it turned out that the tumors were huge, much bigger than anyone had thought. But, not cancerous! I had an incision from above my navel to down to my pelvic area. The good news? I had a quick recovery with very little pain, and have been feeling great since. And I definitely don’t miss my monthly periods! So hang in there, even if it comes to this all can go very well. The waiting is indeed the hardest part.

[iwantcookies]

Let’s eat cake and drink wine together! 
 

Every USA citizen should have health insurance would be my HUGE rant.

 

Best of luck to everyone!!! 
 

 

[MargeGunderson]

2 hours ago, iwantcookies said:

Let’s eat cake and drink wine together! 

I’ve got brownies and bourbon. In a few hours I might be back to correct this to say I had brownies and bourbon, but now it’s crumbs and drops. 

[Happyfatchick]

4 hours ago, Turquoise said:

I don't usually check in on the weekends, so I missed the Sunday part. Here's my belated: it was a gorgeous day, Mr Turquoise made lunch, and we did little else except walk the dog and take a little drive. It was so nice!

Now, I'm going to vent. LOL. I've had fibroids for several years, doctor told me to wait a bit because insurance wouldn't do anything yet. OK, fine. Started having more symptoms in late winter, get an appointment for spring. Said appointment canceled because COVID. I finally got in a couple weeks ago. They run an ultrasound, I am now up to 5, with the largest baseball sized (sorry if TMI). Now we're ready to move. Surgical referral. After a few days I inquire how long it takes. Give it a week. Fine. Gave it 8 days to be nice. Contact nurse back. She contacts doctor directly. Doctor looks at ultrasound report, decides I need to see the doctor who specializes in fibroids. I was referred by the referral Friday afternoon. Waiting. I'm normally a very patient person, but my rarely-seen Irish temper is starting to warm up. Just frustrated. Thanks for "listening".

Is this intrauterine?  (Please, everyone pause and look at that big hair all of a word I just coughed up!). Isn’t this quite painful??

[Oldernowiser]

20 minutes ago, MargeGunderson said:

I’ve got brownies and bourbon. In a few hours I might be back to correct this to say I had brownies and bourbon, but now it’s crumbs and drops. 

You’re my kind of people.

[MargeGunderson]

2 minutes ago, Oldernowiser said:

You’re my kind of people.

And I share 😉

[Ijustwantsomechips]

19 hours ago, Turquoise said:

I don't usually check in on the weekends, so I missed the Sunday part. Here's my belated: it was a gorgeous day, Mr Turquoise made lunch, and we did little else except walk the dog and take a little drive. It was so nice!

Now, I'm going to vent. LOL. I've had fibroids for several years, doctor told me to wait a bit because insurance wouldn't do anything yet. OK, fine. Started having more symptoms in late winter, get an appointment for spring. Said appointment canceled because COVID. I finally got in a couple weeks ago. They run an ultrasound, I am now up to 5, with the largest baseball sized (sorry if TMI). Now we're ready to move. Surgical referral. After a few days I inquire how long it takes. Give it a week. Fine. Gave it 8 days to be nice. Contact nurse back. She contacts doctor directly. Doctor looks at ultrasound report, decides I need to see the doctor who specializes in fibroids. I was referred by the referral Friday afternoon. Waiting. I'm normally a very patient person, but my rarely-seen Irish temper is starting to warm up. Just frustrated. Thanks for "listening".

@Turquoise I’ve had fibroid surgery twice.  Robotic laparoscopy after lupron injections first and then open myomectomy ten years later.  I had about ten removed the first time and 23 removed the second time.  The open myomectomy was pretty painful some days, but recovery was manageable and the improvement in my quality of life was well worth it.  I honestly get the waiting and frustration, but it is a process.  My second operation was done by a GYN that specializes in fibroids and she was able to get them all. It was definitely worth the wait to have her expertise.  

Edited September 22, 2020 by Ijustwantsomechips

[Happyfatchick]

2 hours ago, MargeGunderson said:

And I share 😉

Yeah.  Not so much.  You just said you might be back to say you now only have crumbs and drops.  Which means you only share when the brownies are fresh out of the oven and the bourbon is just opened.  That’s not really sharing, that’s grudgingly acknowledging you’re having a drink and eating a brownie and feeling obliged to share if I drop by at the exact precise right moment.  

So, a story.  I don’t buy liquor.  Not to say I don’t CONSUME liquor, just that I still have Baptist residue (and still have guilt bits) enough to rely on my husband to keep me supplied.  He doesn’t complain, he just kind of keeps up with it, and it MUST magically appear, because I don’t buy it and there’s usually a drink to be had if I want one.  I thought I might like a drink the other day (he makes this drink that’s lemonade, vodka and sprite.  That’s my drank.  Very tasty.  Allegedly.   I can be forced to drink it  😜)   I actually CALLED him to ask if there’s any vodka at the house.  He doesnt drink vodka.  No.  You’re out, he says.  Welp, I’m near a liquor store with a drive up.   I put on my big girl panties (which are now kind of granny panties...) and here’s how the conversation goes:

me:  I’d like some citronella vodka please

girl at window:  I’m sorry?

me:  it’s a citrus vodka, you know which one I mean?

girl:  is it... Smirnoff??

me:  yes!  And it’s lemon.  Or maybe lime.  But I think it’s just citrus.
 
girl:  rolls eyes.  What size?

me:  (thinking to myself, DAMN With the questions.  It’s not a half gallon I don’t think). Aaahhhhmmmm... it’s about this tall (shows with hands) and about this big around

girl at window (doesn’t say this out loud):  this woman is a total drunk and trying to make me beieve she’s never bought liquor before

[Zella]

4 minutes ago, Happyfatchick said:

Yeah.  Not so much.  You just said you might be back to say you now only have crumbs and drops.  Which means you only share when the brownies are fresh out of the oven and the bourbon is just opened.  That’s not really sharing, that’s grudgingly acknowledging you’re having a drink and eating a brownie and feeling obliged to share if I drop by at the exact precise right moment.  

So, a story.  I don’t buy liquor.  Not to say I don’t CONSUME liquor, just that I still have Baptist residue (and still have guilt bits) enough to rely on my husband to keep me supplied.  He doesn’t complain, he just kind of keeps up with it, and it MUST magically appear, because I don’t buy it and there’s usually a drink to be had if I want one.  I thought I might like a drink the other day (he makes this drink that’s lemonade, vodka and sprite.  That’s my drank.  Very tasty.  Allegedly.   I can be forced to drink it  😜)   I actually CALLED him to ask if there’s any vodka at the house.  He doesnt drink vodka.  No.  You’re out, he says.  Welp, I’m near a liquor store with a drive up.   I put on my big girl panties (which are now kind of granny panties...) and here’s how the conversation goes:

me:  I’d like some citronella vodka please

girl at window:  I’m sorry?

me:  it’s a citrus vodka, you know which one I mean?

girl:  is it... Smirnoff??

me:  yes!  And it’s lemon.  Or maybe lime.  But I think it’s just citrus.
 
girl:  rolls eyes.  What size?

me:  (thinking to myself, DAMN With the questions.  It’s not a half gallon I don’t think). Aaahhhhmmmm... it’s about this tall (shows with hands) and about this big around

girl at window (doesn’t say this out loud):  this woman is a total drunk and trying to make me beieve she’s never bought liquor before

Bahahaha I am not much of a drinker (and have some weird hang-ups when I do have the occasional drink). But I am fine with other people drinking, and as long as I am not in my small town where prying eyes will want to know why they saw you parked at the liquor store, I am not opposed to buying alcohol for a (totally legal age) friend of mine. It's a recurring inside joke of me getting her a bottle of Scotch every year for her birthday.

The first time I did this, though, was because she had mentioned she wanted to try Scotch. I'd never been in a liquor store before and wandered into one and asked for Scotch. They had a nice Scotch selection. I was overwhelmed by the selection, already feeling weird about being there since it was my first time, and asked for help. The guy kept asking me what I liked. And I was like, "It's not for me--it's for a friend!" And he's like, "well, what kind of Scotch does your 'friend' like? Scotch drinkers can be picky." And I told him, "I don't know. She's never had it and wants to try it."

I could tell he totally thought that I was lying and buying it for myself. And the more I insisted it was for a friend, the bigger a shit-eating grin he got on his face. By the end, he was practically using air quotes every time he talked about my "friend." I wanted to crawl under a rock after clocking him in the head with the bottle. But I kept it together, refrained from using the Scotch as a weapon, and bought a bottle for my friend. When I told her this story as I was presenting her with her gift, she wouldn't stop laughing at me. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Zella]

Still enjoying Lark Rise but between this and Downton, I have to ask, does Brendan Coyle (whom I'm sure is otherwise a perfectly lovely person IRL) have some sort of clause in his contract that insists he must be cast as whiny professional martyrs in period dramas? I couldn't stand him in Downton Abbey, and I don't like him in this either. I was talking to my grandma about the show (she's watching it with me), and as soon as I mentioned him, she had a similar eruption about how much she disliked him in both shows, which cracked me up because she tends to get wound up much less about fictional characters than I do. 🤣

[CalicoKitty]

20 minutes ago, Zella said:

Still enjoying Lark Rise but between this and Downton, I have to ask, does Brendan Coyle (whom I'm sure is otherwise a perfectly lovely person IRL) have some sort of clause in his contract that insists he must be cast as whiny professional martyrs in period dramas? I couldn't stand him in Downton Abbey, and I don't like him in this either. I was talking to my grandma about the show (she's watching it with me), and as soon as I mentioned him, she had a similar eruption about how much she disliked him in both shows, which cracked me up because she tends to get wound up much less about fictional characters than I do. 🤣

He does seem to play a "type" in these shows.  I'm glad you are enjoying Lark Rise.  It is fun for me to see actors that I have liked in other series.  Dawn French and Liz Smith (the postmistress's housekeeper) were in "Vicar of Dibley", Ruby Bentall is the daughter of Janine Duvitski from "Waiting for God" (she looks just like her mother); she was also in the recent "Poldark" , Claudie Blakley was in"Cranford".  I wish they had been able to continue for another season.

[Zella]

15 minutes ago, CalicoKitty said:

He does seem to play a "type" in these shows.  I'm glad you are enjoying Lark Rise.  It is fun for me to see actors that I have liked in other series.  Dawn French and Liz Smith (the postmistress's housekeeper) were in "Vicar of Dibley", Ruby Bentall is the daughter of Janine Duvitski from "Waiting for God" (she looks just like her mother); she was also in the recent "Poldark" , Claudie Blakley was in"Cranford".  I wish they had been able to continue for another season.

Thanks--it is a lot of fun! Halfway through the first season and I horded all of them from the library, so I wouldn't have to wait for them as I finished. 😁 I'm really looking forward to Bentall. She's not popped up yet (I don't think), but I really enjoyed her in Poldark. I loved Cranford. Really need to rewatch it because I don't remember much actual content, just how much I enjoyed it.  

Oh my God. I didn't realize Bentall was related to Jane from Waiting for God! I loved that show and watched it all the time as a kid. 

Edited September 22, 2020 by Zella

[CalicoKitty]

6 minutes ago, Zella said:

 

Oh my God. I didn't realize Bentall was related to Jane from Waiting for God! I loved that show and watched it all the time as a kid. 

Isn't it amazing how much Ruby Bentall looks like her mother?  "Waiting for God" is one of my absolute favorites.  So great whenever you need a good laugh!!  Stephanie Cole was a much younger woman, but played a "senior citizen" so well.  That show just cracks me up!

[Zella]

16 minutes ago, CalicoKitty said:

Isn't it amazing how much Ruby Bentall looks like her mother?  "Waiting for God" is one of my absolute favorites.  So great whenever you need a good laugh!!  Stephanie Cole was a much younger woman, but played a "senior citizen" so well.  That show just cracks me up!

YES! I can't believe I never put two and two together because they do favor so much. Hahaha my brother and I still quote Waiting for God to each other. It used to come on Saturday nights for us, and it was appointment television. 

[Quof]

5 hours ago, Happyfatchick said:

I don't buy liquor.  Not to say I don’t CONSUME liquor, just that I still have Baptist residue (and still have guilt bits) enough to rely on my husband to keep me supplied.

Three great religious truths:

Protestants don't recognize the Pope

Jews don't recognize the Messiah

Two Baptists in a liquor store don't recognize each other

[Minivanessa]

And there's the religious riddle: why don't Baptists have sex standing up?

Spoiler

Somebody might see it and think they are dancing.

ETA: I'm descended from thoroughly Southern Baptist families on both sides although I wasn't reared in that church after my dad remarried when I was six. I love my SBC family, but not a fan of their denomination.

Again ETA: We're all adults here, but if my joke is over the line or really offends anyone I'll delete it.

Edited September 22, 2020 by Jeeves

[MargeGunderson]

8 hours ago, Happyfatchick said:

Yeah.  Not so much.  You just said you might be back to say you now only have crumbs and drops.  Which means you only share when the brownies are fresh out of the oven and the bourbon is just opened.  That’s not really sharing, that’s grudgingly acknowledging you’re having a drink and eating a brownie and feeling obliged to share if I drop by at the exact precise right moment.  

You are clearly unaware of my emergency brown and bourbon supply. I would never run out of either. I would whip up a fresh batch of brownies and dig the spare bottle out of my secret stash. I am nothing if not prepared.