Small Talk: The Prayer Closet

[DangerousMinds]

26 minutes ago, iwantcookies said:

No. I don’t have TV. 

It may show up on Hulu.

[rue721]

Someone was stealing food in my office for a while. They were mostly eating the chocolates and things meant for “the whole office” so it wasn’t a huge deal, but they ate my Chinese takeout leftovers once. I was like, “if someone is stealing food, does that mean they’re going hungry?! Should we put food out for them to take, so they’re not starving and forced to pilfer through our leftovers?” 
 

In retrospect, I think it was the coworker who I was talking to about it who was doing the stealing, because once I was concerned that the thief needed help and maybe we should bring in some food for them, the stealing stopped.

[DangerousMinds]

1 hour ago, iwantcookies said:

I have Hulu, hbo and Netflix but no tv. I miss watching stuff on the bigger screen!

You can get a decent sized tv for $200 or less. Have you checked Amazon’s prices?

[iwantcookies]

34 minutes ago, rue721 said:

Someone was stealing food in my office for a while. They were mostly eating the chocolates and things meant for “the whole office” so it wasn’t a huge deal, but they ate my Chinese takeout leftovers once. I was like, “if someone is stealing food, does that mean they’re going hungry?! Should we put food out for them to take, so they’re not starving and forced to pilfer through our leftovers?” 
 

In retrospect, I think it was the coworker who I was talking to about it who was doing the stealing, because once I was concerned that the thief needed help and maybe we should bring in some food for them, the stealing stopped.

I would have put laxatives in my leftovers. (I never did that). I heard that advice on the radio. Other suggestion was put in kitty litter! 
 

The only food that got stolen from me was yogurt, individually sealed cheese, soda, water. 

[SunnyBeBe]

I’m not sure why, but I have this thing about eating food other people prepare.  I’m ok with it, if I know them well and that they are clean and have good hygiene, but otherwise....I just can’t eat the food.  I’m ok with food prepared in restaurants, grocery stores, etc.  I was this way before covid too.  
I avoided the Oprah interview tonight.  I’m not sure what they are trying to accomplish.  I’m very skeptical of such attention seeking from those who claim they want privacy.  

Edited March 8, 2021 by SunnyBeBe

[BitterApple]

1 hour ago, SunnyBeBe said:

I avoided the Oprah interview tonight.  I’m not sure what they are trying to accomplish.  I’m very skeptical of such attention seeking from those who claim they want privacy.  

I don't get it either. Hope their Netflix deal works out, because they're not getting any money out of Chuckie after tonight. I'm not a fan of either one, so I didn't watch.

[GeeGolly]

4 hours ago, BitterApple said:

I don't get it either. Hope their Netflix deal works out, because they're not getting any money out of Chuckie after tonight. I'm not a fan of either one, so I didn't watch.

Chuckie cut them off financially a year ago. 

[GeeGolly]

Happy National Women's Day to all the badass women here in Small Talk! 

[Scarlett45]

7 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

Happy National Women's Day to all the badass women here in Small Talk! 

Yes. Happy International Women's Day to all of the women here in small talk!

One year ago tomorrow my beloved Charlie will have died, and I feel like his death "kicked off" the pandemic for me.

My Mom gave the consent for my godmother to start hospice. It wont be long now. I was able to avoid her husband at the hospital/hopsice facility yesterday (I saw him but he didn’t see me). He can’t see that well and I think he left for a cigarette break, he was visiting with her (after he agreed to pay the utilities at the house even though she left- yes he was threatening not to pay any bills until she came back!, she agreed he could call and see her if visitors were allowed). He was still on property when my mom came out and I went in, I saw him walking around the entrance. I also think he is trying to block others to visit with the one person at a time rule.

I just didn’t want him going into the parking lot and harassing my Mom. (Only one person in at a time so I was sitting in the parking lot, Covid and all)

I was able to get in, see my godmother and tell her I loved her and that her daughter would be coming soon (Monday night or Tuesday). The light is leaving her eyes you can tell. 

My Mom was having a grand old time telling the attending on call about their (she and my godmother's) adventures in medical school. My Mom loves an audience.

I am so very tired friends. Its been a long three weeks. And I am starting to get scared, I dont know what life will be like without her, and what my Mom will be like without her. Thank you for your support.

 

[ozziemom]

@Scarlett45 sorry to hear the end is so close for your godmother. It’s never easy. Sending you a virtual hug.

[QuinnInND]

@Scarlett45 ((((hugs)))) 

[CouchTater]

I'm so sorry @Scarlett45.  Your godmother and mom sound like such wonderful and accomplished women.

 

[Absolom]

10 hours ago, iwantcookies said:

I would have put laxatives in my leftovers. (I never did that). I heard that advice on the radio.

Once in a galaxy far, far away, I worked in an office with a food thief.  A couple of the older women narrowed it down to three men as the likely culprit.  One of them warned everyone else and brought in her special "spiced" brownies.  One of the men needed to go home sick that afternoon and the food thieving stopped.  

[Oldernowiser]

I’m so sorry, Scarlett. Big hug.

[Scarlett45]

Thanks everyone. I am glad for work to keep me distracted. 

[rue721]

@Scarlett45 I’m sorry to hear that your godmother is nearing the end. Thank god she has you and your mother looking after her. It’s hard to lose her, but you are doing a great job making saying goodbye as comfortable and peaceful for her as it can be.

Can everyone who has the time and energy please send good thoughts/prayers/vibes my way this afternoon? I am taking another section of the CPA exam at 1 o’clock. This is the business law and taxation section, and I know the information well, but there are just so many little factoids to remember and take into account. I’m more prepared than I have been for some of the other sections, but somehow I’m still as nervous as ever!  It sounds silly, but somehow those well wishes really do help!

[Scarlett45]

1 minute ago, rue721 said:

@Scarlett45 I’m sorry to hear that your godmother is nearing the end. Thank god she has you and your mother looking after her. It’s hard to lose her, but you are doing a great job making saying goodbye as comfortable and peaceful for her as it can be.

Can everyone who has the time and energy please send good thoughts/prayers/vibes my way this afternoon? I am taking another section of the CPA exam at 1 o’clock. This is the business law and taxation section, and I know the information well, but there are just so many little factoids to remember and take into account. I’m more prepared than I have been for some of the other sections, but somehow I’m still as nervous as ever!  It sounds silly, but somehow those well wishes really do help!

I am crossing all of my appendages for you! You will do smashingly well.

[Oldernowiser]

Just now, rue721 said:

@Scarlett45 I’m sorry to hear that your godmother is nearing the end. Thank god she has you and your mother looking after her. It’s hard to lose her, but you are doing a great job making saying goodbye as comfortable and peaceful for her as it can be.

Can everyone who has the time and energy please send good thoughts/prayers/vibes my way this afternoon? I am taking another section of the CPA exam at 1 o’clock. This is the business law and taxation section, and I know the information well, but there are just so many little factoids to remember and take into account. I’m more prepared than I have been for some of the other sections, but somehow I’m still as nervous as ever!  It sounds silly, but somehow those well wishes really do help!

You’re always nervous...which can be helpful! Adrenaline improves mental acuity.

And you’re living proof, because you’re a superstar.

We’re with you in spirit handing you coffee and cookies. You got this.

[Mindthinkr]

8 minutes ago, rue721 said:

@Scarlett45 I’m sorry to hear that your godmother is nearing the end. Thank god she has you and your mother looking after her. It’s hard to lose her, but you are doing a great job making saying goodbye as comfortable and peaceful for her as it can be.

Can everyone who has the time and energy please send good thoughts/prayers/vibes my way this afternoon? I am taking another section of the CPA exam at 1 o’clock. This is the business law and taxation section, and I know the information well, but there are just so many little factoids to remember and take into account. I’m more prepared than I have been for some of the other sections, but somehow I’m still as nervous as ever!  It sounds silly, but somehow those well wishes really do help!

It’s ok to feel nervous. You have a lot riding on it. That said I have every confidence that you’ll ace it. Eat a Snickers bar before the test. I know that sounds odd, but when we took the nursing bars we always did for energy and focus. 
@Scarlett45 How lucky your Godmother is to have you and your Mom to help make this as easy of a transition as it can be. Hospice is wonderful and she will be in caring hands. Sending you strength to get through this difficult time. *hug* 

[MargeGunderson]

@Scarlett45, you, your family, and your godmother are in my thoughts. I’m sure that your presence and love has given her comfort. 
 

@rue721, good luck! You got this!

[Minivanessa]

@Scarlett45 - I can't say it better than has already been said. You're in my thoughts and (such as they are) prayers.

@rue721 - go get 'em! 👍

[SunnyBeBe]

Scarlett45, I’m thinking of you and your family at this difficult time.  It’s so painful and the waiting.....it’s  so stressful for the family.  The hospice team can be very helpful. I used the social worker, chaplain and bereavement counselor.  Actually, I still do and my cousin died in November.  
 

Rue721, good luck today on your exam.  I’ve taken many and always felt a little anxious. But, since you’ve prepared, you’ll settle down, focus and do well once you start.  

[Jynnan tonnix]

So...just venting a bit. Why do some things end up getting so unnecessarily complicated?

We have been trying to bundle my mom's TV/internet/phone services after Mr. Jyn discovered the convoluted mess everything was when her old computer stopped working. She had different providers for everything, plus was getting charged every month for aol services which have been free for at least 10 years, I think (we all have old aol accounts which we have just kept out of habit, and because it's so hard to know that you've updated everyone who needs to know when you change your email). My dad had set everything up years ago, and they have a really excellent service contract with AT&T (that particular plan doesn't even exist anymore, but they were grandfathered into it). And after he passed away, about three years ago, Mom changed most of her various utilities into her name, but the communications ones had such Byzantine requirements that she finally gave up and didn't want to bother anyone by asking for help.

Anyway, the problem started when AT&T decided they needed a pin # to make any changes to the account. The account is 38 years old, and there was never a pin# associated with it. So despite presenting them with his death certificate, old forms of ID, past bills in his name, and everything else customer service said we needed to make changes to the account, they claim they cannot access that capability without the pin#. They can't even cancel the account, even though he's been dead for 3 years unless the bills stop getting paid and they terminate it for that. Which we almost thought we might have to resort to, but all the other paperwork for the bundle is set and just waiting on the pin# - and they can't hold onto it forever.

I think, after three weeks of talking in circles with customer service and being sent from store to store to find a regional manager who has the authority to override the issue, we should have it sorted out tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed. 

[Oldernowiser]

@Jynnan tonnix, I feel for you. My mother’s estate was in pretty good shape, thanks to herculean efforts by my BIL before my father died, and it was still hours on the phone talking to outright knuckleheads to get a few accounts straightened out.

If it doesn’t work out today, you can ask the credit card company to stop payment or cancel the card if she has another one. I’ve found nothing gets a proactive response like  a company’s not getting their money.

[Absolom]

Some companies are so flat out stupid when someone dies.  I think because sometimes people use it as an excuse so it makes it hard on families where someone truly died.  I had major hoops with cell phone service and of all things the pest control company.  The pest people tried to bill my mother even after the house was sold.  I had learned from previous experience to send letters to the utilities that service was to be disconnected on date x if the new owners had not applied for service.  

[QuinnInND]

@Jynnan tonnix that's so frustrating!! I hope you've got it sorted out now.

@rue721 you've got this!!

As for my Monday, it's supposed to be a teacher inservice day. It's in person, socially distanced. But instead of getting anything constructive done, it's been a chat session, which is fine, as it's been forever since we've been able to get together like this. But feels like a wasted day too. 

 

 

 

[Minivanessa]

@Jynnan tonnix, that's crazy! Kudos to you for hanging in there with AT&T and I hope the situation gets resolved at last. 

[ozziemom]

There isn’t much worse than dealing with the phone or cable company when someone dies. Especially like in Jyn’s mom’s case where the service started decades ago. We had an issue with NJ EZ-pass too. They kept charging a service fee after my dad passed away until we jumped through so many hoops. It was ridiculous.

[QuinnInND]

@rue721 when will you find out the results of your test? 

[iwantcookies]

@doodlebug , @Barb23 check in when you can! Hope you are okay!

[Madtown]

2 hours ago, ozziemom said:

There isn’t much worse than dealing with the phone or cable company when someone dies. Especially like in Jyn’s mom’s case where the service started decades ago. We had an issue with NJ EZ-pass too. They kept charging a service fee after my dad passed away until we jumped through so many hoops. It was ridiculous.

My MIL went through hell trying to cancel her mother's cable when she passed. Not even sending them the death certificate was enough for them to not send the bill to collections. It took months to straighten it out.

[CalicoKitty]

The interview with Oprah and Harry and Meghan is available on Hulu Live.  And to whoever mentioned it--Oprah really does look like Bert Lahr in The Wizard of Oz!!  I can't unsee it.

[Jynnan tonnix]

I don't know whether these problems tend to be more part of the American system, but after my father passed away, Mom had to jump through a lot of those hoops, and, as I said, eventually gave up on the cable/telephone stuff because it was just so complex. So when she had to deal with Dad's Social Security from back when we lived in England, she was expecting it to be a nightmare. But all she had to do was call them with the info that he had passed, send them a copy of the death certificate, and everything was fine. No hoops, no more forms to fill out, nothing. It was probably the easiest part of the whole process.

[Absolom]

Usually for Social Security in the US, nothing is required.  The funeral home, mortuary, crematorium does the death notification for you.  

[andromeda331]

I'm so sorry @Scarlett45. Praying for your family and your godmother. 

[Westiepeach]

41 minutes ago, CalicoKitty said:

The interview with Oprah and Harry and Meghan is available on Hulu Live.  And to whoever mentioned it--Oprah really does look like Bert Lahr in The Wizard of Oz!!  I can't unsee it.

My opinion of the Meghan/Harry interview with Oprah. Meghan is an actress. That is all. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Oldernowiser]

1 hour ago, Westiepeach said:

My opinion of the Meghan/Harry interview with Oprah. Meghan is an actress. That is all. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes, but Harry isn’t an actor. 

[Olliesmom]

@Scarlett45  I’m so sorry you have to go through this.  I’m keeping you and your family in my prayers.

[iwantcookies]

I wonder if people who eat fast are usually overweight. And those who eat slowly are normal weight.

[CalicoKitty]

My dad was never overweight.  He just ate fast.

[Jeanne222]

Re AT & T.  They used to be a good reliable company.  No more.  They just raised my billing $50.  I have spent two days and hours on internet chat with 6 different reps passing me from one specialist to another plus many disconnects!

They are impossible.  No negotiation and no lower packages.  It's mind blowing!

[Love2dance]

My heart is with you, @Scarlett45. You are a wonderful sister, daughter, god-daughter, and you are in my thoughts. I’m glad your god-mother is getting the best of care.

You have absolutely got this @rue721. Can’t wait to hear your good news after you take the next exam!

[GeeGolly]

10 hours ago, Westiepeach said:

My opinion of the Meghan/Harry interview with Oprah. Meghan is an actress. That is all. 🤷🏼‍♀️

8 hours ago, Oldernowiser said:

Yes, but Harry isn’t an actor. 

I felt the interview to be legit. First, they really didn't say anything new, other than offering details on how things affected them directly. And second, admitting suicide contemplation isn't easy for most folks to do privately, never mind on TV.

At one time Diana explained how the monarchy's biggest challenge is staying relevant, because the minute they lose that, there's no reason for them to be. Their needed relationship with the press created a monster. A monster both the press and the family have a hard time controlling. Harry mentioned that as well.

Harry's PTSD from Diana's death has likely played into to all this as well. Both from the press being apart of her death and the family's handling of Diana's death.

The Queen came out looking good(ish), but she plays a shifty game of blaming the 'firm' or 'institution', when really with things regarding security and finances, she has control.

I was surprised when Meghan tried to play both sides of the titles coin though. I think she liked the image the press created of her not buying into the titles and prestige that comes with them, when really she's into them. She should have been less coy and just owned it.

 

[Scarlett45]

In Memory of my sweet baby man Charlie. 

[QuinnInND]

16 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

In Memory of my sweet baby man Charlie. 

What a sweet kitty! ((((hugs)))) 

[Minivanessa]

Aw, @Scarlett45, what a great photo and memory. Our furkids are so dear to us and it's so hard when they are gone.

Thanks for sharing. 

[SMama]

Maybe I misunderstood, but it seems security for Archie was somehow tied to him being a prince. It doesn’t make sense to me because Ann’s children held no titles and had protection. I’d be concerned for my child as well, screw the title and protect my kids. It makes Archie and his unborn sister lesser than their cousins. That is shitty.

And don’t get me started with the skin tone conversations.

[Suzn]

1 hour ago, Scarlett45 said:

In Memory of my sweet baby man Charlie. 

I'm sorry you lost your sweet kitty.  And I'm sorry for all that you are going through right now.

[Scarlett45]

13 minutes ago, Suzn said:

I'm sorry you lost your sweet kitty.  And I'm sorry for all that you are going through right now.

Thanks @Suzn- its been a year. What a "interesting" year it has been in so many ways. 

 

I am burning a nice candle- green tea and aloe from Bath and Body Works. I find it soothing. Cosmo is napping, and I should be working (work is a nice distraction).

[Oldernowiser]

How does that curse go? “May you live in interesting times.”

Yep. Interesting. As in, pretty damned terrible.