Small Talk: Chili's

[Too Late Kev]

I'll be wandering/exploring a city I haven't been to in a long time by myself.

It feels odd to do that, but it's also very nice. Go only to the things that interest you, stay the exact amount of time you want to, choose the restaurants you want without worrying about someone else's taste...

[EllieH]

 

She called me the other day to ask about getting the key card for the newlywed's hotel room so we can decorate it with rose petals and champagne. Do people usually do that? Outside of the movies I mean? And why would I take part?

Nope... I've been a bridesmaid a couple of times and attended quite a few more weddings and I've never heard of this.  I have participated in writing on the getaway car with shoepolish/ car chalk before, that's as far as its gone.  

[Kalliste]

It feels odd to do that, but it's also very nice. Go only to the things that interest you, stay the exact amount of time you want to, choose the restaurants you want without worrying about someone else's taste...

Definitely, last time I was in Sydney was on a work trip and I only have 1 night free to myself while we were there.. my colleague wanted to tag along and I politely declined their company.

[Glory]

The wedding was a success! I was feeling a bit unappreciated at the rehersal dinner (that went off like clockwork thankyouverymuch!) because people were making fun of me. Apparently, a woman with a clipboard and a plan is scary. But I was touched when my dad and my new brother both thanked me for planning the wedding in their speeches. It was sweet.

 

I will not be sorry to lose the title of "Wedding Nazi", however. Apparently, that's what I was being referred as in secret. Grr... Anyway, we were ahead of schedule all day and I think it turned out really nice. My sister and her new husband are heading to Hawaii tomorrow. 

 

I did not even THINK about decorating their room. I had no idea that was a thing.

 

However, my cousin had strawberries, dessert, and champagne sent up to our room as a gift on our wedding night. It was waiting for us (thanks to room service!) when we got in that night. It was very much appreciated. 

 

Anyway, I feel like a huge weight is off my shoulders. I'm glad it's over. 

 

sacrebleu, I watched all three episodes of Forever and I think I'm going to stick with it for awhile. Ioan is just so charming and the rest of the cast are made up of my favorites from different places, so I'm in. 

[King of Birds]

Can we call Glory the Apparently Woman?
 

Apparently, a woman with a clipboard and a plan is scary. 

Apparently, that's what I was being referred as in secret.

BTW YES, a woman with a clipboard and a plan IS SCARY.  This is what I attest is The Power Of A Nurse.

Edited October 6, 2014 by King of Birds

[Glory]

Ha! That kid was cute!

[King of Birds]

Oh and I forgot to add-- I hulu'd A to Z whilst on the treadmill this morning. Cute show. But yeah, Lea Thompson for the win on the hoverboard. Thanks for mentioning the show, I guess I'll have to check it out. It's funny because with Parks n Rec not on the schedule til mid-season, it did dawn on me that there is NOTHING on NBC Thursday nights that I have any interest in anymore.

[smrou]

Apparently, a woman with a clipboard and a plan is scary.

So you were getting your

on? 

[Glory]

So you were getting your

on? 

100% Monica is my spirit animal. 

[King of Birds]

Funny you mention that potato salad kickstarter!  They had a party on September 27 in Columbus OH. Here and here are articles.

 

especially Ross, Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Joey and Phoebe.

So ... you're the founding president of the Gunther Fan Club?

Edited October 7, 2014 by King of Birds

[possibilities]

Lea Thompson for the win on the hoverboard.

She was the best thing about the show, and made hoverboards look way cooler than I imagined they would be.

[King of Birds]

You've ALL heard my rant about early Halloween crap, etc. Because it leads to this.  And this is ... just reprehensible. An abomination. It's about 90* here. What is The Freaking Point???!?! 

[Kalliste]

lol, 'happy halloween.. oh and it's christmas soon just in case you forgot' :D

[Too Late Kev]

Oh, the weather outside is...delightful...[wait a minute, that's not right.]

[EllieH]

All they need is some Thanksgiving turkey cut-outs in the windows!  How "festive"!

Edited October 10, 2014 by EllieH

[Too Late Kev]

stewedsquash, you didn't give any context for your post. Is it "things that sound kind of disgusting"? (When I could eat Pop-Tarts, the only acceptable kinds were strawberry, cherry, and blueberry, in that order.)

[Kalliste]

Speaking of pumpkin things, why is it that there seems to be an obsession with all things pumpkins as well as peanut butter over there?

 

whenever I'm looking for something to bake I see something that looks good and about 70% of the time it has peanut butter in it.. I love peanut butter on a sandwich but just not too keen on it in baking or with chocolate.. and obviously everyone seems to go crazy for pumpkin and I can't work out why.

[smrou]

Speaking of pumpkin things, why is it that there seems to be an obsession with all things pumpkins as well as peanut butter over there?

They're yummy.

[Kalliste]

They're yummy.

lol, thank you for your informative response :P

 

There isn't that type of craze here.. I don't know if we go crazy over anything though.. maybe we do and I just don't know it.

[smrou]

The pumpkin thing is seasonal. Pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread and various other pumpkin baked goods are very common and popular in the fall/winter, and pumpkin pie in particular is strongly associated with Thanksgiving. Now around fall various pumpkin and pumpkin spice (which means flavored with the same spices as are used in pumpkin pie--cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc.--and may or may not have pumpkin or pumpkin flavoring also) stuff shows up. More every year, I think. It's perhaps a bit excessive, but I do like the flavor, so I don't complain.

The peanut butter thing I guess is just really huge around here. It's definitely not seasonal. And I kind of agree with you, actually. I dig a PB sandwich (plain or with jam or honey or fluff) and I also love peanut butter in candies and ice cream (in ice cream is probably my favorite use of peanut butter). But in baked stuff I generally am not the hugest fan.

On the topic of peanut butter, my father things that peanut butter and chocolate is a vile combination that ruins both the peanut butter (which he's a big fan of) and chocolate (which he loves). My father is clearly a crazy person.

[Kalliste]

On the topic of peanut butter, my father things that peanut butter and chocolate is a vile combination that ruins both the peanut butter (which he's a big fan of) and chocolate (which he loves). My father is clearly a crazy person.

I agree with him :P I was going to mention it in my post above actually.. that's the baking I was referring to, I'll see a nice looking chocolate slice and it turns out to be 'choc peanut butter' booo! I really can't stand the flavour.

 

Speaking of, Reece Peanut Butter cups.. does the 'peanut butter' in them actually taste like the peanut butter you buy in jars? Because it tastes nothing like ours. I can't stand them.

[King of Birds]

Kalliste I don't know if we go crazy over anything though.. maybe we do and I just don't know it.

Vegemite!

Now around fall various pumpkin and pumpkin spice stuff shows up. More every year, I think. It's perhaps a bit excessive

I stopped to get doggie treats and next to it was a "Fro-yo" place. Their featured froyo this month? "Harvest pumpkin" God help me.

 

Of course, I'm on smrou's father's side of things. Peanut butter and chocolate have their own yumminess. It's just not together that it works for everyone.  Edit: and by "everyone" I mean "sane people with taste"

Edited October 11, 2014 by King of Birds

[smrou]

You guys are crazy. Chocolate and peanut butter is one of the great flavor combinations in the world.

Speaking of, Reece Peanut Butter cups.. does the 'peanut butter' in them actually taste like the peanut butter you buy in jars? Because it tastes nothing like ours.

It's not much like regular peanut butter either in texture or flavor. I think it's a lot more sugary?

[Kalliste]

Yeah, it does seem more sugary and the texture is, odd.. our peanut butter is much more creamy and less gritty.

 

And we don't go crazy for vegemite! Although, I did see a recipe the other week where a guy made a vegemite cheesecake.. GROSS!!!!!!

 

I can't stand the stuff :P

[Too Late Kev]

Pumpkins are also big this time of year because they are displayed at Halloween and just in general a sign of Halloween. And I guess because this is the harvesting season for pumpkins? So when the weather gets Fall-like and Halloween is coming closer, places come out with pumpkin coffee drinks and all kinds of silliness.

 

I like Reese's peanut butter cups. Yum. I also have an excellent recipe for peanut butter cookies (although I haven't tried to translate it to gluten-free, which I'd have to now before making or eating them). And I occasionally make a chicken satay with peanut butter. But that's about the extent of pb recipes I have.

[Kalliste]

Oh I don't mind satay, I had chicken satay stir fry earlier in the week mmm. Just can't do it in much baking or with chocolate.

[EllieH]

 

Their featured froyo this month? "Harvest pumpkin" God help me.

Hee, I had Pumpkin frozen yogurt the other night!  It was from one of those "self-serve, add your toppings and pay by the ounce" places, so I had pumpkin yogurt, graham cracker crumbles, caramel sauce and a little whipped cream on top -- a sort of knockoff pumpkin pie.

 

 

I went to Target and bought Pumpkin pie Poptarts, pumpkins spice M&M's and pumpkin spice single serve coffee thingy's. The only thing that was good was the Poptarts. I don't generally like poptarts but I do like pumpkin pie, when it is good. I also love pumpkin pie ice cream.

Good to know, I was eying those pumpkin spice M&Ms at Target last time I was there, they only had huge bags or I might have tried some.  I did try their "Birthday Cake" flavor earlier this year, it was fairly meh.

[King of Birds]

You know, I was gonna send a PM but whatevs I'm calling you out here: WHAT is your avatar Kalliste? Is that you as Batman? What gives. Spill.

 

And in the spirit of calling people out... Happy Birthday LiberryLady! I'm really only doing this since she'd call me out all the freakin' time on twop when it was my birthday.  Another spin around the sun and the solar system. Hope it was fun.

[Too Late Kev]

Happy Bday, LL! :)

 

Could Kalliste's avatar be Abed as Batman? I remember there was a Community where Abed was Batman, with the greatest voiceover at the end...

[LiberryLady]

Yep, it's my birthday!  Thanks for the good wishes!

 

On the topic of pumpkin stuff:  I don't like pumpkin pie AT ALL, but when I start seeing the pumpkin items in the stores?  I go nuts.  I tell my husband the stuff is for him (he does like pumpkin pie) but it's really because I'm so excited that it's October, my favorite month.  So far this month I've bought Pumpkin PopTarts; pumpkin brittle (deee-licious) and pumpkin cornbread.  And a bunch of real pumpkins, to sit by my front door.

[Pixel]

I'm not really into the whole pumpkin thing. The exception is the pumpkin spice type smells put out by Yankee Candle. I love those.  While all the girls in the office are going nuts over their Starbucks Pumpkin Lattes, I'm over here with my Coke doing just fine.  I like pumpkin pie ok, but would also be fine if I never ate it again as long as I live.

 

I just hit this fashion outlet mall out in Rosemont today. For those of you not in the Chicago area, it's by O'Hare airport and went up a couple of years ago. While I was there I went into a White House/Black Market store for the first time, and I love it!  I had no idea. I'd always walked by those stores with no interest whatsoever. Now I have a new favorite place to shop!  Also, can someone explain why the Coach store only lets in like, 10 people at a time? I don't care a bit about Coach, but it seemed pretty affected to see a line outside when the mall was pretty empty.

[Kalliste]

You know, I was gonna send a PM but whatevs I'm calling you out here: WHAT is your avatar Kalliste? Is that you as Batman? What gives. Spill.

 

Could Kalliste's avatar be Abed as Batman? I remember there was a Community where Abed was Batman, with the greatest voiceover at the end...

Yup! The mods decided to change our avatars to Halloween related things for the month. I was going to choose something from Buffy but then went with Batman Abed.

I love him as batman (I hate Christian Bale as Batman though) and the voiceover is awesome! Have you seen the outtakes for it? There's a conversation between Abed and Troy.. it's awesome :) Actually.. let me find it :D

 

 

Oh, back when Community was still great :D I miss Troy until forever.

[possibilities]

Happy Birthday, LL!

 

I like pumpkins. If you grow them, they  have jolly spirits. And they're only really available for a short time during the fall, so it's not like they are in danger of taking over the world or squeezing out other flavors. Still, I think a lot of "pumpkin flavored" stuff is pretty gross.

 

the new shows I have dvr'd have not been very good. I have given up on several.

Yeah, I pretty much agree. I've sampled quite a few, and found that for my tastes, most are mediocre at best. The only one I'm pretty sure I'm sticking with is black-ish. I've tried both the comedies and the dramas, and blah is my best response to most. Currently, the one show on the air that I am truly in love with is Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and that's not a new one.

[Too Late Kev]

Kalliste, I saw the outtake with Troy and Abed/Batman while I was looking for the Batman voiceover video. It's great. You can spend a lot of time on YouTube watching Community bits. Troy and Abed are my favorite combination.

[King of Birds]

I know the bank is closed today, and I'm guessing my mail won't be picked up. Anyone else have today off?

 

Edit:  What's your definition of hell?  (As you're all visiting or modding on PTV I bet this could be understandable)

 

My big-ass TV, the lamp went ka-put. (It was a process that lasted about a month) I missed football yesterday -- AND The Walking Dead last night.

No DVR stuff that I can view.

 

No DVDs to watch - something happened to my dvd player in my laptop and it takes extraordinary time and willpower to eject. And sometimes the process leaves scratches.

 

And due to the amazon type of sites, and the collapse of companies that might have lamps for sale in a store, instead of having to buy it online and then wait 3-5 days to ship... Yup. Exactly.  I'm without TV most of this week. AND I'll be missing the baseball playoffs unless I leave the dog home and go out to a bar (like that Budweiser commercial).

 

The only thing that may save my sanity is amazon prime, where I guess I could pay to watch Transparent or their other "pilots." I'm just not a big fan of watching TV on my laptop.

 

For those of you who have wished it upon me. Yup, I'm in one type of hell.

Edited October 13, 2014 by King of Birds

[MichelleAK]

I know the bank is closed today, and I'm guessing my mail won't be picked up. Anyone else have today off?

 

 

I'm off work, but that's because I'm on vacation for the next two weeks!  Soaking up the sun and warmth in AZ, and sleeping in.

 

Speaking of football, while my 8.1 team did pretty good, my opponent's defense scored 30 freakin' points, and her kicker scored 20.  No way to overcome that.

 

Sorry about the TV, King of Birds.  I only have one in the house, so if goes out, I'd be without TV too, except what I can get from Netflix on my laptop.  I'd definitely be running out to get a new one pronto.

[Too Late Kev]

Sorry for your technological troubles, King of Birds. That's no fun. I don't like watching stuff on my computer, either, but since I don't have cable and I'm a Walking Dead fan, I find things that other people have downloaded and watch them on my computer anyway. It's slow (like I have to pause to give it time to load more, watch a few minutes, and repeat), but it's worth it to see TWD.

 

If my big TV went out, we'd move the only other (much smaller) HDTV to the family room and quickly research TVs to replace the big one ASAP. I could live without a TV, like if there were a zombie apocalypse and I'd be too busy trying to survive anyway...but barring things like that, I kind of need my TV. For a baseball fan, like you? Yeah. You really need it.

[possibilities]

Can you rent a TV for the week til yours is fixed? Borrow or buy one that you can return when through?  The Salvation Army around here sells used ones for $10-- not great, but better than nothing if you have one near you that does the same?

 

I still haven't replaced my old dying set. I'm a wee bit indecisive, but have been looking into options for if the old thing  really dies before I get my act (and my cash) together.

[Too Late Kev]

The used ones at Salvation Army would need converters if they're too old. If you're not looking for anything too huge, nowadays you can get a halfway decent TV for less than $200. The question is whether one has a spare $200, I guess. Here's one at Target for $99, but I've never heard of the brand...

[King of Birds]

It's only a new lamp I need. I already took out the old one. I just can't believe it takes 3 to 5 to 7! possible shipping days, to take something off a shelf and ship it.  (this does not need to be "manufactured" - my BigAssTV is over 9 yrs old. It's in stock.) I found what I needed on amazon but the 3rd party company "does not offer expedited shipping" which leads me to think a) they're a scam company  b) they have to get it from somewhere else  C) really, they must suck balls.  BTW on a totally different note: Amazon Prime sucks in major ways. $99 and most all the sh*t I try to order "doesn't meet Prime standards." BLOW ME AMAZON.

 

So I didn't order with them. I just have to wait. And just like Tom Petty sez ...  Anyhow, not gonna get a new TV over this.

[Too Late Kev]

Wait, you're not replacing your TV? Or am I misreading things?

[possibilities]

I think he's replacing a part of the TV, not the whole thing?

 

I forgot about the converters. I already have one because my TV is ancient, but yeah-- makes the used idea a lot more of a hassle and expense if you have to buy a converter, also.

[King of Birds]

I think he's replacing a part of the TV, not the whole thing?

Ding ding ding. The whole TV is fine, it's just the lamp that has to be replaced. It's a small square thing, about 4"x 4". What I need was probably put together in the mid 2000s. It's on a shelf. I'm waiting 3-5 days.

[Kalliste]

Lamp? What type of tv is it? I guess my knowledge on tvs is lacking :P

 

I always think of tv lamps as things from decades ago.

[Glory]

Ooh... we just bought a new t.v. on Saturday. It was not quite spur of the moment as our television has slowly had pixels going out for the past few months. But it got to the point where it was distracting. 

 

I have to say, our new t.v. is NICE. Smart t.v. with a little Netflix button. Web browsing. A USB drive where I can just plug in my thumb drive and watch all my "acquired" videos. 

 

I had Columbus Day off and had a little Outlander marathon. Very nice. 

[smrou]

I had to replace my lamp a couple years ago, but I'd already ordered the bulb ages earlier when my TV warned me that the bulb needed replacing.  Even though it didn't.  I didn't realize until after ordering the bulb at that time that the warning was based on the date and not on the actual status of the bulb, which was perfectly fine.  

Lamp? What type of tv is it? I guess my knowledge on tvs is lacking :P

I'm guessing LCD rear projection.  That's what I have and my TV's about the same age as KOB's.

[Too Late Kev]

Now I get it, thanks. I thought you had two separate issues, that one of your lamps (as in a light fixture that stood on a floor or sat on a shelf) had broken and at the same time, your TV stopped working. (Light dawns on Marblehead, which apparently is a Massachusetts expression only, but is appropriate here.)

[King of Birds]

A USB drive where I can just plug in my thumb drive and watch all my "acquired" videos.

Does this mean what I think it means?

 

This is roughly the BigAssTV I have, except it's not on top of such hideous furniture.

[Glory]

It quite likely does. 

[smrou]

Does it?  I'm feeling confused.  Glory, I figured you were talking about TV shows or movies acquired through "questionable" means.  But I figured KoB was hinting at porn.  

Edited October 14, 2014 by smrou