Jump to content

Type keyword(s) to search

Small Talk: The Polygamous Cul-de-Sac

Abra Came

By Abra Came
in Sister Wives

Recommended Posts

Teafortwo

Teafortwo

It all depends what features are most important to you. I did a lot of research before figuring out which brand and model I wanted, then more research into Intel i5 vs i7 vs i9, sound, ports, RAM, display resolution etc. The one thing I don't like about my new Dell laptop is it only has two type C ports, so you have to use a "dongle" if you want to use type A flash drive or other peripherals. I had to compromise somewhere though. Above all, I wanted a super-lightweight model with great audio, so it was the right choice. As I mentioned above, there was a lot of trial and error, with two other brands I ended up sending back. I spent so much time on the research because it had been so long since I'd bought a computer.

  • Like 1
  • Useful 2
  • Replies 6.6k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

Sandy W
Sandy W

Many thanks to those who have noticed my recent absence from the board.  I have been diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma, and last month had surgery to correct. Unfortunately, my elderly ( 85 year

Mahamid Frauded Me
Mahamid Frauded Me

TGIF...I had to share, because really, it could only or maybe only happen to me. I grab a sweatshirt from dryer and my coffee and take the dog for a walk, we go about 1.5 miles, so about 30 minut

AZChristian
AZChristian

Mr. AZC and I just got home from a fun meal at The Cheesecake Factory with PTV's own @LilWharveyGal.  What a delightful young woman. Still batting 1000 for having the PTVers I've met in person be

Posted Images

TurtlePower

TurtlePower

So, I had to quit the job I just started in April due to unrelenting and debilitating panic episodes. I’ve been 4 times in the emergency room for it it is so intense. I’m now jobless and back on Long Island (but with much less panic episodes).

The good part on all this? I had a supervisor and co-workers who are stellar people and even though my leaving was a hardship on them, they were always like “what can we do to help”. Instead of guilting me for leaving them a person short, they said “the operation will be fine — take care of yourself.” So, really good people out there. I was sad it turned out the way it did because the place had good vibes but I had to leave for my psychological well being.

Not sure what I’m gonna do now. I just applied to grad school and am jobless 😳. Given my panic disorder and PTSD, I don’t know what’s out there for me in the interim. I just did a scary thing, I’ve never had to quit a job like that (not since I was a teenager anyways).

So, yeah. 🤷🏼‍♀️

 

  • Hugs 13
Yeah No

Yeah No

16 hours ago, TurtlePower said:

So, I had to quit the job I just started in April due to unrelenting and debilitating panic episodes. I’ve been 4 times in the emergency room for it it is so intense. I’m now jobless and back on Long Island (but with much less panic episodes).

The good part on all this? I had a supervisor and co-workers who are stellar people and even though my leaving was a hardship on them, they were always like “what can we do to help”. Instead of guilting me for leaving them a person short, they said “the operation will be fine — take care of yourself.” So, really good people out there. I was sad it turned out the way it did because the place had good vibes but I had to leave for my psychological well being.

Not sure what I’m gonna do now. I just applied to grad school and am jobless 😳. Given my panic disorder and PTSD, I don’t know what’s out there for me in the interim. I just did a scary thing, I’ve never had to quit a job like that (not since I was a teenager anyways).

So, yeah. 🤷🏼‍♀️

 

So sorry to hear all you're going through, Turtle.  Not that I want to play doctor, but I recently found out that certain vitamin and nutrient deficiencies can make one more prone to anxiety in general and panic attacks.  I had started to get weird out-of-the-blue/random panic attacks when driving on the highway several years ago.  And I'm usually a fearless driver, too.  When I found out I had iron deficiency anemia thanks to perimenopause and took vitamins and iron to overcome it the panic attacks stopped.  I don't think it was any coincidence.  I didn't even know about the connection until years later.  B vitamins are especially associated with it as is iron among other things.  Even if you don't test as deficient I think upping one's consumption of them can only help.  So anyway it can't hurt to look into that angle.  I hope you find some relief soon.  (((hugs)))  🤗🤗🤗

This article was informative:

https://www.rupahealth.com/post/a-functional-medicine-approach-to-treating-panic-attacks

  • Useful 9
SunnyBeBe

SunnyBeBe

10 hours ago, Yeah No said:

So sorry to hear all you're going through, Turtle.  Not that I want to play doctor, but I recently found out that certain vitamin and nutrient deficiencies can make one more prone to anxiety in general and panic attacks.  I had started to get weird out-of-the-blue/random panic attacks when driving on the highway several years ago.  And I'm usually a fearless driver, too.  When I found out I had iron deficiency anemia thanks to perimenopause and took vitamins and iron to overcome it the panic attacks stopped.  I don't think it was any coincidence.  I didn't even know about the connection until years later.  B vitamins are especially associated with it as is iron among other things.  Even if you don't test as deficient I think upping one's consumption of them can only help.  So anyway it can't hurt to look into that angle.  I hope you find some relief soon.  (((hugs)))  🤗🤗🤗

This article was informative:

https://www.rupahealth.com/post/a-functional-medicine-approach-to-treating-panic-attacks

That’s a good link.  I’m checking it out.  I used to have panic attacks years ago. They are horrible!  Thank goodness I haven’t had one in a longer time.  I still have anxiety though.  Turns out, I was diagnosed with Vitamin B-12 deficiency about a month ago.  I’m on injections.  
 

@TurtlePower, I might get a legal consult with an attorney to check out disability rights.  Just for your own information.   Since, you aren’t able to work.  

  • Like 1
  • Useful 4
TurtlePower

TurtlePower

11 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

That’s a good link.  I’m checking it out.  I used to have panic attacks years ago. They are horrible!  Thank goodness I haven’t had one in a longer time.  I still have anxiety though.  Turns out, I was diagnosed with Vitamin B-12 deficiency about a month ago.  I’m on injections.  
 

@TurtlePower, I might get a legal consult with an attorney to check out disability rights.  Just for your own information.   Since, you aren’t able to work.  

I’m thinking about it. Mostly I just want a museum job (which I’ve had and am good at — objects in collections aren’t loud, mean or pushy). Working in the back or doing collections inventory is the kind of work I’m meant to do. 

I don’t have any deficiencies vitamin-wise and the panic episodes seem to have subsided. They were purely situational. I guess I just can’t people anymore on the daily. I appreciate everyone’s kind words. 

  • Hugs 5
  • Love 6
Yeah No

Yeah No

24 minutes ago, Teafortwo said:

Someone mentioned a polygamy or fundamentalist docu-series that is starting this month. Can anyone remind me what it's called or what network it's on please?

From the spoilers and speculation thread (which I just caught up on):

On 5/21/2023 at 10:58 AM, GeeGolly said:

Not sure where to put this...

Amazon Prime is doing a Fundy docuseries - Shiny Happy People. It appears the first episode will be about the Duggar family, Bill Gothard and the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP).

I thought some of you might be interested because its basically about the abuses of conservative faith based patriarchy. I believe the air date is June 2nd.

 

  • Useful 5
Roslyn

Roslyn

12 hours ago, Orcinus orca said:

Shiny, Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets is on Amazon Prime. It is four episodes devoted entirely to the Duggars.

Hard pass.

I've watched the first two episodes.  It is more of an expose of stories from family and friends about the behind the "happy family" that was portrayed on their show. Also a lot more info on the guy who was the developer and head of their cult.

However, anyone who may be triggered by open discussion of child abuse and sexual assault may want to definitely skip it.

Also I think that everyone watching/following the Browns for the last 13 years would love to have a series just like this, with close family and ex-church members discussing Kody and being open about specifics.

  • Like 5
  • Applause 1
xwordfanatik

xwordfanatik

1 hour ago, oliviabenson said:

I found dill pickle popcorn… it’s delicious! 

What brand is it?  I actually tried dill pickle potato chips, and they weren't bad at all.  What I really like are dill pickle sunflower seeds (the brand is Spitz.)  

Oh crap.  I just remember dill pickles are a Duggar thing.  I'll eat one in a blue moon, but I don't buy them very often.

 

  • LOL 3
oliviabenson

oliviabenson

36 minutes ago, xwordfanatik said:

What brand is it?  I actually tried dill pickle potato chips, and they weren't bad at all.  What I really like are dill pickle sunflower seeds (the brand is Spitz.)  

Oh crap.  I just remember dill pickles are a Duggar thing.  I'll eat one in a blue moon, but I don't buy them very often.

 

I’m not sure of the brand. I found the snack size ones.

  • Thanks 1
Gramto6

Gramto6

(edited)
14 hours ago, oliviabenson said:

I found dill pickle popcorn… it’s delicious! 

I used to buy Giant's Dill Pickle pistachios in shell. They were really good, got them at the local grocery store. Unfortunately tooth issues preclude breaking open the shells in my mouth any more...some day hopefully again...

Edited by Gramto6
typo
  • Like 5
Teafortwo

Teafortwo

(edited)
21 hours ago, Roslyn said:

I've watched the first two episodes.  It is more of an expose of stories from family and friends about the behind the "happy family" that was portrayed on their show. Also a lot more info on the guy who was the developer and head of their cult.

However, anyone who may be triggered by open discussion of child abuse and sexual assault may want to definitely skip it.

Also I think that everyone watching/following the Browns for the last 13 years would love to have a series just like this, with close family and ex-church members discussing Kody and being open about specifics.

Thanks! I'd love a show like that about the Browns too. I never watched the Duggars.

19 hours ago, oliviabenson said:

I found dill pickle popcorn… it’s delicious! 

Since the Browns pronounce deal as "dill" does that mean they would pronounce dill as "deal"? And if so, would they call this Deal pickle popcorn? 

Mysteries of the universe... kind of like 'what is the sound of one hand clapping"

 

Edited by Teafortwo
  • Like 3
  • LOL 6
oliviabenson

oliviabenson

21 hours ago, xwordfanatik said:

What brand is it?  I actually tried dill pickle potato chips, and they weren't bad at all.  What I really like are dill pickle sunflower seeds (the brand is Spitz.)  

Oh crap.  I just remember dill pickles are a Duggar thing.  I'll eat one in a blue moon, but I don't buy them very often.

 

That’s the one I’m obsessed with!

F39177F3-A2DE-44EC-9B6C-2205C546209A.jpeg

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
  • Useful 2
TurtlePower

TurtlePower

All this talk of pickles, I love pickles!

I used to get whoppers without the meat or mayo and ask for extra veggies, especially pickles. It would be a delicious bun piled high with tomatoes, lettuce, onion, a little ketchup and a TON of pickles. Oh it was sooo good especially pickles that were warm.

But warm. The pickles need to be warm, I can’t eat them cold. 

  • Like 7
TurtlePower

TurtlePower

Have the ads on this site gotten worse? They’re covering half the page now for shit I don’t even want! 

It was never this bad when I traveled overseas, they ram this stuff down your throat in this country. Every ad I see has the opposite effect, I won’t go there. They can fuck off.

If I didn’t have ties here I’d move, I’m so sick of marketing and ads! It makes me hate each company I see. 

  • Like 4
  • Hugs 1
Yeah No

Yeah No

2 hours ago, Teafortwo said:

I've been staying home. The smoke from Canada is terrible here in NYC. An acquaintance sent me this pic:

 

image_50379265resized.jpg

It's been as bad here in CT off and on, mostly on the past few days.  I've been hunkering down at home catching up on housework and other projects.  My Spring has been totally destroyed first by an episode of Vertigo in late April, then a bad cold last month, then the smoke from all the wildfires in Canada finding their way here.  I just heard on the forecast that it should be getting a little better every day over the next few days.  Yeah, they've said that before so I'm taking a "wait and see" attitude toward it.  On the up side, at least my house looks great now!

I hope you're doing OK.  I tend to be sensitive to smoke so I'm trying to sit it out until it passes, but I will have to emerge to the grocery store soon.  And there's no guarantee that even if it does pass for a while it won't come back again.  🙁

  • Hugs 1
  • Sad 3
Yeah No

Yeah No

11 hours ago, lookeyloo said:

I guess my AdBlocker is working.  I don't see any ads. Free on iMac. 

I use the free Ad Block Plus extension.  Works like a charm.  My internet experience is so very Zen because of it.  I know a lot of sites say they need you to unblock ads so they can pay their bills but the ads have gotten out of control and so intrusive it's enough to make anyone too dizzy and distracted to focus on what they want to see.  Plus they slow down and in some cases even prevent web pages from loading and just put lots of crap on your computer that may affect how it runs and violate your privacy in the name of "tailoring ads to your preferences".   

I've read arguments about how it supposedly makes people lose their jobs if you block ads but my philosophy is that I shouldn't have to endure a poke in the eye every time I visit a website to do something good for it.  If it's that prohibitive the site should push for a better way to advertise, not expect their visitors to endure them.  I have "whitelisted" a few sites that promise not to show annoying and intrusive ads and I can live with those, so I'm not against seeing ads nor am I cold hearted to the plight of websites that need to earn money to survive.  I just don't want to be driven out of my mind in the process!

  • Like 3
  • Useful 1
TurtlePower

TurtlePower

1 minute ago, Gramto6 said:

I wish I could send all the rain we are having here to Canada where the fires are!! 

Lived in CA through many bad fire seasons and here in MT it can get really bad too. Sending good thoughts for a speedy end to the fires and thus the smoke!!

I lived out west for 20 years also and am “used” to this kind of thing, but It’s a wake up call for many people out this way — we dealt with this sometimes every summer. I read that the politicians in DC were complaining about the air quality and it’s like, dudes, this is just a taste of what it’s like out west. Marble hall elitist pansies, the lot of them. 

  • Like 9
  • Love 1
Teafortwo

Teafortwo

So, completely off topic: I just read a first novel by a young woman with whom I became acquainted over work emails last year. I was so excited for her, and the book sounded like it would be a fun beach read "chick lit" kind of thing. It came out to great fanfare a couple months ago, and I was looking forward to writing to her to say how much I'd enjoyed it. 

The problem? The book is absolutely terrible. I was appalled. The subject matter was unobjectionable, the characters a bit overdramatic - but the real issue was that it seemed completely unedited. There were so many sentences that just didn't make any sense.  Some examples for your enjoyment:

A description of 6 or 7 people sprawled on a couch enumerates "a dozen pairs of feet."  Another: "My phone buzzed announcing a new text on my phone." A character is described as whispering, but in the next sentence, his "voice morphed back down to lower decibels." A few pages later, "my stomach did a million backflips in reprieve." (In context, I think the writer meant to say "relief" although backflips generally suggest excitement. If you're going to alter a metaphor, at least find the right substitute!)

Brand names are everywhere: a stereo is "Bose" with music coming through a "Spotify app," to name just two. Hackneyed phrases in a potential wedding toast are described as "mundane cliches and platitudes" (as opposed to profound ones, it seems).  Entering a room feels "like walking into a powder keg." Another emotional situation is described as a "chemical explosion waiting to set fire." (If this were edited as "catch fire" it still wouldn't make much sense. Obviously someone thought this was a fancy way of saying "an explosion waiting to happen" but it just doesn't work.)

The worst? "We had all reached our emotional bandwidths." Outdone a few pages later by: "Worries were already zipping at the highest echelon throughout my every pore." 

If you've read this far, I look forward to your reactions!

  • Like 2
  • Mind Blown 5
  • Sad 5
  • LOL 2
Teafortwo

Teafortwo

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

I once had an employee who tried to write business letters like that.  His objection when I told him to write in plain professional English?  They'd be too boring and he'd look stupid.  

I managed not to say you already do.  

My post reflects the level of respect I have for the posters here. I knew folks would appreciate it (and not in Robyn's understanding of "appreciate" haha).

  • Like 6
Yeah No

Yeah No

1 hour ago, Teafortwo said:

If you've read this far, I look forward to your reactions!

I weep for the English language almost every day these days, and logic too.  I find all sorts of grammar and usage errors in places I never used to just a few years ago, like my morning TV news, which is hosted by a rather know-it-all-ish young anchor who makes more errors than can be dismissed as the verbal equivalent of a "typo".  My husband and I have taken to recording clips of these errors on our cell phones.  It's that often and that bad.  This anchor is not the only one on that station guilty of it either.  Almost all of the reporters do it too.  The malapropisms are as funny as any Archie Bunker could generate, but I just find them sad.  🙁  It's not just happening with language either, but with everyday stuff I'd expect any halfway intelligent person to know.  The level of general ignorance is truly astonishing.

I've even started seeing similar stuff in the New York Times!  My mother is rolling in her grave!  I have turned into that cranky COL that on occasion writes angry letters pointing out these mistakes.  Of course I never hear back.  I asked my husband, "Who is editing this stuff lately, crude AI bots?  Because I can't imagine that any editor with a working brain would let this stuff get through".

I try not to be ageist but the sad truth is that in my experience none of these errors are being made by anyone over the age of 50.  My apologies to anyone under 50 that knows better.  I know you're out there!

  • Like 8
  • Applause 2
  • Love 1
Yeah No

Yeah No

Today's example:

Above mentioned "know-it-all" news anchor just told us that a bear that had wandered into a local home was "hazed" by Animal Control. 

HAZED?  What is this, a college fraternity initiation??

Even if he meant to say "tased", the more accepted word is "tasered".  Anyway, one little mistake like this isn't the biggest deal, but it happens on a semi-daily basis on this station!

  • LOL 4
TurtlePower

TurtlePower

(edited)
54 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

Today's example:

Above mentioned "know-it-all" news anchor just told us that a bear that had wandered into a local home was "hazed" by Animal Control. 

HAZED?  What is this, a college fraternity initiation??

Even if he meant to say "tased", the more accepted word is "tasered".  Anyway, one little mistake like this isn't the biggest deal, but it happens on a semi-daily basis on this station!

He meant “hazed” (he was correct this time anyways). We did it in Yellowstone and Yosemite to get habituated bears to stay away from certain areas (because of humans — all of us wanted to be hazing the humans instead). Hazing often involves non-lethal, pain-inducing rounds in an orange shotgun designed for bear hazing. I hated doing it, fucking humans messing up the bears natural behaviour, it was never the bear’s fault. 

We would never taser a bear because tasers are designed for human physiology only. The probes would not penetrate a bear. 
 

edited to add bear hazing from Yellowstone: 

 

Edited by TurtlePower
  • Like 3
  • Useful 6
Sandy W

Sandy W

11 hours ago, Teafortwo said:

So, completely off topic: I just read a first novel by a young woman with whom I became acquainted over work emails last year. I was so excited for her, and the book sounded like it would be a fun beach read "chick lit" kind of thing. It came out to great fanfare a couple months ago, and I was looking forward to writing to her to say how much I'd enjoyed it. 

The problem? The book is absolutely terrible. I was appalled. The subject matter was unobjectionable, the characters a bit overdramatic - but the real issue was that it seemed completely unedited. There were so many sentences that just didn't make any sense.  Some examples for your enjoyment:

A description of 6 or 7 people sprawled on a couch enumerates "a dozen pairs of feet."  Another: "My phone buzzed announcing a new text on my phone." A character is described as whispering, but in the next sentence, his "voice morphed back down to lower decibels." A few pages later, "my stomach did a million backflips in reprieve." (In context, I think the writer meant to say "relief" although backflips generally suggest excitement. If you're going to alter a metaphor, at least find the right substitute!)

Brand names are everywhere: a stereo is "Bose" with music coming through a "Spotify app," to name just two. Hackneyed phrases in a potential wedding toast are described as "mundane cliches and platitudes" (as opposed to profound ones, it seems).  Entering a room feels "like walking into a powder keg." Another emotional situation is described as a "chemical explosion waiting to set fire." (If this were edited as "catch fire" it still wouldn't make much sense. Obviously someone thought this was a fancy way of saying "an explosion waiting to happen" but it just doesn't work.)

The worst? "We had all reached our emotional bandwidths." Outdone a few pages later by: "Worries were already zipping at the highest echelon throughout my every pore." 

If you've read this far, I look forward to your reactions!

If she knows you bought the book, she'll be expecting feedback.

What to say? What to say...possibly the cover graphics were Amazing.  The binding was So professionally done, no pages came loose when flipping to the next drama filled page...

  • Like 1
  • LOL 7
Absolom

Absolom

Is there anything about the plot that you could point out as "interesting?"  I mean that in the sense not of compelling, but more oh my why, but she might take it in a positive sense.

We have to haze coyotes where I live.  We're only allowed non-violent means of discouraging them such as noise and spraying them with water.  My daughter lives 2/3 of the way up a mountain and gets a lot of coyotes.  Occasionally bears wander down.  The same applies to them plus animal control will come out and tranquilize and remove a truly obnoxious bear.  We're a bit concerned the new rules of food waste going into the yard waste containers may increase the bear appearances.  

  • Like 6
  • Useful 2
laurakaye

laurakaye

(edited)
11 hours ago, Teafortwo said:

So, completely off topic: I just read a first novel by a young woman with whom I became acquainted over work emails last year. I was so excited for her, and the book sounded like it would be a fun beach read "chick lit" kind of thing. It came out to great fanfare a couple months ago, and I was looking forward to writing to her to say how much I'd enjoyed it.....

Oh wow, I really want to know the title of this book.....

I have noticed over the past few years that the books that are incredibly hyped, are given a zillion 5-star reviews by rabid fans on Goodreads before the book has even been published, sounds like the book you're describing.  The grammar and syntax take a definite backseat to the swoon-worthy tall and handsome male lead and the clumsy, beautiful (but she doesn't know it) female character, or some combination.  There is currently a wildly popular author - I have read two of her books just because I wanted to see what the insane fuss was about - and I found them so bad and cringe-worthy, but try telling that to her fans without getting verbally tarred and feathered.

Tricky when you know the author, though!  Has she asked you for your opinion?

EDIT: when I see brand-names dropped into a story, it takes me right out of the book.  In many cases, it's just not necessary.  There's a way to do it well if it pertains to a character's personality (like Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone only wearing Saucony sneakers) but dropping a name to set a time and place bugs the heck out of me.  Just my two cents. :)

Edited by laurakaye
  • Like 6
Yeah No

Yeah No

(edited)
11 hours ago, TurtlePower said:

He meant “hazed” (he was correct this time anyways). We did it in Yellowstone and Yosemite to get habituated bears to stay away from certain areas (because of humans — all of us wanted to be hazing the humans instead). Hazing often involves non-lethal, pain-inducing rounds in an orange shotgun designed for bear hazing. I hated doing it, fucking humans messing up the bears natural behaviour, it was never the bear’s fault. 

We would never taser a bear because tasers are designed for human physiology only. The probes would not penetrate a bear. 
 

edited to add bear hazing from Yellowstone: 

 

That's really interesting but an article from one of the local news outlets said the bear was tasered and tranquilized.  I did fact check it before posting.  Unless the article was incorrect....Could be, but then that would be yet another example of the same thing only in reverse!  🤷‍♀️

Last year when a bear was caught breaking into homes in a local town it was euthanized.  I guess they don't mess around with bears in CT!

Edited by Yeah No

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...