Or you could just maul them since your a snow leopard and all.
I could show up to the door nekkid I suppose but That might be going to far...
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
First one then the other?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Oh, it's too early in the morning to already be at the office.
Oh, it's too early in the morning to already be at the office.
Yes it is. Tell them I said that you can go home and take a 2 hour nap. If they have any questions just send them to me.
| 7 people marked this as a favorite. |
Birthday was *excellent*.
We had been planning to take the kids to Glen Rose, Texas to see the dinosaur tracks, but the trackway was flooded from all the rain, so we couldn't go. So instead we picked up pazcki from the Polish deli (they had plum butter and rosehip marmalade and currant fillings, and honestly, I can't say which was best), then went out to a fantastic little Greek restaurant a few miles from our house for lunch (and I got loukamedes!), went home to play board games all afternoon (because thunderstorms), then went to my in-laws for dinner. So it was lovely in spite of the change in plans.
Sounds like a smashing day! :)
Birthday was *excellent*.
We had been planning to take the kids to Glen Rose, Texas to see the dinosaur tracks, but the trackway was flooded from all the rain, so we couldn't go. So instead we picked up pazcki from the Polish deli (they had plum butter and rosehip marmalade and currant fillings, and honestly, I can't say which was best), then went out to a fantastic little Greek restaurant a few miles from our house for lunch (and I got loukamedes!), went home to play board games all afternoon (because thunderstorms), then went to my in-laws for dinner. So it was lovely in spite of the change in plans.
Excellent.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Feeling much better, today. Doing laundry right now.
Also excellent.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
47 degrees! F$*+! That was fast!!
Birthday was *excellent*.
We had been planning to take the kids to Glen Rose, Texas to see the dinosaur tracks, but the trackway was flooded from all the rain, so we couldn't go. So instead we picked up pazcki from the Polish deli (they had plum butter and rosehip marmalade and currant fillings, and honestly, I can't say which was best), then went out to a fantastic little Greek restaurant a few miles from our house for lunch (and I got loukamedes!), went home to play board games all afternoon (because thunderstorms), then went to my in-laws for dinner. So it was lovely in spite of the change in plans.
wait a minute. Whose birthday did I miss? Please say I didnt miss your birthday!
200+ updates?
Is this thread getting faster?
| 5 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ahh, pajama day. The day I am most likely to be mistaken for a student (except for the fact that this school is tiny, so everyone knows I'm not).
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
200+ updates?
Is this thread getting faster?
Rookienumbers.jpg
I have delved into the world of Rom Hacks, and found that I am pleased with what my fellow fans have done to classic RPGs. I'm about to enjoy a rework of Shining Force 2 with new classes, rebalanced armies, and a redone script. :-D
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
I have delved into the world of Rom Hacks, and found that I am pleased with what my fellow fans have done to classic RPGs. I'm about to enjoy a rework of Shining Force 2 with new classes, rebalanced armies, and a redone script. :-D
I didnt know you were a shining force fan!
I am playing 1 right now!
| 7 people marked this as a favorite. |
wait a minute. Whose birthday did I miss? Please say I didnt miss your birthday!Birthday was *excellent*.
We had been planning to take the kids to Glen Rose, Texas to see the dinosaur tracks, but the trackway was flooded from all the rain, so we couldn't go. So instead we picked up pazcki from the Polish deli (they had plum butter and rosehip marmalade and currant fillings, and honestly, I can't say which was best), then went out to a fantastic little Greek restaurant a few miles from our house for lunch (and I got loukamedes!), went home to play board games all afternoon (because thunderstorms), then went to my in-laws for dinner. So it was lovely in spite of the change in plans.
It was Saturday! 44.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
47 degrees! F+*#! That was fast!!
no need to thank me.
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44 is a good number (my 44th was in July).
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
It was Saturday! 44.wait a minute. Whose birthday did I miss? Please say I didnt miss your birthday!Birthday was *excellent*.
We had been planning to take the kids to Glen Rose, Texas to see the dinosaur tracks, but the trackway was flooded from all the rain, so we couldn't go. So instead we picked up pazcki from the Polish deli (they had plum butter and rosehip marmalade and currant fillings, and honestly, I can't say which was best), then went out to a fantastic little Greek restaurant a few miles from our house for lunch (and I got loukamedes!), went home to play board games all afternoon (because thunderstorms), then went to my in-laws for dinner. So it was lovely in spite of the change in plans.
ZOMG! I didn't know! Why didnt you tell me, Iwould have tried to steal that stained glass work of black panther for you!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
44 is a good number (my 44th was in July).
My 44th was too many years ago...
EDIT: Oh, and happy late birthday!
| 5 people marked this as a favorite. |
Political rantings, ranging from, "I think I can get away with this" to "Even if I spoiler this Fritzy's probably going to nail me for this one":
(1) The U.S. culture of consumerism and disposability:
So, it used to be that if you had kids, then as they outgrew things you could donate them to charity: Coats, shoes, and especially toys were all gratefully accepted by churches, charities, or other families with younger kids.
Nowadays the charities are so flush they feel they can pick and choose (don't even get me started on the "bring a new coat to donate to charity" drives that start every year around this time), and toys just don't cut it any more.
I have 36 crates of books. I have over 200 stuffies, representing thousands of dollars in purchases over the years. And I have done due diligence, and NO ONE will take used stuffies. So I'm sitting here, throwing the kids' formerly-beloved toys in the trash, even though they're in perfectly good shape, because used isn't good enough for charity any more; if it's not new, you just throw it away.
As a lifelong conservationist, I just cannot express how much it upsets me.
(At least our local library is good enough to have an "anonymous book drop" where you can dump all your used books and they'll take the time to sort through them, throw away 95% of them, and sell the other 5%).
(2) U.S. working parents' attitude of "school is day care":
I have already pointed out that my kids work more hours per week in high school than I do in a six-figure job. And now there's a movement from working parents to extend the school day to 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Why? Because it's too hard to get day care, so they want the kids to stay at school for the entire working day.
Y'know, if *you* can't figure out how to care for your kids during the day, maybe, just maybe, you shouldn't be having them. Don't force every kid in the country to be in school for 8.5 hours a day because you don't want to pay for day care, you don't qualify for the multitude of free programs, you don't go to a church that provides such services, and you have no relatives in the area. It just incenses me for a multitude of reasons, the "big two" being how negatively it would impact the lives of both teachers and students.
(3)
The whole attitude of, "My vote doesn't matter, so I don't vote, and I'm proud of that."
Rather than hammering home the idea that every election in U.S. history could have been swayed in favor of ANY candidate (even an independent) by non-voters, I've taken to responding, "So, you know the people who DO vote in every. Single. Election? The extremists on both sides of the aisle. And so you know who gets elected? The extremists on both sides. So you know what you get? A useless, partisan, dysfunctional government with a bunch of representatives who care more about party loyalty and big donors than about the good of the country. And that is what YOU have allowed to happen by not providing a voice of moderation. So no, you cannot EVER complain to me about the government again, because it is what it is right now because YOU didn't vote."
/rant
Political rantings, ranging from, "I think I can get away with this" to "Even if I spoiler this Fritzy's probably going to nail me for this one":
(1) The U.S. culture of consumerism and disposability:
So, it used to be that if you had kids, then as they outgrew things you could donate them to charity: Coats, shoes, and especially toys were all gratefully accepted by churches, charities, or other families with younger kids.Nowadays the charities are so flush they feel they can pick and choose (don't even get me started on the "bring a new coat to donate to charity" drives that start every year around this time), and toys just don't cut it any more.
I have 36 crates of books. I have over 200 stuffies, representing thousands of dollars in purchases over the years. And I have done due diligence, and NO ONE will take used stuffies. So I'm sitting here, throwing the kids' formerly-beloved toys in the trash, even though they're in perfectly good shape, because used isn't good enough for charity any more; if it's not new, you just throw it away.
As a lifelong conservationist, I just cannot express how much it upsets me.
(At least our local library is good enough to have an "anonymous book drop" where you can dump all your used books and they'll take the time to sort through them, throw away 95% of them, and sell the other 5%).
(2) U.S. working parents' attitude of "school is day care":
I have already pointed out that my kids work more hours per week in high school than I do in a six-figure job. And now there's a movement from working parents to extend the school day to 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Why? Because it's too hard to get day care, so they want the kids to stay at school for the entire working day.Y'know, if *you* can't figure out how to care for your kids during the day, maybe, just maybe, you shouldn't be having them. Don't force every kid in the country to be in school for 8.5 hours a day because you don't want to pay for day care, you don't qualify for the...
I used to be with you on 1 until we got bedbugs. They are impossible to eliminate in most charity situations and can taint an entire building of donated clothes. I dont agree with new clothes only donation systems, but I do understand where they are coming from.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I used to be with you on 1 until we got bedbugs. They are impossible to eliminate in most charity situations and can taint an entire building of donated clothes. I dont agree with new clothes only donation systems, but I do understand where they are coming from.
Yeah, it's my usual frustration: A few bad eggs ruin things for everyone.
Is "bad eggs" still used, or is my antiquity showing?
| 5 people marked this as a favorite. |
And a bright note! I decided to put out the stuffies one at a time out front with a little "Free" post-it on them.
Stuffy #1 has been adopted!
Only a couple hundred more to go...
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
It was Saturday! 44.wait a minute. Whose birthday did I miss? Please say I didnt miss your birthday!Birthday was *excellent*.
We had been planning to take the kids to Glen Rose, Texas to see the dinosaur tracks, but the trackway was flooded from all the rain, so we couldn't go. So instead we picked up pazcki from the Polish deli (they had plum butter and rosehip marmalade and currant fillings, and honestly, I can't say which was best), then went out to a fantastic little Greek restaurant a few miles from our house for lunch (and I got loukamedes!), went home to play board games all afternoon (because thunderstorms), then went to my in-laws for dinner. So it was lovely in spite of the change in plans.
Belated happy birthday! :)
I'm glad that it turned out well and sooooo jealous of those pazcki. They sound amazing.| 6 people marked this as a favorite. |
Political rantings, ranging from, "I think I can get away with this" to "Even if I spoiler this Fritzy's probably going to nail me for this one":
(1) The U.S. culture of consumerism and disposability:
So, it used to be that if you had kids, then as they outgrew things you could donate them to charity: Coats, shoes, and especially toys were all gratefully accepted by churches, charities, or other families with younger kids.Nowadays the charities are so flush they feel they can pick and choose (don't even get me started on the "bring a new coat to donate to charity" drives that start every year around this time), and toys just don't cut it any more.
I have 36 crates of books. I have over 200 stuffies, representing thousands of dollars in purchases over the years. And I have done due diligence, and NO ONE will take used stuffies. So I'm sitting here, throwing the kids' formerly-beloved toys in the trash, even though they're in perfectly good shape, because used isn't good enough for charity any more; if it's not new, you just throw it away.
As a lifelong conservationist, I just cannot express how much it upsets me.
(At least our local library is good enough to have an "anonymous book drop" where you can dump all your used books and they'll take the time to sort through them, throw away 95% of them, and sell the other 5%).
(2) U.S. working parents' attitude of "school is day care":
I have already pointed out that my kids work more hours per week in high school than I do in a six-figure job. And now there's a movement from working parents to extend the school day to 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Why? Because it's too hard to get day care, so they want the kids to stay at school for the entire working day.Y'know, if *you* can't figure out how to care for your kids during the day, maybe, just maybe, you shouldn't be having them. Don't force every kid in the country to be in school for 8.5 hours a day because you don't want to pay for day care, you don't qualify for the...
God, I could rant on #2, even cutting it off after attitude.
So much of society these days has been restructured to make things more convenient for a working parent that way too many of them get absolutely incensed when anything isn't designed for them.
Sitting in the breakroom with coworkers who are parents (I'm one of the very, very few who isn't here), I get to hear constant complaints about how people aren't patient enough with busy parents in public.
Maybe I'm just burned out on people from so long in retail, but...maybe sometimes I shouldn't be patient with parents, when I watch them play on their phones while their darlings wander the store unsupervised to wreak havoc and only step in to parent when they sense they're about to be blamed for not doing so.
But, y'know, wanting people to actually be responsible for their children in public clearly makes me anti-child.
Clearly I'm getting old and grouchy.
As for 2, I dont know what my mom would have done without grandma(s). School let out shockingly early in retrospect.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
God, I could rant on #2, even cutting it off after attitude.
So much of society these days has been restructured to make things more convenient for a working parent that way too many of them get absolutely incensed when anything isn't designed for them.
Sitting in the breakroom with coworkers who are parents (I'm one of the very, very few who isn't here), I get to hear constant complaints about how people aren't patient enough with busy parents in public.
Maybe I'm just burned out on people from so long in retail, but...maybe sometimes I shouldn't be patient with parents, when I watch them play on their phones while their darlings wander the store unsupervised to wreak havoc and only step in to parent when they sense they're about to be blamed for not doing so.
But, y'know, wanting people to actually be responsible for their children in public clearly makes me anti-child. grumble
Clearly I'm getting old and grouchy.
The two words in an ad that will make me boycott a product are "busy parent".
I raised two kids from birth to independence. I put in my time watching them every moment, skipping out on dinner invitations, parties, concerts, movies, whatever... because my primary job was raising the kids that I helped bring into the world.
It's offensive, but I'll say it again. If you can't be bothered to be responsible for them, then don't have kids.
And a bright note! I decided to put out the stuffies one at a time out front with a little "Free" post-it on them.
Stuffy #1 has been adopted!
Only a couple hundred more to go...
what kind of stuffies do you have?
Asking for a friend.
As for 2, I dont know what my mom would have done without grandma(s). School let out shockingly early in retrospect.
Right. And that's the thing. Every family is supposed to have a support network: Family. Church. Money. Charity. Siblings. Some or all of the above.
I get incensed at the people who are two parents working full-time, and therefore theoretically have enough money to afford after-school care, which is appallingly cheap even here (I think the quote we heard when our kids were in elementary school was $10/hour), and yet want the school to keep everyone's kids prisoner so they don't have to pay for such care.
And a bright note! I decided to put out the stuffies one at a time out front with a little "Free" post-it on them.
Stuffy #1 has been adopted!
Only a couple hundred more to go...
what kind of stuffies do you have?
Asking for a friend.
So, without exaggerating, it's on the order of 50 Ugly Dolls, then a few of those big round ones (Squishables?), a few Build-a-Bears, and then some artisinal ones.
I'd want to know what they were for, since the stuffies range from "like new" (the Squishables) to "I'd give these to a kid, but not a comany" (a wonderful snow leopard that's a bit faded and grey, so beautiful but obviously fairly old).
And a bright note! I decided to put out the stuffies one at a time out front with a little "Free" post-it on them.
Stuffy #1 has been adopted!
Only a couple hundred more to go...
what kind of stuffies do you have?
Asking for a friend.
So, without exaggerating, it's on the order of 50 Ugly Dolls, then a few of those big round ones (Squishables?), a few Build-a-Bears, and then some artisinal ones.
I'd want to know what they were for, since the stuffies range from "like new" (the Squishables) to "I'd give these to a kid, but not a comany" (a wonderful snow leopard that's a bit faded and grey, so beautiful but obviously fairly old).
if the build a bears are pokemon or mlp, I am down.
Political rantings, ranging from, "I think I can get away with this" to "Even if I spoiler this Fritzy's probably going to nail me for this one":
(1) The U.S. culture of consumerism and disposability:
So, it used to be that if you had kids, then as they outgrew things you could donate them to charity: Coats, shoes, and especially toys were all gratefully accepted by churches, charities, or other families with younger kids.Nowadays the charities are so flush they feel they can pick and choose (don't even get me started on the "bring a new coat to donate to charity" drives that start every year around this time), and toys just don't cut it any more.
I have 36 crates of books. I have over 200 stuffies, representing thousands of dollars in purchases over the years. And I have done due diligence, and NO ONE will take used stuffies. So I'm sitting here, throwing the kids' formerly-beloved toys in the trash, even though they're in perfectly good shape, because used isn't good enough for charity any more; if it's not new, you just throw it away.
As a lifelong conservationist, I just cannot express how much it upsets me.
(At least our local library is good enough to have an "anonymous book drop" where you can dump all your used books and they'll take the time to sort through them, throw away 95% of them, and sell the other 5%).
(2) U.S. working parents' attitude of "school is day care":
I have already pointed out that my kids work more hours per week in high school than I do in a six-figure job. And now there's a movement from working parents to extend the school day to 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Why? Because it's too hard to get day care, so they want the kids to stay at school for the entire working day.Y'know, if *you* can't figure out how to care for your kids during the day, maybe, just maybe, you shouldn't be having them. Don't force every kid in the country to be in school for 8.5 hours a day because you don't want to pay for day care, you don't qualify for the...
Okay, WTF is wrong with California?!?!?!!!! Like, seriously.... So that is not how things work here. Yeah, sure, Once Upon a Child will only buy back certain things, but Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and the PTO thrift shop are all more than happy to accept any and all donations. Heck, I don't think the kiddo got new anything until he was in later elementary school because I bought everything for him at thrift stores...and then donated it back when he was done with it. Like, I don't even comprehend. That is definitely a regional bit of weird.
I am more sympathetic with the parents in your second rant there, though. Day care is so expensive that it's been priced right out of viability for many. Now, I don't entirely understand the make everyone suffer for this mentality. I know that our school system has their own before and after school day care program that is much more reasonably priced than other alternatives. I had to use it for after school care from time to time myself and it was great. They would help with homework and feed the kiddo a snack and provide some outside playtime. And that worked really well and is probably more what is needed anyways, but it didn't mean everyone had to stay. Just the ones whose parents signed them up, and there was financial assistance for low income parents to use the program, so it was practical for everyone.
Edit: Okay, the bedbugs thing is a good point. They're not really a problem here so the charity shops don't have those restrictions, but makes total sense in areas where they are more of an issue. I hadn't considered that.
if the build a bears are pokemon or mlp, I am down.And a bright note! I decided to put out the stuffies one at a time out front with a little "Free" post-it on them.
Stuffy #1 has been adopted!
Only a couple hundred more to go...
what kind of stuffies do you have?
Asking for a friend.
So, without exaggerating, it's on the order of 50 Ugly Dolls, then a few of those big round ones (Squishables?), a few Build-a-Bears, and then some artisinal ones.
I'd want to know what they were for, since the stuffies range from "like new" (the Squishables) to "I'd give these to a kid, but not a comany" (a wonderful snow leopard that's a bit faded and grey, so beautiful but obviously fairly old).
Sorry, none of those. And I think the kids put all the Pokemon stuffies that they *do* have on the "keep" list.
Anyway, falling behind schedule at work for some reason so have to go silent for a while...
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
As for 2, I dont know what my mom would have done without grandma(s). School let out shockingly early in retrospect.Right. And that's the thing. Every family is supposed to have a support network: Family. Church. Money. Charity. Siblings. Some or all of the above.
I get incensed at the people who are two parents working full-time, and therefore theoretically have enough money to afford after-school care, which is appallingly cheap even here (I think the quote we heard when our kids were in elementary school was $10/hour), and yet want the school to keep everyone's kids prisoner so they don't have to pay for such care.
I don't know. I don't have kids, so I won't speak overmuch, but that figure you quoted no longer exists.
if the build a bears are pokemon or mlp, I am down.And a bright note! I decided to put out the stuffies one at a time out front with a little "Free" post-it on them.
Stuffy #1 has been adopted!
Only a couple hundred more to go...
what kind of stuffies do you have?
Asking for a friend.
So, without exaggerating, it's on the order of 50 Ugly Dolls, then a few of those big round ones (Squishables?), a few Build-a-Bears, and then some artisinal ones.
I'd want to know what they were for, since the stuffies range from "like new" (the Squishables) to "I'd give these to a kid, but not a comany" (a wonderful snow leopard that's a bit faded and grey, so beautiful but obviously fairly old).
Sorry, none of those. And I think the kids put all the Pokemon stuffies that they *do* have on the "keep" list.
Anyway, falling behind schedule at work for some reason so have to go silent for a while...
damn...
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
To everyone in the path of the Category 4 hurricane, please be careful.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
As for 2, I dont know what my mom would have done without grandma(s). School let out shockingly early in retrospect.Right. And that's the thing. Every family is supposed to have a support network: Family. Church. Money. Charity. Siblings. Some or all of the above.
I get incensed at the people who are two parents working full-time, and therefore theoretically have enough money to afford after-school care, which is appallingly cheap even here (I think the quote we heard when our kids were in elementary school was $10/hour), and yet want the school to keep everyone's kids prisoner so they don't have to pay for such care.
Okay, I know this isn't meant to, but you are jumping on a gorram nerve here. I come from a background of poverty and neglect. So does my husband. Our families don't help out, they get supervised visitation occasionally if they can manage to behave. My sisters are alright, but they don't live close, so no, they're not gonna help. Church? Hah! The last time I went to church was when the kiddo was five and he's the reason I walked. I have no patience with people who can't manage a bit of freaking compassion for a little kid, and I was gonna punch someone if I had to keep hearing about how if I was just stricter with him he'd straighten out in no time. (No, Karen, that's not how autism works, go f@+# yourself) And if you think that charities are actually available for this....dude, that is so out of touch. Like, on another planet out of touch. Friends don't want to deal with it when your kid isn't neurotypical, and when you're not there aren't always a lot of friends to choose from. THERE IS NO GORRAM SUPPORT NETWORK FOR A LOT OF US! NONE! And that doesn't make us bad parents. That means that we don't have a lot of choices.
Also, your idea of cheap and mine are worlds apart. I can't get a job for ten dollars an hour because I'm disabled and lack work experience. We priced it out when the kiddo was younger and it would literally have cost us money for me to work, so that's why I've been a stay-at-home mum all this time. Those are the kinds of choices that people have to make. Like, I don't want longer school days. At all. But your reasoning is totally out of touch with what it's like to be a parent in a low income bracket.TL;DR Your initial point isn't wrong, but don't be a jerk about it
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
...Political rantings, ranging from, "I think I can get away with this" to "Even if I spoiler this Fritzy's probably going to nail me for this one":
(1) The U.S. culture of consumerism and disposability:
So, it used to be that if you had kids, then as they outgrew things you could donate them to charity: Coats, shoes, and especially toys were all gratefully accepted by churches, charities, or other families with younger kids.Nowadays the charities are so flush they feel they can pick and choose (don't even get me started on the "bring a new coat to donate to charity" drives that start every year around this time), and toys just don't cut it any more.
I have 36 crates of books. I have over 200 stuffies, representing thousands of dollars in purchases over the years. And I have done due diligence, and NO ONE will take used stuffies. So I'm sitting here, throwing the kids' formerly-beloved toys in the trash, even though they're in perfectly good shape, because used isn't good enough for charity any more; if it's not new, you just throw it away.
As a lifelong conservationist, I just cannot express how much it upsets me.
(At least our local library is good enough to have an "anonymous book drop" where you can dump all your used books and they'll take the time to sort through them, throw away 95% of them, and sell the other 5%).
(2) U.S. working parents' attitude of "school is day care":
I have already pointed out that my kids work more hours per week in high school than I do in a six-figure job. And now there's a movement from working parents to extend the school day to 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Why? Because it's too hard to get day care, so they want the kids to stay at school for the entire working day.Y'know, if *you* can't figure out how to care for your kids during the day, maybe, just maybe, you shouldn't be having them. Don't force every kid in the country to be in school for 8.5 hours a day because you don't want to pay for day
Yeah, can get behind you here. Everything I've heard from my friends who are parents is that daycare would cost more than the pay from the part-time job their spouse could get if their child was in daycare. Ridiculously pricey.
As for 2, I dont know what my mom would have done without grandma(s). School let out shockingly early in retrospect.Right. And that's the thing. Every family is supposed to have a support network: Family. Church. Money. Charity. Siblings. Some or all of the above.
I get incensed at the people who are two parents working full-time, and therefore theoretically have enough money to afford after-school care, which is appallingly cheap even here (I think the quote we heard when our kids were in elementary school was $10/hour), and yet want the school to keep everyone's kids prisoner so they don't have to pay for such care.
Okay, I know this isn't meant to, but you are jumping on a gorram nerve here. I come from a background of poverty and neglect. So does my husband. Our families don't help out, they get supervised visitation occasionally if they can manage to behave. My sisters are alright, but they don't live close, so no, they're not gonna help. Church? Hah! The last time I went to church was when the kiddo was five and he's the reason I walked. I have no patience with people who can't manage a bit of freaking compassion for a little kid, and I was gonna punch someone if I had to keep hearing about how if I was just stricter with him he'd straighten out in no time. (No, Karen, that's not how autism works, go f#&$ yourself) And if you think that charities are actually available for this....dude, that is so out of touch. Like, on another planet out of touch. Friends don't want to deal with it when your kid isn't neurotypical, and when you're not there aren't always a lot of friends to choose from. THERE IS NO GORRAM SUPPORT NETWORK FOR A LOT OF US! NONE! And that doesn't make us bad parents. That means that we don't have a lot of choices.
Also, your idea of cheap and mine are worlds apart. I can't get a job for ten dollars an hour because I'm disabled and lack work experience. We priced it out when the kiddo was younger...
the manga, with the light, goes into what raising autistic child in Japan is like. The support network shown in the work made me weep in frustration. I would kill to have even one place like the one in the manga available in the US, and i know what few places we have here try VERY hard.
...Political rantings, ranging from, "I think I can get away with this" to "Even if I spoiler this Fritzy's probably going to nail me for this one":
(1) The U.S. culture of consumerism and disposability:
So, it used to be that if you had kids, then as they outgrew things you could donate them to charity: Coats, shoes, and especially toys were all gratefully accepted by churches, charities, or other families with younger kids.Nowadays the charities are so flush they feel they can pick and choose (don't even get me started on the "bring a new coat to donate to charity" drives that start every year around this time), and toys just don't cut it any more.
I have 36 crates of books. I have over 200 stuffies, representing thousands of dollars in purchases over the years. And I have done due diligence, and NO ONE will take used stuffies. So I'm sitting here, throwing the kids' formerly-beloved toys in the trash, even though they're in perfectly good shape, because used isn't good enough for charity any more; if it's not new, you just throw it away.
As a lifelong conservationist, I just cannot express how much it upsets me.
(At least our local library is good enough to have an "anonymous book drop" where you can dump all your used books and they'll take the time to sort through them, throw away 95% of them, and sell the other 5%).
(2) U.S. working parents' attitude of "school is day care":
I have already pointed out that my kids work more hours per week in high school than I do in a six-figure job. And now there's a movement from working parents to extend the school day to 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Why? Because it's too hard to get day care, so they want the kids to stay at school for the entire working day.Y'know, if *you* can't figure out how to care for your kids during the day, maybe, just maybe, you shouldn't be having them. Don't force every kid in the country to be in school for 8.5 hours a day because you don't want to pay for day
let's not forget scabies(that was fun. not.), chiggers, and all sorts of other creepy crawlies, some of which you can't see(ringworm, pinworm, etc). I'm all for donations, but control for communicable things is a very very real challenge.
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the manga, with the light, goes into what raising autistic child in Japan is like. The support network shown in the work made me weep in frustration. I would kill to have even one place like the one in the manga available in the US, and i know what few places we have here try VERY hard
I haven’t read that particular manga. I’ll have to look for it now. And yeah, there just isn’t much social safety net for folks in this country and sometimes I get pretty passionately frustrated about it.
Also, sorry NH of my tone came across too strong there. It’s definitely something I have strong feelings about, but I genuinely don’t mean it as a personal attack. It’s difficult to convey strong disagreement but I still like you as a person via text only so I’m spelling it out directly.
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As for 2, I dont know what my mom would have done without grandma(s). School let out shockingly early in retrospect.Right. And that's the thing. Every family is supposed to have a support network: Family. Church. Money. Charity. Siblings. Some or all of the above.
I get incensed at the people who are two parents working full-time, and therefore theoretically have enough money to afford after-school care, which is appallingly cheap even here (I think the quote we heard when our kids were in elementary school was $10/hour), and yet want the school to keep everyone's kids prisoner so they don't have to pay for such care.
Okay, I know this isn't meant to, but you are jumping on a gorram nerve here. I come from a background of poverty and neglect. So does my husband. Our families don't help out, they get supervised visitation occasionally if they can manage to behave. My sisters are alright, but they don't live close, so no, they're not gonna help. Church? Hah! The last time I went to church was when the kiddo was five and he's the reason I walked. I have no patience with people who can't manage a bit of freaking compassion for a little kid, and I was gonna punch someone if I had to keep hearing about how if I was just stricter with him he'd straighten out in no time. (No, Karen, that's not how autism works, go f*#& yourself) And if you think that charities are actually available for this....dude, that is so out of touch. Like, on another planet out of touch. Friends don't want to deal with it when your kid isn't neurotypical, and when you're not there aren't always a lot of friends to choose from. THERE IS NO GORRAM SUPPORT NETWORK FOR A LOT OF US! NONE! And that doesn't make us bad parents. That means that we don't have a lot of choices.
Also, your idea of cheap and mine are worlds apart. I can't get a job for ten dollars an hour because I'm disabled and lack work experience. We priced it out when the kiddo was younger...
Profuse apologies.
It's not so much "being a jerk" or "not understanding poverty" as it is "living in the bubble that is California and being a jerk for forgetting that other people live in states without such programs":
So I'm an idiot. I took a state with the highest tax rate in the country and the best services that those taxes provide, and extrapolated to the whole of the country.
I apologize again.
EDIT: And Freehold, I'm afraid California really is different. Here's the 2017-2018 rate table. You'll notice that even at full price it's under $10/hour. And most of the kids who qualify pay far less, because while the #1 priority is "special needs", the #2 priority was "low income".
EDIT: And Freehold, I'm afraid California really is different. Here's the 2017-2018 rate table. You'll notice that even at full price it's under $10/hour. And most of the kids who qualify pay far less, because while the #1 priority is "special needs", the #2 priority was "low income".As for 2, I dont know what my mom would have done without grandma(s). School let out shockingly early in retrospect.Right. And that's the thing. Every family is supposed to have a support network: Family. Church. Money. Charity. Siblings. Some or all of the above.
I get incensed at the people who are two parents working full-time, and therefore theoretically have enough money to afford after-school care, which is appallingly cheap even here (I think the quote we heard when our kids were in elementary school was $10/hour), and yet want the school to keep everyone's kids prisoner so they don't have to pay for such care.
Okay, I know this isn't meant to, but you are jumping on a gorram nerve here. I come from a background of poverty and neglect. So does my husband. Our families don't help out, they get supervised visitation occasionally if they can manage to behave. My sisters are alright, but they don't live close, so no, they're not gonna help. Church? Hah! The last time I went to church was when the kiddo was five and he's the reason I walked. I have no patience with people who can't manage a bit of freaking compassion for a little kid, and I was gonna punch someone if I had to keep hearing about how if I was just stricter with him he'd straighten out in no time. (No, Karen, that's not how autism works, go f*#& yourself) And if you think that charities are actually available for this....dude, that is so out of touch. Like, on another planet out of touch. Friends don't want to deal with it when your kid isn't neurotypical, and when you're not there aren't always a lot of friends to choose from. THERE IS NO GORRAM SUPPORT NETWORK FOR A LOT OF US! NONE! And that doesn't make us bad parents. That means that we don't have a lot of choices.
Also, your idea of cheap and mine are worlds apart. I can't get a job for ten dollars an hour because I'm disabled and lack work experience. We priced it out when
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NH: I believe the Oakland Zoo accepts used stuffies. They hang them upside-down in the giant fruit bat enclosure for the bats to cuddle.
(Yes, I have watched a bat with a boner dry-humping Piglet.)
If this image doesn't put you off, I have a friend who works there and I can give you her email address.