The Secretary Board venting thread--post your peeves here - Secretary (2002) Discussion

[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Unfortunately, I have plenty of these, just no time to write them up as of late. I am no longer a fan of Mother's Day, for one--even though I wish everyone out there who is a mom the best of days, I feel like everybody forgets about those of us who don't have a reason to celebrate, because we lost our mother through death or estrangement. I have neither a mother nor any children, so truly it is a rather useless day for me, but the family is getting together to celebrate my sister being a mom. Nobody ever mentions the profound sense of loss, but rather the whole picture-perfect greeting card aspect of it.

Oh, and I can't get a straight answer out of my sister about what happened to my computer--I asked twice today and both times she just said to ask (bro-in-law). Even when I asked, is it in the shop or not? A simple yes-or-no answer, people, come on! The whole reason they took it THREE WEEKS AGO was to make life easier for me. However, at the moment I am not complaining too much because I have really been enjoying Bro's. I sent my sister a message back that said I am holding this one hostage awhile longer since she won't tell me more!
I really wish I had my money back, though, especially if I have no Mac...I need it for my teeth.

A local friend of mine went on and on about wanting to get together to take her dogs to the park back in the early spring is literally NEVER here anymore--they've been going camping for five days at a stretch, meaning she is home like 2 whole days. My schedule is tight too--and soon I'll be going out of town again. Her husband told me she is doing a breast cancer walk tomorrow--she didn't even bother to tell me this year (I think she did last year.) File this under "Why bother?" I guess...yeah I guess I am throwing a bit of a Pity Party for One tonight...but anyone's welcome!

"It's like living in a house full of Howie Mandels"

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

Nobody ever mentions the profound sense of loss, but rather the whole picture-perfect greeting card aspect of it.

I really feel for you over this, especially if your mother isn't openly remembered during the family celebration for your sister.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

Am I the only person who is uncomfortable with 'chain' emails asking me to pass the original on to a number of other people? These aren't threatening in the way old-fashioned chain letters often were but they make it clear I'll be spoiling the party if I don't join in the 'fun'.

I know that if I pass the poisoned chalice to friends they will (a) think I've gone a little soft in the head and (b) won't cooperate anyway.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

No, not at all; I never pass those things. In fact, on the rare occasion I find the content of one of them interesting (which has happened perhaps twice in the twelve years I've had internet), I strip out the "chain letter" content before passing it on.

BTB, "pass the poisoned chalice" is an absolutely FANTASTIC metaphor.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 15 years ago

JJ, is the borrowed computer you're using now also a Mac, or a PC?

By the way, we have Windows 7 at work and it's okay, but not nearly as good or fast as Windows XP. If only I could find a PC with a couple of new things, like a webcam, but retaining XP.

I've added a couple of new things to my vacation next week, including a Safari and 'the world's longest zip-line'. A zip-line is an attraction where you get into a harness attached to a steel cable and zip over the tree-tops; this one just opened two weeks ago. The highest tower is 80 feet high and it's reassuring to learn that it is 'idiot-proof'!

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

It's a PC, from Dell, I believe. And a confession~ I really don't want to give it back! The only downside is the cooling fan tends to run nonstop much of the time (it's a reconditioned one also, my brother-in-law said when he got it.)
It used to crash every so often before he put Windows 7 on it, but it *knock wood* runs much better now.

EDIT~ Well, guys, I had to delete the rest of my venting post, because I found out that I am being spied on here, which I did suspect. She doesn't think we know the difference between posting and slander. YES, because I am posting people by their REAL NAMES here. Some people are dumb, not to mention vain. Hey lady, if you think I am talking about YOU, could I have hit a nerve? Cause let's face it, you don't really know WHO I'm talking about now, do you? Your presumptions are amusing...OK, not really.

Guess anything else I might say (about anyone) will have to be said in private from now on.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and....

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?

You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive
Well you said that we made such a pretty pair
and that you would never leave

But you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee and....

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.....

Well I hear you went up to Saratoga and your horse naturally won
Then you flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun
Well, you're where you should be all of the time
And when you're not you're with
Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend
Wife of a close friend, and....

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.....

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

October, that was perfect!! Made my night.

It just seems that since I have stalkers, damn, I should at least be rich.

Flat-broke most of the time struggling artist type with obsessive fans just doesn't add up!

I do have a creative mind, just haven't figured out how to translate that to cash just yet...

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

Dumb ass teenagers who injure me.

A teenage biker crashed into me when I was walking on the sidewalk yesterday. She waited until she was about ten feet behind me to FINALLY yell "Excuse me!". Not 50 feet behind me so I would have had time to get off the sidewalk. Not "To the left!" or "To the right!" so I would have known which direction to move in. I guessed left, both of us moved left, and she crashed into me and knocked me down, ripping a big hole in my pants and scraping the skin off my right knee.

Biker: "Are you okay! I'm so sorry. I can't break."
Me: "Are the brakes broken?"
Biker: "Yes."
Me: "Why are you riding a bike with broken brakes?"
Biker: *Silence*
Me: "You need to get the brakes fixed before you ride the bike."
Biker: *Silence*
Me: "You're going to hurt yourself or someone else."
Biker: *Silence*
Biker: *Blank-eyed gaze with no sign of comprehension*

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Oh, Honey, that sounds awful. That is actually one of my fears/concerns when I am walking and bikers appear behind me suddenly on the sidewalks--so far I have been fortunate and they have whizzed by me, but what happened to you could easily happen to me. I am so sorry you had to experience that, and that girl needs to get a clue.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

Oh, Honey, that sounds awful. That is actually one of my fears/concerns when I am walking and bikers appear behind me suddenly on the sidewalks--so far I have been fortunate and they have whizzed by me, but what happened to you could easily happen to me. I am so sorry you had to experience that, and that girl needs to get a clue.

Same with me, Java. Here in the UK it's actually illegal for cyclists to ride on pavements but any squad car passing wouldn't dream of stopping to deal with such a 'petty' violation of the law and, in the event of an accident, by the time the police arrived the cyclist would be long gone. At least Honey's biker stopped to find out if she was all right

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

I used to bicycle all over, and have NEVER even come close to hitting a pedestrian; simple precautions and verbal warnings are more than sufficient to prevent such collisions. I have, however, been put into the hospital by a careless driver running a stop sign to hit me on my bicycle.

It's against the law in the US for bicyclists to ride on sidewalks as well, but I always ignore those laws because I'd rather not end up in hospital again. A bicycle-pedestrian collision is merely unpleasant for both parties, but an automobile-bicycle collision could be fatal for the cyclist.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] Doc-McCoy 15 years ago

"It's against the law in the US for bicyclists to ride on sidewalks as well, but I always ignore those laws because I'd rather not end up in hospital again. A bicycle-pedestrian collision is merely unpleasant for both parties, but an automobile-bicycle collision could be fatal for the cyclist."

That's true, although many cyclists have a militant attitude. In CA, bicycles are given full vehciular rights in the CA Vehicle Code and they flaunt that. I worked with a guy who was a hard-core bicyclist, in the worst sense of that description, and he would ride into traffic just putting his hand out, as though that would cause every driver around to stop. Some of his friends warned him he would get hit by a car one day and sure enough he did - resulting a broken arm, collar bone and numerous contusions.

Many states are now beginning the design and construction of bicycle and pedestrian trails. They are like minitaure roadways that both bikes and peds can use, usually about eight feet wide with striped lanes, and only interact with street at crossings which usually have some signs and other devices to direct them when to cross.

"Anyone who says he can see through women is missing a lot" - Groucho Marx

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[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 15 years ago

I love cycling, but I just don't feel safe on a busy street amid traffic, so I stick to side streets and designated bike paths. As for the girl who ran into Honey, she may not have brakes, but didn't she have feet? That's why I prefer 24" to 26" bikes; you can fall back on Fred Flinstone style brakes if the actual ones fail.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] kaiju0 15 years ago

Really?

What would you be being deleted for?

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

IMDB: Where Free Speech is just an Illusion

IMDB has never claimed to allow free speech; there's never been any such "illusion".

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[–] kaiju0 15 years ago

Ah...people are SO sensitive.

Which is stupid, since your sig was an undeniable truth.

Of course, the truth is almost always the most offensive thing to certain people.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

What a loser. People like that are minor characters in their own lives.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

They have a personal vendetta against me, and whenever I curse in a post, they make sure to get it erased. They've been following me around for a while now;

Why do you curse in posts when you know IMDb will delete posts with cursing if alerted to their presence? This is very easy to avoid.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

Honey, you and I both know from bitter personal experience that Them Upstairs tend to delete any post that is reported, regardless of content.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

What a loser. People like that are minor characters in their own lives.

That is exactly true and I don't have anything else to add, except I am sorry to hear that, Scorch. I can sympathize to having a personality that attracts lunatics, believe me.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

Scorch, why do you refer to your stalker as "they"? Do you not know the person's gender. This sounds like a male to me.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

It sounds like you might have visited the Politics board, and offended one of the partisan dumbasses there.

Wow - and there was me thinking that the participants on a board dedicated to politics would be tolerant and broadminded!

Here in the UK, post-General Election, there has been a great deal of correspondence concerning not only the result but the different kinds of voting systems which might be better than "first past the post". Judging from the quality of 98% of this correspondence it might be a better option to require all voters to pass an IQ test.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

the truth is almost always the most offensive thing to certain people.

Absolutely. As I said to a friend of mine when I was about 19, "some people just can't handle the truth," and nothing that has happened in the intervening decades has done anything to change my mind about that.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Hey, October, you any closer to creating that private messageboard that is everybody's pipe dream around here? I censor a lot (yes, believe it or not, I who am verbose at times!) but would love to 'let loose' as they say.
Just not here.

(Don't want to make you feel bad if you aren't, just reminding everyone of the thought we tossed around awhile back. )

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

No, no closer, but I sure have thought about it. If anybody knows how to go about starting such a thing I would be interested in hearing about it.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

Thanks, everyone.

As for the girl who ran into Honey, she may not have brakes, but didn't she have feet?

She doesn't have a BRAIN as far as I can tell.

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

"Zero Tolerance" American public school policy, which requires criminal charges for any sort of threat of violence, even DRAWINGS of violence.

A 14 year old autistic boy who is a mental 8 year old has been charged with a felony charge of terrorist threats, because he drew two stick figures, one shooting the other, with the shooter labeled "me" and the victim labeled with a teacher's name.
A video of a news report about the case:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/292061

Meanwhile, REAL violence in schools, committed with fists, gets no real punishment.

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

If this boy gets convicted, he's going to be a felon, all because of a drawing.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

And I'll bet when you first read 1984 you felt that "thoughtcrime" was just a fictional concept in an imaginary totalitarian state. I know I did, until it became real in the past two decades.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

And I'll bet when you first read 1984 you felt that "thoughtcrime" was just a fictional concept in an imaginary totalitarian state. I know I did, until it became real in the past two decades.

I've never read 1984. Perhaps I should.

How did drawings get redefined as a threat? What's next, will kids who play music with violent lyrics be charged with making terrorist threats?

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

I have this long-running peeve.

On the Secretary board each week there is a change in popularity and in order to find out why it's necessary to go into IMDbPro - but it's not possible to go into IMDbPro.

It's the same on all the IMDb boards and I'm curious to know why the popularity of an actor or a movie can move up and down to such a considerable extent.

Unimportant in the scheme of things but the not knowing is getting to me.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

I'm curious to know why the popularity of an actor or a movie can move up and down to such a considerable extent.

That so-called "popularity rating" is merely the number of IMDb lookups this week as compared to that of last week; it tends to shoot up when some show an actor appears in plays on television or the actor appears in the news or a talk show, and drops when he doesn't. And it's the same for movies and shows.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Indy, thanks for posting that because while it isn't a peeve of mine, per se, I am always curious as to what determines 'Up in popularity this week' or 'Down in popularity this week' or 'No change in popularity this week'.

O, thanks for your answer to our queries regarding this matter.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

O, thank you for satisfying my curiosity and, Java, I'm pleased I wasn't the only one mystified by the meaning of the 'up' or 'down' in popularity this week'.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

I'm glad I could be of assistance.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Indy, I saw a first (regarding this 'Up' or 'Down' stuff) tonight, when I spied "Up 100% in popularity this week' on Robert Pattinson's board - I've never seen more than [double digits] increase or decrease before!

Which brings me to something I was thinking of asking you, so I may as well do it here~ Is Robert Pattinson & The whole 'Twilight' phenom as big in England/UK as it is here? I was wondering if it was a mostly American thing, or worldwide.

(I like Robert Pattinson but have not seen any of the 'Twilight' films yet.)

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

Which brings me to something I was thinking of asking you, so I may as well do it here~ Is Robert Pattinson & The whole 'Twilight' phenom as big in England/UK as it is here? I was wondering if it was a mostly American thing, or worldwide.

It's big here but whether it's as big as in America I've no way of telling. I've read about the 'Twilight' phenomenum and seen a lot of pictures of Robert Pattinson but the idea of loving vampires does nothing for me and Pattinson, while pretty, lacks any kind of sex appeal as far as I'm concerned.

However, I have to say that he does apparently appeal to women old enough (just} to be his mother and many of these absolutely lap up the 'Twilight' stories.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

Pattinson, while pretty, lacks any kind of sex appeal as far as I'm concerned.

Pattinson lacks sex appeal to me precisely BECAUSE he's pretty. When I want to go to bed with someone pretty I choose an actual girl, not a boy who looks like one.

...he does apparently appeal to women old enough (just) to be his mother...

Which IMHO is incredibly creepy. It's a symptom of our screwed-up culture that this weirdness is not only tolerated but celebrated, while the label "creepy" is smeared on the wholly natural and typical phenomenon of men lusting after women young enough to be their daughters.

Last week when I was picking up some hardware, the store clerk (who couldn't have been a day over 22) was trying very earnestly in his clumsy adolescent way to flirt with me. It was cute and flattering, but even if I weren't married the idea of letting an immature, even if handsome, boy into bed with me was completely unappealing. But I suppose charity work does appeal to some women.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

Pattinson lacks sex appeal to me precisely BECAUSE he's pretty. When I want to go to bed with someone pretty I choose an actual girl, not a boy who looks like one.

I AM attracted to pretty but only if the man comes across as masculine in all other ways. I find that a very big turn on.

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

I AM attracted to pretty but only if the man comes across as masculine in all other ways. I find that a very big turn on.

Indy, this explains your attraction to James Spader.

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

Indy, this explains your attraction to James Spader.

It does indeed! It also explains my attraction to my real-life love and partner.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

But I suppose charity work does appeal to some women.

That's SO perfect a response, O! I sure hope a certain LURKER sees this, ohhhhh yesssss!

However, I might just contradict myself a bit when I do have to say I have no idea how Robert Pattinson got under my skin (not literally!) because when I was first seeing tons of previews for New Moon (I don't think I even paid attention when the original came out once I realized it featured vampires) he didn't do much for me. Then this past spring, he was on several different shows promoting a non-Twilight film, Remember Me (if you blinked you missed it in theaters) and I don't know, there was something about him...and I saw the film and really enjoyed it, and now I guess you could say I am a fan though the thought of bedding him (especially after I noted on his recent birthday that he was born when I was finishing high school) made me feel dirty. To quote one of my favorite films, "When you were in nappies, I was in flares" except in that one Clive Owen is saying it to Natalie Portman, so it's the older man, younger woman example we are probably more used to/comfortable with (at least here on this board! )
So yes, I can appreciate his pretty face while restraining myself, unlike apparently so many of the 'cougars' out there...

Indy, thanks for the imput. I too think a man with 'pretty' looks who is masculine is an unbeatable combination.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

it's the older man, younger woman example we are probably more used to/comfortable with (at least here on this board!

It's not just us, it's the whole of human culture throughout history until some of the weirder and noisier members of our generation decided it was "creepy". As recently as the '80s, lots of executive types had "trophy wives" young enough to be their daughters.

As for the "cougar" thing, I've said this before and I'll say it again: They may view themselves as sexually powerful "predators", but I view them as pathetic used-up old pussies who only go for the young game because it's so much easier to catch than the prime targets.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

October comes out swinging.

I prefer to think of it as a head shot; my man frowns on wasting ammo.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 15 years ago

My Mom had definite cougar potential when I was growing up. She liked much younger men -boys really- and they liked her. I remember when she was nearly forty and two 16 year old boys in our neighborhood got into a fist fight over which of them would get to mow our lawn!

My dad was amazingly blasé about all of this. I remember once around '98 we were watching Hanson on a tv show and discussing which one was cutest, and Mom liked the youngest, just thirteen at that time! Dad just said conversationally,
"Okay, Bo, it's a felony now."

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

October, I am so proud to say you could flatten a certain skanky cougar with two hands tied behind your back!

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] kaiju0 15 years ago

Well, that might be a bit rough. When I was 22, I did have a brief but rewarding relationship with a woman who was 45. It lasted about 4 months and was nothing more than a sexual relationship, I was not interested in her romantically and to my knowledge she had no such interest in me.

It ended when I left the state to make my life somewhere else (I had to get the hell out of Indiana...just couldn't take living there anymore and I had no decent job prospects there). Had I not left I have no idea how it would have ended. I do know that she married a man who is her contemporary a few years after I'd left, so I think I was a mere dalliance (or perhaps one in a series of dalliances).

I'm only creeped out by such relationships when the younger person in question is demonstrably younger AND closer to the classification of "child" than "adult". Anyone in their 20's, as I was, should be able to make their own decisions and deal with the consequences. If we're talking about someone under the age of 18 (depending on state and local laws) then clearly legality becomes an issue. Opinion matters little in such affairs.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

Well, that might be a bit rough. When I was 22, I did have a brief but rewarding relationship with a woman who was 45...It ended when I left the state to make my life somewhere else...she married a man who is her contemporary a few years after I'd left, so I think I was a mere dalliance...

One dalliance with a younger man does not a cougar make, any more than one doughnut makes a glutton.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

As for the "cougar" thing, I've said this before and I'll say it again: They may view themselves as sexually powerful "predators", but I view them as pathetic used-up old pussies who only go for the young game because it's so much easier to catch than the prime targets.

Why are "cougars" any more "pathetic used-up old pussies" than other women of the same age? Which men are "prime targets" depends on what the woman wants; if she's looking for a provider or a real partner, then a much younger man is a bad bet, but if all she's looking for is a no-strings fling, then a much younger man might be just right; easy to seduce, able to perform, and not looking for commitment.

What turns me off about the "cougar" thing is the "having sex like a man" attitude, because the women I know who have done that, are not happy people. On the other hand, if the "cougar" thinks it's a real relationship, then she's probably deluding herself about the young man's motives. Altogether it seems like a waste of time to me. But there's no reason to insult the women or to suggest that they can't land men their own age; many of them can.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

Why are "cougars" any more "pathetic used-up old pussies" than other women of the same age?..there's no reason to insult the women or to suggest that they can't land men their own age; many of them can.

I didn't say they COULDN'T get men their own age; I said it was easier to get young men, and it is because they're hornier and often don't think past the ends of their cocks. What makes them pathetic is the need to constantly prop up of their egos by going for younger and younger men (a la Demi Moore and Madonna) in an obvious move to convince themselves that they aren't aging.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

What makes them pathetic is the need to constantly prop up of their egos by going for younger and younger men (a la Demi Moore and Madonna) in an obvious move to convince themselves that they aren't aging.

Madonna clearly does have emotional problems; she keeps going for younger and younger men to the point where the current boyfriend is clearly a gigolo. But Demi Moore seems to have a stable marriage. Tina Turner has been in a stable relationship with a much younger man that has lasted for 24 years. I would not categorize all "cougars" the same way.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

Tina Turner has been in a stable relationship with a much younger man that has lasted for 24 years.

See my response to Kaiju above. A woman who forms a stable relationship with a guy who happens to be younger is not a "cougar" as I understand the term. What is an actual cougar? A predatory cat, i.e. a predatory pussy. A woman is only a "cougar" if she compulsively seeks out much younger men.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

A woman who forms a stable relationship with a guy who happens to be younger is not a "cougar" as I understand the term. What is an actual cougar? A predatory cat, i.e. a predatory pussy. A woman is only a "cougar" if she compulsively seeks out much younger men.

I thought "cougar" meant any woman who dates a much younger man; if it means only the one who SERIALLY date much younger men, then I agree, those ones have a problem, but I still wouldn't label them "pathetic used-up old pussies" if you're not going to apply the same label to all women of that age or that experience level.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

I still wouldn't label them "pathetic used-up old pussies" if you're not going to apply the same label to all women of that age or that experience level.

I certainly couldn't do that, considering I myself am of that age and experience level! To me, a woman is "used-up" not merely because she ages, but rather from an inability to age gracefully (good wine improves with age, poor wine turns to vinegar). And the "pathetic" part is my judgment on their frantic attempts to vampirically leech youth from younger and younger partners.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

To me, a woman is "used-up" not merely because she ages, but rather from an inability to age gracefully (good wine improves with age, poor wine turns to vinegar).

I agree.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

I guess it's time to clarify to the group that while I do disdain the label 'cougar' as well as what I consider the 'predatory' female older woman, I have always had a soft spot for Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher's relationship (I don't think I was aware of Tina Turner's)--the fact that he wasn't scared off by her having THREE daughters not that much younger than he was, for one thing; for another, he seems to take their family life and marriage pretty seriously at an age where many guys would still be Hollywood players. (As an aside, his camera commercials are just plain entertaining & never fail to bring a smile to my face.)

I also believe with the right person a loving relationship can happen regardless of age, but I doubt that's typically the case with most 'cougar' types, and yes, I am afraid I would classify Madonna as such, since she drifts through her marriages/relationships like they are no big thing. Word had it when she divorced Guy Ritchie it was because of boredom, "that the relationship had run its course" kind of thing, not that they had huge irreconcilable differences or some serious issue they couldn't work out. Truly committed couples at least try to work it out, so I have little respect for Madonna in that regard.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

And she did say that while she isnt a fan and thinks hes a bad actor, she could see his appeal: "he's a regular dude, totally normal, but there's something about him." She could never articulate what "it" is.

I was just over surfing the Robert Pattinson board (yep, guilty pleasure ) and spied a nice thread asking if anyone had met him, and there were lots of complimentary posts from those who had seen/met Robert. I copied and pasted this one because it used almost the same wording I did when I tried to explain his appeal, this gal who posted said her friend was not a Rob Pattinson fan but even she (her friend) had to admit there is "something about him". All the fan encounters I have read were complimentary, citing RP as a nice guy, down to earth, even a bit quiet or shy, and contrary to popular rumor, he smelled good too!

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

I think my sister did that a few times when we were teenagers. My mother (God love her) truly believed they were just hanging out--my sister was supposed to leave her bedroom door open when they were upstairs but somehow it usually ended up closed...I was too shy as a teenager to have boys over, but would've been mortified having sex with parents and sibling nearby in the house, even if I had!

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

I was too shy as a teenager to have boys over, but would've been mortified having sex with parents and sibling nearby in the house, even if I had!

The idea of "stolen" sex (performed in a place where there is fear of discovery) appeals to some people, but not me; being "caught" by parents, cops or other authority figures is not my idea of excitement. In my entire long sexual history I have only once ever had intercourse in a place whose door couldn't be locked, and never did ANYthing while family members were around.

Now, my first serious girlfriend and I did things together late at night while her mum was in the house, but since we were girls nobody batted an eyelash at us openly sleeping in the same bed. Plus, her mother was crippled and we would've heard her coming long before she got there if she HAD decided to check on us.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

I am, WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, the most hapless person you will EVER meet when it comes to technology. Now apparently I can't even create an album in Facebook--I hit 'browse' and only 6 friggin pics come up, the ones of me which are already downloaded over there! I have a slew of ones I wanted to add, one of my dad, the dogs, me and pcq...and I got nothing. I just e-mailed my sister and cousin and said after this week I am going to go live in a cave somewhere. Seriously, I am so upset right now! First the internet (which I have no control over, but still), then the picture on the TV, now I can't access recently downloaded photos to add them to my friggin Facebook page, which people do ALL.THE.TIME. I am so depressed now, and truly have no idea why I seem to be technological jinx.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

People suck. Certain relatives of mine who use me for cheap labor seem to think I have a dollar tree growing money in my back yard. Nice. If I've been working here for the past MONTH, then you KNOW I don't have money for all the crap you want me to put money towards! End of story.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 15 years ago

Aww, JJ, I'm so sorry.

Here's a peeve: you know how the World Cup is being held in South Africa? What a great opportunity for struggling food vendors to make some money selling delicious, unusual authentic native cuisine to the hordes of visitors from all over the world descending on Johannesburg for a whole month, right?

Nope. Because FIFA, the soccer federation, has banned food vendors from coming within two miles of the stadium -and the 'forbidden zone' is clearly marked and enforced. But why? Because sponzsors like McDonalds and Coca-Cola don't want any competition from the locals, and all you see outside the stadium are golden freaking arches.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

FIFA, the soccer federation, has banned food vendors from coming within two miles of the stadium -and the 'forbidden zone' is clearly marked and enforced. But why? Because sponzsors like McDonalds and Coca-Cola don't want any competition from the locals, and all you see outside the stadium are golden freaking arches.

It's not just that, Missy; governments of third-world countries are notorious for trying not to appear third-world when hosting international events. I'm sure the South African government feels that native food vendors make them look provincial, while McDonald's and Coke make them look like everyone else.

When Greece had the Olympics a few years ago, it did the same thing by banning prostitutes (whose profession is legal in Greece) from the Olympic districts and attempting to harass them out of Athens altogether for the duration of the event.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 15 years ago

Nevertheless, I honestly hope visitors will go a little bit out of their way to throw them some business.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

I honestly hope visitors will go a little bit out of their way to throw them some business.

I do, too, and I hope that happened in Greece as well.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Ha, O! Hopefully it did. (Winkgrinning back at ya)

Hey, has Paladin's work ever taken him to Greece? It's so gorgeous, and I was dying to go after seeing it in movies the past couple years.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 15 years ago

I'm going to access my amazing psychic abilities and guess that Mamma Mia was the movie that sold you on Greece!

But I have a whole new peeve. Most of you have probably heard that a masseuse has claimed that during a three hour massage Al Gore made several unwelcome passes at her. I'm not sure if I believe it or not, but my wrathful ire was awakened when we were discussing it at work and some guy said matter-of-factly,"I don't believe it. After all, she's 54 years old." So I temporarily grew a spine and said,"Now stop right there. Are you actually suggesting that men only proposition Miss Universe runners-up? Because I have two words for you: Hugh Grant. If a handsome young movie star could covet Divine Brown then yes, I believe a chunky elder statesman could make a pass at a menopausal masseuse." He started to say something, and I cut him off with,"And by the way, 'the words 'Nobel Prize winner' are not as big an aphrodisiac as you might think."

I rather enjoy being a conversational Ninja.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

Most of you have probably heard that a masseuse has claimed that during a three hour massage Al Gore made several unwelcome passes at her.

A guy making a pass at a woman is not news. What next, everyone making a big deal about a dog biting a man or rain in New Orleans?

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] WhippedHoney 15 years ago

Al Gore is 62 so why is it hard to believe he might have made a pass at a woman who is now 54? She's almost a decade younger than he is.

Masseuse Molly Haggerty has called Al Gore "a pervert and a sexual predator" in her PAID interview with the National Enquirer. Molly, if you think a man is a pervert just for wanting to have consensual sex with YOU, then what does that say about your opinion of yourself? Do you think mentally healthy men are supposed to find YOU sexually repugnant?

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

Hey, has Paladin's work ever taken him to Greece?

No, there aren't any US Army bases there. But if this new job comes through (fingers crossed) anything's possible in the future.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

There is a tendency on the part of some people to believe if someone is straight, they must be homophobic...

... and as a result I too often find myself being extra friendly/welcoming just to prove I'm not homophobic - and I resent being put in this position.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

"... and as a result I too often find myself being extra friendly/welcoming just to prove I'm not homophobic - and I resent being put in this position."

So do I; I solved the problem by not making any effort. I've found that when someone uses the tactic I described in my previous post and I don't fall for it, they usually give up and let it go.

Extract from Is attending Kylie concerts a fundamental human right?" - an article by Charles Moore:

" ... In one very important way we have changed for the better. We have decided that sexual behaviour between consenting adults in private is something that the law should not try to control. Anyone who belives in freedom and opposed the state control of private life should rejoice.

But in other respects we have changed for the worse. Instead of promoting tolerance - a concept which is only necessary when dealing with things which one doesn't like - moden society insists on approval. The approval has to be pretty much unqualified - gay promiscuity, gay sex in public, gay pornography are admired as expressions of ... fundamental right ...

If you say things that are critical of homosexual behaviour you are "homophobic". The word is favoured because a "phobia" is a sign of derangement rather than a legitimate point of view. ...

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Nobody I know (including the gays/lesbians) is promoting gay promiscuity or gay public sex. I think the author is generalizing a bit much there...

You can certainly be tolerant or even approving of someone BEING homosexual without promoting or approving of those undesired behaviors. I fail to see why people seem to think it has to be 'ALL or nothing'.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

I think the author is generalizing a bit much there...

I disagree; he isn't generalizing at all. Of course MOST members of any large group are moderate, but the noisy, vulgar radicals get all the attention and often manage to push things so far even the moderate members of the group are unhappy with the change. For example, look at feminism; most women feel that radical feminists went way too far, and as a result feminism has lost considerable clout since its heydey in the early '90s. The same will eventually happen with radical gay activists, who inspire embarassment and revulsion in the average homosexual, but in the meantime we're stuck with their loathsome shennanigans and the disgusting spectacle of politicians and other groups who prostitute themselves to public opinion crawling to lick their boots.

Tolerance is just that, the principle that we TOLERATE things we don't like as long as they hurt nobody. Enforced approval of every kind of behavior, no matter how disgusting or extreme, is nothing short of mind control.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

Oh, definitely! The younger folks here may not remember the early '90s, when nofeminists had so much influence that people like Catherine "All Heterosexual Intercourse Is Rape" MacKinnon were interviewed as serious commentators on shows like Nightline, and we were treated to the ludicrous spectacle of female members of the House of Representatives marching across the capitol grounds en masse (in a carefully arranged photo op, of course) to "demand" that the Senate accept without question or examination the claims of Anita Hill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anita_Hill).

In fact, their influence died off rather quickly after that; all through the late '90s more women left the workforce each year than joined it, organizations like NOW steadily lost membership, and we have been subjected to a host of articles written by neofeminists bemoaning the fact that young women consider them to be irrelevant at best and embarassing at worst.

It is the fate of all influential radical movements to be doomed by their very success. Once such a movement succeeds in convincing the majority of the populace that it does have a point, both laws and public opinion change in the direction desired by the movement until all of its more moderate members and sympathetic non-members are placated, at which time the only ones left in the movement are the core members (who really only want power) and those whose demands are so extreme they could never be satisfied in a heterogeneous population. The movement then becomes a solution in search of a problem, a marginalized relic of an earlier time staffed entirely by an "old guard" pining for its glory days and a few stragglers from the lunatic fringe.

Previous examples from history include the Puritans, the various "modernization" societies of the Enlightenment, French Republicans, Populists, Marxists and black civil rights groups, to name just a few.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 15 years ago

Straggler from the lunatic fringe here! Sorry, O, but the feminist movement is important to me -I volunteer at Planned Parenthood, etc - and I don't understand attempts to pathologise it. If younger women are not as fervent or zealous as they once were, I think the problem is complacency, a conviction that the battle is now irrevocably won. I certainly can't imagine a return to a world where women had to bring their marriage certificate to the doctor in order to get birth control pills, as they did in 1962.

Also the precarious economic situation is making them feel vulnerable, especially because they don't yet have careers or involvement in the public community, -and because it takes time and life experience to apprehend that often the personal is political. And to become aware of how these pressures operate in our lives, and how to negotiate around them.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

I think the problem is complacency, a conviction that the battle is now irrevocably won.

The battle IS irrevocably won, at least in Western society. Once previously "radical" ideas become mainstream, there is no going back within that society. The West can no more return to institutionalized sexism than it can return to monarchy, serfdom, slavery, institutionalized racism, or absolute laissez-faire capitalism.

The marginalization of feminism is due to its own anti-male, anti-sex and anti-common-sense excesses, not to any Faludian "backlash" by the imaginary "Patriarchy."

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] kaiju0 15 years ago

Missy, thank you. My wife volunteers at PP every week. I applaud you.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Every week, Kaiju? I applaud that! (Missy, you too. We need more of your breed of "lunatic fringe") I wish I had time to volunteer--I am involved with adding my support to various local causes I believe in such as Clothes That Work (they assist lower-income women & those who need it with interview and job attire, plus interviewing tips, etc) and Food For Friends, a local project that helps feed needy families and people around the holidays (food is collected from around Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve) but those who share their time have my utmost respect.

May I ask what the volunteers do at Planned Parenthood? I was under the impression they had a small staff who did everything and didn't realize there were volunteer opportunities.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] kaiju0 15 years ago

She basically is a bouncer. She greets patients/clients at the door and makes sure the protestors keep the legally mandated distance from the facility.

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

Straggler from the lunatic fringe here! Sorry, O, but the feminist movement is important to me -I volunteer at Planned Parenthood, etc -

Missy, what does Planned Parenthood have to do with the feminist movement? What's the connexion?

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

Indy, in the United States abortion is for some reason a hot-button issue; social conservatives tend to be adamantly opposed to it in every circumstance, and feminists tend to support every form of it in every circumstance for any reason. Those of us who realize that moderation is the key are shouted down by both "sides", and both try to completely silence each other. Since Planned Parenthood does offer abortion advice, the anti-abortion fanatics feel compelled to protest outside of their offices and even harass young women they see going in.

Unfortunately, one of the reasons the feminist movement has become marginalized is that it only supports a "woman's right to choice over her own body" if that choice involves abortion or following a male-like career. Mainsteam feminism is adamantly and vociferously opposed to a "woman's right to choice" if she chooses to display her own body to men or to have sex with men on her own terms and for her own profit. On sexual issues mainstream feminism is usually the ally of religious fundamentalism rather than its enemy, and thereby reveals the deep hypocrisy which has made it irrelevant and even embarrassing to many modern women.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 15 years ago

Indy, Planned Parenthood provides a lot of neccessary services like contraceptive information and breast and cervical cancer screenings, but even they have to walk past the idjits and banshees. It's so unfair to me that insurance companies are required to pay for Viagra, but not birth control pills. That's how I know it's not really about "dead babies" at all, because the same protesters are also against that coverage for contraceptives.

I'm not a huge fan of the Pill, by the way; I only took it for a few months and then switched to a Paraguard IUV copper ring. They install those at PP, too.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

It's so unfair to me that insurance companies are required to pay for Viagra, but not birth control pills.

What's even more stupid is that they'll pay for baby delivery, including fabulously expensive C-sections...but not the cheap means of keeping their company off the hook for such expense!

And don't even get me started on their moronic policies regarding estrogen replacement, which they deem "nonessential" even for women who had hysterectomies at 28.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Yes, here's an icon for insurance companies (typing in either 'odd' or 'gonemad' will get you there)~

Are C-sections really "fabulously expensive"? They seem to occur more amongst women in high-risk pregnancies, and my sister wanted to avoid one at all costs if she could, because she was worried about the recovery process (it is major surgery, after all.) She was able to deliver my nephew the 'regular way' in the end, I am happy to say. (Not that it would have been a bad thing if he'd had to be born via C-section, say due to circumstances that could've been out of her control, i.e., breach or other health issue. It's much better not to endanger the life of the mother or child, if it comes to that.)

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

Are C-sections really "fabulously expensive"?

Over $10,000 in Louisiana 15 years ago; I expect a lot more than that now, especially in more expensive states. Perhaps Missy can give us a modern estimate for New York?

They seem to occur more amongst women in high-risk pregnancies...

Not in the US they don't. Obstetricians are so terrified of malpractice suits they insist on them at the slightest sign of irregularity, so that they've reached literally epidemic proportions. Google "cesarian epidemic" and you'll see what I mean.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

Since Planned Parenthood does offer abortion advice, the anti-abortion fanatics feel compelled to protest outside of their offices and even harass young women they see going in.

That explains it, (as does your post Missy). I thought from it's name it was just just about preventing unwanted pregnancies.

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

Reading this brought a wry smile to my face:

Working mothers have created young people with "too much self-esteem and not enough steel in their soul", according to Fay Weldon.

The writer who inspired a generation of feminists said the decline of the family had left children to rely on friends, teachers and the state for moral guidance rather than their parents.

"The young are brought up not in families but by their peers and in schools, because with women out to work the family is not the unit it was. People seldom sit down to meals together," said Weldon, 78. "They go to school which teaches them citizenship and ethics, and socializes them. They are very nice, but they are not children or young people as we used to know them."

She added: They have so much self-esteem. They are not very good at self-improvement. It's somehow as if they are not free thinkers. They are just told what they are told and their morality is the morality of the state, not the family.

I'm not dismissing youth, but everbody wants to be so nice and kind, and I can't help feeling a little more steel in the soul is necessary."

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

So, if someone is straight, it does not make them an insensitive, homophobic neanderthal - it just means they're straight.

One nice thing about being openly bisexual is that I can thumb my nose at people who make such accusations.

However, one of MY pet peeves is the word "homophobia", which does NOT mean what it is popularly used to mean. First off, the contruction "homo" (same) + "phobia" (fear) means "fear of sameness", and that is in fact what the term means clinically, a morbid fear of monotony or changelessness. It is a linguistic absurdity to break off the prefix of a word in order to represent the whole word; if that were allowable "homophobia" could just as easily mean a fear of homophones or homogeneized milk. "Acrophobia" is not a fear of acrostic puzzles, "gynephobia" is not a fear of gynecologists, "pantophobia" is not a fear of pantographs, and "homophobia" is not a fear of homosexuals.

And what makes it even worse is that even if the word WERE properly constructed, it is badly (and pompously) misapplied. I find the pretense that if someone dislikes something he must be afraid of it (a "phobia" is an irrational, morbid fear, not a mere dislike). I dislike modern television, but I'm not afraid of it; neither am I afraid of spinach, rap, swimming in the ocean, living in cities or any of the other things I dislike. For homos to pretend that those who dislike them must be "afraid" of them is the height of self-aggrandizement and reveals the true sense of inferiority behind all their frantic posturing. For those in doubt, examine closely the desperate lies and sophistry promoted by Big Bird on that thread most of us have abandoned and ask yourself if a person who liked and accepted himself would feel such a compelling need to resort to falsehood and distortion in order to promote his bizarre agenda.

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

I think this thread will have an unlimited shelf life.

Hell to the yes, Doc! I envision 'Venting Thread, Pt. 2' for certain. Not because I like being a complainer, more just the world we live in--if I didn't vent in my writing, I'd go insane, or at least that's how it feels most days.

I am currently putting together a piece on the unhealthy level of cynicism that is EVERYWHERE nowadays--it's getting a bit ridiculous when multiple examples of this are flying out at me from every angle as of late.

And inspired by a FB friend's post yesterday, I'll mention right now my peeve of bringing cell phones and such to family outings (at a park, picnic or lake, I mean--I understand having one around in case of emergency, but couldn't you leave it in your car trunk for a few fricken hours if you couldn't leave it home??) His status was how his dad's brand new iPhone ended up in the lake and I was absolutely the only person on the entire thread who saw it as possible karmic justice. Everyone else was saying how awful it was. I offered my sympathy (besides my comment) because that would suck, but seriously, you can't wait until you are back at somebody's house to show off the phone??

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] indymovies 15 years ago

... I'll mention right now my peeve of bringing cell phones and such to family outings (at a park, picnic or lake, ...

... and to art galleries, exhibitions, restaurants - and leaving them SWITCHED ON!

I carry mine everywhere - and I mean everywhere - just like a comfort blanket but it's always switched off when I'm in public places or around other people.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

it's always switched off when I'm in public places or around other people.

Indy, you are proof common sense still exists! Which makes me happy to hear.

My first clue that the awful woman I had the falling out with was someone I don't need as a friend should've been when she told me an anecdote about how funny she thought it was when her cell phone would go off in church (usually set to some wildly inappropriate ringtone.) I remember being a bit horrified she had it set to go off in church--if absolutely necessary there is a vibrate function, I believe--and remember trying to find a diplomatic way to tell her that is rude. Looking back I wish I'd just flat-out told her what a wacko she was!

She used to laugh and say how the pastor knew it was just her phone going off--I think if I were her pastor I'd have shown her the door..!

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] Doc-McCoy 15 years ago

"Hell to the yes, Doc! I envision 'Venting Thread, Pt. 2' for certain. Not because I like being a complainer, more just the world we live in--if I didn't vent in my writing, I'd go insane, or at least that's how it feels most days."

It's a good idea to vent, even if it's only in writing - so your thread could be seen as a public service to the regulars here, and will probably hit 500 posts or more.

"I am currently putting together a piece on the unhealthy level of cynicism that is EVERYWHERE nowadays--it's getting a bit ridiculous when multiple examples of this are flying out at me from every angle as of late."

I have always been very cyncial; even as a small child I could see right through people I thought were phony, and being a child I would say so. This caused my mother an enormous amount of frustation, but my father liked that aspect of my personality, and at poker games he hosted with his cigar-chomping buddies in the military, he would have me entertain them with just how cyncial a six-year old could be.

But you're right that society is getting more and more cynical. We are a completely tabloid-based society who builds people up, then tears them down with even more satisfaction.

"I didn't drive 600 miles for the amusement of morons"

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Doc, I bet your 6-year-old cynical self was something to behold! I think a healthy amount of cynicism and critical assessment skills are a positive thing--after all, how much credibility would we have as a society if we smiled and nodded in agreement with everything? However, we've taken it to extremes and crossed over to the 'dark side' so to speak--these days, it is apparently seen as a sign of weakness to like much of anything.

Which brings me to my next vent, which is, if I have to hear my sister talk ONE MORE TIME about foods she says are 'unhealthy' I am going to lose it, people!!
Because these are not junk foods which are obviously 'empty calories' but foods our parents and grandparents use to make their staples, such as apples, milk and canned vegetables. She keeps posting articles about how regular supermarket foods are loaded with toxins and therefore "bad for you". Sure, organic produce might be better for you in some instances (if you can get over how it's grown!) but she acts like people who largely buy their food from the supermarket in the non-organic section are going to die tomorrow.
She's totally rubbed off on my brother-in-law, and this is a guy who existed on fast food and takeout before they got married--so yeah, real discriminating there.

I am in a bad mood anyway because I can't even access my e-mail (not sure what happened between earlier this evening and now, it was OK earlier but I had to leave) so I left her a not-so-happy reply on her FB page and told her to go eat some ice cream!

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 15 years ago

- javajuly on Tue Jul 6 2010
Which brings me to my next vent, which is, if I have to hear my sister talk ONE MORE TIME about foods she says are 'unhealthy' I am going to lose it, people!!
Because these are not junk foods which are obviously 'empty calories' but foods our parents and grandparents use to make their staples, such as apples, milk and canned vegetables. She keeps posting articles about how regular supermarket foods are loaded with toxins and therefore "bad for you". Sure, organic produce might be better for you in some instances (if you can get over how it's grown!) but she acts like people who largely buy their food from the supermarket in the non-organic section are going to die tomorrow.

I think I can top this, JJ, because I have a friend who will only eat locally grown produce. I know you're thinking, "What's wrong with that? Especially since you can't go 100 feet without passing a farmer's market." That's what I said at first, before I fully comprehended the ramifications. When I agreed with her, she responded by looking balefully at the bananas ripening on my counter. I said,"What? Bananas are tropical. I'm not putting a local farmer out of business by buying those." But by her reckoning, if something cannot be produced locally, then you shouldn't buy it. What!!?? No bananas or mangoes or passion fruit or kiwis? No Dole canned pineapple? (Plus, I own a small share in a pomagranate & chili pepper farming cooperative in Rwanda, so I guess that makes me the enemy.)

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

No way, it doesn't make you the enemy, it makes you a normal person who appreciates that when a food cannot be grown or produced locally, you support wherever it CAN come from! Some people...sorry but your friend is a bit out there, so I'll dedicate the icon to her.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] Miss_October 15 years ago

Which brings me to my next vent, which is, if I have to hear my sister talk ONE MORE TIME about foods she says are 'unhealthy' I am going to lose it, people!! Because these are not junk foods which are obviously 'empty calories' but foods our parents and grandparents use to make their staples, such as apples, milk and canned vegetables. She keeps posting articles about how regular supermarket foods are loaded with toxins and therefore "bad for you". Sure, organic produce might be better for you in some instances (if you can get over how it's grown!) but she acts like people who largely buy their food from the supermarket in the non-organic section are going to die tomorrow.

Whenever people try that with me, I always smile sweetly and ask when the last time they were sick was. And after they answer, I reply "I caught the flu from my stepson in 2007, and I had laryngitis once in 2004. And I eat whatever I like, as long as I cook it myself."

Woman is the Earth and Man is the Sky.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

O, I think I might start using that one! Because for the most part, I have had less colds and flu *knock wood* than my sister over the past seven years.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 15 years ago

javajuly on Sun Jul 4 2010 15:52:33
I'll mention right now my peeve of bringing cell phones and such to family outings (at a park, picnic or lake, I mean--I understand having one around in case of emergency, but couldn't you leave it in your car trunk for a few fricken hours if you couldn't leave it home?? But seriously, you can't wait until you are back at somebody's house to show off the phone??

On Monday the battery on the new cell phone I just got in April died -I knew something was wrong, because it was taking five hours to recharge instead of 90 minutes. I've never tried to buy a new battery before -phones are so cheap, I just replaced them- but why is it so difficult to find the batteries when cell phones are everywhere? None of the 400 hundred million wireless retailers within six blocks of my house sell batteries, it turns out, so I had to go online. I found them at Amazon for .99 cents. Cheap, right? So cheap I decided to get four. BUT when I put 'quantity:4' in my basket Amazon adjusted the shipping costs from $4.69 to $18.79. Silly me, I'd thought $4.69 would be sufficient to ship four tiny little batteries. I changed the order back to one, since there was no email address where I could contact the seller and request a 'bulk' rate.

I'm beginning to think the recession is illusory or at least fed from within and retail sales would skyrocket into the stratosphere if only we could find the things we actually need and bypass these mindless stumbling blocks. The place where I buy my carnation perfume is $1.99 shipping for one bottle, and one dollar more for each extra, with a cap of $9.95. You can get a thousand bottles shipped to you for that $9.95. It seems such a sensible and sound system.

Rant over.

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Something went down in Columbus today, but my sister doesn't want to talk about it, at least not now. She did say sometime when it's just the two of us she might tell me about it. It doesn't reassure me to hear stuff about 'really bad days' when I've been frequently waking up in a panic most of the summer...

For example, for over a week before I came home from Columbus, I was having that panicky, anxious feeling--I just knew something bad was going to happen, and I was right. (It also had to do with the dentist, as I figured.) Interestingly, the transition of coming home after being away for so long was easier than I'd anticipated.

I just hope I still have work up there...lately I've been freaking out about money. Partly because my teeth = money, but in general feeling like this is not fun.

Edit~OK, I know some of what happened and at least for the moment, I can return to panicking over my teeth. Until the next crisis comes along...

Edit #2~And this night just got weirder...but I can't really talk about it here.
My head hurts...

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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[–] IsoldeJaneHolland 15 years ago

Oh, lambiekin, I'm so sorry. Poor V.

Are you still going back there this weekend then?

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[–] javajuly 15 years ago

Yes, still going back. My ride should be here in an hour or so.

Hope to talk to you from there.

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

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