This Happened

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » Sat Mar 02, 2024 11:24 am

Oh yeah! I have a new granddaughter! Olivia June was born on February 27!

Tahlvin · Post by **Tahlvin** » Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:20 am

Oh yeah! My trans child officially got married to their trans partner! They legally married a few months ago in order to get their partner on their insurance through work. But this weekend they had an "elopement" and had a ceremony to make it "official". It was just the two of them and a photographer they hired to take some pictures, at a nice little cabin along the Mississippi River.

Phoebe · Post by **Phoebe** » Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:11 pm

Ah, congratulations! It is not possible that we have kids old enough to marry, is it? Yet how exciting! Glad they were able to celebrate in scenic locale.

Post by **Mike** » Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:40 pm

A. Congrats Kyle! Baby Oli is adorable as all get-out.

B. Congrats Tahlvin! Adding someone new to the family can be pretty awesome.

C. More important than either of those: I bought a truck. 2008 Ford F-150 Lariat Super Crew Cab. One of Lisa's coworkers is married to a diesel mechanic, and he buys vehicles to work on when there's downtime at the shop. He fixes them up and then sells them for enough to keep him in vehicles to fix (plus a little extra). He gave us this one for $4,000. That's with a new engine he had just put in it. Holy shit... we bought it to have as an extra vehicle and because we're tired of having to borrow a truck when we need one, but I LOVE my truck. I normally gravitate towards small, fuel-efficient things, and I've always viewed trucks as pretty wasteful as a day to day car... a view I still hold... But I love driving it! If it didn't average 12.5 miles per gallon, I'd use this as my full time car.

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » Wed Mar 06, 2024 5:24 pm

Trucks are so much fun until you have to fill the gas tank. But I’m jealous. A lawyer I work with lives on 20+ acres out in the hill country and has an old truck that he keeps just to haul and move shit. I’m so jealous- I hate having to borrow my dad’s sports pickup to haul off brush. But with five drivers living in my house and five cars crowding my driveway and curb, I can’t justify it. But I’m super jelly.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Mar 08, 2024 5:56 pm

Also, immediately after buying the truck, I wound up with a huge hillbilly beard. It's like I murdered Tim Allen and woke up with a full Santa beard the next day. Must be a truck thing.

Phoebe · Post by **Phoebe** » Fri Mar 08, 2024 7:42 pm

The truck has control of you. Can you be sure you're the same person? It's pretty exciting to have a new truck though, even if it means letting it rule your facial hairs.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:15 pm

But the truck's convinced me that it looks good on me, so I'm not complaining

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 3:35 pm

I wish I had a talking truck that only complimented me.

But on the other hand, I have a car that basically drives itself. You know what? I'll start a new thread.

Akiva · Post by **Akiva** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:00 am

Two fights on my floor before 2nd period started. I got body checked dealing with them.

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 2:06 pm

I was the guest teacher for a four hour math and economics class for a dozen homeschoolers. I thought it was going to be horrible and no one would pay attention- but it went so great! Very fun.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:01 pm

My eighth and final stint as Post-Prom party chaperone begins now. In four hours, I shall be free!

Plus I get to see a hypnotist. That's always a good show.

Phoebe · Post by **Phoebe** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:02 pm

A hypnotist like therapeutic or performance based? We have become the default pre/post party house for my current high schooler. I thought I would hate this but it's actually pretty good - everyone is present and accounted for and reasonably safe in this spot, I don't have to drive much besides back and forth to the school twice, and the kids generally don't hurt the house and are good kids. Hopefully it will stay like this into the future.

Post by **Mike** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:20 pm

Performance. A hypnotist show. I have seen four such shows at proms (they do it every other year so each kid has a chance to see it once), and I've been to two others... one at a Ren Faire where my oldest, Jacob, was hypnotized and once at the Funny Bone in Omaha. The shows have never failed to entertain, and they are generally family friendly. The one at the Funny Bone involved raunchier jokes, but still nothing that the participants would be mortified at taking part in. Plus there's generally 6-12 people be hypnotized at once, so it's less individually embarrassing to know you were just one of many.

Mando · Post by **Mando** » Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:05 pm

I saw a bald eagle on my way to work. I had to turn around and go back to be sure. I take a video on my phone.
I have never seen one in the wild before.
Hide your cats, hide your kids!

Phoebe · Post by **Phoebe** » Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:21 pm

Wow, amazing! I would like to see one closer - we've seen them from a distance but even small with aid of binoculars. One cannot go close to the nests at all.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:30 pm

I met a possum in my yard this morning! Or rather, I watched as my dog met her. It was 3:30 and Cricket was peeing when this possum peeked it's head around the corner of the neighbor's house. So the two were maybe 10 feet apart... both obviously startled by the other... and the possum looked way bigger than my little 8 pound dog, but a lot of that may have just been a bristled coat. Either way, they locked eyes for maybe 3 seconds and then both of decides there was nothing to see here. They each turned around and walked slowly away from each other.

But it was exciting to see one of the possums that close for even that short bit. We have a healthy and stable population of them in the neighborhood. Neighbors see them from time to time. But the possums and I don't keep the same hours, so in 25 years in this house, this is maybe my sixth or seventh sighting on our block. It just makes me happy knowing they're around. Same as the squirrels and the rabbits and even the occasional raccoon... although I don't think the raccoons are locals.

Anyway... uh... Hey! Possums!

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 4:05 pm

Oh man- my dogs would kill a possum so quick. Squirrels are a regular thing for them. A possum? I think one dog would pounce on it while the other one announced in a booming voice, "FINISH HIM!"

Phoebe · Post by **Phoebe** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 7:34 pm

I believe this very thing played itself out once among my dogs and a young, small possum, which was terribly unfortunate because the possums are quite valuable. Luckily we have many possums and the larger ones are too intimidating for them to approach. The possum is so beneficial to have around.

Akiva · Post by **Akiva** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 2:43 pm

In an actual lockdown. Reports of a guy with a gun during afternoon dismissal.

Akiva · Post by **Akiva** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 4:50 pm

Akiva wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2024 2:43 pm In an actual lockdown. Reports of a guy with a gun during afternoon dismissal.

Ended without incident. False alarm it seems.

Tahlvin · Post by **Tahlvin** » Wed May 01, 2024 3:34 pm

Active shooter situation at a small town middle school just a short distance southwest of us. Sounds like the suspect was "neutralized" before getting into the school and no kids are hurt, thank goodness.

Akiva · Post by **Akiva** » Thu May 02, 2024 7:38 am

Scary. To put it mildly.

Akiva · Post by **Akiva** » Thu May 23, 2024 12:43 pm

I'm scheduled to take the first test for the process of getting certified to teach elementary school on Sunday. I'm nervous as hell about it.

Tahlvin · Post by **Tahlvin** » Thu May 23, 2024 4:12 pm

Good luck!

Akiva · Post by **Akiva** » Sun May 26, 2024 9:37 am

Got to take my daughter to see the great J Robbins last night.

Post by **Mike** » Sun May 26, 2024 10:21 am

Nice! I assume it was an awesome show?

Akiva · Post by **Akiva** » Sun May 26, 2024 10:48 am

Mike wrote: ↑Sun May 26, 2024 10:21 am Nice! I assume it was an awesome show?

It was. My daughter loved it too.

Tahlvin · Post by **Tahlvin** » Tue May 28, 2024 3:24 am

I found out a couple I'm friends with mainly online, but haven't had much interaction with for several years, are divorcing.

Post by **Mike** » Tue May 28, 2024 11:11 am

That always feels icky.

Post by **Mike** » Tue May 28, 2024 7:15 pm

No shade here, Tahlvin, but that may have been more than someone wants to share. I don't know who we're talking about or what the situation is, but I'm uncomfortable with things that I don't know that the person wants shared. I put the post in a non-public forum for now.

And I get that the reveal was minor and not mean at all, but better safe than sorry while I ponder it.

Tahlvin · Post by **Tahlvin** » Wed May 29, 2024 4:08 am

Fair enough. I debated sharing that much, and will say no more for now.

Mando · Post by **Mando** » Wed May 29, 2024 11:53 pm

venomous snakes all over the place on my farm. Rhonda killed a copperhead using a garden tool this afternoon while I was at work.

I took tomorrow off to do some anti-snake activities like extra mowing and clearing of tree limbs, etc.

Phoebe · Post by **Phoebe** » Tue Jun 04, 2024 8:13 pm

Burn it all and salt the earth? Are these the measures?! The tarantulas are steadily coming north too.

We have wolf spiders here and I met two of them outdoors. Thanks for being outdoors, please remain there! Very beneficial outdoors.

Mando · Post by **Mando** » Mon Jul 01, 2024 6:13 pm

Well for our 34th Anniversary we bought a new dog for the farm and rocking chairs for the porch. Yep, that's where we are in life

Our last dog had died a year ago and we really need one to keep deer away, etc. We found an ad from a farm over in Alabama that had a menagerie of animals and no less than 13 dogs...eight of which were border collies and now we have Louis I (or just Louie) he only barfed once on the ride home and love the AC on and lying on the basement floor when he sneaks in.

I also got served a court summons for an accident that happened almost 2 years ago that my insurance company has been dealing with but got no traction...stayed up til 4 AM reading through it and not having a clue...got up at 10 and took it to the insurance agent. Evidently when the insurance adjuster low-balled their claim the two parties stopped communicating...uggh. Can't people just leave me alone

Akiva · Post by **Akiva** » Tue Jul 16, 2024 9:15 am

I had a dream that I was playing a game with Mike and Kyle, and Kyle was such a dick!

Tahlvin · Post by **Tahlvin** » Tue Jul 16, 2024 9:25 am

I find that dream believable.

DMDarcs · Post by **DMDarcs** » Tue Jul 16, 2024 12:41 pm

In January/February, I spent a month in the hospital. I was diagnosed with end stage renal disease, and have been on dialysis 3 nights a week since February. I am in the process of moving to peritoneal dialysis, and had the necessary surgery a bout 3 weeks ago, just waiting for the healing process to complete and then it's a few weeks of training. I was bound to a walker for awhile after the hospital stay due to weakness and muscle atrophied, but am fully mobile again.

In April, Mrs. Darcs asked for a divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. I was kicked out of the house on June 2nd. So basically, right as I was becoming fully mobile again, I then had to move out. I am currently living in my parent's basement, waiting for paperwork to start the process officially. In the mean time, I am still paying for the house that I'm not living in as she doesn't make enough to pay the mortgage. I have been trying to see the kids as much as I can during the weekdays, but need to leave when she arrives home from work. I also have the kids every other weekend, but it's been tough trying to come up with sleeping spaces for both kids where they feel comfortable.

Tahlvin · Post by **Tahlvin** » Tue Jul 16, 2024 1:59 pm

My heart goes out to you. I can't help much when we live so far apart, but let me know if there is anything at all I can do to help, even if it's just doing something to distract your mind for awhile. I love you (in a platonic way).

Akiva · Post by **Akiva** » Tue Jul 16, 2024 2:50 pm

I’m so sorry to hear all that. Terrible year for you.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Jul 16, 2024 7:19 pm

I was just in Texas. At Yancey's request, I brought back some Best Maid Pickle Beer for him. Can't bring it to work, so he stopped at my house last night. He parked behind my car, and I met him at the door with his beer. He hobbled back to his car and I went inside.

I went to my bedroom and sat down next to my wife, and before I could say, "That was Yancey at the door," there was a screech and a crash from outside. We both ran out to find that Yancey was gone, but in the spot where he had sat not two minutes before was a Jeep Cherokee lodged in the back of my wife's car.

Holy shit!

The full explanation is that the Cherokee was driving past our block. My neighbor two doors over backed his RAV4 out of his driveway without looking. The Cherokee swerved, but the RAV4 still manages to slam into the Cherokee's tire, which popped. This tipped the Jeep up on two wheels. Out of control, he cranked the wheel around and slammed on the brakes, and when the Jeep was level again, it went straight up my driveway and crashed.

No one was hurt. All three vehicles are still drivable (after putting the spare on the Jeep), and only my neighbor was ticketed Everyone is properly insured, so my car will be fixed without costing me anything.

Phoebe · Post by **Phoebe** » Sun Jul 21, 2024 10:08 am

DMDarcs wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2024 12:41 pm In January/February, I spent a month in the hospital.

I'm so sorry, you have been through so much! It is really nice to hear from you though and it's nice to hear that you're up on your feet again! Hopefully things will keep moving in a good direction from here.

Phoebe · Post by **Phoebe** » Sun Jul 21, 2024 10:10 am

Mike wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2024 7:19 pm I The Cherokee swerved, but the RAV4 still manages to slam into the Cherokee's tire, which popped. This tipped the Jeep up on two wheels. Out of control, he cranked the wheel around and slammed on the brakes, and when the Jeep was level again, it went straight up my driveway and crashed.

This is wild! I can't help but thinking, wasn't there somewhere else he could have driven to crash instead of directly into her car?! But I guess no, if he totally lost control it just landed wherever it landed. Aaagh!

Phoebe · Post by **Phoebe** » Sun Jul 21, 2024 10:16 am

I finally googled enough to realize - or perhaps the AI that lives in the phone network saw fit to tell me - there is a known Thing called "Rabies OCD". Haha yes, yes. Because rabies exposure is the perfect combination of uncertainty about multiple unlikely factors, and certainty about a solution that is very expensive and difficult and that you don't want to pursue unless you have to.

And now there is an uptick of mosquito-borne encephalitis for which a vaccine is possible but not yet available, and it might be the kind of thing you can't find readily at the drugstore. So it will probably end up being the same kind of thing in this category. I don't understand why they can't just come up for a rabies vaccine for humans that is similar in ease to cats and dogs. That is the OCD talking. But since I have beaten it down, I'm happy to live in this world where you only do that when it makes sense, and it rarely makes sense to do. I don't like it though. It is helpful to know that this problem is a real thing that affects a lot of people similarly, because its contours are the perfect storm.

Tahlvin · Post by **Tahlvin** » Tue Aug 20, 2024 3:11 am

My oldest and their partner are moving to Seattle! They got a job at a daycare center just a ways north of the Space Needle and found an apartment a few blocks away from their work. They are flying out on 8/26 while my wife and I will be driving their car out to them over Labor Day weekend. They're flying because a) they have a cat that won't handle the drive well but can be doped up for a half-day worth of flying, and b) there are a lot of anti-trans states/areas between Madison, Wisconsin, and Seattle, that they aren't comfortable traveling through.

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » Tue Aug 20, 2024 11:17 am

Congrats- that's a beautiful city and area.

Tahlvin · Post by **Tahlvin** » Wed Aug 21, 2024 4:01 am

We lived on the Olympic Peninsula when that child was born, and have been back to visit the area every couple years since we moved back to the Midwest. We love it. My wife and I have thought about moving back out there when we retire.

Phoebe · Post by **Phoebe** » Thu Aug 22, 2024 8:11 am

Congratulations about the new place! I imagine there will come a point in life where "moving to be close to kids" is a thing... In this case you are setting yourself up well for the future! But how sad that they had to take precautions even about traveling. I don't think it's misplaced fear, given what we see around here. Somewhere a social scientist or anthropologist is explaining this instead of just observing it cluelessly like I am, but here we are in red state America, struggling with the consequences of decades of bad decision making, and somehow the solution is to scapegoat one tiny group of kids! If there's anything we know with near absolute certainty, It's that the population of transgender youth in your area has caused exactly zero of your life problems. And yet for some reason, bullying them and using the power of the state to interfere with their lives is supposed to solve everybody else's problems. It's really quite sickening but again, I'd like to see a better sociological explanation of why this is happening. People have these gender panics when they're having other kinds of economic or social stress, as a group.

Tahlvin · Post by **Tahlvin** » Sun Aug 25, 2024 3:30 am

Found out this morning that a childhood friend of mine passed away yesterday morning. He had an injury that turned septic. I was close friends with him, his twin brother, and his younger brother. The younger brother passed away a number of years ago from a heart attack, so now there's only the one twin left, of the siblings I knew, plus some older siblings I didn't know.

Akiva · Post by **Akiva** » Sun Aug 25, 2024 5:19 pm

Sorry to hear that. That's awful.