He looks like a forest creature that would come out of the mists.

Another Christmastime tradition, cheese log

To be honest, I think what she actually brought to family gatherings has evolved from this written recipe. She very much was a “little of this, a smidgen of that, taste it and adjust” type of cook. She probably used garlic powder vs mincing up a clove, and I am pretty sure she used chopped pecans vs walnuts (being that I’m mildly allergic to walnuts, and I never had a reaction to her cheese log). She would also save the leftovers for me specifically, and that’s pretty much all I ate on Boxing Day. 😁

You need more capital. One million… billion dollars oughta do it.

Lol, I’m thinking she was about to write out her bestie’s famous coconut pie recipe but realized she didn’t have enough room. I’m not sure where she eventually did write it down though. I have not come across it.

Yes, evaporated.

You are correct. It is marshmallow creme.

My own dumb actions.

I deserved it. We are on speaking terms now years later at least.

I was weak and lonely and easily susceptible to her boyfriend’s advances. We were quite young, early teens.

Joke was on all 3 of us… he hadn’t figured out yet that he was gay. Neither had she for that matter. They’re both infinitely more happy now. And I’m happy for them.

My cynical view on this situation is the pros are 1) she’s fast-tracking home ownership for a generation that generally expects to not own homes, 2) she’s securing financial stability during the traditionally least financially stable era of adult life, 3) working as a paid live-in caregiver pays significantly little comparatively and it is damn hard work, 4) she may have plans on marrying for love later. She’s still maturing, so having a starter marriage that’s lucrative may not be a totally terrible idea.

Honestly at the end of the day, you want her to be happy, right? If she’s walked into this with eyes wide open, considered all the cons and still found the arrangement preferable, is it really the end of the world? What would your feelings be if she had chosen some other non traditional relationship?

My sentiments exactly.

I’d love to be struck with creative ideas sooner, but I also resent commercial Christmas creeping into October.

Yes. They don’t have to be public companies for investors to lose their shirts, and employees to lose their jobs.

You can’t please everyone, so pick the audience you want to write to. If you don’t care what angry white guys think, then create your characters however you like.

Exactly. They want to bring in exponentially more premiums than what they spend on advertising, and the new premiums are what provides the cash to pay other policy claims. It’s really kind of an accepted form of Ponzi scheme. They are gambling that they will find enough people who will never need to make a claim in order to afford the few that do.

I also love to watch someone unlock this super power within themselves. To not stress out about the wonky pancake or the missing crochet stitch.

She may have self esteem issues. She could be codependent.

My stepmother did these sorts of things in the beginning, but she was still in her twenties at that time. I didn’t understand then (being just a kid ofc) but I’ve forgiven her now. And to her credit she’s mellowed quite a bit as well. But this peace was many many years in the making. I think you both should seek couple’s therapy to raise and discuss both of your issues in a safe loving space, and it may become clear during those sessions that she needs to also have individual therapy.

If she balks at couple’s therapy, then THAT is a red flag… edit: no this is not even true. It could scare her to death. But reassure her that you want to work through these things so that you can strengthen your bond and learn to better communicate with each other.

Omg that looks amazing!

We should compile a playlist.

• jackhammer
• air raid siren*
• trumpet reveille
• taiko drumming
• “eagle” (i.e. hawk) cry
• monkeys screeching
• Woody fuckin Woodpecker laugh
• applause
• theme from Rawhide

*maybe don’t use this one in tornado country. Don’t desensitize oneself to actual emergency warning tones.

I can get behind that!

Nah, it just felt like it because it costs so much to start the machine.

The last American Civil War pension recipient died in 2020.

The last cathode-ray tube televisions were made in 2015.