I think you’re taking my ‘it is what it is’ too literally, or perhaps not literally enough.

My son is quite a good actor, and he wants to do it professionally, but my husband and I made the joint decision to support him not going professional until he’s an adult.

I think what we’re seeing here — which is positive — is how toxic masculinity, patriarchy, etc works. Even ‘the good guys’ participate because that’s what it is. That’s the water, you know? The air? The things we take for granted.

nothing is more rewarding than knowing something that’s not useful! :)

Reading that was like going to dinner with my ILs, all of whom have eating disorders. God, it’s exhausting. It’s much easier to just dine at home on their “safe foods.”

She would. Her main inspiration is Traditional Home magazine, though, so you could do that. :D

I would agree with this. From a design stand point, I have a preference for LDK.

It’s definitely more energy efficient. Our apartment doesn’t have central air or heat. Being able to close off a room, and bunk together in a room — you just heat one room. Saves so much power.

To me, it’s like builders never learn.

My landlord painted the kitchen in our place — probably 15 or more years ago — bright brick-red (cabinets) and buttery-yellow (walls).

I live in a cool, “closed concept” apartment. I believe it was built in the 1930s, but I don’t really know.

Hopefully not. We’re hoping to stay in the area about 4-5 days — so we’ll go up and spend the night, do Tongariro, then spend the night again, then do a rest hike day (smaller walk around), and then spend another night, and do another day, then head back home for the new year.

I think you can just stay in touch and see if he keeps the lines open. Over time, it’ll fade if he doesn’t, and if he does, then you’ll be able to maintain that connection.

excellent job!

usually, recent graduates can get You Need a Budget for free for a time, which might be helpful.

I recommend using You Need a Budget. It helps you define your goals and create budgets to help get to those goals. It makes budgeting both fun and painless, and helps you gently examine your behaviours around money. They used to have a workbook (they probably still do), and it works really well in helping out. :)

We are signed up to do it at Christmas! woohoo! And we’ve made it through about 1/3 of our local hikes, but we keep repeating them. :) So we are getting the fitness!

good god, that’s giving me sweats.

It is a good skill. My 9 yr old is the main fire builder in our place. Well, our friend’s place. We don’t have a wood burner. But our friends do. And so he was taught how to start and maintain a fire, and that’s his job whenever we stay over. He loves it. Good skills.

We have a rule that you have to flap the blanket if you fart under it. But you absolutely have to flap it toward the door (away from where one’s nose is) or where you’re going to bear the brunt of it.