Dear Wendy
Dear Wendy

Weekend Open Thread

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This is me and Drew and a few friends last Sunday at a moonshine bar in the Ozarks, near where I went to college. Drew and I were in the area visiting my parents, the the other woman in the photo is a friend who lives there, and the two guys pictured – Chad and Jared, who are friends of mine for nearly 20 years – traveled from Chicago and St. Louis so we could have a mini reunion on our old stomping grounds. We’d planned to spend Sunday floating and swimming off a rented boat down Table Rock Lake, but, since it rained all day, we went to this charming, hidden spot instead where we spent the afternoon on a covered porch in the Ozark hills sipping moonshine, watching the rain come down, and jamming on some borrowed instruments. It was a highlight of my ten-day trip to Missouri, which has also included lots of time with my parents and sister, seeing some other friends, visiting a zoo and a farm, eating Andy’s Frozen Custard, hitting story time at the library twice, taking Jackson to several playgrounds, winning twenty bucks on a scratch-off lottery ticket, taking Jackson on his first road trip (Springfield to St. Louis) with Chad and Jared, and celebrating my grandpa’s 90th birthday.

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Tomorrow morning we head back to Brooklyn and I am ready. I was reminded how hard it is to travel with a toddler, especially this particular toddler who is special in many ways including his ability to scream for hours and hours and hours and hours and hours when he is slightly off-schedule or the tiniest bit inconvenienced, like when the peanut butter on his toast is too thick. Next time five days is our max. I may need someone to remind me of that, please.

This is probably the longest I’ve gone without really checking in on DW too much – and that’s including the week Jack was born. What did I miss? And what is everyone up to? Can you believe the summer is winding down? It always goes too fast if you ask me!

86 comments… add one
  • MissDre August 9, 2013, 4:12 pm

    The amazingly wonderfully kind people here at DW helped me save a litter of abandoned kittens and I am SO happy to report that they are going to be ok!! I’m not sure about me tho… I don’t know how I’m going to give them up and I think I might cry like a baby.

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      katie August 9, 2013, 4:42 pm

      yay kittens!!!!

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      • MissDre August 9, 2013, 7:18 pm

        The little boy with the gross infected eye is doing SOOO much better! It’s amazing the difference a few days with antibiotics makes!

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      Wendy August 9, 2013, 4:59 pm

      That is truly wonderful!

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    MaterialsGirl August 9, 2013, 4:25 pm

    I AM GETTING MARRIED IN THREE WEEKS AND ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN DIDN’T KNOW HE WAS A GROOMSMAN!!!!

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      theattack August 9, 2013, 4:27 pm

      Holy wow! That’s not at all funny now, but you will laugh hysterically at that one day, because it’s pretty funny from the outside. I hope it all gets worked out!

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    • rachel August 9, 2013, 4:27 pm

      How does that happen? Did your fiance just like, forget to tell him?

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        MaterialsGirl August 9, 2013, 4:34 pm

        well back when we got engaged I asked him who he wanted in his party and if he had called them all yet. he said his brother knew he was the best man because “HE JUST KNEW.” My future SIL pretty much forced MaterialsGuy to ask his brother using his words. I thought he had emailed (?!?!!?) the other guys, but seriously, this is a pretty big deal and you should really call people and follow up with an email. I think the one groomsman is just very bad about checking his email since he’s always away for business in China. It will be fine though as long as he can get fitted for a tux this weekend. We’re paying for and picking them up, so that’s really the only thing he has to do.

        but seriously. this is insane. i’m not pleased with MaterialsGuy at the moment.

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      Wendy August 9, 2013, 4:59 pm

      It’s all gonna work out!!

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      • lets_be_honest August 9, 2013, 5:00 pm

        Its so nice to see back on here!

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      MaterialsGirl August 9, 2013, 7:10 pm

      Yeah its a relatively easy fix thank goodness. I have been very.very on top of my stuff this whole time so O experience great displeasure when the three items the groom must take care of are not completed. It will all be fine, im going to the sox/twins box tonight. Free food and beer makes everything better. Just had to quickly vent

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      • Sunshine Brite August 10, 2013, 5:22 am

        Wyatt was that groomsman for one of his friends. It was a bit of a mess since he’d planned to just show up afternoon of to save some money but it all worked out. Apparently this guy asked him when they both were serving as groomsman for their other friends but only later in the night when the other guy was shitfaced. It all worked out but it was quite messy for all involved. Getting tuxes was made difficult too from the lack of communication. And getting the rings to the ceremony. I wish i’d been there to see it all, I had class over that wedding

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      Sobriquet August 12, 2013, 12:33 am

      Oh, WOW. Haha this makes me think of my fiancé’s brother who is getting married in a week and only just now told him what color of suit to buy. And that information was only given out because my fiancé just thought to ask. And they LIVE together!

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  • TECH August 9, 2013, 4:26 pm

    You deserved a vacation and a little break from the site. You work hard on it and everyone deserves a break. We kept ourselves occupied while you were gone. The deleted thread is just the recipe to keep people going. In fact, for your next vacation, you could probably post a deleted thread for every day you’re gone and we’d be happy. 😉
    P.S. Thank you for always being so honest about how hard it is to care for and travel with a toddler!

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      Wendy August 9, 2013, 5:02 pm

      Yeah, it’s hard. And I do think Jackson is a particular variety of toddler that is even more of a challenge to care for. I wouldn’t qualify him as special needs exactly, but I am beginning to worry there may be some behavior issues that are beyond the realm of normal. I am hoping and praying he grows out of it, but mental illness runs in my family and this is a worry of mine that I may have passed the gene down to him (or could to a future child). At the same time, when he’s a good boy, he’s incredible, and always, I feel very lucky to be his mama.

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        Skyblossom August 10, 2013, 5:57 pm

        About half of the toddler boys that I’ve known have been extra busy and so they were much more difficult and exhausting. They can’t and don’t sit still, want to examine everything, want to know how everything works and want to take it apart and look inside. They do get easier. Things slowly get easier the year that they are three and then a little easier the year that they are four and then they go to school sometime when they are five and then it is much easier.

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        Wendy August 10, 2013, 6:33 pm

        It’s good to be reminded that this will pass; thanks.

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        Skyblossom August 10, 2013, 9:17 pm

        On the plus side they tend to be very bright children and that is part of what is driving them. They are so curious. They do very well in school but their preschool years are difficult. If he goes to preschool at the age of three you’ll get a break twice a week while he’s in class and then when he’s four you’ll get a break three times a week.

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        Skyblossom August 10, 2013, 6:00 pm

        We took our daughter to England just after she turned two and I think she cried every afternoon because we had to go and visit people in the afternoons and she kept missing her nap and she was so tired. Her great grandmother wanted to know what was wrong with her because our daughter cried every time we saw her.

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      • painted_lady August 11, 2013, 5:21 pm

        Hey, that just means if there are issues, you’re better prepared to handle it. My mom’s family is from the school of, “Just ignore the crazy and it’ll go away,” so it took her a really long time to really own that my brother had some major issues (and with me, though I was less of a problem and just unhappy). By the time she got behind the idea that his mental health was not a sign she’d failed as a mom, it was kind of too late. You’re so up front about the fact that your life with Jackson isn’t always unicorns farting rainbows – he’s going to benefit from that, and if there are any behavioral issues, you’re going to handle them beautifully.

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    Copa August 9, 2013, 4:55 pm

    I get to see my boyfraaand for the first time in almost 2 weeks! He’s been away on some dumb work trip! YAY! But then! Next week he’ll be traveling to go to a wedding & the week after that I’ll be traveling to go to a different wedding, and neither of us are able to go with the other 🙁 which means more not seeing each other. Which sucks! But after that both of us are done with our summer travels & wedding obligations! WOO!

    I also have big plans to ask you all for fashion advice soon! I plan these things out, apparently. 🙂

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      Fabelle August 9, 2013, 5:18 pm

      Okay, you always type “boyfraaaand” & it reminds me of this thing I say sometimes that’s from SOMEWHERE & I can’t remember where? It’s “with your boyfriend” only pronounced like “wit’cha BOYEEfraaaaand” Do you possibly know what I’m talking about, & is that how you’re saying it?? And is it from something totally obvious (like the treat yo’self thing that I was all, “isn’t that FROM something?” about, & everyone told me it was Parks & Rec. DUH)

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        Copa August 10, 2013, 12:49 am

        I type it like how I say it with a couple of my girlfriends, haha. When we were casually dating, we were acting like a couple before any legit discussion of coupledom and when I’d get the “are you OFFICIAL yet!?” question, I’d refer to him as manfran (manfriend) to dodge the question. Now that he’s a boyfriend, he’s boyfraaaand to us. Haha. It’s just habit, but I actually think it’s fitting since I think I’m fairly obnoxious about him to everyone/anyone and writing it that way seems… immature?… so it seems to work, haha.

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    Lyra August 9, 2013, 5:11 pm

    I posted about this on the deleted thread last night but I’m just so ticked and kinda want to vent…ex 2 wants the $50 necklace he gave me for my birthday back. I say that’s idiotic and who the hell asks for gifts BACK?? Especially 5 months after they were given… So I told him I won’t give it back because a gift is a gift and he can keep the gifts I gave him for his birthday (which added to up more than double what the necklace is worth…not that I calculated that or anything) and I’ll keep mine and we’ll be even. He responded with “I still want the necklace back. I’ll give it to my mom or something.” My question is this: WHO RE-GIFTS AN EX GIRLFRIEND’S NECKLACE TO THEIR MOM??

    He still has my copy of Hunger Games which I’m not too thrilled with and want back. Not because it’s worth much but just because I’m very possessive of my books haha.

    There’s no takesies backsies for gifts when a relationship ends. Just saying.

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    • TECH August 9, 2013, 5:13 pm

      Ugh. That is cheap and petty to ask for a $50 necklace back. Good riddance.

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    • lets_be_honest August 9, 2013, 5:13 pm

      Oh he needs to grow up and get over you. Anyone who asks for a gift back like that is just looking for a reason to engage you. Don’t even reply.

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    • kerrycontrary August 9, 2013, 5:16 pm

      Yeh, that’s obnoxious. Tell him you sold it on ebay for $500.

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      Fabelle August 9, 2013, 5:21 pm

      UGH he’s just being a douche. Honestly I would laugh in his face at this point (if you’re communicating via text, I would just quote his “…give it to my mom or something” back to him, & then add a hearty “hahahahahaha”)

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      • AliceInDairyland August 9, 2013, 6:17 pm

        Fabelle, I love you.

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      katie August 9, 2013, 8:51 pm

      wow. just… wow.

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      kare August 10, 2013, 3:14 am

      I’m not sure which I judge more, the asking back for a gift or the keeping a book that’s not his.

      (I did keep my ex’s copy of The Divine Comedy, but he thought reading was stupid and just owned it to look cool and intellectual, so it’s in a loving home with me now.)

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    • Sunshine Brite August 10, 2013, 5:25 am

      Ick, i’d want to itemize that and make it contingent on getting your stuff back then if he just won’t drop it

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    • MMcG August 10, 2013, 10:37 am

      So I’m evil and if you don’t care about the necklace I woukd package it up with a snarky snark note and send it direct to his mom. “Ex Asked for my birthday present back after the breakup so he could regift it to you. See inside. Can’t believe I even dated someone who thinks that is ok… good luck :)”

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        Lyra August 11, 2013, 12:34 am

        BAHAHAHA that would be amazing. Yeah I really don’t care about the necklace so that actually might work, hahaha.

        The plan is to not give it back and pawn it so I can get some money for it. I’m not expecting much for it, but the fact that he won’t have it will make me really really happy. 🙂

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  • kerrycontrary August 9, 2013, 5:15 pm

    My life has been great lately and I’m just waiting for my sister to pop her baby out (my first nephew is due on Monday!!!!). We have one wedding to attend this month which will be fun and amazing because all of our friends will be there, and then I can’t believe summer will be over. I honestly think this has been the best summer for me in years. I saw ALL of my good friends from college, traveled a fair bit, and did fun things with the boyfriend. I’ve been in the mood for fall lately (I always get this way in sticky august) and I’m looking forward to college football and crock pot meals this fall.

    This weekend we’re going to the county fair where I’m planning to totally binge eat even if it makes me feel horrible. I want all the fried food and funnel cake and cotton candy. Then I’m going to lay by the pool with my big belly.

    Wendy how are the Ozarks? They look pretty and remind me of Appalachia. And I love anywhere appalachian.

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    Fabelle August 9, 2013, 5:15 pm

    I got out of work early! Whoop WHOOP (I’m saying that like she does in Calabria, btw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL1hlzLsUaU Video kinda NSFW, but we all remember this song, right??)

    Anyway, we missed you Wendy! I’m glad you had fun on your vacation. Jackson is starting to look like a little man (which is a generic thing to say about a child, I feel, but I literally mean that I’m starting to see his, like, features?)

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  • lets_be_honest August 9, 2013, 5:19 pm

    Hope everyone has a great weekend! I’m off to order a couple of pitchers of sangria at our favorite Mexican restaurant and my sister is joining us which makes it even better! Boozy booze here I come!

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    othy August 9, 2013, 5:37 pm

    I just submitted my first primary author research paper to a journal today. I know it’ll be a long while before it gets published (if ever), but to even be this far along, I’m thrilled. I’ve been working on it for MONTHS.

    (And now, to start the second guessing of the whole thing to make sure I did it right.)

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    • rachel August 9, 2013, 6:27 pm

      Yay! Definitely something to be proud of!

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    • AliceInDairyland August 9, 2013, 6:18 pm

      That’s so exciting!! Congrats!

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    • applescruffs August 9, 2013, 8:39 pm

      HOORAY!

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    CatsMeow August 9, 2013, 6:06 pm

    I finished my last test today! My first semester of nursing school is O-V-E-R.

    Tonight I’m staying at my mom’s so my cousin can pick me up at 6:30 am tomorrow morning and drive us up to Chicago for both Comic Con and a horror convention. I’m going to dress up in my Exorcist costume to meet Linda Blair (as some of you may already know). I may or may not see The Lawyer while I’m up there.

    Then I’m going back to St. Louis on Sunday and heading out to Florida on Tuesday to visit my dad. Whew! I’d kinda prefer to stay home all week and do nothing/unwind, but oh well.

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  • Addie Pray August 9, 2013, 7:01 pm

    Wendy, I MISSED YOU!!! I tried to make some money off the deleted thread but your readers are too smart for me.

    YOU GUYS I HAVE A DATE THIS WEEKEND, AND ONE TONIGHT. but again let’s not talk about this.

    byeeeeeeee

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      CatsMeow August 9, 2013, 7:05 pm

      One guy, 2 dates? Or 2 guys? DETAILS.

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      • Addie Pray August 9, 2013, 7:28 pm

        Two guys. I’m a machine!

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      • TECH August 9, 2013, 7:41 pm

        You are truly a machine and I admire you! Please come back and give us details!

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      • Addie Pray August 9, 2013, 11:48 pm

        Well well well, I feel like my life just got interesting! We need another deleted thread haha.

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        CatsMeow August 9, 2013, 11:55 pm

        TELL US MORE.

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        Regina Chapman August 10, 2013, 9:57 am

        SECONDED.

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        Classic August 10, 2013, 11:58 am

        And you, too, young lady. In case you see The Lawyer while you are there. Which is most likely.

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        Classic August 10, 2013, 11:45 am

        Addie Pray are you out on the second date now? The second date with the second guy? Are you going to tell us about both of the dates when you get back? Did you know that the plural of “penis” is actually “penes”? I learned that from this week’s Dan Savage. You probably already knew that. Probably everyone knew it except me.

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      • TECH August 10, 2013, 11:59 am

        AP, I think you need to start an UN-deleted thread in the forums telling us all about how your life just got a lot more interesting. We need details we need details!

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    Miel August 9, 2013, 7:07 pm

    I just arrived in Nashville like… yesterday, to attend Vanderbilt University for the fall semester. It’s a big move for me (and actually, my first move ever) from Montreal, Canada, to Nashville, Tennessee.

    I arrived yesterday, and it was the first time I was in Nashville, except for the 48 hours I spent here last February. I saw my apartment for the first time ever this morning, and signed my lease a minute after. I drove through campus and the neighborhoods for the first time ever today. All of this is so much change at the same time.

    However, I’m actually really happy. My apartment is very nice, exactly like I expected it to be. The management team was helpful and patient with me. I got my electricity transfered to my name, I opened a bank account, I bought so much furniture already… The part of the city around campus is just so beautiful. I love the big trees everywhere, and the very nice houses. I was so stressed about moving to a completely unknown city, and now I’m a lot calmer, and I’m very happy.

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    • TECH August 9, 2013, 7:42 pm

      Congrats, that is big move! Do you know anyone there?

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        Miel August 9, 2013, 10:09 pm

        Nope ! But I will soon meet all the people from my tiny study program. In the meantime my parents are here to offer some help with building furniture and all.

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      • Sue Jones August 10, 2013, 9:34 pm

        I got accepted into Vanderbilt but chose another school instead… I always wonder if I would be much different than I am now had I gone there instead of the fun progressive large northeastern university that I attended…. if I would have somehow ended up to be more Southern and Conservative than I am because let’s face it… ages 18-21 are some formative years!

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      call-me-hobo August 10, 2013, 11:49 am

      MEIL

      I’m finishing up my year at the hospital, and I live close to Nashville. We HAVE to meet (so I can show you where all the good places to eat are)

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        LadyinPurpleNotRed August 11, 2013, 1:59 pm

        Trust me…she knows food. Mmmm

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      the attack August 10, 2013, 11:33 pm

      Congrats! I spent my freshman year at Vanderbilt and was just on campus today actually. You’ll love it! You, hobo, and I should get together! What program are you starting?

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        Miel August 11, 2013, 10:25 am

        I’m beginning the PhD in Biomedical Engineering. That’s also a big jump for me since I did my bachelor in physics, and everybody else in our program did the Biomedical bachelor degree.

        It’s definitely a good idea to meet up at some point !

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        peppers87 August 12, 2013, 12:48 pm

        I’m in a PhD program at Vanderbilt, too!! Let’s have a meetup!

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    • Addie Pray August 11, 2013, 7:21 am

      congrats, sweet like miel! 😉

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  • AliceInDairyland August 9, 2013, 6:22 pm

    I am packing up ALL THE THINGS from my apartment and sticking them in Benjamin’s place… My goal is to get everything done this weekend, but I have been failing pretty miserably so far. *sigh* I had kind of a weird mental-breakdown-depression-thing after work yesterday where I just laid in bed and told my boyfriend the 1,000 paranoid thoughts I have had about moving in together. Some logical, some clearly insane. Conclusions drawn: I am going back to therapy, and no one will be staying in a yurt on the property. Win-win.

    We also had delicious homemade burritos with venison, tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, onion, garlic, rice, pickled jalapenos. Nomnomnom. Hopefully we have enough leftovers for tonight.

    I have a summer family get together that includes a competition for who can make the best dish involving bacon, so that should be interesting. And my canning goal this weekend is to make some Charred Tomato and Chile Salsa, Marinara Sauce, and some V8-ish juice with all of our tomatoes!

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  • applescruffs August 9, 2013, 8:36 pm

    I got Lasik today! I sat up from the table, could see across the room, and said “holy shit!”

    I”m supposed to be asleep, but apparently valium has little to no effect on me so I’m lying in bed and eating cheese instead. Those antibiotic drops I have to put in? You can taste them. And it’s gross.

    But this whole thing is nothing short of miraculous.

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      katie August 9, 2013, 8:57 pm

      jake is thinking about getting lasik next year… the whole thing creeps me out so badly. i went with him to his first consult to see if it was a possible option for him. what kind did you get- the one where they make a flap out of your cornea or the one where they burn it off? did it hurt? how long is your recovery time?

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      Lindsay August 9, 2013, 10:54 pm

      I got worried that you’re actually my former boss for a minute because she got Lasik today, too. But I don’t think you are. Fingers crossed.

      Anyway, that’s exciting! People putting things near my eyes freaks me out, but it sounds like it wasn’t too awful.

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      CatsMeow August 10, 2013, 12:01 am

      I am definitely going to do this someday. My eyes are SO BAD. I wear the contacts you can sleep in, so it’s not a hassle or anything, but it would be nice to just not worry about it. And I can’t stand wearing glasses. They look awful on me, for one, but my eyes are such different strengths that they throw off my depth perception too. Also I hate that you have to turn your whole head to look at stuff instead of just shifting your eyeballs. I don’t get how people wear glasses all the time.

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      • applescruffs August 10, 2013, 9:51 am

        Do it! I had to wear full time glasses for the week before the procedure and I was so over them. I hate the blurry ring around the lens itself and how you can’t just shift your eyeball, like you said.

        For the first time in my life I woke up and could see clearly this morning. I could read the book titles across the room!

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  • applescruffs August 9, 2013, 9:18 pm

    I got the bladeless lasik, so they use one laser to make a flap, zap it, and put it back. There’s a pretty intense pressure while they’re making the flap, and a burning smell while it’s zapping, but the whole thing, for both eyes combined, took no more than 15 minutes. It hurt a little on the way home, but I think a lot of that was being REALLY light sensitive and living in a very bright state. I put on sunglasses and then pulled my hood over my eyes. I’ll be able to drive myself to my follow up appointment tomorrow, have to avoid pools, hottubs, lakes, etc for a week, and no contact sports for a week (can’t get hit in the face, basically). But I can run, bike, I’ll be fine to go to work Monday, etc.

    The bladeless lasik, that I got, apparently has a .25% error rate, so despite the whole lasers to the eyes thing, it’s pretty safe. And AWESOME.

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    • sarita_f August 9, 2013, 9:59 pm

      A-scruffs – where’d you go? How much did it cost?

      I just had my annual eye exam, need to order two boxes of contacts and really truly do need a new pair of glasses – I priced everything out and, as usual, it’s a $450 outlay. Which I can absorb with my HSA balance easily enough, and I budget about that every year for eye care. But for Lasik he was still quoting me like $3,400 for both eyes with the docs he recommends! Probably because I’m at a fairly high power and fairly bad astigmatism too.

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    • applescruffs August 9, 2013, 11:21 pm

      This was supposed to respond to katie. Oops. Sarita, I went to 20/20 institute. It cost about what you’re being quoted, a little more because I added on the lifetime guarantee so if I ever need a touch up in the future it’s free. I saved up a bunch on my own, saved up more on my HSA, and then got a care credit account for the rest. If I pay it off in two years, no interest! I didn’t have astigmatism, but my eyes were (were! haha!) pretty shitty.

      The initial consult is free, so there’s no harm in at least figuring out your options. Tell ’em I sent you. 😉

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        Othy August 10, 2013, 12:28 am

        So jealous of the were. If I could skip the whole surgery part of LASIK, I’d totally go for it.

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      kare August 10, 2013, 3:20 am

      This might be a dumb question, but how do you keep your eyes open during the procedure? I can barely do the stupid “puff of air” eye test. I have contacts and think lasik would be awesome one day, but I always picture this Clockwork Orange type contraption holding my eyes open while I freak the fuck out that lasers are shooting at my face.

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      • applescruffs August 10, 2013, 9:48 am

        They pretty much tape them open. You have a bunch of numbing drops in your eyes, then they tape your lids open and put something else in there to make sure they stay that way. Meanwhile the eye that’s not being worked on is covered and you can blink/close that one. Your only job is to lie there and keep staring at a blinking green light. They gave me a couple stress balls to hold in case I felt anxious, but I really didn’t. They also gave me a valium to take before going in, which didn’t really work on me but most people would be like, woo! Lasers! I give no shits about this!

        The initial consult at the place I went was free, and I never felt scared while it was happening. It was mildly unnerving at worst. Othybear, do it!

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        Othy August 10, 2013, 11:26 am

        I’m having images of Clockwork Orange, where they keep the eyes open with the jabby things. Sadly, it’s not in the financial cards right now, with Mr. Othybear quitting his job and going back to school.

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    Lyra August 10, 2013, 2:37 am

    Guys. I just had a date with an amaaaaazing guy. I’m super excited and just can’t get this stupid smile off my face. It turned out to be one of those 8 hour dates because you just don’t want it to end. There was great chemistry and great conversation and we decided to have another date where we cook together later this weekend. He’s so so so great. We have just enough in common where it’s fun and we get each other but there are also enough differences so it isn’t like we’re the same person. 🙂

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  • Sunshine Brite August 10, 2013, 5:32 am

    Damn, I missed a deleted thread (and no I won’t pay for it AP 😉 ) that’s what I get for trying to forge ahead in my work at work and not have internet that’s not my phone at home yet. Boo!

    Move went pretty well, kinda disappointed it wasn’t in shape to have people over since we’ll be weekend busy for quite awhile now. We have a lot of junk though even after downsizing. Plus this place has half the closet space of the last place so more’s in the open.

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  • trixy minx August 10, 2013, 8:00 am

    I hate that its snowing already on the peaks. I’m not ready for winter at all.

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    • applescruffs August 10, 2013, 9:52 am

      NO BAD WINTER BAD HATE IT.

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  • E. August 10, 2013, 9:59 am

    Ohmygod, I want some Andy’s Frozen Custard right now. Like, an Ozark Turtle would be great.

    Right now, some guys are cleaning my basement because whoever built my house forgot to put anything for the water and waste to leave the house. WTF? They fixed it, but only after about three months of me bitching to the property manager about the three inches of disgusting water in my basement. I had to wear rain boots to do laundry, and hope I didn’t drop anything on the floor.

    It still smells (they’re stirring shit up right now) but I’m glad they’re fixing it.

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  • Christy August 10, 2013, 10:49 pm

    Sometimes I become utterly convinced that I’m going to have to break up with gf one day, and it makes me feel sad and like I’m going to vomit. And sometimes I think it’s just the anxiety talking, and then other times I don’t think it’s the anxiety, and calling it anxiety is just an excuse I’m giving myself.

    Because it sucks, because I really love gf, and I wish she’d be as perfect for me in all ways as she is in most ways.

    Ugh. Next week her sister will be gone and I’ll be able to meet another therapist. Next week will be better. Next week will be better. Next week will be better.

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    • SasLinna August 11, 2013, 11:18 am

      Hang in there! Next week will be better.

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  • MsMisery August 10, 2013, 11:48 pm

    Ughghghgh. My work went all gestapo with the interwebs security so DW is now blocked there. Srsly, I can’t even check the weather. Also the kid that lives behind me got a drum set and has been playing in spurts for the past SEVEN HOURS. I don’t even know why his parents haven’t chained him up in their basement yet. It’s getting a little late for this, you guys, and it was completely annoying 6.59 hours ago.

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  • KarenE August 11, 2013, 6:46 pm

    OK I’m kinda late to the party here, but here’s my two cents. All my friends are away this weekend which = too much time sitting around the house thinking about random stuff. Like guys I dated ONCE when I was single. I’d meet them on match.com and we’d go out and have a nice time, but no real spark was there — at least on my end. But they’d inevitably say, we should do this again!! And I’d give a weak “yeah, sure.” Then I’d never hear from them again. Which made me wonder, did they feel a spark and really want to see me again, but felt like I was blowing them off by my less than enthusiastic (but polite) response? Or were they not actually interested in a second date, but just being nice by saying “we should do it again?” Should I have just agreed to a second date and actually gone through with it, because you never know – sometimes people who seem boring on first dates can be more interesting the second or third time you meet them? Did I miss out on a whole lot of potentially interesting boyfriends???? Oh thank god I get to go to work tomorrow because I really need to get my head out of my a*s!

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      Lindsay August 11, 2013, 9:52 pm

      Haha, well, here’s my two cents on your two cents. I imagine it may have been a combo of those things. Like maybe some guys sensed that you weren’t into it or some expected you to get a hold of them if you were interested (like that you’d text them and be like “that was fun!” or even ask them out) and maybe some were just being polite. Like I went on a date once with a guy I’d met at a bookstore, and at the end, he was like, “Let’s get brunch this weekend! Let’s go get a drink tomorrow!” and I just was like “Ehhh, maybe…” So, he texted me repeatedly about stupid shit, but never asked me out again, and I finally just faded out on him because he wasn’t actually giving me anything to turn down. Anyway, my point was that I think he was clearly interested but was not actually asking me out, probably as a combination of the first two reasons I gave you. So, I think it’s probably a combo for you too?

      As for agreeing to a second date, I used to be that person who always went again “just in case,” but I found that never ever did the person grow on me, and I’ve actually made a new rule for myself that I won’t do that. I think it’s one thing if you enjoyed spending time with them but aren’t sure there’s a “spark” and another if you just were really bored by them and are not even sure you feel like spending another hour of your life with them. I’ve never met anybody who got that much more interesting the second time around.

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    Sobriquet August 12, 2013, 12:29 am

    I’m glad you had a good trip, Wendy! I haven’t been around DW much since you’ve been out of town, so I totally missed the deleted thread! Oh well, there will be another one someday.

    My weekend has been eventful. I hosted some friends last night in an effort to take advantage of a roommate-less apartment. They’ve been out of town for a little more than a week now and the place is finally starting to feel peaceful. It’s amazing how calm and quiet it can be without a barking, whining dog begging for my attention. Spending good time with friends in our cozy, clutter free home was so much fun! My friends are almost more excited than we are about our engagement- mainly because it’s an awesome excuse to take a vacation in Mexico! My mom is really excited, too. It’s all so surreal. Like someone needs to pinch me because everything is falling into place and I’m lucky enough that an amazing guy wants to spend his life with me and I need to stop being such an Eeyore and realize that everyone is happy for me because maybe I deserve this. Life is good. :]

    We’ve decided to move into a small 1 br apartment when our lease is up in an effort to save money and keep some flexibility while I finish school and he grows a blossoming new business. Any tips on organizing a small space?

    Other things that have happened this weekend: my ring came in the mail and it is perfect for me. Nigel had apparently ordered it a week before proposing, but couldn’t wait for it to ship so he proposed with a simple band. We think we’ve found the resort we’ll be getting married at- in Playa del Carmen! Hopefully we’ll reserve the date we want. Oh, and my beautifully gracious 9 month old kitten completely fell off the kitchen counter about 20 minutes ago and just laid there on the floor where she fell, like she totally meant to fall.

    Apparently there’s a meteor shower tomorrow, starting at midnight ct? So go out and look at the sky if you’re awake!

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