Watched from my kitchen window as my dad and my dog were chased by a skunk. It was exactly like a comedy sketch. First it was dog barking at skunk with dad yelling from the side door. Then it was skunk chasing dog, dog chasing skunk with dad chasing dog. Then the tables were turned, and my dad was being chased by the skunk.

It was glorious. I remember it taking ages before they could get safely inside. My dad was pissed at the time. They both were partially sprayed, but I don’t remember it being that bad of an aftermath. We laugh about it now.

I like your taste in youtubers!

Contact lenses. I know I could use my glasses, but I put them down and can’t find them half the time. I am blind enough to be absolutely useless in most situations without corrective lenses.

Hot water on demand. Coming in from the cold and getting a hot shower. That is so wonderful.

Excersice. I know, it sounds trite. But working out has helped me sleep more soundly despite getting less sleep. I have a few weights in my basement and when my kid is sleeping, I go downstairs and lift heavily. Especially leg workouts, your legs are a huge portion of your body and getting those muscles working is great. It usually takes me ~20 minutes to workup a sweat. Before I had a child I used to try cardio for longer periods of time. But I am more satisfied with short, difficult strength workouts.

I coach kids, and false reporting has become an issue recently. We take every report seriously and have to investigate/escalate each case individually. I have seen two different teenagers admit to maliciously reporting another kid when their stories were questioned or enough time had passed that they no longer felt vengeful toward the other person. The systems for reporting bullying/abuse/crimes are a huge step in the right direction from the past strategy of ignorance. I don’t know how to impart to kids that false claims damage the entire social system we have in place for keeping them safe.

Access to infinite knowledge from the internet, sitting right in everyones pocket. Sometimes, I will find myself talking to someone a few generations older than me. And they will say something along the lines of “I wonder how many…” and then just let the idea rest. Because they still act like they would have to go to a library to look up the fact. It amazes me! We don’t have to wonder. I can look it up right now! It’ll take me a few seconds.

Alternatively, I cannot stand when I am talking to someone and make a statement to which they respond: “I don’t know…” or “I’m not sure if that’s true”. This is often a tactic I see older men use (often talking politics) to cast doubt on a younger or female person. And unfortunately, back in the day that was good enough to derail a conversation. Nowadays though… Don’t believe me? Let’s look it up. We don’t have to take your word for it. People forget they can be fact checked in real time.

In my opinion, the bullying is still as alive as it ever was. Kids are just better at masking it. There is definitely more acceptance for LGBT, neurodivergent, and kids that would be considered outside the “norm” nowadays. But, teenagers have a strange capacity for cruelty to one another, it is just a different type of cruelty than past generations.

A friend of 8 years stole a few dresses from me while we were out on a trip. They weren’t necessarily expensive, just cute sundresses that I had bought after saving up some money with my first big job. After returning home, I texted her to get one back because it was the dress I wore on my first date with my (now) husband and was sentimental. I was willing to part with the other ones. Her response was “Since I already have it with me, it would be easier if I just keep it and not have to find a way to get it to you.”

We lived ~20 minutes apart. After that, I was ghosted. She continued to wear the dress and post photos online, blocking me so that I couldn’t see, but other friends saw and reported back to me. Safe to say she was not invited to the wedding.

This is the best answer. Not that you even owe them this much of an explanation. But it provides enough detail to satisfy them and succinctly tells them in corporate language to fuck right off.

I am in awe of your tastebuds.

I didn’t know anyone else did this. I was just snacking on some bucatini. I recommend it! Long thin tubes of pasta that break up easily and have no risk of sharp bits.

I think it is a result of growing up in an “ingredient household”. We did not stock snacks, and I was always too lazy to make a meal.

I forgot to add a /s after that sentence. I know teachers are severely understaffed and underfunded. This 4 day workweek seems like it would be wonderful with the exception of the people deemed too vital not to work. Just like during covid, some people will have a better time being paid to stay home, and others will have to continue working for the same pay. The burden would certainly fall on teachers, doctors, nurses, construction workers, maintenance personnel, and any other job that has a short supply of workers and high demand. Before switching to this system, our society would need to consider how to handle this problem.

Ok, I wasn’t considering a rotation where the workplace would be partially staffed Mondays and Fridays. That makes a lot of sense. I was imagining everyone having off Saturday-Mondthatn a more universal weekend, which I think would not be practical for getting things accomplished. In that case I see what you mean about Mondays.

Exactly! When I first read this post, I thought it was sarcasm. Firstly, the assumption that a 4 day work week is innevitable. And second, if we were gifted such a massive win, the loss of the dreaded “Monday” would not matter because it is just an arbitrary name. There will still be an end to the weekend and start to the week.

I get the feeling certain jobs are going to be deemed too vital to move to a 4 day work week. Unless there are enough teachers to rotate shifts.

This is a cool idea that I didn’t consider.

Tuesday would immediately become the new Monday and everyone would get the Monday scaries. The start of a series of work days will always be a bummer, no matter what you call it.

Signs (2002) is my favorite horror movie to watch during spooky season. While it was mocked so perfectly in Scary Movie 3, I feel like the atmosphere it creates is still so unnerving. The humor in the movie adds an element of B movie campiness to an otherwise serious movie.

Cabin in the Woods (2011) disassembles the horror tropes in a hilarious way. Inspired by the Evil Dead movies.

I just read the description on IMDB, and good lord what a fever dream. But the real selling point for me is the disembodied head of Billy Connolly being a loyal companion to a family. Consider me signed up.