The NON-political chit chat thread

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

When I'm feeling gracious and charitable, I figure the criticisms are based out of well-intentioned concern for our finances and future.
When I'm feeling snarky and snipey, I figure the criticisms are based out of jealousy that THEY don't get to stay home and play with kittens.
;D

[Deleted]

I LOVED my years at home with the kids. Work SUX compared to the fun I had raising my kids.
Right now I am enjoying my broken bones, because I have been out of work since October, the stress of not being able to find a new job was killing me--- now I am totally off the hook in the job search area, and loving it while it lasts! When life gives you lemons, ya know....

[steff]

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[❤ mollymouser ❤]

It is disturbing.

They just covet your freshly-grown, organic tomatoes, that's all. And my 12-ft-tall sunflowers. ;D

[vonnie6200]

I'm Vonnie - just turned 60 - single and no kids. I have been retired for 8 years now. I was Federal agent and spent numerous hours in court and trial - I was definitely burned out when I retired.

I now spend numerous hours volunteering - and was very very active in dog rescue - mostly with Cairn terriers. I had six at one time, we are now down to two. I also spend a lot of time helping my Father and step Mother who can no longer drive and need assistance to stay in their home.

I was raised by a stay at home Mom (until we were in school) and was very pleased that one of my two sisters chose the same path - I think kids with a stay at home parent are truly lucky.

[Deleted]

Interesting, moon! Sounds like "real life" to me.

Wolf-- yeah, I read a lot (when my message board addiction is under control, which it is not right now). I HATE it when they change the covers and re-release books!! I've gotten to where I open it, check the publishing date, and figure if it was first printed in 1999 and I like the author I already read it.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Agreed.

[steff]

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[Deleted]

Wow, vonnie! Federal agent- that sounds exciting. Awesome that you help your old Dad. I love dogs, too. Have a boxer, a long haired chihuahua, short haired chi, and a hairless chi, also. We our dogs. We also have a miniature hamster we bought for the little one that spends most of its days rolling around the house in a big, clear plastic ball, and spins all night on a squeaky little wheel in its cage.

[steff]

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[Deleted]

I really admire people that home school. I know lots of Mormons that home school, one has 10 kids!!!!!!!!!!!! I would shoot myself after the first month!!!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

We have wild strawberries all over our front yard, a lemon tree, a grapefruit tree, and I'm busily cultivating sunflowers. We usually plant tomatoes and peppers, too. I think the only herb we grow is rosemary ~ it helps keep the 'skeeters away!

It seems like every summer we get inundated with everyone else's zucchini ... they drop bags-full on our doorstep when we're not looking, lol!

And just a few days ago someone left 6 fresh pineapples on our front door.... we still don't know who those were from!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Vonnie6200 ... we also volunteer with the local lab rescue (adoption counselors, transporters, fundraising, short-term emergency fosters!) And we have the cutest Cairn terrier living next door ... her name is Sashi!

[steff]

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[steff]

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[Deleted]

YUM on well water. House I used to own in a small town had 2 wells. One shallow for irrigation, etc, and one deep one that had the coldest, best tasting water I ever drank!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Chickens are against the law here, but I know that there are some people who have them, anyway. (We live in a city of 500,000)

We're really dry here ~ so rain barrels aren't really an option for us. We can go months and months with only a tiny trace of rain.

We pay up to 40 cents per KwH for electricity ... I think we're at some of the highest rates in the nation, actually.

But I still like to play in my yard ... and that means flowers and other stuff!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Steff ... there are some gardening and canning threads over in Smart Spending (just an FYI) ... your expertise could be useful over there

[steff]

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[❤ mollymouser ❤]

If chickens were legal here, I'd want some. Funny feathery ones. And a coop.

[steff]

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[deziloooooo]

Apr 24, 2011 12:27:44 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

Steff ~ I've been called all of those things, and more. Since I'm a stay-at-home WIFE (and not a stay-at-home MOM) ... many people have come up with all sorts of judgments and criticisms and back-handed jabs at my choice (things like "I could never do that, I'm too motivated and bright, I'd just be bored and frustrated staying home and I wouldn't want to waste my education or be a leech .... but I guess it works for you.")

My wonderful DH asked me to quit my job and stay home ~ based on a variety of factors. First and foremost, I was burnt out and stressed out.... and my hours/schedule were such that we never saw each other. (His work schedule can be extreme, even when he's not deployed.) So we crunched numbers, decided to simplify our lives and do without my income, and I quit. It was the best decision I ever made, frankly. Was is a wise FINANCIAL decision? Nope. Was it a wise PERSONAL / SPIRITUAL / HEALTH / LIFESTYLE / MARRIAGE decision? Most definitely.

What ever works...have a cousin who is a Attorney, worked for legal aid, ACLU..actually appeared as attorney three times SCOTUS, very, very bright , wife is a Doctor, her specialty is Cancer, teaches too, and he quit his job, was a stay at home DAD, did all that in the raising of his son, another Brilliant , great kid, second year at Brown, and it worked out great.

It's what ever works for some one,

Daughter same thing, excellent job but when got married , Income just not needed, stayed home, raised the two kids, 14 and 11 now, and very , very active , head of the parent teachers all those volunteer things, puts in a full week of that ..so to stay home and raise and so what ever, why not, what ever works.

My Mom worked , dad had his own retail store, she worked with him, but I'm from the generation, many Mom's stayed home, took care of home and kids, full time job really, hell many didn't even drive, Mom didn't until Dad became ill...

It's just that now , for the average family if kids involved, one needs two incomes, and as things are going, some now need three.

[steff]

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[deziloooooo]

Apr 24, 2011 13:22:46 GMT -5 steff said:

It's not choice that is the problem dezi....it's the way those that have made the choice are treated and spoken to. I came from a home where my mom worked 3 jobs to support us after her divorce. I do know the other side of the coin. It was a CHOICE that my hubby and I made for OURSELVES and our family. that should be respected instead of treated like some crime by certain folks.

again, it's not the choice that is the problem, it's the lack of respect for the choice.

Possible jealous by those who stick their noses into...in my daughters case, it just wasn't necessary , and while she had a good job as a manager at Prudential...they travel, do things, just not needed but as said , busy all the time.

[Deleted]

My small town allowed just about everything- little Mormon town, K-12 school, not one stoplight, and only 2 stop signs on the main "drag." . People had chickens, horses, cows, pigs, gardens, big swimming ponds-- it was an AWESOME life. Lots of dogs just ran free, and so did the kids for the most part. No one even had to lock their doors, and all events centered around the church and the school. I'm so glad my kids got lots of years of that before we had to move to the city because of $$$$. No jobs..

[Deleted]

When I got a divorce and had to go to work, I had to work 60-80 or even more hours a week to stay off welfare after my ex stopped paying child support. It was pretty hard, and I really missed my kids, but in cab driving I was able to start and stop at will, so I never missed anything with the kid's sports, etc, but I damn near killed myself doing it.Yes, I got criticized for that.

[privateinvestor]

Word of caution when raising chickens and eggs without a Rooster....Skunks have been known to fool around with Hens which will result in some really bad smelling eggs...and you could lose your chicken farm because of the enormous bad odors from those stinky eggs

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I've never seen a skunk around here ... but I have seen a raccoon. And we've got porch possums! (A momma possum visits our front porch every night to eat cat food ... sometimes her three baby possums are along for the ride!) And of course we have squirrels.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

OK, Tiger the Kitten has been picked up and is on his way! YAY!

We're off ... heading 2 doors down to a neighbor's house for brunch, and then we will watch a gazillion kidlets look for hidden colored spring spheres (heh heh heh ... Easter eggs). I made a splendiferous broccoli salad with cashews and mandarin oranges. And, of course, I'm hoping for bacon! Mmmmmm.

*waves at her fellow chatterboxes! * ;D

[privateinvestor]

Beware of romantic skunks if you have chickens and don't have any Roosters.. Skunks mating with chickens has been going on forever but a Rooster will chase the skunks away from their favorite Hens...

There is nothing worse smelling than eggs when the laying Hens have been making out with skunks...just ask farmers about his critical issue...if you have doubts


So the morale of this tale is to get a Rooster or else be prepared to chase away a lot of horny skunks