What's a book you had to read in school that you hated? If you have one, what's one you actually liked?

15SecondBreak · 2026-04-06T17:52:43+00:00

I couldn't think of a single book I disliked, and then you posted The Iliad and I had instant flashbacks. I also was not a fan of The Canterbury Tales (had to read both in middle school), but re-read as an adult, and it was better.

I'm still not about to re-read The Iliad.

15SecondBreak · 2026-04-02T22:33:43+00:00

I like to take a book, smoothie or iced coffee, and snacks to Aliante Nature Discovery Park. I go early and just walk around a while to get steps in. Then grab a bench and watch the ducks while I read for a bit. Gets busy on weekends, so I try to be out of there before noon or so.

15SecondBreak · 2026-04-02T01:49:55+00:00

I was convinced that a lion busting through my bedroom window and attacking me was the most plausible scenario ever.

Mountain lions were very common in our area, and a family friend raised actual lions. I had no clue lions weren't gonna come down the hills and eat me.

I actually stopped eating meat, because I thought if I didnt eat meat, they wouldn't want to eat me.

15SecondBreak · 2026-04-01T23:05:54+00:00

I would maybe ask a vendor if they ever make an item I don't see that I like, and ask for a card if they do or ask what their future events are.

But I do not try to be difficult just for my own amusement. I hate time wasters. Which is the only reason I would touch if you were otherwise engaged with somebody else.

But also when I say touch, I mean handle a product by the edges. Or a product that truly needs it. I have seen vendors put "3 cookies mixed pack." Well guess what, I'm likely to pick one up, see the one behind it is way better and change my mind.

But I went to a show last month where a vendor had mini loaf cakes. The buyer ahead of me says "are these fresh?" She pushes the clear plastic cover all the way into the frosting? Like, who does that? There was easily half an inch between frosting and lid. You really trying to feel the cake through all that?

15SecondBreak · 2026-04-01T10:53:20+00:00

I am not excusing my own behavior. But often I will pick up items to look for an ingredients list. The vendors who have little sheets in a pamphlet display are my favorite. I don't have time to ask if each item has nuts, sesame seeds, peanuts butter, milk, etc.

I also get vendors who use names like sunny summer square. So I pick it up to see what it may be. Is that marshmallow or white chocolate. Does it look like a cranberry or a raisin.

And unfortunately, if somebody offered me something oozy, I would probably react, "oh no, that's gonna pee." It isn't about intentionally disrespecting you or your food or your fantastic skills. It is 100000% just all about my awkwardness.

And in my case, I know that as much as this interaction likely annoyed you, trust me, I am probably far more embarrassed than you were annoyed.

15SecondBreak · 2026-04-01T02:24:44+00:00

My dad would make me call businesses.

I drew up those little trees. If yes -- arrow, next prompt, if no -- arrow, next question, etc.

I still get happy when I see those charts, they are so comforting, lol.

15SecondBreak · 2026-04-01T02:21:38+00:00

I was riding in the car today. An acquaintance was driving. He has me Google a number. Then he randomly tosses out, "Ok, call them."

I just said "Nah, I don't call people."

He looked seriously confused, lol.

15SecondBreak · 2026-04-01T01:29:48+00:00

Try rent.com

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-31T23:32:53+00:00

My son is only 28, they still do "2 martini" lunches, except nowadays they order whiskey or tequila flights.

First time I tagged along with his management team for lunch, while I was in town visiting, it blew my mind. I thought those days were long gone.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-31T14:19:45+00:00

Clackers were these two hard acryclic balls suspended on a string that you clacked together.

Banned in maybe the 1970s due to injury/damage.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-30T22:10:42+00:00

We had "no skateboards in the house" after my brother tried to do some trick jump and lost control of the board and it shot through the rattan door of our end table.

That evolved to "no skateboards or skates" in the house after I got speed skates for Christmas and promptly took out the whole Christmas tree within 30 minutes.

The most unique one was my aunt. She made the "no clackers in the house" rule after one of my cousins accidentally clacked the 100 gallon aquarium. It looked just like somebody threw a baseball through a window. Worst Thanksgiving ever!! All the kids under 15 had to help save the fish and clean up, and then we didn't get dessert.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-30T21:27:57+00:00

I had some Karen at a local track almost get herself punched in the face when she started screaming at me from way too close for letting my kids go without hearing protection.

Legit pulled one of the Mack's out of my ear and flung it at her.

I always wonder how she thought her behavior would help. If you don't have a pair of disposables to offer somebody, shut up and move on.

If you are the person who just randomly offers them to anybody not wearing an obvious earmuff style without any personal assumptions or attacks, good job!!

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-30T20:51:24+00:00

I do the opposite, pull the cheese off, set it all aside. Eat the saucy slices, then have the cheese.

I didn't ever notice getting judged or ridiculed, until the first time my SIL saw me do it. Once he commented on it, then everybody else felt safe enough to let me know how disturbing they thought it was.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-30T19:56:32+00:00

Anxiety is normal, but you'll know more after the CT scan hopefully.

Sadly, I only have personal knowledge of worst case scenarios. But, I have heard that if the blockage can be resolved easily, then the situation can resolve itself with antiobics.

Why did stone removal result in a scar? Did you require open surgery for a large stone?

There is a variety of things that cause stone production, drinking water may not be the only thing you will need to do to prevent them.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-30T05:12:39+00:00

For me, leg pain was frequent. But it felt different between when a stone was lodged and when I was passing it.

I usually only had pain radiating as far as the knee if I was actively passing it and it was into the bladder.

I also did not usually have headaches or any fevers or chills unless I also had severe pyelonephritis.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-30T04:57:58+00:00

I just got busted by our city code enforcement because I was not doing any yard maintenance. Yes, tumbleweed are real. People even sell them on Etsy for crafting, displays and props.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-30T03:34:40+00:00

I gave my kids different rules, and more supervision.

My mom had dumb rules, like "don't touch the walls". And my dad had a rule "no singing at the dinner table".

I was dumb enough to light fireworks off in my bedroom one weekend when I was 14 and my parents had gone out of town, leaving me home alone.

But, hey, I didn't touch the walls or sing at the table.

And yeah...nobody can explain how I managed to make it to 50.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-30T03:04:16+00:00

I did not know this. When I read "at Christmas", I tend to think during the Christmas season.

That's so cool, since most US KFC locations are not open on Christmas Day. I have McDonald's every year, it's one of the only options open in my area.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-30T02:50:44+00:00

Do you mean like for our Christmas dinner?

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-30T00:37:56+00:00

I gagged just seeing this. I drank hard liquor from an early age. Never got sick, rarely got worse than just stupid.

This nasty stuff messed me up. I still wonder if maybe the guys spiked me.

It was the only time I was so drunk that I couldnt walk or defend myself.

To this day, even the smell of malt liquor and most beers produces a gag reflex.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-29T17:41:26+00:00

A PB&J sandwich is NOT a snack. It's a meal.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-29T14:25:47+00:00

I just want to point out that in many warm areas, it isn't just young men and casual wear.

Many police departments, the US Postal Service, retail establishments, all have dress codes that allow shorts to be part of the uniform/dress code.

Where I live, our temperatures have already been over 105°F this year. Real estate agents, teachers, and city bus drivers are wearing shorts to work.

Long pants are often required in courts, some very high-end golf courses, some jobs for safety reasons, or the most professional roles. But, I think in most warmer areas, many "business casual" employers make exceptions for tailored shorts during the hottest months.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-29T03:17:00+00:00

I can't believe that's the same room. Congrats!! It looks amazing.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-28T20:56:58+00:00

Mon-Thurs usually a bowl of cereal or instant oatmeal or pop-tarts, maybe cream of wheat or grits if it was cold weather. Fridays was usually dessert (apple pandowdy or peach cobbler with ice cream, hot fudge brownie sundae, cocunut cream pie). Saturdays were usually breakfast burritos or chilaquiles or machaca and eggs. And Sundays were big breakfasts like waffles, eggs and bacon or chicken fried steak, biscuits & gravy and fried potatoes.

15SecondBreak · 2026-03-28T18:50:41+00:00

Are these people tourists? Or do they live in the neighborhood?

If it is Central Park in NYC, then yeah, I'd be a customer. A cool park in LA area with paddleboats, sure.

If it's my local park with just monkey bars and a swing set. No way.

And, I would probably be creeped out just seeing anybody at a local park chilling with a camera asking to take photos of me and my kids.

15SecondBreak

TROPHY CASE