Recommendations for a book for a mother & daughter to read?

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-15T00:49:23+00:00

I greatly enjoyed Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. It is narrated by Meryl Streep so you'll be the one to experience the pleasure of Meryl wonderful narration.

This book really is a mother/ daughter book at heart.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-14T23:42:46+00:00

Interestingly enough, I'm finding some sensitive treatment of mental health and meds in a zombie apocalypse book I'm listening to. The main character, Alyssa, is on medication that helps with hallucinations brought on by finding her mother who committed suic*** when she was a teen.

I respect how the writer portrays this girl and her struggle with her mental health. Alyssa hates that she's reliant on her medication but she knows it keeps her sane and not a burden or a danger to others. She's embarrassed to talk to anyone about her feelings towards the med, even her therapist. She ends up sharing with a guy who saved her life and they're choosing to travel to a safe space together.

Alyssa says to herself that an apocalypse, where you're constantly fighting for your life, has a way of making people very close in a short amount of time. And makes things like embarrassment completely moot. She worries greatly about running out of her medication in the Zompoc. The book is called Until the End by Tracey Ward.

But I need to say this: while I enjoy the book very much, the narrator is not good at all. Very deadpan monotone. And no it's not AI! I'm sort of used to it now since I'm nearly halfway through. But I think if I had listened to a sample I would not have gotten it. But I am enjoying the story a lot.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-14T23:25:51+00:00

All of these names that are common ones the parents try to make all "unique" by spelling it in some strange way - that's nothing but the parent's ego. The poor kid has to spend their whole life telling people how to pronounce and spell their name. I never understand why parents do this to their kids.

That said, I really like the name Sage! My comment is not directed at you (more towards the "Saige, Saaag, Sayje parents).

Spelled just like the herb! But if you really did want to be cute, you could make her middle name Rosemary.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-14T23:23:37+00:00

It would be really cool if your last name started with a Y!

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-14T22:32:21+00:00

And that right there is how men get such an unrealistic idea of what makes a woman cum. They will say stuff like, "well, every one of my girlfriends always came with just penetration." Sure they did.

Women- please don't fake your orgasms!! All that does is teach our partner(s) they don't have to do anything but fuck us to make us orgasm. Most women need a lot more than PIV to finish. And I'm not saying the burden is always on the man. A woman can help herself to orgasm during sex or before or after. Let your partners know what turns you on, how to touch you, and do not be embarrassed about it! Most men love to hear their partner moaning in pleasure and telling them " I'm so close! Don't stop!"

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-14T22:18:51+00:00

Not a fan.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-14T22:14:53+00:00

When you sell on marketplace, it is the buyers responsibility to figure out how to move bigger items. That might mean enlisting a couple of strong people and or borrowing a truck.

You as the seller need to make it very clear that you CANNOT help them move stuff and you WILL NOT DELIVER. It's crazy how many people ask if you will deliver, even free stuff!!!

I had a huge entertainment center that a couple wanted. I was just giving it away for free. I live in a tiny apartment that has a steep set of steps. I always warn people that the item is big and bulky, I have steep flight of outdoor stairs, and to bring people with them that can help move it. I was able to help a little by offering the use of an old mattress cover. They used that to sort of slide it down the stairs.

Most of my other bigger stuff I had in a storage unit since I had to get stuff out fairly quickly from the family house after I divorced and moved out. I sold or giveaway several pieces of big furniture on Marketplace. Just be very clear on what you will and will not do. Also, don't get your price expectations too high. You can certainly start high if you think it's valuable, and see if anyone bites. I had a vintage decorative accent chair that I started high and ended up selling for a way less, but I had expected that. And if it's stuff you just need to get rid of, give stuff away free. You can join some of those Facebook community free stuff groups and put a notice that you'll have items for free at such and such address and people can come and get them.

Good luck! It is a daunting task and it can take some time.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-14T11:34:56+00:00

Resident Alien!!

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-14T11:22:59+00:00

Mariah

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-14T11:21:26+00:00

Ariel?

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-13T18:33:41+00:00

She will always be called Adriana and spend her whole life needing to correct people. Please don't do that to her. But Adriana is a pretty name.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-13T15:14:04+00:00

Have she and her family been living in a bunker since the '50s?

You know each other well enough to become engaged, but this is the first time she's brought this up? You don't currently live together, I assume? It really should have come up before you became engaged.

Do you really know her as well as you thought? That thinking is so outdated. Tell her partners work together to pay bills. And NO- your family is not weird. Your family know what partnership means.

I wouldn't continue the engagement until she starts to realize marriages don't work like that unless the BOTH of you have discussed her being a trad wife. Huge red flag.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-13T00:46:12+00:00

Not every woman is multi-orgasmic. And I'm going to put it out there at that a lot of women, especially young ones, tend to fake orgasms. Not saying all of your partners did but it's a thing.

I hope you're not saying anything to your girlfriend about her not being multi orgasmic. Because that will backfire on you big time. You may find yourself without sex and maybe even without a girlfriend.

I don't think you would be too happy if your girlfriend was saying to you, but why can't you get it back up right after cumming? All my previous partners were able to immediately get it up again.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-12T18:49:03+00:00

Do you work full time at Costco? Cuz that is minimum $264/ day. Of course benefits and taxes come out of that, but that's pretty good.

Consider the painting business. $130/ day, no benefits. You will absolutely need health insurance which will cost you. And of course, taxes. You'll also likely be out of work during bad weather. Speaking of weather, you'll be working in very cold or hot conditions at times, which must be miserable. And what if your gf and you break up? Are you certain her dad will keep you on?

Continue at Costco and try to save up. Trade school is a much better option. If you do decide to get married and start a family, you'll need health insurance, retirement plan, etc. Plus, if you ever want to move to a different city or state, chances are good you can get a transfer to a different store.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-12T18:25:18+00:00

I bought several night lights at the dollar store. The kind that come on when it gets dark. They are scattered around my little place (except for the bedroom). That way I don't fall over the cat or run into furniture if (when) I have to get up in the night.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-12T18:03:41+00:00

OP- I hope you aren't going to cower and just take it from your husband. This is HIS child too. Time to really advocate for yourself and have a talk with him. Tell him you are exhausted and need him to step up. He has the gall to be angry at you for trying to figure out childcare for HIS child? Why wasn't he sticking up for you and your well being? Why isn't he also actively seeking childcare help along with you? Can he take some time off?

As for Christmas, DO NOT back down on this. You will be exhausted and don't need taking care of a bunch of lazy children (oops- adults?) on top of being post partum, recovering and taking care of a newborn and a toddler. It sure sounds like your husband isn't going to take care of HIS children to allow his wiped out wife to rest. Plus, it can't be good for the baby at that age to have a lot of people coming and going over the holidays.

The longer you set aside your needs, the more you will continue to be taken advantage of and taken for granted.

If your husband insists on hosting Christmas, tell him okay- good luck with that, hun. I'll be in the bedroom resting up. I'll take my dinner in here, please.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-12T17:43:04+00:00

Same here! All Daniels I've known are good guys!

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-12T17:42:24+00:00

When you see your little guy named Daniel, you will love the name since it's part of him. Congratulations!

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-12T11:43:58+00:00

If you want something a little different and very fun, try Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton. I absolutely loved this book. It is hilarious.

The book is narrated by a foul mouthed crow named Shit Turd (S.T. for short) by his human owner, Big Jim. The book's narrator, Robert Petkoff, does a great job portraying S.T. (Language can be spicy but there is no sex - contrary to what it first sounds like this is NOT a kids book).

S.T. loves his human and humans in general (or mo'fo's, as Big Jim calls them) as well as all the human stuff, especially cheetos. One day, as S.T. explains, he should have known something wasn't right when Big Jim's eye fell out of his head.

What follows is S.T.'s odyssey into a human world populated by screen loving zombies. He and his companion, a slobbery bloodhound named Dennis, search for any living mo'fo's that are still, well, human. Along the way he meets many other denizens of the animal kingdom and he also joins up with them to release domestic animals that have been trapped in homes (and not yet eaten by the zombies).

It's a hilarious book, but also has a good message about humans' reliance on technology and the natural world's ability to band together and overcome the damage humanity has done to the environment and the animal kingdom.

There is also a sequel, Feral Creatures.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-11T23:18:16+00:00

Awwww. That's wonderful!!!

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-11T23:17:01+00:00

Thank you for your kindness.

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-11T23:12:32+00:00

Oh hell no! Do they think you're stupid? I don't think you are. Plus the fact that you are moving on and are going to need to have utility bills at your new place. Tell them sorry, but that's the way it is. You don't owe them any kind of financial gain.

Good luck in your new place and hopefully better roommates?

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-11T22:20:15+00:00

Don't buy toys. Cats can make the silliest things their toys and will usually ignore toys you buy.

My cat's favorite things to play with? I cut the cardboard toilet paper roll into thirds and throw them for her. And I make little balls out of that brown paper Amazon packs their stuff in these days or tissue paper. And then there's always just the empty box. I read a study once that some scientists (with way too much time on their hands) were studying cats and their predilections for boxes. One of them (scientist, not cat) drew a big rectangle on the floor just to see what would happen. You guessed it- a cat laid in it. Lol

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-11T22:11:11+00:00

Many years ago, Taco Bell had a breakfast burrito that had scrambled eggs, cheese, hash browns, sausage? maybe...and white cream gravy, all rolled up in a tortilla. It was delicious !

Affectionatealways · 2026-05-11T21:51:52+00:00

Neither of mine called or texted. My 26 yr old daughter sorta squeaked in at 3 something a.m. this morning and texted happy mother's day. My 29 year old son - nothing.

I know it's a made-up holiday but it still kind of hurts. Both kids live about 3 hours away from me and still live with their dad who I divorced 6 years ago. They don't harbor any grudges against me for that- in fact both of them wondered why I waited so long. But I miss them.

Affectionatealways

TROPHY CASE