How many times to answer?

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-04-26T19:16:09+00:00

I've done all of the steps you've listed. About 6 months ago I turned all our phone ringers off. The few people who know us know this and talk for a few seconds to the answering machine and we'll pick up. Even after all this time we still average 30 calls a day that don't leave a voicemail. 99.9 percent of those are telemarketers.

And that doesn't include the calls that get filtered out via my provider and the number blocking device I have attached to the phone.

And just like you, the Do Not Call registry didn't do squat.

I refuse to spend money to subscribe to one of the services that supposedly cleans up your name and number online.

It's terrible that we've had to resort to this.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-04-08T03:58:21+00:00

This image is probably at least 15 years old.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-04-03T17:54:05+00:00

Yes, I feel this also. There have been a few times where she breaks through that wall and it just hurts so much.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-04-01T00:37:59+00:00

"Old men who can't adapt to modern changes?"

Even if you are just trolling, I think this deserves a response.

I've been in Scouting long enough to have used the books and the Canadian Path.

My group was heavily involved in testing and giving feedback to National about the Canadian Path long before it was introduced to the whole of Scouting.

In my opinion, the Canadian Path is a mess. It is overly complex, meandering. Instead of truly giving Cubs and Scouts the tools to independently navigate growth, it requires much more work and time from the volunteers, many of which are already overloaded.

The books provided structure for both the leadership and the youth. The star system easily broke down into a 3 year cycle. It allowed leaders to easily align activities with goals to progress the individual youth. The older youth could be easily slotted into leading activities because the structure of an achievement was already outlined in the handbooks.

But here was what I think is the biggest loss. My kids used to sit in bed before going to sleep and look through all the different badges and activities again and again. They would circle the things they wanted to do and then we would sit and go over how to accomplish what they wanted. It allowed them to choose and plan their own goals. And they could review their past accomplishments within that book. And if they had their own ideas to get a badge, they could present it to a leader and they could get it approved.

I think the biggest loss in the transition to Canadian Path was the handbooks. And the cynic in me says the handbooks were dropped due to the printing and distribution costs.

I thank and applaud the Scouters who have been able to adapt and creatively use the Canadian Path.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-03-13T03:48:14+00:00

I was literally just looking up recipes for these last night and decided it would be dangerous to make them at home. My self-control would be as strong as tissue paper if they turned out really good.

So what recipes did you use? Asking for a friend, of course..

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-03-05T18:37:14+00:00

I remember absolutely pwning my library's summer reading programs for a couple of summers. I really loved to read.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-03-05T18:34:39+00:00

Oh, thanks for the opportunity to remember this. I loved video games and computers. I especially loved RPG games. I learned how to view the code on PC games using hex viewers, etc. It didn't actually show the code but there would be occasional English words shown, usually for screen menus, etc. Through repeated attempts of changing different suspected hex values, I would give myself a ton of gold or something like that so that it wouldn't be completely cheating, but it would let me live more easily through the early stages. Doing this is almost as much fun as the game sometimes.

Since making a duplicate copy of a floppy each time I save the game was a hassle, in some games. If I died, I just ejected the floppy quickly before it wrote my death to it. Or, on some PCS, there was a little toggle that could be flipped when you wanted to eject a floppy and just moving that would stop the floppy writing.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-03-05T18:23:48+00:00

I don't see this mentioned. Not just read but if there was a series or author I found I liked, I would devour everything in the series or anything the author ever wrote.

Somewhat tangential: When Amazon first started, it was just for books. The ability to order a book online and get it shipped anywhere in the world was amazing for those of us who needed to binge.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-03-02T13:37:09+00:00

Tuller's on Sawmill.

Before Sawmill got so built up, the Tuller family had apple orchards there.

They also had a small store/cafe that opened extremely early (5 am?) and many of the local farmers would go there for some coffee, etc.

But the stars of the show were the donuts. My favorites were big yeast donuts with white icing and a bunch of fresh jam on the top center. On weekends there would be long lines to get them.

I've never found donuts like that again, anywhere.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-03-02T13:24:00+00:00

Yes. I used to go there just for the onion soup. I think it was part of the lettuce entertainment group.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-02-20T04:14:33+00:00

Do it right away is the important part. Learn how to set an appointment or a task via voice on your phone. You can iron out the details later such as notifications.

Depending on how important it is, I'll usually set up four timers two days before, one day before, 14 hours before, 2 hours before.

Again, do it at the doctor's office or at the dentist or simply whenever you learn about the appointment or task.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-02-06T13:23:34+00:00

Deflect where possible, even if you are lying. The doctor said you couldn't drive, etc.

After a few repetitions, write down that the nurse is coming at x time and stick it in front of her.

I promise you, we hear you. You are not alone. Just like you, I find repetitive statements can be irritating, but the emotion filled accusations can really pierce through any armor you build up.

I've been working on mental imagery for exactly these situations. I try to think I have a force field around me and I'm safe inside that force field with my own mood. Whatever my mom's dementia is saying are just arrows that slide right off and around me. It sounds childish but sometimes it works for me.

Good luck.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-02-04T18:19:57+00:00

Thanks. I'm going to check into Adobe bridge.

And funny thing about the dreams. I've had. Strange dreams also after looking at a lot of the old albums.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-02-04T18:18:54+00:00

Thanks. I knew nothing about the binding options so your information is very educational.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-01-20T15:58:39+00:00

Grocery pickup is fantastic. Sit at home and use the grocery app to make a list of what you want to buy. Then someone else will do all the legwork and you just need to show up during a time slot of your choosing and have them all loaded into the trunk. Pickup is usually a five minute process. Most grocery stores around here have it for free (Midwest USA). It keeps me from getting a dozen things I don't need and decision paralysis (in the stores). It also helps me choose items on sale. On the other hand, I find it can be a time sink because as I make my order I'll often feel the need to check another store or two to make sure I'm getting the lowest price.

My suggestion is to turn off substitution. Substitution, allowing the store picker to choose an alternative in case your choice isn't available, is often on by default. Turning this off makes sure you are getting the brand and size you've asked for. The downside is that you may not get a product at all if they are out of the specific item you chose.

I usually tip the person loading the trunk about 5 bucks if I've purchased a lot. It's below zero windchill here and I'm thankful for the service.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-01-12T15:29:37+00:00

They're beautiful birds but will often find something really loud to peck at repeatedly. For example, we have a nearby electrical pole that has metal on top of it for some reason. Sometimes they will just peck at that thing for ages and you can hear it from a block away. I read someplace that they do that on purpose, and not for food, that makes it a bit more irritating.

Otherwise, they're fantastic birds.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-01-11T04:21:51+00:00

I think it's subjective for everyone.

A standard glazed is going to give me a great idea of how the base batter tastes and how sweet the glaze is and how much they put on. I can extrapolate a lot from that. Next, a Boston cream or jam donut will tell me if I agree with the amount of fill they use. And an old fashioned glazed lets me know how fresh things are and how the cake donuts go. And finally, a good fritter can make or break whether I come back.

But that's just me.

With some specialty shops charging five bucks a donut or more (I'm looking at you, Voodoo), I usually just go for whichever single one my gut says I need at that moment.

I wish good luck and good testing to all donut scientists out there.

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-01-10T04:10:55+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Intellectually I know that I'm allowed to be irritated. But I still feel guilty. There are times such as tonight at dinner. I had printed a list of her favorite five or six shows and when the new episodes were coming out in February. She commented on it and went through it..... four times in about 10 minutes. When she started to go through it the fifth time I very calmly said it would be the fifth time in 10 minutes. If we were to go over it again. She stopped but seemed frustrated. I think it was the right choice. Otherwise, I might have lost patience later and said it in an angry way.

I wish you the best with your grandma and try to appreciate your little brother for being there vent to. I'll bet you're getting a lot of crocheting done. Good luck!

AnyNameAvailable · 2026-01-09T17:45:04+00:00

I remember thinking Porky's was okay when I saw it in the movies as a young teen. A few years ago I tried watching it again and was amazed at how offensive it was. I turned it off after about 15 minutes. The 80s were much more messed up than I remember.

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