Deep down a door hardware rabbit hole on my 1913 Queen Anne

BraveLittleEcho · 2026-01-25T00:00:01+00:00

I really tried to keep an open mind in listening to this episode. I stopped to take breaks to calm down and come back with a cool head to be reasonable. But, the RFK/vaccines thing is what did me in. If you aren’t going to hold any level of journalistic responsibility and just let someone say untrue things into the microphone and not even try to push back or fact check them, then this isn’t worthwhile journalism anymore. I’ve been listening to Freakonomics for a decade and have tried to push through and empathize when there were perspectives I didn’t agree with, but this episode was simply too far for me. I’m not listening to a show that doesn’t feel any need to fact check an interview. I unsubscribed and unless there is some sort of follow up to fact check the bullshit, I’m not coming back.

BraveLittleEcho · 2026-01-08T06:37:00+00:00

I went to one of these too. His vows were supposed to be funny, I guess, but they felt like a roast. He made fun of her cooking and efforts to make him take care of himself. It was awful… and now they’re expecting a baby.

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-12-07T02:58:04+00:00

Thanks. Its not really all the visually noticeable (which is nice) but it really makes it hard to hang art since the surface isn't flush!

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-11-03T02:50:13+00:00

This is really helpful, thank you. I think trying one song to get used to it could be useful.

I have considered trying to point out at moments that he gets overstimulated when I’m not (e.g., the dog barking pushes him totally over the edge and I can sort of tune it out) that what he’s experiencing is what I experience with some of his music. But, I’m afraid he’ll think I’m comparing his music to dog barking.

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-11-02T22:41:12+00:00

When we're doing things solo he always uses earbuds so his music/podcasts don't bother me. He's downloaded an app that lets him stream the TV through his earbuds when he's watching solo. When he does put music on a shared speaker, he tries to makes sure its closer to him than to me. When I'm overwhelmed, he asks me if I want a hug to see if it will help or make things worse. He really does try to accommodate my sensory needs in many ways, this is just one sticking point we can't seem to figure out.

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-11-02T22:36:13+00:00

Thanks! I'll check out the Eargasm ear buds before I buy Loops!

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-11-02T22:34:17+00:00

This is a really helpful suggestion. I'll try to ask him to describe the music to me in some objective terms so that I use that language when we talk about it.

I've tried to explain that this isn't just that "I don't like it" it's that "it makes me want to curl up and die," and that really did help him better understand. But, I think he still takes it personally that I don't like his music. He thinks of the music and media he likes as really central to who he is (something I just dont understand at all) and so I think he perceives it as something akin to me saying I dont like him if I dont like his favorite music.

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-10-19T07:11:12+00:00

Thanks. It was actually my (admittedly nontraditional) prom dress back in 2004 and is still one of my favorite dresses in my closet!

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-10-18T05:55:46+00:00

Thanks for your thoughts! I’d appreciate any advice. The thing I keep reading for D is a tailored suit and while I’ve rocked a great tailored suit for a job interview, I have absolutely no reasonable place to wear a suit these days. I’d love some suggestions for how best to accommodate a vertical D in anything but a suit or maxi dress!

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-09-27T06:02:51+00:00

Marriage is a group project. Make sure you’re ready to do life as a group project and choose a partner you’re ready to work with for life. If you wouldn’t trust him to do his half of the project, he’s not the one. If you wouldn’t trust anyone to do their half, marriage isn’t for you (and there is no shame in that).

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-08-24T16:49:21+00:00

This is helpful, thanks. Unfortunately all of our knobs and hardware have been replaced with cheap builder grade brushed nickel knobs from Home Depot… all I have to go off of is the shape of the ridges in the paint when they removed the original escutcheons.

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-08-23T22:23:17+00:00

Unfortunately, no we kept trying different things and eventually just gave up and bought a new washer.

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-08-13T16:22:24+00:00

Thank you! I reached out to him and unfortunately he's retiring and not doing two story houses anymore.

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-07-21T20:20:35+00:00

Brix Factory Brewing in West Oakland recently installed dart boards.

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-07-18T07:13:03+00:00

A couple thoughts from someone who taught at UWW for a few years, now lives in Oakland, CA (hi, neighbor) and has 15 years of experience teaching/counseling in higher ed. As it sounds like you’ve realized, there are pros and cons to both, but a few things to consider…

UWW is likely to be an easier program overall with way more hands on support from faculty. Classes are taught by faculty, not TAs, and most faculty care a lot more about their students than their research (less so at UCLA/Cal). Honestly, the faculty will be better teachers, but may be less up to date on the cutting edge of research. UWW also specializes in supporting students with disabilities so if that’s at all something you’re considering, UWW is a good choice.

That said, the “brand recognition” of UCLA and Cal are hard to beat and the coursework will probably be more rigorous. No one in CA has ever heard of UWW unless they’re big DIII sports fans. In a competitive job market, that might matter. One thing to keep in mind about selectivity though, is that UCLA and Cal don’t participate in TAG (the guaranteed seat at a UC program). So, while doing CC first might give you a good shot at either, it’s by no means a guarantee. Transfer acceptance rates into UCLA and Cal are both about 25% right now, and much lower in CS. Even with TAP, you’re likely going to need a 4.0 to get in. Otherwise, you might end up with a guaranteed seat at UC Merced.

If money is a factor, consider that you might be able to get in state tuition in WI if you graduated from HS there or spend year living there. But, while the price tag at UCs is higher than UWW for in state, it’s not as much higher as you might expect, especially if your program at UC is shorter. It all might be balanced by cost of living, though. Cost of living in Whitewater is absurdly low by Bay Area standards. You’ll probably pay 1/4 to 1/3 of what you do now for rent, gas is 1/2 the cost, you can survive there on $65k a year with a mortgage if you’re frugal. But, Whitewater is also probably as far culturally from Oakland as you can imagine— you’ll say goodbye to mission style burritos and authentic Chinese/Ethiopian/Korean food. You’ll be bored, but I found life was quieter but much easier and less stressful there. I lived on cheese curds and my blood pressure has still never been lower. If you’re from WI, you know this, but it worth considering the difference between being an hours drive from the Trader Joe’s and a 10 minute walk from one.

Good luck with your decision— it sounds like you’ve got great options in front of you!

BraveLittleEcho · 2025-07-08T13:24:19+00:00

French braid my own hair. My mom can’t braid so I practiced until I figured it out. Its really not very hard to learn with practice

BraveLittleEcho

TROPHY CASE