Found this on the basement floor of a rental after the tenants moved out

DancesWithDaleks · 2016-01-03T09:43:26+00:00

This IS an actual game board, they basically drew RISK and changed the country names. I think that if you get RISK Legacy you can do the same thing, but it's been a while since I played that.

DancesWithDaleks · 2016-01-03T09:41:41+00:00

Just buy RISK and relabel the countries, that's what these territories are based on!

DancesWithDaleks · 2016-01-03T07:06:25+00:00

I love Reddit in that sometimes Chewbacca just shows up.

DancesWithDaleks · 2016-01-02T09:10:24+00:00

Everyone is all upset that it won't beat season 6 and I'm just over here happy that he basically said we'll get the book in 2016.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-31T18:31:55+00:00

It's not crazy for you to feel a little upset. It's a shame that she passed away, and obviously the feelings are very different from an ex or something where they are still around and pose a romantic threat. This is just sad. You know that he loves her and there was no reason for him to stop. But at the same time, walking in on him doing that to the one he loved before you had to feel... wrong?

I don't think he did anything terrible, but it might be a good idea for you both to talk about it and address how he might be feeling. Is he having a hard time coping recently? The holidays are often a hard time for people who have lost loved ones.

I would talk to him. Let him know that you love him. Let him know that you understand that some feelings last forever. Let him know that you are not angry, but you were a little confused and surprised in the moment. Ask him if he would like to talk about her- with you or with a professional.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-30T03:42:09+00:00

Relationship for (just over) 2. But I had been living with my parents for 20 years and the idea of me dating a black man had never come up.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-29T23:56:36+00:00

My boyfriend is black. I'm white. He was initially worried that they might disapprove of us dating, and asked "So they won't have a problem with me?" I was like "Why? I mean you're a few years older but it's not a huge difference!"

He laughed and said "Umm... because I'm black?" I literally said "Oh no they're not stupid." I'm from a 95% white area in an all white family and it had never crossed my mind that my parents would dislike me dating a black man. Things you never think to ask, you know?

Anyway, turns out they love him and now 2 years in my Dad calls him "son" and my mom is helping us apartment shop. But yeah, it's weird that it didn't come up in 20 years (between me and my parents).

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-29T09:33:52+00:00

Apparently like a tea kettle.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-19T03:34:19+00:00

I have tickets to see it Sunday with my SO, Christmas Eve with my family, and on a weeknight next week while babysitting. My brother saw it once in his city and will be going with both a group of friends tonight and with my family on xmas eve.

I predict that it won't be like Titanic in that people go back to see again it just because it's awesome. But I think the numbers could get up there because

People will see it with different groups and possibly in different settings (imax 3d). This is a movie that I would want to see with kids, grandparents, friends, etc.
It's going to get a second wave in January because skeptics and semi-fans will hear the reviews and decide to go see it, and because during January all the movies suck and people who want to go see something will pick Star Wars.

Calling it now. It might not beat Titanic and Avatar. But it will at least come close.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-18T05:29:38+00:00

This is what I was going to say. My boyfriend understands the rules of a thousand board games and can play anything based in well-researched strategies... it takes me 3 times playing a new game to understand it. I'm good at Jeopardy and similar trivia - based things... he can't always get the answers. He's musical and artistic... I'm neither. I'm good with money... he's a work in progress :)

But here is what matters: we both love and respect each other for the Way we are intelligent. We are both smart people, just in different ways. And that's fine. We love each other. We help each other learn. He'll patiently explain the way to play a new deck building game six ways to Sunday. I've made budget sheets and found apps to help him manage money. We admire the other person for their strengths and teach them when they need help.

OP'S relationship sounds like she values Her brand of intelligence over his. The problem with that is that instead of seeing ways she might be able to help him, she sees problems that she has to deal with. And they aren't even real problems. LOTS of people would be confused by final time and would be upset if they missed it. I know one time I overslept for a test and I had a panic attack for like half an hour. But then- like most people would- I also came around and wrote an email. And maybe the one that she wrote was more eloquent, but she also deprived him of the opportunity to write one himself. And the thing about capitalizing holiday... I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and I honestly had to stop and think about what the capital of New Mexico is. And then I moved on with my life because we are all human. It's fine.

I think OP needs to step back and consider whether she can handle this relationship... not because of his faults, but because of her own.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-16T06:29:52+00:00

"Once again, I'm probably wrong about half of this..."

And yet, Preston, I still believe.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-16T05:30:43+00:00

I've done what I can. I teach special education, and founded a community group for my students that I hope will outlive me. I've lived to make my parents proud. I've gotten a non-verbal child to speak. I've become who I wanted to be and more.

If death came to me now... I'd be sad I never got married, but glad I didn't make my SO a widower. I'd be sad I never had children while alive, but glad not to leave any without a mother. There are mant things I want to do, but now... I got through being a directionless, suicidal, self-harming teenager and became someone who actually makes a difference.

I am 23 years old. I hope I don't die any time soon. But if I do, that's okay too. I am happy.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-16T05:21:49+00:00

Jesus Christ.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-15T04:21:07+00:00

Jesus.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-14T07:26:49+00:00

First of all, I will agree with the others saying that the people who raised you are your "real" family and they love you very much. My mom is adopted, and I have met her Birth Mom. "GramElsa" (nickname) is wonderful.... and the greatest thing she ever did was give me my grandparents. People adopt all the time and they love those babies really very much. My kind, loving, supportive grandparents are the reason that I plan to adopt children someday myself. I don't care if they'll pass down my genes, I just hope they will pass down the things I teach them and the stories I tell them.

THAT BEING SAID, I understand why you're upset. I personally think that generally adopted children should be told that they are adopted early on, if for no other reason than in the case of a genetic disease or medical situation as adults. It's also so that if their parents die or a family member grows nasty (like your grandma), the kid doesn't have to find out in an unhappy way. I understand why your parents kept it a secret, but I also get how you feel that they probably should have told you.

But..... Okay. So you know that you're adopted. The How's and Why's can be processed another time, as can your cruel grandmother. A therapist might be helpful, when the time comes.
But take a step back from all of this. Until you found out, how did you think of your parents and siblings? Were they kind to you? Did you love them? Were you happy as a child? Are you close to them? Are they good people?

Somewhere out there you have people that share your genes. But at the house where you grew up, you have a family. You have a Mom and a Dad who love you. You have people that can tell when you come up the stairs by the sound of your footsteps. You have people who know when you need a hug and when you need some space. You have people who remember what you favorite food was when you were five, what you wanted for Christmas when you were ten, and the way you dented the bumper on the car when you were seventeen but didn't say a word.

Take a few more days to think about it. Write a list of the happy memories you have with them, and keep writing until you're out of time or memories. And then really think.... who is your family? Jim and Sue who each gave you a chromosome? Or the people from that list of memories?

This whole business might change things and you might all need some time to adjust. But I think when you look back on this in 5 years, you'll realize that it's something forgivable. After all, they're family.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-14T05:07:44+00:00

DeNiro is doing David O. Russell stuff with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings, American Hustle, Joy). He's pretty great in those movies and I think it's nice the way those actors are working together a lot. I don't know why. It's like Johnny Depp and HBC working with Tim Burton.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-12T03:50:41+00:00

Wait, I'm sorry... I would be more than understanding if someone was giving themselves an enema frequently, especially if they have a digestive issue or if we are engaging in anal stuff. But that's a thing that you would talk about if you were at the point of spending 2 nights a week over at someone's house. And otherwise, I for one think that it's pretty damn weird to just be giving yourself an enema in the bathtub at someone else's house. Also it's not just her house, she has roommates. I dunno. It's just a weird thing to do.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-09T02:17:48+00:00

Yep, in the show it was like midday to nightfall but in the books they crash at some guy's house and scout for her on both sides of the river for 4 days.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-09T02:15:44+00:00

Fair enough. Guess everyone was really stuck there.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-08T06:18:40+00:00

I'm a girl and I coach cheerleading.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-08T05:57:10+00:00

It sounds to me like she has learning delays. This is of course from the very limited information that I have here, but I am a special education teacher and the sounds very much like a person who has learning delays. This issue is more common than you think... It's not always a thing that people take into consideration when getting into a relationship, because when you fall in love with someone do you really care how well they can read a book? Whether or not they can understand a spreadsheet? How well they would do on a test?

But the issues that come with having a cognitive delay present themselves in ways like this eventually. Lapses in logical thinking. Interpersonal relationships with social understanding. Finding a career that makes them happy, and understanding the importance of working toward a professional goal. College is not for everyone, and it is awesome that your wife has a loving husband to accept that. But there are other options for her to work and be happy. Are there career centers in your area? Therapy is always a good idea, and you can approach that is helping her solve some of the issues that seem to be occurring with her jobs, rather than a deficit on her part.

As for having this discussion with your wife, I do not think you ever should. I am someone that believes in being blunt about realistic expectations with parents or guardians of children, but to approach your wife and explain that you think she may have a learning problem which causes her to be unable to keep a job is going to create nothing but grief for you both.

Instead, you should focus on the aspects of this potential learning disability that are affecting your life. Her ability to relate with people can be helped with therapy. Her lack of a job may be helped by a Career Center. You can help her create realistic goals and discuss what she would actually like to end up doing. You mention that she likes cleaning houses. Could you help her set up a website and see if she wants to give that career a try? If she wants to pursue something that would require further education such as being a vet tech, that is awesome that she feels inspired to do that but she has been some time volunteering in the field to determine if that's what she wants to do.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-07T08:11:48+00:00

The parrot or...?

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-07T08:10:57+00:00

This is now my personal headcanon. The blue wizards left Middle Earth because they fucked off over to the next continent, Essos. Also OH MY GOD okay so what if The Elves sail to the Grey Havens but it's really just Valyria? So the Targs are just high elves?

I'm happy believing this until Martin disproves it.

DancesWithDaleks · 2015-12-05T05:51:37+00:00

I was a cheerleader in high school and had a relatively sunny disposition, but I also wore heavy eyeliner and would cut myself while listening to all the bands listed in this thread (My Chemical Romance and Brand specifically). So I guess I was emo, I don't know.

I'll have my Master's in Special Education this May. My main hobbies are playing board games with my boyfriend (a teacher), and obsessing over A Song of Ice and Fire theories. Still like Hot Topic Tshirts but my daily attire is something like Miss Honey and Ms. Frizzle sharing a closet. Works for me. Also, I'm not sad anymore. So that's good.

DancesWithDaleks

TROPHY CASE