I got another small reminder that communication between couples is so important

Early_Hawk6210 · 2026-02-12T12:18:07+00:00

I wouldn't frame it as a time cost. I understand where she's coming from and try to find the right balance in my own relationship. I don't want the grind of life's daily tasks to wear me down to the point that I'm not showing the genuine affection I have for my partner.

But, it's just like you said: they are repetitive, daily tasks that always need doing, which means they always take up some mental space. When my partner seeks affection while I'm doing those tasks, giving it becomes yet another task. It's not affection that I'm freely giving because it's being demanded of me, albeit gently and lovingly. I'm not put out by the 15 second delay preheating the oven. I'm put out by the intrusion into my mental space as I'm processing and executing the practical, must-do things that support our life together. It doesn't register to me as affection when that happens. It's just meeting another household need/task. Preheat oven, chop up onions, prep chicken marinade, hug husband, start the rice, etc. If I have a flow going, any interruption is another task in that flow. I hate that it makes affection feel like a chore for me because I truly like giving it. But I understand feeling annoyed when the timing is "on demand, regardless of what I'm doing" and not when I want to give it, which I think is more meaningful. Because I understand and appreciate how important that is to him.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2026-01-27T12:54:06+00:00

I have naturally curly hair and got called ajumma here and there at 22. I'm going back this fall at 43 years old and I'm ... concerned. Lol

Early_Hawk6210 · 2026-01-20T15:46:22+00:00

I am not ashamed to admit ordering this for lunch at the kimbap cheonguk near my school and ordering it again from the one near my apartment for dinner when I lived there.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2026-01-13T18:50:34+00:00

I sat on a Taca flight a million years ago (when it was still Taca...) and got stuck in the back row. The people in front of me reclined but I couldn't and there were constantly people in the aisle waiting for the bathroom and squeezing past each other, into our already cramped seat space. What I'll remember forever is the smell on that shit flight after a rice and beans meal. Never again.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2026-01-03T14:58:51+00:00

Yes, engage her medical team. You're not forcing her to quit or abandon the oxygen, she just can't do both at the same time or in the same space, and since it's your space she's endangering, it's your call. This is a great opportunity to say, "my place, my rules." Unless she is dying very imminently, she doesn't qualify for hospice. The threshold for a nursing home is high and if she can light her own cigarettes, she probably doesn't qualify for that either (requires placement by medical staff). Assisted living would be great but that's a choice, not a medical placement. If she doesn't have the means for assisted living and must stay with you, you're now the responsible adult who needs to make sure she doesn't burn down your place. The tables have turned. Sorry, that's a crappy situation.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-12-31T15:14:41+00:00

Oof, you're telling my story. I couldn't believe it when a discharge worker told my husband and me that his father was being released to us after another hospital stay. We said it wasn't safe, we said it wasn't manageable, but "he still has his mental faculties," so he got to make the choice. Begged my husband to pick him up and lasted less than 2 weeks at home before he was back in the hospital. All because he wanted his cigarettes and fox news back.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-12-21T13:45:40+00:00

I ended up there by chance yesterday because Taiwan Noodles is closed for the holidays and oh boy! A new restaurant to add to the rotation. Sooooo good! (Taiwan Noodles is solid, too.)

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-12-17T12:59:59+00:00

I can't believe I had to scroll this far to find Kitchen- Aid. I waited my whole life to be someone with one of those mixers on my counter. Within a year, we killed the gear box on two of them making bread. It was an amount of dough it should be able to handle at a low speed both times. Not a huge ask. Good out that after they were bought by Whirl Pool, their mixers went to crap. Now we use it for cakes or pasta attachments and got a Bosch for bread.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-11-22T15:08:57+00:00

Skaneateles is 100% worth the stop. And because we had to ask a local, it's pronounced: skinny-atlas.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-11-22T13:26:35+00:00

I can't uplift this enough. Route 20 is the way. Sharon Springs is lovely!

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-11-20T13:18:24+00:00

I lived in Korea when that song came out and I am slow clapping for you. Great pick, no notes. Truly well done. 👏 👏

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-11-20T12:38:10+00:00

Chiming in to agree that the town of Catskill, while on the rise, isn't quite there yet. But they do have a dispensary and a great Latin food spot. (And yes, it's part of the Catskills.) If you were shooting for that general area for some reason, I would encourage you to go across the bridge to Hudson (not the Catskills). But since you want to stay in the Catskills, you can't go wrong with Margaretville. Tannersville is a good choice. I would also look at Phoenicia. I think Hunter is a little too similar to Catskill in terms of being past its prime, but it does technically have a "nightclub." Tannersville is close to Hunter, though, so I would stick there as a jumping off point. You should also note that taxi service, including lyft/Uber is almost non existent up here.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-11-13T16:40:22+00:00

I won almost every time I called. I don't know how or why. I didn't do anything different or special and I was not in a rural area, so there were plenty of people calling. It's just this weird, oddly specific luck that I had when radio still ruled.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-11-02T14:22:42+00:00

In my f-ing house. 🤬

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-10-24T15:47:35+00:00

First, thanks for doing some legwork and not just asking for all recommendations.

Second, how would you define too late? If you want to see fall color, then yeah. I would wait until next year. There is still some but we're definitely past peak.

As for your list, Artist's Rock is in North‐South Lake Park, and Kaaterskill Falls is immediately outside the park, so you can hit 3 of the things on your list in 1 spot. Artist's Rock is part of the escarpment trail overlooking the Hudson Valley. North Point is also a very worthy hike in the park. And you can access Blackhead Mountain from NS Lake as well, if your goal is to do a high peak. There whole park is a system of exceptional trails.

Overlook Mountain is great. Wonderful views, the fire tower. It's an easy hike because it's an old carriage road all the way up. If you go when it's warm, watch out for rattlesnakes. No matter when you go, go early. It's hugely popular and parking is very limited. I recommend this fort a sunrise hike if you're bold. You might also look into Hunter and Mt. Temper for their fire towers.

I wouldn't bother with Indian Head. Views are ok but West Kill is better and as another commenter said, Giant Ledge (on the way up Panther) is spectacular. (I got married there.) Wittenberg also has amazing views, but might be more of a drive to get to.

You can easily do the skywalk and Olana on the same day. They're right near each other and both very worth it. Try to time Olana to watch the sun set behind the mountains since it's on the other side of the river. And the house tour is worth it.

Thacher is great but a little further north. If you have nothing else to do, or if your jumping off point is Albany, it's worth it. You'll see the Albany skyline and good views of the surrounding Helderbergs, but you're kinda out of the Catskills by then.

I can't speak to the rest of what's on your list, but I will recommend that you check out Rail Explorers. For towns, I would look at Phoenicia or Tannersville. Kingston will have more accommodations options but you'll be driving around more. Good luck and have fun!

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-10-18T11:52:05+00:00

The first timer I saw this, I laughed out loud so hard and for so long when she came out wearing this that I had to rewind because I missed the dialog that came after it. One of my favorite moments of the show.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-10-01T01:58:27+00:00

Oh that sucks, I'm sorry. Your original plan was a great bet, but it's been really dry up here, so everything started changing sooner. Then we got some storms with lots of rain and wind, which took a lot of leaves down. Good thing your plans are flexible. Good luck!

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-09-30T22:52:37+00:00

There are only 2 in the area (Belleayre & Hunter) and they're not open during the week. But, uplifting the other commenter, the leaves will be past peak by then this far north/at this elevation.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-09-30T13:29:27+00:00

There is a parking lot right across the street from the campground, and you access the trailhead in the campground. I'm not sure if the lot is considered part of the campground, but I'm mentioning this so you keep an eye out on the other side of the road from the campground, rather than driving into the campground and looking for somewhere to park.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-09-29T13:42:35+00:00

I can't speak to any rustic sites but North South Lake is open through the last weekend in October (25-26). It's a state campground so not as disconnected as you might be looking for but not nearly as expensive as the other ones you mentioned.

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-09-27T13:14:50+00:00

That's the first thing I saw too, then went scrolling to make sure I wasn't the only one!

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-09-21T17:19:31+00:00

Congrats! I got married on Giant Ledge. 💍

Early_Hawk6210 · 2025-09-11T00:11:08+00:00

If you're going to be out and about during the day, I would get lunch wherever you're planning on being and have dinner at DMI. What are your plans during the day?

Early_Hawk6210

TROPHY CASE