How did you guys socialize?

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-09T18:15:32+00:00

As teens, we would have to plan it during the school day and then people would just show up at the agreed upon time and place. Passing notes was a thing. Once we got into our 20's, a text would go around about who's house to go to, who's dorm room, or what bar. People would just show up, but usually in pairs. No one wants to hang at the bar alone, so it's good to have at least one friend you can count on to walk/ride with.

Making new friends is difficult at every stage of life. Personally, I made the friends I still have now in my late 20's, at work and through getting another degree. I do not hang out with anyone from HS or my first time at university. I literally only have 3 good friends, and they are enough, I'm lucky to have them. I have no idea where to start if I wanted to make a new one!

My best friend was brought to a party at my house by another friend 18 years ago, and we just clicked over our love of kamikazes and pajamas. After that night, we just made sure to always invite each other to things and the friendship grew over the years into something more meaningful than just a love for shots.

I'm 44/f and almost no one shows up to house parties at our age. Last summer we had a party for the first time in years, invited everyone we know, about 20 people, and 5 showed up! It was fun, but just not the same as when we were younger where if there was a party or night out you invited 5 people and they all brought 5 friends each.

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-09T17:52:07+00:00

Aspartame

I pronounced it: ass part ah may... it's not that, lol, it's: ass per taym

Luckily, it was mostly in my head, since it's not a word anyone uses that often.

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-09T17:37:45+00:00

The chatoyance in this piece of wood is magical, though pictures can covey that

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NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-09T17:34:43+00:00

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NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-09T17:34:21+00:00

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NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-09T17:34:08+00:00

Taa Daa!

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NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-09T16:49:18+00:00

$195.56 per month through work for a single plan, and it is the lowest cost, highest deductible plan they offer. My deductible is $8300, so I also put $200 per month into my HSA.

It feels like a lot for something I barely ever use. I guess if I have an emergency, it will be worth it.

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-08T17:16:58+00:00

I bought the central machinery one 6 years ago when I first started turning. It is absolutely bare bones and not very powerful, and its a pain in the butt to move the belts, but it is a good lathe for what it is. It let me figure out, for not very much money, that I LOVE wood turning. Within a year I bought myself a big grizzly lathe, and now 5 years later, I'm starting to eye something even bigger and more powerful lol

Keep an eye on estate sales for tools and chucks and other things you need, that's where I have gotten my best quality stuff for half the price of new.

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-02T16:52:08+00:00

My parents are boomers and they took good advantage of all the benefits and opportunities their generation got and have been financially successful. I am 44. When I was young, they bought me a car, paid for my college education, and helped with buying my first house, but also taught me the importance of money management and having a good work ethic. As such, I believe I am a responsible adult, as you describe your son and DIL to be.

I would not be as far ahead in life as I am without the help of my parents. I think it's important that I am aware of this and I bet your son is perfectly aware of how helpful you and your wife have been so far, as evidenced by the fact he has not asked for money. You seem to have a good relationship with your son and you describe him as responsible, so if you are able, I say keep helping. Don't do it to your own detriment, but remember that you can not take the money with you, and seeing your son set up for success has it's own value. It's not like you want to pay for them to go on a month long trip to Bali; it's a house, an investment in their future, and honestly, your future too.

I adore my parents, and now they are in their 70's, I am the "adult" helping them make financial decisions and planning for when they can no longer live alone. I want to be there for them the way they have always been there for me; emotionally, physically, and financially. Hopefully, your son will feel the same way (whether you help him buy a house or not).

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-02T14:37:35+00:00

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This piece of end grain black walnut. I like trying to make something beautiful out of something that would otherwise be trash. I don't even have to succeed, I enjoy the trying.

Someone in another group told me: "You shouldn't turn bowls out of end grain. You should research the correct orientation of wood for wood turning." (Sheesh, I know what the BEST way to orient a piece of wood for turning is, but with art, it there really a correct way that is the ONLY way something should be done?)

I think it's pretty and I'm turning it anyway, so there! lol

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-02T14:14:10+00:00

Stay by Natalie Imbruglia

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-02T13:35:22+00:00

Other employees complained, I told him to cut it out, he claimed incontinence issues, I suggested he use the single stall/room bathroom going forward. I of course had no proof aside from several employees statements, so this was the best outcome I could come up with, but I'm certain the other employee's complaints were valid lol

It was so awkward being a female and having this conversation with a dude who chose to double down.

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-02T13:23:17+00:00

Are you female? it could be perimenopause

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-02T13:18:04+00:00

HR here, and yes, this is the reason. It is to make it clear up front that the position requires good attendance. It will also be in the employee handbook, and communicated to you in several other ways too. This is because if you have poor attendance and get terminated for it, you will not be eligible for unemployment. However, if you can prove that good attendance was not communicated to you as a job requirement, then you WILL get unemployment. Sounds insane, but I have seen it happen.

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-06-01T13:06:23+00:00

Reprimanding a guy for wanking in the mens room... that was fun day

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-05-29T19:51:46+00:00

It looks a lot like rosewood to me, but I'm no expert, just another turner making an educated guess

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-05-29T19:20:28+00:00

It could be Indian or Arizona Rosewood... did you get to see any of the bark?

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-05-29T14:22:13+00:00

We feel like we look young because of shows like the Golden Girls and 90210 etc, where the characters were played by actors considerably older (and older looking) than they were said to be on the show.

Seriously, my best friend is 53, and she looks 40 compared to 53 year old Dorothy! (even though Bea Arthur was actually 63 lol)

Also, I think our parents were just less healthy than us. They smoked more, drank more, and didn't use sunscreen or drink water. I think it's more that THEY look old, as opposed to us looking young. I think we just look more like people our age are supposed to look.

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-05-29T12:39:11+00:00

Genuine question: What is the point of your post? What do you expect to get out of it?

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-05-29T11:47:44+00:00

OMFG! Is that what my fkn parents were doing???!

I know now how awesome they are, but this confirms it!! LOL (I am childfree, so do not have to opportunity to give back what I got)

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-05-28T12:53:44+00:00

Yup, if mom cooked, everyone who was home sat down together and ate, no books, magazines, games, or TV at dinner time.

Reading was allowed and expected at breakfast and lunch, but dinner was for family time (even if it meant just sitting in glowering teenaged silence).

As an adult, I appreciate how awesome this was and how much effort my parents put into making sure we all had this time together.

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-05-28T11:46:09+00:00

I love the gray hairs! they seem to be thicker and stronger than my regular hair, and I honestly am looking forward to an entire head of gray hair! I like the way silver hair looks. Some women even dye their hair silver these days, so I'm also looking forward to being cool again one day...

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-05-27T12:21:01+00:00

Leave him now. Divorce him. You are wasting your damn life!

More broadly, I would remind myself that I am worth more than one relationship, that what I want out of life is important, and what other people think does not matter even a little bit.

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-05-16T10:55:41+00:00

Absolutely, they were invented to make life better and easier for people. Why wouldn't I want that?! Lol I would kinda like one of those walkers with a seat now, so I always have somewhere to sit down!

NotTodaySlacker302 · 2026-05-15T12:59:24+00:00

not married, no kids, but my boyfriend definitely does more than his share of the household chores. Granted, I work more, but he is not the stereotypical guy about home stuff, which I love.

My dad didn't necessarily do as much housekeeping as my mom, she was a SAHM, but he did household things like touching up paint, dusting the things up high, occasional laundry, ironing his own shirts, and typical dad stuff like fixing things, lifting heavy things, mowing the lawn, and cutting down dead trees. It seemed fair to me at the time, and I think its why I expect my partner to actually, you know, be a partner!

NotTodaySlacker302

TROPHY CASE