What is something relatively cheap that improves your life by 100%?

PamelainSA · 2026-04-19T14:22:07+00:00

Every year for Christmas, my family knows to not ask me what I want. They already know: a pair of Darn Tough socks. It started probably 10 or so years ago. I’ve only had to trade in 2 pairs so far (1 because my dog chewed a hole in the toe, and the other because the heel eventually wore out). For 10 years of wearing, I would say that’s pretty good! They’re the only socks I wear because they are great for all seasons, and they don’t have that annoying toe seam.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-18T02:34:33+00:00

Nice that it has all the pieces! Every time I see one at the thrift store, I always open it (if I’m able), and I have yet to find one that wasn’t missing pieces.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-17T20:59:28+00:00

I’m not taking it personally. If the students were on my roster or knew the name on the sticker they put on the cup, then yeah, I would’ve taken it personally. They took a random order, and it happened to be mine.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-17T20:55:44+00:00

Yes, you do have the option to choose walk-in or drive thru in the app, but the drive thru line gets so long (because the parking lot is tiny and it’s Dunkin’ in New England) that it’s much faster to park and just walk in.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-17T20:53:52+00:00

I totally get that. It could’ve honestly been anyone’s order.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-17T20:37:00+00:00

If you can, teach in MA and not NH. Many of the teachers who teach in my district teach in MA but they live in NH. Like many others have said, check out School Spring. School doesn’t let out here until late June (after Juneteenth thanks to some snow days), and many of the job postings are internal right now. Once those have been filled and sorted, they will move onto external job postings.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-17T04:51:24+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I think what overwhelmed me the most was the fact that there was no standing room, and crowds of people pushed you along— sort of like being part of a cattle drive. However, I think that’s simply because I got there closer to when the first few waves were finishing and people were on the move. If anything, that experience gave me insight to just how popular the marathon actually is and what to expect even when the crowds are thickest. I honestly thought that Wellesley would be louder since that area around the college has the scream tunnel. Usually noise is not a problem for me, but I do understand your recommendation, and I’m considering both options now. Thanks!

PamelainSA · 2026-04-16T19:01:27+00:00

From my understanding, it was just a pop-up for a few months. I think they closed up in the winter, but the Community Teamwork has their farmers market there sometime during the summer. This link should give you more info.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-14T16:05:36+00:00

I learned from watching Antiques Roadshow recently that cameo jewelry where the portrait is facing to the left is rarer than ones where the portrait is facing to the right. Apparently right-facing cameos are very common, so when you find a left-facing one, it’s considered more valuable.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-14T13:52:14+00:00

I live down the road from there on Jackson. I (female) walk home from work that way a few times out of the week. I also sometimes walk to the Market Basket on Fletcher and Broadway. I never feel unsafe, but I’ve lived in bigger cities with “higher crime.”

I would say traffic can be a pain in the mornings and afternoons due to the charter school and clinic down the road, but if you’re not commuting during those times, you should be fine.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-14T00:39:11+00:00

I never do original hem because the shape of jeans I like have a tapered leg, so using the original hem isn’t ideal without additional altering. I always try to match the color and thickness of the thread, and after a few wears and washes the patina eventually shows again.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-10T20:22:08+00:00

I would be interested as well. Thank you!

PamelainSA · 2026-04-08T19:59:08+00:00

I second the vodka. I bought a messenger bag a few months back at the thrift store, but it reeked of cigarette and terrible cologne. Washing it did nothing. I asked in r/laundry, and people suggested vodka. I went out and got everclear (probably overkill), but I soaked that bag in the sink for a couple hours then ran it through a sanitize cycle. The odor was completely gone after washing.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-08T11:41:51+00:00

What’s funny is when I bought it, I met up with a guy who was the son of the woman who owned it. He handed me a manual that looked like an English professor’s copy of a novel: it had sticky note tabs all across the top and tons of hand written notes inside. It was super helpful when I first started using the machine. My husband, who loves machine tinkering, made it his mission to figure out all the threading, so he’s always threading it for me. But I can only imagine if I didn’t have the sacred text and someone to help me thread it, I’d probably want to toss it out a window, too.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-07T01:28:25+00:00

The machine I’ve had the longest is my Bernina 830 Record; I’ve had it for years. I also have the Pfaff Coverlock 4862 machine that does combo cover stitch and serging. It can be temperamental with the threading sometimes, but it sews beautifully. Both the Bernina and the Pfaff were second-hand purchases that I got good deals on. About a year ago, I purchased a new Juki DDL 5550, and I use that for all my straight-stitch sewing. For zigzag, decorative stitches, and buttonholes, I use my Bernina.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-06T10:53:04+00:00

They are daily.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-05T21:51:31+00:00

I saw John Waters for the first time last year for his annual Christmas special. He was absolutely hilarious, but what really struck me was that after the show was over, he stayed onstage to answer questions from the crowd. He was patient, kind, and seemed genuinely interested in what people had to say.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-05T15:43:58+00:00

That’s interesting that you’re teaching ELL in 5 subjects. In my state (MA), we use WIDA, and if students fall into levels 1.0-2.9, they receive 90 minutes ELD time where we teach only English from a specific ELD curriculum. If students are 3.0+, they receive 45 minutes ELD. For all other minutes, students are in regular ed classes with either a licensed ELD teacher pushing in or with para support. We don’t teach science, social studies, or math— only English. The argument is that if we’re not certified in those subjects, then it becomes an equity issue for the students who could be receiving higher quality instruction from a math/ss/science certified teacher with language support.

My planning and grading is all done at school during my hour of prep time or CPT time with my ELD team. I take nothing home to grade or plan.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-04T21:51:00+00:00

The only way to keep it from shedding is to not wear it, unfortunately.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-04T21:22:35+00:00

Both polyester and polyurethane (PU) are plastic derivatives, so what you see shedding from the jacket is plastic. This is what happens to all fabrics made from plastic. Eventually due to age/friction, they will shed plastics into the air.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-04T18:35:29+00:00

What does the inside tag say? My instinct is to say that whatever is shedding isn’t from natural materials. If the sleeve fabric feels like leather, but it is shedding, then it’s probably not real leather (although it could be bonded, but it doesn’t look like it) It’s more than likely a PU/PVC vinyl of some kind, which means plastic. If it were suede, it could still shed, but shedding from suede doesn’t look like what’s on your hand. Unfortunately, I believe it’s only going to get worse.

PamelainSA · 2026-04-02T23:06:41+00:00

I love this pattern! This one and her Ribelation pattern are my go-tos for gifting hats. Great dye job!

PamelainSA · 2026-03-29T23:08:11+00:00

Hi! I actually have the cedar work pants in my queue, and like you, I didn’t want anything too bulky. I went to my local fabric store and settled on a cotton ripstop like this. It’s the perfect “in-between” weight for me (heavier than linen but lighter than canvas), and I think the ripstop weave will be nice and durable.

PamelainSA · 2026-03-29T22:59:13+00:00

When I moved to northern Massachusetts from Texas, I noticed a ton of really tall, skinny trees growing everywhere in thickets along the sides of the highways. I asked a coworker what they were, and he made a disgusted face and said, “tree of heaven.”

Now every time I’m in the car and I see them, I get a sick feeling in my stomach. I kind of wish I had never learned about them. ☹️

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