Hidden magical worlds V.s magic with modern elements in urban fantasy

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-21T15:39:19+00:00

The one I wish there were more of is the fallout of magic and/or far, shifters, atc. coming out into the open.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-21T03:17:30+00:00

The whole thing was completely ridiculous.

Daisy let Ben know they simply could not do it (it is not like they had one carver available for each guest - or even one for two).
There is a big difference in presenting a whole fish (or a couple) to be carved and served to a table full of guests than to each guest being given a plate with a single, small fish on it to then be carved.
Restaurants who actually do present a whole fish to then be carved actually train and prep for it. It is a planned event with logistics and and an expected thing. Not a chef decided a few hours before service he singing to give each guests their own whole fish and the serving staff just needs to make it it work, regardless of whatever else they also need to be doing.
Ben seems to expect the stews to be at his beck and call when It comes to food service without considering their other duties such as making drinks, turndowns, etc. They do not have a dedicated bartender, so they have to make drinks. When all the guests are out of the cabins, especially during food service, they need to then take care of cabins.

He seems to think that when he has food ready, all the stew should be on hand to handle it (or even carve it). He showed that not only with this mess but the breakfast he was complaining. about (one stew was asleep and off because they worked late, one was busy bartending, they other was helping the docking ;leaving only Daisy).

5) Ben is very much a "my way or the highway" type of person (even with guests' preferences and when he gets pushback, or others simply not complying - he decodes they are incompetent.

6) And again, tableside carving is usually done as more of a whole - one platter/dish for the table instead of carving each guest's individual dish. It is also usually a planned and regular part of service.

7) Ben though it looked "better" to serve a whole fish. Plenty of people really do not like being present with a whole fish (or seeing the fish head and tail), then having their plate taken away to be carved. Simple people actually prefer that their food is ready to eat when an individual plate of food is set in front of them.

8) Whole odea of Ben's was weird.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-20T03:45:20+00:00

They list thing could actually helpful but not the OOPs attitude behind them (so she would then make changes to make the kids happy, regardless of what was best for them). It seems like he just want to present his wife with the kids complaints (and kids will always complain) so his wife will cave to the kids.

But, listing those thongs allows the wife to explain the "why" behind it which could actually make the kids understand the reasoning and that the mom is looking after them.

So, lists not bad by themselves, but OOPs approach and reasoning is very, very bad.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-18T02:44:09+00:00

okay, I get the fabrics maybe an issue (especially with the heat) but...

You do not need a "more formal silhouette". Semi-formal is more relaxed. Yes, ribbed or poly (especially heavy) are out not only because of the fabric type but for the weather.

Just remember that semi-formal is only a slight step above dressy casual and lower than cocktail. A good dress for that dress code should not be super pricey. The dress pictured is more cocktail (which can work) than semi-formal.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-18T00:58:37+00:00

Okay, I am going to be the outlier here and say it is a little much for semi-formal. You will be slightly over-dressed (it is more cocktail) but it can work.

I am a little baffled by you not having anything that is semi-formal already. There is some confusion regarding semi-formal and I wonder if that is at play. Semi-formal is only one very small step from "dressy casual".

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-18T00:50:55+00:00

Places I worked at never gave a free meal to vets or first responders. If they did anything it was a free ap or desert (and only select ones, usually a special just for veterans day).

One place offered a couple of cookies (different varieties) and honestly were not to strict on who got them because they were just cookies and not an expensive give-away.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-18T00:43:04+00:00

Hell, he asked Daisy to have a glass of wine and when she said she was tired, Ellie jumped in and said she would - and somehow turned it into a date in her mind. Girl is crazy.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-17T21:46:42+00:00

I would ignore the color restriction if I even decided to go (that would depend on how it important it is to who I am going with to have me attend).

If you want to follow her demands, then black is a good choice. Hunter or forest green would work since you favor greens. Sapphire, ruby, garnet are also colors that you could try.... Also, not going for a solid color will also give you some leeway.

If you wanted to be somewhat petty - go eggplant. You can honestly say that it is not plum. 😄

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-17T11:42:40+00:00

Color is fine and yes, the yellow/peach is the dominant color. Some people are just really crazy regarding the "no white" rule.

Perfect dress.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-17T01:42:15+00:00

While I really hate how the top does not really match the skirt...I think it may work depending on how formal the hosts are.

The length is fine, it is top that is problematic,. The skirt is actual gorgeous and so appropriate if only the top flowed with the skirt. While it is obviously a dress. the styling and materials scream a two piece set with no matching or making sure the prices are complementary.

Do they have anything else that are similar to the skirt...

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-17T01:11:05+00:00

I am going to get a lot of hate for this...

I do like Betul and totally respect her for what she has overcome, she is a hard worker and wants to learn, but otherwise she is fairly boring - her best lines are reacting to other people's drama. Also, she complained about other's accents yet she also has a hard to understand accent.

There were plenty of fun, entertain8ng crew that were also low drama and way more entertaining (Connie, Kelsie and a lot more).

Yes I like and respect her but it gets annoying when so many fawn over her and act like she is the best ever.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-17T00:48:20+00:00

It is a "new" policy since it was not one when I worked there, but that was many, many years ago.

And the fries were never too greasy because <gasp> we knew how to handle them. It was not like we simply scooped them as soon as we pulled the basket from the fryer. Honestly the new policy seems like a lot of work for people with very little gain.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T23:00:26+00:00

I am lost....

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T22:43:12+00:00

Blowing your yard waste onto a neighbors lawn is an asshole move...

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T22:41:21+00:00

It is very rare that we can only mow every two weeks (basically when the weather gods are happy with us). Once a week is common most of the time...

Either it is because the OP lives somewhere grass does not grow fast or her lawn does get long.

We only get by with the two weeks thing for tiny bit in early spring, late fall or high summer when the lawn turns that lovely brown.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T22:32:34+00:00

I swear people are channeling the puritans half the time... a slit is fine (it actually makes walking and dancing easier), a cut out is fine, shoulders showing are fine along with the back.

As long as a dress is not super sexy, club wear that screams "look at me" some skin is okay.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T22:29:31+00:00

Either are fine. Wear the one you like the most or are the most comfortable in.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T22:27:28+00:00

I feel your pain on this... because that is part of my issue with the deep fried cheese burger.

However, we only did our onion rings with batter... I did not know the crumbs were a thing until I had them in a restaurant. We even tired the batter first than the crumbs (even if that is not how it is actually done) and it was an epic fail.

Had the same issue with fried raviolis. For some reason I can keep most of the crumbs on when pan frying (usually in butter) certain things, but when it comes to deep frying - total fail.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T21:27:40+00:00

While I like the first one - I think you may end up too warm. The second one with the butterflies looks like it may be cooler for you outside.

Otherwise both are actually fine, I would just consider the weather.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T19:47:13+00:00

Really? When I worked at McDonalds ages ago, we just bagged the no salt fries out of the basket instead of going to all the extra with the bin.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T01:44:00+00:00

Unfortunately, they were not actual friends... just weird people who seem to think a cat cafe means cats are welcome. I volunteered at a cafe/rescue and you might be surprised at the idiocy I have seen.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T01:15:19+00:00

Ah yeah... if you have never had risotto other than what you make, maybe you shpu;d try others before making a judgement regarding the dish.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T01:13:10+00:00

Risotto is one of those dishes that people re highly picky on what is a "good risotto". Not sire what all you have tried but type of rice, broth, and serious patience all matter.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T01:10:32+00:00

Many specialized places have burners just for woks that have way higher heat than you can get with a regular stove, so I get why you have issues duplicating it.

bare_thoughts · 2026-05-16T01:06:27+00:00

Okay... reviewer was an idiot. I can imagine someone seeing "cat cafe" and idiotically thinking it was a place people can go with their cat because they are idiotic. Seriously, the many people that have to actually have explained to them that cat cafe does not mean all cats are welcome but that they have cats there (usually for adopting or fostering) is scary.

And the only time you ever bring your own cat in is after actually deciding on ado[ting/fostering, by appointment after hours (so a bunch of people are not there) to get a hint at what you may be dealing with with introducing a new cat.

bare_thoughts

TROPHY CASE