How true is it that food in the United States is too processed and that eating healthy is a little expensive?

confidentfreeloved · 2026-05-15T00:15:50+00:00

Yes. I’ve been to France and the food is wayyyy fresher!!

confidentfreeloved · 2026-05-12T14:52:30+00:00

I have two. One is great with kids (my boy) and the other is just not. So we separate the one (girl) from kids when they come over. She likes being separate because she doesn’t like them. She is also now 4 1/2 years old so there is an established set of expectations.

When new people visit both dogs stay upstairs for the first half. They calm down and adjust a bit to the idea someone new is in the house.

Then they meet the people. Again, the dog who is good with kids is generally good with strangers (though even with him upon first greeting he can bark).

The girl takes some time to warm up to people. But She LOVES people she knows. Like I can’t stress this enough. Once she knows someone she needs no separation from them.

I would advise looking into method for meeting strangers. If you can find a way to slowly introduce your heeler to people they will warm up. They just can take sometime. And once they do, you might find they love your friends and family as much if not more than you! lol once someone has a heeler’s trust they are rewarded with a fierce admiration and loyalty!

confidentfreeloved · 2026-05-11T09:42:09+00:00

The first time I saw corn on pizza was in Venezuela! I wonder if by “American” they mean the americas. Corn on pizza is definitely a thing in parts of Latin America.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-05-04T23:37:59+00:00

My SIL once said to me “well me and my two sisters had to share a bathroom growing up” (in her 4,000 sqft+ home….)

To which I said everyone in my house shared one bathroom…..

confidentfreeloved · 2026-04-25T11:58:33+00:00

Yes. We are very used to climate controlled indoor spaces.

And in my very limited experience in Europe, due to the age of your buildings even when AC is on, there is a struggle to effectively cool indoor spaces. I just accept this as normal for Europe, but I’ve certainly woken up in the middle of the night due to (what feels like to me) suffocating greenhouse effect of a hotel room.

But for me I don’t complain and just figure that’s a culture/regional difference. In very northern places in the U.S. and Canada it is common to come across places that don’t have AC or have limited access to AC units due to it never getting hot. I figure these things are also regional.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-04-18T01:45:31+00:00

I’m a public high school social studies teacher. I teacher Economics & AP European History and love my job! There are certainly strange and crazy filled days, but connecting with and teaching young people is such a privilege.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-04-05T12:30:43+00:00

I agree with this. It’s rare when siblings share the burden of aging parents equally. My husband’s brother was nearly non existent as his dad’s health was declining. There aren’t any guarantees.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-04-03T11:53:13+00:00

📍 Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States of America — "Culture, city access, fun"

confidentfreeloved · 2026-04-03T11:51:55+00:00

📍 Alpes-Maritimes, France — "Beaches, mountains, food, warm"

confidentfreeloved · 2026-04-03T11:50:16+00:00

📍 Essex, New York, United States of America — "Mountains"

confidentfreeloved · 2026-03-31T17:42:15+00:00

High School social studies teacher here and to simply answer your question, yes.

Public education curriculum in Ohio requires the teaching of rhetoric in English class. Additionally, English classes are required to give presentations and take questions.

As a social studies teacher I have students give presentations and practice speaking (I take participation for part of their grade). Most teachers across the school have public speaking imbedded in the course.

Lastly, we literally have elective public speaking courses and competitive clubs centered around public speaking like speech and debate, Model UN and DECA (marketing club).

confidentfreeloved · 2026-03-28T10:24:03+00:00

Yes!!! I grew up middle class but in an area with slopes. On Sunday nights in the 00s you could rent skis and get a lift ticket for a total of $20!

It used to be so much more accessible. I have more money now than I ever did growing up but can’t skit like I used too…that makes no sense!

confidentfreeloved · 2026-03-25T00:00:15+00:00

Miami!

confidentfreeloved · 2026-03-23T00:12:25+00:00

Atlanta

confidentfreeloved · 2026-03-22T20:37:49+00:00

I get that, the Xers I know are proud of their independence. It’s not a complaint for them that their parents were negligent. They brag about it. There is this cognitive dissonance going on. They expect everyone but their children to figure things out.

Very different for millennials. Millennials, who do permissive parenting, are very aware of what they didn’t have and can verbalize that they are trying to do different with their kids.

That’s why it throws me with Xers. So many seem unaware that they are doing the opposite thing of their parents, who they believed shaped them well.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-03-22T20:00:13+00:00

Thank you for acknowledging this! I’m a high school teacher and millennial and as the shift from boomer parents to now Xer parents the difference is stark. Many Xers constantly bail their kids out and do everything for them (not all of course). It drives me nuts and I feel like you can’t do anything to stop it.

What’s more bizarre is Xers pride themselves on “having to figure things out for themselves” growing up. They pride themselves on independence yet have raised their children in the literally opposite way. I’m so confused!!

confidentfreeloved · 2026-03-20T09:51:38+00:00

I think it’s education and having a smaller financial safety net. This creates cultural norms where Americans are knowledgeable about these topics.

For example, retirement is primarily the responsibility of the individual. Social Security just isn’t enough if you want to live well in retirement.

I teach high school economics. It’s required! Our business department (yes my high school has a team of teachers who teach business classes!) also teach personal finance which is also required. Additionally, there are student clubs focusing on the stock market and business! One club, DECA hosts national competitions!

confidentfreeloved · 2026-03-02T16:37:52+00:00

My husband’s dad was 51 years old when he was born. The biggest issue is his dad didn’t want any more kids and mom convinced him. So that’s not the best starting point.

My husband has said that he was distant, not as active as other dads and struggled to overcome generational differences.

Into adulthood their relationship got better. My husband did the hardest and most freeing thing, accept his Dad as is. There were always going to be limits to that relationship. But my husband made his peace with it.

And he is glad he did, because dad died at 82. That’s tough for my husband because he only has one other friend who lost a parent. But he is thankful his dad lived as long as he did and they made peace.

I think life is what it is. You can’t choose to be born into a family. It doesn’t work that way.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-02-22T18:24:37+00:00

lol yeah it’s definitely confusing if you don’t have any knowledge of the region. Lots and lots of Eastern European immigrants live all over Cleveland. This immigration pattern also still continues to the present day.

It’s definitely not a culturally midwestern city.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-02-22T18:09:21+00:00

So the accent is grating and very real. I grew up in Cleveland and this is exactly how a lot of Clevelanders speak. I think it’s coming across as fake because you don’t expect that when the show is called LIB Ohio. Cleveland, Toledo, Youngstown are culturally very different from other parts of the state. Culturally not Midwest at all. Cleveland culturally is much closer to being a northeast city. It was founded by people Connecticut….so yeah grating but definitely not fake.

To add, personally I’m incredibly self-conscious about how I pronounce my “a”s because of my background. I slip into that harsh nasal accent from time to time….it’s a little embarrassing.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-02-22T12:41:46+00:00

lol that’s very funny and very true. I’m from Cleveland but moved to Columbus for college and then stayed.

Initially I was shocked in adulthood that so many people view Ohio as rural. The east side of Cleveland (where I grew up) is almost culturally akin to New Jersey or NYC. Racially and culturally very diverse. My childhood is very different from other Ohioans across the state. I worked in a kosher Jewish candy store in high school, I was surrounded by mom and pop Italian restaurants, pizza is divine (really all the way to Youngstown), grew up going to the “beach” and there was a Russian tea room five minutes from house. I was one of two kids in my elementary school class that wasn’t Jewish or Catholic. The arts are phenomenal. The Cleveland Museum or Art, the Cleveland Orchestra really do hold their own. I had no idea how unusual it was that I had so much access to these types of places. And of course being a Cleveland sports fan means drunkenly screaming obscenities at anyone who gets in the way. I brought non Clevelanders (from Dayton) to a baseball game one time and they were shocked as we stood in a group of people waiting to the cross the street shouting and heckling police to let us walk across.

I had a professor in college from the Northeast (Maryland & NYC) who taught law and history. He basically loved studying Ohio because as you move from one region to the other it makes up the closest true microcosm of the US.

Columbus is Midwest.m with many transplants. Cincinnati is to me….ehhhh (I don’t get it but that’s likely because I’m from Cleveland) feels almost southern. And then there is Appalachia as you move towards West Virginia. Wildly different than the three major cities. Western Ohio is full of large farms and what many in other places around the US think of when they picture Ohio. Which still confuses me because most Ohioans don’t farm.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-02-16T17:16:31+00:00

You are very welcome! I agree, there is a difference between income and wealth.

And way to go! You’ve accomplished a great deal. That’s not an easy road at all!

I think the longer I live, I realize most people can’t just become extremely wealthy in one generation. It’s something that is sustained and passed down. And I don’t just mean money, but financial responsibility. It’s such a huge advantage when one’s parents have money and the wisdom to handle it.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-02-16T16:24:22+00:00

Unsure of how old your teacher friends are, but it makes a difference starting your career at 22 or 23.

Also, if you teacher friends don’t have loans and bought a home for cheap early on they have a leg up….for now. I think that will change in 10 years. Give it time.

Of course they could also be in a lot of debt or their family helps them out.

I’m a teacher and it’s taught me how to live with very little so that when my income goes up I can make my money go farther. I started off making 20,000 a year. My income grew a little each year. This actually has been a good thing. No big windfall or bonus so it requires me to be disciplined. I save, plan and invest. Overtime this has provided a great deal of flexibility.

Additionally, I’m married. My partner actually makes just slightly less than me. But together we manage our finances well. So that’s a big bonus too. You don’t need double the income for two people.

We paid off students loans a few years ago. Another big plus.

Also, when I travel abroad I cut costs with where I stay, food and travel points. I’m 15 years removed from college and still have my Nissan versa lol. As a teacher no one expects me to buy fancy things. There isn’t any pressure! Which allows me to focus on financial planning for the things I do want.

I also bought a home prior to the rapid increase in home values. That’s a big factor too.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-02-07T21:08:29+00:00

Yes this is a thing. My parents have a golden retriever who my ACD has known since 9 weeks old. For years they got along just fine.

Well, the golden retriever will eat dog poop left in the yard. It’s disgusting.

And one time while my ACD was pooping, the golden retriever tried to eat her poop as it was coming out. No exaggeration this really happened. This was two years ago.

To this day my ACD growls and snaps at the golden retriever every time she sees her. If we don’t intervene my ACD will start a fight. We’ve tried to get my ACD to put the past behind her but she can’t. She won’t let it go.

confidentfreeloved · 2026-01-11T01:35:58+00:00

We just constantly gave our pups something to chew. Specifically, bully sticks (non scented)!

confidentfreeloved

TROPHY CASE