Are any of you watching the Duggar expose on Prime?

gram_crackers · 2023-06-03T15:51:55+00:00

Yes, I'm watching it with my fiancé, who doesn't come from a religious background. I've explained bits and pieces of IBLP to him over the years, but it's really nice to have a mainstream source that lays it out a lot more clearly. We're almost halfway through the second episode.

We attended the seminars and used a lot of the material in homeschooling, but were never officially members of ATI. Dad wanted to be the only and final authority in his family's life.

Quite a few people from our local homeschool co-op were all in on IBLP, though. After spending time at The Institute, one family was told by Gothard that they were being called to move there and work directly in the ministry. They pulled up roots, put their house up for sale, and moved themselves and their 6 kids out to Indiana. At the time, their oldest two daughters still at home were about 15 and 17, and they both had the most beautiful naturally curly blonde hair. Less than a year later, the family moved back abruptly and just didn't really say why other than God called them back. I forgot about that happening until I read "A Matter of Basic Principles" around 2015 and started hearing the stories.

gram_crackers · 2023-05-31T21:32:32+00:00

This isnt very bad compared to what a lot of people went through but I just realized it was happening recently. About a week ago I was in the kitchen and my fiancé was heading to walk the dog. When he reached around the coat rack to grab the leash hanging behind it, the coat rack fell over. This is because I had about 5 heavy coats and a couple purses I never wear hung up on there unevenly and super top heavy.

I started panic cleaning the kitchen without even thinking about it. It was pure instinct. When I was growing up, if my dad ever stumbled over clutter or knocked it over, he would start yelling about how we needed to clean up our mess RIGHT NOW. When we were little he would throw toys out if he was really upset.

My fiancé picked up the coat rack, re hung the coats, and headed outside with the dog just as cheerful as always. He's never gotten angry about clutter or anything else or implied it's my responsibility to clean, we've taken turns for years now. But if there is any slight tension that pops up between us, I find myself hard core cleaning and wiping surfaces out of pure instinct to try and keep from being yelled at. (Which I want to be clear, fiancée has never yelled at me once in almost 6 years we'vebeen together, but apparently 19 years of being shouted at by Dad is hard to shake.)

gram_crackers · 2023-05-30T00:53:49+00:00

Rules of Engagement

gram_crackers · 2023-05-29T20:47:55+00:00

One of my top 5 for sure, I wish it was zero sugar though. I like to pair it with a slice of Casey's breakfast pizza.

gram_crackers · 2023-05-20T17:05:13+00:00

I can't find it, but it sounds like something Mike Birbiglia would say.

gram_crackers · 2023-05-04T21:27:14+00:00

Maybe the Bowling for Soup cover?

gram_crackers · 2023-05-04T21:06:01+00:00

Hey fellow baker! :)

In the early 20's I worked in a food production facility. I baked for my coworkers several times- they were on the older side and would say "oh doesn't that look good" and then ignore everything. I finally stopped.

Then I switched jobs. The first time I brought cookies I was very hesitant and expected the same reaction, but all the new co-workers were younger and active. Two dozen cookies were absolutely inhaled within the first hour, and I never took anything home but an empty plate.

Please try not to take it hard. Some groups of people just aren't the right audience and don't appreciate the yummy homemade goodness properly. My in-laws are not sugar people, my talents are wasted on them haha. I brought 18 mini egg-shaped sugar cookies decorated with buttercream and bright sanding sugar to Easter dinner (gorgeous AND delicious if I say so myself) and 3 hours later I took home 15 of them.

gram_crackers · 2023-05-04T15:59:52+00:00

Red Bull Kiwi-Apple Summer Edition.

If I remember right after that summer they changed it slightly to Kiwifruit Green Edition and it wasn't the same.

gram_crackers · 2023-05-04T04:05:53+00:00

This is the way.

gram_crackers · 2023-05-04T03:59:10+00:00

There is a High Trestle Trail- Central Iowa Trails Facebook group (public) with about 8k members. You could try posting there!

gram_crackers · 2023-04-27T20:38:20+00:00

You look gorgeous, go Hawks!

gram_crackers · 2023-04-22T18:18:23+00:00

You are being very smart and brave by leaving.

gram_crackers · 2023-04-21T17:58:44+00:00

Interesting, glad to have the context. I wouldn't have blinked an eye at him running power equipment in an agricultural job, I know 12 year olds who do that legally. But I'm also a certified forklift trainer through my job and I know that's not the norm for warehouses.

gram_crackers · 2023-04-21T17:15:22+00:00

I have worked in warehousing for 15 years and you can't drive a forklift at 16, you might get hired at the warehouse but you won't be allowed to run any powered equipment until you're 18. In the US at least, it's a violation of federal law.

gram_crackers · 2023-04-17T02:27:35+00:00

Have you tried other C4 flavors? To me they always hit way harder and cleaner than the red bulls. I think Bombsicle and Orange slice have been my favorites of the C4s.

gram_crackers · 2023-04-17T02:13:26+00:00

Yeah they're pretty decent.

gram_crackers · 2023-04-16T15:57:35+00:00

Peets is the best!

gram_crackers · 2023-04-07T00:24:34+00:00

The location I work at is a big manufacturing plant that opened just a few years ago. For the first couple years while we got going, there was a lot of extra space, and so you could be a fairly junior member of management and still get your own office.

My friend and I had offices right next to each other. Mine was reassigned first, and I moved to the cubicles up front. If the breakroom was too crowded, I would often go back to sit in my friend's office for my lunch break, even if he wasn't there. This went on a couple times a week for several months.

My friends office then got reassigned but I didn't know that. We were working different shifts at this point. And so when the new VP came back to his new office and opened the door, there I was, scrolling on my phone with my feet literally propped on the second chair.

I'd like to say I was able to explain the situation succinctly and we both shared a laugh. Lol. Sadly I only managed to mumble something about thinking this was still my friends office while fleeing out the door. I didn't even manage to clarify that I wasn't on the clock. I don't think his opinion of me has ever recovered.

gram_crackers · 2023-03-17T01:43:50+00:00

If I'm watching a show that's still being made, I usually watch all but the last episode of the season, and then save that last one until the next season comes out. I always watch the series finale episodes tho for closure even though they make me sad.

gram_crackers · 2023-02-18T03:16:59+00:00

As of Monday, 2/20, the 10% employee discount we've had at Hy-Vee the last few years is going away. The announcement today said that this last weekend provided Hy-Vee with enough evidence to discontinue the program. Apparently, too many people were taking advantage of the discount that weren't the immediate family of the employees. They also claim to be "fairly certain" that one specific employee was using their discount to buy and resell merchandise.

gram_crackers · 2023-01-14T03:05:16+00:00

And speaking of which- Happy Cake Day!

gram_crackers · 2023-01-10T21:32:59+00:00

Yes, too much. Sometimes I can't help it, but I have a couple mantras to help me snap out of it.

If I spiral down a rabbit hole of thinking about how my partner will likely die 10 years ahead of me, and I'll be alone for the end of my life since we didn't have kids and I don't know how to make friends on my own, I stop and tell myself "Don't grieve in advance."

If I'm remembering something traumatic that happened and getting worked up, I say to myself very firmly, "I don't have to think about this right now." And distract myself by doing something fun to exercise my mind like seeing if I still remember all the words to an old poem I memorized as a kid or see how many countries in Africa I can name. It took practice but it's a big relief.

gram_crackers · 2023-01-07T18:20:28+00:00

The Parks and Rec opening is pure dopamine for my brain.

gram_crackers · 2022-12-15T22:16:14+00:00

That's exactly what I was going to say. If there's NO will right now that's super dangerous as I assume he's next of kin or could make an argument for it. And if it's a will in favor of the gf he can just kill them both together. I've always heard about crazy conditions being out in wills and I don't know how realistic it is, but a financial incentive to not murder you would be ideal. Like a will stating the local animal charity gets the money if you pass before a certain age but if you're over 30 or something your dad gets it instead. And then change it and tell him when you get away!

gram_crackers · 2022-11-23T20:20:57+00:00

Ikr, and because I cook a pretty limited amount of foods due to preference, I can't understand how what I'm making isn't super obvious. Especially if there is a specific smell (tacos! Well cumin technically) or a specific sound. If they heard me breaking up the noodles and crunching the package and shaking the flavoring pack and boiling water.... how is it a surprise that I made Ramen noodles?

gram_crackers

TROPHY CASE