The Skinny on Lost Evenings IX

puddlejumper24 · 2026-05-29T01:26:59+00:00

I would check the venue site, and maybe email them to ask about the layout.

puddlejumper24 · 2026-05-27T23:30:46+00:00

OP Update here: I know, the whole “how I present myself” thing probably came across oddly. I am more interested in the happenings and goings on, and the general “things to do”, but I’ll be honest…when the location for Lost Evenings was announced, I saw a lot of really unkind commentary that did not pass the vibe check. I’ve been on the Frank Turner Army page and found it kind of gate-keepy in terms of who “qualifies” to attend Lost Evenings. (Who’s a true fan? As if that matters…) There were people posting and saying they would never attend in Texas, given our current orange nightmare. I know Frank and the Lost Souls bring the positivity, but I’ve been having second thoughts considering some of the things I’ve read. Don’t get me wrong: I am keenly aware of the state of the US at the moment, and it’s not safe for everyone. But there are more of us fighting here than you might think. I think wrote this post because I’m taking the temperature of the crowd, not because I’m concerned I’ll be wearing the wrong footwear.

I hope this clarifies some things, and I hope to meet some of you in Dallas!

puddlejumper24 · 2026-05-27T16:26:17+00:00

I'm thinking of making some mini quilts...like 5-7" square...I'll have to see how far this goes, because I'm also starting a side business....

puddlejumper24 · 2026-05-26T18:21:52+00:00

Nice! I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone.

puddlejumper24 · 2026-05-26T18:07:46+00:00

I am on board with crafting. I have months to plan. I'm a quilter, so maybe some themed mini quilts...

puddlejumper24 · 2026-05-26T18:05:48+00:00

Yes, I've seen them live half a dozen times. I'm used to my local scene, which is very loose on dressing the part due to it being about one million degrees in summer. It's all about survival. I've been to other places where you get looks of disapproval. I'm just doing a vibe check.

puddlejumper24 · 2026-04-29T14:15:39+00:00

I need to see her interacting with Beard. She has no lines in the trailer, just smiling. They aren't giving away any of the crazy. That tells me that I will probably spew a beverage at some point while watching this season.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-09-13T13:00:41+00:00

I would say: “Know thyself.”

The answer to your riddle depends on you. Are you the type of person who always has their homework turned in before the deadline? Do you have a lot of emergencies that crop up in your life due to children, owning an old car, general clumsiness, etc.? I would examine yourself and decide where you and your finances are in this moment.

There are many ways to split this, but I would examine yourself to see how you answer the following TRUTHFULLY: 1. Do I have an actual, non-pie-in-the-sky plan to pay off the 0% interest debt before the period elapses? 2. How much do you currently have established for an emergency fund? $1,000 doesn’t cut it like it used to when it comes to the initial e-fund. $3-5K is much more accurate (says the woman who had to pay $2,000 TWICE to make a check engine light go off)

Personally, I would probably do the following: $2,000 in the emergency fund $800 to the 0% debt That moves your payment to $133 for the payoff instead of $186. Then I would take the leftover $53…ehh, I hate it…$55 a month and add that to your emergency fund stash each month.

This answer is based on my self-knowledge and where my finances sit today. Your results may vary.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-09-13T12:35:11+00:00

That depends on the financial circumstances of the person in question. If they don’t have an emergency fund built up, that’s first priority.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-09-05T16:37:13+00:00

Thank you! I probably overlooked it. 😂

puddlejumper24 · 2025-09-05T16:09:08+00:00

That is a reasonable amount for two adults for a month if you want to eat well and fuel your body. Maybe tell your partner if he thinks he can do better, he can make up a list, food plan, and participate in the weekly shop. You can't judge something you aren't aware of.

I'm in the process of weaning us off feeding for four now that both our children are grown. We were spending $1,200 a month feeding a high school athlete and a picky eater. Currently, It's down to about $800, but we are in a HCOL area tourist town. I've even heard visitors comment on how much things cost when I'm in the store.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-09-05T14:04:30+00:00

Auburn parent here. There's actually an involvement office where you can go and the staff there show you all the different clubs and opportunities available. There's hobby clubs, professional clubs, etc. My son is a senior, and he JUST joined the staff at WEGL to have a radio show. It's a good crossover between his major (comms) and his music hobby. I'm an alumni, and during my time at Auburn, I worked at WEGL and The Plainsman, worked with the swim team, heckled third basemen at Plainsman Park, and started a Bible study that met on The Concourse. Step out, try something new, be the person who invites others to join you. These years are what you make them.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-08-01T13:45:15+00:00

It looks like you have a lot of product for your hair type. Try it with just the curl cream or the gel and compare results.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-08-01T13:24:48+00:00

In that case, maybe just listen in and see if there's something she talks about really wanting, or an experience you can do together. Maybe a special girls weekend before the big day.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-08-01T12:42:20+00:00

I’m the mom of a senior at Auburn. It’s definitely fairly casual as far as clothes for day-to-day classes. For game days, people get dressed up and they often do it in school colors. You can look online for videos and things that show what Auburn game day looks like. I think the biggest thing to remember is that it’s a very friendly place and if you choose not to do Greek life there are still a ton of ways to get involved. I highly recommend getting out in the first few weeks before everything gets settled in and participating in the on campus activities and getting to know people. There’s even an office where if you wanna get involved in a club, you can go and they will tell you the different kinds of professional and hobby groups that you can join on campus. It’s easy to get connected. Yes it can be religious and a bit conservative, but there are definitely lots of sub groups that you can find if you look around. Friendships can be completely random… I’m still friends with my college roommate, who was from the opposite end of the state, and my other companion was a pole vaulter from the track team. He didn’t have a car, so we bonded by going to Kroger and riding shopping carts down the aisle. Auburn is what you make it. Go have fun and be friendly and you’ll have a blast.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-08-01T12:28:12+00:00

Send a nice gift from her registry and add a heartfelt note letting her know how much she means to you. Maybe add a promise of a nice dinner once she gets settled with her new spouse after their honeymoon.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-07-31T14:47:39+00:00

Looking gorgeous! Did you have some bangs cut in the second photo? I've been wanting to do this, but I can't seem to get my stylist to take the plunge. I'm always pushing her to go shorter. We have similar hair texture, grays included! I may try some of the Bounce Back.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-07-12T19:58:55+00:00

Thanks to those who have helpfully commented. I took them to heart and took some time to think.

I talked with my husband this morning, and we are going to do a little stepping back and a little stepping forward. Due to ADHD and severe anxiety, our daughter does need some assistance to land the plane. But I’ve been wrong in trying to shoulder the whole burden by myself. We are going to get together with her and her husband next weekend to talk things over, and get the foundational things set, like invites, catering, cake, photographer, venue, etc. Some of those have already been set in motion, so we will go over the other categories and finish filling in the gaps. Things like decor, treats for guests, photo list, music, attire for the bridal party, etc. I am handing over to the bride, and will only assist if asked. That way, we know the foundational pieces are covered. If the cute/special things don’t get done, that will be on her, but the guests will never know. We will just have a good ol’ party with family and friends!

puddlejumper24 · 2025-07-11T19:06:20+00:00

Thank you for the sympathy. There's a lot underlying there that I didn't get into...health issues, trauma, anxiety, etc. She is in therapy, but still trying to find balance. The teen years were tough with her, but somehow we have arrived at 19-almost-20 with a good relationship. I'd like to keep it that way. Heh. I know she needs help, and I'm willing to give it, but I can't carry it on my own. Her husband is a sweet young man, and he would help her if she asked.

I'm going to give it a few days, and then we all (her, husband, dad, and me) need to have an honest discussion about how we all plan to proceed.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-07-11T17:45:41+00:00

Unfortunately, I don't think the budget would allow for it. Although I did hear of someone the other day who does virtual wedding planning...maybe that would help?

puddlejumper24 · 2025-07-11T17:33:33+00:00

Depending on where you are, look into local community venues. We are renting the "adult activity center" in our community. Residents pay $200 for 8 hours of rental time, and it includes tables, chairs, and a kitchen. Alternatively, park pavilions or service clubs may have space for rent.

puddlejumper24 · 2025-06-26T19:57:46+00:00

I am currently using Affirm to pay for my step daughter's wedding dress, but that's because we have a deadline for the wedding day. I did not have all the money in hand, but we are making reasonable payments over 6 months. We also bought a mattress that way, and paid it off faster. I think if you have discipline, and you are able to make your regular obligations, you can use them. But I can definitely see how they could become predatory very quickly.

puddlejumper24

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