Random thing you loathe right now.

JohnKillo wrote:

Literally today everyone driving today is acting like an extra in Death Race. Speeding, cutting me off, not letting anyone merge, and almost hitting me.

Sounds like an average day in Los Angeles.

Sent an email to my landlord requesting the correct water bill (she's sent us the much higher landlord's bill, not the tenant's bill with the usage charges) and of course she calls me while I'm at work so that I have to call her back (I've already let her know my phone is off during business hours) to discuss. I'm dreading calling her but I guess I have to.

I guess she is going to argue that as there's no formal lease, I don't count as a tenant? I don't even know. Please encourage me.

Edit: she did mention at the beginning that the bills were in her name, I guess she can argue that because I moved in, I agreed to that. But she said it's set up that way because it's cheaper, which for me, patently it's not.

Super Edit: ok I saw one voicemail and assumed it was her but it was not. This whole thing is still hanging over my head though.

Hi, MP.

I get anxious about these kids of interactions too. The way I deal with it is to try to step outside of myself.

You have a request or a question for your landlord. Your anxious about it because the answer they give could be problematic for you. But delaying the situation isn’t going to make it better. You should try to calmly ask, and if it’s not the answer you were hoping for, maybe you could make a request for them to meet you halfway or something like that. Just keep in mind that they don’t have to help you, but if you don’t ask they won’t know that you wanted it.

I hope this helps. You can do it! Be brave.

I've often daydreamed about just hiring someone to deal with those sorts of calls when I get really stressed out about them. I've never done it, but the thought crosses my mind each and every time!

A couple of kids in my wife's school were doodling swastikas.

My wife flipped out.

The administration...not so much and has just asked for a letter of apology.

I reached out to some friends from the local synagogue to get names of people she could talk to and directions that could be taken, because she is completely out of her depth with this.

Thanks Rawk.

As an added bonus she did email me back, and then because I e-signed an e-lease today, I emailed her back to give notice and also link to the water authority website that specifies tenant/landlord charges.

Still mega stressed about it but one step at a time.

bekkilyn wrote:

I've often daydreamed about just hiring someone to deal with those sorts of calls when I get really stressed out about them. I've never done it, but the thought crosses my mind each and every time!

RIP William Goldman (Nov 15, 2018)

Novelist, Screenwriter, and Author of The Princess Bride William Goldman, 1931-2018

The Princess Bride is probably in my top 10 films. I love it! I might have to give it another watch (I probably watch it a couple times, every year).

Wink_and_the_Gun wrote:

RIP William Goldman (Nov 15, 2018)

Novelist, Screenwriter, and Author of The Princess Bride William Goldman, 1931-2018

The Princess Bride is probably in my top 10 films. I love it! I might have to give it another watch (I probably watch it a couple times, every year).

The novel is pretty amazing too.

Wink_and_the_Gun wrote:

RIP William Goldman (Nov 15, 2018)

Novelist, Screenwriter, and Author of The Princess Bride William Goldman, 1931-2018

The Princess Bride is probably in my top 10 films. I love it! I might have to give it another watch (I probably watch it a couple times, every year).

I love The Princess Bride movie, but I'll be dammed if the book isn't even better. I didn't think it was possible until I read it. He keeps up the facade that it's a translation of a classic story from Florin. It's complete with William Goldman commentary on the original story. It's absolutely brilliant, and somehow even more brilliant than the film.

Muggins over here was pulling an old failed hard drive apart to destroy it for data security purposes.

First time I've done it. Got the case off, shoved a screwdriver under the platter, applied the slightest pressure and *poof* a cloud of shiny dust and sharp debris blows up into my eyes (with no eye protection - thanks Lasik!) and across my desk.

Then, and only then, I remembered the youtube video I watched on this process a while back had you perform this operation with the drive insides a bag or wrapped in a rag.

My eyes have been itchy since.

Jonman wrote:

Muggins over here was pulling an old failed hard drive apart to destroy it for data security purposes.

First time I've done it. Got the case off, shoved a screwdriver under the platter, applied the slightest pressure and *poof* a cloud of shiny dust and sharp debris blows up into my eyes (with no eye protection - thanks Lasik!) and across my desk.

Then, and only then, I remembered the youtube video I watched on this process a while back had you perform this operation with the drive insides a bag or wrapped in a rag.

My eyes have been itchy since.

You've just got way too much data in your eyes.

Serious answer: you really need to go to the eye doctor because pieces of metal in your eyes can rust and leave discolorations on your cornea (happened to a welder I know)

kaostheory wrote:

I love The Princess Bride movie, but I'll be dammed if the book isn't even better. I didn't think it was possible until I read it. He keeps up the facade that it's a translation of a classic story from Florin. It's complete with William Goldman commentary on the original story. It's absolutely brilliant, and somehow even more brilliant than the film.

When I first read it I tried to track down the "unabridged" version. It took me awhile to figure out that there was no "unabridged" version as this was pre good search engine days.

Jonman wrote:

Muggins over here was pulling an old failed hard drive apart to destroy it for data security purposes.

First time I've done it. Got the case off, shoved a screwdriver under the platter, applied the slightest pressure and *poof* a cloud of shiny dust and sharp debris blows up into my eyes (with no eye protection - thanks Lasik!) and across my desk.

Then, and only then, I remembered the youtube video I watched on this process a while back had you perform this operation with the drive insides a bag or wrapped in a rag.

My eyes have been itchy since.

Wow I have taken multiple drives apart and never had anything like that happen.

RawkGWJ wrote:
Wink_and_the_Gun wrote:

RIP William Goldman (Nov 15, 2018)

Novelist, Screenwriter, and Author of The Princess Bride William Goldman, 1931-2018

The Princess Bride is probably in my top 10 films. I love it! I might have to give it another watch (I probably watch it a couple times, every year).

The novel is pretty amazing too.

Does it differ from the movie much. I've seen and love the movie, but never read the book.

robc wrote:
RawkGWJ wrote:
Wink_and_the_Gun wrote:

RIP William Goldman (Nov 15, 2018)

Novelist, Screenwriter, and Author of The Princess Bride William Goldman, 1931-2018

The Princess Bride is probably in my top 10 films. I love it! I might have to give it another watch (I probably watch it a couple times, every year).

The novel is pretty amazing too.

Does it differ from the movie much. I've seen and love the movie, but never read the book.

It reads much like the movie because Goldman also did the screenplay adaptation. I enjoyed it a lot and imagine most fans of the movie would.

Rykin wrote:
Jonman wrote:

Muggins over here was pulling an old failed hard drive apart to destroy it for data security purposes.

First time I've done it. Got the case off, shoved a screwdriver under the platter, applied the slightest pressure and *poof* a cloud of shiny dust and sharp debris blows up into my eyes (with no eye protection - thanks Lasik!) and across my desk.

Then, and only then, I remembered the youtube video I watched on this process a while back had you perform this operation with the drive insides a bag or wrapped in a rag.

My eyes have been itchy since.

Wow I have taken multiple drives apart and never had anything like that happen.

Were you taking them apart with the express purpose of shattering the platter?

My car's clutch just ate it on the interstate. I loathe cars.

Was it a "ceramic" disk?

Wearing braces as a 40+ year old. After 9 months I ma mostly used to them but my elastics are really bothering me today and I am staring down an oral surgery to attach a wire to a tooth impacted in the gum so that it can be attached to the braces and pulled down. Should be a good time. Knowing I have to do this for another year and a half is bumming me out.

The worst is that I really have no peer group for it. When I am at the Orthodontist it is just me and a gaggle of 11-13 year old kids. Wheee!

Agent 86 wrote:

Wearing braces as a 40+ year old. After 9 months I ma mostly used to them but my elastics are really bothering me today and I am staring down an oral surgery to attach a wire to a tooth impacted in the gum so that it can be attached to the braces and pulled down. Should be a good time. Knowing I have to do this for another year and a half is bumming me out.

The worst is that I really have no peer group for it. When I am at the Orthodontist it is just me and a gaggle of 11-13 year old kids. Wheee!

I had braces back when I was that 11-13 year old kid, and decades later, I still remember the torment of them. The wires poking into my gums and having to use that waxy stuff to make them poke less, the 3 days of mouth hurting like crazy after tightening sessions and no amount of Oragel really helping, the retainer contraptions I needed to wear at night that made my head and chin and everything else itch and hurt. When I went in for my regular orthodontist appointments, I'd always imagine that I'd been taken prisoner by aliens and being tortured for information until all of my teeth had finally been pulled out and they could start on something else. Imagination was what kept me sane!

Yeah, I had braces in my teens and I viewed my Orthodontist appointments as simple torture. It was painful, painful, painful, and I can not say that my life, nor my teeth, are better for it. In fact, my wife and I recently got into a little fight over this as it has been recommended that we get braces for our oldest (9 years old), and I'm adamant that I will not put him through that same torture I went through.

I'm curious, Agent 86, what made you decide at 40+ to sign up for this?

As much torture as it was and something I really, really wouldn't want to do again, I *am* glad that I had my braces, so I wouldn't deprive your 9 year old of the opportunity to go through with it. Better to get it done at a younger age than as an adult when possible dental troubles are more severe, and of course, others of the same age will have braces too and can trade war stories.

Facebook - I am about to write the great send off post because I will no longer use it. (I am already on a 2 year informal hiatus)
Even if its 90% good and 10% bad (which it isn't) the bad is so bad that 1 message/article of it will ruin a year of happy puppy faces, birthdays and silly pet tricks.

fangblackbone wrote:

Facebook - I am about to write the great send off post because I will no longer use it. (I am already on a 2 year informal hiatus)
Even if its 90% good and 10% bad (which it isn't) the bad is so bad that 1 message/article of it will ruin a year of happy puppy faces, birthdays and silly pet tricks.

I've been out for well over a year, and haven't regretted it once.

My wife loves it too, because now when she shows me something funny on Facebook, I don't roll my eyes and tell her I've already seen it.

Plus most insurance doesn't seem to cover braces for adults, only for dependents under 18.

My bottom teeth ended up crooked again in my 20s. I blame the orthodontist for not giving me a lower retainer when he took that support bar off at 18. Sometimes I think about getting them again to fix it but the expense shops me more than the pain.

Although flossing is so difficult now it might be worth it to save my teeth and gums.

There is a lady in her 40s that I work with who has braces right now. You're not totally alone, Agent 86.

ThatGuy42 wrote:

Yeah, I had braces in my teens and I viewed my Orthodontist appointments as simple torture. It was painful, painful, painful, and I can not say that my life, nor my teeth, are better for it. In fact, my wife and I recently got into a little fight over this as it has been recommended that we get braces for our oldest (9 years old), and I'm adamant that I will not put him through that same torture I went through.

I'm curious, Agent 86, what made you decide at 40+ to sign up for this?

Well, it would have happened in my teens but we moved to Arizona from California, my mom leaving behind a very good nursing job for a not as great federal one that left us without the resources for braces but did save her sanity.

I decided to finally take the plunge because both my wife and I's dental insurance cover adult orthodontics and my teeth are f*cked up. So bad that I smile in a weird way where I pull my top lip down over my front teeth to hide them. I never even realized it until my wife told me about it.

I mean I knew it wasn't going to be pleasant but still.

Welp, started the morning with an angry email to the condo board because the retirees that live downstairs are bullying me...what the actual f*ck?

I have a valid, state issued disability pass with an April 2019 expiration date after I completely tore my left quad tendon. I parked in the disabled parking space. For an hour. Between 7-8 am. To load my two-year old son in the car. A man, who I have NEVER seen park there, told me that I wasn't disabled enough to use it and that he deserves it more because he is a disabled veteran.

Screw you, buddy! I has as much right to it as he does!

Do people revert to grade school behavior when they retire? Because I really thought that I left this crap in high school.

They don't revert, they never change in the first place

Yeah it is called arrested development and we have an epidemic of it in this country that makes the opioid epidemic look like a case of the hiccups.