Friday, February 18, 2022

Friday Free for All- Not A Day in the Life

     There anything too exciting in my life, but I'm always curious how people get on with their days. I had thought about doing a mini week in my life, covering a few days, but oh, how I was bored writing it, let alone thinking of any of you reading it. Guess what-each day, went something like this,


Woke up, fell out of bed
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup
And looking up, I noticed I was late
Found my coat and grabbed my hat
Made the bus in seconds flat
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke
And somebody spoke and I went into a dream


     Wait-those are Beatles, lyrics, not my day, but it sure feels like I am on lather, rinse repeat, so scrapped the idea. Change Coat to sweater, and made the bus to "logged in", and scrap the smoking part, and there's my morning. I'll go back to random Friday Free for All, the nibblings of things running through my head. First, the flowers in the picture are from my daughter, just because. She also brought me a 12 ounce bag of coffee  on hearing I was down to random bits before I restock on Saturday. What a sweetheart. 


Humble Bragger/Subtle Bi-otch

     Wednesday was a light  attended trivia night, but my friend J brought along her friend, and an  acquaintance of mine, who I played volleyball with years ago. A daughter of  another acquaintance joined as well-and it was lovely to get caught up with her. So a bit of back story on Q, who I'll call the acquaintance. She is friendly enough, and most of the time I enjoyed playing ball and having a drink after with her. She has a habit though of making sure everyone  is caught up, in subtle ways, on how wonderful her life is and at the same time, asks poking and probing questions to try to what I can only perceive as looking for chinks in others armor. She had a habit in the past of doing that with my sister, who has a son the same age as Q. Q is also quite tone deaf, not picking up at all, or choosing to ignore, when someone wants to change the subject, or has hit a hard spot. 

     She'd drop little glory bits about her son, then ask things she knew perfectly well the answer to already about my nephew. (She works for the school district admin and lets just say, she's nosy). My nephew, who has battled severe depression and anxiety, is an area I didn't want her poking at Wednesday night, but she went there. My nephew has moved in an out of my sisters house and took a very long path to finishing college. His mental health was their first concern and he did graduate and I'm proud of him. He's had the same course on employment, but recently started a good job in his field, while still working part time for another sister at the golf clubhouse, which is open year round as a bar and restaurant. Of course loudly she had to inquire if he was still living at home, he is, while making sure I knew both her kids owned their own places and were fast advancing in their fields, which I knew from the last time I saw her. I just said, it's good for young people to follow their own path, and ended the conversation. How do you all handle situation, people like Q?  If she keeps coming, I hope we have a larger group, as that helps soften her humble bragging and squelches the subtle B, and then I can enjoy the nice part of her company. 

Olympics

     I've both enjoyed and not enjoyed the Olympics. I love the sport-I hate the politics. I never root against individual athletes when rooting on the home team athletes. Seeing a perfect run down the ski slope, an impeccable triple axle, or a speeds that defy death  when a toboggan goes down a shoot-incredible to watch regardless if they are an athlete from Russia, or up the road from me in Minnesota. Winter Olympics are fun for me because I can relate so much to many of the US athletes, having grown up in a similar community as so many  did. But I'm tired of the inequities driven by the politics; the bullying and political foolery by the world leaders and the Olympic Committee and the arbitrary decisions, that just add to systemic abuse of athletes. 


Shopping 

     You all know I don't like shopping, not for clothes, not for homewares, and especially not for groceries. I restock, not shop. I don't like a lot of choices, so Aldi suits me that way besides the price. I am going to shop tomorrow though. I've stretched out using up our pantry, fridge, and freezer and once I clean all out top to bottom, I'm heading up the road to peruse Aldi, Trader Joe's, and even Sam's Club. Dh had a leisure shop the other day, but even with that, we're just at $81 for the month, with only eating out or take out so far the one night. We'll get Applebee's take out some time this weekend using gift cards, but I think We've done well. (I don't count DH's lunches when he decides to go, as he would regardless of me doing a household challenge or not.) Since I've doe so well, I'm going to go, list in hand of needs, but will feel free to splurge on some new things or occasionally purchased favorites. It will be my day out on Saturday. 

     Before hitting the grocery stores though, I will stop at both the Goodwill's I pass on route. My target? A  spring/fall jacket with hood, similar to the ones both my daughters have, and a new to me pair of good fitting jeans. I wasn't going to buy new jeans and save for a treat with a weight loss marker, but of the two pairs I have, one is looking quite sloppy and have always been a little short, but they are so comfortable. The other pair fit, but they cut in my waist at a weird angle and for sitting hours on a plane, not comfortable. Wish me luck. Maybe something else will call to me while I am searching for these two items. 

     That's what I got for this Friday. Besides my great venture out of my towns border, other plans for the weekend will be Take out and T.V. tonight, getting pup out of the neighborhood on a good walk, tracking down or requesting my next book club book, reading, and of course the ongoing cooking and cleaning. I'm going to look at the possibility of a Happy Hour or at least a coffee meet-up with someone. I have a three day weekend with Monday off, but I should really spend it productively. Where's the fun in that? . 

30 comments:

  1. https://www.amazon.com/GLORIA-VANDERBILT-Womens-Amanda-Classic/dp/B0006VVT76/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=gloria+vanderbilt+jeans&qid=1645195870&sr=8-2

    This is my favorite jean. I buy them at Costco for just $16 (I think). Penny's and Kohl's carry them as well.

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    1. No Costco membership. I've had them in the past.

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  2. That was so sweet of your daughter to get you flowers. Unexpected gifts like that are the best.
    Enjoy your three-day weekend. I have one as well and am planning on having a little fun.

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    1. Right now I feel like sleeping for three days.

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  3. Fingers crossed that you find some good options at the Goodwill.

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    1. We'll see what can be found. It's always luck of the day.

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  4. Ugh, I dislike Q. As the mom of a daughter with mental health issues, and a son still living at home, I do like your response to her. I'll to keep it in mind when I get questions from nosy Nellies.

    Good luck on your thrift shop stops.

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    1. The thing is she's not all that unlikeable. Just has this need to both brag and dis without thought.

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  5. I had a colleague who was a nosy cow at the best of times - in addition to being totally incompetent but suffering from Dunning-Kruger syndrome. I put up with her because for the most part I'm an open book, but when I was flailing my way out of a marriage from a physically abusive man and she kept coming at me and coming at me because she wanted more information, at that point I just asked her (in front of loads of other colleagues) if she had any idea exactly what "mind your own business" meant! I am not deliberately rude but when pushed too far I have no problem in telling busybodies to take a hike!

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    1. You were absolutely not rude. The audacity of her to keep at you.

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  6. Beautiful flowers and such a thoughtful daughter!
    I have known a few people like Q, and I tend to avoid them.
    Enjoy your long weekend, and I hope you find some jeans and jacket and a few treats.

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    1. I'm ok seeing her in occasion, but I don't want to have my Wednesday consumed with poking.

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  7. I get that all the time as it is well known we have more than one with mental issues. Taking the advice of Daughter 4 (who has mental issues) I now just say. They are fine and if you need to know more you can asked them directly through FB . I had one that did ask me again and I asked her what part of my response did she not understand so I could use 1st grade words to explain it to her. BOY did that work.

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    1. Nice response. Why people take joy in poking at others, or starting gossip, is beyond me.

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  8. I remember doing a day in my life challenges way back in the old blogging days. You know what would be fun to do these days, maybe as a challenge for others too - Have you ever heard of the one second every day app? You take video and then cut out a simple one second clip. Most people do a second a day compilations month by month, but it can be used for other projects like a day (or week) in my life too. Check it out if you aren't already familiar with it. It's a lot of fun!

    I can't stand people like Q to the point that I probably wouldn't attend just because of her!

    I don't like shopping at all either. I think you are the only other person I know who doesn't like it. I hope you have a good day out though and hope you have lots of luck finding everything you need.

    Here's to a great weekend - cheers!

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    1. Video and editing would be a stretch for me but sounds fun. I won't skip an evening out of Trivia that I got started. We can spread out when more people.

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  9. It is insecurity that fuels those kinds of questions. I think she needs comparisons to make her feel good about herself. Feel sorry for her, as she aggravates you. I hope you enjoy your trip. Talbots has great jeans for women.

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    1. Now I'm gossiping, but I don't really recall her talking about her own likes and interests.

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  10. Sending you good vibes for your Goodwill shopping trip - I would take you shopping and make it all so easy for you. :)

    Ah, people like that are very insecure. They often feel pressured to live up to some sort of unrealistic expectations of themselves or their lives. They take a lot of emotional energy to deal with, though. I think you were graceful in your response.

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    1. There wasn't much I could say. I felt bad on behalf of my sister and nephew that she was so focused on them.

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  11. I have met many like Q, and rather than try to be nice to them, I learned to do whatever would stop them. Sometimes, I would just look at the person for a long time until the person was still questioning. What have you heard? Why do you need to know? I need to go? I will ask him/her next time we talk.

    Change the subject at first sign of humble-brag. Just say--hmm when she talks about her children or good fortune.

    I sincerely dislike this kind of person.

    Turn and talk to someone else instead of being nice.

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    1. I think I handled it fine, but curious what others do. I find this in comments too, but then we sort of open that door by blogging. I just ignore what I don't care to respond to.

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  12. After a lot of searching, I found that I really like the old navy rock star jeans, and while I’m always able to find that brand and style at second hand stores, I never can find my size lol. I just found a nice mid weight jacket last weekend. It is one of the jackets that has a jacket that can be zipped inside of it to make it very warm or they can be worn separately. This was only the outer shell but for $9.99 I couldn’t pass it up. Daughter just snagged a pair of ultra-trendy Gym Shark leggings from Platos Closet. We do love a good thrift! Even stopped at the Goodwill Outlet, or “the bins” as they are called. Now THAT was an experience. Won’t be brave enough to do that again, but snagged a vintage, quality sweater, target brand top and Columbia jacket for $2.97 total.

    Q does sound like a B…I just change the subject with people like that. The conversation starts getting personal or uncomfortable and I just abruptly ask if they’ve been to the zoo lately or something completely out of left field.

    I love the olympics especially the winter ones but haven’t been really into these games. The time difference, lack of NHLers, doping controversies, and the same old sports getting pushed did take away but I’ve still been watching. I made a note of my new favorite quote by former Olympian, current announcer Johnny Weir, “You want to increase your value, not go on sale.” JoAnn

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    1. He's phenomenal! I always enjoyed his skating, but his fun. I hope he has a good career beyond the Olympics every four years. Jean shopping sucks, but I need something before we go.

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  13. I agree with several of your other commenters, that lady sounds very insecure. Well done for responding with such grace.
    Good luck with your shopping quest. xxx

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    1. I think she's a bit odd, caring to ask such specific questions. It's easier to just give non answer's. I found jeans.

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  14. I enjoy your daily reports. Anyone who drops off coffee is a dear.

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    1. It tasted all the better on Saturday because of the caring by my daughter.

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  15. You can learn to do what my Mom and Aunt used to do. They would smile a somewhat frozen smile and say sweetly "How Nice!" But we all knew the secret code. How nice really meant Who gives a s#!+

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    1. Or I've heard people brilliantly use the church lady phrase, " well isn't that special".

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