Yeah, I didn't think about donating such items to the food bank. I'll check with them. I do just smile and say thank you. I know they mean well.

I need somewhere to rant because though dh agrees with me I think he's tired of hearing me rant. We share Christmas gatherings with the other grandparents and their adult daughter. Every year they give us some kind of (fairly cheap) food gift. I get that they feel like they shouldn't give out gifts without having something for us but they don't really know us so they buy food gifts. If I wanted cheap summer sausage and not so tasty cheese, chalky hot chocolate mix and a cutesy mug, or body wash in a scent I'd never choose I'd buy it myself. (Guess what? I won't be buying any of that stuff). I'm not sure how to stop it. One year we all agreed, or so I thought, that we would not give each other gifts. They gave us something anyway. It also makes us feel like we have to give them something and I never know what to get them other than the same kind of stuff they give us. I'd rather we just give to the adult kids and grandkids. No one listens to me though. Just needed to get that off my chest.

I agree 💯 We are fortunate that both ds and dss are local. If one of them lived far away, either across the country or the world and I was traveling near them I'd do everything I could to get in a visit. As a parent of adult child and as a grandparent I can't imagine being close and not going to see them.

Oh I'm sorry. Dh had Covid last Christmas so I know how it is. Family dropped off presents on our porch (and we left theirs to pick up). It was not fun but better than exposing others to the virus. ((hugs))

This! I consider 50 - 60% humidity to be quite dry.

Hugs. Winter is normally our dry season too but it's rainy today. Usually that means a cool front on the way. Hopefully your humidity will drop after the fronts pass and you'll be able to get outdoors for a bit. Here's what my morning is like.

I've lived in a very humid climate for 54 years and tbh I don't spend time outside in summer. I know it's not summer now but considering my climate 71 and humid actually sounds not bad. Are you feeling the need to be outside or do you just think you should be outside? Listen to your body. Yes, you can work on acclimating but don't force it if it doesn't feel right. During the hottest, most humid time of year here dh and I sit on our screen porch early in the morning and read but just for a short time each day. Can you try just going out for a little bit during the least humid time of day?

This was a fun thread last year. Thank you for bringing it back. Mine was Two Sherpas. Shelved 1,189 times. It's an interesting little book (at 200 pages was oddly not my shortest book). The entire book takes place over about a 15 minute period in the minds of...two sherpas. The British climber they were accompanying has fallen onto a ledge but that's not the point of the book. Instead we learn about the lives of the two very different men, one young one older (though it seems not old). I had no idea this exists. Wow, this looks like a difficult book to find yet all the reviews I see say it's hilarious.

Thanks. I checked the VIN and our Accord is part of the recall. I called our local dealer but they haven't received instructions from Honda yet. The woman I spoke to said we should get a call from them and/or a letter from Honda in 2-3 weeks. She also said if we haven't heard anything by 3 weeks we should call. Just FYI in case anyone else has a vehicle on the recall list.

This.

The main parts of the trip are booked and deposits made. I'm excited! And I think experience is going to be my word. It works in so many ways. Thank you for the suggestion. And thank you to everyone who offered ideas.

Last year was my first year making such a list and I didn't really think it through. I accomplished less than half. All of the items on my list were doable but I wasn't motivated/didn't want them enough to make them all happen. Some will get moved to 2024, some will get revised and moved, and some will go away. My 24 for 24 list will have some big things and a lot of small doable things. I'm still working on it (mostly in my head, haven't written anything down yet)> 1. Try 3 new restaurants with dh. Yes. The rule I made for myself was each restaurant had to be new to both of us. 2. Resume monthly date night. - Nope. We went out to eat nearly every month but usually because neither of us felt like cooking and cleaning up. 3. Take a trip with dh. It was just a long weekend close to home but I'm counting it. It was still a getaway. 4. Organize primary bedroom closet. Done 5. Organize main bathroom closet. Done 6. Decorate the walls. Nope. We actually bought some beautiful photos at an art show but haven't even bought frames for them yet. This will definitely go on the 24 for 24 list. 7. Attend a local festival. Yes. Several in fact. 8. Finish a crochet project. Nope. Adding to 2024 list 9. Sew something. Yes 10. Visit Bok Tower Gardens. Nope 11. Walk Linear Park Trail. Yes 12. Visit Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. Nope 13. Visit Turkey Creek Sanctuary. Nope 14. Visit Pine Island Conservation Area. Nope 15. Resume baking bread. Nope. Don't really care anymore. 16. Kayak at Brevard Zoo Yes 17. Research a UK trip Yes, finalizing plans and making reservations this week 18. Research an Alaska cruise. Nope. It's off the table for now. Maybe 2025 or 26 19. Read the 1st Harry Potter book in Italian. Nope. I let my Italian lessons slide anyway 20. Clean out the garage. Yes and no. Dh has done some organizing but I have stuff I need to go through. Next year 21. Try grow bag gardening. Yes. I grew potatoes in a bag and currently have tomatoes in one. 22. Re-do front garden. Nope. Desperately needs to be done. 23. Plant orchids on trees. Nope

NM. Wrong thread. I reposted in the more recent thread.

As we get closer to the end of the year I've been spending more time thinking about my WotY for 2024. Next year is going to be a big travel year for us. We have a group cruise with friends right at the start (Jan 6th). I'm almost done planning our trip to the UK (mostly England and maybe Edinburgh) for late spring. We're also looking at booking a New England & Canada cruise in the fall. Any ideas for a travel related word that could also apply to other aspects of life? Journey and Explore are the most obvious and I might have to choose one of them. If anyone has another word that would fit I'm open to suggestions.

@Miss Tick we have a similar setup for our electric golf cart.

I'm enjoying seeing the creative work you're all doing. We've had a busy month so there hasn't been much crafting here. I did make wedge shaped reversible Christmas placemats for our round table. I plan to make a round piece for the center. Even though it's late in the season at least I'll have the whole set ready for next year.

For the most part I agree. The only movies with him in it I can watch are Sahara and Failure to Launch.

I can't tolerate Tom Cruise but I think part of that is due to his personal life. Same with Mel Gibson. Actors who grate on me simply due to their acting: the previously mentioned Jack Nicholson, Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell. There aren't many female actors who rub me the wrong way but Kathleen Turner is one who comes to mind.

I agree and I also don't like his acting. I don't understand why people think he's a good actor. He overacts and basically plays the same character in every movie, even movies that have wildly different stories.

Mockingbirds and whipoorwills sing at night but neither squeak.

I think sometimes it can be early dementia but also personality. My 88yo aunt has always been like that but it got much worse as she aged. She complains about everyone and everything. When I was young I remember her people watching and making fun of strangers. So in her case it's personality plus age. Mil lived to be 89 and was always kind. Same with Fil who passed away at 92. My mom died unexpectedly at 74 so I don't know what she would have been like eventually, but in her 70s she wasn't mean.