what little thing changed your life in 2021?

[Red Squirrel]

Not exactly small.... but I bought 40 acres of off grid land. Have not developed it yet but I plan to at least start this summer. Goal is to have it as a backup place to live in case I lose my job as there is basically no bills to worry about, but also actually move there regardless eventually. Still feels life changing knowing I own this land now though. Like the thought that I can just go there and start building any time is pretty cool. All the trees, or rocks or anything on it, it's mine!

 

[deadlyapp]

Had a child in August, which I'm not sure if it qualifies as a little thing, but has definitely changed my life this year.

 

[Captante]

mixed feelings. We bought this house 3 years ago because his dad was going to let him move up here...bigger than we need for the two of us...then, after we closed, his dad changed his mind.
The part that really sucks is that he didn't bring hardly any clothes or personal stuff...and his dad is a piece of shit who will just throw everything away.

It would have been nice to have advanced notice...as it is, he's sleeping on an aerobed in our TV room. We'll eventually empty one of our extra bedrooms and get it set up for him, but as it stands, one is a fully furnished TV room, the other is my wife's sewing room.

What does your wife need a "sewing room" for?

She can do that at the kitchen table no?

 

[brianmanahan]

What does your wife need a "sewing room" for?

She can do that at the kitchen table no?

it's all fun and games until you eat a needle

 

[Captante]

Had a child in August, which I'm not sure if it qualifies as a little thing, but has definitely changed my life this year.

I suppose it depends on the kid in question BUT my guess is he/she is relatively "little" ??






*(seriously... congrats!)

 

[Torn Mind]

What does your wife need a "sewing room" for?

She can do that at the kitchen table no?

Those Singer machines have their own table. Remember he's old old while you're pseudo-old.

 

[Charmonium]

I really can't think of anything. I sort of like being alone. The best relationship I've ever had was with someone whom I mainly saw on weekends. During the week we talked, but the weekends were special and we both treated them accordingly. I think she enjoyed it too. When she was work in upstate NY, I felt guilty about her coming down all of the time to visit. I offered many times to go to her but she liked the train ride.

 

[Kaido]

Not exactly small.... but I bought 40 acres of off grid land. Have not developed it yet but I plan to at least start this summer. Goal is to have it as a backup place to live in case I lose my job as there is basically no bills to worry about, but also actually move there regardless eventually. Still feels life changing knowing I own this land now though. Like the thought that I can just go there and start building any time is pretty cool. All the trees, or rocks or anything on it, it's mine!

That's awesome, you've got a bugout place! I hope you call it "Old's Basement Ranch" hahaha

 

[BoomerD]

You're a good man for taking him in. If his home life is so toxic that his dad doesn't want him there, even though it's a big change in your life, you're doing that kid a HUGE service by giving him a safe environment where he feels wanted. My parents basically did the same thing for my brother's best friend in high school...he got regular food, my parents included him in our family-together time & events (they even did his birthdays, presents, cake, and all), a place to do his homework, etc. I was extremely fortunate to have good parents growing up, because as I got out into the real world, I started to see how many kids didn't get the great home life that I had, so props for stepping up to take care of him! He will appreciate it for the rest of his life.

Dammit...don't tell anyone...I have a reputation to uphold!

Toxic doesn't begin to describe the home life our 3 grandkids had to deal with. Granddaughter, (middle child) was dragged to the door and thrown out of the house before she turned 16. She didn't get along with her drunken druggie, ex-crankster/crackhead stepmom...and it was easier for dad to throw her out on the streets than to deal with his new-ish wife. She couch-surfed with friends and other family members for over a year until we found her and brought her to WA where she lived with a Mormon family she knew from when they lived in CA. Our oldest grandson got into a tiff with his stepmom...she told him, "If you don't like it, get the fuck out," so he did...caught an Amtrak and came to WA where he lived with the Mormon family. (he got here about 8 months before his sister) He's since moved back to CA but has nothing to do with his dad. (went back for his girlfriend)
We've tried to get the youngest up here for over 3 years...we just wish we had some advanced notice. We're now fighting trying to get guardianship papers for the kid so he can legally stay, get his school transcripts showing he's completed his graduation requirements so he can go too work and/or enroll in community college. Dad is dragging his feet because as soon as he relinquishes guardianship, he'll lose money from the welfare department and food stamps.

 

[BoomerD]

What does your wife need a "sewing room" for?

She can do that at the kitchen table no?

Ha-ha...no

it's all fun and games until you eat a needle

or fucking step on one.

Those Singer machines have their own table. Remember he's old old while you're pseudo-old.

Singer? not likely. She has a Pfaff that sews and does embroidery. Takes quite a bit of room for that, her sewing cabinet, shelves, storage cabinets, etc. She NEEDS a full room for her stuff. (even if she doesn't use it as often nowadays)

 

[Kaido]

don't tell anyone...I have a reputation to uphold!

Toxic doesn't begin to describe the home life our 3 grandkids had to deal with. Granddaughter, (middle child) was dragged to the door and thrown out of the house before she turned 16. She didn't get along with her drunken druggie, ex-crankster/crackhead stepmom...and it was easier for dad to throw her out on the streets than to deal with his new-ish wife. She couch-surfed with friends and other family members for over a year until we found her and brought her to WA where she lived with a Mormon family she knew from when they lived in CA. Our oldest grandson got into a tiff with his stepmom...she told him, "If you don't like it, get out," so he did...caught an Amtrak and came to WA where he lived with the Mormon family. (he got here about 8 months before his sister) He's since moved back to CA but has nothing to do with his dad. (went back for his girlfriend)
We've tried to get the youngest up here for over 3 years...we just wish we had some advanced notice. We're now fighting trying to get guardianship papers for the kid so he can legally stay, get his school transcripts showing he's completed his graduation requirements so he can go too work and/or enroll in community college. Dad is dragging his feet because as soon as he relinquishes guardianship, he'll lose money from the welfare department and food stamps.

It blows my mind that situations still happen like this in 2022. Like...we have access to more resources than any civilization in the history of the planet, and yet, in some ways, we have it worse than anyone else has ever had it...access to government resources that makes it easy to shrug off familial responsibilities, easy access designer drugs help to fuel addictions, unlimited access to alcohol nationwide, etc. create HUGE traps for a lot of people, especially people who suffer from addictions, mental health issues, and so on. Ultimately, everyone is responsible for their own actions & behaviors, and sometimes the environment is just so toxic & people don't want to change (or struggle to change) that it's better to shift the housing situation over in order to reduce their childhood trauma & give them a better chance at life.

My buddy went through a similar situation. He was a project manager I worked heavily with for a few years before he retired. At like the age of 72, he inherited two little kids & a teenager because the parents were unfit for raising them, in nearly identical circumstances as yours. He really doesn't have the energy to do the job, but at the same time, their home is a thousand times better for those kids than the one they were in before, so again, props to you for stepping up to the plate. Life throws us curveballs sometimes, and they oddly almost always come in packages designed to help other people out! From my own experiences seeing situations like this, just being able to give those kids some stability & a home where they can feel loved & not threatened is going to have a HUGE impact on their lives & their self-esteem!

 

[Torn Mind]

It's funny, like, I was never into say, Adele, but then I heard a few songs & I was like dang these are pretty good!

My background probably predisposed me to accepting Mariah rapidly; the musical tendencies of the late 18th century, like that of Mozart, has some overlap with the meslimatic style Mariah brought into vogue; in fact it was freaking everywhere where a skeleton melody gets variations after variation to enhance the musical effectiveness and many times the "runs" are not easily noticeable. In fact, my mind has begun to recall Mariah whenever I start hearing Mozart, especially his Clarinet Concerto when performed with the basset clarinet. When one strips away the style of the eras, one realizes Mariah has that same intuition on putting notes and embellishments in all the right places.

As far songs goes, there works where everything follows a lead and there are works where parts interact with each other. Mariah and "concertos" fall into the latter category where there is interplay between the "set in stone"(orchestra/backing track) and the flexible soloist.

All this was before late Dec 2021, where I finally decided to get into listening her first two albums.
I came across JoJo first in a so-called "Sing-Off" with Conor Maynard. Listening to JoJo's re-recording of "Never Say Goodbye" was probably the first step of having a "more understanding" understanding of Mozart. After that, Mozart was elevated above Beethoven. Always Be My Baby would come into my ears later.

Mariah the songwriter is not well understood because most people who comment about music never studied music at all and/or do understand composition. Her musical intuition is what makes her music actually musically and not a clunky technical showpiece.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Dammit...don't tell anyone...I have a reputation to uphold!

Toxic doesn't begin to describe the home life our 3 grandkids had to deal with. Granddaughter, (middle child) was dragged to the door and thrown out of the house before she turned 16. She didn't get along with her drunken druggie, ex-crankster/crackhead stepmom...and it was easier for dad to throw her out on the streets than to deal with his new-ish wife. She couch-surfed with friends and other family members for over a year until we found her and brought her to WA where she lived with a Mormon family she knew from when they lived in CA. Our oldest grandson got into a tiff with his stepmom...she told him, "If you don't like it, get the fuck out," so he did...caught an Amtrak and came to WA where he lived with the Mormon family. (he got here about 8 months before his sister) He's since moved back to CA but has nothing to do with his dad. (went back for his girlfriend)
We've tried to get the youngest up here for over 3 years...we just wish we had some advanced notice. We're now fighting trying to get guardianship papers for the kid so he can legally stay, get his school transcripts showing he's completed his graduation requirements so he can go too work and/or enroll in community college. Dad is dragging his feet because as soon as he relinquishes guardianship, he'll lose money from the welfare department and food stamps.

Damn they sound like super toxic parents. I don't get how people like that sleep at night.

 

[sportage]

This is going to sound very sappy, but I learned that god (faith) gives you everything that you need. The key word is what you "need", not what you want. And when you come to realize this, you will then have everything that you would ever need. It's oddly enough like, magical. Every time I had a problem, along came a solution, out of nowhere. Completely unexpected, the solution. And this just kept happening and happening, over and over. Then it hit me, it was having simple faith as why this was happening. So I stuck with that, and it continues on.

No, I'm not some religions nut sitting around with a house full of cats, and actually I avoid all religion when that religion is what they call "organized" religion. But religion is not the point, the faith is the point if that makes any sense? Just keeping ones self calm, never freaking out, never questioning challenges, and having this strange spiritual knowing or belief that everything will be taken care of. And... that has been the case for me. The secret of it all is knowing that no challenge will come your way without followed by a solution. Especially when you understand the link between the two, then it just happens. And keeps on happening. I look at it as a spiritual thing rather than a religious thing. And what is religion anyway? Popes? Money? TV evangelist? Brimstone and hellfire? I'd prefer none of that, I'll stick with simple spiritual faith.
But anyway, this was the major awakening that I experienced in 2021.
I'm so embarrassed.... But you asked.

 

[Muse]

Decided to start exercising to get healthy. Bought Peloton Bike+ and Concept 2 RowERG rower to complement our daily walks. Best purchases I made in long time. I notice vast difference in my daily energy level and just how I feel now that I'm exercising regularly.

I got that Concept2 rower, a stationary bike mount too, but only use them in inclement weather. My go-to workout is skating a smooth street up and back (11 times) for a 10 mile total workout (with heart rate monitor on). The rower's more painful than skating. I just got seat cushions for it but figure skating's still number one, weather permitting!

For little thing: The jabs.

 

[sdifox]

Mariah Carey first two albums. Never knew what quality I was missing out on.

Were you born in 1994?

 

[Muse]

This is going to sound very sappy, but I learned that god (faith) gives you everything that you need. The key word is what you "need", not what you want. And when you come to realize this, you will then have everything that you would ever need. It's oddly enough like, magical. Every time I had a problem, along came a solution, out of nowhere. Completely unexpected, the solution. And this just kept happening and happening, over and over. Then it hit me, it was having simple faith as why this was happening. So I stuck with that, and it continues on.

No, I'm not some religions nut sitting around with a house full of cats, and actually I avoid all religion when that religion is what they call "organized" religion. But religion is not the point, the faith is the point if that makes any sense? Just keeping ones self calm, never freaking out, never questioning challenges, and having this strange spiritual knowing or belief that everything will be taken care of. And... that has been the case for me. The secret of it all is knowing that no challenge will come your way without followed by a solution. Especially when you understand the link between the two, then it just happens. And keeps on happening. I look at it as a spiritual thing rather than a religious thing. And what is religion anyway? Popes? Money? TV evangelist? Brimstone and hellfire? I'd prefer none of that, I'll stick with simple spiritual faith.
But anyway, this was the major awakening that I experienced in 2021.
I'm so embarrassed.... But you asked.

Henry Miller said he'd found that whenever there's a "genuine need" it will be met. Same as what you said.

 

[sdifox]

just think of the Hermes scarves you could have bought instead...: p

Scarf, singular.

 

[Exterous]

Check out Chirp for your back:

(snip)

I thought Peloton machines were super dumb due to the price when they first came out. Then, as more of my friends got them & actually started working out consistently, I realized they're worth the money, because a few thousand dollars up-front is worth the investment into your health in the long-run. All of the these virtual AI, pre-recorded, and live classes are having a HUGE impact on people's health & fitness, not because of magic, but because they actually get used! Everyone has an old exercise machine acting as a clothes hanger; so it's not really about availability, it's about consistency.

Thanks for those although my issue is disk related. Sleeping is fine as is sitting (mostly) so its more about strengthening my core while avoiding inflammation of the nerve and then relaxing\recovering the core muscles after exercising so they can handle the compression and movement instead of my spine

Its only been a week for me and 3 weeks for my wife so we'll see how it goes but its already a bit easier to use than going to a gym now that the cold\snowy months have arrived in MI. Our break even point is ~2 years now that we're not paying gym membership fees (Our gym is closing this month anyway)

 

[Exterous]

I was extremely fortunate to have good parents growing up, because as I got out into the real world, I started to see how many kids didn't get the great home life that I had, so props for stepping up to take care of him! He will appreciate it for the rest of his life.

It was incredibly eye opening when my wife went to work for a public school in one of the poorest areas of the Detroit Metro area. A mom stabbed her daughter in with a dinner knife during a fight over what to have for dinner. Another mom and dad just straight up ghosted their son. Packed a few things from the house and left while he was at school and never came back. After going through the remaining food in the house he couch surfed for a while until he found someone to take him in for longer. Made me a tad more appreciative of what I had growing up. Not exactly the easiest experience but I wasn't violently assaulted and didn't have to worry about food and shelter

 

[K1052]

The greater Austin housing market.

 

[brianmanahan]

The greater Austin housing market.

ugh the housing market everywhere stopped me from buying this year

also i wanted to buy a new car and new audio equipment, but couldn't due to short supply

 

[Brainonska511]

The greater Austin housing market.

Selling or buying? If the former, I assume you made out like a bandit thanks to years and years of under building driving prices for existing stuff through the roof.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Started eating less, cooking more. GF and I have been hovering around 1k-1.5k/day, she's down 55lbs, I'm down ~40lbs. Feeling great. Learned a ton of new recipes and gotten better at a lot of cooking methods.

 

[K1052]

Selling or buying? If the former, I assume you made out like a bandit thanks to years and years of under building driving prices for existing stuff through the roof.

Selling. We bought at the end of 2019 and while prices were rising at the time it's nothing like what's happened in the last year.