Random Thoughts...or...What's on Your Mind?

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I was in a hotel in Richmond and two girls about my age did this to an older couple that were in the elevator with me. The older woman said “exuse me, you’re supposed to let people exit first” and the girls made some snide comment about how she was rude.

I see that on the subway all the time. No matter what city I happen to be in, there's always heads who force their way onto the train before letting anyone else off.

 

[Armus]

Old artists from centuries past inspire me and teach me their craft. The dead still speak to mankind.

 

[Discofan]

I see that on the subway all the time. No matter what city I happen to be in, there's always heads who force their way onto the train before letting anyone else off.

Which is stupid and makes the operation much more difficult.

 

[Butters]

Old artists from centuries past inspire me and teach me their craft. The dead still speak to mankind.

I know that look. That’s the look I used to get when I tried chatting up girls.

 

[Discofan]

I know that look. That’s the look I used to get when I tried chatting up girls.

Which means you no longer get that look?

 

[RunningValkyrie]

Three weeks until Christmas vacation. I’m really looking forward to some free time!

 

[Sibyl]

Old artists from centuries past inspire me and teach me their craft. The dead still speak to mankind.

I'm thankful that I can go view my two favorite pieces of art any time with my own eyes. My favorite painting and my favorite sculpture.

 

[Armus]

I'm thankful that I can go view my two favorite pieces of art any time with my own eyes. My favorite painting and my favorite sculpture.

Out of curiosity, what would that be?

 

[Discofan]

I am thankful I once saw an Aurora Borealis with my own eyes.

 

[auntiehill]

We got a threatening letter from our HOA about out "violation" of HOA regulations for our section of the neighborhood. They said we had to repair our sidewalk/driveway/walkway. So I called to ask what exactly what needed to be repaired, and they said we needed to power-wash our driveway by Jan. 5th or face fines and legal fees.

Um...OK. So hubby went out yesterday to rent a power-washer from Home Depot. The darn thing wouldn't start for quite some time, and then it ran out of gas. Poor hubby was outside until 7:30 pm last night, power-washing the driveway.

I sent an email to let the HOA officer know we had done what they asked. They demanded a photo.

So I took a break from my shift at work today, ran outside, took a picture and emailed it to them. Now I have to wait for them to "approve" our "correction of our violation."

All this, because my driveway was dark gray instead of light gray.

I hate my HOA.

 

[Discofan]

We got a threatening letter from our HOA about out "violation" of HOA regulations for our section of the neighborhood. They said we had to repair our sidewalk/driveway/walkway. So I called to ask what exactly what needed to be repaired, and they said we needed to power-wash our driveway by Jan. 5th or face fines and legal fees.

Um...OK. So hubby went out yesterday to rent a power-washer from Home Depot. The darn thing wouldn't start for quite some time, and then it ran out of gas. Poor hubby was outside until 7:30 pm last night, power-washing the driveway.

I sent an email to let the HOA officer know we had done what they asked. They demanded a photo.

So I took a break from my shift at work today, ran outside, took a picture and emailed it to them. Now I have to wait for them to "approve" our "correction of our violation."

All this, because my driveway was dark gray instead of light gray.

I hate my HOA.

The sidewalk in my country is maintained by the community. I pay local taxes for that. As for my driveway, I can do whatever I want there as long as I do nothing that threatens the environment like storing poison or things like that. There's also hygiene concerns that could force me to clean it up or things like that but I don't see that as a constraint.

 

[Butters]

HOA. Home Owners Association?

We don’t have those here. Thank F.

The pavement and roads are maiantained by the local authority, which is good because I have a thorny bush encroaching on to the pavement and my neighbours land that I will deal with eventually.

I once lived in a house on an unadopted road, and that caused grief for the home owners. Victoria was on the throne the last time the street was paved. It was a constant source of tension. Luckily I was only renting.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Homeowners' associations are petty dictatorships. Pure and simple. There needs to be some way to regulate them. Or, better yet, do away with them.

 

[Discofan]

Homeowners' associations are petty dictatorships. Pure and simple. There needs to be some way to regulate them. Or, better yet, do away with them.

We don't have them. So it's a definite possibility.


Do you live in a condominium? I've heard of them but we don't have them either. I don't think they are legal.

 

[auntiehill]

No, we live in a house, in a VERY large subdivision.

 

[Sibyl]

Out of curiosity, what would that be?

Painting:
https://collections.artsmia.org/art/1886/the-denial-of-st-peter-gerrit-van-honthorst

Sculpture:
https://collections.artsmia.org/art/12092/veiled-lady-raffaelo-monti

 

[Avro Arrow]

HOA. Home Owners Association?

Ooooh. Thank you, I didn't know what that stood for and was trying to figure out what organization would have control over how one maintained one's driveway.

I think we *may* have similar types of organizations here, but I've only ever heard about them through the news, and it always seems to be in a monied neighbourhood, so I'm assuming they're generally only found in well-off areas here. I do know that I've never personally had one in any of the kinds of neighbourhoods that I've lived in...

 

[Sibyl]

After a rather lengthy and contentious discussion on a local news station's Facebook page today (less of a discussion and more of me giving my opinions and the rationale behind those opinions and the rest of the people saying how horrible a person I was and how I should just shut up and go away), I came to the realization that I...I was embarrassed and mortified for her when I approached my mom when I was whatever age I was at the time that I saw my parents and my aunt and uncle putting out "Santa's" presents to we cousins one year that we were traveling to their house at Christmas.

I knew a year or two earlier (as kids talk amongst each other at that age), but this was the first time I'd witnessed it with my own eyes.

I was embarrassed when I caught my parents in a lie.

That's kinda messed up.

 

[Butters]

Which means you no longer get that look?

My chatting up girl days are way behind me.

 

[Gary7]

We are so screwed...

NY Times: The Insect Apocalypse

This isn't just another "doomsday" article. This is very different (and only one of many that has come before it -- there was a wave of such articles back in 2017). And it's real. Slow motion real... so slow, most people don't see it and it's therefore so easy to deny, like those assholes who claim that climate change theory is a hoax.

It's too late to retard the problem in time to preserve our way of life. In fact, our way of life should not be preserved. We need to convert to a more sustainable way of life. Yet, we choose to be a cancer on this world. Truly are. In so many ways. Us arrogant humans. Us band of bastards.