I am watching Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Speeches and ESPNY Speeches; Michael Jordan, Tracy McGrady, Craig Sager, Manny Pacquiao, Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Dennis Rodman and Phil Jackson.
Enjoying the nice weather, listening to WJRR laundry, dishes, bored, and hungry. Anyone in Orlando want to meet at the Grill on Lake Fairview? Been wanting to go there ever since I drove by a few times. Recently saw a commercial for them, looks good!
Presently, I’m listening to my neighbors.
The apartment building in which I live has very thin walls. If I close my eyes and focus on the sounds issuing from next door, I can hear labored wheezing, the occasional clink of ice in a glass, and two sources of sighs and mutterings.
They’re an older couple. The woman chain smokes—she’s the one who wheezes, while the fellow is fond of alcohol. Too fond of it, according to the woman. Then again, the male insists that she smokes far too much. These are common points of contention. Another point of contention is their son, who has never visited. This is because, as the male puts it, his mother is “insane”.
While I can’t say whether or not that’s accurate, she is usually the first to begin screaming. Her wheezing grows more and more intense, until each breath resembles the rattling of a snake’s tail. Eventually, she strikes, unleashing a litany of venom-laced expletives and condemnations against her husband.
He’ll strike back, physically. Sobbing follows more often than not.
The police have intervened on numerous occasions, but to no effect.
Tonight, they seem to be arguing about the quality of dinner. The spaghetti sauce was too watery, according to the male.
I wonder: how many people have died over watery spaghetti sauce?
@hogboblin - I feel your pain. I lived in apartments for years. I swear I heard at least one murder. But the worst thing was cigarette smoke emanating from a next door apartment. Could never trace where it was coming from but I suspected the electrical outlets. In another apartment, I had to endure the noisy sex sounds of a couple on the other side of my bedroom wall. I now live in a house but did not escape noises. A neighbour has a dog that is left outside and barks incessantly. Have called the police, city, and animal control. No-one will do anything.
I'm scrambling a couple of eggs and watching Star Trek: Voyager on Netflix. Above me, there are sounds suggesting my landlords' grandchildren are visiting. I got to meet one of them once. Cute little kid, good with sidewalk chalk. My refrigerator is, as usual, making noises that belong in an 80s sci-fi film. It doesn't hurt the Star Trek ambiance any... but it is just slightly headache-inducing.
Janeway et al. just escaped a spacial distortion by doing nothing. Now they're trying to find some edible plants on a nearby planet so's they don't all starve to death. Fun!
I'm procrastinating doing more homework and studying for CompTIA A+ certification by getting on here, while simultaneously watching New Girl on Netflix. I've already finished watching all the seasons and episodes available but it is one of my go to comfort shows on Netflix.
Cuddling with my Bella, texting my first cuddle sipping Sleepy Time tea and watching 20/20
Went to a fast food place tonight, I said "Hello" to the counter person and smiled. All I got back was a look that said "Why did you come in here and bother me?". The entire place was empty except for us. I long ago gave up expecting anyone to smile and say "Hello" in a fast-foor place. I'm just happy if they get my order right. I did the survey on the receipt and I think you can guess my response to the "Was the server friendly?" question.
@UKGuy it seems like that’s the norm anywhere anymore. Sad
When the first thing the clerk says to me is something like “fourteen fifty-seven” I’m tempted to put my wallet back in my pocket and leave the merchandise on the counter as I walk out. But I usually just pay up.
If some poorly-paid employee doesn’t treat me like a deity, I’ll go up to them, grab them by the shoulders, and begin chanting “adore me” like a mantra while staring into their eyes. I let them go if they start to sob; it is evident, then, that they’ve realized their grave mistake.
Because I’m not there to buy goods or services. I’m there for deference.
@hogboblin - I don't expect deference but I do expect a friendly welcome and not a scowl when I go into an establishment to spend my money. This is also universally expected by their employers based on the survey questions they ask of customers.
@UKGuy
Okay, I’m being serious now: why do you expect that sort of treatment?
Let’s say that an employee at your favorite store fails to greet you in a cheery/welcoming manner. What about this upsets you? Is it that the employee is not following company-wide protocol for greeting customers?
Right now, I'm listening to a playlist someone sent me (rather a good one) and reading through the CuddleComfort forums. In a minute I intend to warm up a heating pad, make myself some tea, and settle down with a book (ファタモルガーナの館, a sort of horror story crossed with a mystery and threaded with some not-too-sappy romance).
My tuppence on the current topic:
When I go into an establishment to spend my money, I really just want the goods and services. The social packaging doesn't matter unless it interferes with what I'm after.
So, for instance, I wouldn't care if every employee in the local Walmart glared at me like they were casting a death curse every time I went in so long as they left me alone otherwise and I found everything I wanted. But, @hogboblin, I'm unusual. Most people feel really unwelcome if they're scowled at, and it makes them want to shop elsewhere. For example, someplace where they're treated as though they're valued and appreciated.
Emotions are powerful. Businesses know that. That's why they want their employees to be friendly and welcoming: because (unless they have a monopoly) it makes a notable difference to the amount of business they do. If your employees treat customers like royalty, you'll have more customers.
That's how humans work. People like to feel appreciated. If you don't make them feel appreciated, they'll go somewhere else.
Therefore, businesses don't just compete to offer the best goods and services—they also compete to offer the best, friendliest, most enjoyable packaging! And so naturally people expect friendly, cheerful, extroverted employees, just as they expect palatable foods, well-made garments, functioning electronics, etc.
I think this is... well, cute. But I'm not normal.
@DarrenWalker
You raise some good points.
However, I believe that those who make such a big deal about whether or not the minimally-compensated servant smiled at them expect respect, not kindness or warmth. It’s the modern equivalent of some lord astride their horse, in a field amongst toiling peasants, seeking obeisance from their lessers.
One would think kindness and warmth came with respect.
@hogboblin and @CreativeCuddles:
Ah, definitions.
'Respect' is one of those words that can mean anything from 'acknowledgement of personhood' to 'deep admiration' to 'humble deference'. If you're treating someone else as a person, then it seems very likely that you're treating them with kindness and warmth. But if you're treating them with humble deference, like they're the lord of the manor and you're basically their property... that's something else.
Personally, I enjoy receiving every shade of respect. But I don't care whether I get bowing and scraping—or even kindness and warmth—from various minimum-wage employees or not.
The checker at the local grocery doesn't have to see me as their superior, or even as a fellow human being, they just have to tot up how much I owe and take my money. That's all I need them for. Anything extra is nice, but not necessary. ...Of course, I'm the type who actually prefers self-checkout. So there's that.
Currently seriously considering another mug of tea.
Do you think being treated like a superior being at any given business would make you want to go there more often? I... think it might work on me.
I like your thoughts on this matter. They seem realistic.
Anyways, back onto the topic of this thread:
I’m currently wondering who, this early in the morning, is practicing the harmonica in my apartment building. I think I’ll drown out the abominable sound with some Lustmord. Ha.
I would say that if someone is outwardly rude to me then yes, it is bothersome. However if someone is not outwardly cheerful and friendly it doesn't bother me. It might be a preference for them to be friendly but that does not entitle me to have my preference appeased.
I am currently enjoying a relaxing morning of drinking coffee and watching youtube vids, and am thankful my son is off from school this week which means I get to sleep in and not have to get him up and out the door!
I’m having a relaxing small pot of tea after an early morning visit to my local Costco warehouse. They have crazy prices on bigger and better Televisions. Mo old TV is big enough, but 10 years old. I’m jealous of the great picture I see on TVs everywhere I go. Somo went to look. I didn’t buy a TV, but got some fresh fruit, a couple of bottles of wine for a Thanksgiving hostess gift, various and sundry everyday grocery items. $166. And the place was a mob scene, all check stations open and 5 deep. So, I need the tea.
I've been watching 1950's/1960's sci-fi movies on Youtube. I have about 30 of them bookmarked for viewing, but I keep discovering more. Last night I watched "Night Caller from Outer Space" which was an excellent British movie from 1965.
I am surfing vegetable recipes for brussel sprouts, carrots, and mashed potatoes (without garlic - because WHY would anyone ruin mashed potatoes with garlic?).
After a run for supplies, then I'm going to solder a 70 inch by 14 inch high panoramic stained glass window.
I've just made two batches of Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Mini-Muffins which I will be taking to a client tomorrow evening. I usually add walnuts and pecans to anything banana, but instead I crushed up his favourite candy (M&Ms) and mixed it in. I'm going to have to fight myself to not eat any of these.
I'm trying to memorize the US State abbreviations for Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri and Montana. I always get mixed up between them!
@UKGuy I remember when I moved to Pa between 7th and 8th grade one of the first things we had to do was memorize the states in alphabetical order. Here it is 38 years later and I can still remember those states in order but I can’t tell you the name of my new neighbor I met 2 weeks ago. ?
I really wish any of you that are cooking at the moment you read this not post what you are making because it makes me want to cook nonstop. @Sideon I have had Brussels sprouts 2x since your post, once with garlic and Parmesan cheese, the other baked with butter and Asiago cheese. Cooked carrots are my favorite. My kids loved these but I baked carrots and sprinkled A1 sauce and pepper on them, I LOVED these! I didn’t use the tiny ones I used the whole ones and didn’t take skin off but washed good and cut ends off and I def don’t use garlic in my mashed potatoes @Catloaf I have never made banana bread but I did read to let the bananas get really ripe before you make it so I already got those. I need walnuts and hopefully the bread turns out.
I start a new diet every Monday and by Tuesday I say I’ll start next week ?
It is snowing here right now. The forecast is for 8 to 12 inches by morning, which I kind of doubt, but I hire a guy to do snow removal. I think so far we’ve had 3-4 inches but the snow people are cleaning my drive right now, so that if we really do get nearly a foot of snow, it won’t be so difficult to manage. My dogs are going crazy with all the activity outside, so I’m trying to distract them to keep them calm. This is fairly early in the season for enough snow to shovel to fall here, I just hope it’s not an indication of what winter will be like.
I'm actually working a homecare nursing case the first of 3 consecutive sixteen shifts, 3p. to 7am. My pt is a very nice and very alert and oriented dependent adult who gets 24hr coverage. So I'm on and off CC site alot. So many interesting women, so many interesting faces and profiles. I just messaged and got a reply from someone who made me Smile ... notice my username is "Smilealot" I asked her if my Blackness was as a problem or obstacle? Her response was "No" "I'm not a racist" and "I do not create humans" Her reply was forthright,direct, cute and refreshing for me and has opened the door for us to push past the initial intros.Think about it after so many months or longer of facing a drought of no interests, no replys or responses no hits,etc... a person like myself may begin to ask or wonder about that very question ! Thank God I asked the question and Thank God for that favorable response! Oh, I'm nurse, a natural nurturer and lover of all people. I work very hard and play hard hence cuddling is a great restorer of health and balance. I'm very wholistic, and believe in a plant-based diet for over 30 years. Open to chat, meet and greet in public with anyone who wants companionship, friendship or a connection easily up to 50 or more miles in distance ! PEACE! SMILEALOT
@smilealot I am curious if you have your picture showing why would you ask if she was ok with your blackness?
I see you’ve been on since Nov 2016 I think it was. How many people have you messaged? I live an hour and a half from you, yes outside of your 50 mile radius but my profile clearly states I travel. If you limit your search to a 50 mile radius yes you probably will have a hard time finding a cuddler but it is because of distance, not your color. Pro’s don’t differentiate or discriminate any color, race, ethnicity, sexual preference, etc. if they do then they are not a pro.
@hogboblin every time I come to this page I always scroll past your post about you and your neighbors! Just how are they this week? ?