None of my business poll: Did you have a *real job before you were 18? What was it? Did you like it? Did you get paid more than minimum wage? *meaning you had to report income tax (or, rather, your parents did).
No. Babysitting and berry picking were my income sources. Well, wait, I may have started my PT receptionist job a the Real Estate office before I turned 18. Soooooo long ago...
- vicster
I had a job programming a database in dBaseIV the summer of my junior year in high school. I got paid like $0.25/hr more than minimum wage. It was a good experience because it was my first real programming job and basically set the tone for the rest of my career. I was invited to come back the next summer and redo everything I'd done in FoxPro 3.5 for Windows (and got an extra $1/hr).
- Her Lindsay-ness
Yes. I started working a month after my 16th birthday. I worked at a daycare center, which was good because I got to have my sister with me there; otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get a job. I only made minimum wage, which at the atime was $3.25 I think? Hard to remember.
- pea ♥ fierce as a woozle
Yes, no, yes, until minimum wage was raised (so not much more than minimum).
- Alix Whitmire
No. My first real job was after my senior year in high school working in the textbook warehouse for the Board of Education
- Alan Simpson
Yes...several...they were ok...Paper boy, bicycle mechanic, fast food worker, network wiring guy, Air Force grunt...Yes, I got paid more than minimum wage and had to do tax returns.
- Alex Scoble
I worked for the Arlington County Public Library for a period while I was in high school, but I don't think the income was significant enough to be reportable by anyone.
- John E. Bredehoft
Burger Flipper at Hardee's, making $0.05 over the minimum. Good times.
- The Letter M
If you can call Gamestop a real job. I got it when I was 17. I did like it in the beginning but after about a year got tired of it because of the pay and lack of hours, so then I went to Best Buy. Made minimum in the beginning ($5.15 at the time) and got a $0.10 raise after the first of the year. I still filed taxes however and got back a nice amount of money.
- Mathew™ one of a kind
If you call library page (person who puts away books) a real job, I think I did that when I was 16 or 17. I think I got paid minimum wage (can't fully remember). I don't remember filing taxes.
- Kamilah Gill
Yes. At 12 I cleaned the churches windows and helped with janitorial duties. This was a real job as I has to file a tax return and got a little over minimum wage. At 15 I was hired by the school district to help with the computers on campus then also hired to work in the schools theatre where my brother and I ran it for the years we over laped. I continued in the school district after...
more...
- CW™
I made a little over minimum wage for a couple of years working for the NJ State DMV. I worked part time after school Mon-Fri during my freshman and sophomore years of HS. I kinda remember filling out the EZ form... I think. I did not like the job but the people I worked with were okay.
- Jim Hearts FF
Yes, I worked for a summer at Knott's Berry Farm. I served food at one of the little eateries inside the park in Ghost Town. It was minimum wage and fun then but as an adult now, looking back, there were some MAJOR issues ranging from inappropriate male conduct (getting girls into the freezer to kiss them, smacking them on the asses) to theft and an overall lack of care for the employees. We were kids being managed by kids.
- Katie: Witch Of The West
Waffle House, I did earn more than minimum wage with tips and yes, I filed taxes.
- Heather Solos
I worked, but nothing that would have supported me as an independent entity. And part of that is because when you're that age people refuse to pay you the same for a job that they would pay an adult to do it.
- Spidra Webster
I've had real jobs since I was 14, complete with paycheck. First one was at local drycleaners. McDonalds, assistant to a ferrier and a couple of modeling gigs all before I was 18. I loved them all, it taught me independence and discipline.
- jcunwired
"Last year my husband found a great deal on a set of Le Crueset. It was far cheaper than buying the dishes individually. Since I have a smooth top range, I can't use cast iron, but the enameled iron works beautifully. I get most of the benefits without scratching the stove."
- Heather Solos
"When we lived in Minnesota all of the big holidays were taken so we cooked on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas). Sometimes you just have to create your own traditions."
- Heather Solos
What is a ham hock? I love them, and eat them a lot, but I have no idea what part of the pig they are. For all I know, it could be the scrotum, and I just know they taste good in my beans and greens.
"I try to stick with glass, white, or red. I know the last one won't always go, but I love it so much that I've been letting myself indulge with a few pieces."
- Heather Solos
If I waited for bad weather, MDV, I'd only eat stew once every three years during an ice storm =D Of course, the downside to that scenario (other than sadly infrequent stew) is that I'd have to cook it on the wood stove.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
"The flavor of these biscotti remind me very much of the pigu that my family makes every year for Easter. While the pigu are sort of a baked ravioli with a cheese and black pepper filling, the flavors are remarkably similar. So much so that I’m gobbling up these biscotti at just as quick a pace as I gobble up pigu the week of Easter. If you’ve never tried a savory biscotti, I urge you to give this recipe a chance and see what you think."
- Derrick
from Bookmarklet
ooooh I adore biscotti, I adore savory. I think this just may be a fantastic marriage of the two.
- Heather Solos
Savory biscotti are wonderful. My nonna used to make really good ones with some kind of herb blend. I'm gonna hafta try these because my mouth? It's already drooling.
- tinypants - Hagitha of FF
It was about 8 overdue books and 2 CDs. But the last two books, it took a week to find, then I kept forgetting to take them to the library. That also (should) include the $20 overdue from the books in May.
- Anika
I love the library. and I do go occasionally. but fines are why I don't. I forget all the time.
- Nathalie, Dreamer of FF
The problem with our library is location. If you miss it, you have to go half a mile past to make a U-turn, then you have to go back another mile to make another U-turn to get to it. But yes, even with the the email and text message alerts to remind me to take the books back, it's hard to remember.
- Anika
Find out if your Library system has a 'amnesty day' or some similar event when you can return overdue books with no penalty.
- Michael R. Bernstein
I doubt LAPL has that and even if they did, I'd probably forget anyway. :) Besides, I returned all the books a couple of weeks ago, this was the final bill I received in the mail.
- Anika
If you didn't return the books and cds, it would have been a whole lot more...:( But seriously, thanks for supporting the library. :)
- Anna Lynn M.
Shoot, I had books due yesterday and I forgot. My problem with the LAPL is they notify too early - they send me an email like four days before things are due. I forget again in those four days. I need one the day before and the day of. Which I used to have through libraryelf.com, until LAPL changed their system a few weeks ago and libraryelf said, sorry, can't support it anymore. Boo.
- Jandy, ConcertMaven of FF
Or I remember when I'm not near a computer. LAPL needs an iPhone app that I can use to renew stuff.
- Jandy, ConcertMaven of FF
See, when I get the first email, I send it to my calendar to remind me the day before and the due date. i get both email and SMS reminders, but I snooze those. Then LAPL doesn't send you another reminder for like a week! It would help if LAPL's site was available on a mobile phone (not just an iPhone).
- Anika
I should remember to do that, but I don't. They should make it so you can connect Google Calendar to your account and it automatically adds due dates to GCal when you check out. And great, just went to check on the status of my probably-overdue books, and it's giving me a 500 error. Seems like about half the time I try to log in something goes wrong.
- Jandy, ConcertMaven of FF
Basically, this is all my own doing. I'm not bitching at the costs and it does help the system. I just want to kick myself.
- Anika
I add it GCal, on the page from the email. Under the "More actions" tab is "Create new event". Put in there and everything is done.
- Anika
i'm all for supporting the library with overdue fines. a few bucks here a few bucks there. that's gotta hurt though.
- sean808080
Good idea, Anika - I forget it's easy to do that from the email. I'll try to start doing that.
- Jandy, ConcertMaven of FF
I no longer feel so bad about my recent $39 fines. So you've done that good deed. ;)
- Heather Solos
Anika, see if you can talk to the circulation supervisor and plead your case. I know you've been going through a lot lately, and sometimes all it takes is talking to the right person to get your fines waived.
- cecily
I doubt it Jason. One of the CD packages I borrowed costs $129.
- Anika
<puts on her librarian glasses>Hey now, seriously, 8 books and 2 CDs (and thank you Anika), one of them at $129 & you are going to get them for cheaper than from a library, for less than $70? Why would you go to Blockbuster and rent a DVD & pay the money up front AND pay fines when you're late when you can at least go to the library & get it for free at the start? Is it that hard to return stuff on time, all you people who hate library fines? Also, yes Anika, what cecily said - go find a nice circ person :)
- Miriella
I don't mind fines. It's my fault I kept the books so long, like I said above, I'll bit the bullet. It's just that right now, that's $70, I really don't have.
- Anika
Hold out 'til Amnesty day! Hey did you see hte latest parks & rec, it's hilarious, portraying the librarians as this kind of cleopatra-like man-eating feminist cult.
- anna sauce
"We've all known the type. Since it's a holiday and sometimes it's just easier to plan ahead for those kind of moments rather than getting worked up."
- Heather Solos
"My issue is that it's not just wheat he wants to avoid, it's potatoes, rice, corn, (which includes all of its derivatives cornmeal, grits etc) We don't eat a lot of pasta, the bread we eat is usually whole grain. We have a pretty diverse diet. My issue is when he goes on the diet the kids don't eat as well because they see he doesn't eat like us."
- Heather Solos
Wow! A parent of one of Harrison's friend actually said "Shes a colored person with a different religion" when talking about a co-worker. My mind blanks in stupification.
At a recent conference social event, a friend of mine sat down at a table with some other librarians, one of whom greeted her with the statement, "Well, you certainly look exotic."
- DJF
Another of my favorites is the person who has to prove she's more aware of diversity because different ethnicities happen to be sitting at the same table.
- Heather Solos
My grandparents say "colored person", too.
- Rochelle
Heather, that goes back to the the weird and awkward ways people manage to mention to me they voted for Obama.
- Anika
My grandma called blacks "purple people" and I distinctly remember accidentally embarrassing the hell out of her when I didn't understand what she meant. I was little and hadn't figured out the whole voice modulation thing.
- Heather Solos
When I was a teen, my parents were looking for a new house when our family grew. We found the PERFECT place and we were all amped about it until the owner/builder says "Yeah, you should love it, another colored family lives down the street." We kept looking for another place.
- EricaJoy
I continuously fight with a friend (?) of mine who can't figure out why calling someone who's Japanese, a "Jap" is offensive. (My apologies for using the term to illustrate my point in advance.)
- Derrick
I about died the other day when my MIL said a lovely anti-semitic phrase.
- Heather Solos
My dad says "Oriental people". I say, "Oh, like the rugs?"
- Rochelle
when I watch the old game shows it boogles my mind sometimes but in the 70s that the way it was ...............sad but true
- VAL D.
When we moved into our house, one of the neighbors came by and said "I heard some colored people were moving in..." I looked shocked and said, "What? Really? When are they moving in?"
- Daenel Vaughn-Tucker
"This one is pretty middle of the road as far as sweetness goes. I've lived in South Carolina almost all of my life and most all of the cornbread I've had is slightly sweet. Heck, almost everyone I know makes Jiffy. (I said almost, now settle down) So I've heard all my life that real Southern cornbread isn't sweet, but I'm almost always served sweet cornbread. My conclusion? People make what they like and say what they want people to hear. :)"
- Heather Solos
"Anything new is intimidating and knowledge is power over that feeling. My husband goes on body building kicks, when he does this he does a modified low carb diet. I think I need a staff to get all the recipes posted in a timely manner. ;) I find the diet annoying because one of the kiddos is pretty tiny and the carb fiend of the bunch. I try to cook meals for everyone but they are on opposite ends of the spectrum in "preference" not need. If it was a need, we'd all be on a gluten free diet. As it is, I shoot the middle."
- Heather Solos
Checking... Nope, I have no contacts with them :( Comcast, Insight, Charter & Time Warner I do. Next time you call them, ask them if they can see signal logs or the flap count on the modem, if they can't then ask (politely if possible) if they can get with a lead tech or a supervisor who can view these logs to try to pinpoint cause of the ongoing issue.
- Tsali, The Native of FF
from fftogo
drove for three hours, then went to bed at 9:30.
- DJF
Had trouble running away from the muggers because I kept floating just enough not to be able to really run, but not enough to fly. ... Oh, you meant the part of the night when I was *awake.* Uh... went to dinner with friends and then hung out for a bit before bed.
- lris
Went to bed early too. Got a lot done yesterday.
- Derrick
Did the early to bed thing, added in a late out of bed and feel better than I have in a while. How about you?
- Heather Solos
they should have a cook book called "Better the Second Day", seems like there is a lot of food that fits in this category....stews, chilis, casseroles...mmmm
- Satan hates Stevie Nicks
Michelle, you can see a picture of it from my dinner last night http://friendfeed.com/akatina... My 'recipe' is on that post as well; it's not really fried, more steamed/sauteed. Still all kinds of tasty though!
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
The thought of the smell of fried cabbage reminds me of my crazy, kid-hating grandmothers house - shudder.
- Alan Simpson
Alan, this doesn't smell at all (well, other than of chicken drippings and pepper!). Boiling cabbage can stink, but this doesn't.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Oh. She must have boiled it then. I've had an aversion to cabbage ever since
- Alan Simpson
I use bacon grease, 'cause uh bacon!
- Heather Solos
LOL! I didn't have any bacon in the house Heather, and the chicken drippings were just sitting there taunting me... Michelle, it's really tasty. Plus 1c of cooked cabbage has almost all of your vitamin K for the day and half of your vitamin C.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
"Until the kids saw the husband snitching from the votives they had left the candy corn alone. Now I'm having to make up for someone's bad example. Heidi from withaz.net did that centerpiece. I'm going to do a post on Monday that breaks it down into its components and variations. :) Congrats on the roast, that's one of those meals that once mastered can be made with so many variations that it never has to feel like the same old thing."
- Heather Solos
I think I have the help I need for tomorrow. It won't be hard work or anything and I'm sure I'll still try to do everything myself for setup. Having extra help once the event starts will hopefully keep my ADD/OCD mind from exploding.
- Don D. Lewis
Glad you found help.I wish I could go, but gotta do the family thing for a couple weeks.I was out too much recently.
- Heather Solos
Even though we're Jewish, we still set up a "holiday tree" because I love the look of Christmas tree. I'm not sure how to do it this year and keep Audrey from pulling the ornaments off. I don't want to buy a baby fence (we have no use for it otherwise). Our tree is 6' tall so putting it on top of a table won't work. Ideas?
put a bunch of presents underneath so she's distracted by those?
- chrisofspades
If you are just worried about the ornaments, you could just decorate the top half of the tree.
- Steve is older than ever
Make paper ornaments or other safe decorations for the bottom half.
- Bruce Lewis
We have always done our tree regardless of the age of our kid and just did our best to keep the little one out. All you really need is to be a diligent watcher and have quick reflexes. ;)
- JA Castillo
I think I'm more concerned with her pulling down the whole tree than pulling individual ornaments off. She's learned to pull up on the couch, coffee table, etc. lately. If she grabs onto a branch of the tree and tries the pull up, the whole thing will tip over on top of her.
- Rochelle
My roommates in college had a Chanukah Shrubbery as they called it (was some box shrub I think they dug up from a garden on campus) because they always wanted a tree but their parents would never buy one.
- Andrew Leyden
Andrew, I've called ours a "Hanukkah hedge" before. :)
- Rochelle
In the past we've attached a string from near the top of the tree to an inconspicuous anchor to reduce the risk of the tree being pulled down.
- Bruce Lewis
Can you weigh down the base so that the tree is more stable?
- Katy S
We did what Bruce did, at the recommendation of our pediatrician. Though we used fishing line, so you couldn't even see it. We tied it at the middle of the trunk and anchored it to our curtain rods. Worked like a charm. And then only put safe ornaments at the bottom of the tree.
- Jen (SquirrelGirl)
3rding Bruce's suggestion. My kids were all in the really grabby toddler stage for Christmas 15 - 18 months. I just gave up on the idea of glass ornaments and went for wooden / metal.
- Heather Solos
Oh no, it won't be Green Eggs and Ham. It'll be some weird cheap paperback (bonus points for Licensed Characters; double bonus points for Underlying Values Of A Previous Generation) that finds its way into your house through unknown means. Er, not that this has happened to us or anything, no, no....
- Catherine Pellegrino
Yeah, I don't mind Green Eggs and Ham. I'm sure he'll find something terrible that he's desperate for me to read to him in the future.
- Meredith
My (now former) brother-in-law chastised me for introducing The Lorax into their home. My niece loved it and wanted to hear it all of the time. Surprisingly, it wasn't the anti-capitalist/pro-environmentalist part he objected to (I don't think he got that - if he did, he would have objected). No, he was upset because the book is too long and he didn't want to read that much.
- Katy S
lol! I can sympathize. ;-) There are a lot of aspects of books that I think of now since I read to a little one that I never considered when I was buying books for my niece and nephew.
- Meredith
Some kids books are obnoxiously long to read over. and. over. I'm seriously tired of One Fish Two Fish
- Heather Solos
I couldn't even get through One Fish Two Fish with my son -- I didn't remember it being so long!
- Meredith
The great thing about One Fish Two Fish is that (like Go, Dog. Go!) it can be read selectively. And also non-linearly, if you have a kid who's into turning pages. I've read both books both ways a LOT.
- Catherine Pellegrino
True, but he just doesn't like to read anyway. Seriously, if it's longer than a paragraph and not in a golf magazine, he doesn't want anything to do with it. Really, considering her age, he should have been happy that his daughter had that long of an attention span. Fortunately, she does like to read (she's in middle school now). Since my sister isn't a big reader, either, "Grandma" and I see this as a success since we were the ones who really encouraged reading for pleasure.
- Katy S
We just finished a section on Make Way for Ducklings as part of my oldest's kindergarten curriculum. I think I'm going to take them all to feed the ducks over the weekend. It's the wrong time of year for ducklings, but all 3 got a kick out of it.
- Heather Solos
Her: I've never heard of sangria made with wine. Me. ??? Her: That must be an LA thing. We make our sangria with vodka here. Me: Okay. I only know that wine is the base and some people add other stuff. Just vodka sounds...strong. Her: [silent for 5 min. I *know* she's googling] Oh, I thought we were talking about margaritas.
There is a reason I tend not to hope on IM. I often get caught in these sorts of conversations with people. OTOH, no one gets to see my "Are you fucking stupid?" face, so I guess I win.
- Anika
I am also rarely on IM, so whenever I do get on people seem to swarm me with their stupid ideas
- Dragon Goldmaple
Tina, yes. There's a LOT more to this conversation and it just got so dumb I was positive she was pulling my chain.
- Anika
Yikes. I could understand if you threw out something like PJ or Stumpjuice . . but Sangria? Margaritas? sheesh
- Heather Solos
The other thing that bothers me about this conversation, is that she's FROM LA. Born and lived 29 years here. She moved to NC 4 years ago and now acts like she's a Southern Belle.
- Anika
She's full of it. We drink all of it and I'm closer to Chahlston than her ;)
- Heather Solos
LOL Heather, she said she only started drinking after she moved. The subsequent conversation made me feel like she was either lying about drinking or just being stupid on purpose. Either way, I had to go and shut down my IM client.
- Anika
The only random IMs I get involve people telling me I should check out their webcam /shudder
- Heather Solos
Oh, this wasn't random. I've known her for almost 10 years now. I'm very picky about who I allow on my IM list. She may be scuttled.
- Anika
If making a margarita with vodka doesn't warrant scuttling, I'm not sure what does...
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
You know...she eventually posted it to Facebook to make sure I was wrong. Her friend in NC: "Lord, girl! If we made it vodka, we'd be DEAD!"
- Anika
Oh and I'm now positive she was thinking of her appletinis.
- Anika
My Spanish friends do use clear liquor in addition to wine and fresh fruit, depending on how much kick they want. Vodka and/or white rum. FYI. How else are you going to get a hundred of your closest friends buzzed?
- Richard ¿digame? Walker
Of course, Richard. I do the same (partial to rum and tequila), but that's not what she was talking about.
- Anika
"They would work very well with savory fillings. For an idea of things to try (and I can't believe I'm suggesting this) stroll down the freezer aisle and look at HotPockets. You could do a broccoli, cheese & chicken or a taco flavored beef w/ cheese, perhaps even shredded pork. If you do use a savory filling, refrigerate and heat in the oven. :-)"
- Heather Solos
I don't care. As long as he/she is a good doctor, the sex doesn't matter to me.
- Holger Eilhard
I prefer having a female doctor. I'm just more comfortable with women in general.
- josh neff, Fun Dip of FF
Dentists have always been male, every other doctor I've ever seen has been female.
- pea ♥ fierce as a woozle
No preference... but historically, I've liked my male doctors more.
- Jen (SquirrelGirl)
does not matter as long as they know what they are doing...................
- VAL D.
I've never had a female doc. Not by choice, it's just kinda worked out that way.
- suzanne
from iPhone
I think my preference for femal doctors started when I went to a male OBGYN who called me into his office (after the exam), slapped a bible on his desk and laid a prepared sermon on me about the sins of premarital sex.
- Shannon
Like many guys, I've had the fantasies about the hot nurses and female doctors, but in all seriousness, I really don't care what sex the doctor is as long as they do a good job
- Ian May
I would rather have a female doctor so that when I need to "turn my head and cough" it would brighten that day
-
Ive had all male dr's all my life .. and recently had to switch to a female Dr .. she's great ...
- johnpiercy
I've only had four doctors all my life actually. All male. The first and third are dead now. The second one got struck off.
- Ian May
Aw man, I read this as "I prefer a sex doctor." The regular kind doesn't seem as fun, no matter what their sexuality is.
- Noah Belson
I ultimately want a good doctor, but I must say that I really like my current doctor (who happens to be female). It's nice when the doctor knows first-hand what it's like to deal with the speculum.
- Katy S
@Shannon - That is AWFUL! I hope you let him know what you thought of that "treatment". Geeze. I prefer female OBGyn because I had a bad experience with the male one I had when I was pregnant. I am currently in need of a GP but my last one was male and I really liked him (he moved his office across town though so I had to quit seeing him). I would probably pick a woman if I have to choose one out of the insurance directory, but I'll take either for a GP if they have a good recommendation.
- Her Lindsay-ness
I'm just happy to have a doctor that will stay at my surgery for more than a few months. Seems every time I get a decent doctor and they get to know me and my particular foibles, they up and move to a different practice. I'm beginning to get a complex :-)
- Slippy "Threadsbane" Lane
I like having a female doctor, my only problem is that I find it hard to discuss certain things with her. Fortunately I can book appointments with one of the male doctors at her office if need be, yay socialized healthcare!
- Chris, Taskerrific Guy
Having lived with both tax-based, and insurance-based healthcare, I know which one I've been most happy with, both for me and my family
- Ian May
With doctors I don't care so much, but I only want a female dentist. Why? Because my mouth doesn't open very wide, and the spaces between my teeth are really tight, and I only want someone with dainty hands mucking about in there.
- cecily
I'd prefer a female GYN as she would be more likely to understand how things "feel" down there. I have a male GP who is as young as my Kid and I think he's great because he's one of the new school who acts as a partner to the patient, not an authority figure. And he is going to outlast me, I hope, and not move on to a fancier practice.
- m9m, Crone of FriendFeed
The last female OBGYN I had wore an engagement ring the size of a golf ball. She double gloved that hand but it still wasn't particularly... Comfortable =/
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
I have no preference. A female gynecologist once told me my periods were bad because I am a redhead. Several years later I saw a male doc for the same symptoms. He immediately suspected endometriosis, a condition that could be improved with surgery, he operated and my life improved drastically. Male, female, I don't care if they are competent.
- Heather Solos
Guy doctors. Female doctors are evil. </hyperbole>
- Anika
I don't think I would care, but I've only ever had a male doc so can't really say for sure.
- Kenton
I've always had male Internists for doctors but the majority of my Ob Gyns have been female. Kind of prefer it that way.
- Bonnie Foster
from iPod
No preference. My GP and OB/GYN are both male.
- Mellissa Jane