Social Gathering/Off Topic Thread

[DeltaBadhand]

But, on a happier note...

We've been (slowly) doing our spring cleaning. Yesterday, I brought four boxes full of video games and dvds to the Youth Center where I used to work, including old an PS2, XBox, and Gamecube (my girlfriend is SUCH a packrat; omg my living looks so good now).

My old boss just lost it. She couldn't believe how much stuff they were getting. I didn't have the best relationship with her, but I loved the kids at the center, and it was such a great moment.

That's sweet. I wish there was an equivalent place where I live, but I can't locate anything like for young folks. Maybe I am looking in the wrong places.

Anyway, Ceridwen, that's very kind of you. You seem to be an awesome person in general from what we read here.

[RockinRobin182]

That wasn't fear mongering at all. That was RATIONAL and actually explained well, not just a juvenile alarmist reaction.

Why, thank you.

I'm sorry to hear that, RockinRobin. I hope, ultimately, that's not the case. Or that his overall medical coverage will become less expensive, so that it will balance out.

This isn't directed specifically at you, but here's another informative article, breaking down the facts of the reform....
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-me...h-care-reform/

Thanks for your support. We've been going over the numbers/the bill, and there's a chance of the coverage increasing in price by 40%. That's worst case scenario though, so we're staying optimistic.

Interesting article. I did know the info in it though, but others may not have, so it's probably a good idea that you posted it.

[DeltaBadhand]

Toward the end, he didn't have much support. But there was a definite "thou shall not speak ill of President Bush" vibe for quite a number of years, and he got away with things that no president should ever get away with.




I'm sorry to hear that, RockinRobin. I hope, ultimately, that's not the case. Or that his overall medical coverage will become less expensive, so that it will balance out.

This isn't directed specifically at you, but here's another informative article, breaking down the facts of the reform....
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-me...h-care-reform/

I just saw the site mentioned on MSNBC within the past hour and came here to post it, it seems to be good info so thanks for sharing.

[Ceridwen]

That's sweet. I wish there was an equivalent place where I live, but I can't locate anything like for young folks. Maybe I am looking in the wrong places.

Whereabouts do you live? (You don't have to answer if it's too personal.) I tend to be pretty good at finding resources for folks.

How's everything else with you?

Crazy up and down. I don't know if I've mentioned that I live with insomnia, but last week I finally got on a sleep aid that not only worked, but didn't make me feel bad when I woke up.

And after a week on it, I had something happen, which I'm not gonna talk about in public but it was terrifying, and it might have been a side-effect of the drugs. Stopped taking it over the weekend (and, like magic, back to not sleeping), and went to the doctor today for tests. She says it's very weird for it to be from the drugs, so hopefully I can take them again once the tests come back.

Almost done with the comic! Though, like I said last night, I lost three hours work on it and I've been too busy with other stuff to go back to it. But still, almost!

[DeltaBadhand]

I live in Philadelphia. Not personal at all.

[Ceridwen]

I live in Philadelphia. Not personal at all.

Well, if you're between fourteen and twenty-one (or know a queer youth between those ages who needs a community space) there's The Attic. I don't know anyone who works there (so I can't make a recommendation for or against), but the center is there at least if it's needed.

Edited to add: I will say this. OMG, they are so much better staffed than we were. The youth center I worked for had my boss (who was an addictions counselor; her background wasn't youth specific), a part-time employee without qualifications, and me, an AmeriCorps member similarly without professional qualifications. There's an internship for MSW students there now (I think it's MSW, anyway, some social field), but that started after I left.

[DeltaBadhand]

I lived across the street from the Attic for about 6 years when I was in my late 20s. When I would come home from work, the kids would be hanging out front and when I walked up to my door and pulled out my keys, they would yell across the street in a sing song chorus,

"Good Evening Mr. Homosexual," which cracked me up!

How did I forget about that place?! I see the from site that they have moved. I'm in my 40s now, but I will make a call and see what they need. Thanks!

[Ceridwen]

Thanks!

Hee, told you I was good.

The moment you said "Philadelphia" I was like, omg, this one's gonna be easy. I've spent a lot of time trying to dig up resources for, say, trans youth living in rural upstate New York, or (after a piece I wrote picked up some national attention) making referrals to resources in towns I've never even heard of, in states I may never even get to visit.

My Google-fu is strong.

[aegisbearer]

Guys, this thread is for OT threads and chat. Please keep the OT threads off the main forum. I'll just keep moving them here.

Aegis

[Ceridwen]

Guys, this thread is for OT threads and chat. Please keep the OT threads off the main forum. I'll just keep moving them here.

Aegis

So, omg, I saw this comment and my immediate thought was "Oh, shit, we've gone too off-topic for even the off-topic thread!"

Then I re-read it and calmed down.

Then I posted this play-by-play of my off-topic thought process.

[trypr]

^^

Still, it'd be handy if people could post directly here instead of elsewhere, if only for the sake of some thread consistency ^.-

Anyhow, I thought I'd drop a note that my computer died on Sunday (I'm borrowing a laptop atm). I've no idea when I'm going to be able to have a substitute up and running: I'm moving flats atm so the timing is unfortunate :s

This means I won't be posting often in the near future. It might be for a week or two if it's an (affordable) component issue or longer if not.

All the best. Julia :)

[MadJohnFinn]

^^

Still, it'd be handy if people could post directly here instead of elsewhere, if only for the sake of some thread consistency ^.-

Anyhow, I thought I'd drop a note that my computer died on Sunday (I'm borrowing a laptop atm). I've no idea when I'm going to be able to have a substitute up and running: I'm moving flats atm so the timing is unfortunate :s

This means I won't be posting often in the near future. It might be for a week or two if it's an (affordable) component issue or longer if not.

All the best. Julia :)

Argh! That's bad news, Julia. And perfect timing on your computer's part (don't they always have a great sense of timing?).

Wish I was a bit closer, so I could offer some practical help, but I'll happily offer my services if you want to do a bit of remote trouble-shooting. About time my status as IT Guy came in useful!

[Ceridwen]

I spent the last of my birthday money the other day, and bought my first blu-ray movies. I got the new Star Trek and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Haven't watched the latter yet (though I've seen it before, back when I had Turner Classic Movies), but omg, Star Trek was such a great movie, and so pretty.

Also, cuz I'm a total nerd, I added a link to my movie collection in my signature. I love movies; I've been collecting dvds for ten years now (only my general lack of funds and the need to do spring cleaning every so often has kept that from getting completely out of control), plus I minored in film studies in college, and it's really, really amazing for me (coming out of the days of VHS as a kid) to be able to have that movie theater kind of experience at home.

[Free-Man]

I spent the last of my birthday money the other day, and bought my first blu-ray movies. I got the new Star Trek and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Haven't watched the latter yet (though I've seen it before, back when I had Turner Classic Movies), but omg, Star Trek was such a great movie, and so pretty.

Also, cuz I'm a total nerd, I added a link to my movie collection in my signature. I love movies; I've been collecting dvds for ten years now (only my general lack of funds and the need to do spring cleaning every so often has kept that from getting completely out of control), plus I minored in film studies in college, and it's really, really amazing for me (coming out of the days of VHS as a kid) to be able to have that movie theater kind of experience at home.

That's so awesome. Do ya have a bluray or a PS3?

[Ceridwen]

That's so awesome. Do ya have a bluray or a PS3?

My girlfriend got a PS3 for her birthday, which from what I hear is actually one of the best blu-ray players on the market. Plus, y'know, it plays video games. Actually, it does a lot of stuff; like, we hooked it up to our internet and we can do Netflix on it, or stream movies and music that are on our computers to it. It's a pretty awesome little machine.

Okay, weird tangent, but y'know what I hate? Feeling guilty about being unemployed. Like, it took me two days to say "Oh hey, I got something cool that makes me happy" because I'm all like "They know I don't have a job, omg, now they're gonna know I spent money on something frivolous when I don't have an income." Part of it is, omg, guilt complex thanks mom, but there's also this whole ugly culture about, like, unemployment and you're not contributing and BOOTSTRAPS and blah blah blah. Just tired of it America, if you really want me to succeed stop rewarding the people who stashed all of their money into tax shelters instead of reinvesting it in American jobs and social programs.

Anyway, the director of the program I want to work for emailed me personally because he heard really good things about my work and wanted me to send him my resume directly. So that's potentially really fantastic news!