October 2021 Chat Thread

[Bean]

3/4 of the way through 2021 already!

Am I right in thinking someone has a special birthday coming up this month?!

[3piggles]

We're in 'ber' month number 2 already! Can you believe that.

My birthday is this month, and I'll be turning 70. I feel a lot younger than that, though that's mostly about perspective. I've felt much older than that in the past, so glad to be able to feel younger about it I don't really want anything for my birthday, so I'll settle for decent weather and a chance to grill some good food

My birthday weekend used to be the height of the foliage season around us, up in the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. Now I'm not sure where to go to get the best foliage. Going to have to do some research on that!

Our wedding anniversary is on 10/27, which we did purposely to have a Fall Foliage wedding. We did. It was great that year

[Bean]

Glad you're welcoming your milestone birthday and feeling good about where you are! With a birthday and anniversary to celebrate and the leaves turning, it sounds like a jolly good month is ahead.

Oh and Halloween - got a good costume planned, Baz?!

[3piggles]

Ooh, that's right! Baz does Halloween big time Can't wait to see your costume for this year

Yes, I'm in a good place, and I've never felt strongly about birthdays. Once I was old enough to drive, vote and drink, I had done all the major birthdays. I never thought of turning a certain age as being old, but I had a friend who bottomed out emotionally over turning 30. I do think, as long as the person is still enjoying life, that living to be an extreme age, over 100, is worth celebrating. Every year, because we never know if we'll have next year, at that age.

[bazookagoof]

Unlikely to have any costumes this year- there are no parties planned (at least not ones I'd be willing to attend)  so I'll just sit by the door and admire the neighborhood kids' outfits. If we do get out of this pandemic maybe I'll look into a new one next year. This will give me time to save up.

[Bean]

Oh gawd, I completely forgot about the pandemic when I asked about the usual parties! Mind you, going out and about round here, it's easy to forget it's not over.

My only reservation about turning 50 (I have a few years yet!) is that other people will think it warrants fanfare and I'll have to spoil their fun! But maybe my personality will completely change in the next few years and I'll actually end up itching for a big party in my honour?!

[3piggles]

I wanted birthday parties when I was a kid, and got one, once. It was okay, but my mother went into her martyr routine afterward, so it was obvious it wasn't going to happen, again. Birthdays were always just going out to eat, and getting some gifts. I'd rather stay home and eat, and if I get a gift, I'd like it to be well thought out, and something I want, not just everyone getting me something, and me having to write thank you notes for things I totally tossed as soon as I got them. I'd rather keep it simple. We've had some great birthday meals at home, probably our best, so figuring out what to get each other is the real problem. I have no problem with not getting a gift, or with getting something I need, something useful, like a new set of dish towels.

My only birthday issue is that hubby's sister calls. She's a wonderful person, but she can talk... With my ADHD I lose interest quickly, and end up having to make excuses to end the call early. Then I feel guilty, so I really wish she wouldn't call. No way am I ever going to tell her that, so this year I'll probably use the "I've got another call coming in," excuse.

My mother and I had a signal for when one of my school friends called and talked endlessly. I'd make a patting motion, and my mother would knock on something to make the dog bark. I'd say I had to answer the door, and end the call. Never been a long phone talker.

[Bean]

At least if your sister in law calls on your birthday, you've got many perfect excuses for tying up the call a bit sooner! If your husband's on board with it, maybe he can play mother and help create a distraction you simply have to attend to?!

[3piggles]

It was easier with a barking dog, lol I'm sure we can work out something She really is a lovely person, she just loves to talk. Today is her birthday, and hubby will call her tonight. He'll be on the phone for at least an hour. I can't even sit still that long!

Warm weather is back, but it's not hot weather. Balmy, lite breeze, very nice. Running the ceiling fans, and doubt we'll need anything else :)Supposed to be this way through Friday, not even super cold overnight. I love the years when the season merge into each other as they're supposed to, instead of being 85F until mid November, when we get 4 feet of snow. I'll enjoy it while I can

[bazookagoof]

Weather over here has been wonderful. I still don't need a jacket to go to work. I only wore one once a few weeks back, but now it's too warm. not that it's 80 degrees, but upper 60's in the morning is good enough for me.

[3piggles]

We're cooling overnight, but warming up during the day. We're in a warm streak with daytime temps in the 70s, but I think it's supposed to cool back into the 60s daytime, and 40s nighttime.

[Bean]

We're having a very mild, almost warm, spell too. I'm hoping to get a few garden jobs done later - get those bulbs planted in the lawn, deep enough so that the squirrels don't get them all!

3piggles, you'd think with your sister-in-law's birthday being only a couple of weeks before yours, that your birthday call would end up being a bit shorter as you've only just shared all your news! But I know some people just love to talk! It sounds like she has a great energy about her, even if a time limit would be welcomed!

[3piggles]

Hubby and I never talked to each others families, so he talked to her on her birthday, and she calls to talk to me, on my birthday. I would have loved to fob off my mother on hubby, but he wouldn't have any part of that. Hmmm? Wonder why? So I don't talk to her on her birthday. I send her a happy birthday message, and I'm fine with her sending me one, on Facebook. I really don't need the call.

We're morning people, getting up at 4:30 a.m., so by TV time at night, we're winding down and falling asleep. Makes it even harder to keep up my side of a conversation, when I'm getting sleepy Cold front coming through tonight, so hopefully it will be cool enough overnight for me to get some sleep. I've gotten about 3 hours a night for the last 3 nights. It's catching up with me. I'm getting goofy

[Bean]

Emails (or other ways of messaging) and certainly a convenient way to let someone know you're thinking of them without it taking up too much time or potentially interrupting someone (whether they're actively doing something or purposely winding down).

Let us know how you got on with the chat! And I hope last night brought a bit more sleep for you.

[3piggles]

She didn't call, so no problem She's a really sweet person, and I love her dearly, but I'm not good at talking on the phone. Jo and I discussed that on here several times over the years. I'd love to have the conversation with her in person, but not on the phone. My interest seems to wander, when I can't see the person who's talking, and read them. We need to use one of those talk programs where we can see the people.

[Bean]

Oh yes, that could work better for you. I know some people who use Skype etc routinely when they're catching up with someone, but it's never been something I've thought to do. I quite like being able to gaze out of the window at the the birds and squirrels if someone's harping on and my input isn't really required!

[3piggles]

I used to Skype with a friend in Belgium, but haven't in years. It would be nice to do with daughter and family at Christmas, too, though the volume of talk in that house is hard to hear over at the best of times. I don't need a birthday call, but it might be nice to connect with my SiL at Christmas time, or to wish them a happy new year.

[rustypete]

Not got many plans. I don’t really celebrate Halloween although am looking forward to the new series of Doctor Who.
But apart from that my months been average.

[3piggles]

Trick or Treat is big in the US, and at our last house, a condo in a big condo complex, we used to sit out on the front step and great the Trick or Treaters, many of whom had fabulous costumes. Now we're in a 55 and older community, so if we buy Halloween candy, we eat it, lol

Our wedding anniversary is the 27th, so October is more eventful than most months, for us. Otherwise, we're just going about our regular business

[Bean]

I doubt we'll do much for Halloween now the kids are older. Plus we rarely get trick or treaters.

Bonfire Night is more widely popular over here. This year there's been more talk of places not doing firework displays because of the effect it has on wildlife, and some people of course. Add in some people not wanting to organise things where people will gather on mass while covid rates are high. And we've been warned that imports of fireworks have been scuppered by the shortage of HGV drivers too (there are already plenty of people letting fireworks off, so I'm not sure how significant that will be!).

If we do anything it'll just be getting our fire pit going, possibly throwing a few potatoes and sausages on it, and maybe having a few sparklers, so none of that will make a difference to us.