Friday Randomness
I don’t know this dog’s name, just that she’s a sweet darling girl, and if she is outside when I walk by her house, she comes running over and wags her tail like crazy, hoping for pets. I rarely pet her, she’s a little mouthy and I don’t like being nipped, but she clearly just wants to love the world. She and Mulder were friends, he would pull like crazy when we got close to her house, hoping she would be outside, and they would wag and wiggle and squirm and make darling noises through the fence. I think they would have loved to be playmates. As I said, I don’t know her name, but I’m calling her Penny. Or perhaps Daisy.
Irregardless
I saw this post on Facebook the other day, and stupidly dived in to the comments. Half of the people are convinced it’s ’he has another thing coming’, which makes absolutely no sense. The other half call the first half stupid. One person said that the meaning has changed over the years with usage, which reminds me of how often I hear people say ‘I could care less’ instead of ‘I couldn’t care less’, and how it is like fingernails on a chalkboard for me, but also it is now accepted because it happens.
Public Service Announcement
The other day I spoke to a woman I know who has had a rough couple of years. Her husband had several complicated medical issues, which had them driving 4 to 5 hours each way to see specialists a couple of times a week. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and went through treatment for that. As she came through that and her cancer went into remission, her husband died quite suddenly. More recently she has been suffering horrible memory issues, to the point where she made an appointment with a doctor to test her for dementia/Alzheimer’s disease. An example she gave me was that she would withdraw money from the bank, forget she had done so, and go to withdraw money again. OK, relatable maybe, but she said even when she would look in her purse and see the cash, she wouldn’t put 2+2 together and realize or remember she had already done this. It turns out that the Ambien she was prescribed to help her sleep after her husband died was causing this issue. Her doctor gave her another prescription for another sleep aid (I don’t remember the name of it, it started with a T) which ALSO causes confusion and memory issues. Once she got off of these drugs, her issues resolved completely. Just a warning if you are prescribed a sleep aid.
The other day I found myself wasting time reading this article about how to make the best tasting coffee, which is funny only because I rarely drink coffee. I like coffee, but too much of it hurts my stomach (like I thought I had an ulcer when I was drinking about 3 cups a week.) Ted and Maya both drink coffee though. Ted uses a French press, and Maya uses a Nespresso that was gifted to us several years ago. The article rates different methods from worst to best. Worst was the standard drip coffee machine, and the three best were Moka pot, pourover, and AeroPress. I had never heard of an AeroPress before. It’s basically a French press but uses a seal and air pressure to push the liquid through the grounds, which supposedly gives you a less bitter coffee, as the water is not in contact with the grounds as long. Does Ted need an AeroPress? Hmmm.
One Thing a Day
Decluttering is pretty easy when you’re giving away a crockpot cookbook that you’ve never used, and you don’t even own a crockpot. It’s more difficult when you’re giving away dresses that you really liked, and that used to make you feel pretty. I have kept these dresses because I loved them, but when going through my closet, I realized that even if they suddenly fit me, I doubt I would wear them now. I was in my mid 30s/early 40s when I bought them, and I’m almost 60 now. The good news is that Maya wanted the one on the right, and my nieces want the other three. That makes me feel a lot better about it. Another thing I like is having pictures to remember…I don’t have any of the floral dress, but I have the other three.
Here we are in summer of 2001, at my sister Maya’s wedding. The wedding was at the Oregon coast, at the school where her husband worked at the time. I used to love Ann Taylor, which is where I got both this dress and the floral one.
At my sister Melissa’s wedding in early 2002. Maya was a flower girl. There are better quality pictures than this Polaroid, but I like it. This is a Betsey Johnson dress, and has a fringe of beads around the hem. So fun. I’m glad that Maya wanted to keep this one.
At my beautiful friend Cherry’s wedding in 2007. I guess I’m 41 here. I loved this dress, and I was glad I got to pick my own dress to be her bridesmaid (matron of honor I guess, as it was just me, and I was definitely married.) Look at my short hair!
Vacation Vibe
The great news is that I will be delivering the dresses to my nieces in person, because we’re spending this weekend in Portland! We just decided a couple of weeks ago that we would go up if we could find a time when all of my nieces and nephews would be in town (3 of the 4 are in college), and happily, we found a weekend that works. So we’re flying up today, flying home on Monday. Ted and Maya haven’t been to Portland since we scattered my father’s ashes in 2021 (he died in 2017, but we weren’t ready for a while), though I went up in 2023 when my step-mom’s partner of 2 years died. Partnering up is kind of risky as you get older, but she’s resilient and has a new(ish) man in her life, whom we are looking forward to meeting this weekend. We don’t have a lot of plans besides a trip to Powell’s and visit with family. They have beautiful Japanese gardens there, there is always Forest Park for hiking (though I’m not sure we will bring hiking clothes), there is a good art museum…what else? Time will tell!
Any exciting travel plans? What method do you prefer for making your coffee? Do you say ‘another think coming’, like me? Or ‘another thing coming’, like Judas Priest? (I always assumed he was singing ‘another think’, actually.)
44 Comments
nance
Sigh. I fight for correct idiom usage with my last breath always. Wrongness should not cause acceptance and eventual pseudo-correctness. Of course it’s “another thinK coming.” It makes perfect sense and completes the parallel structure. Those of us that know better should continue to say/do better and Be The Change We Wish To See. Fight On, Julie!
I love the Betsey Johnson dress the most, and I’m glad that Maya is giving it a second life. If I did not have old ladyish arms, I’d wear it myself.
As far as coffee, I love it but have to drink decaf. Caffeine makes me terribly jittery and shaky. I have been using the same drip coffee maker for about 100 years now, once refurbished by Rick, and it’s like my Maytag washing machine: if something every happens to it, I don’t know what I’ll do. Let’s not even talk anymore about it.
J
Old lady arms are my reason for giving these dresses away. Went to Portland and my stepmom has the best arms of ANYONE there, including the teens, which is WOW. But she taught yoga for 50+ years and probably still practices 2 hours a day, so there’s that.
Ally Bean
I don’t know why that “think/thing” has suddenly infiltrated my world, but it has. I hear it, both ways, frequently but try to not let it gripe my grits. ‘Tis difficult, but is part of my Letting Things Go philosophy. Must. rise. above.
I’m a “not really into abstract art” person according to the coffee graphic. Maybe true.
Enjoy your weekend in Portland. It sounds wonderful for many reasons.
J
Interesting that the think/thing is hitting you too! Really, I go back to Judas Priest, but even then I hear it wrong.
AC
I say ‘thing’ because I always have, but ‘think’ makes sense.
I probably still say “I could care less” even though I lknow better because it was how we said it back then, and I am preverse.
J
LOL, wrong on both counts, but it’s OK. We’re all wrong sometimes, right?
Lisa's Yarns
I am glad you can pass your dresses along to the younger generation! It’s easier to let go of things, I think, when you know they will be put to use by others. I love that red dress in particular!
I am a drip coffee user and “not into abstract art” is so accurate. I am more particular about creamer than I am about the quality of the coffee since I’m not drinking it black. I do grind my own beans which I think makes a difference but I prob couldn’t tell the difference in a blind taste test!
Have the best time in Portland! I love love love Powells! I have a really cute shirt from there that I wore for my “Girls gone mild” bachelorette party (we stayed in, made dinner and drinks, and played games). I got it probably 10 years ago so it doesn’t really fit me anymore since my body has changed and I don’t like wearing a clingy shirt. I should get a new one.
J
Letting those dresses go was definitely easier knowing they would go to loved ones!
We did drip coffee (well, my husband did. I don’t drink coffee) for decades. He moved on to French Press and loves it. We also have a Nespresso that our daughter uses. Ted grinds his own beans daily, probably that is a bigger difference than anything else.
Laughing at your taste test comment. I am so picky about quite a few things, but then wonder if I could tell the difference and probably the answer is no. (I don’t like to freeze meat. I like certain eggs. I like certain Orange Juice (OK, that one I definitely can tell)), I like certain teas.
Sarah
The coffee picture made me LOL. I love pur over the most AND read my New Yorker LOL. I also have a chemex, but the description made me snort.
J
Oh, Chemex AND a single serve pour over? NICE,
Kat
Until this moment, I actually had no idea the original/correct term was “think” (this is especially concerning/mortifying as a person who edits text for a living and has a degree in, erm, English, ha). So thank you for educating me! In my mind, the “(an)other thing coming,” was like, a swat on the backside, or something of that nature–I always perceived the phrase as a jokey “threat” because someone has an incorrect or objectionable thought/belief. The dresses and pictures are gorgeous! I know what you mean about feeling some wistfulness looking at clothes that once were favorites but don’t quite work anymore. Nice you can pass them on. Have a wonderful trip!
J
I suspect you are absolutely right about what ‘another thing coming’ has come to mean!
Elisabeth
I would automatically have said “thing” so this really made me…think – pun intended.
Hooray for downsizing, hooray for other people giving new life to old clothes, and WOW. You look stunning in that red dress!!! You look gorgeous in all of the dresses, but that red one suits you so perfectly. I can’t wear bright red but you could be the poster child (proverbially speaking) for red dresses. I hope you get to see pictures of your nieces wearing the dresses out and about, and of course seeing Maya in her dress in person.
Safe travels!!
J
Oh goodness, thank you for your compliments regarding my red dress! I wore it to another wedding after this one, but probably I’ve only worn it twice. Sad for a 24 year old dress, I hope my niece wears it!
Nicole MacPherson
First of all, J, I so feel the thing about the dresses. I had this exact same thing when I purged my closet in the fall. It was one thing to get rid of all my jeans. It was quite another to get rid of all those beautiful black dresses that I had and loved. I felt so beautiful in them! And wow did I not feel beautiful when I tried them on in the purge. Ai-yi-yi. To be honest with you, I had a period of mourning for them. I just loved them so much and they saw me through so many lovely occasions. Well. I bought new dresses that also make me feel beautiful and hopefully I won’t have to go through this every year.
“another thing coming” is irritating but not as much as “she should OF” instead of “she should have.” WHOPS. (I think whops all the time now, so I appreciate you bringing that microjoy to my life. I hope you are also swampled.)
In terms of coffee, I brew myself an entire pot every single morning in my drip (so, number 1) (it’s true, I’m not really into abstract art). There are complaints about the weakness of my coffee. But I just like drinking a lot of coffee!
Oh my goodness, that poor woman. What a rough go.
J
WHOPS! Thank you for that.
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and don’t know about heels on my feet anymore, and for my body, heels and dresses go together. Wondering if this means I will get rid of all of my dresses? Likely, it’s been over a decade since I’ve worn any of them. Thanks for your kind support.
Birchie
I only know a world where it’s “another think coming”, but I’m not offended by “another thing coming”. I remember getting taken to task by an English teacher over could/couldn’t care less at one point.
Team Drip! The coffee tastes just fine, and there is no need to fix what’s not broken. I have a pourover filter for travel, because I can’t count on the place where I’m staying to (1) have a regular coffee maker or (2) if they do for anyone to have cleaned it so the coffee tastes funky. LOOK I CAN ONLY HAVE ONE CUP OF COFFEE A DAY AND I JUST NEED IT TO BE “MY’ COFFEE OKAY???????
When I did the big closet purge I held on to my dresses for the longest time, and it was definitely for the memories. Eventually I had the same ephiphany that you did that even if they fit I would never wear them since my tastes have changed. I also remembered some flaws in dresses that I loved, such as the little green sundress that always gave me VPL. I was willing to pretend that it didn’t when I was in my 30s, but now I am older and wiser.
Enjoy Portland! I’m hoping to go both there and to Seattle next year, so I am jealous even though I’m in “don’t get mad get even” mode. THIS TIME NEXT WEEK I WILL BE WITH NICOLE!!!!
J
I will post about this, but I thought of you in the airports. Here is why.
We flew out of SFO – International terminal (Why? WHO KNOWS) and it is a very meh terminal and I think it has been DECADES since I have flown from any other because we usually fly Oakland, so I was surprised when you said that SFO was a great airport.
We flew in to PDX, which is truly a wonderful airport. Beautiful art and lighting and restaurants and shops and things to do. It consistently rates at the very top of US airports.
PLOT TWIST – when we returned, we were in terminal 1, and it was great! So much to see! I would not have minded being stuck there for a few hours.
LOL – VPL.
San
Oh, I am happy to hear other native speakers also thought it was “another thing”… because that’s definitely what I thought was right… but I was going to play the ‘I am not a native speaker’- card here (because I don’t think I’ve ever seen this phrase ever written out).
I’ve been using a pourover (Chemex) for years but have recently also used a drip coffee maker again (which has a timer AND it’s a fancy European one with the “gold standard” setting and it also makes single cups (without pods!) and full pots and hot water and cold brew… so… it feels like a pretty good coffee maker to me :)). I also like French Press on occasion.
I love those dresses, especially the right one (and I am glad Maya wants to wear it!). It looked fantastic on you (and so did the others!)
J
So many ways to drink coffee, right? Well, so many ways to MAKE coffee. And I’m surprised at how many people hear “another thing coming” and likely you hear it because THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
Thanks on the dresses, I loved them all.
Anne
And now I need to text San about this do-everything coffeemaker… LOL. Drinking instant right now. Aeropress was good but I have arm strength issues and it made it too difficult so had to get rid of it. I have a French press but cleaning out the grinds is a pain. So now I’ve been thinking of pour-over. I am, apparently, agnostic in terms of HOW I get the caffeine – it just needs to be easy, and the coffee needs to be strong. 🙂
J
San’s coffeemaker sounds amazing, right? Pour over is kind of the opposite I think, so low tech. And hey, if instant works for you, why mess with it? I’m not much of a coffee drinker, so have no opinion.
Margaret
I’ve never heard thing and would go a little nuts if I did. It doesn’t make a lick of sense! Love the dresses and that Maya wants to keep one. That dog looks quite energetic and eager to socialize! My older daughter and family will also be in Portland this weekend visiting her good friend who lives there. I have a Krups that does drip on the right and espresso on the left. So, I can’t be categorized! I do use the espresso side though.
J
I have heard ‘thing’ for years but always assumed they were saying ‘think’. So there’s that kind of bias I guess. We have a Nespresso and occasionally I have a latte and I love it.
PocoBrat
J, I’m so glad that all those gorgeous dresses will go to people you love and who love you.
That beaded fringe is a stunning detail on that velvet dress and I’m glad that one’s going to be Maya’s…
(Of course, it’s “another think.” I first encountered it in a book as kid (Enid Blyton?) so that was easy for me.)
And the pictures of you were a nice bonus!
J
Thank you Maya! That was my favorite dress too, and I hope my Maya wears it. I felt so amazing in it. And when I look back, goodness, I was young!
Suzanne
Oooooh those dresses are gorgeous, and you look gorgeous in each of them — thank you for sharing the photos! How wonderful that they will get out of YOUR closet but into the closets of people you love?
My husband has all of the coffee tools you list and maybe more. He LOVES his Aeropress, so I think you should get Ted one, if he likes that kind of thing.
I am all for language evolving over time, but I do feel exasperated when it evolves into things that make less sense. Ugh. Another THINK makes sense, as does I could NOT care less. Sigh. Probably there are phrases that I use incorrectly without knowing it though, so I should let it go.
J
Wait, HE HAS ALL OF THEM? He is a true coffee aficionado! We have a French press and a Nespresso and I think that’s it.
Also, yeah, I am OK with a living, changing language, but I don’t want it to devolve into nothingness.
Daria
How about instant coffee drinkers? We are not included?! LOL we are chopped liver 🙁 lol
I loved seeing pictures of dresses, such great memories. I was never a bridesmaid or a maid of honor. I had/have ONE very good friend, but she never married. then moved to Poland. The rest of my sister friends got married wayy before we met.
J
I’ve never tried instant coffee, but I suspect you would be ridiculed for sure.
I’ve been a bridesmaid several times, and the dresses are all dumb. I know my BFF felt the dress I picked for her was dumb, but we all do the best we can trying to fit a theme and so on. She looked great in it, so there’s that! It was kind of Jetsons…
Tobia | craftaliciousme
I feel you on the dresses. It is so hard to part with clothing that hols a memory. It is also somewhat stupid. Glad you dresses found ne owners. And that you got pictures as a keep sake.
I am sitting here sipping my somewhat french pressed coffee – only a weekend thing.
Travel plans: just came back from a two day trip to meet Kyria. And will head out for a business trip tomorrow. Other than that not much planned.
J
YAY! You met up with Kyria! I can’t wait to read about it.
Ernie
I don’t drink coffee, but since covid we have a coffee maker in the kitchen. Coach finally caved and admitted that he had been drinking coffee at work. We had both been uninterested in coffee prior to that and I don’t care that he wants coffee. I found it sort of entertaining that he felt lilke he’d failed me when he turned to caffeine. He gets up at like 4:30 am several days a week. I was like, Hey, whatever you need to get you through that.
No big travel plans. We just did a family day at the beach on Wednesday last week – and stayed in the city for dinner and to watch the two city dwelling boys play in a beach volleyball game. Then we watched fireworks at Navy Pier. That was our version of a half day stay-cation. The big kids all have crazy schedules and we like to do a weekend at a beach in MI or something, but Coach and I just did Italy, so we skipped it this summer.
I say another thing coming and have never heard it said any other way. Hmmm.
Love the dress photos from days gone by. I love it when someone else finds a use for something I’m done with. I still have clothes from when I worked as an advancement director at a Catholic school for a few years in like 2012, and Mini adopted most of them into her professional wardrobe for her internship.
J
You travel a lot, it seems to me, though it’s short trips for games.
Melissa
I say thing, but of course think makes more sense. I’m off coffee due to migraines, I want to give it a go again, but feel like I need to time it right, when I don’t have other triggers happening. We have an expresso machine at home and that’s the only type of coffee I usually drink, although I have had coffee from a pod machine.
J
UGH, migraines are the worst, I’m sorry. I get them, but very rarely.
Stephany
Oh no, I’m a “who hurt you” coffee drinker. I’m concerned. HA.
Those dresses are stunning and you looked AMAZING in them. I’m glad they get to have a new life with some family members.
I’ve always wanted to visit Portland, mainly because I want to visit Powell’s! Have the best time!
J
LOL, we are a ‘who hurt you’ household too. I sent this comic to my friend who is big into coffee, and she was very defensive about her ‘who hurt you’ coffee machine. SO WE ARE NOT ALONE.
Thank you regarding the dresses, and Powell’s is worth the trip. SO WONDERFUL.
Diane
I’ve never actually heard of “Another think coming”…. or maybe I have heard people say it, but my brain didn’t take that in because I do very much think it is “thing”. I’m probably going to be petulant about this and keep saying “thing”
Your coffee meme made me laugh, especially since all we have at work are Kuerig machines. I don’t drink coffee myself but I do use the machine for hot chocolate. Otherwise it is tea all the way.
The meme also reminded me of this sign that is posted at the crew coffee machine at one of the theatres I work at:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AlignmentCharts/comments/8i1589/coffee_makers/
How timeless your dresses are! I’m so glad they had happy memories for you and you are now packing them off for other people to have happy memories with!
J
LOL, thank you for sharing that sign, hilarious!
coco
I am nespresso girl… because I am lazy although if I find another method that ensures good quality/coffee shop quality coffee, I’d be happy to switch.
I love that red dress you wore, so pretty! I am saving my dresses for my kids, the older one can already wear most of my clothes. It’s fun to see how others wear my cloth.
J
We enjoy our Nespresso too! Very consistent, which is key.
Jenny
I’m laughing because my husband uses the “geriatric Italian” coffee method, and yes, he is Italian (well- his family at least).
I love all the dresses and I’m glad you can get rid of them but still feel good about it! i hope you’re having a great time, and I want to hear all about it!
J
HA! Geriatric Italian! At least he comes by it honestly, right?