Octopus Overlords

dbt1949 wrote:I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to do on Dec 20th of this year.

Feed the goats?

Jaymann wrote:

dbt1949 wrote:I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to do on Dec 20th of this year.

Feed the goats?

See the Hobbit?

Skinypupy wrote:Seeing all the pictures on Facebook from my 20 year HS reunion last night almost makes me wish I had decided to go. Almost.

Just went to mine last night. I enjoyed it. 20 was just right. 10 while I didn't go to it was too close to graduation and was still very cliquish.

coopasonic wrote:Hey, it could have been worse.

Basically, the essence of it was "We cannot afford to keep spending money on all of your hobbies and other crap you buy on impulse. You're going to have to be content with what you have and find free ways to challenge yourself."

Her response? Pretty much "Oh, I know that."

What I had written in response to LordMortis: "It takes a lot of money to keep my wife challenged"

She's one of those people that wants to do everything. Travel, dog sledding, farming (crops, livestock), raising kids, starting businesses, be a stay-at-home mom ... She needs about 40 hours a day to do everything she wants to do, but if you gave her 40 hours she'd take on enough that she'd need 60 hour days. She seems to need to feel overwhelmed by life in order to feel like she's not missing out on it. It's hard sometimes to get her to slow down and relax.

What I've discovered is that the more I help her do anything, the more she takes on - which means I need to help her more with her activities in order to maintain them. What I've learned is to separate myself and make her do everything herself. I love her, but I'm not there to pick up the slack she leaves behind by chasing too many dreams.

She's sometimes irritated that I'm happy with what I have and am not chasing a dozen dreams too - but I have to remind her that I do have everything I've ever wanted and that I am actually happy. Stressing out and being overwhelmed is not how I find happiness.

bb2112 wrote:

Jaymann wrote:

dbt1949 wrote:I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to do on Dec 20th of this year.

Feed the goats?

See the Hobbit?

Cursing the Mayans.

Lee wrote:

Skinypupy wrote:Seeing all the pictures on Facebook from my 20 year HS reunion last night almost makes me wish I had decided to go. Almost.

Seeing the pictures made me really glad I didn't go. I expected most of them to look fat and old. They didn't.

Seeing pictures on Facebook from my 20 year HS reunion last month meant seeing my ex-wife and her circle of friends roughly 150 times over. Everyone is glad I didn't go.

Blackhawk wrote:

Lee wrote:

Skinypupy wrote:Seeing all the pictures on Facebook from my 20 year HS reunion last night almost makes me wish I had decided to go. Almost.

Seeing the pictures made me really glad I didn't go. I expected most of them to look fat and old. They didn't.

Seeing pictures on Facebook from my 20 year HS reunion last month meant seeing my ex-wife and her circle of friends roughly 150 times over. Everyone is glad I didn't go.

Yeah, as far as I'm concerned, Facebook has eliminated the need to actually have reunions. You can lie about how successful and happy you are virtually instead of to people's face. Plus...you know, Photoshop.

I think they wanted $150 for a cash bar at the crappiest banquet hall around for my 20 year and they didn't even take the initiative to invite me, so that wasn't going to happen.

I'd probably go 1) if I got and formal invite, 2) if the price warranted an evening out, and 3) I knew for a fact I was going to meet up with at least a few people whose company I knew I was going to enjoy.

However I don't think anyone told the class president or student council that their positions weren't just for college applications but were, in fact, lifelong commitments. So ultimately, I think they treat class reunions as a way to talk the the people they associated with and not the rest of the nearly 1600 people they graduated with.

It'd be cool to talk to even one of the dozens of people I really liked and haven't spoken to in over 20 years but I have no reason to believe that any of them were invited or would show up under the circumstances either and if I worked on getting in touch with them to find out then I'd just go hang out with them and spend $300 on a way better evening than I'd have at a generic banquet hall playing 80s pop music all night any way.

Blackhawk wrote:

Lee wrote:

Skinypupy wrote:Seeing all the pictures on Facebook from my 20 year HS reunion last night almost makes me wish I had decided to go. Almost.

Seeing the pictures made me really glad I didn't go. I expected most of them to look fat and old. They didn't.

Seeing pictures on Facebook from my 20 year HS reunion last month meant seeing my ex-wife and her circle of friends roughly 150 times over. Everyone is glad I didn't go.

Missed opportunity! You could have shown up and thrown coffee on her shoes.

I was fairly successful, mildly popular and extremely self centered in high school. I had specific plans (although not grandiose ones). Those fell through and I sort of went into limbo. For whatever reason (shame, possibly, although now that I'm older and wiser I'm left scratching my head over what was shameful) I avoided people I knew and stayed away from the first few reunions.

Now, just about 25 years later, I'd like to go to one. Not because I have anything fantastic to show for my life (although it's a pretty great life), but just because I'm actually interested in how everyone is doing. I admit I still feel bad (which is just bizarre) when I read about someone who I knew back then who has had some great personal or professional success. It's not that I want them to do badly. I guess it's because some part of me expected to do better, I guess? I don't understand it.

As it turns out, I have everything I ever wanted in life, although the path I took to get here was completely different than I how I expected to get here. Lots of humbling experiences, and most I brought on myself.

Anyway, if there is a 25 year one put on, I'll go out of my way to attend. i.e. if I don't get an invite I'll track one down or invite myself anyway. There are some old, dear friends that I've been out of contact with for far too long, and I'm not a social media kind of guy.

Our 25 year is next year, and is being organized on Facebook, and I was actually sent an invitation! I didn't get an invite to either the 10 or the 20, although I did sort-of go to my 10 year after I called the school to ask about it.

It's being held in Las Vegas, I guess with the intent of making it easy and actually getting people to come, so I was thinking I would probably go, but the more I think about it, the more I wonder why I would want to. I'm just not someone who stays in touch with people, and most of the people I was friends with graduated a year ahead or a year behind me. We'll see. If I'm thin by then, maybe I'll go.

My 25th was the other year. A few of my friends tried very hard to get me to go but I was firm in my "no". The next morning a group got together for brunch, I joined them. THAT was fun!

My 25th, if there is one, would be next year as well.

It doesn't actually exist as a school any longer however. It was replaced as population centers shifted back in the 90's and now is a learning center or some other thingy for the education board.

Ate dinner last night in the oldest pizzeria in the United States. Apparently this is a contested claim, but he does indeed have the little post-it note over "2nd" on the sign entering the restaurant.

There is a really interesting interview with Michael Keaton on Grantland. Apparently he doesn't do many interviews but I though he seemed pretty engaging.

MHS wrote:the more I wonder why I would want to.

Poker Tourneys?

I'm just not someone who stays in touch with people, and most of the people I was friends with graduated a year ahead or a year behind me.

That is an issue for me as well. Lots of people I would love to talk to were class of 86, 87, 89, 90, and 91. Between those five classes, I knew more people than I did in the class of 88. Though that's not saying much. There were probably 20 people out of over 1500 in my class that I talked to on a regular basis. Of those 20, I could easily enough get in touch with 10 of them and wouldn't need the excuse of a class reunion but rather just the will to pick up the phone, write an email, or message them on facebook.

Smoove_B wrote:Ate dinner last night in the oldest pizzeria in the United States. Apparently this is a contested claim, but he does indeed have the little post-it note over "2nd" on the sign entering the restaurant.

How was it? I find that pizza that tries (succeeds?) to be something of classical old world style is fine and all but pizza to pizza I'd rather eat a greased dough squar deep dish in seasoned pan with shit ton of Americanized pizza toppings.

It was super thin crust with less cheese than I'm used to. Actual giant bits of sausage and the tomato sauce were the real draw. Given that it was like 95 degrees and humid it felt like a great "summer pizza" should something like that exist. The idea of eating a giant doughy-cheesy slice would have probably would not have been as appealing. The actual restaurant itself was a slice from the 1950s or 60s inside. Old-school booths and decorations. The owner set up our dinner mats and cutlery, though we didn't know it was him until after we left and saw him on the Facebook page.

LordMortis wrote:

MHS wrote:the more I wonder why I would want to.

Poker Tourneys?

I'm just not someone who stays in touch with people, and most of the people I was friends with graduated a year ahead or a year behind me.

That is an issue for me as well. Lots of people I would love to talk to were class of 86, 87, 89, 90, and 91. Between those five classes, I knew more people than I did in the class of 88. Though that's not saying much. There were probably 20 people out of over 1500 in my class that I talked to on a regular basis. Of those 20, I could easily enough get in touch with 10 of them and wouldn't need the excuse of a class reunion but rather just the will to pick up the phone, write an email, or message them on facebook.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by random chance, but it's interesting that you're a class of '88 too.

In my search to find out info on a possible reunion, I've stumbled across a bunch of people I used to know, and old pictures of the HS and events. I am now incredibly sad. I have no idea why I'm sad, but I'm almost debilitated from my sad feelings.

Note: I tend to be overly emotional so it's not unheard of for me to react deeply to sadness, I just don't understand the sadness.

Ugh. Need to go do something productive.

GreenGoo wrote:In my search to find out info on a possible reunion, I've stumbled across a bunch of people I used to know, and old pictures of the HS and events. I am now incredibly sad. I have no idea why I'm sad, but I'm almost debilitated from my sad feelings.

Your memories of old chums bristling with energy and vigor and mischief has suddenly been updated with people who have put on 40 pounds, gone bald, and gotten pasty while sitting behind a desk.

What's not to make you happy?

Our 20th is in a few months and I don't understand the draw at all. As noted, the only people that are apparently interested in going are the ones that all communicate through Facebook. In my mind's eye, I picture everyone sitting around tables and posting updates on their smartphones about what they're eating and who they're seeing. The wife feels a strong obligation to go because one of her friends is running the reunion committee, but I'm lobbying hard to just use the money we'd spend attending on something else -- like a much nicer dinner and evening out.

When I see a headline like "Searchers unable to find missing people..." all I can think is "They should have asked Isgrimnur" ... Is that wrong?

Paingod wrote:When I see a headline like "Searchers unable to find missing people..." all I can think is "They should have asked Isgrimnur" ... Is that wrong?

As I was falling asleep last night, I was wondering something I was going to post for Issy, but this morning I can't remember what it was.

GreenGoo wrote:I guess I shouldn't be surprised by random chance, but it's interesting that you're a class of '88 too.

I'm guessing we were the first hardcore video game generation. We were coming of age as arcades were taking hold and then dying. We were young nipper enthusiasts at the beginning of affordable home consoles, were exploratory kids when console home computer crossovers became widely available, and then were of age when the affordable build your own PCs came to market.

And now we're freshly old men awaiting our 25 year reunions.

Smoove_B wrote:Our 20th is in a few months and I don't understand the draw at all. As noted, the only people that are apparently interested in going are the ones that all communicate through Facebook. In my mind's eye, I picture everyone sitting around tables and posting updates on their smartphones about what they're eating and who they're seeing. The wife feels a strong obligation to go because one of her friends is running the reunion committee, but I'm lobbying hard to just use the money we'd spend attending on something else -- like a much nicer dinner and evening out.

How close is she with her friend? if it's a current friend then yeah, you're going. Or at least she's going. You both went to the same high school?

I live like 2 minutes away from my old high school. I went away (different cities), then came back (same city, different neighbourhood), and by pure chance my wife's (who attended a different HS and who I did not know at that time) grandfather wanted to move out of his house and sold it to us at a great deal. So now I'm back in the old neighbourhood, 2 doors away from the house a good friend used to live in. I ride my bike across the school grounds all the time. The building itself doesn't inspire any sadness, but pictures of it from 20 years ago does. There are lots of potential reasons I'm sad, I'm jus surprised is all.

So living in the same city in the same neighbourhood, attending a reunion would cost all of the ticket price and a few drinks (I don't drink much any more).

I may just use the contact info I'm coming across to drop a few people a line and say hi.

Found out June of this year was the school's 50th anniversary. The attendance list was posted and I didn't recognize anyone. Seemed like everyone was from an earlier class than mine, which actually makes me feel better about missing it.

LordMortis wrote:

GreenGoo wrote:I guess I shouldn't be surprised by random chance, but it's interesting that you're a class of '88 too.

I'm guessing we were the first hardcore video game generation. We were coming of age as arcades were taking hold and then dying. We were young nipper enthusiasts at the beginning of affordable home consoles, were exploratory kids when console home computer crossovers became widely available, and then were of age when the affordable build your own PCs came to market.

And now we're freshly old men awaiting our 25 year reunions.

yeah, I suppose that's true. Fret recently asked me how old I was, expecting me to be within a few years of his age. He choked when I answered.

My thirty year reunion is in two years. I plan on attending but only because the two or three friends I actually want to see are asking me to go.

MHS wrote:

Paingod wrote:When I see a headline like "Searchers unable to find missing people..." all I can think is "They should have asked Isgrimnur" ... Is that wrong?

As I was falling asleep last night, I was wondering something I was going to post for Issy, but this morning I can't remember what it was.

Isgrimnur will do some research and let you know.

They actually sent our 10 year reunion invites on facebook.
I received it but I log on my facebook less than once every 6 months so I missed it.

When my friend asked me if I went I was like "went where?"
Ah well, I don't miss anyone from highschool so it's no biggie

My 30th is over Labor Day weekend this year, but we're going to be flying home from Orlando that Saturday, so I won't be able to attend. Not a big deal, really, because I didn't remain friends (or in contact, for that matter) with anyone from my high school. Even on Facebook, nobody's found me (but, by the same token, I haven't looked for them, so we're equal on that front.)

I have a real job. I have my own apartment. I'm trying to buy a house. I'm going to get married next year. I have plans to have children. I joined GoneGold's forums on 10/7/2000 when I was barely 16.

That seems like forever ago.

Kelric wrote:I have a real job. I have my own apartment. I'm trying to buy a house. I'm going to get married next year. I have plans to have children. I joined GoneGold's forums on 10/7/2000 when I was barely 16.

That seems like forever ago.

this is totally awesome! Can't think of better words than Congratulations! And keep looking forward!

(Note: don't force the house too soon - speaking from some experience.)

I'll echo that congrats!

Just once I'd like to have a whole day go by without hearing about urinary or bowel movement problems.
My wife's tired of my shit too.

Milestone birthday coming on Friday. Bleh.

Is olde age creeping up on you or is it more like sprinting?

It's a multiple of ten, a time for retrospection and the realization that none of your major life goals are accomplished and you are running out of time.


And I'm out of beer and cereal.

Turns out that I'm still allergic to bee stings. Wish I hadn't found out the hard way. My ankle is the size of two ankles but neither hospitals nor doctors were invoked.