urrgghh's Profile

I've had the "leave" mat at my door for a few years. That's how people always say that they know they're at the right house. lol

I used to work for a well known froyo company with lots of stores and saw dozens upon dozens of Ghost Chairs get heavily used without any major damage. I replaced many a stool but never once did we have a Ghost Chair that was damaged or even too scratched up even after a couple years. You'll see some light scratches depending on how you use them, but they're surprisingly comfortable and sturdy. I saw go for it. You won't be disappointed.

Something about all this just doesn't sit right with me. Do you really have friends who become totally engrossed in their phone while you're together? That either says something about yourself or the company you choose to keep. Maybe we should all look at ourselves first before placing all the blame elsewhere. Maybe I'm totally out there, but I just can't imagine being in the midst of a good conversation and one of my friends stopping midstream without at least saying, "sorry, give me a sec...." Or if it's a sort of quiet night, just hanging out, I don't see the problem with checking your phone. I guess it just comes down to common sense, rules or no rules.

Like everything in life, it's about balance. Style is wasted if it's not comfortable, comfort is wasted if you can't stand to go near it. Not to mention all the other stuff like price, color, size, etc. I've been looking for a sofa in the $1000-$2000 range which I consider reasonable, but so far nothing that is a must have for me. So instead I went for the stopgap option.

I bought a simple, microfiber sofa like the one in the post above. I got mine from Costco (gasp!) for $400. It was an okay neutral that I wasn't in love with, had the 'chaise' piece on one end, and was a tad bigger than I desired. But for $400 I was in. The color actually works with most everything, the cats have claimed the chaise as their own which means I can sit in peace, and it's big enough for both of us to lay down on and watch tv (why sit when you can sprawl?). I actually kinda dig it. Had I paid $1000 I think I'd feel a lot less enamored. But even if we only keep this for a couple of years, it was well worth it.

The only big drawback? I have new superhuman electrical powers thanks to the foam cushions. Every time I stand up, I'm supercharged. My cats now wince when I go to pet them.

Is it wrong that I'm really not loving upper cabinets of any kind? I thought about shelving as a replacement, but it's clear from everyone that they're never gonna keep clean in my house. If I had my druthers, I'd have one wall that was full of cabinets top to bottom and NO other uppers of any kind in my kitchen. I guess it just feels claustrophobic somehow. Maybe I should just buy a bigger kitchen - problem solved! :)

Speaking as one creepy collector to another, do what makes *you* happy. No one has to live in your house except for you. I do agree with many of the points above though, it's usually better to display any collection together rather than spread about. I especially like putting them in context, setting up playful scenes makes them feel more childlike and accessible - assuming that you're okay with the occasional admirer touching them. Buy some art paper at the craft store to create 'wallpaper' and give them a prop or two. It's better than having them looking like they're all waiting for the bus. And display as many as you like. Displaying any collection is a personal decision, there's no real right or wrong.

In the case of cucumbers, the plastic packaging means that it lasts more than four times longer than non-packaged cukes. That means that without the packaging, we'd need to produce four times as much. That's not only four times the fertilizer, four times the land, and four times the carbon footprint, but four times the waste. Most grocers and the vast majority of people don't compost, so realistically, biodegradable plastic may be a good option when available.

I recently read something about the human need to express our puritanical urges. I'd always assumed this was the crutch of "other" societal groups, but it was rightly pointed out that we "liberals" can be fairly puritanical about our food. As someone who tries to "eat right" and has switched to a mainly vegetarian diet over the last year, I was a little taken aback at my own susceptibility. It's helped me to reign in my kneejerk reactions. Do I still buy at the farmers market even though that food typically has a significantly higher carbon footprint? Do I avoid the packaged foods even though they lead to significantly less waste? Do I shop daily even though it takes many more trips to the store and burns more carbon fuel?

It's almost like taking the easy way out to regurgitate the mantras we've held dear for so long and bury our heads in the sand, but I think it comes down to what cause is nearest and dearest to you. Are you worried about global warming? Then maybe it's best to take advantage of the smaller carbon footprint of factory farms and packaged goods. Is it supporting the local economy? Then maybe you shop exclusively at the farmers market. The answers are different for each of us. All I'm suggesting is that you take the time to stop and consider all the factors before dismissing something as bad simply because that's what we've always been told.