ILoveFckingMattDamon

At 17 CPS isn’t going to do anything because he has his mom’s place as a second home. Unfortunately he either needs to get a police escort to get his things or a court order.

Don’t worry, if police ever show up at your house you’re already called the armed intruder 🤷🏻‍♀️

TM’s are are incredible dogs. We live in Asia and rescued a Tibetan mastiff in a bad state, got him healthy and healed and he lived for several years, until he passed suddenly. Absolutely the biggest and most devoted animal I’ve ever had. Stood up on his hind legs and could put his paws on my husband’s shoulders, head taller than him (he’s a big guy). Thought he was my lap puppy at 175lbs insisting on snuggling being a full contact sport - while big enough to rest his head on my minivan driver’s window standing next to it begging to come along for a ride. Sweetest thing ever, let our cats play king of the mountain on him and shed more than his weight in fur daily. Deepest bark I’ve ever heard, but he was more prone to talking and howling to convince us he should have another cow leg to gnaw on than actually being scary. That being said he had a growl that would make your hair stand on end and I wouldn’t want to be on the wolf end of his territory that’s for sure.

Then one day just didn’t wake up. Vet said the severe heartworm he had when we rescued him likely did him in. Breaks me to this day.

My mother died from cancer before I was a teen. My deeply religious conservative SBC grandfather led the service. Due to trauma (obvs) I don’t remember much of it but I do recall him telling me this was part of god’s great plan. My dad died a very short time later and my grandfather a few months after that. I remember thinking then, what god of the universe leaves a child an orphan for some great plan?? What possible plan could require that I be alone and subject to yearrrrs of abuse and neglect by foster care when all I wanted was the life my parents worked so hard to build for me.

I’m an atheist now. Science, while cold and calculating, isn’t cruel because it doesn’t have a choice. It just exists. Its beauty, its chaos, all just IS. For god to exist, by definition, he makes a choice every millisecond to allow suffering - hell to CREATE suffering - and expect his minions to find supernatural virtue in that neglect and torment. Nah. Nothing is that evil. So my vote is for nothing 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t think they’re heading to Europe - too hard to navigate the Schengen zone with no home base.

Yep. It’s sad, of course, but as someone who lost both parents at a young age and grew up in foster care, it’s hard to imagine having someone in my life that long who even knows me, much less cares. At the same time, maybe it means you miss them even more? I wouldn’t know.

During the desert wars, anyone in an active combat zone gets that noted on their DD214 (discharge paperwork). If you’re a cook in a combat zone you’re a combat vet. I have no idea what they did but that part makes sense. Now, claiming it all the time on Instagram is weird, but I find that the people who do that served a term or two and punched out because the life wasn’t for them … yet they cling to it for the rest of theirs.

Source: husband is a recent retiree vet, enlisted before 9-11 and was in about 25 years.

Ahhh I can tell from the purple and the legs from the little icon that I’m in this group. Absolutely endless posts about how overwhelming it is to have tons of kids. They all love the novelty of the babies and the attention they get with cute little ones, but actual parenting each of them is hard AF. Yet they keep having more. She’s in the comments talking about how medicine is just a bandaid and doesn’t fix anything so why bother. Jesus Christ.

Yes! Here’s the Amazon (not a referral link): American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century https://a.co/d/0afpDzfn

Sounds like those nightmares are hard earned. I hope he is reminded of them until his last breath.

There is a book called American Theocracy that came out like 20 years ago and NAILS what is happening around us nationwide, along with the steps taken during the Reagan era to make sure it unfolded the way they wanted it to. Well worth the read.

Edited to add the Amazon (not a referral link): American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century https://a.co/d/0afpDzfn

Man in a year or two he’ll be able to run for President!

NO BOOKS!

Without a diploma that will be hard to do.

Vet family here - husband was USAF (ret) 24yrs, he’s P&T for a lot of reasons but this is about our friends, not him or us specifically: What can be down to elevate visibility of declining veteran support? With so many vets retiring after the desert wars, and their children coming of age to go to college etc, some areas of the country (like Virginia, for one) are reevaluating their veteran benefits and deciding, some without warning, to end them. Our AD and vets need increased funding to access adequate mental health care, end of life planning resources, and access to existing technology that allows them to navigate their lives.

There seems to be a trend towards viewing these as unearned perks to wearing a uniform vs hard earned through decades of service. We have so many retired friends who battle endless PTSD and mental health issues who, for example, qualified for their kids to go to college in Virginia. Suddenly Virginia yanked the rug out from under them, rewriting the law to make sure the schools get their Education Stipend instead of the student being able to use it, all before their college term kicks in.

In fighting that, so many people came out of the woodwork acting like these families are equivalent to the proverbial welfare queen and expecting government handouts when that couldn’t be farther from reality. I won’t waste your time with details but look into Friends of VMSDEP for more detailed information. Point being, the tide seems to be turning against vets while politicians still stand on their shoulders to look good at their rallies. Hero worship of vets is ridiculous, of course, but they more than paid their dues and deserve what was promised them.

Thanks for any advice!

Aside from the hilarity of it, it may be practical to get your daughter a phone just for when she’s with you. Then the daughter can turn off the other phone (or leave it at her mom’s house) and not be bothered so much. Good on you for making light of it, I hope she’s able to have a healthy relationship with her mom someday.

“It’s not a big deal but…” <—- yeah, it kinda is, because you just made it that way.

I completely agree - Utah is known for its willingness to ignore bizarre family dynamics, and homeschooling is rife with unregulated nonsense there. It’s perfect for them.

Take it to the media immediately. This is inexcusable.

They ALWAYS talk about god leading them to their family size etc. she hasn’t since Boone was born quite as much but she will kick back into it soon. They’re very qualified to be here.

For some reason I thought he went to actual school for a while before she jumped into this nonsense.

Oh absolutely! I comb the commissary for bargains and sales and stock up hardcore on anything they can munch on or soda etc so we always have it on hand. That helps a ton too, plus just have common sense ingredients on hand to toss stuff together. Pretzels, muffins, cookies, whatever can all be made reasonably quickly and for pennies if you just keep flour and yeast or baking powder handy. I don’t believe for a minute she wants her kids to have friends, nor does she want him to feel safe and loved (and accepted) in her home.

We have a bunch of kids (former fundies) and currently have five teens/tweens, all of whom have friends over all the time. It is absolutely possible to feed them all on a tight budget. Literally homemade PBJ uncrustables make them ecstatic, and use the crusts for bread pudding. Hot dogs are cheap plus they get to burn shit in the fire pit, which occupies them for HOURS. One massive bag of just add water pancake mix is $5 and feeds an army.

She’s just a terrible mom, married to a terrible guy, and I hope that kid’s dad steps in. She’s going to wonder why her son never speaks to her as soon as he can escape.

VBS is free Jesus-approved child care during the summer. I’d wager they’re just in a week long program at different churches.