Suit of the Week: Marycrafts

125 Comments

1. Recommendations for the best house slippers? My feet get freezing on my hardwood but they also tend to sweat in lined slippers – not sure if sweat-wicking ones exist? I like a hard sole so that I can wear them to take the dog out. TIA!

   1. My feet also tend to sweat in slippers – my solution is SOCKS. I have several different pairs of LL Bean slippers with a hard sole.

   2. birkenstocks?

   3. Have these, love these. Shearling is moisture wicking. https://www.sperry.com/en/shearling-cup-sole-slipper/35649W.html

      1. +1. It’s the synthetic fleece that makes you sweat – genuine shearling is the way to go.

   4. Birdies

      1. I ordered a pair or Ani slides – they run narrow – if you have wide feet, either size up or do not buy. I ordered my normal size but I have wide feet and I could not get them on. I returned without exchanging. Super cute though.

   5. Merino wool socks + slides or birks

   6. My feet don’t get hot in my Uggs slippers. I love them so much.

   7. Birkenstock Boston shearling or look into slippers that are made with natural fibers.

   8. Raglan wool socks + Birkenstocks or Glerups.

   9. I just posted about this exact thing a couple of weeks ago- Uggs were the recommendation, and omg do I love them. So glad I went for them instead of a cheaper version. SO comfortable, supportive, warm.

   10. Here’s the link: https://corporette.com/blondo-waterproof-boot/#comment-4068924

       1. Just saw Coach Laura’s comment on that post- I go back and forth between my parents’ and my apartment (driving) every 2-4 weeks.

   11. I wear the unlined Birkenstock clogs. If cold weather, I sometimes also wear socks with them, but most of the time the clogs are enough, and they’re actually my most supportive shoes.

   12. Pilates/barre-type grippy socks. They don’t slip on hardwood floors. Preferable to regular socks.

   13. LL Bean Wicked Good slippers are worth every penny!

2. Any Indian-American (or other South Asian or Middle Eastern, East Asian, or any other culture with significant family related cultural obligations) who decided to go “home” (i.e. parents) at some point during the pandemic? Did you stay for a while or leave even if you didn’t have to return to work and if you left what did you do about the guilt trip? I resisted going for 5+ months because I knew once there there would be no easy “out” — i.e. sorry gotta go to the office Monday wasn’t going to work. But as the months ticked by I decided to go late summer for a “few weeks” after doing the whole stay home for 2 weeks thing because I figured fall/winter would be worse. So now I’m here on week 3 and OMG I need to get out of here. I know there is nothing for me to do besides say ok I’m leaving on Friday, but for those from these types of “close” families, you know how the drama/guilt trip goes.

   But reality is I can’t take it for too much longer. It’s the usual being told what to do all the time (which I can ignore) coupled with their anxiety (health, news, when will there be a covid vaccine, you name it), coupled with the fact that they aren’t living how I was living — I was going no where, they are constantly feeling like it’s fine to go to the mall and then we argue about it and they don’t go but I’m tired of having to keep a watch on what adults are doing. I feel like it’ll be so much calmer for me to be living on my own in my own small city apartment — and yet then it’ll be the guilt trip of we’re getting older, you don’t care about us, and rubbing in how I’m alone and I should want to be with them because what else do I have as a single 40+ year old. WWYD?

   1. Little white lie. Your job requires you to go back to city so you can go to the office building on set schedule to update files etc (whatever). Your job doesn’t allow you to be more than X km from the city in case the schedule is changed.

      1. This. Or – work was ok with us working from anywhere for Aug and Sept but starting x date everyone needs to be working from their local addresses, and yes IT can check based on IP address. I’m from one of these families and this is what I’d go with. I know the usual thinking among American/non Asian families is — you’re a grown woman, you need to consider what’s good for you etc. — but coming from one of these families myself, I know this isn’t how our relatives think. In our elders’ opinion, your elders are ALWAYS right and you SHOULD WANT to be with them even if it personally doesn’t make you happy. Personally I don’t think it’s worth the fight because saying what’s good for you/your mental health etc. will just get them eye rolling at the “American” daughter. Ask me how I know. Just go with a work excuse having something to do with readying for a return to work or sorry work changed the rules.

   2. I think you don’t need our advice. Pick a date and go home.

   3. I’m Indian and I get the guilt trip, but you just need to leave for the sake of your own sanity. I agree that a white lie might be the best option in this case.

   4. You may or may not be comfortable with this idea, but I just want to throw it out there. When they say something obviously ridiculous like “you don’t care about us”, nonchalantly agree with them. Don’t act overly sarcastic or offended (“Yeah, mom, I don’t care about you and that’s why I did X, Y, Z to help you. I’m a terrible daughter!”), just calmly “of course” or “yes, my plan is to abandon you Friday and never speak to you again” like they informed you of something boring and obvious.

      The whole point of their exaggerations is to guilt you into changing your mind or at least make you soothe them in the moment. If you react directly or sarcastically, then you become the bad guy who’s starting a fight. If you don’t respond at all, they get to feel ignored and like they’re right. Agreeing with their most absurd statements calmly shows them that you aren’t going to be manipulated (since you’re willing to leave and not even bothered by the fact that that makes you a terrible daughter or whatever), you aren’t going to try to reassure them out of whatever label they’re giving you, and you’re not going to try to argue with them about it. Unless they’re really committed to convincing themselves/everyone that you are awful, they will probably stop exaggerating in the future since it doesn’t get them what they want.

      1. I had a parent who went waaaay overboard on the guilt trip (parent was staying at my home; our cats weren’t getting along; I wanted to put my cat in my bedroom; parent suggested leaving immediately on a 10 hour drive back home). I just calmly said, “that’s a big overreaction and x would be more productive.”

      2. I do something similar when my grandparents and mom complain that I don’t call enough – I calmly point out that phones work both directions. It stopped a lot of my mom’s complaints.

   5. I lied and told my parents that my boss insisted on completing my performance review in person — seemed to be a compelling enough reason for them to keep their grumbling to a minimum. Good luck OP!

   6. I mean, you’re an adult. You don’t need to justify or defend your choices. You just do it.

   7. There is always the maintenance tack: major leak in your apartment building so you must check on it in person. Neighbor says there may be a hole in your roof, etc.

   8. I don’t have the same type of family as you, but I’m a huge proponent of small white lies when it comes to dealing with family. I swear they saved my relationship with my parents as I slowly disentangled myself in college from the religion I was raised in (think a very all encompassing religion/lifestyle). I have cousins who also left the religion who have a much more strained relationship with their family, and I really think it was because they were so much more confrontational/in-your-face about their decisions.

      In ethics classes when we’d talk about lying, I remember being one of the lone people who would defend lying as not always being bad. I completely stand by that stance 10 years later.

      1. In Wicked (the book), there’s a line about “Some lies are sanctioned by heaven.” It’s stuck with me.

         1. love that!

   9. Gentle gaslighting: “My job is making me go back, and I know how you always want me to succeed. So I’ll miss you, but I will leave on day X. Since I care so much about you, I’ll call on Y schedule and I’ve asked Z to stop by/scheduled thing A etc.” When they try to guilt you, agree with them on how hard it is and how much you’ll miss them and how unfair it is that you work so far away.

3. I am done with buying clothing on Amazon. Either it’s from China and the sizing is completely off (ie size 4 in us XXL on Amazon) or it falls apart after 6 months. The only sources who recommend it are you tubers anyway looking to make quick click bucks.

   1. I absolutely hate searching for things on Amazon. It’s like a gigantic flea market and the titles are all over the place. If you search for Adidas track pants, you might see “Adidas Motion Track Pants size L blACK” under one seller and “Adidas motion Track pants 2019 size XL gray” for another and it’s just a freaking mess.

   2. +1 It’s sketchy af

   3. Agree it is horrible. Even something that should be as simple as re-ordering the same Nikes as last year is tedious, because once you get to the product screen you still don’t know which colors are surprisingly way less expensive, no easy way to sort by size, etc. Over it.

      1. +1. The crazy price differences by size/color and no easy way to sort by size is ridiculous. It truly baffles me that Amazon is still such a mess after all these years.

   4. At this price point, you’re better off at consignment shops.

      1. Or thrift stores. I have such huge luck at Goodwill. I’m really picky, but end up finding great condition brand name stuff a lot of the time.

         I’ve been trying to avoid Amazon because it’s a pain like this, and Jeff Bezos is rich enough anyway.

   5. I am not a big Amazon shopper to start with, but I definitely steer clear of all clothing items. Between counterfeit stuff and all the issues you mentioned — no thanks. I can find good deals elsewhere.

4. Looking for Chicago-specific gift ideas for my sister. Budget is $100 or so. Lives in River North/Streeterville area, early 30s, last year of JD/MBA program (so kind of student-poor, but not for too much longer). I live in a different state, so I would need something that can be arranged to be delivered, either in-person or virtually. She is into foodie stuff, particularly wine and cheese, and exercising. I would gift a class at The Chopping Block in Normal Times, but alas…

   Thanks in advance!

   1. Give her a gift certificate to Macy’s! They have a place downtown in the loop which should still be there and they need our support now more then ever. Having a JD/MBA is something I really should have done since I am now beginning to make all of the busness decision’s for the firm (in addition to those requiring a JD). So I am thinking I can get Dad to get me into Colombia’s MBA program since he teaches there and I can get that degree part time as I transition into the manageing partner’s role. I can also mabye get a P/T job at Herald Square Macy’s since I shop there 3x a week now that L&T is gone. They know me there and may be able to spot me an internship, Dad says and I think he is right! I am so glad my Dad is so smart! YAY Dad!

   2. I’d consider a gift card to Foxtrot Market – one just opened in Streeterville. It’s kind of like a gourmet convenience store.

      1. I was like your sister once, and I would have loved this gift.

   3. Gifts from The Spice House or a gift card may be nice. Also maybe something spa related since school and job search are probably stressful? Massages have resumed here with masks and sanitizer.

   4. Gift card to the Rick Bayless restaurants or delivery from Nuts on Clark.

5. American Girl came out with a new historical doll…from the 1980s.

   I don’t have anything else to say on this, I just find it really funny for some reason.

   1. Haha, I just looked it up on a zoom break! I love that it comes with care bears accessories and a walkman!

   2. Oh man. I’m from the early 90’s kid era where you either had Kirsten, Samantha, or Molly. (Samantha here because little Cat adored all the frilly clothes). Felicity emerged on the scene just as my friend group was aging out of the dolls. Even Molly was set 50 years in the past at that point. Too soon!

      1. why on earth did this go to mod??

      2. I wonder if in another 10-15 years, they’ll release a 90s doll with her own accessory….an OG American Girl doll. I had Samantha!

         1. The 80s one has a Molly doll.

         2. For a while you could buy mini versions of all the historical dolls that were roughly the right size to be a doll’s doll.

      3. Team Molly for life!

      4. Team Kirsten! :)

         1. Yes!

      5. Molly was released in 1986 and her story was set in the mid-40s, so a 40 year gap. It’s 2020, so a doll set in the mid-80s is a 35 year gap…

   3. This is hilarious. Thank you.

   4. I love that she has her own little Molly doll too! Very meta! :-)

      1. That is hilarious.

   5. I think this just ruined my entire day, maybe the whole week.
      That doll is wearing almost the same outfit I wore on the first day of 7th grade, except I was wearing one of those colorblock sweaters with the funky graphics instead of the crop-top. The skirt, tights and boots – all the same. Ditto the scrunchie. Things I distinctly remember wearing, and feeling cool in, are vintage enough to have been reinvented for an American Girl doll.
      Sorry, I need to go lay down and die now. Back later maybe.

      1. I agree! It depressed me for some reason when someone on the mom’s board pointed it out yesterday. I guess because as a kid it took me…a while to realize that Samantha and Molly were pretty far removed from each other historically? Or maybe it just made me feel old. Not saying it isn’t awesome though cuz it is.

   6. I’m all grown up and I still love AG. Thanks for the heads up! Too funny :)

   7. For a second, I hoped that was a typo and you meant 1880s.

   8. Gonna head to my crypt. After I eat supper at 4:00 and holler “get off my lawn” at somebody. On one hand, the ’80’s do seem absolutely forever ago, and on the other hand I’m sitting here kind of feeling a wee bit stunned at the idea of the “historic 80’s” doll.

      1. One of my friends at work and I were talking about this and said they should also make a “Courtney – 30 Years Later” doll that would come complete with:
         – Vodka bottle
         – Xanax prescription
         – Work iPhone with 2,333 unread messages
         – Laptop that is only half-functional due to previous juice spill
         – Headset for Zoom calls
         – Surly pre-teen children
         – Ex husband
         – Paperwork for a large mortgage and a comparatively puny 401k account
         – BONUS ITEM elderly semi-incontinent dog that must be taken outside every hour

   9. They’ve had the 1970s doll (Julie I think?) and I don’t remember anyone having a melt down about that.

      1. If you grew up in the 1970s, and the doll didn’t make you feel old – congratulations, you are obviously a superior person who is more evolved than the people commenting. Was that what you were looking for people to tell you?

      2. My mom was born in 1970 and she definitely had a similar reaction to the above when it came out.

6. I have about $45k left in student loans and haven’t made payments the last six months due to the COVID-19 freeze. Here’s my money picture:
   I earn $60k/year
   On track to have $25k in liquid savings by year end
   Not much in retirement, but I contribute 5% and get an employer match (I’m late 20s, single, no kids)
   If I lost my income I’d need $25k for a year’s expenses (very LCOL area)
   Only debt is student loans

   Next year I get promoted but I’ll go from salary to mostly commission based.Projections have me making much more money but you never know. I’ve been saving money with that safety net in mind, just in case. Some of my loans are at 8% interest, but currently frozen. Are there any calculators to tell me whether I should be making payments now due to the interest freeze, or if I should continue to sock it away in (low interest) savings? Suggestions appreciated!

   1. I would definitely be paying down those loans now!! It sounds like you have more than enough in savings.

   2. I read this as $600K/year salary in very LCOL area and was absolutely baffled as to why you still had loans. Anyway…

      I’d personally build up the savings account a bit more (maybe to $30K) and then retackle the loans once the freeze ends. The pandemic has made me more conscious of having a greater safety net than before.

   3. At 8%, I would definitely refinance! I used SoFi and the process was really easy.

      1. But keep in mind there are some options that are available on federally-backed loans, if that’s what you have now (specifically thinking IBR, and the deferment you’re getting now isn’t a guarantee if you refinance and go private). We haven’t refinanced DH’s law school loans due to this.

   4. It sounds like you will have one year’s worth of emergency savings by the end of the year. I’d probably keep 6 months’ worth of emergency savings and use the rest of your liquid savings to pay down the highest interest student loans as much as possible. Now is a great time to pay down the loans because you’re targeting principal while the interest is frozen.

   5. When do you switch to commission? If it’s January 1st, definitely continue to fund your emergency savings to your comfort level to smooth over the transition. Personally, I’m comfortable with six months savings, but if one year is your comfort level, that is okay too.

      If only a portion of your student loans are at 8%, then is it doable to focus some of your extra cash flow that you’re funneling to savings to making extra payments on just the highest interest loans? Depending on how much extra cash flow is at your disposal, you might split your efforts to 1/3 emergency fund, 1/3 student loans, 1/3 retirement.

   6. I’d go for the one year of emergency savings. I don’t think normal 6-months of cushioning applies when the economy is looking so grim for the foreseeable future. You don’t mention your living situation or any other debt obligations. But if you lose your job and can’t get another right away, what does this look like for you? Will parents be there as a safety net if it gets really bad? Maybe I’m just gun shy having quit a job the week before 9/11 happened–and then not finding another one until that May (granted, I’m in a highly competitive field). But nothing beats liquid savings when the hiring situation is bleak. And normal go-tos to get by like waitressing or admin temp jobs aren’t as likely to be there this time around.

   7. Keep healthcare costs in mind. If you lose your job, what would insurance look like or other medical costs. You may need extra padding that non-singles don’t

7. I am turning 50 next week and I’m a little depressed about it. I live alone but near family but because my birthday is on a work day, along with COVID, the usual type of celebration is a bit derailed. In this situation, what would you do, if anything, to celebrate? For the record, I have a great life and I know I have a lot to be grateful for and normally I love celebrating my birthday. This year, I just feel down about it and a little freaked out about turning 50.

   1. You are me! I just did this.

      I found an edible treat I liked at a store near me. I loved it! And now I’m walking there every day or going for a job just to get another treat. All month. Because it’s a pandemic.

      Wish I had some better ideas. My grocery store had some flowers and they are lovely right now. They sparked joy so I bought them home.

      1. This is helpful. I can just get myself a few small treats for the day and really savor them. Thanks for the response! And happy belated birthday to you!

   2. I had a milestone COVID birthday on a work day, back when things were way more shut down than they are now, so it was depressing. I got my favourite take-out, bought myself some jewelry online, and zoomed with my friends. If it’s still warm enough where you are, drinks or dinner on a patio?

   3. Commiseration! My 40th is on Monday – how about we think about each other and raise a glass of champagne!

   4. So I moved across the country by myself so I have spent a few milestone birthdays alone. My playbook in case it sparks some ideas – take the day off if at all possible, up early for a walk (usually recap the year as I walk but this year might skip that), then really really good coffee with half and half, pancakes for breakfast. Then a movie that reminds me of happy times. Usually no need for lunch (pancakes!!). Some kind of “fun” drive in afternoon. More coffee. Then my favorite childhood dinner (pepperoni pizza + root beer (wine if I want it)). Then calls to/from family. Cupcake with candle (while sung to by a very cute nephew). It’s a good day. Bath. Favorite PJs. Read favorite book before bed. Then when people asked me what I did for my birthday (which happened way more than I ever imagined it would) I just said that I spent the day doing some of my favorite things. Which is true. Happy early birthday. Hope you have a great year!

      1. This is lovely – so glad you’ve had birthdays doing what you like!

      2. That sounds wonderful! I want to take a day off and do that lol!

   5. Oh, that’s a shame. I would find something delicious to eat and just redshirt this year and have the big 50th celebration next year. Maybe even get yourself an actual red shirt if that’s your thing at all.

      1. I mentioned this morning that people who decide to have a small wedding to be official this year should get no snark if they then decide to have a big wedding in 2021-2022. I feel the same way about milestone birthdays – a friend of mine just turned 50 this week, and if she decides next year to throw herself a big 50/51 birthday, I will BE THERE.

   6. Happy birthday, in advance! I have a policy of never working on my birthday. That’s only the beginning of how Extra I am about my own birthday – so maybe my regular birthday is appropriate to your milestone birthday. I’m a bit of a loner so I actually prefer to have drinks/get-togethers the weekend before or after and often spend the day solo (although now I’m partnered and that has impacted the events described below).
      I try to do a big clean a day or two before so when I wake up there are absolutely no laundry/dishes/chores to do, fresh sheets and towels, stock up on all my favorite foods, coffee, breakfast treats. High quality fresh berries and yogurt, croissants, champagne, buy a new good book I’m guaranteed to love (a new one from a favorite series or author).
      I also order/buy things in advance and leave them packaged for the week (two weeks, month, whatever) and open them on the day. I save any cards and gifts that are mailed to me for the day as well.
      During the day I go out and do an activity I like. Outdoorsy stuff usually, or a hobby. Then I take myself out to dinner or lunch, come home to a decadent bath with champagne and the book or netflix. Book in bed, maybe with the champagne, maybe with tea depending on how tired I am.

8. Does anyone have any favorite boots or heels for wide heels/wide calves? Thanks!

   1. Antonio Melani has a wide calf version.

   2. Duoboots! You measure your calf circumference and order based on that.

   3. Check out Wardrobe Oxygen. There are some older posts about wide calf boots and shoes for wide feet.

9. I used to think that joint degree programs were cool (JD-MA in history, etc. or even JD-MD or JD-MBA). Now, I think that maybe they lead employers to think your focus is so narrow that you can’t possibly do construction law in Greensboro b/c you are a JD-MBA person. [Like if you are stellar in grades and at a top program, maybe you work for McKinsey but that probably isn’t me.]

   I’m auditing a class now just to see if I like it (it is geared to math finance), but maybe a generic MBA is better (and not something that is resume poison like adding a masters in history to that (I like history, but not sure how a MA in it would make me more employable). The pandemic has given me time to think and ask questions to people and not just listen to what admissions offices will tell you (you will grow wings! you will fly!).

   1. I have an MBA and hire other MBAs.

      Honestly, when I see someone with a dual degree, I think they couldn’t decide which path to pursue. A JD/MBA might make sense in a law firm so you get the business aspect, but someone applying to finance or consulting I consider to be confused. I am in consulting and see some dual MBA- masters of sustainability/masters of engineering degrees and am always like why? Consulting firms are not environmentally friendly at all and even though we’ve hired people with that profile I don’t understand what they were expecting when they chose that degree. A MBA/masters of engineering makes sense if you’re looking to climb the ranks as an engineer, but in that case you should probably just go to night school since a top tier MBA won’t pay off.

      My advice is not to get a dual degree. Look at the career options and employment stats for a particular degree, then choose a path and go with it.

      1. A JD MBA makes more sense for in house roles, probably. In hindsight I wish I’d taken more basic accounting type classes. It would make the business strategy, reasons for certain negotiation positions, etc. easier to understand immediately. I’ve picked up some along the way but it would have been great to have that going in.

      2. Same here – I hire MBA’s and somebody with a dual degree either looks unfocused, or like a “professional student” – neither of which would be beneficial in the roles I’m looking for (finance).

   2. I mean, it totally depends on the field. I kick myself frequently for not adding a JD to my MPP, which was a possibility. That would have made some positions much easier for me to attain.

      1. I have a JD/MPP and found the JD to be a liability when interviewing for traditional MPP jobs, especially in the federal government. The hiring managers all seemed to think that I would abandon ship to go practice law and make more money. The JD was an asset for research jobs in my very specialized field, though.

10. I wrote in a month or so ago about having concerns about billing practices at my new firm. You all confirmed my instincts that I should try to get out. I’m excited to report that I have an interview scheduled tomorrow morning with the hiring manager for an in-house opportunity. I’ve never interviewed in-house, so any tips on likely questions would be greatly appreciated! (I know there have been threads before about this, but can’t seem to track them down.)

    1. I work in-house. You probably already know this, but you should know whether you be supporting a specific line of the business or will you be a SME and advise the entire company? Some in-house legal groups have attorneys assigned to a business and the attorney does all legal work for that part of the business, and others have SME’s (like labor/employment) who advise the entire company on their area of expertise. I think the best thing you can show in your interview is that your plan is to immerse yourself in the business and learn as much as you can about it – and how can hiring manager help you do that? You can’t be a good advisor if you don’t really know your business. And please don’t make the mistake by saying you want to work less hours that’s why you want to go in-house. I’ve seen that comment before and it makes me cringe and I would never hire an attorney who said that. Working in-house is not like private practice, but we still work a lot. I typically work 10 hour days and eat at my desk, but I love my job and my company (Fortune 50) is the best. Good luck!

    2. Good to hear. I hope you get this in-house job and make a very, very noisy departure from your current, unscrupulous firm. Tell everyone. Every.One.

11. I was listening to something on NPR earlier re ranked choice voting and how it was obviously the way to go. Is it obvious?

    I wonder about the 2016 Republican primary — would it have made Trump not the winner?

    And the 2020 Democratic primary — I am so, so, so not crazy re Biden. Harris was really not doing well on her own. Biden is v. old, so there is a good chance of getting a President Harris if we get a President Biden. Who else would be on the top or bottom of the ticket? And would ranked choice voting have revealed that? Would it maybe be Warren or someone like Bloomberg? Biden wasn’t a top choice except in SC and then there were very few choices left.

    1. Yes. 2016 would have looked different on the R side. The “reasonable” vote was split between a bunch of mainline R candidates, allowing for DJT to move to the front with a consistent, fringe base. I studied voting systems in grad school (applied math) and ranked choice is superior to nearly any other system in terms of getting the true “favorite”.

       1. and definition of favorite in this case would be ‘the person that the most people are the least dissatisfied with’, if I remember correctly. So, nobody might get the person they are crazy about, but as few people as possible are stuck with a person that they find abhorrent. So, possibly a way for moderates to succeed?
          I don’t know if it’s obvious that ranked choice voting is the single one best solution, but the current system could clearly use a bit of reforming.

12. Is there a ‘do not disturb’ setting for texts from non-contacts? We still have a good 2 months to go of this election. I am getting constant interruptions with clickbait content. World, I am voting for Biden the minute my ballot arrives in the mail – which yes by the way I already signed up to get – can you please leave me alone now??

    1. Just text back unsubscribe and they’ll take you off. I just did this. If you want, you can do “unsubscribe, already a strong Biden supporter” so they can tag it that way in their system.

       1. +1 I’ve had good luck texting back and asking to be taken off their lists.

       2. On the other hand, somehow my husband got on the mailing list for Trump (we have no idea how) and we get tons of Trump mail and there ain’t no way we are unsubscribing. Let them waste their postage sending to my house!

    2. For iPhone users, go to settings —> messages —> filter unknown senders. You’ll still see the red notification on the messages app next time you unlock your phone but it doesn’t generate a noise or vibration.

       1. thank you!!! I’ll unsubscribe nicely once I think to go look.

       2. You are today’s MVP.

          Signed, swing state voter who gets ten GOTV text messages a day

       3. Thank you!!

    3. omg i feel you – I’m in a swing state (in one of the 206 pivot counties – just learned that today) so I’m getting all the texts and calls. I also used to live in Florida, so additionally I’m still on some of their lists and getting calls for there too. I’m team Biden 100% and have tried to have patience for all the well meaning text-bankers, but it’s getting very old already.

       Unfortunately I get a lot of calls and messages from unknown numbers who are my clients, so I can’t use that very useful text setting or just ignore numbers.

       I’m very much looking forward to helping swing my county blue though!

13. I called T-Mobile to ask about a phone upgrade on my cheap PAYG plan, and the guy said that “based on your voice” he assumed I was one of their senior customers. JFC I turned 40 less than a month ago, and apparently I immediately transformed into the crypt keeper. What a downer.

    1. It’s his youthful mistake!! On the bright side, maybe he didn’t want to say the real reason he assumes you’re old … probably that plan/your old phone is really dated … and it has nothing to do with your voice. I don’t care about having the latest technology, so this wouldn’t bother me.

14. I keep reading that people here think big events can happen again in 2021 or 2022. But I’m also reading that a covid vaccine is only expected to be about 60% effective. I feel like the risk tolerance on this board is a lot lower than anything about in real life so I’m a little confused at the insistence that everything can and should be delayed.

    Are you guys ok with weddings and parties if a vaccine is only 60% effective? What about schools? Bars?

    1. 60% >>> 0% so yeah, I’d be ready to resume most of my normal activities (which include neither schools nor bars). I’m also hopeful that by next year we’ll have a better handle on how to effectively treat this disease to minimize or prevent lasting organ damage.

    2. I don’t think any vaccine is 100% effective right? The point is if everyone gets the vaccine, even if it’s not effective in a decent % of people, it’s still a big wallop to the exponential math of the spread.

       So that said-
       -Schools – yes
       -Anything that can be done outdoors and well ventilated, including bar service – yes
       -Travel – yes (air travel does not scare me nearly as much as it does others; with everyone masked and not talking and the air super-filtered and/or refreshed from outside. Odds are greater I’d die in a car accident on the same trip…)
       -Less-crowded things indoors (low capacity dining, museums, small gatherings) – yes (currently a ‘no’ for me but I realize not everyone shares that view)
       -Big crowded indoor things (concerts, large weddings, bars) – eh, don’t particularly miss them, so don’t mind waiting for a new and improved vaccine

       1. But only 45% of people get the flu shot each year. And it hasn’t been politicized to the point this vaccine has. I don’t think most people will get it.

    3. Of course. I’m comfortable if the vaccine is a whole lot less effective. We need for the vaccine to protect vulnerable people, and then given to enough people to slow the spread (coupled with whatever immunity people have picked up and improvements in treatment). I don’t think there will ever be a vaccine that is 100% effective, nor will we get it to 100% of the population for reasons both good and bad. In 2019, there were 1280+ cases of measles in the US, and there’s been a measles vaccine since 1963.

       Is your question why postpone things because a vaccine will only be 60% effective anyways? You know the answer is we can’t do certain things right now — and FWIW, I do way more things than most people that post here. Some people accept not doing those things now by postponing. Will many of those things actually happen? I tend to doubt it because life gets in the way, but I also believe other, equally wonderful events will happen instead. Today, it’s sad to postpone milestone events. But, when we get to have that family 4th of July picnic that used to bore us to tears? It will be glorious.

    4. The pertussis vaccine is about 70% effective. Prior to the adult booster shot, it was still a very rare disease to get.

    5. This is just unanswerable. It depends not just on the efficacy of the vaccine, but on how many people take it, what any side effects are, and then of course what your local area is like at the time. And for the weddings/large events — what are the venues, what social distancing and mask requirements are in place, how compliant are the event-goers, what distance they need to travel. You are just asking something that is not answerable in the moment.

       And duh, bars are last on the list, since they aren’t necessary. Schools are important to re-open when feasible, weddings / celebrations next, then lastly bars.

15. I have long hair with ringlet curls on the finer side of average and I’ve been having a bit of frizz lately so wanted to try the curly girl method. I do still use shampoo, but I’ve tried 2 types of conditioner now and they both seem to leave my hair a little oily and clumping together. Am I just not washing my hair out all the way? I’ve never really had this problem before. Or am I just using the wrong product?

16. I have long hair with ringlet curls on the finer side of average and I’ve been having a bit of frizz lately so wanted to try the curly girl method. I do still use shampoo, but I’ve tried 2 types of conditioner now and they both seem to leave my hair a little oily and clumping together. Am I just not washing my hair out all the way? I’ve never really had this problem before. Or am I just using the wrong product?

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