Will Cover

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Our blue star 36” range with oven wasn’t expensive at all compared to what I was expecting. When you go up to 48” is gets pricy but the 36” is pretty affordable considering the quality.

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I currently have a 36" cooktop, and it serves me well. I can't imagine needing anything bigger.



Blue Star is great quality. This model comes with a charbroiler. I imagine this would be good to finish off (or start) meats with a sear. I'm going to do my research more, but BS is cerrtainly a brand I will strongly consider. Does anyone locally in the BR area sell them (Stanton's, Gordon's, etc.)?

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What's the verdict on hybrids? Looking at a couple of mattresses that have a hybrid option.

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I have a hybrid mattress. I like it. I had it made locally in Baton Rouge. Forget the old man's name that made it --- but it's been solid (about 5 years old) and I paid considerably less than I would for it in a big box retail store.

I truly enjoy getting into my bed at night. Buy you some great pillows. I highly recommend Chamberlain down pillows. Pricey, but so comfortable.

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Seems like something he/she would've fully explained upfront.

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Now that I am on the other side of this, I believe their intention was to let me sit in it for quite some time, and not glance over it, as I typically tended to do. I had to come around to truly hearing them and it had to be when I was ready.

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Thanks for sharing my friend
I hope you are doing well
I always enjoy our conversations

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:cheers:

Same!

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I learned to just let go. It doesn’t have to be one way or another it just has to be. If you are with the one you love there are no wrong answers.

just relax, everything is going to be ok

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The okay part really resonates with me. My counselor who has never been married and doesn't have kids used to tell me all the time, "everything is going to be okay."

I would walk out of the counseling session thinking, "how in the world does this person know it's going to be okay when they haven't been married, have kids, going through a divorce, starting over, etc.?"

Turns out, they were right. It wasn't until many sessions later that they said, "I know you thought I was crazy and I know you were probably pissed off at me when I told you that you were going to be okay." I said, yes, quite a few times, and there were several times I had honestly thought about quitting you and either finding someone else, or just stop counseling altogether.

But something inside my head said, "what if you are right?" They then proceded to tell me what they meant. They said, "you have your health, right?" "You have a job, right?" "You have a house, right?" "You have your children right?" And on and on ... example after example. And then they said, "you're going to be okay." Life may not have turned out how you thought it would go, but "you're going to be okay." And really from that moment forward, nearly 3 years ago, life is okay -- even after a divorce, losing one of my best friend's to cancer, having zero relationship with a sibling, and the passing of my mother and father. Life, is okay. :cheers:

TLDR.

For those of you who are in it, going through it, or don't know how to get through it, I want to sincerely share some things that I have learned. After all, we are just outside of January -- the biggest filings for divorce month of the entire year.

Yes, it's the OT and almost everyone in here has life figured out, doesn't need or believe in counseling, and makes six figures. But in case you're that anomoly, maybe this might help you. And while your experience(s) are going to be different than mine, perhaps there is something in here that might help or resonate.

For a long time, I tried to "sales-pitch" my way out of a failing marriage. I was operating out of pure fear — scared of the distance and terrified of the silence because I grew up in a house where silence was never a good sign. There was constant yelling, and physical violence. My parents, rest in peace, did the best they could, but their marriage was broken and I wanted to do whatever I could to "fix" mine -- without yelling or violence --- and quickly. I was so uncomfortable at being uncomfortable.

My counselor finally gave me the reality check I needed. He told me: "If you break your leg, it doesn't matter how much you love riding your bike; that activity just isn't available to you right now. You have to heal first. It was then that I realized I was trying to ride a bike on a broken leg.

I also learned that I was trying to control the narrative instead of listening to understand her reality. I was listening to respond. And I didn't listen because I was scared --- and I wasn't ready to change. I deflected and redirected, which in turn, felt and looked a lot like manipulation. It took reaching a point of total mental exhaustion for me to finally stop talking and start truly listening.

I had to learn to be still. From someone who suffered greatly with anxiety, that was not an easy thing to do. It’s in the silence — the "not doing" — that I actually started to understand her perspective -- and started to really understand people. My overall relationships with people have become so much better because I actually listen today. And I have mastered and conquered anxiety today, which is nothing more than fear, deep rooted.

I learned to go "into my camp" and do the work privately. It’s not about convincing her or anyone I’ve changed; it’s about actually changing and letting the results speak for themselves. There's no lobbying. No campaigning. If they want to see it or acknowledge it, they will. Or if they want to ignore it, they will. Doesn't matter, because at the end of the day, you will become a better version of yourself for yourself.

I’m practicing patience now. Not the kind of patience where you’re just waiting for your turn to speak, but the kind where you sit in the discomfort and let the healing happen at its own pace.

For those of you in the thick of it ... You can’t blow out a fire while you're still pouring gas on it. My 'gas' was the need to control the narrative and the fear of the silence. I had to stop talking and let the fire burn out before I could see what was left to rebuild. If you want peace, stop lobbying and start listening. Do the work for yourself, not for the audience, and let the results speak for themselves.

We are all broken to some degree. Some of us are just better at hiding the cracks than others. Get in your own camp, do the work for yourself, and let the results follow.

Become the best version of yourself -- it will serve you well, even if your marriage is over and reconciliation and restoration are not on the table. Because life goes on, and hopefully for all of us, there is still a lot of life left to live -- and love.

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Im getting a divorce so guess which one I chose

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Marriage is an inherently a negligent activity. It’s like owning a lion. The likelihood of someone getting hurt very seriously is incredibly high.

So ...

Welcome to the club. If you’re the one who chose it, you’re officially a statistical unicorn. Since women initiate about 70% of all divorces (and a wild 90% if they’re college-educated), you’ve essentially beaten the house.

I'll help you.

Divorce is a business transaction. Radio silence unless absolutely necessary.

Keep your cards close. Never reveal or show your hand before it is time.

Never leave your marital residence unless ordered by the court.

The more you fight, the richer the attorneys become.

If you have children, just remember that your children need you, and they most likely need you now more than ever. Just be “Dad.”

Focus on yourself and your children. Don’t talk about the other spouse in front of your children. Always take the high road.

It’s only a piece of paper. Focus on your healing and growth.

Great hit. And that looks like a lot of fun. Honestly. Scary, but what a rush. Instant justice.

Biden at least has a cognitive impairment, which explains why he was incoherent much of the time.

Kamala is simply not an intelligent woman. And the party who "nominated" her are actually less intelligent than she is.

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Best fast food Burger, Fries and Drink

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Burgers: Culvers is the best. And I like In and Out for what it is.

Fries: McDonald's, light salt -- helps assure that the fries will be fresh. Freddy's shoe string fries when hot are great as well.

Drink: McDonald's has the best tasting coke. But I generally opt for a bottle of water.