OT - NO POLITICS Happy Holidays Edition

[Ludwig Fell Down]

Packing up Christmas stuff and trying to consolidate since I'm tired of having what feels like 42 boxes and tubs of various sizes. This box, which once housed a very sweet high tech Christmas present (in 1987 or thereabouts) had been repurposed to hold a bunch of different Christmas decorations. No more. So long, 1987 lolView attachment 952991

I think I can hear Taps playing . . . .

When my mother broke her hip a couple of years ago and was in rehab, me and my siblings took the opportunity to clean out her house. We hadn't realized what a pack rat she had become. Beyond the various 1970's kitchen gadgets that she had been gifted and were still in the original box, we found at least 5,000 plastic bags in various boxes. (She puts everything in a plastic bag).

One of the bags was from The Athletes Foot (a staple at the South Shore Plaza in the 1980s) and we saved that one. My sister and I alternate using it to give gifts to each other. The bag has to be at least 35 years old and is still in great shape.

 

[caz16]

I think I can hear Taps playing . . . .

When my mother broke her hip a couple of years ago and was in rehab, me and my siblings took the opportunity to clean out her house. We hadn't realized what a pack rat she had become. Beyond the various 1970's kitchen gadgets that she had been gifted and were still in the original box, we found at least 5,000 plastic bags in various boxes. (She puts everything in a plastic bag).

One of the bags was from The Athletes Foot (a staple at the South Shore Plaza in the 1980s) and we saved that one. My sister and I alternate using it to give gifts to each other. The bag has to be at least 35 years old and is still in great shape.

We have an ancient bag that we use for Christmas wrapping paper - they had a special size in the 1970s when you bought rolls. It is Simpsons, before it became Simpsons Sears, before it became just Sears.

I also have over a thousand matchbooks from all over the world. We actually removed the matches inside years ago after my brother scared me about how fast they would ignite if a spark was near. They are so much fun to look at. My Dad used to work for Canadian Pacific and his cronies would all bring them back from their business trips for me when they travelled.

 

[Bruinaura]

I think I can hear Taps playing . . . .

When my mother broke her hip a couple of years ago and was in rehab, me and my siblings took the opportunity to clean out her house. We hadn't realized what a pack rat she had become. Beyond the various 1970's kitchen gadgets that she had been gifted and were still in the original box, we found at least 5,000 plastic bags in various boxes. (She puts everything in a plastic bag).

One of the bags was from The Athletes Foot (a staple at the South Shore Plaza in the 1980s) and we saved that one. My sister and I alternate using it to give gifts to each other. The bag has to be at least 35 years old and is still in great shape.

I love family history stuff, but I just can't deal with keeping it all in the house anymore lol. It's a lot of work to go through things and I have purged quite a bit the last few months, but it's still a big job.

My dad framed things from his career....maps he worked on, awards he received, etc. It was fitting in their house, and I'm very proud of him and what he did in his career.... but now they're both gone, and that stuff is at my place, and I don't know what to do with it. I'm not hanging it all on my walls, it feels wrong to just trash it, it's not exactly something you can donate to goodwill....so for now it just sits in a closet taking up space.

Practically speaking, when I'm gone there isn't going to be anybody left who cares about any of this stuff. No kids, my niece and nephew have never shown any interest in our side of the family. I think in my will I'm going to say "park a dumpster in the driveway and toss everything in."

 

[Alicat]

My mom had my dad's shirts made into quilts for my sister and I. It has been 9 years today and if it wasn't almost 70 degrees out, I'd take it out and put it on my lap as I work.

 

[TD Charlie]

My very Portuguese girlfriend’s mother handled Christmas dinner, and I stole a huge bowl of kale soup from them last night. It’s not my thing, but i love everything she makes and it hurts my soul when food is thrown away at her house

So i asked if i could take it home. She happily said yes.

Probably the best soup I’ve ever had. It was given to me frozen. I added a little chicken stock and simmered it a bit. My belly is pleased. I made sure to send my appreciation to her as well

 

[GordonHowe]

‘So much love’: Mass. liquor store owner grateful after patrons rally to help clean trashed shop

The owner of a Massachusetts liquor store is feeling grateful despite an incident over the weekend in which vandals destroyed his business, smashing hundreds of bottles of alcohol just before New Year’s Eve.

www.yahoo.com

North Andover police seek vandals who smashed thousands in liquor store inventory

After McAloon's in North Andover lost around a quarter of a million dollars in inventory, members of the public helped clean up the store.

www.boston.com

 

[GordonHowe]

In the presidents’ club, Carter was the odd man out

When President Joe Biden stopped by former President Jimmy Carter’s home in Georgia, in April 2021, it was more than just a show of respect.

www.boston.com

 

[Gee Wally]

My very Portuguese girlfriend’s mother handled Christmas dinner, and I stole a huge bowl of kale soup from them last night. It’s not my thing, but i love everything she makes and it hurts my soul when food is thrown away at her house

So i asked if i could take it home. She happily said yes.

Probably the best soup I’ve ever had. It was given to me frozen. I added a little chicken stock and simmered it a bit. My belly is pleased. I made sure to send my appreciation to her as well

There is no better soup than Portuguese caldo verde.

And thats a hill I will die on.

 

[Bruinaura]

My duplex neighbor made stuffed mushrooms and invited me to have some. Quite tasty. Stuffed with a mix of Boursin, parmesan, garlic, walnuts, and I think one or two other ingredients I'm forgetting.

While we were eating, our landlord dropped by to renew her lease and they asked if I'd be willing to extend my lease by two months so we could get on the same cycle. Well, that was a no-brainer lol. No rent increase either. My neighbor said they've never raised the rent on her, in five years. I think they're just happy having good tenants that don't cause problems and pay their rent on time. Music to my ears.

 

[Kate08]

My duplex neighbor made stuffed mushrooms and invited me to have some. Quite tasty. Stuffed with a mix of Boursin, parmesan, garlic, walnuts, and I think one or two other ingredients I'm forgetting.

While we were eating, our landlord dropped by to renew her lease and they asked if I'd be willing to extend my lease by two months so we could get on the same cycle. Well, that was a no-brainer lol. No rent increase either. My neighbor said they've never raised the rent on her, in five years. I think they're just happy having good tenants that don't cause problems and pay their rent on time. Music to my ears.

I had lunch with a high school friend today and she was talking about a rental property she owns with her parents. For locals, it’s a two family in Medford and when the green line popped up down the street, value went crazy.

Her mom refuses to raise the rent on the single woman in the downstairs apartment. She’s been there forever, is clean, quiet, respectful, and a general dream.

Good tenants at a decent price that don’t turn over are way more valuable than top dollar who may move in and out

 

[Bruinaura]

I had lunch with a high school friend today and she was talking about a rental property she owns with her parents. For locals, it’s a two family in Medford and when the green line popped up down the street, value went crazy.

Her mom refuses to raise the rent on the single woman in the downstairs apartment. She’s been there forever, is clean, quiet, respectful, and a general dream.

Good tenants at a decent price that don’t turn over are way more valuable than top dollar who may move in and out

This being a duplex, they get decent money having two tenants. The house has been in their family since it was built in the 70s, so there's no mortgage, just upkeep/taxes. And they seem to be pretty well off financially.

I could never afford to buy a house in this neighborhood, and I only know of one other home in here that is a rental, so it has worked out great for me too. No rent increase is a dream after the last few renewals I had with corporate landlords.

Me, my neighbor, and the landlords are all "we want no drama" people lol. My neighbor just told me today she is paying to have the interior on her side repainted to brighten things up. They are fine with it. Now we just have to figure out a way to get them to agree to upgrade the kitchen cabinets.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

That satisfied feeling you have after your Sicilian wife made you the perfect enchiladas

 

[Kate08]

This being a duplex, they get decent money having two tenants. The house has been in their family since it was built in the 70s, so there's no mortgage, just upkeep/taxes. And they seem to be pretty well off financially.

I could never afford to buy a house in this neighborhood, and I only know of one other home in here that is a rental, so it has worked out great for me too. No rent increase is a dream after the last few renewals I had with corporate landlords.

Me, my neighbor, and the landlords are all "we want no drama" people lol. My neighbor just told me today she is paying to have the interior on her side repainted to brighten things up. They are fine with it. Now we just have to figure out a way to get them to agree to upgrade the kitchen cabinets.

Same with where I grew up. We rented, my mom treated that house better than her own, and the landlord eventually was like do you want to just buy it?

 

[BMC]

My duplex neighbor made stuffed mushrooms and invited me to have some. Quite tasty. Stuffed with a mix of Boursin, parmesan, garlic, walnuts, and I think one or two other ingredients I'm forgetting.

While we were eating, our landlord dropped by to renew her lease and they asked if I'd be willing to extend my lease by two months so we could get on the same cycle. Well, that was a no-brainer lol. No rent increase either. My neighbor said they've never raised the rent on her, in five years. I think they're just happy having good tenants that don't cause problems and pay their rent on time. Music to my ears.

As a landlord I can testify to that: when you get a good tenant you do whatever you can to keep them, including not raising the rent even if it hurts a bit.

 

[Bruinaura]

As a landlord I can testify to that: when you get a good tenant you do whatever you can to keep them, including not raising the rent even if it hurts a bit.

Plus, I have cookies

 

[Bruinaura]

No truer words lol

 

[caz16]

As 2024 comes to a close, my contest hobby is still so much fun. My total for this year is $5,185.00.
My favourite wins were a $500 grocery gift card, Milwaukee tool kit for hubby and a Sleeman's fire pit for my daughter.
I didn't really have an odd wins this year, maybe the Laughing Cow umbrella was the funniest.
This is my actual lucky horse shoe that is on our wall.

 

[Gee Wally]

Please continue here:

OT: - Happy New Year HFBruins!

Here’s to a healthy and happy new year to all !

forums.hfboards.com