OT - NO POLITICS Off Topic Thread: Work sucks, I know

[McGarnagle]

I have been looking into getting Portuguese citizenship through my grandfather. Found a super nice "consultant" in RI who helps you though the process and translates documents/submits them. One thing I need to do is pass a language test. They are offered twice a year in Boston, Newark, SF, and Washington. I checked every day at 7am for an opening, nothing. Last week it opened at 8am and Boston was booked by 10am so I missed out for 2024.

We were going to Portugal anyways in April so I checked there and there was a test open in Lisbon. I was hoping to take the test after my trip but I think it's worth a shot to take it there since I was not going to take it in 2024 anyways without traveling to DC or Toronto. I get the results in June so I can submit my package (assuming I pass). Should take 2ish years. Once I get citizenship, I can work anywhere in the EU and pass it down to my kids.

Never thought I would be looking for "outs" form the USA but given the current climate it is good to keep our options open, even if it is just for the kids. I would much rather them live in Western Europe than the west coast. They would get more vacation to come visit.

Portugal is a hot retirement spot in all the online early retirement groups I occasionally read about. If you can get property there you can live pretty well for cheap.

 

[TD Charlie]

I've already used up all my comments for that one. It's just their version of xoxo I guess. With a twist!

 

[Terrier]

Balmy weather, nice afternoon.

 

[TD Charlie]

Looking at a pair of houses this weekend. I think this will put us right at the 50 mark. 7 offers. February will make it a full year of the search.

There's still one property that is available to us currently in the demolition phase of a near-full blown rehab. The issue there is that we don't know what we don't know yet. Still not sure if I wanna take the risk and go for it. Don't need to make a decision on it just yet. I'm leaning towards yes, because the potential is unbelievable, especially in this market. It's scary though

 

[Alicat]

I looked into Canadian citizenship but it has to be via a grandparent and not a great grandparent.

 

[NeelyDan]

NeelyDan's Friday Five:

1. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?
2. In light of the recent job/do it for free chatter - what is your current occupation?
3. What did your parents do for a living?
4. What is your favourite series of books?
5. Name a movie that had an impact on you as a child - pure awe, fear, etc.

I looked into Canadian citizenship but it has to be via a grandparent and not a great grandparent.

you could marry me

 

[BTO]

Hope all will be well Fenway!

Let me tell you about my job:
A government employee is stranded on a desert island and finds a magic lantern.
So he rubs the lantern and out pops a genie.
The genie says "you have three wishes. What's your first wish?
"I want to be surrounded by beautiful women."
Genie snaps his fingers and bam, the guy is surrounded by beautiful women.
"What's your second wish?"
"I want an unlimited supply of beer."
Snap: suddenly the guy is surrounded by an unlimited supply of beer.
"This is awesome", he says.
Then the genie asks "what's your third and final wish?"
"I want to do Nothing for the rest of my life."
Genie snaps his fingers and Bam, the guy is back at his desk in his Government office.

That's the standard joke around the government here about government jobs.
It's not exactly like that, but it's close
(Mind you, I did even less when I worked for a bank.)

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

NeelyDan's Friday Five:

1. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?

John Hamm but I want his hair too

2. In light of the recent job/do it for free chatter - what is your current occupation?

Project Engineer for a Large Construction Manager

3. What did your parents do for a living?

Dad: Insurance Agent / Realtor / Regular George Baily of my Hometown
Mom: Teacher

4. What is your favourite series of books?

My favorite author is Howard Frank Mosher. All of his books were lightly tied together about live on VT/Canadian Border.

5. Name a movie that had an impact on you as a child - pure awe, fear, etc.

Marry Poppins. Watch it every year on my birthday. It has aged very, very well for me as a parent. The song "A man has dreams" should be a must read for every soon to be parent.


Like you say, guv'nor...
You've got to grind, grind, grind
At that grindstone
Though childhood slips
Like sand
Through a sieve
And all too soon
They've up and grown
And then they've flown
And it's too late for you to give

Just that spoonful of sugar
To 'elp the medicine go down
The medicine go down
Medicine go down

you could marry me

My wife would if you moved her to Cape Breton

 

[jgatie]

1. I don't really know. Maybe an alive Joe Strummer, minus the bad teeth.
2. Software Engineer
3. Dad was a Commercial Artist, mom was a Nurse.
4. Neal Stephenson's The Baroque Cycle.
5. Star Wars

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

I’m dating a Portuguese gal. Parents grew up in Peniche. I bought her an ancestry test and was really hoping for something wild, but it pretty much had her pegged as fresh off the boat.

I’ve picked up just a few words and phrases from listening to her family, when in doubt I just take the SH sound, drop the H and just pretend it’s Spanish. A lot of it is close.

I won’t spell these right…

Espera
Vamoj
Quackish - spelled that wrong on purpose
Moyu
Mala
Masa
Je sabe
Aye courish - again spelled way wrong
Bom dia
Obrigada
avo and vu
Tia/tio which for some reason has a to prefix sometimes. Haven’t figured that one out yet
Beijing/BJBJ

Wow, someone from the continent in Eastern, MA, a rarity. 99% are from the Azores. My family is from close by, Obidos.

I had the same results from ancestry, half 100% portuguese, those people don't leave.

 

[Gee Wally]

NeelyDan's Friday Five:

1. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?

Brad Pitt

2. In light of the recent job/do it for free chatter - what is your current occupation?

Im retired and loving it.


3. What did your parents do for a living?

Dad was a firefighter. Mom was a mom.

4. What is your favourite series of books?

Piers Anthony’s Kingdom of Xanth series.

5. Name a movie that had an impact on you as a child - pure awe, fear, etc.

Jaws scared the shit outta me.

 

[NeelyDan]

NeelyDan's Friday Five:

1. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?

Brad Pitt

2. In light of the recent job/do it for free chatter - what is your current occupation?

Im retired and loving it.


3. What did your parents do for a living?

Dad was a firefighter. Mom was a mom.

4. What is your favourite series of books?

Piers Anthony’s Kingdom of Xanth series.

5. Name a movie that had an impact on you as a child - pure awe, fear, etc.

Jaws scared the shit outta me.

Somehow not surprised your old man was a hero

 

[TD Charlie]

1. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?
Idk. I’m cool with my own mug. Paul Rudd’s a nice handsome fella though

2. In light of the recent job/do it for free chatter - what is your current occupation?
Kinda healthcare programming. Kinda healthcare software analyst.

3. What did your parents do for a living?
Pops was an Amtrak track department guy. Took super early retirement due to injury. Mah stayed home. Imagine that, a signal income with not even a high school diploma, affording a house in suburbia, taking family vacations and feeding 3 kids.

4. What is your favourite series of books?
Goosebumps and all of the Matt Christopher sports books. Did you just put a u into favorite?

5. Name a movie that had an impact on you as a child - pure awe, fear, etc.
Probably Jaws. I still think a shark will eat me in a pool

As for the bonus statement…it is legal now soooo

 

[caz16]

NeelyDan's Friday Five:

1. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?
2. In light of the recent job/do it for free chatter - what is your current occupation?
3. What did your parents do for a living?
4. What is your favourite series of books?
5. Name a movie that had an impact on you as a child - pure awe, fear, etc.

1. I think being beautiful would be a curse, so that is a tough question. I wouldn't want people staring at me all the time and giving me a ton of attention. It would be an every day, pleasant, kind face but no one famous.

2. Retired

3. My father was a mechanical engineer & was a VP at CP Rail. He also invented a locomotive braking system and has his name on a patent, which I found by googling a few years ago. My mother was a full time Mom for the most part but I love this story - her first job before she married my Dad was putting the little salt packets into crisp bags in England because they weren't pre-salted then.

4. Lord of the Rings

5. The Wizard of Oz - first movie that terrified me - the wicked witch and the poppy field, not the flying monkeys that a lot of people were scared by.

 

[Alicat]

1. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?
I don't know. Never really thought about it but maybe Anne Hathaway.

2. In light of the recent job/do it for free chatter - what is your current occupation?
I have a bit of a hybrid role as an HR Analyst that does Paralegal work. (I do lots of research and data collection.)

3. What did your parents do for a living?
My dad was in Finance and my mom was in Budgeting before moving into an administrative role so she could work school hours.

4. What is your favourite series of books?
Babysitter's Club. I couldn't get enough of them. They came out with these super long books ever summer and I would have them done in less than a week. If they were available on audible, I'd probably listen to them lol.

5. Name a movie that had an impact on you as a child - pure awe, fear, etc.
ET scared the shit out of me when I was a kid and it still scares the shit out of me today.

 

[shelbysdad]

NeelyDan's Friday Five:

1. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?
2. In light of the recent job/do it for free chatter - what is your current occupation?
3. What did your parents do for a living?
4. What is your favourite series of books?
5. Name a movie that had an impact on you as a child - pure awe, fear, etc.


you could marry me

1. My twin brother - he is a really good looking dude (ok I don't have one but thought it was a good answer
2. Self employed radon mitigation.... for another year and change
3. Machinist/programming , stay at home mom
4. Not a reader
5. None...we lived in a small town with no movie theatre and only got CBS/NBC

 

[DarrenBanks56]

NeelyDan's Friday Five:

1. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?
2. In light of the recent job/do it for free chatter - what is your current occupation?
3. What did your parents do for a living?
4. What is your favourite series of books?
5. Name a movie that had an impact on you as a child - pure awe, fear, etc.


you could marry me

1. Ryan gossling
2.property manager
3.dad was a chemist. mom delivered meals to elderly.
4.honestly never read a series of books.lol
my 11 year old daughter loves the Warriors series books tho.
5.poltergiest. thunderstorms frieghtened me after that tree scene.

 

[Mione134]

NeelyDan's Friday Five:

1. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?
2. In light of the recent job/do it for free chatter - what is your current occupation?
3. What did your parents do for a living?
4. What is your favourite series of books?
5. Name a movie that had an impact on you as a child - pure awe, fear, etc.


you could marry me

1. That's a crazy question. I don't know. I have a love/hate relationship with my face. But I guess for the sake of this question I'd choose uh, Italia Ricci.

2. Babysitter/Nanny. I'm mostly with my 2 year old niece a lot, but I will watch other people's children I find it rewarding. I was going to study Early Childhood Education but never got back into it. I still have it on my mind to go back to school and maybe actually get that degree. I'm not confident at the moment to go. I think the young people would look at this 33 year old woman weirdly. Idk.

3. My mom worked at the MDC now called DCR Parks and Rec before she had my sister. Then she decided not to go back and be a homemaker. Raised us 4 kids. No regrets.

My dad owned his own trucking company. Then he became a LEO (Police Officer) Then a detective, etc etc. Until retiring as a Sargent. Then he worked as a court officer in one of the federal buildings in Boston. For privacy reasons I won't say which. He caught the rona by a fellow co-worker at the height on the pandemic when they were all required to still work, the guy had no business working while sick. Anyways. He got my dad sick. He had to be hospitalized but he was okay. Unfortunately, he had some damage to his lungs and had to take a leave of absence. Essentially retiring. But they still have his locker up. And my dad has healed pretty well. He wants to go back to work badly. But who knows. My dad is in his 80's but has a drive and work ethic like no other. He looks like he's barely in his 70s. So right now he's trying to decide if he wants to try to go back.

4. Harry Potter. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Animorphs. Loved the Goosebumps and Fear Street Book series. The Baby Sitters Club books. The Star Wars EU books which were canon until they werent.... I loved reading. Still do!


5. Star Wars. Back to the Future. Three Ninjas, Grease 2. Now and Then. A League of Their Own. Little Giants. Beetlejuice. Mermaids. Addams Family. I could go on and on.


Could I marry you? Of course. Just clear it with Erin and we can be sister wives

 

[Concessionaire]

1. Paul Rudd (he's seemingly ageless)
2. UX Designer
3. Property manager, housewife
4. Currently it's Naomi Novik's Temeraire series
5. Star Wars during its initial release, on a huge (pre-multiplex) movie screen

 

[NeelyDan]

On the list of surprises today, Paul Rudd gets multiple votes for adopted face

On the entire freaking planet

Paul Rudd

 

[McGarnagle]

NeelyDan's Friday Five:

1. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?
2. In light of the recent job/do it for free chatter - what is your current occupation?
3. What did your parents do for a living?
4. What is your favourite series of books?
5. Name a movie that had an impact on you as a child - pure awe, fear, etc.


you could marry me

1. Tom Brady
2. Payroll
3. Mom was an administrator and sometimes teacher at a prep school, dad bounced around between a bunch of blue collar type jobs
4. Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series. It should've been a film series but the studio messed up the first one so no sequels were pursued.
5. I honestly don't have strong memories of being emotionally affected by films as a child.

 

[Bruinaura]

Well based on all these answers, I now know all your passwords

 

[GordonHowe]

We are totally in lockstep on all of this. I too am a Hamilton hipster. He was my favorite since I was in high school, a long time before he got his own musical. But I've always ranked Washington first.

I f***ing hate Thomas Jefferson, though, and would probably put both Sam and John Adams as third and fourth.

For several reasons, I am not a fan of Jefferson, either. But, he was a successful president who exercised his own brand of political genius. I don't like him, but I have to give him that much.

 

[Ladyfan]

I looked into Canadian citizenship but it has to be via a grandparent and not a great grandparent.

me too except it was Dad (born in NS)

 

[smithformeragent]

We are totally in lockstep on all of this. I too am a Hamilton hipster. He was my favorite since I was in high school, a long time before he got his own musical. But I've always ranked Washington first.

I f***ing hate Thomas Jefferson, though, and would probably put both Sam and John Adams as third and fourth.

I love John Adams.

I showed the HBO series in my classroom and have seen it in its entirety dozens of times.

Every time I rewatch it, I pick up something new.

Read McCollough’s biography that it was based on as well.