Romaq @Romaq@qoto.org

@torq The "center of gravity" within the family is MAGA. The close family I communicate with has not broken the ties that sustain our continued communication. If I cut communication for cutting FB, I would in effect be punishing them for issues not involving our private relationship. I refuse to punish them for FB actions.

Same with the #birdsite... There are a few people with whom I follow. They are not on Mastodon yet, whatever their reasons. I'm not married to a social app, and Mastodon isn't without very human and incredibly petty struggles. The only social system that doesn't have any of these issues is the one that doesn't have any people socializing on it.

That's not to dismiss the problems. That doesn't mean we can't do better. We can reward those that do better with our time and financial support. But I'm not going to cut the positive ties in my life to spite companies acting as if they are managed by people acting like people.

@ryan

It doesn't feel like adulting, but it sure helps getting it done. That and reporting to my wife I had my big-boy pants on today. :)

@Hempressemilym

@Hempressemilym Given that the current pain in this situation is the result of my son-in-law's refusal to be an adult, the modification is something my wife is helping move forward, and hence the current pain.

@gpowerf My wife is away in another country because my hopefully-soon-to-be-ex-son-in-law doesn't care much for "adulting." My step-daughter is better able to get what she needs to do to settle out with "son-in-law" as my wife minds the grandkids and provides a steady, stable influence.

I'm very proud of my wife and her willingness to do this despite the stress of being separated from me and being without our housecat Freddy and our dog Tilly.

Meanwhile, I'm picking up the slack of feeding and medicating Freddy (he is old, frail, and his health is in decline) making sure Tilly knows her pack isn't abandoning her. Food prep, house-cleaning, appointment minding, grocery shopping and tons of details she carried normally have fallen to me. I do it, I'm wearing my big-boy pants, but it's something she normally did effectively in her retirement while I went to work. We *shared* in this effort. We currently can't until she returns. This work is otherwise known as "adulting."

The alternative to this is... well, what my son-in-law why the divorce. He's living the "alternative."

These are not "modern" concerns. This is *life*. While the particulars differ, in the big picture this is what functional adults have done over the eons. Adults *NOT* doing these things is how non-functional adults pretend functionality have been spreading heartbreak and misery over eons.

Does this clarify the situation and the context of "adulting?"

Adulting is such a horrible pain in the ass, but the alternative is far worse.

@torq I use messenger as the link to family and a few friends. I don't bother posting.

@AmandaHilden Skeptoid goes back so many years, and covers so many topics. 😊

@lauren Yup to what you said. Yup to thinking a Tesla would be great. Yup to seeing them now as a MAGA hat. Nope to ever consider getting one now.

@cautionwip

I have blame @Dennis1212 for seeing this post. He's much more on top of things than I am. Dennis is worth a follow just to see what trouble he's getting into! He's a great person to chat with. I agree with you and enjoy the organic relationships we form online. It's how I met my wife of nearly 20 years.

Adam Reader, also known as The Professor of Rock... is a freakin' legend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWn2ShHJnNs covering "I can't make you love me" performed by Bonnie Raitt.

PoR is so gracious and respectful as he covers each of the artists. I came from the days of the Satanic Panic, and there was so much wonderful music back in the day I couldn't enjoy because "if it ain't God's Gospel & Country/ Western... IT'S OF THE DEVIL!!!"

But that music was still part of my background, stuck in my head after all these years. That's the power of THAT music at THAT time! I very much appreciate how Reader covers the background and context of this music I had in the background despite my parent's efforts to keep me from the Evil Devil Worship Music. For Reader, it's personal, it's authentic, the music is *life*.

Please take time to check out his YT channel and see if he covers a favorite of yours. You might catch an interview with Ann Wilson of Heart, or Santana. Just... check it out, and I'd love to talk about this guy, the music, and the legends of Rock that inspire us today.

@jalefkowit

"This election cycle is not the time to stand on principles. Now is the time to hold your nose and vote for *MY* tribal candidates. You can worry about your principles when nobody cares and it simply doesn't matter."