Ali Gator

Loved 'The Goldfinch' but couldn't get into the rest - especially 'The Little Friend'.

The book remains in the TOP 10 of the NYT Non-Fiction Best Seller's List (which combines eBook, print book and audio book sales) but the book itself has been a major disappointment. On the USA TODAY Best Seller's List (combining fiction and non-fiction) she falls to #28, from #18 in its second week (and debuted at #6 three weeks ago). On Publisher's Weekly Top 10 Best Sellers, she has dropped out of the list in week 3. For the week of November 19-25, she sold only 20,0003 copies. And this covers the week which Amazon offered 'Buy 2 Get One Free' on her book (and other books) - so that didn't help her either. Over the three week period, she has sold just over 80,000 books according to her publisher. (Comparatively, Brittney Spears has sold just under 800,000 in five weeks on the bookshelves). She should have released her memoir 20 - 25 years ago. Her "Evergreens" CD - supposedly a 'tie-in' with the memoir, which was released a week before the book - has also been a flop. It has sold only 7000 copies. Her '40th Anniversary' Remasterd YENTL CD has sold about half of that.

Thank You @Fidler ! I just left my appointment with him - he was so easy to book with, handsome and charming once I met him. He was a better birthday gift than I expected ! I can't wait until he visits here again.

I have a neighbor who just graduated with an MBA from a prestigious business college this past, at 24. He's responsible and mature for his age. He's quite handsome, tall, with a hot gym body - very sexy and he knows how to use it. He was hired in June at a brand new upscale restaurant / club which opened in one of the 'upscale hotels' in our financial district. He was hired as bartender in their club, which is what he wanted so he could meet and network with people his own age and potential head-hunters from the companies in the area who went to this place after work. He has a full-time job, but this was a weekend job to supplement his income. (I've checked out the social media pages of this restaurant / club over the summer and the past few months - all the female patrons look like Taylor Swift or Kim Kardashian, and all the guys look like Harry Styles or Timothee. Seriously. ) I was catching up with this young neighbor over Thanksgiving weekend when he was outside. He told me he hated his server job as he's making no money. He told me about the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving (big 'going out night' for younger singles) - the place was packed all night and he 'busted his ass' with the other servers. He made no money (or as he said, 'less than $150 on tips', while he correctly was expecting at least double that working the bar all night). He said some of the women left him their phone number where it said 'tip' on the check. (He also said this wasn't uncommon during the summer). My neighbor said he gave a month's notice to his boss the other day. He really likes his boss and coworkers, but he can't survive there any longer. He will stay through New Year's Eve since the place is booked for December for Christmas parties, mostly from the financial community. Again, I commend him for being responsible - especially to his boss and coworkers. So then he will be looking for another p/t job to supplement his 'entry level' income - I think he should be an escort (I'd hire him in a heartbeat), but that's a suggestion for another day. (With a handsome face and a 24 year old muscled chest with actual hair on it - he has little competition! 😊).

In case you haven't noticed, the service industry is in an open revolt - Starbucks is trying to unionize each location (because the servers say they are not making enough money in their hourly wage or in their tip cup (and who is their core demo who should be tipping ?); restaurants are closing each day or cutting back on open hours because they can't find help (no one wants to be a server these days when they're not getting tipped); fine restaurants are cutting back / eliminating valet service as they can't find anyone to fill those positions (again, no one is tipping); major hotels are slowly getting rid of 'bellman' services as those jobs can't be filled since no one tips them any more (BTW - read up on the hotel industry these days: they can't staff bellmen, housekeepers, restaurant staff, room-service, and other service-oriented positions which depend on tips), etc. Many thought the 'answer' was those cash-out terminals now found in every restaurant where the "tipping suggestions" pop out for you to choose - but everyone found a way around it by tapping on 'custom tip' and leaving "0" (I learned this trick from a young professional in her 20s.) And who is the core demo who is the clientele these days for the above ? 22 - 50 year olds.

I think it's more of a generational tip. I have a part-time job in the service industry, catering to wealthy and well-educated people. The younger generations (under 50) DO NOT TIP. Neither men nor women, no matter their profession.

I agree: This is what I usually do with friends as well (especially the past thirty years or so) . It's so much easier and better with a one-on-one dinner. A few friends are taking me out this weekend and next week (just the two of us) to celebrate my 60th. I disagree: Who cares who bought their meal ? They were at a birthday dinner for me - I was the guest of honor, who receives the gift. They can reciprocate with the host (my sister) on her birthday.

On my local noon news, they let viewers know 'Today is National Bartender's Day'. The very young female news anchor then said, "So don't forget to tip your bartender today after they serve you." The older male co-anchor chuckled at her and said, "Well, give an extra tip. You should always remember to tip your bartender." The younger anchor said, "Mmmm...I rarely do." She was very serious, and there was an uncomfortable silence between the two after that exchange (and a stunned look on the older male's face). Then they cut to the surprised weather man who could only say, "Happy Bartender's Day...". I wonder which bartender is looking forward to serving her in the future ?

I can understand if everyone chipped in for the bill. Yet in my case, one person (first my sister, then my friend Lori) took care of everything - which was a very generous gift on their part. I guess I'm learning about gift-giving (thanks for posting your experiences) and will be changing how I attend parties going forward (I'll be saving a lot of money).

Can anyone tell me what is the proper gift-giving etiquette these days when celebrating someone's milestone birthday ? Here are recent experiences I have had this week.. This past Wednesday, I celebrated my 60th Birthday. I didn't want to have a big celebration (I prefer small gatherings where I can spend time with those invited) so this is what was planned for the week... Last Saturday, my sister took me to a beautiful restaurant and asked me to invite whomever I wanted (she was very generously paying for everyone). This was planned back in late October, and I decided on two family friends (Mary and Joan) who were visiting the area for the holiday weekend, and we haven't seen in quite a few years (but we keep in touch on Facebook). We were very close growing up with these two sisters, and it was wonderful having them at this intimate birthday dinner, sharing plenty of laughs and the four of us reminiscing and catching up. Mary and Joan are in their early 60s, professional women who are both doing very well in their careers (they are not hurting financially). I was very surprised that they showed up empty-handed - coming to a 60th birthday dinner at an elegant restaurant, and neither one brought a gift for the birthday boy. These days its so easy to pick up a gift card and put it in a birthday card - I received nothing from either woman (not even a card). I mentioned this to my sister (she's 62) and she wasn't too surprised - she said she's been to many 'milestone' birthday dinners / parties where she is one of the few who shows up with a gift these days. On Tuesday, my friend Lori took me out for my birthday (another beautiful restaurant, one of my favorites) and also invited another friend of mine, Trish. (Lori and Trish are friends, but not that close.) Both women are 62. Again, I was shocked when Trish showed up empty-handed; nothing for me for my 60th birthday. I've been friends with her since college (40 years), and again she's not hurting financially (she inherited an estate worth over $3M about ten years ago). My friend Lori must've noticed she showed up empty handed, because on Wednesday morning she called and asked if Trish had brought a gift for me that she didn't see at the table - I told her no, she gave me nothing. Lori was just as shocked. Over the years, whenever I've been invited to anything (not just a milestone birthday) , I've always brought a card and gift for the guest of honor (birthday boy / girl, retiree, etc.). If it's a holiday gathering I always bring a host / hostess gift. I would never think of showing up empty handed. But this week has been quite a learning experience for me. Is it now proper etiquette to show up at a birthday celebration and not show up with a gift for the guest of honor ?

OK, let's hope he's my birthday gift tomorrow. 😛 Thanks ! Can't wait to 'unwrap' him.

He's in my area now. Any more current experiences with him ? Still looking to book my birthday gift ! (Looking for a 'gift' which is interactive).

Anyone have any experience with him ? He's advertising in my area - RI - as 'near travel' (from Newark, NJ). It's the only location he has listed as 'near travel' from where he is. A little odd to put that in but maybe he's gauging whether to make a visit here from the responses ? Handsome, sexy guy.

Great find - I'd hire him if he was in my area.

He comes back to my area every few weeks, or so it seems. I guess business is good in my area for him.

That's what I'm guessing - and that's fine. By why not advertise in RentMen instead of RentMasseur ?

Yup. I was hoping the series would improve and the characters would grow as the storyline got better. It's happened before in other series, but it didn't happen in this one.

I really enjoyed her 'fluff' interview (not much was said between the two, except their kids are brats). She's a beautiful woman, and I'd like to see more of what she has done in her career.

She did, but she also admitted it was consensual. She never accused him of sexual assault or rape - she said she wanted to have sex with him, and agreed to everything.

I've had my eye on this masseur for a while - he's about a half hour away from me. I asked about him before, when he had no reviews (about a year ago) and no one had any experience. Now he has three reviews up, and I can't believe the rates clients paid. For a 'sensual' massage - $500 / 60 minutes ?? For an erotic - $350 / 60 minutes ? For an erotic $400 / 80 minutes ? This guy is all over the map with prices. I'm sure he's offering much more, bur for those who don't want much more - should we even bother inquiring ? I have a feeling he may not be interested in just a 'sensual' or 'erotic' massage. (Of course, I'm just guessing...) Latin_MasseurDR on RentMasseur RENTMASSEUR.COM View my profile on RentMasseur.com

Speaking of her X feed, I must say he looked even hotter after having sex. Really nice body. 😎

Watched four out of the six 30 minute episodes of this gay streamer, and I feel like I watched a hundred episodes so far. That's how slow this series is. William Spetz is the creator / lead actor in this series about a 20-something young man who suddenly deals with grief, sexuality and responsibility all at the same time. The problem with this show (for me) is none of the characters are likeable, and I have no empathy for any of them. Spetz's 'Tore' especially comes across as selfish and uncaring - not someone the viewer can root for in the series. The rest of the cast is equally unlikeable.

She bragged about having sex with him on her X feed, and said she had consented. They should take this into consideration while investigating this disturbing allegation.

Episode 5 slugged along last night at a snail's pace. It felt like a 'filler episode' - nothing more. I'm curious if we will see a Season 3.

I watched this yesterday. I thought the first half was very good but the second half, especially the end, fell apart. There could have been more there. (Though the very last scene as the credits rolled was very touching). The two leads were incredibly sexy and very believable.