ApexNomad

I don’t need a compass or GPS. I just wait for a Cracker Barrel to appear and accept that I’m lost.

Very nice meeting you @Vegas_Millennial happy to meet you at your MSNBC office for lunch. My treat.

The special popcorn tin being sold for Downton Abbey.

Interesting thing about cocks… the real luxury isn’t size, it’s when the guy knows how to use it. That’s Tiffany-level service.

We all need to move where Ali Gator lives.

As Ian Malcolm so wisely warned in Jurassic Park: you’re so preoccupied with whether or not you could, you didn’t stop to think if you should. Just be a neighbor. Not everyone needs to be fucked.

That can be read a couple of ways, and in itself is very powerful.

That’s not what you wrote, though. You didn’t describe politely declining, you called clients “decrepit” and “fugly.” Declining someone is fine. Publicly demeaning them isn’t.

If it were me, I’d keep the two separate. Hire him for the car job, keep it neighborly, and if he wants you to connect the dots about his other work, he’ll make that clear. You don’t have to be the one to bring it up. If you value the friendship and neighborly bond, keep things professional. If you’re willing to risk that dynamic for something more, then be upfront, but accept that it could get complicated.

First time seeing this. I was not expecting the video to end the way that it did. Powerful. Real. Thanks.

Interesting observations. I think for newer hires, yes, there most certainly can be an intimidation factor. And not just about someone’s looks, but the setup as a whole. That’s where providers really need to step in and make the prospective client feel comfortable because not everyone has hired before. It can be very difficult for some people to articulate what they want, and this isn’t the same as doing business with a landscaper or house painter. There’s a layer of vulnerability here, and for many, expressing needs without fear of judgment or ridicule is incredibly hard. Being vulnerable is never easy, and for some personalities, voicing what you need is one of the hardest things to do.

I’d say your expectations are completely reasonable. If you’re paying for companionship, you’re not being picky in wanting to actually spend time together on the trip. Everyone needs personal time, but disappearing for half the day, especially on a short weekend, sounds more like he’s maximizing his own vacation rather than prioritizing you. Communication is key. You’ve already done a few trips together, so this really should have been addressed the first time around, not several trips in. This is exactly why you need to be clear about expectations up front. No provider should be telling you on a trip you’re paying top dollar for, “I need my personal time.” That kind of comment is a big turn-off. At the end of the day, you’re paying for a fantasy, not their reality. So approach it directly but calmly: tell him mornings matter to you and ask if he can adjust so the time feels balanced. If he pushes back or minimizes it in anyway, that’s your red flag. Honestly, that alone tells you what you need to know, you’re not getting what you’re paying for, and it may be best to move on. You’re a repeat customer and deserve better.

Nobody said you have to service everyone. But the handbook also doesn’t say clients deserve to be mocked for how they look, either. Professionalism is knowing when to decline gracefully, not broadcasting contempt. One’s boundaries can exist without someone else’s dignity disappearing.

I am very excited to see this new production based on Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book at the Met. It is directed by Bartlett Sher, who also directed one of my favorite Broadway musicals, “The Light in the Piazza.” The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay WWW.METOPERA.ORG

Two things can be true. The questions about the foundation and its stewardship are fair ones, and accountability is important. At the same time, the rainbow crosswalk had been in place for eight years as a visible marker of remembrance. Whatever the status of the foundation, removing that without a replacement in place creates a real void. Both issues deserve scrutiny, but one doesn’t erase the other.

The rainbow crosswalk was installed in 2017 with state and city support as part of the Pulse memorial. Now, under a new federal/state directive, it’s been painted over with no replacement in place. For now, the only visible public marker of remembrance at that site is gone. That is erasure in effect, whatever the stated rationale.

Time to stock up on bananas, eggplants, zucchinis, strictly for meal prep, of course.

You should definitely start more topics. One of the nicest gestures a provider can make, in my opinion, is sending a short message after our meeting. Just a quick note thanking me for our time together, saying they enjoyed the meeting, and letting me know I’m welcome to reach out again if I’d like. For me, that’s perfect. It’s polite and professional without feeling pushy, and it leaves the ball in my court. It acknowledges the connection without pressure or marketing vibes. It shows thoughtfulness without overstepping and makes me feel comfortable reaching out too.

Look on the bright side, when you finally seek help, at least you’ll have a whole pool of straight, married women landscapers waiting for you.

One of the nicest things a provider can do (and a few have) is send a message a few hours after our meeting, thanking me for our time together, saying how much they enjoyed meeting me, and letting me know that if I ever wanted to see them again, I shouldn’t hesitate to reach out. It says everything and leaves the ball in my court.

Darn, I was hoping one day we might Pensant.

These are beautiful!!

Not strange at all.

Really looking forward to this.

If two vegetarians get in a fight… is it still beef?