The Daily Rave

I too use Corelle. The all white ones. They are light, fit easily in the dishwasher, and the cupboard. Now mugs are a different story. None of them match and I like that. I started out with Franciscan in 73- way too heavy and dark, then white from Penny's that eventually crazed, then white Phaltzcraft, now the the Corelle- it's probably 20 years old.
As for a Rave- Male hummingbird at the feeder this morning. Three females all eating together. They are definitely getting ready for migrating. Oh, and the Merlin app. It is fantastic! Tells me what bird calls are around...maybe I will finally learn to recognize them.

When I dumped my husband I kept some of the small plates for dog dishes and gave him the rest. Since I didn’t have to worry about him chipping them I bought new dishes that I love. Corelle was also great when raising kids for everyday dishes. I have always had good dishes too. I have had 4 different patterns of corelle in the past 50 years because I would get sick of looking at them:)).

I am not fussy about dinnerware anymore. I bought thrift store stuff when I moved up here, and then when we transitioned from NJ I replaced it with the Fishs Eddy dishes I've had for a long time.

I am not particularly fond of Corelle, frankly, but I do have one piece of it I love--this photo shows a piece of my MIL's Corelle set being used as a saucer for her oxalis (shamrock) plant that she owned and cultivated for decades. This is THE plant in THE dish that sat on her kitchen table since the 1990s.

Attachment 5600

Awww, that shamrock plant is nice, I find them so cheerful.

I love inherited plants.

There are not many patterns of Corelle I like so am lucky to have found one of the few. Heard that the new Corelle shatters and is not good??? you

That's right, the new Corelle shatters and is dangerous, at least that was what I found once they started making it in China. The old is fine.

All our everyday dishes are Corelle, nothing fancy, plain white. Boring maybe but works for us.

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Originally Posted by Alan

All our everyday dishes are Corelle, nothing fancy, plain white. Boring maybe but works for us.

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You are yet another person who does not need his dinnerware to “spark joy.!” And that is fine. Probably a new digital device sparks joy for you, but for me, that would be something have to figure out how to get it to work which means I probably have to read instructions. Unlike like with dishes, I don’t have to read instructions.

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Originally Posted by Tybee

That's right, the new Corelle shatters and is dangerous, at least that was what I found once they started making it in China. The old is fine.

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The old stuff would shatter as well when it hit the "right spot". I remember when I was a pre-teen, an older sibling was showing someone how the dishes wouldn't break by flipping it and letting it fall to the floor. It worked twice, then a sandwich plate hit the floor and shattered into a million pieces. After the initial shock of seeing the plate shatter, we all just started laughing hysterically. LOL

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Originally Posted by Tybee

That's right, the new Corelle shatters and is dangerous, at least that was what I found once they started making it in China. The old is fine.

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Old Corelle shattered, too! We had it growing up in the 70s and 80s. My mother was once struggling to open a pickle jar while standing at her place at the kitchen table. Jar slipped, fell on her plate, and shards everywhere.

I have Corelle from maybe 2005 and it was made in the US.

And new Corelle is NOT made in China. It's just not. Now the company that currently owns it is the one that makes Instapot and is being destroyed by venture capital, so no bets on the future, but if you want some American made Correlle, it is still here for now.

https://www.corelle.com/product/wint...-set-service-4
"Crafted with pride in Corning, New York"

I have bought Corelle, even recently (replacing pieces when they break and they do not break easily), it says made in the U.S. on it, so I can confirm this.

I am a huge fan of plain white Correlle. It's so easy to clean (actually all Correlle is), I do dishes by hand, as I don't have a dishwasher here. Things that actually cost a lot of money? Lol my stainless steel cookware was kind of pricey. It it to spark joy? Ocassionally, but mostly it's to make dinner.

Sometimes the old corelle would split in half while sitting in the cupboard. I always figured it was a piece that had been dropped previously and eventually just split.

I spent an evening at a wedding once talking to a chemical engineer about Corelle shattering--we both thought it was absolutely fascinating, and a fun topic of conversation.

I’d forgotten how nice it is to get up and out early on a Saturday to get errands done! Both dive buddies cancelled last minute last night as they had to work. Car needed an oil change and my favorite place is by an old office 20 min away, that I can only get to on Sat. Was there at 8 when they opened, then did quick grocery shopping, and a car wash. I was home by 930. Did some cleaning and decluttering at home. Gave away a bunch of canned goods and some salad forms I never used on local Buy Nothing group. Did laundry and ran dishwasher. I’m now settled in for a long hot bath and some reading.

I don’t know why people are so focused on their dinnerware not shattering. I suppose if you have a house full of kids, it might be a concern.

Dropping dinner plates it’s just not some thing that happens regularly in my life.

That sounds like a lovely, relaxing Saturday night Tradd.

I will powered myself to drop off a box of clutter to Goodwill. I took care of a couple other errands while I was out and about, so today I feel like I am a bit ahead of the game, and that feels good.

IL, They are more likely to be dropped by kids and then it’s hard to find every sliver so a toddler doesn’t eat it or someone doesn’t step on it and gets it in their foot. The shattering brings back memories of those days.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

I don’t know why people are so focused on their dinnerware not shattering. I suppose if you have a house full of kids, it might be a concern.

Dropping dinner plates it’s just not some thing that happens regularly in my life.

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I agree... plus if its inability to shatter means it's going to last until the next eon, I'll take a shattered dish and reorder a used one on eBay.

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Originally Posted by Pasque

I will powered myself to drop off a box of clutter to Goodwill. I took care of a couple other errands while I was out and about, so today I feel like I am a bit ahead of the game, and that feels good.

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That is always a good feeling! We unexpectedly knocked off a couple of extra errands on Sunday and it felt really good.

This isn't a "rave" but definitely not a "rant" and definitely not deserving of its own thread, so I'm parking it here...

I have had recurring dreams during my life--and one of them is, I always have a recurring baby dream. The first one came about when I became a market researcher, in which my prospective boss literally delivered my baby, and IRL I became a market researcher, mentored by that boss.

In later years, whenever I was at a crossroads, I would have baby dreams...

So, I was intrigued when last night I had another baby dream, which I won't go into in detail because it's always so boring to listen to other peoples' dreams. But it leaves me wondering... why? The feelings in this dream ranged from interest, to fear, to desperation, to search for relief.

I'm connecting it to the fact that my work slowed down considerably this year. I always book 20 projects a year; I'm down 50%. I always average a certain revenue number; that number is down 60%. I am now worried about my future. I have lain awake nights pondering what I should do if the work totally dries up? Do I continue on this path, or do I "birth a new baby"?

I, unfortunately, am not ready to retire. So I'm searching for that elusive baby. I have already decided to update my webpage (my brother owns a website business and would do it for free) and do some active selling (I've always been the proverbial Honda salesman, who doesn't have to sell. The sales have just come). But I'm also exploring other income-generating ideas that may be more fulfilling, even if they earn me less... like searching for grants with environmental market research projects. I've considered writing a cultural/social history of life in the late 20th century, targeted to us Baby Boomers. (maybe that's the "baby"?)

I wish I knew what that "baby" was!

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Originally Posted by catherine

This isn't a "rave" but definitely not a "rant" and definitely not deserving of its own thread, so I'm parking it here...

I have had recurring dreams during my life--and one of them is, I always have a recurring baby dream. The first one came about when I became a market researcher, in which my prospective boss literally delivered my baby, and IRL I became a market researcher, mentored by that boss.

In later years, whenever I was at a crossroads, I would have baby dreams...

So, I was intrigued when last night I had another baby dream, which I won't go into in detail because it's always so boring to listen to other peoples' dreams. But it leaves me wondering... why? The feelings in this dream ranged from interest, to fear, to desperation, to search for relief.

I'm connecting it to the fact that my work slowed down considerably this year. I always book 20 projects a year; I'm down 50%. I always average a certain revenue number; that number is down 60%. I am now worried about my future. I have lain awake nights pondering what I should do if the work totally dries up? Do I continue on this path, or do I "birth a new baby"?

I, unfortunately, am not ready to retire. So I'm searching for that elusive baby. I have already decided to update my webpage (my brother owns a website business and would do it for free) and do some active selling (I've always been the proverbial Honda salesman, who doesn't have to sell. The sales have just come). But I'm also exploring other income-generating ideas that may be more fulfilling, even if they earn me less... like searching for grants with environmental market research projects. I've considered writing a cultural/social history of life in the late 20th century, targeted to us Baby Boomers. (maybe that's the "baby"?)

I wish I knew what that "baby" was!

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so, when WILL you be ready to retire? What defines that event?

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

so, when WILL you be ready to retire? What defines that event?

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When I have all debt paid, including the mortgage

When I have about $250k in the bank

When I can live solely on social security, which for DH and I would be about $60k a year.

This is like looking through a telescope at a distant shore.

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Originally Posted by catherine

When I have all debt paid, including the mortgage

When I have about $250k in the bank

When I can live solely on social security, which for DH and I would be about $60k a year.

This is like looking through a telescope at a distant shore.

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That seems reasonable, an expectation to live on $60,000 (with no mortgage) plus $250,000 in the bank.

The rest of it…I have no idea if it is achievable. I don’t know how much your debt is and how much you bring in each year, but I am sorry your income is dropping unexpectedly.

My (as usual) unsolicited advice is to put every damn penny, and every life action, toward reducing the debt at this point. Your time is running out. You may not be able to achieve the nicety of $250,000 in the bank. And please god let there be no ideas of giving children money as part of this plan. Once you achieve the $250,000 and no debt, THEN give kids $ if you still have contracts rolling in and you are not 85 years old.

I personally would be embarrassed if my mother was a senior citizen and slogging along in a tiring job just to give me money.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

That seems reasonable, an expectation to live on $60,000 (with no mortgage) plus $250,000 in the bank.

The rest of it…I have no idea if it is achievable. I don’t know how much your debt is and how much you bring in each year, but I am sorry your income is dropping unexpectedly.

My (as usual) unsolicited advice is to put every damn penny, and every life action, toward reducing the debt at this point. Your time is running out. You may not be able to achieve the nicety of $250,000 in the bank. And please god let there be no ideas of giving children money as part of this plan. Once you achieve the $250,000 and no debt, THEN give kids $ if you still have contracts rolling in and you are not 85 years old.

I personally would be embarrassed if my mother was a senior citizen and slogging along in a tiring job just to give me money.

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I am with you... My intention at this point is, if I am not earning money I'm going to work actively to save aggressively via more home cooking, mending, deleting subscriptions, paring down to the bone, pulling back on the "Mom and Dad gimmes." Honestly, though, any money we've given our kids isn't their fault--it has been all on DH and me. Our kids are not moochers. A couple of kids in particular are always asking us how we're doing financially--not out of self-interest, but out of concern.

Even BIL didn't come up to my son's birthday party yesterday because he only has 2.12 in his account until payday, and he never asked for the money. I did offer to give him gas money, but he declined.

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Originally Posted by catherine

I am with you... My intention at this point is, if I am not earning money I'm going to work actively to save aggressively via more home cooking, mending, deleting subscriptions, paring down to the bone, pulling back on the "Mom and Dad gimmes." Honestly, though, any money we've given our kids isn't their fault--it has been all on DH and me. Our kids are not moochers. A couple of kids in particular are always asking us how we're doing financially--not out of self-interest, but out of concern.

Even BIL didn't come up to my son's birthday party yesterday because he only has 2.12 in his account until payday, and he never asked for the money. I did offer to give him gas money, but he declined.

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oh, I completely agree, I see your kids as being very good kids, independent and not expecting handouts. We all know why they get handouts.;) And they are appreciative of what you and your DH have done for them.

And frankly, they are smart to be asking about your financial situation because that could blow back on themselves having to support you. Just saying, it does does happen.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

oh, I completely agree, I see your kids as being very good kids, independent and not expecting handouts. We all know why they get handouts.;) And they are appreciative of what you and your DH have done for them.

And frankly, they are smart to be asking about your financial situation because that could blow back on themselves having to support you. Just saying, it does does happen.

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Thanks, IL... true.

IL, I needed to read your posts tonight. Was talking to my son tonight who just blew an engine and here I am thinking, oh gosh, can we spare a thousand dollars, and oh gosh, maybe I should give him my car. YIKES! Insane thinking on my part.

You never get over being a mother or father, I think. My dad was still trying to give me money two months before he died. My mom was still offering me a place to live, saying I could move into the nursing home with her.

My recurring dream is my mom is showing me a house that she had forgotten she had, and leading me through it, and giving me this house, out of the blue. It's slightly different every time but always very familiar. Or, the other recurring dream is that I get back the house that I lost in my divorce, and various things have happened to it, but it's mine again.

Catherine, I agree that your dream of living on 60,000 social security money, with 250,000 in the bank and no mortgage, is imminently reasonable. It is a solid plan. I also think the more you can relax about the work, the more creative you will become in figuring it out, either getting more clients or morphing the business into something else. You are extremely good at this and an excellent planner. Maybe things are slowing down so that you can have the energy and time to go in the new direction.

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Originally Posted by Tybee

Catherine, I agree that your dream of living on 60,000 social security money, with 250,000 in the bank and no mortgage, is imminently reasonable. It is a solid plan. I also think the more you can relax about the work, the more creative you will become in figuring it out, either getting more clients or morphing the business into something else. You are extremely good at this and an excellent planner. Maybe things are slowing down so that you can have the energy and time to go in the new direction.

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Thank you, Tybee, for the encouragement. I need it.

Catherine, wouldn’t selling your house to your son meet the criteria you have set for retirement? What’s the plan to make that happen?

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Originally Posted by Teacher Terry

Catherine, wouldn’t selling your house to your son meet the criteria you have set for retirement? What’s the plan to make that happen?

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Q.1: Nope. it would only go toward the savings part, but we don't have that much equity in the house. I will not be able to draw down any of the house money for living expenses. It will only be for emergencies.

Q.2: My son is getting a bonus in October and we will have made the transaction by year's end. We have renegotiated the price upwards to account for the dead time and rise of the market

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Originally Posted by catherine

Q.1: Nope. it would only go toward the savings part, but we don't have that much equity in the house. I will not be able to draw down any of the house money for living expenses. It will only be for emergencies.

Q.2: My son is getting a bonus in October and we will have made the transaction by year's end. We have renegotiated the price upwards to account for the dead time and rise of the market

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Thank goodness the price of your house will reflect recent market gains. Not being a fan of real estate as investment, I was more than a little worried about that. The sale price doesn’t even have to be top of the market I am just happy that your son is not getting a family discount at your expense.

That’s good news Catherine!

Catherine: Is your DH generating any earned income at this point? It sounds like he is such a people person that I could envision him enjoying seasonal work at a local shop for example, and that would help move you closer to achieving your goals.

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Originally Posted by rosarugosa

Catherine: Is your DH generating any earned income at this point? It sounds like he is such a people person that I could envision him enjoying seasonal work at a local shop for example, and that would help move you closer to achieving your goals.

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I thought that too. I can see the DH doing exactly that, and enjoying it, and, adding value to the business he works for. But I don’t think the DH, as delightful as he is, shares financial goals. I think of him more as the “it will all work out. “approach to finances.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

I thought that too. I can see the DH doing exactly that, and enjoying it, and, adding value to the business he works for. But I don’t think the DH, as delightful as he is, shares financial goals. I think of him more as the “it will all work out. “approach to finances.

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Yeah, he definitely is completely clueless when it comes to finances. Definitely when it comes to ant vs grasshopper, he is the grasshopper in the family. He did mention maybe getting a job this winter... his problem is that he had his own business for so long it makes him a very difficult employee. He went for a job at the boat marina last spring, which on paper was such a great idea!! One of the guys there suggested he should apply for manager, and he just ran with that. He wrote up a whole plan for how he could improve the marina, but unfortunately, what he didn't do is ask his prospective boss what THEY wanted. This marina is a very low key operation, and DH presented plans for building a restaurant, renting tubes and other pool toys, having leadership sessions with the deck hands... I think he scared the marina owner off..

If he finds the right position in which he could exert a little of his big shot personality without being too demanding as an employee, I think he'd be great.

I have discovered a new sub species of feline:


Felis silvestrus catus subsp antiboxus

My cats are of this antiboxus sub. They do not like boxes. They have no interest in boxes. They walk by boxes with no curiosity.

IL, that’s very funny.