I'm going to have to next year. I need to just say fuck it and go through with it at least one time, and see if I still love it as much as I use to.

Great picture! Brings back a lot of memories.

I think it's been a good 21 years since I've been to Wachusetts, but from the time I was three years old until I was fourteen, we use to take the ride up there 8-10 times a season for day trips, plus a couple weekend trips to Bretton Woods and Mount Snow.

My dad use to be an avid skier, it was probably his favorite thing to do in the world. By the time I was 14 though his health was already declining (thankfully he's still around today, but can't do much physically anymore). Wachusetts was actually our very last time skiing together (my last time skiing period), and I think it was the first time I witnessed/understood what was going on with his health.

I've always wanted to get back into it, but I don't have any friends who are interested. Every fall I tell myself, "This winter, I'm going to go, even if it's alone", but things just get in the way and it's hard to find the motivation to just take the drive by myself (I'm down in New Bedford).

Sorry for the rambling comment, the picture just brought up a lot nostalgia.

> And it's really about protecting the most vulnerable, too.

Absolutely.

What gets me the most in my city's FB page, is I'll look at these parents complaining about kids being soft these days, and 99% of the time they look like they're a poor/working class person (not to be too judgemental).

I mean I'm blue collar myself, but also college educated, and making a very good income for my area.

Too many of the least well off people support views that are the antithesis to their well-being.

Models are crazy right now.

Last several GFS runs have been putting my area (southcoast) in the teens for snowfall amounts, NAM is putting me in a couple feet (not trusting the NAM this far out though).

Last Euro run was trending east I think, but still has me at like under 3 inches, along with the ICON.

I don't think we're going to have an accurate idea of things until late Sunday/early Monday.

If I were putting money on it, I'd say this is going to end up being an interior storm, but as of right now there's still a good chance it could be a bigger hit for eastern/coastal Ma.

Sometime in the last few years, forget when, we had a deep freeze the night after a snowfall.

So school was canceled for a second day. The "uphill both way" parents were hollering about how the streets are all plowed the sidewalks are all shoveled.

They were completely ignoring that the deep freeze turned the streets and sidewalks into a skating rink. It was cold enough overnight that even the treated roads were a sheet of ice.

I could barely walk down my front steps and get to my driveway, busted my ass, went back inside and called out of work.

Yet these dumbasses wanted busses on the streets and kids on the sidewalk walking to school? Not to mention we know there's always assholes who don't shovel their sidewalk. So you want kids having to either get soaking wet walking through 8 inches of snow, or walk out into the street while cars and busses are slipping and sliding on the road? No. Fuck that attitude.

What I don't get about the way these people think is.....don't we want BETTER for our kids? Don't we want their lives to be EASIER than our generation and previous ones?

What exactly are we trying to make our kids to "tough" for? I mean don't get me wrong I understand wanting to raise kids to be strong and independent....but why does that have to involve putting their lives at a UNNECESSARY risk?

The only answer I've ever gotten is "Well when they're an adult and have a job they....."

I'm an adult with a job. I called out. I'll use sick time if I still have it, or I'll take the points. My job is non-essential. I'm not risking my life for a corporation's profits. Teach kids that. Maybe when the next generation gets into management they'll be more understanding.

I think it was last year or the year before, my city closed the schools when the temperature was predicted to be like 5 degree with a -20 wind chill.

People were up in arms with things like, "It's winter, that's too be expected! Wear a coat!"

I commented that those temperatures are absolutely not normal for southcoast Mass, they were FAR below normal. Not every kid has a proper winter coat for those temps, let alone proper gloves, hat, thermal underwear, wool socks, etc. And considering not every parent can drive their kid to school, it would be way too dangerous in those temps for kids to be walking or waiting 30 minutes for the bus.

I just got told off and had people say other parts of the country have winter temps like that every day......

Yeah, and those kids are fucking prepared for it, unlike kids in fucking New Bedford.

Thanks for the recommendation. I might have to turn my three day trip into a four day one.

I didn't know that. That's a pretty long drive for me, but I was planning on a weekend trip to Keene this October. Sounds like a good stop on the way up or down.

>It amazes me that scented candles are such a big business.

They probably wouldn't be if people knew how bad they were for your lungs.

Or maybe they still would be, because I know that yet I still light scented candles.

It's not a daily thing for me though, not by far. I'll get like a couple of small seasonal ones for the time of year. Some of the fall and Christmas are just so good (who can say lighting up Spiced Pumpkin on fall night isn't relaxing as hell?).

Burning them daily is just not healthy though. Light one with paraffin wax and turn on your air purifier if you have one, the air quality will be down to zero in minutes.

Some advice for people who do like scented candles while on this topic.....

Around a decade plus ago, the original owners of Yankee Candle sold the business.

They now own Kringle and Country Candle, and they use their original Yankee recipes.

So if you've noticed your Yankee Candles aren't as good as they were years ago....it's because the new company is getting cheaper and cheaper with them.

Try Kringle/Country ones.

I know the article touches on this a little, mentioning lack of enforcement, but they are pretty much "unofficially" decriminalized aren't they?

Like you can openly buy the spores used to grow them online and have them shipped to you without federal or state law enforcement knocking down your door, can't you?

I also know psilocybin isn't tested for on any standard drug panels. And K9 units can't sniff the mushrooms out.

Seems like you would have to put effort into getting in trouble over it.

That's not to say I don't agree that the law should be officially changed, to make sure some people don't fall through the cracks and get busted for it.

Ever been on the ride in Disney? One of the most mind-blowing 3D motion rides there is. Feeling the wind on your face, water splashing on you, you even feel the mountain banshee you're supposed to be riding "breathing" in and out.

Incredible ride. Miserable wait time though if you're there on a busy day. I waited 3.5 hours. I think it's the only ride that Disney installed bathrooms halfway through the line, because people were pissing themselves.

It's a cake that one has on the anniversary of the day they were born.

>She had to pay her bills, once.

Or maybe they just have issues with the company making record profits while charging outrageous costs?

I don't have an issue with paying a bill to use a product and service.

I do have a problem with aforementioned though.

To give an example, my highest electrical use is always for my August bill.

My supply cost was $72, my delivery cost was $103.

Here's an even more egregious example. I don't use much natural gas in the summer.

This past July I paid $9 for supply but fucking $22 for delivery.

I'm on budget billing, and this year they set me at $133 a month gas, $186 electric. That's $319 a month to power a single family, 1200sq ft home, with one occupant.

Now, feel free to call me a dirty commie, but I don't think a utility company should be a for profit and publicly traded business.

Yeah they are.

The actual Christmas party dates usually start the 2nd week of November.

Did you go recently? October has become pretty insane at Disney World. That was the month we use to go all the time in the 90's because it was usually slower than average and the weather was always decent. But that was also before the Halloween Party was an almost daily thing, and use to just be literally on Halloween night.

I like the 2nd or 3rd week of November now. The Christmas stuff is going on, but most people are waiting for either Thanksgiving week or December to go. Last time I went was Nov. 2019, and nothing was more than a 45 minute wait except Flight of the Passage.

That said, I have some family members who don't like going in November because it's "too cold." Which I disagree with. First of all it's warmer than Mass. is every day that time of year. It's usually still upper 70's to mid 80's during the day. Mornings can be in the upper 50's, and nights can be in the upper 60's, but who cares? That's perfect theme park weather if you ask me. And if you want to go for a night swim, every single pool is heated.

Two more tips....

DO NOT go the first week of November. It's Jersey Week and absolutely packed. Plus the Halloween decorations are down, and the Christmas decorations aren't up yet.

Another good low crowd time to go is the 1st-3rd week of September. A lot of people don't want to pull their kids from school that early in the year. I'm hesitant to go those dates though, because it's still hot, humid, and rainy and it's peak hurricane season.

If you want to do Disney World right (and who would want to do it wrong with the price these days), it's about a year to a year and a half of planning and organizing. So I'm not one to risk going in hurricane season, even if the crowd level is at the lowest point of the entire year. I've been going to DW for 31 years, and it's a tight schedule to attempt to do everything you want during a one week trip. Losing out 1-2 days because of a storm can mean a lot of missed stuff.

While the cause of the early peak was awful, I feel like it was nice to have the peak around here in mid-October. In my head I feel like that's when it should be, if that makes any sense.

And I was actually surprised at how vibrant the peak was, along the southcoast it was one of the best ones we've had in years. I thought the drought would have really dulled the colors, but it didn't.

Now I'm just hoping it didn't screw up the local tree farms, because I always like to pick out a fresh cut Christmas tree. I'm afraid they're going to be really sappy and won't last as long after being cut.