Lost In The Sandbox

Jason, Rob, and I have been playing Fortnight, for the PC, since the summer. I keep meaning to post about it, so much fun! I haven't enjoyed a game this much since World of Warcraft (WoW). Similar to WoW, Fortnight has 'events' and just finished one for Halloween. I was able to get a character that is dressed up in a cute cat costume, and she kinda looks like me!!

Note: The post title is in reference to the Fortnight game style.

My Blooming Green Thumb

My tree flowered!?! Quite a few years ago, I got a tropical tree from Jason's apartment building while he was moving out - it was sitting in a basement hallway with a sign that literally read Free Tree. I added it to my fairly extensive indoor plant collection. I am pretty good at keeping indoor (non-flowering) plants alive. 

A couple of days ago, Jason and I came home to a sickly sweet smell in the house, which we couldn't figure out until I noticed the tree had grown flowers! I couldn't believe it. Even though the smell was very gross, I was so impressed I didn't want to get ride of them. Finally I ended up cutting them off because we couldn't take the smell, but I am pretty proud of myself for getting a tree to make flowers.

Money Thoughts - The Article

At what point would a person or family cross the threshold into 'rich' and then, what should they do about it? For the last couple of months I have been struggling with the idea of class and wealth, the ever expanding middle-class needs to stop expanding. You can't be 'upper-middle class' forever, people need to acknowledge their wealth and whether that wealth is necessary, or how much of it is.

This crisis of heart came from the perfect storm of promotions for Jason, more inheritance for myself, and the comfort that comes from owning a house in an ever increasing real estate market. These are all things that seem positive (until you consider the heartbreaking realities of death that bring inheritance, and the annoying fact that home ownership is expensive and challenging.) Also with these windfalls came the publication of an article in The New York Times, "What the Rich Won't Tell You" by Rachel Sherman.

This article is haunting me. It isn't long so I suggest clicking the link above and reading the whole thing, but here are some interesting quotes:

...how economic inequality is hidden, justified and maintained in American life. Keeping silent about social class, a norm that goes far beyond the affluent, can make Americans feel that class doesn’t, or shouldn’t, matter. 

... hide the privilege... wealthy people manage their discomfort with inequality, which in turn makes that inequality impossible to talk honestly about — or to change.

... must appear to be worthy of their privilege for that privilege to be seen as legitimate. Being worthy means working hard... also means spending money wisely. 

... never bragged about the price of something because it was high; instead, they enthusiastically recounted snagging bargains ... critiqued other wealthy people’s expenditures, especially ostentatious ones...

... not mentioning money... follow a seemingly neutral social norm that frowns on such talk... one of the ways in which privileged people can obscure both their advantages and their conflicts about these advantages.

... widespread judgments of the individual behaviors of wealthy people as morally meritorious or not... such judgments distract us from any possibility of thinking about redistribution. 

... talk not about the moral worth of individuals but about the moral worth of particular social arrangements. 

What are your thoughts? I will continue to explore these issues on Always Standing, as I have often discussed financial issues and ideas over the years.

Looking for something a bit lighter, or disturbingly amusing? Check out the article from Toronto Life about a couple who buys and renovates a mansion in Parkdale in an incredible display of extreme lack of self-awareness when it comes to wealth and privilege. Follow that up with the hilarious Crowd Funding response.

Xmas List 2017

Two
- Home Depot Gift Card
--- for supplies to build a new Litter Cabinet
- Litter deodorizer
- Ball-shaped toy

Me
- Gift Cards
--- Ricki's, Reitmans, Dollerama, Lululemon
- Books (used is fine)
--- Gail Vaz-Oxlade (Never Too Late), William Gibson, Jasper Fforde
- Boardgames
--- Ticket to Ride: Europe, Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It
- Sims 4 for PC
- Snow shovel
- Epsom salts
- Soap and Glory: Flake Away
- Canned corn
- Oral B electric toothbrush heads
- Martin's Apple Chips
- Safari shirts  (beige) LRG
--- long sleeve, tank tops

Jason
- Gift cards
--- XBox, Amazon (for Kindle Books), MEC
- Thermal gloves for cycling, 5-15 degrees
- French press
- Coffee grinder
- Sour candy
- Coke in glass bottles
- Craft Beer, not hoppy
- Safari shirts (beige) MED
--- long sleeve, t-shirts
- Safari pants (beige) 33-30
- Hat for safari (shades back of neck)  7.25
- Socks, shoe size 10.5
--- biking, black dress, white athletic

Joint (Jason and I)
- Gift cards
--- Home Depot, IKEA, Homesense, Canadian Tire
- Knife sharpener
- Type M plug adaptors
- Home Reno Assistance
--- Help installing cabinets and counter top above washer/drier
- Camera accessories for FUJI X-T20
--- extra batteries, second battery charger, SDXC cards, screen protector
--- leather case (coffee colour), camera strap
- Cotton king-size sheets
- Black and Decker 20V Max 1.5Ah Lithium Ion Battery

Late Night Poem

Cereal is great for dinner.
Towels are my favourite piece of laundry to fold.
Let's face it,
You did not marry me for my domesticity.