Josh, I am happy to be able to help you solve your current calamity. My husband and I have weathered a few recently, and as huge fans of the Little House books, we looked at each other and laughed, “Ma and Pa never mentioned dealing with…this!” or at least, neither Laura Ingalls Wilder or Rose Wilder Lane chose to dramatize them.
I'm upgrading to paid to play my small part in taking the shitty out of your prairie, for your sake and because you've invoked the name of St. Laura, who saved my shitty childhood (and whose beautiful Laura books that STILL need to be made into a great series).
I’m looking forward to it. I’m “writing” (first draft of next book due to editor on the 20th). That week is a good time for me to talk. I feel like an d lady here, using comments to make appointments.
The Little House books inspired my daughter to read after the first two years of elementary school left her pretty resistant. And both her father and I worked in book publishing!
Anna, I've noticed that so many of us from abusive childhoods cling to Laura and the Little House books like a lifeline. I would fantasize that Ma and Pa were my real parents, and they'd take me away.
As an adult, when I reread the series, as I have done for years and will always do, I see more and more what a model of child rearing and responsible, good family and business life it depicts. I really, really do think America would be a better place if Caroline and Charles were the typical parents.
Exactly. Our dumb leftist majority keeps voting for stupid, corrupt Democrats like Newsom and his ilk, as our state spirals down the drain. Those of use who vote intelligently are just collateral damage.
(I know--"stupid, corrupt Democrats" is redundant.)
On the positive side, at least you haven’t been set on fire while sleeping on the subway by a deranged illegal migrant who is videoing you burning to death while sitting on the platform. Right?
There's something very strange happening. I'm not superstitious (only a little stitious)-- however, something very similar happened recently on a bigger scale in my city. My whole city (Richmond, VA) was without water this week from Monday until this morning it started coming back. An electrical failure at the city water plant caused a pump failure, which then flooded the pump room and shut the entire plant down. Hundreds of thousands of people have had zero water for the last 3 days -- it has been a little crazy and I'm surprised it hasn't made national news. The grocery stores have been cleaned out of water, all restaurants are shut down, all schools shut down. We have water today but are currently under a "Boil advisory".
All that is to say, I truly empathize with you. We also used snow to flush our toilets 😂
Josh, get in your jammies. Get under the heavy quilts. Get your cats to your side. Put on a good movie or Youtube videos of dumb, off the wall, strung out junkies resisting arrest (at least you will be comforted you are not them), knock your two slippers together and say "take me away from this mess for a day." Then after a long sleep refocus tomorrow.
"Roughing it" ain't easy at times. But at least you don't have crazy neighbors in an apartment complex blasting out hip hop.
I don’t know how you do it—make this so relatable on such little sleep and the “last of your functioning brain cells”—but I very much admire it. While I’m not able to do a paid sub right now, I’m rooting for you and praying for you. I get it. Sometimes it’s just one catastrophe after another while still being grateful for all the little stuff that’s actually the big stuff.
And thanks for sharing this. It really helps to witness how others get up and keep going to get out of the quagmire. I think I’ll keep going too!
It sounds like you're having a hell of a lot of fun. Whenever I'm enjoying myself like that, I, too, tend to catastrophize. Things usually work themselves out, fortunately.
For the last twenty-eight years of their lives, my parents lived in a 600-square-foot house in the high desert of California. The word "desert" is misleading. While it could be 115 degrees in the shade in summer, it could be 20 degrees in winter, and it snowed, and snowed. Access was by a mile-long poorly maintained dirt road, and the nearest neighbors, a tribe of hillbillies resembling the Manson family, was two miles away. No telephone service, either. Until I bought them a cell phone in 2002, my dad had to drive miles to a highway gas station and use their phone booth. Even after they got the cell phone, service was intermittent. The nearest grocery store was thirty miles away. Water came from a cistern behind the house that was filled from a tanker truck every two weeks, driven by a drunk who might or might not show up. The pump would quit working at the most convenient times--usually during a blizzard--and my dad would have to go out to the pump shed and get it going again, a process that usually took an hour or more and required several attempts and a lot of swearing. The only heating in the house was an inefficient, dirty Franklin stove that leaked about as much smoke into the living room as it vented out the chimney. There were rattlesnakes. The roof leaked. My dad spent almost as much time under the hood of his ancient, battered Ford station wagon as he spent in the driver's seat. Rats ate the car's wiring and rubber hoses.
I consider $10/month to support you to be a steal. I am so sorry for all that you're going through. I honestly have nothing to bitch about compared to so many. (Just as an aside: I would totally wander into the woods to do #2. Heck, I have done it while hiking.)
Dear Josh- please consider moving to warmer climes! I can’t subscribe at the moment but I think I saw an option for a one-off contribution so I will pursue that. Hang in there my friend! We need your voice. 🥶🥶🥶
Yes, I searched for that but not found. Substack should offer that. Ended up subscribing, it's $7/mo. I would have probably given $40 so after 6 months I'm about at that number.
Everyone--I put a link at the end of the post for one-off contributions. Thank you!
Josh, I am happy to be able to help you solve your current calamity. My husband and I have weathered a few recently, and as huge fans of the Little House books, we looked at each other and laughed, “Ma and Pa never mentioned dealing with…this!” or at least, neither Laura Ingalls Wilder or Rose Wilder Lane chose to dramatize them.
Thank you so much, Anne!
I'm upgrading to paid to play my small part in taking the shitty out of your prairie, for your sake and because you've invoked the name of St. Laura, who saved my shitty childhood (and whose beautiful Laura books that STILL need to be made into a great series).
Aww, thank you so much Anna. We still need to talk one on one soon. Lemme get through this bump. I hope you're doing well, and thank you.
Yes. Laura Ingalls for president of reality.
I’m looking forward to it. I’m “writing” (first draft of next book due to editor on the 20th). That week is a good time for me to talk. I feel like an d lady here, using comments to make appointments.
I'll keep that in mind, but it may fly out of it. We'll email. Good writing to you.
The Little House books inspired my daughter to read after the first two years of elementary school left her pretty resistant. And both her father and I worked in book publishing!
Interesting! As an adult I’ve really enjoyed learning about her later life, when she wrote the book.
Anna, I've noticed that so many of us from abusive childhoods cling to Laura and the Little House books like a lifeline. I would fantasize that Ma and Pa were my real parents, and they'd take me away.
As an adult, when I reread the series, as I have done for years and will always do, I see more and more what a model of child rearing and responsible, good family and business life it depicts. I really, really do think America would be a better place if Caroline and Charles were the typical parents.
100% accurate.
So sorry Josh… I hope things get better real soon.
I would pour out my complaints but then we would both need to schedule appointments with Jake Whiskerface! 😉
Hey! I resemble that comment!
Oh I know!
Everything is going pretty well for me... but I understand the urge to vent to Substack. I've indulged in that myself on occasion.
In fairness it’s what the people of Los Angeles voted for.
Not all of them. Many are just suffering what OTHER people voted for. Like we have with some of our "elected" officials.
Exactly. Our dumb leftist majority keeps voting for stupid, corrupt Democrats like Newsom and his ilk, as our state spirals down the drain. Those of use who vote intelligently are just collateral damage.
(I know--"stupid, corrupt Democrats" is redundant.)
No. fought hard for years, and finally gave up in 2022. I’m heartbroken and almost lost my livelihood trying to fight the lockdowns
You do a disservice when you paint us all with a wide brush. Try to have a little compassion.
On the positive side, at least you haven’t been set on fire while sleeping on the subway by a deranged illegal migrant who is videoing you burning to death while sitting on the platform. Right?
Did this help? Probably not. Sending hugs.
There's something very strange happening. I'm not superstitious (only a little stitious)-- however, something very similar happened recently on a bigger scale in my city. My whole city (Richmond, VA) was without water this week from Monday until this morning it started coming back. An electrical failure at the city water plant caused a pump failure, which then flooded the pump room and shut the entire plant down. Hundreds of thousands of people have had zero water for the last 3 days -- it has been a little crazy and I'm surprised it hasn't made national news. The grocery stores have been cleaned out of water, all restaurants are shut down, all schools shut down. We have water today but are currently under a "Boil advisory".
All that is to say, I truly empathize with you. We also used snow to flush our toilets 😂
Now I'm a little stitious too.
Lived in Cali four times. City of Devils is what it really is. Can you hear me now, West Hollywood???
Josh, get in your jammies. Get under the heavy quilts. Get your cats to your side. Put on a good movie or Youtube videos of dumb, off the wall, strung out junkies resisting arrest (at least you will be comforted you are not them), knock your two slippers together and say "take me away from this mess for a day." Then after a long sleep refocus tomorrow.
"Roughing it" ain't easy at times. But at least you don't have crazy neighbors in an apartment complex blasting out hip hop.
Oh Josh! I totally feel ALL of this! 🙏❤️
I don’t know how you do it—make this so relatable on such little sleep and the “last of your functioning brain cells”—but I very much admire it. While I’m not able to do a paid sub right now, I’m rooting for you and praying for you. I get it. Sometimes it’s just one catastrophe after another while still being grateful for all the little stuff that’s actually the big stuff.
And thanks for sharing this. It really helps to witness how others get up and keep going to get out of the quagmire. I think I’ll keep going too!
It sounds like you're having a hell of a lot of fun. Whenever I'm enjoying myself like that, I, too, tend to catastrophize. Things usually work themselves out, fortunately.
For the last twenty-eight years of their lives, my parents lived in a 600-square-foot house in the high desert of California. The word "desert" is misleading. While it could be 115 degrees in the shade in summer, it could be 20 degrees in winter, and it snowed, and snowed. Access was by a mile-long poorly maintained dirt road, and the nearest neighbors, a tribe of hillbillies resembling the Manson family, was two miles away. No telephone service, either. Until I bought them a cell phone in 2002, my dad had to drive miles to a highway gas station and use their phone booth. Even after they got the cell phone, service was intermittent. The nearest grocery store was thirty miles away. Water came from a cistern behind the house that was filled from a tanker truck every two weeks, driven by a drunk who might or might not show up. The pump would quit working at the most convenient times--usually during a blizzard--and my dad would have to go out to the pump shed and get it going again, a process that usually took an hour or more and required several attempts and a lot of swearing. The only heating in the house was an inefficient, dirty Franklin stove that leaked about as much smoke into the living room as it vented out the chimney. There were rattlesnakes. The roof leaked. My dad spent almost as much time under the hood of his ancient, battered Ford station wagon as he spent in the driver's seat. Rats ate the car's wiring and rubber hoses.
Rural life is delightful!
Wow , what a story ! Are your parents still living ? Eccentric people im sure !
Nope, they both broke on through to the other side twenty years ago. Yep, they did their own thing, but life was never boring.
Oh no!! Hope it gets sorted soon. Take care.
Mommy Dearest’s grave/tomb is burning along with all of those wire hangers!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I consider $10/month to support you to be a steal. I am so sorry for all that you're going through. I honestly have nothing to bitch about compared to so many. (Just as an aside: I would totally wander into the woods to do #2. Heck, I have done it while hiking.)
In -10 degree weather?!?
Dear Josh- please consider moving to warmer climes! I can’t subscribe at the moment but I think I saw an option for a one-off contribution so I will pursue that. Hang in there my friend! We need your voice. 🥶🥶🥶
Where did you see that, if you don’t mind?
Yes, I searched for that but not found. Substack should offer that. Ended up subscribing, it's $7/mo. I would have probably given $40 so after 6 months I'm about at that number.
Thank you Dan--really appreciated.
I put a link at the end of this post as an update. Thank you!