Navigation

Friday Flotsam

By on August 18, 2023 in Friday Flotsam

Faaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeed! d! d! ay.

I have a question for you, straight off the heels of finishing This is Where I Leave You. (liked the book, watching and predicting that I’ll LOVE the movie this weekend!)

And let me just say right now that we will be kind to one another and myself in these comments.

Okay here goes.

Let’s say someone close to you has a dying wish, but it’s completely outlandish, like absurdly silly, do you do it? And don’t ask me how to categorize “absurdly silly” because I already have to mow the lawns this morning. But what if it’s something you can’t do, or just don’t WANT to do? They’re not gonna know if you just pass on the whole dying wish thing. What’s the ethical thing to do here? Live it out? Skip it? Do an abbreviated version and hope you don’t get struck by lightening? Like what does one do?

The reason I ask is because in the book this large family had to sit shiva for seven ENTIRE days with one another because it was the father’s “dying wish.”* So they did it. And they hated it but ended up loving it yada yada. You know how this goes. But it got me wondering, Carrie Bradshaw style . . . does a dying wish actually have life?

*iykyk

Can we talk about tracking our children?

Probably an odd way to start this section, but I need some advice in kid tracking. We’re not ready for phones. They are NINE AND A HALF. (<–very important you know that part.) No phones yet, bruh. And I’m also not quite ready to splurge on the little tracking watches like TikToks or used Apple watches that have GPS. Although a few of their friends have them and I could definitely be swayed by Christmas.

But I’m trying to figure out an in-between, because lately they’ve been experiencing with more freedom (which is great! but ugh.) and hopping on their scooters and zippidy zipping all around the neighborhood. It’s very 1985 Goonies and I could not love it more. But also, ugh.

My friend Jenny was telling me about Tile the other day. Do you know about Tile? Or is that more for like, losing your keys or phone or visor? I can’t tell how far the range is. Can I clip one to a belt and track them on an app? Because listen, I am prepared to learn a new app for this.

What do you use? Is there even such a thing as kid trackers or do I need to get out my trench, a fedora and a long range lens? Again, we will be gentle to one another and myself in the comments.

Okay, my birthday is next week and I’m gifting myself a little nail kit. (yes I’m talking about fingernails again) And by nail kit I mean I want one of those cuticle pusher upper thingies! I’ve seen a bunch of cute ones on Amazon, but I have zero clue where to start.

My friend Laura was in town last week and as she was shaping up my nails, she kept glancing up at me with little sighs of sadness. “Oh Bev…”

LOOK, I KNOW, LAURA.

I need your help with this. Tell me a good shapin’ up kit so that I can head into my 47th with fabulous clapper claws! (a nude polish is also on the docket if you have a good brand. Essie? Olive and June?)

clickidy click.

When you go to the grocery store do you test out the carts before you commit? Like do you roll them back and forth to make sure you’re not getting a janky cart before you put your purse and bags in the top part? Like do you push them this way and that before proceeding? Test this one. Nope, the wheel sticks. Test that one. No, there’s a squeak. Test that one other there. Smooth. We good? Okay, we’re committing.

No? Just me?

Oh.

Weekend plans?

I’m getting yard work done early this morning so that I can estate sale late morning so that I can be home early to make a plum galette for the blog and a mom party tonight! Oh, I need to charge the mower. Thanks for reminding me. Tomorrow morning I have SEVEN! (said like Julie Andrews) miles to run, a chic birthday lunch with my friend Ashlee, and then a 4th grade pool party for the girls. Sunday – cheeeeelin’. And ordering whatever tracking device and nail kit you recommend. Duh.

From this week:: a summer edition of my favorite things! You guys are all over that blazer, I tell ya. It’s a good one. (Also I have cuffed trousers and loafers on the way today, so you know I’ll be doing another one of these come October, shooooot.)

What’s for dinner tonight?

, , ,

16 Responses to Friday Flotsam

  1. Emily August 18, 2023 at 7:30 am #
    I got my 12 year olds gizmo watches. They’re relatively cheap, they can text you and 8 other people of your choosing and you can call and track them. Very low tech. They work great when they decide to wear them!
    Reply
    • Jay August 18, 2023 at 4:30 pm #
      I got the same for my 8yo and it works perfectly gor tracking her location and she can communicate with my husband and me as needed. her contacts would need to be added or approved ir added by us, which is also great!
      Reply
  2. Vicki August 18, 2023 at 7:39 am #
    We have the Verizon gizmo, and really love it! My kid who uses it is only 7, but it has come in handy many times. One time, he and a neighborhood friend were riding bikes very close, but the neighbor fell and was scraped up pretty bad — he called us right away! You program in what numbers he can call and who can call him. They can do texting or voice texting. And take photos. It IS big and bulky but serves its purpose well. He hasn’t used it in about 2 months, but it’s always ready.
    Reply
  3. Maggie August 18, 2023 at 8:28 am #
    My kids have Gizmo watches which we love because they have GPS and we can call/text them (much simpler than Apple watches). We have a few friends that have used Air Tags on them (esp when they've gone on vacation to busy places) and they loved knowing where they were!
    Reply
  4. Allison August 18, 2023 at 8:31 am #
    Also a mom of a 9 and 8 year old! Gabb watches. You can program which numbers it can call or text, it tells you where your kid has buzzed off to in the neighborhood, and you can set a safety perimeter, and it will notify you if they have left!
    Reply
  5. Mama Martin August 18, 2023 at 8:33 am #
    Apple AirTags are similar to Tile but you can track them using the Find My app rather than having to learn a new app. We use them mostly in bags/backpacks, but attached one to our kid at Disneyland. The range and accuracy are both great!
    Reply
  6. Jenn P August 18, 2023 at 8:37 am #
    Okay. My dad wanted to be scattered at the top of Angel's Landing in Zion. My mom told him from the jump that she was not hiking all the way up there just to scatter his ashes, no way, hard pass, not doing it. But then she passed before my dad, and he reiterated how he wanted to be scattered at Angel's Landing, and now he wanted his ashes and my mom's mixed and scattered together. My brother and I could see my mom, from beyond, rolling her eyes and saying to us, "Just tell him okay. I'm dead, I don't care where my ashes are, and you know how I feel about Angel's Landing." So we split the difference. When my dad passed, we took both of their remains to Zion and scattered them, not at the top of Angel's Landing, but at the trailhead. This was over 5 years ago and I feel fine about it, and have not been struck by lightening. I think that you do what's going to feel good to you, what's not going to make you feel guilty or terrible or like you're a bad person and go with it. You will have to live with your decision though, so think it through. AirTag the kids. They make watchbands that you can slide them into, or little keychain holder things. Then you can just Find My Friends them. I do not test grocery carts, I just get mad about it when I get a sh*t%y one.
    Reply
  7. Cathy August 18, 2023 at 8:54 am #
    Dinner tonight BLT with fresh maters and sweet corn!
    Reply
  8. Steph August 18, 2023 at 10:27 am #
    Another vote for Gabb. Pretty easy to use and allows them to call or text you which is nice. You can schedule down times on the app so they aren’t tempted to text you all day at school. I’ve used AirTags too for their backpacks when walking to school alone for my peace of mind that they arrived. Also used some AirTags for Taylor-gating this summer so I knew I could find them quick (no watch yet for 5 year old) if we got separated. I use AirTags for checked luggage too for my (uh hem obvious) anxiety, I like knowing my bag made it on the plane with me.
    Reply
  9. Jessica August 18, 2023 at 12:20 pm #
    Gizmo watch!
    Reply
  10. Sarah jane August 18, 2023 at 1:10 pm #
    We have the Gabb for our 9 year old twins and love it!
    Reply
  11. Su August 18, 2023 at 1:33 pm #
    A nail product I have used forever is Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover. It's super cheap but SO good. You just soak your fingers for a few minutes (or just wash dishes), immediately put the gel around your cuticles while they are dampish and under your nails. It works in 5 seconds (seriously). Just gently push back your cuticles then use a fingernail brush, soap and water and brush the gel off under running water. Super easy and actually works! A business associate's wife was pretty high up in OPI and he gifted me some products that I have used for years. After my cuticle stuff, I put on two coats of OPI Nail Envy (original formula), followed by OPI Pro Spa Nail and Cuticle Oil. Not only is the oil good for your cuticles, but it dries your polish so quickly. About every other day I slap on another coat of Nail Envy and about 7-10 days out I remove the polish and then start over. The cuticle oil is also great for toes.
    Reply
  12. Alex August 18, 2023 at 2:01 pm #
    Gabb watches again! My oldest just started junior high and I still have him using it. Sorry kid, we’re holding out on phones as loooooong as we can.
    Reply
  13. Jay August 18, 2023 at 4:52 pm #
    I totally know how stupid it is and still want my death wish granted! I’m prepared to haunt! LOL My kid (8yo) uses a Gyzmo watch. It’s pretty easy to use. You can add or approve contacts, set up a perimeter and you get notified if they walk out of it, you can lock it for school mode and it allows them to only call the primary care person in case of emergencies. We like it. No phones for as long as we can help it and this watch is pretty holding up to that goal. As for the nails… DAZZLE DRY! I swear by it. Applies like regular polish, lasts like gel, dries un FIVE minutes. It’s a mom’s dream for keeping her nails nice and do all the things
    Reply
  14. Jennifer August 18, 2023 at 8:12 pm #
    My daughter has a GABB watch and it checks all the boxes without going to phone yet! She’s 11 and has had it a little over a year, and we still love it!
    Reply
  15. Julie August 20, 2023 at 11:05 am #
    Bev, Ive got a 10 and 8 year old, and they both use Verizon Gizmo watches. They can text/call i think 8 people...(you have to add contacts from ap in your phone) I can track them as well. They are extermely helpful as the kids have started to roam the neighborhood (I grew up in the 80's 90's and want them to have that freedom me and my siblings had!) I also have a 5 year old, and can tell, he will be getting on well before the girls did as he tags along. (also- watch has no games, which I love)
    Reply

Leave a Reply