u/Mindless-Stuff2771k — reddlx

Rebuilding Decoy Spread after a move - Quality Recommendations? (not FB/CL)

After a long distance move and liquidating my decoys, I am rebuilding my decoy spread. It has been quite some time since I purchased decoys (Over a decade). While I am not made of money I can afford to get some quality blocks, which is a change from my younger days. (And yes I've been watching the facebook/craigslist ads. Locally the sellers are way overpriced for what is being offered and they decoys conditions are really rough).

Brand wise, if I'm looking at a mid to upper but not Cadillac level of quality what should I be looking at? (Back in the day the "hot buy" big box store mallards were the entry level, I'd like to avoid that).

I kept a few of my nicer blocks, so I need about a half dozen mallards, and maybe another half dozen of something else (teal? Widgeon?) to get up and running again. (I usually run keel hook weights in slotted bags.)

If you were rebuilding your spread what would you be looking at these days? And what would you be putting together for a smaller but quality spread. {I am looking at another move again in about 3-4 years so If I buy it I want it to be nice enough to warrant moving it again}

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u/Mindless-Stuff2771k — 17 hours ago

▲ 6 r/romancemovies

Friendzone (2021) - Why doesn't it work?

I recently finished the French romcom Friendzone (2021), currently available on netflix. The premise was super intriguing and I really wanted to like it. At its core, its an ugly duckling role-reversal. Too nice guy Thibault is unlucky in love and his threesome of girl friends (friends who are girls not LIs) see his problem as he is the "friend" and not the "lover." When Thibault meets someone he is interested in but gets "friendzoned," the Trio doubles down and helps remake their good opposite gender friend into dateable material in order to get the girl. HIjinks and heartbreak ensue.

With female leads, this is a common trope. Pull off the glasses, blow out the hair, add some heels ... presto, leading lady material that men are supposed to fall over. A role-reversal of this trope with the man getting the make-over sounded refreshing and interesting. And I really wanted to like this film. But I didn't, and I don't know why. On paper it had all the elements, and the chemistry wasn't terrible. And I liked the characters, even the sometimes cardboardy friends.

In the end I was left with the question of who this film was made for? Who was the target audience? Did I miss something in the translations? (I'm an English speaker). Was it simply that this kid of role-reversal has too many barriers and doesn't work?

Did anyone else see this film? Did you like it? What worked for you? Or more importantly, if you didn't like it ... why?

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u/Mindless-Stuff2771k — 27 days ago

▲ 20 r/Romance_for_men

A great Throuple Romance - His Best Friends by W Jaxson

I took a chance on an unknown (to me) author, W Jaxson (Wyatt Jaxson) and read “His Best Friends.” The book is a contemporary M/FF story about a newly divorced guy (Todd) and an established couple (Riley and Josie), and how their relationship develops from friends to a permanent throuple relationship. Plot wise, that’s about it. Very slice of life.

Romance: 5 (RFM scale). There is nothing going on in this book except for the development of the relationship between the characters. At the outset Riley and Josie are in a committed lesbian relationship, and Riley is co-worker and gym friend to Todd. Where this story shines is in the slow burn organic way Todd is brought into their Riley and Josie’s relationship. I don’t want to give any spoilers, because this story is so slice of life, but Riley and Todd’s friendship comes off as real, and Josie’s getting to know Todd as Riley’s friend first before anything romantic occurs also feels real. The reader (though a 3^(rd) person POV, see below) can see where things are going before any of the characters do, which works and heightens the slow burn tension without relying on unrealistic communication problems or dumb situations to prolong the story. It’s a true slow burn, without the author putting roadblocks in the way of the relationship just to slow things down. And when you get to the end, the pay off is good and … (I keep using this word a lot but its true) real.

Sex: 4. (RFM scale). There is a lot, and its open door. It takes a long while for Josie and Riley to get together with Todd. Most of the sex in the book is F/F, but not all. The scenes were used effectively to develop the throuple relationship and the writing was vivid without being dumb or unbelievable. There is a bit of cum-play at the end. And if F/F sex scenes are not your thing, you will want to pass on this one. Overall, the frequency of the scenes did not feel out of place, nor did they feel “extra” to the story. And they were well done. I didn’t find myself hurrying through or skipping them to get to the story. (And they were all pretty hot).

Writing: 3.5/5. The book is well edited. A few typos (I counted less than 5) which is very good for what is clearly a new author’s work. It was readable, with only a few early sections feeling clunky. The author got into their stride about a third of the way in. The book is written in a close 3^(rd) person POV and early on the POV changes were a bit clunky, but after about 25-30% in this smooths out. The language usage was also good. It’s not Toni Morrison or Wallace Stegnar, but you don’t feel dumber at the end. The amateurism in the book is not in the writing but in the formatting and setting up of the ebook. There is no traditional fore-matter, and no back-matter, and the scene breaks are just a left justified dash. But once you’re into the story those are small quibbles. But they do show that this is a self-published book.

Sum up: 4/5 (Maybe even 4.5). There are a lot of harem stories and a smattering of mono-romance stories in this space, but this is a true threesome/throuple story. And done really well. It’s a realistic portrayal of how such a relationship could develop (and not just a hurry up and get to the banging part kind of story, though there is plenty of banging). Its sweet and spicy at the same time. And a very chill read. Low pressure situations but with big pay-offs. It didn’t leave me stunned and amazed, but it was well worth my time. As I began writing this review, I was rating at a 4/5 overall but by the time I got done I enjoyed reliving the story so much that I think it deserves a 4.5 as I probably will be rereading it when I need a chill relaxing sexy read. I hope W. Jaxson keeps writing.

My Scale:

5 - It was a great ride and I will be rereading this book again. And probably soon.

4 – I enjoyed the book and can happily will recommend this book to almost everyone

3 – I liked it and some people may like this book but it wont be for everyone

2 – I finished but want my time back.

1 – DNF/What did I just read?

u/Mindless-Stuff2771k — 1 month ago

▲ 803 r/daddit

Greatest Mother's Day ever. Daddit Win.

This is the greatest day of my life.

For those of you in the reach of the American Industrial Advertising Complex this is a reminder - tomorrow is Mother's Day. All week long I have been asking my kids (older teenagers) what their plans were for mother's day. They routinely said they have it taken care of. When I checked this morning for details (just to be sure, because we know could happen in that situation), by golly they do have it taken care of. Presents? Check. Breakfast? Check. Cards? Check. They actually do have it handled. And all without my involvement. (I've got dinner, but it's not unusual for me to do Sunday dinner).

Having your kids REALLY handle Mother's Day because she is their mother - wow. Daddit win. It feels like the best thing I can do is give her a card that says "they did this all themselves. Really. Happy Mother's Day." Because this is a parenting job well done, and the work happened long ago.

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u/Mindless-Stuff2771k — 2 months ago