12 July 1957 “The Childless Homemaker: Is it a real Job?”

I saw a comment the other day that has made me think. As many of you know, who read my blog, I am often apt to brood. Most likely it was a negative trait in some respects, for I have often been told I ‘think too much’ or ‘over think’. Were I able to shut it off, sometimes I think I would, happily. Though, in many cases it has lead to much self-discovery and even the initial attempt to journey into the past was brought about by such contemplation.

 The comment, though I am sure meant light-hearted and not in any way negative or hurtful, did make me feel a bit wounded at first. But, as I said, I don’t think the commenter meant it that way and I am not attacking her. It was her own feeling and I was glad that she commented and her meaning may have been miles from what I interpreted. That is, after all, one of the main problems with modern communication of typed words on computer screens, cell phones and the like.

Here was the comment:

Oh, my darling,
When I saw the title of your post I thought that you & your husband were expecting an addition to youre family.
I was looking forward to following your journey past the 1950s "honeymoon period" into the reality of homemaking/Mother.
Perhaps someday ... until then, enjoy your play!

Now, I am certain that this comment was simply meant as a happy, enjoy yourself, sort of comment. But, as usual, I read much into it. It made me feel as if as a Homemaker, if you are childless, than really you are not doing a real job. Or perhaps, because your job must be easier without children, perhaps you should be doing something else.

Then, as I usually do, I followed my thought path further and thought, “Well, what if this is simply my own opinion of what she said?” and then the inevitable, “My, goodness, is this what I actually think?”

So, I had a good sit down for a few minutes and really thought about it: The role of the childless Homemaker. In today’s world, many Homemakers with children are already viewed as people ‘wasting their time’ or ‘why don’t they get a real job’ or ‘how can they stand being trapped at home all the time’. But, and here is the rub, they often might get, “Well, they do have their children to care for”.

Does this mean then, in the eyes of the majority that the childless Homemaker must be the biggest lay about of all time? And, horror of horrors, would even other Homemakers with children feel this way about their childless Homemaking sisters? I am not sure.

Now, concerning my own thoughts on this. That, after all, might very well have been what lead me to interpret the remark that way. Do I, childless, feel as if my job as a Homemaker is less of an occupation as I have no child? My quick response is yes. But, having only over the past two and half years come to realize the importance and real work in the home for the Homemaker, certainly there must be some residual modern thinking of ‘at home, no kids, no job, lazy’.

In my response to the comment I mentioned that I felt one would not consider a maid not a real maid if she hadn’t children following her around all day while she did her job. This, later in the day, of course came back to me and made me think: do I really think Homemaking is only equivalent to a domestic? Not that a job of  maid is not a good or noble profession. Nor, should any domestic feel their job is not important, but what made me at first choose that as the equivalent. Why, for example, did I not say, “Would we think an executive any less of an executive if he didn’t have children to care for While he did the bulk of his work?” Because, quite honestly, what  a Homemaker does is not merely cleaning. Surely, that is a large part of one’s daily chores. But, the managing of meals, the organizing of the house, the managing of the money and subsequent organization of important paperwork;planning, preparing, creativity, drudgery, multi-tasking, all of these are the qualifications and duties of a Homemaker both with and without children.

Now, surely I should NEVER claim my job is equal to a mother of two or even one child. But, then if one is a mother of say seven is she meant to be a harder worker and more a Homemaker to one who has only one child? What are the degrees? And,  if someone say worked at a bank and had a child who was in daycare. Is that person MORE or a harder working bank teller because of the child? Does that perception pile over into other professions.

Again, I now adding children adds literally thousands more things to think about. Yet, I know it also had thousands more wonderful things and moments of joy that a childless homemaker could not feel. They certainly HAVE to work harder to feed more, clean for more, and also add in being a teacher to their brood. So, yes they are harder working, it is apparent. Yet, if one is childless, rather choice or not of their own, are they viewed, because they are women at home, as having not only less work but less purpose or even, dare I say it, value? Do we value women based upon their children? I would hope not. I think we should value and praise and raise up all mother’s for there is no more important job, but I would hope that should be a separate value from women as a sex. I would hope that we, amongst ourselves, would not value each other based purely on their offspring. But, I don’t know, do we? Do I? And if I do, do I feel, in some way, that I am not quite of the same value as I could be? And if it comes to be I cannot have my own child and could not afford adoption, would I then have to live with this evaluation of myself and others as less a woman, less a Homemaker…less a person?

See, I told you I over analyze and over think. But, that is perhaps because I do spend quite a bit of my day with myself. Would this personality trait become less with a child to focus on. Yet, I don’t honestly feel as if I am not hard working or that I am not doing a real job. I don’t find that because I have more time to my own thoughts without a child’s need of attention that those thoughts are then not as important. If I did feel that and had a child, would I then feel my own child, were she to choose or have to be childless, also have less right to her own time or thoughts? I would hope and like to think not, but I wonder if it is lurking under my subconscious somewhere and perhaps all of we women that a Stay at Home without a child has less value.

I shall endeavor to overcome these thoughts because I think they are not warranted. Though, as I said, I would NEVER claim to be as busy as my Homemaking and Outside the home Job sisters with children. There can be no way as by the very amount of added work a child brings changes that amount of work. Yet if someone has a job that is very fast paced and busy, say an E.R. physician and someone else has an important job, but is more sedentary and in an office, same pay, same social scale, is the E.R. physician more of a person, have greater value, or a ‘better’ person because of the added work? Is the very definitions of their jobs also the definitions of their self worth and if so, does that also apply to homemakers. Or could it be that a Homemaker with no children is still equally as important but their job is not as hectic but still equally as valid and valued as the Homemaker with two children. And, then, the Homemaker with two children is not as busy are harried as the Homemaker with seven, so they are both still valued equally, right? One has more physical labor and mental gymnastics, but they are both doing equally valid jobs, correct? Is a college professor who has to deal with adults viewed less of a job compared to a grade school teacher who has to deal with their students being young children? They both are doing the same type of work, education, but having to approach it differently, one being more physically demanding, so is one more valid or valued?

I hope this is the way I think and hope most others see it this way, but am now quite curious. Therefore, any and all out there who would like to share their opinion: what is your initial thought of the Homemaker with no child compared to one with children? Do you think it is the same way you feel about equal jobs where in one requires more physical work to the more sedentary? It can be very enlightening to us to see how we view one another and ourselves.

There is no news today and as always, Happy Homemaking.

10 July 1957 “ A Story For A Sunday Afternoon: ‘Patter of Little Feet’”

I thought today, being a lovely Summer Sunday, you might enjoy a good read. A kick back and relax with a cuppa sort of afternoon.

My vintage magazines are full of fiction. They often are light-shedding onto the thoughts, goals, and general thought of people of the time. This little story, here in its entirety, deals with a baby photographer, his gal and babies. Can it all work out? Read and find out.

There is no Vintage Daily News today, so have a lovely day and as always, Happy Homemaking.

9 July 1957 “Old Radio Programs & New Technology”

I recently received a letter from a follower asking me where I got my old radio programs to cd. I figured a post about old radio programs would be interesting with an accompanying Vintage Daily News to go along with it.

Before TV in the 1950’s, most passive entertainment came from the radio. Though the 1950’s had the TV, radio was still a major part of your daily life. The radio in the car was a new thing in the 1930’s and was not standard equipement. At first home systems were adapted to the car.

By the 1950’s most cars came with a radio:

A common feature of modern car radios is the "seek" function which allows tuning from one station to the next at the push of a button. This was a popular option on some Ford products in the 1950s. It was known as the "Town & Country" radio since it used a pair of switches marked "Town" and "Country." Pressing the Town button actuated a motor to rotate the tuning mechanism while the receiver sensitivity was reduced so that only local (stronger) signals would be received. When a station was tuned, the motor stopped. Pressing the Country button had the same effect except that full sensitivity was enabled so that the very next available station would be selected. In addition, for repeated seeking operations, pressing a foot switch on the driver's floor up to the left where the "dead pedal" is located on modern cars would reactivate the Seek at whatever sensitivity was last selected.

The Radio program was the forerunner of the soap opera’s which transferred to TV. But, they started out for homemakers in the afternoons. One could listen to the drama unfold while they folded the laundry.

1950’s tv actors often started out as Radio personalities. Andy Griffith, for example, began as a stand up comic and radio personality. Here is an example of his early radio entertainment HERE. And of course Dagwood and Blondie from the funny pages was also a Radio Program (here sponsored in 1947 by lustrecream shampoo). This would later become a TV program. Listen to the radio broadcast HERE.

My hubby was kind enough to make compilation cd’s for me by downloading shows and commercials from some online sites with MP3’s and then burning them to disc. In today's Daily News I have a few links to such sites. Oldtimeradiofans.com allows you to download MP3’s which can then easily be burned to cd or simply used on an i-pod type device. This is very good if you can manage a fun make over of an old Radio into an MP3 Player docking station.I have a link to an instructables to make such a radio in the News today.

You can also use a product called an i-trip which plugs into your i-pod and allows it to transmit over any radio, such as your car. This is a much easier solution and you don’t need to destroy your old radios, simply get them running again. This even works on old Tube Radios. Then you can take your vintage music/shows/commercials into each room that has an old radio and away you go.

Here we see someone using it to transmit on an old radio. This is an easier use as you simply need to get an old tube radio or radio that works and then broadcast to a dead air station any list you have. You could make up an mp3 list of old radio shows, commercials from a particular year and while you are busy doing your chores feel as if you have indeed time-traveled.

another example of using a radio broadcaster for an mp3 player on an old radio.

These transmitters run about $20 and I put some in the corner store. You can buy them HERE. I love things such as this that allows us to enjoy and keep our old things and not just to look at as if in a museum, but to interact and use them as intended, to hear great old programs and music (or new as well. Feist would sound just as good on an old set as would Ella, though I prefer Ella myself.)

Any way you slice it, old time radio is just plain ole’ fun. I love it, as well, as it is another way to ‘wean’ oneself off the constant entertainment required by modern living. It disconnects you from the viewing need, which suddenly frees you from the sofa. You can easily garden, clean, and move about while enjoying old radio programs, freedom from the modern stare at the screen. I hope if you have never tried old programs you do give it a go. You will be vastly amused and entertained. So, check out the various links here and on the News today and see what you think.

Happy Homemaking and let me close with G I Jill, a famous radio announcer here from a 1950 recording. If you would like to hear more of G I Jill including a 3 part war time broadcast go to APRON TV and click on Classic Radio Programs on the side. Enjoy!

6 July 1957 “Pleats, Fashion, & Sewing”

Summertime fashion and pleats seem to go hand in hand. This fresh Summer dress is enhanced with accordion pleats above and below the waits. The simple sloped shoulder sleeve would be easy to sew with a two piece dress pattern, though the pleats would be rather hard. One could find such pre-pleated material perhaps.

I have not talked about sewing in awhile. I have been sewing, but merely have not had the time to discuss it, with the preparations for our home for sale and so on. I thought I would share what I am currently working on today.

I think I shared this fabric purchase with you before. It had a very sixties graphic print, but the color and sensibility I felt was very late 50’s early 60’s. Therefore I wanted to make it into a summer dress that would carry over well into possibly Winter dressing with darker hose and a maybe a boucle jacket of navy with pink or green braid trim.

I felt the fabric would be too overpowering for the entire dress and therefore bought a basic cotton in the same Navy as the backing of the patterned fabric. I could have done so with either the pink or the green, but then I felt  it limited its wear-ability to only Summer time. And, as the maker of my own clothing, I like to get as much wear out of my clothing as possible.

You can see here it is in its final stages of construction. I made a simple seamed two piece bodice. The skirt fabric now is pinned in pleats. I am trying to decide if I want pleats or gathers. I rather like the pleated look. (Excuse the background, it is my second story barn studio space, that is why you see plywood under my old Oriental rug).

I like pleats. I like sewing them and find that they can be more flattering than gathering on a ‘fuller figured’ gal; more forgiving if you will.

 I like the look of these large pleats of this Dior from 1953. Though this is a heavier material, most likely a mohair or wool, so I am not sure if fewer but bolder pleats will work for a simple cotton Summer afternoon dress. I will re-pin it today in this style and see if I like it. Having a dress form makes such dress making choices much easier. I had made my own form back in 56, but a friend recently gave me her form she was no longer using. I was very happy to have it, believe me.

Pleats can be as complicated as these triple inverted pleats (to give the skirt added fullness) or a simple knife pleat where the fabric is simply folded and stitched, as seen in this Vogue Pattern.

This is a good example of a 50’s dress pleated simply.

The easier knife pleats are not as difficult as one would think and I simply pin the ends of the skirt to the sipper and then the opposite side seam and that allows me to know how much equal amounts of fabric I have to work with. I only have two yards to work with her, but that is enough to have a few varieties before I decide. I will share the finished dress, of course.

I have included a list of Pleat terms and a free downloadable 50’s dress pattern in today’s Vintage Daily News.

I hope all of you are intrigued enough to either get back to your sewing machine or possibly give it a try for the first time. You will be happy to see that making your own clothing is not as complicated as one might think, so give it a try.

Happy Sewing and Happy Homemaking.

There is a Vintage News today click link or go HERE.

5 July 1957 “Hurricane Audrey”

On 27 June of this year, 1957, Hurricane Audrey demolished Cameron Louisiana. The residents of Texas and Louisiana had very little warning before Audrey hit. It did $147 million in property damage and took 416 lives.

As the storm moved inland it caused many tornados in Mississippi and Alabama, causing 14 injuries and two deaths. The moisture from the storm reached the Mid-West and caused record (at the time) flooding. It is amazing what such a storm can do to the whole country.

Red Cross volunteers help to answer some of the thousands of telegrams of inquiry from family members impacted by Hurricane Audrey. More than 7,000 wires were received and transmitted. Disaster headquarters, Lake Charles, LA, June 1957.

Surely, today in the 21st century, we know of a much more damaging storm, Katrina. Its aftermath was intense and left our country reeling in many ways. I think what frightened me the most and still does today was our Country’s own response to the storm. I fell less like looking for blame and more curious and a bit worried that we simply are not ready for such situations. It makes me feel rather vulnerable in that if such storms or any disaster hits our country, are we not prepared or is it simply a matter of politics and ill planning? I know that for those involved, it is devastating.

We are subject to Hurricanes where I live on the East Coast. Our last large Hurricane was Hurricane Bob, but did no where the damage and deaths seen in the South.

I do hope, with all the devastating tornados and bad weather we have had this Spring in our country, that we are becoming better equipped to deal with it. It seems, however, that most often the area’s need to rely on one another. I heard that in one of the devastated tornado areas, a town was so destroyed and so devoid of public help, it began using elephants from their local zoo. It makes one wonder how it was dealt with before cars and electricity, and certainly it seems, one would have more animal power on hand to asses the damage. Presumably, there would be less population density and overall buildings to clean up as well. There is an interesting link in today’s Vintage Daily News of the people in the towns and such doing clean up after the hurricane in 1957. It is worth a look.

Well, I hope the remainder of this year is storm free and that we may all enjoy a wonderful and good weathered Summer.

There is a Vintage Daily News today, click link or HERE.

Happy Homemaking.

4 July 1957 “Independence Day and Chicken for a Pic-Nic”

Today is Independence Day here in America. We celebrate in many ways, but the main often involves parades, picnics, and fireworks.

Last year we attended our local town parade and were rather sad. The ‘floats’ were simply cars and trucks pulling trailers with signs that took all of 10 minutes to make. And peopled with t-shrit wearing, giant plastic water cann0n toting individuals who felt the need to literally pelt the crowds with gushers of water. In today’s digital world of expensive cameras and phones always out and being used, I thought it an odd mix. There was no thought or time put into it.  Gussie and I felt over dressed even though we were simply wearing cotton dresses white cotton gloves and hats. Ah, to be out of time…I enjoyed some of the older cars and such, but overall was rather sad.

Here is an amazing parade from 1957, much thought and time and effort went into these floats, that is for sure.

As many will be enjoying fried chicken, a staple of the American pic-nic, I thought I’d share this article on it with you. Enjoy:

Enjoy your day. There is no Daily Vintage News for today.

Happy Homemaking.

3 July 1957 “One Bath, Small House: No Problem”

When I spotted this ad for Crane appliances the other day in one of my magazines I like it for two reasons: 1) I like, as I have said before, the boldness and take no prisoner approach to decorating modern in the 1950’s. There were new materials, endless colors and by golly, they were going to use them and there was no apologetic mousy attitude for it. I also happen to love Orange and soft blue together. I have soft blue walls with an orange settee in front of it and I found the colors very pleasing, they are complimentary on the color wheel.

2)Now, what really struck me with this add was the genius of the idea: The shared bathroom.

In the 1950’s the average home square footage was around 1000 sq feet and contained one bathroom. Here is an interesting graphic to illustrate then and now.

In 1950 the average American family consisted of 3.6 people sharing a 1,000-square-foot house. By 2004, the average household consisted of 2.7 people sharing a 2,400 square foot house. That’s an increase of 240% in house size in just over half a century, while family size shrank by about 30%

We had smaller homes with more children and less bedrooms and bathrooms and it was simply a matter of getting along. Perhaps a lesson that, if started in the home, might spread out to the country with adults, but I digress.

This got me thinking that with today's foreclosures and many people needing to downsize, a home with a single bathroom might not only be a necessity, but it could actually be a choice. Plumbing is rather expensive and to install a second bathroom can be quite expensive.

Our home is quite small. We live in a 1700’s Half Cape home with one bathroom. As we have no children, it seems more doable, but many people have said to me, “How do you share your bathroom with your husband?” As if I have pots and curling irons and all sorts piled all about. The simple answer to that is the dressing table. All my hot rollers, pins, lotions and potions, pots and make up, perfume, you name it live happily in my dressing table and that is where I sit to do those sorts of things many modern women do in the bathroom. Not sure why, as I used to do it as well, because standing over a sink with hot lights on you is not half as nice as sitting on a padded chair with a three way mirror and lovely little silver boxes around, taking your time.

So, Back to our photograph. What is genius is if you were given the chance to design your bath when building your home, there are some great ideas. The fact that the toilet is separated by an easy to slide door, the bath (roomy too) and shower also can be separated with a gay fun curtain and the main sink area is able to be used while the others are being occupied.

I think this sort of layout would easily apply to a family who is contemplating adding a bathroom. Again, an expensive endeavor as space either needs to be found or built and then the cost of a second set of appliances which will use more energy and cost you more in bills. If one had to address their bathroom needs, certainly making over their one bath, even if they had to steal a bit of space from the adjoining rooms, to make one large bath such as this with shared spaces would be a wonderful solution. Obviously, the decorating style would be adjusted to your own taste and need not be orange and blue. ( I do think the above bathroom would be delightful with a tile floor of smaller tiles, maybe hex, with various shades of orange and then black accents with a blue tile rim around the floor and above the half wall application.)

Simply giving the toilet its own home really helps with the shared aspect. What an easy solution without two sinks!

Great for an easy low cost construction addition of an en suite, if one needed that second bath.

This is very smart for light, though I would prefer the shower in that spot, rather than waste it on the toilet.

And, if you are to share one bath with a family, using all your vertical space is imperative. These are ingenious solutions.

This little built in wall rack of towels, display, and small storage would be an easy weekend project with some pine and paint from the local hardware. And using up a corner like this in part of your divided 3 part shared bathroom plan would even allow you to steal that hall linen closet space for another purpose.

So, if you have to downsize, or if  you find yourself pinching your pennies more, try to live with the space you have. And, rather than add a bathroom, re-invent the one you have and the way in which you use it as a family.

There is a Daily Vintage News today and can be accessed by button or clicking HERE.

Happy Homemaking.

2 July 1957 “The Housewife Who Became A Movie Star”

Today I would like to share this wonderful article on Thelma Ritter. She was a great and hilarious supporting actress. I loved her in Doris Day’s Pillow Talk. Here she is with co-star Rock Hudson:

Here is the rest of the article (I left some of the old adverts as I think they are great)

There is a Vintage Daily News today and can be accessed by the button or by clicking HERE.

Happy Homemaking.

1 July 1957 “1950’s Cartoons”

First off, I would like to apologize for my lateness in posting today as well as my absence yesterday. As many of you know, I am currently in a kerfuffle with my tenants in a house we rent out. They have ceased paying rent in March and are not squatting. They have destroyed the house, have multiple animals and it is costing me quite a bit of time and money. Today, for example, I had to go back to the Sherriff (I went last month and paid to have a ‘you must leave by July 1 letter delivered) Of course, not sure why that law exists because as of today they informed me they are not leaving until July 20.

So, back to the sheriff today, fill out more paper work and pay more money. Then we get a court date of the 22 of July. They also have another 10 days after that to file an appeal, so basically they now have ALL of July also for free. In about a week I will get more paperwork and then I have to drive to the court office and pay 175 more dollars to officially list that. Yet, if the tenants do NOT show up for the court date and I win, they still have another 10 days. Then after that the surly woman at the court office told me, “You better hope they cooperate, because then it gets more expensive and takes longer and you have to pay for a moving company for them”.

Basically I am looking at into September with much more money to get them out. Meanwhile they are destroying the house and not paying anything. We are still paying the mortgage even though once they are out, we are not sure what to do with the house, because now the salable market value of the house is less than what we still owe on it. It is all a mess and therefore just adds more running about, wasting of time and money to my usually busy homemaking week!

Therefore, today I thought I would just briefly touch on some light frivolous cartoons of the day:

From the Best cartoons of the year 1957, we see this example that Beatniks are well on their way. Rather like today’s parents, non?

How about the Dick Tracy Show with Jo Jitsu cartoon:

Clutch Cargo began in 1959 and was a suprise hit. It used very limited animation and real human mouths super-imposed over the basic animation.

You can watch more clutch cargo on Apron TV under Vintage Cartoons HERE.

“Colonel Bleep was the first color cartoon ever made for television. It was created by Robert D. Buchanan, and was filmed by Soundac of Miami. The show was originally syndicated in 1957 as a segment on Uncle Bill's TV Club. 104 five-minute episodes were produced. Of these episodes, slightly fewer than half are known to survive today.

Ruff and Reddy were a popular cartoon duo:

There is a Daily Vintage News today. You can click on icon or simply click HERE.

Happy Homemaking.

29 June 1957 "In The Vegetable Garden"

 Many families in the 1950’s still recalled the War years “Victory Garden”. While some were more than happy to let their veg plots turn into lawns and flower beds many still desired to grow their own. Even the  new and many postage stamp lawns in Levittown-type neighborhoods didn’t make room for veg garden, most likely pots of tomatoes and herbs shared the patio or window boxes.
Today, many people are returning to ‘growing their own’. Rather or not you have acreage or an apartment, there is always room for a tomato, herbs, even a large clay pot on a balcony with string or garden twine can support a good crop of snow/snap peas, or green beans. Make room for some veg and you will be rewarded with wonderful inexpensive fresh food this summer.
Here is some of the progress in my own little veg plot. I did not plant many things this year, as we currently have our home for sale, but I could not have a summer without tomatoes. 




Here are some little Sun Gold cherry tomatoes. We have already had some of these little darlings, as they ripen quickly, being a cherry size tomato. They are as sweet as candy with a hard finish (not too mushy).









 Most of my other tomatoes are still small and green. They are pretty, none the less, and of course even the foliage of the tomato has that lovely scent with which we are all so familiar. Brushing by them in the garden sends a heavenly aroma into the air, ahhhh summer gardens.

Here we can see one of my squash already forming nicely, with the hint of the remaining flower bud from which it forms atop it like a jaunty summer garden party hat. The color is a lovely greenish yellow that would be a great shade to paint kitchen trim, especially in a green and yellow 1930’s kitchen with Jadite dishes.

 I love happy little accidents like this. This is some of my corn. Somehow a squash seed made its way into this row and is living happily along with the corn. I don’t want to disturb it and am excited to see if it climbs the corn stalk as the corn grows and if they can live in harmony.

The colors of Swiss chard are always amazing. They have lovely yellow, orange, and of course this bright almost magenta pink/red. They are beautiful to look at and wonderful to eat.

 My gooseberry bushes live in my veg plot and are coming along nicely. I love the change from the chartreuse green to the varying shades of pink/red. Here is looks as if they have been spray painted, but that is the way the color forms to eventually this shade.







I thought I would share this helpful plot layout with yields for a family of four. One could figure out with these calculations for any size family, including a family of one. They are from my 50’s Better Homes and Gardens Garden Book. They are a good reference and could be printed and kept with your gardening folder/journal/plans. Enjoy!

Well, we American’s have a big Holiday week approaching, July 4th our day of Independence. I am sure many of us are looking forward to slices of watermelon, potato salad and fresh veg, ears of corn and Barbeque.

There is a new Vintage Daily News today which can be accessed with button on right or click HERE.

Happy Homemaking and Happy Gardening.
(I apoligize for the odd formatting and such in this post. My usual image writer I use to post my blog was not cooperating and I had to use the basic Blogger editor which is not very good for me)