Charles Ramos7 said:If a guy is buying feminine hygiene products, isn't that enough of a hint that he's in a relationship? Or if someone's picking up diapers, we know they have a kid. Hell, if they're buying adult diapers, we might figure out they're caring for an elderly relative. You can learn a lot more through purchase history than you ever would by answering a banker's questions, which you don't even have to answer truthfully anyway.
I mean, maybe he's just picking up pads for his sister. Or hey, maybe he heard they work great for cleaning up spills or soaking up odors... who knows! Maybe he's got a sister and he's grabbing diapers for his niece since, ya know, his sister doesn't drive. Or maybe he's helping out elderly neighbors and picking up those adult diapers for them.
Bottom line is, there's really no reason for the cashier to be interrogating anyone about it.
Dana Fox5 said:What surprised me most was how much my chest grew while my weight actually went down, especially considering what I've been eating. It’s also wild how "normal" everything feels. Aside from a brief moment at the start, I haven't dealt with any nausea, weird stomach issues, crazy cravings, or being repulsed by certain smells or foods. No aches, no constant exhaustion, and I'm not nearly as moody or hormonally unstable (well, not more than usual, right 😬). I don't have to run to the bathroom every five minutes, and I can move around just fine... if you ignore the belly (and the 😁) and that occasional little flutter 😍, I’d probably forget I was even pregnant. 🤷
So, you think everyone hates my guts now? 😬
Nah, just so it doesn't seem like I'm just being cranky about stuff—it's actually pretty fascinating how much our little pack's behavior has shifted... I mean, we've always been cat people, obviously, but now I can't even sit down without someone latching onto me! They'll go way out of their way just to nap next to me—even when I'm curled up on the couch feeling crappy, they'll squeeze into these super awkward, uncomfortable positions just to stay close. They just won't leave me alone! The dog is being extra clingy too, like seriously... He follows me straight into the bathroom and just hangs out by the tub while I'm showering. Doesn't care at all if the water splashes him or anything, he just keeps nudging me for pets like he's a tiny puppy again. My crazy little crew. 😍
Wait, what was that bit about "sleep while you still can, because you won't for the next 20 years"—WTF?? I mean, I get being tired for a year or two—we've all been there—but twenty whole years? Honestly, if you're losing sleep because of a kid who’s already halfway through college, you’ve got way bigger problems on your hands than just needing a nap...
Honestly, I was just looking in the mirror today and—wow—I am actually shocked at how much my boobs have grown already. 🤣 It’s the first time this year I’ve popped on one of those breezy summer sundresses—you know, the ones with just the stretchy elastic top? I usually skip the bra when I wear stuff like that... and man, they look huge, and I'm only seven weeks along! 😲😲 If they're doing this now, I can't even imagine what's going to happen by the end of the pregnancy or when I'm actually nursing...
It totally caught up with me on Tuesday, and honestly, I’m still feeling it... I don't even get why they call it morning sickness—my longest break isn't even until around 10:30 AM, and then it basically just lingers all day long until it finally wears me down by evening. The worst part is the nausea; I managed to throw up once, but that tiny bit of relief didn't even last a second.
And yeah, just like Jonathan Cox4 was saying, everything smells absolutely revolting right now. Okay, look, there were always certain things that bugged me—like heavy perfumes and stuff—but now? Everything is gross, even the mere thought of food makes me want to die. The whole "losing my life to this" thing is a different story—I mean, I kind of expected that and I'm fine with it—but this? This is just infuriating. It’s this stupid, helpless feeling where I can just lie here on the couch and wait for this first trimester to finally pass. And I've barely even started...🙂
I actually got hit with those exact same questions when I was closing out my account. I’m telling the teller what I want, and she’s just like, "Okay, let's just fill out this questionnaire first," and starts firing off questions at me. Honestly, I totally thought the whole form was about why I was leaving, but nope—it was all stuff about my kids, who I live with, and all that personal nonsense... so I just cut her off right there and told her I wasn't about to spill all that just because I'm moving my money elsewhere. She tried to play it off, saying it's just standard procedure now and they have to ask everyone, but I wasn't having any of it, so she eventually just backed off. It was at Chase.
I really don't know if people who still plan on doing business with them can dodge the interrogation like I did.
My due date is right in the middle of December, so I’ve already got people planning little Christmas baby reveal parties at their get-togethers, while others are trying to play the math game with when they should come visit during the holidays. Honestly, I can be such a bit of a misanthrope sometimes—and look, when I’m actually in a good mood—but there is absolutely no way I’m parading my newborn around for the masses just two weeks after giving birth... and don't even get me started on hosting people! I might let my parents swing by (mine and his, obviously—they're a whole different breed of human altogether!) and maybe those two close friends who are chill enough to help themselves to the fridge and leave whenever I tell them I've had enough...
Honestly, you can totally do it even if it’s been over a year since your last checkup—like, if you've been seeing that same old doctor for a long time now, I don't think you'll even need to hunt down extra paperwork or anything...
Hey, does anyone know if I can just swing by the local clinic on Main Street to switch doctors, or am I stuck trekking all the way down to the big metropolitan hospital downtown? I’ve been trying to get them on the phone—seriously, the hold music is driving me crazy—but they're always busy, and I really need to get this sorted out today...
wiredmoose87 said:Look, Mr. Manners, there’s this frustrating reality I’ve been grappling with. It’s not that I went into this job expecting to forge some deep, lifelong bond with everyone in the office—that was never the goal. But honestly? I did hope for a sense of camaraderie. I imagined working with people who were generally friendly and wouldn't just snap at one another the moment things get stressful, and for me... It’s funny; when I’m home (I’m actually on vacation right now), I can process everything so clearly. I tell myself to stay detached, almost like the part of my brain that cares about the office "vibe" has simply gone numb 😁 And everything feels fine. But then, the moment I step back into that dreary atmosphere... I can't deny that it leaves me feeling somewhat unhappy. Now, don't get me wrong—I’m not looking for a best friend to grab coffee with or someone to vent to about my husband or family drama. In fact, I don't even share those kinds of things with my closest friends. However, I truly believe it would be a blessing to walk into work without feeling that palpable tension hanging in the air... To be fair, there are some lovely women there who have been kind from day one, and I know they have nothing against me. But there are these five or six people who are heavily influenced by the resident "villain" of the group, and their attitude makes being in the office incredibly difficult.
I know deep down I need to stop taking things so personally. I trust that as time passes, it will get easier because they’ll eventually realize I’m not going anywhere and that sulking won't affect me. But still... it’s not pleasant. Not even a little bit. 😢
Maybe I’m just too naive, or perhaps I’m just stuck in a youthful mindset where I expect people to treat me the way I naturally treat them. When that doesn't happen—which, let’s face it, is most of the time—I end up feeling rejected, misunderstood, and just plain sad.
Of course, I never let anyone see that side of me. At work, I make a conscious effort to remain polite and maintain an assertive presence. I never go out of my way to rub anyone the wrong way by being passive-aggressive (even though I certainly could, since I know exactly which buttons to push to make them change those annoying habits of theirs). I choose not to play those games. Instead, whenever I notice something is genuinely wrong, I address it in a calm, respectful, and composed manner. I hold my head high and I don't shrink away. A few colleagues have actually told me they admire how steady I am (little do they know there’s often total chaos swirling inside my head 😁), and that I don't let fools push me around...
Ugh... it’s just so complicated and utterly draining. Even though the actual tasks of my job are physically easy, the mental toll is absolutely exhausting. 😢
I totally get where you're coming from.
You actually have this huge advantage since that person isn't even your boss. Seriously, use that to your advantage—just distance yourself as much as possible and try to keep your interactions to an absolute minimum. Plus, the fact that they don't even realize how much they're getting under your skin is kind of a win too... just hold onto that mindset and try not to let it rent space in your head. I know, sounds super cheesy, but really—try to find something else to focus on to snap out of those thoughts and get back to a better headspace.
In my case, I couldn't quite make it work, and honestly, life got so much easier once I walked away. I guess you could call it a failure on my part since I couldn't handle the stress, but hey, I'm definitely not alone—there are tons of people who end up leaving jobs for the exact same reasons in such a short amount of time.
But you? You seem like the type who'll handle this way more smartly than I did. 😉
wiredmoose87 said:First off, I want to say a huge thank you to anyone kind enough to read this whole thing through. I’m dealing with a situation that has been weighing heavily on me for the last two years—it’s reached a point where the stress is genuinely starting to bleed into my overall quality of life.
I took a job at a government agency. To give you some context without getting bogged down in the weeds, my day-to-day isn't physically grueling, but when things actually pick up, the responsibilities are significant and quite heavy. To make a long story short... I have my own office and my own computer, working within a larger team even though everyone else is in a completely different field. I am the only person there with a specialized medical background, and according to the organizational structure, my role is an essential part of this institution. Unfortunately, my colleagues don't see it that way. First off, their main "issue" is that they managed just fine before I arrived—in fact, they think they did "perfectly well" without me. Then there’s the age gap; since I’m relatively young by their standards (despite having nearly three degrees under my belt), they struggle to view me as a figure of oversight, which is fundamentally what my role entails. On top of that, because they work in roles that are incredibly labor-intensive (even if they clock out two hours earlier than my full-time schedule), they view my position as redundant simply because I’m not "busy" in the same physical sense. It is important for me to emphasize that I have immense respect for the work they do; their expertise is vital, and I truly tip my hat to them. But as it turns out, I was clearly naive to think they would extend any of that respect toward me. I didn't earn my credentials without blood, sweat, and tears, and this profession is something I’ve always felt a deep affinity for. Sadly, from them, I get nothing. 🤷 I tend to be very communicative, friendly, and approachable, so perhaps I gave them the wrong impression—that I’m someone they can just walk over whenever they feel like it. I don't know. In reality, no one says anything to my face. I don't even think they dislike me personally... but... From my perspective, the core of the problem is one specific individual in the group who is the absolute embodiment of malice. Almost everyone in the office has been burned by her; people are terrified of her, and they practically bow to her every whim or opinion (or at least, they don't dare disagree with how she carries herself or communicates). I consider myself a soft-hearted, accommodating person, right up until someone pushes me too far. Initially, I went into this with an open mind and no prejudices toward her—despite all the warnings—but she ended up making a fool out of me, quite openly. She turned her back on me, ignoring both my presence and my professionalism. Soon after, out of nowhere, I started hearing from others that she was telling everyone I was just a "clueless kid," that my position was made up, and that I should be ashamed to take a job where I'm essentially being paid to do nothing. She actually told me to my face that I should feel embarrassed walking around the facility while she’s still trying to figure out her own workload, and that I should be helping *her*. And keep in mind, we are in entirely different fields... (if we were to link our jobs, my role would essentially involve overseeing one critical segment of her work). Technically speaking, my job is physically easy and, in principle, quite relaxed. Theoretically, of course, it can become incredibly stressful. I accepted this position because my previous job was far too demanding and located much too far from where I live. This one is right near my house. Fortunately, because I have a specialized degree, I have a good range of career options, so landing something so practical right in my own city was a win. But this woman is making my life miserable. It’s not even about professional friction, because we don't interact that much in a work capacity; it’s more about her bitterness. She is determined to ensure I can't "spice things up" with anyone else, doing everything in her power to prevent my coworkers from befriending me or offering me any support. Honestly, if she weren't such a snake, it wouldn't be this bad. I’ve always been well-liked, even popular, in every group I’ve ever joined, and I’ve never been a confrontational person. But this goes beyond all reasonable boundaries. I find it hard to believe that a woman of her age could hate me this much—that my mere existence bothers and embitters her so deeply that she spends every waking moment trying to undermine my standing with the rest of the staff. To make matters worse, she is very close friends with my boss. Perhaps because he is a decent man, he has resisted her attempts to sabotage me so far, even though she is constantly whispering in his ear, suggesting I should get a raise or be assigned a mountain of extra tasks that fall completely outside my scope of work.
The other people in my office can't see what she's planning either, but they are absolutely terrified of her. Honestly, they’d much rather avoid working with me altogether—not because they don't like me, but because they're trying to distance themselves from showing any kind of publicly expressed friendship or warmth toward me, just so she won't turn her sights on them instead...
I made it clear to her that I'm not going to play by her rules like everyone else does, and that I won't be intimidated. I told her exactly what I thought of her behavior right to her face and then walked away (after she had already turned her back on me several times before). That just infuriated her even more, and now I’ve reached a point where I start heading into work with a literal knot in my stomach. It's all because of her—her constant sneering at me, the way she treats me... It's because I see that the people I used to be close with (those who used to jump at every chance to chat with me) now barely dare to say hello when she's around. 😢 There are quite a few women there who are wonderful but very sensitive; they clearly admire that I stood up to her, yet they are terrified of losing their own standing and security, so they pull away. And so... it has become so distressing that I'm actually starting to contemplate resigning. In principle, I don't want to do that—firstly, because I need this job to support my family and my child, and secondly, because a part of me refuses to admit that I was driven out by some frustrated, malicious woman who has absolutely nothing to do with me, neither professionally nor personally.
What would you do if you were in my shoes? I feel like I don't have many options left... From what I can see, the rule here is either you're on her side (meaning you lose your backbone and act submissive), or you're against her—which means ending up in her crosshairs (and dealing with everything I mentioned above)...🤷 Would you even consider quitting? Or would you try to ignore everything and act like you couldn't care less about any of it? My husband tells me I should just ignore her and everything she causes, but sometimes that feels impossible because she makes such a concerted daily effort to ensure I feel her hostility... Then again, I am a stubborn person at heart. There's a certain defiance in me that refuses to take a subordinate position to her. But still, the stress is becoming overwhelming. I really need an outside perspective and an objective observer. I tried to explain the situation as clearly and realistically as possible (hence why this post is a mile long), and THANK YOU to everyone who made it to the very end!
Thank you in advance for every thought, word, and suggestion. 🙂
If you have any choice at all, start looking for a new gig immediately. If you're stuck there for now, just Google some coping strategies and try your best to build an emotional wall so she can't touch you.
I dealt with a total nightmare like this at a previous job, though my tormentor was actually my boss. Just a straight-up evil person—super insecure, bitter about anyone who seemed even remotely happy (which was everyone, and honestly, seeing people thrive is what drives types like her absolutely insane), and mentally unstable... and I don't mean that as an exaggeration, she was genuinely unwell. She literally fed on making everyone around her miserable. My big mistake? Letting her get under my skin. I couldn't hide how much she annoyed me, and she totally lived for that power trip—knowing that her position gave her total control over me and everyone else... she loved that fear. Honestly, people are still scared of her, I just don't have to deal with it anymore! It wasn't until I was actually quitting that the floodgates opened—I heard bits and pieces, and once word got out I was leaving, everyone finally felt safe enough to spill the tea. Turns out, I wasn't the only victim; she had been causing issues with tons of people long before I arrived, and whenever she lost control, she'd trash-talk them behind their backs. Some of the stuff I heard people were saying about me was just... ridiculous, truly pathetic. I even had someone tell me directly that they knew she was abusive, but they weren't going to do anything about it (for a bunch of different reasons, obviously).
The people who seem "successful" or fine working with her? They've basically just mastered the art of not letting her reach them. She's way less aggressive when people don't push back—so they just play along to feel like they've won, which keeps her satisfied, while they just shrug it off and don't take her nonsense to heart.
So, my doctor actually gave me a referral for both physical therapy and follow-up checkups that’s good for an entire year—which, honestly, feels pretty recent! During my last appointment, they told me this covers my checkup in the spring too... plus, if I need to pop back in before then (since they were all like, "just let us know how you're feeling"), I'm covered for that as well. I'm not totally sure if you can get a long-term referral like this for every single procedure or whatever, but hey, maybe someone else out there can snag one like this too... who knows?
Emily Robinson66 said:And then she tells me—get this—that’s what they told her at the hospital! Apparently, if she doesn't fax over a cancellation notice, she’ll be hit with a fine (SERIOUSLY?!?) ...
Maybe they’ve had people pull that stunt on them a few times already, so they decided to play a little "scare tactics" to keep things moving.
Look, everyone has a reason for missing an appointment every once in a while—especially when you're juggling a bunch of different health issues—but some people just make it a habit, and honestly? That takes away a slot from someone else who actually needs it. Sveki actually had some tests done recently, and they called him last minute to see if he could swing by earlier because someone else canceled. They reached out at the very last second, and it worked out great since he got seen way ahead of schedule! But I guess that's still pretty rare... most of the time, those slots just go to waste while the waiting list keeps getting longer and longer.
Maybe just ask them if they'll still take it—if you get it sorted right this second, there's a chance it might fly... My referral for a physical therapist actually expired on me! When I was trying to get on the schedule, they couldn't find an opening within that 30-day window, so I asked if that would be a dealbreaker and they were totally fine with it. Mind you, mine was still pretty much "fresh out of the oven" when I first called to book... 🤷
Karen Johnson49 said:Thanks, thanks, thanks for getting back to me! 😍
Which bakery did you get that dessert buffet from?
And do you have any idea roughly how many pounds that was, or how many people it actually fed? 😕😕 😕
I went to this wedding once that had a huge dessert spread instead of a traditional cake, and honestly, it was such a vibe.
So, for our big day, the catering company handled everything—dinner, all the desserts, even the cake—we used a local favorite, Gordon Food Service. Honestly, I have no clue about the total weight because they just charged us per head and it was all bundled together... we didn't really think to ask! But hey, nothing ran out in the middle of the party, which was the absolute most important thing for us. When they started packing stuff up at the end, there was still plenty left—some things were totally gone, but other bits were still hanging around...
We went with a dessert buffet style, and honestly, it turned out pretty great. They sliced up the cake and brought it around to the tables first, then just let everyone know the dessert spread was officially open—we actually set it up a bit later on purpose since that’s how we planned it, though we could've done it sooner if we felt like it—and invited everyone to help themselves. It didn't take much of an announcement at all... 😁 I think it worked out well because they kept topping everything off if things started running low, and you know, I once went to this wedding where they put individual plates of sweets on every table... it was a mess! People were constantly getting up to scavenge from other people's tables once their own stash ran out, and some guests just refused to move, so they ended up missing out entirely.
Betty Barrett70 said:From day one, I knew I didn't want the traditional wedding cake or those standard dessert platters. Instead, I opted for a self-serve dessert station featuring a massive spread of assorted treats: chocolate pralines, mini fruit tarts, mousse shooters, and several different types of cake slices. I was honestly a bit nervous about how the older guests would react, since their idea of a wedding dessert is usually just rows of classic brownies, peach cobbler, or coconut macaroons laid out on tables. As it turns out, everyone absolutely loved my choice, and they were still raving about the sweets days after the wedding.
Here is a look at how everything turned out.
Man, those cookies look absolutely insane—like something straight out of a carnival! 🙂
swiftbear86 said:If your referral says Endocrinology but doesn't specify which hospital, you can either go based on where you live or just try to book an appointment at the first place that’ll take you.
Ugh, honestly, what really got me worked up was that they didn't tell me—even though I actually asked! I didn't find out until I was already at the LabCorp... and then, of course, by that point, I couldn't get an appointment within the timeframe because there was a specific date listed on my referral. Just my luck, right?...
They told me I have to go ahead and schedule an appointment at the hospital for that red one... Of course, they only dropped that bombshell on me while I was at LabCorp—and they didn't even specify which hospital! (The paperwork just says Endocrinology - Contraceptive Procedures, which is totally wrong because I have way more serious issues going on, but hey, to them, everything is just the same thing, right?). The woman there acted like I was supposed to be psychic or something... like I should just magically know what to do when neither my doctor nor the nurse ever actually explained anything to me!
