Posts by Anthony Diaz4

I'm jumping into this existing thread because I really don't feel like starting a whole new one.
Today, I finally got my referral for blood work. But since my doctor moved, they sent me to a clinic nearby instead. Apparently, the Community Health Center won't pull my blood anymore since I'm no longer officially under their care. So, does anyone actually know what this referral means for me now?
Am I going to have to pay out of pocket for this blood draw, or is it covered?
This might sound like a stupid question, but I honestly have no clue. I’ve only ever had blood drawn once before, and back then it was just at the Community Health Center where my doctor was located. Now, I'm completely lost on how this works.
If I am stuck footing the bill, I'd at least like to avoid running all over town to get it done. Any info would be appreciated. 🙂

Sam Cooper2 said:Hey everyone, I've been lurking and reading through a few threads on this subforum, so I figured it was finally time to chime in myself 🙂

To give you a bit of a rundown, I'm 21, working, high school diploma...

Throughout my entire life, I’ve always had people telling me how smart I am, yet how I’ll never actually do anything with it; I can still vividly picture my old teacher from the physics department back in middle school saying, "...it's such a shame about that brain of yours, because if you just applied yourself even a little bit, you'd be a PhD by now." I guess the whole PhD thing was just a metaphor, but I'll never forget her... she was always telling me, just a little more effort, just study a tiny bit harder, and back then I honestly thought my parents had bribed her just to make sure I got into a decent high school 😵, but it turned out to be the exact same story in high school, where a teacher from the American language department used the same lines, trying to "steer" me toward the right path; I remember one class specifically when I was texting on my phone while calling out answers, and she just snapped, stood up and started yelling at the entire class, telling me to wait for her after the bell—she was screaming at everyone because they were all sitting there clueless while I was just distracted by my phone, even though I knew the answers...

After class, she gave me another lecture about my potential and how much of an idiot I'd be if I just settled for a high school diploma, which, honestly, hasn't changed one bit to this day
.

To recap things a little, throughout my whole education, I never really felt a connection to books—it always felt like such a chore—but I never once worried about my future, because deep down I know something big is waiting for me; I don't know what that "something" is yet, but I know it's coming...

I've always had this internal conviction that I'm the type of person who will change the world; I have no idea how that'll happen, obviously, but I hope it leads to something better rather than something worse 😁

So now I'm wondering, is this just "youthful naivety," this constant hoping for something better, or
Have any of you ever struggled with these kinds of questions about yourselves, or did you all just move through life following a pre-set plan?

I have so many questions swirling around, but I can never quite find the right words to pin them down; I see myself as a significant individual, the kind that's becoming increasingly rare these days, and I say that without a shred of egoism, since my ego is actually quite small...

Best,

Nothing big is waiting for you.
Get into college while you still have the chance.
Period.

Alright, fine. I might swing by if I’m still feeling up to it tomorrow. It’s not exactly on my way, but I’ll give it a shot.

Is this just a random thought, or is someone actually on their way?

mellowbadger36 said:I'm 17 and I have surgery coming up soon to fix my deviated septum and the shape of my nose. Since I'm already going under, I've decided to go ahead with some cosmetic work too. Honestly, I'm terrified of the actual surgery, but that’s actually not even my biggest worry right now. My real anxiety is about the day I walk back into school and everyone notices the change. I'm worried about how my classmates will react. I grew up in a small town where people aren't exactly great about anyone being different. I know there are going to be stares and comments—some people might be bold enough to ask direct questions or throw out a sarcastic remark. How should I handle those kinds of comments? Is it even worth responding to them? Should I pay any attention to the gossip and the looks, or is it better to just tune everything out and ignore it? 🤷

Does your friend group actually know you're doing this?
First off, don't feel an ounce of shame about it. Look, if you're excited about getting this fixed—and I'm betting you are—then just own it. Tell people before you even go under the knife. Be happy about it, like you just bought a killer pair of designer heels and you're showing them off to your friends. You know what I mean.
Once everything is healed up, stay positive (and you will be).
If you're dreading the reaction, preempt it. Make it clear that this is happening, that you're looking forward to it, and leave it at that.
Don't make this a bigger drama in your own head than it needs to be. Good luck, I hope you love the results. 👍

restlesstiger49 said:Who's out there lurking? 🤣

Not me. I'm right there at that exact time every single day, so it wouldn't have been hard to catch a glimpse. 😁

Robert Harris16 said:Honestly, about 80% of this group brings up the horse thing every single time we meet up.🙂

Unknown, don't tell me... 😵

Jeffrey Ramos4 said:I haven't seen anyone trying to paint themselves into a Native American persona. Honestly, if anything, I’ve noticed people just don't really give them much thought anymore 😢 anyway. We're talking about Native Americans here, not people from India, right? 😬 Personally, I think Native American culture is just plain cool 🙂🥳😂

Well, I saw it myself, and that whole mystery about the psychology forum members was solved instantly.
... just kidding. 🎉 🕺

Well, if the stars align and I find myself back here, maybe I'll actually be able to follow what you guys are talking about 😁

Great, I'll keep that in mind for next time. 😉
So, are you one of those two guys who last time actually welcomed a woman who was busy assaulting some guy? Is that photo of her with that Native American dude playing the banjo?
Just checking so if I run into you guys down the road, maybe I’ll join in.
That trio was the only group I found suspicious—not because they looked like forum members, but because they didn't look like people who actually have their lives together... was that you guys?

Chris Robinson25 said:Americans are our mortal enemies. 😬

Why?

Carl Rivera43 said:What can I even say? Everyone showed up and it was great. Whether three people show up next time or ten, who cares? It’s all good.

Easter wasn't exactly the best timing for this, but hey, it is what it is. I don't really care about the US crowd, though their members are more than welcome to join us, of course.

You aren't getting me.
And you don't need to care about the US. I'm just saying—since you're so obsessed with the logistics of how to run a successful meetup, even though that wasn't strictly what I meant.
The point is, your organization is weak.
There are three of you who have each other's numbers, but on this forum, there's zero information. That's it.
Compare that to Tomislav's statue where twenty different groups are hanging out; someone would actually have to hunt through all those crowds just to find a forum member. As if!

Your organization skills are pretty weak, if you ask me.
I don’t mean to be a pain in the ass, but I get the feeling you can't really tell the difference between a genuine opportunity and a dud. Even though some people tried their best to prove that Easter would be a great chance for a forum meetup instead of just hanging out with family, it turns out that wasn't the case after all.
Take a look at how they handle things in the US; those gatherings seem to run a lot smoother over there.

John Howard7 said:But why wouldn't they? It's not like everyone is still twenty-five and living in their childhood bedroom under their parents' roof, right?

Exactly! ☕
Some people actually have girlfriends, boyfriends, or kids to deal with.

Oh, really?
And if I just didn't feel like talking, would you all just leave me alone and let me listen?
I tend to get pretty sarcastic when people try to force a conversation out of me when I'm clearly not feeling it—not that I'm exactly known for my sunny disposition anyway.🤦
I’m a tough nut to crack with new people, but I suppose I have the will to try... maybe.

What actually goes on at these meetups?
I might show up, but I honestly can't tell if it’s really my scene. 🕺