Posts by rustyheron22

I have a feeling those little bumps might just be dissolving under the local anesthesia.

I’m seeing a tiny protrusion too—fingers crossed it disappears on its own. If not, I’ll have to deal with some smoothing out, which honestly terrifies me. I can't wrap my head around the idea of a doctor working on my nose while I'm wide awake.

Actually, I'm more worried about this small indentation on one side. I doubt it can be fixed easily—I've heard you can sometimes fill those in with fillers or something similar...

The profile looks good, but I haven't quite come to terms with my new look from the front yet.
Maybe everything will just settle into place eventually... I'm nine months post-op right now.

I don't regret much in this life.

But one thing I truly, deeply regret? Listening to my doctor.
I just wanted to smooth out a tiny bump on my nose—simple, right? Instead, he insisted we lift the whole thing so it wouldn't sag when I smiled...

Looking back at old photos now, I see I was much better looking before. Even with that little bump. Honestly, those old pictures look exactly how I should look today.

I rarely smile much these days—it's hard to do when you're staring at the consequence of a bad call every single morning in the mirror.

Ladies... use your heads. It’s not actually that bad. It could always be a hell of a lot worse.
Unfortunately, I had to learn that lesson the hard way.

says:
If you say so—you clearly know more about this than I do, seeing as you actually worked in the field.
Personally, I'm not big on picking up dog supplies at big-box retailers, but just because everyone owns pets now doesn't mean they all provide the same level of care.

A guy I know actually opened one of the first pet shops back in the day—he was a vet by trade and even ran a grooming salon on the side.
Now? It’s just a coffee shop.

As for shopping, I don't think you'll find many places where you can cram this many stores into a single block. Around my place, within a couple of blocks, I've got three 7-Elevens, two specialty food spots, and two local shops. I usually just hit up a Walmart once a week to get everything at once—it's not worth paying an extra couple of bucks per item elsewhere.
Not to mention, I just order my drinks online with delivery for basically the same price. 🙂

I’m just speaking from personal experience here. I know a few local pet shop owners, and they’ve all shut down—even the ones with prime locations, like places right in the heart of downtown or busy main drags. Honestly, even that one spot over in the suburbs near a major metro doesn't seem to be doing great; I think they moved to a cheaper location out there.
The only ones still somewhat hanging in there are Belugo, the villa guys (probably thanks to the saltwater aquarium niche), and Petco. But I highly doubt Alkawa is planning to open something on the massive scale of a Petco.
😕It used to be a solid business, but nowadays you can pick up dog food and all the gear you need at any suburban shopping mall. People just grab it while they're out running errands.

I actually worked in the pet food industry before—for Purina—so I know a thing or two about it. I wouldn't recommend anyone jumping into this without knowing exactly what they're getting into. Just my two cents, though. 🙂

Anonymous said:Has anyone here dealt with this type of small business before?
If I wanted to launch one, what kind of background do I need, or what specific professionals would I have to put on my payroll?
Regarding the animals being sold—do they have to come from certified breeders, or can I source them from any breeder out there? Also, how much oversight is there from the USDA or veterinary inspectors?
Am I allowed to manufacture my own pet food lines, and could I also get into making my own pet accessories or gear?

Are you absolutely certain about this? Every local pet shop I know has folded lately—only the massive chains like Petco seem to be hanging on, and even they aren't exactly thriving. Honestly, I wouldn't call this a brilliant move. 😕