Posts by hiddenmarlin14

So, where's the questionnaire? 🙂

Look, this is getting ridiculous. Sure, maybe the site lags for a day or two here and there, but this has been dragging on for days now.

Feel free to lock the thread or just delete it—you don't even have to answer me—but seriously, get it together. 🙂I find it hard to believe that in the middle of the 21st century, we’re still dealing with internet speeds this pathetic.😠

I’d say I’m putting my vote in for el_mariachi. 🧐 😍

As far as I'm concerned, it's just a rusted-out nuclear reactor waiting to blow ☕

slywolf45 said:Hmm... why such a sweeping generalization?
Are you simply refusing to acknowledge the possibility that some people actually had decent parents?🤷

Let’s be real, we all grew up with imperfect parents. 🤷

Then you have that moment where your kid looks at you and says, "Forget the sandbox and the plastic shovel," because suddenly they’re obsessed with learning the guitar—something totally random. Or maybe you’ve built this successful company, and while the kid actually has the chops to run the whole show, they couldn't care less about the bottom line. They just want to head off to art school instead.

I once knew this guy whose dad was a high-powered attorney. Naturally, the son was expected to follow in those footsteps and grind through law school. Then one day, he just hit his breaking point, dropped everything, and decided to become a sanitation worker. It wasn't even that he couldn't find better work; he just did it purely to spite his old man. I don't know all the specifics, unfortunately.

Or take my friend. She finished her degree in musicology and got her Master’s in instrumental studies, but she doesn't push it on anyone. Yet, her three-year-old is already enrolled in weekly violin lessons. Who knows? Maybe the kid will end up wanting to be an architect one day. 🤷

copperskipper68 said:My entire last post was just meant for a little fun, so I hope you didn't take it personally. 🙂

Rhonda's climax 😂
Maybe that's where she gets the energy to churn out these quasi-books. 🤔

Honestly, I was thinking the exact same thing. I’d just finished a nap when I read your post, and now my brain is total mush—I don't even know where to start. 🤣

And since I was already thinking about it, next time you show up, I absolutely have to sell you on my "secret." Based on what I wrote above, before you ask for anything, you just have to tell yourself, "Man, I'm such an idiot," and then everything works perfectly. 🙂

copperskipper68 said:It’s happened to me a million times. We are living the secret. 🙂

I didn't realize we were keeping track of who shows up and who doesn't now.
Don't rack up too many unexcused absences. You don't want to face excommunication. 😍

That’s just classic Rhonda.

1. I'm busy living my actual life, not some secret. 😉
2. Apparently, everything is being logged now. 🙄 Honestly, I might just excommunicate myself to avoid the paperwork. 🤷
3. With Rhonda's climax happening and all those waves hitting, I doubt she could plan anything remotely intelligent for my life anyway. ☕

🍿

Look, this is just one inevitable stepping stone toward independence. You can’t change your parents or your family; they are who they are, set in their ways and stuck in their patterns, period. Just put your head down and play it cool for a few months, get through that degree, and then you can finally start living on your own terms. That’s the whole game. I know it’s frustrating as hell, but you have to push through it. 🤷

Sometimes, when my brain is completely fried, I end up double-booking myself. I spend the whole day beating myself up, thinking, "God, you're an idiot, just pay attention and write things down." But honestly? So many times, one of those appointments just... disappears. Someone cancels on me out of nowhere, saving me from the guilt of having to bail, and I’m just sitting there feeling relieved.
Look, I believe in prayer, and you could say I'm a believer (even if I skip church more often than I should 😳). In those moments, I can't help but think, "There's someone up there managing a schedule for me that works way better than this messy notebook I use." And that’s despite the fact that my immediate thought isn't some zen realization—it's usually just "I'm so stupid." I don't think, "Oh, I hope they cancel," I mostly just scramble to figure out how to get out of the mess. My first instinct is rarely that "positive manifestation" stuff they talk about in the "secret"
.

Well, if you think I'm joking. Sometimes in those moments, I laugh out loud—even when it’s totally inappropriate for the setting. Back when things were hitting rock bottom, that was my go-to move just to lift my own spirits; I'd spend hours scouring the web for anything remotely funny. I wasn't necessarily sitting there howling at my laptop for hours, but a good comedy or a few solid jokes really helped clear my head, if that makes sense. Forcing a laugh? I don't get the point. And worrying about whether my stress looks "natural" enough? I never wasted my energy on that kind of nonsense. 🤷 Honestly, a few good jokes and some chamomile tea have done more for me than several sessions with a therapist. (No offense to the professionals out there, but looking back, I just felt like that one counselor's approach was a total mismatch for me.)

Try being a motivator instead of a drill sergeant. People won't work just because you bark orders at them, and honestly, everyone's life would be a hell of a lot better if you tried. Praise what’s actually working, say thanks once in a while—maybe then you'll actually get them to do what you want. Motivation is a powerful thing.

I'm not sure if I actually followed that...

wiredtinker18 says: I don't know, I just don't know.

Hey ladies. I’m not sure if this is normal or not. I’m 38, and lately, my cycle has shortened to about 25 or 26 days. For years, it was a steady 28-29 days (unless I was under massive stress), but over the last year or two, it’s sped up. I actually felt a bit thrown off today when my period showed up after only 24 days. I know, I need to get checked out—and I will, because my doctor will probably have the best answers. I just wanted to see if anyone here has dealt with this.
Is this just a normal shift for me? 🤷
My mom always had an incredibly short 21-day cycle. When I started at 14, it was around 25 days, then it settled into 28 for years. Now, I’m confused why it’s shortening again. Is it just nerves and stress acting up? 😠

Sure, because nothing says "moral high ground" quite like the Inquisition and burning witches. 🤷

Amy Lee18 said:Does anyone actually realize that 24-hour pharmacies exist? 😁

Oh, they definitely exist. But let me tell you, there is nothing quite like that throbbing toothache that makes you feel like your head is about to explode, only to realize you don't have a single aspirin in the house. Then you're stuck driving around at 2 AM hunting for the nearest 24-hour CVS. It’s a three-day nightmare. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. 🙂

Aspirin and Vitamin C 🙏
Bepanthen—I keep both the cream and the ointment versions on hand, depending on how greasy I need it to be 🤣
Joint pain gel (honestly, I only reach for this once or twice a year)
Chamomile tea
Throat tea
Mucoangin throat lozenges
Neosporin—for when wounds need to heal fast
Activated charcoal tablets (my go-to if my stomach acts up or I eat something that doesn't sit right)

I don't have a thermometer right now; I managed to break my last one 😂

My pantry is basically just a wall of herbal teas. Peppermint, nettle, various "everything" blends...

Hey, whatever you do, don't go shoving garlic up there! Seriously. Just try pressing a tiny sliver against your skin—your hand or something—and tape it down with a Band-Aid, and you'll see how much redness it causes instantly. Garlic is way too harsh for that area. You’d be better off trying some probiotic tablets instead. I dealt with something similar a few years back. It might also be worth swapping out your soap or body wash. At least grab something mild, maybe a baby wash or one specifically formulated for feminine hygiene. Sometimes regular soaps just mess with your pH balance, wiping out the "good" bacteria and causing a total circus.