I've been musing a lot about the rise of conspiracy theorists and just where that comes from. I think I'm going to blame it on T-Swift and how her fans analyze every lyric to try to get to some hidden meaning, and all the easter eggs she lays.
I'm not serious, but I'm over how my social media algorithm thinks I'm a Swiftie.
Also, the amount of effort people put into deciphering the Bluey wedding/moving episode is more than I want to spend. (See also my Facebook feed being inundated by Bluey groups.)
The debate has shifted to who the pup in the "surprise" episode is. Whether it's Bluey or Bingo's kid and if it's Bluey's is Mackenzie the dad or Jean Luc? People be crazy.
I tried straterra first bc the evaluating psychologist recommended non-stimulant so it wouldn’t make me more over-active (tho that’s not really how it works?? But whatever). That gave me a super elevated heart rate (side effect for a small % of people).
It's a norepenephrine (I can't spell nobody sue me) re-uptake inhibitor. As part of the neural process in the brain dopamine and norepenephrine (and a few other neurotransmitters I think but I can't recall the names of) are produced, used and then essentially recycled by the body. The re-uptake inhibitors slow down the recycling part of the process so there are more of your body's own neurotransmiters available in the brain. At least that's my understanding from my own research into it.
EDIT: and now I realize you probably know how it works and didn't actually need an explanation. Sorry.
rubytue, apparently your hormone cycle has a lot of influence on the dopamine/norepinephrine etc in the brain and both puberty and menopause can have major effects on ADHD symptoms. SO THATS FUN. I'll PM you the practice. Also the meds I'm on are non-stimulant. I literally haven't talked to anyone about thinking I'm autistic yet, other than mentioning it to my therapist and saying I wasn't ready to explore that yet. I didn't have friends until 4th grade, not other kids I'd see out of school to play with at least. And then it was one friend I was with all the time until 7th grade when she dropped me like a hot potato. I spent at least half of my recesses reading instead of playing. I ate rice, just rice, for fully half my dinners because I didn't like what was being served. I hate social situations. I hate unexpected crowds. I found therapy very difficult at first and realized it was because it was not how relationships are supposed to work. I'm supposed to talk, then you are, and we share, we learn about each other. But in therapy it is so one sided and it makes me SO UNCOMFORTABLE. I get overstimulated by random noise (and hate white noise machines, they're the worst), yet I always have music, a podcast or the tv on.
All the signs in school were there, too. I never did homework, particularly if it was just "busy work". By high school if it affected my grade I'd do it, but I'd often get up at 3am, do my work in the dead of night, then go back to sleep before my parents got up. The one time I did a project early instead of last minute was because it was interesting (and then got screwed over anyways because I wrote the due date down as a week after it was actually due). I missed so many deadlines in school and just took the letter grade down. I'm going to stop there before this gets into trauma dumping about my parents.
And arielroux,, I get it. My parents basically ignored the issues and didn't offer any support at all. "If you just applied yourself." What a crock of bullshit. (Still massively bitter.)
1. No, but it is something I will probably pursue in the future. Honestly, I didn't/haven't because I don't know where to start, and there are so few providers in the area who will take insurance, and those that do have long wait lists and I didn't feel I could wait that long. I hit every marker to some degree, and my therapist, while she can't diagnose, did ask if I had considered meds. I take that as her agreeing that I do have ADHD. My meds are prescribed through the nurse practitioner at her office/group/whatever it's called. I did go through the questionnaire with the nurse practitioner, and again hit every marker. The fact that the meds work as they're intended for me is, in my mind, confirmation and I don't feel the need to get a full assessment unless I need it for accommodations or something. The only other reason I'd pursue a full assessment would be to confirm my suspicions that I'm autistic as well, as that is not something you can just check off the symptoms on a list.
2. YES. She started me on Strattera at the lowest dose and the effect was subtle but noticeable right away. I put my damn laundry away. I have now put my laundry away consistently for about 6 weeks. 6 Fucking Weeks, when I have lived out of "clean" laundry baskets for years. I unpacked the suitcase from a trip within a few days of being home and not the next time I needed the suitcase! I will do the damn dishes before they're overwhelming, and our dishwasher broke and I'm not overwhelmed by dishes and chomping at the bit to buy a new one. I've done a bunch of computer work that's been super tedious and wrote SM posts for a whole week. WHO THE FUCK IS THIS PERSON ON MEDS. I have since upped the dose, but didn't see much difference, so she's added Welbutrin which theoretically boosts the effectiveness of the Strattera (and TBH I probably needed to be on an antidepressant). I find that I need fewer breaks for the tedious tasks, delay less, and get distracted less. When I do get distracted, like if the kids need something, I find it much less frustrating, too. It's not magic, it doesn't "fix" things, but man, if I knew life could be like this I would have done it years ago.
I highly recommend finding a therapist if you don't have one already (The practice I go to has several offices in the area if you want the recommendation). I hold a lot of resentment to my parents for my childhood and a lot stems from the obviously undiagnosed ADHD. I can recognize that in the 90s ADHD, particularly inattentive type, was not really understood in girls, but man there was so much more support they could have given me even without a diagnosis. I am really bitter and angry about it now.
noodleoo, That sucks. Scheduling all the appointments as once sounds insane to me. They can't do the appointment if the patient is sick (IME any respiratory symptoms and/or fever). Kids are guaranteed to get sick! Ridiculous. We also did OIT with the intention to be well underway before starting kindergarten. 100% the right choice. I hope it goes your way!
I'm on like episode 5 but I got hyperfocused on work and missed a bunch of stuff and will have to rewatch 4&5. I love it. It is much more bloody/violent/graphic than I usually like my shows to be, but it isn't so bad that I'm turning it off and it does stay kinda true to video game violence in general. I didn't/don't play the Fallout games because first person games aren't really my jam, but I do know a good bit of the lore and imagery in the games, more than a layperson at least.
DH read reviews and felt uncomfortable with the amount of nudity and sex for our 15 year old. Would you say there's a lot of that? Or mainly just video game style violence?
Welp, found the nudity (ep 6). That's still a resounding HELL NO for a 15 year old.
I'm on like episode 5 but I got hyperfocused on work and missed a bunch of stuff and will have to rewatch 4&5. I love it. It is much more bloody/violent/graphic than I usually like my shows to be, but it isn't so bad that I'm turning it off and it does stay kinda true to video game violence in general. I didn't/don't play the Fallout games because first person games aren't really my jam, but I do know a good bit of the lore and imagery in the games, more than a layperson at least.
DH read reviews and felt uncomfortable with the amount of nudity and sex for our 15 year old. Would you say there's a lot of that? Or mainly just video game style violence?
It's VERY violent. Like at one point a guys head gets crushed by a guy in a mech suit and they do show it. Limbs being blown off, etc. I haven't finished the series so their may be sex in later episodes, but the only sex scene was in the first episode and the woman was clothed (in a dress) and the man was shirtless, no nudity at all. With that said, the violence alone would make it a hard "no" for a 15 year old, IMO. If your conflicted, I think one of you should watch it before you decide to let the 15 year old.
Anyone watching Prime's Fallout? We watched the first episode and liked it.
I'm on like episode 5 but I got hyperfocused on work and missed a bunch of stuff and will have to rewatch 4&5. I love it. It is much more bloody/violent/graphic than I usually like my shows to be, but it isn't so bad that I'm turning it off and it does stay kinda true to video game violence in general. I didn't/don't play the Fallout games because first person games aren't really my jam, but I do know a good bit of the lore and imagery in the games, more than a layperson at least.
I'll get gifts for my two closest friends. That's it. And I try to come up with something useful or edible/drinkable. Sometimes it's as easy as a $$$$$ bottle of rum.
What Bluey special?!? My kids would love this! (And me too truthfully)
There is a 28 minute special premiering tomorrow. I think it might be the last one for a long time. They also just added a normal length episode, so check that one out too.
The kids woke up early so we cpuld watch it together before I left for my show today.
Big Kid became a plant person in 3rd grade, which forced me to become a plant person so we wouldn't kill hers. Now I have a decent collection.
Cut off the peperomia inca cuttings I'm trying to root and most of the prayer plant. Big Kid has the biggest photos and a philodendron in her room, and there's a few plants in the bio active snake terrarium too.
EDIT: I need a bigger grow light for the cactus (which also needs to be repotted) so if anyone has recommendations I'm all ears.
mala, this is fascinating! I always have terrible luck with homemade mac and cheese and now I wonder if sodium citrate is why restaurant/frozen ones are always better. Does the sodium citrate have any taste?
Yep, it's what makes American cheese so melty, too. You can make queso dip and thicker cheese sauces by varrying the ratio of liquid to cheese. The sodium citrate is always 2-3% of the combined weight of the cheese and liquid. It can make things a little salty tasting so I always go light on the added salt, but it doesn't have any kind of aftertaste or anything.
Mac n Cheese, though I use sodium citrate for the cheese sauce and it freezes much better than a flour roux based sauce. I'll add a rough recipe if you want it.
Please!
OP I prep a tray of manicotti (only boil shelles for about 10 minutes) and freeze raw. So easy to cover with sauce and pop in the oven from frozen. I also add frozen meatballs.
Meatloaf
chili or any kind of stew/soup
You can buy sodium citrate on amazon, fyi, and you'll need a kitchen scale. The only requirement here is the cheese/liquid/sodium citrate ratio. It can be really flexible with anything else you want to throw in.
Sauce: Optional - A few cloves of garlic Jalapenos Hot and/or sweet peppers butter/oil
Required- 24 oz block of cheese, cubed*. Cheese is your choice, I usually use cheddar but you can use any firm cheese 24 oz of liquid. I usually use water, but you can use milk, stock, or even beer in any combination. Total liquid volume should equal the cheese weight 1.44 oz (weight) of sodium citrate. Calculated as 3% of the combined liquid and cheese weight
Mix in/other stuff Pound of Pasta of choice, dry (ain't nobody got time to par-cook that shit anymore) Optional - one head of Cauliflower, rough chopped, raw bacon, precooked and crumbled chicken, uncooked and cubed up or precooked and shredded, whatever works for you Any other delicious bits you want to put in
(salt and pepper, too, mustard is good if you like it)
Saute garlic, peppers, or other flavor things in butter in a very large pot. When they're soft, add your liquid of choice. Sprinkle in the sodium citrate. Once the liquid is hot but not boiling add the cheese a few cubes at a time, and stir while they melt in. Do not let it boil or the cheese sauce will become grainy. Keep adding cheese as the cubes melt in until the cheese is all incorporated. Turn the heat off, stir in the uncooked pasta and anything else you're throwing in. Transfer to a baking dish. I usually have to split into two dishes. Allow to cool, wrap tightly, and freeze or bake right away. To bake preheat oven to 325. Cover dish with foil, bake like 45 minutes until the pasta is cooked. If baking from frozen it could take up to an hour and a half. When the pasta is soft uncover, top with shredded cheese and breadcrumbs if you want, and bake until that's golden. Let cool and eat. I usually bake over a sheet tray because it cheese sauce bubbles over, just to warn you.
Edit: *I cube the cheese because I'm lazy and I don't want to wash a cheese grater. It takes longer to melt in this way, but it's less washing up. You can use shredded cheese and it will melt in better/faster than cubes. Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents and isn't recommended, better to use a block and cut it up.
Mac n Cheese, though I use sodium citrate for the cheese sauce and it freezes much better than a flour roux based sauce. I'll add a rough recipe if you want it.
EDIT: forgot that meatloaf is another one I make a big batch and freeze. Just pop it in the oven and put rice on for a side. I make mine with a ton of veggies in it so i don't feel like I have to add a veg on the side.
Re: litter boxes. My cat is very picky about the box and will not go if she thinks it's too dirty. Her idea of "too dirty" and mine are vastly different. It took me years to figure out a system that works both for her desire for clean litter and my complete inability to scoop daily. Two rubbermaid totes with holes cut out of one side to walk through, one in the upstairs bathroom one downstairs. Litter is the Dr Elisies (i think that's the brand, Dr. E-Something at least) senior crystal litter. The type that is silica bits, the "senior" is much finer than the regular, more like sand or salt. I use a dog poop bag to scoop solids as soon as I notice them, which is usually twice a day, one is always first thing in the morning. Swirl around the litter every few days with a scooper. Change it about once a month, more often if it's two cats, you can tell when it needs changing cause it starts to look yellow (ew) and my cat will refuse to use it. I don't notice any smell from the urine, but TBF it's my house and I may be nose blind to it. I can not scoop urine clumps with clumping litter, I will avoid it like the plague and never do it. And I hate cleaning the clay litter out. So this is a great system that works well for us. Oh and I'll periodically spray the boxes with enzyme cleaner, too, litter and all.
How old are the kids? If they're older elementary (or high school), I think you can explain that this is a boundary that you will not compromise on and your brother is not a safe person, full stop. I might be in the minority but I think it's 100% ok to put the blame on your parents here. "Grandparents know he is not safe and I will not be around Brother. They chose to invite him anyway." It might also be time to reevaluate any alone time your kids get with your parents outside of this event so they can't control the narrative and make you the bad guy.
Also, therapy is hard and fucking sucks but is also worth it, so far at least. From one "always put last" person to what sounds like another.
Frequently. I do wash my work dishes in the utility sink, but even if you discount those dishes, we use it a lot for washing shoes after hiking and for Big Kid's rock tumbler (to get water to rinse, waste water from the rock tumbler goes in a bucket and outside not out the drain).
Current goal that has been shared is to have a channel that is 35ft deep open by the end of April, and have the full 50 ft deep channel open by the end of May.
Oh me too! I don't mind them at all, I even make soap with the shed exoskeletons.
I did not see that one coming!
Ha! Snake shed, too. It gets dissolved in the lye solution before making the soap, which hydrolyzes the keratin/chitin/proteins and makes a really mild soap.
People here in central MD are freaking the F out about double broods emerging this year...... it seems they forget we had ours what, 2 years ago?, and the double emergence isn't anywhere near here. And only have a very small overlap. But noooooo, it's going to be terrible in MD! /s
I think they're all traumatized because we did it once so recently. People have been very comforted when I remind them it's not going to be here. Just normal cicadas this year!
FWIW - I thought it was cool when it was happening. It was LOUD sometimes, and it was less cool when I was trying to do covid spike outdoor @ stuff with giant bugs flying into the sides of people's heads and some people chasing other people with casings in their hands and the shrieking, but all in all they're really not annoying bugs. They don't bite, they dont' want to come in the house, they don't want your food, and the sound is kinda cool honestly...they can hang out. I'm down with cicadas.
Oh me too! I don't mind them at all, I even make soap with the shed exoskeletons.
People here in central MD are freaking the F out about double broods emerging this year...... it seems they forget we had ours what, 2 years ago?, and the double emergence isn't anywhere near here. And only have a very small overlap. But noooooo, it's going to be terrible in MD! /s
Ok I snapped a 2 second video from the park on my way home. And apparently our neighbor’s willow leafed out at its not visible inside the house anymore. But, I’d say this video is at least a quarter mile away (based on how long my Apple Watch says my dog walks are).
This one is longer, but I think the compression lost some of the blinks. I only see one flashing light in the YouTube version, but there are 2 on my phone. H says there are 6 total around the house. Only these two face where I walk at night. youtu.be/FpJbrYWi-kk?si=Kj6B0ytxVBsqzp4y
Edit wildrice The videos were taken from the parking lot at the barn. Said house is at the far end of the lake. I don’t know if anyone else knows which lake I live on. But… initials WL near the malll.
I see two blinks in the second video.
Also, DUUUUUUDDDEEE. If the HOA doesn't take care of it isn't there's gotta be someone in [city redacted but yes I know where you live now in a not creepy way I promise] who will intervene. Probably call the non-emergency line and make a complaint too. Does the [Redacted] Association handle resident complaints? I'll have to check in with H, he keeps more up to date on county politics. Maybe even get you neighbors in on the outrage.
EDIT: Association probably doesn't handle complaints but someone might give you a clue who to talk to.
I'll link the article (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/2024/03/29/dali-ship-crew-baltimore-bridge-collapse/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com&utm_source=reddit.com) but I can't actually read it since I don't have a Washington Post subscription. Was linked and summarized on reddit. The Dali crew are still on board the ship and will remain as such since they don't have clearance to be in the US. It's common for shipping crews to never leave the ship at port, so they don't have the visas. (And someone needs to stay and maintain the ship.) I wonder if they have power and/or running water, though. The snippet I could read was unclear.
One of the big things I took from the videos is that the Dali is now resting on the bottom of the bay due to the weight of the bridge on top of it. We knew it wasn't going to be moved until the bridge was moved, but it's going to be really complicated and we still don't know the state of the hull under the water. Thankfully the bay is mostly silt and mud so it may be undamaged from being run into the ground. The bridge is also over the hazmat cargo, which further complicates things.
Those large ships are staffed by such small crews that it's amazing what they were able to do in that time period. I'm certain since they had just left the dock that their full crew was awake and on deck so to speak. It must have been insanely stressful for them as well.
An absolute disaster.
They stage crew at the anchors while traversing in and out of port & bridges so they can drop an anchor and try to arrest momentum in an emergency. It sounds like the crew were where they were supposed to be and did what they were trained to do in an emergency. It just wasn't enough this time.