Sample letter unpaid leave

Hello!
I recently received my appointment letter and will be starting my new position soon. I was canvassed for this position off the PCO exam list, however my appointment letter states that I’m being hired via NY HELPS. Should I inquire about this? Does it matter? It’s been a long road to get here and I’m wondering if I should just leave it alone.

We had a big storm two days ago and my neighbors oak tree and several other of their trees are dangling precariously over my property. The neighbor said because they’re hanging over my property that they aren’t responsible for having them cut. I called my insurance company and they said because the trees haven’t fallen yet that I should send the neighbor a certified, notarized letter saying their trees are posing an imminent threat to my property and they need to have them trimmed. If they fall and damage my property they will have to cover it, too. Insurance said until I serve the notice or damage is done then nothing can be done aside from me forking out the money to have them trimmed. She advised me not to do that. Meanwhile, I can’t use my yard or my driveway. She was going to do further research and call me back. Does all this sound right? If so, does anyone have a sample letter? I’m in Louisiana if that matters. Thanks in advance

RAW link: https://imgur.com/a/BBzkmtm
Summary: Mao tells Reiji Esemori began to drift into unconsciousness, so it's a matter of time, asks Rei's relationship with Esemori, with him telling Mao he is the son of a friend of his, Mao asks where Nagi is, Reiji tells him she's in The Town, and Mao wants to meet with him. Then at the hospital, Ishibashi guides Reiji to the hospital admin for the funeral arrangements. Going home, Kazumasa calls Reiji from his biomom's phone, telling him he's living at his biomom's parents' house, tells his gpa is a clothmaker from the shopping street of his new city, asks Reiji how's mom and gma, Reiji lies saying he doesn't know, then once again he lies telling Kazu he has to go to his shift and tells him to call to his phone, Kazu apologizes for leaving everything in Reiji's hands. Shino'oka is at his house, amused bc her husband's funeral clothes don't suit Reiji, but he is okay with that, she offers him to cut his hair. During the funeral and cremation arrangements, Chako surprisingly comes, with a new hair, surprised because Reiji also cut his hair. Shino'oka said she told Chako about Reiji's gma's decease and she wanted to go at any cost after knowing about that. But the main reason she's also there is because she wanted to hand Reiji a letter from Gen.
E/N: one of the reasons he's staying in this town...
Next time: soon, text was too blurry. Gomennasai🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Is Chako back at the reijibowl disqualification survival series? Or is she gonna liberate him from Gen's burden?
Also, Nagi's real name isn't disclosed yet.

Got letters in mail saying Tesla couldn’t reach me via email to my @outlook.com email address I called and they said only thing they could do is move my car to a completely new account policy under a different email and that it would be a bit of an ordeal so I told them to leave it….
But it’s a bit concerning I’m not getting the emails and the rep couldn’t really help…
Seems like Tesla needs to check their damn domain servers and make sure they aren’t blacklisted from outlook as being blacklisted or something from outlook seems to be a pretty big issue if that’s the case as nothing I can do it’s an issue between Tesla and Microsoft it would seeem
Anyone else run into this?

My sister in law and I have had essentially no contact for 4 years and she’s been trying to be back in my life and I really don’t know what to do.
History: Since the start of my husband and Is relationship there has been tension from her. She would do odd little things at the beginning but I never pushed back. If my husband and I were on our way out the door to go to dinner or do something and she was fully aware she would “need something” from him or try to get him to stay home with her.
If we were taking trips out of state and we had to give her a ride I’d have one rule no weed smoking in my car since it was over state lines and KS is not marijuanna friendly. She would repeatedly ask during the drive and talk about how “it wasn’t a big deal” and would not drop it but we wouldn’t let up.
Essentially every boundary him or I would make would be tested.
We had a big blow up years ago when planning a mutual friends bachelorette party. Things really fell apart when she tasked me with the job of getting her cousins so drunk they pass out so everyone could enjoy recreational drugs without the younger (21 & 23) sisters around. When I refused this as it is dangerous and insanely cruel she and I finally blew up. She blamed me for being defiant and looking for a fight which led to me removing myself from the situation. I did not get her brother involved because it had nothing to do with him.
She then sent my husband a message that talked about how bad I was for him, how he use to be so happy before he met me, how he was never angry until he met me (his grief from losing his father figure turned into anger issues that he worked thru) she went on and on insisting that he wasn’t happy, he wasn’t loved, and he would be better off without me. My husband read the first two lines, forwarded me the message, and deleted it. It was essentially a letter on why he should leave me. I’m thankful he was no longer able to be manipulated by her because honestly the message was so manipulative he caught on quick and HE chose to distance himself. Throughout the years I’d ask him to text his sister for her birthday. To check on her. I wasn’t going to have a relationship but I encouraged him to have one with her.
Since we have been at family events and I made sure his family didn’t know any better and was very cordial but the times we did see each other there was no changed behavior. She was still doing the same selfish and manipulative things. We didn’t have to worry about it run ins with her often because she moved out of the country and it was pleasant.
She’s now moving back to the states and text me (I haven’t text her in 5 years) telling me about how she’s so happy to be back and I didn’t respond. She’s now back in our lives and I don’t know how to handle it. She tried (thankfully unsuccessfully) to take the most important thing from me and I don’t think I can ever forgive her for that.
Now we are working on starting a family and I don’t know how to distance myself from her without looking petty or upsetting my in laws. I personally want nothing to do with her but don’t want to hurt my family. I also don’t trust she won’t try and manipulate my future child like she tried to my husband.
What do you recommend I do? How can I not rekindle the drama but stay distanced?

For context, I'm an introvert hindi marunong makisalamuha sa iba at tahimik lang. That's why they never invited me in any occasions like gala and they avoiding me for being "bad" person even though, introvert ako at alam nila yun.
In-love ako sa kaibigan ko for 5 years, marami na akong nagawang love letters sa kaniya pero ni isa hindi ko naibigay at hindi ko naibigay ang regalo ko para sa kaniya no'ng birthday niya. I've heard their conversations (with her friends) ako 'yung topic nila na ang sabi'y:" Hey, diba gusto mo si [ako] ?" Siya: "Hala, no! (She laughs) May nanliligaw na kaya sa akin and he's better than him. If he confess to, I'll just pretend that he never existed in my life." Them:"why? Diba close kayo ni [ako]? And bagay naman kayo sa isa't-isa. Oh, ba't ka namumutla? Don't tell me you also liked him, don't you? "
She denied and said "No! I only treat him as a brother and to be honest, I developed a crush to him 2 years ago pero ngayon wala na kasi introvert siya at matalino rin. Kaso no, I only treat him like a brother to myself." Them:"aminin, siya ang nagpapasaya at bumubuo ng yong araw, diba?" Again, she ignores it and it suddenly became quite.
I was about to confess my feelings, pero grabe ang sakit no'n. Hindi ko tanggap ang pagiging torpe at introvert ko! I wish I should be him! I left them, I was just behind the door and bout to ask her to talk in private and confess, but I only heard those words that came from her mouth. I felt like they treated me as an exchangeable items. I was about to leave that school pero bigla niya akong tinawag, I pretended that I did not hear it, I walk so fast as I could. Hinabol niya ako pero nakita kong umiiyak siya, hindi ko siya pinansin kanina. Ayaw kong makita ko siya at naaalala yung mga sinabi niya tungkol sa akin.
I did some research to that person and surprisingly, that person was a rich nag aaral sa NU (I can't mention this campus for privacy at baka malaman nila kung sino ako.) nakatira sa mamahaling subdivision sa province namin. And she was right I guess? That person is better than me.
Anyway, let's go back to her shall we? Okay, naging awkward ang araw ko, lumapit siya sa akin and I think she's about to ask as usual. I was the one whose doing her research, essays, and sabay kaming pupunta sa 7-eleven para mag ice cream. But I ignored her, totally ignored her. I almost cried pero tinago ko yun para hindi mahalata ng iba, I went to bathroom at doon na rin akong umiyak nang mahina. I heard my "friends" also her friends that she cried. No, umiiyak siya dahil iniiwasan ko siya.
After ng school, umuwi na lang ako habang dala ko ang love letter sa kamay. Tinapon ko na lang yung letter sa basurahan at alam kong magiging walang saysay ang mga salitang isinulat ko na wari'y hindi babasahin ng iba kahit ang mismong sarili niya. Kanina babawiin ko sana yun kaso wala na. Ang nakakapagtaka pa ay yung basura ay nandoon pa at may kumuha ata? I hope she's not the one who picked that and read. Since malapit ang bahay namin sa isa't-isa at yung lugar kung saan ko tinapon ay malapit 6 houses ang layo kung saan ko tinapon yun.
I hope she won't gonna read that. By the way, I'm new here and asking your opinion kung gago ba ako o hindi. Kayo na ang bahala manghusga sa akin at wala namang makakaalam ang pagkakakilanlan ko rito. Those autocorrections sucks

Hello Nanny community,
I'm a first-time parent and recently hired a nanny who started just over a month ago. We've agreed to paid time off and holidays as part of our arrangement. We also assured her that if we ever go on a vacation where her services aren't needed, she'd still be paid for those days, emphasizing our commitment to treating her as a full-time employee. However, our nanny has requested unpaid leave four times already for non-emergency reasons, such as extending weekends (for upcoming Memorial day) or for personal travel, none of which was discussed initially during the hiring process.
While she has accrued PTO, she prefers taking unpaid leave instead because she wants to save these PTOs for later. My spouse and I both work full-time, and arranging cover for these times has been challenging. We absolutely recognize everyone's need for personal time and breaks, but we're finding the frequency and nature of these requests difficult to manage.
I would appreciate insights on whether this is common and any advice on how to handle the situation respectfully. How do other parents or nannies navigate such scenarios? Thank you for your help!

After seeing the recent thread about someone listening to And All That Could Have Been for the first time, I’m curious as to what other people’s core memories are of discovering Trent/NIИ. I found Closer as a young teen, but didn’t become a fan until I went through a massive life change and chance bought The Fragile on CD a couple years after its initial release. I was an instant fan of the band and Trent’s from that time onwards in my life…True core memory shit.
I didn’t discover Still as a record until almost a decade later, however I heard a clip of Leaving Hope later the same year as the clipped audio on a flash module of a graphic design project — with no idea that Trent was the composer, however that 90 second audio sample saved my life. My best friend had recently passed in a brutal and tragically violent situation and I fell into a deep, crippling depression after her death; unable to function, mostly. It was one of the darkest moments of my life. Then I happened on this 90 second clip of Leaving Hope by complete chance and something about it gave me a tether back to reality that I was slowly able to pull myself back up from. I used the most basic screen recording program available at the time to record the page, then stripped the audio from the video and it lived on my computer as a 64kb mp3 for close to a decade.
Then, nine years later, when an artist I strongly admired committed suicide and I was finding solace in a FLAC download of all the Halo releases to date ( shoutout to Echoing The Sound members for that ), I finally discovered Still as an album, and Leaving Hope in its entirety. I wept that day. If I never do anything else significant in my life, one day I’d like to let Trent know that he wrote the piece of music that saved my life.
ETA: someone reported this post and I received a Reddit Cares message… I appreciate the compassion/concern, however the events in my aforementioned core memory happened 15 years ago. I’m okay, promise

Apologies for posting a novella. I’ll probably get downvoted a lot for this post, but almost every every day I see one or more of these big pot comments in response to someones post. So here goes.

• Myth 1 - If the pot’s too big, the monstera will keep growing out it’s roots to fill the pot before it pushes out leaf growth.
  • BUSTED: Monsteras growing in the wild have unlimited space to expand their roots. If this myth were true, wild monsteras would have miles of roots and no leaves. In reality, ALL plants, including monsteras, achieve a balance between root and top growth through a concept known as the "root-to-shoot ratio". Plants balance resources between their roots and shoots based on their needs and environmental conditions. When a plant's roots have enough space and access to nutrients, they will focus on establishing a suitable root system initially. However, once the roots are well-established and able to support the plant's needs, the plant will allocate more energy to producing leaves and stems. In a large pot, a monstera will initially invest in root growth to maximize nutrient and water absorption. Once the roots are sufficiently developed to support the plant, it will shift its energy towards top growth. This natural balance means that the plant can thrive by supporting its above-ground parts with a strong root system. Providing a larger pot will not prevent a monstera from growing leaves; it will merely allow the plant to establish a healthy foundation, ultimately leading to better overall growth and a more vigorous plant. On the other hand, the common advice to use a pot that is only a bit larger than the existing root ball can lead to the plant focusing more on leaf growth at the expense of developing a suitably sustainable root system. Even though this might result in quicker leaf production in the short term, it can leave the plant with an underdeveloped root system, making it less stable and less able to absorb nutrients and water effectively over time.
• Myth 2 - If the pot’s too big you’ll get root rot.
  • BUSTED: This is the one I see most often, and although well meaning, doesn’t help people learn about setting up a proper environment for a monstera (or any plant). When growing the wild, in the ground, Monstera’s have an unlimited pot size, literally and they don't die of root rot except when something is wrong. Root rot is actually contributed to by a wide variety of conditions.
    1. Unsuitable Soil Mix: The job of the monstera grower is to create a root zone as close to its native habitat as possible. If the soil you use is too compact or heavy, or doesn’t drain well enough, it will create an environment suitable for pathogens to thrive. Monsteras are pretty hardy and can thrive in a wide variety of soils, which is why you see people using things like LECA and creating all kinds of soil mixes. Ultimately, it’s important that the roots have sufficient moisture combined with sufficient air and can gain sufficient nutrients from the soil (or anything you feed it). Proper drainage and aeration are crucial to prevent root rot. A well-aerated soil mix allows excess water to drain away, preventing waterlogging, which can suffocate roots and create conditions that encourage root rot. Using a soil mix designed for aroids or creating your own mix with ingredients like perlite, orchid bark, and peat moss can help achieve the right balance. If in doubt about the right soil to use, look for good quality commercial aroid mixes on amazon or wherever you buy your plant supplies.
    2. Overwatering: This is one of the most common mistakes made by plant owners. If the soil is kept too wet for too long, it starves the roots of oxygen. Monsteras, like other plants, require a balance between moisture and air in the soil. When the soil stays saturated, the roots can suffocate and begin to rot. Signs of overwatering include yellowing leaves, mushy stems, and a musty odor from the soil.
    3. Unsuitable Water: The quality of water you use can significantly impact the health of your monstera. Tap water, depending on your location, can contain high levels of chlorine, fluoride, or salts, which can be harmful to plants over time. To avoid this, consider using filtered, distilled, or reverse osmosis (RO) water to reduce the risk of chemical buildup. However, when using distilled or RO water, remember that these types of water lack minerals, so you may need to add supplemental nutrition more frequently. Collecting rainwater is another excellent option, as it is generally free of harmful (to plants) chemicals and more closely matches the water monsteras receive in their natural environment. If using tap water, let it sit out for 24 hours before watering to allow some of the chlorine to evaporate. Also, use room-temperature water to avoid shock to the plant’s roots. If you’re not sure about your tap water, your local extension or agriculture office will often do a sample analysis for you for free or cheaply.
    4. Poor Soil Microbiome: In its natural environment, soil has a diverse biome that includes a beneficial fungi and bacteria. These microorganisms play a a really important role in plant health by inoculating the roots against pathogens. Beneficial fungi, such as mycorrhizae, are symbiotic with plant roots, helping them absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. Beneficial bacteria, can produce antibiotics that suppress harmful pathogens like Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia, all of which can cause root rot and other diseases if they are not kept in check. These beneficial microorganisms create a competitive environment that makes it difficult for harmful pathogens to establish. So if we’re growing monsteras in pots, if we try to try to recreate the natural soil biome we can make root rot and other diseaases less common. You can buy products to do this, I use a liquid Mycorrhizae called Orca, by Plant Revolution, because it contains a broad range of both myco (Endomycorrhiza and Ectomycorrhiza) and good bacteria, so it’s an all in one soil biome booster. There are plenty of others on the market, but that’s the one I use. Additionally, nutrient additions can help adjust and support this environment in the pot. Using organic amendments, such as worm castings, seaweed extract, can provide nutrients that promote a healthy soil microbiome. Avoid using synthetic fertilizers too much, beause they disrupt the microorganisms, as can overly chlorinated water (it's addition to drinking water is literally to kill microorganisms). I also have a bag of granulated mycorrhizae (again there’s a ton of granulated myco out on the market), , that I mix in with the new soil when repotting a plant, I use this one because it’s relatively cheap, but even though it may not be the best, I’m ok with that because I supplement with Orca as a part of my nutrient regimen.

So the issue is much more involved than big pots. Healthy and appropriately sized roots are important to a well balanced monstera. There’s also a ton of other factors including, pot material, environment temperature, humidity, repotting stress, and so much more. I just wanted to address the “big pot” thing specifically. As I mentioned at the beginning, a monstera is pretty hardy as long as it’s treated well, but the more you know, the easier it is to make the right decisions for the plant. The good news is that everything I've addressed above, goes for pretty much all plants.
If you believe I've made any errors above, I'm happy to discuss or chat about it. Hope some of you find this helpful.
EDIT: edited for spelling.

Imagine if you will that you have been accused of a triple murder. Sentenced to a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Twelve jurors in Kentucky found the evidence convincing enough to convict Christian "Kit" Martin for the murders of his neighbors Calvin Phillips, Pam Phillips and Ed Dansereau.
His defense is that he was framed by a vindictive wife (Adele "Joan" Harman) that threatened to ruin him if he divorced her. The jurors got to hear very little about the backstory, a pattern of wild lies and deceptions and accusations against prior men in her lives when things didn't go her way, all discovered by private investigators.
This was a heavy circumstantial case. Joan and her son were allowed to plead the 5th and that fact was not disclosed to the jurors. Out of more than 100 DNA samples tested not one belonged to Kit. There were two key pieces of evidence that convinced these jurors beyond a reasonable doubt the Kit Martin was guilty. Kit claims those two pieces of evidence were planted so lets take a closer look:
First we have the dogtag. I mean, Kit must have done it because he left his dogtag right? There are four critical problems with this evidence:

1. The name on the dogtag read "Martin, Kit" so this dogtag is not military issue. The military only issues tags with the full name (not nicknames) which would have been printed instead "Martin, Christian." Fake souvenir tags can be purchased online (an even in kiosks in some locations) to read what you input on your order. I know a lot of military people and know exactly zero that wear their tags outside of work. But let's say for arguments sake that the souvenir tag really was Kit's. The murders were planned in "precise military fashion" according to the prosecution, yet Kit chooses to put on a souvenir tag with his name on it that morning? I find that very hard to believe.
2. This souvenir tag was tested for fingerprints and DNA and they found none. The prosecution argued that while Kit was cleaning up the blood from the carpet in the foyer, the tag must have kept getting in his way so he took it off and set it up on a shelf. That seems really far-fetched.
3. The tag was on a string and not a break-a-way chain which was also tested for DNA evidence and there was "some DNA evidence" but apparently not enough to make a comparison to Kit's. This seems really off to me. If someone had just committed three murders, I would imagine they would have sweat a bit leaving behind DNA. Yet interestingly there is no DNA evidence on the tag or string matching Kit.
4. Besides the most ridiculous idea that a murderer would even put that tag on before going to commit these murders, he had the forethought to wipe it down real good when removing it when it was in his way (to remove any fingerprints and DNA). Instead of putting it in his pocket, he places it on a shelf and then he forgets to take it when he leaves? Wow, really?

So the second major piece of evidence in this murder case was a spent 45 casing that matched the Glock found in Kit's safe. Here again there are a few problems with this evidence:

1. Kit was portrayed by the prosecution as a highly trained ranger who skillfully planned out these murders (or at least Calvin and Pam's as Ed was an unexpected variable). But then afterwards he walked across the street and placed the murder weapon in his safe instead of ditching it? That's not too bright.
2. The 45 casing was found by family members when cleaning the porch area FIVE months AFTER the murders. This was despite the porch area being processed THREE separate times; once by Christian County Sheriffs Department, once when Detective Scott Smith went to spray the scene with Blue Star (Luminol), and lastly when Crime Scene Investigators came in to try to determine where on the property the shootings took place.
3. The bullets found in Cal's body were not conclusively linked to Kit's Glock in his safe. But the 45 casing found by family members WAS positively identified as being fired from Kit's Glock.
4. Kit testified that when he first moved to the area he hung out with Cal some and did target shooting in Cal's backyard. There is no doubt that Kit was a gun enthusiast, but that does not make a person a murderer. He had spent casings in his backyard, Cal's backyard and in his truck bed. So it would be easy for someone to collect one of Kit's spent casings and plant it on the porch through the latticework.

So there you have it - so much reasonable doubt, zero DNA evidence yet Kit sits in prison with a life sentence. I want justice for the murders of Cal, Pam and Ed as much as anyone but I want the true killes behind bars. The entire case was aired on Court TV but a great book outlining this complicated triple murder along with much of the backstory was just released: https://www.amazon.com/WILL-RUIN-YOU-Twisted-Behind/dp/1960332651/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16F4EJ1ADIAFW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0Uv31xRkigJgf0YtFU_hoTDA5NKrUkmCjLdhWuYJt7PGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.JPhlG_WJosxW0v7nGrsHoDXG_IlDGM6632INYnJiFwA&dib_tag=se&keywords=emilio+corsetti&qid=1715785721&sprefix=emilio+corsetti%2Caps%2C184&sr=8-1
A good reference for this case is the Dateline episode "The Evil That Watches." https://www.nbc.com/dateline/video/the-evil-that-watches/9000190878
Another good shorter synopsis (though a HUGE mistake is minute 4:25 where he states the phone found in the driveway was determined to be Pam's. It was Ed's phone found in the driveway. Joan was actually the one that took Pam's phone into the ATT store about a month after the murders saying she found it and wanted to get it unlocked (that's a whole crazy part of evidence that also convinces me that Kit is innocent - #joanhadthephone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WbFF7SyeSg

I was offered a new job but I’m pregnant and not sure if I should take it. I expressed my concerns to them concerning PTO and leave (I would be the only person doing my job) WITHOUT telling them I’m pregnant. At my current job, I would have a 12 week maternity leave. I don’t like my current job and it’s a huge step down from where I was headed. I would’ve probably taken the new job if I wasn’t pregnant.
The new job would be 1.5 hour commute both ways with traffic. I am super worried about the commute and so were they. I hardly see my kids as it is now. But, they’re offering a 23% pay increase. I’d be going from $66k to $83k in a very HCOLA (if I went full time)- they’re offering me either full time or part time.
My current job is offering 12 weeks of maternity leave. If I took the new job, it’d be six weeks of disability; however, our new daycare doesn’t start until hopefully January. That leaves about six weeks with no one to take care of the baby. Is now the time to tell them I’m pregnant? Do you think they would be flexible and make an exception? No formal offer letter, just that they’re extremely interested in hiring me over email and want to talk about what they can do to have me accept. They’re even willing to hire a second person so that PTO requests wouldn’t have to be so difficult.

I’m always in some amount of pain with this fistula. I sit on a heating pad to drain the pus when the abscess gets hard and painful. I take ibuprofen. I was prescribed a topical cream that does nothing. I was on antibiotics for a week too. Some days the pain is excruciating, others it’s tolerable but distracting. My consultation is in June. I have to do two Fleet enemas the morning of my consultation and I’ve never done one before, so I’m a little anxious about it.
It starts to get to you after awhile, always being in pain. It affects your attitude and your self esteem, especially when you can’t just tell someone what the problem is because you’re embarrassed to admit to having an anal abscess and fistula. It’s gross and there’s no delicate way to explain to someone at work that you have to sit for a bit (on the heating pad) because “your butt hurts”. The night sweats leave you exhausted because you woke up drenched and sticky, but there’s no time to take a shower before work. You look haggard and pale. You have to wear a pad or gauze in your pants (like a diaper) because of the drainage so you hate walking around. You can’t take an LOA from work because those are unpaid. You’re exhausted from waking up sweating or struggling to sleep because of random stabbing pain. You’re becoming more and more depressed, emotionally volatile because of it all. You don’t even want to eat because food means digestion, digestion means going to the bathroom, and going to the bathroom can hurt so so bad.
I’ve been dealing with this for years due to being misdiagnosed over and over until my current GP saw it. Of course, it wasn’t an extra hole until recently. It was just agony and blood, like I was sitting on a knife, for a long time. It would come and go, always hurting but not always agonizing. I dreaded long car rides. I had to tell people I preferred to stand when I actually really needed to sit. That was before I knew what it was, so I thought standing was the best thing I could do. Now I just need to sit on a heating pad, but I work a job where I am often needed to walk around a huge warehouse. I can feel the abscess rubbing when it flares up during those times. I have to pause and take a breath. I usually tell people I have a bruised tailbone from a fall to explain why I am sitting on a heating pad and walk funny.
I was almost late for work today because of the bathroom. Blood and pus. Pain. I don’t know what else can be done for me until the consultation and I’m not sure how to broach the subject with my GP when I have an appointment coming up. It feels so far away.
As painful as large hard stools are, I prefer them to the soft mushy ones. The soft ones seem to make it worse. It’s almost like the soft ones push into whatever channel is open down there and fester. So the hard ones may make me bleed but I’m less likely to have an abscess grow from them. I don’t even know what I can eat. Diarrhea makes it so much worse, like the diarrhea is getting into the channel. And while it can be mostly pus, with some blood, sometimes it’s just this clear viscous liquid.
I’m not a religious person but I admit to praying for this to be fixed soon. I am so depressed. So tired. This pain may be mild at points but it’s all day every day.
Did anyone else suffer a lot and then feel way better after it was treated?

Good Morning Everyone, Evening to some, afternoon to most.
We got home to lots of letters and my fiancee loved them all, and she's sitting next to me while we take the time to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to bring joy here in TN.
Thank you u/onebadjoke The Edible favours is a great idea, I'm going with twix, she's going with Riesen and for the both of us, Swedish Fish, gotten love hand fishing in a bag over waiting by the pond.
Thank you u/jemst0ne Amanda absolutely loves the post card, she's drawn to it immediately, and your card prompted a story. So, fun fact both of us proposed to each other to let each other know we were ready to be serious and jump into husband and wife roles, well the night that Amanda decided she wanted to make her jump, she received a fortunate cookie following a really nice meal at the casino, and the fortunate cookie said "Don't panic," lol, and nobody but her knew that that was. Second fun fact, mine that night said something about, "Don't miss the opportunity of the day, tomorrow it will be lost."
Thank you u/snerdboff We will definitely take funny pictures and thank you for the marriage licenses multiple copies, either of us thought of that, that's a great idea. Love that you had the largest card/envelope package. Love the sticker of the house as the envelope closer.
Thank you u/danigeek That's a great idea about the consignment store for the dresses. So far she has gone with her mom and sister to look at dresses. So far our idea for the colors of our wedding will be purple, blue, and silver. We have yet to try any cakes for the wedding, but my favorite is polish honey cake and her favorite is black forest (which no bakery seems to make anymore). Daisies are Amanda's favorite flower. Great card. Thank you.
Thank you, u/littlemermaidxx Thank you for the Love post card, it's nice, Amanda loves it, will take a pin to the love corner that we've got going. Thank you for the Congrats!
Thank you u/blacksmithequivalent You sent two cards :). Thank you so much. San Diego is such a beautiful area. We love that there is rarely a day below 60 degrees. The ring card is so pretty. Since she calls me her galaxy, I decided that blue sandstone would be a great pick for both her engagement and wedding ring. The actual stone looks like stars in a dark night sky. We also appreciate you saying that as long as we are happy together, no other opinions matter. True relationships are based on trust, great communication, and respect.
Thank you u/ez330 Absolutely beautiful card with the hearts as leaves in the tree. Congrats on your upcoming 12 year anniversary with your husband. I am sorry that you had those stressors during your wedding day. At this point, I feel that my fiancee and I are the least worried about things right now. That may not be a good thing when the time gets closer haha. Either way, as long as we are together and nothing drastic happens it'll be a great day for us as well. I am also a project manager so nothing can be as bad as some of the violent days at work lol.
Thank you, u/uknighinthesky Love the card. We are both very thankful to have several family members that are doing so much research for us and planning parts of the wedding. I think one of our main concerns is getting some family members from out of town to the wedding. The comic snips were very funny and a great touch to the card.
Thank you, u/uaepeyc. I absolutely adore this card. My mom is huge into mermaids and when I showed her this card, she went cray cray. You gave great advice saying that family research is helpful, but that in the end it is our day. Through all the planning, I think that our day will be as amazing as our relationship. She says that our relationship will be made with great memories for the next 55 years.
Thank you, u/ninajyang. The front of the card is so pretty. I wish you and your partner the best. We both have a similar budget in mind. We don't want to spend too much, but just enough to make things as memorable as possible. This will be both of our first and last marriages so we figure we would splurge just a little. Thank you for the cute stamps as well.
Thank you, u/mediocre_radish_7216 Thank you so much for the cute cared. I liked the skateboard with the word love on it. Since she has moved in, we have been enjoying every little moment together. Even domesticated, simple ones can be enjoyable together. As we are writing these, we are doing household chores. Last night we cooked dinner and had a glass of wine together. We both plan to flourish this relationship for the next 55 years.
Thank you, u/notsomini. Not going into debt for a single day is a great piece of advice. Thank you. We have been looking at wedding venues and seeing which one is the most cost effective, but yet flexible. A few places that we have looked at have been so strict with what is allowed in and what is not. One place that we checked out, no outside food was permitted. This place that we plan to check out tomorrow is not strict as we can bring in whatever food and other accommodations we choose. Thank you so much for the awesome stickers too.
Thank you, u/inkyfingerspgs Thank you so much for the card. Amanda loved it as the purple that was on the card is one of our wedding colors. We plan to continue making good memories from the wedding day and 55 years into the future.
Thank you, u/daeneryswon. The card is adorable. We both love it. The quote, "to a love that grows more beautiful every year," should be a goal for all couples. We hope that on our wedding day there is not too many hiccups, but both of us are pretty easy going that we will just continue on. We plan to make each other happy for the next 55 years.
Thank you so much u/keqani. All of the details that you put into your card is appreciated. Amanda adored the snips of paper that you included with your card. She said that those will be amazing to write little love notes to me to leave in my truck for me to discover. We both concur with you that we need to be there for each other no matter what. Loyalty in a relationship is very important. So far we have had great communication. Before we moved in together, we talked multiple times a day for at least 20 minutes or longer. We also promised each other that if anything is bothering either of us that we should just talk it out rather than holding it in. Amanda says that for the next 55 years we will be together through all the ups and downs that life can bring.

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First, allow me to preface this by saying that I've been a fairly long-time lurker but first-time poster. I've actually learned quite a bit here, so I'm grateful to everyone here in our sub.
Without getting too much into particulars, I'm canonically Latin at the moment but looking to transfer ascription. I do have a history with the Eastern Churches (so time and advisement aren't issues per my spiritual father, and he has advised that I start getting the ball rolling, so to speak).
For those that did a transfer -- what did you put in your letter, or would someone have a sample letter I could use as a model?
Essentially, I'm looking for pointers, and have a bit of...writer's block.
Edit: grammar.

A few days ago my pocketbook was stolen with all of my cash in it. I recently had to take 2 months unpaid medical leave from work, and my first week of work back my bag gets stolen. Im really stressed out, am unsure how to pay my bills right now. If anyone wants to help please let me know.

Long post alert: I matched with someone on a dating app last month who is from another country but lives in mine currently for 3-4 years. He knows about my culture very well. We have a lot of things in common. We both are in our 30s. His work is soccer related and I'm a huge fan of the sport. Both of us love gaming. Both of us have a lot of similar interests and are sapiosexuals. He lives in another city and comes to mine sometimes. We spoke for a month before I decided to visit him. I intuitively felt it was safe to stay with him and that he's a good man. This weekend, I went there and we had an amazing time. We both are shy people but together it felt like we knew each other for years. We couldn't keep our hands off each other the evening we met. Sx was great and he appreciated me the way I was, flaws and everything. We cuddled, kissed, talked about life, work, did and said silly things and what not. I could be myself with him. I felt extremely safe with him. The way he looked at me and smiled, especially when I was in his arms, was magical. I definitely saw something for me in his eyes. 50-51 hours felt like everything was perfect. On my last day there, we cuddled and watched a documentary before dinner that I had cooked for him (I hate cooking) and he liked it too. He can't eat spicy so I made it less spicy. We were having dinner and talking about the spicy things he doesn't like to eat in my country. One of them is my absolute favourite thing so I just said it depends where you eat it because I make it less spicy at home. Suddenly, he started getting annoyed, raised his voice and said things like I am not even trying to look through his perspective and when I tried to defend myself, he asked me to stop interrupting him all the time (could be because I was leaving and he was feeling something. I don't know). I controlled my tears as I was getting angry and finished my dinner silently. He ordered ice cream for us but after that I went completely silent. I picked up plates, cleaned up everything, packed my bags as I was leaving early next day and went in the balcony to calm myself down. I went to his room to get something I had left there and he asked 'everything okay honey?' and I just replied hmm and left. We didn't talk after that because he fell asleep while I was trying to calm down. None of us ate the ice cream. Later I went to his room, turned off his TV, hugged him and slept besides him. He held my hand and slept. Next morning he had to leave for work too so we were going to leave together. We didn't speak a word except when he asked if I'd have coffee. We didn't hug or kiss like we did on other mornings. When we left and went downstairs, his cab was there and then we hugged. He only asked me to let him know when I get in the bus. When I got in the bus, I messaged him 'In the bus. Thanks for everything'. He replied 'Take care 😘' I reminded him a few things like to eat the leftover dinner, use up things I had opened to make it, etc. And then I apologised for not talking to him that night and explained that I didn't want to hurt him because I'd have said terrible things if I had opened my mouth. He replied 'No problem *****' 'It was nice to see you' I replied same here. Then he said 'Take care of yourself ☺️☺️' after which I asked him if we'd meet again because the way we left things didn't feel right and also thanked him for making me the happiest I was in years. He just replied 'Let's see how things are going'. It is also important to mention that he's moving to another country soon in June or July (doesn't know where yet) but now he knows I can move too. I didn't reply after that because I didn't know what to say. No honey, baby or anything. I cried the entire way home. He just liked my cat's picture I uploaded on Instagram story after I reached home because he knew I was missing her. There hasn't been any communication after that (yesterday) although he had mentioned before that it's a busy week for him. I can't stop thinking about him, his face, his eyes, his smell and his smile. And another weird thing: he has these muscle jerks in his sleep and now I have them too somehow. My brother told me this.
Now that you know what is happening, I need something to fix our relationship. I really thought it could be a long-term thing for us because we were perfect together. I'm ready to move wherever he's going as my work is flexible. Things suddenly became weird after that dinner. I tried to communicate yesterday but after those replies, he felt disconnected. I want us to work but I want him to approach because I've done my part. I just know it wasn't just a hookup for us because none of us are into it. His birthday is this week and I wanted to send something handmade (which he really needs in his house) and write a letter to him. Is that a good idea? I'm relatively a baby witch and started 4 months ago. Is there a specific spell or something that would help me? At the moment, I only have some crystals, a small altar for aphrodite, coloured candles, bayleaves and some other spices. Any help and advice is appreciated.
Thank you for reading!

So, I live in Southwestern VA had some medical issues a little over a year and a half ago that forced me to resign from my high paying job after an extended medical leave during that time I unfortunately had to let some debts go unpaid and now that I am back working I've been trying to get things caught up but it's been difficult because I'm making half of what I was making before.
Today, I received a civil claim for money and that I have to attend court in July, I really don't have the money to settle the amount this instant and probably won't be able to settle in by July considering I am actively settling other older debts right now. Do I need to get a lawyer? Should I try contacting the collection agency and see if I can work something out? I would like to avoid court if at all possible, but if going to it could lead to a more favorable outcome, I would consider it but I really don't think I'll be able to afford a lawyer.
I was considering bankruptcy until I got my new job, but I can't afford to lose my car as it's my only form of transportation and also essentially my only asset. I thought I would have been able to get caught up before they started coming after me like this, so I'm really not sure what to do.
Sorry if this sounds kinda rambley, but I'm really stressed out about this right now and just want to figure out how to resolve it as easily as possible.

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Memory Transcription Subject: Elias Meier, Former UN Secretary-General
Date [standardized human time]: July 13, 2160
The irritability coursing through my psyche was palpable. Every sound was dialed up to eleven, stabbing at the core of my sensory processing. Constant awareness grated on me after days without sleep, never having any break from the stream of information I needed to digest. There was no way to shut the world off and reset, and no reprieve from the unsettling reality of my physical experience. I was curled up in a ball on the floor, rocking back and forth; I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go on like this.
Virnt scuttled over to me in the spaceship, jostling my shoulder. “Elias? Would you like to turn back from this mission?”
I remembered how I’d spent most of the trip, standing under the water in the shower. There was a special shampoo they’d provided for synthetic hair, like a wig. I held out my phony hand and emptied most of the bottle’s worth of goop, zoning out; I was trying to soak in the distant sensation of liquid running down my spine. Once upon a time, this had been the most relaxing time of my day—letting muscle tension fade away and cleansing grimy skin oils. Now, I knew neither of those two still existed in my day-to-day life to assuage.
Did it even matter to slap soap on some metal frame? There were no consequences of letting hygiene go by the wayside. I didn’t sweat in order to start to reek, and I couldn’t get skin conditions or be affected by bacteria. It could be that I was bathing out of habit, clinging to my old lifestyle, that I kept going to wash up. Perhaps the shower had become my favorite haunt because I felt disgusting in this body. Everything was a reminder that I was an inhuman scrap pile, and it was wearing on my sanity. It wasn’t like anyone related to what I was going through.
I used to spend so much time fussing over making my suits look crisp and perfect—immaculate ties, UN pins adjusted just right. The heavy jackets would trap my body heat in the summer; now, it no longer had that effect. I could bundle up as much as I wanted in 40 degree Celsius heat, unless there was some limit that would fry my circuits. Shit, I might not need a spacesuit in the vacuum of space—I couldn’t freeze or suffocate, after all. Being left out in the void for all eternity didn’t sound that much different from my present experience.
I hate what I’ve become. I hate what they’ve done to me; all I do is think, and every part of my new self lives in the uncanny valley. There’s nothing positive. Maybe it’s time to call it…death was better than this. I can’t bear another day of this hell.
“Hey, stay with me! Distractibility, depression, being unable to maintain concentration—these are natural consequences of sleep deprivation. I’m surprised it carries over without a physical mechanism to grow tired…but I’m working on a sleep suite, I promise,” Virnt said, glossy eyes staring at me.
I groaned. “I’m not tired, but it’s just nonstop. I…I’m having trouble remembering what I read.”
“Here, I’m going to try a temporary fix. You look like you need it. I don’t want you to suffer; just turning you off and on isn’t the same. I’m going to emulate GABA, uh, shut off your optic sensors, decrease the activity in your prefrontal cortex, and simulate delta waves for an hour. We can see if it somewhat fills the need for deep sleep, okay? Relaxation, no processing: worth a shot, right?”
I nodded mutely, staying in the fetal position. I didn’t have the will to move, and I didn’t want to get my hopes up that Virnt’s plan would be any mercy. The sensation of the Tilfish tinkering with my settings was strange, as if my brain was being overridden in the moment. There was no process of falling asleep to give it the air of naturalness. Suddenly, I was blind, trapped in darkness—and a modicum of drowsiness kicked in, limiting my movement. Thoughts died down, offering much-need relief; I faintly wished I could remain in this state.
When I came to, there was a sudden influx of information as the rest mode was switched off; it was hardly a seamless waking, but I’d take it. Peace in my own head was something I’d never take for granted again. I hadn’t thought myself to be a weak-minded individual, but I hadn’t realized how much it wore on you: feeling out of place in your own body every waking second, and not trusting your senses. Brain function had been restored enough that I could get a grip on myself, and rise in my disheveled state. A peek out the window revealed we’d completed our intra-atmosphere transit to the Duerten embassy.
I rubbed my eyes on reflex, but there were no gifts from the Sandman there. “Why couldn’t you have just added everything to start with, Virnt?”
“The humans I talked to said they wouldn’t want to sleep, unless they had to! I put the most focus on your emotional matrix and your facial expressiveness, since I thought that has the highest importance of what makes you human,” the Tilfish replied.
“You could’ve made it at least optional.”
“I sent the option to your holopad for the future, to trigger this program for as long as you’d like. This is a learning process, so I’m sorry for anything that’s off. All trial and error here, but it’s only going to get better! That’s the positive.”
“There are a lot of patches needed. For starters, you’re missing two of the senses: taste and smell. In spite of that, ever since I walked past the Terra Technologies staff eating tater tots, I’ve been craving them at random intervals. I’m not hungry—I can’t consume food!”
“Predator instincts,” Virnt teased. “The Federation was right.”
“I’m serious! Why on Earth would that be a thing? I literally can’t satisfy it, so it’s almost cruel.”
“It’s psychological, Elias. I looked into it after I saw it in your transcript. When humans are under a lot of stress or otherwise feeling down, you seek dopamine from food. It’s something familiar that activated your memories, and promised emotional comfort. That’s why you have the phrase ‘comfort food.’”
“I can already see how the Federation remnants would spin that. A predator’s so-called emotions are tied to food, and stimulate appetite to fulfill their whims.”
“You seem in better spirits. To add to your improved mood, we announced the success of your memory transplant to the world. The response was overwhelmingly positive—history looked back fondly on you. You got a lot of well-wishes, and I was able to get almost all of your social media re-activated. At least, the platforms that are still active.”
“I’m…allowed to share my honest experiences?”
Virnt eased me out of the shuttle, into the sunlight; cameras were waiting, causing me to stiffen. “Of course you can. I’m not here to muzzle you, my friend. Quite the opposite, in fact: I want your experiment documented as thoroughly as possible! You’re the spokesperson for—”
I shielded my face from the reporters, who were lobbing questions. “What is this? I don’t have a prepared statement. This is an ambush.”
“Terra Technologies has a mission of transparency, and improving sapients’ quality of life through digital means. We had to announce such a monumental breakthrough, but you’re under no obligation to speak with them.”
“Good,” a warm voice chimed in from next to me, making me jump. “The poor guy’s come back from the dead, Virnt. Give him a break. He’s here to speak with the Duerten Forum and their ambassador, for some semblance of his old life.”
I turned my head, beaming as I recognized her. “Erin? Oh, sorry: that’s Secretary-General Kuemper, isn’t it? You’ve moved up in the world. The United Nations is in good hands.”
“It’s good to see you, Elias. I bawled my eyes out at your funeral. You cared so much for peace and taking the high road; there isn’t a person out there who could’ve handled first contact with more grace. You inspired me, and an entire generation of future diplomats.”
I embraced Erin, who’d once been a passionate SETI researcher giving me all of the bad news about aliens. As we flailed about in the dark to save humanity and adjust to the galaxy, finally acquiring a few friends, she’d become my Secretary of Alien Affairs. I’d trusted her to do whatever it took to stabilize our extraterrestrial relations. It was a bit of a relief to see a positive reaction from someone I knew; I wasn’t sure how my friends would take my return, but I hadn’t been expecting a welcome with open arms. It brought me solace and comfort to know about the legacy I’d left behind, and the ripple effects my tenure had on the United Nations.
It is strange to see how much she’s aged. That’ll be the reality of anyone that used to be an acquaintance of mine.
The alarm bells pinging in my head faded into the backdrop, and I forgot that the wind gusting against my face only felt like a dull push. My mind slipped away from food cravings that failed to get my mouth to water, how there was no feeling of tightness from my dress shoes, and the stillness of my non-existent diaphragm. I was simply happy to see someone I cared about and enjoyed working with, in my old life. There was safety in having a person I trusted to be on my side. My brain snapped back into diplomat mode, falling into a familiar flow of conversation. If I had nothing else, I still had my social skills—an ability to navigate various cultures.
“So the Duerten Forum agreed to meet with the two of us. They know about the Sivkit attack, but not the full threat,” I spoke aloud, after breaking away from the rather soul-affirming embrace. “I read the strategy meetings for briefing them, and I’m on-board to appeal to nostalgia; humanity saving their homeworld was after my time, but close enough to it that I could serve as a reminder. A blast from the past.”
Erin nodded, her security forming a wall between us and the cameras as we walked toward the embassy. “I always wondered what you’d think of modern Vienna, Elias. All of the aliens willing to be here on our world, and to treat us like people. Friendship used to seem like a pipe dream; we were happy if they’d allow us to exist, tolerate us to that extent. Look at us now.”
“I almost gave up hoping that they could care about us, or stand beside us at all. We couldn’t do it alone then. It’s time we remember to stand together—to rise to the occasion once more. I can’t bear the thought of anything threatening our home, or our friends. I saw enough needless death twenty-four years ago.”
“That pain is a lot more recent to you. It’s completely okay to be wrestling with grief. A billion of ours died.”
“We didn’t become the monsters they thought we were, and we pulled through. We revealed their hatred and treachery, and have chosen a future set on rectifying every right they trampled. I’ll always mourn what we lost, but I’ve never been more proud of humanity in my life.”
Kuemper patted my shoulder. “You sound like yourself, my dear old friend. It’s very good to have you back; you were much better at smiling while they spit in your face than I ever was. Let’s do what’s necessary to get the ball rolling with the Shield.”
“I’m right behind you.”
The exterior of the Duerten embassy had a distinct construction style, with metal and concrete forming the bulk of the outside structure; on Kalqua, sturdiness was at the foremost of their priorities. Winds on a normal day could ratchet up to what we’d consider a tropical storm, according to my brief review of their culture. The door was evidently heightened to facilitate foot traffic from humans, despite the exit hatches on the upper floor which seemed frequented by the avian staff. Their personnel could literally fly away during an emergent situation. I tailed Kuemper into the lobby, and noted how much of the inside’s floor was concrete as well. It was resilient and easy to clean, a perfect surface to avoid being marred by talons.
Most of the gray avians used perches instead of chairs, with several staffers working on paperwork at their desks; in private areas, some met with any humans who had business with the Duerten Forum. The lack of reaction to a predator’s approach was new to me, but a welcome change. Kuemper confidently led the way to an elevator, which had the English and German words for “Welcome to the Duerten embassy!” written above the opening. The generic Shield logo was painted on both sides of the door, and emblazoned with a representation of Kalqua. There were no buttons inside, apart from an emergency exit; a camera surveyed us, before a watching staffer summoned the car upward. I felt a jolt as we reached the top floor.
“To be visited by two Secretary-Generals: one of whom is a ghost! Let me express the Duerten Forum’s honor and delight. Not, of course, that I don’t cherish Ambassador Hannah Marston’s visits.” A silver-feathered head poked out of a door at the end of the hallway, past a spacious lounge; his beak was the precise yellow of corn. “Please, come in. Make yourselves at home. Can I get you anything to drink?”
Kuemper shuffled forward, giving me a knowing look. “Water would be lovely for me. Thank you for the warm welcome, Ambassador Korajan.”
“I second that gratitude. Enchanted to meet you. I’m sure you know, but I’m Elias Meier.” Taking a gamble that the ambassador was more than acquainted with our customs, I extended a hand. Korajan strode forward with confidence, ensnaring my palm in his wingtip. “We appreciate you taking the time to sit with us, Ambassador.”
“Just Korajan,” the avian said, feeling my artificial hand with undeniable curiosity. He finally released my grip, and waited for us to get seated. “There’s no need for formalities, especially when I’m in such esteemed company. What can I do for you?”
“We’ve come to seek your assistance in the fight against the Sivkits’ assailants. The Sapient Coalition needs allies to back us against these menaces,” Kuemper stated. “Any help we can get would make a difference.”
“I see. I heard about your unfortunate defeat in your prior engagement, but I don’t see how it involves or concerns us. The Duerten, as you well know, aren’t in the position we used to be. We’ve turned our focus inward for years, shoring up our defenses to watch out for our beloved planet. The potential benefit it might offer you is so negligible that it’s hardly worth increasing our vulnerability. The risk far outweighs the rewards for any party.”
I studied the avian, careful to avoid a direct stare. “I understand that it’s a lot to ask. However, small bits of help from across the Shield can accumulate to be a massive difference maker. We want to stop this genocidal force from getting anywhere near Kalqua; if we play our cards right, you won’t need defenses.”
“Elias—sorry, may I call you Elias?” Korajan asked, continuing after I nodded. “We’re, of course, concerned to have a predatory species with such power and intentions, outside our known terrain. They bear a striking resemblance to the Arxur, and my government does appreciate the advance warning from the SC so we can make preparations. Yet the Forum is concerned by several of your recent initiatives, which would make us doubly unwilling to back your cause.”
“Go on. What initiatives have unsettled you?” I hope he doesn’t mean me, with resurrecting dead humans; that’d hit close to home, and I don’t know how to defend it. “Perhaps we can clear up our rationale and intentions, ensuring that there are no misunderstandings.”
“I hope I’m not impolite to point it out, but my government is beginning to see a pattern in your recent connections to carnivores. The Sapient Coalition is attempting an uplift on one race, despite what we all know happened on Wriss, and has brought them into your mix while they are at war with each other. We’re also aware of these Osirs—a race you are resurrecting to live among you, despite having no idea what they’re capable of. Present company excluded, species that need meat are not trustworthy types. These Osirs are weapons: look at the fangs.”
“Anything is a weapon in the wrong hands. Respectfully, we don’t feel that it’s right to judge a species for their diet. If I’m not mistaken, your own kind were once omnivores, Korajan.”
The Duerten fluttered his wings in acknowledgement. “The Federation changed us greatly—some things for the better, others to erase our intellect. We’re an individualist species, and they tried to make us…what do you humans call it? A ‘hive mind.’ Hive minds, of course, are fiction, yet they tried to make it real. Still, sometimes when you’re changed enough, it makes it impossible to go back to how things were.”
“I of all people grasp that sentiment,” I sighed, without moving an abdominal muscle, reflecting how my life would never be the same in this state. “We believe all sapients deserve a chance at life and happiness. Equality isn’t a principle we withhold based on any factor, and we don’t change species to fit our own whims.”
“This is why we’re content with our relations as is: separate, so we’re not connected to your disputes or obligated to get involved. The Duerten will always have differences between what are considered acceptable behaviors, and our guiding principles and overarching goals.”
Kuemper tapped her fingers on her knee. “Regardless, our choices with the Bissems and Osirs will have no impact or tangible effects on the Duerten. Nor is it a reason to shy away from protecting herbivores, the mandate that led you to stand up to the Federation in the past.”
“That cost us everything. Kalqua took a beating worse than Earth did. We don’t set out to attract the ire of powerful enemies these days.”
“We saved Kalqua. We were there when you needed our help to keep your innocents safe,” I reminded him, knitting my eyebrows with earnestness. “We answer when others call for our help to stay alive; the Duerten know what drives us to answer the bell. Isn’t that worth a smidge of reciprocation?”
“If Earth, or for that matter, Leirn were under siege, we would come. However, it appears to us that you entered their territory, not the other way around.”
“Think of the type of species…no, the kind of governments that would glass worlds. The old-school Arxur Dominion. The Kolshian shadow caste when they were defied. The Krakotl extermination fleet because they hated us. That’s what we see in the Osirs, and the gluttonous killing of Sivkit civilians while refusing to speak. We can’t turn a blind eye.”
“I’m sorry, Elias. Even if I wanted to help you, I don’t have the authority. I’m expressing my government’s position, and I’ve been told the Duerten Forum isn't going to war under any circumstances. I apologize that I can’t be of more use, and regret if you might feel your time has been squandered, leaving empty-handed.”
I shared a look with Kuemper, recognizing that we had been stonewalled; there was an implication in Korajan’s last statement that the discussion on this matter was over. The Forum hadn’t given him any negotiating room, so I didn’t get the sense I could do better than asking for him to take a message. If this was the most friendly party we’d be interacting with, I wasn’t off to a good start wrangling support for an alliance. There were a few other Shield races we could try, but an endorsement from the founders might’ve gotten the whole union on board. We had to find another angle—negotiating with the Fed remnants would be impossible without the Shield as an intermediary.
“Of course we don’t feel that way. The back-and-forth was enlightening, productive communication, as much as humanity would love to stand side-by-side in this endeavor,” I offered. “We appreciate you hearing us out, and do hope you’ll pass along our rationale to the Forum, for clarity.”
“I will,” the Duerten responded. “Your words, as always, deserve to be heard and treated with respect.”
Kuemper followed my lead, rising as I stood. “Korajan, I want you to know I deeply appreciate what you said about coming to Earth’s aid should we ever fall on hard times. That stood out to me, as a reason why our cooperation is so precious and beautiful.”
“I agree wholeheartedly. I do wish you the best of luck in your future engagements; my people hope you emerge victorious.”
“Thank you. Our door will always be open if you have a change of heart.”
In my mind, I had already vacated the Duerten embassy, but it was necessary to retrace my steps to depart the ambassador’s office. Aliens were much more diplomatic in rebuffing us now than in my era, which was the proper way to express disagreements between nations. It wasn’t lost on me that the differences in “behaviors” and “principles” Korajan meant were things such as hunting, omnivory, accepting carnivores, exterminators, and predator disease facilities. The Forum still clung to much of their old lifestyle; the gray avian had stated that some Federation changes were “for the better.” That was telling about how much of their ideology they’d yet to shed.
“Forgive my impertinence, but before you go, Elias…may I ask a personal inquiry? It’s not on my behalf of my government,” Korajan called, as our shoes cleared the threshold of his office.
I turned around, giving him an encouraging smile. “Of course. Go ahead.”
“What…what was it like? To die…to be dead?”
“It wasn’t like anything. It was a singularity of all outcomes: all I ever was, and all I ever could be, condensed to nothing. There are no words to describe emptiness and infinite rest. It’s a peace that knows no equal.”
The Duerten dipped his head. “Thank you. It gives me some…personal solace, to know…to know my daughter is resting peacefully. She died in so much pain after only a short period of remission. Ahem…if you’ll excuse me, I…”
“We’ll leave you in peace,” Kuemper replied, softness in her voice.
I folded my hands behind my back, mulling over the choked-up ambassador’s words. How could I let a few days of mental suffering defeat me, when kids suffered through such terrible diseases—never getting to reach adulthood? This program could give children like Korajan’s daughter a chance to grow up, and be a kid, free from pain. As soon as I was alone, I knew I’d be cast back into a maddening state of consciousness, with my brain struggling to stay tethered to this reality. Where I’d been ready to give up before Virnt’s quick fix, the avian’s story made me want to remain in the fight.
The Tilfish had been right: there was the potential for the technology that had brought me back to do a lot of good, and save others a great deal of heartbreak and suffering. No personal sacrifice was too great to ensure that one day, no parent would ever have to bury their child.
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Star Crossed [Multiple Free Sample Chapters] Patreon Subreddit Discord Paperback NOP2 Species Lore

Hey all, hope you are doing well! Figured I would leave this little demo here to showcase the new features being used in a full production.
Session Players - Used only new instrument libraries - Bass (3 separate progressions) - Keys (5 separate progressions) - Drummer (single 8 bar pattern)
Stem Splitter - Was able to rip some cool guitar FX from some samples
ChromaGlow - Used to saturate the drum bus (Analog Pre Amp circuit) - Used way “too much” on the BG vocals to add texture (Modern Tubes) - Slammed the bass thru it (Vintage Tubes)
OVERALL THOUGHTS
All the new features work together with little to no issues. You can get some pretty good variation going on with the session players together, which definitely helps me put together more intricate productions.
The stem splitter worked pretty good, at least for separating a sample. I did test the split up version and a phase-reversed OG track to listen for artifacts. The most obvious artifacts came from reverb or any drawn out effect built in to the material. It has a little trouble separating bass frequencies and kick drums, but nothing that hinders its usability.
ChromaGlow is a pretty decent tool overall. It’s very easy to over-do it as with any saturation, but it definitely has a bunch of unique “feel” to it. I can easily see myself using this over the coveted Soft Saturation found in Phat FX.
Overall, I think the new tools are really useful and helped me create a fun demo yesterday. If you made it this far, let me know if you’ve found any cool uses for the new tools. I want to see what everyone is up to!