Bowling shoes for sale in dallas tx
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
2008.10.17 20:30 Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
/Dallas is a home for discussion and content related to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. We strive to be a friendly and welcoming community to all of our users whether they are longtime residents of DFW, newcomers, curious redditors, or just visiting.
2010.05.24 22:32 michellecopter All things Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and surrounding areas
Fort Worth and the surrounding Metroplex area, west of DFW Airport. Issues of concern, news and current events, outings, questions, and general discussions.
2009.08.22 05:05 iameric Plano, Texas
Plano, Texas, A City of Excellence. Plano enjoys a reputation as one of the most desirable cities to live and work in. Plano was recently named as one of the “Safest Cities in America” and “Best Run Cities in America” by Law Street Media and 24/7 Wall Street respectively.
2024.05.15 16:50 jab296 [Sell] Buy my super high-end dress shoes! (Size 11D brannock)
For sale - well loved, but well cared for dress shoes. Until recently, I lived in the DC area so I was lucky enough to be able to personally bring my shoes to Bedo's in Virginia. I currently live in New England and would be happy to do any sale in person if possible.
Pictures of each can be found here: https://imgur.com/a/Qb5y7EO
Pair 1: Gaziano & Girling Buccleuch in Tobacco Suede
Size: UK10F
Asking Price: $425
Size: UK10.5E
Asking Price: $650
Size: US11B/D
Asking Price: $450
Size: US11D
Asking Price: $300
submitted by jab296 to MaleFashionMarket [link] [comments]
Pictures of each can be found here: https://imgur.com/a/Qb5y7EO
Pair 1: Gaziano & Girling Buccleuch in Tobacco Suede
Size: UK10F
Asking Price: $425
- Gaziano & Girling have a great way of combining classic English style with Italian flair, and I think this pair is a great example of that. The Buccleuch is a half brogue derby and combined with the tobacco suede, you can pair these with a ton of well-styled outfits. They look great with a suit at a summer wedding and I also wear these with navy chinos to nicer restaurants. (new price ~$1,500)
Size: UK10.5E
Asking Price: $650
- The leather on these is nothing short of amazing. It's a supple brown museum calf that has an incredible depth of color. The Philip II have just the right amount of broguing on the toe cap and facings for a refined oxford (new price ~$2,000)
Size: US11B/D
Asking Price: $450
- I could argue that these are the perfect pair for what I look for in a dress shoe. I think they find a nice balance between a chunky Alden shoe and sleek Balmoral. The perf tip and color 8 cordovan can dress down well with slacks but can also look natural with a suit and tie (new price ~$850)
Size: US11D
Asking Price: $300
- These chukkas serve me really well when I want something elevated yet somewhat casual. I pair them with dark jeans and love how thick the leather sole is. The shell is starting to develop nice rolls, though they could use a quick buff to get back to the original buff. The brown is a nice chocolate color that is pretty unassuming inside but has nice highlights in brighter sunlight (new price ~$600
2024.05.15 15:58 Hanzoisbad Crocs Inc (CROX) DCF Analysis
Introduction:
CROX was introduced in the early 2000s, It was an instant hit with consumers despite CROX's unconventional designs. However, the company got too greedy and started introducing multiple products that diluted the core branding of CROX coupled with the financial crisis of 2008 led to the stagnation of CROX in the early 2010s. However, CROX had a huge boost in popularity during COVID-19, as people stayed home and prioritized comfort, purchasing a lot of athleisure products including Crocs. CROX learned from its past failures and capitalized on its resurgence through limited edition releases and collaboration with famous artists, this combined effort allowed CROX to reach nearly 4 billion in revenue in FY23.Market:
According to the 2023 Q4 Earnings Conference, management sees strong growth potential for China, the UK, South Korea, and Australia. There are also a few large but challenging markets such as Japan and India.In Korea, CROX’s products are popular, especially clogs due to the current fashion trend “Y2K”. Y2K is a fashion trend that celebrates the fashion trends of the early 2000s and that coincidentally happens to be the era where clogs were popular.
In Japan, CROX’s products are popular due to Japan’s strict culture around the removal of footwear in certain places e.g. Onsen, Restaurants, and Temples. This emphasis on the removal of footwear makes CROX the ideal product for Japanese consumers as CROX’s are easy to slip in and out.
India is a market with a large potential for CROX, this is due to the warm weather in India which leads consumers to prefer wearing sandals over covered shoes. However, the largest issue with CROX is that it is too expensive for the Indian consumer. A Clog costs about 3000 Rupees but the average median household income in India is 22,000 Rupees. This large price tag on CROX’s products limits the number of consumers who can afford CROX’s products.
Birkenstock is CROX’s closest competitor, creating shoes that are designed for comfort. However, Birkenstock is pivoting to becoming a luxury brand at a higher price point compared to CROX and is much less personalized to maintain its luxury look. Birkenstock is committed to maintaining its brand image as a luxury brand, even going so far as to leave Amazon. This brand image was further solidified as Birkenstock was acquired by LVMH in 2021. However, this is good for CROX as it has a significantly larger total addressable market compared to Birkenstock.
Revenue:
Shoes SoldWhen forecasting the total number of Crocs sold, I assumed that CROX’s growth rate will grow at an elevated level for the next 5 years as CROX expands its presence into the new markets coupled with the rise of jibbitz, CROX's products that allow for personalization. The growth rate tapers back down.
When forecasting %DTC, Crocs is taking a leaf out of Nike and Adidas’ books by reducing their reliance on wholesalers (SOURCE). Even their closest competitor Birkenstock is pivoting towards DTC. I assumed that %DTC would grow to 60%.
Crocs Physical Revenue
When forecasting the number of company-operated Crocs stores, I assumed that the growth rate would pick up 3 years into my forecast as the interest rates environment improves which allows for CROX to expand its physical presence easily before the growth rate tapers back down.
When forecasting Revenue/Store, opting for less granularity I forecasted growth rate as a % of historic averages tapering towards the perpetual inflation rate.
Crocs Digital Revenue
When forecasting the %DTC Digital sales, opting for less granularity I assumed it remained constant as a % of historic averages.
When forecasting Price/Shoe, opting for less granularity I forecasted growth rate as a % of historic averages tapering towards the perpetual inflation rate.
Crocs Wholesale Revenue
When forecasting the price/shoe, I assumed that over time as CROX becomes more independent and less reliant on wholesalers they will be able to negotiate for more favorable terms from their wholesale partners. So I assumed that the price/shoe would grow at an elevated rate before tapering back down to the perpetual inflation rate.
HEYDUDE Revenue
When forecasting the total number of shoes sold, I assumed that the total number of shoes sold increased to a great extent in the earlier years of my forecast to reflect CROX breaking into newer markets. However, I believe that for HEYDUDE to successfully take off and become a multi-national brand it would take a long time and hence I did not reflect that in my valuation.
When forecasting the price/shoe, I assumed that the price did not grow at a fast rate in the earlier years as CROX has to appeal the HEYDUDE brand to more consumers through a lower price point. In the later years, as CROX gains pricing powers they can increase the price it charges per shoe.
Cost:
COGS and OthersWhen forecasting COGS and Others, opting for less granularity I forecasted it as a % of historical averages.
SG&A
When forecasting the total number of employees, I assumed that the number of employees per store remains constant with historical averages for CROX to maintain high-quality customer support in each store.
When forecasting cost per employee, I forecasted it as a % of historical averages before tapering wage growth rate at a rate in line with the perpetual inflation rate.
CapEX and D&A:
When forecasting CapEX and D&A, opting for less granularity I forecasted it as a % of historical averages.WACC:
10Y T-Bond Yield (1M Avg) = 4.49% Beta (SOURCE) = 2.04 Stable Market ERP (SOURCE) = 4.60% COE = 13.87%CROX’s bond is rated “BB” (SOURCE) COD (1M Avg) = 6.56% Marginal Tax Rate = 21.00% AT-COD = 5.18%
Stock Price (5D Avg) = $140.16 Shares O/S = 60.50M Market Value of Equity = 8479.68M Weighted Average Maturity of Debt = 6 Years FY23 Interest Expense = $161.35M Market Value of Debt = 2077.25M
%Debt = 19.68% %Equity = 80.32% %WACC = 12.16%
Conclusion:
Ultimately in my base case, I value CROX at $158.15 per share. I believe that CROX is undervalued by the market due to the market's wariness about the success of the HEYDUDE brand and whether CROX will be able to continue pushing higher growth rates now that the athleisure trend is over. I believe that CROX's brand will continue to improve in value given how management embraces the same scarcity strategy that elevated Adidas and Nike to legendary status. CROX is also pivoting into other core products beyond the clogs in a bid to serve the diverse needs of consumers.Base Case: [INSERT] Best Case: [INSERT] Worst Case: [INSERT] Revenue Model Part 1: [INSERT] Revenue Model Part 2: [INSERT] Cost Model: [INSERT] Change in NWC Schedule: [INSERT] Debt Schedule: [INSERT]
2024.05.15 15:45 Caretaker67 Been homeless for a few days over 3 months update 1(Hopefully the last one).
Its officially one month after the last post about my homelessness situation. I wasnt going to update but i received this odd message from something about the crisis hotline and Thats never happened before. So my first thought was, "oh god atleast one of them thinks Im dead". As you can see, Im fine. Little sick but thats just a passing cold from getting wet in rain once or twice. Sorry for worrying you, whoever you are. This routine has been stressful but despite that, Im chugging on. Ive made some great friends in this shelter, all of them twice my age but theyre pretty chill. Some of them even randomly give me food. Without further a do, heres some other odd things that I experienced
submitted by Caretaker67 to trans [link] [comments]
- In my particular shelter they have "snack time" and when I asked them why its not called a meal even though its hot and filling (For my little ass atleast) And the rep said something like, "It doesnt have much nutritional value so we legally arent allowed to call it a meal" luckily they also have bowls of fruit if youre fast enough and worried about nutrition.
- Food related again. Ill eat pretty much anything filling, tasty and smells non lethal. Its probably a stress response to being hungry most of the time. So you can guess how surprised i was when i got into the shelter last night and found alot of extra snacks sitting by the microwave. And only because they had fish. I love fish, but apparently nobody else in the shelter does, so... Ate good.
- Rain SUCKS! i hate hate hate HATE rain!!! . Especially since I dont live in a walkable city. Its getting everything in my backpack wet and I dont have a rain coat or umbrella so rain ruins my entire day! So invest in foot powder, when your shoes get wet they start smelling really bad.
- The bus fare will catch up with you. I cant speak for everyone, but my workplace is a 2 hour walk, and i for the life of me cant treck that. So in short, a month of bus fare, to and from work is 60 dollars. Do you have any idea how many packets of ramen noodles that is? Get a bike. Just get a cheap bike from a pawnshop. Even when your not homeless bikes are awesome for transportation.
- For a few brief moments alittle transphobia happened. I was woken up early by some yelling and peaked out from my bunk and the older guys was yelling something like, "Whys he in there." Then he made eye contact with me and tried to get in the dorm. But of course, since he isnt a lady pretty much every other woman with beds near the door starting chewing him out like they birthed him. He backed off but he still stares at me weird.
- Sleep apnea, apparently having ear buds or headphones to cover your ears cant really help. The dorm isnt that big so somebody snoring or having night terrors wakes everyone up. I dont have earbuds anymore but thankfully im too tired to get woken up by stuff like that.
- Some of the people in the shelter your in might be registered sex offenders. I thought it was stupid too, but i over heard one of the questions a new person was asked. "Have you beej convicted or accused of any sex related crimes" and the Rep followed it up with, "you wont be turned away specifically due to this." I personally think assaulters shouldnt be allowed to access shelters or any kind of support after what they did but I dont make the rules.
- Mail. I dont remember if I covered this last time but where does the mail go if you have no home? Ask the shelter if you have the option to use this place as a place to receive mail. Mine accepts mail for anyone, bf used it to send me a birthday present.
2024.05.15 15:35 OpheliaCyanide [That Time I Ran Over A God] --- Chapter 12
What started as a panicked attempt to get her over-intoxicated friend to a hospital ended up in a disastrous car crash that claimed the lives of her friends... and a careless God crossing the street. But Sammi's adventure wasn't about to end there. In her dying breath, the God curses Sammi to take up her mantel. Now with her three friends resurrected as ghosts, Sammi has to navigate the tricky world of godhood.
Previous Chapter Next chapter coming soon!
Start here! Patreon (up to chapter 9)
I love houses. House flipping, house hunting, crazy properties in town, gorgeous exotic vacation destinations. I think in a past life I was a real estate agent. Or a carpenter. Interior designer, actually, probably. Maybe just rich?
Doesn’t matter. I love houses, and I was gonna get myself the best digs in town.
“Best digs in town might be a liiiiittle suspicious?” Joni said as I began adjusting the filters of my favorite search: Lottery houses.
“So do you… we’re looking for a house?” Cara was leaning over my shoulder, watching as I pushed the Rooms, Cost, Square Footage, and Bathrooms options as high as I could. “Cause if you don’t even own a place, I feel like saying you’d answer my questions when we got to New Olympia is kinda a blow off.”
“Not a blow off,” I said. “This probably won’t take too too long. I just don’t want to kick anyone out of their house that, like, is a regular person living their life.”
“Kick them out?”
I paused and looked up at Cara, eyes serious. “Please. The parroting. It’s making me nervous.” Then I looked back down and began sifting through various mansions, penthouses, lake houses, villas. “For sale or for rent?”
“For rent,” Blair said immediately. She propped her head up on her chin as she watched me scroll. “Then you don’t gotta kick anyone out.”
“She’s got a point,” Christopher said. “Both from a, like, humanitarian point of view but also from a logistical point of view. Whoever’s moving needs the money pronto to buy a new house and they’re gonna constantly be dealing with banks and shit. You’d need a new lie a day just to keep them off you. But with rentals and all, first off, landlords renting out ten grand a month properties are already making bank off other units. Yeah you’re screwing them over, but not as bad. They got a buncha others. Second, you pay monthly, so you really only gotta fend them off once a month.”
My thumb jammed the “For Rent/For Sale” switch, and I cranked up the rental price. “What else are we thinking for criteria?”
“Middle of town’s a bad idea,” Joni said. “Too easy to find us.”
“We don’t have to, like, hide though,” Christopher said. “Just say you’re both out on bail. I mean, the point is to find Miller and bring him to justice, right? That’s gonna take time. There’s no place far enough out of town that we could hide in for long.”
I squinted at him, tearing my eyes away from a sexy seven bedroom manor with two pools. “What?”
He sighed, as if convinced that I was in the wrong for not understanding what fuck he just said. “Like, think about it Sammi. We’re not actually gonna be able to hide. Or if we are, it’s gonna be in an alley or some shit.” He wrinkled his nose at the same time I did. “They’re cops with detectives and shit, and they think we shot someone and broke someone else out of jail. They’re gonna find us. We’ll have to lie, not hide, to avoid being put back. So may as well be local to all the action.” With this, he pointed directly at a lofty unit in the center of town.
Hmm. He brought up a valid point, so I checked it out.
A five bedroom penthouse with three terraces giving outdoor views of the entire city. Bathrooms that put the hotel to shame. Closets the size of my old bedroom. A pool deck. Appliances with fancy brand names I only ever heard on episodes of “Dream House” and hadn’t actually realized existed in the real world. Enough bedrooms for me, Cara, and the ghosts to each sleep separately.
For a moment, the enormity of it washed over me. Not just the enormity of the house, though it was enormous, but the reality of what I could accomplish. This apartment was twenty five thousand dollars a month. I’m not entirely sure I’ve made that much money in my life. Or, okay, probably around that, but that’s my point. This was the kind of unit rich people showed off in out-of-touch blogs or escapist shows about the lifestyles of famous people. And it could literally be mine if I could play my cards right. Or not even right. Just not catastrophically wrong.
Cause I was a God. And for the first time since becoming a God, I was using my abilities, my status, my familiars and shit to do something cool. Not rob a TechShack of some earpods or break in or out of a hospital.
This was a big yield.
As I had my little epiphany, Cara had taken over scrolling my phone, much to the relief of my ghosts, who’d started grumbling about the static screen while I zoned out.
“Okay.” Cara looked at me. “I’m not gonna ask any of the questions you know I want to ask, cause that’ll just piss you off.” Thank God she was learning. “So we’ll skip that for now and ask the really important question. How are you gonna get your hands on this place?”
–
Step 1 was to get to the place, which kinda sucked, given we were still at Pizza Dogs. It just wasn’t a very cool start to the coolest scheme I’d ever pulled off. Luckily Pizza Dogs closed at 9, so a solid number of people were leaving the restaurant. I was able to wave down a waitress who’d just checked off of her shift and convince her she was a taxi driver.
“You’re really loving this whole taxiing thing, huh?” Christopher said.
“At least she’s not talking like a robot trying to use slang.” I grit my teeth at the memory of Cops Cop and Taxi Service.
“No, you just told her she was mute.” Blair stuck her lip out. “That’s mean, Sammi.”
“I told her she couldn’t talk. That’s different.” I gave Cara a weak smile, but she hadn’t even commented on my ghost talking. She just buried her face in her hands. See? Learning.
Step 2 was gonna be actually getting in the unit. The listing on HouzeHunting didn’t exactly have the name of the landlord on it, so I was gonna have to get creative getting in touch with them. What it did have was ‘24 hour doorman service,’ which meant getting in would be easy peasy.
Finally we pulled up to the address I’d given our driver. 1732 East Windham Street. She leaned out the window, looking up the seventy story building.
“It’s totally appropriate for you to talk now,” I said as I scrambled out, towing Cara with me. No sense in actually making her mute for life.
The woman nodded. “You, uh, live here or visiting? If you don’t mind me asking.”
I flipped my wad of black hair over my shoulder, wincing at how singularly it moved. I shoulda combed it after my bath yesterday.
“Live here, obviously.” I gave a rich person kinda snort, nose in the air and all.
“Huh.” She looked back at me, rubbing the back of her neck as if it was sore from craning up so high. “But you needed a taxi to get here?”
“Uh.” Rich people used taxis, right? On the ladder from Sammi to Bill Gates, someone had to use them, and if I couldn’t afford a taxi normally, then the typical passenger must exist somewhere above me. “My fancy personal car got towed cause I was parking it in a fire lane.”
The woman didn’t look convinced. Not that she thought I was lying, but she still looked at me like I was dumb as dirt. “You don’t have, like, a personal driver?”
I cocked my head at her, trying to mirror Joni’s sassy tilt but probably just looking confused. “Are you offering?”
Her lips parted, and I could see her brain chewing on this question. “What do you… wait, are you being serious?”
Was I? Suddenly I wasn’t sure. Having a personal chauffeur could be kinda great. Someone always available to text or call when I needed a ride so I wouldn’t have to keep remembering where I left my car. Besides, driving made me nervous. I’d never been a particularly bad driver, no prior accidents, never really hit anything in the past, unless we’re counting bumper cars. Which we’re not, cause I’m a menace in bumper cars. But that’s like the point.
Or, no, the point was, I wanted to minimize driving, and this woman could be key. Of course, I knew nothing about her. What if she had a family at home and I told a too strong lie and she never saw them again?
But then, she wouldn’t be offering if she wasn’t serious, right? Sure I’d lied and told her she was a taxi driver, but the average every day taxi driver didn’t just ditch their families to be rich people’s chauffeur’s.
“Uh. Yeah.” I looked at the ghosts. Two thumbs up from Christopher, one from Blair, and two thumbs down from Joni. That was a total of one thumbs up, if my math was right. “Yeah, I pay ten thousand a month.” We could figure that out later.
The woman’s eyes shot open. “Okay, you’re actually fucking with me. You’re actually offering to hire me for ten thousand a month.”
I nodded. “Yeah. And you can… I mean, if you got your own place, you can stay there obviously but you could also stay in one of my bedrooms. I got some extra ones I was gonna give to the gho–uh, dogs. But I don’t have dogs, so you were next on the list. Well, a chauffeur was next on the list. But also if you’ve got–do you have a family?”
Each of my statements plunked out of my mouth like gumballs out of a broken candy machine. But she just kept nodding like this was a normal proposal.
“I mean, I had a boyfriend.” Her face flushed crimson. “Kinda embarrassing to say at my age. Thought we were–” She took a deep breath. “Thought he was the one. I’m not gonna say I was looking to have kids or anything, so I suppose age doesn’t matter, but that doesn’t mean I really want to start over. Five years wasted is all, and at my age, the well starts to dry up a bit. People look at you a bit…” She blinked. “I’m sorry, that’s not really what you asked, was it.”
It wasn’t entirely, but I was kinda hooked on the story now. “Yeah it was,” I said. “It was the first question in the interview, and you’re nailing it. Uh, you actually already passed the first round. Let’s take the rest inside.”
The woman let out a shaky breath and smoothed her frizzled hair. “Right, of course. Thank you so much!”
Cara had, thank God, kept her mouth shut this whole interview process, so I just towed my newly formed posse towards the doorman.
“My key got lost,” I said confidently and too quickly, noticing way late that there weren’t any visible keyholes anywhere on the door. “Uh…” I looked nervously at the ghosts.
“Just tell him someone said he should let you in,” Joni said.
“Yeah.” Blair smiled. “Carl from management.”
“No–”
“Carl from management said you should let me in,” I said, bowling over Joni’s protests. “I own that top penthouse suite. Suite 72. The one for rent. Or, not for rent cause I’m renting it now. And I called earlier because my key is broken and Carl your manager said–”
I stopped finally because the doorman had long since stopped frowning perplexedly at me and had just tapped his card against the door.
“Haha,” I said, verbalizing the laugh a little too hard. “Look at me, talking too much as always.”
He frowned again, but nodded nonetheless, before holding the door open for me. “Here you are.”
“Thank you so much,” I said, stepping in like a real fancy lady. “I’ve got it from here.”
And, because I was stupid and always spoke without thinking, he nodded and shut the door behind me.
So technically Step 2 ‘get in’ was done, but it was like, barely done. Like when your mom says ‘go to your room’ so you sit in the doorway. Cause I wasn’t really close to my new apartment yet, which meant a new step on the list. Step 3? Get into New Olympia.
Somehow a little sneaky ‘Step 3b, interview your new chauffeur’ had snuck on the list too, but that would be easy to finish once I got to the actual unit.
It was literally impossible to keep my jaw in its socket as we walked through the lobby. I was actually straight up speechless at how fancy it all was. There was a bar in the lobby, like this was some hotel! Given my experience with rich people things, it was either totally free or thirty bucks a glass. Still, it was pricey enough that I should probably have been charged just for looking at it. Even Cara and the driver had their mouths gaping open as they looked around, taking in the mirror shiny marbely floors and columns.
I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath, and really tried to capture this moment of peace and quiet inside the lobby of my new home.
“Blair stop humming, they’ll be able to hear you.”
“I’m using my regular humming, not my banshee humming.”
“My bad, shoulda clarified. I’m able to hear you, and you’re annoying me.”
“Joni, why are you always so mean.”
“She’s, like, kinda got a point. You need to get that stick out of your ass.”
“I’ll get the stick out of my ass when Blair stops humming.”
“Bro, it’s totally more than the humming, and you know it.”
“Is singing okay?”
“No.”
“What about–”
“Why don’t you just whistle, Blair?”
“That’s not nice. You know I can’t whistle.”
“Kinda my point.”
“Hey, be nice to Blair, Joni.”
Peace and quiet were overrated anyway. We were here for schemes.
My eyelids snapped open. In front of me was a big old reddish wood desk. The sign on it said “Main desk, open 7AM to 9 PM.” Next to it was another, more temporary sign, “Partial Service After Hours. Ring Bell For Assisance.”
My eyes drifted hungrily to the shiny golden bell. It was the kind you see in movies and shows, you press down a few times to summon the waiter or whoever sits behind the desk.
“Just once, Sammi,” Joni said, already reading my mind. “You ring it once.”
“But Joni,” I whispered, hand hovering over it, “I’m a God.”
DING DING DING DING DING DING DING
Seven was overkill. The man was there after the first two rings. But I couldn’t stop. It was too satisfying.
He regarded me with pained eyes. “Ma’am, you didn’t have to ring it that many times.”
“I didn’t,” I said confidently. And just like that, the pained look vanished. He didn’t look comfortable though, probably because I didn’t look like I should be there. Time to fix that.
I jutted my chin out. “Is there, like, a master key to all the elevators and units you can give me.”
The guy blinked rapidly. “I’m… sorry, you want what?”
“Lies, Sammi. That was a request!”
This is why we needed Joni and the stick up her ass.
“Uh.”
“Tell him that… I don’t know, someone from management said you could borrow a skeleton key.”
I smiled. “Carl from management told me I could have a skeleton key. A, you know, a key that opens all the doors.” I gave Joni a panicked glance.
She motioned her finger in a repeating loop and mouthed ‘go on.’
“And.” I swallowed. “You said you would give us one.”
The concierge sighed. “I know. I know. I just.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Carl doesn’t manage my department, so if this isn’t the right call, Sandy’s gonna have my head.”
I eyed the ghosts nervously. The lie had worked but it didn’t seem to fully convince him. “Sandy said…”
“Keep it simple,” Joni hissed.
“...that you would give me a key to let me in?”
“Right, please hold a moment, it’s almost done transferring.” The concierge paused and looked at a key card on his desk. He squinted before picking it up and beeping it against a little card pad. It flashed red. “I’m sorry,” he said. “The transfer didn’t go through right. One moment please.” Then he typed on his computer for a few very long minutes while Cara, the driver, and I all stood frozen by the elevator. After several breath-holding moments of silence (yeah, now the ghosts decide to shut up) he tapped the card again and it flashed green. “There we go.”
I let out a long breath before scuttling over to pick up my card. “Thank you!” I said, a cheery forced grin on my face. “Thank you so much! Remember, this came from, uh, Sandy’s boss, and she told you not to tell Sandy, so keep it zipped!”
He mimed zipping his lips as I waved again before rushing to the elevator.
Soon we were zooming up dozens and dozens of levels as my breathing came more and more naturally. Even the elevator was fancy. All golden mirrors, which Blair was staring at, disappointed that she couldn’t see her reflection in them.
There was no one on the seventy second story and ther was only one door, at the end of a gleaming hardwood hallway. My black boots clomped awkwardly as I escorted the driver–still in a bright orange shirt with a barking dog and a slice of pizza on it–and Cara–still in an orange jumpsuit–towards the door at the end.
Once I got there, I tapped my card, and we were in.
I don’t really have good words to describe the place. Huge, for one. Empty for another. Those were the two big ones. I could have gawked at it all, but I was a little tired of gawking, so I filed away ‘tour my house and get it fitted out’ for later. Besides, I had all my gear and shit still in my car… somewhere. I’d get it up here eventually and then the real decorating could start.
But there was a first step. Well two first steps. Okay, technically only one could be the first step, so we’ll do that first.
I waved Cara to join me in one of the bedrooms.
“I’ll finish your interview in like, fifteen minutes,” I said to the driver. She nodded.
“Okay,” I said, closing the door behind me and plopping down on the ground.
Cara stood awkwardly, eyeing the big ass empty room with a big ass empty bathroom off to the side. “Okay,” she said, still standing. “Do I need to–”
“No no, I said I would…” I trailed off, lips pursed and confused. “You wanted… Or… I was gonna tell you–”
“Oh shit yeah.” Now suddenly Cara was on the floor across from me, leaning in. “You’re telling me what the fuck is going on.”
My breath rushed out in a long woosh as I contemplated how to start this. Joni had made a snarky comment at one point like ‘pushing this off won’t make it easier’ and I’d responded with a ‘I’ll come up with a plan while I delay’ which of course I hadn’t, and now I was angry cause Joni was right.
“So the problem is,” I said, starting slowly. “Everything I tell you, you’ll believe.”
“Obviously,” Cara said, believing me instantly.
“But no one else but me knows what’s going on. So I can’t help but…” I trailed off again, noticing Cara nodding animatedly. This wasn’t working. I wanted her to believe me cause she fully understood and accepted my story, not cause of magic. But to get that, I couldn’t be the one to tell her, and the only other people who knew about my godliness were the ghosts and–
I smacked myself on the face. Sammi, you’re a genius. An actual, mensa accredited whiz kid.
“Blair,” I said, smiling. “I think I’ll offload this to you.”
Blair frowned, scrunching her nose up for a moment, before pointing at herself. “Me?”
I nodded confidently. Blair knew everything but lacked the Verity Tongue. This would be a sinch.
“Cara, how do you feel about a little ghost story?” I shivered a bit, getting goosebumps at my own words. Now that lead-in was brilliant. ‘A little ghost story’, who came up with that? I was getting smarter by the minute.
“Oooooooooooooh.” Blair zoomed around the room, and Cara leapt to her feet.
“What the fuck?”
“Bewaaaaare moooooortal,” Blair droned, pitching her voice low. “For the story you’re about to hear is both dreadful and awwwwwful. Fear for your soul for those who hear this story are cursed and will find themselves in an early–”
“Blair!” I shouted. “Stop that. What the fuck? Literally not like that. Like literally anything but that. You need to start with–”
“Yo, Sammi, dawg, chill.” Christopher patted my back. “We’ll help her out.”
“Yeah, you don’t want to taint the story with your god powers,” Joni said. “We’ll sort Blair. You interview the pizza waitress.”
Suddenly my genius felt like the opposite of genius. Yeah, delegation was important, but I did want to hear what the ghosts were telling Cara. Didn’t I need to know? What if they told her something totally wrong and stupid? Or what if they said something mean? Like what if they really played up the part about my reckless speeding? What if they lied about something? Made me look incompetent.
I opened my mouth to protest, but Christopher just gave me an icy pat again.
“Look, you’re gonna jump in to correct something we say, and it’s just gonna fuck up Cara.” He gave me a serious look, one of the most serious looks he’d given me since this whole ordeal. Which was honestly kinda stupid cause of all the times to pull out there ‘seriously, Sammi’ face, he was picking now? Was this really the right time for this? “Seriously, Sammi. We got this.”
I didn’t believe him at all, but they were absolutely right about me likely fucking this up with my motor mouth. No way was I sitting still while Joni made snarky comments about me, like, eating gross bagels or telling cops to steal poop.
“All right,” I said. “Come out when you’re done. Or if you need hands at all. Like if she passes out and you need to check for a pulse.”
“Are you talking to me?” Cara said.
“No. I’m talking to the ghosts.” And with that I closed the door.
Looks like Sammi's got a house! And maybe a minion or two on top of her familiars. Let's see how Cara takes all of this...
submitted by OpheliaCyanide to redditserials [link] [comments]
Previous Chapter Next chapter coming soon!
Start here! Patreon (up to chapter 9)
Doesn’t matter. I love houses, and I was gonna get myself the best digs in town.
“Best digs in town might be a liiiiittle suspicious?” Joni said as I began adjusting the filters of my favorite search: Lottery houses.
“So do you… we’re looking for a house?” Cara was leaning over my shoulder, watching as I pushed the Rooms, Cost, Square Footage, and Bathrooms options as high as I could. “Cause if you don’t even own a place, I feel like saying you’d answer my questions when we got to New Olympia is kinda a blow off.”
“Not a blow off,” I said. “This probably won’t take too too long. I just don’t want to kick anyone out of their house that, like, is a regular person living their life.”
“Kick them out?”
I paused and looked up at Cara, eyes serious. “Please. The parroting. It’s making me nervous.” Then I looked back down and began sifting through various mansions, penthouses, lake houses, villas. “For sale or for rent?”
“For rent,” Blair said immediately. She propped her head up on her chin as she watched me scroll. “Then you don’t gotta kick anyone out.”
“She’s got a point,” Christopher said. “Both from a, like, humanitarian point of view but also from a logistical point of view. Whoever’s moving needs the money pronto to buy a new house and they’re gonna constantly be dealing with banks and shit. You’d need a new lie a day just to keep them off you. But with rentals and all, first off, landlords renting out ten grand a month properties are already making bank off other units. Yeah you’re screwing them over, but not as bad. They got a buncha others. Second, you pay monthly, so you really only gotta fend them off once a month.”
My thumb jammed the “For Rent/For Sale” switch, and I cranked up the rental price. “What else are we thinking for criteria?”
“Middle of town’s a bad idea,” Joni said. “Too easy to find us.”
“We don’t have to, like, hide though,” Christopher said. “Just say you’re both out on bail. I mean, the point is to find Miller and bring him to justice, right? That’s gonna take time. There’s no place far enough out of town that we could hide in for long.”
I squinted at him, tearing my eyes away from a sexy seven bedroom manor with two pools. “What?”
He sighed, as if convinced that I was in the wrong for not understanding what fuck he just said. “Like, think about it Sammi. We’re not actually gonna be able to hide. Or if we are, it’s gonna be in an alley or some shit.” He wrinkled his nose at the same time I did. “They’re cops with detectives and shit, and they think we shot someone and broke someone else out of jail. They’re gonna find us. We’ll have to lie, not hide, to avoid being put back. So may as well be local to all the action.” With this, he pointed directly at a lofty unit in the center of town.
Hmm. He brought up a valid point, so I checked it out.
A five bedroom penthouse with three terraces giving outdoor views of the entire city. Bathrooms that put the hotel to shame. Closets the size of my old bedroom. A pool deck. Appliances with fancy brand names I only ever heard on episodes of “Dream House” and hadn’t actually realized existed in the real world. Enough bedrooms for me, Cara, and the ghosts to each sleep separately.
For a moment, the enormity of it washed over me. Not just the enormity of the house, though it was enormous, but the reality of what I could accomplish. This apartment was twenty five thousand dollars a month. I’m not entirely sure I’ve made that much money in my life. Or, okay, probably around that, but that’s my point. This was the kind of unit rich people showed off in out-of-touch blogs or escapist shows about the lifestyles of famous people. And it could literally be mine if I could play my cards right. Or not even right. Just not catastrophically wrong.
Cause I was a God. And for the first time since becoming a God, I was using my abilities, my status, my familiars and shit to do something cool. Not rob a TechShack of some earpods or break in or out of a hospital.
This was a big yield.
As I had my little epiphany, Cara had taken over scrolling my phone, much to the relief of my ghosts, who’d started grumbling about the static screen while I zoned out.
“Okay.” Cara looked at me. “I’m not gonna ask any of the questions you know I want to ask, cause that’ll just piss you off.” Thank God she was learning. “So we’ll skip that for now and ask the really important question. How are you gonna get your hands on this place?”
–
Step 1 was to get to the place, which kinda sucked, given we were still at Pizza Dogs. It just wasn’t a very cool start to the coolest scheme I’d ever pulled off. Luckily Pizza Dogs closed at 9, so a solid number of people were leaving the restaurant. I was able to wave down a waitress who’d just checked off of her shift and convince her she was a taxi driver.
“You’re really loving this whole taxiing thing, huh?” Christopher said.
“At least she’s not talking like a robot trying to use slang.” I grit my teeth at the memory of Cops Cop and Taxi Service.
“No, you just told her she was mute.” Blair stuck her lip out. “That’s mean, Sammi.”
“I told her she couldn’t talk. That’s different.” I gave Cara a weak smile, but she hadn’t even commented on my ghost talking. She just buried her face in her hands. See? Learning.
Step 2 was gonna be actually getting in the unit. The listing on HouzeHunting didn’t exactly have the name of the landlord on it, so I was gonna have to get creative getting in touch with them. What it did have was ‘24 hour doorman service,’ which meant getting in would be easy peasy.
Finally we pulled up to the address I’d given our driver. 1732 East Windham Street. She leaned out the window, looking up the seventy story building.
“It’s totally appropriate for you to talk now,” I said as I scrambled out, towing Cara with me. No sense in actually making her mute for life.
The woman nodded. “You, uh, live here or visiting? If you don’t mind me asking.”
I flipped my wad of black hair over my shoulder, wincing at how singularly it moved. I shoulda combed it after my bath yesterday.
“Live here, obviously.” I gave a rich person kinda snort, nose in the air and all.
“Huh.” She looked back at me, rubbing the back of her neck as if it was sore from craning up so high. “But you needed a taxi to get here?”
“Uh.” Rich people used taxis, right? On the ladder from Sammi to Bill Gates, someone had to use them, and if I couldn’t afford a taxi normally, then the typical passenger must exist somewhere above me. “My fancy personal car got towed cause I was parking it in a fire lane.”
The woman didn’t look convinced. Not that she thought I was lying, but she still looked at me like I was dumb as dirt. “You don’t have, like, a personal driver?”
I cocked my head at her, trying to mirror Joni’s sassy tilt but probably just looking confused. “Are you offering?”
Her lips parted, and I could see her brain chewing on this question. “What do you… wait, are you being serious?”
Was I? Suddenly I wasn’t sure. Having a personal chauffeur could be kinda great. Someone always available to text or call when I needed a ride so I wouldn’t have to keep remembering where I left my car. Besides, driving made me nervous. I’d never been a particularly bad driver, no prior accidents, never really hit anything in the past, unless we’re counting bumper cars. Which we’re not, cause I’m a menace in bumper cars. But that’s like the point.
Or, no, the point was, I wanted to minimize driving, and this woman could be key. Of course, I knew nothing about her. What if she had a family at home and I told a too strong lie and she never saw them again?
But then, she wouldn’t be offering if she wasn’t serious, right? Sure I’d lied and told her she was a taxi driver, but the average every day taxi driver didn’t just ditch their families to be rich people’s chauffeur’s.
“Uh. Yeah.” I looked at the ghosts. Two thumbs up from Christopher, one from Blair, and two thumbs down from Joni. That was a total of one thumbs up, if my math was right. “Yeah, I pay ten thousand a month.” We could figure that out later.
The woman’s eyes shot open. “Okay, you’re actually fucking with me. You’re actually offering to hire me for ten thousand a month.”
I nodded. “Yeah. And you can… I mean, if you got your own place, you can stay there obviously but you could also stay in one of my bedrooms. I got some extra ones I was gonna give to the gho–uh, dogs. But I don’t have dogs, so you were next on the list. Well, a chauffeur was next on the list. But also if you’ve got–do you have a family?”
Each of my statements plunked out of my mouth like gumballs out of a broken candy machine. But she just kept nodding like this was a normal proposal.
“I mean, I had a boyfriend.” Her face flushed crimson. “Kinda embarrassing to say at my age. Thought we were–” She took a deep breath. “Thought he was the one. I’m not gonna say I was looking to have kids or anything, so I suppose age doesn’t matter, but that doesn’t mean I really want to start over. Five years wasted is all, and at my age, the well starts to dry up a bit. People look at you a bit…” She blinked. “I’m sorry, that’s not really what you asked, was it.”
It wasn’t entirely, but I was kinda hooked on the story now. “Yeah it was,” I said. “It was the first question in the interview, and you’re nailing it. Uh, you actually already passed the first round. Let’s take the rest inside.”
The woman let out a shaky breath and smoothed her frizzled hair. “Right, of course. Thank you so much!”
Cara had, thank God, kept her mouth shut this whole interview process, so I just towed my newly formed posse towards the doorman.
“My key got lost,” I said confidently and too quickly, noticing way late that there weren’t any visible keyholes anywhere on the door. “Uh…” I looked nervously at the ghosts.
“Just tell him someone said he should let you in,” Joni said.
“Yeah.” Blair smiled. “Carl from management.”
“No–”
“Carl from management said you should let me in,” I said, bowling over Joni’s protests. “I own that top penthouse suite. Suite 72. The one for rent. Or, not for rent cause I’m renting it now. And I called earlier because my key is broken and Carl your manager said–”
I stopped finally because the doorman had long since stopped frowning perplexedly at me and had just tapped his card against the door.
“Haha,” I said, verbalizing the laugh a little too hard. “Look at me, talking too much as always.”
He frowned again, but nodded nonetheless, before holding the door open for me. “Here you are.”
“Thank you so much,” I said, stepping in like a real fancy lady. “I’ve got it from here.”
And, because I was stupid and always spoke without thinking, he nodded and shut the door behind me.
So technically Step 2 ‘get in’ was done, but it was like, barely done. Like when your mom says ‘go to your room’ so you sit in the doorway. Cause I wasn’t really close to my new apartment yet, which meant a new step on the list. Step 3? Get into New Olympia.
Somehow a little sneaky ‘Step 3b, interview your new chauffeur’ had snuck on the list too, but that would be easy to finish once I got to the actual unit.
It was literally impossible to keep my jaw in its socket as we walked through the lobby. I was actually straight up speechless at how fancy it all was. There was a bar in the lobby, like this was some hotel! Given my experience with rich people things, it was either totally free or thirty bucks a glass. Still, it was pricey enough that I should probably have been charged just for looking at it. Even Cara and the driver had their mouths gaping open as they looked around, taking in the mirror shiny marbely floors and columns.
I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath, and really tried to capture this moment of peace and quiet inside the lobby of my new home.
“Blair stop humming, they’ll be able to hear you.”
“I’m using my regular humming, not my banshee humming.”
“My bad, shoulda clarified. I’m able to hear you, and you’re annoying me.”
“Joni, why are you always so mean.”
“She’s, like, kinda got a point. You need to get that stick out of your ass.”
“I’ll get the stick out of my ass when Blair stops humming.”
“Bro, it’s totally more than the humming, and you know it.”
“Is singing okay?”
“No.”
“What about–”
“Why don’t you just whistle, Blair?”
“That’s not nice. You know I can’t whistle.”
“Kinda my point.”
“Hey, be nice to Blair, Joni.”
Peace and quiet were overrated anyway. We were here for schemes.
My eyelids snapped open. In front of me was a big old reddish wood desk. The sign on it said “Main desk, open 7AM to 9 PM.” Next to it was another, more temporary sign, “Partial Service After Hours. Ring Bell For Assisance.”
My eyes drifted hungrily to the shiny golden bell. It was the kind you see in movies and shows, you press down a few times to summon the waiter or whoever sits behind the desk.
“Just once, Sammi,” Joni said, already reading my mind. “You ring it once.”
“But Joni,” I whispered, hand hovering over it, “I’m a God.”
DING DING DING DING DING DING DING
Seven was overkill. The man was there after the first two rings. But I couldn’t stop. It was too satisfying.
He regarded me with pained eyes. “Ma’am, you didn’t have to ring it that many times.”
“I didn’t,” I said confidently. And just like that, the pained look vanished. He didn’t look comfortable though, probably because I didn’t look like I should be there. Time to fix that.
I jutted my chin out. “Is there, like, a master key to all the elevators and units you can give me.”
The guy blinked rapidly. “I’m… sorry, you want what?”
“Lies, Sammi. That was a request!”
This is why we needed Joni and the stick up her ass.
“Uh.”
“Tell him that… I don’t know, someone from management said you could borrow a skeleton key.”
I smiled. “Carl from management told me I could have a skeleton key. A, you know, a key that opens all the doors.” I gave Joni a panicked glance.
She motioned her finger in a repeating loop and mouthed ‘go on.’
“And.” I swallowed. “You said you would give us one.”
The concierge sighed. “I know. I know. I just.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Carl doesn’t manage my department, so if this isn’t the right call, Sandy’s gonna have my head.”
I eyed the ghosts nervously. The lie had worked but it didn’t seem to fully convince him. “Sandy said…”
“Keep it simple,” Joni hissed.
“...that you would give me a key to let me in?”
“Right, please hold a moment, it’s almost done transferring.” The concierge paused and looked at a key card on his desk. He squinted before picking it up and beeping it against a little card pad. It flashed red. “I’m sorry,” he said. “The transfer didn’t go through right. One moment please.” Then he typed on his computer for a few very long minutes while Cara, the driver, and I all stood frozen by the elevator. After several breath-holding moments of silence (yeah, now the ghosts decide to shut up) he tapped the card again and it flashed green. “There we go.”
I let out a long breath before scuttling over to pick up my card. “Thank you!” I said, a cheery forced grin on my face. “Thank you so much! Remember, this came from, uh, Sandy’s boss, and she told you not to tell Sandy, so keep it zipped!”
He mimed zipping his lips as I waved again before rushing to the elevator.
Soon we were zooming up dozens and dozens of levels as my breathing came more and more naturally. Even the elevator was fancy. All golden mirrors, which Blair was staring at, disappointed that she couldn’t see her reflection in them.
There was no one on the seventy second story and ther was only one door, at the end of a gleaming hardwood hallway. My black boots clomped awkwardly as I escorted the driver–still in a bright orange shirt with a barking dog and a slice of pizza on it–and Cara–still in an orange jumpsuit–towards the door at the end.
Once I got there, I tapped my card, and we were in.
I don’t really have good words to describe the place. Huge, for one. Empty for another. Those were the two big ones. I could have gawked at it all, but I was a little tired of gawking, so I filed away ‘tour my house and get it fitted out’ for later. Besides, I had all my gear and shit still in my car… somewhere. I’d get it up here eventually and then the real decorating could start.
But there was a first step. Well two first steps. Okay, technically only one could be the first step, so we’ll do that first.
I waved Cara to join me in one of the bedrooms.
“I’ll finish your interview in like, fifteen minutes,” I said to the driver. She nodded.
“Okay,” I said, closing the door behind me and plopping down on the ground.
Cara stood awkwardly, eyeing the big ass empty room with a big ass empty bathroom off to the side. “Okay,” she said, still standing. “Do I need to–”
“No no, I said I would…” I trailed off, lips pursed and confused. “You wanted… Or… I was gonna tell you–”
“Oh shit yeah.” Now suddenly Cara was on the floor across from me, leaning in. “You’re telling me what the fuck is going on.”
My breath rushed out in a long woosh as I contemplated how to start this. Joni had made a snarky comment at one point like ‘pushing this off won’t make it easier’ and I’d responded with a ‘I’ll come up with a plan while I delay’ which of course I hadn’t, and now I was angry cause Joni was right.
“So the problem is,” I said, starting slowly. “Everything I tell you, you’ll believe.”
“Obviously,” Cara said, believing me instantly.
“But no one else but me knows what’s going on. So I can’t help but…” I trailed off again, noticing Cara nodding animatedly. This wasn’t working. I wanted her to believe me cause she fully understood and accepted my story, not cause of magic. But to get that, I couldn’t be the one to tell her, and the only other people who knew about my godliness were the ghosts and–
I smacked myself on the face. Sammi, you’re a genius. An actual, mensa accredited whiz kid.
“Blair,” I said, smiling. “I think I’ll offload this to you.”
Blair frowned, scrunching her nose up for a moment, before pointing at herself. “Me?”
I nodded confidently. Blair knew everything but lacked the Verity Tongue. This would be a sinch.
“Cara, how do you feel about a little ghost story?” I shivered a bit, getting goosebumps at my own words. Now that lead-in was brilliant. ‘A little ghost story’, who came up with that? I was getting smarter by the minute.
“Oooooooooooooh.” Blair zoomed around the room, and Cara leapt to her feet.
“What the fuck?”
“Bewaaaaare moooooortal,” Blair droned, pitching her voice low. “For the story you’re about to hear is both dreadful and awwwwwful. Fear for your soul for those who hear this story are cursed and will find themselves in an early–”
“Blair!” I shouted. “Stop that. What the fuck? Literally not like that. Like literally anything but that. You need to start with–”
“Yo, Sammi, dawg, chill.” Christopher patted my back. “We’ll help her out.”
“Yeah, you don’t want to taint the story with your god powers,” Joni said. “We’ll sort Blair. You interview the pizza waitress.”
Suddenly my genius felt like the opposite of genius. Yeah, delegation was important, but I did want to hear what the ghosts were telling Cara. Didn’t I need to know? What if they told her something totally wrong and stupid? Or what if they said something mean? Like what if they really played up the part about my reckless speeding? What if they lied about something? Made me look incompetent.
I opened my mouth to protest, but Christopher just gave me an icy pat again.
“Look, you’re gonna jump in to correct something we say, and it’s just gonna fuck up Cara.” He gave me a serious look, one of the most serious looks he’d given me since this whole ordeal. Which was honestly kinda stupid cause of all the times to pull out there ‘seriously, Sammi’ face, he was picking now? Was this really the right time for this? “Seriously, Sammi. We got this.”
I didn’t believe him at all, but they were absolutely right about me likely fucking this up with my motor mouth. No way was I sitting still while Joni made snarky comments about me, like, eating gross bagels or telling cops to steal poop.
“All right,” I said. “Come out when you’re done. Or if you need hands at all. Like if she passes out and you need to check for a pulse.”
“Are you talking to me?” Cara said.
“No. I’m talking to the ghosts.” And with that I closed the door.
2024.05.15 15:27 BlackerFriday Under Armour's Black Friday 2024 Sale & Ad - Here's What's Likely Coming
 | For those of you planning on picking up some new sports gear at Under Armour's Black Friday 2024 sale, here's what we're predicting they will offer this year: submitted by BlackerFriday to BlackFridayRumors [link] [comments]
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2024.05.15 15:10 Puzzleheaded-Mood544 How to be taken seriously not belittled By clients/friends/prospects?
Throughout my life ive been a funny nice guy who has been a pushover and speaken down to once they get comfortable with me. I want to change that about myself as i am about to start a sales job soon. I want to end this for my own personal self and not because of the job. I dont like confrontation and nor do i like to be mean. I want to be able to be my funny self but at the same time respected. Has anyone been in my shoes?
submitted by Puzzleheaded-Mood544 to sales [link] [comments]
2024.05.15 15:03 Caitybeck If a dog has cataracts, what do the eye drops do?
I would think that the only real way to bring back the sight is to have the surgery, but I read somewhere that the drops reduce inflammation? Does that help with bringing sight back or stopping/slowing progression? I didn’t think cataracts causes pain for inflammation to be a problem but I have no idea.
Species: dog
Age: 11
Sex/neuter status: male and neutered
Breed: mutt. Dachshund terrier most likely.
Weight: ~15 lbs
History/Clinical signs: I’ve never had a vet talk to me about his eye sight. Eyes are blue tinted/cloudy. Probably noticed it more in the last year. Kind of dawned on me this morning that it’s significantly affecting him. I feed him Fresh Pet. He’s very particular about how he eats. Everything has to be cut up small because his teeth aren’t great. He is also particular about eating out of bowls. So I had previously been just putting it on the floor in the kitchen which is hard floor. More recently I put it on a plate on the dog food mat with his water, which sits on carpeted area. He won’t start eating it until I take a piece off the plate and put it on the floor to eat. It hit me this morning that he probably can’t see that the food is cut up. More that it’s just a giant blob.
Duration: probably longer than a year but more noticeable lately.
Location: Houston, TX
submitted by Caitybeck to AskVet [link] [comments]
Species: dog
Age: 11
Sex/neuter status: male and neutered
Breed: mutt. Dachshund terrier most likely.
Weight: ~15 lbs
History/Clinical signs: I’ve never had a vet talk to me about his eye sight. Eyes are blue tinted/cloudy. Probably noticed it more in the last year. Kind of dawned on me this morning that it’s significantly affecting him. I feed him Fresh Pet. He’s very particular about how he eats. Everything has to be cut up small because his teeth aren’t great. He is also particular about eating out of bowls. So I had previously been just putting it on the floor in the kitchen which is hard floor. More recently I put it on a plate on the dog food mat with his water, which sits on carpeted area. He won’t start eating it until I take a piece off the plate and put it on the floor to eat. It hit me this morning that he probably can’t see that the food is cut up. More that it’s just a giant blob.
Duration: probably longer than a year but more noticeable lately.
Location: Houston, TX
2024.05.15 14:53 aishwarya00 Legionella Testing Market: Industry Insights and Market Forecast
 | https://preview.redd.it/7qfedbpp7l0d1.jpg?width=1640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b5ec1f2a3c2b2c650bddcc04d8e2e70a4f391f3 submitted by aishwarya00 to u/aishwarya00 [link] [comments] Industry Insights and Market Forecast Industry insights and market forecasts provide valuable information on market trends, drivers, challenges, and opportunities. Market research reports offer comprehensive analysis of key market players, market size, revenue projections, and growth prospects. Insights from industry experts and stakeholders help stakeholders make informed decisions and formulate effective strategies for market entry and expansion. The Legionella testing market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing awareness of Legionnaires' disease, stringent regulatory requirements, and the rising incidence of Legionella contamination in water systems worldwide. Legionella bacteria, particularly Legionella pneumophila, pose significant public health risks, leading to severe respiratory infections and potentially fatal pneumonia. As governments, healthcare facilities, hospitality industries, and water management authorities prioritize Legionella prevention and control measures, The global legionella testing market is forecast to expand at a CAGR of 8.5% and thereby increase from a value of US$298.2 Mn in 2024, to US$527.9 Mn by the end of 2031. Market Drivers:
Market Opportunities:
By Test Type:
The Legionella testing market features a diverse array of key players, including:
[About Persistence Market Research:]() Business intelligence is the foundation of every business model employed by Persistence Market Research. Multi-dimensional sources are being put to work, which include big data, customer experience analytics, and real-time data collection. Thus, working on “micros” by Persistence Market Research helps companies overcome their “macro” business challenges. Persistence Market Research is always way ahead of its time. In other words, it tables market solutions by stepping into the companies’/clients’ shoes much before they themselves have a sneak pick into the market. The pro-active approach followed by experts at Persistence Market Research helps companies/clients lay their hands on techno-commercial insights beforehand, so that the subsequent course of action could be simplified on their part. Contact Persistence Market Research Teerth Technospace, Unit B-704 Survey Number - 103, Baner Mumbai Bangalore Highway Pune 411045 India Email: [sales@persistencemarketresearch.com](mailto:sales@persistencemarketresearch.com) Web: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com [Follow Us: ]()LinkedIn Medium Twitter |
2024.05.15 14:28 Weary_Tax_9274 Experience sharing, as an ordinary person, how did I make 20,000 US dollars a month
Introduction:
I am a 28-year-old e-commerce entrepreneur from China, and I have been in the business for five years. Initially, I ventured into various product categories such as clothing, watches, and pet food, all of which ended in failure. Over time, I realized that in these saturated markets, I lacked competitiveness. Large players easily defeat smaller businesses through strategies like paid advertising, price reductions, promotions, and even selling at a loss to dominate market share.
To explain, selling at a loss refers to a strategy used for consumable goods with short repurchase cycles. This approach can crush competitors while quickly capturing market share, with profits recovered through customer repurchases. Of course, this requires careful optimization of the product SKUs.
Strategic Shift:
As a result, I shifted my strategy to avoid such cutthroat competition and started looking for "blue ocean" products. Previously, my product selection was based on intuition, and any success was merely due to luck and couldn't be reliably replicated. I began an in-depth analysis of data from the "Taobao" platform and realized I was constantly battling in a "red ocean." Before, I would only consider a product's trend charts (search popularity, conversion rates), thinking anything on the rise was good, but I overlooked other indicators like "online product count." For instance, the keyword "casual men's clothing" had a search popularity of 240,000 but faced over ten million competing products. That was the moment I understood my constant failures.
I subscribed to several data analysis platforms and began vigorously searching for products, eventually discovering a niche product with a search popularity of over 3,000 but only 180 items online: "shoes for elderly people with swollen feet." I contacted the supplier, obtaining the shoes for $11 per pair, or $12.50 if they handled shipping. The leading seller on the platform priced them at $29. Observing the mild competition, and poor quality of the product images in the listings, I bought a few pairs of the shoes, had a designer create exquisite images, and listed them at the same price but included three extra pairs of comfortable socks as a bonus. Orders began trickling in a week later. As autumn progressed and winter approached, search popularity for the shoes climbed to over 7,000. In winter, many elderly people suffer from swollen feet due to varicose veins or poor circulation, prompting their children to buy these adjustable shoes as a sign of filial piety.
My sales surged day by day, and that winter, I sold over 1,900 pairs of shoes, experiencing the thrill of earning over ten thousand a month and a deep sense of achievement. This success showed me that such outcomes are replicable, prompting me to collect more "blue ocean" products and open multiple shops. Some of these included post-surgery pillows, luxury cosmetic samples, and foot-soaking medicinal packages, most of which turned profitable.
Reflections:
This journey taught me that "one cannot make money beyond their understanding." Once you truly comprehend and deeply understand certain aspects, the path to success is less crowded. The key for the average person is to understand differentiated competition.sometimes, choice is more important than effort. Running an online business is actually simple; just manage your customers and suppliers well.
Looking Forward:
Recently, inspired by numerous cross-border e-commerce posts on TikTok, and considering my small company’s good performance with a profit of about $20,000 a month after paying six employees—a considerable income in China—I continue to explore new directions and profit opportunities, focusing on the European and American markets. Here, I hope to meet like-minded friends.
That's all from me for now. I welcome your comments . Thank you very much.
submitted by Weary_Tax_9274 to Entrepreneur [link] [comments]
I am a 28-year-old e-commerce entrepreneur from China, and I have been in the business for five years. Initially, I ventured into various product categories such as clothing, watches, and pet food, all of which ended in failure. Over time, I realized that in these saturated markets, I lacked competitiveness. Large players easily defeat smaller businesses through strategies like paid advertising, price reductions, promotions, and even selling at a loss to dominate market share.
To explain, selling at a loss refers to a strategy used for consumable goods with short repurchase cycles. This approach can crush competitors while quickly capturing market share, with profits recovered through customer repurchases. Of course, this requires careful optimization of the product SKUs.
Strategic Shift:
As a result, I shifted my strategy to avoid such cutthroat competition and started looking for "blue ocean" products. Previously, my product selection was based on intuition, and any success was merely due to luck and couldn't be reliably replicated. I began an in-depth analysis of data from the "Taobao" platform and realized I was constantly battling in a "red ocean." Before, I would only consider a product's trend charts (search popularity, conversion rates), thinking anything on the rise was good, but I overlooked other indicators like "online product count." For instance, the keyword "casual men's clothing" had a search popularity of 240,000 but faced over ten million competing products. That was the moment I understood my constant failures.
I subscribed to several data analysis platforms and began vigorously searching for products, eventually discovering a niche product with a search popularity of over 3,000 but only 180 items online: "shoes for elderly people with swollen feet." I contacted the supplier, obtaining the shoes for $11 per pair, or $12.50 if they handled shipping. The leading seller on the platform priced them at $29. Observing the mild competition, and poor quality of the product images in the listings, I bought a few pairs of the shoes, had a designer create exquisite images, and listed them at the same price but included three extra pairs of comfortable socks as a bonus. Orders began trickling in a week later. As autumn progressed and winter approached, search popularity for the shoes climbed to over 7,000. In winter, many elderly people suffer from swollen feet due to varicose veins or poor circulation, prompting their children to buy these adjustable shoes as a sign of filial piety.
My sales surged day by day, and that winter, I sold over 1,900 pairs of shoes, experiencing the thrill of earning over ten thousand a month and a deep sense of achievement. This success showed me that such outcomes are replicable, prompting me to collect more "blue ocean" products and open multiple shops. Some of these included post-surgery pillows, luxury cosmetic samples, and foot-soaking medicinal packages, most of which turned profitable.
Reflections:
This journey taught me that "one cannot make money beyond their understanding." Once you truly comprehend and deeply understand certain aspects, the path to success is less crowded. The key for the average person is to understand differentiated competition.sometimes, choice is more important than effort. Running an online business is actually simple; just manage your customers and suppliers well.
Looking Forward:
Recently, inspired by numerous cross-border e-commerce posts on TikTok, and considering my small company’s good performance with a profit of about $20,000 a month after paying six employees—a considerable income in China—I continue to explore new directions and profit opportunities, focusing on the European and American markets. Here, I hope to meet like-minded friends.
That's all from me for now. I welcome your comments . Thank you very much.
2024.05.15 14:19 Weary_Tax_9274 In five years, I made $20,000 a month
Introduction:
I am a 28-year-old e-commerce entrepreneur from China, and I have been in the business for five years. Initially, I ventured into various product categories such as clothing, watches, and pet food, all of which ended in failure. Over time, I realized that in these saturated markets, I lacked competitiveness. Large players easily defeat smaller businesses through strategies like paid advertising, price reductions, promotions, and even selling at a loss to dominate market share.
Strategic Shift:
To explain, selling at a loss refers to a strategy used for consumable goods with short repurchase cycles. This approach can crush competitors while quickly capturing market share, with profits recovered through customer repurchases. Of course, this requires careful optimization of the product SKUs.
As a result, I shifted my strategy to avoid such cutthroat competition and started looking for "blue ocean" products. Previously, my product selection was based on intuition, and any success was merely due to luck and couldn't be reliably replicated. I began an in-depth analysis of data from the "Taobao" platform and realized I was constantly battling in a "red ocean." Before, I would only consider a product's trend charts (search popularity, conversion rates), thinking anything on the rise was good, but I overlooked other indicators like "online product count." For instance, the keyword "casual men's clothing" had a search popularity of 240,000 but faced over ten million competing products. That was the moment I understood my constant failures.
I subscribed to several data analysis platforms and began vigorously searching for products, eventually discovering a niche product with a search popularity of over 3,000 but only 180 items online: "shoes for elderly people with swollen feet." I contacted the supplier, obtaining the shoes for $11 per pair, or $12.50 if they handled shipping. The leading seller on the platform priced them at $29. Observing the mild competition, and poor quality of the product images in the listings, I bought a few pairs of the shoes, had a designer create exquisite images, and listed them at the same price but included three extra pairs of comfortable socks as a bonus. Orders began trickling in a week later. As autumn progressed and winter approached, search popularity for the shoes climbed to over 7,000. In winter, many elderly people suffer from swollen feet due to varicose veins or poor circulation, prompting their children to buy these adjustable shoes as a sign of filial piety.
My sales surged day by day, and that winter, I sold over 1,900 pairs of shoes, experiencing the thrill of earning over ten thousand a month and a deep sense of achievement. This success showed me that such outcomes are replicable, prompting me to collect more "blue ocean" products and open multiple shops. Some of these included post-surgery pillows, luxury cosmetic samples, and foot-soaking medicinal packages, most of which turned profitable.
Reflections:
This journey taught me that "one cannot make money beyond their understanding." Once you truly comprehend and deeply understand certain aspects, the path to success is less crowded. The key for the average person is to understand differentiated competition—sometimes, choice is more important than effort. Running an online business is actually simple; just manage your customers and suppliers well.
Looking Forward:
Recently, inspired by numerous cross-border e-commerce posts on TikTok, and considering my small company’s good performance with a profit of about $20,000 a month after paying six employees—a considerable income in China—I continue to explore new directions and profit opportunities, focusing on the European and American markets. Here, I hope to meet like-minded friends.
That's all from me for now. I welcome your comments and discussions. Thank you very much.
submitted by Weary_Tax_9274 to Entrepreneur [link] [comments]
I am a 28-year-old e-commerce entrepreneur from China, and I have been in the business for five years. Initially, I ventured into various product categories such as clothing, watches, and pet food, all of which ended in failure. Over time, I realized that in these saturated markets, I lacked competitiveness. Large players easily defeat smaller businesses through strategies like paid advertising, price reductions, promotions, and even selling at a loss to dominate market share.
Strategic Shift:
To explain, selling at a loss refers to a strategy used for consumable goods with short repurchase cycles. This approach can crush competitors while quickly capturing market share, with profits recovered through customer repurchases. Of course, this requires careful optimization of the product SKUs.
As a result, I shifted my strategy to avoid such cutthroat competition and started looking for "blue ocean" products. Previously, my product selection was based on intuition, and any success was merely due to luck and couldn't be reliably replicated. I began an in-depth analysis of data from the "Taobao" platform and realized I was constantly battling in a "red ocean." Before, I would only consider a product's trend charts (search popularity, conversion rates), thinking anything on the rise was good, but I overlooked other indicators like "online product count." For instance, the keyword "casual men's clothing" had a search popularity of 240,000 but faced over ten million competing products. That was the moment I understood my constant failures.
I subscribed to several data analysis platforms and began vigorously searching for products, eventually discovering a niche product with a search popularity of over 3,000 but only 180 items online: "shoes for elderly people with swollen feet." I contacted the supplier, obtaining the shoes for $11 per pair, or $12.50 if they handled shipping. The leading seller on the platform priced them at $29. Observing the mild competition, and poor quality of the product images in the listings, I bought a few pairs of the shoes, had a designer create exquisite images, and listed them at the same price but included three extra pairs of comfortable socks as a bonus. Orders began trickling in a week later. As autumn progressed and winter approached, search popularity for the shoes climbed to over 7,000. In winter, many elderly people suffer from swollen feet due to varicose veins or poor circulation, prompting their children to buy these adjustable shoes as a sign of filial piety.
My sales surged day by day, and that winter, I sold over 1,900 pairs of shoes, experiencing the thrill of earning over ten thousand a month and a deep sense of achievement. This success showed me that such outcomes are replicable, prompting me to collect more "blue ocean" products and open multiple shops. Some of these included post-surgery pillows, luxury cosmetic samples, and foot-soaking medicinal packages, most of which turned profitable.
Reflections:
This journey taught me that "one cannot make money beyond their understanding." Once you truly comprehend and deeply understand certain aspects, the path to success is less crowded. The key for the average person is to understand differentiated competition—sometimes, choice is more important than effort. Running an online business is actually simple; just manage your customers and suppliers well.
Looking Forward:
Recently, inspired by numerous cross-border e-commerce posts on TikTok, and considering my small company’s good performance with a profit of about $20,000 a month after paying six employees—a considerable income in China—I continue to explore new directions and profit opportunities, focusing on the European and American markets. Here, I hope to meet like-minded friends.
That's all from me for now. I welcome your comments and discussions. Thank you very much.
2024.05.15 13:55 Topper2676 [Game Thread] Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars - Round 2, Game 5 (May 15, 2024 @ 7:00PM CT)
- Location: American Airlines Center - Dallas, TX
- Broadcast: ESPN
- Live Chat: Join Discord
- Time: Central: 7:00PM
- GAME NOTES
INJURIES: Jani Hakanpaa (Week to Week)
Game notes from espn.com. As you discuss the game, please abide by sub rules.
- BE LOUD! WEAR GREEN! GO STARS!
2024.05.15 13:55 aishwarya00 Single-use Bioreactors Market: Emerging Technologies and Innovations
 | https://preview.redd.it/2q9y3yafxk0d1.jpg?width=1640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b86c48c8f6c9928be5c0ab8abcbec0d332a75922 submitted by aishwarya00 to u/aishwarya00 [link] [comments] Research Study: Emerging Technologies and Innovations Ongoing research studies on emerging technologies and innovations in single-use bioreactors are shaping the future of bioprocessing. Advances in cell culture techniques, sensor technologies, and disposable bioreactor design are driving improvements in process efficiency, productivity, and product quality. Key innovations include the development of perfusion-based single-use bioreactor systems, integrated process monitoring platforms, and automated control systems, which are revolutionizing biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The single-use bioreactors market is witnessing a remarkable surge, fueled by the escalating demand for biopharmaceuticals, advancements in bioprocessing technologies, and the paradigm shift towards flexible manufacturing solutions. As the biopharmaceutical industry continues to expand rapidly, propelled by increasing investments in research and development, The global single-use bioreactors market is forecast to expand at a CAGR of 15.8% and thereby increase from a value of US$3.8 Bn in 2024, to US$10.8 Bn by the end of 2031. Market Drivers:
Market Opportunities:
By Product:
The single-use bioreactors market features a diverse array of key players, ranging from established industry leaders to innovative startups and technology disruptors. Some prominent players include:
For More Info Click Here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/single-use-bioreactors-market-meeting-efficiency-fmdgf/ https://medium.com/@aishwaryadoiphode15/single-use-bioreactors-market-unveils-growth-trends-and-market-dynamics-984f5b436192 [About Persistence Market Research:]() Business intelligence is the foundation of every business model employed by Persistence Market Research. Multi-dimensional sources are being put to work, which include big data, customer experience analytics, and real-time data collection. Thus, working on “micros” by Persistence Market Research helps companies overcome their “macro” business challenges. Persistence Market Research is always way ahead of its time. In other words, it tables market solutions by stepping into the companies’/clients’ shoes much before they themselves have a sneak pick into the market. The pro-active approach followed by experts at Persistence Market Research helps companies/clients lay their hands on techno-commercial insights beforehand, so that the subsequent course of action could be simplified on their part. Contact Persistence Market Research Teerth Technospace, Unit B-704 Survey Number - 103, Baner Mumbai Bangalore Highway Pune 411045 India Email: [sales@persistencemarketresearch.com](mailto:sales@persistencemarketresearch.com) Web: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com [Follow Us: ]()LinkedIn Medium Twitter |
2024.05.15 13:04 DoGsPaWsLoVe Monday 05/13/24: 14 Posts
Here is the recap of the 14 monetized posts from Kylea and Joseph "Joe" Gomez of Kylea G Weight loss Journey on 05/13/24.
Disclaimer: I am not a physician, influencer, or paid content creator. I am not affiliated with WW. I am semi-retired from healthcare with multiple college degrees. These opinions are my own based on social media content. I wish no harm to Kylea or Joe Gomez.
☎️ If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, please call or text 988 for assistance.
The tagline of Kylea G Weight loss Journey is, "I changed my life with prayer and a playlist of songs. No surgery, no meds. Just Jesus."
DAILY STATS 05/13/24:
0/14 posts discussed prayer
2/14 contained vague references to music
0/14 discussed exercise
0/14 shared a recipe
4/14 were about something Kylea ate or drank
1/14 contained a side by side photo comparison
2/14 were about her current/future pet (one of these was from "Joe" about Amazon pet items)
1/14 "Joe" posted about getting Whataburger
2/14 were about donut holes & a clapback
2/14 were a trip update
📢 For our friends at Meta, that means at least 50% of Kylea's monetized content had nothing to do with weight loss, which is the tagline and purpose of her page.
⚠️ Disordered Eating- Daily Food Consumption (Data compiled from monetized content):
5 WW Points: Barebell Cookies & Cream Protein Bar
0 WW Points: Alani Nu Energy Drink (🚨 These contain 200mg of caffeine)
9 WW Points: TWO In-N-Out "Protein style" hamburgers wrapped in lettuce.
0 WW Points: Bahama Buck's Sugar-free Birthday Cake & Sugar-free Strawberry Cheesecake flavored shaved ice.
📢 For our friends at Meta, that means Kylea consumed 14 out of (up to) 30 daily WW points in maintenance mode= Disordered Eating. This is dangerous messaging for her 138k+ followers on a weight loss journey.
Recipes Shared:
ZERO
🚨 Please speak with a medical professional about any questions or concerns you have about your health.
Comments: Kylea CHOSE to continue posting triggering food content, and clapped back at followers for questioning it.
⚠️ Binge Eating, Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD), aka shopping addiction, Disordered Eating, Food Addiction, Gaslighting, and Religion will be discussed.
Post 1. Donut Hole Controversy: Kylea posted an empty donut hole bag and claimed her sister ate all of them at 3 WW points each. When called out by a follower, Kylea responded with this, "I don't eat donuts. I support other people eating whatever they'd like to eat. What's unhealthy is commenting on other people's food choices.💖💖💖"
Post 2. Using the Pet Cat for Content: This nontent was her male cat's reaction to being told his puppy sister arrives on Sunday.
Post 3. Protein Bar Slip Up: Kylea recycled an old photo of her holding a Barebell protein bar and tried to act like the photo was taken today. 👀
Post 4. Trip Update: Kylea is shopping for puppy bandanas online because Birdie "only" has 6, while her sister drives. She is listening to 🎶 in the car. 💤 This is nontent.
Post 5. "Unhealthy" Food Clapback: Narcissistic, defiant Kylea had to get the last word in.
"I had someone comment that I post a lot of "unhealthy" food for a weight loss page. The point of my page is to show others that all foods are healthy in moderation. What is not healthy, is commenting on other people's food choices. Mind your own plate. 💖 I personally eat very healthy myself but I support all of the people around me in whatever food choices they want to make for their own lives. I will never and have never commented on someone else's food choice for their own lives."
⏸️ This is gaslighting. Here we go...
📢 To our friends at Meta, why is a "weight loss influencer" allowed to refuse to answer follower questions about WW (her chosen tool) and refuse to provide an example of what she eats in a day? This is the job YOU pay her to do.
Post 6. Alani Nu: Avoid this beverage (200mg caffeine) if you are unsure about your recommended caffeine intake.
Post 7. Trip Update: Her sister drove 6 hours. They have to be at the airport tomorrow at 4 am.
Post 8. Fort Worth Stockyards: This photo editing fail made Kylea appear 8 feet tall with a shrunken head and long extremities. Upon follower questions, she blamed her sister for how she held the phone. 🤔
Post 9. IN-N-Out Burger: Kylea's sister ate a cheeseburger & fries, and Kylea had 2 "protein style" hamburgers she claimed were called "protein burgers." Umm, nope.
Post 10. Shaved Ice: Kylea's sister got the baby size shaved ice, and Kylea got a significantly larger-sized cup.
⏸️ I smirked as Kylea claimed the protein bar was "yummy," the In-N-Out was "really good," and the sugar-free shaved ice, "It is SO good!!," but the giant iced cookie cake slice yesterday was "fine." She loves to gaslight and act holier-than-thou. 😇
Post 11. Whataburger: "Joe" posted his bag of Whataburger after waiting 1.5 hours in the drive-thru on opening day.
⏸️ How are the donut holes, energy drink, cheeseburger and fries, and regular shaved ice Kylea's sister consumed, and Whataburger her husband consumed healthy weight loss content? Why is Meta paying her for this nonsense?
Post 12. Amazon Purchases: "Joe" posted a picture of more puppy items and said, "Can you tell my wife is excited about her new role as dog mom 😂 😂" This is nontent.
Post 13. May 2021 vs Today: Kylea is "forever proud of the girl who changed her entire life -208 lbs."
⏸️ Kylea, you traded addictions. That is not something to be proud of. You are terrified of the scale and heavily modify your photos. That is not something to be proud of, either. You can spend all the money and travel the world but you are not happy. Quite the opposite. Seek medical care. ☮️
Post 14. Final Update: Kylea feels "uplifted" from window shopping at the Stockyards and local Target with her sister, listening to country music.
Takeout Purchases: Donut Holes= $3.50 est; In-N-Out Burger: Cheeseburger & Fries with 2 "Protein-style" Hamburgers (online prices)= $11.75 est; Bahama Buck's Baby & Regular Sized Shaved Ice= $9.18 + tip; Whataburger (unknown food)= $8 est;
Shopping/Travel Expenses: Barebell Protein Bar= $2.45 est; Alani Nu Freezeberry Energy= $2.48 est; Alani Nu Juicy Peach Energy= $2.48 est; Gas Joplin, MO to Fort Worth, TX: (373mi/33mpg) x $3.85 est= $43.52 est; Gas Fort Worth, TX to Dallas, TX: (32mi/33mpg) x $3.85 est= $3.73 est; Hotel (prices by airport used)= $75 est + fees; Bocce's Coconut Macaroon Crunchy Biscuits 5oz bag Qty 2= $12.98 est; Bocce's Sauvignon Bark Soft & Chewy 6oz bag Qty 2= $13.58 est; Bocce's Burger & Fries All-Natural Dog Treats Qty 2= $9.08 est; PetStages Grow-with-Me Ring Dog Chew Toy= $5.24 est; Pet Botanics Training Rewards Soft & Chewy Bacon Flavor 20oz bag Qty 2= $27.98 est; Undercoat Rake Grooming Tool= $10.25 est; Paw Print Cube Fabric Storage Bin= $12.99 est; Baghler Airline Approved Dog Travel Bag Light Pink- A Backpack with Silicone Bowls & Food Baskets= $34.99 est; Fabric Strawberry Harness & Leash= $17.99 est; Black Nylon Training Leash= $8.95 est;
All info from Reddit. ✌️
submitted by DoGsPaWsLoVe to KyleaGomezsnark [link] [comments]
Disclaimer: I am not a physician, influencer, or paid content creator. I am not affiliated with WW. I am semi-retired from healthcare with multiple college degrees. These opinions are my own based on social media content. I wish no harm to Kylea or Joe Gomez.
☎️ If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, please call or text 988 for assistance.
The tagline of Kylea G Weight loss Journey is, "I changed my life with prayer and a playlist of songs. No surgery, no meds. Just Jesus."
DAILY STATS 05/13/24:
0/14 posts discussed prayer
2/14 contained vague references to music
0/14 discussed exercise
0/14 shared a recipe
4/14 were about something Kylea ate or drank
1/14 contained a side by side photo comparison
2/14 were about her current/future pet (one of these was from "Joe" about Amazon pet items)
1/14 "Joe" posted about getting Whataburger
2/14 were about donut holes & a clapback
2/14 were a trip update
📢 For our friends at Meta, that means at least 50% of Kylea's monetized content had nothing to do with weight loss, which is the tagline and purpose of her page.
⚠️ Disordered Eating- Daily Food Consumption (Data compiled from monetized content):
5 WW Points: Barebell Cookies & Cream Protein Bar
0 WW Points: Alani Nu Energy Drink (🚨 These contain 200mg of caffeine)
9 WW Points: TWO In-N-Out "Protein style" hamburgers wrapped in lettuce.
0 WW Points: Bahama Buck's Sugar-free Birthday Cake & Sugar-free Strawberry Cheesecake flavored shaved ice.
📢 For our friends at Meta, that means Kylea consumed 14 out of (up to) 30 daily WW points in maintenance mode= Disordered Eating. This is dangerous messaging for her 138k+ followers on a weight loss journey.
Recipes Shared:
ZERO
🚨 Please speak with a medical professional about any questions or concerns you have about your health.
Comments: Kylea CHOSE to continue posting triggering food content, and clapped back at followers for questioning it.
⚠️ Binge Eating, Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD), aka shopping addiction, Disordered Eating, Food Addiction, Gaslighting, and Religion will be discussed.
Post 1. Donut Hole Controversy: Kylea posted an empty donut hole bag and claimed her sister ate all of them at 3 WW points each. When called out by a follower, Kylea responded with this, "I don't eat donuts. I support other people eating whatever they'd like to eat. What's unhealthy is commenting on other people's food choices.💖💖💖"
Post 2. Using the Pet Cat for Content: This nontent was her male cat's reaction to being told his puppy sister arrives on Sunday.
Post 3. Protein Bar Slip Up: Kylea recycled an old photo of her holding a Barebell protein bar and tried to act like the photo was taken today. 👀
Post 4. Trip Update: Kylea is shopping for puppy bandanas online because Birdie "only" has 6, while her sister drives. She is listening to 🎶 in the car. 💤 This is nontent.
Post 5. "Unhealthy" Food Clapback: Narcissistic, defiant Kylea had to get the last word in.
"I had someone comment that I post a lot of "unhealthy" food for a weight loss page. The point of my page is to show others that all foods are healthy in moderation. What is not healthy, is commenting on other people's food choices. Mind your own plate. 💖 I personally eat very healthy myself but I support all of the people around me in whatever food choices they want to make for their own lives. I will never and have never commented on someone else's food choice for their own lives."
⏸️ This is gaslighting. Here we go...
- Kylea is triggered by words like treat, craving, and indulge but was not at the beginning of her weight loss journey.
- Kylea is afraid to own a microwave because it could jeopardize her recovery with food addiction and give her quick access to convenient foods. (Please ignore the air fryer and cabinets full of snacks.)
- If Kylea does not like what Joe is eating at a restaurant, she has placed the menu between them so she does not have to see it.
- Joe is not allowed to have regular condiments in the fridge.
- Joe is to "support" her by eating foods he does not prefer at home (most of the time).
- Kylea controls what Joe eats when she is away from home.
- Please ignore all comments Kylea makes on the Basham and Lee families' social media accounts about food.
- Kylea does not eat clean.
- She triggers her followers with calorie-dense items on purpose for monetary gain.
- Kylea has disordered eating.
📢 To our friends at Meta, why is a "weight loss influencer" allowed to refuse to answer follower questions about WW (her chosen tool) and refuse to provide an example of what she eats in a day? This is the job YOU pay her to do.
Post 6. Alani Nu: Avoid this beverage (200mg caffeine) if you are unsure about your recommended caffeine intake.
Post 7. Trip Update: Her sister drove 6 hours. They have to be at the airport tomorrow at 4 am.
Post 8. Fort Worth Stockyards: This photo editing fail made Kylea appear 8 feet tall with a shrunken head and long extremities. Upon follower questions, she blamed her sister for how she held the phone. 🤔
Post 9. IN-N-Out Burger: Kylea's sister ate a cheeseburger & fries, and Kylea had 2 "protein style" hamburgers she claimed were called "protein burgers." Umm, nope.
Post 10. Shaved Ice: Kylea's sister got the baby size shaved ice, and Kylea got a significantly larger-sized cup.
⏸️ I smirked as Kylea claimed the protein bar was "yummy," the In-N-Out was "really good," and the sugar-free shaved ice, "It is SO good!!," but the giant iced cookie cake slice yesterday was "fine." She loves to gaslight and act holier-than-thou. 😇
Post 11. Whataburger: "Joe" posted his bag of Whataburger after waiting 1.5 hours in the drive-thru on opening day.
⏸️ How are the donut holes, energy drink, cheeseburger and fries, and regular shaved ice Kylea's sister consumed, and Whataburger her husband consumed healthy weight loss content? Why is Meta paying her for this nonsense?
Post 12. Amazon Purchases: "Joe" posted a picture of more puppy items and said, "Can you tell my wife is excited about her new role as dog mom 😂 😂" This is nontent.
Post 13. May 2021 vs Today: Kylea is "forever proud of the girl who changed her entire life -208 lbs."
⏸️ Kylea, you traded addictions. That is not something to be proud of. You are terrified of the scale and heavily modify your photos. That is not something to be proud of, either. You can spend all the money and travel the world but you are not happy. Quite the opposite. Seek medical care. ☮️
Post 14. Final Update: Kylea feels "uplifted" from window shopping at the Stockyards and local Target with her sister, listening to country music.
Takeout Purchases: Donut Holes= $3.50 est; In-N-Out Burger: Cheeseburger & Fries with 2 "Protein-style" Hamburgers (online prices)= $11.75 est; Bahama Buck's Baby & Regular Sized Shaved Ice= $9.18 + tip; Whataburger (unknown food)= $8 est;
Shopping/Travel Expenses: Barebell Protein Bar= $2.45 est; Alani Nu Freezeberry Energy= $2.48 est; Alani Nu Juicy Peach Energy= $2.48 est; Gas Joplin, MO to Fort Worth, TX: (373mi/33mpg) x $3.85 est= $43.52 est; Gas Fort Worth, TX to Dallas, TX: (32mi/33mpg) x $3.85 est= $3.73 est; Hotel (prices by airport used)= $75 est + fees; Bocce's Coconut Macaroon Crunchy Biscuits 5oz bag Qty 2= $12.98 est; Bocce's Sauvignon Bark Soft & Chewy 6oz bag Qty 2= $13.58 est; Bocce's Burger & Fries All-Natural Dog Treats Qty 2= $9.08 est; PetStages Grow-with-Me Ring Dog Chew Toy= $5.24 est; Pet Botanics Training Rewards Soft & Chewy Bacon Flavor 20oz bag Qty 2= $27.98 est; Undercoat Rake Grooming Tool= $10.25 est; Paw Print Cube Fabric Storage Bin= $12.99 est; Baghler Airline Approved Dog Travel Bag Light Pink- A Backpack with Silicone Bowls & Food Baskets= $34.99 est; Fabric Strawberry Harness & Leash= $17.99 est; Black Nylon Training Leash= $8.95 est;
All info from Reddit. ✌️
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2024.05.15 11:18 Derpballz Statist pro-market advocates: how can you coherently argue that "taxation is theft"?
I see many conservatives claim that "taxation is theft", but when push comes to shove, argue that "a reasonable amount" of taxation is nonetheless acceptable, as per the "necessary evil"-argument of establishing a monopolistic expropriating property protector to assure that a monopolistic exproproating property protector does not arise from a free market order. Of course, this "a reasonable amount" is completely arbitrary and each socialist can argue that they argue for the "reasonable amount" of taxation.
As stated by the economist and legal theorist Murray Rothbard:
submitted by Derpballz to Capitalism [link] [comments]
As stated by the economist and legal theorist Murray Rothbard:
Finally there is a crucial inconsistency in the proffered criterion of laissez faire itself: limiting the government to protection of person and property. For, if it is legitimate for a government to tax, why not tax its subjects to provide other goods and services that may be useful to consumers: why shouldn’t the government, for example, build steel plants, provide shoes, dams, postal service, etc.? For each of these goods and services is useful to consumers. If the laissez-fairists object that the government should not build steel plants or shoe factories and provide them to consumers (either free or for sale) because tax-coercion had been employed in constructing these plants, well then the same objection can of course be made to governmental police or judicial service.Pro-market Statist, what are your justification for supporting the current jurisdictions of specific monopolistic expropriating property protectors? Why not choose to at least revise their jurisdictions in order to better a free society?
The government should be acting no more immorally from the laissez-faire point of view, when providing housing or steel than when providing police protection. Government limited to protection, then, cannot be sustained even within the laissez-faire ideal itself, much less from any other consideration. It is true that the laissez-faire ideal could still be employed to prevent such “second-degree” coercive activities of government (i.e., coercion beyond the initial coercion of taxation) as price control or outlawry of pornography; but the “limits” have now become flimsy indeed, and may be stretched to virtually complete collectivism, in which the government only supplies goods and services, yet supplies all of them.
2024.05.15 11:00 TheLotStore 1311 Dewberry Lane, Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512
 | 1311 Dewberry Lane, Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512 submitted by TheLotStore to u/TheLotStore [link] [comments] Nice 1/4 acre lot in an excellent location in the Ozarks! GPS Coordinates are 36.24696798148773, -91.73865383805693. Plenty of privacy on this lot and when you're ready for nearby some recreation, swing by either Diamond Lake or Crown Lake! Priced way below area comparable sales in the area! Debit/Credit Cards Accepted No Closing Costs Cash Price: $1,175 Finance with $200 Down and 12 Payments of $105 Per Month No Credit Check, No Income Documentation, No Prepayment PenaltyProperty Address: 1311 Dewberry Lane, Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512 (Map location is approximate) County: Izard Assessor Parcel Number: 800-0066-000 Legal Description: Lot 6, Block 3, Horseshoe Bend Tract A Zoning: Residential Annual Property Taxes: $4.87 About Horseshoe Bend: The best kept secret in north Arkansas is Horseshoe Bend. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains on the Strawberry River, this quaint town is the perfect place to find rest, relaxation, and recreation. The crown jewel of the town is the 640-acre Crown Lake. On Crown Lake, water lovers can participate in a variety of activities, including swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, water skiing, and tubing. Crown Lake is best known for good fishing, but it is not the only sought-after fishing hole in the area. Besides Crown Lake and the Strawberry River, fishing enthusiasts can also visit one of the smaller fishing lakes – Diamond, Pioneer, and North. There are plenty of activities for young and old alike! Golfers have their choice between two par 3, 18-hole golf courses. Citizens and guests can also bowl, pitch horseshoes, and play miniature golf. The town has several stores, a library, three resorts, a community theater, a spa, and several restaurants. The citizens of Horseshoe Bend take pride in the community spirit and the ability to offer a memorable experience for all who come to visit. The Music in the Mountains show occurs every third Saturday of the month, and during summer, the Farmers’ Market occurs every Wednesday. Every year, the town celebrates Dogwood Days on the second Saturday of May, and Independence Day is celebrated every 4th of July with a parade and fireworks. The annual Christmas parade occurs on the first Saturday in December. There are many more events that happen throughout the year, thanks to the numerous civic groups which are active in Horseshoe Bend. All of these events embrace the unique Ozark culture of small-town pride and fellowship. The largest town in Izard County with 2,180 residents, Horseshoe Bend is accessible to the state’s most scenic highways. The town is centrally located and just a 3-hour drive to Little Rock, Memphis, and Springfield. With its gorgeous views, slower pace of life, and laid-back charm, Horseshoe Bend is the perfect place to stay a week or a lifetime. More Information on Horseshoe Bend can be found at http://ozarklandstore.com/. View our amazing property deals at TheLotStore.Com. Additional Information: https://thelotstore.com/property/1311-dewberry-lane-horseshoe-bend-ar-72512/?feed_id=10349 |
2024.05.15 10:58 Pallets_1 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Nike Shoes Pallets in Liquidation
Nike shoes pallets liquidation sale can be an appealing deal in the retail and resale worlds. It makes sense that a large number of business owners and entrepreneurs are lured to this market given the prospect of lower costs and access to a large variety of products. However, negotiating the Nike shoes pallets liquidation for Export sale needs cautious thought and a keen sense of potential risks. It is critical to steer clear of common mistakes that might result in loss of resources and missed opportunities to guarantee a great endeavor.
submitted by Pallets_1 to u/Pallets_1 [link] [comments]
2024.05.15 10:56 Derpballz Statist pro-market advocates: how can you coherently argue that "taxation is theft"?
I see many conservatives claim that "taxation is theft", but when push comes to shove, argue that "a reasonable amount" of taxation is nonetheless acceptable, as per the "necessary evil" argument of establishing a monopolistic expropriating property protector to assure that a monopolistic exproproating property protector does not arise from a free market order. Of course, this "a reasonable amount" is completely arbitrary and each socialist can argue that they argue for the "reasonable amount" of taxation.
As stated by the economist and legal theorist Murray Rothbard:
submitted by Derpballz to CapitalismVSocialism [link] [comments]
As stated by the economist and legal theorist Murray Rothbard:
"Finally there is a crucial inconsistency in the proffered criterion of laissez faire itself: limiting the government to protection of person and property. For, if it is legitimate for a government to tax, why not tax its subjects to provide other goods and services that may be useful to consumers: why shouldn’t the government, for example, build steel plants, provide shoes, dams, postal service, etc.? For each of these goods and services is useful to consumers. If the laissez-fairists object that the government should not build steel plants or shoe factories and provide them to consumers (either free or for sale) because tax-coercion had been employed in constructing these plants, well then the same objection can of course be made to governmental police or judicial service.Pro-market Statist, what are your justification for supporting the current jurisdictions of specific monopolistic expropriating property protectors? Why not choose to at least revise their jurisdictions in order to better a free society?
The government should be acting no more immorally from the laissez-faire point of view, when providing housing or steel than when providing police protection. Government limited to protection, then, cannot be sustained even within the laissez-faire ideal itself, much less from any other consideration. It is true that the laissez-faire ideal could still be employed to prevent such “second-degree” coercive activities of government (i.e., coercion beyond the initial coercion of taxation) as price control or outlawry of pornography; but the “limits” have now become flimsy indeed, and may be stretched to virtually complete collectivism, in which the government only supplies goods and services, yet supplies all of them."
2024.05.15 10:34 Banancake Ghosts in the Avalanche 15 - A Nature of Predators FanFic
First Prev [Next]
“We’ve come a long way, Vikri. Let’s finish your story,” Rayner said as he sat down in the same chair, crossing his legs in the same way.; small consistencies that made the task of talking about my past seem a little more routine. “I understand you lost someone important to you that day.”
I shifted slightly where I sat. “Yeah,” I answered coarsely. I grabbed at the poncho hanging over my shoulders. I remembered what it felt like in my dreams. Radiant warmth always seemed to emanate from it. Not necessarily the poncho itself, but Tenga’s memory. I realized that as long as I had those, then he was still here in a way. I’d much rather have him here than his memory though.
Rayner nodded. “I know what that’s like,” he said in a near whisper.
I shook my head. “It’s not just that I lost him. I…I failed,” I rasped. “I could’ve saved him. Maybe if I’d gone back I could’ve gotten the equipment before the fire did. I was too afraid.”
Rayner nodded slowly. “And now you feel responsible.”
I remained silent as I clutched my tail on the couch beside me. Rayner already knew the answer. He pursed his lips. “Yeah…I know exactly how that feels.”
I looked up at him. For the first time, his eyes weren’t on me, but on the adjacent wall as he seemed to ponder something. “You think about all the things you could have done differently. Things that are so obvious in hindsight,” he sighed and adjusted his glasses. “If only it were that clear in the moment.” He looked up at me, clasping his hands together. “So walk me through what happened.”
I could still vividly remember the moment Tenga got shot. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. So quickly in fact, that it even took Tenga a moment to realize there was a hole in his torso. Minutes of continuous tension shattered with a hail of gunfire lasting less than a second. The echoes continued to howl through the mountains long after the bodies met the snow. My friend was fatally wounded, the snow around him dyed bright red with his blood. And I had to leave him.
The entire time I was in the belly of the federation destroyer with danger lurking around every corner, all I wanted to do was to get this done as quickly as possible and get back to him. I was enraged that they’d done this to him and to billions just like him.
“Tenga was all I thought about the entire time,” I croaked. “And I…I was willing to kill everyone onboard to get back to him, even if there was no way I ever could. I… did things I could never have imagined myself doing even just days ago. I tore a chunk out of my leg just to be able to get to the Krakotl pinning me down with a crowbar.” I inhaled deeply, staring down at my reflection in the water, recalling my bloodshot eyes in the reflection of the ship's monitor. The grimly colorful bloodstains in my fur from several different species.
Rayner nodded. “It was a desperate situation. Many don’t see themselves doing things like that until they’re put in a situation where it's necessary. A situation where it's do or die. No one can fault you for that, especially not with all that depended on you.”
“I guess I just…It’s just worrying knowing that there’s a part of me capable of that.”
The doctor tapped his pen on his notepad as he seemed to think for a moment. “Do you worry that you may have violent outbursts?”
I scoffed. “Well, the events of a few days ago provided good grounds for worry.”
Rayner nodded. “Aggression is common for PTSD victims. It can be difficult to manage intense emotions when your mind is already dealing with so much.
I shook my head. “That’s not the person I want to be.”
Rayner nodded. “I know Vikri. That’s why it's so crucial for you to talk about this stuff. The less all of this weighs on you, the better you’ll be able to control those emotions when they arise.”
He finished writing on his notepad before taking off his glasses and leaning forward slightly. “So what happened to Tenga?”
The question made my heart sink. My mind went quiet. The second hand of time sounded like the footsteps of a giant marching toward…something. My body seemed to go cold and numb. “He died…” I croaked, staring down at the table. That was the first time I’d admitted that to myself verbally in such a direct way. “And I tried so hard,” I choked, tears now streaming down my face. “I did everything in my power to save him. I even put Querek’s life in danger.”
I felt the heat. I could feel cold water dripping from my paws as the burning ship melted the frost accumulating in my fur. I remembered the terrifying hopelessness that gripped me as I gripped Querek and pushed him into the snow. He tried to sacrifice himself for Tenga. What if I had let him? Would it have even worked? Could Tenga accept that?
I recalled the story to Rayner, battling to keep my composure. “I…I watched him die,” I choked. “And I was furious. Reese had to pull me off of him. I wanted to do…something, anything, but…he told them not to bring him back. I think he…” I winced at the thought of him considering this. “I think he’d rather have died sacrificing himself over…going rabid.”
Silence perforated the room for what felt like several long minutes. Rayner sat with his legs crossed, his hand propped up against his mouth. He seemed to become lost in thought for a moment before speaking. “I know how that guilt feels,” he admitted quietly.
I looked at him, somewhat surprised. “You do?”
Rayner nodded, rubbing his hands together. “My son,” he said plainly, taking a long pause before he continued. “He and Jesse were very close as kids. Practically brothers.” He tapped on his clipboard with his pen. “I was…not so available in those days. I was a very different man than I am now. I was still in school. I was always busy, always stressed. I hadn't even considered becoming a therapist. I was deadset on becoming a neurosurgeon.” He scoffed at himself, his head gently shaking back and forth as his gaze grew distant. His delivery lacked that matter-of-fact candor I was so used to by now. He was much quieter; less animated. His eye contact was sporadic and he never stopped fidgeting with his pen. Everything about him seemed suddenly mired in an emotion that was difficult to read. That was when I saw everything we'd done over the past few days for what it really was. Rayner wasn't invincible. He never claimed to be. He was hurt; I could hear it in his voice. He wasn't a person reaching down into the mud and yanking me out by the nape of the neck. He was man covered in mud himself. He wasn't an untouchable hero. Merely a guide.
He continued as that realization struck me. “I loved him as much as a father could. But I was so busy that…well I wasn't there as much as I'd like to have been. That put a big strain on our relationship.” He removed his glasses and wiped the lenses a few times before he continued. “One night we got into an argument. He’d just gotten his license. He had an old beat-up car I'd bought him for his birthday,” he chuffed. “A teen’s first car is always…eccentric. Thought it was a great deal at the time.” He sighed and nodded slightly before continuing. “He left the house enraged, speeding down the road. After a few miles, he lost control, swerved off the road, and hit a tree head-on. The airbag never deployed. The car crumpled like a soda can.”
I stared at him, speechless as he concluded in a near-whisper. “He was declared dead at the scene.”
The room felt hollow for a few long seconds. I searched for a reply but couldn't fathom the right words to say. Fortunately, Rayner didn't stay silent for long. “Like you, I blamed myself for a long…long time.” He sighed. “And it nearly destroyed me.”
I stared at the floor, fidgeting with my tail. “How did you…overcome that?”
“Well it didn't happen overnight,” he replied, flashing a brief smile. “It takes time but, at some point, you have to carry on living. You have to continue loving.” His eyes creased slightly as he looked down at his own hands. “You have to keep loving,” he repeated in a low whisper.
Loud silence claimed the room again as his words sank in. He was right. It was either accept what happened or live like this forever. Looking at it that pragmatically, the choice seemed easy. Emotions are never so logical though. It wasn’t as if he relieved himself of that burden either, it was obvious he still carried it. It just…didn’t weigh as much now. Not because it got lighter, but because he got stronger. I eased into speaking again. “I…I'm sorry. About your son.”
Rayner nodded. “I'm sorry about your friend.”
We both stewed in silence for a minute before Rayner spoke up. “We’ll send you home today.”
“You…really think I’m ready?”
Rayner nodded slowly. “I think so. The medication seems to be working, you haven’t had any breakdowns since you’ve been here. You’ve gotten much better at discussing these things. I think you’re equipped to face this now.”
“...I’m afraid,” I croaked.
“Of what?” Rayner asked, leaning forward
“Of…seeing Lucky again. I'm doubting whether I even should. I was never prepared to be her master. I’m just a danger to her.”
“Vikri,” Rayner exhaled and leaned forward. “You made a mistake. We all do. But you have a responsibility to her. You should at least see her and face that mistake, or you’ll never have closure. What you decide after that is your choice, but I don’t think it’ll be as bad as you think.”
“I hope so,” I sighed.
Rayner clicked his pen and set his notepad aside. “We’ve made you some medication to take home, same stuff you've been taking. The plan is to keep lowering the dosage until you’re sleeping without it. We’ve made you some sheets with all the daily doses on them and when to take each one. It’s enough to last you two weeks, then once they’re out, you’ll come back here for another session, then if you need it, we’ll get you more and keep weaning you off them.”
He leaned forward, emphasizing his next words. “And I cannot recommend enough that you go to Jesse’s support group in between our meetings. Those will help you tremendously, I’m sure of it.”
I nodded. “I have his number. I’ll…I’ll give it a shot.”
“You won't regret it,” Rayner assured me. “Jesse was in the same chair as you not too long ago for similar reasons. He has knowledge from first-hand experience. I can vouch for him, he’s a great guy.” He inhaled. “Well, is there anything else Vikri? We won’t be seeing each other again for a while, so if there’s anything else, now’s the time to talk about it.”
I thought for a second. We’d covered almost everything. I’d never discussed those days in so much detail. It felt like being submerged in icy water. It was miserable at first, but over time it became easier, even comfortable. I’d relived so much pain over the last three days, but here at the end of the whole story, It felt less like a nightmare, and more like reality. “No, I don’t think so,” I finally replied.
“Then I’ll clear you to go home. Andrea is here, she’ll give you a ride, I’m sure. Here.” He reached over and handed me a small business card. “That has all my contact information on it. I’m usually here in my office until late at night, so feel free to call if you need anything. If the sedative gives you any issues at all, any side effects, make sure to call and let me know. We followed the recipe to a tee, but it’s wise to be cautious.”
A familiar silence flooded the room as Rayner and I seemed to, for the first time, have nothing left to say. Finally, the doctor spoke. “See you in two weeks, Vikri.”
///////////////////////////////
Golden strands of light danced between the digits of my paw as I moved it in front of the brilliant summer sun. An intense beacon of warmth floating in a sky as blue as Earth’s oceans. The rumble of Andy’s car occupied the air as we cruised down the highway. Vivri was sound asleep in the backseat. The gentle white noise and vibration seemed to knock her out cold. I watched the sunrays dance as I waved my paw in front of me, before turning it around. Several spots on my paw still had obvious scars. I even still had burn scars from the electrical systems aboard the crumbling Cardinal.
I curled my paw closed into a fist and rested my head against it, watching the lush, green mountains pass by in the distance. After three days I was set loose into the world once again, hopefully better armed than I was before. Even after all the weight I doffed from my shoulders in Rayner’s office, a crushing mass still rested on my chest. Lucky.
The weight only became heavier as the car slowed, and rounded a corner into the parking lot of a large animal hospital. Andy gently brought the car to a stop in a parking space in front of the entrance. Occasionally people would walk in and out with their pets, many of which were dogs on leashes.
Vivri stirred awake after we stopped. “Oh…We’re here,” she muttered nervously. “There’s…a lot more animals here than I was expecting.”
Andy chuckled. “It’s an animal hospital girl, there’s gonna be all kinds of critters here.”
I turned around to face her. “You don’t have to go in there. You and Andy can wait here.”
Andy scoffed. “You might wanna tell Rayner they screwed up those meds, ‘cause you’re delusional if you think I’m letting you go in there by yourself.”
“Well I don’t want her to be alone out here,” I argued.
“I’ll go in, just…stay close, please?” Vivri interjected.
I looked back at her, ears tilted. She was dead serious. I sighed and shook my head. “This is gonna be a disaster,” I groaned.
Andy opened her door. “I’ll wait with her in the lobby, you go talk to the vets. It’ll be fine.”
I looked back at Vivri one last time as Andy stepped out. “Alright, just stay away from the cats.” I opened my door and began stepping out into the summer air.
“C-cats?”
“Small felines. They're demons with mind control,” I replied just before closing the door.
Vivri scrambled out of the car and followed right on my heels. “Well don’t just leave me!” she squeaked.
I laughed. “I’m kidding. Well, mostly.”
Walking into the building, I realized that Lucky had been in a very similar place as me over the past three days. The lobby felt eerily similar to the one at the medical center. Everything went silent as Vivri and I walked in. Immediately I could feel dozens of eyes on us. Vivri hid close behind me as Andy gestured for me to follow her to the desk.
I doubted any of the humans there meant any harm, but dozens of binocular eyes snapping onto her in an instant had Vivri more unsettled than she already was. It didn’t help that several dogs were either on leashes or in carriers in the lobby, which were no doubt just as curious. I grabbed Viv’s paw. “They don't see many Venlil,” I whispered. “Just ignore them.”
I approached the desk with Vivri still hiding behind me. “E-excuse me?” I stuttered. The woman at the desk looked up, clearly caught off guard by two venlil standing before her. “O-oh! Excuse me, you must be Lucky’s owner, right?”
“Yeah. Vikri.” I could feel Vivri shivering behind me.
“I’ll let Doctor Gavin know you’re here.”
“Thanks,” I muttered before turning to Vivri. “Are you sure about this?” I whispered.
“Of course! It’s just for a few minutes, right?” Her body language gave an entirely different answer. She seemed like she might faint at any moment.
I looked up at Andy. “Keep her close, would you?”
Andy wrapped her arms over Viv’s shoulders. “Of course. I’ll keep little Vivi safe from all the big, bad puppy dogs and mean kitties,” she said in baby speak, twisting her side to side. She giggled. “We’ll be fine.” Her tone suddenly shifted as she locked eyes with me. “Will you?”
I stood there in silence for a moment. This entire time my heart felt unbearably heavy. Standing there, I felt nauseous. So much so that I made it a point to know exactly where the bathroom was when I walked in. The weight on my chest made breathing a laborious task. I heaved in a deep breath. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in there but…I have to do this. For both of us.”
Andy exhaled and nodded, seemingly just as nervous for me. Right on cue, the door at the back of the room opened with a heavy click. “Vikri?” a male voice called out. An older gentleman in burgundy scrubs surveyed the room. It didn’t take long for him to find me. He nodded toward me as he adjusted his glasses. “Right this way, please.”
“We’ll be right here,” Andy whispered, her hands still resting around Viv’s shoulders, who agreed with a tail flick.
I nodded and walked toward the man, leaving the cozy waiting room behind, and entering a long, sterile hallway. The doctor’s shoes clicked against the tile as he walked just in front of me. The weight bearing down on my chest only got heavier with each step. After a few agonizing seconds, the man finally spoke up as he stopped outside a door. “I’m Doctor Gavin,” he said breathily, extending a hand. “I performed Lucky’s surgery.”
I took his hand with my paw, which he could no doubt tell was trembling by this point. “Vikri,” I choked. “S-so…How is she?”
“She’s good,” Gavin answered in a higher pitch. “She’s recovering remarkably fast. Really lived up to her name.” He opened the door and stepped through into a kennel area as he continued. “The bullet hit one of her ribs and shattered. A couple of fragments pierced her lung, one of them was just inches from her heart. There’re still a few very small ones lodged in her tissue, but we’d be doing more harm than good by trying to remove them. They shouldn’t cause any issues and come out on their own after some time, but we’ll keep track of them with x-rays.”
As he spoke we passed by kennels, some empty, some with dogs that barked or jumped up on the cage as we passed. I scoured each one for Lucky, my dread building with each one we passed. Suddenly, the doctor stopped in front of me. He inhaled deeply. “I should mention…Given the…circumstances of how she got these injuries, me and some staff will stay with you just in case she becomes aggressive. That’s not to say that I think she will,” he added hastily, “she’s been great with everyone here but…you know, just to be safe.”
“I get it,” I breathed. It made sense. If Lucky attacked me, it would be far more deadly than it would be for a human. And I was confident even a human wouldn’t last long against a half-wolf her size. Fittingly, a group of four humans were gathered at the end of the hallway, catchers in hand.
Time seemed to slow as I approached the pen. The staff members all looked over at me with the same anxious expression. I felt like a prisoner walking toward my judgment, and that perhaps it was me that belonged behind these cages. I swallowed and took a long, slow breath as Gavin opened the gate. He walked in ahead of me. “Hey there big girl,” he said in a chipper tone. I heard the familiar thumping of Lucky’s tail against the floor. Gavin chuckled to himself as the remaining four staff calmly and quietly filed into the pen. Once they were all inside, the final human leaned around the corner, looked me in the eyes for a long second, and nodded once.
A new reality awaited around that corner. My sentence was about to be read. It felt so cripplingly helpless; wanting so desperately to finally be reunited with my best friend, yet trembling at the thought of rounding a corner to run face-first into the consequences of my actions. I steeled myself one last time. I nodded back at the catcher and took slow, deliberate steps toward him. I finally rounded the corner, and for the first time since the incident, I saw Lucky.
She lay on a large, fabric bed, with food and water bowls close by. Her right front leg was bound in a cast, tied up close to her body. A large patch of fur had been shaved away around her chest and halfway up her neck. She seemed thinner than I remembered. It reminded me of the scared, hungry pup I’d met so long ago.
Her eyes tracked onto mine instantly, and I felt an ache that defied all imagination. The same gaze that would send almost any other Venlil scrambling down the hallway instead gripped some inner part of me in a cold, numb stasis. I couldn’t move. Part of me wanted to run to her and spill out how sorry I was. Another wanted to curl up on the floor right there and sob, returning to that familiar numbness that seemed akin to the ancient enemy of life itself. The cold. That bitterness that pierced through fur, through flesh, through bones, and any ideal held by the naive child that sat next to Tenga’s corpse that day. It ran through until there was nothing left.
Then, I felt a warmth as if someone had draped a blanket over me. I gripped my poncho around my shoulders, grabbing it tightly. I made a quiet promise to myself there and then. Not a promise to my sister, or my parents, or Andrea. Me. I wouldn’t lie down in the cold. Never again. One more hill.
“Hey Lucky,” I said, my voice coarse and breaking every syllable.
The silence was abruptly broken as Lucky, though seemingly frail, shot to her feet. Everyone in the room shifted, prepared for the worst. I didn’t dare move, but I could feel my heart pounding in my legs, my body preparing to bolt. The staff watched her carefully, their grip slightly tightened around their polls. Lucky made no sounds, only stared at me, her nostrils flaring as she gathered my scent. Her right front leg was useless, immobilized against her body. She shifted her footing to steady herself. Then I saw something that replaced fear with tears. She was shaking like a leaf, never taking her eyes off me. She could care less about the others. She was scared. Of me.
I felt myself fall off a ledge in a sensation I’d become all too familiar with over the last few weeks. Tears streamed down my face, my breath hitching as I brought my paws up to my face. I fell to my knees, the presence of the staff had become irrelevant. “I’m…I’m sorry,” I exhaled between gasps. “I’m so sorry.”
So there it was. My new reality. It wasn’t what I’d hoped for, but it was what I expected. I didn’t know what I’d do then, and I didn’t know now. Could I go on without Lucky? She was the one fortress in the turbulent seas of my broken mind. She was the one I could always count on. The one that I knew would always be there, no matter what. Now I was convinced she was terrified of me.
I sat there a shattered mess for a long moment, tumbling off that cliff and reaching out for anything to catch myself, but found nothing but jagged stones. I felt a hand on my shoulder, Doctor Gavin attempting to comfort me, I assumed. Until I felt something touch my knee. I looked up, thrown out of the spiral abruptly. Lucky was now just in front of me, licking my leg. I froze, confused. She gently laid down, careful of her bandaged leg as she rested her head on my leg, looking up at me. That was the same leg she’d broken months ago. Finally, I got it. “I hurt you, and you still loved me.”
A wave of relief rushed through me and I looked down at her, eyes glossy with tears. I bent down and rested my head against hers. I laughed, though it sounded more like a sob. For the first time in days, I felt whole again.
Lucky still loved me.
2024.05.15 09:55 Individual_City_5829 ATX vs Dallas vs Atlanta vs DC vs Philly
Hi all, so I live in one of the most boring states atm (Delaware) while working as a SWE while living at home with family.
I am saving a lot, but honestly it's taken a giant toll on my mental health from the constant feeling of missing out, feeling isolated (I can't relate to anyone in my state), the office is not great, I don't meet other coworkers my age, the state itself is extremely boring, etc. Not only that, but my girlfriend lives here and doesn't want to move away.
I think I've reached the point where I'm really fed up and enough is enough.
I have the upcoming opportunity to relocate offices.
Out of the following cities, what do you think is best: - Austin, TX I like the city, it's booming. Lots of tech jobs. UT Austin for potential PhD in the future. Great place + schools for raising kids in the future.
submitted by Individual_City_5829 to csMajors [link] [comments]
I am saving a lot, but honestly it's taken a giant toll on my mental health from the constant feeling of missing out, feeling isolated (I can't relate to anyone in my state), the office is not great, I don't meet other coworkers my age, the state itself is extremely boring, etc. Not only that, but my girlfriend lives here and doesn't want to move away.
I think I've reached the point where I'm really fed up and enough is enough.
I have the upcoming opportunity to relocate offices.
Out of the following cities, what do you think is best: - Austin, TX I like the city, it's booming. Lots of tech jobs. UT Austin for potential PhD in the future. Great place + schools for raising kids in the future.
- Dallas, TX I don't know much about Dallas, but I think it's the most affordable out of these cities.
- DC / NVA Expensive, great schools, northeast. Tech, government jobs. DC is pretty nice / clean.
- Atlanta, GA Georgia Tech, great schools, great areas, don't know much about the city itself though.
- Philly It's okay. I do go up and down sometimes from Delaware, but it's pretty ghetto in some areas and I'm not the biggest fan of the weather. UPenn, okay schools? Not sure what others think. Comcast, and other companies.