I have gardened before but never had to fill my own beds or take care of the soil because it was in a community garden. I built my own beds this spring and am about to fill them.
My plan is to dig up the ground underneath and get the weeds out, then put a layer of leaf and pine litter down. I’m going to put about 4 inches of topsoil down after that. I’m only doing 4 inches on top because I fully expect everything to just grow into the ground underneath. I’m not putting down any netting or tarp. I don’t know much about fertilizer. From reading I think I’m going to add banana peels and eggshells to the topsoil and dump in some earth worms. I want everything to be all natural, and I don’t really want to use any manure products.
Is this a good plan? Any tips or advice?
WHAT IM GROWING FOR CONTEXT In the vegetable bed I am planting cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, beans, bell, chili, and banana peppers, summer squash, and pumpkins. In the flower bed I am planting zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, straw flowers, bachelor buttons, sweet peas, and snap dragons. Yes, these are both large beds and I’ve accurately spaced everything. In the smaller herb bed I’m planting lavender, dill, thyme, basil, oregano, and cilantro. In the butterfly/wildflower bed I have lupine, delphinium, daisies, canterbury bells, milkweed, and blue bonnets. The soil here is dry and dense, it soaks up water. I’m in the northeast US so it’s a bit rocky/piney from the forests but I am in farming country so I assume it’s decent for growing.
Looking for soil advice but honestly any tips on any of the garden is helpful.

My husband went bananas with the weed whacker again and chopped my peony bush. Not down to the ground. They were just stalks/stems, no buds yet.
What can/should I do, if anything? After I buy some flags or markers to hopefully stop this from happening again.

Why is nicotine only in cigarettes (and products to quit). What's stopping major corporations from putting it in other substances to make them addictive/more addictive? Like what if it was in soda or bananas or weed?

Me and my friend decided to try herbivores for the first time in Evrima. We ended up spending like a hour and a half looking for diet plants and could only find a single berry bush which was consumed in literally 1 bite. I used the gateway map website that had common plant areas and we spent another 45 minutes roaming around looking for fiddlehead weeds, bananas, and other plants without any luck. After wasting most of our time we ended up just running off a cliff because surviving off grazing with a bad diet was just torture. Is there any way to get diets as stegos now besides sanctuaries?

Disclaimer: I have to shorten the words on this one because the chapter had gone on for to long and stole the word count limit. Every person in this section has my deepest and most sincere thanks for the art, memes, and love they have shown my series.
Thank you to: for proofreading, editing, and this art. Check his fic here!
u/Talentlessfurry for this art.
u/Roddcherry for adding Novel to the charismas party he drew.
u/everyveryever for this art.
u/Emotion-Senior for the meme.
u/Orphandestroyer99 for the comic and art.
u/abrachoo for the meme.
u/guaiwutongzhi for the art.
u/United_Patriots for the art.
u/migulehove for the art(s).
u/aMANTEIGAdo for the art.
u/SlimyRage for the art.
Thank you to each and every one of these amazing people!
CW: Accidental Substance Abuse
Memory Transcription Subject: Novel, Kolshian Scientist and Self-Proclaimed “Gamer God”
Date {standardized human time}: October 19th, 2136
The elevator ride took a lot longer than I would have liked, my excitement and anticipation making it difficult to stand still. Ada’s room was almost at the top floor of the building — along with those of the other members of my herd — making it take a bit longer to get to than most of the other Humans’ I’ve visited while here.
Seems they are keeping the various tribes in their own groups. The fourth floor has the Germans, French, Polish, and Austrians, with a few Danes and Swedes mixed in. I wonder if they did that to keep the different tribes from fighting with ones they don’t like? Doubtful really, everyone seems to get along well enough, disregarding a couple jabs here and there. Probably just makes geographical sense to put them together.
My pondering was broken with a soft ding of the old elevator doors opening. I stepped out of the elevator quickly and took in my surroundings. There were very few humans milling about the quiet halls as they went about their business. One human with comfy-looking pelts had noticed me step out of the elevator and had frozen where they stood. After a short, yet still uncomfortably awkward moment, I gave a wave with one of my upper appendages and walked down a different hall.
A few moments later, I pulled out my pad to look at the message Sindre sent me.
Room 441, hailey and i went to get some stuff for the sesh. ada will be there in a bit. see you soon, {censored}
From: Sindre(Human)
I quickly typed out my own message.
Thank you! I’ll meet you there!
From: Me
Stowing the pad, I made my way there. Along the way I encountered several more Humans, each of which having some sort of reaction to my presence. Mostly just freezing in place or casting glances at me as I walked by. Some of them recognized me, either from when we baked together, or when I was in the rec room when the news dropped and gave me a wave in return. There was one case though when a Terran exited their room, saw me, and let out a noise I can only describe as a squeal before diving back into their room.
That last one confused me to no end, as I had never seen that reaction from a human before. I considered knocking on the door before thinking better of it and continuing down the hall to my destination.
How curious… I'll have to ask Ada about that human and why they ran away from me... Heh, prey scaring predators. Not so long ago, such a concept would’ve been seen as the ultimate goal, any real-world examples derided as only that of a dreamer’s fallacy, and yet now… I don’t think I like the idea so much…
I made a mental note to apologize to them if we ever meet again and kept walking, this time with my form hunched and my pace a little faster than before so I could avoid bothering the Terrans as much. It seemed to work, and the humans seemed to look away a little faster than they had previously.
Arriving at Ada’s door, though, I composed myself as best I could, straightening my back and taking a deep breath to calm myself. I knocked on the door a few times, only for it to open a slight amount. Cocking my head in confusion, I listened to the slight groaning of the hinges before I gently pushed it the rest of the way, the door creaking loudly in resistance.
The room smelled of wax and freshly harvested Othll bark, like I had just walked into the home improvement aisle of a store. Walking further inside showed me the source of the smell, which was a set of candles sitting on top of a nightstand in the corner… next to a fire alarm with the battery taken out.
That’s a little concerning… that can’t be safe at least. I should tell her to put it back in when I see her… wherever she is.
Looking around the room some more showed it to be quite unkempt, with pelts and other junk laying strewn haphazardly across the floor. Personal knick-knacks and picture frames sat on shelves and tables around the room, making the places feel a lot more homely than the other rooms I’d been in. A large TV sat on the other side of the room across from the bed, which had been recently used, going by the blanket on the floor and the pillows tossed about. Against the wall next to the bed was a large couch that had clearly seen better paws, the top layer peeling heavily and scattering the little bits of plastic covering everywhere.
Sitting next to the TV appeared to be some sort of Terran gaming console, complete with bright colors plastered across its many faces and with several different wires coming out of it. Far more than there should be, since part of the case it was in had been smashed to fit more cabling into. Tools, used wires, and broken plastic laid scattered next to the patchwork job.
Seems they really did modify it. Makes sense, since I doubt it would normally work on our systems at all… we should really put that fire alarm back in…
Just as I started walking over to inspect it, my lower tentacle caught something soft on one of the suckers. Looking down showed it to be one of the chest pelts Ada had been wearing the paw I met her. Closer inspection showed the whole floor was covered in discarded pelts, including some I had never seen before!
I let out a sigh as I looked around at the mess… I hope she doesn't mind if I cleaned up a bit.
And that's exactly what I did as I waited for my host to return. It did not take long for me to find the garbage can and hamper she used for her used pelts. While I worked though the piles, I took note of the stranger clothes I saw. Most of them were the regular chest pelts that I’d seen every human wear, but others were completely unique or otherwise somehow unusual.
One such example was what I can only describe as some sort of winter gear? It had a very intricate design on the front made of lace and a very soft interior made of a kind of purple fabric. What made it even more strange was that I found several of these scattered around the room, meaning that she was wearing these pretty regularly too!
Hmmm… perhaps it is meant to keep their ears warm? That would explain the strap on the back, as it would be meant to go under their chin. That doesn’t explain why she would be using it though, and to have so many! It must get cold in here when the A/C kicks in, I guess. This place is really old after all.
Either way, they went into the hamper. I left the tools where they were, in case they belonged to different people, but everything else went straight into the trash. The whole process was pretty exhausting, but the room ended up looking much nicer than it had before!
Just as I finished bagging up the garbage can, the door gave a loud creak as Ada stepped in wearing some pretty comfortable-looking pelts similar to the ones she had been wearing a few paws ago, pink prey head slippers and all.
A few {seconds} pass as she starts pulling out clear totes full of what I assume to be her things before I break out of my confusion and flick her a tail wave.
“Hey Ada! Whe-”
“AAAAHHH!!!”
She screamed as she stumbled onto her back, causing me to drop the bag and jump in fright. We stared at each other for a moment before Ada spoke up.
“Nov’?! What the fuck are you doing in here?! You weren't… ya Allah, you scared the crap out of me!”
My arms and tentacles raised up in a pleading gesture after I realized what I did. “S-sorry! I-I thought you would see me! And Sindre said to meet you here? F-for the games?”
Ada took a few more moments to calm down on the floor, but eventually, she stood up and took a few breaths. “You’re fine, squiddie… Sindre didn’t mention how close you were so… oh well, doesn't matter I guess. Uh, what’s in the bag you got there? Also… where are all of my clothes?”
At her observation, I picked up the trash bag and held it up for her to see. “Well… your room was a bit of a mess, a-and you were gone, so I did a bit of… cleaning? Nothing major, just throwing away some trash and putting the pelts in the hamper.”
“Oh, well, thanks Nov. I was gonna get to that befor-” Suddenly she stops herself mid-sentence. Her eyes widen as she casts her forward-facing gaze over to the pelts’ bin.
For some reason, the human's usual light brown features darken considerably with a crimson bloom. Ada turned to look at me, and I gave my best happy expression I could muster to put her at ease. This time, the human's face twisted into an obvious forced snarl before she gave up, running a hand down her face.
“Novel, j-just a heads up for the future, it’s considered rude to go through someone's room and touch their… pelts without permission. They are, um, quite personal belongings, and we don’t let other people touch certain ones. Fuck, uh, don’t tell the other two about this either. It would be, eugh…” Ada’s snarl gets larger as she looks back to the hamper, the crimson still blooming across her face. My tail flicked curiously as I looked between her and the pelt basket.
How peculiar… Hailey seemed just fine with dumping all sorts of pelts on me when she was showing them off. Perhaps that's because she studies it, so in that case it’s seen as okay? Maybe it has more to deal with how I came in here without her supervision? Predators are known to be territorial in the wild, and the Humans seem to be that way as well with their many borders. Letting someone into your ‘territory’ must be a pretty personal thing in the first place. Which would mean that she must be upset that I just walked in here and started messing with things! Speh!
A tentacle reached out, or up I suppose, to Ada’s shoulder while my tail signaled my sincerest apologies. “I-I am so sorry, Ada. If I knew, I would have never touched anything! Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone! Do you want me to… put it back the way I found it?”
The human seemed to find my appeasement worthy as she let out a quiet laugh. “No, Nov’, you’re just fine. Thanks for cleaning up too, I guess; I was gonna do it myself, but oh well… not something we need to talk about.” She lets out another laugh as she walks over to the modified console and grabs a controller.
Yet, before she could get a word out, there was a sharp knock on the door, followed by it swinging open to reveal the last two members of our herd. Sindre came in first, carrying several different bags filled to the brim with snacks of all varieties. He gave a simple head nod and rushed over to the table by the TV to deposit his haul, dropping a few on the floor in his haste.
Hailey walked in right behind him with a plastic grocery bag over her shoulder filled with many different colored bottles of drink and a tray of small dark-brown squares covered in plastic wrap. Her free hand gave us both a wave while she walked to the table in a much calmer manner, at least when compared to her compatriot.
We both gave our own wave in return while I spoke up. “Hey guys! Welcome! What did you get from the kitchen?”
Hailey set her things down on the table. “Not much. Some dried fruit, chips, cookies, soda, juice, and even some fresh brownies someone made! I assumed they were for the taking since they had a few trays sitting out to cool down, but we didn’t really have time to ask since we kinda rushed up here. Oh, and the kitchen stinks to high hell for some reason. Might have to tell Emmanual about that.”
My head tilted curiously at the information as Ada and Sindre moved the couch over to where I was standing. Once it was in place, I took a seat at the opposite end from Hailey. “Well, I’m glad you got what you wanted! Do you mind if I take one of those, uh, brownies?”
She gave me a hand wave as I reached over and undid the plastic wrap around the treats. They were still quite warm from the kitchen! I took a small bite out of the corner to get a taste of it, only to then gobble up the whole thing in one bite.
This is amazing! It’s like strayu but… richer? With an almost cough medicine aftertaste mixed with that strange spice? Such a strange and yet fascinating combination!
“Such a weird taste… but definitely a good one! Are there any more downstairs?” I asked while covering my mouth as best I could for the sake of manners.
She took one herself and took a small bite. “Yep, at least a couple more trays from what we saw. Though I bet most of those will be gone once word gets around.”
My head nodded solemnly as I picked up another.
Might as well enjoy them while we can!
Ada walked over to me and flicked the space in between my eyes with her fingers. Her other hand passed me a human game controller before taking a seat right next to me. “Save some for us, ya green goblin! Pretty sure we’re meant to share those!”
The humans let out a soft chuckle while my face warmed in embarrassment. Luckily, they didn’t stay focused on it for long before she pointed to the controller. “So, do you need help with that? It’s not exactly built for you.”
Moving it around in my appendages was more than enough to prove that fact, but I tried to give her a dismissive tail wave while sitting down. “Don’t worry… I should be able to make this work…” I said while using all four of my limbs to hold the piece of plastic. It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it’ll do the job for now.
“Not the first time I had to do this. There are a lot of different species on Aafa, and some of them have very strange, uh, manipulators… you just have to get used to it.”
There may not have been a lot, or really any other species in my home town, but that college certainly did. Me and Cloyta used to hang out with a few different herds whenever we had the time. That Tilfish remote was an interesting experience to use. Having to use smells to figure out a puzzle in a game like it was normal was really something else.
The TV and console suddenly turned on with a bright flash as Sindre held out a remote towards them both. He used his controller to navigate to a menu on the system to reveal a vast collection of Human games. I grabbed my pad out of my pack to translate some of the games as Sindre scrolled by.
Doom of Kevsar, Helldivers: Super Dating Simulator, Papa’s Pizzeria, Skyrim 2… all these seem fine, I guess. At least not super violent like I thought… A good sign!
Sindre spoke up first as he continued to look through the archive. “Anyway, we were talking the other day about which game to show you first, but we couldn’t agree on what would be the best showcase. So instead of one game voted in from all of us, we are each going to show you a game we think you’ll like best. Sounds good?”
My tail thumped against the back of the couch in acceptance. “Yup! That actually sounds really great! Get to see a wider spectrum of human ‘entertainment!’ Who’s going first?”
“Sindre is…” Hailey speaks up in between bites of her confection, “His system, his pick… still think it’s a dumb fucking game though.” He says as he stops his scrolling and arrives at a very brightly colored preview with several… Humans? Human-like creatures in what look like Dossur vehicles?
He presses a button to select the game as a grin grows on his face. “Hey, Mario Kart Galaxy 3 is a classic! You’re just mad because you’re bad at it.” Sindre turns his head to me while Hailey leans forward. “You’ll love it, I swear. Really shows off the real Humanity we have to hide from you guys.”
“That's for a good reason, you dolt. But it’s your choice…” Hailey said while wiping her hands on a napkin.
I hoped he was right as some cheerful music started playing.
{Memory Transcription Time Advancement: 19 Terran standard minutes…}
Sindre was right! This is fun!
The upbeat music continues to play as I make another turn around a corner, drifting a little to build up some momentum. The ‘Birdo’ creature in my ‘Kart’ does a little dance as I time it right and get a small speed boost, sending me further down the multi-colored track.
“Hmmhmmmhm, hmhmhmm~.” I tried my best to hum along to the music as I continued with the race.
I never would have thought that a racing game could be interesting. Cloyta and I played a few when we were much younger, but they seemed slow in comparison. Usually had a goal at the end as well, like delivering some fruits to a market, or maybe trading on spacefaring merchant vessels in the more complex ones.
It was super fun though! Competing against each other felt a little off, but I wrote it off as a Human cultural thing. A way of bonding, as with most things for them it seems. Other than that, I found the racing to be a lot of fun! There was so much going on, and yet it somehow managed to really keep you aware of everything going on at all times.
A projectile here, a fruit peel trap there, there was so much to think about that I almost forgot to pay attention to the humans! Which, if I weren’t here to study them, might have been a good thing. There were times the competitive nature of the game seemed to draw something else out of them, something I hadn’t expected.
It was… well…
“If I run into one more fucking banana, I will kick you down a flight of stairs and jump on your head from the top step!”
“How the hell did that hit ME!? Broken fucking hitboxes in this shitty ass game!”
“GET YOUR CRUSTY TOAD ASS OFF ME BEFORE I RIP YOU ASSHOLE TO ASSHOLE!!!”
…intense.
My enjoyment of the game seemed to be pretty one-sided unfortunately. Even by the already high standards of the Humans’ previous banter, this was truly something else. While I was still learning the game and slowly climbed up the leaderboard, the Humans all led the herd by taking the top 3 spots every time. They were so close together in some of the races that it was nearly impossible to tell who would win until the last moment, making their yelling even more vicious and bloodthirsty.
There were times I thought they were about to get physically violent with each other once it got to the final lap, but thankfully, it never came to that, aside from maybe some light pushing. Their… banter? Fighting? Uh… verbal abuse towards each other made learning the game a lot harder too since every time I tried to ask a question, my voice would get drowned out in all the yelling. They did show me the basic controls before we started, but it’s a little hard to ask for pointers when your coaches are threatening severe bodily harm against each other.
As I drifted around another sharp turn, my mind wandered back to what Sindre said when we’d first started:
‘Really shows off the real Humanity we have to hide from you guys.’
Was this supposed to be the ‘real Humanity’? I sure hope not… I think I’d prefer if they actually came to blows instead of continuing this barrage of foulness they are constantly spewing. They don’t even seem to be enjoying it! They have to be doing it for a reason… right?
I continued to think as I continued down the track and finished my second lap. The argument was starting to build up again as the stakes started to rise.
“Oh, yeah, of course you get a red shell in 2nd and I get fucking bananas in 3RD! Gotta love this piece of shit game!!” Hailey shouted, leaning forward like she was about to pounce on the TV.
“Not my fault you can’t aim for shit, dumbass! Just throw better!” Sindre quipped back.
“How about I throw you out a five story window?! I mean, I would if your fatass wouldn't snap the floorboards if I tried!” Ada finished it as he gave her an aggressive shove with his shoulder.
Yet, unlike how I expected, she didn’t push back. That's what makes this all so confusing! Each time they antagonize each other, the other person does it back, and they just stop! Their words sound like they mean it to hurt, and their actions reflect that… but they aren’t acting on it.
Hmm… the ‘real Humanity’, huh… Maybe I’m approaching this the wrong way? Something less about who the Humans are, so to speak, but more how they feel? They’ve been awfully emotional in every interaction I’ve ever had with them… Aggressive, too, admittedly. Maybe… maybe this is a way for them to vent some of that aggression safely? Around people they really trust with a game you can complain about, but demands too much attention to leave them to do more than yell at each other? Things have been rather… stressful, lately.
My tail thumped a few more times against the dilapidated couch, sending a few more puffs of stuffing into the air. The theory kind of lined up with what I knew, but I was here with the primary source for a reason, after all. I would just ask them, but…
“I am going to FUCKING DEEPFRY THAT FUCKING MUSHROOM {Ass Violin}!!!”
They were busy.
They seem pretty angry… but if it helps them deal with their stress, then I am just fine with it. I’m glad they are getting through it in their own… ‘special’ Human way.
In any case, it was still better than damming it all up until it overflowed and someone really got hurt. Safe in the knowledge that the Humans (probably) wouldn’t actually attack each other, I just resolved to focus on the game instead. The third and final lap was coming around, and things were starting to ramp up even further. The Humans’ false violence got even louder, and coupled with the occasional and really rather distracting limb shooting out and the rapidly intensifying music, my poor heart was not in the best condition as our racers closed in on the finish line.
But then, all of a sudden, something very strange happened. The Humans simultaneously began to curse louder than ever before, screaming and wailing as an odd blue indicator flashed along the top of the screen, indicating some kind of blue spiky ball rapidly approaching us from behind. All three of them illogically slammed on the brakes, clearly trying to dodge the oncoming projectile, but it was to no avail. The ball flew right past my ‘Kart’ and struck the center of the tightly crowded humans, unleashing an explosion of blue fire that stunned all three.
Allowing my Kart, driving at maximum speed in hopes of any shot at outrunning the projectile, to shoot right past them and cross the finish line first.
Wait… what?
A brief silence hung in the air at what just happened until my arms went up in the air
“Hey, look! I won! Hehehe! I didn’t know I would get so lucky on my first try! Is that sort of thing… common…?”
I stopped my celebration as all the Humans were giving me very intense looks with their stares. They lacked the familiar friendliness most Humans looked at me with, but instead seemed much… angrier.
Speh, right. They are still mad from before, and now I just beat them at their own race… O-okay, they don’t mean it, they are upset and need to let it out. Just have to get through it.
Seeing what was about to happen, I curled in on myself and braced myself for the barrage of verbal slurry coming my way. A moment passed as I waited for the insults to fly but… they never came? Opening an eye revealed the Human’s expressions had changed from fury to…
Amusement?
“You alright there Nov’? You’re shaking pretty bad… Was that too much?” Ada asked in a quiet voice while patting me on the back roughly. It took a moment for my brain to catch up before I could speak again.
“O-oh, uh, sorry, I thought you all were going to… yell at me? Like you did with each other?” My voice was a little shaky as I unfurled myself.
All of the Germans seemed to wince a little at that. “Yeah… fuck, sorry about that. Mario Kart is a pretty rage-inducing game. Shoulda thought about that beforehand.”
My tail attempted to signal calm while trapped behind me. “N-no, it’s fine… I did learn a lot actually. It was fun too, besides the yelling part. Um, can we move on though? I think I’ve got enough out of this one.”
Sindre exits the game with a nod while the others let out deep sighs. “Yeah, sorry Nov’. It’s one of the most popular party games Humanity ever made, so I figured it would be a good one to show you. Next is… Ada’s pick… we sure we should do this one?”
The woman turned her head to look at Sindre. “Positive. They have a vegan option in the settings, so it’s not going to get us arrested or anything. Plus, it's a cooperative party game! Feds seem to love that whole ‘herd’ thing, and Nov’ liked the last one so I’m sure it’ll be fine!”
She gave a dismissive hand wave before turning back to me. “It’ll be fine, really. I played this game as a kid all the time, no need to panic, right?” She seemed a little worried at the end of that sentence, so I tried to put on a brave face.
“S-sounds great! What’s it about?” I mentally chastised myself for my stutter and reached towards the table to grab another pastry. “Ahem. There’s nothing predatory in it, right?”
She grabs one herself and a glass of an orange fizzy drink. “Nope, none at all! Just some harmless cooking with your friends! You’ll love it!” Her enthusiasm helped me calm down as the game started booting up on screen.
Overcooked 5: Season of Seasoning.
Looks cheerful at least. Cooking is fun too… It’ll be fine, yeah.
I took a bite out of my brownie as the game's main menu music started to play.
{Memory Transcription Time Advancement: 23 Standard Terran Minutes…}
You know… I think I get it.
A soft relaxing track played in the background as the four little chefs on screen ran around doing various tasks needed to keep the kitchen functioning, like preparing vegetables, or washing dishes. A timer at the top of the screen was slowly counting down while a little ‘onion’ next to it with a Human face rambled on about something or other.
Orders start coming in quick, and all of us get to work in a flash… or at least, all of us SHOULD be.
“Can you three stop licking the dust clouds in the vents and actually do something to help me, PLEASE?!”
A trio of Human giggles was my only response as I leaned forward in concentration.
This game. This brahking game. They should use this for testing for intelligence like those quizzes we took back home, since clearly some people go brain dead trying to do literally anything that isn’t getting in my stars-damned way, or otherwise waste valuable time by huffing the gas coming off the stove!
Finishing up one order of seaweed wraps and lettuce salad, I tried to get back to the kitchen, but was immediately blocked by… a plate on the floor.
“WHO-!! Why is there a plate on the floor?! The counter is literally right there! It’s such a simple job to-” A ding rings out, showing several new orders that needed to be filled. The timer started flashing red as we reached the one ‘minute’ mark.
A deep, frustrated growl builds in my throat, causing my Humans to laugh for some reason, incensing me even further! We all get to work in completing the last orders, however. Things were going well as the Terrans seemed to (finally) get it together to actually make some good food. Sindre had just finished cooking the rice while Ada chopped the carrots. Me and Hailey were putting everything together on the other side and sending it through until—
“Is, oh my stars, did you guys really send over raw rice?! It’s not even partially cooked!! Are you all a bunch of mountain dwellers? Do you eat your dry grass with a side of brahking pebbles and pond scum?! Cook it again!” I threw the rice back, hitting Sindre in the back of the head with the pile of rice, causing his character to fall over with a cartoonish thunk sound effect.
The Germans laughed loudly at the scene, which made my face heat up in frustration. The timer was running short as we waited for the rice to actually be cooked this time.
“Nov’, I, haha, I’m sorry. I’ll get it done this time, have mercy! I thought the last one was done so I-”
My head turned just enough for my eye to be focused solely on the pale Human. “IT WAS BRAHKING RAW!! There's a bar at the top that tells you! Do you need eye surgery?? Can you even pass a driving test??”
More laughter.
“AND STOP LAUGHING AT ME!! IT’S NOT FUNNY!!”
A ding came from the pot to signify it was done. Ada immediately took it out and walked over to the counter to pass it.
“Perfect, now just- what are you doing?”
She wasn’t passing it over. Instead, she was charging up her throw way more than she needed to. I was just about to say something as the clock flashed brightly ‘till she threw the rice at full force.
Directly at my little chef. The rice beamed directly off the side of my character's head, sending me flying away from the plate and sprawled across the kitchen floor as the rice landed gently on the ground.
“ADA!!!!!”
The countdown is drowned out by the humans erupting into laughter as I desperately try and recover. Yet, just as I make it to my feet, the countdown reaches zero, and the mission ends. Defeat fills my chest while the onion man does a little dance to tally up our points.
49600… only two out of three stars…
It’s over…
I slumped against the back of the couch, fury and betrayal stirring in my chest while the predators laughed to each other for several moments. Their raucous, howling laughter eventually started dying down, at least enough for them to actually say something to me.
“Nov’, come on. It’s just a game. I’m, hehehe, I’m sorry okay? We were just having a little fun is all.” She ran her treacherous hands down my back in an effort to calm me, to little effect.
“Dumb game. Stupid… start the next mission…”
She chuckled a bit. “Maybe we should play a different game. You don’t seem real happy playing this one.”
That made my tail flick in light amusement though the frustration. “Now you sound like my Dad…” My anger at the game started to fade more and more, replaced with a growing sensation of guilt. ”I-I think that’s a good idea. Um, sorry about that.”
She removed her hand, but kept her eyes on me and the gooey trail now stringing from her hand. “Eugh… hey, you’re fine. If you can deal with us screaming at each other, then we can handle your little squeaks.”
The other two smiled and nodded in agreement while I looked at her in confusion, feeling a little offended. “My… squeaks? But, um, thank you... W-what's the next game? Hailey’s turn, right?”
On cue, she brushes her mane to the side and starts scrolling down. “Yes, actually! Unlike these two walnuts, I actually picked a relaxing game. A classic. An art piece~” Her hands did a slight flair, yet I remained unmoved.
“Hailey, that's what the other two said too. While those games were… fine, I wouldn’t call them ‘masterpieces.’ Are you sure about this one?” I asked while grabbing another brownie.
I keep eating these things, but I just feel more and more hungry… weird…
The Humans chucked as she selected her game. “Hey, have a little faith in me. I haven't met a Human alive that can say this game is bad. Just watch!”
A flash came from the TV as the game's title came into view.
Minecraft: Anniversary Edition.
“We’ll use one of the worlds we were playing on back on Earth so you can get an idea of what it’s really like. And, uh, make sure it's peaceful too, just in case.”
I took a bite of the treat and settled into my spot, preparing myself for whatever was to come.
{CONTINUED INTO THE COMMENTS}

TLDR: Soon to be ex husband is a rapist and tier 3 sex offender. Sentenced to 5-20. Some people think I’m in the wrong for wanting full custody, full parental rights, no contact while he’s incarcerated, and to change our kids last name. My logic is that they deserve every possible distance from someone who was barely a dad to them in the first place. They already have to grow up with the stigma of having their father be a sex offender. (Children are 3.5, 2, and 7 months. They don’t remember or ask about him, though I routinely make sure they get to visit his family.)
I am the process of divorcing my husband. Won’t get into details besides the necessary, but this will be lengthy. Sorry. . Married 5 years. Had his dad remove him from the house when our now 2 yr old was 2 months old because he was becoming irrational and violent. When I felt unsafe I asked his dad to help. (Could not hold a job longer than a month or two without either being fired or quitting because he didn’t like being told what to do. The pressure of having to keep a job and not being able to spend all his money on video games and weed made him increasingly, more angry and frustrated. Spent all his time in the basement smoking and gaming.) We stayed separated since then. He visited the kids, not very often. Gave me child support occasionally. He raped me in January of last year when out of desperation I asked him to stay for a weekend to help with nights. Our oldest is autistic and does not sleep. I was so tired I was sick and hallucinating. No family who could or would help so I asked him. He assaulted me that night. I did not press charges. By the time I had processed the event, I realized I was pregnant. He convinced me not to press charges because then our child would have to know that he was the result of a rape. Now I wish I had, but whatever. One month before baby was born, he was caught meeting up with a 14-year-old girl. His phone was loaded with underage pictures and he was convicted of possession of that plus assaulting her, etc. obviously, he left us no money and I cannot afford a lawyer so I just filed uncontested. There’s no way he will have any money to give us when he gets out anyways so no point going through all the trouble of filing for child support and alimony. I have a degree and am starting a new job soon that will be able to support the four of us. I want nothing to do with him ever again. He is not allowed legally to have any contact with the kids while he is incarcerated. But his family, and some people think I am in the wrong for wanting to change their last name to my maiden name, getting full parental rights, and having no plan to encourage a relationship or facilitate such. I think it’s bananas that some judges think that fathers deserve the chance to be a dad to their kids and do not take into account the mental and emotional well-being of said children. Am I in the wrong here for just wanting to cut ties? When they are older, I have no qualms about telling them exactly what he did to me and to us into that little girl. At that point I will support whatever they choose and try to help them navigate their choice. In my opinion, there is no rehabilitation for sex offenders, but especially for who assault children.

Hi everyone. I (20F) have been struggling with anxiety ever since the age of 10 years old, in which I started to attend therapy. I was able to work through my anxiety stop going to therapy and felt pretty much 100% Carefree and had a very manageable, short-lived anxiety when it did happen. Around the age of 16 began smoking weed regularly, which I enjoyed the feeling and never had any issues with it until one day. I had a very bad experience and it sent me into a full-blown panic attack. I wasn’t able to sleep or regulate my body temperature and I was pretty much sent into an episode of derealization. I struggled with this for a long time and it took me a while to get back to “normal” but eventually I pretty much did which I was extremely grateful for. Last night I had one of the worst panic attacks that I’ve had in years due to taking a pill and having it gets stuck in my throat, causing a burning sensation. it hurt really bad and it was extremely uncomfortable so I started to panic and ended up into a full-blown anxiety attack. Crying shaking. My stepdad who knows a medic called the medic for me to ease my mind because going to the hospital didn’t really seem necessary. There was nothing stuck in my throat and my breathing was normal. I ended up getting so anxious that I threw up everywhere which momentarily relieved all of that tension but now I’m stuck in anxiety mode or a “panic attack hangover”. I’m not full on panicking anymore however it’s like my “idle” state is anxiety. I can’t lay down and relax. I can’t take a nap unless I’m so extremely exhausted my body physically can’t stay up anymore.The tension In my stomach is the worst part. I had an emergency with my therapist today and which she gave me some breathing exercises and ways to talk myself through it, but even if I’m not actively worrying about something consciously the feeling of anxiety is still there. My stomach turned into knots, the only thing I was able to manage was half a banana today that I almost threw up. It’s also been diarrhea nonstop. I take 50 mg of Zoloft and 25 mg of hydroxyzine every night. Because of my bad experience with weed, I’m terrified to drink, smoke, or basically take anything besides the meds I’m already on even in a medical setting provided by a doctor. I also went to yoga today. I explained my situation to a family member and she invited me last minute. I took the opportunity and went. The yoga helped a bit momentarily but immediately after it was back to the horrible stomach tension, I’ve also been crying all day as well. It’s almost like a never-ending crying spell and it especially gets worse when I have to start talking to people. Just really need some advice here. Deep breathing does relieve some of that anxiety short term as well as the yoga, but I can’t be doing yoga 24/7 practicing meditation, etc because I need to eat, sleep, do every day things and get enough rest to do well at work. I’m struggling a lot. I’m sorry for the long post but if anybody has been similar or has any advice on how to relax I would greatly appreciate it.

With food prices rising, I figured I would tell everyone how I save on gardening. I have been doing it my whole life and love it. My dad had a garden so I always helped him. I learned so much from him. When I was first married I did a few pots. When we got our house 20+ years ago I had my first garden. It has grown and grown ever since. Now all 3 kids are out and 2 garden. My son is in an apartment so he can't.

1. Our town allows you unlimited free compost to all residents. Hubby has a truck and we get some every year. It only costs us gas, time and our energy. I also have a small tumble composter but it is not a lot.
2. I collect seeds every year. My dad taught me how to do it. I trade with family and friends. I start everything from seed.
3. My library offers free seeds. I try to get new to me varieties. I also check out books and magazines about gardening.
4. I reuse all pots and trays. Family and friends save pots for me. My BIL just gave us 6 pots that he no longer wanted.
5. Dollar Tree seeds work great. I get my lettuce seeds from there every year.
6. Hubby built me 9 raised garden beds. We got free(Craigslist) untreated pallets. You don't want ones that are treated as the chemicals can get into your food. We only had to pay for the screws. I layed the bottom of the beds with logs that I got free. Whenever I saw wood on the curbs I would grab some.
7. We keep cardboard boxes to help with keeping weeds down. We use grass clippings to go around plants to keep weeds down.
8. Eggshells are collected, crushed and planted with tomato plants to add extra calcium. Banana peels are put in a pitcher for several days with water and then used on plants. All cooking water is saved and used on plants when cooled.
9. I trade veggies with friends. Last year my swiss chard went crazy. My friend's died early. She would give me whatever she had an excess of for swiss chard.
10. I have 4 fig trees that were propagated from My FIL's fig trees. It cost us nothing and they produce 100's of figs each year.
11. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are great places to get free supplies. I have gotten open bags of lime, compost, manure, pots and 40 raspberry canes. I also have gotten gardening stuff at yard sales.
12. Garbage picking isn't for everyone but it doesn't bother us. I stop for fencing, buckets and pots whenever I see them. We drill holes in the buckets before planting in them. How do you save on gardening? I am always looking for more ways to save money.

There are so many delicious foods to eat on Thanksgiving, and it can be hard to narrow it down to just one or two favorites!
If you’re a Thanksgiving newbie, check out this list of Thanksgiving foods that start with L and introduce your taste buds to all of the scrumptiousness that awaits you!
Whether you plan on eating them in a traditional Thanksgiving dinner or as part of your own personal feast, try these tasty treats on your holiday table!
If you’re wondering what to serve at your Thanksgiving feast this year, consider the following list of Thanksgiving foods that start with L.
Listed below, these healthy dishes are delicious and nutritious ways to give thanks this holiday season.

1. Lobster

The holiday season means that it is time to celebrate, relax, and enjoy the company of family and friends. What better way to celebrate than with a scrumptious feast?
If you are searching for a mouth-watering dish to serve for your feast this year, look no further than lobster!
Lobster is a traditional dish served on holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, its popularity has also made it an appetizer that can be served any day of the year.
Lobsters are available fresh or canned at most grocery stores or seafood markets. There are so many different ways to prepare lobster that it is hard not to find one that would suit your needs perfectly!

2. Linguine

Linguine is a type of pasta that is shaped like long, flat noodles. It can be served with various sauces or toppings, and it's a popular dish for the holiday season.
Served with butter, garlic, and olive oil, this dish is similar to clam sauce but has a more subtle flavor. Linguine can be served on its own as an appetizer or as part of a larger meal.
Cook linguine according to package directions. Drain and set aside in a serving bowl, reserving a cup of the cooking water in a small bowl.
Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until foaming subsides; add garlic and cook, occasionally stirring, until fragrant but not browned (about 30 seconds), about 2 minutes.

3. Lima beans

Some people may not know that lima beans are traditional Thanksgiving foods that start with L. It's true! Lima beans (aka butter beans) are easy to make and taste delicious, especially when paired with ham. They're also high in protein, making a great side dish for vegetarians.

4. Lionfish

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if you're looking for some new, exciting Thanksgiving foods that start with L to put on the table.
There are lots of options. One example would be lionfish. This delicious fish can be prepared in various ways and makes for a tasty alternative to turkey or ham.
It's easy to find at most grocery stores, so all you need to do is pick up your ingredients, get cooking and enjoy!

5. Lychees

Let's talk about lychees. This delicious fruit is often a staple in Asian dishes, but it has also become more popular in Western cooking.
It looks like a little yellow grape with a tough outer shell that needs to be peeled away before you can eat the flesh inside. A great way to start your day!

6. Lamb

A rich and savory dish that pairs well with all of your favorite fall vegetables. Lamb is one of the most popular thanksgiving foods that start with L, but it's common to serve lamb.
Lamb is healthier than ham because it contains less fat and cholesterol than other meats. Plus, it also tastes delicious with cranberries and mashed potatoes!

7. Lasagna

This dish is perfect for feeding a crowd and can be made in advance to save you time on the day of the feast for Thanksgiving foods that start with L.

8. Latkes

Crispy and delicious, these potato pancakes are a delightful side dish to any meal. The latke is a dish that is traditionally served during Hanukkah but can be served at any time of year.
Latkes are typically made from grated potatoes mixed with eggs, salt and onions. The mixture is then pan-fried in oil. A typical garnish for a latke might include sour cream or applesauce.

9. Lemonade

It's not a holiday without the traditional pumpkin pie, but some other Thanksgiving foods start with L to consider.
Which is Lemonade, Refreshing and comforting. However, Lemonade is a staple for many people during the warmer months.
Nevertheless, it's also an excellent drink to enjoy on cold winter days. Whether you enjoy lemonade with a little bit of vodka in it or prefer iced tea with a generous helping of freshly squeezed juice, this beverage can be enjoyed all year long.
Besides being delicious, lemonade offers some health benefits, such as aiding digestion and providing Vitamin C.
This tangy beverage should be at the top of your list when you're looking for something new to try this Thanksgiving holiday!

10. Loin

The loin is a meat cut that comes from a pig's back and lower part. It's usually roasted, grilled, or smoked. In French, it's called filet, which means a thin strip.
The loin lies between the backbone and ribs, as well as in front of the sirloin and behind the tenderloin. Another term for a loin is pork chop.
Pork chops are often eaten fried or grilled with bacon. They can be served with applesauce or caramelized applesauce.
When buying pork chops, it's important to look at them closely to ensure they're not too dried out or stringy.

11. Lynchburg Lemonade

• Ingredients include
• Sweet Tea
• Triple Sec
• Fresh Lemon Juice (tablespoons) Instructions: Mix all ingredients together until well combined. Serve cold over ice cubes and garnish with a lemon slice!

12. Leek

A leek is a type of onion with a milder flavor than other onions. Leeks are used in soups and stews and as an ingredient in making curry sauce, and they will surely serve you perfectly for your Thanksgiving foods that start with L. They also work well with potatoes, spinach, and cream.
Slice off the root end of the leek, cutting up to one inch away from where it starts to flare out into green leaves.
Rinse thoroughly under cold water or soak in boiling water for a few minutes until it is softened but not colored. Trim off any tough parts from the green leaves near the white part, then slice them thinly crosswise.

13. Lahana Sarmasi

Start by chopping onion and green pepper into small pieces. Please place them in a medium-sized pot with vegetable oil, then add tomato paste and salt to taste.
Add water to cover the vegetables, bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
After cooking time is up, remove the pot from the stovetop and stir in sugar (to taste) before leaving it to cool for 30 minutes.
When cooled down, mix in raisins, almonds, and pine nuts before adding rice; ensure the rice is well mixed before returning it to the pot.

14. Lovage

Lovage is an herb that tastes like celery, with a flavor similar to parsley but more intense and more like celery. It's often used in French cooking.
The leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked as a side dish (often boiled, braised, or sautéed). The seeds can be roasted, ground into a powder, and mixed with water to make a refreshing drink of Thanksgiving foods that start with L.

15. Liqueur

The liqueur is often used to signify a special drink enjoyed on holidays and other occasions that you want to fill your tables with Thanksgiving foods that start with L.
However, Liqueurs are typically sweet and are often made from fruits, nuts, herbs, or spices. One of the most popular liqueurs is Amaretto, made from apricot kernels.

16. Latte

I love a good latte! I like to start my day with one in the morning or have one with an afternoon snack and then end it with a cup of hot cocoa after dinner. Lattes can be enjoyed any time of day.
I love that lattes are easy to make at home. All you need is some whole milk, a teaspoon of espresso, a tablespoon of hot water, and some sweetener if you want it.
Nevertheless, You can make them as strong or as weak as you want by adjusting how much water you add too.
I also like that latte's come in different flavors and combinations, so there is always something new to try when you want your occasion to be special with Thanksgiving foods that start with L.

17. Lakoocha

Lakoocha is a traditional Russian dessert made of dough, oil, and honey;

18. Limeade

The tangy limeade is a refreshing drink for hot summer days. All you need to do is squeeze some fresh lime juice into a glass of water and add sugar if desired.
Also, a few ice cubes will help keep it cold while you sip on this delicious drink. If you want to make iced limeade, place all ingredients in a pitcher and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Pour over ice and enjoy!

19. Lavash

Lavash is thin, unleavened loaves of bread that are usually baked in a large clay oven called a tandoor. They can be used as Thanksgiving foods that start with L for serving guests.
The word lavash is derived from an Armenian word that means bread. Like many other cultures, Armenians wrap their traditional dishes in lavash before serving them to guests.
Their cuisine often includes dishes like kebabs or kabobs wrapped up in lavash before being eaten.

20. Lumpia

The Filipino dish, Lumpia, is one of the Thanksgiving foods that start with L, an egg roll with a savory filling wrapped in a thin wrapper and deep fried to create a crispy exterior.
Lumpia is usually served as an appetizer or as part of the main meal. The word lumpia means spring roll in Tagalog, reflecting that this dish has been around since ancient times in Southeast Asia.
L lumpia is typically made with ground pork, carrots, onion, garlic, and chili peppers in Filipino cuisine.
The mixture is then rolled up into flour wrappers that have been cut into strips before being dipped into hot oil to fry them until golden brown. This cooking method makes for a crispy outside with a moist inside and flavorful filling.

21. Lollipop

The lollipop is one of the most iconic sweet treats in America. In fact, more than 100 billion lollipops are made each year in the United States.
However, did you know that this confection has been around since at least as early as 1796? Believe it or not, Thomas Adams is credited with being the first person to put a stick into a ball of candy!
In addition to being a popular treat for people of all ages and backgrounds, lollipops also make great props for wedding photos and party favors for birthday celebrations. Plus, they're perfect for stocking stuffers too!

22. Lingcod

The lingcod is a type of fish that lives in cold water. It has a light, delicate, and meaty texture. There are many different ways to prepare this as one of the Thanksgiving foods that start with L, and it can be used in soups or stews as well as baked on its own.
The skin should be removed before cooking because it can become tough after cooking. The lingcod can also be grilled or pan-fried with butter and herbs, which will help keep the meat from drying out.
The best way to cook this fish is by baking it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes per inch of thickness (when measured at the thickest part). This ensures that the flesh is moist and tender without being dry or overcooked.

23. Littleneck

A littleneck is a type of clam found in the Atlantic Ocean and used as one of the common and popular thanksgiving foods that start with L. The name comes from its small size, which is about half that of a cherrystone clam.
This small bivalve mollusk has a hard and shiny exterior shell. Littleneck is often eaten steamed or raw as sushi, but they can also be used to make clam chowder or pasta dishes.

24. Limburger

This cheese is perfect for those who love a strong flavor. It's tangy, salty, and slightly pungent. This cheese has been aged for at least six months to help develop its complex flavor profile.

25. Lard

Lard is an animal fat that can be rendered to make cooking oil and soap. Lard has a higher melting point than butter, so it’s also often used in frying food.
Lard is also often used in desserts, such as pies and biscuits because it makes them flaky and crispy. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, lard can be replaced with vegetable shortening.
But it’s important to read the labels of any replacement product before using it because some contain hydrogenated oils, which are high in saturated fats and low in trans-fats.
For healthier alternatives to lard, try coconut oil or margarine made from plant-based fats such as soybean or sunflower oil instead!

26. Loaf

Many different types of Thanksgiving foods start with L, including quick-bread loaves, yeast-bread loaves, and sweet-bread loaves.
It's possible to find traditional versions or versions with nuts or raisins for some added texture or sweetness.
Bread can also be shaped into a round shape instead of a loaf. This is called a bâtard or boule. The word loaf comes from the Old English word hlāf, meaning bread.

27. Liverwurst

This German specialty is made with a mixture of pork and beef liver, bacon, and spices. It's typically served as part of a charcuterie platter or on rye bread.
Liverwurst is best when it's cooked to an internal temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit. This will give it that nice brown color and a slightly crispy crust.
The taste of liverwurst depends largely on how much bacon is included in the recipe, which determines its saltiness.
A good rule of thumb is that if you want to make something sweet for your Thanksgiving foods that start with L, liverwurst is a go, and you must use less bacon than you would for something savory (or add sweetener ingredients).

28. Land Cress

A delicate green herb with a peppery flavor, land cress is not to be confused with watercress which belongs to another genus entirely.
The plants of land cress are delicate, so it is best when eaten raw in salads or sandwiches.
Another way to enjoy it is by mixing it into fish sauces and using it as a garnish on soups. It does not keep very long, so you should use this herb immediately.

29. Loquat

The loquat, or Japanese plum, is a small fruit with a sweet and sour flavor. It is usually available in late winter and early spring. The loquat has green, leathery skin and yellow flesh.
You can eat them raw or cooked; they are often used to make jellies, jams, chutneys, and pies. Loquats contain high amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants.

30. Lemongrass

I can't think of anything better to eat on a cold, wintery day than a big bowl of thanksgiving foods that start with L.
The zesty, citrus flavor is perfect for warming up your insides while also providing a nice little vitamin boost. It's such an easy recipe too!
However, you need some chicken broth, fresh lemongrass, peeled ginger root, lots of fresh cilantro, and some salt (and pepper if you want) to taste.
Just add everything to a pot and let it simmer on low heat until all the flavors are well combined. I like to make this with lots of toppings like fried shallots, chopped peanuts, or even basil leaves that I can stir before serving.

31. Limoncello

The word limoncello literally means lemon honey in Italian. This sweet, citrus-flavored liqueur is perfect for any occasion, but especially on Christmas and New Year's Eve!
Limoncello is made by infusing lemon peels in alcohol, adding sugar to sweeten it, and then letting it rest for months.
It's usually served chilled or over ice with a splash of water or club soda. To make limoncello even more festive, add some fresh cranberries to make a cranberry limoncello!

32. Lettuce

Do you need a quick way to make your Thanksgiving dinner better? Try adding some Thanksgiving foods that start with L to it!
Lettuce has many health benefits, so it's a good idea to include this leafy green as part of your traditional menu. Here are some of the best Thanksgiving foods that start with L.
When it comes to lettuce, there are many different varieties to choose from. Green and red leaf lettuce both have a slightly bitter taste with a more bitter flavor when they're older.
Romaine is crunchier and has a more peppery taste which goes well with heavy salad dressings. An iceberg is milder than other lettuce and is a great choice for those who don't like the stronger flavors of other types of lettuce.

33. Lobscouse

This traditional Newfoundland dish is made with salt beef, potatoes and onions. Cooked in a pot or kettle, it's simmered together until tender and then thickened with flour.
The word lobscouse comes from the French lobster as this dish will be perfect for selecting from Thanksgiving foods that start with L.
It was originally made with lobster meat before salt beef became popular due to its affordability.
Lobscouse also has many variations depending on where you are in Newfoundland: it may be cooked in a large pot or kettle over an open fire and boiled for at least 4-6 hours; it might be served without vegetables (because they were scarce); and it might include carrots, turnip or parsnips.

34. Loganberry

The Loganberry is a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry. It was developed in 1907 by John Watson, who was a plant breeder from New Jersey.
The Loganberry typically has three to four times more sugar than other berries, with an intense taste that ranges from tart to tangy.
In addition to being delicious, the Loganberry is easy to grow and can be easily stored for long periods of time because of its high sugar content.

35. Lekvar

The word Lekvar is a common name for a fruit preserve made from whole quinces peeled and cooked with sugar.
The finished product has a consistency similar to that of jelly and can be used as a dessert topping or spread on cakes.
It also makes an excellent sauce when mixed with chicken, game meat, or pork. The name Lekvar comes from the Hungarian word lekvár, meaning fruit preserve.

36. Lox

You can't go wrong with lox when it comes to Thanksgiving foods that start with L. This cured salmon is delicious and packed with nutrients that will keep you energized all morning long.
Plus, it's super easy to make! How To Make Lox. Rinse a 1-pound salmon filet under cold water and pat dry with a paper towel on both sides.
Season both sides of the salmon with salt and pepper and place in a large bowl or dish. Combine one cup of sugar, one cup of kosher salt, three tablespoons dried dill weed, two tablespoons crushed black peppercorns, and four whole bay leaves in a small bowl and mix well to combine.

37. Lutefisk

This traditional Scandinavian dish is a gelatinous mass made from dried cod soaked in lye. It has a long history and was popular as a meat substitute during fasting.
Lutefisk is served traditionally with boiled potatoes, melted butter, and ground black pepper.
The taste and texture can be acquired for some people, but there's no denying that it's as appropriate to serve on Thanksgiving as Thanksgiving foods that start with L!
This traditional Scandinavian dish is a gelatinous mass made from dried cod soaked in lye. It has a long history and was popular as a meat substitute during fasting.
Lutefisk is served traditionally with boiled potatoes, melted butter, and ground black pepper.

38. Linguica

This dish is an American-Portuguese sausage made from pork, garlic, and red wine. The Linguica is a popular choice for those who like spicy foods because it has a hot kick to it. It’s commonly served with rice and beans or on its own as a breakfast meat.
Plus, this food is also great for outdoor barbecues because of its long shelf life and low price point. Try Linguica in your next meal today!

39. London Broil

Are you in charge of planning Thanksgiving foods that start with L? If so, congratulations! It's a big responsibility.
You may not know it but in addition to choosing food that everyone likes and making sure there are enough plates, silverware, and napkins on hand, you also need to consider the order of service.
For example: should the London broil be sliced ahead of time, or will people want to carve it themselves?
Will guests serve themselves from an entrée table, or will they be seated at their places with all their dishes set out for them?
And what about drinks? Which beverages will people prefer while they're waiting for dinner—water or wine? As you can see, there are a lot of decisions to make. But don't worry. London broil will always serve your guest right.

40. Liquor

This is obvious and will be needed for some of your guests. There are many different kinds of alcohol to choose from. If you know who will be coming, pick a type of alcohol that suits their tastes, whether that's wine, champagne, or something else entirely.
The liquor store is also where you can find all sorts of mixing ingredients, such as mixers like sodas or juices to go with it.!

41. Lahmacun

It's typically served with yogurt on the side for dipping or as a sauce for dipping. The dough is also sometimes sprinkled with sesame seeds before baking it.
The origins of Lahmacun are not entirely clear, but some believe it originated in Central Asia. While others say, it was popularized by Ottoman soldiers who brought this dish back to Turkey from their travels to Eastern Europe centuries ago.
No matter what its origins may be, one thing remains true - lahmacun is delicious among Thanksgiving foods that start with L!

42. Limpa

It's officially falling. This means that it's time to break out the pumpkin spice, but also time to enjoy the last of summer produce.
One of my favorite things about autumn is that we can finally start making some of our favorite Scandinavian dishes, like Limpa bread.
Limpa is a white bread containing wheat flour, rye flour, and malt syrup. It has a light texture and a lot of flavor from the combination of grains in it.
It was first created in Sweden for Easter Sunday because it's a special type of bread that uses all three main ingredients in communion wafers: wheat flour, water, and wine; rye flour; and malt syrup or molasses.

43. Lalanga

The lalanga, also known as pomegranate, is a tasty fruit with a sweet and tangy taste. It's also one of the first fruits to ripen in late summer.
The name for this fruit comes from the Persian word for apple, and it was brought to India by traders, where locals called it lalang.
There are many different varieties of Thanksgiving foods that start with L, and lalanga is one of them, and lalanga are of different types too, but they all look similar with thin-skinned red or dark-purple fruit.
Lalangas are often eaten fresh or dried, but they can be made into jams and other desserts. Lalangas are high in vitamin C, making them an excellent food for the cold season.

44. Liederkranz

I love Liederkranz. It's a mixture of cheeses, apples, and nuts that is baked in a ring-shaped dish. It's traditionally served at Christmas but tastes great any time of year.
My mom makes it for me every holiday because she knows I love it so much. Nothing is better than biting into one of those thick slices with whipped cream on top.

45. Lupin Beans

This ancient legume, lupin beans, is relatively unknown in the United States. They are gaining popularity with chefs and heirloom food enthusiasts alike due to their meaty texture, earthy flavor, and ease of use.
Lupins can be used in many dishes, including soups, salads, or even rice replacement. Rinse and soak overnight in water to which you have added 2 Tbsp of salt.
Drain and rinse again before cooking for about 30 minutes until tender but not mushy. Flavor with butter, soy sauce, or garlic if desired (optional).

46. Lavender

The first letter of lavender is L for Lavender. Lavender is a perennial plant and can be found in many colors, including purple, white, blue, and pink. The leaves are used for cooking, but the flowers are also edible.
This herb has a gentle flavor that goes well with other herbs like thyme or rosemary. Adding it at the end of the cooking process is best because heat will cook away some of its flavors.
When making mint tea or iced tea, you can use lavender buds as a substitute for peppermint leaves.

47. Lady Apple

Mix one cup of apple cider with three tablespoons of brown sugar in a bowl. Peel and chop two apples.
Add the apples to the mixture and stir. Place in a pot over medium heat and bring to a boil, occasionally stirring until it starts to thicken.
Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and let simmer for 15 minutes or until it becomes syrupy. Serve warm or cold with vanilla ice cream as a topping if desired.

48. Lentils

Lentils are an inexpensive and healthy source of protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. Lentils are also a good source of fiber which can help lower cholesterol levels.
They are perfect Thanksgiving foods that start with L for people with diabetes because they have a low glycemic index and do not cause rapid spikes in blood sugar.
Lentils come in both green and brown varieties and can be served on their own as a side dish or mixed with other ingredients to make soup, casseroles, or chili.

49. Lemons

The quintessential lemon is a yellow citrus fruit that looks like a large, roundish lime. Lemons are high in vitamin C and low in calories; they contain both citric and ascorbic acid.
The juice of lemons can be used as a flavoring or as an ingredient in many Thanksgiving foods that start with L, including desserts like lemon meringue pie.

50. Limes

Lime is a citrus fruit that is round in shape and lime green in color, though they come in various shades of green, from yellow-green to dark green, depending on the ripeness of the fruit.
They are typically sour and juicy, with some varieties being sweeter than others. Limes are a great way to add some tangy flavor to your dishes.
Whether you want to use them for margaritas or want to squeeze a little juice on top of your dish, limes will give you that tangy flavor.
Juicing limes can be messy, which is more challenging than juicing oranges because they are much smaller.
Be careful when juicing limes because you can easily get seeds in your drink, and nobody wants that. If you don't care about the seeds, squeezing limes might be easier for you than any other citrus fruit.

51. Liver

This nutrient-packed and low-calorie food should be noticed. It is rich in Vitamin A, Iron, and Selenium. The liver is also a good source of Zinc, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Copper, and Potassium.
The consumption of liver can help build muscle mass due to its high protein content, which is perfect for Thanksgiving foods that start with L.

52. Lemon Basil

This recipe is a twist on traditional basil pesto. I wanted to use lemon because it's such an awesome flavor and in this recipe has that tart citrusy taste, which is perfect for fall.
It includes cilantro, garlic, olive oil, chili flakes, and basil. It's so simple to make and will be a great addition to your thanksgiving menu!

• Cup fresh cilantro leaves (leaves only) Cup fresh basil leaves (leaves only)
• Cup olive oil
• Cloves garlic
• Juice from one lemon
  
• A pinch of salt
  
• A few dashes of chili flakes
  

53. Lemon meringue pie

There is nothing more comforting or delicious to warm up with on Thanksgiving day than thanksgiving foods that start with L. Lemon meringue pie.
It has an airy, melt-in-your-mouth crust, creamy lemon filling, and a fluffy meringue topping that's baked to perfection.
You can make this dessert in advance and refrigerate it until you're ready to serve it. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Line the pie crust with parchment paper or foil and fill it with pie weights or dry beans so that it doesn't puff up while baking.
Bake the crust for 8 minutes, then remove from the oven and remove parchment paper or foil along with weights and beans before adding the filling.

54. Lamb’s Lettuce

This type of lettuce is a cross between romaine and butterhead lettuce and has an overall soft appearance. The leaves are green or dark red in color and grow to be about five inches wide.
It features a mild flavor that blends well with most salad dressings, making it a favorite among chefs.
The leaves are crisp and can hold up to heavy dressings without wilting or becoming soggy like some other lettuces do when mixed with creamy sauces.
Conclusion
I hope this post has helped you with your search for new thanksgiving foods that start with L. It's important to keep in mind that only some dishes work for some families.
So be sure to make a list and try it out before you commit to anything. And, of course, if you have any occasion, please feel free to use thanksgiving foods that start with L. Happy Thanksgiving!

About a month ago I got food poisoning and had an immediate severe panic attack with diarrhea and more. This lasted about 12 hours.
2 days of feeling weird
Day 3 I had the same result all over again, panic attack, stomach issues and more middle of a meal.
This time I did not leave a state of pure panic for about 12 straight days. Finally a second IV therapy with vitamin b12, magnesium, vitamin c and hydration gave me about 24 hours of 60% peace. Then it returned.
I was terrified this was forever and it was all in my head. Or that I’d be left a sad anxious panicky person for the rest of my life. Only ever prior to this dealt with like 5 minutes of anxiety at a time. Very mild.
Protecting my mental health was my number 1 priority. I limited anything I could that caused it just to not grow anymore fear. Driving for example, freaked me out when I tried to early on. Just stopped. Completely. Did not want to create a fear loop around that at all that I’d need to unwind.
Got tested and it took 14 days for the results to come back. My md’s blood test showed nothing except elevated Billy Rubin’s and lack of stomach enzyme production. Their stool test also came back negative.
But my naturopath’s stool gi map tested positive for h.plori, and blood in stool.
During those 14 days it was states of pure anxiety, dread and feeling like I was going to die. Racing heart rate, on and off stomach pain, slight fever 99-100 that came and went periodically, magnesium helped but barely, bland diet only thinking it was my gallbladder. Pain in upper right side of abdomen etc.
The other constant symptom has been feeling incredibly weak and dizzy like I cannot stand and this is the most anxiety inducing feeling.
My naturopath then refused to give me the antibiotics and voted for a more natural protocol.
From what I’ve read, this doesn’t always work and certainly takes much longer. Which given how much I want this anxiety gone, I don’t want to do. Would love thoughts on this?? What’s the best path forward? I’m nervous about the impact people have had from antibiotics. I’m hoping the faster I get rid of this the less the anxiety will take hold in my future life.
Also curious about the dizziness and fever?
What I have learned and the advice I would pass on: - including the things I took inbetween that helped.
The superior theory is that I got food poising and already had h.pylori. But that this as well as not taking great care of myself opened the door for it to take over.
For anxiety Self talk is important. Believe it will go away once you heal. Anxiety, weakness, all these things are side effects of h.pylori even if your doctor doesn’t understand. I had to talk myself into believing it by paying attention to how managing the symptoms actually did work slightly. Proof that it wasn’t in my head it’s in the body and the body can be healed. I had to write that down and remember. If you have been in it for less than 6 months, and have learned to manage it, and don’t have much history of it. It seems very likely it will vanish as fast as it came.
I have learned that h.pylori can set off cortisol levels, as well as elevate your heart rate (but not high enough to ping doctors) as well as cause panic and anxiety with vitamin deficiency as well as inflammation, and MANY PEOPLE this goes right away when being cured. Fear of it coming back needs to be faced but it’s separate and manageable when you actually step into it and slowly will pass as you notice that it’s actually not coming the same way.
While waiting for my results I began taking a powder called “gi gut repair” this made a huge difference in my stomach symptoms and I began to be able to be distracted from the anxiety. As well as bpc a peptide designed to reduce inflammation. Both of these things seem to help the stomach symptoms. And anxiety as well given that is often caused by inflammation. I’d say by 30-40%
For anxiety I have been taking hydroxyzine which is mild none addictive and also slows heart rate. This made another 30% chunk out of the panic. 5mg every 6 hours.
I ate a very bland diet, sticking pretty much only to coconut water, chicken, rice, gluten free soy sauce, banana and peanut butter. Occasionally soup with veggies like zucchini and gluten free white bread as I got painfully bored of the same food. Random things like potatoes that seem fine online produced a spike in symptoms.
Stomach enzymes they gave me made me feel considerably more weak and anxious. I opted for a much lower natural dose that seemed fine.
Each spike of symptoms took me down for 2-3 days till I returned to what I knew helped.
For panic. Aside from the pills, The elevated heart rate makes it hard to relax. Especially with cortisol spiked. The bananas and coconut water were unknowingly treating that as both are loaded with potassium which slows heart rate. As does hydroxyzine. I imagine the magnesium I took here and there via iv’s helped too. So between all that the anxiety and other symptoms started to become more manageable prior to any real treatment. Even reaching days where the other symptoms were present but I could push through because I wasn’t panicking about them. Had up to 5 days without it using these. Mind you this is only symptom management I’ve yet to get rid of it. But compared to the early days I’m 60-70% better mentally at least.
Pushing through the dizziness in some cases has helped my confidence. Once I felt comfortable doing that.
I do believe I will return fully to a normal life. But the stories about the anti biotics sound not to fun.
That being said the idea of having any these symptoms last for months while I do the slower natural approach with a higher chance of remission doesn’t sound better.
You have all showed me that I’m not alone. Thank you.
Summery of advice - quit assuming anxiety and panic is in your head. Especially if it’s sudden. Don’t worry about that until you are certain your body and gut is fully healed. - a temporary anxiety med can help you relax and not weed its way into your mind. - treat for inflammation, lower cortisol for symptom management. - doctors suck a lot of the time. These things aren’t researched well. - potassium is great to calm your system. - bland diet helps, when you find something that doesn’t piss your body off. Stick to it. - stomach enzymes might not be great on large doses. - avoid sugar. - push yourself in small ways once you know your body/mind is playing tricks. - distract yourself and when not distracted self talk. Idle mind isn’t your friend with chemical anxiety.
Let me know any advice for the next steps. Hope to share a glowing success story within a few weeks.

My wife and I grew up in pretty much the exact same situation but it made us polar opposites in more ways than one. She's very positive and holds the "everything will work out" attitude, whereas I have more of a "I need to consider what can go wrong" attitude, which she claims is negative. Basically, neither of us had food growing up. She often jokes and says that it was an "ingredient household", where some nights she would get lucky and have Mac n cheese for dinner and then other nights she would have to share a can of corn with her 3 siblings. I never had food in my house either but my sister had custody of me (from age 13 to 18) and when she did have money to buy food, she wouldn't give me any. I basically had to sneak around for scraps after everyone went to bed or ask my friends if I could have dinner at their place. Due to this, I became super food insecure and started hoarding food for myself. My wife on the other hand doesn't even like food. If she didn't have to eat, she wouldn't. She has 3 kids (my step babies). We have a 2mo together. And honestly, our relationship has been pretty solid outside of food issues. But I would be lying if I said the food issues weren't big.
So, she has always covered the food bill 100% and is very much so the type of person who doesn't limit anyone on their intake. She has a son with ADHD and he will devour an entire bag of apples, 3 bundles of bananas and 2 boxes of snacks in 2 days time. We have been in multiple fights (especially recently, since she had the baby) because I think she needs to be limiting the kids intake. They are eating so much food that I have to grocery shop once every few days (wife had a C-section and there was complications so she's not driving currently). Not only am I absolutely fed up with grocery shopping every 2-3 days but I'm honestly pretty fucking sick of craving something, going to get it and it being gone. Every single time I try talking to her about it, she says "you know, if you want my kids to stop eating so much than maybe you should lead by example because you eat more than anyone in this house". I'm 5'11", 240lbs and work an extremely physically demanding job. Obviously I eat a lot. But she blames it on me smoking weed (chronic pain) because some nights I will absolutely go and cook myself a different meal a few hours after dinner. She says I'm trying to be controlling of her kids due to my food insecurity (she thinks I want to hoard food so I can eat all of it and leave her kids with nothing to "make up for" me never eating as a kid) when that's not the case at all. They are simply eating way too much and it's becoming unnecessary.
Well, last night my wife made dinner and the kids and I had 2 helpings but my wife hadn't eaten. She said she wasn't hungry. Her oldest boy went to get more and I told him no because his mother hasn't eaten. My wife gave me a look and said "no, go ahead and eat it. I literally just said I was not hungry." But as this was going on, all the kids excused themselves from the kitchen, even her oldest, and went to their rooms. My wife looks at me and says "I'm honestly fucking sick of you using that line when you truly don't give a fuck if I've eaten or not. You wanted some left so you could eat it, not me." I told her that wasn't exactly true and that I would hope she would eat it and if she didn't than yes, I would finish it off but that's not the motive. She said she never ends up eating when she says she isn't hungry and that I always finish it and that my excuse is nothing but a lie I tell myself because I "won't take accountability" and am in denial, apparently. This led to a screaming match, where she told me that I'm not allowed to have any say in her kids food intake from now on and if I stopped smoking so much pot and eating everything in sight, like a "fat fuck" than there would be plenty of food for everyone. I immediately told her I wanted a divorce. She walks off and absolutely refuses to speak to me. I ended up at my buddies house a couple hours later and he said that he agrees with both of us but he thinks I'm being overdramatic by asking for a divorce instead of seeing my wife's side of things; especially where she's the one buying the food.
ETA: I know it'll be asked.. the kids are not overweight at all. They are very healthy. The snacks and food they devour in a matter of seconds are very healthy foods. I think the least healthy thing we have in the house is cheese crackers. My wife has been in therapy since she was 17. She keeps telling me to get therapy and "anger management" because I get angry over food.
I will NOT tolerate bashing of "single moms" here. She was not a single mom by choice. Her ex husband died in Afghanistan during active duty 8 years ago. I pursued her, not the other way around. She's a kick ass mom. She financially supports her kids 100% and like I said, covers the entire household food cost despite me eating the food too. Just stick to the issue I asked please.

Greetings PVZH subreddit!
Today I wanted to present my take on the tier list. Note that I am not like some super competitive tournament player, but mostly a casual player who has garnered some opinions on the game I'd like to share.
Tiers will be divided into S Tier, A Tier, B Tier, C Tier and D Tier. Also, I will not be placing Beta-Carrotina and Super Brainz on the tier list, as they are usually worse versions of Citron and HG, which are more worth discussing.
- D TIER heroes have some redeeming combos and strategies, but are overall lacking meta qualities.
Neptuna - I think she is probably the worst hero in the game. She's quite similar to Brain Freeze, who I'll discuss later, but her synergies are just very wonky. Stuff like MUG doesn't quite synergize well with Going Viral and if you go full Pogo, MUG, Yeti, there are certain plant heroes that will get stomped by that but most meta plant heroes can completely counter with a single Blockbuster (a very relevant card) to the extent she will not be able to make it back into the game. Her super is a very very good control tool though.
Spudow - I feel like the burst 3-nut decks have fallen a little out of the limelight - and even then, Spudow is probably the worst user of that archetype of deck. Guardian package is good, but any other class compliments it better than Kabloom, which is a class that doesn't really hold a lot of versatile cards when the competition are brainy teleports that can outvalue easily or Crazy class combo decks that can overwhelm Kabloom's aggro or control. Spudow's super is actually not bad. It can be filled into any lane and take down a powerful zombie + front a valueble plant, but still.. this hero is quite weak to me.
Nightcap - This is very difficult to place on a tier list. However, his only viable strategy being cyclecap is very easy to counter. Nightcap is a hero that is very high-risk, high reward and can completely steamroll a match with certain combos but can also be countered by 2-3 bad turns and fall behind infinitely. The saving grace is that bean synergy and kabloom is a combo that can decide games quite quickly when against an unlucky opponent with no answers but still - pretty awful superpowers, pretty random class synergy with a weak class and the smarty class only being strong when supporting a very good class. Let me know what you think of this placement :)
The Smash - against the right type of deck, The Smash can run a player out of cards and outvalue immensely. He is often seen as the worst hero because of hearty/beasty being two support classes but when you have cards like cyborg, bounty hunter, extinction event + cards like black hole, flick, weedspray, there is a certain strength to The Smash where he can completely cripple and slowly bleed dry an opponent. It's just very matchup dependent so I can't place it higher. Plus, the hero is generally very slow and relies on out-valuing in a long game instead of making proactive plays with high damage combos. Struggles against too many good plant heroes to place it higher.
Solar Flare - Kabloom is not good lmfao. But Solar is amazing. Solar Flare is super fun to play, I have a blast playing her with molekale, pear paradise decks, etc. Competitive viability is not super high though, she really struggles against gravestones and cannot run metal heal combo decks well because of Kabloom limitations. Many players think Solar Flare is amazing and this might be a hot take, but I honestly don't find any consistent strategy with her. There's the often recommended Aggro Flare deck, but every single meta zombie hero can make it run out of steam and outvalue. Still though, I don't think she is the very bottom of the barrel because she is still a solar hero either way.
- C TIER decent heroes that have a few solid strategies but lie outside the most prominent meta.
Brain Freeze - BF has 3 quite underwhelming powers (Galvanize is pretty good though), but I think the selection of cards he has is a bit stronger than Neptuna. Area 22 naturally works better with graves and the cowboy + graveyard strategy is a bit better aided by the Beastly class. I think he just has more frightening combos than Neptuna so he'll be slightly above her. Additionally, when comparing the two's most meta decks, I believe BF's fair a bit better against most plant matchups. Even though not very high tier, Brain Freeze has a lot of suffocating strategies that can lock an opponent out of options while setting up massive threats. Pretty overhated hero tbh.
Captain Combustible - CC is a hero that can establish very powerful tempo and create win conditions. There are strong strategies with Lily and Veg Mutation, and of the dino roar cards naturally give you free tempo. However, he has very very little tools to answer opponent's threats. Kabloom does not have very good cards to remove stuff later into the game and megagrow isnt a class which has lots of solutions to meta zombie decks with teleports. Of course, I have to discuss the Re-Peat moss strategy with CC's super and Time to Shine. This combo is very strong of course, you can finish someone off with zero interaction from them in a turn or two. I argue though that this is wildly inconsistent as it requires you not only draw the exact combo, but also need your opponent to be clueless enough to rotate through your block meter to find the combo. Honestly, I just don't see the consistency.
Electric Boogaloo - A hero that can establish tempo while (to some degree) control enemy threats thanks to having double bolt supers. Beastly/Crazy's main strength is the ability to make positive trades and stall for high damage combos - namely stuff like Binary + A22 or plays involving Secret Agent. You have a very solid selection of cheap cards such as Conman, Cheese Cutter, Dog WalkeCyborg and Aerobics. You also have fruitcake, final mission, etc to unblock lanes to hit face. These cards, and also Area 22 are often Boog's centerpiece in decks to remain competitive. The issue lies in its inconsistency in combating heal mid plant decks.
Z-Mech - The other "double bolt" hero is in my opinion, equal with Boog. Just with slightly different strengths. Similar to Boog, Zmech is great at playing cards on a well-rounded curve but he excels more using rock wall and hearty treat to keep key zombies alive - these key zombies being either Teacher, Flag Zombie or Gargologist. These cost reduction cards are what makes Z-Mech good as he can "manipulate his curve" and accelerate a game plan to play threats before turns where opponent's answers are in the picture. Despite having control tools with hearty's flick, rolling stone, weedspray etc and crazy's fruitcake, final mission, etc, Z-mech's game plan is very much one of playing threats and removing enemy threats or buffing your own guys to keep them alive until you overwhelm the enemy. Solid hero as well, but struggles against heal as well.
Grass Knuckles - Guardian package plus stuff like Black Eyed Pea and Bananasaurus makes GK the king of tempo. Plus he has possibly the strongest superpower in the game - Time To Shine, and Rumble is actually a very potent superpower when used correctly (not on turn 1 lmao). You also have quite a strong finisher in Gatling Pea. This hero is overall strong, but lacks the extreme cheaply powerful mechanics of Solar class, which defines the meta in a monumental way. Also, certain zombie heroes are really adept at answering any tempo move GK can attempt, which makes him shy of being higher tier. The issue here is just that despite being pretty annoying at times with guardian package, Citron and Wall-Knight are way more obnoxious with that same package of cards - and most of the time, GK's game plans come off more honest and direct and easier to play around. Still a very solid hero, but must be seperate tiers from the afformentioned two guardian heroes
- B TIER will be heroes that are strong and overall viable, but have slightly clearer weaknesses.
Huge-Gigantacus - This hero is not as strong as the other brainy heroes to me, but still has a ton of viability namely using that one deck, Telimps - which has a game plan of teleporting toxic waste and other imps to control the field until it is favorable for you to end the game with blob or cowboy. You also have Ice Moon and HG Sig. The former is extremely strong because it not only auto wins you a trade, but allows you to potentially get a huge shot at face, and the latter while less valuable later on, can singlehandedly put you on the driver's seat for the first few turns if its your starting super. Overall very, very solid hero with some seriously unfair and game-changing combos, but a bit less consistent. The lack of deck viability also makes me question placing him higher.
Green Shadow - The most underrated hero in the game because almost everyone is playing her wrong. Going full aggro is not the way with GS. Green Shadow is very strong because you have the ability to both outscale and make good trades while controlling the board for mega combos to win. Additionally, you have b a n a n a s, why is this strong? Half bananas give you free insurance to outvalue while also trading and answering certain threats. For example, a Banana Split with only one half banana buff can win a trade with Cowboy, that's something to note because graveyard cowboy is often very hard to deal with. Furthermore, playing boosted B-Rexs on turn 4 is extremely scary for the opponent as for example, bolt will no no longer be an answer to it. You have cards like banana peel, violet and jelly bean to unblock lanes for a huge hit. These are options that make your game plan very unpredictable and sometimes even hard to play around. Overall, easy value + the ability to unblock lanes and make decisive plays make GS very underrated. This is my main right now, and I really enjoy this hero!
Immorticia - Immorticia is a very strong hero that excels at control and high damage combos. You are able to both generate momentum and outvalue or make near one-shots to end games in a single turn with A22 and Trickster. This gives her a certain advantage against heroes that may take longer to get lethal, as heal becomes less of a threat to her. Being a brainy hero, Immorticia naturally belongs in the upper echelon of the game. However, she has two weaknesses. First, she does not outvalue Solar (I don't think anything does lmfao), she may have difficulty against Pepper + Lil Buddy and you will not have enough Rockets to answer everything. Second, unlike Rustbolt, she does not have an easy way to deal with ForgetMeNuts or Black Eyed Pea. Both these cards make it difficult for her to assume her game plan. Still though, very very strong hero that is often overlooked. My favorite zombie hero, I like vampires and witches and spooky shit :)
Citron - Citron is a strong hero with a very complete and rounded out class of Guardian as well as the added Smarty cards which gives him a unique arsenal of cards that can counter just about anything thrown at you. Citron is strong to me because you have the ability to swarm the board and play very proactively, but you also have efficient answers to threats. As a result, its easier to finish the opponent off quickly before you run out of steam. It's also easier to focus on your own win condition instead of being suddenly overwhelmed by 1-2 bad turns. Also, Citron is the best user of 3-Nut burst, a deck that has seen less competitive viability but remains at utmost potential when partnered with bean synergy. Lastly, it is worth noting that Peel Shield is actually one of the best supers in the game - you can completely swing games to your favor with a 1 sun cost and a single card. The only weakness I can think of is that Citron needs to stay ahead or at least stay even. In a losing situation, Citron does not have Solar cards such as Cob or mass healing to bring you back into the game.
- A TIER are heroes that are meta and very strong.
Chompzilla - A competitively strong hero due to possession of the Solar class plus Mega Grow's combo potential. You basically have a hero who can not only stall by making favorable trades and healing, but also have strong late game cards with Megagrow such as Gatling or Potatosaurus on top of Solar's already powerful late game too, making it worth to opt for ramp cards. AND Chompzilla also is able to establish some form of tempo with for example, Muscle Sprout and cheap cards like Kernel-Pult and Lil Buddy. Overall, this hero may not be the absolute strongest, but I find Chompzilla a very balanced and versatile hero who can opt for a variety of game plans in a single deck. This is the quality that makes her very strong, as it is harder to completely counter her.
Professor Brainstorm - A hero I have never been really good at playing, but a hero with frankly, some of the most unfair mechanics in the game with trickster in combination with crazy package as well as mustache waxer. Brainstorm also has that infamous teleport garg-throwing-imp to punish team-ups with 2 free gargs - although with the lessened viability of 3-Nut, that specific interaction is a tad less relevant. Anyhow, I am convinced the brainy/crazy combination lends to some of the most potent card combos. Brainstorm does it all with good control tools, good finishers and a potent ability to overwhelm and swarm the board too. A very strong jack of all trades hero that always remains viable.
Rustbolt - In my humble opinion, Rustbolt is the best zombie control hero in the game as he is most suited to combat heal mid decks with his tools. Furthermore, he has an easier time dealing with anti-trick cards with weedspray, flick, etc than Immorticia can with nibble or extinction. The hearty brainy interactions also mean you can not only play strings of tricks with Teacher, but teleport in a Teacher to make it unanswerable which of course, lends to some really strong Trickster tech. What also makes Rustbolt shine is he is not limited to Trickster as much. He can run hybrid swarm decks mixing in trick-centric game plans to generate an overwhelming board similar to how Z-Mech would, but even stronger as you can teleport your minions in. Very strong hero as the hearty/brainy combination gives you very strong mid and late game. Although his early game is a bit less reliable, the combo potential brings him to S tier.
- S TIER. These are the best heroes in the game.
Impfinity - Commonly agreed to be S tier. This hero is absolutely absurd with the combos, even without card draw and teleports. There is no other zombie hero that can play fast and burst down an opponent, and surprisingly gets even more dangerous with mid game combos. You have a host of ways to find answers and generate steam with graveboy, spacetime+quazard, binary stars, smoke bombs to hit face, rapidly scaling raptors, etc. There are many ways to find lethal with Impfinity, but also a sense of consistency in finding that lethal even amid potential threats to your game plan. I put Impfinity a little higher than Rustbolt and PB because with this hero, you arnt even playing control. Most of the time, you are completely in the drivers seat dictating the game to set up lethal. You are able to reach lethal faster too.
Wall-Knight - Super annoying hero who controls the best 2 plant classes. Wallknight's key strength is neutralizing the board and stalling for late game with heals, removal (including grave removal) and combos that punish attempts to aggro you early. There's not too much to say here as the guardian and solar are the strongest plant classes, so having both really presents the argument on its own as you command the two most nuanced and complete classes gaining full benefit from both. Wall-Knight has the tools to neutralize almost any threat, and is probably the best control hero in the game for that reason. He sits in S tier for his highly consistent game plan and arsenal of many of the best cards in the game.
Rose - The best plant hero in the game, and maybe the best overall. Rose's synergies make it super difficult to punish her. For example, you have unique interactions with Rescue Radish to play active abilities a second time. Both aggro and late game trick-centric zombie decks suffer against Rose with pepper + lil buddy and cards like brainana and dragon respectively. There's just so little that can work around and outplay a good Rose deck. It's also worth noting her selection of supers are really good in conjunction, and that gives her a very very powerful kit. While Mog isnt a super strong power. Having both Mog AND Goat means you can answer a big threat for almost no cost not once, but TWICE. Weed Whack also answers some threats and Freeze can win you trades and cycle your deck. With Rose, you have tools to halt early threats, strong mid game combos and an unstoppable late game as well. She has almost every possible strength available to her. Fuck Rose.
Wow that was a lot of yapping, I am sick today though so I guess this was a nice way to spend my time. Let me know what you think, and thank you if you read the whole thing <3

I work a safety sensitive position that routinely drug tests. Because of that I haven't been able to smoke for many years. I was never much a drinker, but boy do I love smoking. If I ever make it to retirement that's my entire plan - smoking weed and playing videogames.
Anyway. I was planning this nearly 5 weeks vacation and I got the bright idea that I could smoke and have some fun the first few days and be clean by time I had to return to work. I had a friend who was on probation that had to drop every Friday. He'd smoke 3 days then cleanse for 4 days right up to the test. Did that for a year. I researched this and most people agree that s temporary period of consuming THC can generally get clear from your system in 3-10 days. Now granted, I knew this was based on being semi-fit. Not the giant fat ass that I am. But I figured with 30 days to get clean it wouldn't be a problem.
Boy was I wrong.
To play on the side of caution, I bought some THC tests off of Amazon and figured I'd make sure I was clean when I got home before returning to work.
The first test I did was the morning piss because that's the dirtiest drop you'll have - I thought for sure it was going to be fine. Nope. Positive.
I had read some mixed reviews about the tests not working, false positives, so I had my wife take one and she came back clean. So they seem to be working fine.
Since then I have failed every one of them. I've been drinking 10 bottles of water a day, and just failed again. Urine so light it looked like water - still popped positive.
Tomorrow I return to work and am having a total meltdown.
Now, I'm not busted yet. They might not drug test me at all. We work on a random basis, or incident basis. But it seems like they do enjoy drug testing people who just come back from vacation. So there's hope but I'm freaking out.
As a contingency plan, I bought some synthetic urine and a thigh strap to keep it positioned by my balls to hit temperature. But guess what - giant fat ass I am, the strap is too small. I wore it for a few hours tonight and it was agonizing. There's no way I'll be able to keep that on for 11.5 hours tomorrow.
So now my only solution is to press it into my thigh by my balls and keep my legs sorta squeezing to make sure it doesn't pop out. Luckily I'm so fat it's not entirely impossible. But then this leads to the possibility of it falling out. But I have no choice. This is the only thing I can do.
Moral of the story kids. Just don't do it. I wish to God I hadn't smoked and ate those couple edibles. It wasn't worth it by a long shot. Oh how I wish I didn't do this to myself.
There's nothing anyone can do for me. I just wanted to share this story for those who might be thinking of trying what I did. It's not worth it.
TL;DR I thought I could smoke for a few days before vacation and get clean within 30 days. All tests coming back positive. Now trying to hold fake piss by my balls praying to God this works until my system is actually clean.
UPDATE - Day 31. No official drug test given. Still popping 100% positive on at home test. Fake piss has been successfully concealed, no near slips yet. Uncomfortable but maintaining. Have to work tomorrow then off for 2 days where mass exodus of bodily fluids will commence.
UPDATE 2 - Day 33 Weekend over. I know weed is stored in fat but I've been eating nutrient rich food and vitamins and flushing tons of water over my weekend. At home test this morning was still positive but I could see a faint line indicating negative. Not sure if it's because I'm actually nearing clean or I've just diluted my sample so much with water. The at home test this morning on piss #2, not the morning piss, and I had not consumed any more water since the night before. Since then I've drank 80oz of strawberries/banana smoothie, took a B12 vitamin, and some Creatine, then drank something like 1.5 gallons of water. Going to test again before work but still plan on carrying/using synthetic urine should I get popped at work.
UPDATE 3 - Day 38 and still dirty. Granted, tested the morning pee - the dirtiest pee. Not even remotely faint line for negative. Ran out of tests, more coming tomorrow. Still haven't been tested at work, hopefully this rides until I'm actually clean. Still drinking 1.5 gallons of water per day with smoothies and vitamins, nutrient rich foods.
UPDATE 4 - Day 45. Morning pee has semi-faint negative line. Wife says test is cheap and that means negative. Not really a believer there. Still going to crotch fake pee for another week. So tired of drinking this much water.

About 6-8 weeks into MM, I am simply not craving filler or "no" foods on an emotional or physical level.
If I cook fish in olive oil, I enjoy eating it and it tastes fine, but I feel no sense of intense satisfaction, in fact I feel gross afterwards and I swear my urine legitimately smells like fish. Even mixing an avocado into potatoes seems pointless. I ate a couple bites of a hotdog about a week ago, same thing. Eating fat doesn't give me that weirdly orgasmic feeling of satisfaction anymore.
Last night, I made the banana millet pancakes from the MM website. Their texture and taste was fine, but I could tell that it was pointless to eat because it was all arrowroot flour (filler food) and also cooked. It felt like eating sludge.
Overall, if I get very hungry, my attitude has shifted towards wanting a big serving of potatoes or a ton of bananas.
Not only that, I don't even really want cooked food anymore, outside of potatoes and brussel sprouts or asparagus. I generally will also eat onion, tomato, hot peppers, and/or garlic with potatoes and I don't cook those ingredients.
To make it even more pronounced, the last two weeks have been emotionally turbulent, and I needed a crutch to function, so I've been using weed and nicotine to cope, but interestingly enough, I haven't even remotely desired junk food of any kind, even when I have been feeling my lowest. Not even on an emotional level.
Pretty neat

A friend of mine has quite the conundrum.
Tldr at bottom.
This journey all started with friend not understanding credit cards (surprise surprise). I'll call him Steven.
Steven got a nice(ish) job, and went bananas with credit cards. Didn't save a penny, spent like there was no tomorrow, and quickly maxed out 6 (7?) cards. He also bought a new car.
After realizing he's drowning in debt at the young age of 20, he makes the decision to consolidate all the debt into one large car loan. I'm not sure of numbers here, but I do know that after about 2 years, it's at around 10k.
Smart decision #2: He maxxes out the credit cards again.
I didn't really know this information to this extent at the time, but we decided to become roommates. He changes jobs and gets adult life smacking him in the ass as he struggles to pay rent, car loan, and multitude of CC minimums. I had to cover his rent about 4 out of the 12 months we were there, including security deposit.
He spends the year smoking weed, playing videos games, and burying himself in more and more debt. All while I'm struggling at this point because I basically have to pay double my rent randomly when he can't cover himself. At some point, I even decided to lend him enough money to pay off a CC entirely because in my head I thought it was better than him having to deal with the interest.
Smart decision #3 (and more): He gets various traffic tickets, totaling about 500+ dollars for speeding, phone while driving, etc. I also made a bad decision as well. I helped him pay most of this off. In my head NOW, I convince myself that I have to because I have a lease with this guy and don't really have a choice because I need him to make rent.
He gets a better paying job, we renew a lease, I think everything will be okay if he just works at it and grinds for a year or two.
Nope. No improvements.
At this point, I sit down with him and do the math. He's currently more than 18k in debt which includes CC debt, car loan, and mom's CC that he put hundreds of dollars on because she let him use it for "groceries" if he absolutely needed to. I tell him that his best option is probably to sell his car to essentially cancel out the loan, get a bike for work (we live within walking distance to most places), and just grind it out. Then he drops this on me....
Smart decision #4: He doesn't pay his car registration. He tags are expired and he now owes around 600 dollars (I think)
He's at the point where he is missing car payments too, although he always pays it within the 2 months before they come after him.
Does that mean he can't sell the car until he pays registration? Honestly, I'm being pulled down in this mess as well (It's my fault) and I'm looking for advice for him for my well-being. The earlier debt I stated was not including the 7k I've lent him over the years.
What's his best option? Any advice? Similar situations? Anything is helpful. Wanna call him dumb? Feel free. Wanna call me dumb for enabling this behavior? Trust me, I know now.
Help.
Tldr: Friend is ridiculously in debt and dragging me down with him.