Hi middle of the night for me and very very tired, hope this makes sense:
Saw a cat approaching what looked like a clump of leaves on lawn outside the front of my house. I watched because I was worried it wasn't a clump of leaves, and then what was clearly a bird's mouth yawned open when the cat was quite near.
Ran outside and put some distance between cat and bird. The bird was just sitting there, and let me get as close as I like which I know is often a sign of injury. But perhaps he's just very young? Fairly large (eg larger than a European robin), very dark feathers. Should've taken a photo 😖 In the street lamp it looked like there might've been some greenish iridescence on some feathers, though looks like juvenile starlings are a greyish brown?
The bird's feathers were also very fluffed, but there's also a pretty strong (and cool) breeze out right now. I observed for what felt like awhile, but it's way late for me and I need to go to bed.
Got gloves and box and lined with paper towels hoping the bird would fly away but sadly no. When I nearly picked up the bird, he hopped away clumsily and with difficulty, almost lost his balance at first.
He then also called out to I assume his parents :(
Honestly I would've loved nothing more than to leave him there but that would've meant leaving him on a cat highway. Also, I suspect a cat found him from up the hill (where the trees/woods are) and brought him to my lawn :(
I approached again, he hopped away some more but soon stopped, I don't think he travelled more than 15' from where I found him. He just lay there in the middle of the road. I watched him for so long, but I'm so tired so I again approached him. This time he let me cover him completely with my hands, and still no movement, perhaps worn out from shock? :(
But the poor thing did protest when I picked him up and put him in the box, and jumped around for just a bit as we walked inside. He's in a room now, there's gaps in the box for air and a few bits of tape to keep it sealed.
I called a 24 hour animal hospital and was advised that the poor little fellow may need antibiotics from a possible cat scratch, and to get him to a rescue asap in the morning. Also told to give him some water but I'm afraid of stressing him out even more by opening the box back up / making noise.
Almost didn't get up in the middle of the night, and now this :(
Did I do wrong by bringing him inside? If there weren't cats active literally right now I would've left him outside and merely checked in on him in the morning. I read juveniles can wander by foot but he was a bit wobbly on his feet, and considering his very adult-like feathers I would've expected him to be stronger, unless injured.
arghhh not fun :(

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Working 8+ hours a day on my feet, also doing appointments (makeup) standing in one spot. I ask my manager if they can get anti fatigue mats (even food service has them) so my body doesn’t ache as bad at the end of the day. But, they do their typical gaslighting move and blame me and say my shoes aren’t good enough, and that it’s normal for feet to be swollen and in pain at the end of the day. When mind you, manager is sitting in the back office all day every day. It doesn’t matter what shoes I wear, my feet still hurt. They’re snakes and act nice to your face while secretly documenting every minor move to get you in trouble.
Also, I put in my vacation time ( 37 hours paid) for 5 days months ago, it was approved. I take the 5 days off thinking it’s paid, then when I get back they say I’m only being paid 16 hours for the time away. I have no proof of the balance I had before. Same thing happened to my coworker. The same manager with the shoes thing tells me it’s not their responsibility to keep track of our PTO, and that just because it’s approved doesn’t mean it’s paid. The fuck? I hate this job and I can’t believe I have to do this shit for EVER. I just want to move off the grid and say fuck it or just be homeless again
I hate this shit ! KILLLLLMEEEEEE

What is baby balance bike?

Infant bicycle is a type of training bicycle that helps young children learn balance and steering. It has no pedals or drivetrain and is propelled by the child’s feet, with the aim of preparing them for riding a standard bicycle. Balance bikes are a popular way for kids to start learning the fundamentals of cycling.

What is the difference between balance bike for baby and toddler?

• Size: Infant Bicycle are generally smaller since they’re designed for children as young as 12 months or even younger. Toddler balance bikes are typically larger to accommodate children from about 2 years old up to 5 years or more.
• Seat Height: The seat height of a baby balance bike is lower to the ground to allow the younger child to sit with both feet flat on the ground. As children grow, they can handle a taller seat height, which is what you’ll find with toddler balance bikes.
• Weight: Bikes designed for babies are usually lighter, making it easier for the smaller, less muscular babies to handle and maneuver. Toddler bikes might be a bit heavier as they are built to support the additional weight and the more aggressive riding style of older children.
• Safety Features: Infant Bicycle often have additional safety features, like limited steering to prevent sharp turns that can cause falls. Toddler bikes might offer more freedom with the steering to help them learn more advanced balancing skills.
• Wheels: The wheels on Infant Bicycle can be made from softer materials suitable for indoor use or gentle outdoor play. Toddler balance bikes may have wheels that are more durable for varied outdoor surfaces.

What is wooden baby walker?

A wooden baby walker is a device that helps babies who are just learning to walk. It typically consists of a wooden frame set on wheels, with a handle or bar that the baby can hold onto for support. Some wooden walkers also come with activity panels or blocks, which serve as an additional plaything and can aid in the development of motor skills and hand-eye coordination. They’re appreciated for their sturdy build and classic aesthetic.

35f, LRP4+. The Pyridostigmine has really helped with my weakness over the past month but I've been having worsening reactions to it that got pretty spooky recently and my Neurologist has recommended that I cease it entirely for 3 days then reassess treatment. Whenever I took it I'd get extreme mucus secretions to the point where I've had to take an expectorant (guiafenesin) alongside each dose and would wheeze for a good hour or so while struggling to bring up a glue like phlegm. I also had an extreme burning skin sensation all over body daily that was getting more and more painful (nurses at the hospital didn't really know what to do and gave me Tylenol and ice packs) and recently after upping the dose to 90, feeling of constricted airways, tightness in my throat, itchy mouth/throat and ears and nape of my neck and feet. In the hospital last week and an ER visit this week they had to give me an abuterol treatment that led to me violently coughing up an unexpected amount of white stringy mucus from my lungs and eased my breathing. So I guess I have asthma now along with MG. I am still taking Prednisone and Mycophenolate without any major issues as of now.
Today is the first day in weeks that I've experienced absolutely no burning skin sensation or super tight airway feeling or itchyness in my mouth or limbs. My last dose was yesterday morning. So if the Pyridostigmine is a no go, are there any alternative daily maintenance pills or would the next step be IV treatment? My Neuro has said that I couldn't quality for IVIG unless I failed the Pyridostigmine and I think being actively allergic to it sounds as failing...

I am currently on a little fitness journey. Eating healthy, working out, trying to get the nice elevens that women get, ect. I am just struggling with eating and exercising. I mainly use the app lifesum. I found it a few years ago and have been on and off and it is the one I am most familiar with. I am about 2 weeks into my calorie counting, exercising, making sure I drink water. But there is not much of a change. I am currently 105.4 lbs and it's weird the heaviest I have been. I'm usually 100 lbs and it's just been like that. The extra is probably the daily McDonald's hotcakes I get lol. I'm not looking to lose weight or anything. What I am trying to focus on is gaining muscle, consistency and finding my abs. I'm still skinny but I would like to be skinny and healthy.
Here is what I have been doing so please give advice on how to change this for the better.
First two weeks: 1400 calories (had the goal set to weight loss because I thought that would help the body fat?). Did a quick 14 minute workout before work (simple full body or popular ab workout). At work I burn around 700 calories there alone, at least that is what my watch says (dog groomer. So on my feet all day, washing, lifting, cleaning). Then come home to get on the treadmill for 20 to 30 minutes depending on how tired I am (calories burned differ since I just pick a random playlist and run depending on the best of the song). My weight didn't really change. I would be slightly lighter in the morning, back to 105 in the afternoon, and by the end of the week still 105 and body fat the same (bought a measuring tape and came with a body fat calibrator. If I did it right I am currently 10% body fat. If I didn't then disregard.)
Eating habits: try to be healthy but not too restrictive. Tried to eat as much things with protein and try to keep fat low but struggled sometimes. No real food plan but did buy fruits and vegetables and have been eating them a lot. Over night oats. Sandwiches with wheat bread because delicious. Drinking water. Haven't really been having snacks, just didn't want them. Found out I like tofu so that is a plus. Bought some protein powder to help in case I don't think I've had enough. Don't like smoothies much but made some nice ice cream. Two cheat days where I got McDonald's.
I just have the normal questions:
Is 1400 enough calories? Am I burning enough calories or should I try for more? Do I need to work out more? Any nice apps for workouts/fitness? Any better foods I should try?

My name is (let’s use Zitra) and I want to know if I’m the A hole for wanting to sue my son’s father for child support. I met my son’s dad (Ken) I was 20 years old at my job. He approached me and asked for my number. Was hesitant at first but changed my mind and agreed. He called me 3 days later and asked me out and that was how we hit it off. I asked him if he was involved with anyone, or married, he said no. I was getting lots of gut feelings about him but he kept denying that he wasn’t cheating. I lost my job and he decided that I should not work and he will take care of me. Stupid me agreed and didn’t look for a job. He told me he was gonna pay my bills but didn’t to ghost me the day of! My roommate was kind and decided to help me pay while I looked for a job. I was always sick but didn’t know why. We were very sexually active so yea, you guessed right! I was pregnant! I reached out to him and he didn’t respond. I sent a picture of the pregnancy test and he called me. He was very apologetic and was talking about him being sick, nauseous and feeling weird for some reason but that we need to talk over lunch. I said cool but what about the situation I just brought up. He said he is not ready to be a father and that I should abort. I said I need to think about it. So I went to my roommate (Abi) and she told me to say yes I will abort but I actually wasn’t. Tell him that it will cost $1600 to pay for it but it will be for rent and some baby stuff. I agreed and told him that and he gave to me the next day. Paid for my Uber to get it done but I went there to get an official test so I could get WIC. He came asking for the paperwork later and I confessed and said I had cold feet. He got mad and told me that I had to choose between him or the baby and I chose my baby and he said “I wish you and your baby the best!” And left. Was depressed for days! 2 weeks later I get a notification on instagram that he is on IG. I click on it and behold what my eyes saw! His wife and two kids. Ken was married with two kids and never told me. I had to find out on social media! Btw I forgot to add this! We were engaged too! All that started to overwhelm me so I decided to move back in with my parents. I told them what happened and they told me that since he is married and refused to be in the child’s life , I should not breakup his marriage and leave him alone. So I haven’t heard from him ever since. Fast forward baby is about to be 2 and I was talking to my godsister and she persuaded me to press charges and sue him. Idk if I should go ahead with it but I’m leaning on the “go ahead and sue his ass” type of decision. So AITA for wanting to sue him?!

It's Read-only Friday! It is time to put your feet up, pour a nice dram and look through some of our member's new and shiny blog posts.
Feel free to submit your blog post and as well a nice description to this thread.
Note: This post is created at 00:00 UTC. It may not be Friday where you are in the world, no need to comment on it.

I've been charged with some misdemeanors and when I went to my arraignment I was unable to hear anything the judge said. She sits at least 30 feet away, and talks in such a soft spoken voice that I couldn't hear a single word. After my lawyer talked a few back and forths with the prosecutor I was trying to get his attention to let him know that I couldn't hear. The judge turned to talk to me, and I could see her looking at me but I couldn't hear a word of it. I turned to my lawyer and started whispering to him that I couldn't hear. He kept pointing towards the judge indicating that I need to pay attention, and after a second time saying that I couldn't hear, he finally got the message, and proceedings were stopped while the clerk brought a hearing assistance device. I was finally able to hear what the judge was asking me. But when I attempted to reply to her question I couldn't talk because I was hearing my own voice delayed. I had to remove the hearing thing to get more than two words out.
That was two months ago. Yesterday I had my pre-trial conference and again we are called up, my lawyer starts discussing my case with the judge and I can't hear a word from the bench. By the time I can tell my lawyer that I still can't hear, the conference is over. I don't know what is happening with my case. I feel like I'm at a huge disadvantage here. Is there some legal obligation on the court to make sure the defendant is able to hear and understand what's going on?
The case is in the state of Oregon.

Hi all, After so many years of my life, I have finally decided to join the gym and start to count my KCAL. Honestly, I don't think I can keep counting as there's so many different variables to consider. But I wanted some help to keep my motivation up.
A little background. For all my life. I have never thought of exercising or doing a diet because 1. I was lazy and 2. I just didn't see the point. Furthermore, I have gone to the gym here and there but to my success never got any weight loss nor did I find any motivation to do so.
Fast-forward until last month. I called up my local gym for a tour and bite the bullet in going. I talked to my colleagues about going to the gym and some of them say they quit because of lack of motivation, but this drives me even more to do so. Likewise, I mention I go 5 times a week, but they tell me it's excessive? I go 2 times for boxing classes and 3 times doing abs triceps, biceps, legs and cardio for stamina for an hour each session.
In the last week. I have slowly been seeing results, but I didn't see any in terms of my weight loss, which made me wonder what's happening even though I moved down two shirt sizes. I was thinking I might as well give up even though I have been working so hard for it. Surprise. I measured today and found out I was 1.5kg down from my base weight. I'm still 94ish kgs, but my base was 96. I am very satisfied but would love some advice for keeping going.
Here's a few questions

1. How do you keep motivating yourself to do more and if you have one of the days when you feel you aren't achieving anything. Is there any advice for this?
   
2. Is BMI actually accurate? I'm 167/168 cm, 94 (ish) kg Male. The scale says I am obese. Even though when I say I am obese/fat to people outside. They tell me I'm not, but I'm 'average'. I did ask a few people, and they tell me I'm not and just ignore it. While others have said it's accurate. It's why I'm not seeing any gains?
   
3. What app would you use to keep track of KCAL's. I'm currently using an Excel spreadsheet of all the food I have eaten and taken a rough estimate of some products, but it's not really precise to the exact KCAL.
   
4. I'm currently using this calculator (typed in my weight height) but I'm confused on 'Activity Level:' https://www.musclehacking.com/calorie-calculato#bmr Would I be Lightly active or moderately active when I go to the gym 5 times a week (twice with a boxing coach, three times doing legs, arms, biceps, triceps, abs and cardio for an hour each session). I also work in retail and usually on my feet doing stock (usually for 3 to 4 hours per shift) and don't really stop as I prefer being on my feet most of the time.
   
5. Is it OK to have a cheat week in terms of calories and being active? On contrary to question 4. I tend to be very lazy at home during times I am off from work, so I'm not sure if it's all right as I know I would keep going to the gym but not be as moving as compared to the days I am in work.
   

I've been hearing people saying that Amy is an example of a character being "born evil" or "ontologically evil", because her being a sexual predator must mean that Carol was right.
Which is bizarre, because Worm and Ward both show that Amy was just a normal kid dealing with emotional abuse and fucked up dependency, before she leapt off the slippery slope.
So I decided to prove this with a collection of snippets from the Parahumans series showing that the entire point of Amy's character is that she was someone who was a normal child in the first place:
And yes, Carol was singling her out even pre-Worm.

• Infrared 19.9 (elementary school Amy being put down by Carol and basically threatened with a traumatic trigger event)

Eric retreated into the living room, plunking himself down into a chair, slumping down so his arms were up on the armrest, feet on the floor, and his upper body stretched along the seat, chin against collarbone.
He looked at us without moving his head.
"What's up?" I asked.
He shrugged.
"How's she doing?" I asked.
He shrugged, then mumbled, "There were some days she was really scary. I had no idea what she'd do. Mostly now she's… extra teenager-ish, I guess."
He sighed, dramatic.
"It's tough being the odd one out, isn't it?" Amy asked. She was sitting on the short couch beneath the window, feet curled up beside her, a folded book in her lap.
"Really tough."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Amy asked.
"Nah."
"You can reach out to us anytime," Amy said.
"Okay. Thanks, I guess."
He got up and pulled a controller out from under the television. He flipped the switches to turn the TV and console on, and it "Thwooomed" with the console's startup sound.
He held out a controller, offering it to Amy and me.
"Reading," Amy said. "Thanks though."

*

Amy took a second to pull a throw blanket down from the back of the couch and toss it over her legs and feet, before picking up her book.
I walked around the end of the couch, leaning over the arm, my head parallel to hers as I read over her shoulder.
"You're distracting me," she said. Her head moved, frizzy brown hair mashing into my face as she butted her head lightly into mine.
"Who's Roaraxia?" I asked.
"Do you want to read this after I'm done?" she asked. "Emphasis on after?"
"Depends. Is Roaraxia cool?"
"She's the bad guy, and yeah, I guess."
"Is the good guy cool?" I asked.
"No," Amy said, sighing. "Almost never, in books."
"In your books, maybe."
"It's the appeal, isn't it? Peasants, criminals, orphans, they get a chance and they become cool by the end of the book."
I snorted, got up, and took my seat at the other end of the short couch. I stuck my feet out and wormed them beneath Amy's blanket.
"Your feet are cold," Amy told me, kicking me in the shin.
"So are yours," I said, grabbing the corner of the blanket and pulling it away from her foot. "Now they're colder."
What ensued was like thumb wrestling, feet kicking at and pushing against feet in a battle for control. She wasn't trying very hard, though, because she had her eyes on the book. The battle was less about the feet and more about me trying to get her attention as much as she tried to avoid giving it to me.
"You need to shave your legs," Amy said. "It's like sandpaper."
"Gross," Eric said, not taking his eyes off the game.
"It gives me the heebie jeebies," Amy said. "Like the squeak from markers on a whiteboard, or sneakers on the gym floor."
"Tiny hairs, sticking in the underside of your feet," I teased her. "And when you walk, you're walking on them and pushing them in deeper…"
She pulled her feet away like I was on fire, and shivered visibly, putting her book down. My victory.
I kept going, "And when they grow, they're pointed in the wrong direction, so they grow in…"
Amy made incoherent sounds of protest.
"I'm pretty sure it doesn't work that way," Eric said.
"It probably doesn't," I said. I let my head loll back onto the armrest behind me, no longer fighting with Amy. "We're supposed to take a science class next semester."
"Chemistry, biology, or physics," Amy clarified. "We got the sheet in homeroom. Also art, music, or drama."
"Same. What did you pick for science?"
"Chemistry. Physics is the advanced kids' stream and is supposed to be hard, and in biology you might have to dissect frogs. No thank you," Amy answered. "Ick."
"I thought there would be some parts of it that are useful for health and fitness, first aid."
"You're thinking about cape stuff," Amy said.
"Naturally."
"And I bet you picked drama."
"Art," I told her. "At least for the one year. I'm not very good at it, but there's emblems and icons, color mechanics, costumes, poses and posture…"
Amy snorted. "Of course. I picked art too, mostly by process of elimination. So we might be in the same class."
"Cool."

*

"We wanted to talk with you because of what happened to Crystal," Aunt Sarah said. "Based on what's happening elsewhere, and how Carol and I both got powers, we wanted each of you to be aware of what might be coming down the road."
"We'll get powers," I said.
"Probably," my dad said. "Possibly. I know you know the answer, but… do you know how?"
"Trigger events," I said.
Amy spoke up, "This is like having a math whiz in the class, putting her hand up every time a question is asked."
"I'm not that bad."
"It's more serious than math class," Uncle Neil said. "Eric, do you understand about Trigger events?"
"That's the day you get powers?" Eric asked.
"It's what makes you get powers. It's a very important moment."
"One of the best or worst days of your life," I said.
"It can be," my Uncle said.
"If you want it to be a good day," my mother said, "The best thing you can do is be a good student, a good athlete, and the best person you can be. Strive for things and then accomplish those things."
"Great," Amy said. "I'm doomed."
"But," Aunt Sarah said, and it sounded like a sentence. She gave my mom a look. "As far as we can tell, it's rare. You should absolutely try to improve your chances, especially Victoria and Eric. The powers seem to run in the family, and getting a 'good' trigger would help reduce the chances that you get a bad one-"
"We don't know if the chances are as high for you, but it would behoove you to get your grades up, Amy," my mom said.
"Great," Amy said, making a face.
"I've been urging you for some time to join a club, a team, make your own friends. You have too contained a life."
"That's not what we're here to talk about," Aunt Sarah said. "Again, yes, I think it would be good to focus on success, but we should be prepared for the other cases. If something happens, if you have a really bad day and you get hurt or scared or angry, then it's possible you could have a bad trigger event. And it's hard. Right now, Crystal is going through a lot. Neil, me, Mark, Carol, we all went through it."
"All bad?" Amy asked.
"Yes, Amy."
"What happened?" Eric asked.
I braced myself, ready for my mom to shut it down.
"Your mother and I were kidnapped," my mother said. "They kept us in a dark basement for a long time. And then they tried to kill us."
I blinked, my head swimming as I absorbed that. Things made sense now. I had so many more questions.
"Neil had the accident, which you know about" my Aunt Sarah said. I knew. They'd met in the physical therapy after. Her for a riding injury, him for his trigger. "Mark-"
"I was on a boat when we were attacked," my dad said.
"The point is," my Aunt Sarah stressed, "we need you to be aware that this is a thing that happens. Very often, when we get powers, it isn't always easy, fun, or great. We need you all to be gentle with Crystal, not to pry, not to pressure, give her space, and let her handle things in her own way."
I felt frustrated at that, yet I couldn't say anything. They were saying this because I'd been asking her questions before.
"As you grow up, and we bring you to more events where capes are present, it's important to remember that many of them have been through the same," my mother said. "It's a question of courtesy and cape politics."
I nodded at that.
"It's not just others. We need you to be gentle with yourselves," Uncle Neil said. "Be prepared and be aware. When Sarah triggered, she hurt people, badly. I did the same."
"And I took a life," my mother said.
My eyes widened at that.
There was a pause, a break in the flow of conversation. And it was my mom, wearing a sweater, her hair long, looking much like a mom, with sunlight coming in from the window, and I could see it in her eyes. The fact that she had come to terms with that.
"…We weren't going to mention that," Aunt Sarah said, indicating Eric.
"I almost killed someone too," Crystal said.
I wasn't sure how to even imagine that. I wasn't sure Crystal could even imagine it, from the look on her face.
All I knew was that some sketchy people had recognized her and followed her off the bus, running after her when she ran. I only knew that much because my mom had told Amy and me to be extra careful, and had insisted she or dad drive us if we went anywhere.
"They're mad, now, apparently," Crystal said, hugging her arms to her body. "They want to get revenge."
"Often the case," my dad said. "Bad begets bad."
I could tell that my parents' approach to things wasn't really jibing with how Aunt Sarah had wanted to approach it. A little too serious when Eric was three years younger than me and Amy.
"It might happen to you," My mother said. "Chances are the time it happens won't be a time you're capable of being your most rational, but that makes it all the more important that you make resolutions and understand things now. There's a good chance that when you're facing the worst day of your life, you might be in a position to do irreparable harm to someone."
"I don't think I'm the type."
"I didn't think I was the type either, Amy," my mother said. "That makes it easier for the moment to catch you off guard."
"It's not all fun and games," my dad said. He met my eyes as he said it.
Aunt Sarah opened her mouth, like she wanted to say something… but she couldn't refute the fact.
"If I could go back-" Crystal started. She stopped, aware that every set of eyes was on her. Her eyes moving so she wasn't looking at anyone at all, she went on, "-I wouldn't do it again. I wouldn't want these powers."
"I'm so sorry, Crystal," Amy said.
Crystal shrugged.
"That's crazy," I said.
"Victoria," my mother's voice was stern. "We were just talking about sensitivity."
"But she can- you can fly, Crystal."
"And every time I do, it feels a bit like I'm still running away from those people," she said.
"That's a reality for many of us," my aunt Sarah said. A woman I'd associated with warm hugs, pumpkin cookies, and all of the cool 'my relative is a superhero' stuff without the 'also my parent' crap, except now she was talking from a place of darkness and hurting people.
"I hope I never get powers," my sister said. I saw Crystal nod.

• Infrared 19.10 where we see that Amy always remembered how Carol treated her

"I saw scenes from our childhood. Stuff to do with mom, Uncle Neil, and Dean. You were there."
"Fucking up?" she asked.
"Nah," I said. "Just there. Talking about Roaraxia and fantasy books."
"The talk," Amy said. Still without turning around.
Dot crawled up Amy and perched on her shoulder, sitting backwards so she could watch me. Wearing purple overalls with no shirt.
"Yeah. The talk. I'd mostly forgotten."
"I didn't. I couldn't pick up another book in the Roar series without thinking about mom getting on my case in front of everyone. Amy with no friends, no hobbies, she's small."
I looked at my mom. My mom was frowning.

• Gleam 9.2 has Victoria talking about how her and Amy were normal sisters, how Amy was a quiet but nice kid, and how they both felt weird about their fame influencing their relationships

I was no stranger to distorted thinking. Even before… before everything, I'd been swept up in it. As a child, wanting to belong to my family, being the odd one out, until I got my power. I'd later realized how lonely powers were.
The flip side of the coin applied too. Being the odd one in.
Amy had been the odd one in more than I had. Purely average in appearance, quiet, she hadn't been passionate about hobbies or about anything in particular. She'd liked movies from Aleph and when she was twelve she'd break her usual reserved, quiet composure to get way too excited if she checked the change slot of a vending machine or pay phone and found a quarter. And yet when we got to high school, she was automatically included in the group of popular students. The group with Dean, who was supposed to take over his dad's company, and with the star athletes and the star athletes' boyfriends and girlfriends.
I'd eventually looked beyond my bubble of thinking my sister was great because she was my sister and I fucking loved her, wondering why she was included in the group of popular students when she wasn't popular. Then I'd had to draw the eventual, inevitable conclusion, and wonder if I belonged to that group. Was I there just because my parents wore costumes and had flashy powers?
I'd settled in despite that. Amy had settled out- hanging out to keep me company, but not going out of her way to stick with the group. It had been easy for her to move in that direction, after I'd gotten powers. I'd been grateful for my earlier realization about the nature of the group, because it kept me real and provided a starting point for realizing where Dean was coming from, having come from money. I'd loathed it at the same time, because it cast doubt on every normal interaction.

• From Within 16.y has Mark regale Amy with a story about how much of an adorable child she was, how Victoria was more a problem child in ways, and how innocent she was in being flustered by a cute hair-dresser

Mark approached, stopping by a table, which he leaned against. "I remember, Amy, you hated to sit still for haircuts."
"I was a terrible child. I get it," Amy muttered.
"No, you were a wonder of a child next to the unholy terror that was Victoria," Mark told her. "And you're a fine woman now. I wish it wasn't such a hard journey to get from there to here, but I'm glad to be here with you in the present moment."
The words seemed to calm Hunter more than they affected Amy.
"You're trying to butter me up."
"You can touch me if you want to tell if I'm sincere."
"Can't. Focusing on Hunter."
"After then."
"No," Amy said. She was pacified, calmer. "No need."
She worked her way through Hunter's brain. There were triggers and flags everywhere. Certain perceptions, certain emotions, attitudes.
Hunter's power was involuntary.
"We'd give you candies to suck on so you couldn't complain while sitting in the chair," Mark said. "And on one particular visit, the last one with the candy, as you'll recall…"
Amy groaned.
"A new hairdresser came up, and she hugged you from behind, looked over your shoulder in the mirror, and she said something to the effect of, 'what would you like us to do, cutie?' She surprised the hell out of you-"
"That wasn't surprise."
"No?" Mark asked. And she could hear the change of tone. He rallied, "But you choked."
"I did choke."
"And you gagged," Mark said, his tone warm. "While you were trying to dislodge the candy. I was thumping your back. And then you threw up, onto the barber's bib, and it wicked straight down onto your shoes."
"I can't believe the world ended and I'm still hearing about it."
"You were inconsolable."

There's obviously more, including how in Worm, Amy single-handedly save the hostages in the bank fight from Skitter. Or how she feels gross about the idea of making people pay for healing.
Amy became a monster, but she was NEVER born bad.

Animated Beer Bottle
Hp: 5 (1d4+2) AC: 12 (Glass) Speed: 10 feet
Str: 8 Dex: 8 Con: 15 Int: 10 Wis: 8 Cha: 16
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Damage Vulnerabilities: Bludgeoning
Damage Resistance: Fire
Senses: Passive Perception 10
Languages: Common, Halfling
Challenge: 1/8
Actions: Slam (Melee Attack) +1 to hit, reach 5 feet, hit 2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage
Animated Bottle of Red Wine
Hp 10 (2d6+4) AC: 12 (Glass) Speed: 10 feet
Str: 8 Dex: 8 Con: 15 Int: 10 Wis: 8 Cha: 16
Proficiency Bonus: +3
Damage Vulnerabilities: Bludgeoning
Damage Resistance: Fire
Senses: Passive Perception 8
Languages: Common, Elvish
Challenge: 1/2
Actions: Slam (Melee Attack) +2 to hit, reach 5 feet, hit 1 (1d2) bludgeoning damage.
Shoot Cork: (Once) The Bottle of wine can fire its cork as an attack. (Ranged Attack) +2 to hit, Range 25 feet, Hit 4 (1d4+2), bludgeoning damage. When this attack is used any creature within 15 feet must make a Constitution 10 saving throw of take 1d4 Dexterity damage. This can not drop a creatures Dexterity bellow 5. Once this attack is used the Animated Wine must make a Dexterity 10 save to prevent the wine from spilling out. On a fail it takes take 1d4 damage.
Animated Bottle of Whiskey
Hp: 15 (3d6+6) AC: 12 (Glass) Speed: 10 Feet
Str: 8 Dex: 8 Con: 18 Int: 10 Wis: 6 Cha: 17
Proficiency Bonus: +5
Damage Vulnerabilities: Bludgeoning, Fire
Senses: Passive Perception 5
Languages: Common, Dwarven
Challenge: 3/4
Actions: Slam (Melee Attack) +4 to hit, reach 5 feet, hit (1d8) bludgeoning damage
If this creature is killed with fire it explodes. An area of 10 feet around the bottle catches fire for 1d4+1 rounds. When a creature starts there turn or enters the burning area they take 1d4 fire damage.

As a late diagnosis (age 38) girlie, I've muddled through my ADHD brain by either having super strict, inviolable "rules" that I know so well I don't even have to think about remembering, or by being able to react quickly and think on my feet.
Anything that relies on any shades of grey or sensitivity in interpretation, or a rule that is applied in some contexts but not others, just goes out the window into the chaotic milleu of my non-existent working memory.
But anything that doesn't fit with my brains inherent logical deduction has to be drummed into not just my long term memory, but fully integrated into my understanding of how the world works. Otherwise it disappears from my mind within a day or so.
I've been lucky - thinking quickly on the fly panned out for me a lot, and as long as I could rely on my super rigid rules to provide me with an autopilot for many of the other things I needed to do, it freed up the headspace I needed so I could hyperfocus on the logic. But it also doesn't work a lot of the time, particularly when it comes to stuff where I can't impulsivly logically deduce my way out of it.
This has a massive impact on so so so many areas of my life.
If you have been able to find ways to deal with things in a way that isn't rigidity or chaos - What has worked for you?

Hi all. 25f who just came to the realization about a week ago that I may have fibro, possibly chronic fatigue syndrome. Was talking with a friend who has similar issues and she brought up that I should contemplate looking into a fibro diagnosis. Have been going down the rabbit hole since.
Back story: I have scoliosis since 11yo, spina bifida (asymptomatic, though), chronic back pains since. I have always gone through the ringer any time I've gotten sick. Looking back at any major health-related event that's happened to me, the symptoms and whatnot line up with experiencing fibro flare-ups.
-first time getting covid sent the absolute WORST nerve pain from hips to toes for a week and a half straight. I'd had nerve pain like that before, never to that degree.
-got the bad flu back in April 2019, it took me out of work for a month. Was near blacked-out on my dad's couch for like 3 days, hardly ate and drank anything, couldn't see straight. Afterwards, developed pleurisy in my lungs that took FOREVER to stop feeling pains from (I wanna say upwards of 6-12ish months.
-Giving birth to our first child had failed epidural, decided to have the baby naturally, and that pain was like no other. Felt beyond "birthing pains that we all deal with". Back labor and BURNING burning burning feeling in my palms. Recovery from the birth took probably the first 6 months before I started to feel like a human, and didn't feel less of the chronic overall pain and fatigue until baby's first birthday. For comparison, our second birth went nothing like that, except I did hemorrhage badly afterward (which idk if that's even related). Recovery from baby #2 is still ongoing as I am only 3m PP. Second birth was astronomically easier, which I acknowledge that such is the case for a lot of women, so I don't fully blame all that pain from baby #1 on fibro. But I definitely notice more questions than answers popping up.
-years of emotional abuse from mom and stepdad, trauma, and anxiety attacks as a kid. Any anxiety attack was met with heaps of sobbing, screaming in confusion, not understanding why I felt the way I did. Would usually take the entire next day or two to physically recover.
-as a kid, often had chronic overall back pain that was met with being called "lazy". Took years to have anyone take me seriously. Still don't really convince people that my body never feels good, even as a grown adult.
Chronic pain never ends. Realizing now that all my aches and flareups are nerve pains all over masking themselves as aches. Noticing quite a bit of issues I need to address with my body. I have an appointment on 6/21 to meet with NP to discuss health and want to ask about a fibro diagnosis.
I guess my question is this: I'm so new to all of the information I've read over the last week, where do I start? Doctor sends me to rheumatologist, then what? I've been told to ask for "complete" ANA panel to be done to see if I have any other autoimmune disorders. I'm starting a log on my phone of pains I'm noticing, what works to help it, what doesn't. I checked out a book on anti-inflammatory dieting so I can eat better for myself. Weaning myself off of caffeine, it's going okay, slowly but surely.
Also, how do you track what's causing a flare-up- keeping a note, then back-tracking what happened within the last day to see what could be the trigger? Should I also keep a constant food log?
What supports and aides can I use to make things easier for myself that you notice work for you? My main issues are overall-back pain, my hips have been messed up pretty badly since baby #2, constant neck and shoulder pain, upper back pain, and now recently noticing my upper arms are constantly like lead weights, and now pins-and-needles/dull/sharp/other various nerve pains in my hands and feet. I'm extremely sensitive to the heat, the dead of winter pains me down to my bones, clothes cause me a lot of sensory issues and always feel like digging into my skin so I live in shorts all year round (yes, even in winter because I also stay hot year-round). Concentration has always been bad. Memory has always been bad. Noticing now since baby #2 in January that potential for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is making brain fog so much worse (which yes it could be baby brain, but I've always been this way).
I'm having such a hard time coping and keeping track of everything. I have 2 under 2, so I am constantly, always scatter-brained. I'm trying to stay sane until my appointment. I'm trying to remember things in my daily life that help with flareups. I'm trying hard to balance exercise, with self care.
Anything is appreciated. Spam me with literally anything so I have a place to refer back to with my researching. Links, books, YouTube videos, research articles, tips, support devices, groups, pages, literally whatever you got that has helped you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
TL;DR: Need advice with coping with what I assume is having fibro, until I can get to my doctor appt coming up.
Lots of love & pain-free days to you all. ❤️

At first I didn’t like the Automatic cruise control because it would brake super early, and I would look like a Karen braking a ton and get passed. After a few months with the car I decided to press this button on the steering wheel because I had no clue what it did, and my mind was blown. You can change the gap distance🤯. I put it on the shortest gap and it’s life changing on the interstate. Didn’t use my feet for 3 hours straight. I learn new stuff every week about the car it seems like

My neighbors told me there is a racoon family living in my shed. And a few days ago, I did notice circular hole about 4 inches wide at the bottomm of the back of the the shed. I dont believe the raccoons can get in it through the front doors of the shed, because even though there is some water damage at the bottom of the doors, there isnt much of an opening.
The 10x10 shed is chock full of tarps, closet doors, tools, electrical equipment, with only a few feet open space to the top of the shed. The state/city/county wont do anything about raccoons, and told me to contact a trapper, who will catch and kill the raccoons. I would prefer not to do that. i live on a small lake in south florida, and there are a few other wooded areas where i would think the raccoons could live, So I am currently planning on annoying or scaring them, so they run out of the shed. Once i had a raccoon in my attic at another house, and i scared it out by aiming a leaf blower at him….
I havent opened the shed door yet, but I would suspect the animals have some kind of nest near the floor, probably near the hole in the back. If the neighbors say they saw a “family” of raccoons, that indicates to me that the babies are old enough to walk outside on their own. So here is the plan I devised, but wanted to see what people think. Here are my proposed steps:
1) bang a lot on the front door, so hopefully the animals move to the back, or maybe just stay in their nest: 2) carefully open the door, holding a pitchfork to try and protect myself if the animal charges at me (this is the part I am least sure of, and wonder if pepper spray would be a better defense—but that gets in the user’s eyes too, I know from experience…); 3) when front of shed door is open, put a leaf blower in the shed, aimed toward the back, and put a strobe light in shed (raccoons are supposed to dislike strobes) 4) fill some little plastic cups with cayenne pepper and a couple pebbles, and throw them at the back wall of shed to create cayenne pepper bombs (raccoons are supposed to hate cayenne pepper). 5) Leave front door of shed open—but hopefully the raccoons run out the hole in the back. 6) Block the hole with concrete blocks, then seal it with a board and nails.
Any suggestions of helpful comments about this, or a different plan?

I have this burning desire to see a bunch of photos with Allan Holdsworth with one of his futuristic headless guitars but have the length of the neck of the guitar changing from 12 feet to one foot long, a constantly changing headless guitar neck while he’s on stage, please make this ! Please!!