Have you ever used a dating app called Bumble? If you did or if ever you will do, please beware of a man named Jay Domingo.
HE is a 39-year-old lecherous and egocentric man of Angeles City, Pampanga. He is an old man who is still living under the roof of his parents. In the app he is portraying to find his life partner or seeking for long-term relationship as what his profile bio will tell you, BUT it will get you all wrong. As he was just using it as a bait as if saying he was seriously looking for match, but to tell you the dark truth, it was a false advertisement just to get dates, get laid and taste all women he finds attracted to. Technically his preys will consist of girls or women ranging from a senior highschool to ladies of early mid-thirties.
The tactic of this man involves inviting you to have a coffee date with him and telling you stories about his exes. More particularly about his failed engagement in 2020. As according to him his fiancée has found another man and leaves him hanging during the pandemic. A very sad story, right? Surely you will fall for this and will give him the empathy as the pitiful guy that has been cheated to. But the thing is he is the one who is playing around and looking for pleasure beyond his fiancée’s knowledge.
In addition to that, he will also be sharing to you stories about his past dates. A senior high, who is maltreated at home. A lady who always bring her mother as a chaperone to their dates. His other emotionally immature dates and the list will go on… He will even tell you how he touches them and do stuffs with their body.
When he sees that you are not liking him or not attracted to him. He will make efforts to make you fall for him, he will be offering services such as to do house repairs, free transportation (hatid-sundo), accompany you to do stuffs like shopping, groceries, etc. On top of that he will be bringing the Pomeranian dog (the one he had on his profile) on your dates, to make you so into it like he is really engaging you to see him as a good person who is caring but NOT.
Because of his fake gestures, you will think that there will be something serious going on between the two of you. But little did you know he is still dating other girls he was chatting on the app and doing the exact things he was offering and doing for you while you think you are dating.
Once you fall on his tactics and see that you started to develop an emotional attachment, he will be limiting his interaction with you and until the day comes that he will be ghosting you. And for that you will be questioning yourself worth, even asking yourself what have you done wrong?
There is NOTHIING wrong with you. It is not YOU; it is HIM. He is the one who is afraid of commitment. He doesn’t like to deal with relationship conflicts and when he feels that his date is getting too clingy, he becomes so distant, boastful, do things that will make you angry for you to give up on him. He is a Tito playboy that is just messing your naïve heart. He is coward jerk who is afraid to tell you that he just used you to shortly satisfy his needs.
You will observe this on his chat that he is so proud of himself. Will tell you that he is late bloomer, and he is not dating cheap girls or paying girls for pleasure. Surely, he does not because he is doing it cheaply in the app.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with dating and knowing a person and have an interaction with them. But using someone as a playtime is never an acceptable thing to do. Especially for those innocent ladies who are searching or looking for a decent kind of relationship.
This is a message for all the girls and women out there to be cautious in using dating platform or online dating app. To be meticulous in getting to know the guy well. Don’t fall for their good-looking profile, persistent fake chat or actions and stories. As scammers are not only using technologies for money but sex-maniacs are now using technology to take advantage of innocent ladies. I hope this article will awaken all the women out there to protect themselves to the people that can harm them and question their self-worth.
And for you Jay Domingo I wish you nothing but KARMA! F*ck you!

So i got a flat while driving early shift. Apparently my tire has to be ordered because of its size. 😤😤 .so I can't deliver the rest of my packages. I call support to let them know that and the lady was like well just bring them back to the facility. I can't because I can't the time fix until tomorrow. Which means i don't have any transport until tomorrow. How was i not clear. Then she told to email flex so I wouldn't be deactivated. I'm like didn't I just report what is happening to you?

I didn't know where else to share this and I really need to get it off my chest before I collapse cause it was a horrible thing to wake up from but before we do that
TW-Kidnapping mention of sexual slavery and death, lots of death, maybe even looping of ones death
I woke up early cause I had that dream where I was kidnapped and technically used as livestock but I woke up before the worst part which I guess was kinda lucky because usually it ends with when we get to the car he comes up behind us and chops one if our heads off as a lesson, thank god I woke up. It was definitely a nightmare cause there was no way to peacefully escape/die, you either got "bred" and used as actual livestock and died that way or the car one or where you would be in the car but he would also be in the car and kill you that way Or the part where you think you're finally safe and you're driving down the road he drove you up to his house in the first place and there's either spike traps or he's just standing there in the middle of the road with a hatchet One way or another you're dying. Or you'd do what the ladies do cause the ladies show up to try and distract him cause their like
Undercover cops but he just ends up shooting everyone outside the kitchen window or you do eventually make it out but the guy is also registered as a cop so you can't do anything and eventually you get caught again and killed brutally while staring at the ladies corpses and him saying it's all your fault and that they would be alive if it weren't for me.
So yeah I think I've had this nightmare one too many times-
Thanks for listening though 😭😭

(I’m not editing otherwise I’ll just never end up posting this…so, it’s long and jumbled)
I’m sorry. Another one of these posts. My first time posting though. Going to talk to my psychiatrist at my Wednesday appointment and bring up about possibly having adhd. Please give me advice. One thing I’ll say though is I’ve been dealing with these things forever, so it’s hard for me sometimes to think of examples or comprehend the big pig of these questions like “How often do you have trouble listening to someone, even when they are speaking directly to you — like your mind is somewhere else?” So then, I have to really think about my day to day life. So, here’s just some things about me that drive me crazy, make me cry, and have SOMEWHAT accepted. I’m 37 now. Of course, I lose things, a lot. Just a recent thought is I lost my phone like 7 times in 4 hours. The other night I was looking at a recipe going to make something, and I can’t stand (which I assume, most don’t) but reading all the story about the receipe so I’m scrolling up and down and up and down because I apparently can’t just slow down, and go through it from the top down and find it. Ah, yes found it. I think I’ll call my grandma because it’s hot in my house our air isn’t working, I’m going to see if it’s hot in her house, because hers isn’t working. “Okay where’s my phone” leave the counter go look a minute and realized I was just looking at it, to find a recipe. Oooook, so this is just how things are all the time, so there’s just a small thing.
As exampled above, I always have things going through my head, and not that I dont realize it, but sometimes I’m so accustomed to it, I don’t think about it because I just always feel like everything is moving fast in my head and around me….when we could simply be sitting at a restaurant outside. The wind is blowing getting hair in my face….my kids are running around the table…I’m participating in a game of charades with them (always feel we’re that weird family out to eat…there’s me, husband (with adhd, doesn’t treat it..)10 year old, 8 year old, 5 year old. Thinking about needing to get home, because I need to get everyone to brush their teeth, get pajamas on, get to bed…like it’s a race because, I don’t know why because it’s Saturday….we get home, now I’m over stimulated, and have been….now I’m rushing around to help them…and I just need to get out of the room/house to be alone for a little bit because there’s too much going on. And the thing is…10 year old is on the couch…and the other 2 might just be sitting on their tablets…and no one is really doing anything. This again is a small example, of my day to day. Why we go out to eat when we have all the kids I don’t know. In many cases I can feel like I’m in my own world with a bunch of noise happening in my head…and my son is doing absolutely nothing I would probably say is that loud//“annoying”….but this is just how I feel. There’s sounds of a festival going on at my work…when it’s quiet. Sometimes not a festival, may sometimes just be a conversation with myself. Which, sometimes, now and again, comes out of my mouth. And one of my co workers will walk by and I just say I’m just having a conversation with myself pay no mind.
So going off of that, now if I get over stimulated and don’t take a break…because I can feel the irritation building up….i can just scream, like I’m over this right now, I have GOT to leave this situation…. Which could frankly be at work, I feel too much is going on…sitting at my desk. At my desk I am switching position how I sit I don’t know how many times, sitting on my legs…all the way forward…all the way back, legs crossed…oookay let’s switch. I doodle on my paperwork…I work as customer service, I feel because I’ve done customer service so long, I do pretty well paying attention to the customer….but at my current job it’s become challenging. I worked from home before…so I could do other things like…make a list of all the things I need to do, that I won’t that day…week…whatever. I could be “productive” I’ll call it. Here, I have other people taking calls which I can hear them, people walking by, this fan blowing about 10 ft in front of me….the lady behind me putting her cell phone down on her desk…and I have got to go to the bathroom because I’m about to pee my pants because I’ve waited too long.
Okay. Moving on. I put things off, pretty bad. It could be a text back to my dad just asking if want to do lunch next Saturday. I feel like I can’t respond, though, I am just reading it…and then I just think I have to remember to respond, go about my life and remember that I haven’t texted him back…which maybe 4 days have gone by at this time….because I feel like I just can’t so I will put a reminder that I need to text him back. I need to make a dentist appt I need to pay for my girls summer camp I need to do the laundry otherwise my kids will have no clean clothes to wear I need to blah blah blah…because I just can’t do it right now, though, I feel a “normal” person would go, why wouldn’t you just do it right then because you have time. My answer is I don’t know, I just can’t. Again, just a sample.
Spend too much money because at that moment I know this will help me feel better, if someone is reading something out of a book, but I have what they’re reading in front of me…I’ll listen to what they’re saying but then read the sheet probably in about 5 seconds. Okay fine. Okay now, what is this about? Let me re-read.
A planner for budgeting, I do get the bills paid on time, though lately again since I’ve been at this job, it’s gotten my challenging because I can’t just do whatever I want at my desk while working….but once bills are paid, we know what we have left….but…let’s spend 100 dollars on dinner…oh and I still need to get groceries…..so hopefully I get to that before there’s no coffee in the morning. OPE, no coffee this morning…I’ll just drive to the gas station, get some come back home. GET COFFEE, text husband, put reminder. It’s 9pm, walked by the empty k cup holder who knows how many times by now, “did you get coffee”.
I can blow up at small things then feel horrible. I have no friends, when I talk to people I talk too much, too fast…so a lot of times I just won’t say much, oh! But then you say a topic I l am excited about! Flood gates open and I have to bite my tongue not to jump in…and then I’m focusing on that and half listening to what you’re saying…at this point I’ve thought about it and decide I better just say a sentence response or “exactly”…or just word flood.
And all of this posts, this is how I talk, and what I hear in my mind….along with who knows what else.
It’s too much, day to day. It’s gotten really bad lately and I think it’s because my only friend died…and I absolutely hate my job, I have to even drive 40 minutes too, generally almost late every day…been there over a year. Late most of the time to places…unless I’m way too early, because I’m afraid I’ll miss an appt so I can’t do anything that day. I’ve also felt more depressed lately, feeling like a failure, feeling like there’s something wrong with me, I’m weird I think I am ugly . Sometimes I feel sad and I don’t know why…sometimes I feel anxiety and I don’t know why. And if I’m not moving a mile a minute, I’m sitting and can’t do anything, and I feel like I HAVE to go do something…now. Let’s go. Oh, let’s go spend money we don’t have.
I feel I do have depression, and I do have GAD, but I feel this is all a big cause of it, or at least a portion. I don’t think it’s all major depression disorder and gad.
Omg. If you read this you’re amazing…even if you just skipped through it. Thank you.

Welcome to our first discussion of David Copperfield! This week, we will discuss Chapters 1-5. The Marginalia post is here. You can find the Schedule here. The discussion questions are below.
One reminder - although this is a classic novel that has been adapted many times over, please keep in mind that not everyone has read or watched already, so be mindful not to include anything that could be a hint or a spoiler for the rest of the book or for other media related to this novel! Please mark all spoilers not related to this section of the book using the format > ! Spoiler text here !< (without any spaces between the characters themselves or between the characters and the first and last words).
Links of Note:

• Goodreads page
• Storygraph page
• Rockingham Castle and Mr. & Mrs. Richard Watson: Dickens dedicated this novel to the Watsons (link has minor spoilers for Bleak House)
• A David Copperfield Map (zoom in to click on individual locations - beware of potential spoilers, though)
• Get your own Dickens character name! Use this automatic generator or go by your birthday.

Chapter Summaries:
Chapter 1 - I Am Born: David Copperfield launches into the retelling of his life story with that famous line that questions whether he or someone else will turn out to be the hero of his life…but we’ll just have to read the whole thing to find out! Immediately we are let in on the unusual circumstances of David’s birth, which is suffused with superstition, causing the town gossips to speculate wildly. He was born on a Friday night near midnight, which of course means that he’ll have an unlucky life and be visited by ghosts and spirits. (I mean, would this even be a Victorian novel without some ghosts? David assures us that he’s yet to be haunted, though.) He was also born with a caul (inside the amniotic sac) which means he’ll be safe from drowning. This is apparently such great news that they advertise the caul for sale after his birth, but only get one hit on Victorian Craigslist, so they hang onto it until they can put it up for a raffle several years later. David says he remembers that raffle and found it super weird to watch a piece of himself get sold off, which, fair! He does note that the old lady who won the caul died in bed and not by drowning, so I suppose it was worth it?
Anyway, back to David’s birth! His father had been dead for six months on the night of his birth, and his mother was a terrified teenager living alone with Peggoty, her servant-girl, so called because they share the same first name. One Friday afternoon in March, his mother was hanging out by the fire and pondering the likelihood of dying in childbirth, when a formidable woman named Betsey Trotwood showed up at her door. Miss Betsey was his father’s aunt and she loved Mr. Copperfield, but hated her abusive husband, who she paid off to go to India and leave her alone. It worked - he died there! On the night in question, Miss Betsey literally pokes her nose into Mrs. Copperfield’s window and then demands that the pregnant lady get up to let her in. Being a force of nature, she takes charge of the room right away, criticizing the Copperfields’ choice of home (a rookery with no birds?) and making somewhat disparaging remarks about Mrs. Copperfield’s history as an orphan and a nanny. She also declares that the baby will be a girl and demands to be the godmother and namesake so the new Betsey Trotwood (Copperfield) can undo all the mistakes of Great Aunt Betsey’s life. Mrs. Copperfield goes into labor and Miss Betsey stays by the fire, plugging up her ears with cotton. She spends some time mildly abusing Ham Peggoty (the servant’s nephew who was hanging around the house to carry emergency messages) and generally ignoring the doctor. Said doctor, Mr. Chillip, is a gentle man but speaks so slowly that Miss Betsey almost throttles him. When he congratulates her on the birth of a BOY, she smacks him upside the head with her bonnet and leaves immediately, never to darken the Copperfields’ door again! Welcome to the world, David!
Chapter 2 - I Observe: David Copperfield relates some of his early impressions of life: his memories of creepy pantries, stuffy parlors, boring church services, and a loving home. His mother is young and beautiful in these memories, and Peggoty is beautiful to him in her own way (though she insists she is not). One day, Davy's mom shows up with a stranger who walks her home and - gasp! - touches her hand! Davy immediately dislikes this black-bearded, dead-eyed interloper and Peggoty seems to like him even less. He falls asleep while his mother is swooning over her new admirer, but when he wakes up his mom and Peggoty are having a big fight. Peggoty says the new man is bad news and Mr. Copperfield would never approve, while Davy's mom says Peggoty is being unfair and heartless. When all she does is sacrifice for Davy, doesn't she deserve some attention and excitement?! All three of them end up crying, and things are never quite the same between the trio again.
Davy's mom continues to see this man, Mr. Murdstone, who rides up one day and invites Davy to take a little trip with him to see a yacht. Peggoty gets him ready in a huff, and you can just tell this is the Victorian era version of riding on the irresponsible boyfriend's motorcycle without a helmet. Davy gets to meet some friends of Mr. Murdstone and watch them do a bunch of paperwork on the yacht. They also make fun of him, comment on how hot his mom is, and make him drink brandy. Since Davy is a little kid, he thinks they're having a grand time. When he later tells his mom they complimented her looks, she is quite thrilled. And then a few months later, Peggoty invites Davy to go with her to visit her brother for a fortnight. She talks up the trip so Davy will be excited, but it's clear she's worried. Davy wonders how his mom will fare all alone, but Peggoty assures him she will stay with a neighbor. (Lies!) Mr. Murdstone is there to see them off and he has … opinions … about how emotional Davy's mom is during the goodbyes. I'm with Davy when he wonders why it's any of this guy's business in the first place. In retrospect, Davy reflects that he wishes he had known he was leaving something behind forever and he is glad that he and his mom had a touching moment full of love as his carriage pulled away.
Chapter 3 - I Have a Change: Davy endures a very boring journey across flat countryside towards the sea to get to Peggoty’s family in Yarmouth. When Davy complains, Peggoty defends her hometown, as a proud Yarmouth Bloater. (Here's some bonus reading: a Victorian-era article about bloaters.) Davy is won over when they reach the busy fishing town and he gets to see the Peggoty home: it is a boat that has been converted for living, and he thinks it is pretty perfect. It turns out to be a full house due to the generous nature of Mr. Peggoty (original Peggoty's brother). Just don't mention said generosity because it makes him super mad. Mr. Peggoty has taken in the orphaned children - Ham and Em'ly - of his drowned brothers, as well as Mrs. Gummidge, the widow of his fishing partner. Davy's fortnight with the Peggotys is full of happiness. He explores the seashore with Em'ly and falls in love with her. They bond over never knowing their dads, although Em'ly wishes she were a lady in the same class as Davy. Davy reflects that given what he knows of her future life, it might've been better if Em'ly drowned that day by the sea. Dark! Mrs. Gummidge often has melancholy moods where she cries all day and declares she has it worse than everyone else, but the family kindly chalks it up to mourning for her husband and assures her they don't want her to go off to the poorhouse and die.
As the visit draws to a close, Davy realizes he has quite forgotten to miss his home and becomes eager to see his mother and Blunderstone Rookery. Yet when they arrive, Peggoty pulls him into the kitchen nervously. She really botches the delivery of her big news because Davy first thinks his mother may have died and then, when she tells him he has a dad, imagines Mr. Copperfield may have risen from the dead. But she brings him to the parlor to greet his new step-dad: it's Mr. Murdstone, of course. Mr. Murdstone proves himself to be a real downer, kicking things off by correcting Davy's mom (who we discover is named Clara) for jumping up too enthusiastically at her son’s arrival. Davy sneaks away to find that his house has completely changed and the yard has acquired a mean, black dog that snaps at him.
Chapter 4 - I Fall Into Disgrace: Davy has fallen asleep crying after the discovery of his mother’s marriage, and when Clara and Peggoty wake him, his mom blames both Peggoty and Davy for his despair. Mr. Murdstone comes up and dismisses them both so he can be alone with Davy. He explains that if he had a stubborn animal, he’d beat it until it obeyed, strongly implying that Davy had better change his attitude or else. Things get pretty grim for Davy after this. He is kept isolated from both his family and neighborhood children. Mr. Murdstone’s sister, Jane, comes to live with them and immediately takes over Blunderstone. Clara is given no say in household matters: even the keys are kept by Miss Murdstone and, when Clara protests and weeps at being pushed aside, the Murdstones manipulate her into apologies and submission. When the family goes to church, Peggoty is no longer invited and the Murdstones keep Davy and his mother apart; Davy also notices that the family seems to be the subject of much whispering and staring from the community.
Davy’s days are miserable. He is often locked up alone in his room, where he loses himself in his father’s old stash of novels and uses this escape as a survival mechanism. (This collection of novels was taken straight from Dickens’ own childhood, according to his biographer John Forster.) When allowed out of his room, Davy endures lengthy, difficult lessons in the parlor. He suspects the lessons are meant as much to teach his mom the Murdstone tradition of firmness tyranny as they are to educate him. No matter how hard Davy tries, he cannot seem to remember the lessons under such severe supervision. Davy is belittled as stupid for his mistakes and boxed on the ears with his books by Mr. Murdstone. When Clara tries to help Davy at one point, Miss Murdstone catches her, and both Clara and Davy are in a good deal of trouble. Clara is chastised, Davy is removed from the room, and the next day’s lessons are overseen by Mr. Murdstone with a cane and switches. This goes about as well as you would imagine: in his terror, Davy makes more mistakes than ever and is dragged from the room by Mr. Murdstone. To her credit, Clara does protest and try to run after them (unsuccessfully). Mr. Murdstone wields his cane and switches, but Davy bites his hand in an attempt to wriggle away. He then beats Davy severely and leaves him locked in his room for five days. During his imprisonment, Davy sees only Miss Murdstone who brings him meager meals and allows him short walks in the garden each morning and family prayers in the evening, before locking him away again. At the end of this punishment, which feels like years to Davy, Peggoty sneaks to his room to whisper through the keyhole that he will be sent to boarding school in the morning. She tells him his mother isn’t very angry with him, only disappointed, and begs him to remember her and her love for him. She promises to look after Clara and they both vow to write to each other. Davy asks to be remembered to Em’ly and the other Peggotys.
The next morning, his mother expresses her disappointment in his behavior and her hope that boarding school will reform him; Davy seems to realize she has been coached to believe the worst of him. He chokes down a little breakfast before his coach arrives, and Clara steals one unsupervised moment with him to say goodbye affectionately. Then, they are parted, and Davy is on his way to boarding school. It’ll surely be a harmonious and supportive learning environment. Right? Right?!?
Chapter Five - I Am Sent Away From Home: Mr. Barkis, the carrier driving Davy on the first leg of his journey to school, pulls over not too far away from the house. Who should appear out of the bushes but Peggoty! She silently hugs Davy until she pops some buttons of her dress (one of which Davy keeps), hands him some cakes, and slips him a note from his mother that includes two half-crowns. Davy shares a pastry with Mr. Barkis, who asks a lot of questions about Peggoty’s relationship status and cooking skills. He asks Davy to write Mr. Barkis is willin’ in one of his letters to Peggoty, which Davy does at the next stop. As he waits in Yarmouth for the stagecoach to London, Davy eats lunch at a hotel restaurant where he is grifted by the waiter. This unscrupulous man tricks Davy into giving him his ale, most of his food, and some of his money. The rumor goes around that Davy has the appetite of a boa constrictor, making him too nervous to eat at the next stop for supper. Wedged between two men and with a woman’s luggage stuffed underneath him, Davy spends an uncomfortable night in the stagecoach as it approaches London. He finds it strange the next morning, after all the snoring and moaning he witnessed, that the adults insist they were unable to sleep a wink!
Upon arriving at the station in London, there is no one to collect him. Waiting in the office, Davy begins to worry that he will be turned out of the station at night, run out of money and starve, get lost walking home, or have to offer himself as a soldier or sailor (though he knows he is too small for that). Finally, a rather scrawny man - who Davy assumes is the Master of Salem House School - arrives and takes Davy the rest of the way. Weak from lack of food and sleep, Davy begs to stop so he can buy breakfast, and the man takes him to the home of a poor woman (presumably his mother) to cook the provisions they purchase. The man plays the flute very badly as Davy begins to eat, but soon Davy has fallen asleep. He wakes to hear comments of “delicious” which he assumes refers to the man’s music, but I bet indicates they were eating Davy’s breakfast. They continue on to Salem House, where a man with a wooden leg lets them in and throws old boots at Davy’s escort, who turns out to be Mr. Mell, an employee of Mr. Creakle, the school proprietor. Salem House is dilapidated, dirty, and deserted. Davy wonders where everyone is and Mr. Mell informs him that Davy has been sent to school during the holidays as punishment. Another punishment: Davy must wear a sign on his back identifying him as a biter, which makes him increasingly paranoid that someone is always behind him reading it. (Probably not.) He also worries that the students, whose names he can read carved in the doorpost, will all make fun of him for it when they return. (Probably true!) Mr. Mell, an odd man with various ticks, doesn’t pay much attention to Davy, but neither is he mean. We get another ominous reference to the future in that Davy says he dreads the return of boys like J. Steerforth and the presence of “the awful Mr. Creakle”.

I met a nice, kind woman few months ago. Our emotional compatibility is near perfect.
She is close to 40( and divorced + failed relationships )and I ,in my early 30s.
I'm trying to get over the fact that she slept a few times with a military man in 2022 . She tried getting into relationship with him ,and then flew out of state to his newly bought big home in kansas to give him send off , before he got deployed. I believe they fucked at that time too. She also mentioned to me that she was desperate for having a child ,at that time. She also mentioned recently (while watching a movie )that she appreciates muscles coz she has seen how difficult it is ,to maintain muscles,and that that guy had muscles.
This woman is a nice ,sweet, attractive lady. I began meeting her since 2 months ago ,and came to know all this. . I just can't get rid of the images of this military man fucking her , In My head. She said she blocked him on chat at the beginning of 2023 as he turned out to only have sexual conversations with her as time passed on. And told me that she got mentally destroyed for having sex with no clarity or commitment with that guy. Her divorce (which happened in 2021) or her previous relationships don't bother me.

I've started dating a Venezuelan woman and I thought I was doing OK, but I'm learning that I don't know the culture. She first invited me to meet her dad within the first month. By American Stanrdards, I thought this was early but she later told me, I should have met him before our first date.
Yesterday she told me I should have asked her to be my girlfriend. I mean I thought that was obvious but of course I asked her right away and she said I seemed forced and that it should be more romantic.
Help me! How should I ask her to be my girlfriend? How should I interact with her father? What other traditions should I be aware of?
She got angry at me for asking things like how much her condo fee was or how much she pays her cleaning lady. I didn't see these as real personal questions. I read the rest of the comments on staying away from politics and I do.

So Im currently 7 weeks pregnant on my second pregnancy,lost the first 3 months ago in a MMC (silent miscarriage) at 11 weeks but it had passed at 8 weeks, I have been spotting since last Wednesday,I went for an early scan and everything was ok, last time it was ok aswell, so I'm looking for advice when should I be concerned? So the volume of discharge isn't alot in a day but since last Wednesday I think overall it is, it's not bright red and I'm not getting any pain,but that was the same as last time aswell, any ideas ladies, I'm trying to stay calm and not freak out

A brand new chapter! And this time we get to meet a member of Davey's family. I hope it doesn't end up being to humiliating for anyone......
Visit my mother? At work? In a fever dream I barely remembered getting into the car with the Smith family. We made the short drive across town and pulled up outside “Hoots”. The neon sign flickered, which mimicked a crude depiction of female breasts. The place always made me feel uncomfortable. When we walked in, I suddenly thought otherwise. It wasn’t really as scummy as I remember I guess. Most of the 20-something waitresses had on quite short shorts still, and revealing tops, but nothing overly obscene. I looked over at the Smiths and they seemed to be taking it all in stride, giggling at everything. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. Mr. Smith seemed unphased as he talked to the gorgeous hostess. She seemed to beam at his good looks and confident smile. “Miriam’s section, please” he said. The hostess twirled her hair and looked up dreamily at him. “Right this way, sir.”
Mr. and Mrs. Smith sat on 1 side of the booth, as I sat in between Ashley and Liz. As the family got used to the the somewhat promiscuously dressed 20 year olds, Mrs. Smith finally pointed my mother out. “Oh, that’s her there! Right Davey!?"
We all looked over where she pointed. My mother stood holding a small stack of dirty plates. Her uniform was the same as the other girls, but different. In addition to being the only woman there over 30, her outfit was shorter somehow. Trashier. It only emphasized that she was aging out of her 40’s and no longer maintained her youth the same as the rest of the staff. The table of gruff men she was talking to seemed to laugh at her while also stealing little rubs and grabs of her upper thigh, hips and even swatted her protruding backside. She tried to keep the grabby hands at bay with a pleading smile plastered across her face.
She set the plates down in the kitchen in the back, then hurried back over and returned as the men were just leaving. They threw couple bucks down, but missed the table as the crumpled dollars fell to the floor. As she got down on her knees to retrieve the dollars off the sticky floor, I heard Liz snort/laugh again and muttered out “jesus…I guess it’s genetic, huh Davey?”. Mrs. Smith called over “Miriam! Hello dear! We’re ready for orders when you're done down there.”
My mother scurried over as she wiped her hands on her tiny apron. “Mrs. Smith! Such a pleasure to see you here! And you brought the whole family! It has been so long since the PTA meeting. Such a, well, such a pleasant surprise. You look amazing!”
“Why thank you Miriam. I’ll tell my botox lady you think so!” she responded with a laugh. "And look who we brought here…” she gestured over to me. I looked up briefly “Um, uh, h-hi mom”.
“David! I, um, I wasn’t expecting you.” It was as if she was suddenly aware of how exposed she was.
“Look at this, Hank!”, Mrs. Smith said grabbing her husband’s attention, “this is what I was talking about. How is a woman supposed to have any self respect traipsing around in this!” Mrs. Smith found her sense of justice again. “Look at her! At her age, showing this much! How embarrassing!”
My mother as if on cue, turned a deep shade of red. I thought about sticking up for her. But what could I ever say. Maybe if I waited patiently, Ashley would maybe speak up for me. I had picked up a habit of hiding behind Ashley and waiting for her opinion. She always seemed to know just what to say!
Mr. Smith leaned forward with a grin, but spoke with sympathy dripping from his voice. “Yes, it’s just terrible. The other girls seem to be more, well, dignified in their attire though…”
“Yes,” my mother meekly replied back, “well, the other girls fit into the size small and maybe a few medium. I have to wear the large size, and well, they're from before they updated the store policy and implemented less-revealing uniforms. I put in my request for a “large" in the new uniforms though! My manager says it’s on backorder!”
Mr. Smith smiled wide at her “Well that’s fantastic then. Honestly, those shorts still look a little tight, but I’m sure that’s not bad for business”.
"It’s just disgusting is what it is!” Mrs. Smith continued. Look here,” she reached up grabbing my mother’s uniform strap and tugging it making my mother’s chest rise and fall with a jiggle "No support at all. She looks like she belongs in some seedy brothel; not a restaurant. I get the joke is it’s supposed to be a little crude in humor, but just look at this!” She pulled the strap a few more times causing her chest to shake heavily as the table let out a brief laugh. I shifted my eyes to the ground. Mrs. Smith then blatantly grabbed the waistband of my mother's tight fitting bright spandex shorts. "Ugh, and these are so tight still. You really should request an 'Extra Large', dear. I don’t think these are meant for 45 year old women…”
I wanted so desperately for my mother to stand up for herself. But all that came out of her mouth was "Y-yes well, hopefully when the, uh, the new uniform comes in, I can-”
“Turn around Miriam” Mrs. Smith said stopping my mom in her tracks. “I want to see the back…”
There was a brief moment of hesitation in my mother. I thought this would be where she stood her ground. But then she momentarily locked eyes with Mrs. Smith, who just returned an expectant look.
“Y-yes Mrs. Smith” my mother half said in a question, half not wanting to disobey a customer. She slowly turned around, revealing her unnecessarily “on display” backside tucked into bright colored booty shorts.
“Ugh, these shorts! She looks like some truck station hooker, Hank! Can’t you speak to someone from your golf club about this!”
Just then a pretty, early 20’s, blonde marched over. I was relieved to see this angel come to put us out of our misery. Perhaps she might even talk to Mrs. Smith about touching staff like that!
“Miriam! I said I needed my last table bussed 5 min ago! Get your head out of your tits and stop bothering the customers. Just take their order and get out of the way!” she barely broke stride as she confidently passed. My mother quickly got very nervous and called back “Y-yes Miss Hawkins! R-Right away!”
The smiths all seemed to gleam at my mother as she now nervously fidgeted in place. “S-sorry about that. Miss Hawkins is my new manager. She um, she has a tendency to not allow me to keep my tips if I screw up too much on shift."
"Well I think it’s great you have such a strong leader here, Miriam” Mr. Smith responded. "You can learn a lot from her!”
“Oh I absolutely agree, dear!” Mrs. Smith joined in, “someone like you and our sweet davey here can really flourish under a strong leader. I’ve always said, ’no such thing as a stupid dog. They just need the right owner to train them’. Isn’t that right, Davey?”
I looked up from my shoes for the 1st time and stuttered out my agreeance. “Y-yes Ma’am, um, Mrs. Smith, Ma’am. A d-dog is nothing w-without a strong owner, M-Ma’am." I don’t know why, but I quickly looked back at Ashley to make sure I said the right thing. Her warm smile and approving head shake made my nerves ease slightly.
“Y-yes, well, can I get you anything?", my mother asked. “I really should go clean Miss Hawkins' table before she gets upset with me again."
“We won’t keep you Miriam. We actually stopped by to see if we can ask you if Davey here can join us for our beach trip.”
My mother was barely listening now. Apparently urgent to bus her manager’s old table before getting reprimanded again. While looking over her shoulder “W-what? You want David to…? Wh-where again? Oh, uh, Y-yes, that’s fine whatever you think is best, Mrs. Smith!”
“Oh perfect! We’ll make sure he stays plenty active! Lots to be done! Oh, and we’ll start with a round of sodas, Miriam. Oh, and the chips and guac!”
“Y-yes Mrs Smith. Right away!”
For whatever reason, I felt a pang of dejection and humiliation. My mother barely asked any follow-up questions. Instead she was nervous about being in trouble with “Miss Hawkins” again, who looked like she was barely out of high school herself, and already had my mother dressed like a joke and trembling at her commands. And the way Mr. and Mrs. Smith talked to my mother! Then I felt Ashley’s leg brush up against mine as she giggled along to whatever story Mr. Smith now told the table as the rest laughed along in amusement. In my humiliation, I suddenly felt grounded. I now get a romantic beach trip with Ashley!
The rest of the meal felt like an out of body experience. I was mostly ignored as the family enjoyed their meal. The Smith family ate their food, as I tried to laugh along as if I was in on their private jokes. I picked at my side salad, no dressing. I wanted a burger like Liz and her father had ordered, but Ashley doesn’t like when I eat any foods she thinks are too fatty or might make me too full. She says it makes me “less eager to please”.
Liz made several comments about how good her burger was. It made my stomach loudly grumble, which she smirked at. As we were walking out Mrs. Smith point out my mother by the side door. She was talking with “Miss Hawkins” again. She suggested I go say goodbye to my mother as the rest of the Smiths made their way outside. I didn’t want to interrupt my mother’s conversation and hoped to save us both some humiliation, but Ashley jumped at the chance, thinking it was a great idea. She grabbed my hand and confidently pulled me forward. I resisted ever so slightly at 1st before she gave a slight pull and I looked down as my eyes caught site of her firm buttucks rolling back and forth in her black yoga pants. My thoughts felt cloudy and suddenly my mind seemed to glaze over. It suddenly felt really, really good to follow her. As we walked up I heard the conversation between my mom and the probably 21 year old manager. Miss Hawkins stood with her arms crossed as stared down my mother, who stood before her with her eyes cast firmly on the ground as she nervously shifted her feet.
“Well, what did I tell you about cleaning my tables the SECOND they get up to leave?” Miss Hawkins asked aggressively.
“I-i’m sorry Miss Hawkins, I tried but I-“
“Do I look like I’m interested in your dumb excuses, Miriam. Let’s go. That’s another demerit. Hand it over…” Miss Hawkins said with her hand on her hip, and the other outstretched. She had a hard, expectant look on her face, daring my mother challenge her.
I watched my mother take the few dollars she clung to and slowly put them in the bratty blonde’s hand. I was glad my mom kept her eyes on the ground. It was probably best she didnt have to see the smirk that crept across her tormentor’s perfectly glossy lips.
“OH EM GEE, April!?” Ashley said as we walked up.
Miss Hawkins turned to us and after a breif second said “Ashley!? Holy shit. From high school volleyball? What are you a senior now? You look great hun!” It was odd seeing her bratty and entitled attitude immediately switch to bubbly smiles.
“Oh please, I look like a wreck compared to you. You work here?”
“Yea, I started during my freshman year of college to help pay the bills. I graduate next year though and then it’s bye bye Hoots! It’s not so bad here though. The tips are great.” “That’s awesome. And I see you took this one under your wing? Hi again, Miriam!”
My mother briefly took her eyes off the ground. “Oh, uh, h-hello Miss Smi-“
“You know this little charity case?” April said cutting my mother off.
Ashley giggled and replied she was actually my mother. That’s when April Hawkins looked in my direction for the 1st time. I could feel the heat from her eyes on me. I nervously looked down at the floor and shifted my feet. A trait I suppose I learned. Ashley and April were clearly in full control of this conversation.
“I see the resemblance. Well, everyone just loves our little charity case, don’t we, Miriam?
“Y-yes Miss Hawkins”. I hated seeing my mother refer to this 20 year old ‘Miss Hawkins’ with an honorific while she was just ‘Miriam'. Miss Hawkins was certainly pretty though, she exhumed confidence, and stood with perfect posture, forcing her chest out attractively in her snug white shirt. I liked the way her full lips glittered and shined. I cursed myself for feeling my underwear get tight when I looked at her.
“That’s right, she cleans out tables when the busboys take a break, she works any shifts the girls don’t want, and she’s the only girl that volunteers to split her tips with the other girls. So we get to split basically everything she makes. She can so generous, sometimes she just needs a little ‘push’” April winked at Ashley. "I guess it helps her feel like less of a burden around the young ‘pretty’ girls.”
“Oh well that sounds JUST like my Davey! So sweet and ready to just give, give, give!”
“I could totally tell he was the type. They are such givers these two! And you should feel lucky Davey, not everyone gets to find such a pretty ‘taker’, you know” Miss Hawkins said with a laugh.
“Oh you’re gonna make me blush, April!” Ashley laughed, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Plus if she’s anything like my Davey”, she said gesturing toward my mother, "I’m sure she works like, so super hard to please you!”
“Oh for sure! Old Miriam here is really a cash cow. The older crowd of guys love still being able to get a quick grab or feel as she serves them, and they don’t have to worry about any reporting or repercussions with her. Not that they’d try that bullshit with me or one of the other girls!”
Ashley smiled on “Don’t I know it, girl. You wouldn’t take that shit from anyone!”
“Got that right! But I’m not gonna report it for little old Miriam here, so the creepers and old perverts usually through a few extra dollars her way. Which ends up rightttt insideee my pockets, ain’t that right Miriam?” My mother nodded along as she gave up any attempt at looking from the floor.
“Well, this has been, like, SO fun!” Ashley gushed. “Just wanted Davey to say hi to mommy”
“Yea, we should party sometime. Okay, fun’s over Miriam. Grab the trash from the back and throw it in the dumpster.” My mother spoke with her head slightly raised, wringing her hands nervously “Oh, um, please Miss Hawkins maybe I could say goodbye to my son in priva-“
“Trash. Now!” Miss Haskins returned to her normal tone when speaking with my mother.
"Y-yess miss h-h-hawkins!” Just like that she scurried away without saying goodbye. I didn’t blame her at all though, and didn’t find myself feeling angry. I think in that moment, she genuinely forgot I was there. She was just trying to be good for her superior, that’s all!
Ashley waved goodbye as she started to walk off. “See ya, April! Davey, come!” I looked up from the floor to look at April Hawkins one last time and saw her eyeing me up and down like a piece of meat. Like she knew something I didn’t. I quickly turned and scurried to keep up with Ashley who was several steps ahead. When I caught up, Ashley spoke as if to no one in particular. “Isn’t April cool? And she’s such a boss. Always has been! And did you hear the way she spoke to Miriam!? ‘Trash. NOW’ hahaha, such a queen! I like, totally gotta try that. ‘Davey, Trash. Now!’ ” I squirmed as she giggled at her own joke. She confidently strutted off, and I followed behind.

I'm a FTB and just bought a flat. The lady next doors is elderly & suffers from early onset dementia.
She's become a nuisance (constant knocking on door & crying in front of us & asking for help at odd hours).
We reported this to her family and understand from them, that the seller had also reported this to them. We had asked seller specifically about neighbours complaints and he said 'None'.
Is the seller required to legally let us know of 'nuisance' neighbours?
PS: This is in England

So this came just 1.5 years after Return of Saturn. This is a very interesting album for multiple reasons, so let's just go into it.
First, I would like acknowledge something important: This album did significantly better than RoS, basically putting No Doubt on the map again as a mainstream popular band. You could say that it's more pop which is why it succeeded… but I think that misses something. Look at their history: They broke into the mainstream with Tragic Kingdom, an album whose two big hits might have been new wave and alt rock ballad, but was mostly made of tracks inspired by ska, a Jamaican genre. Then came Return of Saturn, which deemphasized the Jamaican influences in favor of punk and new wave. It didn't replicate the success of its predecessor, but then comes Rock Steady, an album heavily inspired by dancehall… a Jamaican genre. You see what I'm trying to say? Audiences, at least in America, like them best when they make Jamaican-inspired music. It's what made them unique. I think this is also why Push and Shove wasn't a success.
Either way, let's go into the tracks. The intro is amazing, it makes you excited, and then we get to Hella Good and Hey Baby. I'm putting these songs together because they have a similar sound, and they were both the big hits from the album. It's interesting that the big songs from the album are all at the start, and that only one single is not there. But either way, these are fun party songs, which is exactly what No Doubt went for in this album. The comes Making Out, which starts by surprising me with its electronic drum beat, but then returns to familiar territory with Gwen's voice. Definitely an early-2000s girl anthem.
Then comes Underneath It All, probably my favorite track on this album, and also continuing with the hits all being in the first half. While there is debate over how ska Bathwater is, there is no doubt that Underneath It All could find a place on Tragic Kingdom. It's a welcomed return to form for the band, with Lady Saw's verse adding some Rock Steady vibes to the familiar Tragic Kingdom sound.
Detective then gives us a peek to Gwen's pop future, with a nice acoustic background in the verses, a nice funky sound in the chorus and bridges, and again, early-2000s vibe. God, this might be the definitive Y2K girl album. Don't Let Me Down combines pop punk influences with electronics in a pleasing way, and is a breakup song, like much of the band's best work. I don't have much to say on Start The Fire except that it is okay.
Running is my second favorite song. It has this bittersweet feeling to it, with a great chiptune-style synthesizer. The whole song seems to musically recall the year before's Simple Kind Of Life, except this time she's singing about her band.
And then In My Hand picks up the mood again, with a cheeky production and lyrics about Gwen's romantic struggles, and ending with the pessimistic, cynical conclusion that "everybody wants everybody else". Then we get Platinum Blonde Life, a rock song apparently about Gwen's love for dying her hair, but I find it hard to see that referenced outside of the second verse.
Waiting Room then has an electronic beat, and surprised literally everybody I think by having No Doubt collab with Prince. And then, the big finale brings us back to the intro and helps us realize what it was about: Hoping for a stable relationship, one that survives Rock Steady vibes. Definitely my third favorite.
But then, I got a surprise: I was listening to the Expanded Edition, which added acoustic renditions of two songs: This album's Underneath It All, and the No Doubt classic (and my favorite of theirs) Just A Girl! You can imagine how ecstatic I was about the last one. I love acoustic music, wish there was more acoustic rock - as in songs with an acoustic guitar, bass and drums.
So looking back, this is a good album. But much less exciting than the previous four. The style change is just really drastic for this band, but the return to Jamaican influences did help them regain their relevance. As a result, it is my least favorite of the five I've listened to so far. But I have a feeling the next one's gonna be even lower. I guess I'll see you around when push comes to shove.

Hi, I am a 38F who's currently in a 2 y relationship with a 40M. We met through a mutual friend, started quite casual from my side as I wasn't ready to be in a serious relationship yet. He however was serious from the start, we connected on a lot of things initially but as soon as we decided to get serious 7months later, we've always had a tumoultuous relationship, due to having opposite personalities and extremely different upbringings as well as not being on the same page emotionally. From the beginning he seemed like the kind of man who has very good intentions makes a lot of promises, but the majority of time we end up not doing any of the things promised "due to work commitments" I had a lot of advice from family and friends telling me he is a good man and loves me very much and if I wanted to get married and have a family time wasn't on my side, that I should give someone that loves me a chance and eventually I would learn to love him too, that a relationship takes a lot of work and I would have to work and build what I wanted, that as long as he had a good heart, is a good man the rest could be build and taught. In my opinion he is all of these things and regardless of me being an independant women who is educated, has her own house and a good job, he says he wants to still provide for me and a future family. Now, with that being said, my feelings for him have not been as strong as his for me, I heard everything everyone said and decided they may be right, let me give us a chance and I could learn to love him. At some point last year I actually started developing some feelings and thought this is it, we went on a magical holiday I started seeing him with different eyes, more of a leader and less of a pushover. And for the 1st time after being disappointed so many times, he accomplished a "task" he had promised, we each paid our own way but the important thing was he was there, I decided to comply to his wishes of being introduced to my family and friends and thought this might be the start of something. Fast forward to the last 6 months the empty promises and recurrent disappointment on things we were planning to do together has become apparent again, don't get me wrong I see he seems to have good intentions and doesn't do it purposefully, he lacks discipline in general and wants to do everything at same time but ends up doing nothing kind of guy. I do really care for him but the exhaustion is catching up,we hadn't been intimate in weeks over a month, to the point that last month I ended up going on a holiday by myself to Finland, since our holiday plans have once again not happened and I've never even heard an apology or had an actual seat down to explain why, I booked myself a flight and a hotel for 4 days and left, he was a bit sour, we had an argument over the phone about how we are not communicating well with each other and he thought after that conversation everything was good. But now I'm in Finland and I had never had a solo holiday before this was it, I took myself out on dates to amazing restaurants, boat rides, site visits and was honestly the most amazing experience. Something shifted inside of me, I came back and my feelings for him were fading and I now find myself thinking more and more of a previous partner who I stayed with for 7 years from my early 20's who I was madly in love with and vice versa. This is also a 40M from my past who I had a very intense love story with and due to living in different countries at the time and paperwork issues the relationship ended up breaking, we were going through a lot individually and couldn't be there for each other physically, months would go by without seeing each other. However we never forgot each other, we went no contact for 5 years and one day in 2016 I was on holiday with my parents and siblings far away, let's say I live in the UK, the ex-partner lived in Spain at the time, my parents are from Brazil and he's family is from Brazil as well, and this one day in 2016 I was coming out of the hairdressers with my mom and saw him coming in to the shop with a friend, we were both speechless at 1st because what are the odds that after 5 years of no contact at all living far away, we were visiting our families at the same time in the same place, Brazil is such a huge country too. Anyway, after a few minutes he told me he was there because his mother had passed away, I gave my condolences, my mum too we chatted for another 5 min and left. I was speechless. Coming back to the UK I spent 2 days online trying to find his number or email or any contact to give him my proper condolences and found out he is now living in the UK. Now I was in a relationship at the time so we never saw each other again but we kept talking respectfully, but I knew he continued to love me and I him. Now it's 2018 I'm single again and we would chat every 3/4 months I never told him I was single and even thought I asked him if he was single and he said yes, I got the impression he wasn't, I'd seen his pics on WhatsApp profiles travelling and having fun and was definitely a female involved. So I left it, I didn't want to disturb his happiness, even thought he continued chatting to me. Now 4 years later after being single for so long I meet the current partner and situation above. Circling back I've been thinking a lot about ex-partner and how loved I felt and still feel even without being together, I'm sure if I asked him to see me or asked to consider rebuilding a relationship he would definitely say yes, but at the same time I wouldn't want to ruin anything for him if he's already happy. Now the so long awaited question for mature ladies...would you have rather choose to stay with a man that loves you whom you care for but don't love, or with the man that you love and care deeply? I feel very divided, didn't think I would have these type of doubts at my age.

So in my final year of my undergrad degree, I thought I had finally learned to manage my time - my honours thesis was completed early, I did drafts, I worked on it in stages for the full semester while also working casually and doing another subject. Clearly, this was a natural progression of all my learning and effort in the time management space since my chaotic first couple of year at uni! And I should therefore be able to apply this to further studies, right???
Wrong. I was so wrong. Turns out, the reason I was so organised for my honours thesis was because it was an area I was genuinely interested in and passionate about and I enjoyed working on it.
I started a masters earlier this year in an area that will be helpful for career development and is a little bit interesting, but nowhere near as interesting as my undergrad study. And ladies, every. Single. Assessment. has been a last minute scramble and panic, after spending at least one full day hating myself for not just sitting down and doing it.
In fact, I'm making this post right now instead of doing an assignment that is due in 3 hours, and would only take probably 90 minutes of concentrated effort to finish, and that I could have done at any point in the last 3 days.
Sorry for the rant, I'm just so frustrated that I thought I'd gotten better at something when I'm actually only better in a very specific set of circumstances 🙃

My name is Rory Fars, and my little sister, Lily Fars, is the last family I had left.
A heavy sense of dread settled over me like a suffocating blanket as I sat in the worn leather seat of Lily's old jeep. The car, a relic of our happier days, seemed to groan under our shared sorrow. Beside me, Lily, my best friend, and confidante, absentmindedly twirled a strand of her long, dark hair, which swayed gently in rhythm with the haunting melodies from the oldies station on the radio. This car had seen us through countless joyful journeys when our family was whole. Almost three years had passed since that fateful Christmas trip in Texas when our parents were tragically killed in a horrific multi-car pileup. The memory of their loss was a constant ache, a wound that never fully healed.
My dad was from Amarillo, Texas, so my parents often took trips down there, visiting the places that held so many memories for him. During one of these trips, just before Christmas, a sudden blizzard struck while they were on the freeway. The snow fell in blinding sheets, making the world outside a disorienting white blur. As they tried to slowly pull to the side, their vision obscured by the relentless storm, they never saw the car barreling toward them at least forty miles an hour. The impact was devastating, an abrupt and brutal end to their journey and, in many ways, to our lives as we had known them.
My parents were always sticklers for safety, insisting on seatbelts every time we got in the car. So, of course, they had theirs on during that fateful trip. The initial impact wasn't what killed them, the coroner explained to me. Not even the first hit from behind, which was going at least fifty miles an hour, was fatal. I had to practically shake the information out of him—they were so resistant to tell me anything at first. By the time the third car hit, with an unknown speed, their survival was already in jeopardy. The coroner said that by the fifth car, they were likely dead. But it didn't end there. Another twenty-three vehicles slammed into the back of the pile, each collision further crushing their bodies, reducing them to a horrific, unrecognizable state. Each jarring impact pushed my parents deeper into a gruesome amalgamation of twisted metal and shattered lives.
I don't know why I felt compelled to demand those details at the time, but I deeply regret it now. I wish I had never asked. Almost every night, unless I drink myself into oblivion, I am haunted by nightmares of what they endured. I dream of driving up to save them, only to be caught in the same deadly barrage of cars, ending in a twisted metal tomb for all of us.
Lily is never in those dreams. Even in my most horrific imaginings, I can't envision her being hurt. Lily is my little sister, younger by eight years and three months. Whenever I mention our age difference, I see the judgment in people's eyes, but what can I say? Our parents never stopped loving each other. They had Lily late in life; she became our shared joy, our living reminder of the love that had bound our family together.
Lily wasn't my twin in the literal sense, but ever since she was born, it felt like we shared the inexplicable connection that twins often describe. As she grew up, our bond only deepened—we acted, sounded, and even looked remarkably alike. She became my rock, especially after our parents' tragic deaths. We leaned on each other, cried into each other's shoulders, and somehow found the strength to move forward. We eventually moved in together, finding solace in a two-bedroom apartment that became our sanctuary.
Lily seemed to handle our parents' deaths better than I did, or maybe she was just better at distracting herself with technology. Even before their passing, Lily was addicted to any kind of digital screen she could manipulate. Her ability to navigate the digital world was unmatched; she was the most intelligent person I had ever met. Her intelligence was a beacon of light in the darkness that had enveloped us, a testament to her resilience and brilliance.
After my parents' death, I embarked on a quest to find my spirituality by delving into paranormal investigations. I hoped these pursuits would bring me closer to my parents in the afterlife, spiritual realm, or whatever you want to call it. Instead, it created a chasm between me and any sense of spiritual existence. Each investigation seemed to push me further from the answers I sought, leaving me feeling more isolated and disconnected than ever.
I had hoped that by exploring these paranormal claims, I would discover a way to reach out to my parents and feel their presence again. Yet, as the years have passed, this endeavor has only deepened my loneliness and sense of loss. Despite knowing how detrimental it is to my mental health, I can't bring myself to stop. The hope that the subsequent investigation will be the one that proves the existence of an afterlife and that I'll find a way to contact my parents keeps me going. It's a desperate, unrelenting pursuit for a connection that remains heartbreakingly out of reach.
I should have accepted their death and moved on like any sane person would. Instead, I let my grief fester and dragged my sister and a stranger, Mark, through my obsessive quest for answers. My relentless pursuit of the paranormal didn't just alienate me; it consumed us all, leading to their untimely deaths. My name is Rory Fars, and I am here to confess my side of the story about the missing case of Lily Fars and Mark Lawrence.
This is the truth about how my desperate search for a connection with the afterlife led to a nightmare from which none of us could escape.
To start off, no, Lily was not a student of Mark's who fell in love with him and then got jealous of me hitting on him, leading her to kill him and herself. I know that sounds ridiculous, but given some wild theories circulating online, I need to address this one specifically since it seems to be the most popular.
First and foremost, Mark Lawrence was not, nor has he ever been, a professor at a university. Lily and I met Mark at the Local Museum in Redlin, a town nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains. He was the curator of an exhibit showcasing the history of Raven's Nest, a forgotten mining town that neither Lily nor I had ever heard of. This is where our story begins, in a place steeped in history and mystery, far removed from the convoluted theories that now cloud the truth.
We were constantly searching for new ideas for our podcast about paranormal claims. Each of our twenty-five episodes so far had concluded with a rational explanation, so when Mark told us about the curse of Harper, I was immediately intrigued.
Mark was an older man, likely in his mid-sixties, with a full head of silver hair and a beard that stubbornly clung to its youthful color, only lightly dusted with grey. He had a presence that commanded attention, and his stories about the curse were delivered with an intensity that drew me in.
On the other hand, Lily was always more interested in the technical aspects of the paranormal. She had her own theories and was determined to debunk every claim we investigated. She wasn't easily swayed by Mark's tales about the curse of Harper, but she was willing to listen and give him a chance to prove himself. Her skeptical mind constantly checked my enthusiasm, and together, we hoped to uncover the truth behind yet another paranormal mystery.
"Hello ladies, care to hear about the mysterious town of Raven's Nest?" Mark asked with theatrical enthusiasm.
Lily and I exchanged a knowing glance, trying to stifle our amusement. Despite our attempts to remain composed, a smirk played at the corners of our lips.
"We're all ears," I replied, my tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
He sighed, almost as if he was disappointed that we said yes. Taking a deep breath, he seemed to steel himself for the task ahead. "Well, you see," he began, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "in the early twentieth century, a man named Harper Franstein exploited many men and children in the coal mines. By the mid-1920s, he had established his own settlement in a secluded valley, which he dubbed 'The Raven's Nest.' It was never officially recognized as a town, but that's the only name we have to go off of."
I could see the beads of sweat forming on Mark's brow as he struggled to recall every detail. Despite his initial enthusiasm, he now appeared flustered, his confidence waning. Eventually, he resorted to consulting his damp and crumpled notes, a sign of his growing unease.
"Um, anyway, yeah, um," he stuttered, audibly gulping as his nerves got the better of him. Lily couldn't contain her laughter, emitting a snicker that earned us a glare from Mark.
"Hey, just relax," I interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "We're not here to judge or intimidate you." With a gentle touch on his forearm and a chuckle, I attempted to reassure him, hoping to ease his obvious discomfort.
He paused, sharing a chuckle with me, while Lily struggled to suppress her laughter and eventually excused herself, leaving just Mark and me. Evidently, he felt more at ease with fewer listeners, so he pressed on with his narrative.
"Anyway," he resumed, "Harper held complete control over the town and the mine, and he made sure everyone was acutely aware of that fact. When the disappearances began, he tried to sweep them under the rug, attributing them to anything but his own negligence in mining practices."
"What do you mean by 'negligence in mining practices'?" I interjected, eager to delve deeper into his intriguing tale.
He looked up, clearly pleased by my question. "Yes, exactly," he affirmed. "Harper adhered to a mining technique outlined by Dwight Brunst in the mid to late nineteenth century. This method mandated only one entry and exit point into the mine."
"Wait, so they were forbidden from creating additional exits?" I pressed for clarification.
"Not explicitly," he explained. "The practice advocated for just one entry and exit as it was believed to minimize the risk of cave-ins, at least in theory. However, there were instances where miners, feeling uneasy about this restriction, took matters into their own hands and carved out what they called 'Emergency Exits' for themselves. After about half of the town started going missing, Harper couldn't take criticism about how he responded, but most people say he was losing money quickly and didn't want to live in a world where he was poor. He walked into the mine, never to be seen again, much like the cave's past victims. Visitors report seeing and hearing Harper, trying to get them to leave."
As I stood there, listening to Mark's enthralling narrative, I found myself captivated by the mysterious allure of Raven's Nest. Unable to contain my curiosity, I decided to pose a question.
"So, what does the town look like now?" I inquired, eager to learn more about the present state of this enigmatic place.
Mark's demeanor shifted slightly as he rifled through his notes, a subtle indication that he didn't have a straightforward answer to my query.
"You've never been there?" I asked, my tone softening with genuine curiosity.
He flinched as though my question had struck a nerve. "Shhhhhh... shut up," he demanded, his voice tinged with unease.
Suppressing a chuckle, I leaned in closer and whispered, "Okay, hear me out. My sister Lily and I are investigating paranormal phenomena. Your story about Raven's Nest sounds like the perfect addition to our podcast. What do you say we compensate you for your guidance? Let's say, three hundred bucks?"
He straightened up, contemplating my proposition for a few moments. Without uttering a word, he extended his hand, and I met it halfway with my own, sealing our agreement with a firm handshake.
Our journey to Raven's Nest was no easy feat. Situated a good twenty miles from town and nestled deep within a dense valley. After all of the tight turns, narrow dirt roads, and steep inclines, it took us a grueling two and a half hours to go twenty-something miles, but we finally reached the outskirts of the infamous settlement. As we stood at the edge of the "Nest," anticipation mingled with trepidation, setting the stage for the eerie exploration that lay ahead.
I glanced at my phone; the time read 11:56 pm, signaling the late hour. Sensing the exhaustion weighing heavily, I suggested we catch a few hours of rest in Lily's jeep. Mark, though visibly unsettled, remained silent from the back seat, his arms folded tightly across his chest as he slumped against the window like a sulking child.
Drifting asleep in the passenger seat, I soon found myself ensnared in a nightmare. In my dream, Mark was being dragged away into the darkness, his desperate attempts to claw his way back to safety only resulting in broken fingertips. Despite his struggles, he was powerless against the unseen force pulling him inexorably into the abyss. Suddenly, I was alone, engulfed in utter darkness, my heart pounding with fear as I ran blindly from an unseen terror that seemed to pursue me relentlessly, its malevolent presence palpable but unseen.
I jolted awake, gasping for breath, my heart racing as the remnants of dread lingered in the pit of my stomach. It was morning, and I was struggling to adjust my vision. Lily's frantic but comforting voice broke through the haze of my terror, grounding me in reality. With her comforting embrace, I gradually calmed my racing thoughts, drawing deep, steadying breaths.
As we sat there, enveloped in each other's embrace, Mark approached the driver's side window with an unexpected question, "Alright, what's for breakfast?" His nonchalant tone and casual demeanor were a stark contrast to the harrowing nightmare that had just consumed my thoughts, momentarily dispelling the lingering specter of fear that had haunted my dreams.
Lily and I both look up at him and back at each other as we burst out into laughter.
Amidst our shared laughter, Lily and I exchanged amused glances before turning our attention back to Mark.
"Ha...ha, yeah. No, but seriously, what's for breakfast? Eggs, bacon, toast, at least?" Mark pressed, hoping for a more substantial response.
His earnest inquiry fueled our laughter further, our giggles echoing through the quiet night air. Eventually, we regained our composure and stepped out of the jeep, stretching our limbs after the cramped confines of the vehicle.
Mark awkwardly moves to the side, still waiting for an honest answer. Lily tossed him a granola bar, eliciting a bemused chuckle from him. With a shared understanding, we set off on foot, embarking on the hike into the town.
The path ahead was clear: a single dirt road that wound its way from the abandoned coal mine into the heart of the small settlement. The road, now overgrown and muddy from years of disuse, bore the marks of neglect and isolation. Wary of the treacherous conditions, Lily opted to forgo the risk of getting stuck, steering clear of the decrepit road that likely hadn't seen a traveler in at least half a century.
We parked Lily's jeep at the entrance to both the mine and the town of Raven's Nest, opting to proceed on foot from there. Standing at the mountain's peak, gazing down at the desolate town below, I couldn't help but ponder the history beneath the dilapidated structures. I imagined how this valley must have once been a pristine landscape cherished by the indigenous people who roamed its lush terrain.
"Jesus, this place is more like a shit nest," Mark muttered in disgust, his disdain evident in his tone.
Lily shot me a knowing glance, silently communicating her skepticism toward Mark's assessment of the town.
Deciding to put Mark's knowledge to the test, I casually inquired, "So, what year was this area founded?"
Mark's reaction was almost defensive as if my question had caught him off guard. He hesitated momentarily before fumbling for his note cards in his pocket, a telltale sign that he wasn't as knowledgeable as he let on.
Before he could respond, I interjected with another question, "Mark, how long have you worked at the museum?"
As Mark froze, his gaze locking onto mine like a deer caught in headlights, I watched him closely, waiting for any sign of hesitation or discomfort. My narrowed eyes bore into his, silently urging him to be honest.
Finally, breaking the tense silence, Mark confessed, "Look, this is only my first week. I... I haven't had the greatest time lately, and I really need the extra money. I'm sorry I lied, but I'll help however I can."
I met his gaze unwaveringly, sensing the sincerity in his words. Clearly, he was a man in need of redemption, grappling with his own personal struggles.
"Alright, alright, don't cry too much," I teased lightly, trying to ease the tension. Gesturing towards Lily, who was busy preparing her wireless motion cameras in her backpack, I continued, "Lily and I already figured that was the case. Honestly, we're surprised you agreed to come along."
Mark remained frozen, but the tension seemed to melt away from his expression, replaced by a tentative smile. It was a moment of shared understanding, a silent acknowledgment that he was still welcomed into our expedition despite his initial deception.
"Alright, I have the cams and portable batteries to make sure the cameras and anything we have with power can last," Lily said, her voice brimming with determination.
We began our descent into the town, our hiking boots struggling against the thick, clinging mud produced by the constant light rain and years of disuse. Each step was a battle, the mud threatening to swallow our boots with every move.
After an eternity of trudging through the muck, we finally reached the town's only paved road—the main road. It had taken us only about fifteen minutes to hike down, but navigating the muddy slope had sapped our energy. We paused for a break, taking a few minutes to clean off our boots and catch our breath.
As we rested, I noticed Lily rummaging through her bag with a focused intensity. Curious, I asked, "What are you looking for?"
"I brought five motion-detecting cameras that I want to set up strategically throughout the town," she replied, pulling out one of the cameras. She walked over to the nearest building, a structure that served as a post office, police station, and fire station. She positioned the camera outside the building so it was pointed at the only road leading in and out of the town.
"We need to cover all potential points of interest," she explained, securing the camera in place. "This one will monitor any activity on the main road. We should place the other cameras around key locations like the mine entrance, the town square, and some more intact buildings."
I nodded, appreciating her thoroughness. "Good idea. We need to make sure we capture anything unusual."
Mark, having finally caught his breath, joined us. "Alright, let's get these cameras set up and see what we can find," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Look," Lily said, turning her tablet screen toward us. She waved her hand in front of the camera she had just placed. The tablet displayed five squares on the interface, each meant to show a feed from one of the cameras. Since Lily had only set up one camera so far, only the bottom right square showed any footage pointed at the road leading out of town. She stopped waving her hand, and the feed went to a blue screen.
"What happened? Did we lose connection?" Mark asked frantically, his eyes wide with concern.
Lily cackled, struggling to contain her amusement. Composing herself, she waved her hand in front of the camera again, and the bottom right square showed her hand waving once more. "It's motion-activated. It's the best way to save on battery life," she explained.
Mark seemed to relax, though he was still catching his breath after the brief panic.
I glanced at my watch, noting the time. "It's 8:30. We're behind schedule. If you want to place the rest of your cameras, we better move now," I said, walking down the street.
Lily immediately got up and followed me, with Mark struggling to keep pace behind us. We reached the market building, and Lily positioned her second camera on the side of the road, pointing up at the market.
It's not much longer before we make it to the Town Hall. I suggest Lily place a camera nearby. She nods and heads into a building across from the Town Hall labeled, "Slaughterhouse: LOCAL ANIMALS ONLY."
As Lily explores the building to find an adequate spot for the camera, I wait for Mark to catch up. While I wait, I can't help but imagine this town in its prime, picturing the streets filled with families who loved each other.
My thoughts are abruptly cut off by a sound echoing in the distance—a roar unlike any I've ever heard. It was a mix of a human screaming in pain, the roar of a lion, and, near the end, the howl of a wolf. The chilling sound sent shivers down my spine.
I jump to my feet and immediately call out, "Lily, you okay?"
There's no response from Lily, but I'm interrupted by Mark finally catching up, panting heavily.
"Holy... shit... did you... hear that?" Mark said frantically between breaths.
"Yeah, we have to find Lily," I say, bolting into the slaughterhouse. I glance back to see Mark bracing himself on the steps of the Town Hall, struggling to keep up.
As I enter the building, the stench of rotting flesh hits me like a wave, causing me to gag. The smell is too fresh to be decades old.
"Lily? Lily, where are you?" I yell, using my shirt to shield my nose from the overwhelming odor.
"Rory, I'm in here!" I hear Lily yell from a room two doors down. I pass the first door, peeking in to ensure I hadn't misheard, but I wish I hadn't looked.
Inside the first room, I catch a glimpse of what appears to be a pile of animal carcasses, their decayed bodies arranged in a grotesque display. The sight is horrifying, the flesh still disturbingly fresh. The bile rises in my throat, but I force myself to focus on finding Lily.
I rush to the room where her voice came from, pushing the door open. Lily is there, setting up the camera, seemingly oblivious to the horror in the adjacent room. Relief floods through me as I see she's safe.
"Lily, did you hear that roar?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Yeah, I heard it," she replies, her eyes wide with concern. "I was just finishing up here. Let's get back to Mark and figure out what that was." She had placed the camera in a window, pointing directly at the Town Hall.
We hurry back outside, where Mark still catches his breath as we meet between the buildings. "We need to stay together from now on," I say firmly, looking at both of them. "Whatever that noise was, it's not something we want to face alone."
"Let's check out the Town Hall!" Mark says excitedly as he slowly clambers through a broken window.
"Did he not just hear what I said?" I mutter under my breath, shaking my head in disbelief.
Lily gives me a shrug, her eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Guess we're heading into the Town Hall then," she says, adjusting her backpack and walking towards the broken window.
I sigh and follow suit, hoisting myself up and carefully maneuvering through the jagged glass. Inside, the air is musty, filled with the scent of old paper and decaying wood. Dust motes float lazily in the beams of sunlight streaming through the cracked windows.
The main hall is vast and eerily silent, with rows of empty chairs facing a stage draped in tattered curtains. The walls are lined with faded portraits and yellowed maps of the town, remnants of a time when this place was alive and bustling.
Mark is already at the front, examining a large, decrepit desk. "Look at this," he says, his voice echoing in the empty space. "It's like stepping back in time."
I walk over, glancing at the old papers scattered across the desk. Most are mundane—meeting minutes, maintenance logs—but one catches my eye. It's a letter dated June 1925, addressed to Harper Franstein.
"Harper, the disappearances are becoming more frequent. The townsfolk are getting restless, and I fear they may take matters into their own hands if we don't act soon. We need to find out what's causing this before it's too late."
I read the letter aloud, and the room fell silent. "Sounds like things were getting pretty tense," Lily remarks, her voice subdued.
As I'm distracted by the time capsule in front of us, Mark sneaks off.
I'm not sure how long it was before she noticed, but I saw Lily looking around before saying, "Where the hell did Mark go?" breaking me out of my trance.
I look around, turning my head in all directions, and shrug at Lily. I hear shuffling in the second room down the hall, so I slowly walk toward it.
"Mark?" I call out.
Just then, a loud crash reverberates through the building, making it sound like the whole place was about to come down.
We run in and see Mark struggling to keep himself from falling into a giant hole that must've broken under his weight. Trying not to laugh, I glance at Lily. We help him up as he dramatically falls onto his back, wheezing as he catches his breath.
Lily and I can't contain our laughter anymore as we bust out laughing hard. Startled by our sudden outburst, Mark jumps in fear. He looks around, confused for a few seconds, before realizing that we are laughing at him.
"Jesus, thanks, I guess," he says, clearly thankful but annoyed by our reaction.
After we contained ourselves, we headed back outside, exiting through the window Mark entered through. He struggles to climb out, but after Lily gives him a hand, he is safely out of the Town Hall.
"Alright, Ror, where should we put the next camera?" Lily asks me.
I stop to think momentarily, trying to picture the town's layout. "I think the only place left is the neighborhood," I respond confidently. I always talk like that with Lily. Over the years, I've realized she is the only person I can have that much confidence around. With anyone else, I'm worried about saying something stupid or wrong or how they'll view me, but with my sister, everything is easy.
As I look at the replica map of the town in its heyday from the museum, I determine that the neighborhood is to the East. "Okay, looks like we head East past the Library. Let's go." I say, walking away.
It only takes about eight minutes to get to the long strip of road that housed the town's workers. According to the map, there were fifteen houses along this strip of road.
The houses stand eerily silent, their wooden frames weathered and decayed by time. We walk down the road, our footsteps crunching on the gravel and echoing in the stillness. The air feels heavier here like the past is watching us, waiting to reveal its secrets.
"Let's put the last cameras on that house at the end of the road," I suggest, pointing to a house that looks slightly less dilapidated than the others, "another one at the last house on the other side, and the last we can save for a spot you choose."
Lily nods and heads toward the first house, pulling another camera from her backpack. She sets it up on the porch, positioning it to capture the entire street, and does the same in the opposite house. As I stand with Mark breathing hard, still unable to catch his breath since we first got here, I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched. I glance around nervously but see nothing out of the ordinary.
"All set," Lily says, breaking my reverie, "Still no ideas for the last cam?" Lily asks me.
"Like I said, wherever you think it would be best. I feel like we have enough good spots and angles, so go wild with that one," I told her.
She smirked and kept walking next to me. Mark was still struggling behind, but after the town hall mishap, he was trying his best to keep up. I looked at my watch, and it read '12:30 pm'.
"Holy shit, it's already 12:30," I said in amazement, but no one else seemed fazed. It felt like we'd only been here thirty minutes, not almost four hours.
We walked back down the street. Lily and I had been discussing on the walk that she should put the last camera at the town's only stoplight in front of the Library.
As we made our way to it, I could have sworn I was seeing something moving fast past my vision in the corner of my eye. Every time I turned to look, it was gone. I chalked it up to being my imagination until Lily and Mark both experienced the same thing.
"What the fuck was that?" Mark asked as he ducked, bracing for something terrible to happen. Lily and I looked back at him and then at each other as we shrugged. It was after that that I started seeing things, too.
I confided in Lily about the unsettling visions and sounds, and she admitted she had experienced the same phenomena but had kept quiet, fearing Mark would dismiss her as paranoid.
"Well, it's probably just a cat or something," I said, attempting to downplay the situation, but neither seemed convinced.
We continued our trek, and I noticed that the more we walked, the more frequently I caught fleeting glimpses of movement in my peripheral vision. It was beginning to grate on my nerves.
Finally, we reached the light in front of the Library. As Lily mounted the camera, I felt a sense of satisfaction. We were making good progress, and it seemed like a suitable moment to start exploring the town more freely. We decided to split up and cover different sections of the town.
"Wait, we have to go alone? Why can't we stay together like you said?" Mark asked frantically, but Lily and I ignored him as we headed in separate directions. He continued to protest, but we paid him no mind. Eventually, I was either far enough away to not hear him anymore, or he had given up. Either way, I was happy to enjoy the eerie silence of the town.
As I wandered, the stillness of Raven's Nest enveloped me. With its decrepit buildings and overgrown streets, the town exuded an unsettling charm. It was as if I had stepped into a forgotten world, a place frozen in time with secrets waiting to be unearthed. The ambiance reminded me of an amusement park's haunted town section—artificially eerie yet irresistibly intriguing. Despite the creepiness, the mysterious vibe of the town kept me engaged and eager to explore its hidden corners.
I glanced at my watch again, only to find the time glaring back at me: 3:19 pm. It couldn't be right. There was no way it had been that long since I last checked. Panic seized me, and I called out for Lily, my voice tinged with urgency. She appeared beside me in a matter of minutes, her expression mirroring my concern.
"What's up, Ror? You okay?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
"How long would you say it's been since you put the last camera down?" I inquired, my heart pounding in my chest.
Lily's brow furrowed as she struggled to come up with an answer. "Uh, I don't know, thirty minutes?" she hazarded a guess.
I held up my watch, displaying the time: 3:20 pm. Lily fell silent, her eyes widening in disbelief. She was never great with time, but missing almost three hours of our memory was unprecedented.
"There's no way. Your watch must be—" Lily began, her voice trailing off as she checked her own watch, only to freeze in shock when she found it displayed the same time as mine.
"Lil, something is going on," I stated, my voice tight and apprehensive. I glanced up at the sky, my stomach churning as I noticed the clouds darkening and rolling in from all sides of the valley.
The sky closed rapidly, ominous clouds obscuring the sun as thunder rumbled ominously against the mountains.
"Mark? Mark, where are—" I began to call out, but before I could finish, Mark emerged from behind a wall, appearing as if he'd been too frightened to venture far on his own.
"We have to get inside!" Mark exclaimed urgently, his voice tinged with fear.

Greetings,
Quick background, been visiting on long term basis since the early 90s. Speak a little Thai etc.
Without going into all the fine details. GF is coming down from province and we’ll meet for her bday.
Thing is, for me, in the past it’s always been bar mode. Done a few of the nice things like Nong Nuch and Pupen etc.
Anyway, you get the picture.
So looking for some ideas to take her for the birthday.
Might be a few ladies / friends along, or it might be just us 2.
Not nightclubs tbh. We’ve done that to death.
Looking for a bit of atmosphere etc. And to make her feel special. Not too glam as that would just embarrass her.
I hope this makes sense.
TIA. 🙏🏼

I recently went on a date with a lady who is in her early 30’s. We connected because a mutual friend showed her a photo of me and she said she’d be open to meeting. I agreed, got her number, and arranged to meet for drinks. The only thing I was told about her is that she wanted to marry and have kids eventually.
It was a super chill date. It went on much longer than I anticipated. She was in no rush to end the date. She said she had a lot of fun at the end of it. But I was upfront with her throughout our convo that I was in grad school still all the way over on the other side of the country, but I had every intent to come back to the area upon graduation.
Once it ended, I didn’t want to play games and let her know I had a good time and would love to get dinner with her. She texted back saying she enjoyed the meet up but was looking for someone in the area (because i would be away for one more year). But she said she would love to reconnect once I came back next year.
The last part gave me pause and made me wonder if she would have been open had I been in the same city. But I also feel jaded and think it’s just her way of politely letting me down haha.
It’s all good though! Just wondering if it’s often a valid reason to not want to do LDR or if it’s just a gentle way to put me down. If so, I want to see what I can do better next time I meet someone!

Long story short we had a relatively healthy happy relationship. Been married 4 years. Both had supportive families on either side of so I thought.
Found out my wife (32) back in 2021/22 was getting bullied in her old work place. Wife’s mum used to ring me for hours on end asking why I don’t do it. Yet tell me my wife is a big girl and can deal with bullying on her own, along with telling me she’s worried about my wife’s weight and weight loss. My wife very private person opted not to talk about her bullying and try sort it internally. As her husband I watch her crumble and decided enough with enough. Various stress factors nearly caused my wife’s bowels to explode due to stress damage. Multiple A&E/ER trips medical bills my mother in law never once came near the hospital to support my wife. But always arm chair directing. I eventually helped my wife get a new job.
Few months later we figured my wife developed an eating disorder which I thought had gotten worse since previous bullying trauma. At a family BBQ at her mums, I asked both my own mum (wife is very close to) and her own mum for support. To which my mother in law replied she is a big girl and waved away eating disorder! Yet she flagged the weight loss previous.
Roll forward to 2023 weeks found out we were expecting a baby last year, my mum (I’m the husband) was over joyed and so excited. Finally becoming a grandma. My wife very apprehensive going to tell her mum on the same night. We did and her mums response was nothing short of disgusting. She (52 year old lady) sat on her big chair repeated fuck, oh fuck, fuck off with a face that looked like it had been slapped with a fish. The disgusting facial expressions still haunt me to this day. My wife really cried and disappointed on her mums response, I tried to sugar coat and say her mum was just shocked it being her first grandchild.
The months after this my mother in law being really awkward and strange. Mother in law used to whisper when my wife wasn’t around you made a mistake you made a mistake regarding getting my wife pregnant. My father in law works away and when he found out his response was joy and happiness like my own mums.
My mother in law booked a holiday half way through my wife’s pregnancy taking my wife. Who hated her body image while being pregnant due to eating disorder (which she was getting help for to over come) my wife was guilt tripped into the holiday and while there spent 5 days texting me saying hate it here, didn’t want go and can’t wait to come home. I didn’t want cause a fuss and kept my wife moral up, telling her how she was doing amazing pregnant and the holiday might relax her.
My wife and I lived in my mums home (big enough house) due to building on land nearby. Pregnancy happened much quicker than we expected, issues with building and work along with wife health put the house build on hold. My wife got sick and our little one made a very quick appearance in the world at 28 weeks. As husband being my first baby I felt my wife smashed child birth, no pain relief, 6/7 hours in labour and baby arrived very early, tiny but healthy. My wife nearly broke my hand due to squeezing so much lol. As a man the proudest moment ever seeing my child for the very first time.
Nearly a stressful 10 weeks in neonatal unit which our child battled life with many ups and downs. Grandparents (just our mums) were only allowed in due to infection minimisation were the only ones allowed the visit 1 hour each a day. All of a sudden my wife’s mum who didn’t give a shit about the pregnancy wanted in every day. Even when our baby had infections never listening to nursing protocols and basically making me leave each time she came in. Some days while at sitting watching our child my mother in law would say aw she will be living with me again soon, I’ll have my family back together. Telling me I’m a worthless man, I didn’t deserve a child or to be a dad and I had little boy dreams for my business that I should be working a real job.
I work in IT contracting live what I do but my passion is my start up business in healthy beverages which has grown and fast. The idea of my business was to ensure I could work from home and be there flexibly with clients Rigid timings or deadlines.
My mother in law does no work, lives in a big house which is falling apart and nearly $1 million of debt is used (from what my father in law states) mother in law pretends to live the high life making her husband work 7 days a week around the west coast to fund her 3/4 holiday fair designer hand bag life. My mother in law always outs me down, picks on my wife and stopped our house build due to medaling with the contractors and causing issues. Since our son was born my mother in law has taking our child out and about exposing her to germs days after being released from hospital which result in a breathing infection near killing our little one.
My wife is petrified to stand up to her mum, who rings 20/30 times a day. My wife could be brushing her teeth gets a face time stops her life to answer. My other in law has got my wife and child to move 1.5 hours away causing my wife and I split. I can’t take the pressure of a controlling mother in law. I want my wife back but she is too scared to see how her mum acts and treats her.
How the hell does anyone deal with this!!!

This has been, by far, the most insane year I've had riding. People trying to run me off the road is almost a daily occurrence.
Today it was a high speed chase in excess of 120mph after the guy tried to clip me.
Definitely a harrowing experience on my Vulcan 650. This was not the bike to be pulling the kind of moves I had to make today.
Thankfully I'm alive. I can safely say a less experienced rider would not be.
For the love of God...
I know no amount of experience would save you if someone decides to pull a trigger...but fuck.
I guess I'm just trying to write this down and process it.
Thanks.
Ride safe guys.
Edit: because someone brought it up it is not actually happening every single day. Probably 3x a week and not every time is it so egregious.
Sometimes it's just an old lady slamming on the gas, whipping in front of me and stepping on the brakes and swerving to shove me out of the lane when I get over and try to get in front of her.
Or like earlier today after going to the far left lane and accelerating bubba in his lifted turbo diesel didn't like I was going faster than him so he gets in front of me, slams on the brakes, and when I quickly move to the left lane he swerves over and pushes me out of the lane a few times before giving up.
Or like the guy before that who changed lanes without signaling and almost clipped my front end. I tapped my horn once to let him know I'm there. Fell back, changed lanes and sped off. But he didn't like that so he chased me down, tried to finish the job and when I fell far back he turned around in a parking lot to Wait for me to get ahead of him to keep at it until I led him to the police station.
Or the car full of what appeared to be teenagers who, again, changed lanes without signaling and almost clipped me. Didn't like I beeped at them and tried to do the same thing on purpose several more times.
I'm not aggressive or threatening. I'm not asking for it. I don't have a sign on my topcase that says,"I WOULD LIKE TO PLAY TWISTED METAL IRL".
If the only thing you can think to say is,"MaYbe ItS yOuRe FaUlt".... Well fuck you to be honest.
I've filed God knows how many reports with local PD, sheriff's offices and the highway patrol. I've provided probably hours of body cam footage to them. At no time did they ever say "Hey you know what? This is all your fault! You asked for it!"
My life is hell because of this. I'm just a guy trying to deliver groceries to pay my bills. Not engage in vehicular combat.
I just wanted to vent because today was particularly bad. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. Maybe I should just keep this between my friends and my therapist.
Maybe if your first thought is to blame the victim you should get a therapist.
Whatever. I'm going to bed. It's late (early?) and I have stuff to do tomorrow.
Thanks Reddit. Never change.

Ever just have one of those days?
I had one of my early ones in the City involved an upcoming medical procedure when I was six years old. Blood needed to be drawn.
The problem was, it was at what was then termed a “teaching hospital” connected to the local university. Which was as the term implies. Medical persons leaning their trades, not yet licensed to practice, performed various tasks under supervision. Medical students of various stripes, working toward their degrees.
There was in fact a dental school also attached and sponsored in the same way. I’d had another unpleasant experience with that particular institution just a year or two previously.
The attraction, for the community at large, of both the medical and dental sides of the house, were some services performed at greatly lower prices, and sometimes free of any charge. If one was prepared to be attended by a trainee under supervision, rather than a licensed professional.
The dental aspect had previously not turned out well for me. A day had been set aside, and widely advertised ahead of time, for a free dental clinic, open to all. Dentists in training offering their services pro bono for basic care I n order to gain practical experience. Under licensed instructory supervision, of course.
At that time, I was suffering from an attack of tooth, and so dad took me thither. After an inordinate amount of time with two of them trying in vain to hold a struggling 4-yr-old still long enough for two others to get probing fingers bitten, they’d thrown in the towel.
And now here we were again. I had no fear of needles even at that young age. What had given me pause, however, was the young lady now approaching with a large hypodermic needle who was quite obviously a great deal more frightened than I was. When that person’s hands are visibly shaking in nervousness, even worse than her knees, nothing good can come of what’s about to happen.
She missed the vein on the first attempt, could not aquire it though she twisted and maneuvered the needle in question trying to.
Then went after the other arm. Missed that time, too, and repeated the previous mining procedure.
Success was eventually achieved, to the great relief of us both. Neither of us had had a good time.
Both of my arms were bruised badly in the days following. But I had gained the pride and maturity of a 6-yr-old, and had not cried, screamed, made remonstrance of any kind, nor bit nor fought, and had kept any unkind remarks to myself (unlike the previous dental incident).
Years later, I took my Pennywise for one of her early series of early childhood inoculations. She bore it stoically, then and to this day having no fear of needles (or anything else, apparently). No tears, just an ever-deepening angry glare, and it was done. And she attacked the nurse.