Hello All,
Brief summary about my current vocal status: I'm used to singing everyday, currently in a band, and started noticing some vocal trouble over a month ago during rehearsals (voice wasn't easily reaching notes and felt strained after rehearsals). After that, I went on a Vegas trip with some friends, and after attending some concerts, my voice was pretty much gone for a day or two. After I came back from the trip, decided to give some vocal rest and let it heal, but never noticed such a feeling in my throat (hard to describe but its almost like a Sore Throat, but I can feel pain on the left side of my neck). A week ago, I decided to go to the doctor to see why it hasn't healed, and I was told its probably just a cold and he wrote me down for 'Acute Pharyngitis'. I was told to reach out a week later if symptoms didn't resolve. Well its been a week later, and I went to the Dr. today because my symptoms haven't improved, my voice hurts from talking and I have not been able to sing my usual range at all (I can sing within the normal register but trying anything a bit higher is not possible).
At the Dr. today, I was prescribed Pantoprazole (Proton Pump Inhibitor) and methylPREDNISolone (steroid). The thought process behind the Pantoprazole is that acid reflux may be swelling my throat, so I will start taking that tomorrow. For the methylPREDNISolone I was told to give it a few more days, and if still no improvement, to give it a shot. I was also referred to an E.N.T to get in touch and schedule a possible appointment for a Laryngscopy if symptoms do not heal.
I'm making this post to share my symptoms and see if anyone shared something similar because I initially thought this may be related to Vocal Nodules/Polyps, but based on my symptoms now I feel like they still fall under the category of a Flu/Cold thats just lasting a while and not letting my voice heal. I'm currently trying to do vocal rest, drink lots of fluids (including tea with honey), but its difficult as I do have to talk quite a bit at work.
Symptom List: (First 2 symptoms have been going on for about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks currently)

• Vocal Fatigue (From just talking. Singing obviously aggravates it more)
• Pain in Neck (I feel pain on my left (mostly left side), and sometimes on the right side, the middle area and under the jaw sometimes as well)
• Phlegm - Started noticing green and yellow phlegm for 2 days (started 2 days ago), but that has now subsided
• Vocal Hoarseness - Interestingly, people around me do not notice my voice being hoarse when I talk, but I can feel that it is not as smooth as before, and there is some gravely quality there.

I am really hoping this isn't a vocal nodule/polyp and is related to coming off a cold, but if symptoms do not get better I'll definitely be going to the E.N.T to get a scope done and check any other causes for these symptoms.

Guys I need help. I’m 20 and I’m in college. I’m blonde with pale skin, but my pubic hair is really dark and thick. Ever since I’ve started shaving, I’ve gotten bad razor burn. I only really get it on my bikini area and on my upper thighs, but basically none in the area above the lips between the bikini areas. I’ve tried everything; coconut oil, baby gel oil, tea tree oil, the ingrown hair pads by First Aid Beauty, and I always exfoliate and go commando or wear very loose underwear after I shave. The only thing that’s decently worked for me is the Tend Skin aftershave stuff. I stopped using it for a while because it’s so expensive and I’m a broke college student. I decided to try waxing since it lasts longer and because no matter how close I shave, you can still see the dark hair cus my skin is so pale. However, waxing was a mistake. I ended up with a few really dark ingrown hair scars, and I don’t even know if the hair is still stuck or not. But I’ve had the scars for a few months now. I’ve been using the Lemon Turmeric soap for a few days to see if helps the scarring fade, but in the meantime, here are my main questions:

1. What product or cream works really well to help fade the scarring?
   
2. What should I do, should I keep shaving, or should I try waxing again?
   

Some people have said that I might just have to start lasering, but I’m too broke for that. I have seen the laser removal you can do at your home, do they really work, and does anyone know of any that aren’t too expensive? I really need help, it’s making me so insecure, I don’t want to go swimming or be intimate with anyone until it’s all cleared up.

Guys I need help. I’m 20 and I’m in college. I’m blonde with pale skin, but my pubic hair is really dark and thick. Ever since I’ve started shaving, I’ve gotten bad razor burn. I only really get it on my bikini area and on my upper thighs, but basically none in the area above the lips between the bikini areas. I’ve tried everything; coconut oil, baby gel oil, tea tree oil, the ingrown hair pads by First Aid Beauty, and I always exfoliate and go commando or wear very loose underwear after I shave. The only thing that’s decently worked for me is the Tend Skin aftershave stuff. I stopped using it for a while because it’s so expensive and I’m a broke college student. I decided to try waxing since it lasts longer and because no matter how close I shave, you can still see the dark hair cus my skin is so pale. However, waxing was a mistake. I ended up with a few really dark ingrown hair scars, and I don’t even know if the hair is still stuck or not. But I’ve had the scars for a few months now. I’ve been using the Lemon Turmeric soap for a few days to see if helps the scarring fade, but in the meantime, here are my main questions:

1. What product or cream works really well to help fade the scarring?
   
2. What should I do, should I keep shaving, or should I try waxing again?
   

Some people have said that I might just have to start lasering, but I’m too broke for that. I have seen the laser removal you can do at your home, do they really work, and does anyone know of any that aren’t too expensive? I really need help, it’s making me so insecure, I don’t want to go swimming or be intimate with anyone until it’s all cleared up.

Guys I need help. I’m 20 and I’m in college. I’m blonde with pale skin, but my pubic hair is really dark and thick. Ever since I’ve started shaving, I’ve gotten bad razor burn. I only really get it on my bikini area and on my upper thighs, but basically none in the area above the lips between the bikini areas. I’ve tried everything; coconut oil, baby gel oil, tea tree oil, the ingrown hair pads by First Aid Beauty, and I always exfoliate and go commando or wear very loose underwear after I shave. The only thing that’s decently worked for me is the Tend Skin aftershave stuff. I stopped using it for a while because it’s so expensive and I’m a broke college student. I decided to try waxing since it lasts longer and because no matter how close I shave, you can still see the dark hair cus my skin is so pale. However, waxing was a mistake. I ended up with a few really dark ingrown hair scars, and I don’t even know if the hair is still stuck or not. But I’ve had the scars for a few months now. I’ve been using the Lemon Turmeric soap for a few days to see if helps the scarring fade, but in the meantime, here are my main questions:

1. What product or cream works really well to help fade the scarring?
   
2. What should I do, should I keep shaving, or should I try waxing again?
   

Some people have said that I might just have to start lasering, but I’m too broke for that. I have seen the laser removal you can do at your home, do they really work, and does anyone know of any that aren’t too expensive? I really need help, it’s making me so insecure, I don’t want to go swimming or be intimate with anyone until it’s all cleared up.

Guys I need help. I’m 20 and I’m in college. I’m blonde with pale skin, but my pubic hair is really dark and thick. Ever since I’ve started shaving, I’ve gotten bad razor burn. I only really get it on my bikini area and on my upper thighs, but basically none in the area above the lips between the bikini areas. I’ve tried everything; coconut oil, baby gel oil, tea tree oil, the ingrown hair pads by First Aid Beauty, and I always exfoliate and go commando or wear very loose underwear after I shave. The only thing that’s decently worked for me is the Tend Skin aftershave stuff. I stopped using it for a while because it’s so expensive and I’m a broke college student. I decided to try waxing since it lasts longer and because no matter how close I shave, you can still see the dark hair cus my skin is so pale. However, waxing was a mistake. I ended up with a few really dark ingrown hair scars, and I don’t even know if the hair is still stuck or not. But I’ve had the scars for a few months now. I’ve been using the Lemon Turmeric soap for a few days to see if helps the scarring fade, but in the meantime, here are my main questions:

1. What product or cream works really well to help fade the scarring?
   
2. What should I do, should I keep shaving, or should I try waxing again?
   

Some people have said that I might just have to start lasering, but I’m too broke for that. I have seen the laser removal you can do at your home, do they really work, and does anyone know of any that aren’t too expensive? I really need help, it’s making me so insecure, I don’t want to go swimming or be intimate with anyone until it’s all cleared up.

Hey everyone, I hope you're all well! I am selling some decants of my fragrances. Prices are listed below! Shipping to CONUS only please :)
Additional Info:
Currently only accepting PP G&S while building rapport in subreddit. No Fee.
$30-$40 - Free mystery 3mL decant from listed fragrances $40-$50 - Free mystery 3mL decant & free shipping to CONUS $50+ - Free mystery 5mL decant & free shipping to CONUS
For orders under $40, shipping is $5.
IMAGES: https://imgur.com/a/fDNfF0s
All orders shipped next day. All decants will be in glass atomizers, labeled, and taped to prevent leakage.

Fragrance Name	3mL Price	5mL Price
Club de Nuit Man Intense EDT	$4.00	$6.00
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense EDP	$5.00	$7.50
Missoni Wave EDT	$5.00	$7.50
Montagne Pineapple BonBon EDP	$7.00	$10.50
Montagne Pineapple Royale EDP	$7.00	$10.50
Montagne Parfum De Cerise EDP	$7.00	$10.50
Montblanc Explorer EDP	$5.00	$7.50
Mancera Cedrat Boise EDP	$7.00	$10.50
Lattafa Khamrah EDP	$4.00	$6.00
Lattafa Al Oud Oud For Glory EDP	$4.00	$6.00
Alexandria Fragrances California Blues EDP	$9.00	$13.50
Guess 1981 Los Angeles EDT	$4.00	$6.00
Elizabeth Arden Green Tea EDT	$4.00	$6.00
Burberry Touch for Men EDT	$5.00	$7.50
Davidoff Cool Water EDT	$4.00	$6.00

okay like here is the tea, two years ago, someone asked me to roll my window down at a stop light, so I did, and they were like "Do I know you?" in like a super excited tone. I couldn't really respond since the light turned green
I haven't seen them a single time since recently,, TWICE!?!
I drove by them and they were straight up vibing to my music which made my day, and that's when I realized it was the same person from years ago?!?
I should of talked to them tbh, but should I shoot my shot??? ive been thinking abt this nonstop

As I sit here, under the shimmering glow of the midnight stars, my mind wanders about how would make this moment special. Then… I came to a conclusion; the best addition to this evening would be a warm cup of tea. I do also wander about having my shoulder touching a second shoulder as we point and look at the stars, talking about the most random things. What would life be like without pockets? What would humans look like if we could breathe under water? What would the world be like without hatred? I’d love to talk to you, with you, and build these memories with you. I want to brush your hair after you shower and dry it for you, I want to make the bed for you and get a book ready. But enough about what I want. Please spam me with what YOU want in a relationship.
Here are some perks about me; are they pros or cons? Who knows! - Brown hair - Hazelnut/green eyes - Light skinned - I love drawing and designing - I enjoy cooking and baking - Cringy dad jokes? Hell yeah! - Holding hands - I make light of things - Communication - No one night stands - Date to marriage - I can fix cars, wood, and appliances - I don’t know what else to add haha
In conclusion; if im someone who’s within your spectrum, someone who you’d like to know and chat with; feel free to shoot me a message. We can casually chat at first; be friends and go from there. I personally think that once I share my Netflix password with you; that’s when we can talk about upgrading from friendship to a more serious thing.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk, I hope you have a lovely day today and I wish you a merry Halloween and a happy new chicken 🌹

As I sit here, under the shimmering glow of the midnight stars, my mind wanders about how would make this moment special. Then… I came to a conclusion; the best addition to this evening would be a warm cup of tea. I do also wander about having my shoulder touching a second shoulder as we point and look at the stars, talking about the most random things. What would life be like without pockets? What would humans look like if we could breathe under water? What would the world be like without hatred? I’d love to talk to you, with you, and build these memories with you. I want to brush your hair after you shower and dry it for you, I want to make the bed for you and get a book ready. But enough about what I want. Please spam me with what YOU want in a relationship.
Here are some perks about me; are they pros or cons? Who knows! - Brown hair - Hazelnut/green eyes - Light skinned - I love drawing and designing - I enjoy cooking and baking - Cringy dad jokes? Hell yeah! - Holding hands - I make light of things - Communication - No one night stands - Date to marriage - I can fix cars, wood, and appliances - I don’t know what else to add haha
In conclusion; if im someone who’s within your spectrum, someone who you’d like to know and chat with; feel free to shoot me a message. We can casually chat at first; be friends and go from there. I personally think that once I share my Netflix password with you; that’s when we can talk about upgrading from friendship to a more serious thing.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk, I hope you have a lovely day today and I wish you a merry Halloween and a happy new chicken 🌹

From reading post on here i see believe everyone’s sb is different in the sense that one thing might work for you but not the other person w sb. so thats all to say here’s what i use thats helped me with my sb (i only get it near my t zone area and scalp with occasional spots on my cheek that go away in. a week or 2)
Face witch hazel(no alcohol), a little aloe vera gel, emu oil, seb derm cream (like eczema cream) , rn im washing my face w shea moistures green tea bar, sometimes i’ll mix some peppermint when washing my face or i’ll add a drop to my emu oil before applying to my face regularly
Scalp (i have dreads) rn im using heads and shoulders dry scalp almond oil shampoo w zinc and i think its been working better then anything else i tried but its too early to tell
i wash as needed when i see small flakes starting to appear (lowkey still finding my wash pattern but i think once or twice a week does it for me) rn w the shampoo im going on day 4 and my scalp still looks clean and moisturized
i mix in peppermint w my shampoo sometimes if i want that feeling
i use emu oil for my scalp with peppermint after a wash and thats rlly the only time i oil my hair
hope this helps some of you and drop your routine in the comments

I normally have some peanut butter toast and then make a green/lemon myrtle tea and put the AVB in a strainer for 7 minutes - Seems to work alright.
Anyone else make tea of have any "unconventional" uses or recipes for AVB?

wanted to share my experience as a 28 year old, F, on the very thin side, anxious, and autistic.
had to have colonoscopy due to positive fit test and anaemia diagnosis, and 6 months of heavily bloody multi-daily bathroom trips. I was starting to get very concerned about cancer.
I opted for no sedation because I'm extremely anxious about feeling 'out of it' or not in control of my body/brain or feeling dizzy.
The thought of waking up and not knowing what my body went through was also making me squeamish.
I did a lot of research, I watched full, unseated colonoscopy videos on YouTube, this post from this subreddit was also incredible and explains it all better than I could. but here's my detailed experience of each step.
Prep: The prep was not bad at all, I had Citrafleet.
I prepared the mixture and took it at 6pm (the leaflet said 5pm, appointment at 11am) It had a nice lemon taste and was pleasant. after I drunk it, my medication anxiety/dread kicked in, I was like, oh god, what did I just do to my body. (i've never experienced laxatives before) I was expecting it to be like a movie and to immediately poop lol. I did not have a bowel movement for 3-4 hours. then it was just on and off bathroom trips. Funnily enough the only time it bothered me was I had to leave a competitive computer-game mid-match because I suddenly had to go so bad LOL.other than that, didn't feel too different to my normal symptoms honestly.
then I slept at 3-4am, at 3am I started to suddenly feel queasy and shaky and awful, stayed up too late I think, but it passed and I drunk water and went to sleep.
I woke up at 7am for the second packet of prep, it acted faster this time and then I stopped my 2-hours-before water drinking, was totally empty and went to the hospital.
Hospital: I got lucky, I got a very nice NHS hospital. I had a lovely nurse. They started talking about sedation and I said "I've decided to do no sedation" She said "Ah, gas and air. alright" I said nono, no sedation at all. She was a bit like "ermmm, we'll see about that" haha.
but ultimately everyone was very very respectful of my wishes! they just didn't think I would actually manage.
My heart rate was really high for ages in the waiting/prep room when they took my pulse and honestly I was so stressed they wouldn't do the procedure because my heart rate was high, so I had no time to be worried about what lay ahead because I was so fixated on trying to slow my heart rate. So my advice would be just keep your mind occupied before going in.
I got given huge green shorts, a cozy disposable gown, an iv/canula thing (they assured me it was routine, but I wouldn't get sedation). I had to pee a bunch before and then in the surgery room and had a little blanket put over me.
I had a pillow that was super comfortable and was instructed into the relevant position.
Procedure: The nurses were ALL surprised I wasn't having sedation, they asked if I was really sure I didn't want the gas and air because it can be painful and stopping halfway would be very detrimental.
They said "I know you want to do it without gas and air, some people say say they will and then can't handle it. The nurses also said it's rare someone asks to do it no sedation.
I was mentally preparing myself for the pain of the gas(for inflating the colon). I will say imagining it and feeling it are two very different experiences.
once the camera was in and they inflated with gas. It kept feeling like it was never going to stop inflating. I felt at my bodily physical limit of gas, but it kept inflating, awful awful awful. I can't deny. about 8/10 discomfort, maybe 6-7/10 pain. I had the worst urge to fart that I've ever had in my life. like "If I don't fart I'm going to explode from the inside" levels of bad, which was a slightly panic inducing feeling. The nurses said to pass gas if I needed to, but I couldn't fart. Either because of the position I was in (on side, knees up to chest), the obstruction from the camera, the fear, or because I felt like if I tensed, I'd pop like a balloon.
so "if i dont fart i'll explode & die, if i tense to fart i'll explode & die" was basically my experience with the gas.
Next they said "You might feel a period cramp" and I did. BOY DID I.
I said: "Oh yeah, just like a bad period cramp" And she said "Yeah we can't really help the boys by telling them that" and I somehow managed a "haha"
I think they said "We're going to do some water" but I didn't feel that.
It just felt like just trying to survive and get through it, I was just breathing, I knew I could survive it once I knew the pain I was dealing with. It just stayed consistently awful and painful and terrible. with occasional very bad cramps and awful sensations in 40-50 second bouts in various places in the middle section of my body.
There was so much different noise too from the machine.
The sensations ranged from: Intense gas cramps, horribly inflated feeling, a sucking on my intestines feeling, stomach caving in feeling, terrible period pain, terrible stomach pain, and rippling sensations.
I could barely look at the camera screen because I was just so focused on getting through it. frankly I didn't care LOL. I think I glanced once I just couldn't handle looking on top of what was happening to me. side note: I'm now put off giving birth if its anything like this hahaha.
I fluctuated between tensing from the discomfort and trying to relax. sometimes the discomfort was so freaky and bad my body tensed just to deal with it. If you've ever had a dream where a zombie was eating your stomach guts alive, it was reminiscent of that.
side note: I'm like a cat when I'm in pain, I don't like to show it, and I didn't want the sedation. So I was so badly trying to play it cool.
The literal best way I can describe all of this, it was like the worst food poisoning of your life, the worst trapped wind of your life, and the worst period cramp of your life, all at once, x2 or x3.
A few times my stomach rippled really unpleasantly and I keep remembering that sensation and cringing today
I can also liken some of the feelings to someone sticking a henry hoover into my ovaries.
It wasn't anything I haven't 'naturally' felt in my body before, if that makes sense, they were "familiar" sensations, just not to that degree. I didn't expect it to be such a worse variation of familiar pains.
I also didn't expect to feel all of this SO HIGH UP IN MY BODY?! like the majority of it was felt above and around my belly button.
I don't understand how people say they knew what part of the colon they were in, I couldn't. but they did point when we were about halfway and I was relieved.
For the last part, turn or bend, I think it took 3 attempts, the nurse had to push onto my tummy to flatten something out, honestly, that made me feel so much better, the pressure was really relieving. and I swear to you, it poked my rib when it went through! it felt like it anyway.
There was no pain after that. I knew it wouldn't hurt going out, so my relief was immeasurable, I knew I'd done it.
the only feeling then was just "aughuhguhguh my insides" feeling, and slight gas bloating still. I just focused on my breathing.
They said "We're going to take the biopsies now." I didn't feel that (thank goodness) but I was mega-cringing at the idea. for some reason I felt hot and slight burning in my insides mostly towards the entrance. I'm not sure how they took the biopsies but I heard a tiny drill type sound, and it freaked me out lol. i imagined them frying it off with a tiny saw.
they took, either 6 or 12 biopsies, I'm not sure. it was a strip biopsy, on my report card it has 6 things and says "x2" for each one, so idk.
When the camera went out I asked "is it over?" I didn't really feel the camera go out and was in disbelief because it was quicker than I anticipated and I couldn't believe that I had done it and was feeling proud of myself, and they were all hyping me up so much, telling me I should be crowned as queen and that the nurse could never do what I did. I felt so on top of the world. I couldn't stop smiling with relief.
The nurse called me brave and I said I was only brave because I was so scared of the sedation. Everyone is brave in different ways! You're not any less brave than me if you opt for sedation or Entonox. :)
Genuinely the entire thing felt 10 minutes long, it was like they did a speed-run of my guts, and it FELT like that too lol. just absolutely crashing around the entire mario kart racetrack that was my bowel. I'm just kidding, the doctor was great, it's a baffling procedure and I admire any doctor that does it.
I'd be so curious how long it actually was.. I was mentally prepared for 44 minutes, but idk. I don't want to get your hopes up that it will be short. maybe the shorter, the more painful?
I walked to the bus stop with my mum, I was kind of in disbelief that I did that.
Post-non-sedated-colonoscopy-thoughts
I would do it again if I had to, un-sedated. It was worth it for me to avoid three types of sensations that make me panic (dizziness, sluggish or forgetful)
I'm also really happy that I was able to be there and experience what was happening to my body, personally, I feel like if I was sedated I would always be wondering what my body went through without me being present.
I liked being able to breathe, and follow any instructions.
I've spent the entirety of the following day cringing in reflection of what happened, feeling achy, and being embarrassed for doing it un-sedated (for some reason I feel like everyone thinks i'm crazy).
I hope this helps... someone.
My options of sedation were Entonox or Midazolam and Fentanyl through IV. Lots of people said those things made them so relaxed and the best relaxation they've ever felt. It made me remember the Lavender Liquid dispensed from SCP-294q-01, where they drank the perfect drink and afterwards said "I'm sorry, but at this point everything is just one big let-down"
My brain is immensely neurotic and always in 'go' mode, I was worried if I felt relaxation like that, I'd probably start chasing different drugs to recreate it lol.

What the titles says. What's the weirdest, or longest ticket producing drink you or you coworkers enjoy. Customer drinks not included.
I'll start. I call this the green hills.
It's a 24oz drink usually.
Double matcha, (like, an entire table spoon of unsweetened matcha powder.) Cinnamon tea. (I work at bigbby, so it Fraser band hot spicy cinnamon which is a cinnamon and orange peel black tea) Oat milk (only a little) Marshmallow syrup White chocolate syrup, +best with macadamia Extra flavor, (totals to 8 pumps) And then cold foam, with cinnamon powder.
This is iced usually.
And sometimes I make This beast with a double or tripple shot of espresso.
I call it green hill because it makes you ZOOM like sonic. And it's green.
Our matcha is like 300 mg of matcha per serving .cuz my store uses Fraser for our matcha as well and I use 2-3 servings for This thing. Plus the cinnamon tea is like 100+. And there's two satchets of that.
This thing is more caffeinated that the Panera charged lemonade that caused a lawsuit.
1k-1.3k mg of caffeine for those curious.

Had a delightful evening at Delta, a new-ish tasting menu in Athens. It’s housed in a beautiful campus that includes the national library and opera house. The restaurant is gorgeous, with trees in large planters that hang from the ceiling. Service was kind and knowledgeable, and servers seemed excited to share the dishes. It’s a very experimental menu, with both Nordic influences and a lot of tromp l’oeil. The ingredients use mostly local Greek produce and the restaurant highlights their goal of sustainability. All of this leads to major Michelin bait. Good thing is that while some dishes didn’t do it for me, on a whole it was a delicious experience, with some very novel techniques. Even the dishes that weren’t to my taste were interesting and showed reach for the kitchen, and the reasons I didn’t enjoy them came down to mostly personal taste. The dishes that did hit were absolutely delicious and wildly creative.
Courses were as follows:
1) a mushroom and nut tartar flavored with chamomile on a crispy cabbage base: strong start with a tasty amuse that had some deep chamomile flavor that read purely savory 2) Second course was a fake Calla flower filled with confit pigeon leg and topped with bergamot foam- wildly delicious with fresh citrus mingling with savory meat and the “flower” petal acting as a delightful base 3) Grilled deer covering fermented artichoke and fermented blueberry with oxalis flowers- interesting dish with lots of strong flavors- I would have loved it if not for the strong fermented funk that’s not my cup of tea- if you love lactofermented stuff you’ll love this 4) “Leaf” of dehydrated pear filled with grilled iberico pork and sprayed with pine- one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten, a textural and flavorful dish of light and meaty happiness- ate like a fresh but still savory delight 5) Grilled corn on fermented buckwheat- another knockout, this ate like the best corn on the cob ever, and the buckwheat base had a meatiness to it, like what seitan should be 6) Bread coarse was shaped like a porcini mushroom and flavored with aged vegetables, blackened apple, a variety of herbs and brushed with aromatics, served with a foamy bone marrow crème anglaise: another stupidly delicious course that was beautiful too- bread was intensely flavored and the bone marrow foam added even more richness, all tempered with this bright green dehydrated gremolata paste hidden underneath the “mushroom” cap. It tasted like the best pizza bagel I’ve ever had 7) Cod made to look like a scallop, with fresh flowers covering the orange “skirt”- the skirt was actually fermented and grilled plums- this was a good dish, very light, with good flavors off the cod, plums, and flowers- but felt like it could use a light more salt on the fish itself . Good but not amazing. 8) Sweetbreads covered with koji inoculated grains to look like a fuzzy bird- a really creative dish that looked amazing but was not to my taste. The mold was my favorite part, but the sweetbreads were way too heavy for me. 9) Possibly the best dish of the night for me- a slowly caramelized and dehydrated apple filled with picanha steak and covered in beef garum and Demi glace. This was mind blowing in that the apple had just as much meatiness as the beef with full apple flavor but no sweetness, so it tasted like a savory apple with just immensely deep umami. 10) Pigeon breast glazed with fermented cherry and berries with endive and a pigeon sauce- a nice final savory dish with good grilled flavor . Not mind blowing but certainly good 11) First dessert was a puffed sugar Mille feuille made to look like a sunflower, filled with a cream flavored with chestnuts, sunflower praline, and caramelized puff pastry- very tasty and a smart dish to use puff pastry to flavor the cream- was very tasty
12) final two desserts (one was a celebratory cake for my special occasion):
12a) the cake was fully edible (even the candle which was made of walnut oil). It was nice but could have had a bit more flavor and diversity of texture 12b) An edible butterfly, this was the best dessert. The wings were crunchy and acidic with a perfect snap and the body was light and creamy with a good acidity- as nice to eat as it was to look at. Was filled with beeswax cream and cherry.
Great meal overall!

MEGAN: There is no hope when Billie Elish is the voice of gen Z.
CHRIS: I like her songs. She is gifted.
MEGAN: Just Name three song that she has sung.
CHRIS: Bad guys, no times to die from James bond soundtrack, and there is this song that I watched on MTV her dancing with her girlfriends… it’s on the tip of my tongue I think it’s titled Happier than ever.
MEGAN: That’s a totally different song. The song that you are talking about is lost cause… from the album Happier than ever.
CHRIS: At least, I got the album right.
MEGAN: Okay. Give me the first two line of the lyrics from Bad guys or no times to die.
CHRIS: I am not good at lyrics. But she is talented. She has a soulful voice.
MEGAN: Her songs are depressing. I can’t listen to it while I am cooking or driving to work. I will shoot myself in the head. She is the most overrated singer in the history of music. You know, I want to play songs that make me want to sing along, dance and fall in love… not throw up. She is the voice of our generation. It tells you a lot about the direction we are going. Generation Z in America don’t know what the fuck is going on in this world. They complain too much. They are faking it like Billie Eilish.
CHRIS: I think they are lost. They just want a voice to express their pain, confusion, frustration, and sadness. That’s all.
MEGAN: I know that. But when you listen to music, you want to hear something that resonates with your soul and brings joy to your heart. For example, if you listen to Diana Rose and the Supremes’ Baby love, or come see about me and Where did our love go, you will realize that music is dead with Billie Elish whispering that she’s not happy and talking about how her boyfriend is a loser. You know, you wonder what’s happening to music nowadays. Why is so bad? Billie Eilish and Labrinth singing Never Felt So Alone. It’s a setback for Labrinth from Jealous to Never so Alone. He was our hope. We all counted on him to save music. But he has begun to whisper like Billie Eilish. Everybody is following her footstep. Music Critics are falsely saying that Billie Elish is a trailblazer. She is changing music single handedly. So far, she has received 7 Grammy awards. She is only 21. Diana Rose has never won a grammy in her life. There seems to be something fishy going on. You are not supposed to sing in your head. It’s not real music. It’s MTV. You know, they said that video killed a radio star. But video killed music all together. Thanks to MTV. We get asses, boobs, and whispers instead of real music.
CHRIS: I like MTV. I grew up watching it. It changed how we see music forever. You know, music is not music without a music video. Nobody is going to listen to it if you didn’t put out an amazing music video like Thriller by Michael Jackson. I can’t even imagine what Thriller would have sounded like on a radio. It’s the greatest music video ever made. Every time I watch it, it’s new to me.
MEGAN: I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Thriller deserve special praise. It’s one of its kind. However, music died after the introduction of MTV. At least, they don’t make it like how they used to make it in 60s’.
CHRIS: That’s the golden age of music. It can never be replicated again. But who knows? Billie Eilish might change it if she gets her act together.
MEGAN: I can listen to Vision of love, honey, and fantasy by Mariah Carey or I will always love you and I have nothing by Whitney Houston or Rolling in the deep by Adele a million times over and over. But I can’t listen to Happier than ever more than 1 time. Maybe Ocean eyes and When the party is over. They are okay. But the rest is garbage. She is nowhere near to legendry female singers like Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, and Sinead O'Connor. You know, when you listen to Natural woman by Aretha Franklin or Celine Dion’s It's All Coming Back to Me Now or Because you loved me or nothing Compared to you by Sinead O'Connor, you get goosebumps. You are witnessing a soul exiting the human anatomy disguised in soundwave. It breezes through your skin, kiss your soul, and intertwine with your DNA before it rewrites the rhythm of your heart with a beautiful melody. You couldn’t help but cry, smile, sing, and fall in love with life whether it is wonderful or a bitch.
CHRIS: You have to give her credit the benefit of the doubt. At least, she writes her own lyrics. I mean, No disrespect to Diana Rose and Supremes, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Adele, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, and Sinead O'Connor. God bless her soul - Sinead O'Connor. She was an Angel disguised in fire. Her voice is from another world. When I listen to nothing compare to you, I get goosebumps, too. I have always been blown away by her voice. Don’t even get me started with Whitney Houston. She is an angel. When you listen to “I will always love you,” you know that God loves music more than he loves us. She was flawless. It should be illegal to sing like that. And Maria Carey will shatter the glass in your soul, cut your heart to millions of pieces, kiss it, and heals it without a scar. Your heart can’t help but grow wings, burst out of your chest and fly away. She is phenomenal. Celine Dian is in a different league, so was Aretha Franklin. Nobody can question their gifts. But Billie Eilish has brought hope to a lot of people
MEGAN: I feel like that you are playing the devil advocate for the sake of argument. What hope are you talking about? You haven’t even listened to a song that she sang. You watched her playing with her girlfriend in underwear. All of a sudden, you want to defend her. If you are going to defend her. Defend her from your heart. I know you can’t do it because you hate her songs, too.
CHRIS: That’s not it. Just give her a break. She has a beautiful voice. She just doesn’t want to disappoint her fans. Imagine if she sings I will always love you or vision of love. Her fans will accuse her of selling out.
MEGAN: Fuck her fans. They are fake anyway. They don’t know anything about music. She should not let them hold her back. They just want to see her wearing oversize baggies like a boy, who drops out of high school and who breaks his skating boards, and whisper like a wounded cat that got a fight with a Rottweiler and talk about fake pain, bad relationship, and girls standing up to abusive boyfriends. Even country music has more sense of humor than her.
CHRIS: I like country music.
MEGAN: Don’t get me started with country music. I don’t even know why it’s still alive. It should have died with Western movies long time ago. You know, I would rather listen to Disco and 90s’ electronic dance music than country music.
CHRIS: What’s wrong with 90s’ electronic dance music? DJs still play them at club.
MEGAN: That’s true. But you don’t want to get caught playing that shit in your car. People will look at you weird.
CHRIS: I still listen to What’s love by Hardaway and couldn’t help dancing.
MEGAN: I hear you. Life is not fair. You have songs that makes you want to dance. Before you know it, it goes out of fashion. You have country music talking about how hard they work and their wife living them for their brothers and how they just want to drink whiskey and forget about them.
CHRIS: Country music is not bad. They know how to tell stories. It’s definitely better than electronic dance music when it comes to lyrics.
MEGAN: Okay. name three countries songs and artists.
CHRIS: Dolly Parton.
MEGAN: Dolly Parton doesn’t count. She wrote I will always love you. You would not have known her if she had it written that.
CHRIS: Fair enough. I get the point. What about Garth Brooks?
MEGAN: Okay 1.
CHRIS: Carrie Underwood and Morgan Wallen.
MEGAN: Okay, name three songs.
CHRIS: Friends in low places, by Garth Brook. Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood. And Island in Stream by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.
MEGAN: That’s not bad. I didn’t know that you were a country music fan.
CHRIS: To be honest, I am not a fan of country music. I don’t listen to country. I only know very few songs here and there and Shania Twain. But it doesn’t mean that it’s not good just because it’s not your cup of tea. In fact, country music is becoming popular. They are bringing original materials.
MEGAN: How do you know that they are bringing original materials if you have never listened to country music.
CHRIS: I just assumed that they must have brought original materials. It’s because they are dominating the chart… like Morgan Wallen. His songs are no 1.
MEGAN: What song is that?
CHRIS: I don’t know. But most of his songs are in Billboard top 10. He is bigger than Justin Bieber.
MEGAN: I used to have crush on Justin Bieber. I still listen to his song… except Peaches. I don’t know what was he thinking when sings I get my weed from California. Who care if he got it from Jamaica? The lyrics is terrible. That’s why sometimes, I hate pop songs. They talk nonsense and get away with it.
CHRIS: What kind of music do you like?
MEGAN: I like all kinds of music… except country. Pop is on the top.
CHRIS: What about Billie Eilish? You don’t like her.
MEGAN: Sometimes, I like her. She does have a unique voice. Other times, I can’t stand her when she whispers and talk nonsense. She would have been an amazing jazz singer if she just opens her mouth and sings like a regular person.
CHRIS: You don’t want Billie Eilish to limit herself with only Jazz. Let her try everything: Pop, R&B, rock, blues, jazz, indie what have you. She has a hypnotic, alluring, and haunting voice and she knows how to control the tone of her voice. But if she must limit herself, she should choose classic rock. It soothes her like ice cream melting in her mouth.
MEGAN: What kind of music do you listen to?
CHRIS: I listen all kinds of music. You know, Sexual healing by Marvin Gaye, let’s get together by Al Green, against all the odds by Phil Collins, In your eyes by Peter Gabriel, Kiss from a rose by Seal, and Earn it by Weeknd to name a few.
MEGAN: You have a beautiful taste. Sensual, seductive and erotic and romantic. But what’s your favorite lines in music.
CHRIS: It’s either the way you look tonight by Frank Sinatra. Yes, you're lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me but to love you
And the way you look tonight.
Or My girl by Temptations.
I've got so much honey
The bees envy me
I've got a sweeter song
Than the birds in the trees
Well, I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl.

MEGAN: You are romantic.
CHRIS: What about you? What’s your favorite lines in music?
MEGAN: Halo by Beyonce.
Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night.
You’re the only one that I want.
Think I’m addicted to your light.