First/Previous
Gemma was right about the sky’s open night, and I could sympathize with her recollection of the beauty, but for me it must’ve been a greater tragedy—the young woman had only ever enjoyed the stars in the pits of Golgotha; I could, long before, drink in the sky at leisure. Cruel memories.
The night the Rednecks died was one of viscera, but before that it was coolness on the breeze, a warmth by the fires while John played his guitar and we had only just taken two dozen kegs of lager (personal reserves) from the Atlanta despot—the man that kept his subjects as slaves and not a person among the camp was left without budding intoxication. No matter the age, everyone was invited to be merry; if it was that children too faced the plight of a bad world, then so too should they reap the moments of plenty—or so the camp figured.
John had taken a group by the fires where wagons were drawn in interlocking semicircles for cover and Jackson sat beside the picker. Jackson was a man which normally preferred quiet reflection over boisterous singing and nearly never wore the band on his throat, and yet there he was belting out the chorus at the top of his lungs, tankard in hand, red cloth blazed around his neck—it was a contagion and those drunk enough for easier embarrassment sang proudly along:
“There is power, there is power in a band of working folk!
When we stand hand in hand,
That’s a power, that’s the power,
That must rule in every land!”
I’d taken to the outlying shadows with my back pressed against the gas-powered caleche, my own tankard in hand. I loved the warmth of that great big family, truly, but even in those days—and maybe it was that queer youthfulness which longed for individualism that made me that way then—I remained as distanced as possible when I could. I sipped the lager, it was a fine drink and my brother Billy, nearly as old as I was when I’d first taken up in the infantry, swaggered to stand beside me just as quiet for minutes and we looked at the stars and he asked me what it was like to kill a man.
“Is it hard?” he asked.
I nodded, “Sometimes.”
“Killing monsters ain’t so bad. Don’t know if I could do it to a person.”
“You could if they meant to kill you; or if they meant to do it to someone you cared about,” I promised him. In those days, spry, energized, I held no time for staring into abysses; though I still wasn’t a man fully, I pretended as one. It was about family, and it was about doing what was right—what’s right seemed to change, or I changed. The world felt stark with good and evil and even later I’d feel that sentiment well up in me, but if that’s true, I know I stand more on the latter and so I intentionally obfuscated it—this I know. If not, it might be too much to bear. I was required to lie to myself and even in knowing I lied, it was better.
Billy tugged on the red kerchief around his throat and asked me how it looked on him.
“Looks good,” I said.
“Don’t think I look stupid at all?”
I smiled over my drink, “You always look stupid.” I sipped. “The neckwear’s fine.”
“Give me a break,” said Billy; he investigated his own cup, gave it a swish with his wrist, watching its contents swirl. “Aren’t you ever afraid you’ll die?”
“Sometimes—nights like this—I wouldn’t mind it.”
“Really?” my brother asked.
“There’s always a chance of it. Every moment, I guess.”
He smiled. “I wish I had that confidence.”
“You’ll get it,” I returned his smile; it was true that he would gain the fighting spirit. It came to us all with time and reminiscing on the early days, I recall the grit and the hatred—there was learning there too though. Besides, I’d seen the squalors of a stationary man. The stagnation of a place, an unmoving home.
John put his guitar away and laughter erupted from the crowd from something said and Sibylle, cowboy hat cocked funny, traipsed across the camp to the open keg for a refill; the man there, tending the cylinders, was a man named Tandy (a foreigner and one unknown besides the way he smoked a skunk pipe and told wild stories). My mother leaned over while Tandy opened the spigot mouth on the keg, and she froze there, and I could see her there cut out forever against the light of the fires; I watched, and it came so suddenly that I couldn’t be sure what’d happened at all. It was so sudden that I couldn’t find my weapon and I couldn’t find even the courage to fight because in those moments it wasn’t courage I needed, it was grounds to understand.
Sibylle came apart in two pieces immediately, torn completely through and dust erupted as her legs struck the ground while her torso spun through the air like a top, a trail of liquid trailed after, caught in the blue of night so it shone as black; she couldn’t scream. Tandy was a statue. Before anyone could react, more flesh, other bodies, went up and there was all manner of limbs which filled the ground, and it is astounding how quickly a red mist forms across the ground during a massacre. Perhaps the wails of my comrades started before, perhaps others fell before Sibylle, but I could not comprehend the goings-on till I saw her drop the way she did.
Frail human screams rose on the night; I slammed to the ground, tankard gone away and hands scrambling in the dirt; I reached up blindly and yanked Billy to my level and his expression was one of innocence, panic, tears even. Glancing around, I saw the demons bolt from the pitch-black darkness on the edges of camp, mutants taking the fore while greater creatures lurked further back, some hurled whips of gliding metal which writhed over their heads when they stretched them out for a strike—alien—and they sliced directly through soft human bodies. Not even a cry escaped me, but Billy let go with it and I slapped my cupped hand over his mouth hard to hold the screams. His voice would not have been alone anyway, not alongside that startling cacophony. Amidst the cries of people, there were the cries of horses, of our hounds.
We rolled across the ground, slipped beneath the raised body of the gas-powered caleche, remained quiet in the dark, peeked out between the wheels.
“What’s happening?” Billy whispered through my fingers; I removed my hand from him and caught a glimpse of him framed in a square of firelight through the wheels—we lay there on our bellies and the left side of his face was glazed with dirt where I’d pulled him down.
“Shh,” I told him, “Shh, please. Please.” Not another word came while I pleaded with him, pleaded with the world to make this all a nightmare.
Through the haze and the running silhouettes painted black, I saw what might have been Jackson; he stumbled and in the moment that it took me to gasp, his head was gone from his body, his torso slid on as he collapsed, came to rest mere feet from the motor wagon. I told myself that it wasn’t him, but it probably was.
Some mutants lumbered through the camp like animated corpses, some leapt with wild energy or sprayed noxious fumes which lingered in the air; others still were amalgams of humanlike limbs themselves—fiends—exhausting terrible sounds, producing smells of sulfur, glistening with whatever liquids excreted from their oblong alien orifices. Demons ran amok, chanted in devil tongued languages, laughed madly at the destruction—others still, those which displayed some greater intelligence, broke into a song I could never hope or want to replicate; it seemed a unified damnation.
“Please,” I repeated in a whimper and Billy hushed me this time and I realized we were holding hands, squeezing for dear life as figures walked the camp, speared those half-alive, elected others for twisted carnality.
In darkness, in fright plainly, we scuttled from the recess of our hiding place, kept quiet, held to each other, and went into the wasteland where nothing was—every shadow was a potential threat, every second could’ve been the last. We were holding hands; then we weren’t.
Only a glance—that’s all I afforded my brother and nothing more—what a joke of a person I am! What a coward I was. Always.
Something got him in the dark and instead of dying alongside those I cared about, I went on, heartbeat driving me till it was all that I heard in my ears and my muscles ached and my chest heaved and sweat covered me, chilled me in the breeze of the night—it was only once I’d accepted the dark completely, crawled into a hollowed space of rocks along a squat ridge that I watched the demolished camp; it seemed no larger than a spark, but the creatures, fiends and others continued their war cries; never before had I witnessed demons participate in such an attack.
I watched till the sun came, till the fires became smoke, then I watched the band of hell creatures disband. The smell of sulfur remained in the air—copper too—and I stumbled back to the camp in a dreamlike daze, totally unbelieving of the things I saw. Among those dead on the ground, I could recognize none; among those piked from rear to shoulder, standing like morbid scarecrows where they’d been steadied against the ground, I could not want to recognize.
Many of the wagons were overturned, including the gas-powered caleche and I went to it; the metal of its body was warped but I fell to the ground by it and pushed my back against the exposed undercarriage, remained frozen there while examining the bodies, the terrible strips of skin which rested places like wet sheets of paper, the piles of bones removed and smashed and piled.
I cried so deeply that oxygen became a memory, and the shakes couldn’t be contained.
It was like that for so long, knees pulled up, face pushed between, and the wails came unafraid of whatever attention they might garner; there was no rationale, but I imagine if there had been, I would’ve welcomed death in that misery. It was a deep wound that not even my own cowardice would overcome for the sake of survival.
Unaware of my surroundings, not wanting to look up from the ground between my legs, the noise which had started out as imaginary became real and I raised my head then to listen better and wipe my sore eyes; it was the sound of clip-clop horse hooves and I mildly wondered if any of the animals had been spared. I stood and pivoted around the dead camp and there it was, a man on a painted horse with golden hair; he leisurely drove the mount through the place, maneuvering around pools of blood, clumps of body parts and upon seeing me, he smiled and offered a languid wave, keeping one of his gloved hands on the reins.
The man wore white and swished his hair back upon arriving directly in front of me. Ahoy, he offered kindly, Did you happen to see the other riders?
I shook my head, feeling numb.
Ah, he said, I could have sworn four other riders, at least, passed me on my way. His gray eyes examined the carnage. Shame. He shook his head. You are?
“H-harlan.”
He nodded and nearly offered an expression of genuine condolence before descending from the horse; the animal gave a gentle grunt and wandered away from its master to inspect a nearby group of the dead. The man offered his hand, and I took it in a shake. Mephisto, said the man. He flashed a smile again before his face grew serious. I’ve come to you to deal.
I shot him a questioning look, one of bafflement.
I heard your calls from far off. He nodded, removed a white handkerchief from his breast pocket and swiped it down his face. Hot out. He shrugged then replaced the cloth in his pocket. This, he motioned to the disarray of vehicles, of bodies, I can’t fix all this—it’s too much—but there’s a person you love, I know. I could bring them back.
“Doctor?” In retrospect it was such a naïve question.
He shook his head.
“Angel?”
He grinned and nodded, Sure.
“Demon?”
Undoubtedly. His eyes—pits of gray in that radiant face—nearly expressed solemness; he daintily shook the hair from his face and looked at his steed which sniffed a corpse. What’s the word, Harlan? There are others calling and I must be on my way soon—I can’t dally. There was a sharpness to the words. Can’t dally. We must convene soon, or I’ll mosey on.
I snorted back the clog in my nose from the tears and wiped my eyes with my sleeves. “Okay.”
Deal?
I nodded, “Deal.”
Sleep tonight, said Mephisto, Sleep and you’ll be rewarded in the morning.
“You said it’s a deal.”
He nodded and scanned the carnage before we matched gazes and then he said, Yes?
“What is it you want from me?”
Nothing you need now. He called the horse, and it came, and he swept his feet quickly from the ground and settled into position atop the animal. Sleep, Harlan. You won’t be bothered. There are worse things still over the horizon.
I watched him go till he disappeared and once he was gone, I couldn’t cry anymore and instead rummaged through the wagons for what I might carry; along the way I found John, face twisted but corpse intact. The body from the previous night that I’d guessed was Jackson couldn’t be determined but I found him nowhere else. I slid Sibylle’s holster from her hips, fell hard onto the ground and found that I could sob more. I took her cowboy hat, placed it on my head and held her pistol in one hand and the belt holster dangled from the other while I searched the other bodies; there were so many, but I could not find Billy.
Waiting for darkness, I took the spot where I rested, back against the caleche’s undercarriage, watched the sky and felt the gun in my hand; it was heavy. I put it to my head, closed my eyes, and whispered affirmations to myself then I put the pistol between my splayed legs, watched it still in the dirt, and pulled the hat down over my eyes but it did little for the smell. Though the brim of the hat cut the sky out, I watched the ground and saw circling shadows form overhead and heard calls of turkey vultures; they came to pick over the bodies. I withdrew my knees to my chest there again and laid my forearm across them and bit into my arm while closing my eyes. I had thought I was a man and for a time, maybe I was, but there in that miserable pit of despair I became a child again and if I’d become more delirious, I’m sure I might’ve called out for Jackson like it was a bad dream.
Into a fading stupor of sleep in the sun I went and when I awoke again it was dark and chilly and I was tired and hungry but too sick to eat and hardly strong enough to move; I looked at the gun and put it into its holster and left it there by the caleche. In the light of the moon and stars, I moved to gather a bolt of canvas; I unfurled the fabric and created a leaning shelter against the overturned vehicle and crawled into it. There was a hole in the canvas, and I peeked out at the stars.
Weeping came again, but not so uproarious; I was stuck there letting go of whimpers, lying on my back, feeling the tears trace in lines from the outer corners of my eyes to collect along my earlobes. In time, I fell to sleep again on the hard ground because the mourning had taken all else from me.
A pinpoint of sunlight broke my eyelids and I jerked awake and reached for the holster, but it was gone. So was the hat. I crawled from the leaning shelter and there he was.
Billy stood plainly among the dried, congealed blood-soaked field and he looked on to the horizon and all shadows were long in the midday sun which hung up there in a soft blue sky. Whether it be a dream or a spell, I couldn’t care—I charged to him and spun him so he faced me and though his face was plain and expressionless, I wrapped him into a forceful hug. He placed his hands on my back and gave a gentle squeeze; when I pulled from him, my hands on his shoulders, I saw he held Sibylle’s hat in his left hand, pinched by the brim; he’d already tugged her holster belt around his hips—he could have it all. I shook while holding him then let go to wipe my face.
“You’re alive,” I nodded.
He nodded without speaking then looked at the hat in his hand and placed it on his head and firmly pressed it down.
“Billy! Hell, you’re alive!”
The corners of his mouth twitched upward for a moment then he nodded again. “Yeah.” His eyes curiously searched our surroundings like he meant to take each detail in forever.
I slapped him on the shoulder and almost squealed. “Goddammit.” I wiped my eyes again and could do little to keep the excitement from exploding from me. “Oh, we should go. We should go on and get somewhere safe.”
He nodded toward the horizon, “’Lanta?”
“Sure.”
We packed and it was a like an ethereal phantom remained among us beside the quiet dead; turkey vultures cawed to break the silence, pecked where they pleased on the bodies, and I couldn’t want to fight them. I kept sidelong eyes on Billy with the ever-present worry that he’d vanish. Perhaps he was the phantom.
From the rear of the caleche, I removed a few sentimental books Jackson liked, essential cookware, and sparse rations for the trek. The last thing I grabbed was my shotgun and a bit of ammo.
As we set from the dead place, the terrible silhouettes that were cut from there on the horizon behind us grew in my mind with every backward glance—I wanted to fall to pieces, but I saw Billy walk alongside me and although contented is not the right word, it is the nearest. The steps of our boots were all that was heard because I could not fathom to pierce the space between us with words for fear that it would all end. It was a dream, surely. I’d lost my mind. With my hands thumbed into the straps of my pack, I saw I my hands still shook, and they would shake a lot longer—years and with memories too. The crunch of earth underfoot became a rhythm and instead of looking at my brother, I watched his shadow on the ground.
“Everyone’s dead?” He asked.
“Yeah.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah,” I repeated.
“How ain’t I? How ain’t you?”
To say that it was luck would’ve been too morbid. Instead of saying anything, I shrugged, kicked a loose stone, watched my feet some more, and felt a queasiness come over me. For the moment, the immeasurable deaths of those I’d left behind were forgotten in the company of my brother and a sickness welled up inside of me so suddenly that I felt that I’d fall to pieces at the slightest provocation. Finally, I did speak again, but only after steeling myself to the troubles, “Yeah, how are you alive?”
Billy shrugged at me then stumbled up a hill which overlooked trash wood wilderness where sticks lay twisted and bare and further on the sight of Atlanta was visible and I cupped a hand across my brow and Billy did the same and we looked on at the shadows of the place out there where strings of smoke rose from the skyline as a signature for the desolation of the city; it was dead. I felt it in my bones.
My hands were light while my head was heavy, my throat was dry, and the entire world seized in moments of stillness or perhaps it was my own vision which construed the world in that way; I took to the small hill which Billy had climbed and sat there and stared at the place between my feet to steady myself.
“Fire,” said Billy.
I nodded and nearly choked.
Leviathan—till then I had no belief in dragons—glided over the broken city, its winged shadow little seen but its voice was deep across the scene, letting go of roars which shook the ground. We hid among the trash wood and moved down the hill and watched the creature thrash in the air as if it was angry for its abominable life. Whatever millennia it spent in the pits of hell seemingly thrust upon it a love of destruction and pain.
My brother moved with a more assured stride and kept a cool distance and upon fleeing from the wreckage, from the outlying area of Atlanta and the place we’d left our family, he spoke little and watched me strangely whenever I took to melancholic fatiguing. We lit no fires for fear of what it could draw from the night so in the dark I’d see him watching some far-off place, maybe seeing through the reality which surrounded us, and he’d snap from it, catch my eye, and disappear for minutes to scan the perimeter of whatever place we stayed. Being alongside my resurrected brother was lonelier than I could bear, and I hoped he’d disappear for good or that I could work up the courage to end my own life. It was like purgatory explained in books and for a time, it felt endless; upon witnessing the destruction of Atlanta, we pushed to Marrietta, and it was much the same. As was Chatanooga, Nashville, Knoxville, Louisville, Charlotte. The ocean had risen so that Fayetville was gone underwater, and the Florida leg disappeared completely as far as I’m aware. I understood later that Memphis was overlooked and more places further west were alive too, but when we’d exhausted the south, we moved north and found strongholds of families or traders or even small groupings of civilization, but by and large we found nothing much in the two years that we hoofed it from place to place; it was my doing mostly—I wanted to find a place untouched by the mayhem in the area my family had once patrolled.
In retrospect, I am certain that Billy only stayed by my side for convenience; there wasn’t any of my brother left in the man that was my travelling companion for that time. He was a ghost of a person and Mephisto had preyed upon my desire in the worst moment of weakness in my life. There were nights—maybe we’d taken up in a natural alcove for shelter or we’d locked ourselves in some ancient structure for sleep—I’d watch Billy lay where he was, Sibylle’s hat and holster lying beside him, and I’d think of putting him down but he’d stir and in a brief shadow I’d see my brother as he’d been and withdraw to bury my face in fake sleep to be met with images of the night the demons attacked where I’d shake, sweat, and bite my lips so hard I’d drink blood.
Two years we marched around the Appalachians and in that time, I felt myself wither and disconnect.
Upon moving further north we met Indianapolis—that’s what it was called back then—and it was run by an older woman called Lady Lazarus; I reckon her father, affluent and dead, was a fan of Plath. Indianapolis was fortified more than most with its high walls, and its wall men, and its underground facilities which produced substantial ammunition. We—me and Billy’s revenant—were travelling with a group of traders we’d taken up with from out west; they called themselves wizards and although they seemed of the occult, their spirits discounted whatever suspicions I might’ve had of them.
I remember first pushing through that big gate; the town kept with it an indisputable malaise and though we were greeted at the gate by the leader Lady Lazarus—her brothers came along with her—and her jovial demeanor carried a certain infectious quality, I could not help but notice that the regular denizens maintained a healthy distance from their leader (the guards which followed the Lady everywhere probably had something to do with this).
Lady Lazarus touched each of our hands in greeting with enthusiasm and I could not help but notice how soft they were, how vibrant her eyes were, how much she smiled, and how beautiful she was given her age; already her head was fully gray.
Upon meeting each of us, going through the wizard traders first, she came to me, and Billy and she shook my hand then pivoted to Billy.
“Welcome. You can call me Lady.”
Billy caught her hand in his, held it longer than she’d intended so that they held eye contact, and he smiled broadly, tipped the cowboy hat on his head back to expose his smooth forehead and said, “And you can call me Maron, mam. You are quite a sight for a tired man.”
Though Maron—as he’d named himself—was more boy than man, Lady took a disturbed liking to him immediately and we prolonged our stay in Indianapolis after the wizards departed to head west.
Under the rule of Lady, Indianapolis was a theocracy, with her addressing the huddled masses at the steps of her grand abode, she’d preach for hours on sin and strife and quote her favorite passages; though reminiscent of my time with the Rednecks, I never found any truth or sincerity or freedom in her teaching—hers was more trouble, brimstone, fire and I’d had enough of that for a lifetime. Public execution was common. As was torture.
Maron distanced himself further from me, but I remained to keep an eye on him—it was not sentimentality but rather I existed without purpose and conjured some from watching my brother.
Often, Lady invited Maron to her private rooms and though the rumors and speculation ran the full spectrum of perverse speculation, every denizen feigned ignorance at her pregnancy.
Upon giving birth, the infant was malformed with two heads—her brothers took this as an omen and killed the child, put their leader in the stocks for months, and stripped her of dignity while the denizens did to her what they pleased.
Maron rose through the wall men while Lady’s brothers assumed control of Indianapolis and called themselves Bosses; in the time since Lady’s reign, the place was renamed to Golgotha for its closeness to a messiah.
I went west but always found myself drawn back to Golgotha because of some emptiness in me. It was only with Suzanne that I wanted something more and knowing them, I almost believed in a world like the one that children dream about. The world that Gemma and Andrew chased after when they left home, like the one Aggie talked about in her mother’s books. There’s a hopelessness in me that I’ll never be rid of. In the interim between our initial arrival to Golgotha and that flight from that terrible city, I cannot know how many people I sacrificed in convening with demons because I refuse to know because the number would destroy me. That is the worst of it; I do not even have courage enough to face myself or the actions of my past in any substantive way.
Mephisto tainted me so that I could speak with his kind as a dealmaker and the disease grew.
Billy or Maron or whatever he is should have been reaped long ago or better, I should never have brought that abomination alive. Such a cruel world where a deep longing like that can be inverted, weaponized. Me and him should both die; me and him should have died a long time ago.
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So, I want to get into Sewing and I know this is an hobby I want to stick with. I originally was going to get the brother xm2701, which I know is very beginner but some say that they can sew more heavy duty fabrics like denim on it. On the other hand, I'm worried I'll out grow it. Especially because that machine is going for 300 here in Canada. It would be great if you guys could recommend Sewing machines that are beginners friendly that are about 150 to 300 and that I could grow into. I know my price range is on the lower end, so if there's a machine that matches all my checklist then I could possibly go for about 400.
Basically I'm looking for ●beginner friendly ●can grow into ●150 to 400$ ● automatic needle threader ●overlock and button hole stitch included ●free range of stitch length ect rather than preset

SHORT VERSION: She left six days ago and hasn't returned. I haven't heard from her about why, and I had to figure out for myself that it was over.
On June 1, my fiancée (44F) and I (47M) were supposed to get married. This is roughly 2 weeks away, right? Well, last Saturday, she suddenly left the house and ghosted me. No contact, scattered texts, no explanation. She doesn't tell me she's not coming back, either. Doesn't apologize for anything. I've had to discover this for myself, as well as start moving out because she couldn't pay 1/2 rent (which she hasn't done ever...)
I really need some advice, context, insight, comfort and whatever else this sub might be able to provide. She didn't This doesn't hurt so much as blow my mind. Details are below.
My question: How do I process this? How does someone, in one day, go from wedding bells to "it's over" -- and not even tell their significant other?
LONG VERSION:

• I'm almost 47M and she's 44F. We're both white and boring (I thought in a good way).
• We've both been married before. I have 3 kids; she has 3 kids.
• She and I have lived together for roughly 18 months. We've been together for about 3 years. We've known one another for over 10 years.
• I'm an author and screenwriter; she's a mental health therapist.
• I ask frequently how things are going between us and she's always quick to tell me things are great. We've never discussed an issue between us, ever.
• We've never fought. Not really. We're a good team. A heated argument here or there over a world topic, but nothing big. But every single time we've come close to arguing, her first response is always, "We should a couples counselor" and not, "We should talk more about this."
• In the last year, I've had a lot of money screwed up by identity theft.
• I'm admittedly high-strung at times due to stress. But I routinely apologize and check in a lot. Still, my memory isn't great because I'm always wheeling from 1 gig to another. Right now, I have 11 active things I'm working on.
• In recent months, I've had to patchwork-quilt my finances here and there, and I constantly forget to send $ back because of our living situation (more on that in a second). Hell, I even fell for an elaborate scam and accepted a fake job, if that tells you anything about my brain.
• I'm not the world's most hands-on affectionate person, but I am crazy-sensitive (as the length of this thing demonstrates). I feel things deeply. She's emotional, but in a different way. She needs constant physical affection and repeated "I love you's" -- which is fine, but she almost withers without them during the day.
• She avoids conflict and answering questions with straightforward answers. I don't love conflict, but I'm comfortable asking direct and difficult questions.
• I'm very quick to ask how I can improve something or do better the next time around.

So...
Basically, there's too much going on and our wedding day is coming fast. I'm the one in charge of the invitations, save the dates, etc., securing the venue, honeymoon, etc. I'm told I should delegate, but I cannot because no one else has the graphic design knowledge and I'm strapped for cash.
We're two months out and almost no one knows the wedding is still on, but a few things...

• We haven't really spoken about the wedding, not in detail, for a good half-year.
• Last Friday afternoon/Saturday morning, she still didn't have a dress (due to her finances), but she said she was still excited and happy.
• We almost always talk about money stresses, but we never talk about specifics or strategies, etc. That's because she wants to keep our finances separate. I respect this 100%, but I also find this ironic because she's frustrated by having no line of sight into my money...

And then, two things happen: there's a potential problem with the venue and we're a month behind on paying rent (not our fault).
But I suddenly find myself becoming angrier and angrier at her. This is new.
We now had to come up with $2440 suddenly, which is literally another month's rent we never planned on. I warn her that our landlord, if we don't pay this by the 10th, will not renew our lease. She repeatedly shrugs and says, "Well, what can we do?" and goes to bed. This is fine for the first night she says it, but not the next day when she doesn't have clients. We don't have money for a wedding in the first place, but she's adamant that we should find a last-minute replacement venue...
I'm worried about the house. I'll get my $ access shortly (and did, two days later) but for days and nights, I'm calling around and texting to see how to pay this because my money is locked due to fraud for a few days. I'm also up all hours of the night (literally) working on marketing for her new practice, which feels like I'm doing a hell of a lot more than she's doing.
Two final details:

• I've paid the rent in full for nearly a year, plus family-sized internet, renters' insurance, a few new appliances, etc. on top of life's other charming charges. Also, I've come through even when I was unemployed.
• She rents an office space that has held nothing more than a few plants since 1st of the year. Seriously. It's never been used and there's no end in sight for this. She pays utilities and groceries.

I find out that we're losing our place and then she starts paying attention. But I'm angry and tell her so via text. There's a great deal of misunderstanding going on here, too. She thinks I'm saying she needs to get out and move; I'm saying she's going to have to start looking for a place for us to live. The long and short of it is this: I paid for half of this month's rent; she needs to come up with the other half.
Next thing I know, she's up and gone. All of her stuff is still here. Cats and fish, too. Zero explanation. Seriously. She goes to her mom's and says she'll be back on Monday. Doesn't even say she needs space because she's not replying at all. This goes on for days. In fact, IT STILL IS.
When I finally do get ahold of her at midnight, after days of not knowing why she'd bolted, she says she left because "it's not okay how I was talking to her." So we compare iMessage screens and guess what? She didn't receive 4 messages. Problem solved right? Nope. I say that she could help with rent if she wasn't paying for a potted plant to have an office; I also say that I know she has savings, which she admits is true.
She goes on to say that I'm mad at her because she's not behaving the way I expect her to behave.
At first, I say that's not true -- but it is true: I expect my fiancée to talk to me and communicate issues, not suddenly up and run to her parents'. It's a huge leap from earlier that morning going, "I love you" and looking for wedding venues to later that afternoon to not. I send dozens of texts into the void -- some panicked, some sad, some furious, some indignant. But I don't know anything and she knows this. During this time, I surmise that she's not coming back home, which she casually confirms like an afterthought.
I then literally have to break up with her via text.
I get a thumbs-up reaction to that text.
She later goes on to say that it wasn't her plan to leave and that it was because of "everything that ensued" that she's not. I seriously don't know what this even means. Well, turns out -- thanks to phone calls -- that she was calling around to fact-check the status of an injury settlement of mine and other things with friends and my mom (of all people). She calls her twice, in fact. She spends the next 12 hours asking my mom and others things she's never asked me, ever. This is a verboten subject with her, so it's ironic. And why would my mom ever know the status of a malpractice settlement? But she's calling people and sobbing on the phone but tellingly, never once revealing to them why she's actually leaving. It's only questions about my financial situation. She also swears them all to secrecy about the calls.
So.
She leaves after a misunderstanding that could've been cleared up with a quick call. She doesn't like my opinion about her leisurely paced startup/rent. She refuses to pick up the phone, but she's calling all around to people about my money. She owes rent but doesn't pay it, and lets us get booted. She refuses to text, chiding me for my walls of words because I'm talking to myself...
It's almost one full week and she hasn't returned home. I've had to explain to my kids that, no, I don't know why she left. Honestly, I still don't. I'm packing up my belongings and selling things on Facebook Marketplace, etc. and finding a new place in days.
I can't believe someone can have an insta-toggle switch like that, let alone the inability to tell their partner what's going on. It feels cowardly at best and apathetic at worst. Seriously, there was NOTHING said anywhere that warranted her "you can't speak to me like this" or sobbing to my friends and family about ... money?
Thank you, Reddit. Sorry for the novel. If you're the one person who made it this far, I am deeply grateful.
P.S. If she somehow sees this and communicates in the comments section, I think I'll rest my case about her.

What is better for my San Pedro cuttings to thrive in the SW Nevada desert where temps get up to 115 and rain is a joke as the cuttings mature? I am trying to figure out the best way to help these guys reach their full potential. I have a bunch of cuttings that I want to root, and I don't know if I want to put them all together in one 4x4 bed or put them in separate containers? Also with it getting so hot here, would standard plastic nursery pots work better to hold In moisture or would it be better to get fabric pots and water them all the time? I do apologize in advance if some of these are dumb questions, or ones that have been answered before. Thanks guys!

Every dog owner knows the joy and excitement of taking their furry friend for a walk. However, the thrill can quickly turn to worry when our dogs rush across the road, putting themselves and others at risk. In recent years, the United States has witnessed a concerning number of accidents involving dogs darting onto roads, resulting in injuries and even fatalities. In this article, we'll explore the consequences of dogs rushing when crossing the road and provide practical tips on training your furry companion to be a responsible pedestrian.
Consequences of Dogs Rushing Across the Road:
The statistics speak for themselves—accidents involving dogs on roads have been on the rise in the United States. In the past few years, numerous incidents have occurred, highlighting the need for responsible dog ownership. These accidents not only pose a threat to our beloved pets but also jeopardize the safety of pedestrians and drivers. It's crucial for dog owners to understand the potential dangers and take proactive steps to prevent such incidents.
Preventing Dogs from Running onto the Road:
Safe Zone Boundary Training: Start by establishing safe zones within your property. Train your dog to recognize and respect these boundaries. Use positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, when your dog stays within the designated safe area.
Road Sense Training: Teach your dog to understand the concept of roads and traffic. Use controlled environments, like quiet streets or parking lots, to introduce your dog to the sights and sounds of traffic. Reinforce good behavior with rewards.
Leash Discipline: Pay close attention to the leash when walking your dog near roads. Ensure the leash is of appropriate length and strength, providing you with control over your dog's movements. Use a short leash in busy areas and reinforce loose leash walking.
Time on the Street: Gradually increase the time your dog spends on the street during walks. Start with short outings, gradually exposing your dog to different scenarios and distractions. Consistent exposure helps build your dog's confidence and familiarity with street environments.
Observe Your Dog's Condition: Pay attention to your dog's behavior and body language. If your dog appears anxious, scared, or overly excited, consider adjusting your training approach and providing positive reinforcement when your dog displays calm behavior.
Training Your Dog to be a "Street Safety Standard":
Make safety a priority by consistently reinforcing positive behavior. Reward your dog for staying within safe zones, obeying leash commands, and demonstrating road sense. With patience and dedication, your dog can become a reliable and responsible pedestrian.
As responsible dog owners, it's our duty to ensure the safety of our furry companions. By addressing the issue of dogs rushing across roads head-on and implementing practical training methods, we can contribute to reducing accidents and fostering a safer environment for everyone. Remember, your dog's safety is in your hands—let's work together to keep those paws safe on the streets.

The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index (CELPIP) is a vital gateway for immigration, citizenship, and professional opportunities in Canada. Acing this computer-based test requires focused preparation, and a well-structured CELPIP prep course can be your game-changer.
Why Choose a CELPIP Prep Course?
While self-study is an option, enrolling in a celpip preparation course offers a multitude of advantages:

• Structured Learning: Prep courses provide a clear roadmap to CELPIP success. They break down the test format, task types, and scoring criteria into easy-to-understand modules, ensuring you target all areas effectively.
• Expert Guidance: Benefit from the knowledge of experienced instructors who possess CELPIP expertise. They can identify your strengths and weaknesses, offering personalized feedback and tailored strategies to maximize your score.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Courses provide a wealth of practice materials, including mock tests that mirror the actual exam environment. This hones your test-taking skills, builds time management expertise, and boosts your confidence on test day.
• Vocabulary & Grammar Expansion: Many courses include targeted vocabulary-building exercises and grammar drills specifically aligned with CELPIP requirements. This refines your fluency and ensures your writing and speaking meet the expected standards.
• Personalized Feedback: Some courses offer one-on-one sessions or small group settings. Here, you can receive invaluable feedback on your writing and speaking samples, allowing you to pinpoint areas for improvement and tailor your approach for optimal results.

What to Expect from a CELPIP Prep Course:
The exact structure and content can vary depending on the provider and format (online vs in-person). However, you can generally expect the following:

1. Comprehensive Test Overview:

This initial stage lays the foundation for your CELPIP success. A good prep course will provide a thorough breakdown of the following:

• Test Format: You'll gain a crystal-clear understanding of the CELPIP structure, including the number of sections, time allocation for each, and the types of tasks you'll encounter.
• Task Types: Each CELPIP section (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking) involves specific task formats. The course will meticulously explain what each task entails, what skills are assessed, and how to approach each one effectively.
• Scoring Criteria: Understanding how your test is scored is vital. The course will demystify the scoring rubrics, highlighting what examiners look for in each section and how to maximize your points in every task.
• Essential Test-Taking Strategies: There are proven strategies to approach the CELPIP that can significantly improve your performance. The course will equip you with time management techniques, active listening skills, effective reading comprehension approaches, and valuable writing and speaking frameworks – all designed to help you excel on test day.

1. Targeted Skills Development:

Acing the CELPIP isn't just about memorizing facts. It's about honing the specific skills required for each section. Here's how a prep course helps you achieve that:

• Listening: Sharpen your listening comprehension by focusing on identifying key points, understanding accents, and following the flow of conversations and lectures.
• Reading: Develop effective reading strategies to tackle various text types, improve your reading speed and comprehension, and strengthen your ability to analyze and infer information from the passages.
• Writing: The course will guide you in crafting clear, concise, and grammatically sound essays and letters that meet the specific CELPIP writing requirements. You'll learn effective vocabulary building techniques and practice writing under timed conditions.
• Speaking: Gain confidence in your spoken English! The course will provide opportunities to practice speaking on various topics, refine your fluency and pronunciation, and develop the ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself clearly and coherently.

1. Practice & Mock Tests:

Practice truly makes perfect when it comes to the CELPIP. A good prep course offers a wealth of practice materials to solidify your learning:

• Practice Questions: Test your understanding with a variety of practice questions that closely mirror the format and difficulty level of the actual CELPIP exam.
• Full-Length Mock Exams: Simulate the real test environment by taking full-length mock exams under timed conditions. This allows you to identify areas that need further work, get comfortable with the exam format, and develop effective time management strategies.
• Personalized Feedback: Some courses provide opportunities to receive feedback on your practice writing and speaking tasks. This invaluable feedback helps you identify and rectify any shortcomings before the actual test.

Choosing the Right CELPIP Prep Course:
With a plethora of courses available, selecting the perfect fit is crucial. Consider these factors:

• Learning Style: Do you prefer online flexibility or the structure of an in-person class? Choose a format that aligns with your learning preferences.
• Course Content: Ensure the course covers all aspects of the CELPIP and offers the level of detail you require.
• Budget: Prep course costs can vary. Determine your budget and find a course that delivers value for your investment.
• Student Reviews: Read testimonials from past students to gauge the course's effectiveness and instructor quality.

Invest in Your Success: Enroll in a CELPIP Prep Course Today.
Taking the CELPIP can feel daunting, but with a strategic prep course by your side, you'll be well-equipped to conquer the test and achieve your Canadian aspirations.

The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index (CELPIP) is a vital gateway for immigration, citizenship, and professional opportunities in Canada. Acing this computer-based test requires focused preparation, and a well-structured CELPIP prep course can be your game-changer.
Why Choose a CELPIP Prep Course?
While self-study is an option, enrolling in a celpip preparation course offers a multitude of advantages:

• Structured Learning: Prep courses provide a clear roadmap to CELPIP success. They break down the test format, task types, and scoring criteria into easy-to-understand modules, ensuring you target all areas effectively.
• Expert Guidance: Benefit from the knowledge of experienced instructors who possess CELPIP expertise. They can identify your strengths and weaknesses, offering personalized feedback and tailored strategies to maximize your score.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Courses provide a wealth of practice materials, including mock tests that mirror the actual exam environment. This hones your test-taking skills, builds time management expertise, and boosts your confidence on test day.
• Vocabulary & Grammar Expansion: Many courses include targeted vocabulary-building exercises and grammar drills specifically aligned with CELPIP requirements. This refines your fluency and ensures your writing and speaking meet the expected standards.
• Personalized Feedback: Some courses offer one-on-one sessions or small group settings. Here, you can receive invaluable feedback on your writing and speaking samples, allowing you to pinpoint areas for improvement and tailor your approach for optimal results.

What to Expect from a CELPIP Prep Course:
The exact structure and content can vary depending on the provider and format (online vs in-person). However, you can generally expect the following:

1. Comprehensive Test Overview:

This initial stage lays the foundation for your CELPIP success. A good prep course will provide a thorough breakdown of the following:

• Test Format: You'll gain a crystal-clear understanding of the CELPIP structure, including the number of sections, time allocation for each, and the types of tasks you'll encounter.
• Task Types: Each CELPIP section (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking) involves specific task formats. The course will meticulously explain what each task entails, what skills are assessed, and how to approach each one effectively.
• Scoring Criteria: Understanding how your test is scored is vital. The course will demystify the scoring rubrics, highlighting what examiners look for in each section and how to maximize your points in every task.
• Essential Test-Taking Strategies: There are proven strategies to approach the CELPIP that can significantly improve your performance. The course will equip you with time management techniques, active listening skills, effective reading comprehension approaches, and valuable writing and speaking frameworks – all designed to help you excel on test day.

1. Targeted Skills Development:

Acing the CELPIP isn't just about memorizing facts. It's about honing the specific skills required for each section. Here's how a prep course helps you achieve that:

• Listening: Sharpen your listening comprehension by focusing on identifying key points, understanding accents, and following the flow of conversations and lectures.
• Reading: Develop effective reading strategies to tackle various text types, improve your reading speed and comprehension, and strengthen your ability to analyze and infer information from the passages.
• Writing: The course will guide you in crafting clear, concise, and grammatically sound essays and letters that meet the specific CELPIP writing requirements. You'll learn effective vocabulary building techniques and practice writing under timed conditions.
• Speaking: Gain confidence in your spoken English! The course will provide opportunities to practice speaking on various topics, refine your fluency and pronunciation, and develop the ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself clearly and coherently.

1. Practice & Mock Tests:

Practice truly makes perfect when it comes to the CELPIP. A good prep course offers a wealth of practice materials to solidify your learning:

• Practice Questions: Test your understanding with a variety of practice questions that closely mirror the format and difficulty level of the actual CELPIP exam.
• Full-Length Mock Exams: Simulate the real test environment by taking full-length mock exams under timed conditions. This allows you to identify areas that need further work, get comfortable with the exam format, and develop effective time management strategies.
• Personalized Feedback: Some courses provide opportunities to receive feedback on your practice writing and speaking tasks. This invaluable feedback helps you identify and rectify any shortcomings before the actual test.

Choosing the Right CELPIP Prep Course:
With a plethora of courses available, selecting the perfect fit is crucial. Consider these factors:

• Learning Style: Do you prefer online flexibility or the structure of an in-person class? Choose a format that aligns with your learning preferences.
• Course Content: Ensure the course covers all aspects of the CELPIP and offers the level of detail you require.
• Budget: Prep course costs can vary. Determine your budget and find a course that delivers value for your investment.
• Student Reviews: Read testimonials from past students to gauge the course's effectiveness and instructor quality.

Invest in Your Success: Enroll in a CELPIP Prep Course Today.
Taking the CELPIP can feel daunting, but with a strategic prep course by your side, you'll be well-equipped to conquer the test and achieve your Canadian aspirations.

Appearance: A spherical black fruit with multi-colored rings surrounded by black rinds, with orange swirls appearing in the rings like spots, topped with a grey stem that ends with two square leaves on either sides with longer and compacted swirls. The inside is bright red and blue like slices with grey swirls arranged in straight rows
The eater of this fruit gains the ability to recreate and amplify any sound they have ever heard that they can emit from their body using tech-based wires and speakers, making them a Audio System User
Etymology: Biko is taken from *Yamabiko 山彦*, which means “echo” in Japanese

In-Depth

Cypher Wires: The user is able to transform their hair strands and finger ends into cords tipped with either plugs or microphones that they can use to channel and amplify sound through into their speakers. This allows them to pick up and record any sound-waves even through obstructing walls and sound-proof barriers, as well as selectively amplify noises and voices they can differentiate from multiple sources, gifting them incredible spying capabilities and information obtaining. The user can also extend these tools on strong cables they can manipulate in a prehensile fashion and for extraordinary lengths to detect and relay sound-waves to the user or their speakers
Speaker Systems: The user has the power to augment their body into or with large speakers of any sized cubic, spherical or angular shapes they imagine, and are even able to dispense these speakers off of their body and remotely control and activate them anywhere. These solid-as-steel speakers can emit powerful sound-waves of anything the user has ever heard before or are hearing live as they are connected to the user via their Cypher Wires, enabling them a versatile and powerful system of sonic-capabilities as pulses, waves and blasts of vibrational force. The user can even sense the surroundings of their speakers through sound waves, similar to "echo-location" used by several animal species while connected to their wires, enabling them a powerful sixth-sense against opponents with a physical body

Awakening: Eternal Echos

The user after unlocking the full potential of their powers can now manipulate their speakers remotely without the need for cables, as the user’s echoing sounds made from their bodies act as an energy for them in which they can amplify and alter into any form of audio of the echos they unleash. Their speakers with their own energy can also levitate and move at supersonic speeds as the user desire, and their shapes can be reconfigured into anything the user imagines with endless variety for dimensions, allowing the user to combine and weave them with their wires to form animated creations powered and weaponized with endless sound
The user with their new advantage has even greater range and versatile power for taking on individual or multiple opponents at once, and their sound-relaying grants them even better capabilities for gathering sounds for amplifying and information gathering

Weaknesses

• The user can be disoriented and even knocked unconscious by sudden loud sounds through their microphones connected to themselves and their speakers if unexpected, disabling control over any systems they’ve deployed until they regain control
• The user’s speakers cannot function with severed cables between them and the user until their awakening, which can limit their remote sonic abilities
• Seawater can cause speakers, plugs and mics to short-circuit and become unusable, requiring the user to detach and regrow new ones
• Standard Devil Fruit weaknesses apply

Techniques

Bass Heartbeat: User alters their soles and palms into cymbal-sized speakers, plus two on their front and back. The user can emit fast pulses of low-frequency sounds that can hit as solid as bullet-speed punches, and do so in a rhythmic pattern they can set to repeat automatically
Spider Chords: User transforms their hands into sharp plugs and strong cables that they can extend and whip around to grapple themselves and scratch their opponents greatly, capable of cutting through even stone and metal
Heavy Tolls: User creates two meteor hammers made from attaching spherical speakers and mics to their body on long cables, then whip them around like flails for sonic-booming impacts

• Backlash Yo-Yo: User forms two wide cylindrical speakers aligned together with a long wire connected to their finger, which they can utilize like a giant yo-yo for rolling and trajectory-changing sonic pulses for rapid strikes
  
• Zero-Point Clash: User creates six large ‘Doom-Mics’ from their back and alter their torso front into a large speaker. When they strike with their ‘Doom-Mics’ they blast a powerful shockwave forward that cracks apart even stone and ship hulls, and can lash all six onto their target to keep them centered for a second to impact them with a long-range blast
  

Reverb Jackknife: User transforms their arm into a cubic blade-like weapon with sharpened plugs at the end, with their shoulder and elbow as wire-joints for flipping and spinning like a butterfly-knife. They can utilize this for close and long-ranged slicing attacks, and increase the power of their blade by vibrating it with an intense amount of bass and pitch
Megahertz Roadie Rig: User creates a mass amount of interconnected speakers and cables around their body, forming a durable and dense layer of defense that can emit powerful sonic waves for offense and even mobility by using their force to propel themselves like a hovercraft. The user can form large appendages and weapons from this construct for defensive and attacking moves like a hovering musical mecha

• Thunder Tome: User forms large speakers and wire-based hands from their MRR and slam them into their opponents or the ground to unleash sonic shockwaves on impact, and can even use these to form quick sound-based barriers
  
• Centihenries: User aligns many slab-like speakers and runs their cables through and outside them, forming one or more large mechanical centipedes, connected to the underside center of their body by wires that allow the user to control them
  
• Cyborg Octopus: User create a large cubic speaker with eight plug-tipped cables that act as tentacles, resembling mechanical octopi suspended on a cable from their back. They can control this mechalopod from a long distance remotely for surveillance, offense or defense using their cables and sonic pulses as long as their cable is intact
  
• Spider Driver: User reconfigures their MRR or Cyborg Octopus into a caravel-sized mecha-spider they can utilize like an All-Terrain Vehicle and even deploy long-range cables for traversing over like spider thread
  
• Mo-Boom Box: User transforms their arm or half of their MRR into a huge whale-shaped construct with all of its speakers facing forward. They can create a reverberating beam of sound from inside using relaying mics to unleash a massive blast of whale-song from all of them simultaneously, creating a powerful shockwave that passes through everything
  

Black Panther Overload: Hyper Huan: The user alters their own body with specialized speakers and wires to form a black humanoid feline shape with powerful arms and legs, durable claws, rolling speaker-skates, a set of three long cable-tails with ‘Doom-mics’ at their ends, and wickedly sharp blue teeth and fangs. The user can utilize the sensory speakers across their body and central one on their face to act like eye-shaped ears, detecting any and all vibrations around themselves to react and move themselves at sonic speeds, being comparable to a Mythical Zoan in sheer power
There is a drawback to this technique, as the user’s sensory speakers cannot detect vibrations when they are emitting sound-waves of their own and will become “blind” when they are attacking, defending or boosting with their speakers
Non-Combat:
Sonar-lite: User emits timed pulses of far-range echos from their body and/or their speakers to utilize echolocation
Dynamic Equalizer: User replicates another’s voice by getting vocal samples from their microphone or jacks to their throat, allowing them to utilize their voice for commands and subterfuge against opponents. With practice they can even accomplish this with their MRR and all it’s techniques

• Echost: The user can connect their jacks to one’s vocal cords and replay sounds they made before and they remember, allowing them to target any information and truth from their own voices. They can even apply this to a corpse's vocal cords and eardrums (If they're still on said body and intact) to replay their last words they spoke and heard before their death

Acoustic Suspension: User creates several wide speakers facing upwards that allow them to boost whatever and whoever are on top of them upwards with rhythmic vibrational force, which can be quite baffling to witnesses

I've always carried 124gr +p ammo for CCW/EDC, but recently started tested out some of the light ammo +p hollow points, but not enough to really get a feel and compare. They were the Liberty Civil Defense 62gr +p, advertised at 1800 fps. I did like how light they were in my edc at the time (FN 509c Tactical), and now I'm using a Glock 43x for summer.
Tbh I just feel "weird" carrying a non-hollow point edc round and non 115g124g147gr round. But only because everyone seems to use hollow points and the standard 11/124/147 rounds. I'm just not sure what a light, very fast moving, fluted round would do in a self defense situation. Even after watching ballistic gel tests.
But the idea of sending a 9mm at 1700fps and hitting with 500 ft lbs of energy does seem appealing.
​
Underwood 68gr +p Extreme Defense
- 1800 fps at muzzle
- 489 ft. lbs
Underwood 124gr +p+ Hollowpoint
- 1300fps at muzzel
- 465 ft lbs
​
How does light, high velocity, fluted +p 9mm shoot compared to standard 115g124gr and +p rounds?
- Is the recoil more or less when using a 68gr +p round?
- How is accuracy? Does it shoot flatter and more accurately?
- Is there any disadvantage to using 68gr +p fluted rounds (for summer carry in warm climates)
- Does the G43x have the barrel length to effectively utilize a 68gr +p Underwood round?
- Do fluted rounds have a higher chance of over penetrating and exiting the body?

I recently thrifted a Brother Mademoiselle 300. The motor and needle and everything moves fine when I run the sewing machine, but the problem is that the fabric is stuck and doesn't move at all.
I noticed the feed dogs move back and forth, but not up and down. I'm thinking that might be the issue.
Here's what I've tried so far:

• Opened the machine up and put sewing machine oil on everything
• Used different the stitch lengths
• Pressed the raise dog feed button on and off (this did nothing at all)

Any ideas for what I could try next?
https://reddit.com/link/1ctwwx4/video/q06i49bl1x0d1/player
https://preview.redd.it/f8jzaqr12x0d1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=551c6992b9d8519b7d9ff13a647f57ebe9e49878
https://preview.redd.it/pho0vax22x0d1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=28ed940b63c4ff22fcd84d8bd060c0cb4e0e1eb7
https://preview.redd.it/rzaq7ft32x0d1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=8eda2ca63567edb1ec559d9a6c9fc95f1f0caf3a
https://preview.redd.it/hhe4o9is1x0d1.png?width=400&format=png&auto=webp&s=74cc413ddab632e32c2b1a56ea6fefff9b027229

I recently thrifted a Brother Mademoiselle 300. The motor and needle and everything moves fine when I run the sewing machine, but the problem is that the fabric is stuck and doesn't move at all.
I noticed the feed dogs move back and forth, but not up and down. I'm thinking that might be the issue.
Here's what I've tried so far:

• Opened the machine up and put sewing machine oil on everything
  
• Use different the stitch lengths
  
• Pressed the raise dog feed button on and off (this did nothing at all)
  

Any ideas for what I could try next?
https://preview.redd.it/toye6h3c0x0d1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=4fc20223b3c58102b12b28761adfefbbe85116d1
https://preview.redd.it/2dx5zzld0x0d1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=26426fb35ad814aab11900b807a153ba56e45231
https://preview.redd.it/stn1yhie0x0d1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=81c15f7ef7c004b36a4bac46511952dbf867b932
https://preview.redd.it/sj6eoxrf0x0d1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=de0281bafdb718ae5650d6abb1323f994598bd84

Hello and greetings once again my fellow CUEnthusiasts!
I wanted to push this one out asap just for clarity and transparency. Future Coaches Corners will sadly be less frequent xD
If you missed my first one check my boring post history, it goes over some good pointers for trading :)
This time my focus is on something close and dear to me on this app. I’m going to try to explain what one card collecting (also known as hoarding) is, and give some tips for how to get started. I’ll also go over some strategies to collect respectfully and efficiently.
A one card collector is a person who collects a set number, or as many copies of a single card as possible. Usually it’s just because it’s a card we like or has a bit of meaning. I picked my 4 cards just because the pictures matched my in game avatar lol. Theres many reasons why we collect :)
I first want to address something I see somewhat often. Why collect so many of one card? And why do some people not like one card collectors or why do we have a bad rep.
The answers are simple. We like seeing high numbers of dupes and it’s fun to do. Often what we’re doing is mis-understood or looked upon negatively. I’ll try to clear things up a bit.
Most of us are not trying to eliminate the availability of a card or drive values. Keep in mind no card ever goes out of print. Level up cards are the only exception as each player only gets one.
Most one card collectors choose a relatively worthless card or a basic/fusion card to collect. Very little is impacted by one card collectors and it shouldn’t prevent one from completing a collection. Most of us are ok to trade a copy of a card we collect if someone is having trouble finding it. We’re not monsters lol. (Well, maybe Flex. Dude’s a literal zilla!)
I would like to add, I don’t condone or approve of players hoarding up value cards just to get wild over pays. We (one card collectors) aren’t trying to flip the cards we collect, when we do toss a card we collect to help someone out, it’s usually at a loss compared to what we originally paid lol. We are not the same.
By writing this I hope to open up a bit as to what we do and how we trade. I know the majority of players don’t collect duplicates by the trade full, so I hope this sheds some light too. As some of us one card collectors have willingly done so thousands of times.
One card collecting can be done by anyone, regardless the size of your collection and can be casual or very focused. Let’s get to the fun part. How to get started on your collecting journey!
First, you need to choose a card to collect. I’m going to refer to what I collect for examples just because I’m very familiar with them. Choosing a card of little value has 2 upsides, collecting them will be cost effective, and, you’ll be able to build good numbers. If you choose a card of value it’ll be hard to establish good numbers just due to the cost of potential over pays and also in part, scarcity and demand.
Basics/fusion won’t factor in as much as they’re very abundant and trade at standard ratios basic/fusion normally do. I will however, advise that any limiteds you may have like 15-20+ of, trade 1 of them for fair ratios of the basic/fusion you collect, but do make a buffer so you retain a certain amount of dupes for your same rarity card if you collect a limited.
For value/trade reference, when I collected a legendary fusion, I’d trade a limited common or a limited rare I had tons of 1:1 for them. I currently offer on discord a limited card for 4 black holes(please refer to discord for full terms and conditions lol). The reason is, even if you collect a limited card of that rarity there’s no way every dupe will ever convert into your card unless there’s a collector that happens to have lots of your card. You’ll mass numbers of your basic/fusion card fast this way. It’s just an all around win win for both people.
Next, choosing a Limited Card Rarity. This may seem pretty straight forward however there are a few factors to consider. I’ll break down each limited by rarity.
Limited Legenday- Next to mythics, these can be the most expensive cards to collect, even if low value. If you’re ok getting multiples of your low value Limited Legendary for higher value ones or mythics, those will probably be the more common trades you’ll see unless there’s another person who collects a low, then it’s usually 1:1 collection swaps. It’ll be rare in general to see many offers of 1:1 lows because they’re so accessible that the ones people need or look for are usually higher value. Collecting a high value Limited Legendary will be hard to do. It’s rare you’ll get a trade for lower value break downs. Most trades will be 1:1 Limited Legendary value or they’ll ask a mythic, and this is without the overpay collectors are sometimes known for. (Yes, some limited legendaries are worth a mythic, I’ll cover this at a later time). Not a cheap card to collect. Though keep in mind too, spotlights will also have impact on any Limited Legendary collector. Adjust if needed or check with the collector to find out the new offers.
Limited Epics- This is one of my favorites to collect, especially one of little value. Every player, old or new, wants/needs limited epics. Lots are playable, and there’s usually ones people need of this rarity. Easy to get multiple in a limited legendary break down, or 1:1 for other limited epics sometimes even getting 1 of your epic for a few of your rares. Many players chase epics and legendaries and this will be how you build numbers. Again choosing one of low value will help build numbers, and that’s what one card collecting is about.
Limited Rares- While some what close to epics, rares were actually my least favorite to collect, mostly because I also collect an epic. The problem with rares is, mostly newer players need rares. Older accounts just chase new ones or cards of higher rarity. You’re going to see many 1:1 trades of your rare card for an epic of yours, just because rares are fairly easy to complete. Not too bad if you just collect a rare but because I also collect an epic I couldn’t take 1:1 trades like that. 1:2 sometimes though but if you just collect a rare then these breakdowns are ok too. It’s why out of the 4 cards I collect, the rare is the one I have the least copies of. But again, it’s somewhat easy to build numbers with rares if you’re willing to invest in em.
Limited Commons- Much like limited rares, these are easy to build numbers with, but it’s also another easy rarity to complete, so be prepared for people wanting higher rarity cards for them. Though the good thing is you can usually get multiple copies of your card as a higher rarity break down if you’re willing. There’s also many players who collect a limited common, so collection swaps are usually frequently happening.
These are just some of the more common things to consider when selecting what to collect. You will see a wide variety of trades for the card you choose to collect, so you’ll become more accustomed to what you’re comfortable trading for your card with time.
Next, some strategies and tips I’d like to share. I’ve always been a one card/character collectohoarder in the card apps I’ve been on. Just how I’m built xD. Here’s some things that will help you both stand out because of your numbers, but more importantly, will draw out your cards because you’re a good trader for them and people want to deal with you.
I’ve always been more of the “I’d rather someone send me a card I collect then me send a trade and put them in a position” collector. There’s nothing wrong with sending trades. Just my preference. I’d prefer someone willingly offer it than me put the decision on them.
So, that being said, what do you offer to maximize your gains? Again I will refer to what I collect as examples. For this I will use The Great Annihilator which is a limited epic.
I’ll start with the topic I probably do the least of and that’s sending trades. Like I said before in my previous post, I don’t send for singles, ever. The only exception is this scenario: I’d post in game for Blazar (a limited rare I used to collect). A trade would come in giving me blazar for a meta/value limited epic, say testudo 1:1. When I go to counter, I see their blazar is a single that they’re offering and they also have a single annihilator. Because of the sheer value of my limited epic and because I always offer any epic, I would counter into their single annihilator only because they offered the single blazar, if the blazar was a dupe, I’d leave their single alone. Most of the time too they’re just wanting something playable for something I collect. But I’d never be upset if they decline. Their cards, their choice. But now they at least know what I’m wanting for my card.
Also when sending a trade, don’t be greedy. By this I mean, if they want a same value card as the one you’re taking or in my case sometimes, a higher value one, don’t take more then 1 of their dupes if they have many, if you’d do a 1:1 anyways. 1:1 is always fine and you’ll find they’re usually happy to accept a fair trade, and as well may send you more copies as they get dupes or the ones they have. Respect goes a long way! I also have a rule where if I get declined when I do send or counter, I won’t ever send again. They know what I want now and they’ll send if they want to. Pretty straight forward stuff. Next I’ll share a bit of how I manage my collection successfully.
If you’re wanting to draw in trades, try to balance the dupes you have of the same rarity as the card you collect, the more cards available, the more trades come in. Look for counters or to break higher rarity stuff down for multiple fair value same rarity cards you have little to no dupes of, especially if u have many dupes of what they want. This is more applicable if you don’t also collect a higher rarity card. Also counter where you can to balance your own collection, making a trade work that’s beneficial to both players while maintaining your cards is always a win win scenario and makes logical sense to do so.
Second, and this is key. Get new cards of the same rarity as your card as soon as possible and post them in game. This is to get your cards off older accounts and ones that don’t open many packs. Here’s my strategy and it works like clockwork and I feel, is what sets me and other collectors apart from the general population.
Get them through opening packs or FAIR trades (I emphasize fair, no need for greed ever) and Immediately post it in game for trade. Multiple copies if possible. Next, search the want section for those looking for it and send 1:1 trades to the ones who have dupes of your card, never more. This is highly likely to be accepted. Now because you also posted it for trade in game you’ll most likely have offers from these older accounts that may send you multiple cards of the same rarity as the new card because they just want to be complete. This is typical. I don’t consider it stonks either, this is common in every card app I’ve been on and I’m not a fan that this is a norm. But it’s the reality of the trade economy.
Anyways, back to the subject. Counter their unnecessary over pay and look for dupes of your card and just take 1 copy regardless how many copies they have. A very high percentage of the time it’s accepted with the message “wow thanks” or “nice offer” shortly followed by a friend request. Now you have a regular who will not only usually willingly trade you their dupe, but they’ll hold em for you and possibly even hunt down more for future trades. Respecting a persons collection can do wonders for both parties, and the fact you countered a clear “over pay” for a realistic and fair trade reflects well on you as well. I don’t consider this taking advantage, I consider it the counter to the seemly now expected overpay for a new card. I will admit I do benefit as well, but to me, the best trades are the ones where both people are happy. Mutual wins. Even though I collect a card in numbers, they know with me, it’ll always be a reasonable and fair trade, and the trade will always get accepted.
How to really build numbers:
The goal is always numbers based, either a set denomination to display proudly or just as high as you can go. Worry less about values and more how you can get numbers if this is your true focus. This depends on what you’re collecting of course.
The max number of cards you can get in a single trade is 4, and you want 4 as often as possible. 1:1 trades are great too but 4 per trade will build you up fast. So depending on the rarity and value of your card, you’ll want to leverage trading 1 card for 4 of yours as often as possible as fairly as possible as this is most economical. What I don’t mean is give them 1 epic and take 4 of the epic you collect, be fair always. It’s worth noting, lots collectors usually offer some kind of over pay for 4 copies of their card. For example, some collectors trade 1 of any limited legendary for 4 of their low value epics or a 1mm mythic for 4 of their Low Limited legendaries. The value and scarcity of your card may cause different ratios. Adjust accordingly to ensure at minimum a fair trade.
I focus on numbers. That’s my game.
Now everyone may not want to do the same but I say this because offering to break down 1 higher rarity card into multiple of my lower rarity cards builds numbers fast, as I mentioned above, most players need/want higher rarity cards more than rares and below, and they’re more likely to happily send a bunch of your card for 1 of a higher rarity card. There will always be players new and old too that will still have lower rarity card needs of course and those are always good for a 1:1 same rarity trade too.
You also may offer 2 cards of the same rarity for 1 of your card, and this is fine too but could cost too much value wise and/or deplete your dupes without maximizing your number potential. In my case, annihilator has little value, so my same rarity overpays were that I traded any limited epic 1:1, regardless of my cards values. I’ve yet to trade two limited epics for 1 annihilator and probably won’t. But that’s for you to decide and be comfortable with.
In order to be really, really effective in getting numbers it takes time, strategy and patience. I will say once more. It may take a bit at first, but with time, trading for your card hundreds, posssibly thousands of times. You’ll have a good understanding of what you’ll be comfortable trading for it, then it’s smooth sailing.
One thing to keep in mind too. When people send you trades, they’re gonna see your numbers and there’s going to be many bad offers. It’s the double edged sword of collecting. Look to counter if you can but the reality is there’s going to be a lot of declined trades because they just may not know what you offer, or have the cards needed/wanted to make a counter happen. So make sure you post what you offer somewhere too, discord, reddit etc to help guide the successful trades.
And finally, try to keep a post for one of your cards up as often as possible in game. The more active, the better the results :)
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this novel lol. Always feel free to comment below if there’s any questions. I’ll do my best to respond. You can find me on the main discord server, link is in the sub description. Happy Trading and keep it Cue, see you in game!
Again, my apologies for the length. I’m trying to be as detailed and hit as many key points with these posts as possible while trying to keep it minimal.
Next time on Coaches Corner with WadeTheHeathen:
I’m going to delve a bit deeper into Trading, trade evaluations and card values! Hope to see you then!

This is a long post, so I apologize. I have a situation and I’m really not sure what the best route to go is. I’m overwhelmed and stressed, and that’s putting it mildly. I’ll start with a little backstory.
We bought our home almost 7 years ago. It was built almost 8 years ago and the previous owners (young couple with a newborn and toddler) lived here for 7-9 months before the husbands job moved the across the country.
The home has 3 bathrooms - 1 upstairs with showetub combo, 1 upstairs with shower, and 1 downstairs with shower.
This Monday I took a bath. After the bath we heard a dripping noise downstairs but couldn’t find it. The next morning (Tuesday) we woke up to 3 small water spots on the kitchen ceiling. I immediately called and found a wonderful plumber who was here within an hour.
Long story short (or as short as I can) he had to cut into the drywall in the ceiling and then in a wall upstairs. Initially it was thought to be a leaking pipe. However, it turns out that my bathtub cracked. The plumber pointed out multiple areas on the tub that had been damaged, patched, and I guess painted/glazed over. At one point a few years ago I was cleaning the tub and some of the finish came off revealing a brighter white spot underneath. I thought I had damaged it with cleaner somehow, but it doesn’t look like that’s the case after all. From what we can tell, one of those patched spots weakened and cracked around it causing it to leak into the ceiling.
Thankfully we caught it quickly and very little damage was done, but now I need a new bathtub and walls around the tub, and of course drywall work in 2 rooms. To add to this disaster I have guests coming from out of state in 3 weeks, that cannot be changed/cancelled at this point. A few of those guests are staying at our home, but we are having a get together with about 20 people total. The timing could not be better. /s
We spent the day looking at tub/wall options and now I am kind of frustrated and feeling overwhelmed. None of the options are my ideal solution (nice tub with beautiful tiled walls), but that’s ok. These are our options:

1. A nice tub (American standard I believe) with a “utile system” wall kit. It’s not subway tile, but it looks and feels like it. It doesn’t look or feel cheap. It bolts to the wall studs. The tub is available within days, but the wall kit won’t be here until around 5/29 which creates a very tight timeline that may mean it’s not fixed before guests arrive. This option is in the middle cost wise. I still need to check with the plumber and see if this timeline is pushing it too much.

The benefits of this option are that it looks nice and professional. I would save a little money compared to option 2. The downside is the timeline. It might be done in time, but if there is any type of a delay, I will have guests checking a hole in my kitchen ceiling.

1. A nice kohler tub with a wall system by Swanstone. It is a nicer faux tile look system. This would be in carrera marble patterned solid sheets that look like subway tile. The tub can be delivered Monday and the walls within a week. This is the most expensive option (about $500 more than option 1). It is also the nicest tub and most professional and expensive looking option. The timeline is pretty safe though.

The benefits to this option are that it looks the best. It has the nicest bathtub. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty, and I likely won’t have to do anything to this showetub for years to come. It can also be done within the desired timeline (probably around the 2 week mark or slightly less). The downside is the price.

1. I can buy the nice kohler tub and have it delivered, and then go to Lowe’s and buy a cheaper ($700) Allen & Roth brand fake tile wall kit that is in stock locally. This option is the cheapest at about $1000-1500 less than the other options, maybe more). However, this wall kit is obviously fake tile. It looks better than the standard $200 acrylic wall kits, but it certainly does not look expensive or anything like real tile or stone.

The benefits to this option is that it can be done very quickly, in fact I would probably have use of my bathroom back in a week, and I would save money. The downsides - the look of it, and I would assume it’s not as durable and will need to be redone in a few years.
I’d love to hear if anyone has experience with these wall kits and what that experience was like. I’d also log advice on what you would do in my situation, and any additional suggestions on options. Thank you for reading through this and thank you for the advice.