Early childhood activities spring

TALON PMC TALONTALON
PMC Talon is a new group in the BRM5 scene, formed in early 2022, we are looking for members to join. Talon offers a fun, yet strict group that is active with events hosted everyday and deployments at least every weekend. We offer multiple divisions so you are never bored here.
DIVISIONS
ARES
Ares division is the best of the best, carefully selected so even when TALON ops can't get it done, they can.
ONYX
Onyx division is our best recon, providing us overwatch support on missions, making sure we are never snuck up on.
SAINT
Saint is the combat medical division, making it so our men always get the best care in battle.
HORNET
Hornet division is the transport division, making sure our men get to the objectives safely and quickly.
Interested? Join below! Discord

I wanted to share the detailed tokenomics allocation for the ENTY Token. Here's how the total supply of 10,000,000,000 ENTY Tokens is distributed:

1. Presale: Allocation: 820,000,000 ENTY Tokens Percentage: 8.20% The presale allows early investors to purchase ENTY Tokens at a discounted rate, providing initial funding and community support.
2. Public Sale: Allocation: 100,000,000 ENTY Tokens Percentage: 1.00% A small portion is reserved for the public sale, allowing wider access to the token and promoting decentralization.
3. Treasury Locked: Allocation: 4,340,000,000 ENTY Tokens Percentage: 43.40% These tokens are locked in the treasury for long-term project sustainability, future developments, and strategic partnerships.
4. Liquidity Locked: Allocation: 4,340,000,000 ENTY Tokens Percentage: 43.40% Locked liquidity ensures stability and reduces the risk of large price fluctuations, fostering trust among investors.
5. Marketing, Airdrop & Bounty Program: Allocation: 100,000,000 ENTY Tokens Percentage: 1.00% This allocation supports marketing campaigns, community engagement through airdrops, and rewarding participants in bounty programs.
6. Staking Rewards/Cashback: Allocation: 300,000,000 ENTY Tokens Percentage: 3.00% Tokens reserved for staking rewards incentivize holding and participating in the network, enhancing security and activity.

When I was in my early 20s, I was living with my nmom and had a toddler. I really wanted to go to school online and better our lives. I had a talk with my mom and she told me how great of an idea that was! We talked about what I wanted to go to school for. It was such a good conversation.
She told me that if I got everything set up for school and get the grants that I needed that she would buy me a laptop that I could use. I was so excited. It seemed like she was excited too! I thought this was the start of my life becoming better. I was so ready!
I got everything set up. My dad even helped me and was excited because I was going to the same online college as he was at the time. We even went out to a nice dinner and he congratulated me for making this decision to change my life.
I told her everything was set up. I was going to start soon and needed the laptop. She was a little cold. Didn't really say much at all. I wasn't sure what was going on but I just left her alone after that.
My classes were set to start in two weeks. She came home one day with a laptop box in hand. I was so happy. She pulls the laptop out of the box right infront of me. It was even my favorite color, red! I couldn't believe it! She sees how excited I am, and I ask her if that's mine. She looks at me and smiles. She holds it up and points to it. She says this is my computer. Her face is now contorted into a demon smile and says, don't you fucking touch it.
I just sat there. I can remember my toddler playing with his toys off in the distance making noises, while my mother laughs. Why did I once again fall for that? Was she angry because my dad helped me get things set up? I don't even think I said anything to her. I just was in shock I guess. I knew I was screwed.
I tried using my friends tablet and that didn't work. I couldn't take my toddler to the library and I didn't have a babysitter or a job. I was fucked. I was so young and literally didn't know jack shit about anything. She knew that. She wanted that.
She never fucking once used that laptop. I am not kidding you. It sat on her computer desk out in the living room where it probably still sits today.
She has made it her life's mission for me to fail. That is not her first or last thing she's done to see it happen either. Just the one thing im stuck on right now.
For what? That's the question that runs through my mind all the time. She claims to have had a horrible childhood. Her mother was so terrible. For me, going through what I did has taught me how not to be a mother.
...Oh p.s.! She paid for my sibling to go to college. A physical college not online. This was actually happening when she told me to get things set up. She's still paying off that debt to this day. He never graduated. Ha-ha! Stupid bitch. Eat shit.

Title. When I'm in an "I don't wanna" situation, I find it difficult to pinpoint which of these is causing it. Maybe it's because I've been told that I was lazy growing up so much that I now default to thinking that about myself, plus, I have only recently learned that PDA and ED even exist.
Sometimes it feels like it's a combination of them. I get that ED has an element of anxiety (and I guess it's likely ED if it concerns an activity that you know you would actually enjoy once you've started), and that PDA has an element of a task being imposed on you (but could it also apply to tasks that you've imposed on yourself or that are due to necessity, like taking out the trash?).
Some examples:

• It's the weekend and I don't have anything else to do. I should be sorting my paperwork, but I know it will take hours and I don't want to waste my already limited time to decompress from my job doing shit I hate and that will tire me out even more (plus, I feel like after a week of work, I deserve to be doing fun stuff that relaxes me instead, so I end up spending the whole weekend lounging around and playing video games even though the thought that the paperwork is still there is hanging over my head the whole time).
  
• I had planned to clean my apartment, it's early-ish in the morning and I'm awake, but I'm finding myself being stuck in bed for "just one more hour" after next because it's more comfortable lying in bed than doing what is, again, an hour-long task that I hate and takes away decompression time, and that is, in addition, physically demanding (which adds to the contrast to staying in bed).
  

Anders' mom let me in the front door, and upstairs in Anders' room stood a Roland D-20 and a Yamaha YS200. On the desk lay a newly bought CD, and over the speakers, Anders and Jakob were leaning in, listening to something I had never heard before. It was music that sounded like nothing else, at least to me.
But that stuck with me, deeply. I have carried those sounds, rhythms, phrasings, melodies, disharmonies, lyrics, and not least, the samples, with me my whole life. I don't often listen to music from my early teens, but the components I just listed, I often replay in my mind.
Listen to "Morpheus Laughing." There are so many layers of information, layers of emotions, layers of layers, hints, so much chaos, and at the same time, incredibly beautiful and fragile elements cutting through all the noise. It's not hard to hear. On the contrary, this is probably enhanced by the contrast to the clutter.
I think it was summer or spring that time in Anders' room. I remember it was sunny, so it couldn't have been exactly when Too Dark Park was released. It was at least before the Internet exposed everything, and many bands were mythical and obscure. The main source was the music itself. You had to use your imagination and fill in the gaps yourself. I think that did both the songs and the listener good. And then there was just the name, Skinny Puppy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T9_--qe7iI

I work in a fairly tightly knit community, and unfortunately, I can't stand one of my coworkers. She's one of those types of people that if something is even slightly counter to what she thinks 'should' happen, she'll report you to management. Prior to this initial event, I thought we had gotten along okay and had you know, a good enough professional relationship.
Here's the Plot: She, let's call her Pepper, wanted to work friday and saturday nights for weekend loading. It wasn't part of her regular roster. It was part of mine and 2 others. When she last worked with any of us, and we were sitting down for 5 minutes, she took a photo, and kept it. Stored it on her phone until she had enough "evidence" to report all 3 of us, AND two other staff who happened to occasionally work night shift. The complaints were 'sleeping on shift' and 'not answering calls' that sort of thing.
Management in the write up said "not to discuss it with other staff". Management was also in Pepper's pocket and would -frequently- favour or take her word over anyone elses. The timing of the write up, and the dates of the photo complaints meant that a) I'm going to verify everything with my coworkers b) they weren't on shift for two of the dates reported, let alone on shift with her, and c) I am Very Mad.
Prior to talking to any of us, Management changed my roster due to these complaints. So now I was exclusively working with Pepper, was no longer working weekends, AND had lost 1 shift a week due to the timing of my swing from finishing at 6am to starting at 2pm.
The meeting with Management happened, I tried the very polite 'if I was asleep at any point this month, it was a faint not a rest, and here is medical proof that I'm having trouble'. Management didn't care 'you can't sleep on shift, here you are clearly asleep' like, bish, I am clearly sitting completely upright, not reclined, doing my best to stay awake but go off. These are your complaints but it's fine for Pepper to take a 10-15 minute break to have a smoke every half hour?
This was a few months ago, so my piping hot tea is now more lukewarm. I spent two weeks on this "new roster" absolutely seething, and telling everyone in the facility what Pepper had done, getting herself the nickname of paparazzi, several other coworkers refusing to work with her. And her net "gain" is my active refusal to call her in for any night shift if someone else calls out.
I have 2.5 weeks off. The monday before I return, the supervisor sends out an email saying manager is on leave and isn't to discuss work things with staff. That wednesday he sends another saying early retirement. And I'm like ??? did I get her fired?
Fast forward to now and Pepper -routinely- arrives late to work on mondays, subsequently refusing to talk to me on tuesdays because I have to report it. I'm looking for a second job because I cannot work with this woman, any complaint or comment that she disagrees with and there'll be some bs complaint levied against me. Or she'll just refuse to do something -- there are tasks that she'll stop doing -specifically- because the following shift mentioned things that they encountered from overnight etc with the justification of "I can't do everything!" She'll actively respond to a call and then ignore the request.
I am very pissed, and I am not exactly quiet about my grumbles in this regard. So everyone (or near enough) knows there's beef. And exactly what has happened. I'm trying to be polite and professional to her, idc if Pepper doesn't talk to me all night, please, ignore me. But there is a bare minimum of communication required and she will actively avoid that bare minimum when pissed at me.
I am really struggling to work with this woman, and I don't really want to take someone elses shifts so I'm job hunting (ha, in this economy?) for lack of other options AITAH?

Are there any paths to save it? It had new growth early spring that has all seemed to turn pale green to light brown.

I deleted a post that I’d written here detailing that something was off about my husband, how much he’d chanced in the three brief months of our marriage since moving in together and that thoughts of divorce had flashed into my mind. To summarise, immediately after our wedding he had lost his job, began drinking heavily in bars with friends, smoking weed daily, spending the day in bed, neglecting his hygiene and almost completely neglecting me sexually and emotionally.
Many in the thread began commenting that he was likely depressed because of his job loss and worried about finances. I took this on board and attempted to speak with him about his mental state - he was defensive and didn’t want to discuss finances or his mental health.
I’ll be honest, I felt like I was living with a stranger. We’d dated for two years and I’d always known him to be someone who was hard working, good with money, didn’t drink or smoke unless socially, very attentive, affectionate and mindful of my feelings. This huge change in character made me feel as though he was not the man I’d married or fallen in love with - but I felt guilty for considering divorce so early into marriage. I’d also considered that maybe he was like this all along and just showed me his pleasant side whilst dating, but showing the true him when we’d moved in together.
Fast forward to three days ago, my husband came out of a shower with strange scratches on his body after hitting the bar with friends the previous night and staying out until 3am/4am. I asked about the scratches and who he’d been with the previous night, he was defensive and gave a lame excuse. We got into an argument because questioned his faithful which resulted in me packing a bag to stay the night with my family, he denied everything and slammed the door in my face.
That night I logged into all his social media accounts and emails for the very first time (don’t judge me) and found heinous things. Since the start of our two year long relationship he had active dating profiles, was sexting with various women ranging from only fans models to regular girls he met in the street, sent enquiries to escorts, had accounts on various adult sites (porn and hookups), plus he had hooked up with girls throughout our entire relationship.
In my stomach, as soon as I moved in with him and saw changes in his behaviour I knew something was up with our relationship, I just didn’t know the extent of it. Maybe I’m to blame in some aspects by not doing my due diligence and looking into his dating habits before marriage or maybe I’d never satisfied him sexually, I don’t know why he did what he did but I feel like a naive little girl. But I also feel a huge sense of relief and validation that I knew something was wrong, I wasn’t crazy.
Maybe it’s self righteous of me, but I feel vindicated to finally have an excuse to leave him. He claims he loves me and those were just sexual encounters, nothing more, but I just can’t get past the betrayal and lies. I feel sick at the thought of him possibly bringing me stds or getting another woman pregnant. I’ve lost all respect for my husband and I no longer see him as a man, I see him as a dirtbag. He says he wants to stay married and will do “anything” to make me happy but I just don’t see how things can be repaired.I guess now he is completely tarnished in my eyes, I’ll never see him as the same person again.
I feel like a failure to have to get a divorce only three months in, but I guess so be it.
Anyway, rant over.

Hey honestly texting this on a limb so confused and definitely sound a wee bit stupid🤣
I’m a 21F year old student in college I’ve never really been in any sort of a situation or relationship. I matched with a 26M year old farmer on tinder didn’t think much of it eventually ended up texting on Snapchat. Met that weekend in maybe early April was grand went for a spin just chatted and continued texting everyday met continuously then at least once or twice a week either getting food or going on a date for food sometimes just for a chat. We’d meet halfway between us or sometimes a bit closer to where I’m from. About maybe a month in on one of the meetings he was saying how he said it to his parents, this didn’t bother me but I wouldn’t say it to mine until I knew what we were or at least where we stood still very early to me so I just said aw yeh that’s good🤣. Also there’s at least an hour and a half distance maybe more between my home and his home same distance from my college to his house. A few times he came to my college accomodation nothing too interesting happened the first time he came over, next time bits happened , third time same again just bits. Since then he invited me down to a car meet with some of his friends and spent the day with them.
this is ongoing now nearing 3months still have no clue where we stand it came up briefly that we were a situationship which I’ve no clue what is meant there. Still texting and all everyday but in the past week and a half or so he has been sick obviously being a farmer with this good weather he’s flat out like I get that. The last plan we had to meet was near two weeks ago but he’d to go look at buying a machine so couldn’t then he obviously got this chest infection. I don’t know if I’m just reading too much into this or if I should text him and ask if he still wants to continue talking.
Neither of us are good texters but I feel I’m leading the texts asking how he is and how’s work. I dunno if it is me just overthinking but I sense like a shift in his texts sometimes he doesn’t bother to send back an x now. He does reciprocate and text and ask me but I feel like he’s unbothered. We’re currently no.1 best friends on Snapchat this generally would mean nothing to me as I’m not a very active person on Snapchat. I’m not concerned about him texting other people or anything like that. It’s moreso Im confused on whether he’s still interested, now I did send a text a while back and gave him an out where he wasn’t texting back so I just said it’s okay if you don’t wanna text anymore but he said no he’s still interested and likes me alot then in the past two weeks of not seeing him we were chatting and I just said ah miss meeting you and he reciprocated saying yeh miss meeting u a lot I would only for this flu. This was over a week and a bit ago.
Should I address anything yet over text or maybe wait a week before I say something. he replies nearly always but every so often he might leave a blank snap on read then replies an hour or two later. I’m really just confused is he just looking to keep me just as an option. with no plans made to meet and he’s obviously busy working but also still actively meets some of his friends for an hour or two but can’t meet me which does make me think he doesn’t want to. Thanks

Basic Experience Optimization
Q: I mean, this is just a test, but seriously, there are way too many optimization issues and bugs. Shouldn't your top priority be fixing those before anything else? Like, speeding up the optimization and compatibility stuff... Also, the combat in the game feels too vague, lacking a hit feel. After all, it's year 2024 already and it's not supposed to be that difficult to bring hit feel into the game.
In previous playtests, we found some basic user experience issues that really messed up the gameplay for our players. In our ongoing version upgrades, we'll make sure to tackle these problems head-on.
Our top priority is to improve performance optimization. We will focus on enhancing overall game performance, reducing power consumption, continuously fine-tuning adaptability and compatibility, and addressing any issues specific to different device models that are identified during the playtest.
In the meantime, we will significantly improve the performance of the storyline animations and effects on mobile devices without compromising the overall performance.
Next, regarding the issue of the unsatisfactory hit feel that everyone has mentioned, we've set up a special task force that includes action designers, animators, special effects experts, and sound engineers. They will be working on enhancing the combat hit feel from all angles, such as synchronizing the hits and improving the sound effects.
Regarding the kill sound effect reported, we will add it in the next update to really make the fights exhilarating. In addition, we've made a whopping 120 tweaks and improvements to early-stage quests as well as the accessibility and experience of the daily system in order to enhance the gaming experience to the max. We've also fixed the bugs that players have reported the most in this playtest.
Peripheral System Optimization
Q: I've seen a lot of feedback on daily quests and dungeons already, so let me talk about Professions and casual game modes. I strongly request the inheritance of equipment empowerment!! Also, could you do something about the fishing mechanism? I've fished 100 times and messed up more than 40 of them. It's supposed to casual game, but why is playing it so frustrating?
We've been listening to your opinions about Professions and other PVE modes including the Exploration, based on which we've made some improvements and updates.
Equipment empowerment is a focal issue. After discussions, we've decided that empowerment won't just be a one-time thing any more. Instead, it can now be inherited by the next equipment you put on.
We also received a lot of feedback on the Exploration gameplay in previous test.
As mentioned earlier, we will unhook Inscribed Stones from the Exploration system, bringing Exploration back to its original design intent. Also, we will reduce the grinding required for the Manual of Destiny. On one hand, we will reduce the difficulty and time needed to complete it. On the other hand, completing quests will produce more Destiny Tokens.
Fishing is supposed to be a fun and relaxing activity for everyone, but even fishing enthusiasts have complained that it was too difficult in this playtest. That is why we have decided to ditch one of the fishing techniques while making the others easier, allowing everyone to catch fish 90% of the time. In Tarisland, you'll never end up empty-handed. Finally, World Bosses will now be available across servers so players can team up with those on other servers to take on the World Boss together. No more waiting around for ages! To enhance your social experience, we've made improvements and added new features to Guild, Team Lobby, Team Scheduling, and other social features. For instance, we've increased the maximum number of guild members to 200, optimized the interface and interactions in the Team Lobby, and introduced a scheduling system for teaming up, which will be a key tool to facilitate socializing, making it easier for players to team up and improving everyone's efficiency in raiding.
Next part will be Upcoming Development Plan, remember to leave your comments to let us know your thoughts!

If you read my last post, you will see that my conversations with Bobby toward the end of my time at South Grove were not exactly going well. Throughout the process of leaving and meeting with him, I kept wondering “when is he going to let go?” It felt as though he was going to cling to me until I eventually caved and came back. He had allowed my wife and I to stop serving and even attend other churches to take a break. I’m not sure if he thought I would attend somewhere else, be reminded that God only moves at South Grove, and then come back. That was not the case at all. We attended a church in Sandy Springs, GA and then one in Athens, GA which I had attended before. I had never heard preaching like that in person before. Those pastors gave me Christ each Sunday that I attended. That, coupled with my conscience, made it impossible to even think about going back to South Grove.
As a somewhat funny side note, Bobby apparently changed the music that was played on Sunday(s)? I had mentioned in passing during one of our conversations that I had issues with Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation Church. Interestingly I was discipled by the preaching at each of those churches early on in my Christian life. However, I had become highly concerned with their theology and how other members might read their name on the lyric screen, and listen to their preaching. Anyway, Bobby brought up the fact that they changed the music “for me.” Honestly, the music was one of my last worries.
Before my last conversation with Bobby, he wanted to know why I couldn’t disagree with issues concerning spiritual gifts and the other issues I had and still be a member in good conscience. I remember the first time I brought conscience up to him, he seemed puzzled. I tried to explain to him that because of the way I felt about certain doctrines, I could not be a member because I believed that I was going against my conscience. That did not register with him.
Up to our final conversation, I felt like I was in a vice grip. I really thought Bobby was going to draw out the painful process of trying to get me to stay at South Grove over several months. That and him trying to pit my wife against me (probably a story for another time). But finally, over lunch at the Blind Pig, something changed. In our last lunch, the vice grip seemed to be loosened completely. Bobby asked if I had heard of the “Leaving the Network” website. I had no idea what he was talking about, but he said he addressed it at a team meeting. I thought nothing of it. He also said “I’m sorry if I’ve ever hurt you in any way.” Pretty vague, but I guess I appreciated it? He blessed me to leave at that point. A few months later, he grabbed lunch with my new pastor at Cleveland Road Baptist Church to “check in” on my wife and I. I would’ve loved to be a fly on the wall, but unfortunately I don’t know much about that conversation other than some of the awkwardness.
That was the last of the excruciating process of leaving South Grove. From being told I had a demon, to “where else are you going to go?”, to Bobby planting seeds of doubt in my wife’s mind, to “I need protected from the sheep,” to anger even mentioning my doubts about Steve Morgan, to “I bless you to leave.” If I said everything was smooth sailing after that, I would be a liar. I think about my time at South Grove everyday. I think of those who I hurt and I think about those who were hurt just like me. I think about those who are deceived and blindly follow. I think about the people who were once my family who would no longer and still no longer talk to me. I think about what was said about me after I left, if anything. I’m angry most days and sometimes I don’t know why. Except I do know why. I was a fool. Who moves across the country for something like that? Who gives up everything for something like that? Apparently someone like me. And for what? If nothing, it makes me long for justice. It makes me long for the day that I will be brought home to the One who loves me. That day seems really far away now though. Until then, I’m tormented by my time in the Network.

I (24F) am having issues with my friend group over the man (31M) that I picked. I’ll have to provide the long background story for context.
My friend group consists of several individuals. The specific few I will talk about I will refer to as “J” “M” and “A.” They are all (24F). J and M are a couple. These girls seem to have the strongest opinion about the ordeal. I met my friends in middle/high school. We didn’t become close until our college years. I love these people and we’ve gone on many trips and shared many experiences together.
In early 2023, I was asked out by a guy who frequented my place of work. He had apparently noticed me for some time. It is quite rare for me to “date,” but something about him gave me the sense I could trust him. He gave off good vibes overall. We went on a date a few days later and discovered we have everything in common. EVERYTHING. From our morals, values, hobbies, childhood upbringing, family dilemmas, favorite foods, love for traveling, etc. we are the same person in two separate bodies. The date was such a success and I knew then in my gut that he was going to be someone special.
Unfortunately, our beginning took a turn. We initiated dates back and forth that fell through due to valid reasons dealing with weather, conflicting schedules, etc. During this break between dates, he took the time to think if he was ready to start a new relationship. Although he liked me a lot, he was a little unsure unbeknownst to me. He’d been in several relationships before and they ended with him getting hurt whether they ended on good or bad terms. He was getting cold feet and didn’t know how to communicate that to me. He didn’t want to officially end it and he also didn’t want to lead me on so he said nothing for awhile. Although it wasn’t necessarily thought out, he was buying himself time until he knew how he felt (I learned all this later on). Then came about a month with no contact. During this time, he was dealing with family drama and I was becoming anemic. I eventually did need a blood transfusion. I mention this because that month apart went by fast and we didn’t have much time to linger over the thought of each other. I did notice he hadn’t reached out though. I’m certain now that he wouldn’t have ignored my messages had I sent any, but I was honestly waiting for him to reach out first. I was a little hurt to think that he had changed his mind and didn’t have the guts to tell me.
Sometime in that next month, when I returned to work after my hospital stay, I saw him at my job. I thought he saw me. He left and said nothing. I was actually devastated. He had been so kind and I didn’t know why he had a change of heart. At least he should’ve told me about it anyway. I decided that I was going to text him that night. I mentioned I had seen him at work, thanked him for the initial first date, apologized for not reaching out on my end, and I sort of wished him farewell under the assumption he wasn’t interested. It was very professional and I let him know that there were no hard feelings had he changed his mind. I was expecting some lame, typical excuse response if I even got one. He sent back this long text message apologizing, explaining himself, and asking me questions. He explained his fears and asked if we could start a “friendship” of sorts to keep a slow pace. There was chemistry of course, but he was afraid of me and now I was afraid of him. There was enough there to where we wanted to spend time together, but I needed to be sure I could trust him with my feelings and he also needed to be sure he could trust me with his heart. To this, I agreed to see him again.
We spent time going on casual dates and talking a lot. He became my friend. We talked a lot about what happened with the break over the following months. I told him how hurt I was and how communication is important to me. He understands the impact of going no contact abruptly. It has been entirely resolved and I also take responsibility in my part of not reaching out to him either. Ever since the break, he became consistent. We’ve talked every single day since. He was patient with me and I was patient with him. We earned each other’s trust and are now madly in love. It happened slowly and quietly. I have never met such a soft, kind, understanding, sensitive man. I am more myself with him than I ever have been before. If soulmates are real, then he is mine.
Now to the tea. Of course, my friends knew (most) all of this. I told them about the big events as they were happening. They were excited for me on my first date, they sympathized with me when he no longer reached out, etc. They were surely surprised when I decided to spend time with him again. I asked them to trust me. I didn’t think he was a bad guy. What happened was a mistake. As my man and I spent more time, my friend J would reach out asking me questions about him. I told only her about my concerns in the beginning. Back then, I was guarded and nervous to proceed, but it was something I knew I had to do. I had to find out for sure what kind of person he was.
Now, J, she’s a fireball. I love that girl, but I’ll admit she’s one to hold a grudge, keep score, and quietly judge. She’d never admit it. I made a mistake in choosing her as my confidant in those early days. I was looking for advice when speaking to her because I do value her opinion. She then went and told the other friends in my group, M and A included, about my man—what a bad person he seems to be, using her words, which frankly, are very different from mine. What makes me mad is she got to tell them about him, not me. Not even any of the positives either. This was all before they had even met him and they already didn’t like him. They had no problem scolding me for being with him.
Months down the road, I arranged a meeting for everyone. My friends thought a bar would be a great place. Still not sure about that. It was awkward. Nobody talked more than a few words. My man was shy and my friends didn’t really do anything to make him feel welcome. I was the only one babbling all night it seems like. You’d think that as time goes on, it’d be different. More meetings will help everyone be comfortable. Nope. Every time after was awkward. They haven’t spoken more than a few words to him at a time. It’s very “surface level” talk even now—a year later.
My last birthday had come around and J, M, and A took me out for drinks. It turned into a lecture session about how I seriously need to break up with him. They scolded me on “allowing a man to waste my time.” They criticized his career choice, our age difference, his “character,” etc. Mind you, this is based off of this one mistake and a few other things that I mentioned to J in private that were no longer an issue. I cried myself to sleep that night thinking I was going to have to break up with him to please them.
Of course, I couldn’t. They still invite him to events and friend functions out of politeness, but it’s always the same. They don’t acknowledge him. It makes me especially sad when my man makes comments like, “I’ve never seen so many shy people in one room” (He thinks my friends are just shy when they’re really just ignoring him). He’s printed out their pictures for our scrapbook and labeled them as “new friends.” I haven’t told him the truth and I probably never will.
A few months ago, J, M, me, and my man had plans to go to this local indie concert. Tickets are free. The concert was on a Friday. The next day, Saturday, was scheduled for my man’s nephew’s 2nd Birthday Party. His brother’s family would be traveling from out of town to celebrate their son. Well, things didn’t go according to plan. The brother decided to come a day early, the day of the concert. I should have cancelled the concert date then when I learned this news, but I told J and M we were still coming because my man still wanted to go. We figured we’d be able to sneak away since the brother had come by himself and wanted to come over and take a nap since he works odd hours. Well, my man’s dad dropped by and the brother didn’t take his nap as he’d planned. Now, having company over with expectations, I made the difficult decision to cancel with my friends last minute. I realize it is rude, but something came up. I didn’t see how we could go anymore.
My friends let me have it. J and M were so angry. They told me how rude we were and how disrespectful it was to their time to opt out of the concert which was free and in town by the way. There was also the two of them and they could have easily gone on a date. I think it would’ve been equally rude to leave our company or rush them out the door. I picked my battle. I should have gave them more notice, but I didn’t know we weren’t going until the last minute. It couldn’t have happened any other way. We fought over text for awhile. She accused me of being so different now, saying and doing things out of the ordinary for me. The truth is, I’m just growing up. J ended the conversation saying, “Well, we’re just going to stay mad.” She claimed to understand my circumstance, but she didn’t. We didn’t talk for weeks after.
I eventually got invited to a breakfast date to which I declined. I have been avoiding all of them for awhile. I keep getting “I miss yous” from J. She keeps asking when we’re gonna hang out next. It’s also true that J and M are now moving 4 hours away at the end of the month. My problem may solve itself. That does sound awful though. I feel like an asshole. I have not been a good or present friend lately. I’m so busy, tired, and I have no room for petty drama. I’m not giving up my friends yet, but I will gladly choose this boy over them. He’s given me more peace in one year than they have in five years.
My boy and I are now engaged. I told my friends the news. They said some nice things I guess. J texted to let me know “If I’m really happy, she’ll support me.” This would be nicer if it was coming from a concerned friend. To me, this whole situation feels controlling. It’s more than concern. There’s venom behind it. They don’t care about the wedding either. They don’t ask me fun questions or get excited when it comes up. When I eventually explained how he proposed, they seemed disinterested. I could tell they were judging the experience. When I finally showed J the engagement ring in person all she said was, “Take it off” in a snippy tone so she could try it on.
I’m so disappointed in my friends. I always wanted a big friend group and especially to share this big milestone with. I haven’t even gotten excited about wedding planning because I’m dreading going over the bridesmaids list. Anyway, if you’ve made it this far, thanks for listening. I definitely need to get this off my chest and outta my life. I can’t believe I’m losing my friends over a boy.

For reference, I am completely new to IT. Before this, I was the sole manager for a very large gym. My sales experience comes from having to "sell" the gym to my personal trainers as THE space to train their clients - whom were all independent contractors. Different space, but I do have the sales acumen. Before that, I was an active duty electronics technician for 6 years in the Navy.
I just started working at a 2 person MSP a week ago. My boss is a solutions engineer, and I am technically classified as a T1 help desk, but help desk is pretty much secondary to everything else we're doing.
My boss recently rebranded the company, and our entire IT infrastructure is getting rebuilt, which is what I'm doing. In August, my role is going to pivot because our helpdesk is going to be outsourced.
That's where the career progression advice comes in. He has offered to either train me as a sales engineer as time goes on, or as a level 3 engineer.
I feel like I am too new to the industry to make this kind of career progression decision so early on, but he wants an answer by August so he can hire another person for whatever role I don't choose. I also feel like I got REALLY lucky by stumbling into this because no one I know has ever been offered something like this so early on.
I guess my question is this - if I choose to go the sales engineer route, will I pigeonhole myself into a career as an SE? If I don't like it, is it relatively simple to go back to an engineer?

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For reference, I am completely new to IT. Before this, I was the sole manager for a very large gym. My sales experience comes from having to "sell" the gym to my personal trainers as THE space to train their clients - whom were all independent contractors. Different space, but I do have the sales acumen. Before that, I was an active duty electronics technician for 6 years in the Navy.
I just started working at a 2 person MSP a week ago. My boss is a solutions engineer, and I am technically classified as a T1 help desk, but help desk is pretty much secondary to everything else we're doing.
My boss recently rebranded the company, and our entire IT infrastructure is getting rebuilt, which is what I'm doing. In August, my role is going to pivot because our helpdesk is going to be outsourced.
That's where the career progression advice comes in. He has offered to either train me as a sales engineer as time goes on, or as a level 3 engineer.
I feel like I am too new to the industry to make this kind of career progression decision so early on, but he wants an answer by August so he can hire another person for whatever role I don't choose. I also feel like I got REALLY lucky by stumbling into this because no one I know has ever been offered something like this so early on.
I guess my question is this - if I choose to go the sales engineer route, will I pigeonhole myself into a career as an SE? If I don't like it, is it relatively simple to go back to an engineer?

Hey everyone! I've never made a post on reddit before so bear with me friends. This is also gonna be long because I physically cannot restrain myself from overexplaining.
Ok, SO me (24F) and my guy best friend (25M) have known each other since about sophomore year of college. Let's call him Tony alright. I met him through my college roommate and best friend, we'll call her Tina (Tony is Tina's cousin's husband's best friend). He went to a different college in a city about 2 1/2 hours away, but he came and hung out with his friend a lot and he lived with them during COVID. I'm a pretty socially awkward and shy person so it takes me a while to get comfortable around someone and be myself so I didn't really engage with him at first. It should also be mentioned, I've never been in a relationship or in love befoe; I've been on dates and done a thing or two here and there with some people, but I've always been shy so I'm kind of a late bloomer in the relationship aspect. He is not and he's been in relationships before and has experience doing the horizontal tango; an activity I do not have experience in!
Fast forward, tail end of junior year or beginning of senior year of college we start actually interacting and I open up a bit more. I then develop a small "schoolgirl" kinda type crush because he was a new friend and funny and nice, and I never really had any guy friends growing up so it was new to me and you know the daddy issues of it all. Ok so BOOM spring break senior year right (March 2022), we go on a vacation to NOLA with our friend group. My crush is in full swing at this point and during said trip, my bff Tina and I share a hotel room with Tony and his best friend Ted (sharing bc we are poor). So we get a lot of quality time and get a lot closer as friends. Skip to May 2022, we graduate college and my BFF Tina moves to the bigger city in the state we live in (where he lives) in June (we went to college in a small town). So, naturally I go to the city a lot to visit her and so in turn we start hanging with him more frequently since he's closer now. At this point, I'm over my crush and he's just my really good friend (I promise). Fast forward to December 2022, I move to the city as well and my bff Tina and I move in together so we see him even more, and he's spending nights at our place (on the couch). We get a lot closer and the main thing we do in our friendship is talk. He's a level 100 yapper, and I didn't used to be at all until we became friends honestly, but he just brings out the yap in me. We talk about anything and everything; we even argue about a variety of topics, but it's not with malice or rudeness at all; we're just talking. He's just genuinely the easiest person to talk to I've ever met; strangers just talk to him all the time.
So now we're gonna jump to December of 2023 (sorry for the jumping around, I'm an ADHD warrior). I've had mental health issues off and on since high school, but they got worse around this time. Around this same time, he started getting depressed as well as a few months prior he had been fired from a job and his car got towed amongst other things. My BFF is also going through it.We are all just going through some trials and tribulations lemme tell ya. So, we've all been leaning on each other emotionally pretty heavily lately. Recently, he spends multiple days in a row at our house. So, I've been working through the prior mentioned mental health issues these past months and I'm think I'm finally coming out the other side. I've actually been the happiest I've been in a very long time, but I'm also still struggling a bit because I feel as though my personality has changed drastically since this ordeal or maybe I'm finally feeling secure enough in myself to show my true personality idk, but in a nutshell I'm feeling open and brave which are qualities I don't have experience in whatsoever. As I'm finding myself, I think I'm also becoming more in touch with my feelings which is how I realized I had feelings for him, but anyways back to the nitty gritty. So I'm feeling all these new feelings and all, and my crush on Tony comes back with a terrible new twist: 100% real uncut feelings 😔. But, I am terrible at reading social cues and understanding other people's feelings so I genuinely can't tell if he feels the same or not. But, ever since I've realized my feelings, I've been noticing things more. Me, Tina, and Tony have always been very open with each other in the sense that we talk about anything and everything. We talk about sex, relationships, our bodies, etc. But, lately, I feel like him and I talk even more about sex and relationships and he makes more jokes or funny remarks about sexual or romantic things between us. To be fair, I have too (😝), so it may just be in response, but come on, it's to the point like, we jokin anymore?? So, the other day, I was joking about how I was gonna be a virgin at 40, and he said, "Nah, we'll figure something out before then." like what you mean by that?? And another time, we were riding in the backseat together, and the whole car was talking about eating a girl's kitty cat and I had made a joke about not knowing the feeling and he said, "What?? That's so sad bro" and then under his breath said, "we'll have to do something about it" like huh???? And I also have this crop top with butterflies on it that may be a lil revealing (🙈) that he complimented when he first saw me wear it. And now, whenever I wear it, he'll say something about it like, "Ohhh, return of the shirt" or something along those lines. Also a while back, I had told him about how my late grandpa would always sneak me Ho-Hos as a kid and how I missed him a lot, and in the next few days, he brought some over when he came to hang out like brooo 😩. He didn't say that was the reason or anything, but that would be a crazy coincidence I feel. He's also always showing me something on his phone like a video he thought was funny, a movie he liked, pop culture we talk about, music he likes, etc. He'll just appear in front of me with his phone 2.3 cm from my face saying, "look 👁👄👁". Also, we've both been talking a lot lately about how lonely we are and how we miss sleeping and cuddling with another person in the bed. I feel like I've been dropping hints, but I'm also scared to tip him off so the hints I think I'm dropping could be more like office friendly chit-chat in reality!
It should also be noted that after I got over my initial crush, I didn't find him attractive. I really didn't find him attractive when I had a crush tbh. He's definitely not my usual type at all; I'm a fat bi girl who usually goes for masc women or feminine men and he's a short skinny lil fella with a permed mullet 😭. I'm definitely not his usual type either which is another reason I have doubts about his interest in me. He usually dates skinnier girls. I'm finally okay with my body, but if you're a fat person, you know how absolutely anxiety-inducing it is thinking about shooting your shot and someone rejecting you because of your body. I don't think he would do that, but there's still that fear there. He's also mentioned recently how he doesn't care about looks and body and I'm like 🤨 you hinting at something?? Cause I've talked to him before about struggling with loving my body so he knows im self-conscious about it at times. I'm also hesitant because besides Tina, he's my best friend in the world. I would never want to do anything to jeopardize that friendship. I've been trying to get over it and/or ignore it. But, God, idk what to do anymore. It's driving me insane, and I hate that I'm looking for things and reading into things. And I feel like I'm acting weird or changing my behavior which sucks cause it's hard to control cause I'm nervous. But, I really don't think it's all in my head. I don't even know if I want to pursue anything and change our relationship forever, but I feel like I'm going crazy. If anyone has any insight or advice, it would be much appreciated. Thanks a bunch!
TL;DR: I (24F) think I'm in love with my guy best friend (25). We met when I was 20, and I think he may be flirting and secretly feel the same, but I truly can't tell. We hang out almost everyday, but I don't want to be seeing things that aren't really happening. I also don't want to ruin our friendship. I would really just like some insight on the situation or advice on how to tell if he's also interested. TIA! 🫶