My free dating site

Please help. I’m not desperate or anything but here I am turning to Reddit to find answers because I’m CONFUSED. Be brutally honest with me- whoever you are! I’m 17F, conventionally attractive (long brown hair, big eyes and lips, skinny), smart in school, and have a decent group of friends (4 girls who are all also very pretty)- but I have never gotten male attention. The thing is, i’ve never really “wanted” it, but I guess i’ve just come to realise overtime that I’m kinda irrelevant with the guys at school (and out of school). I’ve never dated someone, had my first kiss, or been asked out. I’ve never tried to initiate anything either, so i’ve never been rejected, but no one has ever approached me or even tried to. I’m not an intimidating person, in fact i’m reasonably placid and quiet (not in a weird way tho, like i’m still funny and talkative). The only thing that I could think of that would be affecting this is my height… I’m 6ft😭 BUT the large majority of guys in my year level are around my height or taller, so it’s not like I tower over them! All the girls around me have gone to all lengths with guys, and get asked out at shopping centres or crushed on each term. I don’t ever have this?! I honestly have no idea why, and I would tell the truth if there was something else that I thought could be a cause. Idk if i’ve given enough information so feel free to ask questions but yeah… pls help🤓

Here’s my monthly fry-up breakfast a home made burger with chilli flakes 5% fat, two free range egg and leak slices mix, toms and a fried bap and some Branston. The drink is a kiwi,broccoli,lemon,ginger and tangerine smoothy. I’d call this healthily unhealthy! But it’s super tasty. I don’t like beans and only ate the eggs because they’re going out of date late April but still sunk when droppped in water!

Here is a brief timeline of the breaup. Me (M23) and my ex(F23) had been dating for 3 years. She broke up with me in February, a few days before the Valentines( which was also supposed to be our 3rd anniversary, we had started dating a few month before that but we counted valentines as the anniversary)
The breakup was a bit surprising, because we had planned a trip to Germany for April and bought the tickets about 2 weeks prior to breakup, but no that I think about it it was not that surprising.
In any case a month before the breakup both of us had very rough schedule, hardly seeing each other and that pretty much effected pur communication. That was the main reason of breaking up.
Though it hurt a lot the breakup was civil, we did not talk much, she just told me she wanted to break up and that was pretty much it. Talked for a few minutes and I left, speechless in a way, not realizing what was going on.
A few days later I drunk texted her(i know, awful idea, but was not intentional). I was not sober, but not that drunk either, it was a day after the breakup and felt pretty emotional. There were a lot of thing that I wanted to say just coming in my head and I decided I'd just write those things and delete it, but accidentally sent it to her. We had a bit of a conversation over text and that was it for the day.
After a month of breakup she texted me and asked me to meet up and we did, we talked a bit and basically she told me that she though she left me on a "waiting state" and she wanted to spend some time alone to understand what she wanted. I was okay with that, and by that time I had decided to move on, though I still lived her. Anyways, we talked and talked and she asked me if it was okay to hug me, from that things built up, we spent hourse just walking, talking, and being physical and well, we spent the night together. The morning was full of tears and talks and that was it.
We had a few random encounters after that and every time I met her, even if it was for a second, I felt like I was falling for her iver and over again( and that felt wonderful every single time)
Fast forward to a week ago, I met her and asked her for the flaws/problems we had and I had just to make sure I took a look at those things. And we talked a bit of whys and all. The communication breakdown was a key factor(again).
Now here I am, feeling weird. I'm not sad, I'm not feeling lost. I'm just feeling weird. And I have this strange though running through my had for the last couple of days. I want to ask her out on a "second first date", not to get back to the relationship we had(it failed so no point in that), but to see if there are still things that made us fall for each other when we first started. Not sure if I will do that, but that rhough has been living in my head rent free. Even if I do, not sure what kind of response I will get, and to be honest, it does not matter if I get yes, no or just completely get ignored, I feel like any sort of response would make me happy.
So people of reddit, what do you think?

I feel like it’s cliche to say something like “I’m looking for my ride or die” but maybe it’s a cliche because it’s honestly what a lot of us want.
It’s kind of literally what I’m into—I have a problem…
I love cars and bikes. So I’m sort of actually looking for someone that likes to ride/be a passenger princess/or maybe has their own cool ride. Safety first of course: there will be no actual dying haha.🤣
So if that resonates with you at all, read on! Thankfully my personality isn’t based on vehicles lol.
Me: Single, divorced even. No kids. Trying to date with intent.
I’ve been living in the Winchester, VA area for about 10 years, I really like it here. I have a great career and because I am not stuck to an office, I somehow really got into homemaking. Bizarre, I know, but cleaning, cooking, laundry, and mowing became fun somehow. Is this what peak dad energy feels like?
Other than the aforementioned; I enjoy lifting 4ish times a week and swimming, gardening, biking. I don’t game much anymore but when I do I prefer co-op stuff. I read fantasy and sci-fi novels and prefer that sort of stuff for movies and TV too. Very excited about new Mad Max movie. Rom coms are great.
Music is life, I listen to a ton of stuff. I will go to any show as long as the energy is there.
Feel free to message and ask me about anything. Maybe put a lil ✨ in your first message. I figure most people will read everything I just think emoji is cool. 🙃
I want to know how you spend your free time, what you’re into on the weekends, etc :-)
Here’s a selfie I took within the last month, right before I went to a metal show. It was awesome! https://imgur.com/a/Ghrx9Xz

I'm a Full-Stack Developer with five years of experience in designing, building, and managing web applications and mobile apps. Recently specialized on web3 projects crypto (exchange platforms\nft websites\ meme coin websites\smart contract etc..)
my skills : Backend Experience: • Node.js / Express.js / Next.js • Django / Flask • Building full-featured authentication systems • Developing e-commerce applications (add to cart/order products) • Payments integration (Stripe / PayPal ) • Advanced database filters • Security settings and hack prevention for product purchase and form submissions
• wordpress api • Building email subscription forms • Working with AWS S3 for cloud file storage • Building admin panels for website management • Working with AJAX requests • Integration with popular APIs
Frontend Experience: • Proficient in HTML5, CSS3, and ES6 • React.js development • Utilizing various JavaScript libraries (jQuery, Three.js) • Improving website speed and SEO • Implementing Content Delivery Network (CDN) • Building advanced animations with GSAP • Creating responsive web pages You can Dm to view some previous work
Some previous work :
• Apps: - https://figma.fun/4BKVNu
- https://figma.fun/ZMTCk0
- https://figma.fun/AeF2Fl
- https://figma.fun/OzbgOa
• websites:
Live sites:

• https://www.raiinmaker.com/
  
• https://recodetheplanet.org/
  
• https://www.basedusa.org/
  
• https://www.skimaskdog.com/
  
• https://www.basestreet.xyz/
  

Designs:
- https://figma.fun/7rc5Qw
- https://figma.fun/PcrLnd

• https://www.figma.com/design/8dnbVfdX8Xn9QDZ2YQ2jqh/Untitled?node-id=0%3A1&t=H6GOIOeFqZwQSivo-1

My resume : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CBRB72voJePenSKqn3Nv_xJfpIUnjrOp/view?usp=drive_link
Price range : Depends on the type of the project from 500$ to 5000$ Please feel free to contact me via my Dm

I haven't met up with this guy I am dating for a while now and because he kept saying he is busy or just avoiding the question "when r U free to catch up". So I took the initiative to go visit him and ask him if 8ish is ok after I've run my errands I could drop by his place. He told me 8pm is a bit late, but I know he is a night owl. I feel like he is not wanting to see me. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Hi!
What's a good techstack for building simple websites for small businesses?
My current idea ( and I'd love some feedback)
I'll take design from here: https://bootstrapmade.com/free-website-templates/
Html, css, typescript, node js, Jekyll for static site generation.
3rd party service for stuff like forms.
Requirements for the website: -Contact forms. -Email collection for newsletter. -The client wants to be able to add news to the website once a week. -The client want to be able to add different offers once in a while. -About 30 different pages all together.
That's about it.
Can I do this with a static page generator? Are there better options?
What would you use? I'm new to this so I'd take any advice you can give

Congrats on choosing and making it into NUS Business School! I previously wrote here: https://www.reddit.com/SGExams/comments/118r7cg/all_about_studying_business_in_nussmuntu/ on what are some factors when considering between NUS, SMU and NTU business school. For better or worse, you'll be stuck here for the next 4 years so here's some broad advice on making the best out of it.
1. Put in effort to draft out your own Study Plan; Future you will thank you
What is a study plan? Essentially, it's an outline on what modules you'll be taking throughout your 4 years in University. Especially for a business student, a study plan should go beyond "what majospecialization/double majominor". Yes, figuring what major (or majors) that you want to eventually take is the first step. The next step is also considering whether you intend to take a gap semester (i.e. leave-of-absence) to do internships (which is becoming increasingly more common place; maybe not 1 gap sem but possibly even 2!). The unfortunate truth is that many biz student realize late in Year 2/3 that they might not be as competitive as their peers and usually then seek out LOA internships and end up delaying their graduation (whether its a good or bad thing is debatable). Besides gap semesters for internships, there are student who do credit bearing internships (which counts for some credits/MCs) or even do a part-time internship during the semester while studying (Do modules on Mon and Tues, FT work of Wed, Thurs, Fri). Not every student get's their desired summer internships, and often student have to compensate by applying for Off-Cycle LOA internships to beef up their portfolio.
In your study plan, you would also have to take into consideration possibly going on overseas semester exchange or even the 6M to 1 Year long NOC program if you're interested! Overloading more modules earlier in your Uni (Y1 and Y2) gives you more flexibility to adapt to changes in the future. Of course, you need to gauge yourself whether you're able to cope with the workload. (Overloading in earlier sems, mean being more free in later sems to do internships/explore other modules or minors).
Additionally, most higher-level modules have pre-requisites (mostly ACC1701). If you delay taking these pre-requisite modules, your whole study plan can be delayed by a semester. My advice is to take ACC1701 (and consequently FIN2704) earlier rather than later, because these two mods open up the other majors/specializations available to you. You'll also figure out whether you'll want to to take the finance major after taking these two modules.

1. CCAs

There's a ton of CCAs available NUS-wide or Business School related. I strongly encourage you to take multiple CCAs (importantly taking into consideration what you can manage and your workload) so that you're able to meet new people and learn new skillsets. NUSC/RCs/Hall activities also count here. The unfortunately truth is that portfolio does matter in business school, and simply being good in academics (which can be competitive in itself) isn't enough. You GPA/CAP allows you to have your foot in the door; your portfolio and experience allows you to enter it. Consulting CCAs in general are great an improving your eye of aesthetic and detail which I recommend. You'll be surprised that many biz kids are outright bad and atrocious at making PowerPoint slides even at Year 4... I would say that the CCAs you join do shape your uni experience in a large way.

1. Group Mates

Find good friends and group mates! Those in NUSC/RCs/Halls have an easier time for this. For most of your basic core 1k modules, you group is usually randomized and you have no say on who you're working with. It is during these randomized group that you'll figure out the pain of having poor group mates, and things get worse if you're taking higher level and tougher modules alone. On this note, try to find friends that will do various modules together with you! Having friends doing the module together with you is a huge advantage, from extra resources, dead line reminders, doing quizzes/tests together etc. 5 brains working on a problem set is always better than 1 brain by itself, these 5 ppl will often get a better grade than the one hardworking individual working alone. Implicitly, those who stay on campus have a huge edge over those who don't.

1. Business is ultimately not a technical degree

Controversial to some, but business school at the end of the day doesn't really teach you much, we cant code, cant stats and no domain knowledge outside of finance). The only thing that it does teach is showmanship (and even then sometimes not taught well enough). Business School arguably teaches you how to carry yourself well, make fancy PowerPoints, use some excel, working with people (?) etc. Many of the more relevant things you learn, you learn them in your internship and your own experiences outside of the classroom e.g. CCAs. To me, doing well in Biz School is focusing on everything outside of academics (ensuring that you have some baseline CAP/GPA).
5. Figure out early whether you prefer Excel or Power Point.
The corporate world only runs on two applications, Excel and Power Point. Dabble in both, figure out early which application you prefer more and find a relevant internship/role/job that you enjoy decently that uses one over the other. Truly, Excel and PPT are the only takeaways when you leave the university. Great consultants are adept at handling PPT, navigating through them quickly with many templates in their desktops. Finance peeps do a little more excel work and have to do them well, fast and creatively. Even at the end of uni, there are still many students who can't use excel proficiently at a high level.
6. Internship Hell is real for those who care
Internship application period in itself can be a full-time commitment (for those that care). When internship applications open, you can will going through your own interview prep, doing several recorded interviews, applying to new internships etc. Many moving parts to juggle and a lot of ground work to be done. From preparing for interview questions, writing cover letters, tailoring your CV etc alot of the hell you experience in Biz school actually comes outside of academics contrary to popular belief (as Jean-Paul puts it, "hell is other people", bad group mates im looking at you). For those applying to more technical roles, you might also need to prep extra for technical questions e.g. IB 400 questions, consulting cases, market sizing brain teasers etc.
7. Not so much of an advice, but rather a plea from me to you
I really hope business students can be more code literate and savvy i.e. being able to read (and to a lesser extent implement) coding e.g. python or SQL. ~90% of the biz population are code illiterate (having only taken just 1 "coding module"). In a normal corporate workplace, you'll never have to code. But being able to think computationally, knowing the steps you can take to automate your task, time and workflow brings you more benefits than you can imagine when most corporate work that people do and typically repetitive and administrative.
In conclusion, do your best in biz school. I think effort correlates strongly to how well you do here. You don't need to be smart (it makes life easier) but with enough forward thinking and future planning, you'll be able to grow through the next 4 years (and hopefully be worth it).
Feel free to ask any question in the comments, or for any seniors to elaborate and share their own experience! Left out a lot of controversial views not wanting to trigger anyone or NUS. Edit: I'm a graduating student from Biz, later they dont let me grad
Some extra links:

1. An event calendar regularly updated by NUS Careers, usually has lots of interesting and relevant events, competitions, webinars (if that's your thing): https://nus.edu.sg/cfg/events
2. Grading rubrics to apply for SEP, there is an actual rubrics to secure an SEP, please refer for those wanting to go: https://bba.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/07/SEP-Place-Allocation-Grading-System-2018-10.pdf

Hi all. I took the plunge last night and signed up to a few dating sites. I didn't know if I was ready and I do still love my ex but at somepoint I have to move on right? To my suprise iv matched with 6 beautiful women and let me tell you its quite the ego boost and we are realy hitting in on but a part of me still feels bad, even though she chose to leave me and it destroyed me in the process I still kinda feel dirty. Thoughts on the matter?

Whatever you do, never drink to cure a mental issue.
First
Previous
You know the drill: credit to SpacePaladin15 for the universe.
Thank you JulianSkies for proofreading.
Memory Transcription Subject: Gillab, Gojid Citizen, Father
Date [Standardized Human Time]: March 28, 2142
I made sure to wake up as early as possible so I could do what I needed to do before Billy woke up. First things first, get rid of all the liquor in that fridge. If Billy was going to get better, the first thing he needed to do was stop drinking. He was only running from his problems and as long as he had that out he was going to take it.
I pulled a trash bag in front of the fridge, propped it open as best I could, and started stuffing it full of bottles. Cheap Venlilian liquor was being poured down the drain by the second, it almost made me feel bad for anything living in the sewers. This stuff had enough alcohol in it to kill someone, a rat would be dead in seconds.
By the time I poured the last bottle down the drain, I had probably sanitized the entirety of the New York sewer system. I hoisted the bag onto my back, making sure not to break the bag with my quills, and started to make my way to the dumpster. Thankfully Billy’s apartment was on the first floor so the journey wasn’t too long.
I tossed the bag into the dumpster carelessly, causing a few of the bottles to break when they hit the others that had been thrown in yesterday. It was only the second day, but I felt like we had already made some progress. I was able to make him admit he was just scared of feeling the pain of his memories, even if it was only accidental. Small steps were still steps, now all I had to do was make him realize that he didn’t deserve this. I have a feeling that once he jumps that hurdle, everything should come much easier.
A familiar song brought me out of my thoughts, drawing my attention to my phone. I had changed the ringtone to the first Human song I had ever heard, T-Shirt, to always remind me of my time on the Cradle. I pulled out my phone and accepted the call, smiling as I saw just who it was.
“High sweety, having a good morning?”
The camera shook up and down in sync with my daughter's face. “Yeah, but I wish you were here.”
“Oh sweety, I know you do, but I have some important work to do and I can’t come home. Just know that I will always love you. Now you have a good day at school, you hear?”
“Mmhm, I will. Here’s mommy.”
The camera shook again as it passed from my daughter’s claws to my wife’s. In the background, I could hear the chitter of my daughter’s voice and then rapid footsteps away. When the camera stopped shaking, I was met by the most beautiful woman in existence.
“Hello, Sweet-fruit.”
Kirala smiled and tilted her head. “Hello, my big guolo tree. I missed you this morning.”
“I missed you too. I had to sleep on an uncomfortable couch and I think it messed up my back a bit.”
“Oh, how the mighty veteran is felled! Surviving a plasma wound to the chest but felled by the mightier couch.”
I flicked an ear in amusement. “To be fair, it was one vicious couch.”
I couldn’t help but melt at her laugh, it was like sunshine during the darkest night. It was light and cheerful and genuine, and I couldn’t imagine myself living without it.
With a final few chuckles, Kirala pulled herself together enough to respond. “Well, it sounds like you need to wear some armor to bed then.”
I feigned a thoughtful expression. “Maybe I will, I already sleep with clothes on.”
She threw her head back in disgust. “Ugh, I still don’t know how you do that. I still feel a little uncomfortable when I wear them when I’m awake, I couldn’t imagine sleeping with them.”
“It’s an acquired taste, you’ll come around.”
“Mmhm, I’m suuure.”
I sighed. “How’s Julaly doing?”
“Well, she misses you, obviously, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. She was good yesterday, but we both wished you had given us a little more of a warning. I didn’t expect your little trip to the memorial to turn into an impromptu therapy session.”
“Sweet-fruit, you know I wish I could have too. It was sprung on me just as much as you. I’m just glad I found him when I did, do you know what I found in his room? A suicide note.”
Kirala gasped slightly. “Oh dear I… I really-”
“It’s fine. I didn’t know either. But just think, if I had come back for just one day, he would be dead. I made the right call here, even if I was torn at the time.”
“You need to get back to him then.”
“I’ve got a little longer. He’s still asleep. I was throwing away some alcohol when you called me, and when I get some free time I’m going to go to the nearby bars and tell them not to serve him. Today I’m thinking I’ll try and get him to go to a veterans’ meeting so he can connect with some others like him, let him know he’s not alone and it’s not just me who cares about him.”
“Still, you should go back to him. And stay safe. He sounds unstable, just keep an eye on him.”
“Sweet-fruit, he’s not dangerous.”
“You don’t know what’s going on in his head. Promise me you will stay safe.”
“I promise.”
“Like you mean it.”
“I promise with all of my heart that I will stay safe.”
“Good, now get back to it. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
The call blinked out and left me staring at my home screen. It was true that I missed them both dearly, even a day without them left me longing, but I knew what I was doing was right. Billy needed someone to save him, and I was the only one available. Kirala was right, I needed to get back to it. I couldn’t leave Billy alone for too long, it would only end in disaster.
As soon as the door clicked open, Billy descended upon me. “Gillab, what did you do?! Where’s the liquor?!”
I stepped past him and made my way to the living room. “I threw it all away. You were poisoning yourself and I needed to put an end to it.”
Billy was stunned for a moment. “You fucking- GILLAB! Get the FUCK out of my house!”
“I’m not going anywhere! Not until you heal!”
Billy looked back and forth, raising his arms in frustration. “What the FUCK does that even mean?! You keep spouting this fucking ‘healing’ word like it’s some catch-all miracle wonder word that means everything!”
“I mean, you need to come to terms with what you’ve done, accept them, and move on! Otherwise, you are just going to rot in this room for all eternity. You are so much better than this, and you know it. You are strong enough to carry on, and you know this. You know, deep down, that you don’t deserve this life. But you are stuck thinking that you do! I saw you at the memorial and I literally didn’t recognize you, remember? That is how much you have changed, but it doesn’t have to stay like this. You can end the pain, and not in that way, all you have to do is trust me. And not just say that you do.”
I paused for a moment to catch my breath. “You said that you would go through the motions for me, right? This is just another motion. The next one is to find other veterans who are or have been through what you have and talk to them. They will make you realize that you aren’t trash or a parasite or any of that! It’s just another motion, right?”
Billy growled and stormed towards me. “You are on thin fucking ice right now.”
“Good. It means you care. Now sit down, we are going to set up a meeting with a group of veterans.”
“I don’t want to go meet some fucking soldier. I’m fine without that.”
“It’s just the motions, right? Humor me.”
With a deep sigh, Billy sat in the chair across from me. That was all I needed to see to confirm it, Billy really did want help, he just couldn’t even admit it to himself.
“You still haven’t given me your promised speech from yesterday. The hour-long one about how much I don’t deserve what I’m doing to myself.”
“Oh trust me, it’s coming. But right now we are going to set up a date for you to meet a veterans’ group. After that, let’s clean up a little more, get some food, maybe go for a walk in a park, then you’ll get the speech. Okay?”
Billy rolled his eyes and waited for me to pull up a website. After a bit of scrolling, I found a phone number I could call to find a meeting time. I prepared everything and set the phone on the table, but didn’t call yet.
“Okay Billy, I’m leaving this up to you. All you have to do is say your name and ask for a time you can come to the meeting.”
“Why can’t you set it up for me?”
“That’s not how it works. You need to be the one that calls them, not me. Plus, I don’t think they would accept me signing you up. The person coming has to be the one to set it up. Are you ready?”
Billy sighed. “Yeah.”
I called the number, set the phone on a table between Billy and I, and waited. After a few rings, a man began to speak.
“Hello, you have reached Richard’s group therapy for veterans, how can I help you?”
Billy looked up to me for guidance, to which I only motioned for him to speak to the man. “H-hi Richard, m-my name is Billy. I was… wondering if I-I could join your next meeting.”
“Oh course, we are always open for more. You didn’t even need to call, you could have just shown up at the meeting. We accept anyone and everyone at any time. Our next meeting is tomorrow at noon if you are available. If not, the next one is that same day at six-thirty.”
Billy glanced at me twice before giving his answer. “The… six-thirty one sounds good.”
He was pushing it back as much as he could, but at least he would get to it eventually. There was some quiet clacking in the background before the man responded. “Great, I’ve reserved you a seat. I’m happy to have you join us. Is there anything else you need?”
“No, that’s all. See you tomorrow.”
Billy set his phone down and sighed deeply. His face quickly changed from concerned and awkward to angry and annoyed. I could see him prepare to say something, but it ended up dying in his throat. Instead, he stood up suddenly and stomped back to his room, wanting to be left alone.

Race information

• What? 3 Days at the Fair 50K
• When? May 18, 2024 ‡
• How far? 31.1mi
• Where? Augusta, NJ
• Website: https://sites.google.com/site/njtrailseries/fair
• Strava activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/11441314526
• Finish time: 4:40:46

Goals

Goal	Description	Completed?
A	4:30:00	No
B	< 5 hours	Yes

Splits

Mile	Time
1	0:39 *
2	7:33
3	7:31
4	8:01
5	7:45
6	7:56
7	8:08
8	8:00
9	8:00
10	8:27
11	8:04
12	8:11
13	8:08
14	8:10
15	8:06
16	8:10
17	8:43
18	8:09
19	8:40
20	8:21
21	8:38
22	8:39
23	9:06
24	9:05
25	9:56
26	9:45
27	9:40
28	10:16
29	11:07
30	10:20
31	11:46
32	11:00
33	6:30 **

• "Lap 1" was from the 50K start to the timing mat. ** "Lap 33" was the remainder from my GPS watch auto-split to the end of the lap/race. ‡ "3 Days at the Fair" went from 13 May to 19 May 2024 (yep!). I was there 18 May.

Training

This was a spring full of sharp turns and hard knocks. The original training went towards the Cheap Marathon in Derry, NH. (That race was reported upon by flocculus here.) Training then consisted of maintaining 30-40 weekly miles, with a weekly long run adding two miles from the prior week, with some fluctuation. My hometown is quite hilly, so I foregone specific hill training as all of my runs were not near flat. My final long run was 21.5 miles March 6 before tapering down my weekly long runs.
A freak snowstorm delayed the Cheap Marathon from 4/6 to 4/20, however on 4/9 I fell in my gym shower. Either a rib contusion or hairline fracture paused any running or training for nearly two weeks. Scrambling for some sort of race to scratch the itch and not toss away months of prior training, I found 3 Days at the Fair online – a six day affair featuring ultramarathon categories from 50K to 144H races. They offered a marathon category, with an alluring 50K at similar start times. Naturally, I signed up for shy of 5 more miles than a marathon. One of my running mates gave me the best advice that "ultra running is more of an eating contest than anything else." Considering that during prior marathons I had salt tabs and 3 or 4 GU packets, I thought more about this statement. Hoping my ribs and legs would stand up, I went for the race.
Note: If registering for this race, you can choose the specific date and time you wish to start it. Just stick to that time. I would end up toeing the line with three other 50K runners who opted for the Saturday 9AM start. One could have theoretically started their run any day between Monday and Saturday, at 9AM or 6PM.

Pre-race

The Sussex County NJ fairgrounds were easy enough for me to get to. Those who were not running longer ultra races had plenty of parking mere steps from the registration/food/starting line. (Those running longer races have opportunities to park campers, tents, and so forth.) Weather was gray and cool, at 58˚F/14˚C -ish. I ended up playing with how I'd pack for the run, before noticing racks set up after the start line into which you could place your water bottle so as to not hold it the entire time.

Race

For check-in, I picked up my swag (a plush bathrobe) and timing ankle chip. No bibs here! At 8:50, marathoners and 50K'ers were brought to the respective start lines, 0.1 and 0.2 miles after the timing mat. At 9AM, we would run against the sea of all other runners back to the starting mat, turn around, and continue in the anti-clockwise 1 mile loop course. This is why marathons are 27 laps and 50K is 32 laps – that quarter lap registered as "lap 1 completed," so 31.1 miles registers as 32 at the end. I'm getting ahead of myself!
I found the course compelling enough to follow. After the timing mat, there is a short uphill that weaves past the toilet and shower area, and toward a hairpin. While the 'pin itself was set wide, most of the time I would walk it because of traffic or weakening knees. This continued straight past a Camper's Row of sorts with mild downhill. The second half runs a long arch around the grounds, with a gradual gentle uphill. The course is paved except for a 200m segment of packed gravel – if it had rained, this part could've been muddy. The course completed after a shot down a causeway, and left turning back to the mat. It's this area where registration, fuel/food/catering, and timing is displayed. Overall, no real potholes to be concerned about, just 31 total laps of this!
Hydration and food – tons of everything including Impossible Burgers, PB&J, cola, and sports vitamins – was supplied after the timing mat. I kept track of which lap I was on with a big-screen projection. My name, lap number, prior lap time, and total time appeared. Every 30 minutes or so I decided to take in calories. This included GU Rocktane, GU Vanilla (sooooo good), two stroopwaffels, two ice pops, and a few salt tabs. It was roughly 400 or so more calories than I would have consumed during a race. Hydration was also a factor, that the course was completely uncovered made me feel hotter and "drier" than normal. I might have taken on about 50 fl oz / 1.5 liters of water. My stomach tolerated this!
The main causeway/timing mat area is where I stopped for water and stowed my foods so I didn't have to carry it around. Early on, I didn't understand where the timing screen was, so took minor detours in the registration area. These factors are why my paces seem inconsistent by 30-odd seconds per mile at points.
The people here are amazing! Other runners were highly supportive, chatty, upbeat. One person was dressed up like a chicken (the race logo featured one), and another person blasted some pretty appropriate and popular tunes. It would be a game for me to guess the artist or song on every lap – we had a great banter going! Another group had a dry-erase board and changed it every few minutes or so with a new dad joke. Naturally, I had to stop to retort with another. For example, they wrote, "3.14% of sailors are pi-rates!" I replied, "if it's $4.50 in Jamaica for a beef patty, $3.50 in DR, and $2 in Trinidad, are those the pie rates of the Caribbean?" Sorry, not sorry.
The lack of proper training began to present itself around mile 22. Pacing was targeted at 8:00-8:15 per mile, with goal half-marathon splits at 1h45m or so. After mile 26, I was 3h40m44s, ten minutes off goal pace. Around that point I slowed, taking more walk breaks but promising myself to run at least half every lap. Landmarks were mentally set to designate where walking and running would occur. When I crossed the line I was done.

Post-race

From a mental standpoint, the concept of so many laps did not bother me. My daily runs more often than not are laps in my parking lot, and I've completed a few half marathons on traditional 400m tracks a few times prior – especially during the Global Pandemilovato of '20. Physically, my legs did not feel any worse than they would have after 26.2 miles. My stomach was actually doing quite alright – nausea and headache would set in within a few minutes of finishing other marathons, but not today. My buddy's advice is making me rethink my marathon strategy.
As the event is ultra-marathon focused, finishers of marathon and 50K received a coin. The longer the distance, the larger the coin, with special awards for those who have invested 100+ miles with the organization. (A paver brick [!] stamped with the runner's name is awarded after 1,500 miles with the organization.) Either way, I circled back to the registration area to press my luck at burger availability. Unfortunately they were out, yet making more. While at the beginning of the race the smell of bacon and pancakes wafted onto the line, the sweet smell of success – naturally, manifest as deliciously greasy burgers – greeted us at the end.
Post-race nutriton in my car included Gatorlyte electrolytes, SiS Rego Rapid recovery, and 1.5 liters of water. I opted against the on-site showers and made the long ride home for one which was far more satisfying.
EDIT: Added info about registration. EDIT 2: Grammar.

Well hi there! How's the week been treating you?
Mine's been alright, but that's not what you're here for is it?
You saw the title on this post and now you're all curious right?
I bet you're wondering what boyfriend stuff includes? Let's start with:

• Getting texted back regularly with an option for phone calls!
  
• Going out on dates with possible holding hands or making out!
  
• I'll make you laugh with all sorts of jokes from the sophisticated cynicism, cutting sarcasm to childish fart jokes I can do it all!
  
• You can get home cooked dinners! And breakfast too if I'm working overnights!
  
• You'll get all sorts of attention and compliments!
  
• I'm emotionally available and completely over my ex's!
  
• Flowers!
  

....and so much more!
Sounds pretty great right?
But who am I?
I'm a nearly middle aged divorced ex stand up comic that's worked himself into full on burnout working in hotels for the last twenty years. It's made into someone that's very empathetic and caring while still being to be cold as ice when needed.
In my free time I'm kind of a traditional nerdy white guy. Gaming, cartoons (not anime though), science fiction, detective stories, alternative history, sketch comedy, various sitcoms, hiking, cooking and mowing the lawn occupy my off hours. I also tried getting back into writing again, but it's been challenging.
Now it's your turn! PM me and we can start planning the first date!

his favourite flower is her favourite flower, he's admitted that he doesn't have a favourite flower but ever since she loved that specific one it's been his favourite. he tells me transparently that he dreams about talking to her (they had a bad split), but not getting back with her. i've seen a photo of her and i look like her if we were both bareface without makeup, which kind of made me think that he finds me pretty because i look like her. he also said that he thinks her personality is perfect to him. he's also said that she always knew what to say even though she knew him less than i did (time wise), and i've never been able to successfully comfort him even though i have tried hard (he likes advice, and i try to give him advice along with encouragement). we've been dating 2 months ldr, and he says that he doesn't want to introduce me to his family and friends yet until we meet in a few months, so all they know of me is my name. but with his ex, he knew her for less than we have known each other, and he's already told his family before that he wanted to go fly and meet her when they were together. he's also said before that since we dated soon after they broke up (around 4 months after?) he's not fully over her yet, but he doesn't want her back. i think she lives in his head rent free, and i'm here as someone who's never going to be as 'perfect to him personality wise' as he says she is. he praises me, he does things for me, he says he loves me, he acts like a good partner, he's loyal. but he's already told me also that he would not go back to her, and he would choose me over her, but i still feel so much resentment towards his ex who i don't even know. i feel like he's hung up on her, and i feel so difficult when i get reminded of her every now and then when she pops into my mind. i don't want to hate her, but i get jealous of her. i get jealous that she's so good and he remembers her as this good person, who comforts him well, who is fun, who rarely argues with him. he's affirmed to me already he won't go back to her, but i still am worried, but i don't want to come off clingy and persistent. i am insecure, and i am working on my own issues. but is this situation my fault that i think this way? any advice? sorry, english is not my first language.

Nature of Humanity Ch 67 A NoP fic
Under Pressure Part 10
A Fanfic of u/SpacePaladin15’s work “The Nature of Predators.” Thank you for the story!
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Memory transcription subject: Silvera, Factory 13 Manager
Date [standardized human time]: November 4th, 2136
If it wasn't for the clearly artificial sky above my head someone could possibly convince me I was outside in a new park. The neon blue screen with a white dot to represent the sun was nothing like the actual pale gray visage a mile above. Yet, it did have an enjoyable warmth to it.
A smooth artificial wind swept through the saplings ensuring that they would develop healthy stress wood. It also pleasantly cooled the fur of anyone in here, providing a nice little respite from the heater simulating the sun's unbearable hatred of us. Fuck you fake sun!
Any flora used to decorate the park would be exotic to Frozen Mountain, even if it came from the nearby tundra, but my humans decided to do something interesting. While they had covered most of the ground with a soft short-growing Terran clover, they chose to make the rest of the decorative plants functional. All of the saplings were different types of fruit trees that, when mature, would be free for anyone to harvest as much as they want. Even the decorative topiary isn't hardy tasteless plants, but berry bushes that would provide a variety of sweet treats relatively soon.
Agurcorp was more than happy to allow its failed startup out here to be turned into a local park. Well, so long as they didn't have to pay for this expensive mistake of theirs. The Mayor was all too happy with this, especially since my humans were happy to let him have all the credit so long as they got to design the park. With voting season right around the corner, the Mayor that ‘Brought life to this blighted land’ was a shoo-in to get re-elected. Or would be if he also wasn't ‘The idiot who allowed predators into the city.’
With everything that's happened I am still a bit surprised at everyone currently enjoying the park. A small herd of Venlil are exercising in the open field. A family of Gojids are walking along the cobblestone path. All the while, some humans are playing a very weird game of throwing a round plastic plate into chain nets. It's almost as if this city didn't have two separate riots on the same day.
The sound of wheels traveling across a bumpy path caught my attention. I glanced across the way to see an embarrassed-looking John driving an electric wheelchair over to me. His eyes locked onto mine before quickly switching to the ground. He tried to laze in a chair designed to enforce good posture and looked rather silly as he adjusted himself.
He came to a stop just a foot away from where I sat, “Hey Silv… I, uh… I don't actually need the wheelchair but Mikvia threatened to break my legs if I didn't use it, so I'm just humoring her.”
Oh, don't freaking tell me. Why are humans like this… “John… you were hospitalized with a punctured lung. Sure, doctors have some miracles they can perform these days, but you know you shouldn't be stressing yourself by walking.”
He huffed, “Please, I'm fine. Really. It wasn't as serious as everyone is making it out to be.”
I thumped my hind paw against the ground, “John.”
He threw his hands into the air with a huff, “I'm in the damn wheelchair ain't I? Gawd…”
He grasped his nose before calming down, “I apologize. Shouldn't have raised my voice like that. I mean… I am using the wheelchair and not lifting stuff. Doctor's orders. They even said getting out in this park would be fine. Said it might even help!”
We let out a deep sigh together. I hopped down from my bench and back up onto his lap, “Let's go for a ride… while we figure… us out…”
I could see John's guard drop as the exhaustion crept back onto his face, “...alright...” He pressed his controls forward, and we slowly began our first lap of the park.
John wrapped one of his lanky ape arms around me like a fleshy seatbelt and I laid my head on his chest appreciating the contrast of his warmth with the cool artificial breeze. I could have slept like this. The beating of his heart was rhythmic, and his deep breaths sounded a bit like waves washing up on a shore.
I even heard his heart quicken as I cleared my throat, “So… we aren't really dating are we?”
His exhaustion was quickly replaced with unease as he started to fidget a little, “I'm sorry…”
I held his hand and stared into the ocean blue eyes of his, “Don't be sorry. I think we were both drunk when we agreed to go on a date…”
He shook his head, “I still should have said something before then.”
It wasn't like I couldn't have taken the initiative and talked to him sooner too, “I know you were going through a lot. Actually, I know you still are… I'm really only able to guess but… Are you one of the types that thinks Xeno-dating is weird?”
He looked ashamed as he scrambled to smooth things over, “I- No- well, yes- but- it's just… ok. Let me start over… alright… yeah… so… uhm… the thing is… how do I put this… it sounds bad… well, it is bad… it’s just…”
My tail wagged involuntarily at the rather cute display of embarrassment radiating from John. I leaned in and let him have a doey-eyed look to help heap the embarrassment on.
It felt like John tried to stop the next words from rolling out of his mouth, “Sometimes I have trouble thinking of you all as people.”
John came to a complete stop as I just stared at him wide-eyed. My brain struggled to grasp what he was saying and the implications of it. He cringed and covered his face with his hands, “Gawd, that sounds horrible. It's just… It's not as bad with you and the others… I talk to y’all a lot. It's easier for it to click that you are people too.”
I was desperately trying to see this from his angle, “Wha- why does this happen in the first place?”
His hands drug down his face trying to drag the flesh with it, “I think it’s cause you are always naked. Like your back brace helps a little bit, but still everything else is… That and I hear your voice and the chip in my head then gives it meaning. Like its disjointed. Then it's the way your body language works and- and- fuck. Just…. Fuck me man. I don't even think that's all that's wrong with me. It’s just… like you look, sound, and smell like animals. It's just not really what my mind had in place for aliens. So- like- ugh! Why can't I just explain it!?”
It's difficult to explain, but his words connected to a deep sad memory, “It's like everything is just too… slightly wrong…”
It felt like I had been whisked back decades to my own childhood. I could still smell the bleached halls of the Venlil orphanage on Nevis. My heart whimpered when the Sivkits who came to adopt me shuddered with fear and disgust. Their strange voices sounded slow as they spoke a strange version of Klipic. Like hearing a pale imitation of yourself, try and pretend to be just like you.
My eyes locked with his as I carried on “It’s like you look at them and a part of you knows what they are, but your brain just snaps back to… to what you think reality is.”
I could see a glimmer of hope well up with his tears, “Y-you know? I-Iv've felt like such a monster! How can I- How can I look them in the eyes when they took me in and say- say- that I can't see them as people sometimes!? After everything they've done for me?! They want to adopt me and I- I- I can't even!”
I wrapped my arms around his neck as he buried his face in mine. It felt like he could crush me with his arms, yet they held me gently. What was causing me pain was this damn back brace. The blasted thing was trying to force my arms down while it hunched me over. I wiggled out of John's embrace and ripped the freaking thing off and chucked it as far as I could before burying myself in his embrace again.
We held each other as he drew in shuddering breaths and let his emotions flow out. John’s grip eventually began to loosen and we both took a moment to calm down. I gently tugged at the shirt covering John's torso, “So… Us not wearing clothes constantly is… disconnecting for you?”
He nodded his head, “Y-yeah… It’s like… every person I have ever known wears clothes. Animals never wear clothes and at most wear like a collar or harness if someone owns them. Then a few months ago, a bunch of nudist aliens show up and… well, my brain lops them into the animal category and the translator isn't helping.”
I glanced down at my body and suddenly felt… exposed, “So now that I am no longer wearing clothes…”
He cringed, “You look more like a large rabbit thing than a person… when you had the brace on it helped a little, but you were on all fours… When you were wearing your weather suit and had your hood off, It felt like you were a person, just different.”
An idea crossed into my skull, “Ok then… so your brain attaches personhood with a level of nudity, body plan, and familiarity… take your shirt off and give it to me- Don't give me that look! I know you’re male and are far less sensitive about people seeing your nipples. So gimme.”
He begrudgingly took off his shirt, revealing a pelt of fur that caught me off guard. I shook off the confusion as I slipped his shirt overhead and stuck my arms through the sleeves. It immediately tried to slip down my body and off. Mostly due to how large the hole for his head is, but also due to my utter lack of true shoulders. Another gift of my freak mutation. The ability to walk upright as well as sprint on all fours like a fucking Arxur.
I bunched up the collar and knotted it on itself, solving the slipping issue. With a small twirl, I spun in a circle, “So how is this?”
A smile formed on his face, “You look adorable!”
I happily flicked my tail, “Is that girlfriend adorable or pet animal adorable?”
His grin beamed with happy, mischievous energy, “Little sister adorable.”
I stomped my hind paw again, “Wha- why?!”
He held out his arms and I hopped back into his embrace, “Its cause it's my shirt. Jamie would wear my clothes sometimes, and they were so baggy on him, and well… on you that's practically a sundress! … you’d look really nice in like… a yellow sundress with like a straw hat.”
My mind tried and failed to make an image to match his description, “Hrm… well… I wouldn't know where to even start getting a… sundress.”
John carried on like clothes shopping was a normal intergalactic thing, “You would have to go to a tailor and have it custom-made. Like you already had to adjust my shirt cause you don't have shoulders like we or the Gojids do.”
We sat in a comfortable silence as John started the wheelchair back on its path. I almost fell asleep in his arms before I asked, “So… Are we dating?”
John didn't hesitate to bend over and freaking bite the top of my head! I, rather fruitlessly, slapped my paws against his face as fast as I could and only managed to elicit a laugh from him. Jumping up, I got a mouth full of his cheek in my teeth.
I made sure not to crush as I mimicked what he had done to me back, “Ah! The turns! They've tabled! I'm sorry! We're dating! Augh!” I spit out the lump of flesh between my teeth and sat down rather proudly.
It was only then I looked around to see most of the nearby groups staring at us. As well as three silver suited flame whack jobs walking our way. One of them held up his paws to try and seem as big as possible, “YOU! PREDATORS! DON'T MOVE!”
John growled at them, “YOU FUCKING IDIOTS. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?”
The trio froze in their steps and reached for weapons they didn't have. The boldest one took another step forward and shouted, “SHUT UP PREDATOR!”
John held his issued jacket up, letting the reflective emblem of the guild shine for all to see, “I WORK WITH YOU NUMB NUTS! I'M JOHN! ADOPTED SON OF YOUR FUCKING CHIEF! RING ANY BELLS?”
The trio halted in their tracks and the most skittish of them turned a one-eighty on their paws and began to walk away. The boldest one’s paws slowly dropped, “J-John?! I- I've never seen you without the mask or artificial pelt… wait! You're supposed to be in the hospital!”
Johns voice grew cold, “They said I could go out around the park so long as I mostly stayed in the chair. If it pleases you, you can talk to Loke. He's right over there with his wife and two kids. I bet he'd be thrilled to learn you three are going around accusing people of being predators.”
The bold moron took a fearful half step back, “D-d-d-d-don't twist my words! You bit her and she bit you back! I have witnesses! That's predatory!”
John leaned back and stroked the fur on my cheek, “No, it’s erotic.”
I could see the gears turning in the bold one's head grind, “What.”
John pressed his lips into my neck, “Ya know… sexy. It’s like… gently grooming your significant other's neck from behind but more playful.”
They looked revolted, “That's disgusting.”
John cocked his head to the side like a confused Gojid, “That’s odd.”
The look of revulsion quickly transitioned back to confusion, “What?”
A smirk grew on John's face as his fingers massaged into the sore muscles on my back, “It's just, that’s exactly what your mom said last night, but she grew to like it.”
I slapped my paws to my mouth to avoid laughing as the rage flared up in the bold one's eyes, “WHAT!?”
I let out a happy purr as John began to work at my sore muscles and utterly humiliate the idiot bothering us, “Yeeeeah. You weren't supposed to find out like this, but I'm your dad now.”
Their ears pinned back in rage, “You're lying to me.”
John waved a hand at our surroundings, “We are in a hermetically sealed park. There is no way for any significantly threatening animal to get in here. You are only here looking for trouble and I assure you, this will be looked into. Go clean your nose and keep it clean. Understood?”
They both tucked their tails, “Understood, sir.”
John nodded his head and calmed his tone, “Dismissed.”
As the trio of troublemakers left, we sat in relative silence as John continued to work away at the stress in my muscles. If you proved this was how humans prepared their food before eating it, I would argue that it's still worth it.
His rough voice messaged my ears, “Hey Silv?”
I stretched and enjoyed the pops my spine made as it took its natural shape, “Hrm?”
A hint of curiosity hung in his voice, “Why did you understand what I meant? Shouldn't… You've lived with aliens being a part of everyday life for… Like… ever right?”
I slumped against John and thought. Dredging up old memories that I almost wished I didn't have, “It was… a very long time ago. My doctor told me I was making up false memories to cover up a traumatic event and make it to where I was normal and everyone around me were the weird ones…”
I could hear John doubt my doctor's claims, “That sounds… fishy.”
Despite John's odd word choice, the meaning still fit perfectly, “It feels like it, but I just have no proof. I swear to you, I remember running along a beach, with my parents on two legs. Every Sivkit I knew as a child walked on two legs. It’s like… well…”
I grabbed John's hand to stop it from distracting me, “One day I woke up, and I was unbelievably cold. I thought I was a corpse. There was this strange… tentacle thing with bulgy eyes standing above me. His words didn't match his lips, but I understood him. It was terrifying.”
“He scooped me up and started running. Said I was in grave danger, and he was going to keep me safe. I didn't trust him one bit. He jumped into some strange ship and told me I had to be very quiet. The bad people would attack us if they heard either of us talking.”
“Eventually, he crashed the ship into something and pulled me out of it. I was surprised to see we had been on a submarine that entire time. That and the sky was the wrong color. I didn't even have an opportunity to think about it as he carried me to a weird looking vehicle that once again surprised me as a giant wall turned into a window.”
“I had never even heard of spaceships before, and I watched as we went up and just moved into space like it was nothing. He tried to calm me down, but he told me my parents were dead. I- just remember sobbing in his tentacles for hours. Eventually, I calmed down enough for him to play with me.”
“For a few days it was just me and him. Then we met up with another ship, and he left that one to drift in the void. He said we were meeting his friend Aylin on Nevis… a Venlil colony not too far from here, actually. I got to meet more aliens on that ship but Kalova- sorry that was the name of the Kolshian who took me out here. Kalova didn't want me to talk about anything to anyone. Said to just say I was his adopted daughter, and he just got a job on Nevis managing the new colony.”
“He never saw it. I didn't know what they were at the time but the Arxur attacked. They were trying to raid the colony and the Gojids and Venlil where desperately trying to protect it. I remember the alarm going off the second the ship’s captain announced we were leaving FTL. Kalova sprinted through the ship carrying me. He placed me in an escape pod just before that terrible lizard spotted us. He pulled the lever and my pod jettisoned down to the surface.”
“I was in that pod for three days before the Venlil found me and put me in an orphanage. Every time I met other Sivkits… they made my skin crawl. There's something wrong with all of them. I swear to you, we Sivkits are supposed to walk on two legs. We also aren't supposed to be that… stupid. Between how they talk being just… off, and the fact what they said was often either retarded or downright wrong, I couldn't ever feel like one of the so-called Grand Herd.”
“Eventually, I aged out. Graduated college, top of my class. And started working out here when they began to rebuild my plant after it burned down. That’s all there… Well, there is more, but It's not actually relevant to your question.”
John leaned down and kissed the top of my head, “Thank you for sharing that with me.”
I groomed the tip of his nose in return, “You're welcome. … Hey John?”
I could see a small bit of… hope in the back of his eyes, “Yes Silv?”
“Can you tell me about your past?”
He frowned as memories came back to him, yet he smiled still. “Yeah… it’s not a happy story either.”
I pressed myself into him, “Well… we can both be sad together, at least.”
John's hands began to absentmindedly work through my fur again, “Yeah… That doesn't sound as bad.”
___/\___
Important question, do you want a chapter dedicated to John retelling his story? Or would you like it smash cut out in favor of more of their first real date? I am not sure how I want to do it and am happy with both, so please let me know.
John and Silvera finally had the relationship talk! Woooooo! John's confessed something he'd rather never bring up, but knows he needs to address to start living a happy life with his new family. Aaaaand, It's time for Silvera’s tragic backstory! (Trademark pending). Strange names though, right? Kalova… weird how John's old boss has a missing brother with the same name as an alien Ivan the Arxur knows! And Aylin… strange they share a name with Talen's dead wife! Man that's just weird!
Special thanks to u/JulianSkies for proofreading! Seriously it felt like my eyes were melting out of my skull and your feedback was everything I needed!
___/\___
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27(trans woman) was kicked out of my house. My sister who I was co living with, lied about the landlord finding out that we had 3 adults in the place, she wanted me gone before she gave birth on June 10th. Which was 3 weeks from now, it’s to close to her due date to be true. Since we’ve been living there since November, I’ve been paying 95% of the rent, storage unit bill, and internet bill. When i getting my stuff, I was calm. No one was fighting, her husband was smirking the entire time I was leaving. I didn’t cause any issues, told her I was taking all my stuff. They called me names because I took my router, that is in my name. I told her this the day before, but yet I’m rude for walking in the bedroom to get it? Even though I wasn’t even causing issues until her son and daughter started crying because they didn’t have internet anymore. She called me numerous names, told me I wasn’t family, that she will never support me. Telling me I had a free ride for “years” even though I moved in with her back in august of 2022, because I was SAed outside of my apartment in front of my son by my stalker(cops didn’t do anything even with video evidence, he was the grandpa of the one cops) I wasn’t safe there and asked if I could stay. When I originally moved in, I was the only one who had a job and was paying rent, electric, and internet. Her husband couldn’t keep a job for shit, would stay home and get fired for pointing out. Now he finally got a job making 22$ an hour and they instantly turn to kick me out. Even though they wouldn’t have the van after it broke down last year, after my fiancé had paid 1250$ to the garage to get it fixed. My sister acts like I’m the one who’s been sucking this family dry but yet I’m not the one who’s stealing from my siblings. I’ve had over 300$, my clothes, and many more things go missing since living there. She’s stolen from me before when she and her husband were at the height of their meth addiction, and yet I found another pipe in the house. I took it and broke it that same morning on Thursday of last week. The same day I got the message about the landlord. She claims I’ve been talking shit, calling my nephew a psycho(he has schizoaffective disorder and he’s autistic) even though I’ve never said that. Claiming I’ve called my youngest niece stupid because my sister let her have a phone/tablet since she could crawl. She went from being normal sighted and is not cross eyed due to this. She’s 4 years old. They parent their kids with tv, and YouTube but then act surprised when my nephew hits his sister in the chest, the back, the head etc but yet blames his step siblings for “antagonizing him” even though all they were doing is being kids and playing with toys. My nephew is 12 years old. I’ve never said he’s anything but a child who needs help when they aren’t giving it to him. My fiancé who used to work at a mental hospital, even says he needs to get better help then they are giving. Sorry I’m just trying to paint the picture here. I’m struggling to come to grips with the fact that even my own mother and father, are taking her side. My brother blocked me. I am losing my mind. My family hates that I am trans, and actively has worked against me the entire time. My fiancé is the only reason I’m not breaking down. I wa supposed to move in with a friend but then she blocked me out of no where and now I’m trying to figure out a place to go before 11am when I gotta leave this hotel room. I haven’t been able to save any money due to the fact that I’ve been paying all the bills. I’ve been paying all the gas money. She wanted 20$ to pick me a mile from the house, so I just walked home. I’ve kept the peace, I didn’t cry or say anything to start shit. I am most likely going to the homeless shelter today if I can’t figure anything out. Oh also, in all of this. My sister was supposed to meet my sons mom so I could get him for me time but yet that wasn’t ever allowed or possible because she wouldn’t drive me. I lost my license back in may of 2022 due to my ex best friend canceling the registration on the car I had just gotten from him, I hadn’t had much time to get it into my name. We agreed he’d let the registration run out in July, which I had already been saving up for it(the taxes on it were 200$) I’ve been a single income home since I was 21. I hadn’t gotten any help because I made to much money according to the programs. My sister and BIL were starting to police when i took a shower, when I slept, when I ate and how much I ate. I didn’t tell my fiancé the extent because it’s not like I could move in with her right now, she’s living with her grandma and I don’t want to give them any harder issues than needed. I’m trying my best, but the last 2 years have imploded my entire life, over and over again.

Hey again,
Me and my wife have a move in date for our home 🏠
We move in 14th June.
We will both be on a joint UC when we do, however my questions are;
What’s the best date to change it to a joint claim payment wise. (We both get paid 11th of each month currently) I know we can’t claim housing costs until we’re officially moved in!
How do I get reduction on our council tax as we both receive LCWRA/UC & Enhanced PIP on both components. I did ask our landlord but they don’t know what council tax band we’re on yet, and my mum and auntie both get high pip & they both get free council tax?
I was going to have the rent paid straight to my landlord but worried that if for example it’s due 2 weeks before we get our UC payment it won’t be paid on time? My pip can cover the rent while I wait for my UC payment just want to get everything right!
Can anyone help🥰 a breakdown also on our award would be helpful (again!)
Both on LCWRA (one can have carers element and one can have LCWRA I was told) Joint both over 25 Housing costs will be £483.28
Both will get a reduction of £598 from NS ESA on our claims as both get £276 every 2 weeks.
Hope that helps🫶🏼

I (27F) am an avid traveler. When I think about the things that give my life meaning, traveling is at the top of my list. My goal is to take one international trip every year. When me and my boyfriend (34M) got together, we exchanged traveling stories and connected through them. I quickly found out that all of his international travel was done with an ex and I was a little jealous about it. According to him, they fought the entire time they were away and there was nothing to be jealous about.
When we first started dating, he was not in a good place financially. I told him about a travel credit card he should sign up for so he can start accumulating points that can be used to earn free flights, so that's what he did. About 6 months ago, we booked a flight to Japan that's scheduled in July with credit card points. Our plan was to spend 2 weeks there. This was my idea for my birthday. We have spent weeks planning it together and I was so excited we were able to do it. He had been so adamant about saving money for so long and this felt like a huge milestone in our relationship.
Until last week... Things have been rocky for a while...
We have been seeing a couple's counselor since February. Long story short -- He is a recovering alcoholic and could not control his temper once he got sober. I agreed to go counseling to try to sort it out, but I've gotten so resentful over time. Now I'm the one who's angry most of the time. We got into an argument and he broke up with me. This really felt like we were over over.
5 days later, we decide to try to work it out and I find out that he already canceled our accommodations with no conversation about it and is now bringing his friend on the trip. I get it that we were broken up and he was trying to make the best of the situation, but now we are back together... He wants us to go separately and meet up throughout. He expects me to stay in separate accommodations because he doesn't trust that we can't fight. He doesn't want to be in the same situation with his last ex where they fought the whole time or break up while we're abroad.
This feels like a make or break situation. My flight is non-refundable, though there is a chance the flight time will change and I'll be able to cancel it and get a refund. It feels like they hijacked the trip that was my idea, using the credit card I suggested... None of this would have been happening if it wasn't for me. I don't think I will be able to enjoy myself if I go. I can just see myself being so preoccupied with him the entire time. I have a friend that might be able to come along, though I feel I would just ruin our time by being so preoccupied with my relationship.
My options are:

1. Cancel the flight and eat the cost
2. Go and do my own thing separate from them
3. Go and spend time with them throughout the trip off and on
4. Get a friend to go and meet up with them (or don't meet up with them)

What should I do?

Hi, David here!
Many inexperienced men believe that if they show interest, e.g. ask a girl out or try to kiss her, and the girl does not reciprocate, then it is game over.
The truth is that it all depends on your reaction to her reaction. If you go for the kiss and she turns her cheek to you, and you react by being hurt or overly apologetic, then it may likely be game over.
Same also goes if you get all sulky and butt-hurt if she turns you down for a date. But if you instead react by smiling, shrug it off, and continue the conversation as if nothing had happened, then your self-confidence may generate more attraction than if you had actually gotten what you wanted in the first place.
The most important thing when it comes to asking someone out is to do so in a low pressure way where you communicate to the other person that you will not be upset if they say no.
The longer you wait to ask someone out, the more likely it is that you will become more invested in the relationship's outcome. This will only make it harder for you to remain cool and nonreactive when interacting with the person. So quit putting it off and go for it already!
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BTW, I wanted to let you know that I just finished putting together my eBook "Bros Guide to Meeting Women" version 4.0 and would LOVE to get some honest feedback from you!
I decided to give it away for free for the time being.
​
The eBook is 27 pages long and gives you a practical step-by-step solution to meeting women (15+ years of knowledge put into it).
You can get the eBook by clicking here!
​
This book is the result of going out and socializing with girls for over a decade. I have put in there all the fundamentals I have learned over that time so I would really appreciate all the feedback I could get!!
​
What are your thoughts? Do you have any tips to add?
Let's discuss in the comments :)
Thanks for reading and have a GREAT day!
David Davidson

Hello everyone! I’m looking to apply for 801/820 partner visa. I am an Australian citizen and my partner is a Chinese national. She was most recently on a graduate visa, but is now on a tourist visa (not sure which one exactly) but it’s expiring next month June 14th. I want to get her on a partner visa. We applied for the de facto status earlier this month on the 7th of may I believe. However, upon looking around the web, it seems like there isn’t a solid or definite answer for partner visa applications. My partner and I met last year in April. We started really talking to each other in may. She then went overseas for about two months returning at the end of July. We started dating on the 3rd of August. That period of time overseas, I spent a ridiculous amount of time constantly on call with her or just messaging her, even though we weren’t ’dating’ at that time. When she got back, she was renting by herself at a new place, and once we started dating I was constantly over during the day, and if not staying the night as well. (A lot of evidence). We went for our first trip overseas together for two weeks last September and prior to that I picked up a second job to manage/gather enough finances to support our relationship. We also had a few trips within NSW, to Canberra and Kiama and some few other places. Anyway, we had our first big holiday beginning of this year where we went overseas for 2 months where we spent all of it together. I also had the chance to meet her familiy and live with them for most of the trip. As soon as we got back, she stayed at my parents house for 2 months as we settled down and started getting back into routine. Fast forward to April, we finally moved in together. We also registered for a defacto relationship in may, have the receipt but awaiting processing time. I have a few questions: - How is each application assessed and is there anything big or specific I should consider? Do I have to consider biases or not? - our relationship has been short, and we are both very young. However we have both experience tremendous growth in individuality and mathrity and we can prove it - does time matter here then? - our defacto registration was only earlier this month and we are still awaiting the processing time to finish before we receive our certificate - this is something I am confused about - it says that we have to have been in a defacto relationship for 12 months on the official immigration website however other sites such as Facebook reddit and travel agencies say that this doesn’t matter - I would like to hear the different experiences people have had with this step
I know this is an extremely long list of questions and I feel like the majority has already been answered however i think if I keep snooping around the internet and just seeing different answers and opinions it kind of stuffs up the approach I should take towards this, so I just decided to ask myself. Really sorry for taking up your time and any reply/advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone !!