For me, I’m in a condo that we bought with a 15-year mortgage during the pandemic. My mortgage (including escrow/taxes and insurance) plus HOA fees is about $2100/month. My old apartment (including monthly pet fee) was more than that when I lived there. It’s currently listed for $2500/month (big complex, not necessarily my unit).

I promise all y’all I’m not spending $400/month on homeowner-specific costs. And, I could reduce my monthly cost by moving to a 30-year mortgage instead of a 15-year mortgage.

I finally blocked my mom’s phone number earlier this month. It’s only taken me 7 years since she blew up at me in a way she couldn’t/wouldn’t take back.

It can be a slow journey and you might question it as you go, but it’s worthwhile. And more people than you might expect are estranged from their families. I used to worry that my IRL acquaintances and friends would judge me for it, but nope.

My interpretation is that not everyone eligible/registered to vote in 2020 voted. The 88M includes folks that sat out Biden’s election, too.

My therapist encourages me to reparent myself, by which they mean that when I remember something fucked up from my childhood I should try and imagine what would have happened in a loving and supportive environment. Also, they also encourage me to give myself experiences I missed out on as a child. Yes, I sleep with a plushie and it’s awesome.

I have no idea what RFK, Jr means. Sounds like brainwashing.

I have Prime but I don’t pay for it. Way back when in college, I got on my parents’ plan as a student. I’ve graduated and moved a few times since then. Still don’t pay.

I don’t get Prime videos, but that’s fine by me.

It’s like that time my old high school had a school shooting and some elected official was all like “no one could have predicted this” and I was like “my brother in Christ, I went to that high school. If no one predicted a mass shooter event then why the fuck weren’t we allowed long coats or backpacks? Why the metal detectors? Was it all for shits and giggles?”

Anyways, elected officials lie and it’s very upsetting to people that expect literal truth. Maybe it’s comforting to some?

I took all my meds on time, and so did my dog.

Oh! I also baked a pizza and it was really tasty. Pup didn’t get pizza, but did get oven-dried fish skins and he’s really happy about that.

The main service my period tracker provides is a notification telling me “hey, it’s PMS time. If you’re emo it’s ok, it’s probably just hormones and not the real end of the world. You’re also likely to hyperfixate on something. Pull out your knitting a fixate on that, instead of risking fixating on something someone said off-handedly a decade ago that now makes you cry”.

(The message is user-configurable. Mine doesn’t say that verbatum, but that’s the gist.)

My tradition (ever since I moved away from my irl friends) is to stock up on one of every type of turkey TV dinner at the grocery store, then feast on that over the course of the 5-day weekend (thank you, Union!). It’s super chill. I play video games and knit. My pup and I will hang out at the dog park.

I’m happy with the built-in privacy, muchly because I’m using it on a work computer so I have no expectation of real privacy anyway.

And fair.

I’ve moved to Vivaldi recently and it’s been refreshingly not-suck.

No, that was me leaning into the silly as a millennial.

No cap. Ohio. Cowabunga.

Yeah, I had it explained as “you’re playing a video game and you get to choose the final boss. Do you choose Bowser or SpaceGodzilla?”

I’d go with Bowser. At least in SM RPG he was capable of working with his opponents towards a common good.

Thanks :)

I didn’t think I could go back to not having a backup camera, heated side mirrors, and that feature that detects when your wheels are slipping and makes adjustments so you still go the way your steering wheel indicates.

Airbags and ABS are non-negotiable.

The other day I saw a mid-90s shitbox in the parking lot and it made me so hopeful for my 2008 car. Like, that’s a sign my car has at least 10 more years in it.

Agreed. My condo complex doesn’t allow flags or signs. We’re allowed holiday-appropriate door wreaths and that’s it. I’m wicked glad I don’t have to know my neighbors’ politics.

Partner and I once test drove a car that had “passed” a something something-point inspection at the dealer. As partner turns onto the highway he realizes it doesn’t have a rear-view mirror. We were not impressed with that dealership. (Partner later said that when he got in he made sure the mirrors were adjusted, but his brain didn’t clock that there wasn’t a rear-view mirror until he had to use it. TBF, the missing mirror wasn’t pointed the wrong way.)

Same dealership tried to badmouth my Prius in order to get it as a trade-in. Partner had introduced me as his roommate and driver, which made it even weirder.

Thanks. She’s blocked everywhere I can think of. I’m going to be a messy feelings blob today and that’s ok. I have coffee and chocolate.

It took 107 years of low-contact to go to no-contact. I’m not making this choice lightly. She just sucks that much.

And I’m going to steal “duderino”. It’s mine now.

I have a trans teenage cousin in Texas. We’re not close, but I worry. All I can really do is let him and his mom know I exist in a “safe” state and hope they reach out if they decide to leave.