Fence contractors near me

[15m] Hey, come chat, I’m looking for friends

2023.06.01 05:26 Dr_Savage591 [15m] Hey, come chat, I’m looking for friends

Hey, im Cam. Im from the east coast (US). I love sports, I play baseball, and work out a lot. Im really into computers and love researching and building them. I have a dog, love him to death. I like gaming, I mostly play OW and Pokémon and want to get the new legends of Zelda game soon. I also love dystopian and mystery books/tv/movies. I want to make some long term friends and eventually move off of Reddit (kinda inconvenient) so we can game together or watch movies or something idk. If you don’t really plan on trying a long term friendship and just want to chat that’s fine just let me know Anyway if you want to go ahead and message me, I’m always near my phone. And there are selfies on my profile if you care what I look like.
submitted by Dr_Savage591 to TeensMeetTeens [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:26 Esoteric_Nobody Opening up

I'm 24 years old and male if that matters. I'm a demisexual sex addict. It's just as frustrating as it sounds. When I was younger anyone I was remotely attracted to worked. I'd feel gross, go home shower multiple times, rinse my genitals in hydrogen peroxide and then get back to it. I'd hold on to unhealthy relationships mainly because the sex didn't feel gross if I trusted my partner but they were all bad fits for an actual relationship( I was not self aware of this at the time). When I was 22 I hooked up with a near stranger that made me feel particularly gross and I went a bit over a year abstinent. I was miserable I'd walk around thinking about fucking anybody I saw that I was half attracted to and it made me feel gross because I always hated guys who casually talked about women like that. My sex addiction became a porn addiction which made me feel depressed, awkward, and self conscious. Eventually I started dating this girl who was infatuated with me but whom I didn't like very much and realized I was repeating a cycle so I broke it off. I went for ye olde geographical cure. I changed careers and moved to do a temporary job in tourism. While I was there I met my Cinderella. Picture all the corny shit people talk about in rom coms it was all true. Fireworks when we looked at each other, amazing sexual chemistry, same love languages, similar sense of humor, we wanted the same things out of life.. etc etc. She actually helped me realize that I am demisexual. With her I realized that sex is one of the ways I show my affection and that I can't actually be free enough or comfortable enough to truly enjoy it without that bond. Well fast forward to not so long ago and we broke up. I know part of the reason is that the addiction started controlling me again. She never said it but looking back I can't help but see a few signs. It wasn't the main cause it was one of them. Ultimately there was too much in the way and she broke her heart too to leave because there was too much in the way. It's been over 6 months. I tried going back to my old ways but I literally couldn't bring myself to sleep with anyone. But I also couldn't stop thinking about it. I'd get right to the point of it and leave or ask them to leave. I went back to porn which only made me feel worse. I'm lost confused and idk what to do from here. I've left her alone. I reached out to talk once she wasn't ready and I left her alone. I want to be able to enjoy sex again. I want to feel like myself again. I want her back but I know I can't control her and even if I could I wouldn't want to. I reached out yesterday for the first time in six months and whether she comes back or not I need a plan to get better. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you to anyone who actually read this mess.
submitted by Esoteric_Nobody to SexAddiction [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:24 Inepsy2489 How should we proceed with two potential jobs?

This question is not for me, but for my wife because she doesn't have a Reddit account.
I'll try to keep it brief to not bore you with all the details. My wife has two jobs she has been interviewing for, one that is very desirable to her, I'll call it job A, and another that is just ok in her opinion, I'll call that one job B. She's on the job market so she needs to accept one.
She was approached by the employer for job A. This is an emergency hire just for her because her skills are desired and the employer needs someone for this position. It's for a college, and it needs approval from administration and the fiscal team. It's been approved from one department already, and they've collected things from her such as D.O.B. and if she's a US citizen. Someone from the hiring department said they expect to have an offer for her next week (by June 5th) but will try to have an offer to her sooner. Although this is very promising, we are of the opinion that nothing is guaranteed until she has a formal offer letter.
Job B extended an offer to her yesterday and she needs to tell them her decision by the end of the week. Job B is fine, but not nearly as ideal to her as Job A.
If only job B had a timeline of one week later it would make this easier. We think she might have to accept job B and then potentially quit a week later? Is there a graceful way of handling this? Any recommendations or suggestions would be appreciated.
submitted by Inepsy2489 to careeradvice [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:24 Ktmrider8 2005 Honda Civic ex (vtech) reliability?

I’m looking to get my first car and found a 2005 Honda Civic ex (automatic) with 100k miles near me for $4850, which is blue book average in my air. However I’m not too sure how reliable these cars are. I know Honda tends to be really good but I’ve heard from a couple of people that the older civics aren’t as good. I’m wondering what everyone here has to say.
submitted by Ktmrider8 to Honda [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:23 Sorry_Log7546 Hard time finding someone to pick me up as a green apprentice / trainee.

Hello all,
I hate to be posting here about this because it’ll sound like I’m complaining. I’m really not. But I do want to say I’m having a hard time finding a job with electrical contractors that are willing to take a new guy with 0 experience and I really do not want to give up.
I tried to go the union route but the wait in and around my area is about 1.5 years. The non union programs are about 2 years.
So I went with option c and got my electrical trainee card here in California. I am currently half way done with my first semester of class and am maintaining an A in class.
This is my passion. I hate that I waited until I turned 31 to chase my dream but better late than never.
Every job I’ve applied to requires 2 years of experience at least. I wish I had that but unfortunately I do not. I do have a drive to succeed and a willingness to learn though, I think that would make me a great apprentice.
Do I continue showing up to shops in person with a resume in hand and hope someone picks me up or gives me a chance? I really do not plan on giving up because like I mentioned earlier this is my passion and I want to learn the trade.
How long did it take you to get picked up by a shop if you went the non union route?
submitted by Sorry_Log7546 to electricians [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:23 Think-Evidence-8110 DON’T rent from the Antin brothers.

Obviously this is just my opinion, but I largely dislike the Antin brothers as my landlords. They’re unresponsive to my requests, wrongly charge me for things out of my control, and are overall hugely rude to me and my family. I realize it’s somewhat hard to avoid leasing from them especially if you want to live near campus, but I am so disturbed by their behavior towards me as a tenant that I just have to put it out there.
submitted by Think-Evidence-8110 to cmu [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:23 Ijustthinkthatyeah NPK non-Hemi Cars?

It seems like nearly everyone has switched to either a procharged Proline Hemi or a screw blown Noonan Hemi.
Can you help me with who is running something different? I know Lutz has TT small block but I think he switched to a billet block this year. Glad to see him sticking with turbos.
I know Birdman is a joke now but I heard he’s going back to twin turbo. No idea what engine though.
Reaper doesn’t count. Is Robin still twin turbo Hemi? What about Jerry Bird, still nitrous?
Is there any other turbo BBC or non-Hemi guys?
submitted by Ijustthinkthatyeah to StreetOutlaws [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:22 Avatarkrishna Title: The Third Eye' s Vision

I did not know it would take me 3 days to write 3-4 pages. It was time to shed the skin of uncertainty, and embrace depth of field, and 3 dimensional characters, and sense of professionalism. Enough time was wasted in uncertainty and procrastination.:
Title: The Third Eye' s Vision Author: Das, Krishna Chandra
Section 1 done on may 19 of 2023
Section 1 of Chapter 1:"Birthright's Mantle, Outcast's Shackles: The Opus of Nirvaaṇa"
Section 1 of Chapter 1:"Birthright's Mantle, Outcast's Shackles: The Opus of Nirvaaṇa"
(Beginning of Page 1)
(Character monologue)
Credits. Credits. Credits. The almighty and powerful Credits... The all-powerful Universal Credits: for a share of which we are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. With unwavering dedication, I assume a tranquil meditation pose, directing my thoughts towards the inner realms, where my focused mind connects with the ethereal vision of my third eye. Through this heightened state of awareness, I have clandestinely observed and meticulously absorbed the whispered conversations and subtle nuances of numerous gatherings on various occasions within this mothership.
Some humanoids had invested their life savings in renting a ship to join a fleet and gain access to strategic extraction sites. Those less fortunate purchased a share of a ship with ten other crewmates, agreeing to receive a percentage of the profits. Speaking of shares, the mothership claimed a 40 percent cut from each fleet, providing flawless protection, efficient travel time, and unlimited food from its internally built vivarium. All in exchange for a share of the Universal Credits, the currency that governs our worlds.
I could write endless pages defining the term universal-credits. However, there was a time when I despised such material attachments. I was content in my dim and dreary cave. Over time, though, desperation grew from poverty, intimidation, and sorrow. Perhaps now, materialism has seeped into my/our minds, intertwining with our breath and life force. Given the current risky conditions of deep space, we are willing to risk our lives for a taste of the almighty Universal Credits.
As I delve deeper into thought experiments of risks and rewards, my mind becomes flooded with unwanted negative thoughts. Horrific news and rumors dominate my consciousness. Amongst many, one piece of news is particularly disturbing and recent. Despite deep meditations, I cannot pinpoint the source of this dark presence even with my third eye. Perhaps it is a synthetic species or an unknown race echoing the sirens of death, destruction, and doom. These rumors always make me sick. Recently, there has been an abundance of them. On the day of our great embarkment, a tip circulated claiming that an unknown source emitted a red flare, simultaneously annihilating five motherships with one single slash. Allegedly, this powerful flare not only disintegrates objects it touches but reduces them to nothingness by a rapid continual process of subatomic level evaporation.
The Vidyadhaaras, the fortunate ones, have been sanctioned by all other humanoids. In return, they have responded with an iron curtain, promising annihilation or enslavement to any species that ventures into their space. I am no expert on ethics, but one thing is certain: the Vidyadhaaras race are exceptionally fortunate. Some possess an extra third hand and naturally gemstones studded body at birth, and most are born with unlimited credit encoded in their DNA, in the form of a wish-fulfilling stone.
The dark blue-skinned manus of Shha-taM.Bha-gyaṃ display cunning charisma in these high-risk, high-reward expeditions. Yesterday, one boisterous, sapphire-backed individual, fueled by intoxicating beverages, rambled on about the statistical probabilities. In his mind, there was a red line in the depths of space, where the chances of falling into flare of nothingness stood at 60 percent. Yet, he believed the rewards outweighed the risks.
Section 2: Chapter 1:"Birthright's Mantle, Outcast's Shackles: The Opus of Nirvaaṇa"
MAY 25, 2023
(Beginning of Section 2)
The perplexed humanoid novices were both pitiful and at times detestable. I often paid little attention to their groups, always distancing myself from them, I even practiced precise isolation from stepping into the very shadows they cast, as they aimlessly scurried around the mothership, displaying a blatant state of confusion. Despite the well-lit corridors, hallways, and communal areas, they seemed utterly clueless about their next destination. With their invisible novice insignia proudly worn, they unwittingly attracted one another, creating an amusing spectacle of automated alliances, like molecular compounds.
Unfortunately, a significant portion of these individuals would never have the opportunity to find out the hidden areas and witness the marvels of the state-of-the-art artificial biomes, a place perfectly suited to shield one's gaze from their juvenile countenances. Sadly, for most of them, a grim fate awaited. I can’t protect everyone; I can’t protect each individual. It is a sad fact.
(End of character's monologue)
The dark-skinned Rudra eventually ended his inner monologue in mumbling with a long sigh. At last, he slowly opened his eyes to transition respectfully from sacred meditation to reality, moving cautiously from his meditative state to reality state. In fact, it was a sign of respect to his meditation, his life long practice. By employing simple breathing techniques, which included deep inhalation, holding the breath until reaching an uncomfortable limit, and exhaling deeply. Therefore, he repeatedly practiced the same sequence that awakened his mastery of meditation, from his very young age.
The Rudra then drank from his golden water flask, only after clearing his throat by gurgling five times once, in his customary manner. Then, he uttered the syllable 'svaa-dhaa' and dropped a portion of water on the ground as a mark of respect to his forefathers. He often mumbled similarly, whenever he entered a partial meditative state during eavesdropping; and other universal exploration through his ethereal visions, with the aid of his third eye. When he remained silent during meditation, it simply meant he was deeply immersed in self-exploration during his profound meditative state. In between deep and partial meditation, he only uttered varied two sacred syllables that held deep meaning in his culture, the Rudrakind culture.
The dark-skinned Rudra was dressed in a loincloth, decided to plunge into the artificial lake of the artificial lust rainforest biome. The rainforest biome extended enough to create horizon between artificial lights and ceiling. The intense hot and humid climate was perfectly soothing for his race. The Rudra felt rejuvenated to maximum. It was covered with towering trees, lush vegetation, and a rich diversity of plant and animal species. It receives ample rainfall, creating a humid and moist environment that supports the growth of limited species. Within this captivating biome, the intricate web of life thrives in a symphony of colors, sounds, and interconnected relationships. Furthermore, it was the source of vivarium, which caused abundance of food for the mass mothership dwellers.
The Rudra submerged his body in the crystal-clear water while observing the gathering of Quaziriths in the distance, near the lush formation of natural juice producing flowers and plants. As he massaged his muscular body, he displayed a wide and medium physique, attractive and handsome, with dreadlocked hair on the reflection of clear water. Occasionally, he touched his forehead and adjusted his red hairband to cool off his forehead. Although he detested wearing the headband, it was for his own security, to conceal his racial identity. He continued to observe the gathering of two-legged birds called the Quaziriths, which had beautiful golden feathers and were devoid of eyes. They surveyed their surroundings with the aid of their flapping wings through their ethereal and sonar perceptions. Furthermore, their flapping wings creating an eye-pleasing luminescent display even more gracefully in sunlight. With their long tongues, they sucked nectar from flowers and juices flowing from fallen fruits scattered on the ground, it was their daily routine. At one point, some of them began to quarrel, which made the Rudra chuckle with a strong negative sigh.
The quarrels of Quaziriths reminded him of his own Rudrakind, evoking a sense of envy toward the Quaziriths, that led to another deep, humming sigh withdrawn from him. In contrast, here Quaziriths were welcomed with open arms, yet his Rudrakind were not. He did not belong here legally.
As Rudra, 37 years old, expert at pondering, delved deep into his mind, he remembered his home planet name Ugra-loka, which was breathtaking from sunset until dawn. During the scorching afternoons, they sought shelter in their caves as the intense heat and contrast made them angry and uncontrollable in environments outside of caves. The Rudrakind were naturally born with a blissful and destructive "third eye" and practiced asceticism throughout their lives. They were content with small portions of food, as they practiced always controlling their senses. The mastery of the third demanded outmost priority. The children who did not obey such rules were outcasted in extremely remote places. In the event that they may cause extreme destructions. The fact is, only fraction of their children opened their third eye, prematurely before the age of sixteen.
The Rudrakind resided in cool caves that provided access to crystal-clear water, pouring out from complex inner spring systems. During the intense heat of the season, they ventured into more intricate underground cave levels, which even extended twenty levels downward, it had been built by their ancestors throughout many generations. Beyond the twenty level, there were only impenetrable rocks.
The Rudrakind practiced agriculture in open fields and sunbeam caves, where perfect sunlight seeped through cracks, creating a beautiful environment. The sunbeam caves where they also kept their pure red glowing cattle. The Rudras were non carnivorous. Therefore, they did not eat their cattle. In defiance some new generation of clans practiced carnivorism due to scarcity of foods, which justified their actions. The pure followers could go on for days with just drinking water.
The sunbeam caves held the utmost sanctity for the Rudrakind as they represented extraordinary and otherworldly environments. According to ancient beliefs, the sunbeam caves were shaped by the divine gaze of their almighty creator. The open sky within these caves symbolized the escape of sacred smoke from lit altars. Childrens and females drew sacred two-word syllables around the contour of sunbeam with chalks on the ground. At these altars, they would offer portions of their edible resources or sometimes non-edible valuable possessions as a tribute to their almighty creator and forefathers. Surprisingly, they could not recall the name of their creator, nor did they possess the knowledge of the sacred collections of their cherished short syllables, all of which were communicated in pairs of two syllables. Certain ancient declarations asserted with certainty that the combination of these unknown short syllables constituted the names of their long-forgotten god.
Over time, as indifference grew among the hierarchies within the Rudrakind, divisions between clans, and the destructive acts of superpowers flaunting their superiority, the values of their ancient culture were eroded, leading to mass extinctions of their race. Even today, some Rudras continue to engage in internal conflicts, driven by a lingering thirst for vengeance fueled by an unforgivable past. Therefore, it was too easy to forgive the past and shake hands through diplomacy. Consequently, it is disturbing to witness recently how few resorted to primitive weapons such as stones and pickaxes, equipped with handles made of strong superdense alloy, forged from the heat of their very third eye’s beam with great precision. However, they refrained from employing their beam of dissolution to crisp one another. The use of such power against their own kind was considered a highly demeaning act, resulting in complete disownment by all Rudrakind clans.
Amidst these ongoing events in Ugraloka, the Rudra in ritualistic bathing process, noticed a male and female Quazirith gracefully separating themselves from the flock, away from the quarrel. The male possessed a vibrant green emerald beak, while the female exhibited a naturally formed rose quartz stone. The pirates, often driven by their insatiable desires, extracted these rose quartz stones and sold them at exorbitant prices on the shadow market, only after indulging in the savoring consumption of Quazirith meat. However, none dared to abduct female Rudras, who possessed the power to reduce their enemies to ashes with their fiery abilities.
The Rudra continued with his ritualistic bathing process, all the while observing the Quazirith couple. Memories of his fiancée, Astrondra, flooded his mind, and he whispered her name, his voice choked with longing and accompanied by frequent pauses. Astrondra possessed remarkable control over her soft voice, complemented by a well-developed physique and an array of facial and hand expressions, her true complexion reminiscent of a chocolate cherry cat's eye. The Rudra yearned to protect her and whisk her away from the planet Ugraloka, despite the circumstances that labeled him, his Rudrakind, and the Vidyadhaaras as dangerous; they were ordered to remain within their own respective system. In fact, their mere presence instilled fear in other humanoid species, leaving none feeling secure.
In contrast, the Vidyadhaaras enjoyed access to numerous habitable planets teeming with taiga and rainforest biomes. Moreover, aided by infinite reserves of Quantumite, they effortlessly traversed their system with remarkable ease. Not to mention their wish-fulfilling stones, inherent to their very being. In fact, these stones granted them the power to manipulate any physical environment, traverse realms, and create inorganic objects at will—without even requiring Quantumite. However, they chose to refrain from extensively utilizing their all-powerful birthright stones, as such usage shortened their overall lifespan. However, this Vidyadhaaras being wouldn’t shelter his kind nor his beloved.
The most peaceful and beautiful beings with blue-posterior skin from the planet Shha-taM!' Bha-gyaṃ stood as the only reliable refuge for the Rudrakind; only if any race could prove their F'aay-doma to their supreme leader, the Manukind will welcome them with open arms. He envisioned a prosperous future for his fiancée Astrondra in that mentioned planet and his yet to be born progeny, with the assistance of his humanoid friends possessing lapis lazuli posterior- who were known as the main founder of shadow market.
At the age of 37, this Rudra had traversed a remarkable journey, eventually finding his place aboard this mothership, his spaceship is one of the hundred vessels comprising the Shha-taM!' Bha-gyaṃ fleet. His banner proudly displayed the perfectly aligned seven moons of Shha-taM!' Bha-gyaṃ, further solidifying his influence. As he had proved his F'aay-doma to these humanoid inhabitants, none among the Manukind would ever dare to unveil his racial identity. He had become the captain of his own spaceship, which was a testament to his accomplishments and the acceptance he had gained through his F'aay-doma achievement.
(End of Section 2)
... to be continue…
Hashtags:

Sci-fi #sciencefiction #write #fantasy #coolstories #amazingstories #novel southasianindiannovel #vedic #sanskrit #meditation #lien #alien races #ufo #mothership #anotherplanet #anothealaxy, #fan #fans #sciencefictionfantasy #scififantasy

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2023.06.01 05:21 Blackbreach [H] Buying TF2 and CSGO Inventories/Backpacks with Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, Cashapp, (keys priced $1.80/ea. key). Over 28,500 keys in cashrep. [W] Backpacks, Keys, Quicksell and Discounted items and inventories

Add me on Steam (Steam profile is linked below) or contact me on Discord (my Discord is Pollen#8322) to discuss specific pricing for your inventory.
I currently price keys at $1.80 (USD) per key. Updated 6/1/2023.
Reputation:
$51,000 - $52,000 (USD) cashrep. Primarily via PayPal and Zelle.
My backpack.tf Rep: https://backpack.tf/trust/76561198061779536
Payment Methods:
US Residents: PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, Cashapp, etc.
Non-US Residents: PayPal, Wise, etc.
I can also use Crypto for backpack buyouts, quicksell items, and CSGO skins.
Rules:
I can usually cover fees. For US residents there will probably be no fees.
No SteamRep marked Scammers, Scammer alts, Scammer fences, etc. Backpack bans for trading with scammers are generally fine.
Useful Links:
My Discord: Pollen#8322
SteamRep: https://steamrep.com/profiles/76561198061779536
Steam Profile: https://steamcommunity.com/id/Trader4/
My Backpack: https://backpack.tf/profiles/76561198061779536
My backpack.tf Rep: https://backpack.tf/trust/76561198061779536
submitted by Blackbreach to tf2trade [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:20 smidglianquestro9253 Self-proclaimed fitness model showing off her entitlement

Self-proclaimed fitness model showing off her entitlement submitted by smidglianquestro9253 to ImTheMainCharacter [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:20 Junior_Cress2828 Things I'll do when I move out to accommodate myself

So. Today I got word from the landlord. They said I'm "very lucky" that I have my established and credible roommates (bc I'm a first time renter and have no rental history but they're both much older than me and have thus proven themselves reliable), and that they'll be doing my background check tomorrow, and.... From the sounds of it? I'll be moving into my first place on Saturday :D
And so I've done a lot of thinking. I get paid on friday. So I'll have all the money needed for my first month's rent in my checking account. I have more than plenty saved for if I'll need to pay a security deposit. And I'll have all the money I need for my bills this month. So, that means, I'll have my first-place savings to get the things I need that I dont currently have. Yknow like, for a first-place-stockup grocery run that I expect to be at least 200 dollars. But I've been doing a lot of thinking. About things I've always wanted but I've put off because it would be "too weird" to have in my family home. ....and these are some of the things I'll get when I move out to accommodate myself properly for my disability.
  1. Two full-sized trashcans for my room. One for cans and bottles (We pay bottle deposit here so I bring my bags of cans to this special recycling place and get 10c back per bottle and it adds up fast.) and one for regular trash. I know it's not really a good thing to have trash in your room, but I've come to the conclusion after living with autism and adhd and anxiety for 18 fucking years that there will never NOT be trash in my space, so why the hell don't I just deal with that accordingly? I'll have two kitchen-sized trash bins in my room. It's so much better than a mini trashcan that sits on the floor.
  2. My safe-food snack cart in my room. Again, I know you shouldn't have food in your room, but I get so overwhelmingly paranoid that my safe foods will be eaten that I used to hoard them in drawers in my room (and because they were things like applesauce cups, they popped easily when stuffed into drawers, and molded.) So instead of continuing that bad habit, I'll have a designated space for them. You know those kawaii tiktok girlies that fill those pretty pink snack carts in their gaming rooms with like ramune and hello kitty snacks? It'll be like that but with applesauce and jello cups and peanut butter and pretzels. And probably ramune because the jingle jingle of the marble in the ramune bottle makes me happy. (And melon soda is so incredibly underrated I could drink melon-flavored drinks forever its one of my safe flavors and the only way I can really find it is in ramune soda, not a lot of places near me carry other types of melon drinks)
  3. My giant 3 foot tall frog will be on the couch. When I went and toured the place my roommate had that GIANT plague doctor squishable on the couch (and it took all of my effort not to squeal in absolute autistic delight at the sight of it because I've ALWAYS WANTED ONE) and if she can have her giant plague doctor squishable on the couch I will have my giant frog within arms reach at all times. When I get overwhelmed watching tv/anime (I overempathize with the characters, my therapist describes it like "feeling what they're feeling on top of your own emotions") it helps me a lot to have something to wrap my arms around and squeeze really tightly so I dont have to get up and pace back and forth while flapping my arms and wrists.
  4. I have two closets so one of them is getting turned into a sensory space. I think I'm gonna straight up put a small tent in it and build a sensory cave inside of it. I've always wanted to do it but I've never had enough closet space AND NOW I HAVE ENOUGH CLOSET SPACE!!!!!
  5. I'm getting one of those pop-up bed tent things. Probably a kids one because they're so much cheaper and cuter than the adult ones and my bed is only a twin anyways. They're not cheap but I sleep so overwhelmingly well when I have a low ceiling over my head. Kind of a double on the sensory cave but why SHOULDNT I accommodate myself in my space? It makes me feel SAFE and COMFORTABLE and I'm going to do it.
  6. Shelves. I'm...gonna need a lot of shelves. I'm not the "knows absolutely everything about their favorite fandom" autistic I'm the "nearly melts down in public from overstimulation and excitement when they find a my hero academia funko pop they've been looking for" kind of autistic. I like to have a designated space for each fandom's collectables.
submitted by Junior_Cress2828 to autism [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:20 Hearty-Guffaw [M4F] 34 Introverted Nerd not doing well in the south [U.S.A/ Anywhere]

Basics - born in 88 - works in IT for a bank - was a polar bear in a former life, is an oven/heat rock in current life - longs for the colder north (used to live there, don't anymore, wants to find something near mountains to build my forever home) - plays video games - this and TikTok is my only current form of social media - has discord - plays D&D/ TTRPGs with friends when I can - likes crafting/building/tinkering/doing things with my hands - been out of a relationship for over a year and still not sure about rejoining the scene but I do realize I'm not getting younger. - honestly want a good friend I can grow old with. - the remaining members of my family I'm very close with - jewish heratige ( apparently thats a turn off for some people) and I'm building a relationship with my creator ( non denom ) and no I don't care what you believe in, to each their own and just because I don't agree with people doesn't mean I love them any differently. - loves to cook and is a bit of a foodie - a bit fluffy but getting less as the days continue on - really is one of those weirdos who can listen to almlst any kind of music (but we all have our preferences) - loves loves loves dogs, sadly allergic to cats and am asthmatic ( also sadly evergreens wants to kill me and so does Marijuana )
I crammed a hand full of information in a short form but still left enough to talk about if what is above interests you at all. I want to build a solid friendship with my life partner and be able to enjoy whatever lays ahead of us, not afraid of work, don't mind LDR as I've done my fair share to date, willing to move near mountains or into the cold immediately. Might be willing to reconsider if the place doesnt have all four seasons during one week and then stays in the high 90°s F (32°+ C) for the rest of the year.
submitted by Hearty-Guffaw to ForeverAloneDating [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:20 Then-Okra Can anyone propose me some possible cause of the mass in my dogs bladder?

My dog( medium sized dog around 13kg,15y/o, mixed) started to have blood in urine 3 days ago. My family took him to the vet today and saw that there was a mass near his bladder. They sent me these pics of Ultrasounds and the vets were unable to conclude on what the mass was. Can anyone point at some of the possibilities of what the mass is?
submitted by Then-Okra to vet [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:17 TheScumAlsoRises Republicans and the overall right-wing movement is clearly embracing fascism, even if they and others aren't recognizing it

There’s no question that “fascism” and “fascist” are incredibly loaded terms that are thrown around way too much and often by those who have no idea what they actually mean.
It’s important to have calm, civil discussions and name-calling doesn’t help that. I understand that political polarization is horrible these days and we all want to tone down the anger, vitriol and hyperbole. But what about when it's not hyperbole?
Name-calling and baseless accusations shouldn’t be happening. But is there a point at which we need to recognize and identify something like fascism as it's happening, even though it’s been misused as a loaded attack line in the past?
To many familiar with it as a historical ideology and movement, the modern Republican Party and overall right-wing political movement in America is looking frighteningly familiar to the established, textbook definitions of fascism.
The parallels are clear. It seems to me that many consider the fascism label as hyperbolic or dismiss it is because most people have no idea what fascism actually entails.
The most common view of fascism seems to be as a synonym for "authoritarian" or as a form of vague, general oppression. While fascist movements and regimes are largely authoritarian, most authoritarian movements/regimes are not fascist. Fascism is a specific worldview consisting of several core tenets and attributes -- authoritarianism is just one of those.
Fascism involves the following core elements coming together (sources linked at the bottom):
It’s hard to miss the prominence and presence of these things in today’s political right. Given that, is it not justified to use the term fascism, if it aligns?
That's not to say that the right's embrace of fascism is a deliberate, conscious thing. They'd never identify as fascists and it's not like they studied fascism and are purposefully emulating it.
It seems more that fascism’s tenets and worldview tend to become popular and appealing to people when a nation is faced with a certain set of conditions. Right now, it appears as if that is happening here.
Am I missing something?
Sources:
submitted by TheScumAlsoRises to centrist [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:16 ThrowRA_bedroomQ I (M37) feels broken In the bedroom, wife (F36) blames herself

Obvious throwaway, but I (M37) feel pretty broken right now and could use some opinions.
Some background.
I have been with my wife (F36) for nearly two decades. We met in our teens and were high school sweethearts. We have what I would consider to be a healthy relationship. We mutually take turns on some chores, others we just got used to. We talk about what's bothering us, and we'll both make an earnest effort to correct any problems. We're a team and I don't have any doubts that we could celebrate 50 years together if life is kind enough to let us live long enough. The problem is the bedroom.
I have had problems all my life there. I feel, based on how others describe things, like I have a "muted" feeling downstairs. It still feels great, but it's never been as mind-blowing as I've seen it described, even when I was younger. There was a couple periods where we were not seeing each other and those same issues were there when I was with other women as well. Basically, it takes forever for me to finish my end of the deed. I know the jokes, "wish I had a man like that!". No, you don't. As I watched my wife sob and doubt her own body's ability and attractiveness for the 5th time this year, I decided to seek help.
I tend to be very vanilla because it takes a lot of concentration to keep myself in the moment. I've had ADHD issues since I was 10, took meds in school, and kinda dropped them after that. We have a daughter who just turned 18. I decided that the healthy thing to do would be to get a vasectomy, remove a barrier from the experience and enjoy things more.
It's been 6 months since the operation, and after finding a good test result, we've been trying to get back into making love like we used to. Only now, not only do things feel muted downstairs still, but I just can't seem to finish, no matter how close I seem to get. And most importantly, I'm sick and tired of lovemaking ending in tears and self doubt on her part because she thinks she's too unattractive or doing something wrong to make me stop without finishing.
Some facts: no antidepressants, I recently started taking Lunesta for sleep, but feel no appreciable difference since taking it. I do take some over the counter vitamins
We're both overweight, but have been doing exercise routines since March to improve it. I get winded less easily, and we're both down about 20 pounds each.
Work is stressful, the world is stressful, but it's never been that big of a contributing factor before.
We do experiment, toys, sprays. Even testing the prostate stimulation techniques and they all have no real difference.
I've pretty much hit the end of my rope. It's incredibly demoralizing to have your wife sob in frustration at the end because I didn't get off. I've gone from considering factors like the vasectomy making this problem worse to selecting specific foods to remove from my diet to help improve things. The rest of the internet only seems focused on guys arriving too quickly, so any actual advice on arriving at all would be super helpful because we're both so tired of this. Is there something super obvious I'm missing? Is there anyone who overcame this problem and can point me in a direction?
submitted by ThrowRA_bedroomQ to relationship_advice [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:16 boyegcs [Thank You] Most of May Thanks

u/on1oman1ac — thank you for the super cute totoro card! Your penmanship is heavenly!
u/germymany — thank you for the super cute pixar postcard AND REX STICKER!! I can’t decide between loving Toy Story 1 or 2 more (but I did cry a lot in 2 and 3). I actually went to a wedding at the end of April and towards the end of their vows they said “to infinity and beyond” and I LOVED THAT!!!
u/holyharshit — thanks for the card!
u/heymorganm — thanks for the Harry Potter card! LOVE the dumbledore quote “It is our choices that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities.” Its an interesting take on “actions are stronger than words” <3
u/rosiealeo1 — Hi! Thank you for the card, I hope y’all enjoyed your swim! My partner’s townhome complex has a pool, hoping its open now that Memorial Day passed! (psst, I am also a leo <3 if that is what ur username means lmao)
u/thecaledonianrose — thank you for the gorgeous ocracoke card! Also your town name is so spankin cute :) I grew up watching Pete’s Dragon and have always loved lighthouses, though I am not sure I have ever seen one IRL. Thanks also for the gorgeous stickers <3
u/LavendarLarry — thank you for the super cute card and stickers <3 cow, pig and turtle… you know me so well haha
u/sad-storm6692 x4 — thanks for the awesome exchange! Already stewing with ideas of who to send these bday cards to <3 your care package is great!
u/rhapsodytravelr — thank you for the GORGEOUS chamomile card. I also love jasmine tea… I work at a beverage distribution company and we sell these really nice teas called Hoptonic, which are unsweetened and sparkling with a hint of hops for a more ‘adult’ flavor (alcohol-free). The White Orchid, Lemongrass Jasmine, and Mint Lavender are new flavors, but the Jasmine Green will forever be my favorite. Working here we get free samples ;) https://www.hoptonictea.com/collections/frontpage
u/simple-reference-357 — holy crap, Huntington Garden is GORGEOUS! San Jose has a beautiful Japanese Garden, but nowhere near as intricate as Huntington. Are you from SoCal and moved Eastwards, or?
u/Adolby — thank you for the postcrossing card! How was your meetup?
u/shipping_addict — love the krabby card! we had a board game, I think it was the Master Trainer 1999 game https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pokemon-Board-Game-Master-Traine894811 I also loved the game boy games, red yellow blue or something like that <3 ~~wait I think I hated mt pyre LMAO~~
u/jane_q — Thank you for the super cute vintage looking rose card, and a super cute elkhorn coral stamp (idk why but it jumped out at me in the best way <3). OOF. Hidie was let go, we are looking for another admin assistant, lmao, one of many reasons I am TIRED.
submitted by boyegcs to RandomActsofCards [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:16 fedupandtired669 Technician here. Any and all advice, thoughts, ideas appreciated. My spirit is low.

I have been working with CVS since 2020 in the pharmacy. When I initially started with the company, my DL plucked me out of my hiring store and based me out of a centralized location in the district. I was working at different stores throughout my district per their request.
After covid settled down a bit, I started being scheduled at my home store exclusively. 2021 was a tumultuous time because our store was revolving door PICs like hotcakes. In our regional area, we were known as the "impossible store" and no one in the area was willing to take over. Due to this, we went through quite a few PICS before stumbling across our current pharmacy manager.
Beginning of 2022 I learned my home store is a union store. I had no clue because I was not hired here but transfered. Crazy. I know.
Throughout the year I picked up shifts in my home town, mainly over the summer. This district was a complete shit show due to lack of leadership.
Come winter, I was asked directly to help out in this exact district because it had only gone from bad to worse.
With the redistricting this year, my original DL stepped away from the position. Also with the redistricting, my district absorbed nearly all of the stores from my hometown.
At this point, my DPC is regularly having me work at stores throughout my district. By the end of Q1, I'm able to help clean out most of the stores. The new DL had effectively cleaned up her entire district. (She inherited a lot of dumpster fires, a few with triple digit pages in just production.)
I found a store outside of my district that I love working at. I had never kept a consistent schedule until I found them.
After the end of Q1, every week my PIC (fantastic manager) would come to me with word from the DL limiting my scope of work.
I'm getting more and more fed up with my DL because I am feeling blocked at every corner. At some point, I just stopped responding to my DPC and have refused to help any other store in my district. I started strictly working at the store I enjoyed, on top of my regular hours.
Finally my PIC came to me saying I am not allowed to work outside of my district (per my DL). I told the other store this and said I would no longer be able to help them. The PIC reached out to me and said the DL is not able to set that rule. Picking up hours at other stores is free game and if OT is the issue, we should be charging them. (At this point they are all well aware of my beef with my DL)
More drama ensued, involving more people and stores and districts than any of us honestly wanted. At this point, I'm done. I don't want to leave my store, I have great benefits, but my hand feels forced. I call up the other store and ask if I can transfer. Easy yes on their end. It will make all our lives easier. I talk to my PIC and they agree to do it. Over the weekend, my manager initiates the process. Come Monday, I see my receiving manager and they tells me the process is done. I'm told I don't have to worry about my DL anymore.
The following day rolls around. I get a text message from the receiving manager. My transfer was denied. By my DL.
I'm upset. Angry. Words can't even describe.
So, I keep doing what I've been doing. I take my planned PTO and come back. I work at the store outside my district, acquire no OT, keep to myself, hoping it had blown over.
I get a text message the following work week from the PIC there stating that as a union store member I can only work at union stores and I should reach out to my DL to know what stores that may be. I have no clue where the PIC got this derivative, but I feel trapped.
Neither PIC knows why my transfer was denied. I don't have any answers. I'm at a loss. I reach out to my DL directly. I'm ignored. Figures.
More of the story has happened. I'm told the only thing stopping my transfer is my union. It's easy to transfer in, impossible to transfer out. I'd expand but I feel like the story is pretty identifiable as is.
My question is. Is my DL able to prevent me from working outside of my district and only at union stores? And why is this an issue now? Has it always been a rule? If it has, why was I asked to work outside of the union in the first place when I started? Why does CVS get to pick and choose the rules as it so fits them.
I feel like the DL is just making shit up as they go along. And I actually have no idea what I can and can not do. My union rep told me the contract does not limit me from working at other stores but if CVS prevents it from their end, the union can't stop them. My regional manager is unhelpful.
My manager is unlikely to give me a write up. But is anything my DL is saying enforceable?
I hate going into work nowadays. I love my job, I just am unhappy with the situation. I have a few health issues, so quitting and getting rehired doesn't feel like an option. I can't go without my insurance and I can't afford to live without working. The process to get rehired is daunting.
As a union member, does my DL have any power over me?
submitted by fedupandtired669 to CVS [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:16 Top-Book6183 Sharing your location - what gets you the most milage?

We go live next week and are down to working out some pretty granular operational details. Tonight's problem-solving session will be focused on coming up with a simple yet effective way of sharing our location electronically (i.e. "online"). This could, and most likely does, mean on our top Social Media platforms (Insta, FB and Twitter) as well as the website/online menu & ordering page. I also have some other thoughts about possibly extending it into some other local online resources (for example the 'Where's My Food Truck?' FB group).
The solution can be complex asf behind the scenes as we have a very capable technical resource at our disposal, BUT it HAS TA HAS T'HAS-HAS-HAAAAAS TO remain as simple as can be to perform as we have a technologically challenged employee or 2 who still think this social media fad will pass any day now. So needless to say, the solution cannot require someone to make separate posts (even if it's largely copy & paste) on each platform or anything even close to it.
I've been letting the creative juices rage around this for a minute and am thinking
  1. something like a FB post in the morning containing a stock photo of a recognizable landmark near the venue and some text saying something to the effect of "We'll be at XXX from noon today. Come on by"
  2. a dropped pin post (with map/directions/etc) upon reaching the destination
  3. an Instagram post/story/whatever at peak business hour (most crowded) explaining that everyone else is down here at XXX having a great time by our truck. "where are you?" kinda thing
Of course we want all 3 of these posts to automatically repost everywhere else (i.e. FB post also shows up on website, insta and twitter while the insta story reposts to FB and also tweets a link to it, etc etc) and that the OP will only have to create 3 posts TOTAL to achieve this... maybe even less if we could find/develop some app that will detect the address the driver pulled up in is maps/directions app and automatically drop the pin and publish location once that destination is reached, but that's probably getting a lil too far ahead of myself. hopefully, you're starting to pick up what I'm laying down.
I"m not looking for suggestions on how that EXACT set of scenarios could be pulled off. Rather I'm looking for anecdotal posts about what has worked in the past and what hasn't. F all the things I'm wanting to do, are any of them pure genius? or can you shoot any of them full of holes? Why types of apps or technology is out there that might help with some of this (either intentionally or as a lucky side effect) that you think wold be worth me looking into? In other words, I'm not looking to have you do my work and/or thinking for me, I'd just like to hear how some of you seasoned, successful food-trucksters are informing the masses as to your whereabouts.
Anyone care to share?
submitted by Top-Book6183 to foodtrucks [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:15 atals368 Looking for half year sublease

Hi, I'm a visiting student here and will leave in February 2024. So I'm looking for sublease apartment near the Engineering Campus from August-December, it's better if can extend to February. I can afford up to $1000/month. Please feel free to message me! Also any suggestion is appreciated!
submitted by atals368 to UIUC [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:15 ArchipelagoMind [SP] Chapter 66: Vexids Receives - Part One

Book cover
The Archipelago publishes every Wednesday. See the pinned comment for links to the contents.
------------------------------
I knew I was safe. Nothing more. Days came and went where I could only stay awake for a few minutes. I couldn’t find the energy to speak, or move. My world was just thin moments of consciousness spread amongst nothingness.
Time was detached. I was dying on an uninhabited island, and now I lived through moments of consciousness on the Deer Drum boat. To me, it was instant. In reality, it was likely weeks.
The moments of wake kept lasting longer, until I came to with a greater degree of strength. I peeled my eyes open to Xander sitting in a chair reading a book. For the first time, I could feel the nerves in limbs come to life, primed with that impulse to use my muscles. I twitched my arms. They moved.
Snaking my back, I writhed, pulling myself up in the bed. Xander broke from his reading and ran to my side. “Careful. Take it easy.”
I tried to speak, but my throat was croaky, and only the middle parts of words came out cleanly. “…fine. Just getting comfy…”
“Gentle now. You’re lucky to be alive.” Xander reached behind my back and repositioned a pillow.
“…how…” Words struggled to escape. “…get here?”
Xander understood. He walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, grinning with relief and pride. “We found you on that island. You were in a bad way. Hardly conscious. Didn’t seem to recognize us.”
“…why…” I stopped, my throat to dry. Xander leaned over and passed me a glass of water. I tried to hold it, but Xander refused to let go. He held it to my lips and let the water trickle into my mouth as my palms feigned grip on the tumbler. I swallowed the water and my larynx croaked again. “Why were you looking?”
“Alessia got hold of us. Sent us off searching for you while her boat was repaired.”
I jolted, my heart lifting my whole frame. “Alessia?” The words caught my throat, and I was overcome by a coughing fit. My back arched as my dry lungs heaved up barren air.
“She’s fine,” Xander said, placing an arm on my shoulder. “Little storm wouldn’t stop her.” He waited until my coughing subsided and I leaned back against the bed frame.
“Is she here?” I glanced around the room in vain hope.
Xander shook his head. “We just got a message to search the western Anmanion Islands for you. She was going to get her boat fixed, and then go look for you at the rest of the Anmanions. Said she’d catch up to us at Vexids Receives.”
My head leaned back in the bed, my shoulders slumped. Xander noticed.
“I imagine you were worried about her.”
I didn’t respond. Since the confession to myself on the Anmanion Islands, I wasn’t quite sure how to speak about Alessia lest the secret spill to others. My eyes glanced to the side, refusing to meet Xander’s.
He nodded, seemingly reading me already. “You two are close. Ever since she arrived on Deer Drum you two always looked to each other. Not sure how you’d cope without her, or her you.” The corner of his lips flickered upwards. “I know she’ll have been worried about you too.”
My face flinched against my own wishes, but I tried to keep the thoughts to myself. “How long till we reach Vexids Receives?”
“Already here. Got in last night.” He stood back up and looked towards the door. “You need to rest. But before you fall asleep again, I’m going to find Eir. She’ll want to check you over.”
Almost the moment he left I fell asleep again. But lightly now, enough that the sound of a cane thudding against hardwood floors woke me from my slumber. Eir semed more frail than she had been. Her movements were slow, and she leaned heavily on the cane with each step. As she grinned at me, smug with her skills, I could see the folds on her face roll over each other.
“How do you feel?” She said, her voice almost as hoarse as mine.
“Fine.” I croaked.
She looked at me, her head tilted down.
“I feel like I died.” I corrected.
“You nearly did,” she chuckled. She leaned her hands down and touched my head, then my neck, then undid the top few buttons of my shirt to check my chest. Her hands felt cold, the blood not quite reaching the tips of her fingers anymore, and there was a slight tremble to her movements. Despite being one of the most certain about leaving Deer Drum, I suspected that this new life was not for her. It was a decision made for the next generation. She began pressing on my abdomen, asking me to tell her what did and didn’t hurt.
“I told the others you had about a fifty percent chance of making it. But I said that trying to give them hope. In reality it was much worse than that.” She frowned, deep lines running across her brow. “So trust me when I say you need to rest. You understand?”
I let out a grimace as she prodded into my sides.
“Pain around your kidneys.” She nodded to herself. “Dehydration. We’ll be sure to make you drink lots.”
“When can I leave the ship?” I asked.
“Whatever for?” She scrunched her face.
I strained a smile, hoping charm and blood rushing to my cheeks would convince her of my health. “To explore. See the island.”
“Good grief.” The words came out in a groan. “You did hear when I said you nearly died?”
I nodded.
“Normally, I’d say not for another week,” she said.. “But I’ve seen what you get up to out there. So I’d say two weeks at least.” She stood back up and began shuffling towards the door. “In the meantime, rest. You’ll feel better for it”
Part of me was determined to prove her wrong, and I spent the next few days willing my body to heal as fast as it could. I began taking tentative steps around my room, building up the strength in my legs. Soon I could venture unaided down the length of the corridor, traipsing the winding halls of the hull.
However, as I continued my limbering walks around the boat, I was aware that it wasn’t just a desire to explore than meant I spurned relaxation. I didn’t want to admit it, it was a thought shrouded in illogicality and vanity, but I didn’t want Alessia to see me like this. Weak. Infirm. My skin pallid, and my muscles wasted away.
Not that I was ever strong or masculine or that I thought I could fool her for a second as to my physical state. But that confession on the stony beach was playing tricks on my mind, making me think and act foolishly. And now, there was a small voice in my head telling me that any day now, her boat would appear on the horizon, and I needed to look my best. I needed to look like I hadn’t nearly died, alone and unable to make it by myself.
I constantly caught myself simultaneously hoping Alessia would arrive, and also wanting her to give me more time. So when Kurbani came by my room, and I asked her if there was any news, I wasn’t even sure what answer I wanted her to give.
“No. Not yet.” She smiled. “Lot of islands she’ll be checking for you. Give her time.”
I nodded. It still hurt to talk and so I kept words to a minimum. Thankfully, I learned from Kurbani’s previous visits, that she was happy to fill the silence, keeping me informed of the other islanders, the new refugees from Granite Vowhorn, and the places they’d visited. I was grateful. Although I physically needed to recover, the loneliness from being stranded needed healing too. To experience another voice speaking at me, to make eye contact, to feel the muscles in my face react to another’s movements and words - this was all part of my rehabilitation.
“I hear Novak has been keeping you entertained down here.”
“He has.”
“He’s gotten a lot better these past couple of months. He practises everyday. He’s determined. I think it helps him process what happened, to Lachlann and back on Deer Drum.” She paused a moment, her own memories running past her eyes. “He’s been trying to learn to play the nightingale song, but he can’t quite get the hang of it. Still a bit too complex. I hope he’s not been bothering you?”
I shook my head.
“Good. He looks up to you. A lot. Both the kids do. And I think Novak’s enjoying having you captive.” She laughed to herself. “I’m sorry you’ve not seen much of Mirai.”
“It’s okay.” I whispered.
“She’s been off on the island every day since we got here. I think she’s gone a bit stir crazy on the boat. She’d usually try and set foot on every island. But we’ve hardly seen her since we got here. Wakes up at the crack of dawn, eats breakfast, and then we don’t see her till sunset.”
“She likes it here, you think?” I said, leaning forward.
“She seems happy as a pig in shit.” She shrugged. “I’ll make sure she comes by soon though. It’s rude of her not to stop by more. Girl could do with learning some manners”
Mirai didn’t visit; the invalid man deemed less interesting than whatever the island had to offer. I didn’t blame her. I wanted to be out there too. And Mirai’s absence, her change in behaviour, just made me want to visit all the more.
I counted down the days on Eir’s timeline till on the fourteenth day, I rose early, and made my way to the deck.
I puffed out my chest, and held my back straight. I marched up the steps through the hull, and opened the doors to the deck to find Eir sitting on a crate, hands resting on her cane. “Wondered how long it would take you to clamber up this morning.”
I grinned. “You said two weeks.”
“At least,” she grumbled. “Still. You’ve got your physical strength and your mental strength. Don’t think I could stop you if I wanted to.”
“I feel good,” I said, looking down at myself, focussing on the strength in my core and ignoring the weakness in my limbs
“I’d rather you spent a few more days. But at least take it slow and steady, okay?”
“I will,” I said with a smirk.
“I mean it, Ferdinand.”
The smile disappeared from my face. “I know.” I looked out to sea, across the empty horizon. “Any word from Alessia?”
She shook her head, her neck seeming to creak with the movement. “Don’t know how long it will take her to search those remaining islands for you. She’s probably terrified for you. Doesn’t know you’re here disobeying my medical advice instead.”
My head dipped as a small embarrassed chuckle escaped me. “You said two weeks.”
“At least,” she repeated. “Be cautious.”
I walked over to the side of the boat and stared at the sea just in case Alessia’s ship was on the horizon. I could see a few boats out in the distance. None of them were her. Even from miles away I would know the cut of that hull.
I took a deep breath of the salty air, feeling it cleanse my lungs. I was still processing the visions as I lay dying on the Anmanion Islands. I knew they weren’t real, just hazy thoughts halfway between sleep and death, but the emotions within, and the way it left me thinking of things differently, that was still true.
Lachlann and Thomas, good friends, were gone. Lachlann would never learn how tightly Novak had clung to his guitar. Thomas would never know that he was right, and that the papers proving Pomafauc’s con were loose on the island. The story, for them, ended.
And what could I do but try and continue? I still had my own story to write. And they would forever be an important part of mine.
I turned to the island. There was one great rocky hill in the middle with large cliffs sticking out the ground covered in resilient green shrubs. But elsewhere, the island seemed mostly flat, with only gentle slopes. Perfect for still recovering legs.
I found the netting down to the rowing boat, and checking the strength of my legs, climbed down the ropes, ready to see Vexids Receives for myself.
-------------------
The Archipelago publishes every Wednesday. See the pinned comment for links to the contents.
submitted by ArchipelagoMind to shortstories [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:14 VelociowlStudios Who's On First?

In the event of an accident happening due to the sun being installed in the headlights of an oncoming car, who's fault is it?
I ask because that nearly happened to me tonight. I'm a delivery driver and most of my shifts are unfortunately at night in the backroads of a small town. An asshole's paradise. I barely swerved out of the way in time and I'm sure he or any of the other assholes in the line of cars didn't even notice. It's getting actually scary to the point I may just ask for less hours or try and get morning hours (I've already asked in the past but the immediate week after was entirely night shifts). I'm tired. I can't see. I can genuinely feel my eyesight deteriorating despite its only been two and a half months. Help lol
submitted by VelociowlStudios to fuckyourheadlights [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 05:13 ArchipelagoMind [The Archipelago] Chapter 66: Vexids Receives - Part One

[The Archipelago] Chapter 66: Vexids Receives - Part One

https://preview.redd.it/t5lrj053qb3b1.jpg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f6c2f74202ff1ad969de2988a5082ecad1b21864
previous chapter / title card/ contents / patreon
----------------------------------
I knew I was safe. Nothing more. Days came and went where I could only stay awake for a few minutes. I couldn’t find the energy to speak, or move. My world was just thin moments of consciousness spread amongst nothingness.
Time was detached. I was dying on an uninhabited island, and now I lived through moments of consciousness on the Deer Drum boat. To me, it was instant. In reality, it was likely weeks.
The moments of wake kept lasting longer, until I came to with a greater degree of strength. I peeled my eyes open to Xander sitting in a chair reading a book. For the first time, I could feel the nerves in limbs come to life, primed with that impulse to use my muscles. I twitched my arms. They moved.
Snaking my back, I writhed, pulling myself up in the bed. Xander broke from his reading and ran to my side. “Careful. Take it easy.”
I tried to speak, but my throat was croaky, and only the middle parts of words came out cleanly. “…fine. Just getting comfy…”
“Gentle now. You’re lucky to be alive.” Xander reached behind my back and repositioned a pillow.
“…how…” Words struggled to escape. “…get here?”
Xander understood. He walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, grinning with relief and pride. “We found you on that island. You were in a bad way. Hardly conscious. Didn’t seem to recognize us.”
“…why…” I stopped, my throat to dry. Xander leaned over and passed me a glass of water. I tried to hold it, but Xander refused to let go. He held it to my lips and let the water trickle into my mouth as my palms feigned grip on the tumbler. I swallowed the water and my larynx croaked again. “Why were you looking?”
“Alessia got hold of us. Sent us off searching for you while her boat was repaired.”
I jolted, my heart lifting my whole frame. “Alessia?” The words caught my throat, and I was overcome by a coughing fit. My back arched as my dry lungs heaved up barren air.
“She’s fine,” Xander said, placing an arm on my shoulder. “Little storm wouldn’t stop her.” He waited until my coughing subsided and I leaned back against the bed frame.
“Is she here?” I glanced around the room in vain hope.
Xander shook his head. “We just got a message to search the western Anmanion Islands for you. She was going to get her boat fixed, and then go look for you at the rest of the Anmanions. Said she’d catch up to us at Vexids Receives.”
My head leaned back in the bed, my shoulders slumped. Xander noticed.
“I imagine you were worried about her.”
I didn’t respond. Since the confession to myself on the Anmanion Islands, I wasn’t quite sure how to speak about Alessia lest the secret spill to others. My eyes glanced to the side, refusing to meet Xander’s.
He nodded, seemingly reading me already. “You two are close. Ever since she arrived on Deer Drum you two always looked to each other. Not sure how you’d cope without her, or her you.” The corner of his lips flickered upwards. “I know she’ll have been worried about you too.”
My face flinched against my own wishes, but I tried to keep the thoughts to myself. “How long till we reach Vexids Receives?”
“Already here. Got in last night.” He stood back up and looked towards the door. “You need to rest. But before you fall asleep again, I’m going to find Eir. She’ll want to check you over.”
Almost the moment he left I fell asleep again. But lightly now, enough that the sound of a cane thudding against hardwood floors woke me from my slumber. Eir semed more frail than she had been. Her movements were slow, and she leaned heavily on the cane with each step. As she grinned at me, smug with her skills, I could see the folds on her face roll over each other.
“How do you feel?” She said, her voice almost as hoarse as mine.
“Fine.” I croaked.
She looked at me, her head tilted down.
“I feel like I died.” I corrected.
“You nearly did,” she chuckled. She leaned her hands down and touched my head, then my neck, then undid the top few buttons of my shirt to check my chest. Her hands felt cold, the blood not quite reaching the tips of her fingers anymore, and there was a slight tremble to her movements. Despite being one of the most certain about leaving Deer Drum, I suspected that this new life was not for her. It was a decision made for the next generation. She began pressing on my abdomen, asking me to tell her what did and didn’t hurt.
“I told the others you had about a fifty percent chance of making it. But I said that trying to give them hope. In reality it was much worse than that.” She frowned, deep lines running across her brow. “So trust me when I say you need to rest. You understand?”
I let out a grimace as she prodded into my sides.
“Pain around your kidneys.” She nodded to herself. “Dehydration. We’ll be sure to make you drink lots.”
“When can I leave the ship?” I asked.
“Whatever for?” She scrunched her face.
I strained a smile, hoping charm and blood rushing to my cheeks would convince her of my health. “To explore. See the island.”
“Good grief.” The words came out in a groan. “You did hear when I said you nearly died?”
I nodded.
“Normally, I’d say not for another week,” she said.. “But I’ve seen what you get up to out there. So I’d say two weeks at least.” She stood back up and began shuffling towards the door. “In the meantime, rest. You’ll feel better for it”
Part of me was determined to prove her wrong, and I spent the next few days willing my body to heal as fast as it could. I began taking tentative steps around my room, building up the strength in my legs. Soon I could venture unaided down the length of the corridor, traipsing the winding halls of the hull.
However, as I continued my limbering walks around the boat, I was aware that it wasn’t just a desire to explore than meant I spurned relaxation. I didn’t want to admit it, it was a thought shrouded in illogicality and vanity, but I didn’t want Alessia to see me like this. Weak. Infirm. My skin pallid, and my muscles wasted away.
Not that I was ever strong or masculine or that I thought I could fool her for a second as to my physical state. But that confession on the stony beach was playing tricks on my mind, making me think and act foolishly. And now, there was a small voice in my head telling me that any day now, her boat would appear on the horizon, and I needed to look my best. I needed to look like I hadn’t nearly died, alone and unable to make it by myself.
I constantly caught myself simultaneously hoping Alessia would arrive, and also wanting her to give me more time. So when Kurbani came by my room, and I asked her if there was any news, I wasn’t even sure what answer I wanted her to give.
“No. Not yet.” She smiled. “Lot of islands she’ll be checking for you. Give her time.”
I nodded. It still hurt to talk and so I kept words to a minimum. Thankfully, I learned from Kurbani’s previous visits, that she was happy to fill the silence, keeping me informed of the other islanders, the new refugees from Granite Vowhorn, and the places they’d visited. I was grateful. Although I physically needed to recover, the loneliness from being stranded needed healing too. To experience another voice speaking at me, to make eye contact, to feel the muscles in my face react to another’s movements and words - this was all part of my rehabilitation.
“I hear Novak has been keeping you entertained down here.”
“He has.”
“He’s gotten a lot better these past couple of months. He practises everyday. He’s determined. I think it helps him process what happened, to Lachlann and back on Deer Drum.” She paused a moment, her own memories running past her eyes. “He’s been trying to learn to play the nightingale song, but he can’t quite get the hang of it. Still a bit too complex. I hope he’s not been bothering you?”
I shook my head.
“Good. He looks up to you. A lot. Both the kids do. And I think Novak’s enjoying having you captive.” She laughed to herself. “I’m sorry you’ve not seen much of Mirai.”
“It’s okay.” I whispered.
“She’s been off on the island every day since we got here. I think she’s gone a bit stir crazy on the boat. She’d usually try and set foot on every island. But we’ve hardly seen her since we got here. Wakes up at the crack of dawn, eats breakfast, and then we don’t see her till sunset.”
“She likes it here, you think?” I said, leaning forward.
“She seems happy as a pig in shit.” She shrugged. “I’ll make sure she comes by soon though. It’s rude of her not to stop by more. Girl could do with learning some manners”
Mirai didn’t visit; the invalid man deemed less interesting than whatever the island had to offer. I didn’t blame her. I wanted to be out there too. And Mirai’s absence, her change in behaviour, just made me want to visit all the more.
I counted down the days on Eir’s timeline till on the fourteenth day, I rose early, and made my way to the deck.
I puffed out my chest, and held my back straight. I marched up the steps through the hull, and opened the doors to the deck to find Eir sitting on a crate, hands resting on her cane. “Wondered how long it would take you to clamber up this morning.”
I grinned. “You said two weeks.”
“At least,” she grumbled. “Still. You’ve got your physical strength and your mental strength. Don’t think I could stop you if I wanted to.”
“I feel good,” I said, looking down at myself, focussing on the strength in my core and ignoring the weakness in my limbs
“I’d rather you spent a few more days. But at least take it slow and steady, okay?”
“I will,” I said with a smirk.
“I mean it, Ferdinand.”
The smile disappeared from my face. “I know.” I looked out to sea, across the empty horizon. “Any word from Alessia?”
She shook her head, her neck seeming to creak with the movement. “Don’t know how long it will take her to search those remaining islands for you. She’s probably terrified for you. Doesn’t know you’re here disobeying my medical advice instead.”
My head dipped as a small embarrassed chuckle escaped me. “You said two weeks.”
“At least,” she repeated. “Be cautious.”
I walked over to the side of the boat and stared at the sea just in case Alessia’s ship was on the horizon. I could see a few boats out in the distance. None of them were her. Even from miles away I would know the cut of that hull.
I took a deep breath of the salty air, feeling it cleanse my lungs. I was still processing the visions as I lay dying on the Anmanion Islands. I knew they weren’t real, just hazy thoughts halfway between sleep and death, but the emotions within, and the way it left me thinking of things differently, that was still true.
Lachlann and Thomas, good friends, were gone. Lachlann would never learn how tightly Novak had clung to his guitar. Thomas would never know that he was right, and that the papers proving Pomafauc’s con were loose on the island. The story, for them, ended.
And what could I do but try and continue? I still had my own story to write. And they would forever be an important part of mine.
I turned to the island. There was one great rocky hill in the middle with large cliffs sticking out the ground covered in resilient green shrubs. But elsewhere, the island seemed mostly flat, with only gentle slopes. Perfect for still recovering legs.
I found the netting down to the rowing boat, and checking the strength of my legs, climbed down the ropes, ready to see Vexids Receives for myself.
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