I would like to experience something new, so would go with magic. As long as it’s not too wrapped up in religion. I’ve enjoyed my arc here, but don’t need to repeat it - and safe from being a chosen one is itself a perk.

I pay for a number of concurrent streams, so “too many at one time” is a legitimate thing. What I disagree with completely is that they want them all in one house. If I pay for 4 streams, they ought to be able to be anywhere. Because I paid for 4.

I always order ONE dish “spicy like you would make it for your grandma, really so spicy” and get the rest of the dishes medium or mild.

Channa Masala is the one I want crazy hot. It’s so good like that. Most of my family won’t eat it, only me & my oldest daughter. But yum yum yum, may cry but oh just so satisfying.

Federal reimbursed me for bus fare, county did not. Federal also comes with a per diem because eating lunch downtown is expensive.

For county, several times I called & didn’t need to attend.

Federal, I did have to serve as a juror this year. They always start on a Monday, I think everyone who they pick has to attend for selection, then most are sent home. The way they pick is public information. I am lucky, the courthouse was close to me and accessible by bus or bike. But they pull from 3 counties, some jurors had to come from far away. Case took one week. I didn’t want to do it and my workplace needed me but I am glad now, it was an interesting experience overall.

And yeah it’s mandatory to show up if you are told to. You can be fined or even jailed. If you can’t, you need to ask for a deferral or excuse. I got a deferral of one week because I had a dentist appointment I’d already postponed once, which had delayed it two months so I really didnt want to wait 2 more! And other times when I was nursing kids I sent an excuse, and once a deferral for work, but Federal court won’t excuse you for work - our judge did dismiss anyone who really would not be able to survive without working though.

I’m not sure what you mean by hard books? I read a lot, but more for entertainment, books written at different levels but none are schoolbooks, not dry and hard to read in that way.

AFA setup, on the couch with a cat on my lap and music in the air is my favorite way to read. Runner up is reading on the back deck with a big glass of ice water and a cocktail or glass of wine. I don’t read in bed.

I work at an events company, basically, in the back office but have worked some events - I get the appeal. Hospitality is grueling work but satisfying work, your customers are right in front of you and you are making them feel better about themselves (in our particular industry), or feeding them and also just pulling off such a ridiculously difficult task, nearly everything going right, it’s amazing. And when I did work at a restaurant, I also enjoyed being part of the customers’ going out night, right? You are there, building that experience, also getting an experience.

My husband doesn’t get it really but I do - if I had fuck you money I would open a bar, with a dinner night each week as an event.

I enjoy home cooking and hosting parties too. Hospitality really is a human sort of endeavor and it is satisfying to make people feel good and comfortable.

It’s funny because Florida is so queer. I grew up going to gay bars, we had the gay film festival, literally half my kids are queer In one way or another. Why in the world would the government want to alienate such a big subset of the population? It’s insane.

If I ever run for governor though, my platform is Make Florida Freaky Again.

My mom said she would never raise a kid in a small town because there is nothing to do except get in trouble. All her cousins either went to jail or got pregnant young, she figured a city has opportunities, summer jobs, libraries, rec centers, things to keep kids occupied and out of trouble.

I agree with revelrous, it’s more a city/rural split. Florida is “red” now, more a warm purple but gerrymandered. Cities are pretty progressive, country is redneck, exurbs are rich conservative northerners who moved down here (the influx that moved us from purple for real to red)

My husband tries to hate on California but we have family there who love it so much they think we should move there. Chicago he thinks is a great city, we have family there too. But again, we are city folk so even though he is conservative he sees way more variety of people and is, well, cosmopolitan I guess you would say? Traveled a lot, says people are just people, all over the world.

It does sound like you are lonely.
I quite like being alone and doing things alone, because I am not often alone so it is luxurious and indulgent.

If you think everyone in the world except you is a loud drunk idiot, that might explain why you are so often alone though. Why in the world would you judge everyone else and hold yourself apart? There is zero chance that you are not like anyone else in the world and the rest of us just suck.

Yes. I am a woman and really enjoy sex. Less so when I was younger but it is not supposed to hurt, no. Two questions:

What happens when you put in a tampon?

Are you really very aroused before trying penetration?

ETA - people are recommending lube but lube does not substitute for arousal. Lube only helps slip - arousal makes space, adds slip, and relaxes the opening of the vagina some, so that there is room for a penis (or fingers or whatever). Sex is amazing but you need to be turned on to enjoy it.

I’ve met plenty of Republicans who just think that the R means a better economy. Single issue voters. Not socially conservative, live and let live, but terrified that Democrats will crash the economy somehow. Don’t ask me, I don’t understand it either.

And plenty of liberal Christians, which actually makes more sense.

My husband can do that, and honestly I think it’s because he doesn’t sleep deeply enough, and gets up too early. So exhaustion works.

I fall asleep in a reasonable amount of time (satisfied with it) and exercise is the main thing I can tell helps me. Next most important I wait until I am actually sleepy before trying to sleep. Smaller factors but still helpful - progesterone (post menopause) before bed, putting down the phone an hour before bed, and a routine - I take a shower & do skincare.

You are coming here for work?

Please have your job get you a new laptop, and sensitive patient data is stored on secure servers, yes? Having it with data they can’t see puts you in an impossible position. If your job is sponsoring you, you are safer, in a better category so less likely to see trouble.

With phone, if you’re aren’t super political online just open it if they ask. Wiping it or having a burner just looks more suspicious. No they don’t all go through everyone’s phone, it’s not as bad as the alarmist media sells it BUT it is unusually bad right now, and there are believable reports of people being made to unlock so they can browse your Facebook or whatever. I hate to give that advice, but your goal is to fly under the radar. You are absolutely legal. Don’t borrow trouble. Your work brings you here, you know when you are leaving, all your paperwork is good, you are not a risk. Assume everything will be smooth. The customs guys at airports are not the same as the ones bounty hunting immigrants. They are local people in a bad situation right now too, at least half of them don’t like what is going on.

My favorite is in the opposite direction - Porter Robinson covering Fontaines DC “favorite” in a 90s pop rock style. Such a good version of such a good song, and it’s worth reading the interview where he talks about recording it.

I am a mom and don’t like having a million pictures. My mom gave me some and it feels oppressive to have to hold on to them, honestly. One year my kids helped me by organizing the ones taken in their lifetime into bags by year. I used to take a roll of pictures, get them developed, but then only buy one or two, and was never a prolific photographer yet somehow ended up with hundreds of pictures I am not good at organizing or preserving.

I don’t care if the ones I have are lost. There is plenty enough documentation for people to know how things were.

I had a coworker who came in one day and said he made guacamole and had never bought an avocado before - he said he boiled the avocado. He got it and it was hard, so he figured like a potato you cook them so they get soft. Apparently it worked and he made the guacamole, and was shocked when we told him no, you just wait and they get soft enough.

I feel like if you are still friends, saying “ooh I had such a crush on you when we were younger” is ok, I’ve been on the receiving end of that and it was flattering and surprising because I absolutely did not feel attractive when young. And it was not threatening because he was in a happy relationship. Since you are so out of touch with her you don’t even know if she’s in a relationship, no, I would find that weird.

I think it depends on what % of your body mass that 20lb is. I weigh about 150, if my target was 130 I would take a year to get there. Someone 350lb, maybe yeah a month. The first few lb always faster than the last few, so if all you have to lose is a few pounds it can be slower.