To be clear, I'm not saying that porn changed my perception OF sex and what it implies, even though that's true as well and already known as a fact for us addicts.
What I'm saying is that DURING sex with my gf it seems like all the sensations, all the perceptions are in a way muffled or toned down, compared to when I'm PMO ing. With porn I'm really alert and in the moment and every touch I experience with my body is more intense compared to when I'm having sex and I'd be expecting to be even more intense during that, but it just isn't.
People who are in relationships or simply have sex on a regular basis, have you experienced this? Will this change over time and if it did, how long? Thank you!

i had an interview at a cafe that went very well and the manager wanted me to come in saturday for an 8 hour opening trial shift and sunday closing shift to see how i work.
i’ve been desperate for a job for a while so i very stupidly and eagerly agreed to this trial shift and was out the door before realizing i didn’t ask if it was paid.
so the next day comes, i’m working this shift and learning how to use a manual espresso machine, how everything works at this cafe, etc for the first half. now the second half they have me mostly cleaning windows, dusty spots, etc. a barista who worked my shift had even told me they thought it was messed up they had me cleaning for most of the second half of this shift, leading me to infer im being taken advantage of.
anyway, end of shift comes, manager tells me because i got a feel of everything, i don’t need to come in sunday. owner tells me i could use some work on my coffee skills but other than that i did good — they will let me know if (my very open) schedule works out in the next week.
i also know they are “trialing” other baristas at the moment.
so they haven’t gotten back to me yet but wondering what i should do if it turns out this was unpaid and they used my free labor?? ive been told it’s illegal in nyc and i really wish i had asked instead of assumed it’d be paid >_<
TLDR: worked a trial shift at a cafe, didn’t ask if it was unpaid and don’t know what to do.

i (17f) had a best friend -Ella- (17f) for over 12 years, we weren’t always best friends but over the past couple years i’d definitely consider her my no. 1. Ella was a troublesome kid throughout school, suspended loads, always in detention, cussing out teachers, refusing to do the bare minimum. we never went to the same school, i didn’t care if she was troubled, it was funny hearing about the shit she pulled in class that day.
one day she tells me about the new kid, -Slim -18f) she met in isolation (this was a couple years ago in secondary school so this would’ve been aged 14-16) and she introduced me to his friend group
slims friends were nice, and they were a very tight friend group, but what i noticed about them is they were not good people; -always getting drunk or high -their friends group had a very monarchical construct, there was a queen of the group and if you got on her bad side you were done, she could do no wrong and if something happened between you you were out of the friend group and would be constantly harassed or made fun of by everyone else -they got into loads of fights, a couple of them had a criminal record, restraining orders -they were banned from local shopping places for shoplifting, graffitiing, acts of violence -i introduced them to my friend who had a job and made good £ for someone our age, and after meeting her twice they’d call her everyday asking if she had money to lend them so they could get drugs, then not pay her back.
to sum it up, they’re not the best, i noticed this but never said anything, respected they were my friends friends and i had no business telling her what’s right what’s not. this was until we had a minor disagreement over something, she overreacted extremely (which was very unlike her because we’d never argue, we’d talk it out or brush it off) and the minute we stop messaging about it her friends call me on a group call outraged, saying i had to do what she asked or they’d get my address through her and ‘sort me out’. i asked my friend why everyone was attacking me over a scheduling error and she said i deserve it, not to talk to her ever again and wrote me a huge paragraph accusing me of things i never did.
i called her and tried to calmly discuss the matter, she said i was only being ‘nice’ because i was scared her friends would beat me up. i told her her friends were a horrible influence, in general and to her as a person, because them getting upset over something as small as a charger clearly influenced her, because as i said we’d sort things out and not get upset (not something they’d do, they get upset about everything all the time) my friend was furious for insulting her closest friends like that, said i was jealous cuz i can’t make cool friends, my only friends are her friends and i don’t have balls.
so, AITA for telling my friend her friends are essentially toxic and bad people and influence her negatively, or am i in the right?

Hiya, I'm Marnes, 29M from Belgium :) I've a relatively simple but well-filled (busy) life, and while I've got everything taken care of, I lack a significant other to really complete the happiness, as well as the types of interests others have that let them organically meet one out and about. So if you have some room in your life and mind, and want a guy to fill that special spot of belonging, please read on.
I'd like to find a girl to talk daily with about work, hobbies, household, basically anything interesting that happens in our days, with occasional pictures and links. To confide in about anything and everything, give some priority to in free time, send happy selfies to, give goodnight kisses with emote lines, have some adult fun with. Someone I can grow attached and affectionate to, and find that unique, highest level of comfort, contentness, and togetherness with. My player 2, if I may be so cheesy.
I want someone to be there for me, to want me for me and for our time together, and to let me want them, you know? Family and other people are always relying on me for everything and need me to be their help, I have a few good friends but they never have time for anything, and I've talked to some people here but they've always been so incredibly unreliable and ingenuine.

About me

Without spoiling too much, I work in IT and medical intervention, and my personality quite fits both stereotypes you're probably picturing now: often quiet and methodical as a geek developer would be, empathic but rational as emergency work requires. I have my passions and dislikes, try to balance my social energy between not having the spotlight on me but also not being a wallflower, do new or impulsive things from time to time. If I had to pick something that's clearly off-center about me, it's that I can overthink/overdiscuss stuff because misunderstandings and predictable mishaps grate at me.
The last two years I've finally been living alone in my appartment and tasting all the freedom and responsibility. This personal headroom let me finally deal with some physical and personal flaws I used to have, so it has been a great period and I feel better than ever before. I just wish I could complete my circle of few but great friends with a girl who means the world to me. I'm just not comfortable and myself in most "going out" places, and I refuse to fake/force interest in something as a faux premise to meet someone.
I don't have pets but love others' and animals in general. You'll get my best recent picture with a relative's cat if you ask for it. I don't and won't have kids.
If it helps you relate:

• favorite games are single player stories with strong plots and emotions or beauty, instrumental music and pretty graphics: Metroid, Metal Gear, SOMA, Titanfall 2, Zero Escape, Stray, Ori, Valiant Hearts, Outer Wilds, Abzû...
• funny/cute/daring slice of life anime like Nichijou, Ijiranaide, Lightning & Sweetness, Seitokai Yakuindomo, Yashin Dropkick, but also some action like some of the Gundams or friend recommendations like Odd Taxi
• occasionally a movie or series: I clearly prefer one-offs in action/mystery/sci-fi over cinematic universes and superheroes. The Rock, Shutter Island, The Expanse, Stargate, 6 Days, Upgrade, Kingsman, Hacksaw Ridge, ...
• my music collection is a loooot of soundtracks from games or fan albums (85%), some TV things (10%) and a few random hits

About you

I guess I'll resonate best with someone rational, chill, smart. More of a scientist/techie than an artist, but everyone and every hobby has an artsy side. A limited social life like me, so that we'll have time, energy, and geniune interest for each other. Mature and reasonable rather than unpredictable and emotional. If your face and life go on instagram daily, you hang out at parties every week, or I feel like words are cheap and I don't mean anything of value to you, it won't work.
Physically, I don't have a favorite haieye color or something. Mine are brown/brown, and I'm starting to settle on short hair and short beard. The more "plain"/natural, down to earth, relatable, ... you look, the better. I do love artificial hair color, prefer short hair, and love to see a piercing, but don't take it as a necessity. There's nothing remarkable about my looks either, just that I wear glasses and you might spot the scar on my cheek. I'm a little overweight like most people, and you can be too, or you can be thin, average, athletic, short, tall...

Practical

Let's meet at first in reddit chat, but I only like to use discord to talk. I work 9-5 mon-fri and try to sleep by 1, so I can mostly be active in the evening. East coast US is okay (made it work with someone for 9 years), outside there or the EU could be tricky in terms of timing and relatability. Visiting each other eventually would be great, but I'm mainly looking for something online. Not open to moving, don't want kids, don't have pets but I love the pets of others.
--
It's high time I hit Post :) Please send me a chat and tell me how this post speaks to you.

My name is Evaline and my sister who is vital to this as well is named Vivian and we are twins aged twenty-three. Yesterday we went on a graveyard investigation, and I don't think we came back alone.
We pulled up to the graveyard In Vivians beat up red bug. She shut off the car and looked over to me.
“I have a weird feeling, Evaline, are you sure you want to do this?” asked Vivian.
“Oh yeah everyone keeps telling me about this place!” I exclaimed.
As we exited the car and walked up to the property Vivian turned on the ghost box (A tool used for communicating with ghosts by scanning through radio frequencies and white noise).
The ghost box said one word very abruptly “STOP.”
We looked at each other with puzzled faces.
“Do you not want us here?” asked Vivian.
“STOP.’ Came through the ghost box again.
“Uh color me crazy but I think we should still go in.” I said.
Vivian looked at me for a moment and then agreed we heard one final “STOP.” as we entered and then it was dead silent for 15 minutes.
We were walking around when my sister Vivian stopped and looked at a specific tree. This tree is twisted looking literally it has two parts to it that twist together to make sort of an arch way.
“A woman is over there.” Vivian whispered and pointed towards the tree (Vivian Is a medium by the way)
“Well let’s go check It out.” I enthusiastically said.
As we reached the tree the ghost box said the name “ANNIE.”
Vivian Greeted Annie and asked her why she was there.
But I was more Interested In trying to find Annie’s headstone.
“Hey, ask her for her last name!” I shouted over to Vivian who gave me a thumbs up.
I walked further away scanning all the different headstones with my flashlight. Some of these guys are really old, like 17th century old.
“Maybe that’s why it’s so haunted.” I thought to myself.
As I looked up to scan the next headstone, I saw a figure of a man standing by a headstone. “Holy shit where'd he come from?” I thought “Hey Vivian do you see hi-” I cut off because when I pointed back to where I saw him no one was there.
“Okaayyy.” I said in a hushed tone “I’m just going to go walk over there and see what the headstone says.” I made my way over to the headstone.
“Oh no way Vivian come over here, look who I found!” I shouted
“What’s up, what'd you find?” Vivian asked excitedly.
She looked down as I shined my flashlight on the fading stone the words “Annie Forester Beloved Mother and Wife” were shown.
“ME.” Said the ghost box We both looked at each other. We normally don’t get very intelligent responses so this was a big deal.
“What happened to you Annie?” I asked “HUNG.”
“Oh Jesus, that took a dark turn.” I said
“Evaline, stop it.” Vivan shouted, "Can you tell us why?” she asked,
“WITCH.”
“Oh she must have been a part of the old witch hunts that happened all through England and Ireland.” Vivian said
“Yeah but why are you still here Annie?” I asked Nothing happened for a good five minutes before the response
“TO PROTECT” came through.
“Protect what Annie?” I asked another few minutes pass by before the ghost box says “THE LAND”
“Huh that's awfully sweet of you do you make sure the living are safe?” Asked Vivian
“YES” the ghost box replied almost Immediately
“LEAVE” It says.
“Why do you want us to leave?” I asked
“Yeah what's wrong Annie?” Asked Vivian
“HIM”
“Who is him?” Asked Vivian
“PLEASE GO”
Those were the last words the ghost box said for another twenty minutes
“Maybe we should go, it's been a while and we haven't gotten anything else.” Said Vivian
I Looked around the graveyard I had a bad feeling
“Yeah lets get outta here this place is starting to creep me out.” I said as I stood and shook myself off trying to get rid of the odd energy.
We packed up all of our things and headed to the entrance. We said a prayer so nothing negative would follow us and threw our bags in the trunk. As I opened the door I slumped down In the passenger seat.
“Phew.” I breathed
“We got some pretty good stuff from Annie. I just wanna know who the mysterious him is.” Giggled Vivian
The drive home was uneventful but I couldn’t shake that odd energy from my body.
“Hey Viv do you feel weird or is that just a me thing?” I asked looking over at Vivian
“Mmm yeah ever since we left I felt odd, hopefully it's just our nerves.” Vivian said with a warm smile. But something was hidden behind the warmth of her smile : fear.
We pulled up to the house and unloaded our bags onto the kitchen table. It's become sort of a ritual at this point, every time we finish an investigation we unpack and load in all the recordings to listen to with high quality noise canceling headphones. We also order some kind of takeout tonight's meal of champions was Chinese food my favorite.
I stirred together my orange chicken and rice as I pawed through the recordings settling on the third one when Annie mentions “HIM”. The recording fills my ears as I intently listen.
“LEAVE.” Says the ghost box
“Why do you want us to leave?” you can hear us asking
“HIM” the ghost box says
“Who is him?” Vivian’s voice says
I listen closely as silence fills the space
“I'm Him.” A deep voice says not over the voice box but right next to the recorder.
I screamed and jumped out of my seat throwing the headphones on the ground.
“What what what!” Says Vivian
“Oh hell no, that sounded like satan.” I said laughing In disbelief
I rewinded the recording so Vivian could hear it. I saw her face turn into a huge grin.
“Now this is solid stuff we have to go back there!” Exclaimed Vivian
“Yeah I'm down but you're reviewing the tapes next time that voice is creepy.” I said with a smile
“Deal!” Said Vivian as she stuck her hand out for a hand shake. I took it and shook hands.
“I'm gonna get ready for bed Viv goodnight!” I yelled as I walked away
“Goodnight!” yelled Vivian
I stepped into the poorly lit bathroom and turned on the shower
“That voice is seriously creepy.” I muttered to myself as I took out my High ponytail and let my dark brown curls bounce down to my shoulders. My hair always did look nice with my pale skin
“Thanks to you mom.” I said looking up at the ceiling
I stepped into the shower and started washing my hair when I heard something fall.
I opened the shower curtain to see the culprit my cat Leo
“Oh Leo you're going to be the death of me.” I puffed out closing the shower curtain again
Another crash comes from outside the shower curtain
“Leo Get ou-” I ripped open the curtain to find the toilet paper holder in the sink
I stared dumbfounded as to how my small cat could have body builder lifted the toilet paper holder into the sink.
“VIIIIVIAN” I screamed
Heavy footsteps pound down the hallway but no Vivian
“Vivian?” I called
Pounding assaulted the walls to the point they were vibrating as the footsteps continued
“VIVIAN” I endlessly scream for what seems like hours until the door bursts open and the walls stop pounding immediately
“Are you okay, what's wrong, what's going on?” Exclaimed Vivian with a very worried look.
“You didn't hear me screaming for you?” I sobbed
“No, I just now heard you and came in. What happened?” asked Vivian
I told her all of the events that had just occurred she looked towards the sink and back to me with a confused face
“The toilet paper holder isn't in the sink Evaline.” She said pointing towards the sink which was in fact empty
“What no I swear it was!” I exclaimed
“I believe you Evaline you never cry it's just odd try and get some sleep okay maybe you're really tired? Cooed Vivian
“Yeah maybe” I said
I finished my shower without any problems and climbed into bed.Covering myself with the plushy blanket I let sleep take me over.
“Evaline wake up!” Vivian yell whispered as she shook me awake
“What's going on?” I groggily asked and then I heard it pounding on the walls but it was everywhere The walls were all slightly shaking
“Is this what happened in the bathroom?” Vivian asked me
“Yeah pretty much just not as loud.” I said standing up I'm gonna go check it out stay her Vivian
“You're that white girl that dies in the horror movie.” Vivian said with a smirk
I shook my head and stepped out into the hallway. Literally all of the walls seemed to be buzzing with the pounding. I made my way past the family portraits and got to the back door slowly putting my hand on the door knob and twisting it till I quickly pulled it open and the pounding stopped. I Looked around the dark backyard and I noticed something: the figure of a man standing by our fence. I looked closer trying to get a better look it was definitely a man.
I turned around to grab the bat sitting on our porch.
“Hey buddy you better beat it!” I yelled, turning back with bat in arm to see he was gone.
“Weird.” I thought and went back inside the house. I closed the back door and turned to walk back to Vivian when I saw the shadowy man standing right in front of me.
“AH-” I started to scream but the air seemed to be sucked from my lungs and the only thing that came out was a small peep.
“I don’t like you creatures.” The man said in a voice I can’t even begin to describe. It wasn't human.
“But still you exist to only displease me.” He went on
“Who are you?” I stammered
“You wouldn't know the word but you gave a soul hope tonight which made her free of me so now I need another soul in return for the one you greedily took.” The man like thing said
“Annie?” I asked shakily
He made an odd gurgling crunching noise reminiscent of a laugh but sounded more like a garbage disposal.
“Obviously” he replied
“Now you're going to replace that soul.” He said calmly
“Evaline?” Vivian placed her hand on my shoulder
“Evaline Are you there helloooo?” Vivan said snapping her fingers in front of my eyes
“Yeah sorry Viv I just was thinking.” I replied
Now i'm writing this to you hoping someone out there knows what this thing is and how to get rid of it before I become the next soul to be taken by HIM.

I (19F) took a gap year, not my choice the tldr of the situation was that I had a learning disability my high-school didn’t want to accommodate so they pushed helping me (“too busy with other students”) until it was too late and my only option was community college and then tried to gaslight me into believing I told them that I wanted to go to community instead of university. (thankfully my parents corrected them that was bs because I had planned down to the exact university, major, dorm housing, and down how to get there from starting freshman year.)
All my friends started college and like sure I knew it would hurt they did and I was just working but like…now it really hurts. I will be a first Gen college student and because of that my family doesn’t know how to help. I also live in one of if not the hardest states to go to university in, and their applications close wayyy early.
I missed fall admission to most schools, I think there’s some I can still do spring admission though and I am really trying to start college summer classes at the CC. I don’t know what to do though.
My learning disabilities make it really hard for me to figure out on my own but i was doing it. I got a scholarship (I still have), I was a decorated honors student, commander of multiple undefeated state STEM teams. I was a state and award winning vocalist, award winning actor and costume designer. Close to some odd 200 hours of community service. Recommendation letters that essentially glow. AP & Honors student. Things I wrote were actually published.
Tests aren’t my thing, I got a 900 on the SAT. So I killed myself physically to make sure that I could prove that I am a great student even without it. Covid tanked my GPA from straight A to barely passing with C’s and B’s. I worker m’y ass off to make up for it. All I wanted was to go to university. That’s all I wanted.
But my parents don’t know how to help, (even if they did one is very I’ll) I can’t do this on my own I don’t know how. I’m overwhelmed.
I could get into college. I know I could. I would be fucking great at it. I just don’t know how to apply. The stupid fucking common app thing makes me have a panic attack I don’t understand it. The transcript process is a headache. I don’t understand it, the admissions people tell me that they’ll help but then they don’t.
I’m scared I’m never gonna go. I’m scared all my friends are gonna graduate and leave me behind. (Friends since 6th grade survived me moving to 2 different states) I feel so alone. My family hugged me and told me that they were counting on me to be the first. I cant. I cant. I don’t know how. I can’t figure out how to get my foot in the door. (I can’t even think about paying for it)
I wanna go to college, I want to do the job I want, and I want to be proud of my MYSELF. Because right now I hate myself.
If you have parents who can help you, if you wanna go to college and you can, I envy you. I’m only 19 and I feel like a failure…

Created this account just to post in DB.
I’m a HLM39 married to LLF38 for over a decade. Sex likely happens less than monthly. When we do have it, there’s always a lecture beforehand about something I’m doing that’s upsetting her. I end up cold and distant. We just go through it because if not, there’s a secondary argument about me refusing after making such a big deal.
Did the vasectomy last year because she said it might help her interest as she had anxiety surrounding unwanted pregnancy. Well it fixed her anxiety, but our monthly sex still is a duty and not something she wants. There’s fairly even balance in the rest of our lives but it feels like we are highly compatible roommates. I always complain about lack of sex and it’s the same old argument. However, in the last few years I have been going through major changes myself (exercise, therapy, medication) which has given me space to self assess.
The recent feedback is that “there is no romance anymore”. I’m not sure how I feel about that since the scenarios to have romance with a kid at home are rare. She firmly separates romance and physical intimacy, which is difficult for me to understand.
I’m also initiating less and less because of constantly being turned down. Also, she’s put on significant weight over the years and I’m realizing now that frankly I’m not attracted to her at this weight.
Not sure what my point is here but damn this sucks. I find myself being drawn to pornography where it’s just a woman’s voice speaking to me in a loving way. I feel so gross about it because why should I need all of that? One foot in front of the other for now. Maybe I’ll work up the courage to start that fight about romance and physical attraction. Who knows.

For context I've had a bout with asthma over the past 5 years and only used an inhaler to suppress the symptoms. I smoke cigarretes daily due to stress and social interactions which is also terrible, but coupled with the asthma, I've been pretty much creating a ticking time bomb leading up to this past Friday.
I got sick Wednesday as did my whole family and we were starting to suspect covid, as we've all had it already and my symptoms specifically were very similar. Last year when I tested positive I spent 5 days in bed clutching my inhaler telling myself I would go to the hospital if I ever felt like this again.
On Friday I left work early and literally dragged myself to the emergency room. I had to walk a few blocks to order an Uber and was literally on the brink of collapsing, coughing my lungs out and manually breathing. It's crazy, we take breathing for granted every day because our body does it for us, but not that day for me. Every breath I took I was doing so with all the energy I had.
On my uber ride, all I could think of was the many friends I know who lost someone to covid, including people who by their own will went in to the ER and didn't make it out.
That's what was on my mind, "I'm going to get in there get intubated and I'm never going to see my wife and kids again". I'm 31 M and ive been fairly successful in my professional life and also know I've done a lot of messed up things in my life that although I might wish I can take back, have led me to where I am today with my kids, my wife, and my family.
The main thought in my mind as I was being admitted was, "wow, my kids will not have a recollection of me when they are older if I don't make it out", I never made the vlogs I've been meaning to get around to for them, or set up my will, or play catch with the two smaller ones.
I was so afraid because I didn't know what was going to happen, but all I knew was I had to keep manually breathing otherwise I was going to collapse.
Most importantly I think, I was afraid because I didn't know if I was going to die alone in the hospital because of my carelessness not to take care of my health. I have no one to blame for this but me, this is self made and I knew no one should feel sorry should something happened, because I'm a victim of me not anyone else.
They ran the tests, came back negative for covid, turns out as I've alluded to I had a really nasty asthma attack. I've been treated the past 5 days and I almost feel back to 100%.
I'm sharing this to let it out to be honest, and to hold myself accountable. Because I never want to feel the regret and fear I felt last Friday. And I'm going to do everything to make sure my kids remember wlme when they're older, and that they feel supported even when I'm no longer here.

As you can imagine, I’m a glass case of emotions. Luckily it’s in the unit I elk hunt and I have seen lots there. Anyone else hunted moose in colorado? How did it go? Tell me stories to make me excited. How many trips did it take to pick out? Ahhhhhhh!!!

My boyfriend has bad credit from before we met- a $60,000 collections item from 2018 from a truck loan. He still has the truck and was never repossessed.
He spoke with a consolidation place in 2019 who apparently told him to wait until he receives a demand for payment. Apparently the demand for payment never came, so he did nothing about it.
Fast forward to 2023 and we applied for a mortgage and the $60,000 collections item showed up. Which is the first I learned about it. Not sure what the options are at this point but curious if this will eventually fall off….? Doesn’t make sense to pay a $60k debt on a truck worth $20k at this point 😔

This is a very affordable rental for UTA students wanting to live near campus!
Hey, I am looking for a UTA student seeking off-campus housing who is willing to take over my lease starting as early as June, July or August of 2023 depending on how fast you'd to move in! I signed my lease for next year through July of 2024, but I've decided to stay with my family in the Garland area for the next school year. The unit is at the Liv+ Arlington Apartments. It's a 4bed/4bath that I signed for just $689/month, and you would just be taking over my unit. The apartment is in perfect condition, comes furnished with all of the amenities that you could ask for as a student, and all of the roommates are quiet, respectful, keep the space very tidy, and are always very welcoming and down to hang out. It's on the first floor—a 5-10 minute walk to campus, close enough to park on the street, it's got a poolside view, 30 seconds away from the 24/7 gym, super close to the bus stop, like just downstairs from the snack/coffee bar, and the tenants have been there long enough that they've got all the streaming services hooked up, a well-furnished living area, and a neatly kept up kitchen. NEVER had a pest, upstairs neighbors or any maintenance issues. In addition, Liv+ is great because the management is always available for communication and lets you know about all of the social events happening around the complex. It's also BY FAR the best option for nearby off-campus housing that you can get because the building hasn't even been there for a full decade. I will also add that I wouldn't rely on their roommate matching system on their website because I had to move units when I did, but I'm so grateful I ended up in the unit I did. This is an extremely affordable location option for any guy wanting a space in Arlington to be able to study peacefully and open to making some friends. Hit me up for more details🤞🏼

Hey all, I have posted on here quite few times regarding my progress of the breath holding technique and overcoming my paruresis. In case you haven’t read my previous posts, I am a 26 year old male and I have struggled with this since I was about 12 years old. It got so bad that I couldn’t even pee with anyone remotely close to me or listening to any sounds around me. I was so miserable, and I HAD to do SOMETHING. My success story ABSOLUTELY started with me being determined to beat this thing. Nothing was going to get in my way. I quickly learned about the breath hold technique. Let me share a couple points about this technique that I’ve learned (if you have a medical condition that won’t allow you to do it, disregard): - anyone who tells you the breath hold technique works for some people and not for others, are lying. It works for everyone. The only difference is the time it takes to master it. When I first was learning it, many of the things I read online told me it would take only a couple weeks to master it……..it took me about 3 months. It was incredibly difficult to master it…..but my determination was ALWAYS more than my fear of practicing. Here are the things I have accomplished in the last 3 months since practicing the breath hold:
I have peed in about 50 public restrooms (all in urinals) that varied in size, location, busy or not busy……….and I only had ONE misfire. This misfire was due to me being so tense from someone waiting behind me, that I forgot to allow my body to TRUST the breath hold. Minor setback. I also have peed in several sports arenas and stadiums which I NEVER could have done in the past.
I have completely allowed myself to not give a single shit what people think of me. I have trained my brain to think of “the choking for air” feeling as a sign of meditation and bliss. Not a sign of panic and fear. This took the longest to learn and train my brain on, but once I did, it was a game changer. This is the key. Change your mindset from thinking the gasping for air is a panic……instead view it as a sign of peace and that PEE IS COMING!
Bottom line: you can talk and talk and talk all you want about how much this disorder is running your life. There comes a time where you have to say “enough is enough”……once you get there, nothing will hold you back from beating this. I encourage EVERYONE to learn the breath hold technique and don’t allow the fear and uncomfortableness stop you from becoming FREE. Nothing worthwhile happens quickly…….obviously visiting 50 public restrooms in 3 months took dedication and motivation…..you MUST make yourself uncomfortable in order to beat this.
Don’t get stuck in feeling bad for yourself. Suck it up. Realize you alone have let this spiral into a crippling condition and that you are the only one who can pull yourself outta the hole.
NO ONE ELSE MATTERS BESIDES YOU AND YOUR FLOW! No one is coming to save you. The only thing you need to beat is yourself.
I cannot express the freedom and happiness I have felt these last few months. All I want is you all to experience it too.

i (17f) had a best friend -Ella- (17f) for over 12 years, we weren’t always best friends but over the past couple years i’d definitely consider her my no. 1. Ella was a troublesome kid throughout school, suspended loads, always in detention, cussing out teachers, refusing to do the bare minimum. we never went to the same school, i didn’t care if she was troubled, it was funny hearing about the shit she pulled in class that day.
one day she tells me about the new kid, -Slim -18f) she met in isolation (this was a couple years ago in secondary school so this would’ve been aged 14-16) and she introduced me to his friend group
slims friends were nice, and they were a very tight friend group, but what i noticed about them is they were not good people; -always getting drunk or high -their friends group had a very monarchical construct, there was a queen of the group and if you got on her bad side you were done, she could do no wrong and if something happened between you you were out of the friend group and would be constantly harassed or made fun of by everyone else -they got into loads of fights, a couple of them had a criminal record, restraining orders -they were banned from local shopping places for shoplifting, graffitiing, acts of violence -i introduced them to my friend who had a job and made good £ for someone our age, and after meeting her twice they’d call her everyday asking if she had money to lend them so they could get drugs, then not pay her back.
to sum it up, they’re not the best, i noticed this but never said anything, respected they were my friends friends and i had no business telling her what’s right what’s not. this was until we had a minor disagreement over something, she overreacted extremely (which was very unlike her because we’d never argue, we’d talk it out or brush it off) and the minute we stop messaging about it her friends call me on a group call outraged, saying i had to do what she asked or they’d get my address through her and ‘sort me out’. i asked my friend why everyone was attacking me over a scheduling error and she said i deserve it, not to talk to her ever again and wrote me a huge paragraph accusing me of things i never did.
i called her and tried to calmly discuss the matter, she said i was only being ‘nice’ because i was scared her friends would beat me up. i told her her friends were a horrible influence, in general and to her as a person, because them getting upset over something as small as a charger clearly influenced her, because as i said we’d sort things out and not get upset (not something they’d do, they get upset about everything all the time) my friend was furious for insulting her closest friends like that, said i was jealous cuz i can’t make cool friends, my only friends are her friends and i don’t have balls.
so, AITA for telling my friend her friends are essentially toxic and bad people and influence her negatively, or am i in the right?

Location: Michigan.
TLDR: I [26M] loaned a total of $4,300 USD to a friend across seven Cashapp payments from mid-February through early March of 2023. All of these payments were made with the promise of being paid within a day or two, if not same-day. Over three months later, I’ve yet to be paid back, and at this point I’m wondering whether small claims court or pressing criminal charges is my best bet.
For background, my longtime friend [26F, we’ll call her Sam] messaged me explaining that, after she’d moved to Washington from Michigan a few months prior, she’d lost her wallet and basically all of her banking cards. Because her identity was still based in Michigan, it was next to impossible for her to regain access to her bank accounts.
Shortly after that, her abusive boyfriend kicked her out of their shared apartment in Washington, leaving her with no family out there and no place to go. Since she didn’t have access to her funds (though was in the process of getting them back) she didn’t have any immediate funds to purchase a plane ticket to get back home to Michigan. So, I loaned her a total of $1,750 across three Cashapp payments to get her the plane tickets needed to fly back home.
The reason I sent her multiple payments was because as she got bumped from one flight due to overbooking, she’d instead have to buy her way onto another flight lest she stay at the airport for the next available flight on the first airline.
All of this money was loaned to her with the understanding that it would be paid back within a few days. After she finally made it home to Michigan, she then contracted COVID and was hospitalized for a week plus (as she’s a cancer patient, she told me her case was rougher than normal and there was extra risk of further infection/complications). As a result, there was radio silence from her for about a week or two until I got back in contact with her.
So, in early March, we make arrangements for her to bring $1800 (she offered extra for the inconvenience) in cash to my house (which she has visited in the past) so that I can be fully paid off. At this point, it still sounds like some of her bank account access is restricted, though she has been able to do some banking in-person to withdraw the cash that she needs. Around this time, I receive a photo of her with the cash, with the proper timestamp in the metadata to show it was legitimate.
Before she stops at my house, she ends up having to get some work done on her car, which runs her about $900. I received proof of the cost estimate from the auto shop she went to and sent her this money. Once the work was done (replacing her brake lines), she then makes her way to my house…and gets in an accident on the way here. She says she pulls over into a parking lot where I can see a pretty gnarly gash in the side of her car, but based on where she said she stopped (roughly 15 minutes from my house) I can’t place her surroundings in the photo with where she says she stopped, one of many small red flags. So, the cash drop doesn’t happen that night.
The next day, she asks for more money as her dealership (or maybe insurance?) requires a deposit before they can repair her car. I send her the last of the money I’m able to send - another $950 - with the promise that she’d pay back all the money I’m owed in cash within one day, maximum. At this point, I am owed $3600.
Another mutual friend of ours - named Elliott, for the purposes of this post - also loaned Sam $1,200 in this situation, so between the two of us she owes $4,800.
Shortly after the situation with her car, she goes silent again. I get in contact with her mother, named Eleanor, and she informs me that Sam has been hospitalized in Ohio since that’s where her health insurance is based. I was later told that this was for a reproductive procedure that put her health at risk.
Inexplicably, Elliott receives a payment from Sam for $500 of the $1,200 she’s owed, with no explanation or warning. Sam tells both Elliott and me that the rest of Elliott’s payments would be coming in chunks throughout the day, which they never do.
While this is going on, Eleanor is making attempts to get me the money back herself. She sends me an email confirmation from her bank that money from her account was being sent to me via Zelle, but I never receive anything. Communication with Eleanor is scant, since she’s a traveling nurse and is often away from home, but I receive occasional texts saying the money was done being processed, that she checked with Chase and it should be arriving on X date, etc. and it never comes. It’s worth noting that in my Zelle app, I can search for Zelle-ready contacts based on who’s stored in my phone. Neither Eleanor or Sam show up under this search, indicating that they’re not set up with Zelle as they say.
Now we’re at early-April, and I finally hear back from Sam with a promise to get me the money back that I’m owed. At this point, I’ve fallen behind on bills because money that i loaned with the understanding it would be gone for no more than a few days has been gone for weeks. I tell her this and stress the urgency of the situation that I’m now in, so W\we make arrangements a few different times for me to either visit her in the hospital in Ohio, or for her to drive up once she’s discharged, but every time something comes up that requires her to push back by a day or two.
At one point, she pledges to drive up to me to drop off the money on a Monday evening. I’m getting video of her in the car, with the money. All is well. An hour before she’s due to arrive, she gets a call that she has to pick up a drunk relative from the bar, and that this was an emergency. I’ve met said relative and all of his behavior does match up with what she’s telling me, so I patiently wait for her to sort things out.
That night, she tells me this relative assaulted her and that she was at the hospital getting checked out. Strangely enough, the first photo she sends me of her at the hospital does NOT have metadata that matches with the current date and time, having been taken six weeks prior. I call her on this, and she apologizes and actually sends me a photo of her getting checked out, with metadata that matches. This is, as far as I can tell, the only time she knowingly sent a photo or other item of proof under false pretenses.
The next day, I receive a text message from her grandmother, Roberta. She informs me that Sam has been admitted to a psychiatric ward for suicidal ideation, and that she has left me a check in her mailbox for the $3,600 that I am owed while she drives down to Ohio to be with her granddaughter. I go over to their place to retrieve the check, and a day after I mobile deposit it, the funds appear in my account. I figure all is well, so I personally Cashapp $700 to Elliott to make sure he’s whole rather than wait for Roberta to get around to him, which Roberta is fine with.
Well, a few days later, I get a notification from my bank that the check has actually bounced, and the funds were removed from my account. I let Roberta know this, and she writes me a new check from a different account that I then pick up later that evening. A week later, this check also bounces.
Around this time, I finally hear from Sam again after roughly three weeks of silence. She asks to meet me at a restaurant to get another check from her - this time for $4,400, accounting for the money owed to Elliott that’s now going to me, and extra for gas, time, and the inconvenience. I see her for the first time in over a year during this exchange, which lasts about fifteen seconds before she runs back inside. She tells me during this time that in case this third check bounces, she will also bring me cash the next day, and that I can deposit that and return it to her via Cashapp in case something happens to the check.
We’re at mid-May now. Once the check bounces roughly a week later, she’s already pushed back the cash dropoff a couple of times. We resolve to stick solely to cash at this point, and on the day where she pledges - FINALLY, this time - to bring me the money, I get a call from Roberta again. Her husband (Sam’s grandfather) has a bunch of medical debt that has to be paid off before he can be cared for at the VA hospital, and asks if I can wait to be paid until June 2nd - a little over two weeks from when she was calling.
I don’t give her a definitive answer, and instead talk directly with Sam to try and get this sorted. She sends me a location pin to confirm that she is, in fact, at the VA hospital in question. So, since she’s now paying off this medical debt of her grandfather’s to avoid it going to collections, we’re now working with her brother Jackson to have him send me the money, since Roberta and him share an account due to power of attorney.
A few days go by of trying to get him to send me the money, and she/he keep pushing back, and then all contact drops a week before Memorial Day. At this point, I’ve had enough. I text Sam and Roberta and tell them that, if I am not paid in full by Tuesday June 6th (Exactly two weeks from that point), I would take Sam to small claims court. I tried to be as understanding and sympathetic of what was going on as I could, but at this point enough had been enough.
Neither of them respond. Three days after I send that message, I text Eleanor to see if she’s heard anything. Two days later (so, the day before Memorial Day) she responds and tells me that Sam has been admitted again for attempting to kill herself because of the already fraught case with her father (which she said she was pressing charges for, but I haven’t heard whether this has definitively happened). Both Sam and her grandmother Roberta were in Ohio making sure she was cared for. That’s where we’re at up to this point in time.
What are my options here? I’ve received enough proof that at least a good chunk of what has happened has, actually, happened, but there’s enough suspicion and unanswered questions that arise that make it obvious I’m being fleeced. Would small claims court be the best way to go? I already know that the amount I’m owed is under the max limit for small claims in Michigan.
Or, should I go to the police if there’s the potential for criminal charges? I’m not sure whether or not this constitutes as theft, but I just want to know what my best route is for a situation like this. Across four family members, three bounced checks, and dozens of "one more day" promises right before they actually get me the money that keep stretching out this situation, it feels like a giant game of carrot-and-stick that I feel like I cannot win.
Thanks in advance, and please let me know if you have any questions, as with how long and convoluted this is I’ve forgotten a detail here or there by mistake. I was never good at making a long story short.

Hello all, given the fact one of most common posts we seem to get on the subreddit is tips/advice for coming to Nats Park either from Visiting Fans or First Times. I thought it would be a good idea to get a decent size run-down of all the things new and "old" this season at Nats Park and the surrounding area to help ensure a good experience by all (If I forgot something please comment, my brain can only hold so much Nats Park knowledge).
Old:

• Nats Souvenir Soda purchase means unlimited refills during game. I've heard tales you could use the cup throughout the season for unlimited refills but those days seem to have passed. Given the price of a regular soda is 6.49 and a Souvenir Soda is 10.99, this is one of the better deals in the park.
• First Game/Foul Ball/Home Run Certificates. If you go to Guest Services (located behind Sections 103, 131 and 320) you can get a certificates for these events. Additionally on first game you get a button, which might be something your kid will enjoy.
• Cashless Ball Park. The Ballpark is all cashless for better or worse. A pro-tip is to use mobile ordering (on the MLB Ballpark App) cause sometimes previous coupon codes will work a day or two after they were supposed to expire. Common ones that have worked: BUD, BUDHAPPY, VALUE. This can be helpful when you consider a cost of a single beer can be 14.99.
• Kids Run the Bases. All kids age 4-12 are invited to run the bases at Nationals Park after every Sunday afternoon home game, weather permitting. Kids will start their run at first base and they will be directed around the bases to home plate.
• Signature Sundays. Two Nationals players will sign autographs for fans at every Sunday home game all season long. Autographs will take place at the top of the Nationals dugout starting one hour prior to first pitch, weather permitting and subject to player schedules. Fans must obtain a free voucher in order to participate in the autograph sessions – vouchers will be distributed on a first come, first served basis at Section 103, starting when the gates open 90 minutes before first pitch. Fans are limited to one autograph voucher per person. These tend to go very very fast even in our current state of the franchise.
• Grandstand Tickets: These are $5 tickets available starting 90 minutes from first pitch, there are some rare exclusions and you will be sitting way up top but probably the best ticket deal you can get. You do need the MLB Ballpark APP to get the tickets though.
• Bags. I'm just gonna link it here cause shits complicated yo. here
• Fifth Inning is typically when the mascots (Presidents) come out and race. Very looney Tooney. (LET TEDDY WIN!!)
• Food: You can take food into the park whether it be a snack bag or Chipotle bowl. It just has to be a single serve item (no whole pizzas) and can't be in a glass or metal container. They say only water is in, but I've seen folks take soda in. So who actually knows. As far a takeout options will list below since some are new.

New:

• Food options in the park. Besides your standard hot dog (Hebrew national) and chicken tenders there are a few "local" places in the park that are worth noting: Ben's Chili Bowl (chili dogs), Capo Deli (italian subs), La Casita (Pupusas [Salvadorian "Quesadillas"]) , Swizzler (burgers and chicken sandwiches), Arepa Zone(Venezuelan food), Capital City Mambo Sauce (wings), ShakeShack, Rocklands BBQ, Roaming Rooster. Additionally some other places to note in the Park: Haute Dog (for my money the best hot dogs in the park), Jammin’ Island BBQ (Jerk Chicken and one of the better food deals), South Mountain Creamery (one of the few ice cream joints in the park , but warning melts fast).
• Also this is a Budweiser Park for better or worse so Bud, Bud Light, Michelob will dominate the landscape. That being said there has been a small influx of local beers into the stadium notably from Atlas to Devil's Backbone. Additionally Golden Road has a presence as well. I will also note that in the year of our lord 2023, I did end up finding Miller Lite being sold in Nats Park during the last home stand the Nats had.
• To the surprise of no one, this is a Coca-Cola Park so there's that. Sorry you weird Pepsi Lovers.
• Food options outside of Park: Walter's Sports Bar, Mission, Royal Sands, Atlas Brew Work (has an Andy's inside which for my money is one of the best if not the best pizza in DC for what's that worth), Bullpen, Buffalo Wild Wings, Silver Diner, Chicken & Whiskey (Peruvian Chicken great for taking inside the park), Swizzler (if you want a burger go here and save like $10 vs inside the park), Chipotle, Rasa, Greene Turtle, Dacha Beer Garden, Salt Line (Zimmerman owns a stake in them), Solace Outpost (great on hot days cause it gets really breezy there), Bluejacket Brewery. As of now despite previous reputation of being a good burger place, don't visit Duke's Grocery.

Seating in Ballpark:

• So the Homeplate faces NorthEast-ish. This means on sunny days, the home side of the stadium gets absolutely baked. This to me is the biggest flaw about the stadium cause that also means the outfield view is random apartment buildings. So for 1pm-4pm gametime, any ticket in the sections 128-143, 106-100,218-243, 317-321, and 416-420 are just in for a bad time. If 7pm don't worry becomes relatively tolerable. Also if you are determined to get a foul ball sections 133-134 and 112-114 see a sizable amount of action. Best chance for home run is probably sections 106-105.

Fans in Ballpark:

• Overall Fans are pretty welcoming in the ballpark. Not a whole of jeering or boos for rival teams. In fact umps probably see the worst of it. We very much aren't Philadelphia.

I didn’t know who Ice Spice was until she went viral in a video with Kim Kardashian’s daughter, then she suddenly became famous.
Her lyrics are very lazy and she rhymes the most basic words. She doesn’t even do it well, she is mumbling the whole time so the audience won’t recognize how crappy her lyrics are.
I do like the song “Boys a Liar” just for the melody, I didn’t care for Ice Spice’s part. I don’t think she’s a bad person or anything, but i’m frustrated that the music industry picks talentless artists simply because they’re attractive over artists who are very talented but not as attractive.
I wish the music industry would take a chance with people who don’t fit the “pop star” look but have a boatload of talent. Ed Sheeran isn’t conventionally attractive but he can still can still sell out stadiums because he has more talent on his pinky finger then any of these industry plants do.

My son’s graduation was this weekend. My mother stayed the weekend. The whole time she knit picked about every little negative thing my husband, my self or my kids did. Not to mention the fact that I have indoor dogs and why it’s wrong. I feel so drained. She stressed everyone out and never admits to any wrong doing. She had to make everything about her. I feel like I need to recover and regain positive energy. She’s like a narcissistic energy vampire.

hey guys! This post is inspired by u/Lilac_Bloom_ who did the exact opposite. I thought that was a really cool idea and loved reading their answers on that thread.
I mean no hate to any artists, taste is very subjective, a song I like might not vibe with other people and vice versa. If you want to downvote any of my answers that's ok, if I can state my opinion so should you.