This may not be helpful, but since you asked for experiences:

I had allergies as a kid, so never could breathe through my nose easily, even as an adult when the allergies eased. Yoga unexpectedly fixed it. The breathing exercises in particular, at first nothing opened but over time my nasal passages opened, or healed, or whatever had to happen and I now breathe easily and comfortably through my nose.

So if the drugs aren’t working and it’s a nasal thing, no itchy eyes, etc. it’s worth trying yoga, and when gunky maybe the neti pot (boiled and cooled water, a little salt). I really had no idea yoga would have that effect so pretty sure it’s not some placebo thing.

No, I don’t do that, or need to, but if it was comfortable the whole workout, seems like it must fit the way you’d want it to.

I honestly cannot imagine a competent employee being demoted. I can imagine positions in Youth Services that might (might) be better filled by someone gay, like gay youth programs, the “it gets better” is more convincing from someone for whom it actually got better, for instance.

In Ohio, though?

Me!

Hmm, I am not sure I’ve seen anything rare, though we do have some animals in Florida that I don’t think are everywhere, have seen wild manatees and alligators, those enormous Sandhill Cranes and pink spoonbills, lots of lizards and snakes.

The animal I have personally seen, but most rarely though, is a fox. Have only seen one wild fox in my over 50 years.

I just made my first last week. So delicious, onion bacon tart! But didn’t feel like a meal. You put potato on it? Raw?

Local pizza or homemade I get at least half a pie with jalapeno, onion, and anchovies if available, kalamata olives if not.

I do not have the stores you mention, so no recommendations on frozen, Target used to have good ones with buffalo mozzarella but that was years ago, I think they are discontinued. I do think if you can make a frozen pizza homemade is within your skill too. If you love pizza it’s great to learn to make it.

I love the idea of storing them on giant dildos.

I have gray stretchy cargo joggers from athleta that I like so much I found a pair on their resale site (they sell off returned items cheaper) when mine wore out and I am babying this pair.

Also bought almost every color of Unbound Merino V neck T shirt, became my work uniform because they are so ridiculously good and comfortable in many temperatures, so walking to work then sitting in the FL air conditioned office is reasonably comfortable. They are cool when it’s warm, warm when it’s cool, and never stink. Sweat wicking fabrics don’t work here (humidity), these come the closest though and dry right away once indoors.

Yeah. No carpets, dogs coming in and out. I only take mine off if they are legit muddy, it’s a lost cause, I am not going to make everyone take off their shoes. We aren’t eating off the floor. I am also willing to sit on the ground outside, turn cartwheels, etc. Really just not that paranoid about dirt.

Up north I understand everyone has carpets.

Some places there is much more sitting on the floor.

It seems situational to me.

Nobody is putting their shoes on the furniture though, they are putting them on the floor.

Yes, because I have experienced varying levels of prosperity myself, and because my dad’s family had money and my mom’s parents literally lived in a trailer.

Not sure that it influences my perspective, except that I have an urge to “be nice on the way up, so you don’t crash so hard on the way down”, and I feel comfortable in most places whether run down or opulent, and consider that an asset.

Ramsey Midwood, Feed my Monkey

Damn near every song by Joshua Ray Walker

Yannis and the Yaw, Clementine

I agree, 45-55 looks similar but somehow 55-65 usually doesn’t. It’s a change like adolescence.

I do think Martha Stewart has the right approach to cosmetic work, what she does is what I’d do if my purse was bottomless, and I had to be in the public eye.

Hmm, well what else can we bring? Guitar and strings? How much of the day is busy with work, and how much left for recreation? If we aren’t going to be busy then yeah I would love to read. But it takes my whole attention. Music can play and work, so if our time is mostly spent working and sleeping, it would help a lot.

Music, music, and more music. I would say books but I read too fast, they wouldn’t last. Might as well just remember the stories I have already read. Well, actually - my favorite books please yes.

You look how I expect 53 to look, well maintained not young. People are aging more slowly for sure. I look at pictures of my mom at my age and we don’t look the same age.

But if you don’t have money (for gym or weights, Retin-A, good sunscreen, a job that doesn’t stress the fuck out of you) it really is more difficult. Stress is so aging, rich or not, but less stress is easier with money.

That is how I do it, low and slow with a bacon press, it is still a little splattery but not bad at all.

I use whatever is on the counter usually, but lard (homemade), bacon fat (clarified) and avocado oil are the usual and seem the best when doing the high heat seasoning. I just get the pan hot after cleaning it, with a very thin layer of oil (wiped as thin as possible) and keep wiping oil in there awhile with a paper towel, take it off the heat and occasionally wipe it with the paper towel to spread it evenly.

Pancakes also work as pan rehab. The long low heat works to get them smooth again. I use butter for that, which leads me to believe that any fat is probably fine.

Find someone with a self clean oven. My current one doesn’t do it either but the ones made to burn the baked on grease to ash get up to 475-480, that is what will burn off the seasoning. Not as hot as a kiln, I have no Idea what that would do.

My friend Mary said her grandpa just stayed alive to spite her mother, he was mean. Should have been dead for years but hung on to make her take care of him.

On the other hand, my mom’s dad shut himself in his house, laid down and died when his wife (my mom’s mom) finally divorced him after decades of abuse. Not killed himself using anything, just died. She lived for her happiest years after that, just sitting on the porch with her boyfriend shelling pecans.