As a woman of an age dealing with unfortunate hormonal fluctuations, I’m holding myself to this. It’s almost frustrating in the way it’s paying off.

I’ve been riding the cycle of shitty sleep leading to excess caffeine, leading to shittier sleep even taking melatonin, leading to even more poor diet choices. I suffered through a day where I denied myself afternoon caffeine (stopping at noon, where previously I thought 3pm was close enough) and had a sucky day. But I slept slightly better that night. Holding myself to this, each night’s sleep has been slightly better, and I feel like I’m making smarter decisions again.

It’s still too early to say if it’ll be a long term solution, but this last week I’ve started taking small doses of l-theanine. It’s the stuff in tea that’s supposed to help you relax. I found 200mg chewable tablets that I break into 1/4-1/3 pieces. I take a little in the morning and some before bed, and am overall feeling more relaxed. I’ve slept beautifully the last few nights without melatonin, but with my track record I want to see that hold a good month before guiding the l-theanine all the credit.

Many have upgraded to extra comfy recliners, some with pairs of seats you can raise the center arm rest and get cozy. With less than half the seats that they used to have, it’s far more comfortable.

That’s just focus. They caught him in his third minute of restaurant.

Plenty have been fighting for it, but there’s an uphill battle against “but that’s socialism and socialism is evil!” and those that personally benefit financially who stand in the way.

Is the image burning into the screen not a concern on these though?

Therein lies part of the problem. A large number of those places that disguise themselves as legitimate clinics are actually covers for human trafficking.

Depending on where you are, becoming a massage therapist can take a couple years and cost thousands of dollars, require exams, and licensing. Legitimate massage therapists aren’t going to risk throwing everything away for a couple extra bucks for a handy. If sex work was legal, people wouldn’t have to masquerade as much behind legitimate business.

As for massage being snake oil, I guess it depends on what the person is claiming it’s going to do. Like I said, I’ve been doing this almost 20 years now, and have worked in health clubs (mostly doing sports/injury recovery/rehab stuff), education (teaching massage, anatomy, physiology, pathology), and now working hospice the last several years. Massage can be great for pain relief, relaxation, and general comfort. For some people with circulatory issues like lymphedema, massage can help reduce the fluid settling in their extremities. Unfortunately historically there’s a lot of questionable and downright bullshit practices that have been attached to massage, but massage on it’s own? If you like to be touched, it can be a good thing.

For the love of God can’t we just make sex work legal, take the shame out of it, and STOP associating it with massage? PLEASE?!?

I’ve been a massage therapist for almost 20 years now and have got the point where the sex jokes hit with about the same impact as asking the cashier if something is free if the item doesn’t scan at the register. I work in hospice, and not 3 weeks ago I had a patient’s brother in law giggle and ask me if I gave his sister in law a happy ending. My inside voice said “no, sorry, she’s still breathing so she has to keep dealing with you” while my outside voice pretended not to hear the comment.

That room has a very specific odor that I can’t quite describe, but I trust you know it as well.

Aka abbreviated “charisma.”

I know it’s the angle and I know I’ve seen this image at some point in the past and I’ve seen it correctly, but for some reason the chair legs on the near side are totally fucked and my brain won’t accept them.

Through my teenage years I got wrapped up in an evangelical environment, but as an adult found my way to a non- denominational church. It was eye opening. The more I talked to the pastor, learned and read, I realized that people get wrapped up in their denominations like sports teams. And since the different denominations come about because of different interpretations of Scripture and the “rules” some group puts into place for their team, no wonder it’s the perfect environment for creating a culture of control and abuse for those seeking power.

This doesn’t make me not believe in God, this makes me not trust the motivations of people in power. On the day to day, I try to be the best I can to people around me, and share love, kindness, and respect. That’s my big take away from Jesus’ teachings at least.

I love using Hawaiian rolls/buns/bread for like, anything really lol.

Thank you for making me reread the previous post lol.

Ham, pineapple, onions, green peppers, and jalapenos, no sauce. One of my favorite pizzas.

There’s enough goodness that you really don’t need pizza sauce on it, or at least I’ve never come across a sauce that works with pineapple. But the flavors and textures work well together.

This the cucumber water those fancy spas serve?

You could lay a slice of hard cooked egg where the storm is lol.

More like “how do you find a moment to catch your breath and let your brain reset after you worked through your breaks, haven’t gotten to use the bathroom, and feel like you’re going to punch your patient in the face if they bitch about not getting a hot meal at 11:30pm.”

Weighted blankets can help with the transition too!

It depends? I know some people who have low tolerance to anything scary/horror or even intensely suspenseful and would lose sleep over some of the things I go to sleep listening to. I don’t truly scare easily, but there are some stories that under the right circumstances will creep me out enough to want some eye bleach before going to bed in the house alone. My favorite is when I have my earbuds set to noise cancelling and I really get into a story and think that someone else in the house is gone or sleeping, then I see them and scare the shit out of myself lol.

Yep - if it’s an expense I have to pay monthly anyway and might as well use one card for my expenses then pay it off every month and reap the rewards points/cash back.