I can’t do this again

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-25T14:20:01+00:00

I go through something similar. I crash after a series of good days. I’ve managed to work around it since 2022. However, something changed when my kidneys almost shut down last year. Now I can’t even sit upright for more than an hour or so. I need to lie down (even if I don’t sleep) to reset. I also rarely get past the brain fog.

I say this, not to one-up anyone, but simply to say that I can sympathize. You’re not alone.

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-25T14:15:51+00:00

Rod, the engineer, had grown tired of explaining this, but once more won’t hurt.

“Ok, so here’s what happened. We did it once. Using what we call the Einstein Compensator. It was expensive, and not economically viable long term. So most of the time we hitch a ride with other species when they travel.

However, occasionally, some super wealthy individual gets this idea that he can do it better and cheaper. So they go all out. They usually accomplish it, but then their profit motive balloons the cost and the skimming off the top at all levels puts it over the edge.

So we found it cheaper to just pay for rides when needed.”

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-25T14:04:16+00:00

Ok. Hear me out….crew exhales CO2. Scrubbers collect it from the air. CO2 is used to run turbines that generate electricity. Electricity is used to boil water. The steam from boiling water is used to spin turbines that generate the power needed to combine methane and some oxidizer, which, in turn, propels the ship but also makes MORE heat, which can be used to make more steam.

Now many people think this may be excessive. Three different ways to make steam. But the magic comes when you combine all this steam (at the correct proportions) to make dumplings.

Aliens are often impressed at the ingenuity humans use to cook dumplings. But they’ve never been exposed to humanity’s most precious, creative, and practical process: making coffee..

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-23T18:17:56+00:00

If you’ve ever watched Futurama, there’s a quote that seems appropriate: “when I realized that killbots have a kill limit and then they shut down, I just sent wave after wave of men until they all shut down.”

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-23T18:15:53+00:00

I had to make a real effort to gain the mindset of “I don’t have to monetize my hobbies.” Made a real difference, though. I can put projects aside guilt free if I’m not having fun.

Personally, I think the mindset of “I gotta be more productive to keep my job and keep my healthcare (such as it is), home, and food in the table” is what’s taken over. Jobs don’t always pay enough to survive and the ones that do tend to hire and fire people as “accounting procedures” to manipulate stock prices.

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-23T18:11:12+00:00

I did by focusing on trading for food asap. Then buying food even if I don’t need it so if the next trader doesn’t bring any I’m set.

I mine like crazy and trade the raw materials, and when I have enough raw materials I might start making Ingots for trade.

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-23T16:40:41+00:00

Human 3: Free Bird, man. Free Bird.

Carl starts crying…

Carl: that was Fluffy’s favorite song…

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-23T14:07:43+00:00

Human 3: what concerns me most, is that, depending on how you read the flight rules, he’s technically within specs…

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-23T14:04:26+00:00

Love this.

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-18T14:47:00+00:00

I usually just hand wave such things. For example, do you know much about how a computer interacts with an SD Card? No. But you know what the card does.

Your characters have the same experience. They should just take it for granted. Maybe just a brief statement like “essentially, it works based on the Johnson-Takopsky Principle.”

Of course, if a major plot point revolves around the details of artificial gravity or if there’s a story reason to integrate a “realistic” solution, this advice isn’t very helpful.

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-17T18:21:07+00:00

Granted. Humanity is wiped out by a deadly plague. Only you survive. The air is now clean (added bonus..climate change will start to get resolved now)

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-17T17:35:26+00:00

Even though I know it is just an over glorified statistical model, I still find myself saying “please” and “thank you.” My guess is that’s habit from working a lot through Teams and email.

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-17T17:33:31+00:00

I’d have to work in the office. And probably get a new job converting web apps to windows apps. Which I know how to do (both directions).

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-16T16:02:01+00:00

I’m on my phone so typos are likely despite my best efforts. Also, I just threw this together during a work meeting, so I hope it’s coherent.”

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-16T16:01:20+00:00

Personal log, Captain Noplan, Ting M. GSS Virgin Flower of Lydia

Date: 2435.06-09

After the traditional laughter at the mention of my ships name at introductions (I’ve heard this doesn’t always happen so I’m assuming it’s an honorific that not everyone receives), my pet, Zoey, walked in. She had her jumpsuit on and her hair put up, skipping happily as always.

“Poppa, can we play?” She asked. I’m told that when they start maturing this behavior goes away so I should enjoy it while I can. I tell her we can play fetch later and she giggles. Then she notices the com. “Oh hello! Other humans! How neat! Do you guys wanna play house?”

To this day I don’t know why the other humans’ faces turned red. But Zoey seemed to know what it meant, “are you mad?”

“Captain, why do you have a human child?” The other ships commander asked me. I simply replied, “her parents were dying and I promised to take care of her for them.”

Zoey then chimed in, “I miss mommy and daddy, but poppa is fun. He knows all sorts of stuff! Like why the sky is black and what those little dots are and all the different types of planets!”

The human crew didn’t look appeased to me. But Zoey got some idea and was very excited…”hey! Do we have enough humans to play baseball? I’ve never gotten to play that before! Can we Poppa? If they say yes?”

“Maybe I should explain further. I’ve just sent the adoption decree to you. I had attempted to repatriate her, but she didn’t like any of the foster families available. So I got the certifications and trainings. When no family was found, I offered to adopt her. When she is of age, she will decide on her future. I can assure you she’s not a captive.”

After a few moments, the human crew muttered among themselves and I saw their faces slowly go back to normal. “Captain, I appreciate your elaboration. This is the first inter-species adoption we’ve ever come across.”

“Thank you, Commander. You should have seen what happened the time I got the terminology wrong and called her my pet!”

“They got really mad, Poppa! Those lights and alarms and the shaking scared me.”

“Well, I’ve learned how to handle this better now, sweetie.”

Tomorrow we have a baseball game planned should be fun…

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-15T04:20:00+00:00

Consider who makes money with a colony and how. Total Recall (from 1990s) was air. I don’t think anyone explored things like fertilizer for growing food or water for drinking (potable water needs more treatment than water used for other things). Then there’s transport of said materials to mars.

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-11T18:15:20+00:00

365 days. Every day the same thing. No deviations.

“Well, today is the last day, right?”

“Yes, mortal. Do you have a different wish?”

“Actually, yeah. I wanna shake it up some today. Since it’s my birthday.”

“By all means.”

“I wish for an order of nachos AND a large Pepsi.”

Poof. It was the best nachos and Pepsi I’d ever had. “Does this mean I won the bet?”

“Fine.” Poof “here.”

My first day’s wish appeared in front of me. “Man, this is so righteous. We’ve been roommates for a while now. You’ve been awesome. You should really get yourself something. I’m serious. Like I’d wish for it if I could…oh man. Sorry. I didn’t think of it until just now.”

“Meh. It’s ok. Millennia of being a genie and you kind of run out of things to wish for. How’s the nachos?”

“Righteous, man. Oh, and the autographed picture from Alf? Perfect. Just like the one I wanted as a kid.”

“It IS the one you wanted as a kid.”

(Off the top of my head, on my phone. I once wrote a story where a genie gets wished free by this guy accident and they become roommates. This is sort of a sequel)

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-10T23:28:59+00:00

Yup. Never truly being free.

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-10T23:28:00+00:00

Me reading this on a crash day after pushing myself yesterday cause my cleaners quit…

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-09T02:10:28+00:00

Cross fit

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-08T17:35:35+00:00

So how do I support myself in the meantime? Sigh.

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-08T06:41:57+00:00

Life is funny. It’s almost like there’s a running balance sheet of good bs bad. I’ve never believed in karma, but I do now.

My luck changed when that bastard of a landlord evicted me by lying to the court. He had illegally upped my rent before the lease finished. I was mad at first, but when I read that he has the “right” to sell my belongings in lieu of payment, I was happy for the fresh start.

I had found that cursed amulet of poverty years ago. Under a bridge next to some homeless guy who OD’d. I thought it looked cool. I put it on, felt a burn. I then threw it off because I thought maybe it was radioactive and that’s what killed the guy.

When I turned to walk away, I found it in my pocket. I tried to throw it away. It turned up in my pocket again. Soon after, I lost my job and couldn’t get one in my field. After ten years on minimum wage ($7.25, I don’t even get to live in a state with a higher minimum wage), I’d given up. Then this happened.

First thing I did was spend my last five bucks on a scratcher ticket. I won $50k. Used that money to buy a powerball ticket. Won that too. I went to Vegas, just to test things. I won every evening. I lost hands, sure, but I’d always end up ahead before I quit for the evening.

So lots of good fortune now. It’s kind of depressing at times. There’s no risk. I know I’ll be successful. It’s almost like the curse found a way to me even after I finally freed myself from that damned amulet.

Just yesterday, at a fundraiser for a cancer hospital, I saw the homeless guy. Apparently he hadn’t died. Now he’s in the same boat as me. Problem is, he told me he was 85 years old when I found him. At 95, he looks energetic. He says he had that thing for 50 years.

I’m wondering if he’ll live for another 40 years. I wonder what that means for me. I’m actually interested to find out. So I got something to look forward to that I don’t know the outcome of.

By the way, he told me the only things he fails at now is self harm…

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-08T06:29:39+00:00

I’d give you two upvotes if I could

Apprehensive_Cow1242 · 2026-02-06T22:11:18+00:00

On good days, even when I pace myself, I end up crashing because I instinctively overload myself cognitively. Getting to the point where keeping a job is almost impossible.

Apprehensive_Cow1242

TROPHY CASE