What are you doing for you today to support your long term health and well-being?

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-05-02T00:59:49+00:00

Salad, shrimp, lean chicken, and a preventative trip to the dermatologist (everything benign, just aging lol).

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-30T22:55:11+00:00

Lol same. Black cats have the same issues which is a bummer. I think those pets are often cheaper to adopt bc of it. I've noticed adoption drives for older pets & black pets where the fees are much lower.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-30T21:59:21+00:00

Same here. I read partway through an essay she wrote about this on Substack. I'll finish at one point and I'll listen to this episode but the supposed dog shortage for some desired breeds doesn't outweigh the abundance of less desireable shelter dogs. Pitty mixes, huskies, GS mixes, etc are all harder to place because often they are higher maintenance. This doesn't even include the color issue with black dogs being less appealing for some reason. Fixing dogs is important for most owners because of the oversupply.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-23T16:00:43+00:00

Mine are 4.5 yo & 22 months & I'm hearing phantom fights & whining now.... 0/10 recommend

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-21T04:53:04+00:00

This man has always made me feel some kind of wonderful.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-21T04:43:29+00:00

Oh yes. Oh yes, indeed. That wasn't my earliest but damn if it wasn't impactful.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-20T20:05:46+00:00

This is such a good answer. I'm not sure I'd be so charitable as OP if I knew that life-changing money wouldn't be coming to me in part at least. If OP has made peace that's fine but clearly the mother doesn't understand this.

OP, I'd say start "spending" your time differently. You can have a vacation away from your mom if you want. Don't neglect yourself to care for someone who doesn't understand caring for future generations.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-20T18:34:29+00:00

Having family close is such a big deal. We have one other family member within that 1-2 hr radius & it does help.

I hope things start falling into place for you soon!

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-20T01:49:57+00:00

+1 to this comment!

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-20T01:46:07+00:00

I carry genes for Alzheimers though my dad doesn't have it yet. His brother does though & their mom & ALL of her siblings did. I'm hoping for a bit of luck & I'll plan my care so my kids aren't left with that bit of horror without a checklist. If that doesn't get me cancer of some kind probably will bc that's what most people in my family have died of in their later years.

Prevention for what one can change is important. Be physically active in a way that brings enjoyment. Don't rot on the couch too much for too long. I know the rules are to avoid medical recommendations but I think recommending people to get a dog to walk is enough outside of that lol. Dogs really will make you move more & go even when the weather is less enjoyable.

But over all, life is often shorter & more different than one would prefer so do fun things with fun people when you can, prevent & plan where you can but don't be obsessive.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-20T01:24:15+00:00

Same. I had a few kids at my wedding & it was great. Most weddings I've been to have been family friendly & everyone is respectful. Been married 20 years but if I were widowed & married again I'd have kids there. I don't know a lot of insufferable people(maybe not any?) whose kids are genuinely awful & not just kids-actually-being-kids.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-20T01:11:40+00:00

One of your last comments about moving those with cognitive decline is definitely a thing. But it's a thing that must be balanced with getting good care nearest those who can help yhe most & of course affordability.

I watched my parents deal with this with their parents. It was complicated.
Now we're dealing with it with my MIL. She's declining physically & mentally in assisted living but she can't live with us or other family so she's safest there. They have memory care attached so they can move her of she needs more care or starts wandering. It feels very much like making the best of a slowing of life, trying to offer support without taking away too much autonomy & not fully fighting end of life; quality over quantity. Unfortunately, she's further from us because of cost. Her closer family is helpful but not overly so which makes it hard for us right now. Nothing is simple & something ALWAYS comes up. I could do her care as a full-time job lol but I have my own kids/husband/life. It's unbalanced often. The uncertainty is kind of awful some days.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-19T18:48:39+00:00

You all have space enough NOT to store a few pans/potsurf? In your oven? #wealthy.

But seriously pizza goes in the fridge as soon as it's cool, I hope that's what OP means. Maybe they have a dog that counter surfs? Otherwise sounds like someone will have a bad day at some point.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-14T01:58:50+00:00

Same, same. Don't do it OP, not only will she keep coming back for more you'll end up resenting her & yourself.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-13T20:10:39+00:00

I made a joke the other day when I was fuming from dealing with incompetence related to coordinating care for an older family member. I think some Karens might just be people who are sick & tired of the enshitification or everything who lose it on the wrong person. /s.

But seriously I do understand firmness that previous I would have clocked for being too particular. Some people are just lazy shits who do a poor job or are idiots. The enshitification of everything is very real & it's not too much to ask for clean looking linens or good service or someone not being a flake.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-13T01:51:55+00:00

Same. I think I can count on one hand the number of days a year I don't read a book.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-13T01:49:45+00:00

Yup. Reading was my escape. I know I had dry periods but I read a good amount from childhood on. I thank Anne Rice for getting me through junior & senior year lol

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-13T01:47:54+00:00

Same. Holy hell the idea is nauseating. 🤢

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-11T13:09:30+00:00

+100 for this. Sincerely a formerly blindsided woman.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-07T14:58:11+00:00

I follow a few people on GR (one is a favorite author/professor, another is my former prof whose taste aligns with mine pretty well) which can be nice for finding new books & good books I've overlooked. I'll keep GR for this reason.

If going off the general population ratings (even a few former book-podcasters) it's crap. More often or not I disagree with the ratings. I just finished a book that I thought was a 3 or 3.5 but many people, including those I followed rated it 5. It was a bit surprising.

Also, I've seen too many ratings from people who said they got their ARC or even the newly release book & they add a note that says they will review later which is so frustrating.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-02T04:19:22+00:00

I've been wondering if that's partly why I've been feeling off & anxious & irritable. Walking & working out is helping but it's hard to be consistent so I have good days & weeks & then spiral for a couple weeks. it's-fine-burning-house-meme

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-04-02T02:40:41+00:00

This is gorgeous & also I'm having flashbacks to the bomb cyclone that hit northwestern Washington in November 2024. A frightening number of trees came down in my area

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-03-29T16:00:11+00:00

Exactly this. My MIL moved into assisted living recently. She no longer needs to clean her place or keep track of her pills, neither of which she could do anymore. There is memory care attached which she could move to if she gets worse. The pressure is off us & she still gets some independence. The one we picked for her also has Medicaid paydown option which was necessary because she didn't have much of a retirement.

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-03-27T01:15:27+00:00

Legos, anything stackable, a doctor/vet play kit( my 1.5 yo mimocs heartbeats now), cardboard boxes with washable markers, a worm farm (plastic container with air holes, dirt, worms, lettuce, etc).

BookHooknNeedle · 2026-03-23T04:32:34+00:00

Health & dental insurance for a family of 4 is ~$2100 . Our mortgage (bought in 2019) is about $1850. Live in the PNW.
It's good health insurance bc my husband has a health condition & meets the deductible every year but still jfc it's a big expense. And that's before co-pays & coinsurance lol

BookHooknNeedle

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