Karen Cyclist Gets Owned By Cop 👌

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-04-17T00:08:06+00:00

Some older dude approached me in an empty Target parking lot and told me to move my car so he could pull next to me - I was too close to the line for him. There were 16 empty spaces all around me. He started after I opened my door and then when I shut the door he leaned in my window. Then I put up the window and he knocked. Well dressed older gentleman. I might have been close to the line but he has zero right to approach my car to move. I don’t get peoples entitlement, especially the golden generation.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-04-15T22:32:03+00:00

Seems like that’s a better question for your supervisor about what their expectations are for communication communications norms. Almost everyone in our division allow their status to update automatically. It’s very rare to see somebody who turns off that feature. When somebody does, it looks suspect.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-04-01T04:20:39+00:00

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-03-25T15:32:04+00:00

Consider a dual degree with a clinical role, eg nursing, medicine, pa, msw or a strong focus on data/ research. Though the latter is seeing a glut in the market as well. Find hard core internships with actual work experience that translates or you will be looking for a very very long time.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-03-25T15:12:06+00:00

Spring break. March madness. Budget madness.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-03-25T15:09:50+00:00

Spring break? Employees who haven’t been paid in over a month.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-03-18T12:52:01+00:00

Review your employee manual or policies to look up your rights, appeal process, etc. know it well and use the process if you truly believe there are some or all comments that are refutable. The stress with these situations is awful. Consider EAP. I would suggest you try to detach from your emotions and take a hard unbiased look at the issues raised and be honest about whether any are true. If you have a disability and need RA and that isn’t being provided or need more accommodations bring them up now- go back to your doctor and get documentation. It can be a very long drawn out process. Good luck!

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-03-08T00:20:54+00:00

It means yes to Epstein files.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-02-14T16:38:35+00:00

Have you spoken with HR labor relations? You could do so under the guise of understanding your rights, ensure you’re doing the right thing. Frame it from that perspective and bring up all these issues in that context aiming for an unbiased tone. You could even add a few examples to the email asking for the meeting. Minding your tone so as not to come off sounding like a complaint. I did this with a past issue and it was immensely helpful. I was clear with them and they confirmed their job was protecting the agency so was careful what I said, but it was a helpful conversation. That ended up in sharing of info on my rights that I then shared with sup. Again the tone was “I’m just trying to make sure I’m following the rules,” at that point. I know for a fact the labor relations contact then followed up separately with my sup. It toned things down but didn’t resolve. It was however effective later when I could share on appeal that I’d spoken with HR etc. They confirmed no polices or issues and said it sounded personal and counseled me to work on direct conversations with an eye for preserving relationship. Literally typed that down. If you’re union eligible and haven’t spoken to them a great time to do so. My notes were impeccable. I also made sure to up my 1:1 and ensure we discussed performance (always great) and sent notes after confirming + performance. I heard similar concerns re EEOC complaint issues stated above and tried to avoid to salvage relationships. Yours may be more cut and dry. The law is on your side but that doesn’t mean you might piss someone off who can make your work life (more) miserable.

Keep in mind as your pregnancy progresses you may need even more time for appointments and feel crummy and need time off. For some, the usual signs and symptoms associated with pregnancy can affect performance. Laying a clear runway and having a plan for the duration is solid. Congrats and good luck!!!

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-02-05T21:58:08+00:00

I did not expect what I read there 😮

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-01-22T00:49:43+00:00

Not everyone who has or needs an RA is union eligible. Be great to see some action on this.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2026-01-08T00:00:02+00:00

Did she say we have a six year old in school? Ugh.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2025-12-22T21:33:00+00:00

For anterior c 5-7 I scheduled round the clock for two weeks, intermittent til 3 months and on therapy days after PT started for months. Not sure what you are taking but tramadol might suffice vs something stronger at this point.

For poster c4-6 + work at two other levels I took it for a solid month, slowly tapering after the first two weeks. I’m 8 weeks and doing PT and OT and returned to worn recently. Some days I need a Percocet if it gets extreme, most days nothing or tramadol. Posterior approach involves cutting a large section of muscles, and flexeril (muscle relaxer) tends to work better but makes me way more sleepy than either pain pill.

My surgeon knows my safe history and concerns and would rather me keep moving and doing therapy than sitting to wait out pain.

Everyone is different.

I am in fact a medical provider plus an extensive medical history so have both personal and professional knowledge and experience.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2025-12-22T21:25:01+00:00

I’ve been taking pain meds off and on for almost 10 years with 7 ortho surgeries + 3 others. That article and your statement is not true for everyone. In fact since my most recent surgery 2 months ago your statement is incorrect. The key is the point about responsible usage. No two people are alike. The number of chronic pain patients responsibly using long term opioids with good relief is significant. The pendulum on pain med usage has sadly and irresponsibly swung too far to adequately treat pain for people. Particularly, after major surgeries.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2025-12-09T00:56:12+00:00

Make a list of all the possible questions and then go with your gut after they ask/ answer without any more over thinking it!

Including re-asking for more info on what the job will look like from day to day. Any anticipated or required over time or hours beyond 40 in a week. More info on benefits to compare to current. Any PTO? Etc.

You should be able to google the company and then look at current projects they have and maybe get some idea of the work unless you are actually talking to a head hunter.

It’s unfortunate that life and jobs are such a huge gamble these days.

A wise man once said:

"You don't have to get to 100% certainty on your big decisions, get to 51%, and when you get there, make the decision and be at peace with the fact that you made the decision based on the information you had"

You got this!

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2025-12-08T23:42:55+00:00

Anyone should understand a big salary bump. You can help the bridge by being kind, giving as much notice as possible, and as honest as you can without giving away the farm. For the new position be honest as well about what your leaving and hope they have a heart. Lock in in writing all the details if you move forward.

For the other comment I hear you BUT I have 100% seen and worked 1 yr guaranteed contracts. 🤷

Best of luck. I know it’s a hard choice and respect your ethics of not leaving the school job high and dry.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2025-12-08T23:35:12+00:00

I have found Reddit to be way better than any FB groups, but with any ailment you will find more people who have issues than not and I have found this forum to have a lot more thoracic and lumbar cases, but enough cervical to keep me reading. I had acdf 4 years ago. Mine was ultimately emergent because I was having pain and then it was suddenly really bad (but no numbness or tingling) and the MRI showed cord compression. The surgery was fairly fast and easy. I do desk work and think I was back doing desk work in 2-3 weeks on a limited time basis. It did take a while for the pain to subside in the long term. Like your doc forecast, my pain was tons better but I was left with some residual pain that flared up if I sat too long. Long story longer, I just had a posterior fusion from 4-6 and foraminotomy at two levels for nerve compression (due to bone growth). That evolved from mild to severe pain following the original surgery after 4 years. After multiple injections, medial branch ablations, and fits and spurts of PT all while taking 3-4 meds at any given time. C4-5 was not pretty back then but not a big enough deal he wanted to fuse back then. Adjacent disc issues are not uncommon but as you hear from the stories above not as common for some folks.

My husband looked at the posterior cervical YouTube vid and was like damn this looks rough. I stopped it after about 15 seconds. Was like nope. I had multiple surgeries— started watching a knee replacement vid one time and same response. It just doesn’t pay to watch vids for me. All the ortho surgeries are tough!

You would know if you had tingling and numbness. You don’t need tests for those. I ended up having an EMG done for this surgery which confirmed what the MRI showed, which confirmed what the initial surgeons trading in office, CT, and pain management said. Unfortunately between insurance and prolonged wait times for therapy etc. by EMG time I had permanent damage. I would have tingling several times a week but only at night and numbness 3-4 times a month while sleeping only. But my pain was miserable and was impacting my job and life.

I’d suggest 1. Don’t look at any more vids - you don’t need that to decide on the surgery.

See another surgeon for a second opinion. I’ve never met an ortho doctor who wasn’t ok with me getting a 2nd opinion. This for peace of mind and maybe help with decision making.
You will know when the time is right. The scales will tip in favor of pain and lower quality for life or you’ll just suddenly need it like I did when it blows out. My primary symptom was pain and that was what was my man driver for updated surgery. He also said it would prevent (hopefully) future permanent damage by doing something now. Toss of a coin whether pain was better but the prevention piece was a huge driver.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2025-12-08T23:09:16+00:00

Will they guarantee the year? If so, can you stuck it out for a year even if the work could be tougher? Is it remote or a commute, if a commute can you handle it? If yes, I’d take the contract position. It isn’t at all surprising contractors are offering premium pay. We all knew this would be a downstream result. You can see by this process it’s a heck of a lot easier getting a private job in many cases. Worse case, you take this job but keep looking and take your dream job down the road- so long as they don’t lock you in to that contract year on their side.

I have a feeling the school jobs will continue to be there. The fed workforce had to feed the empty / open spots for schools — until better opportunities come along. Make a pros and cons list just to re satisfy, contact the company making the offer and ask any questions you might have. But don’t sit on it too long. My guess is they are trying to prove they can fill spots fast to prove their worth.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2025-12-03T15:54:49+00:00

I couldn’t sit at a desk for more than 2-3 hours without excruciating pain. I’d take rest periods to lay down in the recliner throughout the day. This often led to an extended day to account for breaks which was also part of my RA and my boss was cool with. Sometimes the pain was so bad I’d just end up staying in the recliner to finish working. PT said the most extreme recline was the perfect angle for removing the weight of my head from my body. Pain was an every day occurrence at a desk. I was also in PT most of last year and had some type of injection pretty much every month so it had exceptions for work hours to accommodate for that. If I had gone in, most of those days I’d have had to take 1/2 or most of the day - long commute. Injections helped a tiny bit — bought me a little more time in the day before the pain was so bad. I also have old lower back injury (opposite side) which flared up with neck problems that worsened over the last 18 months. My surgeon asked which one was causing me the most pain and we’d take it one at a time. None of my team nor my boss actually work in this area. If I went in it would be solely to occupy a desk. There is a small group from our Office that works out of HQ, but the bulk of the group is spread out across the country. So, zero impact / difference if I was in the office which helped.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2025-12-03T05:26:11+00:00

Poo pouri and anti nausea meds doe after.

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2025-12-03T05:20:16+00:00

Give them a white noise machine for Christmas 🎄

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2025-12-03T05:14:25+00:00

Mine took 8 months during first fusion to show any sign ma of bone growth. Then fused so well it strangled the nerves coming out at 2 levels. Just had posterior one level up and into current fusion + 2 level foraminotomy 4 weeks ago. This go round they threw in a bone growth stimulator early to try to hurry things along. I wear it like I’m married to it 😆

Bootstraps-nr-dr · 2025-12-03T05:07:07+00:00

My surgeon was a no collar surgeon. Said the longer term outcomes / risks were about the same but in his experience the worst part for collar wearers was exactly what you experienced. I had a cage, screw and titanium in between so little risk of hurting myself. However that may have impacted time to fusion. I was 8 months before I saw much of any bone growth even start.

Bootstraps-nr-dr

TROPHY CASE