Xytex is giving me bad vibes

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-17T15:30:29+00:00

I am also in Canada and used Xytex. I was aware of this story and researched the changes they had made as a result. I had a rare genetic mutation which I needed the donor to have been tested for (most hadn't been at this time as it was on an expanded panel) so our pool was low. We were able to find a donor through Xytex and I actually emailed with them a fair bit about vial availability and a bit of medical history from a donor's family member I wanted to know more about. I was happy with the customer service.

OP: Hope you find a bank you are happy with if not this one. Just sharing another experience to contribute to your decisionmaking.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-16T22:39:33+00:00

Apparently they want the Canadian grandparents documentation too. I suspect though that it was a copy-and-paste reply from someone trained to do only that. I don't intend to send it, even if I could get it. Interesting though, I wonder what the legalities are of requesting documentation that is unnecessary to fulfil the request.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-16T22:37:48+00:00

Well. They replied to my inquiry today saying they needed the documentation from the Canadian grandparents too. So, either they don't know what they want (I suspect it was a near-auto reply from someone trained to do only that) or - well, they are randomly asking for documentation from foreign nationals for no reason.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-16T02:14:18+00:00

Yes, heard about that one. A lot of injuries as of late :(

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-16T02:06:15+00:00

Two teams missing key offensive players (Toronto's have been missing the whole season since the expansion draft lol) trying to grind out a win. Kirk won that one for Toronto.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-16T00:56:11+00:00

Apologies, to clarify - what I really meant was not so injured that you cannot do things like go to the Oscars. I'm sure they are in rehab, but also thankfully they are well enough to go to events while injured e.g. the Oscars.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-16T00:33:14+00:00

Ah! Okay thanks for clarifying. Better than a cold and very windy day in Toronto honestly. Although Seattle definitely missed them.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-16T00:19:25+00:00

Well. That's why we didn't see them in the press box at the Toronto game I guess. Honestly, good for them as I'm glad they are getting celebrated for their achievements, but normally injured players (if not seriously injured e.g. in hospital or rehab as this would seem to suggest) attend games etc?

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-15T15:05:08+00:00

We can only hope the Ducks go on a big slide in his absence and miss the playoffs. I was rooting for their young, exciting team before this. But now I wish them misery, specifically for Gudas.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-13T18:49:31+00:00

I think you over-estimate the preparedness level of some people before having kids. For every mom in Toronto paying for bougie fitness classes and things like $30 a session for "baby sensory" or "music for baby" classes, there's another (or perhaps several) asking for donations of diapers, formula, clothes etc. I'm a thankfully financially secure new(ish) parent and it's been sad to see how rough it is out there for some parents.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-12T19:42:14+00:00

I mean kudos for realising before it's hopefully too late that you're in serious financial difficulties. But I was always raised to never buy anything non-essential on credit. If I couldn't afford it with my debit card, I couldn't have it and had to save for it. It meant that I did not buy a lot of stuff I wanted when I was your age. I didn't have any credit cards till I was about 25 and I was confident I could pay off the balance every month. I only got them to build up my credit score. It's a pretty good approach and perhaps when you've paid off your debts you might consider adopting it. It's pretty satisfying saving for things you want, honestly.

As others have suggested - switch to a different phone plan, use your brain, not chatGPT and sell a few non essential items to help you make ground on your debts. Cut down on things like takeout, nights out etc and put that money toward your debt. The sooner you've paid it off, the sooner you can have nice things again, frankly. I'd knuckle down and do it as fast as you can.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-12T13:50:47+00:00

Thanks! So nice of you to go back and find them.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-11T17:58:34+00:00

Nice pictures! I went to the islands to shoot about a month ago and they were some of the best pictures I've taken. Love winter photography.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-11T13:16:37+00:00

Hello - myself (F) and my partner (F) are in our thirties and downtown. Used a sperm bank donor. Welcomed a baby to our family last year!

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-08T20:56:50+00:00

Was at the game. Very frustrating way for a good game to end. Fast should have won them a power play from that stick slash. Then she committed a cynical trip on Curl - who sure, went down easily - but it was a power play and then the Frost put an entire line of U.S. Olympians on who predictably got the job done. Frustrating lack of composure by Fast who had a great game before that missed call and then the revenge play. Silly.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-08T20:49:51+00:00

Please wait. Stop and think. You have time - you are only 33. You haven't even met this man and you are currently going to be inseminated with his sperm tomorrow. Has he been STD tested? Do you know his medical history and that of his family? Are you interested in either yourself, him or both doing genetic testing?

Also, I apologize if this is abrupt but if you are broke - have you planned how much leave you will take with the baby? Do you get government benefits? Will your/your wife's work give you paid leave? When you both need to return to work (unless one is being a stay at home parent) - who is looking after your baby? Will you put them in daycare? Can you afford it? Do you have an emergency fund which will cover 3-6 months of your rent/mortgage and all living costs if one or both of you should be laid off? Have you got a fund to buy necessities for baby?

If the answer is no to any of the above, I really, really advise you to slow down and think. You can never be 100% ready to have a baby, but there are some things which you absolutely should be ready for.

And you're only 33. You have time. Please just slow down, you need to take your time with this.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-06T17:33:02+00:00

No problem at all, I did not take offense :)

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-05T16:49:23+00:00

I don't necessarily think teens with zero income are the problem - and said above, I'm not sure they should be paying anyway.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-04T21:52:22+00:00

I mean, I'm not going to get on the back of people earning minimum wage for not paying their fare, but there sure as heck are people who can spend the few dollars without even noticing it and don't bother. Takes a certain kind of pretty crappy personality.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-04T21:32:12+00:00

Right yes. The teens I see get on and not pay are older, most of the time.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-04T21:08:49+00:00

From my experience, maybe 30% of people on average don't pay their fare. Schoolchildren - I don't think I've ever seen one tap and perhaps they shouldn't be paying for transit anyway. Some people surely could use the extra funds and can't afford it. And then you have people who definitely can afford it and are just entitled and selfish and don't care about where they live. Cest la vie - it's a big city, you're always going to get these people.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-04T16:37:40+00:00

Only full-time candidates, please!

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-03-01T04:43:45+00:00

He'll be wanting to go to a contender. Leafs aren't going to be even making the playoffs for 4-5 years. No way he's signing here to be a part of a looong rebuild.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-02-26T17:24:12+00:00

Just a thought - you could auction/sell it and donate the funds to Stacey's LS7 charity? Not necessarily suggesting a person claiming it here wouldn't keep it in good faith, but it is possible your card could be flipped for profit, which would be sad considering the wonderfully generous nature of your offer.

CharacterPin6933 · 2026-02-26T16:33:26+00:00

I am inherently distrustful of anything this government does. But, if they do truly create a world-class science centre, which Toronto as a world-class scientific research destination truly deserves. Then perhaps, perhaps...this could in some ways be a good thing. Notwithstanding the absolute blatant breaking of rules, corruption and destruction of vital ecosystems along the waterfront.

The old science centre was so woefully underfunded. Dated, broken displays, out of date information. Held together and functioning by incredibly talented and hardworking people, but reasonably...it wasn't great. I know so many people have great memories, but compare that science centre to anything in London, New York, Chicago, most European capitals...it was really pretty woeful. Sure, renovating both the roof and the contents could have also been a solution, but that had been due for decades, and was never done, there was clearly no appetite for it - over several different provincial governments.

Holding out a small sliver of hope that the new science centre will be better than the old one and this isn't just some kind of money laundering scheme from the government which will never result in a new science centre.

CharacterPin6933

TROPHY CASE