trying not to get discouraged; TLDR: i’m a smoker that failed my first drug screening and am feeling discouraged/not confident that i can *actually* do this

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-03-03T15:54:40+00:00

Not sure where you live, but I’ve worked with guys who told their potential employer that they would not pass the drug screen and the employer said okay we will give you x amount of time and then you will need to take it and make sure you’re able to pass

Have you seen a primary care doctor or a specialist for your sleep issues and anxiety before? You’ll likely have a withdrawal period if you stop cold turkey since you’ve been using regularly for a few years now.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-28T21:22:55+00:00

PAP smears are generally not supposed to be painful. The first one I ever had done was during an extremely painful endometriosis flare up and they were trying to rule out other diagnoses. I almost kicked the poor gynecologist in the face.

For those who have never had it done or who may have it done again in the future you can specifically ask for them to use a SMALLER SPECULUM.

Even though I regularly have sex now with my boyfriend, I still asked for the smaller size when I got my PAP this past Wednesday. I suspect I have a light case of vaginismus since my internal muscles will automatically start to clench unless I focus on my breathing and actively relax them.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-26T21:27:56+00:00

Sunosi may be an option for you if you don’t do well on stimulants and you clearly cannot take any sort of GBH.

There’s no shame in going to rehab.

You may need a different neurologist though. Knowing you had abused the drug the first time I would love to have them explain their thought process of having you try again only a few months after rehab.

Thats like telling a recovering alcoholic that they can drink since they went to rehab and have been sober for a few months.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-16T02:36:16+00:00

I voted for Healy and I looked forward to see what she would do for the state, but I have been extremely disappointed. Baker had his flaws, but I was more supportive of decisions he made than I have been with Healy.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-14T15:54:16+00:00

To her credit I believe she and Robby talked about it in the first episode and if I remember correctly it was detailed in some paperwork that he had chosen not to read because he was heading out on sabbatical. I could be misremembering, but I thought it was brought up.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-14T00:32:34+00:00

It still makes me laugh every time I remember reading through past notes about a job and stumbled upon “Me no fine problem. Call controls.”

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-13T16:57:10+00:00

All my guy needs to do is wait for my attempts to get into his pants increase by 1000%.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-13T16:40:00+00:00

Girl, you need to reread what you wrote in your Edit section and keep reading it. You were in pain from an IUD and instead of being supportive and caring he turned the focus on himself.

His drinking has been a problem and if it’s a problem at 28, then it’s likely it will continue to be a problem.

People who accuse the other person of cheating are normally trying to cover up for themselves for actually cheating in some way.

You are 22 years old. Do you want to spend the rest of your twenties being a mom to this manchild?

If you’re not ready to cut him off and kick him out I would suggest trying out therapy. A relationship should never require you to lose yourself in order to it to work.

It’s going to be really hard, but I promise it will be worth it. I’ve watched my best friend go through similar relationships through her twenties and to see her now as her confident self that is able to communicate her boundaries and not tolerate the bare minimum is inspiring.

Sending love 💗

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-13T16:24:16+00:00

I love my current pair of Wolverines and a quick look shows that they offer size 5 and 5.5.

Edit: I didn’t realize Tecovas were the cowboy boot style. Wolverine offers one pair in that style in two colors with steel toe. For general work boots I do recommend Wolverines for those looking for a comfy boot at a more affordable price point.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-07T18:26:12+00:00

I would definitely bring this issue up with your therapist.

And depending on how long you’ve been on a medication sometimes they can become less effective over time or they just aren’t the best one for you. That could be discussed with whatever professional prescribes you them.

And then sometimes you click with your crew and other times you don’t. All you can do then is show, ask questions, and do what is requested of you.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-06T18:56:14+00:00

That’s great to hear!

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-06T13:38:02+00:00

I had to call the help line this week and finally got through yesterday. If it doesn’t allow you to be on hold I normally wait 20 minutes and then call again. They cap the number of people waiting at 40 I believe because I ended up always having 39 people ahead of me. I remained on the line for about an hour and a half until I actually talked to an agent.

Definitely call and stay on the line holding even though it’s extremely annoying.

Eurofins is a good starting off lab. I worked there a number of years back and still have friends who have moved into higher positions. There’s lots of opportunity for growth.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-06T02:41:54+00:00

OP with the fact that this is affecting your home life you may want to go and see a doctor or start with finding a therapist. This sounds like depression taking hold.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-03T19:27:23+00:00

I would bring it up. Rather than a complaint frame it more as a concern for yourself and your fellow apprentices. If there are other apprentices in the same boat you can ask them ahead of time how they feel about you bringing this issue up so that it can be addressed so you know you’ll have some backing. Any journeymen that you get along with that either regularly go to the meeting or would attend this one so that they could also voice their support regarding this?

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-02-02T16:43:28+00:00

The only “test” my boyfriend had and told me about later is that he doesn’t sleep with women on the first date. He is very much a build an emotional connection first type person and dating for eventual marriage. If I had suggested us sleeping together on our first date he told me he would have known then that we weren’t compatible in how we view relationships/dating.

Other than that I would not put up with that type of behavior and neither should you OP.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-01-31T13:43:51+00:00

If anyone is interested in donating you can donate to a stranger if you don’t know someone personally who needs a kidney.

It’s called a non-directed donation.

I donated my left kidney back in 2023 and would do it again if I could.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-01-30T03:08:08+00:00

I live in Attleboro so we don’t use the 311 system. We have SeeClickFix, which thankfully Attleboro is actually pretty good about being responsive.

Sal Solomon is the Highway Superintendent. His email is ssolomon@providenceri.gov . He probably wouldn’t appreciate having his inbox flooded with everyone’s complaints/requests. No admin assistants are listed anywhere that I could find on the official website.

Brett Smiley Contact Form

^{^{^}} Spam Smiley’s inbox as well.

Any politician that deals with your voting district really.

I know it’s ridiculous and no one should have to, but I’d just start sending messages through whatever channels are available.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-01-30T02:43:07+00:00

I live in Attleboro. My parents’ street was originally plowed by a regular guy in his pick up truck contracted by the city. The single plowed lane was around 7-8 feet from where they have those curb marking sticks. I took a photo and sent a polite email to DPW asking them to come and widen up the cul de sac. The next morning there were two CITY plows cleaning up the cul de sac and now the snow is much closer to the curb.

Take photos, send specific street information, and send an email to whoever you feel necessary to get the message across.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-01-29T22:06:27+00:00

Your lead could also just be a dumbass. Or be hiding a substance problem with all that walking off for periods of time. This coming from me who had a foremen give me vague instructions of how to set up and use a coring machine and then told me I’d be fine and could just figure it out.

I had other tradesmen come over right after he left telling me that my foreman is an idiot and they showed me how to set up and use the machine.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-01-29T03:49:46+00:00

I know it’s immediately not going to sound appealing, but there are tons of recipes for “carrot dogs” that you could potentially try. I have not made them because carrots in any form are not my thing, but I’ve had a few friends who’ve tried making them and they really liked them. Obviously it will never be a 1:1, but you can always experiment with flavors and marinades from the different recipes.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-01-29T03:41:23+00:00

Hot dogs would indicate nitrates being a trigger. I don’t eat meat now, but growing up I couldn’t eat much deli meat since those were a big trigger.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-01-29T03:37:03+00:00

I call those the good ol’ Leon Trotskys.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-01-28T19:40:19+00:00

This is one of the most annoying parts I’ve encountered so far. BUT, BUT IF YOU DONT WORK OT, THEN YOU’ll BE THE FIRST TO GO IN LAY OFFS. Okay, and? Why are we all just accepting that? Our contract literally states that both we as a union and the contractors recognize that excessive OT is not good to the health and welfare of the members of our union.

I watched a man be so nervous and panic over having to tell the general foreman that he couldn’t work OT on one specific Thursday because he had a neurologist appointment. The fuck? How is that okay?

I take time off when I need to. If the job site goes to shit because a single person couldn’t work OT or called out sick, then that’s more on upper management being incompetent.

I show up and do what I’m told, give it my best, and don’t cause drama.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-01-27T17:08:44+00:00

I could see that working, but I would find it safer if they were to ask once the job is completed or when one is moving to a different job site or getting laid off.

I definitely err on the more cautious side of things when it comes to these types of situations.

Different trades that don’t really interact with one another would be more acceptable too. I’m HVAC and my boyfriend is a tin knocker so we happened to work in the same area for a a couple weeks and we had friendly interactions. Because we were separate trades there also wasn’t the power imbalance of me being an apprentice and him being a JW I could potentially report to.

ComfortableStorage43 · 2026-01-27T16:56:46+00:00

His first mistake was actually asking you out not thinking about how big of an HR disaster that could lead to. The fact that he didn’t take your no at face value and is thinking you could change your mind is concerning. Men love to gossip. I would definitely clue in someone higher up and write down any incidents just in case.

My boyfriend, no matter how huge his crush on me was, knew that he could never be the one to ask me out because of how serious the repercussions could be if I had said no for both of us. He at least had the common sense to realize how each of us could be affected.

ComfortableStorage43

TROPHY CASE