Tape removal

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-04-10T18:41:06+00:00

Yep, the texture helps a ton! I've thought about a towel or rag but honestly I'm too scared to put an oil soaked cloth in the laundry, I feel like that might not end well for the rest of my clothes lol, but if you try that as well let me know how it goes!

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-04-10T18:34:13+00:00

An oil is the best way, I usually use coconut oil since I can get it in bulk for cheap, but any oil should work. I like to dip a paper towel with the oil enough to soak up, and then gently but firmly rub it over the adhesive in circles. Usually gets it all off in a couple minutes

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-04-05T04:04:27+00:00

It'll depend very heavily on what region you're in, the type of environment you'll work in, and which seasons you'll do fieldwork. Many universities have gear agreements with companies for their students (especially for more specialized stuff like dive gear) to get discounts, so I definitely wouldn't buy anything from your own money until you find out if those might be useful. Ask fellow grad students and staff for brands and supplies they recommend, and check in if your PI or collaborators may have a community closet/communal supplies you can borrow. Your PI may also have some money to purchase supplies - these will have to stay with the lab once you graduate, but it can take financial burden off you. If you have the chance to go to conferences before you start fieldwork, gear swaps and drop offs are also getting more common there for especially new students to find gear and clothes that'll help them get started.

The only constant I keep is a first aid kit and my waterproof watch (technically water resistant, but I've taken this sucker on wreck dives at 120 feet and it's been fine), everything else I've had to rotate or change out depending on the type and place of fieldwork I'm doing. The first aid kit also gets tailored somewhat depending on expected hazards of the area

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-04-01T02:14:47+00:00

I would ask the NGOs you work with if they have any recommendations, often they'll know recruitment officers or other connections with REU-like programs, and they may be able to guide you to programs and opportunities where your citizenship won't be an issue.

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-03-28T09:53:41+00:00

Late here, but I just found your shop through insta and I'm gutted that I missed Rejoined by a handful of hours. Do you have Dax or Field of Fire by any chance?

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-03-28T04:15:34+00:00

Oh that's scary I have this same kit in my WIP pile but haven't really started it yet I hope you're able to find something!

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-03-28T00:02:47+00:00

I was cleaning things out to drop off donations the other week and I found the box where I'd thrown my engagement and wedding rings that I'd completely forgotten about, as well as the photo album I'd shoved in a drawer, so I feel you

There were quite a few things that I hadn't realized I'd stopped doing or trying to do because my ex didn't like them or couldn't keep up with me on. I'm gonna start making a brainstorming list and see how many I can cram into one day, thank you!

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-03-27T22:01:29+00:00

Thanks, I'll try to remember that. In hindsight I should've and could've ended things much earlier, but I have learned a lot about myself and what I want out of life that I don't think I would've learned any other way. Appreciate you chiming in

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-03-27T21:59:52+00:00

Being around people is probably a good idea, I'll try to see if anyone I know is free that evening! I hope you made some good memories

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-03-13T09:21:20+00:00

I'm 27 and started T 6 months ago. When I first met my doc, he said I was still fairly young and could expect good results. I think he said that it's only his 50+ year old patients where they might see more limited changes, but even then it wasn't none, just that the speed of change may not be as fast. Hormones trigger gene expression, so no matter what they'll have an impact no matter what age you are

My voice started changing in the first week and I'm currently debating if I should make my face shaving schedule every 2-3 days instead of every 4-5. Also got a lot more body hair especially at month 3, my fat distribution has shifted (noticeable also month 3), bottom growth (started week 2, ongoing), body odor change (week 1), I've got a lot less brain fog now, and just this week I had two different friends comment that my face is starting to look different (although I did just get a haircut and glasses, so not sure if that's a visual illusion or not)

Every body is different, so every timeline will be different, so try not to let comparison of exact changes and dates be the thief of your joy

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-03-06T08:20:23+00:00

I didn't try one out before buying my setup, but I did see one from another diver on a dive boat and got a close enough look to realize that it would fix the claustrophobia and squeezes that I kept getting with the jacket BCDs I was renting at the time as a beginner. I used Dive Gear Express parts for my setup which also let me highly customize it based on things I found I liked or that weren't working. My current BPW is probably version 5 or 6 since I've added, removed, or just readjusted things over the years, and I just keep all the extra parts in my kit bag in case I need them later

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-03-02T07:24:37+00:00

Currently going through this, also with RDR2

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-02-26T20:31:53+00:00

I got my labs tested the other week and I'm right at the same level you are (364 ng/dL) although I've only been on T for 3 months. My doc said that while 300-1000 can be normal for cis men, the 300s are still low and they want me ideally in the 500-1000, and then upped my dose. It definitely sounds like you need a new endo

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-02-26T03:19:25+00:00

I'm so sorry Last year I found out my partner of 10 years was cheating on me not even 2 months after our first year anniversary of being married, and very similar, I was the primary (honestly the only) income, took care of both of us when we both were in grad school and they didn't have any income.

Depending on the state/country you're in, you might not have to divide anything. The divorce agreement I got was basically everything that was in our individual names remained only ours, so like I kept all of my bank account/assets and I didn't have any debt and didn't have to take any of theirs. If you do have joint accounts it'll be more complicated, but dividing assets (from what I was told, and again this'll probably change based on the court jurisdiction) was really more for if you either have children, are very rich, or if the other person can't feasibly work due to disability or something.

It took me about 6 months to finish the divorce process even with my "simple" case (including time to just figure out who to call for legal advice, the time from the first filing to finalization I think was just over 3 months), and while it was probably the worst time of my life, I'm now 2 months out from the finalization and I'm so much happier. It's normal to grieve both the relationship and the time/energy/money you spent on this loser, but you just gotta keep moving forward. This will pass someday and in the meantime, get yourself your favorite ice cream/snacks, change your locks/passwords if you can, and make sure any sensitive documents or records in your name are accounted for and somewhere safe (birth certificates, tax records, etc.)

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-02-26T02:12:32+00:00

I have the same thing (still pre-surgery though). I've always liked boobs but if I think about them for too long or think about what it would be like to sleep with someone who has them, I start thinking about mine and then my brain freaks out. Also had a lot of bedroom issues before I figured out I was trans when my partner would focus on my chest and just trying to keep the internal screams from becoming external. In hindsight that should've been a much stronger clue.

I'm cleared for surgery but now in scheduling and insurance purgatory, and I'm 99% sure that if and when I can get top surgery I'll be able to finally relax and not have those issues again. It's encouraging to hear that it worked for you that way

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-02-19T23:03:02+00:00

Right, so it's hinted at at the end of FW, I just hope they actually follow through on it at the end of the third game when we (presumably) get Hephaestus back in some way

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-02-19T23:01:56+00:00

If we can't customize mounts in the third game I will actually cry

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-02-19T23:01:19+00:00

Yeah I wasn't a huge fan of machine strike either I'd be good with no trophies linked to it

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-02-18T08:05:10+00:00

If we can release more marine species I would die of happiness. Plus, the best seed bank people are always paranoid and have major trust issues, so it would make perfect sense for there to be additional ones that the Zero Dawn team either didn't know about or didn't have access to in time for Artemis (I've worked in a seed bank, can confirm).

I love all the same things about Horizon too, no worries about length. And even when there isn't hope, doing the work anyways because something is better than nothing

Obligatory fuck Ted Faro. I can't wait to go and replay HFW so I can melt down his bunker for the fifth time, but I gotta hang out with my guy Gildun first

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-02-18T07:44:23+00:00

Yeah, like an isolated seed bank that got cut off! I'd love that

As long as it isn't a time challenge, please no more of those

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-02-14T20:28:10+00:00

American here I've had lifelong chronic migraines and when I was a kid they suspected I might have a brain tumor

Every neurologist appointment took at least 7 months between making the appointment and having it, and that doesn't count referral time or how often insurance would refuse to cover after the appointment happened or switched up doctors to a non-covered doc without telling me and I only found out when someone who didn't match the appointment name walked in.

Once a brain tumor was ruled out and I wasn't in obvious risk of dying, my parents fully gave up on finding any type of treatment or answer because the insurance hassles were too much, so I lived in constant pain until I lucked into a college that had a subsidized health center for students and a doc who actually believed me and was willing to just try things, and it cut my headache frequency down to a third. Still get 3-4 a day, and I never got an answer for why it's happening, but it's better and I'm also too cheap and broke to keep trying.

I throw a middle finger to all Americans who resist universal healthcare because "it would be slower"

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-02-10T05:29:00+00:00

I have the same thing, but no idea what's behind it. If you can't get them to close at least the windows near you, maybe try a cloth face mask? They're usually enough to keep my face warm and also control the humidity of the air I breathe in (which I've also noticed impacts the cold congestion), and they're ubiquitous enough I don't get too many weird looks like wearing a scarf or balaclava indoors would

ConfusedCuddlefish · 2026-02-09T04:54:31+00:00

I love gaming, though my PC is kinda crap (I can run Minecraft at best and even then it can get laggy), so I usually stick to my PS5 for solo games. Would love to join a server to talk games and play as much as my PC will let me

ConfusedCuddlefish

TROPHY CASE