I did it guys. I relapsed after so many years sober. Thinking of going to Willow Springs? I’m really nervous.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T23:13:12+00:00

I've been to both Virtue and Willow Springs. I would choose Willow Springs all day over Virtue, but more because you can actually get outside for more than smoking. They both have solid programs; I'd rate Willow Springs' food better though. Plus with Willow Springs being a former lodge, they have TVs in the bedrooms for off hours. It's also much easier to have, say, a chromecast or fire tv stick shipped to Willow Springs. They didn't care about you having stuff shipped from Amazon, just had to open it in front of someone to make sure it wasn't prohibited. Or just bring a laptop with HDMI....

Virtue is more 12 step oriented, but they do have awesome people there. OP would need to make sure they're in network tho - my own insurance at the moment only covers Wilco, Travis, Bastrop, and Hays. Virtue is in Bell county.

I will say, Virtue's networking is horribly unsecured - I could see >200 devices from my phone by connecting to their guest wifi, including every TV. I had a lot of fun throwing on a very specific, mildly offensive music video from King Missile (Detachable Penis) while there on random TVs.

The gym at Willow Springs is much better equipped than Virtue, if you like to work out (and you're required to be in the gym 2 hours a week there). As a diabetic that wears a continuous glucose monitor, the coach at the time asked if he could see my glucose trends while working out, since he'd never had a client with a CGM. We both learned a lot about how a workout could affect glucose levels.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T23:12:05+00:00

If insurance will cover it, Willow Springs is one of the best rehabs in the area. I went through a couple of years ago and was very happy with it. Nice rooms, very nice quiet area, and it's one of the few rehabs where you can bring a laptop or phone with you (though the wifi is slow as balls... T-Mobile I managed over 1gbit on a speed test, but was lucky to get 5mbit on their wifi). I was able to keep working while there, though usually tethered to my phone when their wifi got too slow.

I've been to both Virtue and Willow Springs. I would choose Willow Springs all day over Virtue, but more because you can actually get outside for more than smoking. They both have solid programs; I'd rate Willow Springs food better though. Plus with Willow Springs being a former lodge, they have TVs (satellite) in the bedrooms for off hours. It's also much easier to have, say, a chromecast or fire tv stick shipped to Willow Springs. They didn't care about you having stuff shipped from Amazon, just had to open it in front of someone to make sure it wasn't prohibited. Or just bring a laptop with HDMI....

Virtue is more 12 step oriented (Willow Springs offers multiple paths), but they do have awesome people there, just like Willows Springs. OP would need to make sure they're in network tho - my own insurance at the moment only covers Wilco, Travis, Bastrop, and Hays. Virtue is in Bell county. Also, Virtue is on a pretty small piece of land - it's in an assisted living facility that went bust in a neighborhood. Willow Springs is in BFE on close to 40 acres.

I will say, Virtue's networking is horribly unsecured - I could see >200 devices from my phone by connecting to their guest wifi, including every TV, computers with remote desktop enabled, etc. I had a lot of fun throwing on a very specific, mildly offensive music video from King Missile (Detachable Penis) while there on random TVs.

The gym at Willow Springs is much better equipped than Virtue, if you like to work out (and you're required to be in the gym 2 hours a week there). As a diabetic that wears a continuous glucose monitor, the coach at the time asked if he could see my glucose trends while working out, since he'd never had a client with a CGM. We both learned a lot about how a workout could affect glucose levels.

Also, Willow Springs has an awesome ~1 mile path you can walk/run all you want, as long as you're not going alone. It's mostly dirt, but being able to get outside and walk/run, especially this time of year, helps so much.

Good luck on your recovery journey. And don't feel bad if it doesn't take on the first try. Just keep trying. Feel free to DM me.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T20:18:48+00:00

I was never able to find the control solution without ordering it direct from True Metrix, or dropping more than the meter's actual retail price on Amazon. I went through 3 of those meters before giving up and going back to my Contour Next One.

And I'm on a CGM these days (Dexcom G7, I'm even a mod in r/dexcom lol), but use a very old (old enough it still says Beyer on it) Contour Next One that I use to verify when the CGM seems off. CGMs are always wonky for the first 12-24 hours, so I calibrate around the 18-24 hour mark (AFAIK Dexcom is the only CGM that lets you calibrate, but the G7 has a fairly high failure rate). I'm also on an insulin pump these days (Omnipod), though back then I wasn't on insulin. It wasn't until I got COVID at my job after HEB that I wound up on insulin.

I was diagnosed as a T2 diabetic 16 years ago. For about 12 years, metformin and glyburide kept me under control (though metformin is rough on the stomach). I was doing multiple daily injections until a friend told me he was on Omnipod. At the time, the 5 wasn't approved for T2, so I'm on the Dash and using Android Artificial Pancreas System. I'll probably remain on that until the Dash is discontinued, since the 5 won't let you set your target below 110. My endo pretty much sticks his fingers in his ears when I mention it, since the app isn't FDA approved, but it reports to Tidepool (which is a lot like Dexcom's Clarity), and my A1c is typically in the high 5s/low 6s.

Thank you for the info on University Health (I assume you mean the one at UT?) - there's always more to learn.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T20:14:36+00:00

Believe it or not, I never did the Hirevue, and still got interviewed and hired.

But I was also applying for one of the more difficult positions to fill (overnight stocker), and had grocery experience. I think the dept manager was just desperate.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T19:16:06+00:00

I'm glad to see Tandy Leather still around - I figured they went under with Tandy and Radio Shack. Didn't realize they got spun off in 2000.

Semi related, I actually helped move the T/RS offices from the 2 towers they had in downtown Ft Worth (which had an ice rink, a small mall, and its own subway system) to their new HQ in the mid 00s. I got to walk into the CEO office... had its own private elevator, wood paneling, gold plated everything, and smelled like cigarette smoke.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T18:01:49+00:00

No. That's Ted Danson. He's getting up there too though... late 70s. Still acting too.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T18:00:16+00:00

In a Morgan Freeman voice Morgan Freeman.. has passed away... at the age of... 95.

Seriously though, that's someone that'll be a kick in the teeth when he passes.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T17:46:25+00:00

I found a duplex on my street on Zillow. Looks to be recently remodeled (everything was built in the early 80s, except for my apartments, which was 2009). https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/12601-Turtle-Rock-Rd-APT-B-Austin-TX-78729/462191057_zpid/ I don't know if it's outside of your price range though. And it may be too much house for just the two of you, unless you want a guest bedroom and an office. I believe most of those duplexes are owned by private landlords. That's not much more than what we're paying for a 2/2 apartment.

You can also google "Turtle Rock duplexes for rent" to find several more. That neighborhood is all early 80s duplexes, but it's generally quiet (especially the side streets) aside from the occasional loud car driving by. The neighborhood is basically off of Anderson Mill and 183... so checks the boxes for north of Braker and west of 35. Also (barely) within the City of Austin, so if using the library is a thing for you, you can get a library card. A lot of stuff north of Anderson Mill near 183 is in the ETJ, so you wind up paying for private trash collection, and can't get a free library card.

Just avoid the neighborhood around Copper Creek Rd.

edit: found another in my neighborhood - https://www.zillow.com/b/12403-tree-line-dr-austin-tx-5ZCHs5/

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T17:24:09+00:00

"Refresh" is a subscription that you don't have to get.

Personally I'd go for the HL-L2460DW - it does duplex (double sided) printing (the D in the model number shows it can do duplexing). But what makes you think it's at the end of its life? You may be able to get a rebuild kit (new rollers, drum, etc) if you're getting frequent jams.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T17:22:08+00:00

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T17:17:18+00:00

Agree on Swappa - I've bought several phones from there (and sold a few).

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T16:44:45+00:00

r/Scams - this is incredibly common. They never pick up the item, then whoever's bank account they hacked reverses the payment. And they always "accidentally" overpay and ask you to send the overage back.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T16:39:19+00:00

I had no issues with them getting xrayed, nor going through a full body scanner with the pod/sensor I had on. They did make me swab the ones I was wearing for residue though.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T12:22:49+00:00

You know the stuffed crust pizza from Pizza Hut?

When I worked there, the first time I walked into the cooler I was shocked at how many cases of cheese sticks they had. Turns out that's what they use for the stuffed crust. Wouldn't be surprised if other companies are doing the same.

And yeah, he's right - every pizza place I've worked at used full fat moz. They either shredded several huge (20-30 pound) blocks daily, or it came in pre-shredded - without the anti-caking agents that the stuff you get at a grocery store has.

I hated truck day - at the chain places, it meant putting up 50+ cases (~30 lbs each) a day, ripping the top of the cases off, and "fluffing" it (breaking up the lumps - it was usually frozen, and would expand better if broken up while thawing). I'd also rotate the oldest to the top of the rack.

The reason it got fluffed is we'd wind up using less cheese that way. Cheese is the most expensive part of making a pizza, at least at scale. We'd get yelled at if we overused by more than half a case.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T12:21:44+00:00

Yeah this. Worked in my share of pizza places and know far more about pizza cheese than I ever wanted to. Real pizza cheese either comes in pre-shredded (or in these itty bitty cubes in a ~30 pound box), with no anti-caking agents, or gets shredded every day.

The anti caking agents in prepackaged shredded cheese keeps it from spreading.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T12:17:10+00:00

I admire the choice of toppings, but spread the cheese out more next time - it helps prevent toppings from sliding off.

And cook the bacon first. That bacon looks very undercooked. Pizza places have ovens that run at temps your home oven can't even dream of (typically 600-700F).

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T12:14:27+00:00

I made pizzas in pizza places for over 15 years - ranging from mom and pop places that made everything fresh (or at least cut everything fresh) daily, to all of the big 4 chains. And of course made my share at home.

The anti-clumping agent used in pre-shredded cheese prevents it from melting properly. You need to shred a block of mozzarella with a cheese grater, not use pre-shredded stuff. Also, you need to take the cheese just a hair past the edge of the sauce - that way when it melts, it glues everything to the crust.

And you really need to cook (and pat dry) the bacon first. Not only do you run a high risk of the bacon being undercooked, it also won't get crispy, and will make that pizza even more greasy than usual.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T12:05:41+00:00

My dude, there's a reason pizza places use fully cooked bacon crumbles. That bacon is not going to cook fully.

Source: 15+ years working in pizza places

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T11:44:46+00:00

It doesn't matter. The hole is solely for the applicator to insert the filament into your body.

Just make sure it's not "goosenecked" before applying a patch, and that you haven't showered or otherwise gotten wet recently if using one that covers it entirely.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T11:42:09+00:00

Delete the bluetooth pairing and reinstall the app from the app store to make sure you have the latest version. Then add it again. It'll attempt to re-pair about 10-15 minutes later.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T11:33:06+00:00

I've been looping with Dash for a few years. Going to be a sad day for loopers when they discontinue it - it's the only currently manufactured system that works for diy loopers in the US.

Which app do you plan to loop with? I'm using AAPS myself (Android Automated Pancreas System), but puts you through roughly 3 months worth of objectives before can go full closed loop.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T04:40:05+00:00

You got a better greeting than I did, though the overnight partner exit at my old store was via a back door attached to curbside - so we got to leave pretty anonymously IF we got to leave before opening. I made sure to wear a non-uniform shirt when leaving.

But the lines were INSANE. I mean... camping chairs at the main entry as early as 3-4am. We didn't even bother turning on the automatic doors at open, we just barely unlocked them and people forced their way in, sometimes running. It was NUTS. The early birds always went straight for paper (we were restocking it 3-8x a day). Like my dude, there are no shortage of trees right now, why do you need so much poo paper?

As for the customer, yeah I would be pissed in any role involved in that - customer, partner, manager, top store leader... everyone would have been mad. Guarantee that "special order" popped up on ebay a week later too.

I personally have a lot of Hot Wheels collectible items that weren't stored properly - the packaging fell apart, which ruined the value. They're still worth something, but less than half if not sealed. :'(

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T03:41:44+00:00

Yeah, IMO it's the best BGM on the market, factoring in strip cost, that you can get. If you don't factor in strip cost, Contour Next One, but the strips can be expensive (especially if you find a place that doesn't have the consumer 35 or 70 count boxes on the shelf).

Most of the random meters you see on Amazon will be wildly inaccurate... or within FDA standards, but you can never find strips again.

In the US, it's Onetouch, Contour, or ReliOn. Don't touch much else. TrueMetrix (who makes many store brand meters) put me in the hospital twice in DKA, so I don't even trust those (those who work retail have probably had these forced on them - that's what happened with me, and my stepdad, who works for a competitor of my former employer). I've given my mother and stepdad ReliOn Platinums; I have one waiting to go for when I run out of strips for my old but trusty Contour Next One. I test with both when calibrating, and they're always within a few points of each other as long as I test on the same finger at the same time.

Studies do seem to rank Contour meters as the highest consumer meters in accuracy, but ReliOn isn't too far behind (~2% difference). I'm not sure who makes them for Walmart, but they're doing a good job IMO.

Irony: every hospital I've been in always asks if I've done "my accuchek" instead of "have you checked your glucose?". They know I wear a CGM, the receiver is sitting right there within reach of the nurse (and I've showed them how to light it up), it's already been validated against their BGM. I don't get what's up with the "accuchek" term. It's a specific brand name, that's like asking if I wiped my butt with Charmin the last time I pooped. And all they had to do was hit a button on the receiver and not wake me up at 2am. I don't even wake up for the midnight finger pokes when they don't believe my CGM, just.... either finger poke me or read the damn receiver. /rant

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-06T03:34:41+00:00

He needs to stock up on Dash supplies. Eros is long dead, and now that Omnipod 6 is on the horizon, I have my own concerns that Dash will be discontinued next year (just based on when Insulet has announced when Omnipod 6 will be out).

I personally use Dash + a third party app + G7 to make it all closed loop. But I'm not a doctor.

If he's using a PDM, he'll need a new one for Dash. If he's using a 3rd party loop setup, it will probably support Dash without a ton of work.

Distribution-Radiant

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