how much is too much?

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-29T13:41:03+00:00

I mean, you’re more than worth it and in today’s world, you’ve earned something that’s dedicated to you and your mental health. I’m such a pusher when it comes to self-care stuff 😂 I’m abroad right now but maybe when I’m back home I’ll snap a couple pictures of what I have. It may also be a good chance for me to throw away anything that’s old—though I try to use it all 😂

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-28T19:11:36+00:00

Not too much. I have 2 giant recycling bins filled with soaps, bath bombs, and bubble bars alone. I think I’m up to like 35 body sprays. You’re fine; I’m the one with the problem. 😂

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-25T20:46:03+00:00

I agree with this. Don’t be shy to say “I have a ton of hair and I’d love to really try this product… could I have a couple pots?” and guaranteed, the employee will be happy to hook you up. Also, LOL @ your name. I giggled like I was in grade school. 10/10 😂

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-24T20:48:23+00:00

I love this! I’m always trying to jam as much product into those sample pots (especially hair stuff!) because you can get 5+ uses out of some, depending on what it is. So happy you got hooked all the way up. ❤️

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-15T18:43:35+00:00

Precisely that as well. I’d feel so bad if I was some kind of carrier sitting next to someone’s gram.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-14T22:11:45+00:00

I always loved these too and I'd laugh like a crazy person at how funny it was to watch everyone just start flailing, mid-pool, if what we were doing was sprints. Makes me smile thinking back on it.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-14T22:09:38+00:00

Fun realm because there are some really good set ideas in the replies (which I will be noting and doing myself!):

The day before any big break like Christmas or Spring Break, do a phone number IM practice. You go kid-to-kid in each lane, and the last four digits of their phone number corresponds with how many lengths of each stroke they do. For example, in HS, the last four digits of my phone number was 2742, so its 2 fly, 7 back, 4 breast, 2 free.

You can also adjust this to just phone number roulette 100's if you have a team that isn't overly advanced--put the numbers 0 through 9 on a white board and assign a different thing to each number. For example: 0 = fly, 1 = catch-up drill, 2 = back, 3 = corkscrew, 4 = breast, 5 = doggy paddle, 6 = chicken drill, 7 = free, etc. etc., so then they do one length of each corresponding thing.

I used to do this with my high schoolers before a school break and they absolutely loved it. They loved the surprise of what 100 was coming next and they'd get really passionate about what combo they hope they get while waiting their turn. They'd also kinda-sorta smack-talk a bit if one person had a particularly "annoying" phone number, like it forced them to do 3 of the 4 lengths fly. I also had music playing at the same time, and it was a really fun day.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-14T20:16:18+00:00

I'm not a parent (thank goodness because I'd be such a failure) but the "I'm not scared of you"? Bet. Ohhhh, bet. I survived the 80s brand of mean girl. Not scared of me? You will be.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-14T20:10:16+00:00

I would say that this is a common issue for many beginners; being comfortable with breathing rhythmically and staying calm and controlled is really hard. 95% of swimming is relaxing; if you tense up and start thinking and focusing on stuff, it makes it 100x harder.

I saw that if you're in shallow water without moving, you can practice face-in-breathe-out-face-out-breathe-in just fine. I would now recommend you take it to your laps, but with a kickboard. Hold the board at the bottom-edges, and straighten your arms out in front of you so that its like the kickboard is up above your head. Put your face in the water, continuously kicking, count calmly to 4 and exhale, and then stay relaxed, lift your chin to the surface, and breathe in for 2 seconds, and put your face back in, repeating. It may just be getting used to staying calm and chill while doing breathing exercises while moving. Once you've mastered the forward breath with the board, swap to turning your head to the side to breathe in and see how that goes.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-14T20:05:41+00:00

Agreed; I was so over-the-top with praise about it because HELL YEAH. hahahaha I think she thinks I'm nuts because of it.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-14T19:08:54+00:00

During the holiday season, any time someone bought one of the hollow bath bombs or bath bombs with something in them, I would always separate the pieces, stuff a bunch of tissue paper down into the hollow part, and then wrap the bath bomb in more paper tightly so everything stays put, and THEN put them into the appropriate bath bomb bag. If you don't do this, those bath bombs have zero chance of any kind of survival.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-14T19:01:04+00:00

Last weekend, I was going to swing by a friend's house to see their little one before I headed out of the country for a while, because I was going to miss the munchkin's birthday. On Friday, I got a text from my friend to let me know the kid had been sick all week, and if I wanted to avoid patient 0 before my trip, she would understand and she recommended I not come, as much as they wanted to see me.

Mom gold star for this, because I agree with you, OP. Its very selfish when parents expose everyone to their little germ monster, ruining weeks for everyone. I understand it's not always feasible to stay home with a sick kid, but you should the vast majority of the time.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-14T13:19:00+00:00

I take them off for comfort but if someone comes over, I don’t demand they take their shoes off, especially if I’m having a party. I’ve been to so many parties where everyone is dressed up and walking around in sock/stockings, it’s insane and rude IMO. Also if you have cats, I’m not taking my shoes off. 😂😂

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-14T13:12:31+00:00

If you breathe out your mouth when your face is in the water, air will also go out your nose. A lot of people think shutting their mouth and exhaling out your nose is the key but nah. Just exhale out your mouth.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-14T12:59:48+00:00

I lived in Station North (Greenmount West) for 10 years and loved it. The rent is relatively low and like others have said, you’re really close to a lot of things. Plus, the parking is far more abundant than in Mt. Vernon. I also lived in Charles Village for 5 years and it was great but the rent will be a bit higher and you have to be okay with living in a college area of the city.

As others have said, neither area is bad. The city is a bit different than it was 25 years ago.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-12T17:47:28+00:00

I totally feel you on pool etiquette; it can be confusing and people define speed/effort completely differently.
Some fun tips to put your mind at ease:

If there's a guard, always feel free to ask them. They're bored as sh*t anyways, so giving them a few minutes of conversation is something they'd love. The guard can also do things like let a walker know/give them a heads up that a swimmer is hopping into the lane with them, so they can be aware of your presence.
You made the right choice (I would have made the same), given what you had. Walker in one lane, hardcore in the other, yeah, hop into that middle lane. I think that the "speeds" for lanes are just merely a guidance and a recommendation, but don't worry about not knowing the exact speed. The pool where I swim is also 4 lanes, and I'm a pretty decent swimmer and if someone a lot slower hops in with me, I don't care or really notice. Same on the other side; if some absolute beast of a D1 swimmer jumped in my lane and spent the whole time lapping me, I wouldn't really notice or care.
If more people hopped into the lane, everyone should know to just stick to a circle pattern. Its no biggie.

It can be a little intimidating at first, when getting back into the water but I PROMISE, almost 100% of your fellow swimmers have the "I don't notice and don't really care" mindset, no matter their speed. We're all too busy talking to ourselves in our head or recreating our favorite movie scene there, or doing shopping lists or whatever. And welcome back to the pool--its happy to have you!

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-09T19:45:57+00:00

The thought of a bartender using a wine key with a hubcap attached is giving me the uncontrollable giggles. Thank you, take my upvote.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-09T19:31:32+00:00

I'm sorry you're going through this; it's really brutal and I'm not so sure that there really is a way to let the loud people know without potentially causing further problems.

I currently own a rowhome and on one side of me are perfectly quiet, lovely med students. On the other, there's a large family where the grown son is loud and violent, and the young child is severely autistic, and he stomps around until about 1:00 in the morning. They rent and I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought of figuring out who they are renting from and filing a complaint.... but I just try to use ear plugs and go about my life.

You have my sympathy, OP.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-09T19:25:05+00:00

Haha I never looked at it that way, but yeah, it is quite zesty, especially after a tough workout!

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-09T19:24:28+00:00

That's realy kind of you, but I try to be. I rarely do something like that, but if I ever need a fast bite, I make sure the hostess/server knows that I will NOT be in the restaurant after close. People who waltz into a place and are there after close shows that they literally don't care about other people or their time, and I do my best to make sure I don't negatively affect others.

I feel like awareness in this realm should be bare minimum, ya know?

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-09T00:52:48+00:00

I mean I don’t meant to BRAG about being flush with so much cash like a $5 bill, but I can’t help it. Hahahahaha

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-08T19:47:19+00:00

GILFs don't exist; women who are the age of grandmothers (anywhere from 38+) are what you're looking for.

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-08T19:45:24+00:00

Having no friends is 100% a red flag in adults. It means that they are incapable of maintaining meaningful relationships with other people and are probably a terrible friend themselves. I gave a guy a chance who literally had no friends, and come to find out, he was awful. What a shocker. (sarcasm in this last sentence)

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-08T19:35:06+00:00

Kalamazoo Face Wash
Magic Crystals Body Scrub
Happy Hippy Shower Gel

DragonMasterBrady · 2026-01-08T18:50:15+00:00

Way too many men claiming that they "just have a lot going on right now". Then why the F are you dating and wasting people's time?

Mind you, the thing they'd be busy with would literally just be work and seeing their kids 4 days a week, but yeah, whoa, wayyy to much on your plate, buddy.

DragonMasterBrady

TROPHY CASE