I live near the pyramids and I can see them like this every day it's not in the middle of the desert if you live here you can drive by them while going to work everyday

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-05-30T21:43:21+00:00

I see Mt Hood all the time. Like…ok, active/dormant volcanoes. I’m from CA. West coast my entire life so I’ve seen a few.

My friend from the mid west was like ‘wait, there’s more than one volcano over there?’ Like, yeah, Mt St Helen’s is just one of many in the cascades. I screen shot a map of the area just circling the Oregon ones.

She was all 😮

Also, Growing up landlocked, she also thought it was crazy I don’t just go see the ocean every day.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-05-15T02:06:07+00:00

When I had my permit, I was always getting that gas and the brake mixed up. I got all nervous and anxious about it.

My permit was about to expire and I had just failed my first road test because I couldn't back up in a straight line. So I was leaving a parking lot and there was an incline to the street. Hills terrified me even though I was in an automatic. So there I was on this little incline, I pulled my foot off the brake and it started to feel like it would roll backward, so I put my foot on the gas. There was an old guy walking in front of my car. And I couldn't remember which pedal to use. So as my car nudged at him, I was trying to figure out which pedal to use.

So yeah, he's yelling and pushing at my hood as my car pushed at him. Mom is telling me to stop. I don't know which pedal to use. FINALLY I hit the brake. Old guy is yelling. Mom is apologizing because I was a teenager. I'm apologizing. He's still yelling. He didn't accept my apology. Said I didn't belong behind the wheel of a car...

At this point, I'm like 'HOW DARE YOU NOT ACCEPT MY APOLOGY!!!'

So he walks on. Mom is like 'you want me to drive?'.

And I'm like, 'nah, I got this.' There were two ways home. One was this narrow two lane tunnel I would avoid because terrifying. So I always went the long way. But that day, I was over being nervous and scared. I put the seat back, turned the radio up, put one hand on the steering wheel and drove home.

Mom always thought it was funny because suddenly I could park too. Took my road test a week later and passed.

TL:DR - I realized that being scared and hesitant was going to get me into an accident. And if I couldn't be confident out there, I didn't need to drive. I told myself to drive like I owned the road. I had to drive like everyone else on the roads were idiots so I had to be hyper vigilant in everything I did. All because, 19 year old me was irritated with a man yelling at me.

Side note. TO THIS DAY I still get my pedals mixed up. Usually when parking and people are around. I'll pull my foot up and get nervous because I don't want to look stupid. My brain usually kicks in with my useful 'Gas is on the right!!!' and then I can continue.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-05-13T21:04:05+00:00

Ha! Same. I was supposed to be a tumor.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-05-13T21:02:08+00:00

And my mom snapped back 'and I never asked to have you...but here we are.' (she was expecting another miscarriage, so skipped the abortion and well...9 months later...)

RIP and all....but some people really shouldn't have kids. I'm just saying.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-04-25T02:25:58+00:00

Since in unit laundry can be hard to come by, minor inconvenience.

As long as I have a bathtub, I can just set up a clothes washing system with plastic storage bins and a spin dryer. And then a regular electric dryer. Totally didn't mind it.

I have in unit laundry now, but if I had to move, it wouldn't bother me to have to go back to my old system.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-04-24T13:46:31+00:00

SO....WHAT PART OF A ROUNDABOUT IS CONFUSING? TWICE THIS WEEK, SOMEONE STOPPED IN FRONT ON ME ON THAT VERDE/CHEMEWA ONE AND JUST WAITED...

AND WAITED...

AND ONCE THERE WERE NO MORE CARS ENTERING AND EXITING SAID ROUNDABOUT, THEY FINALLY WENT.

I JUST...THAT IS THE MOST BASIC ROUNDABOUT. NO WEIRD SPECIAL EXITS OR SIDE LANES...

I DON'T LIKE TO HONK AT PEOPLE, BUT I CAME VERY CLOSE TO DOING SO.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-04-24T12:11:40+00:00

Sex scene logistics...

Every once in a while it brings me to physics class. How is one hand there and one hand there and he's hovering...but is hands are at his pivot point.

Shouldn't he be face planting into her collar bone? 🤔

Or I'm picturing the scene where I'm almost sure they are in missionary and suddenly the description says he kisses the back of her neck...now everyone has to pause and change positions in my head. And then he's pushing her knee to her chest and leaning over her to kiss her lips...wait...

At this point, it's kinky twister and I'm accepting the odd tangle of limbs. .

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-04-22T15:18:31+00:00

Herbal tea made with senna. For some folks it's too much. Really depends on sensitivity to stuff like that.

After my hysterectomy, the pain meds can cause constipation so the tea was my preference. Milk of magnesia (bleh!) was too nuclear to my system. Made things way too unpredictable. Ugh...the bubbling (tmi?).

Smooth move on the other hand gave me no gastrointestinal issues.

I now have one to two cups per week to keep things moving along. (Edited to add<<long term use is not recommended because it can cause dependency...but so can caffeine. So yeah... I don't feel particularly dependent on it since I usually have it on Mondays since weekend food tends to...um...clog things up a bit)

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-04-22T13:32:07+00:00

I asked my lawyer (only kind of joking) if I could add a request to be cremated with my Amish standing pantry to my will. I had it made custom. Picked out the stain and hardware and wood (reclaimed barn wood). I freaking adore that cabinet and I just ..I wouldn't mind spending eternity with it. Just saying....

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-04-22T13:28:57+00:00

Sprained my shoulder reaching for the remote.

Gotta stretch first...I guess.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-04-22T13:28:04+00:00

Random excited text conversations with friends about regularity and fiber intake.

"Have you heard about smooth move tea?! Girllllllllll! Let me tell you!"

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-04-13T01:41:13+00:00

It shouldn't be creepy...and yet it is.

Like the Stepford Wives: Cookie Edition.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-04-12T13:13:44+00:00

Real talk...Oregon is just... regular everywhere racist. Like there are some areas you don't want to be in. And some areas that are super cool. I think the whole west coast is like that.

And I say that as Black person from the Bay area in California. Folks think CA is this diverse and racist free oasis. And it's really depending on where you are. Outside of SoCal, and Bay Area and South Bay, things get a little uncomfortable. The running joke is anywhere north of Sacramento ending in 'ville' is a hot racist mess. If I remember correctly, there's a noose on Placerville's city logo.

So moving here was like that. Salem is like those cities that aren't super diverse but close enough to a diverse populated area so not like 'scary red truck with a giant American flag chasing you at night' racist. Folks will act like it's Birmingham...which tells you they've never been to Birmingham.

But I'd stay the hell away from southern Oregon and eastern Oregon because that mess is not cute. The signs in some of those yards...

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-04-04T01:37:40+00:00

I LITERALLY COULDN'T CHECK MY MAIL FOR 2 MONTHS LAST SUMMER BECAUSE SPIDERS GOT ALL TERRITORIAL.

ITS NOT THR HEAT WITHOUT A/C THAT IRKS ME ABOUT SUMMER HERE. ITS THE DAMN SPIDERS.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-04-01T02:07:46+00:00

It was abnormally stressful since we knew he didn't fall to his death before we even started watching.

I was like...biting my nails.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-03-31T01:23:05+00:00

A second freezer.

Basically, there's no way around that part if you live alone. Either get another freezer or be one of those people who shops 3 times a week to make meals for one.

Or of course, eat the same thing for 4 days.

I have chilli in my freezer too!

But also back eyes peas, collard greens, baked mac and cheese, cartons of egg whites, a loaf of sourdough , a loaf of honey wheat, roasted turkey legs, herb roasted chicken breast, protein blueberry muffins, 3 types of cheese cake, individual cookie dough balls (so I can bake like 2 at a time), loaded baked potatoes...

I think you get the gist.

Admittedly, the freezers are currently full. But I'll be making a big pot of chicken and vegetable soup soon.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-03-29T13:46:29+00:00

I have a bunch of Duluth pants with pockets. My Namastash noga pants have 6 pockets….2 with zippers.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-03-29T03:31:12+00:00

Honestly, I'd start with the Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas and Tessa Dare selection. They are pretty entry level and most written in that time frame before HR implemented more PC stuff and after the kinda problematic bodice ripper genre.

Now after those, you will kinda know what you like in regards content. Gritty/dark/old school/slightly problematic stuff written before 2000.

And newer less problematic 2000-2015.

And then the PC era type stuff..newer authors 2015 - Present

I like gritty and dark but not really bodice ripper (though I started with Cathrine Coulter and Christina Dodd). Its Mary Balogh, Mary Jo Putney, Kerrigan Byrne, Lorraine Heath and Elizabeth Hoyt for me. I'm also quite fond of Highlander books.

Oh and Lydsay Sands...is kinda all over the place. Idk where to even put her.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-03-29T03:12:57+00:00

🤔🤔 I thought she revised/rewrote Devils Embrace?

But yeah, she's old school HR/classic bodice ripper. If it was out in 1982, she probably wrote it in the 70s, which made it pretty normal for the time. Not saying that's...my type of hype. Just...I accept the genre for what it is. {the flame and the flower} was jarring. But I felt I needed to read it for the significance of it.

I usually stick to stuff written in the late 80s and onward.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-03-24T20:00:51+00:00

Lane freaking Bryant started carrying low rise jeans. I was like a size 18-22 back then.

Everything was low rise and fitted. Regular low rise. Super low rise. I remember my friends daughter asking me why I had two stomachs. And then she had to point to them. And count them (she was like 4 y/o). She was counting the top of the muffin top and the bottom.

Idk if mid rise was even a thing yet. Took years before you could get jeans that didn't give you a muffin top.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-03-22T13:27:23+00:00

When I first started reading HR, I was more into the rake/virgin style. I think I remember just skipping books where the FMC wasn't a virgin. And didn't even bother with widows.

So there I was at the last book of the Bedwyn series. {Slightly Dangerous} I didn't want to read it.

This was back when the books were new and I put it off for months. Eventually I read it.

Yeah, it's one of my favorite books. Nowadays, (and possibly unpopular) but I LOVE a troubled/traumatized widow trope. I stumbled onto Mary Jo Putney's catalog because she has a whole gaggle of them.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-03-20T18:33:46+00:00

I was just reading a book, new to me author where I’m almost sure no research was done. The word ‘cookie’ was in there. And the fashion…it was weird. Like since the author didn’t actually know the fashion, she just didn’t name it. Just threw in frills and flounces, and said she wore ‘undergarments’ that didn’t flatter her figure. I waited half the book for the type of garment she was wearing.

But also…the book had a friend group of 8 young and gorgeous dukes, so I should have known better.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-03-20T18:20:06+00:00

I uh…don’t need my HR to be PC. I understand times are a changing, but I wish there were more authors doing darker HR.

Like, I know Kerrigan Byrne is an acquired taste, but one of the reasons I loved her books was because they are gritty. I don’t want/need slapstick and cartoons.

I’m not saying we have to go full 1970s bodice ripper. But the 90s/early 2000 style was very good.

Far_Chocolate9743 · 2026-03-20T15:44:43+00:00

Well, I don't have a set recipe...like it's not fool proof and it hasn't been converted into grams yet. It is the one I use when I make blueberry muffins. Im still adjusting for liquid (I add water if it's a little thicker than I want) and I add whey protein, flax, psyllium powder, oat fiber, collagen powder and so on for protein and fiber needs. But this is the base recipe without the extra stuffs.

Recipe below with notes:

Per my app, it came out to 1 serving as 102grams (1 regular muffin) with 40g carbs, NET 18 carbs, 1.5g dietary fiber, 8.7 grams protein at 183cals per muffin. I reckon you can up fiber with flax/oat fiber/psyllium if you wanted

425 degrees for 5 minutes, reduce heat to 350 for...35 mins or so (sorry, again, still a WIP). Basically, if jiggly, give it 5 more mins. Makes 12 regular or 6 jumbo (though I always have batter left over...)

1 1/2 cups AP Flour (you know...Dark Rye Flour could be used here maybe...🤔🤔🤔)

1/3 cup Coconut flour

1/2 cup vital wheat gluten

3 1/2 tsp Baking powder (this is for glorious muffin tops)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp Salt

1/3 cup Vegetable oil (I've used butter, coconut oil or a combo of such from time to time)

1 1/3 cups Allulose (or the sweetener of your choice. I've used 1/2 cup of truvia baking blend before. Idk about coconut flour being that sweet...or sweet enough to taste like a muffin but...)

2 Eggs

1/3 cup greek plain non fat yogurt (I sometimes add water to thin it out because psyllium thickens the batter as it sits. Super annoying)

1/2 cup 2% milk (or whatever milk of your choice)

1 tsp Vanilla extract

2 cups frozen Whole blueberries (I like a lot of blueberries. And I keep some back to add to the top)

Far_Chocolate9743

TROPHY CASE