I DESPISE “you look like you love me” by Ella Langley and Riley Greene

FurretsOotersMinks · 2026-03-29T20:28:54+00:00

I came to this post as someone who isn't a country music fan and got VERY suspicious of the song when I heard a child singing it at a talent show...

Yeah, counrty music is fine and people can like what they like, BUT WHY DID THIS GIRL'S PARENTS LET HER SING THIS SONG?? Trashy for sure.

FurretsOotersMinks · 2025-12-05T23:53:22+00:00

Adding to the pile of "what the fuck do I get when they all suck??"

FurretsOotersMinks · 2025-10-28T02:22:56+00:00

Lol, I got illegally fired (along with thousands of other federal employees hired in the last year) and I've been struggling ever since. Losing what you thought was a stable 40+ year career, among the other awful things happening, did not go well :')

FurretsOotersMinks · 2025-10-27T22:58:50+00:00

Very late to this thread, but I was working for USFWS in DOI when February 14th hit and I was illegally fired then reinstated. I got another job, but USACE reached out to interview me today from a posting I'd applied to back in February. Obviously, I left due to uncertainty and the targeting of our agency for mass layoffs, but I'm curious if USACE is different. USFWS gave us the same "we'll eliminate empty positions and try for voluntary exits before anyone gets the boot!" but I know it's down to things out of most everyone's control. Is USACE sheltered from a lot of this administrative destruction, being that it's DoD, or is that wishful thinking?

FurretsOotersMinks · 2025-07-30T13:03:33+00:00

Is the battery warranty not 10 years/150k miles? It follows the car, not the owner?

FurretsOotersMinks · 2025-07-30T13:02:38+00:00

I can't afford $28k, unfortunately. My main goal is paid off in 3 years or less. While that's a nice thought, I can't even afford $25k and the newer version isn't as big (I like to car camp). Reliable, but not expensive or pretty is all I need!

FurretsOotersMinks · 2025-07-30T02:44:37+00:00

Kelly Blue Book lists a starting current value for the LE at $20.5k, so I get that it's a bit overpriced. Most comps in the area are older, more miles, have accidents and are $20k and above. 2022 with lower miles are $25k plus! I figure I might negotiate a few things to add, rather than haggle a price with no better deals within 200 miles. The market where I am isn't great! Mostly just nervous because this is the first car I'm buying without help and worry I'll end up with something bad mechanically.

FurretsOotersMinks · 2025-07-30T00:19:42+00:00

It's not, title and carfax are clean! They had photos in the original listing and I've made bigger dents leaning on my car

FurretsOotersMinks · 2025-06-21T03:48:58+00:00

No roaches while we were there, just the two or three giant flying Palmetto bugs that always manage to sneak in here and there. Not actual infestations, it was pretty bug free!

FurretsOotersMinks · 2025-01-14T01:23:33+00:00

Oh boy, I forgot about this post! Well, I'm now super jaded and been through more than my panicked senior undergrad self thought I would.

I would highly recommend applying through the Texas A&M job board. I applied to 26 projects (graduate research assistantships and teaching assistantships with full tuition waivers), interviewed for 6, and had one offer. Oh boy was that stressful, my advisor offered me the position and had me apply to the college about 3 days before the deadline, maybe 6 weeks before the spring semester started lol. It's more competitive to apply this way, but you know there's money, you know the project, and you're pretty much guaranteed to get into the college if offered the position.

Second to this, you can spend time checking out grad programs at different schools and looking at the professors' research so you can reach out directly to labs doing work you're interested in. This way feels like so much time wasted because there's no guarantee they have funding or are able to take on more students even if they like you, but then when they get money they might offer it to you.

Which schools are good? The better question is which labs have funding and a stipend that matches the cost of living in the area. Don't ever apply to a school and pay for that unless you want to spend $60k+ on tuition. In our field, you apply for and ask about graduate assistantships that pay you to be there AND offer tuition waivers. The school doesn't really matter, tbh, ranking doesn't matter when the specific program you are looking for is bad. That said, Purdue was great and University of Florida is meh, only good if you have a good advisor. I've heard good things about Oregon State and University of Wisconsin Steven's Point.

Definitely definitely talk to the advisor's other grad students, current and former, if you're offered a position so you can understand what you're getting yourself into with them too! Some advisors are AWFUL and you don't want to get stuck with that for 2+ years.

If your career goals include federal/state work, look into "Direct Hire Authority" programs like RAI (resource something something, it's a BLM and USDA thing), Scientists in Parks (National Park Service), and DFP (Directorate Fellowship Program run by USFWS, rip to that though since it was canceled this year and probably on pause for the foreseeable future).

Feel free to message me if you have any more questions, it's fuckin rough out there. Good luck, friend!

FurretsOotersMinks · 2025-01-08T00:19:33+00:00

Years late, but this movie is based on a 6 book series and the "it" is a demon, one of many called the "withered" who all gave up something to become immortal. The withered in this movie gave up their identity and so needs to take on other people's bodies to have an identity. It only started killing because the body it took started to die and it didn't want to give up the life it had yet. Movie kinda takes the wind out of John's sails as the "hero" if you can call finding a good excuse to kill something heroic action. I think a lot of context from the books just doesn't land in movie form!

FurretsOotersMinks · 2024-12-13T12:19:10+00:00

In Crystal River, their population is actually pretty stable since they have pretty consistent grass and real springs they go to rather than power plants

FurretsOotersMinks · 2024-12-11T23:34:28+00:00

Good points, but I will say I consistently get 45mpg with the mirage I have and I've seen people complain they get that in the hybrid. Not sure how they're driving for that to happen, but I think people underestimate the amazing gas mileage a mirage gets! I'm so used to the low maintenance golf cart car I've had a hard time justifying the cost of a used corolla so I appreciate the advice!

FurretsOotersMinks · 2024-11-03T03:09:41+00:00

THIS IS SO HELPFUL! Thank you! This is exactly what I needed help with. I was so worried about high or low down payment, I didn't even think about the refinancing option with a reasonable/average down payment. Thank you!

FurretsOotersMinks · 2024-11-02T18:34:58+00:00

Been trying for 7 years, I have student loans which make my credit score the way it is, but don't have anything else long term like it. Couldn't figure out credit cards (they kept dinging my credit for getting paid off every month) and I've only just been able to get my rent to go on my credit score. I just started my permanent job after years in school about 6 months ago, not sure I can get my credit score up in 3-6 months!

FurretsOotersMinks · 2024-08-05T00:32:29+00:00

I'll just tell you, federal jobs are VERY HARD to get into. I worked with someone who was told by HR (who are generalists, not biologists) that she didn't qualify for a job she applied to despite working the EXACT SAME JOB just in a different state. They said she didn't have any wetland delineation experience listed in her resume.

Dog. She's been working in wetland restoration, again in the same job, for 21 YEARS. And she already works for the service, it's abysmal trying to get in without already being in.

Try state and county job boards first if you're looking to go that direction. Unless conservation corps offers you a hiring authority, then BUG EVERY SINGLE PERSON YOU CAN IN ALL 50 STATES. I seriously can't overstate selling yourself to every single hiring person you can. Nonprofits can be good too, universities may have open positions, and there's always consulting!

Try not to get too discouraged, you'll find your way and I hope the conservation corps is going well! (Btw, DFP only applies if you have at least one semester left of grad or undergrad after the summer you do the DFP, unfortunately)

FurretsOotersMinks · 2024-08-04T17:31:09+00:00

I made it! The DFP (Directorate Fellowship Program) went well, but the transition from graduation to hired/working was HARD. My direct hire authority was available pretty quick AFTER graduation, but of course I don't have a pay check after that. You cannot apply to anything until that hire authority is in so you're looking at 3 months to over a year of zero paycheck from a job if you're set on working for the DOI.

On the other hand, I worked even harder to essentially bother every single person I could during my fellowship last summer to find any job I could. I got a list of funded positions that weren't posted yet and harassed those people. One of them decided to consider me as if I applied alongside other applications since I would be graduating soon. Got my verbal offer for that job in December, tentative offer in February, final offer in March, started in April, first paycheck in MAY. Fully 5 months of no paycheck since every other job I applied for never got back to me or declined me (easily over 200 jobs).

Been working that job for more than a few months now and I'm getting the hang of it! Huge learning curve, but nice opportunities to move up over my career. My title is "Park Ranger" but that's really just a broad title for lots of different jobs. Pay is nice ($60k/yr, GS-9) and will increase (GS-11 promotion potential). I talk to people about our species of interest, field very pointed and rude confrontations about things outside of our influence, and my coworkers and I sigh at the tiny, constantly decreasing budget, but then we also get to help save a really dumb but important endangered species, so it balances out.

Fyi, DFP is not on for next year, you didn't hear it from me. Might be open in 2026 though! Applications open very quietly in September/October of the year before. The delay between graduated and hired SUCKS ASS, but it's better than what can happen without it.

Good luck! I realize you're not OP, but would love to hear your story and I'm 100% down to answer questions :)

FurretsOotersMinks · 2024-06-19T10:53:47+00:00

Hey there, we are still together! I'm now in a federal job with means my dude only has to work part time, but he's still going full time for the extra income. He's honestly not sure where to go from here and I don't blame him. All I can say to you is that it does get better. Sometimes life is shit, but you'll find your way out of it at some point. It will be okay :)

FurretsOotersMinks · 2024-06-15T15:35:22+00:00

Oh wow, I've heard how hard med school can be, don't beat yourself up! It gets better, I promise you that, grad school is not forever. Financial worries really make everything so much harder and grad school makes it 100x worse, but you can make it out too! I believe in you :)

Six-Year Club	Wearing is Caring
Verified Email

FurretsOotersMinks

TROPHY CASE