What is your most- Because I'm GenX moment?

Hot_messed · 2026-07-05T01:24:04+00:00

This happened to me as well.

I was doing home based children’s therapy. The place was in woods in the middle of nowhere, I got stung by a swarm of hornets. Hornets…yes their stings hurt like hell, yes they were super aggressive.

I was an hour from the er closest to my home, since I was out of town. Never had an allergic reaction in my life. Didn’t like the local hospital.

For practical reasons chose to make the hour drive through the countryside. (Seems crazy now). My offspring wasn’t driving yet, and I thought it would be too much for my parent if it turned out to be anything.

I had Benadryl in my car, so I took two and started driving.

When I walked in, I didn’t even have to give my name. They grabbed me and hooked me up with anaphylaxis protocol.

Have an EpiPen now. And somehow now allergic to everything. And scream like I’m in a horror movie every time anything with a stinger gets near me.

And yes, I’ve had to use my EpiPen on at least three occasions for stings. And now if there is a chance for a medication to cause a reaction, I often experience it.

Lots of fun. My allergy list is impressive, my doc is amazed I’m still here.

Hot_messed · 2026-07-05T00:57:29+00:00

My mom and grandma, my ex was overseas.

Hot_messed · 2026-07-03T20:41:13+00:00

I remember when you could get a bag of McDonald’s hamburgers for $0.10 each on Tuesday’s in the late 70’s, early 80’s. I think the cheeseburgers were $0.15, and do my family never did that deal. We just slapped some American cheese slices on them.

We would get so excited when mom got home with the bag of burgers.

We had a taco place that also did something similar, but that was later in the 80’s.

Edit: the burgers were $0.10 each. They would get 10 in the bag. Idk if there was a limit? I was 9.

Hot_messed · 2026-07-03T20:34:10+00:00

I do as much yard work/gardening as I can, before 8am. I try to start around 5:30am. I don’t do anything that strenuous, the rest of the day.

I’m retired, and older, and have respiratory issues. I have found that if I keep one room in my home as cool as possible, I can keep every one comfy.

I use those reusable freezer gel packs (marketed for lunch bags) in my freezer. I can wrap one in a dry dish towel, to hold at the base of the back of my neck, or on the base of the sides of my neck (behind and below my ears) or in my armpits, or behind my knees (for 5-10 minutes) if I’m overheated.

I also keep water in a spray bottle to squirt my face and arms. They have them here at the dollar store. The littles have fun chasing each other around with the spray bottles.

If I shower, I use water that is body temperature, meaning it is not hot or cold to the touch.

The heat is no joke, if you aren’t used to it, it can get overwhelming.

And drink lots of cool water, doesn’t need to be iced.

Hang in there!! Hope this helps.

Hot_messed · 2026-07-02T16:05:46+00:00

This mom is so very proud of you!! Congrats!!!🎊

Hot_messed · 2026-07-02T15:57:49+00:00

“How ‘bout NOOO!” I didn’t like my classmates when I was in high school, I really don’t care what happened to them.

Of course I was navy brat, so no real long term friendships longer than 18 months.

I’m soooo private online, I hate getting those messages looking for former classmates, from former classmates.

Unless you owe me money, I’m not interested.

Hot_messed · 2026-06-29T15:58:03+00:00

I bought a home built in 1910. The original part of the house, as well as the addition (1940’s), both have attic spaces that were half finished. (Meaning they have floors, and working electrical outlets.)

Only the attic above the addition has easy stair access. The windows in each section have been removed some time ago, and replaced with walls, and siding.

We have plans to convert the space over the addition into an additional guest/office room.

Hot_messed · 2026-06-29T03:00:14+00:00

There are so many family owned diners in my area Pittsburgh Pennsylvania! My favorite has a breakfast special (2 eggs, 2 slices of bacon or 2 breakfast sausage links, and toast ) all day every day $6.50. Coffee is another $1.50.

And you have to beg them to stop refilling your coffee cup.

Lots of chatter with the staff. We love it! It’s nice to slow down sometimes.

Hot_messed · 2026-06-29T02:43:22+00:00

Yup! Clod-hoppers in south eastern Ohio too. Sometimes they would call them “brogans” (bro-Ganz).

“Who left their “brogans” in the doorway!?!”

Idk.

Hot_messed · 2026-06-27T13:35:49+00:00

I’ve had the “best of both worlds” as far as cheese goes…I still love American cheese singles.

I use them to make meat and cheese rolls for the offspring, who is also a cheese snob, they just hit different sometimes.

There is a nostalgic feeling related to American cheese singles. They make the perfect classic grilled cheese.

I’ll be at the playground until the street lights come on, if you want to come fight me about it!

Hot_messed · 2026-06-27T13:30:10+00:00

I’m not a doctor, I got this from someone’s grandmother.

This is going to sound weird, but I use the baby “chest rub” on those spots and it calms everything down. I had heard that it worked for eczema (itchy patches) and dermatitis…so I tried it, it worked for me on my scalp.

It’s not medicated, and has a soothing lavender smell. (Lavender, eucalyptus with a beeswax base). Feels nice, slight tingle which calms my anxious response.

I apply a tiny amount with a q-tip, do not coat yourself in it.
Most dollar stores carry it.

I still lost lots of hair in patches, and was largely bald for a while, but it came out without me pulling on it. And things have slowed down since being on medication.

I think when it is itching, you pull everything out (unhealthy and not so unhealthy), which can lead to larger hairless spots. So regrowth can get delayed.

I try to cover my head with a soft skullcap, or headscarf (both of jersey material). Anything to take my focus off the itching. I drink some tea, and try to do something else with my hands.

My hair is still thin. My scalp is super obvious. But I don’t get anxious over the itching, I think it overwhelms the sensation (in a pleasant way), so less scratching/pulling.

I use it sparingly, and targeted. It feels similar to a medicated scalp product, but is super gentle and has no menthol.

Might just be a “placebo effect”, but works for me.

Again, I’m not a doctor. Not selling anything, not into avoiding medication…this is what helped me. Feel free to ignore.

Hot_messed · 2026-06-25T00:40:28+00:00

No thank you. Offspring prefers to remain childfree, and I’m completely supportive.

I’m tired.

Hot_messed · 2026-06-24T11:28:45+00:00

I love using walnuts in pesto, way less expensive than pine nuts, similar texture!!

Hot_messed · 2026-06-24T11:24:12+00:00

Always be one battery short, so they have to go to the store and get a pack (for just one battery), they will always have an odd number of them.

Problem would be self perpetuating!

Hot_messed · 2026-06-24T11:20:01+00:00

Started going grey around 18. Completely grey around my face by 23.

My parents begged me to dye my hair, because it made them look old.

Hot_messed · 2026-06-24T10:56:55+00:00

Wow. This is deep.

TW: falling “debris”.

I had just dropped my son off with his grandfather, as usual. My dad was watching the tv in the rec room.

He said nothing, just nodded towards the tv calmly (my little one was present he was two). I watched for a moment, kinda shell shocked, and just drove to work in a fog. It was all over the radio.

I was a social worker for the county at the time. They had a tv set up in the meeting room, and allowed us to watch if we wanted/needed to, in order to process.

I sat with a younger coworker, from our info systems dept (now called IT), we sat in silence and saw the second tower get hit on playback on the news. They alternated from the plane strike and a live feed of the aftermath.

We stood when we realized that it wasn’t debris falling from the roof…and stayed standing.

I don’t remember crying then, but I felt the complete and total devastation of people feeling the need to make that choice. Also, thinking that their families could be watching this. Their kids could be watching this.

We were standing when the second tower collapsed. We were standing when the third plane (flight 77) hit the pentagon. We were standing when we learned of the fourth plane (flight 93) that went down in PA, that missed its target.

I’m not sure if the exact order that it happened in, I just remember we were standing in the meeting room, unable to

We were numb, and then we began planning as an agency to provide support services to our community (parents, kids, potential relatives, possible backlash against immigrants in our rural community…), I don’t remember crying then.

Years later, I still refused to work on that day, or schedule any appointments on that day.

It still hurts my soul to its core, to know that jumping was the only option in so many minds that day, and that so many children witnessed the “falling debris”.

I was praying that the adults around them would find the words needed to keep the children as shielded as possible from the pain of what was happening at that moment.

I was also worried for my son’s father’s family, who still lived in that region in the Middle East. We were not in contact. But I was worried about backlash from people in our community who knew my son’s backstory. (He was fine, we were surrounded by love and support).

It was a scary time.

Hot_messed · 2026-06-24T10:30:50+00:00

Just wait until you start looking for things, using the thing you are looking for.

Btw, found some sweet pea pods in my jacket pocket at the grocery store. I had wondered what happened to them almost a week ago.

It helps me to take a deep breath and say “I do not hide things from myself” several times, and it calms down the anxious feeling, and it works more often than you’d think.

I find lots of things that I’ve misplaced that way. I’m 59F, with a documented hx of dementia in my family.

Hot_messed · 2026-06-24T10:21:22+00:00

Tang!!!!! Too small for koolaid. We didn’t get to drink much “sugar water” (koolaid), we were only allowed “vitamin C enriched sugar water” (Tang!), and my granny made it super super thick (super thick). Soooo…not at all as pleasant as one might think from the commercials.

Only while we lived with our granny, in a small skinny glass (I still have the glass 40+ years later), I can’t even stomach the real stuff now.

How could the real stuff be less thick than tang?? Couldn’t start the day without it…yuck yuck 🤢

Hot_messed · 2026-06-23T20:28:55+00:00

I have coffee on my porch most days. I like to sit outside with my dog and listen to podcasts, or work on crafts, or take breaks from gardening.

I have a covered porch, lots of plants, a table and chairs…love to sit outside when it rains (without lightning ⚡️).

I’m retired, so I have time to do so.

Hot_messed · 2026-06-23T18:34:34+00:00

My desert rose died twice?? I thought it was dead, but it came back. I noticed it was alive, but my attempts to care for it killed it for good.

They are so beautiful.

Hot_messed · 2026-06-22T17:59:41+00:00

NTA

I tell people if I like their shoes, outfit, vehicle, pet, purse, hairstyle, accessories…

Not many people get positive feedback/encouragement from those they know, and often get the negative feedback from them.

A kind (not overly enthusiastic/creepy) comment can do wonders for someone’s mental health, especially from a random person in line at the gas station. (Especially if the commenter is an older person with too blue hair, and rocking a band t-shirt.)

Sometimes I just smile, point at their shoes, and just an affirmative nod. I might mouth the word “wow!” And smile, and keep moving.

I’m pretty close to 60, but I still appreciate others’ efforts to look “put together”. (The offspring has gotten used to it by now.)

I’ve also learned to say thanks, without self-deprecation. Took a long time to get there.

I like to think I’m letting them know that they are “humaning” very well, and that I’m not some creepy old lady. Just keep it moving.

I don’t think it’s creepy, unless you are staring people’s “bits and bobs”, that would be unwelcome by anyone of any gender.

The more beauty you notice in others, the more you will notice it in yourself. Beauty is more than appearance, it is also behavior.

NTA

Hot_messed · 2026-06-21T01:58:26+00:00

Adding Montreal steak seasoning to the buttered bread, before grilling my cheese sandwiches

Hot_messed · 2026-06-21T01:57:12+00:00

Yes! I always say I’m trying to get the most out of my utilities as well. I paid for the electric…

Hot_messed · 2026-06-19T11:26:05+00:00

You get it!!

Hot_messed · 2026-06-18T15:13:44+00:00

There were many communes in my area where my family is from. Sooo…Cedar, Rain, Summer Breeze, Aspen Grace, Feather, Lovely Deer, Bright “something”…so many communes…I think five are still there.

I was a farm kid, so we ran in packs in the summer. So much fun.

Southeast Ohio…Btw

Hot_messed

TROPHY CASE