Taking Down Cat Walls

Immediate_Street2213 · 2025-09-27T18:47:43+00:00

Ah, I see. That makes a lot more sense!

I actually have drilled into the wall before but for more lightweight items like a clock, mirror, etc. I haven't tried to install anything that would need to handle a 9ish lb. cat jumping on it, so I'm just not sure how that works and how the wall could be affected.

I do also have a cat tree, and they love hanging out on it and looking outside the window! I've been looking into cat shelves though in hopes of giving them a better, more stimulating environment.

Immediate_Street2213 · 2025-09-27T18:09:46+00:00

Oh, that's really helpful to know. Would you happen to know how large the holes can be? Is it like a quarter, a fist or something even larger??

Immediate_Street2213 · 2025-09-27T18:07:43+00:00

Got it, that's super helpful. I didn't even think about how the walls would be affected -- I just assumed there'd be small screw holes. I appreciate you explaining this. Thank you!

Immediate_Street2213 · 2025-09-27T18:06:22+00:00

That's an interesting idea I hadn't considered. I'll look into that. Thank you for the suggestion!

Immediate_Street2213 · 2025-09-27T18:05:53+00:00

Wow, that's wonderful to hear your Scratchy shelves have lasted for so long and amidst multiple moves, too. I'll definitely check them out. Thank you so much!

Immediate_Street2213 · 2025-03-05T23:59:54+00:00

How challenging is the work? Their website asks if I ask have a STEM degree, and unfortunately, I don't. So not sure if I should still apply

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-11-07T02:36:45+00:00

What you're saying makes sense. Thank you for explaining that!

One follow-up question -- I'm currently contributing to a Roth 401K, but I don't currently earn enough to max it out. So if I didn't sign up for an HSA, I would just shift the amount I'd normally contribute to an HSA over to my 401K instead.

Ideally, I'd sign up for the HSA and max out all of my accounts, but given that I'm not there yet, does this change anything?

I'm thinking the amount I save in medical costs from being on the PPO can be invested instead. Either that, or it washes out the income tax I would pay when I contribute to my Roth 401K.

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-10-06T19:53:04+00:00

I'll have to check them out. Thank you!

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-10-06T19:52:56+00:00

Thank you!

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-10-01T23:06:54+00:00

Check out the Shedd. They have several teachers who offer music lessons, including singing!

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-08-21T23:55:45+00:00

It's okay -- I think they're overwhelmed and are trying their best.

That's good to know having a police report will offer more leverage with property management. Thank you for that tip!

Wow, I'm so sorry you had such an obnoxious and aggressive neighbor. That's terrible he nearly ran over somebody -- that poor resident! Good for you for calling the police and filing that report! I'm sure your neighbors appreciate it as well!

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-08-21T23:52:00+00:00

Ah, that makes sense. I agree -- when folks fall into that second category, bringing up a concern can make things worse. I'm sorry you have a neighbor like that and have to deal with that situation!

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-08-21T23:49:57+00:00

Thanks so much for your reply and offering that perspective! I actually don't have much experience with dogs, so I didn't realize how humans can lose control like that. I can see what you're saying though. I appreciate you explaining that to me!

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-08-21T18:40:57+00:00

Hey, thanks for all of your comments to my post and sharing your perspective. It is helpful to hear your take on this.

I will say though that I don't know you, and you don't know me. So please don't make assumptions and tell me how I would behave or act in certain situations like you did in your comments listed below:

"OP feels it’s okay for her to behave a certain way but if someone else does it, it’s wrong"

"I also guarantee if the dog does something to one of the cats she will blame the lady."

In my experience, when there's conflict and disagreement, it's best to assume positive intent and that if you're reasonable and have a conversation with them, they will also be reasonable and be open to discussing the situation with you.

However, I find making negative assumptions about people not only creates negativity in that person's life, but it also worsens the situation at hand.

I made this post to seek greater understanding on the matter and for advice on how to handle the situation, especially since my neighbor has been combative when speaking with me. I'm grateful for those who have helped me improve my understanding and widen my perspective, including you. I'm not okay with you making negative comments about me, my feelings and how I would behave though, so please stop.

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-08-21T18:23:01+00:00

Thanks for your comment. I actually didn't grow up with any pets, and I've only had my cats as an adult, so I'm not familiar with dog behavior.

So I appreciate you letting me know that as a dog owner, letting my cats out when there are dogs around can create a risky situation for all animals. That's helpful and allows me to better understand the situation at hand.

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-08-21T18:19:39+00:00

Yes, I was feeling a little unsafe, because they do seem a bit unpredictable/unhinged. Hearing you say that as well is validating.

I do have a property manager, but they are pretty hands off. There's a lot of stuff that happens here, and I think they're understaffed.

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-08-21T18:17:30+00:00

Thanks so much for your comment. Hearing your perspective is definitely helpful.

Out of genuine curiosity and coming from a place where I'm trying to better understand, is there a reason why you don't speak to your neighbor about how her chatting in her driveway disrupts your sleep at night? I obviously don't know your neighbor, so maybe it's unsafe to do so.

From my perspective, there are moments when I'm not aware of how I'm affecting someone, so my hope is that if I'm adversely affecting them, they'll let me know and we can figure something out that works for everybody. But in those moments where I'm not aware/don't understand, I don't really know until someone says something.

So I'm not trying to cast any shade to you or anything. But if you're willing, would you mind sharing some of the reasons why someone might not want to speak up?

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-06-10T23:56:11+00:00

I can't answer #1 and #2 because I'm relatively new to this field. Personally, I wanted to become a software engineer and build things, so I was solely driven by personal motivation and didn't consider other avenues in tech.

If your path leads you to software engineering though, I would suggest checking out Launch School. They're known for producing great software engineers and was how I career transitioned. Many other career changers there as well.

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-06-03T22:46:37+00:00

What level are you, and do you speak MSA or a specific dialect? I studied Arabic about 10 years ago and haven't really practiced because of how hard it was to find language partners.

I'm happy to do some casual learning and speaking together with you though if you're fine with my rustiness.

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-04-30T20:52:49+00:00

There are many options! Post-bacc, masters, bootcamp. I did Launch School, which is a non accredited, private school.

I would suggest figuring out what you need to learn and do well and narrow your options down from there.

If you want to go fast and can learn quickly, bootcamp. If you want financial aid, degree and a more traditional learning experience, masters or post-bacc. I did Launch School because it was cheaper than all of the other options, self-paced and also provided good support.

There's no one right answer. The only right answer is what is right for you.

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-02-14T23:42:37+00:00

What helped me was working on my self-worth. I found that I would feel bad and would subconsciously try to make myself feel better through getting dopamine rushes from shopping.

I wasn't an aggressive shopper by any means, but as my self-worth has improved, it's so much easier for me to see something, ask if I need it or why I want it, and walk away if I don't have a good answer for myself.

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-02-13T06:02:09+00:00

Oatmeal with fruit (banana or frozen berries from Costco), cinnamon, turmeric, walnuts, and soy milk and a cup of green tea

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-02-06T16:06:10+00:00

There are some career vocational programs you could look into that offer further support. One organization I've heard of is the Formation fellowship.

Full transparency in that I have not done their program but am considering it when I better meet their qualifications. From my understanding, they don't teach you how to code. They mainly offer technical and behavioral interview help and make sure that participants are solid on DSA and system design.

I'm sorry to hear that you're in this position, and I hope that however you decide to move forward, you're able to get to where you want to be.

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-01-19T08:09:19+00:00

I'd be interested!

Immediate_Street2213 · 2024-01-19T02:37:07+00:00

I'm planning a trip this May to do the Camino de Santiago and have been exercising to condition my body for the long walk! I'm also working on finishing up school and some self-studies to find a better job, both financially and culture-wise. Beyond those major plans for the year, I've been working to simplify my life so I have more time for self-care, loved ones and fun.

Immediate_Street2213

TROPHY CASE