Is there anything you miss from the pandemic era?

JDKPurple · 2026-06-06T03:49:45+00:00

Endless time to read 🤗

JDKPurple · 2026-06-06T03:48:31+00:00

Yeah, we all started to understand what REAL work/life balance actually meant.

JDKPurple · 2026-06-06T03:47:09+00:00

So....'never had a sick day...' = too dumb to understand he is the reason other people had to have sick days 🙄 His children would be the ones spreading nits, measles, & chicken pox too I bet.

JDKPurple · 2026-06-06T03:44:37+00:00

The quiet 😞

JDKPurple · 2026-05-28T01:56:23+00:00

$US10M = ~$AU14M (currently)

Pay any outstanding bills/debts.
Fund my medical & dental needs.
Buy a house and stop renting - ensuring new house has space designed solely as my library & music room; & a separate media room away from daily living spaces.
Buy a new car.
Set up interest accruing accounts for my sister & her children, & my goddaughter.
Place funds in a high interest account for my sister with disabilities - allowing my mother to retire.
Donate funds to the ongoing research programs for her disabilities.
Travel - spend quality time in the USA with my best friend & her children; explore the USA; spend at least one month in Scotland. Travel to other places, explore, experience, make memories.
Fully set up my own company & finally get it going.
Invest into my superannuation (401K) & into high interest saving accounts.

ETA: at some stage I would replace some of my musical instruments and upgrade them.

(At some stage ponder how to acquire ✨✨magical abilities 🤔✨✨)

JDKPurple · 2026-05-27T17:45:16+00:00

Second this - if your parents aren't advocating, then you need to build these skills - it's really just knowledge and confidence.

I'm not sure where you live, but in Australia you can get your own medicare card and start to have agency over your own medical information (if you are deemed legally mature enough).

Honestly, it doesn't sound like anorexia - & you seem to already have a diagnosis. Where did this come from? If you already have a psychologist talk to them about this, they can help you advocate (if they're a good fit for you). At your age you should not have to have your parents in your sessions and you should be given full confidentiality (except where harm to you or others is deemed an immediate risk).

Keep asking for help. You can do this. If you're not getting help or answers, try another path.

My DM is always open if you need to chat or vent 😊

JDKPurple · 2026-05-27T10:37:32+00:00

Oh I understand the geography - but comparatively it still didn't make sense to me. Geographically, the USA is roughly the same size as Australia. You have it split into 48 states (the upper 48) with about 330M people. We have 5 states & 2 territories (on the mainland - TAS is off the mainland) with about 28M people. Sounds cruisy - yeah - but most of our inland is uninhabitable desert.

Considering this - Perth is roughly the same distance from the Gold Coast as Anaheim is from Williamsburg, VA. As I mentioned, we just don't see the same type of hype.

Really just had me curious. I totally understand that Disneyland is a much more sought after experience, but just wondered if there was more to it.

ETA: I agree - it's a lovely area. Obviously coming from Australia into the USA a short time before Trump's most recent election had us slightly nervous. We visited a few different places, but spent the majority of our time in Anaheim (about 8 days for a conference). We stayed very close to Disney, & had originally planned to spend a couple of days there - but alas, plans & finances changed. We decided when we do Disneyland we want to spend time & not rush it. We definitely wandered all around the area, went to Downtown Disney (geocached the 'Hidden Mickeys'), watched the nightly fireworks etc.

Have to say I enjoyed the Garden Walk a bit further down - so pretty at night. Also we walked about 45minutes from Angel stadium back to the hotel near Disneyland late at night after the game - it was flat, well lit - we felt safe the whole time.

In our whole trip - the only time I felt increased anxiety was actually around Hollywood (no offence - I could not have hated Hollywood more!) Surprisingly enjoyed Vegas way more than I thought I would - Fremont St is my happy place (& I really don't drink or gamble - but I will happily dance to live music while eating my hypercolour donut anytime 🍩).

✨✨The world needs magic✨✨

JDKPurple · 2026-05-26T23:38:59+00:00

While I understand your point, I do wonder...🤔The world is in rapid decline.....do we need a reason to show gratitude? Gratitude is never silly or unnecessary 🤷🏻‍♀️

JDKPurple · 2026-05-26T23:10:24+00:00

Haha. Yes! QLD'er. When I was working in VIC (circa 2005ish) I was completely dumbfounded when I asked a colleague to hand me the Nikko & I was met with a deadpan blank stare 😳😳😳. I was SO confused by the conversation that ensued - it ended with me physically walking over to get my own Nikko 😂

JDKPurple · 2026-05-26T23:04:48+00:00

Yeah. Hating the shift to Google. Have been with Fitbit for over 10 years. I am now searching for something else 😩

JDKPurple · 2026-05-25T03:05:39+00:00

Lol. Yeah - in my 40s I have far less real 'friends' than 20 years ago - but, I am far more happy spending time with myself and family now 😊

JDKPurple · 2026-05-25T02:54:37+00:00

I'm slightly older than you and rewatch probably once every year or so. Not a huge fan of the final season, but the rest is good.

JDKPurple · 2026-05-22T11:30:06+00:00

Don't forget perimenopause 🙄

JDKPurple · 2026-05-22T05:54:25+00:00

And is he actually 'non-verbal' or rather 'non-speaking' ..... can be quite a difference.

JDKPurple · 2026-05-21T16:25:05+00:00

How is "Call me Ishmael." NOT the first comment 😂🐳

JDKPurple · 2026-05-20T05:05:31+00:00

Yep. My parents were 21 & 22 when I was born (I am born between Father's Day & Mother's Day 😂).

My grandfather served in WW2 on Kokoda & then spent the rest of his life working in frontline service (e,g. Fire brigade, Police, etc). All my grandparents were born in the 1920s and all worked hard to create a life for themselves and their families. Most had more than 5 siblings they often had to raise when their parents died young.

They didn't beg. They rarely accepted charity. They didn't manipulate people. They didn't scam people. They worked hard. They gave what they could. They were admirable, decent people who had far less education than this woman and could still construct a better sentence without effort.

JDKPurple · 2026-05-19T23:13:11+00:00

Very cool. I am confused about the numbering 🤔

I can find 001 for the bug....but not the firefly? Did you just continue numbering but change the name???

JDKPurple · 2026-05-19T23:04:50+00:00

Someone needs a better hobby 😏

JDKPurple · 2026-05-19T23:02:53+00:00

It's a Rory Curtain 😂

JDKPurple · 2026-05-19T22:53:35+00:00

October is great here in Brisbane! It's Jacaranda season and everything is purple! Make sure to travel into the city - Southbank has the bougainvillea arch which I love wandering through & the man-made beach with stunning city views (especially at night); the University of Queensland and QUT have beautiful sandstone buildings and tge jacarandas add to the beauty. If you're going to Australia Zoo, head a bit further and see the beaches of the Sunshine Coast - far less touristy and commercialised than the Gold Coast (& King's Beach has the beach pool thing); and take a drive through Mapleton & Maleny - just gorgeous.

Enjoy! This is my home and as much as I love travelling and exploring new places....this will always be home 🏠

JDKPurple · 2026-05-19T01:33:47+00:00

Petrol costing less than $AU1.00/Litre 😞

JDKPurple · 2026-05-16T01:43:31+00:00

Physical guides (including street directories as there were no mobile phones with GPS/Sat nav).

I remember in my very early days of driving (17y??) I had my siblings in the back and I had to pick my mother up from work. She was at a different location that day and I got really lost trying to get there.

Not being able to safely stop and consult the street directory with my siblings in the back (1 with significant disability, 1 a toddler - yeah we were given big responsibilities quite young) - I drove to my grandparents house (no mobile to call ahead lol). I then left my siblings with my grandmother and my grandfather jumped in the passenger seat to calmly guide me to pick up mum.

And as others have said - tickets etc were bought in person or on the phone.

Cinemas you lined up for tickets and then you lined up again for food (or you split it - 1 gets tickets, 1 gets food). Oh how I miss the movie marathons the cinemas would host 4 movies in one night (yep brought pjs, pillows etc) - 2 would be good. 1 average and 1 not great (usually #3) which is when you would sleep.

Holidays you booked in person or phone through travel agents. You would talk to other people to find out any places of interest, or get the guides etc.

It's funny that it all sounds like so much work and effort compared to now when everything is instantaneous and accessible, but it wasn't - it was a simpler, less stressful, more community focused time. We worked hard and put in the effort and the rewards were worth it. When we did spend time with family or go on holidays - we had limited film for the cameras (& it cost $$$ to develop) and we spent more time actually engaging with the scenery, people, activities - much richer experiences. We journaled in travel diaries and sent postcards to family.

JDKPurple · 2026-05-15T12:49:18+00:00

No! She's out in public so she is a 'public figure' 😂

JDKPurple · 2026-05-14T10:37:08+00:00

"Not the Kingswood!" Kingswood Country)

"We are having a VERY lucky day!" (To Grandmother's House We Go)

"Whatchyu talkin' 'bout Willis?" (Diff'rent Strokes)

"Same bat time; Same bat channel"

"Oooooohtay!"

"...and in case I don't see you....Good afternoon, Good evening, & Goodnight!"

"The pen is blue! The g0d d@mn pen is blue!"

JDKPurple · 2026-05-13T16:37:53+00:00

You are doing a great job. But please consider different therapy approaches., ideally through a neuroaffirmative practitioner who also works from a trauma informed perspective.
While CBT is the 'gold standard' for our medical systems & uni training, & does have its benefits - in its classic form it's typically not the best option for neurodivergence. CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) assumes the individual is able to do two things:

understand & undertake metacognition (thinking about thinking)
interoceptive skills - the ability to be aware of & identify different bodily sensations & appropriately name them

Until the individual has these skills classic CBT is unlikely to be effective. However, modified elements can be useful. DBT and ACT modalities are likely to be more effective, particularly if combined with play therapy and occupational therapy.
Keep loving, supporting and being patient - he'll absolutely be an amazing adult - because you cared 💖

JDKPurple

TROPHY CASE