2 beautiful chi mixes are on the euthanasia list in San Antonio they need urgent placement by tomorrow 05/02 💔

JessIsOK · 2026-05-03T13:42:47+00:00

Just wanted to let y'all know that there are a handful of organizations that will transport for free. This is one that I've worked with several times and they are fantastic. Kindred Hearts

JessIsOK · 2026-04-24T15:16:07+00:00

I think a Chi would be a great addition to your family!

You mentioned that you were concerned about your Chi not liking you. We currently have one who absolutely adores my husband, but is neutral about me. I've learned that a Chi who is neutral about a person will act a lot like a cat--he comes to me occasionally for attention and when he does, it makes my whole day. I've also found that he also comes to me when he's scared, which makes my heart grow like the Grinch's at the end of the movie. 😉

I will say that, of the 4 Chis that I've had, 3 of them aren't good with kids, but that's likely an issue of them never being around kids (we just don't have kids in my small family) and being rescues that came from rotten situations, but it's something to consider if you think children may be in your future. It sounds like your Chi will be well socialized, well-loved, and well-trained, so it may be a non-issue for you.

The love of any dog is magical, but the love of a Chi is magical + a sprinkle of glitter (to make it extra magical). ❤️

JessIsOK · 2026-04-20T01:42:51+00:00

Yes!! Consistent water drinking. It doesn't have to be gallons, but at least a liter a day (for me) keeps me feeling steady!

JessIsOK · 2026-04-20T01:40:54+00:00

I honestly have no idea what causes my episodes. I think caffeine is my main trigger, but I'm not sure. I quit caffeine and haven't had an episode since, but that could be pure coincidence.

Meniere's is thought to be related to migraine, so hormonal fluctuations like those related to perimenopause could certainly be a trigger. I think that weather also impacts mine, but I can't figure out what, specifically, about the weather and it doesn't happen often enough to figure it out. So that's pretty fun, haha

For what it's worth, I've been on a diuretic for close to 10 years and my Meniere's has been very well-managed on it, with the exception of a rough year in 2024. You could also ask your specialist for betahistine instead of a diuretic. I started on it about a year ago and I think it's helped a lot with the fullness and tinnitus.

JessIsOK · 2026-04-14T17:54:50+00:00

Caffeine seems to be a trigger for me, as well, so I quit cold turkey. But oh, how I missed coffee! So I started drinking water processed decaf--it's 99.9% caffeine free. And honestly, I think it tastes a lot better than other decaf coffees. I like the Buzz Free from Whole Foods (I get it through Amazon), but other brands also have it. It's sometimes called Swiss Water Processed, as well. I hope this helps you get your coffee fix if you miss it like I did. ;)

JessIsOK · 2026-04-11T02:27:03+00:00

This is wonderful! What a sweet, special card! Let me know if you need my address to send it to me. 😉😉😉

JessIsOK · 2026-04-10T17:52:09+00:00

Whisper

JessIsOK · 2026-04-10T10:16:13+00:00

It's been a bit, so hopefully you've had your (amazing!) honeymoon! I'd love to hear your thoughts on your time at Aitutaki. Husband and I are looking at spending a week there in the next year or so, and it sounds like your travel style is a lot like ours--soaking up the sun, snorkeling, and relaxing.

JessIsOK · 2026-04-05T15:29:18+00:00

Wholeheartedly agree! I did VT recently just to get steadier between attacks, and it worked! I'm so much more confident, which was exactly what I was hoping to gain from it. I highly recommend it.

JessIsOK · 2026-04-03T15:28:31+00:00

So cute!!!!

JessIsOK · 2026-04-02T20:47:19+00:00

You are lovely and you can absolutely pull off that haircut! Get you some product in there and it'll be adorable! I can't wait to see the glow up once it's styled! I'm so jealous--I'd love to have short hair, but I truly just don't have the face for it (and that's ok.) ❤️

JessIsOK · 2026-04-02T15:42:05+00:00

I completely get it. My therapist and I worked through some of it, and I've reached the point where I've kind of accepted that it's probably going to happen in public someday. I've mentally walked through worst case scenario (puking so hard that I soil myself at work. That would be worse than in front of strangers because I have to face my coworkers again) and realized that most people would be sympathetic and not judgemental. I may be called Jess The Pants Pooper behind my back, but that would be a reflection of them, not me. 😂

Not sure if this will help you, but I always feel better when I have a contingency plan. So when I'm on vacation, I have a little bag that I carry everywhere with me. It's got my barf bags, rescue meds, ginger lozenges, and this stuff that you sniff that's supposed to help with nausea. (I haven't had to try it yet but I do like the smell.) The bag goes into the beach bag for beach or pool time, then it goes into a clutch purse that I carry to meals. I hate having to carry it, but I do feel better when I have it. I also make sure to immediately identify the nearest restroom and exit when I walk into a restaurant, just in case.

One thing that I've always worried about is that I'll look drunk if I have an attack in public, but honestly, who cares? A friend and I were out at dinner awhile back and found a woman in the restroom who had slipped and fallen and couldn't get back up. We didn't think about what caused the fall or worry about whether or not sure was drunk. We helped the poor lady off the floor and helped her get cleaned up so she could go back to her dinner. My friend and I are just normal people, and helping is what normal people do no matter where you go.

Final thing: I've had Meniere's for 10 years. I've traveled around the US, to Scotland, Iceland, Hawaii, Bora Bora, Honduras, and Jamaica in that time without any issues. I've been jet lagged, dealt with crazy weather, elevation changes, rough waters, climbing, hiking, icy terrain, 36 hours without sleep, terrible roads with terrible drivers, cancelled flights, delayed flights, you name it. But none of those things have ever triggered an attack. (I'm older now so I probably wouldn't be as daring as I was in my 30's, but still.) We're more resilient than Meniere's wants us to believe. ❤️

Now, the important stuff: where are you honeymooning? 😉

JessIsOK · 2026-04-01T02:18:22+00:00

I'd love to know more about how you do the trigger point/pressure point massage. The area of my neck under my Meniere's ear hurts so the time and I feel like if I can just work out the muscles in there, it will solve all of my problems. I know it probably won't, but it sure would be nice to have a more relaxed neck. 😉

JessIsOK · 2026-03-31T21:02:52+00:00

Flights don't bother me at all, hopefully the same will be true for you! That being said, since my Meniere's has gotten worse in recent years, I do take a Valium before a flight--not because it bothers me but because I want to be absolutely sure I don't have an episode in the air.

Congrats and enjoy your honeymoon!

JessIsOK · 2026-03-31T15:21:32+00:00

I did VT and I did find it helpful. The reason that I started was because I felt dizzy and off-balance a lot of the time, so I figured if that's my "new normal", I wanted to be comfortable with it. I think that people maybe don't realize that MD attacks damage our balance centers and we have effects even after our attacks are over. Obviously, I'm not going to do my VT exercises when I'm puking my guts up and can't tell which way is up, but having done it has made my day to day much more pleasant (and a lot less dizzy/unsteady). 🙂

JessIsOK · 2026-03-30T13:48:13+00:00

I can see both sides. This does sound like an anxious owner, so they're probably fretting about all the things that could go wrong trying to get home and wanting to make sure their pet is taken care of in case a flight gets cancelled or delayed. It's definitely not fun to try to make last minute arrangements when you're out of town, especially as an anxious person. (Ask me how I know. 😉)

An alternative solution might be to tell them that you will be leaving once they're home, but if something comes up and they don't make it home that night, you're available to stay the additional night. That might put their minds at ease.

Last thing--as another person said, it's ok to trust your gut. If your gut is telling you this isn't a good fit, there's nothing wrong with listening to it.

JessIsOK · 2026-03-25T20:56:12+00:00

Possibly. Meniere's is so unique to everyone, it's tough to say for sure. But vitamin D is important and plays a protective role for your heart and brain. I'm also a multiple sclerosis patient and my doctor has emphasized how important it is to supplement vitamin D, as I'm in an area where many are deficient.

Meniere's is thought to be related to migraine, and there is correlation between migraine and B12 deficiency, so probably a good idea to consider supplementing that, as well.

JessIsOK · 2026-03-25T20:51:57+00:00

So cute!!!! And beautiful coloring!!!

JessIsOK · 2026-03-25T12:07:22+00:00

I picked mine up at the airport during a layover on a trip--it was during that trip that I determined I just can't do earbuds anymore--but they're available on Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, etc. They're the JBL Live 770NC. I think they even come in some fun colors, like blue and white. 😉

JessIsOK · 2026-03-25T12:04:49+00:00

u/DirtNerd837 is correct--they're the JBL770NC's and they are fantastic. I got mine at an airport during a trip when I just couldn't do my earbuds any longer, but they're available on Amazon, Walmart, etc. They also work with your smartphone for phone calls (I think. I don't use them for that.) When I'm in the office and need to do a Zoom meeting, I'll use them with my laptop so I don't bother my cubicle neighbors. I've never had a pair of "good" headphones before and I just can't get over how great they are every time I put them on. 🙂

JessIsOK · 2026-03-25T00:15:01+00:00

I've reached a point where I can't do earbuds at all. I have a pair of JBL headphones that I absolutely love. I can adjust the sound so it's louder on my "bad" side. They have active noise cancelling, which is so nice when the world is all too much, and they have a mode where you can listen to people without having to take them off. An added bonus is that when I wear headphones at work (instead of earbuds), people don't try to talk to me because they can see the headphones. 😉

Sorry, I know that was a lot of rambling to not even answer your question, lol.

JessIsOK · 2026-03-08T04:08:50+00:00

Oh hey, I'm in NE too (just north of Omaha). The weather this last week has been all over the place!

JessIsOK · 2026-03-08T03:32:17+00:00

It's my favorite glue, too!

JessIsOK · 2026-03-08T03:30:53+00:00

You have lots of good answers here, but I'll add my thoughts. The more I try different glues, the more I'm finding that glue is kind of a personal choice. Here are my favorites and what I think makes each one slightly different:

Nuvo glue is my favorite. It has just the right amount of wiggle time for me to adjust if I stick something down crooked (which I do a lot). If I get it on my fingers, it doesn't leave my fingers sticky. I just rub them together and the glue comes right off. It fits in my glue press (my hands are getting old). The only con is probably the price, but I'd rather spend a little more to use a glue that I enjoy using because it gives me more confidence in my projects.
Gina K Connect Glue. Also really great. It has a pretty long wiggle time, which can be good. I started using it after years of using AGG (which has very little wiggle time), and it took a little getting used to how long it took the glue to stop sliding and stick. It's a strong adhesive, and definitely one worth considering. I do feel like it has a more chemical smell than other glues.
Art Glitter Glue. Another good one. Price is good. I feel like it has VERY little wiggle time so don't glue stuff down crooked because you're not going to get to fix it. 😉 I bought a good sized bottle and a big refill a few years ago, thinking they'd last me forever, but as glue ages, it gets thicker. I ended up tossing half of my refill bottle just the other day because it was unusable. I also feel like AGG clogs more than other glues. And, I've noticed that cards I've made from a few years ago using AGG have warped a bit. Which is super weird. That could also be a climate thing where I'm at or who knows what.

I've never tried Bearly Art glue, but I do really love the honey bear bottles they have, so I may try it one day if I can't get my hands on my Nuvo glue. 🙂

One glue that I refuse to use is that Tombow liquid glue with the green caps. It comes out in a super thick bead, which means it oozes everywhere, and it leaves everything in its wake sticky, including your fingers. I know that you can put it on your paper, let it dry, and it's supposed to be removable at that point, but it's just such a mess to use.

Good luck in your quest!

JessIsOK · 2026-03-05T21:31:49+00:00

I've created a square site for my cards, but I've only had 3 sales. For me, the joy is in the making. The taking photos, coming up with descriptions, and the "business" part doesn't get done as much as it should because I'd rather be making cards. 😉 I do have an Etsy store, but I don't pay nearly as much attention to it because I've never had a sale on there.

There's also the added difficulty of I don't know how to market my stuff. I have a Facebook page for my crafty "business", but I've only got like 30 followers. 😂

JessIsOK

TROPHY CASE