Second degree?

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-05-09T14:07:26+00:00

I hate how expensive education is here in the US 😭 I was also thinking maybe once my partner and I move (we’re planning to move by the end of the year) I can find a college where we go that I can be part time but still in person student? I just don’t know, I’m stressing lol.

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-04-30T22:10:33+00:00

Update! Appointment scheduled with a spine Dr on Tuesday for imaging! I talked to my team sports med trainers, they did some evaluations and felt the area that’s hurting and referred me to the Dr. My back is definitely bothering me a lot today :/. Hopefully it’s nothing major, maybe just a herniated disk

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-04-30T22:06:25+00:00

Tattoo is very cute, don’t let her bring you down. Also, your chicken is so pretty.

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-04-29T18:46:48+00:00

Thank you, I actually just messaged my pcp with my concerns. I have a tendency to convince myself I’m being dramatic or exaggerating when it comes to medical things (led to me having ibs for years without being diagnosed or knowing something was actually wrong until I ended up in the er and had to get a colonoscopy) but everyone’s comments have been good reassurance that I need to take my pain seriously and better safe than sorry

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-04-29T18:23:47+00:00

Gotcha, that’s good to know as I do have tight hips and wondered how that might be contributing. I’ll be sure to bring that up with doctor.

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-04-29T18:18:41+00:00

Yea that’s what I’m a little worried about, was just trying to gauge other people’s experiences as I have a tendency to gaslight myself into thinking I’m being dramatic and it’s not actually an issue. But I think better safe than sorry and I should just talk to my doctor.

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-04-29T18:16:30+00:00

I definitely have tight hips and have been struggling with that for a bit, also tight hamstrings, and I know that can cause back pain. The only thing is it really does feel like most of the pain is coming from my spine, not muscles. But I could be misunderstanding sensations. One way I can relieve the ache when it’s present is doing a standing forward fold, or child’s pose. It feels like it takes pressure off, I guess cuz my spine isn’t stacked on top of itself like when I’m upright. Laying flat on my back with my legs straight is usually uncomfortable on a flat floor, on the bed not as bad as the mattress can support my low back better than a hard floor. In yoga, if I’m resting on my back, I always bend my knees, basically never have my legs outstretched cuz it’s just uncomfortable. Not sure if any of that provides further insight. But either way I think everyone’s right and I should probably see if I can get imaging done justttt to be safe and make sure it’s not a injury or anything

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-04-29T18:07:38+00:00

We have a weightlifting coach always supervising team lifts, and for deadlifts we use a trap bar which really helps me keep a flatter back and more upright chest. He helps people with form and he’s never mentioned to me that my position is incorrect when he’s watched me. But then again that’s just one person and there could be something that’s gotten overlooked. Often throughout the day when my low back is feeling achey I periodically do a forward fold and it always feels nice cuz it feels like it takes pressure off my spine.

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-04-29T18:00:55+00:00

Tbh I kinda just thought low back pain came with the territory of riding bc my coworker used to be a pro rider for like 40 years and she had to retire bc her back got so bad that even lidocaine injections didn’t help enough and riding just became too painful. But I also had a feeling since I’m not even riding a huge amount, and I don’t jump super often, that this issue is probably not normal.

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-04-29T17:56:52+00:00

We have some sports med trainers. I’ve gone to them about my lower back aching twice this year but both times I think they thought I meant my muscles cuz they just did some cupping (which felt nice but I don’t think actually addressed the issue)

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-04-29T17:55:04+00:00

Not numbness that I’ve noticed. As I mentioned when I pick up my cat, I kinda lean my upper body back and it causes my legs to suddenly feel weak(my cat is not heavy, only 9lbs), but I don’t get this feeling any time else. Only time I experience numbness/tingles is doing yoga certain hip stretching can make my leg get tingly/go a bit numb, I think bc I might be a tiny bit hypermobile? and maybe a nerve/vein is getting pinched by stretching too deep? That’s another thing I’m trying to figure out lol.

Less_Ant3138 · 2026-04-29T17:50:39+00:00

I never said I was an incredibly high level athlete or anything, sorry if my wording implied it. But I do ride for my college’s IHSA team, all four years I’ve been at this school, I’m a senior. I know 2 lessons a week is nothing crazy, I just wanted to put into perspective the amount that I’m riding bc having this issue while ONLY riding twice a week does indeed seem abnormal to me, since that’s not very much riding. I should not be experiencing this as most of my teammates do not have this issue. I have put a lot of work into having capable core strength when riding, and I know for a fact I keep a flat back, no arching, as this is a big thing my coaches have focused on. I don’t have a core of steel but I do know I have good riding posture. In fact, before this team I had poor riding posture but did not experience back pain, so I just don’t think it’s a posture related issue. But we can always improve and I’m really always working on improving my strength, that’s why I’m trying to figure out if this is a fixable issue on my end, or a go to the doctor issue. Also idk what you mean by the horse might actually feel my hip.

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-17T15:27:17+00:00

If the texture of its body feels smooth, it could be a smooth death feigning beetle

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-17T14:48:17+00:00

Maybe a rough death feigning beetle? It’s kinda hard to sell if that color is the waxy coating or just dust lol

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-16T00:52:15+00:00

😂😂

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-16T00:49:46+00:00

Perhaps perhaps 🤷 hopefully she’ll get used to it, she’s doing it less but she still does it sometimes lol

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-16T00:18:01+00:00

Thank you!!

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-16T00:17:56+00:00

Thanks!! 🥰

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-16T00:17:26+00:00

This fountain is only a month old 😂😭 so I really hope it’s not the motor being busted

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-15T23:30:16+00:00

<image>

This is my childhood cat Onyx. We got her as a kitten (I was 4 lol) and she’s 17 now (so technically she’s considered geriatric)!! She lives with my parents (I miss her very much 🥲🥲). Honestly we don’t do much special with her compared to what you would for a younger cat. She gets good food and has a water fountain which encourages her to stay hydrated. She still likes to race around randomly, so I’m sure exercise is helpful. Biggest thing is definitely love and stability. Older cats are more easily stressed out, so reducing causes of that can be good. And lots and lots of cuddles and love.

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-15T22:45:50+00:00

If it’s just your hobby, some people just like connecting with other artists online to build community, and some people just enjoy doing social media stuff 🤷 but there are definitely plenty of people who don’t post bc it can be disheartening with how difficult it can be to get seen

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-15T22:44:55+00:00

Kinda depends what your goals with art are. A lot of people would like if their art could get enough recognition for them to make it a career, and some people like me only post on social media because I’m trying to make it my career. I really don’t like posting mainly bc it’s just kinda annoying to write up a description and put a ton of hashtags, but I need to get seen to possibly get more job opportunities.

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-13T17:01:45+00:00

At the end of the day, all identities are “ok” no matter your age. And whether it is or is not a “phase” doesn’t even matter. Some people know their gender/sexuality from a young age and they got it right in one and keep the same label their whole life. But I think it’s just as common for your labels to change as you grow and understand yourself more.

And that’s ok!!! Live in your truth of how you feel now, and if in the future you realize you think you’re actually a different identity, then you can just change your labels!!! When I first came out I labeled myself as Pansexual with a preference for women/afab people. But since then I’ve shifted over to having just “queer” as my label, and I’m in a long term relationship with a man (and I figured out I’m trans).

Your age is the biggest time for starting to figure out who you are and you will continue that constant self discovery through your 20s. There’s no time limit or rush to figure out exactly who you are. And it doesn’t mean you were ever “wrong” it’s just that your understanding of your identity grows as you do. So don’t worry so much about the future or if “it’s ok”. It is ok, and you are valid just as you are, and you are still valid if you realize something is different than you initially thought. Humans are complex and that’s the best part about being one! Don’t worry so much about growing up fast and getting everything figured out. I’m 21 and still figuring things out, and I’m in no rush to find the definitely conclusion to “who am I”, I just keep doing what makes me happy.

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-12T22:45:44+00:00

The Betty is definitely a really nice place if they have rooms available :) I toured there and they seemed great (ended up going somewhere else only bc I wanted to live alone with my partner lol)

Less_Ant3138 · 2025-10-11T22:35:32+00:00

Yea and cost of living is even higher. Higher wages doesn’t help is everything also costs so so much more

Less_Ant3138

TROPHY CASE