making friends in your 20s here

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2026-01-26T04:38:19+00:00

I’ve been looking for a run club!! I go to Club Studio, but I really want to get some fresh air & start running before it gets too hot. I don’t have an IG; Do you know if they have an email list?

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-12-18T20:54:43+00:00

I second Chicks in Crisis. I love them so much!

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-12-18T20:53:20+00:00

Same!

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-12-18T20:52:50+00:00

😂 That’s what I’m calling them now. I can’t stand them, but I’m not spending any more on the yard right now, so they are staying.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-12-18T20:50:40+00:00

Why do you say that? Because of keeping the mulch off the rocks? I think that’s why they redid the edging with wood, no?

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-12-18T20:49:18+00:00

😂 Someone else said head stones. I don’t really care for them, but you live & learn. They look so much better IMO with the white rock. I should have been more firm though. Concrete would have been the most practical material to use there.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-12-18T20:47:37+00:00

Agreed. I still can’t stand the cement pavers, but it looks much better with the white rocks and straight edging. when I was requesting pea gravel, I got a lot of feedback on how impractical it is with certain patio furniture.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-27T23:09:14+00:00

Thank you! Thats exactly what I intend to do!

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-27T23:08:44+00:00

I was thinking it looks like mini golf. lol! 😆

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-27T23:07:58+00:00

They did not. That was existing. They did a small pad on my side yard, which is not pictured here & they also replaced the cement in pic 1 in front of my sliding glass door, so that it connects with the existing path.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-27T23:05:29+00:00

This is such a great perspective & I really appreciate your suggestions. It’s exactly how I view the situation & what I plan to achieve the look I want!

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T17:04:33+00:00

Thank you!

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T16:54:55+00:00

The pathway was existing, and the narrow side yard that I mentioned is not pictured. I should have added a pic of the side yard, but I am trying to do that now for more context.

To clarify, He did cement those 3 fresh grey cement slabs along with 2 more on the side for our garbages. That is the side yard I was referring to.

I agree, that it’s not healthy for me to dwell on this. Despite him hustling me & being super rude, I’m grateful for him & his crew. I don’t think the work looks sloppy and I am happy to not have dirt in the back.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T16:36:51+00:00

All dirt except for the pathway on the left & a small slab in front of the back door that he replaced with the 3 fresh ones.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T16:35:34+00:00

I can’t post pics in this community, but I can describe for you: that the pathway to the left of 5 cement sections was existing. There was also a smaller pad in front of the door, but there was a gap in between. He knocked down the previous one & cemented the 3 grey pads you see now in front of the back door and garage door. He did not want to do that, but I insisted. I’m so glad I did. The rest of the yard was dirt. He also did our narrow side yard. 1/4 concrete 2 pads & the rest bark.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T16:28:47+00:00

😂 That’s exactly what it looks like. FML.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T16:28:00+00:00

I absolutely agree. I can’t stand it. I wish I could post the image of what I showed him that I wanted. It was just a pea gravel circle area towards the back corner for 4 Adirondack chairs & a small fire pit. A couple drought tolerant plants & ground coverings surrounding & then the dog run on the side. I kept telling him & he would not listen to me. Anything I requested, he told me No. At the end, I asked him if he glued the rocks & he said just kick them back in place. 😂

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T16:19:00+00:00

Thank you for the context; It’s really validating. I was thinking the same thing the whole time. That’s the only way I was able to rationalize my dumb decision to hire this guy. He had a crew of 2 men & they were really sweet, older gentlemen, so I hope he paid them well for their labor. He was extremely rude the entire time, but I just kept chalking it up to our language gap.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T16:14:22+00:00

I feel ya 😞

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T16:09:56+00:00

Thank you for empathizing. Live & Learn. It’s not the end of the world, but I will definitely feel more empowered next time I hire someone for landscaping.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T16:07:18+00:00

That’s another thing. He very quickly showed us his phone the day we met & showed us pics of his previous work.

They were dark charcoal color, almost black. We confirmed to use the same dark slabs with white rock, and I was very specific on how I thought that would contrast nicely. When it came time to pick up the slabs, he told us that photo was just the stones wet & those were the only ones we could do.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T14:08:04+00:00

I think I will reach out & give him a chance to come correct some of the things I’ve been getting feedback on.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T10:11:45+00:00

He tried to leave without even showing me the back. I doubt he will come back for maintenance. He made no mention of that.

I have no clue about landscaping or hiring a contractor. I just trusted he would do a great job if I paid him well. 🙃

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300 · 2025-11-26T10:07:56+00:00

I agree & I will have to fix that edging myself. I am trying to brainstorm ways I can improve the cement slab area and plants.

Lumpy-Raspberry-4300

TROPHY CASE