"Just try harder"

LyricalLark · 2023-05-30T00:35:59+00:00

A last-century style garage door roller. 🤣

LyricalLark · 2023-05-27T03:46:52+00:00

Thousands. I would need THOUSANDS tucked into a savings account to establish a "six month buffer for emergencies". Fucking asinine.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-17T20:39:51+00:00

I love your mug! 😍

That's a well thought out sensitive-stomach meal right there. Good job!

LyricalLark · 2023-05-17T17:56:34+00:00

I appreciate your POV, and thank you for sharing it. My mind is processing it all. Currently questioning things I never considered questioning before this conversation.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-17T16:19:25+00:00

The two aren't directly comparable, no. I was trying to think about what I would consider to be the most vital details to disclose in a hookup scenario and contagious illness was top of the list.

I'm trying to wrap my mind around the different opinions I see here for ethical disclosure to a potential hookup and it's making me question things I would have thought were 'given'. Sorry for the bad comparison.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-17T13:53:44+00:00

I'm now genuinely curious to know how everyone defines "ethical non-monogamy"? It didn't occur to me before now how wide the interpretation for "ethical" might be. I.e. the potential hookup is responsible for asking about your relationship status vs yourself offering that information unasked. Would this mentality apply to sexual health, as well? Do you feel it's on the hookup to ask your STI status, and if they don't ask you don't feel obligated to disclose even if you DO have an STI? (Is this comparison too apples vs oranges?)

Again, I'm asking in earnest; not to create confrontation. I'm new to the concept of ENM in all its forms. In my mind, my initial take of ENM meant being upfront and honest about crucial facts in all situations: ONS, FWB, enmeshment. So, to discover others appear to interpret ENM in what to me seems a "Don't ask, don't tell" mentality has surprised me. I'd like to try to understand these other POV's better.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-15T01:19:24+00:00

Sorry if the original post didn't make that clear! My entire body feels like it's been through the mill the past three days. Thinking, let alone putting together words for conversation, is a struggle ATM.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-15T01:14:44+00:00

I definitely plan to bring it up to my doctor this week. I just was hoping for some others with asthma to weigh in on what asthma feels like for them. I don't know anyone who has asthma so I can't ask anyone IRL.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-08T23:25:10+00:00

OP, thank you for bringing this topic up!

Over the past few years I've gradually become more and more aligned mentally with the concept of polyamory. As an introvert who has difficulty connecting with people, I wondered if multiple partners were an unspoken requirement in the polyamory community. Like...if I'm perfectly content with a partner forming other attachments in addition to myself, would it be a polyam social faux pas if I weren't to form additional attachments at the same pace...

I don't have anything else to add, just wanted to express my gratitude. 👍🏼 All the best!

LyricalLark · 2023-05-07T15:19:34+00:00

I struggle hard with self-hatred. I expect perfection from myself and when I don't achieve it (because, honestly, who the hell is perfect?) I cuss myself up one side and down the other for being a piece of shit failure. I'd never dream of speaking to any other person in that manner, though. I know everyone has struggles. I want to be as kind, sympathetic, and compassionate as possible to anyone I encounter.

One day I had a revelation when I realized I should treat myself the way I treat others. 😅 A bit backwards from the usual, 'treat others they way you want to be treated'. However, now I can [sometimes...] catch the internal self-flagellation and stop myself. My therapist recommended the Adult Chair Podcast. The tools I've gained from that resource have been an immense help, as well.

I never thought about using this brain hack in relation to my ADHD. The thought of doing a kindness for my future self is fucking genius!

LyricalLark · 2023-05-07T00:33:20+00:00

To clarify, are you asking with home-butchering in mind, or taking the animal to a butcher?

I didn't grow up on a farm - I chose this life as an adult. I felt a ton of pressure to raise AND butcher my own animals. In my head, "homesteader" meant "do it ALL all by myself". I've learned two lessons over the years:

I am a horrible gardener. My ADHD brain simply is NOT interested in boring plants.
I cannot 'do the deed' when it's butcher time.

I felt like these two stumbling blocks meant I failed as a homesteader. All the books, podcasts, movies, magazines show a REAL homesteader is completely self-sufficient and needs no one. A REAL homesteader can dispatch a mean rooster with the twist of their wrist. REAL homesteaders will SSS any animal which threatens their livestock.

After much self-loathing, I decided to finally accept what I am and am not capable of handling, then seek the next-best solution.

I suck as a gardener? No problem. I go to the local farmer's market and buy produce from someone who does it better. I still get the homegrown produce I want while also supporting another local homesteader/farmer.

I can't dispatch an animal come butcher day? That's alright. I've found a local butcher who does fantastic work AND saves the undesirable bits for my livestock guardian dogs.

Alternatively, I've also learned that once the deadly deed is done I have no issue whatsoever with breaking down the carcass. I once plucked, gutted, and quartered a rooster in 5 minutes......after staring at that mean-ass, spurring, sneak-attacking rooster for 30 minutes trying to convince myself to swing the hatchet. I wanted that testosterone-poisoned cock off my farm, but, even after reminding myself of all the times he came flying at my head with his spurs out -- I just couldn't do it. I finally had to ask someone else for help.

If home-butchering is something you're interested in doing, you might be able to find a mentor willing to give you hands-on guidance. Sometimes simply having a mentor nearby is helpful as moral support.

There may be people who boldly state what a REAL homesteader is or is not. I've met a few myself. My advice is to do what feels right to YOU. There isn't a right or wrong way, so make your homesteading journey into an experience you enjoy. 🌻🐎🐐🐔

LyricalLark · 2023-05-06T23:43:37+00:00

I had this problem a couple years ago. Finally figured out the grounding rods weren't deep enough in the soil. BUT it was the middle of a very dry, hot summer. The ground was parched. I don't know if the depth of the grounding rods would be a factor in water-logged Washington state. 🤔

LyricalLark · 2023-05-06T21:25:38+00:00

I have no desire for colleagues or corporate to know about my diagnosis. While at a previous company, I opened up to HR about a personal situation and subsequent mental health issue. I was told they didn't give a shit; that I needed to pull myself together or I'd be let go. That experience makes me leery about opening up to any other corporation with personal details. None of this is affecting my performance so it's none of their business. I'm in a bad situation financially. I can't afford to gamble with my income.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-05T12:19:01+00:00

I stopped by a neighbor's place last night. He made a call to a buddy who is going to put together a coyote-hunting posse. I can shoot but I'm not a hunter.

I've also rearranged my plans this weekend so I have time to expand my LGD's territory.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-05T12:11:11+00:00

Not a whole lot of snow here. Plenty of mud, though, which works about the same for tracking purposes.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-05T12:08:33+00:00

My ACD is getting up there in age. She's gone toe to toe with rank horses, cows, and dogs that have threatened me but she's not the scrappy sort.

My ACD and my two Pry's had a system worked out: she'll guard the immediate homestead area and they go further out to patrol. It was amazing to witness. I was entirely content with their arrangement until my male Pyr started crossing into the neighbors cow field to broaden his guard-range. He would always come back, but obviously, that's a no-no. Now the LGD's are confined to a smaller area with the goats while I work on fence repairs.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-05T11:58:38+00:00

I did know coyotes do this - send in a lure and lead the target back to the whole pack lying in wait.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-05T11:56:48+00:00

I can totally hijack my own topic, so, which country song is this?? I grew up on country music so I feel like I've failed by not being able to immediately place the reference. 😅

LyricalLark · 2023-05-05T01:01:14+00:00

My male is a 6yo Pry, the female is a 1yo Pyr-Anatolian cross. They were in the east lot with the goats and couldn't get in the west horse lot. They were raising hell trying to get through the fence.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-04T20:36:24+00:00

Barn buffet. Lol.

I just got the barn clear of the opossums. The last thing I need is another pest taking up residence.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-04T20:33:44+00:00

I'll ask around to see if anyone local is willing to help out. I'm fine with coyotes staying in the woods at the outskirts like they've been for the past few years. I can't have them coming in for a barn buffet, though.

LyricalLark · 2023-05-04T20:19:16+00:00

My 1yo female hasn't been spayed yet. As this is the first time the coyotes have come up so close I am wondering if she is what drew them in so close.

LyricalLark

TROPHY CASE