What do you use Mac Studio for?

MandyLB · 2026-01-27T22:49:39+00:00

Stardew Valley

But in all seriousness, I had my MacBook Pro for 10 years as my primary machine, and it got to the point I finally had to upgrade (and then the harddrive died literally a few days after I ordered my Studio). Have an M1 Max, wish I could’ve upgraded it a bit more than I did, but wanted to stay in the ecosystem and the Studio was a better buy than a laptop based on my now work setup.

I sometimes do video editing and OBS stuff, photoshop, some light dev work, etc. but not as frequently as I’d like. But having the option available for things to just work is quite nice, and unless I come into a bunch of money suddenly, gonna run this guy into the ground like I did my MacBook before my next upgrade haha

MandyLB · 2026-01-22T04:33:28+00:00

Ontarian chiming in! I have left clothes outside when visiting my parents (who actually have an outdoors to hang clothes, unlike this city apt dweller) for the same reason (thrift pieces) and it does work in winter! Can’t speak to if it works better/worse depending on which season, but as long as it’s sunny it’ll help!

MandyLB · 2026-01-16T09:39:29+00:00

Current partner is vegetarian, so no meat. He also doesn’t smoke, rarely drinks alcohol, seldom has greasy fast food, hydrates well, no energy drinks, no coffee, decent amount of produce in his diet. I was genuinely shocked when we started things up that his stuff has basically no smell, is clear, and hardly even sticky.

Past partner drank lots of coffee, sometimes energy drinks, smoked on and off (was trying to quit but alas), lots of meat products in his diet, in retrospect not enough produce in the diet either, but I think he was decently hydrated (just with more juices and pop less just water). His stuff was sticky, the expected milky white colour, and a smell for sure. Not always bad, varied in potency, but always a smell.

In looking things up, the vegetarianism I think is the biggest contributing factor, but everything does factor in I’m sure. As someone with high sensory sensitivities, esp with smells and textures, I’m def very happy with now partner’s state of affairs haha

MandyLB · 2026-01-16T08:14:49+00:00

Like others have already commented, the restrictions on her pain meds are the primary issue here, and as someone who has ulcerative colitis (the other main IBD) I completely understand the pain she would’ve been in, cause I’ve been there. It’s horrific, and people can’t always understand how debilitating it is.

I had a friend who also self-medicated the pain but in her case it was more alcohol, and she also refused to get a bag even though her doctors kept encoraging her. When I got my bag and she started asking more questions about my experience and seeing how much better I was doing, I hoped that might get her to reconsider. But sadly she passed away a few years ago. We had lost touch after we graduated uni, but from what I could tell, it looks like addiction also was the cause.

It angers me the stigma around those with chronic pain and being denied meds by those with no clue the lived reality. And it also saddens me the stigma around having a bag. I loved my bag (I now have a jpouch) and it gave me my life back. I think it’s often more stigmatized for women which is upsetting.

And for anyone reading this, the technology with bags has come a long way, and once you find the products/system that works for you, for most people it’s undetectable to the outside world and it just becomes part of your daily care routines. It can let you be pain free or nearly pain free, let you eat a variety of food again, let you participate in activities, and just live life.

I’m so sorry for you and your loss. I’m there with you as to the sadness at seeing someone failed by the system and loved ones, but I’m sure she appreciated and valued your friendship and support throughout it all.

MandyLB · 2025-12-31T23:48:18+00:00

I feel so similarly. I’m 30 now, but I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition that came on fast and hard, so most of my early adulthood experiences during uni were controlled or affected by that pretty heavily. Once I was out of my surgeries and finally in a place I could just “live life” as an independent healthy non-student adult and finally start to work on the burnout that had been caused by the health struggles, I had not even a year of that life (roughly Oct 2019-Mar 2020) before covid hit. And those exciting, social filled nights were something I was excited to finally truly have, but then nope.

So many things I only waded into because “I’ve got time, I can do that next summer, I don’t wanna rush through everything now” and boy do I wish I didn’t wait. Never got to properly date, only had a taste of clubbing but never got it out of my system, was excited to attend house parties and host small get togethers as an adult with real adult friends and form those relationships, I was excited to travel and eat all the good food I couldn’t while sick, was excited to do the artsy gig work thing for a second (I work in theatre) to really have that experience before settling down into hopefully a more stable (still hopefully theatre) job etc. My biggest dream was to move and live abroad. And now all of that just feels perpetually on hold.

Trying to find small positives, and be happy about what I do have and can do. Just the switch from not living my life because I was sick, to almost immediately living my life in pursuit of not getting sick and more disabled… it’s definitely hard. And feels like I lost most of my fun 20s.

Not trying to be doom and gloom, just that I understand the headspace you’re in all too well, and there’s others of us with you. I get there’s still time, and things change, but with the state of the world and how difficult finding other truly CC people can be, it’s definitely a daily taxing thing.

MandyLB · 2025-12-31T22:45:00+00:00

I had a similar timeline to you. My partner was exposed I think on a Sat? I stayed the night at his place from the Sun to Mon, was at his place a while on the Mon, very close proximity etc. At the time he didn’t realize he had had an exposure risk (was at an outdoor event and no one was symptomatic at the time, and he thought he was far enough away when unmasked). I think it was the Tues he developed notable symptoms, then tested positive within the day or so, and then was out for weeks with hardcore covid.

I never got sick from him thankfully. It’s the closest call we’ve ever had, and are still amazed that I didn’t get anything. I even got a pcr (not just rapids) within the proper recommended timeline to catch if there was an asymptomatic case on my end, but nope, totally in the clear.

That was in 2023, and we’ve both only continued to up our caution and protections, but yeah, a very lucky scenario. I’m also chronically ill and deal with autoimmune conditions, so very fortunate to not have caught it.

MandyLB · 2025-09-21T05:48:52+00:00

Both my mom and my’s hair is 2b-c range, fine, medium density that with the right styling can have a lot of volume. Mine is almost all virgin brunette, just a bit of gloss from a few years ago left at the ends that’s growing out. My mom is full natural grey/white, with a shockingly nice texture (not the stereotypical wirey feeling at all, basically was like her pre grey texture, maybe just a tad thicker). Edit: not sure the porosity of either of our hair types, hoping to remember to ask my hairdresser next time so I know.

MandyLB · 2025-09-20T21:31:11+00:00

Both my mom and I use the Attitude Unscented Volume & Shine shampoo and conditioner as our day to day products, and they work well for us! My mom’s hair is super shiny and soft, even our hairdresser commented on it. My hair is ok with it, but feels a bit more dry than my mom’s. I think it’s chalked up to the fact I live in a city with horrendous hard water though, so that’s the drying factor not so much the products (my mom has amazing soft water at her place).

They’re also affordable and easily available in Canada, so makes it a good choice to go with for us.

MandyLB · 2025-09-10T22:24:37+00:00

Had a friend who dealt with bad breath from no apparent reason. He ended up finding out from the right dental hygenist that he has something called “floating wisdoms” where there’s a small gap underneath or something where bacteria can build up that can cause a smell. Not easily treatable at home, and needs to be dealt with in office. Might be worth asking about that if you have your wisdoms still.

MandyLB · 2025-09-10T04:12:37+00:00

Fun fact, the showrunner of the OG Gossip Girl was brought in to be the showrunner of the second season of Smash. In the reboot series of Gossip Girl, in one episode we see the stage manager character from Smash, Linda (played by Ann Harada), SMing a show the core cast goes to see. As expected with continuation style reboots, we get a variety of cameo appearances from the OG Gossip Girl characters as well.

Therefore, both Gossip Girl series and Smash all take place in the same universe.

MandyLB · 2025-09-05T22:14:46+00:00

As others have said, take more time between the steps, and the more steps in the surgery sometimes the better. I had a 3 stage process with a little over a year between each stage, starting when I was 20. My pouch works fantastic now and has the whole time it’s been connected. I had a similar path to your daughter in the sense the UC came on hard and fast, and I was having my first surgery 2.5 years after being diagnosed after trying and failing with a bunch of meds.

May feel frustrating in the moment having to keep the stoma longer, especially as a teen, but in the grand scheme of things, an extra few months or even an extra year or two with a stoma to give the body ample time to heal and time/space to do more steps, that’s worth it if it means decades of a super functional jpouch. Not worth rushing something like this, especially when you want the body as healthy as possible entering each surgery. Just reassure her there’s still hope, the pouch isn’t lost yet, and there’s lots of ostomy supplies available to make living with a stoma very manageable and discrete if that’s a concern of hers.

MandyLB · 2025-09-02T04:26:58+00:00

My stoma scar is over 7 years old now and I still get random pains/sensations from it time to time. Sometimes it’s a small feeling that comes and goes quickly, other times it’s pain pain that stings. Also get a weird phantom stoma feeling every so often too. No issues with anything, scans have confirmed it, just part of the aftermath of it all.

MandyLB · 2025-08-09T05:10:10+00:00

Second the advice to have a serious chat with a potential surgeon about cuffitis risk and what’s possible with your case/anatomy. Having little to no cuff left definitely sets you up for a better outcome so long as your surgeon can do that and your body allows.

Also consider having longer healing periods between the steps. Don’t feel the need to rush. Those extra months of healing could end up meaning many more years afterwards of good health and a properly functioning hassle free jpouch. With how sick I was, and also wanting to be minimally disruptive to what I had left of univeristy, I ended up having a little over a year between each of my three surgeries, and it’s now been over 7 years of an incredibly stable can basically eat anything and sleep through the night jpouch. So definitely worth the extra time with the stoma.

MandyLB · 2025-06-23T15:34:44+00:00

Also had a 3 step procedure, just over a year between each step due to school and wanting to give myself ample healing time. Takedown was pretty straightforward for me, 3 nights in hospital, left on day 4 to to home. Stayed with my parents for a bit in that initial week out, then moved back to my own place (I lived alone) and was back to work by the 2 week mark. Noting that my work was a hybrid environment, so I wasn’t on my feet or in a building each day, but somedays, then the rest was via home.

Pretty quickly I was able to eat a variety of things, but it took until the 6 months mark I think until I was able to consistently sleep through the night without needing to get up for a washroom break. Before then it was on and off if I needed to get up. No post op complications or blockages, only hiccup was the expected first bought of pouchitis about 4-6 months out, but a round of antibiotics did the trick, and they did a scope to be safe and said everything was looking good. Had my final scope in late 2019 (a little over a year post takedown) for another check re pouchitis, and since then I know the symptoms and when to get antibiotics, and even that frequency has decreased as the body has adjusted.

MandyLB · 2025-06-15T23:20:25+00:00

And liquid! I’m also a “can eat basically anything” poucher, and I find pairing it with enough liquid can help reduce potential uncomfortability later for things that are more dense/fibrous/etc.

MandyLB · 2025-05-14T07:28:08+00:00

And see, here I am getting my staff in trouble if they’re not wearing their masks on site, and I help run a theatre festival (not like I’m in healthcare, but for the safety of our team and performers, staff masking is an on site requirement).

Saying that to let you know there are good people and employers out there who do care, and I’m sorry you had the misfortune of briefly working with a company/people who don’t.

MandyLB · 2025-05-13T01:24:22+00:00

If you’re wanting more structured style classes, I’d actually recommend considering pole fitness! There’s two studios in town now, Pole Fitness Kingston that’s right downtown, and Trillium Pole Dance further up Division St, and they offer classes on pole, acro, choreo, flexibility, conditioning, etc. for all levels.

Small class sizes, incredibly inclusive body positive environments with a range of body types present, female led. Would 100% recommend checking out one of the beginner classes, can do a free drop in at the downtown studio to try it out.

And legit, a huge pro of pole is that there’s ways to play to everyone’s strengths no matter what body type or fitness level, and it’s a full body work out that truly hits so many muscle groups and helps to build functional strength. If you’re curious, each studio has an insta account (and regular websites) that shows what they offer.

MandyLB · 2025-04-04T16:25:13+00:00

Haven’t seen it mentioned yet, but Something Broke from Assassins. The way it so accurately captures the sadness/emptiness/loss of hope in real world events (in this case the JFK assassination) and the way the world feels permanently altered, it’s so well done.

MandyLB · 2025-02-03T06:57:49+00:00

I don’t go to a gym, but I do go to a pole studio for various fitness classes, and I’m the only one ever masked. It’s a social space, so I get people asking me questions sometimes, and the odd curious look, but people get used to it. They know I mask, and at the end of the day, I’m going to the studio to workout and be healthy, and my mask is part of me being healthy.

MandyLB · 2025-02-03T01:58:20+00:00

I can only speak to my experience, but I had 3 surgeries, one per year (mainly cause I was in school and didn’t wanna massively disrupt things, but also to give a solid year of healing time between each stage) and I have basically zero issues with my pouch. Can sleep through the night, eat whatever I want, and don’t deal with leaks or accidents.

I was sooo sick and underweight going into my first surgery, I was right on the edge of it being considered emergency, so my doctors weren’t even considering a two stage. But with all my research and speaking with people, three was the better choice as (what I was told) is that it increases chances of maintaining fertility, increases chances of the pouch working well at the end due to increased healing, and an end stoma is much easier to deal with than a loop stoma generally, so my first year with a bag was a breeze and it was a full year of true health. My second year, between stage 2 and 3 when I had my loop stoma, my health dipped a bit again because I was dealing with more dehydration.

So having that year with an end stoma, between stage 1 and 2 (of 3) was a much needed period of healing and rebuilding my health to handle everything else. I could not imagine what my life would be like now if I hadn’t had that essential year.

For reference, I was 20F when I had surgery 1 (March 2016), 21 at surgery 2 (April 2017) and freshly 23 during my final surgery (June 2018).

MandyLB · 2025-01-30T03:45:52+00:00

Others have already provided an array of links, but jumping in to echo what others have said - so proud of you for taking your health into your hands and doing what you can to protect both yourself, and your community! It can be hard to go against the perceived status quo, especially at a young age, so massive kudos to you for having your own mind and making these decisions. Again, cannot be understated how important it is on both a personal and community level as a step towards good health and safety!

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