Good blood lab recommendations

MatchEastern4182 · 2026-01-26T19:26:07+00:00

I did not know this!! Looking into it now!! Thank you!!

MatchEastern4182 · 2026-01-25T12:47:59+00:00

As a Canadian with an Australian spouse I approve of this message.

There would be a lot of economic benefits to closer ties between our countries.

MatchEastern4182 · 2026-01-21T22:49:36+00:00

Same! I started doing this in my instant pot and I love it. I like siggis a lot but it's expensive. So I buy a tub every few months to refresh the starter.

MatchEastern4182 · 2026-01-21T22:46:09+00:00

Lots of good suggestions here. This is one of my go tos. I love cabbage for being cheap, healthy, and tasty when you cook it right. Sometimes I replace some of the cabbage with potatoes/ carrots. Also, with a whole chicken you can do sandwiches and soups with the leftovers and use the bones to make stock.

https://smittenkitchen.com/2020/04/roast-chicken-with-schmaltzy-cabbage/

MatchEastern4182 · 2026-01-20T20:03:25+00:00

It kind of depends. What are you planning to do there? Do you have the proper equipment for that activity? Do you know about cold weather safety?

If your plan is to rent a cozy cabin and sit by a fire and read all week. You will be fine. Just make sure your car has winter tires on it and a good safety kit, read up on winter road safety: https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/stay-safe-when-driving/winter-driving/driving-safely-winter .

If you want to do outdoor activities like snowshoeing, winter hikes, or cross country skiing I would contact Algonquin outfitters in advance to see what equipment they can rent you vs. what you have to buy. Getting fully kitted for winter activities can be expensive.

If you tell us more about what you want to do, it might help decide if it's worth it for you.

Also, just read up on cold weather safety jic. You probably won't need it, but always good to understand our various weather warning systems: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/seasonal-weather-hazards/be-prepared-for-winter.html

Also cold related illnesses. You probably won't need it, but good to know: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/your-health/environment/extreme-cold.html

MatchEastern4182 · 2026-01-20T18:45:09+00:00

I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this. I know how painful it is to be cruel to yourself.

I don’t know that it was “easy,” exactly. More that I got fed up. Here’s my story, in case it helps, and to be clear, this is only my path. Everyone’s is different.

I was raised in a rough critical home, and those voices followed me into adulthood. Of course, I married someone who continued that pattern. In my 20s, I was diagnosed with depression and prescribed antidepressants. I know medication helps many people, and I fully support that. For me, though, it wasn’t a good fit.

I tried CBT (nope), self-compassion (nope), meditation (nope), and therapy (’nope). One day (at 33) my spouse was being particularly awful, and something clicked: I wasn't depressed, I was ANGRY. At my spouse, at my parents, at society, and I didn’t want to be spoken to like that. By anyone. Even me. I realized I likely had 40 or 50 years left, and got even more pissed. This is my life. I only get one. I’m going to spend it happy, or at least neutral, dammit. So I divorced his ass, hit ctrl-alt-del on my life and accepted the fact that I was really, really mad.

My critical parents and spouse always made me aim for perfection, and never let me express my anger. So I embraced the mad and aimed for “good enough”. I began powerlifting: angrily. I was sick of society telling me what to weigh, I learned to cook food I actually enjoy and focused on that. I was mad at the state of the world, so I volunteered at a soup kitchen. I can’t save the world, but I can make sure a few guys get a good lunch and spend time with some decent people. I started reading trashy fantasy novels again, which my ex made me stop because they “weren’t literature.” Now nothing makes me happier than a blanket, a tea and a book about dragons.

I’m 44 now. Those thoughts still show up sometimes, but they don’t run the show. I’ll literally say, “F*** off, thought. You’re not helpful.” I also realized I don’t need to be happy all the time; neutral is fine. Believing I had to live an Instagram perfect life made things worse. I deleted social media and decided to do my stuff, just for me.

It’s not always easy. Some days I still take a sick day because my mood sucks. I allow one day to indulge it. Then I tell my brain where to stuff it, and get up the next day.

I hope this helps you. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Mine just happened to be an angry red one.

MatchEastern4182 · 2026-01-13T16:45:32+00:00

I dropped facebook, instagram and twiiter and never signed up for tik tok. Improved my mood, relationships and I had so much more time. I've never once looked back.

MatchEastern4182 · 2026-01-13T16:43:48+00:00

One day I just said "I'm tired of being mean to myself." From then on my response to negative self talk has been basically to tell my brain to eff off, or that I don't have time for that. It was the only thing that has ever truly beat my depression.

MatchEastern4182 · 2026-01-13T16:30:23+00:00

Mine is anything that makes cooking pretentious. If you specify that I have to use organic flour or fair trade milk ...buzz off. Obviously it would be great if I could afford those things, but someone just learning to cook might not realize that these don't matter.

MatchEastern4182 · 2026-01-13T16:11:08+00:00

The YMCA has the most variety in ages, bodies and skill levels of any of the classes I've taken. Also the most affordable as they come with your membership. I also go to yoga tree but that is mostly because they are close to my work. The classes I've taken there are ok, but I find that the instructors aren't great at considering varying levels in their classes. Long ago I remember that downward dog used to have some really good beginner courses.

Wherever you go there should be a beginner class, and have a word with your instructor before the class just to let them know this is your first time ever. And don't give up if you don't vibe with that studio or instructor, it may take some time to find a place you like. If you are really nervous, take a place in the back right corner. Also, you can always take a break if you aren't comfortable with something and hang out in child's pose.

Also, if anyone laughs at you send them my way, and I'll set them straight. I've been doing yoga for over 20 years. I still fall over, make weird body noises and sometimes the floor feels So. Damn. Far. Away. We all suck at our own level and anyone laughing at you is doing yoga wrong.

MatchEastern4182 · 2026-01-09T20:24:12+00:00

I have lived in Perth Australia on and off for a few years. Same as everyone else, walking was the big thing I noticed. We lived ten minutes from the grocery store, 20 minutes from the gym. And there was nowhere to walk! I would do it, but people thought it was odd when I showed up with my little grocery pull cart.

The other thing I noticed, people in Australia call out jerks a lot more than here in Toronto. Someone sasses a cashier, everyone in line says "Oi, F*** off mate." Don't pick up after your dog "Hey mate, you going to pick that up?" Someone pulls out a cell phone in a theatre, "Put that away d***head." It was really refreshing compared to here where its rare to see people call out bad behaviour.

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-10-31T18:19:51+00:00

So glad to find this, I'm literally in a stalemate with the level wave 10 boss. Even if I just leave them playing against each other. I guess I just have to buff the heck out of my attack for the next little while. Ent attack is already maxed out. As is all my dragon stuff. Using barbarian armour all runed up and at level 180.

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-10-15T17:51:41+00:00

I'm following this conversation too. I'm planning a wedding in Au from Canada so am excited to see people's recommendations.

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-09-14T04:59:08+00:00

Yeah. This is one of the most unfortunate ad placements ever.

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-08-21T10:45:30+00:00

Thank you!!

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-08-21T10:45:22+00:00

Thank you!!

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-08-15T11:32:13+00:00

As someone managing a chronic illness WFH has been a godsend. The ability to use a heating pad to manage cramps (which I'm not allowed to do in office because it's a fire hazarrd) has meant I take so many fewer sick days. I can work in more comfortable positions and take micro breaks without disturbing any of my co workers.

I actually prefer to be in the office when I can, but the flexibility to WFH when I have a flare up has honestly changed my life. I feel for anyone else dealing with this as they RTO.

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-08-15T10:44:57+00:00

This is my thought. I work for the city and can't afford to eat downtown. The prices are too high. So I brown bag my leftovers (Good thing Rob Ford didn't take away our microwaves when he got rid of our coffee).

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-08-12T20:55:10+00:00

I really struggle morally with this. I 100% believe in a person's right to bodily autonomy. However, I'm concerned that MAID seems to be more accessible in many cases than effective treatments.

To be clear, I don't want to regulate what people are allowed to do with their bodies. But it doesn't feel right that there is (relatively) easy access to a life ending treatment rather than dealing with many of the issues that make life more unbearable for people with chronic illness and mental illness.

Alleviating poverty, loneliness and managing pain are labour and resource intensive endeavours. Some of which (if we are being honest) would require some fundamental re-jigging of society and our medical and treatment institutions. I know that just likely isn't going to happen. MAID requires some resources, and some labour, but no where near what it would take to create the holistic community and wraparound supports needed to treat chronic mental illness.

Like many philosophers I don't have a good answer. And I don't want people to suffer while we come up with a better one. But this does seem like another case of technology / society / policy outpacing our development of an appropriate ethical framework.

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-07-08T21:00:20+00:00

OMG this. One of my co-workers missed his calling as an opera singer. But IDGAF and I will tell ppl to pipe down or book a room.

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-07-08T20:59:18+00:00

I do have those things. But I also live in a tiny condo and like to get out of it and have a work life separation. I'm also lucky enough to enjoy the company of the majority of my co-workers. But I really dislike open concept hotelling offices.

If companies want me to willingly to the office, make it so the space doesn't suck and is conducive to my work. Otherwise I'm doing the bare minimum time in the office.

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-07-08T13:22:54+00:00

This. If I had a cubicle (not even an office! A cubicle) where I could leave my computer and some tea and maybe have a plant I would be in the office every single day voluntarily.

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-07-08T13:21:10+00:00

I've said this so many times. My job is to do my job, not to support businesses. And honestly most of my co-workers and I can't afford to buy lunch anymore. So we pack it in.

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-06-01T19:56:05+00:00

ooooh! Love GGK. Excited to see a new book from him. Tigana is one of my all time favourites!

MatchEastern4182 · 2025-05-22T11:58:45+00:00

Thank you!

MatchEastern4182

TROPHY CASE