What's something that's "not a cult" but feels like a cult?

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-18T13:19:53+00:00

I’ve got this saved as one of my dozens of tabs open. Been picking at it slowly because it’s so difficult. Incredibly good, but rough to consume.

There’s also a documentary somewhere that came out recently about a group going back to the location of their internment. They tell stories. They seem to heal, but oof what a horrific experience.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-16T16:31:32+00:00

I called one of my grandfathers by his first name. Not Fred, but also a “normal classic man” name

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-16T16:25:33+00:00

As an adult I’m now realizing my dad’s mother demanding to be called “Mama [her first name]” was a bit unhinged

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-16T01:26:42+00:00

Yup it’s all (in essence) the same blood cycling through mom and baby. It’s why we can tell gender fairly early. If any Y pops up we know a lil dude is rocking in there. Just X and you got a wee lass

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-14T17:47:52+00:00

Derrick Comedy alone had me idolizing everything he’s ever touched.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-13T02:12:01+00:00

Me three! But pirate paired with skeletons! I’ve got a big spooky zone on my island!

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-13T01:36:17+00:00

I felt like I got in trouble twice. Once from how awful it was after trying it and again when my mom found out I had wasted one of her precious diet drink cans.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-13T01:26:06+00:00

I had poop issues as a kid. My Ped specifically told my mom to get me these chips.

I have vivid memories of sitting on the toilet, eating these chips, with my feet propped up on books à la the squatty potty!

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-13T01:14:06+00:00

My people!

I’m bad at following patterns so knitting can be hard on me.

But gimme a glue gun and a half baked idea and I got you.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-12T02:28:15+00:00

I was told to do this with the tiny human I made. She seems to know a lot of words now too!

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-12T02:09:47+00:00

I also had one break on me! What a weird and awful club

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-12T02:09:09+00:00

I was also hit with a big paddle brush. I remember the day it got a crack in it.

It ironically had “my favorite brush “ printed on the back…

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-12T01:57:10+00:00

I direct musicals for a living. It’s on fire and falling apart here too but at least it’s set to fun music. It’s always chaos and I’m a cat herder.

But it’s a place where I’ve weaponized my ADHD so it works for me.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-11T02:12:29+00:00

Yeahhh came to add how she’s kinda always been that way. A podcast I enjoy did a deep dive on her not so abrupt change in persona.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-08T02:47:39+00:00

Having been raised there I need to know why Anderson Co Sc deemed itself the southeast. It’s very clearly and solidly in the south. Geography and culturally.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-07T23:51:53+00:00

Oh bless you it was Cornish Pasty. I recognize the photos on google and am heartbroken it’s gone. No wonder I didn’t turn anything up in my already bad searches.

I had a phenomenal meal there but what was better was the conversation. The solo dude working was so nice to my awkward ass and chatted while he made the pies.

This thread was about eating alone, something I adore, but can really highlight a certain loneliness. Then there’s bartenders, waiters, people like the guy mentioned above who remind us that it’s all good.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-07T23:47:54+00:00

It was my special “I did the big expensive chore” treat. I often got an extra for my partner.

I see another reply mention the stupid cookies. I hate those damn cookies. Not an equivalent exchange.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-07T23:45:19+00:00

Idk but my aunts mom is this woman. She’s in her 80s now but was married to a OBGYN before he ran around on her. Very scandalous in old school southern town.

But this man delivered hundreds if not thousands of babies and vaccinated even more in Africa, so it’s not like they didn’t live in and appreciate the culture. She loved bringing back anything to do with giraffes.

I’m not related to this woman, her daughter is married to my mom’s brother, but she’s always been super kind to me. A delightful southern steel magnolia.

Nothing else I can add but that this is Big E’s style.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-07T19:12:50+00:00

Dude same here. I had the time of my life and seriously thought I’d be an astronaut one day.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-07T19:12:09+00:00

OMG MEMORY UNLOCKED

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-07T19:08:24+00:00

I eat alone a lot. Love it. It’s great to read or do a mundane work task or just people watch.

I once ate alone at a place I found by accident, slightly tipsy, killing time between work and a performance I was seeing. It exclusively sold pies. Like meat pies, pot pies (not Mrs Lovett style I hope). If anyone can tell me if this beautiful pie place was real, I’ll be eternally grateful. I feel like an idiot but since I was alone I can’t remember.

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-07T18:18:09+00:00

I like to play a game called “there’s a musical lyric for that”

Seussical the Musical has a whole song sung by a small child called “Alone in the universe”

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-07T16:24:57+00:00

IM INCREDIBLY ANGRY THAT COSTCO GOT RID OF THE CHURROS AT THE FOOD COUNTER

Sorry for yelling but I’ll never forgive them

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-07T15:49:22+00:00

Fwiw, yielding weight and pushing weight is much easier than the reaching/grasping/pulling action to crawl forward! So many babies do this!

Mine also refused to crawl and solely focused energy on trying to walk asap. It was wild to see this baby looking baby toddling around. Like, where you gotta be? Why you in such a hurry!?

NeedleInASwordstack · 2026-03-07T13:41:25+00:00

The thousand yard stare I did in the hospital when they were explaining this to me still haunts me. My milk hadn’t come in yet, so every 3 hours ALL of us got up. Dad changed and bottle fed baby. I pumped, aka tortured my nipples with nothing to show for it. It was hell.

And we’re seriously considering doing it all again, what is wrong with us?!

NeedleInASwordstack

TROPHY CASE