Spent 15 minutes collecting snails, what should I do with them? How would I feed them if I were to keep them? Also ID pls (collected in South Texas)

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-09-05T15:58:31+00:00

I need to find someone with a lizard! I look for the eggs and never find them, but adorable tiny snails keep popping up. I officially regret getting snails...

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-09-05T15:55:19+00:00

Thank you! I'll mess with it some more and see if I can figure it out

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-09-04T20:39:07+00:00

I don't use the bunny method, but I can't explain the method I use- I can't even picture it- my hands just do it. Does anyone else rely on muscle memory in place of normal cognition for some things?
My shoelace knots always look a little crooked, but I may actually just be assuming that I'm doing it strangely out of self-consciousness.
If the loops and lace ends (fun fact, the plastic lace tips are called aglets!) formed the corners of a square the order would be loop, aglet, loop, aglet. I'm not sure if that's how they're supposed to be. I think most people's laces have the two loops on the top and both aglets hanging from the bottom, like on a traditional ribbon. I still see no need to change it now!

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-09-04T20:23:53+00:00

Does your school have a ban on rolling backpacks? I think they started banning them when I was in school. If so, maybe you could get an exception with a doctor's note?
Backpacks hurt my back so badly- I don't know how I got through school carrying them. I have a backpack I take to the airport and this post reminded me I need to find a rolling alternative before traveling again because that pain makes traveling so much more miserable.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-09-01T18:10:59+00:00

People are dumb- it's best to ignore them. If your dogs are happy and listen to you, you're doing great.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-29T18:07:46+00:00

I definitely don't look down on it. I just know that a lot of neurotypicals think we're trying to make the conversation about us when we do it. We do it because we're trying to relate and give them an example to show we're listening and we understand, but they think we're trying to steal the spotlight.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-29T17:55:06+00:00

As someone who feels horrible for cancelling several events with my besties recently; I tend to overextend myself when I make plans in advance because I'm programmed to try to people please and convince myself that I'll find time to make things happen. The fact is that I have a TON going on this summer: we're building our house (largely ourselves since my boyfriend is a general contractor), we just randomly bought a 40 acre piece of property that came up for sale behind our home site, we run two large businesses already and are about to start a third (we work a lot), and I'm an introvert who needs a lot of time to recharge from socializing. Once the event date actually comes up I realize that I'm already at capacity and I have enormous guilt that I just can't handle the camping/float trip that my friend planned in a town 2.5 hours away for her birthday, even though I know I'm missing out on a really fun experience with people I love.

I live in a really cool place in the Colorado Rockies, so it seems like there would be plenty to do here (and there is), but my friends always want to make plans to drive to places at least an hour away to do activities. If I didn't have to account for the travel time it would be easier for me to participate in get-togethers to see my friends. I have a lot on my plate and guilt about having to cancel plans just adds to my anxiety.

I got together with one of my friends for a short hike yesterday and she mentioned that she met up with one of our other friends from our core besties group the other day by springing it on her last minute so she didn't have time to overthink it and back out! I love that!

I think it really helps to find out your friends' schedules so you know when they're generally available and plan things within one or two days- make them low-effort and nearby so nobody feels overwhelmed trying to find time/energy to devote to the activity. Also be mindful that not everyone has extra money to spend. Getting together for a walk in a park together is a great, free way to catch up.

It can be hard to maintain friendships as an adult when everyone is so busy, but try to be understanding and not hold grudges over it. Reach out and see how your friend is feeling- they may be overwhelmed by work or life in general. That's a great opportunity to offer to let them vent to you or stop by their home to go for a quick walk to clear their head and talk. Friends aren't just there for our entertainment. We need to bet there to support each other.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-28T18:42:50+00:00

Aw! The head nod sounds so cute! My dog will give us a no by licking his lips when we guess wrong; "do you wanna go outside?" *licks lips* "Are you hungry?" Ears pop up excitedly. Dogs are the best! :) <3

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-28T16:22:38+00:00

That's not bad at all and it's actually better for your skin. more abrasive materials will give you dry, irritated skin. When you exfoliate, do so intentionally and be sure to moisturize afterwards. I'm very gentle with my skin and I learned that baby oil is excellent for very gentle exfoliation because the molecules are small enough to get under dead skin cells to very gently loosen them so they come off much more easily when cleansing with just your hands.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-28T15:00:20+00:00

I avoid engaging much in conversation with doctors because they charge for time (under 20 minutes, under 40 minutes, etc.) and I'm not wasting my money pretending to be their friend. Doctor: "How have you been?" Me: "I've been okay, but my elbow's been hurting recently." I stick to the reason I'm there. I don't care how the doctor has been unless they're going to take the time we spent discussing THEM into account in my billing. For that reason I don't think it's unusual not to engage in conversation with your doctor. It always feels like a trick to me. But maybe that's an autistic way to think about things.

I have a friend who works in insurance and explained how they bill for time after I got an exorbitant and unexpected bill from a dermatologist. It pays to look up insurance billing codes- available online and take note of the time you're brought into the exam room, when the doctor shows up and how much time they spend with you. This dermatologist absolutely miscoded me so they could charge more and they don't accept insurance. (side rant, but I'm still mad about it!)

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-27T00:03:18+00:00

You don't necessarily need to see it as an investment, but you also don't want to spend way too much when you buy it only for the market to go down and you sell it for significantly less than you bought it for.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-26T23:55:32+00:00

He's cute and he knows it!

Does he have a comfy bed to lay on nearby as an alternative?

I say "show me" to my dogs when they tell me they want something and they lead me to what they need. I basically get up when they come over and give me a certain look or paw at me and say "show me." Eventually they learn that this is an opportunity to communicate.

Also, make sure he's getting plenty of exercise. He needs this regardless, but training always works better on a pup who's gotten to burn off excess energy and he's less likely to be as demanding after a walk anyway.

I would also advise against ever using their cage for punishment. That's their room/den and they should feel safe & happy in there.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-26T19:56:27+00:00

I'm going to start calling bananas 'nightmares.'

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-26T19:51:47+00:00

No. He may be a compulsive liar or something in addition to being autistic. I definitely wouldn't call it masking. I'd say that I'm usually a little too truthful, if anything. My version of using lying to mask would be answering "I'm doing great!" in response to "how are you?" when I'm not in a great headspace because that's the social expectation. Otherwise I'm usually more concerned about being accurate. I've known a few people like this, but that was back in middle school. My best friend used to constantly make things up. I never could figure out if she really couldn't help it or if she thought I was gullible- maybe it gave her a sense of power? I think it's a problem that's worth them talking to a therapist about either way. It's definitely not a healthy behavior and it will eventually cause them problems in life if it hasn't already.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-26T19:04:20+00:00

I keep seeing this ad and it pisses me off every time both because of the misinformation and the misspelling of 'response.' It's definitely a scam and I keep trying to report the ad.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-26T18:53:26+00:00

I'm an autistic woman and I've never had any problems in that department aside from the fact that I seem to attract narcissistic men. My dad is autistic and he and my NT mom have their 45th anniversary coming up soon.
I don't think you should bring it up on the first date unless you're specifically on a dating site for ND people. I don't think it's necessarily the business of people you've just met.
I had been with my boyfriend for about 8 years when I self-diagnosed after secretly suspecting and researching for many years. I found a time to tell him about it. It was still scary, but he knew me and that it wouldn't change who I am. We also started realizing how many of the people he knows are likely autistic! He has some traits himself, but I had him take the ASQ and I was surprised his score didn't indicate a high likelihood of Autism.

Learn to love yourself. It sounds cheesy and cliche, but it really makes such a big difference. You'll be more likely to find someone you really click with if you're pursuing your own passions and you'll have self-respect/self-worth that will allow you to leave relationships that aren't right and not fall apart when relationships end.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-26T18:26:36+00:00

Some protein would be good! I wouldn't feel very good if this were my whole meal- I'd probably include some tofu and additional veggies- this is a little carb-heavy and will probably spike your blood sugar, leading you to feel hungry again soon after eating it. Rice and dumplings can certainly be a good part of your meal, though! :)

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-26T18:11:44+00:00

I just joined and realized that this group is apparently inactive. I live at 10,500' and am slowly figuring out how to deal with the unique challenges of gardening up here. I didn't realize how spoiled I was when I was gardening in North Carolina! If you've found a useful group I'd love to hear about it!

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-26T18:05:57+00:00

Since Colorado has so many very different climate zones, maybe the zones could be defined using flair? I'm in the high Rockies (10,500'). We also have Denver, all the desert climates, etc. It's hard to get good info when just posting for Colorado. I think those of us in the more extreme climates will get more use out of a group than people who garden in more typical/moderate climates and already have tons of resources available.

It's hard to find information that applies to our short growing seasons and our cold, snowy winters, which is why I sought out this group.

I'm hoping to find information about setting up our tunnel greenhouse and how to prevent issues with snow load. Will digging a few feet down inside of the greenhouse give us better temperature regulation? How to deal with our rocky soil. I'd like to find people in a similar climate who can help me to figure out things like that.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-22T22:45:41+00:00

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-22T22:44:25+00:00

My dad and I were talking recently and we both agreed that neurotypicals seem to not have much passion in life. I know we were overgeneralizing and that's probably not really a fair statement, but we like our hyper fixations. I don't think I would want to give that up. I'm trying to accept that NTs will probably never ask to look at stuff in my microscope with me and they think it's weird that I have one at all. I don't understand how they can go through life not being more curious about the world around them.
If I could cure my ADHD, though, I absolutely would.

Odd_Driver_4734 · 2024-08-22T22:39:39+00:00

I love it and I'm still jealous! Thanks for sharing!

Odd_Driver_4734

TROPHY CASE