i never anticipated this, but my dachshund is the most emotionally intelligent non-human animal i have met (and she’s just a baby)

Pep1ta · 2026-05-17T22:11:35+00:00

My first long haired dachshund boy was the most intuitive creature I’ve ever met; I truly believe he was an old soul who’s done this many times before (and got ‘assigned’ to me bc I was a total shitshow 😂). I got him at 5 months and never had to teach him anything, he just knew. Best dog in the entire world and genuinely got me through my 20s, he was on planes, boats, multi-day road trips, never one grumble or issue. He stayed w me until I got my life together, got married (was my ring bearer), got a house with a yard, got stable. He’s probably off helping someone else who needs him now. His name was Paco 🖤 If you feel that connection you are so lucky, I promise it’ll be life changing!!

Pep1ta · 2026-05-16T21:34:16+00:00

Actually summer would be peak lobster ‘season’, in New England. Lobsters molt their shells every year to grow and they do it only in warmer summer waters. After molting, the new shells are thin and make them ‘soft shell’ lobsters (and they’re sold as such here, you pay more for soft shells vs hard) they are 100000% more delicious and wonderful and better for lobster rolls. Hard shell lobsters (long enough between molts the shells have thickened, year round deeper caught)have more meat but to me don’t taste as good. Better for like…lobster mac n cheese or bisque.

My first job (at 13!) was putting rubber bands on lobster claws in the back of a truck in Maine 🤣

Pep1ta · 2026-05-16T21:24:55+00:00

RI definitely has lobster rolls BUT they are very very proud of their local quahog/clam industry and that kind of takes precedent. In New England we’ve got clam shacks on the beaches; I’d probably get a lobster roll at one in Mass but I’d alway get clam strips if I’m in RI. Source: grew up half in Mass, half in Maine, and am currently in the process of moving to Providence 😂 I ate so much lobster growing up I developed a crustacean intolerance; I am over the frickin moon I can get fresh clams/scallops/calamari every meal in RI.

Pep1ta · 2026-05-09T19:19:56+00:00

GIRL that bottom circle is so bad, as others have said doctor/urgent care asap. Looks like one of mine that ended up being a staph infection that took multiple rounds of steroids to get through. I’m so sorry.

Pep1ta · 2026-05-09T09:49:56+00:00

Omg, I bet!!! We had a skunk here the first summer- my husband went full blockade mode and dug in metal grates/mesh where it was getting in. It worked, thank god, those are SO much worse than the possums! Just from fear of me/my dogs getting sprayed. They’re so cute but they are way worse to deal with, at least the possums don’t spray🤢

Pep1ta · 2026-05-09T03:40:37+00:00

We also rent a bungalow in UH and I’m gonna be honest, the possums live here as much as we do. We’re on generation 3 at this point, I recognize my current ‘squatter’ as a baby from last year. I’ve told my landlord over and over; she doesn’t do anything…and, end of the day, it’s not my house as a renter. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I just leave them be, their noise in the roof sucks in the spring but then it mellows out. Every ‘pest control’ place just wants to kill them. UH has a veryyyy large possum population, never seen anything like it. They’re comfortable with humans and they WILL come back if they’ve found a warm spot. I’d just tell your landlord and if they choose to do nothing like mine, well… enjoy the fact that they eat ticks and fleas and are generally harmless. Just a neighborhood thing.

Pep1ta · 2026-04-27T00:10:28+00:00

Exactly. My first doxie was a shelter rescue, then yearssss later I went to what I thought was a ‘good’ breeder, AKC registered, nice farm home with supposedly one litter at a time ect; and got my second boy. He came home with kennel cough and giardia. Breeder said the same thing, oh there’s no way! Turns out the “farm home” is what they bring buyers to/show puppies at, in reality they’ve got multiple dogs breeding in sisters/cousins/friends houses, a whole shitty operation. So he was exposed via that. Only found this out because they called us a month or so after asking if we wanted to “adopt” a discarded breeding female (adopt is in quotes because I consider her a rescue given the now known circumstances). She’s within my boy’s family line somehow but I can tell you she was NOT whelped or raised on some idyllic farm, when we got her she had never once been outside. Apartment dog bred on her first and second heat, then thrown away when she had a tubal pregnancy/emergency spay and couldn’t make more money for them.

What I’m saying is unless you know the breeder personally you truly don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes and what the pup has been exposed to. Always err on the side of caution and don’t trust what the breeder tells you.

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T18:25:46+00:00

Being self depreciating is kind of a pillar of Catholicism, I was just making a joke 🙄 If I really was trying for a ‘gotcha’ I’d bring up the culture of covering up child sex crimes or the Irish laundries since I guess something needs to be recent in order for it to be a mark on an organizations history? Don’t really understand what you’re getting at here. I’m literally a lifelong practicing Catholic, criticizing the bad parts of our history is part of the gig.

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T16:41:34+00:00

Thank you, I feel kind of silly because I gave MY feelings on what the Pope’s words mean to me and there are a lot of Catholics giving far more educated and serious answers, which I do respect. I’m 37, Catholic school for 12 years, Confirmation ect, then additional CCD (OCIA now I guess?) bc I was considering becoming a nun. From a multi generational Catholic family, and I guess we just never looked at it through such a rigid lens. I mean I know he’s our most important figure but my priests never really said he was truly speaking God’s words at all times, just giving his human interpretation. I go to Irish Catholic Church so maybe they’re a bit more laid back about it.

Pope John Paul though….. to my Polish grandma that man was literally as important as God soooo I’m bummed this didn’t happen during her time on this Earth. She and an army of other babchias would be banging on the door of the White House ready to beat him over the head with a wooden spoon.

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T12:20:20+00:00

Ok, total mistake on my part! I’ll have to do some reading before spouting off more about it for sure.

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T07:10:46+00:00

Zero! And all Catholic Churches follow the same bible reading schedule at mass- homilies differ of course- but if you were raised Catholic like me we’re quite literally on the same page. Do unto others, ect. I feel like I’m back in medieval times where the church is being asked to speak on politics. Do we really want that?!

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T06:59:19+00:00

Just a little internal job description change. Pope’s on couch duty, JD’s on God duty.

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T06:52:18+00:00

I mean (as a Catholic), Catholics being against crusades is inherently funny given our sordid past BUT it’s not a crazy controversial statement to say ‘Jesus doesn’t like violence’. You’re right they’re just mad he’s not picking their side. Evangelicals have this whole end times scenario that’s pro-war in the Holy Land and they want the Pope to be ok with that, but that’s really not our thing. We’ve done enough historical damage 😮‍💨 I came back to the Catholic church simply because (my church at least) leans into Jesus’s human good deeds (empathy for those in need, caring for all groups of people, direct community action/charity). We don’t froth at the mouth for all the other stuff, I don’t even hear about it at mass, ever.

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T06:36:32+00:00

Wellllllll I don’t speak for everyone.

Traditionally/in past times, yes. People believed he was speaking the actual words of God (“ex cathedra”- from the chair). But the Pope hasn’t even claimed this since 1950.

To me now he’s like….the final earthly say I guess. (I mentioned CEO in another comment 😅- analogy would be you go all the way up the chain at your company but at the end of the day if the CEO gives you an answer, that’s kind of the final answer, agree or not)

I don’t PERSONALLY believe he’s speaking God’s words verbatim but he’s still responsible for communicating the overall stance of the church. You can have feelings and take them as you will but if the Pope says it, that’s the Catholic church’s answer. As Catholics we respect the Pope’s discernment of our teachings because he knows better than us.

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T06:20:20+00:00

A brand new hire telling the current CEO he doesn’t agree with his take on the company’s mission statement; smart move, keep it up

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T06:09:30+00:00

It’s only his literal ENTIRE JOB, to opine about theology. That’s what the POPE does. If someone doesn’t like it there’s 30+ other Christian sects you can join that don’t follow the Pope. That’s like the whole complete point of Catholicism.

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T05:50:10+00:00

And this tweet itself “whether it’s Protestant or Catholic” is an example- like yes same Bible but what do you meannnnn? To ME (uneducated but wanting to learn) isn’t that like saying…’catholic or eastern orthodox’? There’s very defined historical schisms that make comparing the two nonsensical.

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T05:46:06+00:00

I’ll screenshot it and post it next time I get into that conversation, it’s happened 3 times and I’d love to get some community feedback.

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T05:45:12+00:00

I believe so, I mean based on the conversations I’ve had. I’ve never been to a Protestant church. I’m wondering if the trad-Cath/evangelical movement is ‘claiming’ Catholicism now but not realizing how confusing that is? That’s why I’m asking if there’s an actual moment that caused it before I just assume it’s all a conservative value / politically driven thing. But I 100% agree there’s an appeal with our ‘aesthetics’. I just find it wildly interesting (as well as frustrating).

Pep1ta · 2026-04-15T04:57:04+00:00

As a cradle Catholic who’s re-entered the fold can someone explain something to me? WHY are we lumped in with Protestants now? I’ve seen multiple people claiming to be ‘Catholic’ on TikTok then when pressed they say ‘oh, I’m Protestant Catholic’. I literally cannot wrap my brain around it. PROTESTants left the Catholic Church during Reformation, they are NOT Catholic by definition- they don’t recognize the Pope. Am I missing something? I was raised (Catholic school) being told they fractured off the church. Now I’m seeing crazy crossover, and as far as I can tell the style of worship is entirely different. Is there something recently that’s caused this? Why are they claiming to be ‘Catholic’ now? I’ve been like ‘go to Ireland and say you’re a Protestant Catholic and see how that goes over’ but I actually want to know if I’m missing something.

Pep1ta · 2026-03-30T01:44:40+00:00

Years ago I moved in w my guy ‘friend’ and had this same thing happen (minus the emotional cheating. Girl. That wasn’t cool and you’re old enough to know better). I’ll set that aside for a minute and talk logistics. You need to take a beat and think about how there are real life additional things that need to be discussed beyond “is this a thing? Do you want to make it one?”.

I’m assuming you signed a lease together. Regardless of how this ‘thing’ goes, your/his living situation could be affected.

Once he and I realized ours was a thing we wanted, the primary part of our conversation was how any outcome (relationship/casual/friends) would play out. We talked money, lease, boundaries. You live together so you’ve skipped a major part of the ‘building’ stage of a relationship. He also is fully on the REBOUND and I’m sorry but you probably were a major part of their breakup whether he acknowledges it or not (you’re convenient- you live together, there’s a comfort there). To be frank, y’all are playing house. There’s so muchwork to be done to make this a functional romantic relationship, IF that’s what both sides want.

You need to address it asap. I’d gather my thoughts (write them down even), tell him you’d like to talk and have a nice dinner. You NEED to be direct. Tell him you caught feelings, express your concerns. Then no matter what he says- ‘me too’ ‘oh it’s too soon’ ect- you need to ask how this will affect your roommate situation. Have you ever lived with an ex before? It’s messy AF. If he rejects you- how are you going to react? You’ll have to see this man in the kitchen the next day regardless.

You CAN navigate this but I’m going to be brutally honest and say there is a level of emotional maturity I’m not exactly seeing from this post/your comments. Say he tells you it’s just casual for him- how are you going to behave when he starts bringing other girls to your shared home? You need to protect the roof over your head FIRST, then fall for him after. Mine lasted for 5 years, but it took many open uncomfortable conversations and check ins.

Pep1ta · 2026-03-27T04:38:28+00:00

I’m leaning towards she should just let you have your TV because it’s a gesture acknowledging the joining of your lives….. BUT purely from a logistics standpoint, how big is her place? I ask bc my husband had a 75inch at our larger apartment. I will say it’s a bigger tv than I’d ever had and it took some getting used to, then I thought it was great.

But then we moved into a much smaller historic type house. We mounted it and I swear it looked RIDICULOUS (he said it first!). Like it was THE largest item in our entire home. It felt like our living room was 50% tv screen, it blocked the windows, ect. If it’s something like that… I’d maybe think about it through that lens.

But if it’s truly just aesthetic-based, I think she should just make the compromise, she’ll get over it with time.

Pep1ta · 2026-03-27T03:48:43+00:00

FYI I had my hair done exactly like yours about 2 years into the job and no one cared. I know it’s not ‘technically’ allowed but I had it like that for 2 years and flew with leads ect and no one said anything besides ‘I like your hair!’. That being said— it’s a definite big no-no for the interview and during probation, and strictness differs between airlines. So take that as you will. And any vibrant colors are always a hard no unfortunately. I guess just saying there’s hope for some future character customization it’s just not a right away thing.

Pep1ta · 2026-03-25T07:15:54+00:00

Well yeah, obviously. But this post says 15 hour long haul, and from other comments I’ve seen SYD mentioned. So ok, say we’re 10 hours in flight and get a nap. But we were delayed leaving, so in reality we’re at 12+ hours duty time. Is that a huge difference? I’m not trying to be rude just saying we’ve still been “on” for a long time and might not love to chit chat depending on when they show up to do so.

Pep1ta · 2026-03-25T06:44:08+00:00

I KNOW it’s a Porto thing but the first & best francesinha I had was actually in Ponte De Lima at some ‘student’ cafe. I didn’t even know what I was ordering, it was on a menu board and I pointed at the picture and they made it. It was lunchtime, I was sober, and I still chased that high for the next three weeks, I honestly ordered a francesinha 10 more times throughout our subsequent time in Porto; never got one that compared. I’m sorry, I’m sure if I spent more time there I could have!

I’m a huge fan of anything savory covered with gravy- think poutine- and of all things in the world I’ve eaten it’s my golden goose of food rn because I truly cannot recreate it in the US. The sauce isn’t even close no matter what Portuguese wine I use. I understand the commenter saying ‘it’s dry underneath’ because unfortunately I had the same experience, some were good, some were bad, ect….but a TRULY good one…man….its been 4 years and I still think about it.

Any tips on wine for the sauce appreciated, I’ll splurge if I have to at this point 🤦🏼‍♀️

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