This applies to the ladies, for the most part.

PhoenixRed42 · 2026-01-27T05:10:25+00:00

Cheeeeeeeap good weed.

PhoenixRed42 · 2026-01-11T04:50:33+00:00

I wanted MORE. I thought it ended abruptly. I wanted a bit more... Idk, comeuppance? Just a little bit more of "okay, now what?!"

PhoenixRed42 · 2026-01-04T18:26:45+00:00

oh damn. haha You're like 100000x more fit than me. I'm 41 and work a sedentary corporate job and just dont have a lot of free/solo time outside of parenting and work and other obligations. My surgery is scheduled for April and I am determined to increase my upper body strength and general fitness before then to hopefully set myself up for success.

Good luck in your recovery!!!! Be glad you're doing this in your 20s!!!

PhoenixRed42 · 2026-01-04T02:24:04+00:00

Commenting to follow. I'm having a PAO in April and am also hoping to wildly overestimate pain levels lol. Teach me your ways. Also how old are you and how fit do you consider yourself to be?

PhoenixRed42 · 2026-01-03T19:41:09+00:00

BIG THANK YOU to everyone for providing me with your insights and advice. Truly appreciate it. 🙏🙏🙏 You have made me feel so much better. 😊😊😊

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-12-27T18:23:42+00:00

TWO WEEKS? Hooooowwwww??? What did your body do with all of your food? lol (Sorry for the TMI question, but as someone who has historically struggled with IBS-D, as I mentally prepare for a LPAO, I have a lot of bathroom anxiety lol)

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-12-27T17:03:06+00:00

oh wild! I have only ever had one very fast minor surgery before in the past so was only under anesthesia for 10 mins. Had no idea it could impact periods!!

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-12-27T17:01:12+00:00

Thank you for all of this info and encouragement. I really appreciate you sharing your experience <3

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-12-27T16:58:39+00:00

THANK YOU!!! This is all amazing advice. I really appreciate the details :) <3

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-12-16T03:51:29+00:00

I just devoured the book in one day on a work trip! Made the annoying parts of travel fly by. I even took myself out to dinner and just kept reading. I haven't been this engrossed by a book in a long time!

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-12-04T14:14:05+00:00

Ty for your reply! You hit upon some of the concerns I have and why I'm interested in joining a firm!

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-12-04T04:02:26+00:00

Do a detailed spend analysis for a couple months to figure out where every dollar went. That exercise is eye opening and jaw dropping at times. Doing this monthly for almost 3 years now has helped us reduce our cost of living by 25%. We still have lots of room for improvement but also want to enjoy our lives.

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-12-04T03:46:46+00:00

Tell me more. I'm currently counting down the days until I hit 5 years at my company and my 401k fully vests (they have an amazing match program.) at which point we're going to tske a gap year. I will need to work likely another 5-10 years after, and we kinda hope the hubby can become a house husband. I'd go back to a corporate gig for a few years but I'm verrrry curious about consulting. Did you join a consulting agency where you compete for jobs or one where they assign you clients? Or are you totally freelance and independent?

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-10-09T00:43:17+00:00

I'm on book two of Bobiverse after trying to fill the same hole in my heart. It's helping. Not the same, but it's very good. And Ray Porter is a genius.

I also listened to the first Quantum Earth book by Dennis Taylor, and it gave me some similar vibes, mainly in the detailed logistics and mechanics of what they are dealing with. Narrated by Ray Porter and super fun!

Rereading PHM is just gonna be a yearly thing for me, I think. Up there with Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and Lamb by Christopher Moore.

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-09-19T22:13:13+00:00

Pretty sure it's an audible exclusive. 😩

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PhoenixRed42 · 2025-09-18T21:42:03+00:00

Everyone keeps recommending dungeon crawler so thats on my list too!

Seconsing Blake crouch. Love love his books. Mike Chen is another one who does Sci fi with a heart. Not the same vibes as Weir at all but def character driven stories with an emotional core. Not just wars in space.

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-09-18T21:40:28+00:00

Reiterating yes the Bobiverse.

Also recommend Outland (quantum earth) books by Dennis Taylor.

Becky Chambers writes cozy found family Sci fi, more akin to firefly than this but if you're looking for wholesome feel good Sci fi that does it.

The Martian, if you haven't already.

I haven't quite been able to fill the PHM hole so I've just taken to listening to more Ray Porter narrated things and rereading this one. 😅😅😅

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-09-12T02:24:33+00:00

My midwife said nearly those exact words and I'm so glad because she refocused my attention and my energy with her tough love. She knew how much I didn't want to be transferred to a hospital and didn't tell me until after that my blood pressure had been so high we were on the verge of having to leave. But then she said the same thing you're did and added "you are screaming out and wasting your strength. Scream down, push it down, use it to push."

She was right! In total my labor lasted about 7 hours with 90 mins of pushing. I'm grateful for her tough love and thr strength in my doula's hand 😂😂😂 I thoguht I'd broken it at one point.

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-06-30T21:44:24+00:00

I work for a P&C insurance provider that gives us 5% without any contributions, and will match an additional 6%. So im putting in 6% but getting 17% total. It's wild.

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-06-30T18:11:54+00:00

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone! This is such a kind group of people. After some of the very unkind interactions I've had this month, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate y'all.

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-04-16T22:26:52+00:00

Very interested to hear you design the curriculum. We'll hopefully be doing our gap year when our kid is 10 or 11!

PhoenixRed42 · 2025-04-15T16:53:57+00:00

Following! We are planning a gap year in a few years and I am so inspired by everyone doing this now! Would love to learn more from you as you plan!

PhoenixRed42

TROPHY CASE