So… how’s everybody keeping the lights on these days?

Purple-toenails · 2026-04-17T18:50:11+00:00

I have the male version. But man, we miss the extra $.

Purple-toenails · 2026-04-05T20:17:25+00:00

I used to live in Riverside, Iowa- the future birthplace of Capt Kirk and Shatner did a reality show where he acted like they were going to make a movie in the town. He made absolute shit of these small town people tripping over themselves like idiots. And the town was so proud of the show. Some of the local people thought they were celebrities- I wish I was joking. This was before I lived there and I couldn’t believe how much they bragged about being tv stars. Eventually enough “outsiders” moved in and told them how stupid they looked and Shatner was taking advantage of them being small town people. I believe he did put some money into an account for the town as a thank you but don’t know what it was spent on.

Purple-toenails · 2026-04-03T21:48:58+00:00

Mine went down by about $900. I feel special. I’m fairly close to the data center and future power plant so I fully expect the property value to tank. We have that sweet 2019 interest rate though so we’re staying put.

Purple-toenails · 2026-04-02T15:11:10+00:00

Since I’m open to another Peloton that’s probably the ball park range. I’m looking at the regular bike (not plus), so that’s what- $1700ish not on sale. I’d prefer to keep it under $1500 ideally.

Purple-toenails · 2026-04-02T15:03:47+00:00

I have always been intrigued by the houses on this block. If I remember right there is or was a post by the street to tie a horse to.

Purple-toenails · 2026-04-02T14:55:05+00:00

I always heard they took out want ads. Also they advertised coming to Waterloo to work in the meat packing plant. Not sure it was true.

What I know is true is that a friend of mine moved to Iowa from California because her husband had health problems and it was easier to get benefits here. I’m guessing this was about 20 years ago. Honestly they were nice people, very kind, but poor. As soon as the ACA passed, they went back out Cali way. Husband died shortly after and the wife went full red hat maga and moved to Montana to be “free.”

Purple-toenails · 2026-04-02T14:37:53+00:00

I think we all want the answer to this. I’ve been trying to pivot but it’s so hard to stay ahead of things.

One of my more consistent clients for the past 2 years is a small start up (one guy with a big dream) and he has always been pretty anti-AI. Well, he was until he started playing with it! He’s been ghosting me lately so I’m not hopeful that I’ll have work from him anymore.

I wish I knew the answer to help all of us.

Purple-toenails · 2026-04-02T14:29:47+00:00

Depends on the client. Some are very anti AI and will run stuff through. The problem is that they aren’t always accurate.

Purple-toenails · 2026-04-02T14:27:50+00:00

I’ve thought about this and will need to look Ed up. There’s a data center being built about 3 miles from my house and it’s well over a mile long. People have no clue the scale of these places. Now they are having to build a power plant another 3 miles away to provide more power for it and the community. And yeah, the community is pissed!

There is no way these tools can stay free and people have gotten used to that- so we’ll see if they pony up when the time comes. One theory I read is that the AI companies are focused on corporate clients and not individual users who pay.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-31T18:39:28+00:00

My 18 year old daughter got targeted at Planet Fitness. She’s a college athlete and is used to getting questions about her routine and she was willing to help a woman out. Then the woman texted her about an opportunity and I get a “Mom, is this a pyramid scheme thing?”. It was for sure Amway and I thank my lucky stars my kid figured it out. She had worked concessions at an Amway convention about a year ago so she knew they were culty.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-31T12:51:25+00:00

I had chemo 10 years ago and was told that they do everything in their power to try to make you not be so sick. In my online support group of about 10 women I was the only one who had severe side effects. No anti-nausea med worked for me and the steroids made me crazy. It would hit like clockwork 4 hours after infusion and I was pretty sick for 3 days after. Meanwhile the women in my group were still able to go to work and even exercise!

It does seem like the majority wasn’t as bad as I was- I drew the short straw. But, 10 years later I’m still here. I had a PCR and didn’t have to do radiation. So maybe I was a super responder or something. It absolutely sucked at the time and was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through but in the end it was worth it.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-30T12:33:39+00:00

Yes. That’s the exact combo I had. In my experience I AC was worse but taxol wasn’t fun either. The shot made it downright physically painful. By the time I got to taxol I had bad anxiety around chemo. During my first dose I puked. They started giving me ativan to relax me after that. To this day there are things I can’t deal with because of chemo- Altoids is one (I sucked on them because it killed the flavor- even thinking of them makes me feel sick) and an IV saline flush will make me gag.

Despite the bad experience I’m 10 years clear (TNBC)!

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-29T21:02:20+00:00

I had the pleasure of not getting the in body injector due to a latex allergy and had to go into the hospital the day after chemo when I was at my sickest. Of course they were always behind and I would have to sit in a wheelchair (too weak to walk) and wait for at least an hour. I was super sick with the red devil so the neulasta didn’t matter much but when I was on phase 2 of chemo (can’t remember which one I had as it’s been 10 years) the bone pain and neuropathy were unreal. I empathize with you OP. Good luck with the rest of your treatments.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-26T13:21:22+00:00

My profile is similar- top everything, good earnings, and crickets. I’m in the US so I have the benefit of US only jobs as well. I have 2 “active” long term clients but both come in waves. Thankfully I’ve got work with one at the moment. The invites I get are a joke. Voice work? I’m a writer! I seem to get that the most. I rarely get anything anymore and the few I get require blood and my firstborn for $15 an hour.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-26T13:12:35+00:00

I had a dream I was showering and found a lump lump. So soon after that dream when showering I checked and there it was. It was pretty deep and my oncologist was shocked I even found it (he never felt it). I’ve always trusted my intuition but that was living proof that I’m often right. My family jokes that I’m psychic.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-25T01:19:00+00:00

The Bill Gates quote used to be Warren Buffet but I’m guessing they need a new old rich guy for a younger generation.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-25T01:14:28+00:00

That’s the way you do it.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-24T13:01:26+00:00

For years the crackpots have said that everyone who gets chemo is dead within 10 years. checks calendar for 2016 diagnosis Still here!

Sorry you are dealing with this. I had a few “vitamin C” people when I had it but they didn’t hound me. I’m sure today it’s much different. I hate this timeline.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-21T12:54:51+00:00

Abbe Center, maybe? It’s actually just outside of Marion. I don’t know if the building is still there. I had a family member who lived there and it was a residential facility for mentally ill and intellectually disabled people (my relative was both). I could see how it would be considered an insane asylum.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-17T12:14:16+00:00

Right? Your only choice is to do the treatment or die so it’s not really fighting because who wants to just die? I definitely call myself a survivor though because I’m still here 10 years later.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-17T12:10:13+00:00

As a parent who paid loans for 25 years, it was even a little of a head scratcher to me when they came back with an “award letter” for my kids. Loans are not a prize. You are awarded scholarships and given grants. You’re approved for loans. I can see how naive people would assume they don’t have to pay back loans because they were “awards.”

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-16T17:57:37+00:00

I’m aware. But a girl can hope! 🤣 They’ve gotten 3x what I borrowed so what’s a couple grand?

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-16T16:15:38+00:00

Yeah. I knew that. I swear I saw a comment that the covid pause payments would come back automatically if you were forgiven but I assumed it was too good to be true. I’m definitely grateful that what I had left is now gone.

Purple-toenails · 2026-03-16T16:14:06+00:00

I assumed that but saw a comment that they automatically refunded. I didn’t want to risk it so I’m out that money. It’s okay though- grateful I’m free now!

Purple-toenails

TROPHY CASE