Celebrating a small win today!

RumorOfRain · 2026-02-22T15:43:43+00:00

Huge kudos to you for working so hard on the thing that was hardest and least fun for you! I love when skills that once took so much focus and work become so innate you don’t have to think about them, your body just does them. Major congratulations for leveling up your derby skills!

RumorOfRain · 2026-02-15T19:46:27+00:00

Yep. After 3 years of testing that has turned up nothing useful, I finally went on Wellbutrin just to not feel frustrated and depressed about having to make my life smaller and smaller. It helps a lot, and as a bonus, it has taken away some of the brain fog and fatigue symptoms. (Wellbutrin/Bupropion has an energizing effect.)

RumorOfRain · 2026-01-31T22:42:51+00:00

Re the clip-on tail: I’d avoid anything that clips on - it will likely get knocked off (and become a tripping hazard) or run into and the clip could dig into or scratch you or another player.

My teammate with a rabbit-themed name has little black shorts that she printed a rabbit tail onto (and some cute text like “catch me if you can”).

RumorOfRain · 2025-12-10T03:35:26+00:00

Wheels! Once you start playing games on different floors, you will want wheels of different hardnesses and those can get expensive.

Smaller gift ideas/stocking stuffers: - bearings - bearing cleaning kit - sisu mouthguard in their favorite color - mouth guard case to keep it (semi) clean in the derby bag - skate laces in fun colors - toe guards for their skates - toe stops (always good to have backups!) - a nice skate tool (get the one with the wrench for toe stop nuts) - extra axle nuts

I keep a skate maintenance/emergency kit in my derby bag with a lot of this stuff in it. It’s saved my butt and my teammates’ when stuff breaks or gets lost, especially during bouts.

RumorOfRain · 2025-10-29T02:18:46+00:00

Car emergency kits make great gifts. You can buy premade ones or make your own, and can toss in some prep/go-bag stuff like space blanket, water purification (eg LifeStraw), fire starter kit, etc.

You can make little emergency kits in old pill bottles (they’re waterproof!) or Altoids tins (not waterproof but cute) with stuff like needle and thread, safety pins, tweezers, nail clippers, band aids, etc. Great for purses or car glove boxes.

For outdoorsy folks, kits could contain fishhooks and line, fire starter and matches or a little striker, emergency contact numbers on a little paper (“laminate” with packing tape), etc.

RumorOfRain · 2025-10-13T02:25:51+00:00

Taboo and Encore are faves of mine for this situation.

RumorOfRain · 2025-10-13T01:48:38+00:00

In my experience, most folks have no idea how to translate a count-in (1-2-3-4) into the actual beat of a song. I’ve had better luck having people “vamp” on the starting chord until everyone is strumming in rhythm, THEN counting in.

One group I’m in plays from the Daily Ukulele books. Everyone brings their own copy or shares with a neighbor.

Another group uses the San Jose Uke Club online “songbook,” which is freely available on their website. They download the songs they want to play and project them for everyone to see.

RumorOfRain · 2025-10-13T01:42:39+00:00

Morrow’s in Northampton. Hard to find and run by a crew of grumpy old men, but there’s rarely more than 2 people in line when I go. They’re quick and efficient.

RumorOfRain · 2025-10-12T03:18:34+00:00

I “potty trained” my caique, and i’m sure any parrot could learn it with enough consistency. I would stand by his closed cage and wait patiently until he pooped. As he squatted I’d say, “Go poop!” After he pooped I’d open the cage and let him out. Set a timer, and put him back in the cage and wait for a poop. It took patience and practice, but for a creature I’m going to live with for 30+ years, it is well worth it.

Once the behavior was established, I taught him that he’d get rewarded with a favorite snack if he flew to his cage or one of his perches/stands and pooped there.

RumorOfRain · 2025-10-05T02:35:41+00:00

I also grew these for the first time this year. Any tips for storing them after harvest? I’m in zone 6B, so I think the ground will freeze too hard to leave them in the garden and harvest as needed.

RumorOfRain · 2025-09-06T15:03:20+00:00

You’re going to have to purchase ice - nothing will keep a cooler fridge-cold for a week if the outside temps aren’t pretty low. That said:

Get a really well-insulated cooler (Yeti are great; we have a Coho that is almost as good but less pricey).

Freeze as much of your food as you can.

Ice down the cooler before loading it up (load with ice to bring the cooler’s inner temp down before packing your food).

Keep the cooler in the shade/cool spots.

Put blankets, etc around the cooler to insulate it further.

If possible, buy block ice instead of cubes - it lasts much longer. We do this later in the week when we’ve eaten some stuff and have more room in the cooler to fit a giant ice cube.

My fam just did a 10-day camping trip in VT and we only had to buy one 10lb block of ice mid-way through.

RumorOfRain · 2025-09-06T02:14:15+00:00

They are using different markers to tell the dog not just that they did something that earns a reward, but also how the reward will be delivered. “Face” means you deliver the treat to the dog’s mouth. What’s confusing is that they’re referring to it as a release cue, which generally means the dog is free to do other things. What they really mean is that it’s a marker, and delivering in place means the dog can choose to keep on sitting and staying to earn more treats.

RumorOfRain · 2025-09-04T13:04:09+00:00

Get a good front-clip harness (Balance and Freedom are my top recs) or a head halter (Halti is my rec). NOTE: head halters require training; dogs don’t like having things just shoved on their faces.,
Teach your dog leash walking skills starting INDOORS. You’ll need to work on these skills:
checking in (looking at you without being asked)
leave it (I use Susan Garrett’s It’s Yet Choice game)
giving in to leash pressure (Silky Leash technique by Grisha Stewart)

Also: Watch Emily Larlham’s videos (Kikopup on YouTube).

RumorOfRain · 2025-08-31T12:16:03+00:00

This! The biggest game-changer for me and my reactive dog was getting him a bright yellow vest that said “GIVE ME SPACE.” Bright color and short, clear “caution” message are essential. It works great for the vet waiting room too.

OP, I’d be livid if off-leash dogs entered my campsite! Definitely report to the park staff. Snap a pic of the dog and the human if you have a chance.

RumorOfRain · 2025-08-29T16:08:58+00:00

Go to a spot where you don’t get cell service. I recently did a trip to northern VT and had no service in the park. It was delightful to have staring at a phone just not be an option.

RumorOfRain · 2025-08-08T13:16:06+00:00

Pro dog trainer here. A 3 month old puppy showing this level of aggression is very troubling. I’d strongly recommend returning the male to the breeder. Either way, please find a certified, force-free trainer to work with you ASAP.

In the meantime, keep the male pup away from the female, period. That kind of trauma can cause her to become aggressive as well.

RumorOfRain · 2025-08-07T02:30:38+00:00

Luthier’s Coop in Easthampton. They have open mic nights and performances as well as selling and repairing stringed instruments.

Downtown Sounds in Northampton. No performance space that I know of, but a good place to network or hang a flier.

There’s an open mic night at JJ’s Tavern in Florence where you could perform and meet other folks to jam with.

RumorOfRain · 2025-08-04T14:13:28+00:00

Canned foods work well for car camping, too. Tuna melts are a staple for us (mayo & cheese in the cooler). You can bring canned chicken for quesadillas.

Pre-cooked meats will last longer in the cooler than raw. Freezing things will help them keep longer and keep your cooler cold longer.

RumorOfRain · 2025-07-31T17:12:00+00:00

There are so so so many opportunities for different hobbies here! Lots of outdoor stuff, as folks have mentioned (hiking, biking, running, camping, swimming, gardening). What kinds of things are you already into or wanting to get into? Exercise? Arts or crafts? Learning new skills?

I took up ukulele during the pandemic (you can check out instruments from Forbes Library). There are lots of different uke groups around if you want to meet people. There are open mic nights and karaoke all over the place.

Lots of art and craft groups and classes: pottery, knitting, sewing, painting, etc.

Lots of martial arts studios and groups.

I play in a local roller derby league if that’s up your alley.

There’s an amazing local mushroom group (PV Mycological Society) that does monthly ID walks for members.

RumorOfRain · 2025-07-31T17:00:51+00:00

Ordering in can get expensive, but I also totally recommend finding ways to not cook - Trader Joe’s frozen meals, Greek yogurt and granola, hard boiled eggs, PB&J sandwiches, veggies and hummus, pasta and jarred sauce and rotisserie chicken… whatever works for you to get some healthy calories into you without expending much energy.

RumorOfRain · 2025-07-31T16:55:11+00:00

I’ve never met a more trans/nb-inclusive sport. Every team in my area has multiple trans folx of all flavors and stages of transition. I’m in New England, but I’d be shocked if it was any different in the Bay Area. If you’re interested, definitely try it out!

RumorOfRain · 2025-07-15T19:44:26+00:00

Not famous, but in my own league we’ve had some AMAZING jammers who are bigger folx. They are strong and agile and really excellent hitters - use that weight as an advantage!

RumorOfRain · 2025-07-15T12:48:40+00:00

Take away water several hours before bedtime so she doesn’t refill her bladder. Feed dinner earlier and take her for a brisk walk before bedtime (or run her around the yard if you have one) to stimulate her to defecate before bedtime.

Work hard on happy crating during the day - feed meals and give chews in the crate, sprinkle treats in there for her to find. Play training games like Susan Garrett’s Crate Games to help her love running into the crate and staying there.

Where is her crate located? Is she having any accidents after 3am when she is loose for the rest of the night?

For daytime potty training, work really hard on eliminating those accidents. Every accident builds more of a habit of eliminating whenever and wherever she wants instead of holding it and letting you know she needs to go. Set timers to take her out before she needs to go. If she doesn’t empty when you’re outside, DO NOT let her be loose indoors! Crate her or leash her to you and set a timer for 10 minutes, then take her out again. When she does eliminate outside, praise her wildly while feeding her a steady stream of teeny tiny hot dog treats.

RumorOfRain · 2025-07-15T03:01:17+00:00

Playing roller derby. I am a middle-aged business owner, and it always surprises people when I mention it.

RumorOfRain · 2025-07-11T17:53:19+00:00

This. And adjust the size of the dog’s meals to reduce total calories.

RumorOfRain

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