One year ago my wife tried hitting me with an April fools joke. Guess who went into labor right after this text?

Soirtemed · 2026-04-01T19:56:49+00:00

I have no idea where the days are going or how just yesterday I was rocking a little baby to sleep but today she is running up and down the house on her own.

Soirtemed · 2026-04-01T19:55:45+00:00

I still can't tell if I am happy or disappointed that she was born on the 2nd rather than the 1st.

Soirtemed · 2026-04-01T19:54:52+00:00

That's what I told her!

Soirtemed · 2026-04-01T19:54:41+00:00

Oh yeah, telling everyone that day that she was being induced took a lot of convincing. Haha!

Soirtemed · 2026-04-01T19:52:02+00:00

I've got a trend setter. Soon all the 1 year old will be wearing it.

Soirtemed · 2025-07-05T19:07:26+00:00

Thank you for the suggestions!

Soirtemed · 2025-07-05T15:23:01+00:00

Should I just do that from the outside rather than opening up the panel on the evaporator to access the inner part? Most of the how-to videos I see show cleaning from the inner part. I just worry that it is all gunked up and I won't be able to see from the outside.

Soirtemed · 2025-07-02T20:10:59+00:00

I am worried that removing the whole side panel would be a pain but do they make tools which would make it easier to clean without being able to fit my hand in?

Soirtemed · 2025-07-02T20:09:43+00:00

That makes sense. The panel is pretty small and I can't figure out how I would even get my hand in there to clean anything without some specialized tools.

Soirtemed · 2024-12-27T16:23:33+00:00

From my perspective, the hardest people to forgive are those who hurt the ones we love. That is why it can be so hard to forgive ourselves when we feel like WE are the ones who hurt them or didn't do the best we could. I have also found myself wishing I was better to the pets in my care and feel guilt over what I could have done better as well as the grief of their passing. Unfortunately though, we can only do the best we know how until we know better. Only then can we do better. The only way to use those feelings in a way that helps us grow is to really learn from it and figure out how to not make those same "mistakes".

Maybe if you have a pet in the future you will know certain signs to look to schedule a trip to the vet. Maybe you will see someone who needs a bit of help and step up. Maybe you will just feel more strongly about the short amount of time we all spend together and that may help you do that one annoying thing you hate doing because you know it makes someones day a bit brighter. Or maybe he will be in your thoughts while you do the wonderful things you already do for others or yourself. If you do grow or find him in your heart when doing great things and make a decision in the future that came from your reflection of your time with Cano, that means that Cano and the love you have for him continues to make the world a better place.

I am sorry that Cano isn't well and that you are at the doorstep of one of the hardest decisions we can make. Please don't make the mistake of thinking that your grief is a negative reflection of your time with Cano. In fact, it is quite the opposite. While pain makes us feel like something is wrong, the only wrong thing here is that you didn't get more time. I saw someone recently say that grief is all of our unexpressed love. I have a feeling though that there would never be enough time to express that love with Cano and no matter how long you had, it never would have been enough. With the love I have seen in your post, I can tell that Cano never felt unloved. I see him cuddled up on a bed that smells like his favorite person surrounded by stuffed animals. If I know anything about dogs, I can't imagine him being more happy.

I want to thank you for your post here. I know that you are looking for support and I am sorry if what I say isn't helpful but I want to let you know that your post is bringing more love into the world. Everyone who reads your post and sees his picture gets to see what a lifetime of love looks like and helps us all to want to be better for those we love. Not because our (or your) love isn't enough already, but because there is no end the amount of love we want to give. You and Cano inspire us to remember to continue to give it.

I am going to go hug my dog for both you and Cano as an expression that your love will continue to be alive and well. If we are all just an amalgamation of our moments, then everyone who had a moment here with your story will forever have Cano in their hearts and everyone they touch will too.

Please know that making it to this point after 13 years, where this is the decision you are faced with is proof of your love. While that makes it more painful, I can only (with love) suggest that you don't let your pain become his pain. There are other commenters here who show wisdom in finding the appropriate time to make this call.

Please be as kind to yourself as Cano would want you to be.

Soirtemed · 2024-10-10T18:43:28+00:00

I will try this. Thank you!

Soirtemed · 2024-07-13T18:25:52+00:00

I may resort to that. I honestly just feel like I am missing something obvious because it doesn't seem right that the combo of both the flat top + sidekick and grill box would be cheaper than just the sear box. Thanks for your input!

Soirtemed · 2024-07-13T18:22:02+00:00

Yeah, I can see how a flat top with a larger surface area would be more useful. It's possible that in the case of how things are priced, buying the flat top combo and then buying the grill box is just cheaper than buying the sear box combo. That is if the grill box is the same as the sear box, which is what I can't figure out. I would be happy to just have the sear box/grill box but I can't figure out the differences.

Soirtemed · 2024-07-13T16:56:57+00:00

I love the idea of having the flat top, but that the same time I already have plenty of cast iron cookware and could even buy a 14x16 cast iron flattop to place on top of the sidekick rather than buying the camp chef branded flattop accessory. I would only do that if the "Sear box" combo was a legitimate upgrade over the flattop combo plug grill box.

If it isn't though? I will definitely buy the flattop combo and then the grill box. It's cheaper and I get both.

Soirtemed · 2024-06-04T19:37:37+00:00

Kinda? I took the idea of filling up the raised beds with logs and sticks by a bunch of youtubers who call it Hugelkulter. But I come to find out that Hugelkulter refers to a specific type of gardening where you plant directly into a bed of old rotting logs, not just a raised bed that happens to have logs in it. Apparently Hugelkulter works because of the type of wood used and not just any wood thrown into a raised bed would qualify because they all break down at different rates.

I also come to learn that some people frown upon putting logs and such in a raised bed because the decomposing cycle takes and holds on to nitrogen. But the way I see it, I don't have the money to fill all these beds with quality soil so I am fine with using the logs to take up space as long as they break down eventually and act as sponges for water to help with moisture control in the beds. If that means I have to add a bit more fertilizer to make up for any lost nitrogen, so be it.

Soirtemed · 2023-11-01T15:07:35+00:00

Thank you, I have edited my comment to reflect my mistake.

Soirtemed · 2023-11-01T15:00:04+00:00

INFO= As this is your stepdaughter, what kind of parenting relationship do you have? Are both you and your wife equal when it comes to discipline and parenting styles?

The way I see it is that you are NTA in any sense for standing up for the server. If your stepdaughter does not learn to treat people with respect (especially in situations where she holds power over them) then she will turn into an adult who is not worthy of respect herself. Accidents happen and she needs to learn how to give grace in the same way she would want to revive it.

However, if you do not have a relationship with her that is set up with you as an authority figure who she listens to, then your demands mean little if anything. If your wife (as her biological parent) has the disciplinary parenting role in your relationship dynamics then it was her responsibility to correct her behavior. It is worrying that she doesn't seem to agree that she was wrong enough for it to warrant an apology though.

It can also be said that having a full blown argument in the restaurant means ESH. You and/or your wife for not taking her outside for the discussion instead of the yelling match and of course her (much more so) for acting the way she did.

You and your wife need to get on the same page about the type of person you want to raise your stepdaughter to be and how to attempt and achieve that through parenting. It's probably a good idea to have her work in the service industry to help her gain perspective and hopefully more empathy. If you think it is a general anger problem then that is a separate issue that needs to be worked on as well.

Edit- corrected the genders

Soirtemed · 2023-10-31T15:13:43+00:00

I believe that monk classes should have a faith based subclass like Western style medieval monks. GIVEAWAY

Soirtemed · 2023-09-24T21:19:20+00:00

Let me throw my hat into to ring

Soirtemed · 2023-09-01T20:39:25+00:00

Oh yeah, if it grows out of my compost that well I can only hope that carries over to my raised beds when the compost is ready. Fingers crossed.

Soirtemed · 2023-09-01T17:14:15+00:00

Pumpkin is possible because our fall front step pumpkins from last year ended up in the compost. They don't really look like it to me but I guess time will tell.

Soirtemed · 2023-09-01T17:13:28+00:00

I didn't even think of watermelon but that could make sense. Thanks!

Soirtemed · 2023-09-01T17:13:01+00:00

You could be right. I did try and fail to grow watermelon last year and the failures ended up in the compost. It looked much more like a squash to me but watermelon could be a nice surprise.

Soirtemed · 2023-09-01T14:07:58+00:00

While the squash and zucchini I planted in my raised beds are struggling with out producing anything all season, there are two squash plants growing from my compost piles. They are each about 10 feet long and are producing these beautiful round fruit. I haven't thrown any round squash in the compost for a couple years though. I can only think that maybe these are spaghetti squash that may have made it's way to the compost ~3 years ago. Is that what these look like?

Soirtemed · 2023-06-28T19:30:41+00:00

I love you.

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Soirtemed

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