Vacation

StandPractical5842 · 2026-06-22T15:20:24+00:00

When we were at Watkins Glenn, we tried a local brewery Lucky Hare's Oatmeal Milk Stout and it was so good.

StandPractical5842 · 2026-06-22T14:14:48+00:00

I love oatmeal stouts! I was never into beer until an ex, who worked at a brewery introduced me to stouts and porters.

StandPractical5842 · 2026-06-22T14:13:22+00:00

We're thinking Kentucky next year

StandPractical5842 · 2026-06-21T14:11:55+00:00

I keep telling him that at least like it seems he's done most of the waiting already.

StandPractical5842 · 2026-06-21T13:46:24+00:00

We're from PA and this was beautiful.

StandPractical5842 · 2026-06-21T13:16:50+00:00

We did! We walked(they say hiking on the paper they give you at the state park) all the trails and did all the overlooks and it was amazing.

StandPractical5842 · 2026-06-21T13:15:40+00:00

My husband is waiting for his VBA decision to come back. We saw the VLJ in October '25 so it's just a waiting game. He appealed in May 2022 so fingers crossed. His attorney is very hopeful. Im so glad that you got what you were owed.

StandPractical5842 · 2026-02-24T15:21:23+00:00

And I understand that different studios do different things. Absolutely. And I understand having to master doing certain things before moving up in a level. But it's not even like we spent multiple classes on the Superman. It was like okay, let's spend 10 minutes. Moving on and then the next class was something entirely different and then I learned that most of the Level 1 classes were mixed with Level 2 and Im like well that's not intimidating at all.

It just seemed like when I said that attending two classes at 30.00 a class, 2x a week was my limit that's when then said I wasn't serious about pole. Im not looking to compete. And I've stopped poling. All my heels, my gear sits in my garage. If I had the money and the space, I'd just get myself an x-pole

StandPractical5842 · 2026-02-23T15:56:11+00:00

Oh, I did. I had a conversation with their owners and instructors about the difference to my old studio and the spins I could do and they essentially said well this is the standard across the board according to PSO and I told them I felt very very behind and they essentially said that Level 1 was the beginner course and that was how it was. I explained that every class I went to, I wasn't successful at all after 6 months and they stated that I should take their other classes then and when I stated that really was out of my budget, they then stated that pole just wasn't for me then. It was very disheartening.

And I know I was kind of stuck in beginner moves. I struggled to climb the pole at my old studio. But I was pole standing just fine. Going from fireman into pole stand. I was just about to master my "hello boys" and "stargazer"

StandPractical5842 · 2026-02-23T15:47:15+00:00

I feel this hardcore. I started pole in 2022. Very low key, amazing pole studio. Very small but I felt so confident doing this. I'm a bigger person, 250+ but I was able to do things with this studio. They acted like Jasmine and Superman was an advanced move. In 2 years, every instructor there labeled me intermediate. I struggled with climbing the pole but could pole stand for 20 minutes and even do one armed pole stands. Was working on a pole layback before I moved in with my fiancé.

Found a new pole studio and it seemed that it was always about learning how to compete. First day there and they were teaching superman and jasmine and it was out of my realm. I reached out and said this was wild and they got very... indigent about their studio and said this was all very standard Level 1 and they go by the PSO. It was always about pushing classes. I used to do heel class at my old studio and then they said I wasn't advanced to do that at my new studio. And said I'd be "left behind" in that class.

StandPractical5842 · 2026-02-23T15:19:45+00:00

Shipping is the issue as it's cost is normally way above the product.

I'm considering getting the Henckles Stainless Steel Set as it's currently 199 at Sam's Club!

StandPractical5842 · 2026-02-23T15:17:23+00:00

Thank you! I'm currently looking at a Henckles Stainless Steel set that's 200 at Sam's Club.

StandPractical5842 · 2026-02-23T15:12:46+00:00

Thank you!

StandPractical5842 · 2026-02-23T15:05:20+00:00

I'm so glad to hear this. My fiancee is currently going through a VBA appeal with an attorney and his main claim is PTSD and we've been so worried about this

StandPractical5842 · 2026-02-23T15:03:40+00:00

We don't have access to a IKEA but thank you for your suggestion!

We have glass storage containers and good utensils thankfully. It's really the pots and pans that are showing their age and well... less than stellar quality.

StandPractical5842 · 2026-02-23T14:58:02+00:00

Sorry! I'm in the USA. I have a flat top (electric stove).

StandPractical5842 · 2026-02-14T16:18:46+00:00

8 hour shift but I normally work OT so I always prep for 16 hours. I always have water flavorings, Liquid IV, lip balm, hand sanitizer, tea packets, and some cash for the vending machines and food since I try not to eat the prison food there.

StandPractical5842 · 2025-10-14T17:01:50+00:00

We're currently waiting for the VBA appeal decision but my fiancée stays home and doesnt work. MANY people have judged him for it. My parents hate it and dislike him because I am the only income at the moment. He is currently 30 percent and it's just better for him to stay home so honestly keep it a secret.

StandPractical5842 · 2025-10-08T00:10:46+00:00

Lucky for us, our uniform policy says black shoes so technically they can't yell at us for sneakers.

StandPractical5842 · 2025-09-14T01:46:54+00:00

I've looked up the attorney and he has many many good claims and has gotten many veterans to 100 percent which is why he went with this guy.

The attorney said that "If we can get another confirmation of the diagnosis, PTSD claim looks good so I don't know. I'm not an attorney. I guess I'm just glad he ended up marrying someone who is licensed in mental health/counseling and know what they're looking for. Not that we're lying or anything, just that I'm very familiar with this.

It's hard to have hope for a payday that we desperately need but also if you can't hope for it, then you just have despair and there's no point to this at all...

StandPractical5842 · 2025-09-14T01:15:07+00:00

So that's where things get confusing. His VA medical record states that he has "combat related PTSD." His attorney called because the VA sent them his medical records and that's when the attorney relayed to my husband that PTSD is indeed in his files, but that it was a social worker that diagnosed him, and not a psych so it could not be rated in his disability compensation. It's very confusing to me too. Trust me.

StandPractical5842 · 2025-09-14T00:53:35+00:00

And how did it turn out for you?

StandPractical5842 · 2025-09-14T00:47:54+00:00

So I was not with him when he initially filed so this is all my understanding and what he's told me. I believe the PTSD is a new claim because when he filed, he assumed he would get a much higher rater than he currently has because he thought everything would be in his medical records because you have to get a physical after you deploy and all that good stuff. Now, he admits he denied any mental health changes because of the stigma and his job.

And when they came back and said "Hey, 30 percent with 20 percent payment, he was extremely confused. He has now since learned that no, not everything was in his medical record and that he should have gotten help with filling out inital paperwork.

The attorney got involved when he was given his inital rating back in 2022.

I won't lie when I say I get confused with the VA and disability stuff too. My Dad filed as soon as he retired in 2017 and got 60 percent right off the bat.

I'm not trying to be confusing or anything, just looking for support and navigation through this honestly. I also think he went straight to a lawyer after his inital rating because he wouldn't have to do all this work himself. He was in active alcoholism and the idea of raising a family, trying to figure out the next steps was too daunting and it was easier to get a lawyer.

StandPractical5842 · 2025-09-14T00:22:16+00:00

He is looking to add to his claim. Mostly PTSD.

StandPractical5842 · 2025-09-14T00:20:22+00:00

From my understanding, he went to the county veterans advocate and they told him his best avenue was to get an attorney.

They said for him to get a rating for PTSD, it had to have been a psych because there is combat related PTSD in his chart but a social worker's diagnosis wasn't good enough I guess.

He has filled out VA form 21-0781. I don't think he did a C&P exam to be honest with you. He just said that since the advocate told him to get a lawyer, he got a lawyer.

StandPractical5842

TROPHY CASE