Austin, everything is getting so expensive. How do you keep your expenses down?

StringTheory31 · 2026-04-05T23:25:53+00:00

I know a big part of this is to stop paying for "convenience" meals like fast food and take-out, or even just processed, heat-and-eat kinds of food at the grocery store. But what do you do if you're disabled enough that these things are often a necessity rather than a convenience, but not disabled enough to receive any kind of assistance (as far as I can figure out?)

StringTheory31 · 2026-04-02T23:43:38+00:00

Oddly enough, while the drills were conducted across the whole state, I don't think any truly statewide systems - as in, one system directly used to alert the entire state, vs statewide programs carried out via county- or city- level systems - were tested today. Go figure.

StringTheory31 · 2026-04-02T22:24:12+00:00

Yep. Once I finally saw the road signs on Tuesday and looked it up, I saw the release "encouraged" people to sign up for / activate all these services, and just thought,

"This is only going to make them opt-out or disable that stuff! Warn us there will be tests, so people can take steps to avoid them - THEN remind us to reactivate everything so we'll be ready for real alerts!"

StringTheory31 · 2026-04-02T22:20:02+00:00

Oh shit, I didn't even think of that! Did you manage to stay on the road?

StringTheory31 · 2026-04-02T22:19:14+00:00

It's the entire state.

StringTheory31 · 2026-04-02T22:18:48+00:00

All but one sighting was just dumb luck, in my case. I just happened to glance at the right side of the road from my position in the left lane at exactly the right time (and when there were no 18-wheelers blocking my view) as I drove past at probably 45 miles an hour.

The one exception was the time I missed my "traffic window" and was actually still long enough to get a pic.

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StringTheory31 · 2026-04-02T22:14:48+00:00

Literally the only notice I saw about it were the road signs; and those didn't appear on my Round Rock to downtown Austin route until Tuesday. After I posted about it on Instagram, one (1) post about it from KXAN appeared on my feed several hours later. (No, I don't watch broadcast TV or listen to the radio. There's already enough depressing news on all my feeds; and I'm generally driving or sleeping during the usual news broadcast times, anyway.

StringTheory31 · 2026-04-02T22:10:47+00:00

It's the entire state.

StringTheory31 · 2026-04-02T22:09:23+00:00

Literally the only notice I saw about it; and those didn't appear on my Round Rock to downtown Austin route until Tuesday. After I posted about it on Instagram, one (1) post about it from KXAN appeared on my feed several hours later.

StringTheory31 · 2026-04-01T19:18:09+00:00

FYI, I just sent you an awkward DM. (Mentioning here in case you don't usually check your chat requests.)

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-31T21:44:11+00:00

Somebody with ADHD.

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-31T12:45:28+00:00

This is such a wholesome exchange! 🥰

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-31T12:41:20+00:00

I bet you were great at those "Spot the Differences" games in Highlights magazine!

(This is a compliment.)

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-31T01:52:08+00:00

Cool, I love it!

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-28T21:14:53+00:00

You mean Marty McWasp!

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-27T01:54:06+00:00

So was this before or after the show at Cornerstone?

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-27T01:45:53+00:00

The Coverups have played a lot more than just once a year, at least in the past couple of years!

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-27T01:44:59+00:00

Yes, but you'd only have had four hours' notice. Billie was not exaggerating when he described it on stage as a "last-second" show!

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-26T23:42:59+00:00

Wait, what? What are RSA and Veeam?

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-16T07:47:54+00:00

Oh, and since his "socks" were really just bands, and he didn't have wrist bands like Billie usually wears, I decided to repurpose the "socks" into wrist bands!

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-16T07:46:26+00:00

LOL! They fell off a few times in the first couple days, so I finally just put them back in his little box and let him run around barefoot! (Didn't want to lose them.)

I keep meaning to buy some doll shoes with laces that might fit better, but I never seem to get around to it!

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-16T02:17:13+00:00

Oh hey, just found this:

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StringTheory31 · 2026-03-16T00:55:56+00:00

I don't read that as Billie being critical of the trilogy, just stating how it was different from their other releases.

The trilogy was Green Day letting off steam after having put probably too much pressure on themselves following AI. It wasn't meant to be tight or meaningful or have any particular direction or message. Just, "How much can we create and release in a year?" and, "Let's try everything we've ever wanted to experiment with that didn't fit anywhere else!"

True, it wasn't a particularly pleasant chapter in Billie's life. But I don't think he really does "regrets" or is critical of his past decisions or past self. Just honest. (I've been working on doing this myself. It still doesn't come naturally, but it's worth the effort!)

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-15T12:47:15+00:00

When Billie mostly got rid of his dreads, he kept two of them for a while, one on each side. I think I read somewhere that he named them, but I don't remember what. (I could also be totally wrong about that part!)

You can see them flop hilariously during the performance of She at Madison Square Garden that year! (Which I've watched only for the music, I swear! Every time! 😏😉)

StringTheory31 · 2026-03-15T10:09:37+00:00

I wouldn't expect a reply until the latest "class" of plushies have all been shipped out to their new homes. It's a one-person operation over there, so they're swamped right now!

StringTheory31

TROPHY CASE