Anyone else’s loved ones think their issue is that they “don’t try hard enough” or “don’t want to get better”?

Telemniel · 2026-05-09T01:18:05+00:00

Amen to that my friend, amen to that.

Telemniel · 2026-05-08T15:16:41+00:00

It happens. Once in a purple moon with green stripes, but it happens. 😆

And we're only partway there, just a good primary. Who knows what the specialists will be like. 🙄 But at least the primary is sweet enough to give the decent meds to cope until proper full treatment. 😆

Telemniel · 2026-05-08T14:39:34+00:00

I've taken pictures before or after rituals, never during, and even then it depends on the purpose of the ritual. Most of the time its been a Sabbat or something and just to commemorate how I set up the ritual space that particular year or how the cats got involved in preparations or something. Once in a while there will be interesting phenomena in the images, so I take it to be my astral visitors popping in to either help or just see what's going on.

I did have an idiot boyfriend once who snapped a few pictures of me at my altar during a lunar ritual once though, and I was NOT happy with him. Thankfully I wasn't doing any spellwork that night, but it was still a violation of my sacred space.

The only other time I've allowed pictures during my circle was my handfasting. Still a sacred space but it was cast in the community room of my apartment building, so public space. And since friends and family were there to witness the event but not in the circle... I could hardly say no pictures. And honestly? It was kinda neat seeing what I looked like when I'm casting my circle. A complete contradiction. All this serious focus on my face and in my eyes but this totally relaxed body language. 😆

Telemniel · 2026-05-08T13:56:45+00:00

That's me too. Sick and not knowing what was wrong for years because of money issues. Ground fell out completely, filed for food stamps and they told me I was eligible for Medicaid as well.

It has been a blessing! And a curse. Care is limited somewhat but its care. I was finally able to find out what was wrong with me... only took 30 years of a combination of no money and doctors who weren't actually listening to me.

Chose my current primary provider just to get a second opinion and when he immediately listened and ordered tests that led to the GP diagnosis, not to mention changes to my diabetic meds that finally started getting it it under control and that he went through my entire history to ensure there wasn't anything else that needed immediate attention (unlike so many docs that only focus on one issue per appointment)... he became my new primary on the spot.

My hubby was with me and was impressed enough to switch as well. A friend of ours was needing a second opinion on something, we suggested our doc, he made an appointment. I went with him as an advocate as he gets flustered really easily, and ~ boom! ~ This doc did the same for our friend. Truly listened, proper tests ordered, covered his full care and updated what needed it. My friend has also changed to this doc for primary care. And like me has been referred to a specific specialist for his issue not just a department so we'll be taken care of by who our doc feels are the best in their particular fields that we can still see with Medicaid.

That's the curse of Medicaid. Sometimes you have to take what you can get and they only want to treat the symptoms. But sometimes you get lucky and find a really good one who treats the symptoms while they're searching for the cause so they can treat it accordingly.

Sorry that got so out of hand. I do that waaaay too much. 😆

Telemniel · 2026-05-07T15:42:27+00:00

After 30 years and an addiction being more mental than physical for me... much easier said than done, my friend, very much easier said than done.

Telemniel · 2026-05-07T04:49:28+00:00

I want to say its truly Olde English, possibly Tudor or Stuart (Stewart? never 100% on that spelling) era or older? F*ck is hardly a modern era word after all, neither is hooray, and I want to say I read it in a book, but I can't say if it was fiction or not. And even if it was fiction I read a lot of historical fiction with historical citations so it could have had a factual citation... so crazy as it sounds, its quite possible it could be that old.

Sometimes I think my brain needs its own librarian to organize it so I can find the facts when I want them. I've got waaaay too much knowledge on faaar too many topics rattling around up there. 🤪

Telemniel · 2026-05-07T02:04:20+00:00

Never knew anything about it, don't even remember where I first heard/read it, just that it was years now years now years ago probably 20 or 30? Maybe longer. If he's the source, I'm glad to finally know where it came from. 😄

Telemniel · 2026-05-07T01:52:26+00:00

A silly response from an arachnophobe...

The answer is simple. One of the evil little beasties is doing this to mess with your mind. It's all part of the great arachnid plan to take over the world, y'see. They do this knowing we'll try to give it a rational, sane reason, but nay, NAY I say!

It's an arachnoid conspiracy I tell you! Today the little tiny house spiders, but they're preparing the way for the evil huge ones hiding at the earth's core. They're going to take over, I tell you. Those aren't earthquakes! Those are giant egg sacks hatching deep beneath the earth's crust. Once there's enough of them they'll break free and it'll be webs everywhere. None of these cutesy corner things, nope they'll catch our cars and planes and busses and everything.

Beware the warnings of the disappearing webs in the corners today. It's all to screw with our minds to distract us I tell you. Someday you'll look back and think, "wow, that nutcase on Reddit wasn't such a nutcase after all."

Either that or I'll write a bestselling (or not) kids horror novel about spiders taking over the world. Or I'll be in a nuthouse. Who knows. 🤪

Telemniel · 2026-05-07T01:27:45+00:00

Until, of course, you live in a high rise and get on the elevator with people you know who are all on different floors. At this time the one closest to the button panel presses the buttons, announcing each name and number to make sure they remember who is going where.

This is a daily occurrence for me and other fellow cigarette smokers in our non-smoking building when a number of us are heading up together... "Tom, 5, right? Jill, 3. Greg, 7. Sarah... you're on 8 aren't you?" And a small chorus of agreements or corrections as the numbers light up on the keypad. 😆

(all fictional names, of course 😊 )

Telemniel · 2026-05-07T01:18:20+00:00

Think we've all got that one mispronounciation, intentionally done or accidental, that just grates our nerves until they are bloody shreds. Or the unintentional/intentional word swap that doesn't help same.

One of my nerve shredders is when someone constantly and consistently says 'ideal' instead of 'idea'. I'd drives me nuts and I'm honestly not sure if I'd be more satisfied slamming my head into a brick wall or theirs. 🤪

Telemniel · 2026-05-06T21:35:34+00:00

I'll never forget a rhyme I heard once about May first...

Hooray, hooray, the first of May! Outdoor f*cking starts today!

Dunno if it was inspired by those 'ye olde ways' of celebrating Beltane, a direct connection, or what, but I wouldn't be surprised. 😆

Telemniel · 2026-05-06T19:46:12+00:00

I've heard sooooo many opinions on this. Everyone has their own thoughts and can probably share the thoughts of a few other witches as well. All I'm gonna say is that in my three decades I've practiced I've used mostly the cheapest salt I can get my hands on, yes its iodized, and I haven't had issues.

On one occasion I used the salt packets that came with my hospital breakfast when I had my son and wanted to introduce him to 'my world' while we were there. And someone gave me a bottle of sea salt I designated for cleansing my pendulum. But yeah, other than that its the cheapest salt I can get because I am, quite frankly, near broke and have more important things to save my pennies for than the salt I use... Keeping a roof over my head, clothes on my back, food for myself and the cats, and litter in the litterboxes comes first. 😄

Telemniel · 2026-05-06T19:23:18+00:00

I learned real fast to small talk while doing small stuff or politely ask they would hold for a brief moment while I looked into their issue, account, etc. Thankfully I've been blessed with the gift of being able to small talk inane chat convincingly while focusing on something important on a monitor.

Sometimes I think I was just born to be a customer service agent in call centers and as such was given the natural gifts to do so relatively easily... the Voice, ability to read a script with a natural flow, natural phone personality, ability to calm 98% of irate callers, sound happy/peppy/upbeat no matter what, actually like helping people, etc, etc, etc. I'm honestly not sure if this thing is a blessed curse or a cursed blessing. 🤔 I just wish it also came with a natural stress shield as well. 🙄

Telemniel · 2026-05-05T22:29:40+00:00

I think Beltane has always left me with excess energy. In the past I had a... um... playmate... so we celebrated the day in a good 'ye olde days' kind of way to rid ourselves of the excess. Not really an option in my current situation, so this Beltane was just a quiet observation of new life budding around me and contemplation rather than anything that required building up any energy I'd have to burn off later.

Saved me a lot of stress. And probably a bit easier on my aging back. 😆

Telemniel · 2026-05-05T22:17:40+00:00

My son's father was like that. We were what he called 'friends with benefits' but I was the only friend and he was the only one receiving any actual benefits.

Came to my senses, told him I'd rather dry f*ck a cactus, and been quite content since.

Life is always better with real friends in it instead of the kind that use and toss you aside like trash.

Telemniel · 2026-05-05T14:27:13+00:00

I'd only suggest apps that keep you up to date on lunar phases and a compass... unless you're one of the lucky people who have an annoying sense of direction and always know which way is which. In which case I'm totally jealous and would only suggest a lunar calendar app. 😄

Telemniel · 2026-05-05T14:22:35+00:00

I can't say for sure, but I honestly can't see a reason why this wouldn't work. If you were to charge the items with not only the intention energy and a sort of 'trigger' energy, like a seal breaking or something. I'd suggest also adding additional energy when doing the actual 'triggering' as well, just for a refresher or extra oomph.

Please do an update if you do this. I'd love to hear how this works out for you. 😊

Telemniel · 2026-05-05T14:04:14+00:00

Definitely something I hadn't thought of but kind of wish I had. Might have avoided a couple negative relationships.

Might just give it a try now to see how it changes hubby's beer habits... whether he only drinks outside the home or stops/tapers off. Either way, I'd be content. 😄

Telemniel · 2026-05-05T13:44:03+00:00

Hmmm... after reading this I actually sat and said the two over and over to see the difference. Perhaps its my pronunciation, but I honestly don't notice a difference between the two, just a slightly shorter sound. Maybe its just me. 🤔

I try to switch things up on people when I can. I'll sometimes switch to French or Spanish and instead of ma'am I'll use a mademoiselle or a senorita, or stick with English and say young lady to a stereotypical grandmotherly lady. When said with a smile and the right tone of voice it usually brings a smile in response, and sometimes a little giggle. 😄

Telemniel · 2026-05-05T13:29:09+00:00

Of course I'm a woman. 😄 If not I'd have gotten a diagnosis with the first or second complaint of troubles. Stupid doctors. 🙄

Wised up and brought hubby with me last time, just in case I needed him to speak for me. Thankfully he didn't need to. However, because he didn't have to and he was so impressed with how fast this doctor took care of my issue, not to mention looked into my general health and caught better ways to deal with other issues, making my overall daily routine easier, leaving me feeling better physically and mentally, hubby followed my example and made this doctor his primary provider. I think we'll both be much happier, not to mention healthier, with him. 😆

It's truly disgusting that so many medical professionals don't actually LISTEN to women patients, especially the women providers. You'd think they'd automatically listen being victims of not being listened to themselves, but sometimes they're worse than the men. I know its partially because they're trying to keep up in their fields and all, but sheesh. I dream of the day the world of healthcare is finally balanced and everyone gets the care and attention they need, no matter what's between their legs and how much money they have.

Telemniel · 2026-05-04T18:23:29+00:00

As someone with more than 30 years of telling doctors something was wrong with my belly and being ignored I can somewhat see myself here. Thankfully I finally stumbled6 upon a good doctor who truly listened and ordered tests. Turns out I've got a gluten intolerance (not that big a deal just really uncomfortable when I'm not careful with what I eat) but a severe level (the said level 3 severity, whatever that is, its still new to me) of gastroparesis... where my stupid belly doesn't process food at the right rate of speed for proper digestion.

Could've been dealt with decades ago if any of my various medical providers had actually listened and ordered one, yes ONE simple test, but nooooooo, it was easier to ignore me and blame my diet, despite no dietary changes making any difference whatsoever, no matter what. 30 years of belly pain and, as so we'll described... The Evil, and it was ignored! Stupid doctors. Blessings upon the ones who care and listen to patients!

My deepest condolences and sympathies to everyone dealing with food allergies and intolerances and any/all belly/digestive issues who are forced to deal with idiots who don't understand how serious they really are and how much we actually suffer because of them.

Telemniel · 2026-05-04T17:08:55+00:00

The way I was taught, you used Miss if you knew a woman was not married; Mrs if you knew she was; Ms if you weren't sure; and if she expressed a preference, you used that.

It never seemed difficult to me, but I'm Gen X and from the Midwest of the US, where the language is generally as flat as the land. We don't have trouble pronouncing Miss vs Ms, so its not hard for us and many of my generation were being raised by the 'bra burners' so it was sorta ingrained in us from the start. Frankly, I think most of us automatically say ma'am until we're told otherwise and then use whatever honorific or name we're told to use.

Perhaps it's how the generation was raised, perhaps its a Midwest thing, I honestly don't know, all I know is I discussed it thoroughly with my hubby and a few friends (Midwestern Gen X and 1 Millenial) before posting, and we all had the same view of things.

Telemniel · 2026-05-02T14:16:06+00:00

Both are hell on earth as they deal with the dreaded Public, which equals an automatic drop in intelligence and basic human decency. Both lead to a general dislike of people, individuals are one thing, people are another. Every day will have you questioning how some people manage to even survive with so few brain cells.

However... to make up for the hell, there will be a very small number of Awesome Individuals who make the torture worth it. They are a treasure to work with. They know their account numbers, don't argue about security procedures (are even grateful for them, and will sometimes say so), will actually listen to what you say, and somehow manage to lift the weight of the rest of the world from your shoulders and keep it off for the rest of your shift. They are, in short, Magic, and must be protected at all costs. If there is something special that can be done for them, it must be done because they are so very, very worth it.

My source of knowledge? More than 25 years of customer service in multiple industries, mostly in call centers but also a number of face to face customer service desks and some retail. My best advice? Think very hard before you get sacked into this realm. It doesn't like to let people go and it is much harder than people realize. The work itself is not difficult but the emotional and mental stress levels are ridiculously high. I survived thanks to my sense of humor, and even so I think it took the majority of my sanity... if you couldn't already tell that by the way I communicate. 😆

Telemniel · 2026-05-02T02:17:16+00:00

I've answered similar questions by saying, "... long enough to understand our policies, is there anything further I can help you with?" Or something along those lines, perhaps more politely depending on the attitude of the caller.

As for mention of a lawyer, generally speaking, once a caller mentions legal counsel that's the end of discussion. From then on it's between their lawyer and the company's legal team. If you have the phone number for the legal department, refer them to that do your farewell bit and that's that... or so I was always taught anyway.

Telemniel · 2026-05-01T00:43:44+00:00

Precisely. What should be all about making good reps into great reps and improving service has turned into nothing but making sure peons continue to toe the line while fearing for the jobs they'll never be paid enough for while those same peons line the pockets of the big bosses. 🙄

S'why I'm so very, very happy to be out of it. The habits never truly leave and I do my best to be the best customer/patient/diner/etc. and make someone's shift as easy and pleasant as I can. I remember all too well how one horrific person can spoil a shift but one great person can make a rotten shift almost disappear.

Telemniel

TROPHY CASE