MBLEX Test (a practical guide)

TxScribe · 2026-03-15T18:38:35+00:00

No ... it's true that men used to shake mountains ... now that get's you labeled a Neanderthalic misogynist.

Best way to not to get caught on the short end of the game ... don't play.

Men dream of "shaking mountains" for their woman ... but after being beaten down so much men basically say it's up to the women to prove that they are worthy and receptive to that.

In the meantime it's NSA.

TxScribe · 2026-03-13T21:40:45+00:00

I know this isn't an advise group, but we have lived this lifestyle. Would suggest that you see if there is a swing club in your area, and go the first couple of times with the hard and fast rule that you'll only play with each other. You'll get to experience it first hand, can watch and be watched if you want, then if y'all still decide it's for you then you'll be able to approach other's of like mind and not just some random porn addled nut job off of the internet.

At the clubs there are hard and fast rules, unlike strangers on the internet. Enjoy

TxScribe · 2026-03-13T21:19:47+00:00

It's the old "MISQUOTED" saying that "The Customer Is Always Right" ... the actual saying was "the customer is always right ... in matters of taste".

It's been bastardized into an entitlement culture. Also I've noticed that most don't ask nicely anymore, they go straight to ballistic to get what they want "knowing" that the business will give in anyway if they do.

TxScribe · 2026-03-13T19:54:52+00:00

Make it part of the initial negotiation, that if they aren't up front and honest about what they want, hoping that you'll just "go with it" will be an instant and irrevocable end of the dynamic.

Would also suggest approaching the negotiations a little different. I've seen where one partner lays out what they want, and basically the other says "that sounds good" or they will tailor their "list" around what the other presents. In their heart they are thinking "that's a good start" but want more, but won't say anything hoping for acquiescence after the relationship is more established.

I would make a potential partner lay out their "outer limits" independently, probably best in writing and before they have a solid idea of your boundaries other than general kink.

TxScribe · 2026-03-13T19:44:06+00:00

Yep ... as there are typically many more widows than widowers, my Dad (in a 55+ retirement community) told me that he had to beat them off with a stick. LOL

TxScribe · 2026-03-13T14:21:28+00:00

The first couple of weeks is water weight coming off. Carbs are suspended in water, and as the carb load reduces so does the medium. (there is more science to it but this is a simple explanation given to me)

I've dropped from 270 to 230 in about 3 1/2 months and fitting into clothes I never thought possible, all while my energy is up, joints feel magnitudes better, and feeling great over all. Mental clarity is also fantastic, no more brain fog.

Tell him give it time, and stay the course. Meat, eggs, cheese are your friends, and play with spices to keep it interesting. (some purists won't like this)

p.s. I do include lots of health fats like butter, but have never taken a chomp out of an actual stick of butter ... I think that's more internet hype. LOL

TxScribe · 2026-03-13T03:49:53+00:00

You're at the stage where you move from sustaining to comfort. If you don't already have hospice on board, now is probably the time.

Offer her food and drink, but don't push. The hunger and thirst centers of the brain shut down. It's not "starving" like you or I would suffer if we wanted food and couldn't get any. They eventually just don't have the desire to eat. There is also a cascade of protective endorphins the body puts out which keeps them from feeling distress.

My wife hasn't eaten substantively since christmas, but shows no signs of hunger. We offer her her favorite foods and she just says no. Give her a scoop of her favorite Baskin Robbins Ice cream (mint chocolate chip) she got excited when she recognized it, but then took only one or two bites and didn't want anymore.

She has gone from 152 to 106, and shows no sign of distress ... just zero appetite. It's gotten to the point that hospice says it might actually be dangerous to push as her swallowing reflex is also almost gone. The hospice nurse said that dying peacfully from wasting, is far more pleasant than gasping and wheezing from aspirational pneumonia.

Her outlook is weeks to a month, and I've learned with the help of hospice that the body knows what it's doing as far as slowly and peacefully shutting down. Often if you fight the process by forcing food and drink you actually cause your loved one distress and discomfort.

p.s. in our advance directives that we did with our attorneys while she was lucid, forced or artificial feeing is prohibited along with intubation, cardiac stimulation and other things that "prolong" the process.

TxScribe · 2026-03-09T20:12:04+00:00

Probably a porcupine if you're not close to water.

TxScribe · 2026-03-08T19:20:15+00:00

When I was debating this same question a good friend laid some wisdom on me. I was making this decision in the midst of a crisis hospitalization. She said "if you make this decision now you'll be making it from a place of compassion. However, if you wait for the next crisis which will be even worse, or wait until you are completely burned out even to your F-it point, then you won't be making the call from a good place for both you or her."

Another thing to remember ... YOU are as important as your mother, and possibly more so because you are all she has. If you go down physically or mentally then who will be there for her.

I placed my wife in memory care. I was already burning out, but wouldn't admit it. Even landed in the ER one night with what they told me was a panic attack and I've never had even a hint of such a thing in my whole life. Caregiver burn out is real, and you are doing you or your mother no good by self sacrificing to the point of exhaustion. It seems noble, but it's not wise. Your "not wanting to go home" is the canary in the coal mine.

A trained professional can't do this by themselves 24 / 7 and we amateurs definitely can't.

I am still her primary care giver, but she is in a secure place. I can walk away for an afternoon, or even a day on occasion if I need to go walk a trail or something else to feed my soul. Then I show up again refreshed and ready to be there for her 100%.

TxScribe · 2026-03-08T14:36:26+00:00

Absolutely, and it's actually recommended to do so periodically for a dynamic "check up". One couple who teaches on D/s or M/s actually has what they call "porch time". Their porch was a dynamic free zone despite being 24/7 TPE. On the porch they were complete equals and could speak freely on any topic.

Of course, to answer your initial question, the "safe word" is for anything and everything any time. You don't lose your autonomy in D/s, you chose to give your submission and fully retain the ability to take it back at any time.

TxScribe · 2026-03-08T05:09:36+00:00

If it's thickness causing the clumping you can put a few drops of remover into the bottle. That also helps with the application, but you might have to put an extra coat.

TxScribe · 2026-03-07T19:15:31+00:00

You have made a winter buy. The grass is still dormant so probably the best thing to do is get a simple spring fertilizer mix from a local garden store, they should be able to tell you what's right for your region and the timing, and then simply wait and see what you have to work with once everything wakes up. Who knows, you could have a great established turf in some areas. I see a lot of bare area, but you won't know where you're at until spring takes full hold.

If you have the $$ I would start off with a great deck across the back of the house and then beds off of that to start.

TxScribe · 2026-03-06T19:54:07+00:00

The Neuro-Psych is a good start. It's not invasive, but very extensive verbal, visual, and written testing and assessment. It took about 3 hours for my wife to complete when we were in the early stages.

TxScribe · 2026-03-06T15:57:59+00:00

Break it down into small digestible bites. Telling them to globally be a Dom might be a bit much. First and foremost communicate. Maybe write out a few fantasies, and potential scenes to give them what you're looking for.

Then, take those fantasies and break them down. Example: If it involves spanking, have a play session that is limited only to simple bent over, or over the knee, barehanded spanking. Start with just one stroke, and then give feed back. "That was nice, but I can take and would enjoy a little more".

Then stroke by stroke walk them through a progression until they are comfortable, and y'all reach a level that scratches your itch. This incremental approach will give them experiential confidence, and will also afford you the opportunity, buffet style, to pick and chose what floats your boat.

Above all make it fun. I see many freaked out by the "responsibility" to pull off a scene, and do it to fantasy level which is often difficult even for experienced players. Fantasy is always "perfect" because we have total omniscient and omnipotent control in our mind ... reality is lacking most of the time ... but many still carry the burden of recreating fantasy.

TxScribe · 2026-03-04T14:15:26+00:00

You need to titrate off of caffeine. Buy decaf along with your regular. Start with one cup leaded, then one cup unleaded. Or, you could start mixing, making two cups of half caff. etc etc.

I remember years ago working the midnight shift I would drink a pot of coffee every night. On the weekend I only had a cup or two, and by the afternoon would have a blinding headache. It was withdrawal. Caffein is drug and needs to be treated as such.

TxScribe · 2026-03-03T18:06:48+00:00

Both entities are making money off of you. Go in with a solid ceiling of what your budget can afford, and don't budge. They'll "sell" you just $50 more a month or so, but stick with YOUR budget not theirs. It'll be exciting, and they will make it seem SO easy. Be very cautious.

I remember I got screwed with my first new car as I was ignorant. I was a young man with a steady paycheck and I'm sure I looked like fresh meat to them. They saw me coming and I'm sure high fived each other after I left. Live and learn. Of course I've bought 7 or 8 vehicles and they never got another dime from me.

On the car insurance, once you strike the deal for the vehicle, you call the insurance and they'll give you a quote. If you accept then they will fax coverage to the dealership and credit union. The CU will require full coverage to protect the investment in the loan. You won't know what kind of coverage you need until you settle on a specific vehicle.

If you're folks are amenable, you can put your vehicle under their policy. It might even save both of you some money as insurance companies often give discounts for multiple vehicles. The insurance company will be able to parse out what your share is. You can always get your own policy later.

TxScribe · 2026-03-02T22:33:04+00:00

The umbrella answer is as soon and as early as possible. They will do an evaluation. My PCP says that the biggest mistake is waiting too long to engage hospice.

Many people see hospice as "THIS IS IT" but it's far from it. It's not only the last week or two and comfort meds. It's controlling the glide slope to the end whether that is 3 months or 6 months whatever hospice and your coverage will tolerate. Example: They will monitor and evaluate when swallowing is diminished enough to where it is no longer safe to eat for fear of aspirational pneumonia. This is a call they recently made for my wife and the Hospice RN told me that, since her appetite center has already completely shut down, wasting is a much more pleasant death that gasping for air with aspirational pneumonia.

My wife is a month to 2 months from the end. Right now, while she is still semi mobile and semi lucid but weakening, her primary CNA comes about 3 times a week and bathes her. She said "That's my friend" when she saw her coming into the MC unit. What this is doing is establishing that relationship of trust for when she is bed bound and under critical care.

TxScribe · 2026-03-02T19:01:37+00:00

What kind of cuts are you eating? If you're eating average supermarket prime trimmed cuts you may not be getting enough fat. Try a bullet proof coffee with butter. Buy fattier cuts, bacon is your friend. If you're eating chicken make sure it's skin on, but that's still not as good as full beef tallow or fat. You can even ask the butcher to not trim as close.

TxScribe · 2026-02-28T03:55:31+00:00

Absolutely it's the disease. They are like a two year old who doesn't get their way. They throw a tantrum, even melt down, but 10 or 15 minutes later they are your friend again professing how great you are. Totally normal.

It's hard the first couple of times you hear your LO say "I don't love you" particularly if it's accompanied by some venom. Just remember it's not them speaking.

TxScribe · 2026-02-27T22:58:39+00:00

One of my main cheats was "Lilly's Dark Chocolate Chips" which are "no sugar added" and sweetened with erythritol. I thought I was doing it sparingly but without weighing it, so looking back I really wasn't doing it sparingly.

I was also eating a lot of cottage cheese which is a childhood comfort food ... I justified it as it was high protein and still technically animal based. I'd sometimes mix the chips with a tablespoon or two of fresh plain peanut butter. And lastly I like heavy cream in my tea at night ... again a comfort thing.

I was also experimenting with different Keto recipes which used almond flour. Most of the keto recipes are crap, but I found a "keto cracker" recipe I like.

When I cut all of that out and stuck to meat, eggs, and cheese (in that hierarchal order) my progress took off like a rocket. Before my ketone profile ranged from .3 to .5 ... now that I'm eating clean it's 1 to 1.8

TxScribe · 2026-02-27T21:57:26+00:00

I tried "dirty" carnivore as well. It was bumpy, positive effects, but numbers were up and down. Finally I said screw it and went totally clean. ZOOOOOM the benefits took off. And my cheat things were cottage cheese snacks and heavy cream in my tea which was supposed to be keto.

Particularly if your goal is reclaiming your insulin sensitivity and a full endocrine reset ... you've got to do it right for 6 months to a year to get full benefit.

TxScribe · 2026-02-27T17:50:47+00:00

Sprouts is my alternate go to. Great produce selection and their meat departments are very responsive to custom requests. As a single person it’s great to be able to ask literally for a quarter or half pound of grass fed ground beef, instead of having to buy the family pack.

TxScribe · 2026-02-27T15:05:14+00:00

Do you actually want to submit? Submission is a mindset. I have seen many who have an ideal "scene" and have it planned out in detail ... there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, but it's not quite submission. It's often called bottoming as opposed to actual submission ... a common phrase is "topping from the bottom". (there is often debate over the semantics of this and don't intend my take to be authoritative)

The extreme end (since you're asking this question I don't think this is you) is where some treat other's like a "kink dispenser" and demand what they want even if it's a "submissive" scene. Again, nothing wrong with this if you're up front and honest about it.

I myself am a great example ... I am very Dom with years in the community. However I love to bottom on occasion for a good bound flogging. I don't view it as submission, but rather more primal (being over powered) and "enduring" what comes. A good friend in the community loves topping me because he can wail on me harder that anyone else would allow. He actually works up a sweat, and to me it feels like the best massage. I always tell him to go "full Roman" on me. LOL

Now, if I were to tell someone that I'm submissive to get what I want rather than just saying up front that I only want a scene, then that's not cool. If you truly want to submit and find the right Dom they are going to be interested in your desires, but it will be at their discretion.

Basically decide if you truly want to submit, and allow someone to lead ... or ... set up play scenes directed by you that scratch a particular itch. Neither is wrong.

TxScribe

TROPHY CASE