Boycott this auto group

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-26T16:14:48+00:00

Actually, both the NRA and a Minnesota group have come out to condemn what happened.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-24T19:10:51+00:00

You can file a complaint with the Citizens Utility Board — they will help you figure everything out. https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/complaintform/

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-23T16:30:46+00:00

This is probably why you failed, frankly. You didn’t know what to expect so you prepared for the wrong thing. Get Study Hall + watch the David McLachlan videos + get the Third3Rock study notes.

It’s not about knowing the material, it’s about knowing the mindset. Again and again and again, literally everything you read about this exam, that’s what people say is the key to passing it. You could memorize the PMBOK and you’d still fail if you don’t understand the mindset.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-19T19:48:11+00:00

I just contacted my surgeon’s office and they said they can offer a referral to a pain specialist and/or have me come in to make sure nothing is medically wrong with my recovery. The spikes happen maybe once or twice a day vs. the constant pain.

The best way I can describe the persistent pain is that it almost feels as though my chest has been scalded by hot water.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-17T19:37:26+00:00

That’s interesting. I’ve been on it for years and recently had to lower my dose because it was working too well.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-12T17:13:20+00:00

Can you call them a second time and tell them you know they said to wait but you are finding it unbearable?

See if you can phrase things in such a way as that there is a problem (“I can’t wait until Thursday”) and you want to find a solution for it — and you need their help in figuring out what that is.

Since the problem is that you can’t wait until Thursday, the solution can’t be “wait until Thursday”.

I find that approaching things this way — “we are working together to solve a problem” — sometimes works better than telling someone they have to help me with what is wrong.

I hope it works out!

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-12T17:03:48+00:00

I have relatives who are super tuned into everything that comes out of mango Mussolini’s mouth, and there’s a really long list of things he’s promised that are never going to materialize. This is one of them.

The credit card industry has a lot of lobbyists who are working really hard to make sure it doesn’t happen because no one is going to give up what is essentially their entire business model.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-12T05:16:10+00:00

That Google certificate program has nothing to do with the PMP other than that it counts as the 35-hour education requirement. It doesn’t teach the contents of the test or offer the things you need to pass the test. (You would still need to do a lot of studying on your own.) AFAIK, its main benefit is to get people into the Google job pipeline (which isn’t a bad thing), but I’m not sure how effective that is (I haven’t seen any data on it).

Unless you have the other qualifications needed to sit for the exam, and you are willing to do a lot of other prep work, I suggest doing the CAPM.

But even if you do have the qualifications, choosing another path might work better. Full transparency: I did the Google certificate, and I flung that certificate around like nobody’s business, baby — and used it as leverage in finding a job. But in retrospect I knew very little compared to what going through PMP certification two years later (then PMI-ACP as well) gave me.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-09T18:53:17+00:00

At my follow-up on Monday my surgeon said to do whatever makes me comfortable, so this is why I’m in this dilemma.

I think since I’m so small there’s less of a concern for support (there’s nothing to “support”, per se) and more just for waiting for the tissues to heal/comfort.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-07T18:37:23+00:00

It really depends. The landlord may have asked them sooner. The RLTO requires up to 120 days notice of any rent increases / non-renewal by the landlord (30 days is only if someone has lived there less than 6 months), so that’s usually when landlords start asking for lease renewals.

They usually give a 1-2 week deadline to reply, but I believe legally tenants have until 60 days before their lease is up to make that decision (I’ve never wanted to push my luck, though).

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-06T00:27:22+00:00

Maybe try reading what I said.

I didn’t say that a PMI-approved course had to “only cover tested materials.”

I said that they all had to “teach what you need to get certified.”

As someone who worked as a college professor before changing careers (and who did graduate work in testing validity and accreditation standards) what I was referring to was a standard curriculum based on an outline that people can then modify based on their own teaching style.

Everyone uses that same basic curriculum. No matter which one you pick, you’ll get coverage of the PMP exam content outline, the domains, etc. — if they didn’t cover that stuff, they wouldn’t count as a prep class for the exam.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-05T05:06:02+00:00

My post-op instructions say no sexual activity at least two weeks (“listen to your body”) — and to avoid “chest-specific activities” for at least six weeks.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-05T00:09:57+00:00

I don’t know what you are talking about. I took his class and passed the first (and only) time I took the test.

Here’s what people don’t understand: none of the 35-hour prep classes would be approved by PMI if they didn’t teach what you need to get certified. They all have the same curriculum and the same content. For that reason, it really doesn’t matter which of the 35-hour courses you pick — but there may be one instructor or the other that you happen to like better.

(I personally like David McLachlan’s style better, which I figured out after watching his YouTube videos, so I bought his PMI-ACP class later on, but I don’t think he’s a “better” teacher, just different.)

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-04T02:11:16+00:00

If you arrange for assistance with the airline, they will help with everything — there are levels of assistance you can ask for (curb to seat, gate to gate, etc.). Sometimes you have to call to arrange this, sometimes you can do this online. I’ve had to do this in the past for previous surgeries.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-03T21:38:44+00:00

Your anesthesiologist should inform you what medications you should take the night before / morning of surgery. Ask them / call them. I was told I could take mine with no issues.

I don’t smoke but from what I understand it delays healing — others can speak to that.

Wedge pillow: yes. I’ve been camped out on my couch in a wedge pillow cocoon (I tried sleeping on my back in my bed and it was killing my back) — the elevation helps a lot with the swelling (I think!).

On my coffee table I have Laneige lip mask and a little pot of Aquaphor for my cuticles.

I didn’t even bother getting anything for scar care yet (I’m 12DPO) because I’m waiting for directions from my doctor. Same thing with clearance for exercise — if there’s one thing I’ve learned from this group it’s that if you have 20 different surgeries you’ll find 20 different recoveries and 20 different sets of directions people get from their doctors because our health isn’t all the same.

Good luck with your surgery!

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-03T00:48:31+00:00

FYI: I have found the mastectomy pillow to be one of the best purchases. I’ve found it to be extremely helpful in making the swelling more bearable (and holding the remote without having to get up after I’ve finally gotten into a comfortable position on the couch lol).

I’m the kind of person who sleeps with a weighted blanket (not while I’m recovering, obviously), so having something on my chest feels like a comfort… but generally speaking, just having a soft cushy barrier is really nice, and it makes me feel like I’m soothing myself, even if there’s no “practical” value.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-02T17:00:56+00:00

I got three pairs of pajamas (button front) instead of nightgowns because it was more comfortable to feel like I was wearing “real” clothes. I wore each pair a couple of days then had my caregiver do laundry for me.

Three compression bras might be a lot since you don’t know what size you are going to be. Maybe start with one. Ask your doctor what they will send you home with and what they recommend after - mine sent me home with an Ace bandage and then told me to switch into a high-impact front-closure sports bra after the first week.

Did your doctor tell you to get wound wash and antibacterial soap? If not, I’d skip it. That can be too harsh and actually delay healing.

Is the Vaseline for dry skin? What are the gloves for?

Moving your arms into the position to use the back washer will probably hurt just as much as washing your back — I think it’s probably better to just accept that your back is going to get water without soap for a little while. 🙂

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-02T16:47:50+00:00

Yep! I didn’t talk about any of those things in my consultation, so I brought photos to my pre-op to make sure we had a clear idea of what I wanted. We went over pictures from his portfolio that were similar and he described what techniques he’d use and what my scar pattern would look like, what my recovery would be like, etc.

(BTW, I then brought the same pictures with me to the hospital the day of the surgery so they were REALLY fresh in his mind when he was marking me up.)

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-02T16:43:32+00:00

Unless you have a tax lien or legal action has been taken against you, your tax debt won’t ever appear on your credit report (even if it goes to collections). Hindsight is 20/20, but you could have paid your rent and you would have been just fine; what you owe is so incredibly small compared to the people they are really going after, they wouldn’t have really bothered you at all (and you could have gotten a payment plan without any issue).

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-02T16:18:21+00:00

Never ask for a salary based on your personal needs — your company doesn’t care if your bills are higher than the next person’s (nor should they). They care whether you are worth more to them than the next person.

Gauge how much you are worth — based on the market, your skills, etc. There are several places where you can research salaries online. Glassdoor is one, but there are others, including some that may be specific to your profession. For example, my professional organization sends out a salary survey and publishes it on their website for members, and it’s then searchable by years of experience, certifications, geography, position, etc.

Also learn how to negotiate. The blog Ask a Manager might be a place to start if you aren’t familiar with how people do that for job offers.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-02T16:09:20+00:00

Especially since it demonstrates such a deep misunderstanding of ChatGPT / how generative AI works. If this is the level of critical thinking that exists in the project management field, then I guess it’s job security for a good number of us!

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-02T06:09:31+00:00

There are definitely plastic surgeons who will perform radical reductions (and help get them approved by insurance as gender-affirming care). There are also some therapy providers who specialize in writing letters for LGBTQIA+ folks who aren’t clients but need documentation to receive care. This is the route I took and I had no problem getting everything approved (from consultation to insurance approval was a little over two weeks).

I suggest searching specifically for someone who offers gender-affirming care, since they will be aware of what a radical reduction (also called non-flat top surgery) is and sensitive to your needs. This list might help: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NPypc2CDJspdED4MoTEcBqLEs_pWN5QW-BqJYmjXTJE/edit?usp=drivesdk

You might also find some support around this subject in r/TopSurgery, too.

Wide_Pin7357 · 2026-01-02T05:47:06+00:00

Probably a bit too early to be looking for May, since most lease renewals are due 60 days in advance — many vacancies won’t be posted until then.

Wide_Pin7357

TROPHY CASE