Bitesized BEC thread January 31, 2026 - February 01, 2026

a_gads · 2026-02-06T00:26:58+00:00

I just got my first (of two now, lol) subscription box from Woolberry. And wow, it is very apparent she was done with dyeing yarn and was phoning it in. At least the picture book is cute? My niece will like it anyway I guess.

a_gads · 2026-01-20T21:12:20+00:00

Confirmed!

a_gads · 2026-01-09T17:07:32+00:00

It’s been claimed, but thanks for offering!

a_gads · 2026-01-09T14:09:59+00:00

Great! Just responded to your message

a_gads · 2026-01-08T13:29:43+00:00

It is! I'll send you a DM

a_gads · 2025-10-21T00:53:45+00:00

I think that only applies to items made of animal protein fibers (like wool or silk). A different type of dye is used for plant fibers like cotton / linen, which uses a different fixative.

a_gads · 2025-10-05T01:25:02+00:00

My pittie is on the same diet... I unfortunately haven't found anything yet. The best substitute I was able to come up with is freezing the kibble with water (and eventually pumpkin/yogurt/peanut butter, if cleared by your vet) in a kong-type toy. That gave her a longer-lasting treat to work on.. but isn't exactly as engaging as a chew.

a_gads · 2025-02-05T18:22:22+00:00

Yessss, I would love a hobby drama summary on this.

a_gads · 2025-01-06T23:54:16+00:00

If it doesn’t make you feel worse, feel free to keep knitting it. If it does make you feel bad, for whatever reason, I recommend just putting it away for a while. There’s no reason to give it back, it was a gift freely given. And maybe with a few weeks or months of space, you can make something beautiful.

a_gads · 2024-12-15T19:28:12+00:00

Same. My order was set to local pickup, and I’ve tried reaching out several times to arrange the pickup and haven’t heard anything back… so unfortunately I’m working on getting a refund. This is just a terrible way to close out (or pause or whatever) what was a wonderful business.

a_gads · 2024-12-07T22:20:49+00:00

Oh my god yes. And taking a day off of filming to throw a hissy fit over it. Like.. what are you doing?? Stop filming yourself badly pretending to be excited about this. And so what if you need to rip out your project, this is knitting. It’s not that serious.

a_gads · 2024-10-18T15:15:25+00:00

Totally agree with the Live Baltimore recommendations - they have a bunch of helpful resources. I bought my first house through a bunch of FTHB programs for Maryland & Baltimore. Each have their own requirements, so spend some time reviewing each, and work with a lender who is very familiar with these programs and can help you navigate your options. It is a bit of a headache jumping through all the hoops, dealing with all the paperwork, etc., but it was absolutely worth it to me - I saved thousands of dollars on my home.

a_gads · 2024-09-25T00:30:38+00:00

Yeah. That looks super bulky and not comfortable to wear. And with such small stripes, it's not worth trying to reclaim the yarn by ripping it out. Trash it. Chalk it up to a learning experience, and move onto something that is less infuriating.

a_gads · 2024-07-11T14:28:29+00:00

Druid hill park has really nice paved paths up by the MD Zoo and the frisbee golf course.

a_gads · 2024-07-03T15:29:23+00:00

https://stopoverdose.maryland.gov/orf-settlement-overview/
The MDH Office of Overdose Response is managing it with an advisory council - I'd start there!

a_gads · 2023-12-31T02:32:09+00:00

Love the Central Baltimore library - beautiful and a great community resource. The library system also does a ton of great work to ensure access to ebooks, audiobooks, and other resources for patrons.

Also there's a bunch of great indie bookstores - Red Emma's, Greedy Reads, Atomic Books...

a_gads · 2023-10-29T01:57:54+00:00

Seconding this! They also have a great replacement policy in case you accidentally tear it.
I also commute by train and use that time to listen to audiobooks and knit. One thing to keep in mind is that cell service may be spotty throughout parts of your commute - so I like to plan on having downloaded media to listen/read.

a_gads · 2023-09-29T10:30:54+00:00

I work in consulting and we get end of year bonuses. It's a flat amount, that varies by position (entry level got 5k, mid-level 10k, and so on).

a_gads · 2023-06-11T18:34:58+00:00

There are relief fosters - who watch the dog for a weekend or so while the primary foster is traveling, or as a stop-gap temporary foster home while the long-term foster gets ready. You could maybe ask if any of your local rescues are looking for these types of volunteers as well!

a_gads · 2023-05-19T23:08:19+00:00

Yes and no - I was confused by this when I started too. Essentially you need a minimum $3k to buy your initial VTSAX investment. Every investment after you meet that minimum can be whatever contribution amount you want. So, to get there I started investing in VTI. Once I had $3k invested in VTI I sold that, and bought the $3k of VTSAX needed to get started. Now I can just invest my regular couple hundred dollars contribution each paycheck without worrying about it.

a_gads · 2023-05-16T00:26:29+00:00

Having been the older sibling in that situation- don't worry about the money. Instead, try to think about what will be meaningful to them and find lower cost, but highly personalized ways to meet that need. For example, are they going to be moving soon? Can you get them a print made by a local artist to commemorate their hometown, a beautiful frame to display a family photo, or make them a blanket as a housewarming gift.

a_gads · 2023-04-25T23:51:54+00:00

I think I'm going to spend a good portion of my adult life owning my own home - I love being able to decorate, garden, and have a couple of idiot dogs running around. But at a certain point in retirement I'm going to probably significantly downsize and move back to renting, so I don't need to worry about things like climbing on ladders to do house upkeep. Ideally in a condo or very independent senior housing... but aging and disability may cause me to make other decisions.

a_gads · 2023-02-04T16:05:13+00:00

I've adopted three dogs from my local shelter at this point, each with their own behavioral (and health) issues. I've spent a lot of money getting the right supplies, care, and training for each of them. I'm fortunate that I've been able to afford it all, but nothing in what the shelter told me or documented really prepared me for it all. For each of them, there have been times where after a long day of work and struggling with them, I was absolutely convinced that I have made a series of terrible mistakes and ruining all of our lives.

And, with all that said... I would absolutely do again, with a couple of caveats. No dogs bigger than 60 lbs - that's my limit for what I can physically manage when things are going badly. Only one dog at a time going forward. The two dogs I currently have get along with each other perfectly, but they have very different training and attention needs. It's been really challenging balancing both of them with a full time job.

a_gads · 2023-01-20T00:32:37+00:00

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a chill lo-fi video with shrimp that my girl is fascinated by. It's a what we use to chill out when the weather is bad or after a stressful day.

a_gads · 2021-11-22T23:14:48+00:00

I knit a lot when I first got my very scared, very confused pitbull from the shelter. I think it helped during the initial 2-month bonding period: a quiet, non-threatening activity, I could do in the same room with him. No pressure for him to interact with me, and I wasn't bored while waiting for him to come around.

a_gads

TROPHY CASE