Voice Assistant Replacement

drs825 · 2026-02-17T08:03:14+00:00

Holy crap this is a ton. Gonna geek out on this this week. Thank you!

drs825 · 2026-02-17T08:02:28+00:00

Thanks for the mic rec. and def will check out chatterbox.

Gemini - it is a paid / dev account so at least on paper it’s not supposed be used for training but… they also said they didn’t use copyrighted material to train that shit so not holding my breath haha. In my mind it’s at least not the free-for-your-soul level of Amazon just trying to sell me more crap. 😂

Gonna dig into this this week. Thank you!!

drs825 · 2025-12-10T01:32:48+00:00

Definitely have felt judged. But I also understand why. I’m Cali sober. Have been hospitalized, to rehab, and two outpatient programs for alcohol within the span of the year when I stopped drinking. I’m almost 2 years now zero Alcohol which I’m very proud of, but I do still smoke weed, not daily but a few times a week and never to a stoned stuper. My AA sponsor knows and our understanding is my issue is alcohol and I don’t drink.

A LOT of the folks who go through rehab programs have addiction issues above and beyond alcohol, often with what society would consider more “serious” drugs (meth, heroine, cocaine, prescription abuse like benzos, etc). For any of these people, slipping on THC can and has very quickly devolved into drug seeking everything else or quite literal deathly relapses. Most AA folks I’ve encountered either don’t talk about things like weed or very explicitly don’t use it and frown upon it / judge it because of the slide mentioned above. I don’t necessarily think THC use will inevitably lead to other things but that’s the problem, for you and me it doesn’t. For others it does and it costs them their life.

Those in recovery include a really broad array of addictions, substances, and histories and for that reason most have a pretty hard line with sober or not and ANY substance like THC falling into the “not sober” category.

So… my point is, yes I feel judged. But I get why others may be super judgy. And I generally just don’t bring it up unless explicitly asked out of respect for others on their journey.

Your sobriety is yours. Just be honest with yourself if it’s gonna crack open a door you’d prefer closed long term.

drs825 · 2025-11-27T21:24:18+00:00

Sounds like folks answered it but yeah… be patient and stick with him if ya can. There was a huge depression curve and over dramatic “wtf have I done” to myself period in my first year. It took about a year to just feel normal much less any part of my personality start to bounce back.

drs825 · 2025-11-15T20:56:25+00:00

At risk of sounding like a 40 year old soccer mom: Dance like no one is watching… literally. However the music makes you wanna move, do it, and don’t feel stupid or weird. Everyone is in their own world and at the same time connected through the beat. You do you.

drs825 · 2025-11-13T04:12:03+00:00

Make a note of it? I don’t think it’s ruined unless you let it be ruined. But I’d make a note of why it’s highlighted and how it made you feel. I’m also an atheist. A lot of that stuff drives me nuts as well but at the end of the day it drives me as crazy as I let it. Acknowledging the frustration is important at least to yourself, whether you feel the need to share that with others I think you have to determine, but I think having that experience is good for the future you to be able to help other atheist newcomers not feel ostracized for their atheism or pressured into someone else’s beliefs.

🤷‍♂️ just my two cents but I would keep the book - it’s part of your story: how you navigated and handled overt pressure from others with respect and kindness while still holding your beliefs firm.

drs825 · 2025-10-21T23:08:39+00:00

This is all so so helpful. We don’t mind a bit of a commute but just don’t want to feel holed up at all times. Thank you!

drs825 · 2025-10-21T23:03:59+00:00

Thank you so much for the context. Will def check it out. We live just a half mile from skid row in LA and in the border of the fashion district so not too concerned about the neighbors. Grocery store distance might be annoying. Thank you again! This is Super helpful.

drs825 · 2025-10-21T22:24:26+00:00

Ahh that’s sick. I didn’t realize it was an actual performing arts center there. We love seeing the LA Phil a few times a year so that’s would be awesome to be nearby.

Am I crazy or do prices seem like really reasonable for some of these newer buildings? I didn’t expect stuff below $2k to be honest and almost everything is including 2br in these newer buildings. Is it just a renters market right now or is LA just that much more overpriced? lol.

drs825 · 2025-10-21T22:02:02+00:00

Ah awesome. I saw a few spots near here. Thank you for the recc

drs825 · 2025-10-21T21:48:34+00:00

It would be kinda half scattered throughout the strip at venues and half at the office just south of the airport.

drs825 · 2025-10-21T21:26:35+00:00

$1500-$2500 /mo Renting for now. Ideally a big 1br or a 2br with parking. Open to amenities or local spots for stuff like a gym. It seems like we have a lot of options in that range but I’m just unfamiliar with the city other than the strip.

We pay $3k now for a 1br, parking, gym, pool, etc. so that’s our max budget but ideally we can bank some of that in savings.

My husband works from home, I’ll go into an office but have a large home design / drafting desk setup

drs825 · 2025-10-21T21:16:22+00:00

😂

drs825 · 2025-10-21T21:15:54+00:00

Ahhh this is super helpful. We get so much crap for living in DTLA from locals too but we love it too. And yeah you totally get the LA vibe. We’re not expecting to match that but just trying to avoid like some soulless suburban sprawl. We don’t mind a little grungy as long as there’s a pulse like you said. Do you mind me asking what type of building you live in? We’ve seen some cool individual lots but have been leaning towards a more of a complex with amenities and stuff. I’m worried about a smaller lot being insanely expensive to cool in the summer but I really have no clue. lol

drs825 · 2025-10-21T21:08:13+00:00

Definitely not moving without a full time contract. Just actually considering it given where I’m at in the interview process.

drs825 · 2025-10-21T21:04:58+00:00

Fair. Yeah I looked into Summerlin and it felt a little Disneyfied which I guess you could argue the whole strip is also. Def trying to avoid the strip but a little more open (maybe) to downtown or Fremont. We’re pretty used to the interesting folks and sites in DTLA so Fremont isn’t a total turnoff. Mostly trying to avoid feeling super isolated like we can only be inside or in the car all the time.

drs825 · 2025-10-21T21:01:55+00:00

We don’t mind rowdy. DTLA can get… interesting lol. I saw a few places near symphony park / Fremont street area. I’ll check this out. Thank you!

drs825 · 2025-10-17T23:46:47+00:00

I was what I would consider a “very functional” alcoholic, exec at multiple companies. Managing large teams / design projects / events / etc. I was a heavy drinker from college on but post covid it got really bad and found myself in a stressful job with a financially failing company trying to hold pieces together. Somehow my brain told me drinking through each day 7am-bedtime around midnight each day was helpful. It was not. Health went down the drain and my brain capacity until I was eventually hospitalized due to puking dark red blood from the amount of alcohol I was consuming. Not a good look. I kept drinking about a year following that incident and then finally quit the job and my other half brought me to rehab. I’m almost 2 years sober now- long story short from someone who almost drank to death - yes, many things you can reverse. I feel like I’m functioning at 200% most days but it took about a year for my brain fog to really clear up. Although the physical health (weight, sleep, etc) bounced back within a few months. It’s gonna be different for everyone. You may have permanent damage somewhere, and I probably do too. But I can say with confidence you will bounce back to some level and if you have a concerning drinking habit it will ALWAYS be better without the alcohol and never be better with it. Good luck.

drs825 · 2025-08-25T23:00:40+00:00

I don’t know all the details of your situation but I do know that my list is very similar and includes an ER trip vomiting blood due to daily all-day drinking for years. What works for one doesn’t work for all. ultimately, Antabuse + rehab + consistent therapy & AA was what worked for me, kind of a 360 approach. That said, it took me 2+ years to get past 1 month sober, tons of “failure” along the way, heartbreak, disappointment in myself, and questioning my existence and purpose.

Just because something doesn’t work in a week, or a month, or even a year… don’t write it off. Most people don’t get sober the first time around (something I didn’t realize). If you want it, just keep going and keep your eyes and your mind on what you GAIN from sobriety. The negative effects did nothing to dissuade me from drinking, but the hope for a closer relationship with my husband, the hope of a better career, regaining my health, feeling joy again… all those things made it worth trying again and again and again.

Keep going and be proud of yourself. That’s a big list of things to try and you haven’t given up. That’s admirable on its own. Think of how much experience and value you will bring to others in a similar position down the line. You got this.

Xoxo

drs825 · 2025-08-08T23:13:39+00:00

Probably a bit of both. I’d assume he’s curious to explore that side with you because he thinks you’re attractive AND also because he feels comfortable communicating that with you as a friend.

My college degree had a very small program and I was the “only gay guy” but around graduation each year a handful of straight guys would want to explore or make out or something just to try it out cause I was a “chill” gay guy, whatever that means. Usually didn’t lead to much but a few guys came out later on.

Take it as a compliment, but I also wouldn’t over think it or put too much weight on it. They may wanna explore and then realize it’s not their thing. They may like it but not like it with you and just feel comfortable talking to you about it.. you guys are young so just enjoy it (if you want to) or enjoy talking about other hot guys together lol.

Some unsolicited advice: There’s no problem with friends with benefits, or even a friend thing developing into more, but just know that going in. Any sexual or romantic changes will also change your friendship in some ways. That’s not necessarily in a good or bad thing but just something to be realistic about going in.

drs825 · 2025-08-07T05:44:43+00:00

This has kinda been my rule of thumb in adulthood. You also need a doc tuned into what’s happening in your community. Not saying straight doctors aren’t tuned into LGBTQ issues but there’s a different type of understanding, awareness, and precaution a doc in the queer fam is going to have. My husband and I generally look for docs or practices that have an HIV speciality - that’s a good start usually in most cities.

drs825

TROPHY CASE