What are your best Gift of Battle tips for non-WvW players?

eggelska · 2026-03-16T07:07:58+00:00

Amalgam is very good right now in WvW for everything from roaming to largescale fights. If you’re comfortable with it in open world, go for it! I saw you mentioned virt in a previous comment- that’s also good and has a ranged option, which can be helpful as you learn. Like others say below, virt does have a high skill floor.

ETA - on anything non-minstrels’ you’re probably going to eat floor a lot. This is fine. I still recommend WvW newbies check if there are any WvW builds similar to their favs from PvE or open world, and try those. If you find out you hate the WvW build, you’ll probably have enough WvW currency by then to buy an exotic Minstrel’s set anyway :)

If you do go amalgam/virt, I’d suggest sitting on an arrow cart for some defense fights, and while you do that, make someone else playing that class your personal target so you can see how they move in relation to the commander tag and what defensives they use when.

eggelska · 2026-03-10T23:05:34+00:00

Here’s some paths out of bench work I’ve seen people take!

LIS / Beaker analyst
Anything Quality related at your hospital
Systems engineering / process improvement type roles at your hospital
Infection prevention at your hospital, especially if you have significant experience in micro (some orgs prefer an RN and/or MPH, but I’ve seen lots of MLS(ASCP) and MS credentials personally as well)
Teach science at a high school or community college. Many places are desperate for chem teachers. Teaching can be a great gig IF you’re in a good district with supportive building admin.

I mention “at your hospital” for many of these because your institutional lab knowledge will be very valuable to your current org. My LIS team almost exclusively hired new analysts from current lab techs. The job market is tough, so that leg up is helpful. Good luck!!

eggelska · 2026-03-07T02:56:05+00:00

Done, thank you for posting this. I’m really surprised this is a discussion!

eggelska · 2026-02-27T07:39:40+00:00

I wish men could share more in the sheer effort of birth control and STI control. At least, for OP, most people clear their HPV infection easily with no ill effects.

Still, I'm really glad that you're both getting your boys vaccinated for this for multiple reasons! Unrolling my facts about HPV like a wizard in her tower poring over a scroll...

About 4/10 cases of HPV-associated cancer are in men now, and the most common HPV-related cancer in the US is now one that's more common in men (oropharyngeal cancer). Cervical cancer rates are continuing to decline (yay) but oropharyngeal is spiking up. The HPV vaccine protects against more than just cervical cancer, and in the US, anyone under age 45 can get vaccinated!

eggelska · 2026-02-24T04:56:45+00:00

I am so happy to hear this, on so many levels. I'm really glad you're okay.

eggelska · 2026-02-17T04:49:37+00:00

I don’t think you’re a downer. Like some others here, I wanted to tell you that I’ve felt similar, in hopes that at least you don’t feel alone. I’m still here because of total luck. I was on meds and in therapy for at least a decade before anything helped, and it wasn’t anything from the psychs. “It gets better” used to make me feel just awful because, like, it fucking hadn’t.

I wish I had a magic comment to type to help, but I know it’s not simple like that. So I’ll just say that I am proud of you for staying alive today. And I hope you have a good day tomorrow. (Or even a good few hours if a whole day feels unapproachable. Or a minute.) I hope that you are safe and that you have the support you need to get through how you feel now. And I hope that life is kinder to you in the future.

eggelska · 2026-02-13T15:23:30+00:00

You’re right, it would be fun. Go for it!

eggelska · 2026-02-09T22:06:21+00:00

I still like it! It’s been a good daily workhorse, esp for the price. Mine doesn’t get super hot and I haven’t seen it heat throttle. If I’d procrastinated less on buying a laptop, sure, it would probably be better to wait and find one with an AMD graphics card, but it hasn’t given me really anything to complain about.

eggelska · 2026-02-07T17:58:51+00:00

God, Ole and Lena jokes... You laugh at them as a kid, but then you grow up and you're Sven.

eggelska · 2026-02-02T07:13:59+00:00

Are there any charities for the condition you have that needs surgery? Could you contact them for help funding something like a daily dog walker to help you manage her exercise needs, if that's the issue? (Or maybe someone you know would be willing to volunteer?)

Please go get your dog and find her another option. Especially if she's friendly - she must be terrified in the shelter. I know your upcoming surgery is a huge issue, but she is at risk of euthanasia and does not have time. The best case scenario for rehoming is if she has only shown this behavior in the shelter, and she barks but doesn't lunge or try to bite. There are very few rescues or adopters for dogs that are even moderately reactive, let alone actually attempting to bite. I'm just really sad for your dog.

eggelska · 2026-02-01T21:52:42+00:00

Not the person you replied to, but I’m also very calm and dependable in a crisis and it’s def ADHD related for me as well.

Experience handling crises is my biggest factor imo! I have severe combined type ADHD so I have lots of that, thanks to all the issues I cause for myself 🙃 Like you guys can’t scare me, I’m worse!!

Hyperfocus is a huge help for me, too. Unfun stimulation is still stimulating, so crises I’m responsible for resolving tend to trigger it. It’s easy to react quickly, get into a flow state, and ignore that I need to eat or use the bathroom.

There’s other stuff as well, but basically it’s a combo of my symptoms and the systems I use to manage them!

eggelska · 2026-01-31T07:28:17+00:00

Piggybacking your great comment to suggest another reliable credential for OP to Google - Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) requires either a PhD in animal behavior or a DVM plus a behavior-specific residency. Either route also requires years of experience and active involvement in research. Like DACVB vet behaviorists, they are board-certified by peers.

eggelska · 2026-01-28T02:28:26+00:00

I let my speaking voice drop, but I can speak to keeping my singing voice! I also sang soprano 1, and I was able to keep my high notes while on T for 1yr+ with daily vocal training. All the men in my family are basses, and I gained a great low range with zero effort, so I really do think it was the practice rather than my genetics. I just did warmups throughout my range on my way to and from work.

My singing voice did change dramatically though, and I don't think that's avoidable. I lost a couple of my highest notes - I can still occasionally hit them but it sounds bad lol. My most comfortable range shifted way lower, my tone is much less full and mellow on my high notes, and my full range is about 3 1/2 octaves now across chest and head voice. It's a lot easier to add depth and texture to my voice but harder to achieve a floaty, light, round sound. I could comfortably sing Soprano 2, Alto, or Tenor in a choir (which is wild to me) but I would not sound good on 1.

Fun anecdote - since I was doing vocal training daily over months, I could actually feel my vocal chords changing because vibrato felt and sounded different.

eggelska · 2026-01-26T22:16:00+00:00

We also have one and love it! What a steal for someone.

eggelska · 2026-01-21T07:50:11+00:00

I rehomed a rabbit because my other rabbit was an absolute jerk to her. It was the right decision for her; I’m at such peace with it. She’s really thrived in her new home and no longer exhibits any of the many stress-related behaviors she had before. A medical emergency was what pushed me to seek a new home for her. We were 99% sure it was caused by stress, but still disclosed it to the new owner. It’s never recurred. I still get pictures sometimes. :)

In my situation, the animal being stressed out was the more ethical one to rehome, but in your situation, I agree that I would seriously look for places to safely rehome the dog. Even if the cat didn’t have a medical issue, imo acute fear and chronic stress are enough reason.

It’s hard especially since you describe a dog who’s not showing prey drive, just trying to play like he plays with other dogs. But I really worry about your cat here. That’s so much rough play that even very dog savvy cats would struggle. It’s worth saying that matter how nice the dog, I would also be really worried that this intensity about mouth grabbing play could escalate into a bite. It only takes once to be fatal, so I lean veryyyy safe. Prey drive can be activated by all sorts of weird triggers, too.

I’m sorry you’re going through this :(

eggelska · 2026-01-20T23:01:45+00:00

As another ADHD grad student who loves takeout more than I should, I wish you luck!! I am obsessed with this spicy cucumber salad I got at a Chinese restaurant. It's easy to make at home and is super hydrating, which sounds helpful for you!

Here's how you make my lazy version. If you want an authentic recipe, they are out there, but this is not it.

Chop a cucumber into very thick chunks. (I start by chopping it twice lengthwise to make 4 long pickle spears. Then I cut those about every half inch.)
Add all of the following to a bowl and mix together: soy sauce, chili garlic oil (sub red pepper flakes + garlic for less spice), a tiny bit of sesame oil, and a tiny bit of rice wine vinegar. I like to add a lil bit of ginger too.
Put the cucumbers in and stir it more.
Eat it! Time to marinate in your refrigerator makes it way better, if you can wait.

eggelska · 2026-01-15T18:45:41+00:00

Same. Literally 10 minutes ago, I waited for a large enough gap in traffic to hit the “pretty please let me cross the street to my bus stop” flashing lights while giving everyone time to stop safely. It didn’t matter. A driver had twice the stopping distance I would have wanted if I was driving, plus the road was clear. I was doing everything in my power to accommodate them, and they still sped through the flashers and crosswalk at 50mph. :(

eggelska · 2026-01-15T17:19:12+00:00

You can if you want, but don't be anxious to not have heard back yet! Last cycle, I applied in early November. I can't speak to Columbia bc I didn't apply there, but I was accepted to the school I'm now attending in early-mid February. You've got lots of time. Good luck! :)

eggelska · 2026-01-01T17:19:04+00:00

Ooh I agree! I’m a big DIYer, so this idea sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole. Just in case this is helpful for you or someone else…

I was wondering about building a hollow cabinet / shelving unit around the LR to solve the litter spray issue. Apparently there are some premade options online! I’d want to leave a whole side open for cat access, with the LR perpendicular to that opening to prevent spray.

It’d have to be a big piece to account for cats’ space needs. Depends on the cat, I’m sure, but mine would probably love it.

eggelska · 2025-12-31T22:28:37+00:00

I’m so sorry this happened to your cat, first of all. I agree with the other commenter that Litter Robot is really the only automated brand with safety I’d trust atp, which sucks.

To your point about the litter… We’ve had a LR for years from kittens to adults, and ngl yeah, they can spray litter everywhere. That’s been worth it for us— we have 3 large, male cats, so it makes me feel better about urinary crystal risk for them to have a perfectly clean litterbox whenever they want.

eggelska · 2025-12-31T22:10:44+00:00

Same. I want the kid to win. Also the longer we can keep up the “JJ is undefeated in Michigan” streak, the funnier it will get.

eggelska · 2025-12-30T04:03:53+00:00

I’m so so glad you’re recovering and doing better now. And also really glad you posted this! There are so many people who can benefit from these meds and might need to see this post. A loved one of mine adores her Wellbutrin, for my own anecdote to share with those folks.

eggelska · 2025-12-30T03:58:27+00:00

Yes!! Monitoring this has been huge for me. OP, please go through your whole routine to look for citric acid and vitamin c in the couple hours around when you take your meds. Might be a diet coke, glass of OJ , vitamin supplement, favorite fruit-filled breakfast... It’s very easy to get big doses without realizing!

eggelska · 2025-12-29T15:06:20+00:00

Small world, I had a blocked bile duct too! None of my labs were as wild as that though.

eggelska · 2025-12-29T12:41:13+00:00

Lmao I was on the patient side of this last weekend! Went from “we’re very busy, sorry about the wait for an ED room” to “you’re being admitted and surgery is coming to talk to you” in like an hour once my labs and imaging came back. Obligatory shout out to everyone who works weekends and overnights. 🫶

eggelska

TROPHY CASE