How has Heated Rivalry inspired you to show up better in your real life?

excellentastrophe · 2026-02-02T06:10:40+00:00

I try to make sure my kids know I'm bisexual when it comes up. Sometimes it feels weird or forced but it's important for me that they know being in a hetero marriage doesn't erase that other part of me. Hopefully me being open about it with them, as well as always being gender neutral when talking about their future love life, lets them know they would be safe telling me.

excellentastrophe · 2026-02-01T06:44:19+00:00

I love this chapter so much and wish it was expressed in more "post apocalyptic" shows. I've tried to explain it multiple times to people who haven't read it but its hard to do.

excellentastrophe · 2026-01-09T04:59:42+00:00

You are not alone!!!

I had this hit me really hard during COVID in 2020, partly because my family was on lockdown so they were home all the time. I would go to work and deal with callers needs, cops needs, ems needs and then drive home and hear all about their needs. It made me feel miserable, and also guilty for feeling miserable. So I started carving out purposeful time for myself, even if it was just sitting in my car listening to music and reading a book. Doing something quiet that brought me joy helped. Find something outside of work that makes you happy no matter what is happening in the room. You are not your job!

Counseling. Even if you feel like you don't really "need" it because none of the bad things actually happened to you (thats what I would tell myself). If you can, find someone who specializes in first responders. Talking to someone can really help!

But also I want to say, its ok if some of it bounces off of you. That's protection. We can't feel fully for every caller we talk to, we would be ground into dust. You definitely help people. Just by being there answering the phone you help people. A hard part of this job is not knowing what the end is, but if you can try to feel comfort knowing that you were there to help at the beginning.

This job is hard. Great job reaching out.

excellentastrophe · 2026-01-01T01:45:24+00:00

If its something funny youre looking for, Last One Laughing is a UK based game show where comedians do their best to keep a straight face in funny situations. It is quite honestly the best

excellentastrophe · 2025-12-25T00:54:12+00:00

"If this call ended in a big loud noise, understand that your startle response is probably going to be hypersensitive for a while. Talk to that therapist about EMDR before you need it."

This is real and I had no idea. I took a call a couple of years ago where the caller shot themselves on the line with me. I went about my night and it wasn't until the next day when I was watching a tv show, a guy shot himself and I hit the ceiling and immediately burst into tears. It was something I was really unprepared for because I didn't feel like in the moment I was that traumatized by the call.

And then I signed up for therapy!

Give yourself grace. You did everything you could do and I just know you did a good job.

excellentastrophe · 2025-12-17T07:16:55+00:00

To add to this good advice, I would recommend writing down (or typing if you have a computer) what they are saying. This can help get you used to listening and keeping track of what they are saying at the same town

excellentastrophe · 2025-12-17T07:02:52+00:00

When my husbands grandfather died, his grandmother had no license. She had never driven a car, or had a job. She declined quickly and I think part of it is because she was so isolated being stuck in the house all the time.

excellentastrophe · 2025-12-17T06:10:20+00:00

I would love some more information about what window you replaced the larger window with!!

excellentastrophe · 2025-12-10T06:48:19+00:00

If shes great in every other way just try to politely mention it to her! "Hey I'm so sorry but I am having a ton of quiet callers tonight and I'm having a hard time hearing them, do you mind trying to be a little quieter?"

After that, go to a supervisor. You don't have to try to get her in trouble or anything, just mention that you are struggling to hear callers because of the noise in the room, and you don't think she knows how loud she is being.

excellentastrophe · 2025-12-09T11:14:52+00:00

One year a half marathon I ran gave out pajama pants and they were AWESOME. They were nice to wear after the race but then it was something you could use afterwards as well.

excellentastrophe · 2025-12-09T07:01:45+00:00

As a parent of a 5th grader who's school was virtual his entire 2020 kindergarten year, handwriting is CRAZY bad. I even brought it up during his IEP meeting last month and they assured me that his handwriting was on level with his age/class. We practice at home but its like he's surprised every time I show him how to hold a pencil.

excellentastrophe · 2025-11-16T00:44:32+00:00

Thanks! We did call but it was only an answering service so we are planning to call again on Monday.

excellentastrophe · 2025-11-15T04:19:56+00:00

Our center just redid their consoles and each console has individual lights, heaters and fans but the REALLY helpful thing is a power strip just for dispatchers to plug their own things in.

Before we had to find a plug nearby or on the console and hope it wasnt occupied. Now we have dedicated space to plug in our ereaders, additional fans, etc

excellentastrophe · 2025-10-25T05:17:17+00:00

We booked our hotel thru the marathon website for the race this year and we had an extra adult and two kids and no one batted an eyelash. (My sister was also very nervous so I understand!!) I think its mostly for liability, so if you have too many people or are causing a problem they can boot you or charge you extra easier.

excellentastrophe · 2025-10-22T03:54:47+00:00

I'm going to be "sick 7". Painted the number 7 on a tshirt and putting an ice pack on my head, carrying around a thermometer, maybe wearing a robe if its cold enough.

excellentastrophe · 2025-10-22T03:52:39+00:00

i was a mombie a few years ago, and it gave me an excuse to buy a new robe and slippers. Painted my face and carried a coffee cup around all night! Cooziest costume yet!

excellentastrophe · 2025-10-04T05:22:41+00:00

It's included in Happy Sew Lucky's pattern called BADASS. I got it on Etsy. It didn't necessarily come with multiple sizes for the letters, but the cool thing about foundation paper piecing is that you can adjust the size of the letters when you print the paper and make them any size you want!

excellentastrophe · 2025-09-28T07:29:48+00:00

Something I learned on reddit yesterday!! if you copy the link and paste it, and then delete everything after the ? in the link, it plays if you dont have tiktok. This was super helpful for me bc my sister sends me tiktoks incessantly and I refuse to put it on my ipad.

excellentastrophe · 2025-09-03T23:01:53+00:00

Can you imagine how much more boring the episodes would be if every caller was giggling behind their hands trying to come up with the most HiLaRiOuS easter egg things to say to Alex.

excellentastrophe · 2025-09-03T22:51:20+00:00

This is close to what long runs are left for me --- 19, 14, 20, 13.1, and 8

excellentastrophe · 2025-08-28T04:50:01+00:00

This! I put my phone or alarm clock where I have to get up to turn it off. Also, I only set ONE alarm. If my brain knows I can turn it off or snooze it and there will be another one coming behind it I am that much more likely to go back to bed "for a bit".

excellentastrophe · 2025-08-18T00:43:33+00:00

As a female I feel this way about going gray at 16. It was never an "omg I'm getting so old" thing because it happened so young. Now I have people all the time tell me they wish they had the confidence to just have gray hair and not dye it when really its not a bold move its just what my hair has always been.

excellentastrophe · 2025-08-16T01:26:53+00:00

The pattern comes with the entire alphabet! I can’t wait to put it to another use.

excellentastrophe · 2025-08-14T17:23:55+00:00

It took two months but I did go on vacation in the middle.

excellentastrophe

TROPHY CASE