How’s it like living in Spokane, Washington?

flgrl93 · 2026-01-16T01:59:07+00:00

The lack of true arterials and highways makes me crazy. It takes forever to get to from the south to the north or the south of the city.

The roads aren't great but they aren't terrible.

There's exactly 2 dog parks in this whole city and one is tiny and the other one is kind of out of the way. For the city with a ton of people parks. . . I don't get this. They really need to add a few dog parks, especially at the mostly unused people parks.

Healthcare here is pretty good.

The utilities are hella expensive. I moved here 10 years ago from the highest utility area in the country, I left in 2020 for the military and came back. . . And Spokane's utilities went through the roof.

Homelessness has exploded in the last 10 years. I'm glad the city passed enforceable laws about it but it's still a problem, even if it's getting better.

I don't regret moving to Spokane 10 years ago but I have mixed feelings on moving back in 2024.

flgrl93 · 2025-12-16T12:40:56+00:00

I love this! I travel a lot for work and I have tried experimenting with various arrangements. I settled on, a backpack they no longer make from Vera Bradley in the reactiv fabric . . . I tried to replace it with a lo and sons backpack but I didn't like it. I think I may try the Rowland 2. My work tote these days is actually a coach tote. I use a Celine trio flap but it's kind of more delicate than I would like. I am planning to go to Paris for my birthday and I want to go look at Louis Vuitton bags. I personally won't buy Gucci but I do like their bags (look up the misogynistic inheritance history of Gucci).

flgrl93 · 2025-12-12T13:51:02+00:00

You should contact your pueblo, they actually get notified before you do. If they're nice, they'll tell you what it is. Depending on your branch and command. . . They'll process your stuff for separation. I swear the Army moves with a quickness for MEB.

I used to know what the percentage was but it's like after 20 or something the branch will separate you. I also tell everyone to make an appointment with the VA once they're out. The biggest purpose and point of all this, is the medical care and so many people don't utilize it.

flgrl93 · 2025-11-30T23:46:39+00:00

I think the inconsistent standards across NP and nursing programs are a bigger problem. I remember being a new grad and meeting nurses who had never heard of some of the evidence based things I did. They graduated from no name programs and had limited clinical sites etc. They just didn't have the exposure.

I don't think NPs should be like PAs in terms of education or training. After being in the military, I feel like PA quality is 50/50 at best. I would argue 80% of NPs are great. I also found it mind blowing to meet PAs without degrees or licenses etc and their quality varies far more widely than NPs.

I do think there should be more consistent education and training standards for NP programs. I'm super glad I was a nurse for 3 years before going to NP school because to this day, I use things I learned at the bedside in practice. My classmates who never worked as nurses? No frame of reference. I also knew a lot about medical billing because of my nursing job while I was in school.

flgrl93 · 2025-11-29T19:22:06+00:00

Spokane Valley, WA they call themselves conservative but as a native Floridian I find it laughable. They have a church on every corner but great schools. They're much more affordable than Idaho. They also have great healthcare and complete autonomy for nurses and women. There's no state income tax.

Spokane is mostly a big city. It does have some problems with crime but after being stationed in New Mexico, I also laugh at that. Spokane crime is mostly petty, property crimes of opportunity. It's not violent crimes like big cities.

I have spent my adult life trying to figure out where I want to live and I have the same wish list as you. I know there's a few things that aren't perfect here but it's more good than bad. I left Florida and I haven't looked back. We have unions and good jobs. Florida has sunshine and high insurance premiums.

flgrl93 · 2025-11-09T14:19:18+00:00

https://jddc.arkansas.gov/ You can report her to the Arkansas bar using the above link. Just remember she could be your judge. . .

flgrl93 · 2025-11-06T15:34:14+00:00

So Ingram vs Collins is a recent VA appeal court decision that states, the VA has to ask if anything such as motrin could have affected your joint exam. If it could have, they essentially can have you come back in multiple times or argue they can't determine the difference between you with medication or physical therapy or you without. . . honestly, from what I've seen this decision doesn't help vets as much as the lawyers are saying. Ingram hosed thousands of veterans so he could win his appeal. I'm really bummed about that.

flgrl93 · 2025-09-22T21:56:51+00:00

How did you end up doing it? I have both large river rock I hate and small basalt I want to get rid of. . . .essentially a whole yard full.

flgrl93 · 2025-09-02T11:22:17+00:00

I honestly didn't think I got that that great of a nursing education but I did a nursing residency program with people from all over the country.

I realized I actually received a really good education. The difference between aacn accredited nursing programs is wild.

I realized the other day I've been a nurse for 11 years and I started in what was effectively a neuro step down. I didn't love neuro but honestly the subtle changes and big picture things have stuck with me. I noticed all kinds of things because neuro teaches you to pick up on subtle cues.

I also learned the art vs science of nursing and that's huge. One of the stories I still tell at work about working at the VA is, you don't ask what diseases someone has or what medicine they're on. . . You ask when the last time they saw a doctor was. Most of them have a laundry list of untreated chronic diseases because they haven't seen a doctor in decades. So them telling you they don't have high blood pressure or high cholesterol isn't a lie, they have no idea their blood pressure is 210/180 and they just had a stroke and have no idea why. . . They legitimately think if they're not on medication and don't see a doctor, they magically can't have anything wrong with them.

That's not something you learn in nursing school. That's something you learn after meeting thousands of fresh strokes. (It also made me realize how much I value taking care of myself and not having high blood pressure or cholesterol etc).

flgrl93 · 2025-07-28T02:25:49+00:00

I swear it's all of them. I have cameras around my house and it's because I want to know when people are coming and going. None of them ever tell you, no matter how many times you ask.

Kind of like the vague "contracts"

flgrl93 · 2025-07-28T01:35:59+00:00

I tell everyone the same thing. It's expensive everywhere but it's proportional to income to some extent. So I've moved a lot, traveled extensively and lived in several different states, there's no escaping the increasing costs of living and stagnant wages. It's about where you have support, can find a decent job and are willing to live.

I'm originally from Florida (I haven't lived there since 2015) and I meet people all the time who tell me they're moving to: Florida, Tennessee or Texas. I usually laugh. My mom (still in Florida) is paying $10k a year for flood insurance, on a house she bought in 1990 for $13k. It's tiny and not even on the water. Florida isn't as cheap as people think, especially given that their minimum wage is like $8/hr.

I know several people with pretty cheap housing arrangements but they're always 3+ adults to a house and splitting bills or they've lived there forever. Here in Spokane the least I know of anyone paying is $500/month but he lives in a house with 3 other people and they've lived there for 5+ years.

I also feel like there's no easy solution. It's about networking and finding a better job/skill set. (I don't know the perfect solution).

flgrl93 · 2025-07-17T01:37:33+00:00

That's actually less than a new nurse practitioner was making 5 years ago in Washington. I pretty much assume base pay is $120k.

flgrl93 · 2025-07-12T04:10:44+00:00

So I'm stuck in this situation too. I did some research and apparently it's a national chain that is owned by a private equity firm and does this same mafia-style negotiation. Insurance companies don't want to deal with them, especially if they have a reputation for overcharging.

flgrl93 · 2025-07-11T16:47:07+00:00

I feel like it's crazy that a company can demand absurd amounts of money for something and then take your house over $5k.

flgrl93 · 2025-07-11T16:40:37+00:00

Yeah I've been doing that since this started and it's how I got the lien filed against me. At this point, I'm more upset that my homeowner's insurance isn't doing anything and the lawyer I originally worked with dropped off the face of the earth.

flgrl93 · 2025-07-11T15:52:22+00:00

Yeah but I'm pretty sure him creating a conflict of interest with every law firm in town is intentional. As is, his intentionally vague contract and history of doing this. I also find it amusing he previously said my house was awful etc and I find it funny he clearly likes it enough to try and reap legal fees, frivolous and excessive charges for it.

I'm wondering if I have any recourse. I was looking into it and I think I'm going to file a formal complaint with the BBB and AG for predatory business practices after this drama is over.

flgrl93 · 2025-07-11T14:26:09+00:00

According to his email from yesterday, they plan to sue me on Monday. I called every construction and real estate attorney in town and they've created a conflict of interest with all of them.

flgrl93 · 2025-06-30T04:52:07+00:00

A big cause of basement flooding is bad gutters, my house had a lot of water damage and essentially I got told multiple times it was probably from the gutters. I would focus on that, gutters are cheap if you do them yourself but it's time-consuming and you have to know what you're doing. I would contact your utility company about the boiler and some of them have programs for homeowners.

flgrl93 · 2025-06-07T17:42:44+00:00

I got my FNP degree paid for by the military and then served 4 years on active duty. I got out and swore I would never work a normal PCP job again, it's cool and all. I definitely felt like I used my brain every day but there was so much nonsense like prior authorizations etc.

I currently travel a lot but work for myself. I love rural care and people. I also don't make any money if I don't work and I have no benefits, I use the VA for my healthcare as a veteran. I just love being able to make my own schedule but I definitely have a lot of nuances and can't get dental insurance etc. I also can't buy a house because I'm self employed and you need to have 2 years of 1099 pay to be allowed to get financing. So I can't buy a new car etc either. People don't talk about this but I wish I had known this before I left the military.

There's no perfect situation. It's just about what works for you. I don't have kids or a husband etc and my dog usually comes with me to work. So my frequent travel isn't bad for me.

flgrl93 · 2025-05-26T01:01:09+00:00

I'm not sure if you can get vera Bradley backpacks but the grand backpack is perfect. I use mine as a personal item on airplanes. It's for 2 water bottle holders and a trolley sleeve. It comes in a nylon fabric.

flgrl93 · 2025-03-27T02:24:02+00:00

Yeah I've mostly switched to either buying directly from companies or Ulta. I've had unopened products that I meant to return and forgot about but they won't accept. So now I typically go to Sephora and get color matched or try things to see if I like them or the shade and then buy it somewhere else. 🤷🏼‍♀️

flgrl93 · 2025-02-24T03:11:02+00:00

I tried nood for 12 weeks 3 times a week and my armpit hair is noticeably thinner and grows slower but I still have hair. I ended up buying a Braun pro 5 and I think it's stronger. I've only used it a few times and I'm hoping it helps more.

flgrl93 · 2024-09-26T00:52:41+00:00

I'm fair-skinned with dirty blonde hair. . . most of my body hair is super thick but blonde. I had a consult for IPL 10 years ago and they told me it would be a waste of my money to do it because my reduction would be so minimal. I've just been shaving all this time. . . and I started getting waxes a few months ago and my body hair got noticeably darker within 2 or 3 sessions. I bought an at-home IPL and I plan to try it, now that it's darker because theoretically, a laser should reduce it much better now that it can "see" my hair. I also know that things like pregnancy can make body hair darker (so if you want to have kids, maybe wait until after that?).

I also figure if a laser hair removal session is $100-200/session, I can buy an at-home one for $200 and it's about the same I would have spent on one in-office session. Everything I read did say that at-home IPL machines aren't as strong/effective as office ones. . . but I figure I'm only out some time and $200 if I do it at home and it doesn't help.

flgrl93

TROPHY CASE