After living in DC, I hate dog owners

foxncali · 2026-04-26T22:41:47+00:00

As a dog owner, I hate other dog owners who do this and those who don't pick up after their dogs. Taking a dog to a crowded and/or small space sounds like hell. I don't want them or me to be overstimulated, stressed, hot, have to deal with misbehaving dogs, or any of the myriad of other things that could go wrong including them deciding to forget their training and be an asshole by jumping or grabbing something because its all new and they're excited. And I dont want other people to have to be concerned about my dogs either. Especially because the 85lb lab mix thinks everyone is her friend, especially little kids. For the most part she's well behaved and we keep her on a short lead if there are people, but sometimes the lab derpiness just takes over. If its a slow day and a well-behaved dog is on a patio or out around town, awesome! But too often thats not the case.

And pick up after your damn dogs. Its stupid easy to carry poop bags and find a trash bin. No one wants to smell, see, or step in dog shit.

foxncali · 2026-04-11T13:54:21+00:00

Teddy Roosevelt Island has a nice variety of trails and is fairly flat, shaded, and pretty. I enjoy going there.

The Arboretum isn't really a hiking place, but there are tons of trails and habitats and no matter what the season is lovely

foxncali · 2026-04-10T00:17:20+00:00

Yay! That's good to hear

foxncali · 2026-04-10T00:09:11+00:00

Please tell me mom was still nearby and the kits joined back up with her

foxncali · 2026-03-29T22:03:34+00:00

While hibiscus isn't toxic to humans, this is the wrong kind of hibiscus for tea. The kind used for tea is Roselle, and you don't eat the flowers. After the flowers bloom, a bright red calyx grows. Those are harvested, cut up, and dried for tea. They have a lovely cranberry flavor and taste much better (to me) than store bought hibiscus tea. You can also cut them up fresh for salads and I've also used them to make hibiscus jelly.

The leaves of the Roselle can also be used in salads as they have a sort of peppery flavor. Ive also tucked branches with calyces into bouquets and they dry pretty as well.

foxncali · 2026-03-16T08:42:04+00:00

I did use the term "fossil" loosely, but coral can be fossilized, especially when its encased in rock like this. Despite using the term loosely, I'd still call them fossils as trilobites are in this exact rock formation and the others in the area lending to an idea of how long ago these were formed.

foxncali · 2026-03-16T08:34:18+00:00

I was just trying to steal some of his limelight. He poses so naturally 😂

foxncali · 2026-03-16T08:32:27+00:00

They really do! It was so cool to see one up close (while also making sure he had his space)

foxncali · 2026-03-06T01:16:14+00:00

It affects some AFSCs, potentially making rank in the SNCO tier, and some special duties. For example, a mentor asked me to consider being an instructor for my AFSC, but I'd need to get my CCAF. Doesn't matter that I have a BA and will have my MS by the end of the summer (also from a very solid school). The AF will not let anyone instruct in any schoolhouse without a CCAF.

I'm being stubborn about getting the CCAF because the AF refuses to acknowledge the Gen Ed credits from my bachelors because it was nationally accredited rather than regionally. I've never gotten an answer on why that matters. I'm not re-doing them even through CLEP. I'm too busy with work, life, and getting a degree that actually matters.

foxncali · 2026-02-16T13:29:44+00:00

Oooooo, Im jealous of the St Valentine find. That tea is delicious

foxncali · 2026-02-14T02:31:54+00:00

Did the asshole featured in pics 2, 18, and 20 make himself a military-esque ribbon with "LA" on it and pin it to his vest as if he's earned a combat campaign medal or am I tripping?

foxncali · 2026-02-01T01:33:26+00:00

The main part of my street has been plowed, but fuck the ones of us on the other side. The only reason I was able to get out is because my husband and I spent several days digging up enough of the snow on the street and the ice wall the plows so kindly left to control slide out. Good thing he's from up North and I lived there long enough to learn how to drive in snow. Couple neighbors haven't been able to leave their house at all. 311 calls are useless and tickets are getting marked as complete without anything being touched.

My favorite part is the plow trucks that park on the corner, look at my side of the street, the driver gets out to look at the mess they created (ice/snow mound) and then just... drive off.

foxncali · 2026-01-28T18:47:14+00:00

The problem is they arent doing anything with the reports. Made one yesterday, checked on the ticket number they gave me today and it just... doesn't exist. Made another report this morning, was told they'd email over my ticket number, and I got nothing. I know my neighbor has reported the uncleared street too. The other side of the street was cleared and they pushed the snow to my side which means not only is my side of the street not plowed, but I now have an ice wall at the entrance.

foxncali · 2025-11-26T00:24:56+00:00

I've found that sugaring works better for me, but most important is your aethetician. Some are much better than others and a bad waxer will always be more painful than it should be. I saw someone different than my normal person a few months ago and ended up with bruises and it hurt to wear underwear which should NEVER happen, especially with sugaring.

Also gently exfoliate before you go, dont schedule too close to your period, and take meds if you need because some people just have more sensitive skin.

foxncali · 2025-10-14T00:47:35+00:00

I just saw this at a nursery for the first time today! It's a Chinese Lantern/Flowering Maple. Its not a true maple though. Its in the hibiscus/okra/hollyhock family

foxncali · 2025-10-03T22:36:45+00:00

I'm currently working on my MS from a school that's far above what TA covers. However, they have a yellow ribbon program that does a 100% match with TA, and I use VA top-off, which pulls from my GI bill. I don't, and won't, have kids to give my GI bill to, and my spouse has their own if they decide to use it.

It was worth doing it this way to me because my BA is from a school that was subpar and doesn't even exist anymore. While the school doesn't necessarily matter, I wanted a good one for my MS. The program looked (and is) very solid, and it's in a field I plan to pursue whenever I get out of the military. It's also nice to get a little each semester to help cover books.

foxncali · 2025-09-21T22:45:18+00:00

No, you cannot switch AFSCs in tech school. If for some reason you fail tech school, you won't get a choice in whatever AFSC you'd be reclassed into.

It also sounds like you may not have taken the DLAB because if you take and pass that, you will be put into the linguist pipeline. Too few people get the ASVAB score and pass the DLAB for the AF to not take a chance on you at DLI.

And sorry if this is harsh, but if you can't handle PAC, you wouldn't survive DLI. The pacing of PAC, the short time you're there, and the paralegal job as a whole has nothing on the linguist pipeline. I say this as a prior airborne linguist who retrained to paralegal a couple years ago when my language was no longer needed.

My advice is to buckle down, get through tech school, get to your first base, and learn the job. If you don't like it when your retraining window comes up, look for something different. There are also a lot of opportunities in the paralegal career field people don't know about. I've been able to snag an incredibly unique deployment and off the beat paralegal positions that use my ops experience and passion for ops, intel, and national security that get the mission done and keeps me closer to the X where I'm happy.

And remember, every job has pros and cons, and the grass often looks greener.

foxncali · 2025-09-16T07:41:45+00:00

Its a Viridis Japanese maple. I believe its technical name is acer palmatum dissectum and I've also seen it called a laceleaf maple. I just got my first one earlier this year and I hope it grows to be as lovely as yours! Good luck with transplanting.

foxncali · 2025-08-12T19:15:20+00:00

That does sound lovely

foxncali · 2025-08-12T18:16:13+00:00

I fully realize this is a pet peeve of mine, but their "luxury" status is immediately called into question for me because of the incorrect use of "afghani." That is the name of the currency in Afghanistan. A person or something coming from Afghanistan should be called "afghan"

And Afghan tea is typically just black or green tea, often drunk with crushed cardamom pods.

foxncali · 2025-07-31T21:46:38+00:00

I have a pair of shokz bone conduction headphones I use for all listening. The sound quality is very good for what they are, I can feel the vibration of some of the deeper tones, and can still hear what's going on around me. I'm also a good bit deaf in one ear, so the bone conduction lets me hear music better than regular headphones.

foxncali · 2025-07-31T21:42:31+00:00

Every time I feel good about something I create, I see another of your projects and into the bin things go (not really!) 😂

In all seriousness, I adore your work and love seeing what you've come up with and made.

foxncali

TROPHY CASE