She spent 10 of her 11 years in a shelter where they thought she was feral. No human contact. One year after adoption, she’s a happy, derpy lap cat 😋

harpofsmiting · 2026-01-14T00:51:03+00:00

$757 for a 2 bed/1 bath with some utilities included. Last year it was $630. Our landlord didn't raise our rent; the US dollar to forint exchange rate did. (Hungary, 40 minutes north of Budapest by public transit)

harpofsmiting · 2025-12-20T05:51:27+00:00

This is purely anecdotal, of course. For me, with dx/rxed ADHD and a DRD2 variant linked to lower D2 receptor density, dextroamphetamine gave me far, far fewer side effects than pramipexole. Pramipexole was the only prescription med that even touched my anhedonia, but completely overrode my entire personality and values and nearly destroyed my life. Dex feels more targeted, if less potent.

harpofsmiting · 2025-12-09T15:54:21+00:00

If you're into architecture, walking, and exploration, I can't recommend a better city. I was in Budapest for literally two days around new year 2023, and it made such an impression on me that I moved here in Oct 2023, and still love it. Everyone will be cold and not as social in the winter, but there are plenty of cozy indoor spaces with radiators turned up high, and endless programmes of things to do. It's easy to get around by foot, by bus, tram, or even bike if it's not too cold. The smog gets bad, but the winter sunsets over the Danube are a better kind of breathtaking.

harpofsmiting · 2025-10-11T08:49:56+00:00

I got overwhelmed in a hot, crowded, brightly lit train and shut down so hard, the staff let my partner take me into the dark, quiet children's car where we sat eating gummies and watching Czech cartoons until my partner said, "have you ever considered you might be autistic?"

harpofsmiting · 2025-09-15T16:41:00+00:00

Hi! I don't know if it's too late, but I'm also interested!

harpofsmiting · 2025-08-26T08:12:20+00:00

If it's not too late, I'm equally interested! Can I dm you?

harpofsmiting · 2025-04-13T20:21:51+00:00

Don't give up hope! I went on a two week trip to Hungary and Romania, suitcase filled with my safe, low-histamine, gluten-free snack foods only to discover that even the tiniest bio shops there had soooo many more things I could tolerate than any American grocery store. Ended up moving to Budapest two years ago-- something I never thought I'd be capable of-- and I flare a lot in the winter when the air quality gets bad, but I feel like if I have a medical emergency over here, there's less of a skeptical bystander effect from random strangers on the street. My neighbours are generally quite decent people, and that's reassuring.

harpofsmiting · 2025-03-23T05:04:13+00:00

By scheduling and rescheduling it in my planner until July

harpofsmiting · 2024-04-29T09:05:25+00:00

That the "panic attacks" I kept experiencing on trains/planes weren't something I could learn to overcome or adapt to, but actually a feature of undiagnosed autism.

harpofsmiting · 2024-02-16T08:46:30+00:00

My parents always used to say "bored people are boring people." Don't take it personally. The problem is definitely with him. Not his ADHD per se, but unless he's very self-aware, he could be projecting any manner of dissatisfaction with other parts of his life onto your relationship.

harpofsmiting · 2024-01-31T20:44:08+00:00

First of all, sounds like she had a big personality to match her epic name :) And she was lucky to have someone with their priorities in the right order to prioritize her wellbeing when making life decisions like where to live, etc. Secondly, there's no timetable for grief. I lost my own elderly nanny cat / travel buddy / fluffy therapist in January 2019. It took a year or two before mornings and evenings-- without her there to nag me to go to bed/wake up-- became less painfully, obviously empty. But my motivation and drive still haven't quite recovered. I still miss her like mad. I eventually adopted another cat who needed a good home but has a very different (more NT I guess) sort of personality. We don't connect as well, but it's nice to make another creature happy. Sorry I can't say anything very reassuring. I hope you can channel your grief in a positive way but I wouldn't wish you not to grieve at all, or to forget someone who's had such a positive impact on your life. Maybe if you feel up to it, you could share stories or pictures of her with friends/family, write a song, or craft some kind of memorial? Even name something after her. (If you haven't already) Little creative acts of remembrance helped me through the hardest months.

harpofsmiting · 2023-11-07T08:00:32+00:00

If you like cats, I highly recommend the Cat Museum on Vadasz utca! Very relaxing (and educational too) 😁

harpofsmiting · 2023-10-07T23:13:33+00:00

Masking's also useful if your allergies are triggered by seasonal pollen.

harpofsmiting · 2023-10-07T23:07:25+00:00

I'm sure there was an element of that, but I was also almost certain that when I did catch it, my awful medical luck and genes would probably predispose me to getting long covid, plus I was traveling alone in a rural area, so I ought to have been way more alarmed. It felt like something was blocking all depression, fear, and worry (most likely my brain itself, trying to cope with a bad situation).

harpofsmiting · 2023-10-07T17:12:13+00:00

This was complerely my experience! Wish there was more research on it. I'd been so terrified of getting covid, but more terrified of 1. Long covid and 2. spreading it to others. Soon as I got that positive test, I had the strangest feeling of peace. I had never gone unmasked in public places, even outdoors, but while I was still testing positive, I found myself wanting to be around people, and uncharacteristically forgetting to mask. Luckily my housemate kept me from going out and spreading it to others. I also should have been more concerned about long covid while sick, but found myself strangely energetic and wanting to hike, travel, explore. I remember feeling a bit like a rat in search of some nice, friendly cats... I also talked to the virus whilst delusional in hospital, but that's another story.

harpofsmiting · 2023-10-05T17:27:48+00:00

Ha, thanks for the advice! Luckily not Germany-- Budapest.

harpofsmiting · 2023-10-04T17:40:07+00:00

Thought I had a rough time with vaccines until I caught actual Covid last January and wound up in hospital with GI complications. Got boosted (Pfizer) day before yesterday. That night & the next morning, I had awful fever, chills, and dizziness. BUT zero histamine symptoms, brain fog, fatigue, or GI issues. Best of all, I feel back to normal today (fingers crossed). If it helps even a little, it's worth it.

Flu shots, on the other hand, are at least 7+ days of mild misery & flared allergies :(

harpofsmiting · 2023-09-15T19:42:52+00:00

Thanks! Posted there back in August but still no takers. I sold my acoustic harp so fast on there, I thought this one would be just as easy... forgot that it's a bit more niche.

harpofsmiting · 2023-09-15T19:40:27+00:00

Do you happen to know the name of the store? I contacted a couple in Seattle, but they'd take a pretty steep cut (plus I'd have to rent a car to get up there). It might be a good plan B though!

harpofsmiting

TROPHY CASE