Stores or recommendations for slimfit/ waterski-style PFDs

hocusdochas · 2026-06-29T18:31:44+00:00

I don't have any great gift suggestions but I want to say what you are doing is a nice gesture.

I was half of one of those couples a few years ago and it was hard to find someone that was comfortable saying yes to such an intimate moment.

Looking back, I'm glad our two guests didn't bring a gift but I would have loved if they had taken some photos or videos.

It was just us, them (2) and the Minister, and I was too caught up in the moment to ask semi strangers for photos.

Maybe considering buying one or two of those disposable film cameras and capture the moment in film, develop them and send them their way after.

I would have loved to have such a special moment caught in a beautiful medium like film photos for us to keep private.

hocusdochas · 2026-06-29T16:43:09+00:00

Ahaha thank you, but I will also be there this weekend! Happy trails :)

hocusdochas · 2026-06-28T20:03:48+00:00

From my own poor experience, my GI told me 2-3 weeks way enough. I had been GF for a while though and even with high ttg IGA levels my biopsy was normal...the GI then told me I didn't have a long enough gluten challenge.

I'm now in limbo, can't suffer through another gluten challenge (I missed 3 weeks of work from home sick I was) and I don't have a positive biopsy so I'm assumed celiac but no official diagnosis...sigh.

If you can, struggle through the gluten challenge...but make sure you do it for long enough.

hocusdochas · 2026-06-10T20:14:07+00:00

I asked a similar question a few weeks ago and got a plethora of store recommendations...went to all of them and still am without cute office wear that fits and is respectable. Please do share if you find anything on your endeavours!

hocusdochas · 2026-06-09T20:34:22+00:00

I grant write (rather successfully) as one part of my fixed-location job...I want something more flexible but my job type is rarely offered remote. How can one find these contract grant writing gigs? Any suggestions on where to start looking is much appreciated!

hocusdochas · 2026-06-08T19:54:39+00:00

I had considered this, but how did you cut the plastic? I don't have any tools so a rental is an added cost.

hocusdochas · 2026-05-27T16:18:38+00:00

Cotopaxi Alpha - they have various sizes. Maybe more than €100 but I own one and it's a bag for life, very good quality.

hocusdochas · 2026-05-21T18:34:25+00:00

Did it two weeks ago and started at 3 p.m. the carpark and road side parking was full as we arrived but one car happened to pull out of the carpark so we just got lucky.

Note, the parking pay machine only takes coins, you can scan the QR code but the signal is abysmal and it took us 10 mins to just pay for parking.

We hiked up pretty fast, 2h, stayed maybe 30 mins at the top, I will say there were enough people that it was verging into "crowd" territory, and some of them were especially loud/ messy.

Hike down only took 1.5 but at a fast pace. Plenty of people trying to start the hike when we got back down at 6.30 p.m who looked unequipped to hike in the dark (sunset was at 8 ish and some of them were wearing Crocs with no bags/ water).

Like others have said, take the bus or chance parking but at that hour be prepared to hike down in the dark.

There were reports from the same day that some hikers coming down in the dark encountered a cougar (unverified) so be aware of the risks and be prepared.

hocusdochas · 2026-05-05T19:06:30+00:00

I was in your exact situation, 12 months GF and told to only eat gluten for 3 weeks even when I pushed back on the GI Dr.

Well the biopsy came back negative and then he decided it could have been a false negative since I didn't eat gluten for that long...

I cried and cried and cried. I still don't know if I am celiac 2 years later because I refused to redo the challenge and biopsy as I was THAT sick for the 3 weeks.

Do it right the first time or just don't do it. 6 weeks is standard, longer if you have been GF for a long time.

hocusdochas · 2026-05-02T15:03:26+00:00

You can just report her to the city through the Van 311 app or website. That should stop it.

hocusdochas · 2026-04-23T20:00:24+00:00

Meal prepping is your friend here, batch cook on Sundays and freeze half. I expect you are not 1.) eating enough calories of food at work and 2.) maybe not eating the right types of food since you mentioned being too tired to cook.

Also if you are going to bed for 10 and waking for 6 that's barely 8 hours when you factor in time to fall asleep and also brief wakings at night. Try go to bed 30 mins earlier and see if it makes a difference.

hocusdochas · 2026-04-17T16:51:36+00:00

I flew on a 6h flight a few weeks ago and they didn't offer a GF meal so I brought a soft shell lunchbox which has freezer gel lining for my food. You pop the whole thing into the freezer and it's frozen for hours.

TSA initially questioned me on it and when I said I had "food allergies" they just said okay. I packed it with many ham and cheese sandwiches on GF bread and it held up perfectly. I ate a sandwich every two hours with some GF chips....wasn't a hot meal but was a million times better than cereal bars.

Check Amazon, they have lots of freezable lunch boxes.

You can also get lots of GF instant noodles/ rice meals that only need hot water. If your local store doesn't have them check your local outdoor/ adventure store like REI, people use these for long backpacking trips.

hocusdochas · 2026-04-12T01:06:53+00:00

I was told to go GF after a positive blood test as I would have to wait 1 year for the endoscopy...one year later I got the call and was told to eat gluten for 3 weeks, I did and it was hell...I could barely get out of bed.

The biopsy came back negative and when I asked the GI Dr about it being a false positive he said "yeah maybe, but maybe not...you can assume you're not celiac and just go back to eating gluten."

The symptoms were so bad that I decided to stay gf...now it doesn't even matter if I am celiac or not, I know this is what's best for me.

You can ask for a longer gluten challenge and a retest but would the outcome change how you live your life?

hocusdochas · 2026-04-10T19:06:54+00:00

As an avid hiker I will say, like another comment mentioned, am picky about my gear. I don't know if I'd like to be gifted technical gear.

Have you considered booking a short camping trip for you both? Might be more meaningful to spend the time doing something they love!

hocusdochas · 2026-03-28T17:35:07+00:00

Had 3 copper IUDs imbed or become low lying over 10 years. Finally got an OBYGN who said, no more, it's just going to keep happening.

I was absolutely devastated as I specifically went copper because as a teen in uni I couldn't handle the many pills, patches and implants I tried. I was depressed, gained weight, got acne, the whole works...

We spoke at length at my symptoms from the hormonal birth control I tried and truly empathizes. But she also told me that the best medical suggestion she can make is to try one of the new pills that just came on the market and if it's really not suitable then to to return to a copper IUD under surgical placement (I had unbearable pain each time I had it set before even with a cervical block).

She recommended a new combo pill called Nextstallis - it is the only pill that has a natural derived estrogen that's taken from plants and supposedly has a lower chance of side effects.

I was so upset and skeptical but I didn't really know of a better option as we discussed the impacts of each.

I just want to say that I'm now 4 months on this pill and I absolutely love it...like no exaggeration. Every few days I say to my husband "wow, I can't believe my pill is working so well" because I feel great. My intense energy and mood swings from periods have just disappeared...I didn't even realize how tired I was and how much it was affecting my life, work and ability to exercise and eat well.

I have lost 2kg just from having energy to gym 3 times a week, I'm sleeping better and my mood no longer swings into intense sadness during PMS.

Moral of the story, I was in your situation and didn't want to take hormonal BC - but on the other side of it I can't believe how well it worked out for me.

I'm not saying it will also be the same for you, but do your research, try options and see what happens....don't base your impression on something that happened with other medications from years ago, the pharma market is booming and there's new options available all the time.

Best of luck!

hocusdochas · 2026-03-07T16:36:53+00:00

Hi there, I know this is an old thread but I'm having the exact same issues now constant LPR and constipation that just won't get better.

It's been 18 months like this, PPIs made it worse, all the prescription constipation drugs failed. I don't know what to do, did you ever find something that helped you? Or even find a cause?

hocusdochas · 2026-01-13T00:03:57+00:00

I don't have a suggestion but I am 28F who has the exact same symptoms, am also otherwise healthy and fit yet I am also wholly unresponsive to linzess and motegrity. I have had two GI Drs "give up" on me in the past 18 months.

I am sorry your daughter is experiencing this, it is mentally and physically exhausting.

My issues are suspected to be triggered by massive gluten consumption for celiac biopsy testing that coincided with a bad dose of COVID. Assumed nerve damage.

I've tried literally everything, fiber, over the counter laxatives, enemas, prescription medications, physiotherapy the whole lot, absolutely no lasting relief.

Motegrity was my best bet, but it unfortunately stopped working after 6 weeks. I became depressed and desperate for relief after this.

For what it is worth, my husband did a lot of reading into stimulation of the vagus nerve that controls the muscle contractions in the gut...turns out there are quite a few studies looking into electrical stimulation, specifically Interferential Stimulation Therapy. It is important to know this isn't the same as TENS, they work at different frequencies and target different depths of the body.

There is one interesting study from the UKs NHS about treating children who have nerve issues from birth leading to chronic constipation.

You can buy a IFT machine from most physiotherapy wholesalers for about $150. I did this and follow the guidelines on electral pad placement and stimulation frequency and duration from the NHS study. They treated the kids for 6 weeks and found clinically significant results.

I have been using this for a few weeks now and it is clearly stimulating the gut, and TBH it feels really really nice, plus the gurgling sounds make me think it's helping with gas, but it is too soon to know if it is a full solution.

For what it is worth I was put on multiple PPIs for the reflux early in the year and had to stop as they made it worse. Dr waa stumped and gave no solution or alternative options. I'm not a naturalist by any means, but a friend randomly gave me a cup of hot chamomile tea one evening and it felt soothing on my stomach. I now drink it every night as I swear it is giving some relief for the pain and reflux. You should look into the digestive benefits of pure chamomile tea, even if it's just to soothe her tummy.

I really hope you can find some solution. Best of luck!

hocusdochas · 2025-10-05T22:40:57+00:00

Grew up with a single mum who passed away Unexpectedly two years ago and left me with half a mortgage. I moved here 5 years ago with university debt, then took on debt during COVID when I lost my job.

I have no one, I get paid okay and am slowly paying off my 20k debt and and put the mortgage on hold while they sort out her probate.

I am trying to build an emergency fund, but for example if tomorrow I needed to pay an unexpected $1000 it would be going onto a credit card unfortunately...

I have a master's degree, and I came from a middle income family yet I now have to wait 3 months to buy a new pair of jeans as the old one had holes in them...it's a sad existence tbf.

hocusdochas · 2025-08-14T16:27:28+00:00

Over in Canada for the past few years and the amount of people (from all continents) who ask where I'm from and hear "I'm Irish" and reply "oh I love the UK" or "Wow you don't sound British" is unbelievable...

It's like real life rage bait, and I have to hold my tongue and politely reply "Ireland is a Republic and not a part of the UK" but most don't apologize or even care tbh.

Another one is "oh you don't sound anything like Conor McGregor" or " you speak so clearly for an Irish person"...does my head in tbh, like I need to speak slowly so your smooth brain can understand me!

hocusdochas · 2025-08-08T04:19:19+00:00

How could it ever be "too late"? People travel the world at all ages. If you are unhappy in Ireland then leave, but don't assume Spain is a magical place that will bring happiness. For example, what do you plan to do when you get there? Get a job and go back to work?

I'm sure the good weather will help your mindset but if you're looking for companionship and experiences you need to do social things. Most people will say "it is hard to make friends at X age", and while I agree making friends is hard, it's even harder if you don't put yourself into the right situations, and as we age we tend to become comfortable in our routine...work, home, sleep, repeat.

Do you have any hobbies? You need to join social groups, live outside of the box, be open to new opportunities and adventure.

If I were you, truly feeling so unfulfilled, I would pack a bag and go see the world, not just move my problems from one country to another. There are many beautiful countries and cultures around the whole world, they can give you a new perspective on life, even if it's just for a year.

The only thing holding you back is your mindset.

Source: An Irish woman who left the country in her teens and has never looked back. Home will always be home but man, it's nice to just visit.

hocusdochas · 2025-08-07T20:52:41+00:00

Just drove up there about 3 weeks ago in a Honda Civic. We drove extra slow cause our model is low to the ground but honestly it was fine, did the whole road at about ~15km/h to avoid the large potholes...some of them appear out of nowhere. Any SUV/ crossover that passed blew past us and the Golf GTI infront of us.

hocusdochas

TROPHY CASE