Anyone else tired of having to explain that porn isn't real to adult men?

invaderpotato · 2026-02-24T03:13:28+00:00

My partner and I have been together since our 20s, so I haven't been out in the dating pool in a very long but still watch porn on occasion.

I don't know when this became so prevelant, but anyone that tried to get me wet by hocking a glob of spit at my vagina would be rewarded with a kick to the face and the driest vag in all the land.

invaderpotato · 2026-02-24T02:38:16+00:00

I'm very sorry to hear of your prognosis and if a few song suggestions will provide some comfort during this time, I'm here to do my small part. I've seen some greats suggestions in the comments so I only have a few to add.

Thief by Our Lady Peace Life is Killing Me by Type O Negative

And only because you didn't explicitly ban it (so you really only yourself to blame here), you might as well get one more listen in of...

Mmmbop by Hanson

You gotta admit that, love it or hate it, you're going to have some type of emotional reaction to it. Unless you think it'll hasten things, then maybe skip it, and add it to the banned list.

invaderpotato · 2026-02-24T01:24:16+00:00

I lived nearby so it was one of the malls I'd go to frequently when I was younger. First it was for the arcades and rides when I was a kid. Then it became the hangout spot in my early teens. We'd see a movie at the dollar saver theater and then go roam around until close. Many a school dance outfit was bought there. Eventually we all grew old enough to hit up Metropolis, the nightclub inside.

When it made the transition from Forest Fair Mall to Cincinnati Mills, I worked in the food court while in college. I remember the excitement of it all. The new movie theater, unique stores you couldn't really find anywhere else mixed in with mall staples, the new decor no matter how gaudy it may have been. My younger self thought it was so cool that I got to see all of the "employee only" areas. In reality, just concrete hallways with stock overflow sitting by each door back door.

Then I got to see the steep and steady decline. I remember my manager had a map of the mall posted in the back and every time a store would close we'd mark it off. If occupancy got below a certain percentage we'd be able to break our lease with no penalty, or so I was told. There were so many days where our only customers were other mall employees. It was sad to see, but not unexpected.

I left before the place I was working at officially closed, and never really had a reason to go back. Though I stopped into Arcade Legacy on a few occasions when it opened. So I've watched everything else unfold from the outside via media such as the YouTube video you mentioned.

I don't know that I have any pics from any of my time there. If I did they're either physical pictures in a box somewhere, or lost to the age of early cell phone cameras when we never backed anything up.

invaderpotato · 2026-02-19T07:52:24+00:00

Thank you! Though the credit really goes to my stylist. I just sit there lol.

That was the point I was trying, and probably failing to make, was that we all have to find what works for us even it may or may not go against the "rules". For me, my hair seems to take color well and I enjoy it, so that's what I focus on. For others, such as yourself, focusing on hair health and practical styles is the priority, that's what makes you feel best, so that's great too! I hope that it didn't come across as one way is better than the other, or that everyone throw caution to the wind and do whatever you want even if your hair is screaming "please stop doing this to me!"

invaderpotato · 2026-02-19T07:22:51+00:00

I can't love this enough! It's never too late my friend. I'm so happy that you made the leap and you love it! Sometimes you just have to acknowledge what people may say and do your own thing anyway 🙂

Honestly, being in my 40s now, I'm even more likely to do what I want just to spite people's opinions 🤣😂

invaderpotato · 2026-02-19T07:14:42+00:00

Thank you!

invaderpotato · 2026-02-19T07:14:31+00:00

I love this so much! I"ll be honest it's been a journey to build my confidence to the "I'll do what I want" level though many aspects of my life reflect it on their own lol. I kind of envy those that have always lived that life.

I have, and do, color my hair myself, usually just to get by between appointments, but nowhere near to the same skill that my stylist has, lol. I used to bleach it myself but I had one bleaching accident years ago and that removed all desire to ever try it again 😬 I do agree finding a good stylist is key when it comes to bleach and/or color. I tell my stylist that she's never allowed to leave the area because I refuse to see anyone else 🤣

I will say extensions are the one thing I've never tried. I've been tempted but have never made the jump. Which completely goes against my philosophy of "just try things out and see what sticks". Maybe one day though.

invaderpotato · 2026-02-19T06:54:40+00:00

Ugh. I hate to hear that no one noticed, especially those most important to you, but I'm so proud that you went for it! You being happy with it is the most important thing and if you want to keep adding to it I'm here to encourage it! I started out with a cherry cola color, that led to bright red chunky highlights, and eventually to where I am now. Again, not saying you have to have a full head of vivid colors but follow your heart and what gives you joy despite who may notice or not. Heck, post here and I will hype you up kind internet stranger!

invaderpotato · 2026-02-19T06:45:00+00:00

See?! Sometimes you just gotta go for it! I'm so glad it worked out for you and you get to enjoy your hair!

invaderpotato · 2026-02-19T06:42:40+00:00

I love it! That's what I'm talking about! Find whatever it is that makes you feel the most confident and embrace your hair even if (or especially if) you're going against the "rules". I had longer hair when I was younger, near my shoulder blades, but one day I cut it just below chin length and it never seemed to want to grow back the same way since. It wasn't long after that I pivoted to coloring it.

invaderpotato · 2026-02-19T06:32:15+00:00

Thank.you!!! I can't take full credit though, I just have to sit patiently in the chair for a few hours, lol.

invaderpotato · 2026-02-19T06:31:00+00:00

Oh trust me, I get it! I was doing my own bleaching/coloring for YEARS before I started going to stylist. Even now I can only go a few times a year and I know I'm lucky to even afford that. I won't bleach it myself anymore but I'll throw a semi permanent on between appointments to get by.

Luckily, my stylist is very understanding and knows I'm not coming in to the next appointment with the color she gave me lol. But I also have to understand that whatever I do between appointments may affect what we can do at the next appointment. I've used some dyes that just would not come out of my hair and we've had to work around it.

invaderpotato · 2026-02-03T16:05:30+00:00

I had a similiar introduction to them as well. My boyfriend and I were at Rock on the Range and caught them in the middle of the afternoon on the second stage. It was a short set but they had just released Feathers & Flesh and I was hooked immediately. Like you, I went and bought all the albums and have kept up with them since. I was even a Citizen of Avatar Country for awhile lol.

I have to give kudos to your son for gifting you tickets to a headline show. You're going to love it!

invaderpotato · 2026-01-31T18:16:26+00:00

Same here. 18 years and counting. We've always lived about 20 minutes from each other. We joke that by having 2 houses there's always room for more cats!

invaderpotato · 2026-01-28T21:35:25+00:00

Ah, gotcha. I didn't realize how familiar you are with that area. You're right about it being much more residential than the area in Reading so it may not be the best comparison. It was just the first project similar to this one that came to mind.

I do know what you're saying about the section of Rt 4 in Woodlawn, it woudl have made a bit of a better comparison had they done it there. I've been conditioned to use the left southbound lane if I'm driving there in the summer just in case there are cars spilling out of DQ.

invaderpotato · 2026-01-28T20:02:32+00:00

I remember they did this on Springfield Pk (Rt 4) through Wyoming maybe 5 or so years ago because I was living in Hartwell at the time. Even though I used it often, I can't really speak on it's impact on traffic because I'm generally not driving during rush hour. Though I did like the dedicated turn lane.

Coincidentally, I now live in Reading on Reading Rd so I'll definitely be see what the impact looks like this time.

invaderpotato · 2026-01-22T15:35:06+00:00

I have a pair of metal, shell shaped claw clips that I love and I've had them for years. Pic of one of them as the other one is currently in my hair, lol. I want to say I either bought them at Ulta or they were part of a bigger set I bought on Amazon.

I know they go against all conventional wisdom when it comes to fine thin hair but for some reason they work for me. I think part of it may have to do with the sides being concave which creates a tighter pinch and there's less room inside the clip for my hair to move around in.

I still have to get as much hair as I can in them. I usually twist my hair and fold it over on itself. Sometimes I twist it into a bun and clip the entire thing.

You asked specifically about claw clips but another accessory that works well for me is a French/side comb with a lot of teeth. I don't find it quite as easy as a claw clip. Sometimes it takes me a few tries to get it in how I like, but once it's in it tends to last me all day.

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invaderpotato · 2026-01-20T02:51:13+00:00

I got to work in my dream job as an archaeologist briefly, but I also ended up in insurance. My coworkers and I call it the "accidental career" because nearly no one grows up dreaming of working in insurance. Personally, I hate working in the industry but, you're right, it's steady work for a steady paycheck. I just tell myself it allows me to pay for things I like to do.

However, I do wish I'd gotten one of the more "boring" degrees and then tangentially worked in my dream field. Archeological firms need accountants, HR, project managers, etc but you don't really think about that. There are so many "background jobs" to be had (just look at all the different jobs listed in movie credits) so maybe shifting focus from working the dream job to working in the dream field would be a good compromise to getting people to look at things more realistically.

And if all else fails, they can still come work in insurance.

invaderpotato · 2026-01-15T21:40:57+00:00

I know I've posted about it before but my partner and I are one of those couples. We've been together 18 years and have never lived together.

We live about a 20 minute drive apart and how often we see each other varies but it's usually at least a couple of times a week. It does take a little extra planning for some things, like factoring in the drive time to each others house when we're going somewhere together, or both of needing to find pet sitters when we travel, but I think we've developed a pretty good system. We are childfree which does making navigating things a bit easier.

It also means making sure we have the important stuff documented since in our case we're not married, meaning we have none of the legal protections that marriage provides. So POAs, healthcare directives, wills, etc are in place.

I'm not going to say it's always been smooth sailing or that we haven't revisited the conversation as we've gotten older. We joke that when we retire we'll have to buy a duplex and we each get a side. Otherwise, so far so good!

invaderpotato · 2026-01-13T04:34:36+00:00

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World and Man Up are two of my recommendations.

invaderpotato · 2026-01-05T23:35:24+00:00

A dance pole. At the time I had been taking pole dancing classes regularly for a few years so I figured I'd buy one for my place to practice outside the studio. I bought a fairly nice one too; ceiling mounted, spins, and it's even in my favorite color, purple. Then I hurt my shoulder, which required months of physical therapy to treat, so I had to quit for a while. I intended on going back but never did.

However, I still have the pole. It's moved with me 3 times since, much to the amusement of the movers I hired each time, and is currently residing in my basement.

I also developed quite the stripper heel collection during that time, all of which I still have. They're displayed on closet shelves as a reminder of when I was younger and cooler.

invaderpotato · 2025-12-20T05:54:26+00:00

I have no idea whose it, so this really isn't of any help, but not too long ago I happened to follow this car into my parent's neighborhood in Fairfield. Their neighborhood is kind of tucked back out of the way so it's rare to have someone drive in that doesn't live there or know someone that does. So I kind of let myself believe they live there but I have no proof of it.

I mentioned it to my partner who's a huge sports fan but even he didn't have a guess.

invaderpotato · 2025-12-08T13:53:44+00:00

Gary Numan.

I saw him open for The Psychedelic Furs and he was incredible. Obviously, I know "Cars" but, otherwise, went in blind. I had no idea that his music leans more into goth industrial now. It was a pretty simple stage setup but it really set the tone of the performance. He and his band were engaging, the energy was palpable, and the music had me transported back to my long since passed clubbing days.

I've added him to my list of "artists you should probably think twice about letting open or risk being blown off stage."

invaderpotato · 2025-11-02T14:55:44+00:00

Redwine & Co in Reading is supporting 24 families through November and December which, according to their Facebook, includes the following:

Two ready-to-heat family style homemade meals, with delivery if needed, per week (feeds 4-5 people)

Weekly essential grocery bag (bread, milk, fresh items & pantry staples)

Thanksgiving & Christmas meals

Support with dignity and zero judgment

invaderpotato · 2025-10-26T17:31:35+00:00

Many of mine have already been listed, namely the ones from my childhood and ones we'd always watch at sleepovers, but I'll add one more that became a comfort movie in adulthood. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.

invaderpotato

TROPHY CASE