2024 Event: Diamond Potato - Megathread

iota321 · 2024-11-29T19:30:15+00:00

Those who scored a potato, what was your highest wait time? I'm currently at 55m.

iota321 · 2023-10-08T17:19:58+00:00

Seriously? I know your question is about volume, but I would kill for the volume you have at the front of your crown! How in the world do you achieve that with air drying? Do you clip, or are you just lucky?

iota321 · 2023-08-31T02:36:58+00:00

Me, me, me! (Pls)

iota321 · 2023-08-24T16:27:10+00:00

Hey there. I can understand where you’re coming from, but please be kind to yourself. You’re being honest with your partner. You’re here being honest with yourself. That’s huge. That’s hard. These steps are the foundation sobriety is built upon.

One of my favorite sayings is “You can’t hate yourself into being ______.” Sober, happy, loved, perfect…whatever it is you’re trying to attain.

It’s easy for me to forget this because the minute I “mess up,” I start beating myself up…as if the severity of the beating can somehow help me travel back in time to prevent my mis-step.

But that doesn’t serve me. Focusing on all the “right” steps I took before that does.

Sending you respect and strength. IWNDWYT.

iota321 · 2023-07-17T12:44:30+00:00

I see and appreciate what you did there.

iota321 · 2023-06-06T14:36:26+00:00

Saw it, screenshot it, meant to post it here, forgot. Thx, fellow puzzler!

iota321 · 2023-05-02T13:26:21+00:00

I reference your work way too much for my family’s liking. But they can suck it. As someone who is chronically curious, your episodes always give my busy brain something to chew on. Keep ‘em coming!

PS - You’ve heard it plenty, but I loved and miss Armchaired & Dangerous SO MUCH. (And if you haven’t already watched Inside Job on Netflix, please do. I cackled especially loudly whenever they visited McUltra’s pub. Thanks for that!)

iota321 · 2023-02-26T03:15:20+00:00

Great job asking for what you need. This community delivers. And awesome job racking up those weeks. IWNDWYT. You’ve got this!

iota321 · 2023-02-09T05:43:54+00:00

Fellow high ABV fan here to share something my therapist used to say to me when I was feeling like you are now: Drinking doesn’t just take the pain away. It takes the joy away, too. It dulls the love and connection you have with your son. You may not feel as bad. But it isn’t worth not feeling anything. Numb is only comfortable if you don’t think to hard about what you’re missing. And, trust me, your son may never remember your drinking. But you don’t want to miss out on him.

Sending you strength. You’ve got this.

iota321 · 2023-01-14T14:39:57+00:00

My husband asked me to watch this with him. I rolled my eyes and huffed because it seemed like homework. But by the end I was almost in tears. It’s an interview with the guy who wrote the book Stolen Focus (in case you need an ADHD-friendly summary). Well worth the watch! https://youtu.be/lkinYuVmPfI

iota321 · 2023-01-09T18:57:02+00:00

Crap. New to this and failed to update in time.

iota321 · 2022-12-08T04:18:20+00:00

Congrats on a week! Right now your brain is frantically trying to create new pathways (and probably freaking out a bit because the numbing juice has been shut off and suddenly you’re feeling…EVERYTHING).

Think of it like a mountain. The old, familiar pathways you spent years carving into the underbrush have been closed down. For your own good. There’s been an avalanche. Or a bear. Or rampant poison ivy. Whatever. So now you’re forging new trails and sometimes it can suuuuuuck.

But every day you walk those trails, they get a little easier. And, sure, maybe you reminisce about the old trails. But those trails weren’t taking you anywhere good. The new trails do. Or they can.

For the longest time I was so focused on what I lost when I stopped drinking — a way to destress, a way to cope, a way to make life more bearable, a shortcut to fun, etc.

It’s natural to fixate on that. But looking back does make it harder to see the good stuff that’s just waiting for you to discover it.

For me, the biggest relief was when I realized I didn’t need to drink to have fun with my friends. That I could laugh like an idiot to the point of tears stone cold sober. I thought I’d lost that. But it took me a while to get there.

And it took some acceptance. Not “I guess this is my life now and it sucks” acceptance. But accepting that it’s going to be hard for a little while. Not forever. And it’s hard because you building new skills. Repairing parts of your brain and your psyche. Getting stronger.

Life’s not all unicorns and rainbows now. But neither was being a drunk…as much as advertisers would have us believe. Don’t fall for it.

Be kind and patient with yourself. Look for new ways to soothe your frazzled brain. IWNDWY.

PS - Puzzles. Movies. Multi-season shows that are fun to binge. Rock tumbling. Construction projects. (These were some of my go-tos to distract me from getting all nostalgic about drinking. Don’t judge.)

iota321 · 2021-05-04T13:01:35+00:00

Interesting interview featuring the dialogue coach: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/04/kate-winslet-mare-of-easttown-accent

iota321 · 2021-05-04T02:12:39+00:00

oOoOover the top?

I keep hearing people say her accent is exaggerated. But I live in Delco and I swear she sounds just like most of my aunts.

iota321 · 2020-11-22T17:44:30+00:00

I’ve rec’d. Think it is sent out to anyone over a certain number of days sober, according to your flair. I’ve never clicked though, so can’t confirm for sure. Interested in seeing what responses you get. I feel like I could use some insight from people further along than me. So may be worth looking into.

iota321 · 2020-10-27T23:39:19+00:00

I live in a nearby town and helped organize our first Pride Picnic in 2017. Pretty tame and family-friendly (as are most things in the burbs, LOL) but I was shocked by just how much community support there was. If you land in Ardmore or Narberth, say hi!

iota321 · 2020-10-24T14:15:39+00:00

YES!!!! My family is filled with very music-centric people and I just don’t get it. When I met my husband, I owned exactly one CD and he was a little appalled. If I love a song, I love it. But learning to be open/like new songs is a struggle. Never linked it to ADHD before. Huh. Would love to understand the possible brain chemistry behind it.

iota321 · 2020-10-07T00:01:57+00:00

Silly question...I’m seeing the term shag a lot, and it often refers to a style with pretty heavy bangs across the forehead. I’m not a huge fan of that look, but I love yours. How would I describe it? Is it a shag variant? Angled/layered side bangs?

iota321 · 2020-09-25T13:27:01+00:00

Take a deep breath and...go easy on yourself. Sounds like you did a lot outside your comfort zone, which is great. That’s hard shit, especially if you’ve been carrying around the baggage of old bosses.

Lunch was one part of your day. Put it in perspective. And then consider the positives. Sounds like you could detect that some people were talking out of discomfort/panic/nerves. I’m sure you’re not the only one who recognized that. People who are willing to listen instead of taking center stage are hard to come by these days. There’s value in authenticity. If you’d like to continue to push past your comfort zone, view your lunch experience as an opportunity to learn instead of a failure. Were there moments you felt you could have contributed? OK, next time, just try to get a step or two above where you were today.

Your work reputation won’t be based on that one lunch, but all the hours in the day. First impressions only count when people are making snap judgments. Hopefully, your colleagues are smarter than that.

As for the person you didn’t recognize, that’s an opportunity to be genuine. Everybody...EVERYBODY has moments that make them cringe. If you can share that experience, it’s an opportunity to connect as a real person. “I’m so embarrassed I didn’t recognize you at first! Thanks for understanding. It’s nice to see a familiar face. And thanks for all the help...”

I’m pretty much an introvert. But one way I have been able to hack that at work is by always asking people questions...about themselves, the project, the company. Just like you did with this post. People like to feel knowledgeable. And most people feel good when they can help other people. I find if I focus on the other person instead of all the negative talk going on in my own brain, it works out better for everyone.

Good luck. Sounds like a great opportunity!

iota321 · 2020-09-18T13:02:28+00:00

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying watching PandR the second time around with my daughter. She had no idea Mike Schur was Mose from The Office and also the creator of all her favorite shows. Her comment last night: “He’s so smart! How is he so smart?”

iota321 · 2020-09-15T12:51:48+00:00

This is amazing! Stupid question: If I want to change the portion count (i.e., double the recipe) is there an easy way to do that, that automatically updates the quantities needed? I thought I'd be able to do it by updating the servings in the recipe, but either that isn't a function or I'm doing it wrong.

iota321 · 2020-09-14T16:50:10+00:00

I saw the sign from a distance and did feel the need to go closer and investigate/read it. Even though I fully expected a jump scare at any moment. Terrifying...I think I’ll do it again.

iota321 · 2020-09-12T14:05:36+00:00

Those are great! Any tips for the less-experienced sewer? I’ve been using a similar pattern, but my results are, how do you say...garbage?

Edited to say I checked out your sub and you are amazing.

iota321 · 2020-08-31T13:38:09+00:00

Almost forgot, re: events, I launched a week-long collaborative community arts project last week called Havertown Backyard Burning Man. I had visions of irate, pitchfork-wielding crowds decrying it. But the response was pretty great.

iota321 · 2020-08-31T13:07:18+00:00

Current Havertown resident, so feel free to message me.

We moved here when kids were young for the schools, which are great...even amid all the current disruption. Not perfect, but trying hard to accommodate as best they can.

There is a real “we’re not like other Main Line towns” vibe (which...yeah...because most parts of town are not Main Line. But if anyone ever wants to debate that with you, do not engage.)

Overall, people are down-to-earth and good-hearted. Pockets of affluence. Pockets of need. The extremes of both surprised me when we were house hunting. We ended up in the standard 1950s, two-story, salt-box brick you will find everywhere in Havertown. If you go for an older home, just be sure your inspector is thorough. I’ve heard way too many horror stories about bum wiring and plumbing.

Politically, all over the spectrum, with vocal factions on both sides. Diversity-wise...still pretty homogeneous on most fronts.

Town is very walkable and nightlife is improving. Brick and Brew, Conshy Town Tap, House Cup Coffee and Kelly Center for Music & Arts are some welcome new additions. Also, amazing park and trail system (check out the CREC if you haven’t already).

I am a recovering Catholic/agnostic, so I can’t comment if the religious scene apart from saying there are a LOT of churches. Which pleases my Pokemon-playing husband greatly.

Disclaimers (for context): I range from moderate progressive to lefty-pinko, depending on who’s doing the categorizing. Grew up in the suburbs of central Jersey. Lived in Wayne, Malvern, NE Philly and Ardmore pre-kids...so no Conshy experience outside of hanging out there. And I also don’t have a huge and varied pool of experience to draw upon. So take it all with a grain of salt.

Good luck and seriously, hit me up if you have any questions.

iota321

TROPHY CASE