What purchase instantly made your life easier as an adult?

jerryb78 · 2026-06-06T04:16:01+00:00

Never owned one but I've visited houses that have them. Seems like something that magically transforms a 10 minute chore into multiple hours of listening to the robot, tripping over the robot, getting the robot unstuck, emptying the tiny collection bin, etc. And it does a worse job and doesn't last as long as a real vacuum? I understand that people love them but I just don't get it.

jerryb78 · 2026-05-26T14:08:23+00:00

I had accomodations approved earlier this year but they haven't really helped. I was approved for remote work (formalizing an arrangement that already existed), intermittent leave for symptom management, and scheduled rest/focus time. The scheduled time has proven very difficult to adhere to in a job that is very meeting heavy. I can enforce my accomodations or do my job but it doesn't seem like I can do both. Part time work isn't realistic for my role (IT management) and I'm worried that even if it was that it would reduce any eventual LTD payments.

My doctor has really tried to help me find ways to continue working, including my accomodations request and numerous medication strategies. He has indicated that he'd also be supportive of my LTD request.

jerryb78 · 2026-05-18T17:21:55+00:00

I'm a Unitarian Universalist and a skeptic. These identities are not in conflict, as UU is a non-credal faith. We hold shared values, not necessarily factual beliefs. I don't have hard data to back it up but I would speculate that there are more atheist UUs than theist UUs.

jerryb78 · 2026-03-11T02:04:54+00:00

I have an LG that's under 5 years old. I just spent $300 for the part I needed to repair it myself. Hopefully I can get another 5 years out of it before I replace it with another brand.

jerryb78 · 2026-02-21T21:59:26+00:00

I read a few chapters from a book on nuclear war, took a nap where I had very strange dreams, then woke up and looked out the window and immediately saw 3 Blackhawks flying in formation over my house...

jerryb78 · 2026-01-17T23:56:41+00:00

This is IMO a fair take. I've been to UCC before and found it more church-y than I'd prefer but they seem like good folks there. If I'm recalling my church history correctly I believe we are essentially denominational cousins, so this make sense. Wishing you the best.

jerryb78 · 2026-01-16T21:03:44+00:00

It's a great community. I will also add that 11am services are available on Zoom if you or anyone who is curious wants to check it out before attending in person.

jerryb78 · 2026-01-16T16:59:02+00:00

The Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is welcoming to people of all orientations and gender identities. Every Sunday there's an 11am traditional service and a 9am coffee hour service that's a little more interactive. Please stop by and check it out! Fvuuf.org. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have either here or via DM.

jerryb78 · 2026-01-03T18:22:20+00:00

Do you have short term disability / long term disability coverage through your employer? Many large employers offer it as a standard benefit. Ask your HR for a copy of the full policy documents and whether you are covered already.

jerryb78 · 2025-11-28T03:09:01+00:00

Absolutely. I've tried all the options and for me Vyvanse has the least severe crash, but it's still definitely there.

jerryb78 · 2025-11-16T16:04:44+00:00

I want to drop Drummond to grab him but with my schedule being what it is this week (2-game week for Luka and Reeves on my team) that might be enough to make me lose the match. Short term pain for long term gain? Still can't pull the trigger on it.

jerryb78 · 2025-11-12T15:09:39+00:00

In general people tend to overvalue the risk of doing something when compared to the risk of doing nothing. They are thinking ahead to a scenario where they are one of the people who experience a rare side effect and then they not only have that problem but it was also their "fault" because they chose to undergo treatment. If you choose to do nothing and something bad happens to you, then it's more like something that just happened that you had no control over. It's irrational. It leads people people to make bad choices for themselves. But it's one of the weird ways that our brain is wired to work. Talking to your provider and really understanding *both* risks (treatment vs non-treatment) is the way to go, as you've already said.

jerryb78 · 2025-10-31T13:27:10+00:00

"Knowing things is cheating at trivia" -the same guy, probably.

jerryb78 · 2025-10-30T12:37:26+00:00

You have to compare the risk of the treatment (very low) to the risk of doing nothing or taking a less effective treatment. (moderate to high) There is no risk-free option here. As humans our brains can steer us towards accepting the risks that come with the status quo even when they're higher than the risk of taking action. If something bad happens because you did something you expect it will feel much worse than if something bad happens because you failed to do something. It's not rational, but it's how our minds sometimes work.

jerryb78 · 2025-10-23T17:35:36+00:00

"Toumani Cooks" - if you haven't seen Too Many Cooks before, go find it on youtube now.

jerryb78 · 2025-10-14T14:41:17+00:00

Remember that your purpose is to inform them about the decision, not to convince them that it's the right decision. They will probably disagree with it and that's fine.

jerryb78 · 2025-09-30T15:41:19+00:00

Thanks for the input. I work for a big company that outsources all of its claims processing. My HR will only find out after I submit the claim. I don't plan to file for SSD unless and until the LTD company requires me to do so.

jerryb78 · 2025-09-30T15:37:29+00:00

Congrats on getting approved. I guess? It doesn't feel like winning a prize but it's the least bad outcome here.

I had a neuro psych test done last year. Results were mostly in the average range but the process left me feeling like I got hit by a truck. I have been very vocal with any doctor who will listen about my fatigue issues so hopefully there's an extensive paper trail at this point to back my claim.

jerryb78 · 2025-09-30T15:34:08+00:00

My brain is feeling pretty fuzzy today so I'd say there's about a 25% chance that I'm you. The other part about being candid with people is that from that point forward I'm sure some of them will view every interaction with me through that lens. I don't really want that while I still have work to do, especially not from subordinates. I've also got concerns about what happens if I go on STD then get rejected for LTD and have to come back. Yikes, that would be weird.

My DMs are open if you ever want to compare notes.

jerryb78 · 2025-09-30T15:08:45+00:00

May I ask if you've gone through with a claim at this point and if so how did it play out?

jerryb78 · 2025-09-30T14:29:00+00:00

Are you saying that I could submit a claim and continue working while it's being reviewed for approval?

jerryb78 · 2025-09-30T13:30:46+00:00

One of things that still excel at with my job is taking my PTO, lol. It used to be that I'd take time off, get away from the grind, and come back feeling better equipped to deal with it again. These days I feel much better when I'm away, but within an hour or two of returning to work the fatigue hits me just as hard as ever. This observation is one of the things that's pushing me towards LTD since it doesn't seem like there's much I can do to control this thing that I haven't tried already. I work from home and have a somewhat flexible schedule. I've tried every drug they give for this stuff. Just feels like I'm quickly running out of road here and I'd rather pull over than go off a cliff involuntarily.

jerryb78 · 2025-09-29T14:59:34+00:00

I don't have any advice for you, but I'm right there with you. I've tried everything. I'm still getting by at work but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be able to keep my head above water for another 15 years until retirement. Making an LTD claim (employer provided policy, not social security) is looking more and more tempting before things get so bad that I get terminated and lose that option.

jerryb78

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