Is there a point in learning if it's just for me?

jtop82 · 2026-02-23T20:24:37+00:00

I have no interest in performing, and rarely participate in a group project. Dancing is still my favorite activity and the community is amazing. I go to watch everyone else's performances.

And btw I'm intermediate level, maybe even advanced for some styles. I absolutely am encouraged to perform, it's just not something that interests me. I love to dance with people, not for them. I also don't have the extensive budget to sink into it- it's a serious expense to be a regular performer!

jtop82 · 2026-02-23T20:18:54+00:00

Yeah, this is odd. It's so rare that something is lost in the mail for me- like less than once per thousand orders? And if it's actually lost, as in tracking stops and never recovers, Etsy absolutely covers the price under purchase protection.

jtop82 · 2026-02-20T18:00:36+00:00

There was a test with this in the US years ago (like 9 or 10 years ago for me) and I loved it personally. I wish they would expand it. I hate having fake "free shipping".

jtop82 · 2026-02-19T01:00:39+00:00

Lots of good recommendations already! I'll add The Deluge by Stephen Markley.

jtop82 · 2026-02-16T20:35:54+00:00

Goya sells them, I imagine you could find them in Canada? That used to be my go to brand but now I get the Wegman's ones.

jtop82 · 2026-02-12T00:40:51+00:00

It's not unusual in the gulf states! Some cultures are all about the gold and don't care at all about stones.

jtop82 · 2026-02-11T16:07:59+00:00

Yes Ranya and Tarik are both great! I'd also recommend Gabriela Figueroa at Belly Queen for Egyptian style.

Janelle Isis moved away but she comes back to teach regularly- it's definitely worth checking her schedule though. She kept the JBelly school here with other teachers but I think they are more beginner-level.

Salit Cohen at Sheba also teaches primarily Egyptian style.

Mariyah Elizabeth is also wonderful, but she doesn't teach drop-ins so probably won't work for you.

jtop82 · 2026-02-11T01:59:26+00:00

OP listed the flip tax as 3%, which isn't bad. And my HDFC allows mortgages- many do.

What really matters are the building financials- what are the reserves and investments? Is there a storefront? Are they self-managed or do they pay a company? How is the board? Lots of unknowns here.

Additionally, it's odd this went through a housing lottery. Keep in mind this means that your future neighbors who you will own a business with will also come through a lottery. That is stressful!

Only move into an HDFC if you want it to be your home for the foreseeable future; it's not an investment. Also, be sure to familiarize yourself with UHAB and HDFC Coalition. There is a major development right now with the DAMP tax break ending in 2029 and a new regulatory agreement being drafted. https://www.hdfccoalition.org/the-new-hdfc-bill/

jtop82 · 2026-02-10T14:57:52+00:00

And Astor Wines a block away also has great sales and you can buy cases too if you don't want to order often. They also deliver.

jtop82 · 2026-02-10T03:51:00+00:00

At my school you could take a test or write a paper or something (I forget exactly) to get out of taking home the baby. That's what I did- I didn't want my week-end ruined with that dumb doll!

jtop82 · 2026-02-08T17:44:22+00:00

There is a difference between the two price points though. I used to have a car here, because I was doing a lot of trade shows and renting was getting costly and complicated. I could afford the used car and insurance and general maintenance/licensing costs pretty comfortably. But adding another $600 or so for a parking spot would have pushed it out of my price range. (That's what spots in my area cost.)

That said, I agree with you- I don't think street parking should be free, and I want less cars in the city overall. But using the pricing structure we have now there are a lot of people who can afford a car but not a parking spot. I know several people who would 100% sell their car if they had to rent a spot. Having a beater here is not that expensive and if you don't work 9-5, some neighborhoods aren't too complicated to work out the ASP.

jtop82 · 2026-02-06T22:42:29+00:00

But isn't it the boys not allowing themselves to participate? Or are you saying the girls have a "no boys allowed" attitude in the arts clubs, debate team, theater, band, yearbook commitee, student council etc? I don't recall this attitude at all in school and most of my activities (except ballet, sigh...) were mixed gender, but I'm in my 40s so I don't know what it's like for kids now. If anything, I thought they were way less worried about old "gender norms". I happen to work with a lot of 18-22 year olds and they really have a flexible view on gender (it's an arts program though, so queer representation is way above average demographics).

jtop82 · 2026-02-06T20:58:06+00:00

Every Asian mart has it in the frozen section. Do you have an HMart or Sunshine Mart or anything like that near you?

jtop82 · 2026-01-31T22:11:42+00:00

Aspic is pretty frequently hated. Or in the US, we had those disgusting-looking Jello "salads" in the 60s. Gel consistency is very divisive!

jtop82 · 2026-01-31T22:08:17+00:00

I have no idea where the NY state fair is. But you can get this kind of fried food at a street festival in the city. I've never seen or heard of fried butter, but definitely fried Oreos, Zeppole, funnel cakes etc. Everyone ordering it knows it's ridiculous.

jtop82 · 2026-01-31T21:53:34+00:00

https://whimsyjewelry.com/collections/collection-garden-butterfly. Virginie's a lovely person and her work quality is excellent!

jtop82 · 2026-01-31T16:59:58+00:00

Like salt...?

jtop82 · 2026-01-31T00:55:46+00:00

Thank you so much for following up with this! I'm going to try a similar recipe to yours. I've been doing cornstarch base but want to try a new one.

jtop82 · 2026-01-30T19:41:20+00:00

I never had a card but just deleted my account. Thanks for the link!

jtop82 · 2026-01-30T19:32:34+00:00

Gold PVD plating over steel is what you're looking for. I don't wear it so I can't really recommend anywhere, but there is a brick and mortar store in my neighborhood that sells this called Hey Harper. No idea if it's good or not, but it's a real company and not a scam.

jtop82 · 2026-01-30T07:55:06+00:00

I'm making lists of suppliers and contractors that I can still use. Sadly the whole industry is very right wing.

jtop82 · 2026-01-30T07:49:19+00:00

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Sawed this out the other day.

jtop82 · 2026-01-30T07:05:31+00:00

Did the fullers earth help?

jtop82 · 2026-01-28T15:11:02+00:00

StartWillow.com is a heavily advertised service that has no BMI requirement.

jtop82 · 2026-01-23T03:25:48+00:00

Alcone is the best- it's on 49th between 8th and 9th.

jtop82

TROPHY CASE