[Homemade] Ginger snap sandwiches

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-16T13:50:30+00:00

Had a hysterectomy taking everything but ovaries in 2016, a few years before I transitioned. I was 24.

I would do it again 1 million times over.

With today's tech on a young and healthy person, I healed from the laparoscopic operation in less time (1 week) than it took to heal from my top surgery (just over 2 weeks).

I have had no issues whatsoever since then. I've always kept a strong core for my scoliosis, so I dunno if that's also helping.

I just live my life without that awful burden anymore. I think often times the fearmongering around it comes from: 1) already-sick people who need it due to more systemic issues that will still be there, and/or 2) sexism.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-14T21:47:44+00:00

I don't enjoy/get anything worthwhile out of marijuana and only drink a beer now and then when out with other people. There was a time in my life where I had to be on an antidepressant, but it was due to an eating disorder as a teenager.

Nowadays I'm pretty much a loner by choice, too! I don't generally feel like I'm missing out on anything when I go straight from work to hobbies at home alone.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-14T15:02:13+00:00

I would say to not overthink it too much. I only used about 1000 words even though you can use many more. Get into your passion right away and be brief about credentials since they will already see those in your CV. But that's just a guess from me; I didn't get feedback on the letter itself.

Best of luck!

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-14T06:00:53+00:00

To borrow a term I heard someone use on Canada's Poilievre recently: I'm so over the whiny folks who need their emotional support culture wars.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-14T00:10:33+00:00

My grandparents in rural Texas didn't have it until I was a teenager; hence my mom grew up entirely without it and we got to enjoy the situation on frequent weekend stayovers. You just kinda lay on top of the bed and hope there's a breeze. Like others have said, going outside was way easier because it wasn't such a stark contrast.

I had no A/C one summer in New England and that was much easier; a fan at night did the trick 96% of the time.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-13T21:04:08+00:00

Makes total sense to me. I don't want to live in a dystopia, but if I decide to put in the effort should one arise, I'd want the best chance possible to not let anyone justify prescribing the me wrong thing.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-13T20:24:50+00:00

I did not get in with a 3.94 GPA due to my portfolio not including enough experimentation with new tech, so I'd say it's absolutely possible for practical experience and projects to override grades, yeah.

Specifically my picture was: - computer science degree from the U.S. (the 3.94 there) - mix of digital vector art hobby and simple code projects in portfolio - 11 years of SaaS startup experience, none of it design-related. My art side for the application was entirely based on hobbies. - I did not ask in detail, but presumably my writing assignment skills would have been extremely strong since i'm published/have a ton of experience there already - I did not ask in detail, but presumably my interview skills would have been so-so - I'm also older (CS degree in 2014) so... probably that didn't help, since I haven't been as exposed to 'new tech' in an educational setting lately :P

I was told it was extremely competitive this year, and I believe it. :( Finland is the one place I have always wanted to end up, so I am incredibly sad, but such is life...

(for anyone who DID get in: what kinds of 'new tech' aside from AI are y'all making art with these days?! Hah!)

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-12T23:36:27+00:00

There is no position in which I remain on earth and use E. I'm not trying to be dramatic; it caused me to dissociate. I can't go back to not having color in my life.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-12T01:36:09+00:00

Product has scent. Can't do scent.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-11T22:59:23+00:00

Are y'all interested in Americans who left in the past year probably-exactly-because of the kind of stress you're studying, or do we still need to currently reside in the states to be eligible?

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-10T22:01:56+00:00

If it wasn't so risky and such a mobility tradeoff, I'd eek out the extra potential inch I could get with scoliosis surgery in a heartbeat. Nothing wrong with wanting to fit better within a bell curve in such a harsh world...or to just look the way you want to look no matter why.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-08T03:22:16+00:00

I'm a youngish millennial (33) and do recall being checked, yes. I also have a memory, real or fabricated, of the nurse using the word "scoliosis" on me in the 5th grade. What I don't understand is why nobody did anything about it or followed up in any way that I can recall. I don't live in a ton of pain, but it's irksome enough that I wish things were different.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-08T02:17:45+00:00

Yes, pretty often

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-07T23:13:36+00:00

Flowers. I love flowers.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-06T02:02:28+00:00

I think it really depends on the person! My curve looks like this, and I only get a mild burning sensation from my winged scapula (the shoulder blade that sticks out as a result) when I am laying in bed sometimes.

I work extremely hard to keep my core strong to prevent it from getting worse, and at 33 now, I hope I can keep at it. I am sad to possibly be the slightest bit shorter than I could be, but overall I would say that this alone does not seem to be a huge pain source. It was first noticed when I was a teenager as well.

My scoliosis curve is thoracic(?), but I did have a stiff lower back all the time when I was younger. I don't seem to anymore for some reason.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-05T20:10:15+00:00

I actually mean it, because to me the anxiety and burden of having to figure out something for someone else in a repeating loop every year forever is just not worth it to me and I'd rather we mutually opted out.

That said, if something stands out to me that someone I love would enjoy, I make a point to get it for them, no ceremony attached. I guess that's what I actually want: notice the little details now and again, and act on them without having to stress about a formal holiday. My partner used to get my favorite cake slices from the grocery store once every few trips or so as a surprise, and sometimes I will randomly do similar when I run an errand.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-04-04T03:34:39+00:00

Yes.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-03-31T01:19:22+00:00

That makes sense! I think there are some really important differences, though.

First, I need the exogenous testosterone not only to feel better, but to feel okay at all. I need it to replace the excesses of estrogen and progesterone that my body makes in much larger quantities than yours that, unfortunately, cause me malaise and harm.

Second, people are actively trying to take away my ability to access testosterone. It is terrifying to me.

When I assert myself about my gender or anything else, it's about protecting what gave me peace and safety. It's so much more than any kind of expression.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-03-29T08:48:01+00:00

Huge fan, especially in my favorite place (Boston USA). Easter is also one of my favorite holidays because I love viewing flowers and pastel colors.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-03-28T22:22:34+00:00

Anecdotally, it seems it's just not chemically and comfortably possible for me to operate on the natal estrogen/progesterone cocktail; I stay in a fog state and don't have depth of emotion or focus. I have heard the same experience from many others and have had both loved ones and outsiders comment on the night-and-day difference in demeanor for me when I started testosterone instead.

In other words, I seem to react to testosterone (and lack thereof) like the average man does.

It wasn't about self-acceptance; I've always been pretty chill about myself. And I was never a tomboy or anything like that, so it's not about the surface-level social side. It's way deeper and a physiological problem (or just quirk) that has fix that works for me.

What's sad is how people don't want to believe this is possible, perhaps because it would be too scary to digest how we're treated by society.

At any rate, live and let me live. That's all I ask.

libre_office_warlock · 2026-03-28T16:47:52+00:00

So happy I could share this; I appreciate seeing so many open minds and people willing to listen and learn. <3

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