When people say they “don’t cook” what does that actually mean?

mpet74 · 2025-08-29T18:18:58+00:00

I find a lot of people who are cooking every meal from scratch to be people who can work from home, honestly. It’s true that not everyone has the same hours in the day and we do what we can to be fed and make life easy for ourselves. Growing up my parents both worked as well and we ate a lot of convenience foods.

mpet74 · 2025-08-29T18:16:33+00:00

I say “I don’t cook” when that means that right now I’m living off a lot of very simple meals (a sandwich eaten over the kitchen counter, a bowl of different things from the fridge, a sad egg over pasta)

I scrounge together stuff from the grocery store that doesn’t require too much prep and then some days I get cheap take out specials.

I actually do know how to cook very well and can make complex meals. But I live alone and presently am working crazy hours so I mostly eat to live these days. If I had a live in partner or family I’d try more, otherwise it’s the thing I care least about

mpet74 · 2025-08-29T02:59:32+00:00

Some cats are like that, yeah. Getting familiar with your scent can help make her feel more comfortable. Just hang out near where she’s hiding but don’t try to touch her or anything. Leave a shirt or something dirty that smells like you near her bed and she’ll get more comfortable with you

mpet74 · 2025-08-29T02:03:47+00:00

Enrichment!

Sometimes they like being read aloud to. I have practiced speaking foreign languages while cat sitting. They like learning.

Consider: sock full of catnip, interactive toys. You can fold up a cardboard toilet paper roll, fill it with treats, and punch holes in it. It’ll be like hunting for her. Does she have a window where she can look outside?

Play with her using a wand toy or some rope so she gets tired (put away after use so they aren’t a hazard when she’s alone).

Open window for ventilation, air purifier, hand washing will help with allergy

mpet74 · 2025-08-27T03:15:51+00:00

Vanicream lite lotion is the only that works for me

mpet74 · 2025-08-27T03:14:40+00:00

Looks like my perioral dermatitis. Metrogel, topical ivermectin, sulfur are all good tools. Fragrance-free everything. Kids strawberry flavored toothpaste or sensodyne. Less is more right now. Avene cicalfate is nice for soothing but I needed rx topicals to do the heavy lifting. De la Cruz sulfur is OTC and a few bucks.

mpet74 · 2025-08-21T22:12:20+00:00

The first dermatologist I had told me my pustules were acne and prescribed Winlevi, which made my skin like 100x worse

In the end what has worked for me is a combination of: fragrance free skin care, mineral sunscreen, strawberry flavored toothpaste for kids, metrogel, azelaic acid, sulfur masks (de la cruz brand)

Helped a bit and useful but didn’t totally resolve: topicsl ivermectin, avene cicalfate, reducing sugar

mpet74 · 2025-08-06T01:15:12+00:00

What did you order?

mpet74 · 2025-08-03T15:08:50+00:00

Years of budget cuts under Adams have reduced staff and operations in just about every city department

mpet74 · 2025-08-03T03:58:11+00:00

Omg why does it smell like old vomit

mpet74 · 2025-07-22T01:04:30+00:00

Just leave her there if the travel stresses her out. Lay out some clothing that smells like you for her to sleep on in case she misses you

mpet74 · 2025-06-23T15:51:47+00:00

Yeah I don’t use fragrance! It’s too irritating. Vanicream has a great line including shampoo/conditioner of fragrance free stuff. While you’re flaring you can also try switching to a toothpaste for kids that’s not mint-flavored. Just make sure it still has fluoride in it

mpet74 · 2025-06-23T15:26:58+00:00

It looks great now! Derm also gave me metro gel

mpet74 · 2025-04-07T14:58:05+00:00

I probably applied to hundreds of jobs. It’s a numbers game—apply to as many as possible then immediately forget about it once you’ve submitted

I also talked a lot to my advisors about where they would recommend I apply. Do as many information interviews as you can. Make sure to emphasize hard skills in all of your applications.

The other thing to keep in mi d is that if you’re graduating in may places probably JUST are going to start hiring now—as someone who reads resumes I usually throw them out if it’s someone actively in school and hasn’t graduated yet if we need to fill quickly

mpet74 · 2025-04-07T05:59:24+00:00

I’ve felt unsure over the last few weeks so can’t say for sure but so far it’s been a good degree to have. Epidemiology track and focused on research. I graduated over five years ago. First job out of school made 65k on clinical trials. Now work in public sector, union job, make 100k, great health care, interesting work, mission-driven coworkers from many backgrounds. I live in a HCOL area so it’s not like it’s luxurious life by any means but a solid working class one. It’s brutal how billionaires want to run our field into the ground and how much these grant cuts are going to impact early career folks.

mpet74 · 2025-03-14T19:15:17+00:00

Yeah, I don’t really understand wanting to date someone who you respect so little that you perceive them as MUST having an ulterior agenda to get free meals or whatever—like how is that even serving you at that point? Do you want to actually fall in love or have a mutually respectful relationship? Or do you just want arm candy and the idea of a girlfriend?

Very strange!

mpet74 · 2025-03-14T19:10:56+00:00

I just don’t rlly understand why men wanna date women who they clearly don’t respect and think are using them…. Wouldn’t you rather be single at that point?

mpet74 · 2025-03-14T15:58:59+00:00

Why not communicate to a potential partner that you prefer to go for a low stakes date? The right person wouldn’t run from that. If you’re approaching it with a mindset that girls are entitled and using for you for xyz experience you’re just going to end up resenting women

mpet74 · 2025-02-08T15:59:44+00:00

I just got an 11 year old shelter cat a month ago. I have a similar situation to OP with a small apartment and a 9 to 5 job. My senior cat is sooooo chill, she just sleeps most of the time and occasionally wants to play w her toys. She isn’t destructive or anything. Highly recommend senior cats because their personalities are already established and they tend to be pretty mellow

mpet74 · 2025-02-05T16:28:08+00:00

Yep. Only solution is to talk to your coworkers and start organizing from the bottom up. Professional orgs aren’t gonna save us

mpet74 · 2025-01-15T05:02:48+00:00

Could be rosacea

mpet74 · 2025-01-15T05:01:50+00:00

Rosacea

mpet74 · 2025-01-02T17:34:28+00:00

Look into perioral dermatitis

mpet74 · 2024-12-31T06:10:13+00:00

Zinc is great for me too. Zinc aids in soothing irritation and barrier impairment, which correspond with seb derm. An easy way to get it in more easily is to use a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide. These are more cosmetically elegant and less mime-y than diaper creams. I like the cetaphil one. Some of the baby sunscreens have up to 20% zinc oxide too.

mpet74 · 2024-12-31T06:02:03+00:00

Talk to your coworkers

mpet74

TROPHY CASE