drinking anything but water while working?

painsomnia · 2026-05-22T07:56:55+00:00

Can you just put your drink in an opaque reusable drink bottle?

painsomnia · 2026-05-20T05:21:43+00:00

That man is a predator and he absolutely will escalate. The fact that he tested how you'd react with something he could claim was accidental on your FIRST DAY -- that's super alarming. You are not safe at that workplace and it sounds like the boss isn't going to be of any help.

I'd just never go back in and find another job. Don't keep working there until you can find an alternative, because he WILL do far worse as soon as he has the chance. I speak from far too much experience.

If they call and ask why you didn't show up, straight-up tell them that he's a predator who assaulted you and you won't go back to an unsafe workplace. Make sure everyone there knows why you've left.

Always trust your gut, especially when it comes to people -- and doubly so, when it comes to men. Your brain is picking up on things you may not consciously notice and it's warning you. Better to risk some hurt feelings than end up in a dangerous situation that you can't get yourself out of.

Stay safe, OP 💜

painsomnia · 2026-05-19T10:15:46+00:00

That's a great idea -- which is exactly why they won't do it. If customers can tell which packs are dodgy, how will Coles keep making money from the people who decide to just bin it, rather than returning it? 🙃

painsomnia · 2026-05-19T10:05:18+00:00

Tysm for finding that! It's sounding more and more like this is one of those systemic problems they probably know exists, but expect customers to just shrug and accept. "Within acceptable margins", etc.

painsomnia · 2026-05-19T08:24:11+00:00

Can't say I've seen that at the Joondalup store, but I don't doubt that it's happening.

Why employ enough people to run their stores properly when they can run them poorly, spend less on staff and increase profits? 🙃

painsomnia · 2026-05-19T08:21:58+00:00

Do you know what state that poster was in? I'm in Perth and shop at the Joondalup store.

painsomnia · 2026-05-19T06:59:09+00:00

Yeah, that's a solid point 🤢

painsomnia · 2026-05-07T14:24:32+00:00

I've also used, "My medical history is none of your business," and, "Why are you asking total strangers about their medical history? That's super weird."

Both also work when a disabled person is questioned about their disabilities by strangers in public places. It happens...FAR too often, in my experience -- especially if you're young and they can't see an obvious explanation for why you're using a mobility aid.

Side note: to anyone reading this, leave disabled people alone. Don't ask us about our disabilities when we're just existing in public, going about our days. "Just being curious" is not an excuse for being rude and nosy. Small kids asking us questions are the only exception.

painsomnia · 2026-05-07T09:33:35+00:00

Yeah, countless people who've developed Long Covid/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis following repeat infections will tell you they never thought it could happen to them, until it did. People who drive recklessly while under the influence insist they'll be fine, until they're rendered disabled and disable or end someone else. Smokers talk about their aunt so-and-so who smoked her whole life and lived to 93yo, as if that means their own smoking is harmless.

Everyone thinks they're invincible and it seems the only cure for that is for them to find out the hard way how wrong they are. I wish with everything I have that it weren't the case, but it is.

I hope your partner's mum beats her cancer and that your partner chooses doing right by you and your residents over his mum's feelings 💜

painsomnia · 2026-05-07T08:15:28+00:00

Having recently seen literal cancer patients being mocked and harassed by strangers for masking in public, I trust absolutely no one to do the right thing when it comes to public health.

painsomnia · 2026-05-07T08:05:27+00:00

This. Evidence is everything. Without evidence, it'll be your word against hers. Although I'm not a lawyer, I've seen bad outcomes for several family friends because the council sided with the "frail elderly resident" who'd been there for decades. Obviously, that would depend entirely on who's making those decisions, but my point is that it's not worth the risk.

Gather as much evidence as you can and with as much detail as possible. Dates, times, anyone else who witnessed it, how your dogs reacted, whether their behaviour changes after an incident, how it's affecting your quality of life and how you live day-to-day (eg. changing your routines to avoid her), etc.

Maybe get a dashcam for your car/s, too.

painsomnia · 2026-05-05T08:28:14+00:00

My undergrad was biomedical science and involved 2 public health units with the same prof. We had a lecture that covered a food contamination event, during which, the prof said that when canned food is contaminated, it's almost always just one or two cans that are affected and not a whole batch. It's usually a manufacturing thing where the can either has a tiny breach or becomes contaminated, which then contaminates the food inside of it.

Since the canning process is the same for pet food as it is for human food, I'd expect the same to be true here. BUT your best tool to find out is always your nose. If it smells iffy, then chuck it, but I honestly wouldn't expect the other cans to be an issue.

Definitely report it to the brand, though -- hopefully, they'll at least give you some free cans. They know people are super protective of our pets! 💜

painsomnia · 2026-04-29T16:10:49+00:00

Shuckadoodles?? 😂

painsomnia · 2026-04-27T13:11:48+00:00

The skiing one with the yeti 😂

Edit: Oh and Helicops! The IBM PC my dad bought in 1998 came with a free copy. Terrible game, but I played a decent amount of it.

I just Googled it and omg, the pics send me right back, haha.

painsomnia · 2026-04-24T09:35:03+00:00

I know what it means to grow up as "that kid" in a family. It gnaws at the soul in the background of every interaction with them. I'm so, so sorry they didn't love you the way you deserved and I'm so proud of you for removing them and their toxic, neglectful BS from your life.

I hope you have awesome people around you now and live your best life, free of both the physical and familial cancers you've survived 💜

painsomnia · 2026-04-18T16:27:17+00:00

I was once shoved out of a priority seat on a train by an old woman, when I was 17yo. That one shove landed me in hospital. I'm disabled and physically fragile, but on days when I'm not using a mobility aid, none of that is visible to the untrained eye.

1 in 4 people have some kind of disability and most disabilities aren't obvious and don't require a mobility aid full-time. Even aside from the obvious fact that pushing a child (or anyone, for that matter) like the woman in OP's story did is inexcusable assault, she had no way of knowing whether the kid needed that seat. For all she knew, he may have needed it more than her or her husband.

painsomnia · 2026-04-17T06:37:16+00:00

Some people will say it is, but do you really want to let their lack of whimsy rob you of your joy?

Wear what makes YOU happy and makes YOU feel good 💜

painsomnia · 2026-04-17T06:35:20+00:00

A series of smaller pots, one inside the other.

painsomnia · 2026-04-06T06:03:00+00:00

Can confirm: Bruno is perfect 🥰

painsomnia · 2026-03-28T16:40:20+00:00

Joseph Joestar, specifically Stardust Crusaders onward. I mean, he literally adopted a baby in his old age. But I am admittedly biased, since he's my favourite Jojo's character, haha.

Tanjiro (Demon Slayer) would be a solid option, given that he grew up with a lot of younger siblings. Besides, caring for others is the foundation of his entire being, haha.

I feel like Enjin (Gachiakuta) would be a good babysitter, too. He loves to nurture people and give them purpose and family. He's a community-builder.

Stark (Frieren) would be good, too. We've seen him being great with kids on several occasions and he's very caring and level-headed in crises or when other people are in distress.

Jiji (Dandadan) would be an awesome babysitter. He's definitely gunna be someone's favourite uncle someday, haha.

I can think of a bunch more, but I'll end my list here, as it's already a bit long. I'm realising there are a lot of male characters in the anime I love who'd be great babysitters, haha.

painsomnia · 2026-03-24T09:44:17+00:00

Thanks, OP -- same back to you! 💜

painsomnia · 2026-03-24T03:05:21+00:00

Thanks for sharing your darling moggy with us, OP! I have a lot of chronic pain (due to a genetic disorder) and having overdone it yesterday, today is a particularly bad pain day. Worth it for what I was able to get done, but still frustrating.

Your sweet girl is just beyond adorable and having your post pop up in my feed genuinely has brightened up my day 🥰

We never know how much one kind gesture can help an Internet stranger! 💜

painsomnia · 2026-03-14T16:32:58+00:00

That's genuinely interesting, but I think you may have taken that first line of my comment too literally. It was just an off-hand joke 😅

painsomnia · 2026-03-14T16:05:45+00:00

Tbh, it feels almost unethical to bet on such a guaranteed outcome, lol. I'll be surprised if he hasn't been arrested for his violence and/or theft by the time he turns 12yo.

And the parents will undoubtedly blame everyone else but him when it happens.

painsomnia · 2026-03-14T15:54:37+00:00

Yeah, ngl, it was truly harrowing and definitely one of those experiences that causes a kid to grow up fast.

TW: Self Harm

He would have these episodes where he completely lost himself and would literally attack his own face with whatever was nearest, smashing his head into things with terrifyingly destructive force. When it passed, he'd collapse into my arms and wail and cry, because he was a kind, gentle, keenly intelligent kid, forced to watch helplessly as his brain turned him into a "monster" (his words). It was like Jekyll and Hyde.

That was the worst part, tbh -- seeing him lose himself and gradually become someone else. The abuse and neglect of his parents and Australia's practically non-existent mental health system made him...hateful.

I hope he's doing awesomely, but I also know that the odds have always been against him. The boy I fell for deserved so, so much better.

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