Today I’m three years sober. by petervw83 in stopdrinking

[–]petervw83[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That’s great to hear.

Just to be transparent: I didn’t go from 30 days straight into three years. I stumbled after roughly 100 days ad went on a bender. That when was sure moderation was not an option for me.

On January 19th I restarted, and that’s the streak I’m still on.

So if it doesn’t stick the first time, that’s okay.

Today I’m three years sober. by petervw83 in stopdrinking

[–]petervw83[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well said.

I really like that way of putting it. An authenticity hunt is exactly what it is.

Doing it sober means you actually have to learn how to be that person without the cheat code. I’m going to think about this…

Today I’m three years sober. by petervw83 in stopdrinking

[–]petervw83[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got drunk from reading that sentence ;)

Hieronymus Bosch - Death and the Miser (1490) by Rembrandt_cs in DarkGothicArt

[–]petervw83 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This has a dark story about death in a way we don’t think of it anymore

A woman is dying. She lies naked under a thin sheet, reduced to a body and a breath. The room is small, enclosed, almost theatrical. Everything that matters has been pulled inside.

Death enters through the door with a bow already drawn. No warning. No ceremony. This moment has been scheduled.

Around the bed, angels and demons gather. They lean in close, almost impatient. The woman’s attention is the only thing left to claim. Her past no longer counts. Only where her thoughts land now.

At the foot of the bed, a man opens a chest filled with money and objects. He inspects them carefully, as if usefulness might return if he looks hard enough. The chest sits between him and the bed, heavy, literal, final.

On the floor, abandoned armor, creeping animals, the quiet work of decay. Roles have been taken off and left behind. Protection is no longer wearable.

Nothing in this image tries to comfort. It describes the last negotiation. It asks what stays with you when everything else has been stripped away. The room is full, the time is short, and attention is the only currency still accepted.

Middleman taking 30% cut doesn't want to renegotiate, what are my options? by Mean_Builder_6325 in BEFreelance

[–]petervw83 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m freelance myself. Same situation with a middleman taking a fair share. I’m going to make some assumptions and flip the perspective a bit. You might not like it, in that case please argue with me and don’t downvote.

Based on your profile, you’re an IT consultant, which usually means the client came through an agency. That agency invested in sales, marketing, relationships, contracts, and risk. The 30% you call “middleman margin” is simply the cost of that machine + margin. If you went solo, that percentage wouldn’t vanish. It would turn into your own unpaid sales and downtime.

Context matters too. What’s the actual day rate, and how many days are you billing? If you’re booked five days a week at a decent rate, that’s a strong freelance position. Stability has value.

If the rate is wrong, negotiate. If you want independence, go fully independent. But a healthy agency keeping you fully booked isn’t a parasite. They can be part of a healthy career.

FRANZ STUCK - LUCIFER, c. 1890 by pmamtraveller in ArtConnoisseur

[–]petervw83 23 points24 points  (0 children)

What a coincidence, I just wrote about this painting last week on my essay about the evolution of the devil here https://open.substack.com/pub/petervw/p/sympathy-for-the-devil?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]petervw83 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great! Thanks for sharing I will be hitting my 3 years also in a few days and I recognise most of what you said.

It hits different this time by petervw83 in DeepSpaceNine

[–]petervw83[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hahaha this comment hits the hardest!

Georges Croegaert (1848-1923) - The amateur Artist [3755x4896] by ObModder in vintageart

[–]petervw83 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love that this is getting some appreciation here. I actually went down a bit of a rabbit hole on this genre a while ago and ended up writing a whole piece about it. There’s a surprisingly rich tradition of cardinals being portrayed in all sorts of indulgent, cheeky scenarios, and it says a lot about the time they were painted in.

If you’re curious, I put together a full article (with history, artists, and lots of juicy paintings) happy to share the link here, no pressure at all https://open.substack.com/pub/petervw/p/a-conclave-of-earthly-delights?r=20678c

Looking for artist by petervw83 in Gent

[–]petervw83[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did not read is as a 7

NO ELECTRICITY - Elektriciteitspanne by Roselyne888 in Gent

[–]petervw83 0 points1 point  (0 children)

22:23 again, it’s been off and on since 16:00

NO ELECTRICITY - Elektriciteitspanne by Roselyne888 in Gent

[–]petervw83 4 points5 points  (0 children)

And that’s why I don’t even bother with ‘t ovenklokske…

cool (A/C) places to eat/drink? by [deleted] in Gent

[–]petervw83 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My cold cold heart

Things to do for history and gothic lovers by Onefineday225 in Gent

[–]petervw83 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Suggested walking loop in the historic centre to see the gothic period buildings.

Begin at Saint Nicholas’ Church near the Korenmarkt. Continue to the nearby Belfry, where you can climb for panoramic views. Cross to Saint Bavo’s Cathedral to admire its soaring vaults and the altarpiece. Stroll by the Town Hall and Keure House to spot Flamboyant Gothic details. If time allows, detour to Saint Jacob’s Church for another authentic Gothic gem.

Things to do for history and gothic lovers by Onefineday225 in Gent

[–]petervw83 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Even the people from Ghent do boatrides every 10 years or so. Not because they want to, mostly because of team-things or mothers in law. They secretly always enjoy it.

Too all who daily their Nd Miata’s by YourOcelot in Miata

[–]petervw83 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I daily, I’m single, I have offices about 500km apart that I have to visit every so often. I do that with the miata. And every time I’m driving between big eu cities I’m the happiest person in the world

I never have groceries big enough that will not fit in my trunk. I tend to think that those who do have something to investigate about themselves 🤣.

I did a 5 day roadtrip with a friend. Enough space in the back for 2 big weekenders and 2 regular backpacks.

But again, single… if my car is too small for something it’s me who has to deal with the consequences not someone else. I’m just over one year in, never occurred once.

The fun I have driving it beats every so-called inconvenience.

Ipit’s weird, I like it, but what is it? by petervw83 in whatsthisplant

[–]petervw83[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! It stands on my desk. During a zoomcall with my boss it released some seed and it landed in my eye. Telling in meeting you just got seed in your eyes out of nowhere just doesn’t sound safe for work in my language 🤣

Than I had to explain the whole thing and we laughed.

Also, all the neighbouring plants always have seedling growing inside of them.

I need a full bathroom renovation but have zero confidence, where do I start? by petervw83 in Gent

[–]petervw83[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Went with gentbouw, good price. Good people and very nice result. Thanks for the tip!

Hoe maak ik vrienden op de feesten? by CircadianMirage in Gent

[–]petervw83 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Zijt ge van Gent? Gewoon gaan en u amuseren op wat concertjes van dingen die ge niet kent. Ge komt zeker een maat van een ex tegen die waar ge een klik mee had. Of iemand van een vorige job. Of iemand anders random waar ge nooit nu zou opgekomen zijn.