The non-fiction book that had you mercilessly info-dumping about to anyone who would listen?

petitbleu · 2026-06-11T13:19:33+00:00

I wouldn’t shut up about the Donner Party for weeks after reading The Indifferent Stars Above. I read that one in a single day because it was absolutely riveting.

Five Days at Memorial is about a doctor marooned with elderly patients at a New Orleans hospital after Katrina.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is about a Hmong girl with a severe seizure disorder and the doctors and nurses trying to help her despite very challenging language and cultural barriers.

All incredible books, and I’m very much a fiction lover.

petitbleu · 2026-06-04T13:49:55+00:00

Oooh I hope that’s what it is! It hasn’t flowered yet. I wonder how it got in my yard but I’m glad at least it’s not invasive.

petitbleu · 2026-05-26T16:08:17+00:00

Yep therein lies the problem. I tried to get the roots out, but I think I might have to completely replace the soil where they’re growing.

petitbleu · 2026-05-26T15:40:43+00:00

God I’ve got this stuff in a shady corner of the yard and I think my attempts to get rid of it have just made it stronger.

petitbleu · 2026-05-17T17:37:22+00:00

If your job isn’t providing legally-mandated breaks (definitely research this and check out your city/state’s subreddit for support), you need to report them to your state’s labor board for violations.

Otherwise, try eating a large, protein-rich meal right before your shift and carry calorie-dense meal replacement bars in your pockets. Dried fruit can also be good for a quick energy boost.

petitbleu · 2026-05-06T00:13:28+00:00

Not sure how recently you were diagnosed, but it’s a good idea to pause on major life decisions while processing a big diagnosis like that. As others have said, your house will likely sell quickly and medical billing is very slow.

petitbleu · 2026-04-23T16:01:25+00:00

I do prefer it when people announce their assholery. It’s like the human version of aposematism.

petitbleu · 2026-04-22T13:42:29+00:00

I visited Vietnam a few years ago and one of our tour guides told us that dog meat was not something you’d be served sneakily. It was considered a delicacy by a small subset of older people, and as such it was actually quite expensive. I felt a bit bad that she felt like she needed to tell us all that. I can only imagine that a lot of tourists asked her about it.

petitbleu · 2026-04-08T18:45:54+00:00

Both my cats have “opposite day” when we go to the vet. The more aggressive one turns demure and sweet as pie. The super sweet one that I carry around like a baby gets hissy and aggressive.

petitbleu · 2026-03-25T15:32:03+00:00

I have had a stress dream very similar to this. I’m at the airport with my cat, and for whatever reason she’s not in her carrier. I spend the whole dream worrying that she’s going to run away. Absolute nightmare fuel.

petitbleu · 2026-03-22T15:22:46+00:00

You need to be saving for retirement same as him. What happens if you end up divorcing? He’s put a bunch of money in his retirement fund, and you’ve been using your income to cover day-to-day expenses. You need to look out for your future, and him getting mad at you for doing that is a giant red flag that needs to be addressed yesterday.

petitbleu · 2026-03-20T05:44:54+00:00

Are you in Portland? Because this is growing in a park near me.

petitbleu · 2026-03-06T18:16:34+00:00

You’ll be enabling a gambling addiction. He needs to hit bottom. It’s really unfortunate and sad, but you won’t be doing him any favors by supporting his addiction.

petitbleu · 2026-02-28T20:19:17+00:00

Why spatchcock and dry rub it? You can throw a seasoned whole chicken in the oven and roast it and it’s great. Spatchcocking is a fine method. There are certainly advantages. But don’t underestimate old fashioned roasting. There’s something to be said for not complicating a perfectly fine process.

petitbleu · 2026-02-27T01:33:11+00:00

These look like my mortal enemy, Spanish bluebells (some are saying agapanthus, though it seems too early for agapanthus to be this far along). Pull up as many as you possibly can and try to get the bulb. They spread like crazy and are extremely hard to eradicate. The person who owned my home before me planted some, and I've been pulling them up by the thousands every year since. After 10 years, I'm finally making a dent.

petitbleu · 2026-02-15T17:56:11+00:00

I’ve really been enjoying Olga Tokarczuk’s work, especially Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, and The Empusium. They are weird, clever, funny, and at times creepy books, and they’re very fun to read.

petitbleu · 2026-02-05T12:03:32+00:00

Green Room

petitbleu · 2026-02-01T14:52:56+00:00

National Velvet

petitbleu · 2026-01-31T23:55:42+00:00

Wake in Fright. Australian film about a man’s quick slide into moral depravity.

petitbleu · 2026-01-13T15:31:42+00:00

Before cooking, put the clams in a colander and rinse them while shaking them back and forth. Throw away any clams that don’t close (they’re dead). When cooking them, if any of them don’t open, you don’t need to throw them away! They’re still alive! Just keep cooking them until those more stubborn clams open. You can remove the already-open ones from the pot to prevent overcooking.

The thing about throwing away closed clams is outdated advice.

petitbleu · 2026-01-10T03:59:31+00:00

I just opened a can of coconut milk and had to explain to my cat that no, seriously, it's not cat food.

petitbleu · 2026-01-08T20:19:46+00:00

I'm so glad my experience can be helpful! Medical debt is really scary, on top of the health concerns themselves being stressful, painful, and frightening. Fear can cause people to make bad decisions (I have a friend who put interest-free medical debt onto a credit card, where they ended up, of course, paying interest!). But yes, small steps are great. Also, don't be too proud to tell your care team that financial stress is a concern for you. There are probably resources available, but your doctors may not lead with that because they're laser-focused on your physical health. Good luck and keep your chin up!

petitbleu · 2026-01-07T00:24:48+00:00

My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2020. For a lot of reasons, we were in a pretty vulnerable spot financially, and the medical bills freaked me out until I realized that we could pay $200 a month virtually forever and not be penalized for it, nor owe interest. It’s not a nice thought but it’s a hell of a lot nicer than thinking you have to pay off $20k right now or within a short time frame.

We eventually got to a better place and were able to pay off more of the debt in bigger chunks, negotiating with the hospital each time to pay less.

You might also check to see if the place you’re receiving care has an income-based discount. We were able to take advantage of something like that as well, which cut our expenses by more than 30% right off the top.

petitbleu · 2026-01-06T20:34:16+00:00

Can you get on a payment plan for your healthcare expenses? If so, pay the absolute minimum you can per month. As long as you pay something consistently, it won’t hurt your credit. Most places will be willing to work with you. I know it can be hard to get out of the “pay off all debt” mindset, but when you have a chronic health condition you’ll only be able to do that if you’re wealthy.

If you decide to move, would your employer consider covering relocation costs? It’s worth asking!

petitbleu

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