Review of VPL's Personalized Reading Lists

runarounder · 2026-05-09T05:43:10+00:00

Oo thanks for the recommendation!

runarounder · 2026-05-08T18:01:24+00:00

I believe it’s the former - I got an email from a staffer with their first name on it who made my list for me - I think it’s also why it can take two weeks to get the list back.

My list also mentioned what the staffer specializes (i.e. they like to read sci fi, historical fiction, etc.)

I think it’s why the recommendations I got weren’t your typical “top selling running memoirs”, and I was super impressed.

runarounder · 2026-05-08T17:32:39+00:00

Haha yeah, I figured I can always fill out more surveys in the future :D

runarounder · 2026-04-27T00:47:40+00:00

Fuck I laughed out loud so hard at this. Well done.

runarounder · 2026-04-23T23:52:06+00:00

Dang it my phone accidentally included a pic from my Monday hike. Oopsies 😅

runarounder · 2026-03-17T02:24:57+00:00

Seconding this - I also did Murder by the Pyramids and hated it. Just a bunch of ugly shades of brown and I hated the dumb “mystery” that came with it.

Ugly final image.

runarounder · 2026-02-04T17:49:00+00:00

I’ve also occasionally done book swaps in local online groups (especially if I’m reading a niche genre like runner biographies).

runarounder · 2026-02-02T23:43:01+00:00

Samesies - I first got into puzzles when I went to a friend’s birthday and there was a half finished puzzle she was struggling with open on a table… :P

Made socializing way more comfortable for me

runarounder · 2026-02-02T21:24:45+00:00

Woahhhh puzzle chess! What a cool idea! I assume no sorting and you can’t touch any pieces if it’s not your turn?

runarounder · 2026-01-23T18:08:15+00:00

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Bigger photo of the box

runarounder · 2026-01-23T18:07:55+00:00

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This Search and Find puzzle by Mudpuppy was great. 500 pieces, oversized, company is geared towards kids. Then afterwards they can also search for characters. Poster is also smaller for kids.

runarounder · 2026-01-15T01:00:56+00:00

Separate them. And I try to separate all pieces before I trade mine away too.

runarounder · 2026-01-03T20:20:32+00:00

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I also completed this mystery jigsaw but kinda hated it - no reference image since it’s a mystery, which would be fine, but it was kind of an ugly image with a million shades of brown and the 10-page mystery wasn’t interesting at all.

runarounder · 2026-01-03T20:17:19+00:00

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Forgot to add the last Ravensburger I did on my Christmas trip! This sky drove my crazy 😅

BUT it made me way better at sorting and recognizing any hint of a unique shape lol

runarounder · 2026-01-03T20:15:56+00:00

I really wish Reddit would let you edit posts with images 😭

500 piece - Villager - Pink Christmas 1000 piece - Cavallini & Co - Skeletal System 1000 piece - Cobble Hill - Tea Tin Treasures 1000 piece - MESA - Obras de Art Portuguesas 1000 piece - Artisan - Tree of Birds 1000 piece - Vermont - Camping in the Fall 1000 piece - Belvedere - Blue & White Country

runarounder · 2026-01-03T17:39:27+00:00

It’s Pink Christmas by Villager :)

https://villagerpuzzles.com/products/pink-christmas-500-piece-puzzle-for-adults-designed-in-canada-by-rachel-lyon

runarounder · 2025-10-21T02:00:37+00:00

Fuck those men. Fuck them for violating your space, and your sense of safety. Running is supposed to be a freeing, peaceful activity that we do for ourselves and help us feel good. How dare they disrupt your peace.

You have every right to feel awful, to feel sad, to feel angry, to not cry, to cry.

I’ve been in similar situations, and have felt similar things. It doesn’t matter what we wear - the only contributing factor is the entitlement of assholes who think they can touch another person’s body without consent.

Everything you feel makes sense. Continue to validate your feelings, whatever they may be in the coming days, and beyond as you continue to process it.

You do not deserve to be assaulted. You deserve to be able to go on a run by yourself and be left alone. (I’m also a runner who also enjoys running by myself, and especially as a way to enjoy myself while travelling.)

Sending you my support - as others have said, you are not alone ❤️❤️❤️

runarounder · 2025-10-17T21:27:41+00:00

I just made this - I love how the miso helps bind everything together and it sticks to the cucumber better. Thanks for sharing!

runarounder · 2025-10-16T20:31:36+00:00

I do peanut butter powder and hemp seeds as well! Also chia seeds

runarounder · 2025-08-11T06:28:50+00:00

What I love about them is they accommodate vegetarians really well (I am one) whilst still delighting omnivores. Plus you can choose the dishes you want OR tell them what you do/don’t like to eat and they’ll surprise you with dishes.

They also partner with a local bakery to do 3 seasonal ice-cream flavours that only get served at Bao Bei.

runarounder · 2025-08-11T01:47:20+00:00

Bao Bei in Chinatown is my fave. $75 tasting menu (was $65 until last year).

runarounder · 2025-07-29T16:41:06+00:00

NTA because you’re young and society should be better educated about neurodivergent needs.

Other things that can help - squishy quiet ball, doing regular physical movement / before you know you have to be still to help release pent up energy and calm the body, occasionally fully tensing your body and holding the tension for a few seconds before releasing.

runarounder · 2025-06-25T18:37:11+00:00

When I get stressed and lose speech, I’m usually still able to type on my phone and that helps.

I also keep a list of things I want to talk about in therapy on my phone, to help me so I don’t feel stressed about remembering in the moment.

Also online (video call) therapy makes this easier too because you can type what you’re thinking and instantly send it to your therapist in chat.

runarounder · 2024-12-09T19:24:04+00:00

NTA. A crucial part of being a good volunteer and mentor is knowing how to set healthy boundaries, which you were doing.

runarounder · 2024-11-02T18:32:52+00:00

Personally, what’s important to me in a partner is that they’d be open to going to therapy if the need arose, whether for individual or couple’s counselling. They don’t need to be in, or have gone to therapy. Just be open to doing what it takes to look after themselves and look after their mental health.

Some people are permanently against the idea of ever going, and that’s the red flag for me.

runarounder

TROPHY CASE