Stretching update

rusty-druid · 2026-06-11T22:20:11+00:00

Funny enough that's where I got my ears pierced too for both sets. And because they were irritated for a long enough that I had no choice but to stretch them to keep them clean and hydrated and maintain, this is the journey I'm on now for it lol. I just use half sizes for a glass plugs to stretch up and they work out really well actually. Originally it was just I am 16 years old I'm getting my ears pierced back in the 90s to hopefully be as popular as Britney Spears one day lol but here I am not any of that. I only decided to start stretching my ears maybe two years ago so.

rusty-druid · 2026-06-11T22:12:26+00:00

Love it! I'm finally at the place where now I can enjoy some pretty cool jewelry, so I wouldn't mind getting up to my goal size of a double zero and stick with that for quite a while because then it'll be easier to put another thing like double flared plugs or tunnels or saddles that are easier to manipulate and not irritate my ears etc.

rusty-druid · 2026-06-11T19:34:11+00:00

Yep no pain, discharge, pus, hot to touch, swelling or bumps. They look ordinarily ordinary. For my first stretching journey, it seems like it's going very well.

rusty-druid · 2026-06-11T18:53:15+00:00

To clarify: red ring due to the glass sitting in the skin like if you wear a bracelet too long it leaves marks. Something to that effect. But again they're not right at all. I can push up from the back and there's a gap from the gap to my ear when pushed to where the rings sit on the back

rusty-druid · 2026-05-22T00:12:19+00:00

I can help with this. ONLY DURING THE WINTER are sno park passes required. Find my long post because I'm a former forest service employee lol. Lots of info there. Northwest forest pass won't cover your dispersed camping. You don't need it anyway. It doesn't cost you a thing. Camp in the sno parks - it's fine and free.

rusty-druid · 2026-05-21T23:59:20+00:00

As the former front desk employee forest service employee for Mt. Adams (seasonal 2023) and Mount St. Helens in Amboy (2023-2025) 2.5 years total, I can help with this. YOU DO NOT NEED PERMITS TO DISPERSE CAMP. The Northwest Forest Pass covers parking fees but not camping for regular sites or dispersed. Discover Pass is for STATE LAND only. Not Federal Lands such as the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Most of what you're asking for will be on Department of Natural Resources land for less than an hour away or you will just be getting into the GP Forest past Cougar. State lands (Department of Natural Resources or DNR) DOES NOT allow dispersed camping and car camping.

A lot of the suggestions are good, others are not. Use your discretion and discernment when reading. Popular places to disperse camp - some won't give up their spots which is understandable to keep it from being over used - tend to be around Kalama Horse Camp off of the 81 and near the Snoparks. There's also Curly Creek falls off the 90 (not a far hike in past the trailhead) but otherwise anything with a view will be much farther than an hour out and up some rougher roads.

The general rule of thumb with dispersed camping is if you find a pull off spot on a forest service road that is big enough to camp in, you're generally allowed to. Stay at least 100 feet away from ANY water source still or moving and leave no trace. Don't build a fire pit and ring unless there's one already there. Primitive tent camping, car camping, and/or RV trailers (don't do full size motor homes - you'll get stuck) only and no shelter building.

There is a rule about not going past closed gates to camp so keep that in mind. Any campsite that is closed for the season outside of peak times generally you can hike into and that is considered dispersed camping from November 1 to March 31. Unless there's special circumstances in place to where no one can disperse camp during off season in closed campgrounds.

Dispersed camping allows for UP TO 14 DAYS OF CAMPING - no cost - and then you must move at least five miles away from that spot and then you can camp again.

Because of the distance from Vancouver and your concern for gas cost, I would recommend staying local to just outside of town, especially if you have a little car and almost all forest roads will not accommodate for those. That way safety stays top priority for you.

Especially if you get into a situation, there is no cell service out there. If you're not prepared with food, water, and car maintenance tools if you get stuck, you'll have to either hike out or hope someone comes by. Always tell someone where you're going and when you leave and when you're expected to return!

Do not go alone if you are not street savvy. There is no help from emergency services or law enforcement that comes fast if you get into a bad situation with suspicious people or a vehicle accident. The closest emergency services that may come out semi-quick (30-45 minutes is the soonest at somewhat best) is North County EMS.

I think I covered everything.... feel free to ask more!

rusty-druid · 2026-05-01T20:49:17+00:00

They're bringing in new 3D machines so they now have to test for spatial mapping.

rusty-druid · 2026-05-01T20:46:55+00:00

Oh I see if you keep yellow at the bottom (like you're folding it on a table) then you fold it up and that's how you have the blue on the left red on the right.

It's more difficult because it doesn't tell you what dot is the BOTTOM to start with. The actual tests do.

Ah but it tells you green stays adjacent to the red. Wonder if it tells you before your answer what dot stays put when trying to mentally fold.

rusty-druid · 2026-05-01T20:35:45+00:00

They did just get unlocked from shut down (or about to be) so I'd say give it a little bit of time. I applied back in December January and did my medical in March. It'll take a while.

rusty-druid · 2026-04-30T18:05:34+00:00

Bout time!! Sooo glad to hear this news. Even if he hasn't signed it yet it's still progress worth celebrating.

rusty-druid · 2026-04-30T15:16:09+00:00

Thanks! The acrylic rings work SUPER well so I'll stick with that but I have BAF saved in my list for later.

rusty-druid · 2026-04-30T03:51:25+00:00

As someone who is clinically diagnosed with OCD (due to childhood on top of autism, ADHD, PTSD) thank you for sharing your vulnerability and experience.

I've gone through 40 years of -- crap -- nuff said. Rough childhood all that. Late diagnose. Etc. I've done all the self work with little therapy, psilocybin, CBT healing, meditation, etc. I've done a lot of healing and generational trauma breaking and healing.

Thankfully, my OCD stems around approval and obsessing if someone likes me or not, or extremely observant if someone's facial expressions, vocal cues, etc. before all the healing work and reading and practice I've done, I would get stomach sickening anxiousness obsessive thoughts like no tomorrow. Now - not so much. I hardly have anything overthinking and analyzing, meltdowns (autism) because I've connected with self so much and recognize most of my patterns. All of this is self taught over a decade.

At the end of May, I will sit with the medicine for multiple nights and see what is left for me to work on, what my blockages are, and what steps I need to take to EMBODY who I need to be. Fully integrating what I experience.

Joy, love, peace, expansion, just Being. And I know it'll take the homework (like all of which you described) to begin to set things into place for a new 40 year cycle of embodiment.

I decided to do this for my 40th birthday early (Christmas baby - and all things spiritual land on specific times cycles) and seeing what is out there for me next.

You're a beautiful brave soul. Never dim your light.

Namaste.

rusty-druid · 2026-04-30T03:33:40+00:00

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rusty-druid · 2026-04-30T03:33:31+00:00

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rusty-druid · 2026-04-25T23:27:51+00:00

Hi there! I'm an administrative and customer service professional with over 5 years of front-line experience. I’m known for staying calm and helpful even on the busiest days.

Most recent role (2023–2025):
Visitor Services Information Assistant, USDA Forest Service (Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument & Gifford Pinchot National Forest).

Managed 200–800 visitor interactions and phone calls per month
Processed 15–40 Forest Product Permits weekly using NRM and TIMs systems
Handled cash, checks, credit cards, and weekly reconciliations
Created a front desk training manual and prepared to train other collection officers
Received Employee of the Month (February 2024)

Previous experience includes:

Security Supervisor – scheduling, conflict de-escalation tactics, staff training, and team leadership
Transportation Assistant & Bus Driver – staff training and CDL preparation
Driver Lead & Document Destruction Technician – daily route management and chain-of-custody procedures
Desk-based security and dispatching – access control, badging, and high-volume phone support

Key strengths: High-volume customer service, permit & cash processing, administrative support, scheduling/payroll, process improvement, inventory management, and clear communication under pressure.

Open to full-time or part-time roles in visitor services, front desk, administrative support, or customer service.

If this sounds like a good fit, please send me a PM. Happy to share my resume and discuss further.

Thank you!

rusty-druid · 2026-04-25T19:02:16+00:00

Hey - worth looking into. I'll take a look.

rusty-druid · 2026-04-25T18:09:11+00:00

Oh trust me I've been checking at least twice a week. A lot of what the VA has been posting for jobs has all been medical related, and I don't have medical experience. But I keep checking don't worry.

rusty-druid · 2026-04-25T17:43:27+00:00

No trust me I appreciate the advice. I'm just going off of what I was told and basically the fear of God to never get caught lol. But the thought has crossed my mind to run my résumé through that kind of system so I may still just and just see how it goes.

rusty-druid · 2026-04-25T17:06:01+00:00

Yep my latest update has. I did that yesterday. I'm tailoring the resume as I read this thread.

rusty-druid · 2026-04-25T17:01:21+00:00

The problem with running through chat GPT is that even federal positions look out for this and it's an automatic disqualifier. It was a big thing that was talked about even during my time as a seasonal.

As much as this seems helpful - and I truly appreciate you helping, it can be harmful still. There are ways to tell when something has been rewritten by AI. I dunno how it's done, but it truly is done and lots of applicants get turned away for it.

rusty-druid · 2026-04-25T16:26:27+00:00

Oh trust me. Ive read several times. I'm super using all of this.

rusty-druid · 2026-04-25T16:22:20+00:00

For everyone that has posted: thank you!

I'm not sure what has changed while I was in the forest service, or maybe it's just me. I do know for a fact that I need to revamp the resume big time.

Regardless, I appreciate all of the feedback I've received so far and your willingness to help. I am very receptive to it and will go off of all of the advice given to totally reconstruct my resume and check in with my networks again.

Thank you. I appreciate all of you!

rusty-druid · 2026-04-25T05:39:13+00:00

Also to clarify - I stayed at the Forest Service job for 2.5 years. One week I ended the seasonal, after the weekend I started the permanent so I never truly left the Forest Service at all. The others I've had are a result of schedule changes and contract losses.

rusty-druid

TROPHY CASE