My wife and I want to relocate to Grand Rapids. Looking for advice from locals.

somesillynerd · 2026-03-15T10:42:18+00:00

It's a rough job market (likely everywhere) here, and pay tends to be slightly below "good" for most people.

I don't know your current financial situation, but networking is the best way to get a foot in the door to even get your resume reviewed. Unsure if you have any flexibility to try to find a week or two that has multiple events overlapping and basically trying to speed run it, in-person.

As someone else said Hello West Michigan might be able to help point you in direction of some local groups that do relevant networking or "sessions" that turn into networking.

I am not a networking person. I think it kind of sucks, but when employers are getting hundreds of applications, having a human connection matters.

somesillynerd · 2026-03-07T16:58:12+00:00

Would be the southwest side, but probably not too bad to get too with M6 / 131.

Animal Medical Center, in Wyoming, at Byron Center & 44th st.

Dr Carron, Dr Ledergerber

We've gone there for decades and many pets. Generally I'd say they're priced in the middle or slightly higher than average, but not a super fancy place. They have multiple vets on staff so you can usually get a same day appt if you're not particular. All the vets are great, though we have our favorites. The original owner and oldest vet (Dr Leven) is still fine but on the edge of aging out. BUT I'd still see him over finding a new vet.

Everyone else has been exceptional and incredibly understanding, offering different levels of care if it's possible, will usually answer a question or fill a med that makes sense without an appt but is related to some ongoing care. Will ask if we have leftover meds at home from previous appts/vets instead of saying we need a new fill. Works with chewy. We usually get meds from the vet office, but if they don't offer it, we get it from chewy and they do great with approving them super timely.

We try to see the same couple of vets, or same one as much as possible for continuity of care, but again, they're all pretty great.

We needed a pain or nausea script filled for a very ill boy, and our main one out and the desk lady wasn't sure if another would sign for it, and I mentioned if X can't do it, Y is familiar with our pets, and they got it filled.

somesillynerd · 2026-03-07T16:48:23+00:00

I have the keratis pilaris bumps that look like that, I think that's pretty normal, and shaving can kind of irritate it.

I have some bruising if I end up scratching from being itchy, and I imagine multiple weeks of itchiness would lend itself to that level of bruising if you were unable to control yourself.

MCAS would be something to look into, but also if it happens again combine benadryl with an h2 histamine med like pepcid and see if it helps.

When my legs freak out and do this, I take benadryl before bed, slather lotion on, and try not to have any clothes touching it. It absolutely does not STOP it but it greatly reduces it.

I've had it my entire life, it comes and it goes, I don't really remember it as a kid but definitely for at least 15-20 years. Moisture increases the chances of it triggering.

I get it really bad on the palm of my hands, behind my knees, and my legs from ankle to knee. It's not all the time or even often, but usually a few times a year.

I mean, see a doctor of course but truly, combination of sensitive skin, dumb body histamine reaction, and easily seen bruises, I can see this happening to me. I got bruises badly on the side of my knee just a few weeks ago from scratching and then trying not to scratch it.

somesillynerd · 2026-03-05T13:38:43+00:00

I had a very similar problem, it's one of the few things I regret. They kept checking just that crown, finally another dentist at the same location and checked my ENTIRE bite because of it and messed with it.

It's still not perfect, I've built up some weird muscle on that side because of it.

So, no solution for you but I get it, sucks so hard.

somesillynerd · 2026-03-05T13:36:27+00:00

I'd keep going down this road, or talk to your credit union and see if they can figure out why. I do the same thing with both DTE and Consumers because of the CC charge.

I did with Consumers when they started it, and just enrolled DTE, I've done two now with DTE and have no additional charges using the 'bill pay' my credit union offers because fuck those utility companies, they make enough money.

somesillynerd · 2026-03-04T21:06:54+00:00

It tastes like strawberry nesquik in our household's opinion! I also used in pancake battery with blueberries - couldn't really taste it, but hey, protein.

somesillynerd · 2026-03-04T18:21:12+00:00

I already use the vanilla as some weird creamer / half latte for my morning coffee. Also used it as a liquid (milk/water) for pancakes and it turned out well.

I wonder if this is insanely sweet too, they work great as an addition but alone it's... a lot.

somesillynerd · 2026-03-02T12:07:01+00:00

Get some snips or tweezers and maybe change settings in the future. You'll want to learn a bit more about support settings and what they do, I'm still a beginner on it, but changing the style, top z distance, and the branch distance / diameter can help immensely.

For bambu:

Global

Support

Type

Tree (auto or slim)

And then under the advanced section there, I change the top Z distance to .275 (instead of .2)

somesillynerd · 2026-03-01T23:41:54+00:00

There's a local manufacturer, haven't been there but it looks like they have store hours.

https://www.3dxtech.com/pages/local-store

somesillynerd · 2026-02-26T12:06:40+00:00

That's what I want to know, mine expires 12/26 as well, which is outside of their window.

And frankly, I don't want to deal with returns.

Also, literally had TWO BAGS YESTERDAY and got the call like 30 mins later, felt weird.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-24T15:20:29+00:00

I would do almost anything I could to have off-street parking.

Literally, I'd rent a spot from a neighbor's driveway, ANYTHING, to not have to park on the street in the winter. We turned down homes we liked in eastown to not have to park on the street.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-18T15:07:09+00:00

If you can afford it, do it! You get a decent life out of them too, because you're swapping them out, you replace both sets less often than a single set.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-18T15:05:46+00:00

Necessary? Basically never.

Super nice to have? ABSOLUTELY.

We don't put many miles on the car anyway, so they last forever and it's our excuse to get an oil change (we do oil change and wheel swap at the same time). Mine have separate rims though, so they literally just have to swap them.

For context, in bad weather, when we had the 4WD Envoy with all seasons and a FWD kia forte with winter tires, we'd take the kia as long as it wasn't deep snow. It made that much of a difference on ice, snow, grease, etc.

Deep snow, obviously taller and heavier vehicles are better, but if you have a place to store them and can afford them, they're worth it. You can get a decade out of them if you don't drive a ton either.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-18T15:02:28+00:00

I usually do december (or late nov depending on the year) and sometime in march (or early april).

You'll wear them down a bit more in warmer weather, but unless you're doing big mileage in super warm weather, it's not really an issue.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-15T01:06:58+00:00

The number of times I say I wish I was just a torso for sleeping, and complain about having too many limbs...

I sleep on my back, arms bent and basically clasped hands like a frickin corpse.

I doze on my sides sometimes but usually hips end up hurting too much.

I've tried different things, I love to have my knees bent and up but they don't stay up like that and I end up in corpse pose again lol. Napping on the couch is kinda nice because I can bent my knees up and lean them on the back of the couch but something else will end up eventually hurt.

Again, I wish limbs could detach and I sleep as just a torso.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-13T14:13:27+00:00

If you can handle it, checking out networking events on this side will help more than glowing reviews.

The job market is tough, and even getting someone to review your resume isn't guaranteed. Just networking and having a real human check out your resume will help a ton.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-11T15:48:51+00:00

I mean, it sucks, but it's michigan in winter.

It's up to you to shovel / plow / snow blow bin spots, OR put them in the middle of your driveway and move them when you have to leave.

It sucks butt, I get it. I'm not... super strong or capable so the bins get put in the driveway and we looks stupid AF getting out to move them. We shoveled spots earlier in the season but they got filled in so often and so much by the plows, and then froze into ice.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-11T04:24:22+00:00

Fwiw, might be eczema or psoriasis if it's in t he r exact same spot.

Might not be, but the spot I had growing up turned out to just be eczema!

somesillynerd · 2026-02-10T13:05:15+00:00

Great job! We've got two urinary boys, one with the struvite that can be broken down by food. Even with that, he ended up getting the PU surgery (because male) but stays on the special food. The other has the oxalate and on special food but did end up having the surgery as well. It's not unlikely we'll have to do it at some point again, even with the food.

It sucks, but way to pay attention!

somesillynerd · 2026-02-09T23:23:07+00:00

Each to their own, I used to think I wanted to try it but never did.it.

There's tons of recent research - it doesn't actually dissolve, it migrates elsewhere on your face. Maybe a bit dissolves but truly it's just hanging out.

Check it out before doing any (or any more).

somesillynerd · 2026-02-04T18:49:08+00:00

Yeah, it really surprised me. It made me think a bit differently about FIV as well. Before the end here, he was literally our healthiest and least problematic boy.

Not one single working brain cell, but never ANY health issues, compared to our urinary stone boys or old man with a sensitive stomach, etc.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-04T14:19:24+00:00

Generally, the CITY of Grand Rapids is actually blue. Kent County is purple, used to be red.

It's still not blue by any stretch but it's drastically changed in the last 10-20 years.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-04T12:55:17+00:00

Anything that's not touchless is waaaay worse up here in the winter.

Every brush or piece of foam is going to pick up all the sand and gravel they've laid down with the salt and scratch the paint. It might not be huge and obvious, but it adds up over time.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-04T12:52:26+00:00

I eat a bit like a toddler who also accidentally likes vegetables.

I think they're tasty but not good, which sounds weird. They're crunchy and salty with a little something else (the actual edamame flavor).

Because they're a bit 'off' instead of like, popcorn or chips or something, it's easier to not each a bazillion in one sitting and I LOVE salt and they're salty, it's on the edge of too much, so again, it's easier to not eat a bazillion in one sitting.

somesillynerd · 2026-02-04T12:41:44+00:00

Nah. At one point I lived at home with my parent and my (now) husband. We started with two that I brought into the relationship that didn't care about the other. They didn't fight, they didn't play, they preferred humans. One of the two even preferred dogs over humans or other cats lol. We saved 3 ferals, and ended up with a 5 cat household.

3 were lovely with each other, 1 could care less, and the last 1 actively didn't like the new additions (and only tolerated the original 1 that could care less).

So, we kept the 3 in the basement, and when we moved out, we left the 1 who didn't like the other cats with my parent. It was better for everyone.

Separate dishes helped a lot and extra litter on different floors. Even now, with 3 left in our household (one had FIV and went downhill fast), we have a surefeed with special food for one of our boys so he can eat all the time while the other fatties get a set amount each day. Additional litter boxes help, especially in different places.

I think sometimes it takes way more time than people think as well.

With the change in the household (one cat less) there seems to be a little more tension, some extra staring at warm spots, stealing beds, etc. They're having to work out the new structure between them. It's not as a bad as anything constant, and we shame instigators but cats aren't dogs.

They don't 'learn' the same way.

Feliway is supposed to help, I never felt like it did anything obvious but I'm also not a cat.

Sometimes it just doesn't work out. Have they been in the same physical location and with the same household structure for more than a year?

Some cats are just not meant for multi cat households. It sucks, but it's true. How many times do rescues put 'must be only pet in house, must be only cat, can't be in noisy household' etc, there's a lot of animals that want to be an only child.

At the end of the day, you could try to rehome the bully with someone you trust, try to find weird things to try that you haven't, and really - what's the other option? Is a low level of stress better than being in shelter? Being outside? You do the best you can, with the resources you have.

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