Olive garden near me

Y’all are probably smarter than me and/or have run more recently and did not need this PSA. But I’ve run the Mini almost every year for the last 10 years… except 2021 and 2022… and I had NO IDEA that the start line is no longer in Columbus Circle but rather is up on West 90th! I live right near Columbus Circle and I’m so glad I looked at the map because I definitely would not have left myself enough time to get there 😆
Anyway, see everyone out there tomorrow!

Anyone here near texarkana wanna go on date with me Monday 24yoa Male.

Let’s start at the very beginning! I’m a 17-year-old that is graduating today and I should be excited but I’m not. My family has made it hard for me to feel happy and here are the reasons why! When I told them I was graduating they said wow really we didn’t think you were. That broke me because I was slacking off from sophomore year to senior year but because I felt so trapped in my mind that I couldn’t escape it and they know this because I tried killing myself a year ago. I got a therapist and she told me to open up to my family about what happened because they were worried. So I did I told them that when I was little I got SA in my room by a guy my parents let stay at my house till he got a place to stay. This guy was a family friend. This scarred me to this day! We still live in the same apartment. I sleep in the same room and I could see my little self sometimes getting assaulted(like if it was a movie). I tried explaining to my family but they don’t get it they just think I'm a mess up and nowhere near my sister. When I say sister I mean the child that has never in their eyes done them wrong. She got good grades never missed school and never let them down. And I have to them because I let my grades slip I miss school because of health reasons and have gotten caught sneaking out. They have trapped me in my house for so long that I would sneak out to escape from my thoughts and to see my boyfriends who has helps me heal and forget. I understand that I’ve been a hard child but I’m trying my best to be okay and help. I got a job and I thought that they would help me like how they did to my siblings. Like, help me save money. But no I pay for everything that belongs to me. I pay for my phone, food, and dog everything just no rent but I know they are going to start asking me for some because they feel as tho I’m grown enough to be paying for me and my dog to live here. I would be happy to help but we don’t have our room and my sister isn’t paying anything. Mom told me since I have a tv I can start paying for the tv bill but I don’t use any of the Chanel’s or have cable in my room because I have a Roku and I pay for those Chanel’s and services. They got upset at me today because I didn’t want to go to tj with them for my birthday. I understand that they wanted to do something special for me but I didn’t want to go because of many reasons. Some are that my sex offender is close to there and me just not feeling safe, especially with the stuff going on over there today. They got upset and asked why and I said I just feel uncomfortable and would want to stay home. They said why do you go out with your friends then and I said I just wanna be home. My mom brought up the reason that I could drink over there and I said that’s not going to change my opinion I don’t want to go. They were calling me stubborn and all these names. I know they are going to bring this up today again when we go out to eat after graduation when my whole family is there to force me to say yes. They ALWAYS do this. I just want to be happy at my graduation and feel Like I did something for myself. Maybe I’m overthinking and overreacting as I tend to do. I just don’t know what to do!

I posted this a few months ago, and while I still don’t have a concrete answer (haven’t looked into it tbh), I came across something while rereading a piece on psychedelics and neuroplasticity that I came across some time back.
My original post: https://www.reddit.com/shroomstocks/comments/124nf7k/what_is_the_competitive_advantage_of_atais_vls01/
The Nature paper, “Towards an understanding of psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity”: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-022-01389-z
The excerpt, in case it helps anyone:
“In addition to 5-HT2A receptors, the effects on neurogenesis seen with DMT and 5-MeO-DMT could potentially involve other receptors [42, 43]. DMT has low but functionally significant affinity for the sigma-1 receptor, an orphan receptor involved in neuroprotection and neurogenesis [78]. Sigma-1 receptor antagonists block DMT’s effects on hippocampal neurogenesis [44, 79], and sigma-1 receptor activity has also been shown to stimulate neurogenesis in previous studies [80,81,82]. The affinity of DMT for sigma-1 receptors may also not only its effects on neurogenesis, but also DMT’s neuroprotective effects in a rat model of stroke [83].
Concerning 5-MeO-DMT, this molecule is unusual among psychedelics in that it has a nearly 1000-fold higher affinity for 5-HT1A than 5-HT2A receptors, and many of its effects are mediated by 5-HT1A receptors [79, 84,85,86,87]. Hippocampal 5-HT1A receptors may drive neurogenesis, suggesting that the effects of 5-MeO-DMT on neurogenesis could conceivably occur via potent, relatively selective activation of 5-HT1A receptors [88, 89]. Additionally, 5-HT1A receptors are generally inhibitory and tend to have opposite effects on downstream signaling pathways than 5-HT2A receptors [90,91,92,93]. Many psychedelics show binding affinity for both 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors [94]. Furthermore, some of psychedelics’ effects on attention and the visual system may be mediated by the 5-HT1A receptor [95, 96]. The excitatory and neuroplastic effects of different psychedelic drugs in any particular brain region could conceivably depend on whether that region is richer in 5-HT2A or 5-HT1A receptors [79, 97,98,99,100,101].”

Short-term rentals AVAILABLE for 2 guest bedrooms in a single family 4 bed/2 bath home. This is an all-genders living situation. Common areas are shared with myself (female US-IMG, ambassador for Project IMG Chicago), my boyfriend and his brother. Non smoking, 2 cat friendly home.
ABOUT THE LOCATION: Clean remodeled place near beautiful Garfield Park Conservatory. 6 to 10 min walk to CTA Green Line. This neighborhood overall doesn't have much in terms of dining and entertainment, but with the CTA Green Line/short Uber drive/Divvy bike rental you can easily access great entertainment in Oak Park, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Wicker Park, and downtown.
VERY close to some of the IMG friendly hospitals in the city. Closest hospitals to my home would be:

1. Loretto
2. Medical District: UIC/Rush/Cook County
3. AMITA St. Elizabeth, St. Mary's
4. St. Anthony's

Room 1: $800, small student room
Room 2: $1000, larger student room with private patio included
Rent includes furniture, utilities, Hi-Speed wifi, air conditioning and laundry.
Send me a private message for booking confirmation details.

Hello- I get paid Tuesday, but unfortunately cannot hold out until then. Needing to get back home but no bus routes or transit near me as I'm 20 mins from town. Ride fell through and I'm in a bit of a bind here. Asking for some help with funds to be able to get home. I would ask for a ride straight out- but it's a safety concern at this point. I can accept etransfer and can send/pay back on Tuesday afternoon. Pretty embarrassed needing to ask

First thing first, I am new to the game, started a week ago and I did not finish it yet. I am also made sure I go in completely blind into the game.
When DS3 released I used to have a friend that we would either play together passing the controller or sit in whatsapp and pour ideas after ideas, it was all exciting and fun.
But with Elden Ring I can't seem to find anyone. All my friends either too busy or doesn't interested in Lore.
I am only at the start (just beat Godrick, my 2nd proper boss) and with to avoid end game spoilers, but there is SO MUCH stuff to do and to see. The environmental storytelling in Elden is on another level. For example I just spent 10 minutes sitting near a nomad merchant, and suddenly at nightfall he started playing on his violin, that I assume was a piece of wood to cook food at the fire, and apparently it's the Leatherman of Elden rings, it's a music instrument, a pike, a fork and some other things that I only can guess.
So if anybody is first time playing currently and is fascinated as I am, or someone who finished the game but still enjoys the lore and just wants to discuss random stuff about the lore, please comment here so I can message you, or better yet just message me directly and let's explore together!

I (34M) was told by my sister (31F) that I'm "going too far" and it's not "my place" to do anything about this. So, my father broke my family when I was 16 cheating on my mother with her best friend. They got married and he got a new family. I went NC at 19 due to shifts in his personality and how they effected our relationship. Was in contact for a year at 24, attempted to repair the relationship without any effort on his part and went NC with him again when I got my own place.
My sister and I are not what I would consider close. I have been the good older brother when she is upset about his behavior but I cannot expect the same from her. We've had >20 hours of talking in a decade. I would not say that she "knows" me as we've not had a relationship since being under the same roof. My sister also believes my mom and I consumed by bitterness, while I see her as a "daddy's girl" making excuses for bad behavior in many different situations re: him, while downplaying what mom and I think (I generally agree with mom on nearly every issue involving him). Sis lived with him and my stepmom 5 years ago and was basically bullied and treated unreasonably by both of them. She went no contact with him during covid after he refused to see her child due to covid, while stepmoms daughter was invited into the home warmly with her new child.
My father works for the USPS. During my childhood he used his position to get people's addresses. Nothing malicious. The last time I received a piece of mail from him was around 2015 or 16 (while NC). I have never given him my address. No mutuals to give him that info either. Monday my sister received mail from him (no return address, stepmom wrote envelope, sis didnt recognize). It was a congrats card (she got her degree) but my sister has never given him her address and again no mutuals. She was upset and told my mom, my mom told me. I believe he has both of our addresses because of his job.
I filed a complaint with the OIG re: misconduct. I told my sis, gave her the info to do the same if she wants. She told me it was too far. I disagreed and gave her my opinion which began a fight with me and my mother. She said some hurtful things that are off base and I'm sort of offended by, I responded by telling her she was being a doormat/hypocrite by allowing him to violate clear boundaries that we have set. She also adopted a very condescending tone with me during the exchange while I basically told her the "tough/street" persona she puts on doesn't match up with her timidness re: father. Also reminded her that she treats my mother poorly compared to how she excuses his actions. Which lead to her acting like "I have kids, therefore I am more mature and so above it all" that irked me, telling me to get a life and to stop texting her.
I might be TA for choosing now to make a complaint when I received mail years ago and not caring about his livelihood/ whatever consequences might arise for him/ how sis feels about what I did.

ORLANDO I will not, till I please

I drove my kid to the bus stop today, due to rain. We were waiting in the car and my kid was in the backseat using his iPad, so we weren’t talking much. I glanced into my driver’s side mirror while waiting for the school bus, and I saw a cat cross the street behind me. I worried because a truck was coming down the road, behind me, and I saw the cat cross safely. The truck was an older green one, with a cab on the back, and it had a big board out the back of the cab. I noticed this because I was parked near a stop sign, and the truck paused beside me to stop before taking a right turn. Few minutes later, I see in my driver’s side mirror, an identical cat cross the road just where I had seen the first earlier. For a second I thought maybe they were siblings, or related somehow, and once again I watched to make sure the cat crossed safely. But then, the green truck with the board drove by, paused next to me, and made a right turn. Weird.

In a house with incomplete walls, lived a man, Who held life by a delicate thread so wan. His heart, a heavy stone, shadowed by doom, And the only light, the only room.
His spirit once danced in the warmth of a hearth, Once glowed with the laughter of kinship and mirth. But time, the great reaper, had stolen his cheer, His family had left, his end was near.
He'd built this house with his heart and soul, For his family, his joy, to make them whole. Brick by brick, and beam by beam, It was his life, his love, his dream.
But as his beloved departed from his sight, The house remained his only respite. Unfinished rooms echoed empty songs, Reminders of right in a world of wrongs.
Every hammer strike, every nail he drove, Was a promise to them, a silent oath. To complete the house, to make it whole, Was the last thread tying him to his soul.
Yet, he feared the day it would stand complete, For he knew then, life would taste bitter-sweet. Once the last brick was in place, the last nail driven, There would be nothing else tying him to the living.
So, he dwelled in the only room that was done, Under the solitary glow of a lonesome sun. His hands stilled, his tools gathered dust, In this unfinished sanctuary, he placed his trust.
The room held his heart, his pain, his tears, His hopes, his dreams, his unspoken fears. Surrounded by bare walls and wooden frame, He was a silent dweller in life's unfinished game.
Through the window, he'd watch the world rush by, Under the watchful, indifferent sky. In his unfinished house, he chose to bide, With no place to run, no place to hide.
And so he remained, in his solemn space, Living on the edge of time's embrace. The unfinished house, his only tether, An echo of a life, held together.
To his final days, he'd resist completion, For the house was his refuge, his salvation. Bound to life, by this fragmented palace, A man, his fear, and his unfinished house.
My whole life I've been depressed. I've always had a lack of desire to continue. A year ago the only things that were holding me here was my family and the debt I have collected because of the renovations have been trying to do on my house. I bought the house to try and give myself something to live for. I've known for a long time that if I go before the house is finished, it's going to negatively impact my family. But about 6 months ago I lost contact with all of my family. They left me because I lost my faith. Now I'm scared to finish my house because once it's done I will have nothing else keeping me here.

Hello everyone, I am an exmuslim and 18 yo girl. I live with my family and I didn't finish high school because I was in a very bad mental health, they were always discussing, and I was no will to keep living, this made me very depressed and I stopped caring of myself, stopped having friends and even going out, they would threat me of marrying me off to a guy who is my father's friend and is 58.
I found a way of having a high school diploma which is doing A levels. I have been studying them for a year and I am still not prepared, but they are forcing me to do the exam this year because they don't want their family members to know that I failed high school ( I was known for being very smart and responsible but the environment influenced me a lot in a negative way). They want me to do the exams and study in a university that is near our city, because they want me to keep living with them until I get married. Also to note, I have a scholarship when I was in 10th grade which was around 1000$ and I am still having it in case something happens, but my parents obviously want me to pay my A level exams with my money.
I tried to have a job but I can't, they require experience and most importantly a bank account, I don't have one because my parents didn't let me, and even if I had one and started earning money, the bank would take it from me because my family is in a huge debt and the bank takes the money from every member of the family, they count me as a member too because I am still living with them. They also receive a welfare and as a law they can't have other income, if they have one they would take the welfare from them and give them even more debt, so if I start having money they would take it away.
I don't have friends because I isolated myself a lot, I don't go out, I live in a rural area, so the town is very small and there's nothing to do, if I want to go to another city I need money, and my parents never give me money, because they say that I don't need it.
I really want to escape and live my life but I don't know how, they are religious and toxic, there's no privacy and no respect, they never respect your feelings.
I need help, if someone has a solution that I hadn't thought of please tell me, I don't want to give up.
Thank you

Hi, need some advice here what to do. I myself posted a parcel from USA to myself in the UK. It was quite a big box over 40kg, 50x50x50cm. Parcel arrived at local depot. It was loaded onto the truck at 7am but no delivery was made at the end of the day. Next morning I get the parcel by the UPS driver however I wasn’t home to see it. Once I got home it was a much smaller parcel, weighing about 10kg. Someone had taken the paper label out the plastic UPS sticker envelope, put it into a new envelope and stuck it on a random parcel that was supposed to be for someone near my house. So this definitely happened at a local depot before loading the truck for the local area. I have called UPS CS, they called the depot, and someone from the depot called me and found my story absurd. But this happened. Next day I ask a random UPS driver who said he knows that sometimes the people who load into trucks steal packages that they think are high value, although it is rare as there are hidden cameras all around the depot. Has anyone ever experienced something like this before? I’ve now lost my parcel with important personal goods and nobody is able to tell me what has happened.

Previous / First
Writer's note: My bad about the past few days. A stomach bug and work got in the way. But all's good.
Now learn some tragic backstory, a bit of Earth info, and the status of everyone's favorite omen of misfortune.
Enjoy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The King was already conversing with Colonel Muhammed when James finally caught up with him in the command room. He jogged in at a brisk pace, but stopped when he saw the two of them talking on the small tablet in front of the King.
King Farrick cocked an eyebrow as he saw James. James just shrugged while mouthing "I know." and gesturing at his beard. The King shook his head as he looked back down at the tablet.
"We're just glad our people could be of assistance sir." The Colonel said. "Even if it only ended up being during the cool down after everything had already resolved."
"It is greatly appreciated Colonel." The King replied. "Seeing as the dungeon is currently erm... ruined... we'll have to let the last few of your people there out. Though they'll still be restricted in their movements." He added. The Colonel nodded, as if she'd expected as much. "As for the weapons." He continued. "Well," He sighed deeply. "I look forward to the.... paperwork.... regarding its use in necessary situations."
Colonel Muhammed let out a quick snort. "I'll see if I can get em to keep it short and sweet." She said.
The King motioned for James, who walked over. "Captain Choi is back earlier than expected, as I'm sure you know." He said as James got next to him and he turned the tablet so its camera caught James too. "I'll let you have him for a bit."
And just like that James was looking at his commanding officer while sporting a neon pink beard.
"Evening ma'am." He said with his cheesiest smile.
Muhammmed's eyes glazed over as she saw the ridiculous facial hair.
"Do I even want to know?" She asked.
"Nope." James replied honestly. "But I made friends during my trip." Then he shook his hand in a so-so gesture. "Well... one of em might just be an...." Then he rethought his standing with the Vatrian Emperor, Vateris. He also hadn't talked with command about his personal vendetta against the so-called gods. "Look. I didn't end up in prison or dead. And things went mostly well."
And suddenly a very grainy, sand-coated, hand was holding James's. He did what he could not to jump with surprise.
"By the way. Meet Glag!" He said excitedly as he panned the camera down to the rock monster's face. Glag looked at the screen with wide, amazed, eyes. James was surprised to see that Glag looked surprisingly dark, and just a little red. "He's a new companion!"
"What in the hell is that?" The Colonel asked as she peered at the screen on her end.
"Glaaaaag." Glag replied.
"Introductions done." James said. "So, what's the deal with the Zootopia duo?"
------------------------------
"Okay. It was weird at the store." Samantha said as she looked around. "But this is just plain strange."
Around them the restaurant was empty. The bistro Fletcher had brought her to, The Blue Tree, was a ghost town. A few of the staff stood at the greeting booth on the other side of the room. But other than that it was completely deserted. It was so quiet that they could hear the kitchen staff working prep in the back, for what had to be ONLY their food.
"Admittedly I think they took this a bit too far." Fletcher said abashedly as he peeked at the small menu. "This can't be cheap for the hospital, or government or whoever is funding the rehabilitation program."
There was an awkward silence for a few moments as they both tried to think of what to say. Neither of them would admit it, but it had been a while since either of them had dated.
And neither of them had ever dated in THIS particular scenario.
"So... how long have you been a lawyer?" She asked hesitantly.
"Um... about... eight years now?" He said uncertainly as he tried to do math in his head. "Close to nine. How bout you? How long were you in the Army before um.... well. You know."
She nodded. She was getting a lot better about acknowledging what had happened. But it was still a sore spot.
"I was about half way through my second term. So about six years." She answered, even though she was certain he'd probably read that in her file at some point. "Wasn't gonna reenlist again though."
"No plans to make it a career?" He asked.
"No." She said with a shake of her head. "No I intended to get out and get certified as a ration enforcement officer once I was done."
"Ration enforcement?" He said with raised eyebrows. "That's a dangerous job. Even compared to being an MP. Planning on staying near your family?"
She chuckled. "Yeah." She admitted. "My fathers shop is small and usually gets shunted by the bigger ones in the area. Wanted to stick around and keep the queues in order so it didn't happen."
"Ah. Makes sense." He responded as one of the wait staff came over.
A few minutes later, and after Fletcher had ensured that they'd been warned about Samantha's new dietary difficulties, the young woman departed with a smile and promise that their drinks and appetizers would be out in just a few minutes.
"And what got you into law?" She asked once they were alone again.
"My wife." He said, causing her to spit out the small sip of water she'd taken after asking the question. He smiled and there was a pain there. "Don't worry." He said. "I'm not married anymore."
"Divorced?" She asked, trying to figure out what was happening now.
Fletcher's mouth opened for a moment as he tried to think for a second. Did he really wanna have THIS talk on, what was hopefully a first, date. "Widower." He said softly.
And just like that she was thrown off balance again.
"I'-I'm so sorry." She said hastily. "I didn't know."
He held his hands up in warding. "It's fine." He said reassuringly. "It's been.... almost a decade now. I'm... I'm okay."
There was another awkward silence, though this time NOT because neither of them had anything to say.
Fletcher spoke first.
"She was a Paramedic." He said. "She was helping with some humanitarian work overseas and um... She got sick from some of the fallout." He nodded as he took a deep breath. "The organization she worked for was uh.... less than honorable about helping her get cared for afterwords. I started reading up on as many laws and regulations as I could to help her fight for it. But uh.... too little too late." Then he fake-smiled. "But I found out I was good at understanding legal jargon so I uh.... found my calling. I guess. Retooled my college classes and the rest is history."
"That's awful." She said quietly, not knowing what else to say given what she'd just heard.
"It was, yeah." He agreed. "But uh... thanks to that I've been able to help a lot of people who've been screwed by similar situations. So... I don't know. Guess that's something."
She smiled too. "Well you helped me." She said. "Didn't expect the ARMY of all organizations to back down from some legalese."
He pointed out at one of the windows, at the people outside walking about. Across the street a few teenagers were watching as one of them tried to levitate. The kid rose about a foot or so before beginning to wobble and then flipping over and falling on his face. The other two fell out laughing and jeering as he picked himself up.
"Between the two packs that split off and headed north and south, and all the people that have started to have ACTUAL magic powers." He said with a shrug. "I think they just have bigger fish to fry."
"Your appetizers and drinks." The server said, startling both of them.
"Ah." Fletcher said with a genuine smile this time. "I think you're gonna like the crab sliders here. They actually use REAL crab."
Her eyes widened. Real crab was rare nowadays. Then she looked at the server, who was nodding. "They closed this place and you guys serve REAL crab?" She asked.
"Sure do." The server replied with a smile. "We're one of the few restaurants in the city that gets any.
"God you weren't kidding." Samantha said as she turned back to Fletcher. "It must have cost a fortune to close a place like this for a night."
"I told you." He said jokingly with a grin.
She slumped, a little embarrassed at everything that had to have gone into this. She didn't deserve all this.
"So we'd better make the most of it before the hospital's finance department catches on." He said as he raised his glass of wine in a toast. "Again, assuming this isn't government funded. Which... it probably is."
Samantha lifted the large stein of light ale and, as gently as she could, clinked it against his glass.
"Enjoy." The server said as she nodded and stepped back.
And just like that the tone of the conversation lightened, and the rest of dinner was much more enjoyable.
--------------------------
Vickers awoke with a gasp.
Everything hurt.
He'd been beaten up pretty badly before. Had even been way too close to explosions a few times and spent weeks in the hospital recovering afterword to make sure he didn't have any unseen injuries. Then there was the time some turbulence had caused him to botch a wet insertion from a helicopter that had already been almost at the max height for a dive.
Those had all had him SORE for weeks.
This was different.
He felt both hot and cold at the same time. And not just his skin, but his entire body, inside and out, felt like they were infused with IcyHot.
And try as he might, he couldn't see, and everything was muted.
"He's awake." Someone said from outside of him. "Fetch the Archmage and master Farstorm."
"Whe-" He tried to say. But his voice was horse, and cracked as he tried to wheeze out the question. "Where?" He said weakly after struggling to swallow with a mouth that was drier than it had ever been before.
Someone touched him on the chest, and even though the touch was light and delicate he groaned in pain as every nerve in the area screamed.
And even in that excruciating moment, the part of his brain that nobody could ever fully get rid of, no matter how much training they underwent, joked.
So this is what Choi's life is like. It said sarcastically. Running through life like a marshmallow that got dropped in a camp fire every few months. Tough little fucker.
"Calm down Mister Vickers." One of those muted voices, that he thought sounded familiar, said. "We only woke you up so the Archmage could ask a few questions. We'll have you back under in a minute. Let me give you something for the pain."
"Not until the lead healer has okayed it." Another voice said somewhat harshly. "We don't even know how your Earth medicine will affect his body now."
"I do." The first voice replied. "I've used this stuff on were-people before. It works just fine. I just have to up the dosage. And Shrend knows it." The first voice, which he now faintly recognized as Choi's mom, said.
There was a pinch in the middle of a bloom of fire on Vickers' throat as a needle was pressed into one of the veins there.
And suddenly the pain, and everything else for that matter, seemed to drop away.
"Thassss..." He began. "Thasssalot... bedder."
"Shhhh." Mrs. Choi said as he felt, faintly, her touching his head. "I'm gonna take off some of your bandages so you can hear and see." She finished as his hearing cleared. "Plus we need to check your eyes and ears anyways."
A moment later Vickers' eyes opened and he was surrounded by a swirling mix of green and amber light. It was blurry, though he was mostly just happy he had any sight at all.
"Still cloudy." Mrs. Choi said as she pried his eyes open ever so slightly and looked inside. She as about to check his ears when the door opened.
Vickers turned his head with a slowness that was not intentional.
"Chief Vickers." Said the old mage who usually spoke so slowly, and looked so frail. But he didn't look or sound anything of the such at the moment as he pulled up a chair and sat where he could look at Vickers.
"Thaassss....me." He said as his head swam with whatever Mrs. Choi had given him. Probably Ketamine or something.
"I know you're in a lot of pain right now." The old mage said. "But we need to know what you saw. What was on the other side of that door before the Elemental manifested?"

This has always happened to me, regardless which station I'm listening to. Just as you're coming down the 102, by the exit near to the Big Stop in Truro, the station goes fuzzy, then it fixes. Is there a reason for that?

What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.

Schoolwork and games such as Diablo 4, Valorant, LoL, Soulsborne, and Monster Hunter World/Rise

What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?

$2000 but can go a little over

When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy.

Within a week

What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? (ToweOS/monitokeyboard/mouse/etc)

Tower & OS

Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location?

US no microcenter near me

If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated.

LG 240hz 1080p, Logitech G Pro Superlight, Razer Huntsman Mini

Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?

No

Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)

No

Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-towefull-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components?

No preferences

Do you need a copy of Windows included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference?

Yes, no preference

Just a forward, this is a vent, nothing more. This post has a TW on it so read at your own risk.
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Recently I've been trying to lose weight again, after I was sort of forced into recovery, I'm at the highest weight I've ever been. almost 130 lbs. Which feels like a lot for me, I guess, because I'm only 5'4-5'5 and I've had this obsession with being under 50 kg (110lbs) for a while, so I essentially have to shed about 25 lbs to get to my goal weight. I was so close to it too before I was forced into recovery, I was just under 50 kgs and maybe I was deluding myself but I truly felt like I was more satisfied with my body. I mean, is it really so wrong to want to lose weight? I mean if I'm being technical the goal weight I want to be at isn't even in the underweight range, it just tips the edge of the border of it. For my height and age it wouldn't be considered 'underweight' only near it. I understand going to unhealthy lengths to achieve that and I guess that's my fatal flaw, but what if I was able to do it without purging or restricting to an insane degree? I dont know, all i know is i feel like i can barely move without hating my body, and i feel like a fucking pig. if i wasnt such a glutton maybe i wouldnt feel this way. fuck. the thing that even just fucking sparked this was working out because i hadnt done it in forever like the lazy shit i am, and after one 25 minute workout im sweating like an idiot. i felt piggish. i look bloated. i hate it.

A folded bit of paper was in my garden with ‘help’ written on the outside and when I opened it said ‘HELP ME call police to let a 10 y old (me) to explain what her family does to her 2023’ we live at the bottom of a block with 27 flats with a primary school and a community centre within 3 minutes of walking. My partner spotted the note about a week ago but thought it was rubbish and didn’t pick it up till tonight when they were watering. I’m thinking I take the note to the school? Obviously can’t ask on the local Facebook

And I miss a friend of mine. Or an ex friend? I'm not really sure.
His name is Chris. I met him a few years ago when he applied to work at the restaurant I managed. Like, the literal moment we met, we clicked. Same dark humor, same LGBT-forward identity, similar childhood baggage, and we just connected. I've only ever clicked like that with literally one other person in my entire life. And she's my hecking soulmate.
Chris was never my soulmate. Obviously. But we were tight. We tried new things together. Worked together. Hung out. Supported one another. He helped me figure out shit with my fiance when I was contemplating ending things. I helped him leave an abusive partner. We cooked and planned and got fucked up and laughed and loved and it was genuinely the best part of living in Kansas. STG.
I mean. It wasn't all sunshine and lollypops. Truth. We had some disagreements. I phrased things terribly a few times telling him to be tough in situations. He occasionally disregarded my feelings for his own. Both totally normal fuckups. Anf no relationship is perfect. It's hard being besties when one of you manages the other. And in effect, that started the downfall of our relationship. We made it work so unreasonably well.
In the end, I felt taken advantage of by Chris. I lost my job because of his ex and the shit that cunt started with my work and fiance. We had to relocate to a new state.l, and had bought a house and everything. And I still have a lot of anger about it. (Not just with Chris, my fiance made things so so much worse, dumbass.) But then things started spiralling. I took a lower paying job at the same time my fiance was laid off, and the struggle to make ends meet was real. I even got a second job to make it work. And shit with Chris kept piling on. He talked for ages about moving to thw same town as us while he and his husband made their way to their dream location. And I looked for apartments and jobs for him and promised to help with the move. And I thought that was all good. But he literally got an offer from an ex of his to move in with them instead, and just decided that that would be the move instead. Still expected me to help with moving and costs. Never asked, just expected.
Typing that out seems shitty. And selfish. And I am, I admit. But I was so heartbroken that we had been making these plans for a YEAR and he literally bailed the second he got another offer. That is what it felt like to me.
Besides that there was the money. At the job Chris and I worked, I made good money. Especially for the Midwest. In losing that job and taking a new one, I took a 40%cut in pay. I made ot work. Problem was, in my previous role, I was flush with cash and happy to splurge on my friends. Hell Chris's entire move and first month's rent came from me, as a gift to my friend. I spotted him money all the time, paid for groceries, movies were always on me. To such a point I think it became the norm, and defined our relationship. Because even when I was making WAY less money, Chris still expected the status quo. Constantly 'subtly' telling me he needed money for smoke, or hinting about how he had nothing to spend on his spouse for an anniversary gift. And I fucking encouraged it. I have something so fucked up in my brain that I NEED people to like me, even if it means trampling all over myself to achieve that delusion. I want to believe people love me, but I cannot reconcile it with how much I hate myself, and it leads to this shit. Every time.
Sorry for whining. Anyways.
It came to a head when we took a couples trip together. My and my partner, Chris and his. We booked a weekend in a city to see a comedian we loved and just have fun. I paid for accommodations and the comedian, I had gotten them nearly a year prior when money was no issue. And I offered to pay for the drinks and snacks at the vomedy club, since I already had a deposit down that was only partially refundable. We used it up. But through the entire trip, he expected more. I had to buy things at the mall, while shopping. And I should have said no. But I was so blinded by the joy I felt seeing my best dude for the first time in months, I just ignored it. Ignored me.
It came to a head on the last night of the vacay. We wnet out for a sushi dinner at Chris's behest, and I assumed we were all taking care of ourselves. Apparently not. Chris's partner got nauseous before the food arrived, and he left me to take care of the bill while he took care of the hubby. They ordered so much expensive shit, it was 100 buck extra onto the bill. And THEN driving home he asked if they could use some of my foodstamps to get some groceries . I get a generous supplement, so I said sure. He then proceeded to spend 250 bucks on all kinds of fancy shit. Porterhouse steaks, 13 buck lemon juice, etc. And watching it ring up, all I could feel was anger. My fiance and I needed that money to get by, and here it was being used for luxuries for someone who makes more money than I do.
Oh yeah, I forgot context. Since my new job, Chris makes more, and works less hours, than I do. We have similar expenses (he a car payment, I a mortgage). He had also had all utilities and rent taken care of for 1 year because of a program we got him in to help abused partners leaving bad relationships. So I am not fucking around when I say his financial situation has the potential to be miles better than mine.
So. Yeah. That's it. I messaged him about a month after the vacay to ask for the money for the sushi dinner back, since I had no gas money and was struggling. He literally told me he would 'try' to throw me something when he had money, but not right now.
And I just fuckint snapped. I never needed people in my life. Was a loser as a kid, a freak now, and I do okay with just myself and Youtube and Reddit and my kitties. I'm bad at peopleand don't try to make a lot of bonds. I'm fine on my own, always have been. Lucas and Mandi are my everything.
But I really thought this one was something. I love him so much, I miss him like crazy. I cared about him so much, and considered him like a bro, a bestie, all of the good things. I LOVED him. And in the end I was worth less than a fucking sushi dinner. (I get a 100 bucks is a lot. Hence why I wanted the money back, because it was a lot for me.) Anf he blew me off. And when I told him what I was feeling and that I wanted a break, he just tried to guilt trip me about how he's such a terrible person, and that's why everyone ghosted him before. I blocked him after that.
I've been watching ENCANTO and it's making me miss him so, so much. This was a movie we really bonded over. Quoted and sang all the time.
And I miss him.
Chris, since you found this account (thanks Chey and Wood, I sincerely hope you get hit by a bus), I recognize there is a chance you will read this. I miss you so much, and I want so bad for things to be as they were. But I don't trust you. And I don't forgive you right now. Don't know if I ever will, for how you treated me and made me feel. I've been used by people before. For money, connections, sexual gratification . . . I'm not someone people consider and want to keep around, ya know? I have friends generally by the grace if what I can provide. Mandi is the only person who has never, never not once taken advantage of me. Never. She's for real. You used me over and over and couldn't even pretend to care about making it right when I pleaded with you.
I am so, so, SO done begging people to think of me. Asking to be treated like a human fucking bejng as if it is such a task. I'm tired of it. I would rather spend my life in this ache of the void of your friendship than go back to being valued because I'm too fucking pathetic to say no to paying for everything. Or being the emotional punching bag when you and your husband get upset I suggest income alternatives since you were supposedly desperate for any cash and your partner can't work. I'm so sick of trying to give, hoping it will leave me with some sense of purpose or value. I have no purpose and no value, and you helped me see that very clearly, if even one of my best friends can't treat me like he cares in my hour of need.
I don't know what is going to happen next. I wish you well in your lifeand I hope with time comes maturity, and with that consideration, introspection, and reflection of who you are, and who you want to be.
I'm just going to keep trying to justify staying alive on this over-heated planet in this Conservative state with a lit of people who care about me almost as little as I care about myself.
I don't know what this was supposed to be. I don't feel any better.
I'm going to bed.