u/FullyRisenPhoenix

Owlfolk were the valiant discoverers of how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. Honestly, we don’t give them nearly enough credit for their dedication to the cause. 😋

I go to UIC, the University of Illinois in Chicago, for my annuals and scans. But fortunately some of my team also have radial clinics closer to my area for my semi-annual visits. I only have to travel to Peoria for my gastroenterologist for instance. He is mainly based at UIC but 8 days a month he travels to OSF in Peoria. My surgical team is entirely based in Chicago, but thankfully they released me from their care other than my annual follow-up this past January. My score is now an 11 and holding steady!

Tell them that the last glass of raw milk you had gave you explosive diarrhea and you refuse to risk a night like that again 😭

Really makes your beautiful eyes the focus! Big glow-up!

I just bought another pair of blue rose Mary Jane’s this very morning! I turn 50 at the end of this month!

You’re never too old for good fashion 😍

I dreamt about my husband for years, basically from the age of 14. Finally met him online, halfway around the world, and we were engaged before we ever met in person. We celebrate our 25th anniversary in June!!

Lemon borb! Absolutely adorable!! 🥰

This is the most beautiful plant I have ever seen! No hyperbole, it is amazing!!

Libyan or Persian of some sort? Beautiful shape and coloration!

I don’t go around just letting anybody into my past. I have found over my 50 years that many people will take advantage of my pain at the first opportunity. Not a red flag, at least not at the start. Guard your heart.

Most men make very reluctant bankers. If you’re happy most of the time, you made the right decision.

Boop the floofbutt 😂

That is a literal child. It’s exactly the type of goofy manipulative behavior I’d expect from my 11 year old nephew. Stew on it for a whole day and bring it up later to egg on a fight. I’ve witnessed this same sort of exchange from my prepubescent bratty little nephew! Coming from a 38 year old man??? Just so much EWWWWWW.

They should never have gotten half of the previous years’ FAFSA grants to begin with. OP, this sounds like financial abuse, if not outright fraud. Did they claim that income on their taxes? Did you file your own taxes? Lock your credit down by calling or writing to all 3 credit bureaus, and talk to someone in your Financial Aid office at the school about this. Maybe even an accountant if the FA officer feels it’s necessary. I’m pretty sure if your parents tried to sue you for half then they’d be setting themselves, and potentially you, up for an investigation into the matter. Protect yourself by being proactive now!

And shame on any parent that doesn’t provide any and all necessary support to their kids when they’re trying to start off in life! My oldest is 16 and I’ve been squirreling away every penny I could for 15 years for my kids’ educations. And now I am actively helping him begin the process of finding grants and scholarships even though he’s still a sophomore, because that’s what parenting should look like! I’m sorry your own parents are falling so short, but it’s important that you now ensure your own future is secure.

I’m the only girl in a family of 8 kids. Big Catholic family, with dozens of cousins all growing up together. Over 50 male cousins, and only 8 female cousins. As kids we girls were always told to sit still and act like “little ladies” whilst the boys were allowed to run riot, even in the house. Infuriating to say the least.

And now, as adults, that level of misogyny runs deep in the men of my family. As soon as one of their wives gets “uppity” for a good reason, they’re belittled and spoken down to. I’m the only one who left the toxicity decades ago, traveled the world, found a real man and we are about to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Every single one of my brothers and male cousins are either trapped in marriages with women who quite frankly hate them, or have been through multiple divorces.

This “boys will be boys” nonsense is NOT how I raised my own sons, and it makes me so proud to watch how empathetic they are towards the girls in their high school. Carrying feminine hygiene products in their backpacks, just in case. Making sure their female friends get home safely after dances and games. Checking in with them after a breakup. Giving them solid advice and support when they see them struggling with toxic male traits from their boyfriends. And my personal favorite: calling out their friends and demanding they do better if they expect to be called a Man. I am so damn proud of the role my husband and I have played in raising at least 2 sons who respect girls and women as human beings! Not just the opposite sex, in the hopes of getting something out of them.

It starts with the parents and grandparents, calling out the “boys will be boys” nonsense from the very start. Society needs a major shift in the way we raise our children, and the expectations they’re putting on girls vs boys simply because that’s how it’s always been done. Especially when how it’s always been done is toxic to both sides!

That is a fucking amazing story of survival and revenge! I’m so happy for you!! Keep on kickin’ cancer’s ass!

That’s what I pointed out to my husband in all of 40 seconds when he finally shared with me what he’d done. 🤦🏻‍♀️

That’s exactly what I keep telling him. He is 71 and had a stroke, so he’s an easy target. The scammer won’t quit harassing him but I do call the FBI and the local police. They told us to keep the channels of communication open for now while they investigate. Everything is in lockdown now and I’ve rescinded all access to our accounts from my husband entirely.

That was my first thought. Not crypto, but crypTOO?? I wish I could laugh, but I can’t at this point. I’m just pissed that he didn’t see this from a mile off.

I am so pissed off for you, OP. At both your SIL and your idiot husband! He absolutely should NOT have ever allowed her in, but having been through this before she should have known better to just show up! Especially with an at-risk newborn at stake!!! So disgusted selfish, I’m appalled that there are so many dummies surrounding you are invading and ruining what should have been a cherished time!

NTA. Tell your husband to do better. And don’t reach out to your SIL. She owes you a massive apology.

Same! I named our clunky old printer Black Betty. And I speak to her kindly, the way she deserves to be spoken to. With respect. She’s earned that, goddamit.

The Boomers and Millennials keep threatening to kick her, then wonder why she never wants to make clean copies for them, or runs out of toner at the worst possible moment. Not me though. No, Betty just purrs and gets the job done when I ask nicely 📠

When are these dumbasses gonna learn not to fuck with the LGBTQ+ community?? They have been forced to learn how to protect themselves, and they will not hesitate to bring the thunder down. I once watched my son’s friend take on 4 much bigger guys in a fight (they started) because he’s gay. He walloped their dumb, ignorant asses! It was beautiful to behold! 🥹

My 50th is coming up soon and my mom and my friend/coworker are the only 2 people who have taken the initiative to make it special. They’re planning a party that otherwise would never have happened. Despite the fact that I have always been the one to make a massive effort for everyone else’s special days, spending weeks at a time and thousands of dollars to give my siblings and friends memories that will last a lifetime. But when it came down to my own, it almost felt like they were waiting to see who drew the short straw.

I feel your pain, OP. And I’m not sure if there’s anything I can say to make you feel better, other than to say You are not alone in the way you’re feeling. The whole damn world is a dumpster fire, and what’s one small birthday party in all the mess, right?? Except that it’s not just some “small” birthday. It’s YOUR party, or at least, it should’ve been. Having nobody willing to celebrate you makes you feel so insignificant to those who are significant to you, and I think that’s what probably hurts so much. So I’m sorry they didn’t recognize that, but you have nothing to be sorry about, and quite frankly have every reason to be upset.

If my friend and mom hadn’t decided last week to do something then I planned on booking a week-long vacay for myself. Just me. No husband or kids. No friends even. Just me in a nice hotel room, getting all the spa treatments and room service. Maybe that’s what you need to do. Go out and celebrate yourself, because you have earned that shit!! Happy birthday 💖

What a genuine cutie patootie! I also dig rocks and frogs 🐸🪨