About a year ago I (29M) match with a woman on Bumble, let’s call her A(26F). A messaged me and we have some playful flirty banter. I let her know off the bat that I’m not looking for anything serious and at the time neither was she. After a couple days she invites me over. I go over and we talked for what seemed like an hour getting to know each other before we had sex. Sex was good and we both said we looked forward to next time. We’ve continued to hookup about once or twice every week or every two or so weeks for the past year.
A and I’s conversation has always been playful and fun. We’d talk work, gossip, family, travel, food, hobbies, tv shows, sex etc. There really has never been any bad conversation and I felt we we’re comfortable enough to say anything.
Around the 8mo mark A sends me a picture of my Bumble account. Confused, I reply with, yes that’s my account. She then asks if I’m looking for a relationship now. I reply with no, just casual fun. After that she didn’t bring it up again. Maybe 1-2 months later she lets me know that she’s been going on dates but nothing serious. After hearing she’s been going out on dates, I tried to brush it off. For the past few months now I’ve been trying extra hard to compartmentalize my feelings and emotions again, but its been a challenge.
After everything being in my mind for some time and not being able to shake the feelings, I figured I’d ask A out on a proper date knowing that it may backfire and ruin our fwb situation. I decided that I’d ask her the next time she comes over. Well after she came over and we were chatting I was trying to grow the balls to ask her but I got so nervous and then her phone rang. A has two kids and her sister had been babysitting after work and called to say they all were vomiting and that she needed to come home. A got her things and left.
After she left I felt so mad at myself because I couldn’t just sack up and ask her. I figured that the next time she came over I’d ask. She was supposed to come over this past Friday but was too tired after work and we rescheduled for Sunday. Between then and now I messaged her some funny/flirty things to keep the convo going. Then Saturday night I get the text. Her message basically says that she’s going to try and find and boyfriend and she knows that I’m not looking for anything serious and that she’ll keep my info in case things don’t work out.
My heart dropped. I immediately regretted not asking her out Friday night. I wanted to ask her out in person face to face. I reply to her message with essentially the truth about how I was trying to muster up the courage to ask her out Friday night but her phone rang and she left. She replies confused because she thought that I didn’t want anything serious and that she has her kids full time and thought I wasn’t interested. I tell her things changed and I asked if she’d like to go out and talk about it. She replies with she’ll take the night to sleep on it and let me know.
Today is the day she’s supposed to let me know. I didn’t sleep well last night because I’m kinda freaking out and anxious what she’s going to say because she mentioned that she tried really really hard not to fall for me.
TLDR; tried asking my fwb out on a date, but may have missed the opportunity. Fwb says they’re stopping and that they’re going to try and find a boyfriend.

Advice please 🙏🏼
So I have a 3 year old tortie that I’ve had since she was a kitten, she came from a rescue and was the most loving kitten. When she was 1 I got another car from the same rescue, a boy who was 6 months old at the time.
We did the introductions properly, seperate rooms, scent swapping and they became friendly, they used to sleep together and cuddle up. My boy cat is very playful but overall they seemed fine together.
At some point the tortie started showing aggression (hissing and howling) towards the boy cat and us. She likes to go outside a lot whereas the boy cat is more of a lapcat. Sometimes days go by where I don’t see her but she frequents a lane near our house where she can usually be found, so I go out and find her and bring her home for food and a safe space.
Recently, as soon as she is brought home for food, she wants to go back outside. For context, she will eat side by side with our boy cat, have treats with him but she just doesn’t want to stay in. She refuses to use the cat flap and we have to leave a window open for her to come in.
On one of her recent day-long stints down the lane, I found out someone who lives down there has been feeding her. Today I brought her back and when I went to pick her up in the house she growled loudly at me and scratched me in the face, which really upset me.
I give her strokes on her terms, she gets food and treats, and a safe place on her own to sleep away from our other cat.
I’m really not sure what to do from here or what I’m doing wrong. I feel like she isn’t happy living here anymore and it breaks my heart that I’ve started feeling like I should give her away.
I’m thinking of finding the people who live in the lane that feed her and and asking if they’d like to adopt her.
Any advice is welcome, thanks in advance 💜

I live in Croatia, Zagreb and have been looking to buy an Australian water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii) and haven't had much luck finding any breeders near me, if there is anyone who breeds them or know where to find them please contact me about it! Thank you in advance!

I broke up with my ex 3.5 months ago and we were together for about 4 months. The reason for the breakup was due to me being busy with life and traveling back and forth so I felt like I didn't have enough time. He took the breakup well enough and we haven't talked since. Reflecting back, I also felt afraid of getting close in romantic relationships; we did start to become more physical near the end and for some reason it just freaked me out inside. I'm not entirely sure why. I don't have too many experiences with being in a relationship.
He was a great boyfriend. Our values aligned super well and we could always talk about anything. He had a great job, was attentive, planned great dates, and super caring (in the good, not the overbearing crazy way). I never felt tremendous sparks but I did feel some level of attraction. Some part of me feels like I ended it too early and another thinks I'm just not ready deep down for a relationship or the timing isn't right. We did click so well together, even from a friend standpoint.
He reached out to me over text and asked to catch up over coffee. I think I will meet up with him but do I bring up the past? Should we just be friends and see where this goes? It's like my brain is fighting against itself - It would be nice to be in a relationship but I also feel weird when in one. He's also such a good person, I feel bad for hurting him and don't know what to do moving forward. I may be overthinking all of this, what if he really just wants to be friends and catch up?
TLDR: Ex reached out to me to catch up. A part of me is thinking to try again and another part of me is hesitant because I feel weird about it.

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SUBJECT-DESIGNATION: Admiral Marcus Miller
LOCATION: Earthen Orbit, Atlantic Citadel
DATE: EARTH-TIME [Wednesday, August 23, 2186]
---
I stood above Earth, gazing down upon her bright blue brilliance from the comfort of my personal quarters.
It was odd to think that just five hundred years ago, humanity had been scared of the darkness that lingered at the forest’s edge. I couldn’t imagine that those born during that time could have ever imagined the heights which we would rise to. My only hope was that our vast distance from the ground of primitivity wouldn’t lead to a devastating fall.
Already it felt like a lifetime ago that my crew and I had braved our own dark forest—the endless expanse of space beyond our system’s heliopause. Now we knew of the devils that rested at the edge of those shadows. The fires of Sol and the shield of our Oort cloud were all that now stood between us and them. At least in the process of our journey, we had met another group of weary travelers. We now knew that we were not alone.
The reaction to our discovery of the Khimrox—or perhaps their discovery of us—had actually gone over quite well with the global population, though some fringe groups chose to remain skeptical for reasons I couldn’t fathom.
Following the acceptance of the Khimroxian people as refugees, I was rather quickly promoted to the position of admiral. Despite it being an honorary title for the time-being, it was one that I wore with pride. Besides, considering how things were currently going among the leadership of the UEN, it was my guess that we would soon need all of the fleet commanders we could get.
Being separated from my crew though, it was certainly an ordeal. For over a year, we had trained and prepared for our journey aboard the Challenger, all the while forming a strong bond—the bond of a crew. It was them who had kept my mind from plunging into the hopeless darkness that threatened to envelop my mind back aboard the ruined wreck of our exploratory vessel.
Liz and Garth had been reassigned to finally fulfill their true calling as biologists. Together, they dove head-first into in-depth studies of Khimroxian anatomy and physiology. Sid had opted to assist in the deconstruction of the Ignis, allowing its analysis by a team of scientists that included Lee. As far as I was aware, they had so far produced staggeringly impressive results in regards to potential military applications. Jake was probably the wisest among us, choosing to enter an early retirement, which I quite honestly considered the smartest move. Each member of the Challenger had essentially become an influential celebrity overnight. If any of us chose to, we wouldn’t need to work another day in our lives.
Nia had taken an extended leave of absence following our return and chose to take up temporary residence within the Khimrox colony. Darius was perhaps the only one that had stuck with me. Due to my request, he was to be the chief navigational officer of a brand new fleet that had been promised to me—an experimental UEN fleet by the name of Vengeant Dawn.
Though word hadn’t yet officially been released, some part of me could sense the storm approaching on the horizon. War was coming. The only questions that remained were when and how it would be waged, one of which we were currently working to answer.
Some remained skeptical, but me, I had been waiting since the day I first heard of that wretched name, the one which hid behind a thin and lustrous coat. They would pay in blood for what they had done to our Khimroxian friends and to all of the scion species that they considered beneath them.
Speaking of those pricks… I turned from the window to look back at the objects of interest.
We had already begun to install improvements and replacements for our own technology from what we had researched so far. The holo-table of my room was one such improvement.
Atop it, hovered three ire-inspiring figures—the bastards of the Orion Arm.
One was what looked to be a molluscoid. Twelve long and winding tentacles stretched from its body. The creature’s skin could possess a wide variety of colors, but this one took on a dark shade of blue. Atop its head—or back, I still wasn’t entirely sure—was a large circular shell that spiraled backwards. The shell itself was fairly reminiscent of an ammonite, with the notable exception of its golden sheen. A green pair of eyes with slitted black pupils could be found at either side of its face. At the end of each of its limbs were a strange bunch of contraptions that were barely recognizable as the manipulators they were. To support its spineless body—and perhaps its brazen cowardice—was an exoskeleton which covered the length of its tentacles, allowing it to rise to an ironically respectable height. The Dodektopi.
The second was a shape that made no sense according to what little we apparently knew regarding the formation of life. The figure of flames was somewhat humanoid in shape, but distinct enough to separate it from ourselves. A frenzy of dancing plasma licked across the surface of its shape, occasionally whipping out from its body in flares of solar activity. Centered within the fiery specter’s face was an unfamiliar symbol forged out of a sleek black metal that did not burn with the being’s body. Its hands and feet that connected the body were made of similar steel and seemed to hold the shape together with the help of the head. The Novari.
Last but most certainly not least was a chillingly familiar shape. It was an ancient and terrible legend made manifest. The draconic figure before me bore ebony-black scales. A wicked pair of gold curling horns rose from the tyrant’s skull, covered in rings of that black metal that wrapped around them. Cryptic runes—whose mere existence denoted their ancient nature—were etched into the bone of these very same horns. Surrounding its head were countless quills that reached back behind the skull. From its oddly placed back pair of shoulders sprouted leathery wings that curled around the body, nearly encircling it in a hug. A long tail whose spiked end was covered in yet more of those sleek black rings fell behind them. The creature wore nothing more than a red ornamented kilt, bearing the same symbols as those etched upon its body across the sashes which held it in place. Its imposing physique was proudly put on display and an amber pair of greedy eyes rested behind its black maw of terrible teeth.
At the second and frontward pair of stubby shoulders, a shimmering pair of auric arms, engraved with yet more of those runes. I could have recognized their design anywhere. They bore an uncanny similarity with those utilized by our Khimrox friends. The three primary differences between those of them and those that belong to our friends were the sheer quality of the design, the notable exception of their shimmering sheen and their lethal talons that had been sharpened to a shining point. The Aeryvyn.
The terrible triumvirate mocked me with their mere presence, but I couldn’t tear them away from my sight. It’s fortunate that something else did it for me.
A ping that rained from the speakers in my ceiling heralded the incoming message. “All UEN personnel with alpha clearance please report to the briefing room.” Two more times, the soft and purposefully inoffensive voice repeated itself.
With a sigh, I shut off the display and marched to don the new garb that matched my position. When my door slid open, I saw several others stride through the long hall of yet more doors that matched my own.
The familiar scent of ozone had been a relief following the unnaturally clean air of the Ignis. That ship was no longer the home of the Khimroxian refugees, so I had little care for its continued existence. By now, it was a skeleton of alien alloys.
Our straight, gray walls and steel-vented floors were showered in warm light. Compared to the Ignis where the too-white surface where wall and floor blended together, the scenic viewing ports and recognizable craftsmanship felt like the warm embrace of a long-lost friend.
Speaking of friends, I wonder if I’ll see Saffan. Weeks had passed now since I last saw the captain-ambassador. His new position ensured this was so.
A stream of gray-coated senior staff flowed through the doors to the briefing room. At the entrance, a full complement of soldiers outfitted with Styx suits stood guard. That generation of armor would soon be outdated in comparison to the schematics I had seen prepared.
My heart warmed involuntarily as I entered the room. Saffan’s bright eyes of perpetual wideness stared back at me. I shouldered my way through the convening crowds of admirals. Each spoke with a weight of self-importance that I couldn’t have cared less for.
When I finally reached him he called my name. “Marcus!” The captain extended a hand. Wait, what? I wasn’t sure whether to be more confused by his use of the gesture or his new set of arms. They were admittedly simple compared to the prior pair and they were coated with a blue shine that matched his eyes. The digits no longer took the shape of those reptilian claws, instead forming an approximation of human fingers.
The hands locked perfectly with my own. “Saffan, good to see you again. How are things going?”
“Wonderfully. Though I must say, you humans seem to have more countries than you know what to do with.” Saffan folded his arms. “I’ve visited thirteen nations already and I still have over a hundred that have sent me visitation invitations.”
A scoff escaped my throat. “Yeah, that’s us for you. Needlessly overcomplicated.”
I took a step forward and placed a hand on a brilliant blue arm. “And these! When did you get these?” Saffan practically beamed at my inquiry.
“Elizabeth and Garth actually helped design them! They’re exceptionally lightweight compared to my last pair and they can fold to not hinder flight.” As he said this, the two artificial limbs pressed up against his body as he fully folded his wings in a similar manner. With both arms and wings folded, he would have looked like a great horned owl if not for the obvious discrepancies of his size, his horned head and the swirling patterns that covered his wings.
“That’s enough about me though, how have you been? What have you been up to?”
“Ah, not much,” I said, rubbing the back of my head. “Paid the family a visit a week back for the first time since the Challenger. For the most part though, I've been training on the battle sims these last few weeks. If I’m to be an admiral, may as well try to play the part.” Saffan slowly nodded. I got the feeling that he too sensed the approaching storm.
“This family of yours, I’d love to meet them some time.”
“Oh, I’m sure they’d love to meet you I…”
“Attention!” The stern sound cut me off. The rippling chorus of speech died down almost immediately as the call demanded our undivided focus. I could’ve recognized that voice anywhere.
“Thank you for joining me, my friends.”
“You’re a smart bunch of people, so I’m sure you’ve gotten the sense for what’s been going on by now.” Redd took a deep sigh and looked around the room at the entirety of the UEN navy’s command structure.
“Ever since the Khimroxians arrived, we’ve been faced with a choice—a choice that must not be taken lightly.” The captain turned our way and gave Saffan a nod.
“When the brave souls aboard the Ignis saved the crew of the Challenger, they showed the true character of their people. They were faced with hard decisions—for our people and theirs—but they chose to push forward and in so doing, saved not only the lives of those aboard the Challenger, but all of Earth from falling subject to their lords. After due deliberation with the council-members of the United Earthen Nations, we have decided to follow in the footsteps of our friends and take such a risk.”
“As of right now, we are at war with the Alliance of the Aurum Arm.” The room fell into deafening silence.
“Each member-state of the UEN will alert their people in due time, but for the moment, not a single word heard within this meeting must be uttered outside of this room.”
Admiral Sturm, the very man who had been my commander not all that long ago, spoke up. “With all due respect, Director, we don’t have the means to wage such a conflict.”
“That's why we’ll create the means. For once, I’m glad to say something good came out of the Kuiper War.” This derived a few nervous laughs from the audience. “With the production facilities appropriated from the (x corporation), and with a few adjustments, we have the potential to create the most powerful fleet of human-made ships to ever enter space.”
“Unfortunately however, we do not have the means to reproduce the white hole drives utilized by the Aurum vessels, or even the dark matter used to stabilize the damned things.”
“Saffan, this is where you and your people will come in. If we are to stand a chance of waging war on such a scale, we will need intelligence and lots of it.”
“As difficult as it may be, we need information; without it, we’re dead in the vacuum of space. We will need volunteers to go behind enemy lines and retrieve plans, schematics, layouts, anything that we can get a hold of that may provide us an advantage both strategically and technologically. Would your people be willing to go to such lengths?”
All eyes in the room turned to the ambassador-captain. “I—I don’t know. I will consult with them, but do I have your permission to speak freely about what you have told me?”
The aging man rubbed his orange-brown beard. “Yes. Yes that would probably be for the best wouldn’t it. Very well, just do your best not to allow it to reach other ears.”
“Yes sir.”
“As for the rest of you, allow me to detail the plan we have so far.”
“Though most of the security council members are not tacticians, they have agreed to the plan that I and a few of my most trusted consultants have prepared. Right now, the nearest sector with a habitable planet is known as Mortamis. This was the last jump point for the Ignis before it intercepted our distress signal. The tentative plan is to begin our expansion across their territory with the capture of this world to act as the staging grounds of our forces. However, until we receive more information regarding the exact layout of their defenses, we cannot commit to such an invasion.”
“From there, we will split up the UEN fleets into separate groups across the Orion arm and take out these tyrants by bleeding them of their most precious resource. Scions. Every world we take is an addition to our numbers, our production capacity, and our ability to fight.”
“Our end-goal is to capture the planet-capital of the alliance, Petris, and demand liberation of all species under control of the Aurum Alliance.“
“We do have a few major concerns however. According to the information provided to us by the Khimrox, a majority of Aurum vessels contain some form of scionic crew complement. Under no circumstances unless express consent is given by the command admiral of the fleet are we to attack a vessel with the intent of destroying it. We must first weaken and disable the ship’s defensive systems before boarding and liberating the captives.”
“I know that this flies in the face of all conventional battle tactics, but this is no conventional enemy that we’re fighting here. If we do not adapt, we will fail and all of humanity will be forced into scionship.”
“Keep in mind, this is a very brief version of our prepared plan. Each and every aspect of it is subject to change. We will discuss this in further detail later, but for now, that is all. Any further questions?” Once again, silence. “Very well then. This council session is now adjourned.”
Other than the shuffling of feet exiting, all was silent. We had known it was coming, but to hear it confirmed…
“Marcus.” The director approached, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Go ahead and join Ambassador Aeax, why don’t you? Might help some of those Khimrox to see a human face that they’re familiar with.”
With a snappy salute, I responded with, “Yes sir.” His words were certainly a surprise, but a chance to join the Khimrox that had saved us was not one I would pass up easily. He may as well have just given me a week of leave considering the excitement that bubbled up within me.
Together, I and Saffan made our way to a nearby shuttle bay headed directly to the Khimroxian colony. Surprisingly, I hadn’t yet paid a visit to the settlement placed within the province of Hunan, but I had seen some images on several media platforms.
The trip was a quick one. Our transport plunged into the atmosphere, kicking up flames all around the outside of the cabin. Soon enough though, the flames of our descent died out and were replaced by the darkness of night.
Even with the slight turbulence, Saffan seemed deep in thought as his eyes stared at nothing in particular.
“Hey, you good?”
That seemed to snap him out of it. “Wha—oh yes, sorry.” A look of focus still remained on his face. For a moment, he continued in his silence before posing a question. “What if my people decide not to volunteer? This entire plan could fall through in an instant.”
“You don’t give your people enough credit, my feathered friend.” Saffan gave me a narrow-eyed look before letting out a cluck of a chuckle. “Redd was right in what he said. I’m sure your people will make the best choice for all of us.”
“For both our sakes, I can only hope that you’re right.”
Our Harpy gently sailed over mountains and treetops, slowly sinking to a stop within a secluded area of trees that were foreign to me.
Only I and Saffan left from the Harpy’s bay and stepped off onto the tarmac. Behind us, the cargo-door closed with a hiss. As we stepped out from underneath our cover, light droplets of water pattered against my skin.
Seconds later, the Harpy’s thrusters kicked in and the ship took flight. The heavy hum and glow of burning hydrogen accompanied the bird as it flew away. In mere moments, it was gone, though the distant boom of it breaking the sound barrier was audible enough.
Looking around, I saw a few of my fellow men and women unloading supplies from a parked Harpy onto a militarily designed transport truck. Dimly lit orange lamps shone down and around us, illuminating nearby hangar bays with their closed doors and rounded ceilings of corrugated metal.
“Let’s get going. I’m sure you don’t want to stay in the rain long.” The rain was enough to notice, but it wasn’t unpleasant. I gave a brief nod and we set off on the nearby road.
Though clouds of rain covered us, the light of the moon joined us as we walked to the village. The setup looked pretty standard from what I knew of modular UEN architecture. It was clear however that great care had been put into its construction. The rain kept most of the residents indoors for the time being, but through the windows of nearby buildings, I saw the illuminated interiors of cozy hostels where families and friends gathered together.
We passed another Khimrox while wading through the rain—one who held its head and horns high, walking with a cheery gait despite the gloomy weather. Compared to the stale and oppressive atmosphere aboard the Ignis, the settlement brimmed with life, even amidst the darkness of both night and storms.
Saffan led me forward to a quaint home with a metal awning that covered the railed porch. We walked up the steps and Saffan rapped on the door with his cobalt colored knuckles.
I hoped for Nia’s sake that her time away from the military had treated her well. Lord knows she deserved some respite. The door opened and Nia's face peeked out to greet us. “Saffan! Marcus! What are you two doing here?”
Saffan answered as I silently sat by. “Oh we were just passing through. Thought it might be a good idea to stop and pay you a visit.”
“Well don’t make yourself strangers. Come on in!” Saffan sat behind as I walked forward and gave his whole body a shake. Droplets flew from his body and slid off his slick feathers.
The home was a simple one, consisting of a main living room joined together with a kitchen. In the back of the home was a short hall leading to a middle door that stood between a pair of two others. In the living room, perched Tokieran, the same physician who had plunged into my mind to extract our language.
Immediately, he rose from where he rested and turned to face Saffan, “Captain!”
“Can’t be a captain without a ship, Toki.” The former captain waved away the words with a hand. “Saffan will do.”
“Oh. Uh, well, it's good to see you again, Saffan.”
“Likewise my friend. I’m certain you haven’t seen much of me considering your position during our time on the Ignis. It’s a shame we didn’t brush wings more often. You seem like a fine fellow.”
As the two avians got to talking, Nia gave me a light punch on the shoulder. “So, how’ve things been going for you admiral?” It was at this moment that I realized I was still in full military dress. Rather sheepishly, I pulled the hat from my head.
“Fine.” I muttered “You?”
A smile met her face. “Best I’ve felt since I enlisted.” She gave a look towards the two conversing Khimroxians. “It's still hard to believe any of this is real sometimes, ya know?”
I nodded. “Yeah. The Challenger, the Ignis, all of it. Feels like a dream now.”
Nia’s eyes stayed upon the owl-folk. “One of those dreams you don’t really want to wake up from.”
I gave a grunt of agreement. “I only wish all of the Khimroxians could share it with us.” This turned her towards me. Her smile curved down somewhat and she gave a slight nod.
What the hell. She’s going to learn it soon enough anyways. Rubbing the rim of my hat, I spoke softly. “Maybe soon, that will be possible.”
“What?”
“The council’s declared war.”
Her eyes snapped to mine, the smile fully gone. The room fell silent. I hadn’t hoped the others would hear me, but those Khimrox had an impeccable sense of hearing. I shouldn’t have expected any less from them.
All eyes turned to me. “The Aurum Alliance is a threat to humanity, the Khimrox, and all of the other scions that we haven’t even met yet. I think we both know this was inevitable”
“No, I get it, it's just… Wow.” The woman ran a hand through her black, tied-back hair as she heaved a sigh.
This facade dropped almost immediately and Nia’s mouth turned into a wonderfully devilish grin. After a few light chuckles, she said, “Better late than never I suppose. Those spineless sons-of-alien-bitches’ll never know what hit ‘em!”
The expressions on the faces of both Saffan and Tokieran showed no less resolve. Even the formerly jumpy physician proudly displayed a newfound sense of will. “The triumvirate operates under the expectation that we won’t fight back,” said Toki. “They see us as little more than animals and It's time we took full advantage of that fact.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” remarked Saffan.
If these willing warriors were in any way representative of the entire Human-Khimroxian collective, the battle against these golden tyrants would be over before we knew it.
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So this week my friend and cousin both cancelled on me for the anime expo and now I had to cancel our hotel room since it was for the 3 of us. Do any of you know any good cheap hotels near the convention center for just for one person?

I have been repeatedly told that I am losing money by having it in the bank and not putting it to work for me, be it in the stock market, buying property and renting it, or reselling it in the future etc. I understand that with inflation the money I have in the bank now will be less worth year after year.
There are a couple of reasons why I haven't started investing yet:

1. Time
2. Peace of mind

I already work so that I can have a warm bed and some food to put into my mouth. The rest of the time I try to rest and enjoy it pursuing my hobbies, which do not entail pressure and deadlines like my work does.
What are some valid reasons for trading the peace I enjoy outside of work for worrying about getting more money? Research, invest, sell investments, trade, contracts, look for the right real state, sub rent, etc. All that I will have to learn and keep a close eye into.
I would like to have some opinion from other like-minded people as to why you trade / do not trade and your reasons, so I can put this matter into perspective.
For me personally, peace of mind and simplicity is something I strive for, because I don't want the pressure and responsibility of having more things to take care of and maintain.
Thanks in advance for your time and wisdom in answering.

I found a cat hiding under my car in a grocery store parking lot. I sat with her and pet her for a while before getting her a can of food. She followed me everywhere I went. She was starving and covered in fleas. She was very sweet so I assumed that she must’ve had an owner. I took some pictures of her and posted her on my towns Facebook page. Six days went by and no response from the owner. I bathed her, bought her food, and bought her a collar. I was just waiting for the owner to claim. I get multiple frantic messages on Facebook from this lady saying that I have her cat and I need to give her back and how she can’t live without her cat. I respond with how happy I am that she messaged me and tried to arrange a time and place to return the cat to her. She wanted me to deliver the cat to her apartments, but I wasn’t comfortable with that so I asked if we could meet in a more public area. Her story was that she had the cat in her dads truck on a harness and she got the zoomies and ran away a day before I found her. There were comments on the Facebook post I made that said they’ve seen the cat running around the complex the owner lives in months ago. She was furious that I suggested another place to meet up and started threatening to beat me up and telling me I stole her cat and am refusing to give her back. A lot of insults were thrown at me and she started messaging some of my family members she found on Facebook telling them I stole her cat. I told her that she can let the cops deal with it because I refuse to meet with her. I can post or send the screenshots of our messages to anyone who wants to see them.

for the last two years, i've had a full-time job, and one thing i've realized is that it doesn't really provide me the chance to have time to create and maintain connections and relationships. for me, at least. i constantly feel too worn out and exhausted to even consider doing anything else.
it nearly seems impossible that i'll be able to find time to form relationships with others.

I'm (25f) sick of dealing with my family and juggling with problems and pleasing everyone My parents want to help my sister (29f) who betrayed us, but by doing that they screw me and my chance to have a house to live in and a brighter future perhaps, she left in the midst of a pandemic to another country with a boyfriend who has been dating and breaking up constantly throughout her college years, she left my parents, my disabled 16-year-old brother totally dependent on my mom, my husband, and I on our own to survive when she was the only one left with a job and she left us because of her desire to have a family with her ex who cheated on each other, she humiliated me in the bank in front of everyone who was there, while we did a procedure that suited us all so we wouldn't be homeless even though there was no food, we asked for a loan to be able to pay the rent of the house and not be On the streets with a child who has to sleep with a machine that helps him breathe, my sister took off and left me in charge of the debt that I still owe to the bank in the name of both of us but since she was not in the country, They charge me and insult me ​​and she made a new life, luckily my husband managed to get a job a couple months later when the gov let people open again, and he had to go from one city to another 5hrs from home and he visits me when he can and so do I, we made sacrifices cause we needed to survive, but hes now the one that pays everyone's expenses out of love cause we are pretty close he decided so and It is not fair for him to support my family, that is the children's job, I mean, my sister and I, I am still finishing my studies and work half time, I only have one year of internship left to graduate and work and support my family, my husband does want me to finish my studies, hes scared that if something happens to him how would i be left behind defenseless and its always been my dream to graduate and break the cycle of my family, my sister does have a university degree my parents paid some and with scholarships too, from the country we came from (we live in another country, not the one where I spent my childhood) since shes the older i couldnt go to university when i was younger, she did not want to validate her degree when she arrived here to get better opportunities (we have dual born citizenship in both countries, the one where we live now and where she went to and where we spend our childhood) and only went with boyfriends and traveling with them and got jobs as a cook half time istead of engineers jobs cause she is.
Everyone contributed at home before we lost our jobs due to the pandemic and we still haven't been able to recover, my husband was upset by my sister's betrayal (me too) and for being ungrateful because it was with our money that we paid for her plane tickets and we took care of her expenses for months without asking for anything in return and with the promise that we would help my mother and brother when they get here and have a bright life, when my parents and brother arrived instead of being of help she gave the debt to my parents and they are so stupid that they accepted pay it for her, shes done many things shes so problematic when shes home we fight so often when shes gone we barely fight maybe months without fights, i cant list all shes done it would be too long (this is already long), my husband is upset and does not want to see her nor in paintings, she is prohibited from coming back or he wont pay rent as long as shes there.
Guess who got cheated on and lost her job in the country that she returned to and now she asks her parents for help? Exactly my sister, she wants to go back and live where she once abandoned us and I don't contribute money and she wants to make use of it now that she needs it. She first told my mom she would only stay a week shes going to another closeby country to work (already unacceptable) guess who told my mom today that the friend who was waiting for her in that country bailed now she cant go and will stay in this house, sHe wants to go back and start over because she has no one where she left (obviously because she abandoned her only family) and my parents even though my husband supports us even though he shouldn't he doesn't want my sister back so much that he once told me that if she came back she would stop paying the rent and he's right, you can't argue with him, but my parents would rather risk living on the street than let my sister learn life lessons, and with that they screw me because I too would be homeless and I need to graduate I only have the internship left that I start in september and I started to learn how to put oashes to support us when i dont go to uni or study, when I have free time to be able to earn some money and help pay for my university and expenses but I will not be able to graduate and finally have a better job and live with my husband calmly and have my family, I would have to leave my family and I love them so much I have no other and they are really good but they cannot leave my sister be and they tell me that if it were me they would do the same for me but they do not see that they are fucking his other daughter directly and his handicapped son for helping another daughter, they can't support themselves, they don't have nearly enough income, not even to support for one person, 4 is already a joke, which would be counting my sister, we have lived on charity, they cant keep up with this fantasy and Besides, I have resentment and anger I don't want to live those times again I don't want to see my sister's face shes been always a problematic person in my life and out of love and family unity i tried to work our relationship and forgive and move on but im too tired go keep on this fight and for what?, my heart hurts but I am in a very important moment in my life I have eaten shit since I was a child I have lived in poverty ive been mistreated repeatedly I want to be able to have a good life even if it is for just a moment before I die.
I dont know what I want to do, just let it all burn let my parents tell my husband, ill play dumb like i didnt know and dont get involved let em tell him their great idea to let my sister back in cause shes in need knowing my husband (also i dont want her back) dont wanna take her in for all shes done or help my parents built a case and see how he reacts and see if he doesnt kick us or them out and deal with my marriage, cause I cant just please everyone nor myself i lose no matter what, it truly makes me feel like a villain and breaks my heart at the same time

Come One, Come All

Hey GW2 players! Are you looking for a fun, social, and brave space to game? Remnants of Hope might just have what you're looking for! We are a multifaceted gaming guild that is large enough to support all game modes, but cozy enough to care about you! Our Guild Wars 2 Division is part of an inclusive, well-organized, and democratic gaming community which has been around since 2009. We embrace players of all ages, genders, abilities, and playstyles. While we are most active 7-midnight Eastern time, we have members across North America and the world who play at a variety of times.
What's the new member experience like? Check out this post from our GW2 Forums thread:

Brand new member and brand new to the game! RoH has proved to be my best new player experience of any game! The events are fun and engaging with no hard feelings if someone is new. Strategies and next steps are explained calmly and helps a newbie like me feel much more inclined to try out new things. Highly recommend this guild and super glad I found it!

All the Modes, for All Kinds of Players

Our GW2 Division is organized into Departments to ensure we give our players all the ways they want to play:

• PvE: Our PvE Department offers a little bit of everything PvE related! Our goal is to keep PvE inclusive and open to every skill level. Each week, we offer fractals at a variety of tiers, achievement runs, meta events, and dungeons, including events for toons under level 80. Each event is led by a PvE Assistant who is knowledgeable in that area of PvE. There aren't any requirements, everyone is +==welcome!
• Mists: Our Mists Department hosts a full lineup of events, both sPvP and WvW (Tarnished Coast), that are low stress and open to beginners! RoH is surging in WvW four nights a week plus occasional unscheduled runs. Whether you're a true veteran or a fresh-faced young adventurer, we'd love to bash some heads and steal some keeps with you! There are no level, gear, build, or experience requirements for any Mists events.
• Raid: The Raid Department gets together every week to take on the task of clearing as many raid and strike bosses as we can, focusing on having fun and learning the mechanics of each fight well enough that we can relax and joke while taking out bosses. We offer both open raids and periodic achievement statics.
• Crafting: The Crafting Department hosts the popular weekly Guild Missions. We also host a monthly lottery, which helps fund guild prizes, WvW siege, and ascended food, and we also hold Guild Hall and community-based events!

More Than Just A Game

The Remnants of Hope gaming community offers far more than just the GW2 Division, however. After beginning in Star Wars Galaxies in 2009, RoH has grown to include Elder Scrolls Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft, and Final Fantasy XIV. People who join RoH through the GW2 Division are welcome to join other Divisions and experience all RoH has to offer.
Our large gaming community also delivers stability and a democratic structure few guilds can rival. We hold Division and Community elections every six months, keeping leadership fresh and avoiding burnout. A detailed Charter enables good governance and financial stability for an organization designed for the long term. A strict but fair disciplinary system ensures that any toxic behavior is addressed quickly and confidentially.
This guild structure allows a safe and joyful space for players of all backgrounds. Many of our leaders and members are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and we have players in every generation from Zoomer to Boomer. Our commitment to antiracism, diversity, and inclusion is built into our foundation and implemented through all our policies, including accommodations as appropriate.
The larger gaming community additionally provides many opportunities outside GW2. Our Discord and forums are constantly active, and the community meets as a whole once a month. We have a range of cross-community activities, including karaoke, movie nights, multi-game fashion and other shows, and casual games. We have also held meetups in Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas, sponsored a booth at Awesome Con, and are currently planning our 2023 meetup! Feel free to catch up on guild news on our Twitter @ Remnantsofhope1.

Ready to Join?

We *deeply* value our community and want to protect it from disruption and toxicity. To that end, every applicant must go through a two-week trial period, which includes reasonable activity and engagement requirements, to make sure there is a good fit between you and our community. Rest assured, however, there are people here who help you throughout the process; you never just join our Discord server and fend for yourself. Many of our Trial Members appreciate the care we take in integrating new players into the guild, and you can check out what some new members have to say on our GW2 forum thread.
If all this sounds good to you, come check us out at www.remnantsofhope.com and fill out an application today!

Hi I have a UK MY21 Formentor V2 1.5 Manual. Almost since the beginning I’ve had software issues, issues with the GPS and various errors/warnings.
In November when I had several issues on a trip up to the Lake District (GPS thought we were in the middle of the Irish Sea while on the M6), which caused us a real headache, and getting nowhere with the local dealerships, I contacted Cupra directly. They sent a box of fancy picnic foods and asked me to book the car in for the latest update that had been created. That was done in March, that failed, if anything it made things worse with even more regular restarts and the GPS gets lost even sooner. Cupra asked me to book it back in with the dealer to “investigate”. They obviously couldn’t find an answer.
Cupra CS have since said there’s nothing more they can do until the next update comes out, but have no timescales for that and obviously no guarantee that it’ll solve anything. They want to close the complaint ticket and have graciously said I can re-open it if needed after the next update.
I’m beyond frustrated with them now. It’s such an irritating issue and to be told “sorry, nothing we can do” isn’t helping.
I’ve been looking at raising it with the Motor Ombudsman, it asks what you’d like as a resolution and I don’t know what would be reasonable. I don’t want to return it. I love the car, it’s great until the errors appear. There’s nothing really like it on the market and anything else is now more expensive due to the interest rate hikes. The ombudsman may not even be able to help as I can still use it as a car, albeit getting annoyed by it regularly. When some of the safety feature errors come up or the infotainment resets it can be a little distracting but doubt that’s enough of a case. Any car can drive, though in my mind I’ve paid more to have additional features that aren’t working consistently and usually don’t work when I actually need them.
Has anyone else complained to Cupra or the Ombudsman about issues and had a successful response?

I'm working on a race of people that are based off banshees. In the world they are considered low creatures, though it's really only because they haven't conformed to larger society and they don't entirely look like the rest of the population. CONTEXT: There are 3 types of magic/creatures in my world: those whose magic effects nature (elementals), those whose magic effects the self (shapeshifters), and those whose magic effects others (mind reading, illusions, compulsions, divination, healing). The people of this realm get their magic when they hit puberty, around 12-17. After that, aging slows, they can use magic, and they are seen as adults. The Banshees fall into those whose magic effects others, although 'effects' is not the right word. They spend their whole life listening to whispers of divination, unable to block it out or channel it. It is never divinations regarding themselves, but it is of others' possibilities of dying. When someone near them is going to die soon, the whispers and death become so loud the only thing they can do to focus in on their magic is to scream, effectively drowning out all noise and distractions. I'd like to mention they cannot speak. They use a hand language that only their kind know. Before puberty and coming into their magic, they have a form of child language but primarily everyone uses hand signs. No one is allowed to teach it to outsiders. Banshees are only ever women so any man they mate with may learn a smaller form only for basic communication.
THIS IS WHERE IT BECOMES THE IRONTEETH WITCH CLANS: My banshee race has matriarchal covens. Each coven has a 'mascot' of a winged insect such as a gypsy moth, dragonfly, cicada, stag beetle, wasp. They will each have their own values and rules. The ironteeth witches are very matriarchal and are split into clans. They are split by physical characteristics (blue blood, yellow legs, black beak).
I have not mentioned this but those of this magic group can/have to drink blood to replenish magic. So the banshees, in order to replenish magic, MUST drink blood. Sometimes of their male mates or sometimes it's those who they predicted dying. The ironteeth witches do not need to drink blood but they really like to.
The banshees only use men to reproduce and they rarely have actual relationships with them. They only birth girls. The ironteeth witches only use men for sex/to reproduce and birth both but I believe they kill/dispose of the boys.
So, I love the idea of the women only covens and blood drinking banshees. However, it is startling how close it is to SJM's witches. I'm not super far into the culture breakdown for this race and I want to iron out the covens first but I need some creative help. What would you change/add to combat the similarities? Should I ditch the race entirely? Can I get away with keeping the similarities?
Let me know if you have questions! I have fleshed out most of the magic system.
Side note: they will not be called banshees but I haven't settled on a name.

Hello. Frankly, I don’t know why I am writing this. Maybe I just want someone to listen and not judge me for feeling like this, even if it’s a faceless person online.
I, f27, have been struggling with my mental health for quite some time now, although recently I felt like I was getting better. I know that I should have seen a mental health professional by now, but I feel like I will break apart if I try to think and talk about all the things that I have pushed down. It’s easier to just go as usual, so that’s how I have feen acting.
Today, I came back home to celebrate my mother’s birthday. It was a very small, family celebration, just me, my mom and my grandma. My mom made food, we had some alcohol and we were talking about a variety of topics. It was all going very well, I was feeling tipsy and happy.
Then, my grandma left to use a toilet. I was enthusiastically talking to my mom about a tattoo she wanted to get some day when she suddenly said that she wants to tell me something. Then she said “If you think that you have depression then I probably haven’t beaten you enough as a child. You grew up fine so stop thinking nonsense”.
It felt like all air was sucked from my lungs. I never talked to her about anything I was feeling. I knew what she would say. That I was just imagining things. That there is something wrong me. That I am mental. So I pretended that I was confused. I asked her why would she think that. She gestured to the restroom and said that my grandma mentioned that she thinks I might have depression because I once had a small breakdown in front of her.
“Why are you tearing up?” I told her that I am not. I pretended that everything was fine, I was participating in conversations, I was laughing at jokes all the way up to the point when I was finally alone in a bathroom of my grandma’s apartment.Then I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I started to silently ugly cry. I couldn’t stop. It’s been about an hour now since then. I almost managed to push it down, even though I still tear up a little. But I think I will manage to fool my grandma into think that my eyes are red just because I took a nap with my contact lenses.
Writing this did help. Even if no one reads it or it will be too incoherent to understand. I will be okay.

Hi everyone. I recently got my bloodwork back positive for Graves’ disease. From what my primary told, me my numbers are not too severe yet - so I might not be prescribed medication right away, but need to see an endocrinologist soon. In the meantime, I have been researching food and vitamins that might help, and paleo came up quite a lot (avoiding gluten and dairy being the main motivators). I just wanted to post and see if anyone else is doing paleo for thyroid health and if you’ve seen success. Thank you.

So before jumping into the whole i just wanna say this is the very first time I'm opening up about this in my entire. I'm 21 years old and punched my father right in the face when I was 18.
So a little backstory, Ever since i was a boy I've always seen my father around the house while other kids parents went to their work. As i became older i realised my dad was unemployed by choice ( he didn't wanna get a job) and it was mother who was paying the bills and looking after us.
The thing is my dad used to own a business back when I was baby but it went bust coz he trusted the wrong ppl. He never got another job or started another venture , he was constantly dreaming of building something big but he never wanted to work for it. He always wanted the easy way out.
Time and again my mother got him some jobs so as to help pay the bills. But he lied to my mom several times, saying he went to work but instead he was fooling around. Ever since i was 6 i saw my parents having arguments which usually ended up with my dad hitting my mum.
My mum she tolerated this hell for several years for us( my sis and me ). Things got so bad that we were in severe debt due to my father's shameless borrowing. My sis didn't have a choice but to do odd jobs after college. I feel bad for her. Out rent was due , the house owner cut our electricity all while I watched dear dad eating food without worry. One day he had a fight with my mom and just left. I was 15 at the time , the next time I saw him was after 3 years. During these 3 year, i thought enough was enough, my mom was small time tution teacher but she didn't know much.
I joined her when I was 16. I'm a nerd and pretty good at math and kids kinda liked the way i taught. Soon we had a lot of kids coming in for tutions and finally we were happy for a while me, my sis and my mum. But then COVID struck. Lockdown was pretty chill for us since we already had some money saved up . And one fine day after lockdowns eased my father came home.
None of us knew how to react , but all 3 of us knew we didn't want him there . But we had know choice he was frail ,he had no money, no one in this world except us. But he never got rid of his narcissism and ego. Still acted like he ruled around.
On an evening my mom snapped for something he did ( i was in the bedroom) and he just slapped her. Watching this boiled my blood , everything he ever did, how my family was humiliated everything flashed infront of my eyes and I PUNCHED HIM. He was left speechless, my mum was shocked and i had tears running down my eyes. That was probably the last time I cried. Everything turned numb after that.
He's still living with us. We still fight a lot, he refuses to admit what he did. Time and time again there's exchange of cuss words and shoving . He's 60 and I'm not proud of my behaviour. It's not who i wanna be but i just can't bring myself to control this side of me. There's this rush of rage i can't seem to control. I'm generally a charming kid other and ppl around me have expectations from me . They all say I'll ended up in big leagues but I'm uncertain of my future and a part of me is scared I'll just end like him.

As you probably know, up north behind Walmart there are a bunch of fields, parks and baseball fields. Sundays seem to be particularly busy for the local soccer fan. The last field near me seems to have been taken over lately as well…rendering it useless for anyone else who wanted to enjoy a nice grassy area for activities outside of soccer on a Sunday. Is this normal? Is there a schedule to be found anywhere online or is it going to be like this until the season is over?

my best friend sort of knows about my struggles regarding food and she's made comments out of concern that make me extremely uncomfortable. I hate eating in front of her and I literally avoid hanging out with her just so I dont have to worry about it. I feel like all she ever suggests doing is going to out to eat and stuff.. I wish so badly that I had never said anything about it. How do you guys navigate this?

Happy Sunday! I'm Michael, and thanks for clicking on my post. It's a beautiful day out here so I've been spending some time outdoors already today, and figured the only way I could make it better is by talking to someone really sweet too. :)
Here's a few pics of me: https://imgur.com/a/8lbx2uT
I'm looking for someone fun to chat with and get to know. I'm a sucker for good morning/night texts, sending memes when we find them, and sharing silly little details of our days. I'm usually pretty quick to respond too! I work full time and really love my job, also enjoy checking out new music, doing some crafty stuff, daydreaming, and driving around. Life has been super hectic lately as in the last three months I've been able to do just about everything I'm passionate about - I've been to 13 concerts, two NASCAR races, and an airshow too. Don't be offended if I can't hear you lol I'm just partially deaf now
So here's a few reasons why you should date me:
- I'm 6'1" so I can reach the top shelf with ease
- I'll step on the bugs (or at least just let them out)
- Emotionally available
- Solid career, has hobbies, and a few friends to keep a nice balance
- Loves to text (in usually decent grammar too)
- Always laughing at something
A few other things. I'm not into drinking or smoking. I don't use any other message platform (Snapchat or Kik). Also not into anime, and I'm not a video gamer. Deep down I know I have a heart of gold, and love forming deeper emotional connections with people. I date with the intents of marriage, nothing casual.
So if you're kinda local (will really talk to anyone in the Northeast US), near my age, sweet and want to chat, feel free to message me! Would love to get to know you too. Tell me something you're excited about. Tell me a funny or crazy story, or ask me to tell you a funny or crazy story!
Talk to you soon!

Happy Sunday! I'm Michael, and thanks for clicking on my post. It's a beautiful day out here so I've been spending some time outdoors already today, and figured the only way I could make it better is by talking to someone really sweet too. :)
Here's a few pics of me: https://imgur.com/a/8lbx2uT
I'm looking for someone fun to chat with and get to know. I'm a sucker for good morning/night texts, sending memes when we find them, and sharing silly little details of our days. I'm usually pretty quick to respond too! I work full time and really love my job, also enjoy checking out new music, doing some crafty stuff, daydreaming, and driving around. Life has been super hectic lately as in the last three months I've been able to do just about everything I'm passionate about - I've been to 13 concerts, two NASCAR races, and an airshow too. Don't be offended if I can't hear you lol I'm just partially deaf now
So here's a few reasons why you should date me:
- I'm 6'1" so I can reach the top shelf with ease
- I'll step on the bugs (or at least just let them out)
- Emotionally available
- Solid career, has hobbies, and a few friends to keep a nice balance
- Loves to text (in usually decent grammar too)
- Always laughing at something
A few other things. I'm not into drinking or smoking. I don't use any other message platform (Snapchat or Kik). Also not into anime, and I'm not a video gamer. Deep down I know I have a heart of gold, and love forming deeper emotional connections with people. I date with the intents of being together forever, nothing casual.
So if you're kinda local (will really talk to anyone in the Northeast US), near my age, sweet and want to chat, feel free to message me! Would love to get to know you too. Tell me something you're excited about. Tell me a funny or crazy story, or ask me to tell you a funny or crazy story!
Talk to you soon!