#ilona adds stuff to a big post

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

a couple of weeks ago, i went for a gastroscopy/endoscopy to check out my throat/stomach etc after i’d been suffering for the last few years with frequent bouts of nausea/vomiting (although i was actually meant to go for it last year tbh i but i was anxious about it and forgot to hand in the paperwork early and then covid came so i didn’t get it until early september). the gastroscopy surgery picked up a lump on my duodenum. today i went for a CT scan so the gastroenterologist can tell me more accurately if it’s bad or not (ie is it a tumour: benign or cancerous? is it just a lump that will go soon? does it need to be surgically removed??? etc etc).

“how much did these appointments cost you, though?” i hear some people asking me. nothing. nada. after my doctor sent through a medicare patient letter to these people and the private hospital also (bc it got my gastroscopy got moved there) so i got it done on the public medicare costs. but if i wasn’t covered by medicare? i’d probably would’ve had to pay $166 for the gastroenterologist (w/o medicare gap or bulk billing), $1,350 for the gastroscopy surgery (if there was no medicare gap payment or bulk billing). then for the CT scan maybe $250 or something (w/o medicare gap or bulk billing). and i can imagine all of those costs being at least doubled or tripled under the US system.... and then having extra costs for like band-aids etc also being added at the end just because.

anyway. my experience here in australia with medicare etc shows why america needs a better medicare net/universal healthcare. i wasn’t literally thousands of $$$ out of pocket just for an hour in the hospital for the hospital visit before covid with the gastroenterologist. then the few hours i’d spent at the private hospital for the gastroscopy. then another phone appointment with the gastroenterologist. then the CT scan.... which i can imagine under the US system being at least idek, $30,000???? unless you constantly ask them for an itemised bill then they’ll put it down. but still. i was bulk billed for all of this stuff so far.

[nessismore]

Book Rec Time

It’s ur girl V, back with another list because this is how I handle quarantines, I guess? Yelling (or politely typing) about my favorite things makes me happy sooo....

If you’re not into binge watching stuff and are looking for things to binge read, may I present (apparently in series length order)...

The Psy/Changeling Series by Nalini Singh - Paranormal Romance

The Psy/Changeling series is about a world where there are three dominant races: Humans, who are your everyday average joes and don’t have any fancy powers beyond...well, persistence and levelheadedness; Psy who have cool as shit mental powers that uh...may lead to some mental instability and like...murder, so they decided “fuck feelings” and instituted a thing called Silence where they feel nothing, and that leads to problems; and Changelings, who can shapeshift into animals and are very cool and ~primal and will possibly claw your face off if you break their rules and I love them a lot. So these three races kind of live in their silos, Psy feeling superior, Humans with a chip on their shoulders, and Changelings just wanting to left tf alone goddammit, and then things happen and it’s cool.

Nalini Singh is pretty much the queen when it comes to paranormal series, and if you’re into a big immersive world with A+ world building and political development intertwined with romance, this is the series for you. 18 (soon to be 19) novels and countless novellas/short stories strong, there’s plenty to dive into. Each novel is technically a standalone, but the deeper you get into the series, the more history you need to really know what’s happening. 

Each novel, minus one, focuses on a different couple, but you have plenty of interaction with past characters as the characters are all tightly intertwined. Seriously, this series is my fave and I re-read/listen to a selection of my faves at least once a year (usually when there’s a new one coming out). In a series this long, you’re bound to have some duds (and there are def some doozies, the couple in Kiss of Snow is super uncomfortable for me, but a lot of shit GOES DOWN) but they’re all worth reading because the political shit happening is super interesting and cool and I didn’t expect to write an essay on this, but here we are. I am down to talk Psy Changeling basically All. Day. Also, because it’s paranormal romance, there’s lotsa sex.

Series highlights (imho): Slave to Sensation (1), Caressed by Ice (3), Bonds of Justice (8), and also books 12, 13, and 14 basically I love all this shit and recommend it highly.

The Pride Series and associated spinoffs by Shelly Laurenston - Paranormal Romance

The Pride Series is another shapeshifter series, but instead of going the serious political route, she goes absolutely fucking BATSHIT INSANE. My introduction to this series was the 9th and last in the series proper, and in that one alone there are: jousting bears, shifters on roller skates, a cat/bear hybrid shifter who falls in love with a honey badger shifter who keeps burrowing into his house.

The series is irreverent and laugh out loud funny, and it also features a hella diverse cast of characters. Each novel is a standalone, but like in Nalini Singh’s series, the characters from different novels interact a lot and it’s nice to see a lot of your faves. Also, a small thing but I really enjoy the fact that while the characters from previous novels interact, they don’t always like each other? It adds a touch of realism (lol) to the relationships. There’s also a lot of fun female friendships, ridiculous shenanigans, and a surprising emotional core to each one. Prepare to think “WTF” the entire time in the best possible way.

Also, lotsa sex in these, too. Also also, gratuitous violence. 

Series Highlights: The Mane Squeeze, Wolf with Benefits, Bite Me

You may also like the books Laurenston writes under pseudonym G.A. Aiken, which is like the Pride series, but set in ~medieval-y times and with dragons. Also hilarious and batshit insane.

The Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn - Historical Romance

Basically, everything Julia Quinn writes is frick fracking delightful, but the Bridgerton series in particular is near and dear to my heart. Each novel focuses on one the eight (8!) Bridgerton siblings, the oldest of whom is a Viscount and the move in high society in Regency Era England and blah blah blah. What I love about this series is that each sibling is very distinct with a very distinct love story. The family is lovely and heartwarming and the characters all have a lot of depth. There’s an element of ridiculousness to them (as there is in all Julia Quinn novels) and if you’re looking for some feel-good romance, this is the place to be.

Series Highlights: The Viscount Who Loved Me, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

(also these descriptions are getting shorter as I am getting lazier)

The Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews - Urban Fantasay/Paranormal Romance idk where they fall

It’s hard to choose an Ilona Andrews series, because this husband and wife writing duo is A++. The Kate Daniels series is amazing of course, but if you’re looking for a short and contained series that’s funny and packs an emotional punch all at the same time, look no further than the Innkeeper Chronicles. Dina Demille runs an Inn in a small town in Texas. But not your run-of-the-mill Inn. Nah, this one caters to aliens and interstellar travelers and no one else should even think about staying there. Also, the Inn is sentient. I don’t want to give too much away since it’s such a short series (the original trilogy and a spinoff book that was actually posted on the Ilona Andrews website in serial format) but this series is super great and you should check it out!

No series highlights since it’s like...4 books long. 

I’ve shown you mine, Tumblr. What are your binge reading recs?

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

(1.) everything’s a porno (feat. no it fucking isn’t, please leave the fucking house and actually talk to real women, you fucking sleaze ball)

(2.) what do mean you don’t like porn? (because everyone has a favourite one) are you broken?

(3.) you should’ve just fucked your high school stalker anyway, bc who the fuck cares if he was violent? (feat. maybe he’d’ve treated you nicely if you’d’ve just fucked him like he said to. just be nice, bitch and get rid of your virginity.)

(4.) treat ‘em mean, keep ‘em keen/if he’s mean or rude to you, it means that he likes you (tv tropes mash up)

(5.) what do you mean you’re still a virgin at *insert age here*? (feat. you should’ve fucked someone by the time you were 15, you fucking frigid uptight bitch. lower your fucking standards).

bonus tracks:

• legally change your name bc no one has the time to learn how to spell and pronounce your fucking impossible name, bitch. pick an easy name like sally bc no one has to take the effort to learn it and that’s polite! (feat. it’s literally right in fucking front of you on social media, you fuckwit. and it’s not fucking hard to respect women and people’s names in general, you piece of shit).

• you owe me nudes bc we’ve followed each other on tumblr for 4 years. where’s the fucking trust, bitch? (feat. THAT’S NOT HOW FOLLOWING RANDOM PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET FUCKING WORKS. YOU FUCKING CREEP).

• virginity is a social construct (haven’t you heard?) so get your crusty ass dick away from me

WHEEZING

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

• harry potter being a huge worldwide pop culture phenomenon.... with the frenzy to have the books on the day that they were released etc midnight movie releases etc.

• also seeing the rise and fall of jk rowling

• the battle between being a potterhead/harry potter fan or a twihard/twilight fan.... and the battle between the two franchises in cinemas

• oh yeah, Donald trump just being some celebrity figurehead that said “YOU’RE FIRED!” a lot bc of “the apprentice”. TAKE EVERYONE BACK.

• also the rise of Gordon Ramsay’s image of being a super sweary & aggressive chef... when in real life, or on other shows, he’s actually a nice dude.

• the second stage of mobiles going from flip phones to iPhones and being a literal computer in your pocket

• also having a separate iPod & phone in your pocket... to just having it all on your phone.

• the lame debate of “is print dead?” with people buying and using kindles more than print books (or whatever it is)

• the 10 billionth instalment of the pirates of the caribbean

• tim burton casting helena bonham carter and johnny depp as the lead characters (and lead love interests) IN NEARLY EVERY FUCKING MOVIE he made

• the rise of kpop and the eventual fall out of emo bands

• speaking of mid2000s emo bands: the end of fall out boy’s hiatus (from 2009) and the break up of my chemical romance happening in the same year (2013).

• emo kids almost crying when they heard that infamous g note or heard the line “when i was a young boy”. living in the “misery business” and wanting to live at “nine in the afternoon” etc. the “emo holy trinity” of bands being a thing (fob, mcr & p!atd). also p!atd having 10,000 different ways to write their band name. also finally on the emo point, PON & ZI.

• for scene kids or for those that don’t know: jeffree star’s weird ~MySpace~ music career and also some other bops by him exist.

• the godawful rise of the kardashian/jenner empire....

• the rise of influencers and the social media apps that made those stupid, rich fucks famous (snapchat, instagram, twitter, facebook etc)

• the modern day rise, fall from relevance and death of hugh hefener and the gross/weird show that showcased the life at the playboy mansion for the playboy bunny women (the girls next door/girls of the playboy mansion)... and the spin off shows that came from it (Kendra/kendra on top & Holly’s World etc)... and also the weird exploitative interest with the American restaurant Hooters that GOTPM instilled bc all of the playboy women (or maybe just holly madison, bc i can’t really remember) worked there at some stage.

• and on shows like keeping up with the kardashians etc, the filming of the show’s stars getting plastic surgery during an episode sometimes.

• the evermore persistent existence of diet culture bc of kuwtk and other reality shows.... or reports of people like Oprah and Kirstie alley etc being “serial dieters” on literally NEARLY EVERY FUCKING CELEB MAG while growing up

•the rise and sad, horrible fall of Lindsay Lohan.

• ok sure Supernatural being on air for like 15 years.

• the ridiculous ending of how i met your mother, which was basically the 90s/2000s kids version Friends. and basically, yeah, himym in general since it went for basically 10 years from 2005-2014.

• “youtuber” becoming an actual sorta viable job title

• the golden era of both Disney AND Nickelodeon shows

• the discovery channel and other channels that were supposed to be factual documentary channels churning out more and more shows like “duck dynasty”, “pawn stars” and “repo men” which were really awfully & very obviously scripted reality shows that these channels wanted to disguise as “factual documentaries”. effectively making these channels almost as bad as mtv, but in reverse.

• mtv being less about music videos and more about bad reality tv shows like teen mom or the life of Ryan or Next or whatever other shows were on there.

• the creation of the “bridezilla” stereotype from shows like “bridezillas”/“say yes to the dress” etc.... and also the 15 million different seasons of “housewives of.....”, which helped kinda further popularise the gold digger stereotype for women.....especially if one of the women in a particular season was from a ~less wealthy~ background.

• SO MANY MODELLING REALITY/COMP SHOWS mostly courtesy of Tyra Banks’s “.....Next top model” franchise; and that franchise having 1000 different spinoffs/seasons in the US.... and then heading to other countries (the most successful one being australia) and these shows probably contributing to self-esteem issues amongst teen girls.

• the complete difference between young female Hollywood stars (teen stars) actually being allowed to dress like teenagers should be allowed to dress at premieres/award shows & red carpets, to young Hollywood female teen stars being forced by their stylists to dress like young women in their early 20s for these events.

• the almost hypefixation on makeup, to the point where children are running makeup channels on YouTube

• asmr being a thing

• also considering a youtube career for your kid (if you have a kid).... bc those youtube channel kids earn so much just from playing with toys.

• the rise and the very much needed fall from relevance of ... and general public disgust for Chris Brown after his abuse of Rihanna in 2009.

• Rihanna rising out of that to become a makeup and lingerie business mogul (love her)

• “shuffling” and LMFAO being things. also finding out that LMFAO were actually an uncle and a nephew act.... with redfoo being the uncle and skyblu being the nephew.

• Kylie Minogue suing Kylie Jenner over trying to trademark the name Kylie 😂

• the realisation that Kesha/ke$ha wasn’t actually a super party queen like her songs depicted..... but instead she was (and still is) a hella smart and cool advocate for social issues. finding out that she also had like a 1500 SAT score and took college classes in high school.

and so, so much more.

so the 90s kids

have gone thru the jonas brothers' making, break up, and comeback

saw one direction rise and break up

saw justin bieber rise and fall

are the only ones who happened to watch Good disney shows

have experienced the once-in-a-lifetime experience of the mcu's infinity saga

have seen the climate fall onto its face

went from no computers to computers everywhere in like 2 seconds

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

i second the job application email!! as someone whose signed up to fb STILL with one of her old embarrassing high school email accounts (that’s based on in the night garden for some bizarre reason lmao), please just make an email specifically for job applications!

yes it’ll suck and feel stuffy and adulty (for the younger users on this site) but it’ll make you feel better in the job apps process rather than applying for jobs with something like theoriginaligglepiggle vs something like janine.endelson@example.com or aaronsanderson1986@*insert email provider here*. that’s the main reason that i’ve NEVER used the facebook jobs function on fb, bc it autofills with my junk email on hotmail from literally a fucking decade ago; rather than one of my proper sounding job app emails that i’ve made in kind of more recent years when having to buy new laptops and shit for uni and generally for subscriptions.

but mind you; i also use a job sounding email for online shopping as well…. bc eventually you will have to give up signing up to every site with something like neopetsfreak@hotmail.com. or for me, my other online persona, heureuxbones, that i used in high school and i think my early 20s for a tiny bit for online shopping (it’s one of my old high school emails). but that’s another adulting tip for another post lol.

could you IMAGINE if jobs asked to see your tumblr ajsjskksksks the url alone is enough to disqualify half of you hoes let alone your blog descriptions

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

i’ve never played gacha games and this post is actually the first time i’ve heard about them. but i’m guessing from the notes they’re a type a game where you have buy things in the game with your IRL money.... like i used to do with games on my phone such as sims mobile and disco zoo (and even very, very occasionally on wordscapes)...... on power ups/social points/life points/in game money like extra simoleans in sims or disco bux in disco zoo.... and i ended up spending a fair amount each fortnight on these games when i should’ve been using that money for irl stuff like groceries etc.

since then (2014), i’ve banned myself from buying games with in game purchases that require IRL money. i’m pretty sure at one point back then i spent like $150 on a mega pack of like 400 life or social point diamonds in sims???? which is fucking ridiculous. i should’ve just left the house to socialise instead of buying life/social points for my fictional self. and in that same week i spent like $50 real money on some type of ticket or disco ball in disco zoo too that was like 25 disco bux in game but 50 irl dollars which made zero fucking sense.

or if i happen to buy a game with in app/game purchases that require real money to buy stuff or has supporting apps that want you to use real money to pay for in app purchases, i try to avoid using that feature as much as possible ..... since i know that i can’t trust myself with it. i know i’ll spend stupid asf amounts of money on them.

hell, at one point i even considered getting neopets premium for shits and giggles (i was drunk). which is insane, considering that i’m in australia and neopets is american..... so the sub prices for neopets premium are like twice or triple the price here in aus, depending on how well or shit the aussie dollar is doing against the US dollar at the time.... which means it never fairs well lmao.

and the above is besides the point that i only log into my old neopets account (or my new one) once every few years; when i’m REALLY in the mood to play faerie caves or idek meerca chase etc etc. for nostalgic purposes/my life is literally a fucking shambles and i’ll cry about it by playing neopets purposes. but if neopets is doing something similar, with on-website purchases requiring real money for neocash/neopoints- or say that they started to charge to let people play their old games in the games graveyard or something with the said neocash..... let me tell ya that i’d never go back to them ever again. fuck that bs.

just avoid anything with in app/game purchases or subscriptions that require real money, like the plague.

Your friendly reminder to not spend money on gacha.