#we're vaccinated so we should be fine

[tea-cat-arts]

Ranking mxtx couples by whether or not I think they'd be good parents

(I'm 90% sure I'm forgetting someone)

Yep, next question (S)-

Wangxian: tried and tested good dads. I wish them luck with the whole “trying to get wwx pregnant” thing 

They have some shit to work through, but after that I think they'd be fine (A)-

Ling Wen/ Bai Jin: if we're just going off the original publication, I would put them in a much lower tier, but since the revised edition added that thing about them raising orphans together and said orphans turning out alright before unfortunate circumstances, I'm putting them up here. I think they'll be alright once they work through the miscommunication

Xiao Xingchen/ Song Lan: They obviously have a lot of trauma they're working through, but I'd like to think they and A-Qing will be a loving family in the long run 

One of them would be a good parent, the other wouldn't be a bad parent (B)-

Jiang Yanli/ Jin Zixuan: there's no canon reason for me putting them this low. Jin Zixuan just gives off a mediocre parent vibe to me (and we all know Jiang Yanli is the best)

Yushipei: Yushi Huang has good mom energy, and Pei Ming has been shown to be a not terrible mentor. I'd want the misogyny fully beaten out of him with a mace before I'd think he should have kids of his own though 

Lang Qianqiu/ Little Guy: at the very least, they're making sure Guzi is fed, clothed, washed, vaccinated, and has access to education. Neither of them know what they're doing, but I think Little Guy is good at faking it. I wish them luck in their upcoming custody battle  

You know what, surprise me/ I'll hear you out (C)-

Bingqiu: My first instinct is “no, do not bring kids into this,” but then I remembered tharnShen Qingqiu has a surprisingly decent track record? Like, Ning Yingying and Ming Fan both turned out a lot more health than they did in the original novel, and though I wouldn't call him in a good place, Binghe is doing a lot better than Bingge. The wild card for me here is Luo Binghe because I have no idea how he'd be with kids

Quanyin: Yin Yu had a decent track record until he was pushed into snapping. I think rn, he needs a couple centuries of being a babygirl before he's ready to parent again. No idea how Quan Yizhen would do though 

Born to “dual income, no kids, rich uncles/aunts” (D)-

Fengqing: Feng Xin is canonically a bad dad. I know he's working on it, but it is what it is. Mu Qing has been shown to be decent with kids, but I think he’d have a melt down if he had to deal with the mess constantly. 

Hualian: I mean, Xie Lian has raised three kids at this point and one of them became a god, another became state preceptor and then sorta complicit in a genocide, and one became god AND committed genocide + he babysat a ghost king for months and didn't even realize that's what he was because it was a miracle if he remembered to feed him… so, a mixed bag. Hua Cheng may be schrodinger’s child hater, but I'm intrigued by the idea of him raising kids just because I want to know how his own childhood would influence his parenting abilities. They should probably just stick to babysitting for now though 

Mingling: Liu Mingyan is too busy writing gay porn to be dealing with kids, and I just can't imagine Sha Hualing as a mom

Please don't bring a kid into this mess (F)-

Beefleaf: Do I need to explain this one?

Mobeishang: Shang Qinghua should not be put in any position where he has to teach someone about consent (Binghe’s early attempts at flirting being a prime example of why that's a bad idea). I also think Mobei Jun is still working on the whole “why hitting people is not cool” thing. 

QiJiu: I think the original timeline is a prime example of how they're just not in a place to be raising kids 

Jun Wu/ Mei Nianqing: Xie Lian would like a refund on his adopted father figures. They had one kid and he only made it to age 20 because he was cursed to not die

[doingbad]

h/w fanmix

In honor of Watson's Sketchbook doing FINA, I'm sharing my Holmes/Watson playlist for Final Problem - post Empty House. This playlist alternate's POV from Watson to Holmes.

Under the cut

Old Friend - Mitski (Watson is married, but still goes away with Holmes)

We nearly drowned For such a silly thing Someone who loves me now Better than you

John My Beloved - Sufjan Stevens (Holmes knows this is their last trip)

So can we pretend sweetly Before the mystery ends? I am a man with a heart that offends With its lonely and greedy demands There's only a shadow of me in a matter of speaking I'm dead

hoax - Taylor Swift (Watson)

Stood on the cliffside Screaming, "Give me a reason" Your faithless love's the only hoax I believe in

Anyone's Ghost- The National (Holmes)

You said it was not inside my heart, it was You said it should tear a kid apart, it does

The Engine Driver - The Decemberists (Watson starts to publish )

And I am a writer, writer of fictions I am the heart that you call home And I've written pages upon pages Trying to rid you from my bones

I Should Live In Salt - The National (Holmes has regrets)

I should live in salt for leaving you behind

I Am Easy to Find - The National (Watson hasn't moved on)

There's a million little battles that I'm never gonna win anyway I'm still waiting for you every night with ticker tape, ticker tape

Sax Rohmer #1 - The Mountain Goats (Holmes fights back)

I am coming home to you With my own blood in my mouth And I am coming home to you If it's the last thing that I do

If You Wanna - The Vaccines (Watson in EMPT)

But if you wanna come back, it's alright, it's alright It's alright if you wanna come back Do you wanna come back? It's alright, it's alright It's alright if you wanna come back to me

Marry Me - St Vincent (Holmes makes promises)

But you, you're a rock with a heart Like a socket I can plug into at will And will you guess when I come around next? I hope your open sign is blinking still

I Was a Fool -Tegan And Sara (Watson takes him back)

Still I stuck around I did behave I saved you every time I was a fool for love

Me and My Husband - Mitski (They're back and everything is fine kinda)

But me and my husband We're doing better It's always been just him and me, together

[solarmagickstar]

I've been hearing a lot of "gen alpha can't read cause they're iPad kids."

But like are we asking them what they *can* do?

Or how *they're* feeling even?

I distinctly remember adults when I was a kid saying we'd all be "brain dead" because of tv or texting or the Internet or some shit. And we couldn't defend ourselves cause we were literally children.

It's like this every time.

And every time each generation has to prove they're worthy of adulthood.

And this gen isn't even all in middle school yet and y'all are calling them failures right in front of their faces. It's not ganna help. If anything it'll make this much much worse.

I'm a Gen Z (well I'm in the transitional area between millennial and Z but most millennials tell me I'm gen z so fine.) I have gen alpha kids. And a lot of them (classmates and the like) are anxious asf about the world.

I wonder if they're putting up a tough front to keep the only control they have in the world as children.

Or living free before they have to become the overworked adults they see in their lives.

Or ya know death by school shootings if they're in America.

Or idk die from a once in a century plague cause their parents won't let them get vaccinated.

Or maybe it's something we could never describe or understand since we're not in that position.

Honestly every commentator I've seen on this topic hasn't asked a child how they literally feel. Like you don't have to put them on camera obviously (maybe don't actually for their safety) but like just ask? Or find ways to ask, kids can be shy about their true feelings sometimes. Especially if we keep pretending like we know them.

Teachers are over worked, parents are over worked. But haven't they always been? (Maybe we should actually do something about that? Like a lot have already been saying, but like actually do it? Maybe baby sit your friend's kid or go to the grocery store with them to help chaperone them? And try and do it for them for free, I get it if you can't but those who can should. I'm also not saying your should steal baby supplies, I'd never say that, I'd also never say to just steal food and hand them out, or to steal teaching and school supplies and just give em away or anything of course not! And I wish I could put the proper tone marks on this but for legal purposes I am being sarcastic.)

And doesn't each generation come with more problems or perceived problems because that's life? We're always going to find something wrong with the younger generation, we're constantly evolving and we're constantly looking for ways how.

Last thing.

What is intelligence?

Is it *really* being able to read?

Is it *really* scoring high on tests for studies?

Didn't we *just* talk about how standardised tests are wild and are often not very good at displaying what kids can actually do? Or are often hard to grade because of lack of staffing? Something something Pearson? Something something my history text book was older than me something something "Bill Clinton the president everyone is looking forward to!" Written on the back page Something something coming home to see late night TV making jokes about his shitty behaviour but making it more about the person who was literally harmed by this and making fun of her well into the 2000s..... (Oh has our education system and environment for kids always been kinda shitty? No way almost like it's a never ending battle.)

Have we truly figured out if the kids are alright?

Have they ever been?

Do we even know what that fucking means????

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive (Daily updates!)

Vax and relax with no access to the vax. I'm sure that will work out just fine.

By Teri Fikowski

(Follow the link to watch the news segment)

Alberta rolled out its fall immunization campaign on Tuesday, but people hoping to get both a flu and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time might have to wait, with many pharmacies yet to receive a shipment of the new COVID shots.

"We were expecting to get flu and COVID shots together, so that was the plan initially, but just prior to the launch, we were told the vaccines would be a little delayed for COVID," said Nisma Shaukat, the pharmacist at Copperfield Pharmasave.

In September, Alberta Health announced both vaccines would be available on Oct. 15(opens in a new tab).

While many pharmacies are unable to open bookings until delivery of the shots, others were forced to cancel bookings on Tuesday.

"It's certainly inconvenient for people, especially when a lot of them heard through radio commercials and things like that that everything would be available together on the 15th," Shaukat said.

"So, many are coming in together, expecting to do both and we have to tell them, 'No, we only have one available at the moment.'"

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange says a "glitch" involving a distributor, McKesson, has led to the delay in shipments.

"I'm assured they are rolling out the vaccine products and vaccine themselves to pharmacies and AHS clinics and will have everyone full-supplied by the end of the week."

Previously, the province blamed distribution problems(opens in a new tab) for family doctors not getting access to flu shots to administer.

Now, it's pharmacists who worry the delay may make it difficult to get people back through the doors for another appointment, citing a slowdown in vaccine uptake in Alberta.

During the 2023-24 flu season, 1.1 million Albertans received a flu shot, the majority through pharmacies and clinics.

That's about 140,000 people fewer than the previous year.

"It slowed down some, no question there. Last year, I think the flu numbers were half the peak and that's also why we had a really bad flu year," said David Brewerton with Lukes Drug Mart.

He describes the delay as a minor inconvenience but said Albertans shouldn't hesitate to get the shot as soon as they can, with a new strain of COVID-19 circulating.

"They should get it soon," he said.

"The fellow I just gave it to now has a person at work already and they've got other people with it. There is certainly COVID going around, there is no question there."

Health experts worry about what kind of impact a delay in vaccines will have on the upcoming respiratory virus season.

"The problem is low uptake today is going to a lead to a problem not tomorrow, not three weeks from now, but Christmastime when we're going to have all the hospitals overflowing," said microbiologist Jason Tetro.

He accuses the province of doing little to encourage Albertans to get vaccinated, citing what he describes as a lack of a fall immunization campaign, due to ideological reasons.

"Politicization of the vaccine has made a huge impact, so now we have right versus left but at the end of the day, getting a jab in your arm shouldn't be political," he said.

LaGrange said the province invested $500,000 to immunization campaigns, the same as the previous year.

A delivery date for the COVID-19 vaccine is dependent on pharmacies, so Albertans are encouraged to check in or check online for appointments.

[clarkes-and-god]

"Hi Beth! How're you doing?"

"Oh, hello Zizi! Gosh, I don't think we were expecting company. Is everything ok?"

"Don't be silly, we're fine! I just thought I'd drop by, I have a casserole for you since you're about to have that sweet baby. It's made with the mushrooms Cooper found the other day, and all the cheese is made from milk from our cow, Betsy. It's really good for you and the baby. So much better than that processed junk, that'll only make you fat."

"That's very thoughtful of you, it looks... very healthy."

"Talking about that, have you made up your mind on the home birth yet? I mean, I know it's a bit unusual for you, but I really think a home birth is the best option for you and the baby. And I can help! I've done it before, I know what I'm doing. I used to help my Mama when my little brothers and sisters were born."

"I mean, I just worry about what if something goes wrong. What would we do? It'll take so long to get to a hospital from up here, we might not get a doctor in time."

"Beth, you need to put your faith in the Lord. Us ladies are designed for this, your body knows what to do. The only reason people always have doctors nowadays is because the government wants to be involved with our kids as soon as possible, and they inject those babies with all sorts of horrible chemicals, it's not natural."

"I understand where you're coming from, Zizi, but I've just always thought I'd give birth in a hospital, and I really want what's safest for the baby. I wouldn't get the baby vaccinated or anything, my mom never did that either."

"Look, I get that you think hospitals are safer, but that's just what you've been told. Actually, more than 97% of babies in the NICU were born in hospitals, so I don't know how you can think they're any safer. And women who give birth in hospital, and their babies, are 70% more likely to have intervention related injuries! I think it all could be avoided if we just put a little more trust in God, He designed us to do this perfectly."

"Really? How awful! All those little babies all alone in the NICU! That's just horrid. So hospitals aren't safer? Goodness, maybe we should reconsider. I'll talk to Fabian about it."

"Good! Yeah, they really aren't. You know, I've heard that some women asked for their babies not to be vaccinated or something, but the hospital did it anyways! I pray every day for all those sweet babies who have mamas who put them in danger like that, just because it's what everyone else does, and because they're a slave to the system and want to go back to work as soon as possible.

"I think I will, too."

[thethingything]

some good news:

our room is significantly cleaner than it has been over the last few months and this is purely through us being able to do a couple of small cleaning tasks per day and we feel so much better because of it

we're way less irritable and finding it way easier to cope with stuff that was previously making us really overwhelmed

I've also noticed we've been more optimistic and finding it easier to find things to look forward to and be hopeful about

we booked our flu vaccine appointment several weeks in advance and I feel very organised and like I've got my shit together because of this

so overall we're having a better time with a bunch of stuff even if there is still a lot that's getting to us and that we'll need to process and work through.

we have stuff to catch up with but we've gone from "oh god how a I even gonna manage this?" to "okay if I make a list of what I need to do and then do a bit at a time we should be fine actually" which is a huge relief

[trashbag-baby666]

yoo webgott sickfic for the covid? 😔😔

I got the perfect idea for this one 🫶🏻.

Stuck In It With You-Webgott

Summary: Joe tests positive for covid along with Web. Web is on a mission to heal him until roles reverse.

WC: 1,026

C/W: Mentions of Covid and mild homophobia via Webs parents.

BofB Masterlist!

Request Prompt List!

"Fuck!" Is the first thing Web heard on this beautiful Saturday morning.

Lieb came out of the bedroom coughing and his mouth open, his breath hot.

“I can't fuckin' breathe." Joe groaned, heading right over to the drawer with all the cold medicine and over the counter pain drugs.

“Take a covid test," Web hummed, backing up from where Joe was standing, taking out the Dayquil and swallowing it dry.

“Web, I don't have covid." Joe looked at Web like he was an idiot and not a Harvard graduate.

“You had a sore throat last night and Joe and George both have it." Web said, "There's some tests in there, go in the bathroom and take it." David didn't have the patience to deal with Joe's attitude this morning. They were hosting dinner for his parents and Joe being sick wasn't an option.

His parents had far too high standards held for him, one of those being that Joe was a phase. Never would they accept that David was gay and nothing was going to change that. It was just part of them and Web had learned to deal with it.

Now, Joe on the other hand...it was always tough for him to accept that, Webs parents were like that. Joe had grown up with gay dads and had heard all the bullshit of people's homophobia and hate.

“Fuck!" Joe groaned loudly from the bathroom, “It's positive."

“Should I take one? I feel fine but you never know." Web sighed, shifting his weight.

“Yeah you should." Joe responded. Last night the two of them had an intense four rounds of sex. So confidently Liebs tongue touched every part of Web's body and certainly was in his mouth as well.

David opened the drawer and took out the rectangular box and dumped its contents onto the granite countertop.

He got everything sorted out and swabbed his nose then put the swab on the test. It took nearly 30 seconds before the two red lines appeared on the test.

"I'm positive too." Web sighed looking down at the test.

Web heard the bathroom door lock unlock and Lieb came out. He tossed the test in the trash and washed his hands.

“Well at least we can be sick together, David." Lieb shook his head as he dried his hands moving onto the coffee pot and grabbing out his favorite mug.

“Yeah but now I have to tell my parents." Webs family was difficult dealing with they were Covid deniers and thought David was ridiculous for getting vaccinated against covid as well.

That Joe wasn't some radical leftist, his parents were both a pain to deal with.

“Well let's rip the bandaid off now." Lieb handed Web his phone from where it laid on the counter. Web rolled his eyes, taking his phone from Lieb and calling his mom.

"Hey mom," Web said in a nervous tone as his mother picked up. Joe watched as Web leaned against the counter, "So Joe and I tested positive for Covid, so we're going to have to reschedule our dinner."

“No, I'm fine mom I promise." Web sighed as his mother did the thing she always did.

Joe shook his head walking out of the kitchen. He didn't want to listen to him talk with his mom right now. She hated Joe, they both would find any excuse to talk poorly about him. Joe went into the bedroom ripping the sheets off to wash the bedding so they could have fresh sheets.

Joe was loading the comforter and sheets into the washer when Web came down the hall. "What'd she say?" Joe asked as he pushed start.

“She's upset, but it's going to be okay." David sighed and opened up the other closet in the hall taking out a clean set of dark gray sheets. 

“Of course she's mad," Joe followed Web into their room and took one corner of the fitted sheet.

"She didn't say it was your fault this time." David shook his head, he felt bad that his mom absolutely could not stand Joe.

"Surprise, surprise." Lieb put their pillows back on the bed. Web grabbed the comforter from the closet and came over to the bed.

"You should go back to sleep, you look like shit." Web crossed his arms.

"But I wanna shower with you," Lieb frowned.

"Maybe later, Joe. But no offense, you look like shit."

It was true, Joe had dark bags under his eyes. His throat was swollen and his sinuses were congested.

Joe rolled his eyes and laid back down in the king sized bed.

"Hey, Joe, wake up, you need to eat something." Web kept his voice barely above a whisper as he woke up his husband.

"What?" Joe felt like he could barely open his eyes as he felt the tickle in his throat and started coughing.

"Here," David handed him a wad of tissues as Joe spit up some mucus and took a drink of his water.

"I also made you some chicken noodle soup." Web handed the bowl to Joe after he got himself sat up.

"What about you? You're also sick, liebling you need to rest too." Joe patted the spot on the bed next to him.

"But I don't really feel sick." He sat on the spot next to Joe leaning into his touch as he pressed the back of his hand to his forehead.

"Jesus, you're burning up. I'm gonna go get the thermometer." He set the blue ceramic bowl on the nightstand and disappeared into the bathroom. David sighed, accepting defeat and getting into the bed.

Joe came back out with the thermometer and handed it to Web. He tucked it under his tongue and cringed after a moment as the screen flashed red as it beeped.

"101!" Joe sighed, shaking his head and returning to the bathroom. Web didn't like when he felt like Joe had to take care of him. His parents always made sure to make sure he felt bad when he had to ask for help.

"Here take these." Joe put the Tylenol in Web's hand, "They'll reduce your fever."

[pbandjesse]

I am just now getting out of my workshop. Which went almost an hour later that was supposed to. But I had such a good time. And while it only had five people we did great. And I felt super successful and super happy. I'm also very tired. And very glad to go home.

I slept better last night but I still didn't sleep great. I would let myself stay in bed until almost 7:00 and James laid with me for those last 10 minutes. I went and got washed up and dressed and I kept watching the clock. And thinking okay you have 15 minutes till you have to leave okay you have 11 minutes till you have to leave. And I have my morning routine pretty down path to 20 minutes. But I just felt like I was moving so slow. And things were hard to do.

I did not wear makeup today. Well I wore mascara. But I didn't wear eyeliner. My eye still is swollen a little and I just would like to see my face without it for a little while again. And my outfit was fine and my hair was fine. I caught it a little bit more last night. Gave myself some more layers. But I just keep thinking that I look like I did in 7th grade. When I kind of had like a proto mullet of some kind. Just kind of shaggy seeing hair but I didn't use hairspray so it was not as voluminous. But I felt slightly better about myself at least.

I left for work and I didn't really have to deal with any traffic. And I got to camp around 8:00. And it was so nice out. Like it was chilly today. But I just wore a sweatshirt and I was fine. I honestly could have spent more time outside than I did.

I would have my breakfast and around 8:30 Heather texted me a list of vendors that I could contact. I had to do a ton of research to find emails and some of the business names are not SEO optimized because like multiple people are having the same name as your business. I should be able to Google you and you come right up. I should not have to search for your email. Ridiculous. So that took me like an hour to find everyone I contact them. And then by the time I was done that Heather and Sarah and Elizabeth were all in and Heather get me another list of people to contact. So me and Sarah worked on that together and we would get about 25 people contacted. And hopefully we will have a couple people sign up.

once I finish that I would take like an hour to do some research about Uganda. Which is becoming more and more real and I'm still trying not to be very very anxious about it. I don't want to keep asking James to text Paul with all of my questions but I have a lot of questions. Specifically things about visas and vaccinations but also the hotel and the resort are they the same place? Turns out they are. We're staying in a five-star luxury resort. And it looks beautiful in the pictures. And so since now I know where we're staying I started doing research into what we could do on Wednesday which is our one day where we have nothing planned for the wedding. And I found a rhino sanctuary that isn't too too far and I think would be incredible. It's where the last white rhinos live in the wild and there's only like 22 of them and I just think it would be so amazing. I want to see something that I can't see anywhere else. And like we're already staying on lake Victoria which is the largest lake in Africa which is already incredible. But I really want to take advantage of as much as I can on this trip.

So I did a ton of research and I worked on a packing list. I mostly modified the Disney list so I could just utilize a lot of that stuff. Because it's still useful. I just took out the Disney specific things and I'll add in the Uganda specific things. And I texted James and we worked on our document together with all the information about the itinerary and need to know information. I think that we are being a really good team about this.

I had lunch but I was still really hungry and I just kind of remained that way for the rest of the day. Just really snacky. Eventually though Heather and Alexi had a meeting and Elizabeth went for a walk and when she came back she said that there was stuff that we could do to get ready for the open house this weekend. So I would go up to the hacienda and put tables and chairs away and start to sweep. But then my back hurt so I came back.

Sarah and Chloe went and picked up some chicks!! Which was super exciting and I absolutely loved holding in. They are my new best friend. They don't have names yet but two of them were half off for being a week older? Very silly. But it was so fun to have them around.

Soon me and Sarah jumped in the gator to get cleaning supplies and go to woodlands village and wipe down all of the beds while she swapped and then we cleaned pioneer cabins and it was nice to just do a singular task. I had a podcast going and I was just enjoying listening to my headphones and cleaning and it was a good time.

around 3:40 I finished up the last beds and I checked in with Sarah and after putting cleaning product and all the toilets I went back to the office to get my stuff and said goodbye. I needed to go home

But really what I need to do is eat. I was so hungry. And so I went to Wawa and I got a hoagie and I got chips to bring home for James. I sat in my car and watched a video while I ate my sandwich. I had entirely too much bread and cheese but it was great in the moment. And then I went home.

When I got home it was about 5:00. I didn't have to deal with too much traffic and when I got back I was really happy to see James. Sweetp too. And it was so nice seeing our kitchen all pink and James being so happy. And we just hung out for a little while. They had gotten the wrong tote bags out that I asked them for and we had a little bit of a laugh about that while they want to help me find the toepans I actually needed as examples. And then I gave them the trips I got them and they were really excited and we talked and laid on the couch while they worked on bread and soon it was time for me to go again.

I had to create appliance to do my workshop and it went so good. I got there right about 6:00. My first person came at 6:15 while I was still setting up. And I would have four women and one man and everyone was so nice. But man this workshop was a little above all of their pay grades. I think I gave him a lot more than they expected and I don't know I think that we all probably could have done it down a little bit. But we had two people completely finished their tote bags and three people mostly finished their tote bags. And it was great. We had conversations and we had stuff going on and I was troubleshooting and fixing machines and it was chaos but it was really great. And we all got to learn about each other and tell each other encouraging words and I think it was just a really really good time. And at the end once most people were leaving I got some really nice compliments. Parker's partner came and she said that I was super charismatic and she was awesome and I just felt like everyone really enjoyed the class and that made me feel really good. The last person to leave was the guy that came. I believe his name was Alex and he just moved to Baltimore this year and he really excited and he made a giant bag. And he stayed the extra 45 minutes so that we could work on it together to finish it and it came out great and I'm so proud of him. He had never sown a day in his life not hand sewn not machine sewn. And he was so brave and I showed him some hand sewing stuff as well and it was just awesome. I think if I was to do this again I would definitely want to have more sewing machines. But I think we did great with what we had and it was just a really really good class.

I'm sitting in the car now finishing writing this and I'm about to go in and I'm really excited to see my husband and take a shower and then go to sleep. Because tomorrow we have so much to do to get ready for the open house this weekend. And I just hope that we get it all done. Because if we do not I'm coming in very early on Sunday to do it. And I don't want to do that.

Good night everybody. I hope that you are safe and happy. Until next time.

[katy-books]

Is it controversial to say people should not be socially expected to go to work when they have a cold?

I despise the expression, "just a cold."

I'm a self employed maintenance gardener at the moment. When I feel like I need time off, I just don't work. When I have a cold, I stay in bed for half a week, drink Red Bull, take meds and watch anime. When I worked in an office (where I was also bullied until I started fantasising about suicide), I went into work when I had a cold because it was socially expected. It was fucking awful and I swear it made the cold last longer!

My mum thinks it's fine to be expected to work with a cold, and that staying in bed is dramatic. I am not taking advice from a woman who went to her office job AND trimmed our apple tree while suffering with pneumonia. That's not an exaggeration. That woman is like a horse with a broken leg, she will not rest until she is so weak that she cannot lift herself. Yes, that's also happened. Her work ethic is toxic and she sees nothing wrong with it. I've gone the opposite way because I see her as ridiculous in this regard (love you Mum, you're wonderful in other ways). She may be the extreme, but she represents what is socially expected of us. When I worked with a cold it took a week to get over it. When I rest it takes 3 or 4 days. Why do I feel like the bad guy? The lazy one? The dramatic one? Why would I want to feel like crap for a week!?

If you have a cold and you work, not only does it make you feel worse but everyone else gets it too. Why is this not unacceptable? Is it not the same thing as going in and kicking everyone in the shins with steel toe cap boots on? Dangerous? No. Unpleasant and mean? Yes.

Why is it fine that society has told us it doesn't matter how physically (or mentally) bad we feel, because if we're not useful for a few days we're worthless as human beings? Don't delude yourself. That's what it means.

Now to supermarkets, and this one is more focused on selfishness and stupidity.

Colds are pretty much only dangerous if you are immunocompromised, but they still make you feel like crap. And how can you know if anyone around you in a shop is immunocompromised or not? Now that we all own masks why wouldn't you wear it while in a supermarket while suffering from a cold, instead of coughing and sneezing all over everything in the shop? It's bad mannered, it's inconsiderate and it's gross.

I caught covid last year (for the first time) because a woman behind me in a supermarket queue coughed in my direction. I live with my mum and my brother. My brother is immunocompromised. So, despite not feeling very ill at all except for 1 or 2 days (triple vaccinated), I had to isolate for 2 weeks in one room. I had to wrap myself in a dressing gown to cover my infectious clothes and wear a mask to go to the toilet. I was so incredibly lonely and frustrated, and our elderly anxious dog didn't know where I was and she was miserable. All because a woman who knew she was ill didn't want to inconvenience herself with a mask while shopping, and came uncomfortably close in the line too.

So, tell me, is this controversial?

[keo-k]

I think I just had the most funky (derogatory) experience of my life.

TW: Use of the r-slur, accusations of child beating and molesting.

So, I'm with my mum at No Frills so we can get our vaccines (there's a pharmacy) and some groceries. Everything's normal, I convince my mum to buy me a bag of chips because I'm a leech, we're balling.

We get to the checkout lane. My mum realizes we don't have a bag, so she runs to the car and gets one. It's fine. We've done this before.

Suddenly, a 20-something-year-old lady behind us, clearly ZONKED OUT on drugs (staggering, snot running down her face, the whole deal) comes up to us and asks if we have any money to spare! We know she's on copious amounts of drugs, and that if we give her money, she'll most likely use it to buy more, so my mum just ignores her and gets on with the checking out process. I feel kind of bad, but she's clearly not in her right mind.

She speaks again. "Hey, you're letting someone starve here... Don't- Don't you know this is a free country...?" (we live in canada, btw, this was SO random) "Hi, miss, sorry," she refers to the lady at the register, "Can I exchange these two items for this better one?"

The lady at the register locks eyes with my mum and they both continue on with the checking out process, starting their own conversation, ignoring her. She speaks again. "Hey, can I finish my conversation!? So fucking rude, Jesus..." My mum gives into the need to say something to stop this; "Sorry, I would like to get this done and get home. Can you just... Wait a bit?"

I'm going to preface this next bit with the fact that I look very young. She suddenly realizes I'M standing there, sees a resemblance between me and my mum, and, I have NO CLUE what went down in her mind, but she suddenly accuses my mum of BEATING ME and MOLESTING ME, calling my mum a whore and a r*tard. My mum calls for a manager, security, SOMETHING, obviously. The guy at one of the other registers says he's on it, calls in a guy, and gets her taken out of the store. Yippee. We get on with the checking out, put the stuff in our bag.

We get out of the store.

She's still there. She makes eye contact with us. Yay. So awesome. The security guy, trying to get her out of the location, sees us, sees HER see us, and body blocks her. "Ma'am, I need you to calm down. If you approach them, I'm going to have to detain you."

She tries to launch herself at us, muttering "She confessed to beating her son! She should be in JAIL!" Which, by the way, my mum did NOT. DO. ANY. OF. THAT. Anyway, she literally launches herself into the guy's torso and he does not move an inch, which I'll admit, VERY funny.

We get into the car, she tries to chase us down, security guy restrains her. We get home safely, at least. Anyway, that was fucking wild.

[petinsurancenewzealand]

The Paw-sitive Guide to Pet Insurance: Your Furry Friend's Safety Net

Hey there, fellow pet lovers! We all know that our furry companions are more than just pets – they're cherished members of our families. They bring us joy, companionship, and, let's be honest, occasional mischief. Just like with our human family members, we want to ensure that our beloved pets are well taken care of, even during unexpected situations. That's where Pet Insurance New Zealand enters the scene, ready to be your four-legged friend's safety net.

Why Pet Insurance Matters

Life is full of surprises, both good and not-so-good. As responsible pet parents, it's our duty to prepare for the unexpected, especially when it comes to our pets' health and well-being. Here's why pet insurance NZ should be on every pet owner's radar:

Financial Peace of Mind: Pet emergencies can strike when you least expect them, and the last thing you want is to be caught off guard by hefty veterinary bills. Pet insurance Auckland helps you manage these costs, so you can focus on your pet's recovery instead of worrying about your wallet.

Comprehensive Coverage: Just like human health insurance, pet insurance offers a range of coverage options. From accidents and illnesses to routine check-ups and vaccinations, you can tailor the plan to suit your pet's needs and your budget.

No More "What Ifs": We all know that sinking feeling of helplessness when our pet is unwell, and we're not sure if we can afford the necessary care. Pet insurance eliminates the "what ifs" and lets you make decisions based on what's best for your pet's health, not your finances.

Choosing the Right Plan

Now that we've established why pet insurance is a must-have, let's dive into how to choose the right plan for your furry friend:

Assess Your Pet's Needs: Consider your pet's breed, age, and any pre-existing conditions. This will help you narrow down the coverage options that make the most sense for your pet's specific requirements.

Coverage Limits: Different plans have different coverage limits. Make sure you understand what is covered and up to what amount. Some plans have annual limits, while others have lifetime limits. Find the balance that works for you.

Deductibles and Premiums: Just like car insurance, you'll likely encounter deductibles and monthly premiums. A higher deductible might mean lower monthly payments, but be sure you can comfortably afford the deductible if an emergency arises.

How to Get Started

Ready to give your pet the protection they deserve? Here's how to get started with pet insurance:

Research Providers: Look for reputable pet insurance companies that have good reviews and a track record of reliable coverage.

Compare Plans: Once you've narrowed down a few providers, compare their plans side by side. Pay attention to the coverage details, deductibles, and premiums.

Request Quotes: Reach out to the providers for personalized quotes based on your pet's information and the coverage you're interested in.

Read the Fine Print: Before committing, read through the policy documents carefully. Understand the terms, conditions, and any exclusions that might apply.

Enroll Early: Don't wait for an emergency to strike. Enroll your pet in insurance while they're healthy to ensure there are no pre-existing condition exclusions.

Final Thoughts

Pet insurance is more than just a safety net – it's a way to provide your furry friend with the best possible care without compromising your financial peace of mind. Whether your pet is a mischievous pup or a wise old cat, having insurance means you can focus on making memories together, no matter what life throws your way. So go ahead, explore your options, and give your pet the protection they deserve!

Remember, every tail wag and purr is worth it!

Stay tuned for more pawsome pet tips and advice!

Source By: The Paw-sitive Guide to Pet Insurance: Your Furry Friend's Safety Net

[teeftoobaybee]

i have an unfortunate announcement;

my mom has covid so i won't be posting much at all until her 2 week quarantine period is over. i do have a post on queue for this week so be on the look out for that. stay safe y'all :)

[blithesylph]

.

[lastoneout]

Tbh most of the people I know who are usually radical leftists but have given up wearing masks are the ones who caught covid and survived. Legit makes me think they just get it in their heads that they caught it once and it's not a huge deal cuz they lived and don't have long covid so why bother? But like, it should be the opposite, the people who did get it should be the ones pushing for continued mask use, but they aren't. My fiance and I are the only people we know who haven't caught covid even once and we're basically the only ones still wearing masks 100% of the time(and also social distancing to the best of our ability).

Idk if it's true but I think catching covid and being lucky enough to survive and, at least for now, not have any long covid symptoms just convinces some people that it's not all that bad and they'll be fine cuz there are treatments now(and they're all vaccinated anyway) so who cares? Which is extra infuriating because that's LITERALLY not true at all. All of the science says that catching covid is BAD and it could fuck you up for the rest of your life in ways we don't even know yet and you were EXTREMELY LUCKY to not die or get long covid and catching it again is EVEN WORSE so you should still be doing EVERYTHING in your power to avoid it.

But they aren't, and it literally makes me feel like I'm completely fucking insane sometimes.

[laurellynnleake]

Alt text courtesy of Sharyn Blum on twitter: [On a black background is a grid of pale aqua mini-canvasses surrounding a simple portrait of a white girl with brown hair with the eyes and mouth obscured by blurry bars. The mini-canvasses each feature all caps handwritten text in black paint, and read as follows:

You have to try harder. Are you sure you weren't just protecting your emotions? Your symptoms sound a bit dramatic. Everyone's heart rate goes up when they stand up. Are you sure it isn't just anxiety. So was she vaccinated before she was in a wheelchair? Everyone has pain. Focus less on it. She's just pretending. We're not buying this. Have you tried mindfulness? You are feeling so bad because of the covid vaccine. You should be going for daily 20 minute walks. We don't know how to help you so we are going to discharge you. You must be better. I see you with your friends on social media. You have to be more positive. You're an f-ing disgrace. Obviously a sock puppet. There is no reason why you should have a chest pain when you try and stand up. You would feel better if you didn't spend all day in bed. Be more positive. You need to be more positive. It's causing you to be ill. What sports team are you on, sweetie? I'll refer you to psychology. You just need to get up and walk. You should try exercising more. You're just being lazy. Have you tried yoga? Oh, you're wearing a mask. I don't think they do very much. I had covid in January 2020 and was fine after. You are too young to be having all these problems. You are looking really well. I don't know how reliable that doctor is. (Said about leading expert working with WHO.) Be positive. It will make you feel better. You know, one can imagine not being able to walk, and then one actually can't. I know someone who had that, and they are fine now, so it can't be that bad. Cancel all specialty appts. This is all caused by her anxiety, and you are making her worse. Well you shouldn't be having those symptoms. This year has really sucked for you. Well, we are assuming. (After a clinical diagnosis from expert.) Kids don't get long covid. Just wait until you are older, and then you will understand real pain. So how exactly did covid put you in a wheelchair? You are making yourself sick with all this medication. The quicker you get back to normal, the quicker you will get better. Give it time. What might he have to gain from being like this? It could be a lot worse. You look healthy. Man up. So-called long covid. You need to do more to build up your strength. Covid made me very lazy, too. You could just be a bit tired. All teens are. I can't understand why you're not better. You aren't exercising enough. You need to get out of the house and go for walks every day. Long covid doesn't affect young people and never for this long. You need to prove you are in pain. It's just hormones. Sure, you can't taste anything. Just eat it anyway. Your blood test results are normal. You will be fine. You'll feel better after a walk. Are you sure they aren't pretending for attention? It's okay. I am tired, too. It must be subconscious. Does she only do the things she wants now, is that it? He's faking it. Is there anyone with "long covid" who didn't take the covid injection? It is all in your head. But you did it yesterday, so you can do it today. I'd love to skip school all the time like you do. You are young and healthy. You'll be fine. You're getting some help with other specialists, so I don't think I need to help you anymore. You have to get up and walk, otherwise we will transfer you to another hospital where you will stay until you do walk. Long covid only lasts a year, and people only get it from serious infections. Sometimes kids project their feelings into symptoms. Lots of people have it worse. She must be stealing food and hiding it. (Re weight gain likely caused by propanolol that dr prescribed.)]

"Hopefully you can zoom in to my daughter's piece 'Rona Lisa' from her recent exhibition #IAmStillHere with @LongCovidKids. These are all things she and her peers have had said to them by doctors, family, friends, classmates..." -baldypidge on twitter

Just some of the worst of the quotes:

"Just wait until you are older and then you will understand real pain"

"Are you sure you aren't just projecting your emotions?"

"Soooo, how exactly did covid put you in a wheelchair?"

"You would feel better if you didn't spend all day in bed"

"She's just pretending, we're not buying this"

"You need to prove you are in pain"

[itsthestutterforme]

Well Damn 3/3

Summary: Reader's heart stopes beating after she gives birth and Frank fights to keep you alive.

Notes: GIF is not mine, all mistakes are my own, fluff, angst

--

"I can't- I can't do this! Oh God, no!" This was the seventh contraction in the past ten minutes. "We're five minutes away, baby. Just keep breathing," you took shaky breaths and gripped the door handle for dear life. You were cold and hot at the same time. You didn't even know that was possible.

A wail leaves your mouth and tears blurred your vision on the road. "God, I'm so sorry, princess. We'll get through this and I'll pay for whatever birth control so you don't have to go through this again." Another pained cry left your lips before you started busting out into tears.

"Thank you.. for not telling me to relax," you said through sharp exhales. "No problem," he places a hand on your thigh and you gripped it tightly as he pulled into the front entrance of the hospital.

"She's in labor. Her contractions are five minutes apart." Frank says as he hops out of the car. Two male residents lifted you into the wheel chair to transport you into the hospital. You bite your bottom lip when they moved you from the wheel chair to the gurney.

Frank links his hands with yours as they rush you into the nearest open room. They cut you out of your pants and separated your legs on pegs before draping a blue tarp over your lower half. A doctor came in with a tray of vaccines but his eyes widen once he saw that the baby's head was crowning.

"Ma'am, do you think you can withstand a natural birth? By the time the epidural kicks in, the baby will be half way out." he explains. "It's fine, I-I do it naturally," you grunt, planting your feet on the pegs to brace yourself.

"Atta girl," you couldn't help but smile at him. He presses a long kiss to your forehead and your eyes fluttered closed for a moment.

"Okay, honey, I'm asking you to push, alright? Push as hard as you can," you took a deep breath before clenching your abdomen to push. Your chest rapidly rose and fell when you felt your skin tear as the baby pushed its way out. "Fuck! Ow, ow, ow," you shook your head and fell back into the bed.

"One more push, sweetheart. One more." Yelling at the top of your lungs, you pushed one last time before collapsing back on the bed in exhaustion.

"Here's your baby boy," you heard the doctor say. His voice sounded like he was speaking through a tunnel. "Y/N?" everyone was moving in slow motion.

You're so tired. Maybe you should just close your eyes for a bit.

"What's happening to her?" Frank says, holding the baby in his arms."She's hemmoraging," the doctor announced. "Bring some a milligram of epi. And get me a crash cart in here,"

"Take him. Take him right now!" Frank hands the baby to the nurse and stood by your side. "Sir, you cannot be in here."

"You're not taking me away from her," "You have to let us do our jobs so we can save her life," He stayed in the room but at a distance as they injected you with epi and applied pressure to your wounds. You were flatlining.

They gave you CPR until someone charged the paddles to shock your heart. The alternated between CPR and the defibrliators for another minute before the pulled away.

"What? What are you doing! Don't you dare give up on her!" Frank yells. "Move," he pushed passed them and continued to give you CPR. "Don't you die on me, Y/N. I need you please," he begs between compressions.

He blew air into your lungs for three moments before resuming CPR. He froze when he heard your ribs crack under his palms.

"No! Wake up. Wake up, princess," he held your head in his hands and rested his forehead against yours. "Please," he whispers after pressing a kiss to your lips.

The room was silent until they heard a faint beep on the heart monitor. Your breathing was shallow but you were breathing.

"We need to stitch her up and wrap her abdomen. Keep five bags of Type AB on standby. Let's get to work," the doctor states. "You brought her back to the land of living, sir. Now let us keep her here. Go be with your child, we'll give you any updates."

"I'll.. I'll wait in the waiting room if that's alright," the doctor nods and the nurses ushered him out of the room.

Frank sits down in the waiting room and leans his elbows on his knees, lifting his head every so often when a group of doctors would go into the waiting room.

Some people wailed at the loss of their loved ones. Others cried in relief. But he felt like he was holding his breath. And the only way he could fully breathe, was until he knew you were okay.

He waited two hours, he didn't call anyone or visit the baby's wing. Once the words "she's awake" left the doctor's mouth, he rushed back into the room with you. You looked at him wide eyed. "What's up with you? You scared the hell out of me."

"You were scared?" He croaked. "Frank?" "Don't you ever do that again," his voice flat and low. "Do what?" "Don't play dumb with me. You know what happened."

"I don't know what you're talking about," "What do you remember?" "I remember pain.. the pain is all I remember. And then the pain just stopped. I must have fell asleep."

"No. Y/N, you died. You.. your heart stopped beating." "What?" "They- they gave up on you but I couldn't. I couldn't do that. I couldn't watch you slip away and not do anything about it."

"I already had my world taken away from me once. I refused to do it again. Damn you." He adds, bowing his head.

"Come here," you open your arms to him. "Come on," you add when he hesitated. He walks over to you and you pulled him in for a hug and squeezed him as much as your tired, throbbing body could.

"I'm so sorry, Frank." he releases a shaky breath and you cupped the bag of his head and rub circle on his back. You looked up at the ceiling, trying to hold back your own tears. I'm sorry.