I only found out about a pregnancy when I went to a doctor for an unrelated illness. It was so early that I hadn’t even missed a period yet. When they asked if I wanted a pregnancy test, I was like, “Eh sure, why not.” Didn’t think anything of it, and I was shocked when it came back positive.

But yeah, I figure most women will know whether they might be pregnant or not. I just happened to be within that slim window of time where the only tell was that my brain was in a fog so bad that I couldn’t think an entire sentence through. Naturally, I’d first attributed that to the illness. But now I know what “baby brain” feels like, and damn, hats off to those who stick it out all 9 months. I don’t think I’d be able to function like that.

I never thought I’d say this, but going to work actually makes me happy. I work with autistic and disabled children, and man, they give me life. Helping them learn and grow, seeing them pick up and apply new skills, hearing their unique observations, and witnessing their creativity all bring joy to my day.

I’m currently waiting for my first learner of the day to arrive, and I know that when he gets here he’ll be making the most joyful squeals as he plays with his favorite ball. His smile is like caffeine mixed with sunshine, energizing me every morning even on the hardest days.

Don’t get me wrong, this job has its challenges, but the fulfillment I get from working with this population is immeasurable. It took many years of crappy jobs with crappy management before I got here, and I’m glad to say I think I finally found the job where I belong.

All this stuff is still around

This may be true, but,

you just ignore it

is an unfair claim. It used to be easier to find unmonetized small sites and blogs. I know some still exist, but I can’t help but wonder how many more are buried out in the web, unable to be accessed by newcomers because those who run search engines have different interests than their users.

My car’s radio busted last year. Instead of replacing it with a modern touchscreen, or paying $3000 for a manufacturer replacement, I’ve simply gone without it. Thing is, the radio includes the back-up camera screen. It also contains the controls to the car’s clock. So half the year the time is off by an hour, and I’ve gotten used to backing up my car “the old fashioned way.”

Thankfully, none of these are issues I can’t tolerate. But it does make me wonder what would’ve happened if I’d had a newer car. If so many functions can rely on a radio, how many more functions might somebody get screwed out of if this same issue were to happen in a newer vehicle?

I asked this same question to my older coworkers back when I was 20. The main answer I got was: travel, travel, travel! “Travel before you have kids.” “Travel before you start a long-term career.” “Travel before you buy a house.”

Naturally, being a Millennial, all three of those things became non-issues. 🙃

So let me give some advice for the ages instead, regardless of what the future may hold for you:

• Never stop learning

• It’s okay to not know what you want to do with life

• And, especially in a post-truth, AI-infested world, question everything!

Take the time to learn what logical fallacies are (at least the common ones.) You WILL encounter them, and knowing when you or someone else is using faulty logic can keep you from harm, whether it be from another person (like what we see in politics) or from yourself (like the “Sunk Cost Fallacy,” which might otherwise lead you to stick with bad jobs, bad relationships, and more.)

Tangentially, it’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” Nobody knows everything. Anyone who expects you to know any given thing (unless you’re known to have studied it, of course) isn’t someone worth the admiration of. People with realistic expectations will see you as genuine, and being genuine can carry you far.

I could probably think of more if given the time, but those are the most important things off the top of my head. I’m open to questions in the comments; I’ve lived quite a peculiar life, so I’ve got a range of experiences, from being a homeless vandweller, to being a pilot, to pivoting 90° to working with kids and making art. I’m more than happy to answer any questions that might help people out!

Years before my dog passed, I sat in my bed, with her at my feet, and thought about the days she’d be gone.

I started crying. Then the little sweetheart did what little sweethearts do - she came up to me, snuggled me, and gave me kisses.

I held her and let it imprint into my mind.

When she did pass years later, I thought about that night and how she did her best to comfort me. I imagined her still doing that, if she had been here.

Her passing wasn’t easy, but having known how she reacted when I’d already thought about it made the time easier. I know she didn’t want me to be sad. She wanted to make me happy and be a supportive friend. Even in death, I could recall that one night and remember her sweetness trying to pick me up.

To this day, I carry some of her ashes in a necklace over my heart. She used to want to follow me everywhere. Now she always will.

Ah man, the nostalgia.

One year for the New Year’s Eve show, they had us vote on what to play at midnight. Naturally, we picked Jet Black New Year. But that song’s quite a downer, so the band played its sequel, Tomorrow I’ll Be You, right afterwards. That way we got to end the concert on a more positive note (and with an extra song.) I was so hyped up, I’ll never forget it.

Damn, haven’t seen Thursday mentioned in the wild in years! I used to go to their annual holiday/New Years concerts every year.

Lol, wut?

And the etymology of “nice” is that it used to mean “foolish, ignorant, frivolous, senseless”. Does that mean that saying, “Have a nice day” is to tell people to be foolish?

Of course not. Meanings evolve, and if everyone understands “homicide” as meaning “killing a human” (gender-neutrally), then that’s the wisest way to interpret it today, regardless of what it meant when it was first coined in Latin.

I saw a hand-written sign in a gynecologist office reminding employees to clean their equipment between uses.

Thankfully, I was only there for a prescription refill. I was so horrified that I switched doctors.

“Hand-wing” (the meaning of “chiropter”) is such a perfect name for bats. For the uninitiated, check out the skeletal structure of bat wings. It’s pretty damn cool.

would it kill you to let her continue in the game?

I mean, technically…

I’m so sorry that shit like that is still happening. As an (as-yet undiagnosed) autistic child, I was in the same boat. Bullies use their “strength in numbers” to have a gaggle of friends agree to lie against a lone victim, perhaps one who’s already known to struggle with emotional regulation. It’s nearly impossible to convince anyone of your innocence when other kids weaponize your weaknesses like that. Maybe you threw a chair against a wall in class one day, and now the school administrators are ready to believe that you’d escalate to actually attacking someone (even though you don’t have a history of hurting anyone. Just inanimate objects. Because believe it or not, some of us do have some degree of self-control.)

I’ve been there, and I know what absolute bullshit is possible for someone like us. I’m livid on your behalf.

Thank you for this.

It’s so simple, dumb, and judging from the dopamine hit, exactly where my brain wanted to go.

“Hop in!”

You and me both. I have about two weeks left…

I wouldn’t date anyone who has an issue with women having a sexual history, so that’s an easy “no.”

My girlfriend has a hobby of growing/propagating/selling desert plants. The grow lights fill her living room, and they are intense. 😭

Thankfully, she knows me, and she turns them off whenever I come over.

I work from home 10-20 hours a day.

That’s fair. Drinking at one’s workplace is usually frowned upon.