Hype and FOMO are the main drivers of the Silicon Valley economy! I hate it here.

Naw, where I really messed up was I had thought that the temperature/comfort level had any relation to the amount of sun. Ask me about my first 18degree day in JANUARY

Well something I have experience in! Nothing prepared me for my first winter. Yes there is snow and it’s cold. The dark is what got me. I would leave for work before the sun came up and it was already setting as I was coming home. It was so deeply unsettling that first winter, like there was no warmth left in the world.

It is a lovely area. It feels so much older because they tend to preserve the historic homes and just driving around through the small rural towns is super cute. Fall is the best season in the NE. The colors are gorgeous! Apple cider donuts are the best donuts, most local orchards make them fresh too.

It’s pretty rural outside of NYC, Maine is especially so. You’ll most likely need a car, even if you’re in a town. The towns are walkable, but they’re small towns so the selection is limited. Getting hooked up with local events can be a challenge as word of mouth is the most common form of promotion. Get in good with your local coworkers or other local groups and they’ll help you find the cool ski deals and niche concerts.

On the whole car thing. Snow ands salt are really hard on cars. The inspection in NE is much more intensive than the SW which only checks emissions. Good tires are worth the investment, but the best method is just don’t drive while it’s snowing. Keep an eye out for black ice, the melting and refreezing is no joke. The people are nice though, had a kind man help pull me out of a snow bank when I made that mistake. If you’re ever unsure just go slow.

Whom ever. It mostly depends on who has time. There is agreed upon meal plan so there’s a list of recipes we plan on going through during the week. We usually break out who does what based on skill and interest, then people will make snacks or in-between meals as needed.

I’ve been trying to improve my handwriting so I started doing calligraphy. Getting back to basics has really improved the legibility of my writing. Since you want to improve your consistency, the calligraphy practice work books (or even just grade school level writing books) come prelined so you can get a more consistent shape. Reading some calligraphy books helped to because it better quantified the spacing between words and lines for me. Good luck

Just waiting for orchestra to start back up in the fall

Question, have either of you lived in a rural area before? I am originally from LA and it’s hard to describe how jarring it is to move to a rural area. There is no “quick trip to the store” when the closest one is an hour away. Also I never got used to how limited the selection was once I got out of a big area. You’re right to be concerned about emergencies, the closest dr will probably be a considerable drive away. The internet makes the world feel smaller, but rural areas don’t tend to have faster internet so you might not be able to do things like remote dr visits to compensate for the distance. My in-laws complain constantly about their septic tank, and they cannot use their well water for drinking. It’s a huge lifestyle change and you’re right for being hesitant.

I can’t disagree that things are shit, but that’s not a reason to treat yourself like shit. Even if you don’t have a long life, going to the grave with tense af shoulders isn’t comfortable either. If you’re able, stretching and walking in the sunshine will at least add some comfort. Nothing is good but that’s no excuse to be an accelerationist to destroy your body.

I honestly can’t say with 100% certainty but I can speak to my experience with playing in an ensemble. For small sets, think a duet like violin and piano, usually there is an agreed upon “lead” and the other player(s) match them. In larger ensembles, band or orchestra, the conductor is god so we should be following them for tempo and queues. That being said, we listen to each other for certain queues and phrases to know when to join in. Generally we match whatever percussion or bass is doing, because that’s usually where time is kept.

Your range is pretty broad. For digital media I have found myself using the Library more and more

Libby- ebooks, audiobooks, magazines

Hoopla- music, ebooks, audiobooks, and TV

Kanopy- films and documentaries

High rise pantyhose tend to be very comfortable as long as it isn’t too hot. They’re nice because they don’t slide down. Most have some extra elastic that helps keep your belly looking smoother and flatter, as well as keeping the lines from showing.

My issue with low rise is that if it’s not up to your waist there’s a higher risk of them sliding down. It’s super uncomfortable when you’re walking and the crotch of your pantyhose is now halfway down your thigh. There’s no good way to fix it either without going to the bathroom to adjust. Slipping does depend quite a bit on your build, the pantyhose size and type, and the brand, so trial and error will find you the best ones.

Best of luck finding good hose!

Trying to find little things to keep me sane. Just changed out my fountain pen ink for my Valentines cards.

The code stack at my company. At one time, I was confident that I could affect change, add modern features, and make the process form streamlined and user friendly. Now I get to explain our tech debt to our new not yet soulless new hires.

Uhhh light novels are mostly text with maybe 5 illustrations in a 300pg book. Perhaps you’re thinking of manga?

I see you and raise, Las Vegas, NM.

Nope, just finished some scales and arpeggios and was moving on to some warm up pieces.

I am learning an instrument as an adult and my instructor commented “You’re so good at recognizing patterns.” That comment hit way harder than it had any right to.

OMG!!! I get to recommend Delicious in Dungeon!!! The show is a bit of a slow burn, but the early episodes set up the incredible world building and the basic plot points. Then as it starts churning it gets crazy. The story is strong enough on it’s own, but it’s animated by Studio Trigger so the anime is pure perfection.

I’m terribly sorry for your loss of mental health. Getting the vile shit of the internet directed art you as an adult is awful, can’t imagine how tough it is for a 16y/o.

Have you considered checking out your local Community College?