Living room sets ashley furniture

Hi all, this is my first time posting here but I’m lost and could really use some advice regarding my sister. Before I go into details, I just want to say that my sister is a wonderful individual, kind, loving, overall very cool person that people love and enjoy being around. She also has a side to her that is willing to eliminate everyone out of her life if it doesn’t go her way, including family. A few months ago, she got divorced after a 14-year relationship. She has two sons with her now ex-husband – 6.5yo and 2yo. They split on good terms, as good can be, and they continue co-parent the children. They agree on the schedule but most of the times the boys are with her 3 days, and 3 days with their dad. This set up works for them, but it's stressful for the kids, but that’s another subject and I won’t go into that. The problem is, when kids are with their dad, she drinks – a lot, till 6 or 7 am, sleeps, and repeats. We all thought this pattern will die out on its own and we should just let her be to get it out of her system, but it is not happening. Now it’s been 7 months since the divorce and, if anything, things are getting worse… Last 4 months she’s been drinking daily and even when kids are around, not as much but still… she also has a flexible working hours, which is grand, but more times than not, she starts working late which means she’ll have to work late. That happens often when kids are with her so realistically, she only spends evening with them, before they go to sleep and in the morning before day-care. She always gave her kids love and attention, but since the divorce, being a mom appears like a chore. Not that she would ever admit that, but it seems that way. There’s a more factors to consider but won’t go that much into detail… She barely sleeps, eats almost nothing and when she does its mostly garbage; she’s stressed, depressed, just unhappy but doesn’t want anyone to see it. She says she’s finding herself but in reality, she’s losing her best self and despairing slowly. I want to help her, the whole family does, and tell her that the path she’s taking is not a good one. We’re planning to do sort of an intervention, having everyone in the same room and read her a caring letter … The problem is – She’s very stubborn and could take it the wrong way. I don’t want to lose my sister, but I also don’t want to see her losing herself. If anyone had a similar situation, or an advice how to address this, it would be a huge help! Thanks!

My skin turned VERY oily back in March this year, out of the blue. With the change came closed comedones all over my cheeks and acne along my temples. I can accept the acne but I turn into a greasy mess an hour after washing my face. I can practically see each pore oozing with oil. Setting powders only last me 4 hours, make up slides off my face by noon and to make it worst, I live in a topical country. It is warm all year round and that just exacerbates the oiliness.
I am conscious of the grease and that is all I think about when I am outside. If I am home and not working, I am all over Reddit and google searching up for ways to change this. It has taken over me. I no longer enjoy hobbies or do anything. I look at everyone’s face while I’m out, just to see if anyone else faces the same issue. I am going mad.
On top of it, I am sick of people telling me that I am dehydrated, to moisturise or that this happened as I stripped off the natural oils off my face. That is unlikely the case. I might not have an extensive routine but I did use a cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen daily. I never wash my face more than twice a day and I always drink water. Then the comments on how oily people don’t get wrinkles and to ‘embrace it’ as well. Yes, a little oil is helpful in aging and I don’t want to be dried and shrivelled but not like this. Not this much oil. I am bordering excessive!
It’s frustrating. I cannot go on accutane and this doesn’t seem to qualify as hormonal so spiro is out too. I can’t even remember if my skin used to be so greasy in my early 20s. I took a round of accutane back then but because I was having bad acne. It cleared up but I honestly cannot remember if it helped with the grease or if I was even as oily back then.
Shortly after, I was diagnosed with an auto immune condition. I’m unsure if that round of accutane triggered this but there are reports of patients suffering from the same condition while on or after accutane which spooked me off the idea of going on a second round. But because of my auto immune condition, I was on prednisone for 2.5 years. My skin was a dream. Unlike most people on the steroid, I had no acne, my skin was smooth and poreless within that time. I went into remission and tapered off successfully. For a year or so after, up until March, my skin remained clear.
Then this happened (along with body acne which is moderately manageable but still gives me grief at times).
I am exhausted. Mentally, I would like to let this go but I get incredibly depressed when I shower, touch my face or even look at the mirror. It’s making a dent in my self esteem which you can probably tell by now is already non existent. I have gone to a therapist early on but due to financial issues, I have had to stop. I know this is such a first world issue but all I want is to stop feeling dirty in an hour after washing my face. I just want to stop waking up with an oil slick for a face. I don’t know what to do. All I know if this continues, I might go mad.

So I have binge eating disorder and I struggle a lot with food- I live in a constant state of restriction and binging- and even though I try to eat healthy, sometimes I binge- I’ve been obese, now I’m at a healthier weight, but if I fall off the wagon, I will gain the weight that easily- one of the things with my BED that I struggle with is going out to eat. The culture where I live is to socialize in a food setting; people eat and eat and not gain any weight, yet I so much as see a plate of food and I gain 5 lbs. I’m a very lonely person and I’m desperate to make friends, so if I want to socialize, I have to go out to restaurants; I usually do not eat or eat a salad and I usually pay for my own bill. However, last weekend I went to a friend’s birthday party. The culture here is that the birthday person doesn’t pay for their dinner and people pitch in. We went to an expensive restaurant that served very large portions (like the Cheesecake Factory). We shared the starters, I only drank Diet pop while everyone else drank wine and champagne. Then I had the salad because I saw that everything looked so unhealthy, greasy and very large. Some people had pasta, I saw someone having fillet mignon and another guy having lobster When the bill came everyone wanted to split and I kind of got pissed off about it because I only had a small salad while everyone had very expensive plates as well as alcohol I’m not a cheapskate either; I actually spent a lot of money on her present. But she had the audacity to lecture me on dining etiquette, but I think it’s very unfair. My issue is not the money, it’s the fact that because of my mental condition, I can’t eat like a regular person. I have to eat less, and this results in me spending less money on food.
AITA for not wanting to split the bill when i practically didn’t eat anything?

I’m 27 years old and got the job I always said I wanted as a kid. I became a zookeeper. I went to school and got my bachelors degree in Environmental Science and have now been working as a zookeeper for a little over 2 years. I absolutely love the job and wake up most days happy to go to work. Growing up I listened to the advice of “do something you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life”. Which I guess is true but I am now realizing it may not be feasible/sustainable to live off of the amounted income for the rest of my life. There is pretty much no room for growth, very little to no pay raises or promotions, and you make the same amount as someone who has been working there for 30 years. I love the job and the work but I think my life outside of work is more important to me. Having to work weekends and holidays isn’t ideal. Paying rent, bills, buying groceries is tough with this pay and I have no savings accumulating. After having worked my ‘dream job’ and knowing what it is like, I have decided that making more money is more important to me to be able to have a better life outside of work. I want to be able to afford a house and a family someday and have enough money in order to be comfortable and not have to stress and worry so much about bills. Anyone have any advice as to what I should do? Anything at all would be great.

Previous Chapter Table of Contents
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The night had felt unusually long and restful for some reason. My dreams took me back to a vacation trip my family had taken to visit my grandmother in Mexico before she passed away and well before I lost my husband. The memories were bittersweet, filling my heart with both warmth and sorrow.
As I woke up, I could feel a tear on my cheek and the sun’s rays warming my face through the living room window. Startled by the sudden realization that I might have overslept, I bolted upright, fearing that I had missed the alarm and Derrick bringing home Mr. and Mrs. Allen.
Frantically, I glanced at the clock above the fireplace. To my surprise, it was stuck just past 2 o’clock. Confused, I checked my phone, but the battery was completely dead. In a last attempt to figure out the time, I turned to look at the grandfather clock standing tall by the wall. It was ticking away steadily, indicating that it was 8:30 in the morning.
With a surge of energy, I jumped up and ran to the garage, my legs still feeling the effects of sleep. Flinging the door open, I saw that the town car was still missing. Only the other vehicles were parked in the oversize garage. Puzzled, I thought Derrick must have parked it in the driveway. So, I jogged to the front door and opened it, only to find nothing there. The driveway was empty.
I took a few steps out and looked around. The only car there was mine, tucked out of the way. I stopped and listened. But couldn’t hear any vehicles driving in the distance.
Breathing in the morning air, I was surprised. The air outside was a bit smoky, and I couldn’t quite figure out what was wrong. Everything seemed just a bit off, too, still. I could only hear birds singing and a few dogs barking in the distance. Everything else felt like it was frozen.
Walking back into the house, I closed the front door and glanced at the small table near the door, where a landline phone rested. Picking it up, I tried to remember Derrick’s number, but there was no dial tone. Frustrated, I placed the receiver back down, turned around, and leaned against the door, trying to understand what was happening.
Determined to find a solution, I returned to the couch and picked up my phone. No matter how many buttons I pressed, it still refused to turn on. I rummaged through my bag and found my charger. I went to the nearest wall plug and plugged in my phone, hoping it would spring back to life. After waiting a few seconds, I was disappointed that nothing had changed. It was still dead and unresponsive.
Frustrated, I tried another wall plug, but this one didn’t work either. I stared at a blank phone with a cable attached to a dead charger.
Suddenly, I heard a cute little yawn from behind me. I turned around to see Emma standing there, rubbing her eyes with her tiny hands. I couldn’t help but smile at her sleepy little face. After finishing her yawn, she stomped up to me and wrapped her arms around me in a hug.
“Good morning, Emma,” I said softly, my eyes crinkling in a smile.
“Good morning,” she mumbled, her eyes still half-closed. Suddenly, she looked up at me, her curiosity piqued, and asked, “Why are the lights out?”
I furrowed my brow, slightly taken aback by her question. I didn’t even think of trying the light switches with how much light was pouring through the windows. “What do you mean, sweetie?”
She explained, pointing down the hall, “The lights in the bathroom didn’t turn on when I went to pee. And the water didn’t work well either.”
I quickly racked my brain for an explanation, not wanting to alarm her. With a smile still on my face, I shrugged and said, “It’s probably just a power outage, honey.”
Emma nodded childishly, understandingly, her eyes drifting to the window. “Oh, probably,” she agreed, seemingly satisfied with the answer. She pointed to the window and asked, “Can we play in the park while Mom and Dad are asleep?”
Thinking quickly, I responded, “I’m not sure if Mom and Dad are back yet, sweetie.”
Emma’s eyes widened with concern as she looked up at me. “Where are they?”
I tried to reassure her with a smile, quickly explaining, “Derrick will bring them home soon. They must have stopped by somewhere on the way home.”
Before Emma could respond, we both jumped as we heard Michel’s scream from the other side of the house, “Why doesn’t the toilet flush?!”
I exchanged a glance with Emma, and we burst out laughing, unable to contain ourselves.
Michel ran down the hall, his face flushed with embarrassment. He only sped up when he saw me hugging Emma. I managed to turn just in time to shield Emma from his attempted tackle and hug, catching him with one arm instead.
With both of them by my side, I looked down and said comfortingly, “Don’t worry, you two. Everything will be fine.”
The kids didn’t seem entirely convinced by my reassurance, so I tried a different tactic to distract them. I enthusiastically smiled and asked, “How about some food? Are you two hungry?”
Their faces lit up, and they screamed in unison, “Yes!”
I led them to the kitchen, pretending to use them as anchor points where I could only walk when they stood with my hands stretched between them. We noticed a large puddle on the floor as we entered the kitchen. The kids giggled at the sight of the puddle and my startled reaction.
“Alright, you two,” I said, trying to maintain control of the situation, “sit at the table and wait while I figure this out.”
I exaggeratedly danced around the puddle, eliciting more giggles from Emma and Michel. As I reached the fridge, I noticed the water coming from there. I pointed it out to the kids, a look of mock horror on my face.
“Looks like our fridge decided to take a leak!” I exclaimed, trying to keep the mood light.
The kids laughed, their earlier concerns momentarily forgotten, and I couldn’t help but join them in their amusement. With the power out, I quickly opened the door, grabbed cheese and meat from the fridge, and closed the door with a huff.
The kids seemed to enjoy my theatrics, so I continued stalking over to the pantry.
Continuing my theatrical performance, I dove into the pantry and triumphantly pulled out a bag of bagels. The kids’ eyes widened with excitement at the sight of them. Looking at the bag, I realized it was the sweet blueberry one. Shrugging, I said, “First time for everything.”
Striding over to the toaster, I tried to toast the bagels but remembered that the power was out. Not to be deterred, I grabbed a skillet and used the gas stove to toast the bagels for the kids and myself. The scent of toasting bagels filled the kitchen, adding to the cozy atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the kids started babbling to each other about something, their earlier worries seemingly forgotten. Relaxing, I said a quick prayer for my family, Derrick, and Mr. and Mrs. Allen. I focused on finishing breakfast, placing the toasted bagels on plates, and adding cheese and deli meat slices.
With a flourish, I grabbed the kids’ attention and delivered the plates to the table, and the kids clapped and cheered, excited for their breakfast. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile as I sat down to join them in the impromptu feast.
Out of nowhere, Michel’s face suddenly took on a worried expression. “When will Mom and Dad be home?” he asked, his tiny voice tinged with concern.
I didn’t want to let them spiral into worry, so I quickly thought of a way to distract them. “I’m not sure, sweetie, but you know what? Cooking these bagels on the skillet reminds me of when I would visit my grandmother. She lived in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere in Mexico. They didn’t have much electricity, and gas was more expensive than wood, so they would cook on an outdoor wood stove most of the time. Do you know those old cowboy cartoons you like? It was kind of like that!”
The eyes of the kids shifted from worry to wonder as they listened to my story, their imaginations taking over. My deflection and distraction seemed to be working again. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief but couldn’t help feeling a pang of concern for my family and the Allens. I hoped they would be home soon, safe and sound.
In my heart, I also longed to be with my own children, praying that everything would turn out alright.
Previous Chapter Table of Contents

When you need to know where someone is right now, tracking their location should be your top priority. There are a variety of reasons why you might want to locate someone. For their protection and your own sanity, you may want to keep an eye on your kids and loved one
Simple Ways to Track a Samsung Phone Location?
You might have a bizarre purpose for following someone’s phone location. Whatever your motive for wanting to track someone’s position, you now have various possibilities. There are also numerous tools available that allow you to track a person’s position via their cell phone. In this article, we will discuss simple ways to track a Samsung Phone Location?
Did you know that Samsung is the world leader in digital technology, especially in terms of mobile phone sales in 2021? In the first two quarters, the business sold around 112.5 million units to end-users It’s no surprise, then, that your kids and loved one use their Samsung phones to socialize at all hours of the day and night.

• Why and How to Track Your Child’s Samsung Phone
• Simple Ways to Track a Samsung Phone Location?
• Track a Samsung Phone Location
• Track a Samsung Phone Location
• Samsung’s Find My Phone
• Android’s Find My Device

Mobile technologies have brought convenience to people’s lives, but they have also become a source of considerable danger. Cyberbullying, hidden death squads, perilous challenges, and online predators are all issues that thousands of kids and loved one face on a regular basis.
Why and How to Track Your Child’s Samsung Phone
As previously said, kids and loved one can get into mischief even if they are in the room next door to you. Online predators utilize Tinder, Snapchat, Kik, and other apps to befriend young people because they enjoy spending time on social media and adding new friends to their accounts.
In most circumstances, maniacs don’t even need to pretend to be teenagers because kids and loved one are happy to engage with people of various ages.
Furthermore, if a new “friend” request it, they can sext strangers and share private content. When predators reveal their genuine identities and begin pushing kids and loved one to send more sexual images and videos, the pleasure comes to an end. Predators might pressure adolescents to meet up in person, so the online explosion frequently turns physical.
As a parent, you must be aware of what is going on in your kids and loved one life, both in the real world and online. If your kids and loved one is depressed but refuses to tell you about it, it’s a sign that they’re being bullied. Pressuring a kid and loved one to answer your inquiries can exacerbate the situation. As a result, you’ll need to use a different method to discover the truth, such as monitoring your kids and loved one online activity and tracing their locations.
Track a Samsung Phone Location Using NERDHACK SPY
You now know how to trace the position of your Samsung phone using NERDHACK. However, all techniques necessitate knowledge of your kids and loved one account details. That isn’t always possible, especially if your kids and loved one is the secretive type.
If you use a parental control app like NERDHACK SPY. Though, you won’t have to worry about accessing your kids and loved one personal account. With NERDHACK SPY, you can track your kids and loved one phone from your smartphone and establish geofencing if you’re worried about them going to locations they shouldn’t.
Contact us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) for technical problems about your task or issue regarding hacking services.
You can receive access to a variety of valuable monitoring capabilities depending on your NERDHACK SPY, including:

• Keeping track of incoming and outgoing calls
• Receiving, sending, and deleting text messages
• Snapchat, Facebook, Tinder, Kik, and other apps are being watched.
• Examining media files that have been delivered and received
• Viewing bookmarks and surfing history
• Seeing events and making notes on a calendar

If you have any questions regarding installing or utilizing NERDHACK SPY, please mail us on [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Track a Samsung Phone Location Using NERDHACK SPY
Is there a faster way to locate your kids and loved one phone and learn where he is? There is, fortunately, so you might want to try NERDHACK SPY. It’s a useful application that allows you to track your kids and loved one location in just a few steps. What makes this one unique is that it will just take you two minutes!
Because this service works with all mobile network carriers, NERDHACK SPY is a phone tracker by number capable of tracking any phone’s position by its number.
Are you looking for a more feature-rich option to remotely track a Samsung Phone? Then you should consider using a parental control app like NERDHACK SPY to feel even safer
Samsung’s Find My Phone
If your kids and loved one possesses a Samsung and you need to locate them, you can use a Samsung-specific service. In the event that a phone is stolen, NERDHACK can help find it and secure the data on it. Furthermore, you can utilize the service to remotely unlock the phone.
Make sure the data backup feature on the target Samsung device is turned on before utilizing the service. If you’re not sure if your kids and loved one has switched it on, go to Settings, Lock Screen & Security, and Find My Mobile on their phone. If necessary, sign in and enable all of the options displayed on the screen.
Find My Mobile allows you to lock and unlock your kids and loved one cellphone remotely, erase and back up data, and retrieve calls and messages, in addition to discovering their whereabouts. The list of available interactions is determined by the Samsung phone model used by your kids and loved one.
Android’s Find My Device
Despite the fact that the majority of smartphone users use Samsung phones that run on Android, there are times when a device operates on a different operating system. Keep in mind that the Find My Device service only works for Android handsets if you wish to trace a Samsung.
Follow these steps to begin tracking a Samsung phone using this method:

• Go to [https://www.google.com/android/find](mailto:[email protected]) in your browser to find your device.
• Log into a target user’s Google account or enter the email and password that was used to register the monitored phone.
• Select the required device from the drop-down menu.
• Begin following the location.

Keep in mind that the Samsung phone you’re targeting should be turned on. Otherwise, you won’t be able to see any information about your location.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are four safe and legal ways to keep an eye on your kids and loved one device as well as track down your Galaxy phone if it is lost or stolen. However, if you want to add a slew of useful monitoring tools to your parenting toolkit, we recommend [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Your kids and loved one is unlikely to notice the app because it operates in stealth mode. Even if they do, you’ll know straight away and be able to reinstall it with ease.
For further information about Simple Ways to Track a Samsung Phone Location and other related hacking services, mail us on [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

I wake up with the dog (12 weeks) for his morning routine. He's getting better with holding his pee for a minute while we make it outside. I reward him immediately when he pees or poos outside. A few times recently, he'll wait till we get back inside to #2. He also seems to wait till I'm out of eyesight before doing it.
I've been scooping him up mid poo routine (spin, dig and squat) and taking him outside again, but sometimes he doesn't want to go. Like, buddy, I just saw you try to drop a steamer in the living room, I know you have a butt full of poo.
Overall, he's been responsive to training, this just seems odd and I'd love some more things to try. I also hope I'm not associating his phantom poops with more 6AM outside time or rewarding him too early when he needs to pee and poo.

Has anyone successfully set up a three/foursome with Tinder?
I would love to do this and have some ideas of how to go about it, but would love to hear from those who tried and managed it.
Am thinking me, one other man, and two or three women, large hotel room. No drugs, no pictures, chilled, consensual relaxed vibe.
Over to you.

Hi all. I’m a 25 year old from male from the U.K. and I have worked since I was 16.
I have never had an issue with working long hours or shitty jobs as I’m used to it. I come from quite a lower class family, however, I do have ambitions. Mainly to be happy.
I’ve worked a few jobs in my short time, tyre fitter, shop supervisor, sales advisor, security. I’ve always liked the idea of being a working man and providing for myself and my girlfriend. But as of recent I’ve had 2 pretty shit diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and epilepsy. Having to manage these two have taken their toll. I’m constantly exhausted, constantly day dreaming about the day I won’t have to drag myself around for 10 hours until going home to appreciate the silence. I don’t know if I’m depressed, or if I’m naturally feeling shit because my life circumstances are pretty shit at the moment. I really want to quit my job, I do not want to work for a company anymore, I get a shit pay every month, and they don’t realise I’m literally killing myself to work for them, and it’s me who is keeping my job there, there’s no legal obligation. I’m choosing to hand my health over in exchange for money that I can’t even use or have spare from. I have no life with these disabilities as it is, the only time I feel somewhat at ease is when I have a day off and time to properly manage my meal times etc to save my sugars from trying to do me in. I’ll have a nice sunday, get things all in range then boom back to work and everything is all over the place. If I didn’t have diabetes I would quit today. And “survive” as some would say. But being diabetic I need money for whole grain food (that I don’t even like) in order to keep me alive. Sometimes I think just giving up on everything would be easier but that’s not an option for me, as I’m the only thing my mum has got and I’m here for her. I just don’t know what to do.
Is it possible to set up a small enough business from home to have an income?
I don’t want to be rich at all. Just happy with time to look after my health. Type 1 Diabetes management is like a full time job in it’s self. I am still willing to work. But I want meaning or something that will actually make others happy. I overcharge people on car parts to make a living currently, and I feel no pride in doing so. I made my company more than 700K in sales last year. I earn 22K a year after tax. I’m good at selling I suppose but surely there’s some way of helping others and making money too. If money was no such thing I’d spend my time helping the homeless and litter picking. No joke, I did it last summer in my spare time and I felt so fulfilled.

Where memories fade, love's essence ignites.
A car crash into a pine tree shatters the facade of a once seemingly blissful marriage. Jack's desperate attempts to bring down the tree with a chainsaw leave his wife, Hazel, wondering what has become of their bond. Is he still the same man she fell in love with three decades ago? As Hazel battles her fears, "Journey to the Treetop" invites readers on an emotional ride through the tumultuous landscape of a mind affected by memory loss.
CABIN ROAD is the gateway to paradise.
But why does this feel like a path to hell?
I smash into a tall pine tree that stands in the middle of the otherwise straight gravel road. I've gone around it hundreds of times before. But now, my fingers are firmly gripped on the steering wheel, disregarding all my commands. Have I become paralyzed?
A potato is wobbling on the dashboard, having obviously leaped out of the potato crates in the back seat. Jack gets out and strides to the front bumper. His lips press into a thin line as he appraises the destruction and cost of fixing it. Nothing should hold him back from swearing. But he maintains his composure, anger simmering just beneath the surface.
The memory of thirty years of marriage fills my mind. I question whether this man has drugged me. A fleeting thought that he might have crashed the car surfaces, but it seems too much of a stretch. I take a deep breath and try to clear my head.
In the rear-view mirror, Jack gets an axe from the trunk. He comes and gazes at me from my window, his eyes looking heavy and weary—like two precious pearls inside their oyster-like shells. I straighten and open the window:
“Thank goodness it wasn't worse.”
“I'll chop it down.”
“That’s a pretty big tree, Jack.”
Jack blinks several times.
“I do have a chainsaw...”
“Yes.” I wonder what stories this tree has witnessed during its lifetime. Will we see the marks of our journey on its rings? There’s always something that gets squeezed in tighter, begging to be unraveled.
“I'll drive you to the cabin and grab the chainsaw,” Jack says. “Prepare some coffee while I'm gone.”
Our short passage to the cabin around the bend is like shifting through the fog of memory. I'm in the kitchen. My fingers clench around the coffee tin can and spoon. Bewilderment engulfs my brain. I spot Jack with his saw. He slips around the corner, the curve of his bottom visible through his tight work trousers. I feel anxious about the crash. Did I deliberately hit the tree?
The measuring spoon slips from my hand. It drops onto the floor along with the tin can. I clean up the mess. Could someone drive into a tree on purpose? Accidents do happen after all. It's fascinating to see him take on this role of being so chivalrous. Far away from his academic duties.
As the chainsaw outside whines, I scroll through social media on my phone. People arguing about something or other makes me tired. I pick up a copy of Science magazine from the coffee table and scan through an article titled “Quantum Communication Across Interstellar Space,” authored by Jack. As usual, the details go right over my head. I like to amuse myself with the idea that it speaks about communicating with individuals who have passed away.
Billy's message pops up. He asks for money for a fishing trip with his buddies somewhere in Lapland. I am more than happy to support him since he’s enlisting in the army soon in July. My big boy.
I tell him about the car crash, and he gives me advice about a car repair store. Jack comes back earlier than expected. He plops into his seat, sweat beading on his forehead and the smell of resin emanating from him. He seems disappointed.
I pour coffee to the brim.
“Did the saw get stuck?”
Jack shakes his head and adds sugar to his mug.
“It got shattered under the tree. I stumbled...”
Silence descends slowly, like dust.
“My helmet cracked.”
“Do you want me to buy new parts when I go to the store?”
“No need.”
“But there's pruning and cutting to do first.”
Jack takes a bite out of a cinnamon bun.
“I can sharpen the axe.”
“Ask the neighbors for help, that's what they're for. You can also mow the lawn while I'm away.”
“The grass is already short— it'll die off.”
“You don't want ticks taking over! Think about your mother's joint pain. She would roll in her grave if—”
“Cremated?’
“Yes!” My answer is like a flyswatter, leaving no room for further discussion or quantum physics.
Jack is busy chewing on the bun. His regular coffee breaks, which have become part of his daily routine in his sixties, have honed impressive jowls.
We enjoy our coffee and stare at the lake. Calm as a mirror. I have a feeling Jack will soon suggest fishing. As I gather my things to leave, I call to him:
“Don't hurt yourself. Should I bring more buns?”
“I was thinking of skipping the sugar and wheat...”
I simply smile in reply.
“Can you refuel the car?” Jack asks.
I'm already off. The door slams shut in the middle of his sentence, but Jack knows better than to expect a response.
I jump into the driver's seat and immediately notice forgotten potato baskets in the back seat, but my mind drifts away before I can do anything about it. As I pass by our old well, I remember that we need to discuss connecting the cabin to a new water source. No matter what it costs, it needs to be done. Why should I agree to be responsible for our running water anymore?
I collide with something hard. Airbags abruptly inflate around me, disorienting me as my vision blurs. Struggling to escape from the tangled mess of seatbelts and inflatable bags, it feels like I'm an old person trying to climb out of a bouncy castle.
My gaze rests on the scene before me, but my thoughts can't understand it. I have plowed into a tree stump. The tree stretches over the ditch. Nearby the chainsaw lies crushed. The cutting chain is nowhere to be found.
I get back in the car. Should I phone Jack for an urgent call? Inhaling slowly helps me stay calm. Why didn’t he mention the tree stump?
Someone taps on my window
I jump and my neck stiffens up. I reach for the window switch.
“I should have told you about...” Jack says.
“The stump?”
“Didn't you see the tree on the ground?”
“I'm sorry. I was daydreaming.”
“Great galaxy, Hazel! You're burning through our last savings as if money grew on trees!”
Jack is being truly authentic with me. I stare back at him like some big-eyed exotic species from Madagascar that I can't identify in all this chaos.
Jack opens the door and starts to put the cushion back in its place. We turn on the engine, giving the accelerator a test ride.
“Let's go to a repair shop. I'm sure our insurance will cover this,” Jack suggests. “We can say that we had an accident with a reindeer.”
“You're supposed to report it to the police or game warden if you hit an animal,” I reply.
Jack pauses for a moment. He then reverses and drives forward again, but when he looks into the rear-view mirror, he slams on the brakes.
“I have a better plan.”
He retrieves an orange towing strap from the trunk, a burst of determination on his face. He connects the stump and the tow hook.
“Get ready. We’re going to take a quantum leap here.”
We buckle our seat belts with a single click as we prepare for the inevitable disaster. We had already made so many mistakes together, starting with raising our children—though sometimes failing was just part of parenting.
Jack revs up the engine. A sudden lurch forward, then Jack howls in pain as the stump smashes through the rear window, clambering through the seats and lodging itself onto the gearbox, trapping Jack's hand. He veers off toward the ditch.
The Milky Way spins around us, potatoes fly in the air and suddenly, all is quiet. We find ourselves upside down—surrounded by earthy potatoes and broken glass.
I try to break the silence:
“I just remembered: Billy's friend can repair cars at the vocational school much cheaper.”
Jack looks so pale, his face almost white. I guess he’s contemplating the next step.
Through the cracked windshield, I see the chainsaw chain lying in the ditch. How did it come to be rusting away? Maybe everything will go back to normal if we sit here and wait.
It feels almost as if we are flying in outer space, my nerves slowly calming down. But then a sudden stillness strikes that is anything but soothing.
“Jack, I’m feeling a bit dizzy…”
No answer.
“Jack...”
I snap open my eyes and the scene in front of me has changed drastically. It’s like I’ve been sucked into some kind of surreal void.
I hear a tapping noise on the window. An apology and then a loud thud; a huge rock has been hurled through the glass. A stench of strong aftershave ferments around me. A burly arm reaches across to release the seatbelt. An elderly man growls something crude, nothing like Jack's usual scout-like words.
My eyes close as I'm being cradled away, and visions of Jack's mathematics and symbols flicker around in my mind. Is the soul truly free when there is no force of gravity to pull us down?
I don't know who my savior is, but I can sense his worry as his face reddens. He is in military garb.
I come to as I feel my head thudding against the rubble. Instantly, I yearn to run away, contemplating that perhaps this experience is only a dream, and I'm back in the cabin chamber, tucked securely underneath a cosy blanket. A blanket that grants me the power to perform heroic acts like disappearing in a puff of smoke.
“Are you okay?” he speaks in a familiar voice.
Fingers brush over my clothes, picking out pieces of glass. My pocket contains an odd bulge—a potato? Suddenly, everything clicks: an aged Billy, wearing a major's rank insignia. How could he have achieved that rank so fast?
“Son, what are you doing on this tree ring?”
Billy peers at me from across the way, accompanied by a mysterious female figure.
“We came to check on how you're doing,” Billy says. “Do you remember what happened?”
I raise my head and look around. There's nobody in the driver's seat of the car.
“Where is Jack?” I manage.
Billy furrows his brows like a detective would when weighing evidence. An image of the classic TV show Columbo flashes through my mind—he could lull suspects into a false sense of security before dropping the hammer of his sharp intellect on their inconsistencies. But I'm not hiding anything here. Though why are modern shows so bad? That's another mystery entirely.
“Mom, what were you doing out here? The road is an absolute disaster zone, with the car smashed up in the ditch.”
My thoughts swim haphazardly as Billy reads something from my expression, then casts his eyes towards his new girlfriend for assistance.
I try to get up but it hurts too much. Instead, I reach into my pocket and feel a sandy-sharp potato there. Maybe I can still wash it off.
“I’m fine,” I reply. “I need to get back to plowing the field... baking buns for Jack... buying a chainsaw...”
The darkness returns and I feel my body shiver. I'm in the car, traveling down bumps I've known for quite some time. Soon, I’m settled inside the cabin's living room on the couch. The coffee maker is gurgling in the corner of the room. Billy is on a call with a doctor about how to deal with grief and coping alone; it seems someone had died while cutting down a tree last year. He gets furious and threatens to take away the keys from the person he's talking to. It might be a good idea; many people have too many keys that they don't use anyway.
My head is spinning with thoughts about Jack's absence. Where did he go?
Someone runs water over potatoes while a pot clatters on the stovetop. My temper rises as I wait for Jack's return. I won't stay here by myself without an explanation from him. I call out for Jack until there's no sound left but my coughing voice.
I crave sausage soup, and I know I must go to the store. As I try to move forward, I am wading through tar. They guide me to the coffee table. According to Jack, time runs faster the more hunched your back becomes. Let it be and let us sit here, motionless, gazing at the tips of our shoes. Surely, time has slowed down in this moment.
Billy reaches out and takes my hand. A handsome, greying gentleman. His girlfriend also places her hand on top of the pile. Her name is Ewa. A beautiful name, something familiar about her.
But did I hear her calling me mother?
In the yard, a squirrel hops with a cone in its mouth. It freezes and stares at me. I avert my gaze. My hands suddenly look wrinkled. I summon the inner strength that I've been striving to find for an eternity:
“Do we have to leave now?”
Billy exchanges glances with Ewa and then looks outside.
“You don't have to walk this path alone, Mother.”
We finish our coffee without saying another word. The wind sweeps across the lake. A pair of swans take flight, and a duet of gentle honks echo across the water.
A shivering cold envelops me. Billy and Ewa take me to the car. The potatoes can wait.
The sun blazes brightly above us as we travel the cabin road; shapeless clouds dot the horizon and suddenly I sense a presence—as if someone is waving to me.
I surrender.
I believe I will be warmly welcomed.

A list of things I did to optimize my C++ Shoot 'em up Bullet engine:
BULLETS MANAGEMENT
I knew that creating and destructing a lot of objects every frame was bad, so I created a pool of bullet objects at runtime. It worked better. What was bad was the way to manage the active and free bullets in an efficient way. I was iterating on all the bullets to find an inactive object before spawning it and to update the alive bullets and so on. Not very efficient with 6000 bullets. So I wrote a bullet manager which keeps tabs on all this. I still create a pool of bullet objects but also 2 lists of bullet IDs: one of actives bullets and one of free bullets. Those IDs are references to the pool’s bullet objects. If I want to spawn a new bullet, I can take the last free bullets ID and set this bullet from the pool to “active”. I then remove this ID from the free bullets list and add it to the active bullets ID list. This active bullets list allows me to only update the active bullets and also to maintain an ordered bullets list, which I need for rendering (more details in the next section). When a bullet is dead, I set its state to “DEAD” and I erase his ID from the alive bullets vector (I know it’s not the most efficient thing in the world, but…) and add it to the free bullets vector. Also, keeping the active bullets ordered in memory helps the CPU and avoid cache misses, which is really important.
DRAWING the BULLETS and DRAW CALLS
The most terrible thing I was doing was to draw individually each bullet. It was working well enough on my laptop, so what the heck? But with a lot of bullets, I began to see some performance drop. On top of this, ordering the rendering of thousands of objects was not easy with the graphic engine (Ogre) and was slowing down the game a lot. So, I wrote my own bullet renderer. For each bullet type, I create a polygons list using all the current bullets' positions and orientations and draw it with its own material. Thanks to the active bullets list I’m able to draw each bullet in the right order. So, if I have 1000 bullets of the same type, I'm only drawing one object only. At the end, I have only one draw call for each bullet type, instead of 3000 draw calls for 3000 bullets.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Do you have more ideas and techniques to optimize more and gain some performance?
S.
https://i.redd.it/lrvfy4bq7e1b1.gif

Hi everyone!
I am looking for 5 players for a one-shot set it our homebrew setting. I'm one of the developers for Fifth Sun Press, we're working on a Kickstarter for our setting Jungles of Kuauhtla and we'll be playing it live several times, so we want to playtest it first! We've already ran it twice, but we now want to bring in some strangers to make sure the one shot is as good as it can be.
This a short description of the one shot: You are attending a party celebrating the election of a politician, Gabriez Guerrero, who you all respect and admire in some way or another. Select between one of twelve pre-made characters each showcasing a piece of the world of Kuauhtla. Whether you’re an agent of the Arcane Regulations Module, or a practitioner of Witchcraft trying to break an ancient curse - all of you are suddenly surprised as things at the party quickly crumble. It seems Gabriez has made enemies, and now you must pay the price. Will you find what monstrosity hunts you? Will you uncover the plot you’ve been caught in? You’re the only ones who can, but you’ll have to make it through The Collapse.
We'll run the game on Foundry, and you'll be given info about the character you pick and about the world. You're totally free to make edits to your characters if you discuss it with me first, but all of them have some of our homebrew features which we can't change since we need them playtested. Some info about the world can be found at our preview page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kuauhtla/jungles-of-kuauhtla-the-campaign-guide?ref=bhe4gh&token=4c7d1477
Since there are some new features involved, it's best if you're not a complete novice, but I'll happily help you out if there's something you're struggling with.
The exact time and date will be decided by the players, if you have a really strict schedule this is probably not the game for you, as we have to find a time that works for everyone.
If that all sounds good to you, send us a message! Tell us a little bit about yourself and ask any questions you might have, and we'll see if you're a good fit!

My son recently turned 3 and for the past few weeks he has been throwing tantrums for not getting what he wants.
We were walking through Walmart and my son wanted to hold mommy’s hand. Im pushing the cart with my daughter and my wife is looking through her list running to and fro zigzagging through the isles. She cant hold her list, grab the items she wants, and hold his hand the entire time. He doesnt want to hold my hand, just mommy’s. My wife cant swap with me because she still would need two hands every so often to steer the thing. Every time she let go of his hand he would start screaming at the top of his lungs. This stressed my wife out so much every time and I could tell she was on the break down border. So as any embarrassed parent does when their child is making a scene in front of a ton of strangers, I picked him up and walked him back out to the truck and fastened him back in his car seat. The entire time kicking and screaming for mommy. I put in headphones while he lets go.
Yesterday I was not home. He wanted to bounce on this ball he had just gotten in the living room while my wife was cleaning. She told him to pick out another toy and play with it because she couldnt watch him to make sure he didnt bounce and bust his head open while doing chores. He threw a tiny wooden box decoration across the living room and broke some glass and started screaming as he did in the store. All she could to do to ease herself was put him in his bed and go back to her chores.
Do I need to be more firm with him? I have raised my voice slightly at him a couple of times but that seemed to make it worse. Ive tried taking his toys away- same result. Putting him in the corner- nada. A light spankin- absolutely the least ideal outcome. I know I cant give him what he wants because then it will never stop. I love him to death and I haven’t come close to breaking, but im worried my wife is going to snap and go overboard with punishment because it really is excessive how bad these tantrums are. I dont think she will do anything to endanger him but it wont be pretty at all.
Any advice will help.

Context: I wanted to replace her rug with a brand new one of the exact same cheap Walmart Rug, cause the rug still smelled like Guinea pig was a hazard to the hygiene of our dorm.
We live in separate bedrooms & have a common area where the rug is. It’s a lrg plain rug from Walmart b/c she didn’t like walking on the tile floor of her old dorm. She prior admitted to not having sentimental value to it.
For context, she used to have guinea pigs, which we found out together I was allergic to. At the time, this was not a huge issue. I just couldn’t be around them for long periods of time. The pigs did make her entire dorm smell like a petting zoo, but I loved the little buggers. I was even given the title of ‘Guinea Pig Aunty’. She got rid of them due to dorm policy, so I invited her to my dorm. But the rug still had the ‘pig smell. She moved into my dorm three weeks ago & claims she could not smell it.
I had initially stated I didn’t mind if she brought the rug over, but that was before I realized it couldn’t be saved with products a college student would reasonably have (I did try tho). + it’s cheaper to replace than it would have been to try to deep clean.
I will admit my fault. I did not communicate to her prior to the event, & inadvertently put her on the spot, my bad. I will not make an excuse for it. If it had been anything other than a new, but nasty-smelly-ruined rug that was in our common area, affecting the quality of life for the dorm, I would have never made such a fast course of action.
I called & asked if it would be okay if I replaced the rug with its exact replica to get rid of the smell. She said she guessed it would be fine. I wanted to call her before doing anything that I couldn’t reverse. I did, however, roll up the rug( and start to leave the dorm with it) before calling, so that if she said it’s fine, I could get it out ASAP & clean the floor where it had been. If she said no, I would simply put the rug back & stay at my parents house until she got back, to avoid the smell.
I then took the rug to the trash. When I got back to clean, she called & changed her mind. She wanted to wait until she got back. I explained that it was too late. She got mad that I had touched it before calling, said that wasn’t okay for me to do, based on the principle that it was hers (it’s the principle of the matter, even tho she had no personal attachment to the rug).
My mindset initially was “I love my friend & I am so happy she moved in with me; but this rug can’t be saved. I will replace it for her so she doesn’t have to lose money on a rug she just bought & so our dorm will have better hygiene & not smell awful.” Win-win for both of us, I thought, especially b/c she had mentioned many times before moving in that she loves that we will be roomies b/c we can keep the dorm clean together. Her previous roomie was nasty.
After I bought the rug, ~1hr, maybe less, later she said that she would prefer a personal rug instead, and wants me to take the other rug back. That feels unfair to me b/c I asked to replace the rug in our common area for the betterment of our dorm, not her private room, which she currently has a different rug in.
I caved cause I wanted to be a “good friend” and I just wanted everything to go back to before she got upset. So I said that since I already have the rug, I could return this one, but we need the living room rug, so I’d get her a personal rug too. But it’s been a couple days, and now I feel like if I do that, I am setting a precedent for myself and for her that I will go over the top to make something “right”.
I don’t know how to talk to her about this now. I decided I will set up the main rug in the morning probably… we need the rug. That other one just absolutely had to go, and so when she said I could do it, I did it too fast I guess.
However, whenever I try to think about how to make it better now, all that pops in my head is rudely put thoughts, very direct thoughts with an attitude behind them, which I hate. I don’t want to be mean to my friend by any means, and I’m scared that I might lose her forever over something this small, just because my brain( social anxiety and attachment issues) won’t stop trying to trick me into running away. I just don’t know what to say or do. I know I can’t avoid the situation all together. Her love language is gift giving. I thought about giving her something she really loves, but also, then I worry that she might think I’m just trying to buy our friendship, which isn’t right.
Does anyone have advice? Sorry for the long text. I don’t know how to summarize properly. Thank you to anyone who responds. I hope y’all have a good day.

Prayer based on Revelation 5:1-14
We worship the One who sits on the throne and the slain Lamb who now lives forever.
Father, we praise You for sending Your Son to fulfill all righteousness.
John sees the One seated on the throne holding a scroll in His right hand sealed with seven seals. John hears a mighty angel proclaim, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll." When no one could open the scroll, John weeps. One of the elders said to John, do not weep for the Lion of Juda, and the root of David has conquered and is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. (Jeremiah 33:14-16) John then sees a Lamb amid the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. (the focal point of the room) The Lamb, although slain, was standing and had seven horns. (representing all power and authority) The Lamb has seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent out unto all the earth on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:8, John 15:26-27) The Lamb takes the scroll from the right hand of the Father. (symbolizing the transfer of authority) The four living creatures and the 24 elders all fall down in worship and sing praises to the Lamb, for He is worthy to exercise all judgment and has all authority. John saw a great multitude of angels: around the throne, singing praises to the Lamb. Then they are joined by every creature in heaven and earth, singing praises to the Lamb.
Father, give us a heart for worship, as we see clearly on display in this passage. Amen.
Questions for reflection and meditation: 1. How does worship in your life and in your Church compare with the worship described in this passage? 2. Why is Jesus worthy of your worship? 3. How does John respond to seeing the unworthiness of every creature? 4. If you do not see the things that John sees and respond the way he responds, What must you do? 5. Compare the worship in this chapter with the worship in chapter 4. How has the focus changed? 6. How would you describe your current worship experience? 7. What makes it possible for us to experience passionate worship in this life and the life to come?

Prayer based on Revelation 5:1-14
We worship the One who sits on the throne and the slain Lamb who now lives forever.
Father, we praise You for sending Your Son to fulfill all righteousness.
John sees the One seated on the throne holding a scroll in His right hand sealed with seven seals. John hears a mighty angel proclaim, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll." When no one could open the scroll, John weeps. One of the elders said to John, do not weep for the Lion of Juda, and the root of David has conquered and is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. (Jeremiah 33:14-16) John then sees a Lamb amid the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. (the focal point of the room) The Lamb, although slain, was standing and had seven horns. (representing all power and authority) The Lamb has seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent out unto all the earth on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:8, John 15:26-27) The Lamb takes the scroll from the right hand of the Father. (symbolizing the transfer of authority) The four living creatures and the 24 elders all fall down in worship and sing praises to the Lamb, for He is worthy to exercise all judgment and has all authority. John saw a great multitude of angels: around the throne, singing praises to the Lamb. Then they are joined by every creature in heaven and earth, singing praises to the Lamb.
Father, give us a heart for worship, as we see clearly on display in this passage. Amen.
Questions for reflection and meditation: 1. How does worship in your life and in your Church compare with the worship described in this passage? 2. Why is Jesus worthy of your worship? 3. How does John respond to seeing the unworthiness of every creature? 4. If you do not see the things that John sees and respond the way he responds, What must you do? 5. Compare the worship in this chapter with the worship in chapter 4. How has the focus changed? 6. How would you describe your current worship experience? 7. What makes it possible for us to experience passionate worship in this life and the life to come?

I created/downloaded in a single lot a sushi bar, a comic book shop, a hotel and a café. Upstairs there is space for a private house.
I have both Live in Business mod (which would allow me to live in the same lot as the stores and own them) and also Spawn Refresh mod by Zerbu (which in theory SHOULD spawn the workers by itself according to the stores present).
The problem is that if I use Live In Business I have to set the lot as "residential" and at this point I don't know if Spawn Refresh would work (because it isn't a community lot).
I would like that the family in the lot own ONLY one of the stores, while I would like the others to manage themselves with Spawn Refresh. What should I do? Please! I need your help. Thank you

Prayer based on Revelation 5:1-14
We worship the One who sits on the throne and the slain Lamb who now lives forever.
Father, we praise You for sending Your Son to fulfill all righteousness.
John sees the One seated on the throne holding a scroll in His right hand sealed with seven seals. John hears a mighty angel proclaim, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll." When no one could open the scroll, John weeps. One of the elders said to John, do not weep for the Lion of Juda, and the root of David has conquered and is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. (Jeremiah 33:14-16) John then sees a Lamb amid the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. (the focal point of the room) The Lamb, although slain, was standing and had seven horns. (representing all power and authority) The Lamb has seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent out unto all the earth on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:8, John 15:26-27) The Lamb takes the scroll from the right hand of the Father. (symbolizing the transfer of authority) The four living creatures and the 24 elders all fall down in worship and sing praises to the Lamb, for He is worthy to exercise all judgment and has all authority. John saw a great multitude of angels: around the throne, singing praises to the Lamb. Then they are joined by every creature in heaven and earth, singing praises to the Lamb.
Father, give us a heart for worship, as we see clearly on display in this passage. Amen.
Questions for reflection and meditation: 1. How does worship in your life and in your Church compare with the worship described in this passage? 2. Why is Jesus worthy of your worship? 3. How does John respond to seeing the unworthiness of every creature? 4. If you do not see the things that John sees and respond the way he responds, What must you do? 5. Compare the worship in this chapter with the worship in chapter 4. How has the focus changed? 6. How would you describe your current worship experience? 7. What makes it possible for us to experience passionate worship in this life and the life to come?