What’s on your mind?

[The Clark]

Oh what?! I guess a confused emoji will suffice. 🤔 Yeah no, definitely a red flag!

I’ve never used Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc so can’t say I’m familiar. But could you have tipped them when you placed the order? Idk how that works.

So typically how it works is you are prompted to tip after, which I usually do, even if the service wasn't great. In this cases, I just placed the order, and within 5 minutes he says this:

Like come on man, you haven't even finished the service yet. Even if you had, directly asking for a tip? Tacky. Especially in 2024 where tip creep is everywhere.

 

[rm5]

Outlook Calendar is extremely finicky. Changes to events do not want to save for some reason. But in many ways it's better than the macOS/iOS Calendar app.

 

[rm5]

Like come on man, you haven't even finished the service yet. Even if you had, directly asking for a tip? Tacky. Especially in 2024 where tip creep is everywhere.

Yeah, agreed!! "Can I have my tip please? PLEASE?! Don't forget!!!!!!!" That screams SCAM to me.

Oof, really sorry you had to deal with that... hopefully you have a better experience next time!

 

[rm5]

Oh! Also, I had the strangest experience at my appointment today (which, by the way, everything was okay, THANK GOD). I've been going to that practice for over 15 years (I know, makes me sound old, but it's true). The nurse seemingly didn't know ANY of my medical history, not least anything related to this specific thing. How is that possible? Then I'd told them the last time I went that I'd visited another specialist at a separate practice. This bit of information is extremely important, and determined the trajectory of the appointment itself. So this other specialist has told me to come back every year since, which I have. Practice I went to today forgot all of this information, even though I told them before. WHY DID THEY NOT WRITE THIS IN THEIR NOTES?

Then the nurse explained everything to me in extremely cryptic language. Was extremely vague about prescriptions, and said something completely different from what the doctor said (though, the doctor being the doctor, I trust him). Of course I was a complete nervous wreck throughout all this, and the nurse's vague language only made it worse. I got a little frustrated but stayed as calm as I could.

They're generally really good over there, this is the first time I've ever had a less-than-good experience at that place.

 

[The Clark]

Oh! Also, I had the strangest experience at my appointment today (which, by the way, everything was okay, THANK GOD). I've been going to that practice for over 15 years (I know, makes me sound old, but it's true). The nurse seemingly didn't know ANY of my medical history, not least anything related to this specific thing. How is that possible? Then I'd told them the last time I went that I'd visited another specialist at a separate practice. This bit of information is extremely important, and determined the trajectory of the appointment itself. So this other specialist has told me to come back every year since, which I have. Practice I went to today forgot all of this information, even though I told them before. WHY DID THEY NOT WRITE THIS IN THEIR NOTES?

Then the nurse explained everything to me in extremely cryptic language. Was extremely vague about prescriptions, and said something completely different from what the doctor said (though, the doctor being the doctor, I trust him). Of course I was a complete nervous wreck throughout all this, and the nurse's vague language only made it worse. I got a little frustrated but stayed as calm as I could.

They're generally really good over there, this is the first time I've ever had a less-than-good experience at that place.

That sucks man, sorry you had such a terrible experience. I would be frustrated too.
Did you ask for clarification on the prescription stuff? Its okay to voice your confusion. For instance if she's saying something completely different than the Dr is, you can bring that up politely to gain clarification.

Health stuff is never any fun, esp when specialists are involved and they're all saying different things.

 

[rm5]

That sucks man, sorry you had such a terrible experience. I would be frustrated too.
Did you ask for clarification on the prescription stuff? Its okay to voice your confusion. For instance if she's saying something completely different than the Dr is, you can bring that up politely to gain clarification.

Health stuff is never any fun, esp when specialists are involved and they're all saying different things.

Yeah, it wasn't great, but hey, it's over with!

I did get all the prescriptions sorted out. I just didn't really know what to do at first, but I ended up figuring it out. You'd think I'd be an expert at navigating appointments and medications and such, but I am absolutely not.

Also, forgot to mention that every time I've gone there, one of the tests they run has NEVER worked on me. Never works. Always vaguely frustrates them because I'm a difficult patient (not personally difficult, I hope, but suffice to say there's things out of my control that make some tests impossible to run). Nurse was completely oblivious to this, too. It would seem like they could just write in their notes that that test is difficult to run on me.

Anyway, at this point it's no big deal. That was just weird.

 

[rm5]

Anyway, I am also currently trying to figure out my spring break travel. I have 10 days off for break at the end of March, and I'll be visiting the Pacific Northwest. The question is, do I want to stay there the entire 10 days, or stay there a week and go somewhere else the last 3 or 4 days. Ultimately, I'll just need to think on that one. I don't know if I'll have enough to do for 10 entire days, and a week sounds a lot more reasonable. But I don't know where I'd go the rest of the time. The PNW is so far away from both my hometown and college town that going home makes little sense, and going back to the dorm early would absolutely suck.

Then I'm also trying to plan for a much larger international trip in August. I feel that starting to at least lay the groundwork now before tickets get expensive is a good idea. At the moment, I also have, like, time to myself to figure this all out. During the semester I'm far too busy to be thinking about that kind of stuff. I know I'd like to go somewhere outside North America that isn't Europe. There is much more in Europe that I still need to visit, but there are also five other continents I haven't yet been to. I've got some ideas for countries/cities in mind, but haven't settled on any one yet. I mean, I still have a long time before I need to do that. I just know that August would be a really good time to do that kind of vacation.

My parents (who are extremely well-traveled, and who I often consult for travel advice) like both ideas, but just said it's completely up to me. Soooo... I don't really know. Will need to think on both these things a lot more. I just know Seattle for spring break is going to happen, for how long I don't know. And another trip in August looks very likely.

 

[The Clark]

Anyway, I am also currently trying to figure out my spring break travel. I have 10 days off for break at the end of March, and I'll be visiting the Pacific Northwest. The question is, do I want to stay there the entire 10 days, or stay there a week and go somewhere else the last 3 or 4 days. Ultimately, I'll just need to think on that one. I don't know if I'll have enough to do for 10 entire days, and a week sounds a lot more reasonable. But I don't know where I'd go the rest of the time. The PNW is so far away from both my hometown and college town that going home makes little sense, and going back to the dorm early would absolutely suck.

Then I'm also trying to plan for a much larger international trip in August. I feel that starting to at least lay the groundwork now before tickets get expensive is a good idea. At the moment, I also have, like, time to myself to figure this all out. During the semester I'm far too busy to be thinking about that kind of stuff. I know I'd like to go somewhere outside North America that isn't Europe. There is much more in Europe that I still need to visit, but there are also five other continents I haven't yet been to. I've got some ideas for countries/cities in mind, but haven't settled on any one yet. I mean, I still have a long time before I need to do that. I just know that August would be a really good time to do that kind of vacation.

My parents (who are extremely well-traveled, and who I often consult for travel advice) like both ideas, but just said it's completely up to me. Soooo... I don't really know. Will need to think on both these things a lot more. I just know Seattle for spring break is going to happen, for how long I don't know. And another trip in August looks very likely.

Seattle is lovely. I always love visiting as it's not too far away from me. You'll have a nice time there.
If you lik Greek food, try a place called Lola.. it's the best Greek food I've ever had.

 

[bousozoku]

Seattle is lovely. I always love visiting as it's not too far away from me. You'll have a nice time there.
If you lik Greek food, try a place called Lola.. it's the best Greek food I've ever had.

Have you ever been to Tarpon Springs, FL? It is a Greek community where the people made a living of diving for live sponges. When I went, they had over 20 restaurants, all Greek.

 

[bousozoku]

Yeah, it wasn't great, but hey, it's over with!

I did get all the prescriptions sorted out. I just didn't really know what to do at first, but I ended up figuring it out. You'd think I'd be an expert at navigating appointments and medications and such, but I am absolutely not.

Also, forgot to mention that every time I've gone there, one of the tests they run has NEVER worked on me. Never works. Always vaguely frustrates them because I'm a difficult patient (not personally difficult, I hope, but suffice to say there's things out of my control that make some tests impossible to run). Nurse was completely oblivious to this, too. It would seem like they could just write in their notes that that test is difficult to run on me.

Anyway, at this point it's no big deal. That was just weird.

I worked in healthcare for seven years. I've found three doctors in the U.S.A. that I trust. I'm not near any of them.

I got tired of going to a hospital's Emergency Dept or a doctor's office or a specialist's office just to be told that they have no idea.

The good doctor I saw in February is across the country and the Nurse Practitioner didn't seem to grasp what I was saying. If she was looking at Instagram or TikTok, I could understand it but to just be somewhere else in the conversation, why does this happen?

 

[Chuckeee]

Anyway, I am also currently trying to figure out my spring break travel. I have 10 days off for break at the end of March, and I'll be visiting the Pacific Northwest. The question is, do I want to stay there the entire 10 days, or stay there a week and go somewhere else the last 3 or 4 days. Ultimately, I'll just need to think on that one. I don't know if I'll have enough to do for 10 entire days, and a week sounds a lot more reasonable. But I don't know where I'd go the rest of the time. The PNW is so far away from both my hometown and college town that going home makes little sense, and going back to the dorm early would absolutely suck.

I would suggest you take the ferry from Seattle and spend a few days in Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

 

[mollyc]

ooops totally the wrong thread, sorry!

 

[The Clark]

I would suggest you take the ferry from Seattle and spend a few days in Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

My home town!
Lovely here, and normally I hate the tourists but I'll make an exception for @rm5

 

[The Clark]

Have you ever been to Tarpon Springs, FL? It is a Greek community where the people made a living of diving for live sponges. When I went, they had over 20 restaurants, all Greek.

In Florida? I have not. Always wanted to go out east in the States but never had the chance.

 

[bousozoku]

In Florida? I have not. Always wanted to go out east in the States but never had the chance.

When I moved to Florida, I missed Greek food so much, so when my mum's friends wanted to visit Tarpon Springs, it was a joy to take them there.

In Philly, there were these cheapo indoor malls called Bazaar and they always had a Greek stand, plus the Greek Orthodox churches had an autumn festival. There was always great, inexpensive food. Now, I'm hungry for food I can't find here. 😆

 

[rm5]

In Florida? I have not. Always wanted to go out east in the States but never had the chance.

I've never been to the Southern U.S. Those are the only states I still have yet to visit.

 

[bousozoku]

I've never been to the Southern U.S. Those are the only states I still have yet to visit.

I normally wouldn't suggest Florida, but Tarpon Springs is quite good and it has a unique history with the sponge diving. If you were 100% from Wisconsin, you might already have visited Florida.

 

[bousozoku]

I'm about to scream about delivery services.

I have an order that was supposed to be delivered Wednesday, Dec. 4th. The shipping label was created.

I ordered two items that were supposed to arrive together on Thursday, since I can't use them separately. They were both in the same facility about seven miles away, one arrived 12 hours later in the day than the other. One arrived on time and the other is sitting, apparently until the 10th. I placed an order with Amazon to have a functional but inferior item to be delivered tomorrow, even though rushing the order cost me about one third extra for the shipping.

I placed an order for some Korean groceries over the weekend and they're supposed to be here today, but I got a notification about 45 minutes ago that they're going to be here today, and the time suggested that they would be here before the notification was sent.

First world problems are the worst!!! 😆

 

[The Clark]

When I moved to Florida, I missed Greek food so much, so when my mum's friends wanted to visit Tarpon Springs, it was a joy to take them there.

In Philly, there were these cheapo indoor malls called Bazaar and they always had a Greek stand, plus the Greek Orthodox churches had an autumn festival. There was always great, inexpensive food. Now, I'm hungry for food I can't find here. 😆

Have you ever been to any east coast Canadian cities like Halifax or Saint John?

 

[bousozoku]

Have you ever been to any east coast Canadian cities like Halifax or Saint John?

I've only been from Windsor to London, ON.

I'd love to go to Nova Scotia or Newfoundland. Even Ottawa sounds like a wonderful place to be.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The weather is on my mind. 90 mph winds and a red weather alert not too far from here. Sounds vile out there. Hope the garden and house survive unscathed.

 

[bousozoku]

The weather is on my mind. 90 mph winds and a red weather alert not too far from here. Sounds vile out there. Hope the garden and house survive unscathed.

Be careful! I've been through too many hurricanes. My house was built to withstand such weather but many houses did not survive so well.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The weather is on my mind. 90 mph winds and a red weather alert not too far from here. Sounds vile out there. Hope the garden and house survive unscathed.

Very vile.

Actually, I've been checking on the bins (still snug and cosily safely tucked up in their respective niches, thankfully) as that hideous and horrid whistling sound of a shrieking wind reverberates through the night.

Ugh.

Only early December, and I already hate this winter.

 

[The Clark]

I uploaded my latest tech review only to discover the song I used in the intro (and spent over an hour composing an opening cinematic sequence to) is copyright protected so I had to redo the entire intro.

I used the following

While it's a decent substitute, it isn't nearly as nice as the first song I had prepped.

Damn you Youtube.

 

[The Clark]

Very vile.

Actually, I've been checking on the bins (still snug and cosily safely tucked up in their respective niches, thankfully) as that hideous and horrid whistling sound of a shrieking wind reverberates through the night.

Ugh.

Only early December, and I already hate this winter.

Is it specifically the chill you don't like, or just everything about winter?