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[Barmymoo]

I'm staying with friends (in fact, the ex Boy) in the city in which I might well be attending university next year, and it would seem that I've organised somewhere to live if I do get a place here. The exboy is moving out to live with his girlfriend and potentiall procreate and I could take over his place in the house. This would, incidentally, render the house entirely vegetarian.

[bainidhe_dub]

Sent a message to my friend. Fingers crossed, here goes nothing.

[Redball]

I've been doing online tutoring for Tutor.com for several months, but only when I have some free time, and right now schools out - the service is closed through new years.  But that's only about $12/hour.  I'm going to start posting my number at the local high schools and colleges for some real money.

I quizzed a woman I met last weekend who said she was working one full-time job and four or five part-time ones. One of the part-time jobs was tutoring math. Turned out she was tutoring on line and working through an Ohio college. I told her about a friend in the NYC area who drove around the entire region to tutor with income in six digits. She said she was lucky to clear $30k.

[Carl-E]

I can probably get $40/hour from the kids at the local Penn State branch.  I'd advertise it as $20/half hour on the flyer, though.   

$30 per hour from the High Schools...

[Redball]

Is any of that on-line tutoring?

[Carl-E]

No, in-person - it always pays better! 

[Barmymoo]

I'd have thought so too, but when one of my kids moved back to Korea he was so keen to keep having lessons that we started online tutoring at the same rate! He's a lot of fun to teach, though, and very keen to learn. I find in-person tutoring to be generally easier with kids who are more inclined to go off-track. I think he sees me as one of his friends who happens to enjoy talking about grammar.

[Jace]

I wish I could make some money tutoring, but there is an abundance of algebra tutors in the suburbs (which is where the real money is at)

[Carl-E]

Tutor calculus or statistics - that's where the money is.  Algebra tutors are like weeds...

[BeoPuppy]

... ugly between the roses?

[jwhouk]

No, that's what Wisconsin was yesterday.

[Carl-E]

Oh,  Rose Bowl pun!  You football people...

Actually, it's more that they spring up everywhere.  Some are pretty, some not so much.  Some smell nice, others stink.  But they're everywhere, and really hard to get rid of...

[blanktom]

Dear blog thread,
Just over a month ago I started a 'proper' relationship with a girl I'd been seeing for a couple of months. At first I was incredibly worried because she is 5 years my junior (I'm 25) and has never had a proper boyfriend before and she's really pretty and I was like ARGH WHAT DO, then I just stopped worrying about all that and now things are going amazingly. And that's basically all there is to that story. I just wanted to share my happiness!

[Bluesummers]

I just wanted to share my happiness!

Fantastic. Make sure you know what foods she likes, what bands she likes, and what her clothes size is. Commence the spending!

[Zingoleb]

I get it, because a girlfriend is a machine you put money into to make her happy. Funny joke there, guy.

[Bluesummers]

Heh...if that were the case, my girlfriend would be a $2500 massage chair at Brookstone.

...Or it could be that it already is.

[Lines]

Knowing what kind of food a girl likes is important. Especially if you like cooking and the first meal you cook for her is something she can't eat. Yay!

Like seriously though.

[Bluesummers]

That's actually a perfect example...I love to cook, but my wife can't have wheat gluten. Thus, I've learned to adapt rice flour and potato starch into most recipes...it's a form of bonding, because so much stuff has wheat in it nowadays, so we don't go out to eat very often...did you know that the "cheese powder" in macaroni & cheese is mostly wheat? Shameful.

[Jace]

I don't think I've had a girlfriend who doesn't enjoy getting little presents every now and then. Probably the reason I still have a girlfriend is that I occasionally just buy her little things like stickers or a stuffed animal because I know it'll make her happy. Hell she still gets happy when I buy soda and pick up a 2 liter of diet wild cherry pepsi for her.
Its the little things, we leave each other notes when we're the last one to leave the other's house so they can find them later when they get home. She loves that I save all the little notes and cards she gives me.

[Welu]

Trying to build up confidence to set up a doctor's appointment. Made a mental deal with myself if I use my back as a reason for getting cover in work one more time I'd need to get it seen to but I know it's gonna be:

Doctor: Diet and exercise.
Me: I've done that. It starts to help but then because of it or for some other reason my back hurts. Then I have to do the whole Starting Up and Growing Pains of Beginning Exercising again. I understand why it would help but how can I exercise if I'm in so much pain I can't stand!?
Doctor: You haven't lost enough weight.
Me: That's probably true! Thanks, bye!

Gonna try to ask point blank for some kind of scan or check and a session with a physiotherapist but I don't know for what I'm actually asking.

[nekowafer]

Ask for an x-ray. Simple, relatively cheap, and very quick. It will show the basics of what's going on and tell the doc if there are any problems in your spine.

Also I love getting presents. But I also love giving presents. The buying shit for significant others should really go both ways.

[lepetitfromage]

I feel the same way, Neko. And to be honest, I prefer the little, well thought out gifts/things more than anything. If something I own is going to be super expensive, I'd rather wait it out, do my research, make sure I'm getting exactly the thing I want, get a good deal on it and pay for it myself.

A pair of fuzzy socks made you think of me so you bought them? Awwwwww.
You found the awesome scarf I wanted at 75% off? I'm so proud!
Someone at work gave you colored pencils so you brought them home for me? Omg awesome!
Did my laundry? FUCK YEAH.

Don't get me wrong, my tablet for Christmas was pretty sweet but that's actually useful. The idea of receiving expensive gifts like jewelry/designer crap and going to fancy dinners just doesn't do it for me. If I want something fancy, I'll wait til I can afford it, buy it secondhand or use a random internet coupon code to get it myself. We use coupons 95% of the times we go out to eat and watch all the movies we want for free at the local theatre where Nick's brother works. And we still sneak in candy.

[Lines]

Yeah, the only jewelry I've been bought has been my engagement ring. I hardly wear jewelry and generally have no use for it. But last year for Christmas he got me a set of really nice interchangeable knitting needles and seriously that's the best gift anyone has ever gotten me. I use them all the time and I love them.

Welu, definitely ask for an x-ray. Something else could be going on. Also what kind of exercise do you do? If you're experiencing pain, you should try low-impact exercises that don't strain your joints or back.

[Welu]

The only proper exercise I do right now is light-ish aerobics, once a week. Other than that it's walking a whole bunch because even jogging is a bit too much on my hips. I know the ideal exercise for me is swimming but I'm overly self-concious, even for the ladies night at my local pool. I've whined here before how "modest" suits are either not what I want or stupidly expensive. I should just buy a one-piece and some men's shorts.
I got over the self-conciousness at the gym once I realized everyone is doing they're own thing and most don't acknowledge anyone else unless they're hovering for a machine. I assume that the attitude should be similar in the swimming pool?

I'm fairly sure it's related to sciatica, since my Mammy says my pain sounds similar to hers and for her it started at the same age. I did book the doctor's appointment at least. It's reached the point a five hour shift at work, which involves being on my feet and some light lifting, is enough to leave me in agony the rest of the day.

[Barmymoo]

Something else that is relevant to swimming pools is that as soon as you're in the water, you're barely visible. The water obscures the shape of people and no one is looking anyway. You can walk to and from the water in a towel and only be visible to anyone who happens to glance your way for a matter of seconds.

[Welu]

That's a fair point. I've also found some nice suits just a tiny bit out of my very small price range. Gonna start saving for a suit. 

[Redball]

Something else that is relevant to swimming pools is that as soon as you're in the water, you're barely visible. The water obscures the shape of people and no one is looking anyway. You can walk to and from the water in a towel and only be visible to anyone who happens to glance your way for a matter of seconds.

Hmmmph. That's why some of us like to swim underwater; beware swimmers with goggles. I'd make a gender distinction, but after reading the discussion of butts on another thread, I suspect none exists.

[Barmymoo]

Welp that definitely means I won't be swimming again!

[Redball]

Nah, just watch for swimmers with goggles.

[Papersatan]

AHHHHHH best date!

So good.

<bounce bounce>

This girl is great.

[VonKleist]

Yeee, I got asked out just when my self-esteem was at an all time low.

Does that mean I can keep the beard?
DO I wash my apartment and vacuum my clothes?

I think I´m gonna go although I´m not too interested.

[Bluesummers]

AHHHHHH best date!

So good.

<bounce bounce>

This girl is great.

Congrats, and gambatte! ^_^

Yeee, I got asked out just when my self-esteem was at an all time low.

Does that mean I can keep the beard?
DO I wash my apartment and vacuum my clothes?

• Lose the beard, keep the handlebar mustache.
• Rent a RugDoctor from Walmart, then lay your clothes out on the carpet, and wash them and the carpet at the same time.
• Spray febreze all over the inside of your house, as well as under your armpits.
• And wear a tie that says "I'm prim and proper when I need to be, but right now is not that time."

[nekowafer]

Did my laundry? FUCK YEAH.

Fuck. Yeah. My ex seemed to think, despite my saying otherwise, that he needed to spend money on a gift for me to like it. But something like this, just helping me out, would have been fantastic.

[VonKleist]

Ugh.. that RugDoctor looks heavy.. who´s gonna help me lift that thing all the way to the 5th floor?

Apart from that it´s primo advice!

[nekowafer]

Aside from the Febreze in your armpits. Just neaten everything, including yourself, without going overboard.

[Carl-E]

OK, so the schedule shifted one last time at the community college, and I can do two courses!  That's almost half time, and I'm following a course for the online school - won't teach one myself until after I shadow this one, but it's moving.  Then I heard back about the bank teller job (part time) I applied for, I still have to wait for the local manager to contact me for an interview (I get he feeling I'm on a list, so it may be a while, but yay anyway). 

Slow progress is progress. 

[Barmymoo]

I'm glad you're making progress!

I spent nearly two hours trying to make my printer work. I had great difficulty installing the correct drivers, and then couldn't get them to copy into the System 32 file (did it in the end, I was trying to do the wrong thing), and then when it would print nothing was visible, so I changed the ink cartridge but the heads were clogged so I had to keep printing test pages and cleaning the heads. Finally, ten sheets of double- and triple-printed paper later, text is basically legible. I still don't have any colour ink, but I don't need any.

[Redball]

Good work, Carl. We're on tenterhooks, whatever they are.

[Patrick]

Tattoo is officially done hurting, now it just itches FUCKING CONSTANTLY GAAAAAAAHHHHHFUIEHUGFNEWRNMG

[pwhodges]

... tenterhooks, whatever they are.

Hooks for attaching wet woollen cloth to a frame called a tenter, to straighten it as part of an old manufacturing process.

[Redball]

... tenterhooks, whatever they are.

Hooks for attaching wet woollen cloth to a frame called a tenter, to straighten it as part of an old manufacturing process.

Doesn't sound comfortable, but the context says it isn't supposed to.

[Carl-E]

Yes, waiting on tenterhooks is waiting that wants to end. 


I prefer the edge of my seat. 

[Lines]

I'm fairly sure it's related to sciatica, since my Mammy says my pain sounds similar to hers and for her it started at the same age. I did book the doctor's appointment at least. It's reached the point a five hour shift at work, which involves being on my feet and some light lifting, is enough to leave me in agony the rest of the day.

My mom has sciatica and that's why I was asking. Even her lifting a box that was slightly too heavy would give her massive back pain for days. Low-impact exercise is definitely best and if you can find something you're comfortable swimming in, I highly recommend doing so!

Something else that is relevant to swimming pools is that as soon as you're in the water, you're barely visible. The water obscures the shape of people and no one is looking anyway. You can walk to and from the water in a towel and only be visible to anyone who happens to glance your way for a matter of seconds.

THIS. I would walk into the pool wrapped up and walk out wrapped up. (At least my legs, because I prefer to hide my thighs as much as possible.) Also, even when you're swimming with goggles, it's really hard to focus on people swimming in other lanes because you do have to watch where you're going. I feel like people who watch people underwater are mostly at public pools during the summer, not ones that are used primarily for exercise. People are busy doing their own thing.

Also the cool thing about pool exercises, if there's a shallow end, you can also "jog", too! One of my friends and I would do laps, then "jog", and then end with pool-side chin ups. (Basically you just try to raise your head above the edge of the pool and do so many times. I think I usually did 50-100? It's good for your arms, but it's easier than traditional ones. Note: I can't do traditional chin ups to save my life. Too tall and too heavy.)

[Bluesummers]

Tattoo is officially done hurting, now it just itches FUCKING CONSTANTLY GAAAAAAAHHHHHFUIEHUGFNEWRNMG

Pics or it didn't happen.

Yeah, I just used an overused phrase...it's the first thing that came out of my head on short notice.

Also the cool thing about pool exercises, if there's a shallow end, you can also "jog", too! One of my friends and I would do laps, then "jog", and then end with pool-side chin ups. (Basically you just try to raise your head above the edge of the pool and do so many times. I think I usually did 50-100? It's good for your arms, but it's easier than traditional ones. Note: I can't do traditional chin ups to save my life. Too tall and too heavy.)

Aquatic regimens are awesome...good for any age group or athletic ability.

[Patrick]

I posted one taken the night I got it, but if I were to take one now it'd seriously look like a bunch of indistinct tiny blobs coming together to form some semblance of a pic-a-ture.

[Bluesummers]

pic-a-ture.

Pic-a-nic basket!



Seriously though, I hope it blends into something nice.

[Pilchard123]

I didn't know your camera was an MLT raytracer, Pat.

[Patrick]

Nah. Tat's just started peeling, so it looks like shit for a couple days. Once it's done though, GLORY

[Redball]

Something else that is relevant to swimming pools is that as soon as you're in the water, you're barely visible. The water obscures the shape of people and no one is looking anyway. You can walk to and from the water in a towel and only be visible to anyone who happens to glance your way for a matter of seconds.

Hmmmph. That's why some of us like to swim underwater; beware swimmers with goggles. I'd make a gender distinction, but after reading the discussion of butts on another thread, I suspect none exists.

I wish I hadn't posted that. It's not true. Although I can recall noticing female figures underwater, I can't recall deliberately leering underwater, with or without goggles. And anyone concerned about being observed and leered at doesn't need that attempt at humor.

[Barmymoo]

I don't really worry about underwater leering (even with your comment!), so much as just generally being in public with that much me on show. You're well acquainted with my personal clothes rule; swimming costumes are about as far as possible from meeting it.