Ending the relationship with my ex-BFF was hard and traumatic. Because we met in elementary school, our paths still cross from time to time. I wish we’d both handled things differently, but our relationship had grown toxic and its dissolution was for the best.

Interesting! He may be right, but I’ve not found it too burdensome. The State Department lets you leave one name off your passport, no questions asked, which I gladly did. But I’ve never had an issue at the DMV just using my first middle name, or anywhere else really. My mom has 7 names total now and does the same.

A lot of people in my family have more than 3 names, it’s fine. My birth certificate has four and I now have five. It doesn’t all fit on a social security card at this point, but somehow I persist.

I told my dad and two best friends at the time almost as soon as I knew. I miscarried at 8 weeks and that experience was a huge contributing factor in the dissolution of one of those friendships. My dad was also not somebody I should’ve expected support from, apparently. The other friend was and is amazing.

I just shop at Nordstrom/Nordstrom Rack. The Point of View section at Nordstrom is not any more expensive than Modcloth (and definitely not more expensive than anthropolgie), and the Rack has some amazing deals without having to deal with the chaos and lower quality of, say, a TJ Maxx.

EY does the Golden Globes. Not sure why it’s surprising to have an accounting firm handle your ballots for something like that.

Lol “Big 5"

It’s the best of the major airlines. American and United both suck. I mostly fly Alaska though!

Accounting has a high earning potential, but it won’t happen immediately. I went back to school and did the accounting path and my starting take home after taxes, insurance, etc. is about $1100/2 weeks. Just started in August. The point for me was the long term - I think it’s worth it! Stick it out!

I’m not sure, I was down there a little over 3 years myself before coming back to the PNW. We were in Natchez, then Biloxi/Ocean Springs, and now my mom lives in NOLA, so it’s not like she moved to the Delta. But still!

I’m flying to NOLA from Portland tomorrow! My mom fell in love with the south when she moved to MS 10 years ago. For some reason.

These are my babies, Apollo & Artemis!

I don’t mind the New Seasons folks because they seem to be genuine - at the one I go to, anyway. I actually was put off by the service I received multiple places in Bend recently because it was SO chipper and they asked weirdly personal questions. Everywhere from my hotel check-in counter to Market of Choice.

I miss knitting so much! I knit for 23 years, had to put it down due to wrist issues. I can still do some other needlework though - been getting into cross stitch.

Thank you for the podcast recommendation! It is the worst when I can’t get to sleep because I’m too anxious.

I was lucky enough to attend a small group in-person session with Amy Cuddy about two years ago! Helpful stuff.

I never had panic attacks until the last couple years. It’s terrifying. I’m getting body stuff like what you described...different symptoms mostly, but body stuff. I get the intrusive thoughts as well, hooray!

Thank you so much for your response!

Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll definitely pick this up in the meantime. How do you keep yourself on schedule, if I may ask? I’m struggling to keep much time set aside for self-care at the moment, and I know I need to (not doing it will just make the anxiety worse), but it’s like a self-perpetuating cycle of…

My sister loves the Smashbox Primer Water (she uses it under and over makeup), which I have tried and don’t love as much - but it works differently for different people. She says it’s easier on her skin. I don’t have that much of a problem with the UD (since it’s going on top of the primer and then the makeup, and…