WanderingHuman 🇨🇦

Mom. Wife. Lawyer. Love music, travelling, cycling, and laughing. And coffee, can't forget the coffee! I'm a goofball who likes to be silly. Toots ≠ advice. #yeg #ADHD
Parfois bilingue.

Lawyer: Mostly family law and collaborative divorce. Some wills & estates. Paperless, virtual, leveraging tech.
Alberta, Canada: Born & raised, but may not stay.
Parent: 2 boys and a house full of ADHD.

Public Key

npub1esvxtmk0p7v5hsvysvsuz93xs8yuy30aahuas2esr640usashfrs7sa7cg

NIP-05 Address

ecitymom_at_mstdn.ca@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsvcxr9am8slx2tcxzgxgwpzcngrjwzgh77m7wc9vcpa2h7gwct53cprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntjvnr6w

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

Author Public Key

npub1esvxtmk0p7v5hsvysvsuz93xs8yuy30aahuas2esr640usashfrs7sa7cg

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Last Notes

2025-11-14 19:08:03 UTC

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Maritimes is not beachfront, not socialist, and not wealthy. I'm talking Newfoundland, PEI, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

2025-11-14 17:39:01 UTC

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So why does this logic not apply in the maritimes, or Scandinavia, or...

2025-11-14 15:36:50 UTC

Why - WHY - do almost all new residential builds have to be in shades of black, grey, and brown?? In northern climates where the landscape is white, grey, brown and often dark for half the year, why do our houses have to match??
I really truly do not get it. Maritime regions seem to understand the need for colour, why can't we prairie folk have that too?
This is an honest question. I would love some insight from anyone in the industry.
#housing #construction #yeg #Alberta

2025-09-14 16:35:22 UTC

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10 has ADHD, and he's easily distracted. We have always read to the kids at bedtime, but with 10, when he outgrew us reading to him, he wanted a different bedtime activity. This turned into watching one particular show, but when there aren't new episodes, then he wants to do something else. It just kind of grew into a monster until I recently put my foot down. He can do a quiet activity before bed, and we will tell him when it's time to brush and change, then we'll tuck him in.
A lot of it has to do with him just wanting to do something with a parent, which is mostly ok, except that it got out of hand.

2025-09-14 00:59:53 UTC

All I wanted to do was chill with a podcast and a jigsaw puzzle. My kids decided that was the perfect spot in our decent sized house to rough house and shout. #parenting

2025-09-07 02:27:54 UTC

I resent that we still have to put in 1-1.5 hours into 10's bedtime every night. I feel like he should be old enough to do a quiet activity on his own for most of that, with us supervising the 10-20 minutes required to brush teeth and change, and for us to tuck him in.
Is this an unreasonable expectation? #parenting

2025-08-28 17:06:42 UTC

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Ah, but that's a complete sentence. "Good day" sounds kind of harsh, or like, snobby British. 🤣

2025-08-28 17:03:01 UTC

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Ok we are on the same page. My thoughts exactly. I feel like I use "bonne journée" too much, especially in person, like when we were in France. 😂 We would never sign off an email in English with "good day", so it feels kind of weird, but the small Franco part of my brain is ok with it.

2025-08-28 16:55:27 UTC

Mes ami(e)s franco - Quelle est la meilleur façon de signer un email professionnel, mais non formel?
In English, I usually use Regards, or Thank you. Not looking for more formal "Sincerely" etc.

2025-08-23 18:55:45 UTC

I have a big ask for the fediverse:
I'm looking for a professional voice actor/audiobook narrator who would be willing to chat with me about the industry. It's something I seriously want to pursue but am struggling with self-confidence and where to start. Looking for some guidance, support, maybe a bit of feedback. I know there are tons of websites, and I've been researching. I'd just like to have an honest chat with someone experienced (& not trying to sell me something).
Pls boost for reach

2025-08-22 16:10:40 UTC

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Yeah that is kind of weird. Definitely an older person thing.

2025-08-22 15:55:37 UTC

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I don't follow. Do you mean like "Congratulations Jane."?

2025-08-10 14:21:04 UTC

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Forgive my ignorance, but since when is peaceful protest illegal? In Canada, we have very strongly upheld constitutional rights to freedoms of speech & association, which protect our right to peaceful protest. I thought the UK had similar laws. What am I missing?

2025-07-17 18:16:33 UTC

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Whenever I try to say "email" to a francophone, I always second guess which term to use and end up stumbling, often using both email and couriel, as I don't know which term they will be most familiar with. I think most will understand email, but I feel like a fake francophone using it. 🤣

2025-07-17 18:08:52 UTC

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Sometimes when that happens to me, I tap "open in browser" and can view the rest of the thread. It might be a failure of your instance to load the thread for some reason. I don't follow the other people in this thread and I can see it.

2025-07-17 18:02:50 UTC

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I think that depends where you're from. To me, "fantastique" does mean fantastic. We were just in France, and ran into a number of interesting language differences between Canadian and France French.
@npub1jay…80k8 @npub1v8g…xgqt thoughts? What does this word mean to you? Is this another weird prairie Franco thing or a Canadian Franco thing?

2025-07-15 17:42:06 UTC

This feels like a silly question, but where would I look to find a decent rain jacket in #Scotland? Specifically in the Ayr area. I know, I know, I should have brought one from home...!

2025-07-03 14:04:48 UTC

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Haha, sorry yes, it's reverse translated. It doesn't actually translate to "I beg you" in context, so I can see how my question was confusing.

2025-07-03 13:24:05 UTC

@npub1v8g…xgqt why do the French say "I beg you" for "you're welcome"?

2025-06-30 17:39:35 UTC

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The kids and many panniers, and the fact that I froze at his rapidfire French and responded in English should have clued him in sooner.

2025-06-30 17:38:50 UTC

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At the very next stop, a grumpy railway employee got on the train and admonished us in rapidfire French about the trailer bike not being allowed on the trains, and that we had too many bikes in the car. This after an incredibly difficult ride in 40c heat caused us to cut the cycling day short, hence catching the train unplanned.
I think he eventually realized the situation, after observing us for a few minutes, and as he left, offered a more polite reminder for next time. 🙄

2025-06-30 17:35:06 UTC

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We were kind of panicking, with many people watching this crazy family of 4 scrambling to catch the train... 1 lady didn't hesitate to grab my toddler's other hand to help me swing him onto the train, then she and another helped me get up after the toddler swing caused me to lose my balance and the bike topple on me - in the train doorway! 🥴 Another kind lady on the train held my bike for a couple of minutes as I caught my breath, and offered the toddler a seat... 2/

2025-06-30 17:32:04 UTC

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And as an aside, every time we've been to France, we've experienced both extreme kindness and maddening bureaucracy/grumpy people, often within minutes of each other.
Today's train adventure involved rushing to catch a train at a small rural station, not knowing/thinking to position ourselves in the centre of the platform, then making a mad dash with 3.5 bikes and a 4-year-old. I had a bike in one hand and toddler in the other... 1/

2025-06-30 17:29:27 UTC

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And think about the people who live and work here. 😢 I'm actually really impressed with French people who still manage to look so stylish despite the ridiculous heat and inevitable sweat!

2025-06-30 14:21:12 UTC

It turns out cycle touring in 40c weather is not a pleasant way to spend a holiday. Neither is trying to get kids and bikes onto French trains. We may need to reconfigure the next few days. Next summer holidays will be further north, methinks.

2025-05-30 23:18:28 UTC

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Oh wow! I don't think I'd heard about that. Or at least I don't remember. That's definitely more significant than anything I can remember in Edmonton. I can recall a few windstorms here that caused damage, but not on that level.

2025-05-30 02:09:38 UTC

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For sure. But environment Canada issues plenty of warnings, and I'm not sure high wind really merits an emergency alert?

2025-05-30 02:04:14 UTC

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Since when do we get emergency alerts for wind? I've seen them for tornado watches, but wind?

2025-05-29 02:12:21 UTC

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That's a groundhog?? It looks huge!

2025-05-22 00:31:41 UTC

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Da fuq???

2025-05-11 21:06:44 UTC

Dun Dun DUN!! It's that time again.
#gardening #lilybeetles
https://cdn.mastdn.ca/media_attachments/files/114/491/234/836/802/956/original/e9e967f59d2943ac.jpeg

2025-05-07 19:49:36 UTC

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Violets? On the lawn?? So cool. I've seeded some microclover, but I think our soil is so poor and compacted that even that might not succeed.

2025-04-04 14:41:12 UTC

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We finally signed up with a financial advisor last year who manages our investments for us. They have a whole team of people who stay on top of everything so we don't have to.

2025-03-19 14:16:49 UTC

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What the hell!
My update was that I'm not convinced now that this company is #Canadian. Emails have come from Gmail, payment seemed to go through Delaware, and a more thorough search of the website shows no actual address or phone number. Privacy policy suggests might be European??
If anyone knows anything more, please comment.
#BuyCanadian
https://cdn.mastdn.ca/media_attachments/files/114/189/520/500/029/925/original/f99d4c2fde4d6bef.jpeg

2025-03-19 14:12:32 UTC

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I could have sworn I just posted an update to this, but now I can't find it... 🤔

2025-03-15 18:40:03 UTC

What is a good #Canadian website for buying items designed by Canadians, like T-shirts and things? Like Red Bubble or Cafe Press. #BuyCanadian
Edit: lots of great options in the replies. I ended up ordering from https://elbowsupcanada.shop/ as they have a large selection of designs and styles/sizes. Ordered for myself and the kids, will update when I get them.

2025-03-03 18:13:56 UTC

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We need more than a few flowers. We need a Dutch-style tulip-vasion!

2025-02-18 20:06:38 UTC

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That's what I found in PEI as well. It felt like going to a pharmacy, and the lady at the counter answered questions and helped me just like a pharmacist. Whereas in Alberta, it's totally stoner skater dudes at the counter. 😂 Service still tends to be good and they seem well-informed overall, but a very different vibe. Depends on which store, too, obvs.

2025-02-01 22:42:50 UTC

I thought he had backed off this idea. Apparently not?
#BuyCanadian
Trump launches trade war against Canada with a 25% tariff on most goods | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-tariffs-canada-february-1-1.7447829

2025-01-24 16:32:39 UTC

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It "should" be required, but I wouldn't say that either Musk or Trump give any serious thought to their words or actions or their consequences.

2025-01-24 16:19:21 UTC

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Yeah I haven't been keeping up. 😞

2025-01-23 15:40:18 UTC

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I absolutely get where you're coming from, and I would agree with you almost entirely, except for the little niggling feeling in my own mind that comes from my experience as a neurodivergent parent to a neurodivergent child. I am also uncomfortable with a claim to knowing the truth - only Musk can KNOW the truth here. We can assume, we can interpret, but without him outright stating it, we can't know the truth.
1/

2025-01-23 15:29:00 UTC

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Munchables for chewelry and fidget toys. Good quality products and reasonable prices. Much better than Amazon.
https://www.munchables.ca/
Tree hugger - for cloth pads and period undies
https://treehuggerclothpads.com/
There are quite a few Cdn cloth diaper companies: AMP, AppleCheeks, MotherEase, and many more

2025-01-23 15:00:25 UTC

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To be fair, I think they've treaded very carefully along a neutral line. We're no better than the other guys if we start to portray or interpret things to suit our own world view while overlooking or ignoring possibilities that don't fit neatly within it. It is entirely possible, given his... eccentricities, that he just didn't think about the action at all. Although, he is not denying or explaining the action either, which I think is more damning.
https://cdn.mastdn.ca/media_attachments/files/113/878/264/655/069/996/original/b7277f0159c89b81.jpeg
https://cdn.mastdn.ca/media_attachments/files/113/878/264/805/311/131/original/2e6633207a2de79c.jpeg

2025-01-16 02:19:44 UTC

I am so broken that I can't even manage to use a slow cooker. 6 hours in the cooker, and the damn thing hadn't even heated. 😭 I am failing at everything.

2025-01-13 18:16:34 UTC

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Is that true of the general population, or specifically allegations against famous people? My concern is that motivations are different. I get where you're coming from, but money (and bigger revenge/retribution) is a big motivator.

2025-01-13 17:36:13 UTC

I always feel very conflicted when I read about #sexualassault allegations against famous people. Because it's impossible to know the truth. Yes, fame & power can go to people's heads, no doubt. Creeps & assholes exist in every walk of life. But also, so do scorned lovers and ppl seeking revenge, attention, money, etc.
Also, allegations of hitting, degradation, etc might be true - AND it might have been consensual - who knows? Ppl have kinks.

2025-01-08 00:32:40 UTC

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Gotta disagree - the child care agreements with the provinces was a generational improvement. CERB kept many people afloat during the pandemic, and similar funding for businesses saved many small businesses (including mine). It's not about one individual - it's about the collective.

2024-12-30 05:09:39 UTC

Boosting this as I have more time to look into options. Ideas? #Scotland #travel #familyholiday https://mstdn.ca/@ECityMom/113473120976994922

2024-12-20 21:29:17 UTC

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I am so heartbroken. 1 month ago, my dad was at my house, not using a cane or any supports (he maybe should have), was mostly in his right mind, though occasionally confused or forgetful. Now he's a completely different person. He's gotten so frail in just 2 weeks, and so separated from reality. How did this happen so quickly? Why can't the doctors tell us anything?

2024-12-20 21:26:44 UTC

A hospital #dementia ward has to be one of the most depressing places on earth. And not one that should be understaffed! These poor frail seniors try to get out of bed without any supervision and end up falling. My uncle died from head injuries after a fall in a hospital. I'm worried my dad will be next. 😞

2024-12-20 14:19:02 UTC

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I'm so sorry to hear that.

2024-12-18 21:34:51 UTC

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I need to hear that it's ok to take a break. That it's ok that the kids are getting more screen time than they should. That it's ok that I'm taking naps whenever I can. I need to hear that it's ok that I'm not ok.

2024-12-18 19:56:28 UTC

I am so stressed out and overwhelmed with everything, I just can't get any work done. There are things I NEED to get done, but everything is so hard. I need a break.

2024-12-16 18:15:50 UTC

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I mean, it is and it isn't. I was a big fan of the NDP under Jack Layton, and I liked Singh when he first became leader, but he's rather turned me off in the past few years. His approach has just been too... all over the place. I can't find the right words to properly explain it, I'm just not a fan.

2024-12-09 04:06:31 UTC

Almost 11 hours in emergency, and my 80-year-old dad still hasn't seen a doctor. 😞 And they told him no food or drink except water. WTF? This is HEALTH CARE? #abpoli

2024-12-07 20:24:00 UTC

I am being pulled in so many directions, in about to shut down. My parents are not coping well, and I'm struggling to help them while looking after my family and my work. Nevermind myself. 😞

2024-12-03 01:08:36 UTC

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Thank you! I'll beg and plead with @npub1xlj…nl5g to give it another try if/when we get another console. I would really hate to lose 15 years worth of data. It's like reliving the childhood trauma of finding out my parents got rid of our Intelivision. 😢

2024-12-01 22:57:19 UTC

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Thank you! Do you know if it's photo transfer the memory from one wii to another? We were able to transfer it to the wii U, not sure if it's possible to a standard wii?

2024-12-01 22:06:41 UTC

Our Nintendo Wii died a couple of months ago, completely devastating our 10-year-old (and me, to be honest). Hubby found a Wii U on eBay, and it worked for a couple of weeks, but now also seems to have died. 😞 We've never been ones to keep up with the newest gaming tech, so this is hard. It sucks how quickly and easily these things become obsolete and how hard it is to fix them. We have tried. #parenting

2024-11-30 18:54:14 UTC

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I don't think so. I was not in a loud place and it seemed pretty clear to me.

2024-11-30 18:12:26 UTC

Why did my #iPhone just vibrate and ding in my pocket, despite the ringer being turned off? It wasn't a tone I have set for anything, and I don't see any notifications. IPhone did a system update a couple of days ago. Is it related?

2024-11-29 01:38:03 UTC

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Those are awesome! What a thoughtful gift.

2024-11-20 21:05:34 UTC

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I am so losing it. My parents are driving me nuts.

2024-11-20 17:17:47 UTC

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And they brought their cat to our place while stuff is being moved, and... Cat fights. Normally our cat is so chill, I'm surprised he's picking fights. Their cat is also usually pretty chill (and a neutered female), so I'm a little surprised.

2024-11-20 17:02:20 UTC

My 80-year-old parents are moving out of their house and into a retirement home this week. It is stressful AF. Please send good vibes. #SandwichGeneration #ElderCare #seniors

2024-11-12 22:00:40 UTC

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What why??

2024-11-06 16:21:16 UTC

So... It's bad news? 🙈 I can't actually look.

2024-10-24 15:13:39 UTC

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You guys are hilarious! 🤣

2024-10-15 16:18:39 UTC

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Wow, inflation! I don't remember if I used paid toilets the last couple of times in France... I must have, I just don't remember. I think it was about 1 franc in 2001.

2024-10-09 15:41:35 UTC

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Wheeee! Where are you heading? We cycled the Loir valley about a decade ago. It was pretty amazing. Planning to go back to France as part of a longer trip next spring, this time will be Paris and North.

2024-10-09 15:22:54 UTC

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I must have missed some posts, but I gather that you're in Paris? I will try to follow more posts, I love reading travel posts, especially of places I have been to and love.

2024-10-02 17:49:48 UTC

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passport fiasco?

2024-10-02 17:43:46 UTC

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My in-laws sure have opinions. Then again, they have moved rightward over the 20 years I've known them. It's kind of sad. I generally get along with them, but occasionally my MIL will throw barbs out about "my" boy, Trudeau. I am not very partisan, and have been largely politics-averse for the past few years, so not sure where she gets that. And they have strong opinions about the public servants they used to see when they worked downtown.

2024-09-20 17:31:53 UTC

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Menace to society!

2024-09-20 17:30:34 UTC

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WTF!

2024-09-17 18:53:11 UTC

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Haha, c’est raisonnable. Normalement j’écris en anglais simplement parce que c’est plus facile. Mais c’est bon d’avoir quelqu’un pour me défier

2024-09-17 18:45:10 UTC

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Eh, French is actually a first language - I was raised bilingually in the household, just not in a francophone community, and my French immersion schooling ended after grade 8, so my French is just a bit "immature", with smatterings of business and legal vocab that I've picked up over the years. 🤣

2024-09-17 18:34:57 UTC

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Immersion

2024-09-17 16:39:50 UTC

I kind of want to participate in Read In week at my kid's school, but he's in grade 5, and I think he might be mortified if I read to his class. 😂 I also have no idea what I would read to a 5th grade class. Would it be weird to read to a different class in his school? Or should I just embarrass my kid and read to his class? In FRENCH?? 🤣 (I have even less idea what to read in French!)

2024-08-22 21:21:43 UTC

Anyone able to offer some moral support for crippling anxiety? I don't know what is up this week, but my anxiety (and heart rate) have really shot up. I'm stuggling to do anything. I keep thinking about all the things that need doing, seeing little things around the house that are out of place, or need fixing or doing... 😞

2024-08-13 14:45:37 UTC

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Oof. Tech firms? Reminds me of when Skip the Dishes (I think it was them?) was still kind of a startup and was looking for minimum wage developers. Or something along those lines.

2024-08-13 14:26:45 UTC

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LOL I remember as a law student going through articling interviews being awed by the fact that some firms provided food and snacks for their lawyers. I later realized that it's usually because those are the firms where people are likely to never leave their office, and have rumours of junior associates sleeping in their offices. You shouldn't need to advertise the perks, and perks shouldn't be intended to lure people into slavery.

2024-08-07 20:28:35 UTC

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It's so hard. I don't like sleeping so much. I like feeling productive, but I just don't have the energy. Even with max doses of stimulants. I've been reminiscing a lot of summers I had as a kid - which were incredibly boring as a kid, but which I truly miss now. Both parents were educators and had the summer off, so summers were amazingly lazy for me, if not also lonely. I miss the quiet outdoors and long summer days.

2024-08-07 20:21:27 UTC

Taking the week off, with the goal of resting, but also catching up on some things around the house. I wish I weren't so tired and burnt out! I'm still fighting with myself about whether I should be purging and decluttering, or just crocheting or doing nothing at all. I can't even bring myself to leave the house to get groceries. 😞Everything feels like a struggle. #burnout #ADHD

2024-08-06 21:40:39 UTC

Day 1 with the organizer and I feel like I have half a new kitchen! Next time she'll tackle the other half and I am SO EXCITED. She has IDEAS. I might end up with more kitchen than I started with!! 😍

2024-08-06 17:02:02 UTC

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It is very complex. I have seen a lot as a family lawyer, and there is no simple answer. I think a lot of people get pressured into marriage by family, and society (just look at all the magazines, and the expectation that an engagement ring should be, what, 1x or 2x months' salary!) Or they fear being alone, being an "old cat lady". I remember the sadness of being alone for a long time. But I also remember all the assholes.

2024-08-02 15:15:36 UTC

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I was wondering if those were petunias. There are a few flowers that look like petunias but aren't. I don't think I've seen orange petunias before!

2024-08-02 15:14:03 UTC

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Oops! Thanks

2024-08-02 15:12:56 UTC

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Pretty! What are the long white flowers, and the orange and white ones?