A lottery (or lotto) is a type of gaming in which numbers are drawn at random for a prize. Some countries forbid lotteries, while others support them enough to hold a national or state lottery. https://indibetindia.com
Governments frequently regulate lottery games to some extent. The most prevalent rule is that lottery tickets cannot be sold to minors, and sellers must be licensed to sell them. https://iplwin-india.com
It is well known that if you want to win lottery, you will be able to do so only after playing it for a long time. It is because the more you play, the better your chances of winning. However, if you are not confident about how to play ek lottery or are afraid of losing money while playing this game then we have some information which will help you learn how to win ek lottery jackpot. https://indibetindia.com
Why you should play ek lottery.
If you want to add some excitement and adventure into your life, make money, ek lottery is the game for you. It's easy to play, and there are many prizes up for grabs! https://iplwin-india.com
Ek lottery is one of the most popular online games in india today. The reason behind its popularity is simple: it gives players the chance to win big prizes that can help them change their lives forever. https://indibet2.com
In addition to being fun and exciting, ek lottery also offers some great benefits over other types of gambling games such as casino games or sports betting because all players have an equal chance of winning regardless of skill level or experience with playing lotteries before this one existed on this website (this means no matter how bad at math someone might be). https://indiacricketsite.com
How to play ek lottery.
Ek lottery is a game of chance, therefore you can play it online or offline. If you are looking for some fun with friends and family members, then this game will be perfect for you. You can also play ek lottery with your partner or colleague at work. https://melbetz.in
The best part about playing ek lottery online is that there are many websites which provide this service so that anyone who wants to play this game can easily access them without any difficulty whatsoever! https://www.indibeti.in
Ek lottery winning tips and strategy. https://www.indibete.in
To win the ek lottery, you need to pick the right numbers. The odds of winning are 1 in 12,000 and so you should choose your numbers carefully. There are many ways to do this: some people use a system and others just pick their own set of numbers at random. https://rajabets0.com
The most common system for choosing lottery numbers is to use birthdays, anniversaries and other special dates that mean something to you personally or your family members. This can be done by simply writing down these dates on a piece of paper or using an app like Google Calendar which will generate them automatically every year! https://melbetvip.in
How to win the ek lottery jackpot and get a huge prize. https://www.indibetvip.in
The best way to win the ek lottery jackpot and get a huge prize is by playing with your friends, family and colleagues. You can also play it with your neighbours and relatives. If you want to increase your chances of winning, then play with people who are close to you in terms of age or occupation because they will be more likely to share similar interests with you. https://melbet1.in
You could even form an ek lottery club where everyone contributes some money each week so that when one person wins the jackpot, all other members get a share of it too! https://melbetindian.com/
Learn how to play ek lottery and win.
If you want to win the lottery, then there are a few things that you should know. First of all, it is important to play regularly and not just once in a while. You should also have a good feeling about it when playing the game and be in a positive frame of mind. You should also be aware of the different types of ek lottery and how they work. You could even form an ek lottery club where everyone contributes some money each week so that when one person wins the jackpot, all other members get a share of it too! Learn how to play ek lottery and win. If you want to win the lottery, then there are a few things that you should know. First of all, it is important to play regularly and not just once in a while. https://iplwinz.in/
If these three conditions are met, then your chances of winning will increase substantially!
Conclusion
We hope that this article helped you understand the basics of ek lottery game and how to win it. If you want to know more about our services, feel free to contact us! We'll be happy to answer all your questions and provide more information about our services. #indibetindia #indibet #indibetcricket #EKLOTTERY #iplwinner #trendingnews #casinonews #indibetnews #melbetnews #indibetcricketnews

I’m just curious how many days / weeks did it take you to start a new server job from the day you did your interview - to your first day on the job?

The day seemed like it would be ordinary until the aeronautical community’s most sought after document showed up on my doorstep.
It came wrapped in brown kraft paper tied off with twine, and the exterior packaging had no return address nor any indication of a postage stamp. It was as though it had been simply bundled up and dropped into my wall-mounted mailbox by a random passerby.
No part of me was willing to surrender the strange parcel without opening it first. Regardless of who its contents truly belonged to, my eyes would be the first to see it. I removed the twine and then dug a thumb under a fold in the packaging paper before clawing it away to expose a brown tan notebook circa 1900. It was full grain buffalo leather with a crisscross of cord for the spine and a thick hand cut string keeping it sealed shut.
When I undid the string, the pages that had been gripped tight by the leather fanned out gently then returned to their original position, my eyes landing on the front page. It was without a printer’s mark and read in big handwritten type: “THE DIARY AND RECORD OF HENRY H. HELGELAND.”
I knew in that instant the package was in the hands of who it was rightfully sent out for. Not just because I’d recently lost my job as an associate at our city’s art museum but because of a separate, much deeper connection to the diary’s author.
Perhaps it’s in my best interests to turn it over to the National Archives, or the US Arctic Research Commission, or maybe even the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, but at the risk of seeing it blue-penciled to death, I’ve elected to instead share it here and now.
The world needs to know what happened.
---
Henry H. Helgeland — my great grandfather — was a severe looking man with a walrus mustache and a bone to pick with anyone who ever doubted him. He was born in Oakland, California in 1871 and was, by all available accounts relayed to me, well-behaved and well-liked. His father worked a lucrative job in the shipping industry, transporting timber between San Francisco and the Central Valley. Two years into Henry’s life, his mother would contract a fatal case of diphtheria and die shortly thereafter; when he was old enough to understand what had happened, Henry “yearn[ed] fervently for a reunion to mend [his] great anguish and sorrow.”
Near the turn of the 20th century, Henry attended Stanford University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, where he learned everything from thermodynamics to machine design. But it was a lecture about polar transportation that would ultimately kindle his interest in a separate enterprise: arctic exploration. Indeed, the race to the North Pole was well underway, with naval officers, geologists, and aeronauts around the globe vying for the chance to make history. My great grandfather, like many of his peers, propounded the theory that he, and he alone, would be the first to reach the Great White North.
In 1895, Henry graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and sought to expand the member list of the so called Ascension Society, a student organization he’d assembled to aid engineering graduates with materials science. Many of its constituents had engaged in research projects and experimental setups to hone their craft of mechanical systems, but in time, however, the venture would instead prove a hotspot for investors and philanthropists. Donations averaging up to $5,000 helped fund and promote the fantastic ambitions of my great grandfather. So long as the Ascension Society was gracing him with their support, he’d be the first to reach the North Pole.
In early 1898, armed with enough capital, Henry used the proceeds to purchase the materials required for the balloon.
---
A notable circus at the forefront of traveling attractions in the early twentieth century was The Fielding Troupe. With its impressive lineup of talent — from fire eaters and aerialists to equestrians and strongmen — the ensemble drew crowds from nearly every town in western America during its historic run. Its wide reach would ultimately reel in many notable faces, including my great grandfather.
Prior to a performance in Oakland, the Fielding Troupe led a procession through the town around Stanford University, announcing their arrival with a parade of wagons, floats, and animals. The strategy, as it were, was to drum up as much publicity and fanfare as possible. Evidently it worked, as a healthy fraction of the faculty and student body at Stanford made the trip over to Oakland in order to see the troupe in action.
Surrounding their arena with two hundred feet of heavy duty tent canvas, the troupe put on a show for the ages the night Henry was in attendance, with extravagant acrobatics, trained animal performances, and a special appearance from Curtis the Clown. Following a skillful display of juggling and good natured audience ribbing, Curtis’s master stroke was an intricate stunt involving balloons and wire flying. Firstly, he would inflate several multi-colored balloons and tie them off with string, securing them firmly in his grip. They served as a flashy distraction from the piece of flexible metal snaking out from the harness he had concealed under his equally flashy costume. Then, with a whisper of strength, a couple stagehands hoisted the balloon-carrying clown thirty feet into the air to make it appear as though he was levitating by virtue of the balloons alone. A separate performer — a marksman — showed off his sharpshooting skills with a Winchester model rifle and gunned down the balloons, exploding each one as the stagehands loosened their hold on Curtis’s harness until he was eased to the ground.
Henry watched the routine with eager delight. Seeing Curtis the Clown float above a hundred or so onlookers helped stir within him a plan. The ceiling of the Big Top Tent where Curtis had concluded his ascent represented more than the centerpiece of a traveling circus.
“Ascendancy,” Henry muttered to his wife Ruth. “This is how we get to the top of the world.”
---
The spherical vessel measured sixty-five feet in diameter, with a capacity of over 200,000 cubic feet. Its construction was overseen by Henry and a couple french engineers who installed in its gondola three berths and ample ballast to keep it stable. The gondola, a carefully constructed assemblage of wicker and chestnut wood, was built as such to bar any interference to the magnetic instruments of the explorers. Keeping it shielded against severe weather conditions was a varnished silk calotte and a vaselined net composed of over four-hundred hemp cords. A bamboo pole was attached bellow the carrying ring to attach the side sails and, perhaps most notably, the balloon was fitted with hemp and cocoa nut fiber guide ropes to help steer and maintain a consistent altitude.
After two years of exhaustive construction, work on the balloon was completed in 1900. Henry named it Ascension, after the society that funded its creation.
---
What follows are several selected passages lifted directly from Henry’s memorandum, transcribed by me. The first entry reads:
“At nine o'clock on the forenoon, May 5, 1900, under the auspices of the Ascension Society, we embarked from the 71st parallel on our quest of the Pole. Our great journey sets off from Point Barrow, Alaska following a grueling adventure aboard the steamer Sursum. I, Henry Helgeland, travel forth, accompanied by Charles Ringvold, esteemed navigator, and Edward Meyer, long celebrated physician, into the arctic wilderness. Together, our efforts will generate a most formidable team and an unwavering spirit. We will ascend.”
Indeed, the SS Sursum disembarked from a port in San Francisco in mid May of that year; it offered easy access to the Pacific Ocean and sailed through the Bering Strait, covering over 3,000 nautical miles before reaching Point Barrow on July 2.
When the balloon took off, carried by a fierce north east wind, it was to a thunderous applause from those that had come to bear witness to the bold endeavor. Among them were crew members of the SS Sursum, high ranking associates of the Ascension Society, and carpenters tasked with helping the balloon reach its initial phase of liftoff.
As it elevated to 300 hundred feet and passed around an onlooking whaler, Henry was reported to have shouted: “To the top of the world, hurrah!”
---
36 hours would elapse before a second entry was made.
“July 4, 1900, Lat. 77° 48' N, Long. 143° 4' W. We are soaring at a height of 600 feet above the Earth's surface, traveling at a speed of approximately seven kilometers per hour. Our morale remains similarly aloft. Charles relayed to me that, God willing, we anticipate reaching the pole in roughly 800 miles. Beyond the drag ropes lending their ballast to our journey, optimism is our guiding force. We will ascend.”
Turbulent air currents had a different plan in mind, however.
“July 5, 1900, Lat. 80° 8' N, Long. 138° 37' W. Alas! Our aerial journey came to an abrupt halt yestereve on the 80th parallel. We voyaged as many as 500 miles before a forceful downdraft spun our vehicle on its vertical axle and compelled it into a sharp descent; we had lost what we estimate to be just over 100 cubic feet of gas.
“Edward suffered severe injuries during the initial impact and claims his vertebrae have been shattered, leaving him immobile. We’re at the mercy of the floe on which we now rest, at the mercy of the Polar Sea. Should we face the specter of death, we shall meet it with unwavering honor. We will ascend.”
---
“July 6, 1900. We find ourselves solitary in the barren expanse, accompanied only by bergs, ice-fields, and majestic glaciers. Our rations encompass a container’s worth of hardtack, enough salted beef for approximately one week, canned stew, dried apricots, some chocolate bars, and seven bottles of ale.
“Edward’s outlook remains grim; he suspects he’ll never walk again. In witness of his current state, I’m beginning to share in such apprehensions. Edward, whom we have reposed on on of our sledges, fears that the opportunity to make known the great love he holds for his mistress Rebecca is one he’ll never be granted. ‘You shall be reunited at once,’ I assured him. ‘Our journey to triumph will not be thwarted by minor inconveniences.’
“We’ve plotted the course to our next destination: that being Herschel Island, located off the coast of Canada in the Beaufort Sea. Charles — who shares in Edward’s dismay — estimates a three month footslog spanning just under one thousand miles is in store for us, perhaps more given Edward’s ailment. I am determined to see this mission to its completion, yet survival remains a paramount desire. Who’s to recount our extraordinary journey should we fail?
“While establishing our encampment and scouting the local flora of the area for additional sources of sustenance, I happened upon a plant of an unknown species. Half a meter tall, bulbous tubers, and thin roots terminating in clusters of white flowers; intuition suggests this is a water hemlock, which precludes it from edibility. Nevertheless, I shall regard this finding as one of great fortune. A portent of divine value. We will ascend.”
---
Two days later, gold prospectors off the Alaskan coast at Nome beach were in the process of emptying their sluice boxes when from the sky flew a carrier pigeon directly to their mining site. It bore a label with the inscription “Helgeland” and contained the following dispatch:
“July 7, 1900. First dog watch. Three southerly traveling carrier-pigeons were sent off at approximately 7 h. 40 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, the following among them. This is Rear Admiral Charles Ringvold of the United States Navy and the Helgeland Balloon Expedition of 1900. Our hopes of reaching the pole have been reduced to naught. Assistance urgently needed. Our destinies have hitherto been unknown, and now my fears have been actualized. GO IN TERROR OF HENRY HELGELAND. He is not who he proclaims to be. I volunteered for a man of honorable stature and venturesome drive. The man before me betrays neither.”
The remainder of the message was a hasty scrawl, decrypted only by the best in linguistics and modern codebreaking.
“UNASSISTED WE WILL PERISH HELPED WE WILL PERSEVERE PLEASE GOD HELP US HENRY WILL KILL US ALL DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT HE PROCLAIMS.”
The communication was immediately passed off to the Smithsonian Institution, where word fell within the earshot of Ascension Society proponents and additional members of the US Navy. A follow-up expedition — a rescue team led by Captain S. P. Matthews — was put together at once with the authorization of the Secretary of War.
Months later, after a congressional bill introduced to secure grant funding for arctic exploration — and thereby a rescue mission for Helgeland’s lost expedition — was successfully passed, the USS Greenwich departed from the San Francisco Naval Shipyard with a crew of thirty boatswains, medics, and deck officers among others.
What they would ultimately uncover puzzled them all.
---
“July 7, 1900. The team has fractured. We are without our provisions and without the morale that has served us thusly.
“Charles and I set upon the pursuit and capture of a walrus, a most strenuous task in the Arctic Circle. Furnished with a Winchester model .40-82, the sport skews in our favor but we are in no short supply of peril. These are one ton beasts with the strength of a hundred strongmen as they stave the ice, and yet it is not them I should have feared.
“’I can’t allow you to proceed further.’ I heard the click clack racket of the Winchester as Charles chambered a round and raised the rifle, training its twenty inch barrel toward my back after I had volunteered — quite ignorantly — to take the vanguard.
“’Charles?’ I managed between clattering teeth.
“’You’re a man of bold stature. An honorable man at that. But not honorable enough to die for. And that’s it, Henry. I will not die for you.’
“’You speak out of distress, not rationality.’
“’I’m as rational as one permits when I say we won’t all make it to Canada. You can’t expect us to sledge Edward for the next month and retain our strength. Our sanities.” I could hear him gulp, ‘our lives.’
“’You’re not who you say you are.’ I realized in that moment. ‘Not even an ensign would renounce his own crew. Who are you really, Charles?’
“His credentials were a farce; a clever scheme to scrape through the expedition’s vetting process. He was no navy-man nor expert nor navigator and if you piled his life’s accomplishments on top of one another, they’d be equal to that of a cretin.
“’Doesn’t matter any more, Henry.’
“’Then why haven’t you shot me?’
“I sensed beyond his terror a hint of reluctance and felt within him the trepidation of an amateur. The man had never wielded a firearm in his life and wouldn’t start hence.
“’In Your infinite mercy, hear my prayer. In Your boundless grace, grant me Your forgiveness,’ he muttered below his breath. I could’ve believed he’d have squeezed the trigger if not for the unexpected convulsion that suddenly brought him to his knees. Befallen by the strange attack, Charles unhanded the Winchester and collapsed to the ice in the midst of a crippling seizure. And in a matter of moments, he had succumbed to death.
“With some activated charcoal or perhaps an emetic, he could have eluded such a painful demise. I stepped over to look upon his body, his pupils dilated to the size of dimes. Reviewing the immediate symptoms, intuition tells me he’s become the latest victim of hemlock poisoning, the kind of amateur mistake I’d expect from someone such as Charles. Ideal timing, if I may speak candidly.
“Hope remains alive. I will ascend.”
---
Investigators with the crew of S. P. Matthews found everything except answers.
It took them all of three months to zero in on the campsite left behind by Helgeland’s expedition. Any prospect of finding the balloon itself was dropped by the wayside to preserve manpower and time.
The camp was discovered on the 79th parallel, not in any particular state of disarray but with enough evidence to suggest conflict had broken out between the members. Edward was discovered in a tent with the rest of the rations and a bullet hole stamped in the side of his head. There was no telling how long he’d been dead for.
Forty-five meters away from the camp, buried under a stalagmitic gathering of ice and snow, was the body of Charles Ringvold. A followup inquiry would prove my great grandfather’s claims that he was a fraud, but like Charles himself, the truth is buried deep under the surface. Edward and Charles are commemorated for their failed — albeit honorable — efforts in the face of great opposition.
The body of my great grandfather, however, was never found. Theories thus abound in the saga of Henry H. Helgeland and we are no more the wiser now than we were a century ago. He is remembered for murdering his men in cold blood, deserting them, and then yielding to the elements somewhere in the frozen hell of the arctic. The carrier-pigeon message sent by Charles corroborated the apparent facts.
But I know the truth. Because only I have the answers.
“July 8, 1900. All that remains is me, for everyone else has vanished. Edward and I regaled each other with stories of our mistresses as night fell upon our place in the arctic wasteland. Rebecca, Edward’s beloved, works as an expert seamstress in San Francisco and will no doubt be devastated when news of his fate reaches her. But the great memories they shared together, I assured him, will serve her well in the years to come.
“‘You shall be reunited at once,’ I whispered to him once more before executing the dying man with the Winchester. It is my turn to face whatever awaits me on the ice.
“My great anguish and sorrow have been mended.
“Ruth is calling to me now. Our son promptly requires our presence.
“I shall go to them."
The fruitless search for my great grandfather peaked at last with the unearthing of a path of footprints snaking away from the tent where Edward’s body lay. Investigators followed them for approximately ten meters before they abruptly ceased. Captain Matthews is quoted as saying: “it was as though the walker had simply floated away.”
And indeed, it was our family that won in the end, for my great grandfather received exactly what he wanted. The final, undated entry of his diary is comprised of but three simple words:
“I have ascended.”

Notes:

• I will include a TL:DR at the end for those who don't want to read the full essay.
• This will be posted to both OntarioLandlord and OntarioTenants (as soon as I get permission to post) as I am looking for all sides of the discussion.

A Brief Introduction
Good day everyone, this is going to be a monster of a post so I apologize in advance for the lack of brevity in my arguments. To set the scene properly, I am currently a tenant in my early 20’s. I have been working as an accountant for realtors and landlords for the past year or so which has taught me a lot about this market. It seems that every time I look into the rental market, the environment continues to worsen. Housing availability is constantly on the decline and prices are skyrocketing. Amateur landlords are often unsure or not knowledgeable of their rights and responsibilities and tenants usually pay the price. Then you have certain property management companies who act unprofessionally or cruel towards their tenants. On the other hand, there are many crappy tenants out there whose actions will cost their landlords an unreasonable amount of money.
Obviously things need to change. The question is what and how? The goal should be to allow individual investors to continue to own property while members of younger generations are given more opportunities to get real estate of their own. There should also be a large push to ensure both landlords and tenants are being held to more strict conditions with better access to the LTB for problem solving. I fully believe the following ideas would contribute to a far better real estate market for Canadians. Of course, the goal is not to make these exact changes, but to make changes in the same spirit.
Purchasing Real Estate On a Tier System
I will admit, this first point may be considered the most “unreasonable” but I fully believe in the potential it brings. Currently, houses are bought in bidding wars where everyone eligible can throw their hats in. As a family, buying their first home, there is always a chance that the beautiful starter home they want will get snatched up by some real estate investor, looking to get a quick flip.
This idea frightens me because younger people/families rarely have the financial power or freedom to compete with a full time real estate investor. The easiest solution in my eyes is to introduce a tier system that prioritizes which party has the greatest buying power in these bidding wars. Ideally, the tier should be somewhat like the following (1 being the highest priority and 4 being the lowest):

1. First time home buyers (no prior PR and no RE investments)
2. The moving home buyer (is selling their prior PR for a new one)
3. Individual RE investors (They already have a PR and are looking to rent/flip)
4. RE Corporations and larger RE investors (Those who already own a great deal of RE investments)

Say, for instance, a home is being sold for $800k. In the first week of the property being listed, two offers are received by prospective buyers. A first home buyer is looking to buy at the asking price while an RE investor, trying to get a quick sale, offers 10k over asking. In this scenario, the first time home buyers’ offer is taken at the highest priority.
Despite the investor’s offer being larger, the property should be offered to the buyer who has a greater need for the listing. Competition will now be between members of individual priority levels. Let's say that after a couple weeks, there are no high priority offers (1 or 2 level priority). Then the RE investors and RE corporations can bid between themselves. This gives far greater opportunities for those looking for a principal residence. While RE investors will have a large backlog of listings which they can compete amongst each other for the best prices. I have not yet given this idea as much thought as the next few ideas so I am always willing to adjust it to potentially make it more reasonable/clear.
Renovating the LTB - Licensing
From what I have seen, the biggest threats facing tenants today are uneducated, amateur landlords and greedy, dishonest property management companies. These next few points are proposed to put more responsibility and accountability for the worst landlords in Canada.
If this idea is implemented, all starter landlords must acquire a license before renting out a property. Furthermore, all existing landlords will be unable to renew their current leases or sign new ones until they also acquire the license. The landlord license will act as a certificate, showing that you actually know the law and understand the severity of acting unlawful towards your tenants.
The license will be acquired through a written exam hosted by the LTB. The exam will consist of a series of identification and application questions regarding the rules and responsibilities for both landlords and tenants. Exam attendees will be given access to a virtual or physical textbook which includes all the information needed to breeze through the exam. The textbook will be available in a variety of languages, allowing both domestic and foreign investors to take the test.
The point of the test is to properly assess how one will react to unique or troublesome activity within their rental properties. It isn’t meant to be a hard test. In fact, ideally, it will be quite simple and quick. Once the test is completed and marked, if the landlord fails, they will be given the opportunity to take it again at a later date. If the landlord passes, they are given their license.
In my ideal world, the license would have to be renewed on an annual basis but the period can increase to be more consistent with other professional licenses. I truly do not think this is reasonable. If you are in a position where you have power over the livelihood of another person, you should have some sort of proof that you are capable of maintaining a reasonable level of quality for them.
Renovating the LTB - Inspections
Upon the acquisition of one’s license, I believe there should then be an inspection of the rental properties. These inspections will be thorough and act as proof that the landlord is ready and capable of maintaining the quality mentioned previously. The inspection will be scheduled soon after passing the licensing exam. Landlords can choose to be present or absent during the inspection, depending on their preference and availability.
The inspector will review each room that the tenants will have access to. They will be looking for items that may be unsafe or in need of repairs/renovations. These items and include and go beyond the following examples:

• Broken or unusable appliances
• Cracked or broken windows
• Rotting floorboards and stairs
• Mould around the inside and outside of the house
• Exposed wiring/potential electrical issues
• Lack of cleanliness or sanitation
• Bug or rodent infestations

All violations recorded by the inspector will be photographed and logged in their report. The inspector will then share their findings with the landlords. If any issues were discovered, it is then up to the landlord to ensure the issues are fixed by the time tenants are set to arrive at the property. The importance of the repairs depend on the type of issue discovered. In most cases, there will only be small amounts of maintenance necessary. Landlords will then fix the issues, saving their receipts and taking updated photographs to prove to the LTB that the issues are resolved.
However, if the inspector uncovers issues that threaten the health and safety of future tenants, the process gets more strict. The landlord will be unable to even list the property for rent until the issues are resolved. The landlord is responsible for resolving the issue and contacting the LTB upon completion. When contact has been made, a second inspection will be scheduled. The second inspection may uncover other smaller issues but the main purpose is to confirm the dangerous areas have been fixed. If everything has been fixed, the landlord gets the okay from the LTB and they can finally allow tenants to move in.
If the landlord decides to lease tenants without an inspection or without clearing inspection issues, they will face fines. The fine’s amount will be made in comparison with the severity of the issues presented.
After tenants have moved in. The option to schedule an inspection will remain available. However, additional inspections will have a cost associated. These inspections can be requested if either the landlord or tenant has an issue with the property, tenants, or other such items. Hopefully, the possibility of an additional inspection will ensure that both landlords and tenants are motivated to maintain the property under the requirements set out by the law.
If issues are uncovered on these new inspections, the responsibility will be put on those accountable. If it is proven that tenants are damaging the property, the landlord will have the option be reimbursed for the maintenance costs. Depending on the severity of the issues, the landlord or tenant will also be given the option to pursue the issues in more depth with the LTB (i.e. evictions, fines, hearings, etc.). This system keeps both tenants and landlords accountable for their actions.
Renovating the LTB - Reliability
While all of my previous points will most likely be viewed and argued differently by tenants and landlords, I feel that everyone will agree with the following statement. The LTB is not that reliable. Complaints take months and months to be processed and the procedures may not always be clear. The LTB should be given more resources so they can handle all issues and procedures within a reasonable time frame. There should also be more emphasis put on unlawful or dishonest activity. There should be no scenario where a tenant can go multiple months without paying rent. If this happens, the landlord should have access to lease terminations and disciplinary actions (i.e. removal of tenant from premises). The same goes for landlords. If a tenant is being endlessly harassed by their landlord or threatened. They need quick access to assistance. There are many issues that may not be inspection worthy, but still need recognition (i.e. slander, threats, unnotified entrance of the rental property, illegal surveillance, etc.). Ideally, these items should be handled within a couple weeks of submission. This is an issue more with the current management of the LTB and it might require a full re-evaluation of the LTB’s systems and resources which is definitely beyond my scope here.
In Conclusion
To end off this essay, I want to say that these are all ideas. This is also my first draft. Items you may disagree with are subject to change and other areas will be focused overtime. I don’t believe this will single handedly “fix” the Ontario real estate market, but if more people were to give out their ideas, we can potentially help one another get through this period of inflated prices and high costs of living. I will do my best to remain active with all comments left on this post. Let me know if you hate it, if you liked it, or if you think something needs to be changed. This is simply a post made by a worried citizen, wanting their country to get better. Thanks to everyone who read through the entire post, and I hope you have a nice week!
TL:DR

1. When purchasing real estate, higher priority should be given to first time home buyers as they are in more desperate need of a home
2. There should be some form of licensing for landlords to ensure rental properties will be held to proper standards
3. Inspections should take place before the rental period starts to ensure no repairs or dangerous areas are left untreated
4. Inspections can be requested after the rental period starts if new issues with the property arise.
5. The LTB needs a restructuring. Issues for both landlords and tenants need to be addressed quicker and with more importance
6. These are all opinions being posted to simply start a discussion. These should be taken more as suggestions with room for improvement rather than proposed solutions

Hey y’all. I am a lurker on my personal account, but I’m using a throwaway for privacy reasons. I (in my 20’s F) and my husband (in his 20’sM) have been married for 2 years. I found out a year into my marriage that he has been a porn addict since being exposed in 1st grade. He also is a survivor of SA as a child from his female cousin.
We are currently separated (not by choice, he is in the military) but I was able to visit him last week. We had a great time, and he has been clean for about 3 months. Yesterday I found out that he relapsed after checking our accountability app (Covenant Eyes). I’m just so broken right now and wanted to vent out loud. We are in the process of getting matched for couples therapy, and I am beginning individual therapy on Tuesday this week.
Here’s what I wrote him: “I'm serious when I say that you telling me "I'm sorry and I love you." Is not going to fix this. I told you before we left for our separation what my boundaries are and you need to decide if you want me or porn.
I don't believe you are sorry or that you love me because if you did you would have called me or one of your accountability partners before you did that. You would have confessed to me after you did it. You would have been HONEST when I confronted you. Sheepishly saying, "oh I just googled something" doesn't cut it. It was nice having about 2 weeks where I wasn't worrying about this all the time and now I'm back having nightmares about it again. It's so selfish. Have you ever cried yourself to sleep because your spouse would rather lust and commit adultery in their heart over prostitutes and porn stars? It sucks. Or had nightmares over and over that your spouse keeps cheating on you but won't admit it?
When you are really to be HONEST and actually LOYAL to me we can talk about it, but until then I need time to myself. I'm also disgusted that you asked me for inappropriate pictures mere hours after you did this.”
We had a good conversation after and I feel stronger. But it still sucks so bad that he relapsed. We get to see each other again in a week and a half and I’m excited but worried he will relapse again right after.
After confronting him yesterday I just laid in bed and cried listening to “You’re Losing Me,” from Taylor Swift. I don’t want to divorce him, but I didn’t sign up for this. I always feel broken after he relapses (this is number 4 maybe?) but over stronger that we were vulnerable together. If I knew about his addiction before getting married I would have waited for him to be strong in his sobriety. The lyrics hit so close to home:
“You say, "I don't understand" and I say, "I know you don't.” We thought a cure would come through in time, now, I fear it won't. Remember lookin' at this room, we loved it 'cause of the light. Now, I just sit in the dark and wonder if it's time.
Do I throw out everything we built or keep it? I'm getting tired even for a phoenix. Always risin' from the ashes. Mendin' all her gashes. You might just have dealt the final blow.
Stop, you're losing me. Stop, you're losing me. Stop, you're losing me. I can't find a pulse. My heart won't start anymore for you. 'Cause you're losing me
Every mornin' I glared at you with storms in my eyes. How can you say that you love someone you can't tell is dyin'? I sent you signals and bit my nails down to the quick. My face was gray, but you wouldn't admit that we were sick.
And the air is thick with loss and indecision. I know my pain is such an imposition. Now, you're running down the hallway. And you know what they all say. "You don't know what you got until it's gone"
Stop, you're losing me. Stop, you're losing me Stop, you're losing me. I can't find a pulse. My heart won't start anymore for you. 'Cause you're losing me. ‘Cause you're losing me. Stop (Stop) 'cause you're losing me
My heart won't start anymore (Stop 'cause you're losing me). My heart won't start anymore (Stop 'cause you're losing me)
How long could we be a sad song. 'Til we were too far gone to bring back to life?. I gave you all my best me's, my endless empathy. And all I did was bleed as I tried to be the bravest soldier. Fighting in only your army, frontlines, don't you ignore me. I'm the best thing at this party (You're losing me). And I wouldn't marry me either. A pathological people pleaser. Who only wanted you to see her. And I'm fading, thinkin'. "Do something, babe, say something" (Say something). "Lose something, babe, risk something" (You're losing me). "Choose something, babe, I got nothing" (I got nothing). "To believe, unless you're choosing me"
You're losing me. Stop (Stop, stop), you're losing me. Stop (Stop, stop), you're losing me. I can't find a pulse, my heart won't start anymore.”
Just thinking out loud, and I’m open to any resources you recommend.

I don't know where else to post this, but this seems like a good place. I just can't get it out of my head how the boomers have completely foked over the younger generations. I mean just look at the salaries that they used to have in the 70's and 80's! An uneducated white male could walk into a factory and walk out with a handshake and a job. He could support his wife and 7 kids on that one salary! I mean they only had one car, that was constantly breaking down. He actually knew how to work on it and could fix anything in his 2 bedroom 1 bath home, because it was either fix it himself or go without since he couldn't actually afford to pay anyone else to do it. But that was because he had to save as much as he could so that he could take the lavish vacation of family camping for a week every summer. But since he didn't have an education, he knew the importance of education and made all his kids get an education. Of coarse most boomers are greedy bastards, so they "couldn't afford" to pay their kids tuitions so there they go again foking over the younger generations. I mean for me I just can't believe how the boomers have foked over my generation. Me, my SO, and my white male boomer dad all have to live together, it's literally the only way I can afford rent in Seattle!! It literally requires 3 peoples income to cover rent here! There's 9 degrees between the 3 of us and that's still the reality of it! Of coarse, they're all degrees in dumbass things from private schools that cost 100k per degree but I was told that didn't matter! I just..... when are those damn boomers going to take responsibility for what they've done?? When are they going to start paying their fair share of taxes?? Do you know that the average ceo makes 400 times the amount of their lowest paid employee? Granted people like Musk make that all in stock options, but when are we going to start taxing their stocks- that can adjust in price at any time? I mean seems fair to me to tax people on unrealized money. These boomers just really foked us over....I just want to use the device that's in my hands 24/7, that grants be infinite knowledge, and could easily answer any question i have or explain anything from my post in a logical way, but these boomers need to understand my outrage at when they were born and what they've done to me personally! I just feel so bad for the generations that came after the boomers......I think I'm going to go pray to Bernie Sanders and AOC and call it a night.

I know it is a cruel thing to think, but she is falling into a deep pit and dragging my entire family down with her and I hate her.
I (22F) will give a history for the "why's" for a lot of the beliefs she (26F) has further down. It's likely trauma that manifests into things related to birth control hairloss. She is autistic, which is probably a big part of this.
My entire family just wants to help her, but she is verbally abusive (loudly so), stubborn and doesn't want help other than aggreeance with beliefs. My parents couldn't help or parent me or my younger sister at all these last few years because they are too tired from dealing with our older sister. I had no support transitioning into adulthood and still live at home with dad and siblings, but my younger sister is worse off because she only had me consistently as an "adult" for her teen years.
My half-sister (26), who had bad experience with a birth control type believes that:

• An entire drug company is bad because she had a negative experience with birth control from them and will only take any needed medication by them after my dad argues and insists (she needed antibiotics recently for a bad infection and it was hell getting her to take them)
  
• Gets very anxious and angry whenever she has to take some kind of medication, and interprets every little thing as an effect of a medication that she is on *She had back spasms "from an antifungal yeast infection med" even though it isn't listed as a side effect and a doctor told her it wasn't a possible correlation unless psychological, which made her angry
  
• Refuses to listen to doctors who don't affirm what she believes. She just argues, gets angry and insists that all doctors are bad and incompetent. In general *does not respond to having her feelings validated, only wants her beliefs validated
  
• She refuses to take hormonal birth control of any kind (she relies solely on timing her cycles, condoms and the sponge) despite being told that she is abnormally fertile by some kind of specialist and having 6 abortions from accidental pregnancies in the <10 years that she has been sexually active(birth control hormones are "bad" but accidental pregnancy hormones and abortion hormones aren't significant???) *She has an intense fear of pregnancy and is retraumatized every time she gets pregnant. She never wants kids.
  
• Believes that her hair (and by extension, herself) is "ruined" because it isn't as curly or plentiful as it used to be (barely noticeable to others), but she counts how many individual strands come out in the shower regularly and freaks out about it and then rants about how bad doctors and medications are and how she is "ruined"
  

Explanation:
She had a horrible scare with glaucoma a few years ago (months before the birth control thing) that traumatized her and made her think she was going to go blind. It turned out to be a false diagnosis.
Months later, she tried a type of hormonal IUD for a few weeks and had it removed. Weeks later (and even years later to present day), she is insistent that the birth control caused the hair loss (which it could have), but she is hyper fixated on it because her hair was her favorite physical feature about herself.
It was on it years ago, and many doctors over the years have said that enough time has gone by that her hormones might have shifted in this way anyway,or even in some other that she also doesn't like. She doesn't wanna hear it unless you agree that she and her hair are "ruined" and that you also think the doctors "ruined" her.
We try to listen and validate her feelings of fear and sadness, but she will get mean and try to force us to admit that we don't believe what she does when we don't outright say we also believe the things she believes. We often just listen passively and nod at this point to stay sane because that is the only thing that doesn't upset her. She doesn't want a discussion about it unless it is venting about the same stuff that she has vented about every single day for years, or someone saying "yes" to everything she says.
If anyone had expressed at any point that they don't agree, you are forever deemed as "useless" on the subject by her and she will get mean if it comes up, which is unfortunate because she brings it up daily. We aren't even an outspoken family, so nobody ever said more than a few words about it (let alone confrontational or rude ones) other than my dad, who has always been very careful with his words with delicate topics. She brings it up constantly, so you have to just leave the room or else she will start venting, which turns into her trying to convince me and our younger sister not to EVER use hormonal birth control.
We are so tired. She will sometimes accept counselling to vent because she sometimes acknowledges that she has depression, anxiety and PTSD (from the glaucoma thing), but since she brushes off all experts when it comes to these issues, would she even accept help if we found the correct supports for her? How would we even have her start opening up to the idea of trying something different if it has already been 3-4years with no change in openness?

I've got some health issues I'm working on.

1. Cholesterol THROUGH THE ROOF.
   
2. Back pain, that I'm in Physical Therapy for
   
3. I'm also practicing Muay Thai, partially for my mental health, partially because its fun as fuck
   

That said, my physical therapist is trying to get me to eat high protein for all the shit we're putting my body through. And seriously, I need it. I'm 6' 1" and 213lbs, so everything online is telling me around 200g of protein per day. That seems like a LOT. And as it stands, I'm just not recovering from the workouts.
How can I reach this macro, while staying under $100 a week? I have no idea how to make that work with my budget, while trying to cut out/keep cholesterol and saturated fat to a minimum.
Any help is appreciated.

In 2003, humans created the first ever anthropomorphic animal (furry). In 2024, 2 years after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia attacks Poland with nuclear weapons, and all of NATO responds. This marks the beginning of the first and last all-out Nuclear war. Only a week before, however, you (a furry, customizable in the introduction) were arriving at your new friend's house, when you are promptly bagged and abducted. You are taken to a building, and locked in a 4×4 foot room for hours. Then, the "room" begins descending like an elevator. It descends for a whole 10 minutes before the door pops open. A voice crackles overhead, telling you to step forward and find an empty pod. The rest are occupied by other furries of different species. Once you find your pod and step inside, it closes. You are poked with a needle, and just before you pass out, your pod is filled with a dense, slimy green liquid. Once you wake up, the pod opens, and you fall out of it, the liquid splashing all around you. You struggle to get up for a few seconds. Once you do, your movement is severely impaired, and you fall down a few other times. Looking around, you see all the other pods are open, and a few of the furries were already dead when the pod opened. They lie on the floor, in various states of decomposition. A different voice, a robotic one would crackle overhead, telling you to get to the exit. The exit is another elevator which brings you to the surface. Upon reaching the surface, after not seeing the sun in many years, the light is near blinding. Once the flash passes, you see a destroyed, rotten city on the horizon far ahead of you. To your left is an overgrown wooded area. To your right is a hermetically sealed box with a keypad. On the box is a faded piece of paper with the code to the box. When you open the box, similar to Fallout, you gain everything necessary to kick-start your survival, along with a pamphlet explaining your situation, and a description of the gear you are receiving (a knife or other mele weapon, a pistol or other ranged weapon, and some kind uniform type clothing/jumpsuit, food, water, a first aid kit, a backpack, and a utility belt). The pamphlet also would give you a run-down of the controls. You would be prompted to find a road and follow it. Not long after, you'd find a sign saying, "Welcome to [city/state name]" letting you know where you are. After following the road, you'd find a marking, possibly prompting a cutscene of your character installing the marking. It would be a symbol that means "furry," used by the scientists who created the first furry. The marking would also include an arrow and a mile number. The game could make you walk, or skip to the next part, but there would be more markings pointing you somewhere. Eventually, the last marking wouldn't have a mile number, but instead some symbol indicating that this is the final stretch. It would be night time, and you can see the light pollution. You find a large fortress, and notice two guards with spotlights. Eventually you get spotted, and they tell you to drop your things, which may also prompth a cutscene where you drop your things, and two other guards come out and take you into the fortress. Upon seeing the guards, you realize you found other furries. They bring you inside to a large courtyard populated by more furries. You'd be searched, evaluated, etc. And then told how long it's been since the bombs fell. Then you'd be given a tour of the place, shown the different shops, important locations, etc. The game would feature a health system similar to Project Zomboid (this game would be first/third person), or possibly less detailed for convenience, and you'd need to keep up on hunger, thirst, hygiene (possibly), and you could form friendships, partnerships, and even relationships with the citizens who live inside the [fortress name].
That's about as far as I got. It could be story driven, open world with an optional story, or just open world with quests and stuff. Obviously if someone did this, it's all subject to change. I just haven't seen many good games with furries that aren't dating Sims or nsfw games. Could be done by AAA or experienced developer(s).

I’ve learned a lot about myself in the past year and have made a lot of healing progress, but I don’t know how to keep improving while my life is a mess.
I’ve been unemployed for so long now that it feels doubtful I can get my career back. And I work in the entertainment industry, so for the time being job openings don’t even exist. This is honestly devastating to me because the work is so important to me (I think creativity is a lifeline for a lot of us) and I worked so hard to make any progress in my career at all.
My social life is suffering. I have nothing going on in my life besides dealing with trauma so I feel like I either bring people down or I’m just fake. I’m spending more time isolated and feel like no one actually knows me. It feels like friends increasingly don’t want to be around me and the rejection is crushing but I also can’t even blame them at this point.
As best as I’ve been able to figure out, I’ve been structurally dissociated and my nervous system dysregulated for 25 years. I know my real personality is still in there because I’ve been coming out of dissociation for like one day per month. And it feels absolutely amazing but rarely lasts longer than the day before something triggers me. I don’t even notice if I’m triggered now because I’m so constantly stressed and fearful about the future.
Most days now I spent glued to the couch with nothing motivating me and burnt out beyond what I thought was possible. And it’s only a matter of time before I just run out of money. I’m better equipped to fix my life if I’m out of dissociation, but my life is too unstable for me to keep myself from the dissociative state I’ve been in 2/3 of my life. And the brain fog is so thick it’s like a solid. How do you continue to heal when you’re currently in a high-stress/traumatic situation? How do I convince my nervous system I’m safe when in many ways I’m not?

Hello, so i have that crush at work. She is in a different department but we have been friends since she joined 2 years ago. Over the days, we became what we call bestfriends but we realised that it was more than that as we tend to get jealous when any of us talk with the opposite gender, we get along very well, we are very compatible and share common interests. We did not confess our feelings right away but i once hugged her and went for the kiss when we had a small fight. She kissed me too. The thing is that at that time she had a boyfriend with whom she had been with for 1 year but was on a break during that time due to constant fights with him. We continued to kiss and hug when we could (i was always the one who initiated it though). And some times she would tell me that we need to stop that because it is bad for her, for her boyfriend, and also for me (if she decides to get back with her boyfriend). I persisted and kept doing what we were doing. We spoke via phone many times till late and asked her what were her feelings for me one day. She told me straight away that she likes me a lot and that she sees a future with me and she sees everything she wanted in her bf in me. But the thing is she couldnt let go of her bf because she is too "attached" and have memories with him. She told me that she regrets knowing him and if she didnt, we would be able to be together. Well, i decided to move on because she was not sure. And bam, 1 week ago she announced to me that she left her bf.. and 2 days after that i tried to kiss her again.. but she refused. Only hugged me. She told me that it has just been 2 days and that she cant just get with me right away. She needs time to move on and get detached from him. She told me not to wait for her as she dont know for how long she will be like this. I told her if she would want me to wait and she said yes but it would be unfair because she dont know how much time i will i have to wait . This is fair i guess? I again persisted and told her that i love her a lot. She told me that i am putting a pressure on her to move on quickly from her ex which i understands. Any thoughts of what i should do?

So, I know that the dog needs to be at least 2 years old to be a fully-fledged service dog. But I was hoping for more specifics, can someone please direct me to a service dog training timeline? How many months should be dedicated to just the basics? When should I start task training? When should I start public access? When should I start vesting in public? Do the basics just include sit, stay, stand, down, etc. or do they also include getting in and out of a car, tucking under chairs, heeling? How much of the puppy's time should be training and how much should be play? When should you start teaching potty on command? As soon as you get them? Should it come after or during potty training? How long should I condition the gentle leader for? 2 weeks? Longer??? Please help me, I need to know so I don't mess up!

I got divorced a year ago, after an 11 year marriage. I was devastated at first, but realized it was for the best. I took about a year to get to discover myself after that and then decided that it wasn’t what I wanted to be alone, so I downloaded a few dating apps, without many expectations figuring what the heck.
I matched with a lady on Stir, one that’s made for parents. After chatting for a day on there we traded numbers, and talked on the phone that night. This was the beginning of January. We constantly everyday texted, and several times a week would talk on the phone. This girl checked all the boxes that I was looking for and more. She had a difficult past, but who the heck doesn’t? We didn’t even meet in person, despite my asking, for about 3 months. It wasn’t until she started having a bad custody dispute with the father of her kids, and the kids went to their dads for a while. She called me up crying and said she needed my support, so I got a sitter for mine and got there to be there for her. Other complications I can’t quite go into, but I was there for her that night. Nothing inappropriate, we walked around Home Depot, and then got dinnedrinks. She did kiss me, but that’s as far as it went as I knew she was emotionally distraught.
We continued talking, after that. Her kids were then with their dad in a different state. One Friday she said she wanted to do something, so I took her on a date to a restaurant she had mentioned she wanted to go to Downtown. After, I went to take her home, and she asked to go back to my place, so we stopped and got a bottle of wine, and headed back. We talked for hours, sipping on wine. She looked at me and said she decided she wanted to stay, and kissed me, and we got intimate. After, we stayed up and listened to the music we were both into for hours. She stayed the night. The next morning after sleeping in I took her home. After a few hours she texted me and asked me to pick her back up and wanted to spend more time with me. So we spent the iight at my place again. The next day I took her home again. She texted me till the next day, Monday, and then went silent.
I heard from her that late night (3am) where she told me that her mom (who she was living with) kicked her out and she went to a hotel. I couldn’t get out of my head why she hadn’t just come back to my place… but it’s her prerogative so whatever. Then she proceeded to not talk to me until Friday when I asked her how her week went. She texted me back saying how she wasn’t ready for a relationship, which must seem confusing because of last weekend, and all she wanted to be was friends. I was super disappointed, but loved her as a person, so I said sure. This was the middle of April.
We got together and went on walks, went to restaurants that week as friends. I’m happy for the companionship. That Friday she had agreed to go to a work even with me as my +1, and she still went, as a friend. After, we ended up at a bar and may have gotten drunk and she gave me a gummy, so we were high as well. She said that even though she told me that we could only be friends, she didn’t want to say never would it be a relationship, and she still had feelings for me. It lit a fire in my heart. That evening we got an Uber back to my place (she was too far gone to go back to her moms) and she ended up sleeping in me bed and snuggling me all night. Nothing sexual. That next morning she thanked me and said how nice it was to feel cared for by someone else. I took her home that morning.
Over the next few weeks we met each others kids, going to the zoo, out to eat, and to a trampoline park. It was amazing. I even met her mom, and gave her mom a gift to give her on Mother’s Day. I got a text on Mother’s Day saying thank you and how amazing I was and how I didn’t have to do it. I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to show her that someone appreciated her for being a mom.
The next day she all of a sudden was on a trip with a “friend” in a city a few hours away. No big deal, I was just surprised since she hadn’t mentioned it to be two days before where we were together. The next day, still with the “friend” in a couple other cities. Third day another one. Some things clicked and I asked her if she was vacationing with her ex-fiancé. She said she was, and they had been talking about what it would be like to be back together for the last month… she’s even going to Hawaii with him in a few weeks…
She then proceeded to tell me that I was too sweet for her. How she only ever viewed me as a friend. How she never even considered us as being together…FUCK. It messed me up. I had that glimmer that was shattered. I can’t get over this girl. I had fallen for her. I loved her. I met her kids and loved them. My kids loved her. Now she’s moving back to another state with her old fiancée. I never even felt suicidal when I went through a divorce, but I have several times. It sucks. It’s been 3 weeks and I’m barley feeling better. I sent her a text 2 weeks in and am pretty sure she blocked me.
I’m devastated. I can’t help but think I’ll never find someone like her again. I feel like I have so much love to give, and no one is ever going to want it. I just want someone to love me like I love them. I feel useless. I know I’m not, but it’s how it feels. I’m in therapy, I do everything recommended by people. I still feel like shit. Why do people have to suck so much? 😞
This wasn’t all the details of the story obviously, but felt the need to vent. And even this was long. What the hell do I do…?

Hello! I am a employee of a non corporate Starbucks that is inside a Target shopping center. So I technically work for target and get Target benefits. However a bunch of things have been happening since I was hired 11 months ago.
So my main team lead for Starbucks (we can call her bossy), doesn’t know how to do her job. That’s right, she has worked at the SAME position for 25+ years and doesn’t know how to do her job (that’s not even the worse part). Just today she clocked out of her shift 20 mins early without telling ANYONE! Then she went to sit with her friends as I am now by myself struggling to make and take orders with a long line with about a 20 min wait time. Bossy and her friends just WATCHED me struggle with the orders. She never told me why she clocked out early even, she was NO WHERE NEAR overtime for the week. Besides that, she left us alone off and on four times for a total of 3ish hours. Didn’t have a reason but “emails”. My other team leads said it only takes 20 mins PER WEEK to work on emails, she takes 2+ hours PER DAY, and she won’t say when she is leaving to do it. If I ask where she was, she just says emails and not to worry.
She also doesn’t give us barista’s free drinks or food, yet claims to her Starbucks bosses that she does. Since I’ve been hired, I’ve never gotten a free drink from her, she is supposed to be doing it more often, but doesn’t. Even worse though, us baristas are NOT allowed to have water on hand. By state law we are supposed to have a designated area for water to go. We do not have one, we brought this up to her and Bossy ignored us. So we are LUCKY if we get to drink ANYTHING between breaks (about 4 hours), and our Target isn’t cooling off fast enough to beat the heat, so it’s humid and hot inside the store. We brought this up to a higher team lead and they also ignored us. Hell, even HR ignored me!
Now the team lead above bossy and is the front of the store team lead who is responsible for scheduling (let’s call him EL for entitled leader), has refused me to be trained in other parts of the store. I’ve been BEGGING for 2 months to be trained in ANY position and no longer work Starbucks, and that I don’t care where and I won’t complain. Plus we are in dire need of staff however the store refuses to hire new people and instead burns out it’s own employees. He moved me to lanes 2 times, other then that I’ve only been in Starbucks. I tried asking again and he ignored me. There is 3 team lead positions opening up within the next 2 weeks and I feel like if I ask they won’t allow me to apply just because. ALSO EL hates giving vacation time or days of, even though your not available that day for whatever reason, he will still put you on the schedule. I requested a weekend off 2 months in advance, and he kept denying it for no reason.
I wish there were other jobs near by that paid as much or better then Target, but none of them come close, and as a person finishing high school, I prefer a higher paying job. However the management at Target, in the part of the store where I work, is so bad I want to quit.
ALSO!!!! Almost all of the baristas are DRAMA! And I’ve been so mistreated over my mental and physical health that I can’t take it. As a person who gets triggered and can easily get panic attacks I did warn them that if I run to the back randomly I just need a min. One time I did that after a miserable week, I ran to the back struggling to breathe. One barista that was about to clock out for lunch turned around, looked at me, and said, “What the f*ck is wrong with you?!” I slowly said panic attack through gasps and shaking and all she said was “Well get back to work then, it’s not that bad.” HUH!? I’m barely able to stand in front of you, wdym?
There is another barista that makes fun of me because I can’t spell names for the life of me. So I often ask customers to spell it for me and I always hear behind me, then spelling it super slow interrupting the customer as they are making drinks.
Now, is this normal and I’m frustrated over nothing, or are my feelings accurate. Cause to me it’s EXTREMELY infuriating.

[M]/Doing retro just in case, coz it took me much longer to lay this out lol/[M]

Canadian Federal Elections 101

Canada has inherited its political system from the United Kingdom, sticking to Westminster parliamentary system ever since. This means, that unlike in the United States, the outcome of Canadian elections are won by whichever party manages to elect the greatest number on Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of Canada, allowing the leader of this party to assume the office of Prime Minister.

The Senate of Canada provides for a stark contrast, since despite being originally designed to ensure provincial representation, the upper house remains unelected and is largely subjected to the politics in the House of Commons.

When no party is able to secure more than 50 per cent of seats in the House, a leader of a political party that is able to command more than 50 per cent of MPs, for example through singing supply and confidence or coalition agreements with other parties, becomes Prime Minister instead. Historically, however, the largest party in the House of Commons tends to form a monitory government, when it commands a plurality of MPs, rather than an outright majority. This allows the largest party to remain in power, but it has to rely on MPs from other political factions to pass crucial pieces of legislation, especially when it comes to votes that indicate parliamentary confidence, such as federal budgets. Losing those votes, would effectively mean that the current government has to either be completely re-staffed with new Cabinet Ministers, or call a snap election.
However, minority governments remained fairly uncommon in Canada, since the current voting system, called First-Past-the-Post (FPTP), allows for individual MPs to win their respective ridings - also known as constituencies - to be elected into the House of Commons with a simple plurality of votes. Thus, a political party can win most seats in the House of Commons through strategically placing their bets on ridings with very tight margins, where just one extra vote may allow their nominee to win a permanently seat, effectively making all votes for the opposition candidate in that riding meaningless.

General Backgrounder

For example, the Liberal Party of Canada has won the last two federal elections with a plurality of seats in the House of Commons, despite coming only 2nd to the Conservative Party of Canada during popular vote. The Liberals, despite becoming the largest party in the House still fell short of winning the majority of seats, being forced to rely on the New Democratic Party, that represented are more progressive social democratic part of the electorate, for crucial votes. Later, the Government has called a snap election aiming to get their desired majority, but failed, and had to sign a formal Supply and Confidence Agreement with the NDP, that included a massive package of social programmes, such as the recently implemented national dental care and prescription drug insurance.
However, while enjoying a steady lead in polls vis-a-vis, the federal Conservatives during the pandemic, the Liberals had experienced persistent slump as post-pandemic recovered coupled with sticky inflation and rapidly deteriorating housing crisis. As the Federal Conservatives have moved to the right following the election of a new leader, they have utilised concurrent economic challenges and liberal economic policy, blaming the current government's pandemic related emergency spending coupled with expansion of social programs as the root cause for inflation into collapsing housing affordability. As Canada had to respond to America's Inflation Reduction Act with a new public investment into green transition, conservative criticism of the Trudeau government has become ever more vocal, with fiscal deficits presumably exacerbating, concurrent inflationary pressures.
Liberal policies, especially introducing the federal backstop mechanism for carbon pricing, has also spurred, vicious opposition, among Conservatives, especially those living in the Western Canada, that culminated in the razor-thin re-election of the United Conservatives in the oil-producing province of Alberta. The federal response to the freedom, convoy protest, as well as the general push, forever wider collective community during the pandemic, has created some fertile soil for the opposition, Conservatives to capitalise on, especially as the more moderate leader of the party had been ousted shortly after the convoy protest.
After more than eight years in government, the liberal party has also been embroiled in several corruption and ethics candles, including the SNC-Lavallin affair, the pandemic-era ArriveCan App scandal, and, most recently, the accusations of Chinese electoral interference, and Chinese police stations operating in Canada.
In fact, the situation for the current government has become so dire. It's a point, but more than 80% of forecasters projected a Conservative minority government has the most probable outcome for the next election. According to some polls, the Liberals would be unable to form a government, even with the support of the New Democratic Party. The liberal convention in late spring 2023, didn't provide much of a relief either, how's the party continued to lack a comprehensive platform to combat the issue of housing and affordability - something that steadily climbed the rate of priorities for many Canadians, to become the most pressing issue, when deciding who to vote for. If anything, the Conservative party has become the most popular political force, among younger Canadians, with their laser, sharp focus on the issue of inflation and housing affordability.
The issue of housing affordability has become central to the Conservative Convention, where the Party has committed to "restoring" home ownership across the country, through planning laws deregulation and "removing resections on the supply of housing". This would see the federal government to tie federal spending on housing to municipalities shortening approval times, waive HST/GST for housing, as well as allow landlords to re-invest their profits into new housing tax-free. The Conservative convention also proposed federal infrastructure funding to be linked to higher-density housing construction.
What did, however, play in favour of the current government, what is the time. Within Canadian Parliamentary system, the Prime Minister can call an election effectively anytime, so long their term doesn't exceed the four year threshold, that was approaching at Fall 2025, supported by the Supply and Confidence Agreement with New Democrats. As inflation in North America has started slowly subsiding to return to the 2% target in early fall 2024, Trudeau has managed to re-gain some the economic credibility his government has seemingly lost. The Liberals have also continued their tilt to make some inroads into the NDP camp, with the Federal Budget 2024 going heavily on Net Zero and Green Transition.
However, the Liberals also had to deal with a political deadline, whether to call and election before or after the Budget 2025 would've been published. The former might allow the LPC to avoid the criticism of "buying up votes" that the party received after calling the snap election shortly after introducing their Federal Budget in 2021. However, Trudeau also had a stake at deferring the election for long as possible, hoping that waiving inflationary pressure might open up more space for the Liberals to re-gain the economic ground over the Conservatives.

Federal Election 2025

After long deliberation, the federal Cabinet has opened to hold an election in late March 2025, right at the time when a government would have normally tabled their budget. The election that both the Liberals and the Conservatives have approached after almost a year or neck-and-neck perforce in the polls, with Trudeau having a minuscule advantage in personal ratings.
The economy, especially housing affordability, have become two main issues during this election, closely followed by healthcare - namely access to family physicians and waiting times for selected procedures - and the issue of inflation still lingering at the back of the public debate.
Trudeau himself because a matter for the debate, with the Liberals banking on his personal likability, while Federal Conservatives continuously pressed with corruption and ethical scandals and corruption allegations, combined with the Liberal campaign continuously bringing up the "electability issue" of their opponents.

Housing

With the Tories enjoying slight lead on the matter of economic competence, the Liberals opted to treat the housing crisis as a matter of social policy, while banking heavily on personal popularity of Trudeau himself. From the policy-standpoint, LPC Election Platform has effectively copied the proposal originally voiced during the Conservative Convention. Namely, waiving GST/HST for housing construction, allowing landlords to re-invest their profits into constructing more units tax-free, as well as linking federal spending to new housing development and liberalising permitting process. The difference with the Conservatives was the focusing on new federal spending to combat housing affordability.
Liberal election promises involved the commitment for new federal housing construction to exceed population growth by the end of the first term, through the government directly contracting private developers to build more affordable housing, and task the Canada Infrastructure Development Corporation to provide funding to non-market housing in numbers meeting or exceeding population growth in larger metropolitan areas on Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and across Atlantic Canada.
Unlike the Tories, Trudeau also went further, promising the government would cover development charges for projects that included affordable housing. The Liberals have also committed to conducting of affordable rental housing, aimed at younger Canadians and those who are yet to start cloning the property ladder. Conservatives on the other hand emphasised Trudeau's poor track on housing affordability, combined focusing on making home ownership more affable through market-driven construction of new units for sale.
Both Team Blue and Team Red have committed to expediting the arrival of new skilled trades professionals, especially those working in the housing sector, including interest-free loans to have their qualifications recognised or to up-skill their existing credentials. Liberals however, took a step further, promising automatic Permanent Residency who has worked in residential construction after 1 year, as well issuing Open Work Permits - exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment - to anyone with construction work experience willing to come to Canada, so long they continue working in the construction sector for the majority of their time before obtaining permanent residency. The Tories on their part suggested granting PR automatically after they've worked in construction for at least 5 years.
On the matter of banning foreign buyers, both parties have committed to banning home purchases in Canada for those who do not hold Canadian citizenship or are not Permanent Residents of Canada, with Liberals maintaining existing exemptions, so long the person buying has invested an equivalent amount in affordable housing construction.
Rhetorically, the Liberals have echoed the National Housing Act 1938, suggesting their government would run fiscal deficits to finance nation-wide home construction, especially affordable rental units. CPC has openly accused Trudeau of "policy stealing" choosing to emphasis permitting deregulation, subsidies for new units, and investing more construction professionals.

Healthcare & Social Care

Federal Conservatives have focused their attack in increasing waiting times, as well as increasing shortage of medical professionals across the country. Liberals, however, aimed to conservative proposals to introduce more private providers into the system, while emphasising their expansion of public health insurance that now covers both dental care and prescription drugs. Both parties suggested increasing the immigration intake for doctors, nurses, medical researches, providing financial support to have their credentials recognised in Canada as well as to update their skills.
The Liberals have however suggested lowering tuition rates international students who come to study health, social care, and eduction, granted them access to domestic rates of tuition, as well as a designated pathway to Permanent Residency for health, eduction, and social care who have obtained at least 1560 hours of Canadian work experience, and received at least part of their eduction in Canada. This would come as a supplementary measure, with domestic students becoming eligible for federal student loan write off if they have accumulated at least 1 year of post-graduation work experience in health, social care, or education - so long their degree is in the same field.
The Liberals have also committed to covering a Royal Commission to introduce a national social care insurance programme for seniors and people with disabilities.

The Economy

The Conservatives suggest introducing "full expensing" allowing companies to deduct up 120 per cent of their expenses on machinery, equipment, and non-residential property, akin to UK's Super Deduction, to combat Canada's low investment levels. They also propose to introduce tax credits for Canadian companies to up-skill their workers, as well as increased federal funding to provinces to support job training and second career programmes and labour market integration.
The Liberals suggest increasing the minimum wage in federally-regulated institutions, linking as a proportion of executive pay. LPC also pledged to introduce at least 4 weeks of paid vacation after 1 year on employment, with additional increases in line with employee tenure, as outlined in their Convention 2023, while brining paid leave of up to 6 weeks a year, allowing recipients to tradition onto disability payments after that.
Both parties have committed to supporting Employee Ownership Trusts, as well as introduction of worker representation on corporate boards in federally-regulated industries. Team Red however to it a step further, suggesting they will employee ownership mandatory for large corporations , with the only exemption provided for profit-sharing schemes.
Both parties have also supported reforming Canada's Employment Insurance Program:
The Conservatives suggest introducing Individual EI Savings Accounts that any Canadian can access whenever they are let go of their job or decide to quit. The proposed accounts would be funded through mandatory employer and employee contributions and could also be used to pay for labour training and re-skilling, with means-tested federal assistance available for those who's exhausted their accounts. Tories also suggest expanding current marginal earnings projection to apply to both individual and household income. The party also suggests waiving EI Premiums and provide rebates for C/QPP Contribution rebates to those not paying federal income tax, to guarantee every Canadian can earn at least $1000 a month free of payroll deductions.
Trudeau on the other hand suggested making EI coverage universal, and providing up to 90 per cent wage replacement in the first month of claim, while also introducing EI Benefit Floor, where every Canadian would be entitled to a minimum benefit equal to federal minimum wage regardless of their original earnings, for as long as they have enough insurable hours. The Liberal plan also introduces expands "working while on claim" provision, allowing people collecting EI benefits to have their wages supplemented through the program so their total paycheque reaches at least 90 per cent of their average 5-year earnings at all times, regardless whether the claimant is eligible for EI Regular Benefits. EI Parental Benefits are set to be fixed at at least 60 per cent of the family's income, subject o the benefit floor. Liberals suggest paying for the programme through waiving maximum insurable earnings to levy EI Premiums on all income of an individual, while introducing cap on benefits linked to median regional wages. However, the basic exemption shall be aligned to the federal income tax minimum threshold. Surpluses generated should be used to pay for expanded WWoC provisions and putting EI Operating Account back into surplus.
Both parties also committed to brining in a Canada Savers' Credit that mirrors both the amounts and eligibly criteria of the GST/HST tax credit, but is instead deposited in people's Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs) and automatically invested into corporate equity. Tories and Liberals also support introducing automatic enrolment for Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), Registered Eduction Savings Plans (RESPs), Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP), First Homebuyer Savings Accounts (FHSAs) and TFSAs upon either birth of obtaining Canadian tax residency for eligible non-Canadians. While the Conservative proposal would new accounts automatically linked to existing financial institutions the individual already has an account in, the Liberals instant new accounts should be automatically assigned to a new independent crown corporation, so long the primary account holder haven't decided to the move their registered accounts to an eligible financial institution.
Both parties pitch the policy as a potential interim solution to address Canada's sky-high household debt, through increased asset ownership and participation in stock markets.
When it comes to fiscal policy, the Liberal Government suggests they'll keep their "structural deficit" - as defined by tax revenues versus programme expedites - bellow the rate of economic growth over the 10 year period. LPC however is open they'll not restrain their spending on new housing construction, Ottawa set to absorb almost all the costs of housing under the liberal plan. The Conservatives on the other hand suggest introducing the $1 for $1 rule for federal expenditure, where every dollar of new spending has to be offset by a dollar in spending cuts or increased taxes, suggesting to balance the budget in their first 5 years in the office.
Somewhat comically, the Liberals seem to be attacking Conservative proposals on the grounds it may bring back the pain on the nighties - referring to the Chretien austerity era - especially in Atlantic Canada and the Regions of Quebec where benefit dependency ratios have traditionally been elevated.
The Liberals have also committed to expand existing childcare agreements, to make childcare services and spare available to anyone, and drastically reduce wait times for subsidised spots.

Energy & Environment

The issue has surprisingly played a somewhat muted role during this election, as CPC has contained to opposed federal price on carbon, pressuring the idea of turning Canada into a "natural resource superpower". Liberals on the other hand boasted about their massive investment into Net Zero Transition, while also attacking the Tories one potential fiscal penalties that the government would assume after cancelling the carbon tax. Team Red had also opened to cling to previous commitments of the Conserve Leader to ban overseas oil, which Ontario, and Quebec, as well as Atlantic Canada remain fairly dependent on, due to lack of oil transportation infrastructure from western oil production facilities. Considering the fact Quebec has remained one of Liberal strongholds even at the lowest, as well as the party's perceived electability in the province, CPC would've had even harder to fight for the votes in Quebec.

Tipping the Scales

However, what truly decided this election, was something that may in the future divide the country even more, namely the issue of the French language. Something that has been present in Canadian politics for generations, but something that this time brought a party over the finish line, while completely tanking their opponents.
While both leaders fluent in French, having French Canadian roots, combined with an almost unchallenged dominance of the local Bloc Québécois, it seemed quite unlikely either party would be able to gain any meaningful advantage in Quebec, until both parties have revealed their election manifestos.
Here was the moment the Liberals played their cards best. Namely, the party has committed to supplying French language both within and outside Quebec, through drastically bolstering access to Francophone eduction across the country. The Liberals has committed to introducing a brand-new federal agency tasked with facilitating access to French eduction and integration services - Francisation Canada.
The agency was set to provide free-at-use eduction in French, while also providing up to $1000 a month in finical assistance to immigrants who were willing to learn French. On top of that, the Liberals have committed to make existing Explore and Odyssey Programme universal, integrating them into school curriculums across the country. The Party has also committed to negotiating bilateral agreements with all provinces to provide additional funding and guarantee access to services, including eduction in French across Canada, while making French a mandatory subject for Early Learning & Childcare, as well as in secondary education. LPC would also waive tuition fees for post-secondary eduction in French, and negotiate agreements with other francophone countries, to facilitate French-speaking immigration into Canada and Quebec.

Conclusion

Thus, on the night of the election, the sudden realisation waived through the country. The Liberal Party managed to protect their urban ridings, even in West, as their pledge to "spend whether it takes to make houses and rents affordable for everyone" managed to persuade swing urban voters across the country, combined with their massive investment in green transition. The Tories has also lost their lead in Atlantic Canada, where an idea of a massive EI expansion has resonated with voters much more than the concept of individual accounts. Massive subsidies in battery production have also helped the Liberals to protect their seats across Ontario, especially in former industrial towns. However, what actually brought Trudeau over the finish line, was Quebec. The Combination of absolutely massive investments into green tech, coupled with new social programs, and proposed childcare expansion, on top of the Liberal pledge to "protect and promote the French language from Coast to Coast to Coast" allowed the party to make some significant inroads across the province, despite loosing some suburban ridings, Central Canada gave Trudeau yet another chance to form yet another minority Liberal government.
​

Party Name	Popular Vote	Seats in the House of Commons of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada (LPC)	33.8%	158
Conservative Party of Canada (CPC)	35.8%	140
New Democratic Party (NDP)	19%	20
Bloc Québécois (BQ)	6.2%	21
People's Party of Canada	1,5%	0

​

Acknowledgements

• https://energynow.ca/2022/04/energy-east-will-not-live-again-heres-why-jean-francois-thibault/
• https://2023.liberal.ca/policy/
• https://macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/erin-otoole-socialist-crusade
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grenier-election-results-1.5330105
• https://tnc.news/2022/03/25/pierre-poilievre-proposes-ban-on-foreign-oil-within-five-years/
• https://nationalpost.com/news/why-does-pierre-poilievre-appeal-to-young-canadians-its-all-about-economics-2
• https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-conservatives-more-trusted-than-liberals-to-manage-federal-finances/
• https://centre.irpp.org/research-studies/amending-the-official-languages-act-a-new-vision-of-bilingualism/
• https://energynow.ca/2022/04/energy-east-will-not-live-again-heres-why-jean-francois-thibault/
• https://tnc.news/2022/06/22/poilievre-pay-as-you-go/
• https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/where-the-six-conservative-leadership-candidates-stand-on-key-policy-issues-1.5888530
• https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/federal/2021/party-platforms/
• https://338canada.com/sim.htm

Hey, guys my orientation is in two weeks, and if anyone has already had their orientation or has experience, please help me out and share some knowledge with me.

1. Is there a super structured schedule for orientation? For example, is every minute of the day planned out by UMD, or is there free time where you can do whatever you want?
2. Besides meeting your advisor and probably taking a tour of some kind, what else do you do during the two-day orientation?
3. How many bags did you bring, or how did you pack everything on the packing list?
4. What did you guys do about food? Did UMD have it covered or did they let you starve?
5. Do you have any other advice, tips, or things to know for orientation?
6. Do you get any free merch at orientation?
7. Anyone going to the Jun 14-15th one and wanna be friends?

October 19 was the worst day of my life. The day my precious baby, my everything, my reason for living, was taken from me. I don’t consider myself a victim but the system and the company that was suppose to be helping me fucked me over.
My daughter was suppose to be returned to me already but my trial keeps getting moved from February to April and now July. When my daughter was 2 months old, I was getting treatment for my opioid use but the company DCFS set me up, let’s called them “L” company, with made a court date on October 4 trying to get her removed from my care because I didn’t want to do one month inpatient treatment at this ghetto rehab, I tried going for one day and felt extremely uncomfortable, everyone constantly talked about getting high and the facility was so ghetto, it felt like being in jail, no phones, no visitors, no TV.. from the first day I met L company at the end of August, I could tell they were extremely judgmental and were not there to help and their motive was to take my child away. On October 4, after a very intensive court hearing and interviews with multiple people from social services and DCFS, they all stated the baby was well cared for by me and was healthy/happy when they would visit our home which was several times a week, my DCFS caseworker even said she feels like there is no need to remove the child from my care. The judge ruled in my favor, which everyone was surprised since that usually doesn’t happen, and told me to keep working with “L” company and stay off the opioids. I started working with a doctor and drug counselor to wean me off the opioids and do methadone treatment. Two weeks later and two failed drug tests later, (I was getting tapered off opioids), L company found out my caseworker was on vacation so they made an sneak court date, didn’t inform me of it so I couldn’t defend myself, told the judge a bunch of half truths/half lies to get my baby removed from my care because I didn’t want to do a one month inpatient thing they were pushing for and they were on a power trip because they didn’t get their way the first time the judge ruled in my favor. This was a different judge and I wasn’t informed of the court date to attend and defend myself so he sided with whatever bullshit they fed him. They were against me from day one and didn’t care to help. They visited my home multiple times a week and if the baby was neglected or in danger, they definitely would have called the police immediately. They knew my child was well cared for and safe with me because they would us visit 2-3 a week. This was a power trip about them getting their way and punishing me for not wanting to do one month inpatient. But that’s beside the point.. after the sneak court they booked without informing me, they lied and made it seem like she couldn’t be in the same building as me and didn’t place her with my mom since we live in the same building so they placed her with a foster family. They tried making it seem like the judge said that but the judge never said that, I later found out that was something they completely made up. So they placed her in foster care and from October up until now, I only get to see my daughter twice a week for 2 hours each time at a library. We had a discovery court hearing in January where the judge approved she could stay with relatives, but we didn’t tell my boyfriends parents what was going on out of guilt and shame, so we didn’t move her to stay with his parents. We thought we would have our trial in February and that she would be back home then which is why we didn’t inform his parents. After our court date kept getting moved, we finally told them and they agreed to take her and care for her until we get custody back. We have a new caseworker and our old caseworker didn’t put in the file they the judge approved her being moved with relatives so she’s still in the foster home, we’re trying to obtain court transcripts to prove the judge allowed her to be moved to stay with relatives.
These past 7.5 months have been hell. I love my daughter more than life itself. I’m sober and have done all the treatment that was required of me but my court date keeps getting moved because they have too many cases. I’ve spoken to professionals that have experience with my cases and they all said I am a clear example of what it means to get fucked over by the system. I don’t consider myself a victim though, I just want my baby back home already. I bring her clothes, food, medicine and toys to our visits. I bring two huge book bags filled with toys, books, snacks and a large blanket to each visit, I don’t drive so I take it on the train with me and I get weird looks sometimes but I don’t really care lol. I cherish the 4 hours I have with her a week, but I want to hold her in my arms all day long and wake up to her beautiful smile in the morning. I want to tell her how sorry I am for everything and that I will never let her down again.
I’ve been extremely depressed and can’t even go outside because I see constantly babies and their parents and think “that should be me and my baby girl”. I recently went and bought a bunch of summer clothes and adorable little bathing suites for her for when she gets to come home next month. I can’t wait to have my baby back home with me. I promise to spend the rest of my life making it up to her. I try to remind myself that when she’s back home, I’ll have the rest of our lives to build wonderful memories with her, but missing out on her first and most important year of life, and all the milestones that come with it, is something that can never be replaced.. I love my baby girl more than anything and I can’t wait to give her a beautiful, stable and bright future.

I have been screaming, sweating, writhing for several hours now with horrific abdominal/bowel? cramps & spasms. I have not had this continue for so long at such a severe level without being able to fully relieve myself (in the bathroom). My (now former) Gastroenterologist has left the office, and is only working in hospitals now I believe. My first (and last) appointment was at the end of August 2022 and she ran blood test panels (all normal/negative save for a couple of elevated inflammatory marker levels, but I have had several Chronic Pain conditions for years, so those tests being high out of range wasn’t exactly a shock to any of my doctors). I also had an abdominal x-ray done, which was unremarkable except for “mild-moderate stool burden” which “may indicate possible constipation” (I was feeling pretty asymptomatic at that point in time, plus when I got home I had a large (“normal”/non-painful) BM. She prescribed me Bentyl (Dicyclomine) & then she let me try Levsin (Hyoscyamine), the latter of which my Insurance doesn’t cover & it didn’t seem to be as effective for the extreme cramping pains vs. Bentyl anyway…so switched back to Bentyl. At first, Bentyl seemed to help me significantly @ 10-20 mg. per dose (PRN). It doesn’t seem to be working for me anymore (if at all?) even if I take 30 mg. at time. For instance, this evening I took 20 mg. prior to eating dinner & then another 10 mg. right after I ate. She also prescribed me Miralax to take as needed. I also started on Low-FODMAP diet about 2 weeks prior to that appointment. Previous to seeing her, in January of 2022, my PCP had me get an abdominal & pelvic CT scan (with contrast). Results came back basically unremarkable; the scan showed “small area/signs(?) indicative of Fatty Liver. I do not drink alcohol (I rarely drank alcohol in years prior even). I am not overweight (may be a tad bit underweight though?) & blood sugar levels have tested within normal range. My doctors seemed to agree that the fatty liver thing was from my being on multiple other medications for many years (due to aforementioned Chronic pain issues + Chronic Intractable Migraine Disease + long-time Psychiatric medications due to ADHD-C & Anxiety). Anyway, multiple GI specialists in my network are totally booked out & do not have any openings until at least July/August or later. I am on a wait list for the Gastroenterologist I wanted to see and they even put me down as an established GI patient already in this network (because I am), but no calls yet whatsoever and I have REALLY been going through it lately. I have no “official” diagnosis here yet, but IBS-M is highly suspected and it’s been hypothesized after all of the testing thus far. This evening after eating a small dinner around 7:30/8 pm, I began experiencing agonizing cramping/spasmodic type pain in my abdomen shortly thereafter and was sweating, screaming, losing my breath on the toilet for about 30 minutes. I had to push myself to have a bowel movement, and it did “appear” quite normal…which is odd for me because I normally have Diarrhea episodes when this type of pain occurs. Two hours later, I am still having severe cramping spasms in my abdomen—Idk how I even wrote this much amidst writhing & hollering out in pain, but I am desperate. It can be extremely difficult to discern what would constitute as having “bad enough pain” to go to the ER anymore, since I have been living with other forms of severe/debilitating at times Chronic Pain for years. When do you guys feel it is likely time to go to the ER if necessary? When is enough pain & suffering truly “enough” to give in and go??