Couch 225: 2+2=5, Sheeple!

Shark vs jellyfish

Hugs, StressedMess.

Hugs, Stressed, that sounds miserable. If the dealership is that backed up for recalls, it does suggest it could the be manufacturer's fault. Can you get by without your car at all? And if your mechanic fixed it, could you maybe still get it covered by the warranty, like get reimbursed, or does it have to be repaired at the dealership? I know some places have, say, certified VW mechanics, so depending on the type of car, could something like that be an option?

I empathize, because over the summer, my previous car ended up with a leak and water damage that I didn't realize was happening because I wasn't using it due to COVID. And the repair place (not dealer, but specialized in working with VWs, which it was) examined it and said they didn't feel safe having a mechanic work on it because of the water and electricity (they sent an unsettling video showing a charge being conducted on the floor of the car). And they said they didn't believe any other place would be willing to take it either.

I eventually unloaded it to a "We buy cars" place that would tow it, but there was an issue getting my formal title (it was paid off, thankfully), so it was stuck sitting in the back of my townhouse community parking lot for a few months while I continued having to pay insurance for it (state law, though I reduced it as much as possible). Thankfully, due to the pandemic and the fact that I work from home anyway, I was able to avoid getting another car for quite a while. But it really sucked...

LT that's awful about your car!

The mechanic said he would do the work if I paid and I could "fight with the company for reimbursement but you probably won't get it." Not confidence-inspiring.

I called the Kia Customer Relations number and they don't have any other places to perform the repairs, just recommended I look a little further away from home. I'm waiting for a response to my request for an appointment at a dealership an hour away.

Thank God for good friends, I don't have to rent a car, I borrowed one. I don't have any options for telework and I can't be off that long.

This too shall pass. Thanks for listening couch.

Sorry to hear this. Pets stuff is so hard.
I hope the week starts getting better soon. I hate car stuff.

I'm craving homemade custard pie. I may have to make one on Friday. I have a good recipe somewhere! I was feeling pretty wretched all day today but it's starting to lift as I think about escaping into sleep. Night, couchies. Tomorrow will be better.

Info session today.

Fashion report: jeans, beaded open heel sandals with four inch heels, blue blouse with ruffled cleavage

Grief report: looked less sad than she has in a while, found my latest lost check (so no cash payment today), had to help her look for her appointment book, lost somewhere between the client right before and me

Office: small one

Notable events: she thinks my new hair is cute, I had to define claptrap for her, as in “you’re talking claptrap”

After next week I’m going weekly for a bit to deal with a specific issue until I leave town for the summer. That’s what Congress had in mind for my latest stimulus payment, right? Spend it on therapy?

An angled chin length bob is the only haircut I can do. I learned at the YouTube School of Cosmetology during quarantine. So... free haircuts for everybody!!

EM, i studied there too!

Was that on the radio during the Spanish flu?

I didn't study. I just bent over, flipped my hair over and cut some $hit off. It's been over a year since I've had a real haircut. I wonder if my guy has forgotten about me by now.

ETA. I did see an ad recently for this thing that looks like it would actually work well for DIY haircuts.
Amazon.com

I like the technique where you gather your ponytail flat, switch hands and twist it, so now the spray of hair, the opposite ends are on the opposite ends, so if you cut straight across, the ends are longer in the corners. Which is what you want.

I will occasionally cut my hair myself but it is so thick i find it hard to hold it in my tiny hands. About once every 2-3 years i go get it it layered up. At the moment a quarter of it is grey but its all on one side with streaks of grey throuhgout. I use dto have tri coloured hair naturally so mainly brown with bits of red and blonde. All the hairdresser wanted to know who did my highlights, i always said i did.

I had an angled bob about 2-3 years ago. The only thing is i dont like hair flopping anout my face so i couldnt wait for it to grow enough to tie it back

My ex is trying to arrange a surprise 18 th birthday party for our youngest so i have to co-ordinate it with the mother of one of her friends who i never speak to. I am hopeless at arranging birthday parties and my daughter doesnt like surprises. I could never get the girls birthday invitations out in time for people to rsvp and they both had birthdays in the school holidays.

I am feeling defeated about the birthday party already.

Hugs to all who want them

I hated surprise birthday parties too, but my mother and brother insisted on them for me. It was just another way for them to bond and exclude me. Personally i think you should respect and prioritize your daughters feelings over your exs. Cuz thats what i would want!

I feel bad because of covid he hasnt been able to see her for over a year and i am going to pissed if his brother from interstate cant come up to babysit the parents and i have arranged it all for nothing. Well maybe not it means i can just relax and leave the party when i like right? I have been wondering about her birthday she keeps saying she doesnt want one but i dont know if its because of our house she doesnt want it in our house.

I agree that you should respect that your daughter dislikes surprises and try to convince your ex to just plan a...party. That isn't a surprise. Or if your ex insists...maybe you "accidentally" let it slip to her what's going on? And tell her to act surprised (or just be honest with her father that she knows)?


I'm also someone who hates surprise parties, and I'd be upset if someone threw me one (I insisted that I know the time/date of my baby shower, for example, and helped in planning it). My mom is, too, and I'm not sure she ever fully forgave us for throwing her a surprise 40th birthday party 30 years ago.

I've also cut my own hair, including a couple weeks ago, and used some Youtube videos to get more of a layered look. But then I got annoyed at the bottom part and chopped it off. So now it's closer to all one length--might need to do the ponytail on top of head technique again to add a bit of layers in.

Well, I figure my therapist is a "small business," so using some stimulus check on him is supporting the local economy! My rate goes back up in May, so I was thinking I could use some stimulus money to continue with 3 times a week for a little bit longer if I feel the need, or to have an extra session here or there. Like a therapy fund.

I'm puzzled as to how Info keeps misplacing her scheduling book. If it's like ex-T's was, it's pretty big, right? And you said how she's in a smaller office now? She needs to come up with a regular place to put it. Along with any client payments. I say this as someone who tends to misplace things, so I've learned, say, that I always need to keep my car keys in the same place.

Friday will be the 7th week without R, and I have thought about contacting him since he messaged almost 2 weeks ago for a check in, but I don't feel like he understood my grief over X the pharmacist who I worked for on and off since I was 16 and in our last session he said I was "cheating on him" by emailing someone else.

Also the local hospital psych doctor who originally said he could see me for free, never got back to me. I feel like I'm beyond help. I know I have a lot to be grateful for but I can't feel it. I've been super struggling for a few days now and I'm tired- skipped 2/3 classes this week. They haven't been taking a register thankfully and only for neurosurgery which we already knew so I went in for the whole week but I feel bad not going.

oh dear Lemon, I'm so sorry things are difficult right now. You are most definitely not beyond help but I know feelings can be compelling. HUGS. Of course your tired. It's exhausting trying to do anything with a mental illness and you're going to demanding school and trying to navigate life. HUGS If possible try to find some small ways to take care of yourself. HUGS Kit

Hugs, Lemon. I'm sorry you're struggling so much.