Couch 237: Social Rules

Came across THE funniest comedienne on youtube last night, Nancy Norton. She is just full of love and life.

Awww that's great, Polibeth!

Woohoo! (8 char)

Never heard of them, must google!

Ah when it rains it pours as the saying goes. Adding to the list of Artie-is-a-little-stressed-lately, now the transmission went out on H's car, that has going on 340,000 (!) miles on it. We are in the process of trying to decide whether he should get a new transmission put in for $5400 and try to keep it for another couple years, and hope the engine doesn't crap out, or if we should get out of it now and sell it/trade it in (not sure it would be worth much with so many miles on it) towards a new-to-us used car. So he's in the other room researching cars as our mechanic said he did NOT recommend buying another Nissan (we have a Nissan Altima right now) because they are known for the transmissions going out. But then again we did get over 300,000 miles on it before it did, so.... just lucky I guess?

Wait...it is possible to drive a car with 340,000 miles on it?!?! WOW. I definitely read it as 34,000 for a minute and was like "that's not too bad."

That is amazing.

Kit: I'm so glad you made it through the weekend okay!

Pollibeth: Yay for kittens! If I could constantly have a kitten around, I would. I miss having 3 cats (my cat of 14 years escaped and is still missing, in February), but there is no way I am ready for another. I will live vicariously through you.

Una: You crack me up! Congrats on the cholesterol level

My old apartment complex is suing us for the rent we didn't pay during covid. We were shocked even though we knew it was coming. Luckily, they're going through small claims court so they'll only get $10k of the $22k we owe. I just hope the judge lets us do payments.

My D and her boyfriend are getting reasy to move out they are sorting through stuff and packing up. Part of me is a bit sad but i really like being alone.

Also the paperwork for the young dogs flight came today but he leaves next month.

And now H has Covid... I really needed my in-person sessions this week.

That's great, SK! Kudos!

I remember when I really struggled to even enter any kind of store to buy items, due to how panicked and anxious I'd get, yet I was also afraid to ask someone to go with me.

I basically did a gradual exposure thing starting from walking past the store a few times and deep breathing after to calm my sky high anxiety.

Then progressively going into the store for a quick browse, and so on until I'm quite comfortable with taking my time, asking a store assistant for help or informing them I don't need suggestions etc.

Each step was difficult and took quite a number of tries, and it all paid off.

I hope your therapy appointment goes well!

If you get the transmission replaced it is entirely possible.

Hugs, Scarlet, I'm sorry, both about that and the rent from the old apartment (I'd think they'd have to allow payments). I hope your H recovers quickly, that you and your father don't get it, and that virtual sessions are still helpful.

Congrats! Maybe I should try beans for my cholesterol and to boost my iron intake (through lentils). I've IBS though, don't want to make that worse.

I have to remember that mostly there’s good news in routine annual blood tests...

I'm sorry, that was thoughtless of me. I was just so shocked to see the number after trying to get below 200 practically all my life. Plus i hadnt been since before covid, so yeah a little worried.

My dad used to tell the story of the guy who, to save money, 2. I think it's affected my goal-setting ability / behavior in a bad way.

I've borderline high cholesterol and I'm not even middle age. Think my endocrinologist said it could be genetic, given how I know almost nothing of my family medical history, or my own medical history. I aren't sure since research also shows antidepressants and antipsychotics can affect cholesterol.

I don't get tests every year because of how expensive it is, but I should probably ask my endocrinologist the next time I see her on my iron and hormone levels.

HUGS Scarlet.

I took a Lybalvi yesterday morning and it messed me up. The Pdoc says it shouldn't be any stronger than Olanzapine but that stuff knocks me out. I had such a hard time trying to work yesterday and then I went home after work and passed out! I slept from 3:30 PM PST to 4 AM this morning PST. I am still messed up. That stuff is strong. It helps the symptoms go away but dang. I am not taking it today. I'm anxious because my coworker who is above me but who is not my boss will be here today. It will be the first time I meet her in person. I have only ever talked to her on email or through Microsoft Teams messaging or Video calls. She will be here for three days. I don't really get along with her so I am nervous but I don't dare take any medication because the one I took yesterday messed me up so bad! It was so horrible. A coworker (a different one) brought me a coffee today so I need to drink that and get some "zip" in me.

That's the amazing part, is that he never had the transmission replaced and got that many miles! A total fluke. He has kept it very well maintained and it's mostly highway miles which helped. Well it's not totally conked out yet but they told him it can go anytime. I think he's now leaning toward buying another car (a lower-mileage used car of course) and selling my car, then using whatever we get for my car towards the new transmission and then I would inherit that car after it's fixed. It's not like I go anywhere very often by myself anyway working at home, since I stopped therapy. And he's probably only going to be working another 3 years (he hopes to keep working til he's 70) so we don't need a new-new car. just a new-to-us car haha.

Hugs and dignified head nods all around as appropriate/wanted/needed.

Funny new kitten story:

I went to get my haircut this morning and put kitten in my bathroom (his bed, litter box and toys are in there) to keep him separated from older cat. I got home from haircut about 45 minutes later and the bathroom door was open, kitten was chilling in his kitty bed and older cat was on the bathroom counter.

Apparently, since I live alone and never close the bathroom door, I didn't realize this door doesn't latch all the way and can easily be pushed open. Fortunately, both cats are doing well but I'm going to have to find a way to rig the door shut before I return to work on Friday so I can keep them separated.

Hm, sounds like you might need a different as-needed medication then, if it messes you up that much? There were a couple things I tried in the past where it was just like, "Nope, can't use this, need to be able to function at least part of the day." (I think Gabapentin was one, maybe?)

Yeah, I really don't like this med. But my pdoc seemed dismissive. He was like, it shouldn't be any different than the Olanzapine. But it totally is. I don't see him again until Aug 31 so I'm not sure if I should just take Olanzapine in the meantime because I still have some. I don't think I am going to take the Lybalvi anymore. It is too weird and it makes me so out of it and so dang tired. But Pdoc didn't really listen to me.

I don't know what the used car market looks like right now, but when I had to replace my car six months ago, newer used cars and brand new cars were basically the same price. It felt weird, but we ended up buying a brand new car because it was essentially a better deal. Another odd consequence of Covid and the chip shortage.