Couch 248: Curiouser and Curiouser

Welcome to the couch, old and new! A place to hang out - sometimes you get immediate feedback, sometimes you don't.

Shouting, "Cool Whip" tends to bring others out from between the cushions if you're feeling lonely.

This is a chatty thread. All are welcome. We're kind of psychologically oriented, sometimes. We try to be supportive. At times we discuss what that means.

It’s a place to plop down on the couch when you come home from work or wherever, or wake up in the middle of the night, or check in at lunch, rant a bit or not, and be among friends.

We advise you not to drink or drug and text your therapist ("T") - we speak from experience.

Sometimes the thread moves fast and you might get overlooked; sometimes it moves slowly and all you hear are crickets. Sometimes you get hugged or thanked pages later. So if it's a bigger question, you might want to start a new thread.

Grab a cushion, a spot on the floor, or an armchair in the corner and make yourselves comfy.

"When you see the number 248 repeatedly, it is a message from your guardian angels that abundance and wealth are on their way."

-- quoted from someplace on the interwebs, so it must be true. Right?

Thanks for the new couch Una!

Yikes i killed the couch.

Just sharing with you guys how disturbing it was to have been told as a child that i had a guardian angel. "Theres an invisible being hanging around you all day..." This is apart from your conscience. Or as people say nowadays, your conscious. Same people who think woah is a word, not a misspelling. Anyway.

Can anyone think of a couch name change. Should we choose cheese again?

A good number of religious things they told me as a child were creepy as all get out. A highly disturbing practice indeed.

I like to think that my favorite grandma is my guardian angel.

That is so sweet! I never had a grandma. My maternal grandmother passed before i was born, and my father's mother remained in Italy, passing when i was in elementary school, but i really had no idea of her even being alive. Like i never wrote her a letter or anything, altho my father used to write to Italy, and i remember him receiving air mail letters. My cousin had a grandma who was around a lot but it was made clear to me by my family that i was not
to consider her "mine".

I would raise the subject from time to time, that i didnt have a grandma, but again it was made plain to me that the greater tragedy was that my parents no longer had their mothers, and that i should just shut it.

Pretty much it just felt like my parents were holding their breath until i got married and they could be done with me. I mean literally holding breath, cuz they rarely talked to me.

I just tried to give Ted Lasso one more episode...

I don't get it...or am I just too prudish to find it funny?

Who would be my Guardian angel? Hhhmm I don't know of anyone dead or alive that could maintain the humour needed to fill that role

Una - the number 248 is also associated with curiosity and adaptability in the field of numerology (although that might be a bit woo for some...)

'The Adaptable Couch'?

Today's poem, in the Pleiades form, is about, what else? Therapy. So I thought I'd share.

Psychotherapy

Perhaps I did it wrong,
perfection as my goal.
Purpose-filled, I tried; but
Push/pull, push/pull, push/pull
practically destroyed me!
Purportedly, normal:
Positively painful.

And with that, I bid you all good night!

I must have dreamt about Guardian Angels last night and... poof gone in a blink of an eye. Curiouser and curiouser!

That's a good point about the feeling of powerlessness, Lemon. I think that's a big part of it. And maybe also the safety and security--like I don't feel safe in my own home in some ways, when it's supposed to be a sanctuary of sorts.

Hm, plus knowing that Dr. T is moving his office in June, so I'll lose that place of safety/security and have to learn to feel safe in a new one (which we discussed again briefly Thursday).

I'm not sure she's aware of the mold issue. But she does have seasonal allergies that are acting up, so we've been giving her Zyrtec (allergy med--might have different name in the UK) most days. So that could be related.

Her birthday party was a bit rough today, too, for assorted reasons. Like she spent some of it pretty upset. Or just playing with stuff on mine or H's phone and not wanting to interact with anyone.

I also wonder about hormones playing a role...

——

It sounds like there are multiple factors contributing to your daughter's emotional state. It's understandable that these would all impact her mood and behaviour..

Could you discuss these concerns with her paediatrician to get a better understanding of how to support her through this time. What advice and recommendations has the school given?

Are you still in that support group online?

I don’t have my full schedule for this week yet, but I still want to book an appointment at a hair salon, even though my hair is not currently at the length that I want. (Bra strap level) If I keep waiting I’ll be waiting for another year at least. I just want some colour, but nothing crazy.

I also planned on getting bubble tea on the way back.

I hope you're able to get a hair appt scheduled, Lemon. What color are you thinking? I've always wanted to do like a streak of blue or something in mine. But I am probably too old for that now haha

I've still never tried bubble tea. It sounds interesting. Assuming you can get it without sugar, of course. I cannot abide sweet tea!

In my experience, bubble tea is often sweet (there is a range in how sweet) but it is not like drinking southern sweet tea. It is more like what a starbucks specialty drink is to black coffee - that is what bubble tea is to black tea. I don't really like it but a family member went through a phase a few years ago and was always showing up with bubble tea for all. The bubbles are giant tapioca pearls that are mostly just there for texture rather than taste in the drinks I had. I tried it a couple of times but I prefer plain green tea or green mint

I've never tried it, but the idea of the tapioca pearls seems unappealing, due to some food texture issues I have. I used to like Starbucks Chai Lattes though--especially iced (tried one iced on a whim and enjoyed it, so kept getting them). Well, Soy Chai Lattes due to lactose intolerance. Now I kind of want one of those...

I love their chai tea lattes. I've only ever had them warm, at least I can't recall ever getting one on ice. I have a gift card, maybe now that the temps are in the 90's f here I will.

You can buy Chai tea from most supermarkets, it’s usually in boxes of 20 which would be the price of one drink. I make mine at home with milk in a saucepan. Just add the tea bag to milk and let it heat up. Don’t do it the usual way of just water.

I also go through tea phases Jasmine or Mango and ginger is my usual. For comfort it’s strawberry and vanilla.

I did get a slot for this Sunday. I want a simple balayage. I have dark brown hair so just want some streaks of lighter colour, but not blonde tones.

Artie life is for living. The only limitations are the one you place on yourself. You’re not too old for it. If the blue streak is something you want to do, do it. Hair grows. I can understand the fear, but as you work from home it would be easier.

My youngest sister had blue hair in her first year of university. As I did it for her, it eventually faded into two block tones after a while- a hairdresser fixed it for her. I would always recommend going to a professional though if you can afford to do so.

I also got my eyebrows done. Just thought I would feel more confident, if I felt better about myself. I’m not into nails.

I used to wear makeup daily and wore contacts, but have gone back to being makeup free and with glasses.

I’m also taking a break from gym so as it got so tiring with my all or nothing personality.

I may just do it. H would hate it, that would be reason enough bahahahahahaha just kidding.

I am feeling stupid happy today, and so free. It is a good feeling.

My sister is harassing us. She's called me from her bf's number. She called H's work. She did a wellness check on me. And she called L... I'm scared of her.

I'm so sorry, Scarlet.

You all remember that ableist incident from almost two years ago by a colleague and my chair? And eventually my Dean heard of it and reported it?

So finally after 16 months the investigating office has filed their report with the Provost for her verdict.

I see the Provost regularly as part of my faculty governance leadership role, and will for the next three years. Having her know about that feels humiliating and embarrassing.

(Oh, and yes, things are still bad over disability here. I’m just trying to find another job.)

@@, Im sorry and it sucks that you are going thru this.