“Most people tell you they want to get out of kindergarten, but don’t believe them. Don’t believe them! All they want you to do is to mend their broken toys. "Give me back my wife. Give me back my job. Give me back my money. Give me back my reputation, my success." This is what they want; they want their toys replaced. That’s all. Even the best psychologist will tell you that, that people don’t really want to be cured. What they want is relief; a cure is painful.
Waking up is unpleasant, you know. You are nice and comfortable in bed.”

• Anthony De Mello

Waking up isn’t easy. It is the most difficult journey that you, pure awareness, will ever embark on. Why? Because it is a complete and utter surrender of everything you internally cherish. It is a death to the false sense of self. It is a death to the belief in the reality of matter. It is the chopping down of the tree of good and evil 🌳. Let me explain.
You see? Maya is a trickster. A hypnotic master. We all come here and we write about the bad things that Maya projects in our mind. We rave against poverty, racism, hunger, judging others, and other evils.
But while it’s easy to rave against the bad parts of the great illusion called Maya. We forget that Maya also dangles the carrot 🥕 of good illusions. Maya is a tree of good and evil. It also promises you shiny toys. Maya says….

• Wake up and money will no longer be an issue
• Wake up and then you can easily attract the love of your life.
• Wake up and then you can meet some lifelong friends that will understand you and care for you.

See that’s the trick of Maya. It dangles both good and evil. It gives you something that it internally labels as good, then as you become attached to it….it pulls the rug from under you and takes it away.
If it doesn’t take it away, just a simple threat of it being taken away keeps you trapped in the game. That’s what anxiety is - Maya gave you a cherished gift, a cherished idea, a cherished position…Then all of a sudden, Maya threatens this cherished gift and now you are anxious. “I must protect this gift” you think to yourself….completely disregarding the fact that the gift in itself was an illusion the whole time.
That is why my writings is for the advanced surrenderer, those who are ready to chop down the tree of good and evil to reveal the tree of life 🕉️. If you are still in this to get some sort of baubles, trinkets, or other “good” carrots that Maya dangles; then please discard anything that I write about. If you’re ready to leave the Matrix, to leave Maya, then continue reading because…..

• Until you can firmly say to the guy offering you a billion dollars that he can keep his money and that you’re perfectly ok with the present moment.
  
• Until you can tell the hot woman, not today I think I’ll just take a nap.
  
• Until you can tell society. Keep your fame and kudos, they are meaningless anyways.
  
• Until you can tell depression, there’s noone here to be depressed.
  

Then the illusion still has a hold on you. You still believe that Maya can offer you something.
I am not perfect and I too I’m learning to return to Self, to my original nature. But at least for today, I can confidently tell Maya “Nah I’m chill with your gifts. I know your tricks and I will not be hypnotized by them”. Namaste 🪔

I've had the setup for a few years but only very recently has it now run into an issue. When running my pc will randomly shut off but not completely (the monitors will black out but the power on the pc and monitors are still lit) I am forced to turn the pc off via the power button then back on to get the screen to return. I then check my amd only to find it will uninstall. I have

1. Stopped windows automatic updates via the group policy
2. Made sure my drivers are updated.
3. Re installed my windows
4. Updated my Bios
5. Checked for loose cables (none to be found)
6. Configured my C states to disabled

And a few other things but nothing is working, I cannot tell whether it's hardware or software, the fact that it is uninstalling for me says software but then I've just about done everything I can. Could anyone please help me out, I'm not really good with these kinds of things.
I have a AMD RADEON RX 6600 XT for the display adapter
For the processor AMD ryzen 7 3700x 8 core processor
For the board I have a B550 AORUS ELITE AX V2.
Anything is appreciated.

Recently diagnosed at 48yo and I was thinking that as much as I hated boarding school, I did really well in academics and sports. There were zero distractions, enforced homework time, structured everything. It all fell apart once I started university with navigating a social life (girls were a new concept 😆), lots of self discipline needed but so many distractions. Being away from my parents who were very hands-off anyway, no one picked up I was severely dyslexic so I just created coping mechanisms. Can't remember facts only concepts so I sucked at history but my math was good because I had to worked out every sum from scratch. I think overall it was to my benefit as back then there was no ADHD. Any other people who went to boarding school? What did you think of it?

Continuing his attack, Beckenbauer intentionally touched Yanagida to occupy more space and succeeded in overtaking him. Stunned, Yanagida realizes that it was stupid of him to worry about the absolute king.
Commentator Tanaka is impressed by the performance, and Keisuke explains that Beckenbauer was slowly beginning to improve, and it was Yanagida's technique that began to bring him to his senses. On the MFG angels' side, Kyoko is in charge of swapping positions on the board. She is asked the same question as the previous angels: what does a shrine mean to her? Kyoko explains that she doesn't think she has a particular shrine, so manager Uehara asks her if she doesn't drink a particular beverage like sake, to which she replies that she drinks everything, but likes sweet potatoes.
Back in the race, the car №12 crosses the City Hall bend, gets further and further ahead of Yanagida, who can no longer keep up, and gains ground on the leading group. As for the Yajikita siblings, Nozomi and her brother Kakeru decided to reverse positions to increase their chances, as the Lotus Emira has more power than the Alfa Romeo; although Nozomi thinks her brother is cool, he's nowhere near Kanata's level.
The middle group of cars №16, 18, 9 and 13 complete lap 2 and attack the uphill section of lap 3, followed by car №860 and car №1. From Tanaka's point of view, Ishigami's spirits are low. In the group for 13th place, Oishi in car №3 is closing in on Sakamoto in car №5. For Oishi, it's a crime for the Lamborghini to be behind the Audi, while Sakamoto is somewhat in awe of Oishi's attitude, reminding him a little of Aiba.
Meanwhile, Kakeru and Nozomi are catching up with Akaba. The brother and sister plan to use the bump draft to overtake the Ferrari. During their conversation, they take the opportunity to bicker as before, which has not gone unnoticed by their assistant Yamatani.
Back in the lead group, Sawatari spotted Beckenbauer in his rear-view mirror and was planning to go on the offensive.

Are there any SMs in the bigger Chicago suburbs willing to give me a shot at rehire? Algonquin, Palatine, Schaumburg, Hoffman.. willing to drive tbh. People of Reddit were discussing this elsewhere. PCC will say I am not rehirable but apparently that does not trump all. I would love to sit with an SM in the area and get back on board. Starbucks was my first true love. I have many accomplishments during my time, worked at one of the busiest in the region, improved many stores as I transferred as a SSV, I've changed even more for the better, and have since landed SM positions in other companies.
I was brought on board at my last store while getting a drink on my day off. They needed me as ASM as I had helped stores in the past with major growth per year, variance all time low, morale, etc. The girls did NOT like me because im very by the book.. I found out much later they all went out drinking at a margarita place walking distance from the store so they all aligned stories to get me out. PCC took it very seriously, as they should, but I was gone after that.
I just need the shot to prove myself once again. If you know of someone, I've been gone 2 years, please help me get back to doing what I love 🙏🏻 my mental hasn't been right since. I'd basically owe you my life as I've been lost without it. Through good and bad, super tough times, I actually stuck through and still loved the job.

TLDR?
Pasensya na kung may grammar nazi dito. Rusty na lola niyo.
Nagtake ako ng UPCAT way back 2012 pa di ako pumasa kasi mabagal ako magbasa besides wala ko natutunan sa math teacher ko nun partida valedictorian akong grumaduate sa isang public school so alam ko na responsable naman ako. Pero hanep yung math questions noon natutunan ko lang nung college na ko samantalang yung iba kong kaklase nung college alam na yung mga subjects like Trigo at Stats.
Now graduate na ako ng pharma, natry ko na iba't ibang industry sa pharma. Retail, manuf, clinical. Except sa regulatory at research. Passion ko talaga ang research and gusto ko talaga ituloy to pero hirap din ako makahanap ng stepping stone noon ginagamit ko pa tong pinag-aralan ko. Kung sa manuf lang di ko kaya ang shift 12 hrs mostly nakikita ko work. Tapos sahod 18-23k way back 2020 pa to pandemic.
So ngayon Digital Marketer na ko. O di ba walastik? Maganda takbo ng career ko although hindi eto ang passion ko naeenjoy ko kasi yung makasahod ng 6 digits e never mo makukuha sa pharma dito sa pinas. Kaya ko pumalo ng half-mil kung masipag ako at magtatayo ng agency pero ineenjoy ko kasi youth ko siguro pag balak ko na magsettle down pwede.
Dami ko kwento pero eto na nga. I don't know what the freak I'm gonna do with my life. Dream school ko UP and kahit anong course willing ako pero gusto ko pa rin related sa mga experience ko na.
May chance pa ba ko? Iniisip ko magmasters nalang ng pharma para sa passion ko kaso inaalala ko baka wala na kong way makapasok sa UP. At baka wala ring matinong career nagaantay sakin.
Kundi ko man mapursue yung passion ko willing ako magmarketing or business ad courses (may plan din ako magtayo ng business and gusto ko maggain ng network) pwede rin computer science (mamaw mga to sa freelancing kasi x2 or more ung mga offers na nakikita ko).
So ayun may chance pa ba ko masters man or mag-aral ulit ng bago if gusto ko magUP? Note: nagtake na ko UPCAT nung 2012. Nganga.

This is a ThrowAway account because I have friends on Reddit and prefer to keep this private.
I (40M) have a son (18M) who had just been accepted to college. When he told me he had been accepted, I was extremely happy because I didn't have that opportunity in my life. I was born into a family of 8 siblings and we never had many luxuries growing up, so I dropped out of school to work and help at home. Today, I work in the same place where I started my first job, but in a managerial position that pays me very well for someone who doesn't have a diploma.
Back to the title: when my son was accepted to college, I asked him to read the notice and gather all the necessary documents for his college registration. I don't understand much about technology, so I asked one of my employees, who knows how to use a computer better than I do, to help me with my son's registration. During the week, I kept asking him for the documents and he always made up an excuse not to deliver them. In an attempt to help him, I had already gathered all the documents of his that I had printed, but according to him, some documents could only be obtained online and that might take some time.
When the last day for registration arrived, he gave me the missing documents and without wasting time, I went to work to use my computer with a friend to do his registration. However, the website of the college he said he had been accepted to was not accepting the login credentials. I called him many times asking if the credentials were correct because to enter the new student's page, information from the document and the registration number were needed, but he didn't answer my calls. That day, I got home as quickly as I could to find him and try to resolve this as soon as possible.
When I got home, he was on the couch and from his expression, I noticed something wasn't right, and I was right. As soon as I entered the room, he asked me to sit down because he wanted to have a "serious conversation". In this conversation, he revealed that he had not actually been accepted to college but had lied to me out of fear of my reaction if he didn't get in. At that moment, my world fell apart. I had never felt so disappointed as I did at that moment. I had told everyone how smart my son was and that he had been accepted to a good school, was working from Monday to Sunday doing overtime to surprise him with a car that I was going to buy for him as a gift, only to find out he had lied to me.
In the same conversation, I couldn't hold back. I argued with him about how he could lie to me about this, I talked about how much I had worked to provide him with a good education and that he had nothing to do but his chores and study. I got so upset that I ended up crying and saying he was a disappointment, something I regret, but in the heat of the moment, I couldn't control myself. I sent him to his room and sat on the couch not knowing what to think. I spent two hours staring at the walls thinking about where I had failed him. I was never absent, never hit him, and was always understanding, even about him going to college or not, because I hadn't even finished elementary school, so I would understand if he didn't want to go to college. He had no reason to lie to me, but even so, I tried to be understanding and let time pass to apologize when I was calmer.
The next day when I got home from work, I looked for him but he wasn't home. I wanted to have a conversation with him to apologize and talk about other future possibilities for him, but he was out with his friends. Because of this, I decided to use the computer we share to check my email, but when I went to use it, it was already on. What I saw on that screen was something that made me take back everything. My son and his friends were talking badly about me in an extensive conversation that seemed to have been going on for months, where I was called various names, and his friends said they were his "real family". Reading that was torture. It was obvious he had left the computer on for me to see because he never left it on or any of his accounts logged in.
When he got home, I lost it, I yelled at him again, this time worse than the last, and said he had until the end of the year to get a job and move out because I wasn't going to support a lying adult who didn't appreciate anything I do. He started crying and saying I was overreacting, but I didn't care. I stood firm in what I said, and he knows that. Now, his grandparents are calling me trying to get me to change my mind, but I don't think I'm wrong in making the decision I made. I've always tried to be the best father for him, but if all this was for nothing, then I give up, I won't put up with this anymore.
So, am I the asshole?

Background and general info:
I've been with my partner since I was 19, we were the young and dumb. She ended up pregnant within 6 months and the early years of our relationship were hard, we lived within in laws for a year until I could scrape enough money together to buy a house, we didn't know what we were doing, I was studying part time while working full time. It was hard but we got past that. The studying and the hard work paid off and we've lived quite comfortably since then along with welcoming two more children along, planned this time.
Out kids are 7M, 3F and 1M. I work weekdays and m partner works weekends. Home life can be a little hectic from time to time. I've had a bit of a rough week this week at work, I'm moving into a new role in a couple of weeks, it's a significant increase in pay and it'll mean where we are already comfortable we'll be in a position where we won't have to worry about the cost of living crisis and we can start looking at family holidays etc, you know live a little.
There's the usual things like cooking and housework. She doesn't cook and all Ill say about the housework is that there is an expectation for me to get more done at the weekend with all three kids than she gets done during the week while two of the kids are in school/nursery and I'll leave it at that.
The romance is gone, the last time I offered to take her on a date she said "There's no point". She doesn't want to go out with friends because she wants to be in the house with the kids and that's fine if that's what she wants, we've talked about it, about the damage it's causing our relationship but nothing ever changes and I've got to the point where it barely bothers me anymore.
What bothers me is that because she doesn't want to do anything, she gets annoyed at me when I want to do things. I attended a christening earlier this year and that ended in an argument, on the rare occasion I have the opportunity to have a social life for a night, it ends in an argument. She's at work today and I'm going to a party for my friends kid whose just turned 1. I'm taking the kids with me, my partner's mood this morning indicates there will be an argument when the kids have gone to bed.
We've talked about it, it changes for a few months and then goes right back to this. Every other conversation is about the kids or school, or toys, or what the kids got up to that day, any attempt to change the subject is rejected. I get more conversation out of my 7 year old.
And I'm just tired. I look forward to her going to work so I can chill out with the kids. I dread her coming home because I know the minute she walks through that door she's going to find something to try and suck the joy out of me with.
I've tried talking to her, I've suggested couples counselling she won't do it. Is there anything else I can do?

Are there any SMs in the bigger Chicago suburbs willing to give me a shot at rehire? Algonquin, Palatine, Schaumburg, Hoffman.. willing to drive tbh. People of Reddit were discussing this elsewhere. PCC will say I am not rehirable but apparently that does not trump all. I would love to sit with an SM in the area and get back on board. Starbucks was my first true love. I have many accomplishments during my time, worked at one of the busiest in the region, improved many stores as I transferred as a SSV, I've changed even more for the better, and have since landed SM positions in other companies.
I was brought on board at my last store while getting a drink on my day off. They needed me as ASM as I had helped stores in the past with major growth per year, variance all time low, morale, etc. The girls did NOT like me because im very by the book.. I found out much later they all went out drinking at a margarita place walking distance from the store so they all aligned stories to get me out. PCC took it very seriously, as they should, but I was gone after that.
I just need the shot to prove myself once again. If you know of someone, I've been gone 2 years, please help me get back to doing what I love 🙏🏻 my mental hasn't been right since. I'd basically owe you my life as I've been lost without it. Through good and bad, super tough times, I actually stuck through and still loved the job.

[INDEX]
I banked the fire and stared into the golden eyes of Beatale before I crept into my makeshift tent.
I still had my auric vision running and couldn’t help but notice the thin silver cord that ran from me to Horse. Firming up my aura, I reached out with my hand and grabbed it. I could feel the nearly imperceptible vibration between my fingers as I used my mind to probe at the thread. I could feel a bright spark of intellect, a light at the end of a tunnel. Pushing with my mind, I slid down the thread until the spark grew larger and eventually filled my inner vision with a hazy white light. Horsey thoughts nudged at me curiously.
I slid into the haze and immediately lost all sense of direction. If it wasn’t for the silver thread, I’d have no idea how to exit this shifting white fog. Horsey thoughts got stronger as I followed the thread while the haze thinned and cleared to reveal an endless prairie of green grass. I found myself standing before a naked man wearing a horse mask and I stared in shock. It was obviously me wearing a cheap costume horse mask — there was no mistaking my tattoos.
“What did you expect?” Horse neighed at me. “I am you and you are me and we are all together. Goo goo ga joob.”
Horse made a shooing motion with his hands and I accelerated backwards through the white haze and slammed into my own body with a gasp. I stared at the tarp overhead for a long minute, processing this new revelation. Horse was a part of me, a piece of my spirit. Whatever psychic stuff I did with that silver cord lead me into a house of mirrors where I got to look at myself pretending to be a horse. I can’t even deal with that right now.
Rolling into my blankets, I dropped off to sleep.
*Ding*
-=- - Welcome to the Dreamworld - Included in the Psychic Skills pack, the Inner Sanctum is your psychic domain. It is the mental fortress that you must secure and maintain to defend against psychic and spiritual assaults. All of your neurosis and fears are symbolised in this realm and must be defeated or subjugated before you can become master of the domain. Good luck. -=-
I banished the pop-up and looked around. I knew I was asleep, but everything was just as real as when I was awake. I was breathing, I could feel the floor under my feet, and if it weren’t for the pop-up, I would have sworn I had been teleported. The room I was in resembled an oversized luxury prison cell, maybe a thirty foot cube. No windows. Rough stone walls with thick mortar. Large brass wall sconces were set directly into the stone and suffused the room with a warm, golden light provided by glowing rocks. The stone floor had colourful Persian rugs tastefully placed. A high plaster ceiling was painted with a rendition of Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Adam’, depicting me as both Adam and God.
There was a comfy sofa in front of a large screen television that hung from one wall and an ornate grandfather clock ticked loudly in the corner. It was currently 10:08 PM. Another wall was a floor to ceiling bookshelf, stuffed with books of varying sizes. The third wall was covered with pictures and I could see at a glance that they were images from my life. The fourth wall had a thick riveted steel door on the right side, a full sized mirror on the left, and a computer workstation in the middle.
The picture wall was my first target. A few were quite large, nearly life sized, while others were tiny prints no larger than the palm of my hand. Scenes of my life were displayed in each one. The largest was me riding Horse with a shit-scared expression, shooting at a pack of wolves. Others were smaller, each with different frames. Some ornate gold or silver, others plain wood, a few wrapped in briars or barbed wire. Nanny Ramsey holding me as a young child. My dog Jean with a red ball in his mouth. My parents, screaming at me. I turned my attention to the books. Books are safe. Books don’t judge you.
The sweet, musty scent of a used book store filled my nostrils as I drew close to the honey coloured shelves. Hundreds of volumes filled the wall from floor to ceiling, with a ladder that could be rolled along a rail to access the top. I smiled at the sight. I had always wanted a library like this. I pulled a book at random and read the title, “Confused Fantasies about Joseph Harris, part XXIV of the Middle School Years”.
I slid the book back onto the shelf. Let’s see what’s on TV.
The remote was a slim, futuristic looking affair with a minimum of buttons. I pointed it at the television and moments later the huge screen came to life and presented me with a simple menu for movies, divided into six categories: Happy, Surprised, Afraid, Disgusted, Angry, and Sad. I scrolled through the offerings for a minute, reading the titles and reviews about the movies of my life. It really bothered me that there were so few selections in the Happy section.
The number of Sad movies increased by one.
I walked over to the mirror and noticed there was a small sticky note pasted to it. “Astral Realm. Experienced users only.” I shoved the note in my pocket and stared at my image. Sturdy black boots, black denim jeans and shirt with mother-of-pearl buttons, deep brown gun belt slung at my hip, red bandanna and black felt hat. All I needed was a pencil moustache and I would look like the stereotypical villain in any spaghetti western. At that very moment I decided to grow out a goatee. I’d rather be mistaken for a bad guy than a victim.
So how does this astral realm thing work?
The mirror appeared to be nothing more than a mirror. It was cold, smooth glass surrounded by a wrought iron frame, and reflected my image. I didn’t necessarily want to go walking into danger, but I wanted to know how it worked. I pushed and prodded the glass in frustration until I noticed my image grinning at me. I jumped back in surprise and it doubled over in silent laughter.
“Hilarious, dude. You got me,” I huffed. “So how do I get in?”
My mirror-self tipped his hat and stepped to side.
I reached up to the mirror again and my hand passed through, vanishing as if cut off. Okay, just a quick peek and we’ll explore the rest of the room. I stepped through and the world shifted around me. I was standing back at the campsite. My body was insubstantial as a ghost and the tarp was a wisp of substance running straight through me. Non living things don’t seem to have much presence in this realm. Glancing down, I saw my sleeping body rolled up in the blankets, a thin silver thread running from it to me, and another thread running to Horse.
Looking around, I surveyed the campsite. My astral vision seemed to be on and had an unlimited range. I could see the life all around me, the distant forest was a sea of greenish-gold, grasses and brush nearby glowed with spectral light. Tiny ghost insects scurried while ghost mice nibbled at whatever ghost mice nibble on. Ghost seeds and ghost insects, I suppose. I turned my attention overhead and gaped at the sight of a monstrous serpentine spirit flying through the inky void. I dropped back through the tent and rolled inside my body. That was plenty enough for now.
I rolled through the mirror and landed flat on my back, staring at the fresco on the ceiling. Vinnie-God winked at me and Vinnie-Adam grinned. Climbing to my knees, I brushed non-existent dust from my trousers and watched mirror-me doubled over in soundless laughter.
“Hey, laughing-boy!” I yelled at him. “You’re like the guardian or something, right? You got it covered?”
Mirror-me stood and saluted with a smile, then gave me two thumbs up. A moment later, his face took on a serious expression and he wriggled his right hand in the ‘maybe’ motion. Then he pointed at me, tapped his wrist, and then a finger to his head.
It all depends on how fast I learn stuff, I guess.
Two thumbs up and a winning smile reflected back to me.
A large cork board was mounted to the wall over the computer and a small note was pinned to it. “Note to self: Don’t fuck with the Elvish womens.”
The computer screen featured a screensaver of me as Vitruvian Man doing callisthenics over the words ‘HumanOS’. I tapped the spacebar and was rewarded with the sound of powerful fans kicking to life as the computer emerged from sleep mode and prompted me for a password. Should I assume it’s the same as the password on the computer I pawned in my previous life?
Password: *******esi
I was rewarded with a sweet R&M desktop and a couple of icons. System, NeuralNet, My-Tunes, My-Movies, My-Office.
System was just what I expected, lots of .dna files and other confusing scariness that allowed me to tweak my physical body and mental state. My-Tunes was a collection of every song I’d ever heard and My-Movies was a collection of every movie I’d ever seen. Not that I’m complaining, but it would have been nice to have “My-Games” so I could play RDR. My-Office was a clone of the popular software by a similar name. I have no idea what I’ll ever need a spreadsheet for in this world.
NuralNet opened up a search engine called Me-Seeks, featuring a familiar blue guy.
I typed in “beer” and several thousand results were displayed, anything I’d ever read, heard, or watched about beer, including how to make it. This right here made the price of admission totally worth it, access to an exact copy of everything I’d ever read, and I was a voracious reader. Sadly, most of the stuff I read was futurology — solar panels, electronics, biotech advancements, quantum computing. The material for steam engines, blacksmithing, farming and the like, were slim pickings. That’s okay though, I could still reproduce the Gutenberg press, the cotton gin, simple internal combustion engines, and basic batteries along with some sketchy knowledge of metal alloys, acids, bases, and other things I had read over the years. All that wasted time watching “How Things Work” was finally going to pay off. I copied a few likely money makers to My-Office, saved the file, and exported to my Notes, just in case they didn’t exist on Aerth.
A popup covered the screen.
📱 [New Upgrade Available!] 📱
🎉 Enhance Your Experience with the Latest HumanOS Features! 🎉
🌟 Features Include:

• 🧠 Memory Booster: Increase your Memory for smoother multitasking and improved performance.
• 🔋 Energy Optimizer: Extend your battery life with advanced power-saving techniques.
• 🛠️ Utility Upgrades: Access new apps and utilities to enhance your daily life and adventures.
• 🗺️ Advanced Mapping: Never get lost again with enhanced GPS and location tracking.

🔥 Special Offer: Only 2000 credits for version 2.0 or 5000 credits for version 3.0! 🔥
[Upgrade Now ✅] [Remind Me Later ❌]
Apparently I could upgrade myself, which reduced the cost of using my Utilities while providing other minor benefits. My Utilities would level up as I used them, which would increase their battery cost, so if I didn’t keep pace with an update to the OS they could become prohibitively expensive to operate.
Stupid pay-to-win world.
So, do I pay 2000 credits for version 2.0 or 5000 credits for version 3.0?
I selected version 3.0 and klicked [Install]. After watching it download the update, it popped up another screen that asked if I wanted to update now, or wait until Midnight for the mandatory update.
I selected [No] just as the grandfather clock chimed 10:30 PM. I wondered if time ran slower in here, because it seemed like I had spent a lot more time on the computer than 15 minutes. Walking over to the imposing steel door, I noticed a bronze key with a thin chain in the lock. There was another sticky note on the door. “Subconscious. Please keep the key with you at all times.”
That’s not scary at all, is it?
I unlocked the door with a loud clunk and pulled it open to reveal a bedroom straight out of some royal castle. I could tell immediately that it had seen better days. The tapestries on the wall were frayed and fading. The canopy over the bed had a few holes in it. A thin layer of dust covered the mantle of a small fireplace set into the wall. There was a window letting in bright sunlight and I moved over to look outside.
I was on the third floor of a keep surrounded by the walls and turrets of a modest castle. A castle that had fallen into serious disrepair. Did this represent the state of my inner mind? One tower was shattered and the curtain wall under it damaged. The lower bailey was full of litter. I could see a few soldiers walking around the allure, keeping watch.
I have people in my subconscious?
Someone behind me cleared their throat.
Whirling, I discovered a familiar old man standing in the door of the bedroom. What was left of his hair formed a white halo around his head, his face was unshaven and covered with several days of growth. He was dressed like a poor and tattered manservant, but carried himself with a dignified air.
“Woodhouse?”
“It’s nice to see the master at home,” He said with a proper English accent. “There are many matters that require the master’s attention.”
“Uh, sure,” I said, hanging the key around my neck and tucking it in my shirt. “And who are you again?”
“Your personal manservant, of course” he said with a slight bow. Walking over to the steel door, he pulled it closed and it locked with a solid thunk. “Master should always keep his inner sanctum closed. One never knows if something nasty will creep in.”
“Thank you, uh, Woodhouse. I’ll remember that,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “So what needs tending and how do things work around here?”
He smiled and beckoned me with a white gloved hand. “If master would be so kind as to follow me, I’ll introduce him to the staff and explain the duties and obligations of his domain.”
I’m 99.9% certain that everyone here is just me wearing a mask, so I shrugged and followed Woodhouse out of the bedroom and into the rest of my subconscious.
Five minutes later I was on the ground floor and seated on a shabby throne with the cast of a popular —and probably very copyright protected— animation in front of me. Woodhouse was the head butler and my personal manservant. Pam was the cook and demanded that I start importing sugar and alcohol before she was shushed by Woodhouse. Carol was a maid. Krieger was chancellor and Cyril was the steward. Archer and Lana were in charge of security. Ray was the marshal in charge of everything from the stables to the blacksmith.
I stared in disbelief at the motley crew kneeling in front of me. No wonder my inner mind was in such shambles. I was overcome with an irrational sense of anger at myself.
“Arright, listen up,” I barked, my voice echoing around the room. “I swear to God that I will fire every single one of you and hire circus clowns to replace you if you keep fucking things up. No joke. Circus clowns, got it?”
I ran a hand over my face as Ray pissed himself. “The only reason I’m not putting a boot in your asses right now is because I realise that you’re aspects of me, and the people you represent are pretty damn good at their jobs when they give enough of a shit to actually do them. As a team, you’re dysfunctionally fantastic and always seem to come out ahead no matter the odds.”
Heaving a sigh, I continued. “Things have changed and I need to get my shit together. I’m going to need every one of you to pull your weight and help me help you. Get back to your duties, I’ll meet you one on one later.”
My subconscious caretakers scurried out of the room.
“I’ll have one of the maids tend to the piss,” Woodhouse assured me.
“Never mind that,” I snapped. “I honestly had no idea my mind was such a shit show. I’m very disappointed in myself.” I pictured the Angry, Sad, and Disgusted counters on my personal movies clicking up. “Show me what needs to be done and let’s get started.”
During Woodhouse’s walking tour, everything clicked into place. This was some altered version of Bodiam castle, a location that was on my bucket list of places to visit. The royal council room, located behind the throne room, contained a “living” tapestry on the wall that showed the castle and surrounding land in real time. The castle was located in the middle of a small lake, and a single wood bridge led to the mainland. A small town surrounded the lake and a wall encircled the town. Outside the wall, the land was an irregular patchwork of forest and field, with a stinking swamp to the south. The entire “kingdom” was maybe ten miles across, surrounded by impassable mountains with innumerable creeks that fed the lake which drained into the southern swamp.
“Zombies are the problem, sir.” Woodhouse said, as I surveyed the living tapestry of my mental domain.
“Zombies?” I prompted.
“Yes sir, Zombies” Woodhouse continued. “Nasty bitey things that come in from the mountains and harass the peasants. They’ve gotten especially worse over the last few months. The soldiers do what they can, but they seem to have lost all motivation. Probably because they haven’t been paid.”
“And who pays them?”
“Typically chancellor Krieger is in charge of financial matters, although Steward Figgis has taken over the duty, sir.”
“Then let’s make Figgis our first stop.”
“Very good, sir.”
The office of the steward was run by Cyril Figgis, who managed the kingdom in my absence. It was overflowing with paperwork and charts, books and scrolls piled high on every flat surface. Cyril was desperately attempting to tidy things when Woodhouse and I walked in.
“Yo..you..your majesty,” Cyril stuttered, bowing low. Scrolls fell from his overloaded arms, spilling across the floor. He dropped to his knees and scrambled to gather them up. “I didn’t expect you to visit so soon. Please forgive the mess, housekeeping has been slacking…”
This was the guy who ran things while I was conscious.
“Shut up, Cyril” I said. “You’re responsible for everything in this office. That includes keeping it organised and tidy.”
“Y..yes milord.”
“It’s my understanding that you’re in charge of making sure everyone gets paid. So why aren’t we paying people?” I asked.
“We’re nearly out of Fuks, your majesty. I’ve been saving them for emergencies.”
“Fucks?”
“Fuks,” Cyril explained, pushing a pile of books off a large chest and opening it. Reaching inside he pulled out two small bags and emptied them on top of his cluttered desk. “Gold and Silver Fuks, the currency of the kingdom. I can’t maintain the kingdom when I have no Fuks to give.”
Behold the subconscious kingdom of Vincent J. Carter, it runs on Fuks.
“So how do I get more fuks?” I asked, examining one of the coins. It had an image of me on one side and symbol on the other that could be interpreted as “peace among worlds”.
“You kill the zombies, your majesty.”
Of course I do.
Woodhouse and I left Cyril’s office and headed towards the office of the chancellor where Krieger worked. It seemed that Cyril took over financial matters when Krieger became erratic and proposed luring all the zombies into the city and setting it on fire. Not sure how that corresponds to my own self-destructive behaviour, but I’ve had some dark thoughts over the last couple of months and I’m sure they’re reflected here.
Krieger’s office was much neater in comparison to Cyril’s, but it wasn’t by much. Shelves lined the walls and were filled with an array of questionable items, including a still snapping zombie head in a jar. While the office of the chancellor was supposed to be in charge of financial matters, it looked more like a dodgy rummage sale.
Krieger was launching sword blades at a pig carcass when we walked in.
“What exactly are you doing?” I asked, standing in the doorway.
“Hm? Oh, your majesty!” he said, turning around and bowing deeply. “I’m testing a new invention. It’s a spring loaded hilt that shoots sword blades. Very useful for our soldiers.”
“Stupidest idea ever,” I snapped. “I hate everything about it.”
“Okay,” Krieger said, tossing the hilt into a nearby pile of junk. “But don’t blame me when you need to shoot a sword at a zombie and don’t have one.”
“So why aren’t you managing the financial affairs? Collecting taxes, paying people, stuff like that?”
“Because the population has declined so much none of that matters?”
“What do you mean?”
“Wellll, the population represents things you care about,” Krieger said, going into lecture mode. “And the zombies and other monsters are real or imagined problems in your way. Since you don’t care about too many things the population has shrunk to just what’s needed to keep everything running on the bare minimum of fuks. And since you don’t seem to have any long or short term goals, there’s no need to kill off the zombies and get more fuks. Everything is fine just the way it is.”
“No, it’s not Krieger” I said, grinding my teeth. “My mind is in a shambles. It’s a joke. I want it fixed. No, I want it better than fixed. I want it improved.”
“Oh! I’ve got just the thing for that!” He said, digging around in his pockets, “It’s a spring-loaded hilt that shoots swords!”
Pam and Cheryl were hanging out a gallery window jeering at Archer and Lana sparring in the inner courtyard.
“What the hell are you doing!” I snapped
They whirled in surprise and then dropped into deep curtseys.
“Your majesty!”
I took a deep breath, trying to regain my centre. “Get to work cleaning this place up. Find a room, clean it, and move on to the next. Start with my bedroom, then the throne room and the council chamber, then everything else.”
Cheryl spoke up. “Can’t do it. We got no fuks to clean with.”
“You need fuks to clean?”
“Gotta buy stuff,” Pam said. “Cleaning supplies, food. You wanna eat, you’re gonna have to spend some fuks.”
“Talk to Cyril,” I ordered. “Tell him I said to get you supplied.”
They ran off in the direction of the stewards office.
I watched Archer and Lana bashing each other enthusiastically through the window.
Several minutes later the sparring couple stopped and bowed when Woodhouse and I stepped into the inner courtyard.
“Your majesty”
“My liege”
“Enough,” I said. “If you have enough energy to smash each other, you have enough energy to smash zombies. Tell me what I need to know so I can start gathering fuks.”
Archer shrugged and spoke first. “You just kill the zombies and other monsters. They drop fuks.”
“Anything special about the zombies?” I asked. “Are they fast? Do people get turned into zombies when bitten?”
“Nope,” Lana said, resting her wooden sword on her shoulder. “Most of them are slow shamblers and just need a good wack to the head to kill them.”
“Some are special,” Archer interjected. “Occasionally you’ll have some fast ones, or those that need holy water to kill. They’re just bad memories, figments of your personality that need to be eliminated. Some are worse than others.”
“The zombies are bad memories?” I asked, imagining all the bad memories that I had.
“Memories, thoughts, insecurities, metaphysical mumbo-jumbo,” Woodhouse supplied. “They are endless, but constant vigilance can keep them under control.”
“So let’s get started,” I said. “Lead the way.”
Lana and Archer lead me up to the parapet over the front gate where I looked over at the dozens of zombies milling about aimlessly in front of the entrance to my mind. Pulling out my gun, I began to pick them off, easy as shooting fish in a barrel. The crack of my spell pistol attracted more zombies and I dispatched them with ease until no more were left around the gate. As I fired each shot I could feel some sort of existential energy flowing from me, draining some hidden reserve.
“Gather up the Fuks,” I commanded. “And Lana?”
“Mi’lord?”
“There’s no excuse for this. From now on, I expect the walls to be clear of all zombies.”
“Yes mi’lord,” she said, giving me a small bow.
Turning to Archer, I shook my head. “You’re obviously my personal narcissism, so just try to stay out of Lana’s way, or better yet - try to kill more zombies than her. If you think you can.”
Archer scoffed. “No contest. I took top marks in sharpshooting.”
“That means I should expect to see results by tomorrow. I look forward to it.”
Archer looked panicked for a moment then smiled. “Sure, I can give you results.”
Turning back to Woodhouse I said “Show me what else need attending.”
Woodhouse led me through the town that represented my mind, pointing out each business that had fallen into disrepair, suggested others that needed improvements, and additions that would benefit me. In the distance, I could hear Lana and Archer shooting at the crowd of zombies and with each echoing shot I felt a tiny bit better about everything.
[INDEX]

When I was a poor, recent graduate of an art school I used to live in a fairly rough part of Philadelphia. Semi relevant was that my part of town was well known for delicious Vietnamese food and I hadn’t yet realized I am gluten intolerant.
Anyway, for some reason my boyfriend at the time and I were eating Banh Mi (Vietnamese hoagies) off the hood of his car and talking… no clue why we didn’t sit at a table or on stoop, but that part is semi irrelevant. Just know that I’m leaned up against a jeep eating and probably had my ass jutted out a bit towards the sidewalk. Anyway this guy walks by and starts looking my up and down and “mmm… MMMM. MMMMMMM”-in. Mumbling about what a fine looking big ass it is and proceeds to “accidentally” brush his hands on my ass as he walked by.
I was pissed but tried to brush it off and not start shit bc it’s Philly and you never know who has a gun and mental health issues. But then… then… this man proceeds to turn around at the end of the block and start walking back, licking his lips the whole way, looking for seconds. At the same moment my recently consumed giant amount of bread was starting to hit my gut and make things rumble, and my devilish plan of opportunity began to unfold.
I waited until this guy was like six inches away and about to brush by me again and I just let the nastiest stinkiest fart of justice rip right on to him. Like I swear I saw it blow his hair back. He shrieked “EW!!!! YOU NASTY BITCH!!!” and ran away looking like he had just seen a ghost while I cackled maniacally.

So I have twins (one boy and a girl) and I want them to start learning English as a language to communicate. We live in a gated community and I see so many kids about 4 years old who speak very good English when they are communicating with their friends of their age group. But my kids don't even know a single word in English (they can talk quite a bit now) because we have hardly spoken to them in English all this while, because we felt they will learn it anyway in their schools. We have always spoken to them in our local language and they have learnt to speak quite well in it. They have also memorised a lot of English rhymes as they have watched them on television regularly. But they don't know how to communicate or even understand English. I have now started to communicate slightly in English but they don't understand anything and I'm forced to switch back to local language for them to understand what I'm trying to convey.
Looking at kids in our society I'm fearing my kids will be left behind when they will start going to nursery next year. Or atleast they may not have that headstart when they step into school. Also, I fear what if they don't clear those entrance tests which schools nowadays expect a kid to know before they admit them into their schools. Am I thinking too much? Is English that necessary? Should I let them learn on their own or should I make more efforts in this regard? If yes, what should I do?
I know they are just 2.5 years old and I shouldn't be too concerned. But I want to do it the right way. I don't want them to feel under confident when they try to gel with their friends in future. Kindly suggest and advise.

My son is 18 months old and he is really starting to be a little person. He's talking more he's running, he's climbing, he understands what I am saying to him (mostly), and I am really curious, when he gets into grade school (like kindergarten), what is parenting like? I am trying To think back to when I was a kid, and I feel like at that point, there was a lot of independent play, sega guinessess, ninja turtles etc., from a parents perspective, is it pre hands off at that point? Or did I just not notice how much my parents did for me because I was self absorbed 6 year old?

Before you say ridiculous, here's some Australia specific Rugby problems:

• Massive competition between sports codes - Rugby in Australia is absolutely eclipsed by the NRL and AFL, My gut feeling says that Aussies prefer to watch a sport they don't get annihilated in week on week, and they actually like to see their teams win but there is another reason: there is actually a tribal culture around NRL and AFL teams. People LOVE the rivalry and camaraderie of footy club culture in Australia and Super Rugby teams playing in empty cavernous stadiums just don't have that. Conversely, half of the Shute shield teams now have more enaged fans than the Tahs, Force or Rebels. I've never seen someone with a NSW Waratahs tattoo, I have at least 3 mates in Sydney with a Rabbitohs tattoo on their ass. It's a different level of passion.
• No Development Pathways - whether you blame it on rugby league or the Randwick Rugby Club nepo babies, there are only 150 Professional Rugby contracts available in Australia. Most of those contracts are taken up by established professionals, and since 3rd tier Rugby Like Shute Shield pays in popcorn and free skydiving tickets young talented rugby players graduating out of school get no benefit out of the Rugby development system. Compare that to the 500+ NRL contracts, plus the development NRL contracts that have a minimum wage of 80K a year, no wonder the talent leaks away from rugby.
• Representative based system, rather than clubs - Australian Super Rugby teams aren't really clubs, They're rep footy sides run by the governing body(excepting whatever is happening at Western Force). From a sports administration point of view this really muddies the waters of how the organisation can operate, appoint board members, CEO's etc(Australian laws around sports clubs also allow for clubs to run their own venue like a pub for members, generating consistent revenue streams, which the SR teams do not qualify for).

Where am I going with this?
In Short, A 10-12 team domestic competition modelled on English & french domestic comps. 2 Pacific Island Teams, Brumbies, 3 NSW teams, 3 QLD teams, Western Force and Melbourne Rebels. There would be growing pains, the initial quality would not be the same as Super Rugby and it would take time to build fan bases, BUT:
You address all 3 of these points. The new teams would be able to capitalise on localised fanbase rather than a fairly nebulous state team, teams could play at mid sized local stadiums and create an atmosphere like the Tahs experienced at Leichhardt oval in 2021(I have never seen such a raucous turnout for Rugby Union as those games in Balmain). You would have twice as many professional contracts available to incentivise young talent to give pro Rugby a crack. The new clubs would have much more self determination and freedom to operate as a business. tick, tick, tick.
Problems:
Initial broadcast revenue would not be equivalent to the Super Rugby revenue. Contracts will not be as lucrative as the current ones available. Inevitably plenty of star talent will be lost to overseas franchises in the startup phase. Andrew Forrest(owner of the Western Force) was ready to create 'Global Rapid Rugby' and bankroll a breakaway comp back in 2018-19, only concluded by the Force being allowed back in to SR during covid in 2020.
I don't think NZ would be keen on this model in their domestic comp bc with a population of 5 Million it's a real push to support more professional teams than they already do. Their depth of talent is obviously insane but can that many fans support a professional league? Maybe with the obsessive rugby culture they have it could.
The BONUS
Ever heard of the European Champions Cup? Welcome to the Pacific Champions Cup. This is where the broadcast cash gets interesting: the top 2 teams from the Australian, New Zealand and Japanese Domestic Rugby competitions duke it out exactly the way that the European rugby sides do. This idea really gets my tail up and adds an international club element that the other codes in Australia really lack.
As imposing as creating a new comp from scratch is, Super Rugby is dying a slow, public death. I'm interested to hear everyone else's solutions to the demise of Super Rugby pacific.

Summary of issue: I am using two Sony PS5 controllers to play local multiplayer games on my Flow x13 with gf. Connecting them works fine via Bluetooth, but about a minute into playing a game, one of the controllers shuts off, usually the one that was connected second. We have to turn it back on, let it reestablish connection, and play until it inevitably shuts off again. This has been going on ever since we bought the controllers 4 months ago. The problem never occurred with Sony PS4 controllers. The only "fix" is to plug both controllers into a power source during play, either the laptop or the wall outlet. If one of them is unplugged, the problem persists on that controller. And of course, I always make sure the controllers are charged.
The issue is completely absent when testing the controllers with games on my gf's laptop. Her laptop specs: Lenovo 14" IdeaPad Flex 5 Multi-Touch 2-in-1 Notebook 1.8 GHz AMD Ryzen 7 8-Core 16GB DDR4 RAM 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD 14" 1920 x 1080 IPS Touchscreen Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics USB 3.2 Gen 1 HDMI 3.5mm Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.2 Windows 11 Home
My specs (the problem laptop): ASUS ROG Flow X13 GV301QE_GV301QE (2021) AMD Ryzen™ 9 5980HS Mobile Processor (8-core/16-thread, 20MB cache, up to 4.8 GHz max boost) NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 Ti Laptop GPU With ROG Boost up to 1135MHz at 35W (40W with Dynamic Boost) 4GB GDDR6 16GB*2 LPDDR4X on board 1TB PCIe® 3.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD (2230) Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) (Dual band) 2*2 + Bluetooth® 5.1 Wireless Card (running on version 5.2) Windows 10 Home What I have tried (in no particular order or number of repetitions): -Removing then pairing again the controllers -Updating GPU, CPU, Bluetooth drivers -Updating Windows -Resetting the controllers -Going through all combinations of Steam's controller settings -Reinstalling the Bluetooth drivers -Rolling back the Bluetooth drivers -Installing the updated firmware on the controllers -Removed other paired devices -Disabled Bluetooth Power Management -Updated BIOS
I'm really at a loss for what to do as there are no resources online pertaining to this issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to ask for any additional information or clarification.

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Educational outreach is another crucial aspect of community involvement. Bail Bonds Glendale CA regularly hosts workshops and informational sessions to educate residents about their rights and the legal system. These events aim to demystify the bail process and provide valuable insights into navigating legal challenges. Similarly, Armstrong Glendale supports local schools by offering scholarships and sponsoring educational programs, ensuring that the youth of Glendale, CA, have access to quality education and opportunities for growth.

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By fostering partnerships with local organizations and residents, Bail Bonds Glendale CA and Armstrong Glendale help build stronger community ties. These collaborations lead to more cohesive and supportive neighborhoods, where everyone works together towards common goals. In Glendale, CA, such partnerships are vital for addressing community issues and ensuring a high quality of life for all residents. The involvement of local businesses in community affairs strengthens the social fabric and promotes a sense of belonging.
Community involvement and support are essential for the well-being of Glendale, CA. Bail Bonds Glendale CA and Armstrong Glendale exemplify how local businesses can make a positive impact through various initiatives, educational outreach, charitable contributions, and community partnerships. Their dedication to the community enhances the quality of life and fosters a supportive environment for all residents. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved, don't hesitate to call or contact us. Our team is committed to making Glendale, CA, a better place for everyone.
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Hi, so i’m a freshman who plans to live on campus. But my tuition is high (23k). I submitted a CFS to try and reduce it but they have yet to get back. Do i email or just wait this one out? Every other school gave me money but UIC😭

My thoughts on love
It is currently 3:30 am, and I cannot sleep. My mind is racing, not allowing me a single moment of reprieve. 27 years of age, I have been fortunate enough to have loved over my years. My current heartbreak is the longest I have dealt with and the longest relationship I have held at six years. In my opinion, true love only exists for one person, at least in the romantic aspect. There are those who practice polygamy and open relationships. However, for myself, there is only one true love. My definition of love has changed over the course of my young life, from saying “I love you” to a middle school girlfriend because I had thought at the time what we had was love. Love changes for us as we get older; the things we hold in appreciation change, and the way we show our love changes as well.
Past Love
Love that my present self would not consider love at all. There was a time when I gave everything to my partner and became so selfless that I did not take into account what I wanted from the relationship. She was all I wanted, being close to her and being a part of her world. I know now that this is purely infatuation.
Recent Love
My most recent love, I am still working through the wreckage it left behind after it all crashed. I was still in a state of infatuation; however, I did receive portions of what I wanted out of our relationship. The lack of satisfaction from my end was not due to a lack of open communication of my needs but simply a lack of chemistry and timing for what I had wanted in life. She was focused on building herself up, and I tried my best to support her as much as I could. However, this took its toll on me. I sacrificed everything and coped with the lack of satisfaction from my end by filling the void with financial spending and indulging in quick and easy food to give myself a shot of dopamine. By the end, I had spiraled so out of control that I had to leave and seek help, mentally and emotionally. I had moved across the country to find a place where I could process my emotions and try to build myself back up. This was when it became too much for her to hold on to; she had broken up with me. I was distraught, I was broken, I had hit the lowest point in my life. A relationship I gave everything to, all in hopes that it would pay itself back once she was done building herself. However, I was a fool for hoping that, in truth, I was a bonus and never a priority. I was never her safe person or the person she would find comfort in. I’m not sure if I was at a point, but things changed as I started to spiral. All I know in the end is that my world was torn apart. I didn’t recognize the person who stared back at me in the mirror anymore. I had stopped taking care of myself; I had given up in life. Your most recent love will always sting the most if your definition of love changes as mine does over time.
Future Love
To my future love, I hope to be your comfort and be the person you seek when you need to recharge in life. I wish to give you that peace that you deserve, and I hope that you give me that peace as well. I hope that I do not find you too late. However, I know that is not how life works. I wish to spend as much time with you as I can. I am proud of where I am now; on certain days, I do not feel as though much has changed, but I do know I am better now than I was. I hope you can be proud of me and how much I’ve done, and I’ll be proud of you and all the work you've accomplished for yourself.

I am not The OOP, OOP is u/ThrowRA_wafflehouse
My (29F) Boyfriend (29M) keeps getting into fights with a cook at Waffle House
Originally posted to relationship_advice
Original Post May 11, 2020
I know this sounds really weird, but here it is:
My BF and I have been together for three years. We met and started dating when we were both in graduate school, but I dropped out to go back to college to pursue a different career. We are both finished now, and live together making a fairly nice combined income.
Our income is relevant because we could afford to eat somewhere nice when we're out and about, but he always wants breakfast food. When he was a child his dad couldn't stand eating breakfast-type food in the afternoon or evenings, so his mom would make him waffles/pancakes, eggs, and bacon in the evening whenever his dad was busy or out of town. It's a wonderful and safe memory for him, and when he goes to his "happy place," he says that's where he always goes.
My BF is an incredibly nice and caring person. He's emotionally tuned in to everyone and recognizes arising issues a long time before they occur. He loves animals, and is kind and gentle with every bug, bird, and pet that he comes across. He's almost always willing to turn the other cheek in social situations where somebody tries to insult him or get aggressive towards him, and usually winds up defusing the situation and having a productive discussion about whatever the issue was. Except at Waffle House.
Anytime we're out he wants to go to the same goddamn Waffle House and get breakfast food. I'm not a big eater, so I used to not really care. I would just drink coffee and read my book while he enjoyed his food. But that became impossible once he and this one cook started chirping at each other every time we went there. BF complained about his eggs one time, because he likes them a little runny and they were served hard. The cook responded by giving him scrambled eggs. When he brought it up again the cook served him two hardboiled eggs. I think it was just part of the cook's schtick, and it was kind of funny tbh, but my BF wasn't able to laugh it off. When we left he was in kind of a bad mood, but we didn't really talk about it.
The next week we were out getting some shopping done, and he wanted to go to Waffle House again. I suggested that we try out a different place, or at least a different Waffle House location, but he only wanted the same Waffle House. We went in and sat down, and once again the same cook served his eggs wrong. My BF sort of snapped at him that he wasn't interested in messing around, and just wanted the correct eggs. The cook then served him a piece of toast with a hole cut out in the middle with a fried egg in it. My BF got really mad and threw the egg toast at the cook, which made the cook come around from behind the bar and throw it back at him. They ended up sort of wrestling/fighting until my BF was like "this is bullshit" and walked out. Nobody got hurt, but the few other people in there were watching and laughing a bit.
This is the crazy part: my BF keeps going back and ordering eggs and getting into fistfights with the same cook. It's almost a ritual at this point. My BF orders runny eggs, the cook serves him some other version of eggs, and then they beat the shit out of each other. I quit going with him after the second fight, but he kept going by himself. They're like Peter and the giant chicken from Family Guy, it's the weirdest thing. They've physically fought like 6 or 7 times over this.
I've tried to talk to him about it a few times, but he keeps saying it's a matter of principle. I've told him to talk to the manager or something like that, but he just waves me off. Apparently that cook hasn't yet made him the correct runny eggs, but it's like he spends the week learning new ways of preparing eggs to piss my boyfriend off.
The thing is, we're getting married this summer. He's accepted a job in a new city and it'll be easy for me to find work after the wedding, so we'll be moving away from his sworn enemy waffle house guy. He hasn't really been out since quarantine started, but it wouldn't surprise me if that's the first place he goes when restaurants open back up for sitting customers. But my main worry is this strange vindictive side of him I've never seen before that leads him to fight the same guy every week. The violence itself is an issue for me, but the obsession over it almost bothers me more.
Should I be worried that this side of him will come up later in our marriage? How do I get him to open up about this? Is this type of obsession a choice, or is it indicative of something deeper?
THIS IS A REPOST SUB - I AM NOT THE OOP. DO NOT CONTACT THE OOP OR COMMENT ON THE ORIGINAL POST