Teacher celtic tattoo

Just a warning, this is going to be very long! I (21F) and my brother (15M) were abandoned by our mother when I was 11 or 12.
For context, she was a teen mother, with a lot of mental health issues (bipolar, BPD, depression, i can only assume some form of sociopathic behavior), and she addicted to hard drugs. My father was a little rough around the edges, but overall a hardworking guy who went into the relationship with a "I can fix her" mentality. For the first few years of my life, I was oblivious to all of the issues going on in my family, I just enjoyed the first 5 years of my life as a happy child. My mother hid her drug addiction well enough for a 5 year old not to ask any questions, and I thought weekly screaming matches were normal and "mommies and daddies fight sometimes". Unbeknownst to me, my mother was cheating with dozens of people, and emotionally/financially/physically abusing my father, he put on a happy face to try and give me a good childhood. He worked 5am- 5pm at a bagel store (no car, only a bike) and never came home empty handed; always a toy, or a piece of candy for me as "sorry" for always being gone and working all day. I thought my mother would always bring her "friends" (men and women) in the house while dad was at work, and they would spend hours "playing" in her room with the door locked. I pretty much had to raise and take care of myself from the time I woke up to around 6pm, so I ended up becoming pretty smart by entertaining myself with my mom's fantasy novels (Harry potter, princess of mars, lord of the rings, etc.) On days she had college classes, our landlords (amazing people) would babysit me. My mother did give me affection, and I loved her very much, but she was very hands-off.
Granted, I wasn't the easiest child to deal with, I had ADHD, undiagnosed autism, among some other things.
When she got pregnant with my brother, (also adhd+autism) I noticed things started to change. My parents would fight more often, the house smelled like smoke, and the electricity to the apartment would be out for weeks because we couldn't pay the bills. Shortly after my brother was born, my parents had the hugest fight I've ever seen, I don't even remember what it was about (probably cheating), but it was the first time it hit me that everything in my life wasn't as happy as I thoughts. I sat clutching my baby brother as she beat my dad with a chair and started screaming. He grabbed a knife and ran outside and tried to end his life by stabbing his wrist. I was screaming and crying my landlords name, hoping my baby sitter would come and save me, he bolted downstairs, pried the door open, and grabbed the two of us and took us into his top floor of the apartment. He gave me some chocolate milk while him and his wife called the police. That was the day my parents split up, and my mom was able to spin the whole thing on my dad, taking custody and he was granted only visitation rights. My mother was kicked out of the apartment, and my aunt (dads sister, but my mother had taken a liking to her and allowed us to see her often) had a feeling something fishy was going on when no one would tell her anything about the details of that night. She went to my old house and asked my landlords what happened, they told her, so she let us sleep over with her whenever we wanted as a safe haven from our mom. She didn't go to court with any of the information she got, out of fear that my mother wouldn't let her see us again, because she was now our only place of complete safety.
My life became a living hell from that point onward. A week a later, my mom told us that her "new boyfriend"(probably a guy she cheated on dad with but I was like 7 and didn't know better) was letting us move in with him. He was the most horrible piece of shit. He got my mother addicted to even more drugs, and they both constantly talked badly about my dad, and when I cried, covered my ears, and said I didn't want to hear it, he would hit me and tell me that I needed to know. He was basically unemployed, and would sometimes sell drugs, or take antiques out of abandoned houses to sell. I hated him. My mother made an entire personality shift, and would defend him even if he said horrible things to me or hit me. She saw no fault in him. She stopped reading me bedtime stories, and stopped telling me she loved me. The only time she was nice to me was when we were in front of other people like school functions... she would kiss up to all my teachers.
I was left to take care of my baby brother on my own, and my father was in and out of mental hospitals from the trauma, so everything he said about how horrible my mother was fell of deaf ears because he was labeled "crazy".
We had no money, it was all spent on drugs, I went out by myself several times to dig through dumpsters just to get food, and I stole baby formula from supermarkets. This one nice homeless lady knew my situation, and would walk me into the stores "as my grandma" so I wouldnt get stopped to ask why a child was all alone. She would poke around the store and buy a $1 candy bar, while I stole formula, and some cold cuts for her. She showed me all the best dumpsters, where delis would throw put perfectly good food at the end of the day. We had an alliance of sorts. I was less than 9 years old.
Her boyfriend became sexually abusive to me around that time. I'll spare the details.
My mother was starting to go off the rails completely. Doing anything for drug money. I clearly remember the time that she told me to get naked and she took pictures of me, up close in all my private areas "to send to the doctor" or else "I would have to go in person and they might give me a shot" (she knew I hated needles.). She never mentioned that event again, but I just know she sent them to some pedophile for money. It makes me sick to my stomach when I think about it. Her bf would try and hurt my brother, I would always step in and get beat instead. We saw our father and aunt maybe once a month, and I was threatened not to say anything to the school or my dad/aunt or else he would kill my mom. I said nothing. I told my aunt all the bruises were from bullies at school, my teachers were taking care of it... or that I was climbing trees, some excuse. I think she knew the truth, but was too scared of losing us to say anything. Everytime they went to drop us back off at our mom's, my brother would have a tantrum. He cried so much the blood vessels in his face would pop. He now at 15 has permanant, freckle like, spots of red on his face from crying so much so often.
She got pregnant again with his twin girls. She gave birth prematurely, and they came out very very sick. She gave birth at home... I was giving most of their care. After the "ohhhh new baby" feeling wore off for her, of course I was basically a mother of 3 at 10 years old. They didn't last long, less than a year. I was in complete despair and that was the first time i tried to end my life. I filled the bathtub and tried to drown myself by repeatedly hitting my head underwater in attempts to pass out under the water. It didn't work, and I was left with neck pain and a migraine that lasted 4 days. I attempted about 5 times, different methods, by this point I haven't been to school in a week. When I came back to school, the teachers noticed something was wrong. I kept looking off into space, detached. I would lash out and act aggressively when anyone would try and talk to me. I would have 2 hour "bathroom breaks" where I just stared at the wall inside the stall and acted rudely when anyone came to get me. What did they do? Not call CPS, of course, they sent me to a special school because of my "sudden behavior issues". I was in a class now with students I could not connect with in any way. I had no friends. All the other kids in my new class had severe learning disabilities and talking to my brother who was 6 years younger than me was more of a conversation. They couldn't read, most of them were almost non-verbal.
My mom broke up with her bf because he cheated, and we were going to lose the house. He still lived with us for a few days but stayed silent. My mother blamed me, saying that I ruined everything by being a bad child and now we were going to be homless. He tried to touch me one last time and I snapped and stabbed him deeply with a BBQ screwer, he just walked away. later that night he killed himself, I saw it. I'll never get that image out of my head.
I lost it, I had an outburst at school, crying and screaming that I wanted to kill myself and for God to just let me die. They sent me to a hospital, and the school called my mom to say I was having an outburst of psychosis. I spilled everything to the hospital about what her bf was doing to me (I couldnt bring myself to talk about my mothers abuses for some reason), and after a while, it was my dad who came to get me... apparently my mother had taken off, leaving my brother alone in the house after the school had called her. I had so many questions. But I was so happy to finally be able to live with my dad and his side of the family.
I was so traumatized, as well as neurodivergent, I acted strangely and dealt with some bullies at school but that was it, it was like heaven on earth. My father didn't even know the full scope of what went on, but the more I told him the more guilty he felt. He started spoiling us a bit out of guilt, so we were happy to be with a parent who loved us.
We never knew where she went. Until I was 18, and she reached out to me on social media. Initially I didn't want to answer. I left my DM sitting there for a few days but... I felt this unexplainable pull. I hated her all these years, but for some reason when the option to take her back into my life came up... something in me missed her. I kept thinking back to the few happy times, and the curiosity was killing me. I finally messaged back, my father told me not to, but he said he couldn't stop me, I at least deserved some answers, and to get all my pent up hatred out at her for some closure. We awkwardly chatted for a few minutes, she told me that her father in West Virginia picked her up, she started a new life, joined narcotics anonymous, but stayed low and didn't let herself be known. She met a genuinely good man at NA, who had convinced her to right her wrongs, quit drugs, and fix her family. They had 2 kids together (one with down syndrome), and she was a present, active mother. I felt a vicious jealousy. Why would she go and have 2 more kids when she had 2 that she abandoned? Why were they treated with love and a loving home when we went through hell...? Why didn't she make it up to us before she went and had more kids..?
My mind did weird things then. It made me need her approval. I kissed up to her, saying I forgave her. That I always knew everything was always her ex bfs fault and not hers.That we were sad when she left. I planned a trip to see her a month later and her new family, my friends all begged me it was a bad idea, to please please not go, and at least to not tell my brother about it. I listened to them, and didnt tell my brother any of this, I told him I was visiting a long distance friend.
I went, we had a pretty good time. Her kids were cute, and I absolutely adored her new lover. He was a good southern man, my gut told me that. He took me fishing, and let me talk through all my feelings. I finally had the relationship with her that I always craved. It felt sickening good, I was estatic. I didn't care about all of the weird signs, like the weird friends she had (looked like crack addicts), and how she managed to get a kind rich southern guy to take her in. I didn't even care. I was just happy to finally feel like I had her approval. I have a habit of bedwetting time to time from anxiety, I ended up having an accident and I was mortified. I cleaned it all up, but told her and, she said it was no big deal. She used to scream at me or hit me as a child for wetting the bed, and now she was reacting normally. It was like a new woman.
My trip was cut short by a week, she had to be rushed into hospital because her appedix was about to explode, she needed to recover and wouldnt be able to do anything fun with me for the remainder of the trip. I watchd her get taken by the ambulance, and was freaking out crying, I was so relieved when the surgery was a success. Her new man apologized profusely for all he stress and bought me a plane ticket back home to NY. He hugged me saying he would be so happy to see me again over the summer, and he had so much fun fishing with me. That he wanted to be a good step dad. He was a nice dude, just like my dad (a good guy she manipulated) I felt it in my gut. They both were at the airport, my mother in a wheelchair, and hugged me off. She said she loved me and to text her when I landed
I did, and got no response. Another day passed, nothing. I started to freak out and called her, only for it to go to voicemail. I messaged one of her friends sons who she Introduced me to. Asking if she was okay. He said he would get back to me once she responded to him, but them he too ghosted me. It was like she was never there. I called her partners work, and they said they would tell him to give me a call. Nothing. I was in despair. I assumed the worst, that she had died or something because of a surgery complication. I was so confused. I pushed it all out of my mind, wrote it off as a mystery even though it ate up at me. I always just justified it as a death, even though it made no sense. She was still following me on Facebook, but there wasn't activity for months when she was once super active. I deleted facebook a few months later because it just hurt.
It's been about 3 years since then. I needed to re-download facebook because my aunt wanted me to check something on matketplace... and I looked up her name just out of curiosity... shes been posting for over a year now. She's okay. She posts her kids, her fiance... she never once responded ro any of my messages yet. Not on text, not on Facebook messenger, no where.... I scrolled and scrolled, crying. I saw she got a new tattoo... a rose for each of her kids.... one for each of her two new kids, one for a miscarriage she had...two for our sisters who passed away... NONE for me or my brother. Like we don't even exist to her.
I don't know what to do. I want to know WHY. We finally had a good relationship, I finally forgave her. We finally could have been okay, saw each other a few times a year... she said she was happy to have me back in her life.... WHY? I'm so heartbroken and confused. I miss her. Was it because I wet the bed? I don't know. I know shes horrible, but I can't help but miss her so much it hurts. Should I continue trying to reach out, or just let her go..? How do I process thos? Any advice, or maybe a theory/explanation/comfort. Anything would help. I just need help. I don't know what to do...

How's it going? Thanks for checking out my post. Here goes...
About me: I was a ditch digger, then a trombonist, then a motorcycle mechanic, then an Air Force avionics technician, then a college art teacher, before becoming a tattoo artist and opening my own studio.
I'm a vegetarian (not for ethical reasons) since 1993, I walk 3 miles every day, I haven't had any alcohol since 1980, and I've never used tobacco/smoked anything (including weed). Totally down for responsible psychedelic use though. 🍄
I enjoy cooking, taking twice daily tea, attending concerts/museums/galleries, accompanying my goofy affectionate pitbull to the dog park, taking hot baths, making art with my friends, designing and building electromechanical clocks, afternoon naps, listening to podcasts (OTM is my favorite), visiting parks/thrift stores, vintage film photography, admiring hand embroidery...
Seeking: an ideally long-term relationship with a kind, funny, brilliant, honest, svelte redhead woman who's into communicating and showing up regularly, going on adventures together, co-equal nurturing and support. Bonus points if you like Glücksschwein and/or Steely Dan, and if you'd care to accompany me for sunrise tea at Bryce Canyon.
Open to long-distance at first, but if things are going well, I'll want you to relocate to Houston sooner than later--my house, family, and business are here.
If you've read this far and are interested, what's something you've enjoyed creating lately?
DMs welcome :)
Texas #TX #Houston #Redhead #Ginger #Red Hair

How's it going? Thanks for checking out my post. Here goes...
About me: I was a ditch digger, then a trombonist, then a motorcycle mechanic, then an Air Force avionics technician, then a college art teacher, before becoming a tattoo artist and opening my own studio.
I'm a vegetarian (not for ethical reasons) since 1993, I walk 3 miles every day, I haven't had any alcohol since 1980, and I've never used tobacco/smoked anything (including weed). Totally down for responsible psychedelic use though. 🍄
I enjoy cooking, taking twice daily tea, attending concerts/museums/galleries, accompanying my goofy affectionate pitbull to the dog park, taking hot baths, making art with my friends, designing and building electromechanical clocks, afternoon naps, listening to podcasts (OTM is my favorite), visiting parks/thrift stores, vintage film photography, admiring hand embroidery...
Seeking: an ideally long-term relationship with a kind, funny, brilliant, honest, svelte redhead woman who's into communicating and showing up regularly, going on adventures together, co-equal nurturing and support. Bonus points if you like Glücksschwein and/or Steely Dan, and if you'd care to accompany me for sunrise tea at Bryce Canyon.
Open to long-distance at first, but if things are going well, I'll want you to relocate to Houston sooner than later--my house, family, and business are here.
If you've read this far and are interested, what's something you've enjoyed creating lately?
DMs welcome :)
Texas #TX #Houston #Redhead #Ginger #Red Hair

Hi everyone! Just joined this subreddit and eager to connect with like-minded individuals. In these unusual times, making new friends sounds like a great idea! A bit about me: I'm from Cali and passionate about music, tattoos, basketball, true crime shows, movies, and gaming. You'll likely find me shooting hoops on the basketball court or indulging in the thrill of true crime documentaries while cozied up under a blanket. Also, a huge animal lover—tell me about your pets if you have any! Currently pursuing my dream of becoming a teacher. I embrace individuals hailing from every corner and corner of the globe. If you're curious to learn more, feel free to hit me up! Can't wait to chat with you.

I just want to rant about my hobbies. My family is so supportive of everything I’ve ever wanted to try. When I wanted to play soccer they bought me the best cleats and the best gear. When I wanted to start singing, they found a singing teacher and I went every week. When I wanted to move to Alaska to start hiking, they bought me everything I needed from hiking boots to magnetic chess board to use when you’re out in the forest camping. When I wanted to start painting, they bought me 20 canvases and a shit ton of paint. When I wanted to start collecting chess boards, they bought me so many of them all super unique. When I wanted to try boxing, they bought me the best boxing gear. When I wanted to start tattooing they let me practice on them. When I wanted to start weightlifting they bought me a 180$ monthly membership. When I wanna learn a new language they buy me the best books to learn. The only one of these that actually stuck is my chess collection I keep collecting now I have like 16. I’m thinking about getting into gardening. Also I’m a girl I’m 22 I feel like I’ve lived many lives

Hi everyone! Just joined this subreddit and eager to connect with like-minded individuals. In these unusual times, making new friends sounds like a great idea! A bit about me: I'm from Cali and passionate about music, tattoos, basketball, true crime shows, movies, and gaming. You'll likely find me shooting hoops on the basketball court or indulging in the thrill of true crime documentaries while cozied up under a blanket. Also, a huge animal lover—tell me about your pets if you have any! Currently pursuing my dream of becoming a teacher. I embrace individuals hailing from every corner and corner of the globe. If you're curious to learn more, feel free to hit me up! Can't wait to chat with you.

Hi everyone! Just joined this subreddit and eager to connect with like-minded individuals. In these unusual times, making new friends sounds like a great idea! A bit about me: I'm from Cali and passionate about music, tattoos, basketball, true crime shows, movies, and gaming. You'll likely find me shooting hoops on the basketball court or indulging in the thrill of true crime documentaries while cozied up under a blanket. Also, a huge animal lover—tell me about your pets if you have any! Currently pursuing my dream of becoming a teacher. I embrace individuals hailing from every corner and corner of the globe. If you're curious to learn more, feel free to hit me up! Can't wait to chat with you.

If you're in Canada Happy May 2-4 weekend folks!
So as the title says, I'm a disabled guy that uses a wheelchair. I was born with Spina Bifida. Happy to answer questions about it if you like. Brown hair, brown eyes, glasses, medium build, 4'11 if I could stand, occasionally beardy and a tattoo I'd eventually like covered with somethin else. I'm easy going, more of a quiet observer type but will open up and be talkative with familiar people. I'd like to think I have a decent sense of humour. I think you kind of have to in this world generally but especially when you're disabled. I enjoy various tv shows and movies. Anything from a Sons of Anarchy type show, to comedy, fantasy, historical fiction etc. Music taste wise I'm all over the place really, anything from Irish trad, celtic punk, 90's rock/alternative, classic rock of the 70's, Broadway tunes and the list goes on In my teens and early 20's I was involved at the local level in wheelchair basketball and sledge hockey, until some health matters forced a decision to quit - plus sports are an expensive hobby to be fair.
I suppose I'm looking for someone to connect with. 28+ please. Someone with similar interests or even different things, especially if they're a bit nerdy (comic book/fandom nerdy, not math and science nerdy). Someone affectionate physically. Someone who is 420 friendly would be great - medicinal & recreational use depending on the day or time of year even. Preferably also someone who does not have children.
I'm not quite sure what else to write here or if I do would we have anything to talk about. So I think I'll leave it there for now. If this. Feel free to DM or message me if any of this appeals to you. Take care.
​

I’d like to get a Celtic knot style tattoo on my calf, anyone have recommendations for a local artist?

How's it going? Thanks for checking out my post. Here goes...
About me: I was a ditch digger, then a trombonist, then a motorcycle mechanic, then an Air Force avionics technician, then a college art teacher, before becoming a tattoo artist and opening my own studio.
I'm a vegetarian (not for ethical reasons) since 1993, I walk 3 miles every day, I haven't had any alcohol since 1980, and I've never used tobacco/smoked anything (including weed). Totally down for responsible psychedelic use though. 🍄
I enjoy cooking, taking twice daily tea, attending concerts/museums/galleries, accompanying my goofy affectionate pitbull to the dog park, taking hot baths, making art with my friends, designing and building electromechanical clocks, afternoon naps, listening to podcasts (OTM is my favorite), visiting parks/thrift stores, vintage film photography, admiring hand embroidery...
Seeking: an ideally long-term relationship with a kind, funny, brilliant, honest, svelte redhead woman who's into communicating and showing up regularly, going on adventures together, co-equal nurturing and support. Bonus points if you like Glücksschwein and/or Steely Dan, and if you'd care to accompany me for sunrise tea at Bryce Canyon.
Open to long-distance at first, but if things are going well, I'll want you to relocate to Houston sooner than later--my house, family, and business are here.
If you've read this far and are interested, what's something you've enjoyed creating lately?
DMs welcome :)
Texas #TX #Houston #Redhead #Ginger #Red Hair

I got lazy towards the end but idc
Randy deserves to have the same amount of world championships as Ric and Cena. Probably not gonna happen but he has never been a part timer. His feud with the company was much better than Punks (his acting, the story, the shock of what he did). His feud with Cena was much better than Rocks (Rock comes back to fuel his ego,which is okay he does bring entertainment with him, but Randy and Cena were the same generation and definitely the hero and the villan). And his match with the Undertaker was one of the best of all time at such a young age. It was amazing to see, Randy kicked off Undertaker's Wrestlemania streak by showing that not even with the help of his father could he beat the phenom. To this day it is one of the greatest feuds of all time, and he did it at such a young age. Granted The Undertaker did push Randy's career a whole lot, but the dead man would not do it if he didn't see talent in him. After Cody's victory against Logan, It would be the perfect time for Randy to turn heel and have a ladder match against Cody for both of the titles in which Cody wins the United States Title In the first half. Cody would then go on to defend the title against John Cena at Wrestlemania, giving Cena the perfect ending to HIS story, and the "my time is up, your time is now, defend that title the way I would" moment...or something like that. Cody fulfilled his story, now it's time to fulfill his purpose, defending the title on RAW and Smackdown, paying tribute to Cena on the first episode of RAW after Wrestlemania by saying "YOU WANT SOME COME GET SOME" giving the guys from NXT a boost and opening windows for crazy returns or debuts. Cena can finally retire knowing he was beat by the best in the company. Cody is not ready to be a WORLD champion. His story was great and such an amazing experience, but as he said when one story ends, another one begins. He is the AMERICAN Nightmare, his tattoo is AMERICAN, his clothes are AMERICAN, he just needs that AMERICAN BELT, on which he can put those eagles that he wanted...AMERICAN. The title itself looks like shit at the moment anyways. The US title did way more for Cena's character than any world title. Kids looked up to him the same way they look up to Cody right now. It only makes sense for the two superman of two different generations to battle it out for the U.S title, and bring back it's worth after the last few champions. Obviously Cody would have lost the world title to Randy, this is where Cena would come in and judge him on that after what everyone did to help him get it, so if Cody would lose the US title to someone, it would be him. He could also say something like "Gotta hand it to ya, you beat everyone since your return, but I can't let you wear that belt until you beat me." I'm sure they can come up with a better reason as to WHY they would feud but it's the best way to send Cena to retirement instead of having him lose to SOLO or Roman OR having him team up with superstars that just don't need it. Don't get me wrong, Roman should go up against the best of the best but Cena is not a good opponent for him. Last time they were in a feud it was like they were fighting for nothing. Cody needs to stop coming out in suits and come out with his gear on, with the coat and shit so his image becomes memorable and he can be recognized on billboards and on covers of products. Cena can also call him out on that. After Cena passes the torch to Cody, Cody begins inspiring new generations to be kind, respectable, not be jackasses like the heels he's gonna face, and become a childhood hero to many. Now, how does Randy become a heel? Well Randy used to be one and he used to cheat alot to win. As mentioned before he got a lot of help from his daddy, he wasn't this big and scary, he snaked his way to victory like a true viper. Well ironically he got outsmarted by a version of himself, a spoiled entitled annoying Logan Paul, not once, but twice. Since his return he has been playing by the rules, beaten everyone including Drew McIntyre, only to get robbed in the end. So he's done playing by the rules and wants his title shot against Cody. He complains to Cody that he has been robbed by Logan, to which Cody describes Logan to Randy and says "Sounds like someone I used to know". Randy makes a classic annoyed heel face. Cody then being Cody pays respect to Randy's father saying he was a hero of his, that maybe he could have learned more from him instead of calling him to fight his battles for him. Randy gets angry and starts shouting at Cody, talking about how Dusty was never there for him, but was there for everybody else in the locker room. He gets in Cody's face jaw cletched veins popping and says "You wanna remind me who was there teaching you everything they know? You wanna remind me who lift you up on their shoulders when you won your first Universal Championship?". He calms down, gets closer to his ear (no homo) and says "I'm your real daddy"...Looking at this site, seeing Orton look down on Cody, being taller and bigger than him, we realize that Cody is faced with his first real threat, not AJ Styles(who lost at WM and got a title shot wtf), not Logan Paul (Cody said: gimme that title lil bro) but a ghost from his past, someone who he used to call a friend not too long ago, and someone who he knows VERY WELL how dangerous he is, someone who's diabolical doings he's witnessed first hand, is coming for his titles... and he is bigger, stronger, wiser, and has been cheated out of every major title opportunity and title match since his return. Future promotions would consist of Randy getting into Cody's head, making him remember the traumas that he caused him. Maybe an RKO to Cody's wife. Randy hearing voices and attacking his friend Owens, sending him to the hospital only to realize what he's done later. Cody saying something like he thought he wouldn't see that side of him again and telling the WWE universe that the voices are back etc. Now... match wise... Cody has beaten everyone he's faced, won the Royal Rumble twice. Randy was the rightful winner of an Elimination Chamber and a Fatal 4 Way. Don't remember if Logan cheated last match but he probably did idk. Not only is Orton protected by the cheating but his back hurts alot even tho he said he's at a 100% once but ig they changed the script. No matter. Instead of all these things being an excuse for losing. They become an excuse for winning with cheap shots and stuff. He can maybe win the way he beat Cena, making Cody complain about it and Cena calling him out on it. Nonetheless, Randy's back is injured, Cody's a victim of a cheap move by Randy, They split the titles, setting them up for a future rematch. Meanwhile somewhere else in WWE Judgment day just lost their last piece of gold to Drew. Damien starts blaming erryone. Finn Balor has had enough and goes demon mode on everyone. Blah blah blah fast forward The Demon wants his title back that he never lost.(idc what the rest of the judgment day do...rhea will probably go psycho ex on dom if she heals up idk). Randy already hearing voices gets tickled some more by The demon. Randy tickles Finn a lil. Maybe Finn respectfully leaves the judgment day but they still friends so Randy's voices tell him to do bad stuff to them and showcase it to Finn, or maybe Finn can remind Randy what he did to his friend Kevin and fuck with him some more. BTW since Jey doesn't need a title to be relevant, he just wins king of the ring, but we will have to give him something soon cuz that dance will get old. Jimmy could come through and win the intercontinental championship and rub it in Jey's face, Jey wins, at the end they hug eachother squashin their beef and you hear THE TRIBAL CHIEF RETURN. Jimmy is hyped, Jey is confused, Roman comes down alone with no Paul or anybody for the first time in years looking all serious and the show ends. Fast forward CM Punk wins the royal rumble and challenges guess who. CM Punk finished his story bla bla most predictable sht ever (sorry I just don't get why he special, he old, out of shape, gets injured all the time, what is he the best in the world at BROOOOOO?) But that's what most of the fans want so I wouldn't change it. So anyway, Jey is defending his title and SOLO and the other two cause him the title which pushes jey to join Roman. Roman is asking SOLO why he doing stuff he wasn't ordered to do and then the rock comes back bla bla PAUL HEYMAN is rescued by Roman from the bad bloodline oooOOooOoOooO. And we finally get Roman VS Rock. And I hope Rock doesn't steal the spotlight from his cousins nomore. Idc what the rest of them are doing but at some point in his career, Jey needs to get abs and muscles and take a world title from Roman and ONLY ROMAN. Logan Paul teams up with his fuckboy buddies and helps them retain the titles. R-Truth don't need a title to be special and Miz izzznt Miz right now. Finn wins the title at Wrestlemania from Randy aaaaaaand fast forward to next year at Wrestlemania 42 someone is Universal champion idk who and Cody is facing him for the championship BUT Randy cashes in weeks before Wrestlemania and becomes 16 time World Champion. Sharing the spotlight with the teacher and the hero...is the villan. He wrestled till he couldn't wrestle anymore.
Moral: Cody's reign has been boring Randy is known around the world by current wrestling fans, past wrestling fans, and people who haven't watched wrestling at all. His music ICONIC rko ICONIC matches ICONIC Cody is what kids wanna see We want Randy on Netflix doing controversial shit like kissing Cody's mom in front of him

Would you be willing to share how you first became aware of 30 Rock?
Watched from the beginnings - NBC preview probably?
Promo for show premiere on nbc
I’m old! Watched that shit when it premiered
I was first aware when the news hit that Tina Fey was developing a show with Loren Michaels that would star her and Rachel Dratch.
My brother, who has the best taste in all things, recommended it to me.
On tv
watched w parents when it was first airing
my brother recommended it
On my Newark to Atlantic City Flight
I randomly chose it as something to watch on Netflix while I was running on the treadmill...after a couple episodes I was like WTF is this??!
Trailers on NBC
Don’t remember
Butt stuff
Watched the show during its original run on NBC. Now touch the peacock!
When it premiered on NBC
I saw the episode where Tracy makes the Jefferson trailer when I was like 12 or so and my friend told me it was funnier than family guy
Back in high school! The episode where Tracey says don't make me show you the back of my hand and there's a sticky note that says 'please be nice to me'
Buying episodes on iTunes back in 2009
during season two my friends were making jokes from the show
Thursday night line-up on NBC when it first aired
Friend showed me
It was on tv
Original run
I first watched it when it aired on NBC back in the day
When it aired
The television commercials while it was on air
Tina Fey
It was just playing on the TV in 2007
Found the season one dvd set at Walmart back in like 2008, got hooked immediately
Heard it mentioned on US tv
Honestly don’t remember!
Would follow Tina Fey into a poorly set trap
I kept seeing great reviews for its first season and picked it up sometime during season 2 while it was airing.
Commercials for it while it was on
Series premiere
I got a free episode on iTunes. I’m pretty sure it was the MILF Island episode. I went back to the beginning and was hooked immediately.
By being alive when the show premiered
I happened to click on it on Netflix and was excited by the lack of laugh track
Stumbled across it on NBC. F-ed up scheduling meant I missed episodes. Thank God for streaming. I've been through it at least 7 times
By watching television..?
I literally can't recall, but I've done dozens and dozens, if not hundreds, of complete rewatches.
Older brother introduced me to it
Tv
Was an acting major and was low key in love with Tina Fey.
I’m a boomer (30) so I watched the show when it originally aired because I loved Tina Fey. My middle school crushes were Tina Fey, Gopher, and Kermit the Frog
NBC Thursday nights, we peacock comedy
I was super broke in my early 20s with no access to broadcast TV, but just got a Roku and Netflix - and there was the glory that is 30 Rock. It was my comfort show while dealing with my now ex-husband being deployed while my kids were very young. It was my comfort show during my divorce (and for my older kids, too). It will always be my favorite show of all time.
When it was on Tv I watched it.
A friend recommended it to me after season 2 and have been hooked ever since.
My momma
When vacationing in Zvenborgia
Caught it on broadcast TV. Have since watched it several times on streaming
I think I actually saw it on tv a few times but once it was streaming, constantly.
Decided to watch it when it was on Netflix
Mickey Rourke
Thought it was 3rd rock from the sun and mistakenly watched it
When Season 6 began I was in college and decided to binge the series since I liked the other Thurs nigh NBC shows!
Advertised in the blah-bar, while I was Consuming Lunch And Simple Socializing
When it was on network television
Netflix binging in middle school- was one of the first shows I was ever obsessed with
Sure, if I remembered
I'm old and watched it when it was on NBC!
Friend
Forced to watch it while visiting my gay bff in San Francisco
it was filming around the corner from where i worked as a new college grad
The TV
I think I saw an episode on an airplane against my will
No
Worked in it as an extra 1st season
It was on the television
It was working at the Dyker Heights Arthur Treacher and I was residing there
I love every sitcom pretty much, esp from that era of nbc
Watched it on NBC when it aired!
When my students kept saying “blerg” and “I want to go to there”
By being over 10 years old and seeing it when it was on TV? Do your parents know you're polling nerds?
Live tv
My bestie, the living embodiment of Liz Lemon (but fully lesbian, not just with the bi-curious shoes) was a yuge fan, and I fell into it by osmosis.
I don’t remember
On a PLANE if you believe it
Through a friend of mine, she told me about how good and underrated it was when it first came out.
Watched on Netflix in grad school, quickly became my comfort show
Cougars episode was free on iTunes
Watched it as it aired live
Friends
Friend recommendation
High school friends group
Nixon came to me in a dream
Got lucky
Netflix
I’d heard good things about it. I didn’t start watching until it was way after it ended, though.
Following Tina Fey from SNL
Watched it live
iTunes free episode of Blind Date
My now partner!
Watched when it originally aired
Hulu?
A friend of said “Meat is the new bread!” And I cracked up and then asked for an explanation.
My college roommate got me hooked when it was airing, s1. We both were (are?) in love with Jack donaghy
College roommate watched it, so I watched it as well.
OG viewer!
My sister was watching it on TV and I came in and decided I had to watch.
My brother watched it back when I was in high school
Netflix
A friend said I'd love it. She was correct.
I love Tina Fey. Tina Fey in 30 Rock. I watch 30 Rock.
Thursday night line up on nbc
BFF told me to watch it
Watched it since iTunes offered “Blind Date” as a free download in 2006
I think it was on tv after something
Television
Thursday nights on NBC
My mom use to watch it when it first came out
My mom watched it and I would be in the room while it was on
Watching the television
Blur my face. Blur it more.
I watched it while it was airing
I think it was on Hulu? I don’t recall watching it on air. Idk 2010 was a long time ago.
On tv at the time
My partner showed it to me
Commercials back when it premiered!
Yes
I watched it when it first aired on tv.
Television
I don’t remember
Boyfriend introduced it to me
During the season 2 writers strike I saw something about it and immediately downloaded all of it.
I watched it with my family as it aired
The Show: not many options back then. The Reddit Group: showed in my home news list.
Watched it in high school with my parents. We were watching tv and turned to something with Alec Baldwin and we were like “oh what’s this?” It was Jack-tor and his filming of his video got us all laughing. We were hooked.
Tv
My wife
Friendly recommendation
Best friend showed it to me, and then I read Bossypants
Randomly saw it on Comedy Central when I was in college and enjoyed it
Watched as it aired
It was on TV
NBC
The Pirate Bay
I was/am a fan of Tina Fey and Jane Krakowski (I used to belt along to her Tony-winning “A Call from the Vatican” from Nine to warm up when I was in drama club in high school) and binge-watched the series on DVD several years ago. I recently rewatched it from the beginning on Peacock (and hunted for the missing/retracted episodes elsewhere)
Through a college friend
Was on after the office
When it aired originally in the 2000s, i.e., on NBC
I've been a fan of Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan for years, so when I heard they were making a show, I was there for it on day one.
T.V. Commercial (pre-streaming)
Gave it a go YEARS ago due to love of Tina Fey
Been too long, don’t recall
Www.jennasside.com
On TV when it first aired
A guy I dated 10 years ago showed me 30 Rock
Am a fan of SNL, Tina Fey, and Tracy Morgan and watched every episode the nights they premiered.
I would be willing to, yes.
It came on after The Office, and then became my favorite show.
Sure :)
It was on tv
No
It was on NBC Thursday night, their comedy night. I always watched.
When I was a kid, my parents watched the office when it was on right before 30 Rock. They didn’t watch 30 Rock, but they’d leave the TV on for background noise. 30 rock came on after bedtime for me, but I was a curious and devious 9-year-old, so I would sneak out of bed and watch the living room tv from the upstairs landing until I got caught. The furthest I ever got into an episode was about 10 minutes and I always wanted to watch more of the show. As an adult, I finally got the chance to watch full episodes, and I’ve watched the series through multiple times since.
The show started when I was in high school and my friends loved it. That's how I knew about it, but I didn't actually watch it until a couple years after college when I saw it on Netflix.
Friends in college
Da pilot
Someone I am no longer friends with introduced me to it in college
Notification on my Gadzorp
Friend introduced me
It was on at a friends house and I saw Jenna’s wet mouth that she never fully closes say she was voting for Osama, then Liz fainted and I was hooked.
From a friend
Saw it live
Season 1
My High School English teacher always referenced it while it was on live in the mid 00s.
I don’t remember
D’fwan is my pet stylist
Okay. Uh, open on the covent garden flower market.

The year... 1892!
[ Cockney accent ] Flowers, flowers for sale!
legit can’t remember
Watched the original run of the show years ago.
Started watching on NBC as a teenager!
Watched it when it was on air
Friends poster in college
it was what was being aired on nbc, i didn’t have a lot of options
Used to watch it on Thursday night prime time
Tina Fey is from my hometown- I watch everything she’s in.
Watched the premiere when it aired
I just finished community and someone said this show was similar
When it first aired
My then-bf (now husband) introduced me
Watched on tv
My dad showed me when I was a kid
television ads
What am I? A farmer??
I classify myself as a Lemonhead and love everything that Tina Fey makes.
Started watching when it aired
On tv
Word of mouth
I'm old enough to have seen every episode live or the next day on TiVo. Hey whatever happened to TiVo? Beep boop bop bop bop
Watched when it aired!
Saw it as it aired on cable back in the day
My girlfriend now wife.
Watching the last few minutes of it before The Office
Probably just surfed to it on tv
I honestly don’t remember. I know I watched it all through college, but I think I just watched it because it was on NBC Thursdays.
Watched it on NBC when it premiered cause I loved Tina fey on SNL!
My brother first season
Netflix algorithm suggested it and never went back
Bathroom ad at Teterboro airport
It was on TV
Watched it when it aired live because I’m quite old
Saw it on Hulu in 2008
I liked Tina Fey on SNL and began watching her new show. 30 Rock. Thursdays on NBC.
Tracy Jordan referenced Basquiat in an early episode and a friend of mine who’d seen the episode told me about it because I have Basquiat’s artwork tattooed on me.
Tv show
It took 3 attempts after the show was off air and on streaming but I eventually got past episode 4 or so and it finally clicked and I’ve been obsessed ever since.
Watching with my best friend in high school
NBC
I watch all the nbc sitcoms - but this became my fav
Tv
On tv back when it went on the air in 2006
Watched first episode live on tv
Watched first episode live on tv
My parents
Yes
Husband introduced me
When it aired on nbc
My wife started watching it and convinced me to try it.
I was doing a study abroad program in the South of France and was frantically torrenting any American show I could because of the homesickness. I watched the first episode of season 1 and was booked before she had finished giving away all the hot dogs. Binged through all of the first season (I'm originally from the Cleveland area, so all of the Cleveland positivity toward the end had me giddy!) and then season 2 began and I faithfully got the episode every week... Then the writers strike happened :(
I watched the first season AT LEAST 25 times through before I came back to the USA. And several dozen more times (plus all the other seasons) since!
Mom recommended it
I've tried to figure this out before and I literally don't know.
When it was announced Tina Fey had a show
Plain old tv advertising…in 2004
My BFF watched season 1 and 2 when they aired and told me to watch it. We were juniors in college.
Ex
My boyfriend
Watched it when it first came out when NBC was not tanking it
A friend told me about I
Watched new eps on primetime NBC back in the day lol
Netflix suggestion
Ad during a MILF Island commercial break
A YouTube clip of that background joke where Yo-Yo Ma was called to the stage for the Muffin Top song.
Gifted 1st season DVD
It was on Netflix when Netflix first started offering streaming
Yes, I don’t remember
Tina Fey
It was on TV
My best friend showed me the clip of Moonvest saying “show me your fingernails” and I was like “no THANK you! This is NOT the show for me” then she made me watch a few episodes then I was like “yeahh”
I was looking for something with a decent amount of seasons to binge.
Watched while it was first airing
By watching it when it was on real life regular network tv
No
On tv, dummy
Unknown
I watched it as it aired.
On cable television
Yes. Later seasons on their original air dates.
I watched it when it first came on.
My brother bullied me into watching it and I’m glad he did!
My ma
Thursday night tv
NBC Thursday
I don't remember how I first became aware of it, but I do remember after going through a breakup, watching it on my laptop on Netflix every night and falling asleep feeling better.
TV
Saw a glimpse of an episode air on tv and got hooked. Immediately binged first 4 seasons to catch up and continued from then on.
My friend introduced me to it in 2011 and I have been watching it every night since to fall asleep
I don't even remember, I just know that it's one of the greatest shows of all time.
Syndication on my television
I was introduced by my nutritionist and his elderly son.
Love Tina Fey from SNL, watched the original airings
No clue
Came on after the office
Friend
My parents watched it. I was 7 years old when the show started, and watching it actively by the time it ended when I was 14.
promos on NBC
Television
Kimiko taught me that
I was a fan of Tina from SNL. Heard she had a new show. Watched it. Love it.
My dad was watching it in the living room
One of my best friends showed it to me in College
was recommended to me because I like SNL
I was wee TWINK when it was on TV
yes.
Friend's shirt in high school that said 30 Rock
Original run
When it was on network prime time. The good old days.
It was on Hulu
It was on prime time baby! The golden age of tv!!
Saw a clip of Tina Fey dancing with a mustache on tv, looked it up
“got caught with 30 rocks the cop look like alec baldwin” -kanye west
Stumbled upon it on Netflix in ‘15
Watched live when it was on cable
TV
I have two eyes and a heart don't I?
It was on after Parks and Rec on the TV so I decided to record that too cause I'd heard good things about it. Have loved it ever since
On a plane
Ex boyfriend
Watched the early seasons as they aired while I was in college—you never get over the media of those years!
I discover 30 Rock when I purchased my first television set in order to watch SMASH. Turned out there were other worthwhile “programs” available to enjoy on network television including 30 Rock.
Popular gifs I've seen in 2013-2016. Such as the "fellow kids" one or the "What am I, a farmer?" one.
Was a fan of Tina on SNL and was excited when 30 Rock was announced. Watched it live on NBC from the pilot through the whole run
Like 15 years ago in high school
I was aware of it in college when all my Sorkin loving friends said it wasn't as good as Studio 60, but I didn't watch it properly until years later
Les Moonvest
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I don’t remember! But I think it was right before the last season came out
I needed a break from German sitcoms
Tv
Watched it live
On Reddit
No
It was on the TV and I couldn't look away because there was a waterbug on my channel changer
High school friend
Boyfriend
I cannot remember but it was during season 2
Decided to watch it after enjoying other more recent Tina fey work
In high school, a friend suggested i check out Parks and Rec. But 30 Rock came on after and changed my life.
TV, back when it was on.
From Ace of Cakes
My wife showed me the Leap Day episode
My friend watched it while it was on tv. I think I jumped on board late. Maybe around when s6 started airing.
just scrolling mindlessly on netflix during winter break of 2013 and the rest is history.
A friend recommended it.
Friend in college suggested it - that was around 2009
nbc
I first watched it when it was airing—I read articles about this upcoming Tina Fey show.
Yes
Pretty sure it was on after Donny and Marie.
I don't remember, I think I just have it a shot on Netflix
OG tv watching
Shove it up your goonhole
I heard of it in some preview of new shows for the fall when it first came out.
I don’t remember
Thursday night NBC ads
Family member told me about it
Friends
It was on TV. I turned the TV on and it was there on NBC, on Thursdays, right after Bitch Hunter. But for real, watched it when it originally aired in tv because it’s whatcha ya do.
Through a sibling, due to my love of Tina Fey
No
It used to be on the same night as the Office and Parks and Rec, it was NBC’s comedy night. I came to lust after Steve Carrell and I stayed to lust after Jack McBrayer.
My mother and I started watching it together while it aired (I was in high school)
Randomly got a recommended post from the subreddit, opened an untold world of opportunity
An online review during the first run of season 3.
Friends in 2015
Watched when it originally aired
binged the whole first season on nbc.com in 2007
7th grade math teacher
Yes.
I can’t remember. Some combo of it being on Hulu and living in nyc while having friends of friends that were on the show.
I honestly don't remember, I started watching it during covid because I needed something new and heard it was funny
Watched it when it originally aired
I started watching it when it came out on TV. And then obsessively re-watching it once it started streaming.
I saw it on the television and thought it had a very similar name to 3rd Rock from the Sun
It was on tv. Watched it from the get-go!
Can’t remember!
It came on after some show and I caught the episode with Argo the peacock. Idk why, but I found it charming and funny. I searched for the show afterwards and haven't looked back.
My current boyfriend got me into it
my mom
When I bought the season 1 DVD after it being recommended to me
...tina fey, nerd. im a millennial.
Watched it by mistake
My mother watched it as it aired in NBC
My fiancé said her parents loved it.
the creation of netflix streaming. also my parents maybe

Hi! I’m a daycare teacher and I’m wondering if any other teachers out there who have worked with a fresh tattoo know how to take care of it. Did you leave your protective covering on for longer? Did you do anything special? I’ve been wrapping it in gauze to keep it out of the sunlight and I’ve left the Saniderm on for over 2 days.

Here we are again in the shit stew that is the Fallowveil trailer park. We’ve got soul eating strippers, jobs that kill us, and plenty of weirdos, both the trailer trash and the potentially paranormal variety. It’s the place where even your own computer sometimes threatens to kill you. I can’t tell if I should be worried, or annoyed that all my neighbors have such irresponsible web habits. I know it’s not me that brings in all these machine wiping viruses.
So even though I got a system error that literally said “you’re useless and you should die” I’m less interested in that. Stupid thing. Like I don’t already know I’m useless. That’s not what I’m depressed about.
Well… I suppose it's tangentially related.
I hope anyone reading will forgive me. I’m feeling the sting of rejection right now. It was really stupid of me to ask. Especially now. Nobody here really likes me. They’ve only been nice to me as a courtesy because I was almost involved in a god damn shootout. And my idiot self decided that was the perfect time to push one of my few friends all the way away. Never ask your friends out on dates. It ruins everything.
So there’s this woman. I’ve talked about her in the past. Trista Ramone. She lives in the far back corner of the trailer park. You can instantly tell which unit is hers because she’s covered every square inch of the property with gardens and a rabbit hutch. The place usually has beads and colorful flags hanging on its walls as well. She’s kind of a right winger’s nightmare. I know some of those flags represent various lgbtq plus communities.
She and I have been friendly in the past. We’re both night shift workers. We crossed paths quite a bit going to and from work so we struck up a friendship over the years.
Let’s just ripped the band aid off. Recently I’ve started thinking I had… stronger feelings for Trista. I got stupid and decided to tell her about them. She wasn’t interested. I get why. We have very different lifestyles. I like meat, and she thinks the meat industry is murder. I’m not willing to give up meat, and she’s not willing to give up her beliefs. It's as simple as that. Now things are incredibly awkward with one of my closer friends and I’m still spiraling into self loathing, where I belong.
She swore up and down that she absolutely still wants to be friends with me, but I’m not sure I believe her. The look she gave me when I told her I’d like to ask her out. It looked like sadness, but a small part of me is convinced it was pity, or worse, disgust and loathing, and that small part of me never shuts the fuck up. But anyway, she gave me permission to write about her.
She is one of the creepy fixtures of our little neighborhood after all. She told me to make her seem as insane and scary as I possibly could and that she should get to kill me at the end. She also handed me a few of her high school yearbooks, advised me to chat with another neighbor of ours who she went to school with, and to only use creepy rumors for the rest.
Part of me is really willing to describe her as awful, but that’s just my anger. I don’t like that part of me. Trista’s not a bad person at all. She’s just weird and she doesn’t want to date me. God damn it, Petunia’s right. I need therapy.
So, I’ve told the story of the sexy, scary lady living in a polycule here in the trailer park. I think she’s got a bigger heart than she lets on. I’ve talked about the stories surrounding the Schroeder Slaughterhouse. Now let’s talk about the hippy everyone thinks is a vampire.
She’s a taller woman, maybe five-seven or eight, and she’s skinny. Her typical wardrobe is… interesting. Try to imagine your typical new-age hippy/stoner girl, wearing colorful sarongs, crop-tops, beanies, baggy sweaters, T-shirts with colorful sayings on them, sandals, boots woven from some sort of exotic plant, beaded necklaces, bracelets, a few too many piercings and some intricate tattoos. Can you picture that kind of person? Well, take that and dip them in “goth” dye. Everything is black, and contrasts to her pale white complexion, her eyes are this unusual violet color, and then make the woman wearing all that seem kind of depressed about something. That’s the look Trista has going on. Like if Wednesday Addams was forced to dress up for Hippy Day.
I’ve heard people call her an emo vampire, but as a former emo myself, she doesn’t fill out all the criteria. She doesn’t typically wear any super tight pants or cake on the eyeshadow. I guess she’s just Trista. It might sound weird (and it is) but the whole thing suits her. Her style, tattoos, and complexion all create this image of skinny vampiric waif with a mysterious past and a freaky sarcastic attitude and I found the whole thing… kinda hot.
Trista keeps to herself. She’s made the most out of her little corner of the trailer park. Like I said, she decked out her unit with garden squares, and a Rabbit pen. No idea why she’s allowed to do that. A lot of these places don’t allow pets. I heard she was also trying to put in a beehive too, but her neighbors are fighting her on that one. Our park is a bit too condensed for bees. She has a permit to grow hemp, but of course it’s not for recreational use. She treats it and uses it to weave things like handbags, clothes, and other stuff. There’s a consignment store in town that sells all kinds of things Trista has crafted herself. So she’s handy and self sufficient too. She paints, she carves wood, she weaves, she crochets, she sews, and who knows what else. She’s so good at her little crafts that apparently she’s able to support herself just selling them and working part time at the Moonlight Inn outside of town.
She’s also relatively friendly. I almost feel bad calling her weird, but here’s the thing, I’ve seen some REALLY weird shit. People jokingly call her a vampire, and she seems to embrace that, but part of me seriously wonders. The big clue is, like I mentioned, she’s completely nocturnal. She’s always asleep during the day, and every blind and curtain is drawn tight. The one time she came out during the day, she had on this full body suit with a helmet with UV glass and everything. Even then, she only showed up to give Petunia a hug, before leaving again.
That was the first time I saw Trista, come to think of it. I was kind of intrigued. It was kind of hard not to be when someone shows up to a community cookout in a freaking astronaut suit. I approached Petunia after she left.
“Who the heck was that?” I wondered.
“MASON! I’m so glad you could make it! You’ve been here about three months now! How’d that job interview go?”
“Oh. It went well. I might be doing janitorial work soon.”
“Night shift?”
“Maybe. I’m not sure.”
“If it’s the night shift, you’ll definitely meet the person who just left. That’s Trista. She’s the girl with the rabbits in the far corner. Poor girl. She’s got a really bad skin condition. Can’t let sunlight touch her.”
“Oh. Is she like… albino or something?”
“No, she’s got pigment. I don’t remember what the condition is called. I guess it started in high school or something. You’d have to ask her. And hey! If you work the night shift, you’ll probably get to chat with her!”
Petunia wasn’t wrong. I started working as a nighttime janitor for a number of local businesses. That was when I first started noticing the pale goth hippy. She rides around on a moped, with her dark hair and her sarong barely billowing behind her. I couldn’t see her face through the helmet, but she waved to me as she passed by.
The next time I saw her, she was jogging, but here’s where it gets weird. When I first stepped outside, all I saw was a blur. It actually startled me as I whipped toward it, but then there was this skinny tattooed pixie, somehow still looking like a stonehippy/vampire in jogging gear. I swear she was moving inhumanly fast when I first noticed her. That was when we introduced ourselves. She actually jogged over to say hello.
“Hey! You’re the new guy right?”
“Oh, uh, yeah. My name’s Mason!” I reached out to shake the pretty girl’s hand, like an awkward loser. She smirked and shook my hand. Her grip was weirdly strong, and a bit cold.
“I’m Trista. I’m the weirdo in the back with the rabbits.”
“Trista… oh, are you the one who has a thing with sunlight? I think Petunia mentioned you.”
“Yup! That’s me. Xerodoma pigmentosum. Sunlight hurts. I hate that it hurts.” She lamented.
“That’s gotta be rough,” I said sympathetically.
“You get used to it. You work at night?”
“Yeah. Works better for me.”
“I get that.”
And so on and so on. She’s pretty cool, with a bit of hilarious snark in there. And she secretly procured recreational weed she was willing to share. I kept working the night shift just hoping for another chance to talk to her and possibly buy a joint. Eventually she invited me over to share a joint. The inside of her place was actually pretty sparse and spartan compared to the outside. Though she was a fan of hanging beads. Most of the main room was taken up by her various crafting projects and supplies. Hemp weaves, some paintings, and even a wood carving of what I think was a rabbit, but it wasn’t anywhere near complete.
I followed her to her kitchen where she reached into the very back of her pantry and pulled out a shoebox. Inside was her stash, but there was something else which I found very strange. It was a pack of syringes and a thing I assume is to sterilize syringes. I know what you’re thinking, and that was my first thought too. It’s a poor neighborhood, the woman already smokes weed illegally, it’s not that big a shock that maybe she was involved in other drugs too. I decided not to ask at the time. We shared our joint, and we laughed, a lot. She made fun of me for being a lightweight, while I got completely hypnotized staring at the patterns of a shawl she had woven.
Months went by and we got closer, but I couldn’t forget those syringes. After a while I got worried. I’ve seen what heroine does to people. So the next time I went over to smoke and eat (vegan) pizza with her, I asked.
“Trista? Are you using anything other than weed?”
“Drugs?”
“Yeah.”
“No. Why?”
“You can tell me if you are.”
“Mason, sweetheart, I’m a stoner. I don’t fuck around with anything else and I never have.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Okay. Can I ask what that set of syringes are for?”
“Oh. In my stash box? Those are… part of my condition. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Oh. Is it like… embarrassing?”
“Yeah. So don’t ask. Can we just watch a movie?”
So I don't ask anymore. But I still have no idea what she does with those syringes. Based on what I read about that Xerodoma Pigmentosum thing she says she has, I have no clue what she would need to inject herself with.
Another time she asked me to check on her rabbits for her during the day, as her usual “sitter” had something come up. All I had to do was chop up the lettuce and carrots she left out. As I was enjoying the adorable fluffy faces, one of Trista’s neighbors, a woman named Bridget, poked her head outside her door.
“Hey. Do you know what Trista injects those rabbits with?”
“I… what?”
“I’ve seen her use syringes on those rabbits. She said she was just giving them medicine, but I swear I see her inject them every week.”
“I… I wouldn't know. She just asked me to feed them.”
“I love Trista, but that always seemed so weird. She has to know vaccines are a hoax!” I tuned the woman out after that one. My mind was on that set of syringes. Why would she be using them on rabbits? These things were her pets.
I was starting to crush on her by then. But I couldn’t help feeling weirded out by that. I was actually going to confront her, but the next time I came to visit, she was literally inside the Rabbit hutch, on her back, squealing with delight as her rabbit friends nuzzled and played with her.
“Bonnibelle! That tickles! Marcy! No chewing. Finn? Watch where you’re sticking that foot! Jake? Where are you? EEEEE Lumpy! Not the neck!”
It was as silly and adorable as it sounds. She was forced to whip herself upright when two of her little friends tried to burrow under her dress. She finally stood up with a laugh, cradling a rabbit in her arms and cooing at it.
There was just no way in hell this woman was doing anything that would hurt these animals. Bridget is a paranoid antivax weirdo anyway. If Trista was using syringes on the rabbits, I was convinced it was only for their benefit.
So life went on. I got more and more reclusive over the years. Petunia, Trista, and my next door neighbor Fred were the only things keeping me remotely connected to the outside. And so we get to now. So let’s see. What are the stories about the weird vampire woman?
Well, there’s the fact that she jogs at night, solo, in a poor neighborhood. Petunia keeps the shitty people contained and behaving for the most part, but I still wouldn’t exactly call it safe, especially for a young skinny woman. But she does it without a care in the world.
There’s one strange event that some people like to connect to this. I never knew this guy, but from what I hear he was a total weirdo who leered at anyone even remotely female. And this is despite the fact he was married. His name was Josh.
I remember him a bit. He’s the guy that Petunia chased away from one of her barbecues. Supposedly he was heard saying inappropriate things to the groups of ten year old girls that were playing in the bounce house Petunia rented. Telling them how pretty they were. Trying to coax them to take off their jackets. Police reports were filed but ultimately nothing could be proven. The guy's wife, Carole, always defends him for some reason.
But anyway, I remember hanging out with Trista one night a little over a year ago. She hadn’t gone jogging like she normally did. I asked her what was up with that.
“That weirdo, Josh has started catcalling when I pass his place. It weirds me out.”
“There aren’t other people who do that at night? I’m still shocked you jog alone.”
“Not like this. I can flip off a wolf whistler. But this guy… he keeps trying to get me to stop and talk to him, and when I don’t? He shouts about my ass. I’m gonna have to talk to Petunia about that shithead, if anybody can reign him in, it’s her.”
I’m gonna guess she never got a chance. Two days later, the whole town was awoken by sirens. I was getting ready for my shift when I heard them. I walked down the road a bit to see if I could figure out what was going on. The cops were heading toward the other side of the park, so I couldn’t see much. But I did notice Trista, in her jogging gear, skulking in the shadows. I wondered if she was in trouble. But before I could call out to her, she sprinted straight to Petunia's house and banged on the door. Petunia welcomed her inside, and that was all I saw. I still wasn’t sure what was going on, so I just shrugged and headed to work, figuring I’d text Trista later.
I didn’t learn till later that Josh was found dead. He was lying prone, face down, partly hidden by bushes at the edge of the park. His neck was cut open. He’d bled out rapidly. He had a knife in his hand, and officially it’s believed he fell on it and accidentally killed himself. There was a cocktail of drugs in his system so most people accept that explanation. But others swear they saw Trista out for her jog around the same time Josh would have been bleeding to death. She got questioned, and she swore she didn’t see anything. Without evidence, there was nothing else that could be proven.
Trista’s a friend. I know that guy was being creepy to her. So I’m happy to take her word for what happened, even if my seeing her going to Petunia’s pokes a bit of a hole in that. I can’t be sure it was Trista though. So I’m not saying a word. But if a certain creep attacked a certain lady who is rumored to be a vampire, it’s not that surprising to me that he ended up dead after bleeding to death. I’m not all that broken up about it.
I’m not the one spreading that story. Josh’s wife was the one who started the rumor. So now some people are even more convinced that the weird nocturnal hippy chick is secretly a vampire.
She’s no killer. No matter what they say. She would only have defended herself.
So that’s all the stories I’ve heard that have any credibility to them. There’s more people who swear she and Petunia perform weird rituals, and people who saw her moving “inhumanly fast” and such.
But now I have to share what I found in the yearbooks Trista gave me. I wasn’t really expecting much. I checked her senior yearbook out first. She looks about the same. Pale, goth, hippy, and sort of sad. She kind of looks even sadder in these photos if I’m being honest, but that’s high school for you. She graduated in the top half of her class, no sports or extracurriculars. I’m left wondering how she managed to go to school at the time of sun was so bad for her. I’ll have to ask her about that. So nothing really new there.
It was the yearbook from her junior year where things got really interesting. I was in shock when I found her. Trista is somehow impossible to miss, but unrecognizable all at once. She’s full of color! She wore more typical tie dye hippy attire. Bright vibrant pinks, reds, blues, greens, and yellows, in every photo, and holy shit was she busy. Captain of the soccer team, first chair flutist, president of the “green living” club and the “vegan alliance,” top ten in her class, it was all incredible. I think the main reason I didn’t recognize her was her skin. It was tan, as though she were out in the sun a lot. Furthermore there were photos of her playing sports and standing outside in bright sunlight.
It was like her disease wasn’t there, which confused me. She told me it was something called Xeroderma Pigmentosa. But that’s a genetic condition. She would have had that from birth.
I sent her a text, wondering about this.
- Hey! Just went through your yearbooks. What happened? You had color? Did you discover Linkin Park?
- My disease happened. Right at the end of Jr. year. That’s why I wasn’t there for the final class photo.
- But your disease is genetic… isn’t it?
- I guess it was dormant in me.
- So it just… happened?
- Pretty much.
- I’m sorry.
- I got over it. Mostly. It was hard. My parents were both hardcore vegan naturalists and we lived in a place that was all natural light and such, so I had to live in a shed for a bit while they built a space for me. But in my family? We kinda lean into whatever life throws at us. It took months of depression to come to terms with it. All of a sudden I couldn’t be out in the sun, and I had new dietary needs that absolutely required non-vegan sources. So I leaned into it. I was a vampire now. I can dig dark colors and “vampire style.” I could make it my own by avoiding leather. And I’d be as vegan as I possibly could.
- You’re kind of awesome.
- Damn straight. So I learned to love the night too and now, here I am.
I gained new respect for her after that. Frankly I feel kinda shitty about making fun of her for being a vampire. There might not be anything paranormally weird about her after all.
She sent me one more text telling me I should talk to a guy named Frankie. She’d gone to school with him. He’s a decent enough guy. Works in the Bicounty mall in town.
I had to wait a day or two for another of Petunia’s get togethers to talk to him.
“Hey!” I said awkwardly as I tried to figure out how to strike up conversation with someone I haven’t really spoken to in a long time. “Frankie, right?”
“Oh. Yeah. Been a while. How are you Mason? You okay after that whole thing at Red Nights?”
“I’m trying to be. Look, I’ll cut to the chase. You went to school with Trista Ramone, right?”
“Ol’ Boho Ramone? Yeah. We were sort of friendly. But I was a jerk to vegans back then. Why do you ask?”
“I’ve been hanging out with her. She’s being all mysterious.” He chuckled at that. “She said I should talk to you to learn more about her… weirdness? Everyone thinks she’s a vampire now.”
“She’s totally a vampire. I have no idea what else to call her?”
“Why do you say that?”
“What did she tell you about school?”
“Nothing. She just showed me two yearbooks. Between Junior and Senior year she went from colorful club president, to lonely vampire, because of her disease.”
“Nah man. I don’t want to talk bad about her. But she was kind of a bitch, junior year. She wasn’t just a colorful vegan. She was one of those “holier than thou” types who scoffed and talked down to anyone who dared to eat meat. Her “hippy” thing meant she never hung out with the popular girls but still, she acted like she owned the place at times. I was friends with this weird guy named Steven Jones. He was just kind of a weirdo. Skulking around in the background, you know? He HATED Trista. For a while I totally understood. I thought she was kinda stuck up. But this guy was like… irrationally enraged by that girl’s existence. I guess he tried to ask her out when he was a freshman and she politely declined. But he took that shit personally.”
“Huh. So like… why’s that matter?”
“Because Steven kept saying to anyone who gave him a second look, that he was gonna ‘ruin’ her. Never elaborated. But then the last month of school rolls around, Trista gets assaulted by an unknown assailant and a week later she’s got this new disease. Meanwhile, Steven spent a week strutting around the school looking smug, and saying ‘she got what she deserved.’ Then he disappears too. Teachers said he moved away.”
“She was assaulted?”
“Yeah. Someone in a face wrap tackled her while she was at one of her protests at the meat factory. The dude freaking BIT her.”
“Jesus.”
“Yeah. I was there. I came to the protest. I’ll admit I was trying to hit on Trista or one of the other girls there. But yeah. Dude dressed in all gray with a face wrap just charged in and went right for Trista. Knocked her down, bit her like a freaking zombie, then ran away before anyone could stop him. Didn’t even take his face wrap off. It was freaky, man.”
“What the actual fuck.”
“That’s what we all said. Trista needed a stitch. But while she was at the hospital, I guess she started getting more symptoms. She was out for the rest of the year. From then on, she was like she is now. Total vampire.”
“Was Steven a vampire?”
“I dunno. Probably. Little dickhead is what he is. Must have been him that attacked Trista, but nobody could prove it. Bite mark didn’t match or something. So why are you asking? You hang out with her at night right? You asking her out or something?”
“Oh. No. Just a friend.”
That was all I really learned from Frankie. It’s quite a story, and it’s full of unknowns that Trista refuses to explain. So I guess I’ll let readers be the judge. Is she a “real” vampire? Or just a weirdo? All I know is, she’s totally standing behind me right now and now I’m dead. Bleh.
I did come back to life to talk to Trista once I finished writing this. She enjoyed it. I may as well include that interaction.
I went to her place on my night off. She read my take on her and what the neighbors thought and she grinned. “Ha! I’m a total monster!” She chuckled. “So. What do YOU think, Mason? Am I a vampire?” She cocked an eye and playfully gnashes her teeth at me, making a pleasant little click.
I sighed. “No idea. You’re Trista. And… you’re my friend. I’m sorry if I made things awkward.”
She looked surprised by that. “Aw. Thanks Mason. You’re my friend too. It’s okay. I’m flattered.”
“You don’t have to explain.”
“So we’re cool?”
“Absolutely not. We’re both weird shut ins.” She laughed. It was good to hear her laugh. It made me happy.
“Yeah but I got the ‘mysterious vampire’ thing going.”
“You have dirt in your hair from rolling around with bunnies. And you’re a vegan.”
“Bite me.”
“Says the vampire.”
“You know, if I were a vampire, I could have bitten you when we both went to the slaughterhouses a few weeks ago.”
“That just makes me stupid.”
“You’re not stupid, Mason. You’re not a loser either.”
“So. You know of any other good spooky town stories that I can do next?
“Oh, sure. You ever heard the tale of Salome? She was a witch who would mash up the seeds of a Sinapis Alba plant to make a diabolical potion she’d dump on herself. They called her the ‘Witch of the Sands.’”
I’m embarrassed to admit it took me four days to realize Trista was just fucking with me. I only figured it out when I looked up Sinapis Alba and learned that mashing the seeds just makes mustard. “Salomi the sand-witch.” Well played, vampire hippy…
Sexy Neighbor
Haunted Slaughterhouse

My former chemistry teacher was my all time favourite out of all the teachers ive ever had in my life and I honestly cherish those classes I had with him and our class.
On our last day he gave out cards to everyone where he drew a different chemical structure for each student, not really based on anything he just drew a random one for each student. I really miss that period of my life and chemistry will always be my favourite subject, partly because of my teacher.
Would it be weird if I got the chemical structure, my teacher drew, tattooed on me? I'm not really sure if I would be morally obligated to send him an email or if that's totally unnecessary.

Im just curious cuz I did lmao.
Middle school - girl threatened to kill herself everytime I did something she didn’t like. Also called me and her friends bakas AND HAD A CRUSH ON ME? She described me when she asked me to guess her crush I was so tired. A girl below my grade spammed the yarichin bitch club opening in zoom no teacher did anything. Same girl stole a ton of anime art for our art showcase. Another girl submitted paint by numbers 🙄 I called her out on it and she HATED ME, roleplayed killing me in chats.
High school - Couple always flirted in chat and came up with code names for people, and got angry when someone asked wtf they were talking about. U guys r a couple just text each other 💀 . They always got chat disabled SMH. Some pretentious guy in creative writing ALWAYS unmuted himself he was INSUFFERABLE. Got pissed off at every assignment and went on rants about how they were unnecessary. He tried to start arguments all the time, a girl said she had a tattoo to remember her dog and he said “I don’t get why some people think it’s smart to stain their skin” STFU! There’s more but I can’t get recognized on here 😭
I blocked every single person from this school on insta, I left this hellhole and felt like sharing. I thought it was normal to have falling outs with everyone u talk to in school 😭 this school legit made me a misanthrope in 7th grade because I literally could not befriend anyone that year. If a parent is reading this do NOT make ur kids do K12 I swear there’s like 10 other virtual schools u can consider. There’s so many alternatives

Idk how to sum all this up bc it’s such a long story with so many little details and parts but I have been hungry and desperate for fame since I was a little kid. was born in the Nickelodeon golden era so like every other kid I wanted to be on TV. I’m pretty sure that if my mom hadn’t done this, I would just be a regular person but she fed into it and spent MONEY to take me to casting calls n shit. All together I attended 8 years of theater school, modeling courses, dance classes and public speaking classes. My mom really pushed me hard to attend these classes almost daily on top of my regular schooling. I feel that my teachers pushed harder than other students because my mom told them this was my ‘career’ when I was in the middle school, I made 2 close friends and we became a trio who always talked about being famous together and we worked on our own little ‘movies’ and ‘projects’ lo and behold, they actually did become famous and now they post pictures with A-list celebs like freaking Rihanna and Naomi Campbell. They won’t acknowledge my existence at all.
As for me? I fell into drug addiction and cycle of abuse, rebelled against my mother’s wishes and got a bunch of tattoos to purposely ruin my career. Then I came into my right mind and realized that because my mom fed into the idea of me being a model/actress I never took much interest in anything else or went to college so what was I suppose to do now? I tried to go back to my previous modeling agencies, I went to casting calls, sent headshots. Nothing. My tattoos ruined me. One day, I got an offer for a modeling gig.. a porn modeling gig. Sure, it wasn’t what my mom or I envisioned but I was just happy to be in front of a camera showcasing my modeling and acting skills. I went from amateur to pro pretty fast, made a small platform for myself. I was finally getting a taste of what fame was really like. The most exciting thing in my career was when a A-list rapper’s team reached out to me about being a video but then ghosted me and then the video was released with a known video vixen.
But, being a porn star was shameful. I didn’t want to blow up and be forever known as the professional cum guzzler. So I quit before I really blew up and tried to go to college. I got tattoos in places P stars can’t have them reminiscent to what I did when I was younger but I found myself unhappy and the hunger for fame was eating me alive from the inside out.
That leads me to where I am today. I tried to return to porn but after the stupid tattoos in sensitive places I can’t even get cast in freaking porn anymore. My hunger for fame is so instilled in me though that even that hasn’t stopped me. I keep trying hard. I’ve been sending headshots to every influential person in mainstream and adult media. Since I have somewhat of a name for myself in porn I’ve been collaborating with as many other famous porn stars and even some none porn influencers. I’ve been pushing out my own projects and working hard but honestly it’s leading me nowhere. Although I have the support of my fellow pornstars and a small fanbase big heads in the industry still won’t acknowledge me.
But, I don’t want to be delusional. I’ve met people who are delusional about fame and I don’t want to come off that way. Yesterday I was scrolling around on Reddit doing research about fame when I came across an anon Reddit account of someone claims to be a big head in Hollywood. They had a bunch of comments talking about famous people in detail so it seemed realistic. They also talked about how they were nicer than most in the industry and they just want to use their position to help others.
Soo, I guess the delulu came out and I wrote down my story from beginning to end and dm’ed it to the Reddit account. I also attached a few of my most appropriate clothed photos from my portfolio. I wasn’t really expecting anything at all. I send my portfolio to all kinds of people everyday and I don’t ever really hear back. Today I got a warning message from Reddit for harassment for dming that guy and yeah, he blocked and reported me. I sent him one message and 3 photos and in my message I tried to be as respectful and realistic as possible. I don’t think I technically broke reddit’s rules but I know I deserve the block for bothering him.
Whenever I got discouraged as a kid my mom would send me articles of celebs talking about how no one cast them or believe in them. I know my mom was only trying to encourage her little girl’s dreams but I’m growing to resent her for even making me feel there was a possibility of me ever being a real actress or model. I’m 22 now and I know I could stop all this, drop my current projects, delete my social media accounts go to college and forget all this mess and let go out of my resentments. This stupid fucking urge for fame won’t leave my body. I have so many bad feelings brewing inside me and I don’t know what to do.

cant lie, i kinda love how mad this is making some of you, its adding to the discussion and keeping this post popular, so keep going
CONCENSUS: To southerners and other midwesterners were seen as blunt, direct and have sailor mouths (which can sometimes come off rude but is better than being fake nice and than talking behind someones back). This directness can come from us being KIND rather than NICE. Meaning if we dont know the answer, we'll straight up tell you that and move on rather than giving you our best guess to be "nice". Also we can be pretty sarcastic. To people from the northeast were seen as very friendly though they sometimes get bothered by our driving habits and intentional aversion of eye contact, west coasters think were friendly but that lack of pretentiousness, directness (again, not fake nice) and our tendency to swear alot can be offputting. Apperantly were less friendly than canadians but that isnt a shock. Overall, its not that were generally rude, we just sound rude and look rude because we don't put on a fake nice act to please you. Also if youre being a TRUE dumbass were going to treat you like one, but if you're just lost we'll stop to help you out. So for example, if youe standing in front of the L doors while someone is trying to get on, they probably will shoulder check you. And people here love to mess with you for fun as a way of endearment, which doesn't always translate well to some. If were annoyed, were going to show up annoyed and somehow still be polite, rather than putting on a smile to make you feel better. Personally I like this way of life and think its less stressful and is just more authentic.
So, I've lived around the US and traveled around the world, so I can understand why some things here are perceived as rude or blunt. Many Chicagoans who have not lived or traveled around may not understand why things can be perceived this way, or know that other places around the US do things differently. And many tourists may see us as either friendly, or rude, or both in the same interaction, depending on your specific experiences. After talking to friends and others, and from my own experiences, here's some things that can be taken as rude, and another perspective on how to view them. And a quick reminder, this doesn't apply to everyone here. IMO

1. Direct and at times, aggressive/assertive, communication. Many Chicagoans are friendly upfront, but also not afraid to be very direct, sometimes brutally honest even. I've seen it myself and friends have seen it too. IMO this comes down to values of authenticity most of the time. It's kind of a no BS thing. Many people here are quite assertive. And this also changes depending on the part of the city you're in.
2. Efficiency. In Chicago, many people value efficiency in various facets. So if you're in a grocery store, many times the cashier is not just gonna strike up a convo with you for 5 minutes. They want to get you in and out quickly and efficiently and this may not always come with a smile. This can mean they may come across a bit cold. It's usually not meant that way though.
3. Down to earth. Chicago tends to often times be a more dress down type of city. Showcasing materialistic things for status purposes, or acting overly pompous will often garner some dirty looks, eye rolling, or people just flat out telling you they aren't into that. Personally, I'm proud of the city for this lol.
4. Swearing. From what I've seen and others have seen, many Chicagoans swear alot, loudly, in casual convos, and with people they just met. Oftentimes this is in social situations that, in other parts of the US, would be seen as inappropriate or rude. Again, its generally not meant to be rude, its just part of how many people here communicate. For example: im in grad school and our cohort openly swears with our teacher.
5. Overly honest. This is something ive noticed more here than many other places, and this can come off pretty brash. I've noticed at times, if a chicagoan doesn't like you, some of them won't just distance from you, they will flat out tell you it, and usually give their reasons why. And Chicagoans tend to be quite outspoken and opinionated, which again can come off as brash.
6. Loud. Many chicagoans are very very loud. This isn't generally meant to come off rude at all, though if you're from a region that is more reserved, it might be a bit jarring.
7. Crazy drivers. Compared to many other places in the US, drivers here are wild. There's no ifs/ands/buts about it.
8. Looks. Now, this one is GOING to sound a bit odd if you are from here, but if you're coming from another part of the US that has less of this, especially regions that are more pretentious or value dressing to impress others, you'll know what I mean. The clothing, grooming and whatever else habits of some chicagoans can make them look intimidating or unapproachable. This may include wearing sunglasses in places others may not such as inside stores and stuff, lots of leathebiker jackets, long beards (think the men with the goatee and sunglasses), lots of tattoos, piercings, whatnot. Theres places in the country that do this a bit more then here, but when it comes to *cities*, its a bit more common here than *most* others. Again, many people in this city really value authenticity, and so their appearance and clothing are something they do for themselves, and not to impress you or adhere to some social rule. And alot of people here have motorcycles and love metal music.

Here's another viewpoint also to have. Alot of people here view tough love as a form of kindness. Honesty and authenticity is kind even if it means potentially having a brief conflict or being direct and upsetting someone else. It's a form of respect to be straight up, rather then to be fake with you. Many chicagoans will not like this post, so if you find it offends you, id actually encourage you to see if any of these apply to you and if thats why you're offended. Remember though, this is mostly just meant to clear some stuff up so tourist and transplants aren't are taken aback. We're not Philly, after all.
EDIT: remember guys, i said i *can* understand why others would say this. i never said i fully 100% think it's true. i think chicagoans are generally quite friendly but i can also see why some parts of the country *ahem,* Dallas, would disagree. and also I'm from here, and many people who move here are from NYC or LA. i am curious tho by the amount of upvotes, there's quite alot

Kind of long, but any advice or input would be greatly appreciated :)
I (22F) have been working in fast food/ retail since I was 17 and I’m finally ready to take that leap to leave my current job and find one that will help advance my career and give me at least some financial stability. I also live in NorCal for context (not sure if I’d be willing to move quite yet.) I’ve been at my current retail job since 2021 and was honestly just going to stay there until I was completely finished with college but I just received my AA and the current management im under is so difficult to work with and extremely offensive I can barely take it not to mention I’ve been in management for about 2 years now and have gone from at least 20hr a week (part time) to less than 10hr a week, less than some associates and they’re all 3 hour shifts so I’m not even allowed to take a 10min break though im not even sure if that’s legal??
I am very fortunate to not have to pay rent as I live with my parents and I only have to worry about paying for my car, gas, phone, school, necessity’s etc. So no rent is a life saver in this economy. With that being said I don’t necessarily need the highest paying job quite yet (willing to work my way up or gain helpful experience) though that would be ideal for anyone. I just want to be able to find something that fits with my personality/ needs and also doesn’t care the way I look. I know sometimes you have to do what u gotta do but I cannot take working somewhere I’m miserable at and I understand that is a privilege within itself so I’m just trying to use the time I do have to really find what I’m passionate about and not be scared to try new things.
I still want to go back to school to get my bachelors degree since it’s always been a dream of mine, but since I pretty much pay for everything out of pocket besides some degree of financial aide, I don’t want to just aimlessly transfer somewhere with no clue on what to study which has been my issues for some time. I feel like my interest haven’t changed much and neither have my dreams to further my education so I’ve pretty much been saying the same things since probably before high school and I still have no clue what exactly the direction is I should go. I would love to gain some first hang experience to know if getting my B.A. is even worth it for the field I want to go into or what major would benefit me the best.
I have many interests and ideas as to what I could possibly do but I feel like as much as I say them out loud no one really relates so I always feel alone or like there’s no possible job for me that I’ll feel happy in. I mean I think majority of people would rather not work and focus their lives on their hobbies and passions but unfortunately that’s not in the cards for most people and though I sometimes live in that dreamland that doesn’t change the fact that I’m extremely dedicated, hard-working and really want to make a difference in whatever field I end up in. So I guess I’ll leave a list of the things I’m interested in, in case anybody has some advice or input on any occupations I’ve listed or have experience in anything I’ve listed.
I guess another thing to mention is that I was recently applying to a lot of jobs in childcare and pretty much every interview I went to turn me down on the spot because of my appearance. Of course I hear the stories of looking less professional due to your tattoos, piercings, etc., which I never understand. I don’t even have a single tattoo or piercing, not even my ears, but I have bright pink hair and that has been such a downside for the interviewing processes, even some retail jobs like Box Lunch for example doesn’t accept colored hair when they’re literally a pop culture store and share the same company as Hot Topic. I don’t want to have to change my appearance for a job. I know it’s just hair but I was never able to express myself the way I wanted to and the amount of money and maintenance that goes with having colored hair would not be worth it to me to color black just to get a job. It would feel like I’m altering myself and changing something that makes me feel good about myself is unfair and already puts a bad taste in my mouth about the company because they are willing to look over my qualifications and work ethic due to one minor detail in my appearance. One of these jobs I even had two on the phone interviews that went amazing and was going to my final in person interview and was literally meeting with a family for a behavioral technician job and the first thing they (the company) told me was I would need to change my hair to even be considered and I had to eventually politely end the interview because they still wanted to me to meet a kid despite straight up telling me they will not hire me if I didn’t immediately change my hair… and I’d be working with a family, not even in a ‘ public setting.’ I would just love to be able to work in a community that embraces people for their differences for the way they express themselves, and encourages self expression.
Anyways, here are some of my interests and I’d be eternally grateful to hear any feedback! Maybe you’ve worked in some of these environments and have advice or horror stories, if you have similar interests to me let me know what kind of job you have because I’m sure I don’t even know the formal titles to half of these jobs, or even have other ideas that match my interests. Thank you thank you thank you!

• A lost 22 year old just trying to find her way

TLDR: I have so many interests and have no idea where to go with my next steps in my career and schooling, and would love some advice based off of my interest and experience. My unnaturally colored hair gets me nowhere. My experience and interests are listed below.
My schooling/ experience so far: * 5 years of theatre under my belt (onstage/backstage/management) * Just graduated with my AA in Social & Behavioral Sciences (Random but was recommended to do so based on all of the same interest I told my counselor some odd years ago) * Most of my college classes were focused in sociology, psychology, and child development, which has been super interesting so I am willing to branch out from my interest because I did find a lot of interest in the classes I’ve taken previously. * Have worked in retail for four years; Pretty well received by people * A nanny to 4 kids (ages 4-16) for about 3.5 years as well
My personality: (not sure if this will help with knowing if I would be a good fit for any of the jobs listed )
i’m extremely bubbly and can have my extroverted moments, but I can also be introverted at times and when work needs to get done, I will figure out the best way to do it and get to work. I work pretty well with a team and always have ideas flowing and bouncing around, but I can also excel working on my own/have no issues being independent with my work. I don’t have a huge preference on a fast versus slow paced work environment. I would like something flexible, but I have no issue with getting into a routine. I feel like I am truly pretty flexible when it comes to my work environment, I just really want a place that I can express myself and be surrounded by a community of people similar to me. I love to be innovative and creative.
My interests/ ideas: (sorry kinda random and jumps around)

• always wanted to be a nanny or travel nanny; to work with one specific family and grow with them
• Pre-k - 1st grade teacher; I find teaching younger kids really fulfilling, love crafts/ activities/planning, extremely patient
• Art teacher (i love ceramics, but pretty much any type of art would be so cool to incorporate creativity with teaching)
• Child advocate (possibly on movie and tv sets)
• Teacher on movie and television sets
• Directing or any sort of behind the scenes job for movies and television (I love to write and create concepts, costuming, sets, music, casting)
• Set designer for movies, television, or theater
• Costume designer for movies, television, or theater
• Possibly work with an acting company backstage (I don’t even know if that’s a job but possibly a permanent backstage role somewhere)
• Open my own curated thrift shop or a shop in general that is really creative or theme oriented
• Have a small bakery business or just a business in general, I love the idea of being able to run a company or brand that’s inclusive and creative
• I do love to bake and Decorate desserts
• Creative Director; photographer, videographer; I just love the thought of creating things and bringing concepts together, planning, etc.
• Magazine company?
• Wedding planning/party and event planning; again, I just like bringing things together I feel like I have an eye for aesthetics
• Something with marketing or managing

As you can see, most of my interest have to do with childcare and the arts, which are some of the lowest paying jobs/difficult fields to get into, but it’s what I most passionate about and what I can actually see myself being happy doing for a long time. i’m also not opposed to working in one certain field for a while and then branching out to something different or related further down the line, I just want to know what step I should take next so I’m not just floating around doing nothing and being/fill, I just want to know what step I should take next so I’m not just floating around doing nothing and being/feeling useless.
Thank you so much to anyone who responds with advice and kind words :)

Kind of long, but any advice or input would be greatly appreciated :)
I (22F) have been working in fast food/ retail since I was 17 and I’m finally ready to take that leap to leave my current job and find one that will help advance my career and give me at least some financial stability. I also live in NorCal for context (not sure if I’d be willing to move quite yet.) I’ve been at my current retail job since 2021 and was honestly just going to stay there until I was completely finished with college but I just received my AA and the current management im under is so difficult to work with and extremely offensive I can barely take it not to mention I’ve been in management for about 2 years now and have gone from at least 20hr a week (part time) to less than 10hr a week, less than some associates and they’re all 3 hour shifts so I’m not even allowed to take a 10min break though im not even sure if that’s legal??
I am very fortunate to not have to pay rent as I live with my parents and I only have to worry about paying for my car, gas, phone, school, necessity’s etc. So no rent is a life saver in this economy. With that being said I don’t necessarily need the highest paying job quite yet (willing to work my way up or gain helpful experience) though that would be ideal for anyone. I just want to be able to find something that fits with my personality/ needs and also doesn’t care the way I look. I know sometimes you have to do what u gotta do but I cannot take working somewhere I’m miserable at and I understand that is a privilege within itself so I’m just trying to use the time I do have to really find what I’m passionate about and not be scared to try new things.
I still want to go back to school to get my bachelors degree since it’s always been a dream of mine, but since I pretty much pay for everything out of pocket besides some degree of financial aide, I don’t want to just aimlessly transfer somewhere with no clue on what to study which has been my issues for some time. I feel like my interest haven’t changed much and neither have my dreams to further my education so I’ve pretty much been saying the same things since probably before high school and I still have no clue what exactly the direction is I should go. I would love to gain some first hang experience to know if getting my B.A. is even worth it for the field I want to go into or what major would benefit me the best.
I have many interests and ideas as to what I could possibly do but I feel like as much as I say them out loud no one really relates so I always feel alone or like there’s no possible job for me that I’ll feel happy in. I mean I think majority of people would rather not work and focus their lives on their hobbies and passions but unfortunately that’s not in the cards for most people and though I sometimes live in that dreamland that doesn’t change the fact that I’m extremely dedicated, hard-working and really want to make a difference in whatever field I end up in. So I guess I’ll leave a list of the things I’m interested in, in case anybody has some advice or input on any occupations I’ve listed or have experience in anything I’ve listed.
I guess another thing to mention is that I was recently applying to a lot of jobs in childcare and pretty much every interview I went to turn me down on the spot because of my appearance. Of course I hear the stories of looking less professional due to your tattoos, piercings, etc., which I never understand. I don’t even have a single tattoo or piercing, not even my ears, but I have bright pink hair and that has been such a downside for the interviewing processes, even some retail jobs like Box Lunch for example doesn’t accept colored hair when they’re literally a pop culture store and share the same company as Hot Topic. I don’t want to have to change my appearance for a job. I know it’s just hair but I was never able to express myself the way I wanted to and the amount of money and maintenance that goes with having colored hair would not be worth it to me to color black just to get a job. It would feel like I’m altering myself and changing something that makes me feel good about myself is unfair and already puts a bad taste in my mouth about the company because they are willing to look over my qualifications and work ethic due to one minor detail in my appearance. One of these jobs I even had two on the phone interviews that went amazing and was going to my final in person interview and was literally meeting with a family for a behavioral technician job and the first thing they (the company) told me was I would need to change my hair to even be considered and I had to eventually politely end the interview because they still wanted to me to meet a kid despite straight up telling me they will not hire me if I didn’t immediately change my hair… and I’d be working with a family, not even in a ‘ public setting.’ I would just love to be able to work in a community that embraces people for their differences for the way they express themselves, and encourages self expression.
Anyways, here are some of my interests and I’d be eternally grateful to hear any feedback! Maybe you’ve worked in some of these environments and have advice or horror stories, if you have similar interests to me let me know what kind of job you have because I’m sure I don’t even know the formal titles to half of these jobs, or even have other ideas that match my interests. Thank you thank you thank you!

• A lost 22 year old just trying to find her way

TLDR: I have so many interests and have no idea where to go with my next steps in my career and schooling, and would love some advice based off of my interest and experience. My unnaturally colored hair gets me nowhere. My experience and interests are listed below.
My schooling/ experience so far: * 5 years of theatre under my belt (onstage/backstage/management) * Just graduated with my AA in Social & Behavioral Sciences (Random but was recommended to do so based on all of the same interest I told my counselor some odd years ago) * Most of my college classes were focused in sociology, psychology, and child development, which has been super interesting so I am willing to branch out from my interest because I did find a lot of interest in the classes I’ve taken previously. * Have worked in retail for four years; Pretty well received by people * A nanny to 4 kids (ages 4-16) for about 3.5 years as well
My personality: (not sure if this will help with knowing if I would be a good fit for any of the jobs listed )
i’m extremely bubbly and can have my extroverted moments, but I can also be introverted at times and when work needs to get done, I will figure out the best way to do it and get to work. I work pretty well with a team and always have ideas flowing and bouncing around, but I can also excel working on my own/have no issues being independent with my work. I don’t have a huge preference on a fast versus slow paced work environment. I would like something flexible, but I have no issue with getting into a routine. I feel like I am truly pretty flexible when it comes to my work environment, I just really want a place that I can express myself and be surrounded by a community of people similar to me. I love to be innovative and creative.
My interests/ ideas: (sorry kinda random and jumps around)

• always wanted to be a nanny or travel nanny; to work with one specific family and grow with them
• Pre-k - 1st grade teacher; I find teaching younger kids really fulfilling, love crafts/ activities/planning, extremely patient
• Art teacher (i love ceramics, but pretty much any type of art would be so cool to incorporate creativity with teaching)
• Child advocate (possibly on movie and tv sets)
• Teacher on movie and television sets
• Directing or any sort of behind the scenes job for movies and television (I love to write and create concepts, costuming, sets, music, casting)
• Set designer for movies, television, or theater
• Costume designer for movies, television, or theater
• Possibly work with an acting company backstage (I don’t even know if that’s a job but possibly a permanent backstage role somewhere)
• Open my own curated thrift shop or a shop in general that is really creative or theme oriented
• Have a small bakery business or just a business in general, I love the idea of being able to run a company or brand that’s inclusive and creative
• I do love to bake and Decorate desserts
• Creative Director; photographer, videographer; I just love the thought of creating things and bringing concepts together, planning, etc.
• Magazine company?
• Wedding planning/party and event planning; again, I just like bringing things together I feel like I have an eye for aesthetics
• Something with marketing or managing

As you can see, most of my interest have to do with childcare and the arts, which are some of the lowest paying jobs/difficult fields to get into, but it’s what I most passionate about and what I can actually see myself being happy doing for a long time. i’m also not opposed to working in one certain field for a while and then branching out to something different or related further down the line, I just want to know what step I should take next so I’m not just floating around doing nothing and being/fill, I just want to know what step I should take next so I’m not just floating around doing nothing and being/feeling useless.
Thank you so much to anyone who responds with advice and kind words :)