Hi everyone,
I’m in the market for a new handheld vacuum cleaner and could use some recommendations. Previously, I had the Xiaomi G9, which was pretty much what we needed in terms of performance and features. Unfortunately, it broke after a year and seems impossible to repair.
I’m looking for a similar model with the following criteria:
Performance: Similar to the Xiaomi G9. Should last longer and would be great if easy to repair.
Battery Life: Ideally a bit better than the G9.
Availability: Must be available in Austria/Europe or able to ship to Europe.
Floors: Mainly parquet and tiles, few carpets. Cat household.
Budget: Up to 300€. We paid 170€ for the Xiaomi G9.
Not necessarily: Can use old accessoires of G9.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for your help.

Vacuum cleaners are essential household appliances designed to efficiently remove dust, dirt, and debris from floors and surfaces. They utilize suction power to draw in particles, trapping them in a dust bag or canister for easy disposal. Available in various types such as upright, canister, stick, handheld, and robotic models, vacuum cleaners offer versatility to suit different cleaning needs. When considering purchasing a vacuum cleaner, it's important to take into account the vacuum cleaner price, which can vary depending on factors like brand, model, features, and capabilities. While some budget-friendly options may offer basic functionality, higher-priced models often come with advanced features like HEPA filters, adjustable suction settings, and automatic sensors for more efficient cleaning.
Read more: https://vacuumcleaners.co.ke/

Me and my sis lived in our apartment since 2019, and when we moved in, we had really bad issues with spiders, so I read online that essential oil smells would get rid of them, but over the years I paid no mind to the stains :( but ever since last year I realized that this was a huge huge mistake, especially after our rent manager informed us that it was an issue, because whenever maintenance came to our place, they would see the mess and clutter(piled up boxes) and report back to the manager. We came close to losing our home because the manager thought we could read their mind and see the problem before they even informed us, they legit waited years to even inform us of the issues. We have clutter from boxes and its not overly cluttered to the point of it being uninhabitable.
Please help give advice on how I can remove several years of essential oil stains on the walls, and inside of our front door and dirty stains on our linoleum floor. If we could avoid having to spend hundreds on professionals, that would be great, we want to get better at taking care of our home, and yes I realize it was mega dumb to stain the walls with oils that now can't come out.
I have attached images in my link, please help if you can. If it comes down to needing to paint the walls if the stains can't be removed, then I will hire someone to help with that. Normal stain cleaners don't help.
https://imgur.com/a/KLLmo1l
*EDIT*
Normal cleaning solutions have been tried and don't work :(

It’s those dreaded words. They seem to plague every scenario I find. I figured that I would write this to help improve the adventure experience of my fellow players. Testing done with Mythomax
Intro
Large language models roughly work by taking the input and giving a likely output. It determines this likely output by vast amounts of training data in the English language. Out of this data, there are words that are more common than others.
The word “feel” turns out to be very common, especially when the ai instructions has the words “dungeon master”. This makes the phrase “You can’t help but feel a sense of” very common. This is worsened by the fact that, once that set of words is spoken, it is more likely to be repeated again and again.
How do we mitigate this? See the following examples:
Bad prompt
Story: You are an Emerson, an explorer.
You enter a dark temple hidden inside a mountain. You make your way to the treasure room.
AI Instructions: Default
This vague prompt forces the ai to fill in most of the words. Undoubtedly “Feel” is generated and your whole story is now plagued by “You feel a sense of”
The solution is to provide the ai a large amount of tokens that makes “feel” less likely to appear.
Better Prompt
Story: You are an Emerson, an explorer.
You enter a dark temple hidden inside a mountain. You make your way to the treasure room.
Backstory: There was an explorer named Jen that once enetered a temple. They climbed a mountain to enter and carefully walked on the marble floor.
The temple had many traps, including trap doors, arrows, and spikes.
Author’s note: Focus on the location’s description. (For example:temple,ruin,crack,spike,stone,brick,slab,vines,light,dark,electric,ornate,dilapidated,detail,pattern,sequence,path,maze,winding)
AI instructions: Default
Here the backstory provides a rough guide to future story generation. Avoid using emotion words.
The ai instructions contain many words that are associated with ruins and temple. These words make it very likely that other words associated with ruins and temple appear. This significantly reduces the probability of “you feel” appearing in your story.
The last step is to crank up your top k to at least 200. This lets the ai have more words to pick from, further reducing the probability of “you feel” appearing.
Make sure that you retry if “feel” appears.
Conclusion
I hope this guide was of some help. Let me know if this helps. The more words you shove into the author’s note, the better results you will have.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Review

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is a high-end robot vacuum and mop hybrid that promises to deliver exceptional cleaning performance and smart features. Here’s an in-depth look at what makes this model stand out in the crowded market of robot cleaners.
Design and Build Quality
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra sports a sleek, modern design with a glossy black finish. It has a robust build quality, with sturdy components that suggest durability. The vacuum is relatively compact, allowing it to maneuver easily under furniture and in tight spaces. The top-mounted LIDAR sensor and front-facing camera are discreetly integrated, maintaining a clean look.
Cleaning Performance
The S8 MaxV Ultra excels in both vacuuming and mopping. It features a powerful 5000 Pa suction that effectively captures dust, dirt, and pet hair from various floor types, including carpets and hard floors. The dual brush system ensures thorough cleaning, and the floating main brush adapts to uneven surfaces for consistent performance.
The mopping function is equally impressive. The vacuum uses an advanced sonic mopping system that scrubs floors up to 3,000 times per minute, tackling stubborn stains with ease. The mopping pad is washable and can be reused multiple times, making it eco-friendly.
Smart Features
Roborock has equipped the S8 MaxV Ultra with cutting-edge technology to enhance user experience:

1. ReactiveAI 2.0 Obstacle Avoidance: The front-facing camera and AI algorithm help the vacuum identify and avoid common household obstacles like shoes, cables, and pet waste. This reduces the risk of the vacuum getting stuck or causing damage.
2. LIDAR Navigation: The precise LIDAR sensor allows the S8 MaxV Ultra to create accurate maps of your home. It can navigate efficiently, avoiding obstacles and ensuring comprehensive coverage.
3. Multi-Level Mapping: The vacuum can store maps for multiple floors, making it ideal for larger homes. You can set up no-go zones and virtual barriers through the app.
4. Voice Control and App Integration: The Roborock app offers extensive control over the vacuum’s operations. You can schedule cleaning sessions, select specific rooms or zones to clean, and monitor the vacuum’s progress in real-time. The S8 MaxV Ultra is also compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, allowing for voice commands.

Battery Life and Charging
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra boasts a large 5,200 mAh battery, providing up to 180 minutes of continuous cleaning on a single charge. When the battery runs low, the vacuum automatically returns to its charging dock. The dock also features a self-emptying dustbin, reducing the frequency of manual maintenance.
Pros

• Powerful suction and effective mopping
• Advanced obstacle avoidance
• Accurate LIDAR navigation
• Multi-level mapping and customizable cleaning zones
• Extensive app control and voice assistant compatibility
• Long battery life with automatic recharging and self-emptying dock

Cons

• Higher price point compared to other models
• Initial setup and mapping can be time-consuming

Here is a list of the Best Robot Vacuums.
Conclusion
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is a top-tier robot vacuum and mop hybrid that offers exceptional cleaning performance, advanced smart features, and robust build quality. Its powerful suction, effective mopping, and intelligent navigation make it an excellent choice for those seeking a premium cleaning solution. While it comes at a higher price, the convenience and efficiency it provides are well worth the investment.

I live in a 3 floor apartment, and tomorrow and Friday carpet cleaners will be coming to the building. They will be steam cleaning the carpet in the building, but why does it take 2 days to complete?? Its only 3 floors
I am asking this question in good faith with no expectations

Dehradun's scenic beauty is akin to a captivating melody, where the grand Himalayas stand tall, resembling majestic singers, while the waterfalls contribute to the symphony with their melodious cascades, and the mountain breeze adds a refreshing touch to the atmosphere. However, with the onset of the monsoon season, a new verse emerges. Your once-pristine car undergoes a transformation, resembling a weathered blues singer, as it becomes adorned with streaks of grime and hints of rust, echoing a sombre tune of neglect amidst the downpour.
Fear not, car enthusiasts! There is a vibrant orchestra of car cleaning services in Dehradun, ready to transform your vehicle from a mud-caked mess to a sparkling samba dancer on wheels.
Crafting Brilliance, One Detail at a Time
Like an artisan sculptor shaping marble into a masterpiece, professional car cleaners in Dehradun meticulously craft brilliance from every detail. With precision and finesse, they breathe new life into your car's exterior and interior, transforming it into a gleaming symbol of elegance.
Beyond Ordinary Cleanliness
While DIY cleaning suffices for basic maintenance, professional car cleaning in Dehradun elevates the experience to a level of sophistication and expertise beyond the ordinary. It's not merely about removing dirt; it's a meticulous process of restoring your car to its pristine condition, inside and out. With skilled hands and specialised techniques, professional cleaners ensure a comprehensive rejuvenation, using high-quality products for superior results and minimal environmental impact
Tailored Solutions for Every Need
Whether your car requires a gentle touch-up or a complete transformation, professional car cleaning services in Dehradun offer tailored solutions to suit every need. From basic washes to deluxe detailing packages, there's an option for every discerning car owner.
Invest in Unmatched Quality
Your car is more than just a means of transportation; it's a reflection of your lifestyle and personality. By investing in professional cleaning services, you're not just maintaining your vehicle; you're preserving its value and ensuring its longevity for years to come. With GoMechanic, renowned for its expertise in Dehradun, you ensure top-notch care for your vehicle.
The Perfect Harmony: You & Your Sparkling Ride
Whether you choose a DIY duet with your trusty bucket or entrust your car to the professional detailing divas, Dehradun has the resources to keep your car looking and feeling its best.
Let your car sing a joyful tune of cleanliness, ready to conquer any monsoon adventure with confidence!

I adopted a chihuahua 6 months ago. She's the sweetest little girl. She's around 4-5 years old. She’s done great with other training. She loves her crate, and is pretty good at the standard commands “Go crate”, Sit", "come here", etc. Super snuggly, all she wants is to be around us. She's a little high anxiety, but happy to be with us. The main issue is she refuses to be potty trained. We take her out 4-5 times a day. We follow the typical advice and tell her "Go potty" whenever she pees/poos outside. Praise and give her treats when she does it. We don't punish her for accidents. After all this time she still doesn't get it. When we take her out, she doesn't react to the "Go potty" command.
We're at the point where we keep her in her crate whenever she isn't supervised. She's fine with this, she never pees/poos in her crate.
Tonight we took her for a before bedtime walk to get her to go bathroom. She didn't go after a decently long walk, so we brought her back inside. We let her out of our sight, and not 10 minutes after her walk she both poops and pees all over the floor. Of note is she only ever pees on the mats at the doors to our house and she only ever pees inside when we slip up and we're not actively supervising her... Maybe once every 1-4 weeks. I’ve never been able to “catch her in the act”. We always use an enzymatic cleaner to discourage future accidents.
I don't want to always supervise her when she's out and about, but she seems to have learned that she can get away with peeing inside so long as we're not there watching her. Any advice here? She has a clean bill of health per the vet.

We had vinyl adhesive squares on top of Luan plywood. We removed the vinyl squares and are left with a sticky residue. I have tried two rounds of "Klean Strip® Green™ Floor Adhesive Remove" but still a problem.
I want to lay a floating subfloor but am afraid the LVP will stick and not expand contract as they normally do. A small kitchen, about 7' by 10'. Not much sun.
We have some 8 mil underlayment paper with silicone coating that we put down temporarily, but I fear it may crackle under the LVP. Should I cover the sticky spots with that?
Can I paint the Luan plywood to get rid of the stickiness? The LVPs are Lowes Smartcore with a one mil pad.

From users of cordless pool cleaners, what do you recommend to augment a pebbletech based pool with in floor cleaning system? I don't mind retrieving it in setting it back in and prefer automation and integrations.

Table of Contents
Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39
Chapter 40 l Chapter 41 l Chapter 42

Ragna
I didn’t feel any wind. I held Gabriel’s hand as we ascended, I could certainly tell we were moving upwards.

“My mother said time worked differently in Sheol, have we met on the mortal plane yet?” I asked Gabriel.

“Yes,” they said curtly.

I looked away, “...So, you know St. Michael chose poorly, then?”

“If you think St. Michael chose poorly, then I suppose he did,” Gabriel spoke, their words soft and demure, “Had you said nothing on the matter, I would not agree with you.”

I furrowed my brow, “But I failed.”

“You were defeated,” Gabriel clarified, “Whether you failed or not has yet to be determined.”

I felt hopeful, for a moment. Maybe in Timothy’s hands the Sanctified Blade of the Guardians would find better use? Maybe that’s why Michael gave it to me? Because Michael knew I could lead the Archangels with it symbolically, knowing that I would give it to the right person?

“Your intuitive mind takes little to reach its conclusions,” Gabriel noted.

“...Oh,” I paused, “You can hear my thoughts?”

“I can see your emotions,” Gabriel explained, “It’s why I am unable to tell you why you have been called upon. If I gave you even the slightest clue, you’d likely already have deduced the nature of your meeting with Our Father,” Gabriel sighed. “You share that trait with your father: Far too wise for your own good.”

I was unsure how to take such an assessment of myself, but decided I had best remain quiet going forward.

As the scene around me changed. Towering over us was a massive silver wall of light. At almost 10 meters high, was a huge golden gate with white alabaster accents glimmering in surreal white light.

Standing before the gate, with a massive bronze staff in one hand and an oversized tome in the other, was a Cherubim Angel, clad head to toe in bronze armor. Over the armor were long white robes, covering them from the shoulders to their knees, tied to their armor with a large silvery belt.

The helm of the Bronze Angel turned to me, “... Melinoë Walters, also known as Sellenia Misho, the Ragnarök.” As the Angel spoke, its massive book opened, pages turning on their own as it did.

I paused, “Walters?” I turned to Gabriel, “Wait, Persephone had a last name on Dei?”

“Her first name was Cleopatra,” Gabriel’s voices echoed through the nearly endless space we stood in.

“Cleopatra? But Teryn called her… oooh… Pat, okay, yeah, that makes sense for Teryn, yeah,” I sighed, “...Guess she did that to everyone she met.”

“Only her friends,” Gabriel said, one head smiling, “...She calls me ‘Reia’.”

“...Huh,” I said, unsure how else to react.

Teryn would know Seraphim, wouldn’t she? Especially if Gabriel and other angels ferried souls to and from Sheol.

I wondered what she called the Angel Duma?

“...Your sins are so numerous, I am unsure, even with Gabriel ferrying your feted soul, how you do not sink into the depths of Hell,” the Bronze angel spoke, the gates opening, “I would carry that knowledge with you. For should Gabriel release you for but a moment behind these gates, the weight of your sins would drag you downward to eternal damnation.”

**“**Thank you, Brother Cephas,” Gabriel whispered, as we passed by, “For educating Ragna on her current predicament,” Gabriel looked down to me, “Come along, Ragna. We should not keep Our Father waiting.”

I turned to Cephas, looking at their visor, “Who did I hurt the most, in my life?”

Cephas did not hesitate in the least, “Our Father.”

My brow furrowed, “I don’t-”

“All sinners harm Our Father the most, above all!” His mighty voice boomed through the air. “For He sees all and He loves most. For Our Father loves His children more than any. To see them falter, to see them suffer and to bring others suffering, pains Him more than any other being on this or the next plane!” Cerphas declared.

I flinched as I felt Gabriel tugging me.

“Come,” Gabriel’s voice called. The large gates began to open before me. “...I should warn, those whom you vanquished that were found to be worthy are likely to be here. Your coming was, indeed, heralded.”

“And what does that mean?” I asked.

“It means keep your anger in check,” Gabriel chided.

I heaved a sigh as we walked through the gates.

As we passed through the towering gates, the scene changed entirely.

We were not standing near a gateway at all, but rather we were surrounded by towering white marble structures that defied all logic and physics.

Huge marble spires floated, upside down, on the horizon. Some were not even angled, but smoothed out hive-like structures with many windows and doors.

A yellow light filled the air, with both a flawless sunset on the far eastern side and a beautiful sunrise on the west.

I looked straight up and saw the shimmering twinkle of a night sky. Depending upon where I looked, the entire landscape took on the time of day I had last glanced upon.

My voice was caught in my throat as Gabriel began to lead me through the vast and almost infinite reaches of this place.

The horizon stretched out in every direction. The ground my feet treaded on was both yielding and firm. Looking down showed me the material looked like clouds, but felt like a sort of padded floor.

I noticed angels flying in the air. They began to land nearby.

It wasn’t long before I felt a chill running down my spine as I realized I recognized some of their faces.

Some gazed at me with somber eyes.

Others fixed me with glares full of anger and in this place I could see they felt a mixture of aversion to my presence but a satisfaction of justice. A sense of retribution filled the air.

“...These are the angles of the Guardian Temple I slew, aren’t they?” I asked Gabriel quietly.

“Yes,” Gabriel spoke succinctly.

One walked before us, the angel’s white wings opened. He had long blonde hair and his gray eyes fixed me with a look of disdain.

“Hastapher, clear a path,” Gabriel instructed.

Hastapher. Oh.

I frowned.

The old leader of the Guardian Temple’s defenses.

I gritted my teeth.

Hastapher pointed to me, his eyes narrowed on me, “Did you taste love but for less than 5 years, wicked one? Spawn of the Morning Star?”

I paused, narrowing my eyes on him, “...What?”

“Hastapher,” Gabriel growled, “Not now. Father has requested her presence.”

“Answer me, Cursed Daughter of Lucifer!” Hastapher shouted.

“No,” I quipped.

I recalled the words Hastapher spoke before I slew him: “May any happiness you ever have be tainted by greater sorrow. May the feat of victory always turn to ash in your mouth.”

Hastapher’s angry face changed and he moved, “Good.”

I gritted my teeth.

That curse upon me was real?! I nearly leapt at him until I spotted someone out of the corner of my eye.

Standing next to a mighty black-skinned Niten Dragon was Rachel.

Her red hair was down and her eyes were once again a soft blue. She looked so pure, so serene, but so heartbroken watching me.

My eyes filled with tears and I pulled away from Gabriel.

I heard Gabriel call out as my hand left their’s.

I watched Hastapher’s armor appear on him as he moved to stop me.

I jumped into the air and I soared towards Rachel.

Rachel pushed the Black Niten Dragon away from her and flew towards me.

“Rachel!” I shouted as I flew towards her.

Rachel smiled and shouted to me, “Ragna!”

We embraced.

I held her tight. The scent of her hair was the same. As we latched onto each other and landed on the ground, I could feel the memories we shared.

It was as if I was reliving every moment I had with her, however brief.

Memories of us on our little Eden. Visions of her pregnant with Lucilia.

I pulled back just enough to kiss her and she kissed me back.

At this moment, nothing else existed. Just her.

Just my Rachel and I.

My Dream. My Amaranthe.

When the kiss broke, her forehead pressed to mine and I couldn’t help but laugh through my tears of joy, “My Amaranthe…” I whispered, barely able to speak.

Rachel sniffled, “...Ragna. I missed you. I’m so sorry… I… I didn’t mean to leave you.”

My lip trembled as I heard footsteps behind me.

“...An enigma you both remain,” Gabriel’s voices spoke softly.

All around us, angels had cleared a circle, as if we were toxic or could somehow harm them.

Hastapher was closer than others, but held back many, “Do not touch them…” He spoke softly “...Ragna hangs here but by a thread.”

I looked at Rachel and I felt my knees sinking into the floor.

Rachel held me tight, “Don’t leave me again!”
Gabriel’s hand seized my shoulder, my knees no longer sinking. “Even with pure love, you nearly fell. It is a miracle you did not, Ragna. That was reckless of you,” Gabriel warned.

I turned to Gabriel, glaring, “I thought you lived for reunions.”

Gabriel’s three heads all raised their eyebrows.

I turned back to Rachel, looking at her beautiful tear filled eyes. I kissed her forehead and dried her tears, holding her face in my hands, “I will come back for you. I swear to you. Nothing here can keep me from you.”

Rachel just pursed her lips and nodded. She kissed me once more and I returned it.

“...That is enough, Ragna,” Gabriel whispered.

I broke the kiss and stood, my hand lingering on Rachel’s face as she looked up to me longingly.

“I promise,” I shouted as Gabriel led me onward, “I will come back for you!”

Rachel reached out to me, the Black Niten Dragon holding her back by the shoulder, Hastapher standing between us as Gabriel led me onward.

“Ragna!” Rachel cried, “I love you!”

“I love you too!” I answered back before I was taken far from her.

“...You should not make promises you cannot keep, Ragna,” Gabriel explained once we were out of earshot.

I took one of Gabriel’s hands as they led me onward, glaring ahead, “If anyone here… and I mean anyone thinks they can keep me from my Rachel, they’ll be sorely mistaken.”

Gabriel scoffed as they led me onward and I noticed less and less structures around us, “You are indeed, your father’s child.”

I glared at Gabriel as we continued forward.

Eventually, I saw a golden staircase looming out of the horizon.

It was narrow, but towering. Reaching high into the sky, where it ended I couldn’t see, outside of a pin-hole of white light where the stairs top could no longer be seen.

The base of the stairs had black obsidian-like flooring.

Gabriel stood there and turned to me, “Here you may release me. You will not fall from here onward.”

I let go, looking around, “So… where is ‘Our Father’?” I asked.

Gabriel pointed up the stairs, “They are there,” Gabriel turned to the steps, “Upon the top of these steps is the Throne of Heaven, where Our Father sits and waits.”

I looked up the dizzying steps.

No railings, no structure holding the steps together.

Each step floated on its own accord, suspended by nothing, connected to the other steps by nothing. All only half a meter wide.

“And I’m climbing to meet Them?” I asked.

“You will attempt to climb,” Gabriel said as they turned from me, “Only Angels have survived the journey. Fall from the steps and you will burn in Hellfire. But that is the least of your concerns,” Gabriel explained.

“The least of my concerns?” I scoffed, “What do you mean?”

“To climb upon these steps is to face the Creator of our universe. The raw power of The Almighty is so grand that even to stand near Their Radiance is to stand before a burning star. Those souls who lack the constitution to weather such power will burn away, until nothing remains,” Gabriel spoke firmly to me.

I shrugged, “So, I need to climb up the stairs, not fall and face the power of a star unprotected?” I spread my wings.

“You’ll find your wings will not help you here, Ragna,” Gabriel chuckled, “The power of The Almighty would cast you down immediately.”

I narrowed my eyes, “...Thanks for the warning. Are you hoping I will fail?”

Gabriel nodded, “As I said, you should not make promises you cannot keep. I suspect this will be the last time we see one another.”

I turned to Gabriel, “If I don’t make it… What happens?” I asked.

“God shall enact His final act and His children shall be with him,” Gabriel sighed, “The mortal realm will be left to those immortals who would call themselves Gods and the damned left at their mercy.”

I frowned, “So… Eris… Xyphiel…” I winced, “...And every demon in Hell.”

Gabriel nodded, “Yes. But worry not, your love will be safe. I can promise that much.”

I looked to the steps and then back to Gabriel, “Thank you for that.”

“This may come as a shock, but I know what it is like to lose a loved one, only to find them on the other side,” Gabriel explained, “This is something I only discovered recently… after I suffered a remediation from my Father.”

I scoffed, “And what did you do that angered your father?”

Gabriel paused, the eyes on two of their heads closing as the eyes on one faced me sternly, “I loved a mortal and kept him on the mortal plane without an edict or any other logical reason. For this, I was punished.”

“Well, even the pious can err, huh?” I mocked.

Gabriel’s eyes opened, all fixed upon me with wrath, “If you fall now, none would know if it were by my hand or by your own failing.”

“I think someone would know, since They know everything,” I chuckled as I shook my head, “But I will not fall. Not to you and not as I climb” I declared as I made my way to the steps, moving to the first and already feeling a potent heat hitting me in the face.

I moved to the second step and nearly stumbled back as a powerful wind pushed against me.

“It starts with one~” Gabriel’s voices began to sing.

I growled and started slowly up the next step.

“All I know,” Gabriel’s voices called out, “It’s so unreal.”

I walked further, at the fifth step at least, I found the heat was nearly unbearable, like facing into the exhaust of a powerful engine.

Gabriel’s voices rang out in song, both mourning and joyful, “Just to watch you go~”

I grunted, pushing myself up to my feet and moving up farther. I pushed past several more steps before I fell forward, gripping the hot golden metal before me.

I felt my hands searing from the heat and turned back to see only a dozen or so steps had been cleared.

Gabriel remained below, their voices ringing out, almost taunting as they sang. “I tried so hard, and got so far. But in the end, it doesn’t even matter. I had to fall, to lose it all, but in the end, it doesn’t even matter.”

I growled and pushed myself higher, feeling the heat through the soles of my feet as I climbed.

The hot wind blew my hair wildly and the heat penetrated my clothing as I climbed, keeping my eyes fixed on the next step before me.

“I try so hard,” Gabriel’s voices sang, “Got so far.”

I gritted my teeth and started a mad sprint upwards, trying to ignore the heat, the pain and every bit of chaos around me.

I focused on one step before the other.

I moved up at least another dozen steps before I had to fall to my knees, the heat overwhelming me as I felt my clothing start to burn.

“In the end~” Gabriel’s voices rang out, the final word holding for what seemed like eternity as I knelt.

I tossed my jacket off, watching it ignite in the air as I pulled my belt off. The soles of my boots had already burned away, my bare feet sizzled on scorching gilded steps.

“Pain is temporary,” I tried to encourage myself, as I pressed onward.

Gabriel finally changed from their long note, their voices somehow still reaching me, “I tried so hard, and got so far! But in the end, it doesn’t even matter. I had to fall, to lose it all! But in the end, it doesn’t even matter!”

I grunted and pushed onwards, the song Gabriel’s voices sang now seemed far more personal. As if they hadn’t been personal enough, I now set myself to a slow, steady and grueling pace of setting one bare foot before the other on burning step after burning step.

“I’ve put my trust in you. Pushed as far as I could go. For all this, there’s only one thing you should know-” Gabriel’s voices called out as a potent wind made me pause for a moment, their voice taking on a venom I didn’t expect. “I’ve put my trust in you! Pushed as far as I can go! For all this, there’s only one thing you should know! I tried so hard and got so far. In the end, it doesn’t even matter! You had to fall to lose it all - but in the end, it doesn’t even matter!”

I pulled myself up, gritting my teeth as I continued, the wind growing in strength both in intensity and heat.

My hair ignited and despite this I pushed on. Gabriel’s last words that I could hear were ringing in my mind.

I wasn’t going to fall as they wanted. I would see Rachel again. I’d see Zepherina again. My Lucilia. I would see my family once more!

As I pushed onwards, a blast of heat nearly knocked me off the edge of one step.

I could barely see as my eyes felt like they were burning.

I paused, grabbing the step ahead of me with one hand as I knelt on the other.

I screamed in pain as what little clothing remained ignited and burned away.

Now, I was completely and utterly exposed. I held my wings tight to my back, pushed myself up and kept walking.

The searing heat from each step only grew more intense as I climbed.

I glanced down to my hand, seeing my very flesh bubbling and charring.

I turned away from the sight, trying not to focus on what was happening to me.

I glanced upwards and it seemed I had made almost no real progress. The pin-point of light was still so far away.

I pushed onwards, the heat only growing, my pain only intensifying.

Still, I pushed onward.

A shot of light shocked me, a soft violet hue filled my vision.

I glanced down at my hand, noticing no flesh remained, but now a glowing essence of sorts.

A violet light, faintly glowing around me. Steam seeping from my hand in the powerful hot wind.

“Oh Guardians… My soul’s being stripped bare…” I thought as I watched violet mana slip away in the monstrously brutal wind.

I shook my head and carried on with my climb.

By no means did it get easier.

If anything my flesh was a buffer against the pain. Now every blast of hot wind felt like pins being slammed into my body. My soul?

I think all of my physical form had been eradicated at this point as I made my arduous climb skyward.

Even though my wings lacked feathers, a dangerous glance backwards showed they were bare wings. Even the flesh on them was stripped away, all that remained were glowing violet wing bones with wisps of mana between them.

Even turning nearly made me fall as the dizzying height I had reached showed I was so far away from where I started that it looked like nothing but a pin-prick of a black dot.

I began to panic slightly as I looked up at the sky above.

There, the pin-prick had changed.

Now, a fiery ball of light shimmered in the distance and gazing upon it burned my eyes.

I cast my eyes down, looking at the burning golden steps I was currently frying on.

I crawled up the steps now, one hand ahead of the other, one knee at a time.

The only relief came from when I would lift a limb up and while the pain stopped for a moment, it came back when I made contact with the golden step.

It was here that I realized my hands were withering away.

Each moment they remained on the step more and more of my hand burned away.

Now, I climbed with the stumps of my forearms, unable to grasp the step before me.

I couldn’t feel my feet as well.

I wondered what I looked like now. An unfinished model of a figure, perhaps?

Lacking all definitions that made me what I was.

My hair, my skin, my feathers.

Was I even myself?

What was driving me? Why was I subjecting myself to this horrific experience?

Rachel.

With renewed vigor, I pushed myself further.

Rachel, Timothy, Lucilia, Zepherina and even Maddy.

My family, my friends, everyone who would call me nothing more than the product of my parents.

I wouldn’t fall.

I would pass this trial, no matter how excruciating it was.

No matter how much of myself was burned away.

I wasn’t going to fail.

I couldn’t fail, not now.

I chuckled, it was just as Gabriel said, “I had come so far…”
The wind stopped abruptly. As did the burning in my limbs.

Though I still felt the heat.

I looked up and was immediately blinded by an unyielding white light.

I recoiled, trying to guard my face with my arm but still the light burned my eyes. All I could do was cast my eyes away from the source.

A cacophony of voices of all ages, genders and accents filled my ears.

It felt as if someone was stabbing my ears with a thousand needles. It was so loud.

“Ah, I see you have finally made it.”

I gasped in pain, “Please… Not so loud!” I begged.

The volume didn’t change, nor did the pain of every word, “I am sorry. These words shall pain you. I will attempt to be brief.”

I grunted as I heard the words, “Fine! Then… Speak! Why have you brought me here?! What do you want with me?!”

“Want? No.” The cacophony called out, “Need.”

I panted as I heard that the Father, Guardians or whatever, was doing Their best to be brief. But it seemed that being brief meant They were being vague. “Just… Please tell me everything you need from me. I’ll just… Bare it…” I shivered in pain.

“Very well. I do not wish to harm you, Daughter of Lucifer. But, I will tell you all now, since you are before Me.” The Guardian’s began, “No God rules forever, though all Gods are Eternal. How does this strike you, Ragna?”

I winced, taking a moment to collect myself, “Gods… Come and go with worship, right? Some rise, some fall… Eris was weak and then she started to get some praise, she got stronger when Chaos took hold of the world.”

“Yes. The Spirit of Chaos is but a trifling thing. Though the power she wields, it is very specific for one. For even she cannot peer past this moment,” The Guardians explained.

“And, I know this will hurt to hear but, what is the significance of this moment?” I asked.

“The moment when Ragna Misho comes before Us. Not every path led you here. In fact, but one path did. It was not the cleanest path, nor the one I desired, but such is free will. We know all choices made, We know all paths forward. We see the beginning and the end, for We are the Alpha and the Omega.” The Guardians declared.

“So free will is bullshit?!” I shouted, still reeling from the pain of the Guardians' words.

“Far from it,” the Guardians bellowed, “Free will is why I am, both Omnipotent and Omni-absent.”

I caught my breath, the Guardians allowing me time to understand.

“We see all choices of all people. As such, We cannot know what true path the world will take. There are endless destinies and We have seen every one of them. We cannot choose the outcome. We plan and We wish for one, but the Free Will of Mortals is a constant challenge. A blessing and a curse.”

I panted, “So, you know the outcome of every decision I could have ever made?”

“And the outcomes of those decisions you could not make. Those of your mother and father, your brother and even those whom you did not realize altered your path.” The Guardians explained.

“So,” I took a deep breath, which only served to steel myself, “What is it you want from me? Why have you asked me here?”

“We want to offer you a path to redemption. For you, Ragna, have found Love. You understand, for once, what Love is. That is how you climbed. If you did not know Love, you would fail. Either fallen or vanished. Your faith remained with your heart. But still, you have done so much wrong, your soul is unclean, unfit to rise. It will either sit in Sheol or burn in Hellfire.”

I looked up, trying to stare at the blinding light once more, but I had to turn away, “So… What are the terms? What must I do? Will you send me back to finish it? To vanquish Xyphiel?!”

“No. We will leave this plane. We shall take our children and retire. But someone must shepard the damned souls and give them a chance at redemption,” The Guardian’s voices all appeared to change tone, they were happier, for a moment, “Who better to guide a flock of those needing redemption than one who, herself, seeks a second chance?”

I paused to consider and I slowly got to my feet, “So, I cannot go back… You want me to watch over the souls of the damned and help them become redeemed?”

“Yes. For We love Our children. Even you, Ragna, who slew so many. We love you and We wish for all those who suffer to attain one final chance to join Us in Heaven. So I will ask: "Will you shepard my lost flock, Ragna?”

I let out a slow breath, lifting my face to try to gaze at the bright light again. I got as far as looking at the base of a mighty throne. “...Under one condition.”

The voices of the Guardians all grew angry with me and I staggered back from a powerful burst of heat, “Doth thou think We are bartering?! Doth thou think you can disrespect Us, Your Spiritual Father?!”

Trembling, I slowly answered, “You know what I want. You know what I’m thinking,” I said softly, “...You know all I want is Love, right?”

The voices seemed to calm, “There were two choices you could have made, Ragna.”

The voices didn’t hurt my ears now as I felt a rush of cool air surrounding me.

“We are pleased that you have made the best choice,” The Guardian's voices called to me.

I felt calm, the pain in my body vanishing as my heart felt, for once, at ease, “...Thank You. I won’t let you down. But… What about Xyphiel?”

“That is for the mortals to resolve,” The Guardians called out, “We have given them all they need. Now, the task is upon them. The most difficult part of my task, as always, is to extend to my children my most powerful gift.”

I shivered as I felt my flesh and clothing restoring, “What gift is that?”

“My Eternal Faith.”

So, let me set up some context first, I went outside to get my package I ordered came back in and place it in my bedroom, as I was walking up the stairs I found an ant on the floor, I tried to squish it with something around the room, having no luck I looked around for something else and saw a wasp. I thought it was a normal bee at first but I was wrong, ran downstairs and looked for something to kill it. Found a cleaner spray that would kill it. After I killed it I walked back downstairs and then a little later came back upstairs and saw some nats or some weird bug. I killed most of them and looked at the window where the wasp was, when I looked out I saw a wasps nest right next to the window but then saw 2 more, with a wasp on the nest. The nests weren’t that big probably the size of an average rock, the wasp flew away and I conducted a plan. I would grab some wasp killer I had and would spray it at night. I just sprayed at it a couple minutes ago but I’m still wondering. Is it normal for there to be 2 wasps at 1 nest without a queen. Plus I don’t know if there are wasps on my house. Please comment if you know anything or any suggestions, Thank you if you read this far.

We have a now-indoor cat named Mocha. She's around 6 years old (vet estimate), and was an outdoor only cat of our neighbor's for most of her life (up to ~1.5 year ago).
She's had a hard time transitioning to being in a home with many other cats (we have 5 total, and yes we have a problem 😅). This has slowly improved as they've gotten used to each other and established their pecking order. She loves being an indoor cat now, and is obviously happier in her home.
Sadly, her litter box usage has always been lacking. She will now poop in a box maybe 60-70% of the time, but only if we have a litter box in the corner of the dining room where she was pooping on the floor. And only if the box is basically immaculate. She has, to my knowledge, never peed in the box. My husband believes she may have peed in it twice before, but it's been a long while. Instead, she finds a location she likes and uses it repeatedly, then finds a new spot. We have laminate floors, and so we've turned to pet pee pads to at least reduce the amount of potential damage to the floor. She will use those, but then we'll also find her peeing on any rugs she decides needs a dose.
Basically, my question is if anyone has any ideas to help her: 1. Use the litter box for all the litter box stuff, and 2. Ideally use it not in the room we eat in, i.e. use the box wherever it goes.
Now, to preempt questions of what we've tried: - we have 5 cats and 5-6 litter boxes, depending on how you want to count them. One is a giant concrete mixing container, so it's massive. Most of them reside downstairs in the HVAC closet that has 2 cat sized openings in the wall, and a door for access. - we've tried different litters, settling recently on the swheat brand stuff over the clay. Some of that is the amount of clay dust we had in the HVAC closet, some of it was scoopability - she was taken to the vet, no physical issues were found. This is behavioral. She was prescribed fluoxitene (sp?), but becomes the tasmanian devil when I attempt to give her a pill (and yes, I've tried all the methods, including hiding it in all the food), considering this medication was theoretically to decrease her stress it seemed counterintuitive to freak her out and have her hide from me for days - she's had a calming collar on before, helps a bit but not with bathroom habits, she just gets more chill around the house - we clean with an enzymatic cleaner, she doesn't seem to care if there's a pee smell in a location or not. If she wants to pee there, she does. - we've put catnip in the litter boxes to encourage her to get in, and that's what I believe led her to start pooping in there - we have the Feliaway pheromone plug ins around the home to hopefully chill everybody out
She is generally a happy cat that is clearly loving being inside and having comfy things to sleep on, and honestly we love her. We just are tired of cleaning up the messes and knowing that we're going to need to replace some quarter round on our floor because it's gotten hit too many times and has gotten damaged. If you guys have any tips, please let me know!

Best ED Treatments

Mental Training
Avoid being in your head about ED, as this will snowball into anxiety around not getting hard. Communicate with your partner beforehand about what you are working on so they can help you avoid this anxiety. If you can’t get hard, no worries… move onto making out, oral sex on them, toys, etc. Stay in the moment about the great feelings, fun, and potential love you have for your partner.
You Can NEVER Fail at Sex
Think what your teen boy self would be thinking, i.e. “Awesome, I’m naked with someone… YES!” Sex is always a WIN, no matter if you are hard or not. Train your brain, your penis is NORMAL when soft or hard… like your ears and nose are normal. Same difference!
END the negative self-talk and replace it with the in-the-moment thoughts of your partner’s body, sexual fun being had, and overall great physical feelings!
Pre-Sex Booster
Brazil nuts are high in selenium, which in turn can lead to stronger erections.

• Organic Brazil Nuts: Eat 3 nuts in the morning and 3 nuts in the evening daily.
• If you know you are having sex today, eat your 6 daily nuts 3-4 hours before sex.

For a natural boost to my libido/sex drive, I take a specific oil blend supplement.

• Butter Oil/Fermented Cod Liver Oil: If you know you are having sex today, take 2 capsules 3-4 hours before sex.

Grounding

Earthing (i.e. grounding) boosts the way your body functions, including decreased pain from inflammation and better blood flow.

• Grounding Mat: I sleep with a grounding mat under my back in bed every night. The first time I used it, I woke up with insane morning wood and have everyday since!

***Watch the UCLA study on earthing: https://youtu.be/44ddtR0XDVU?si=k_v8Ny2-IzOx7Nen (26:54 to 28:47)

Acoustic Wave Therapy

Studies have shown applying lower-intensity, acoustic pulses to the penis shaft increases blood flow and restores erections for optimal performance. Doctors use a much more powerful version of this device to break apart kidney stones. So the way I describe this device is a penis blood flow pipe cleaner lol.
I use mine twice per week and really see the benefits (increased blood flow, lasting longer sex, better orgasms, and I swear my penis has grown a half inch).

• Acoustic Wave Therapy Device used 20 minutes, 2x per week (i.e. I do a treatment every 4 days): https://growoffline.com/acoustic-wave-therapy

Kegel Exercises For Men

Kegel exercises strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. These exercises involve contracting and relaxing the muscles used to control urination. By regularly performing Kegel exercises, individuals will experience improved blood flow to the pelvic region, enhanced muscle tone, and increased control over ejaculation. For men experiencing ED, incorporating Kegel exercises into my daily routine has helped strengthen the muscles involved in achieving and maintaining an erection, which has led to improved sexual performance.
Pretend you are stopping your pee stream… that “flex” is your pelvic floor muscles doing a “kegel” or “kegeling”.

• Kegel Exercises: Twice per day (morning and evening) perform 2 separate kegel exercises.
  • First, perform 100, 1-second sets of kegels.
  • Second, perform 10, 10-second hold sets of kegels (yes, hold that flex contraction for 10 seconds!)

REMINDER HACK: Use the “Kegel Reminder” text message subscription to be notified discreetly via text twice per day to perform your kegel exercises: https://growoffline.com/kegel-reminder

Best Erectile Dysfunction Medication

As you may have assumed already, these natural erectile dysfunction treatments can take weeks to see consistent results. But with these new lifelong practices, I am now 10/10 happy in the bedroom and have resolved my ED issues!
But that said, for immediate results, I did use generic ED meds the first few weeks of my recovery for a guaranteed erection before sex. And honestly, this really helped with my confidence that was wiped out by the many failed intimate encounters with women. Knowing I was going to perform helped me rebuild that habit that I was indeed capable of. Then all these natural treatments started showing results in a few weeks, which further improved my confidence!
Studies show you will eventually build a tolerance to ED medication. So you only want to use ED meds for a few weeks while you solve the underlying problem via the steps I’ve laid out for you so far.
After testing a few generic erectile dysfunction medication providers online, this was my favorite and easiest to get (confirmed my Rx with their doctor online for free and shipped in a discrete envelope): https://growoffline.com/ed-meds
This ED treatment medication works within ~3 hours and you can easily get erections with minimal stimulation for up to 24-36 hours total (great for weekends or vacations).

I’ve noticed that a certain part of the grout in the floor of my bathroom is black-ish no matter how much I clean it. The rest of the grout in my bathroom is very clean but sometimes cracked and visibly old (best option would be to stop cleaning it and just replace it with newer grout but I’m broke atm). A few spots however, the ones closest to my bathtub, look dirty whenever the floor gets wet. I try to scrub them everything, whether it’s vinegar (I let it sit first), or baking soda and soap, or jif cream (same as the cif cream but it’s jif for Arabs) or even toilet bowl cleaner. I figured out that the caulking around my bathtub is worn out so that could be the cause of it. Recaulking is an easy and surprisingly cheap fix and I’ve done it before so that’s not what I’m worried out about.
Would regrouting my entire bathroom floor be the only option? Only problem is I cannot find good waterproof anti-mold grout online that isn’t expensive