The wave and the bubbles:
wonderful
so jelly, there are no waves like that where I go, just wide sand flats and a gentle yet relentless tide
Tis the season of feeling bad about myself. Have the first functions of the season this weekend, and I know I’ll be hearing about everyone’s great achievements, new jobs, holidays, houses, family updates etc. And as always I have nothing to say, and feel like the rooms most boring looser. I know it shouldn’t matter but Christmas always make me feel extra lonely, and because it’s at the end of the year I feel like it’s another year gone and I’ve done nothing. Sorry for the bah humbug.
I feel the same because the things I have done are things most people don’t care about or think are worth bragging about, I don’t care because I don’t measure myself against them using their yardstick, I use my own
being a good kind person doing small things on a daily basis is a feat in itself and something worthy being happy about
and in this historic time not being awful is something good 👍
You always have wise words to say. Thankyou.
so many hugs
melba wrote some good things too
I know it sucks, especially if you’ve had challenges or barriers that others haven’t. But don’t worry about keeping up with the Jones and all the rat race shit. You may find that behind a lot of flashy things lies a lot of stress and hidden debt.
Don’t compare your life to other’s highlights reels. Don’t let unequal outcomes affect your self esteem.
The challenges part is very real. I need to remind myself of this.
I understand how you feel 🫂
Bah the Many Bugs. We don’t Christmas, and really only Solstice in a very private way.
I like your style
Big Feelings
I’m tired. Tired of applying for so many jobs and getting no response. Tired of being passed over.
I don’t know what I’m doing wrong because no one has given any constructive feedback - either I’m ghosted or told it was basically down to a dice roll - so how do I improve? How can I not take it personally? How can I not think it’s something to do with me?
Yes I can volunteer, but I also am a slave to our techno-neo-capitalist society and need to have employment too.
I’m just upset and rambling I’m sorry, and it’s late and I’m so so deflated and flat, but my god this fucking hurts.
It sucks so much. I found going for volume of applications over quality and finding decent recruiters is the way to go.
I get it. Personal info deleted but I get it.
I’m completely out of touch and my past experience no longer applies so this may be boomer advice, but is it possible to temporarily change fields to gig work or side hustles just to get some money up and regroup?
Long ramble of unsolicited advice if you wanted to read it
Elderly and disability care can be hard and emotionally confronting, and not easy if you have a disability yourself and/or lack a car. There may be tasks you can’t physically do or inappropriate or dangerous behaviour.
But there are clients who just need help with routine cleaning or need errands done. Lacking a car will go against you as transport to appointments can be very important but maybe sign up to something like Mabel and see if you can find some clients close by? Even if it just means picking up their medication, getting their shopping, or being some form of social interaction. I’m not sure what qualifications are needed or if there are any, sorry. You may need to get a ABN maybe, and have your photo on the site? But I do know you can set specific areas you will work in and you can choose what tasks you’re willing to do.
I’d suggest petsitting if you didn’t have a partner and your own pet. Drop in care could still work as some cats get very stressed in catteries and prefer to stay in their own homes. Dog walking or training could be another casual side hustle if physically possible.
Cleaning is a hard one as it could be physically exhausting and low pay. I don’t have experience but maybe check out work as an NDIS cleaner in case it might offer fairer pay and conditions (not sure).
I’m not sure if you’re handy at all but there are people who struggle with male tradies and would feel safer with a non-man/queer person in their home. However this is potentially a risk to you.
Doing art commissions is possible but people are arseholes and may not want to pay your worth, or may screw you over with chargebacks. Scams are rife. The stuff that brings bigger money has been regulated out by payment processors and using PayPal can give out your legal name so you get doxed. There may also be issues if you don’t report income. Also there is a lot of competition from other artists in desperate financial circumstances. I haven’t gone for it.
There are admin and transcription jobs online but I wouldn’t begin to know what offers were legit vs scams.
I don’t have experience but there could be occasional work as a life model. It’s long boring work but cash in hand. You probably could negotiate to be in shorts and a tank, and I’d recommend approaching reputable art teachers or schools for reasons of safety and dignity. I don’t know what the pay is like. I understand if you don’t feel comfortable. But all body types are welcomed. Just an idea.
I know the CAE used to do coffee courses and had an attached cafe to get work experience so there’s potential there to casually work as a barista? There used to be programs to help people who have had mental health struggles get into that work. However it involves long standing, loud noises, concentration and dealing with people.
There is getting your liquor license but bartending can be rough. Do not recommend with ptsd.
Same for gaming attendant, you need to get a license and work shifts at irregular and dangerous hours.
I’m very sorry if this is poor and out of touch advice. I read it back and it sounds like I’m advising you to get a paper route… it’s just all I’ve been able to think up.
I appreciate you taking the time to think about me and ways to move forward, truly I appreciate it deeply and it means so much to me.
I have much to think upon, I just have to be mindful to separate the depression thoughts from the constructive thoughts lol
I’m so sorry to offer advice instead of comfort. It sucks
Everyone shows they care in different ways, I’m not upset by you or anything :) I adore you Melbs 💜
RSA isn’t just for bartending, it can actually open up a lot of opportunities including being able to just sit at a counter at a woolies BWS. If you do food service or retail professionally it’s worth getting your paws on one if you can.
hugs
Thing to remember, poor sop that it is: A large number of these jobs never existed. If you were ghosted, it was probably a pos that never actually looked to hire. So you can write those absolutely off as a “it’s not me, its you lying cunts”
unfortunately this means the actual number of jobs is much much smaller, and you’re competing in a much tougher pool. And yet, you’re still getting to dice rolls, so it’s nothing on your end that’s not closing the deal, just shit luck and a bad market
job hunting is an exercise in humiliation and shitness and I fucking hate that you have to go through this.
When the the game is stacked against you unfairly it would be foolish to play by the rules of ethics.
Cheat until you can get to a place where you can hopefully influence the rules to make them fairer.
According to tons of studies our biggest assets are connections and class, this is what gives middle and upper class people an edge.
Go to student services at the college you studied at and ask for assistance. They might have leads.
So for now fuck volunteering, go join some clubs in posh areas. Join your local political party ( standard parties, not student activist ones )
see if you can use a friend’s postal address if they live in a better area. A house might cost 1 mill in the west or inner north but it’s still the west and inner north
and hugs, lots and lots of hugs
I’m sorry Spud :(
In the same boat, applying to jobs, never hearing back. They must be getting many applicants.
Advertising pet sitting on Facebook could be one way? I know it’s not consistent employment though :(
I’m so sorry you’re going through this - job hunting sucks and the rejections are horrible.
Further to Taleya’s comment, in my field jobs also get advertised even when someone has already been chosen, they just have to appear to be being ‘equitable’ employment-wise. Then, surprise surprise, the biggest suck or boss’s bestie lands the role.
Also, hiring managers are just people and some aren’t so great at their jobs, particularly when it comes to providing useful feedback or even being tactful with rejections.
Hugs and I hope you’re feeling a bit better soon
Mother fucking SCORE
Caught ol mister Bill Posters and his mate sitting in their van across the road waiting for me to to go back inside after taking the bins out so they could dash out and plaster the derelict lot. While they’re a-noodling upon their phones suddenly a Wild Leya appears at the driver’s side window.
“ey…you got any Pulp posters?”
“JESUS CHRIST um yes? I think so?” and lo. Both myself and a fellow fan now have mint double-wide marquees for the 2026 tour. He’s shitting his pants right now.
Bill Posters is a great dude. Yet more evidence of his innocence.
COOL 👍
End of work week shower is up there with the best of showers. Among that title is also post hike shower and fresh sheets shower. Anyone have one to add to the podium?
Showering in a freshly cleaned shower, shower.
Shower on LSD in the dark where you are sitting down and thinking about the warm moist universe around you
Open shower on lsd at Esoteric with a bunch of naked people also showering.
Foreplay shower before clean sheets intimacy.
Hot day shower.
After sweaty exercise shower is always amazing. Also after chlorine pool shower (which I’m about to have). Chlorine is gross.
Damn hot shower that makes my neck crack!
A shower on a hot day and going outside to dry off.
Also, first shower after full week camping event that involves armour
Warmed fluffy towel shower, with new cake of soap.
Why, yes. 32 degrees is perfect weather for making Christmas puddings.
I feel like the official Xmas pud should be changed to choc ripple cake or tiramisu. Trifle. Or the classic Pav.
Solitary BLT on the beach for dins after the sunset swim tonight for me. Can’t wait. Can hear the waves in the background so w/ a bit of luck some wave piccys.
Just checking RAM prices. Holy shit when did that happen.
Bought my 64gb for like $300 not too long ago. Now it’s $1300 which is what this whole rig cost lol.
Got lucky with that one.
LLM shitfarms, Gonna get real fun now crucial announced they’re fucking off their consumer arm
For a sec there I thought you were talking about cars
Micron just announced they are dumping their Crucial retail brand to focus on supplying the AI circular financing bubble financial disaster. It is crazy. I hope our super funds aren’t tied up in this crap. We will end up poorer than North Korea.
These companies are determined to ruin absolutely everything aren’t they? If there’s increased demand and cost across the board that has knock on effects for repairing/upgrading/buying low cost refurbished computers and reducing e-waste as well as screwing the economy when it goes down.
With any luck morally and financially impoverished people might stealthily avail themselves of the newly lucrative items the way it happens with copper wire and pipes
Spotify wrapped is in
Happy wrapped day DT people!
Last year you all called me an old soul. This year spotify beat you to the punch-
'listening age'
Bonus points for the day I listened to 168 artists and 159 songs in a single day
'most diverse day'
I must’ve been going through something, but I have no clue what or why
More generally, glad to see this place is still going. Hope you’ve all been keeping well
Good to have you back Baku!
Cheers thornsy!
Hi Baku! Long time no see , hope you’re well ❤️
Hey forcey! Thanks for checking in - I’m still alive, still kicking, can’t complain. I hope the land of the force is going well! ♥️
Good to see you. Hope you’re doing alright
Thanks Tom, can’t complain. Hope you’re all good as well!
Nice to see you young fella. Hope you’re good!
Cheers eagle, I’m doing alright. Hope you’ve been well!
you’re a very spry 62 year old. Welcome back
World’s youngest 62 year old? Thank you :)
Yay you’re here! I was just thinking to check in with you but you beat me to it. Hope you’re well :)
I give you this
Don’t know how that worked if I listened to mostly girly pop for most of the time, but the jazz music must’ve done it
Thanks! You’ve certainly got me beat! I don’t really understand how they reached their conclusions. But to be fair, my listening habits are so diverse I don’t think their robots really know what to categorise me as
what do all of these songs even have in common?
I accidentally left a playlist on loop overnight a couple of times and it’s cooked my Wrapped in a couple of ways. Bugger.
Apparently I listened to 1200 or so different artists, and I…don’t know how?
bought half a doz mangos and make some mango and coconut milk icecreams, added a little vanilla and sugar for taste , they are intense as the mangos were quite ripe
should be ready tomorrow 🤤
I restart my work computer every time it prompts me to, which feels like every day now. Not once has the computer bricked itself. This is not the Windows 11 I was promised
I want to take this opportunity to say a fucking mastodonic fuck you to Windows fucking 11.
Fuck you Microsoft you absolute piece if shit.
I think my computer has a bug now where if you click on the time it skips the calendar and brings up your notifications instead.
I also heard the start menu is coded in a really resource intensive way so sometimes I open task manager and keep tapping the Windows button just to watch the CPU usage go up
Now that Spotify Wrapped is out, may I plug last.fm
Better stats, less funky UI, and you can delete artists too if someone’s been sharing your account
Ugh… I was feeling very tired after the vet yesterday and regrettably took a nap. I’m on the night shift now.
Melbcat got some buttered cracker pieces as a treat, has received all of her night medication, and is grumpily loafed up on my pillow. The vets didn’t want to extend the course of antibiotics further so she has to finish these ones and get a recheck before they’ll think about prescribing more. Next week she goes to the dermatologist.
spoiler
The lesions on her face are growing more slowly with the cream but they are growing back, and there hasn’t been the immune response that would make me feel confident the Aldara is working.
I’m looking through the secondhand art books to see which would be most useful to me but am very tired. I sketched an idea yesterday or the night before from shapes but need to find a reference.
Maybe I’ll just rest and watch a movie on my phone.
Edit: Oops, forgot to do new monthly threads
cbfs so very very strong today
I’ll make a to do list
Make sure “crazy dance break” is on that list!!
You made me smile. 🙂
Coffee coffee coffee. Iced
