GodzillasPencil's recent activity
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Comment on What healthy habit has made a difference for you? in ~health
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Comment on What healthy habit has made a difference for you? in ~health
GodzillasPencil LinkMy magic habit: Committing to tracking my daily calories, forever. I'd struggled with my weight all my adult life, but every time I suffered my way down to a healthy weight I inevitably crept back...My magic habit: Committing to tracking my daily calories, forever. I'd struggled with my weight all my adult life, but every time I suffered my way down to a healthy weight I inevitably crept back up to the point where I'd regained it all then some. For years, I lost all willingness to try. Why go through all that work just to fail, again? I felt so embarrassed.
Three years ago, I was staring down the barrel of a diabetes diagnosis, and I decided to try one more time. Nothing wild. Just tracking calories and some light walking. I'd done that kind of thing before. The only difference: I resolved to keep tracking my food after I reached my goal. I slowed down and didn't try to crash diet. When I got to a healthy weight I kept on tracking. And the weight has stayed off. I've been maintaining for two years, and with that stability has come all sorts of gifts. Gradually, I found exercise I actually enjoy. My health is dramatically improved. I sleep great. My stress is lower. I like cooking and eating, and I no longer view "diet" as a temporary sacrifice based on willpower. It's just that I have a calorie "budget" and I know I can't stop balancing the checkbook.
It's no big deal, perhaps 3-5 minutes a day. A small price to pay for turning my health around.
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Comment on What private companies are you happy doing business with? in ~talk
GodzillasPencil LinkCriterion, the film distributor. They have a surprisingly great streaming service with rotating collections of interesting films, and they release a ton on physical media.Criterion, the film distributor. They have a surprisingly great streaming service with rotating collections of interesting films, and they release a ton on physical media.
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Comment on Pluribus full season discussion in ~tv
GodzillasPencil LinkI thought the first episode was fantastic, but it wasn't long before I decided that the show wasn't for me. Some stories are more character driven, and others are driven by external events. This...I thought the first episode was fantastic, but it wasn't long before I decided that the show wasn't for me. Some stories are more character driven, and others are driven by external events. This feels like the latter, but to me it also feels like the writers are using the show to try to drive some sort of philosophical debate about individualism vs collectivism. The theme strikes me as so heavy handed that the story and the characters become mere tools to express the theme, and the whole thing feels... fake? Like it's not a story, but a lecture.
That's just my reaction though. I'm glad people are enjoying it. :)
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Comment on Godzilla Minus Zero confirmed for North American theatrical release on November 6 in ~movies
GodzillasPencil LinkI'm penciling this in on the family calendar right now.I'm penciling this in on the family calendar right now.
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Comment on Advice needed: Getting an elderly parent set up with a home health aide in ~life
GodzillasPencil Link ParentThanks for the info! I appreciate it. I don't know if he's ready for hospice care, but that day will no doubt arrive.Thanks for the info! I appreciate it. I don't know if he's ready for hospice care, but that day will no doubt arrive.
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Comment on Advice needed: Getting an elderly parent set up with a home health aide in ~life
GodzillasPencil Link ParentThank you!Thank you!
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Comment on Advice needed: Getting an elderly parent set up with a home health aide in ~life
GodzillasPencil Link ParentPerfect. Thanks for the link. We'll get started on this and since you were kind enough to offer, I may ping you later if I get stuck finding the right information. :)Perfect. Thanks for the link. We'll get started on this and since you were kind enough to offer, I may ping you later if I get stuck finding the right information. :)
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Comment on Advice needed: Getting an elderly parent set up with a home health aide in ~life
GodzillasPencil Link ParentThat's a good way to put it. He might be more amenable if he sees it helping the whole family, not just him. Thanks!That's a good way to put it. He might be more amenable if he sees it helping the whole family, not just him. Thanks!
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Comment on Advice needed: Getting an elderly parent set up with a home health aide in ~life
GodzillasPencil Link ParentThe way you've laid this out is truly helpful. Thank you! I'll look for the agency in my state (WA) and see what navigation assistance they can offer. Based on what you wrote, it sounds like his...The way you've laid this out is truly helpful. Thank you! I'll look for the agency in my state (WA) and see what navigation assistance they can offer. Based on what you wrote, it sounds like his doctor's assessment of what's deemed healthcare (PT/OT/Nursing) vs daily tasks will determine what help is available through his insurance, and then we can try to figure out how to cover any out of pocket costs remaining.
Okay! I feel slightly less overwhelmed now. :)
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Comment on Advice needed: Getting an elderly parent set up with a home health aide in ~life
GodzillasPencil Link ParentThanks for the reply. His PCP was the one who said (via message) "bring him to the ER for assessment" and while he's been resisting that step, it may be that we need to go that route. You're right...Thanks for the reply. His PCP was the one who said (via message) "bring him to the ER for assessment" and while he's been resisting that step, it may be that we need to go that route. You're right though - we should try to get another PCP appointment and go through that channel.
I've been looking over the coverage documentation all morning and it seems any services we get for him at home will need to be pre-authorized by his doctor.
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Comment on Advice needed: Getting an elderly parent set up with a home health aide in ~life
GodzillasPencil Link ParentMy mom's been gone for 25 years. With regard to the alert service, it took us a few weeks to talk him into it, but he's been okay with it. He has a certain amount of pride around not wanting help...My mom's been gone for 25 years. With regard to the alert service, it took us a few weeks to talk him into it, but he's been okay with it. He has a certain amount of pride around not wanting help (understandable - I'd feel the same way), but he's persuadable, especially if we can keep him in his home.
Asking around on FB/ND is a good idea. I don't have any accounts on those sites but one of my sibs does.
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Advice needed: Getting an elderly parent set up with a home health aide
Hello Tildes, My partner and I are at the point where we need to get more care for my dad and I could use some advice from people who have been down this road. He's in his early nineties and still...
Hello Tildes,
My partner and I are at the point where we need to get more care for my dad and I could use some advice from people who have been down this road. He's in his early nineties and still living in his home, and the family has been lucky in many respects. Dad still has good cognitive function, he has excellent health care through his military retirement (USA: Tricare for Life). My brother is living in the family home, so there's someone in the house overnight in case there's a fall or other serious issue.
Last year we got Dad set up with a medical alert service, so he's only one button press away from talking to a helper if he's in crisis. My partner and I are down visiting him about once a week to help with chores and hang out. Same with my other brother. We've been holding things together.
But Dad's having difficulty with normal life stuff (walking, bathing, eating) and he's transitioning into a bedbound state, losing weight and eating very little. He seems fairly comfortable, just extremely tired and increasingly frail.
To be clear, I'm not asking for medical advice. Where I'm stuck is: How do we initiate and navigate the process of getting him a home health aide? His medical team was entirely unhelpful when we asked about case management. They say "if he's struggling, bring him to the ER" but he absolutely does not want to go to the ER, and we're loathe to force him at his age unless he's in crisis. Also, the ER is full of people with the flu right now.
We've reached the "we can't put this off any longer" moment, I think. Any advice on getting the ball rolling would be appreciated. Do we just randomly call up home health agencies? How do we figure out what his insurance will and won't cover?
Thanks so much.
GP
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Comment on Advice on avoiding the hedonic treadmill of endless content? in ~life
GodzillasPencil Link ParentThe dumb phone has been fun! It scratches that itch of "I want to be able to make calls and get texts if there's an emergency" while also walking through the world untethered and unbothered. I...The dumb phone has been fun! It scratches that itch of "I want to be able to make calls and get texts if there's an emergency" while also walking through the world untethered and unbothered. I feel very light and very free.
But it gets tricky when you're traveling and need on-the-go maps, or when you need an app to access something like tickets to a show. I keep my old smartphone for those days, just as a practicality.
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Comment on Moving out soon. Think out loud with me regarding saving money vs. quality of life. in ~life
GodzillasPencil LinkNeither option sounds bad, in my view. I suppose it comes down to how you value having your own place versus the conveniences and cost savings of sharing the house. Is there room in the shared...Neither option sounds bad, in my view. I suppose it comes down to how you value having your own place versus the conveniences and cost savings of sharing the house. Is there room in the shared house's bedroom for your WFH desk? You may want privacy for your office hours.
If it were me, I'd probably meet the other housemates at least once and do a gut-check on how comfortable I feel around them. If that went well, I'd move into the shared house with the initial aim of saving money toward specific goals. (for example, LASIK, furnishing your own apartment, etc)
If, after that time (perhaps a year) you're enjoying the roommate situation, you could stay. If not, you'll be even better prepared to move into your own place.
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Comment on Advice on avoiding the hedonic treadmill of endless content? in ~life
GodzillasPencil LinkI can't speak to the kid issue, but here are a few tricks that work for me: Replace the bad habit with a better habit, in the specific context where my bad habit occurs. For me, that meant...I can't speak to the kid issue, but here are a few tricks that work for me:
- Replace the bad habit with a better habit, in the specific context where my bad habit occurs.
For me, that meant replacing my "morning news scroll" with listening to music while I wake up and get ready for the day.
In the evening, while I watch TV, I put a paper journal and a fountain pen in my lap. Sometimes I doodle, and sometimes I take notes about whatever comes into my mind. Other times, the journal and pen just sit in my lap, but it nicely occupies the fidgety space that once belonged to my phone.
- Treat the internet like a faucet. (on/off)
If your job allows it, turn the internet on only when you need it for a specific task. I have a relaxing playlist (music being helpful, again) that lasts about thirty-five minutes. I put that on, take care of my internet tasks for the morning (email, notifications, downloading files, etc) and then before playlist is over, I switch my laptop to airplane mode and focus in on my work. I turn the faucet back on if needed for work, of course, but I try to live with my computer in airplane mode unless there's a reason not to.
- Getting a life
For me, overuse of the internet was a flashing red sign that my daily life wasn't sufficiently engaging. I had free time, but I wasn't using it very well. So I began working on my health (cooking, exercising) and that has been great. (I lost 40 pounds!) My partner and I go out to happy hour with our neighbors. I volunteer at a nonprofit. We attend an event or two every month (sports, happy hours, book clubs) even when we're skeptical we'll enjoy them, because the whole point is engaging with the real world and experiencing new things.
- Dumber devices
This is probably the least important thing I've done, but it's become a fun hobby for me, so I'll mention it. I've exchanged streaming music for an MP3 player and purchasing entire albums. I've gotten into physical media and DVDs, and my partner is building a Jellyfin server to catalog our growing collection of music, movies, and TV shows. I use a dumbphone around town, not because it keeps me offline, but because I enjoy the retro aesthetic. I even picked up a standalone digital camera and alarm clock.
I'm not hardcore about avoiding new tech. Sometimes I pay for a month of streaming to watch a show I want to see. I take my old smartphone with me if I need maps or apps.
The most difficult concept for me to grasp was that breaking my bad habits with technology could not be solved with more or different technology. I had to look elsewhere for answers.
Anyway, I hope something in here is helpful!
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Comment on Looking for a non-smart watch recommendation in ~tech
GodzillasPencil Link ParentChiming in here to say I was looking for the same thing as you and I ended up with a step counter vintage Casio model, specifically the ABL100WE-1AVT. I don't like the big, plasticky looking...Chiming in here to say I was looking for the same thing as you and I ended up with a step counter vintage Casio model, specifically the ABL100WE-1AVT. I don't like the big, plasticky looking Casios, so the vintage style fits me better.
The steps reset daily, and you can set a daily step goal and even a step reminder if you want. (The reminder vibrates your watch if you're behind on steps.) One button push alternates the main watchface between today's date and your step count, right above the time. It's been an all-around great watch, and I'm happy with it.
There's a Bluetooth feature that allows you to connect it to an app to download your historical step data, but I've never done so. There's no need to use the app. I never bothered to download it.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
GodzillasPencil LinkI felt rather underwhelmed by Daredevil Born Again. As much as I enjoy the cast, it felt like a lot of retreading old ground, not to mention the cliffhanger ending which brought the season to an...I felt rather underwhelmed by Daredevil Born Again. As much as I enjoy the cast, it felt like a lot of retreading old ground, not to mention the cliffhanger ending which brought the season to an end without any satisfying resolution.
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Comment on Kagi Assistant is now available to all users in ~tech
GodzillasPencil Link ParentI had a similar reaction. As someone with zero interest in AI tools, my main concern with Kagi is the price. I renewed it for a second year, but it was a tough decision, and I'm not sure I can...I had a similar reaction. As someone with zero interest in AI tools, my main concern with Kagi is the price. I renewed it for a second year, but it was a tough decision, and I'm not sure I can justify it indefinitely as a casual web browser who isn't doing heavy research.
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Comment on Apple refusing to release ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ on physical media - declined Criterion’s offer in ~movies
GodzillasPencil Link ParentThere are dozens of us!There are dozens of us!
Sure, here's my TMI description.
Download any calorie tracking app. (LoseIt, MyFitnessPal, Chronometer). At each meal or snack, use the app's database to find what you ate, log it, and hit "save."
LoseIt allows me to search for and copy entire meals from my past. "Hmm... I ate this sandwich last month. Let me search for it..." There's also a barcode scanner for quickly finding packaged foods. So let's say I eat lunch, I'll use my app to log what's on my plate real quick. If I eat a packaged snack I'll flip the bag over, scan the barcode, and hit save. Or if I have a latte in the afternoon during a meeting, I think: "okay, 12oz latte" and I log that later. You get in the habit of keeping a few things in your memory until you can log them. Not every log is perfectly accurate. You do your best and move on.
At home, sometimes I use a kitchen scale to figure out how much of a thing I'm eating. I know 100g of my favorite yogurt is 107 calories, but what's 100g look like? Toss my bowl on the scale and hit "tare" to zero out the weight before filling it. That takes less than 10 seconds. On the road, I estimate amounts and don't worry. When I'm feeling lazy, I snap a photo of my food with my phone and add it later. Am I going to a friend's BBQ with a million finger foods? Well, if it's a rare event and tracking would be a gigantic chore, I skip tracking for that meal. But I don't skip very often.
I refuse to log calories on Thanksgiving or my birthday.
For me, the "overwhelming and difficult" aspects faded away after a few months. It becomes routine. The boring part remains boring, but that's okay. Not being obese is pretty awesome, and I view tracking kind of like brushing my teeth or washing my hands after using the toilet. Just a thing I gotta do to maintain this body.
After a few years of doing this my brain is a great food estimator, so sometimes I just use the calculator app on my phone to add things up as the day goes on. You can even use pen and paper if you want, but I think the apps are easiest, because they have massive databases. The trick is to view it as data. When I eat terribly, I log it all. It's just data! This isn't about making the log look good, it's about being aware of what and how much I eat.
I was SO resistant to calorie tracking. Like... for 20 years I refused to do it. I hated the idea so much! Ha. :) Ironic then that it was the thing I needed to do.