It was called disassociation, the change in my life had been so traumatic that I just... kind of existed, largely doing things on autopilot, only engaging in things when necessary.
I hadn't wanted to be a Kobold, part of me kept thinking, 'this isn't real, I'm going to wake up any moment now'. But I never woke up to anything but this reality. Rather than tackle this like a normal, sane person, I just withdrew and didn't engage.
"Hello, I'm Ruuk." I said. "I haven't exactly been here the past year and some."
The way everyone welcomed me to the warren, not like a stranger finally being accepted, but as a family member who was gone for far too long- It felt good to just... connect.
While I sequestered myself to my shack on the edge of town, the warren had been organizing, fixing things up, just generally working their asses off to make things as comfortable as possible for people. The result was kind of an anachronistic mess, but it worked. Roads had been turn up and repaved, taking a mess of a car-reliant town and streamlining it so people could actually walk from place to place.
The Artificers had taken cars apart and reused the tools to make a tramway that was convenient for everyone. Why bother with cars when half of us can't even reach the pedals? With the restructuring of the town building by building, done simply because it needed to be done, the surrounding houses could be utilized more efficiently.
The reason why my house was largely untouched was because it was still my house, there was no committee ruling that demanded I give it up. It was understood that I'd know what I wanted to do with it when I was finished being a hermit.
Well, more than a handful of people suggested I just have a full-on mage tower, I realistically didn't need that much space, and even then, the things I wanted to keep were so few that having an entire four-story house to myself with more rooms than I realistically needed.
"Besides, when you get to Level 15, you can create your own demiplane." Tudru, the Fighter, remarked.
The plans for such a hypothetical mage tower put it toward the center of the town, just north of the central tramway. It would be convenient to get to me, and it would be convenient for me to go anywhere.
"Plus, well, we've been wanting you to be the Sorcerer on the Council." Goss, the Sorcerer, remarked.
"The what on the what?" I asked.
The Council, as I understood, was comprised equally of Humans and Kobolds. Kobolds with a set Class were put into a position to discuss the needs of the town. No matter who it was, no matter the Class, there was a representative, even if they were the only one present.
There was no Sorcerer Councilor yet, in spite of us being fairly common.
"Why me?" I asked after being given a significantly less truncated explanation.
"Because you're the most competent one out of all of us, are unbound by preconceived notions of how things work." Goss replied. "I mean, I would have never thought of using Magic Missile on that boulder, or staggering the hits like that so nobody got hurt."
I rubbed the back of my neck. "I mean, anyone could have done it." I said.
"The fact of the matter, Ruuk, is that most of us have assumptions based on a bunch of books in a situation that we still don't really understand. I choose to believe that another world has made contact with ours, and we're the ones burdened with responsibility. That doesn't mean I am correct."
They further broke down expectations.
"I am in charge of infrastructure." Rekka, the Artificer, spoke. The goal was to transform the town into an entirely self-sufficient place. Since we were still technically under quarantine, we couldn't get supplies in or out, not without the government allowing it through. The dissemination of magic items and technology that was essential to our continued existence hinged on understanding where to put it and how to ensure it was used correctly.
Barbarians and Fighters- in spite of Kuvli and Tudru being the only ones- were in charge of town defense.
"We work in tandem to find the best solution to a threat." Tudru said. "While thus far purely theoretical, we have options for if and when monsters show up. Let's not forget the Dire Rat that came out of the mine."
"Dire Rat?" I asked.
"Big fuckers." Kuvli said. "Ever seen a nutria? That fucker you killed was even bigger."
It was understood that if monsters came about, we would need weapons. Artificers took care of that, we had a small cache of magically enhanced swords ready and available, as well as every gun in town somewhere where people could grab and react.
Bards, when we would eventually get one, would be in charge of communications and entertainment. With the quarantine in place and us having no actual income at the moment, short of going out and stealing shit, we were largely on our own with what we already had.
"I am in charge of ensuring the town's spiritual needs are taken care of, and the adjudication of our laws." Galax stated. "Given the high probability of Gods existing, and the likelihood of demons, ghosts, and other beings eventually showing up, This includes discerning which deities are existent, and which ones are not. So far, we've only had minor to moderate luck with divine magic. Prayer is necessary for it to work, as we have to explicitly petition our Gods for it every long rest."
"Aren't you biased toward Bahamut?" I asked.
"Of course." He said. "Any anyone who comes to the Temple is welcome to hear anything I have to say on the matter. The biggest problem is figuring out how it all relates."
Next was Merti. "We Druids are in charge of ensuring this town's sustainability and harmony with nature." She said. "That includes recycling materials, ethical and sustainable logging, hunting, farming... Essentially, as long as it pertains to nature, it's our duty to ensure we don't shoot ourselves in the foot."
"Well, while you're busy speaking for the trees, we're responsible for going out there and making sure nothing is coming to kill us. That and getting meat." Tatla spoke. "We're also in reserve in case of a combat situation, we defer to our Fighter and Barbarian for that."
"When we get a Rogue, they will focus on security. As the closest thing we've got to that, I've got plans set up for establishing a wall around the town, just outside the Anomaly, so that people can't just waltz right in, and to prevent any wild animals or hypothetical monsters from getting in." Nakk the Locksmith who might actually be a Rogue said. "And for the record, I've tried everything I can think of to awaken to a Class, and I'm reasonably certain Rogue isn't one." He paused. "That being said, I am offering lockpicking lessons to anyone who thinks it might help."
"Considering we just share and share alike, I don't think we need to worry about our Rogues." Someone I wasn't familiar with yet said.
The way Nakk reacted to his statement, avoiding his gaze, made me wonder why he reacted that way.
"Nakk, why do you look guilty?" I asked.
He looked at me with wide eyes, and for a tense moment, it seemed like he was about to run. I walked up to him and gently put my hand on his shoulder. "It's better to get it out now, rather than later."
He looked away. "I... I've been overcharging everyone since I moved in." He said. "On top of that, I've used my skills as a locksmith to steal from people."
He expected us to get angry, and a fair number of us did.
"Honor and Correction to the enemies of Justice and Good." Galax spoke, "Nakk, is the confession you have spoken true?"
"Y-yes." Nakk said softly.
"When you moved here, was it your intention to steal from us?"
"No." Nakk said. "I just- I had some bad debts, I was trying to escape, start a new life. But then they found me, told me if I didn't pay off the debt, they'd make me regret it. So I stole, but no matter how much I took, the debt never seemed to shrink. When we were all transformed, I was so happy because I could finally escape. They couldn't possibly hurt all of us, and with the quarantine..."
"Nakk." Galax spoke. "Is it your intention to atone for your crimes?"
Nakk nodded. "Yes."
"Then I shall ease your burden, that you no longer are swayed into such temptation." Galax took a pouch out of another pouch on his belt. "This is powdered silver." He said, several eyes widened, clearly understanding the significance of this. "Bahamut, Grandfather of Dragons, Grand Master of Flowers, Justicemaker. Before me stands a penitent soul seeking to atone for his sins against his fellow people. If he hides from you, you are the one who shall bring him into the light. If he hides his face, you are the one who shall reveal it. If his tongue betrays him against his people, you shall be the one who frees it from evil machinations."
He threw the powdered silver upon Nakk, and as he did so, he roared.
"NOMAG SVABOL UI WHEDAB RANNOX EKESS MITNE!"
The silver flashed with brilliant light that, somehow, didn't hurt to look upon, and then Nakk was engulfed in flames. Before anyone could panic, the flames swirled as if caught in a whirlwind and flew into Nakk's open mouth.
For a moment, Nakk was suspended in the air, and then he fell onto his feet, then onto his hands and knees. He gasped for breath, faint wisps of silvery fire escaping his open maw.
"What the fuck just happened?" Kuvli asked.
"That was the Atonement spell." A Player remarked. "You touch a willing creature whose alignment has changed, and if you're powerful enough, you bring them back to their original alignment. In this case, maybe neutral leaning toward evil back to good."
Galax nodded. "You have caused suffering to your people, Nakk. I have firmly put you back on the path to righteousness. You will no longer fear the reprisal of your warren, but will openly accept it. You will no longer hesitate, you will do what is necessary to make amends. Though I can do this as many times as I deem necessary, for you, this is but one chance. In the guidance of Bahmut, go forth and sin no more."
"I will. Thank you." Nakk said.
"I do not need thanks, I am simply the one who interceded on your behalf. Zhin mrith filkiati."
With that out of the way, the meeting resumed.
"Ruuk, as the Sorcerer Councilor, you would be responsible for the responsible use of magic. As every Sorcerer has unique spells, there is a level of versatility that the Warren can use. It would be your duty to advocate for your fellow Sorcerers, to ensure we do not end up taking advantage of them for our own selfish desires." Rekka said. "What do you say?"
I gave it some thought, then nodded. "I'll do it." I said.
What the Council does, as I learned, is convene every week to go over current events and how to deal with them, and occasionally plan ahead on hypothetical situations. We were each paired with a Human who was chosen by other Humans to serve as their representative on specific matters.
My partner is Dave. Dave is a Pagan, he practices magic as a form of spirituality. He is also, currently, the only Human with any level of magical skill, being able to use magic items fairly easily without it blowing up in his face.
"The only reason why I'm not a Kobold is because I want to be an Elf." He said. "I'm hoping that learning more about the Anomaly on the magical end of the spectrum of scholarly pursuit will allow us to do that." He paused. "I will also settle for Dragonborn. You and Galax are currently the best chance of either."
"Why would we want to do that?" I asked.
"Well, presently, only Kobolds are capable of magic, meaning that Humans in the Forgotten Realms are different from us."
"The what?"
"Common setting for D&D." He said. "Now, back when this was all make-believe, Earth was mentioned as being existent in the D&D multiverse, meaning that something decided to mess with us." He paused. "Look, from what I've been able to gather, Earth is in a part of the Prime Material plane that has very weak connections to other planes, we lack magic because of this. However, we are currently in a dome of sustained magic-"
"It's actually a relatively short column." I corrected.
"-which means something has connected us, and specifically us." He finished.
"Alright, so this raises several presumptions, like the notion that someone did this to us for a reason. Do you have any ideas as to what that reason would be?"
"Interplanar invasion, the astral plane bleeding into ours, maybe we're crashing into another plane, maybe a wizard got lucky. We don't have enough information."
I sighed. "Look, let's just get some work done."
We got started on requests, most of them were just questions on if a certain spell was viable for use, some were requests to run experiments with certain spells. With Dave and I debating back and forth, we got them done by the end of the day.
​
[Navigation for 'Dragon Rising'- [1] [2] [3] [4]]

Special thanks to u/SpacePaladin15 for allowing fanfiction and giving us Tilfish. The man gave us a canon art of the bugs, and they're rad!
I'm surprised I got this motivation in my to write this part so quickly. I think the fine comments I got motivated me pretty well. Now, I'd appreciate your thoughts and opinions on this. If its flow is smooth and feels right, let me know, I'm not usually good with dialogue.
Also, Feenstra, thank you for your kindness and support. I don't know how to respond to it, honestly, but you're a cool cat.
[First] [Prior] [Next]
.*~*.
Memory Transcription Subject: Marullo, Tilfish agricultural practitioner.
Date: December 2, 2136
.~*~.
I gripped the fabric over the side window and pushed it aside, spotting a Tilfish on the other side of the door instead of a cluster of predators. He appears rather calm, even though he's alone out in the open. My grip tightened on the blind before I tugged the door open.
"Visiting hours are closed." I stated curtly, my antennae twitching outside of my control. Formi I'm still riled up, and I want this man gone so I can dig a hole in peace. I eye the visitor sharply, not seeing any garment or air to him that would tip me off if this was a visiting politician. He's too soft to be a farmer, and I know for a fact there's no appointments he could be attending.
"Oh, uh, is this a business?" I don't even bother with a reply and give the stranger a long look, waiting for him to either acknowledge the massive emblem on the wall right above us or get on with it. He fidgets in awkward silence for a long few seconds. "Uhhh... okay, okay. Off on the wrong feeler here. I'm concerned, is all. I could hear you yelling for the past hour."
My antennae dropped slightly. "What?"
"You uh, your window was open." The stranger explained, mandibles clicking slightly in concern as I shut the door behind me and scuttled down the steps into the yard. I felt my chitin warm around my skull as I looked at the aforementioned window.
Don't tell me I broadcasted that entire conversation to the world.
Stupid sand spitters. Stupid sand spitters!
"I... am sorry for disturbing the peace." I hissed. "I had to wrangle some insubordinates into line. How much did you hear?"
"Not much. Just a lot of yelling. We could hear you from the apartments."
I dipped my head at the mention of the living block. The Regional Agriculture Advisory building was on the edge of the business and government district, and down the road was the start of a residential area. Towering buildings loomed over there, and on occasion they provided a nice view from my old office window with the setting sun reflecting off their many windows.
I was lucky that the masses were too nervous to be out and about in this sector. There was an infestation of predators in and around the capitol building, and even more outposts spread through the surrounding sectors. Being on the streets wasn't popular any more, so the normally lively road we were on was all but abandoned the past several days.
Oddly, I noticed that this stranger was very much alone. There was no swarm to keep him safe, and no vehicle in sight. On the far end of the road leading into the residential sector was a hastily erected barricade that still stood untouched by the predator's roving patrols, comprised mostly of furniture and scrap wood and metal. Looking towards the other end of the road leading towards the capitol building was a more firm barricade that surprisingly still stood, but the filthy tire tracks that cut over the sidewalk and through carefully maintained gardens and lawns told me how the predators got by. There was still nobody else in sight.
"It won't happen again. I had to enforce who's the new boss."
"The predators?"
My mandibles clacked and the stranger flinched at my snap, but stood his ground as I side eyed him intently. "No, me. I'm in charge of this operation."
"Did the predators tell you that yesterday?"
You tar sucking wretch.
The airy accusation made me clench my mandibles and feelers, and my antennae grew still. It must've encouraged the stranger to keep going.
"Because replacing our leaders with more traitorous Tilfish won't work. We're not the Venlil."
So that was what this was really about. Okay.
"You're mistaken," I began smoothly, ready to cut down this wretch with words alone. "My daughter got into trouble while I was working, and was returned to me. I've been terribly busy as you've heard in the old Advisor's place, with everything ongoing. Their visit yesterday did not pertain to my office, and any insinuation to the contrary will not be taken lightly."
"There was a boy as well. He seemed unnaturally comfortable with the beasts."
I will bury you underneath my garden.
"Your vision must be failing, because I assure you I saw no such thing under my roof."
"Good, good. We cannot have the diseased among us, no matter the times. I was wary of calling the exterminators prematurely, so I'm glad I checked in."
"The dead Exterminators?" I asked sharply, cocking my head. "Or the ones leashed to the predators?"
"..." The wretch stared at me for a long moment. "The dead ones, I suppose."
"What a shame about them, really." I drawled. "Anyways, did you have anything else on your mind you felt worth coming over this way to ask?"
"What happened to the old Advisor?"
"Dereliction of duty and cowardice. He's fled to a different system by now. For all the good that'll do him." The wretch's antennae flicked in irritation. "Now, the office is closed and I have work to do yet. Admittance is by appointment only. Good day."
The wretch didn't leave, apparently unsatisfied. We stared at each other a moment more.
"Is something else the matter?" I buzzed firmly.
"The swarm is more than capable of defending itself without the Exterminators. Don't think yourself above it's reach."
Something cold settled in my carapace. My claws itched. "Be very careful; threatening the Agricultural office is a high crime. I'm more than capable of protecting myself without the Exterminators."
A twitch from the wretch. "Is that so?"
"Don't come around my office again. Bounders are not welcome here, same as any predator."
His antennae lowered and he remained quiet, and I felt a faint trill in my chest. "Enjoy your day..."
"Eat sod." I responded sharply. I eyed the wretch as he retreated down the sidewalk, and something clicked in my mind.
Twenty paces. In twenty paces I could retrieve the gun in the lobby. You won't even see it coming.
A flicker of movement, and another Tilfish stepped out from some ornamental carvings in front of the filing office down the way, joining the wretch. I waited until the two were out of sight and long gone, arms crossed and feelers clenching my chitin as I waited even longer, before turning back to my abode and striding around to the garden.
.*~*.
"Marullo?" The voice above me is hesitant, and I bury my tool into the soil and look up. Tugal is above me at the lip of the hole, and I realize that I've dug way too far down. My arms hurt. My legs hurt. I don't feel like stopping, but I might hit a gas line if I keep going. I feel a flash of pity at my brother's distressed state.
"What... what happened while I was asleep? Holywood and Aegan are fighting over burning the last of our food- those Nectar Pods the predator touched. I thought we threw those out, but somehow they're back. Muttart climbed up the wall and left tracks everywhere, and he won't come down because he's still mad about last night. Cleo's locked herself in the bathroom and won't stop crying and vomiting. She searched the net for something and nobody can get through to her now. She mentioned the predator wanted something terrible from you, but that's all I could understand through the door. And you're out here destroying the gardens?"
"I was in my office all day. Food distribution is back on track for now, but who knows how long that'll last. It was stressful, and this is how I'm handling it." I began. I clacked my mandibles and ran my feelers over my antennae.
Formi, I'm filthy.
"Why destroy the gardens? And the hole?"
"The old boss's taste in décor was tacky. I'm sprucing it up. Oh! The Head of Agriculture is still with us. He approved my promotion, so I'm now the new Regional Agricultural Advisor." I rubbed at my face, my antennae twitching aggressively once more now that I'm not putting my entire focus onto tearing asunder this pathetic excuse of a garden.
"I'm making a burrow in case we need to hide the kids outside the building. I've already made two others in case we need to retreat through the back and into the next property."
"What did the predator do? Are you okay?"
I kicked at some loose soil before stretching my legs and scuttling out of the hole. I pulled myself up and fruitlessly wiped at the filth coating my carapace. "I'm not okay. Nobody is okay, or we wouldn't be here Tugal. We wouldn't need to worry about predators, or pests, or starving, or the humans, or each other if we were okay. For once, our predator didn't do anything wrong."
Tugal became alert, his mandibles clicking quietly as he waited for me to continue.
"There was a Tilfish that left the swarm. He went into one of the predator nests to talk. They didn't hurt him- the humans are too patient to eat the first ones that come to them, but after he left some witnesses told the swarm about it." How I really felt about the matter was slipping through with every single errant twitch I couldn't control. We were not supposed to be the monsters in this story. We were not supposed to be so susceptible to our wicked past. We were civilized!
I lowered my voice. "A group took him away from the city and tore him apart while he was still alive. They tried to feed him to Bark Saws, Tugal."
"Are you certain the story wasn't deception?" Tugal whispered back. "It's what they're known for."
I flicked my antennae in confirmation.
"Maybe... maybe they were defending themselves. Don't look at me like that, how they did it was sick. I hope they're screened and dealt with properly; we can't have people doing that in these times. It's no excuse. I'm just trying to understand it." Tugal stated, making my innards twist. "But these predators we're facing hunt through social deception. They're tricky, and the more of us they corrupt the more susceptible the swarm gets. That man, he could've done untellable damage. I just... I'm sorry you had to hear that. We have to stand strong against them, but we can't lose ourselves doing so."
Tugal watched me for a moment more, then gently prodded me: "...now, why the burrows? What else happened?"
I swallowed, my mandibles clicking repeatedly as I tried to reign in my thoughts. It was hard to speak suddenly, and I gripped my feelers until my claws started scraping into my chitin. "Where does that leave Muttart?"
Tugal flinched and his mandibles flexed. "No. Marullo, no."
"He's not afraid of them, Tugal!" I hissed quietly, feelers trembling. "He isn't! How do I help him? How long can I keep him here before he's too curious and sneaks out? What if someone sees him? What if Cleo finds out? He's not a threat: he's still a child!"
"Marullo, he'll be fine." My brother stated firmly, gripping my arms. "Nobody's going to touch him. We just need to talk to him- he doesn't understand what predators are capable of."
"And what about us?" I buzzed back. "What are we capable of? How can normal people do that?"
"It's fear, Marullo. Fear breaks us. You freeze when you're terrified. Others abandon the ones they love. Some... some fight back. Everyone goes crazy when threatened, and those people will pay for what they did."
Too many things flashed through my head at once. It felt like I was boiling.
"It's not just them, Tugal. Someone down in the residential area was watching the predators last night. He asked about him." My brother's feelers tightened on my arms, and he grew still. "They asked about me as well, and I think they believe I'm a threat. They're no different than the people that mutilated that poor man."
"How many? What did you say?"
"Two, at least. They didn't give their names. I didn't tell them anything about us. We can't trust anyone else to keep quiet. One word to the wrong person and we're all dead. Our chance at making this right dies. I told them off, but I don't think it'll be enough."
"They might come back because of that."
"What was I to say? Was I supposed to advertise that we're one of the last resistance networks left?"
My brother's grip loosened and he stepped away, antennae flicking with concern. "I can figure this out. We'll... I'll set up a watch throughout the day with the exterminators. If they're on hand if a mob shows up, one of them in their gear should dissuade any further action. They won't get to you or Muttart. You did good. Can you- please rest. Go clean up, you'll scare Holywood and Muttart."
I twitched my mandibles a few times, looking at the ruins of a once barely acceptable garden. "Let me tidy up back here. I have to order flowers and a few trees, and work on other gardens in the public view. I guess that part can wait." I tacked on quickly, trying not to flinch under Tugal's sharp gaze.
"I'll go out to the market and pick up food afterwards. We shouldn't need to worry about basic necessities."
"If you're up for it. Be watchful out there" Tugal warned softly. I appreciated his concern, and bobbed my head wordlessly. He paused a moment, and asked quietly: "How did the predator come across that crime?"
"I... I don't know."
Tugal sighed quietly. "How did it affect it?"
I paused, wondering why Tugal cared. Absently, I ducked my head in thought. "It's furious. I... I almost want to say bitter. We got into a fight over the Bark Saws, and it escalated. It's angry with me, and I need to figure out how to fix that before we lose it."
"We can try and-""
"No." I interrupt, surprising my brother. His antennae raise, and I continue. "Because I've been handing off the conversation to you and the others, we accidentally crossed it. If I had been the one to talk to it first instead of you, I could've avoided starting the argument with the Bark Saw. Cleo, Aegan, Zoil- they're hostile towards it and it believes I talk like that now. It feels threatened. I need to do this on my own and try and fix it. I can bring it back to us."
Tugal buzzed quietly, thinking. "Okay. Get yourself cleaned up first. Give it some time to calm down and go bring back some groceries. I'll talk with the others and get them back on track. I think our window to do this is closing, Marullo. If we can't get this human the risks we took will be for naught. Every other option will be riskier if this falls apart."
"I know. I won't let you down."

tldr - How would one of these C8's fare for someone's one and only car for daily driving?
I'm starting to look around for a new car and have been really drawn to one of the new C8 stingrays. I think it's quite possibly the most (and only time) I've ever looked at a car and thought that I want to own one. My car experience so far has been beaten up camrys and priuses, never really thought I'd care for more.
But that said, it is a bit of a stretch for my budget, not so much that I'd be hurt but enough that it would dent my savings and I wouldn't really be able to keep a 2nd car as a backup. So if I were to get one, it would be my sole car I'd use for daily commuting and driving.
As a single guy living in Texas, the lack of extra seats and cargo space isn't a big issue, and snow is rarely a problem. However, I do have some worries when it comes to daily commuting, and wanted to see what more experienced folk thought it'd be like and what issues could arise, especially with some less than well maintained roads about. Am I just being a little stupid for the sake of vanity, or am I being extremely stupid for the sake of vanity? Most of what my googling has turned up mentions family issues and snow, but I'm curious what other problems people might foresee.

I just hiked the Ozark Trail in Missouri. I did 24 hours on trail before a foot injury got me off, I wanted to do more.
This will be in two parts
Part 1:
The entire trail organization is disorganized. It needs a top to bottom redo with a focus on real time information sharing.
The OTA (Ozark Trail Association) Facebook page rarely posts trail information and their website is out of date. They don't share trail status. They're not on Farout, and apparently it's in their court to be so. There's information boards along the trail and no one posts anything about the trail on it. The free online topo maps are as old as 2014 and the newest section, largely adding their name to trails along some existing trails that connect, hasn't been added to their own online Google map in the three years since. For a group that should be about immediacy in the name of safety being years behind on anything isn't a good sign.
The Facebook group for most information reflects poorly on the OTA. And this is 100% the OTA's fault. Could you imagine the PTCA or the ATC allowing a volunteer to be the only source of information for their trail network and that person is ban happy? That's what the OTA has done.
I posted a very well written post-trail post about the trail which included current information to share, much of it reorganized into part 2 below with and they silently banned me from the group within 10 minutes after posting. Didn't bother to send me a message. Why is a mystery because they don't care to be constructive.
Having current information is of critical importance on a backpacking trip and the OTA is failing hard. Until the organization is reorganized with new leadership it's going to do poorly as a trail organization.
That said, there's some outstanding hiking in the area but you should doing your planning on your own, the less you need to rely on the OTA for information the better.
Part 2
I did 22.5 miles. I found the hike to be educational but largely boring. It was too much of the same for 22 miles. Part of this was my fault, once the leaves grow in the views disappear. It's apparently a better fall to spring trail. Part of it is it's not a hugelyscenic trail, and I did know that. I was willing to go as far as I could before I had to end all the same. My trip ended early because I hurt my foot and it was slowing me down and increasingly so. Called in a shuttle pickup and back to my car. The next day I could barely walk so that was a smart decision.
I can’t recommend the OT as trail overall. It's especially bad to thru hike due to lack of resources along that. You may be able to get a shuttle to get supplies but expect to pay for it, and there's signs some of the shuttle offerings are unreliable. If you want to resupply every 3-4 days do it privately with caches (there's bears so plan accordingly) or with someone dropping food off to you.
What I should have planned was to do 1-2 shorter trail loops, moving between them, and then take a few days to drive to a few key natural destinations in the area on my way home. Basically I would recommend to use the trail as part of a trip, not the whole trip, and see more of the Ozarks.
The Berryman Loop, Bell Mountain Loop, Council Bluff Lake loop or the Taum Sauk Section of the OT all would be good sections to hike in late fall of early to mid spring. Avoid the rest of the trail.
I saw three deer, one armadillo, three chipmunks, two box turtles, one small snake, one lizard, a million squirrels, a toad, a duck, a bunch of tadpoles, one turkey, a caterpillar and a lot of butterflies. DIdn't get a single tick, my heavy Permethrin coverage worked. Nature didn't disappoint.
I saw three other people in 24 hours and hundreds at a canoe outfitter. These people weren't walking a 50 feet and exploring the Ozark Trail at all. I didn't blame them, it wasn't labeled at the campsite, had to find it first to follow it.
My favorite parts of the 22 miles was fording a creek, going past the canoe outfitter, and the open space where there has been a timber harvest.
Challenges included:
Poor information around campsites. Most of the trail is along slopes and there was zero information on where I could find a campsite near water. At times it was miles between anywhere flat enough to put a tent. I couldn't just camp anywhere and I needed to find water too.
For late May the section was relatively well maintained most the length but can tell its volunteer driven in good weather. Avoid the trail in summer, it will get humid, poison ivy filled, buggy and lots of spider webs. I luckily avoided most of this but the poison ivy was visible in droves, in some places it filled the ground as far as I could see. Stepping off trail to use the restroom meant careful selection.
A big issue is the Ozarks is rocky. There's no formal campsite toilets that I saw and the ground is super rocky. To be LNT proper at my campsite the closest place was in the middle of a field of poison ivy or inside the campsite. I couldn't camp 100 feet from water, I was like 10 feet away as nowhere else was flat. I was unhappy with my options.
The trailhead I exited the trip on showed they're spread thin on volunteer labor. The area was timber harvested and the connecting trail had disappeared. I reached the other end and found a sign pointing to the bushwhack i took.
The road names on the official maps don't match anyone else. Google maps had a different name from the OTA maps which had a different name from All Trails.
The Ozarks is a great place to visit, the river canoeing is world class, there's tons of caves, outstanding fishing, lakes and interesting state parks. I would spend more times on these activities and less on the Ozark Trail.

Venue: MVP Arena (Albany, NY)
Attendance: ~7,100

MATCH RESULTS

Match	Stipulation	Winner
Richochet vs. The Miz	MITB Qualifying Match	Ricochet
Indus Sher vs. Javier Bernal & [Unknown]	Tag Team Match	Indus Sher
Alpha Academy vs. Imperium	Tag Team Match	Imperium
Raquel Rodriguez & Shotzi vs. Bayley & IYO SKY vs. Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler vs. Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green	Fatal 4-Way for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship	Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler
Dolph Ziggler vs. JD McDonagh	Singles Match	Double DQ
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bronson Reed	MITB Qualifying Match	Shinsuke Nakamura
AJ Styles & Seth Rollins vs. Damian Priest & Finn Bàlor	Tag Team Match	AJ Styles & Seth Rollins

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Introducing your NEW World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins! He enters through the crowd, and is showered in streamers in the ring. He welcomes everyone to Monday Night Rollins. He recounts that it's been a long road to get here but he wants to focus on the future. Raw now has a champion that wants to be here and is ready for a fight. He wants everyone to step to him but the end will always be the same, him standing in the ring with his title and the world singing his song. AJ Styles' music interrupts and Uncle Allen joins Seth in the ring. After a brief staredown, AJ says he couldn't resist coming to Monday Night Raw to say congratulations. That it's almost like Seth knew what he was going to do before he did it. The crowd says he deserves it, but AJ doesn't think Seth deserves anything. He earned the right to be champion. Seth says that after the beating he took at Night of Champions, he earned this - and reached out for a handshake.
  
• Their handshake is interrupted by The Judgment Day. Finn Balor says whatever this is makes him want to puke. Damian Priest says they should turn this into something positive. Rhea reminds everyone that they run Monday Night Raw. Priest adds that after The Bloodline imploded on Saturday, they run the whole WWE. Finn also notes that they beat the tag team champions, something Roman couldn't do. Rhea puts Seth on notice that one of them will be coming for the World Heavyweight Championship. It could be any of them, including Dom! As AJ Styles laughs, Dom reminds AJ that he beat him. And after watching them beat each other, they're going to finish the job. AJ says that sounds like a challenge, and Seth accepts.
  
• Adam Pearce backstage is on the phone, trying to make the Rollins/Styles vs. Judgment Day match happen despite it messing with the brand split. AJ & Seth were also backstage and push Adam to make it happen. He makes it official.
  
• Trish Stratus speaks to the audience, sporting an absolutely nasty bruise on her jaw. She heard "thank you Trish," and wants everyone to know she doesn't care what they think. She said she was going to beat Becky Lynch, and she did. This is what you do when you're number one. Now Becky can crawl back into her dark hole and give real superstars a chance, like the one who had her back at Night of Champions. Someone who reminds her of herself, full of ruthless aggression. She then introduces Zoey Stark.
  
• Zoey says she came to the WWE to make a statement, and who better to learn from than the OG herself? She could've taken the long difficult road, or be smart. She thanks Trish. Then Zoey asks about the bruise and Stratus says yes, Becky Lynch did that, and you don't mess with her beautiful face. Becky Lynch's music hits and she asks, why don't we re-start that match and finish it here? Zoey Stark charges down the ramp and Becky takes her out. She then enters the ring and starts pummeling Trish, but Zoey is recovered and it's a 2-on-1 beatdown on Becky. Zoey takes off her "thank you Trish" trish shirt, and they lay it on a beaten Becky.
  
• Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn join the ring after their successful title defense at Night of Champions. Not only that, but Sami says, they won. They got to watch the Bloodline crumble, and Roman deserves everything he got. He may hold the championship for another 1000 days or headline the next 5 Wrestlemanias, but he'll always know that KO & Sami won. Imperium interrupts, Ludwig Kaiser praising their victory. But it wasn't more impressive than Gunther extending his Intercontinental championship reign. Kevin asks, why are they here? What is this, the wild west? Nobody called them out! They broke the rules! Sami tells Kevin to calm down, but Sami does ask them, why are they here? The last time they stepped to them, along with Matt Riddle, they were embarrassed. Kaiser says them holding their championships is an embarrassment, they're not worthy of representing Raw. Kevin says, hang on, we never hear from the bald one. Sami says yes, we want to hear from Baldie. As Kaiser starts berating them for their disrespect, everyone is interrupted by a 10 second long SHOOOOOOOOOSH. It's time for the Alpha Academy to hand out their lesson to Imperium. Kevin asks Chad if he's going to say the thing, and Chad responds with an ahhhTHANKYOU.
  
• Cathy Kelley speaks backstage with Raquel Rodriguez & Shotzi. Before they can answer any questions they're interrupted by Bayley & IYO SKY who will dedicate their match tonight to Dakota Kai. Raquel reminds her that she & Shotzi beat them on Smackdown. And also reminds Bayley that she's the only one of Damage CTRL who hasn't worn gold.
  
• Cody Rhodes is in the ring and asks Albany what they want to talk about. He acknowledges his loss to Brock Lesnar, he didn't tap out because that's not the man he wants to be. He knows there may not be another opportunity so to quote someone, "never give up." Cody has a question for the camera, since Brock isn't here -- Brock, are you satisfied with this being done? Cody issues an open challenge to Brock, saying he'll hand him his schedule so he can find him anytime, anywhere. He lists off Brock's accomplishments, then notes, if he doesn't accept this challenge, they'll need to add to the list "afraid of Cody Rhodes."
  
• Cathy Kelly interviews Matt Riddle backstage. He carries on about what it would be like to win the Money in the Bank, and is interrupted by Gunther. Gunther wants Matt to win the briefcase and challenge him, because beating Matt is fun to him.
  
• Talking to Ronda & Shayna after their win. Limb by limb they went through everyone. Not because they wanted it, but because they're the baddest team on the planet, and deez nuts prove it.
  
• Byron Saxton speaks with the Judgment Day backstage. How about Rhea's victory over Natalya? Rhea says nah, I destroyed Natalya. Byron asks which two are going to be in the match tonight? Finn starts to get feisty before Damian tells Byron to go do his job somewhere else.
  
• Next week's MITB qualifying matches: Becky Lynch vs. Sonya Deville, and Natalya vs. Zoey Stark!
  

Additional Plugs

• Revisit the Live Thread
  
• Check out our SquaredCircle Twitter account for all sorts of AMA announcements and interaction!
  
• Join our SquaredCircle Discord for live chat!
  
• Be sure to follow @WWE on Twitter and Like WWE on Facebook!
  
• Like other wrestling promotions? Perhaps you're looking for other subreddits related to wrestling? There's a sub for that! Check out /AEWOfficial, /njpw, /impactwrestling, /ROH, /indiewrestling, /Wrasslin, /BritishWrestling and more!
  

^{Here’s a story that I would like to share. It was something really traumatizing for me and I hope nobody will experience something like I did that morning…
(Before I begin, I’m an operator, driving heavy machines..} Also, English isn’t my main language so sorry if they are things that aren’t making any sense or if it’s unclear lol))
It was a sunny Monday around 8:00am. I was working, snowplowing residential driveway. I was driving a heavy machinery equipped with a big snowblower (Wheel Loader). I was clearing snow from a driveway.
(\note that They is a crosswalk near the driveway I was plowing. And they are big bushes and tree that hide/annoy our visibility *).*
When I was done clearing the driveway, I pull up the snowblower from the ground. Looking at my surrounding, I see no one around the crosswalk or even on the road, so I begin to go slowly forward. And then while I slowly accelerate, I kinda see something fall at the left of my snowblower. At first, I thought it was a piece of ice that fell from the top of my snowblower. And I get that horrible mind in my head, ‘’Imagine if that piece of ice was someone’’. I keep driving, going very slowly, convinced that it was a snow piece. I turn my head, looking at the road through the glass door. And I believe to see clothes on the ground and I heard noises like if someone was screaming. My brain don’t want to believe it. I keep driving maybe 15-20 feet from the crosswalk and I look on the back behind me and I see someone laying down in the middle of the road.
At that moment, I’m like; ‘’This can’t be real, I bet it’s a nightmare and when I will turn the key to cut off the engine, I will wake up’’. *Proceed to turn the engine off*. I didn’t wake up, this is really happening! I open the door and climb out of the wheel loader. I was convinced that I had just killed someone. ‘’There I am, 19-year-old my life is over I just ran over someone, and he’s probably dead’’. ‘’What my family will think of me now?’’. I run toward him. While I run, I heard him scream, probably from pain. When I arrive at his side, I told him that I’ve never seen him and that I was sorry. He’s screaming from pain and tell me to call the ambulance. (I already had my phone out, but I was so panicking that I wasn’t able to call 911. My hands were shaking, I was in shock. I turn around and see 3 people running toward us. One holding his phone already talking with a 911 dispatchers. I let them take care of the victim because they seemed to knew what they were doing better than me, so I go on the side of the road away from them. I was feeling my heart going very fast, my hands were shaking. I was cold. They were 3 people taking care of the victim while waiting for the ambulance, and they were other people who were reassuring
me telling me that it was an accident, but I wasn’t really listening to what they were saying. After maybe 4–5 minutes of waiting, I was hearing sirens coming closer from us. I turn my head, I see 2 fire truck coming toward us. I turn the other way and I see like 4-5 police cars following with an ambulance and paramedic pick up. I don’t remember a lot of things after that. Basically, an ambulance proceeded to take care of the victim and another ambulance with a team of paramedic took care of me because I was in shock, they were saying my heart was going too fast and that I should go to hospital or something. They called an ambulance for me, but I refused to take it because I felt that I didn’t need an ambulance, lol.
(Took me literally around 1 week to recover from this, I was having trouble sleeping, I couldn’t think of something else than the incident.)
Anyway, the guy ends up having only a broken leg and other minor injury. Police investigated and it end up it was an accident. He crossed the road without making sure I saw him. He was in my blind spot when I hit him and I never saw him coming because they were tree and bushes and big snow blank hiding the pedestrian road, so I couldn’t see him coming. And again he doesn’t make any eyes contact with me or making sure I saw him before crossing the road.
Here’s what I don’t stop thinking about! Why me! I’m only 19 year old and I literally drove over someone, what is the chance!!?? I’m always driving very safely, watching every pedestrian and paying attention while driving. I can’t believe that I didn’t see him. I hate myself for that. I literally drove over someone with a wheel loader. And I can’t stop thinking that I could have killed him. This incident took place a few months ago during the winter. Now i’m fine but still to this day, they are not one day that I don’t think of that morning. I already know that I will keep thinking of it until I die. For real, that day, it was the worst morning.

Hello! Like many, I find the current landscape for making friends or relationships is severely lacking. I think of myself capable of being friends and possibly more with many types of people, yet the online dating apps encourage to not engage with strangers for the pettiest of reasons. A swiping, meaningless chat quagmire. Do you feel the same way? Are you looking for more, like me?
I'm looking for a connection, and I'm open to where it leads - starting as friends makes the bond run deeper. Openness invites ambiguity, I'm aware, yet I can't help but think of James Baldwin: we cannot invent our mooring posts, lovers, and friends. Life gives these and takes them away.
However, we can make openings for new beginnings. This post is to offer a place to anchor should you'd like to.
Me:
Tall, active body type, rather pale, slightly rosy cheeked, with a penchant for getting lost in museums and bookstore aisles. Mid 30s with touches of grey in my brown hair. Ambitious, part-time goofy, with weirdly hypnotic dance moves, breathy-vocals when singing, pro cuddling skills. Two goals for 2023: get back into long distance hiking, and to record an EP.
I’m in the corporate world for work, but also do part-time as a canine theme songwriteperformer for my family’s dogs. Mellow most days, always curious. In need of a road trip or two. Would like to find my other half and build things for the long haul.
West Coast, USA
You:
Talkative people tend to flow best with me, but introverts are welcome too- I can lead the dance. Being able to tolerate the occasional rambly monologue on history would be ideal (you ever wanted to know the history of Marius and Sulla? No? Buckle up), a simple pat on my head will suffice. Also, sharing your interests- I care less about keeping a tally of what we match on, I want to feel and know your passions, hobbies, and guilty pleasures. Having good communication skills along with emotional maturity is sexy! Physically, I tend to become attracted to one’s physical traits the deeper the connection. I’m an active person, and while I can definitely enjoy a lazy day and have had many movie marathon, I tend not to stay inside all day and yearn for adventure near and far - we’d match best if you were the same.
Chats or messages work for me, thank you!
https://imgur.com/a/J4TpTtv

Hello! Like many, I find the current landscape for making friends or relationships is severely lacking. I think of myself capable of being friends and possibly more with many types of people, yet the online dating apps encourage to not engage with strangers for the pettiest of reasons. A swiping, meaningless chat quagmire. Do you feel the same way? Are you looking for more, like me?
I'm looking for a connection, and I'm open to where it leads - starting as friends makes the bond run deeper. Openness invites ambiguity, I'm aware, yet I can't help but think of James Baldwin: we cannot invent our mooring posts, lovers, and friends. Life gives these and takes them away.
However, we can make openings for new beginnings. This post is to offer a place to anchor should you'd like to.
Me:
Tall, active body type, rather pale, slightly rosy cheeked, with a penchant for getting lost in museums and bookstore aisles. Mid 30s with touches of grey in my brown hair. Ambitious, part-time goofy, with weirdly hypnotic dance moves, breathy-vocals when singing, pro cuddling skills. Two goals for 2023: get back into long distance hiking, and to record an EP.
I’m in the corporate world for work, but also do part-time as a canine theme songwriteperformer for my family’s dogs. Mellow most days, always curious. In need of a road trip or two. Would like to find my other half and build things for the long haul.
West Coast, USA
You:
Talkative people tend to flow best with me, but introverts are welcome too- I can lead the dance. Being able to tolerate the occasional rambly monologue on history would be ideal (you ever wanted to know the history of Marius and Sulla? No? Buckle up), a simple pat on my head will suffice. Also, sharing your interests- I care less about keeping a tally of what we match on, I want to feel and know your passions, hobbies, and guilty pleasures. Having good communication skills along with emotional maturity is sexy! Physically, I tend to become attracted to one’s physical traits the deeper the connection. I’m an active person, and while I can definitely enjoy a lazy day and have had many movie marathon, I tend not to stay inside all day and yearn for adventure near and far - we’d match best if you were the same.
Chats or messages work for me, thank you!
https://imgur.com/a/J4TpTtv

On Sunday night we had to evacuate my barn due to an uncontrolled wildfire. The fire started 20 minutes away but the wind was blowing strong and the woods are tinder dry. From the time the fire started to the time the evacuation order went out was less than an hour. It was even shorter for a boarding barn just a bit up the road. They roads were closed before people could get there and they had to turn about a dozen horses loose as the barn burned.
I can’t help but be in awe of the equestrian community. We are a big lesson barn with almost 60 horses. We did not have the trailer space. We have yearlings, and lesson horses who haven’t been on a trailer in 15 years. We have a horse with a literal broken leg in critical care stall rest. A beginner lesson was running as the fire started. Little kids riding since the end of February
And yet I’m half an hour all the horses were in trailers and off the property. The number of people who showed up with trailers, or just extra hands was astonishing. Many had tried first to get to the barns up the road where they had closer connections but had been turned back. Still wanting to help they just went to the next nearest barn.
We had lesson parents who stayed to help, wrangling their kids and finding something to do so that the staff could focus on getting scared, wound up horses loaded without having to search for chains or leads. They emptied the hayloft and loaded one of the extra trailers with hay, bagged shavings, wheelbarrows and other equipment. They found and contained the barn cat.
The injured mare, already on stall rest for a month and a half, walked and loaded like a Queen before the tranq she was given would have even started to work. She was quiet in the trailer and walked off just as well (if a little bit more drunk)
It just went to show how people can come together in a crisis. The horse world can be so catty, dramatic, and over the top but Sunday all that was dropped in a heartbeat. No hesitation. 30 minutes of people working together cohesively with one purpose.
Also, the horses turned loose have all been found and caught. One has a fairly serious injury but will recover, the others are all unharmed.

Our old upstairs neighbors were like ghosts. We even exchanged numbers when I moved in just in case of any problems like dogs barking, kids jumping, etc. We were on great terms, and I miss them dearly.
As a downstairs neighbor, I take care to not slam doors or cabinets, and my TV is always at a respectable volume.
I now have new upstairs neighbors, and they aren't CRAZY loud, but just loud enough to be a nuisance. It feels like they're rearranging furniture every other day. Dogs jumping off the furniture and digging at the floor constantly. Heavy feet, slamming cabjnets, etc.
The part I must concede is that most of it happens during "normal hours," but it's tough to wind down and go to bed when the noise happens right up til 10p - or even just watch TV myself on a Sunday with constant startles. Even though these are "waking hours," I believe I have a right to some peace.
Not that long ago, a loud thud at 11p woke my wife and I up. I had not said anything up til then, but that was the catalyst.
I'm an overly nice guy most of the time. So I wrote a nice letter to them, but ran it by the apartment managers first to both make an official note of it and to also see what they thought of the letter. They said it was one of the nicest letters like this they had ever seen, and I even attached it to an inexpensive bottle of wine as a "peace offering."
I left the letter, the bottle, and my phone number. No response. No text. No nothing. The noise has reduced some. I suspect it's the wife being considerate and the husband not giving a damn and still being inconsiderate.
All that to say, I tried.
The next step: I'm going to get a ceiling speaker. Fight fire with fire. Not a cheap solution, but if a nice letter with a gift isn't enough to encourage some behavior change, I'll meet them bead on.
My request: Does anyone have any experience with this? Anything I should watch out for or be aware of? I don't want to go down this road and lose the war over some sort of oversight. Thanks in advance.

Note: Sorry if being on mobile makes the text silly.
So I don't know how these stories should be told but basically me (19m) and my boyfriend ( 18m ) were walking to get ice cream together since we were going to have a sleepover together. And on the side of a road there was growing a lot of forget-me-nots. My boyfriend picked one for me. He never does something like that either, and he didn't really say anything about it, we just continued talking.
I've never gotten flowers before. I just kept holding it carefully and looking at it. I felt so warm and happy, and loved.
This was about a week ago but I can't stop thinking about it. I also kept the forget-me-not and pressed(?) it. I love my boyfriend so much

I have the opportunity to buy a used 2023 Trek Checkpoint SL6 SRAM AXS eTap (1x12) for $2,800 firm or a new Checkpoint SL5 for $3,399.99 plus tax. For the new bike, I expect I'd be able to negotiate the price down to ~$3,000 (plus tax) based on oversupply issues.
I've verified with the original owner that the SL6 isn't stolen (receipt provided) and it has a few upgrades such as Lizard Skins bar tape and Maxxis Ravager 700x40 TLR tires plus it comes with a bottle cage, a frame bag, and either SPD or flat pedals. It looks like it's in good shape and was well cared for based on the photos and the description.
Over the course of a few weeks, the seller had one deal fall through and knocked off a few hundred from the original asking price. With another $500 off ($2,300 all in) I'd have already bought it!
I'm planning on doing a ~1,250 mile (~2,000 km) bicycle touring/packing trip later this year but I already have a 10 year-old Frankenstein aluminum flat bar bike with fenders, a rack, and other upgrades incoming so while I don't need another bike, the Checkpoint SL6 would be nice to have for the right price. (And I'd sell off the current bike for ~$250 or so to help offset the total cost.)
Eventually, I'd like to get into randonneuring via upgrades to the SL6 (e.g., Hunt carbon rims) but I don't have a firm timeline. Still, I'd rather upgrade once (i.e., the SL6) instead of building up the current Frankenstein bike and then tossing it when the aluminum eventually fatigues.
Yes, I'd be forgoing a lifetime warranty for the SL6 frame but as I understand, carbon fiber frame repairs are now $250 to $500 (of course, depending on the severity but we'll assume a crack at some point).
Also, I have a sizing concern as I've read that I should size down for the Checkpoint. I did have a recent bike fit done for another Trek, so I was planning to replicate those measurements for the Checkpoint SL6 as much as possible.
I suppose another way to look at this is if there are going to be more deals in the new and used bike markets later this year and into next year... or if this one is too good to pass up.

Hi everyone.
tl;dr Basically I was given a driving ban 14 months ago after a mental break made me forget to swap insurance policies from my old car to my new one. After receiving the ban, the judge/sheriff said I was banned for 6 months and days later I received a letter from my solicitor stating the same.
The stress and anxiety led me to being admitted to the local APU for several weeks. I was convinced I was being covertly investigated as my driving licence was expired by 2 years at the time of the offence. With therapy and CBT, I was able to get over this.
Anyway, I stayed off the road for 8 months more than the original ban but have since received my new, renewed DL in the post. Upon checking, it looks like I have never been handed a ban but, unlike with a ban, the points have not been expired on my license (other than 6 which have expired but still show up for another 7 months!).
I just want to know where to go from here to avoid being pulled over and in regards to insurance!
Many thanks in advance!
Take care everyone!
I have had a pretty rough past 14 months. The start of the story goes like this- In November 2021 I had a somewhat serious mental break that ended up with me being life flighted to the Mainland with only an 11% chance of survival.
Before I broke big time I was stopped by the police whilst driving to work for no insurance. It turned out that I had totally forgotten to change my insurance policy from my old car to my newer one (bought about 2 weeks prior). I’m not making any excuses on this, I fucked up and was fine with having to pay the consequences. I just needed to introduce my mental health before I tell the full story!
Now at this point I already had 9 points on my license so the extra 6 for no insurance led me to a court appearance. I had legal aid from a local solicitor who said that my health records may excuse me losing my license. I signed a form to give him access with the instructions to go through the community mental health team as my GP didn’t have my full psych records. The Solicitor decided to contact the GO instead. As a result, he received a letter claiming no mitigating circumstances.
I decided to just go to court and face the music at this point as the anxiety and stress was absolutely ruining my life!
Come the court date, the judge/sheriff gave me a £666 fine and, he said, a ban of 6 months. I received a letter from the solicitor a few days later saying the same thing.
This whole thing led to me being admitted to the local APU as I was so stressed about not being able to drive for my job and was convinced I was being investigated for driving with an expired licence ( 2 years expired, I didn’t even know they expired but, again, ignorance is no excuse!).
Anyway, 2 months in the APU and a couple of weeks back into real life, I worked up the courage to phone the DVLA and ask if there was any investigation about me since my ban. They then informed me that I had never actually received a ban at all. They stated that they had contacted the local court to ask and had been told twice that I wasn’t to be banned and just receive the points.
I wasn’t sure, so I stayed of the road for the 6 month period and endured absolutely appalling effects on my mental health. I was so worried that I didn’t even apply to renew my license until 4 weeks ago, leaving me off the road for 14 months total.
Upon my new license arriving in the post, I checked my details and found that, not only was I never banned, but, as with a ban, no points had expired/been taken off my license! However 6 points have now expired so I am at 9 now but the other 6 are still declarable.
I’m so so frustrated at the amount of mental anguish and the missing out of days to the beach with our 2 oldest dogs that we could have had before they passed had we known I was never banned!
Can anyone tell me how to proceed now I have my new, renewed license in my possession as far as insurance and things go and if there’s any pitfalls that could arise once I’m back driving?
I am so, so anxious that I’ll be pulled over my first day out driving for not having served the ban or what not.
I guess I’m just looking for advice on what’s happened and how to move forward!
Thanks everyone in advance!

For clearity the oc is from a fanfiction based on Sicario/sicario: Day of the Soldado and takes place after the movie ends
It has been a few years since Alejandro’s death, and I was doing my best to cope with it, as I couldn’t waste away because of it. The government wouldn’t let me even if I wanted to. Instead, I went into the FBI as a new field agent wannabe. I had special treatment due to my ‘ability’ and field history, so I was placed in a different room than the others.
I sat at the center table, straight and unwavering as any agent should be, awaiting further instruction. It was only when I heard the doorknob turn that I allowed my attention to waver. “Ah, you chose the table instead of the couch in the corner.” Said a deep male voice as he closed the door behind him. “As an agent you are to keep on your guard at all times. Comfort too easily allows your guard to drop unconsciously.” I said.
“Very true, but we haven’t even begun.” He said. “No matter. My name is Harold Cooper I am the Assistant director for counter terrorism in the FBI.” he said, extending his hand towards mine. I took it, and gave a firm handshake in return. “My name is Adeline Smith.” I replied. “Pleasure.” Harold said as he sat across from me, opening a thick file folder in front of him.
He took his time reading some parts and turned past many pages. “You have quite the...history with working on the field. A lot more than we came to expect. Good for you.” He said as he was still reading further. “Thank you.” I said curtly. I watched his expression shift and his eyes briefly dart towards me in curiosity before turning them back to the page. “I find some of this...a little disbelieving.” He said.
“Lemme guess, the whole “I can shapeshift” part?” I said, sighing. Harold sat up again, and thought for a moment, his hands under his chin. “Give me a reason to believe it.” He said. I sighed under my breath. “Seeing as I didn’t write my own file, is there any reason for another person of high authority to lie on it?” I offered. “You make a valid point, and one, if I wasn’t so interested to see it I would have accepted. But seeing as I am now curious, I would like to see a demonstration.” He said as he motioned towards the open space in the room. “Don’t worry, there are no windows or cameras in this room so no one else will see.”
That came with little comfort as I got up and shook myself out in preparation. I kneeled down and slowly felt movement under my skin. After many years of having to do this transformation, it became painless and I could hardly feel any of it. Silence filled the room, safe for the cracking and forming of bones and teeth and fur. Once the transformation was complete, I turned to look at the bewildered expression of Harold who looked like a child seeing anything for the first time.
“Y-y-you can still understand me right?” He asked, as he changed his seated position to talk down to me. I rolled my eyes slightly and nodded my large canine head. “Good…” He said, before regaining his former status. “You will begin as the FBI’s...guard dog. I don’t usually say this but you will be working with a Blacklisted criminal and for reasons that should come as no surprise, we need extra...protection so to speak. Feel free to listen in on everything as well. You are apart of this team after all. You do not have to stay in… this form forever, but I request that you stay in this form as long as you are present to the criminal...for now.” He explained.
I nodded and stood there, waiting for my next task as he finished up with the file. “I know you are wondering and it is just that your young appearance would most likely prompt unwanted banter between you and him, and, not knowing how you deal with that sort of thing yet, I would rather stick with safe than sorry.” He explained as he stood up. “I think you are trained well enough that I don’t need to buy a dog leash for you.” He chuckled.
I let out a rough growl and he dropped it. “We will need to place a leash on you whilst we are in public though, no matter how uncomfortable it is.” He said which I fully expected. I nodded as I followed him out of the door. In the hallway he began to brief me on the situation at hand.
“Recently, Raymond has asked to see a specific person who we didn’t even know yet. Agent Keen. She is scheduled to interview so to speak raymond. I want you to be there with her. Listen to them talk, watch body language, that type of thing. Any hostility from him, remind him that you are dangerous. Remember, he can’t physically do anything to you, he is heavily and securely restrained, but you won’t be. He is a well-trained manipulator, keep that in mind.” Harold said as he walked us into another room, where another woman was sitting patiently waiting.
There were other agents seated in the room as well, but the room was silent. All eyes went from Harold, then to me. But I sat next to Harold’s desk and listened. It was like my interview a bit, a little deeper though. And after a handshake and congratulations, she was in as well. She glanced at me many times. “Sir, why is there a canine unit here if I may ask? Is there some sort of...Bomb threat or something?” She asked.
“No, she is here for overall protection, as are the guns. She will be going in with you when you talk with Raymond. She is an excellent judge for body language and can detect hostility from a mile away when some people cannot.” Harold said, giving me a look that told me that he had set the bar for me to reach and surpass.
“Of course, I have a dog of my own. They sense things we cannot.” Agent Keen said as she smiled down at me. “Alright, if you are settled, two agents will also accompany you there. Good luck.” Harold said as he opened the secured door and we were led out into the wide open space.
I walked closely behind Agent Keen and smelled around. Nervousness was coming from almost every agent except one person. Oddly, I was getting no nervousness from the criminal himself. I was getting Excitement. The encagement around Raymond was getting removed as Agent Keen and I were walking up and I could feel the look of the criminal on me.
“Ah, I’m touched. I warrant a K-9 unit. What is it? A german shepard mix of some sort?” He asked, before making a kissy sound, attempting to grab my attention. “What she is, is not important. You asked for me, I am here.”
“Agent Keen, what a pleasure.” Raymond said, with a smirk playing on his lips. I could tell Agent Keen was not accustomed to this sort of job and she was doing a good job of hiding her anxiety. Raymond continued on with ‘proving he knew her’ by commenting on physical changes to her looks. I let out a deep growl to get him back on track.
To my surprise, he didn’t seem startled or taken aback, but his attention switched and his mouth paused long enough for Agent keen to ask a question. “Tell me about Zamani.” She said,
With a deep sigh, Raymond opened his mouth again. “Within the hour, Ranko Zamani will abduct the daughter of U.S. General Daniel Ryker. There'll be some kind of diversion, communications will be scrambled, then he'll grab the girl. He wants to be out of the country within 36 hours. If you don't move quickly, she will die. That's what I know.” When he finished, silence came into the room. We were afraid of how serious to take this, despite how detailed his tale was.
“How do you know this?” Agent keen asked, afraid of the answer. And for good reason. “Because I am the one who got him in the country.” For a while, there was silence. Agent Keen looked from me then back to Redington. “And we are supposed to believe you?” She asked incredulously. I flattened my ears in caution. Despite how forward he was being, I didn’t think this was a matter to take lightly.
“Of course not! I am a criminal. We criminals are notorious liars. Everything about me is a lie. We only lie, until it is strategic for us not to.” He said. “I know so much more about you than anyone else in this facility. I mean, you’re an open book. Abandoned by a father who was a career criminal, a mother who died of weakness and shame. And yet here you are, about to make a name for yourself, about to capture Ranko Zamani. I am going to make you famous, Lizzy.” He said with the widest, smuggest smile.
I let out a growl and pulled on the leash to say, “we are done”. And agent Keen soon followed as Raymond was being locked up once again. I could feel the anxiety dripping off of her as I rushed her inside, closely followed by pairs of armed guards. “How did he know those things?” She cried hysterically.
Harold looked confused to say the least. But she pushed her point that they needed to take the threat as it was. A threat. Before she left the room, on the verge of tears. I looked to harold and, seeing as he had no orders for me right then, I went to follow. By the time I got out there, she was already on the phone, so I silently sat beside her as she seemed to be discussing...adoption?
“Put on a great show there. You better pull yourself together because you just called in the cavalry.” Agent Ressler said as he walked swiftly around. Jealousy and attitude lacing his tone. I let out a shrill bark and a growl, flattening my tail. He jumped and seemed to slow down. “Can I just have one minute?”
“We don’t have a minute. Come on.” Ressler said. I left Agent Keen to finish her phone call up and hurried up to Ressler. “Don’t you growl at me.” He said, looming over me, trying to intimidate me. My hackles rose and I bared my teeth and growled. He raised his hand to give me a swat when Harold grabbed his arm. “You will not lay a hand on her.”
Douglas gave me a glare that said all that was necessary, but he left to board the car. Harold also gave me a stern glance as he pointed to the car as well. Luckily, Douglas was in a different car and I watched Agent Keen sit next to me. The ride was silent and swift as we made it to a ballet school of dance. “Gotta be on your best behavior, bud.” Agent Keen said as she looked down at me and patted my head. “Don’t want to frighten the children.”
I followed close behind as Agent Keen and the rest of the guards and agents walked towards the practice space. Agent Keen told me to stay with Douglas while she went to fetch the kid. It didn’t take long, to no surprise, but as soon as she saw me, she screamed. “Puppy!” And ran towards me.
I stayed perfectly still as she rushed over to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Puppy is going to come with us! Let’s go for a car ride.” Agent Ressler said, patting my head. I sighed. He better not get used to this.
I laid in the back with the girls on the floor, getting gently petted by the little girl. Elizabeth was gently talking to the girl. “What’s the doggie’s name?” The girl asked.
Elizabeth looked to me and then back at the girl. “I don’t know, they never told me.” she responded by patting my head. Just then the cars were called to a stop. I raised my head. “Construction, we have to reroute.” Douglas radioed in.
We started pulling around when out of nowhere, a truck plowed directly into our side door. I covered the child as I leapt up and put my body in between the car and the girl, just as gunfire began. This was the diversion Reddington was talking about. I leapt out of the broken window to assess the situation.
It was a gongshow. Trucks everywhere, disguised as dirt loaders carrying men with guns instead. They were pouring gasoline on the road as men in yellow hazmat suits shot at the vehicles. From the voices I could hear, they were speaking russian. These were definitely Zamani’s men.
I lunged at the men, taking their attention away only briefly getting kicked away shortly. That only made me angry. As I got up, a shot ran through my shoulder and I got knocked out. When my consciousness came back, the child was gone and so were the men.
When I fully came to, Agent Keen was running her hands down my back and telling me it was gonna be okay. I was no longer on the bridge, I was back at headquarters being rushed to the infirmary.
Harold was there of course. “I’ll take it from here, you need to pry Reddington’s mind for more information. There is something he’s not telling us.”
I looked at Harold as Agent Keen left. Once the people in the infirmary got the bullet out, he brought me to a secure office. “I need you to tell me what happened.”
I took a deep breath as I began shifting back to my original form. “They gassed the car but gave the child a gas mask.” I began.
“Then they’re not planning on killing her. Not yet at least. Which means we got time. This was just a diversion just like Reddington said.” Harold said, thinking. “What does he want?”
Just then, Douglas knocked on the door before walking right in. We both looked to the door. “I think the meaning of knocking is to wait until you are given permission, Agent Ressler.”
“I’m sorry sir but Reddington wants to look at the evidence… to help. Who’s she?” He said, looking at me briefly.
“An agent, you don’t know everyone on the force” He said briefly. Douglas dropped it and walked back out, giving me one last look.
“We will properly introduce you soon, but in the meantime, come out once you’re, well… a dog.” He said.
I felt relieved this wasn’t going to be too permanent and began the transformation once more. Harold placed a sling around my injured leg and we walked out. He gave the order to release Reddington into standard handcuffs as he was being led into the evidence room.
When I got there he was already getting touchy with the evidence photograph. No one was happy with this but we were making progress so they let him. I was listening, understanding even less of it but I was sure I was going to be enlightened soon enough.
They soon figured out the motive. Revenge for a bombing with another bomb in D.C. Reddington finally caved and told us about the chemist and such, only after getting a deal to be released under supervision.
“You will be watching Reddington closely.” Harold told me. I cocked my head. “You will act as his dog. We can't put an agent in here, but we can bring you. Listen to everything he says, especially when he meets Zamani.”
I couldn’t say I didn’t see this coming. “Come, we have to drop you both off.”
We went back to Reddington. “Reddington, this k-9 unit will accompany you, and to anyone outside of the FBI, she is your dog.” Harold said, giving my leash to him.
“Lovely, it's been years since I had one. I’ll be sure to take good care of her.” He said, looking down at me with a smile. I averted my gaze but my hackles were raised.
“Play nice you two.” Agent Ressler said.
I rolled my eyes and my few days as Reddington’s dog was rather uneventful. Of course they put cameras in his hotel room and were practically right there if need be. However, this wasn’t exactly what I signed up for. Over the course of the day, he would randomly feed me table scraps, and make me food which was… more than I expected him to do, but maybe he was just holding up his part of the deal.
In fact they were right next door. They gave me a break as I needed one rather badly and I went with Agent Keen to get fresh air. She was going home to see her husband and she told me to play nice with her other dog. The drive wasn’t long and Agent Keen spoke to me about the adoption and her husband along the way.
When we arrived, I had a sense that something was wrong. I could smell someone else. Someone I hadn’t met yet. I slid my way in before Keen and sniffed. There were balloons on the ceiling and a baby basket. She had come in moments after and began celebrating, and I sculked around the house, smelling the trail of the stranger.
“You’re probably smelling my husband, it’s alright.”
That's when I wandered down the hall and walked straight into a man. Not just any man. Zamani. “How many dogs does she have?” He said before grabbing me and shoving me into a room and closing the door behind him. Inside the room there was another dog. I growled and barked at the door to no avail. I could smell blood, and soon the shriek of Keen led me to believe she found the source, no doubt her husband.
I was fighting against transforming and going out but remembered that Keen was an Agent herself and should know the protocol. I could barely hear their conversation so I sat and waited at the door, growling every once in a while. Keen’s original dog came to sniff but overall did nothing.
I heard more screaming, and then I heard footsteps. Agent keen was talking but the man had seemingly left. She was on the phone. “Agnes! Where are you?” That's when I noticed, the dog’s name. I barked along with her behind the closed door and she rushed to open it.
“You probably smelt him…” She sighed, rubbing my shoulders. “And then bumped into him while searching huh, girl?”
I whined, looking at the mess he made of her husband. I couldn’t do anything about it. Emergency vehicles were pulling up, and I watched as they took him into the ambulance. I went with keen to much dismay of the doctors who normally wouldn’t allow dogs inside. I placed my head on Keen’s lap as she stroked Tom’s hand while sedated and in a coma.
“We got to make a visit to Reddington.” She said before we both left the hospital.
Once back at the hotel, I followed Keen as she stormed into Reddington’s room and began demanding answers. As she was yelling, she began attacking Raymond as she punctured his carotid artery. Angrily she walked away and took me with her back home.
Once the FBI were done taking crime scene photos, she was told she was allowed to begin cleaning the mess that had just taken place. She cleaned a little but passed out on the floor. I slept beside her, keeping her company. In the morning she continued cleaning to little or no avail.
Agent keen gave up on cleaning for the time being and told me we had to go to the hospital once again but this time, to talk to reddington who was thankful for the investigation, was still alive and in stable condition. I was not allowed in the hospital this time, and with that came the play of a lifetime.
I saw Reddington scaling the wall and began running after him. “Oh, you’re here…I thought you were still with Agent Keen. No matter, come. I have to meet with an old friend.”
I had an inkling of who he meant and got a little nervous but I felt that Reddington wouldn’t let anything happen to me. I followed him to the Lincoln memorial where he sat next to Zamani.
“That dog… was at Keen’s place. Are you a double agent, my friend?” he said, looking at me briefly.
“Ah no matter, my dog must have followed her home.” He said as if it was nothing. “If I was with the FBI do you think I’d be walking around without a chaperone?” He said.
Zamani gave me a look then returned his focus to his friend. “It is only a dog, I guess. Dog’s cannot speak.”
I followed them as they walked by normal civilians who were none the wiser of the criminal’s true identity. I tried to listen as best I could but they spoke softly in hushed voices. Once Zamani and Reddington split ways, reddington called Agent keen.
They spoke for a few minutes before he turned to me. “Now, I need you to go to the zoo and meet Agent Keen. It isn’t far from here, just up there and turn right. She’s gonna need your sense of smell to find the girl.”
The girl was alive, so before I could question taking orders from him, I rushed using the directions he gave me. Sure enough I caught up with Agent Keen. “There you are. Now,” she said, taking off the bracelet the little girl gave her. “It might be faint but it should still be there. Find her.” She said.
She and I rushed into the zoo, my nose to the grindstone as I found it surprisingly enough. She recognized me clearly. “Puppy!” She cried as she knelt down to hug me. I barked and howled to try and alert Keen. I kept the child distracted as agent keen looked at the backpack the child was wearing.
Keen backed away and called Reddington. Apparently he already knew of this and had alerted his bomb friend to stop it. He came about 45 seconds later. Agent keen instructed the girl to keep focusing on me, and I played a good sport as she hugged me tightly around the collar.
A russian exclamation was all we heard when the bomb was dismantled safely as the man left and took off with the now dismantled bomb. “I see you found the girl in the nick of time” Reddington said as he soon joined us.
That was all he could utter before several agents; FBI and others started running into the park.
“Daddy!” the little girl cried as she ran off to her father who had joined swiftly after hearing his daughter had been located. “The doggy helped find me!” She said, gesturing. The General for that was his ranking, came over and shook Keen’s hand, thanking her for helping his daughter before bending down and pinned his badge of bravery on my collar. I was shocked and went to lick his face.
“She’s a brave one. If she hadn’t followed her scent we wouldn’t have found her in time.” Keen said, rubbing my ears.
“If only we all had the scent of a dog. I can’t believe how relieved and thankful I am to you two.” He said, patting my head and shaking my paw.
We cleaned up and went back to headquarters, discussing Reddington’s own list of criminals. Essentially he was planning on revealing them one by one for an ever growing immunity deal. I laid down at Harold’s feet, still wearing the General’s metal on my collar.
Once we were done there, Harold told me to go home with Elizabeth as we were going to be working together a lot from now on. I happily got into her car as she drove home. She almost seemed to forget the mess that was still half cleaned in her dinning room.
I continued smelling around, the reak of blood still roominating. Until i smelt something else… underneath. I began digging at the carpet, lifting it up and Elizabeth and I both saw a little hatch on the floor.
Upon opening it, there was a small wooden box. Elizabeth looked confused as she slowly opened it, revealing bundles of 10,000 dollars, passports, and a gun… all seeming to belong to her husband.
She furrowed her brow and sighed. “What is happening?”
This is a work in progress

Seeing as how it isn’t always the case with posts on here (especially for average guys like me), I thought I’d share my most recent experience with OLD as it was largely positive.
I’m located in a more rural state with roughly a 60k city population, and around 80-100k in a 100 mile radius. It’s mostly made up of older farmers/ranchers and retirees though the young professional scene seems to be growing.
After 1 month here’s the results: Likes 21, Matches 12, Unmatched (by them) 2, Unmatched (by me) 4, Conversations 9, Multi Day Conversations 4, Weeklong Conversations 1, In Person Dates 0, Second Dates 0, Third Dates 0, Relationships 0
I’ve been on/off and very much love/hate with dating apps for the past 5ish years, though it did result in one great relationship that ended in a mutual split for reasons beyond our control.
Over the past year I wanted to focus on meeting women organically or through friends. It’s actually been going pretty well! I’ve been asking better questions, been more engaging and noticed an overall improvement in my social skills, though nothing has stuck.
So I summoned the beast once again and decided to get back on hinge about a month ago. This time though, I adhered to a clear method since I’ve been down nearly every disappointing road I see posted about on here constantly. My method was: Hinge would NOT serve as my primary (or even secondary) method for putting myself out there. It’d act as a small supplement to the other real life avenues I’d carved out. I also made a point to send every like with a personal message about something that caught my interest on their profile; and I only liked fully filled out profiles with decent pictures and prompt answers largely devoid of any minimal effort quips. I also promised myself to avoid getting as attached to matches (at least in the short term) since ghosting, slow fading, flakiness, dead end conversations etc. are the status quo in OLD. I figured I’d trade a few interesting messages with people but that’d likely be all, and I’d accepted that as a fact.
The rest is more about how I wove my personality/lifestyle into my profile, scroll to the bottom if you want the TL/DR.
I included flattering (but NOT filtered, or otherwise misleading) pictures with one nice clear face shot at the start, a short video, a voice prompt, a mix of full body looks and other shots of me participating in various activities/events over the last few years. I also did my best to breathe my voice into the prompts. I stayed FAAAR away from any cliched answers and ruthlessly edited them until they read clear and concise with a smooth flow. This probably took the most work. I really wanted women to know I’m not doing the bare minimum, but that I also don’t take myself too seriously. I did, however include a section about how important clear communication and initiative is to me as that’s been a recurring issue in nearly all my past matches.
About me: 30 male, 6’1”, 205 lb, caucasian, straight, monogamous, never been married, want a long term relationship, never had kids but want kids, stable full time job in construction management. I chose not to include my political leanings because none of the options accurately described my stances plus I believe I’m compatible with a wide range of viewpoints. Im not really religious though Christianity is probably the closest fit. Given that, I didn’t think it was worth putting on my profile either. I keep in decent shape but I’m a little fluffy in a few areas, though it’s not immediately noticeable with a shirt on. I’m by no means a head turner but I’d like to think I’m above average in looks. I take care of myself and thus would consider my looks slightly above average, though not because I hit the genetic lottery. My hairline is starting to recede and it’s turning grey in a few spots but near as I can tell it’s not a significant draw back to my appearance and I try to always maintain a baseline of personal hygiene. I have a college degree and I live with roommates. I like the occasional drink, not really into drugs or weed and definitely not tobacco or smoking. I also don’t have any pets.
Given the method I approached OLD with this go round I’d say the experience has been very positive so far! I’m happy I’ve had the pleasure of trading a few insightful messages with some awesome people (one woman even turned me on to a new band that I’ve been obsessing over lately). I’ll continue trying to meet people in real life and it will consume the majority of my focus going forward. But, much to my surprise, the experience has been great this go round.
TL/DR: I got back on Hinge. Put some honest effort into my profile and how I went about liking/matching. Went into it with little/no expectations and remained unattached to matches in the short term. Ended up having a positive experience even though I’m very “average” in nearly every sense of the word.

Stats: 4.0 GPA, 516 MCAT
ORM; NJ resident
ECs:
~1,500 clinical hours through EMT, volunteer and paid + good LOR
~400 clinical hours through volunteering at nursing home; award for involvement
~1,500 non-clinical service hours as COO and co-founder of a nonprofit focused on addressing disparities in community health education, org has grown a lot and made a nice impact
~1,500 leadership hours: president of two student organizations (one that I co-founded; both are tied into my clinical experiences), RA, TI, intern for nonprofit related to clinical volunteering, etc.
~2,500 hours research + 1 4th author publication + thesis project with 2 awards + poster presentations + great PI LOR
~75 hours of shadowing
Taking 1 gap year to do part-time research and part-time patient care tech
My MCAT is definitely low for the top medical schools as an ORM, but again thinking about shooting my shot to more holistic ones. I also tried to do a decent amount of research on mission fit and in-state bias when narrowing down the list. Let me know of any other mid/low tier schools I should add... I would be comfortable applying to up to 45 schools. I feel super shaky with this list lol. Thank you!!

1. Johns Hopkins University
2. Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
3. Duke University School of Medicine
4. Stanford University School of Medicine
5. University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine
6. Yale School of Medicine
7. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
8. University of Michigan Medical School
9. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
10. University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of Medicine
11. University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
12. Emory University School of Medicine
13. Ohio State University College of Medicine
14. Case Western Reserve University
15. Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine
16. University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
17. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
18. Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
19. Albert Einstein College of Medicine
20. University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
21. Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
22. USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
23. Georgetown University School of Medicine
24. Tufts University School of Medicine
25. University of Connecticut School of Medicine
26. Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
27. Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
28. Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
29. Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
30. Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
31. Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
32. Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
33. Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
34. Saint Louis University School of Medicine
35. Drexel University College of Medicine
36. The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
37. Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
38. Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
39. Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine

Oh, yeah, that’s right, I don’t want to be alone.
It’s been almost 6 months since I posted on here. I can’t recall if anything really turned up. Some Reddit encounters only last a few days until the excitement of meeting someone new wears off. I’ve been doing the dating app thing for a long time now and that’s probably created just as many positive results as posting here, so what the heck.
I’m 34, divorced (no kids, but still would like them), and 5 gorgeous pets (2 dogs and 3 cats). I’m unapologetically sarcastic. Too nerdy for the cool kids and too cool for the nerds. Like always, still trying to see where I fit.
I studied film and television in undergrad and that’s probably how I spend most of my free time, consuming those things. I’d say I’m a nerd about them, but then I run into the one person whose favorite movies and shows are ones I haven’t seen.
I do spend a lot of time hanging out at home, occupational hazard of being introverted and only having a couple friends. I do like going out to restaurants, camping (not hardcore camping; I do require electricity and running water), seeing movies, taking day trips/road trips. I also love standup comedy. I thought about maybe throwing my hat into the ring, but then I just didn’t.
I do want to point out I guess that I mostly believe in science (let me do my witchy/pagan things and pretend like it means something, ok) and I support social rights and justice. So, pretty left-leaning.
And if it matters, I’m a shorter, curvy BBW. I am into chubbier guys, but that partially might be because I assume those are the only ones into me. Despite being larger, and not working out, I am trying to be more active as my body is starting to feel much older than it is, and I try to eat a balanced diet despite loving pizza and ice cream too much. I would hope for someone kinda similar in that regard—I don’t do while with either drastic sides of the spectrum of being obsessed with diet and fitness or completely not caring at all. I also recently discovered I really dig beards and tattoos. But if you don’t have either, that is totally fine. Mental and emotional connection is also just as important. I also prefer someone who is close in her to myself, within 5 years.
I don’t feel like this post looks cohesive, but if anything piqued your interest, please feel free to reach out!
https://imgur.com/a/pruhBTB

Oh, yeah, that’s right, I don’t want to be alone.
It’s been almost 6 months since I posted on here. I can’t recall if anything really turned up. Some Reddit encounters only last a few days until the excitement of meeting someone new wears off. I’ve been doing the dating app thing for a long time now and that’s probably created just as many positive results as posting here, so what the heck.
I’m 34, divorced (no kids, but still would like them), and 5 gorgeous pets (2 dogs and 3 cats). I’m unapologetically sarcastic. Too nerdy for the cool kids and too cool for the nerds. Like always, still trying to see where I fit.
I studied film and television in undergrad and that’s probably how I spend most of my free time, consuming those things. I’d say I’m a nerd about them, but then I run into the one person whose favorite movies and shows are ones I haven’t seen.
I do spend a lot of time hanging out at home, occupational hazard of being introverted and only having a couple friends. I do like going out to restaurants, camping (not hardcore camping; I do require electricity and running water), seeing movies, taking day trips/road trips. I also love standup comedy. I thought about maybe throwing my hat into the ring, but then I just didn’t.
I do want to point out I guess that I mostly believe in science (let me do my witchy/pagan things and pretend like it means something, ok) and I support social rights and justice. So, pretty left-leaning.
And if it matters, I’m a shorter, curvy BBW. I am into chubbier guys, but that partially might be because I assume those are the only ones into me. Despite being larger, and not working out, I am trying to be more active as my body is starting to feel much older than it is, and I try to eat a balanced diet despite loving pizza and ice cream too much. I would hope for someone kinda similar in that regard—I don’t do while with either drastic sides of the spectrum of being obsessed with diet and fitness or completely not caring at all. I also recently discovered I really dig beards and tattoos. But if you don’t have either, that is totally fine. Mental and emotional connection is also just as important. I also prefer someone who is close in her to myself, within 5 years.
I don’t feel like this post looks cohesive, but if anything piqued your interest, please feel free to reach out!
https://imgur.com/a/pruhBTB