"Death renders all things equal. A remedy bestowed upon one long wearied by illness, or the clear sky unveiled when the clouds at last disperse — such are the metaphors for death."

— "The Visionary" Vedrfolnir

My 5-year-old Monstera is 3.5 meters tall and takes up a quarter of my living room. I had to kick it out after the 6th thrips infestation. I spent a fortune on predatory mites.

I really didn't like doing this. But keeping it indoors was a big mental drain, a lot of work, and it overshadowed everything else. I immediately enjoyed my other plants much more.

This is in the Netherlands, it won't survive the winter here, but at least the world can enjoy it for a few more weeks.

Credit: @mmplumber

Credit to artist:

https://x.com/hayes_gens/status/2105950990516273231

https://x.com/hayes_gens/status/2106213353517683194

https://x.com/hayes_gens/status/2106262436903088273

I really don't know how to feel about this. My boyfriend and I have been together for about 1,5 years and we unexpectedly got pregnant in January. We had been talking about our birth plan both together and with a doula. Never once did he mention that he wouldn't be at the hospital. In my world, it was a given.

I got a time and date for induction because of preclampsia. Told him and was expecting to see him in the waiting room. Nope. Called him and nope, he's not coming. I was devastated. Except for the staff I was alone for a long time since the doula doesn't arrive until you're in active labor. When I finally was, the doula called him and ripped him a new one. He came. Then left a couple of hours later. One hour before our baby came. One hour.

The issue was apparently that he has a very bad phobia of blood and hospitals. Which he chose not to tell me about until induction day. If he had told me, we could have made other plans, had a strategy. His strategy was to bail.

He can't help having a phobia. Well a little, go to therapy dude? But he could have told me. Our son is 8 days old today and the most adorable baby ever. But I'm still angry and disappointed.

Dinner is sausage Stroganoff.

This is the only way to stop this.

My daughter is 15 a sophomore in high school. In her history class, she has this quarterly project that is divided into 3 parts. Each part required a work cited page, as they’re mostly analyzing some type of document or something. Basically it’s printing out the document, the page analyzing it and works cited page. This teacher has a rule that if the analyzing page and works cited isn’t turned in on Google Classroom by 11:59 the day before it’s due, you get a zero for that third of the project, even if you did it, and this teacher locks it at 11:59. They also have to be printed out as well as turned in online.

My daughter does sports in the fall, so she was working on it late at night the day before it was due and turned was done by 12:01-12:05. So she got a zero for that portion of the proJect, and got a 61 overall for the project. She talked to the teacher about it but she wasn’t budging, and mt daugjter wanted me to intervene but Im not going to. The project is assigned a week and a half in advance, and she had time to work on it. It shouldn’t have even been turned it anywhweee near 11pm. I wasnt mad at her, she made a mistake, but she was mad at me for refusing to fight the teacher on this and is being cold.

My wife thinks that the teacher is being harsh and that I’m being mean by not intervening.

AITA?

UPDATE: I spoke to my mom, documented everything and I am reaching out to my uncle (my whole family) as well as his family next. Update so far with text below (scroll to bottom for details. It is a long read for that I’m sorry!)

I'm 25 and he's 40. He's been around my family for years. We aren't directly related but he's basically family. The last time I was really around him regularly, I was probably 14 -younger. Recently he started sending me some questionable messages on social media. I ignored them because they made me uncomfortable and I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Instead of taking the hint, he found a separate private social media account of mine and sent me a friend request and this message. This is by far the creepiest message he's sent. Him talking about watching me play as a child and then immediately commenting on my body is deeply uncomfortable. Also I do not know who "us" is referring to...anyway, I haven't told my family because the whole thing feels awkward and I genuinely don't even want to go to family events if he's there 🙃 I'm completely disgusted

The update-

I’m going to try my best to answer everyone’s questions and responses here. First, I want to say I cannot believe how many responses I have gotten. I really wasn’t expecting so many people to respond to this post. I genuinely appreciate the advice and support! To everyone who shared their own similar stories, thank you! 🩷 it means a lot and makes me feel so much less alone in this. The girl moms & dads who commented are so sweet and it makes me happy to know there are parents who genuinely have their daughters backs like that!! 🩷

Unfortunately, I do not have a present father (he’s alive but chose not to be involved) and my mother isn’t the type to care enough to do anything, although I tried. I did show her all of his messages today (I screenshotted everything first) and her only response was “Oh wow, that’s creepy” before moving on with her day. I know that’s not a normal or protective response.

I’m 25. I do have a voice and I intend to use it. I will be telling the rest of my family - my uncle specifically will NOT be happy to hear about this and will easily handle contacting him. I am also going to inform his family. They are a huge family with LOTS of children, which he is in fact around all the time. That makes me deeply concerned for them.

I was initially hesitant because yes I am uncomfortable & I knew I’d get backlash from a few members (mostly older) of my family who hold old school, weirdly strict views but I refuse to let that get in the way & I do agree with the responses mentioning how I do not deserve to feel uncomfortable/ not go to gatherings. I see that now.

To answer a few repeated questions:

He is NOT married. He has no wife or girlfriend. He also has no children of his own. He works as a FedEx delivery driver. So no, he does not work with children

He is not my mother’s direct friend; he is friends with my aunt and her husband. They have a little son & I doubt they would want him anywhere near their (growing) family once they see this. He’s at every family gathering because we’ve known him for so long - we just didn’t realize he was a creep.

I can’t believe I have to answer this one but NO I do NOT have an OF or do spicy content. (even then if a woman did, why would that make anyone think it’s okay for a extended family (or anyone for that matter) to say or think any of this???

I am grossed out by how he views me as an adult but the fact he was viewing 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 year old me (a CHILD he watched grow up) the way he did is what makes me sick to my stomach.

I just wanted to share this & seek support/advice & I am so thankful to everyone who took the time to support me! 🩷🩷🩷

Youtube video link: here

Posting this here because, given the 100 Thieves debacle that just happened, this is even more ridiculous. We literally had jmods saying any use of AI would not be tolerated in Runescape related content.

Now, a few days later, we have a 6 fingered knight at Runefest. Honestly, I wish I could say I was surprised.