How to clean graco truecoat 360
Skateboard Trick Tips
2014.07.16 09:58 Skateboard Trick Tips
This sub is for getting and giving quality advice on how to do skateboard tricks! Its that simple.
2009.01.21 20:01 Sneakerheads Unite!
A subreddit for sneaker lovers.
2013.10.09 09:26 Naggers123 GTA Online, Reddit's Official 7th Crew
2023.03.26 13:51 luisdamed I made a macro pad from scratch (blog post about the process and resources I used)
I got into mechanical keyboards and used Fusion 360 to make a 3D-printable enclosure for a custom macro pad.
I'm a complete noob (this is my first "keyboard") and I wrote an article about the project, including a tutorial showing the step-by-step process I followed to design the first prototype of the enclosure and all the useful resources I found for learning what to do.
Making a macro pad is relatively straightforward.
First, you need to define a concept of what you want to achieve: how many keys, rows, and columns, what will be the purpose of the macro pad, and how you want to build it.
Once you define that, you can design your own case using CAD software, or search for open-source casings available on the internet. You can also buy a pre-made casing (or a complete macro pad kit that you can put together yourself). In my case, I used Fusion 360 and printed the case with my 3D printer.
You'll also need to buy the electronic components: switches, a development board (most people use an Arduino Pro Micro or a Teensy board), and wires. Any wire gauge will work, but the smaller the section of the wires, the bette easier for you - AWG 20 -24 should be good. Of course, if you plan to use a PCB instead of hand-wiring, you won't need the wires, but in any case, you'll need a soldering iron and solder.
Once you have those, you can start inserting the switches in the top part of the enclosure (switch plate) and hand-wire your keyboard. If you bought a kit, you can solder the components on the PCB that came with it. Or if you are into 100% DIY, you can design your own PCB, order it, and solder the components on it. That's what I did. Well, I actually did a hand-wired prototype first, and then a PCB version. I used Autodesk Eagle to design the board and ordered it from china.
The last part is configuring your macro pad to do the functions you want. This is the firmware configuration part. Many open-source macro pad projects provide pre-built firmware that you can download and flash on your board. The vast majority of them will be based on QMK framework. If you want to have more flexibility, you can use VIAL, to configure/remap your keys on the fly.
There is a whole world behind mechanical keyboards and macro pads, and it's been a very interesting journey to learn about them while I completed this project.
I wanted to share this experience so that others can also get started or at least be inspired to build their own macro pads.
Here is a link to the article I wrote. Including several links to guides and blogs from more experienced people who I also followed while learning.
I hope you guys enjoy :)
Wiring diagram of the hand-wired prototype. This one used direct pin wiring, so no diodes. The PCB version used diodes (switch matrix)
The hand-wired version
The custom PCB, before soldering
The finished Hand-wired prototype
Finished PCB version
submitted by luisdamed to maker [link] [comments]
I'm a complete noob (this is my first "keyboard") and I wrote an article about the project, including a tutorial showing the step-by-step process I followed to design the first prototype of the enclosure and all the useful resources I found for learning what to do.
Making a macro pad is relatively straightforward.
First, you need to define a concept of what you want to achieve: how many keys, rows, and columns, what will be the purpose of the macro pad, and how you want to build it.
Once you define that, you can design your own case using CAD software, or search for open-source casings available on the internet. You can also buy a pre-made casing (or a complete macro pad kit that you can put together yourself). In my case, I used Fusion 360 and printed the case with my 3D printer.
You'll also need to buy the electronic components: switches, a development board (most people use an Arduino Pro Micro or a Teensy board), and wires. Any wire gauge will work, but the smaller the section of the wires, the bette easier for you - AWG 20 -24 should be good. Of course, if you plan to use a PCB instead of hand-wiring, you won't need the wires, but in any case, you'll need a soldering iron and solder.
Once you have those, you can start inserting the switches in the top part of the enclosure (switch plate) and hand-wire your keyboard. If you bought a kit, you can solder the components on the PCB that came with it. Or if you are into 100% DIY, you can design your own PCB, order it, and solder the components on it. That's what I did. Well, I actually did a hand-wired prototype first, and then a PCB version. I used Autodesk Eagle to design the board and ordered it from china.
The last part is configuring your macro pad to do the functions you want. This is the firmware configuration part. Many open-source macro pad projects provide pre-built firmware that you can download and flash on your board. The vast majority of them will be based on QMK framework. If you want to have more flexibility, you can use VIAL, to configure/remap your keys on the fly.
There is a whole world behind mechanical keyboards and macro pads, and it's been a very interesting journey to learn about them while I completed this project.
I wanted to share this experience so that others can also get started or at least be inspired to build their own macro pads.
Here is a link to the article I wrote. Including several links to guides and blogs from more experienced people who I also followed while learning.
I hope you guys enjoy :)
Wiring diagram of the hand-wired prototype. This one used direct pin wiring, so no diodes. The PCB version used diodes (switch matrix)
The hand-wired version
The custom PCB, before soldering
The finished Hand-wired prototype
Finished PCB version
2023.03.26 13:49 NegaLaunchpadMcQuack A couple of questions about bottling from a first timer.
 | Might be stupid questions, and in that case i apologize in advance. submitted by NegaLaunchpadMcQuack to mead [link] [comments] So me and a friend made mead last year, and forgot about it. Think we started late may, early june, added to secondary in june i believe, and put it away. We found now while cleaning and decided to bottle it. OG was 1.079. Couldn't find the hydrometer we used, but found a different one i dont know where comes from. It showed 0. Thats more or less 11%. But heres the question. Is this normal, might the hydrometer be broken, or is there just no sugars left? If the latter, then we can safely store the bottles in 17-20 celsius for a a day or two, before laying it down without fear of having created a bomb? They are corked. Also, for storage, the only place we have is in my apartment, which is 17-20 celsius. Would it be better putting it in the fridge? Safer too, perhaps? We also put some mead in these bottles you see in the last pic, but how shitty are they really? Should we find different bottles as soon as possible? |
2023.03.26 13:43 teal_lantern27 My (23F) BF’s (23M) mother and little sister (22F) like to bully him and it’s painful to watch
My BF and I are living in our family’s homes because we have an awful housing market. However, my BF’s family situation has gotten really bizarre recently which makes him want to move out. It’s mostly due to the bullying by his mother and little sister.
About my BF: We met in law school. He’s smart, sensible and hardworking. He’s wholesome and kind-hearted (and according to his friends/family, he’s always been this way). He studies hard to be a lawyer, volunteers around the community, coaches little kids, offers to fix people’s homes/cars (he’s a handyman and mechanic), pays for everything himself, and despite all this he still finds the time/energy to spoil me and his family with incredible thoughtful gifts or acts of service (he loves to cook, clean and fix things for people). As a result, he’s a really loveable, helpful and independent man!
About his little sister🚩: She’s the opposite. To be blunt, she’s selfish, inconsiderate, rude, and a materialistic attention-seeker. She steals my stuff, leaves mess everywhere, a high school dropout, no hobbies except drinking/sex, prone to screaming tantrums, and posts her butt on IG daily. She’s had a lot of problems (like unwanted pregnancies with unknown men, speeding tickets, falling for scams, etc) which her family pays for her.
I have two example events to explain what she’s like- my BF’s graduation party (finishing law school) and his birthday party. Both events she didn’t want to attend because she didn’t think they were important (wanting to see her friends instead) but I encouraged her to attend. But at these parties, whenever the attention went to my BF (like making a toast or giving him gifts), she starts causing a scene: crying about drama, bragging about her wild drunk stories, complaining about how difficult her retail job is and how frustrating it is to have another abortion, demanding people to take sexy photos of her, etc. I found this infuriating because his sister is always the focus (being the problematic child) and this distracts from the recognition he deserves for his hard work.
About his mother🚩: The mother is an enabler and “best friend” of the little sister. She loves spoiling her daughter and acts like "one of the girls” when her friends are around. She paid for her daughter’s entire lifestyle- her bedroom, the abortions and medical bills, the speeding fines, all her clothes/makeup/perfumes, etc. She prides herself in being the breadwinner of the family and often splurges it on her daughter. She has never financially contributed to her son (my BF), making him pay for everything since he turned 18.
The Major Problem 🚩🚩🚩: There had always been little red flags about his mothesister. But it really started to show last week when his parents were away for the week and my BF and I took care of the house. When his parents returned, his sister claimed all the credit for keeping the house clean and looking after the dog, even though she was actually out partying the entire week (only returning home occasionally when hungover, leaving trash/vomit/mess for my BF to clean). Their mother praised the little sister, but my BF tried to correct her claiming he did most of the work. They turned against him saying “if you really did the work, you would’ve said so”. His sister joined in scolding him.
Then this morning, we woke up and he immediately started doing chores (mowed the lawn, fed the dog, did the laundry, washed dishes) while his sister laid on the couch hungover, eating Doritos and burping away. Once he was done with the chores, he joined in helping me cook breakfast for everyone.
His mother entered and demanded he does the bathroom, ranting about how he’s lazy and never does any work around the house. He defends himself, saying he did the bathroom last week, but hadn’t been home since then because this week we went away for our 2-year anniversary and my birthday. His sister joined the bandwagon, saying “I bet you’ve never even cleaned the toilet! You need to do it! It’s a mess!” (she had gastro this week).
He was about to drop everything to clean the bathroom, but the task would take too long and we needed to pick up my mother from the hospital. He explained this to them and promised to do clean the bathroom when he gets back. They scoffed at him “ohhh ok! You think you’re sooo important!!” and continued to rant about how lazy he was. His mother huffed about how disappointed she is in having a son like him.
He leaves the room, to finish the laundry from this morning, I’m left in the kitchen finishing breakfast, cleaning, and putting their groceries away while his mother and sister continue shaming him. His mother even said “he’s so irresponsible, unlike his sister”. I was so confused. So I started listing the things I see him around the house, including the fact he cooks/cleans up after THEIR mess. But I also mentioned he does wonderful things for me and my family. Big mistake to mention that… his mother said she didn’t appreciate hearing that. “He shouldn’t be helping you!! His home and his responsibly is HERE, and that’s final!”
Stumped and feeling triggered, I packed our breakfast in takeaway containers and texted my mother that I’ll be a bit late, while he cleaned the bathroom. We drove away in silence, with his phone buzzing constantly- which was his sister bragging about how she just cleaned the toilet and how her brother is hopeless/lazy. Their mother responded with praise.
Now, we are sitting at my house in silence completely stumped. His sister just texted demanding an apology, especially one to their mother. My BF keeps telling me how ashamed he is that he let me see this happen- apparently it’s normal, he just walked away unbothered when they act out like that. But it was such a shock to me, they had only ever been on their best and generous behaviour around me. I can’t help but feel so sorry, frustrated and ANGRY that he endures that. Besides telling him to move out, I’m not sure how to help him, or what advice he needs.
submitted by teal_lantern27 to relationship_advice [link] [comments]
About my BF: We met in law school. He’s smart, sensible and hardworking. He’s wholesome and kind-hearted (and according to his friends/family, he’s always been this way). He studies hard to be a lawyer, volunteers around the community, coaches little kids, offers to fix people’s homes/cars (he’s a handyman and mechanic), pays for everything himself, and despite all this he still finds the time/energy to spoil me and his family with incredible thoughtful gifts or acts of service (he loves to cook, clean and fix things for people). As a result, he’s a really loveable, helpful and independent man!
About his little sister🚩: She’s the opposite. To be blunt, she’s selfish, inconsiderate, rude, and a materialistic attention-seeker. She steals my stuff, leaves mess everywhere, a high school dropout, no hobbies except drinking/sex, prone to screaming tantrums, and posts her butt on IG daily. She’s had a lot of problems (like unwanted pregnancies with unknown men, speeding tickets, falling for scams, etc) which her family pays for her.
I have two example events to explain what she’s like- my BF’s graduation party (finishing law school) and his birthday party. Both events she didn’t want to attend because she didn’t think they were important (wanting to see her friends instead) but I encouraged her to attend. But at these parties, whenever the attention went to my BF (like making a toast or giving him gifts), she starts causing a scene: crying about drama, bragging about her wild drunk stories, complaining about how difficult her retail job is and how frustrating it is to have another abortion, demanding people to take sexy photos of her, etc. I found this infuriating because his sister is always the focus (being the problematic child) and this distracts from the recognition he deserves for his hard work.
About his mother🚩: The mother is an enabler and “best friend” of the little sister. She loves spoiling her daughter and acts like "one of the girls” when her friends are around. She paid for her daughter’s entire lifestyle- her bedroom, the abortions and medical bills, the speeding fines, all her clothes/makeup/perfumes, etc. She prides herself in being the breadwinner of the family and often splurges it on her daughter. She has never financially contributed to her son (my BF), making him pay for everything since he turned 18.
The Major Problem 🚩🚩🚩: There had always been little red flags about his mothesister. But it really started to show last week when his parents were away for the week and my BF and I took care of the house. When his parents returned, his sister claimed all the credit for keeping the house clean and looking after the dog, even though she was actually out partying the entire week (only returning home occasionally when hungover, leaving trash/vomit/mess for my BF to clean). Their mother praised the little sister, but my BF tried to correct her claiming he did most of the work. They turned against him saying “if you really did the work, you would’ve said so”. His sister joined in scolding him.
Then this morning, we woke up and he immediately started doing chores (mowed the lawn, fed the dog, did the laundry, washed dishes) while his sister laid on the couch hungover, eating Doritos and burping away. Once he was done with the chores, he joined in helping me cook breakfast for everyone.
His mother entered and demanded he does the bathroom, ranting about how he’s lazy and never does any work around the house. He defends himself, saying he did the bathroom last week, but hadn’t been home since then because this week we went away for our 2-year anniversary and my birthday. His sister joined the bandwagon, saying “I bet you’ve never even cleaned the toilet! You need to do it! It’s a mess!” (she had gastro this week).
He was about to drop everything to clean the bathroom, but the task would take too long and we needed to pick up my mother from the hospital. He explained this to them and promised to do clean the bathroom when he gets back. They scoffed at him “ohhh ok! You think you’re sooo important!!” and continued to rant about how lazy he was. His mother huffed about how disappointed she is in having a son like him.
He leaves the room, to finish the laundry from this morning, I’m left in the kitchen finishing breakfast, cleaning, and putting their groceries away while his mother and sister continue shaming him. His mother even said “he’s so irresponsible, unlike his sister”. I was so confused. So I started listing the things I see him around the house, including the fact he cooks/cleans up after THEIR mess. But I also mentioned he does wonderful things for me and my family. Big mistake to mention that… his mother said she didn’t appreciate hearing that. “He shouldn’t be helping you!! His home and his responsibly is HERE, and that’s final!”
Stumped and feeling triggered, I packed our breakfast in takeaway containers and texted my mother that I’ll be a bit late, while he cleaned the bathroom. We drove away in silence, with his phone buzzing constantly- which was his sister bragging about how she just cleaned the toilet and how her brother is hopeless/lazy. Their mother responded with praise.
Now, we are sitting at my house in silence completely stumped. His sister just texted demanding an apology, especially one to their mother. My BF keeps telling me how ashamed he is that he let me see this happen- apparently it’s normal, he just walked away unbothered when they act out like that. But it was such a shock to me, they had only ever been on their best and generous behaviour around me. I can’t help but feel so sorry, frustrated and ANGRY that he endures that. Besides telling him to move out, I’m not sure how to help him, or what advice he needs.
2023.03.26 13:42 Potential-Maybe2183 boyfriend/babies father [30 M] is constantly saything everything I do [28 F] gives him anxiety
Okay I'm not going to be embarrassed and delete this post lol... My relationship with my bf is weird at this point I think we are better off going our separate ways but sometimes I'm like maybe it's worth a fight because I know I'm probably a lot to deal with as well but at this point this cannot possibly be love or a healthy relationship. I'm usually the one that do everything, I balance the bills and ensure they're paid on time, groceries, cleaning the house etc. I'm the designated parent and all of these things have been a problem because when I say something to my bf it's always an excuse as to why he can't meet me halfway and it's always my fault. Either he assumes I want him to do everything the same way I'm doing it or what ever task I put on him is always some complaint. It gets even deeper like I stop cleaning his side of the room or just anything of his in the house because he had a problem with me touching and moving his things, I stopped doing his laundry because he didn't like that I mixed our clothes with the kids and also didn't like the way I did laundry, I stopped cooking for him because he would complain that I don’t cook him what he wants then when I do it's I give him anxiety because now he feels like he has to eat it even if he doesn't want to then when I cook and give it to his family.. He gets mad about that because he doesn't want them eating all his food. I also barely text him because he never really responds and he explained that when I text him it gives him anxiety and he feels like he has to drop everything and respond to me (he doesn't though as I explained he barely responds back), so because of all of these issues I no longer cook, clean, or text him. Due to this I've been feeling like I should just tell him that we should focus on co-parenting/friendship but I struggle with it because he's the only family I have but this incident today made me realize that maybe I should suck it up and just end it already... I have the stomach flu and could barely move so I asked him to take care of the kids so I can recover, he tended to them throughout the day until he went to work. Our daughter was throwing up as well and she was up all night fussing so I texted him that if he can (his job allows it at times) come home early please do so because I can't tend to her, I physically couldn't move. He responded late asking what's wrong with her and I explained that she's being fussy. He then didn't say much of anything after, then we have been needing to go grocery shopping for a few days now but he doesn't do it. So before I forgot I let him know that he has to go food shopping for the kids especially because they didn't have much of anything. He didn't respond again but I just wanted him to know in case I forgot (he would use that as an excuse). He came home and was pissed with me explaining how again me texting him gave him anxiety and made it hard for him to function at work, he even went as far as saying he was trying to text me while he was driving (w.e.) the man never sent anything to me, his argument is I could've told him all these things when he got home not while he was at work. My argument is if I'm sick and the kids need something what do u want me to do because u knew I couldn't do anything but still went to work but would call out any other time for the slightest reason but didn't think this time was that serious and now when I'm informing you that I need help it's a problem then who should I inform then!? I'm so exhausted I don’t want to deal with this anymore but I'm not sure I'm being too dramatic.
submitted by Potential-Maybe2183 to relationship_advice [link] [comments]
2023.03.26 13:42 PermRonin Nozzle rips first layer from bed
 | Hey folks, submitted by PermRonin to ElegooNeptune3 [link] [comments] title sounds like an easy problem but its not. At least not when I take the hours of trying to fix into consideration. What basically happens: On first layers, the nozzle often starts to rip corners & first layer of the bed. It is not that the nozzle is generall to low. About the setup: Neptune 3 BaseKlipperDragon SF HotendSherpa Mini direct driveBLTouch (clone)Y Axis Linear RailsBed Mesh is ~ 0.16mm differencereplaced stock bed spacers with silcone onesmost tests printed in pla 220 nozzle, 60 bed, 0.2 first layer height, 0.4mm retract, 30mm retract speed Things I tried: Cleaned Bed with SoapMake sure the MESH is loaded (M420 makro, see in GitHub below)Input Shaper & Pressure Advance disabledmoved back to really slow speeds (40mm print, 150 travel, 500mm^2 accel)different filaments (pla, petg, greenTec pro)checked all screws I could find Some oddities I am not sure how to make sense out of it
https://www.icloud.com/photos/#0c0Jj_EE75w7sJ6Ad1FSJka2A https://github.com/patriksimms/Neptune-Elegoo3-Klippeblob/main/printer.cfg print 1 also print 1 also print 1 current toolhead setup print 2 also print 2 also print 2 |
2023.03.26 13:41 mamaleigh05 COVID Denial
My SO and I tested positive a week ago. (Took a test because symptoms warranted.) He came down with horrible cough 5 days before me and had a fever for 4. He stayed in bed the whole week until his son was flying in from the airport. By then I had a fever, horrible cough, etc. He’s denied having COVID the whole time and said he had a “little cold”. Meanwhile, I cooked, cleaned, did all the laundry, etc. now he’s keeping me up all night hacking g, still laying on couch until he goes to get his son from a his oldest brother apartment where he stayed last night. He’s making plans with borh his sons to go to dinner (on my credit card) and bring them back here! Funny how men have “convenient” illnesses. Now I’m looking like the party pooper and I don’t think it’s safe for his son to be here yet, let alone us be going out to dinner. He doesn’t care if he tests positive ~ he’ll risk everyone else’s health just to be stubborn. He still maintains COVID is a conspiracy and so are the tests! 🙄 So he’s off in a bit to get his sons, go to dinner and come back here with the youngest! AITAH for not joining him and not hiding our illness from his 20 year old?
submitted by mamaleigh05 to AITAH [link] [comments]
2023.03.26 13:39 ButterscotchEven6198 Continue or not? Hypomania?
I started on 25 mg at the end of January. Have been increasing dosage fast. (Was on Fluoxetine before, 50 mg). Since 4 weeks now on 150 mg. I have terrible diarrhea. I was at first extremely tired. Then about 2-3 weeks ago (after increase to 150 mg) I got hypomanic, I think. I was very energetic, wanted to do "everything at once", got on top of loads of stuff I've been avoiding, cleaning for hours, occasional euphoric states. There has been discussions about possible bipolar for years but now I'm at a clinic that's not very good and they have very little time so all communication is via messages and they won't give me an actual visit. So anyway I was very hyper for about 2 weeks and then about 5 days ago I sort of crashed and have been extremely tired, exhausted, muscle weakness, general feeling of being unwell. Depression wise it's not that bad, but the exhaustion is unmanageable if it doesn't go away.
So I'm very lost and confused about how to interpret and handle this. My doctor has an appointment with me in 3 weeks. He says I just have to wait til then.
Will try to formulate concrete questions:
Is it perhaps better to lower my dosage? Was such a fast increase, from 27/1 to 27/2 I went from starting at 25 mg to 150 mg. Therefore I feel that it isn't at all clear if I need as much as 150 mg. When reading in this subreddit 150 mg seems quite high.
The tiredness - is it common and do you experience that it usually lessens over time?
The hypomania - anyone else experience similar thing without it meaning you has to come off the medicine? I mean does this happen to people without it meaning you are actually bipolar?
I would be so thankful for your input ❤️
submitted by ButterscotchEven6198 to zoloft [link] [comments]
So I'm very lost and confused about how to interpret and handle this. My doctor has an appointment with me in 3 weeks. He says I just have to wait til then.
Will try to formulate concrete questions:
Is it perhaps better to lower my dosage? Was such a fast increase, from 27/1 to 27/2 I went from starting at 25 mg to 150 mg. Therefore I feel that it isn't at all clear if I need as much as 150 mg. When reading in this subreddit 150 mg seems quite high.
The tiredness - is it common and do you experience that it usually lessens over time?
The hypomania - anyone else experience similar thing without it meaning you has to come off the medicine? I mean does this happen to people without it meaning you are actually bipolar?
I would be so thankful for your input ❤️
2023.03.26 13:36 ThrowAway----_- Should I have a discussion to my MIL about her hoarding and why I dont want her moving in with us?
My MIL is a hoarder, but shes between a level2 hoarder, so shes not an extreme hoarder, but shes really messy and house kinda stinks (due to her millions of pets) but other than that, her house could get cleaned up within a few days. Her kitchen bench is quite large but its just covered in usless stuff, like paperwork, reciepts, toy figurines, cables, cat fur, etc, and she genuinely see's nothing wrong with it. She has cupboards upon cupboards full of cups and glassware, and she has boxes of unopened cups because she just keeps buying more and more (theres only 2 people in her house). She owns 2 fridges because the first one is full of rotten food that she refuses to clean out because "i can still eat all that". HOW CAN YOU EAT EXPIRED MAYO FROM 2017????
She expects to move in with me and my partner (her son) when we buy a house and I genuinely dont want her moving in. Should my partner and I have a discussion with her about this? I feel like she refuses to believe she's a hoarder and just thinks her house is "a little messy" but she blames it on the fact that she just moved in.....she moved in a year ago.
submitted by ThrowAway----_- to ChildofHoarder [link] [comments]
She expects to move in with me and my partner (her son) when we buy a house and I genuinely dont want her moving in. Should my partner and I have a discussion with her about this? I feel like she refuses to believe she's a hoarder and just thinks her house is "a little messy" but she blames it on the fact that she just moved in.....she moved in a year ago.
2023.03.26 13:36 _Prisoner_24601 Sniffing body odour is tested as an anxiety therapy (BBC)
Sniffing other people's body odour might be useful in therapy for social anxiety, say Swedish researchers who have started tests with volunteers.
The scientists have been using armpit sweat in their experiments.
Their hunch is the smell activates brain pathways linked to emotions, offering a calming effect - but it is far too soon to say if they are right.
They are presenting some of their early findings at a medical conference in Paris this week.
Why and how do we smell?
Babies are born with a strong sense of smell, with a preference for their mother and her breastmilk.
Smell helps us humans sense danger - from food or a smoky fire, for example - and interact with our environment, as well as each other.
It also makes meals more tasty and can evoke strong memories too.
Aromas are detected by receptors in the upper part of the nose. Signals from these are then relayed directly to the limbic system, a brain region that is associated with memory and emotions.
The Swedish researchers suggest that human body odour might communicate our emotional state - happy or anxious, for instance - and even elicit similar responses in others who smell it.
They asked volunteers to donate armpit sweat from when they were watching either a scary movie or a happy one.
Next, 48 women with social anxiety agreed to sniff some of these samples, alongside receiving a more conventional therapy called mindfulness, where people are encouraged to focus on the here and now rather than replaying negative thoughts.
Some of the women were given genuine body odour to sniff, while others - the control group - were given clean air instead.
Those who were exposed to the sweat appeared to do better with the therapy. Lead researcher Ms Elisa Vigna, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said: "Sweat produced while someone was happy had the same effect as someone who had been scared by a movie clip. So there may be something about human chemo-signals in sweat generally which affects the response to treatment.
"It may be that simply being exposed to the presence of someone else has this effect, but we need to confirm this. In fact, that is what we are testing now in a follow-up study with a similar design, but where we are also including sweat from individuals watching emotionally neutral documentaries."
What is sweat and does it always smell?
Most of the skin's sweat is odourless. But sweat glands in the armpit and groin produce certain compounds that cause body odour. Bacteria on the skin's surface and on nearby hair follicles break down these compounds, producing others which are responsible for the smell.
Duncan Boak from the charity Fifth Sense, which aims to raise awareness about smell and taste disorders, said: "We know there's a strong link between our sense of smell and our emotional wellbeing.
"Losing the ability to smell other people, such as your partner and children can cause depression and feelings of isolation.
"Whilst this is a preliminary study and further work is of course needed, it's very encouraging to see further research around the importance of our sense of smell to good mental health."
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65049739.amp
submitted by _Prisoner_24601 to Anxiety [link] [comments]
The scientists have been using armpit sweat in their experiments.
Their hunch is the smell activates brain pathways linked to emotions, offering a calming effect - but it is far too soon to say if they are right.
They are presenting some of their early findings at a medical conference in Paris this week.
Why and how do we smell?
Babies are born with a strong sense of smell, with a preference for their mother and her breastmilk.
Smell helps us humans sense danger - from food or a smoky fire, for example - and interact with our environment, as well as each other.
It also makes meals more tasty and can evoke strong memories too.
Aromas are detected by receptors in the upper part of the nose. Signals from these are then relayed directly to the limbic system, a brain region that is associated with memory and emotions.
The Swedish researchers suggest that human body odour might communicate our emotional state - happy or anxious, for instance - and even elicit similar responses in others who smell it.
They asked volunteers to donate armpit sweat from when they were watching either a scary movie or a happy one.
Next, 48 women with social anxiety agreed to sniff some of these samples, alongside receiving a more conventional therapy called mindfulness, where people are encouraged to focus on the here and now rather than replaying negative thoughts.
Some of the women were given genuine body odour to sniff, while others - the control group - were given clean air instead.
Those who were exposed to the sweat appeared to do better with the therapy. Lead researcher Ms Elisa Vigna, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said: "Sweat produced while someone was happy had the same effect as someone who had been scared by a movie clip. So there may be something about human chemo-signals in sweat generally which affects the response to treatment.
"It may be that simply being exposed to the presence of someone else has this effect, but we need to confirm this. In fact, that is what we are testing now in a follow-up study with a similar design, but where we are also including sweat from individuals watching emotionally neutral documentaries."
What is sweat and does it always smell?
Most of the skin's sweat is odourless. But sweat glands in the armpit and groin produce certain compounds that cause body odour. Bacteria on the skin's surface and on nearby hair follicles break down these compounds, producing others which are responsible for the smell.
Duncan Boak from the charity Fifth Sense, which aims to raise awareness about smell and taste disorders, said: "We know there's a strong link between our sense of smell and our emotional wellbeing.
"Losing the ability to smell other people, such as your partner and children can cause depression and feelings of isolation.
"Whilst this is a preliminary study and further work is of course needed, it's very encouraging to see further research around the importance of our sense of smell to good mental health."
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65049739.amp
2023.03.26 13:34 Batemoh My(19F) boyfriend (22M) is depressed and it’s taking a toll on me and our relationship
I’m not here for judgement about our age gap or how he is this or that, please spare me from it.
My boyfriend is not from my country and we live in my country’s capital but still many people don’t speak English, so he’s been saying he feels lonely and isolated. We’ve been together for 1.5 years now, and he is my everything. He was my first in most things, but sadly I wasn’t the first for him in anything.
This immediately came with some problems as he mistrusts women terribly. He comes with a lot of baggage about that, while I have 0 experience in a relationship much less how to gain someone who by default mistrusts me’s trust. We moved in together after about 3 months, as I had to leave my home and we’ve been together since. Things have been hard, but it’s been getting so much harder recently.
He has always had problems with me not doing enough, not giving enough love. I told him I loved him today and he said “If only that were true” when I said it was he just replied “Too little too late”. He says I refuse to improve but I’ve been doing my best, but I am graduating high school this year, my dad died in October so I’ve had to work, and in general I just don’t sleep enough so I’m tired.
He also works a lot because he started his own card game store recently, but I helped with the establishment of it, and I always offer to help but he refuses. He just asks me to go here email this guy, nothing that lightens his workload significantly.
So how I try to help is by cooking food, cleaning the house, getting things in order, but every time I make the smallest mistake he blows up at me and recently that’s been every night. And then he complains he feels I don’t show him enough love, I don’t make him feel at home, or like I care about him. And the cycle just goes on, the next day I try to ignore what happened the day before, and then he tells me how I am shit for ignoring what happened the day before. If I suggest not going to a vacation with him, he just tells me he has an image to uphold that he is happy and alive, when he doesn’t care if he lives or dies.
I don’t know what to do, because I love him. Please help
submitted by Batemoh to relationship_advice [link] [comments]
My boyfriend is not from my country and we live in my country’s capital but still many people don’t speak English, so he’s been saying he feels lonely and isolated. We’ve been together for 1.5 years now, and he is my everything. He was my first in most things, but sadly I wasn’t the first for him in anything.
This immediately came with some problems as he mistrusts women terribly. He comes with a lot of baggage about that, while I have 0 experience in a relationship much less how to gain someone who by default mistrusts me’s trust. We moved in together after about 3 months, as I had to leave my home and we’ve been together since. Things have been hard, but it’s been getting so much harder recently.
He has always had problems with me not doing enough, not giving enough love. I told him I loved him today and he said “If only that were true” when I said it was he just replied “Too little too late”. He says I refuse to improve but I’ve been doing my best, but I am graduating high school this year, my dad died in October so I’ve had to work, and in general I just don’t sleep enough so I’m tired.
He also works a lot because he started his own card game store recently, but I helped with the establishment of it, and I always offer to help but he refuses. He just asks me to go here email this guy, nothing that lightens his workload significantly.
So how I try to help is by cooking food, cleaning the house, getting things in order, but every time I make the smallest mistake he blows up at me and recently that’s been every night. And then he complains he feels I don’t show him enough love, I don’t make him feel at home, or like I care about him. And the cycle just goes on, the next day I try to ignore what happened the day before, and then he tells me how I am shit for ignoring what happened the day before. If I suggest not going to a vacation with him, he just tells me he has an image to uphold that he is happy and alive, when he doesn’t care if he lives or dies.
I don’t know what to do, because I love him. Please help
2023.03.26 13:30 No_Bunch_8521 AITA for wanting my mom to communicate?
So for some context my mom (58f) lives with both of my brothers (Sean 37m) (John 29m). I (30f) just ended a relationship, and because I was the financial provider in my household I wasn’t able to put savings away so now I have to move back into my moms until I’m able to get money aside for my own place.
My brothers at no point have ever moved out, they do work, but they contribute no money to the household bills or to any cleaning that needs to be done. And then on top of it because they don’t clean my mom refuses to clean. Another issue that continuously happens is they eat food my mom buys but then she complains constantly to me about Sean specifically eating her food, but she won’t talk to him about it when she is mad about these things. John on the other hand has an 11 year old daughter that my mom provides 100% of childcare on the weeks my brother has her. He goes to work, and then it’s immediately into gaming, or playing guitar. He spends maybe one hour a week with his daughter.
When I asked if I could move in temporarily I was told that I’ll have to pay $300 a month, and to keep the upstairs of the house clean. I asked why I was being asked to contribute more than my brothers financially, and more than anyone else to clean, and she said it was to pick up slack. Frustrated with that response I had asked my mom to consider asking everyone to contribute equally to certain areas such as cleaning. She went off about how it isn’t fair to them because what they are doing has been working for the last ten years (it’s been working because I go over every other week and clean and have been since I moved out).
And this is where I might be the asshole, last time she started complaining about my brothers I told her I didn’t want to hear the complaining unless she was going to communicate these issues with them to try and get them resolved. She yelled back at me that I’m not welcome to live in her house if I’m not willing to accept the way things are, and will be.
But idk to me it feels like she is being a little unreasonable, and at this point I’m considering making my budget tight for a month then just never going back there. But then again maybe I’m just the ah.
submitted by No_Bunch_8521 to AmItheAsshole [link] [comments]
My brothers at no point have ever moved out, they do work, but they contribute no money to the household bills or to any cleaning that needs to be done. And then on top of it because they don’t clean my mom refuses to clean. Another issue that continuously happens is they eat food my mom buys but then she complains constantly to me about Sean specifically eating her food, but she won’t talk to him about it when she is mad about these things. John on the other hand has an 11 year old daughter that my mom provides 100% of childcare on the weeks my brother has her. He goes to work, and then it’s immediately into gaming, or playing guitar. He spends maybe one hour a week with his daughter.
When I asked if I could move in temporarily I was told that I’ll have to pay $300 a month, and to keep the upstairs of the house clean. I asked why I was being asked to contribute more than my brothers financially, and more than anyone else to clean, and she said it was to pick up slack. Frustrated with that response I had asked my mom to consider asking everyone to contribute equally to certain areas such as cleaning. She went off about how it isn’t fair to them because what they are doing has been working for the last ten years (it’s been working because I go over every other week and clean and have been since I moved out).
And this is where I might be the asshole, last time she started complaining about my brothers I told her I didn’t want to hear the complaining unless she was going to communicate these issues with them to try and get them resolved. She yelled back at me that I’m not welcome to live in her house if I’m not willing to accept the way things are, and will be.
But idk to me it feels like she is being a little unreasonable, and at this point I’m considering making my budget tight for a month then just never going back there. But then again maybe I’m just the ah.
2023.03.26 13:29 Weekly-Set-610 I can’t eat for some reason.
My situation is so specific I can’t give a huge amount of context, but I don’t know where else to turn than to the internet?
I have a huge issue with anxiety. To the point of panic attacks. Recently I have made a huge life change because I’ve been making awful, horrible, self destructive decisions.
Im very depressed and I know that but I have zero healthcare, and so therapy is not an option. Despite being below the poverty line and having a child (6) I do not get any benefits from work, the government, or any other place. I dont even quality for sliding scale programs but all I can say is I make less than $20 more than the limit for any assistance..
Now for the past 7 years my(f27) partner (m27) have really had a rift. He wanted a kid, I wanted to be child free. Despite protection AND the pill, I got pregnant. I freaked out because I would lose my job that I LOVED. It was the happiest time of my life. The guy I liked for so so so long (almost a year) and I had been together for 11 months. I knew it was a bad idea. My job was the one that made the majority of our finances and I didn’t want to be pregnant or have a child.
Well “love” (read: emotional manipulation) won and I kept the pregnancy. Yeah I’m stupid I know. Our relationship was actually good, we had fun together and the issues we ran into we worked together and fixed them or at least started the process because of my crippling anxiety and his inclination towards anger it was a process but we were a team.
That ended when he used the ultimatum to either keep him and the baby or my job (and life I mean I brought a human into a world like this and I’m doing everything I can to not feel guilt for knowing they will face hardships because my partner would leave me if I didn’t) it was entirely a stupid mistake. He is a good dad but a horrible provider. I’m now depressed and ofc hormones ppd, ppa, I developed diabetes and other chronic health conditions and became, well I wanted to get away from the world but I have a small human that needs me. Stopped wearing my seatbelt or looking before crossing the street.
Partner turned to drugs and we split. He gets clean, we work through it. My health (mental and physical) stresses him out and then he eventually relapses. Couldn’t hold a job, so I worked 2 jobs 4 weeks after having a child. This may give away something personal but after I gave birth, he disappeared after holding our child for nearly 4 hours. Then comes into the room, has not spoken to me at all looks down at arc child, and says, “are you sure the child is mine? “. I should’ve left. But my health and financial situation made it hard. I would end up having to go back because I can’t raise a child and work two jobs. I had one friend and my mom who also has health issues that would watch my little one but has nerve issues. My dad was too far to help. Childcare is expensive Well now the past few months since the last relapse and I live with my mom and we are “trying” but he’s cost me over $5000 and he works but he’s making so little and having to pay for legal costs for possession and a few other things and might go to prison for a few months/years because he enjoys his job despite the pay.
This will be odd but he wanted to apologize and celebrate my birthday. I figured it couldn’t hurt. He couldn’t pay for any of the gifts or food. There’s another $200 but he ordered me two gifts that were collectively $70-90 with shipping maybe..
Since then I can’t eat or sleep unless I’m drunk or take way. More than the recommended dose of sleeping medication. I haven’t cried a lot but today my aunt passed away and I went from crying for hours to deciding I want to leave him and move and get my old job back. I got so happy I danced around work listening to music and finally talking to my friends again.
Idk why I got so excited but I did. Unfortunately something held me up tonight so I went to get food and gas because even though I can’t eat, I keep making meals or buying food and I just stare at it until I just give up trying to eat. While I was there, I met someone here I am just getting out of a horrible relationship. But I allowed him to get my number. Technically, my partner and I are separated but today I did decide to leave them. I just haven’t been able to tell them we haven’t lived together in months. And this other guy and I start texting turns out we have a lot in common. I don’t want another relationship but I’m also moving in a few months. The advice I need to ask about is do I wait and not tell that I am leaving my partner, which would make it easier on me and probably safer or do I end it and maybe pursue seven things like a friendship with flirtation with someone that actually seems to care about the things that I like because he likes them too.? I don’t think it’ll be a forever we’re gonna get married thing just I want to be happy. I wanna have fun and not want to stop existing. I want to get excited when my phone rings instead of dreading what has happened now. I know pretending is wrong, but it would make it easier on my mental health even though I would feel like I’m cheating even though I don’t plan on doing anything like that, just casual flirtation, and possibly being like Internet friends or we don’t see each other, but we talk and play games and watch videos, but virtually using voice chat. I was also able to eat, but only a small amount of fries. I think this decision to leave is a good one. It’s the right one, but do I leave secretly it’s not like I’m gonna hide from him. It’s just that someone else is also on a similar situation. We don’t know each other very well but I know she needs to get out to her more than me, if I go and get everything ready and then come back and get her and our kids we could have a very happy life. I am almost 100% certain that this is the right choice. I just don’t know whether I should be open to my partner or ex partner or if I should tell him and risk it, possibly getting out because my child’s father is very close friends with her partner. I started trying to reach out more with her because I found out how dangerous her situation is. It is benefiting me may be more I don’t know I’m not sure what to do. Tell or wait ?
submitted by Weekly-Set-610 to Advice [link] [comments]
I have a huge issue with anxiety. To the point of panic attacks. Recently I have made a huge life change because I’ve been making awful, horrible, self destructive decisions.
Im very depressed and I know that but I have zero healthcare, and so therapy is not an option. Despite being below the poverty line and having a child (6) I do not get any benefits from work, the government, or any other place. I dont even quality for sliding scale programs but all I can say is I make less than $20 more than the limit for any assistance..
Now for the past 7 years my(f27) partner (m27) have really had a rift. He wanted a kid, I wanted to be child free. Despite protection AND the pill, I got pregnant. I freaked out because I would lose my job that I LOVED. It was the happiest time of my life. The guy I liked for so so so long (almost a year) and I had been together for 11 months. I knew it was a bad idea. My job was the one that made the majority of our finances and I didn’t want to be pregnant or have a child.
Well “love” (read: emotional manipulation) won and I kept the pregnancy. Yeah I’m stupid I know. Our relationship was actually good, we had fun together and the issues we ran into we worked together and fixed them or at least started the process because of my crippling anxiety and his inclination towards anger it was a process but we were a team.
That ended when he used the ultimatum to either keep him and the baby or my job (and life I mean I brought a human into a world like this and I’m doing everything I can to not feel guilt for knowing they will face hardships because my partner would leave me if I didn’t) it was entirely a stupid mistake. He is a good dad but a horrible provider. I’m now depressed and ofc hormones ppd, ppa, I developed diabetes and other chronic health conditions and became, well I wanted to get away from the world but I have a small human that needs me. Stopped wearing my seatbelt or looking before crossing the street.
Partner turned to drugs and we split. He gets clean, we work through it. My health (mental and physical) stresses him out and then he eventually relapses. Couldn’t hold a job, so I worked 2 jobs 4 weeks after having a child. This may give away something personal but after I gave birth, he disappeared after holding our child for nearly 4 hours. Then comes into the room, has not spoken to me at all looks down at arc child, and says, “are you sure the child is mine? “. I should’ve left. But my health and financial situation made it hard. I would end up having to go back because I can’t raise a child and work two jobs. I had one friend and my mom who also has health issues that would watch my little one but has nerve issues. My dad was too far to help. Childcare is expensive Well now the past few months since the last relapse and I live with my mom and we are “trying” but he’s cost me over $5000 and he works but he’s making so little and having to pay for legal costs for possession and a few other things and might go to prison for a few months/years because he enjoys his job despite the pay.
This will be odd but he wanted to apologize and celebrate my birthday. I figured it couldn’t hurt. He couldn’t pay for any of the gifts or food. There’s another $200 but he ordered me two gifts that were collectively $70-90 with shipping maybe..
Since then I can’t eat or sleep unless I’m drunk or take way. More than the recommended dose of sleeping medication. I haven’t cried a lot but today my aunt passed away and I went from crying for hours to deciding I want to leave him and move and get my old job back. I got so happy I danced around work listening to music and finally talking to my friends again.
Idk why I got so excited but I did. Unfortunately something held me up tonight so I went to get food and gas because even though I can’t eat, I keep making meals or buying food and I just stare at it until I just give up trying to eat. While I was there, I met someone here I am just getting out of a horrible relationship. But I allowed him to get my number. Technically, my partner and I are separated but today I did decide to leave them. I just haven’t been able to tell them we haven’t lived together in months. And this other guy and I start texting turns out we have a lot in common. I don’t want another relationship but I’m also moving in a few months. The advice I need to ask about is do I wait and not tell that I am leaving my partner, which would make it easier on me and probably safer or do I end it and maybe pursue seven things like a friendship with flirtation with someone that actually seems to care about the things that I like because he likes them too.? I don’t think it’ll be a forever we’re gonna get married thing just I want to be happy. I wanna have fun and not want to stop existing. I want to get excited when my phone rings instead of dreading what has happened now. I know pretending is wrong, but it would make it easier on my mental health even though I would feel like I’m cheating even though I don’t plan on doing anything like that, just casual flirtation, and possibly being like Internet friends or we don’t see each other, but we talk and play games and watch videos, but virtually using voice chat. I was also able to eat, but only a small amount of fries. I think this decision to leave is a good one. It’s the right one, but do I leave secretly it’s not like I’m gonna hide from him. It’s just that someone else is also on a similar situation. We don’t know each other very well but I know she needs to get out to her more than me, if I go and get everything ready and then come back and get her and our kids we could have a very happy life. I am almost 100% certain that this is the right choice. I just don’t know whether I should be open to my partner or ex partner or if I should tell him and risk it, possibly getting out because my child’s father is very close friends with her partner. I started trying to reach out more with her because I found out how dangerous her situation is. It is benefiting me may be more I don’t know I’m not sure what to do. Tell or wait ?
2023.03.26 13:28 conceited_defeated I fucked up (vent)
I'm dating my fp and went through her phone yesterday. she lied to me about having an app I hate, i'd be fine if she told me she had it idrc. i mean if she really wants to be on it i won't stop her I'm just breaking down because the lie It wasn't the first one and she's the only one i trust I don't want that to change but it's so hard. nearly impossible for me to trust people. it was destroying me so I tried talking to her and now she's pissed I went on her phone. it hurts I deserve to be hated but It makes me want to die and she wants me to recover. so i'm just supposed to deal with it and act normal? How do I do that I relapsed last night and a couple minutes ago, I was clean for 33 days. I feel insane it's overwhelming and now i'm worried about her seeing the cuts in a few days
submitted by conceited_defeated to MadeOfStyrofoam [link] [comments]
2023.03.26 13:25 Ikelos1011 How can i get rid of these annoying edges, i've tried so many things but no matter what i do there's still some tiny gap between them (and others). Is there a method to cleanly merge pillars with different rotations?
 | submitted by Ikelos1011 to SatisfactoryGame [link] [comments] |
2023.03.26 13:22 ymgve Best practices for transferring a ton of old/musty 3.5 inch floppies?
I'm in the process of copying some old floppies I've been having in my basement for way too long, and some of them are in pretty bad shape. I've done quite a few already, but wondering if there are any hints/tips for how to best do the job? Setup: Some old floppy drives and a Catweasel 3 PCI card I had lying around. (Expecting a Greaseweazle to arrive in a few days)
Experiences so far: - Retrying sometimes "cleans up" the platter of disks after a few full sweeps and make them more readable. Not sure how bad that is for the read heads though. - Some disks are so dirty they make the drive unable to read from one head until cleaned. But some times the cleaning disk seems to make things worse? - Not sure if it's better to focus on volume of disks vs trying to do deeper recovery of each disk, retrying bad tracks hundreds of times in the hopes that it eventually works (And in a lot of cases, it does work...after a while) - If you have disks that you think about dumping, better do it sooner than later. These have only gotten worse as time has gone by.
submitted by ymgve to DataHoarder [link] [comments]
Experiences so far: - Retrying sometimes "cleans up" the platter of disks after a few full sweeps and make them more readable. Not sure how bad that is for the read heads though. - Some disks are so dirty they make the drive unable to read from one head until cleaned. But some times the cleaning disk seems to make things worse? - Not sure if it's better to focus on volume of disks vs trying to do deeper recovery of each disk, retrying bad tracks hundreds of times in the hopes that it eventually works (And in a lot of cases, it does work...after a while) - If you have disks that you think about dumping, better do it sooner than later. These have only gotten worse as time has gone by.
2023.03.26 13:19 SimbaTheSavage8 I don't think I'm normal, and I'm scared (Part 2)
Part 1
I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to think even.
Emily knows my biological mom?
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” I asked.
Emily’s smile was as thin as ice. “I didn’t think you were ready. Now you are.”
“Ready for what?”
“You’ll know soon enough. Sleep tight, Skye. You have to go to school tomorrow.”
I couldn’t sleep. All I saw, in my nightmares and painted on the ceiling, was Alfie’s face. He whispered my name while I dreamed and wriggled into my happiest memories. I woke up screaming as his body twisted and swelled.
We will meet again. Alfie hissed through a series of clicks.
It was too quiet when I woke up the next morning. I was used to Emily yelling for me to wake up for school or my dad rushing to get dressed for work and brushing his teeth or the smell of burned bacon and pancakes and eggs down from the kitchen. Or at the very least Alfie ringing my ears off to tell me he was waiting too long outside.
But the silence whispered through the halls, sneaking into my room and tickling my heart. I rubbed my eyes and sat with my knees tucked against my chest, watching the sun rise. The sky was lit in gold as the darkness slithered away, but it was as if dawn had never arrived at all.
I got dressed and headed downstairs. At that point I realised exactly why the house was so quiet and my heart stopped cold.
Most of the stuff we owned was packed up into boxes; and anything that was too big was covered by translucent tarps. Emily and my dad were huddled together in the kitchen. They looked so lost, so hollow, like they’d just come back from Alfie’s funeral and had not stopped crying since.
“Hey morning,” I said tersely.
“Morning,” Emily said. She still wasn’t looking at me. “Did you sleep well or do you still look like a panda bear?”
“Ha ha.” I made myself some coffee. It tasted like muddy water.
Emily looked at the clock. “You better hurry up or you’ll be late for school, Sleepy Skye.”
“But—” The night before was still spinning in my mind. Questions bubbled to the back of my throat, dying on my lips.
Emily placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Skye. I’ll explain more later when the time is right.”
School felt like forever. All of my classes passed in a blur. Everyone avoided me like the plague, and whispered behind their hands when I walked past. I didn’t really care. I rested my head on my hands and wished Alfie was here. Whispering that everything would be okay.
Creak
When the last bell rang I plodded through the halls. The chatter around me had blended into a monotonous stream of nothing. I looked around me and saw Alfie’s face around me, in the couples making out near the lockers, in the teenagers huddled together like penguins.
My heart ached again.
Alfie…
My dad’s van was waiting for me at the school entrance, coughing up smoke like an old, retired dragon. It was jammed full of boxes and things wrapped in bubble paper. I was surprised it could even move a centimetre without something breaking inside.
“Hop in Skye,” said my dad, poking his head out of one window.
“Um, where are we going?”
“To my old place,” Emily explained, poking her head out of the other window. “I—we—thought it would be good for you, for…for the both of us.”
“After…after…y’know.”
Alfie died.
The wind was still once more, as if mourning over him in its deep grief too. I crumbled against the side of the van, letting hot tears stream down my cheeks.
Alfie…
Without a word more I climbed into the van and my dad sped off immediately. I gazed outside the window, watching country roads blend into billboards and highways, and let the van rock me into a soothing sleep.
“We’re here. Wake up, Sleepy Skye.”
Emily’s house, as it turned out, was a two-storey monster tucked away from the heart of the city. The paint was peeling away and the bricks underneath were slick with slime. Mold crawled between the bricks and stayed there, dying the house green. I turned away and nearly threw up.
“This way,” Emily said, climbing a set of stairs. It was really dark, and everything was covered in shadow. The only source of light was a small Gothic window that shone through the gloom in a weak white arm. Set at the side of the stairwell was a black iron door. I started towards it, but Emily glared at me, so I abandoned the door and followed her.
The second floor was surprisingly well-kept. The floors were swept and the walls clean of dust. Picture frames depicting bugs and scarabs hung onto the wall, polished until it shone. There was even a pot of tea on the table.
“Knock yourself out,” Emily said as she collapsed onto the couch. She closed her eyes.
“Make yourself at home.”
“It stinks,” I observed, wrinkling my nose.
In fact it was the worst stink I had ever smelled in my life. It tore through the walls and floors like it was made of paper and I gagged. I sprinted to the window, stuck my head out and breathed in relief.
Emily raised an eyebrow.
“There’s some…construction going on downstairs,” she explained. “We just got here, so bear with it a little longer, okay Skye?”
“Yeah,” I choked. My eyes were watering. If I could see the smell it would be a big black cloud hovering in the air, howling and shaking in its stinky fury.
“Can I explore the city? I need some fresh air.”
“Go ahead,” Emily said, turning away. “Just be back for dinner.”
I nodded. I had never sprinted out of my old house so fast in my life, rubbing my smarting eyes. Even at the distance I could smell it, and once again I felt like throwing up.
After some time I slowed to a walk and really started to look around. It wasn’t much of a city—and it also wasn’t much of a town—but somewhere in between. It was getting quite late in the day with the sun streaming slowly in from the west, but the town felt…alive in a way. Shopkeepers hollered their wares from the inside of their ornate walls, and people were strolling on the streets, their arms interlocked laughing and whistling.
I tried not to think of Alfie.
A couple of blocks away I saw a large diner, its neon sign beckoning me inside. Getting closer I could smell heaven: char-grilled meats, fresh cakes and cookies, and something else in a fryer or oven.
My stomach growled. I wiped off my drool with my sleeves.
Pushing the door open, I went in.
The diner was abuzz with chatter and laughter; people were toasting each other with glasses of beer and ale. Yet everything died the moment I came in. Time stood still; heads swiveled to look at me and a collective gasp rose from the frozen crowd. I felt like an animal in a zoo as I navigated through the chaos and found a table to sit.
“Don’t mind ‘em.”
The speaker was a living Popeye, with a big, floppy nose and bigger arms that bulged with muscles and fat and a tattoo of a beetle instead of an anchor. He was wearing a greasy, bloody apron and a cap that was too small for a nest of blonde hair.
“It’s been a while since we had anyone new around here. Thirteen years, in fact. Also, hold on…”
He squinted hard at me, his eyes moving from my head down to my legs.
“Are you Skye?”
Goosebumps pricked my skin once more. I looked outside and realised the wind had once again stood still.
“Yes! How do you know?”
The man opposite me thought for a moment, then shouted something to the kitchens. Then he sat down opposite me and grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.
“Your stepmom talks about you a lot. She adores you, you know.”
He cupped my head in his hands and brushed a lock of hair off my head. Tears welled in his eyes.
“You look a lot like your mom. Same face, same eyes.”
He knocked on my face like it was a piece of wood.
Click clock
“Rock solid too.”
My hair stood up on my skin as I stared straight into the eyes of this man who I just met.
“Y-you know my biological mom too?”
The man’s smile grew even wider. “Let’s just say…kind of.”
He extended his hand. “I’m sorry I haven’t introduced myself earlier. Call me Mr Lancaster. I’m the owner here.”
“I’m pleased to meet you too,” I replied, shaking his hand.
“Boss? Everything is ready.”
One of the waiters skidded to a halt near our table. He was a handsome youth—freckles and curly red hair. He held out a huge plastic bag to me.
Mr Lancaster smiled at me in a way that made my heart melt.
“Fish and chips. And I threw in some strawberry milkshakes as well. It’s one of our best dishes on the menu. Emily is always going on and on about how crazy you are for ‘em.”
“Wow! Thank you Mr Lancaster!”
“It’s on the house too. A welcome gift from me. Tell your stepmom she doesn’t have to pay back a single cent.”
He glanced out at the darkening sky, sweat mopping his brow.
“You better be going now. It’s getting late. See you soon, Skye. You’re always welcome here.”
And with that, he practically shoved me out of the door.
The bell tinkled as I stumbled onto the street, nearly tripping over the food. It was really heavy, mind you. Like a thousand dumb-bells made out of solid gold. By the time I reached my flat my arms ached.
I dropped the takeaway on the floor and sat down on one of the stairs to rest. The sun had completely set at this point; long, thin shadows crawled across the wall to the corners. Soon I was plunged in darkness. I could barely see my hand in front of my face.
My vision suddenly cleared, and I realised I could see. Somehow. Dark shapes shifted and twisted before my eyes, but I could still make out details of every brick, every scratch on the stairs and wall. The takeaway sat untouched before me.
It was like looking through an extremely grainy CCTV.
BANG BANG BANG!
As the bangs echoed throughout the hallway I froze, the excitement of my discovery gone.
BANG BANG BANG!
SKYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEE!
My name was shouted with great abandon, the call tinged with sorrow and pain. I inched closer and realised that it was coming from the iron door.
SKYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEE!
Whoever was calling me was thrashing against the door, making the hinges shake. I backed away, my heart in my throat. All the hair on my skin was standing up straight.
BANG BANG BANG!
The stink slapped me in the face, making my nose itch. My eyes didn’t leave the door as I scrambled up the stairs to the main apartment, leaving everything in the dust.
It was only when I slammed the door behind me and sprinted down the hallway to my bedroom did I realise I forgot the takeaway still sitting at the bottom of the stairs.
Oh well I told myself, trying to calm my shaking heart. I can go back in a few minutes.
I’m sure Emily and Dad won’t mind.
The city had fallen asleep. The hustle and bustle seemed to have vanished with the last of the sun. The streets were illuminated faintly with lamps that shone like a halo. My room looked like it belonged in a horror movie.
I lay on my bed for a while, squeezing my eyes shut and listening to my heart beat. The screams had long died down, but I somehow heard them long and clear in my mind, as if blasted by an invisible loudspeaker.
SKYEEEEEEE!
Low and loud, like a foghorn from a ship lost at sea.
SKYEEEEEEEEE!
“Shut up!” I screamed, my eyes welling with tears. I curled up in a ball and squeezed my head with my pillow. Even then the screams rammed against the sides of my head, over and over again, and I was dizzy from the pain.
Eventually I got out of bed and wandered throughout the house, hoping for something to distract myself from the eternal noise. The apartment was shaded in the same grainy darkness, except for the dining-room, which was glowing invitingly like a crackling campfire. Something clanged and tinkled. Cutlery probably. Either Emily or my dad setting the table. My stomach grumbled. The smell from the diner was making me hungry.
I started towards the dining room but then I heard it. A strange chitter-chatter. Like crickets, even though we lived so far from nature.
It was coming from the pictures hanging on the wall.
I hadn’t paid much attention to them when I first came in, but now it was drawing me closer like a moth to a flame. The bugs chittered again, and their legs twisted and struggled, almost like it was dancing. Looking closer, I realised that all the pictures depicted the same figure. A woman in various poses with the head of a bug with too-large eyes. She was wearing a dress that shone like fire and was glaring at the camera.
“Mom?”
I clapped my hand over my mouth. I didn’t know where that came from. I looked nothing like her. I didn’t know her. It was my first time seeing her.
But Alfie…
No, no, no! I’m mad! I must be going mad! It’s the screams, I thought, the screams were driving me cuckoo! Making me think crazy thoughts!
I forced myself to look away and shove those thoughts out of my mind. I didn’t know what to believe anymore.
“Skye? Dinner time!”
Emily’s calls broke through the confusing mess in my head. I was grateful that she came to my rescue. Glancing back at the photo of my mum (no, she isn’t! How can I be related to…that?), I scurried down the hallway and into the dining room.
Emily had saved the takeaway.
It sat between us on the newly-dusted table. Emily pulled out foil containers and set one each before me and my dad.
“Mr Lancaster called about the fish and chips,” she explained. “He was delighted to have met you, Skye.”
She ruffled my hair, and chuckled as she handed me a strawberry milkshake. “But it looked like his little delivery girl got cold feet on her first order, eh?”
“Emily!” I groaned. I took a long sip and licked my lips. The milkshake was delicious. Rich, creamy and filled with enough sugar to make my insulin go straight into overdrive.
“Hey,” I noted, sitting down after a while. The pure sweetness of that drink was enough to make my head spin. “Mr Lancaster made some extra fish and chips.”
And it stank too. Almost as much as whatever is behind that iron door.
“Oh, that’s nothing,” Emily said quickly, sweeping the bag off the table and rushing it to the kitchen. “Mr Lancaster always makes me extra. He knows I’m always hungry after midnight!”
I chuckled nervously, feeling the weight of my worries lift off my shoulders. Emily did eat a lot after midnight. A couple of times I had spotted her sneaking to the living room with the television on and a bag of chips.
Yet this particular container stuck out like a sore thumb. Not just the smell, or how big it was compared to the others, but…but, was it me or was it glowing?
I buried that thought into the deepest recesses of my mind. No. I had enough wild and crazy thoughts and visions for one night.
Succumbing to them was not what Alfie would have wanted.
That was not what any of us would have wanted.
Once we had finished dinner, I helped to clear the table and wash the cutlery. Emily turned to me and said:
“I’ve got some things to do tonight. Take care, Skye, and take care of your dad.”
“He does not look well.”
Sick actually. Dad looked like he was going to throw up. He staggered to the couch and passed out on the leather. I couldn’t help but pity him. Fifty-six years old, and all that oil into the fish and chips was not doing his heart any good.
“I’ll look after him,” I promised.
“Good girl.” Emily gave me another thin smile. She pulled on a jacket—a black jacket with a golden rim—and gave me a kiss on my forehead.
“I won’t be long.”
Emily strode out of the house, taking the last box of fish and chips with her. There was something clinking in her pocket, like suits or armor banging together. And just as she stepped out of the front door, she pulled out that something from her pocket. I only saw it for a brief second, but it was enough to make my heart race.
It was a key. But not just any key.
This one was black. Like evil. Like ash. Like the iron door.
It smirked at me as it hid back in her pocket. A shiver ran up my spine.
“Emily, wait!”
“Is there a problem, Skye?”
“Yeah. I wanna ask you something.”
I took a deep, shaky breath. There was a lump in my throat and my heart was beating way too fast.
“The iron door on the first floor…what’s behind it?”
“It’s nothing, Skye,” Emily said. Her eyes darted to somewhere behind me and fixed on one of the bug women. “Just some of my old stuff, y’know? From before I met your dad?”
“Right…”
“Now I have to go. I’ll be late otherwise. I’ll see you later, okay Skye?”
I swallowed as I watched her leave. Uncertainty still sat tight in my stomach, wound up like a spring, and wouldn’t let go.
“Dad? You okay?”
No response. My dad was out like a light.
Then his eyes shot open.
I gulped.
They got bigger and bigger. I saw each individual vein popping out and weaving into each other like mini spider webs.
Then it bulged and swelled. His head enlarged to accommodate it.
Chills shot down my spine as I realised exactly what was going on.
“Dad?”
Click click click.
His lips split and burst into mandibles. I scrambled over and held his hand.
“Don’t do this to me. Don’t be like Alfie.”
I was crying. I was shaking. Oh god, I was shaking so bad it felt like I was in an earthquake.
Click click click
I scrambled over and held his hand. It only seemed to make it worse, however. I watched as it shrank and turned black and folded into itself.
“Dad! Fight it!”
He hunched over and coughed out so much more blood.
Ack ack ack
“DAD!”
His spine was curving over and hardening into a black shell. I dropped his hand and backed away into a corner, my face white.
Ack ack ack.
The floor was blooming. Grass spread thin like a carpet and tall trees grew. I saw red flowers explode onto new branches, like a bundle of fireworks.
My dad clicked and clacked, as if enjoying the new scenery.
No…
My skin was crawling. Literally. I looked down and saw bumps pulsing beneath the folds, marching along to my heartbeat. Then it broke and a cockroach popped out. It took a deep breath, bowed, clicked and clacked in the same rhythm as my dad’s—slow and steady, a pulse—
And…
And I SWEAR I heard the cockroach say:
“Your Highness.”
I screamed. It bounced off new grass and fresh flora.
I’m really going mad now.
I pinched myself, wondering if I was living in some kind of nightmare. But I wasn’t. It was as real as the still lights from the street lamps shining in through the window.
Click clack.
More cockroaches were spilling out from my skin like a dam left unchecked. My dad looked at me inquisitively. Cement was quickly turning into dirt.
Click clack
My thoughts were clambering over each other as I squatted, paralysed in my corner, watching the cockroaches with my mouth open. My dad—no longer human—crawled into the walls and towards me. Staring at the roaches and slowly reaching out to them. They squeaked and climbed over him.
This was too much. I did the only thing I could think of.
My phone was butter in my hands. My vision blurred and I kept on punching in the wrong numbers.
Thankfully, Emily answered the phone on the first ring.
I took a deep breath and screamed into the receiver. My voice was shaking so bad I was surprised I could say anything at all.
“EMILY! HELP!”
SK
submitted by SimbaTheSavage8 to nosleep [link] [comments]
I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to think even.
Emily knows my biological mom?
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” I asked.
Emily’s smile was as thin as ice. “I didn’t think you were ready. Now you are.”
“Ready for what?”
“You’ll know soon enough. Sleep tight, Skye. You have to go to school tomorrow.”
I couldn’t sleep. All I saw, in my nightmares and painted on the ceiling, was Alfie’s face. He whispered my name while I dreamed and wriggled into my happiest memories. I woke up screaming as his body twisted and swelled.
We will meet again. Alfie hissed through a series of clicks.
It was too quiet when I woke up the next morning. I was used to Emily yelling for me to wake up for school or my dad rushing to get dressed for work and brushing his teeth or the smell of burned bacon and pancakes and eggs down from the kitchen. Or at the very least Alfie ringing my ears off to tell me he was waiting too long outside.
But the silence whispered through the halls, sneaking into my room and tickling my heart. I rubbed my eyes and sat with my knees tucked against my chest, watching the sun rise. The sky was lit in gold as the darkness slithered away, but it was as if dawn had never arrived at all.
I got dressed and headed downstairs. At that point I realised exactly why the house was so quiet and my heart stopped cold.
Most of the stuff we owned was packed up into boxes; and anything that was too big was covered by translucent tarps. Emily and my dad were huddled together in the kitchen. They looked so lost, so hollow, like they’d just come back from Alfie’s funeral and had not stopped crying since.
“Hey morning,” I said tersely.
“Morning,” Emily said. She still wasn’t looking at me. “Did you sleep well or do you still look like a panda bear?”
“Ha ha.” I made myself some coffee. It tasted like muddy water.
Emily looked at the clock. “You better hurry up or you’ll be late for school, Sleepy Skye.”
“But—” The night before was still spinning in my mind. Questions bubbled to the back of my throat, dying on my lips.
Emily placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Skye. I’ll explain more later when the time is right.”
School felt like forever. All of my classes passed in a blur. Everyone avoided me like the plague, and whispered behind their hands when I walked past. I didn’t really care. I rested my head on my hands and wished Alfie was here. Whispering that everything would be okay.
Creak
When the last bell rang I plodded through the halls. The chatter around me had blended into a monotonous stream of nothing. I looked around me and saw Alfie’s face around me, in the couples making out near the lockers, in the teenagers huddled together like penguins.
My heart ached again.
Alfie…
My dad’s van was waiting for me at the school entrance, coughing up smoke like an old, retired dragon. It was jammed full of boxes and things wrapped in bubble paper. I was surprised it could even move a centimetre without something breaking inside.
“Hop in Skye,” said my dad, poking his head out of one window.
“Um, where are we going?”
“To my old place,” Emily explained, poking her head out of the other window. “I—we—thought it would be good for you, for…for the both of us.”
“After…after…y’know.”
Alfie died.
The wind was still once more, as if mourning over him in its deep grief too. I crumbled against the side of the van, letting hot tears stream down my cheeks.
Alfie…
Without a word more I climbed into the van and my dad sped off immediately. I gazed outside the window, watching country roads blend into billboards and highways, and let the van rock me into a soothing sleep.
Emily’s house, as it turned out, was a two-storey monster tucked away from the heart of the city. The paint was peeling away and the bricks underneath were slick with slime. Mold crawled between the bricks and stayed there, dying the house green. I turned away and nearly threw up.
“This way,” Emily said, climbing a set of stairs. It was really dark, and everything was covered in shadow. The only source of light was a small Gothic window that shone through the gloom in a weak white arm. Set at the side of the stairwell was a black iron door. I started towards it, but Emily glared at me, so I abandoned the door and followed her.
The second floor was surprisingly well-kept. The floors were swept and the walls clean of dust. Picture frames depicting bugs and scarabs hung onto the wall, polished until it shone. There was even a pot of tea on the table.
“Knock yourself out,” Emily said as she collapsed onto the couch. She closed her eyes.
“Make yourself at home.”
“It stinks,” I observed, wrinkling my nose.
In fact it was the worst stink I had ever smelled in my life. It tore through the walls and floors like it was made of paper and I gagged. I sprinted to the window, stuck my head out and breathed in relief.
Emily raised an eyebrow.
“There’s some…construction going on downstairs,” she explained. “We just got here, so bear with it a little longer, okay Skye?”
“Yeah,” I choked. My eyes were watering. If I could see the smell it would be a big black cloud hovering in the air, howling and shaking in its stinky fury.
“Can I explore the city? I need some fresh air.”
“Go ahead,” Emily said, turning away. “Just be back for dinner.”
I nodded. I had never sprinted out of my old house so fast in my life, rubbing my smarting eyes. Even at the distance I could smell it, and once again I felt like throwing up.
After some time I slowed to a walk and really started to look around. It wasn’t much of a city—and it also wasn’t much of a town—but somewhere in between. It was getting quite late in the day with the sun streaming slowly in from the west, but the town felt…alive in a way. Shopkeepers hollered their wares from the inside of their ornate walls, and people were strolling on the streets, their arms interlocked laughing and whistling.
I tried not to think of Alfie.
A couple of blocks away I saw a large diner, its neon sign beckoning me inside. Getting closer I could smell heaven: char-grilled meats, fresh cakes and cookies, and something else in a fryer or oven.
My stomach growled. I wiped off my drool with my sleeves.
Pushing the door open, I went in.
The diner was abuzz with chatter and laughter; people were toasting each other with glasses of beer and ale. Yet everything died the moment I came in. Time stood still; heads swiveled to look at me and a collective gasp rose from the frozen crowd. I felt like an animal in a zoo as I navigated through the chaos and found a table to sit.
“Don’t mind ‘em.”
The speaker was a living Popeye, with a big, floppy nose and bigger arms that bulged with muscles and fat and a tattoo of a beetle instead of an anchor. He was wearing a greasy, bloody apron and a cap that was too small for a nest of blonde hair.
“It’s been a while since we had anyone new around here. Thirteen years, in fact. Also, hold on…”
He squinted hard at me, his eyes moving from my head down to my legs.
“Are you Skye?”
Goosebumps pricked my skin once more. I looked outside and realised the wind had once again stood still.
“Yes! How do you know?”
The man opposite me thought for a moment, then shouted something to the kitchens. Then he sat down opposite me and grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.
“Your stepmom talks about you a lot. She adores you, you know.”
He cupped my head in his hands and brushed a lock of hair off my head. Tears welled in his eyes.
“You look a lot like your mom. Same face, same eyes.”
He knocked on my face like it was a piece of wood.
Click clock
“Rock solid too.”
My hair stood up on my skin as I stared straight into the eyes of this man who I just met.
“Y-you know my biological mom too?”
The man’s smile grew even wider. “Let’s just say…kind of.”
He extended his hand. “I’m sorry I haven’t introduced myself earlier. Call me Mr Lancaster. I’m the owner here.”
“I’m pleased to meet you too,” I replied, shaking his hand.
“Boss? Everything is ready.”
One of the waiters skidded to a halt near our table. He was a handsome youth—freckles and curly red hair. He held out a huge plastic bag to me.
Mr Lancaster smiled at me in a way that made my heart melt.
“Fish and chips. And I threw in some strawberry milkshakes as well. It’s one of our best dishes on the menu. Emily is always going on and on about how crazy you are for ‘em.”
“Wow! Thank you Mr Lancaster!”
“It’s on the house too. A welcome gift from me. Tell your stepmom she doesn’t have to pay back a single cent.”
He glanced out at the darkening sky, sweat mopping his brow.
“You better be going now. It’s getting late. See you soon, Skye. You’re always welcome here.”
And with that, he practically shoved me out of the door.
The bell tinkled as I stumbled onto the street, nearly tripping over the food. It was really heavy, mind you. Like a thousand dumb-bells made out of solid gold. By the time I reached my flat my arms ached.
I dropped the takeaway on the floor and sat down on one of the stairs to rest. The sun had completely set at this point; long, thin shadows crawled across the wall to the corners. Soon I was plunged in darkness. I could barely see my hand in front of my face.
My vision suddenly cleared, and I realised I could see. Somehow. Dark shapes shifted and twisted before my eyes, but I could still make out details of every brick, every scratch on the stairs and wall. The takeaway sat untouched before me.
It was like looking through an extremely grainy CCTV.
BANG BANG BANG!
As the bangs echoed throughout the hallway I froze, the excitement of my discovery gone.
BANG BANG BANG!
SKYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEE!
My name was shouted with great abandon, the call tinged with sorrow and pain. I inched closer and realised that it was coming from the iron door.
SKYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEE!
Whoever was calling me was thrashing against the door, making the hinges shake. I backed away, my heart in my throat. All the hair on my skin was standing up straight.
BANG BANG BANG!
The stink slapped me in the face, making my nose itch. My eyes didn’t leave the door as I scrambled up the stairs to the main apartment, leaving everything in the dust.
It was only when I slammed the door behind me and sprinted down the hallway to my bedroom did I realise I forgot the takeaway still sitting at the bottom of the stairs.
Oh well I told myself, trying to calm my shaking heart. I can go back in a few minutes.
I’m sure Emily and Dad won’t mind.
The city had fallen asleep. The hustle and bustle seemed to have vanished with the last of the sun. The streets were illuminated faintly with lamps that shone like a halo. My room looked like it belonged in a horror movie.
I lay on my bed for a while, squeezing my eyes shut and listening to my heart beat. The screams had long died down, but I somehow heard them long and clear in my mind, as if blasted by an invisible loudspeaker.
SKYEEEEEEE!
Low and loud, like a foghorn from a ship lost at sea.
SKYEEEEEEEEE!
“Shut up!” I screamed, my eyes welling with tears. I curled up in a ball and squeezed my head with my pillow. Even then the screams rammed against the sides of my head, over and over again, and I was dizzy from the pain.
Eventually I got out of bed and wandered throughout the house, hoping for something to distract myself from the eternal noise. The apartment was shaded in the same grainy darkness, except for the dining-room, which was glowing invitingly like a crackling campfire. Something clanged and tinkled. Cutlery probably. Either Emily or my dad setting the table. My stomach grumbled. The smell from the diner was making me hungry.
I started towards the dining room but then I heard it. A strange chitter-chatter. Like crickets, even though we lived so far from nature.
It was coming from the pictures hanging on the wall.
I hadn’t paid much attention to them when I first came in, but now it was drawing me closer like a moth to a flame. The bugs chittered again, and their legs twisted and struggled, almost like it was dancing. Looking closer, I realised that all the pictures depicted the same figure. A woman in various poses with the head of a bug with too-large eyes. She was wearing a dress that shone like fire and was glaring at the camera.
“Mom?”
I clapped my hand over my mouth. I didn’t know where that came from. I looked nothing like her. I didn’t know her. It was my first time seeing her.
But Alfie…
No, no, no! I’m mad! I must be going mad! It’s the screams, I thought, the screams were driving me cuckoo! Making me think crazy thoughts!
I forced myself to look away and shove those thoughts out of my mind. I didn’t know what to believe anymore.
“Skye? Dinner time!”
Emily’s calls broke through the confusing mess in my head. I was grateful that she came to my rescue. Glancing back at the photo of my mum (no, she isn’t! How can I be related to…that?), I scurried down the hallway and into the dining room.
It sat between us on the newly-dusted table. Emily pulled out foil containers and set one each before me and my dad.
“Mr Lancaster called about the fish and chips,” she explained. “He was delighted to have met you, Skye.”
She ruffled my hair, and chuckled as she handed me a strawberry milkshake. “But it looked like his little delivery girl got cold feet on her first order, eh?”
“Emily!” I groaned. I took a long sip and licked my lips. The milkshake was delicious. Rich, creamy and filled with enough sugar to make my insulin go straight into overdrive.
“Hey,” I noted, sitting down after a while. The pure sweetness of that drink was enough to make my head spin. “Mr Lancaster made some extra fish and chips.”
And it stank too. Almost as much as whatever is behind that iron door.
“Oh, that’s nothing,” Emily said quickly, sweeping the bag off the table and rushing it to the kitchen. “Mr Lancaster always makes me extra. He knows I’m always hungry after midnight!”
I chuckled nervously, feeling the weight of my worries lift off my shoulders. Emily did eat a lot after midnight. A couple of times I had spotted her sneaking to the living room with the television on and a bag of chips.
Yet this particular container stuck out like a sore thumb. Not just the smell, or how big it was compared to the others, but…but, was it me or was it glowing?
I buried that thought into the deepest recesses of my mind. No. I had enough wild and crazy thoughts and visions for one night.
Succumbing to them was not what Alfie would have wanted.
That was not what any of us would have wanted.
Once we had finished dinner, I helped to clear the table and wash the cutlery. Emily turned to me and said:
“I’ve got some things to do tonight. Take care, Skye, and take care of your dad.”
“He does not look well.”
Sick actually. Dad looked like he was going to throw up. He staggered to the couch and passed out on the leather. I couldn’t help but pity him. Fifty-six years old, and all that oil into the fish and chips was not doing his heart any good.
“I’ll look after him,” I promised.
“Good girl.” Emily gave me another thin smile. She pulled on a jacket—a black jacket with a golden rim—and gave me a kiss on my forehead.
“I won’t be long.”
Emily strode out of the house, taking the last box of fish and chips with her. There was something clinking in her pocket, like suits or armor banging together. And just as she stepped out of the front door, she pulled out that something from her pocket. I only saw it for a brief second, but it was enough to make my heart race.
It was a key. But not just any key.
This one was black. Like evil. Like ash. Like the iron door.
It smirked at me as it hid back in her pocket. A shiver ran up my spine.
“Emily, wait!”
“Is there a problem, Skye?”
“Yeah. I wanna ask you something.”
I took a deep, shaky breath. There was a lump in my throat and my heart was beating way too fast.
“The iron door on the first floor…what’s behind it?”
“It’s nothing, Skye,” Emily said. Her eyes darted to somewhere behind me and fixed on one of the bug women. “Just some of my old stuff, y’know? From before I met your dad?”
“Right…”
“Now I have to go. I’ll be late otherwise. I’ll see you later, okay Skye?”
I swallowed as I watched her leave. Uncertainty still sat tight in my stomach, wound up like a spring, and wouldn’t let go.
“Dad? You okay?”
No response. My dad was out like a light.
Then his eyes shot open.
I gulped.
They got bigger and bigger. I saw each individual vein popping out and weaving into each other like mini spider webs.
Then it bulged and swelled. His head enlarged to accommodate it.
Chills shot down my spine as I realised exactly what was going on.
“Dad?”
Click click click.
His lips split and burst into mandibles. I scrambled over and held his hand.
“Don’t do this to me. Don’t be like Alfie.”
I was crying. I was shaking. Oh god, I was shaking so bad it felt like I was in an earthquake.
Click click click
I scrambled over and held his hand. It only seemed to make it worse, however. I watched as it shrank and turned black and folded into itself.
“Dad! Fight it!”
He hunched over and coughed out so much more blood.
Ack ack ack
“DAD!”
His spine was curving over and hardening into a black shell. I dropped his hand and backed away into a corner, my face white.
Ack ack ack.
The floor was blooming. Grass spread thin like a carpet and tall trees grew. I saw red flowers explode onto new branches, like a bundle of fireworks.
My dad clicked and clacked, as if enjoying the new scenery.
No…
My skin was crawling. Literally. I looked down and saw bumps pulsing beneath the folds, marching along to my heartbeat. Then it broke and a cockroach popped out. It took a deep breath, bowed, clicked and clacked in the same rhythm as my dad’s—slow and steady, a pulse—
And…
And I SWEAR I heard the cockroach say:
“Your Highness.”
I screamed. It bounced off new grass and fresh flora.
I’m really going mad now.
I pinched myself, wondering if I was living in some kind of nightmare. But I wasn’t. It was as real as the still lights from the street lamps shining in through the window.
Click clack.
More cockroaches were spilling out from my skin like a dam left unchecked. My dad looked at me inquisitively. Cement was quickly turning into dirt.
Click clack
My thoughts were clambering over each other as I squatted, paralysed in my corner, watching the cockroaches with my mouth open. My dad—no longer human—crawled into the walls and towards me. Staring at the roaches and slowly reaching out to them. They squeaked and climbed over him.
This was too much. I did the only thing I could think of.
My phone was butter in my hands. My vision blurred and I kept on punching in the wrong numbers.
Thankfully, Emily answered the phone on the first ring.
I took a deep breath and screamed into the receiver. My voice was shaking so bad I was surprised I could say anything at all.
“EMILY! HELP!”
SK
2023.03.26 13:18 ThrowAway----_- Should I have a discussion with my MIL about not wanting her to move in?
Okay so im just going to clarify a few things, im 27 and still dating a wonderful guy, lets call him Tim, hes 24, so we aren't married, however we have been talking about wanting to get married in the future and owning a home together.
His mother, lets call her Jan, is 64, and she has this delusional idea that we are all going to stay as one big family unit and support eachother financially, because in her opinion "this has worked for thousands for years in Asia, so why cant we do it too?" Btw we are Italian-Australian, so yes some people in our ITALIAN culture do live with parents, I personally do not. I identify more with my Australian side. I want to have my own home with my partner and future kids, thats it. Call me selfish, I dont actually care. I know what I want, and thats final. IF a parent becomes very old and needs to be taken care of, only then will I be okay with them living with us. I've been extremely open to Tim about this from the moment we started dating, he said that he's okay with that. If he doesn't like it, then he's free to dump me and find someone who is okay with still living with his mum. I've made it crystal clear.
His mother is a hoarder, and im talking....hoards everything and anything. Jan earns decent money from her job but spends it all on usless stuff that just piles up and never gets used. She owns 2 fridges because her first fridge is full of expired food that she just refuses to clean out. She owns so many pets (4 cats, 3 dogs, 4 giant lizards and heaps of mice). The entire house STINKS. She rents a different house every year and was never able to own a home. She has this grand idea that her son will provide a house for her. Jan has been drilling the "family unit" idea in my head since the beginning of our relationship, and it only angers me more and more. I tell her that Tim and I dont have to rush to buy a house because we are still young and allowed to live our life, just like she got to live hers. She left home at 17, and yes her family life was rough, but it not Tim's responsibility to provide a house for her.
I told him that I dont want her living with us if we get a house, unless if shes absolutely unable to care for herself ONLY THEN can she live with us, and her animals are not welcomed (im severely allergic to animals and i refuse to take antihistamines everyday in my ow home). He agreed. He said that Jan will most likely threaten to off-herself if we dont let her move in immediately, I told him "i literally dont give a damn, i will not succumb to emotional manipulation like that, i will make sure she gets checked-up on by mental health professionals if she pulls that stunt with me".
I just know her. She will use depression, loneliness, su**ide, financial instability, ANYTHING to move in with us with we ever do own a home.
Should I, along with Tim, sit her down and discuss these future theoretical plans with her, and mention that we want to live on our own without any parents because shes hoarder and because i dont want animals? Or is that not a good idea since we dont even actually own a home yet? Tim has mentioned to Jan in the past that me and him want to move interstate together, to which she replied with "which city? because if its Brisbane then I'll come too". And yes, we were thinking of Brisbane or Melbourne, and now i wanna go to Melbourne to deliberately not have her move with us.
I just really, reallllllyyyyy want my OWN space with no animals, no hoarding, very minimal things (i grew up with very minimalistic, super clean parents) and I dont want my house to be disturbed with her constant nagging and god-awful attitude (she has bipolar). Shes so extremily nit-picky and although she treats me well, I genuinely have this resentment towards her growing because of how often she lectures us about the "family-unit" idea.
submitted by ThrowAway----_- to motherinlawsfromhell [link] [comments]
His mother, lets call her Jan, is 64, and she has this delusional idea that we are all going to stay as one big family unit and support eachother financially, because in her opinion "this has worked for thousands for years in Asia, so why cant we do it too?" Btw we are Italian-Australian, so yes some people in our ITALIAN culture do live with parents, I personally do not. I identify more with my Australian side. I want to have my own home with my partner and future kids, thats it. Call me selfish, I dont actually care. I know what I want, and thats final. IF a parent becomes very old and needs to be taken care of, only then will I be okay with them living with us. I've been extremely open to Tim about this from the moment we started dating, he said that he's okay with that. If he doesn't like it, then he's free to dump me and find someone who is okay with still living with his mum. I've made it crystal clear.
His mother is a hoarder, and im talking....hoards everything and anything. Jan earns decent money from her job but spends it all on usless stuff that just piles up and never gets used. She owns 2 fridges because her first fridge is full of expired food that she just refuses to clean out. She owns so many pets (4 cats, 3 dogs, 4 giant lizards and heaps of mice). The entire house STINKS. She rents a different house every year and was never able to own a home. She has this grand idea that her son will provide a house for her. Jan has been drilling the "family unit" idea in my head since the beginning of our relationship, and it only angers me more and more. I tell her that Tim and I dont have to rush to buy a house because we are still young and allowed to live our life, just like she got to live hers. She left home at 17, and yes her family life was rough, but it not Tim's responsibility to provide a house for her.
I told him that I dont want her living with us if we get a house, unless if shes absolutely unable to care for herself ONLY THEN can she live with us, and her animals are not welcomed (im severely allergic to animals and i refuse to take antihistamines everyday in my ow home). He agreed. He said that Jan will most likely threaten to off-herself if we dont let her move in immediately, I told him "i literally dont give a damn, i will not succumb to emotional manipulation like that, i will make sure she gets checked-up on by mental health professionals if she pulls that stunt with me".
I just know her. She will use depression, loneliness, su**ide, financial instability, ANYTHING to move in with us with we ever do own a home.
Should I, along with Tim, sit her down and discuss these future theoretical plans with her, and mention that we want to live on our own without any parents because shes hoarder and because i dont want animals? Or is that not a good idea since we dont even actually own a home yet? Tim has mentioned to Jan in the past that me and him want to move interstate together, to which she replied with "which city? because if its Brisbane then I'll come too". And yes, we were thinking of Brisbane or Melbourne, and now i wanna go to Melbourne to deliberately not have her move with us.
I just really, reallllllyyyyy want my OWN space with no animals, no hoarding, very minimal things (i grew up with very minimalistic, super clean parents) and I dont want my house to be disturbed with her constant nagging and god-awful attitude (she has bipolar). Shes so extremily nit-picky and although she treats me well, I genuinely have this resentment towards her growing because of how often she lectures us about the "family-unit" idea.
2023.03.26 13:18 AutoModerator Social Media Management Agency in Egypt
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2023.03.26 13:14 Master_Monkey2011 Most popular tourist destinations
 | submitted by Master_Monkey2011 to JackSucksAtGeography [link] [comments] |
2023.03.26 13:12 confusedtransboi_ i want to be better but i cant
everything is going really good when im out of the house. i have a beautiful, incredibly supportive partner. my friends are great as they've always been. therapy is helping a lot. everything is good.
but when im home it all comes crashing down. dads been yelling more and im scared hes gonna hurt me. he has in the past, so i know hes capable of it.
im almost four weeks clean but ive been feeling so shit lately and i dont know how long i can go before i relapse. im trying really hard but dads been slowly destroying my hopes and joys one by one.
im just really really scared. i want to be okay, and i want to be better this time. it just feels like theres no way out.
submitted by confusedtransboi_ to MadeOfStyrofoam [link] [comments]
but when im home it all comes crashing down. dads been yelling more and im scared hes gonna hurt me. he has in the past, so i know hes capable of it.
im almost four weeks clean but ive been feeling so shit lately and i dont know how long i can go before i relapse. im trying really hard but dads been slowly destroying my hopes and joys one by one.
im just really really scared. i want to be okay, and i want to be better this time. it just feels like theres no way out.
2023.03.26 13:12 Real_Isaiah What is Steve from Minecraft
This one people probably won't like but I just thought if it and why not. Theory: Steve is Jesus or a different child of God or Minecrafts' god.
submitted by Real_Isaiah to GameTheorists [link] [comments]
- He is definitely not human.
- He can breathe in the nether which has no oxygen coz copper doesn't oxidize.
- When he dies he comes back to life like Jesus did.
- All milk he touches becomes holy like holy water in the sense that it cleans all effects away.
- He can brew liquids that give effects such as healing or strength and the only things that can do that are witches which play with the dark arts and pre-village and pillage update there was a villager called a priest which always had one in their house.
- He can even play god by going into creative mode. And using cheats.
- Mobs attack him because humans are there natural prey and he appears to be one but there is one mob that is human and will attack him.
- That mob being the pillager which actually surprisingly resembles Romans from the bible and how they killed Jesus and his believers(villagers).
2023.03.26 13:09 dinesh115599 How to make windows 11 bootable pen drive
To create a Windows 11 bootable USB, download and launch the Media Creation Tool. Select the "USB Flash Drive" option and continue with the on-screen directions. Another way to create a USB drive is to use the Rufus tool which includes an option to download the Windows 11 ISO. Or you can manually download the official Windows 11 ISO and use Command Prompt to create bootable media. If you want to install Windows 11 on a laptop/desktop that meets the minimum requirements using the clean installation process, you'll need a bootable USB drive and in this guide, you'll learn how. Although you can clean installation of Windows 11 directly from the Media Creation Tool or the mounted ISO file, booting the device with the USB media is now the best way to proceed with the installation. it's probably the only way to install Windows 11 on a new laptop/desktop with an empty hard drive. If you need to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 11 on laptop/desktop, you have several options including Media Creation Tool, Rufus, and Command Prompt. In this article, you will learn how to create a bootable USB media to perform an in-place or clean install of Windows 11 with support for UEFI. You can use Windows 10 or Windows 11 to Follow below instruction
submitted by dinesh115599 to Computerguideworld [link] [comments]