Hazmatastic

Asclepius, of course. He had a staff with snakes intertwining all around that bitch.

22 instruments is quite impressive. It’s a modest job, but a school’s band director or instructor could be within reach. High schools and colleges would likely pay best. You can also try private primary and middle schools. Provate schools will have high standards, but could pay more. Also possibly a music producer. I don’t think AI will ever really eliminate music made by people, no matter how good it gets. Session musicians can do pretty well once a reputation gets created, but that would probably be more a long-term investment. I’m not sure what you’ve done musically, but a mic and audio card/receiver plus sailing the high seas for software is a cheap way to get into making your own music.

There’s also getting a different job until the music tree bears fruit. I’m not doing what I want yet, but I’ve worked my way high enough in my company that, hopefully soon, I’ll be able to get back to what I actually want to do (engineering). It’s frustrating, but having a future goal that I’m working towards and steps I can take once I’m making enough helps make it bearable.

I would hold onto Charlotte if at all possible. If you love and take care of her, you’re a good person for her to be with. Pets can be our rocks, without which it is easy to be swept away by despair. Your career status has nothing to do with being “worthy” of a pet. Love and basic necessities are what they need. That said, i get where you’re coming from. I’m waiting to get a cat until I know for sure I can afford and have certain furniture after my recent move. But again, having that goal helps me slog through the stuff I don’t like. You already have her, and I think losing her would likely be a terrible outcome for both of you.

You are worthy of her, you are worthy of love from others, and you are worthy of love from yourself. Godspeed.

I can already see those gauntlets flapping

Not the person you replied to, but I was the same way until I realized all my favorite artists were either dying or retiring and chances to ever see them were slipping away, and quickly. I just go to whatever shows I can and just be present in the moment. Even small local shows. I’ve found a bunch of cool artists by going to shows with artists I don’t even know.

Like, imagine having the opportunity to see a Zeppelin show in their prime, then imagine thinking about going, then saying “meh.” I couldn’t even comprehend the regret I would feel passing something like that up. And it circles back to not knowing you’re in the “good old days” until they’re already past. I just don’t want to look back at missed opportunities and kick myself for the rest of my life.

Like they said, it’s not for everyone, especially not these days. Ticketmaster is a plague, most shows are ridiculously overpriced with food and drink to match, and way too many people are focused on taking a video they’ll never watch. But if things only get worse, I’m going to go down swinging and keep going to shows until doing so would financially break me.

So gentle

Am I weird for thinking the finger helps the composition? Very cute. My dogs have never been graced with snow. It makes me wonder if pets can enjoy recreational travel as humans do or if it would just stress them out.

I worked a call center briefly and did this with an older lady for about 15 minutes. She was just talking about how she spends her time and what her daughter was up to. I got called into the boss’s office because they heard the conversation. I tried to cover my ass saying I was trying to build rapport, but I got told quantity over quality. Make the calls, follow the script, close the sale. So glad I only wasted like 2 months of my life there.

Side note, the main business model itself was a scam. The “sale” wasn’t even a real sale. We were feeling out for people with bad credit to send to our “partner” law firm for credit repair. If they signed up with them after the transfer for $100/mo, only then did I get any commission. And it paid commission against minimum wage, so you only ever saw a benefit if your commissions alone surpassed what your minimum wage paycheck would be. Man, every detail I can remember about that place is scummier than the last. Fuck them and everyone like them. I’m ashamed to have counted myself among their number, however briefly.

Just not very interesting. Most people just don’t show much interest in me beyond work buddy status, and work is pretty much the entirety of my social life. Down-side of moving to a new area. Making friends as an adult is hard, dating doubly so when there’s no one to introduce you to new people.

But historically the hardest part for me is expressing anything that can’t be back-pedalled into “just meant as a friend, buddy.” The second you cross that line, nothing will ever be the same for better or for worse. I hate committing to that change. Just feels like I’m ruining things irreparably every time. I’ll toe that line all day, crossing is just a bitch.

Humanity cannot and will not change its practices fast enough to avoid running out of resources we keep ourselves dependent on because it’s “profitable.” We are a doomed species and won’t be around for very much longer. We are likely living in the flash of bright before the long dark. I don’t think the world my grandchildren live in will be remotely like the one we have now.

I’m perfectly fine hedging my bets and living life normally, but I think our longevity is an uncomfortable truth most people don’t want to face.