B!TC# IT OUT!

[Ayla of Duluth]

Just gonna pop in and say MCR is an amazing band. And that's coming from a 20 year old. <3

[Elle]

Just gonna pop in and say MCR is an amazing band. And that's coming from a 20 year old. <3

Seconded! (from a 24yr old)

[Winged Mermaid]

Aargh, I hate know it alls! There's a person I know who you just can't talk to him because he'll interrupt you and say, "No, actually… " Even if what you're saying was right in the first place. There are also a few people I know who will argue with you things that are facts, even down to the stupidest stuff like "There's no caffeine in diet Dr Pepper" Even if you point out to them on the bottle. More than not, they will go on and on and on about the stuff that they like even if you blatantly show absolutely no interest in what they're talking about Or tell them they're not interested. They will interrupt you, they will bring the conversation back to that if you try to guide it away from that subject. And also noticed they're not really interested in anything else you have to say, just where they can use the conversation to get back to talking about what they know. Drives me nuts. As a kid or teenager, yeah it happens because they can get that kind of attitude. They're young, their learning, they have attitude about some stuff – it happens. People usually just brush it off. As an adult? No one wants to be your friend or even talk to you. Maybe you should tell her that.

[spottedcatfish]

Reposted from Facebook:

Warning Rant: F***k Comic-Con and it's over-populated/commercialized convention!!! All I wanted to do was volunteer and i can't even do that anymore, because you've grown too big and have millions of fanboys/girls prancing around in whatever is hot at the moment... Ohh it will be hot too. Maybe I should even go, cause last time I passed out because of the heat. Literally. I should have been in a nice cool pool in my tail that day than walking around downtown, trying to get into the con without a pass... :-( I was thinking of handing out flyers this year for Mernetwork or the mer convention in August, up in Oceanside, but I don't think I'm going to... if I can't even get into the friggin convention!!! Besides in Disney decides to drop The Little Mermaid in 3D, from its plans then It would be a waste promoting something only a few people would be genuinely interested in.

[Ashe]

They aren't doing Little Mermaid 3D?!?!? :O_o: Anyways, I'm sorry you are having troubles with ComicCon :(

[SeaGlass Siren]

WHAT ABOUT A LITTLE MERMAID 3D???

[Dacora]

The nerve of some people.... I havent talked to this girl for almost a year, after txting or calling to try and hang out to keep our friendship intact I gave up. Well I got a call from her, she wanted $400, when I told her I didn't have it she asked how much I had. I said none since I haven't been working. She asked when I stoped working she hung up on me while I was talking.
She wanted it for her friends car, she already gave him 700 of her money.
I'm sorry, ignore me for almost a year then ask me to pay to fix some dudes car I don't even know. Hell no!! I have animals and things I need to buy for them, not to mention there are things on my truck that need to be fixed.
:/
Oh don't forget the "I love you" txt she sent. No you love the money I have.

[Kanti]

The nerve of some people.... I havent talked to this girl for almost a year, after txting or calling to try and hang out to keep our friendship intact I gave up. Well I got a call from her, she wanted $400, when I told her I didn't have it she asked how much I had. I said none since I haven't been working. She asked when I stoped working she hung up on me while I was talking.
She wanted it for her friends car, she already gave him 700 of her money.
I'm sorry, ignore me for almost a year then ask me to pay to fix some dudes car I don't even know. Hell no!! I have animals and things I need to buy for them, not to mention there are things on my truck that need to be fixed.
:/
Oh don't forget the "I love you" txt she sent. No you love the money I have.

What?
I'm honestly having a hard time believing this story is true.
You should have laughed and hung up.

[Dacora]

What?
I'm honestly having a hard time believing this story is true.
You should have laughed and hung up.


I wish it wasn't true. :/ I honestly didn't expect this from her of all people.

I wish I could have told her to fudge off and your friend needs to man up and worry about his car issues himself instead of sending you to beg for money. -.-

[Kanti]

I wish it wasn't true. :/ I honestly didn't expect this from her of all people.

I wish I could have told her to fudge off and your friend needs to man up and worry about his car issues himself instead of sending you to beg for money. -.-

At that point you had every right to.
I would've sat her down and been like WAIT WAIT WAIT.
So it's been how many years? When was the last time YOU contacted ME to hang out?
Uh-huh... Soooooo yea. No.

Even if the money was for her I would've told her to bugger off. How rude!
I had a friend who contacts me when he needs stuff and I always shame him for it haha
But in the end he brings up the fact that I never talk to him either so I touche' him for that.

[Lotus]

I really hate a**holes. I really really do. People who are nasty, mean, confrontational and snippy with an overall "I'm SO much better than you", attitude.
It's the "I'm miserable, so I'm going to make YOU miserable too," syndrome. I know this, so I should pity these people, but I don't. Wanna be miserable and angry and hateful? Fine! JUST LEAVE ME THE F*#&% OUT OF IT.
end rant

[SeaGlass Siren]

its been really stressful this week. i just want to curl up in fetal position and just start crying.

[ShyMer]

Just about any time someone posts something on here, I wanna send them a hug. Of course, then I'd be clogging up the board. Feel better!!!

[MerEmma]

I really hate a**holes. I really really do. People who are nasty, mean, confrontational and snippy with an overall "I'm SO much better than you", attitude.
It's the "I'm miserable, so I'm going to make YOU miserable too," syndrome. I know this, so I should pity these people, but I don't. Wanna be miserable and angry and hateful? Fine! JUST LEAVE ME THE F*#&% OUT OF IT.
end rant

Ugh, yes. There's a girl at my swim team during the summer that's exactly how you described. I don't let her get to me but golly, she's a pain in the butt.

[SeaGlass Siren]

Hibernating in the chatterbox domain. I find that if I go down into the abyssal darkness that is the at the bottom of he forums (literally, at the bottom of the forum page where all the drama occurs) I shall see things I dot want to be seeing. So, I'm making it my choice to hang around up here. Up where it's all bright and happy and we can talk about frugal useless things like tv shows, food, games, fashion... Less stressful.

I understand there will be conflict within the community. But hear me out.

There is conflict. Conflict must be resolved. There are two ways to deal wih conflict: civilly, and... Well there's the other with wailing and gnashing of teeth and callin people names. Very rarey I find it even being solved. And so, drama is born.

Add to the fact that it's the Internet so we can't actually hear or see the person, we can only Judge the person on how they're typing. I usually have to read paragraphs over to make sure I'm not misinterpreting anything. And I'm pretty sure a lotta things said were misinterpreted. (referring to the fishbutts thing)

So there is my two cents. I shall float up here where it is more peaceful, and not drift past the chatterbox, pods, and general discussion thread.

[SeaGlass Siren]

Also it's past my bed time, and stressed out, so if no one understands what I'm saying I shall correct it in the morning. Goodnight all!

[Elle]

Monster-in-law strikes again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My fiance and I are now f***wits! we wanted to send her an invite to the wedding (cause we're nice people and willing to forget all the crap she's dumped on us) and we get accused of being self absorbed because we won't help her get the money she wants from my fiance's dad (child support) for a kid who doesn't live with her (he's 17 and living with his gf)

Oh the joys of being accused of being scum of the earth

[seagirls626]

Well, it happened again. My bitch of a sister slapped me for no apparent reason. Seriously. If I slap her, my parents are all like "Fiona! You should know better! It's scary for a little girl to get slapped!". Yeah? You know what else is scary? Getting threatened to be killed with a hundred knives by your little nine year old sister. Whenever she slaps me, my parents are like "Sweetie, we don't hit.". So I get all the yelling while she gets practically nothing! ARGH!!! Of course I would never do it, but I wish that I could just punch her in the face right now. She needs anger management or something, because she gets violent over NOTHING. Like just now, I asked her if she had any old pairs of shoes that she didn't want anymore that I could use (I wanted to re-design my converse), and she said "no, why?" and I said "I just told you why". Then she yelled to me to get out of her room, almost slammed the door and me, slapped me, and pushed me out. Boy do I have some things to tell her! I just, AAARGH!!! I can't express my anger right now! AAAARRRRRGGGHHH!!!!!!

[SeaGlass Siren]

DID YOU TELL YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER THAT SHE WAS GONNA STAB YOU?

[seagirls626]

Yes, and guess what they did? NOTHING.

[Mermaid Arianna]

I feel for ya, ^
My brother is 10 and when he has homework it's my fault (Seriously? ) and I get punched and kicked and then my mom just says, He'll grow out of it. It's his way of exerting anger. She's been punched by him too so I don't know what to think anymore. The baby always gets his way. :headwall:

[SeaGlass Siren]

babies ALWAYS DO GET THEIR WAY. RAGE.

[Lotus]

Listen, Fiona.... I'm really sorry you're being treated this way. If your parents aren't doing anything to back you up, take action. Avoid your sister at all cost! Talk to your school counselor about what's going on at home. If no one is standing up for you, stand up for yourself. You can't be a victim. You just can't. I know it hurts when you feel like you're being ignored when you're having a tough go of it, but you can't let it drag you down..... hope you find a resolution soon

PS- I am the baby of my family, and they would have slapped the shit out of me if I'd treated my older sister this way. It's not that either of us got preferential treatment, we were just brought up to respect each other. I'm passing that on to my kids.

[Elle]

Well, it happened again. My bitch of a sister slapped me for no apparent reason. Seriously. If I slap her, my parents are all like "Fiona! You should know better! It's scary for a little girl to get slapped!". Yeah? You know what else is scary? Getting threatened to be killed with a hundred knives by your little nine year old sister. Whenever she slaps me, my parents are like "Sweetie, we don't hit.". So I get all the yelling while she gets practically nothing! ARGH!!! Of course I would never do it, but I wish that I could just punch her in the face right now. She needs anger management or something, because she gets violent over NOTHING. Like just now, I asked her if she had any old pairs of shoes that she didn't want anymore that I could use (I wanted to re-design my converse), and she said "no, why?" and I said "I just told you why". Then she yelled to me to get out of her room, almost slammed the door and me, slapped me, and pushed me out. Boy do I have some things to tell her! I just, AAARGH!!! I can't express my anger right now! AAAARRRRRGGGHHH!!!!!!


As the oldest with a younger sister I can see where you're coming from (not all of it, but chunks of it)
I'm going to agree with Lotus and suggest you stay the hell away from your sister! JUST STAY AWAY!!!!
I know you can't go to a school guidance counselor, but maybe you need to sit down with just your mum or dad (not both) and just express your concerns.

Straight up state that you are concerned for her. You think that something is upsetting her in her day to day life, as she regularly becomes hostile to you when you haven't spoken to her. (that way you aren't at fault) Young girls shouldn't want to be hitting, screaming and talk about stabbing people.
State that you understand that your anger directed at a little girl could be seen as scary from her point of view, however you feel at risk because of the fact that she is continually making these knife related threats.
You feel that it's a double standard that you get yelled at when you get upset but when she gets angry and attacks you all they can say is "don't hit".

If you aren't confident in talking to them, write them a letter. (even think about writing her one, explaining that what she says upsets you and makes you concerned about her, cos you wouldn't just go around saying this shit if something wasn't wrong)
Also if you have a video camera, maybe you want to think about setting it up. Now I'm not talking about egging your sister on until she attacks you. But having it on in your room, or something so that if she bursts out, you can prove that you aren't instigating the problem.

But all in all JUST STAY AWAY!
this might be her way of dealing with her own problems, you just happen to be the one who ends up closest

[SeaGlass Siren]

Do the camera thig. It's excessive and over the top but it'll do wonders

[seagirls626]

Thanks guys! I had a talk with my mom and dad, and we all agreed (even my older brother) that when we move back to the U.S, she'll get anger management classes. THANK GOD.
I think I'm gonna take after my brother and, when she yells at me, roll my eyes, laugh, and walk away. He's very chill about everything, so I think I'll be too.

[Elle]

Thanks guys! I had a talk with my mom and dad, and we all agreed (even my older brother) that when we move back to the U.S, she'll get anger management classes. THANK GOD.
I think I'm gonna take after my brother and, when she yells at me, roll my eyes, laugh, and walk away. He's very chill about everything, so I think I'll be too.


I'm glad you and your parents have come to a solution :) who knows, maybe once you move back there will be less reason for her to be angry.

[Lotus]

Oh, BTW, sorry about the school counselor bit. I totally forgot you're home-schooled. Hope I didn't hit a nerve.
Also really glad to hear your parents heard you, and that your brother is a good example. :)

[Candytails]

crocs and uggh boots. :/ lol you don't know how much I respect you now than before. I thought I was the only one. When did comfort have to become ugly and expensiv. My combat boots work just fine

[Candytails]

Ohh that video is soo sad but soo true....

I hate it when managers go on a power trip.
I hate it when girls let their ego get in the way.
And i absolutely cant stand guys who ignore the freaking ring on my finger when I make it impossible to miss.
I've had guy friends my whole life ive lost a few because of them starting to grow feelings

[SeaGlass Siren]

lol you don't know how much I respect you now than before. I thought I was the only one. When did comfort have to become ugly and expensiv. My combat boots work just fine

i dislike uggs and crocs too. yeech.

uggs make you look like your feet swelled up. and crocs are just UUUUGLYY

[Candytails]

I have an overprotective fiancé so I feel your pain. If he knows I sang for someone he doesn't like it. I didn't stock my tongue down the guys throat. I just sang happy birthday.

[Azurin Luna]

I'm going to a meeting this saturday, which might have been nice for my bf too, so he can see the other things I do. But no, he finds playing a stupid game online more important. This is how it went:
Me: "I'm thinking about going to a meeting this weekend"
He: "Oh, nice. When?"
Me: "This saturday."
He: "Then I can't join, I'm helping the corp in EvE moving to another wormhole"
Me: Staring blankly
He: Continues gaming as if nothing happened...

And then he mutters about how we do so little together in the last few weeks... yeah, like I want to spend more time on a PC then I do already every work day. I can just as well go live alone again, as we don't do anything together accept having dinner GHA!

[Dacora]

I'm going to a meeting this saturday, which might have been nice for my bf too, so he can see the other things I do. But no, he finds playing a stupid game online more important. This is how it went:
Me: "I'm thinking about going to a meeting this weekend"
He: "Oh, nice. When?"
Me: "This saturday."
He: "Then I can't join, I'm helping the corp in EvE moving to another wormhole"
Me: Staring blankly
He: Continues gaming as if nothing happened...

And then he mutters about how we do so little together in the last few weeks... yeah, like I want to spend more time on a PC then I do already every work day. I can just as well go live alone again, as we don't do anything together accept having dinner GHA!

Ask to have one day out of the week where the two of you have a day with no games or distractions of the electronic kind. That way he can still play games on certain days and you have time together with him on other days and y'all can work your plans around the date night.

[seagirls626]

Oh, BTW, sorry about the school counselor bit. I totally forgot you're home-schooled. Hope I didn't hit a nerve.
Also really glad to hear your parents heard you, and that your brother is a good example. :)

Oh no it's perfectly fine! Thanks for your help!

[seagirls626]

UGH! I'm SO upset at my sister right now! (again.) We were filming Mystic Water and I didn't feel like screwing my camera onto the tripod, so I just told her to hold it because or else it would fall. And my sister being my sister just HAD to let it go for 2 seconds. It fell on the floor while it was still on and it broke. Just, UGH!!!! She just HAD to let it go even though I told her NOT to! RAAAAHH!!! We can't fix it now and every time we try to turn it on it says "Lens error" and turns off. I tried to pull the lens forwards to give it a little push, but it completely stuck! And getting it repaired would cost more than the camera itself, so theres no point.
*sigh* At least I still have my GoPro. I just need to buy a lens to fix the fisheye effect. Even so, she still broke it. It's just one thing after another with her.

[Ayla of Duluth]

But I like ugg boots...they're comfy and honestly I don't see what everyone thinks is so ugly about them. I mean yeah, when you wear them over sweatpants, that's just showcasing your laziness, but pink ones over a nice pair of skinny jeans actually looks really good. And ugg boots are like walking on clouds made of chuck norris's soft heavenly beard.

[SeaGlass Siren]

i do agree, they're comfy... but i stand by my statement. they are ugly lol..

[Thalassa]

1) I hate when people try to tell me what I believe, and when I correct them they call me a liar. For example, they "quote" from a ceremony I've been through and then bring up incorrect "history" from a pamphlet written by someone against my religion. When I tell them they are incorrect based on what I have experienced, they call me a liar. Then when my friend backs me up (also been through the same ceremony), they say that everyone knows we all lie about that stuff. Really? Talk about poisoning the well...

2) My mom has been on me about being a mermaid again. It's not like I've told her I'm giving up my day job to become a mermaid (I wish I could, but at this point it's not realistic). I was excited about being part of a big princess festival here, and she tells me that I should stop talking about it. I asked her point-blank, "Are you ashamed of me?" She paused for a long time, then said, "No, but I wink at this because it seems to me you should grow up." I asked what that was supposed to mean, and she told me that children have dreams, but as you grow up you have to let reality take over. She said it's part of being mature and an adult. I asked if every adult had to give up on their dreams, and she said, "Not really, but you have to set them aside for reality." I was speechless. I went on to ask her about Disney princesses, and she told me I could never be a Disney princess, either, so why try to do something like it? I know she loves me and doesn't want me to get hurt, but her lack of faith and supportiveness astounds me. (PS My little cousin's b-day just passed, and she loves mermaids. I was going to ask my aunt if she'd like me to perform at a birthday for free, but my mom said I shouldn't dare because she'd just die of embarrassment and we don't want my family to know how "weird" I am.)

[seagirls626]

Gosh, Thalassa. It seems like your mom is just stomping all over your dreams. I'm sorry about the ways she's acting, but just remember to never give up your dreams no matter what anybody else says! Maybe you should show her how many other mermaids there are and how successful they have become. Next time you know someone would appreciate having a mermaid at a party and your mom says that, just brush it off and call them anyways. Maybe even start to charge a decent amount of money and show her how much your making because of it.
Tell her that being weird is a good thing. Who knows, maybe she's just afraid of you getting hurt. Tell her that you don't mind being called weird.

[Thalassa]

I think mostly she's afraid I'll decide to give up my job as a teacher to do this, and end up broke and homeless or something. She knows there are other performers, she's not very complimentary of them and tends to remind me that they are the "few." In her opinion, wanting to be a professional mermaid is on the same level of realism as wanting to be a movie star (i.e.: foolish, don't give up your day job).

And let's face it, others do think we're weird sometimes. I think she worries about my reputation (she's worried I won't ever find a guy who fits with my religious views AND accepts the mermaid thing, she's also worried that being a mermaid will negatively impact the way my employers see me), but also worried about hers.

It's just frustrating, as this isn't the first thing I've wanted to do that she's tromped on. If it isn't a typical "day job," she's not into it. It's sad, because my little sister is just like me and my mom is the same way with her. She also won't let my sister spend "too much" time with me, because she's worried "about what I might get her into." As if talking about Ren Faire and mermaids was like dealing drugs or something! I don't get it, because she's an incredibly creative person, she used to sing and be very into drama...I can only think that she was told all of this as a kid, maybe she was hurt and now she's sort of trying to pass on the "wisdom?"

[MermaidBrittany]

Are you kidding?? She won't let your sister spend time with you because of "what you might get her into?" You wouldn't think you're a hardcore druggie/alcoholic thats a bad role model!! That makes absolutely zero sense. I think you should be the one to spend the most time with her since you are following your dreams, open minded, and not giving up, which is very inspirational all together!

But about your job issue, I think teaching and mermaiding go great together! What a perfect way to reach out to kids about conservation? (or whatever you are into about the ocean) Especially since you would be great with kids and can transfer your skills over into making kids aware.

Wow thats frustrating just thinking about it :/ I hope you can make her "see the light" and appreciate what you do. Hopefully your persistence will make her see. :)

[Mermaidmechanic]

Bah, I know that feeling all too well. I have a cousin I love dearly but is burdened with an unreasonable amount of responsibility. I always offer to take her places to do things that might help her relax from the anxious environment of being responsible for her 5 younger siblings, one of whom is special needs. Meanwhile, her mother goes out to movies and dinner with her husband (whose morals are quite twisted) and leaves the poor girl alone for hours caring for the children. Her mother wont allow me to spend time with her because she insists I'm a bad influence (due to my giant back tattoo, my love for LARP, affinity towards cartoons, and fascination with mermaid stuff/ mythology). This is frustrating because I knew her when she was a teen/ young adult. She was a stripper, involved in drugs, and generally not a very good person. She had once even tried to extort my father by telling him she would tell everyone he raped her (a falsity of course) if he didn't give her money. This was probably the most traumatizing thing my father had ever faced as he was as good natured and honest as people come. Of course her ploy failed due to the fact that she was stupid enough to say this with witnesses around. Anyway, she recently found religion and now she thinks shes all high and mighty. How annoying is it to be told by someone like that that I am a bad influence? I have never drank alcohol, I've never touched drugs, I don't smoke, and I'm a highly successful and respected mechanic in the military. How is that a bad influence?

[SeaGlass Siren]

^ that's some pretty fucked up logic :|

[Mermaid Margarete]

I work for a small company so I have very few coworkers. Basically two superiors and 3 coworkers. One of my coworkers makes me HATE my job. She's nosy, bossy and finds ONE thing to do - makes it last ALL day and then says -I- do nothing cause I do get things done in a timely manner (while handling 90% of our customers) SO I have more "down time" (whereas she won't take any customers cause she's TOO busy with her ONE thing) and don't do EVERYTHING LITTLE EFFING THING so she (heaven forbid) has something else to do besides her ONE thing.
She gets snippy and short and I can't stand her for the most part! My boss is well aware of the situation but has basically told me to deal cause that coworker is "set in her ways" and even tho she's super slow, she's thorough.
I just canNOT wait to get a new job!! I'm under appreciated and I can't stand being bossed around like I'm her assistant when she has the same job position as I do...

[MermaidBrittany]

Im sorry :( Its so hard to work with people sometimes. And I know I would be fairing much worse if i was in your position, I would have probably already been gone! Aha. Its rather ridiculous that your boss is't doing anything. What other job are you planning on getting?

[Mermaid Margarete]

I've almost lost it a few times...I'm getting less and less tolerant of her behavior... I'm going to slip if I don't get out of here soon...

My resume is actually in a pile to be considered for a contract position at Amazon. It's not the best (simply cause it's a contract) but it pays more and is closer to where I live AND it's not my current job T_T *fingercrossed* I get that interview

[MermaidBrittany]

Sorry she is making your work miserable. Hopefully they look at it soon! Good luck with your bad situation! :(

[MermaidSaku]

Thalassa my family is the same way and alot of the time i feel like i won't make it but honestly if my family believes that growing up means giving into reality and never achieving your dreams then their minds are pretty twisted. I have been away for a bit thinking about philosophically about my life. I came to realize that if it makes my family freak out that i am a mermaid and a Gothic youtuber it just shows how much power i hold deep down. So if your mother shakes in her boots a little because your reaching your goals little by little take a look at the powers you hold from within as a mermaid princess.

[Azurin Luna]

I cut the top of my thumb with a cheese slicer... now I can't swim for a few weeks until it's healed :( Cut of quite a bit with it too...

[Ariel-Starfish]

I cut the top of my thumb with a cheese slicer... now I can't swim for a few weeks until it's healed :( Cut of quite a bit with it too...

autch!

[Mermaid_Aurora]

This "rant" is going to be a bit long, so I apologize.. I'm going to be sharing some sensitive and personal information, but this is something I feel like I need to talk about.

I have been dealing with bullying and cyber bullying for a while now, and it is not a case of hitting the ignore/block button. This was on another website, I was a part of a community there. I wished I could simply block the person, and I have, but it simply did not work. Besides, by the time I actually need to block someone, it's already too late. The damage they have dealt to make me feel like I need to block them is done and it will hurt emotionally for a while and I'm not one of those "I don't give a crap" people. I wish I was.

The people doing the bullying, and the one person who did most the bullying, had multiple accounts and I had no idea what they were until it was too late, were in deep with the community, and were good friends with my best friends. I could not avoid them, as they always knew where I was and seemed to like showing up in places where I cant block them, and attacking me. Sometimes I'd stick up for myself, sometimes I'd leave, but with my self esteem issues, regardless of what I did, it always did a heavy emotional toll. It was borderline stalking. They tore friendships from me, threatened me, made me feel even more worthless than I normally feel. I dealt with it for a year, trying as hard as I could to hide from them, but no matter where I went the bullies always somehow found me. It felt like they made a sport out of emotionally torturing me. They used things going on with me emotionally in my life, and just about any information for that matter (probably info they got from my other friends) and used that as their ammunition. They knew /everything/ about me. I tried ignoring it, I really did, but I have stress problems among other things.. So it is really easy to push me over the edge. Now I've lost about 90% of my friends, the bullying has stopped because I finally hid somewhere successfully (so far), and I'm the loneliest I have ever felt in my life but hopefully now I can rebuild what they took away from me..

I have yet to receive an apology from anyone even though they supposedly have one written up, and another is even using the excuse "My abusive husband made me do it" though I never got the apology I was promised, and they continued to bully me even after her husband was in jail, which I HELPED with, even after everything she put me through, so I guess that's the thanks I get and a good deed doesn't matter to a dedicated bully.

I am also having trouble getting my career established.. I want to be a mermaid badly, I want to be a model, and all that wonderful stuff, but I have no support. My family hates the idea of me becoming a model, and have told me specifically that they wish I would just forget about it. They say I'm not pretty enough, not tall enough, not skinny enough, and there's "too many beautiful women competing for the same job". They also wont support it, because my mother (who failed at everything she ever tried because she was an alcoholic and refused to dedicate herself to anything) tried and failed, and they don't want me to get discouraged and quit, as if its a guarantee that's what I'll do.

I can't get a job, I have tried the past... I dunno, 3, 4 years? on and off, trying to get a job with no success. I tried selling artwork and doing art commissions with no success, I tried making various different forms of arts and crafts and selling them with no success, I tried selling various other products with no success. I even tried tending to peoples gardens and pets while they're on vacation.. Getting employed didn't work, and being self employed didn't work, and I'm STILL trying to no success. I have photographer friends, I know people who could help me get into the model/entertainer business easily, if I just had the stuff I needed to get started, but I need money for that. I made a donation pool, and posted it on every website I could think of on every account I have, and sent it to all my remaining friends and my entire family, but I can't get any of them to help me. I've asked everyone I know to please share, that it would help me because I can't afford advertising, but everyone is telling me no, ignoring me, telling me that its a stupid idea, and telling me that I don't deserve help. "Stop being lazy and get a job, you're no better than anyone else, no one is going to give you their hard earned money when you could get it yourself" when I have been anything but lazy, I have done EVERYTHING I can to no prevail. All I asked was a /little/ help.. I don't believe that's too much to ask.. And these are friends and family I am talking about.. People who should already want to help..

My family (the members I live with) is in debt. They're having trouble paying off the house and credit cards, and everyone except me is on expensive medications and disabled. Only one person works, the rest are living off retirement or social security. We have pets to take care of, and we have to be very careful with the price of groceries. We are a 5 person household, 6 when my brother is here on the weekends. My dad use to help every now and then, but he has been in and out of work the past year, declared bankruptcy, is almost entirely unable to make rent, and is about to lose his car. My significant other is also trying to save money to finish school, and move closer to me so we can finally get married. I want to be able to have my dream career and be of some help financially, but one of the only methods of accomplishing this I have left, I don't have any support with whatsoever other than my significant other.... I'm out of idea's on what I could do. They don't even know I want to be a mermaid and am trying to save for a tail, because if I do, they'll just tell me how stupid it is and that I need to stop.

[seagirls626]

Aurora, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Your post made me cry because it was so sad and heart breaking...
I am so sorry that you have been having a really tough time, but just remember that bullies are people who have made many mistakes and don't know how to deal with them. They are people who may never learn from their mistakes either. They are all just sad and lonely people who take out their anger on others. They are nothing more. Ignore them. You are a beautiful, talented woman and you should not let others stomp all over your dreams. Aim high and shoot! No matter what other people think, you are beautiful! You CAN be a model, you CAN be a mermaid, you CAN be an artist! You can be whoever YOU want to be no matter what anyone else says. You want to be a model? Go, work hard and be a model! You want to be a mermaid? DO IT. You ARE a model. You ARE a mermaid. Just because you have failed in the past does not mean that you will do the same in the future. Just because people say that you cannot do it does not mean that you cannot do it. You can ALWAYS do what YOU want to do. Remember that you will ALWAYS have people like your family that will stomp all over your dreams, but you will also ALWAYS have people that will support you not matter what you choose to do. You have people who love you very much. Even though I don't really know you, I love you. Everyone here will love and support you. I too have had people tell me that I will not succeed, but I DID succeed. I AM a mermaid. I AM and artist. I AM a dancer. Both you and I can be whoever we want to be. Tell yourself and your family that you WILL succeed. Tell them that you want to be a mermaid. Tell them that no matter what they say, you WILL be a mermaid. You WILL be a model. Just because they didn't succeed does NOT mean that you will do the same! You have to have that fire in your heart that pushes you forward to the light at the end of the tunnel!
Take pride in what you do. Take pride in being who you are. Take pride in being YOU. YOU are a wonderful, beautiful, talented, caring person. You do NOT need the approval of your family to do what you love to do.

As for money, start off by doing something easy. Maybe make youtube videos and become a youtube partner. That will earn you a bit of money to start off with. Look up videos that get many views. The more views you have, the more you earn! If you have a good voice, sing! Put a video of yourself doing a cover of a popular song on youtube and see what happens!
There will always be many options. You could write a book, you could make a blog, the options are endless! Maybe start watching something like America's Next Top Model to see what being a model could be like. Who knows, maybe you could even enter!
If you think that your overweight, try to find a good diet to start. Being secure with your body will give you the confidence you need.
Write a letter to Ellen Degeneres. She has helped so many people get through tough times. I am sure that she would be more than happy to hear your story and help you too.

Look up and remember that there will always be people that love you. I hope that everything gets better for you soon!

Much love,
~Fiona

[Mermaid_Aurora]

Thank you, your response really helped. I'll have to look into the advice you gave me, and build up the courage to tell my family enough is enough and that I'm going to do this and succeed whether they like it or not. The video thing sounds like something I could do, I'll just need a video recording program for my computer.. I have livestreamed gaming commentary before and people seem to LOVE my commentary. I noticed you mentioned a blog as a way to make money... Hows that work? I am curious, I could probably easily try that out. I have a LOT of fire in my heart to reach my dreams, I dream of being a mermaid every single night, I want it more than anything I have ever wanted in my life. Stumbling upon mermaiding was a complete accident, I was looking for photoshoot ideas when I found it. When I saw the tails and people interacting with children and swimming with dolphins, it felt like I was shown what I was meant to do with my life. I felt... Home.

It's probably going to be a very bumpy road, and I'll continue to try and ask for help while I try out alternate ways of making money, but even if it takes me a year or more... I don't want to aim for anything else. I really do hope to someday be like all of you, who have successfully become a mermaid and reached your dreams. Every single one of you is a role model to me.

As for the bullying.. It's probably going to take some time to emotionally recover from it, but hopefully now I'll have an easier time ignoring them and will be able to have a better life without that constant source of negativity dragging me down. I'm a very forgiving person.. I WILL forgive someone if I am given an honest apology.. But I guess I've dealt with bullying and negetivity so long in my life I find it hard if not impossible to forgive without one, unfortunately..

[seagirls626]

I'm glad I could help! Here is a website that may help you understand how to make money blogging: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2012/11/28/can-you-really-make-money-blogging-7-things-i-know-about-making-money-from-blogging/
I think it basically the same way you make money by being a youtube partner. (advertising)
I think that you will be very successful in the world of Youtube, mermaids, and modeling. You seem like a very intelligent and artistic person and that's exactly what you need.
I am so glad that you are getting over the bullying! I know what it feels like and it's not a good feeling at all. Just remember that you are stronger than they are and you will grow from all this.
Also remember that you will ALWAYS get negativity from other people in your life for no reason at all! Especially on youtube. Just brush them off and move on. My tactic is that I don't really give a sh*t about what they say and I just move on. I basically say, "Hey, you don't like me? That's cool. I love you too. Bye!" Just act completely un-hurt by it (even if it may hurt a little) and they'll feel unsatisfied and that's what you want. Don't let them bring you down no matter what you do! Bullies feed on your pain. Don't give them the satisfaction of hurting you!

Good luck!

[Mermaid Kelda]

The great thing about places like Youtube (and any other online place, really) is that you have the time to gather your thoughts. You can write whatever you want, and they can't see you, so even if a troll's comment upsets you a little, you can act as if you just brushed it off. Seagirls is right, an unsatisfied bully will usually lose interest. Obviously the story's different with the kind of obsessive bullies you had to deal with, but most people on the internet are just looking to get a rise out of you and will move on. So, don't worry about anon hate on Youtube or blogging sites or anything like that; the important part is knowing those kinds of petty people don't matter, and that you have so many people on here who will support you!

[Kanti]

I work for a small company so I have very few coworkers. Basically two superiors and 3 coworkers. One of my coworkers makes me HATE my job. She's nosy, bossy and finds ONE thing to do - makes it last ALL day and then says -I- do nothing cause I do get things done in a timely manner (while handling 90% of our customers) SO I have more "down time" (whereas she won't take any customers cause she's TOO busy with her ONE thing) and don't do EVERYTHING LITTLE EFFING THING so she (heaven forbid) has something else to do besides her ONE thing.
She gets snippy and short and I can't stand her for the most part! My boss is well aware of the situation but has basically told me to deal cause that coworker is "set in her ways" and even tho she's super slow, she's thorough.
I just canNOT wait to get a new job!! I'm under appreciated and I can't stand being bossed around like I'm her assistant when she has the same job position as I do...
Sounds like every manager at every job I've ever had (cept one, one of them was actually good!).
But WOW what a shit manager if he tells you to "deal with it". Honestly, at that point I'd threaten to leave because of the employee whos being stupid. Sometimes to get anywhere you need to play the "haggle game". If it's true that you're doing way more of the work then the manager will definitely not want to let you go over here.
Sounds like the boss just doesn't want to deal with talking to her about it which is incredibly lazy on his part. Do you have a district manager or someone higher than him(boss I'm assuming it's a boy for the sake of pronouns lol)? If so you should write them a professional letter, not disclosing much about yourself until they respond and sound willing to act, but basically a letter saying that an employee is "losing you money" is "horribly inefficient" and worse is "intruding on your work and making you feel uncomfortable with working there" then mention how your boss is showing that he's a fail of a manager and not being able to manage. He's supposed to be saving the company money and this chick sounds like she's a huge waste of money if she can't get through more than one task a day.
I regret not being more assertive in my old jobs but I always had to fight a manager so it was understandably tough.

[Kanti]

Urg I basically wasted my entire spring break helping a friend out with some costume.
There was a convention this past weekend and my friend wanted to go and she needed help with a project. She asked me about in MONTHS in advance which made me happy that she was thinking ahead and giving the project time. Yeeaaaaaa.... Not. She ended up contacting me a mere week and a half ago to tell me we needed to start on them ASAP. I guess I didn't realize how much effing work it was going to be and I had agreed beforehand so I said alright.
What a nightmare..
It took half a week to draw up the plans and my entire week off to execute them. We even had to go to an outside source because we needed to bend thick metal so we ended up having to visit a friend of mine who lives in miami about 6 separate occasions (20 minute drive and a LOT of gas, I had to drive since I know where it is).
It's really not the work that pissed me off, what pissed me off is that she WAITED so damn long to do it. So much that she was cramming my time and making me wake up early for her. I tried to tell her to start it earlier a few times but it shouldn't even have to be my responsibility to get on someone's case for something THEY want me to help them with.
I am seriously never doing that again, if they want to start something within two damn weeks of the actual event/date I am just going to say no. It was too much crap and the product was rushed so it didn't even come out as nice as I'd have preferred.
Whatever, though -___-
</rant>

[seagirls626]

ARGH! So I just came back from the dance studio, and I have something to rant about.
I am sick and tired of the girls there asking me why I am in a bad mood. Sometimes I just walk into the studio and I'm in a bad mood and that's it! They ALWAYS have to know WHY I'm in a bad mood. They pressure me to tell them why I'm in a bad mood to the point where they've gotten me in an even badder mood. And the truth is, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I'M IN A BAD MOOD. I JUST AM. Why can't they just leave it at that?! SERIOUSLY. They always just HAVE to have an explanation! I say "I don't know why I'm in a bad mood." And then they say "Well there has to be a reason! You just can't be in a bad mood for no reason." YES YOU CAN! I'm a teenage girl, I get moody! Who knows, maybe I could be on my period and they're pressuring me to say something that I don't even know! Just, ARRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!
And then there's this one girl at the studio (who's name I will not mention) that has ALWAYS seemed to have an issue with me for NO REASON. Ever since I started there 5 years ago! At one point (2 years ago) I was talking to my friend, Irene about wether or not I should quit dancing for skating. Now she was really nice about it and told me to do what I love, but this girl (let's call her Lindsey) came up to me and told me "Oh no! You should quit ballet! You should just go skate! Yeah, you should really quit." And I just kind of stared at her with an eyebrow raised.
So I've basically decided that I'm gonna pretty much ignore her negative energy because she's been giving me a lot of it lately. So I'm ignoring her completely which seems to really bug her. So today, she's been pretty clingy. At the last minute in floor bar, she moved her mat right next to mine without a word. After, she ran over next to me at bar. And then when we went to the center, she did the same thing! I don't know what's going on anymore! Does she like me now for some reason? It's like she's always trying to interfere with my friends and my life all the time. Gosh!

[Mermaidmechanic]

@ Aurora:

Bullies are comparable to a fungus that cultivates in the darkness. Low self esteem is the darkness that allows them to grow and colonize, and confidence is the light that kills it. When exposed to light, the fungus withers and dies without the shadows to hide among. I've handled enough bully problems for my friends to know how to deal with them. The biggest obstacle is convincing my friends that they are capable of confidence. Confidence is the strongest weapon in any persons arsenal. Learn to use it, to feel it pulsing within your very being like white hot lava. Let it fuel your ambitions, your day-to-day life. I can, with all honesty, say that it is true. I was lucky to be born with confidence. It never mattered how weird or different I was, I was always accepted because of the confidence in my step and air. When the occasional attempt to bully me arose, I would simply perk an eyebrow and look them over with a sort of "and you have room to talk?" look. Know that bullies are weak-hearted at their core. All it takes is to find their string and pull it and they unravel like a cheap knit sweater. If they see that you are not an easy target, they will leave in search of easier prey. I have used my confidence to put me exactly where I want to be in life. I have become one of the top mechanics on my ship. My superiors respect and trust my opinions and advice. I'm often put in charge of things that should be delegated to people above my rank. I've advanced quickly in the military and I'm at home in my male-dominated line of work. Nothing can stop you when you have confidence in yourself. If you fail, brush off and try again... harder. Always push yourself to your breaking point and then push even more. All of your emotions and angst can be used as valuable, precious fuel. Learn to bottle it for later and release it in a productive manner. Use it for that extra mile, for the extra 100 sit-ups, or that project you cant motivate yourself to finish. You are the only solution to your problems.

[Elle]

she's trying to get a rise out of you. You're ignoring her so her being mean is completely pointless now. I bet she's following you around so you'll get irritated and get mad. It's possible that she just gets a kick out of you blowing a fuse.
you can continue ignoring it (will possibly irritate her more), start being really nice (girls who are mean find it really difficult to be so when someone is being nice to them), or just outright ask why she's following you around.

Honestly I'd continue ignoring her or being nice. If it happens again just start of by say "Hi *insertnamehere*, Hows it going?" be chirpy and nice. If she's trying to be mean it'll break her resolve

[seagirls626]

Haha! Thanks! I'm gonna continue ignoring her and do what you said to do. It'll be hilarious! :lol:

[Mermaid_Aurora]

Yeah, I've tried for a really long time to build confidence in myself, but it's hard. One minute I'm confident to the max and a few minutes/hours/days later it no longer exists. People have told me before I need to be more confident, and my significant other really tries to nail it into my head constantly that I have every reason in the world to be confident, yet it's still a struggle.

Really not quite sure how to fix that.. It's almost like my emotions have control over me and not the other way around. It's a constant uphill struggle.

[MerEmma]

UGH. The neighbor kids. I love kids. I totally love kids. Kids are great. But these kids are getting on my nerves. They keep trying to scare one of my dogs. They've been poking her through the fence, waving light sabers all around and screaming at her, calling her a bad dog for no reason, smacking her on the face when she nibbles their hands, U G H. I don't like our neighbors in general and these are just their grandchildren but I hate to have to keep my dogs inside. The oldest of 'em, Wilson doesn't give a damn about the kids so he doesn't bother (loves kids but he doesn't go far enough out in the yard to notice them), Louie just barks and tries to get them to leave Dax alone and Dax is just being really terrified and scarred by them. I've already gone out there and told them to please leave her alone and move on, but the little boys mainly keep coming back and harassing her. The kids have always been really...rebellious, I suppose? I don't think that's the right word. They cling onto our fence all the time and have thus pulled it down in the front. If we had $600 lying around then we'd sure as heck put up a nicer, taller fence there so they couldn't keep hitting her on the fence. Now I've got to go outside every time she has to and she's only a four month old puppy, so her bladder control isn't great. I'm just really sad that the little boys want to hurt and scare her. ): I know they don't know better and I tried to explain it to them that it isn't good to do that but still, not much of a response. They acted guilty when I would catch them at first but now they don't care. I'm just really angry right now at them. ):

[Mermaidmechanic]

Go knock on their door and tell the guardians that the children are torturing your dogs.

[Mermaid_Aurora]

Exactly. This sounds like one of those "Where are their parents?" situations. If you know which houses those kids come from, honestly if it were me I'd march myself right on over and have a nice long talk with their parents. I'd even go as far as to ask for repairs on the fence that they knocked over, but that's just me. If their own parents aren't getting them in trouble for pestering animals on other peoples property then they're probably not going to pay much never mind to the owner of the pets.

[MerEmma]

When I went out there earlier one of the littlest boys said he wasn't allowed to come near the fence anymore but did so anyway. I suppose I could go over there and if the problem arises again I may, but I'm not positive. We have issues with these neighbors all the time unfortunately. They keep parking in our driveway when they have their big church gatherings such as these.

[Ayla of Duluth]

I can't believe this. I'm so immensely angry right now I could punch a hole through a brick wall.

So about a year ago I got my own Pomeranian dog. It was more my choice than my parents. The person who gave it to me was my teacher at school. I took him off her hands because most (well actually all) of the people at school smoked weed or lived on SSI and would rather hang out on the streets than love the dog. I took him and didn't give my parents much of a choice about it, but they seemed to love his cute antics and fluffy stature. He's only a year old so he's kind of badly behaved. He barks out the window often and he jumps on people a lot. I try to break him of his habits but he's a puppy, and a stubborn one at that.

Anyways, my 27 year old, drug addicted, alcoholic bum of a brother just moved back in with us. This morning I woke up to him throwing a bitch fit because he bought a (rather large) lab/corgi mix dog and my parents absolutely won't have another dog in the house. So what does he do? He tries to convince her that if he can't have his dog here, why should I get to keep mine? I'm absolutely infuriated right now. Mom admitted to him that she felt trapped into getting my dog because we didn't really discuss it when I suddenly brought it home and paid for it. I understand where she's coming from, but she always plays with him and laughs at how adorable he is, and she says her and my dad love him. I feel like I would be okay giving my dog to someone else if I could find him as good a home as he has here, but I've tried and I can't find one. I don't want him in an apartment because of potentially having to move. It might be stressful on him. I absolutely will not hand him over to the shelter. No. I just...idk what to do. He has a good home here and I just can't believe my own brother would be so selfish and try to turn my family against me.

[MerEmma]

I'm so sorry about that, Ayla. As for him barking out the window, may I offer a few training tips for you?

My own dog is a beagle mix, so we expected the barking. We saw a difference in how often it was after we began taking him on half hour walks every day. Is he getting enough exercise? I don't know anything about how much poms need so it's probably a good bit less than that. Also, the spray bottle is your friend~

[Ayla of Duluth]

He barks whenever someone walks by. He barks twice as hard if they have a dog with them. I haven't been walking him lately because its been very cold outside. Either that or its been super warm and all the snow is melting and everything is a dirty slushy muddy mess. I've tried playing fetch with him in the backyard for excersise. He doesn't understand that the second half of the game requires him returning the ball. =,,=
i hope to get him out and walking really soon, but for him, absolutely no amount of walking will wear him out. I've walked him 5 miles down to the lake, spent the day walking him around, letting him swim and chase birds, and he'll get drowsy on the bus ride home, but the second he walks through the front door, he's back to his energetic self.

Also, instead of a spray bottle getting everything wet, I blow on his face. It seems to have the same effect, he hates it. But I just can't break those two habits. Barking and jumping. I thought of investing in a small shock collar for a more severe and memorable lesson, but they're so expensive!

[MerEmma]

For the fetch thing, could you play a game of chase? Just chase him around the yard (or have him chase you)?
The way I play fetch though with my dog is throw the ball, when they grab it, wave around a rope toy. Don't let them have the rope toy until he drops the ball at your feet. Grab the ball and play with the rope toy. My beagle eventually figured it out but it did take patience.

I always forget about the snow up north, lol. For the price of the shock collar could you try a dog trainer? I have one where I live that does one session for $50 and will come to your house and work on up to three basic training problems such as yours. Don't know if you could find one in Duluth though. Trying to think of other things to help! D:

Puppies have endless energy, lol. My lab puppy is never tired so I know how that can be, seriously.

[Ayla of Duluth]

For the fetch thing, could you play a game of chase? Just chase him around the yard (or have him chase you)?
There's 5 feet of snow in my backyard. I suppose I could try chasing him around on stilts, but even then I would get exhausted pretty quick. Even in the summer, he takes off like a rocket. I play fetch with him now by just throwing snowballs. I have an almost infinite amount of them and he never has to bring them back.


For the price of the shock collar could you try a dog trainer? I have one where I live that does one session for $50 and will come to your house and work on up to three basic training problems such as yours.
I have about $5 to spend on a dog trainer. :P I was supposed to start work a few weeks ago, but the hotel I was gonna work at got flooded and the damage is so bad that they're closed until at least may 1st. So now I have no money coming in. :(

[MerEmma]

Right, right, sorry. Again, Floridian who's currently trying to cool off instead of warm up. xD

Ouch, I saw that on your Facebook. I'll keep thinking though.

[Mermaid Tula]

You could always dig tunnels in the snow that are big enough for you and your pup and chase him through those. I used to do that with my dogs when I was younger

[Ayla of Duluth]

but that's so much work xD especially if you do it alone. :P

[Mermaid_Aurora]

Personally I'd use the "My dog was here first" argument when it comes to him complaining about you having a dog.

[Ayla of Duluth]

Tried that. Dad gets all huffy and loses all sense of rational thinking. Also I could make that argument, but they'd say their dog was here before mine.

[Elle]

When your dog is barking at people walking past make a claw shape with your hand and hold him around the back of the neck to the floor. Not hard so that you're strangling him, but firm enough that he can't move. If you can do this and he stay quiet give him a treat.
The hand of the back of the neck is supposed to represent the mouth of the alpha dog (obviously you wouldn't hold him down with your own mouth around his neck). But basically you're showing him that you're incharge and that you don't approve of his behaviour. Giving him the treat once the people have finished walking past the house and he's stayed quiet helps show him that being quiet is a good thing.

Check out Cesar Milan's work. I've used his methods and so have my friends and they seem to work so much better than any other training I've looked into in the past.

[Mermaid Allie]

All I do is schoolwork and I really need/want a break sometimes. For example, I was supposed to go to a dance on Friday, and I was SO excited because I go to an all girl school and I hate it and I REALLY wanted to see some boys. Well all of a sudden my mom told me I couldn't go and I had to stay home and do ap euro homework. I had just had a test in the class and I was doing really well in the class! This isn't the first time this has happened. Ok so I have never been on a date before and I finally got asked out. My mom refused to let me go!! Then she FREAKED and told me I wasn't allowed to have a boyfriend because I had to focus on my schoolwork. I know school is the most important but I'm a straight A student and I never have fun!!! GOD why is she so controlling all the time!!!! Sorry I just had to rage.

[Mermaidmechanic]

It's because she loves you. :P My sister turns out to be one of those moms. She feels bad for doing it, but she just cant help herself. She gets so worried she nearly looses her mind.

[Ayla of Duluth]

10326
I posted this on my Ayla facebook page, but I kind of wanted to post it here and bitch a little bit about it. WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY COMPLAINING ABOUT? That's a screenshot of every comment for that picture, and not one of them explains why they don't like it. I'm leaning towards the idea that they think my top is immodest. And I sort of agree, I've had a few near wardrobe malfunctions, so I think I'm going to try and save up for a silicone top from Raven. I like her old octopus design, where the tentacles spread across the chest and the head sits in the middle. I'm not so much a fan of the new one where the head is on one breast and the tentacles are on the other. I hope she still makes the old one, otherwise I might have to go with a shell top of some sort. but seriously, WHAT ARE THEY COMPLAINING ABOUT?!

[MerEmma]

Wow, I have no idea. That's...really weird. I don't get it either. Just..what?

[Ayla of Duluth]

my friend insists that they're all bitching about the picture size and quality, (I believe this was a screencap from the video footage they took) but one does not simply call a bad quality image "disgusting." so yeah, i think I need a better top. or I just need to find less easily offended people.

[MerEmma]

Yeah, it seems like the quality might be it. Maybe they just think dressing up as a mermaid is disgusting? :s

[Mermaid Kelda]

I'm almost certain it's the image quality, not what you're wearing. Hence the "I thought it was a zebra going swimming" - they're saying it's such bad quality they couldn't figure out what it actually was.
But regardless, it's still weird for everyone to say that. You can explain that it's a still shot from a video, so no, you don't have any better photos.
I dunno, people are weird sometimes. :\

[Mermaidmechanic]

Looks like you may need new friends? Nothing wrong with that picture besides the fact its a little "fuzzy". Nothing disgusting about it. Are your friends Mormon or something?

[Ayla of Duluth]

Looks like you may need new friends? Nothing wrong with that picture besides the fact its a little "fuzzy". Nothing disgusting about it. Are your friends Mormon or something?
these aren't my friends. this photo is a screencap of the KTSP news page where they posted this picture to advertise the story Jason Davis did on me. I don't know any of these people, they're people who follow the KTSP facebook page.

[Mermaidmechanic]

Ah, well then I would take it with a grain of salt. Those lame people are lame. ;)

[MerEmma]

Could you link to the KTSP page?

[Ayla of Duluth]

Here ya go! (https://www.facebook.com/KSTPTV) (There doesn't seem to be anything about me other than the advertisement. No video or anything.)

[MerEmma]

"Watch Jason Davis' "On the Road" tonight at 10 p.m. on 5EYEWITNESS NEWS." So it's been on (it was posted yesterday?)? EEEE. Still though, read the comments...it really makes me wonder.

[Ayla of Duluth]

it airs in Duluth on saturday night, and airs in minneapolis on sunday night. The station is out of minneapolis, so they get the primary night for it. Jason said it would air this saturday in duluth, and my parents watched it, but I wasn't in the episode. but when it aired on sunday, people in the cities said it was indeed on tv. so I'm really confused as to why it wasn't on saturday...

[Thalassa]

Are your friends Mormon or something?

Hey, now. ;-P
Yeah, Ayla, I don't see anything wrong with the pic. It's not the BEST quality and composition (I would've liked to see your face), but it's not disgusting. Stupid haters.

[Ayla of Duluth]

That's the comment that threw me off. Everyone seemed to be whining about the picture quality, but then I read the comment that said it was disgusting, and that changed my train of thought to believe maybe my top is indecent or something. Cuz whoever called a bad quality picture "disgusting?"

[Mermaidmechanic]

Hey, now. ;-P
Yeah, Ayla, I don't see anything wrong with the pic. It's not the BEST quality and composition (I would've liked to see your face), but it's not disgusting. Stupid haters.

Haha, no offense. Just saying because some of my family is Mormon and they get all gripey when I tromp around in a bikini at my aunts pool.

[MermaidBrittany]

Im really thinking that majority of the comments are directed at the quality of the photo as well. No one could call something that cool ugly! Hope it gets better for you, thats a bit strange. Perhaps suggest they put a different pic in place of that one?

[Mer_Adella]

Ok so this really isn't a "bitch" but just gotta get it off my chest.

There's this older gentleman (he could be my gpa in age) that I used to clean his house and spend time with him because he lived alone and liked the company. He knew about my mermaiding and liked the idea and thought that I have behind it. We always talked about the silicone vs latex, and partial vs full, monofins vs monofins....and he listened to every word and gave suggestions that he thought made sense. All around I called him Papa Tom (as an enderment bcus I would have loved to have him as my gpa)

He was in the Vietnam War and was around the Agent Orange Gas. He had put in for tests and all that to the VA back in 2011. A few days ago they processed his paperwork and wrote him a check for all the money that they owed him (he has a lot of health issues that was caused by the Agent Orange...don't ask me about that because I dont know about it) Anyways, he asked if I could come over and help him stack wood. He told me that there was an envelope on the table for me. Confused I read the letter inside it and pulled out a check. He thanked me for keeping an old man company, coming over to help whenever he asked and here was the full amount I needed for a professional grade mermaid tail. O.o

Considering that I have never gotten a check that big or had money just handed over, I tried to give it back to him. he then explained about the VA giving him his money and said it was no big deal. For the 3 hours we spent together I tried to give the money back at every turn. Finally he used the all mighty guilt trip on me and I felt like I had to take it otherwise he would be very upset. I still feel like I am eating crow though for the fact that I accepted the money. I dont know. I mean ya spending time with him wasn't really on my schedule but I liked going over there to talk, clean, have dinner etc etc but I honestly didn't expect to get anything from him especially not money.

[Mermaid Kelda]

He obviously appreciates the time you spent with him, and probably wants to pass on the money to someone who can spend it on something they really want and still have years left to enjoy it. If he has no other family he's close to, it makes sense to give it to a friend. I don't think you need to feel guilty. He knows you're a noble person or he wouldn't have given it to you in the first place, especially after you refused it so many times.

[MermaidBrittany]

He obviously appreciates the time you spent with him, and probably wants to pass on the money to someone who can spend it on something they really want and still have years left to enjoy it. If he has no other family he's close to, it makes sense to give it to a friend. I don't think you need to feel guilty. He knows you're a noble person or he wouldn't have given it to you in the first place, especially after you refused it so many times.
Couldn't have said it better :) The fact that you enjoyed his company and didn't want anything in return is the best part. How kind of him!! an't wait to see what you decide to get :D

[Elle]

He obviously appreciates the time you spent with him, and probably wants to pass on the money to someone who can spend it on something they really want and still have years left to enjoy it. If he has no other family he's close to, it makes sense to give it to a friend. I don't think you need to feel guilty. He knows you're a noble person or he wouldn't have given it to you in the first place, especially after you refused it so many times.

Agreed.....If there is no family that he's close with, then you may be the closest thing to family he has left. If he has no neurological issues ie, Dementia, Alzheimer's, and he's perfectly able to make that choice.
If you want you can wait a couple of months before doing anything with it, in case you're worried about him changing his mind. But it sounds like he's set in his ways and has made his decision.

[MerAnthony]

Ok so this really isn't a "bitch" but just gotta get it off my chest.

There's this older gentleman (he could be my gpa in age) that I used to clean his house and spend time with him because he lived alone and liked the company. He knew about my mermaiding and liked the idea and thought that I have behind it. We always talked about the silicone vs latex, and partial vs full, monofins vs monofins....and he listened to every word and gave suggestions that he thought made sense. All around I called him Papa Tom (as an enderment bcus I would have loved to have him as my gpa)

He was in the Vietnam War and was around the Agent Orange Gas. He had put in for tests and all that to the VA back in 2011. A few days ago they processed his paperwork and wrote him a check for all the money that they owed him (he has a lot of health issues that was caused by the Agent Orange...don't ask me about that because I dont know about it) Anyways, he asked if I could come over and help him stack wood. He told me that there was an envelope on the table for me. Confused I read the letter inside it and pulled out a check. He thanked me for keeping an old man company, coming over to help whenever he asked and here was the full amount I needed for a professional grade mermaid tail. O.o

Considering that I have never gotten a check that big or had money just handed over, I tried to give it back to him. he then explained about the VA giving him his money and said it was no big deal. For the 3 hours we spent together I tried to give the money back at every turn. Finally he used the all mighty guilt trip on me and I felt like I had to take it otherwise he would be very upset. I still feel like I am eating crow though for the fact that I accepted the money. I dont know. I mean ya spending time with him wasn't really on my schedule but I liked going over there to talk, clean, have dinner etc etc but I honestly didn't expect to get anything from him especially not money.

HOLY FISH STICKS !!!!!. I guess it goes to show that some good deeds get repaid in one way or another.

[Mermaid Octavia]

That time spent with him probably meant the world to him, Melaina. <3

[roamingmer]

I think you would hurt him more by not getting the tail he has offered you - than by trying to return the money. He chose you to receive a beautiful gift, and it shows that people can still enjoy the art of giving in this materailistic world. You are a lucky lady.

Trust me - there can be immense joy in randomly giving unexpected gifts to those who genuinely will appreciate it - and enjoy the receiving. I recently cleared some things from the basement; a young girl saw something I had really wanted to keep for myself; it had a value of about $300; but I had not done anything with it for a long time... giving it to her; sharing her joy and knowing that it will be treasured by her more than by me... (well it was in the cellar) was a beautiful experience. The look on her face stays with me much more than the physical item. That is something which cannot be taken away. But it was also stronger because I know she really liked it and would also treasure the item for years to come.

Experience the joy of giving - and experience the joy of receiving.

[Mer_Adella]

He has an enormous family with plenty of grand kids. He mentioned that he was putting up a trust for each of them. And they visit him and respect him so I am telling myself that he considers me a grandchild

[Alveric]

Accept graciously and be sure he has the opportunity to see you swim in it.

[Mer_Adella]

Everyone has made this clear to me in what they honestly think. I appreciate it. I pride myself on being respectful to my elders and eloping people out when they ask. He is of sound mind ad told me that I am not to use it to pay bills or anything but my tail. He promised to come to the week long pirate festiva and see me swim in it do I am excited. He is a wonderful man and the man I wished was my biological gpa. Thank you to everyone who expressed their feelings especially bcus this wasn't an angry bitch

[SeaGlass Siren]

Aw..!!

[Whisper]

I really hate it when a company offers refunds to people - then tells them they can't have it yet. If you haven't made the product the person paid you to, then you should still have the money to refund them. Makes people wonder what happened to the money they paid you.

[Morticia Mermaid]

Ok, seriously need to vent.

Apparently something is going on on the Fishbutts page, I wouldn't know I haven't been anywhere on it. And I have heard from people telling me that my sister is being bad mouthed because she was looking at buying a silicone tail from them. So, right now I am feeling like there is a mermaid law somewhere saying you can't buy tails from more than one tailmaker. And if that is the case, then I (And MANY others) should be banned from the community. Because we either already have, or are planning on buying tails from numerous tailmakers.

And, of course as usual, people are apparently trying to drag me into it even when I have nothing to do with it. I have had absolutely NOTHING to do with the Stevi/Fishbutts drama since JANUARY. So please, LEAVE ME THE HELL OUT OF IT! I am seriously getting sick and tired of "professional" mers dragging me into shit that I have absolutely NOTHING to do with. You call yourself professional, then ACT like it. Seriously? Trying to drag someone into something that they have absolutely nothing to do with it is childish and immature. Not to mention that it is just trying to stir up MORE drama.

And I already know this is probably going to be moved to the "drama thread" all because someone says so. But I have posted it in a valid thread, anyone who has a problem with it can piss off. I'm not normally angry like this, but I truly feel as though my sister was attacked because of someones petty inability to get over drama. And I am EXTREMELY protective of my family.

~End Rant~

[Whisper]

Morticia - I would say that Raina has to slam you and post negative crap about you because she is jealous. And that is probably why she feels she needs to attach those you know.

It is a sad state of affairs that people who say they are professionals have to resort to attacking people. It simply goes to show just how un-professional they really are.

Since when is it not okay or allowed for a mermaid to have tails from multiple tailmakers? Is there some unwritten law somewhere regarding it? Because if there is, it's damn stupid.

[jammer54]

I hate it when pepole tell me " didn't you say that already?" Or " stop posting the same thing!" Like come on! I don't give a shi* what you think! So what if I post something twice I'm not gonna go on your threads and say " stop posting this over and over you did it like a bunch of times!" PEOLPE WHO DO THIS ANNOY ME! So if u have done this stop it! I don't freaking care! Well now that I got that out I just finished my mermaid tail! :D

[Morticia Mermaid]

Well now that I got that out I just finished my mermaid tail! :D

Should post it in a thread so we can see :)

[jammer54]

I'm going to once I figure out how to...(lol I'm so bad with computers!)

[Whisper]

Jammer - Congratulations on finishing your tail.. That's AWESOME!

[jammer54]

Thanks! I worked really hard on it! I'm glad it turned out like it did:D

[SeaGlass Siren]

Whisper and morticia - I agree with you. That's like saying an artist can't own another person's artwork that they like :| or like saying a fashion designer isn't allowed to buy from another designer that they like. or like saying a chef can't walk into another chef's restaurant and eat their food because they're competing...

yeah? so? that doesnt prove they're copying you. that's not definitive proof that they are.

Again, i unno about the whole drama details about fishbutts and raina, so i am not gonna stick my fins where it doesnt belong. But the above is my 2 sand dollars. Hope all is well for you!

[Kanti]

It sucks that that even happened, Morticia! I agree with you! I actually saw the leftover posts and they were really rude sounding. I didn't see what Melusinah said because I think those were deleted, but I saw the whole "pshhhh why would YOU want a fishbutts tail? aren't you with SHADOWFANCY!" it's like what in the hell!? I plan on buying a tail from every damn tailmaker! Am I going to get stopped halfway because "Oh I see you have a mermaid creations tail.. WE DONT TAKE KINDLY TO YOUR TYPES AROUND HERE"

[Mermaid Octavia]

You know, this sort of thing sometimes happens in the doll hobby too. There are some people who look down on others for buying from other companies or who expect people just to buy from one company and it makes no sense to me. If you like a product, buy that product! Who cares where it's from or who makes it or how many of some other product from someone else you have? I never understood that. :/

[spottedcatfish]

Facebook deactivated my account!! See my rant here: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?4683-My-facebook-account-was-de-activated!!-Grr!!

[SeaGlass Siren]

before i go on a bitch out, i must ask a question:

is it considered racist if you are "talking badly" about the customs, beliefs, and practices of your OWN race? :|

[NerineArcticMermaid]

Venting. ...


Not so much pissed off as severely annoyed at the new mers that have names very similar to mine. Or been Nerine since. 2010. I scoured the net to be sure no other mers had anything similar. I wanted to be unique and now I feel like I need to change myname since I have found 4 mers with similar names. Grumble grrrr..

End rant

[MerMarla]

@ Nerinethemermaid

Hi! Nerine,

I so feel your pain. Altho, having a similar name isn't quite the same as having an identical name. My Mer-identity, (now being used without my permission) has been tied to my name for 44 years. Talk about confusing the Mer public and other performers and artists. One of my Mer-sisters from Weeki Wachee Springs, FL, contacted me about the situation.

I have been Mermaid Marla since 1969, and there is another Mer here, that didn't do her homework, either... I OWN the copyright to my MerName, and yet there are those who infringe. Probably not maliciously, but maybe intentionally, thinking they wouldn't get caught. And, therefore, I am also denied my "rightful name" on this site, too. I agree about venting, and I guess I am venting, too!

I've brought this subject up with MerNetwork site owners, and not a thing was done, except to say "Ahh, we understand, but First Come First Served" and "We can change your name to what every you like, just not your [rightful <-my inserted word] real name... This isn't always the nicest or correct political stance to take for the site owners. They also know about my copyright... they don't seem to care, either, that they allowed the infringement and could be cited (if I were nasty) and including them in a law suit. I am not a nasty person, or a nasty Mermaid. (Just ticked off like you are! ) Enuf strife is going on, world wide, and occasionally in here, so no more is needed.

I also understand this other Mer has established a business around her name. Rightfully infringing on my copyright. So what do I do? I don't wish to start a political or financially draining legal war, (my nephew's fiancee just passed the Mass Bar. So now I have free legal advice, too). I just wanted rightful ownership of my name. (I also have proof -- I swam for Weeki Wachee, under ABC Paramount ownership, they relinquished our names when they sold the franchise, and I did have a SAG (Stage Actors Guild) card, too.) You do NOT have to file a formal copyright with the US Copyright Office. All you need is documented proof. (I own two copyrights, working on a third, so I know the rules).

So do I just let her infringe on my name? Do I take her to court? Do I request a percent of her business? I'm not asking for answers, just something to think about. At this point I have no intention of taking her to court (or the site owners). All I wanted is my rightful Mer name. Here and everywhere. I shouldn't need to document my signature with "Weeki Wachee Springs, 1969-1972" every time I sign my Mermaid Marla name. Yet I do, now to differentiate myself from the other Mermaid Marla. It is SHE who should have a different signature.

LOL... see... I can get on a soap box, too! Happy venting!

(((Mer-Hugs))) and a bubble :heart: <3

Mermaid Marla (the original one LOL!)

[Kanti]

Aww that always sucks when people have similar names to you, but I honestly think its bound to happen sometimes, especially when people dont always go around looking to make sure their name doesn't look like anyone else's. But I mean, maybe it was a nickname and they wanted to keep it?

Marla, it's funny you put it that way. I never thought of mermaid names as such a big deal but now that I sort of ponder on what you said I think if you're planning on being a well-known or professional mer, your name is basically like a business name, you can't have people copying you.
Not to mention it sounds an awful lot like how celebrities do things. If their names are too similar the newer celeb usually has to adopt a nickname so that there are never two people with the same name xD I actually saw it on an E! documentary and thinking it was very interesting.

[MerMarla]

Hi Kanti!

Well, I should be honored that she is using my name! LOL, but true about established celebs, newbies usually do adopt a nickname to avoid confusion. It still feels awkward having grown up with Marla, (born in 1952) I knew NO ONE with my name. Now there are so many! Its bound to happen. My sister is a Debbie... she grew up with 8 other Debbie's in her class. She never knew which Debbie the teacher was addressing. I got used to being the only person with my name until Marla Trump, and a few others popped up about the same time.

At this point, I doubt I will be doing any more "professional gigs", altho attending my WWS reunions are always fun! I've swam in so many tails, and made so many, (around fins cut to fit our tails, not monofins... gotta try one some day!) that, I think my latest might be my last. Altho I never say never! I really enjoy this site and all the enthusium! I really wasn't trying to stir up another fray-of-words, just my frustration!

Hugs,
Mermaid Marla (the original one, LOL)

[sunrise]

I've got a something I want to get off my chest. I know it's biology and all, but I just don't see the point in this. In our biology class a few weeks from now, we're going to dissect rats, and I'm pretty upset about it. It's not that I'm grossed out, I mean, I am, but that's not why I'm upset. I don't like the idea that animals lose their lives so that students can learn about their body systems. I didn't see the point when we had to dissect frogs two years back, and I don't see it now. I just don't think it's right. Maybe if it was for research at a higher level, where the whole thing would have a point in the end, maybe then I wouldn't feel as bad. But honestly, I probably wouldn't feel any different. I don't agree with animal testing of any kind, and I especially don't agree with killing a whole bunch of creatures so that students can cut them open, look at them, fill out worksheets, and then discard them. It all seems wasteful and unnecessary to me when I've seen online alternatives that we could easily use, since we have computers available. Yeah, I'm probably really close to the type of person who'd try and free the frogs, like in all those silly cartoons, but I don't care If I am. I've had many types of animals, many frogs and toads, and I've known three rats (unfortunately none were mine) and so I'm very upset about it all. In a few weeks, I'm going to have to cut open a rat, so that I can pass this class, and whether I like it or not, I'm going to think back to Charlie, Blitz, and Belle, and even the little cream hooded rat who stared into my eyes at Petsmart, and I'm probably going to cry. Rats may not be for everyone, but to me, it'll be like cutting open a dog or cat, and that's all I have to say.

[Kanti]

Bleh I agree sunrise.
It completely sucks, especially now that we have computer programs that can simulate it fairly well. When I was in 8th grade we were supposed to dissect a frog and we ended up just using a program instead, which was cleaner, saved money, saved animal lives, and showed us everything a LOT more clearly than when you do it in person.
I'm not sure why people still insist on getting the real animal much anymore, it just seems like a complete waste of money for the school.

I also do find it extremely annoying when people don't care about the animal just because it's something they don't like. In college we did actual frogs and half the girls were like EW FROGS ARE SO GROSS IM SO HAPPY WERE KILLING THEM but when we had a pig they were all AWWW POOR THINGGG WHY DO THEY KILL IT. It's like, geeze people they're both ANIMALS with a will to live. People are so stupid sometimes

[SeaGlass Siren]

I agree... they do just get thrown out most of the time anyway so it would be best to learn through online.

however! for a student who wants to become a coroner, it will be beneficial to get their hands dirty with a dead animal first before dealing with a dead human...

also to see if they're able to handle being a nurse or a surgeon...

[Mer_Adella]

When I was in anatomy/physiology we disected a worm, fish, starfish, frog, and a cat. All in person. They had been dead a while. The cat I got first had tire tracks on it. so it was an accident the animal died and it was donated for kids to disect. I didn't feel bad at all. I go hunting and eat the meat. I guess I dont see it as such a horrible thing to dissect animals for education

[Ayla of Duluth]

the animals we get at our schools are just frogs and cats. I'm not sure where we get the frogs, but the cats come from animal shelters after they're put down.

[sunrise]

I'm glad that some of the animals' deaths weren't just for the sake of being dissected, as I'm mostly opposed to animals being killed for dissections and or as a result of testing. I don't mind if an animal is killed for a purpose other than that- I have no problems with hunting unless it's just for sport, and I do eat meat. I don't like leather, but if I'm going to eat a cow, then someone else should be able to use its skin, as far as I'm concerned. As for future coroners, I can see how that would be beneficial, but I still don't see the necessity for dissections in general middle and high school classes. Maybe it could be offered in certain electives, or put into the curriculum in college classes for people going into these types of careers- coroners, surgeons and the like.

[Kanti]

Hmm come to think of it, is there a market for dissecting animals? And I mean that as in "dissecting" as an adjective.
I always thought that the people who sold the animals all in large buckets that come from classroom supply were usually all killed for that purpose? I didn't know you could get animals that died from natural causes. I actually would prefer that in the sense that maybe you could see how your animal died xD

[Mermaid Momo]

Actually, nowadays most if the animals you get for dissections aren't killed for that purpose. Some die naturally in the pet store, some in someone's home (pet rats), I don't think any actual rats and starfish or frogs are killed for dissections anymore because of protesting animal rights activists. Also, I'm going to be dissecting a cat soon in my AP anatomy class and I can't wait! I've always looked forward to dissecting things haha.

[Kanti]

Really? That's good then
I always thought they were farmed and killed altogether, so it's refreshing to think that they'd use animals that were intended for something else and perhaps at least got some use before they died. If you're not going to use the body for anything may as well donate it to science xD especially for things we aren't going to eat. Still don't mind computer dissection though, I think it's a bit better.
I didn't mind dissecting but I also never looked forward to it, either. I mean it was a nice break from work but it always makes your hands smell super gross after and I'd always seem to keep the smell for weeks! But I'm not one of the prissy girls who was all "EWWW I CANT TOUCH A FROG HOW GROOOSSSSS" those were always annoying -__-

[Mermaid Stark]

This is gonna be more of a sad rant.
My brother just spilled ice tea all over my mom's macbook pro. He's really upset about it and so is my mom. She just stormed out crying. I've never seen her cry like that before. I'm really heartbroken! She had started 5 books on there (not to mention all her other data!) and now she thinks they're gone forever. :(
I asked if this could be fixed on Yahoo answers, so hopefully it'll all work out in the end. It's an old computer, I think 4+ years, so not sure if taking it to the Mac store will do any good. I talked to my brother and he showed me where he spilled it. Luckily, he spilled it AWAY from the hard drive, so it could be retrievable.
I think one of the worst parts about this is that my mom is on her period, so it makes her feel twice the pain. :(

[Kanti]

OHH well there's your problem.
ITS A MAC

Haha nah I'm just kidding. But aww that's sad ): your poor mom. Hopefully the mac store can fix it up and get the information someplace safe. Your mom should use dropbox. It's a website where you can store files online. That way she won't have a problem with data if her computer messes up.

[SeaGlass Siren]

isn't biology an elective? i know where i am its optional to take grade 11and12 biology (those classes u have to dissect)
in grade nine it's not an option and you have to take science just to qualify for grade 10science... but if i recall we only dissected flowers.

[Mermaid Stark]

Kanti, but the problem is that we live in Geneva, Switzerland. It's one of the most expensive places! It'll probably cost more than the computer itself to get it repaired! I don't think that it would be such a big issue if it would cost less to get it repaired. :P

[Elle]

I also do find it extremely annoying when people don't care about the animal just because it's something they don't like. In college we did actual frogs and half the girls were like EW FROGS ARE SO GROSS IM SO HAPPY WERE KILLING THEM but when we had a pig they were all AWWW POOR THINGGG WHY DO THEY KILL IT. It's like, geeze people they're both ANIMALS with a will to live. People are so stupid sometimes


I've never worked on animals, only people parts. They should be glad they aren't doing that. Most of the girls in my course faint, so the Bio classes are always well stocked in smelling salts.
My school had it, but they only ever had rats....I've never heard of anywhere having pigs.....

[Mermaid Stark]

Really? That's good then
I always thought they were farmed and killed altogether, so it's refreshing to think that they'd use animals that were intended for something else and perhaps at least got some use before they died. If you're not going to use the body for anything may as well donate it to science xD especially for things we aren't going to eat. Still don't mind computer dissection though, I think it's a bit better.
I didn't mind dissecting but I also never looked forward to it, either. I mean it was a nice break from work but it always makes your hands smell super gross after and I'd always seem to keep the smell for weeks! But I'm not one of the prissy girls who was all "EWWW I CANT TOUCH A FROG HOW GROOOSSSSS" those were always annoying -__-

RAAAAAHHH!!! I hate how most girls always think that frogs and insects are annoying! When I was 5, I used to go outside and play with worms, grasshoppers, cicadas, and inch worms! Plus, whenever we went to my grandparents house, I used to check the pool filters everyday for frogs that I could save. I just never found any of them gross at all! To me, they were all cute and cuddly. Like a puppy!

[Alveric]

That was probably a clue to you being a mermaid.

[Mermaid Stark]

Haha! Yeah, probably!

[SeaGlass Siren]

we have pigs elle lol

[Elle]

we have pigs elle lol

I've just never heard of them being used for a curriculum. Rats, yes. But not pigs.....it's a little strange to me.

[SeaGlass Siren]

Pigs are used because their internal organs closely resemble a humans organs. (though not exact)

Almost the same skin texture as well

[Mermaid Stark]

I really need help. I'm homeschooled and I've been feeling REALLY lonely for the past two years. It's not like I can just go to a mall with some friends or go to a co-op, because where I live, I am the ONLY homeschooled teen (well, person actually). Plus, the malls here suck and have no great clothes and it's really expensive with no more than a couple pairs of pants and t-shirts that fit a 13 year old girl. And no, I am not religious, so I'm not going to go to a church. Plus everything is in French, so it's hard for me to communicate without getting a huge headache later. I take dance classes, but the girls there are actually really mean and hate me for some reason. I'm really at a loss here! I feel like I spend most of my time on the computer and that's not a good feeling. I get really good grades (103%/100% most of the time), so school work is not going to give me something to worry about. I pretty much live in the middle of nowhere, so it's hard to do fun things without having to travel a long distance or pay alot of money. I feel really angry and sad all the time! I have no friends, noting good to do, and nowhere to go! My sister is a real b*tch, so I'm not going to hang out with her, and my brother is always out doing something with his friends (they both go to school). I've tried exercising, but in the end I always end up sitting down and crying my eyes out after. I'm getting sick and tired of listening to music and taking walks and I'm also getting really sick and tired of feeling like this 24/7! I've cut myself a few times out of anger and boredom. I've tried new hobbies, but like I said, everything here is really expensive and most of the things I need to do these hobbies are non existent. I really just want to move back to the U.S so that I can start up school and have actual friends. I feel like I'm going insane! I'm constantly talking to myself and doing stupid things! I just don't know what to do anymore!
My dad got a job in Bucharest and we might be moving there next year, but I REALLY JUST WANT TO GO HOME. I can't take it anymore! Sometimes I just feel like I'd be better off dead. -.-

[MerEmma]

Summer is almost here! Find some summer camps for you to join! As a homeschooler, that's where I make a lot of my friends. I usually just go to their house to hang out instead of a mall (cheaper, too!). I do a swim team, a drama camp, a sailing camp and I volunteer at kid's art camps. :)

[sunrise]

Yay!! I'm relieved to hear that the rat I dissect won't have been killed for me. It'll be interesting to see the real cause of death, which quite probably would be a tumor- rats are prone to them. It may seem weird, but I think that that would be interesting to observe.

[MerAnthony]

To start I am sorry about the language but I just need to vent . Yesterday I took my family to our local YMCA for a swim. Now I have swam in the pool a few times before with my tail on an everbody said it was neet ,cool an a few other nice words. Now yesterday I was told to take my tail off if I wanted to swim. Now I am thinking WTF? I have swam here before with it on. I was SO PISSED An I really am still. Now before I even went to this place I called an asked if it was ok for me to swim in my tail. They said it was fine. An when I got there for the first time I asked again if it was ok ,an the said yes it was fine. Now when I went this time with my neoprene tail an they said to take it off. As far as I am concerned this place can goto hell an I will NEVER EVER go there again. They are a bunch of hypocrites. They say one thing then do the total reverse. It just burns my ass about the whole thing

[lasserine]

To start I am sorry about the language but I just need to vent . Yesterday I took my family to our local YMCA for a swim. Now I have swam in the pool a few times before with my tail on an everbody said it was neet ,cool an a few other nice words. Now yesterday I was told to take my tail off if I wanted to swim. Now I am thinking WTF? I have swam here before with it on. I was SO PISSED An I really am still. Now before I even went to this place I called an asked if it was ok for me to swim in my tail. They said it was fine. An when I got there for the first time I asked again if it was ok ,an the said yes it was fine. Now when I went this time with my neoprene tail an they said to take it off. As far as I am concerned this place can goto hell an I will NEVER EVER go there again. They are a bunch of hypocrites. They say one thing then do the total reverse. It just burns my ass about the whole thing

Go in calmly, ask to speak with the manager, or someone high up with the lifeguards. Ask if it is ok, for you to swim with it. Then if someone tells you no, you can always say, so and so said it was ok.

[Mermaid Tula]

So here's my bitchout. I'm so freaking frustrated. I've been talking with these people about getting a lot of shells from them for a great price. I'm talking about around 8 or 9 large mason jars fill to the brim. Plus 2 or 3 gallon ziplocks full of larger shells, plus a solid bag of sand dollars. Not quite Lion's paw large, but close. I've been keeping up to date with them, sending them an email about once a week. We were supposed to meet up sometime last week when they came down to my town. I didn't have any contact about that at all. So I sent an email, got a response a while later saying that they had sold them to someone else. They had me wrapped around their finger with me thinking that I was going to be able to buy this amazingly cheap lot of shells. ($15 for all of them) They never said anything like "Well if we find someone closer, or who can come to us, we'll sell to them." kind of thing. I didn't even get a 'Hey we sold these already, sorry" email until after I emailed them. I had the cash in my hand, waiting to find out when I could meet with them, and they knew this. I hate when people pull bullshit like this. It's like they broke a contract. I was promised first 'dibs' on these, and they sold them out from under me instead.
Am I just being unreasonable? Should I just be like "Oh well, maybe I'll be able to find 'Something' like this again." I just feel like I was ripped off.

[MermaidBrittany]

So here's my bitchout. I'm so freaking frustrated. I've been talking with these people about getting a lot of shells from them for a great price. I'm talking about around 8 or 9 large mason jars fill to the brim. Plus 2 or 3 gallon ziplocks full of larger shells, plus a solid bag of sand dollars. Not quite Lion's paw large, but close. I've been keeping up to date with them, sending them an email about once a week. We were supposed to meet up sometime last week when they came down to my town. I didn't have any contact about that at all. So I sent an email, got a response a while later saying that they had sold them to someone else. They had me wrapped around their finger with me thinking that I was going to be able to buy this amazingly cheap lot of shells. ($15 for all of them) They never said anything like "Well if we find someone closer, or who can come to us, we'll sell to them." kind of thing. I didn't even get a 'Hey we sold these already, sorry" email until after I emailed them. I had the cash in my hand, waiting to find out when I could meet with them, and they knew this. I hate when people pull bullshit like this. It's like they broke a contract. I was promised first 'dibs' on these, and they sold them out from under me instead.
Am I just being unreasonable? Should I just be like "Oh well, maybe I'll be able to find 'Something' like this again." I just feel like I was ripped off.

NO thats not ok >:/ Communication is key, and it was completely their fault. If you already had all of that organized? Thats ridiculous.

[MermaidBrittany]

To start I am sorry about the language but I just need to vent . Yesterday I took my family to our local YMCA for a swim. Now I have swam in the pool a few times before with my tail on an everbody said it was neet ,cool an a few other nice words. Now yesterday I was told to take my tail off if I wanted to swim. Now I am thinking WTF? I have swam here before with it on. I was SO PISSED An I really am still. Now before I even went to this place I called an asked if it was ok for me to swim in my tail. They said it was fine. An when I got there for the first time I asked again if it was ok ,an the said yes it was fine. Now when I went this time with my neoprene tail an they said to take it off. As far as I am concerned this place can goto hell an I will NEVER EVER go there again. They are a bunch of hypocrites. They say one thing then do the total reverse. It just burns my ass about the whole thing

Im sorry I know how that is, it has happened to me before at my Y with my equipment. >:/ Its extremely frustrating. I think you should talk to the aquatics manager, and if that dosent work then the general manager. You could also try taking in that contract that someone wrote up. Ill try to find it.

[SeaGlass Siren]

My mom is picking a fight with my dad and crying and bitching about a divorce because he didn't want to drink his drink she made. Wtf. Drama queen to the max.

[MermaidDiaries1]

The girls who whenever they look in the mirror immediately start saying they are ugly, fat, dis-proportionate, they have the wrong hair color, they have the wrong eye color, they wish they were skinnier, basically they just freakin say every single detail wrong with them just to hear a compliment. Just like b!tch if you want to get skinnier then stop eating chips,soda,fries, and cookies(all those things are delicious, just eating them as a pure diet is nasty)and go work out and eat a salad. Teenage girls nowadays are so stupid and true fishers of compliments(ironic how I'm about to turn 15). :mad:

[Mermaid Allie]

I really need help. I'm homeschooled and I've been feeling REALLY lonely for the past two years. It's not like I can just go to a mall with some friends or go to a co-op, because where I live, I am the ONLY homeschooled teen (well, person actually). Plus, the malls here suck and have no great clothes and it's really expensive with no more than a couple pairs of pants and t-shirts that fit a 13 year old girl. And no, I am not religious, so I'm not going to go to a church. Plus everything is in French, so it's hard for me to communicate without getting a huge headache later. I take dance classes, but the girls there are actually really mean and hate me for some reason. I'm really at a loss here! I feel like I spend most of my time on the computer and that's not a good feeling. I get really good grades (103%/100% most of the time), so school work is not going to give me something to worry about. I pretty much live in the middle of nowhere, so it's hard to do fun things without having to travel a long distance or pay alot of money. I feel really angry and sad all the time! I have no friends, noting good to do, and nowhere to go! My sister is a real b*tch, so I'm not going to hang out with her, and my brother is always out doing something with his friends (they both go to school). I've tried exercising, but in the end I always end up sitting down and crying my eyes out after. I'm getting sick and tired of listening to music and taking walks and I'm also getting really sick and tired of feeling like this 24/7! I've cut myself a few times out of anger and boredom. I've tried new hobbies, but like I said, everything here is really expensive and most of the things I need to do these hobbies are non existent. I really just want to move back to the U.S so that I can start up school and have actual friends. I feel like I'm going insane! I'm constantly talking to myself and doing stupid things! I just don't know what to do anymore!
My dad got a job in Bucharest and we might be moving there next year, but I REALLY JUST WANT TO GO HOME. I can't take it anymore! Sometimes I just feel like I'd be better off dead. -.-

Youre not better off dead! Don't say that! There are probably so many people that care about you! Don't feel like its the end! Remember that everyone on mernetwork cares as well! Find something you really love to do. Its figure skating for me. It really helped me get through a tough time when I lost all my friends. Talk to your parent(s), they always make me feel better. Maybe videochat with your friends from the US! Don't cut yourself please its not worth it. Maybe do a volunteer project! Even go pick up trash on the streets. Seriously, you've go your whole life ahead of you. Think of the future. Whenever I'm bored I look at colleges lol. Really talk to your parents and tell them how you feel. Tell them you WANT to go to school, and tell them how alone you feel. I'm sure they'll understand and enroll you! Another thing to do is read! I know it sounds corny, but you can go anywhere in a book. I like Henry David Thoreau if you'd like something a bit challenging to read (it is for me). And maybe hang out a library. Librarians are super nice! :) Feel free to PM me if you need to talk!! I try to be on every day but ive got so much homework to do!

[Mermaid Allie]

The girls who whenever they look in the mirror immediately start saying they are ugly, fat, dis-proportionate, they have the wrong hair color, they have the wrong eye color, they wish they were skinnier, basically they just freakin say every single detail wrong with them just to hear a compliment. Just like b!tch if you want to get skinnier then stop eating chips,soda,fries, and cookies(all those things are delicious, just eating them as a pure diet is nasty)and go work out and eat a salad. Teenage girls nowadays are so stupid and true fishers of compliments(ironic how I'm about to turn 15). :mad:

AMEN girl! They rachet. (sorry for the improper language). If you don't like something, do something about it. Don't complain!

[jammer54]

A few things....
1: my best friends boyfriend broke up with her because of the pants she was wearing!! Like WTF? It's PANTS! Get over it!
2: haters! When I say "I dislike ____" they go all crazy and post like "bitch" or "go die in a hole" like really? I don't give a shit! And what's the worst they can do? Cap lock me to death?
3: this stupid boy kept hitting on my friend last night even when we kept telling him "she has a boyfriend" but he didn't stop! He followed us the entire night we had to go to mall security.
Well that's it for me! Thanks! Bye!

[Thalassa]

This is REALLY going to sound b!tchy, but I wish I didn't feel stuff so deeply. It's not something I can turn off, it's an illness, but DARNIT! I get too frustrated, and then there's no one online to vent to...so I end up getting drawn into the drama, even though I've scrolled past it a million times and told myself "DON'T get into it, leave it be. No, leave it! It's okay, just let it alone..." I guess I'm just mad at myself that it's happened again. I mean, why should people's attitudes on a screen bother me so much? WHY can't I just recognize that even though this person who doesn't even know me and that I'll probably never meet doesn't like me or my opinions, it's okay and it's just people on a computer? Why the heck does it have to matter so much?

[SeaGlass Siren]

Because the Internet is a magical and bewitching tool used to attract people into drama. I honestly have no clue :|

I think it's because we so desperately want to provide a solution to the drama/issue so out of nature we try to offer our opinion about what would solve/fix the problem ? Since it frequently happens so often I mean

[Thalassa]

I guess that's true. I think the internet creates both an anonymity that allows people to feel they can say what they wouldn't say in person, combined with a false intimacy. I mean, how many people do you feel like you're best friends with, even though you haven't met them in person? So when our "friends" present us with one side of the story we leap to use that anonymity to defend them, because we feel we have all the information and of course they're our friend. That, combined with the inability to hear vocal tones and see facial expressions through text...all of that makes for the perfect storm.

I think...maybe?

I just hate that even though intellectually I know that their opinion of me doesn't matter in the least, I can't stop feeling it deeply. It cuts me to the quick when I think someone's upset with me or something I do. Ridiculous, isn't it? I know it's ridiculous, which in turn makes me feel stupid for feeling something so ridiculous and being unable to control it...*ERGH*

[SeaGlass Siren]

It's ok I used to get the feeling. :hugs:

In the long run though.. On the grand scheme of things. It's not really important. We've got dolphins to save and garbage to clean, children to protect...

Ideally I'd like to see all our issues resolved too but it's only but a fantasy lol. I think if we all keep this in mind and had no care in the world about what was said ( to you, to other people, etc) whether it was meant to harm or be judgemental or if it was accidental and came off that way...

Well ... I think it'd be a lot more peaceful.. I think

[SeaGlass Siren]

Huh reading this over I think I don't make sense... Clearly past bedtime..

[Thalassa]

Must be past my bedtime, too, because it made sense to me. LOL And it helped. Thanks. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who feels to ridiculously. XP

[SeaGlass Siren]

Yeah. It's really hard to say who's being rude too. Youd have to read paragraphs over and over putting emphasis on different words. But I think we should all refrain ffrom using caps lock since it just comes off as angry and yelling. Even though it may be used for emphasizing. But then comes off like you're not calm .. Yeah

[SeaGlass Siren]

I'm glad it helped :)

[Mermaid Kelda]

Thalassa, I'm exactly the same xD I literally can't sleep knowing someone, somewhere out there in the world, doesn't like me or thinks my opinion is silly. It's a natural human reaction to want people to like you, even when you know it's probably not going to happen! It's infuriating xD

[ShyMer]

My rat Pepper was acting funny this morning, wouldn't climb up to the top of the cage with the others for breakfast. After some research, it looks like she might have a pituitary tumor. She still loves peas and cheerios, but she can't pick them up with her paws to eat them, so she needs help, and getting her to drink water is a challenge. I feel kinda bad about it, she's only a year a half old. One site talked about medication to help with quality of life, but it gets expensive.
She was climbing all over everything yesterday, now she can barely scoot around. It's sad:(

[NerineArcticMermaid]

Old rant but UGH!

So yet another mermaid has surfaced with a name waaay to similar to mine ugh!!! UGh! uGH! Uuuuuggggggghhhh!

Ok done

Thanks

[Mermaid Kelda]

I think that's an issue you're always going to face when you go by a pre-existing name. Unless you make it up yourself, there's always the chance of people turning up with the same name.
But yeah it's a bit confusing that there's another Nerine, and a Nerin, Nerinae, and Nerenia... I always check member lists before I sign up to a site to make sure I'm not treading on anyone's toes.

[NerineArcticMermaid]

Well thats the thing. When i did my search on names in 2009. no Nerines came up. In fact i found the name nereides. changed it up and came up with nerine. Its frustrating right now becasue im in middle of LLC paperwork and having similar names running around is complecating things

If they could change the spelling a bit more... since some are only one letter off.. it would be helpful ya know...

Oh well.. my tax lady will figure it all out for me I hope

[Mermaid Kelda]

Yeah when it comes to businesses it gets more complicated. Well, if you establish yourself as Nerine professionally, then at least you'll have gotten there first if anyone else decides to do the same, haha.
I didn't make my name up, it's originally the name of a Greek naiad (the freshwater versions of nereids!) so I don't really own it, haha. Hopefully when I do turn my mermaiding into a business, no one else will have thought of the same name!

[Kanti]

Yea I think of it like celebrities.
Like how there can't just be another Katy Perry running around or she'll directly compete with the first one and shit will get complicated. I think some people on this forum don't realize it much because to them it's not a business name, it's just a name they thought was cool and wanted to be called by. A lot of our members are just people who are trying to have fun, not necessarily make the name into a professional thing. I think all the people who are concerned with making themselves into a business are the ones looking for original names?

[Mermaid Stark]

Youre not better off dead! Don't say that! There are probably so many people that care about you! Don't feel like its the end! Remember that everyone on mernetwork cares as well! Find something you really love to do. Its figure skating for me. It really helped me get through a tough time when I lost all my friends. Talk to your parent(s), they always make me feel better. Maybe videochat with your friends from the US! Don't cut yourself please its not worth it. Maybe do a volunteer project! Even go pick up trash on the streets. Seriously, you've go your whole life ahead of you. Think of the future. Whenever I'm bored I look at colleges lol. Really talk to your parents and tell them how you feel. Tell them you WANT to go to school, and tell them how alone you feel. I'm sure they'll understand and enroll you! Another thing to do is read! I know it sounds corny, but you can go anywhere in a book. I like Henry David Thoreau if you'd like something a bit challenging to read (it is for me). And maybe hang out a library. Librarians are super nice! :) Feel free to PM me if you need to talk!! I try to be on every day but ive got so much homework to do!

Thanks, this helped! The funny thing is, I'm a former competitive figure skater. I started when I was 4 (now I'm 13) and was working on my double axel (landed it a couple times too) when I realized that I really didn't care for the jumps. Dance is a lot more social, but that doesn't really seem to matter, because the girls are all b*tches.
But yeah, I'm gonna try that stuff. Thanks for the support guys!

[Mermaid Stark]

Ok, here's my rant. I was at the dance studio and we had just finished an hour and a half class. We were all tired and worn out because our teacher killed us with jumps today (I was the only one who could actually still jump at the end thanks to skating), but we still had a jazz class to go to. Now, I have a friend in this class named Alexa, and I think we were pretty much only friends because she was from Miami and was easy to talk to because she spoke English. So when we were in the dressing room, I was calmly putting my jazz shoes on when she comes up to me and starts saying a lot of things really fast, and after I just say "Yeah, great." and she (for some reason) takes it in offense and says "Why are you being like this?", so I say "Like what?", and she gives me this look and walks over to her friend, Lucie, and they both look at me and start talking. I KNOW that they were talking about me. You just get this feeling when someone is.
So, I got a bit angry, because first of all, the reason why I was "being like that" was because I was really tired and hungry. I had no grudge on her or anything! And secondly because, you don't just walk up to someone and start talking about the girl that you were talking to before RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER. It's rude to do that in the first place, but right in front of me? Really? Nice.
So after, I'm sitting on these mats outside of the room that we have jazz in waiting for the class to start, and Lucie sits down next to me. We're ok friends I guess. She's always talking to Alexa though. Lucie starts talking to me about the previous class, and after a while, I ask her "Were you and Alexa talking about me?", and she goes silent and looks down at the floor. So, now I know that they were talking about me for sure. Then I explain to her that I'm not mad at Alexa, and that I'm just really tired and hungry. A bit later, Alexa walks up. I say "Hey, Alexa, it's kind of rude to assume that someone is mad at you and then talk about her to another girl right in front of her." And she says, "Well, you're being a b*tch." So there I am with my mouth open, just processing what she just said. I say "Excuse me?" and she said "Yeah, that's right. You're being a b*tch." I say "I am tired and hungry. That's the reason why I didn't feel like talking to you." And she gets up, glares at me, and walks away.

You know, if I had a burn book, than Alexa would have just earned herself a spot. You think that someone is your friend, and then they call you a b*tch for being tired and hungry and not wanting to talk. Gosh.

[Mermaid Nerinae]

Old rant but UGH!

So yet another mermaid has surfaced with a name waaay to similar to mine ugh!!! UGh! uGH! Uuuuuggggggghhhh!

Ok done

Thanks

I've also got a "Ner" name.
Just saying, Nerine, I didn't know about any other usernames like mine or yours. I just thought that my username sounded cool. Not all ideas are going to be 100% original, it's just impossible. I also agree with what Kanti said, it's not like a professional business name. I just thought my username sounded cool in my head and I went with it.

It's unfortunate, I guess, but it shouldn't be something to get upset about, and I certainly wouldn't go into business with my username, now knowing that you are going into business with your name. I wouldn't want to conflict. :>

--
Just to add, a little bit about the thought process when coming up with my name to hopefully clear up any doubts about my origins:
1. Nereids
2. I've always liked N (Nicole, Nadie, Natalie, etc.) and -ae names (Danae, Fae, Desirae, or: Namine from Kingdom Hearts, I always felt, had such a pretty name)
3. I like how three-syllabled names roll off the tongue
4. "Nerinae" is born.

[Merman Dan]

Welcome to the internet... I have used "Aeolius" since 1985, when I set up my first AOL (AppleLink:PE back then) account. That being said, the Aeolius on YouTube, Skype, Yahoo, and countless other sites is not me.


I've always liked... -ae names...
Seconded. :)

[Mermaid Octavia]

Apparently "Octavia" is a My Little Pony (that I didn't know about - now I have to look her up!) but I chose it because I was born in October, love octopi and I thought it sounded regal. Things happen. There's very likely always going to be someone out there with the same or similar username as someone else.

[Lotus]

totally not name related, but- My younger two daughters (4 and 2) have been on the war path (together and apart) for about a month now and it's making me fraking crazy. I know they're just kids and going thru normal things. But it's still HIGHLY irritating.

[Kanti]

@Nerinae - yea I assume not everyone is going to turn themselves into a business and honestly while your name is very similar it's different to an extent, so unless people don't know how to spell Nerine properly your name shouldn't pop up at all when searching it.

@Octavia - haha yea I totally though MLP xD

[Mermaid Bella]

ok, my turn for a rant >_>

so, when i was in high school, i had two friends that i cared about very much, we were inseparable as we were the only people into sci fi and anime and cosplay.
when i left high school early they decided to abandon the friendship and become quite rude and disrespectful toward me. i never had an explanation, never had anything.

so after alot of going back and forth, i decided to reach out to one of them, she has a facebook fan page and i decided to like her page and send her a message. from what i saw of her page she seemed to have matured quite a bit and gotten over herself.

so i sent a short and sweet message, asking how she was.

she didnt come online for a while (from what i could tell, as her fan page had no updates and her personal page is set to private) so i waited and waited, hoping she would at least send me something back saying hi, if for nothing else to keep her number up on her fan page, as i know she is desperate for likes.

then i log on last night and see she has updated her fan page, yet no message back and no confirmation on my pending friend request. usually i would be devastated and spend hours making up excuses for her; she was busy, she didnt notice, she updated from a mobile and didnt see the request or message, and leave the message and request hanging for days on end. but last night i was quite drunk, messaged my friend who was staying in my spare room, told her that this girl was a skragg and she could go to hell. i then proceeded to unlike her page and cancel the friend request. i didnt send a message to her telling her to grow the F%#^ up, mostly because, it's not like she would ever respond.

waking up this morning, i reflected on the situation and i became very angry. exactly what had i done to this girl that was so offensive it wasnt a case of us drifting apart, she and the other friend actively spread rumors about me and basically trash talked about me to everyone who would listen. i extended a friendly gesture and clearly she is still back in high school, being an immature cow. im seriously considering sending her that message, getting it all out there, i feel like i might have held back so i could try again in a few years, or if i ran into her at a convention we could get chatting again that way. clearly i'm overly obsessed with my life from way back, as i keep stalking this nasty excuse for a human being. but as many people will know, and even more wont, it is so very hard to let go of someone you cared about, without the accommodating hatred that comes from that person being a partner or husband/wife. i'm left with nothing but uncertainty and emptiness.



this brings me to another situation. very similar.

i worked with two girls last year who i felt were very close friends, one of them was asleep in my spare room last night. the three of us had a great time, we laughed and chatted all night on more than one occasion.

while we still worked together the other friend was in a bind for money, her sister had borrowed $100 from her to scrape by until pay day, as this family very often does, but when pay day came, she didnt pay her back, she spent the money at the pokies (coin slots) and this friend needed the money for groceries and such. well i put my hand up and offered her some money to help out, i had a little saved up and i dont have children so it was not desperately needed. she was very grateful and paid me back three days later.

spin forward to late last year, i had a new job that payed a little more than the last one and she was in a bind again, this time she forgot her car registration was due and she was short, so, knowing that she was reliable i lent her money again, $300 this time. she was so grateful again and promised to get it back to me as soon as she could. time went on and no money was repaid, she messaged me on facebook often to let me know that she was doing her best to budget so she could pay me back, and i was fine with that, i didnt need the money desperately and she made sure i was always aware of what was going on.

then i lost my job, i was injured and unable to do my work anymore so they let me go. understandable. all of a sudden i needed that money, desperately.
she sent me a message when she found out, saying that she had better get off her butt and pay me the hell back, we chuckled and i said 'yes that would be great'

then nothing.
more nothing.
more nothing.

christmas last year rolled around and she put on facebook that she had bought herself and her husband iphone5's for presents, and each of her kids got an ipod touch.

by now this friend had stopped responding to my messages of 'how are you' on facebook, and stopped inviting me out when she had friends over. she would invite my other friend over and never drop me a line.

last week she put a message up saying that her and her husband just deposited the first amount into an account so they can buy a house.

last night was her birthday, and today she is having drinks out. not only did she not invite me, but she didnt bother to hide her plans.

every time i try to message her, either one of her kids have her phone so i cant talk to her, or she is pretending to be one of her kids.

im really sick of this crap. do i repel people or something?

[SeaGlass Siren]

It just happens and people drift because people change. Maybe for the better. If they're treating you like this now then they were never really friends were they? Just something to consider. It sucks but you deserve better. Find some new friends?

[telzey.amberdon]

Friends, money - oil, water. They do not mix, you get a spill.

[Mermaid_Aurora]

That's why I never lend anyone money. I will buy someone a gift occasionally, but I won't lend them money. I have never, ever been paid back whenever I have lent money to someone, so I simply don't trust people enough to pay me back anymore. A little selfish yeah, but I simply can no longer stomach it x.x I might be a bit less stingy if I had more money, myself.

[Dacora]

I hate to sound like a normal teen but, I cant wait to move out. I am so sick of putting up with all of the bull*hit drama here. So long story short I go to a private school and I am about to finish school and my grandfather pays for my and my little bros school. Well my principle says that he missed a payment. She has sent late notices and has been really nice about it but every time he gets a late notice he gets upset at me. Well one day I called him on the phone while at school so he could come talk to her. They could hear him and my aunt(which its none of her bizz anyways) yelling at me on the phone through the wall. So she prints off a bunch of info for me to give to him. I get home,give it to him and tell him he needs to go talk to her and I am not doing anything but my school work now. He needs to take care of it. He gets upset and starts telling me what he has and I tell him I dont care just fix it, if it does not get fixed I dont get my diploma.
So today I go to remind him he needs to go and talk to her. "Im so sick of this and having togo down and pull her head out of her ass". I told him stop, I dont wanna hear it. You are alwaysing telling me to be nice and act like a Christian and dont cuss. "Well what about you?" I dont go around preaching to people about it then start doing it myself. I love you and I respect you but Im jut sick of hearing it. Then my Aunt yells at me saying well he is tired of your shit and I tell her well then he needs to tell me not you. "Well I am telling you for him" and I said dont worry I will be moving out of here as soon as I can. I slammed the door and took off.
I get stuff like this from my mom already I dont need anymore. Its part of the reson I spend Friday-Tuesday at my boyfriends house.
Maybe I am just causing issues,idk anymore I am just sick of my tummy hurting when I leave my BFs house caz I dont wanna come back. I know what happens when I am here and to be honest, this does not even feel like a home to me anymore.

[SeaGlass Siren]

It happens... Are you able to pay it yourself?

[Dacora]

If I could I would be more than happy to but I dont get paid enough to make the payments. If he does not decide to pay I might have to find a second job or ask if my parents can split it with me.

[SeaGlass Siren]

i hope all goes well for you dac :( :hugs:

[Taniira]

Monofin exchange woes with scubastore.com/TradeInn retailers.

After hours and hours of research trying to find someone else to order it from (since their only US shipping option costs almost as much as the monofin itself) and only finding options that were upwards of US$180, I ordered from scubastore.com. I tried a ton of times to order and it kept rejecting my paypal/card (not their fault -- turns out my bank had never updated my address when I moved though I told them the new one), so finally had my boyfriend order it for me to the tune of just over US$100.

I ordered a pink Hydra, since the clear was out of stock and they couldn't tell me when it would be back in. I got it on a Thursday (though DHL delivered it to the unit next door, and after minor freaking out about where it was I figured it out), and when I opened it in all of my excitement I found I had a coral Triton (a smaller size). However, them being in Spain, they were already closed. Friday Scapey, the b/f, called since he paid and I can't call internationally, and got them to agree to send DHL to pick it back up on their dime and they told him that they would send out the correct one as soon as they had confirmation that DHL had it. DHL got it Friday (after the company was closed), so I expected my new and correct monofin would go out Monday (the 15th).

On Tuesday the 16th the b/f called again to confirm it went out, and they now said they weren't sending it until they got the old one back. He argued with them until they said they would send it, except they were then out of stock of all Hydras. Their website said 5 days, so I figured that it would go out by the end of last week, but it still hasn't gone out as of today. The b/f was told it would be up to 2 weeks, and this upcoming Tuesday marks 2 weeks.

I can't believe they didn't hold aside the monofin they knew they had to send to me that I paid for already and that they still had in stock on that Friday when they were alerted that they sent me the wrong one. It's a time-sensitive order, which is why I went for the pink (being in stock) and didn't wait for the clear. Scapey's going to call them again and see if they can guarantee that I'll have it by next Friday, otherwise we'll just get a refund and I'll have to pick a different brand/fin -- but . The next cheapest option I can find for the Hydra is going to be in the range of $150-200, and I might as well order a better one for that.

[NerineArcticMermaid]

Do you have to have the hydra?

Ive found customer service with Finis on thier fins has been wonderful. Even had free replacement straps several time when I got a few from a bad batch.

[Taniira]

I really didn't want a Finis. I don't like how the have the ridges. I may just be stuck with it since I'm in such a time crunch.

Update: Their "I would have it two weeks" was a lie. They're not coming in until Fri May 3 and so can't even ship out until the 6th.

[Thalassa]

This is a really ridiculous rant: but I'm going to EXPLODE! My tail is finally HERE, my students have gone home and I've done all my prep work, but I'm not technically supposed to go home for another hour and 20 minutes! I want to go get my tail! I seriously can not sit still, I'm so excited.

Maybe I'll go organize my class library. Or clean out my cupboards. Or something. *wriggles*

[MerEmma]

OMG. THALASSA. I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU.
So so so sucks that you had to wait knowing it was home...you've probably left by now though! PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES!!

[Thalassa]

Lol, nope I'm still at work. :-(

[MerEmma]

Omg, that's just so...distressing. When do you go home?

[Mermaid Octavia]

It's not really a complaint but... My cat of 19 years died today of kidney failure. I'm doing my best to remember him during the good times and not the bad. He was my best friend for nineteen years, since I was seven years old. I really miss my little guy but I have to think positively.

[Mermaid Pickles]

On a pet note: my foster doggy has cancer. T^T Poor little pup.....She's such a sweetie, too.
And WAAAH. Poor kitty....he had a very long life, though. I'm sure it was a good one.

[Thalassa]

Aww! *hugs both* It's so sad when pets are ill! I'm so sorry.

In other news, I'm sorta upset with myself because I forgot to drink water while working on our Ren Faire site and gave myself heatstroke. Literally, headache, tingling hands and feet, shaking hands and feet, dizziness, nausea...the works. It was NOT a fun experience, especially since I was a 50 minute drive from home. Here's hoping I never forget to drink water again!

[MerMar]

And it's very embarrassing!


I've very very low blood pressure. My GP says it's great that I shouldn't be worried about it. I'm not worried about it at all. I'm worry of forgetting drink enough water when I'm in a hot place, or busy working and then faint. I can hear what people said!! and yepa I eat enough sweets and food.... and no no no I haven't drink too much ... I just finished a 5 hours exams in June in Madrid without air-conditioner and the party was over for me before even start it!

[mermaid_nixie]

I get really angry when people say things like "a man wouldn't want a steak with no meat on it so why would he want a woman with none?" I understand there's a lot of pressure on woman to be thin, but all of these things are incredibly insulting to thin women!! I'm underweight because of my health and metabolism, it's not something I can help!

[Mermaid Stark]

Ugh, so I woke up this morning, was just sipping some coffee and chilling out when my mom came home and asked me what I was doing. I told her and she immediately started yelling at me! Now, I am behind on schoolwork, but I know that I'll be able to finish in time for summer. But my mom completely freaked out and started yelling at me because I wasn't doing schoolwork first thing in the morning. I mean, can't I just wake up first? Geez! It's like she has no confidence in me what-so-ever! I am very sure that I will be finished, but she is just freaking out! It's not like it's her problem! I mean, sure, she payed for school (actually my dad did), and if I don't finish in time, I'll pay for the extra time that it'll take to finish it and she knows that, so I don't see the big deal! And it's not like I'm a terrible student too. I'm actually an honor student! My grades are nothing below 90% EVER.
Just... RAAAH! I can't take it! I love my mom, but she can be pretty b*tchy sometimes.

[Spindrift]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/82289517348bd14009b7b77341f46cc8/tumblr_mlw7mkmEYS1qjtsgko1_500.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/788ea72da5690ca04c1e202a3323aabb/tumblr_mlw7mkmEYS1qjtsgko2_500.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/56e98c86367e7dde4acf00a8e2551e5a/tumblr_mlw7mkmEYS1qjtsgko3_500.jpg

[SeaGlass Siren]

Whoa spindrift.. That was deep...

[Mermaid Allie]

I'm so mad. My friends with tails won't make a mermaid series with me, and they won't even give a reason why. They just say "I don't want to". And I'm 16 so this is like the last year I have to do this. UGH teenagers.

[MerEmma]

That they don't want to is a perfectly fine reason though. They don't have to and if they don't want to then try not to pressure them too badly. I completely sympathize and understand your irritation with them though, as you just want to share it with them. <3

[Mermaid Allie]

Yeah that just it :( but that's a good point meremma you're right. It's just that they had agreed to it earlier, then refused after getting my hopes up :((

[Mermaid Pickles]

Oooh. I know how that feels. Though, one of my friends is going to make a series, and now she's sayign I can't be in it, despite the fact that I'M making HER tail. Meh.

[Mermaid Allie]

Thats mean :( sometimes girls can be so exclusive its annoying and kind of hurtful. I wish we could do a series together! LOL

[Mermaid Pickles]

That'd be really cool, but one of would have to be able to teleport.... >< LOL. I'm not quite that magical.

[Ayla of Duluth]

Rant time for this mer.
My friend has a dog, a shihtzu poodle mix who's health has slowly been declining ever since him and his parents moved to Milwaukee from Duluth. This dog was the spunkiest, happiest dog I've ever seen in my life. She could sing and dance for you, she loved cuddles, and she loved to go for walks and all that.
They moved to milwaukee because they ran out of money completely, so now they're living in a friend's house while the friend is in china. No money means they can't take their sick dog to the vet. They did it once, she had a liver infection and antibiotics helped her get back on her feet. But now, my friend tells me the dog had what looked like a growth on her genitals, and her anus is swollen similarly. Their solution? take the dog out back and shoot it with a .22. I asked him if she had her anal glands drained recently, as this could be whats causing the swelling. He said she had, which then led me to believe that the area got irritated and is now infected. I plundered around google for a bit and came up with a few tips to help them at least try to solve the issue at home. soak her in an epsom salt bath, give her broccoli, carrots, and chicken, add a spoonful of canned punkin to her food to help soften her stool so she doesn't hold it in, become constipated, and exacerbate the situation, etc. So what does he do? feeds her fish antibiotics and his leftover strep medicine. This is the same guy who decided that it would be better to give his dog rum to get her drunk so it would hurt less pulling out the porcupine quills she got into one day instead of taking her to the vet. Part of me just wants to tell him to just shoot the damn thing to end her suffering because they're clearly not going to fight for her, and the other half of me thinks the dog is perfectly fine and just needs an actual loving home with people who can afford the medicine to help her live. She honestly has a good 5 or 6 years left in her. They've already gotten rid of 2 cats that belonged to the people who's house their staying in. The cat my friends family brought down with them didn't like the owners 2 cats so my friend's parents put one in a shelter and gave the other one away. I absolutely hate them for the way they treat their animals. Could they have enough money to take care of these animals? oh sure. if they didn't spend it on yacht club memberships, booze, and nights out at the pub.

Like I said, I gave my friend plenty of options for home remedies to try and see if he could help at least a little, and his response was "I'll pass along the advice" which in his terms means "Im saying this to get you off my back about this, we're probably just going to try getting her drunk again." I feel like I should call animal services and have them take her away, but she will most likely get put down before finding a new home. Also, if I called animal services on them, they'd know it was me because I'm the only one they told, and they know I'd call animal services on them if it meant their dog might have a chance at a better life.

Tl:dr my friend's family is a load of lazy useless shit who won't go get jobs to take care of their pets. they'd rather give them to shelters/shoot them in the backyard than take them to a vet they can't afford, and they won't take my advice on how to try and help to heart. i want to call animal services, but they'd know it was me, and i don't want the dog to get put down at a shelter waiting for a better family. THESE PEOPLE ARE HOPELESS. pisses me right the fuck off.

[MerMar]

Well maybe you should think about if you really want to be friend of such people. You know lots about how's the people by how they care about others, including their pets. I might misunderstanding something but I think they've money and know other better options, such charity vets. They just don't bother about it at all and are given the excuse of money.

Do you really think this people fits with you?

[MerEmma]

That's just so sad. I consider that to be animal abuse...I've got friends that treat their dogs really badly (in my own opinion of course) and it makes me so damn mad. >_< I don't have any advice though...just...ungh.

[Ayla of Duluth]

They have no money at all. They can barely afford to eat. If they saved up for a few weeks they'd have money for the vet, but they aren't capable of saving up. At all. Also there's no charity vets near them, they sold their car to pay for the first vet visit. They're good people aside from the whole animal cruelty part.

[ShyMer]

If you can't afford to take care of a pet properly, maybe you shouldn't have one...

I can understand your frustration. I dont know how you can get them involved exactly, but rescue groups often work with animal shelters. My mom in particular will take in poodle mixes if they come in.
If the dog is treatable i bet a rescue group would take her. Of course I'm not sure how you could work that out :/
It doesn't sound to me like their priorities are in the right place. They sold their car to pay for a vet visit, but now they'd rather spend their cash on alcohol than continuing to invest in their pet?

[Mermaid Pickles]

That's just so sad. I consider that to be animal abuse...I've got friends that treat their dogs really badly (in my own opinion of course) and it makes me so damn mad. >_< I don't have any advice though...just...ungh.
It IS animal abuse. I have a foster dog. My mom and the rescue program went over the whole "what is and isnt animal abuse". What thos epeople did would certainly count as animal abuse or at the very least, neglect.
Oh, and my poor foster dog has cancer. @^@

[Lotus]

I am getting more and more annoyed with people who come here and ask obvious questions, rather than taking five minutes to read up and find the answers themselves.

[Ashe]

^Gahhh same!!! Not all of the new mers on here do it, but I have seen it quite frequently over the past few weeks. Anyone who is reading this, please look through existing threads before you create a new one! >.<

[AniaR]

hahaha you're annoyed with that? I am annoyed with people constantly asking me if I make/sell tails when it says everywhere that I dont, I even put faq links on all my videos as a pop up now, and to even get to the "contact me" part of my website, people have to read it! I get 100's a week and they drive me bonkers @_@

[Spindrift]

If they really want one, they should figure it out on their own :(

[AniaR]

that's the thing, I get people asking on my videos I'LL DO ANYTHING TELL ME HOW TO FIND THE TAAAIL and it's literally SAID in the video, and linked in the video and linked in the description. I just ignore them now, haha. If they really wanna know they can take 2 seconds and read.

[MerGrrl]

Don't you teach reading? That must make it even more annoying for you!

[Ayla of Duluth]

You're assuming this generation can read, navigate the Internet, and have an attention span longer than a dog.

[Mermaid Varshana]

Annoyance #1: Lack of money is the root of alllll evil. I hate being a grownup sometimes.

Annoyance #2: People here can't be bothered to befriend new people. Being almost 29 and an undergrad means you're surrounded by 20 year olds who live 2 minutes from each other at school, so they aren't really your peers. I've lived in Akron, OH for almost 2 years, and I can now say, outside of my husband, that I have maaayyyybe one friend. But he's a probably schizophrenic who thinks he sees demons and swears he's met Satan. So there's that :sad eyes:

[SeaGlass Siren]

Haha I have very few friends as well :p but that's because I'm picky about my friends

[Mermaid Kelda]

You're assuming this generation can read, navigate the Internet, and have an attention span longer than a dog.
You're assuming it's only this generation that's the problem (and really, I don't think anyone can say kids can't navigate the internet. By the time they're 15 they know pretty much all there is to know about the internet).
To be honest most people I see who are illiterate etc are 40+. On my Facebook feed, the only poeple who talk lik this r poeple's aunties and unkles. Grandparents don't generally do it, if they're 60+. Seems to be those generations in the middle (e.g baby boomers) who maybe didn't get a great education? Though I don't know if that's different in the US.

[MerEmma]

Melaina, it's true. It's a mixture between pre teens and adults. I see on Raven's page constantly adult moms trying to get tails for less than $3k for a short 11 year old.

[Winged Mermaid]

I am getting more and more annoyed with people who come here and ask obvious questions, rather than taking five minutes to read up and find the answers themselves.

I use to answer everyone, even if they did this. Now I just link them to the tail making references and tell them to read through the material before they post again. Feel free to do the same. There's info everywhere on this site, but people have to actually read through it to learn. And apparently that does not compute with a lot of people somehow X_x

[Zephyr]

I hate when I'm working in the fitting rooms, and people get pissy because they and their friends have to be in separate stalls. One time, a mother who was in her forties came in with her pre-teen daughter and got mad at me because I told themthey couldn't be in the same fitting room. She said, in a bratty valley-girl teen voice, "What-everrrrr!" as she was walking away from me. (This came after she gave me her meanest glare possible.) I leaned around the corner and said, "Thank you for your cooperation!" and she just scoffed at me. When she and her daughter came back out she just glared at me and refused to say anything. I also hate when people get offended because they can't wear their soon-to-be purchase to the register. That may work in shoe stores, but it's different in a clothing store. I'm sorry that I'm inconveniencing you so I can prevent our stuff from being stolen (and keep my job). :violin:

[Azurin Luna]

I hate it when people are trying to get in the train when people are still getting out. I once had to protect a grandma from being overrun by a few students because they couldn't wait a few seconds longer.

[MerMar]

Indeed! and when you're walking on street, they come towards you and pretend to not see you're there. What people think I suppose to do? Jump over their heads? disappear?

[Azurin Luna]

I always say to them that I'm not a ghost, so you can see were I'm walking and not try to walk through me

[Mermaid Stark]

I hate it when you have the best dream of your life and then your mom wakes you up from it. :mad:

[Mermaid Stark]

Kakarotte: Annoyance #1 reminded me of this!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPi2s1K_pgU

[Mermaid Varshana]

BAHAHAHA!!!! I love that video. There are lots of things you can do as an adult that you couldn't before - like save up an spend $1200 on a mermaid tail without getting bitched out by your parents, who you don't live with anymore and only speak with when you want to. Buuutttt...when you get your third "civil liability" ticket because your license plate got scanned while you were going 30 in another unmarked school zone, and then the battery in your husbands car dies...yeah, I hate being a grown up.

[Mermaid Varshana]

Another annoyance...Does anyone have one or more of those friends that stay in a rut and don't seem to progress in life while everyone else is chugging right along? I have two of those right now. I just found out one of them, who's still living at home at 29, is still mooning over this really boring, racist, homophobic guy who she was in love with for about 13-15 years and used her for casual sex. I don't understand why grown adults can't learn. :headwall:

[SeaGlass Siren]

^ I'm soon to be married and till live with my pan rents and they don't want me to leave them :| even though they constantly gripe about how they want me to go wtf. Cannot make their minds??

[AniaR]

cankor sores. Screw them! I get loads of them as a result of my illness. Not to be confused with cold sores. I have had 12 in my mouth at once :( and because it's part of an illness, the usual ways of treating them does nothing. I've had to get my mouth frozen before to get some relief. They last for weeks and when the old ones heal, new ones grow. Hate it soooo much. I have 4 right now :(

[Mermaid Varshana]

I feel ya. I get them all the time...I think I inherited it from my mom. It can make being intimate with your special someone difficult, too :doh: I hope you feel better soon.

[Carolina Mermaid]

Ouch Raina

[Mer_Adella]

Ok I know that this is kinda my fault but the first photographer that I did a photoshoot with and they planned an event for me. I told them two months in advance I was going to Alabama and they drop the event date on me. I told them I couldnt come to it and they replaced me. I know I told them I couldn't do it but it still hurts

[Mer_Adella]

And for the fact that he said I was the only one they would work with in my hometown area. Apparently that wasn't truthful

[Mermaid Stark]

I've been asking myself, "who are my real friends?" lately, and I just need to let this all out.
I am 150% sure that Elena is my best friend of all times, but I have 3 friends here (in Switzerland) that I'm not so sure of.

Friend 1: I've known her for about two years now, and she's so much fun to be around. I swear, when we have sleepovers, we act like we're drunk! We're that comfortable around each other. We can relate to each other in so many different ways too! When I told her that I was a mermaid last summer (when I started making my first tail with Elena), she said that it was awesome! She actually even wanted a tail herself! (we never got to make it though, because fabrics are really expensive here.)
We can literally talk about anything together and feel comfortable about it. Even when we first met we were really comfortable around each other. After anything happens, she's the first one that I confront after any incidents (after Elena) and she just helps me feel better. I do the same for her as well.

Friend 2: I've known her for a year around September-October. She's from the dance studio and she's also fun to be around, but not as fun as friend 1. We're not as comfortable around each other and I get the feeling that she judges me a lot. When I told her that I was a mermaid in December before I got my Fish Butts tail, she looked at me funny and said, "Seriously? You're really weird.", and she didn't say it in a nice way either. I'm still not so sure how I feel about her yet. A couple weeks ago, we had this thing where I was really tired after class, and she was all happy and everything, and when she went to talk to me, I kind of gave her a half-assed answer. She said something like, "Geez, why are you acting like this?" and walked away. Next thing I know, she's talking to friend 3 and they're both looking at me and whispering! When I sit down with friend 3 before jazz class, I tell her about it just to clear up anything friend 2 said that might not be true. I just told her that I was feeling really tired and a bit hungry and I just didn't exactly feel like being super happy at the time. Then when friend 2 comes and sits down, I confront her and tell her that it's mean to talk about somebody to their other friend right in front of them when you really don't know what's wrong. She said, 'Well you were being a bitch.", I say, "Excuse me?", She says, "That's right.", and walks away.
After that I didn't talk to her for a while. The weirdest thing is that she acted like nothing was wrong in jazz class 5 minutes later! She never apologized or anything! She acted like nothing had ever even happened! Sure, you don't have to apologize. I mean, it's not like you could have hurt my freaking feelings or anything! Just act like nothing ever happened and it'll seem like it didn't!
About two weeks ago we started talking again. I'm still not sure I should have forgiven her, and I'm still not sure if I really have! And if that whole thing was going too far, how do I let her know that I don't want to be friends anymore? The problem is, she is practically best friends with friend 3, so I can't hang around friend 3 without having to hang with friend 2.

Friend 3: So I've know her for as long as friend 2, and she's a pretty good friend, though I feel like we're just friends because we both like the Hunger Games, and she's best friends with friend 2. She's really sweet and understanding, but also a bit immature like friend 2. I'm not sure how she feels about me being a mermaid since I've never really asked her, but I think she'd be ok with it.

So I'm really just not sure who my real friends are. Any opinions? It's making me really frustrated!
I really wish Elena were here with me! I miss her so much and this is just one of those things I need to talk to her about. Hopefully we'll be able to skype and talk about it sometime soon.

Oh, and also, when friends 2 and 3 and I are hanging out together, friends 2 and 3 are all over each other! It's really weird! They act like a couple or something! It also makes me feel excluded and not important.
I feel like I'm not exactly accepted in this dance class. I feel like the odd girl out or something. So if I ditch friends 2 and 3, I'm pretty much on my own.

[SeaGlass Siren]

I truly hate today. Dad won't shut up about the negativities of condo living even after 3 days ago I said I wasn't gonna move into one rcaude he made such a big fuss about it, mom won't stop complaining about noone helping her with chores even though I'm the only one helping her, younger sister is home all day and won't even lift a finger cuz she's damn lazy while I'm the one working full time and I have no time to Rest because I'm doing her share of her chores..., my work Internet is down so I can't finish my work by my deadline and I gotta work overtime wtf...


No rest and I'm angry.

[SeaGlass Siren]

So I'm basically loitering around usin 3G on my phone until the techs get my computer working. And after that I'm gonna be swamped because of this stupid Internet not working

[Mermaid Varshana]

Have you ever just collapsed after an exam and stared in awe at how incredibly difficult it was? I'm doing that over the Behavioral Neuroscience final now. I feel like a survivor :jawdrop:

[MerEmma]

I've been asking myself, "who are my real friends?" lately, and I just need to let this all out.
I am 150% sure that Elena is my best friend of all times, but I have 3 friends here (in Switzerland) that I'm not so sure of.

Friend 1: I've known her for about two years now, and she's so much fun to be around. I swear, when we have sleepovers, we act like we're drunk! We're that comfortable around each other. We can relate to each other in so many different ways too! When I told her that I was a mermaid last summer (when I started making my first tail with Elena), she said that it was awesome! She actually even wanted a tail herself! (we never got to make it though, because fabrics are really expensive here.)
We can literally talk about anything together and feel comfortable about it. Even when we first met we were really comfortable around each other. After anything happens, she's the first one that I confront after any incidents (after Elena) and she just helps me feel better. I do the same for her as well.

Friend 2: I've known her for a year around September-October. She's from the dance studio and she's also fun to be around, but not as fun as friend 1. We're not as comfortable around each other and I get the feeling that she judges me a lot. When I told her that I was a mermaid in December before I got my Fish Butts tail, she looked at me funny and said, "Seriously? You're really weird.", and she didn't say it in a nice way either. I'm still not so sure how I feel about her yet. A couple weeks ago, we had this thing where I was really tired after class, and she was all happy and everything, and when she went to talk to me, I kind of gave her a half-assed answer. She said something like, "Geez, why are you acting like this?" and walked away. Next thing I know, she's talking to friend 3 and they're both looking at me and whispering! When I sit down with friend 3 before jazz class, I tell her about it just to clear up anything friend 2 said that might not be true. I just told her that I was feeling really tired and a bit hungry and I just didn't exactly feel like being super happy at the time. Then when friend 2 comes and sits down, I confront her and tell her that it's mean to talk about somebody to their other friend right in front of them when you really don't know what's wrong. She said, 'Well you were being a bitch.", I say, "Excuse me?", She says, "That's right.", and walks away.
After that I didn't talk to her for a while. The weirdest thing is that she acted like nothing was wrong in jazz class 5 minutes later! She never apologized or anything! She acted like nothing had ever even happened! Sure, you don't have to apologize. I mean, it's not like you could have hurt my freaking feelings or anything! Just act like nothing ever happened and it'll seem like it didn't!
About two weeks ago we started talking again. I'm still not sure I should have forgiven her, and I'm still not sure if I really have! And if that whole thing was going too far, how do I let her know that I don't want to be friends anymore? The problem is, she is practically best friends with friend 3, so I can't hang around friend 3 without having to hang with friend 2.

Friend 3: So I've know her for as long as friend 2, and she's a pretty good friend, though I feel like we're just friends because we both like the Hunger Games, and she's best friends with friend 2. She's really sweet and understanding, but also a bit immature like friend 2. I'm not sure how she feels about me being a mermaid since I've never really asked her, but I think she'd be ok with it.

So I'm really just not sure who my real friends are. Any opinions? It's making me really frustrated!
I really wish Elena were here with me! I miss her so much and this is just one of those things I need to talk to her about. Hopefully we'll be able to skype and talk about it sometime soon.

Oh, and also, when friends 2 and 3 and I are hanging out together, friends 2 and 3 are all over each other! It's really weird! They act like a couple or something! It also makes me feel excluded and not important.
I feel like I'm not exactly accepted in this dance class. I feel like the odd girl out or something. So if I ditch friends 2 and 3, I'm pretty much on my own.

I don't have any advice besides this, which is what I use to gauge whether I consider someone a friend or just an acquaintance.
"Do you enjoy the time spent with them? Do you value their opinion, and do they value yours? Do you feel like you would miss them if you didn't see them for too long?" If you don't like the answers, then that'll tell you maybe a bit about it.

[Mermaid Varshana]

Actually, a more important addendum to that last question is, "Do you think they would miss you if you were gone for too long?"

Life's too short to keep buttheads around as friends. Do NOT be that person who only hangs around someone due to lack of any other options. I've seen where that leads. It's not pretty.

[Mermaid Stark]

Thanks you two! Now I remember that whenever friend 1 and I don't see each other for a week, we both text, IM, or chat on Facebook saying that we miss each other and we need to get together soon. With friend 2, I don't think she's ever told me that she misses me. I also think that I just hang out with her due to lack of other options.

Now here's the question; How do I let her know that without hurting her feelings? I'm very sensitive and understanding towards other people and I hate to hurt them. Do I just slowly talk to her less and less?

[Mermaid Stark]

Ok, this has been bothering me a lot for some reason.
On Youtube, I have seen numerous comments on videos saying things like, "This video is so gay!", or, "Your so gay!", and it's REALLY PISSING ME OFF.
First of all, it's "You're" as in "You are", not "Your" (possessive). Secondly, GAY IS NOT AN INSULT. It's a form of lifestyle. You do not know this person. You don't know their love interests. Yes, of course they could be gay, but it's not an insult. The internet has seemed to make it an insult when it's really not! It just really pisses me off for some reason.
Another thing; when people say that "this video is gay", "that shirt is gay", "those shoes are gay", it means NOTHING. And object cannot be gay. A video cannot be gay. Why? Because it has no gender. It has no lifestyle. It has no love interests. Therefore, it cannot be gay. By saying any of these "insults", you are not insulting the person at all. You are just embarrassing yourself.
So please, if you really feel the need to insult somebody for no reason, say something actually insulting. Or, better yet, don't say anything at all!

[SeaGlass Siren]

Society uses the term gay as another word for stupid... Which is stupid and they are stupid

[Mermaid Stark]

Society is really stupid. I feel like it shouldn't exist.