B!TC# IT OUT!

[Echidna]

If he won't move and your parents are no help, it's time to sock away enough money to move the f*** out. ASAP.

this!
such a situation puts far too much stress on you, it's unhealthy in the long run.

if you cannot move out on your own just yet, maybe you have other relatives where you could go live for a while instead?
at any rate, if a sibling goes on about how he hates you and does retarded stuff at an age of over 18, it's pretty clear it won't get better in the future.

I'm really sorry you are in such a shitty situation and your parents are no help.
(I'd expect them to throw him out with such behaviour.)

[BlueMermaid]

Dogs can eat vegan. My dogs do, and they are very healthy. One of my dogs is a little too healthy, if you know what I mean...lol Seriously tho, it's even helped some dogs with some serious allergies and medical conditions. My cat is not vegan, because cat's are not able to be. Personally I could go on a rant about how unhealthy conventional dog and cat food is, and how that is killing them. But most people think it's better to feed their dogs a bunch of garbage and chemicals than vegan health food, so I don't bother.

Okay, now time for my little rant:
I can't stand when Vegans feed their dogs or cats an all vegan diet! these animals need meat! and then they go all over the internet telling other people that they can give their dogs and cats an all vegan diet. Like seriously, if you want a vegan animal get a freaking herbivore! Stop torturing these poor animals for your own ideas of what they should and shouldn't be eating.

[AniaR]

it has a lot to do with the dogs breed from what I have read. And yeah I've also read that conventional dog food is shit! my stepmom has always made food for our dogs.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

When I had a dog, I used to feed it leftover rice, vegies, meats and pork bones.

Basically, she ate we we ate. She wasn't a fan of soup though.

[Jeblily]

Had to comment about the dog diets...
Dogs are technically obligate carnivores which should make there diets similar to cats but they aren't. The difference between dogs and their ancestral wolves is that dogs have more copies of the AMY1 gene which allows the dog to produce enzymes to break down carbohydrates. Depending on the dog breed they may have more or less of these copies, therefore some dogs may be able to survive and even thrive on a vegan diet, others cannot. I find it is best to allow dogs to have access to multiple food types to get the nutrients they need. I offer Lily , my dog, a high protein dog jerky, a dry food, vegetables and fruits, as well as rice and fresh meats. The most important thing for dogs is variety without upsetting their stomachs. Nutrient deficiencies develop when they are fed the same foods, this is REALLY important when feeding vegan diets to dogs because you have to get creative to get certain proteins and vitamins in their diet. Most importantly I hate how today dog foods are marketed to be the only things that dogs can eat and how fresh "human" foods cannot be given to them. If you would not eat your dogs food based on quality, taste aside, don't feed it!!! You have to be careful because dogs do have certain nutritional values that have to be met so feeding them scraps of what you eat every day will not work, but fresh foods are great and consult your vet when you are unsure about what to feed!

[MerEmma]

We have three dogs that we feed grain free dog food and a lot of table scraps. We feel like that's the best for them, and the food is pretty expensive but definitely worth it. Two of them have issues with their anal glands (lol) and we noticed by switching they needed vet visits far less often. When you think about it, how often would a dog eat grains in the wild? Not much!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

My dog never had scraps!

We always cooked an extra serving of everything, except seafood, she didn't like those, just for Patches.

[Mizuko]

The dog we have been looking after (the house-owner left her here...) is gluten intolerant, like me! haha! So she gets fresh food/meat, my leftovers, and wheat-free dog food. Like most omnivorous creatures, a varied diet is best in my opinion!

[Starfrit]

Had a robbery at my store tonight while I was working alone. It was only minor-- Just a case of beer taken and the guy didn't threaten to hurt me or anything, but I'm still really shaken up by it.

I was doing the shift-change around 10PM (switching the registers over to the overnight shift for when Overnight Guy showed up at 11) when I noticed this guy walking over to the shop from the direction of the trailer park, and by his weird behavior as he crossed the parking lot I assumed he'd already had a few drinks. Sure enough he walks in, makes his way to the beer cooler in the back, asking me all kinds of questions about when we closed (we're 24 hours so we never close), what time we stop selling beer (by law we have to stop at 2AM), etc... He grabs an 8-case of Budweiser cans and comes up to the cash, and tries to hand me a $100 bill to pay for it.

Bear in mind, we only keep $100 in the tills at any given time, and the beer came to <$20. I explain to him that because of store policy, I'm not allowed to take $100s and the most I'd be able to take is a $50. The guy starts getting really irate, insisting that all he has in a $100. I tell him, sorry, I can't do it, you'll have to come back with something else.

He started cursing and swearing and yelling, and well... That was bad enough. Due to my severe anxiety and a troubled childhood, I don't react well to people yelling at me, so I was already starting to turn into a nervous wreck, telling him "Sorry, I can't do it, it's against store policy, I'm sorry."

So then he started yelling and cursing more and says, "So what you're f--kin' sayin' is, I can just take this, right? 'Cause you're too f--kin' stupid to take my f--kin' money, so I can just take it."

I explained to him that no, that's stealing. He picked it up before I could think to grab it and started going towards the door saying, "No, that's what you're f--kin' sayin' though, is I can take it."

I'll admit, I lost my cool there, and ended up screeching "EXCUSE ME GET THE F--K BACK HERE" as he was storming out the door, to which he told me "FUCK OFF, C**T" and made his way across the parking lot and back the way he came.

I called my manager and explained what happened, and asked if I should call the police (turned out it was pointless, because the guy didn't threaten me and it was just a case of beer, the police wouldn't have done anything anyway). I was in such a state and so shaken up by it that I started sobbing over the phone, which had him really concerned. I have problems with how the store is run, and me working by myself at night has been an issue since I started working at this location-- my manager knows, and he's been doing what he can to get more people on with me, but unfortunately his boss and corporate have been getting on his case about the added hours so there are still some nights every week where it's just me.

The whole thing sent me into a full-blown panic attack for pretty much the rest of my shift (which, I guess if I wanted to look at it from a somewhat optimistic angle, was "only" another hour), and it sucked trying to deal with that and serve customers that came in after that at the same time. Thankfully the rest of the customers were really great about it, and a few stuck around to try and cheer me up until my boyfriend showed up after I texted him about what happened.

Even when I got home I couldn't stop crying about it... It's going on 4AM now as I'm writing this and I still keep breaking down over it. My anxiety is still through the freaking roof right and I'm... I'm not sure if "Scared" is the right word for it...? But basically, I'm worried about going to bed, because at least when I'm at the computer I have something that can distract me, mermaid pictures and music and such, and I'm worried that if I curl up in bed and try to sleep now, I'm just gonna end up spending all night lying there thinking about it and end up feeling worse. Every time I think about going to bed it all just comes back and I get that knot in my stomach and the lump in my throat. I'm probably going to be up and lurking around the forums for a few more hours, or until I just fall asleep from sheer exhaustion. Wouldn't be the first time.

I think what's making it worse is the fact that I keep thinking about all the ways that it could have been worse... He was obviously drunk, what if he'd turned violent? What if he'd had a freaking WEAPON?! I'm 5'2", 100-and-shit-all-lbs and an earthworm has more spine than me, what the hell am I supposed to do if something like that escalates when I'm there by myself?

Thankfully, I had tomorrow (today?) and Thursday off on my schedule anyway, so I don't have to deal with being at the store until Friday night, when I know there'll be somebody scheduled with me. I spent some time tonight updating my resume, and I'm probably going to start job-hunting tomorrow... I'm going to talk to my boss about this working-alone thing and see what can be done about it, but... I don't know. I've been sort of pushed to the limit with this job as it is, but now I'm really thinking I might need to seriously work on getting the hell out of it, if only because-- and maybe this is just the current anxiety spike talking-- I really am genuinely fearing for my safety.

[Mermaid Wesley]

*big hugs*


Sent from my shellphone using Tapatalk

[Nicky-Katz]

You've been really brave there, Tieri!

All I can tell is... your boss is a terrible person (Ok, that's a bit overhead), but making people work at night alone is threatening those people to all the possible risks...

It's a good idea to talk about it with your manager and the boss, but it's also not a bad thing to look for a job, where you wouldn't have to work alone.

All the best to you!

[Mermaid Tula]

So I have an issue. I've noticed this not just once, not twice, not even just three times. I've seen it so many times. This isn't just happening tome, I see it happening to other mermaids too.

This issue is that of a certain kind of theft. More like ripping off.

I've posted several things here on Mernetwork and on my facebook page. Things like jewelry, things like my seashell mask, things like my resin necklace tails. I post these because yes, I'm trying to show off to everyone, and yes I'm trying to sell it to help support myself and my family.
I have people say "Oh that's so cool!" and "If I had the money I'd buy one in a heart beat." Then that's the last I hear. I get likes, and that's about it.
Then after a while, I look at some other mer's pages, and lo and behold, what do I see? Products being sold that look very much like the ones I've made, (or other mer's have made) usually for cheaper.
I'm just so frustrated because I'm trying to build up my business, and all my ideas that I post are getting ripped off. I'm pissed, I'm upset, and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm borderline debating on just dropping everything and saying fuck it all. I'm not going to, because I'm stupid and want to keep trying.

[AniaR]

sadly our mer-community is full of people who have no problem ripping each other off. I found a few knock off versions of my book name "fishy business" being used for other mermaid stuff by people who clearly know about it. it is aggravating for sure but they'll never be as awesome as the originals

[Mermaid Tula]

That sucks Raina! I agree, the originals are best! <3

[BlueMermaid]

It kinda sucks but there is nothing you can really do about it. I learned that early on when I started making mermaid fluke necklaces. Now everyone makes them! It's just something you have to accept will happen. I have 2 new inventions I'm going to be selling soon, and I know other people will start making them, I'm prepared for it. Heck the will probably make them better than I do! haha

Also I used to be part of a online sculpting group, and I've seen it happen where 2 or more people had the same idea at the same time, and they all made them at the same time, and at first it appears they copied, but they actually had no idea that another person had done the same things.

So I have an issue. I've noticed this not just once, not twice, not even just three times. I've seen it so many times. This isn't just happening tome, I see it happening to other mermaids too.

This issue is that of a certain kind of theft. More like ripping off.

I've posted several things here on Mernetwork and on my facebook page. Things like jewelry, things like my seashell mask, things like my resin necklace tails. I post these because yes, I'm trying to show off to everyone, and yes I'm trying to sell it to help support myself and my family.
I have people say "Oh that's so cool!" and "If I had the money I'd buy one in a heart beat." Then that's the last I hear. I get likes, and that's about it.
Then after a while, I look at some other mer's pages, and lo and behold, what do I see? Products being sold that look very much like the ones I've made, (or other mer's have made) usually for cheaper.
I'm just so frustrated because I'm trying to build up my business, and all my ideas that I post are getting ripped off. I'm pissed, I'm upset, and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm borderline debating on just dropping everything and saying fuck it all. I'm not going to, because I'm stupid and want to keep trying.

[Aziara]

^A little thing I like to call 'convergent evolution of ideas'. It happens a lot. Like when I planned my wedding: I used things that suddenly came into vogue right before my wedding--I came up with the ideas before they became popular, then it looked like I was just going with the 'popular' stuff. I didn't really care that much though, I was just doing stuff that I thought was pretty.

[PearlieMae]

Convergent evolution of ideas is a great way to describe it. There are only so many ways to do something and we all appropriate...I defy anyone to go through a productive day and not do or say something that hasn't been done before.

Raina, I'm sorry that others are using "fishy business" in relation to mermaiding, that's an obvious rip off, but the term "fishy business" has been in the vernacular for decades. Your usage actually turns the phrase on its ear and turns it into a positive.

Everyone IS making mini flukes nowadays, and you see them all over the internet. I made my first mermaid mini fluke necklace in 1975 and sold them at craft fairs. I've developed and created things with no reference only to find someone else has been manufacturing virtually the same thing for years. It happens.

The oldest known form of personal adornment, over 15,000 years old, is a strand of shells, stained with oxidized minerals to color them red. THAT'S the original. Everything else since then is derivative and/or an extrapolation.

Design exclusivity and copyright are expensive and ultimately disappointing to pursue, especially now that the internet gives everyone access to the images of others' work from all over the world. You just have to keep plugging away and moving forward.

[Thalassa]

So, mini-rant: I am so stressed and tired trying to keep my kids afloat in my teaching job! Everything keeps changing, teachers aren't allowed any decision making and yet get blamed for everything that goes wrong. We are the front lines with the kids and parents, and the POLITICs! Oh, the politics that go on!

The last straw was this week. For reference: I teach 5th grade (10-11 year olds). A week ago I got a brand new student. We'll call him A. A just arrived from Mexico, and I mean JUST arrived. He doesn't speak any English, so I mustered up my best English Language Learner training and high school Spanish to try and help him. I made sure he had a fluent translator friend who was responsible and tried to help him know that his job right now was to get accustomed to the language around him (so he didn't have to stress about the schoolwork). Work that was absolutely necessary or that would help him fit in I translated into Spanish. From the very first, he refused to work and gave off an "I don't want to be here" attitude. I saw that he didn't even try to read my Spanish notes, and an alarm went off in my head. I tried researching how school worked where he came from so I could know what he was unfamiliar with in my classroom, and that helped a little.

I was trying to "talk" with him via Google Translate (yes, I know, but when you have no other way to communicate with a kid...) and noticed every time I typed something he'd look at it blankly. I'd have to read the Spanish version aloud before he showed a flicker of comprehension. This made me wonder more, so I asked him to draw a picture of his favorite futbol team and write telling me about them. He drew the picture, but refused to write even when told through a translator the exact words to write. Finally, he wrote "Mexico" spelling it M-E-I-A-O-U-O. I immediately thought, "this child doesn't know basic phonics in his own language!"

Now here's the thing: I talked with the English Language specialist at my school to find out what testing had been done and if she was seeing the same results, and she said they don't test the children coming in to see what they've learned in their native language! She said it didn't matter if he knew how to read and write in Spanish because he was starting over in English! That made me see red. As teachers we're told and required to assess up the WAZOO and accommodate everything under the sun, but they won't do a test to find out what point this child is at? I don't have the know-how to be able to test this child in Spanish, just who's supposed to find out where he is? Are we just supposed to let him flounder and suppose that when he's learned English he'll have caught up in everything else? The principal at my school said this was the first time in 10 years of teaching and admin that he'd ever seen something like this.

Long story short: I insisted he be tested in his native language and we found out he can't read or write or do basic math. He barely knows his alphabet. Imagine coming into a new place where you don't speak the language AND they're doing work YEARS above your level. How scary! They moved him to fourth grade to give him another year to catch up, but since he's ELL he doesn't qualify for any intensive services (that's reserved for the Special Ed kids with IEPs only). I feel so bad that he has to start over again, and frustrated that nobody thought to test him before placing him in a grade.

*sigh* And if you made it this far, you deserve a prize. :-)
EDIT: Maybe not so mini, lol.

[Winged Mermaid]

Wow, poor kid At least there are people like you that actually CARE about the kids, cause the system sure as heck doesn't -_-

[Winged Mermaid]

So.. just spent hours making a logo and then realized when I was done.. I used the wrong name. ..I used my shop old name, which wasn't available on Etsy.