Yeah, and those of us who are on the left and immunocompromised are fucked. I understand where you’re coming from, but this is a bad take.

Those are the five socialized by a particular author, but I’m certain it’s not all-inclusive.

However, I have found over time mine changed a bit based on what I felt I was missing. At this point, for receiving words of affirmation are first, quality time is probably second, and physical touch is also up there (not sex, just touch).

For expressing love, I found I default to gift giving and touch.

And borrowing on your imaginary numbers, there also used to be good stuff that cost $100 that now costs $200 and people assume it will be good because it used to be, but the brand has been enshittified so that $200 product now has the same shitty quality as today’s $10 product with a fancier label.

Oh wow… you got me reading about the history of McKay’s. I was familiar with the original Edward McKay’s store in North Carolina and knew they split into two brands at one point, but I didn’t realize the offshoot went to Chattanooga, or that it had expanded to Nashville. And I knew that Ed McKays closed a few years ago and opened as McKay’s in a new location, but I didn’t realize that was done as a part of a reintegration with the former offshoot of the brand. (Or maybe I knew that last part but had forgotten it.)

Anyway, thanks for inspiring me to learn a little more about the store! I miss the original location (it’s currently serving as a Spirit Halloween) and still need to visit the new site sometime!

Oh you think you sound like a commercial? Let me tell you a little more about my experience with it.

Solensia absolutely changed my cat’s life. It stopped the litter box issue, but it also turned her into a little kitten who got zoomies again.

We had a ramp to help her get on the bed, and at least once I watched her run up it and leap off the top of the ramp.

We moved into a new house about a year before starting the shots, and she basically only ever went to my office, the bedroom, and the couch—the three spaces I spent my time. After starting the shots, I found her all over the house, exploring. I also found her on top of furniture, and she hadn’t gotten up that high in years!

I think Solensia probably extended her life because of how much better she could move around. It definitely increased her enjoyment of life!

My vet had a clinic cat who was put on a clinical trial of Solensia, so the vet had over a year of experience with it before it was approved on the market. She told me how amazing the shots were, like finding the clinic cat on top of a filing cabinet that he’d never gotten on top of before. Her stories about it seemed unbelievable, but it lived up to everything she said.

So yeah, that’s more of a commercial, lol. I promise I was just a very happy customer, though.

My girl was doing this. We started her on Solensia for arthritis and it stopped immediately. Turns out it was hurting her to squat down.

So everyone else is talking about how yes, it is generally better (at least in the US). But what I think is missing is that once the hot water is there, there’s no reason to not use cooler water at the sink. The dishwasher isn’t pulling its water from the sink, but if the hot water makes it to the sink then it’ll make it to the dishwasher more effectively.

Potassium is often used because it buffers the sodium in a way that makes it easier on your stomach. For salt pills, I will only use Vitassium, but that does have potassium. Straight salt tablets are cheap, but they’ve made me extremely sick before.

As for mixes, whew, I have a long list of what I’ve tried! I’ll share the two brands I actively use, but I can dig up the review list of about a dozen things I sent a friend, if you want it.

LMNT is my favorite (1000 mg per 16–32 oz). (They have a referral program that will give a new customer a free sample pack and me a free box, so if you are interested and willing, I’d love to send you a link.) They have a lot of common flavors but have a lot of more unusual ones too. I know a number of people like their mango chili flavor because it’s different and not all sweet (I was not a fan). I actually love their chocolate one iced cold; sounds gross and not for everyone, but I’m glad I took my friend’s suggestion to try it!

IQ Mix is the other one I’m using (500 mg per 16 oz). I wanted a piña colada flavor, and it was the one I settled on. Their other flavors were fine, but I had my heart set on the one. It includes lion’s mane and some other things so it’s not for everyone, but I just like it for the sodium and flavor.

I’m more than happy to share more, but it might be overwhelming, lol.

I read the article. I “love” that she raises that there are some health conditions that require you to drink less water, but doesn’t mention that some require you to drink more.

I have POTS-like dysautonomia. My water target, set by my cardiologist, is at least 100 oz a day. My salt target is 10 grams, so I also have 2–3 high-sodium electrolyte mixes a day, on top of a high-salt diet and salt pills as needed.

I also “love” when people tell me electrolytes are a fad and I probably don’t actually need them. It’s great to know people may soon talk about my water consumption the same way! *eye roll*

I have a bedroom set my grandfather made. They’re beautiful, solid, and honestly just my taste. The drawers are made from crates they used to ship their belongings back to the US after living abroad for his work for a few years, so there’s deeper personal history there.

I kept a fair bit of art and a number of trinkets when my other grandparents passed, plus their dining room set. I’ve since gotten a nicer dining room set and the old one is in storage… I couldn’t quite stand to get rid of it, and it would make a good gaming table someday. Plus a rocking chair that was gifted to my grandpa by an organization at the university he taught at.

I had the opportunity to take dishes and things, but skipped most of it because I didn’t feel a connection to them, except for two glasses in a set of bird glasses. I only liked the two and they match; I didn’t need the full set to have the reminder of meals with my grandparents.

These things give me a sense of connection to my family and my past.

I appreciate your openness to thinking about this differently!

As an adult, my BMI has been as low as 16.1. Stress suppresses my already-weak appetite so it’s often a factor when I’m severely underweight. People saw me meeting society’s beauty standards, but not that I was extremely unhealthy physically and mentally.

It’s been over a decade since my low and I still float around the edge of underweight BMI, but I’m much healthier now (lots of credit to my partner for keeping me eating regularly!).

I think my struggles on this side have given me a ton of empathy for people who overeat or struggle with their weight. A lot of people dismiss weight as a simple matter of willpower and can be so unkind and judgmental.

Yes, it was! I can totally understand your confusion in that case, lol.