Honestly, just where I’m at in life. I’ve been pulling myself up by my bootstraps for all my life.

Grew up in bumfuck poorsville with abusive parents, joined the military, did some cool stuff, left and went to college, bought a house, graduated, sold the house, moved across country, got a job with my degree, and found a solid friendship group who encourage and care for me and vice versa.

This is all while suffering from an unseen disease that I was finally diagnosed with while in college and have been fighting against ever since.

I am proud of my achievements and I can really say to myself that I made it, despite everything, I made it.

My experience says no to this. Maybe usually, but I fell on my ass a few too many times and gave up trying to learn the rest.

As an 800 hour player that has to put the game down because of competitiveness making me a curmudgeon – Wow, gotta say. That’s so much work.

Did you use the practice modes to get to be that level or did it just come to you during play?

Cwoom

I’m sorry for what you went through, but the mental image of being emptied and power washed is so goddamn funny.

A pain so great that your fingers stop working and your limbs go numb and everything in your body triggers a throb but you can’t stop crying because it hurts too bad.

Uuuuuuugggggghhhhhh. I’m really happy that you’re able to have them significantly less frequently. That’s a huge boon. Hopefully you can be migraine free moving forward!

I’ve seen this one recommended a bunch, but I always thought it was a documentary. Interesting. I’ll give it a watch.

I am too lazy to change the formatting, but those are my notes on the movies I’ve seen this summer… some of them I remember better than others, and I’ve definitely forgotten to include quite a few on here.

[V] Late night with the devil - 7/10 Fun, unique

[V] Barbarian 5/10 - Ew, asshole characters

[V] Talk to me 7/10 - unique, uncomfortable

[V] Hell House LLC 7/10 - fun, scary

[V] Smile 7/10 - didn’t need the ending, excited for the sequel

[V] The menu 9/10 - dread, uncomfortable

[V] Anna and the apocalypse 7/10 - fun! Sad!

[V] The descent 6/10 - strong people, ew

[V] Event horizon 0/10 - ew, ew

[V] Train to busan 10/10 - terrifying, great characters

[V] Underwater 7.5/10 - claustrophobic, unique

[V] The cleansing hour 7/10 - unique, funny

[V] Sputnik 5/10 - ((can’t remember))

[V] Freaky 6.5/10 - funny

[V] Longlegs - undecided. But maybe 8/10? Dreadful

• The Exorcist (The Version You’ve Never Seen)

I’ve never seen this version? But I have read the book and eugh. It’s horrible in a sort of losing bodily autonomy way.

• Hereditary (a masterpiece in my opinion. Free upvote literally every time I see someone recommend it)

This one sat with me for a long time and I swore immediately after watching it that I would never watch it again. And now I absolutely love it. There are a few bright moments that really freak me out, but the tension and build up is so good. Chef’s kiss to this one.

• Blair Witch Project

Haven’t seen!

• Paranormal Activity

One of my favorites! I know this one gets dragged for being campy(??), but I think the original did an excellent job of building suspense and dread.

• Ouija: Origin of Evil

Mike Flanagan is one of my favorites and this one is a lot of fun. Not as high in my list as others, but still a good time.

• It (miniseries got me as a kid but Chapter 1 is good too)

I need to rewatch the miniseries, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the more recent movies. I think the actors were all great (especially for Pennywise), but it felt like it was trying too hard? Pt 2 seemed to realize they’d never match the book and it ended up being more funny than anything.

• Lights Out (not the entire movie but it has its moments and overall a good style)
• Candyman (original)
• Poltergeist (original)
• Autopsy of Jane Doe (another poster reminded me of this one!)
• The Taking of Deborah Logan (for like one scene but IYKYK)
• The Dark and the Wicked
• The Orphanage
• Terrified and When Evil Lurks were both solidly unsettling at least

These are all being added to my list!

• Event Horizon (though I know you didn’t like this one)

Bleh. Lol

• Conjuring 1-2 and Sinister too, all at least solid spookies.

Love these movies. I would add the first half of Insidious as well.

As for my list - I’ll throw that in a separate comment soon enough :D

Oh I agree that they’re not the only good horror movies, there are so many out there that are good in other ways and many of which I absolutely love. But I’m really just looking for that something to keep the lights on at night, lol.

Thanks for the list! There are a few I haven’t seen in there, I’ll give them a try :)

Adding to my list, thanks :)

Added to the list!

Oooh yes. I’m with you and the other commenter that that particular feeling of dread is really really great. Hereditary, Midsommar, and VVitch definitely all fit that bill. I’ve heard the same for Lights Out, so I’m going to give that a go too.

Also Chernobyl is so so good. I’ve seen it a few times now and oof.

Yeah, naur.

I think if I come at you with the express purpose of venting, then just some validation is really all I’m looking for, personally. A “that sounds hard” or “dang, dealing with X sounds rough”. Things like that make me feel like you’re actually listening and like I’m okay to feel so frazzled about whatever is happening.

Another approach that I think is good is asking whether or not whoever is talking to you wants validation, or solutions. I’m guilty of always offering solutions when people want to just vent and be heard, so that’s always a good stop gap.

But I absolutely understand how awkward it can be trying to be there for someone and, of course, your results may vary. Still, communication gets us everywhere!

Is it not?

I’m with you on “this too shall pass”. My family uses this like it’s their damn catchphrase and while I’m sure the intentions are good, sometimes I would like validation when I complain about my life being a shit show, not just an idle ‘this too shall pass’. Might as well have just shrugged and walked away.

Hmmm, while I see your point on the phrase, my friend group and I only ever use it on subjective things. Like orange juice or chocolate milk being better, for example. If we’re both arguing (in a fun way) and have no good points to change the other’s mind, then we agree to disagree. Haha

Yes! Absolutely. There were so so many different kinds of all different shapes and colors. They’re so gorgeous and some were so so big. That’s great for your wife, I’ll bet that’s fulfilling <3

Ah! That’s really cool that he replied to you!

I have a difficult time reading and Fool is one I return to often and read from front to back. It’s definitely my favorite of his so far, but I haven’t read too many others.