Nail shop near me

(My english is not so well)
When i was a child, i learned reading and writing too fast. My teacher even tried to convince my parents to get me upper classes, but my parents refused. I nearly always had 100/100 on my every exam. I didn't study anything. I was just listening teacher in class and reasoning what my teacher says. I was playing computer games with my friends. Even at that, i was best, because i did understand and use every tool in games creatively. This lasted like that until end of my teenage. In my late-teenage times, i could speak fluently, charming, convincing. I could manipulate people easily. When i would start to speak, people would come to listen me admiringly. I even had a cult-like group that i was on top of. All of these abilities came from my intelligence. I depended all things to it. So, when i started to lose it, my life started to get ruined too.
My intelligence declines since i was 18. I am 23 now. I lived my entire life in easy mode because of my intelligence, but getting stupid changed it to difficult mode.
Being smart covered all of my weaknesses, made them tolerable, so i didn't try to get rid of them. Now i am socially awkward, physically in bad shape, "good at everything, best at nothing", zero work exp. , still don't have economical independency.
I am trying to get better. I went to pyschiatry, they told me i am in major depression and i am using some medication. In three months, i quit smoking, alcohol and i started to go to gym, study, reading book, writing book, drawing. All of them made improvements about my condition, especially gym. But nothing stopped it. I am still getting stupid.
When i say getting stupid, i mean something blocks my mind, trying to make me think nothing. I am getting far from my real personality. It is like being dead and buried inside yourself. But i know inside me, there is still a guy, smart, confident, intelligent, powerful. I know it because sometimes he gets out. Even i get suprised by myself that times. But lately, that times got rare. I am afraid that one day, i will lose it, and lose myself with it. I will be like dead, like right now, but permanently.
I am not here to get help, because i know no one here cannot help me. I am here because i wanted to get it out of my chest. I am here, because i want to know if i am being ridiculous or not. If it is a yes, this proves my point. If it is a no, then i am not alone.
I am tired to prevent it. I am about to give up.
This goes on and on. I can write a book about this if i let myself, but i should finish right here.

Hi! I’m newer to the game and I’m wondering if it’s possible to shop at other peoples nooks cranny?
I’m still trying to get K.K to have his concert here so I can level up on the game, but I cannot seem to find enough things to decorate my island and add “interesting scenery”
Any tips and tricks? Or would someone be open to donating to my island?
I’m also quite sick with an upper respiratory infection (plus the air quality near me is unsafe to go out in for me) So I’ll be stuck in the house playing animal crossing all weekend!!
Anything helps :)

(If this post is still up, I'm still looking!)
Hey there. I really want to develop a female led/slight gentle femdom relationship with a special guy.
When a lot of men see the term "female led relationship," they think, "Oh, the woman will make all the decisions with no input on what I think/want."
Are there dynamics like that? I'm sure there is. Personally, I'm not looking to be "the boss" or "above" you in any way. I want us to be equal... but have you give up control to me in a few other ways. :)
What do I mean? Keep reading on!
● ABOUT ME ●
You can call me Dreamer for now. (I'll tell you my real name once we get to know each other) Please do NOT call me Miss, Master, Dominatrix or Ma'am.
I'm 25 years old and an INFJ-T. I live in Nashville, Tennessee, USA (AKA Music City) and I'm on Central Standard Time. I'm a Black woman and I stand 5 feet, 7 inches tall. My eyes are brown and I wear glasses. I don't have any tattoos or piercings at the moment.
One thing I want to mention is that I'm plus size, AKA a bigger girl. I'm undergoing a vertical sleeve gastrectomy in two months to lose the excess weight I have in a sustainable and permanent way. I'm ready to regain my body and be healthy and confident again. I'd love to have you by my side throughout my journey!
As far as personality goes, I'd describe myself as empathetic and sweet. I like to help others as much as I can. In person, I tend to be rather shy at first. People tend to mistake that for weakness or gullibility. I'm anything but; my strength lies in introspection and quiet observation. I notice every nuance of a person's actions, words, body language, vibe... my intuition hasn't steered me wrong yet!
● INTERESTS ●
I won't go into detail on every single interest that I have but I'll talk about my biggest ones that you'll likely hear me mention the most.
✨️Writing✨️
I've been writing since I was six years old, but I started taking it seriously around 13 years old. All in all, it's been 19 years. As of right now, I primarily write Fanfiction but in the past, I've written short stories, poetry and I even tried to learn how to write screenplays at one point.
I wrote my first full-length book in 2018/2019. I started the sequel in early 2020, but I'm still working on it. I lost a LOT of inspiration during the pandemic but I'm finally writing for it again.
If you also enjoy writing, I'd love to "talk shop" with you and maybe we can exchange some of our past works.
✨️Music✨️
Music has gotten me through a lot over the years. Yeah, yeah, I know everyone says that. But it truly has. It's shaped my life and introduced me to a lot of things and people that I probably never would've done or met otherwise.
There's no point in saying I like xyz genre because I've listened to pretty much everything. The only ones I truly hate are country and gangster rap. If you want specifics, though... I've been a HUGE twenty one pilots fan for 9 years. (I have more merch, stickers and other random shit than I care to admit to lmao) I also love other artists like Amber Run, Purity Ring, Phantogram, Daughter, Lorde, OneRepublic... plus tons more.
I've always had this dumb idea of a guy and I confessing to each other through playlists with songs that make us think fondly about each other...
God, I'm single.
✨️Photography✨️
I've been into photography for 10 years and I've had my DSLR for eight years. (It's definitely the camera version of 'Ol Reliable) I enjoy nature and portrait photography. I'd love to show you some of my work and get your thoughts on it.
✨️TV/Movies✨️
TV genres I like: Animation (like Spongebob), comedy, drama, documentaries (disaster and crime ones are my favorites), true crime (like Forensic Files), old sitcoms (like Sanford and Son) and cooking and baking competitions/reality TV (like Kitchen Nightmares US and UK, Hell's Kitchen, Master Chef, The Great British Baking Show, etc)
Movie genres I like: Animation, drama, comedy, action, psychological thrillers and science fiction. I thoroughly loved The Greatest Showman so one could say I like musicals but it's the only one I've seen so not sure if that really counts. Comic book movies are pretty alright too, but I really haven't seen anything past the first Avengers movie lmaooooo.
I say this as unpretentiously as possible, but I haven't seen most popular TV shows or movies that your average person likes. I think the last "popular" thing I watched was that Jeffrey Dahmer series on Netflix. (mainly out of morbid curiosity because everyone was freaking out about it... and because I think Evan Peters is a cutie) I only saw a few episodes and then forgot to watch the rest of it, but it wasn't as horrific as everyone was saying. Maybe I've watched too much Forensic Files and I'm desensitized lmao.
✨️Video and computer games✨️
Video game genres I like: Adventure, action-adventure, RPGs & JRPGs, Strategy... basically anything that is relatively fun and not horror related.
Some of my all-time favorites: Kingdom Hearts II, Ratchet and Clank, Journey, Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy X.
As far as computer games, the only thing I play on a regular basis is The Sims 2 and The Sims 4. As a kid, I loved simulator and time-management games; some old favorites are the RCT series, Simcity: Rush Hour, the first four Diner Dash games, the Delicious series and Burger Shop 2 (which I still have on my computer actually lmao)
✨️Other random interests✨️
Art, traveling, people watching, researching random topics on Wikipedia and watching YouTube, especially channels with old shows and movies.
☆ CAREER ☆
My last position was working nights at a psychiatric hospital. I'm looking for something new at the moment.
☆ SCHOOLING ☆
I'm officially a college student at 25. Yay! Feel free to ask me more about it, I'd love to talk.
☆ ET CETERA ☆
I really love dogs and cats. I have three cats and they're little demons but I love them to death. I also love small animals like ferrets, bunnies and snakes!
My main love languages are words of affirmation, quality time and gift giving/receiving. To be honest, though, there's elements of each language that I enjoy or relate to in one way or another.
I don't smoke and I drink every so often. Otherwise, I'm vaccinated and DDF.
● ABOUT YOU ●
I'm looking for a guy between the ages of 23-33 years old. I might be willing to talk to someone within two years in either direction (so 21 min and 35 max) if you meet all my other preferences/wants. If you're younger than 21 or older than 35, though, please don't contact me.
Please be single and emotionally available. I won't interact with anyone already in a relationship or married (even if you're separated or in a "dead bedroom," you're STILL married) and I'm especially not interested in poly/ENM. I'm 100% monogamous.
Hair is super important to me! I prefer medium length to long hair, something I can stroke and play with a lot lmao.
I have a REALLY big soft spot for blue and/or doe eyes, but don't let that deter you. If you have kind eyes, I'll fall in love with them, no matter their color!
I tend to like softer facial features and even softer personalities. Are you super masculine in public but a total softie in private? Lovely! Are you less masculine but a little more feminine? Great! Are you androgynous or otherwise fall somewhere in between? I can dig it!
Key traits that I like in a guy include, but are not limited to: Being sweet, gentle, empathetic, considerate, an active listener, exceptional at communication and willing to go the extra mile for those that you love, be it family, friends, your partner, etc.
With that being said, it's important that you have time for me. I'm not expecting us to talk 24/7 but if you're always too busy to talk to me, this won't work. At some point, I'd like for us to also talk on the phone as our schedules permit, of course.
As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, please be from the USA/North America and willing to meet and get to know each other in person ASAP.
● WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR ●
It's important to me that you're an active listener; what I mean is that you'll make an effort to listen to what I have to say and respond to it accordingly. If I tell you my thoughts on a matter or ask you a question or give you a compliment etc etc, please respond to it. It makes me feel so sad and small if I feel like my thoughts or opinions are not important/relevant.
I can tell pretty quickly if someone is genuinely interested in me or not. Like I said before, I notice everything lol.
I mentioned earlier how one of my love languages is words of affirmation. One of the ways I enjoy that is through compliments. I'm not looking for you to worship the ground I walk on, but being told "You look beautiful" or "When you do xyz, that makes me really happy" makes me feel SO seen and appreciated.
It's incredibly frustrating to send a picture of myself and get a lukewarm response in return. :(
Affection is also super important to me. Holding hands, hugging, kissing, cuddling, touching... all the cute couple shit. I want you to touch me, not in a pervy way, but in an affectionate way. I want to stroke your hair while I hold you close... little things like that make me incredibly happy.
Keep in mind, everything I want from you, I'll give to you in return. I'll always listen and acknowledge you, give you compliments, shower you in affection, plus whatever else makes you feel wanted and appreciated as a person and in a relationship.
● OUR DYNAMIC ●
I always want you to have a choice and be able to voice your opinion. I will never degrade or boss you around in general, but especially when it comes to your personal choices. I'm a switch that used to be a predominant sub and believe me, I've had doms tell me before, "I make the decision on what you wear, what to eat, who you hang out with, etc etc... because I'm your dom and what I say goes."
Some people may like that. More power to them. But I'm not like that. I want you to feel free to express yourself. If you want my opinion, I'll give it to you, of course. But my job is to build you up and support your decisions, no matter how small!
Again, I'm not looking for you to kiss my ass. I'd love for you to take the lead on most decisions (with my input, of course). But I want you to also have a "service" attitude; whether that's helping out with household chores or surprising me with a massage after work or giving me flowers "just because" or helping me paint my toenails lol... just to name some examples. The sky's the limit.
That extends to "the bedroom" as well. I want my pleasure to be just as important to you as yours is to me.
In short? I just want to feel doted on and taken care of. I want to be the most important person in your life and you be the most important person in my life. I want to make you feel special and praise you and tell you how much you mean to me. And I want the same in return. 💓
● "KINKS" ●
This is inevitably gonna come up at some point. I'll say when it comes to my "kinks" (if you want to call them that) I like:
Teasing, edging, telling you when you can cum and begging me for it (I believe it's called orgasm control/denial), moaning, praise, blindfolds, eye contact, body worshiping (you and me), breast worship, oral, fingering and using toys on you.
Been a little curious about pegging someone one day. We'd have to build up to it, of course, because I don't want to hurt you. If you're not into that, though, don't worry! It's definitely not a requirement.
Things I do NOT like (or hard limits) are:
Humiliation, degradation, anything that causes you or me physical, emotional and mental harm, blood, pee, scat, vomit, diapers, CNC, ageplay, raceplay, hitting, slapping, choking or anything else illegal, unethical or otherwise unloving.
● IN CONCLUSION... ●
If you read all of this, good job! Here's a cookie, hope you like chocolate chip. 🍪
Seriously, though, I can't name every little thing I want. Despite the length of this post, I'm not trying to play Build-A-Boy. I realize you have your own caveats and that's totally fine. Let's get to know each other and see what happens. All I ask for, again, is that you want a serious, longterm relationship and not view me as just some sort of "kink dispenser."
Chats or DMs are fine. When you send me a message, please include the following...
• Name or alias • Location • Age • Height, body type, hair cololength, eye color • Your interests/hobbies • Whether you're a sub or a switch • What you're looking for out of a relationship and something (or things) you really enjoyed about my post • A clear, SFW picture of yourself • Your current favorite song (so I know you actually read through all of this) • Whatever else you want to add to catch my attention. The more you can match my "detailed energy," the better.
I won't reply to those who ignore my preferences or the message requirements above. If you send me nudes/dick pics/sexting or FWB requests/rude messages, you will be blocked and reported.
Thank you so much for reading this, and I hope you have a good night!

• Dreamer

(P.S. I don't use Snap, Kik, Telegram, WhatsApp and whatever else. I use Discord and I only give my cell number out to people that I'm comfy with.)

So I'm actually a dude, but I have a problem with modern girls/women now. You can use the sexist card all you want, it doesn't bother me.
Okay so my problem with girls in the modern era is that I keep seeing more and more AND MORE of them putting their hair into a FUGLY hideous eye-cancer head wart hairstyle, known as a tight knit? Or hairbun, whatever it's called, with that ball of hair on top of girls heads. One time I saw the queen of fugly head warts, it was the biggest and roundest and mole-ist looking head lump of hair I had ever seen. She is definitely the princess of them or the queen.
To me that is extremely revolting. I don't understand why women think this hairstyle is cute. IT'S HIDEOUS. I hate it. I hate with every ounce in my being. It would've been fine if it was like some elderly women that had it somewhere that one time, but No, it's literally every woman on the streets that I have seen in the last 4 freakin' years. Every time I recoil my neck so fast.
I never thought a simple hairstyle could be cancer.
And pants, freakin pants for days and miles. Pants are for men. From the backend I literally thought this one Mom was a Man. But she got up with them denim jeans and her kid said "Mom" And I was like "Mom?" Kid are you sure that's not your father?
I swear it's like skirts are endangered. Leggings and skin tight shorts are near endangered. I haven't seen a single girl wear a short skirt in a very long time, I think only saw it like 4-5 times in Last year? I would be okay with that, those are girls.
And thank God for Kohls advertising skirts.
If this OFFENDS you, you're the girl I'm referring to. If you disregarded this, then it's not about you.
And before you claim incel/ sad whatever. I don't seek women, I'd rather be a reclusive person, never talking to any B* on the planet, ever. I don't seek anyone out, I'd rather live alone without any pets. You can call this sad all you want, but to me, it's perfect paradise.
I did copy paste this twice, because I'm not writing all of this again because the other posts has mod approval, which is extremely annoying. I know they'll never approve it.

Me and my friend are going in summer for 3 days, I haven't booked anything yet so wanted to check if this seemed good, if I was missing anything worth doing out. the Eiffel tower would ideally be at night. also, would it be worth swapping something to go to versailles? We have 2 days that have the hours 3 till 7 with nothing planned, didn't know if i should leave it open to walk around or include anything else? stuff we might want to do but haven't included are:
orangerie, musee d orsay, palais garnier.
thanks!
​
day 1, wednesday:
11:30am-arrive
12:30-lunch
1pm-arc de triomphe
3 till 7- FREE
7-dinner
8/9-eiffel tower (top floor lift)
​
day 2, thursday:
10:30am-tuileries garden walk
11-lunch
12-louvre
5pm-sienne walk (notre dame outside, saint chappelle, shops)
7/8-dinner
9/9:30-sacre couer
​
day 3, Friday:
11am-lunch
1pm-catacombs
3 till 7- FREE
7-dinner
9-leave
​

I hear stories of how women can get pregnant if the man ejaculates near their genital lips during the week leading to ovulation etc,
My husband ejaculated near my vagina opening so many times during my fertile window; he’s tried finishing in me too many times yet nothing happens.
I’m starting to just give up trying to conceive as it’s too disappointing trying this way…

On my newest throwaway again because my partner knows my main and my first throwaway and I’m going through a lot, this account has basically become my main lol. This is long and rambly like all my posts because I feel like I’m spiralling and I just need to get it out. I’m 28 f he’s 30 m. There’s no question that my relationship is going through a rough time (we’ve been together just shy of 7 years). You can look at my post history for a bit more depth if you want, but basically we’re dealing with porn addiction and post abortion resentment (from me) and a hell of a lot of curveballs and shit that life has thrown at us that I haven’t even gotten into. About a year, maybe a bit longer, ago my partner told me he wasn’t attracted to me anymore (I had asked, exactly this hurting my own feelings shit I can’t seem to stop doing). I had noticed that our sex life had dwindled down to nothing, he wasn’t kissing me, complementing me, initiating anything, or even grabbing my ass randomly like he always used to do so I confronted him about it and asked. There’s no denying it, I had definitely let myself go, I had been through 3 surgeries in 2 years and was really struggling with health issues to the point my dad basically had to stay at our house off and on for 2 years to help me take care of my child so that my partner could keep working. I gained 100 pounds because even walking around the house was exhausting and on top of that I was dealing with major depression with the reality of how much my new health issues were going to impact my future. I wasn’t styling my hair, I was in leggings and hoodies all day every day, I didn’t even touch make up, Etc. I’m finally doing a bit better, I’ve started being more active, I’m doing more around the house, managing life a bit better, I’ve lost 55 pounds and I’m continuing to work on it, I’m styling my hair everyday, I’m wearing makeup once and a while, I always shave and get my nails done, I’m really trying with my appearance. He has a porn problem, and what really hurts the most is the porn he watches is NOTHING like me, he’s an “ass guy” so his porn is all of the camera angled at asses while being rammed doggy or reverse cowboy style. I personally really like doggy style, and he just flat out refuses to do it with me, he says it’s “not comfortable because we don’t line up right”. Turns out it’s actually because he hates my ass. I’ve begged for counselling. Back to the original problem, I have this obsession with asking him to be honest with me when I KNOW the answer is going to hurt my feelings, but I just can’t stop. And then I get super hurt and bummed out and can get a little snappy with him which he then turns around and says “well maybe I just shouldn’t tell you the truth then”. But I want him to tell me the truth, that was one of the things that hurt me the most was that I could feel he wasnt attracted to me anymore and he never even told me until I begged him to be honest. I really struggle (have since I was a teenager) with body dysmorphia and this weight gain has made it 100000000x worse. I stupidly asked him out of all the neighbours wives, what order he would put them in (including me) based on physical appearance alone. I WAS SECOND TO LAST, ONLY “beating out” A 50 YEAR OLD. So I asked him, when he first met me, (he used to compliment me non stop, tell me I was “intoxicating” and so sexy, he literally made me feel like the most stunning person in the world, HE ONLY MOVED ME UP ONE SPOT. So basically even when we first got together he wasn’t even that into me?! WHAT THE FUCK. There’s absolutely no way in hell that out of the 6 neighbours I was including in this that are all a big friend group that 4 out of the 6 other women are top of the fucking pyramid for looks in this world. I’m bisexual and lean towards women so I KNOW an attractive female, and yes they’re all good looking but I WOULD NOT place myself in 5th when we first met?!?! SO IF I WASNT EVEN HIS TYPE WHEN WE FIRST MET AND I WAS HOT THEN WHAT DO I EVEN HAVE GOING FOR ME. I’m so heart broken over this, and it’s my own fault. But man it stings, and why can’t I just stop ducking doing this to myself by asking these questions where I know the answers will hurt my feelings. FUCK. What’s wrong with me! I’m trying so hard not to be bitchy with him right now but I’m so sad and angry and he can tell somethings wrong and I don’t want him to stop being honest with me to “save my feelings”, because I honestly want to know the truth, apparently I just have this sick need to destroy my self confidence and self worth.

hello fellow hobbyst's, i am curently working on a website. it should contain everything you could think of(all the figurines avabile+guides on how to paint each of them, guides on how to play the game, lists of shops where you can get specified figurine -so its easy to compare prices betwen them-, guides on how to chose a starting faction, tips and tricks, and all kinds of news warhammer 40k related. We also have a "everything you need to know" section about the new edition + a live status update regarding the new Leviathan box. here is a link that is going to lead you to that section, on my website: https://www.adeptusars.com/news/status-of-warhammer-40000s-leviathan-box-launch feel free to give any kinds of feedback. i hope the information you will find here will help you in any regard. its still in development and me and my friend still have to add lots of figurines, guides, and so forth, but the new's section could come in use for you, for now. Good luck!

Hi! I’m newer to the game and I’m wondering if it’s possible to shop at other peoples nooks cranny?
I’m still trying to get K.K to have his concert here so I can level up on the game, but I cannot seem to find enough things to decorate my island and add “interesting scenery”
Any tips and tricks? Or would someone be open to donating to my island?
I’m also quite sick with an upper respiratory infection (plus the air quality near me is unsafe to go out in for me) So I’ll be stuck in the house playing animal crossing all weekend!!
Anything helps :)

First time poster, but I’ve been here for a while and this forum has made me feel a little less alone.
In the past six months I have dealt with some of the worst things I could’ve imagined whilst navigating my new diagnosis. I was diagnosed in January and despite my treatment/meds helping with my symptoms immensely, I’ve not been coping with life and the things I can’t control. It just feels like I’ve been in a loop of grief and sadness and shame all year.
In February I said goodbye to my dog of nearly 15 years - my best friend in the whole world. 7 weeks ago my grandmother passed away and on Monday we lost my Pop (her husband) quickly and unexpectedly to covid.
On top of this I have been getting very publicly bullied and harassed by someone I used to be friends with, and it’s been affecting my business, friendships and mental health. My RSD is worse than it’s ever been and I constantly feel like my peers don’t like me even when I know I’m not in the wrong and I’ve just been targeted by somebody who is insecure about their own success/failures - but it doesn’t rationalise in my head and I get upset/obsessed over it daily.
It just feels like the world is closing in on me sometimes and managing adhd and coming to terms with it after 28 years of not knowing what was ‘wrong’ with me has been so difficult. Noticing the way people react to me when I exhibit adhd symptoms like interrupting, rambling, getting overwhelmed/overstimulated easily, forgetfulness or just being ‘too much’ in general feels like a punch in the gut and learning to love those parts of myself when it seems hard for others is something I have struggled with.
I don’t know how to process any of this or how to grieve (for my grandparents and the lifetime I’ve spent struggling) and I’m getting to a point where I either shut down or snap very easily and then end up in a cycle of shame afterwards.
Does anyone have any advice for me? How do you get through hard times when it feels like the second you start to pick yourself up, something else happens and pushes you back down?
Thank you xxxxx

My daughter is 18 months old and last night for seemingly no reason she had to nurse literally all night or she’d wake up. I was so drained and could only half sleep while side lying to feed her because it’s so uncomfortable for me and I was barely making enough milk to keep going after the first hour. Finally at 4:30 I was so tired I was dizzy laying down and in pain from being out of milk and I had to tell her to stop and that I was out of milk. She woke all the way up and I tried to get her to drink cows milk but then she just was awake and wouldn’t lay back down. I kept saying “it’s the middle of the night, go back to sleep! We have to sleep!” In such a mean tone. I knew I could be more patient while I was saying it but I was so dizzy and tired and felt completely dehydrated from all the nursing.
We had swim lessons today and she was tired from being up and cried nearly the whole time even though she loves swimming and I just feel so guilty

video source

Blizzard is at it again.
I recently encountered a troubling issue involving Blizzard's new Runestones currency in Hearthstone. It's old news that runestones were universally panned last year when Blizzard announced it would unilaterally replace real money purchases for nearly every product in the Hearthstone shop.
No recourse, no options, just that is how it was going to be going forward.
https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23831408 (backup)
Well get this. Now we can't even use the runestones we were effectively forced to purchase to buy products Blizzard stated we would in fact be able to.
https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/gallery/34/34J9F3FJZJ551661446964706.jpg (backup in case it is deleted: https://i.imgur.com/XgIwiSk.jpg )
The proof?
The audiopocalypse golden mini-set can only be purchased with new money, not money we have already deposited in the form of runestones.
https://i.imgur.com/Cc408Ir.png
Amazingly, this isn't a bug like I first thought. Several customer support managers have stated unequivocally this is the new official policy.

• First reply by a customer support team manager
• Second reply by specialist customer support rep and team manager

They are also even unwilling to refund money that was recently deposited or to even work with customers.
Can you think of ANY other reputable business that would explicitly ask for deposits (effectively as a pre-order) and then when explicitly asked by customers to apply those funds to buy said product (that the company explicitly said would be available for sale with the pre-order money) be unwilling to complete the sale and refuse to return the original funds to let the customer complete the sale in an alternate way?
Customer support even had the chutzuppah to say:

I'm sorry about your confusion on how Audiopocalypse Golden Mini-Set is purchased. There are only two intended methods of purchase for this product, and both are shown within your screenshot. It can be purchased with either in-game Gold or with a standard RL money purchase. Runestones are not a currency for purchasing this set.

and ...

Hopefully you'll be able to use your Runestone for other Hearthstone bundles in future ... :)

Blatent gaslighting, cheeky "lol good luck using your useless runestones in the future!", and "you are mistaken" digs like it is the customers fault for not knowing Blizzard would abritrarily change on a whim what kinds of payments they are going to accept and when after taking receipt of customer money.
Just hot damn. Talk about brazen abusive business practices. Way to go Blizzard!
Have any of you encountered similar issues with Runestones? Has Blizzard's customer service been helpful or derisive in your interactions with them? I believe as a community, we can draw attention to this issue and push for a resolution that respects our rights.
If this is indeed a common issue, we might need to consider more formal channels to address it. This could include, but is not limited to, reaching out to consumer protection organizations -- ftc.gov/complaint, exploring potential legal options, and working with the media to bring attention to this issue.
Since /Hearthstone is going dark on June 12th I'm going to share this on /HearthstoneBugs too.
Thoughts and experiences are welcome and appreciated!
Blizzard stepped in it this time. The whole thing smacks of the FTC lawsuit with Epic Games.

When you're rich enough, you get perks you can only dream of. Literally. But somehow, my paradise turned into hell.
Have you ever had a dream so amazing, you wished you could relive it? Explore it? Relish it? Well, when you're rich enough, you don't have to wish. It's a reality thanks to dream banks. You may have heard of them and their pricy services, which include recording, saving, and projecting dreams.
For example, if you'd like a dream recorded, you can book one of their luxurious suites for the night, where the dream techs will fit you with a special helmet and leave you to rest. The next morning, they'll replay the recorded dream for you via the helmet and ask if you want to shell out the extra bucks to save it. If you don't, they'll delete it and you can pay to book for another time to try again.
If you do decide to save it, you must select an item within the dream that will act as the exit key. (This will come in handy during projections.) While still wearing the helmet, you must touch the item, and the dream techs will label those electric signals as the key.
Afterwards, everything is saved under your name, and you can now relive your dream at any time by booking a suite for three, five, or eight hours. Unlike recordings, during projections, you don't have to wait for sleep to come. After you enjoy a snack of your choice, the helmet is fitted and you're immediately transported to your dream, where you have free will and can enjoy it at your leisure. And if you ever need to leave early, this is when you touch the key, which will shut down the helmet right away.
In my case, the key is the stegosaurus leather rug I have hanging on the wall of my throne room. I never have a reason to touch it otherwise, making it a perfect key. I've also never had to touch it. Experiencing life as an all-powerful, worshipped being who lives on my own planet and hunts dinosaurs in my spare time, I relished my dream to the last second.
Yes, the fees are exorbitant, but at the time, I felt it was worth it. The techs were skilled, the system was sleek, and the dreams were private. Each could only be unlocked by the unique brainwaves of the dreamer.
Or so I thought.
My literal nightmare began when I booked a five-hour projection on a rainy Friday afternoon. After taking a sip of champagne to wash down the cranberry brie bites, I settled into the cool silk sheets with a smile. My usual dream tech smiled back as she fastened my helmet, and the last thing I heard was her wishing me pleasant dreams before I was plunged into darkness.
I waited for the split-second adjustment from reality to the dream world, and my confusion grew when I didn't find myself on my throne surrounded by fawning gods and goddesses.
Instead, I found myself in the middle of an endless street. Alone. There were no cars, no life, not even wind. Towering street lamps lined the sidewalk as far as I could see, arcing over the road and tinting everything an eerie red. Behind them, identical buildings stood side by side, silent, their dark, narrow windows hollow.
My pulse spiking, I whipped around. The other direction was just as endless. Uneasy confusion prickled beneath my skin. This had to be someone else's dream. The techs must have made a mistake. I didn't know how it was possible, but there was no other explanation.
My unease piqued as my situation sank in. I was in a stranger's dream and I didn't know the key. I was stuck here until my five hours ran out. Or until the techs realized their mistake. I was ready to rip them a new one once I was out, but until then, I had no choice but to wait.
I studied my surroundings with a frown before I walked over to the curb and sat down, and that was when I noticed I couldn't feel anything. I also noticed I was naked. It didn't matter. There was no one here, and none of this was real anyway.
Time passed, and I tried to distract myself from my nettled offense by humming, but no sound came out. Sitting up, I took a deep breath and screamed. Not even a squeak was heard. I slapped my hand against the ground. Nothing. This place was like a black hole of the senses.
Sighing, I lay down on my back and stared at the red light above me, wondering if I could fall asleep in a dream. I tried, but the more I wished to escape this silent, crimson prison, the more it seemed to come into focus. Soon, the utter lack of noise and movement grew from slightly unnerving to completely intolerable.
There was no way I could wait. I'd go insane. I had to get out of here. I had to find the key.
Jumping up, I ran to the nearest building and wrenched open the door, and a pitch black void greeted me. I gasped, and gasped again as it felt like my very breath was being suctioned out of my lungs. Panicking, silent wheezes rattled in my chest as I struggled to yank myself out of the vacuum, jerking my limbs and bucking my body until I toppled over backwards on the sidewalk.
Gulping in fitful breaths, I scrambled to my feet and ran down the road without looking back, my wide eyes scanning the horizon for salvation. I just wanted out of here, but the hellish path stretched on forever, making me feel like I was running in place as every identical building and street lamp mocked me. Even my silent stomping and mute panting served to draw insanity closer.
And then, a person showed up.
There, in the distance.
With my hope spurred, I raced towards them, desperate. I didn't care who they were. I needed to break this monotony.
As I got closer, hope morphed to confusion, and then to despair. The person was me. It was a mirror, propped up across the entire street.
Sweat-soaked, I slowed down to a jog before I stopped right in front of my reflection. It was me alright, naked, exhausted, and frustrated. But the eyes, something was off about the eyes. With an anxious frown, I stepped closer, staring into them, and they stared back …
… until they glanced behind me.
I gasped and jumped away, and so did my reflection … before it glanced over my shoulder again.
A chill trickled down my spine. My reflection had nothing behind it but the empty street, so I gulped and turned around, and my mouth fell open in a silent scream as a lovecraftian behemoth barrelled its way towards me. With its slick shell gleaming red beneath the lights, it slammed down one spiny tentacle after the other as its five mouths bared their dripping, concentric fangs.
Drenched in undiluted horror, tremors gripped my body as I stumbled away until my back was against the mirror. I knew death was a foolproof key in a dream, but I didn't know if this creature would kill me right away or leave me to suffer in agony until my five hours were up.
With it only inches away, I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed myself into the mirror, and my stomach flipped as I fell backwards. I opened my mouth to gasp, but there was nothing for me to draw in. Floating in an airless void, I flailed and thrashed, my wild eyes scanning the darkness for answers as I began to spin around.
Although death would free me, one of my greatest fears was suffocating. On one of my weightless rotations, a red, glass cube passed me by, and I grabbed it, hoping it was a breathing device. I brought it close to my face, and I gawked at what it held within.
Me.
Surrounded by identical buildings and red street lamps while a lovecraftian behemoth tore me apart.
Horrified, I threw the cube as far as I could and increased my efforts to escape this void. Yet all the flailing and thrashing was for naught as the darkness revealed no end. My eyesight began to go red as my lungs spasmed, and I clawed at my throat as my pulse stuttered in my chest.
The red kept growing and growing until it engulfed my entire vision, and I gave up. There was nothing to do but face my fears and die. With my straining heart lumbering, I let myself go limp as I stared at the red and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
I wasn't dying.
In fact, I could breathe just fine.
Frowning, I opened my eyes, and intense unease spread through my core. Above me, a red moon had taken up the entire sky, each one of its craters crystal clear, like eyes watching me. I turned my head away, and I realized I was in a park, laying down on the grass. Sitting up, I blinked in surprise at the pond right beside me, its opaque water reflecting the moon's red light. Ducks were swimming in a circle across its surface, their movements smooth with nary a splash.
Trees surrounded us, so dense I couldn't tell when one began and the other ended. It was mind-numbingly quiet here as well, and I still couldn't feel anything or make any noise, but at least the ducks were moving. This place seemed more tolerable than the last, and I was willing to wait out my five hours here. I hoped at least an hour had passed already, but with dreams, one never knew. All I knew was that I was too exhausted to search for the key. And too scared. I didn't know whose dream this was, but they had to be masochistic if they saved this nightmare.
Curling up beside the pond, I worked on calming myself down as I watched the ducks swim in their systematic circle over and over and over. I tried counting the rotations the way one would count sheep, but that still didn't lull me to sleep. I wished I'd chosen the three-hour projection, but at least I hadn't chosen the eight-hour one.
Distorted circus music crackled around me and I jolted up, my heart ricocheting in my chest. There was finally sound, but the last thing I wanted to hear was a cliche horror movie soundtrack. Gulping, I looked around. The music was coming from the trees, and my stomach dropped when I spied a shadow behind one of them. Then another. And another. They emerged into the crimson moonlight, and my blood turned to ice.
Clowns.
I whipped around, trembling to the rhythm of my frantic pulse. They were surrounding me. Dozens of them. As classic as any clown could be. Colorful clothes, big shoes, silly hair, exaggerated makeup. I wasn't scared of clowns, as long as they were where they belonged. And they didn't belong here, staring at me with big, empty eyes and yellow, toothy grins.
I tried to convince myself that they weren't dangerous since they didn't have weapons and didn't seem monstrous, but when they took a step closer in unison, I jumped back, nearly falling into the pond. The ducks remained oblivious, still swimming in their circle. The distorted circus music got louder, and my hair stood on end when I saw the grass ripple in front of each clown. They were sending something my way through the ground.
Panicking, I jumped into the pond, and I screamed as I sank right in. There was no bottom. There was no water either. The pond was filled with red, translucent spheres, each the size of a tennis ball. Still able to breathe, I began swimming through the spheres with clumsy breast strokes, just hoping I could end up as far away from the clowns as possible.
After swimming for what felt like enough time, I tried to swim up, until I realized I had no idea which direction I was facing. Remember a trick for those stuck in avalanches, I spat, but my glob of saliva just hovered in front of me. Before panic could set in, I noticed what looked like an office desk floating amidst the spheres in the distance. After blinking a few times to make sure it was really there, I swam towards it, desperate for any change in my situation.
It was an office desk, a wooden one with carved borders and locked drawers. Tucked beneath it was a stool, and the moment I pulled it out and set it under my ass, an office replaced the red spheres.
I grunted as gravity returned, and I looked around in bewilderment at the cluttered bookshelves and grimy floors. Dust was floating everywhere, highlighted by the red light filtering in through the blinds behind me. I jumped as a clock hanging on the wall chimed. Its glass was too dirty for me to tell the time, but I was glad I could hear. I coughed at the dust. And I could make noise. I dusted my hands. And I could feel. I could even smell, which I now wished I couldn't as I wrinkled my nose at the faint stench of rot.
After failing to read the spines of some of the books on the shelves, I studied the shadowy corners of the room. A slack-jawed skeleton hung in the far end, and a faded poster with anatomical diagrams curled off a cupboard. This had to be a doctor's office. Was the creator of this dream a doctor?
A silhouette slid in front of the frosted glass door, and I gulped as the knob began to turn. A hand reached in, gripping the edge one finger at a time, and my heart dropped as I knew this horror cliche was only going to be followed by another. Having no time to think, I slid off the stool and crouched beneath the desk, my hand over my mouth as cobwebs clung to me.
Praying spiders wouldn't swarm me, I peeked through a small slit in the wood, and I froze when an emaciated nurse walked in the room. Layers upon layers of blood coated her scrubs, so much so that I couldn't even tell what color they originally were. She had no shoes. No feet either. Just ankle stubs, and my stomach turned as I heard bone clunk against the tiles.
A surgical mask covered her face, as bloodstained as her scrubs, and grimy lab goggles obscured her eyes. I was grateful, because judging by the pus leaking out of her scabbed, balding scalp, I didn't want to know what her face looked like. The closer she got, the stronger the stench of rot became, and I struggled to keep myself from retching.
She stopped halfway into the room, and I gawked at her hands. They were transforming. Her fingers elongating into razor-edged blades. She then began to hunch over, and I cringed as her spine cracked and popped until she was as bent as a candy cane, her face staring at her pelvis.
As if that wasn't unsettling enough, her head creaked as it spun around 180 degrees, now facing the front, upside down. Right after, her arms shot to the ground, and I watched with increasing dread as she bent them at the elbows and wrists so they flanked her head like distorted T-Rex arms.
She spread her fingers out and took a few more steps towards me, and I held my breath, hoping she couldn't hear my rabid heart or smell my fear. Her ankle bones clicked and clacked against the tiles as she made her way around the desk, and I cowered as my frantic eyes searched for a weapon. I found none, but I did spy a brass button beside my head.
With her legs now an arms distance away, I had nothing to lose as I jammed my thumb into the button. The back of the desk flung open, and I scrambled to my feet and dashed out from my hiding place, screaming in response to the nurse screeching behind me. Bursting through the door, I held up my fists and began punching like a maniac in fearful anticipation of a horde of nurses swarming me.
Except I was no longer in a hospital. I was in an outdoor parking lot. Alone. And judging by the roiling red clouds, a storm was brewing. After a second to collect my bearings, I dove into the closest car, thankful it was unlocked. The moment I slammed the door shut, lightning blinded me as thunder cracked and the downpour began. Sighing in relief, I tried to shake away my adrenaline, but the bloodshot eyes in my rearview mirror reignited my panic.
Before I could react, a belt snapped over my neck, pinning my head back against the headrest. With a frightened wheeze, I clawed at the leather, and I flinched as hot, heavy breath wafted across my ear. Gagging at the putrid smell, I reached over, desperate to scratch my strangler's face or poke their eyes out.
I felt their greasy hair and tried to pull it, but my fingers refused to hold on. I tried again and again, using my nails for purchase, but the strands just kept slipping out of my weak grip. Shifting focus, I tried to claw at their eyes, but it felt as though I was moving through molasses as my hand slid down their face. Once I felt a wet, bulbous eye, I tried to scratch it, but I didn't have enough strength to do anything damage.
My frustration clashed with my terror and I tried to punch them, but my arm swung back in slow motion and merely prodded a stubbly cheek. Tears welled in my eyes as I writhed and gasped, my strangler's laugh adding insult to injury. Despite knowing death will set me free, fear and self-preservation rummaged through my mind, searching for a solution. And they found one.
Hoping I had enough grip and energy, I reached down and found the reclining lever. Wrapping my fingers around it tight, I jerked it up and heaved my body back, and I gulped in a deep breath as I fell backwards, the belt now slack. Not at all prepared to face my attacker, I slipped out from beneath the belt, flung open the door, and zoomed out into the storm.
Sheets of rain obscured my vision, but not enough for me to see that the keys were left inside a red convertible. After making sure no one was hiding in the back, I jumped in, started the engine, and took off, the wheels squealing through the puddles. A sole street curled down a hill, and I took it, adrenaline pumping in waves through my quivering body.
This rush was a confusing mixture of exhilaration and apprehension. I wanted out, but I wasn't giving up. I made it this far, and I was going to survive every cliche this masochist dreamed up. Sharks? Snakes? Zombies? Bring it on. And afterwards, I was going to detail every single trial and tribulation I went through as I sued the dream bank for all the trauma they caused me.
Up ahead, the road curved, and I gasped as it ended in a cliff. I slammed the breaks, but they didn't do anything. Breaking out in a cold sweat, I slammed them again and again as I yanked the hand break as far as it would go. The car refused to slow down, and I cursed myself for not anticipating this cliche. In a move of desperation, I swerved, but it wasn't enough as the car careened over the edge and took me with it.
My heart hung in my throat as I hung on to the steering wheel, my knuckles white, my screams frozen in my lungs, the raindrops like needles. An endless body of water spread below me, and I knew sharks were my next challenge. I screwed my eyes shut as I awaited the inevitable plunge …
… and I gasped as the car crashed against the surface.
I lurched forward, and I cried out as I bashed my forehead against the wheel. Groaning, I leaned back, my ears ringing as I looked around, disoriented. I was still in the convertible, but we were right side up, having crashed into the concrete wall of an indoor garage. Blood trickled down my face and I reached up, only to feel around my head in shock.
I was wearing the helmet.
Why was it in the dream?
Or had I made it out?
I looked down. I wasn't naked. My pyjamas were plastered to my sweat-soaked skin. I was out. I looked around at the broken glass and mangled metal in confusion. But if I was finally out, why was I in a car and not between silk sheets?
I removed the helmet, and a yell from behind made me jump. I turned to see one of the dream techs running towards me. Was she always that skinny? And why were her scrubs red instead of the usual blue?
She made it to me, panting as she took the helmet out of my hands, and I wrinkled my nose at her unpleasant breath. She said I'd had a nightmare and began sleepwalking, and I'd left the dream bank and stole a car from their underground parking before she triggered a wake-up signal in the helmet, which made me crash.
I stared at her, not believing what I was hearing. I told her I'd booked a projection, not a recording, and she gave me a concerned frown and claimed the opposite. Anger replaced my confusion, and I called her a liar and accused them of misconduct, and she reminded me that dreams can only be unlocked by the dreamer.
Furious, I cursed at her as I tried to get out of the car, demanding to see my file. She was quick to tell me not to move in case I made my injuries worse as she pulled out her phone and said she was going to call an ambulance.
While I sat there and waited, fuming, I glimpsed my reflection in the dangling rearview mirror. Unease rippled beneath my skin and I sat up, grabbing the mirror and angling it to show my neck.
There was an angry red mark across it.
As though I was recently strangled.
Trembling, I tilted the mirror up.
Cobwebs. Stuck in my hair.
Dumbstruck in utter stupefaction, I scanned the rest of my body. My pyjamas were dirty and there was black under my fingernails, but the rest of my examination was cut short by tinny circus music. A chill jolted down my spine and I whipped my head to face the dream tech. That was her ringtone. She smiled as she answered the call, and I drew back at her yellow, toothy grin.
What was going on? I was out of the dream, I knew I was. Had everything been real? What had the dream bank done with me? Done to me?
Ambulance sirens wailed as they entered the underground parking, and the flashing red lights reflecting off the walls triggered my recent traumas. With terror-fueled adrenaline flooding my veins, I jerked my legs free of the wreck, jumped out of the car, and booked it, the dream tech's yells merging with the screeching sirens behind me.
SR

Vivo no interior do estado e tenho família em Natal. Vou esporadicamente a cidade, mas quando vou, faço a rota natural de qualquer, digamos, turista. Alecrim, Ponta Negra, Midway, Natal Shopping, enfim, você pode imaginar. Algo que me chama a atenção toda vez que visito Natal e que posso relacionar com outras cidades é a falta de qualidade do sistema de esgoto. O caminho pelas ruas, principalmente das mais movimentadas, é marcado por um cheiro característico de esgoto, água de proveniência suspeita invadindo calçadas e meio fio. Não tenho muito conhecimento sobre a situação geral nas leis ou nas políticas do governo quando a isso, mas isso é tão prevalecente em Natal quanto em outras grandes cidades como Mossoró, Pau dos Ferros, etc. O que você acha?

Question is at the bottom if you'd like to avoid the entire story.
I need advice on how to handle this. Me and my brother are on very good terms but he has mood issues. I've never gotten into his business so I don't know fine details, he could've received the mental disorder through my mother because she is bipolar, he can have general anger issues or his mild autism makes him prone to explosive anger. I'm 17 and he's 13 now I think, he's recently been having the miniature things in the world bother him heavily, I blame puberty and I only think his aggressiveness is going to steeply rise.
Quick introduction over, now I'm almost done with dealing with the frustrating nature as I have dealt with his bullshit all my life, nearly locking me in jail for something I never did. Today I cleaned the room we've been sharing since birth, I asked for his opinion on how the room looked, he seemed to be enjoying himself unoccupied playing Roblox and watching YouTube. Although whenever he received the question he nastily snapped at me giving me a disrespectful tone and calling my question stupid (What he probably meant was insignificant). I always tell him that he needs to understand his level of respect, towards himself and to anyone else, but like many things in his life, he lacks it all.
We bickered how he needs to improve his character, but today I was just tired so I got up and gave him his expired Aripiprazole tablets prescribed by a doctor a couple years ago. I was always against his use of these tablets, I told him he needs to know how to naturally control himself, because that's the only way to feel freedom from his disorder. Unfortunately he receives no screening and we don't buy the medication anymore. What ever it was, the expired pills or the end of the discussion he calmed down and surprisingly listened to my father when he asked him to shower (typically anything ordered to him evolves loud verbal arguing and high level of disrespect toward anyone, he simply does not care). I'm not going to give him expired medication again, It was just a dumb decision made in a brief moment to calm everything down, but at the same time I can not bare his annoyance toward my calm life anymore.
I'm just going to give him sugar water and explain that I dissolved it in the water to make him think that he should not be angered easily due to his usage of the medication. I just need him to be a ghost in the corner until I get out of this living place, he'd like that because he prefers to be alone and never bothered. I genuinely think he's dangerous but that won't affect how I treat him, even when he's threatened to kill me several times in several different ways. It's his word against mine in this shitty fucking court system.
Question: How can I indirectly reduce how liable my brother is to explode? I suggest Placebo Affect as he's been under medication to calm him down, but we don't have that anymore.
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I used to frequent this subreddit quite a bit, and so, hello once again good folks! And good folks you are indeed, as I have recently seen a couple of the posts about u/inaaace and was first off humbled by you all, and then inspired.
It's been quite the adventure for me, although not anywhere near that of our intrepid St. Andrews visitor. But after treatment and physical therapy I'm up to walking between 4-5 miles a day. And I've been feeling so good, and it's such a beautiful day here in Florida, that I decided to give chipping and putting a try. Threw the clubs in the back of the car and drove to the course.
Everything went well (even had a little touch!) so I decided to try to hit one range ball - and hope I didn't collapse in a heap. I took the club back slowly and hit, and felt... fine? Weirdly fine. So I hit 2 more and stopped. It was a little scary... but maybe next time I'll try hitting 5. And so on.
Feels like I might be on the road back to playing. Thank you all for helping to get me off my ass and onto the practice range!

Short version: she keeps her cluttered boxes in the work station upstairs and it’s such an unpleasant sight!
Long version (I do apologize but this was the catalyst): Today I had a go at the one flatmate I share a bathroom with. We were out of toilet roll for 1.5 days and I was working from home, so I hoped she'd get it. I did order some online with my grocery shop which were delivered today.
Anyways, this morning before my delivery I noticed that there was a full roll in the toilet. Then it disappeared following my run. I put 4 rolls in the toilet and messaged her asking that we purchase this on a rotational basis. I was met with a message saying that she always buys loo roll and she always cleans the bathroom.
I decided to go directly and speak with her to clarify what she meant. Given at this point I was abit heated. I was confused as to why she said she always buys loo roll when our other flatmate downstairs had a loo roll subscription that supplied us with enough since September. Neither one of us have ever had to buy loo roll since then. With regards to cleaning, this girl is delusional. She only cleans when her partner visits. Her room is a tip, you cannot see the floor, her section of the bathroom is filled with mold inc the toothbrush and toothpaste. She leaves her razor near the shower which falls often and when I try to put it back it's filled with black mold. I highlighted this to her and explained it's difficult for me to take her argument about her being clean given no other part of her living is clean.
She also flooded the bathroom a few months ago which she argued couldn't have been her fault she only takes 2 minute long showers.
I then highlighted that she keeps tons of cardboard boxes in the communal area and I want them moved. They are at least 40 boxes just sitting here outside of my room. Granted I thought she didn't have much space in her room, I didn't complain. However since she's so concerned about cleanliness I have requested she removes them within a month. If not done, I will send a reminder and after I will personally put them in her room or in a black bag and put it outside.

This subreddit has been an amazing resource for my solo trip prep over the last few months so now it's my turn to give back. I did not have a set budget in mind since I save diligently for my trips. I am fairly well-traveled, a late 30s, solo traveler. This was my first time in Japan and my goals were a mixture of eating, exploring history, enjoying some theme parks, and enjoying experiences that only Japan could offer.
Total USD Spend: 17 days (2 travel days) came out to about $4200 USD total: * Flight: $1050 * Accommodations: $1400 * Food and Snacks: $1000 * Transportation (IC card, buses, trains): $250 * Theme Park & Novelty Experiences: $400 * Misc (souvenirs, shopping): $200 I typically budget out about $5K USD for my trips and Japan was definitely on the higher side of the budget, but again, I splurged on some fantastic restaurants, premiere entry at Universal Studios Osaka, along with numerous day trips. As others have mentioned here, I also averaged between 25K-30K steps a day. I’m in decent shape but walking 10-15 miles everyday definitely took its toll and my body shut down for a day.
Day 0: Landed in Osaka in the late afternoon and ended up wandering Dotonbori for a few hours since my hotel was located a block away. Ended up eating some very mediocre ramen at a stand in Dotonbori which was pretty disappointing, but the carbs were enough to knock me out. Day 1: Woke up early to walk around Dontobori at 5am and then headed out to few unique temples, including Namba Yasaka Jinja. Hopped onto the subway to enter Ueno Sky Tower, and overall, it was meh, I didn’t stay long just taking a few pictures and walked around Ueno for a few hours before heading to the Pokemon Cafe in Shinsaibashi. As others have noted, the food was very mediocre, but it was a fun experience nonetheless. Spent the rest of the evening getting drinks in Dotonbori before calling it a night.
Day 2: A full day at Universal Studios Japan to experience Super Nintendo World. I splurged on the express passes that gave me full access to a bunch of rides. SNW is pretty fucking awesome and I had a blast riding the Yoshi and Mario Kart rides, all the while taking taking in the atmosphere. The premiere pass also gave me access to a few additional rides including Harry Potter, Doraemon VR, and Jurassic Park. Had a late dinner at Kyushu Ramen getting their famous chashu ramen and it did not disappoint.
Day 3: Spent most of the day exploring Kuromon Ichiba Market, the local malls, and Dotonbori trying some street food. Went back to my hotel room and just relaxed for the rest of the day since jet lag was still bothering me. Watched some sumo matches on random Japanese tv before calling it a night.
Day 4: Took a day trip to Himeji to see the Himeji Castle. What a fantastic piece of history! I spent hours just taking in the sites and the nearby garden also highly recommended. Afterward, I had my first taste of Kobe beef in the form of a beef bowl at Kushiyaki Kobe Beef. Fantastic little hole-in-the-wall place with some really nice people working the counter. Took the train from Himeji directly to Nara where I was planning to stay the night. Day 5: Spent the entire day playing with the thousands of deer and checking out some local temples, including Todai-ji. I didn't do anything in Nara that hadn't been mentioned enough times here, but as others have said, a day trip or one day is more than enough time in the area. Took a late train to Kyoto. Day 6: Woke up in the early morning to beat the crowds to enjoy Fushimi Inari. Hiked the entire loop (about 2-3 hours) with only a fraction of the crowds, enjoyed some macha soft serve at the peak of the hill, and took my time going back down right rwhen the army of tourists and tour groups arrived. Grabbed an overly expensive Kobe beef stick from one of the food stalls by the temple gates and then spent an hour at a cute coffee shop called Rickshaw Cafe just people watching before grabbing an early dinner at Ramen Sen-no-Kaze. The food was solid, but it took 90 minutes to get a table. Not worth it and in hindsight I would have left.
Day 7: Woke up early again to check out the highly overrated Arashimyama bamboo forest. It was pretty underwhelming, but I did get a few nice photos before the crowds arrived. Strolled through the park and really enjoyed walking along the Katsura River seeing the catfish waiting to be fed and seeing the fishing boats tied up. A very tranquil place. After the nice long stroll, I walked back-and-forth the Togetsukyo Bridge and Kimono Forest (meh). The highlight of the morning was really Tenryu-Ji and the amazing zen garden. After a few hours taking in the peacefulness and silence, took the city bus to Kinkaku-ji, and the crowds were in full swing. Still totally worth seeing in person although it didn’t last very long. Day 8: A full day experiencing the Philosopher’s Path on a gorgeous sunny day. Too sunny since I got some pretty bad sunburns! I visited too many amazing temples, including Kiyomizo-dera, along with old Gion, although I thought the area was bit overhyped. I preferred the smaller, more peaceful temples away from the mass of tourists. Some of my favorites during my day exploring old Kyoto included Eikan-do, a more secluded temple up in the hills, Nanzen-Ji, with its beautiful aqueduct, and just walking the streets aimlessly for a few hours. Went to Nishiki Market and ate some amazing oysters at Daiyasu. If you love oysters, this is the spot to try it! Spent too much money on oysters and decided to go cheap and ate at Kura Sushi. The food was mediocre by Japanese standards, but blows away the quality and cost of the Kura Sushi restaurants in my hometown of Los Angeles.
Day 9: Took an early morning train to Kanazawa. Enjoyed my first ekiben while taking in the sights from the comfort of the Thunderbird Limited Express. Spent the rest of the day visiting the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (meh) and Kenrou-ken, probably the most beautiful garden in the Kanda province. Wrapped up the day by visiting the D.T Suzuki Museum and wow, the tranquil pool area was amazing. Do yourself a favor and stand on the corner and just stare at the water. You’ll feel like the entire world is moving along on a plane and you’re the one that is frozen in place. It was pretty trippy. Ate well at Mori More Sushi Omicho and stopped by the Pokemon Center to pick up the exclusive Pikachu Kimono figure only available in the Kanazawa store.
Day 10: Torrential rain the entire day but I powered throughit with my trusty umbrella. Enjoyed breakfast and snacks at the Omicho Market, enjoying a tuna-don at one of the stalls, fresh uni, and more oysters. Not cheap but fresh! Walked around the Higashi Chaya District, doing a bit of window shopping and ate some gold leaf macha soft serve at Kaikaro, spending more time people watching. Walked around the Kanazawa Castle Park in all its empty glory as well as the Oyama Shrine. The castle was pretty underwhelming esp. after seeing Himeji so I probably would have skipped it in hindsight. Wrapped up the day visiting the Naga-machi District, probably my favorite part of Kanazawa. Had more sushi at Sushi Rekireki Omicho, an enjoyable omakase.
Day 11: Took the Shinkansen to Tokyo eating the most expensive ekiban I could find, and spent the rest of the entire day in Asakusa in Tokyo. Walked around Senso-ji, had a few beers in Hoppy Street, and finally tried Ichiran. Called it an early day since I would be doing DisneySea in the early morning.
Day 12: Took the express bus from Tokyo Skytree to DisneySea. Thanks to the early forecast of rain, the park was barely 50% full? The longest wait for most rides was under 20 minutes so I was lucky enough to ride everything at least once. My meals consisted of a bunch of unique Dsney parki food: gyoza hot dogs, alien mochi, Mike watermelon bread, etc. Stayed until the fireworks and went straight back to the hotel and crashed. That was a 40K step day!
Day 13: Visited Akihabara, spending way too much money on crane games, browsing retro games, and looking at figures. Headed to Shibuya to eat breakfast for lunch at A Happy Pancake (meh). Went to the Nintendo Store in the PARCO mall, only to be disappointed to find out that all of the Nintendo World store t-shirts were sold out. Actually everything semi-interesting was sold out. Went up to Shibuya Sky to watch the sunset, spending a few hours just watching the day slowly turn into night. Did the Scramble a few times and then headed to Shinjuku where I’d be located for the last few days.
Day 14: Another torrential rainstorm sadly ruined my plans of visiting Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingo, and Harajuku. Maybe next time. I was hoping to buy Tokyo Giants tickets but they were all sold out so I ended up going to the Tokyo National Museum. I won’t lie, I was pretty bored, and in hindsight I wish I went to the neighboring National Museum of Nature and Science instead. After strolling Ueno Park in the rain, I was craving tonkatsu and googled Tonkatsu Yamabe. Good decision as it was the best tonkatsu I had in Tokyo. Went to a nearby Taito Game Station wasting more money on crane games before heading back to Shinjuku. The area is insane and in hindsight, I would probably pick somewhere like Shibuya or Ueno, somewhere slightly more chill. Day 15: One of my favorite days in Tokyo! Teamlabs Planets lives up to the hype but ONLY if you can get first admission at 9am. It was glorious to be among the first people in the exhibits as I could take in experience the way it was intended. There were only a few people in each room giving each space such a great, peaceful, and chill vibe. Headed to Ginza to the Michelin-rated Sushi Toyama, where I had a chance to finally experience bluefin toro (worth it!). Probably the most expensive lunch ever but it was quite the experience. A sunny and beautiful day, I bought a bunch of souvenirs and clothes (a 12-story Uniqlo with its own coffee shop, Muji Ginza, Ginza Six), checked out my favorite Toy Story in Japan, Hakuhinkan Toy Park, intricate stationary stores like Itoya, and went to a very popular Ginza Starbucks to people watch. Spent the evening in Shinjuku exploring Golden Gai getting swarmed by Nigerian dudes. Wanted to try a hole-in-wall ramen spot in the area but the line was stupid long so I ended up just going to Kyushu Ramen and was satisfied enough. A good day.
Day 16: With the break in clouds the day before, I decided to call an audible and set up a last minute day trip to Mount Fuji. Took an express bus from Shinjuku to Fushiyoshida and got dropped off in front of Chureito Pagoda. It was cloudy for most of the day, but for the last several hours I saw Mount Fuji in all its glory. It was a gray day but no complaints — it was nice to cross another bucket list item from the list.
Wow, this was much longer than I anticipated. Well if you got this far, feel free to ask any questions! In the meantime, I'll be planning my next trip to Japan soon!