fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #3795 ]

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Ugh. Summer in Texas. It was in the 90s today. The heat makes me feel run down and makes it harder to get things done. And plus, it is horrible on my oily skin, and I haven't found any products that I can afford that work for me.

So how do you deal with the heat? And are there cheep products for skin that work?

Damn, and it's not really even summer yet! I'm sorry, I'm in coastal southern California, so my fixits probably won't be much help, but keeping spray bottles of water in the fridge to spritz myself with and camping out in front of a big fan (no AC here but then around here people aren't usually in danger of dying without it) help. A couple of drops of peppermint oil in the water can make it seem cooler, too. I have oily skin but it's not humid and hot at the same time here very often--maybe peppermint oil again, a couple of drops to a bowlful of cool water, and just wipe your face and neck with a washcloth dipped in and wrung out every so often?

Can't help, except to comment that I hate heat, too. I come from a land of snow and ice, now live somewhere that is crazy humid and hot. I hate the feeling of sweat rolling down my back as I'm wearing work clothes. I genuinely fear I sweat more than the average person, or otherwise I don't know how everyone else walks around every day standing this without being as dramatic as I am.

For what it's worth though, I don't think having oily skin is bad for your skin? Actually, I hear oily skin tends to be softer and go without wrinkling longer. You just had the disadvantage of looking oily.

Yes, oily skin means less wrinkles when I'm older. Right now, though, it means acne, which gets worse the hotter and more humid it is.

Not sure about making you feel less run down, but - get some Gold Bond 'medicated' body powder. It comes in a sea-green container. It has some menthol in it, and when you put it on (like under the breasts, on the chest, down your ribs, between the thighs but not on the bits) it feels really good, tingly and cool. Also helps with sweat and shirts not sticking so bad, etc.

If your home is warm, put a damp washcloth or small towel in the freezer for a couple minutes, then put it on the back of your neck. Makes your whole body feel cooler!

Hydrate as much as possible, and try and eat nice cool, wet foods, like salads or melon, that kind of things. Popsicles. It will just make you feel cooler and lighter food always helps.

Also, do your best to sleep cool, you'll wake more refreshed. Close up any sun-facing shades or blinds or curtains in the bedroom to try and keep the overall temp in your bedroom down during the day.

I can't help with the oily skin, sorry.

Does that powder have talcum in it? I'm allergic to talcum, so I never use baby powder or things like that. I find body lotion can help sometimes.

Re: How to deal with heat

tabaqui - 2017-05-26 03:01 (UTC) - Expand

Fellow texan here! Besides staying in, when I was working outside last summer I discovered the joys of lukewarm showers (because I can't do cold showers), and dusting powder for while wearing shorts (cause I was walking a lot outside, and experiencing chafing.)

As for the oily skin - how cheap we talking? Personally, when my skin is oily I use a charcoal mask every week to fe days, which will suck up oil like crazy, and then an oil free moisturizer to finish. On a daily basis I use the Origins Checks and Balances face wash, which I find helps control oil without drying me out (I have combo skin), which is around 20 dollars but it lasts a good while.

fill a bathtub with ice, soak a towel in ice water, take a dozen aspirin then climb in the bathtub and pull the towel over you and close your eyes and count backward from five hundred. Don't get out of the bath until you ht zero. You'll soon cool down.

Body powder, if you find some you aren't allergic to, is amazing. The medicated/menthol/cooling kind can burn like a motherfucker if you have sensitive or irritated skin but I've never had it increase the irritation. I use it all over the inside of my thighs and under my belt, on my feet, and around my calves where my boots rub. Sometimes if I'm wearing a toolbag or something I'll use it on my chest and shoulders where it rests, too.

If you can, change your clothes whenever you get really sweaty in them.

Drink way more than you think you need to. When I'm working outside I'm often drinking a bottle of ice water every half-hour, and alternating that with powerade. At the end of the day I often have a layer of dried salt all over my skin and clothing from sweating so much, your body really loses a lot from being in the heat so you HAVE to replenish it.

Those cool rag things, or even just a cool damp towel, are great if you don't mind your shirt getting soaked. I sometimes drape a cool rag over my head and wear it under my hat to protect my neck and shoulders and also keep me cool if I'm in the sun.

Make sure you're eating enough. I know the heat makes most people not hungry, but it's really important to replenish the stuff you're sweating out. I have trouble with this, so I eat a ton of ice cream, frozen yogurt for protein, popsicles, smoothies, etc. during the summer.

I don't have any help for oily skin, I've just resigned myself to being perpetually greasy for 10 months out of the year. :(

In regards to powder, I use cornstarch. Specifically Maizena (maybe you've seen it in the supermarket, yellow box, red lettering). Many food uses, many body uses. I usually rub some on my feet or pour a bit in my shoes when I know it's gonna be hot out.

So I'm not the anon who was asking whether they should get a pet, but their thread got me wondering if I should get one. I was planning on getting a cat if I either got promoted, or graduated, and then I did both inside three months. Yay! But for anyone who's been following the saga, I'm drunk mom anon, and mom's probably headed for hospice care in the next couple weeks. :-(

She's been in a board and care since February, and she won't be coming home except for brief visits and maybe when she's dying. I'm pretty sure I have the money for a cat, since I'm making a bit extra, and my job's only half time, so I have time for a pet more involved than my old lady hens now that school's over for a bit--I'll apply to grad school next year. But I keep second-guessing myself. What if I end up using a cat as an emotional bandaid? Is that bad? I'm gonna get so much therapy with my newfound free time, but a cat seems like--I dunno--fun therapy, rather than the slog I know talking to a therapist is gonna be. I don't think I'm an awful pet owner, I've had hens live to be 16, but...

Doesn't seem like a bad idea. Cats are pretty self sufficient, so as long as you don't leave it home for like 3 days, it will be fine. If you are going to therapy anyways, it seems you are taking care of your emotional needs.

If you think you have the money and are prepared to be with this cat for the next possibly 20 years, I don't see an issue with it.

Having a parent in that condition it may really be good for you to have something else that keeps your attention. Therapy is great, school is also great, but you're also allowed to have other things in your life and if you think a cat will improve your life I say go for it.

My cat has honestly kept me alive, even in the worst years of my depression I've always been able to take care of her and she is happy and healthy.

If you have the money, and the space for a cat (as in, not a tiny apartment, somewhere with enough space for the cat to explore... and if you have hens I'm guessing you do?) then it sounds like a nice idea. Cats still need daily love and attention, but if you're ready to commit long-term and know you can handle the responsibility, then go to the shelter and consider adopting! You could even do a trial period with a cat, or foster one for a few weeks first to make sure the responsibility is really one you are ready for.

It's not bad. Cats don't care if you 'use' them for therapy. It just means more pets and cuddles for them!

If you have the space (and money), do try for two cats, since one cat alone all day (if you work outside the home) gets lonely and bored, and might get destructive. Two (you can probably even adopt older, been together for years cats from a rescue or shelter), is always better.

And I'm sorry to hear the news about your mom.
*offers hugs*

You should not get a cat. Nobody should get a cat as a pet.

Shut up.

Re: Advice thread

(Anonymous) - 2017-05-26 11:34 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Advice thread

(Anonymous) - 2017-05-26 21:43 (UTC) - Expand

Cats are amazing. You should get one. I use my cat as a therapy animal and he's perfectly fine with it.

Pets are amazing for you mental health, and health in general - seriously, so, so many studies show this. So I think it is a good idea, with the following caveats:

- Is it going to inside or outside? If outside, will you be around enough to let it in and out, and to deal with it if it starts to roam too much? (Cats like to roam, male cats more so,) If inside, do you have enough room in your place for your cat to get a bit of exercise, and somewhere to put a kitty litter tray or two? So you have space for a cat tree or something else to entertain the cat while you're out?
- Are you 100% sure you can commit to the care the cat will need both in the immediate and longterm? Cats are very set and forget, but there are certain things that are non-negotiable: feeding 1-2 times day (depending on how you feed your cat), cleaning the kitty litter regularly (unless you want your cat to start using your house as a toilet because its litter is full), grooming and fur vaccuuming if kitty is longhaired, and any vet appointments you might need - e.g. vaccinations, microchipping, worming, desexing, general health checkups.
- Costs: can you afford putting cat food, kitty litter, vet visits and any cat toys you might want to get your cat in your budget?
- There's always the possibility that the cat you get might need some extra care and training in the beginning - like spending more time with it, and also teaching it to use the kitty box, not scratch the furniture and maybe using deterrents to stop it going to the toilet in other places, or if it's a male cat, spraying to mark its territory.

I'm not saying these things because I think you can't do them. I'm saying them because you are going through a very touch time right now, and that and the fact that you are worried you'll use your cat as an emotional bandaid implies that maybe you aren't thinking so clearly now about all the implications of pet ownership.

Once again, not knowing your situation, if I were you I would probably be looking at an adult cat (doesn't need as much attention and care as a kitten), female (roams less, doesn't spray), probably one from a respectable shelter or breeder that rates their cats by how active they are and how many people they like being around - you would probably want to look for a chill cat that is used to having one owner an being inside.

If you are still unsure, another thing to consider is looking to see if shelters near you have pet fostering programs - you could potentially foster a cat or kittens for a few weeks just to see how you handle the responsibility with everything else you've got on in your life, with the option of giving them back early if you find that it's too much.

Whatever you choose to do OP, good luck!

I've had cats before (2 that were just mine, several more that belonged to roommates) and my current roommate's got one right now, but I'll be moving into my mom's house soon and it'd be nice not to be knocking around alone there. There're two vets within walking distance. I've got my eye on a 3 year old female who's been returned to the local shelter because she nips when picked up, but she's otherwise friendly with people but not always with other cats. I'm used to cats that go in and out as they please, but I was going to see how she'd handle the outdoors in brief supervised visits before ruling out her being an indoor only cat. There's a decent sized fenced yard, not counting the chicken run. I can clean a litter box; I shovel chicken shit regularly and have cleaned up every bodily fluid you can think of (thanks a lot, mom.)

Re: Advice thread

(Anonymous) - 2017-05-26 23:39 (UTC) - Expand

Please don't let your cat roam around outside. I saw my neighbor's cat get carried off by a hawk. I was too far away to do anything. It was horrible.

A catio is not extremely expensive to build and there are a ton of examples online. A friend built one using stuff she found from the free section on Craigslist.

I strongly suggest feeding at least one can of wet cat food daily with a grain free dry cat food. I only fed my old cat Molly dry food and she developed a nasty urinary tract infection. The vet told me that cats need wet food too. They said to alternate protein sources (fish, chicken, beef) because too much of a certain kind can make them sick. Also don't put the food and water dish next to each other. Cats don't like it.

Cats love being able to get up high to survey their domain. A lot of the negative behavior from the cats on the show My Cat from Hell was because the cat didn't have a place to get up and away. Invest in a tall cat tree or wide shelving on the wall. Quake Hold putty is a lifesaver

I used to use the Tidy Cat scoopable cat litter at around $15 every two weeks. I now use a bag of wood pellets (horse stall bedding from Tractor Supply Company) that is $6 for 40 pounds and with my current two cats, it lasts for two months. It is the same stuff as Feline Pine, but more for less money. The litter box is a large see-through plastic tote that was around $5 at Walmart.

I got my current two cats from my old neighbor. They had three cats, G, P, and B that each had kittens all within a week. P only had one kitten, but she didn't want anything to do with it, so my neighbor put the kitten with B's litter. P and G were run over and B couldn't feed all the kittens. I took in the runts, P's and B's kittens and bottle fed them. Both are girls. P's kitten is called Butter and has a tortoiseshell coat. B's baby is called Needy and is a brown tabby. I got them spayed for free through a local program, your area might have a free or reduced rate program too. Both are therapy animals, I have a note from my psychologist saying they help me.

I didn't have them declawed and they let me trim their nails every few weeks.

I make their toys for the most part. The easiest is to cut a rectangle out of felt, sew part way, fill with stuffing or scrap fabric, add some scents (Butter loves catnip and Needy likes cinnamon), and sew the rest of the way. Butter's favorite thing is catnip scented bubbles while Needy hates bubbles.

Definitely put away money each month for emergencies. Needy nearly gave me a heart attack when she stopped walking one morning when she was three months old. One rush to the vet, a numbing shot, a x-ray, and $125 later, she was fine. The vet thought she hurt her back while playing.

I don't know if you'll even see this but I think you should get a cat. It really is like fun therapy and there's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong with an emotional band aid, either. And for the rest of your lives you will always remember that in addition to the laughs and happy memories, it got you through some majorly tough times.

I got a dog a few years after my son died, I wish I had done it sooner. I didn't start coming back to life until then. The first time I laughed was because of my dog. He's three now and I can't believe what he's done for our family and for me. We still are a family, which almost wasn't the case, I can leave my house again. In fact I leave all the time to go on long walks in woods or at the lake with our dog. He's curled up sleeping next to me right now and barking and running in his sleep. He's so happy that he taught me that I can be happy, too. Not all the time and I still go into deep depressions sometimes but not always. Not anymore.

Re: Advice thread

(Anonymous) - 2017-05-27 03:20 (UTC) - Expand

???

Somewhere you can sit in it and try it first. (Most computer chairs ime are total pieces of crap, and it's pretty obvious in the store.)

[ SECRET POST #3795 ]

Advice thread

How to deal with heat

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Where should I buy a computer chair?

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