During my digital cleanse, which took quite a while, Some websites were... less than helpful when it came either to choosing to delete my account or just change the associated email on them. So here are some of the more annoying ones and my experiences, because people should know how they work. Note some of these I had a while ago and just no longer used, I wasn't currently active on the sites.

1. swap.com - cannot change the email on the account, so I deleted it.
2. wigs.com - refused to change my email or delete the account, so I changed the info to a bullshit address.
3. Razer, as in my nice headset for my computer - sad because they're quality products, but I deleted them because they refused to accept a secure protonmail email address. Fuck them.
4. squareup - refused to delete or even deactivate my account, so I changed the email to some bullshit.
5. Sonic, the drive-in fast food place - says you can't change the email on an account, the contact us page doesn't work and there's no other way to contact them anywhere. abandoned.
6. babbel.com - deleted account because no way to change the email.
7. tandem.net - login didn't work, contact us link just goes to a forum you can't use unless you log in, no other way to contact them. abandoned.
8. eyemart express (glasses and eye exams) - do not allow email changes, had to delete account.
9. 24petwatch.com (pet insurance) - I could not delete my account for a cat I used to have until I bought a new membership (??) to the site, so I still have to call their toll free number and get him marked as deceased. FFS.

There is no excuse for this level of incompetence and complexity. Even though the glasses site has to by law keep records because exams are healthcare, there is no reason any of these should refuse to allow me to change my email. poor customer service will lose my business every time.

So... this is rather interesting. I purchased yarn of specific colors to do an art project for an auction a local arts center holds annually. I went straight to the source, Yarnspirations, instead of through amazon. Order went through.

Order did say they were experiencing a high volume and would be 5-7 days later, possibly. OK. I get an email after that saying still high volume, delayed. Another some time after that. I realize it's a week after the last one and I am a MONTH behind getting started on this project. You have 2 months to create, and they all have to be submitted on one particular day. So I order yarn elsewhere and email Yarnspirations that I'm frustrated, behind, and I just want a refund.

I get an email that I've been refunded, they did apologize, but get this. "however we are unable to stop the order from shipping. We hope when the order is received you are able to enjoy the products or gift them to others."

I mean, that's nice, it's fortunate they're colors I'll actually use for myself... But this giant company has so little control over shipping? Big names, too, like Aunt Lydia’s, Bernat, Caron, Coats & Clark, Lily Sugar'n Cream, Patons, Phentex, Red Heart, and Anchor. Seems odd they can't cancel one little order, which makes me think it may have just shipped and someone forgot to send the "it shipped" email. Oh well. We'll see when/if it ever arrives. At least they were quite nice about the whole thing. And my other supplies come Monday, so I can still get the project done.

Well, next week should be interesting. My continuous glucose monitor, a Freestyle libre 2, is being discontinued in September in favor of the 3 Plus. So, per the email recommendation, I've had my provider change the prescription. I now have the new one waiting when this one runs out next Tuesday. And honestly, I'm really hoping for improved performance.

The 3+ has a 15-day wear, a range of 33 feet Bluetooth, better alarm control, and can work with insulin pumps. (which, thank the gods, I do NOT have) And it's smaller. But my 2 has shown a marked tendency to be easily affected by several things that cause it to give off false lows when I'm laying down at night or for a nap. Accidental compression, excessive sweat without hydration, it hates I had an electric blanket on, etc. I don't wear it on the side I sleep on, but I've found myself sleeping on my back more often to humor it and that actually is quite uncomfortable for me. It's gotten to the point where I had to turn off my phone to keep it from giving me false low alarms every hour and a half or so. And I know they were false because they were compared to a blood stick, which I also broke down and bought. I still have a LOT of difficulty actually sticking myself, which was the point of the CGM in the first place.

It's all education, I know, learning about what works for me. But when you have fibromyalgia's sleep problems to start with... I was close to throwing that phone through a wall to get it to shut up! I did some reading and apparently I'm not the only one with false low issues. Maybe that's why they're discontinuing it. *shrug* We shall see. If the 3+ really isn't any better, I'll go to the Dexcom which my brother wears and literally never does that. I'm hoping not, it's a bit more expensive.

Now, patches. As you saw in a previous post, I also have these patches/bandages that are popular to hold it on. Does one last the full 14 days? No, they're full of shit about that. But it lasts about a week, which isn't horrible. I would say if someone also exercises a lot or showers a lot more because of that, it's not going to last even that long. I tried going without and the CGM's own adhesive was wearing off a little around day 5. So they do help hold it on. To be fair, it's been unseasonably warm lately even for here, so sweat has been an issue. But given I live in a desert and it's barely spring, I have to find an adequate solution. The Libre, unlike the Dexcom, does NOT come with an alcohol wipe with each applicator, which feel a bit... cheap. Like, Dexcom apparently does. You couldn't put one little alcohol wipe in with it when I'm supposed to use one? I have them, but that's not the point. Even my Ozempic comes with one wipe for each injection.

Ah well. That's my rant. Otherwise, I've just been writing and have submitted some more poetry to journals. Fingers crossed for acceptance! Peace and hugs to everyone in these trying times.

OK, I have to share this cause I'm impressed. So, having diabetes, (big frowny face), I've discovered my blood sugar takes a dip overnight. Sometimes alarm-low. But to fix that, a little protein just before bed keeps it evened out. The best way I've found to do that is a small protein shake. I've been trying different powders to find one I like and last night was a big win.

The brand is Rule One. It's a whey protein powder that mixes with milk very well. (I'd never mix with water like some of them say, that's gross.) I had the chocolate fudge flavor and holy cow is it good. Rich and truly chocolatey, it satisfied that sweet craving as well while only having 1g of sugar per serving. I got mine on Amazon for about $14.99 for a 1-lb bag, making it just barely over $1 per serving. Well, that's decently less than the other brands of pre-made shakes in their little juice box sizes. I use a 20-oz Blender Bottle.

I will absolutely be trying the other flavors and look forward to the "toasted cinnamon cereal". Which made me smile since they can't use the name, but I love cinnamon flavored stuff. 24g of protein per serving kept my blood sugar steady for about 7.5 hours of sleep and the half hour between drinking and actually going to bed. I do that so my acid reflux doesn't act up from laying down right away. So, yeah. Highly recommend.
amazon.com/dp/B0CQM97P3Z

So now that I've had them almost a week, I'm reviewing the patch bandage things that I bought off amazon as covers for my continuous glucose monitor on my arm. Mine is a Freestyle Libre 2 and does not come with covers like a Dexcom does. (I'll work on it, I don't know why my images are only showing up in photos, not in the post themselves. They do have ALT text, though.)

These, so far, do NOT last. The sensor is on your arm for 14 days before you replace it. This patch lasted 6 days, I just put a new one on. They come in white people flesh tone, baby crib pink, or the rainbow assorted pack I bought that includes the "skin" tone and black. I've used the two "skin" tone ones now.

First off, the backing is divided into thirds. Although the package markets these to the Freestyle Libre sensors, the backing is not cut with a circle in the middle of it, which is a pain in the butt. I took the recommendation of a lot of amazon reviewers and left the paper on in the center over the sensor to make it easier to remove. I'm glad I did, but being cut in a strip meant I had to measure the width of the sensor and cut the paper correctly, an extra step. It's not hard to position and put on, though, much like a fabric Band-Aid with peeling off one piece of paper at a time.

Over the 6 days, though, the edges started fraying about day 3 (I mainly wear tshirts and sweatshirts). Then it started peeling up on the upper edge, where it would rub against a shirt you're taking off over your head. I took it off today because half of it had literally no adhesive left and was flapping off. When I took it completely off, it wasn't even sticky anymore in that area.

So, while they're pretty colors, they don't stay stuck worth crap. I'll be looking at other brands and saving the rest of these for... I don't know, art projects? Emergency bandage covers? Vaguely absorbent coasters for a lukewarm can? *shrug* Not worth the money, in my opinion. Oh well.

Here are some personal things people can do to protect themselves a little further, find ways to stay positive, and resist on a personal level. Feel free to comment if you have more constructive suggestions.

VPN -
Get a VPN. this is a way to protect your privacy further on your computer, phone, etc. It basically hides your computer's "address" by going through servers in other countries. You sign up for an account, download a little program, log in and let it stay on. NordVPN is the most extensive and the smallest plan is $3 (USD) something a month, and you can buy 2 years worth right now. Surfshark is popular and even cheaper. (it also has a benefit of changing locations of certain services, like letting you see what someone in the UK sees on Netflix you don't, for example) If you really can't afford this, they have browser extensions that at least let you browse privately, but only for Edge, Google, and Firefox. I got the full system VPN because I use a different browser. Please note that there are free ones, but you shouldn't get them as they track you and log sites you visit, which is part of why you don't want this in the first place. They have to make money somehow, and if they're not getting it from you, your data is the next available thing.

Services -
If you want a free, private, encrypted email address, zohomail, proton.me or mailfence.com are some of the best. I've heard the first can be a little slow, but it's your choice. There are several articles out there that compare features for you.

Opera is a great browser that isn't bloated with memory hog issues and is very private. Some company work programs don't like it, but the only issue I've ever had with it was when a therapist's video remote software their work made them use instead of Zoom wouldn't work in it. Firefox is a second best choice. No matter what, make sure to learn how to clean out cache and cookies regularly. It'll improve your performance, if nothing else.

Storygraph.app is the alternative to Goodreads. (Which is owned by Amazon) Started by a woman of color and you can export all your Goodreads stuff into it. I love it and am doing some reading challenges there. The recommendation quiz is spot-on, in my opinion.

BlueSky (bsky.app) is the very liberal, much more positive and supportive alternative to Shitter. it has a great ability to filter whatever words you want it to so you never see certain things, and it's easy as hell to block someone.

pixelfed.social is the decentralized version of Instagram.

I don't use it, but people recommend Signal as an alternative to Whatsapp, which is owned by Meta. Signal is totally encrypted end-to-end if you need a messaging app. I never used Whatsapp, but that's just me.

All browsers use extensions (well, windows ones I know of). Get Ublock Origin and AdBlock for Youtube to stop being tracked and stop seeing so many damned ads. All ads track you these days.

Get a library card, even if you never use it. Vote for libraries, they're one of the few free safe spaces in many places. Request books from BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ and disabled authors. If they get enough requests, they will buy the books and those authors DO get royalties. Request audio and e-books for accessibility. Libraries are also a bastion against censorship wherever they can be. They also have a huge digital selection of resources through things like Hoopla, Libby, or Overdrive and interlibrary loan can get you nearly anything. Universities also have connected libraries you can borrow things on using that. Also check out Little Libraries, the boxes in neighborhoods where people drop off and take books for free.

If you still want to buy actual new and/or used books, Thriftbooks is great. I use Better World Books, who are also environmentally conscious. You probably won't get that "here in 2 days or less", but patience shouldn't take precedence over morals. There are a TON of fantastic indie authors who sell through itch.io for e-books, and they don't have DRM bullshit AND the authors get far more royalties than many big places.

Use ALT text on all images you post. Don't repost images that don't have it. And, something I recently learned, use the ALT text because people who are vision-impaired also might be muting certain political and other terms and if that's in ALT-text, it'll mute and they won't have to see OR hear that crap.

Take care of yourself. If you need to turn off the news or not look at that news feed, or even train BlueSky to make your algorithm mostly show you pictures of baby possums and kitties, that is perfectly fine. If you need to go out and get that coffee and donut, DO IT. (or whatever treat works for you.) Check a book, or movie, or e-book, or audio book (amazon owns audible, alas) out of the library. Cuddle your pet, wear the warm fuzzy socks, play the video game. You're worth taking care of, and you deserve good things.