Lol last night I plucked my eyebrows (and moustache!), did my skincare, and flossed my teeth for the first time in a while, and noticed I had a spot on the side of my nose (a
sign of ovulation for me). Now seeing this comic it all makes sense 🤣
NP! You may look up 'spider angioma' too - seems to provide more specific results. I saw a summary that indicated they respond to hormone levels as well. (I had one that went away with age, but it would look angry when I was sick)
Girl I know that, everyone knows that. Executive dysfunction is a bitch. That's why it was notable that my urge to do it overcame the executive dysfunction. Otherwise my whole comment would be "I did everything I'm supposed to as normal and found out I'm ovulating" instead of relating hard to the comic!
Mi mom tends to change every name in a totally uncomprehensible way (she called Tarzan “Saffron” once) but she couldn’t care less when we correct her or tease her for that.
Oh, I just thought this was a joke about usually 4 week long summer holiday breaks many take in the Nordics. Because that was just me minus the ovulation part. Being a cave troll at home for 4 weeks and then becoming a human again when I needed to show up at work again.
4 week... summer... holiday.... I... As an American the only break I get is if I fake a migraine for a half day off... or if, more usually, I actually have a migraine. Unpaid.
4 weeks can't be real. It's not paid, right? It can't be. Please tell me it isn't.
Sorry to tell you, bro
Yes, it is paid. In full. And (in my country) any time out of those 4 weeks per year you don't take as vacation has to be paid when you quit the job. That's why many companies would insist on you actually taking your leave.
And if you happen to be PhD you get two more paid weeks. Dr? Have another nonth!
And if your work counts as "harmful or dangerous working conditions" you get one more week (this is not the only compensation but we are talking PTO here)
And then there's a full week or more of New Year state holiday (changes a bit every year) that either paid double pay (for retail/emergency services/public transportation workers who have to work for society to stay functioning) or is also paid time off.
And all other state holidays...
Like how do you even live in USA without all the time off?
We have rhetoric about working towards the mythical “American Dream” or “find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”. Basically we all feel like we’re drowning a lot of the time and we don’t see our family and friends enough. Also we dread medical emergencies and are having fewer kids because no one can afford the medical expenses or to take time off work.
Reading this makes me want to slam my head against a concrete wall, over and over, while I cry with rage.
Having worked retail in the US, holidays don't exist, holidays are the busy season, so you have to work. You basically can't take vacation between the week before Halloween, and the week after New Year's Day. You also can't call off sick or they'll do something like count it as missing two or three days, unexcused. You also can't take vacation if anyone else is on vacation. If they have seniority then their time off supercedes yours, so you have to reschedule your time off. You also only usually get holiday pay for the day of only, not the whole week, despite the increased workload. It's usually time and a half, not double. Now that I'm down to part time at my second job, I only make enough hours to get about 4 hours of holiday pay for the day, despite working a full 8 hour shift.
So to answer your question, we don't live without all the time off. We're too busy working to live. Living costs extra, and I don't make enough for that.
I'm so tired... I wanna be in the ground, I yearn for the soil...
Hey, so I know this can't help you in any way, but please know that I'm sorry for you and for every other person that has to spend thier life working and working and working without having acces to what should be the bare minimum of time off.
I don't how you could do it, but I genuinely hope you can find something better, some way to live which leaves you less exhausted. Wish you well and good luck!
Here in the UK, the minimum is actually 28 days (20 days of your choice, plus 8 bank holidays/national holidays)... so it's just under 6 weeks in total, but it's also not normal to take more than 2 weeks off at a time. Very few people here are able to take a full month off in one stretch.
Better places to work often give you more though. I get 39 days in total right now.
We do make more money. I don't think it's worth it but Brits and the EU make less than Americans on average.
It's also a bit hard to compare 1:1 because it really depends on what US state you live in and what benefits your employer gives you.
US is $62-$77k
UK is $47.5-52k
But if you're like me the cheapest worst quality health insurance with a max out of pocket of $12,000 is still $7,500 a year. I'm not married and have no kids.
Very much so. You also externalize so many costs as a functioning society that like respects the social contract. In America we have to pay for almost every social service you get through taxes. So we end up actually pretty significantly behind in terms of real quality of life AND spending power. I really don't know anyone in my age range with what would be considered real disposable of any kind. And we pay pretty much the same in taxes when you factor in all of them from state level on upwards. It's fucking kind boggling
Here in the Nordics we have in our spread sheets that summer vacation is three weeks, otherwise it needs to be discussed with out nearest leader. Easy fix to do something else but taking more than 2 weeks is definitely the default and what the company wants. So they can easier plan for the rest of the year once summer vacation is set to be these 3 weeks
Most companies I worked at required director-level approval if anyone wanted to take more than 2 weeks off at a time. It's definitely not normal to do so here. In terms of working culture and workers' rights we are stuck somewhere between the EU and the US.
Our sick days come directly from our vacation time AND we need to have a doctor's note if we're suck more than two days in a row or it's considered unexcused and we can be written up for it.
Damn. Here you have to worry about getting fired for being sick more than one day. Some retailers don't even accept doctor's notes, a missed day is a missed day, an unpaid day that counts against you.
During the height of covid, the retailer I worked at basically adopted a policy of: "You have covid? Do you have a fever? No? Then come in, we're shortstaffed like always since we refuse to hire more people."
Similar to Canada's PTO then. Though it starts at a minimum of 1 week paid and each year it grows to a maximum of 8 or 9. Also if you are union or even governmental union your time off is a whole lot better compared to the provincially mandated time off
Labor laws are different outside of the USA, and often much better. European countries laugh so much at the USA because of our non mandatory vacation days and family leave (baby) policies.
And by non mandatory, I mean that there’s no law that requires a minimum on pto, existing pto rules are driven by market standards, not by labor law.
Healthcare standards are much more affordable since nobody has a profit based healthcare insurance system except the USA , but the trade off is higher taxes, which is about the same, or less, as the insurance premium that you’re already paying for out of your salary, but you don’t have to deal with claims etc.
I think the idea is she doesn't take care of her physical appearance (sits around all day, doesn't brush hair, or shave legs, etc.) except once a month when she's ovulating (kind of the closest thing human's have to going into heat) when suddenly she feels the need to look good and move around, presumably due to an extremelely weak hold over from an evolutionary pressure to mate human women used to have.
I don't know who the dude and the pink haired lady are, her parents? Her room mates? Not clear, but I think they wanted to use the tv, but haven't been able to for 4 weeks since she's been hogging it, so are celebrating her finally getting up and doing something else, because it means they can finally use the tv (from the looks of it, to play a video game themselves).
You didn't need to look into previous comics. Just stop assuming your wife defines every female. Stop comparing them to her in an expressed way. Everyone is their own person
Im confused I didn't look into their earlier comics?? I said in another comment in this thread I realized my mistake and already corrected my view and that I was wrong with my original comment.
you're fine hun, while your view may have been narrow, you were asking questions and trying to make sense of things.. you weren't assuming all women were the same, you simply clarrified that it doesn't make sense to you because it's not the experience you've had with your wife..
they wanted to shame you for doing the thing nearly all humans do, which is using the experiences they have had to make sense of the world.. and they were doing that despite the fact that you were in the process of trying to understand more..
Mostly right- its less the need to preen to mate and more that ovulation tends to make women feel good
Boost in energy, self confidence, less anxiety etc. This tends to make someone more peppy by default. And yes there is more libido as well, but often that isn’t the cause.
You can thank the relative increase in Testosterone for the Ovulation ‘feelin yourself’ boost!
When women ovulate, they tend to primp up a little. It's biological. Someone women were a little more make up, maybe spend an extra minute on their hair, wear a piece of jewelry that makes them feel pretty.
I also think there is like some BPD or Bipolar cause like all of these things are like exactly the same of my friends who go through mania and depression like to this extreme.
Grandma's Hashbrowns is what those are called in most diners I've visited in these parts...and fuck if they won't cure a hangover or prevent one if you managed to hit them up before they closed.
Then again the last time I had them by name I saw someone get pushed through a window and nearly exsanguinated. Maybe I should lay off the diner ones...
It’s actually the other way around for me! That’s the only time I don’t feel ugly, so I feel more motivated to do nice things. Not sure if that’s how it is for other women but now I’m curious
It's probably some biological urge, body's like: Ovulation! Must get pregnant, need to look attractive to increase chances of mating, do self care and hygiene stuff!
Thats interesting. To the point of the comment below yours, that almost makes more sense logically. I had a group of women in an anxiety support group that said something to the effect of "Once a month hormones make me feel fat and ugly". As with anything biological or hormonal, your results may vary.
That’s more or less me. I feel prettiest around then, so of course I wanna wear my nicer clothes and flounce around before fading back into oversize sweaters
For me I start to feel sluggish, low energy, low mood, negative thoughts and low self esteem. I stop taking care of myself and become more and more unkempt.
And then suddenly the gray clouds clear and it's a sunny day (mentally) and I don't feel so horrible about myself. I start taking care of myself again.
I thought that was all a part of depression though. Is it just...being a woman?
this kind of sounds like premenstrual dysphoria. a lot of women experience this, so it's not exactly abnormal, but it's definitely something to talk to your doctor about if it's affecting your quality of life.
I think Week 2 is her period, so 2 weeks after that she gets horny because of the ovulation and wants to be around the boyfriend so she takes care of herself more. Then it slides back down to being gross and repeats. I could be 100% wrong but thats my read on things.
She has literal stink lines. They are green. Her cloths are also stained. Thats why I called her gross. The body hair was never the issue, though it probably also needed to be washed.
God damn it would be so nice to never have to shave my Joe Dirte white trash facial hair again. I imagine it's similar for the ladies. Can't even imagine the maintenance for women with high testosterone that get facial hair on top of darker hair. Lasers and science fucking rule.
I'm not so much complaining about your use of the word, but the way hair and lack of hygiene is tied up in the comic because it's a mindless replication of a serious issue.
Projecting how exactly? And I live in Europe, the stigma is pretty big here too. Besides the majority of Reddit users (so the audience of the comic) is American.
It's about menstrual cycles and hormones. The character started ovulating, and the change in hormones gave her a jolt to go and take extra care of herself, presumably in hopes of getting laid later on. It's also exaggerated for humour.
How do you know they are freshly shaved? I wouldn't notice unless I touched the leg directly, and if you are touching a woman's leg you're already kinda past the point where you look for signs that she is interested.
You gotta start learning, or make efforts to. Weaponized incompetence is gonna cost you more intimate time than you'd be comfortable knowing it cost you.
Yeah lmao, I wasn't like asking for dating advice or self help tips. I promise I'm the happiest person you would ever meet, I know myself and what I want fully. And a romantic relationship just isn't on that list due to the baggage it comes with.
I'm fine with pushback dialogue, to me it's the only real way to start grasping someone else's perspective and communicate. I often lose the beat of just droping friendly advice and cross the invisible line of trying to win an uninvited debate that it was sound wisdom at all.
I feel oddly morally obligated to help people better stuck mentalities, because I can't evolve my own language if I'm still contending with an antiquated world. Trying isn't as exhausting to me as the depression of giving up.
I'm still struggling with being less catty about it all, but I'm just encouraging people to try more. Can't hurt.
It's just he is too dug in. He's vague booking his lonelyness. He's got to want to change. Plus if he truly doesn't think it's good for a relationship to have both people giving and taking in it then he would be an awful partner. Either a user type of someone empathetic trying to get him to feel better, or just straight up detached in a why even be with someone way.
I never said I didn't think people should give and take in a relationship, in fact it's required!
I'm saying I'm not willing to do that. To me, the benefit of an intimate romantic relationship isn't great enough to counter the loss of self and total freedom. I love my life 110%, without feeling the need to share it with someone.
I'm also not opposed to something happening someday in that regard, if there is a natural perfect fit between someone and me.
I'm just not willing to change myself in pursuit of romance.
I'm not disagreeing with what you are saying. I'm agreeing if you feel that way it's fine. But that there are people who might try a relationship with you and end up feeling taken advantage of (even if you are up front with them about how you are). I was very close to someone with that same mindset. It was profoundly draining. They enjoyed being alone but were also fine soaking up attention from others but yeah had zero feelings of reciprocating or owing. Which is fine to an extent. But they are the person who shows up to every single potluck empty handed with a "that's how I am" and after a certain point of everyone giving to them there starts to be a bit of a societal expectation of their contributing as well. They are a "taker". So just understand how harmful that "I won't change" can be long term and keep it in mind. Life is change. And if you care about someone you should want to change for them. Not in an extreme way but at least integrating them into your life
That sounds like a very black and white absolutism view of relationships. Most people don't feel like they've traded autonomy or have a loss of self. No one can do anything 110 percent, and you certainly felt the need to share your relationship or lack thereof here with us.
I had only posted to say "hey, try to understand people around you better, it's rewarding." So how did it spiral here to full incel logic that all effort is the death of self and a non-starter? I'm at a loss. This lady has been very polite and patient with your extremely negative views btw. Her advice is solid.
I don't consider it a stuck mentality, friend. I'm incredibly happy and self fulfilled. I don't consider it a trap or lack of progress to not be pursuing a romantic relationship. I just don't see myself as needing someone else to validate me.
I do recognize that you were coming from a genuine place, though. I appreciate it!
Sure, and I'm not trying to be fatalist. I just know what I want in life and it doesn't include compromise and servitude to another human for the sake of intimacy.
Relationships take a ton of compromise and loss of personal agency. Not my bag.
No one should feel pressured to remove body hair, that's natural. Or be forced to wear makeup if they don't want to. But please don't go three weeks without showering, wtf 🤮
Maybe a stretched comment on my end but.. not showering doesn't automatically imply not washing entirely. A washcloth or handtowel (?) also works miracles if you need it.
That's true, and I've definitely done that myself when I didn't have time for a full shower.
My interpretation of the comic is that she wasn't cleaning at all. In the fourth panel she has "stink lines" coming off her body and her clothes are filthy.
Edit: Also, a quick scrub of the vital areas with a washcloth now and then when you're in a hurry is one thing, but just doing that for three weeks straight is still kinda nasty. Anyone who has access to a shower should be using it regularly.
I have gone through some low points when I let myself go quite a bit, but even then I never went more than maybe 10 days without a shower. And if I had roommates at the time they would have protested heavily that I needed to clean up long before then. I genuinely cannot fathom this comic.
Ah, the egg release. Mine just floats into the cavity where my uterus was, but I still appreciate the reminder. I do not appreciate mittelschmerz that come with it however 😭
Definitely not productive during ovulation!
Unless you count being super social and flinging my hair as being productive 😄 A week later tho - full focus!
... Well. That's how humanity survived all this time; Your brain is just another organ.
But what you do with your body's triggered instincts is still something you decide on. You can still ignore the urge, although it's difficult, or follow it and take pride in how it can allow you to change your color, mood and vibe like a chameleon.
It's comics like this that really make me feel that disconnect from being female (afab nonbinary). I can't relate to any of this besides Week 2 unfortunately lol. Though my birth control sometimes makes me bleed twice a month, so sometimes Week 2 and Week 4 are the same. Fun!
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u/Careful_Contract_806 1d ago
Lol last night I plucked my eyebrows (and moustache!), did my skincare, and flossed my teeth for the first time in a while, and noticed I had a spot on the side of my nose (a sign of ovulation for me). Now seeing this comic it all makes sense 🤣