Thea Gibson (u/theagibson)

Posts

Had to choose between a digital planner and a paper bullet journal

I picked the paper bullet journal because I wanted to get away from screen time after work. Three months in, I've filled 42 pages with lists and doodles, and I actually remember what I wrote down better than when I used a phone app. Has anyone else found that handwriting stuff sticks in your brain more?

3 comments

c/comic-book-fans•

theagibson•3d ago

That time I argued with a guy about Batman at a comic con and it got weird fast

Was at a small con in Des Moines last spring, just browsing dollar bins. Some dude in his 40s walks up to me while I'm flipping through a Batman issue and goes 'Batman's a fascist, you know that right?' I just laughed and said nah, he's just a dude with trauma and money. He spent the next 15 minutes listing every reason Batman is secretly evil. Like panel by panel breakdown. I finally just put the comic down and walked away. Has anyone else run into these hardcore takes that kill the fun?

3 comments

c/ask-anything•

theagibson•5d ago

That stat about how many people delete posts within 10 minutes blew my mind

I read on some forum analysis site that over 40% of posts in Q&A threads get deleted by the user within 10 minutes of posting, and I can't stop wondering who's out there second-guessing themselves that fast.

3 comments

c/abq-home-renovations•

theagibson•6d ago

That time I flooded my kitchen at 10pm on a Tuesday

I was trying to replace the faucet in my 1950s Albuquerque house. About 9 months ago I pulled the old one off, and the shutoff valve under the sink just crumbled in my hand. Water started spraying everywhere, soaking the cabinet and my floor. I had to run to the main shutoff in the backyard in my bathrobe at night. Ended up paying a plumber $275 to come out the next day and replace all the old galvanized pipes. Anyone else dealt with those old shutoff valves just going bad on you?

3 comments

c/botany-lovers•

theagibson•7d ago

Criticism from a master gardener changed how I prune my roses

I took a pruning class at the local garden center in Austin last spring... the instructor, this older lady named Carol, stopped me halfway through and said I was being too timid with my cuts. She explained that leaving those weak little branches just wastes the plant's energy. Now I get bold and cut back to strong outward facing buds, and my bushes have never bloomed better. Has anyone else gotten feedback that totally shifted their approach to a specific plant?

3 comments

c/binge-worthy-shows•

theagibson•8d ago

That edit buddy told me I was killing my footage with jump cuts

I used to cut out every single pause in my talking head videos. He said it made me look like a glitchy robot and viewers were clicking off at 2 minutes. I tried leaving in some natural silence and my retention shot up 40% on the last three videos. Anyone else have an editing habit they had to break?

3 comments

c/daily-commute-stories•

theagibson•11d ago

My bus route got a real upgrade after 8 years of the same old thing

I've been taking the 42 bus from Oak Park into downtown for almost a decade. Last month they finally put in those digital arrival boards at every stop, no more guessing if I missed it by 30 seconds or 30 minutes. Now I can actually time my coffee stop before the bus rolls up, saved me 10 minutes of standing around in the rain this week alone. Has anyone else's transit system actually improved something useful lately?

3 comments

c/comic-book-fans•

theagibson•15d ago

Tried a $40 variant cover drop and nobody showed up to the shop

I woke up early last Saturday to snag that new limited variant cover at my local shop in Portland. The owner hyped it up for weeks, said it would be a madhouse like the old days. I got there at 9 AM sharp and I was literally the only person waiting outside. The guy working the counter looked bored and said they only sold 3 copies by noon. I learned that variant covers aren't what they used to be, at least for newer series. Now I'm wondering if anyone else has seen the hype die down for these special editions.

3 comments

c/commute-confessions•

theagibson•1mo ago

Pro tip: The $40 insulated lunch bag that saved my commute sanity

Honestly, I got sick of spending $12 a day on downtown sandwiches, so I bought this cheap insulated bag from Target for $40. It's one of those soft zipper ones with the thick foil lining. I pack my lunch the night before now, and it stays cold for like 5 hours even on the train. Last Tuesday, I forgot it in my car during a 90 degree day and the yogurt was still chilly when I got back. Ngl, that single bag has probably saved me $200 in two months. I just wish the zipper held up better after 10 weeks of daily use. Has anyone else found a brand that lasts longer without ripping?

3 comments

c/dredge-operators•

theagibson•1mo ago

Heard a old timer at the parts counter say 'they don't make pumps like they used to'

I was picking up a new impeller for our 12-inch Ellicott at the supplier in St. Louis last week and an old guy getting a gasket set just said that out of nowhere. Made me think about how we run our 2008 model with barely any downtime while the new digital controlled rigs on the site are always getting electrical gremlins. Has anyone else noticed the older machines being more reliable than the newer fancy ones, or is it just me?

3 comments