u/Diligent_Ganache8310 — reddlx

Newbie has a few questions

I posted less than two months ago. A friend gave me an intek challenger and turns out it didn't inflate. Then I made a mistake. I saw the Aquamarina Steam 312 for 50% off and grabbed it thinking it had a dropstitch, not really knowing what a drop stitch was. I had watched a few YouTube videos but the images were not detailed enough. In any case, I like the 312 for now.

Because life as an adult comes with obligations, I was only able to start kayaking two weeks ago. I love it so much. I love winters but I am definitely getting gear so I can kayak again as early as possible in the spring (I know they kayak in the arctic but I'm not ready for winter kayaking yet).

Questions:

I find it difficult to inflate my kayak properly as so much air that comes out while transitioning from the pump to the lid. Any tips?
I want to bring my dog with me. The Aquamarina is sturdier than the Intek and I know about putting a yoga mat on the floor of the kayak but she's likely to perch herself and put her front paws on the sides. Should I velcro yoga material to the sides? Any other ideas? (dog has a life vest and loves swimming).
The dock where I go has been causing me issues (pictured). It has two launchers, one for disabled folks and another one. Both have very shallow indentation that don't fit skegs of my inflatable. So 4/5 of the kayak is in the water when I try to get on. I've never done it without assistance. The internet tells me skegs are super important in navigating an inflatable kayak but wanted to confirm this with the kind folks on this group. Would it be bad to kayak without them?

I'm having so much fun. Looking for lessons, especially for entry and re-entry and despite the fact that I live relatively close to three of the Great Lakes (Ontario, Erie, Huron, I haven't been able to find lessons within one hour of me. Or beyond for that matter.

u/Diligent_Ganache8310 — 13 days ago

▲ 4 r/notebooks

Need to identify notebook so I can purchase

I’m obsessed with this A5 1500 page notebook I saw on Rednote. I don’t speak Mandarin but I translated a question asking the poster where she got the notebook and she never replied. Google images was useless. Can anybody identify it?

u/Diligent_Ganache8310 — 1 month ago

▲ 38 r/Menopause

New GP is v pro-HRT

I moved to a rural area 13 years ago but kept my big city GP thinking I would keep commuting except I didn’t and so I finally have a new local GP. I must be careful here because of mod orthodoxy but most recent science shows HRT prescribed at any age can protect the heart. I was going to pull out studies but my young, new GP but it turns out that she keeps up with science and she’s v pro-HRT. I’m 57 but I only became officially menopausal two years ago. I was regular and then I had three periods in 2023 and then it stopped. I only started experiencing other symptoms this year. I am so happy she said yes! And so she prescribed the vaginal cream until we get blood results back and we will take it from there. I was afraid she would say no because I’m older and I know some doctors won’t prescribe after a certain age. (I hope this post won’t be deleted because evolving science really shouldn’t be a reason to censor.)

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u/Diligent_Ganache8310 — 1 month ago

▲ 4 r/Inflatablekayak

First timer with reviled kayaks

Never kayaked before. My friend who has moved on to hard shell has given me 2 Intek kayaks she no longer uses, one single, one tandem. I know the brand is not beloved on here but they’re free and I want to use them this Summer and if I like kayaking, I will purchase a top notch inflatable next Summer.

I have
Paddles
Life vest
Waterproof bag
Rechargeable pump
Am I forgetting anything?

Are the Inteks so bad that it will affect my ability to figure out whether I like the sport?

I am going Friday for the first time to a place that has a dock for kayaks and will be paddling on a totally calm canal. I do not plan on using the kayaks on rough waters. At least not this year. 20 years ago, I would have been game kayaking down Niagara Falls but the daredevil in me is long gone. I want to see nature and get some fresh air.

I took the tandem because I would eventually like to bring my dog along with me and I have a few friends who are interested in coming with me. One is an experienced canoeist.

(I’m an excellent swimmer if that matters.)

Thank you for your thoughts.

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u/Diligent_Ganache8310 — 2 months ago

▲ 77 r/FromSeries

A positive post about From

I’ve been watching since the first episode aired. I found this community a couple of weeks ago and the negativity is unparalleled, I’m not going to waste my time on folks who can’t make good choices for themselves and stop watching shows they hate.

The show almost feels to me like an escape room and although I’m not an active participant, each episode makes me feel like I’m walking through town, catching up with folks. The way this show is written, I feel the turmoil between fighting back, noseying about knowing it’s dangerous and just surviving. These pushes and pulls feel appropriate to me.

I love the show and I hope I can find folks on here who appreciate it as well!

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u/Diligent_Ganache8310 — 2 months ago

▲ 96 r/Menopause

New here 👋 Very impressed with all the resources on this sub.

I wanted to share something that may be controversial. I am divorced and have had sexual partners since and not for some years. I’ve had a considerable sex drive since puberty and menopause knocked that out of me a few years ago. I never thought I would not want sex. I never thought I would enjoy not having sex — but I am!!!????

I feel so… free. I am better able to focus, I am more productive and I am… happy to be free.

I was never a sex addict but my libido occupied my mind a lot.

Am I a freak? Does anybody share this sense of liberation? I wasn’t sure it was going to last but it’s been two to three years now.

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u/Diligent_Ganache8310 — 4 months ago