u/TheFifthDuckling

Hey y'all, for any of you guys with non-UTI urinary burning that comes and goes (mine is likely EDS-related interstitial cystitis but I still am waiting to see a urologist), I have found a godsend OTC med to get me through the worst of my flareups and help calm things down. Phenazopyridine (brand name Azo) is fantastic!! You can only use it safely for two days, but often times a single dose is enough to stop the flare. Idk if I'm just late to the party/missed the memo on this one, but it's making life a lot more manageable. I've been struggling with this kind of pain for ten years thanks to a combination of thinking it was normal and doctors who didn't take me seriously (we've ALL been there) and this is the first thing I've found that can calm the pain. Hope this can help bring someone else here a little bit of relief!

Hi all,

You may have seen my comments around the subreddit that I've been trying to set up online video Finnish practice groups. Well, I've finally got rough days and times picked out.

Beginner (A0-A2): Sundays 16:00-17:00 EST

Intermediate (A2-B1): Saturdays 09:00-10:00 EST

I may be hosting another beginner group depending on the time needs of other folks, so if you're interested in the beginner group but the time doesn't work, let me know. The groups will be working together through Suomen Mestari (1 and 2 in the beginner group, 3 and 4 in the intermediate group) and Word Dive, though the focus of the actual meetings will be applying the concepts studied independently during the week in conversation, so technically the book is optional. I am an intermediate learner myself and the intermediate group will be a bit less structured, while the beginner group will have a more established structure where I can help guide learning different concepts.

The goal is to create a regular yet flexible community for people who learn better in groups and especially for those who may not have access to a formal class (or who would just like to have the extra support). Especially for those of us who aren't in Finland, it's very hard to find a face-to-face community to work with. The pace of the groups will be determined by the members of the group, so there will be a lot less pressure/committment than a class, too.

The groups are totally free aside from cost of materials, so please don't hesitate to join! So far the groups are very small but I would love to have bigger groups. PM me if interested!

Edit: to clarify, in NO WAY am I claiming to be a teacher of any kind, nor is this a class. This is a peer group and though I can help out with learning concepts I know for newer learners, the primary focus for both groups is to develop a semi-coordinated community for a common learning goal.

Hi all, I am looking at making a collection of cross stitch patterns of carnivorous plants. I have noticed there is a definite lack of representation of our sticky friends in that part of art. So, I wanted to see if y'all have any high quality, well-lit plant pics you'd like to see turned into patterns. I am going to try to do a mix of simplified/cartoonish patterns and some photorealistic patterns, so if you have a preference as to which your plant is turned into, drop it in the comment along with your picture! If I get enough pictures to make a small collection, I'mm be sure to post pictures of the patterns here!

Hi all, I was wondering if there are any other A2/B1 level learners who would like to put together a practice group with me this summer. I'm looking to work on conversational skills as well as to have some folks to work through Suomen Mestari 3 with. Let me know if you are interested! Thanks!