weekend free-for-all – April 1-2, 2017 by Alison Green on April 1, 2017 This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. (This one is truly no work and no school. If you have a work question, you can email it to me or post it in the work-related open thread on Fridays.) Recommendation of the week: The Arrangement, by Sarah Dunn. A couple gives each other six months off from monogamy, and things go differently than expected. * I make a commission if you use that Amazon link. You may also like:all my 2016 book recommendationsall my 2015 book recommendationsinterview with a lab worker at the Arctic Circle { 1,231 comments }
Cristina in England* April 1, 2017 at 2:09 am Anyone else like fake news stories for April Fool’s Day? Let’s share links to them here.
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 2:21 am ThinkGeek always has fun fake products on April Fool’s Day. I just checked the site, the Swim Desk looks interesting! http://www.thinkgeek.com/ Gotta confess, I’m weary from real or fake news or from real news that seems fake, or fake news that seems real, or adverts that read like news… So I’ll stay with The Onion for my fake news.
Emily* April 1, 2017 at 11:04 am I agree – I don’t mind obviously fake news, but I want to be able to easily figure out if it’s real or not. (For example, I saw today that George Takei is running for congress – probably fake, but???) Those ThinkGeek products are fun, though! I like the swim desk and the Shazaam VHS tape.
hermit crab* April 1, 2017 at 12:37 pm Definitely fake! I think it’s a publicity thing to raise awareness about Jon Ossoff’s campaign. :)
Very anon for this, thanks. :)* April 1, 2017 at 1:28 pm Definitely fake, but he allowed about eight hours between the announcements going out (still March 31st) my time, and the “it’s a joke” message, so that bites. :(
Mallory Janis Ian* April 1, 2017 at 3:37 pm Yeah, I was bitterly disappointed by that one. I was all, “Please don’t let it be fake . . . .” Bleh!
Falling Diphthong* April 1, 2017 at 2:06 pm On Wait Wait, Bluff the Listener featured a story I’d seen a headline for… and immediately dismissed it as being obviously fake. That for a year a reality show would fail to tell the contestants (surviving in the Scottish wilderness, mind you, not in a luxury hotel) that the show had gone off the air due to low viewership.
Amadeo* April 1, 2017 at 11:13 am Sometimes those things even get made if they’re popular enough. The Tauntaun sleeping bag was an April fool’s gag.
Paula, with Two Kids* April 1, 2017 at 11:55 am Man, I really really want that hotpocket sleeping bag!!!
neverjaunty* April 1, 2017 at 1:14 pm I am convinced that the “specifications” for the Swimming Desk are deliberately miscalculated to snipe nerds, because OF COURSE someone will check them.
Apollo Warbucks* April 1, 2017 at 6:44 am Donald Trump was visiting my home town, in the UK today. McDonlads are going to launch a Big Mac sauce flavoured McFlurry.
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 8:41 am My neighborhood is not conducive to playing Ms Pacman. Too many dead end streets. ;)
The Cosmic Avenger* April 1, 2017 at 9:00 am This was cute: https://store.google.com/magazine/gnome This one fooled one of my friends, unfortunately: https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/photos/a.404595876219681.103599.142474049098533/1522811944398063/
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 4:50 pm The Gnome is hysterical. I’m going to recommend this thread to No gifts! in the thread below, :-D
CAA* April 1, 2017 at 10:38 am I enjoyed the Google Gnome. Also this one, because it was in an unexpected place: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/04/01/521685923/literal-farm-to-table-heres-the-dirt-on-chefs-cooking-with-dirt
Stephanie* April 1, 2017 at 2:35 pm NPR always has great April Fool’s stories–they’re always almost plausible.
Clever Name* April 1, 2017 at 4:13 pm Inland whale farming from several years ago was amazing. And people fell for it and wrote indignant letters!
JKP* April 1, 2017 at 1:21 pm Similar to “Recently Added”, today Netflix has an additional category of “Recently Canceled” showing that they have canceled their Netflix live feed. So today is the last day you can binge watch Will Arnett hosting a rambling narrative over live feeds of Netflix’s copy machine and microwave.
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 11:41 pm This is just messing with me. Would that it were true!! New at IKEA: Bïgland! http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/aprilfools/index.html
JKP* April 2, 2017 at 12:42 am My friend just sent me this one, which I think was the cruelest of the day: Doctor to Degenerate Back Into David Tennant http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/the-doctor-to-degenerate-back-to-david-tennant-83665.htm
Aussie academic* April 2, 2017 at 5:52 am I loved the one where the maths professor ‘fixes’ his error of writing on a projector screen, it was really well done
Aussie academic* April 2, 2017 at 5:52 am http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/banter/trending/watch-this-maths-teacher-impresses-students-with-most-genius-april-fools-prank-ever-35585185.html
Nervous Accountant* April 3, 2017 at 8:01 am I liked PornHub’s April fools joke Food and Wine magazine’s Hot dog slushie/margarita (yes its as gross as it sounds) Chicken parmesan recipe by Tastemade, the ingredients and recipe itself was hilarious.
jamlady* April 1, 2017 at 2:49 am Anyone know how to calm down during physical exams? I don’t love being touched by strangers and I don’t love doctor’s offices. My heart rate for a pre-employment exam was through the roof (seriously, 139 – but my BP was totally fine) and the tech is having me head back Monday because there’s no way I’d pass with that number. I also had to take my inhaler that morning, plus I had coffee and likely didn’t eat enough for lunch, so that wasn’t helpful, but every time I think about the BP cuff and the exam room my heart rate spikes. My stress levels have been kind of out of control lately in general – any tips for keeping relaxed? Short-term and long-term advice welcome!
soupmonger* April 1, 2017 at 4:00 am Try beta-blockers. They are used for anxiety and are also great for easing stressy times. They reduce the hammering heartbeat and smooth out the spiky edges but without giving you a doped-up feeling. I was prescribed them for anxiety and while I no longer take them regularly, I will take one when I recognise the symptoms poking their heads above the water. My GP said they are ideal for using like that – when needed, not long-term. I found that the reduced my anxiety symptoms to the point where I could think like a functioning adult and thus deal with the cause of the anxiety without resorting to anything too ‘woo’. Won’t work for everyone but boy, they worked for me. Good luck!
Sugar of lead* April 1, 2017 at 9:52 am I take beta blockers and NB they are prescription only (though I’m sure you can get them off the black market), and you might faint, so drink lots of water and don’t lock your knees.
Gadfly* April 1, 2017 at 5:38 am First, tell them right off that you do panic a bit/have a touch of white coat syndrome. And then have them take your blood pressure properly and not the quicky half-assed way most of them do to save time (The big errors are usually not letting you sit for 5 minutes beforehand to calm yourself, choosing the wrong size arm cuff–especially if you are larger or extra small, not positioning you with your supported arm at heart level, not having your feet flat on the floor, and talking with you while taking it). For your heart rate start by getting a good night’s sleep. Use lavender and melatonin if you have to. Make sure your bladder is empty. Breathe deeply and slowly–a box breath is good for this. Try 4 seconds in, hold 4, 4 out (completely), hold 4, repeat. Or you can spend more time on the in and out. Or lengthen all the times if that works for you. It is a very steadying breath, calming. And if you are calm, you heart rate will go down.
Gadfly* April 1, 2017 at 5:51 am Ironically, this turned up in one of my feeds just now: https://www.inverse.com/article/29741-deep-breathing-anxiety-stress-arousal-yoga-panic-attack?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=on_site&utm_campaign=amp
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 8:45 am Oh yeah. I found at my Endocrinologist and OB/GYN’s office that my BP, that has been high or borderline for YEARS, is all of a sudden near perfect. Because they take it properly, and with the right sized cuff, since they have the larger ones on hand, and aren’t too lazy to have to hunt if down if it’s not in the exam room. Now I refuse to let them take my BP if they don’t have the right cuff, period.
Gadfly* April 1, 2017 at 4:21 pm Too small and your bp will read high. Too large and it will read low.
Channel Z* April 1, 2017 at 7:04 am I get so distraught for smears that the doctor prescribed me Xanax. I didn’t take it though, as can’t drive. One time a took a long hot bath and had chamomile tea just before, that really helped me relax and being in the bath calms down touch sensitivity.
AliceBD* April 1, 2017 at 8:39 am I second the box breath for immediate use and a beta blocker prescription for the future. I have acid reflux that is triggered by me getting unusually stressed (also triggered by certain foods), and beta blockers have been a life changer. Instead of feeling super sick and eventually throwing up at every major event, I use them before unusual events like jury duty last week (including a very stressful car ride into the city center at rush hour) and job interviews. They don’t change my brain at all — no drowsiness or fuzziness — but it’s a physical difference of calmness that was almost startling the first time I took them.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 8:57 am There’s this stuff called Rescue Remedy that I love. It’s an herbal supplement from the hippie granola section of the store, which normally makes me highly skeptical, but I swear this stuff really works for taking the edge off anxiety. I rely on it for getting through a handful of stressful situations I have to deal with semi-regularly. (Weird but true: you can use it on your pets, too.)
Rabbit* April 1, 2017 at 4:33 pm Rescue Remedy is GREAT stuff, but you should not use the regular made for humans kind with pets – it’s an alcohol base, and that can be not so great for animals. They do make a pet one though – which works wonders with my anxious dog and car rides!
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 4:50 pm Wow, I’ve never known that! Thank you. I started using the stuff on the recommendation of my sister, who was like, “This stuff is great! It works for animals AND people!” I’ve never actually dosed an animal with mine, but I wonder if my sister knows the two are different? I’ll have to ask her. Anyway, thanks for the info.
Anon attorney* April 1, 2017 at 9:09 am I have been known to take xanax or beta blockers too. The last smear test i had done i managed to get through it with yoga breathing. Breathe slowly in through the nose, deeply into the abdomen, for a count of four, then exhale through the mouth for four. Repeat, but don’t hyperventilate – slow, deep and balanced is the key. Apparently the long exhale activates the parasympathetic nervous system and induces calm. Idk if that’s scientifically valid, but I find the breathing pattern does calm me. Equally, however, if you need meds, there’s nothing wrong with that. Good luck!
danr* April 1, 2017 at 10:04 am Practice on yourself. Buy a good blood pressure device and use it regularly and write down your readings. You’ll get bp and pulse. Omron makes a good wrist device that is easy to use. In the short term, don’t have coffee before the check, eat a light lunch and control the test. Tell the tech that you have to relax first. Have the tech put the bp cuff on but not start. Sit quietly and breathe gently for a couple of minutes. Once you feel relaxed signal to start the test.
gsa* April 1, 2017 at 10:56 am True. The hardest part for me is still to sit still for 15 minutes before taking a reading… Maybe I should try after work, not first thing in the AM…
Father Ribs* April 1, 2017 at 1:22 pm Listen to some calming music as you wait? If you like Cello try Zoe Keating; it’s complex enough to keep your mind occupied but very meditative.
Wendy Darling* April 2, 2017 at 2:21 pm I listen to Zoe Keating at the dentist. I have a raging dentist phobia but it’s both soothing and complicated enough to hold my focus. What it’s not is loud enough to drown out a drill so sometimes I go for classic rock instead.
Bagpuss* April 1, 2017 at 2:33 pm Definitely tell them you are scared, that’s relevant. If you’ve ever been taught breathing exercises / relaxation techniques etc then use those (my mother always uses the ones she was taught when she was pregnant, and says they work very effectively for her)
Chaordic One* April 1, 2017 at 7:45 pm This actually does work. I can actually lower my blood pressure by calming myself and doing slow, deep, rhythmic breathing. I learned the technique from a psychologist, but there are videos that demonstrate the technique on YouTube. Just google “calming breathing exercises.” Don’t do them when you’re driving or operating machinery.
Stephanie* April 1, 2017 at 2:43 pm This may not work for you, but I actually read up on what’s being done and try to visualize it. I used to get incredibly anxious before Pap smears and I realized it was because I had one too many obgyns just start the procedure without much warning (and you can’t see what’s happening down there). I would just be upfront with the nurse/doctor/lab tech about your anxiety. I’m sure you’re not the first patient to have that issue.
Anono-me* April 1, 2017 at 6:28 pm For your heart rate, can the the doctor use a finger monitor and give you a chance to calm down from all of the other stuff?
jamlady* April 3, 2017 at 7:13 pm Thanks everyone! I followed pretty much all of the breathing/music/doctor request/etc. advice and they gave me a female tech this time and she let me lay down in a dark quiet room and listen to my classical piano for 20 minutes beforehand. They also decided to do the finger monitor since my BP was fine and that helped a lot (that thing is just painful). I was able to pull of an 89 and the tech and I did a happy dance behind closed doors before I had to venture out to the rest of the exam haha! For long-term, I think beta-blockers might be a good idea as my anxiety is very quick and my heart is often beating out of control even if I am working through a situation perfectly fine on the surface. And as for the smear fear – I kicked my last doc right in the chest. A little warning is needed, yo. Especially when the patient is very clearly having an anxiety attack. I’m curious about the Rescue Remedy – I want to look into that. For anyone else with the same issue – I also read about “bearing down” (pushing down almost like you would if constipated) to lower your heart rate in emergency situations.
KR* April 1, 2017 at 2:54 am Currently at a fun party. Weekend going good. Appreciate you all so much. That is all.
Ruth (UK)* April 1, 2017 at 3:07 am Happy April Fool’s day to everyone. Here’s to hoping you and your friends or people you know play nice jokes on each other that make you laugh, and don’t do ones that worry or upset people, or cause disagreements. (I say if in doubt, do nothing – no one will say ‘hey remember that time when it was April Fool’s day and you didn’t prank me???”. Well they might…). Luckily I don’t have to try too hard – my morris side will be dancing in a “foolish day of dance” along with a good number of other sides today. And speaking of silly things, that half marathon I signed up for back in January is now next Sunday! I feel both prepared and not. On one hand, I have trained frequently – I have run almost every day (typically 5 or 6 times a week) since the 5th Jan. On the other hand, almost all my runs have been between 25-30mins (around 5km) and almost never did a longer run (my longest being 10km). This is not because I am of the belief one should not run the full distance in training, but rather because I have been able to find many short periods of time I am free to have a run, but have struggled to find days where I have time (and energy) to put in a longer one. On the other hand, I am also fairly active on top of the running (I cycle every day, dance several times a week etc). So I think I should be able to at least finish the half… we’ll see!
Emily* April 1, 2017 at 11:29 am Good luck on your half marathon! Hopefully you’ll finish strong AND enjoy the experience. :) Recently, I’ve been toying with the idea of signing up for a half marathon (never done one, but I’ve successfully run about 7 miles/11km before, so I think I could do it). The one I’m interested in is only two months away and at a potentially bad time for work, though, so I’m not sure!
Harmless Pranker* April 1, 2017 at 11:55 am I installed nCage on my boyfriends computer. It replaces every picture with a picture or gif Nicolas Cage, and there’s a way to hide the extension icon so it’s not immediately obvious. He found it pretty fast but his reaction was hilarious.
Lady Julian* April 1, 2017 at 12:51 pm I was out on my run this morning (7.5 miles) and found myself wondering how your run was going. I’m excited for you – be sure to report back and tell us how you did!
Ruth (UK)* April 2, 2017 at 6:07 pm Oops by next Sunday I mean Sunday next week not tomorrow which is now today, so you’ll probably have to wait two weeks tk find out!
Director of Things* April 2, 2017 at 10:34 pm Have a great race! I’ve done a number of races from 5k to full marathon and the best advice I have is to start slow! As in “why are all these people passing me?” slow. You’ll get them at the end!
Tilly W* April 1, 2017 at 3:09 am Looking for recommendations from fellow AAMers for Slovenia and Croatia. We are heading there this summer for two weeks and would love to hear about your travels! I’m also trying for to figure out transportation so any insight is appreciated.
30ish* April 1, 2017 at 3:27 am There’s very good public transport (buses and trains) in Slovenia. I really liked the area around Lake Bohinj, and of course Ljubljana. In Croatia, I’ve been to the island Mljet, which I recommend to you. If you can, stay close to the lakes. They are lovely. I found Dubrovnik to be a little too crowded, especially in summer. I’ve also visited Istria, which is a lovely region. If you want to use ships for transports, you can check out the “Jadronilinija” website for schedules. I found that it wasn’t all that easy to “island hop” because the ferries don’t always run that often. So it might be easier to stick to one bigger island.
30ish* April 1, 2017 at 4:22 am Also, for popular places like Ljublijana, Rovinj, Bohinj, Dubrovnik or Split you should book your accommodation well in advance if you’re going in July or August.
30ish* April 1, 2017 at 6:39 am I’ll add some more thoughts. Both Croatia and Slovenia are absolutely gorgeous countries, first of all! I think you’ll have an awesome time. Given that you’ll be visiting during high season my recommendation would be to avoid the most popular destinations or stay somewhere nearby and take a day trip there. Dubrovnik is the most extreme case (so it could be a good idea to stay on a nearby island, in the old town you basically can’t move because of all the tourists), but some places in Slovenia, like Bled or Piran, get really crowded in high season, too. For me at least, it was little too much. Bled would be so beautiful but in summer it is touristy in the extreme. However, there are many places in Slovenia’s mountains, for example, which won’t be like that at all. And probably man Croatian islands that offer a relaxing stay. So if it were me I’d do some research on calmer, more secluded places that might be a little harder to travel to but where you’ll enjoy the landscapes the most.
Rookie Manager* April 1, 2017 at 4:08 am Dubrovnik is beautiful, I would recommending you walk the walls to see the city and sea from above. For a totally different view you can do a canoe tour and see the walls and old town from the sea! Near to Dubrovnik is an island called Lopud, it is tiny and therefore cars are banned. The hotel on Lopud is beautiful and if you stay there your transfer from the mainland will be by speed boat – it felt very glamorous. The main beach on Lopud is a sheltered bay with fairly good sand but perfect sea for swimming in, so clear and warm. If you don’t stay there I will still recommend a visit.
Apollo Warbucks* April 1, 2017 at 4:29 am I’ll be watching this with interest I’m off to Croatia for a couple of weeks later in the year. Plitvice Lakes National Park looks amazing so I hope to get there other than that I’m going to spend a few days in Dubrovnik, Split and possibly Zagreb. The rest of the time I’m planning on sailing rome2rio . com is worth a look for travel planning.
Uncivil Engineer* April 1, 2017 at 10:32 am Plitvice National Park is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I may forever be spoiled about waterfalls. The wood boardwalks allow you to get really close to the waterfalls and lakes. The paths are well marked and I think we did every single one of them over two days. There is a path that runs along the rim of the canyon and allows you to look down on the lakes. There was practically nobody up there and the view was spectacular. The tour buses with day-trippers roll in at mid-morning and leave by late afternoon so, if you can, travel there on your own and visit the park early and late so there are fewer crowds. There is a little town nearby with a bunch of bed-and-breakfasts and there is a walking path from this town to the Park so you don’t even have to drive.
Uncivil Engineer* April 1, 2017 at 10:23 am In Slovenia: Ljubljana, Bled, Vintgar Gorge, driving through Triglav National Park, an odd little Apiculture (bee keeping) Museum in Radoljica, and Kobarid Museum (very interesting if you are interested in World War 2). In Croatia: walking around Rovinj, Split (touristy), Dubrovnik (touristy but there are very interesting cultural sights if you look hard enough), and you must go to Plitvice National Park if at all possible (though the food here is awful… or it was in 2010). It would be difficult to get to most of these sights by train. Ljubljana has a station and you can walk everywhere from there. There is a train station outside of Bled but the town is not a walkable distance from the station. Everything else requires a car. There may be a bus. I never checked. Renting a car and driving around Slovenia and Croatia was very easy, though parking was difficult in the more touristy parts of Croatia.
Father Ribs* April 1, 2017 at 1:31 pm My daughter is going to be in the region for study abroad this summer, staying in the area they use for King’s Landing in GoT. She sends me the occasional photoshop of herself there just to rub it in. I can’t think of the name off the top of my head but it it truly beautiful in the pictures.
Perpetua* April 1, 2017 at 1:38 pm The recommendations will really depend on your preferences. :) Do you want to enjoy the sea? The mountains? Do more of the “must-see” touristy stuff so that you don’t feel like you missed out on something, or relax more in less popular places? I might be able to give you recommendations for any of those scenarios (I live here, after all :D ), but there are many options so I really need some more info. :) When you say “figure out transportation”, what are your options at all? Where are you coming from and with what? What might make the most sense for you as the starting point? Do you have the option of driving here, or renting a car over here? I CAN give some general recommendations as well, although they’re highly subjective. :D I love Istria and I think that it’s completely magical, especially Rovinj and the small town of Grožnjan. If you make Motovun your home base, for example, you can reach several lovely places in about half an hour (or an hour max) drive in various directions – Rovinj, Grožnjan, Pula, Poreč… Istria is known especially for its wine and little hills. I second Plitvice as something special to see, although you should be prepared for crowds, yes. The seaside has many lovely places – Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik all offer something a bit different, so it’s really a matter of preference and convenience, and the same goes for the islands. Some are more accessible, some less, and it can greatly impact your experience. Feel free to ask anything specific that comes to your mind, either now or when you get a clearer picture of your itinerary, from my experience it can be helpful to have someone local tell you “oh no, I wouldn’t do that in a half-day trip, it would be exhausting although it might not seem like that on paper” or “this might be another option how to get there”, etc. I can’t guarantee that I’ll know everything, but I’ll help as much as I can. :)
Perpetua* April 1, 2017 at 1:40 pm Also, maybe this can be of some use to you: http://www.thisiscroatia.hr/
Dan* April 1, 2017 at 5:14 pm If you are comfortable driving a manual, Croatia is very easy to drive in (outside of the cities). The roads and rules are a lot like they are here. We rented a car for northernish Croatia (Zadar, Pag, Plitvice, and the surrounding areas) and dropped it off in Split, after which we used ferries and buses, which worked great. I preferred Zadar and Pag over Split/Dubrovnik because I like smaller places, but Diocletian’s palace in Split did blow my mind. Korcula was beautiful too and worth 2-3 days. Croatia is beautiful and has amazing food and wine. Have fun!
Goreygal* April 2, 2017 at 10:35 am You can hire automatics in Europe too; you just have to request them as the default tends to be manual.
Tilly W* April 2, 2017 at 6:57 pm Thanks everyone! So far we’ve booked into Prague and out of Dubronovik two weeks later. I’ve been told there isn’t a great train system to get us down the coast. Not opposed to renting a car but would prefer trains, planes and boats when an option. Perpetua, I’d say I like a mix of history, hiking/biking and wanting a few days to relax in the middle on a beach or resort. (I always love dorky bike tours and wine.) Not sure if that’s helpful but I’d say I like some scheduled excursions mixed with a few days to open explore and see where I end up.
Myrin* April 1, 2017 at 3:27 am Oho! A rare picture of Sam displaying all of his regal looks and attitude!
Myrin* April 1, 2017 at 5:26 am And I just realised that he’s also very leggy in this picture! So much leg!
Audiophile* April 1, 2017 at 3:29 am With new job, I’m finally making enough to seriously be able to move out. I’m debating between considering apartments in NYC (likely Brooklyn, Queens, maybe Harlem) and just focusing my search on Westchester County apartments (White Plains, Katonah, Chappaqua). If I move to Westchester, that means factoring in Metro North monthly train ticket as well as a monthly MetroCard. Some cons of NYC living, more taxes. I’m losing almost 500 in tax deductions and that would only increase if I moved to the city, though I’m not sure how much. Might be able to figure that out with an IRS calculator. Anyway, my question is about suggestions on where to look. I’ve tried all the usuals – Trulia, Zillow, Apartments, etc. I’m also in a Facebook group for a local zipcode, and some people post apartments in there. Haven’t looked too much on Craigslist, because the last time I did I didn’t have much luck. I’ve haven’t tried any brokers, since I don’t know any locally. Excited to be on my own again.
Oscar Madisoy* April 1, 2017 at 3:57 am I wouldn’t trust Craigslist for anything. I don’t have any personal experience with it but I’ve heard enough horror stories to keep me away.
Al Lo* April 1, 2017 at 4:01 am I’ve found a couple of apartments and/or roommates on Craigslist, but it just varies so much. The more-used equivalent classifieds site where I live is Kijiji (a local Craigslist exists, but for whatever reason didn’t catch on here), and I’ve actually found almost all of our rentals on it, rather than on an rental-specific site, even though I spent much time on those, too.
hermit crab* April 1, 2017 at 11:44 am Interesting – I’ve lived in four apartments in the DC area in the past seven years, and I found three of them on Craigslist. They were all fine places to live! (One had a somewhat creepy/over-involved landlord, but one had the absolute best landlords ever, so I think it more than evens out.) I guess it depends on the city/neighborhood and what you are looking for.
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 1:32 pm We found 3 rentals in the SF Bay Area via Craigslist, and they were all fine. The worst rental we had was corporate run, actually, and found through more traditional official ways.
Bigglesworth* April 1, 2017 at 4:56 pm I’m looking at moving to the DC area this summer and have been looking at Craigslist for apartments. Good to hear that you’ve found good places to live through that!
Wendy Darling* April 2, 2017 at 2:25 pm Craigslist is actually THE place for apartment listings in my region. Literally everyone advertises on Craigslist, and if you won’t look there you’ll miss 3/4 of everything. I think you’re right that you just have to know your region. I suspect the NYC area is its own little rental microcosm.
Sunflower* April 1, 2017 at 3:47 pm I’ve found all of my apts on Craigslist. The only issues I’ve found are the bait and switch ‘Oh actually that apartment just rented but we have all these others’. I’ve never bothered looking into the ads that were clearly fake- like a beautiful, brand new one bedroom in the heart of the city for like $750/month.
lcsa99* April 1, 2017 at 7:16 am I would strongly suggest using Streeteasy, as that’s fed directly from the site brokers use. If it makes a difference for your choice between the boroughs and Westchester, my husband and I have been looking since January, so we can attest there isn’t much good in Brooklyn or Queens at the moment, but of course that’s assuming you’re gonna use the same parameters we are.
AdAgencyChick* April 1, 2017 at 8:20 am Yeah, Streeteasy is pretty much the biggest clearinghouse for apartment listings in the city.
Sprechen Sie Talk?* April 1, 2017 at 12:39 pm Great – now I’ve wandered on that site to see how the other half live in NYC. There goes my weekend! :)
Elf* April 1, 2017 at 8:00 am I live in the area, and have experience with Westchester apartment hunting. What’s your general budget and what kind of commute timeline are you willing to deal with? If you have a 2K+/month budget, there are some very nice apartments right at the train station in both Yonkers and Ossining, which means no paying for a parking pass, and possibly even foregoing a car. If your budget is smaller (and you’re willing to live in a less nice apartment), I lived for a time in South Yonkers near the rt. 9 end of McLean, which was super convenient because I could take a bus to the end of either the 4 or the 6, and the busses take MetroCard, so $2.50 to anywhere in the city (at the time, a little more now). That’s an especially good option if you’re working uptown, especially on the west side, or in some parts of the Bronx. If you work on the upper west side and can take a Hudson line train in, you should also consider taking the train to Marble Hill and then getting on the 1, it is MUCH cheaper to get a monthly pass that ends at Marble Hill (when I last priced it it was $50something a month vs. well over $200 to Manhattan).
Applesauced* April 1, 2017 at 8:56 am Reddit might be useful – AskNYC has lots of “new to the city, what neighborhood should I pick?” kind of posts. NYCapartments is good for shares/roommates. Stephanie’s List might be useful too. Good luck!
mreasy* April 1, 2017 at 10:42 am I have found all my Brooklyn apartments on Craigslist one way or another.
PM-NYC* April 1, 2017 at 12:45 pm There’s a Facebook group for NYC called “Gypsy Housing” that focuses mostly on reasonably priced apartments. You have to sift, but there are some good places on there.
New York, New York* April 1, 2017 at 1:01 pm Just a plug for checking Inwood or Washington Heights as to cheaper areas in Manhattan but closer than Westchester.
Call me St. Vincent* April 1, 2017 at 2:04 pm Honestly, when I lived in NYC, I used craigslist to find two different apartments. Just be careful of the bait and switch brokers and only look in the “no fee” section.
Audiophile* April 1, 2017 at 2:09 pm You guys are the best! Craigslist can be hit or miss, my friends have had decent luck with it. Thanks for the Streeteasy recommendation, I’ve found some questionable apartment sites (Naked Apartments?) and figured I’d ask for reputable recommendations. My budget isn’t 2k, unfortunately, thus why I’m really leaning towards Westchester. That would definitely make things easier. The other hardship is I have a car, which unless I can unload, makes NYC living more difficult and more expensive. Parking garages are expensive. The Facebook groups look promising, I found a few Gypsy Housing groups – one named Gypsy Housing NYC and one just named Gypsy Housing. I requested to join both.
A Girl Has No Name* April 2, 2017 at 3:33 pm I’m late to the party but as someone who commutes to NYC everyday just wanted to offer a consideration. If you do end up going with Westchester and commuting, see if your employer is signed up with WageWorks – it allows you to pay for your monthly pass and any parking fees you might have pre-tax (each up to a certain amount per month). Not free, but not nothing either…
Audiophile* April 2, 2017 at 3:59 pm They offer a similar service, I just haven’t inquired about enrolling yet. My monthly parking costs are about $80. My monthly Metro North pass is over $400, not including a MetroCard. Which adds another $100+. I wanted to see exactly what my paycheck would be first. I’m not sure if it’s with enrolling in, since my train costs are so high. If I move down the line back to Westchester, I think it will be.
A Girl Has No Name* April 2, 2017 at 4:39 pm That’s about how much I pay per month. My monthly MetroNorth is ~$350 and my parking is almost $100. It saves me a bit, plus at least it comes out before I see my paycheck so I don’t “miss” it as much…
Audiophile* April 2, 2017 at 6:22 pm Where are you commuting from? Harlem or Hudson line? Do you combine your MetroNorth and MetroCard? Or not taking the subway? With the fare increase, the discount is practically negligible.
Anonymity Ahoy!* April 1, 2017 at 3:41 am A couple of weeks ago, I posted about starting therapy with my husband and trying to figure out our sexual incompatibility and how we can work through that. We took a couple of weeks to do some searching, but had our first appointment this week, and I’m really looking forward to the process, as strange as that sounds. I told the therapist that I was kind of excited to be there, and she said that’s… not exactly a reaction she gets that often. Heh. One of the big obstacles is that any kind of touch is uncomfortable for my husband — there’s some sort of weird something in the way his body reacts to the world. He describes being touched skin-to-skin as feeling like a combination of static electricity and a mild electric shock and kind of a buzzing through his body, and it’s uncomfortable. Being naked feels a bit that way, when his skin is exposed to the air. Certain locations feel that way (we lived in one house for a very short time that just made him miserable all the way through, because the atmospheric pressure was weird or something). Fireworks or lightning sometimes feel that way. His doctor doesn’t have any solid suggestions for dealing with it, so he mostly just lives with it. So, part of this week’s homework for me is examining the idea that it’s somehow wrong for me to be the recipient of touch/sexual pleasure almost all of the time, if that’s what actually works best for us. Touch is one of my love languages, so I feel like I’m depriving him of something when I don’t touch him in low-key, intimate ways; and I feel like I’m being withheld from if I don’t get those touches. So for me, part of the work will be separating those things out and looking at them differently. We’re also going on a field trip to a sex store to see if anything there strikes our imaginations as something we can use to make it easier. Is it easier for him to touch me with gloves? Or to be touched with a toy or a feather instead of with skin? We had talked a few years ago about trying to find some tools that would help, but it never really went anywhere. I think the timing just wasn’t quite right yet. The biggest thing for me was that it just felt so good to talk about it. We’ve been very private about it throughout our marriage, and I’ve felt the strain of not talking to anyone, even close friends with whom I would normally share this kind of thing. It felt like a huge weight was lifted, just to describe it to someone else. It helps that my husband is willing and invested in being there, too. If we weren’t on the same page, or if I was dragging him to therapy, I think it would feel pretty different.
Gadfly* April 1, 2017 at 5:43 am Good luck! I wonder if oils or lotions might help (same idea as the gloves)? Which could allow for giving/receiving massage nicely….
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 9:04 am Good luck! Do you guys already have sheets that feel good to him? It might help the process along to invest in some really nice linens. (I have a step kid with tactile issues, and getting the right sheets on her bed and clothes on her back was revelatory for all of us.)
Parenthetically* April 1, 2017 at 2:48 pm Not exactly sex advice, but you might try pet stores too. They have gloves with soft rubber nubs that are made for loose/shedding fur that are also good for touching humans, anything from a gentle backscratching to stronger (but not painful) tactile sensations. Come to think of it, trying different kinds of gloves might be fun anyway. Some kind of fabrics might be less difficult for him and maybe even enjoyable. You might also try varying the level of sensation. I’m not as touch-averse as your husband but I tend to dislike very light gentle touching and absolutely hate tickling, but I enjoy a firm massage or a mild, thuddy flogging. Maybe it’s just a matter of finding the right level? (If he’s like me he will hate the feather.)
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 4:34 pm Anonymity Ahoy, I’m sorry you’re going through this & I’m glad your relationship is otherwise healthy!! I’m not clear if your husband has difficulty with touch in general or if it’s only more intimate touching; can he shake hands or hug)? There are physical & mental conditions (like PTSD) that can cause one to react negatively to touch. Have those been ruled out? Other than that thought, my only other suggestion is for you & your husband should really listen to each other for what does work & to experiment with this. eg: If he can’t easily tolerate touch yet you want to touch him to show you really do love him, then understand you can show your love by *not* touching him even though this is counterintuitive for you. I like the out-of-the-box suggestions for gloves & such. Good luck & you have many wishing you success!!
Anonymity Ahoy!* April 1, 2017 at 5:52 pm The sensation is the same for casual touch, but it’s easier to handle as it tends to be less prolonged, and on less sensitive parts of the body. He even experiences it to a smaller extent with the cat, but that’s easier because her fur makes the skin-to-skin part less. For that matter, playing with his hair and giving him a scalp massage is something he enjoys, because the hair helps to provide a barrier between skin and skin.
Wendy Darling* April 2, 2017 at 2:33 pm I have some sensory integration issues that make some sensations profoundly unpleasant for me — I wonder if he has something similar. (I can feel my eyebrows touching me. Ugh.) Does he have things he really likes touching his skin? I love the texture of that super silky microfiber faux fur and am completely obsessed with the texture of the furry side of this blanket, for instance. Is he cool with being touched if he’s wrapped up in something that has a nice texture, maybe?
Indy the cat (@indykitty)* April 2, 2017 at 4:01 pm Look into desensitizing treatments. I had one where I exposed my bare back to a fan. ( I have Sensory issues with touch and air currents) when the air currents were too much I wrapped back up in the warm fuzzy blanket and did it again when I calmed down. I love fuzzy fleece blankets and need to have them on my bed like a hamster’s nest. Try ocupational therapy for treatment options. You are a good person for not quitting on this relationship.
Marisol* April 2, 2017 at 6:15 pm I wonder if a practice called orgasmic meditation, usually abbreviated to OMing, would help you. There is an organization called One Taste, founded by Nicole Daedone, that teaches classes. I won’t elaborate here but it’s easily googleable if you’re interested.
BRR* April 1, 2017 at 6:29 pm Good luck! I’ve found from my own expierence the importance of speaking my partner’s love langauge versus mine when it comes to his fulfillment. It’s hard but it helped things so much.
Anon4theDay* April 1, 2017 at 7:23 pm I hope things work out. I just wanted to share that I can understand since my husband does not enjoy being touched most of the time. Most touch feels like he is being tickled (not in a fun/happy way)! He feels uncomfortable. So it has been a challenge during periods of intimacy. It is a work in progress and we have found that during certain times of the day/evening being touched is more comfortable compared to other times.
Changing my name* April 1, 2017 at 8:54 pm Just want to plug being on the receiving end 99% of the time if that works for you. That’s how my (lesbian) marriage works and I’ve essentially gotten over the weirdness. It can be hard being the maintainer of the sex life (because if your spouse doesn’t miss it it’s less likely they’ll be the ones initiating/prioritizing). But it’s workable! Good luck.
Clever Name* April 2, 2017 at 1:12 am I’m glad you’ve got a path forward! You mentioned your husband had talked to his doctor about his issues with touch. Has he been evaluated for sensory integration disorder? It’s really not something GPs know much about, but it’s a real thing.
Yetanotherjennifer* April 2, 2017 at 4:25 pm I’m wondering if some of the ‘sensory diet’ recommendations for kids with sensory integration difficulties wouldn’t be helpful. One category is ‘heavy work’ where a kid does something strenuous and then is able to focus for a period. Another category is sensory foods: crunchy foods, foods you have to work at (my daughter loved to eat apple sauce with a straw), etc. Sure, it’s not the average relationship where someone munches a carrot before fun times but I can think of worse. You two could also look at ways to manage his sensory environment so he can handle more touch, or you could work on building his tolerance of specific types of touch.
setsuko* April 1, 2017 at 4:09 am So I posted about the long wait before I could do a pregnancy test on the last couple of threads. After 18 months of trying to conceive and all sorts of tests and nasty medicines (I have PCOS), I am pregnant! We are so happy, and a bit confused.
setsuko* April 1, 2017 at 8:45 am Thanks everyone. I really don’t know how I would have got through the wait without the Robin Hobb books I broke out. I had been saving them for a special occasion / hoping to hold out until the trilogy was complete. They really helped when time was dragging. I guess I am going to need a massive series to get me through the wait for the actual baby now :)
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 9:48 am It goes by so fast and so slow at the same time! 23 weeks as of today, and in some ways it feels like it has already been for.ev.er and in other ways, it is zooming by.
Annie Mouse* April 2, 2017 at 3:34 pm Huge congratulations!! I don’t know if this is your type of book but I am loving rereading the ‘After Cilmeri’ series by Sarah Woodbury, starting with Daughter of Time :)
Celeste* April 1, 2017 at 9:31 am Congratulations!!! I have PCOS, too, and was able to have a child at 40. I will always be extra happy for any woman who goes through this. I had a hard time adjusting to my body actually working normally. Infertility really messed with my self-image, but giving birth made me feel healed of it. Wishing you a boring, normal pregnancy and a happy, healthy baby!!
Call me St. Vincent* April 1, 2017 at 2:06 pm Congratulations!!!!! So exciting!!!!! I totally understand. It took a year for us and it was the week before we were about to start IVF. I don’t have PCOS, but I have an endocrine disease that mimics PCOS, so I feel you. Wonderful news!!!
Cordelia* April 3, 2017 at 9:57 am Ahhh congrats, that’s awesome!! Your success gives me more hope, I have PCOS too (as well as Hashimoto’s). My husband and I have been trying for 11 months now (and I’m also on all sorts of not fun drugs), so I’m really glad to hear it worked out for you.
AnonForThis* April 1, 2017 at 4:22 am Sorry if this is a bit of a TMI thing, but is there anyone out there who is really sensitive to hormonal birth control that has found something that works for them in terms of controlling their periods and having a contraceptive method? Nothing works for me, my periods are hell, I’m scared of getting pregnant and too young too look at things like ablations and tubal ligations (according to doctors, at 31 I think I’m old enough to decide!).
Al Lo* April 1, 2017 at 4:29 am I’m probably not as sensitive to hormonal BC as you seem to be, so YMMV, but the Mirena has been a godsend for me. My periods have been virtually nonexistent since a couple of months after it was inserted, and I love not having to think about or remember anything. It is a hormonal method, but the hormone levels are lower than many other forms of BC, so they may not be as tough to deal with.
Jen RO* April 1, 2017 at 4:49 am I have the Jaydess (I think it’s called Skyla in the US), which is also hormonal, but slightly smaller than Mirena, so it’s better for women who haven’t had children (or who had C-sections, I guess). I’ve had it for a year and my periods were basically gone from the first month. (Then again, I also loved the pill and did great on it! I had to stop because I had high blood pressure and my cardiologist recommended an IUD, as it has a lower dose of hormones.)
KR* April 1, 2017 at 2:29 pm LOVE SKYLA. Im on my second year of it out of three years. I will definitely be getting it again in the future.
Raine* April 2, 2017 at 2:16 pm Jaydess is used in the US as well. It’s as effective as Skyla, but is being tested to see if it will last up to 7 years (!). I’ve loved mine and it’s covered by more insurance companies than the Skyla or Mirena.
Read the book, watch the movie* April 1, 2017 at 7:57 am Yes, I spent years trying different bc pills before finally getting the Mirena. It’s the best thing ever.
Kj* April 1, 2017 at 11:20 am Chiming in to say Mirena is amazing. I didn’t have periods at all when I was on it and no side effects.
hermit crab* April 1, 2017 at 12:48 pm Me too, I think getting mine was one of the best decisions I’ve made for myself. (Possible TMI warning!) I was in my late 20s/never had kids, and my insertion was complicated (like, I had to go home with a Rx for vaginal misoprostol and come back in two days), but honestly it was only mildly uncomfortable. It was inconvenient — I had to go across town because my usual doc practiced at the Georgetown med center, where they aren’t allowed to do insertions because of the whole Jesuit thing, so I had to take two afternoons off work for the appointments — but totally worth it.
Ktelzbeth* April 1, 2017 at 1:56 pm Mirena was great for me (the second one, after the first one fell out) and I haven’t been pregnant. I’m sensitive to estrogen, but do fine with progesterone. Skyla is a similar progesterone-only IUD that is the first one specifically tested in women who have not had children. That’s where a lot of their marketing about being good for those without previous pregnancies comes from. AFAIK, no other IUD has made a specific study of that population to be able to make claims, so comparing who’s better is tough. But I agree with people down-thread that there ought to be some doctor out there who can respect you as an adult. I know someone who got a vasectomy at about your age. He did a lot of searching and fighting, but finally managed.
jamlady* April 1, 2017 at 5:06 am Horrible history like yours, responded poorly to all BC, until I got Nexplanon in my arm. I have had it for 4 years and I have no side effects.
blackcat* April 1, 2017 at 7:54 am I have heard great things about Nexplanon/Implanon. They aren’t recommended for super long term use (>10 years) or use in young women (<18) b/c they seem to cause some bone density loss. So if you're at high risk for osteoporosis, approach with caution. As with anything, talk to your doctor.
Mela* April 1, 2017 at 8:15 am Where are you getting those recommendations from? I’ve never heard of any medical body recommending against progestin only contraception for bone density reasons.
blackcat* April 1, 2017 at 10:09 am Weirdly, it seems to be implant specific. It’s most well-documented in teens, mixed results in older women. The effect isn’t often seen in small studies, but is in larger ones suggesting it’s a complication for only a small-ish portion of women. I’ll post a link below (that links a ton of studies), but you can find some info out by googling “Implanon bone density young women” or something similar.
Mela* April 1, 2017 at 11:40 am Oh I did google and read about the studies, but I’m not seeing that translated into official recommendations.
Blue Anne* April 1, 2017 at 1:28 pm I was in one of those studies! I’m on my third implant, was 20 when I got my first one and they did bone density scans when I was getting my second one put in. They ended up throwing out my results because 1) my bones look amazing and 2) they thought that might be attributable to years of powerlifting, which most young women aren’t into. But it was really interesting hearing what they were looking for. Apparently the main concern is really just about prolonged use when you started young.
Gaia* April 1, 2017 at 1:34 pm Nexplanon was the worst thing I ever did. It did wonders for my period but as someone who has struggled with weight I wish my doctor had been clearer about the risk that I would pile on more pounds and not be able to lose anything (seriously – I was sick a few months back and ate literally nothing for 5 days. Gained 2lbs).
Sleepy Cat* April 2, 2017 at 2:07 pm I got the implant while I was living in the UK (so it was free!) and the only side effect I had was a 3 week long period when it was first inserted (it was off and on, with none of the usual PMS, just … bleeding). Since then, I’ve only had super light menses about once every three months. It is a little weird to feel it sitting there in your arm (you can definitely feel it through the skin), but you get used to it after a few days. Regular HBC messed me up, so this might be a good choice for you, OP. I also want to add: your doctors shouldn’t get to say you’re too young for having your tubes tied, especially if you’re over thirty. By most calculations, you’re close to menopause anyway, and have evidently decided that you don’t want children. You can push back – this is your body.
blackcat* April 1, 2017 at 7:55 am But that doesn’t work for “controlling periods.” The copper IUD almost always makes periods somewhat longer and more painful. For many women, that’s not bad or totally tolerable. But in some cases, it’s really bad.
TL -* April 1, 2017 at 3:22 pm Yeah, I would never, ever go on a copper IUD. My periods are hellish enough without any help.
Sandy* April 1, 2017 at 3:22 pm Depends what you mean by controlling periods, I guess. Mine used to be unpredictable and all over the place. With the copper IUD, they are regular like clockwork. They are reliably painful now, which is a downside, but I can almost time it with a watch, and it’s a great form of birth control.
Pommette* April 3, 2017 at 8:09 am The copper IUD is not a good bet for controlling irregular periods. No non-hormonal methods have been shown to have a consistent effect on menstrual regularity. What effect a copper IUD will have on a given person’s cycle is unpredictable. It worked for you, which is awesome; after having one inserted, my periods from mildly irregular to wildly irregular/unpredictable (and long, and painful). I think that the risk of side effects can be worth it. It’s worth it for me because of the peace of mind that comes from having hormone-free and effective contraception! But it’s not something that I would recommend to someone hoping for a more regular cycle.
EN* April 1, 2017 at 8:01 am I recommend resding Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden. She’s a doctor in New Zealand who studies natural/nutritional solutions to those problems we’re often prescribed birth control to regulate. Her opinion is the artificial hormones just cover up the problems and don’t actually solve them. After two months of taking some of her recommended supplements (zinc, magnesium, fish oil, etc.) and cutting out most dairy, my cramps are practically non-existent. Normally they’re bad enough to wake me up at night and need to take ibuprofen at least hourly. This last time I only took 3 total. Of course one experience doesn’t necessarily prove anything, but it gives me hope.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 9:09 am Sigh. I never did find a BC method I liked, though I came to tolerate a couple of pill formulations. I finally talked a doctor into Essure when I was 35, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. If you actually are sure you don’t want to have kids someday, finding a doctor who will ablate or tie your tubes is well worth the search. They’re unicorns, but a few do exist.
Elf* April 1, 2017 at 9:19 am I have a copper IUD which I love, but it did change the character of my periods (a bit heavier, different distribution across days, etc.) It is an excellent option, but if your periods are already hellish this won’t help with that. Also, on the pregnancy note, just a reminder that everything (to include tubal ligation) can fail, even IUDs that are still where they ought to be. IUDs have a 99.6% effective rate, which means that out of 1000 women with IUDs, 4 will get pregnant every year. I have (beloved) two-year-old evidence to attest to that.
A. Non* April 1, 2017 at 10:15 am Well, I’m not sexually active, so YMMV, but I found adjusting my diet and making sure I get enough water helps tremendously. I had bad results with oral BC and the Depo shot was hell on earth for me, but my average volume loss on my period has always been alarmingly large. (I use a DivaCup, for reference, which holds 30 mL, and usually have to empty it two to three times a day, for five days.) With diet adjustment (no dairy except for aged cheeses, light on carbs, heavy on animal-based protein) it’s two to three days and emptying at the same rate, but it’s still an improvement.
Not Karen* April 1, 2017 at 10:58 am Not an answer to your question, but regarding the ablation/ligation – when I discussed this with my doctor, she said it’s not an issue of being too young to decide, it’s that those methods aren’t effective in younger patients. I believe it had something to do with the potential for the tissue to regrow.
LilyPearl* April 2, 2017 at 5:56 am And tubal ligation has a not insignificant failure rate compared with IUD/IUD and implants. Vasectomies are much more effective. Doesn’t help the periods though. Tranexamic acid plus NSAIDs is one option for reducing pain/bleeding.
FutureLibrarianNoMore* April 2, 2017 at 9:48 pm My former gyno (who was very progressive, fortunately), told me she wouldn’t tie my tubes until I hit 30. She didn’t mention the effectiveness, but that most doctors won’t because the risk of getting sued is too high. Apparently, doctors have been sued by patients for tying their tubes too young, and then they changed their minds. I won’t change my mind (I would have happily signed something to that effect…medically, I can’t have kids without high risks), but can understand completely why she didn’t want to take the risk!
copy run start* April 1, 2017 at 11:27 am Wow, I was able to get a tubal at 26, no children, not married. I’m so sorry you haven’t had any luck finding a doctor willing to listen to you. I think reddit’s childfree subreddit still maintains a list of childfree doctors who should be more open to letting you make your own decisions. Maybe they’ll have a few names for you? My doctor prescribed me 800 mg ibuprofen for a while to help with cramping and overall volume of flow. I took it for a few days before and through the first few days of my period. It really did help. If you can tolerate that much ibuprofen it might help you.
neverjaunty* April 1, 2017 at 1:19 pm In the short term, there is a trick where you can take ibuprofen to slow the bleeding. It has been a while so ASK YOUR DOCTOR, but as I recall, it was four regular strength pills as soon as you notice the bleeding and then one every other hour for the first day.
Namast'ay In Bed* April 1, 2017 at 2:38 pm I was exactly like you, awful heavy periods, intensely terrible cramps, super sensitive to hormonal birth control, and absolutely terrified of getting pregnant. I ended up getting the Skyla IUD and while the insertion was a sucky process, it has been amazing. Since I got the IUD my cycles have been consistent and super light, something I have never ever had prior. Skyla is a super low hormone IUD, which originally concerned me since I have had such terrible experiences with hormonal bc before, but I talked with my obgyn and they told me that it was such a light amount it would be just enough to smooth out my cycle without the negative effects I had experienced in the past. And it truly has, I haven’t had any of the bad stuff, just the good!
nep* April 1, 2017 at 2:52 pm A friend was talking about that the other day — the fact that a doctor would not perform certain procedures on someone in her 30s. I find that offensive and ludicrous. No relevant experience so I haven’t got any advice for you — just chiming in that I agree you’re old enough to decide. Sheeeesh.
Melody Pond* April 1, 2017 at 7:57 pm Yeah, this was my thought, too. I’m 30 years old, and I’m FINALLY moving forward with tubal ligation. My appointment to have my copper IUD removed is on Monday afternoon, and my appointment for the actual surgery is in another few weeks. I’m hoping that having the IUD removed will take care of most of my period woes (they are super painful and usually interfere with work). I think if you (OP) are certain that you don’t want (your own, biological) kids, you should be able to find a doctor who will perform the procedure for you. I mean, my own thought was that I just don’t need to contribute to the overpopulation of the planet – if later on, I decide I want to raise kids, there are plenty out there in need of adoption.
Simms* April 2, 2017 at 3:37 pm I have had great results on Depo (odd as that may seem) I didn’t really respond to other BC methods and have been on it for over 10 years now with barely any side effects. My periods were pretty irregular before I got on it and were heavy so I have been enjoying the lack of them while on depo. I do get cramps close to when I need the next shot though which aren’t great. My thought as to why I have responded well to it though is I am a fairly large woman but no proof as that is why.
Dee Cee* April 3, 2017 at 10:54 am I’m somewhat sensitive to hormones and had Mirena inserted in January 2016. It was great for the first six months, then started causing horrible breakouts that my dermatologist said would cause scarring in short order. My options were either have it removed or go on Accutane (which didn’t excite me) and upon having it removed, there was a 2-3 week period where I was absolutely miserable, extremely irritable and had no energy at all, which is apparently not uncommon. If it weren’t for the side effects, I would have loved it though! I hope you find something that works–I haven’t yet :(
Newly-adult anon* April 1, 2017 at 4:27 am Any tips on navigating making your *own* relationships with family members? I’ve known my aunts and uncles my whole life, and I can chat to them one on one, but I want to develop more individual relationships with them that aren’t just because I grew up around them. Any thoughts?
Newly-adult anon* April 1, 2017 at 4:41 am Should probably say that while they see me as an adult now, I’m in the “young adult” category and also most of my aunts and uncles live 4-5 hours drive away, and the ones that do live close by are busy and travel for work (and fun) a lot. It can be difficult to keep up with when they’re actually in the country, at times.
AliceBD* April 1, 2017 at 8:44 am Call them! I have nice long chats with one of my aunts a few times a year, and I’d say we definitely have a personal relationship. I also talk to my grandmother every week. (I do not live near either of them, so seeing them in person is not an option most of the time.)
SophieChotek* April 1, 2017 at 10:50 am I agree with this. I write (a card) or send some emails to my aunt separately about once a month and though we’ve only had coffee once or twice without various assorted family members (which is usually when I see her) I feel like we do have a separate relationship outside/apart from my parents.
Not So NewReader* April 1, 2017 at 8:45 am Ask them questions about their own lives. This sounds corny but in some cases you might find out that you were the first person who cared enough to ask about some things. I can’t give specific examples here, but there have been many times I asked my aunts and uncles about some little thing (“Well, how did you end up getting xyz job?”) and they realized no one ever asked before. Invite them to do things with you and be willing to go to stuff they are interested in. I had an uncle that was hugely interested in genealogy. Since this was an interest of mine to some degree, it was not a hardship to dive into the topic with him. We had a lot of fun. And I got to know him better. He’s been gone for over a decade but I still carry some of his pearls of wisdom. Randomly give them examples of something they said that you applied to your life or your day. They like to know that they are helping you. I had one aunt who ran on a tight budget. Since I maintain a strict budget myself, I quickly agreed to a “no gifts” policy with her. And this is where it became fun. We would find random things for each other at tag sales or clearance tables that we knew the other one needed. It was interesting how many times we would find a $20 item for a buck or two. This worked into little surprises randomly through out the year. The gift was relevant and useful to the recipient, in some ways it was better than Christmas gifts. You have to go with the connection style they like. Many of my elders preferred the phone. But a couple would use email. I had one aunt who was willing to try stuff online if I talked her through it. I had another aunt who would not even turn a computer on. We kind of have to go where they are, if we want to hear from them. I am a huge fan of the idea of having relationships with people of all ages, I think it adds to our quality of life. The beauty of aunts and uncles is that you don’t have to explain family dynamic, you don’t have to explain WHY you worry about some things, they already know this stuff. So you can get into a meat and potatoes conversation. Where a parent might get upset with certain stories or actions, an aunt or uncle will just say, “PHEW! At least you aren’t MY kid!” And then they can continue on to really talk things over with us in a meaningful way.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 9:15 am So interesting you would say this. I’m visiting my mom and she was just telling me yesterday about her close relationship with a cousin of mine who’s in her late twenties. Apparently my mother, who really likes to sew, encouraged my cousin when she became interested in sewing as a teen, and they’ve remained quite close. She really treasures the relationship, and it seems as though my cousin approached her first, for advice. Go for it! I think almost all older adults like it when someone younger becomes interested in relating to them fellow human to fellow human.
Whats In A Name* April 1, 2017 at 11:13 am Pick up the phone or send a note! It will grow organically from there! Since they travel use text/email/snail mail instead of phone calls. It’s all the same – contact! I recently have done this as well, as a 37 year old, actually! I will say that things like texting and social media have made it easier to connect. I have an aunt and uncle I love but have always lived very far from and only saw on family get togethers and at that it was more like once every few years. Now I just shoot off a quick text when something makes me think of them and the other day I sent my aunt something in the mail because I saw it and thought of her. We were also lucky enough to see my uncle while he was in town, so that helped too.
hermit crab* April 1, 2017 at 12:52 pm I actually got a lot closer to my (amazing) aunt since we became friends on facebook! So my recommendation is to find a method of communication that works for both of you — e.g., do you both like communicating by social media, email, phone, text, letters, in-person chats over coffee, etc.? — and initiate some more contact via that method.
Ask a Manager* Post authorApril 1, 2017 at 1:58 pm I’ve found that being an aunt has really improved my relationships with my older relatives, because I think about what I hope my relationships with my nieces will be like when they’re adults … and then I do those things with my own aunts and uncles. So for example, I ask them lots of questions about their pasts (because I love it when my nieces have questions about family history, etc.), and I ask for advice (because it feels great when my nieces do that), and I generally express an interest in talking to them and spending time with them. Really, seeing it all through the eyes of the now-older relative myself has been so helpful, and I really think has made me closer with my own older relatives.
No gifts!* April 1, 2017 at 4:47 am Anyone else dislike getting gifts? I don’t like having too much stuff, as a rule, and the stuff I do like I am very picky about. I do not give gifts to any of the adults in my life (I buy lunches and that kind of thing for birthdays, but never physical objects). I have a few friends who still give me gifts and I cannot figure out how to stop it. It’s become even more of a problem as I’ve moved to a city that’s a few hours away and I take public transport sometimes to visit my old city for the weekend. My birthday was recently and several friends gave me gifts that I had to tote back on the bus and then worry about getting rid of. I realise I am a monster and a beast, and that my friends love me, and of course I always say thank you and act pleased. But we are all in our 30s and 40s! We can all afford to buy whatever nice things we want of our own choosing, and the idea of the waste of money, resources, and time bugs me so much. Plus the awkwardness of carrying an unwanted gift around all day. These friends know I don’t like stuff, and yet it seems like they hear the word “birthday” and are somehow compelled to buy something! Oh dear.
TheLazyB* April 1, 2017 at 4:55 am No but i am very similar to you and I’m hoping someone else will have suggestions! :)
Rabbit* April 1, 2017 at 5:40 am I’ve had a bit of luck asking people to donate to specific charities in my honor rather than giving gifts! I have a list of charities that I support that are “fun” (Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a local Big Cat rescue, a local rabbit rescue, my hometown Roller Derby team, etc) that goes up on my facebook a month before my birthday, with a note about how my birthday is coming up and if you were planning on getting me a gift, please donate to one of these charities instead. I reblog it a week prior, just as a reminder. I’ve also got a carefully curated amazon wishlist that mostly consists of (e)books and music that my family and close friends know about and which seems to mollify those people (my mother, for instance) who insist that birthdays be about spoiling the person turning a year older. For me it’s less about being able to buy the things I want/need and more that I live in a very small studio apartment and have a distinctly minimalist style regardless.
TheLazyB* April 1, 2017 at 2:49 pm Funnily enough I’ve seen stories recently about lots of people taking flowers to their local police stations/emergency services since the London attacks to say thank you for what they do. I also recently donated some unwanted pyjamas I’d got for Christmas to a refuge. My birthday is soon and i have asked family and will ask friends to give flowers or donations to emergency services, hospices, refuges, etc, as relevant. I hope that that will at least stem the flow.
Loopy* April 1, 2017 at 7:10 am If people really want to get you something, how do you feel about gift cards / groupons for experiences? If you like massages, or a certain restaurant, can you request they get you something that allows you to pick out something yourself later or go somewhere you’d enjoy? Might be a good compromise?
No gifts!* April 1, 2017 at 7:58 am I do love those things! That’s a great idea and it works for my mom and dad, but I would feel so uncomfortable talking about gifts for my upcoming birthday with friends! It would feel like asking them to buy me stuff, you know?
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 8:47 am I’d approach it this way: you all know they are going to buy gifts and this way at least you get something you want.
A. Non* April 1, 2017 at 10:18 am Really, approach it like Dizzy says! I’ve had to do that– the only person in my life who’s ever managed to buy me something I loved was one aunt, and everyone else is a miss. I let them know what kind of giftcard I’d like, if not a generic amazon, and everyone’s happy. Me because I’ll like what I get, them because they know WHAT to get. It takes away some anxiety on their end, too. It might be the same for your friends!
hermit crab* April 1, 2017 at 12:58 pm I agree with Dizzy and A. It will probably be a somewhat awkward conversation, but these people are your friends and they want to celebrate you and make you happy! In the end, everybody comes off better. If someone came to me and said something like, “I always love that you think of me on my birthday, but I’m trying to focus more on experiences rather than stuff as we get older,” I would totally get it, and it wouldn’t feel gift-grabby at all.
ECHM* April 2, 2017 at 8:17 am @Loopy: I love gift cards or cash! I feel awkward giving them sometimes but I love to receive them since I would prefer to get help paying my bills than get another knick-knack.
Channel Z* April 1, 2017 at 7:16 am Yes, me too! I am not materialistic, and I don’t want more clutter. If there is a gift, then I would prefer food or flowers, not stuff. And I get anxious about giving gifts, not because I’m cheap, but I don’t know what to get. I don’t want to burden anyone with an unwanted gift. Occasionally I think of something the recipient would want, like a coffee machine for my SIL this past holiday season, but I don’t like feeling obligated, either to give or receive a gift of a certain monetary value.
The IT Manager* April 1, 2017 at 9:23 am Above someone mentioned love language. My love language (and yours) is not gifts. I had a problem with an ex giving me trinckets I didn’t want to show he was thinking of me. I was just like: tell me that, don’t buy me junk I don’t need. Or more importantly -spend time with me- (we were long distance and my love language is togetherbess time.
the gold digger* April 1, 2017 at 10:12 am Me, neither! My love language is Do The Gross Stuff For Me: * clean the hair (mine, not his) from the shower drain * clean the nasty goo from the dehumidifier * clean the catbox * get rid of dead vermin Fortunately, it is my husband’s love language as well. :)
TheLazyB* April 1, 2017 at 2:50 pm My husband drives me mad buying me stuff. He doesn’t understand the love language thing :(
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 9:34 am I’ve made it generally known that I prefer perishables as gifts because I, too, prefer to keep my stuff limited. I think people do like the idea of choosing something they think I’d like, rather than picking something off a list, and I totally get that! So choosing a broad category (perishables) gives them some room to be creative. I’ve received wine, spice, chocolate, flowers, fresh-caught steelhead salmon, pineapple (my favorite food), cognac (my favorite anything), etc. I like the IDEA of charities, but I grew up in a red state and know it’d be a challenge to find a charity that both I and many of the givers in my life feel good about supporting. My husband and I have a tradition where every year on or around his birthday, I plan a multi-day backpacking trip for us. I choose the location, secure any necessary permits, tell him which days to take off from work. I do all the packing, food planning, gear accumulation, etc. And then when we get in the car (I drive), I hand him the map or guidebook. It’s our favorite gift. I love giving it and he loves getting it.
Rabbit* April 1, 2017 at 4:43 pm “I like the IDEA of charities, but I grew up in a red state and know it’d be a challenge to find a charity that both I and many of the givers in my life feel good about supporting.” Yeah, that’s why I deliberately keep my birthday charities ~fun~. I come from a family with a huge mix of faiths and political backgrounds and if I asked for donations to, say, Planned Parenthood it would go over like a lead balloon with a lot of them. It’s taken a few years, but I think I’ve finally found a mix that works for my facebook. On that note, I’ve found over the years that literally the one charity nobody in my family has a beef with is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which is great. Apparently the one thing my argument prone family (we once spent hours on Christmas arguing about the morality and ethics of live tree vs cut tree vs fake tree and don’t even get us started on indoor vs outdoor cats) unilaterally agrees on is that small children getting books in the mail is a good thing!
Margali* April 1, 2017 at 5:00 pm That is an amazing gift! I’m not a backpacker, but having a weekend away given to me like that would be wonderful!
AliceBD* April 1, 2017 at 7:32 pm I have found international charities that do disaster relief/development/medical care are charities that my very conservative relatives and I agree on. I like to donate to charities for birthdays and get donations to charities for my birthday, so things like Heifner International and Doctors Without Borders go over well in a way that similar domestic charities wouldn’t.
Hrovitnir* April 1, 2017 at 9:35 am You’re going to need to say something. Just casually when it’s not near your birthday, mention that you don’t like stuff and that extends to gifts, so you’re happy with vouchers of they really want to get you something, or genuinely would prefer nothing. I love giving gifts far more than I like getting them (I like that too but giving is better), though I have been really touched by a couple of particularly nice ones. I wouldn’t be remotely offended if you said that, and would very happily buy you vouchers for things like massages if you’re into that. :D
MsChanandlerBong* April 1, 2017 at 1:45 pm But don’t be surprised if someone just doesn’t listen. I love my best friend to death, but in 24 years, she has gotten me exactly three gifts I liked. With her, it’s that she thinks everyone has the same taste she does, so she buys stuff that she thinks is nice, not that the recipient would necessarily think is nice. Ex: The abominable snowman oven mitt with the pre-made cookie mix attached. I bake everything from scratch, so I wouldn’t use cookie mix, and I certainly don’t need an abominable snow man oven mitt. I just smile and say thank you for thinking of me, and then I put the gifts right in the Goodwill box.
Hrovitnir* April 3, 2017 at 6:39 am Bah, that is a thing. I don’t totally understand why that’s a thing, but you’re right, some people just won’t listen. :/ But they definitely won’t listen to vague hints!
Bluebell* April 1, 2017 at 2:33 pm I try to encourage friends to share experiences with me – that way I get to spend time with them and I don’t have to find space for new things. This has meant lots of birthday dinners and drinks but also going to concerts, museums, and the spa in town that has a lovely community tub.
nep* April 1, 2017 at 3:01 pm If you’re a monster and a beast then I am too. I was almost in tears a few months back thanking my mom the evening of my birthday — so grateful I was that the family (knowing very well my preference) didn’t give me gifts, and didn’t observe the day aside from a little card and saying ‘happy birthday ‘. I felt respected. (That’s slightly off-subject — anyway I am with you re: receiving gifts. It’s awkward in the moment, for sure. I just try to remind people in conversation whenever I can. Not to be a pain about it, but just to keep planting the idea in their minds that I prefer not to receive gifts, whatever the occasion.)
Catherine from Canada* April 1, 2017 at 3:32 pm Chiming in on the beast and monster chorus. I have a horror of receiving gifts; I’m not a great actor and it’s exhausting to pretend that I like something/am not disappointed that it’s so badly off the mark. As an introvert and ASD, I hate parties even more. I’m going to be 60 next year. I’ve told my husband and children that There Will Be No Party. No, I Mean It, No Party. Instead, I’m going to Rome by myself for two weeks.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 4:39 pm So, honest question: if someone in your life sensed your discomfort and decided to stop giving you gifts after having given them to you in the past, how would you want that to transpire? Would you want to have a conversation about it, where they said something like, “I notice you don’t seem to like receiving gifts. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, and I’m thinking I should stop buying you things. But I also don’t want you to think that I’ve stopped buying you things because I feel differently about you”? Would you want them to just . . . stop? Transition to marking the occasion with a card or something super impersonal/small, like money or a charitable donation? There are a few people in my life who clearly don’t enjoy getting gifts from me, even though I try to choose small and careful gifts for them that won’t create too much drama, but it would feel weird to just stop giving them gifts cold-turkey, you know? Especially at family gatherings where gifts are distributed to other people who DO enjoy getting them. I’d hate to have the cessation of gifts be misread as anger or a change in my regard toward them. (It’s always been awkward giving gifts to my 15-year-old stepdaughter, who hasn’t ever appeared to like getting them. For Hanukkah this year I got her a Hydro-Flask, after seeing her eyeing them in the store. She carries the thing EVERYWHERE. It makes me irrationally happy to have gotten her something she actually likes. But I’m already dreading the next gift-giving occasion, because I know I’m not going to do that well again.)
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 6:09 pm C Average, simple & direct would work for me. My first thought to your question was “No big deal, just stop giving gifts.” However after I thought on this some more I realised that I’d think it odd if one stopped with no explanation. I’d be okay with it, although I’d also find it odd. Ask what one would like as a gift & if the reply is ambiguous then confess you often have trouble finding that perfect thing & you want to give something they’d truly like. You could also ask if there’s something they’d like yet wouldn’t purchase for themselves. If you’re still not certain, then usually a gift card to a favourite shop or restaurant is good. The old stigmas of gift cards no longer apply in my opinion, because one is still giving something that person will like.
CM* April 4, 2017 at 11:15 pm Give her money! You can have a “I’m not giving you gifts anymore” conversation with a peer, but not with your stepdaughter. Money may seem impersonal to you, but to her it might seem like, finally, something that she really wants and needs!
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 3:33 pm You’re being considerate in that you don’t want others to spend money on things you won’t use as much as the giver might think & you do appreciate the thoughts behind the gifts. Then there’s the practically of transport, how much space you have in your home & your personal likes. You’re not a horrible monster, No Gifts! Although I might be biased because I can relate & I’m glad to read that we’re not alone. ;-) We all want to gift something the recipient will enjoy, so you need to get the word out as to what that is. For me, usually I can just tell one or two close friends who are glad to get the word out. And if there are talks about celebrating a “gift” holiday, I’ll usually pre-empt gift talk by saying something like “It’s been a busy few months & I’d love the simplicity of just being with friends. I’d love to bring the kids something!” “Because her flat is the size of a postage stamp, AstroDeco really can’t use/display much more than she already has. She thinks it’s a gift to just hang out with friends when she comes to town/ The best gift you can give her is to do something nice for yourself [or your family]/ She really likes this charity/ She likes to shop at FaveStore so I’m sure she’d appreciate a gift card/ Really all she wants is to be with those she loves!” Of course, none of this means “no gifts ever” & it’s always cool when you find that perfect card or gift for someone or receive this yourself!! As a side note, one of the best gifts I’ve ever received is a dvd that I haven’t ever watched. Once I had a houseguest who brought a gift for me. A few months later, he came again & brought me a dvd that is not something I’d normally watch; it wasn’t offensive at all, just a type of comedy I don’t care for. This dvd stays in my collection because every time I see or think of it I grin. When my friend gave the dvd to me, he said “I wanted to bring you a dvd although I couldn’t think of what to bring that wasn’t one you already had. So I asked myself ‘What movie does she probably not have or would like?'” The reverse logic cracked me up & it’s one of the best & most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received!! One day I’ll watch this dvd…
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 4:54 pm No Gifts, look at the above thread began by Cristina in England re April Fool’s & fake news. Use fake gift suggestions; ask for the Google Gnome or ont of the ThinkGeek faux products. Lol!! (& just joking)
No gifts!* April 1, 2017 at 8:12 pm Ha! That is actually a great idea that might work with my circle of friends! At least with some of them. Ok, actually it maybe has a 50/50 chance of working but it’s so funny I’m gonna try it! Thanks too to everyone else’s suggestions and commiserations. I will probably try a combo of them. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who gets anxious or annoyed by gifts!
MommyMD* April 2, 2017 at 2:27 pm Gift cards. I do not like knick knacks or stuff that takes up space. I never give that useless stuff. I find out what someone wants and gift like, like Ugg boots, etc. Or give a gift card to a restaurant, movie, bookstore, etc.
Mephyle* April 2, 2017 at 4:51 pm You’re my soul sister! I don’t have suggestions, because I don’t have many people in my life who are moved to give me gifts. I’m also a bad gift giver as well as receiver, and I find it exasperating how many people hate registries. I love giving something off a registry, because you know you’re giving them what they want (and if it’s delivered, they don’t have to lug it around).
DanaScully* April 4, 2017 at 8:12 am Yes! I feel so overwhelmed by people giving me *things*. I live in a small space and I constantly have a niggling worry of ‘where will this go?!’. For my most recent birthday I asked for candles or edibles/drinkables which people kindly complied with. It was a refreshing change to not be drowning in toiletries and knick-knacks I didn’t have the room for. I love candles and people bought me some really nice ones that I wouldn’t pay for myself. I will be adopting the same request for each birthday/Christmas that comes around, I think.
Roseberriesmaybe* April 1, 2017 at 4:58 am I watched Paris is Burning the other day. It would break your heart but I really want to learn more about (my) gay culture
The Cosmic Avenger* April 1, 2017 at 9:09 am Thanks for mentioning it, I just added it to My List on Netflix!
Junior Dev* April 1, 2017 at 12:16 pm Ooh, I’ll check it out. I went through a phase (after the election) of trying to watch a bunch of LGBT themed movies, but mostly ended up finding silly comedies.
gingerblue* April 1, 2017 at 5:02 pm Every time I see this movie title I have a moment of dissonance where I confuse it with the WWII movie Is Paris Burning, which is not the same thing at all.
Anon4* April 1, 2017 at 5:24 am Hi, I’m a Uni student and keep procrastinating on my assignments. I can’t really predict why I feel so sad and lonely (might be because I’m still in my parents’ home while a lot of my friends are overseas). I Guess I don’t really know what to do and how to move forward.
Drew* April 1, 2017 at 6:02 am First of all, what you’re going through sounds perfectly normal for many students. I don’t know if that will help in the moment, but you are definitely not alone. Since you ARE a student, you should check into what health services are available at your school. Even just talking to a counselor for an hour once a week or so might help, and they might be able to figure out if there’s something more that could be done. (It sounds to me like you might have low-grade depression, but I am absolutely not qualified to diagnose that, so talk to someone who is.) I hope you’re able to get some help and get back to rocking your bad self. :-)
Thlayli* April 1, 2017 at 6:39 am I second talking to someone to deal with the emotional stuff, but also think of practical ways to solve the procrastination. When I was a student I gave myself a target of one solid hour work every day mon-fri on a particular project plus one solid hour of work on study (this was in addition to classes/short term assignments. So I would write P and S on each day mon-fri. If I did the hour I would cross it off, if I did less than the hour I would carry it over, so on Tuesday I might have 1.5P, S, meaning I had to do 1.5 hours project and 1 hour study. At the end of the week I would have maybe 5hours of work to do on Saturday and I would know if i had just done it during the week I could have taken Saturday off! It helped me stop procrastinating so much I’ve used similar methods for all sorts of stuff since (work, hobby projects, sport etc). It might not work for you but try it and if not then look for a system that does work.
Channel Z* April 1, 2017 at 7:28 am I did the same in my student days and still do now to some extent, and am slowing learning why. A good therapist taught me about irrational thinking.. “I have to get this done..” when in reality the only things you have to do are wear clothes, eat, sleep, drink water, and go to the toilet. Framing it in mind as “I choose to work for one hour now ” instead of I “have to work” helped take the edge off and made it a bit easier to start. And if I felt overwhelmed I gave myself permission to stop and take a break with slow breathing.
Not So NewReader* April 1, 2017 at 9:06 am How’s your vitamin D levels doing? If a meal looks like junk food, maybe it’s time to tweak that a little. How’s your water intake? Lack of water seriously muddies our ability to think. Do you take walks? Understand that the procrastination feeds the sadness AND the sadness feeds the procrastination. It’s a circle and we need to find ways to break into the circle. It’s worthwhile to con, coax, bribe, threaten and otherwise move yourself into doing the assignments. Break the assignments into doable segments. You can use the reward system. When I am tired/drawn I tell myself, once I have done A, B and C then I can go have a nap. A good decision to make, if you can, is to decide that comparing yourself to your friends is NOT a life habit you want. It will not serve you well as most of the time we can find ways to tell ourselves we have failed. Strive to compare you-today to you-yesterday. Are you doing a bit better than you were 6 months ago? Six years ago? College is a hard time because we are building ourselves up. Sometimes we can feel little to no sense of accomplishment. It’s kind of like you open an IRA and you put $1000 in it. You know darn well you are going to need more than a grand when you retire. So that IRA is looking like peanuts right now. In time it will grow. Likewise with your education you are making that investment in you now, so that later you will be in a better spot. It’s a crock pot not a microwave. Sometimes when I feel down for a number of reasons, I have to stop and make a list of things I am grateful for. Anything is fair game, a warm room, a hot meal, a good friend, etc. I just throw everything I can think of on that list. There have been nights when the only way I could get myself to fall asleep was by working on my list of things I am grateful for. This is hard to do. If the wheels fall off, your mind drifts, then forgive yourself and get back on track with your list.
Sugar of lead* April 1, 2017 at 9:54 am There’s a series of articles that might help with the procrastination. It’s on a blog called waitbutwhy, and it has pictures. Just google “Waitbutwhy procrastination” and it’s the first result. It’s really helped me.
A. Non* April 1, 2017 at 10:22 am All of these suggestions above are really good ones, but yes, what you are feeling is perfectly normal. It also probably looks like A LOT to do at once, so don’t feel you need to do it at once. I do encourage you to use campus services to see about someone to talk to, and I encourage you to find a group that you think would be cool to be a part of, and see about joining it. Highschool to uni is a huge change in your life, and it can be paralyzingly scary to have to go out and find new people. Hang in there, and know it’s a common experience!
joe* April 1, 2017 at 11:50 am Some things that helped/help me, if you want things to try General wellbeing: Get some exercise, drink water, keep a regular sleep schedule, eat some vegetables. I find my time management and brainspace are better when my body doesn’t feel crappy, and it never hurts. Time management: The Pomodoro method (and similar) is my current favorite, wherein you work for 20 minute blocks, then take a 10 minute break, every three times you take a longer break (I don’t remember the actual interval). Using Internet blockers (I use SelfControl, which is for Mac, have also heard ColdTurkey for PC is good) that lock you out of procrastination-enabling sites is also sometimes helpful. Calling in professionals: Go see the school counseling folks, as they will know more good things to point you at and can help a lot
TL -* April 1, 2017 at 12:18 pm Oh I used to break my assignments up into parts – for instance, I’d do a bunch of reading and quote mining when I first got a research paper assigned. Then I’d put it away for a bit, then I’d remember I had this big paper due. And I’d pull everything out and realize that literally all I had to do was write and put in supporting quotes and references from my notebook (already had them written out with page numbers) and it would look so easy that I’d just do it right away. Plus I’d have had some time to think about it, so I would have better ideas. But “I need to read and quote mine” wasn’t a big task. And neither was “I need to write around this evidence I have and have thought about for a week or more.”
MommyMD* April 2, 2017 at 2:28 pm Just force yourself to dive in. No matter how hard. You will feel better. Just do it.
Tau* April 1, 2017 at 5:34 am My possibly-cluster-headaches appear to be starting up again and I am not okay with this development. After 15 years of yearly pain, they became more sporadic and I was crossing my fingers that they were going away or that the HBC I’d gone on was somehow stopping them. But I had three bouts of pain on Thursday and then one already this morning, which doesn’t bode well for the next few weeks. :( In related news, whoever invented those adhesive cold patches deserves a medal.
DoDah* April 1, 2017 at 11:20 am Migraineur here. I am sorry about your headaches. It took a few tries with meds and diet changes to get a handle on them. I still get them sometimes, though. For me, aging seems to make them more frequent.
LawCat* April 1, 2017 at 12:15 pm I’m sorry :-( I hope they resolve soon. I used to get them regularly, but now they’re very rare. They are terrible and I cross my fingers that the next few weeks are okay.
Tau* April 1, 2017 at 2:42 pm I’m happy that yours have gotten rare! And hopeful mine will go the same way. I haven’t had another bout all day so far and the schedule doesn’t generally include evenings* so here’s hoping… * although my understanding is that my headaches aren’t technically painful enough to be cluster headaches – 7-8 on the pain scale instead of 11 – the bizarre regularity applies or at least applied to such an extent I really have no idea what else they could be.
LawCat* April 1, 2017 at 2:52 pm Mine were of a much shorter duration than clusters typically are (but occurring in repeated intervals). I think I might have been misdiagnosed and they were probably more likely these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_paroxysmal_hemicrania Pain is so subjective. I’d describe the pain as someone sticking a knife in my head and twisting it. I have a very high tolerance for pain, maybe developed from having these headaches! In my early twenties, I started getting them less frequently. Thinking about it, it’s been at least two years since I had a day experiencing them. (Once I had one, I would always continue to get them at least throughout the day.) I went from getting them every few weeks to every few months to a couple times per year to now.
LawCat* April 1, 2017 at 3:08 pm Also, I never took medication for the headaches. The doctor told me not to drink caffeine or consume foods with nitrates so I did not (until the headaches started going away). I am not sure if that would help you, but might be worth a shot.
Tau* April 1, 2017 at 3:33 pm For me, the duration and occurrence used to be pretty on-the-nose for clusters – I’d get them once a year (always sometime between March and July), lasting for two weeks. During those two weeks I’d get up to three headaches a day that would last around 1-2 hours and always occurred at the same time of day. For instance, one around 2-4am, one around 8-11am and one around 3-5pm. That stopped around two years ago, which was the same year I started taking hormonal birth control – I still wonder about a connection there. They’d pop up sporadically instead – two years ago I had them every weekend in September and never during the week, I was a little pissed off about that! – so I’m hoping this is another one of those sporadic bouts. You’re right that pain is very subjective, and I’d never say that mine aren’t, y’know, agonisingly painful. (It feels a bit like someone repeatedly stabbing a red-hot needle through my face and then into my eye. The path said needle takes is pretty clearly the trigeminal nerve, so trigeminal neuralgia is also a possibility I guess.) It’s just that whenever you look this up you end up with talk about cluster headaches being the “worst pain known to humanity” and that seems a liiittle extreme to me. Especially when I am a wuss with low pain tolerance who’s never so much broken a bone and I’ve still had similarly painful experiences. The time the local anaesthetic wore off right after I’d had a wisdom tooth taken out comes to mind. No caffeine or nitrates is worth a shot! I don’t really take meds for them either – OTC painkillers sometimes because I feel like if I get them in early enough they can avert a bout, but honestly I suspect that one is wishful thinking. I’ve never properly seen a doctor for them, mainly because I used to think they were toothaches (the area of pain has expanded over the years and it started off more in my cheek). Several years and four wisdom tooth extractions later, I started to wonder if these might actually not be toothaches but by then I’d accepted them as normal. It’s probably worth looking into if I get two-week clusters again, especially because I can see this being a real problem at work. I basically spent three hours doing nothing on Thursday, and my coworkers were going “for the love of god, Tau, go home, you’re making us miserable just looking at you”… but I can’t call off sick for two weeks, and I’m perfectly functional in between bouts. :/
Jules the First* April 2, 2017 at 2:55 pm Out of curiosity, have you made any changes to your HBC recently? For example, switched from a branded to a generic, or been on antibiotics or some other meds that mess with hormonal absorption? I use HBC to manage my monthly migraine and morning sickness and it took forever to find a dose that worked. We then discovered (when my brand experienced a supply-chain hiccup) that the exact same dose from a different brand is not effective…so we’re now very careful to fill my prescription from either the branded version or the generic that’s made in the same factory (vs. the generic produced by a different supplier). Likewise, if I have a round of antibiotics, my next cycle will be accompanied by a minor migraine and mild nausea.
Tau* April 1, 2017 at 3:40 pm They are gel sheets which you can stick to your face and which have a cooling effect. They’re really quite cold, you don’t have to refrigerate them or anything, and they last for hours – I have no idea how this works, it’s probably magic. Anyway, I find them super handy because unlike pressing an ice pack to your head, you have your hands free, you’re not getting everything wet and you can target the affected areas very directly. I’m going to leave a link to the ones I use in a comment.
Tau* April 1, 2017 at 3:41 pm http://www.boots.com/kool-n-soothe-migraine-4-pack-10029380 I really hope these exist outside the UK. Germany, in particular, since I have no idea how I’ll ever survive without them.
Colleen* April 1, 2017 at 7:23 pm I have heard of these — I just hadn’t thought of putting them in my face for headaches. Thanks. Much better than washcloths that warm up way too fast.
Science!* April 1, 2017 at 10:35 pm My husband is a cluster headache sufferer. His clusters last 3-4 weeks, with 3-6 migraines a day. But they only reoccur every 24 months, so we consider him one of the lucky ones. But as he’s gotten older the cycle has gotten odd. They used to come every other October but then one year they came in November and two years later, January. And the last cluster was January 2015, so more than 24 months and no sign of them. My reading does suggest that people can age out of cluster headaches. We are hoping that’s what’s happened.
Drew* April 1, 2017 at 6:03 am First-world whine coming: I’m at a conference and the hotel bar closed at 10 p.m. What. The hell. It’s like they don’t even KNOW me.
the gold digger* April 1, 2017 at 10:14 am I have to go to Chicago for a trade show tomorrow and Primo is going with me to hang out. The karaoke bar he wants to go to doesn’t even start karaoke until 10 p.m.
salad fingers* April 1, 2017 at 11:25 am Oh no, 10pm is so late ;_; If Primo doesn’t get his fill at that place, let him know we have a 4am/5am karaoke bar called Alice’s in Avondale for EVEN LATER singing along. No one sounds good/everyone sounds good at after hours karaoke.
Call me St. Vincent* April 1, 2017 at 2:09 pm 10 pm is ridiculous! What the? Can you order to-go drinks? Also, is there a minibar? These are important questions.
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 4:44 pm LOL, April Fool’s Prank & ROFLMAO “It’s like they don’t even KNOW me.” I’m sorry for your ordeal & I hope the conference is over soon!! If you can, please help with my curiosity & ask the hotel why their bar closes at 10pm. 11pm, maybe. Although 10pm…? No. Just no.
Bianca* April 1, 2017 at 6:30 am This is sort of following the credit card question from yesterday (but is totally off-topic so it didn’t feel right to reply in that thread). I’ve always been sort of confused by the advice that you should get rid of credit cards if you want to get out of debt.vGiven that credit card statements provide a record of spending, I always thought it was a better way to keep track of spending compared with cash. (The caveat of course being that you never use a credit card to buy what you can’t pay back immediately). That on top of interest-free periods and reward points, it’s surely a better way to manage money? (Of course there are other reasons people don’t want a credit card, but not related to this.
Colette* April 1, 2017 at 7:01 am Many people don’t stop to think about whether they can pay off the purchase before putting it in a card. If you use cash, once you spend it, it’s gone. People who are in debt due to overspending have often treated credit cards as free/unlimited money.
Thlayli* April 1, 2017 at 7:22 am I think that advice is based on the fact that a lot of people who get into debt have trouble controlling and managing their spending, so if they have access to easy money they spend it, they don’t pay it back immediately, and they have no idea how much they are spending, how much they are paying in interest or how much they even owe. For those people “get rid of your credit cards” is the best advice. However a large number of people who get into debt are not like that and are in debt because of other reasons like not earning enough to survive or some incident or circumstance that they had to get into debt for. If you fall into the latter category then yes absolutely a credit card is a great think to have because if you pay it off in full every month it costs you zero and you get interest free loan for a period of time. Getting an itemised statement isn’t specific to credit cards though, most debit cards do that too.
Red Reader* April 1, 2017 at 8:11 am It depends on whether your primary goal is to A. Track your spending without having to remember to write everything down, or B. Not spend money you don’t have in your hand right this second. If your financial concerns stem from overspending, seeing the limits on your money by using cash may be more important to you and you can still track it manually. If you’re not running out of money and you just want to be better about knowing where it’s going, a credit card or a service like Mint may be more useful.
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 8:50 am Cash is a bit more tangible – it’s there and then it’s not. The trick is to write it down before you spend it, not after!
overeducated* April 1, 2017 at 8:59 am I think the idea is that people in debt due to overspending need help following your caveat. It’s not a side remark, it’s the entire issue. (That means cutting up credit cards only helps with consumer debt though.)
RussianTea14* April 1, 2017 at 9:19 am When I was trying to get out of debt, the biggest help to me was not using my credit card. I had a bad habit of going to the mall or online shopping very carelessly. If I didnt have anything to do on a Saturday, I would find myself at the mall, buying a lot of stuff I didnt need. Using a credit card to purchase stuff didnt really register with me. Cash is much more “real” to me. When I see it leaving my wallet, it hurts more. Since getting out debt, I havent used credit cards. There is honestly nothing I miss about it. My husband doesnt have any either. We have been able to accomplish so much by being intentional with our money. Personally, I would not trade the freedom I have from being debt free for any possession.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 11:07 am Same here. If I had the capacity to spend, I would spend. I was absolutely incapable of not making impulse purchases if I had the purchasing power to make them. I could look for and probably find all kinds of root causes, but the bottom line was that I had the ability to solve the problem by cutting off avenues of spending. If I had no plastic and I had a monthly cash budget for various categories of spending, my spending was self-limited. And yes, at first I ran out of money before the end of the month and ate a lot of PB&J, but I’m still here to tell the tale, and it was a lot better than staying in debt.
The Cosmic Avenger* April 1, 2017 at 11:17 am This is why we have automatic transfers to different savings accounts — it gives us an idea of how much we can spend by how much is left in the checking account, making budgeting kind of automatic. We have an emergency fund and a home improvement/repair fund, and a new car fund which could double as an emergency car repair fund if we needed it. We also have a charitable giving account and a property tax/homeowners insurance account, and so with all those automatic deductions (except the emergency fund, which is adequate), we don’t spend as much as we could.
The Cosmic Avenger* April 1, 2017 at 9:21 am Studies have shown that, all else being equal, you will spend more using credit cards than you will spending cash. (Links in a reply to this comment.) That said, we do use our credit cards for everything but independent local merchants for the reasons you mention (more for cash back than for bookkeeping), and our spending is manageable, and we are setting aside about 2/3 of our takehome pay before we can spend it. Some is savings, some is put aside for certain expenses, but that’s how we try to constrain our spending to the other 1/3.
The Cosmic Avenger* April 1, 2017 at 9:21 am https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/11/your-money/the-slippery-plastic-slope-to-overspending.html https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/your-money/credit-cards-encourages-extra-spending-as-the-cash-habit-fades-away.html http://spectrum.mit.edu/winter-1999/the-psychology-of-spending/
Not So NewReader* April 1, 2017 at 9:32 am Do you actually use the statements to look at your spending? Many people do not, they pray they can pay the bill and move on. I think that interest free periods and reward points are just a loan. The credit card companies will get that money back from you at their first opportunity. They will charge you for something else to get that money. For me, the problem with more than one credit card is that I won’t remember how much I have charged on it at any given moment. I probably will not keep a running tally. This means I am vulnerable to carrying too much debt, because at any given moment I do not know what I owe. So the arguments are: Having multiple credit cards can lead to confusion on current balances. It can encourage overspending, spending beyond our means. The savings programs aren’t really saving us that much. Annnd not every bill we have goes on the credit card so the credit card bills do not accurately portray what we are spending. I am a conservative person. I like to have a tight handle on my finances. You can use a spreadsheet or pencil and paper to write an actual budget. The problem with credit card statements is that the money is already spent. The trick is to catch the money BEFORE it leaves our bank accounts. My friend has a credit card for every major store around here. I am not kidding you when I tell you I hear her say, “But without this store’s credit card this item would have cost me $15 more!” Really? $15? Not worth it to me. I look around and I have plenty of stuff here that I can be using. I don’t need more stuff. My friend is constantly worried about all her incoming bills. Sometimes she gets all the credit card bills paid and then realizes she has forgotten to buy oil for her home heating. There’s no money left. Whoops. All my life I have one general credit card that I can use anywhere. I put whatever I need on it. I pay it off every month. My budget allows me to put X amount on it each month this includes food and gas. Like I said, I am conservative, to me life is filled with unforeseens. I remember one bad month, the hot water heater went ($1000), a head gasket in my car went ($1000) and the floor in a storage room caved in ($2000). All in one month, I was almost in tears. This is how things go for me and I know I have to be on top of the finances so I can make these quick emergency decisions. Because of not carrying a lot of credit card debt, I can make these decisions and get these needed repairs done.
the gold digger* April 1, 2017 at 10:17 am Do you actually use the statements to look at your spending 1. Until I got married, I had only one (personal) credit card. Primo had several (for various points programs), but has winnowed them to the essentials. Makes me nuts but he does not overspend. 2. I look at my statement to detect fraud. I audit every statement, every month. Three times in my life, my card number – not the card itself – just the number – has been used by someone else. It’s really annoying to have to deal with a fraudulent charge!
TL -* April 1, 2017 at 1:51 pm I have one for everyday use, one that all my bills go on, and two that are financing for big purchases that don’t get used. (One will be paid off soon and will be closed.) I sometimes use the bills one if I left my everyday one in my pocket or a purse or something but having multiple credit cards has never been a problem for me as long as each one has a defined purposed.
Dan* April 1, 2017 at 3:01 pm “I think that interest free periods and reward points are just a loan. The credit card companies will get that money back from you at their first opportunity. They will charge you for something else to get that money.” Maybe, maybe not. I’ve traveled all over the world on frequent flyer miles that I’ve earned through credit card sign ups. I’m traveling to South Africa later in the year, and stopping at Oktoberfest in Munich on the way home. I think my business class tickets for that trip cost $150 in taxes. I just bought a business class ticket on Korean Airlines for a trip to the Phillipines next year. That ticket cost me $34 in taxes and fees. Most of the miles I got through a signup bonus with the Delta credit card. I might have paid an annual fee once, in the neighborhood of $95. I’ll never make the claim that mileage travel is truly “free”, as many cards have annual fees, and pretty much every trip is going to require you to pay taxes, and some have fuel surcharges, which aren’t cheap. But I will say I have a long way to go before the banks make money off of me. The travel I’ve already done nonwithstanding, at this very moment, I have enough points with Chase where I could get a real check (not funny money) written to me for well over $2,000. I’m not entire sure what point you’re trying to make with the last paragraph — if I have those kinds of emergency expenses come up, I pay for it with a credit card without thinking twice about it.
TL -* April 1, 2017 at 3:27 pm Yup, my parents own their own business and they put all their business expenses on a travel rewards credit card. They haven’t paid for airfare in years; they don’t go anywhere exciting but they do like to fly to their vacation property a couple times a year and they fly their kids in for the holidays. :) Heck, I don’t put nearly that much on my credit card but I have a no-annual-fee travel card and it knocked over $500 off my upcoming overseas flight, which was really nice (I would’ve put everything on that credit card anyways, so it required no extra effort on my part.)
JKP* April 2, 2017 at 1:06 am As a merchant I learned that all those rewards/cash back/mileage points are being paid for by the merchant. We get charged between 1-2% more in processing fees for rewards/points cards than regular cards. So the credit card companies don’t have to recoup those costs from you the consumer. They already passed them down to us the merchants.
Hrovitnir* April 1, 2017 at 9:38 am Heh, it’s funny because I don’t really see cash as “real money” and am worse at not spending it – though I do spend more than I should online, and that requires a credit or debit card. But yeah, it’s tricky because it’s easy to overspend with credit cards, but if you don’t have them or other debts you have no credit record. :/ And used well, (I know) they’re economical.
Anxa* April 1, 2017 at 12:10 pm Same! I think it’s the breaking of bills and the whole coin thing. I keep track of spending to the penny, not too long ago a rounding error could have been the difference in making it to the next paycheck. I find it easier to keep a mental list of swipes instead of cash. I keep an index card in my wallet with a golf pencil so I can track where I spent my cash withdrawals.
George Willard* April 1, 2017 at 2:16 pm Same for me with cash! Seeing the exact amounts through my debit/credit cards helps me budget much more effectively.
Anu* April 1, 2017 at 10:32 am I think it really depends on your personality. I actually don’t have any problem thinking of spending on a credit card as real money. I look at all my transactions on Mint and it reduces my net worth just the same as if it were an ATM withdrawal. And I can track exactly where the money is going. On the other hand, I’ve never been in any kind of debt besides mortgage debt, always paying off credit cards in full each month. So likely what works for me might not work for others.
LCL* April 1, 2017 at 11:06 am I will never live without a credit card again. I did in the early 80s when I was just starting my adult life. It was actually hard to get credit then; people as poor as me not having credit cards was the norm. But, a credit card is a fantastic emergency fund. Because I had no credit, and no extra money, I had to go without a car for two months because I couldn’t afford repairs. I walked 2.5 miles to my restaurant job, and begged rides home. I had to wait until my dog was a year old to get her spayed, and had to borrow the money to get that done at the cheap clinic. If I would have been able to borrow money somehow for emergency expenses, I would have had more energy and been able to get a better job.
Dan* April 1, 2017 at 2:47 pm Me either. My car broke once, and thankfully the shop let me pay with post dated checks. Also, I’ll never use a debit card again. Once, my debit card got compromised, and somebody drained every last penny from my bank account. Yes, I got my money back, but I needed to get an advance on my paycheck to get through the next four days while the bank “investigated”. When your car needs gas and you need food, four days with *zero* cash and *no* credit cards are pretty hellish.
JKP* April 2, 2017 at 1:27 am When my account was compromised, they closed my account and transferred everything to a new account (new checks, debit card, etc). But then the payroll company kept messing up the change request to direct deposit my money into the new account, and my paychecks kept bouncing because they were trying to deposit them to a closed account. Every pay period, they promised the system was fixed this time. But I went weeks and weeks without access to my income. I wouldn’t have made it without my credit cards.
Jean who wants less physical & mental clutter* April 1, 2017 at 11:14 am I put almost all transactions either on my debit card or online banking (happens electronically, but not automatically–I have to actually log in and initiate the payments) so that there’s a recorded record. I discovered that it’s possible to download account transaction history in a spreadsheet. What makes this great is: a) I get to specify the start & end dates of the date range. b) I can sort the downloaded data in different ways. Sort by vendor and see how much I spend every month at such-and-such grocery store. Sort by amount (?) to see how many transactions are more than $100 or less than $10. I haven’t actually tried this but it might be educational. Even the under-ten-dollars purchases can reach a significant total. Do I do this all the time? No, but it’s nice to know that the data is available without my having to create and maintain a complicated, time-consuming ledger or record book.
Mike C.* April 1, 2017 at 11:00 pm The ability to download data (or use the credit union’s online tools) is huge for me. I can easily produce all sorts of metrics and figure out where I can be more responsible.
Marisol* April 2, 2017 at 6:26 pm I do the same, and download transaction records onto mint.com to allocate purchases. I try to do this weekly. I rarely make cash purchases because even though I save receipts, it’s just too onerous for me to reconcile cash withdrawals to my purchases and so whatever I buy with cash often goes unaccounted for. But with the debit card and mint, it’s super easy to budget, etc. Mint is free–I highly recommend it.
copy run start* April 1, 2017 at 12:14 pm I started using a credit card for simplicity (just pay one bill at the end of the month for groceries, gas, etc.) But then I would spend too much and just pay what I could, or have a month where I had less income, letting the balance build bit by bit. I didn’t think it was a big deal to pay a bit of interest for things that I presumably needed now. After I crossed that threshold, I started using it for bigger purchases where I’d think I would pay all/part over time, or I was “afraid” of committing that much real money from my bank account, so I used the credit card. I’d convince myself I was paying off my $500 purchase when paying $500 at the end of the month, even though I was carrying a balance constantly. It finally became a problem when it was a struggle to make the minimum payment each month. That’s when I finally realized I had $4,500 in debt and took home less than $800 a month. I was on food stamps, I had no family safety net, no savings, no credit card balance to fall on if something happened. So when I finally got a better job I was laser-focused on paying that down. After I paid off my credit card, I found my old statements and went through them. Tons of things I would’ve SWORN I paid cash for went on that card. I was living in another reality. I was buying smartphones and game consoles that I could not afford, and by the time I paid that debt off, I had traded in that smartphone AND the one that came after. That console was almost 5 years old. The laptop I bought had long since broken. It was crushing. Now I use my debit card exclusively. I don’t carry cash because I’m just as terrible with it and I need that record, like you said. I keep my credit card alive by charging Netflix to it, but it’s on autopay in full. Now when I purchase something it has to be real money. YNAB really helped me get the card paid off and now keeps me from falling into the same trap. I have considered getting one for online purchases so I’m not exposing my debit card. I’ll be looking for one with a low interest rate, not cash back/points, so that if I do get into trouble at least I’m not fighting back against 27% interest again. Cash back/points just seems like an easy way to justify overspending to my brain.
Dan* April 2, 2017 at 3:01 pm Yes, if you don’t have discipline, credit cards are going to be your worst enemy. I urge you in the strongest of words that I can find to NOT use a debit card for online purchases, particularly if you don’t have easy access to another source of cash if your account gets compromised. FWIW, your interest rate is a function of your credit score. My points cards are all at 15.4% interest. I have a non-points card at 11.4%. The lowest one I ever had was at 8%. But, if you get into a jam, you really shouldn’t be financing your debt this way. I have multiple cards that have 0% APR balance transfer offers. One card I have charges a 4% fee, but the 0% period is a year and a half (18 months). I have another that has a 0% APR offer with a 1% fee, and I think that’s also good for 18 months. Yes, points/cash back will get you into trouble if you think you’re “making” money or something every time you use your card. You can only win with points/cash back if you disassociate the rewards from the spend. Don’t go to dinner tonight just because your card is having a 5% bonus on restaurants this month. All that means is that your $100 dinner cost you $95 instead. It doesn’t even cover the tip.
copy run start* April 2, 2017 at 7:14 pm My interest rate was something like 19% (still awful, but I got this card when I had no credit) but I missed a payment because of timezones ONCE and they jacked it up. (As in it was due at midnight EST and I had it in at 11 CST….) And have never, ever agreed to lower it, despite my credit now being really good. It’s the only payment I’ve ever missed in 10 years. I purchased a car at 3.75% a few years back and they STILL won’t lower the rate. I only keep it around since it’s my oldest account, aside from student loans. I do keep the majority of my savings in a separate account with a different bank, so I won’t be hosed. I could last a few months if someone drained my main account. Still… needs to be dealt with….
Dan* April 3, 2017 at 1:31 am Just to be clear, you do know that interest rates only matter of you carry a balance, right? (And if you are, let’s discuss options…) Your card sounds like capital one. They are complete dicks with their sub prime products. It’s easier to get a new card with a different bank than it is to get capital one to budge. I once had a video store late fee charge to a capital one card I hadn’t been using in awhile. It was $2. Except I wasn’t paying attention, and missed the statement. Ended with two missed payment fees – that $2 turned into $60. I would have appreciated a call that said, “you know you missed your payment, right?”
Jessesgirl72* April 2, 2017 at 8:57 pm You are more likely to have an account compromised through in person transactions than through online purchases. This has been proven over and over. Online, there are all kinds of protections. In person, the kid making minimum wage can have a card reader in his apron.
LawCat* April 1, 2017 at 12:23 pm I use YNAB budgeting software and it works extremely well at tracking spending regardless of debit, cash, credit, or checks. We use credit cards primarily because we get points, purchase protection, and better fraud protection than with debit. But we only spend within our budget. I think credit cards get dangerous when people spend without any budget/plan and just hope they can cover it.
Ella* April 1, 2017 at 9:54 pm I use the goodbudget app for similar reasons. I put everything on my credit card, but since I’m tracking how much money I have, I can pay it off at the end of the month.
George Willard* April 1, 2017 at 2:20 pm I really think this is only applicable advice if someone has a a clinical-level problem with impulse control (though in that case, it’s not only applicable but necessary).
TL -* April 1, 2017 at 3:29 pm Eh, I think having only a minor problem can be a big deal if you’re on a shoestring budget. It’s hard to always say no if you have the means to say yes – even if the means is a credit line and not the actual cash, unfortunately!
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 6:24 pm I don’t think it’s that straightforward in every situation. In my case, I got into credit-card trouble in college when I used plastic to try to keep up with my better-off peers. Intellectually, I knew better, but in those moments when I was getting invited somewhere fun for spring break or helping to pay a bigger-than-expected bar tab, using the card felt easy and consequences felt far away. Those smallish debts followed me through my twenties, as I worked crappy jobs that barely covered my rent. I went further in debt to cope with the unexpected: car trouble, minor medical expendi, moving costs. It was a way to pretend I wasn’t living in poverty; I used debt to convince myself and the world that I was Making It. It took cutting that card in half, living on PB&J and ramen, and not going anywhere–in short, it took living within my actual means–to get out of debt. Did I have clinical levels of impulse control? Maybe. Was I poor as a church mouse and desirous of a few nice things? For sure. Maybe I could have kept the card and developed impulse control and brought my finances under control with the card still in my wallet, offering me easy access to things that would make me feel like something of a success. Maybe not. My life is so much better without plastic. I’m in a decent financial place now, having clawed my way to middle-class status and then married money. But I, personally, never want to carry one cent of debt for one minute again.
BRR* April 1, 2017 at 6:39 pm I agree with what others have said. My method is paying off my credit card at least once a week. I’d spend way too much if I only paid when the bill came.
Pommette* April 3, 2017 at 8:47 am People who promote that advice often do it as if it were universally applicable. But whether it’s appropriate or not really depends on your personality, financial habits, and current situation. I much prefer using credit cards/debit to cash. It makes it easier to track where I spend, and to evaluate what habits need to change. When I take cash out, it tends to disappear without my having a clear sense of where it went. (I’m aware that I could track every small purchase by hand. It’s not a bad idea, but doing so makes me completely miserable. Using a credit card allows me to get the same information without having to stress out about money five times a day). I pay my cards off in full every month and weigh bigger financial decisions the same way I would if I was using cash. In the fifteen years since I got my card, I have only gotten in trouble once. It was after having being unemployed for a long time. My savings had run out. I used the card to buy necessities and to keep my utilities and phone connected; I also used it to travel out of town to attend a family funeral. I knew that I was getting into debt. I was happy to do it at a relatively low interest rate (not having any income or assets, I would not have been eligible for a personal line of credit; my only alternative at that point would have been pay-day lending shops). But yeah: there are some smart, reasonable, emotionally-balanced people who spend more when using a card than they would when using cash. For anyone in that basket, using cash makes a ton of sense. I definitely feel that the personal finance industry makes more of this piece advice than it should.
Mela* April 1, 2017 at 6:43 am After 12 years of doctors, lab work, and imaging, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia this week. I have an appointment next week to discuss drug options with the rheumatologist, but I’m looking for things to read up on in the meantime, specifically books, but any other kind of resources as well. It’s really exhausting trying to wade through everything, and I’m steering away from the “vaccines caused my fibro” stuff, but sometimes it’s hard to tell until you’ve read quite a bit. I’m not opposed to alternative/non-western stuff, I just don’t want to read about chemtrails-type stuff.
Stacy* April 1, 2017 at 9:00 am I was diagnosed many years ago now, and I remember finding Devin Starlanyl’s books and website to be very helpful. It can be a struggle for sure, but finding good resources can really help make such a difference! Especially with things like, for me, making myself exercise every day, even though my body seems to just want sleep/rest. It really makes such a difference in how I feel, even when all I can manage is 10 minutes that day, I was also diagnosed with Joint Hypermobilty Syndrome back then too, which has recently, finally (!!) been upgraded to a different connective tissue disorder that is really difficult to find good, quality info on. I’m hoping slowly but surely to either find helpful resources, or to do enough of my own research & experimenting with the non-drug parts of my day to fill that need myself!
Nicole* April 1, 2017 at 9:25 am Are there any drugs you take in addition to the exercise? I have many of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia but have never been officially diagnosed since I don’t have “enough”. However, my new doctor has started treating me as if I have it to help me feel better. He prescribed Lyrica and physical therapy. I’ve started taking the medicine but haven’t noticed any improvement. If anything I feel like it’s making my nerves feel tingly in my hands. I’ve been dragging my feet scheduling the physical therapy for a few reasons, one of them being that I feel like exercise often makes me feel worse instead of better. I plan to discuss all this at my follow up appointment in a few weeks but was curious about your experience.
Stacy* April 1, 2017 at 10:15 am Yes! I take Tizanidine at least every night to help with my quality of sleep. I also take it as-needed (it’s a muscle relaxer). Sometimes I take smaller 2nd dose at night, I also use it around the clock (again a smaller dose) when I do Botox for Migraine every 12 weeks, or if I sprain something, etc (oh, the joys of connective tissue disorders!) I also take Gabapentin, which is very similar to Lyrica. It’s a medication of choice for multiple issues for me, but it is one of those meds that you have to titrate to find the best dose for you, and I only really notice how much it’s helping if I stop. Mobic (Melixicam) may help too. (It’s an NSAID that you only take once each day)
Stacy* April 1, 2017 at 10:30 am Oh, I should have said too that the things that help me the most are keeping to a regular sleep schedule — same times to go to bed & wake up each day, even weekends. And only taking naps if I’m trying to sleep off a vicious migraine. I’m recovering from oral surgery and it is so hard to not be sleeping right now. Also massage therapy 1-2 times a week, even when I’m in PT too. It makes for a lot of appointments each week, but it makes me functional enough to hold down a job while faking being well. And also trying to get outside at least for a walk around the block. This was so much easier when I had a dog to make me get outside for at least a quick walk 3-4 times a day. I still haven’t made it a regular habit again, and it did not help that when he passed away it was suddenly and in November. So it was way too easy to be “I’m too sad” “it’s too dark” “it’s way too cold out here”, cycle, rinse, repeat. I’m working toward it though!
Nicole* April 2, 2017 at 2:38 pm Thanks for all the helpful info! I know the feeling with not wanting to walk the dog – I get cold very easily so I haven’t been taking the dog outside. She gets exercise indoors but I do need to get her outside and trained to walk properly on a leash.
Sami* April 1, 2017 at 7:42 pm Fellow FMer here. Exercise absolutely wrecks me, but curiously PT didn’t. And actually helped.
Not So NewReader* April 1, 2017 at 9:55 am When I got sick years ago, I found this book. It’s out of print now I believe. But it was the best book I found at that time, because it was chock full of ideas. I agree with you about the chem-trail stuff. Let’s suppose that the theory is accurate, this STILL does absolutely nothing to help me now. I need to talk about things that I CAN do to help me right now. That was my thinking then and it still is. There are more books in the series. Unfortunately, I loaned mine out and they never came back. I was looking for drug/surgery free ways of dealing with problems, I preferred to be in charge of and do my own work for my process for healing/compensating for the problems in my body. While no book is comprehensive, this book got me launched so I could go on my own and make decisions for myself. https://www.amazon.com/Alternative-Medicine-Fibromyalgia-Environmental-Paperback/dp/B010EWJCQG/ref=sr_1_50?ie=UTF8&qid=1489967511&sr=8-50&keywords=alternativemedicine.com Let me know if you have problems with the link.
Not So NewReader* April 1, 2017 at 9:58 am Check back, I have a post in hiding because of a link to a book.
HannahS* April 1, 2017 at 11:35 pm I don’t have resources, particularly, but just to share: I have fibro too. After trying a bunch of things, I wound up on Lyrica. I love, love, love it. It completely changed my life. It isn’t normal, but I’m functional. It’s great for me, though I know it’s not for everyone.
MommyMD* April 2, 2017 at 2:35 pm Remember that fibromyalgia is not a disease state, it is a pain syndrome. Don’t treat yourself like you are sick. Eating well and getting daily exercise is important. Walking is fine. Get involved with life and stay busy. In absence of genuine disease states such as rheumatoid arthritis pain symptoms almost always have emotional components so make sure that is addressed. Avoid going down the narcotic painkiller route which will ruin your life. I see this daily for 20 years. The physician who “invented” fibromyalgia has taken it all back. Yes, the body indeed can produce pain. But please don’t fall prey to fibromyalgia or myofascial pain syndrome as true disease states. Good luck!
FutureLibrarianNoMore* April 2, 2017 at 10:00 pm Fellow Fibro person here! I suggest avoiding most online Fibro forums. A lot of their regular members are essentially in a “who hurts more” match. We all hurt. We’re all in pain. It’s better to focus on what makes YOU feel better. A lot of the stuff you’ll read won’t work for you. I’m sensitive or allergic to every medication they tried, so I focus more on alternative medicine. Other folks respond to things like Lyrica or low-dose naltrexone right away.
purple hat* April 1, 2017 at 6:44 am So I’m currently apartment hunting, which isn’t my favourite thing to do (not just the hunting part, but also the upcoming annoyance of having to move). So out of interest: what things do you usually prioritise when looking for accommodation? Space? Garden? Location? Convenience?
Tau* April 1, 2017 at 7:57 am The things I am basically non-negotiable on are energy efficiency and location. Energy efficiency: Insulation, double-glazing, decent central heating. I’ve had a few harrowing experiences on this front while renting in Scotland, including the flat where I’d wake up in the morning to find it was 14C inside my bedroom and the one where we had to close the curtains to reduce the draft coming through the windows. In the UK, potential landlords are legally obliged to give you an energy report on the prospective property if you ask for one and nowadays I refuse to even consider ones with a rating below C. Location: So for this bit you need to keep in mind that I am an urban European person. :) The place has to in walking distance of some sort of grocery shop, the closer hte better, and I need to be able to cycle to work and other shops. That reflects both distance and available routes – living 2km away from work won’t help me at all if the only way to get there is along an A-road. Good public transport connections are a bonus, but not as important as the walking distance for grocery store/cycling distance for everything else. On that note, some form of cycle storage is a must. I can be flexible on what counts – I spent four years lugging my bike up and down two flights of stairs every day because the only place I could keep it was my flat – but I’m not leaving it on the street. I have a long list of other things I like to have (not ground-floor; washing machine in the flat; decently sized freezer; open kitchen/living area; single bed; gas hobs; the list goes on), but those are way more negotiable. I’m not actually particularly fussed as far as space is concerned – in some ways I prefer small spaces because they’re easier to keep tidy and cost less to heat. As long as I can get all my stuff in, I’m pretty much good. And a garden’s not generally an option for the sort of places I live – there either isn’t one at all or the one that’s there is shared between about ten different flats and you can’t really do anything with it – but I do totally want a balcony. That’s very much an “it would be cool” rather than a “my quality of life will be noticeably worse if I don’t have this” so it’s pretty low on the priority list. I’m curious to see other responses! :)
Ange* April 1, 2017 at 8:29 am Mine were: separate toilet (because of previous experiences), having a bath and a shower (so I have the option of both) and window-ledges, so I can put plants etc on them. Also I personally hate open plan, so I prefer a separate kitchen and living/dining room.
BBBizAnalyst* April 1, 2017 at 9:45 am For me, location is huge. I’m currently 5 minutes away from work and downtown. I could save a few hundred bucks if I lived further out but I’ll never get that time in traffic back. Other necessities are the apartment has to have covered parking, cannot be on the lower floors, in unit washer and dryer, dishwasher, a big kitchen and ample closet space. I also look at tenants… I’m 30 so I’m not interested in living in a complex overrun by undergrads. Since I’m downtown, haven’t had that issue yet thankfully.
Tau* April 1, 2017 at 11:21 am Oh, dishwasher! I didn’t have one for years and years but my current flat (well, one of my flats – I’m 100% travel and sort of split between a company flat during the week and my own flat on weekends) has one and oh, they are marvelous. I never want to live without one again. Guess I can be happy my next flat-search will be happening in Germany, where the rental kitchens are generally “here’s an empty room with one outlet for gas and one for water” – that makes it easy to customise your kitchen goods… And I hear you on the time thing. For cycling, I don’t mind living a bit further out since it’s a great way to fit in exercise (I currently cycle 30 minutes to work each way, including several hills, and am probably more fit than I’ve ever been before) but anything involving the car or transport… ugh. My weekend travel is also starting to really wear on me – it can take anywhere between 3.5 and 5 hours by train each way and I really hate spending what’s effectively a whole extra day of work travelling whenever I go back. As you say, that’s time I’m never getting back.
Chaordic One* April 1, 2017 at 8:33 pm I remember when I was in college and my best friend, who had her own apartment, switched apartments from one that had a balcony to a different one that had a dishwasher. At the time I thought she was crazy, but she really knew what she was doing.
the gold digger* April 1, 2017 at 10:26 am When Primo and I bought our house, I did a lot of research. We got (and I am tired of re-typing to make parallel construction, so this is jumbled) * We can easily walk to the places we go frequently, like the library, church, the grocery store, restaurants, drugstore. The only place we have to drive to that is a life necessity is the post office. We are also one block from an elementary school, three blocks from a middle school, and a mile from the high school, but that’s coincidence * We are in one of the best school districts in the state. We don’t have children, but we want to sell our house someday * Little to no lawn maintenance. We have a small yard (characteristic of our 1928 neighborhood). I hate cutting grass. * Guest room with its own bathroom * An older house that is not some cookie-cutter McMansion that looks just like every other house on the block * Big kitchen When I was renting, I wanted off-street parking, someone else to cut the grass, a washer and a dryer, and no neighbors. If I have to have neighbors, no upstairs neighbors :)
Victoria, Please* April 2, 2017 at 11:12 am You would love my house. :-) It’s ALL that, except we do have a big yard. I promptly ripped out the lawn and replaced it with water-wise stuff, though. And the kitchen isn’t gigantic, although plenty big enough for us.
Sprechen Sie Talk?* April 1, 2017 at 12:50 pm Yeah that draft thing is pretty critical for the UK. The windows in this country are TERRIBLE right down the line. We are moving in three weeks to a new place (signed the papers this morning) and critical for us was: 1) Quiet neighborhood, quiet neighbors 2) At least 2 bedrooms, preferably 3 3) Must take cats 4) Outdoor space we can actually use (for grilling) 5) Two bathrooms 6) Nowhere near a high street/bars/student types 7) Decent enough commute to work with enough options (so when one form strikes its still possible to get in on another form) We found a two bed/2 ba terrace house with secure outside yard with a shed in probably the quietest neighborhood in London (not even Hampstead is this quiet!), very near the river, walkable to work for me. I couldn’t believe how quiet the place was when we were going through it, and after living on a high street for two years, with crappy windows and stomping neighbors upstairs (thankfully they never took out their trash so while we got some mice, their girlfriends never wanted to stay over, which was a far bigger issue for me!) its a miracle. Still a little small but its just the two of us, and the kitties are moving in May!
Tau* April 1, 2017 at 2:58 pm I couldn’t believe in what sort of bad shape some of the UK houses, windows particularly, were when I first moved here. I blame it on the climate – it’s mild enough even in most of Scotland that you can get away with badly insulated houses. In most of Germany, you’d have a cold snap and your pipes would freeze. At least that’s my theory of UK-German insulation difference… That new flat sounds amazing! I hope it works out for you :) And I totally forgot to mention quiet as one of my own non-negotiables. I spent my first year at uni living right above a major street where all the drunk students would wander past at ungodly hours of the morning… never again. My last flat search, I actually saw a flat that was basically perfect in all other respects (it even had a balcony!) but you could hear the noise from the street in every room. I’d have gone mad within a month, tops. Super happy for you that you managed to find a quiet space in London!
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 4:50 pm You find the same badly insulated windows/houses in California. Which drove me insane, because good insulation is eco-friendly in HOT climates too. On average, I’m much warmer inside in the frozen tundra that’s Wisconsin during the winter than I ever was in the much warmer California winters.
Red Reader* April 1, 2017 at 8:17 am My primary demands the last time I moved were: At least three bedrooms (my household is two couples, each of which includes a massive introvert) A space I can use for a home office (I work remotely) A large backyard that either was fenced or could be (I have two dogs, one 70 lbs and one 45) Either no basement or a fully finished basement, no partially finished (I have lived too many places with leaky unfinished basements) And a non-galley-style kitchen. I did also have a general location preference, but it was basically just “in the northeast quadrant of the city” so pretty broad.
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 8:52 am Proximity to public transport (have chronic illness and can’t drive or cope with long tiring walks), whether pets are allowed, enough electrical points in the bedroom and a bath not just a shower are my dealbreakers.
overeducated* April 1, 2017 at 9:02 am Under an hour commute to work, 2 bedrooms, under a max price (below area average). Cost of living is so high here that I just had to jump on the first place I could.
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 9:10 am Location and space first. And how many flights of stairs do I have to haul groceries. Then things like how long does it take to hot water to get to the shower, and are there enough electrical outlets in the places where I need them.
Tris Prior* April 1, 2017 at 10:33 am We just found a place that hits most of the points on our wish list and are so excited! Our priorities were: – walking distance to the train I have to take for work. No bus/train commutes; that is hell in the winter. – walkable neighborhood with basic things like grocery stores nearby, as we don’t have a car. – Safe neighborhood. I live in a major city where there is frequent crime regardless of where you go, so my qualifier was “not in disputed gang territory, as our current apartment is, and infrequent murders.” -Dishwasher. Not negotiable. We lived for 3 years without one and, never again. We both hate doing dishes. -Some type of outdoor space. We got lucky and got a back balcony AND a tiny bit of yard! -Sufficient natural light. -Not a basement apartment. -Not a high-rise.
Chickaletta* April 1, 2017 at 10:53 am The other residents would be important to me. I’ve lived in places where the neighbors fight and get into all sorts of shenanigans, and it made everything else about the apartment less important. Otherwise, light is important to me, I’ve lived in ground floors that are really dim where you have to have a light on in the middle of a summer day and that got depressing real fast. I hate ground floor apartments overall: not just for the light, but also because I don’t like hearing the upstairs neighbors clomping around or having fun time on their bed–good for them but I don’t want to know about it. Outdoor space is less important because I don’t tend to spend time hanging out on the balcony; the one exception would be if it was a really large enclosed area that people couldn’t see into. Location is always important. Get the nicest apartment you can afford.
Anxa* April 1, 2017 at 12:22 pm Yep. I know neighhbor issues happen across all income levels, but I find that more expensive housing is a lot less raucous. Also, I had a neighbor who got drunk a lot and just gave me that stay- away feeling. Eventually there were domestic violence issues and I was a wreck. Called the cops once, said my piece, and I know it’s cowardly, but then I just wanted out. He was my landlords son so I did not want to get too involved (could he end up with access to my apartment). We were in a duplex so there was no way they didn’t know I was the one to call the cops. High rent can’t screen stuff like this out, but just a story about how neighbors can affect everything.
rubyrose* April 1, 2017 at 11:17 am 1. One level, preferably on first floor or an elevator. I have a disability that needs accommodation. 2. Washer/dryer hookup. 3. Great insulation and construction. Really looking for something that will block noise from the neighbors and the street. 4. Close assigned parking space. 5. Storage and closet space. 6. Windows for natural light. 7. Ability to have a pet, if I want one in the future.
TL -* April 1, 2017 at 1:55 pm Lots of natural light and nature when I look out the window – the best was when I lived by a pond, the worst was when I lived in a cramped neighborhood with no trees. Now I have trees outside every window and I can see grass and a bit of a bog and it’s perfectly fine by me.
KR* April 1, 2017 at 2:44 pm I need to have a deck/patio/yard/outside space to put my chair and hang out outside. I lived in a third floor walk up for close to 2 years and it was annoying so I probably wouldn’t go with that again (at least in the next couple of years since my dog is old and has bad hips). I also don’t like long commutes (more than 30 minutes for me) so I wouldn’t move anywhere to sign up for a commute.
Candy* April 1, 2017 at 3:58 pm Location is definitely my first priority. My apartment right now is a 30 minute walk or 15 minute bike ride from work, a block off a main street with restaurants, nightclubs, a grocery store that’s open til 3am, and a 24hour pharmacy, and two blocks from the beach. There’s no apartment nice enough that would make me want to move somewhere further out that would require me having to take a bus to work or buy groceries. Quiet is my next priority — but not a quiet neighbourhood, a quiet building. I love the dichotomy I have right now of living in a ‘happening’ neighbourhood but in a building that’s not full of party animals. I’m in my city’s gay village so there’s lots of exciting things happening outside but I can still stumble home to peace and quiet within my own little studio at night.
copy run start* April 1, 2017 at 4:01 pm 1 – Features. I want W/D in unit, a dishwasher and efficient heating and cooling. Time is money and I don’t have time to deal with laundry and dishes or be sweaty/cold all the time. Can I get high-speed internet (I need it for work and snow days.) 2 – Location. I don’t want to spend an hour a day in traffic. I’m okay with some noise, but I don’t want to be up against a walking trail or a city park again for safety reasons. I also would like to be on the top floor. 3 – Price. Can I get the same for less? Can I afford this place long term, even if I don’t get a raise every year and rent goes up? 4 – Pets. Gotta allow my cat and not charge me a ridiculous amount extra each month. 5 – Bonus features. Covered parking, on-site storage, balcony, gym/pool, is the unit extra spacious or up-to-date? South-facing windows, etc.
Sibley* April 1, 2017 at 6:00 pm Accepts cats. Location. Layout meets my needs (if I don’t have somewhere to put 2 litterboxes, no go). Price.
Al Lo* April 1, 2017 at 6:13 pm Must-haves: – Not a basement suite – Dishwasher – 2 bedroom, or bedroom + office – 2 closets (in this place, my husband uses the second bedroom/office closet, and the bedroom closet is all mine) – Right in the downtown core (which by definition means walking distance to amenities) — this time, that was a #1 priority. For a future move, the neighbourhood may be different, but at the very least, it’s a huge priority to be in the inner-city, walkable neighbourhoods. – Includes at least one parking spot – Modern styling/flooring/colors/details/bathrooms/floor plan/etc – Cat-friendly – No galley kitchen Pretty close to must-haves, that would have to be a very amazing apartment to give up otherwise (and in this particular move, we got all of these): – 9′ ceilings (8′ just seems so claustrophobic!) – In-suite laundry – Double sink in the kitchen (I can’t stand doing dishes without a rinse sink) – Not white walls (thankfully, the trend is moving more toward other neutrals, but I lived in too many white rentals) Nice-to-haves (we gave up most of these with this move, but they stay on the list for future moves): – Walk-in closets – Not on the first floor – High rise building – Natural gas hookup on the balcony for BBQ (lots of newer buildings here have that, but this one doesn’t) I’m sure there are more, but that’s what I can think of off the top of my head
Al Lo* April 2, 2017 at 1:20 am And, of course, price was the overarching factor. We could have gotten an apartment with everything on our list for $350 more per month than we’re paying now, but we chose to sacrifice the things on the nice-to-have list for now. The decision in a couple years might be different.
AcademiaNut* April 1, 2017 at 8:09 pm For me, price and location. Price, for obvious reasons. Location because I don’t have a car – I need good access to transit for work and some decent shopping options, or good walkability. For the rest – in my current city the next priorities were noise and a kitchen we could cook in (by local standards, that’s a narrow galley kitchen with two gas burners and a sink, and the fridge, microwave and toaster oven in the main room of the apartment). In our current place, we picked out a couple of districts, and looked for stuff in our budget, filtering out anything facing a main street, with more than a three story walkup, or top floors (because of heat and leaking). And illegal rooftop suites. Gardens and good insulation are pretty much a lost cause – there are no single family dwellings, only apartments, here, and the weather is rarely sit out in the garden friendly. Balconies are usually enclosed, and for drying clothing.
LadyKelvin* April 1, 2017 at 8:10 pm #1 big kitchen, all the appliances, good counter and cabinet space. #2 washer/dryer And #3 location. Easy to get to work (low traffic is important but I’m willing to drive 30 to 40 min). Once those are covered then I worry about how walkable it is, where the closest grocery stores are, ect. But we won’t even consider it if it doesn’t meet #1-3,
Gala apple* April 1, 2017 at 8:19 pm I live in a pretty expensive small city where single living spaces (1 bedrooms or studios) are rare and pricy. Thanks, zoning and UVA! So price is my primary factor. I’d prefer not to live with a roommate- I take up too much room in the kitchen. – safety – is it in a decent area? Does the unit have secure locks; windows that aren’t easy to break into, etc? – condition of the unit – type of property management. My last place and current place have been managed by the owners, and I’ve found it more tedious in terms of getting things fixed than when I lived in a complex with an on-site maintenance staff – natural (hopefully direct!) sunlight – location – commute time from working and is it walkable to a downtown area, park, etc? – in unit washer dryer – outdoor space – neighbors – I’m sorta over having people live above me.
LAMM* April 2, 2017 at 1:46 am We will (hopefully! if all goes well…) be looking soon. So I’m keeping an eye out to see what’s on the market. My non-negotiables are…. 1. 1.5 bathrooms at least. Because of out work schedules, we both typically need to use a bathroom at the same time (but for different reasons, which makes sharing the room not possible). 2. A decent sized kitchen. Ours right now is super tiny and it makes me hate to cook. 3. A porch or patio. Back or front. I just want to be able to sit outside if I want to.
Jules the First* April 2, 2017 at 3:03 pm Non-negotiables: a kitchen I can actually cook in (four burners, an oven, decent cupboard space); in-apartment laundry facilities; big windows; minimal carpet; within a 20 minute walk of subway/train station (busses make me motion-sick). After a place meets those requirements, layout is far more important than space…and then storage space. My favourite thing about having bought a place in December 2015 is that I never have to move again unless I want to!
Loopy* April 1, 2017 at 7:04 am Anyone have a sense of what’s realistic for bridesmaid dress alterations/willing to share their experiences? I have one that needs to be hemmed, taken in, and have straps added. I have about 3 weeks between when I can drop it off and when I need it back and I know this is a busy season. One place quoted me 150, another quoted me 80. I thought 80 was a great price but the groom’s mother is urging me to look for even lower. Is that realistic?!
Red Reader* April 1, 2017 at 8:19 am You might be able to find lower, depending on your location, but if you’re happy with 80 and can afford it without major hardship, I’d just get it out of the way and be done with it!
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 9:37 am This. Make sure the price is firm, though, if that’s important. Sometimes the quote is an estimate and sometimes it’s a firm price. (This is because it can be hard to look at a garment and accurately assess how much work it’s going to be to alter it.)
Chickaletta* April 1, 2017 at 10:56 am Depends on your area. 80 is a good price. Mostly, you want someone who’s going to do a good job, especially since you want more than just a hem taken in. Side seams and darts take skill. So make sure you’re factoring more than just the price when deciding who to hire.
Bookworm* April 1, 2017 at 12:18 pm 80 seems reasonable to me and is in alignment with bridesmaid dress alterations I’ve had done in the past. ( This is especially true given the timeframe!)
Loopy* April 1, 2017 at 1:36 pm Thanks for the advice everyone. I found someone who would do it for 60 but she works out of her home so I feel like if she did a job I was unhappy with I’d have no recourse to escalate it to the manager/business owner to get it fixed. I like supporting small business but someone working out of their home feels a little too informal for something I have so little time for and can’t afford t have messed up. I’ll spend the extra 20. Also I went back and noticed the quote said “around XX dollars” so I’ll have to get a firmer quote in person.
Reba* April 1, 2017 at 4:31 pm Just to add, perhaps more confusingly, I had a bridesmaid dress and my wedding dress (antique) handled by seamstresses who worked in their homes. Both did smashing jobs. Good luck!
CheeryO* April 2, 2017 at 11:23 am Aw, I understand your thinking, but my mom does alterations out of her home and does fantastic work and is more than willing to accommodate tight deadlines. She has worked in shops off and on throughout her life and is always let down by the quality of their work.
Pommette* April 3, 2017 at 9:13 am Yeah. There are great shops out there, and super talented people who work in shops. But the bulk of the money shops make comes from routine alterations that don’t take a ton of skills (hems, hems, hems, hems!). Unless a shop is big enough shop to have a team of seamstresses, some less skilled, who do the easier work, and some more skilled, who focus on the difficult work, going independent gives highly skilled seamstresses a chance to make better money and to do more interesting work.
Pommette* April 3, 2017 at 9:06 am In my experience, great seamstresses and tailors often work from home. They get business through recommendations. They have basically worked their way up to the point where they can be work independently. People who are just starting off, and people who are decent but not great, often work in shops with a manager. (This could probably location-dependent, and may not be true for you!) The worst alterations I had done were in a professional shop. The owner offered to refund my money. It was a nice gesture, but didn’t make up for the fact that the dress was ruined. Which isn’t a reassuring story (sorry!). My advice would be: – Alterations can make or break a dress. If the work is complicated (e.g. taking a dress in at the bust), they can cost more than the dress itself did; if it’s not (moving a hem up), they can be super cheap. – It’s normal for someone to be unable to give you a firm quote until they have done a fitting – they need to see what kinds of alterations are going to be necessary. – Can you ask to see examples of their past work? (Good luck and congratulations on the upcoming wedding!)
KR* April 1, 2017 at 2:50 pm I think 80 is a great price for what you’re looking for especially if there’s a lot of layers to the dress. I had to have a 5+ layer dress hemmed and have a heavily beaded bodice taken in and straps altered (junior prom) and it cost $100+ which was fine since we got the dress for free. Three weeks seems like not a lot of time too.
MsChanandlerBong* April 1, 2017 at 10:28 pm I think $80 is good. David’s Bridal (in my area, not sure about areas with higher CoL) charges $65 just for the hem, so $80 for hem, straps, and taking in seems very reasonable to me.
bibliovore* April 1, 2017 at 7:10 am In the Amsterdam airport waiting for the connecting flight to Bologna. I know I am supposed to stay awake to combat the jet lag but I am already fading and it is only 1:00. Tips?
The Cosmic Avenger* April 1, 2017 at 9:28 am Might be too late, but walk around! Schiphol is like a small city, with great food, a nice spa (although any spa treatment might induce a nap!), and all other kinds of shops. Just walk around and browse, that should keep you awake. I would actually advise NOT eating, because that always makes me want to sit, and then nap, but maybe that’s just me. :)
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 9:38 am Stay online with us and tell us what you’re doing in Bologna. You can stay awake and we can all live vicariously!
Bibliovore* April 2, 2017 at 5:02 am Okay, for those who want to live vicariously. I did have a bite to eat. An espresso, smoked salmon m and a smoothie, I hadn’t eaten since leaving home 8 hours before. Walked around the airport until my flight. Arrived at the hotel around 4:30, settled in. We took a walk around 7 and found a restaurant on the plaza near the hotel. My roomate had lasagne and I had arugula parmigian salad and a side of prosciutto. After a short walk , some gelato. We stayed up until about ten. This morning had a terrific breakfast. I am working in the hotel room to catch-up and the roomate is taking a walk. I am pacing myself for the big week ahead as I have walking issues. I will adventure out this afternoon.
nep* April 1, 2017 at 3:19 pm Lots of water. No heavily caffeinated beverages or anything too sugary — that could make you crash. Sometimes a very brief nap can be just the ticket. But as I read on line once: naps can be tricky — you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world, or you wake up with cotton in your mouth and a headache not knowing what year it is.
Bibliovore* April 1, 2017 at 3:47 pm Thanks guys . It’s almost ten. Officially that is the witching hour, one thing…got lots of advise but can’t figure out if any of the markets are open on Sunday’s .
Legalchef* April 1, 2017 at 7:23 am I was diagnosed with Gestational diabetes this week. Anyone have any experience with it? I have to test my blood 4x a day, but it seems like I’ll be able to control it with diet. But, I’m having a hard time with breakfast. I suspect (based on the last few days) that I can’t really have carbs (or if I do, very very little) at breakfast, but I usually eat at work and would have oatmeal or get an egg sandwich (both of which I should be able to eat on paper but don’t seem to be able to handle). I also can’t eat too much cheese or egg because my cholesterol tends to run high. Anyone have any suggestions?
Annie Admin* April 1, 2017 at 7:51 am I had it with both my pregnancies and was able to control with diet. I found that if I ate something that on paper should be ok but it ended up spiking my sugar, some walking or light activity brought it down. You really do have to find a balance. If you want something that will spike your sugars you have to be willing to take a walk around the block for 10 minutes or so.
Legalchef* April 1, 2017 at 8:19 am Yeah, the problem is that since I eat breakfast at work it’s hard to then take a 10 minute walk. Lunch is usually a salad and my numbers have been great for that.
Annie Admin* April 1, 2017 at 8:34 am Are you able to handle a protein breakfast? Maybe some ham with some whole wheat toast? I had to avoid fruit for breakfast because it would spike me.
Legalchef* April 1, 2017 at 11:28 am I don’t eat ham, but when I had the ww toast it was with egg whites and still made me spike.
setsuko* April 1, 2017 at 9:02 am Would you be up for trying greek yoghurt? It is high in protein and low in carbs/sugar. The reason I suggest it, is that you can add as much, or as little, sweetener (fruit, jam (not sure what you call that in the US), granola, etc.) as your diabetes can handle. You have to be careful to get the proper, plain stuff and not “Greek-style yoghurt”, which has more sugar. The key word to look for is ‘strained’. Fage is a good brand if you can get it.
Annie Admin* April 1, 2017 at 9:06 am Seconding the Greek yogurt. Choose a low glycemic fruit to go in it. My nutritionist suggested it for me but I have a texture issue and couldn’t get it down.
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 9:14 am Yeah, I can’t handle greek yogurt either. I can eat it in things (as a high protein substitute for sour cream in stroganoff, for instance) but I can’t eat it as just yogurt. Low fat cottage cheese has really high protein per calories ratio, and that I can eat! With low glycemic fruit, or nuts.
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 9:05 am There is growing evidence, honest to goodness, that eating a diet high in sugars/carbs has more to do with high cholesterol than eating fats. And even the AMA and the FDA, etc have taken the warnings off cartons of eggs, because eating CHOLESTEROL (eggs) has been proven definitively to have zero impact on your blood cholesterol. Everything they told us in the 90’s is pretty much wrong. Eggs are , absolutely, your best bet, period. As you’ve seen, certain carbs will spike your blood sugar more than others- and that is different for everyone. For instance, I can eat ice cream (ICE CREAM) and my blood sugar will stay where it is, but a piece of toast will send it through the roof. So as you go along, you’ll notice what makes you spike and what doesn’t. The best advice I’ve gotten is to let go of what you think is “proper” breakfast food. You don’t have to eat eggs or cereal, etc just because it’s morning- you can eat a chicken wrap, or any leftovers from dinner. A lot of times, my breakfast is low fat cottage cheese and some nuts. The other thing is that I’ve noticed (and there is some research to back it up) that if I eat a carb, even one of my “bad” ones- WITH protein and fat- it will effect my blood sugar less than if I ate it by itself.
Legalchef* April 1, 2017 at 9:38 am Thanks all. I’m starting to think my issue on the morning is when I eat more traditional carbs (bread, cereal). The other day I had an egg white sandwich in whole wheat toast and my number was high. Yesterday I had a Greek yogurt w cherries, a hard boiled egg, and a string cheese, and my number was fine. But today I had a different Greek yogurt with about 1/3 c crushed up cereal mixed in and it was high again. So, maybe tomorrow I’ll try yogurt again with some other protein but no other carbs and see what happens.
Legalchef* April 1, 2017 at 9:40 am Also, for 2 nights I had an evening snack of a tiny piece of brownie and then my fasting number was high. 1 night I had a low fat ice cream bar and my fasting was good.
buzzbattlecat* April 1, 2017 at 7:19 pm If you’re really craving a cereal breakfast, have you tried chia seeds? You mix with yoghurt or cream or coconut cream the night before, then you can add sweetener, cinnamon, cocoa, whatever you like. It’s like a yummy pudding and providing you don’t add sugar it should be fine. Another no carb favourite is to simply whizz eggs and cream cheese and fry little pancakes.
A. Non* April 1, 2017 at 10:28 am You might also have offset any problems in the first breakfast by having the egg and cheese with it. But seriously, eating protein in the morning is likely to be your best bet, and eggs are a good choice. I’m chronically LOW on my cholesterol, and I eat about two eggs a day, every day. It doesn’t make my numbers move anywhere, though I kind of wish it did.
Call me St. Vincent* April 1, 2017 at 2:21 pm Do you have a GD nurse that can work with you on this? Sounds like you need to eliminate all “bread” type carbs in the morning. What about having hard boiled eggs instead?
Celeste* April 1, 2017 at 9:42 am You may be ultra sensitive to wheat in that breakfast sandwich. Eggs and cheese don’t raise blood sugar. You are doing the right thing by checking after foods, though. There is a wealth of information at Blood Sugar 101. The studies really do show that you don’t have to fear eggs and dairy for cholesterol; it really is carbohydrate that works against you for inflammatory lesions. Another thing you can do besides exercise is drink water. That really helps manage your numbers.
Annie Admin* April 1, 2017 at 9:55 am Good luck! I know it can be miserable. With my last pregnancy I was diagnosed at my 2 month check up because of high sugar in my urine. I went the entire pregnancy having to monitor everything that I ate.
Legalchef* April 1, 2017 at 9:57 am Oh wow! That sucks. Luckily I’m 29 weeks Monday so I don’t have TOO long to do this.
Legalchef* April 1, 2017 at 9:58 am That’s what I’m starting to think re the wheat. My nutritionist told me that a lot of women have more problems in the morning, because that’s when estrogen levels are often the highest. I can have wheat at other times – I had a little ravioli with dinner a few nights ago and my test was fine, and then a little leftover with lunch yesterday and it was fine too.
Marisol* April 2, 2017 at 6:30 pm look into the paleo diet. A good starter website is marksdailyapple.com
in the UK* April 1, 2017 at 7:24 am Is this post up extra early or has daylight savings completely thrown out my time conversions?
caledonia* April 1, 2017 at 8:14 am It’s super super early – is a holiday weekend the the US? Usually up around 5 pm UK time.
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 8:56 am Yes, it’s super early and no, it’s not a holiday weekend in the US. April Fool’s Day doesn’t count as a holiday to most, at least.
MommaCat* April 2, 2017 at 9:40 pm It’s a holiday weekend in California! Cesar Chavez Day was Friday. :-D
Cajun Lady* April 1, 2017 at 7:37 am After Alison’s suggestion last week the I try the feliway for my cat that just stopped using the litter box after a series of tragic events, I bought some. I also got a calming collar another commenter suggested. I even moved the litter box. She now is mad that we have put a collar on her and decided to poop RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BOX. I am at a loss of what to do. I have had this cat since she was 5 weeks old and never has she behaved this way!
Cajun Lady* April 1, 2017 at 9:02 am I did try to take the collar off yesterday as it seemed to not be helping and she is irritated with it but she won’t let me take it off. Belle has always been an independent cat that doesn’t like a lot of affection (unless she does and then she will be in your face demanding it). My husband has been away on business this week and it was a 2 person job getting it on her so it will have to be a 2 person job getting it off. I am also going to try changing the litter itself even though I have been using the same one for years. Maybe she decided she no longer likes this kind? I know she is stressed over all the trauma and I just want my first born (I rescued her from a gas station when I was pregnant with my 15 year old daughter) to be happy! It really stinks that animals can’t just tell you what is wrong (as much as my 8 year old likes to talk for her lol).
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 8:55 am Ugh. The honest truth is, that once a cat decides not to use a litter box, it can be really hard to get them to use it again. Some cats are just stubborn. I don’t remember if I asked or you said- you did make sure that she doesn’t have a UTI, etc, right?
Cajun Lady* April 1, 2017 at 9:04 am Yes. The vet checked her out and she was ok physically. He suggested kitty Prozac but he agreed that it would cause more stress getting her to take it. We had a hard time even getting her to the vet.
Celeste* April 1, 2017 at 9:46 am Some cats refuse a covered box, and some won’t use a box if it’s not recently cleaned. I had to go the extra mile and get Cat Attract litter. It has solved the problem. It’s more expensive, but I never have to clean up messes now so I’m calling it a win.
Hrovitnir* April 1, 2017 at 9:49 am OK, first of all make sure the Feliway is in a good place – a space she likes to spend time in, not by a window. Secondly, Feliway can take up to a month to work, and reactions vary from nothing to magical, with some cats only needing one bottle, others a few, and some needing it indefinitely. Also, if you haven’t, make sure any soiled spots are cleaned with something that breaks down the proteins in cat urine and does *not* contain any ammonia. Either cat-specific products or if you don’t mind the smell, diluted vinegar. The area needs to be soaked. I tend not to like calming collars and I REALLY don’t recommend anything with essential oils if that’s what it is. They smell incredibly unpleasant to cats, can irritate the skin, and many cats hate collars no matter what’s on them. Also, if you are the person who has had a huge amount of changes in your household, it will take time. As mentioned here, it’s harder to break a habit than prevent it, but also cats need routine and space to get away and potentially quite a long time before they feel safe again after major upheavals. Fixing issues like inappropriate toileting can be quick if you have a specific stressor like “my litter tray is near a window and other cats come stare at me while I go”, but often it’s an extended process of working with your cat and figuring out how to make them feel safe and secure. It would be good if you could work with someone- there aren’t a lot of cat behaviourists but we (vet) used to have ongoing relationships with clients where we could work with them and try different things to fix the problem. We had great, knowledgeable front staff who would do that, but I don’t know how easy that is to find. Certainly you could call around local vets to see if they could help you.
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 10:27 am I’m curious: why not by a window? Just because most cats seem to love windows?
Rabbit* April 1, 2017 at 4:59 pm The increased air flow dilutes the pheromones really rapidly. Away from doors is also best for the same reason!
Melody Pond* April 1, 2017 at 11:50 pm Oh! My cat has been giving me litter box troubles, too! She doesn’t squat to pee AT ALL, and so at least half or more of her urine always gets outside the box! And if the box has been used even once before getting cleaned, she’ll often just pee anywhere on the bathroom floor! I was getting really tired of cleaning the bathroom floor multiple times a day. But I found a halfway decent solution! Washable, cloth pee pads! And then I found on Amazon that you can get mattress bed pads designed for human incontinence that are about the same size, but better quality and cheaper! I’ll post a link in a reply to this comment, if anyone’s interested.
Melody Pond* April 1, 2017 at 11:50 pm https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JAAVHUC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
Cajun Lady* April 2, 2017 at 9:36 am I have VICTORY! I bought new unvented litter (we had been using one that had a light scent for years) and this morning there was poop in the box! Granted she peed outside of it but progress!!
Tableau Wizard* April 1, 2017 at 7:40 am Any other LDS Primary Music Leaders out there? I’m excited for a weekend off!
Anatexis* April 1, 2017 at 10:12 am Not a music leader but I am the secretary in Primary (and have been primary president before). I am incredibly grateful for the weekend off of helping to manage 150+ kids. :).
Turtlewings* April 1, 2017 at 11:03 am Just a Primary teacher, but yes, extremely relieved to have a Sunday off! (Probably shouldn’t have taken the calling, to be honest — dreading church to the point of stomachache and fantasizing about moving away is probably not the intended effect.)
Piano Girl* April 1, 2017 at 12:57 pm I’m not a Primary Music Leader, but a Ward Organist and RS pianist. Yes, I am enjoying my weekend off!!
Reader* April 1, 2017 at 8:07 am Spouse took that book out of the library this week. Given that we’re poly, she’s figuring it’s got a 50% chance of being something she’ll want to throw at the wall, but is hoping it falls into the other 50%.
Ask a Manager* Post authorApril 1, 2017 at 12:10 pm I’d say that it’s pretty open minded about open relationships, but ultimately does come down on the side of, uh, “complications will ensue for this particular couple.” I’d be interested to know what she thinks after she reads it!
Vicky Austin* April 1, 2017 at 8:17 am I’m going to the big island of Hawaii in December. Right now I am trying to figure out which areas I should stay in. I figure I will spend about half my nights somewhere near Kona, and the other nights between the Hilo and Volcano areas. It is a 9 night vacation and mostly I’m into active stuff: hiking, kayaking, biking, etc. And since I’m on an island I also would like to be near the water. Anyway, would love suggestions of towns or areas that would be good.
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 8:31 am We stayed in Keahu on our honeymoon and it was lovely – there were loads of sea turtles on the beach. Went on a fantastic day trip where we saw the observatories and went stargazing. Sadly the hotel we went to has closed so can’t recommend that.
Anu* April 1, 2017 at 10:41 am That was basically our plan when we went to the Big Island. We stayed in Hilo proper at a B&B which was lovely. Drive to the Volcano park. Hiked there. Did a boat ride to the lava flows. The botanical garden was amazing and so was the farmer’s market if you’re into that kind of thing. Did a horse ride in Waipio valley. On the other side splurged and stayed at Mauna Lani Resort in Kohala. Spent most of our time on lounge chairs sipping cocktails and snorkeling at the beach that was right there. Amazing. Did a guided tour up Mauna Kea which was definitely worth it. Tried scuba diving classes but gave up as I hated it. It was probably my favorite vacation ever – the perfect mix of activities and relaxation.
Cher Horowitz* April 1, 2017 at 11:42 am The Volcano Lodge is a complete middle-earthy experience! The restaurant looks out onto the crater which looks exactly like Isengard! I loved every minute we spent at the lodge.
AcademiaNut* April 1, 2017 at 8:25 pm Kona’s definitely the tourist side, and on the dry side of the island – a lot less rain, and better shopping and restaurants. I’ve only stayed in Kona once, for a conference – we were at a big hotel down by the water which was very nice. In Hilo, I usually stay in a condo rented by my employer (we have a lot of business travel to Hilo). The saddle road across the centre of island has improved in the past few years, but be careful – it was originally a military road and was not properly banked, and consequently is really easily to have accidents on. We went to a beach north of Kona that was very nice – sandy, facing the sunset – and practically deserted, and a tiny little one locals go to in Hilo that had sea turtles. The volcano park is cool, as is just stopping by the road and walking on the old lava fields (also very cool for artistic photos). There’s also the trip up to Mauna Kea and the observatories – there’s a visitor centre part way up with night time viewing through small telescopes, and a gift shop. You can drive to that, but need a tour to the summit. You can’t go to the summit within a certain time period after scuba diving (you can get the bends), and shouldn’t go if you have heart problems. Some day I’d like to do the tour, to relax and enjoy the view – any time I’ve been at the summit, I’ve been working frantically.
Clever Name* April 2, 2017 at 1:38 pm I don’t know if there are any hotels there, but Waimea is adorable. Big Island Brewhaus is a fun place to eat.
Jules the First* April 2, 2017 at 3:31 pm My sister and I did big island in February 2014 and although it wasn’t a place that was on my bucket list, I’d go back in a heartbeat. Kona and Hilo have the best beaches, but getting waterside in most cases on big island is a challenge, because it’s volcanic and quite steep. While you’re in the Kona area, I highly recommend Adventures in Paradise for their Kealakekua Bay snorkel/kayak trip – it was absolutely fantastic and very reasonably priced for what we got (also local, ethical, and environmentally responsible). We stayed the first three days in Kona (if I were doing it again, I’d stay north of the town rather than south, as there’s more interesting stuff to do and better beaches). We spent one night at a brilliant B&B in Honokaa and explored the north coast, then a couple of days in Hilo (so we could do Mauna Kea…frankly, that was all we did in Hilo that was fun), but the absolute highlight of our trip was the three days we spent in the Namakani Paio Cabins in Volcano – they’re owned by the National Parks but managed by Volcano House Hotel. You get a little cabin (sleeps four, but was totally reasonably priced for just two of us) in a campground, complete with bedding, a little picnic table, and communal toilets. No cooking facilities (apart from a campfire grill), but you have full use of the lounge at Volcano House (about a mile down the road) and if the weather is good you can walk across to the crater visitor centre from the campsite. And frankly, picnicking was easy, even in February. There’s a ton of hiking in the area and we wished we had more time there. We used Big Island Guru (an amazing blog) almost exclusively to plan our trip – nothing she recommended was anything less than fantastic. And note that if you do a Greenwell Farms tour (just south of Kona) early in your trip, they’ll fill your travel mug for free with local coffee any (and every) day you want to drop by…worth it!
Laura (Needs To Change Her Name)* April 1, 2017 at 8:19 am Two weeks ago I sprained my ankle (doing nothing! It feels so silly and disproportionate!) and it’s still not better. If anything the second half of this week it is worse, as I think I started doing too much on it. Any advice other than RICE? Or stories to give me a realistic timeline?
Celeste* April 1, 2017 at 9:49 am Six weeks. That’s what every sprain has always cost me in recovery, no matter what I try. Since my last one I’ve heard that fish oil capsules help reduce the inflammation better and faster than NSAIDs, so I am interested in trying it if I get another.
A. Non* April 1, 2017 at 10:30 am I’ve broken bones in my feet, and can attest to boosting Omega-3 being helpful. It cut my recovery time on the third break by about two weeks, and that one doesn’t hurt like the others.
Laura (Needs To Change Her Name)* April 2, 2017 at 6:32 pm Thank you! It’s reassuring to know this is in normal bounds. I’ll try the fish oil! I have some at home, I try to take it regularly but … am not so good at follow rheiigh, hah.
Colette* April 1, 2017 at 10:53 am 10x point and flex the ankle 10x move foot side to side 10x rotate one way 10x rotate the other way Spell the alphabet with your big toe Repeat 3-4 times a day. (This is what my physiotherapist has me do every time I sprain my ankle, which is happening annoyingly often these days.)
Laura (Needs To Change Her Name)* April 2, 2017 at 6:35 pm Excellent, thank you! The dr recommended PT exercises but didn’t say anything more specific than that.
Sir Alanna Trebond* April 1, 2017 at 2:12 pm You might want to see a doctor and make sure nothing is broken/torn. Two weeks is enough time you should have started to see some improvement if it was a simple sprain. That being said, I don’t want to freak you out–you might just have a “higher grade” sprain, like a grade 2 instead of a grade 1. Still, better safe than sorry.
Laura (Needs To Change Her Name)* April 2, 2017 at 6:42 pm Thanks, that has been confirmed :) I have a history of stupid foot injuries so I got X rayed the next day. No breaks!
Jules the First* April 2, 2017 at 3:33 pm Once the swelling has subsided, I strongly recommend K-tape (You Tube for tutorials on how to use it) – I was a total sceptic, and then my physio used it and it was fantastic. You get almost all your range of motion while taped, with just enough support that it doesn’t give way underneath you.
Laura (Needs To Change Her Name)* April 2, 2017 at 6:44 pm Thanks I will check it out! The compression wrap has been great but it sounds like this is less invasive.
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 8:43 am I have finally got the spare room sorted. It was my Everest! Husband is taking four huge bags to the charity shop. There’s a few boxes in the wardrobe that still need sorting and some shelves in another room but otherwise I’ve finally got my house (and, it feels, my life) in order. I’m the child of hoarders and it’s taken a very long time to reach a point where I don’t feel embarrassed about the mess my stuff is in (I’ve struggled with depression and became very messy when unwell but it will be easier now I have a manageable amount of stuff which has actual homes where it belongs). I was brought up thinking normal tidiness was being overly houseproud and for years have recreated the feeling that I can’t have people over due to mess. I’ve been very gradually improving things (therapist advised not to do it too suddenly) and kept things 75% tidy for ages. Now it’s at 95%. I’m proud and yet I don’t feel quite as relieved as I expected. I think because it’s a new way to feel and be and I’m not used to it yet. I’ve had a series of proper clearouts and overcome my own hoarding tendencies e.g. keeping packaging. (My dad used to go through my rubbish and I felt anxious about throwing things out for years.) Can anyone relate? And I need to not slip back into my old ways – any tips?
Nicole* April 1, 2017 at 9:41 am I relate to keeping packaging. I always think “we need to keep this box in case we want to sell this item in the future or when we move “. As a result we have way too many empty boxes in the garage. The clutter drives me nuts and I think the temporary annoyance of not having the perfectly shaped box in the future will be less stressful than the almost daily stress of seeing them all over the garage so I plan to do some spring cleaning once the weather warms up. I’m also trying to part with the stuff I keep but never use. It’s easier if I sell it, give it away, or donate it vs throw it in the garbage. At least then I feel like it gets a second life. I take photos of it first and add it to Evernote with a description. I think it helps to let go plus then I don’t go crazy wondering what happened to it later. I actually cried after selling my old 3 cd / dual cassette stereo last summer. I had it for over twenty years. It was my first large purchase and I took such good care of it that it looked almost new. It served as my entertainment system through different life changes. Apparently I grew quite attached to it: despite it taking up a decent chunk of space (the speakers were large and could detach) in the garage and not being used in a decade I instantly regretted selling it as I watched the guy who bought it drive off. I feel so silly having such an attachment to an inanimate object and was surprised by my own reaction. It makes me wonder how people can give up pets. But we’re all different. I’m just glad I’m not that attached to most of my stuff!
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 9:42 am Oh yes, taking photos! I do keep packaging for big stuff like my MacBook, but this was, like, everything. I now make myself rip it up so I can’t keep it.
Jessi* April 1, 2017 at 10:37 am Could you store all your boxes flat? they will take up way less space that way
Saturnalia* April 1, 2017 at 7:12 pm But if the boxes are collapsed, they don’t make nearly as exciting of a maze for the cats. :-)
Nicole* April 2, 2017 at 2:41 pm I’ve definitely done that when possible, but some boxes aren’t designed to be broken down. :(
Elizabeth West* April 1, 2017 at 2:40 pm Me too, but I’m planning on moving so I did keep packaging for my new tv and home theater system. I’ll probably get rid of the old ones at that time. Usually I only keep the box for a while and when it’s past return time, I pitch it. Except for my bathroom heater -I put that in the box and store it in the summer. Keeps the dust out of it, which I dislike burning when I use it again in cold weather.
Celeste* April 1, 2017 at 9:55 am Sometimes when I have a problem I think, if only I could solve this, my life would be perfect. Guess what–it doesn’t work that way. It’s wonderfully worth fixing issues, but it’s never just one thing that is the answer to everything. My advice is to look at what else you might like to work towards. Was the mess preventing you from something else? Friendships ?Entertaining? Travel? A hobby? Maybe those are now the things to look into.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 9:56 am I have a colleague who has a tendency to keep things that seem like they might be useful (paperclips, packaging, stuff like that) way beyond what she’s likely to actually use, and she’s chosen to limit the tendency. For example, at work she keeps paperclips and safety pins in an Altoid tin, and she only lets herself keep as many as will fit. If we wind up with more, she lets me throw them away. (She can’t bring herself to throw away something that might be useful, but she is willing to outsource the task to someone more heartless, like me. Heh. Maybe you need a couple of heartless friends?) She says that at home she has decorative bins or boxes for categories of things that she likes to save–for example, she has a small box in which she keeps old greeting cards she thinks are pretty, but she’s only allowed to keep as many as will fit in the box. If she doesn’t do this, she’s explained to me, she will keep them all. Would something like this work for you? Having limited-capacity spaces for categories of things you know you tend to want to hang onto beyond what makes sense? (Oh, and also, congrats. Take the time to let yourself ease into this new space. It won’t feel entirely comfortable at first. Give it some time.)
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 10:13 am Thanks! And limited capacity space is a great idea. I already use little glass jars for things like paper clips and push pins – they look nice and keep them away from kitty paws.
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 10:14 am PS seriously appreciate your last para in particular, thank you.
KR* April 1, 2017 at 2:59 pm I love this idea and I’m going to come back for this for the greeting cards and the doodads.
The Cosmic Avenger* April 1, 2017 at 10:50 am It might help to look at prices for shipping boxes. I tend to keep them for the first month or two, but I used to keep them for years. I don’t know what I imagined I would use them for, but I realized that I could pay $10-20 to the UPS store for packaging if I really needed it, and I’ve never actually needed it. But even if you look at your history of returning products and you find that you would need that every month, you can decide if saving $10 a month is worth the hassle of keeping the boxes around. If money is really tight, it might be, but otherwise you can think of it as spending $10 a month for keeping your house less cluttered!
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 10:52 am It’s less for returning them and more because I’ve occasionally had issues with selling things where they’d be worth more with the box. Mainly though it’s not logical at all.
Not So NewReader* April 1, 2017 at 5:45 pm You can start a list of WHY you want to keep your place better. Depression and clutter go hand-in-hand. In some ways I think they feed each other. If you can make that correlation in your mind, perhaps you can encourage yourself that you do not want to go back to the old you. I did this with eating. I was hell-bent that I would not gain the weight back. I remembered how awful I felt and how crappy I thought I looked. I mention this because these types of problems are two part problems. The first part is cleaning up the clutter/losing the weight and the second part is maintaining the neatness or the new weight. Clean up requires one type of plan and maintenance requires another type of plan. For maintenance I had a few tools I collected up. Sometimes I would give myself little rewards (for me non-food rewards, for your type of setting it would be a reward that was not a dust collector.) Other times I would read and try to learn about my weaknesses that drove the bad eating habits. You could try teaching yourself about what drives clutter problems. And there were times where I would just scare the crap out of myself. “If you want X (Undesirable Thing) to happen then go ahead keep doing Y (Old Bad Habit).” Once in a while we have to yell at ourselves because nothing else is going to work. I found that once I started eating healthier I wanted to deal with other parts of my life that could use beefing up. Since that was my Everest, tweaking the other parts of my life was easier in comparison. It could be that you are getting ready to beef up another aspect of your life, that could be your restlessness or dulled sense of satisfaction with what you have done so far. You may have a quiet sense of “I am not done yet. There is more here I can do for myself.” This is okay, actually it’s pretty healthy to feel this way. In general terms this is survival instinct kicking in, you are protecting and growing yourself. In short, my suggestion to you is to tell yourself, “Okay. Good job. Don’t stop now. What’s next? Keep going.”
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 8:53 am Update from last week: Sick dog is stabilized! They kept him all weekend, without any word at all, which was stressful, but that won’t happen again as the Vet made sure we now have his cellphone number. (I appreciate that he didn’t make us transfer the dog to the 24 hour care place, but at least there we can get in contact with someone!) The poor dog’s blood glucose level was not going down even with more units of insulin than would be typical, and they thought he had Cushings Disease on top of the diabetes. He tested negative for that, in the end, and they finally got his glucose levels to come down some, so they let us take him home on Monday. We had to take him back in yesterday so they could monitor him for 6 hours, and now his blood glucose levels are where they should be, even if he’s still on more insulin than would be typical. So we are going to test again in 2 weeks. My other dog sulked all weekend and worried and tried to slip out past me to go looking for her brother- and worried again yesterday- but then decided he was too excited about being home and jumping on her and everyone, and immediately “corrected” him. LOL I asked her if she just missed having someone to boss around.
bassclefchick* April 1, 2017 at 8:59 am Oh, my – the post is early this week! But I had SO MUCH fun this week I had to share. I took a cooking class! I’ve always wanted to take one, but it was never anything I ever signed up for because of the expense. Well, my sister gave me a gift card for one of the kitchen stores at Christmas specifically so I could sign up for a class. I learned how to make souffles!!!!! Always something I’ve wanted to try, but they intimidate me. I see them on MasterChef all the time and I just never thought I could do it. The chef who taught the class was really helpful and there were only 3 of us in the class, so it was much more hands on. We made three kinds: goat cheese and zucchini, lemon with a strawberry sauce, and a chocolate one. They all turned out really well and were very tasty. I am a pretty good baker and I love to cook, I just wanted to expand my skills into something I’ve never done. I’m so glad I signed up for this class and I would totally do it again. Have you “always” wanted to do something, but never do it because of time or expense? Go do it! It’ll be great!
Emily* April 1, 2017 at 11:42 am That sounds both fun and delicious! I’m glad you had such a great time!
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 5:16 pm Youpi your awesome week & learning new skills!! Thanks for the encouragement of putting misgivings aside & just doing it. Actually I needed to hear that today!! …Tho it won’t be for cooking. I dislike cooking, which is just as well because if I did cook I’d invest too much money & storage for all of the cool gadgets that exist. :-D
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 9:01 am Sorry to double post but I thought this might be fun. Inspired by Alison’s ‘things I like’ post last week, what are six or seven random things you like? I like salted caramel, polar bears, Cirque du Soleil, making my own ice cream, stationery (because clearly you can never have too much of that), anything teal or turquoise, and black cats. Anyone else?
Caledonia* April 1, 2017 at 9:13 am I like stars, butterflies, birds, tennis, really good dessert, the way spring smells, my cat and very good well made cocktail.
Stacy* April 1, 2017 at 9:28 am I like British television, cherry blossoms, petrichor (both the word & the experience of its definition), Sunday mornings, especially when they involve a stop to see my favorite barista, Coffee Crisp (thanks be to Canada!), daydreams of travel, discovering my magic color (emerald green), and wandering through TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Homegoods to see what treasures I might find.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 9:40 am TJ Maxx / Marshalls / Homegoods / Ross are some of my favorite places to browse aimlessly, too.
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 9:44 am That’s a good word. My favourite words are scribble, bicyclette and puffling, which is a baby puffin!
Charlie Q* April 1, 2017 at 12:21 pm Pufflings are fantastic! I just read a delightful article about pufflings that I can’t describe because it would be a bit spoilery, but you should give it a shot: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0812_020812_TVpuffin.html
The Cosmic Avenger* April 1, 2017 at 9:35 am I love the smell of the ocean (but not swimming), Joyva raspberry jelly rings, temps in the 50s (F), the look and sound of the wind in the trees, single malt scotch, crosswords (I have a NYT subscription), and Sudoku.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 9:44 am I love little baby ducks, old pickup trucks, slow-moving trains, and rain . . . Oh, wait, that’s an old country song I haven’t heard since childhood, but which is mysteriously STILL lodged in my head. I like pineapple, cognac, long meandering walks through the part of town where there are lots of thrift stores, libraries, Rachel Maddow, going to the movies by myself, Tchaikovsky’s piano concerto #1, early mornings, and the way it feels to start a new journal or planner.
Mallory Janis Ian* April 1, 2017 at 8:23 pm Tom T. Hall! I had to look up that song on you tube and listen to it. I knew which song you meant, but it’s been a long time since I’ve heard it, so the tune wasn’t coming to me. Good memories. :-)
Sugar of lead* April 1, 2017 at 9:49 am Small gloves, Criminal Minds, reading, having strange dreams, and hugs.
Channel Z* April 1, 2017 at 10:04 am Hugs, dancing, music, rainbows, swimming, walking in woods or by sea, a good pint. Thanks for post, I was having a pity party and needed to snap out of it.
beem* April 1, 2017 at 10:51 am I like spring and summer, family recipes, snuggles, Persian food, sweets, and black cats. And all cats. :D
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 4:54 pm What is your favorite Persian food? I’ve had it a few times and found it really delicious. I’d love to try more dishes.
beem* April 1, 2017 at 9:38 pm Fesenjoon, for sure. I also love classic Persian breakfast. Lavash or barbari, paneer, and my grandma’s homemade rose jam. And tea, all day long.
Stacy* April 2, 2017 at 9:24 am Rose jam? That sounds amazing. I definitely need to try your breakfast!
Felicia* April 1, 2017 at 11:06 am I like libraries, pop tarts, musicals, bunnies, rainbows, anything chocolate and a new love of mine is belly dancing.
Sparkly Librarian* April 1, 2017 at 12:13 pm I like clean socks, the quilt my aunt made for me, buffets, picking blackberries, alone time, hairbows, snuggly cats, glitter, children’s books, and the Oxford comma.
Confused Publisher* April 1, 2017 at 12:45 pm I like reading, the smell of freshly washed sheets at bedtime, teddy bears, folk music, feeding people, lists, and chocolate.
Sprechen Sie Talk?* April 1, 2017 at 12:59 pm I like: swimming, the ocean/moving bodies of water, passenger plane watching (yeah, ive got binoculars and everything), dancing to electronic music, grilled halloumi, playing music, old passenger ships (like the great liners of the 30s)
KR* April 1, 2017 at 3:05 pm I agree on the black cats as mine is sitting on my stomach. I like my little family (cat, dog, husband), whales, penguins, banana ice cream, vinyl records, motorcycle rides, and dog cuddles.
Lady Julian* April 1, 2017 at 3:13 pm Just six?? Okay, in no particular order or importance, here goes. I like * peanut butter * waking up early & laying in bed watching the sun rise * long runs through the woods * plain Greek yogurt with granola & fruit * good books, especially journalistic nonfiction & fiction with a strong plot/characters * petting cats
nep* April 1, 2017 at 3:31 pm Trees, standing near the ocean, the feel and smell of certain books, learning new words, Sesame Street, watching BBC Question Time and some French news/discussion programmes.
GiantPanda* April 1, 2017 at 3:54 pm Pandas. Babylon 5. Royal Blue. Mushrooms. Sleeping in / reading in bed. That combination of sunny-cold-windy weather in early spring. Swimming at sunrise.
copy run start* April 1, 2017 at 4:11 pm Giant snowflakes on a windless night, a sunny morning in bed, my cat, PIZZA/mac and cheese, anything electronics/computer related, chocolate (deserves a separate nod), mountains.
Mallory Janis Ian* April 1, 2017 at 4:28 pm I like cats, elephants, driving fast, reading outdoors under a tree, doing nothing especially when I should be doing something, listening to audiobooks, the sound of rushing water in a rocky creekbed, having my things where they belong, and writing in my planner/checking things off.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 4:55 pm “Doing nothing especially when I should be doing something.” THIS.
New Bee* April 1, 2017 at 5:55 pm I like buttercream icing, felt-tip pens, watching other people be happily surprised, the game TwoDots, elevator music, and the Wendy’s drive-thru.
Not So NewReader* April 1, 2017 at 5:57 pm I like a good tag sale, nose bumps from my dog, singing Silent Night by candlelight, a good massage, running into a friend as I go about my day and the Spring season.
SaraV* April 1, 2017 at 6:15 pm Bath & Body Works Sweater Weather candle Lilacs Peanut butter M&Ms The first night you can sleep with the window open Opening day of baseball (Tomorrow!) Naps Doctor Who Raspberry jelly filled donuts Weather warm enough to wear sandals (I hate hunting for matching socks)
Drago cucina* April 1, 2017 at 7:26 pm Stationary, journals, Alfred Hitchcock movies, dragonflies, peacocks, dark chocolate, Jethro Tull.
Damn it, Hardison!* April 1, 2017 at 7:40 pm My cat, disco, true crime, logic puzzles, butterscotch, and peonies.
Mimmy* April 2, 2017 at 10:57 am -Reeses Peanut Butter Cups -Medical shows -A warm bath or shower -A warm, sunny spring day, especially when the grass and flowers are green and in bloom -Textbooks -Readers Digest
Rabbit* April 2, 2017 at 8:20 pm I like the anticipation of starting a new book, purring cats (any cats, really), clean sheets, the smell of baking bread, watching small children meet characters at Disneyland, choral music, and the television program Grand Designs.
Mallory Janis Ian* April 2, 2017 at 9:46 pm Reading other people’s lists of things that they like and finding commonalities and intriguing differences. :-)
The Rat-Catcher* April 3, 2017 at 5:03 pm 1) How I Met Your Mother 2) Hazelnut cappuccinos in my new Keurig 3) Thunderstorms 4) Browsing at Target or Dress Barn on my lunch break 5) (so far) the new 13 Reasons Why on Netflix 6) Foaming hand soap 7) The weather app on my phone that has the background that matches the weather outside
Michael* April 1, 2017 at 9:05 am Has anyone else experienced a lot of browser crashes (Chrome for me) on this site caused by the ads lately? Not sure if this is just me or what. I can’t pinpoint specific ads but I suspect it’s the one that hovers at the bottom, because if I close it quickly then things usually don’t crash.
Sugar of lead* April 1, 2017 at 9:57 am Invest in some kind of ad-blocker or pop-up blocker. Some antivirus programs do it automatically. I use K9 web protection, which is free and customizable.
Mimmy* April 1, 2017 at 10:15 am Report that to Alison – there’s a link right above the comment box on reporting site issues.
Ask a Manager* Post authorApril 1, 2017 at 12:16 pm Yes, please report it using the form linked above the comment box! (Ideally, let me know what the ad is for that’s causing the problem.) But also, I totally encourage anyone having issues with ads on this site to use an ad blocker without guilt. I’ve solved 98% of the ad problems, but some people are still encountering them (it’s really weird; most people get none but some people get chronic issues) and honestly, I don’t know when/if the other 2% will ever be solved. Maybe never — it’s proved really hard to stamp out entirely. So if you’re in the group still having issues, you have my blessing to use an ad blocker and take care of it!
Mimmy* April 1, 2017 at 1:23 pm I’ve been wanting to do that because the banner ads at the bottom are starting to annoy me. I just don’t know which are the reputable ad blockers – I’m afraid of inadvertently putting garbage on my machine.
Mallory Janis Ian* April 1, 2017 at 4:43 pm I use Ad Blocker Plus, too. I don’t mind the inline ads, but the banner ads that pop up at the bottom and pop up when I’m trying to write a comment drove me nuts.
TL -* April 2, 2017 at 5:06 pm The banner ads don’t bother me but the video ads can play havoc with my browser (I’ve had a couple auto-play audio lately and they’ll send this page into constant reloads, sigh. I reported it, though.)
Perse's Mom* April 2, 2017 at 1:03 am I’ve used AdBlock Plus in the past, but a few things were squeaking past it, so I switched to uBlock and Adguard (the latter of which covers my phone as well) and have zero problems with either.
Michael* April 2, 2017 at 1:18 pm Good to know, thanks! If there’s ever any consistency I’ll let you know via the link.
Ask a Manager* Post authorApril 2, 2017 at 2:14 pm Even if there’s no consistency, if you tell me about a specific problematic ad, I can get it blocked if there’s enough info to ID it.
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 5:11 pm Yes with Chrome tho not just with AAM. I’ve gotten Chrome low memory messages & still I’m trying to troubleshoot why. It’s driving me bonkers & I’m computer-literate!!
KAZ2Y5* April 2, 2017 at 5:11 am I do, but only on my work computer. Every other computer/tablet/phone I use has some type of ad-blocker (sorry Alison, but this site just about does me in). We are not allowed to put anything on our work computers. I think it may be the video that plays up top? I always close the ad at the bottom of the page but if a page has lots of comments it may take me 3-4 trys to get through them (and usually I just give up and read on my phone).
Annie Mouse* April 2, 2017 at 5:00 pm I’ve had problems on my phone, to the point it was requiring a reboot. I don’t know if it was ad or comment system induced (I did report it via the link though I think). Interestingly, my phone and chrome has just updated and so far seems to be working ok with the website.
Stacy* April 1, 2017 at 9:19 am I don’t post very often, but follow along in the comments daily. And when I do post it’s often for something awesome like this: I had a wisdom tooth extracted yesterday, that in the words of my oral surgeon “was very icky, so you should be feeling much better soon”. Here’s the deal, not only does recovery suck more because I’m not a teenager anymore, but I also have other health issues that are aggravated by it and then in turn they aggravate the recovery process even more. (I have a connective tissue disorder and autonomic dysfunction, and just to make things extra exciting, I’m allergic to many pain meds). Or as my oral surgeon says, I am “physiologically delicate”. So far it’s just been me, pudding that didn’t set because I used almond milk (oops!), applesauce, graham cracker bits, Gatorade, and a sleepy haze of pain and dilaudid. Does anyone have tips or suggestions for anything that might make the next few days a bit easier in me? Even if it’s just food ideas I may have neglected to think about, I’m all ears! I want to get off my pain meds as quickly as possible, because more than 2 days per week (even Tylenol) triggers migraines, and that just sounds like a living hell right now.
Temperance* April 1, 2017 at 9:38 am When I had my wisdom teeth out, I ate canned pasta (dinosaurs, to be precise) and potato soup/mashed potatoes. I allowed myself to nap as much as I wanted , and watch TV as much as I wanted. Soft clothes only.
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 9:46 am I was also going to suggest mashed potato. Scrambled egg is good too.
Tau* April 1, 2017 at 4:29 pm I was going to suggest scrambled egg! I had all four wisdom teeth out separately (and then complications for the first three and complications for the complications for the first two) so I spent a lot of time desperately trying to come up with something I could eat, especially since my dentist forbade dairy. Scrambled eggs work really well and are actually nourishing, I was kicking myself so hard for not having come up with them any earlier.
Sugar of lead* April 1, 2017 at 9:59 am Ensure and Boost and other liquid nutrition shakes are easy ways to get a meal’s worth of calories without having to chew anything. I keep a couple in the fridge for when I have trouble eating.
Celeste* April 1, 2017 at 10:02 am Melty sherbet, pasta in tiny shapes like couscous, orzo, and stars, yogurt (Noosa is amazing), butternut squash soup or tomato soup (readymade in paper boxes), mashed sweet potatoes!
Tris Prior* April 1, 2017 at 10:45 am Don’t just eat sugary things! This was my downfall when I had mine out – they tell you to eat pudding, applesauce, ice cream, etc. after. Those all made me feel worse because of the blood sugar crashes. Try pureed soups (if you have a Trader Joe’s near you the black bean soup is good and doesn’t have any bits that can get caught in the hole where your tooth was), mashed sweet potatoes, guacamole, greek yogurt. Stuff with protein and nutrients.
Stacy* April 1, 2017 at 10:45 am Ooh, these are all excellent ideas! I knew I could count on AAM readers! I forgot that I picked up sweet potato soup, which I figure I can crumple some crackers into. I also need to keep my salt intake up, which is good for that & scrambled eggs too. I just might need to walk over to the grocery store next door for canned pasta, which will probably be conveniently loaded with sodium already. And then I’ll definitely need some sherbet too. Should pair nicely with soft clothes, cozy blankets, and some sort of Netflix marathon!
beem* April 1, 2017 at 10:54 am This might seem weird, but if you like PB&J, it is delicious. You can get a little protein if you blend peanut butter into a berry smoothie. PB&J smoothie: Berries Peanut butter A little yogurt or Ice cream Ice Blend it. Delicious.
Turtlewings* April 1, 2017 at 11:09 am You may already be doing this, but icing your jaw. Put an ice pack in a scarf and tie it around your head. Looks silly, but feels better!
Red Reader* April 1, 2017 at 2:49 pm My fiancé had a bunch of teeth extracted recently and has been living on scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt and puréed pea or potato soup. A funny: I made a chickpea based soup last week for the rest of us. He pureed a bowlful of it and wen “aw man!” I asked what, and he goes “it’s like a dip, not a soup!” Shock and amazement, pureeing a bowl of chickpeas gets you something akin to hummus. Who knew. :-P
LadyKelvin* April 1, 2017 at 10:45 pm I had mine out 3 years ago and thankfully they were fully erupted and a) I needed was local anesthetic. I drank protein shakes but turns out I’m allergic to dairy protein and hydroxy codeine make ‘s me super nauseous so I spent the first two days puking my guts out until I could stomach the pain enough to stop taking the painkillers. But here’s to a quick recovery.
HannahS* April 1, 2017 at 11:42 pm Smoothies! I used frozen fruit, water, and my hand blender, but if you’re having trouble getting enough calories, then protein power could be added (to be honest, I just had lots of milky, sugary tea). Also, drinking from straws allowed me to “direct” the food away from the stitches. Definitely flush out the sites with the curved syringe as often as they tell you too. Oatmeal? I’m not a huge fan, but it’s easy to make one serving in the microwave and will hold you for a few hours.
Aussie academic* April 2, 2017 at 6:01 am I’m really sorry to hear what you’re going for, but I had to laugh at your surgeon calling you ‘physiologically delicate’. My doctor once told me that I’m a ‘bit of a lemon, health wise’, after I had a rare allergy to a drug for a rare condition. I don’t necessarily disagree, but don’t especially appreciate being likened to a dodgy automobile! Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Stacy* April 2, 2017 at 9:44 am Right? Me too. And then he repeated it to my parents, since they were my chauffeurs. They just nodded their heads and chuckled like “yep, we’ve noticed!”.
MCAS* April 2, 2017 at 7:55 am Sounds like you need to be tested for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), if you have not already. It is common among people with EDS/connective tissue disorders & dysautonomia. And would explain your allergic reactions to pain meds. Check out the Facebook group “Mast Movement” And feel better from the oral surgery!
Stacy* April 2, 2017 at 9:48 am Thank you! MCAS was a suggestion in my EDS group as well. And I’m definitely in agreement with that one since yesterday my face was so flushed it was nearly purple, and I started getting hives, which are gone this morning. Better on those fronts today, and never any breathing issues, so definitely will be looking into MCAS more thoroughly!
NoMoreFirstTimeCommenter* April 2, 2017 at 10:00 am My food tip for wisdom tooth extractions is, as soon as you can eat anything warm, baby foods! I don’t know if it’s a thing in your home place, but here there are ready made baby meals sold in grocery stores. The ones meant for 6 month old babies are completely soft and require zero chewing, but contain real meal ingredients like meat or fish! Just remember to add salt to make the taste more grown-up-appealing. Baby meals helped me a lot when I had my wisdom teeth out because I soon got fed up with all the sweet stuff and wanted something more like a real meal! In my case the phase where you need soft food didn’t even last that long, I don’t know how much that varies.
Sugar of lead* April 1, 2017 at 9:48 am I’m hopefully leaving town on Tuesday for parts unknown, where hopefully I will have better luck that I’ve had here. What’s your favorite quote? It can be from a philosopher or an animated cartoon show or anything in between. Mine’s “There is no fate but what we make for ourselves.”
Celeste* April 1, 2017 at 10:04 am “Barn’s burned down…now I can see the moon.” It’s from a Japanese philosopher whose name I don’t remember. Safe travels and good luck to you!
nep* April 1, 2017 at 3:36 pm That’s one of my favourites — I’ve got a card with that on it among papers on my desk.
Channel Z* April 1, 2017 at 10:21 am Just about anything from the Princess Bride. “Get used to disappointment.” “Inconceivable!”
Apollo Warbucks* April 1, 2017 at 10:25 am The real voyage of discovery is not in seeing new places, but in having new eye. Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. Not all those who wander are lost.
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 10:29 am Nelson Mandela: it always feels impossible until it’s done.
A. Non* April 1, 2017 at 10:32 am “Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.” I hate needles, but if I ever got a tattoo, this would be it.
Random Citizen* April 1, 2017 at 10:57 am Ratatouille- If you focus on what you left behind, you will never be able to see what lies ahead. And: You must be imaginative, strong-hearted. You must try thugs that may not work, and you must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. What I say is true, anyone can cook- but only the fearless can be great.
Random Citizen* April 1, 2017 at 11:05 am Omg things! Try things that may not work. Do not try thugs. :facepalm:
buffty* April 1, 2017 at 11:27 am Eat when hungry Sleep when tired –random bridge graffiti I saw as a kid It helps remind me to do what I need to do. I should do what I feel is right for me, not what anyone else thinks.
SusanPNW* April 1, 2017 at 4:40 pm “Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are” from an essay by Mary Jean Irion.
beem* April 1, 2017 at 9:45 pm “I’ve enjoyed about as much of this as I can stand.” I don’t know who said it first.
Mallory Janis Ian* April 2, 2017 at 8:54 am Similarly, “That will do . . . You have delighted us long enough.” — Mr. Bennett to his daughter Mary in Pride and Prejudice
LadyKelvin* April 1, 2017 at 10:49 pm This is slightly paraphrased but from Frank Herbert”s Dune: “Sad? What are you sad for? We leave people not places.”
Kali* April 2, 2017 at 3:16 am “Just because I’m sorry doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it at the time.” Snow Patrol lyrics. Helps me remember the duality of life.
Director of Things* April 3, 2017 at 1:21 am I have a Voltaire quote hanging in my office: “Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” (I especially love it because I actually was a professional singer before taking my corporate entertainment job.)
Garland not Andews* April 3, 2017 at 2:05 pm From my mom, a philosopher of sorts: Choices have consequences. From Princess Bride: “Have fun storming the castle.” (if you have to do it, have fun!)
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 9:49 am My sister got a new job! It comes with more prestige and a big raise, and she feels really hopeful about the people she’s going to be working with. It’s been a hell of a year for her–she beat colon cancer–and I am so glad something good is happening for her now. She has seven cats, and she is moving from Phoenix to Elon, North Carolina. My dad and I are going to drive across country with her and her seven cats. We plan to do it in three long days, spending the night in Amarillo and Memphis. She’s renting a U-Haul van in which the cats (each individually kenneled, and each mildly medicated) will ride. The cats have historically been OK travelers. They yowl at first, but we figure we’ll have our dad, who’s mostly deaf, drive the catmobile for the bulk of the trip. (He is good with this, too.) We have good tunes for the cars and plenty of Rescue Remedy for the cats. Anything else any of you recommend? We’re all experienced road trippers, so we are very much looking forward to this.
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 10:28 am When we moved from the SF bay area to Milwaukee, our one cat yowled 4 hours straight the first day, but then only for a half hour or so that subsequent days. Neither cat was interested in water or the litter box when offered, so we stopped offering. We drove 8ish hour days. LaQuinta doesn’t charge an extra pet fee or have set number limits, and all of their hotels except for one in NYC and one in Nashville accept pets. As a result, we found that they ended up being more affordable than the cheap hotels, for a nicer hotel.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 11:12 am Thanks for the recommendation! I think we’re looking primarily at Airbnb–we’ve done really well with that in the past–but I’ve had good experiences with La Quinta sans pets, so it’s good to know they allow pets, too.
KR* April 1, 2017 at 3:14 pm I stayed at the LaQuinta in Nashville during my recent cross country trip with a cat who isn’t a good traveller and a dog who loves car rides and slept the whole time. They were great and there’s an Applebee’s near by that does the carside thing which was nice because we wanted to eat with the fur kids in the hotel room. I would get a few of those disposable litter boxes in case one of the cats decides they need to go RIGHT NOW, which happened to us in Abeline Texas at 1am and we didn’t have a disposable box. So we had to run into Walmart and get the cheaper litter box and litter we could find and set it up on top of puppy pads in the back seat. I also recommend putting tarps and/or puppy pads under the carrier in case someone has an accident so it absorbs any mess in the UHaul.
the gold digger* April 1, 2017 at 10:35 am In Memphis, if you have time, Sun Studio, the Stax Museum, the Martin Luther King Jr museum (Civil Rights museum?), and, shockingly, Graceland are all very worth a visit. Sun Studio would be the shortest visit if you have to triage. Eat at The Cupboard (on Union Ave in Midtown) for a typical (and very good) meat and three meal. I never went to the Rendevous for BBQ because I lived right by the BBQ Shop and Central BBQ and I couldn’t imagine how anything could be better than that.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 11:11 am I am so freaking excited about Memphis! I’m Logisticus Maximus for this trip (that means I’m in charge of planning and get to boss people around), and we are heading out of Amarillo at the crack of dawn to ensure that we have some quality hours left in Memphis. My sister is a vegetarian and my dad is an enthusiastic carnivore–I’m somewhere in the middle–so restaurant selection should be good times. I’m making an epic playlist for the trip, and it becomes quite Elvis-heavy as we drive into Memphis. I’m hoping everyone else will be up for the whole Sun Studios and Graceland experience. I’d love to do the civil rights museum, too. Thanks for the suggestions!
Jean who wants less physical & mental clutter* April 1, 2017 at 11:25 am Ooooh, now it’s my turn to live vicariously. I love the idea of driving across the U.S. because it’s such a big piece of land with so many interesting places to see–but in reality, I get sleepy at the wheel and neither spouse nor child enjoys sitting in the car while watching the view for hours. Enjoy, just enjoy. Memphis sounds really interesting. Also love the idea of assigning the person hardest of hearing to drive the yowl-mobile. Brilliant. Safe travels.
the gold digger* April 1, 2017 at 12:05 pm I had a vegetarian boyfriend when I lived in Memphis. It is a challenging city for non-meat eaters! Central BBQ has a BBQ portabella sandwich, but the whole place is meat infused, so depending on the degree/type of vegetarian, it might not work for you. The Cupboard has a great vegetable plate – you select four veg from the menu (mac and cheese counts as a veg because it just does). They don’t use animal fats in their veg. I love their turnip greens, the corn pudding, the Italian spinach, the stewed cabbage, the baked apple – everything. You can eat a non-meat meal there and be very happy. And it’s a ton of food. Primo and I had a formula when we ate out in Memphis: What was The Cupboard ratio? That is, if we spent $20 for both of us at The Cupboard, we had enough leftovers for another two meals, so the price/meal ratio, ie, The Cupboard Ratio, was five. We went to a very fancy place called Felicia Suzanne’s and, for $90, had no leftovers. The Cupboard Ratio there was 45. The lower the Ratio, the better!
SaraV* April 1, 2017 at 7:08 pm My personal opinion is that Corky’s is better than Central BBQ. I’m only basing this on one trip to Memphis for about four days, and one trip to Corky’s and one trip to Central BBQ. If memory serves me correctly, I want to say that Central’s meat was just a bit tougher. I also want to suggest the Soul Fish Cafe. We were visiting because of the Liberty Bowl football game. We wanted to eat somewhere close to the stadium before the game, but not a national chain. When we pulled up, there were two police cars parked there for their lunch break. We figured that was a good sign since they would know where the good food was. And we were right. I think I had the shrimp tacos, and I know the husband had catfish. (There are also salads on the menu for your sister) It was outstanding.
Myrin* April 1, 2017 at 11:19 am If I were a cartoonist, I’d draw a picture of your dad riding a massive catmobile with seven yowling cats in it because that thought it somehow beyong hilarious to me!
Saturnalia* April 1, 2017 at 7:48 pm I just did this with my 3 cats, salt lake city to boston. They were first time travelers and although they had many opinions to express on the drive, they did great! I found they had no interest in food or water until the hotel at night, and even then it wasn’t much. I stayed at motel 6 and la quinta, both have cat-proofed rooms and good pet policies. La Quinta was far more comfortable for the humans :-) I used puppy pads in their crates in case of accident (no accidents!), disposable litterboxes in the room at night, and feliway travel spray as well as feliway multicat diffuser for the room. It seemed like the diffuser had a more pronounced effect, as all 3 were friendlier than usual to each other for being in small, new places. The travel spray, which is a different pheremone, didn’t seem to make very much difference in the car. What did make a huge difference was taking a few 15-30 minute breaks to eat with the car parked and engine off. After a break they were more calm for hours. I bring ice packs, thermal bags, and stay at places with fridges and microwaves so that I can have my favorite (vegan) foods on the road no matter where I stop. But I also love meal planning for stuff like this, so it might be a personal preference. Anyway, hopefully some of this is useful. I arrived on Sunday so it’s very fresh in my mind :-)
Laura* April 1, 2017 at 9:53 am So I told y’all last week about my presentation on the concept of fan fiction to my social group that I was getting prepresentation gitters for. It went well. But I kinda went waist deep in the topic, should have gone kiddie pool deep. At any rate, it was a success.
SophieChotek* April 1, 2017 at 10:54 am Glad to hear it went well. I think fan fiction is an interesting topic…I would have enjoyed listening/being at your presentation.
Turtlewings* April 1, 2017 at 11:11 am Serious fanficcer here, glad to hear it went well! I’m amused wondering exactly what you went “too deep” into. The possibilities are endless…
Laura* April 1, 2017 at 11:30 am Not necessarily a fandom but there is about a 2 generation gap between me and the rest of the literary society. Couple that with the fact that I found the stuff 10 years ago and uh never looked back… I don’t know how to dumb it down….
Nicole* April 1, 2017 at 9:54 am You know how after someone has had their first child they talk nonstop about babies as if they’re the only person who has ever experienced parenthood before? I’m like that… with my dog. I’m so enamored by her and having a dog that I can’t stop thinking about it or wanting to discuss it (although I stop myself except for on Facebook). I guess because I’m in my forties and never had a dog before there’s this whole new world I’m discovering. I never imagined having a dog would take up so much time yet make me feel so good. I’ve had other pets – fish, mice, hamsters, rats – I even fostered cats, but I’ve never felt they were a family member like I do with my dog. Is this how other people feel about their pets? I just love her so intensely it surprises me. Not that I didn’t love my other pets but this is just different in a way I’m having difficulty articulating. P.S. The link in my name goes to her Instagram account.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 10:01 am Awwwww! Poor thing, stuck in that cone. But the pink ribbons . . . ! I feel the same way about my cat! I would never confess this to most people, but cat ownership is pretty much the only aspect of adulthood that is actually better than I expected it to be. There’s something about coming home to this soft, friendly, kind-faced creature who greets me happily and always wants to hang out with me. My cat is my heart. If she weren’t camera-shy, she’d have an Instagram account, too.
Nicole* April 2, 2017 at 2:43 pm Awww, I’m sad that she’s camera shy since I’d love to see her. I’ve always loved cats, but can’t have them due to my husband’s asthma. There’s definitely nothing like being greeted with excitement! I’ve had a lot of issues throughout life feeling like people don’t want to spend time with me but my dog ALWAYS does (and my husband, of course) so that’s a great feeling.
Anxa* April 1, 2017 at 12:36 pm I love my cat, but things were just different with my dog. I miss my dog a lot more, whereas I don’t think much about my cat after a few days of separation. It’s like I can break away from his spell more easily when he’s not around.
dear Liza dear liza* April 1, 2017 at 1:59 pm Yes, oh yes. I remember monopolizing one lunch threesome by quizzing one attendee for every.single.detail about her dog, which was the same breed as mine. We had gotten our puppy and I was obsessed. How much did YOUR puppy weigh at 4 months? How often did you feed him? Tips on crate training? And what about… The poor third woman at the lunch. She must’ve been bored senseless. The best thing for me was finding an online board for dog lovers. Everyone is similarly interested, and we just talk dogs in excruciating detail. It is also a pretty strong community, with people helping each other IRL.
Nicole* April 2, 2017 at 2:39 pm Thank you. :) Any suggestions on a particular online board for dog lovers? I’ve been reading different sub Reddits for dogs but don’t really comment. I have, however, learned a lot from others’ experiences.
dear Liza dear liza* April 2, 2017 at 9:05 pm Mine is breed specific- you might try your dog’s breed + forum.
KR* April 1, 2017 at 3:17 pm I’m the same way. I love talking about my dog and my cat. Their personalities, their health, their habits, the cute things they do. Everything. In detail. In abundance.
Nicole* April 2, 2017 at 2:45 pm Yes, yes, and yes! Just having her has brought me closer to other people who also have dogs which is really cool. Since I don’t have children of my own and don’t plan on having any, she truly is my only baby.
Not So NewReader* April 1, 2017 at 6:30 pm Having a dog is a unique experience. We think we are teaching them but they end up showing us so much. I could go on for hours with dog stories. I try not to embarrass myself too much. Dogs are more interactive and they interact in more ways than other pets. They do well (overall) with travel or just running errands- so we can take them through our day sometimes. Their personalities are consistent, they are always pleased to see us and pleased with us, even when we don’t deserve it. They do better with unconditional love than a lot of humans do. A friend of mine says he has learned more about what love looks like from a dog than anywhere else. I am on dog number 5 now. Each one has been unique and each one has showed me something I did not see with the previous dogs. Parting with each dog has been very hard, but not to the point where I would give up having dogs. Enjoy your new buddy.
Nicole* April 2, 2017 at 2:49 pm You are so right! There’s nothing else like a dog and I never understood that until she came into my life. I’m the type of person who researches stuff to death before acting and yet when we were asked “are you interested in this puppy?” from the woman we adopted her from we only thought about it for a day (without googling anything) and said yes. I feel like that’s proof she was meant to be with us. I am a very risk-adverse person who doesn’t make snap decisions and this was definitely a snap-decision for the most part. But I don’t regret it one bit. I officially consider myself a dog person now whereas in the past I would have said cat person.
Gracie* April 1, 2017 at 11:57 pm Don’t feel alone lol. I have 4 dogs and they are my babies. When people at work are breaking out pictures of their kids and telling the latest stories, I’m doing the same with my own babies. Some of my friends are the same way.
Nicole* April 2, 2017 at 2:52 pm Yes! I trade pics with one of my coworkers and stories of doggie behavior with another. It’s like I’m not part of this awesome global clique of dog people.
Mephyle* April 2, 2017 at 11:48 pm I was 43 when I got my first dog, so I went through something similar. I had always been a cat person before.
Liane* April 1, 2017 at 10:27 am Day 4 of gaming convention I’ve been looking forward to. Having a great time! We ended up fetching Friend from airport on our way into town. Friend and I took a break from games yesterday morning for a short hike to a local game shop. Where else would we go? Gave us a chance to just talk. More later or next open thread
Marcela* April 1, 2017 at 10:27 am Oh, thanks Alison for posting this earlier! Some weeks ago I told you about my husband’s terrible sadnes after he came from a trip to out country. Now I know the reason: there is somebody else. He says he does not know if he wants to stay with me, and since he has always had trouble deciding, I believe that. He said he loved me. If that is the case, I would like to fight for this. Not only I desperately need your prayers, thoughts, comments, and to know that I am not alone, I also need to know practical steps I could have forgotten. Immediately I started therapy with a family counselor. I contacted my embassy to ask if they know a family lawyer with experience in US law and my country ‘s laws. I got tested to STDs. I started consolidating our money into one bank account, and asked him to put my cars under my name. I am not sure about asking to go to couples counseling, I mean I thought that we could do that if he decides to stay with me, but then later I saw articles saying that perhaps they could help him to decide. Please keep me in your thoughts. I need all I can get.
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 10:32 am I’m so sorry you’re going through this. How do you feel and what do you want? Do you want to stay with him? What’s the deal with your home – do you own or rent and whose name is it in? Couples counselling should be about helping both of you. Please try to take care of yourself. Is there any support network for you where you’re living?
Marcela* April 1, 2017 at 12:03 pm Dizzy, I feel mostly pain. Perhaps it’s too soon, but all I can grieve about is my life with him. I love him very much and I would like to stay with him. Having said that, I am not a fool and I need to prepare myself. I am all alone in here. I mean, I do have friends, but they are our friends, and they have professional relationships with him, and over everything else, I do not want to get swallowed by rage, hate and revenge. However, my friends and family in my country rushed to my rescue via whatsapp and my brother is flying to be with me in two weeks. We do not own anything but 3 cars and a bank account. I am on my home lease.
SophieChotek* April 1, 2017 at 10:55 am I am so sorry to hear this. I am sure you’ll get some great advice here.
Colette* April 1, 2017 at 11:00 am Oh, I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. You mention that he hasn’t decided what he wants. I hope you stop to consider what you want as well, and how long you’re willing to wait for him to make a decision. Couples counselling is a good idea, but if that’s not an option, can you go yourself to talk through how you’re feeling and what you want to do?
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 11:31 am Yes, this. It’s not just HIS decision. Also consider if you want to be with someone who only wants to continue to be with you because he’s afraid to make a decision/change. I also wouldn’t be hesitant to not go to couple’s counseling. He actually NEEDS to make a decision. If he makes the decision to leave, well that is probably the best decision, even if it’s not what you want in the moment.
Marcela* April 1, 2017 at 12:12 pm Well, that is funny, for everybody tells me think what I want as I had forgotten. I mean, I started this path 11 years ago knowing that I wanted to be with him, help him grow and go as far as he could and make him happy. But that never meant I forgot about myself or that I left myself go. I changed careers to make this possible and I love what I do, and I kept learning stuff, I got an excellent professional reputation, I started doing pilates, lost 20 pounds in the last year… I did not abandon myself. I am going to individual counseling. I’ll keep doing that no matter what. As about how long i am willing to wait, time will tell me. Right now, it’s as long as my feelings don’t change and he doesn’t have the answer .
Colette* April 1, 2017 at 4:20 pm My concern is that you may end up putting your life on hold waiting for him to decide what he wants. If he decides what he wants tomorrow, you can move on. But what if it’s next year, in five years, or never? Is it ok if he spends vacation time and money going to see her? If he buys property with her? If they have children? Is that the life you want? Obviously, I don’t need an answer – but I hope you’re figuring out what your limits are so that you don’t wake up desperately unhappy one day in 2025.
Marcela* April 1, 2017 at 4:30 pm Oh, I did not think that question in those terms. But yeah, you are right about limits. Something like having the two of us will not work. Which brings me to a very complicated point, since he is traveling to see her in one or two months. I guess that’s about how far I will go in reality, because I can not see myself, after the trip, listening to the same ‘I don’t know’ and knowing he will go home (where I cannot even consider to go now, in another cruel twist) again and again to see her.
Marcela* April 1, 2017 at 4:38 pm Colette, I really appreciate your comment. It made me think about things I hadn’t considered before. I want to specially thank you for that. Clarity is scarce now, so I am extra grateful for anything like what you just did.
Myrin* April 1, 2017 at 11:16 am Oh no Marcela, I’m so sorry to hear this! Any practical tips I could think of have already been mentioned so I’ll just resort to keeping you in my mind!
Kj* April 1, 2017 at 11:31 am Go to Couples counseling if you can. The therapist will either help you find ways to stay together and be happy or help you have a better divorce. And yes, it is possible to have a better divorce. As to the therapist possibly helping your husband decide faster, that is a feature not a bug. Once you know what is going on, you are in more control. Your husband is acting badly towards you and a couples therapist will call that out. Good luck. You’ll be in my thoughts.
Newby* April 1, 2017 at 4:08 pm If he doesn’t want to go to couples counseling yet, you could ask him if he would be willing to go on his own.
Marcela* April 1, 2017 at 4:27 pm He is currently going to counseling. He started going almost a year ago, to treat his anxiety and it seems he has ADHD. Then, I don’t remember now if it was before or after January, when I believe everything started (but I do not have details because details do not matter to me now), he started going to the same guy again. The question for me is do I want to go to couples counseling? Is it worth it? I see this as a path to learn to live alone, or the long process of grieving my life. I’ve had duels before, I know how long they are and how terrible the whole thing is. My life, as C says below, ended last Sunday, irremediably. I will have another one, but the one I knew is forever gone. If I have a future with him, it is absolutely a different thing from what we had until this past January. So I started the long process to survive that grief. Nothing will make this shorter, so I wonder if couples counseling can help me somehow. As I said below, I do not want to press for an answer because I feel this would allow him to escape his full responsibility. And since I DO want a future with him, I really need him to be fully aware of everything he did.
fposte* April 1, 2017 at 5:23 pm Maybe. What I think is more important is that you go to counseling on your own.
fposte* April 1, 2017 at 11:23 pm I’m really glad you’re taking care of yourself that way, Marcela, but I know that feeling the feelings sucks no matter what. It’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but you might have a look at the Chump Lady website. She’s very good at identifying the patterns people often fall into in this situation and helping people move beyond them.
Marcela* April 2, 2017 at 1:18 am Uf, fposte, I landed in the Chump Lady site and it was horrifying. Granted, perhaps the particular post where I landed was a specially horrific one, but the whole “once a cheater always a cheater”, “leave him because there is no fix”, and general comments left me very disturbed. I do not believe my husband is a bad guy. Statistics are on his side, it’s impossible that given the number of extramarital affairs, all those men are horrible human beings. Besides, if we do not end together, I want to find somebody else to love and share my life with. I cannot do that from an always afraid heart. However, I’ll go again and try to start from the main page or categories. When I went there I landed from a Google search. Perhaps there are less radical posts. Thank you.
Not So NewReader* April 2, 2017 at 6:01 pm @ Marcela, I am very impressed with how well you have thought things through and how well you express those thoughts. I tend to think in pictures, not words, so I have a real appreciation for people who can convey what they think in words. This will be a huge asset for you as you go along.
fposte* April 2, 2017 at 8:39 pm I definitely was being mild when I said “it’s not everybody’s cup of tea.” If it’s not for you, don’t spend time there, as you’ve got enough on your plate already; I agree that it draws absolutists and I’m not an absolutist by nature either. But I think it performs a useful service in legitimizing the anger of people who have been treated badly and, often enough, have been told that they were obliged to forgive. If that’s not your current path, walk elsewhere, because you need to find the way that’s right for your feet.
Marcela* April 2, 2017 at 9:33 pm @Reader, I do not think you will be impressed when I tell you the reason I can react like this is because I always knew this was going to happen. However, I always thought it was going to be the classic and very ordinary “professor in his 50, post doct in her 25”.
Not So NewReader* April 3, 2017 at 9:51 pm @Marcela not sure you will see this. I can see where intuition would give you some lead time to collect up your thoughts better. But you still do a good job of expressing yourself in writing. Your intuition/insight/intelligence has brought you this far and so will continue to carry you. I could see my husband was on a slippery slope about two years before he died. (intuition). My aunt wisely said you have time to prepare if you know this is what is going to happen. (intelligence) None of this helped me to avoid the pain/sadness. Just because we have things well thought out does not mean we get to skip the aching heart and the tears. There are some battles that we stay and fight because we want to and because we are fighting the battle as a team on the same side. Fighting a battle alone is all new levels of loneliness. Life shouldn’t be this hard. Let us know how you are doing.
Marcela* April 4, 2017 at 9:44 am I bookmarked this thread, Reader. I’ll be coming here again and again for the advice and the warm wishes. Thank you. Really, thank you.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 12:11 pm Oh, gosh. This sounds so hard. I know it’s possible to put a broken marriage back together–my own parents reunited after a two-year separation and infidelity on my mom’s part–but it is really hard work, requiring total commitment from both parties. And the process leaves the relationship different than it was before–it’s not like you somehow move back to the previous version of normal. You have to build a new normal, together. You have to want it badly. Do YOU want it badly? No is a totally acceptable answer. Take care of you and put you first in this matter. You can choose to extend him love and grace, but it’s not an entitlement on his part. That’s got to be your decision, given wholeheartedly. And if you give it, he owes you deep and enduring gratitude: accept nothing less. It sounds like you’re making smart and practical decisions in the meantime, while you’re deciding. Good for you. The practicalities are important at times like this.
Marcela* April 1, 2017 at 12:18 pm I DO want it badly, C. We had a great relationship. Sounds blind, right? As I am still trying to deny what happened. Right now I am trying to survive, 5 seconds at a time. I only asked him last Sunday. And while I do love him with all my might, the only thing I now for sure is that I do not want to be poisoned from this. I’m just 40, so no matter what happens, I want to be able to love again or keep loving, with the radiant and generous heart I had before last January.
Kj* April 1, 2017 at 12:40 pm He needs to figure out what he wants. Not figuring it out is CRUEL to you. He may not be meaning to be cruel, but it is- you can’t move on or start on a solution or make firm plans until you know what he wants. He needs to make a choice. I hear your pain in your writing and I’m so sorry. I am sure you will find ways to keep loving others. Take care of yourself. Reach out for help when you need it. This is not your fault.
Marcela* April 1, 2017 at 4:20 pm Everybody, including my spidey sense, tells me not to press for a choice. When I said earlier he can’t decide, that’s true: he has this obsessive perfectionism and he always wants to take the best decision. Even if we talk about the brand of shampoo. He would research and compare, until he feels he can know what is better. This is exactly what’s happening. It IS very selfish and cruel, for I am not a thing and I am suffering immensely. However, he IS responsible of all of this. If there was something missing from our marriage, he should have said so. I am not going to carry that responsibility. Therefore, as long as I can wait and I have the strengh to do it, I am going to wait for him to decide. It would be very easy to leave now, and he would not have to choose, he would just go to her and think of me as the mean woman who left him. It would be very easy for me to ask him to leave, and he would go to her and think of me as the mean woman who expelled him from his home. If I do that, he will not be exposed to the full consequences of what he did. He will not understand the price, he will simply stop thinking about all of this. After all, she is the magic now, the fantasy, the beautiful land where you do not have to pay taxes, do laundry, put the dishwasher and see your woman shaving or dyeing her greys. I feel that refusing to accept the blame also means refusing to take charge of the destruction of our relationship. If he wants to leave, he needs to be brave enough to say it. He was brave enough to extend his hand and take something he promised not to.
Kj* April 1, 2017 at 7:52 pm You write well and I think you have a strong opinion on this, but I am concerned that he can dally forever, which will make your healing harder. Couple’s counseling could speed the process and clear things up. If you are willing to wait, then you can, but if you start feeling the desire to know more of where you are going to have to go and what you have to do, then you should feel empowered to ask for couple’s counseling. You know what is best for you, but I am very concerned for how long it will take him to choose and the impact of that time on your health. I’m glad you are seeing your own therapist; I hope you are consulting with him or her about this.
Marcela* April 1, 2017 at 8:40 pm I hear you. I am talking to her about this. Because what I am know/think now is what you are reading, but I know my own healing process will change things. A big moment in the future is a trip he will do to her to try clarify things. As I said in a comment earlier to Colette, I am willing to accept that trip, but I hadn’t noticed that I’m considering his return as the deadline for his decision. After her incredible comment, I’m starting to explore my limits. But I definitely hear you and I appreciate every word.
TL -* April 1, 2017 at 10:00 pm Maybe it would be worth considering taking a break until he goes to visit her? Right now, he’s getting the best of both worlds – the comfort of an established relationship and the excitement of a new one, both of whom seem to be fighting for his affection,with him set up as the prize. Go to couple’s counseling with him, but other than that, maybe just remove yourself for the remaining time between now and the visit. Don’t take yourself out of the running, but maybe stop competing? People aren’t prizes. Also, the loss of you – either temporarily, to let him think, or permanently – is the price he pays for his behavior. If he doesn’t place value on that, then it won’t really matter who ends the relationship.
Marcela* April 2, 2017 at 1:10 am I stopped struggling, TL, under that argument. I mean, I am not competing for his affections since I am barely home. I do not want to leave for reasons I said earlier: he needs to make a decision if I am to have a future with him. But I am kind of pretending I do not want and need anything from him now. I am being careful to look normal, while I abandoned all responsibility at home for everything. I took care of most daily chores. Not anymore. Since I’m not home and I’m not eating here, I do not care if there are no clean dishes. Yesterday he forgot to charge my EV, I took the other car without telling him anything. Today he apologized several times for that and insisted I could have asked for his help to install the charger back (there is a reason for all of this but it is not important to what I am saying). I’ll do whatever I need to do without asking for his help, advice or opinion, as I’ve done all this time. And of course, we are not living together anymore: we are just roommates. However, in two weeks I will leave for 10 days. My brother is coming to help me, and I am moving out to an hotel those days. I do not want to leave forever because that would allow him to avoid his responsibility. Once I decide, he will stop struggling and go with her (because obviously I can’t choose the outcome I want: only the ones where I leave or ask him out), happily free of having to deal with being responsible of the destruction of our marriage.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 4:23 pm No, it doesn’t sound blind. You married the guy for reasons! Those things don’t just go away because he did what he did. You’re allowed to love him and hate him and be mad at him and want to stay with him all at the same time. I’ll tell you a few things I’ve observed about my parents’ situation, which occurred when I was around 12, and its aftermath. When they made the decision to stay together, they moved to a new house in a new town, which I think really helped all of us. It felt like a fresh start, and we didn’t have to worry about being surrounded by people who knew my parents’ story. (She had an affair with her best friend’s husband, and although not everyone knew about it, plenty of people did, and the town was small.) The house held no bad memories. We all got to make new ones. My parents didn’t do counseling, but I think it probably would have helped them. My father made it clear that he wanted to be with my mother and forgave her everything. He has never spoken of the matter. He is demonstrably affectionate with her. He has never made her suffer for what she did. She was quite remorseful and made it clear it would never happen again, and I think he felt she’d suffered enough. (The other guy was, objectively, a real tool, and everyone knew it, and I think my father drew some solace from being so clearly the superior human being in the equation.) My mother is devoted to my father to the point of martyrhood. When my sister or I even suggest that she indulges him too much (which she does!) she leaps to his defense. The whole thing is 30+ years in the past, and it still brings her to tears to speak of what she did to him and how grateful she is that he gave her another chance. They will celebrate their 40th anniversary this year. Their love is mostly steady and comfortable at this point, but there are absolutely flashes of the radiant and generous. I don’t know whether you guys will make it, but if you both want to and you work hard at it and you have your heads and hearts in the right places, you CAN make it. I look at my parents and regard them as proof that anyone can cheat (something that’s made me extra vigilant about boundaries in my friendships with men) and that any couple, if sufficiently determined, can survive an infidelity. Sending hugs and strength and wisdom and courage to you.
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 5:11 pm Oops, that should’ve been 47th anniversary. D’oh. A seriously long time.
Not So NewReader* April 1, 2017 at 6:40 pm “no matter what happens, I want to be able to love again or keep loving, with the radiant and generous heart I had before last January.” That right there is one heck of a powerful statement. Very rarely do we see statements this powerful here. Hang on to that with everything you have and you will land in a good space. I have no idea where that space would be, but you keep this with you and you are going to be okay here.
Marcela* April 1, 2017 at 8:45 pm I am trying to keep that always in my mind. I should make that a poster to hung on my wall. Perhaps I should make it a pillow since I like to sew :)
Jean who wants less physical & mental clutter* April 1, 2017 at 1:41 pm I’m just 40, so no matter what happens, I want to be able to love again or keep loving, with the radiant and generous heart I had before last January. The fact that you could express this wish so clearly assures me that you will still be able to give and receive happiness / love / joy after this experience is over, no matter how it is resolved. There will be hard times and cranky times in the middle, but you’re human. Few of us can sustain spiritual or interpersonal graceful 24/7/365. (My inner comic says that G-d created doors because sometimes we need something to SLAM.) I’m sorry this is happening to you. Be kind to yourself as well as to others.
neverjaunty* April 1, 2017 at 2:35 pm Oh, hell. I am so sorry. What a pile of suck. Whatever happens, it sounds like you have the right mindset to get yourself through this
Overeducated* April 1, 2017 at 3:45 pm I’m so sorry to hear this. It sounds like you are doing all the right things to protect yourself but I hope you don’t have to, at least not more than you are given how much this must hurt already. No advice, just sympathy and good wishes.
msroboto* April 1, 2017 at 7:03 pm I hope this works out the way you want. I hope you want him gone. WHY?? Cheaters cheat. That’s it. They may lose this one but will start with someone else at some point. Think of your friends that may have met someone when they were with someone – the cheatee so to speak. Are they still together did the cheater cheat again. You know they did you know it’s true. Cut your losses you don’t owe him any chances he blew that when he cheated. All the other things in his life ADHD or other anxiety is besides the point. He cheated. It’s over. Too cruel? Come back in two years and tell us where all this went. It might not be an overnight awakening but it will be an awakening.
Marcela* April 1, 2017 at 7:32 pm Hehe, no, your words are not too cruel. I had the cruelest thing said to me last weekend :D
msroboto* April 1, 2017 at 8:57 pm You can’t fix him either. If he is the broken, he has to fix himself.
TL -* April 1, 2017 at 10:02 pm Some people change; some relationships survive infidelity. I don’t know if this one will but people make mistakes. Some cheaters always cheat and some are just people who make mistakes.
Anon for this reply* April 1, 2017 at 10:20 pm I am so sorry. I want to cry for you reading it and for myself as I struggle with relationship decisions, though not over infidelity. Take good care of yourself with your favorite comfort, whether it is a good book and your favorite blanket, ice cream, or a massage. My prayers are with you.
Annabelle Lee* April 2, 2017 at 10:28 am I am so very sorry! Been there. Therapy was hugely helpful for me. And this woman’s writings http://www.midlifecrisismarriageadvocate.com/my-story.html And this forum http://www.survivinginfidelity.com/forums.asp Chump Lady is good too, but a rather different tone. Take good care of yourself.
Belle di Vedremo* April 2, 2017 at 2:46 pm Oh, Marcela, I’m so sorry. What you’ve written here is eloquent and deeply grounded. If your focus remains on keeping a generous and radiant heart you will have tough times but you will come through them to peace in your heart. I’m so impressed with what you have done and expressed here. A metaphor I’ve found helpful in upending times is that of “wrong note music.” There are composers who put what at first sounds like a wildly wrong, dissonant note into their music. It’s jarring at first, but it’s a transition point that allows the music to continue in a different key and sometimes seemingly a different voice. Sometimes those things that jar us the most are transitions into a new variation or version that makes sense once past that point. Practical things, though it sounds like you’ve got a great handle on everything I’ve thought of: Money Bank: Put some constraints on that bank account, so neither of you can take more than $X without the other’s permission. Home lease: can you comfortably manage it without his income? If not, what would be your plan? Immigration I’m sure you’ve thought of this as you’ve already reached out to find an attorney familiar with the laws in both countries, but I’d ask your embassy staff for advice about your visa status independent of your husband. Self care Pay attention to what you eat, try to get exercise in most days. If you’re a church goer, the pastor/priest may do pastoral counseling to supplement the counseling you’re already getting. Sometimes churches (and other groups) have people who step forward out of the woodwork and offer solid support during times of crisis, often fading back afterward. It’s their call and their gift to you, different from an ongoing friendship but a lifeline for a time. Find some things to do on your own that get you out and about and with some folks who aren’t already friends of both of you. If you to resolve to stay together it’s easy to add new people into your lives. It’s good to hear that your brother is coming to spend time with you. I’ll be holding you, and your husband, as you move forward.
Marcela* April 2, 2017 at 11:37 pm Thank you so much, Belle. I am so very grateful of all of you. I do not know you, and yet you supported me this weekend, you carried this weight for me so I could breathe. I will never forget your kindness, your advice and company. Thank you.
Observer* April 3, 2017 at 12:24 am Don’t consolidate your bank accounts – make sure you have your own account where your pay goes, so you don’t have to mess with that issue if he decides to leave.
Marcela* April 3, 2017 at 10:27 am We have two bank accounts, under both our names. The problem is that one of them is on the other coast, in a small bank with only offices there, and for reasons too long to explain, I cannot open an online account. So if he were to do anything with that money, there is no way for me to know or do anything. I told him to move his paycheck to our local bank account, for if/when I have to leave, I will take 50% of everything with me.
Mimmy* April 1, 2017 at 10:29 am Since yesterday, I have been unable to access Facebook through Safari, which is my usual browser. It works everywhere else though (phone app, Chrome browser). Is it just me, or is there a known issue with Safari at the moment?
SophieChotek* April 1, 2017 at 10:56 am I was just on Facebook with safari before coming here and it was fine. Maybe the old tricks like clearing browser history, cookies, etc., ensuring its updated, etc. etc.?
Grandma's Baby Shower* April 1, 2017 at 10:31 am My friend ask me to pass this question along to a wider audience for more opinions. She’s a teacher and got received an invite for all the teachers to a baby shower. However, it’s not for a pregnant mom; its for the grandmother-to-be. It’s the grandma’s first grandbaby and the other teachers wanted to celebrate. My friend was fine with it because she thought it was just a luncheon; she’d bake some cupcakes and enjoy the gathering. But now word is coming around that the host expects everyone to bring gifts for the grandma. The explanation is that Grandma will need supplies for the baby with she’s babysitting for her daughter. And not just a few cheap toys; the host was saying clothes, diapers, even a crib. My friend has never heard of this before, and neither have I. Is this a thing that is done: baby showers for grandparents complete with gifts? Seems odd but we’re curious if this is actually a common practice that we’ve just never heard of.
Grandma's Baby Shower* April 1, 2017 at 10:33 am And we don’t think the pregnant mom will even be at the baby shower since she’s not part of the school so this is clearly just for the grandmother.
Dizzy Steinway* April 1, 2017 at 10:33 am Wow. That’s pretty odd. The parents will have clothes and nappies, anyway. But either way this is just very strange. I’d be giving it a big side-eye!
Jessesgirl72* April 1, 2017 at 11:00 am It’s definitely becoming a Thing. I first heard of them maybe 10 years ago?
rubyrose* April 1, 2017 at 11:35 am I don’t know if it is a thing, but it sounds like too much to me.
WellRed* April 1, 2017 at 11:48 am Never heard of such a thing and it’s tacky. Also, since this is coworkers throwing and attending this tacky shower, it should be even less expected to buy big gifts (but you know that, this is AAM after all.) If they must do this, children’s books would be nice.
Temperance* April 1, 2017 at 12:09 pm I’ve heard of grandma showers, but they are usually books and toys. Not actual baby gear.
Piano Girl* April 1, 2017 at 1:05 pm We did a diaper shower for the IT guy, who was having twin grandkids. It was a fun excuse to get together and eat cupcakes.
Aphrodite* April 1, 2017 at 1:41 pm Beyond tacky. Here’s the reply: “Thanks but I can’t make it.” No excuses, no reasons, just a “no.” Maybe some of the other invitees will follow your lead.
Newby* April 1, 2017 at 4:12 pm I’ve never heard of a baby shower for a grandparent. Even the ones for parents at work tend to have token gifts (books, onsies, toys) rather than expensive baby supplies.
BBBizAnalyst* April 1, 2017 at 5:03 pm I would say no. I find a grandparent shower incredibly weird and a bit overstepping.
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 5:34 pm This is bizarre to me. A congratulations on the news & the birth should sufficient. Can you ask someone why this is being done? “Oh, I’m glad she’ll be a grandmother although I’ve never heard of a grandmother shower! Is this a local custom?” Or is it possible the grandmother will help to raise the child & this is being done in that spirit? I’ve rarely encountered a grandparent who balks at a grandchild receiving a gift instead of themselves. If for some reason you do participate then diapers for the baby are always a safe choice. hmmm… perhaps this is April Fool’s talking, although if your colleagues have a sense of humour then baby diapers with a pack of adult diapers would be hysterical. (Definitely it’s the April Fool’s talking!)
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 6:12 pm Just reread the original post & saw the answers to most of my questions. Sorry!
Rabbit* April 1, 2017 at 6:39 pm When my cousin had her first baby my Auntie asked everyone to give her their favorite children’s books for her birthday that year. I thought that was a fantastic way to build up a Grandma’s library – which in our family is a very important thing! That said, I’ve never heard of this Grandma Shower thing before and find it deeply tacky. If it were me, I’d decline the invitation with a “Thank you, but I won’t be able to attend” and give the grandmother-to-be a congratulations card when the baby is born.
Clever Name* April 2, 2017 at 1:47 pm When I was pregnant with my son, some of the ladies at my hometown church threw me a shower when I was visiting. I knew most of them women, but a few were friends of my mom’s that I didn’t know. At least one of them had assumed that it was a “grandma’s” shower and didn’t realize it was for me and that I’d be there. :)
Gilmore67* April 2, 2017 at 7:27 pm Wow, beyond tacky. Although certainly we should not take away from Grandma’s happiness at being a grandma for the first time this is not about her. Grandma should not receive gifts/supplies for when she babysits for her grandchild. I seriously do not even know how to express how ridiculous this is.
Jessi* April 1, 2017 at 10:40 am A few weeks ago there was a great post about buying a car – but I can’t seem to find it. Could someone link it for me? thanks! My sister is considering buying a car
Ask a Manager* Post authorApril 1, 2017 at 12:30 pm https://www.askamanager.org/2017/03/weekend-free-for-all-march-4-5-2017.html#comment-1388927 and the follow-up: https://www.askamanager.org/2017/03/weekend-free-for-all-march-11-12-2017.html#comment-1398970
Rebecca* April 1, 2017 at 10:40 am I just need to talk this out and get an encouraging word. My Dad got bad news from test results this week. He’s 82, a 19 year colon cancer survivor, and in early February started to feel like he didn’t want to eat, not hungry, that type of thing. At first he thought he picked up a stomach bug, but it didn’t go away. Fast forward to March, he had blood work and a CT scan, and the CT scan shows lesions on his pancreas and liver. He has an appointment on Monday at a gastroenterologist to see what the next steps are, and his oncologist has been informed. He went from working in his garage restoring an old car for hours every day to sitting in his chair, trying to get enough to eat and just being tired. I can tell he’s depressed, I would be too! My Mom is the epitome of anxiousness anyway, and this has her in a state, to put it mildly. I told Mom we need to see what the doctor’s office says we can do. I’m not spending hours on Google trying to diagnose, guess, whatever, but I did some preliminary searches, and it appears that there are palliative things that can be done, surgery, medications, that type of thing, but again, I’m going to wait to see what the doctor says. Mom is a retired RN, so she is very aware of how serious this is. My Mom depends so much on my Dad to carry things like groceries (she is frail and can’t lift much) and to do pretty much everything except pay the bills. Like, she doesn’t even pump gas. I tried to show her how to do it once, and that was a disaster. She didn’t want to touch the gas pump nozzle, she said the smell gave her a headache, she covered her face with her shirt and pretty much complained and pranced around the entire time. And her driving skills aren’t the best. She’s too small to drive my Dad’s truck, and she has needed a new car for years but due to untreated anxiety, she is simply unable to make a decision, she’s stuck with an ancient Buick that’s on its last legs. To make things even better, I’m an only child, we live in a rural area with not a lot of volunteer or support systems, and I work full time. My short term plan is to find out what exactly is wrong with Dad, good or bad, and find out what he wants to do or what can be done vis a vie treatment, surgery, etc. I can take care of the yard work, carrying things for Mom, helping with chores, etc. Once that’s done, I’m going to contact our local Office of the Aging to see what is available for Mom and Dad. That will be a struggle. My Mom is so hyper picky about everything. The last time I mopped their bathroom floor, I’m pretty sure she did it again when I left. Which leads me to trying to find someone to come in once per month and do cleaning, like bathroom, kitchen, dusting, and a thorough vacuuming, because I think I could keep up with spot cleaning otherwise. The trick will be finding someone reliable, Mom Approved, bonded, etc. Thankfully, I have a normal 40 hour/week office job, and I’m home by 4:30 on weekdays. I also have 20 days vacation/PTO, and if I need to, the company is big enough to be required to offer FMLA. If Dad has surgery, I’m planning on asking to work from their house during the first week or so of recovery, like I did when he had his hip replaced. Not sure if they will allow it, but I’m not customer facing, and I drive to an office to log in remotely and deal with people all over North America via email and skype, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. It helps to type this out. I’ve been crying in the car on the way home from work every day this week, and getting myself together when I go over to my parent’s house. I know my parents are up there in years, and at age 54 I’m very fortunate to have both of them, but I am just not ready for any of this. My Dad’s father died when I was a teenager of colon cancer that had metastasized to his lungs, and that was horrifying, to say the least, and those old memories have resurfaced. For now, we need to wait until Monday, and start to focus on what can be done vs what can’t be done. I’m glad Mom and Dad have all the power of attorney, wills, and other documents drawn up, signed, filed, and all of that, so at least that’s one thing we won’t have to worry about. Thanks for listening.
SophieChotek* April 1, 2017 at 10:58 am I am so sorry to hear this. This sounds like a really difficult time and though you’re being clear-headed about the situation it still sounds really tough. Virtual hugs — I wish there was some way I could help you.
Colette* April 1, 2017 at 11:04 am I’m sorry – this must be really tough to deal with. It sounds like you’re doing all the right things. Hang in there.
The Cosmic Avenger* April 1, 2017 at 11:05 am I’m so sorry. Eventually you may want to contact a social worker with a specialty in gerontology; they can help you figure out what kind of services your mom will need if she’s on her own, and how to get them. If it comes to that, there are people whose job it is to figure out how to help her and arrange for that help. Especially when someone is resistant to help or change, bringing in a professional is often more acceptable than hearing it from a family member. I’m glad the paperwork is in order, that can be a whole separate mess.
Rebecca* April 1, 2017 at 2:23 pm Totally agreed, and that’s why the office of the aging will be important. In my area, they are really the go to resource for finding a social worker, putting people in touch with resources, etc. For reference, my Mom can’t even decide on wallpaper patterns or bathroom fixtures. The upstairs bathroom has been torn up for over 10 years now because she can’t decide what tub to buy. It’s awful.
rubyrose* April 1, 2017 at 11:47 am I’m so sorry. I think Cosmic Avenger’s suggestions are really on target. In the case of someone who will be resistant to any changes or suggestions, it is harder for them to disregard news from someone outside the family. Not to say that your mother will just willingly go along. She may listen to someone else and then afterwards tell you those suggestions are unacceptable, with the expectation that you are going to step in and do everything. To take care of yourself, you may want to consider about how much you do have to give your mother, remembering that it would be every day, every week, and not just for a specified period of time. You will be of no good for her if you take on too much. Hugs.
fposte* April 1, 2017 at 11:58 am Oh, Rebecca, I’m sorry. I’m in a big rural area and I see a lot of agemates with similar problems–one elderly parent loses capability and it’s tough to figure out how to take care of things. Be sure you take care of yourself; it’s pretty wearing to shore up a second household.
JaneB* April 1, 2017 at 3:15 pm No advice to add to the above, just virtual hugs & sympathy from an internet stranger pre-worrying about the same scenario…
Tau* April 1, 2017 at 4:19 pm I am so sorry, Rebecca. My thoughts are with you and your parents. And like others have said – make sure you take care of yourself as well.
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 6:48 pm Rebecca, I’m so sorry for what you & your parents are going through. As others have said, you have a good grasp on the situation & you’re being pragmatic. That isn’t easy during difficult & emotional times. Your post touches me because I’ve been dealing with something similar. What I’ve learned… Please gather resources & reach out to outside help as soon as you can. It’s okay if you don’t have answers yet, although you’ll want to begin the processes (paperwork, meetings, etc) as soon as you can. Sometimes things like this take time & you’re going to be busy enough. Contact your local Hospice as well. They can be a great resource. The Hospice where I live provides palliative home care for severe long-term illness & help to families. They accept insurance although they will never deny help based on inability to pay. As a retired RN, your mum might be extra-distraught because she knows the medical possibilities. Be the voice of reason & remind her that nothing is certain until test results are in. After that, your family can discuss options. One step at a time. Let your friends know as much of the situation as you’re comfortable with so you have a support system in place for you & your parents. In a certain context, your parents are now the children & you might find yourself the authority figure (I don’t mean this as “treat them like children”). They’re scared & might have fuzzy thinking so they will depend on you to help— even if they don’t realise it. Be firm with how you say certain things & don’t leave it for debate. eg: “Mum, I know you like the cleaning to be done a certain way although I prefer to do it this way.” If you do have a house-cleaner come in, they should be glad do know how your mum prefers something cleaned & they’ll accommodate it if they can. Most of all, be honest with your own emotions & with what you can & can’t do, Rebecca. My thoughts are with you & your family!!
Not So NewReader* April 1, 2017 at 7:28 pm Only child here. I was in my 20s running between hospitals spoon feeding my parents. I thought I was going to die. I can’t see this being better at age 50 plus. Delegate, delegate, delegate. Start now. “Mom, I can take you to the doctor’s or I can mop your floor. Which one would you like?” Don’t do everything for them. Either bring in other resources or ask them to participate in figuring things out. Do they belong to a church? If yes, that is another resource. Be sure to let the church know what is going on. Is there a seniors group in their town? That would be another good place to check. Start defining your own limits. For me that was easy, right away I decided that I cannot do lifts. If they need to be picked up, they were way too heavy for me I could not lift them on my own. But I could lend an arm if they just needed to steady themselves. As I went on I laid out other limits. Back in those days my father had a reel mower. I was never going to mow a third of an acre with that machine. And this is how my list of limits fell together for me. Right now I am looking at a situation where a friend has managed to extend a relative’s ability to live on their own. The problem is that the relative cannot live on their own and my friend does not have enough resources to help this individual indefinitely in all the different ways the individual needs help. With each thing you take on, say to yourself, “can I do this indefinitely?” IF the answer is no, then now is the time to start pulling in resources for that particular type of assistance. I am sorry this is happening to your family. Warm thoughts and wishes for you and yours.
AstroDeco* April 1, 2017 at 9:35 pm Yes to all of this!! Absolutely yes to defining your own limits!!!!! These might not remain static & you’ll be adding to the list. It’s easy to feel guilty that you can’t do something & should be able to do something, especially if it’s considered “a little thing.” Those little things add up.
The Cosmic Avenger* April 2, 2017 at 8:05 am Oh yes, this. When my dad was sick and he was stubborn as **** about living on his own and doing things himself, and I wasn’t able to be there all the time because I live 200+ miles away, I had to remind myself that some people have NO family, and there are services in place to help people like that. And the caregivers knew to call me if they had issues, so it wasn’t like he was ALONE when I left him alone, but sometimes I had to remember that it could have been much worse. I also reminded myself when I had a service haul off the contents of his apartment that everything could have been destroyed in a fire, and if I had missed any paperwork in the hoard he had accumulated, I could probably pay to get it replaced (bank statements, tax forms, etc.), which in the end would have been a lot easier than mining for important paperwork in the accretions of his apartment.
Rebecca* April 2, 2017 at 11:02 am Thank you everyone. I know I can take care of the mowing, car stuff, that type of thing, and some of the housework, but Mom is going to have to give some. Right now, she does laundry in tiny loads, with everything separated. I told her we could just put all the towels, underwear, socks, etc. in together to save time, but she was horrified by this because she considers it unsanitary. That’s gonna change. When she broke her wrist, and couldn’t get downstairs to do the laundry, I washed everything together and no one got sick or died. When it comes down to it, we will just not have the luxury of time to accommodate her wishes. There will have to be caretakers, as I cannot quit my job, but based on past experience another relative and her dementia issues, I’m not taking the agency’s word for anything. The contracted agency sent people who were outright dishonest, like saying they were at this person’s house during specific time frames, but they weren’t. It was obvious when we would check on her that no one had been there. One memorable caretaker just didn’t show up, but said she did. It was only after the family members physically watched the house during her shift time, and then reported it to the agency, that they sent someone else. We later learned she was a convicted shoplifter and had spent time in jail for theft. Just recently, this same person stole from my friend’s Aunt by writing checks to herself and cashing them. Now she’s in jail again. Allegedly this agency does background checks. For right now, we just need to get all the information, find out what can be done, and move forward. Fretting, worrying about what if’s, and that type of thing isn’t helpful. Hopefully tomorrow we will have a lot more information and can start moving forward. I’m going to contact the office of the aging via phone and set up a first appointment, just to try to get ahead of the game.
The Cosmic Avenger* April 2, 2017 at 11:21 am Wow, that agency should be sued out of business. If the services are that poor in your area, what about a neighbor who could use some extra money? Maybe not their next-door neighbor, since that would make it uncomfortable to manage them, but you might know someone in the area. If the expectations are clear (laundry, cleaning, or just sitting around and fetching things if and when needed), it should be manageable.
Rebecca* April 2, 2017 at 11:47 am I know, right? When I figured out who this person was, and this was about 8 years ago now, I was really astonished that someone with a felony record, who spent time in jail for stealing, was in a job where she had access to homes like this! Plus, she lied about being there when she said she was. That’s the most egregious thing, IMO. The fact that she was still working for this same agency, years later, is very telling. Needless to say, this agency will not be the ones providing any services. I think your idea of finding a neighbor who could pitch in for extra cash is a good one. I’ll talk to Mom and Dad to see if they know anyone that isn’t working or elderly themselves. That’s another issue. The people who could help, can’t, because they have jobs and families, and people who have time aren’t able, thus the home care aids.
Rabbit* April 2, 2017 at 8:14 pm It may be worth checking around to see if you could find someone who does that sort of work independently of an agency. The person who spells me in my grandparent’s care is lovely, utterly reliable, and had around 15 references (all of which we checked!) but she only advertises in the church newsletter and a couple of newsletters for senior mobile home parks and apartment complexes. (We were referred to her via one of my Grandmother’s friends and I am deeply and constantly grateful for that.) Before L we had gone through an agency and it was *terrible*. I’m 100% sure that reliable agencies and caretakers exist, but the ones we’ve worked with were not great. We had a caretaker show up clearly stoned and reeking of marijuana (she apparently had a prescription, but um, not on), a caretaker who withheld my grandmother’s rescue inhaler because “she was using it too much”, and one who just never showed up. Also, my sincere condolences on your situation. Parents aging is incredibly difficult on so many levels – I totally understand the crying in the car moment! I’ve been there myself. I do want to add in to all the excellent advice you’ve been given to make sure that you also keep an eye on your own emotional and physical reserves – it can be super easy to slide into the habit of focusing so hard on the people you’re helping to care for that you can become really drained. Find something that helps you recharge (I take a couple of hours on Sunday while Mom takes Grandma to Mass and lunch to take a bath and watch a few episodes of either Parks and Recreation or Brooklyn 99) and make it a routine you stick with except in cases of emergency. Best of good wishes to you and if you’re not opposed I’d like to light a candle for your family?
Rebecca* April 2, 2017 at 8:39 pm Rabbit, the candle idea is wonderful, thank you, and I’m not opposed. I’m very touched and thankful for that. I am going to talk to the lady across the street from me, I know she’s retired from it now, but she was a home visitor person, and she even stayed overnight when needed. I may be able to get a good reference from her. My plan to recharge is to continue short hikes in the woods, and to ride my bike on our nearby rails to trails, probably not several times a week in the evenings and twice on weekends, like before, but at least once or twice per week. I’m never gone for long, maybe 6 hours or so on a weekend, so that should be OK. I walk during breaks at work and listen to my audio books, so that’s another way I recharge.
Rabbit* April 2, 2017 at 11:46 pm <3 Then that's a thing I'll be doing tomorrow morning. Those sound like excellent plans for recharging and hey, if you get really lucky your neighbor might be interested in doing a bit of work now and then! If not, I hope she has someone she can refer you to.
Clever Name* April 2, 2017 at 1:55 pm This makes me so angry to hear these stories. Not all agencies are like this. A dear family friend works as a companion for one, and she is a thoroughly amazing human being. Her clients are lucky to have her.
AstroDeco* April 2, 2017 at 4:08 pm Yay, assembling resources now! I like your pragmatism, this trait will definitely help you. If you can arrange it, try to do certain things when your mum is otherwise engaged. Perhaps if she’s sleeping or if a friend can take her out & about. Still I’d caution to pace yourself & if you can afford help for cleaning &or lawn maintenance then I’d encourage you to do that. Neither has to be all-or-nothing: perhaps your mum could dust &or you can do laundry, yet the housecleaner can do the kitchen, bathroom & floors. Or you can weed & hire someone to do the mowing. The caveat is to ensure there’s enough work for the hire as some services charge a minimum. There are two reasons I caution this: the obvious reason is that you don’t want to burn out. The other reason is more insidious [disclosure that I’m big-time projecting here]: You don’t want to resent your parents because of the situation & that you’re doing so much for them. This is awful & can cause much guilt, because you’re their daughter! How can you resent them when they’ve done so much for you? If that ever does occur, just remember that this resentment is from the situation & not your parents. to give the POV from the one needs assistance: Years ago I was quite ill, my mind was fuzzy & I could barely walk. When I did it was very slow & laborious. My friends would take me to the grocery. To be more precise, the plan would be a friend come fetch my list & the money, however when they arrived I would insist to accompany them. One day, my friend told me my friends banded together & decided they’d only go to the grocery for me if I did not tag along. I was quite offended until the reasoning was explained to me: what would take them less than an hour became 3 hours if I accompanied them, also they knew it made me physically worse. My amazing friends were doing all they could for me & I was inadvertently making things worse for them!! To my fuzzy mind, I never planned to go with them until they arrived for my list. Then I’d feel bad they had to do such an easy task I should be able to do myself so I’d insist on going. I’m so grateful my friends told me & that paradigm still helps me today. My thoughts are with you & your family!!
Hooligan* April 1, 2017 at 10:42 am Anyone have any advice about sticking to a diet while tavelling? I’m working on losing weight, it’s been going pretty well so far, but the next two months are going to be tough. I’ve 3 weeks of back to back work travel, then Easter, then Passover, then a houseguest… and all those things are likely to derail me. Part of the issue is that I don’t control what I eat when I travel, I can only influence the restaurant choice to a certain extent when I eat with colleagues, and not at all when hosting clients. I’m vegetarian, so most of my choices end up being pasta, veggieburger, or garden salad (which doesn’t really fill me up). I can snack on tofurkey in between meetings… but I can only keep that up for so long. I guess I’m looking for both advice and encouragement.
rubyrose* April 1, 2017 at 11:57 am I feel this issue. I’m going to need to do about 4 weeks of work travel in the next 2 months. Get some protein meal replacement shakes, individual packets, and use them for any meal that you don’t have to have with someone else. Pack a shaker bottle. There are shakes that are dairy free, if that is important to you. Those are normally best (for me) with cold water, so I do need to plan for that (refrigerator in room? purchase chilled water at store?). Pack food for the actual travel, instead of purchasing something when in transit. Nuts, protein bars. Those are also good to have for snacks during the day.
Saturnalia* April 1, 2017 at 8:14 pm Yes to all of this. I bring my own protein so that I can focus on veggies and starches in restaurants. There are some fun shelf-stable options on fakemeats.com that are carry-on friendly, plus the usual bars and powders. Signed, Vegan who often travels
Yetanotherjennifer* April 1, 2017 at 12:04 pm What if you were to change the goal for this period to maintaining your current weight instead of losing more? You could focus on fitness goals and let the food part go a little. Stick to the plan where you can and do your best everywhere else. It’s a good learning experience and would give you a break while dealing with the stresses of travel, holidays and house guests. I also like the idea of healthy snacks to tide you over when your meal choices aren’t the best. Dried chick peas or nuts would be good suitcase-friendly alternatives to tofurkey. Finally, if you can’t control what you eat you can at least control how fast you eat it. Slowing down your eating will help you eat less and enjoy what you’re eating. But also keep in mind that people tend to move more when traveling, so what you’re eating can be somewhat balanced out. Good luck, you can do this!
Channel Z* April 1, 2017 at 12:34 pm Instant mix shakes are portable and filling and help prevent convenience store snacking. I like Spirutein, it mixes well and isn’t as chalky as some
joe* April 1, 2017 at 10:58 am Semi-idle curiosity question! What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Random Citizen* April 1, 2017 at 11:03 am From my mom when I was all stressed out trying to make college and career decisions and kept getting caught up in how I might regret my voice in a few years. She said, “Random, don’t ever make a decision out of fear. Decisions made out of fear are always the wrong decision.”
Anon for this* April 1, 2017 at 11:20 am Something really bad happened to me once and I was justifiably upset. But… I was making myself more upset by focusing on it constantly and talking about it. I was just compounding the pain. Someone told me to “build a bridge and get over it”. And honestly it was the best advice I ever received. Not saying this works for everyone in all situations (does any advice?) but in that case it worked for me.
rubyrose* April 1, 2017 at 12:14 pm Two pieces. At age 10: my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I had no idea I was supposed to be anything (bad parents, no direction). I told her a secretary (she had me mimeographing at that moment) and she could tell I was making up an answer. Her response: “you can be anything you want to be. What is more important is that you do your best.” Age 25, working my first professional job, as a newly minted supervisor. One of my staff had crucial hard to replace skills but never contributed anything extra. She lined up another job but then threw out the option to stay for a higher salary. Management response: no, no counteroffers. If money was all that would keep them, what was going to happen in 6 months when they were accustomed to their new salary?
C Average* April 1, 2017 at 12:23 pm From an old, beloved boss: “Sometimes, some of the children have to get left behind.” It was in the context of a conversation about my efforts to excel in a job where the work far exceeded the capacity of one human being–and it was time for me to mindfully select a couple of unimportant balls and drop them. I think about it when I decide the counter is clean enough, the article really does not have to be proofed one more time, the draining relationship with an old acquaintance can die on the vine, the kids will be fine if I don’t chaperone their field trip, etc.
Allypopx* April 1, 2017 at 12:31 pm When I was in high school I was seriously fighting with a friend and I was beside myself over it. I was sobbing before class with my hoodie pulled over my head and a classmate was trying to console me. My teacher, with no context to what was going on, came over, put his hand on my shoulder and said “this too shall pass.” It really stuck with me. It’s really helped me with depression and anxiety in particular over the years. “Fake it til you make it” has also been super helpful, as someone who tends to be a perfectionist and has a hard time starting new things if I think I won’t be good at them. I’m not always great at that one, but when I do it it tends to be the best route.
Channel Z* April 1, 2017 at 12:47 pm Pay off your credit card every month. My parents taught me this, and i took it to heart. Only on rare occasions do I not pay the full balance, and even then I always pay in full the second month. Now my parents are retired and travelling the world with their savings from wise money management.
Red Reader* April 1, 2017 at 2:58 pm The time will pass. Example: Do I want to spend four years in grad school? The four years will pass either way, so at the end of it I can be 37 WITH a masters or I can be 37 WITHOUT a masters. The time will pass – the question is what do I want to do while it does. So “it’ll take a long time” is usually not a good reason, by itself, to forego something you want to do.
Candy* April 1, 2017 at 4:21 pm “You should know where your husband is.” My sister-in-law said this to me. My husband and I had only been married a few weeks when she’d come over and asked where he was and I blithely responded, “Oh I don’t know! Maybe he forgot to tell me or maybe he told me and I forgot what he said.” When he came back and I told him what happened we kind of laughed about it — because we were in his home country’s very small village and there were only like two possible places he (or anyone) could be if not at home (playing dominoes at the cafe or praying at the mosque) — but then we were both like, yeah actually you SHOULD know where your husband or wife is! Why not? So now it’s kind of a running joke with us texting each other constantly “at work love you