[What's the minimum shoe I could get by with for a hike on Mount Rainier?]

um, which trail at Ranier?  I just did a trail last week that still had snow on it.  I was in hiking boots with poles and still couldn't finish the trail b/c of the snow/slippery conditions and wished I had my micro spikes with me.  This was a hike that started in paradise parking lot and i saw a lot of people struggling with tennis shoes.  I think the loop trail at Narada is still snow covered in spots.  I would suggest asking more details about this hike at Ranier.  If it's the trail of trees by the camping spot on the SE side it has no snow on it right now and it's easy, tennis shoe type stuff.  But hiking Ranier can be easy, all the way to expert/need a guide type stuff.  Ask more details before shoe shopping

[S/o: What supplements or vitamins do you take and why?]

I meant to add that I do add cider vinegar and tumeric to my smoothies daily.  I read tumeric in a pill wasn't effective.  Hence why I stopped taking it.  And apparently it does better with black pepper... so I'm back to adding it to food items and not a pill.  

What do you all know/think about tumeric and if it can be taken by pill effectively?

 

[S/o: What supplements or vitamins do you take and why?]

I've cut back.  Some from things I read about, some  b/c I can't afford all these things LOL

 

Vitamin D.  Was low for years, but started the drops(suggested here) and my levels are great now.  So much less this summer, but will ramp back up when the dark time comes up here.  I alternate between a pill and the drops, but the drops were what brought my levels up, so maybe I'll just stop buying the pills when I run out. 

Vitamin B complex.  I just need this.  

Probiotic.  why are these things so expensive?  Need it for my gut.  

Fish oil.  It's in the fridge, I'm not consistent.  

Calcium/Magnesium.  It's in the fridge.  I'm not consistent.  I'm torn about this as I read conflicting stuff about it.  It's expensive too, so often left off the shopping list 

I changed how I eat this winter and feel so much better.  Really trying to focus on better food in my life.  Losing weight helped my thyroid too and was able to lower my dosage.  

[I need new pots and pans]

I bought a large All Clad set 14 years ago. I did have to learn to cook on stainless, and made some mistakes lol, but now I love it and prefer it. I have no nonstick in my house. Stainless is great

[PSA: if you order glasses for the eclipse....]

I had the same issue on Amazon. Knock off tried to negotiate refund as well. Scammers!

 

I ordered from Classical Astronomy after the Amazon flop

[What are you doing to prepare for the eclipse?]

I ordered glasses on Amazon and got non certified crap from China.

 

Be sure they are US made and have CE and ISO #s on them.

 

I ended up getting mine from Classical Astronomy.

 

I tried a year ago to get a camping spot. No luck. We will be 92% here, SO i'm planning on watching here at home

[Meal planning: how do you balance flavors/types of food?]

I write out my plan in pencil. I try to balance rice, pasta, potatoes and then different flavors. Dd and I are vegetarian now, so I'm also figuring out meat for the boys, and if we have enough veggies for us girls.

 

I tend to do the same old things. Last week I changed up a recipe and added a sauce. This week I'm learning a new salsa. I think we need some new favorites in our rotation.

 

But in a week you can count on some Asian meal, at least 2 Mexican meals, a pasta meal, and then rice/bean type thing but we are learning new flavors to change it up. I can add sausage easily to any rice/bean dish.

[How clean do you make your kids keep their rooms?]

Let it go. I used to try and make them clean but I was causing too much stress in our lives about it. I do ask for a path from the bed to the door. They do need to vacuum twice a month. I do a major tidy myself once a year.

 

It bugs me, but the conflict was ruining relationships and it's their room. I learned to let it go. It was difficult lol. Worth it though

[CC: Trail Life]

It's like any scout group...some are awesome, some are less so. Parents need to be involved, leadership needs to be organized and delegate.

 

The program is great, but you need good leadership and parental involvement

[Geometry help: Mr. D math, Jacob's or other?]

My dd did the Callahan videos with Jacobs. MFW sold the text and I bought videos from Callahan directly. I liked it, she likes it.

 

My ds did the mathwithoutborders and Chalkerian text. Discovery method. It was challenging for my brain but he got through it

 

I had to help both kids more than I had wanted.

 

We are doing Jann' s class next year for algebra 2. If you don't want to be helping at all an online class is the way to go. She does monthly payments.

 

I would recommend the Jacobs if you don't mind helping some from time to time. I have looked at Mr D, and I like what I saw, but never used it.

[Talk to me about Monarch for 5th/6th?]

They offer a 30 day free trial. I had my ds try it. He begged me to do anything but THAT. So let the kid try it first.

[When you drive somewhere, do you stop a lot?]

we are becoming stop and look people.  I used to be a drive from point A to B person with minimal breaks, but now, we stop.  I just had the best fish and fried oysters ever b/c I saw a food truck and I wanted to try it.  We have found some of the best places by just going and checking it out.  Our road trips are getting longer b/c of this adventuring, but it's fun and I'm glad we are taking the road less traveled more and more

[Sally Beauty Supply]

I bought coloring supplies for dd there. Color lasted way longer than her salon color.

[Buying men's deodorant]

My dh uses one that is both. He can't do just one. Last shopping trip only 1 item had that on the label. I think they have changed it up. I'm stocking up when I find what he likes

[Ugh trying to get a rental house-vent]

Write a letter. And consider a townhome. When we moved to NOVA we were selling our house as a short sale, our credit was about to tank. We ended up in a townhome b/c the owner wanted to help us out. That letter got us the rental. It ended up being a fantastic place to live.

[Chakerian geometry, do we need the text?]

My ds did the chalkerian last year and we found the text at the local bookstore. He didn't like it being online, but wanted a book.

 

I'd gladly give you ours. I even have the teacher book. Just pay shipping.

[BJU Life Science--DLO or DVD?]

My dd did BJU Life just reading the text, answering the book questions, discussions with me (making sure her answers were close to teacher book), and labs at home. We felt fine without videos

[HS math question]

If his Cogat math score was low, he might have a learning disability. In fact, he likely has an LD in that area.

Who would i need to get the ball rolling to figure that out?

[Jacobs Algebra DVDs vs Ask Dr. Callahan]

Sounds like it's using Callahan videos if it offers the homework help

[If you have thyroid issues, what tipped you off?]

60 pound weight gain in 3 months even though I was working out 2 hours a day... Dr told me I should eat less. Refused to test me.

 

Developed double vision. New Dr ruled out MS.

 

After stopped cycles another Dr tested me.

 

It was awful to get anyone to listen to me

[Requesting prayers please - update 4 in the OP]

I'm so sorry family drama has made this situation so much worse.  Can your mom call and talk to your aunt?  I'm guessing they are sisters?  It's the DAD for goodness sakes.  Let the direct relatives talk and see about smoothing over relations.  Still praying for you all

[Oh gosh, spent last night in agony, I had no idea]

that's awful.  My dd and I went vegetarian this winter.  She loved mushrooms before, but now she hates them.  The portobello put her over the edge and this week what was her favorite she shunned.  I'm not sure what it is, but hope you are feeling better!

[HS math question]

thank you for your input.  We are going to go ahead with Algebra 2 in the fall, do some basic drill work as well, and work on getting over the timed issues.  At this point, we will plan on 2 years for Algebra 2, whether doing 2 online classes or 2 curriculums, so it's solid.  I know the drill will help.  Appreciate it, thanks!  I needed others to convince me not to freak out :laugh:

[rude neighbors...just a vent (but also if you have suggestions, let's have 'em)]

we had a neighbor shoot off a large rocket type contraption about 11:30pm.  It didn't shoot up into the air but between our home and one beside ours.  We had little kids and were in bed asleep when this thing went off between the 2 houses.  I honestly thought I was in a war the house shook so much.  The entire room was lit up in light being this thing was just a few feet outside from our window.  It was extremely frightening.  When we ran outside to see what was going on the other neighbor whose house was also feet away from it was there.  He called the police. Which then in turn told the guy behind us to stop shooting off fireworks.  Who the heck thinks shooting anything off when houses are that close is smart??  We were lucky neither home caught fire.  They tried to move the next year but no one bought their home....we finally moved away.   

if you have an HOA I suppose go to them.  I have found Nextdoor and other online neighborhood forums to be rude no matter what your opinion.  

[Requesting prayers please - update 4 in the OP]

I'm seeing the news article show up on the hiking/climbers FB pages tonight. Glad that info got out.

 

Praying for you