[If you were building a house...]

I would have loved a master bedroom separate from the other bedrooms. I have lived in this house almost 30 years and the lack of privacy has always been a problem.

[Basement laundry if I could have 2 washers and dryers?]

I love the space I have in my basement laundry - a large sorting table and a long hanging pole along the ceiling. The stairs really are becoming a problem, though, for my knees. Since you already have a first floor hookup for when you're as old as me, you are golden! The only option I have is the garage, and it would be quite an expense to get hookups out there.

[Mild concussion? Update in first post]

1 hour ago, Kassia said:

Same - very sleepy, headache, mild nausea.

I slept for 11 hours last night except multiple trips to the bathroom and I had a few crackers because of the nausea.  Last night was the first time in a couple of weeks I didn't take percocet and thought I'd struggle to sleep without it plus I slept so much during the day yesterday.  And I've struggled with insomnia for the past 20 years.  Still sleepy now but wanted to get something to drink.  Sleeping that much is beyond unusual for me.

But other than those three symptoms, everything else is fine.  If no change, I'll call the doctor.  If things deteriorate, I'll go to the ER.  It's about 44 hours since I hit my head now.  

Thank you for checking on me and thanks @MEmama for thinking of me!  

Kassia, I have nothing to add about concussion. I have had one and, apart from the headache, confusion, lack of ability to read and understand what I was reading, those were my big symptoms. But I am wondering if it's possible you injured your neck/spine. You mentioned you hit your head pretty hard. 

[Omicron anecdata?]

32 minutes ago, cintinative said:

Was it an OTC test or a pharmacy/hospital rapid?  Thanks for clarifying.  I am also concerned about the negatives.

My sister had hers at the clinic and her husband was OTC.

 

[Omicron anecdata?]

29 minutes ago, cintinative said:

A friend's son was sick last week with a fever off and on (lower fever) and respiratory symptoms. She finally took him to the doc today--negative for flu and COVID, but it could have been too late, right? My friend now has symptoms--mild fever and ear pain/congestion.  She can't get into the doc until Thurs morning and her rapid test is scheduled for Friday evening. That seems too late too. No rapid kits to be found anywhere. I hate this. 

How do they expect us to deal with the rapid spread if there is no access to testing?

My sister just had a test after a day with 101.4 fever and sore throat. It was negative. 3 more days with fever and even sorer throat and the tele-doc said the tests aren't accurate for Omicron? The doc said she definitely has it? Now her husband has the fever and he also tested negative.

I am wondering if others are hearing that testing is not that effective.

[How to support widowed parent?]

I know you said mail takes a long time. Still...I send out cards to our two moms and an older friend every Tuesday. The cards have a bit of news and one or two recent photos of us, my kids, activities we did, etc. Because they are very regular (I only skipped once in the last year with a warning that I was going to do it) they really look forward to it. My mil raves to my husband about those cards every time he calls. So funny to me, but keeps me going.

ETA: I made a project box for this with supplies, so it's pretty quick to do. I put the box out on the kitchen table every Monday night, so it's there in the morning when I write. I get enough photos printed to last two months or so. 

[Do you still have your wedding dress?]

10 hours ago, Ordinary Shoes said:

I have mine. It's in one of those boxes from the drycleaners and stuck in the back of my closet. I kept it because it's my wedding dress but I'm sure that I'll never find a use for it and that my DD will not use it herself. 

My story, too. Except I'm guessing I beat you all in years, 43! I do mean to get it out, take pics of my skinny daughter wearing it and get rid of it, but the moment doesn't come.

[I can't decide whether to be angry or just shake the dust off my feet and move on]

15 minutes ago, DawnM said:

I feel like asking if I can go in there and offer Trauma Informed Classroom lessons to the teachers......but I don't have the energy.

Perhaps you could recommend someone else who could do this? It would bless other families and children, too. I think this is the problem with so many church programs - that the heart behind things like this doesn't translate into good execution.

[Treats or snacks you can't stop eating]

Currently caramel M & Ms.

[Tell me the truth: do Billy bookcases sag?]

30+years here. No sag.

[Why Latin Not Greek?]

I've also studied both. Latin through Wheelocks and Greek with Mounce. I use the Greek all the time for Bible study, so I would recommend that if you're picking one or the other and Bible study is a consideration. The Greek alphabet was not a barrier at all with my kids. Maybe a day or two of teaching and then reading practice. 

[People who are COVID-cautious and have kept up with COVID research--question re: Sunday School masking]

Whatever you can do to address the ventilation in that room will be well worth it from all that I've read, even if you choose masking. If you have the window open, any fan you use should be blowing into the hallway. If there are heating/cooling vents in the room, make sure the fan is set to ON at the thermostat and not to Auto. This will also help in a small way to keep air moving in the room.

[People who are COVID-cautious and have kept up with COVID research--question re: Sunday School masking]

Mercy, is this a windowless room? We are not masking our kids, but there is a window open and a whole house exhaust fan outside the classrooms pulling air through during the class. We have done this through all weather, all throughout the winter months. 

[I just joined WW]

Horrible is a good word. I have basically given up, although not "overeating given up." I got stuck fairly quickly at 175.8. I weigh twice a week and for two months every time - 175.8. No it's not the scale. 🙂

I switched to two different routines during this time, no change.

I am glad I'm not gaining, but wow. Not discouraged, just done with counting points for sure. I stopped two weeks ago, again - no change. 

[what kind of job opportunities...]

57 minutes ago, Starr said:

There are a variety of medical professions that might suit him. They have their routines but differences, lab, xray, nursing come to mind.

This reminds me of a friend that completed an Occupational Therapy Assistant program in 18 months at a community college. There is a similar program for Physical Therapy Assistants. Might be good for someone that likes sports. It has a great salary for such a short program.

[What do you use to keep your plans for the day organized?]

I have been using Trello for over a year now, and seem to have finally found something that works for me. I have a monthly board, with a list set up for each day. At the end of the day, I archive that list (moving anything not done to other days), so my May board starts with the 19th as of today. I also have an upcoming board that has one list for each month. It is so easy for me to copy and move lists and cards around on Trello. The initial setup each month takes about 5-10 minutes, but the manual nature of that seems to motivate rather than discourage me. I use the computer for setup, but tend to check and update with my phone app. There surely are some ways to automate that task if you know more about Trello than I do.

But I will admit, my life is not that busy. Most of the items on my list are things to do not places to be.

[I just joined WW]

4 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

Well  Dh and I spent the weekend with friends.there was dinner out at an Italian restaurant Friday night , margaritas at noon on Saturday, prime rib/ mashed potatoes/ brown mushroom gravy with fresh greens Saturday night.  And late lunch at a brewery on Sunday. So I would say I completely fell off the wagon. 
Back on tomorrow.

Yes, I had an interesting weekend, too. I saved all my extra points for the weekend, but......

Did finally have the scale budge a pound, so I'm hoping it has "stayed budged" when I weigh in tomorrow. 

[I just joined WW]

Changing to blue didn't budge the scale either. Discouraging. I have lost and gained this same 15 pounds too many times. It looks like I have a fight on my hands..... I am staying close to points, though, and definitely not going over with weekly points. Keep going everyone!

 

[I just joined WW]

I switched from Purple to Blue this week. The scale was just not budging. It budged with blue. I think removing potatoes and whole wheat pasta from free really helped that. I overeat with free food.

[I just joined WW]

1 hour ago, Scarlett said:

Oh my word, y'all.  About once a week I order veggie egg scrambles  from a local convenience store and dh picks them up and drops mine off on his way to work.  I rarely eat every bite but more than half.  Well, today before I started eating I calculated the points.  14 not counting the chipotle sauce!!! So I got a bowl from the break room and took out half and gave the rest to my work mate.  Wow.  See this is what I mean about figuring out what I am eating that is putting on the pounds.  

I did something like this last night, ate one piece of the frozen pizza my husband was having. One eighth of a Lotza Mozza. I was not intending for it to be my entire dinner, but it was, 10 points. Should have looked first like you did!

[I just joined WW]

5 hours ago, Scarlett said:

 

So how do you know how much of non free foods you can eat?

I just track the non free foods. I get 16 points. For lunch I had wheat spaghetti with tuna and mixed vegetables. I just had to track the quarter cup of alfredo sauce I put on it all. Oh, and I spent a point on the tablespoon of parmesan I put on top. 🙂

[I just joined WW]

18 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

I have 16 points left.  I am starving.  I have a 1/4 cup of mixed nuts I could eat but it would use 5 of my points.  Can I eat tacos at home (homemade) with 11 points.  These first few days are always the roughest for me.  I have not had enough to eat today I can tell.  

I am on purple, so not really aware of what is free food on the green plan. Chicken tacos? Is chicken free on green? It really helps me to keep lots of free foods available. Had a small sandwich at lunch, but free red potatoes with it. Drinking a cup of free bone broth now. 

[My feet are cold - advice?]

When nothing else would work, I found that warming up my feet in hot water, drying them thoroughly, then the socks, would help.

[would you buy extras of a towel you like that was being discontinued?]

Yes, buy them. I wish I had done that a few years ago. My towels are discontinued and I have not found anything I like as well in over a year! Regrets. 🙂 

[Facebook nonsense]

2 hours ago, Quill said:

I have wondered that before but I personally left them for the wolves. I am so over trying to save people from their own ignorance on Facebook, on a multitude of issues. It is a colossal waste of time. 

It also causes a lot of offense in my heart, which is also a colossal waste of time. I saw a relative post something that compared Germans complying with their govt in the 1930s to mask wearing this last week and wasted quite a bit of time wanting to smash them.