If you can’t shake the depression, perhaps ask your doctor about esketamine. From what I’ve read, esketamine, particularly in combination with CBT, can be life changing.

Boden, Talbots, Ann Taylor would likely have age and wedding-appropriate dresses in petite sizes. You could also do separate top and perhaps palazzo pants if your size makes dresses difficult to fit.

Listen to your dad. He told you what to do. I am terribly sorry for your loss. Sending big hugs.

I was just reading about their Language Flagship program. It sounds fantastic!

The eggs many hotels use come in pouches with the addition of citric acid only. They are pasteurized, so less risk of food borne illness.

Hanro underwear costs an arm and a leg, but I swear it never wears out. So no worries about it being discontinued since you’ll have it for years.

I was recently at a gathering of medical researchers and doctors. They all take statins. European LDL targets are significantly lower than in the US. I don’t know if that has something to do with it or not.

*Definitely* not a hippie school !!!

Congratulations! 🎉

@kokotg sounds like a fun Common App essay!

She didn’t like the area, but what she especially didn’t like was the social scene. She said it was a lot of “rich, entitled, white prep school kids” throwing ragers every weekend. It is pretty common at rural schools for the social life to revolve around drinking, and that definitely *used* to be Colby’s reputation. I was actually surprised though, because I thought they’d been working to rid themselves of that and to increase diversity. She’s a rather mature, serious student and didn’t find that the academics made up for what she perceived as negatives (and, hey, some kids love that scene). She’s looking for a nerdier vibe. I don’t think she got amazing financial aid though. If she had, maybe her mom would have encouraged her to try to stick it out, I don’t know.

Congratulations! 🎉 I’m chuckling a little because I heard from a friend moments before reading this that her daughter at Colby is applying to transfer to….Brandeis. 🤣

I’d be grumpy too! But sounds like they both have great acceptances (and your son is handling it all like a pro!), so who needs Brandeis anyway?! 😜

@kokotg I hear you. Applying to college is an awful, demoralizing, unpredictable experience. I look forward to grad school admissions, which actually make sense, at least, because it’s the profs deciding and not some randos in admissions seemingly picking names out of a hat.

Brandeis’s higher acceptance rate is deceiving, kind of like Reed’s and some of the women’s colleges. The applicants to these schools are self-selecting, and generally very strong. The fact that there aren’t a bajillion people applying makes it look easier than it is. Fingers crossed for Oberlin.

@Beth S They are good if people would otherwise not floss, but they are not ideal in that the same bit of floss is in contact with all the teeth/gums, potentially spreading bacteria. When you use floss, you use a new bit between teeth, so it’s more hygienic.

FYI They make metal as well as biodegradable floss picks if you want to avoid the guilt. I’ve gotten them for my mom who reports that they work just as well.

We got a letter from the school district approving our transcript and that was that. Do you not have to report to the local school superintendent in Ohio? If so, just ask them to look over the transcript to make sure it meets requirements for graduation and then get it in writing. ETA we were also told we needed a GED for one school. As it happens, it was a very junior admissions person who told us that and when we went up the ladder it was straightened out (of course a GED was not needed).

I’ve never seen markers that aren’t in plastic… 😉 I’d go with paper lunch bags with a pencil and a tiny notebook and/or some bulk candy. Or maybe something like those wooden paddles with elastic and a ball attached? It isn’t a party until someone risks losing an eye.

Oh, and let him know that the cabin of his plane will likely be sprayed. A small thing, but it can be freaky if you’re not prepared for it.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate The Invention of Hugo Cabret My Side of the Mountain The Wolves of Willoughby Chase From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basel E. Frankweiler The Earthsea Series Cold Sassy Tree eta if you’re looking for an easy French series, Les messagers du temps was a hit here Sorry for being too lazy to add the authors. Also, I can’t say I remember exactly what age these are for, I just remember they were favorites here.

Yeah, I get it. FWIW, I always have to tell my big city travel doctors what I need because I’m more familiar with where I’m going than they are. What usually happens is that I tell them, they don’t believe me, and then they come back after doing a bit of research and acknowledge that I was correct. 😆

@Faith-manor re typhoid vax, I’m pretty sure you can get it at CVS or Walgreens. There are also typhoid pills if the shot is hard to come by. It’s definitely something I would look into. Does his company not have a travel doctor ?

I recommend an oldish book called Culinary Artistry by Dornenburg and Page. It is sort of a primer on combining flavors. Looks like they have a more recent book called The Flavor Bible. I have a friend who quite likes MasterClass cooking classes. She is an accomplished cook, but says she still learns new things/ gets ideas from watching them.

Yup, mine is made in Germany too. I got it recently. Odd.