Thanks for asking. What @Pawz4me said! She was who tipped me over the edge into rotating=) And, we rotate every two bags just because. One of those arbitrary decisive decisions🤣

This is a 'JAWE' post... Just agree with everyone! Meaning, I would like to see what other concerned dog/cat lovers have decided to feed their pets after their did their research, wracked their brains, and searched their pocketbooks. No bashing of anyone else's decision! It can be so stressful knowing what to fed our pets. In case it is of any help to anyone, this is what we have settled upon for our 75# dog. We desired to use kibble. We were influenced by these board discussions to rotate between brands a little and use kibbles of at least 30% protein. I was relieved to not see our brands on the DCM list on the other thread, so I do not have to go through the decision process again. After making charts to compare protein/costs/stores, this is what is best for us: Rotate every two bags: Victor Hi-Pro Plus (cheapest at Rural King 40#) Purina One SmartBlend True Instinct Turkey & Venison (Rural King or Chewy same price for 27.5#) Each serving gets topped with a dollop of Solid Gold Green Cow Tripe or Solid Gold Sun Dancer (cheapest at Chewy, but they kept sending dented cans. I do not do dented cans, so I pick the cans myself at Petsmart) Please post your pet food picking process and the resulting choice. Because, maybe what you have decided for your dog or cat can help someone else choose their brand so they can move on with life. I, for one, need help finding a higher protein cat food, and I would rather learn from your experience then do the research myself LOL

May I jump in and ask, “What should I feed my cats?” Commercially speaking.

Do you have a PCP to call? I think you should get it checked out. I am sorry you fell - feel better soon!

Agree with the lightheartedness of it. Back when I was learning to drive, stick shift was the common way. It is just a way to balance those memes regarding 'parents and technology' and their lack of knowledge. Seen lots of those. No-one thinks that is pointing out a 'moral failing' in the older generation. The stick shift joke is just light-hearted banter - something to 'brag' about that is likely to be an older person skill unknown by the younger generation. I think memes along those lines are funny - in a 'just having fun, not meaning to be mean' way. Never thought anyone was feeling superior.

That is what I initially thought of...but, I think DH is trying to give me a break from the shopping part. And, there is just something so romantic about being surprised LOL

Do you buy study packing cubes? When I used one, I was pleased with its ability to hold a lot and keep my larger bag neat, but I cannot envision using them as stand alone. Perhaps I had ones of cheap variety. As I am always on the lookout for better organization for travel (I travel A LOT), I would like to know your experience using them stand alone.

I thought this would be easy to google, but...sigh...I need your help. DH and I are going on a wonderfully romantic, rare getaway. Heading to Sarasota area. We will be spending a lot of time doing.absolutely.nothing! We thought it would be fun to get a meal prep service for a few meals that week - a way to surprise our tastebuds and make it yummy and easy. We don’t mind the cooking, but ‘how fun’ we envision it to be to just follow the directions for a few gourmet meals while simply enjoying the experience, the company, and the view. All the plans I see seem geared toward ‘Heathy’ as their selling point...we are fine with healthy, but that is not our aim necessarily. And, of course, we only want maybe three meals, not a continuing service. Thoughts/ideas/experiences? Thank you!

For pocket change, Field Agent is great. I purchased a new Miele vacuum cleaner with my first two months of earnings! But, that took some effort - running out just for that, which really wasn't worth it to me, since I live in the middle of nowhere. Currently, though, with minimal effort beyond checking the app before I run errands and staying out an extra half to a full hour, I manage to make about $50-100 per month.

Guaifenesin - amazing. Doesn't have other effects like dizziness, dryness, tiredness...NONE of those 'feel funny' systemic feelings. Only clears things. It is dirt cheap if you buy it in the generic 4 hour tablet - labeled (of all things) 'Mucus Relief Tabs'. (but watch out for extended release medicines or varieties that contain other ingredients besides guaifenesin, if you want to avoid the other cold/allergy meds that cause rebound effects and weird feeling) Miracle drug for us. In addition to allergy woes, we always use it at the end of a cold to avoid secondary infections caused by the residual 'stuff' not clearing. Also, water. Lots of water helps clear the ears. (from rxlist.com) Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It works by thinning and loosening mucus in the airways, clearing congestion, and making breathing easier. If you are self-treating with guaifenesin, it is important to read the package instructions carefully before you start using this product to be sure it is right for you.

Yes @Lori D. All Creatures Great and Small series!!

This was such a bad idea for our family. We discovered that we are much better getting up at 4AM and hitting the road by 5. This way, the children woke up excitedly, but fell back asleep for a lot of the morning. We still do this with young adults (with the same result=) We can get settled 10 hours away just after lunch and still spend a great afternoon/evening in our new habitat. The added benefit is also a great night's sleep after being up and active so long that day...stops the bad night's sleep that can hit in new locations - we sleep like logs this way! The funny thing was, not only did we discover that we were miserably and dangerously tired attempting to drive after 1 AM, our children would be wide awake in the dark, albeit quietly. As soon as they'd drift off to sleep, it was time for a mom-stop. Why not try it, though...find out what works for your family.

I agree with @Kebo and also consider this: when there is a sudden spike in fruit flies, look around for a fruit, vegetable going bad or another fruit fly attractor, like the cat box needing changed. It may be a bad spot on an orange in the fruit bowl, an onion in the veg drawer, or the forgotten bag of potatoes your husband left in his office for that potato gun...we've had all those episodes and more!

Now, Pet Rocks...that is a whole ‘nother thing - not even close! 😉 (unfulfilled childhood longing here)

Dictation has the added benefit of giving mother and child a chance to work on their relationship and anger management skills.

I like that the favorites on the app are by food section, so, I will put things in I know I need first, then 'walk the aisles' by scanning down my favorites list in those food sections. Also, I am shopping for other adults, meaning husband and grown part-time-at-home children, so I have asked them to put the app on their phone with my login & they can add things, like deodorant or a snack I never would check, whenever they decide they need it. Your cart just keeps building until you ask for a time slot. And beyond. It will save your time slot for about an hour while you finish 'shopping'. It is great to build my order over a few day's time by adding to my cart as I think of things. Although I still do keep a running list of items getting low, on the fridge. If I decide at night I want to run errands the next day, I can, quite late, reserve a morning slot, sit on the couch and finish my shopping - such ease! I always think of something a few minutes later...the app gives you an hour or so to change/add things. It is intuitive, so it will automatically ask if you want to add a new order you create to your existing order....other grocery stores in my area did not do that. And, the customer service reps at the other chain stores complained when I arrived and picked up multiple orders. Really, the Walmart people are just so nice. It is like they hire a completely different crew for the pickup...which I suppose, they did. I am quite finicky about my produce, and it has been good overall. I consider the potential for problems a tiny sacrifice. And that says A LOT if you knew me=)

I have done Walmart grocery pickup dozens of times now - mostly as a secret shopper. I am super impressed. Previously, I loathed Walmart. Their app is great, and their customer service at pick up is even better! A few tips: My items are consistently ready 15 minutes prior to my time. The customer service rep told me that they pull the items from the holding areas at that time, so if I am late, the items are getting warmer...I try to never be late, as I am a stickler about food safety. Also, I check my 'order is ready notice' as soon as it arrives so that I can run into the store to get the few (if any) missing items right before I pull up to get my order. I have also used Amazon; prices are usually the same as Walmart. Due to limited items (especially no fresh/cold items), I have stopped using this since beginning Walmart Grocery Pickup.

Everything @Lori D. said...in her first post (although other post is good too=) especially the first and last sentences. Never give up read aloud!

Thanks for the suggestion @Pen, I just asked Dd, who said she’d repair it if I found more of that cotton. Of course, the chair will no longer be covered with a knitted piece! I recall a thread about household objects as toys for dogs. Objects such as old towels or nodded old socks, etc. were mentioned. Some people felt it was a fine idea/others not. I guess it just depends on the dog. I was annoyed when I picked this puppy up, and the breeder had given them nothing but soft rags and stuffed lovies to play with. She’s never given up her affinity for soft things and I wonder if it was that early introduction?? Other dogs we’ve had haven’t had this obsessive interest. They’ve like hard toys best. Although she is still young, just over a year, I wonder if we’ll ever be able to leave her unsupervised. Maybe that “soft things attracted” type of dog is one of the types to chew up sofas...not just the anxious ones, but maybe there are pups who take one look and just can’t stop themselves!

THanks for asking, Stephanie Z... Normal behavior: eating, pooping, etc. We are on, what...day 4 (Friday ate knitting).... The X-ray really reassured me initially, normal behavior is a plus, but I haven’t seen any evidence of yarn exiting. She is being normally extra supervised (this is one companion pup), and I am sleeping with our door open where I can hear her even turn over in crate, as well as examining every stool. Either it is hanging to exit safely later, hanging out to do harm later, digested fully (I doubt this) or she dug a hole in the LR and buried it without swallowing and this was all wasted worry. If I see nothing by the end of the week, I’ll probably go back to Vet. PS. When this is over, I will realize how sad I am that that bad dog partially ruined a prized possession, a chair cover my fiber-farm business owner DD made when she was little=(

She felt like the stool formed normally would be clumpy enough to do it. Optimistically speaking. And, yes, she said that larger dog was helpful. And, Yikes, I forgot that I had read that about the popsicle stick!!! I am glad that went well for you!

I do love TA, though. Do you know that they have forums not just the reviews/listings? Perhaps you do, but if you google, say, "Trip advisor traveler forum Bonaire" you will get to it (maybe there's a better way through their site). Anyway, I do find by skimming those, I can weed through the 'what do I wear to Bonaire in April??" type posts and get a feel for whether the locale is a good fit. Also, there are a lot of past threads re: favorite vacations and I search our boards better by googling this: " forums.welltrainedmind.com xxxxxxx " where x = my word, ie vacation. I hope those suggestions are helpful, sorry if not. But, I know, wherever you go, you will have a great time...sounds awesome!!

Yes, you are right...the linear foreign body bunching the intestines to tearing could take that long. (that is awful to even type, my hospital experience is helping me be objective) UPDATE: Went to vet. All okay for now. I just couldn't wait until symptoms began for her to be looked at or talk face to face with vet. I gave it a few hours after the (sometimes missed) mid-day doo-doo didn't show up and went in (yes, Saturday emergency call, but I don't mind one bit). X-rays revealed normal stomach contents/no distention at all. Small intestine had normal looping with only a small area of gas. Dr. thought that could be where the fabric was, and she hopes it stays/stayed in one piece, and it could be a normal gas pocket - it was very small, but she wants us to watch her very carefully. Dr. wants normal diet followed, saying that forcing stool unnaturally, especially with a foreign object such as yarn, would, at least partially, be bypassing the normal movement of the bowels that are, hopefully pushing it along and out. Dr. was very reassuring that in her experience, our dog would show signs of bowl obstruction before the linear foreign body would cause tearing. Not that a bowel obstruction would be a walk in the park, it is just that she was reassuring that our vigilance was the best thing going for our dog.

Thanks for the encouragement, @Pawz4me She certainly is my ever present companion & quite watched, except nighttime crating, so I think I’ll see signs, although she’s also quiet mannered , so I’m paranoid she’ll suffer in silence for awhile. Having experienced a traumatic dog health situation in the past is beckoning at me to increase anxiety, so I’ll admit to having to fight that hard! doing a good job at making myself just ride it out here at home as normal. Its the fact that it’s yarn that gets me and concerns vet - just don’t know if we’re dealing with a very long object that could be very dangerous or a clump that could pass ‘easily’ with time. Vet didn’t want induced diarrhea because of potentially exacerbating the long line if that’s what’s there. I was hoping for an X-ray, too @gingersmom They also said X-ray wouldn’t pick up the yarn from the stool. Also, they said days 3-5 were the days to look for, but I would think things pass more quickly. This dog is so supervised & in an environment that is kept dog-proof friendly, It’s always that one time...

The advice of the vets is not consoling me as we settle for the day. Our sweet girl is fine, voraciously hungry and gave dinner a little late, but as usual. I was hoping to hear from you, @Ktgrok but I cannot leave a pm for you. Here are my questions: Are they not bringing me in for x-ray because they assume I do not want to pay for it or because they cannot see anything on x-ray this soon? What are the percent of dogs that come out ok with this type of situation vs those that (gulp) die or (awful but still) need surgery? Should I just go in tomorrow, or, again, is it too soon? I read (I was going to stop googling it, but I just had to read more) that it can stay in stomach for a ‘long time’ and work parts through later...won’t it, cotton yarn, eventually dissolve, or will we be on pins and needles for weeks/months?? I wish I knew if she swallowed (what we think to be 2 more feet) as the piece of knitting, unraveled, or chewed up.