Very positive

I recommend the bogleheads forums, whose name comes from John Bogle.

That is so wonderful that SIL and BIL were able to do that. I know it must be so hard, but also so wonderful for those children. I just starting crying reading your post and I almost never cry.

No worries! I only commented because I thought it was funny that I actually thought of Pa and the rope to the barn when I was out driving yesterday and then you mentioned it today. I hope you don't feel piled-on!

Same here. I had my thyroid removed in 2018 due to cancer and levothyroxine has worked beautifully.

I had this exact experience yesterday while driving with DD to a very nearby pharmacy to pick up a prescription. The next thing I said to her after, "Can you open your window to see if we are still on the road?" was "Now I know why Pa needed a rope to get to the barn and back," Not kidding. The interesting thing is that we ventured out again later to go to my parents' house and visibility was much, much better after dark. All the whiteness everywhere during the day was a problem.

West Michigan here, too. My school changed to a half day and bumped the last final exam to after break, which is tough on the students but understandable from a safety perspective. Tomorrow's trash pickup already cancelled in advance and my son's caregiver also cancelled due to weather. So far the actual weather has been underwhelming but that could change overnight. The weather reports say that tomorrow will be the worst day here.

You got most of it right! It is ridiculously complicated. I know a lot because Dh just started Medicare and I read financial and retirement forums for fun. I also read all 83 pages of "Medicare and You" (the official US government Medicare handbook) which was very illuminating.

Thanks for the correction. I was going to chime in, but you did it first and explained it very clearly. Part B and private supplement policies are distinct from each other and complementary to each other.

I am pro-precautions as well, but I have been deeply disturbed by what has been going on in China. In the U.S., we complain about having to stay home for five days and/or wear a mask and we just have no idea what actual repression is.

I have been following this issue daily since the Shanghai lockdowns last spring. These are literal lockdowns, not the "stay at home" orders we had in the U.S. in 2020. They are actually locking people in their apartments. And people who test positive (and often their close contacts) are hauled off (often forcibly) to quarantine facilities with questionable hygiene and lack of medical care.

My siblings and I have huge stockings. Our parents stopped filling them a long time ago and now we draw names and fill each other's stockings. The rule is that you can spend no more than $10 (may spend $0), but you must fill the whole stocking! This has become one of our most enjoyable holiday traditions and the results are often hilarious. At our house, we set aside random stuff all year to stick in the stockings. Spouses also usually opt in (we use smaller stockings for them but put extra stuff next to them if needed to make things comparable-ish). Regifting is encouraged. Extra points for creativity.

Praying! I'm glad you know what to watch for and how to treat! I hope she's feeling better this morning.

I am so sorry.

This is awesome! I love it!

This is huge. I am on team stick-it-out-to-the-end-of-the-school-year. This gives you time to figure out if you can streamline other things enough to make it to 2.5 years or not. Great idea to outsource some cleaning! And also worth waiting to see if things feel better when soccer is done. Another reason to stick it out until the end of the school year. The first year is always rough. I work in a school and this is a common complaint. Sept/Oct is the longest stretch without a break all year. Very important points. So many good points above! Yes. Definitely. All very good reasons to stick it out until the end of the year. Hang in there! At least stick it out for the full school year so you can really figure out what you can streamline at home and so you can see what it feels like to have more breaks later in the year.

This. Although I am not masking as much as I used to, there are still lots of things I am avoiding: theatre, indoor dining, etc. I am, however, no longer masking at school/work. I think that some precautions are still better than none. @Not_a_Number, did your DD ever get to wear her virus costume? That is my first memory of you, when you posted the picture of her Purim costume in March 2020 that was suddenly no longer appropriate 😞

I guess I did not read it that way, since the OP was very, very careful for a very long time. And I understand about masking without the solidarity of others as I was one of only 3 staff at my school (out of maybe 100 or so) that made it to the end of the school year last year.

I hope your parents come through this well! My household has now all had the latest booster. DH, DD, and I got it in September, and DS just got it on Friday. He has severe autism and developmental delays, so we waited until we could arrange a drive-up shot. It went smoothly. DH had the flu shot a couple weeks ago, DD and I plan to get it this week, and DS will get it in a few weeks so that it's spaced out from his covid booster and so that we can arrange another drive-up shot.

This makes a lot of sense. I think that Not_a_Number is just trying to point out that it is worth masking on planes (and other crowded indoor areas with potentially poor air circulation) even if your family has transitioned to not masking much anymore. ETA: I also have mostly stopped masking, but plan to still mask when flying. And on other public transport, although that is not relevant where I live.

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks! The article is really helpful. I am going to start looking at some options.

This is an interesting option! I really know nothing about induction stoves/ovens. Are they common now? Are they more expensive?

We have a gas stove/oven and I have been considering replacing it for a somewhat different reason. Both DH and DS have occasionally leaned on the knobs (on the front) and turned the gas on without realizing it. If I am near the room, I notice immediately. But for some reason, DH does not notice and I have come home a few times (over the past few years) with the gas on in the kitchen! So I am wondering if electric would be safer for our family. I always worry about the burners staying hot for so long after they're turned off with electric, but maybe that is not so much of a concern anymore. I grew up with an electric stove but I am thinking of 40 years ago.

Go, Spencer! Getting over that last hump in a piece is so hard but will be worth it in the end! I am hoping that music can be a haven for you in the midst of some challenging siblings, as it was for my daughter.