I think living alone at first would be best. If he could swing a two bedroom alone, I would do that, and if he meets someone that would be a comparable roommate, then set that up then. Check with the google map to see if the commute times are the rush hour commute times (assuming he would travel at that time). I thought the traffic was better than DFW but that could be because I knew my way around town and would jump off and take backroads. I imagine since GoogleMaps exists, everyone can do this now. I'm assuming you have checked with the interactive crime map to check your safety ratings. Very important. UofH isn't one of the safest areas in town. We lived in Houston for years, and my youngest and her DH are looking at various places this weekend as they prepare to move there. I'm not really concerned because they learned about safe places/crime maps with an AirBnB experience. Some other things to think about: - Houston in the summer at least once will get a huge rainfall in a short period of time = flooding, If possible, look at the routes to/from work and living to make sure they aren't real low/along bayous (aka drainage ditches mostly IMHO). Ask folks if that area regularly floods. - Houston does get hurricanes through there sometime. Make sure he knows to have basic supplies (water, non perishable food, etc) just in case, keep car filled with gas during hurricane season (normally I'm fine with the red light on, but in summer if there is a hurricane in the gulf, I didn't let my tank get below 1/2), pay attention to weather. - Depending upon where he lives/will be traveling to - consider getting an EZTag (toll tag) for his car. So much easier. Free, so why not?

Do you have time to be evaluated by a PT and have them give you at home exercises? Maybe a neighbor or friend could watch your kids for that hour?

I have a stuffed dog. He is the perfect height to lay my right arm on with a slightly bigger head to rest my hand on. I've had issues with carpal tunnel before, and this is the most comfortable that right arm has been in years - slightly tilted up/elevated with the perfect inverted bowl shape to drape my hand over.

A private university in my area has one professor teaching 6-7 classes per semester. That sort of load is unheard of because it is way too much. But for his department, there aren't enough professors, so it happens. I question the value of those classes with a professor so very busy.

We always pick the highest deductible we feel comfortable with. Car and home.

When my kids were younger, I helped them make a list of things they could do at home if they were bored. As they got older, they learned if they complained about being bored, I would give them chores to do. I'm a big fan of making kids cook. I made my teens responsible for one meal every week. They had to plan, make grocery list, help shop, and prepare the food. For some reason, I thought it was a good idea if they cooked, I cleaned up, and if I cooked, they cleaned up. Looking back, that probably wasn't smart because I clean up as I go, and they really weren't that good about it. For a while, they had a budget for their meal, and if they came in under budget they could have that money (but no hotdogs or anything like that - it has to be real food). I didn't keep that for long because it was a pain.

We are a fairly tall family, and Hondas typically work for us - front row and second row. We've had an Odyssey before and currently have a CR-V. Plenty of head room and leg room. But not sure if that double bass will fit in the back. It would probably fit in the front passenger seat if both kids sit in the back seat. The CR-V is easier for me to parallel park than the Odyssey was - possibly because it is newer/better backup camera, but it is also shorter than the van (or at least feels shorter!)

My DH drinks Oolong tea. The organic brand lasts for two brewings, but if it isn't organic, the bag is only good for one mug. (Prince of Peace if anyone is interested)

I can understand that, but with our family portraits, sometimes you just want mom/dad/kids - even when they are adult/married/have kids and not spouses/grandkids/etc. Of course you do pictures with all, but a few pictures exist with just the immediate family - not spouses/significant others/etc. Nothing wrong with a variety of pictures.

My advice would be to have some pictures with everyone, and then pictures with just family (so leave long term boy/girl friends out too). One guy my oldest was dating - his family did profession photo sessions several times a year - and they had just started dating, and yet she ended up in a few of their family group photos. She said they insisted. But there were many more photos without her. Didn't offend her at all, she was surprised to be included in any. She isn't with that guy any more.

I struggle with this with my MIL. She basically cannot hear the doctor accurately, nor process what he says, and come up with any sort of reasonable response. I am basically her advocate/questioner/almost decider of medical matters/etc. It is uncomfortable. It basically sorta scares me for when I get old. Hearing loss stinks. But the slow processing time was a big shock to me. If I take someone with me, I want them to ask questions and help me out. Sometimes I'm just in a froze mode when talking with the doctor depending upon the news, and thinking up questions/etc is not working real well right then.

My YA child, with ADHD, has to get tested every six months before doctor will write a new script. My DH, who is not young anymore and who is prescribed the same sort of medication, is also required to go in every six months for tests to get a new script. Here most of the practices require this six month testing before you get more scripts. They are checking to make sure you are taking the drug. At least that is my understanding. Also somewhat annoying I cannot pick up their scripts for them. Due to the shortage of my YA child's med, they have to call pharmacies around to see who has it and if they have enough, then call the doctor, who hurries and get the script to that pharmacy. It's hard to find right now.

That is the situation here too. I think the majority - even the PS kids - just watch labs on video - if that. A great number of vocal moms drone on about how they hate science. Truly encouraging their kids.

Do you have used curriculum sales local to you? I would try to sell it as a set. About 5 years ago, you had trouble buying lab glassware in Texas. I think that law was repealed but not 100% positive.

We took my MIL to an audiologist, but she got a pair for like $3500. That was the second cheapest pair, but that manufacturer had higher models that went up to $7500. They had a choice of other manufacturers (brand he recommended for her was Phonak). If I understood correctly, you can get some of the cheaper ones and use an app to program them to work correctly for that person's hearing, but I think this probably works best if that person is technically literate. And I'm not sure how difficult that actually is. Audiologist probably spent 10-20 minutes programming them for MIL, and then more time showing her how to turn on/off/answer phone, hang up phone, clean, etc. So far, my MIL got a free tela-loop (not sure on spelling) a device that she can pull into the hearing assist devices at church that sends the audio signal to her hearing aids via bluetooth vs. her having to take her hearing aids out and put in the old wired ear buds. We also had to go back once because she thought one stopped working, but she just hadn't been cleaning them, but they cleaned them (wax buildup), showed her again how, and gave her several extra (free) filters (which with hers you replace periodically - depending upon how much ear wax). Fit is important - both for hearing and for comfort. We got her custom ear molds so hers fit exactly right. Fit/comfort is very important in getting a person to actually WEAR them. Both MIL and her sister went through a couple of hearing aids. Her sister never really liked hers and rarely wore them because they weren't comfortable. Whatever you chose, IMHO, make sure to get bluetooth. Cell phones are much better. They have a device you can connect to the TV so the sound can be transmitted via bluetooth so the volume doesn't have to be loud enough for the neighbors to hear. So based on our experience with MIL (91 yo), I would chose to go with audiologist provided - both for proper programming, support, willingness to repeat and show again how to do things, etc, - that is assuming that the money is not a significant hardship. The higher pairs might have been better as they could detect ambient noise and somehow tune it down somewhat and focus the hearing part towards the front (where it assumed the speaker would be, I guess). I think we should have invested in a higher capable pair since most of her issue is in crowded situations - dining room at her Independent Living place, any place with more than one person. But she didn't want to spend that much money.