Do Mammograms Hurt? Short answer: sometimes no, but sometimes yes. Mine hurt. And no I don't mean it was uncomfortable, I mean it HURT. And they ached for three days afterward. Three days! Since my doctor and the tech had told me it wouldn't hurt, I thought the problem was that I was overly sensitive (I do have small, dense breasts so that probably is a factor). After watching that video, and learning that they use more compression force than what is necessary, and other women have had far worse outcomes than mine (ruptured blood vessels, ruptured cysts, ruptured implants) I learned the problem isn't just me. The problem is that they give no clear guidelines for how much force is to be used, so it varies from place to place and even technician to technician.

The first time I read it, I thought "WHAT? People actually write that way?" But then when I saw it mentioned a few other places I thought maybe I had missed out on something important! My handwriting has never been as neat as I would like it to be, and I do tire very quickly. But I'm going to try Patty Joanna's tip and see if that helps! Me too. I remember more than one of my elementary teachers always being on my case because I was so bright and such a good student, if only I had better penmanship.... I really did try, and I think it got better. I even get compliments on it now. But it's still not as nice as I'd like it to be.

Oh, that's interesting! I do tend to hold it right at the point, and with a death grip, which probably explains why my hand/wrist starts to hurt pretty quickly! :lol: I will work on that. Thanks!

This is awful. I'm so sorry that happened to him.

"From 1994 to 2010, about 4 in 5 victims of intimate partner violence were female." This is from: http://www.thehotline.org/resources/statistics/

Rosie expressed my thoughts perfectly: I am so very, very sorry, Melissa. :grouphug:

I still have some from my childhood, but they are pretty delicate now so they stay safely in a box in my closet. I have a couple of plush otters that my daughter bought for me (I love otters!) which sit in a chair in my bedroom. But I don't name them or play with them, I just look at them and think they're cute, and remember that my sweet, thoughtful daughter bought them for me. I also have a beautiful Vermont Teddy Bear that my husband bought me when we first started dating. It sits on my bookshelf, next to some photos and other mementos, and like the otters, reminds me that I am loved. When I was a kid, my stuffed animals were very real (alive) to me. I'm sure most people think it's odd, but I actually think it's kind of sweet that your friend has retained that bit of innocent wonder and imagination from her childhood. I think the world could use more of that!

This article about how to improve your handwriting also advises:

How is that process going? Are you finding it easy or difficult to change? I had wondered about that too because my wrist does start to hurt when I write, and it doesn't take very long for it to happen.

I think this is the source I was thinking of: http://www.paperpenalia.com/handwriting.html It specifically says "fingers" however, while I said hand and wrist. So I may have misspoken. I do use my fingers/hand/wrist, all if it! But not my shoulder. Am I doing it wrong?

Thanks for sharing your insights, Daria! I don't remember off-hand where I read that, but I will try to find it. I'm more than willing to be convinced that it's preferable, or at least acceptable, to write with the muscles of the hand!

I'm not asking about teaching handwriting (which is why I didn't post this on one of the education boards), just about how you write personally. Do you make the movements which form the letters by using the muscles of your hand and wrist? Or by using the larger muscles of your arm/shoulder (hand relatively "still")? I do the former: the motions come from my hand/wrist. This is what I've done my whole life. Not one of my elementary school teachers ever said to do otherwise or attempted to correct me. It's a pretty ingrained habit and I don't know if I could change it. But I've read that this is the "wrong" way to do it. On the other hand, I've read that it's neither "right" nor "wrong" but if you write the way I do, Italic is a good choice for you, while if you write from the shoulder/arm, then Palmer is a good method. Just curious what the hive thinks of this. :001_smile:

I actually saw a far worse response from an author once, and it wasn't even a self-published or Kindle-only book. A reviewer wrote a negative but very fair, very calm review, and the author went ballistic. Complete with "How dare you question my integrity?" when the reviewer had done no such thing (guilty conscience?). I mean it was a way over-the-top reaction. The negative review hadn't convinced me not to buy the book, but the author's reaction to it sure did. I went looking for it again, but I couldn't find it. So I've either misremembered which book it was (possible, given my terrible memory) or it got taken down. I've seen more moderate responses to negative reviews from authors (and honestly, I would put this one in that category too) but it still doesn't sit right. It seems undignified for an author to respond to reviewers. I don't know, maybe that's not the right way to put it, but it just feels wrong. Let the book speak for itself. Rabidly defending it just comes across as desperate.

I'm learning to meditate. There are a number of techniques and philosophies of meditation out there, and I'm not familiar with all of them. I'm doing mindfulness meditation, because that's what my therapist recommended for me. She also recommended this book. And you can purchase CD's or apps if you're interested. Getting out into nature helps me as well. A stroll where I make the decision in advance not to bring my iPod, and listen to what's going on around me instead, is very restorative. I love watching the birds, or any other wildlife that I'm lucky enough to come across. It always brings a smile to my face. (Well, except for that time I got too close to a snake. But once I was at a safe distance I was laughing hysterically at myself for my overreaction, so I guess it was still a win!) :grouphug:

I'd do what fraidycat suggested and switch vehicles now so that you get comfortable with it. It's just a matter of practice and experience. You'll be fine!

It sounds delicious! I wish you could cook for me - I would be so appreciative of your risotto! :D

That is so sweet! :001_smile:

Thank you all so much for the replies! The big parties sound like so much fun. But with most of our family being unable to attend, and with her being an introvert with only a few (but very close) friends, I'm not sure that would work for us. I should have thought to mention that in the OP. But she did think of something that might be better suited to a small group, and to her game-loving personality: an escape room (followed by dinner). I think she would really enjoy that. And we are planning a trip to DC because it's been a lifelong dream of hers to see the Smithsonian (she loves museums, is planning on a career as a museum curator). But that will just be the three of us, so I was hoping to do something that could include her friends and my parents, at a minimum. (So, maybe she and her friends would do the escape room, and then the parents and grandparents could join the group for dinner? Something like that.)

Ahh, there is a fantastic restaurant just outside of our city which she's never been to, but would love. It's too pricey to go often, so the fact that she's never been would make it special! (My dd is not really a party kind of person either.)

This is our last year of homeschooling (insert wistful sigh here). DD is graduating in May, and I'm not sure how to mark the occasion. We're not part of any homeschooling groups. Family is all out of state (though a few might come). I've asked her what she wants to do, but she doesn't know either! I want to do something but I'm clueless. Please help!

Oh, no! How did that NOT show up on my search??? Argh! Looks like that one hasn't been posted in for quite awhile. So should we "revitalize" it rather than starting a new one? ETA: I just saw that the older group's founder hasn't been on the boards since 2014. So I think it's okay to go ahead with another group, right?

Oh, Lisa, I am so very sorry. :grouphug:

My therapist recommends Jon Kabat-Zinn, both his books and his guided meditation apps. https://www.mindfulnesscds.com

Done! Thank you all for expressing interest. It wasn't really my intention to spearhead the operation, since we have far more experienced vegans/vegetarians here than me. So if anyone else wants to take over the group, that's fine by me! But I went ahead and got it started: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/groups/301-vegetarian-and-vegan/ I can send an invitation to anyone who wants one.

Yes, I agree with your point! I don't see why they couldn't just have the kids email friends and family themselves rather than handing over a list.