I see. Thank you, Laurie!

If your husband perceives 100% of his social interactions as being invitations to talk about the same (controversial) subject every single time, then might I humbly suggest that he isn't very good at interpreting social cues? I think he needs to be honest with himself and just admit that he isn't receiving invitations, he's just barging in because it's what he wants to do. I'm sure that he has many admirable qualities, but people aren't getting a chance to find out what they are if he immediately launches into political arguments in every conversation.

I'm so sorry that happened to you, Laurie. And I think you've given excellent advice here.

Thank you for sharing this. I asked my doctor about thermography before I got my mammogram, and she had never heard of it! Why isn't it more widely used? My experience was nowhere near as bad as poor Quill's was, but it was more than just "uncomfortable" like I was told it would be (I think in medspeak, uncomfortable means painful, painful means excruciating, and "a little pinch" means you're going to need to resist the urge to scream) and I was sore for days afterward. I'd rather not repeat the experience if there's a viable alternative. Is thermography considered as reliable as mammography?

Well, that's a new one to me, but I'm sure I'll start seeing it now. It really seems that these kinds of things spread like they're contagious. I swear, back when I was a kid, my mom knew the proper use of apostrophes. Now, in the internet-driven world in which we live, she uses them to pluralize. It irks me, but of course I never say a word. She's my mom. But if I develop a habit like that, will someone please point it out to me? :) Not that I'm asking to have every little mistake pointed out, because then I'd become too shy to post or email at all! But habitual ones, yes. I don't want to drive everyone crazy

I had no idea. Thanks, Laura!

Yes, sorry, I did mean it in more of a "someone please enlighten me!" way rather than a completely disbelieving way. I'm sorry I didn't make that clear. :)

This thread is really confusing me! :lol: I could maybe understand "lip bomb" because it does frequently sound that way. But I've never in my life heard anyone pronounce it "lip bum". There's a difference between morning and mourning???

I never would have thought it before, but the 30C/D bras that I wear now are so much more comfortable than the 34A's that I used to wear. I hated underwires before, but when the bra fits, and the wire stays where it's supposed to, I forget it's there. My current underwire bras are more comfortable than the wire-free ones that I used to wear. I don't feel trussed up at all, I actually feel kind of liberated, because I'm not fighting my bra all day. Now, let me be very clear that I am NOT trying to convince you to change! If you're happy with what you're wearing, then I wouldn't advise changing at all. I just wanted to say that I don't think it's as bad as you think it is. :) My bOOks are tiny, but they still appreciate the support. My old bras basically just smashed them against my chest, but my new bras give a little gentle lift, no smooshing. I did have to buy my new ones online, can't find my size locally. And they are more expensive. It's been worth it to me, but of course not everyone is going to feel that way.

How could I have forgotten this one??? I have a bit of a reputation regarding this. My mom jokes that she is going to leave me all of her antique clocks in her will, because she knows how the incessant ticking drives me mad. I don't normally regard animals, even ones that I'm terrified of, as evil, but crickets are evil. White noise helps me sleep, but if there is *any* discernible pattern in it, then it's not a sleep aid but a torment. I have thought the same thing about torture! :lol: They wouldn't have to lay a hand on me, just lock me in a room with a dripping faucet or a knocking fan, and I'd tell them anything they wanted to know.

I think it was very nice of Betty to buy the muffin, but if I were Kate in this scenario, I couldn't eat it. I know it sounds weird to people who don't have my issues, but that muffin would completely ruin the rest of my day, and possibly the next couple of days (blood sugar issues, digestive issues, I'm a mess!). So, even though I would feel badly about it, I absolutely would not eat it. I might offer it back to the giver (is that an acceptable thing to do?), or someone else present, or say that I'd take it home for my daughter. And I would express sincere gratitude because I really do believe "it's the thought that counts"! But I still wouldn't eat it. Gosh, what is the best way for Kate to handle that scenario?

I'm trying to think of good inexpensive places to eat. We usually eat at Bobcat Bite when we're in Santa Fe, because my husband loves green chile cheeseburgers. The Shed is always packed, the food is good, but I think people mostly go there for the cocktails. Both of those are what I would consider moderately priced, but not cheap. Maybe someone more familiar with Santa Fe can help you out more (I'm in Abq.) One thing I can say: do NOT eat at Tomasita's! We ate there once when we first moved here and all three of us got food poisoning. My husband mentioned it to a co-worker and he said that the locals know to avoid that place. Lesson learned. Don't eat at Garduños in Albuquerque either. Highly overrated, I have no idea why people keep going there. Sadie's, Monroe's, and Los Cuates are all much better. We go to Monroe's the most. It's nothing fancy, but the food is good, the service is good, and the prices are very reasonable. Oh, and a breakfast burrito from Golden Pride is not to be missed! Best in town, and they're cheap. :) I'm not sure how long you'll be in Abq., so maybe you don't need restaurant advice. ETA: Our friends and family who visit from out of town *always* request a meal at Monroe's!

It's not directly on the way, but Tent Rocks is pretty neat. http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/nm/en/prog/NLCS/KKTR_NM.html We've had good experiences with the busses in Santa Fe. Window shopping on the plaza is fun, but we don't usually buy much there. My daughter loves art, so her recommendations are the Georgia O'Keefee Museum (which, incidentally, has the distinction of being the only museum in the world dedicated to a woman artist) and gallery road. We like the historic churches, too. But if your daughters like animals and nature, this might be of more interest to them: http://nm.audubon.org/randall-davey-audubon-center-sanctuary

As much as you'd be willing to give! :lol:

Well I for one would sincerely love to need a bigger cup size! ETA: But not due to just vanity sizing! :lol: Mine didn't get any bigger when I was pregnant, they don't get any bigger when I gain weight. Short of surgery, there's nothing that's actually going to make me need a bigger cup size, sadly.

Agreeing with the posters above: in my experience it's not vanity sizing, it's proper sizing. For years I wore ill-fitting bras that were always riding up on me and annoying me to no end. I was using that "add five inches" method, which I realized did not make any sense once I actually thought about it. Why would I need five extra inches??? So, once I went down the correct band size, which necessitated going up to the appropriate cup size, I found that I could comfortably wear a bra all day without it riding up on me and driving me batty. Edit: ill got autocorrected to I'll. :)

I got my baseline done last year at 40. I've been avoiding my doctors this year, because I know they're going to pressure me to get another one. But based on everything I've read, I don't want to. I'll do it again at 50. But I'm at low risk (I took the risk assessment that was linked in the article, and it confirmed that) so I just don't think it's worth the potential costs for me. I would make a different decision if I had the BCRA gene, or a family history without that gene, or another specific reason to believe I was at risk. But since I don't, I see no reason to expose myself to extra radiation (I don't get dental X-rays as often as my dentist would like me to either).

I just had to say THANK YOU for being so careful and responsible! I really wish that more people took the matter as seriously as you did.

I'm sorry! :blushing:

How devastating. I am so very sorry. :grouphug:

I missed that thread, but that's probably a good thing. On this topic, my imagination is bad enough, I don't want any more facts to back it up! :lol: On the other hand, maybe I should print some articles to hand out to people who wear scrubs to the grocery store! ;)

Misery loves company? :blushing: My stomach is still turning over some of the cockroach stories!

Someone mentioned this possibility to me back when I was engaged. It sounded nice in theory. But I mentioned upthread not wanting a last name that sounds like a body part. Yeah, that's my mom's maiden name. So I had to pass on that option. But I think it's a nice idea.

Yeah, I guess that wouldn't be as straight-forward as I imagine. I know that at my local elementary school, there's a third grade teacher who annoys everyone by insisting that she be addressed as Dr. So-and-So at all times by both her students and their parents because she has a PhD in education. I wouldn't want to do that. But at the same time, I'll defend my husband's right to be called Dr. H (even though he almost never actually is called Dr. H). His PhD is in physics, and that's got to be at least as hard as becoming an MD, right? :) I think maybe he gets introduced as "doctor" once every year or two, when he gives a speech at a professional conference. In his day to day professional life, he gets addressed by his first name. That's what happens when you work with other PhDs, I guess. No one is that impressed anymore. :lol:

And I thought it was bad when I woke up with one in my cleavage. But, no, you win. I am so sorry.