I sense a crockpot kerfuffle looming on this thread. ☺️

I wondered the same thing. We used to have a toaster oven. A big toaster oven with crumbs, smoky front from various over cooked items, and bits of greasy melted cheese from feeding 8 people. My soda stream is much nicer - and smaller.

I guess we're going to need to see the hideous version. LOL How about this one... its a pretty color. https://www.amazon.com/Icy-Blue-Fizzi-bubly-Drops/dp/B08KYQMBGG/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=soda+stream&qid=1607460569&sr=8-10

hugs. the added stress of a scary dx and chemo sounds scary. My daughter got a new job and moved to another state during the beginning of the pandemic. It was fine, really. She didnt have any help since it was in the beginning of the lock-down and she was in a very strict state. But, it all worked out. I know a few people who have had to drive across country during all this and it worked out fine. hugs

We have the SodaStream brand and exchange cartridges. I don't think it looks too bad. Similar to a thin, tall coffee maker (which we don't have). It sits next to the fridge along with my vitamins and it's all that noticable. If you really don't want to use the little cartridges there are DIY versions using those big canisters: Here's an example: https://www.frugalwoods.com/2014/08/11/how-to-cheap-homemade-seltzer-with-a-modified-sodastream/ They are supposed to be much cheaper too. But then you have a big ugly canister.

resurrecting this thread. I thought Chuck Yeager died 15-20 years ago. In fact, I thought I remembered hearing about him dying years ago. Weird. I remember when he was a bit of a mini celebrity (again) after the movie "The Right Stuff" came out. May he rest in peace: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/07/us/chuck-yeager-death/index.html

We've also had several immediate family needing to be tested due to mild sickness. It would have affected other potentially exposed family member's work schedule. Last week my oldest got tested because 2 people at her work were positive and she wasn't feeling well. She had very little contact with both workers, but because she wasn't feeling well she needed to be tested (no WFH for her). Anyway, all tests, so far, have been negative. Each time we have gotten the rapid test they automatically send it off for the longer test too. CVS is a great bet if you can get an appt. There are some sites in my state that only test people with symptoms. The lines are shorter in those places, but even so, you need to arrive about an hour before they open. We still had a 2hr wait for test and results. When my son was leaving he overheard them say it was 3-4hrs. for new arrivals. Not a fun experience when you're already feeling crappy. Anyway, good luck. I hope it's just a common cold.

finger's crossed. I hope it works out for you.

one last Meme.... I know you guys will get this one... unlike many of my FB friends.

Obviously, there is no real historical evidence it really happend... but something like this shows up every year in my feed.

Gosh... lots Enchanted April Wooster and Jeeves for sure Groundhog Day 5th Element (it is campy and funny) Princess Bride My Big Fat Greek Wedding Amelie Ushpizin Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson one all the way!) Singing in the Rain Arsnic and Old Lace Ever After: A Cinderella Story A Philadelphia Story Harvey

I agree with @vonfirmath that if it tests are plentiful then get it just for peace of mind. It may effect other people they've seen who will need to quarantine. We had the test several times in my family, because on person had cold-like symptoms and they were 90% sure it was a cold, but they were in contact with adult siblings whose work required a negative test for them to return to work. Standing in line out in the cold the week of Thanksgiving was not fun for my sick child but he had to do it for his brother's work. My advice is to get to the testing site super early if you can't make an appt.

I agree that they are a good temporary choice. There are lots of pretty options available now. I'm actually looking for something to brighten my guest bathroom while we save up money to do it properly.

I'm reading through the Psalter with a group of people during our Advent. The Psalter is the Psalms broken down into reading/prayer sections by day(called a Kathisma) and then each day has 3 sections (called Stasis). There are 20 Kathismas in total. 20 of us took one Kathisma and started Nov. 15th. It means that each Kathisma is being prayed each day by someone. We will go through the Psalter 2x. What I do is I listen to them being read by Alexander Scourby and mediate on them while he's reading. I'm also trying to go through an Advent devotional which follows our lectionary. That way I am getting a Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel reading each day plus some meditative thoughts on the lectionary readings.

This is very true. Every time I was dealing with "My mom is the village idiot and/or the evil slave master" from my teens I did have my baby boy to give me cuddles and think I was the greatest person in the world.

There are many wonderful things about having a baby and having a large family. But, If I could have a do-over I would have had my last much, much sooner. He is 5.5yrs younger than his next sibling. He definitely had a different childhood than his siblings. He was in the car a lot more since I was transporting older kids to activities. Every fall from the time he was 4 or 5 he dealt with loss of a sibling going off to college (it was very traumatic in a couple of instances). He was very much an only by the time he was doing school and he was lonely. I felt pretty burnt out with homeschooling by the time I started with him and he didn't get the best education from me. We did put him in school at around 4th grade though. Yes, teaching him to drive in my 50s was not fun (my dh was in his late 50s early 60s). I don't have elderly parents, but I do have grandkids I take care of. So I feel like I never got a break. He was 12 when his nephew was born and I started helping with babysitting. On the plus side, he's been an excellent uncle and a great help for me. He's been the fun uncle for his nephews and nieces. He is a wonderful and caring young man. It has extended the empty nest syndrom for me. But, I can't help but look back and feel he was a little short-changed in his childhood.

Most nights I try to go back to sleep. I'll toss and turn then start listening to an audible (nothing stressful) to quiet my brain. Lately that is all it takes. Sometimes I'll pray a bit too. But, on bad nights I will also play a mindless game on my phone with my blue light blocking reading glasses. Actually, I start using these glasses every evening well before bedtime which has made a difference in helping me to get to sleep. Lately, I've been using them all the time and I do notice an improvement with my eyestrain. I almost never get up and start my day. I also rarely take anything to help me sleep after midnight. Taking Nature's Bounty Sleep3 has helped me to get better nights of sleep in the last few months. But, I don't take it every night.

since she likes travel do you think she'd like a subscription box with international foods? I gave one to my DIL last Christmas that she enjoyed. It was called IndieFix and the snacks came from india. I gave another daughter one called ICONfitbox which she liked a lot. She is into fitness and outdoorsy stuff.

That.was.epic. Thank you.

FWIW, A friend's young adult son got Covid back in April. He had the antibody test done in May/June and had high amounts of antibodies. He was just retested and his antibody levels were much much lower, according to my friend. I have no idea which type of test he had though.

It is a serta and similar to this one https://www.amazon.com/Serta-Electric-Heated-Warming-Abdomen/dp/B00G1X4A06/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=serta+heating+pad+for+feet&qid=1606881628&sr=8-5 I would probably get something very different next time. My first one was perfect but stopped working. One issue with this one is the pocket. It mostly gets in my way and I lay the pad length wise up my legs. Also, the attachment thingy is on the pad.. it is very bulky and uncomfortable so I have to drape that part of my pad over the edge of the bed. I've looked and looked at it seems that all the newer pads have an electrical connection right on the pad and then a long cord to plug it into the wall. My first one didn't have that connection just the cord and it was much more comfortable. But, even with those hassles I love my XL heating pad. I take it with me when I go away (well, back when we could go away).

I'm so glad I'm not alone. When my older kids were home they defiintely didn't have much Christmas spirit. I practically had to beg them to decorate the tree with me. It was like it was a chore. 🙄 I'm reading this thread hoping to find some inspiration for my youngest (19) who has very little enthusiasm for Christmasy stuff.