This article might be useful for further research on yourNative American heritage: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Blackfeet_Indians

I'm a vegan, but the rest of the house eats meat. I am also the primary cook, so I use a meat thermometer every time I cook something more complicated than hot dogs.

If you have been exposed, you can also do everything possible to keep from spreading it to others. Wash hands, review all the flu prevention advice, stay home. Those with compromised immune systems will thank you.

Dried chipotle powder?

Snuggling with DS8.5 right now. Wondering if I'll get my evenings back before he goes to middle school... He is already growing so fast!

I recently bought Hari's new book, Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions. Is anyone else reading it? I'm finding the book absolutely fascinating, but it is really challenging my inner "story" about depression/anxiety. I can read a few pages and then I get frustrated, have to spend some times with the footnotes, have to process, and then can go onto the next few pages. I haven't finished the book (I'm about a third of the way through), but I'm interested to hear others' thoughts?

This thread is so relatable. I didn't know that you could buy hamburger and hot dog buns when DH and I married. It just never occurred to me that buns were things sold in markets. DH can't eat a hot dog or a hamburger without the appropriately shaped bun. Mystifying. Growing up, we always were getting calls from creditors. Mom could never control her spending... And still can't. DH and I are both professional, and we are financially careful. Unfortunately, enterprising bill collectors have started calling us (mom doesn't have a phone, so she gives out our home number). I cannot believe how a phone call from a bill collector can reduce me to a shaking mess, even though the debt is not mine and I don't usually know where she lives or how to get ahold of her. It is the trauma that just doesn't end.

Games... So very many board games!

I really appreciate the guided breathing routine the Charge2 has. It's really a great way to focus in and calm down.

Squee! I love the Hive. Thank you! Didn't even know such a thing existed. This will be so helpful! I've never heard of the Civil Air Patrol, but there's a squadron within an hour of us, so I'll show it to DS and see what he thinks. Thank you!

DS12 is very interested in the Coast Guard Academy. We don't have family or friends in the Coast Guard. Are there any Hive families that have experience with it? DS12 wants to start preparing now. He has wanted to be in the military since he was four (it might have been three). He really likes order and structure, and he loves military history. He obviously needs to work on core "school" topics, but for admissions purposes, where should he be focusing? We're not proposing he do anything that he doesn't want to do (or doesn't like doing), but he wants to know what he should be doing. DH and I don't really have military experience to draw from, so I'm hoping the Hive can help... For the record, I completely and utterly agree that he's only 12, and he might (or probably will) change his mind. I'm ok with whatever he does, and am acting as a facilitator.

DS9 and I really enjoyed Prime Climb, but we are simplifying the rules a bit until we learn the nuances. We also enjoyed Exploding Kittens. I got sucked into the other game post pre-Christmas, so we have a number of additional games to play... :-)

We are doing a German-inspired night of sausage, spätzle, cheese fondue, pretzels, beer...

I found the word-of-the-year thread for 2017 (here: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/633145-if-you-do-a-word-of-the-year-what-was-your-2016-2017/). Unfortunately, 2017 was a bit of a bust for my word (JOY). I think for 2018, I'm going to focus on RESOLVE. That is, I'm solving problems, deciding on courses of action, and having the determination to get stuff done. I really do enjoy these annual words.

Family names: LaDonna Ulah Pauline Mildred Wilhelmina