I can see you as Hermione. I have always personally identified with Hermione, but my kids objected big time. They state that I am McGonagal--which I think it virtually the same thing, just a generational difference.

I caught on and started to understand just a tiny piece of this when we moved from a huge city with great public transportation to a place with very few bus options and inconsistent sidewalks. In many ways our new home in the suburbs was a dream (especially the big yard). But now, for example, I have a teen foster kid who cannot get to a job or to her special school unless I drive her there. There is no public transportation in my neighborhood at all, and there are no sidewalks either. It's hard enough on a regular teenager. I would imagine it would be terribly isolating for anyone with a disability.

Agreed. I always look at the ingredients--if it's cabbage, water, and salt, then I know it was allowed to ferment naturally. If it contains vinegar, then that was a shortcut that does not carry the same advantage.

This brings back memories. I had two Filippina roommies in college. One of the moms used to make us big pans of pancit--glorious!

This would be my recommendation as well. I'd also recommend enjoying plenty of sauerkraut (it's surprisingly good sprinkled on salad, kinda like pepperoncini), swishing your mouth with apple cider vinegar to combat thrush, and also ingesting collagen powder because it's soothing and healing for your digestive system. Also bone broth.

I'm curious how this would go with already-entrenched arthritis, whether it would be a positive or negative.

I always cook for dh as if there's a big party, even though it's just the two of us. (And this year, our foster teen as well.) This year's lineup: --Potato skins --With the potato interiors, I'm going to try a recipe for vegan nacho dip from Cook's Illustrated. I'm skeptical, but I really miss cheesy things so I am going to give it a try. --Buffalo chicken wings --Glazed sausage bits --Jalapeno poppers --Cookies with ice cream --Dh's favorite Caesar salad knockoff. His mom made this particular salad she customized and it's his favorite salad ever.

I really struggle to purge curriculum for which I have extensive notes. Am I really going to teach history again? Not likely. But it’s all organized and ready if such a need arises.

I used to love those books!! 😍

Now I'm remembering that years later I had the same issue again, in a different state. It was much milder, but since I'd had it before more seriously I jumped right on it. This time they kinda-sorta accepted my explanation about mammary duct ectasia but still referred me to a bre@st specialist to make sure. The specialist ordered an MRI. The MRI was cold and uncomfortable (face down with a special hole for the chest area) but showed nothing of concern.

They sent me in for another mammogram and an ultrasound. Then a follow-up ultrasound that all showed exactly the same dense tissue it always shows (though to be honest it was all my first mammogram experience so they had no baseline for me). I think I also did some basic bloodwork. (So perhaps not so elaborate, but it all felt elaborate to me at the time.)

Aww, no need for embarrassment. It's all a matter of what we're used to. It's still winter--less light and lower temperatures even in warm areas. I often struggle to stay warm, especially my hands and feet. I feel only sympathy for you. I will say that a Happy Light makes a big difference both for me and for our foster teen. I also find that exercise or a hot shower are often the only options for warming up properly.

I don’t know if this is the same but sounds like it might be: mammary duct ectasia It’s mastitis in a non-lactating woman. I had it many years ago when my youngest was 9 or 10. I took antibiotics to clear it, but since it’s so rare I also had to do some elaborate cancer screening stuff.

Seriously—can you get to a beach for a weekend? Or Vegas? Not for the gambling, but for the sun. The years I have managed to visit Florida or South Carolina just for a few days I have noticed a big difference.

This was the case with my ds. He chose to not homeschool for high school. We enrolled him at a private school. The first year was the hardest socially—the others at school had been together since Pre-K. I think he would have had an easier time breaking in to the social scene in a larger public school. That said, ds did in fact make friends and he had a wonderful time in high school. Neither he nor we have any regrets about the choice, even though I did mourn the end of homeschooling.

You can do it! Just start with ten minutes. For me, promising myself I only have to do a quick ten often means I will do more. And if I don’t do more than ten, who cares. I met the goal of a quick ten and that is worth celebrating.

Gyrotonics today. Always a pleasure.

Praying! I'm so sorry you're suffering.

Watching this thread with interest.

Aww, of course you do. Losing your health and mobility is devastating. I recall such feelings after suffering sepsis--it was a really long recovery. The ongoing symptoms and management every day and the loss of the active life from before are both really hard. I pray you find answers and also find moments of joy each day, and I pray you find healing and true strength. Warm hugs.

Just adding an anecdote to the disabling-the-car stories: When my grandma refused to stop driving, my brother not only disabled her car, he also put a note inside wherever it was that he disabled so that a mechanic would find the note and know not to fix the car. That way if Grandma was having a good day and got the car to a mechanic, the car would remain disabled.

Just as an encouragement--I've had two friends recently get a pacemaker, and both felt much, much better within the first day. Both had some soreness in certain spots like the shoulder, but both felt generally more alert and much less fatigued with the pacemaker.

Yesterday I did nothing except go get my neck ironed out. I hadn't exercised before the appointment and I didn't want to wreck the adjustment afterward, so rest was best. Today I went to the gym first thing and had a solid weights/core workout. It was tougher than usual because there was a group of people just sitting on some equipment, chatting and enjoying. I didn't need that equipment and I don't begrudge friends relaxing together--it was just rough because they were facing my space, and my introverted self was all too aware of being seen and I shriveled up inside. It was a fight not to run from the room, lol. But I toughed it out and honestly, my form was probably better because of the supposed audience.

I wasn't able to get on from yesterday evening until 6pm tonight.

Your instincts with flowy pants and a dressy top are fine. Wear the shoes that are comfortable. Don't wear white or cream. Dress up flowy-pants-with-dressy-shirt with jewelry or a scarf. For example, I really like either the pink shirt or the aqua one TooCrazy! linked--with either of those I'd go with either big fabulous earrings alone OR tiny rhinestone/pearl earrings with a standout choker necklace.