I am just seeing this but, WOW, if you laid out your info for the doc as well as you did in your post here, they've got to consider seriously a Lyme possibility. Praying that all you said continues to burn in the doctor's ears, and that any tests ordered today will have some clearly defined results.

If he knew he was going to be coming into the house later in the evening, he should have called and let you know he would be coming! My college kids have it drilled into them that if they arrive home at midnight for the weekend then they better let me know ahead of time so I will not call the police on them (or bean them with my frying pan!).

No kidding! not.clicking.that.link.

😂😂😂 That is hilarious! Your poor mom...

Oh I don't doubt that there are many cases, I just meant that we haven't personally been in contact with any. Perhaps that's because we have been recently focused on only a few things and not out and about as widely as we are during other times of the year. Maybe a lot of people that I normally am in contact with are also laying low and exercising contagion precautions.

I do not personally know anyone who's gotten the true flu this year. There's an ugly upper respiratory virus that is also making the rounds, and I know some senior citizens who've come down with that, but no one with actual confirmed cases of the flu. We take precautions, though, because who has time to be sick?!!

Know what had the biggest effect on my resting heart rate? Training to SCUBA dive and being active in that sport. There's a lot of mind over matter, in a biofeedback sort of way, especially decades ago diving with equipment that wasn't as streamlined as it is today. Never panic, no matter what, has always been my dive mantra. (Learned that the hard way after hyperventilating on one of my first open water trips!) Anyway, my physician always commented that my resting heart rate - now up from the 55bpm it used to average - was excellent and that I needed to keep doing whatever I was doing, which never really exceeded moderate exercise and SCUBA.

😂😂😂

I'm thinking they're German owned now?😄 (ETA Belgian)

If they are older/old school, a US flag lapel pin.

You are SO in the driver's seat on this one! Just tell her succinctly that the rules apply to everyone and that you need a decision by x date because you WILL need to recast if she goes. Awesome lesson learning opportunity here. Yes, it's annoying and maddening and highly inconvenient, but what part of parenting isn't?

LOL for ISS dh and I stand out in the yard and watch, and every time I feel like we're recreating that scene from October Sky when Sputnik flies over!

I've never watched online but have watched shuttle launches in person. There's nothing quite like launch suspense!

I agree 100%. Especially in theater, where it's a known that availability for rehearsals affects casting. Besides, it's not like this theater commitment is preventing the student from attending the wedding. Personally, it's the "will you be mad at me" way of asking that I'd find most annoying! My answer would have been pretty short and sweet: "Well no, hon, I won't be *mad* at you! But I *will* recast the role. Have fun with your friends!"

Deep South - steep. If you want to get picky, in a stainless steel pot. Bring water to a boil, remove from heat and add tea bags. After about 10 minutes remove bags and add sugar for the "hot melt" before icing.

lol I was just thinking this! They're not out of the house, but my part of it has been so quiet. I only need about one more hour, darnit.

I've read about this in just the last year - or perhaps it was in an audiobook. Anyway, what I remember is that intense running workouts over years can cause the cardiac muscles to grow thick and/or tough? Something like that. Makes sense to me. I happen to be a fan of joint-sparing exercise, so running has never been my favorite thing.

Makes me sad to imagine what her childhood may have been like.

How were things at church today? Any provocation from this guy?

I wish I could rock a pixie cut. Yours is really cute, Katie. I do love the feel of a fresh stylish haircut. I'm toying with going short but somehow I feel like once I do, I'll never have long hair again. Maybe I'll think a little more on it.

I've heard it a number of times, but wouldn't say it's common. Can't remember where I first heard it.

Agree. If she only wants cookies, I'd be in the kitchen alone at midnight inventing ways to sneak healthy stuff into a cookie she would eat. I really would think about tendencies and texture and try to introduce healthier items that were sort of similar to the things she is willing to eat. I might also make a big batch of something she finds agreeable and portion it into individual servings. That way you can just pull a serving out of the freezer and quickly reheat it for her; this keeps you from feeling like a short order cook and keeps the rest of the family from being held hostage to her slim range of acceptable foods. I am usually a tough mama, but when you have an extremely stubborn child who's falling off the growth charts (as one of mine was), you've got to get creative.

My cool weather clothes are 75% zip fronts! Much easier to strip off a layer. Honestly, I'm not sure I'm getting serious hot flashes, more like occasional heat waves. I can feel my face flush, though, and sometimes it seems sunburned. I am not sure if this is hormonal or an undetermined food allergy. My mom had a hysterectomy at 38 and doesn't remember ever having any hot flashes ever.

I did not ever hear this growing up and living in the south. I learned the term "hot dish" from this forum. Definitely not southern.

Too late, I'm sure, but when I use turkey for chili I always add a hefty spoon of better-than-bouillon. Turkey or beef flavor. Makes it taste richer.