I don't have big issues with power lines. As far as I know I'm not sensitive. My take is this -- I prefer them to be buried. It is nicer not seeing them, but mostly because they're not susceptible to being taken down by falling branches and trees during storms. I can't see how buried lines would be any better for someone who is sensitive. I mean they're still there, and still emitting whatever they're emitting that bothers people. At our last two homes all the lines were buried. At this one they're above ground, but across the street. Now we're different from a lot of people in that we spend a LOT of time on our front porch, or looking out the windows of our living room. It's all woods across our quiet neighborhood street, and beautiful. The utility lines are there, but because of the backdrop of woods they're barely visible except during the winter. You have to make an effort to notice them most of the year. It does really make them susceptible to trees during storms, though. But . . given a choice I wouldn't want them dissecting my back yard in open view like in the pictures you posted. That would be very abnormal around here. I won't say it would be a deal breaker. I think it really depends on what's normal for your area and how much you like the house.

Good luck!!!

I'd maybe look at WeatherTech. I don't know about comfort/breathability (I don't think that's a word) of the seat covers, but my brother totally swears by their mats. Any time they get a new or new to them vehicle he immediately replaces the manufacturer mats with WeatherTech.

I agree. Feeling that you're being proactive about anything is a mental boost, and that usually translates to a physical boost. Also--and I guess it depends on what health issues you're dealing with, but--three days for me wouldn't be anywhere near enough time to assume it was something I was doing. I'm very skeptical that most changes (other than increased sleep, perhaps) would trigger improvement that quickly. It could just be sheer coincidence. A waxing/waning thing. But maybe it's because I'm old. Maybe when I was younger things did happen more quickly and I've forgotten. If I made changes and felt better for three weeks, then I'd start trying to figure out which one(s) were having the impact. And I don't mean to be a downer by posting that! I sure hope the better feeling continues!

Daniel Tammet: An Autistic and Synesthetic Savant

No, it doesn't really make sense to me. But I've read enough about synesthesia to know that it's a thing for some people. I find it fascinating.

Echoing the others who warn against burning poison ivy. My best friend had an absolutely horrific reaction when her DH decided to burn a patch of it..

Have you tried some of the stretches from the links that @mom@shiloh posted? When my sacroiliac is acting up the stretches help. It usually takes time (a week or three) to really feel better after a flare, but sometimes the stretches provide a noticeable degree of immediate, if temporary, relief. That and ibuprofen are what I do. I understand the "OMG" feeling. It HURTS.

We didn't/haven't stopped parenting our young adult sons, but we did have to realize that at 18 (and 21) the paradigm certainly changes. This is our situation--DH and I don't drink. In full disclosure there was a brief period two years ago when, on my dentist's advice, I tried a nightly glass of wine to help with a teeth clenching issue. That and a bottle of many-years-old whiskey kept on hand for bad coughs are the extent of the alcohol consumption that has ever gone on in this house. Now we're both on medications that make any regular alcohol consumption very inadvisable. But in general we don't have anything against responsible alcohol consumption. DS23 enjoys his occasional craft beer. I'm sure it's more than occasional sometimes. Over the years while they were growing up we reinforced over and over (and over) our stance on alcohol--It's fine if you choose to do it, as long as you're able to consume it in moderation and responsibly (no driving afterwards!). And when oldest turned 21 we tried to let it go (youngest DS isn't quite there yet). Our only rule after 21 is that although we still pay when we all go out to eat, if DS23 wants a beer or mixed drink he has to pay for it. Sorry you're struggling with this. Parenting adults is challenging sometimes.

I suggest trying it the first time with things that are pretty darn hard to mess up (laundry detergent, paper towels, etc.). There is a screen where you indicate whether or not substitutions are allowed for each item ordered. I don't think I've ever had anything substituted, so I can't say how that works.

I do the pick up sometimes, especially for heavy or bulky stuff when my RA is flaring. But some things I still want to shop for myself. I've always been very pleased with the service.

I am a convert to self checkout, at least at Walmart. I used to hate doing it, and still do in most stores. But this is an area where Walmart really excels. Their scanners/checkout process works smoothly. It rarely acts up. And I like bagging my own groceries just the way I want them in my re-usable bags. The Walmart nearest me has four self checkout lanes that are full sized, have belts, etc. I love those. Unfortunately, all of them have been out of commission for months. At my favorite local grocery store I want a cashier to check me out because (1) their self checkout is way too sensitive and complains too much, and (2) they happily bag my groceries in my re-usable bags and are reasonably careful.

I'd get it through Amazon Prime. I say that as someone in her mid-50's who has seen all sorts of technology come and go over the years, all the way back to eight track tapes. I don't think DVD players of any sort will be around all that much longer. I tend to doubt Amazon is going anywhere, and I trust them (well, as much as I trust anything online) to keep my digital content available to me.

I'd have a dedicated dog grooming room. It would have a large tub for bathing with niches or adjacent shelves for holding shampoo and conditioner, room for a grooming table with plenty of clearance all around it, built in cabinets and drawers for storage, lots of electrical outlets and good lighting. And hard flooring for easy cleaning, of course.

I suspect they will work it out in time and reach something that resembles peaceful cohabitation. But there's also nothing wrong with trying some of the methods suggested to speed things up. While things are getting sorted out would it be a big problem to separate them while you're gone? Shut one of them in a bedroom or other room? If you have a crate it can be used for either of them, not necessarily just the dog. Most cats will settle down in a crate if you cover it with a towel (or sheet, blanket, etc.). Plus it helps condition them to being in a crate/carrier so they don't freak out so much when you need to take them to the vet.

The best non greasy anti-frizz products I've used are Redken's Frizz Dismiss line. Regardless of what shampoo and conditioner I'm using I keep this and this on hand. The first I use on less humid days, the second on more humid days. They don't make my hair greasy or weighed down. But I have thick, dry hair. All I can tell you is that for me those are much less weighty/greasy than other products I've tried. I like Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum but I have to be very, very careful with it or even my dry hair ends up greasy and plastered to my head.

Last summer and fall were our big $$$$ projects -- New roof and heating/cooling unit for our sun room, tearing down our front porch columns and railing and replacing them, and having tree work done. We started painting over the winter and need to continue with that. Otherwise, it's mostly just normal stuff--a few new plantings here and there, adding mulch where needed, etc. We also need to do a deep clean on the garage. It doesn't need any de-cluttering, but we do need to move everything out, blow it out really well (get all the accumulated dust and gunk out of the corners) and re-organize.

@Murphy101 -- You said "But I strongly disagree that hate doesn't have negative consequences or is no different from any other emotion." The first bolded statement -- I never said hate doesn't have negative consequences. I said "many of our feelings may do us harm." "May do us harm = "negative consequences." The second bolded statement -- I said that hate is "not all that different from some others." "Not all that different" does not equal "no different." It means it's not vastly different.

You'd be disagreeing with two things that I never said.

I don't have well thought out opinions on this, but -- I don't think hate always has to be an intense "hot" feeling. I think it can be a rational/logical "cold" conclusion that one arrives at after much thought. I think telling people that they shouldn't feel hate, or that it will only hurt them in the long run, is misguided at best. It's simply a feeling, and not all that different from some others. Many of our feelings may do us harm over the long run if we don't come to some degree of peace with them.

Not singling you out, just using this as a jumping off -- It seems to me that many people--regardless of which "side" they're on--feel that respect only goes one way. And I think the "why" of that is something worth pondering.

That seems kinda crazy to me. I can't imagine having to pay a permit fee to remove a tree--live or dead--on ones own property. Just for comparison, last year we paid $2200 for tree work. That was for a large Bradford pear, a large maple and a black gum that the tree guy said was one of the tallest he'd ever seen. It also included grinding the stumps of the pear and the maple. The work was done by a reputable company, not some fly-by-night yahoo with a chainsaw. (ETA: They did give us a small break on pricing--I think it was a couple of hundred dollars--because our neighbor wanted the chips to use for mulch, and my brother wanted a lot of the gum tree for firewood. So they didn't have to haul all of it away.)

I tend to keep my mouth shut unless (1) I'm with other people who I know either share my outlook or who I know are willing and able to discuss differing positions calmly and rationally (those people are rare, but they do still exist) or (2) someone spouts their opinions and indicates that they believe I share them. Speaking up in situation (2) can sometimes get rather heated despite my best effort, but honestly -- how very rude and myopic is it to assume someone agrees with you? ETA: Sometimes I think it would be wonderfully freeing to live in an area where the majority agreed with me politically, but I'm of an age to still adhere to the notion that politics and religion are best not discussed in polite company.

Not normal in my circles. I'm in my mid-50's now. I have a small group of very close friends. We've all known each other since at least high school (some of us since first grade). But even so . . . nope, not something we discuss.

I think it would be nice to offer to pay half, but since it was their suggestion I certainly don't think you're obligated to. (Our neighbor's huge Bradford pear has been laying on our storage building for three weeks today. It came partially down on a very windy day and I don't think they have the funds to finish it off. I suppose we'll get somebody to get it off our building and cross our fingers what's still standing doesn't come down. We've known since we moved here that it was a ticking time bomb.)