Sorry about the hassle. When I read the subject line, I had no idea this was about a car accident. I thought someone had physically struck the dd and I was opening to the thread to see what an adjuster (chiropractor?) would be able to do about it. It's interesting how we interpret things out of context.

I have a double sink with one of those in the left sink. That's where we put our plastic dish pan to fill with hot soapy water for handwashing dishes. (We have a dishwasher, but there's still some that needs handwashing -- knives, cutting boards, pots, etc.) As Laura says, it keeps the drain hole from being blocked. In our case it also lifts it an inch or two, which makes for a pleasanter experience. Ours is actually getting worn out. The plastic coating is falling off in spots and the metal underneath is rusting. I wonder if it's possible to get one for an already installed sink. We don't have one on the other side. I'm not sure I would like it for the "active use" sink, though it's true we have a lot of marks in that sink from dishes and pans knocking into it.

Good for her! I was terrified the first time I drove too, well beyond nervous. I don't think I went above 10mph and my entire body was shaking with fear. After a few minutes driving on quiet, residential streets, the instructor finally let me stop. He said the next time would be easier, and then mercifully he moved onto another student. But he was right, the second time was much easier, and the third even more so, etc. I was NOT ready for the freeway that first time. (I'm not sure I was even ready for the road -- a parking lot might have been a better start.) So I'd say your dd is doing great.

Really? I love getting food items, especially if they are specialty things we wouldn't normally buy. My dad sends us bacon each year from this amazing smokehouse. We love it! I don't think I'd be thrilled with bean soup, to be honest. But treats and snacky stuff? YUM. How about gourmet popcorn, cookies, candy, fancy cheeses and crackers, etc.? Obviously you'd want to pick GF varieties.

Re: the stocking issue. Here's how my mom handled it -- as people moved out/away, she continued to buy stocking stuffers for us (and in fact added more people to her list as we got married and had kids). I think eventually she was buying stocking stuff for at least twenty people! Then she would put each person's items in a paper lunch sack, labelled with their name and stapled at the top. Then she would mail it in the Christmas box with the regular presents. She was contributing to the stockings but the actual stuffing of stockings happened at each family's house. Her mom did the same for many years, and I guess she wanted to carry on the tradition. She was really good at finding neat little things to include. But she finally decided last year to quit doing it. Which was totally understandable! I'm sure it was a lot of time and money. But it was a sweet tradition, and I would certainly consider doing the same.

Stand and Deliver Remember the Titans The Great Debaters (this one is PG13)

This is for my ds17, still at home for another year or two-- sweater himalayan salt lamp magic cards a few books I'm also thinking of a bean bag. He doesn't have any seating in his room besides his bed and desk. But that's a little more expensive, so I haven't decided yet.

I didn't see hand warmers listed. I don't know your location but in a cold climate, I would include some of those. https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-10-count-pack-warmers/dp/B00PGBN11S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1513182612&sr=8-4&keywords=hand+warmers Maybe a tiny travel toothbrush. When I was a young adult, I would sometimes end up on unexpected sleepovers. No, not THAT kind, though of course many young adults are in relationships. Just, life was full of more unexpected events and transportation issues, etc. Once I spent the night in an airport, for example. Anyway, what you really, really need at a minimum is a toothbrush. You can even get by without toothpaste.

I am so very sorry for your loss. Thinking especially of your nephew.

I have a smart phone but with no data plan. (I get phone/texts through tracphone). For several years I had a flip phone, but texting on the little push buttons was super annoying, so I upgraded to the fake smart phone in 2016. I can use it to access the internet if I have wifi, but without wifi I can basically just phone/text. I don't have any games or anything installed. Just email, yelp, weather, stuff like that. Not sure if that would help with the distraction issue, but it's certainly a lot cheaper than a normal smart phone (~$40 for the phone + ~$40 a year for service).

Go ahead and freak out, but this doesn't seem like freak out time to me. 1. You have a 100% average. That gives you a lot of leeway. 2. It means you understood all the material so far. 3. Even if you totally bomb the topic you don't understand, you will probably do fine, even great, on the final. 4. But you probably won't bomb it. Because, 5. You are totally capable of learning the last topic, just as you've learned all the rest. 6. You have all week to learn it. 7. You are already planning how to be successful. You have got this. You are in GREAT shape. Seriously. Imagine one of your kids as a college student coming to you in this situation. You would be so proud of them for what they've done so far and you would KNOW they can do this last part.

It was my regular doctor. To be honest, I only asked because I was already in for something else and the skin issue was particularly bad at that time. I didn't really think she would have any advice for me other than, "Suck it up, you are getting old and will have issues." It was really a good lesson for me that my assumptions may not be correct! I suppose you could just try it. It's an over-the-counter thing. You may even have some in your medicine cabinet already. We did and I use such a teensy tiny amount (like a grain of rice) I'm still using the same tube three years later. I probably should check to see if it expires, but it's still working for me. I really can't believe such a tiny quantity of something can make such a big difference. I really hope you find something that works for you. Start with the assumption that there IS a solution and keep looking until you find it. Good luck!

Have you seen a doctor? I always had "dry flaky skin" in a certain patch of skin near the bridge of my nose. No amount of lotions did anything to help, and it got so awful, especially in the winter. Finally I asked my doctor about it, and she said it was eczema. She told me what to do: a tiny dab of hydrocortisone cream applied daily, and it went away within three days. As long as I use the cream daily (or at least every other day) it doesn't come back. It felt like a medical miracle to me! It never occurred to me it was more than just "dry skin", so I'm very glad I asked. Is it possible you have eczema? Maybe it would be worth asking your doctor. Edited to spell eczema correctly!

I missed the "joking" part. That makes a big difference in how I read your post. Sorry for misunderstanding!

I mostly like to keep the conversation by prompting the other people to talk. I don't like to share a lot of personal details from my life, and it sometimes takes me a long time to form my opinions. So I follow a lot of the advice above about asking people questions. I try to avoid asking about their jobs, just because I was not employed for so many years and it always felt awkward to me. I ask about hobbies or recent travels or where they grew up. This time of year I might ask about their family traditions at the holidays. People always seem to have interesting stories. But I also try to keep in my back pocket some interesting thing I learned about recently. I didn't quite realize I did this until I was reading this thread, but I do. If I feel it's really my turn to contribute, I say, "Hey, I was reading an interesting article recently. Did you know that . . .?" Obviously, I avoid politics or controversial subjects unless I know the other person well! This week, I would probably talk about the guy who created a fake restaurant that got rated number 1 on TripAdvisor (google it -- crazy story!) Often it prompts the other person to think of something related and the conversation is off and running again.

You would say that to a 16yo who just requested a pack of gum for Christmas? My gosh, it doesn't sound like he needs a lecture to me. I would guess he is well aware of the financial burdens his family has and doesn't want to add to them with lavish requests. I don't hear entitltement in his statement. He sounds non-materialistic and thoughtful. I would give him a hug and say I'd still like to find him something special for Christmas, but I'd think of something myself.

She's your mom. She doesn't have to make sense. At least, that's what I tell my son*. :lol: *A son BTW who once told me he couldn't imagine any article of clothing fancier than a plaid flannel shirt. I have thus no intention of asking his position on the sweatshirt/sweater controversy.

Hey, should we muddy the waters and throw in polar fleece as well? What do you call something like this -- https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/78994?feat=907-GN3&page=trail-model-fleece-pullover&csp=f Is that a sweatshirt too or do you call it something else? We call it a "fleece" or "fleece jacket" if it has a zippered front.

Laura, is there a difference between a sweater and a jumper, or are the terms interchangeable? I thought they were always called jumpers in the UK.

So she calls a t-shirt or a tank top a "sweater"? That would take me by surprise! Re: the bolded. I call cardigans sweaters. I thought everyone did. Cardigan sweaters are a subset of sweaters, with pullover sweaters being the other major type. After typing the word sweater that many times, it is starting to look weird to me. Sweater, sweater, sweater.

Oh, yes. It is clever and looks cool. But . . . books . . . out of reach. So cruel!

I've seen it at a library. Very annoying as you can see all those lovely books but you can't get at any of them without getting tangled in the lights or toppling over the pile.

Ah! Food then. Cheap and welcome to most college students. Candy bars bought in bulk with a bow on them. Or "melted snowman" -- https://www.cre8tivecompass.com/melted-snowman-white-hot-chocolate/ Even just a pack of popcorn with a corny (ha!) greeting would be nice -- "Keep on popping over the holiday!" I don't know, I'm sure you could come up with something better. ETA: slr1765 posted the "snowman soup". That's what I was trying to find but I guess I didn't remember the name correctly. That's a fun one.

I read this comment before I clicked the link and somehow formed in my head something like a small weight (like you put in drapes or the queen puts in her skirts). You know "quarter-sized". Imagine my surprise when I then clicked the link and saw an artificial Christmas tree! I was so confused. Then I came back and read your comment again and suddenly it had a completely different meaning. :lol:

That isn't my experience. Any ingredient, liquid or solid, can be measured in weight (ounces or grams). In the recipe posted, several ingredients are listed in ounces, one is listed in teaspoons, and one is listed in cups. Teaspoons and cups can obviously only be volume measurements, while ounces can be either mass or volume (stupid system). But in American recipes, it's unusual for ounces to refer to volume unless the quantity is water or near water, in which case the volume/weight distinction is irrelevant. And often they are specifically listed as fl. oz. Also it would be confusing IMO to list several quantities by ounce, intending weight, and then another ingredient by ounces, but intending volume. So I doubt Hello Fresh would do that. That's a way too long way of saying I would guess the recipe intends 2 ounces of pesto by weight. But personally I would just put in whatever amount looks good. It's not rocket science.