[Travel Plans - seasoned travelers enter and offer advice, suggestions, tips, etc.]

Florida Keys - The closer you get to Key West the more expensive lodging will be. Yes, it is hot in the summer months but no worse than Houston summers for the most part. I only had the opportunity for a short visit, so we did a Key West tour bus thing that allowed you to get off and back on at the different spots, and we did a glass bottom boat tour. Many people on our boat tour got sea sick, but I didn’t have any trouble. Then we walked around a lot. Went to a botanical garden place that had butterflies. It is a long drive from the mainland to Key West with lots of bridges, but the longest bride is Seven Mile bridge, so not as long as the lake Ponchartrain bridge. Also, I think keys bridges are closer to the water but I could be wrong on that. There are some places to park and get out and walk along the old bridge if you like that. I really wanted to go out to the Dry Tortugas National Park, but that it an all day trip, and we didn’t have time. 
 

4 Courners - Also gets very hot in summer but not near as humid as Keys. Winter is better temps, but you could end up snuck in snowstorms trying to get to the area. Farmington, NM is probably the closest largest town with the most affordable accommodations, but depending on where you want to go, it is more likely that you would want to drive and stay at different locations along the way. 
 

Clothing- we always plan to do laundry on long road trips. I’ve never really had a problem finding a place to do laundry. 

[Is it possible to live without a mobile phone these days?]

Both my parents had cell phones and both had dementia. As they each declined, they lost their ability to used the phones, but they still wanted the phone near by. 

[looking for a tablet?]

I have an iPad mini. I find the regular size iPad too big and heavy to hold with one hand. The mini fits in my purse and doesn’t make my shoulder hurt. 

[Florida bans lab-grown meat]

The idea of lab grown meat sounds a little icky to me, but now I am more likely to try it sometime just to spite Florida’s governor.

[Railroad crossings]

I have seen railroad crossing that have stop signs, but that was long ago in Houston on a particular rail line that had unprotected crossings in a highly populated area. That rail line has long since been removed. The rural area where I live now has a few unprotected crossing but non of them have stop signs. The lines are not used anymore and no one stops for them. Only school busses are required to stop at all rail crossings in this state. A person who stopped at one of the crossings might end up getting rear ended by the next motorist as such a stop would be quite unexpected.  Usually I will slow down when approaching a rail crossing just because of the uneven, rough crossing.

[Advice for me helping (or not) asd dd23 Update!]

 knowing how to send letters by mail is not a skill that a lot of young people have since most everything is done electronically these days. My DH works with an organization that provides scholarships to youth and has specific requirements as to what students need to send them by mail, or drop off in person. I hear him complain year after year about the kids who can’t follow directions and only want to submit things by email.

That being said, if your DD tends to not have a positive response when you offer assistance, I wouldn’t bother saying anything. Maybe just send her a link to a website or blog post that addresses that issue. Perhaps her college has a job placement service that could help her.

[Snack ideas please]

What about the baked version of common chip varieties? I know they are only slightly healthier than the regular variety, but the Cheetos, Lays, Ruffles names may be more acceptable to a person who is extremely picky. Or Sensible Potions brand https://www.gardenveggiesnacks.com

Would portion control packaging help? Lots of snacks come in multi-packs of small individual bags that are holiday themed. Halloween has the most, but valentines and Easter have some too. I have gotten Goldfish cracker, pretzels, cheese balls, Sensible Portion chips, rice crispy treats, granola bars. (Not all at the same time)
Since you bring her fruit on a daily basis, maybe the crunchy snacks could be given out that way too so that she doesn’t eat too much at one time. 

[labels on homemade items]

A quick Google search showed me that custom sewing labels can be ordered quite affordably.

[Telling my stepmother I don't want her to visit and stay with us]

I think it is okay to say that you don’t feel up to her staying with you right now, and give her the names of a couple of local hotels near by.

Later, when your sister stays with you, it is fine that you feel up to hosting someone at that time. 
 

Don’t feel bad that you like having some people stay in your house and not other people. In the 15 years since I moved away from where my parents lived, I never invited them to stay in my house, but other people have stayed with us if only for 1 night or 2. My parents came to visit but stayed in a local motel and then later in their rv. There is no need to offer her any more explanation.

[Young Adult Son Moving to Houston—Need Advice!]

I lived in the Houston area (and graduated from UH a long time ago) for 35 years but never in a gated neighborhood or gated apartment complex. I did have stuff stolen out of cars when I forgot to lock the car door, but never experienced any crime beyond that. (Not saying it never happens, but I don’t think it is anymore likely to happen in Houston that other cities) Just need to follow standard safety precautions. 

Traffic is terrible at times, so the suggestion above to check the commute time during rush hour(s) is a good idea. What takes 15 min at a lower traffic time can take 3 time that during rush hours. 

[Best balm for super dry lips??]

Mary Kay has a product https://www.marykay.com/en-us/products/skincare/product/targeted-solutions/mary-kay-extra-emollient-night-cream-100407

My mom used to use it on us when we got badly chapped. However I think it might be noticeable if you were wearing it out in public. I have no idea what it is made of 

[Help me think through this...]

I agree that you should apply and then decide later. 
 

I can see positives and negatives from either choice. I know the frustration of having an opposite schedule from DH, but I also know the frustration of trying to take care of elderly parents while working as a public school teacher. 

[Why is “Double Denim” Mocked?]

I’ve never really cared much about fashion styles. If something fits and is clean are what I mainly care about. Also, I am of the age that I expect to be mocked by younger generations for my fashion choices, but that is ok, because in my head I am doing the same thing to them.  

[Sciatica and Hip pain]

I don’t have any specific suggestions, but my go to on YouTube is Bob & Brad for any PT type exercises.

[I need to buy a vehicle that meets these very specific requirements]

My first thought is a large truck (250 or 2500) or a Surburban. My DH is 6’2” and my DS is 6’3-4”. The only way we can all travel together comfortably is in my DH’s F250. 

[What would you do?/autism in girls/HELP]

It also sounds like this girl isn’t really ready to have unsupervised time with internet/ email.  

[Alternatives I haven't thought about?]

I too use the 1/2 pint jars. I have some of the plastic lids, but I also reuse the two piece canning lids that I do not use for canning. I buy most of my jars at yard sales or thrift stores.

[If your family is from the South]

Probably. My paternal line came to Virginia in the late 1600’s and is all over the southeast United States. It is a fairly common month last name for both Caucasian and African Americans in the Deep South which leads me to believe that at least parts of the family line owned slaves, but I have no direct knowledge of slaveownership.

[URGH I think my son was profiled- ADHD med issues]

My DD who is nearly 30yrs old. She was diagnosed and started on meds for ADHD in the 4th grade. She has gone through diagnostic testing two time as an adult, and she is about to have to go though it again to get back on meds. I don’t think it is profiling as much as it is just the system that we have. Every time she sees a new doctor, they make do it all again.

[If you have a big age gap between children…]

My 2 kids are 7 yrs apart. They are not close bu5 it has way more to do with their individual personalities that it does age difference. 
Also, being close in age does not mean that they will be close emotionally either as kids or adults,and I could give you more personal examples of this, so I would not think having another kids just for that reason is a good reason.

If you want another kid, then that is great, but I wouldn’t do it with any expectations on future relationships.

[Dementia patients and sr homes . .]

From my personal experience, it usually takes 2 episodes of “escaping” before the facility can require that the resident move to a higher level of care. I would guess that if she gets out again like this she will be required to move. 

Yes, it can b3 dangerous. My MIL was found two blocks away from her assisted living facility scooting in her wheelchair trying to “go to church”. Luckily, the AL was in an area of town that had streets but wasn’t otherwise developed. The only neighbors at that time were a city fire station, and the local firefighters took care of her and brought her back to her facility.

[Food that is okay, better, best]

I think it all comes down to what is the best that a parent can do at any given moment.

Sure, cooking a chicken at home with fresh vegetables is probably the healthiest and cheapest depending on the number of people to be fed, but time and convenience and ease and cost can also be important. 

 

[Interstate driver types and my conundrum]

Offer to drive if you don’t like his driving style. For several years I refused to drive with my mother and let her do the driving when we were together because she was an extremely anxious passenger and slightly less anxious as a driver. 

My DH is a more aggressive driver than I am, but in general we manage pretty well together in the car and enjoy road trips together.

[Problems with CC- Is this the New Normal?]

My DS had some asynchronous on-line classes (even before Covid) that were well organized and planned out for the entire semester in advance. They followed the system for on-line course that I had been trained in several years before that. Then, during Covid, he took several classes at the same college that had become online due to the pandemic. Some of those were awful, and others were just ok. This leads me to think that the quality of the course is left to the instructor when there is so big differences on the same campus.

[Parents of 15 yo Michigan shooter sentenced to prison terms]

I haven’t read the details of what these parents’ convictions, but I do think more parents/ gun owners should be held accountable when minors use those unsecured or improperly secured fire arms and someone is injured as a result.