I didn't know they did a TV show. I'll try to watch a bit. I watched a good bit of the trial when I was in grad school. I was up to study at 4am and then had morning classes. I was worn out by early afternoon and since I'm on the east coast that's when it started each day. So I did housework, mindless stuff, and rode the exercise bike while watching the trial and then had a night class to teach about the time it was over. I learned so much about the court system that I never knew that year.

TV and audiobooks when he was little. I hit the jackpot in that my one ds is also INTJ, so once he got older, we just mostly co-exist in the same space. ETA: Oh, and frequent visits to Grandma's house when she was still alive!

Couldn't exactly "like" this, but it's nice to know I'm not the only one. I was hypoglycemic when I was young, and menopause has brought it back. I tried really hard to cut out snacks until I started using the meter and realized how low my blood sugar was getting. I was hating myself for getting hungry, but it's just the way my body works. I had to start eating every two hours to get things settled (and drinking OJ during the night a couple of times). Now I'm focused on eating every three hours, but keeping the meals and snacks small. The doc said I would start losing weight once I stopped mistreating my body, and he seems to be right.

This looks like it might be a helpful list of research articles. Not all of them are free, but with some googling the details can be found: http://whatweknow.law.columbia.edu/topics/lgbt-equality/what-does-the-scholarly-research-say-about-the-acceptancerejection-of-lgbt-youth-2/

I like this. Here's what comes to mind to me: Aunt: Uncle and I are going to the church picnic this weekend. Would you like to go? Niece: I can't believe you would ask me. You know I consider Christianity and organized religion as a scourge on mankind. I refuse to support that horrific institution in any way! Niece: Girlfriend and I are going throwing a house warming party. Would you like to come? Aunt: I can't believe you would ask me. You know I consider homosexuality as one of the worst sins against God. I refuse to support any semblance of such a relationship! More appropriate responses to both: "No, but thanks for asking." "Sorry, I can't make it." "We've got plans that weekend." Very accepting response: "Sure, I'll be there." And support the relative in their interests or life. (I could see this being less appropriate or acceptable if the events were a revival or a gay pride parade. Those might garner the "No Thanks" above.) Maybe it's being raising in the uber-polite South, but this doesn't seem like rocket science to me.

We've just ended up using Dasuqun, not cheap, but cheaper if I can get it discounted online. And a note from my experience, be careful with the fish oil. Start with one and slowly move up. It causes diarrhea in some dogs, and four in the first day may give you a mess to clean up!

Right back at you! I think I'm going with creekland's idea that if it was really bad they would have called by now :-)

I'm in the same boat, Jenny, and I vote for Hulu. I had a CT this morning for a serious problem, and am now waiting for the call. I'm not fit to do much of anything, and I don't care. I'm calling a mental health day.

Neighborhood, every time.

That's where my ds got it (about 15 years ago!) Despite being assured it couldn't happen, both dh and I got it, too. Absolutely miserable! (I'm kinda hoping it was a rare occurrence of the icky strain. I don't ever want to go through that again.)

Maybe it's the week I've had, but I spit my tea at this line. It's so obvious: THIS is the career that half a life of homeschooling prepares us for ;) More seriously, it does sound like a cool plan. I'm planning to go into data science. I have a strong background in statistics and computer programming, and I am a data junkie. I taught statistics, SAS and SPSS in the past. I'm taking the Coursera data science specialization to brush up on R, and focus more on the business side since I am an academic/scientist. I figure it will take ds time to settle, and we have to decide about selling our house. So I expect to be job-shopping around January. Right now I'm starting to attend conferences, user's groups, and networking-type events.

The Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments by Thompson. Available at amazon in print or here in pdf: http://www.thehomescientist.com/manuals/Illustrated_Guide_to_Home_Biology_Experiments.pdf We bought the kit here: http://www.thehomescientist.com/kits/BK01/bk01-main.html We didn't do nearly all of the experiments and mainly focused on microbiology as that was ds's interest. We also volunteer for a state-wide water monitoring organization, so monthly local creek monitoring was part of our course.

Once you sign up for the course (through the HSBC or just at Thinkwell), you will have the option to add on items. You can add the CD's (used to be $25) and the print workbooks (instead of downloading and printing everything yourself.) So that part is easy. The plan is easy to implement because they have a weekly lesson guide: http://www.thinkwellhomeschool.com/pdfs/lesson-plans/BiologyLessonPlan.pdf and the quizzes and tests are graded online. (I guess you'd have them watch the videos on CD and then only go to the website to quickly take the quiz.) The only catch I see is that it is hard stuff. It is college level biology with a significant amount of chemistry background needed for the biochemistry sections. I spent a good bit of time with ds going through some chemistry to help him fully understand some sections. He did the other parts on his own and really liked the professor. He didn't love the quizzes and tests as often he felt like they were written by someone else and didn't relate to the corresponding lectures. I don't remember anything completely incorrect in the biochemistry lessons, though my background is physics/chemistry not biology and I'm not sure I watched every single one. I know he glosses over some of the detailed chemistry involved as any biology professor would. Otherwise it would be two courses in one! It's been quite a few years, but I did feel at the time that he went into the chemistry needed, but not too deep to bog down the course. Overall, I was impressed, but it is an AP/college level course with the time/effort that that entails.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I'd recommend magnesium citrate. I take Solgar, but any good brand works. I take it for muscle cramping, but the regularity aspect is a nice side effect. Taking it at night can also help you have more restful sleep. I take two, but one might be enough. The only problem is the pills are rather big for all the brands I've tried. I got a liquid supplement in a dropper for my dad, but it was really expensive. Another option might be measuring out the right amount of this in a spoon. It's what you use pre-colonoscopy, but it is a HUGE dose when you drink the whole bottle. Most of the groceries have a cheap store brand, and there are some that are not dyed or flavored. (That was what I was going to try next for my dad, but he decided to take the pills.) The only problem I see is that it might work quicker than the pill that takes time to dissolve. Also, calcium has the opposite effect of magnesium, so I take my calcium early in the day and magnesium at night. ETA: Just reading the replies more thoroughly...I never realized that Natural Calm is just magnesium citrate. So there is an easy non-pill version available.

Just a different perspective, having a son in DE. Easy classes can be hard. Since he's just taking it as a pre-req, he probably knows the stuff. So he's bored. It's harder to stay focused on boring stuff, so little errors creep in. The class has to be basic, since the average is in the 70s. The prof can't ramp it up. Also, that age can make focus harder. The adjustment to the social environment of college can be distracting on a background level. Ds got A's his first semester, but I would have been OK with a B. There is so much going on in their brains and with their emotions. I would rather him get the adjustment out in DE. (Some kids are not phased at all by being around so many people, but extreme introverts don't always learn or perform best that way.) Some people are OK with a 91 average. I think that dh (who went on to a PhD and career) had that in most of his A classes. There are other things to do with life. Your ds may be one of those people. I think that's OK and I'm betting those people have fewer health problems than you and I ;-)

Hated it then and now. When the neighbors played ball, I was in the basement or shade reading a book. I did the bare minimum at recess or PE and then visited friends or read a book. Got involved with a boyfriend in college and did hiking, backpacking, canoeing, etc. Hated every minute of it. Would rather read a book. There are a few types of exercise I am OK with: walking or exercise while listening to a book on tape, walking in a city where there are interesting things to see and places to go, and walking with an interesting person to talk to. I go nuts if I'm not mentally stimulated.

I would add that light cleaning for a babysitter means things that can be dropped in the middle if a kid wakes up and needs you and things that don't have to be finished if the kid needs you the whole time. Babysitters are there for the kids. Light cleaning is just a bonus if the kids are easy or sleep. If I were a babysitter, I would charge a different rate if I were able to study or relax when the kids didn't need me than if I was expected to do light cleaning when the kids didn't need me. I would charge an even higher rate if I was expected to do maid level cleaning in addition to listening out for the kids (as in your dd's case.) I would worry if your dd was expected to do heavy cleaning when she is the only one there. That split attention of listening for the kids and big cleaning is hard for anyone (which is why mom needs someone else to do it.) I would be concerned about a young teen not hearing a kid wake up or be in distress while involved vacuuming or cleaning toilets.

I chose a different solution. I had dh subscribe to the neighborhood FB page, and he forwards me anything important. I can't deal with the drama, and it doesn't bother him a bit. Can you find someone else to filter and share the good stuff with you?

I survived the night! Somehow I imagined expired mayo as the worst thing ever (potluck flashback). I'm glad so many seem to think it is OK. I did throw the mayo away. Thanks for making me laugh!

I guess that might be a strategy. :lol: I'm a lightweight, so two shots is my limit. It's not cheap tequila so I wouldn't want to waste it that way :001_smile:

Thanks, guys. I feel much better. At least the tequila makes one not fret so much about food poisoning. I actually made another sandwich and ate it. I'll update if this turns into a cautionary tale!

Sadly, it had been in the fridge that long. I'm rather an idiot. Though it didn't smell and I thought it tasted fine.

So say you ate nearly half a sandwich, thinking "Mmmm, I haven't had mayo in FOREVER!" and then thought, "Oh Crap! I haven't had mayo in forever!" And you look and it expired July 2015. Do you think a couple of shots of tequila will kill the bad bugs in the stomach?

Not necessarily, my district has a policy of NO non-students taking APs. No matter how nice or sympathetic the coordinator is, they are not allowed to let homeschoolers test there. Private schools vary in cost, number of tests offered, and policies. You just have to call around until you find somewhere that works.