Can they be Corgis? Aka the cats of the dog world? Eh, never mind, bring whatever you need. We get to make the rules for once!

The temperature thing is ridiculous. I'm not kidding when I say I walk around all winter--outside, in Maine--in just a t shirt. Thanks to some new meds DH runs cold. So he likes the stove on but doesn't want me to get too hot but it's just like you said--who knows what the temperature is or how that actually feels, and for how long? Cardigan on, cardigan off...all day long. And I don't even really have hot flashes per she, more just internal heating up and eventual cooling down, like an oven. Anything can set it off, just constant discomfort. I want a hut. I just want to hide out and be alone. Maybe a community of huts where we can all hang out together, and alone. The screaming into the sky would be amazing, like a pack of wolves. Of course our menopause community will have lots of cats and a never ending supply of brownies. Anyone else in? @Kanin you can join so you'll know the hell that's in store... ❤️😫

True, the new perspective is a bonus. I can tell anyone to f..k right off now and it feels **good**. (Oh yeah, the wisdom part is also nice, lol)

Ugh! Of all the things I did not expect. 😡 At least my hair is now properly wavy. That's new and I really like it. Anyone else wanna join my pity party today? I need a good cry.

C'mon really--menopause makes our feet change too?!? I had to buy an emergency pair of shoes on a recent trip (the entire transaction conducted entirely in German, thankyouverymuch lol) because my beloved trusty Docs gave me such horrendous blisters I could barely walk. It was truly pathetic. Anyway, I bought some cute Eccos and oh the relief! Total game changer. The trip was saved. So after coming home and reading up on favourite Ecco styles for comfort and travel, I decided to buy another pair to test out. Yep, perfection. But here's the thing--both pair are an entire size larger than all my other shoes. And when I wore an old favourite pair of Vionics sneakers, they are suddenly tighter than they recently were. I don't dare be equally disappointed in my others. Why does no one tell us about these never ending horrors?! As if crippling depression and anxiety aren't enough, now I can't even wear my Docs?! 😫

According to my DS when he was in public high school, no one bothered with lockers anymore. They seemed quite out of fashion. 🤷‍♀️

Oh of course! I hope I didn't sound like I was judging or whatever! 😳 It's kind of like during Covid, right? Like yes, have extra TP and whatever your essentials are, but also walk that fine line between having enough to keep the panic down, and hoarding...lol. My mama bear-ness is on OVERDRIVE keeping DS safe and in his "comfy"/ functional zone, and I assume it's the same for *every* parent with a kid/young adult with "extra needs". We HAVE to do what we have to do, yes?

We do this too. Sometimes there is overlap between the meds he gets from his doctor here and his psychiatrist at school, and we just refill whatever comes our way. It's never a lot--I'd never hoard, of course--but having a small buffer if possible seems reasonable. I do it for his Lexapro too; it helps us both to have extras just in case (we take the same dosage). Over winter break, his doctor in the US refilled all 3 months of his vyvanse at once since DS was unsure when his next psychiatrist appointment in Ireland would be. So, it can be done, though admittedly DS is in an unusual situation. It's beyond maddening that they make people who struggle with executive function jump through extra hoops to get what they need--and for no good reason. I can't imagine how tough it is for anyone who doesn't have extra supports. 😞

DS takes Vyvanse when he's the US and the European equivalent Elvanse when he's in Ireland. I wondered if he might experience a difference between them, but so far so good. Idk if he gets generic of either.

Phew! Thanks. DS has to go without his Vyvanse for a couple weeks while he's in Asia. I'm pretty nervous about it, but there was no choice. At least he'll have his other meds with him, but I'm pretty anxious to see how he does without the Vyvanse, especially in such a stimulating environment.

Is this true for stimulants like Vyvanse too?

I bought another Forester after test driving the Outback, only because I prefer to sit higher. I big puffy heart Subarus. Mine gets pretty good gas mileage (in the summer I can get over 40mph) and everyone who has been in it thinks it's very comfortable. Outbacks are extremely common here--well, all Subarus are given our climate and terrain, but I think especially the Outback. Everyone from teens to great grandparents drive them. They last forever!

Alternatively, drivers need to get a clue that roads are multi use and that pedestrians have rights too. A driver who hits a pedestrian/cyclist also "loses"-- can you imagine living with that guilt?!? That's why we are all shaken up when it *almost* happens, because of the severity of the risk.

Idk, the windows/widshields always seemed similar to my '98 Subaru and that had fantastic visibility. New cars have smaller windows so we have to rely more on technology to help us know what's around us, but those old cars--especially in those two brands--were known for safety even back in the day. I like my newer Subaru but it doesn't compare. I much preferred my old style (except the seat heaters, I do enjoy having seat heaters lol)

Yep, my '98 Subaru was bombproof. I loved that car--visibility was *awesome* and she was built to be the boss of weather and bad roads. I actually cried when I had to let her go. I still see those gorgeous old Volvos around here now and again--mmm, I can just smell the fake leather baking in the sun, lol. I sure wish they'd make them like that again (safety improvements yeah yeah), those were incredible cars.

Same. I was already hesitant of a Prius because nearly every single one I see is bashed in or has scrapes along the sides, so I figured they have terrible sight lines. Even sitting in one in the parking lot confirmed it. I'm extra careful around them because I figure they can't see me, whether I'm walking or driving (or heaven forbid on a bike).

Other than dinner, I eat just about the same things every day. Breakfast: smoothie (either blueberries, pumpkin or spinach) lunch: low carb tortilla with an egg, cheese and kimchi, side of fruit if I'm still hungry Snack: chocolate and nuts Dinner: I just don't care any more, anything is fine DH is currently out of town so I'll pick up takeaway Chinese, which last me several nights. Perfect.

Idk but my cats would ripped that apart and devoured the sausage and plastic in no time flat. Food fairies beware. 🧚‍♂️

Scrub daddies (stupid name) with a handle. I don't like to touch wet things so dishcloths are a hard no for me. Also they work really really well.

I get it. I'm sorry I sounded jaded and snarky, truly. I do a lot to minimize my impact too, I think I'm just less hopeful these days.

I've stopped worrying about this kind of thing, honestly. Whatever might come off my cutting board isn't even a tiny fraction of the pollutants we are all marinating in and ingesting every day. Nothing we do at home will change the metrics in our favor. Sorry, not trying to minimize concerns, I'm just tired of pretending we as individuals can make any sort of meaningful difference.

Well idk. High street runs from Old Worthington all the way to German Village--a distance of several miles, and is entirely lined with old walkable neighborhoods connected by busses. Indianola and 4th St were well serviced too as I recall; I certainly didn't have any problem when I lived in both Clintonville and in the Short North. Everything I'd consider necessary and fun was along that corridor anyway. Sure, if you want to go the suburbs it's harder and that's a shame, but everywhere I went for work, play, shopping, parks, etc was all right there. Of course, I chose to live in the center, which isn't everyone's interest. No doubt there needs to be public transport everywhere, but I personally loved how little we needed to drive in Columbus. I'll always advocate for --and vote for and be happy to help pay for--more trains and streetcars pretty much everywhere though. 🙂

They seemed so close to putting streetcars back in, and then Covid hit, or maybe it was an economic downturn? I can't remember but it seems dead now. Boo. Such a shame, it's a perfect streetcar city--and a lot of tracks are still there!

That should be criminal 😞

2 ancient bamboo boards from IKEA about a thousand years ago, and a small recycled plastic one nearly that old. I put them all in the dishwasher.