Menopause. The middle tends to get thicker while the legs get thinner due to hormone changes.

Did you look into serotonin syndrome? http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/776124

Well, your husband could be so handy that he insists on doing everything himself and then nothing ever gets entirely done in a timely fashion.... Going on, geez, I forget, maybe 8-9 years here on our house remodel. Hubby can do it all (plumbing, painting, electric, carpentry, drywall, concrete, cabinetry.....) Not to mention fixing our vehicles and gardening, etc...Of course, I am right there helping but, still... Thank heavens he agreed to have some of it contracted out or we would still be living without heat. Hidden (or unplanned) cost of the tools is having to build a workshop in which to house and use them.

Until February=first business day in February, just like: Out until Friday means you will be back on Friday or: Out until 10:30 means you will be back after 10:30

I have never understood why sports in general has such a following and why on earth the players are paid so highly. There are some pretty exciting advances in science yet the scientists are not as highly paid nor as glorified. I don't get it.

I am one who does not think that a public school education will ruin a child. Send them. They will certainly learn things that you would not have taught them--the good, the bad, and the ugly. There is always time to learn. If they do not get what you/they need from the public schools, there is always college or the school of life.

Well, we are animals. My mom used to tell me that she had us children wormed on a regular basis. We grew up on a farm and apparently liked to lick rocks or something.

I have always had this issue--driving makes me sleepy, sitting and reading, etc. Napping does not help me, either, even if only doing a power nap. I have never slept more than 20 minutes and yet still can't get back into the groove afterwards. Caffeine tends to make me sleepy. What does seem to help is an amino acid supplement and DLPA.

I used to weigh myself and became rather obsessed with the number. I am 5'9" and fairly muscular. People used to say how thin I was when I weighed 150. I never liked the number and one year decided to lose some weight. I ended up at 135 and was all bones. People thought I was anorexic. Seriously--you could see all my ribs and tailbone. I could not comfortably lay on the floor. And, 135 was not even that low. Decided the number was crap. I quit weighing myself and don't even look when I get weighed at the doctor's office. I go by how I look in the mirror.

She might need a running start. Get her really excited about going for a ride--is there someplace she really likes to go? "Let's go to the dog park!! Let's go to the dog park!!" Then run her towards the open door and say "jump" or whatever term you use to load her.

I love cauliflower soup. Recipe is from Cook's Illustrated vegetarian cookbook.

Let it backfire. Let him fail. It is amazing how quickly one learns something when one is motivated.

Low standards here--I love mine for chopping vegetables. Especially when I have to chop 12 pounds of onions and 4 heads of celery for a huge vat of ham & bean soup. It does a fine job (again low standards) for slicing potatoes for scalloped potatoes or cucumbers for canning bread and butter pickles. It comes in handy for chopping vegetables for salsa when faced with having to can enough to last a year. I wouldn't want to make relish without it. It does a reasonable job for pureeing soups. When you cook as much as I do, you have to choose your battles. I also own high end knives and know how to use them.

If you are on medications or supplements that raise serotonin, your foot weakness could be caused by having too much serotonin (serotonin syndrome). This is per Julia Ross in her book The Mood Cure. I am no doctor :)

I agree with Carrie12345--I like elliptical machines. I think it is easier to do high intensity intervals on an elliptical vs a treadmill and I don't feel it is damaging my aged joints. I also have a power cage that I really like, plus free weights.

This is how ours is. It powers up every Sunday to make sure it is in good condition. It will come on automatically if the power is out for a few minutes. We have 3 freezers, 2 refrigerators, and our water table is high here so we have sump pumps in the basement that need to be able to run. It runs on propane so we have to make sure we have enough in our tank. We installed it ourselves which was quite an undertaking.

The Mood Cure by Julia Ross. She talks about various supplements and a schedule for different mood types. She also mentions that certain blood types have a tough time digesting protein and might need an acid supplement.

Indeed. And when did women decide that they need to color their hair, have fake nails, fake boobs, fake butts, wear spandex, wear high heels, wear colored contacts or hair extensions, have lipo, tummy tucks, botox, etc., etc., etc., in order to look their best?

I was responding to the OP's original post where she suggested one should try to look their "best". I was hoping to infer that "best" is subjective. One could go on and on about what is "best". I generally feel fake is not best, but if it makes a person feel better about themselves what do I care? Personally, it would take more than make-up to make me less tired looking. Hope I did not offend anyone.

Then one should watch their weight and exercise, too. That would go farther to looking one's best then slapping on some paint.

My oldest, age 23, is a mechanic for a farm implement company. He had no formal training other than having trained himself through years of working on things. He is making good money, has benefits, and will have his home paid off in another 3 years. Most importantly, he loves his job and life. My youngest, age 21, has learning difficulties and does not have a steady job at the moment. He likes to work on things and fix small engines and will do small jobs for people and we are lucky that we have the facilities to allow him to do this. He has fixed several small "junk" mowers and sold them on Craigslist.

Party! I am making: Cheese soup Clam Chowder Sausage, cheese, crackers Porchetta Hoppin'John Apple and Bread pudding (stuffing) Whiskey glazed sweet potatoes Orange glazed roasted broccoli Marinated chickpea and cauliflower salad Cranberry chutney Italian cream cake Chocolate pound cake Sweet potato cheesecake with caramel sauce Assorted Christmas cookies: Mexican wedding cakes, gingersnaps, buried cherry Coffee, wine, soda, spiced cider, Pomegranate cosmos, eggnog

Party New Year's Day for 28 people. I have been planning it for weeks.

Musella Foundation Virtual trials: https://virtualtrials.com/newsarticle.cfm?item=5933

Sounds a bit like Romeo and Juliet--the more it is forbidden, the more appealing the relationship is going to be to them and the more they are going to try to sneak around. I have not been in your shoes but I don't think one can control one's feelings very well at that age. Especially when they have become obsessive. Perhaps lifting some of the restrictions? When one eats all the chocolate one wants it isn't as appealing. Invite her over to study with him? Perhaps sit with him during homework to help him keep focused? I imagine such intense love is taking over his entire brain--much as a drug would. Remember your goals are not his goals. If he does have a goal with something he wants to have or accomplish, you can use that as motivation.