I'm originally from England so choosing France was the lesser of two "evils" HA HA HA. Mbappe was amazing. Thought Deschamps did an excellent job managing the match with his subs.

I was watching. Was hoping for France to win but happy that Messi got his happy ending, even though I didn't want him to win. LOL! Complicated football feelings. Crazy match!

I disagree! One of my best friends is this unicorn woman that you're looking for. She throws all of the parties and is always super jazzed after everyone leaves that she often can't fall asleep until early the next morning and often wants to talk through everything that happened with someone right after (her husband is exactly the opposite so there's always an end time on these parties, ha ha ha!). We have different personalities and have lots of chances for parties in our friend group and so we've talked about this sort of thing often.

In our area an option for defensive driving and safety is the local Sheriff's office. They put on a clinic for teenage drivers (have to be 16 and have their permit) and have Deputies ride in the passenger seat while the kid is driving. DS found it very fun and helpful. Not sure if they have something similar where you are.

I expected Brasil v France. We'll see!

If anything the Japanese penalty kick takers will probably take the brunt of the heat. Their kicks were really soft. I thought the goal keeper for Japan did a great job. Really wanted Japan to win but that's the way the cookie crumbles, I suppose. I'm English so I'm waiting for Mbappe to run circles around us on Saturday. Really, really, really hoping to be proved wrong though!

Then you'll like Ochoa's save today! (Mexico) I'm English so.......yes, I'm watching all of the matches! LOL! Not an Argentina fan (obvs) so happy to see that result today.

I have. Once in Feb 2021 and once in Feb of this year, almost an exact year in between. First time lost sense of smell and taste for a month and had a number of symptoms. Vaccinated in August 2021. Covid in Feb 2022 and hardly any symptoms and those that I had were very much cold like and presented like allergies. I tested in case it wasn't "allergies" and it was Covid.

I've watched Denis Phillips in Tampa for all of the tropical weather over the years and he was saying all of these things starting from days out before Ian's landfall. I have no idea what the Ft Meyers wx stations were saying.

I'm a native Floridian and live in a beach town on the gulf (not near Ft Meyers) but far enough back that we're not in a "flood zone" (even though south of us and north of us are part of one 🙄. I know a lot of people who live here that don't have FEMA flood insurance because they're not technically in a flood zone and it's crazy to me. I would say that we are very rare in that we do have it. I have to fight with DH every year to spend the $500 to keep the coverage but you just never know. If a cat 3 or higher were to hit us then there's no way we'd be without flooding in our house. I would bet that some of those people, especially a bit inland, don't have the insurance.

I live close to the coast (but not in the cone for Ian) and I will board up and leave for a 3 or higher (I've seen it go from a 3 to a 4 to a 5 in quick succession with no time to get out so I'd rather not take the chance). Being without power and mentally and physically drained from experiencing a hurricane is awful (and something I don't want to do again) and I'd want the best possible frame of mind to deal with the aftermath. DH is currently in Orlando for work but I'm not as worried about him. We were living in Tampa in an A zone for Charley and were mandatorily evacuated to Orlando (where I grew up) and then Charley changed track and went through Port Charlotte then through were were were in Orlando. I AM concerned that this path looks similar to Charley. I hope that those who are staying are prepared and that it weakens considerably before it hits.

DH has some Lands End ones that he loved for years and I've tried to replace them (since LE didn't do the type he wanted for a while). Finally hit the jackpot at Target around Christmas time with their thin flannel pj's. I'd look at Target.

Oh no! We've been perusing houses in WG online for a year with the idea of moving back to Central FL and this is not good for me to hear... I LOVE olive oil and balsamic! LOL! Hmmm... going on my "pro" list...

You pot stirrer!!! My daughter likes honey-crisp apples the most out of all of the varieties that she's tried. I haven't bought a fuji in years and now I'm going to have to buy one because someone on the internet is telling me to 🤣. I'll report back...

Ah, okay. Gently, do you think you could have depression? From what you've stated on this thread you've been through a lot. With your Mom and the history of cancer in your family, your own mammograms, all of the medical missions, Covid putting everything on hold (and the lack of medical missions, etc...), having a task oriented husband whilst being more relational yourself (stressing about people and how you affect them) etc... Lots of stress. Do you get tired easily when there's a lot of "stuff" happening or does it energize you? Have you hit a wall with all of the "unfinished" hobbies in your life? Sometimes when I have a lot going on (or even just the thought that there's lot that needs my attention that I might be not doing well) it can make me shut down. When things that you used to enjoy don't bring you joy anymore a good question to ask yourself is if you may be dealing with depression. Stress (even good stress) can bring you to a breaking point. It sounds like you might be there. Is there anyone in real life that you can confide in to help you to figure that out? Either way, it's ok to not do anything. If you're to the point of really not doing anything (even basic things) then the best advice I can give is to make sure that you're showering, eating, getting out in the fresh air, and hopefully staying in the Word (if this has been hard to then confide in someone who can walk alongside you)!

In the Christian community there seems to be this mythical un-knowness that people attach to God's will for our lives. Feeling unsure in the absence of direction can be debilitating, however, it doesn't have to be. He has already given us direction as to His will for us: Matthew 22:37-40 and I'd add reading Micah 6:8 as well. Sometimes He makes His will known by opening/closing doors and giving really clear direction. Other times we make the best decision with the information we know at the time and know that He will be with us whatever the journey. Pick something that you enjoy doing and pursue it. If it stops being a joy you don't have to continue to do it.

Yes, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I would definitely do what you're planning on doing, especially the Pride and Prejudice memes 😂. I hope my DD requests this sort of thing in her junior year (my 17 year old DS would.never. HA!) I'm from England, so that sort of thing is pretty much my bread and butter. You could make cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches and scones (or buy these if it's too faffy to do). Put them on a nice dish/plate/platter and use your best English accent when you show her what you've done. I tend to go overboard with these sorts of things, though. I may be the only "extra" English person I know (must be the many years of living in America that did it to me...LOL!)

This is what's happening in my area also.

I didn't see your original post, only your update but I don't think you'll be upset with a kipling! They're my favorite and I have a few of them that work well for different purposes. They last, are well made, and wash up nicely! 😊

I still haven't gotten a hedgehog or a sugar glider. Guess I didn't NEED one after all....😂

I made a post in another section about balancing between hoarding, being stocked, and being wasteful. I may not have been who you were talking about conflating things but there's another element to the balance and that's anxiety and mental health. I have to watch closely to make sure that I don't move from stocking my pantry well to hoarding. I've had some issues in the past.

I'm so sorry to read this. We've been in a similar spot for a number of years and are just now climbing out a bit. I felt equally sick and despondent over financial hit after financial hit and it felt like we were never going to get above water or be far from paddling furiously. It totally sucks. I'm constantly waiting for the next shoe to drop. It's very stressful. I don't work and homeschool the kiddos so I tried to look at that as a privilege. My response about privilege was more to help myself orient my own state of mind (and wasn't a commentary on anyone else!) The fact that I have the time/energy/etc... to be forward thinking on it and possibly do *something* to mitigate it beforehand is a privilege compared to those that can't.

Yes! I'm privileged in that I have the time, energy, space, and financial resources (though not much of each...enough) to be able to think through it.

In February I started to get those symptoms and tested every day and the positive didn't show up until day 3 of testing. I was starting to think that testing was silly because I do have a number of environmental allergies but continued to test. I'm glad I did!