We used Liberty maybe 8 years ago when dh was working as a contractor. We liked it, as it was less expensive than what we would have gotten through the state. It was like $500/mo vs. $1,300/mo plus $12,000 deductible. At that point, we had no prior conditions. They made all the calls to doctor billing offices, which was nice. However, they did not cover vaccinations for our young children. We learned those are pricey when you have to pay for them yourself -- about $400/shot.

Dh grew up on a farm and is appalled that they are using Roundup as a drying agent just before harvesting. It's not how pesticides are generally used.

It seems like at some point, either in a book or podcast I *think* Will Bulsiewicz said that conventionally grown oatmeal has some sort of problem with it and you should be eating organic oatmeal. I would like to know the reason specifically, and for the life of me, I cannot find where I heard or read it. Can anyone help me out with this? I can't find it in Fiber Fueled, or on the Zoe podcast which is most certainly where I would have heard it, but I can't find it in any of the transcripts that I had listened to.

Monday, I went to TKD class and started learning the new pattern. Yesterday, I practiced my pattern for quite a bit and then went outside for a 20 minute walk because it was so sunny. This evening I plan on lifting weights.

My roommate had a word processor that had its own monitor. And the printer paper had the holes on the side that you had to tear off. I spent hours writing a paper on that thing, and apparently didn't save it, and it was lost. Of course, this happened the night before it was due. Good times. 😆

I guess I am too old for this reference. I took an electric typewriter to college. 😆

Yes, we get to stay put. Which makes me very happy. 😊

I seem to recall there's an impressive butterfly atrium on the Canadian side. ETA: https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/attractions/butterfly-conservatory/

Update in first post.

Barilla makes really good chickpea pasta. I don't like the other brands I've tried.

I'd feel less confident about cleaning the stuffies. I suppose it would depend on how they hold up in the washer and dryer. Plastic and wood items seem like they could get washed in a bleach solution and that would be ok. But there might be additional cautions I'm not aware of with hantavirus.

Belt testing was today. It was held at a larger venue than the dojo. The minute I stepped onto the mat (before it actually started), I forgot both of my patterns for a few minutes. I did poorly with my testing pattern and got discombobulated because the rest of the students were doing it so fast. This pattern took me weeks to learn (as opposed to the first pattern, which I had down after about a week.) I did get my new belt. And the black belts told me everyone gets nerves sometimes and to focus I what I know and to do my own thing at testing regardless of what everyone else is doing. After testing, there was a class with a 5-stripe black belt for anyone who was interested. I was the lowest ranking belt to participate. The class kind of covered a little of everything. Sparring was a workout! I also had a chance to ask him about practicing at home, and he gave me and my family some good tips. Overall, it was a good day, even though I was really disappointed with my performance. I guess it just means I have to work harder.

No intentional exercise today, but I made I don't know how many trips upstairs to the attic to put away Christmas stuff. I usually end up forgetting a few items, but this year, I think I got it all.....except for the Christmas Mad Libs peeking out at me from a random basket of books. Sigh.

TKD class this evening. And I remembered to press "Start." My heart rate got up to 160bpm, so that's pretty good for me, I think. It was the intermediate class, so there was sparring. I sparred my youngest two children, which was a little weird.

Warm things. Fuzzy blankets, fuzzy socks, fuzzy hats. Meals in one form or another are always welcome.

I think all your ideas are just fine. Though, to reiterate a previous poster, mac and cheese is generally liked by most people.

TKD class this evening. It was a workout. I even wore my heart rate monitor to see how much I exert myself AND I remembered to pull up Strava on my phone, but forgot to actually press the "Start" button. 🤦‍♀️

I didn't go to class last night because I was just so tired and out of it. I took a 20 minute walk outside this afternoon and did pattern practice this evening.

I have saved your list to work with ds10, who struggles with handwriting. Just wanted to come back and add fusing beads. It's not a craft thing I would usually do, (Hey, kids! Let's melt plastic!) but ds worked with tweezers to get the beads on the pegboards for nearly an hour. Paper sloyd has been happening, and I am seeing improvement. Somebody else on the boards mentioned Callirobics, which I finally got the energy to pull together. For the first day, I'd say it's gone well. Fingers crossed for the rest of the week.

At our house, that was for Kool Aid. Period.

Saturday was dd's birthday. We went to the city, so that involved a bit of walking. We finished the day with Lasertron, so there was a bit of cardio there, too. Today, I plan on pattern practice and going to TKD class.

I don't think this would happen in NY. There would either be multiple orange barrels in front of this missing section of road, or more likely, concrete barriers. The only way you could find yourself in this position is if you were very drunk or very high.

Our house has a built-in china cupboard. Then my dad gave us a china hutch and side board. The hutch holds mostly dishes, but also one shelf of books. The side board is devoted to homeschool materials. And then, because I had no place to put tablecloths and such, there's a dresser. The bottom drawer holds stationary supplies. In reality, it's too much stuff, but in my defense, I was raised by pack rats. It is challenging to let go of the mind set, and all that goes with it. Baby steps, I tell myself.

I learned it at Girl Scout camp in the mid-80's.

I use silicone air locks that fit mason jars. Because I am lazy.