saef - So jealous of your possible China trip! I miss it so much, but I have no idea when I will be able to go again. I would need a pretty big chunk of both time and money to make it worth the trip, and I right now I have neither. Please let me know if I can give you and recommendations or help if the trip happens.
Allison - My parents went to Europe when I was 13 and left me in the guardianship of my older sister (then 18). There were notarized documents and everything. Their main concern was that, in case of a medical emergency, my sister could authorize treatment. Would that be worth doing in the case of your Costa Rica trip? Other than that, my personal opinion is that a 16 year old would probably be more than fine left alone for a few days. Of course I say this not being a parent!
I went to the urologist this morning for what I thought would be my final post-op kidney stone visit. Unfortunately, that is not the case. It turns out I have something called renal tubular acidosis which messes up my blood/urine chemistry and makes me more susceptible to stones, as well as leeching calcium from my bones and leading to a much larger risk of osteoporosis in the future. I'm going to be on magnesium and potassium supplements for life, according to my doc. Also, he gave me a list of foods to avoid as they are high in oxalate and lead to stones. On the list? Dark leafy greens, whole wheat flour, berries, nuts . . . basically, all the healthy stuff I've been building my diet around for the last year and a half. But the good news is that I can have all the butter, white flour, and cheese I want!
No one told me 33 is the year my body's warranty was set to expire.
Allison-- if you need help taste testing, just let me know!
Saef-- I'm sorry about the antique but your job possibilities sound exciting. My dh travels many places including China (he's been in S. Africa and Dubai for the last two weeks).
Jen-- I'm sorry about your health news. It does sound tricky so far as your diet goes. My mom had severe osteoporosis and I've been taking extra calcium for years. I had my bone density tested last year (I'm 44) and I have osteopenia (pre-osteoporosis). I also only have one kidney, which apparently in my case is genetic. My mom found out as an adult that she had one kidney, and tests have shown both myself and my oldest dd to be missing one kidney. My younger dd hasn't had a test yet to see if she has one or two!
Saef, good luck with whatever you decide to do about the job. Sorry about the antique
Allison, chocolate tasting sounds fun!
Jen, tell me about it, I feel like my body's warranty expired around 23 and now at 28 I'm way past the warranty. Or more like, deep into enough pre-existing conditions to be uninsurable.
Allison I am green with envy re the chocolate tasting and Costa Rica. I would love to do both (although my chocolate tasting would all be done in the space of about an hour I think)
I imagine your son will be fine. He's old enough to drive so I think he can manage a week home alone. He sounds like a sensible kid - not one to throw a house party at which 200 kids rip your house to shreds . Good if he had an adult to go to or at least call if there's some problem with the house.
saef I am green with envy re China (wanted to go to Beijing until the SARS thing happened) and sorry about your antique. I hope the decision about trying for the promotion you make turns out well.
Jenmusic That's awful news re your diet. But you will get to reconfigure all your eating and at least that will provide some variety and interest, yes?
I am grilling pork tenderloin tonite. Boiling some ears of corn to go with it and a spinach salad too. I have fallen into a bit of a rut with the summer cooking. Next week I have a bunch of dogs away and a short week so some new food choices will appear on our menu.
DH did take himself for a walk last night. I think he's kinda dreading the weekend - he knows what I have in store for him. But I will also take him to a movie and out for an ice cream cone at our fabulous local parlour (does it sound like I'm babysitting a 10 year old?)
Jen, tell me about it, I feel like my body's warranty expired around 23 and now at 28 I'm way past the warranty. Or more like, deep into enough pre-existing conditions to be uninsurable.
Exactly!
Ironically, one of the (many) factors that led to my weight loss was having to find and pay for my own health insurance. When I got my approval form from the company, I only had one pre-existing condition listed - obesity. Looks like I traded that one in for a whole host of others!
This morning, people who were also chosen for the chocolate tasting posted that they had gotten their shipment. Two full sized Lindt bars, both 70% chocolate, one with almond brittle and one with nut crunch. So it doesn't appear that I'll be overloaded with chocolate as they only indicated one shipment.
DD came home yesterday with her new kitten. This guy is SMALL! He's 10 weeks old, but I swear he looks more like a 6 week old kitten. And he has so much energy! I went home early (2 PM) and I only saw him take a short nap for about 15 minutes between then and when we all headed off for bed at 9:45. DD said she was bringing home dessert, which I assumed was something she'd picked up in Portugal, but it turned out to be Sprinkles cupcakes. She took four and cut them in quarters so we each sampled four flavors. Not on my diet at all, but I did enjoy it.
I'm off for a few hours to day so DD and I can get our hair cut. Other than that I'm dealing with all the end of the month stuff to get done at work. I must get back to it! Have a great day everyone!
Allison - my parents left me at home alone for a week when I was 16 and I did just fine. Of course, they took my brother with them, and he was the real troublemaker.
My parents left me home alone for a week when I was 16 or 17 and I wasn't an angel! However, I'm sure your son will be. My dh is in Dubai and he mentioned to me yesterday that I should come with him next time. He said our 16 y/o would be fine and I think she would.
I just got a call from my father in law that my mother in law had a stroke and is in ICU. Please keep us in your thoughts today. I am going there (Houston) next Friday. I hope I don't have to go sooner.
Michele, this is sudden news. So sorry to read this & I will be thinking of you. And of your husband in Dubai while this is happening & having to hear about it on the phone from you & his father.
At work, I'm trying to get Harry Potter out of the title of document that an analyst wrote about digital screen reading, mostly because it really isn't about Harry Potter. (Harry Potter comes in on p. 7, for a paragraph, that's it.) But I know the analyst probably adores having Harry Potter in the title. He probably thinks it's the cleverest thing he's done on the job in the past six months. And the analysts routinely fall in love with their own writing. But Harry just has to go. Take my word on this one. Tablet and e-screen reader manufacturers and designers are not typing in "Harry Potter" into the little search box on my company's website. They just aren't. You know that thing called "search engine optimization"? Well, I try to help with that.
Oh, and I thought I started the day well, with 6 AM spin. But on my way through our building, in the dark halls, I chanced upon an insect large enough that it ought to have a social security number. It was a water bug. (Or a palmetto bug, for those of you on this thread from the South.) Okay, so thank goodness, it wasn't in my apartment. But it was within a couple yards of my front door. I'm calling the building super asking about the exterminator's visiting schedule. (Maybe the exterminator went on vacation.) I pay too much monthly maintenance to want to meet things like that when I'm walking around the building.
Or more like, deep into enough pre-existing conditions to be uninsurable.
. Good if he had an adult to go to or at least call if there's some problem with the house.
