No advice for you, but thanks for the info about Darmaga. We're also looking at installing hardwood floors.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 5:21 PM on July 13, 2008

- Get a good breast pump. A really good, expensive, double pump, one that has a battery pack so you can use it even where there is no electrical outlet. Get the most expensive one you can afford. I've had inexensive manual pumps and expensive electric ones, and in this case, I've found that you really do get what you pay for. Medela makes good ones, in my opinion. Avent, not so much. Some of them come with insulating bags for transporting the milk (useful).

- Find out if... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 6:50 AM on July 10, 2008

Thanks, Nax. Actually, I forgot to mention that fixing the downspouts is step #1, which we're going to do no matter what (one of the downspouts has broken off, and water is pooling right next to the house).

If we go with the outside fix, we'll definitely make sure the walkway is sloped away from the house.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 7:54 AM on June 25, 2008

Again, thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, there's only about two and half feet between my house and the neighbor's (houses in this area tend to be pretty close together), so a six-foot sloped perimeter isn't in the cards.

I'm going to ask the next contractor about doing something on top of the existing walkway to create a slope/seal out the water. There really isn't much water in the basement at all at this point and now that I think about it, I wonder if it's being... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 9:14 AM on June 25, 2008

I had the exact same issue (even sent around an email with similar content as your post to find out what mothers I know would do).

I finally decided that even though BPA studies are in their infancy and that BPA-containing bottles are still for sale, the fact that I did not want to use these bottles with my own child meant that I should not make it possible for someone else to use them with their child.

I ended up re-using some of the bottles... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 12:58 PM on March 12, 2008

'Nother vote for the Medela pump-in-style. I used an Avent manual pump for my first child -- this one is much better.

Also-I work from home, so transportation isn't an issue for me. But I'm not sure I understand why you need to take the whole thing with you. Don't people just leave the pump at the office, and carry the milk/attachments back and forth with them?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 12:34 PM on February 23, 2008

I notice what people are reading.

When I was pregnant, I noticed other pregnant women (everywhere).

I notice people's boots (there is so much snow in Toronto right now, and I am searching for the perfect boots).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 5:30 PM on February 12, 2008

I can't help you with grad school info, but I've done undergrad work at both universities. I am from Toronto, and *loved* McGill. Montreal is a great city, friendly people, better transit system than Toronto. Although you said money isn't a factor, I'm still going to mention that it's less expensive to live in Montreal than TO. And if you're adverse to cold -- Montreal is colder. In my opinion, the McGill campus is far more attractive than UofTs.

UofT was...okay. I was... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 1:23 PM on March 30, 2007

My grandmother moved back to Canada after having lived in the U.S. for many years. There was a three-month waiting period before she was covered by OHIP (although I think she may still have been covered by her U.S. insurer during that period).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 7:31 AM on March 30, 2007

My mother did a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation for her sister. At first, she was told it would be a bone marrow transplant, but they ended up doing the blood stem cell procedure.

She said it took a few hours and was a bit uncomfortable (I think the worst part was she wasn't allowed to get up, so she tried using a bed pan at one point and didn't like that at all). Also, I believe she brought a movie to watch, and said the movie was pretty bad.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 8:17 AM on February 14, 2007

I'm almost finished doing an MA in distance learning--while working full time. It is doable. And I did tell my boss. My situation is a little different than yours (the degree is, in a way, related to my job). But I also find that people are interested in what I'm doing and quite supportive. And showing you have initiative can get you work bonus points.

People are right--you're under no obligation to say anything. But it can be helpful (Also, if you spent all your spare... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 11:55 PM on January 31, 2007

If you want to read a good book on the benefits of having only one child, try Maybe One.

I found it very reassuring when I thought I was going to have only one child. Now that I'm expecting a surprise number two, I'm finding these responses from people who say it was the right choice pretty reassuring as well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 2:42 PM on January 17, 2007

We've both rented a car on our travels, and installed a carseat (britax marathon) in taxis. Using taxis, you need to be going to a destination where you can leave the carseat somewhere, but it's doable. I prefer renting a car, though.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 5:33 AM on November 26, 2006

Hey...that is one of the tests I was thinking of!

Thank you for point it out so quickly!
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 12:29 PM on October 25, 2006

I'm not in HR -- I'm taking a course on "interpersonal communication" and we've been asked to develop a quick, 10-minute, participatory presenation about some aspect of interpersonal communication. My team is playing with the idea of cultural sensitivity, but if we decide to use this, we'll point people towards this test as an interesting exercise, and as a way to get people thinking about bias. We're not going ask people to report on what the test results were --... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 5:26 PM on October 25, 2006

Hey thanks for the responses! I am still worried (because it is my nature) but a little less so.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 12:49 PM on August 7, 2006

It was plain old tap water, filtered through a britta filter. And he seems absolutely fine at the moment. :)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 1:38 PM on August 7, 2006

Thanks paulsc. I picked up a few pointers to mention to my boss (and many ideas about why this particular idea isn't going to work--not for the company I'm dealing with).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 8:21 PM on July 28, 2006

Our next door neighbor recently demolished and built a house. It's finally finished and probably good for our property value, but it was horrible while it was happening. Our neighbor did not let us in on her plans, and ripped down a mutual fence without mentioning it to us. She also, at one point, set up scaffolding in our yard (the properties are very close together).

You write that you "need assurances that the fence is never breached" . . . but note that if... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 1:08 AM on July 9, 2006

I'm an away-facer. It's never occurred to me that some people might regularly face towards the shower. I must test out this new position, and see if it changes the showering experience for me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 8:26 PM on June 27, 2006

I find it hard to believe there's a single "best" brand for toddler shoes. Is there a single, universally acknowledged "best" brand for adult shoes?

I believe Striderite is a good brand, but I've bought other brands for my son, too, and haven't noticed my difference in how they wear or how happy he seems in them. More important than brand, I think, is the way they fit, and you already seem to be researching that.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 8:51 PM on May 16, 2006

The authors of the Rebel Sell say things like fair trade (and buying organic and energy conservation) are useless -- "The only real solutions to environmental problems are ones that are compulsory for the entire population. "
Link to Q&A on their book here.

Naomi Klein also discusses the problems with trying to "consume ethically" (good summary in the "globalization FAQ" in the nologo website.
She writes: "... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 1:44 AM on May 3, 2006

Thanks for all the links and suggestions. Who knew there was such a job as a "fence viewer"?

I'll make some more phone calls tomorrow and see where it leads.

We have what is possibly the smallest lot into Toronto. If she moves that fence over, it's going to run through our living room.

(And I do want the fence back where it belongs. I don't trust this new neighbour -- she's weirdly aggressive).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 10:25 PM on January 9, 2006

Thanks all. I've now documented (with lots of photos) and logged all our communication. Emailed a lawyer. And I have contacted the city to request a building inspection. Apparently, you can do that while construction is going on.

The neighbour does have a building permit posted in her front window, but I wonder if she's doing more than she's supposed to, and that's why she's so edgy. Her extension certainly looks very close to where the fence used to be.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 8:03 AM on January 10, 2006

Hmm. I love the "telling people I'm good at remembering names" idea. I think I'm going to try it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 6:47 PM on August 11, 2005

I'm right-handed, and have always had a bit of trouble telling left from right. And I get lost all the time -- I can't hold directions in my mind at all.

I think there must be something genetic about it -- I know which of my relatives also have this problem. Most of them are men.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 7:01 PM on August 9, 2005

To answer equipoise's question -- I asked this because I've been trying to write something about change, and I started remembering how organizations I have worked for have handled it. And when I started thinking about programs one particular company put us through, I was surprised at how annoyed and resentful I was. I hated the courses at the time, and now, years later, when I think about them, I still feel annoyed.

I was going through a pretty bad... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 4:34 AM on August 2, 2005

I kept my name. And my son has my last name, too.

My husband's last name is our son's middle name.

I've always wanted a child with my last name, and I'm not sure my husband felt that strongly about it one way or another. At least not until our son was born. He's now said that if we have another child, he'd like that child to have his last name.

Fair enough.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 8:55 PM on May 12, 2005

Bugaboos aren't the only nice high-end strollers out there, you know. Even if you don't jog, some of Phil & Ted's strollers look really nice (they even have one especially for commuters, though it wouldn't be good for long walks).

I've never seen one in the flesh (and I don't think you can buy them in North Amercia) but Micralites look amazing.

Quinny strollers (the Zapp and the Buzz) are supposed to be good.

I think... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 3:40 PM on April 29, 2005

This is the first time I've posted a question to AskMefi. I can see why people like it so much -- this is great information.

I was hoping there was an obvious, instantly recognizable answer to this, though (like "deja-vu"). There should be.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 9:33 PM on March 29, 2005

A friend of mine had a displaced rib when she was pregnant...she visited a chiropractor and said that it worked wonders.

I don't know if that would help if your wife's rib is too sore to touch, but it might be something to look into.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Badmichelle at 4:41 PM on June 16, 2004