Weird things here.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 11:23 AM on May 23, 2007

I gave a set of these personalized mugs, a really nice teapot, and a big selection of my favorite loose teas. It was a hit. She also has other designs: laundry on a clothesline with their initials on a shirt, a birch tree with the couple's initials carved into it, and dessert sets. Total cost was under $100 and it was personal since tea was a common bond between us. The mugs themselves are lovely to hold and look at -- the designer was very fast and couldn't have been sweeter to deal with.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 6:38 AM on May 18, 2007

Perhaps something that can also easily store a walker or wheelchair. If it can be easily lifted in/out by the other spouse, all the better. A pickup might make that harder in the winter and it might slide around more. A small SUV (RAV 4, one of the newer CRVs) might be good for that - not so high, not so low.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 9:40 AM on May 12, 2007

-LocoPops popsicles in Durham (awesome)
-Weaver Street outdoor patio for lunch (Carrboro)
-Federal patio for dinner (Durham)
-Farmer's Market on Saturday morning (Durham)
-Banh's Vietnamese food on 9th street on Wed. or Sat. (Durham)
-Duke Gardens (Durham)
-Cat's Cradle (music in Carrboro)
-Allen & Son's BBQ (sticks, kind of near Chapel Hill)
-Rock Quarry for swimming (Durham)
-New... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 12:15 PM on May 9, 2007

Honestly, I'll respectfully disagree with Sasquatch about some of the restaurant suggestions. El Rodeo and Torrerro's are the kinds of Mexican food that are doused in that fake orange melted cheese and bad beans. There are some awesome taco stands and Mexican, Honduran, Bolivian and El Salvadorean restuarants that expats actually eat at. Read this for starters. El Paraiso and Super Taqueria will do you good. The Ale House and the Tap Room serve pretty mediocre pre-frozen bar food and burgers.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 2:19 PM on May 9, 2007

Why not get some reams and yards of various fun fabrics, and have them constructed for you? If you do some sewing yourself, there are lots of instructions around the web for all sorts of projects.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 1:37 AM on May 6, 2007

Check here often as well; their inventory changes but there are always super cute patterns.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 1:38 AM on May 6, 2007

She-Ra flat sheet on eBay.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 1:40 AM on May 6, 2007

It might be sizing. It washes out after a cycle or two, but I know it can absolutely trigger allergies in folks unloading boxes of new clothes in (certain) retail stores and (to a lesser extent) those who try on or purchase those items.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 4:30 PM on April 7, 2007

Does the bottom part of the sole have to be leather, or just the footbed?
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 11:11 AM on April 4, 2007

These are leather sole with pieces of rubber for traction. And their from Taryn Rose (stylish but orthopedic!).
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 11:13 AM on April 4, 2007

Kors.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 11:16 AM on April 4, 2007

Earth slide. Born (with rubber sole but leather footbed).
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 11:22 AM on April 4, 2007 marked best answer

Side note: how does one find a fee-based financial planner?
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 10:12 AM on March 21, 2007

Alphabetically by author or title or theme or all of the above?
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 8:00 PM on December 14, 2006

Why not take the mini aquabus over to somewhere in Yaletown or along the water? The aquabus is always fun - it'll set the mood for non-work social time. You can buy packets of tickets. In Yaletown: Cactus Club (cheaper than $30 each), Blue Water Cafe (sushi and fish but they have everything), Urban Thai (yum, so good, call ahead because it's small), Glowbal (kind of yuppie but they have this smaller semi-upstairs level that would be great for a group), etc. Or somewhere like C would work too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 3:21 PM on December 14, 2006

For what it's worth, I think Amarcord is not that great, especially for the price. If you want Italian in Yaletown, Cioppino's Enoteca is great for lunch. Now I'm hungry and homesick. Thanks a lot!
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 3:59 PM on December 14, 2006

This one has too many buttons but it's almost the right colour. Simple contrast stitching would be easily applied.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 8:50 PM on December 6, 2006

This is a rental - sorry for the confusion.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 7:08 AM on November 28, 2006

You're not nuts, but you're getting close. This is true on oh-so-many levels. Thanks for the laugh.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 7:46 AM on November 28, 2006

This resort in Cabo looks awesome, and it has vegetarian options on the menu that don't stop at salad -- even seitan, tofu, legume/bean deluxe dinners. No idea about prices. Cabo does have surfing, not sure about the winter though. Also: deep sea fishing, scuba diving, nice beaches, a town with gringos.

I'd also recommend looking for a nice resort in Playa del Carmen. A cute town, great diving, perhaps some light surfing, nice beaches, good food. Almost anywhere deluxe... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 7:27 AM on November 27, 2006

Here's the resort in Cabo.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 7:28 AM on November 27, 2006

Here's a list of all-inclusives in Playa. No experience with any of them, but Trip Advisor will have some reviews.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 7:31 AM on November 27, 2006

Katravax: can you point me in the right direction for more info on magnesium for migraines?
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 11:16 AM on November 26, 2006

How about: The Nightcleaners (dirs. Marc Karlin and James Scott, 1975) -- can be any format as I can transfer/convert here.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 7:59 AM on October 31, 2006

Full Frame in Durham, NC. One of the biggest doc festivals out there. And they seem to pair shortish features in pairs, or with a real short, but check the guidelines. A really fun festival.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 5:49 AM on October 17, 2006

Thanks everyone. It seems weird that this didn't elicit more responses and yet it's favorited by 8 other people. I'll definitely check out the offerings here, but this is an ongoing interest, so feel free to post/email if you come across anything else.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 11:04 AM on October 2, 2006

There are lots if the O-Ring is forgivable. Is it a dealbreaker or do you want a listing of boots without them?
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 6:02 PM on September 9, 2006

Just kidding, they are for sale here up to a woman's size 14, I believe. Lower bottom left corner of the page.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 6:03 PM on September 9, 2006 marked best answer

Cross-dressing shoes was one of the terms I used, transsexual shoes another. What can I say? I have no life but I can find almost anything on these here interwebs. Puddinghead, like these? Or totally flat? Suede?
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 10:16 AM on September 10, 2006 marked best answer

I wouldn't independently call these 'scrunchy' (I know what you mean), but these Campers are cute and come up to size 12. You can search for size at Zappos.com - pull down "casual boots," then size 12.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 10:21 AM on September 10, 2006

How about these? Oh wow, these are gorgeous (flat, suede, scrunchy, cute) but $300. Here's a listing of retailers of shoes for "tall women" with the size of shoe they run up to. You can search shoes by size on Amazon too - here's a search for women's boots size 12.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 10:46 AM on September 10, 2006

Keep your eyes on Zappos - they're just getting in all of their fall stock and crunchy mid-calf suede boots are just the ticket. If you want to send me your email address, if I see anything else I'll send it your way. The Amazon search by size feature is super hidden.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 6:16 PM on September 10, 2006

These are kind of slouchy. Email me!
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 6:41 PM on September 10, 2006

If you do this often, just drag "Long Headers" into your mail toolbar. View > Customize Toolbar > drag the icon into your menu. Then for any given message, just click the little icon. Voila!
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 7:42 PM on September 5, 2006 marked best answer

Just go to Robson Street first - there's an Eddie Bauer, Club Monaco, Banana Republic, Boys' Co., Roots (good quality shirts, actually), Emile Klein (upper end of things, but maybe a nice shirt or tie), Zara (not the best quality but stylish and pretty cheap), The Bay, Matinique and a few others that I'm forgetting.

Pacific Center (the mall) is right there too, with Holt Renfrew (check out the sales there - gorgeous but expensive, maybe worth it for an outer coat or... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 10:26 AM on September 4, 2006 marked best answer

Some ideas here for roll-up sun shades. Or one of those famous shade sails on its side could be cool.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 1:51 PM on July 26, 2006

Mr. Gunn writes "It'll only be a week or two of annoyance you have to put up with."

It's been going on since last year. It's not a new thing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 11:17 PM on July 20, 2006

Oh chococat, can I have that pancake recipe?
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 10:43 AM on June 27, 2006

The Vancouver Amtrak station isn't right downtown. It kind of straddles a semi-sketch area, Chinatown, and a semi-industrial area. BUT there is a Skytrain (think El/raised subway) right next door. You can hop on that and it'll take you downtown. From there, lots of buses and even a Seabus - part of the same transit system, and it gives you a great view of the city, mountains, Stanley Park and Burrard Inlet from the ocean. Ride it roundtrip to get back to the city and continue with walking around.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 1:18 AM on June 21, 2006

Or Oxyclean - spot treat it with a mild solution, the same as above.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 3:22 PM on June 13, 2006

This is sort of a rough map of Seattle by neighborhood. Anything further west/north (Fremont, Ballard, Magnolia, even Queen Anne) will be harder to get to the highway for commuting to Bellevue. Anything a bit west (I'd vote for Capitol Hill, Montlake, Magnolia or Madison Park if you can find a good building) puts you quite a few exits onto the 520 for crossing the lake and you don't have to deal with downtown traffic there. As a young or mid-20s, single, active guy, I'd still vote for staying on... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 12:21 PM on June 12, 2006

Here's the map. I agree with Slarty Bartfast. If you know the bus route of your employer, or have a carpool/shuttle to use, work backwards. I'd still rather live in one of these neighborhoods and commute (sensibly) than live on the East side - especially if you're new to the area and want to meet friends, make new ones, go to shows, walk around, sit in coffee places, walk around new neighborhoods, etc. Maybe after a year or two, when you know the scene more, you can move to the East side. I... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 12:26 PM on June 12, 2006

PS: Don't go for Belltown or Pioneer Square places. They're both sort of touted as hip new industrial-turned-loft neighborhoods and they're both just weird, in different ways. Neither one really works for your commute anyway. I'll shut up now.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 12:28 PM on June 12, 2006

Are you looking in the kid sections of those stores, or the regular section? No need to use a 'baby' floor lamp. What about a regular lamp - not the torcheire-style ones? Something like this (dimmer switch), or this or even this? Do you want a floor or table lamp? I would guess a dimmer is important.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 8:47 PM on June 10, 2006

Those 5-arm deals also come in color: the cheap version here and the more expensive/crackle version here.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 8:52 PM on June 10, 2006

I know you said nothing at Ikea caught your eye, but what about something like this? A torchiere when you need light in the whole room at night (changing sheets, etc.) but also a separate reading lamp for lower light. Both on separate dimmers.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 9:20 PM on June 10, 2006

What about going to New Orleans and work/stay with Common Ground? Working at a youth camp in some capacity?
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 2:41 PM on May 15, 2006

Apartment Therapy has some ideas.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 6:35 PM on April 14, 2006

Elephant and Castle, for sure. Not fancy, not chi-chi, but damn damn good. Get something with eggs and the french toast with apples to share. Reviews are good - it's indeed warm and cozy and the bathroom isn't the nicest, but damn good food.
posted to Ask Metafilter by fionab at 11:42 AM on April 6, 2006