Wow, this happened to me the other day except it was cheese ravioli and the culprit was my husband who put in the pantry instead of the fridge. We had pizza for dinner that night. I say chuck it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 9:38 AM on August 21, 2008

I have had really good luck using acrylic paints, as artychoke said. Another advantage is that they show up really well on darker skin tones. I've never had a problem with it getting on clothes or anything--just have the kid sit there for the two minutes it takes to dry. Get a couple of good brushes and you're all set!
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 7:20 AM on August 6, 2008

See if you can track down some Brazilian coffee. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Anyone who visits us is amazed by how different even our cheap grocery store brands taste. They lack the bitter taste and acidity that you usually associate with coffee. Now when I go back to the U.S. I only drink espresso (and variations thereof) because I can't stand the flavor of good ol' brew.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 6:12 AM on June 23, 2008

Mulato Beat's remix of Baby It's Cold Outside is pretty cool--it's really bare and simple.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 12:17 PM on June 13, 2008

There's been some great stuff so far in this thread (and I suspect Pater Aletheias will be along soon with the perfect answer--how does he do that?!?). What konolia said is a good start. Reading the Psalms shows you a couple of things. First, David, who is described as a "man after God's own heart" spent a lot of time feeling utterly abandoned by God. This is a really common feeling. Second, he told God exactly what he thought about it. David was pissed that God wasn't doing what he... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 10:22 AM on May 8, 2008

I'm a dual, born and raised in Canada but went to college in the U.S. The biggest benefit I had over my Canadian friends at the same college for me was that I qualified for a lot of federal financial aid. I would have been able to work off-campus, too. (I didn't have all my documentation freshman year and was only allowed to work on-campus.) It's definitely beneficial to be a citizen.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 2:57 PM on May 1, 2008

-Persuasion
-Psych of Crime
-Group Communication

I use what I learned in all of them regularly. The profs were decent but the subject matter was what made it for me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 5:56 PM on April 26, 2008

mahamandarava: yes, she was a porn star. One day a guy at the grocery store told me I had "eyes like Xuxa." Having never looked closely at her eyes, I did a Google image search and got quite an eyeful!
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 6:25 PM on April 23, 2008

Born in 1978. My parents are musical and our family is part of an a capella church so we're big singers. Huge. Like the stinkin' von Trapps at times. Growing up, I remember Mom singing many of the nursery rhymes to me instead of just reading them. I have younger siblings so I got to hear her sing them for years and years. Our vacations were long car trips so there was all kinds of singing. As we got older we learned to sing in parts and with four kids and grandma, we were a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 5:27 PM on April 19, 2008

Two cows are standing in a field.
One says, "Moo."
The other says, "I knew you were going to say that!"
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 2:20 PM on April 17, 2008

Awkward, emotional virgin-on-virgin sex, shower, better sex.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 1:40 PM on April 14, 2008

We live quite far from our parents, too. I called my parents up and while on the phone with them, I said, "Go to the computer--I'm going to send you a file that I want your opinon on." Then I sent them the ultrasound photo. It was fun because I got to listen to them processing it ("Is that what I think it is?!?") We did something similar with my in-laws, too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 6:49 AM on April 5, 2008

A good friend of mine has a son with Tourette's and it's made her quite aware of other people's tics. She has pointed out so many people around us with tics but has never suggested that any of them have Tourette's. It just means that lots of people have tics!

Tourette's is about much more than just tics, though that's the most obvious part. Thank your friend for her concern and move on.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 1:19 PM on March 23, 2008

I live in a land where cashews are king. The flavor isn't quite as strong as almond but their natural sweetness and texture makes them a good fit for most recipes (either sweet or savory).
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 5:00 AM on March 19, 2008

(In Brazil) Part of it the issue seems to be at the consumer end (vs. the treatment center). I don't know the reason why but on the few times that I've accidentally dropped a little bit of TP in the toilet (or had some TP I would really rather flush), it usually doesn't go down. So then you stand there and wait and try flushing it again and eventually give up and hope everyone else doesn't know it was you. But I know that there are some places around that can handle it--not that you know in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 4:54 AM on February 9, 2008

Sixpence None the Richer has another song simply called "Breathe". It's more overtly Christian but way less annoying than "Breathe Your Name" (mentioned above by Admiral Haddock).
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 5:31 AM on January 31, 2008

Eat your yogurt (filled with live and active cultures) and avoid your veggies. No, really. When I'm on antibiotics, a salad is quite positively the worst, most painful thing there is to digest.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 3:22 AM on January 27, 2008

The hub and I are big movie fans so our plan was to go to the movies once a week or so. The plan was temporarily on hold when I ended up on extended bedrest. As soon as I was free to get up, there was nothing playing worth seeing. Now everything we want to see is going to be release right around my due date (next month!) or immediately after. Stinks.

One thing we've managed to do is try new restaurants. It's easy for the two of us to run out and grab a bite.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 4:35 PM on January 16, 2008

When I read your question the first thing that came to mind was The Year of Living Biblically because, as beautifulcheese said, he really wrestles with prayer.

Personally, my prayer life is all over the map. I was raised in church, I now work for a church so I feel like I should be some kind of prayer master by now, but I'm not. I've had a few powerful moments of connection through prayer but mostly I have the feeling of putting everything out there and waiting for a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 6:38 PM on January 15, 2008

The Firm--just listening to the soundtrack gets my heart racing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 4:44 PM on January 14, 2008

As people have stated above, different companies' coverage varies greatly. You can compare coverage maps online. When I go to the US I get a Tracfone because it has the best coverage in the areas I travel. Getting pre-paid phones in the US is super easy and pretty cheap.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 3:35 AM on January 3, 2008

Call the airline and explain the situation. It depends on the agent you get (and the airline) but my inlaws were recently able to delay their departure due to a visa situation for a couple of days without penalty. Getting into the US as a Canadian isn't your problem--it's entering the US under your visa which, if you go ahead and head down there now, could mean having to leave and re-enter once your visa is ready to go. Even if you have to pay to change the ticket, it could be cheaper in the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 1:38 PM on December 24, 2007

Several friends have used 1 Corinthians 13 as a basis for their vows: I will be patient, I will be kind, etc. (I totally would have done it had I heard that idea before I got married.) It's a promise to have the kind of love that will keep you guys together to the end.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 4:05 PM on December 19, 2007

I have never used one (grew up in Canada). I didn't realize how into using them some people are until I moved overseas and started having American houseguests, many of whom would ask for washclothes. Unfortunately, I've never seen a washcloth for sale here so on my last trip back to North America, I bought a couple exclusively for my vistors.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 3:52 AM on December 18, 2007

I think it is perfectly okay of you to ask for something that isn't of direct benefit to you. To me, buying you a present when you have asked for a donation to be made instead is a double injury--someone could have benefited from that donation and you ended up with something you didn't want/need. I say stick to your guns. And after all, this was one aunt that emailed you, not the whole family. The idea that the gift must be pleasing to both the giver and the recipient is odd to me--I can think... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 12:23 PM on December 15, 2007

Wow, I'm so glad to read this thread! A few years ago one of my coworkers and I would fight over whether or not we could go to Subway for lunch. He loved the smell, I hated it. When pressed for an explanation, I came to the conclusion it was the bread. I grew up with the delicious smell of freshly baked bread filling my whole house. The bread they cook at Subway smells nothing like it. Tastes nothing like it either, which makes me wonder why they go to all the trouble to have "freshly... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 3:55 AM on December 14, 2007

She collects the teeth to give them to babies. That's where their teeth come from. There are no new baby teeth, just recycled ones.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 5:09 PM on December 10, 2007

Don't forget that the act of traveling will dehydrate you, too. So don't wait until you get there to start downing the water--on the plane or in the car, keep it coming! Yeah, you'll have to pee more but you'll have a good head start. Once you arrive, keep it up. I'm always ready with an arsenal of chapstick and lotion. The last time the hubby and I visited the fam, we had to keep going back to the store to get stronger and stronger chapstick--finally ended up with one made by Neosporin.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 1:46 PM on December 9, 2007

No one ever tells you how terrifying pregnancy can be. Bleeding is one of those times. I started bleeding at 14 weeks (ironically, the day after we "went public" with the pregnancy). I was diagnosed with a hematoma and a low-lying placenta. That combination led to a lot of blood. When I asked about the risk to the baby, the doctor explained that if I went back to my normal life, the baby would be in a great deal of danger but if I took it easy until everything healed, the risk was low.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 1:11 PM on November 29, 2007

Way up at the top of this thread, Doohickie said Cold is a state of mind. If possible, embrace the glorious coldness of a winter wind by *not* pulling your collar up and your hat down, just so long as the wind chill is warmer than -20 degrees F. Honestly you can make yourself get used to cold to the point that you feel warmer by *not* bundling up.

I absolutely agree. Put up with a little discomfort at the beginning (don't be stupid/dangerous about it)... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 3:34 AM on November 29, 2007

I've successfully taken up running for weight loss a couple of times. The schedule I've used was at an even slower pace than the one you linked to (I think I had 4 minutes of recovery time after each run at first). When you start, it *is* pretty uncomfortable. Parts of your body will jiggle in ways you never dreamed possible. Your shins will hurt. Your knees will hurt. But it gets better. Over time, all the parts that used to jiggle firm up. In my experience, they firm up faster than if I was... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 11:50 AM on November 13, 2007 marked best answer

My dad had a fairly flexible but at times unpredictable work schedule. As much as possible, he was home for lunch when I was going to junior high a few blocks away from the house. It was a simple thing but it made up for all the times that I had band concerts and he couldn't be there. I cannot fathom what it's like to have a dad that works 9 to 5 and I wouldn't trade the missed concerts for getting to spend time with my dad every day. My husband has a similar job and I hope he can one day do the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 1:22 PM on November 10, 2007

I am one of those people who doesn't like blue shirts with jeans. I prefer higher contrast combinations (like orange or brown with blue). Blue on blue is blah to me. I think a shirt with several shades of blue can work with jeans. A blue shirt could be worn with jeans if layered with a contrasting color. A shirt that is an intense shade of blue looks funny with the generally relaxed colors of jeans.

But as you can tell from the rest of the thread, this is totally... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 3:28 PM on October 30, 2007

Meet him at his level in as many ways as you can. Getting down to his level physically (like Ian said) is a huge step. Lots of grownups don't bother to do this. Play at his level, too--if crashing his cars is his thing, join him in it. If he likes to pretend, play along. Keep the fact that you are the adult somewhere in your mind so you don't get too carried away and get both of you in trouble. (I hate it when only the kid gets in trouble but I know it was really my fault! I feel terrible!)
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 2:27 PM on October 29, 2007

I had flat hair for years and have only recently learned to wear it big.

Cut cannot be overemphasized.

If you really feel like you have to wash your hair every day, try to only shampoo the roots. It makes a huge difference.

"Hair people" might disagree with me but I've found the best product for my hair is a low-end aerosol hairspray. Make it ridiculously huge, using as much spray as you want. As it settles,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 2:20 PM on October 29, 2007

Ask them. When my mother-in-law was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, her friends tried to guess what would be the most help. Almost all of them came to the conclusion that they should bring us dessert for our Thanksgiving dinner. (Which was pretty funny, because I am the one who does the desserts, not her. She couldn't even eat at the time. We ended up with almost a dozen different desserts, which my hubby and I gladly ate, but the desserts didn't help her one whit.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 12:52 PM on October 25, 2007

There's a list of several yummy-looking variations at the end of this pancake recipe. (I made the basic pancakes the other day and loved 'em!)
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 12:43 PM on October 25, 2007

The way to keep from unintentionally leaving/losing things is to be intentional about not doing it. Sounds obvious, I know. I tend to be a little scatterbrained (moreso now that I'm pregnant) and I have had to learn to keep track of my possessions. When I handle something important, something I definitely do not want to lose, I handle it with that importance. I wouldn't set $150 on the seat next to me so I won't do it with my iPod. If I'm not using it, back into the purse/bag it goes. It may be... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 3:45 AM on October 19, 2007

Spinach, strawberries, mozzarella, candied pecans/walnuts and a vinagrette made with red wine vinegar.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 3:32 AM on October 19, 2007

Coat the roast in flour and a little salt and pepper and sear in oil in a dutch oven. Then set the roast to the side. Loosen whatever little chunks that are stuck to the bottom of the pan. Add a cup or so of dry red wine. Cook it for a few minutes until you have significantly less wine than you did before. Pour the wine out into a cup or whater. Now add a layer of veggies (carrots, potatoes, onions) to the bottom of the pot, stick the meat back in and shove as many more veggies as you can down... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 2:14 PM on October 15, 2007

I relied heavily on the (cheap) wristbands on a major recent trip (bus, plane, car) and they worked for me.

But your last comment bears noting--if this is what she is asking for for her birthday, it doesn't matter what you think of it or how much it will be used in the future. It's what she wants and it will make her happy to receive. If the cost is too much, ask for other suggestions. Otherwise, it's a gift--it's for her satisfaction, not yours.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 7:56 AM on October 15, 2007 marked best answer

I have played trumpet, trombone and euphonium. I really can't say that one required a significant amount of air than another. With any wind instrument (even recorder) your breathing is important. With practice, you can greatly improve. This is a learned skill, not a natural talent. Part of what a teacher will teach you is how to breathe.

For me a big factor in choosing an instrument would be considering what you want to do with it. If you're looking... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 4:37 AM on October 11, 2007

If they're anything like me and my husband, the previous loss is already very much at the front of their minds (especially given what happened in their situation). I'm 20 weeks pregnant now after a couple of losses and I spent a lot of time just waiting for something to go wrong. It took me a long time to feel like I could shop for baby stuff without somehow jinxing myself. What helped were the people who helped me get excited about it. If you want to give them something special, make it... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 8:45 AM on October 8, 2007 marked best answer

I "play online". I'm not actually playing games but I'm not really doing anything purposeful either. There is very little actual work for me to accomplish online and the little bit that I do need to do has its own words--blogging or writing email.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 5:04 PM on October 6, 2007

Dress nicely but comfortably. I would definitely wear pants so you can move around freely without worrying. But you don't have to dress to match the guests--you are there to work. The catering staff dresses up but not so they can blend in with the guests!
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 2:12 PM on October 4, 2007

One wedding I attended had a large fishbowl full of slips of paper. On each paper were the names of every couple in the room. When people clinked, the bride and groom would draw a slip and that couple would have to kiss. (I do think that the b&g kissed a couple of times just to indulge everyone.) I've also seen other criteria used--longest marriage, next anniversary, etc. I've never been to a Canadian wedding where people don't clink, so you may as well find creative ways... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 4:16 AM on October 4, 2007

I've been there twice. Everyone handles it differently and finds their own way to cope. It *will* be hard to watch her friends go through their pregancies and have babies, then again, it may not be as hard as you think it might be. Just keep the conversation as open as she wants it to be. (I say that from the experience of having some people want to play therapist when they were the last people I wanted to talk to about it.) Some days it will hurt, some days it won't. Let her choose when she... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 10:23 AM on October 3, 2007

I don't know about Rio specifically, but generally plus sizes are hard to find in Brazil. I am a 14 and that puts me at the really big end of "normal" clothes here. In a big mall, I'm sure there will be at least one store that carries big sizes (look for stores that offer sizes bigger than 50). But don't hold your breath that there will be really cute stuff--the plus-sized stuff I've seen has been more like polyester potato sacks than anything else.

Sorry to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 5:14 AM on October 3, 2007

As Meatbomb was saying, mostly you're just talking about different acronyms for the same idea. ESL was replaced (in some places) with EFL, acknowledging that many people already speak more than one language before learning English. The newest is EAL: English as an Additional Language. (Throw a "T" in front of any one of those and it become Teaching English...) What KokuRyu said is probably true--pick where you want to end up and find out what they want. If you really aren't sure, just... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 9:31 AM on October 1, 2007

The Accidental President of Brazil by Fernando Henrique Cardoso was a great read. Cardoso's family was so connected in Brazilian political life that he grew up knowing many of his predecessors. This means that his story is really a history of Brazil in the second half of the 20th century. Granted, I'm more interested in Brazilian history than most people around here but it was one of the better autobiographies I have read.
posted to Ask Metafilter by wallaby at 6:20 PM on September 30, 2007