For the benefit of anyone who might be in a similar situation: My boyfriend, also a MeFite, suggested checking whether trust documents are filed with the county clerk's office. There are several potentially relevant filings there, and this might yield documents that I could take to be reviewed by counsel, should I retain a trusts and estates lawyer.

That is a useful answer.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 7:54 PM on July 31, 2007

I was hoping that someone who had been the beneficiary of a trust might be able to say "yes, I was able to get an accounting," or could suggest that documents might be on file somewhere; megatherium's information about potential relief from a probate court was also good to get. Even an opinion on whether this sort of confusion is common with estates or whether it indicates something fishy would be great (all you need for that is experience with dead people). You would not have to be a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 8:28 PM on July 31, 2007

When I was in your shoes I went to Japan.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 6:22 AM on July 14, 2007

I've had my feet measured.

Essentially my thumb test is checking for the presence of the structural features paulsc mentioned. I'd rather suffer once a year by slipping and falling than have my heels sawed through every single day.

P.S. What did they use before "thermoplastic compound"? This even sounds uncomfortable.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 2:21 PM on July 7, 2007

I have used ING Direct for several years. I think they are paying 4.5% now. It is easy to use and has a clean web interface. I can send you a referral link that gives you a $25 account-opening bonus; email is in profile.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 12:37 PM on July 1, 2007

letitrain: I assume that's also true of the referrals in EmptyK's link. But it's a good bank regardless. Now that I think about it, though, having an ATM card is a big convenience, especially if you might need the money quickly (transfers take a couple of days). So go with HSBC.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 2:29 PM on July 1, 2007

Dr. Namtran Pham at Virginia Square on the Orange Line is an excellent opthalmologist.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 5:25 PM on June 27, 2007 marked best answer

100 Names, by The Nields? (Listen)
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 6:05 AM on June 27, 2007

No to Comcast. Hours of sporadic downtime.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 7:06 AM on June 26, 2007

Sort of previously.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 8:38 AM on June 21, 2007

Sharon Kay Penman. She has more conventional historical fiction (The Sunne in Splendour is good) as well as a series of medieval mysteries.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 3:48 PM on June 19, 2007

I actually like Garnier Nutrisse but I have had this problem myself (hair being darker than expected, ends sucking up dye and being much darker than the roots), albeit with their Soft Black color.

Have you considered re-dying your hair with the same color following the "root touch-up" directions? At least then your hair would be the same overall color from root to tip and you could focus on fading it out evenly with the dish soap. In my experience, Nutrisse... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 12:49 PM on June 18, 2007

Ooh, I second Meredith Ann Pierce.

It's sort of schlocky, but Mists of Avalon (to read after The Once & Future King)?

Some of the Golden Age short stories (Van Vogt, etc.) could be good for discussion, especially the ones that pose moral or scientific puzzles.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 7:31 PM on June 12, 2007

Some kind of motion-activated sprinkler? That might work whether it is human or animal.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 4:26 PM on June 11, 2007

I have a Fendi Selleria bag that looks exactly the same today as it did when I bought it a year ago. I carry it every day just as I would any other bag. In order for a purchase like that to be worthwhile, you probably need to not mind carrying the same bag for several years.

Some of my friends swear by Coach's leather bags.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 8:32 AM on June 6, 2007

Is it the case that both names are particularly common in your birth cohort? I get called Heather and Amanda, only one of which sounds like my name but both of which were very popular when I was born.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 11:37 AM on June 3, 2007

There was nothing morally objectionable about your behavior.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 8:44 AM on June 3, 2007

I am not your lawyer, this is not legal advice.
My gut says that your landlord is in the wrong, since it sounds like your friend was not empowered to act on your behalf and the plain language of the lease is in your favor. As to what you should do: go get a free futon from somebody and forget it. This is not worth the hassle. Your landlord should do this, not you, but only you can decide (or, really, the guy sleeping on the floor) whether you are willing to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 10:56 PM on June 2, 2007

These methods?
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 4:47 PM on June 1, 2007 marked best answer

There is an article on the duct tape method with lots of step-by-step photos here.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 4:52 PM on June 1, 2007

If you want to try Marrakesh, you will need to make a reservation.

Nth all the Ethiopian suggestions, although I prefer Abiti on 9th to any of the Adams Morgan places (Zenebech Injera is the best, but it only has two tables; if you want to get takeout and sit in a park to eat, try it).

Someplace like Old Ebbett Grill or Mortons for lunch is nice for people-watching.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 5:53 AM on May 24, 2007

If you don't keep copies of the books you read, at least keep a journal of them. Sometimes I forget whether I've read a book and it's nice to look back and see that yes, I did, and thought it was ____. Keeps you from accidentally checking out the same book twice, or books by authors you've already tried and disliked, too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 1:23 PM on May 18, 2007

Tell your friend about the previous incident and that this guy sounds like he might be the same person. Ask to be included in some social activity where they will attend as a couple (make it sound like you just want to meet him to reassure yourself that he's not the molestor). It sounds like if this is the guy, he will attack you on sight. That reaction should be enough to prove to your friend A) that he's the molestor, and B) that he's a violent nutjob. This involves putting yourself at some... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 7:28 AM on May 17, 2007

Previously.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 7:40 PM on May 16, 2007

Thanks for the link, roll truck roll.

Neruda and cummings are the go-to authors for this.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 5:00 PM on May 14, 2007

Is it true that male, altered cats are stereotypically the most friendly? In my experience, this is true.

What's the best kind of cat food and cat litter I can purchase? I'm inclined against buying food that is only available from a vet's office; it's typically expensive and if you run out of food you might not be able to get a replacement bag right away, leading to sudden diet changes and upset kitty tummy. I order Felidae Cat... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 11:54 AM on May 14, 2007

But Pomona has Juanita's burritos!
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 8:21 AM on May 3, 2007

You want moleskin.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 1:39 AM on May 3, 2007

Ditto what somechick said about reservations, although I liked the Eurail pass and would use it again. Also, be sure to write in the date of use on your pass yourself as the terms and conditions require. Often the conductors will do it for you, but if you slack and rely on them you may end up with a conductor who threatens to throw you off your overnight train from Hungary unless you pay him a bribe.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 12:12 PM on April 24, 2007

This thread might be useful for purposes of comparison.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 8:10 PM on April 22, 2007

what they should expect

Catcalling. I went to Istanbul with a female friend, and every third guy we passed in Sultanahmet felt free to shout at us, try to pick us up, leer, etc. Women traveling with a man (owner) did not get nearly this level of abuse. So if they come across as a pair of single American het women, I would say to prepare for street harassment like they have never experienced before.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 7:16 AM on April 12, 2007

I feed mine Felidae Chicken & Rice dry food. No wheat, no corn, and cheaper than Wellness.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 7:36 AM on April 5, 2007

Folly.

Flirtation, particularly when we are married or in committed relationship, brings us dangerously close to one of the most pernicious sins of all. No, I don’t mean adultery. I mean the sin of using another human being to soothe our own anxiety, to feed our ravenous ego. Sending out “mixed messages” that arouse interest, deliberately fishing about to see if we can get a little “stroking” — this is toxic, manipulative, adolescent.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 6:48 PM on March 23, 2007

I liked my first visit with this doctor. She was very personable, talked with me about my history for some time, and made a number of recommendations for non-drug solutions, which I appreciated. The clinic she's affiliated with has phone-in hours although I have not taken advantage of them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 1:50 PM on March 18, 2007

The Secession and the Leopold are great. Must sees.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 7:03 PM on March 1, 2007

My doc recommended magnesium supplements for migraine prevention, which I take along with my daily multivitamin, flax pill, and calcium supplement. It seems to have reduced frequency, intensity, and susceptibility (fewer reactions to trigger foods). My previous doctor recommended a B-complex for the same purpose, although that didn't work for me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 8:47 AM on February 26, 2007

This thread discussing women's writing that could be mistaken for men's writing might be helpful.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 10:45 AM on February 13, 2007

It took a week or so with my cats in a similar situation, but that was exacerbated by one of them wearing a (bad-smelling?) Elizabethan collar. Give it a few days.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 4:32 PM on February 11, 2007

That ancestralbranches.com sounds promising. I don't know much about my ancestry but I what I do know falls within their range of countries (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Germany).

The wager is not "am I related to GW," but "am I as closely related to GW as is Barack Obama"?
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 10:29 AM on February 11, 2007

I also read in chunks. I can do the "where it was on the page" trick, but only some of the time. I dated a guy who could do it all the time.

You are not alone. But Janine Cross sucks.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 5:11 PM on January 23, 2007

El Tiempo is better than Pappasito's and Chuy's. It's run by the people who had Ninfa's. Third the Menil.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 5:05 AM on January 9, 2007

Your entire description applied to me and I just did this very thing in September. Japan is a great place to travel alone. Stay in ryokan where possible. Business hotels can be almost as cheap as hostels, though, and are easier to find if you are just wandering as opposed to having a preplanned itinerary for the whole trip.

Things I found useful:
Japan railpass (must buy in the USA)
This website for train scheduling; seriously, this is the best... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 7:46 AM on January 8, 2007

filmgeek, it does not show up in Device Manager. I just plugged it into my boyfriend's PC and it showed up in My Computer and was recognized by iTunes.

The old nano used to work just fine on my laptop. Ever since I upgraded iTunes, it's been borked. I don't know if that could coincide with some kind of power supply problem. It is also no longer under warranty (the guy at the Genius Bar today said he would "let it slide" since it expired recently), so I don't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 6:30 PM on December 30, 2006

My digital camera uses the USB ports and it seems to work fine. I will try updating the BIOS as prelude to potentially reinstalling Windows. Sigh.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 7:48 AM on December 31, 2006

Yeah, I agree with bingo. Date Republicans.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 7:15 AM on December 30, 2006

dios, you are wrong. Under Warnock v. Archer, which is binding in the 8th Circuit (of which Missouri is a part), the actions of the teachers and principal almost certainly constitute unconstitutional endorsement of religion. (Even if attendance at the Christmas party was optional, the fact that the school threw a Christmas party is problematic.) There have been some cases outside the 8th Circuit dealing with religious songs as well (Marchi v Board, Duncanville v. Doe) indicating that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 3:24 PM on December 20, 2006

pardonyou?, I agree that those aspects are more like Brown. But the school-sponsored sectarian Christmas party is a big red flag, and the Jesus songs at assemblies, depending on the context, are probably endorsement as well. Besides, dios's arguments would be equally applicable to the scenario in Warnock, and that was what I took issue with.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 5:34 AM on December 21, 2006

Only Mirena and Paragard are available in the USA. I went from Yasmin to the Paragard a few months ago and have been very satisfied. I picked the Paragard because, like you, I was worried about the hormones in the Mirena. Heaviness is about equal to my pre-Pill teenage years, although it lasts a couple of days longer. Pain is actually less. My BC/BS insurance reimbursed me for the IUD and the installation appointments, which I had done at Planned Parenthood. Take the day off when you get it put... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 5:20 PM on December 17, 2006

Vacheron Mont D'or, although the season for it may have ended.

Lamb Chopper is a great sheep's milk cheese.

Temperature is important. Don't buy expensive cheese and then eat it cold from the fridge (avoid storing it in the fridge if you can, actually).
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 1:09 PM on December 6, 2006

Start a blog. Seriously. If you're as awesome as you say, you will get an audience, and some portion of that audience will be male, and some portion of those men will ask you out. If your blog accurately displays your assets, you'll eliminate the losers who can't handle strong, high-achieving women.
posted to Ask Metafilter by amber_dale at 5:29 PM on November 26, 2006