I asked this question more than three years ago. I'm THRILLED to report that the remedy the neurologist suggested (atenolol, anaprox and Relpax, as detailed in my last post) still works. I would add that the gynecologist changed my BCP prescrption to Estrostep in an effort to alleviate the sharp drop-off in estrogen on the second day of my period, which was when I usually got the worst migraine.

These days, I occasionally get a headache on the fourth day of my pill cycle... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 5:24 AM on August 16, 2008

Do it. See this question. I have been virtually headache free for more than two years. It absoutely changed my life.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 10:01 AM on December 13, 2007

Us too. Ours loves those acrylic scarves that were popular a few years ago - the ones that stretch so big they'll go over your head? We call them his "girlfriends."
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 12:19 PM on July 1, 2007

miss lynnster, yes, she does know and I am giving her a courtesy review as well. (The last thing I need is an unhappy potential donor.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 4:36 AM on June 29, 2007

Oh my god, FauxScot, did you send that cat flying?

One of our cats has an incredible internal clock. He has been waking me up at exactly 4:37 every morning for the past two weeks, first by "making bread" on me, then by knocking over anything on the dresser if that doesn't work. I think he wants to be let out, which I can't do because I don't want to wake up the dog - so we just fight for an hour until regular wake-up time. (Really dislike this cat right now.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 11:19 AM on May 15, 2006

Similar to mono blanco, I have (hopefully) relaxed a bit and definitely gained self-awareness.

I've learned that most indignities that happen to me have nothing to do with me, personally (i.e. the landlord/registrar/grocery store doesn't have that stupid policy because they want to inconvenience or annoy me); in addition, the entire world does not need a blow-by-blow of that indignity.

That's a huge thing, I think. There is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 3:23 AM on May 10, 2006

Re migraines in particular, I wouldn't mention them. There is still a perception among many people that migraines are "just headaches" (which they aren't) and that people who get migraines are high-strung/neurotic/overly sensitive (which we sometimes are).

My own experience has been that once people can see how badly one truly suffers with a migraine, they are much more understanding about it. (I'd also suggest seeing a neurologist about them, if you haven't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 1:36 PM on May 8, 2006

Let's see - Cheryl Mendelson's Home Comforts (a ridiculously detailed resource for all kinds of cleaning, BTW) doesn't address spot-cleaning wool, exactly; but here are some wool-care tips from her:

* To freshen and unwrinkle wool garments, hang them in a steamy bathroom or use a steaming device

* You will help wool garments stay clean longer if you wipe them down with a barely damp white, lint-free cloth

* Wool should be... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 6:40 PM on May 7, 2006 marked best answer

Get two cats. I know it sounds crazy, and I know you don't have a lot of money, but two cats are collectively much happier than one. They don't have to come from the same litter, and you don't have to get them on the same day, but if they are both around the same age, they should become fast pals. At least that's been our experience. And kitty rasslin' is very entertaining.

Scoopable litter is your friend. Don't flush it, no matter what the box says. Clean the litter... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 2:22 AM on May 3, 2006

Every time we have a question about dog behavior, I have to bring up my hero (and secret TV boyfriend) Cesar Millan.

He had a similar case to yours in the first season. Here's a description of it from the San Diego paper:

One of the most incredible successes on "The Dog Whisperer" was the story of Kane, a 160-pound Great Dane who was phobic of shiny floors. Kane's owner is a Pasadena teacher and the dog had slipped on the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 7:07 PM on May 2, 2006

Have to disagree with schmegegge's suggestion that you keep giving the child the same meal until it's eaten. My stepfather did that to me a few times, and it is really a horrible thing to do to a kid. I've never really gotten over the Raisin Bran episode.

I had lots of different food issues as a child (no food touching, no "juice" from vegetables, a white-food-only phase) and it was worse when my mom and SD made a big deal about it. I grew out of some of it,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 11:33 AM on May 2, 2006

(Did not realize what strong feelings I had about this, wow...)

I think the Tightwad lady is off base on that advice. Insisting the child taste all the food on his/her plate is one thing; insisting the child finish food he or she doesn't like is cruel, and can result in all kinds of dramatics and the occasional vomiting.

Making food a reward/punishment thing puts more importance on food than there needs to be.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 11:51 AM on May 2, 2006

Sorry 'bout that open tag! I'm having post-traumatic stress disorder.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 11:52 AM on May 2, 2006

Yes, game shows used to have "home versions" - they probably still do. I particularly remember Concentration, where you answered questions to reveal part of a... what's it called... rebus? (Picture puzzle.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 11:22 AM on April 28, 2006

Assume this is for middle-of-the-night feedings? You'll be surprised at how little light you really need to feed or even do diaper changes. We rarely turned on a real lamp or overhead - just had nightlights (4 w bulb) in their rooms and the hallways. Now, my son has a lava lamp (blue liquid w/ white lava) for just-enough-light to get to the bathroom if he needs it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 2:40 PM on April 26, 2006

The person who used to have your number is writing bad checks with that # on them.

Change your number NOW if it's not too much of a hassle. I wish I had. Four years after moving, we are still getting collection calls for Bridget Steele, who writes bad checks with our phone # on them and it's an ENORMOUS pain in the ass, trying to explain the situation to people.

We get lots of "call me regarding an important legal matter" messages, which we ignore.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 3:11 AM on April 26, 2006

Fundraising, especially planned giving (estate gifts, trusts, etc.).
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 3:09 AM on April 26, 2006

Telephone Man, by Meri Wilson.

Hey, baby, I'm your telephone man
You just show me where you want it
and I'll put it where I can
I can put it in the bedroom, I can put it in the hall
I can put it in the bathroom, I can hang it on the wall
You can have it with a buzz, you can have it with a ring
And if you really want it you can have a ding-a-ling
Because, a hey, baby, I'm your telephone man
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 5:49 PM on April 25, 2006

Licky-Bitey cracked me up, mkultra. It's so much fun to watch. (Followed by Licky-Nappy, the cutest.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 8:19 AM on April 25, 2006

I was 30 when my OB/GYN found cysts on both ovaries during that poke-around-your-belly part of the annual exam. Laproscopic surgery (outpatient) was scheduled several weeks later and thankfully, the surgery went off without a hitch and the cysts were benign. Had the surgery on Wednesday and went back to work on Monday.

In the ewwwwww department, the doc showed the cysts to my husband and noted that they had "hair" and "teeth," which is fairly common. GROSS.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 6:02 AM on April 23, 2006

eBay sounds like a horrible idea. Nobody's going to be able to Paypal you $45,000, right? Earnest money, title search, inspection, escrow, surveys, credit checks, closing documents, payoffs... Are you prepared to take on all that yourself? Get a better Realtor, one who can get you comps for your development and give you an honest assessment of what you need to do to your place to sell it.

Another option might be to try to sell it to a company in your area that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 12:56 PM on April 22, 2006

Here's something you need to know before you get here: while there's a small arts community and a few funky neighborhoods, Charlotte is primarily a city of single-family homes, lawn services, SUVs, churches and big corporations. There are about 200 people who set the agenda and run the city. It's a lovely place to live and we've come a LONG way since I arrived here 18 years ago (I'll stay here forever), but a lot of transplants from more cosmopolitan cities can't wait to leave once their stint... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 10:31 AM on April 22, 2006

Thirding "Making Faces" by Keyn Aucoin. It's a great resource.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 4:57 PM on April 20, 2006

Six years trying to get tenure in most cases, salvia. And if you don't, you're tainted goods. Tenure is an incredibly stressful, political process that, as an outsider, makes one question whether the so-called "job for life" is worth it.

Humanities professors are grossly underpaid. As a non-academic administrator at a state university, I make as much (sometimes more) as many tenured professors in English, history, etc.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 5:19 AM on April 15, 2006

Picking up on acoutu, business PhDs are hot: supply (all those 70s PhDs retiring) and demand is sending starting salaries through the roof. Our new faculty are getting $100k+, plus guaranteed research funding, just out of PhD programs. if you have even the slightest aptitude/interest, it's definitely worth looking into.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 7:05 PM on April 16, 2006

Just tell them your name and how they know you immediately upon greeting them: "Hi, Amtho - [I'm] SashaPT - we met at the meeting/concert/party last week." Do it compulsively, and never wait until you see the oh-shit-what's-her-name look in their eyes. People really appreciate it, even if they remember your name right off the bat.

Previously: here here and sort of related here.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 3:59 PM on April 16, 2006

Yikes, this isn't my area of expertise, but it sounds like you could be stepping into a discrimination lawsuit minefield. Why not ask a church member who's an attorney to help with the letter?

The lawyers in this bunch probably need to know what state you're in to give even remotely good advice.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 12:14 PM on April 14, 2006

Paper Moon
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 7:26 PM on April 13, 2006

FWIW, have you considered splitting the book up into several volumes? If portability and the ability to add to it are important, splitting would give you more of both.

I am not a fan of comb binding - I think it looks cheap. Spiral binding would look better but is more expensive.

Is the 500 pages assuming double-sided printing? And how many copies are you going to have printed? A majority of printing costs is in pre-press, so you're better off... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 5:04 AM on April 12, 2006

Why not ask your optician if they'll spot you a pair until you can get in for an appointment? Mine has done that for me on more than one occasion.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 12:24 PM on April 11, 2006

The Tao of Pooh
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 12:22 PM on April 11, 2006

I don't have one, but the FlyLady sells a ton of these Office in a Bag. People who follow her organizing/cleaning system seem to like it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 2:16 AM on April 7, 2006

Second the soundtrack to Big Night - it's excellent.

Did Moonstruck have a soundtrack?
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 9:47 AM on April 6, 2006

Ditto on Petty. I haven't done it, but I've booked people for the ride-along (the least expensive but also least scary option) and they've all really enjoyed it.

Or, how about a trip to Charlotte? Lots (most) of the race teams have their shops in the area, and many are open for tours. One of the locations for the Petty Experience is at Lowe's Motor Speedway. We also have two races coming up in May - the Nextel All-Star Challenge (under the lights on May 20) and the Coke... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 8:24 AM on March 29, 2006

Before you give up on him, watch The Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is a genius and his method is miraculous.

He contends that you must show calm, assertive energy to be your dog's pack leader. No fear, no anger, just an unwavering belief that you are going to get your own way. Your instinct to put a leash on the dog is a good one; you do want to be able to move him, if necessary.

He also says that the best way to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 12:59 PM on March 28, 2006

Just to echo lots of other comments above: First trimester really can be draining; you are growing another human being; you are not in control of your own body right now - your hormones are; and this is a life-changing event, which by its nature brings a gamut of emotions, including ambivalence. You're not a bad mom-in-training, nor are these feelings any indication that you'll be a bad mom once the baby gets here.

That being said, this is an excellent... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 6:56 AM on March 27, 2006

Tell them what you're going to say. Say it. Then recap what you said. It's the "Dora the Explorer" method of presenting, but it works.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 6:54 PM on March 22, 2006

Based on the weeds that are thriving in our back yard in spite of the pup, I'd say clover is an excellent bet.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 6:39 PM on March 20, 2006

Have to disagree with mojabunni - where you go to school does matter in academe, much more so than the corporate world. The job market for English PhDs is terrible, so any leg up (prestige degree, connections) will be useful. Not to say that the writer won't get a job with a PhD from the mid-tier school, but it will likely be a mid-tier job.

Having said that, I agree with the others who say there's nothing you can do to hasten your admittance to the top-tier school. The... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 4:12 AM on March 18, 2006

Loretta Lynn - Honkytonk Girl, Don't Come Home a Drinkin', Coal Miner's Daughter

Carole King
Carly Simon
Pretenders
Linda Ronstadt (pre "golden oldies")
Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer, "Enough is Enough"
Madonna
Annie Lennox/Eurythmics
The Supremes
Aretha Franklin
Tina Turner
Indigo Girls
Dixie... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 4:49 AM on March 16, 2006 marked best answer

Fountains of Wayne: Red Dragon Tattoo, Bright Future in Sales, Mexican Wine, Valley of Malls come to mind. (And I have to put in a plug for The Girl I Can't Forget, even though it's about love, kinda, and a relationship, kinda, but is cleverly written and a really happy song.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 6:45 PM on March 15, 2006

Start local/regional. In the US, the network of Business Journals has a series of awards programs in each of their cities (really just targeted advertising opportunities, but also can be company "resume filler"): Diversity in Business, Women in Business, 40 Under 40, etc.

Also, many chambers of commerce hold annual awards for entrepreneurs, technology, business growth.

These "minor league" achievements could supplement an... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 1:07 PM on March 3, 2006

To build your portfolio, volunteer for a non-profit and ask to help with marketing, PR or special events. Be prepared to go to 4x as many meetings as necessary.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 1:39 PM on February 28, 2006

Segovia is a lovely town about an hour from Madrid, with a Roman aqueduct, beautiful churches and winding streets. Toledo is great also.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 3:19 AM on February 23, 2006

My daughter (11) loves paper doll websites like TheDollmakers.org and Cartoon Doll Emporium, which our fellow Mefites assure me are not pervy. And she's a Neopets fanatic too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 7:40 PM on February 22, 2006

iVillage's diet pages cover just about every diet plan, from the insane to the sensible. You might have better luck on their message boards. Registration's free.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 6:11 AM on February 18, 2006

Must Love Dogs = Perfectmatch.com
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 5:10 PM on February 15, 2006

I use Proflowers.com, which doesn't deliver in Canada, but they have an affiliate company, Flowerfarm, that does.

Whatever method you choose, I would highly recommend asking specifically for cut flowers rather than an arrangement. They're just prettier IMO (beautifully simple, less fussy and grandma-ish) and less likely to contain filler like carnations, baby's breath, etc.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 3:24 PM on February 8, 2006

I am circling back around VERY late to report that I did go to a neurologist in May of '05 and have been nearly migrane-free since. I haven't missed a day of work or had to drive home with my thumb jammed in my eye in more than six months. It's a freakin' miracle.

Here's my new regimen, YMMV of couse: she put me on Atenolol to regulate blood flow issues (and some borderline high blood pressure), and prescribed Anaprox (high-dose Aleve) as well as Relpax (which I had... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 2:24 PM on February 6, 2006

If North Carolina is still on your list, I would suggest you contact Holy Angels in Belmont (about two hours east of Asheville, in the Charlotte region). I don't have personal experience with their services, but they are very highly regarded around here.
posted to Ask Metafilter by SashaPT at 3:36 AM on February 6, 2006 marked best answer