I lived alone for eight years. Although I am in a really fulfilling family situation now, I miss some parts of my solitary life although there was a transition period for getting used to it at first (way back when).

There has been some really good advice posted up there. So let me focus on the mechanics of setting yourself up to enjoy solitude.

Your immediate space that you live in is pretty important to the enjoyment of solitude. It will... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 5:45 AM on July 26, 2008

Are they also letting you link back to your own blog in your bio and byline (on their website) as well as in print?

Then it might be worth it...kind of. Especially if you have your own ad deals on your blog.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 10:11 PM on July 25, 2008

Well, it's possible that embarrassing things happened on shows like Candid Camera, Kids Say the Darndest Things or America's Funniest Home Videos that created instant celebrities. Or perhaps news shows where footage was shown that the subject didn't intend others to see. I can remember making jokes about some episodes as kids or hearing adults talking about the subjects of some episodes, but I can't remember specifics.

There are also people like Guy Goma.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 5:30 PM on July 25, 2008

Perfect time to introduce her to the fantastic world of Breyer Horses. I played with mine for hours, until I was 12 or so. And now MY daughter is playing with my same horses (she's 2 and mine are all from the Traditional product line) and I'll be adding some more for her in future years.

They also have the Special Runs (which are really beautiful) and, okay, fine, if needed, you have the Wind Dancer line as well.

But I'd go with the regular... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 8:35 PM on July 22, 2008

Wow, these are all terrific. Thanks everyone! (Now, I cannot burn these or dry them out. Otherwise, I will be scorned. Not easy for someone whose parents once gave her a smoke alarm labeled "kitchen timer".)
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 4:46 PM on July 22, 2008

Have you read through Go City Kids Boston?
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 1:22 PM on July 22, 2008

I'm a lot more tired lately.

I'm a lot more focused.

I laugh more. Really belly laugh.

I worry about different things than I used to and have quit worrying about a lot of other things.

I experience depression less. And with my history with depression, that is amazing.

Time seems to go faster.

I feel like I have a lot in common with so many more... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 1:20 PM on July 22, 2008

I'm an instructional designer that hasn't worked in instructional design for awhile but I'm getting back in this fall. It's a terrific gig if you like to learn new content constantly, can turn around and apply it quickly to print, video, audio and tech instructional products.

Pros:

-I get to be an anthropologist of sorts (I have also worked as an ethnographer and those skills come in handy fairly often).
-I also work as a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 7:20 PM on July 21, 2008

This sounds like me. I was tested and had pretty severe sleep apnea, although I don't fit the normal profile of someone with that. Have you been tested?
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 2:08 PM on July 20, 2008

Display: Here are some tips from the pros about what you need to do to prevent deterioration of the photos when displaying them.

If you are unable to get information about the photographs from your grandmother, are there other relatives that you could ask? Distant cousins? Did your grandmother have siblings? You might search on the internet for the surnames of the subjects you think are in the photos along with the name of the town/state where they might have lived... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 4:57 AM on July 20, 2008

I think it used to be common for spoons to be stored like this all the time

Folora is correct, flatware used to be commonly displayed in special jars called "spooners". I inherited one from my grandmother that matches this exactly. You can see others here.

I don't have a lot invested in Feng Shui, myself. YMMV.

Or you can buy/make a long, narrow shadowbox to either hang on a wall or set on a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 5:21 PM on July 16, 2008

There are many cultures where polygamy is the norm.

But how many of these cultures allow women to take multiple husbands versus men taking multiple wives?

Is polygamy practiced because it is a more normal state of being? Or, in the case of one man with multiple wives, is it convenient for the reasons of procreation, running a household, etc?
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 6:31 AM on July 14, 2008

I'd go with Carpet Beetle larvae as well.

The larvae vary between 11 and 13 mm and are darkish brown with lighter coloured bands around its caterpillar-like body and they have two curved spines on the last visible body segment.

posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 8:50 PM on July 11, 2008

Satchel's Pizza.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 6:20 AM on July 10, 2008

(FYI, her site may be NSFW for some folks) Isabella's!!! (on Armitage) Has a variety of stuff with a wide price range. Lauren is the Boobologist and will fit you for free. She is outrageously nice and down-to-earth. You can check the blog in my profile if you want to read about my visit there (with photos). The entry is on June 10th.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 10:19 AM on July 9, 2008 marked best answer

First hand account of an Elmira.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 7:14 PM on July 8, 2008 marked best answer

Which begs the question, did your dog KNOW that you were hugging him? Or did he think that YOU were wrestling?
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 10:55 AM on July 7, 2008

The most useful part of any type of assessment is the dialogue around the interpretation of the results (IMHO). Myers-Briggs and other personality-type instruments are best NOT used for diagnosis...they are best used for dialogue. Human beings are much too complex and have too many variables in their lives/histories to be summed up by a self-report, pencil-and-paper test.

I prefer to start with the following assessments before a conversation about personality/working... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 10:16 AM on June 25, 2008 marked best answer

Unfortunately, some of the better neighborhoods in Chicago proper for having your kids attend a more decent Chicago Public School are farther away from the action (downtown). We're also farther away from the EL lines, though, which is a bit of a downer for me. Love Peterson School, Solomon School and Sauganash School up here on the northside (it's where we live) and we think our neighborhood is VERY family-friendly while remaining diverse and (relatively) affordable. But compared to Raleigh,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 10:02 AM on June 16, 2008

You are a rockstar. Seriously. What a huge accomplishment.

I hid from gyms my whole life and dreaded the thought of doing free weights. When I was 31, I splurged and bought 10 weeks (20 sessions) with a personal trainer.

The first 3-4 weeks was hellish. I was so sore, so tired. My trainer was great, very supportive and encouraging, but I also wanted to spit on her shoes each time she coaxed me to do one more lunge during those first weeks.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 10:36 AM on June 12, 2008

As someone who converted from Catholicism to a Protestant denomination and have a sister-in-law who did the reverse, I can tell you from experience that the difference between the two isn't subtle or casual in practice. I see as many similarities as differences, but some don't. And there are some (on both sides) who even harbor animosity towards the others. As a neighbor remarked to me once, "They aren't Christian. They're Catholic." I had a long and complex conversation with him... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 9:03 PM on June 10, 2008

Adam's Rib?
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 12:03 PM on June 10, 2008

My Cousin Vinny? Miracle on 34th Street? All of Me? And there have to be courtroom scenes from Seinfeld, like The Scofflaw.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 12:27 PM on June 10, 2008

Whoops. I was thinking of The Ticket from Seinfeld.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 12:30 PM on June 10, 2008

Crockpot. Slow cooking Irish Oatmeal. Chopped apples. Brown sugar and cinnamon. Throw it all in and set it to cook slowly overnight. Wake up in the morning to the best taste and smell EVER.

Or, English muffin + piece of lean Canadian bacon + slice of Baby Swiss = sandwich. Use a drizzle of maple syrup or some tomato and dill to make it really awesome. Mmmm.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 11:07 AM on June 6, 2008

Have you called this Game Store in River West? If they don't have a set, they probably would know who would.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 12:58 PM on June 4, 2008

Whoops, I meant River East. Sigh.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 12:58 PM on June 4, 2008

Semiramis (Kedzie stop) is amazing Lebanese food with some veg entrees. (I can't get enough of their babaganoush.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 12:55 PM on June 4, 2008

If you're willing to travel to a close suburb, Domicile in Evanston (or Lincolnwood) has sofas for around $800 and chairs for close to $400-500. I'm already a big fan of Scandinavian Designs in Skokie and Dania as well. Also awesome is Cassona in Evanston (only a fraction of what is in their store is online).
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 10:45 AM on June 4, 2008

This is in the Chicago Public School system, within a neighborhood that has tremendous ethnic, religious and socio-economic diversity. The school is surrounded by small, independently owned shops and businesses which are really feeling the impact of the mega-stores on the fringes of Chicago.

It's not a high risk or failing school, and it will be my daughter's school someday. It's also not a charter school or a school with a huge amount of financial resources.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 4:00 PM on June 3, 2008

I love the idea of using Eggers for the students. And...

I'm also really invested in providing support for these teachers so they can better serve the students. These are great teachers working hard with very little in a school that is overcrowded and where intense diversity keeps them on their toes (rumor has it that there are over 20 different languages spoken by the children in this school).

If the sponsor-a-classroom model is even accepted,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 6:15 PM on June 3, 2008

My toddler has endured 9 flights already since she was born. She is 2 1/2 now. We've been pretty successful keeping her busy and quiet on trips. Here is how we've done it.

- Sticker books. Different ones. Take them out one at a time. Use them on the in-flight magazines or the arms of the seat.
- Hand puppets from Ikea. We use the chicken one as a "surprise bird" that drops new stuff into her lap every so often.
- Fun, healthy... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 11:33 AM on June 3, 2008 marked best answer

And one more thing! We haven't tried this on a plane yet, but it worked on our one and only long car trip. A small camcorder with the LCD screen. Spend time taking seconds long videos of child and parents making silly faces and then letting them watch the playback. This was awesome. We're going to try it again on one of our next long flights in (gulp) 3 weeks.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 11:38 AM on June 3, 2008 marked best answer

Girls don't respond well to boring "nice" guys.

I really hope what bunnytricks meant to say here was that girls don't respond well to boring, DESPERATE guys.

Only insecure girls are into exciting jerks. Become an interesting, exciting, NICE guy. You'll know when you are an interesting, secure, exciting, nice guy when:

- You engage in the things bunnytricks mentions, like participating in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 7:28 AM on June 1, 2008

Our organization paid someone else twice. A utility company to be precise. Electric bill was paid with two separate checks.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 12:09 PM on May 27, 2008

Everyone needs a starting point. Decoding what you are feeling and why takes practice and it can be learned. Yes, therapy is really excellent for this but not everyone has the resources to afford one-on-one therapy.

I wasn't raised in a family that processed or was able to talk about difficult emotions. I needed to learn how to do that in a way that was similar to learning a foreign language. It was not easy. I was not allowed to be angry and discouraged from being... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 6:53 PM on May 25, 2008

Seconding Northeastern (it's my 'hood and it's great). The only downside is that the summer hours are super limited. The Skokie Park District (just north of Chicago) has some great pool facilities that are available to non-residents.

An acquaintance once had a membership to an amazing pool at 555 W Cornelia in Chicago, but I have no idea how she scored it. That pool is gorgeous. If you know anyone in that neighborhood, you might ask around about it.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 6:41 PM on May 25, 2008

I would contact the Preservation Services department of the National Park Service. They may know of someone in your geographical area or in this area of specialty who could assist you with this. Their brief on stained glass will give you more information on weatherproofing and the specifics around using protective glazing and screens.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 6:43 AM on May 24, 2008

I'm going to Nth the neighborhood watch. Neighbors who know each other, look out for each other, question strange activity, etc. It can really make a difference.

If it makes you feel any better, the economy seems to be reviving property crime in a LOT of places. Definitely in our 'hood and we are a rather sleepy family 'hood on the fringes of Chicago. Some theft of electronics but more theft of anything metal that can be traded in for cash (even lawnmowers, ladders,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 4:42 AM on May 24, 2008

You might want to contact the folks at ACS Technologies and see if they have any consultants in the area. I used their systems at a rather large church and found them to be very well-suited to integrating the data management, book keeping, outreach and other functions.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 6:23 PM on May 23, 2008 marked best answer

I was in a hurry last night, here's some more info on my familiarity with ACS. We used ACS' People, Financial, Volunteer and Report Designer. I loved these solutions because they really were designed with the quirky needs of churches in mind. The designated funds, the committee reporting, the giving statements, the liturgical holidays, the spiritual gifts component of volunteering, etc. Because it was integrated with various levels of access, multiple departments could use the same set of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 4:26 AM on May 24, 2008 marked best answer

I think surprising her with things that allow her to keep the kids occupied would be awesome. (I'm speaking as a mom who works at home with a 2 year old.) A lot of times, I feel completely burnt out on being the cruise director and chauffeur and house cleaner and chef, etc. So when someone else makes the plans, it becomes fun for me too.

Every week or two weeks, you could make her a care package of mom support tools for that week:

-summer... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 6:06 PM on May 23, 2008 marked best answer

Ugh. This happened to me. My passport was in a book that I had read on a previous trip. So very random.

This could lead to very good things, like he is realizing how much he is missing you right now! And how he can't wait to get home to see you! And vice versa! Sometimes, the most unfortunate of circumstances can lead to fortunate experiences.

Please don't beat yourself up. These things happen to everyone.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 3:01 PM on May 23, 2008 marked best answer

This may sound intimidating but I think seeing a personal shopper at Nordstrom's in Chicago could be really eye-opening.

I had to learn how to dress in a way that is flattering and pick out good quality, well fitting clothes. One of my roommates in college was studying to be a fashion designer. I couldn't afford the clothes that she loved. But trying some of them on when she took me shopping and having her explain to me WHY something looked good on me or didn't look... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 2:54 PM on May 23, 2008

Except for the extremes in weather, you are describing my previous single life in Chicago to a "T". Had a great one bedroom in a brownstone a few blocks from the lake which gave me my own space but I could hang out with my neighbors. Public transportation, fantastic arts scene, laid back but urban, and I still got to keep my car for weekends and my reverse commute. Street parking was do-able in the right neighborhoods.

Chicago. We have cold outdoors/cozy... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 7:23 PM on May 22, 2008

Most bloggers have contact information on their About page.

But I would consider advertising or posting it in Mefi Projects or going to a blogger conference and networking, etc.. I'm a blogger who is by no means on the "A List" or the "Technorati Top 100" or whatever, but I get about 5-7 emails per day from well meaning people looking to pitch me something, or start a conversation about something they want to show me, or asking me for feedback, etc.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 12:57 PM on May 21, 2008

Are we related?

I can't offer a whole lot of advice, but can offer the reassurance that you are not alone. I've gone through years-long stretches of this since I've been 13 or 14. Same behavior of throwing myself into something new to try and wake myself up. Learning foreign language, travel, music, performing improv, etc., etc. Each time, once the novelty wore off, my momentum would slow and then...stop. So frustrating.

It got easier when... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 6:21 AM on May 20, 2008

A few clarifying questions:

-What will you expect these students to be able to DO at the end of these 10 hours? What will they walk out knowing how to do?

-Will this be you standing in the front of the room and demonstrating? Or will the students be on computers?
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 5:54 AM on May 20, 2008

An architect is neither a building contractor or a home inspector, sorry. Regardless of how well your attic is vented, venting moist air into an attic space is not a good idea. Any experienced home inspector can tell you many horror stories about this practice and I've interviewed dozens.

When warm moist air vents into a well-ventilated cool attic space** the water vapor condenses back to liquid. This settles on cooler framing surfaces or insulation. Over time, this... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 8:02 AM on May 15, 2008

I don't know if this would be of interest to design folk, but the Silvermine Tavern is also close to the Silvermine Art Guild. You can host a meeting in the galleries there.
posted to Ask Metafilter by jeanmari at 7:36 PM on May 14, 2008