Boat A isn't a deep v, it's a tri-hull, and in my experience tri's are very, very stable.

Agreed. I'm having a problem with the links (stupid firewall), but if one of them is a tri, that's almost certainly the way to go in terms of stability.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 8:24 AM on June 11, 2008

Re: konolia's comment... I've worked out at hospital-affiliated gyms in the past and they were very low-key, low-pressure, everybody-get-healthy places.

In my experience, people who go to the gym regularly are either 1.) in their own world and won't bother to judge you or 2.) very helpful and enjoy giving advice.

This has been completely true at every gym I've known, actually.

Re: group... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 7:45 AM on June 11, 2008

Been to many showers. Above answers are spot on -- opening gifts is expected, and games can vary but are usually touchy feely unless you explicitly say otherwise. Haven't seen too many speeches, though, except to say "thanks, everyone!"

That said, I was recently a baby shower "point person" for a shower-averse mom-to-be, so I think Madamina is definitely on to something with that suggestion.

I was able to quietly suggest... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 9:26 PM on June 10, 2008

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that this is Washington DC, and that's the weekend before the FOURTH OF JULY. Last minute deals? Yeah, right. Book it already.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 6:55 AM on June 5, 2008

No one is going to DC to celebrate the Fourth of July a week ahead of time, especially when it falls on a weekend itself.

Although the OP has already found the answer that he needed, I just wanted to clarify one piece of misinformation, since others might refer to this thread for their future DC travel research.

People take week-long (and longer) vacations to DC all the time, particularly during the summer, and particularly... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 9:00 PM on June 10, 2008

If they are smart, a dog-friendly company will mention the perk to you in the interview. That's what happened to me... it was kind of a "Just so you know, during slow times we allow employees to bring their well-behaved dogs to work" thing. Since everyone (including the big boss herself) brought their dogs, that was their way of signaling that if I had extreme allergies or was averse to dogs, I would be better off elsewhere.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 6:40 AM on June 5, 2008

another vote here for a dog (of any size), self-defense lessons, and a baseball bat under the bed.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 12:59 PM on June 4, 2008

Ann Taylor LOFT is a tad more casual and laid-back than Ann Taylor, and their Julie cut is a revelation for those of us with junk in the trunk. Fits nicely through the hips, no gap at the waist (and the rise is appropriately, um, appropriate). They often carry wide leg styles, and if you don't like what you find in the store, they often have different styles available on their website.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 6:57 AM on June 2, 2008

Announcements are to (ahem) announce to people you don't see often that something significant has happened in your life. Your great-aunties will be so proud, and slip them next to your baby picture in the family photo album. If people send gifts, it's because they want to send gifts, not because announcement = obligation. If there's a random crank in your family who feels otherwise, then that's very much that person's problem, and not yours.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 11:01 AM on May 28, 2008

Maybe combine the trip and the concert? I was given a trip to NYC for my 16th birthday, and tickets to a couple of cool off-Broadway shows, because that was more my thing than rock concerts when I was that age. Substitute destination and show as appropriate.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 9:45 AM on May 27, 2008

I'm a white girl from Georgia who married an Asian (Chinese-Japanese) boy from Hawaii. So let's talk family blending.

I absolutely understand your desire to appear respectful of their culture. You want to fit in to this family, but you're feeling very alien. Here's the thing: you'd be feeling alien even if they were of the same race and culture as you, because this is not your family. You are from a different family, one that does things differently. You are the new... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 12:28 PM on May 21, 2008

Quick followup on a few comments:

The Red Cross Disaster Preparedness list is the first thing I clicked on when I googled, but that's a little more, um, disaster-oriented than I'm looking for here. The everyday stuff is really what I'm trying to figure out, and y'all are being hugely helpful so far, so thanks.

I love the idea of thinking in terms of what you wouldn't want to have to go out in the middle of the night to get. That helps... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 4:06 PM on May 19, 2008

Thanks, all, for the great answers. Some of this stuff, like epsom salts and tiger balm, never would have occurred to me. I've managed to narrow it down to a respectably sized list of "things we wouldn't want to have to go out in the middle of the night to get" + "things we'll use a lot." Results below.

FIRST AID --
bandaids
neosporin
burn gel
sterile... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 9:22 AM on May 21, 2008

To followup on solotoro's comment -- she isn't going to want to think about this now, and I know you said the back accounts are separate, but she needs to double check every possible way that the two of them could have become financially entangled over the last 5 years, and untangle it immediately. Is he listed as an authorized user on any of her credit cards (even a department store card)? Is he listed as the beneficiary on any of her accounts (retirement, life insurance, etc.)?... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 10:51 AM on May 12, 2008

ugh. bank accounts. i need to learn to type. apologies.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 11:52 AM on May 12, 2008

I have had good luck with designer accessories at smartbargains.com -- they are apparently the online discount arm of Loehmann's, which we don't have where I live. Haven't tried anything other than bags and jewelry there, but they're great for that, at least.

I'm also a big fan of keeping an eye out for coupons on the regular sites, as others have suggested. You can find bigger deals than you'd think, if you time it right.

But the way to score... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 10:33 AM on May 12, 2008

My grandfather died several years ago. My grandmother died last year. I was incredibly close to both of them. I was not allowed to go to my grandfather's funeral (I was 11, not a tiny child), in large part because my parents did not want me to see his body. For my grandmother's funeral, I was an adult, and I had to participate because I needed to be there to support my mom. It was my first funeral ever. It was my first viewing ever. Although I will always have other, happier memories of my... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 9:03 AM on May 7, 2008

And as soon as I posted this, I realized that most of us are posting intensely personal anecdotes, and basing our answers on whether our experiences agree with yours, when really, grief is such a blind and bewildering process, that all you can do is the best you can do for yourself at any given moment. And so really, that makes HotToddy's answer the best so far:

Also, you know, you did what felt right at the time. You wouldn't feel any better today if you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 9:07 AM on May 7, 2008

I hate making small talk. But gardening is GREAT for this, as pollomacho suggested. Ask questions, or just chat about what's been going on in your respective yards/gardens.

As for the baby comments, I don't think there's anything wrong with a slight non sequitur:

"She sure looks cozy in there"
"Yeah - She really likes the sling. She loves to look around at all the [insert local scenery] on our walks.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 6:52 AM on May 7, 2008

ack. premature posting. sorry for the crappy editing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 6:54 AM on May 7, 2008

Yeah, the weather is crap (cold, windy, rain/sleet/wintry mix), and there isn't really much to see re: the actual inauguration, because you won't be able to get close to anything. You can try, but you will be kept very far away from the main event.

I have done this before for the second Clinton inauguration -- you will be standing for hours, you will be very cold, you will be stepped on repeatedly, and you will see/hear virtually nothing. And that was before... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 7:08 AM on May 5, 2008

Our beagle can't tolerate rawhide either, so we switched to cornstarch-based bones like the Boodas biscotti mentioned. They come in all sorts of flavors, from bacon to peanut butter, and she lurves them.

We tried nylabones, but she lost interest in those fairly quickly... she acted like they lost their flavor or something.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 7:48 AM on May 1, 2008

I had chicken pox as a teenager, and a cluster of angry, angry pocks between my eyes and on the bridge of my nose (which were then "aggravated" by my glasses, to put it politely) caused a healing/scarring situation that I think is somewhat similar to what you're describing.

At the time (~15 years ago), all my doctor could/would recommend was applying copious amounts of vitamin E to aid the healing process. I ended up with several small scars in that area,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 7:35 AM on May 1, 2008

You both deserve better than "fairly satisfactory."

That said, the current situation is particularly unfair to your partner who, as jessamyn suggested, deserves to be cherished and adored -- not merely tolerated (despite his looks) because you're a fish who thinks she desperately needs a bicycle.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 7:15 AM on May 1, 2008

When I was 19 or 20, my mom and I actually had a great CA road trip that included Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, San Francisco, and also Bodega Bay (because we're Hitchcock fans). It was great, and I strongly recommend the stretch between Big Sur and SF -- take or leave Bodega Bay depending on your level of Hitchcock fandom.

You've already gotten good recommendations on some of the specifics upthread (e.g. shopping in Carmel) -- just wanted to add my vote for this... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 7:20 AM on April 28, 2008

It's OK to work for money, and it's OK to choose stability. I left my fulfilling, low-paying "dream job" for financial reasons. It one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, but it taught me a Big Life Lesson. You are not your job.

If you choose to make money instead of pursuing a "dream job," that doesn't make you a sellout or a bore or a drone. In fact, it can provide you with the resources (both time and money) to pursue other dreams... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 12:45 PM on April 25, 2008

Previously.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 9:40 AM on April 25, 2008

I feel like I say this in practically every shampoo/scalp thread, but if you haven't tried plain old Johnson's Baby Shampoo, give it a try. Nothing else worked for me (OTC dandruff shampoos, less frequent shampooing, etc.), and my doc suggested it as a last resort before referral to a dermatologist. Worked like a charm. And although I don't have a bottle in front of me to do an exhaustive comparison, I seem to recall the ingredient list being significantly different from regular shampoos (for... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 1:53 PM on April 23, 2008

One word of warning on the Lush products -- if she is at all sensitive to fragrances, she will find most Lush products completely overpowering. If I had opened a Lush gift box at my bridal shower, I would have had a vomiting, can't-see-can't-speak migraine inside of 30 seconds. End of shower. I know people love them, but oh jeebus at the strong. Sorry to be a spoilsport.

Sheets are good. Yay sheets! Bamboo is awesome -- even softer than... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 10:29 AM on April 23, 2008

Tiffany Tavern in Old Town Alexandria is a great bluegrass-oriented place with open mic nights (and pretty good burgers). The folks who show up at for open mic tend to range from actual bluegrass to general dude-with-guitar stuff.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 9:38 AM on April 23, 2008

Seconding k8lin on on the bloodwork... I had the exact same symptoms when my levels of various things were not quite what they were supposed to be. And they didn't have to be off by very much at all before I was in "everything makes me want to vomit" mode. IANAD, but if you're not depressed, pregnant, or anorexic, then my money's on this.

(If it is some kind of imbalance, your doc should help you figure out the underlying cause... for me, it was a side... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 10:13 AM on April 22, 2008

I was born in 1978. My grandmother and grandfather, whom I spent a great deal of time with as a child, sang to me and around me, constantly. I remember Nana singing "You Are My Sunshine," "Oh My Darling Clementine," and all sorts of old southern hymns. Later in her life, when she couldn't remember the words so well anymore, she whistled instead.

My grandfather would sing to himself as we worked together in his workshop or his garden. Again,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 9:15 AM on April 21, 2008

I've had migraines since high school, and been on and off several different kinds of hormonal birth control over the years (in close consultation with my doc) in an attempt to find the best migraine prevention plan. For me, the 4-periods-a-year pills such as Seasonale and Seasonique have been a godsend... low, steady dose for months at a time, so it really doesn't aggravate my migraines. I feel infinitely better in other ways when I'm on the pill (much lighter periods, lighter cramps, no mood... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 8:26 AM on April 21, 2008

Absolutely do NOT pay anyone $695 to rewrite your resume -- that's highway robbery. If your MBA program doesn't have a career services center that will help you with this, then I second the recommendations for a $20 book and some additional guidance from your sister or other trusted mentors. Specifically, if you know anyone who has had any experience with hiring in the past (even if it was just as an intern coordinator or something similar), I'd ask them to look at your resume, too -- they... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 11:22 AM on April 16, 2008

I'm usually the repeater, and it's usually my frustrated husband saying "You told me this already" and/or "I get it." I think I tend to repeat myself in two different ways:

1. Telling a story I've already told someone previously, as discussed above;
2. Saying the same thing in different ways during the same conversation, for emphasis.

As the repeater, I can tell you that #1 is always unintentional (unless we... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 10:04 AM on April 16, 2008

Teva makes SUPER-comfy, walkable flip-flops that are pretty affordable.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 9:11 AM on April 16, 2008

My experience (in VA and DC) is that you pay the full month, but it's yours for the full month. (Makes moving a lot easier, actually -- you can come back to get the houseplants or other too-fragile-for-the-moving-truck stuff from the old place at your leisure after you move into the new place.)

IANAL, but if NY is like the DC area, then pay the full month, and feel justified in keeping the keys until 31 May. (If the landlord wants to move someone else in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 10:46 AM on April 4, 2008

A non-puppy is definitely the way to go, and as long as you stay away from super-high-energy breeds (like JRTs), then it really comes down to finding the individual dog that is the right match for you -- breeds have reputations, yes, but it's really the personality of the individual dog that matters most. (I say this as the owner of a quiet, lazy, completely atypical beagle.)

A good rescue organization will help you with this. As long as... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 1:35 PM on March 31, 2008

I'm probably too late to be useful, but just for the record, it has been my experience that the whole "review after 6 months" thing is completely useless. Evaluate the offer based on what they're willing to give you up front, and don't be swayed by promises of future reviewy goodness that will never happen.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 7:02 AM on March 28, 2008

Everything -- good, bad, and ugly -- that has happened up to now IS part of your education, including your time in the real world. Every experience has made you who you are, and prepared you in some way to take the next step in your journey. If other people want to judge you for not hewing closely enough to their preconceived plans for your life, that's really their problem, and not yours.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 11:11 AM on March 21, 2008

As a white girl who married into a chinese family, I understand where you're coming from, but you're definitely overthinking it. Like others have said, it's just a cultural thing. Graciously accept, and don't stress about reciprocating.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 1:24 PM on March 20, 2008

Although my personal preference is to catch the cherry blossoms slightly past their peak, so as to get the snowfall effect from falling blossoms, by the end of April/early May you're going to have missed them completely. They will be leafy trees. Sorry.

That said, we have lots of other wonderful things to see in DC, and coming so late in the spring you might actually hit in between the hordes of spring break school groups and the Closeup groups that overrun us in the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 8:51 AM on March 20, 2008

aeschenkarnos has given you the best answer -- a mature, reasonable, intelligent response to a less-than-ideal situation. If you're going to do anything (and I think you should give it a shot), follow that advice, and don't delay. The worst they can do is say no.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 5:14 AM on March 13, 2008

Our beagle does this too (also with wiggly legs), and we actually call it "chasing bunnies." So I vote for happy dreams.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 4:56 AM on March 13, 2008

To me, marriage is just a legal piece of paper that can mean whatever you want it to.

No. BECAUSE marriage is a legal piece of paper, it can NOT mean "whatever you want it to." It means very specific things, some of which vary from state to state. Legally speaking, you are tying your life to this person. You will end up making yourself extremely vulnerable financially.

Furthermore, if (when?) your marriage is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 7:07 AM on March 10, 2008

As I recommended in a previous question, why not head to New Orleans for French Quarter Fest in April?

If that doesn't do it for you, how about Savannah? The Savannah Music Festival is coming up at the end of this month. You can get your nature fix at the barrier islands -- Little Tybee Island, for example, is a boat-accessible nature preserve with beaches, marsh trails, bird watching, etc. I think you can camp there, too, with a permit.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 11:11 AM on March 3, 2008

recommended to someone else, I mean, not to you. didn't mean to sound snarky.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 11:12 AM on March 3, 2008

It's so funny how widely opinion varies on the recent albums... there's not a thing I'd recommend on The Spine, unfortunately, and I can't say I ever thought of Mink Car as awesome, although some of it eventually grew on me after repeated listens (see below). Then again, I am in the vast minority of rabid TMBG fans when I say that John Henry is one of my favorite TMBG albums ever. Anyway, here's my vote for an (extended) mix CD:

AKA Driver
Spy... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 10:24 AM on March 3, 2008

When I went to college, a friend of mine from home sent letters that were like mini works of art... her musings interspersed with sketches, mosaics... whatever she felt like adding. So random and so cool -- I loved them. If you're at all artistically inclined, I highly recommend it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 6:33 AM on February 27, 2008

nthing AVSForum.
posted to Ask Metafilter by somanyamys at 8:34 AM on February 26, 2008