You can always say no. I'm assuming that if this friend were in your house, holding a gun to your head and forcing you to keep her dog, then you wouldn't be able to type in your question to AskMeFi.

Short of that, you can say no.

And you probably should say no, for the health and safety of your dog.

Your dog trumps your friend's dog, and your dog trumps your friend, because when you took your dog in that's the kind of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 1:55 PM on June 19, 2008

I think John Green and Pew did some research on this recently. Look around on this site for more.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 10:02 PM on June 10, 2008

I don't know who it is, but I can tell you that it's definitely not Barry Lynn. I know Barry Lynn ... this is not him.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 9:08 PM on May 18, 2008

If you ever have to go into the hospital, make sure that someone stays with you at all times. That includes having someone spend the night in your room every night. If it means spending extra to hire a private-duty nurse, do it. There will be a jillion docs/nurses/etc. coming in and out of your room at all hours doing all sorts of things (giving meds, taking notes, doing tests, etc.) and you need someone lucid and aware and on-the-ball to monitor exactly what's going on, question things that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 8:22 PM on May 10, 2008

nthing the Zyrtec recommendation. I've been struggling along on Claritin for a while now, getting no effect whatsoever, until somebody at work gave me a Zyrtec and OMG some medicine actually works!
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 4:32 AM on May 7, 2008

nthing the YES vote on disability insurance. My family was saved from financial ruin because of disability insurance. Sometimes the worst possible scenario is one in which you *don't* die.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 7:42 AM on May 6, 2008

Wow, people here are *rude* today ...

Good for you, Sockpuppet The First, for planning and thinking carefully about the big project you're about to jump into!

There are a lot of people here urging you to reduce your 401k contribution, but don't forget that your kid(s) can always borrow for college and you can't borrow for retirement.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 12:47 PM on May 5, 2008

OK, devil's advocate here. You didn't have that baby, and you're paying your rent for your apartment/mortgage for your house, and you shouldn't have to suffer for their actions. If your neighbors are doing something that prevents you from getting a good night's sleep in your own home, then it's on THEM to fix it.

Are you a homeowner, or is there a landlord? If there's a landlord, try involving him/her as a facilitator of the request. If you're the owner, is there a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 3:19 PM on May 2, 2008

"further, your wants and needs will always fall well below the wants and needs of the child"

Child-hater or not, Mwongozi's right to enjoy peace in his own home most certainly do not fall well below the "rights" of his neighbors to violate that peace.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 7:58 PM on May 2, 2008

I can't speak for The Luke Parker Fiasco, but my point was obviously not that the neighbors should consult Mwongozi about their procreation schedule, but that the neighbors should take responsibility for the consequences of their own actions (baby-having) rather than expecting the neighbors to do so.

It's not that complicated to move the baby's crib away from the wall. It's not that complicated to hang some thick blankets on the shared wall or tack up some foam or... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 3:27 PM on May 3, 2008

The local humane society might be able to use some of them.

Greater Birmingham Humane Society
www.gbhs.org
300 Snow Dr
Birmingham, AL 35209
205-290-0055

Shelby Humane Society
www.shelbyhumane.org
381 McDow Road
Columbiana, AL 35051
205-669-3916
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 5:48 AM on May 3, 2008

I don't understand the Bruce reference ...
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 7:39 AM on May 2, 2008

Maybe the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase.

You'd have to have a car(s) to get to College Park from there, but it's designed for groups and probably would have the space you need for everyone to be together.

I know it's meant to be a space for youth groups and conferences, but if you are 7-9 families with children you're probably a large enough group to make this work. And they have recreation facilities, etc.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 8:27 AM on May 1, 2008

If you happen to be staying in a hotel and ordering room service, look closely at your bill. Sometimes they will automatically add the tip onto the bill, and then if you also hand cash to the guy with the tray you're doubling your tip. (Mind you, I think you only get good karma points for that, but it's nice to do it by choice and not by accident.)

Welcome to the U.S. ... hope you have a great visit!
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 6:49 AM on April 29, 2008

If you tell it without saying skin color it's not racist OR racial. But it's still mildly homophobic.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 4:40 AM on April 29, 2008

Using dispositive correctly makes you sound smart.

I always have to look it up.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 2:08 PM on April 22, 2008

I want to CRY about how cute that dog is!!

He looks like a Virgil to me.

Good luck!
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 6:14 AM on April 20, 2008

Boston University's MBA program has a special track for non-profit management.

I don't think it's theater-specific, but it might be interesting to at least look at it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 1:46 PM on April 14, 2008

Good for you!! Congratulations!!

Not sure about your specific dog, but I can offer this anecdote: We recently adopted a dog from our local rescue league. In the shelter "cubbies" there are hard floors, and our little guy had become accustomed to going to the bathroom on the hard surface. Fast forward to our apartment, where we have cement floors. Uh-oh!

It took us a little extra time to get him used to the idea of using the bathroom on... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 7:36 AM on April 13, 2008

Listen to your guilt.

My parents moved me right before high school, and again in high school. At the time they said it couldn't be helped and would be "good for all of us", but it sure as hell wasn't any good for me. I hated every bit of it, and I hated them for doing it to me, and I was miserable. I couldn't seem to stop mourning the life I left behind in the original place where I grew up ... where I was convinced that all my friends were having a fun,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 2:04 PM on April 10, 2008

OH my GOSH ... last time I was in Portland my friends took me to this place that did nothing but foot massages, and it was THE most relaxing, awesome thing I've ever experienced. You sit up on these elevated sofas and they soak your feet in hot water, scrub them with fancy scrubs, rub them every which way, and it's just fabulous. By the end of it your feet and legs are so relaxed you can barely walk on them. A-mazing.

I'm almost positive that the place is called Barefoot... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 6:10 PM on April 7, 2008

"can we find a way to divide up the TV hours so we each get to watch what we want some of the time?"

As long as you're asking this of your bf and not of the 14-year-old. You're the adult, and you don't have to ask the child for permission to watch what you want on TV. That kind of thing just furthers the situation of him running the household. Grownups are in charge, kids aren't.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 3:12 PM on April 6, 2008

Another thing to note: "the kid always comes first" does not mean that you always let the kid decide what to eat, watch, do, etc.

Yes, obviously on a macro level the child has to be the parent's first priority. But that does not mean that the child's desires always come first. A big part of parenting is knowing when and how to set limits and enforce them.

It most certainly is possible for your b.f. to lovingly parent his child while... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 4:31 AM on April 7, 2008

Ditto what LobsterMitten said about calling not e-mailing. We have a steady stream of interns at my shop, and while they're mostly impressive, it's clear that "kids these days" have a fundamentally different view of appropriate communications. I'm trying hard not to judge -- if they grew up on texting and Facebook and IM then I see where they're coming from. But you're going to need to be explicit with your student employee about how and when to communicate with you, and how and when... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 4:46 PM on April 2, 2008

If you're thinking ahead to college already (which you should be) going to NMHS might actually be a liability in a certain way. At a school that high-powered, many many many of the kids are going to be applying to the same A-list schools. And a college is only going to take so many kids from any particular school.

In the admissions game, your daughter might be better off being one of a few high-level, super-impressive kids in a large public school population than she... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 4:39 PM on April 2, 2008

Are you paying for the party? Then you get to decide who comes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 11:31 AM on April 2, 2008

Go now, and stay as long as you possibly can. Then if you must leave, come back as soon as you can. Repeat until he passes.

This is your dad -- who created you, who raised you, whose whole life has, in some measure, been about you since the very second you were born. He's going to be gone forever. FOR-E-VER. Do you want to spend the whole rest of your life thinking "I didn't spend as much time as I could with my dad before he died because I was worried about some... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 7:01 AM on March 27, 2008

Great answers, thanks!!

I think part of my confusion was that I thought JQA was, like, 9 years old during all this. I must have missed the part where they said he was 14. I thought JA was pawning off his 9-year-old son on somebody in a different country, which seemed pretty cold-hearted. (Though obviously we know it turned out okay, Mr. Sixth President.)

Granted, 14 is still young, but back in the day I can see how that would be old enough to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 3:46 AM on March 25, 2008

If this person truly respected you as a life partner he would make some kind of an effort to do his share of housework, to pay bills on time, etc. -- particularly if you have told him explicitly and repeatedly that it is important to you. You say that he adores you and is trying to make you happy, but nothing you describe supports that statement.

The behavior you describe indicates 100 percent concern for his own comfort and priorities (not taking meds because they make... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 2:43 PM on March 11, 2008

I'm going to say good for you for identifying a situation that's going to make you miserable and doing what it takes to extract yourself from it. Sometimes I feel like I spend so much time doing things that I feel obliged to do even though they drive me crazy. I applaud your self-awareness and self-determination!
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 4:48 PM on March 10, 2008

One of what everybody said! You don't need to do the same thing every day, just do *something* and then at the end you'll have a multi-media decade!

Fabulous idea! I might steal it in a few years.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 7:15 PM on March 9, 2008

I knew there was an answer!!

Thank you all so much ... great advice all around. Once again, AskMeFi comes through in a pinch.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 7:23 AM on March 5, 2008

Look at it this way: the more often you go for a manicure, the more incentive there will be to stay off the biting, because even if your nails aren't long and fru-fru, your hands will be neatly groomed and you won't want to mess them up again.

I say go early, go often. And tip generously.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 9:10 AM on March 4, 2008 marked best answer

Edible Arrangements

"flower arrangements" that are made of fruit cut up and arranged to look like flowers. Pretty and super yummy!

web site: http://www.ediblearrangements.com/


Chapel Hill store:
410 Market Street
Suite 345
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Phone: 919-338-2115
Fax: 919-338-2115
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 7:13 AM on March 3, 2008

I am so, so, so sorry for your loss. I'm sitting right here with my pug next to me, and I'm crying for you. Knowing that you did the right thing doesn't make it any easier.

I don't know what your religious proclivities are, but where I live there are several churches that do a "Blessing of the Animals" service for the St. Francis of Assissi "saints day" -- early October, I think, but I don't remember exactly when. I've seen folks bring collars and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 7:55 PM on February 27, 2008

"Hopefully some of my fellow Southern Mefites can chime in here as well, but there is a real trend around here of black people being very leery around dogs. I don't know if this has to do with the increased incidence of dogfighting among blacks or if it's something else, but it really is a cultural difference that splits among racial lines down here."

n'thing Mr. Gunn based on my decades living in the South (Alabama, North Carolina, New Orleans). The poor... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 3:31 PM on February 25, 2008

You move back into the place in Toronto, and have your partner find a cheap room in a group house to crash in for the duration of his/her Chicago grad school time. S/he comes back to Toronto as often as possible, and acts the role of a commuter grad student, not a resident grad student.

Meanwhile, you are living in your old place in Toronto, and you could find a roommate to help with the money during that time period, but since you would be on-site it wouldn't be as... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 12:39 PM on February 22, 2008

>MCCXXIII, I can't move back to Toronto, I have a nice job here in Chicago. Otherwise, perfect.

But you're planning to go back to Toronto eventually, right? So if it's THAT important to you to keep your dibs on the rental unit, then quit your job in Chicago and move back to Toronto now.

Life is a series of choices.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 1:35 PM on February 22, 2008

So, does that mean that you're just not allowed to cross the street anywhere along there? Or are you just supposed to use your best judgment on the traffic and take your chances?
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 12:42 PM on February 22, 2008

Whatever you do, please keep Glitter Ninja! Fantastic!!
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 9:41 PM on February 21, 2008

If they aren't willing to make the changes that your wife knows are what needs to be done (sell vehicles, liquidate the 30k, etc.) then you and your wife should not get involved. If you're not all on the same page at the beginning of this big, emotional project then it will turn out bad for everyone involved. Don't risk ruining your relationship over it. They are adults, and they should be responsible for solving their own problems.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 1:23 PM on February 19, 2008

"We are here to find the best course of action out of debt for them."

The best course of action out of debt would be to sell the Mustang, sell the camper, quit taking vacations, and use that money to attack the debt.

If they're not willing to make sacrifices you're not going to find any "magic program" that will help them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 7:00 PM on February 19, 2008

Count one more vote for the enV.

I also have the VX9800 and love love love it! I use mine for an alarm clock every day ... you can set three different alarm times. The speakerphone is robust, the bluetooth works fine, and the keyboard is great for the texting and such. (I text a whole lot more since I got this phone.)

I never use mobile web, so I can't speak to that. I just checked, and I don't see a stopwatch function on my phone, but the enV... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 7:20 PM on February 16, 2008

I know less-than-zero about Canadian bridal fashion, but in the U.S. it seems like the bridesmaid dresses always run small, so if you wear a 12/14 in real life you might have to buy a 16/18 (or even bigger) in their sizes. Which is just *stupid* ... they should make the numbers go DOWN so you'll feel skinnier, but whatever.

My point is, if you're already feeling sensitive about weight gain, don't panic if you end up having to buy a bridesmaid dress with a larger number... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 11:50 AM on February 14, 2008

I often use EntirelyPets. Don't know how deep their pharmacy inventory is, but they seem to have good prices on things like heartworm and flea/tick meds.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 10:22 AM on February 14, 2008

You don't say where you are, but I'm going to be US-centric and assume you're here.

Go to Brisbane. There won't be many more times in your life that you'll be able to take off enough time from work/responsibilities to make a trip to Australia. You really need a good chunk of time to get there, recover from the travel, see that *huge* place, and then get back and recover from the travel again. That's not the kind of thing you can do with your standard week of vacation... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 10:24 AM on February 11, 2008

yeah, I'm totally willing to kick in a bit for this one. Somebody tell me how and where.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 1:56 PM on February 6, 2008

Please please please don't get a dog if your husband wants to lock it in a utility room at night!! That is so unfair to the dog!

Maybe he's just saying he wants a dog because he knows you want one, but he doesn't really want one himself.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 12:25 PM on January 31, 2008

I've stayed at the Inn at Northrup Station, and while it was super cool and hip and comfy, I would not call it luxurious or fancy.

How about The Benson?
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 6:38 PM on January 28, 2008

I'm going to the grocery store this weekend ... I'll check in my neck of the woods.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mccxxiii at 10:14 AM on January 18, 2008