The best advice for a problem that's too ingrained for you to consciously control and which makes you unhappy: see a therapist.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 2:14 PM on July 4, 2008

Why do you think your cousin will care? It's pretty weird for someone to change their first name, and you didn't tell us why she is doing so -- maybe you left out some important details in this post.

But, assuming that there isn't some giant, obviously important reason why your cousin is changing her name... Why does it matter? You don't want to name the child after her. You want to name the child after your great aunt. And since your cousin is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 9:15 AM on June 29, 2008

A little different from the other examples offered here.. Golden Child is a play which involves three wives struggling for their husband's attention. (It's a bit more complicated than that, as you can see from the reviews on the Amazon page.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 9:58 PM on June 26, 2008

Your baby girl will be a person just like a baby son would have been. She'll need to learn things, too. She'll need advice from her father, just as a boy would. She'll have scraped knees for you to bandage, she'll need you to check under the bed for monsters, and she'll someday in the future need Big Advice about what to do with the rest of her life, just like a boy would have.

Sure, you won't have to show her how to shave, but you should be able to easily see the vast... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 8:42 AM on June 23, 2008

Do you have many different places at different levels that the cats can occupy? If one cat can sit at a different level than the other cat, that makes them feel more secure, like the other isn't infringing on her space. Cat trees are really good for this... But so are couches, chairs, bookshelves, or what-have-you that the cat can (and is allowed to) access. When we bought a cat tree and made a few more spaces available for the cats, they started to get along better.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 8:49 PM on June 18, 2008

The Blue Nile in Tempe is a really amazing Ethiopian restaurant. They specialize in vegetarian foods (along with some vegan and raw items), and their menu doesn't include much soy, nut, or dairy. The owners are really cool, too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 9:06 PM on June 17, 2008

Okay, it's finally time for a follow-up, I suppose.

I've been encorporating wheat germ into my foodstuffs somewhat regularly, but there are two suggestions from here that I specifically tried out.

First, was madforplaid's pancake recipe. I'd suggest not thinking of the product as pancakes, so much as.. well, a delicious fried thing. They're good. They have a more savory taste than regular pancakes, and they're denser, but... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 2:29 PM on June 17, 2008

Soft tofu
melted chocolate
peanut butter
honey to sweeten (optional)

Combine all in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth. Then, refrigerate. It is fantastic.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 10:02 PM on June 15, 2008

...! I am empowered!

So, I took the laptop apart. Took forever to get all the screws out, and I was sure I was breaking it at several points. Had to take every single thing apart to get to the heat sink (now I know what it is! And where it is!). Thing was clogged beyond belief. Cleaned it out. Put everything back together....

...And it wouldn't turn on. Great.

So, took... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 12:22 AM on June 12, 2008

Seconding you should check with the hotel, when you arrive, if you can check in. Unless there's some special reason why you can't check in early, it just depends on if there's a room ready.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 2:15 PM on June 5, 2008

I like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, at least as a starting point. Yeah, yeah, it's a stupid comedy show. But, if something important happens, they cover it, and they tend not to be idiots about it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 7:36 AM on June 5, 2008

Sorry, I probably should have been clearer: he's not fat, definitely. He's muscular, and long.

I didn't put many details in about his measurements or weight because I don't know it. Our scale broke a while ago. I was hoping I could get some general idea. Oh well.

I do know that, four months ago, he weighed 12 pounds. He can reach our kitchen counters just by stretching, and he can reach my 6'2'' boyfriend's waist. That's all I can say at... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 11:49 AM on June 4, 2008

Well, the question is now off the main page (I didn't plan this well, sigh). But, if you think you can gauge where he might be growth-wise by his appearance, here are pictures of Commie I took to try to express his size:

Commie, being held.
Commie, by a hamper for perspective.
Commie, by a stapler for perspective.
Commie's front paw, by my hand and our other cat's back paws.
Commie, on a chair.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 5:52 PM on June 4, 2008

I am constantly, endlessly afraid of someone breaking into my apartment, especially when alone at night. It's completely irrational, but knowing that certainly doesn't do anything to make me less afraid.

You definitely should have something that works to make the apartment more secure, but, as you say, the problem won't go away with greater security. Knowing that the door is locked and deadbolted helps a bit, yeah, but it can't get rid of the what if they... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 1:49 PM on June 2, 2008

I helped someone move to Austin, TX (he was going to be a grad student there, too!). We went in the middle of August, so it'll probably be slightly different for you, but I can give some general information, I guess.

We saw a lot of places that didn't have any openings. This was a shock for us, because we're from a place where apartment complexes are just dying for tenants. Not so, in Austin. Make sure you have a good, long list of places you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 11:20 AM on June 2, 2008

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami spends ages in a complex underground area.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 8:11 AM on June 2, 2008

Usually, for stir fries, we mix together rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, some sugar, some sri racha (for heat) and fish sauce (but the fish sauce isn't really necessary if you don't have it). It's really easy to throw together, and it tastes delicious. The quantities to be used depend on the specific taste you're looking for.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 4:31 PM on May 27, 2008

He wasn't an author, but you should definitely check out Mitch Hedberg. Some of his lines are here...
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 10:21 AM on May 26, 2008

Torturous? You mean delightful, fun, and easy to read, right? I happen to like it. Anyway, one thing to keep in mind about How To Do Things With Words is that it's the collected notes from a series of talks he gave. He starts out with a theory of speech acts which he then tries for about five or six talks (I forget exactly) to make work... And then just tosses it aside and comes up with a better, more useful theory. That can be pretty frustrating, yeah. If you're reading this book just for fun,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 8:34 PM on May 20, 2008 marked best answer

It of course depends on your boyfriend's preferences... But I'd think a bottle of his favorite type of alcohol would be a nice gesture. It's something kind of nice, and it also has a bunch of "now you get to relax" connotations.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 9:27 AM on May 20, 2008

The fact that you don't respect anyone who believes in God, eats meat, or uses drugs of any sort sounds, to me, like you're using gross stereotypes to define anyone who has those qualities. "Oh, man! People who drink alcohol!? They disrespect their bodies so much! They're complete losers! If you drink alcohol, then you are wasting your mind!" "Oh, and those people who believe in God! Man! What is WRONG with those people? Don't they realize that they are just sheep, acting... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 9:15 AM on May 16, 2008

To expand upon grumblebee's point:

Being an alcohol drinker does not mean you "can't stay sober and don't read philosophy." Being a philosopher most certainly doesn't mean you never drink and spend all your time learning about valid constructions. Avoiding anyone who drinks alcohol because you take that to mean they're too busy getting wasted to be interested in philosophy is a good way to avoid becoming friends with many great... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 11:24 AM on May 16, 2008

There's something I don't understand. You say this question occurred to you after a meeting with your psychologist... But shouldn't your psychologist be helping you to figure that out? Hasn't he or she given you any sort of help? Because, that's what psychologists are for. It might be a little hard for us to give you valuable advice unless you clear up what your psychologist has already suggested or otherwise has you doing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 2:25 PM on May 14, 2008

1. I wouldn't think so. No matter what your name is, people will get confused about it. Look at the last name, Saint. It looks pretty easy, right? Like something no one could mess up, right? But any time I have to spell my name over the phone, I have to emphasize that it is "s, as in sandwich" because, otherwise, they're likely to think it's Faint. I also have to deal with people waiting for me to continue-- and often they just think my last name is "St." I have had... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 8:34 PM on May 13, 2008 marked best answer

(Also, considering how you'll be switching from a fairly common spelling to a completely unusual spelling, keep in mind that people will keep spelling your name the incorrect way. They'll assume the extra E is a typo, or some other mistake. They will assume when you spell it out loud that you're stuttering or something. They will say, "Wait, was that E, E? Two Es? There are two Es there?" every time. You will continue to see the incorrect spelling constantly.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 8:42 PM on May 13, 2008

Do you have enough time to order some Leninade?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 8:48 PM on May 7, 2008 marked best answer

I've seen a couple of episodes of those types of shows. The ones I've seen, however, made one thing perfectly clear: the police only forcefully bring the motorist to a stop if continuing the pursuit would endanger others. So, in the shows I've seen, there are long sections where the police are just continuing the follow the guy, and following, and following... And then, if they're starting to head into town, or if the motorist is trying to get onto the wrong direction of the freeway, or... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 11:08 AM on May 2, 2008

Have you heard the advice that when you want to bring up a complaint or something, you should always phrase it around how you feel, as opposed to what the person is doing? So, instead of saying, "You're always so whiny and petty!" you say, "I feel very frustrated when you make comments like that." Instead of saying, "Can't you ever clean up after yourself? You're such a slob!" you say, "I feel like I am the only one who works to keep the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 9:54 AM on May 1, 2008

People commonly use "there is" when the subject is plural. It's common, but incorrect. If you follow the rules of English grammar, laid out in a'plenty a text book for several centuries now, you always use "There are" to describe multiple items.

UbuRoivas's comment about prescriptivism v. descriptivism was meant to get to the heart of this issue: is something grammatically correct only if it is deemed so by text book, or is something grammatically... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 9:22 PM on April 29, 2008

Lore said everything that I wanted to say and that needed to be said. Listen to Lore.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 10:51 AM on April 27, 2008

Seconding that you leave your aunt out of this unless she specifically asks you to bring it up. She wouldn't have even told you about her feelings if you had not asked. You approached her about it, she agreed even though doing so wasn't quite comfortable for her, and she shouldn't have to suffer your mother's wrath just so you can further your point.

She seems to have decided that she values getting along with your mother more than she values her belongings.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 3:39 PM on April 23, 2008

Well... It may be an example of a bad conversation, but the first thing I thought of is the scene in Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail where they try to figure out how to tell if a woman is a witch, resulting in them testing whether she weighs the same amount as a duck.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 7:03 PM on April 20, 2008

This is at the far edge of what you're looking for, but Pop the Soda Shop is a really cool little store. Not only are there really fascinating soda flavors, but you can also find really cool, unusual bottles (so.. maybe that fits your "craft supply" criterion?).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 5:06 PM on April 8, 2008

How much have you spoken to the graduate adviser about funding options? There may be jobs somewhere on campus that come with a full tuition waver. Even if your own department cannot offer you funding, it is probably available, somewhere, at your school.

Taking on $90k in debt for a PhD in Classics is not a good idea. It just isn't. So, what you have to do is pester everyone you can possibly think to pester about funding possibilities in other departments, in the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 4:50 PM on April 8, 2008

There are organizations that offer low-cost therapy, on a sliding-scale. Without more information about your location, it's not possible to help you find such a place, but they do exist. A therapist will be able to give you personalized advice. If your life is affected to the extent you describe, then it sounds like you could really use the help of a professional.

You can find them, it's not that hard. It's manageable. Do it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 10:01 AM on March 27, 2008

The thing is, philosophy is a profession. Furthermore, philosophy is a profession that inspires a lot of quacks. Professional philosophers set up a lot of hoops and hurdles to ensure that they can keep themselves separate from, say, the timecube guy. Professional philosophers are extremely wary of non-professional "philosophers" who want to join the field--sure, it's insular and elitist, but that's just how it works. I don't mean to dissuade you too much, but... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 1:05 PM on March 24, 2008

Opera Singer,
Commisioning a Symphony in C,
Guitar Man,
...and more, by Cake.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 9:34 PM on March 6, 2008

Has she tried Lane Bryant? There are several around Scottsdale, but the only one whose location I really remember is at the corner of McClintock and Rio Salado -- right at the edge of the Scottsdale/Tempe border. (IIRC, that location is close to a Men's Wearhouse, in case she still wants to try that.)

Their webpage has several suit items, but none which exactly meet her description. They may have a better selection in-store, though?... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 8:40 AM on March 6, 2008

The only thing I ever do is link to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, but this is because it's an excellent resource if you've studied at least a bit of philosophy and want to know some more. It doesn't look like the SEP has an entry just on Heidegger, but a quick search shows plenty of related entries that can help you. This entry, as well as this one, look like they might be useful to you. But, even if they aren't, check our the related links at the bottom to see if there's anything... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 5:26 PM on March 2, 2008

Zero, the Biography of a Dangerous Idea is a fascinating book. It's about the history of the concept of zero. The book goes through Ancient Greece all the way to modern day, showing the connection between the idea of nothingness, mathematics, philosophy, art, and the rest of life. And! It also offers a proof of Winston Churchill being a carrot!

This is, really, a well-written book definitely worth the read. It's very light mathematics, meant for a general audience.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 10:31 PM on February 29, 2008

There's a distinction here worth being made. There is more than one way to understand the question, "Is this a good thing?"

Usually, we mean by that, "Is this a morally good, or otherwise valuable, thing?" We can, however, mean, "Is this something that will be good for me?" The first does not imply the second, and vice versa. They are independent questions.

If it is morally good to be distraught by violent movies... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 12:12 PM on February 29, 2008

I, too, immediately thought of Ethiopian food. I have to agree that mesir watt will not do you wrong -- it's absolutely amazing. (And, I second my worries about homemade injera. The trick, if you want to try to make your own, is to use more regular flour than teff flour. My SO has tried and tried and tried to make injera, and he has had some success... It's extremely difficult, but also extremely important to Ethiopian cuisine.)

Also check out Ethiopian potato salad.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 9:15 AM on February 29, 2008

Whether you should be a mother-figure to this boy has almost nothing to do with your marital status. Instead, it has to do with how committed you are to his father and what the boy needs.

If he has a mother in his life already who does a good job, then he doesn't really need another. It's not your job to compete with her. However, if his biological mother is out of the picture, then there's no reason for him to be denied a good role model just because of genetics.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 7:19 PM on February 28, 2008 marked best answer

Lamburger!

Lamb is far too rich to be used all on its own. You should only use about a quarter to a half as much lamb as you do beef. (So, I guess it's really a lambeeburger, but that doesn't have as great a ring to it). I would put some of your favorite herbs and spices into the meaty mix, as well.

The burger will come out so juicy and succulent (with that delicious, delicious lamb flavor) that you won't need many condiments. In fact, other... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 11:13 AM on February 25, 2008

There is extremely little I can do to help you. I'm sorry. However, please do not discount the people in your life who know or are related to your wife. Unless the only reason you ever hung around them was because of their relationship to her, they are your friends, too. And, after decades of marriage, her relatives can be your relatives too.

Nothing says you have to give up people who matter to you, and nothing says that they will have to give up you. Unless you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 8:32 AM on February 24, 2008

I'm afraid, supertouchme, that you've given us two examples of your humor: a fake British accent and a Coke/cocaine pun. Neither of these is very funny. If a stranger acted this way to or around me, I would be extremely uncomfortable, not amused. You then tell us that strangers laugh hysterically on a consistent basis. These two do not add up.

We're not capable of telling you what your personality is. Nor can we say whether your regular sense of humor is hilarious... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 7:09 PM on February 19, 2008

There are some great hiking options around that area. Depending on how much time she has, she can go on some fantastic hikes.

The best hiking spot near there is Sedona. It's breath-takingly beautiful, and there's a great variety of trails. The popular trails there have enough people that I would feel perfectly comfortable hiking alone. However, it's about two hours away from Phoenix. Unless she'll have almost a whole day to spend, that's not that great an option.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 4:39 PM on February 13, 2008

My SO regularly makes lentil fillings for his sambusas. (Not sure on the spelling, there, so just going what with someone else said). Lentils are extremely healthy and, more importantly, take spices really well. He usually uses curry spices for his lentils, and they're fantastic. Spicy, flavorful, and delicious. Cooking the lentils in coconut milk also adds to their deliciousness and gives them a nice, rich texture.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 5:20 PM on February 12, 2008

I'm afraid that the term "a posteriori knowledge" is not what you are looking for. An example of a posteriori knowledge is that the sky is blue. It is a posteriori knowledge because it was learned through study of the empirical world (namely, someone went out one day and looked up at the sky). That doesn't mean that everyone needs to go outside and look up at the sky in order to know, for themselves, that the sky is blue. Another example: it is a bit of a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 12:42 PM on February 5, 2008

Pardon my typo: it is a bit of a posteriori knowledge that there are black swans.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Ms. Saint at 12:45 PM on February 5, 2008