tigra

Bag of Bones has to be one of my favorites- part ghost story, part mystery, and mostly, a love story. I think I need to dig that one up and read it again! Rose Madder is one I did not read- I think that came out after I moved and before the book club found me again!

The Dark Tower series is great, and if you're not interesed after the first one, you don't need to go on.

Any pain after the hardware is out is probably arthritis, but not everyone develops that. My understanding is it depends on the fracture(s), how much cartilage you lost, that kind of thing. And if you are uneasy about general anesthesia, you can usually opt for a spinal- you're awake during the surgery but you don't feel a thing and they give you so much "happy stuff" you really don't care that they are cutting open your ankle.

I'm having it done next month, but I also went through it 6 years ago with my other ankle. Its pretty straight forward- they go in through the original incision and remove the plate and screws. They shouldn't put you in a cast- just stitch it up and wrap it in gauze. You might be able to walk out of the hospital (should be outpatient) but I was told to bring my crutches just in case it was too sore to walk on. Then, take it easy for about 6 weeks (nothing high impact) while you bone grows back. I doubt you will need PT. Good luck!

Thank you, Diezel!

Yes, that and The Green Mile. But if Gerald's Game was the only King novel I ever picked up, I doubt I'd read another one. That one was just awful from start to finish.

I was in the library for a long time. I moved a couple of times and the books kept finding me- the last one I remember getting was Hearts in Atlantis, then they just stopped.

Gerald's game was TERRIBLE! One of the few King novels I wish I had not read. But, there's so much more that's really great, so try again! They aren't even all scary. He's got a great ability to write characters that you really care about one way or another. You love them or you hate them but you're drawn into their stories. Please Please don't let Geralds Game be the last Stephen King novel you ever read! Try Bag of Bones- that's one of my favorites and its more suspense than horror.

That would be the meat "by products" shown on the pet food labels.

Haggis if I'm not mistaken. (sp?) This is where the puking smile would come in handy! No idea why lungs are illegal, but if the bonus was a serving of the above delicacy, I'll pass!

But Lasix is a diuretic, right? Wouldn't they use that for the fluid around the lungs? I had a cat with cardiomyopathy and when he showed signs of congestive heart failure (very similar to what Keith described, but I KNEW Milo had a bad heart) they treated him in an oxygen chamber and gave him lasix fpr the fluid around his heart. It did bring him around, but he was never able to bouce back (I think the meds were just too hard on his already weakened system) and I had to have him put down about a week after I took him home. Heartbreaking to say the least. Keith, I am so sorry for your loss. I don't know what to say about the vet- if you've got a bad feeling you might be right OR it could be your grief talking. I know its hard to find someone you really like and trust for your pets and when you bring them for emergency care, sometimes you have to hand them over to strangers. Sorry again, and I hope you find some answers. maura edited after re-reading Keith's post..........

I don't see the issue. They can get any schmoe to do the data entry which sounds like a temp job anyway. Yes, your friend did you a favor by letting you be the "schmoe" but I'm sure the agency has other people to send there. People temp for a number of reasons, one of which is to keep some money coming in while they look for a "real" job with better pay and benefits. Besides which, these days the hiring process for a decent position can be time consuming- more than one interview, background checks, that kind of thing. I doubt they'll make a firm offer right away even if they are very interested, so you can do the data entry until they do, then give the agency whatever you feel is reasonable notice- no more than 2 weeks, probably less due to the nature of the job. Definitely NOT unethical and if you handle yourself professionally, you won't be burning and bridges either. (never too soon to think about that........) And good call about law school. There is simply no reason to mention it at this stage. Its not a sure thing, and its several months away. A lot can happen between now and then.

How is he coming along?

Please tell me you are kidding! You actually tried to return a pair of shoes you had worn almost daily for 18 months? I sooooo do NOT miss being in retail! Because even if you were kidding, someone else out there has tried it! When my Birkies get worn out after a few years, I just replace them.

Nope, but since the fed is closed, I should have a light day and I get to wear jeans!

Does anyone actually buy anything from those catalogs?

I think a good punishment would be to force him to play quarterback in Chicago for a few games. He'll get his ass kicked regularly, his passes dropped and all the fans will blame him for every loss. When he gets injured (because his line lets the entire defense through) and the back up comes in and connects with a lucky pass or two, the fans (and team) will still hate him but they'll treat the back up like a hero. That should humble him quite a bit and give him some added appreciation for what quarterbacks do. Of course, I'd hate to rock the boat for the Bears since they seem to be on a "winning streak" but it does seem to be the way football is played in this town!

I was waiting for that!

Yeah, it was shady. It never felt 100% right for a lot of reasons but it also seemed like a good opportunity I might regret passing up. The second recruiter made my final decision a lot easier. Good luck with the next step!

A few months ago, I had a recruiter call me for a job I had already interviewed for , been offered and had a verbal agreement pending something more formal. So obviously, this guy was still looking around and using more than one recruiter. Since my business is somewhat specialized (incestuous) the recruiters were aggressively calling the same people including my coworkers. I'd had a bad feeling about the whole thing to begin with and when I called him (new perspective employer) on the recruiter issue he tripped all over himself trying to come up with an explanation. I took a pass on the job.

Well, aren't they pretty smelly animals?

Thanks! I have a better idea what they were *hoping* to accomplish but I still can't help but wonder "WTF were they thinking?" Sounds like something some first year psych student would come up with only to have it rejected by her professors. Not only that, it was improperly presented to the parents. As much as I disagree with the survey on so many levels- inappropriate and poorly designed- I still feel the court ruling was essentially correct. Its really two separate issues.

I'd like to hear from the "other side"- what was behind the survey, what they were hoping to learn from it. The specific questions that were quoted seem really inappropriate AND unlikely to encourage an honest answer. If I were a parent and that happened at my kid's school, I would be pissed and I'd want to do something about it. To complain to the school board about that specific survey is one thing. But to go to courts to protest ALL sex education in public schools (which is what this group of parents appears to have done) is something else entirely and as such, I feel the court ruling was correct.

Dayum- I actually AGREE with you, and that's really scary!

I agree, but we're also taking about a 3 month old baby. Its one thing to make that decision for yourself, quite another to have to make it for someone else, and for your infant? I can't imagine anything more difficult. The instinct has to be to hold on to hope, right? So, I totally understand where the orginal post is coming from. When faced with something like that, I can only hope I would be strong enough to make the right decision. And if I made an unpopular choice, I would hope that my friends and family would still love and support me.