The house we rented in Wyoming had w2w carpet in the kitchen -- deep rusty orange with a...I don't know what to call it but fugly...pattern of octagon-type shapes in brown. Shudder.

TMI alert: Not only was I PMSing two weeks ago... it CAME BACK on Monday. Called the OB/GYN and she said if might be ovulation-related, but for three days? I'm still using tampons. And now I'm kind of worried. I'm giving it one more day and calling back. Because a 14-day cycle is just...WRONG. Like a thing that's very, very wrong.

Ugh.

I'm glad vw is going home. No one should have to try to get through a normal day while puking.

(Of course, I say this as a weird non-vomiting freak. Last time I puked was in 1997. Before that, '85 or '86.)

And I'm a good 2 weeks out of synch with what appears to be the official Bitch period.

ETA I'd call back now, AmyLiz, but I'm both paranoid and normally possessed of a very predictable body. Glad I didn't bitch about my current 24-25 day cycles, though, Too Damn Short IMNSHO though they are.

The house they picked had two women, and part of their "security" was keeping knives under their mattress....which the guys on the show told them was dangerous and not very effective

I think anything you need to lift a mattress to get to before it can protect you is not very effective security.

I need carpet in the kitchen. We have tile in the whole house with rugs here and there, but alas none in the kitchen. I have broken 3 bowls in the last 2 days. Nothing survives a drop to tile. Also, standing on tile for long periods of time while cooking bothers my body.

Laura, if you can afford it, have cork installed. It's gorgeous, about the same cost as lino, and wonderful underfoot. It's also perfect for things like kitchens and basements.

Err. Hi.

I may have a flooring "thing".

Oh! Cork is a dandy idea. I'll have to check and see how it works in my environment. My feet just moaned with pleasure at the thought.

I'd call back now, AmyLiz

Really? God, I hate going to the doctor. Which makes no sense because I'd hate having something serious more...

I'm usually around 24-25 days, too, which sucks. And you're right -- this has never ever happened before, and I'm pretty predictable, too. Damn it.

Laura, if you can afford it, have cork installed.

Cork sounds so nice. Good flooring is so worth it. It makes or breaks a room, imo. We have awful fake red brick vinyl in our tiny kitchen now, and it screams 1974.

AmyLiz, about a year ago I was cycling every two and a half weeks. I figured if I went to the doctor they'd just say, "Well, you're in your mid-40s, things happen. Call us if it doesn't stop."

re: home security

Unless a burglar knows our house very well, the crap all over the floor will alert us and the entire building when he trips over a piece of armor, a pile of books, or a cat.

I'm presuming the problem with the knives under the mattress is that they can be taken away and used against you. Few home invaders--except ones I might know personally--would know how to use a sword against me.

We occasionally hear people behind the house. I don't know if it's new neighbors casing the opportunities or what, but if the sound of a cat growling at them doesn't make them leave, Hubby and his "Where is he, Shadow? Show me where to aim" routine or the reports of all the other neighbors about those sword-wieldin' freaks in Apt. 2 will generally do the trick.

I did go to the doctor about the increasingly short/unpredictable periods and that is exactly what they said.

Really? God, I hate going to the doctor. Which makes no sense because I'd having something serious more...

I didn't mean that in an "I think something is terribly wrong" sort of way, more that it'd be driving me crazy, and I'd be all, "Body broken! Fix it now! This sucks!"

You know, I've tried that so many times. No wonder therapists hate me.