That sucks, Stephanie. Is it a factor of being in PR - different practices and norms - or just not connecting with people and places? Raq might have some advice (or at least knowing sympathy) if it's the former.

In news of me, the one thing I forgot about having hardwood floors is how filthy your feet get. And with the deck now it's like times a million. How do people deal with this? And is it possible to construct a door mat entirely of magic erasers?

We have tile floors and have the exact problem. I have solved it by wearing shoes/Birks/occasioanlly socks all the time around the house. I miss that feel of carpet on bare feet, but I haven't found anyway to keep from getting filthy feet, no matter how often I sweep and mop.

Is it a factor of being in PR - different practices and norms - or just not connecting with people and places?

Both, I think. I got some misleading information from the first doctor I spoke to which made some options not possible. Also, in my opinion, this society doesn't value women very much, beyond looks, and I think the idea of taking charge of your own birth is unusual.

I was actually thinking about Raq as I was posting. IIRC, Mal's birth was not totally smooth. The thing that makes it all really frustrating is that you can't take a child out of a hospital AMA here - child services will take your baby. So once the baby is born in the hospital, he/she is stuck there until they release him/her.

In news of me, the one thing I forgot about having hardwood floors is how filthy your feet get. And with the deck now it's like times a million. How do people deal with this? And is it possible to construct a door mat entirely of magic erasers?

I have a pair of "indoor flipflops" (some keds that I just wear indoors), so I can still be relatively footloose and fancy free, but yeah. I hate that too. And it's so much worse when you also have a dog!

I suspect I'm the weirdo, but I'm grossed out by carpet to the point where I can't stand to set bare feet on it at all.

but I'm grossed out by carpet

Actually, having cleaned our floors for the last year, I'm grossed out at what's there that I never noticed before. The perfect solution is hardwood with a maid who cleans every day.

The perfect solution is hardwood with a maid who cleans every day.

I was just saying the other day that we needed a robot maid.

Question for the Hivemind.

I own ONE pink top. So, why do I own SEVEN pairs of pink socks?

They came in a pack?

They bred?

Or: they were once white socks, but went in the wash with something red?

Fay!!!!!

I SO totally don't want to be at work right now.