Apparently Segregation and McCarthyism escaped this person's notice.

Or they kinda like them.

There was some literal men dig Mars, chicks dig Venus in the other post I read, so they're not really that evolved as far as I ventured.

I was raised by a "homemaker" in one of those '50s families. She did, indeed, create delectable baked goods, as well cook every meal from scratch; make our clothes; make curtains and draperies; do all the cleaning; wash and iron clothes, sheets and my father's damn handkerchiefs; hung laundry out to dry (she didn't get a dryer until after my sister and I were out of diapers); and stand on a ladder pouring boiling water on a gutter ice dams when my father was out of town. She took him to the airport; she packed his suitcase; she packed and moved seven times for his job. When he became an abusive alcoholic, she refused to leave him because she had no job skills and knew he had paid child support for his daughter from his first marriage only because she sat him down with a checkbook every month.

A couple whom my dad knew from college also had that idyllic domestic situation. One daughter joined the Hare Krishnas and moved to India; one son committed suicide; and the other son finally pulled himself out of drug abuse to become an auto mechanic.

I hate the '50s.

I wandered through some other posts, and boy do they get vicious towards women who aren't plus size. "Soft femininity" also cropped up in more than one place. More power to the plus sizes, but there's an undercurrent of "only plus sized women are real women, because they're soft and feminine." I'd rather be plus-sized and kicking ass. Fat woman with a gun--or sword, I'm not picky, but I do get out of breath faster.

I'm back. We're done. I won't be going back to Hartsville TN ever again. Wow, that feels weird. Not sad, really, just strange. That place that's been an integral part of my life for 43 years is now just memories and a random assortment of furniture and stuff. Of course I *can* go back to visit, any time I want, but I know that I won't. I'm done.

ChiKat, my sincere condolences. Peace and strength to you and your friend's family.

Aims, as much as metaphorically pushing that professor down the stairs would please you (What? I said metaphorically!) you're probably better off shaking it off and moving on. You're a good person and a good student; that one grade won't make a big difference in your life.

Steph and Jilli, death to the vile microbial invaders that are making you sick!

Windsparrow, I offer blankets and hot cocoa in retrospect. I hope Daniel's safely home by now.

More power to the plus sizes, but there's an undercurrent of "only plus sized women are real women, because they're soft and feminine."

Her disdain for the waifs made me think of the weight talk on TT, where there was always someone saying "But I already ate a sandwich. Step off." It's a little blanket. Attack the society and media promotion of it, but leave the less heavy alone, will you?

More power to the plus sizes, but there's an undercurrent of "only plus sized women are real women, because they're soft and feminine."

It's still policing the bodies of women, it's just aimed a bit differently than the OMG fatties are gross version.

Zen, just sending a good feeling your way, for completion and closure.

Bonny - saw your press post and i have subscribed to your newsletter (and cat food/litter delivery). OMG, how wonderful to not make that drive every month. Going through my credit card statements to see how often to sign up for delivery i realised just how much i spend on the furry beasts every month! Someday they might redeem themselves. Might.

Smonster, stay the (*&%*&%^*& home from work until the PI clears up. Adding stress to the mix is gonna make healing even slower and more miserable. Plus cranky time=less effective teacher/leader.

Istas! Get/Stay healthy! Ok, cold-weather tips from years of working at a natural foods stores: some people swear by echinacea, but most newer research debunks it. Plus it can be an allergen. (Same with goldenseal). Oscillococcinum=gold for early stages of the flu, but you gotta start taking it at first symptoms and it is spendy. I do not trust fungus but hear amazing things about that stuff mentioned upthread. Zinc helps some people by shortening duration and lessening symptoms. Every form makes me nauseaus so i avoid it. It's very very difficult to OD on vitamin C and it does support immune function (plus preventing scurvy!) so dope away with vit c/ascorbic acid. Too much might make your pee expensive but it's not gonna lodge in your brain or do damage. Getting adequate Vit D and B complexes is vital in keeping that immune system healthy. Check w/ yr doc on how much you need- most people are deficient in Vit D and I know my morning dosage of 3000 iud is a better energy boost than a shot of coffee. You can od on B vitamins so just make sure that you're getting 100% rda in supplement form since it's super easy to miss it in food.

Heck, if you aren't taking a good multivitamin you should. Really. Worth consulting with a nutrionist (who is not making comission on vitamin sales) on what's gonna work for you. Me, i ended up with Soloray children's chewables - all varieties of pills just went straight through me.

Some people sweat by netti pots (uck! water up the nose!) and there are even crazy people who will try to sell you on ear candling. Give that the scepticism it deserves; ear candling is hooey and can be dangerous if done incorrectly.

Yoga, meditation, clearing out quiet alone time...even if it's just 10 minutes a day...is extremely effective at lowering stress and boosting immune system. I know people who lock themselves in the bathroom for 15 minutes every day because it's the only place they can actually be alone. Not ideal, but better than being a frazzled stress ball. Stress leads to sickness. Sickess is bad. Therefore stress is bad.