I will have NO flora left anywhere within a 10-foot range of me.

Oh dears. Good thing you already take a probiotic.

Would a podcast/book on tape be too distracting during that? I can see how it could be, but on the other hand, it might be entertaining.

Yeah, now that I won't have a person to converse with, I am definitely going to need to bring my ipod with me because 1. The gym's music is annoying to the extreme and 2. I'll get bored to death very quickly.

My main worry is that without an appointment I will keep putting it off for 5 more minutes til infinity.

Good thing you already take a probiotic.

Man, no kidding. I might just double up on them for the duration.

When I am allergicy to one thing, other things seemed to be primed to also be allergic. Which, since our systems are, in fact, systemic, makes sense. But still surprises me every time.

but I keep going back and forth between freezing cold and broiling hot (yet I have no fever), and my cough is back, and my chest kind of hurts (I assume related to the cough), and I've had to use my albuterol inhaler the past day and a half.

Yeah, today you were at "call the doctor" time. Sucks you need more antib's though. Probiotic it up!

Is there a way we can help you, sj? Set up calls to remind* you to go? Or emails?

• remind = nag.

When I am allergic to one thing, other things seemed to be primed to also be allergic.

I've been working my way through every kind of bandaid and bandage tape known to man, developing an allergy and then moving on to the next type. It's always a toss-up as to whether the injury or the bandage will do more damage. My life is so exciting.

Is there a way we can help you, sj? Set up calls to "remind" you to go? Or emails?

Definitely not phone calls, I dread answering them even when I really like the person. E-mails from someone might work. I also need to come up with a schedule that I can stick with. I tend to try and make schedules that are super strict and then give up when I can't meet those expectations. So schedule making advice and/or software recommendations would be super helpful.

All of the structure in my life has disappeared, no more set PT schedule and no more babysitting, which really scares me. Getting out to PT meant seeing people and getting some positive feedback from non-relatives or friends and once I was out I would get stuff done like the grocery shopping, errands, etc.

When I am allergic to one thing, other things seemed to be primed to also be allergic.

Me too and also my sensitivity to other things like scents that aren't necessarily allergies goes way up.

I've been working my way through every kind of bandaid and bandage tape known to man, developing an allergy and then moving on to the next type.

Oh my lord. After my back surgery, the damage from the medical tape was worse than the incision. I can handle bandaids for a few days, but they will inevitably leave red sore spots, and I can't use a bandaid for more than a few days. It's maddening. I had a big scrapey wound on my calf/knee once (I stepped in an open pipe in a city sidewalk while I was trying to take a picture; I didn't look down because one doesn't expect OPEN PIPES to just be sitting there), and I had to just use a gauze pad and then wrap it in place with an ACE bandage. Pain in the arse, I tell you what.

Can I also say, since I'm already TMI-ing, how nice it is that I don't have to remind him to use a condom every time, and that he hasn't tried to talk me out of one yet? So nice.

So, how nice it is to date a decent guy? I get that.

When I am allergic to one thing, other things seemed to be primed to also be allergic.

Exponentially! Trigger the antihistamines and they just start looking for other things to throw a hissy fit about. Such drama queens. Gotta keep 'em calm.

OKAY. For a dating-site profile, how's this:

I'm a geek. I'm tired of hanging out with people who don't get my jokes. I like science fiction and fantasy and horror and comedy. I like action movies with explosions and/or aliens. No weepy chick flicks. I get irritated with people who talk while the show is on. I like mountains, beaches, and lakes, and cities with character and charm. I like driving to places I've never been just to see what's there. I own many books on a wide array of topics, including history and science. I hate noisy places, heavy traffic, and large crowds of strangers when I'm alone. I don't like histrionic personal drama, and I don't enjoy the company of people who create it. I can't stand people who are dogmatic, incurious, or unimaginative, and I won't tolerate rude, misogynistic, or bigoted attitudes. I like afternoon naps, long walks in quiet places, and writing stories that will never be published. I like odd things and odd people. I ask a lot of questions. I can keep my cool in an emergency, and I know what to do in case of a zombie apocalypse. For a pacifist, I spend a lot of time figuring out how to dispose of the bodies.