"gesundheit" is my brother's response as well. The rest of my family (and I note this occurs among the next generation as well) say "salud" which my dad picked up working in south america in the 80s.

Heh. She did kind of ask for it.

but yeah she was asking for it. M seems unable to separate out the earnest prayers of good will from the proselytizing.

I say "gesundheit" too, a legacy from my mother's very German family heritage. I also learned to say "danke schoen" very young, but when I went to Germany a few years ago my German friend made fun of my pronunciation, which I later chalked up to the fact that our roots are in Bavaria, and as I have subsequently learned, making fun of Bavaria is a favorite pastime for many Germans.

"Hogan's Heroes" was actually pretty popular when it aired in Germany. A lot of it was due to the voices they used to dub it. Sergeant Schultz was a stereotypical Bavarian, and Colonel Klink a stereotypical Prussian.

Back in '97 or so, I saw a German "Hogan's Heroes" fan site. It was all intellectual and stuff. They used a German word (forget what it was) to describe the fact that it was always winter at Stalag 13 (don't remember if that's true) and they discussed the intellectual ramifications of that.

I feel like posting on Facebook creates a space for discussion, and one should choose one's topics carefully if one does not wish a discussion to take place.

I get this, Steph. I was reacting purely to the questions that follow this kind of news event.

It is true that the people who asked me those questions were sincerely trying to be supportive, which I appreciate. It can still be jarring.

I TOTALLY agree that one has be to extremely careful about what gets discussed in open forums. Totally, in the extreme...to put as fine a point as possible on it.

Laga, the greens and beans really ARE filling and healthy. They were just as yummy cold as they were warm.

Barb, it's funny you should say that about tuna. I've had to give it up myself due to the ooky tummy issue. I don't know if it's the tuna that has changed or my stomach.

Back in '97 or so, I saw a German "Hogan's Heroes" fan site. It was all intellectual and stuff. They used a German word (forget what it was) to describe the fact that it was always winter at Stalag 13 (don't remember if that's true) and they discussed the intellectual ramifications of that.

The German version of Hogan's Heroes was famously dubbed with different dialogue. It's not just a translation from the German but a sort of MST3K version.

Similarly, the German version of Disney's Uncle Scrooge comics is aimed at kids but quite erudite, loaded with references to German culture. Not even close to a straight translation.

jeebus you guys. DH picked up a new pack of 24-hr claritin for me last week - liquigels not the pills I'd been taking. "May cause drowsiness" is an understatement. I hate these things and am so marching down to the CVS for the other ones... er, once I quit taking naps.

So I had to take a road trip today. (That's another storyy.)

So I had my touch for music, cell, because M is at friend's house, a large iced coffee, the ashtry is full of the touch and the converter thingie, I had cigarettes, lighter, a notebook with directions and my wallet with money for the toll.

Too many things, not enough places, and getting things OUT of my purse while I'm driving is worse than texting while driving.

So after I lost the lighter once, and dug out the second lighter (yeah, I have a back up) from the side pocket, I stuck it in my bra. As one does. Easy access, doesn't slide.

So I do the thing I had to do, see lighter #1 on seat and stick in it the cup holder. I used it on the way back, and pick M up from friend's house, and we sneak out to garage for a quick smoke.

I grab the lighter from my purse, and stick it in my bra when I'm done -- no pockets. Laugh with friend -- ha, ha, I have two lighters in my bra! Forget about it, of course.

So I FINALLY get home and take my bra off and a lighter falls out. "Oh, yeah! Huh, what happened to the second one" thinks me. "Whatev."

2 minutes later the second lighter falls off my boob and scares the shit out of me when it clatters to the hardwood.

Your boob is telling you to quit smoking.

My great aunt always stuck money in her bra "between the only two suckers I can trust".