Jilli, it's making the whole balcony smell sweet and minty and sort of creamy. It's amazing. I have no idea what to do with it. I was thinking it might be nice to add a few leaves to iced coffee.

---

For the record, I'm agreeing entirely with Allyson and have never been brave enough to say it.

Anyone who wants some frakking mint can come and harvest mine. Take it all; in two days it'll all be back again. The delightfully fragrant stuff just WILL NOT DIE. It is a zombie plant.

I am cackling in glee over Owen's reading prowess.

---

Chocolate mint in mojitos! Also in fruit salads!

Speaking of mojitos, Jilli, what do you think about the violet balsamic?

Oh, tornado sirens going off! It's south of us, though; looks like Baldwin City got hit. Damn. But I don't go into the basement till I can see a funnel.

All the pets are indoors, and we have candles and lighters to hand. Freaky upstairs cat would go into a pillowcase and then to the basement, where the carriers are. The rest are easy to get downstairs.

But it's really south. We'll be fine; I'm a little worried about my girlfriend who lives in Olathe, though.

---

Jilli, it's making the whole balcony smell sweet and minty and sort of creamy. It's amazing. I have no idea what to do with it. I was thinking it might be nice to add a few leaves to iced coffee.

I would add it to fizzy water or iced tea. Or just eat the leaves.

Erin, the violet balsamic is FANTASTIC. I haven't tried the violet mojitos recipe yet, 'cos the antibiotic I'm on for the Lyme disease means I shouldn't drink. But it is fabulous in fizzy water, and over strawberries.

---

Holy shit, Jilli. I was unaware you had Lyme. I just wrote an essay about my old neighbor's experience with Lyme and what happened when she tried to treat it with raw bison liver and meditation.

---

and somewhat on the left, but the political effects of that are nowhere near as bad

Anti-science attitudes don't have to be political to be harmful - antivax activism kills more people than creationism.

OMG, was reading a Washington post parenting chat, and the "expert" was antivax!! I just about plotzed.

---

Oh Lady Gaga, tight, low-rise PVC is no one's friend.

---

Holy shit, Jilli. I was unaware you had Lyme. I just wrote an essay about my old neighbor's experience with Lyme and what happened when she tried to treat it with raw bison liver and meditation.

I solomnly swear I will not follow that sort of path to treat the damn Lyme. Yeah, I was diagnosed in ... November? December? Around then. I also have a bonus of CFS and cat scratch fever. So I'm on some hellacious antibiotics, vitamin shots, and a massive handful of supplements every day. I'm not thrilled about it, but having a diagnosis is better than not knowing why I felt like crap all the time.

---

OMG, was reading a Washington post parenting chat, and the "expert" was antivax!! I just about plotzed.

Yeah, there is no schadenfreude in dead children. There's no "I told you so."

It just makes me profoundly sad.

I get irrationally angry about alt med. I've been having horrible stomach problems and ended up in the hospital thinking it was my appendix about to burst I was in such intense pain. Five bazillion tests later concluded it was IBS. The doctor suggested fiber, peppermint oil, Prilosec, and an appointment with a dietician. Peppermint really does help, and he said they don't know why. I have this odd feeling that I'm in placebo-land, but I'd sacrifice a chicken if I was in that kind of pain again and someone told me it would make it stop.

I get how fear and pain can twist your perspective.

---

Allyson, my IBS has led me to a vast sea of knowledge about it. If you're interested, I'd be happy to share.

---