And Teppy, no-teeth-in-the-liver~ma for your mom.

I hope your Mom is okay Teppy.

I made Cinnamon muffins. They are tasty but I was really craving something with mixed spices and maybe applesauce muffins. I just have to go to the store and exchange the applesauce I bought. I bought the storebrand regular applesauce, not even thinking to look for unsweetened. The ingredients of the applesauce I have: apples, corn sryup, high fructose corn syrup. So I'm assuming it's not so much applesauce as apple flavored corn syrup.

Oy. I'm trying to support my sister through a meltdown in a compassionate way, and it is challenging. Her self-awareness is miles better than even a few years ago, but it's so painful to see the way she judges herself and others.

As someone allergic to chicken eggs, and thus not able to get my own flu vaccine, I thank all of you for contributing to the herd immunity. I did get a TDaP booster last week and had several days of sore shoulder in solidarity.

Scan~ma to Teppy's mother. Liver hemangiomas rarely cause any problems; may the odds be in her favor.

There is no monolithic Southern culture. Hell, there are at least three cultures in Tennessee and Georgia has three or four. Erika, your aunt has to be living in middle Tennessee. Middle Tennessee and Kentucky have similar cultures that are quite distinct from the states of the old South. Many of the early settlers came south from Ohio and Indiana. (My great-great-grandparents moved to Middle Tennessee from Indiana.) Tennessee was the last state to secede and the first to rejoin the Union. It's just not "hell no, I ain't fergettin'" country. Anyway, that's a long way of saying that your aunt is full of it.

Typo, I hope you have a doctor's appointment soon, because you're worrying me. I googled and became even more convinced that the human reproductive system alone is all the evidence needed against intelligent design.

Agreeing with Ginger on all counts as usual. I'm from Middle Tennessee.

I kind of knew that, Ginger, but, on this subject, not from personal experience.

Yay Tim and TCG for being such excellent nurturers.

Liver~ma for Teppy's mom.

There is no monolithic Southern culture.

I honestly had to consciously fight my Yankee bred prejudice concerning Southern culture. After 40ish years of living in the South I certainly can't see where there is any one Southern experience. I experienced all out hostility in Richmond because I was from NY and practically an immigrant since my great grandparents came from Ireland. Fortunately, much more of my experience is being treated like one of the family and called hon and doll despite my funny accent.

I don't count Fort Lauderdale as the South, but speak only of experiences outside of the major metro areas. But yeah, painting the entire South with one brush makes no sense. Is the New England experience is all the same? Come on now.

Fortunately, much more of my experience is being treated like one of the family and called hon and doll despite my funny accent.

My mother is from Massachusetts. The summer after my freshman year of college, the two of us took a road trip through Cajun country and the Gulf Coast. In practically all of her interactions with Southern people, I had to translate both ways -- the accents were mutually unintelligible.

My shoulder ache is done now anyway. My vaccine shot giver was this soap opera handsome Italian pharmacist who was cracking jokes the whole time. I answered the "Are you allergic to eggs or any other food" question with my standard, "Not as far as I know" and he stopped, looked at me, and said, "You've never eaten eggs?" I laughed. "I know I'm not allergic to eggs, I was just giving the disclaimer for all food ever!"

I had a great experience in college in eastern Tennessee, despite being a minority in an interracial relationship who was clearly a northerner.