Liese, my sister had MRSA a couple of years ago; she discovered it when she kept getting these cuts that wouldn't heal and got infected. Handling it was a hassle, but it could have been much worse.

She went on a massive dose of antibiotics for a while (it was useful to have a doctor in the family--my brother is an infectious disease specialist, and was able to advise on that), and then afterwards she & her family had to spend 3 weeks or so scrubbing daily with an antibiotic soap, since it was assumed that the entire family had been colonized.

MRSA is really dangerous, but mostly if you're already immuno-compromised, I think.

Cass, it all started when she linked this, [link] which is an article about a new series from Greene, which starts in ten minutes on PBS, by the by.

Then in response to my thanks, she linked this [link] which is Cox's TED page.

And from there, I went here [link]

Welcome to this evening's rabbit hole! Ooh, and the new series starts in ten minutes. Perfect!

ETA:

See, that's not him or him.

I would gladly watch either of these gentlemen give a TED talk, too.

Liese, so many good thoughts to your friend.

I am totally calling smonster "Frodo" henceforth.

But--but, Dana's Frodo! When she's not a drunk streetlamp.

Last year's sinus infection that would not die, plus my several years of sores that won't heal, turned out to be MRSA. Community-acquired MRSA is becoming much more common, to the point that they now do nasal swabs for MRSA for people going into surgery. For that level, I had a month of a combination of antibiotics and a booklet about disinfecting everything. It can be really scary if acquired during surgery or in a larger wound.

My birthstone is topaz, which I've always disliked. Not that I wear jewelry anyway.

If I'd been a boy I would have been named Adam. I don't know why - me and one of my sisters were named after characters in books my mom read in her third trimester and after that they switched to family names, but Adam is neither.

I feel like my birthstone is pearl, but it depends who you ask. Is there an official birthstone arbiter?

My other option is apparently agate? Those both kind of suck.

Does everyone know their birthstone? I'm not asking what it is, just if you know it.

I feel like my birthstone is pearl, but it depends who you ask. Is there an official birthstone arbiter?

My other option is apparently agate? Those both kind of suck.

I thought pearl was one of the 3 (seriously) options for June -- alexandrite (which is a random, weird-ass stone that changes color depending on what light source you're under), moonstone, and pearl.

Mine is ruby. I prefer garnet, but rubies come in that more common rusty shade of garnets.

Loki is sleeping in the cat carrier again. Pumpkin is getting less hissy, though Devi is still stalkery (she started in as soon as I woke up at 5 am. She's such a bitch.) Less hissy to Loki and MK, anyway. She actually didn't flip out when Loki sniffed her thoroughly while she ate.

Had I been a boy, I would have been named what my brother is. He would have been an Elizabeth, I think.

I got home from work really early (what happens when you are there at 7:15) and actually passed out on the couch for half an hour before going to the pool. Not fully back up to speed.

But--but, Dana's Frodo! When she's not a drunk streetlamp.

I guess you could call me Leah Regina instead, which was another girl option. I like to joke that I got downgraded from a queen (regina) to a princess (sara).

Yeah June as alexandrite, pearl, and moonstone. I have no idea why. Peals aren't bad, I guess alexandrite is pretty. But I like amethyst best so I don't really care for birthstone stuff.