Calli, I just read the news in Beep Me. I'm so sorry AND will keep my eyes open for opportunities.

Andi, I think I've found a rail-free option, but thanks for the thought.

I have a tall step ladder that doubles as a chair in the kitchen when folks visit while I'm making tea, etc.

It just fits into the tub and is fairly sturdy, as long as you don't pull it toward you to the side.

It's not meant to be soaked, but I'll risk it. Job done!

Do you know the brands of those grab bars, Andi? I've been thinking I could use one, because I get pretty wobbly when the red blood count goes down.

I'd like the name of those grab bars too.

I used to have a suction cup grab bar in my shower. I don't remember the name of it, though. I think I got it from Amazon. It worked pretty well -- after a few months, one of the cups would sometimes come unstuck while the wall was drying after I took a shower, but as long as I checked that it was secure again before I started the shower, it was fine.

Just ordered the blender. I researched a bit, and decided that the Blendtec was better for me than the Vitamix, and then I found a refurbished Blendtec (from a certified dealer, with all the manufacturer warranties and stuff) for a reasonable price. So, ordered that, plus five pounds of cashews to use as the base for most of the cheeses.

Thanks, Bonny. I'm so glad you get to see your surrogate mom!

Calli, That sucks about your layoff. Best of job~ma to you.

As for the brand of grab bar, I do not remember. It looked like this one [link] If it were me, I think I'd go for one of the ones with 100+ five star ratings over the ones with 25 five star ratings even if the 100+ good comes with 50 one star ratings. We put the grab bar up and took it down each day because there was someone who would have messed with it if left unattended. At least one unfavorable review says that it gets loose "over time". That sounds to me like longer than the length of a long shower. So theirs might have been perfectly fine if reattached or checked daily.

I just got back from taking Harvey to the vet for his annual exam and shots. In the last couple of weeks his energy level has been lower than usual so I made sure to mention that. It surprised me to find that he has lost about a pound and a half since the last time he was there (ear infection in Sept). I had the tech recheck it. She ended up taking him to three different scales to make sure it wasn't an error. The lab work they do on-site only revealed a slightly below-clinical range value on his potassium level, every thing else looks fine. They are sending a sample to an external lab to test his thyroid function.

The vet said it would work just fine to add a sprinkle of No Salt to his meals to supplement the potassium.

t professional hat

Those suction grab bars are not as reliable as the kind that are properly attaches, or the ones that clamp onto the side of the tub. It only takes one instance of it not seating properly for suction for Very Bad Things.

t /professional hat

I bought my house from an 83 year old lady, so it came with grab bars installed in the shower. And I used them all the time, but for frivolous things like bending down to pumice my feet. They are also nice to have when my parents are visiting.

Oh man, i have NONE of the proper motivation today. I have a significant number of things that need to be done before leaving town on tuesday and have accomplished none of them (and i work 12 hrs shifts saturday, sunday, and monday so best if i get things done today or tomorrow.) I should really be at the pool right now getting a proper swim in while i can. And i stupidly agreed to a date tonight. Of course, i (perhaps willfully?) misread "today" as "tomorrow" and completely flaked. He just texted me asking how far out I was. Um, completely and entirely? At home with greasy hair in my swimsuit? *sigh* Poor guy, i already delayed once last week because i just didn't have the spoons to meet someone new.

What I apparently do have the motivation for is to work on a new egg design. Not even a custom order, just an idea that i want to slap onto an eggshell RIGHT NOW. Inspiration is all well and good, but when it take at least 8 hours to make it happen...couldn't this be put off till later? I have 2 dr appts tomorrow and now a date afterwards. And in between i sorely wish to sleep, sleep, sleep, and more sleep. Not that it would be restful, just want to climb in bed and pretend that sleeping is still an option.

Right. I really am going to swim. Perhaps that will wake up my brain a bit.