Thank you, Steph. Post marked. My sister had a lot of ear infections as a kid and was on a lot of antibiotics. She's had IBS and colitis and while she's in remission for that now, it could be worth exploring.

Nora, I'm equalling dreading/looking forward to some kind of cathartic breakdown. I'm so glad we were there together. I don't think I could have taken much on my own.

Thank you, Steph. Post marked. My sister had a lot of ear infections as a kid and was on a lot of antibiotics. She's had IBS and colitis and while she's in remission for that now, it could be worth exploring.

I hope it can help. I'll let you know if my cousin comes up with any other well-researched sources.

Well, this is some bullshit: New Orleans Venue Drops Burlesque Performer Due to Her Size. Burlesque Community Erupts.

First off, I haven't read the articles, but is this essentially saying that one person's shit can change the way another person's brain works?

Truly, we live in a golden age.

That burlesque performer is gorgeous. Are they mad.

I went off the weight-loss med about a month ago, and while I've definitely been eating more comfort food since then, I haven't gained back any of the weight I lost. Not sure why. Maybe it's the Fitbit, but I haven't really made any effort to walk more. Personally, with no science to back me up at all, I think my body's "weight set point" got fubared by the antidepressants I was on for so long, and maybe it'll take something like that drug to knock it back down. I don't know anymore. After 25 years of dieting and not-dieting and gaining and losing weight and ending up fatter than I was when I first panicked about my weight gain, my body and the weight it chooses to be is an entire mystery to me. The only thing I know for sure is, I need more exercise, whether it makes me lose weight or not, so that's what I'm concentrating on now.

That is some for real bullshit. Glad to hear Bella stood up for her; she (Bella) is a great performer and producer and I've heard good things about her from other performers. The fb post tha Lucky Pierre's responded with was asinine to the extreme.

Zen, bodies are weird. Glad you are focusing on being healthy.

Nora, smonster, I may have said this before, but I love that you are within arm's reach of each other when the rest of us cannot be.

If anyone is around and has prayers to offer, I need them.

The roof over the heater in my house has broken through and water is running in.

I called the landlord, with whom I have not had an actual conversation in 18 months...ever since he told me my toilet not working was no big deal.

It's the middle of the night. It's freezing. I don't know where to go, if I have to leave.

So far no power problems and the heater is still working, but the water is dropping right on top of it.

I just don't even.

Holy crap, bonny, that's disastrous in the middle of the night in the middle of the cold!

Do you have anybody you can go to?

You need to call an emergency plumber. Take it out of your rent.

Water combined with almost any kind of heater sounds potentially dangerous.

The landlord came and did the very minimum he could do, by shoveling the snow off the portion of the roof over the heater.

Water is still coming in and it is supposed to rain for 3 more hours.

It's not a plumbing issue.

Apparently, the severe winds we've had recently have destroyed the roof. The rubber panels have peeled up, exposing the 150 year old roof to 5 inches of snow.

So. He didn't shovel the whole roof and now the cracks from the earthquake in 2011 are leaking. Which means it is leaking in the living room now as well.

Still no problems with the heater or power.

I've packed a bag with clothes for me and food for Cagney.

There are two people I can call, but no guarantee they'll be up at 4am.

If I have to go to a hotel, I'll probably have to have Cagney boarded.

For now, I'm just putting pots under leaks and hoping for the best.

The landlord had the nerve to say this has never happened before. My kitchen ceiling leaked for 5 straight years...and he just patched over it, rather than fixing the roof. Now we have this.

In a weird way, I'd rather be here right now, in case the heater is compromised, or the power does go off. I'd rather be able to report that to the fire department and get their help if I have to.

My bff, in Tucson started lecturing me about getting some sleep because I'll need to be rested to deal with whatever happens tomorrow.

Um. No. I'm hyper alert to cracking sounds or more leaks. No sleep for me. Sheesh.