Have you guys seen ltc? Nobody that cute could assassinate anyone except wicked evil people.

I nursed both kids to 2.5, so you go as long as you want. But I finally decided that part of parenting was you were always being judged, or feeling judged, about something. There's always something.

I must be the only cookie-loving American that thinks raw dough is gross.

You are not. I've never understood the appeal.

ION, my dad has been in the hospital waiting for a psych evaluation and subsequent placement

in a home since Saturday. He got physically violent with my sister and mom, and had to be escorted by the police to the hospital.

Oh, Strix. I'm so sorry. Been there, sort of, and that's scary as all hell. Best wishes to you and him and all the family to get through this as quickly and easily as possible.

And our family doc, for the last 20 years, who loves my mom and dad, has access and is ON IT, texting mom.

So glad for this!

Things are going as well as can be expected; our family doctor has been a champ, and can I mention that there are such creatures as Elder Law lawyers, and everyone with aging parents

should be aware of them? Because ours has been worth every penny.

A good Elder Law attorney is worth their weight in gold. A bad one is horrible. Get references.

Dana, that sucks! This one sounded like a sure thing! I'm sorry.

And I also feel that in-laws who make you feel judged instead of congratulated for bringing such an obviously superior human into this world can just go talk a long walk off a short pier.

Specifically that.

I have used good quality drinking water in my CPAP when I was out of distilled, ie, when I take my CPAP on vacation I buy a bottle of filtered drinking water. If you wipe it clean when you finally get your distilled water, you should be fine. Vinegar is a good option for cleaning out the tank, unless your manufacturer specifies something else.

This is good to know, thanks! Supply tech instructed me to clean the reservoir with a drop of clear dishwashing liquid, which I bought. I may try vinegar too.

I am terrible about maintaining my CPAP, I don't rinse it out every day, I wait far too long between cleaning the tank, and I'm not dead yet. I don't know if my breathing would be better if I were more conscientious, but I do OK.

Also good to know. I'm very allergic to mold, though, so I don't want to risk any growing in there.

One thing to be aware of, make sure the mask fits properly. If it's too tight, it can put pressure on your teeth and give you a full-jaw toothache. Bad news. It will probably leak air, but you can get used to that if it's not too bad.

The tech showed me how to make sure it wasn't leaking or too tight. Hopefully I can manage it.

The pad on the mask will wear out relatively quickly. You can get hoses, mask pads, and the straps that hold the thing onto your head online for a lot cheaper than whatever medical supply house you're being referred to.

Insurance will pay to replace the silicone pads every two weeks, so I'mma let them buy whatever they'll buy! If there's anything I need that they don't cover, I'll definitely look online.

It's possible I replied to Natter in here but I'm too tired to figure it out. Sorry.

My best friend just said, "Don't throw yourself at other people's problems." I love that and want it on an inspirational photo.

I literally just edited a letter about used CPAP devices being sold on Craigslist. I am not making that shit up. And apparently the American Sleep Apnea Association has a program where they accept donations of used CPAP machines and (assuming they are in good condition) cleans them thoroughly and reprograms them and sells them for $100. That's super cool.

I literally just edited a letter about used CPAP devices being sold on Craigslist

Technically, they're only available by prescription, and the settings are only supposed to be adjusted by a trained medical professional. I got mine from a yard sale and found the setting instructions online. My doctor, who advised me to get it, suggested eBay.

Did the letter say whether it was a good thing or a bad thing or just a thing?

The letter said it could be a good thing for people without insurance, as long as the person got a hygienic one that was in good shape, and they could set it to the correct pressure. But immediately after that it mentioned the CPAP assistance program that resells them for $100.

The letter also notes that CPAP devices have to be prescribed, and only 2% of the Craigslist ads mentioned that fact.

Strix, so much love to you... wishing peace for your family. It's so hard.

sj, it amazes me that people think they have the right to judge parents for so much of the stuff they do. It takes some nerve.

Ugh, I just privately called a restaurant (part of a larger restaurant group here) out on something blatantly racist in an email and now I have post-confrontation stomach twisting.

I know what I'm doing is right but my fear of making someone mad at me is making me feel like it was wrong.

You can check out the hashtag #closedforessence for an idea of what the situation is.