Yeah Franny! That's great. I don't know the principal there anymore, but Mary K Powers is still a vice principal. Is it the gifted magnet? The librarian there (whose name escapes me) was wonderful. I wonder if she is still there.

Honestly, with meds, a conservative estimate is that you've got 1-3 months past the expiration date, but probably more like 6-12 months.

How about your basic aspirin tablet? Do those really expire? (Not to imply that I have a nearly full bottle with a 2007 date on it.)

I think 7 years is past even my really lax standards. Especially since aspirin is cheap/easy to replace.

My metformin tabs routinely smell like fish. The pharmacist says, "Yeah, they do that."

That's also a good point -- ask/tell your pharmacist if meds smell funky. There's one antibiotic (I think it's clarithromycin, maybe) that smells like death. I took the bottle back to the pharmacy and they said "Yeah, it just smells horrible, but they're still good." Freaky.

Steph, what I always wonder is, what's the risk with old drugs? Will they just not work, or is there any risk of them automagically turning into poison? (In my example, it's usually cold medicine.)

This morning, having slept on it, I'm leaning towards replacing the engine with a used one of a similar age, instead of taking on car payments for a used car, which is going to be more....

I'm sure there are tools out there for figuring out what's cheaper long-term, but I don't know what they are. It seems like a real quandary, though!

I replaced the engine in my 2001 Toyota a few years back and never regretted it. If the rest of the car is in good shape it's a good alternative to a car payment.

Steph, what I always wonder is, what's the risk with old drugs? Will they just not work, or is there any risk of them automagically turning into poison? (In my example, it's usually cold medicine.)

The risk with age is usually just that the drug lost effectiveness. However, if it's smelly or otherwise funky (not *just* old), then it might be dangerous, in addition to being disgusting.

I had to show people my drivers license to convince them I'm 47. So that's good.

I'D need to be convinced that you're 47. Sheesh, man.

Tom is NOT older than me. Unpossible.

Called my doc's office and spoke with the nurse. She said that pain is expected in moving out of the boot and that I may want to wear the boot for stuff like grocery shopping and sneakers for around the house stuff. On one hand, I'm glad the pain is "normal" and on the other hand, pain sucks balls.

I'D need to be convinced that you're 47. Sheesh, man.

That is a surprise and I've watched you not age for over a decade. My, is that preservative you are drinking perchance?

We replaced the engine in the Jetta after a timing belt destrukto incident probably 100,000 miles ago, so yeah, all for it if the car is otherwise a keeper.

I will not kill people at work.

I will NOT kill people at work.

I will not KILL people at work.

But my hand to God. If old boss raises his voice to me again assuming I am excluding things from him on purpose or somehow slighting him, I AM walking out today.

But is he still working with your team?