Moving the bed to a different place in the room recently totally changed the paint color. It was too blue and I was starting to hate it, but post move it's much more grey. So odd. But it's not just me, my sister remarked upon it immediately.

So here's the funniest thing about coming back from this kind of trip: The US immigration forms ask a bunch of questions about if you've handled livestock or wildlife or whatever, which I didn't. But I did go into multiple cholera wards at hospitals, not to mention all the TB patients, etc. No questions about that!

That seems like a dangerous oversight...

Glad you're back, Jesse, and your dad's living situation might be heading toward a good solution.

Okay, Tim has a request ("Buffistas know everything! You told me they do!") -- he's developing arthritis in his hands, and his doctor has loaded him up with ibuprofen, and it's not really helping. There doesn't seem to be a lot out there to treat arthritis, so I was wondering if anyone has any experience/recommendations for treating it. Alternative/herbal whatnot is totally welcome (he's also taking 2 g of fish oil and 500 mg of turmeric, which also don't seem to be helping).

(I've told him that sugar causes inflammation, and cutting out sugar would probably help but...I think that's a last-ditch option for him.)

Isn't glucosamine the thing for that? (No personal experience, just television watching!)

Jesse, I still have the information in my cut/copy:

Hazardous Waste Disposal When and Where: Second Saturday of the month from April to November, 9 a.m. - 12 Noon at the DPW yard, One Franey Road. • Open to City residents only: Please provide a utility bill or driver’s license showing a Somerville address. No businesses or rental property owners are eligible. • Accepted material at HHW days: Paints, thinners, cleaners, motor oil, antifreeze, mercury thermometers, car batteries, compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, and rechargeable batteries. • MATERIALS MAY NOT BE DROPPED OFF IN PLASTIC TRASH BAGS DUE TO POSSIBLE SPILLS / LEAKS.

Anne sent me these mitts that look like giant oven mitts, filled with rice. You can heat them in the microwave before you use them -- they're really helpful. Also gentle stretching works for me.

Isn't glucosamine the thing for that? (No personal experience, just television watching!)

Oh yeah, he did recently start that, too, because we have a giant bottle because the dog gets it. (It's kind of funny how many supplements the dog takes that we also take [fish oil, vitamin E, glucosamine]. We all have shiny fur.)

Thanks, Theodosia -- good to know!

(It's kind of funny how many supplements the dog takes that we also take [fish oil, vitamin E, glucosamine]. We all have shiny fur.)

Heh.

Steph, one of my friends studied natural nutrition and says that the nightshade (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) family of plants promote inflammation and should be avoided.