Speaking of space poop, one of mr. flea's favorite Youtube videos is a NASA Training video which teaches the astronauts how to use a space toilet. The trainer is a guy he went to grad school with, whose Actual Job is to teach astronauts how to poop in space.

That is amazing.

OMG, 5cm! I'm so glad they're getting you in there soon, sara! I actually got a 2nd opinion on mine simply because I wanted photos of the surgery/organ and the first surgeon refused. (Hey, I'm a weird artist type.) The second surgeon was cool with it and was generally a better egg anyway. Here's one of the Polaroids with a cm ruler alongside it. I had 6 but they were much smaller than 5cm! [link]

Hydrocodone is good stuff but definitely follow the directions because it's so easy to abuse and it's also easy to do really unwise things on that drug because it makes you feel so good.

I'm sorry you've had to go through such hassle, msbelle. The costs and hassle associated with these things are ridiculous.

The car/knife/shooting incident at OSU is depressing as hell. Of course I hope all the victims come out okay but I also worry for PoC and Muslims every time some nutball turns out to be from groups people will profile (because, of course, we never profile people for being white male Christians...)

I'm a nervous wreck because I'm realizing I have a lot more studying to do to be prepared for tomorrow's chem "quiz" AND we have a full-blown test on more material for Thursday. I have to ace this stuff because I've done poorly on too many things before. I've got a high C right now and that doesn't leave much room for error.

Last week I talked to a 32 year old man who told me he'd have to ask his mother if she had a copy of his birth certificate.

Oh, I totally did that at around that age. I knew she had one on file and requesting one from the county clerk by mail was going to be a huge hassle. I think I have one now...I know I have lateDH's naturalization papers and three or for marriage certificates (all for the same marriages, different organizations issued them) and I think my birth certificate is in there.

Technically, if he has a US passport, that is proof of his US citizenship.

Yeah, I wouldn't rely on that. Dad had an awful time proving he was a citizen when Social Security decided to question it. Admittedly, he did not have a passport at the time, but he did have his driver's license, social security number and ~50 years of tax records, just not his naturalization papers.

OK, I filled out the form to renew my passport, I think all I need now is a picture.

I am a crazy person and just booked a day trip to the airport in order to keep my airline status for another year (not the highest status, but still a status with bennies...if I fly...). $125 to leave hella early, fly to LAX, spend all day at the airport working (at least, that's my plan--hoping I can find my guest pass to the lounge) and then fly home. But the only time it was cheap was on Tuesday or Wednesdays, otherwise I might've tried weekend in LA!

I need to renew my passport too.

msbelle, that is so aggravating. I hate sending off original documentation.

I hope everyone had a peaceful holiday. ~ma to those who need it.

Goddamnit I'm tired of every vote being a make or break one. I've mentioned my dual citizenship with Italy before, and they are having a constitutional referendum on December 4th that could usher in the biggest changes since the inception of the Italian republic in 1946. I just mailed off my expat ballot, and even though the reforms are badly needed, these specific reforms are a mess and could lead to an Italian version of BREXIT. So I had to vote against them based on the substance, which might lead to the downfall of the current government, which I happen to support.

What a clusterfuck.

I am a crazy person and just booked a day trip to the airport in order to keep my airline status for another year (not the highest status, but still a status with bennies...if I fly...).

Did you hear the Judge John Hodgeman about a couple who did this (or, one half of the couple was super into gettting/maintaining airline status so he dragged his partner along on the same kind of crazy trips as yours)? Ever since hearing that we joke about maintaining status by "watching Archer in a hotel conference room" (something that couple did once)

We have not made any of those kinds of trips but did buy things we probably didn't really need to get points to push us over the edge for companion status on Southwest. Worth it, though. I'll fly free for a year every time we fly together on Southwest. (Like to Costa Rica in January)

I am a crazy person and just booked a day trip to the airport in order to keep my airline status for another year

meara, no you're not. I've done that before. Multiple times. If you can't find your guest pass, spring for a day pass. Yes, you're spending money, but it will be worth it.

We just got our passports and it was faster than expected. They came in 3 weeks and we just got back our very expired old ones that we had sent with the application for new ones.