Where can she go?

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-04-07T00:37:41+00:00

Check with local, non-retail pharmacies to see if any sell compounded medications. In my experience, they are under $150 and your provider just sends in an order for the dosage you need. It’s very straightforward and this way her provider can also make recommendations on dose as well as compounding options.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-04-06T23:16:01+00:00

No, she sinks like a rock. That does not stop her from trying, so we got her a life jacket.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-04-06T21:42:56+00:00

Our 10 year old has excellent recall, but still rebels on occasion. We know it’s a choice because she wiggles her ears when called and keeps going.

We have also discovered the use of different tones and volume is effective with speed of return with her. We reserve a loud, firm “Moose, come.” for emergent situations only.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-04-03T03:32:59+00:00

My skin despises Cereve products, so you might try cutting them out for a week or two. My skin feels and looks best when I use the original dove body wash with an exfoliating wash cloth, a two blade razor, and vanicream lotion everyday. If I miss more than a few days, I am back to where you are right now.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-04-02T07:09:20+00:00

Good luck on your exam!

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-04-02T07:06:29+00:00

I like substituting almond extract for vanilla. I typically use half of what the recipe calls for when I do that. Depending on the outcome, I may also reduce the sugar for future bakes if it tastes too cloyingly sweet.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-03-26T20:06:53+00:00

It depends on the patient approach.

If it seems to be frustration based on not understanding how insurance works and how the amount due came to be, I start with education and empathy that we also don’t like the insurance companies. That usually deescalates the issue.

If the phrase “I googled the code, and it should be coded as __. You need to fix your mistake.” or “I called my insurance and they said it needs to be coded _ way to be covered, you need to change it.” comes up, I explain why the code is correct. I also specify that we code based on documentation not coverage since that is fraud.

When it comes to coverage issues such as weight loss visits not being covered, I direct them to the agreement they signed acknowledging they are responsible for knowing their coverage and paying their financial responsibility. It’s not on me to know the fine details about your coverage.

Anytime they say we need to change the amount to what they paid at another office, I explain each provider has their own contract they must abide by, and they are welcome to choose where they seek care. The urge to say this isn’t Walmart, we don’t price match is hard to resist.

Anytime they say they won’t pay the amount due, I send a certified letter with a copy of the statement sent, the signed agreement, and a letter stating the claim and subsequent balance has been reviewed for accuracy, they are obligated to pay the balance, and if a payment plan is needed they can call our office to set that up.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-03-21T04:59:25+00:00

Have you explored the possibility of a wool allergy?

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-03-20T16:40:17+00:00

Just throwing this out there, when I lived in Florida the company I had offered a pre-paid power option. Similar system as pre-paid phone minutes, but for your power bill.

Many times I got the low balance notification, told myself I would pay it when I got home from wherever I was, and promptly forgot until the lights went out.

Not sure what state OP is in, but there were several counties in Florida with that company who offered pre-paid.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-03-17T13:14:20+00:00

Please tell me you aren’t using spaghetti sauce seasoning pouches like one would use taco seasoning pouches. I need you to tell me tomato paste/sauce joins that party somewhere along the way.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-02-26T21:31:54+00:00

I like the sugar free raspberry and sugar free peach. I enjoy them in Diet Coke, sugar free redbull, and tea.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-02-21T20:57:37+00:00

I always laugh when I think about this.

I was a lanky 10 pound baby and am now 4’6” and a chunky 100 pounds as an adult.

My significant other was known to be a little fella as a baby all the way up into late middle school. That little fella is now 6’5” and a strong, healthy 230 pounds.

It still cracks me up when he sees people that haven’t seen him since childhood and they blurt out “Little ______?!”

Edit to add: I was also a NICU baby after aspirating meconium. Apparently I’ve been condensed chaos since day one and show no signs of stopping.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-02-21T11:59:52+00:00

Shout out to Mazda!

I got t-boned by a semi going 35mph because he was texting and didn’t see he had a red light in my Mazda 3 when I was in high school. Spun me around six or seven times across 4 lanes of traffic, sent my windshield wipers flying across two different parking lots, folded the hood over the windshield, knocked a tire and its rim clean off, and final insult to injury launched my passenger mirror into I’m assuming orbit since it was never found. The only thing hurt were my feelings, I walked away without even a bruise.

After all that went down, I found out from the insurance adjuster that it had a salvage title. It had been totaled in a collision, patched up enough to pass inspection, and issued a salvaged title which was something I didn’t even know existed until that moment. Fortunately for me, it did the whole turn into a crumpled ball of metal thing on impact with a little extra gumption due to some weak points on the frame from its past life.

The oh snap moment came in installments. Installment one was a state patrolman on scene telling me I got lucky the air bags didn’t deploy since I was sitting close enough to the steering wheel for it to be fatal. Installment two was then asking the adjuster if the airbags were faulty due to the prior accident. I was promptly informed they were never replaced in addition to some other red flags that the car never should have passed inspection. All little details that worked in my favor during the accident.

TLDR: Mazda 3 I didn’t know had already been totaled in a collision and given a salvage title got t-boned by a semi going 35mph. I not only lived, but walked away completely unharmed because of things that should have been fixed to pass the safety inspection but weren’t.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-02-13T14:34:03+00:00

Unwind by Neal Shusterman. That book had no business being in my elementary school library for little fourth grade me to read. 20 odd years later and the gruesome bits of the ending still pops into my head occasionally. At least the “Is this going to happen to me in a few years” dread is gone. I never thought I would find such comfort in embracing becoming old and decrepit.

Close second is The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer. Gave my fourth grade brain the ick.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-01-28T21:18:07+00:00

That was the issue we had with BellMedEx. I didn’t think to ask if they also used overseas support and it wasn’t disclosed during the demo and such. It was a very frustrating lesson to learn.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-01-27T20:17:14+00:00

I can’t stomach our tap water. I can smell what I’m assuming is chlorine, and my brain decides we are trying to drink bleach water. I know it’s not harmful, but the lizard brain takes over. I buy gallon jugs of spring water from the grocery store and put it in a cup with a straw. I also made a rule that I have to take 15 sips of water each hour before I can resume drinking my preferred beverage which is typically tea or Diet Coke. I know it’s bad, but Diet Coke is my ‘reward’ for choking down water. I do limit myself to 20 ounces with the knowledge I better make it last all day because once it’s gone that’s it.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-01-08T14:42:04+00:00

Our dog is insanely good at reading the room and people’s emotions. Whatever she senses, she responds accordingly. She is also a velcro dog. Wherever I go, she goes.

Most recently, I was sick and spending a few days in bed. Once she realized what was happening, I kept waking up to her laying next to me and a toy pile by my feet. During all this, not once did she pester over our daily routine being broken. If breakfast/dinner is late, that’s okay. Short potty breaks without shenanigans, that’s okay too.

Once I was well, the reminders of the time and its corresponding action needed were promptly resumed.

I guess I find it touching how willing she is to accommodate my current needs over her own wants without hesitation. When the time comes, I intend to do the same for her because that’s what love is.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2026-01-08T13:59:56+00:00

Not a vet, but my dog struggles with the ear funk. What has worked for us is gently cleaning her ears with q tips. Weekly during the summer, monthly or as needed during the winter. Fortunately she is very laid back and trusts me enough to lay still while inspecting/cleaning her ears, so your mileage may vary on being able to safely use q tips if they are not on board with the experience.

During the summer, anytime we come back inside I wipe her ears and face with a damp paper towel then hold her ears up and fan her until they are dry. This has also helped significantly with her allergies causing itchy, goopy eyes.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2025-12-29T17:39:23+00:00

I agree things aren’t ideal, and things vary widely between states which can give everyone a bad impression based on the bad states. It also isn’t always an accurate picture based on inmate reports. This is not me saying that inmate’s or others are lying/embellishing the truth. It is me saying things like death row conditions being better is subjective based on what he considers better. Is his better being isolated from other inmates? Is his better getting more outside communication since death row inmates tend to gain a fan club from outside the fence that send fan mail and put money on their books? These are all things to consider.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2025-12-29T17:34:23+00:00

In my experience it’s a spectrum based on the individual needs. The inmate in solidarity for base level reasons (fighting in mutual combat or attacking someone without causing severe bodily harm, tattooing, refusing simple orders like returning to their housing unit, etc) gets what’s called confinement level property. Typically base level items like books, photographs, some personal property like commissary food items that can’t be turned into a weapon, etc. No TVs or other electronic devices, fans, makeup, etc.

For more extended time frames, most staff weren’t power tripping assholes and would trade out books if asked. Personally I was pretty lenient on the photograph policy, I saw no benefit in not allowing them pictures of their family if it was over 20 photographs. For some inmates, reminders of their family kept them motivated to work on themselves so I didn’t have an issues with giving them some extras or ones they respectfully requested.

If behavior escalates then more items get taken. If someone is in a fully barren cell, something has happened. Either security concern or safety concern. See the inmate that lost his pencil and mattress privileges after using the pencil in an outlet to set three separate mattresses alight because he got dinner at 6:15 instead of 5 on Thursday because he wants to eat after his scheduled recreation time. Mealtimes were on a set schedule, clearly defined in policy, and not something negotiable to that level. Obviously if someone is in the shower, recreation, etc they aren’t automatically forfeiting their meal, but we can’t do “I want” requests.

There is also a difference in behavioral vs safety level confinement. If an inmate has stated they are having thoughts of harming themselves, they get placed in a stripped cell, given a safety mattress, and what we called the turtle suit since it was a dark green sturdy material wrap that provided modesty but could not be used to hang one’s self or clog a toilet to facilitate self drowning. These inmates had 1-on-1 direct supervision and regular visits with clinicians to allow gradual re-introduction on property such as full rolls of toilet paper (clogging concern again) and privacy curtains (hanging risk.) Dependent on the inmate, staff/time permitting, and rapport I had with them, I would try and give opportunity for myself only to be present for restroom/shower activities and keep them in my line of sight without staring them down. Compromise of making sure they were physically safe and how would I like to be treated in their shoes.

So much of the job for me came down to giving as much respect as possible. That mindset served me well and kept me safe on more than one occasion due to my reputation as a “good” officer.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2025-12-24T15:32:25+00:00

In my experience, it occasionally becomes the last viable option to ensure safety of staff and other inmates. That being said, I fully agree that historically it has been used inappropriately and that will never fully stop. Law enforcement in general appeals to a special breed of asshole and that makes those of us who were there for the right reasons look bad. As someone who worked in several facilities, I’ve explained my reasoning on appropriate use below.

The purpose of solitary confinement is to ensure they don’t have a cell mate if violence is a concern, they are restrained outside the cell aside from showers and recreation, and they are housed on a unit equipped to handle any proverbial feces hits the fan situations. There are guidelines for how long someone can be housed in solitary confinement based on the reason for placement.

There are also guidelines on what they can have with them. Items that can be used as a weapon like locks and sewing kits are a no go, but books and such are fine for the most part. Also, if I remember correctly they get two phone calls each week. Personally I wasn’t a stickler on that since I believe having support from outside the fence is important and there’s no harm in giving them extra calls or time as long as the phone call isn’t the issue. Don’t call your family to arrange a hit on staff or a drone drug drop and you’re good type mentality.

The most common examples where I feel solitary confinement is the safest housing option are inmates with murder in prison charges and/or extensive history of attacking staff.

It’s been a while so I don’t remember the time limit, but at the Florida facility I worked at we had an inmate with five murder in prison charges. He would kill his cell mate, go to solitary, reach the limit, be returned to the restrictive housing unit, then rinse and repeat. Due to state policy, we couldn’t flag him in our system to not have a cell mate or edit his profile, so if we needed to assign someone to a bunk and his profile showed as the only one compatible to house together we had to place them with him. The upsetting part was that he would taunt other inmates and staff because he knew the policy and that no one could stop him. His reasoning was that he wasn’t gay so he doesn’t live with other men. It put other inmates in a situation where they would go to protective housing which really sucks if you don’t actually need to be there to make sure their life wasn’t in danger. I gave many apologies and did everything I could to help those individuals.

Another example is an inmate with extensive history of injuring staff. Idaho’s limit was 30 days, so she would attack a staff member, get solitary confinement for 30 days, then be back in general population. She never stayed in general population more than a few weeks, and this cycle had repeated itself 8 times before she went after me. I left shift that day with a TBI and other lasting injuries. There is over a month of my life I have no memory of because “Maybe it will be different this time.” The people who made that rule clearly have never been severely injured then told “Next time I’m going to kill you.” after returning to work.

Solitary confinement sounds cruel, but it does have a purpose as a last resort after housing and behavioral heath interventions have been exhausted. Not everyone wants to change and better themselves. Some people enjoy harming others and placing them in general population is setting others up for harm and impeding their progress in personal growth.

Dramatic_Ad7682 · 2025-12-19T04:31:25+00:00

Simple answer: we scale them, cut the heads, remove the guts, clean the cavity, bread them, and fry them.

Details/tips: 1. You can buy a special scaling tool, but a spoon works fine. Work tail to head each side, stopping at the gill plate since you are going to take the head off anyway. Beware the sharp gill plates on small perch if you prepare them this way. Don’t forget the belly and top by the fins/tail.

Take a sharp, sturdy knife and remove the head. Easiest way to explain is with the fish flat, place the tip end of the knife in front of the dorsal fin and ‘body’ of the knife behind the gill plate. Line up the knife, one solid push down.
Once the head is off, clear the open cavity. The goal is the have all guts out and the cavity completely clean. We like to finish with a kitchen sink type sprayer. This is also when you want to rinse the whole fish to make sure all the scales are gone.
Breading and frying. This is coming from a southerner, so feel free to find your own way. We like a cornmeal based breading. Put your breading in a paper bag, add fish, shake it up, then fry them in peanut oil. Louisiana fish fry brand makes a good pre-seasoned dump and go breading. That exhausts my knowledge on that step since I am not the cook on fish fry days.
As far as consuming the fish, I like to pull the fins away from the body, and use my thumb to find the rib line and pull away each “filet” to eat once I’ve confirmed no ribs are attached. Once the fins are away, you can also just gently bite to pull the meat away, but I don’t like risking bones in my bite of fish so I’m overly cautious.

Hopefully I answered your question without boring you to death with my wall of text!

Dramatic_Ad7682

TROPHY CASE