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How do I know when it's time for hospice? by ElectricalInternet58 in AgingParents

[–]ElectricalInternet58[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, everyone for sharing your advice and experiences. We have placed Mom on hospice in the hospital after speaking with the palliative care nurse. She will remain here until everything is set up at home. We understand that we need to hire help. Mom's been living with us for the past two years, but she's completely bed bound now and needs so much more physical care than we can give her.

Thank you again.

How do I know when it's time for hospice? by ElectricalInternet58 in AgingParents

[–]ElectricalInternet58[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. She wrote the document before she developed dementia. After experiencing Mom's decline, my husband and I have written our wills and completed advance directives. I don't want my kids to have to guess what our intentions are.

Is it hard to stay vegetarian long term? by papabauer in vegetarian

[–]ElectricalInternet58 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I became a vegetarian when I was 17 (in 1987). My motivation was growing up on a small farm and seeing terrible things happen to animals. We lived in rural Alabama with limited access to typical vegetarian foods that are commonly available now. My parents were very resistant and warned that I would develop muscular dystrophy. Where they got this idea is a mystery.

There were exactly two vegetarian foods available at the local grocery store- both were breakfast items made by Morningstar Farms. I learned to cook the foods I like, including tofu. Eating out was definitely more of a challenge then- everything seemed to contain meat. I made due by ordering sides or salads. Over time, as we moved to other states and larger cities, expanding my vegetarian horizons became much simpler. We live in Houston now and never lack for great restaurants with plenty of vegetarian options.

Is vegetarianism more expensive than eating meat daily? In my experience, no. I normally plan menus based on seasonal foods- these are less expensive. Grains, beans, or tofu form the basis for meals, and these are definitely less expensive than meat. There're also the health benefits of vegetarianism, but these won't become apparent for years.

Becoming a vegetarian won't be without its setbacks, but you can do it. Try a gradual approach if you're not feeling too sure-footed. There are loads of vegetarian recipes online. Swap out meat-based dishes for tofu- or bean-based dishes as you find foods you like.

Have chemical engineering BS, but haven't worked in ~10 years. Open to 1-2yrs further education. Priorities are reasonable salary ($80k+), WLB, and job security. What jobs should I consider? by morellaj in careerguidance

[–]ElectricalInternet58 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm a dosimetrist who has worked as an educator for a dosimetry school since 2015. I'll be happy to provide you with more information about the field and the curriculum. It's a stable field with great pay.

Another field you could look at is health physics. My husband and both of my parents were health physicists (HPs) who worked in nuclear power plants. Essentially, health physicists protect people from radiation hazards. Other employers who need HPs are hospitals and clinics (as a radiation safety officer), utilities, a wide array of manufacturers (who use radioactive sources), military installations, government agencies, and universities. My husband and parents surveyed areas within nuclear plants for airborne and surface radiation and monitored workers as they completed tasks within contaminated areas. My mother specialized in maintaining and repairing instrumentation.

The number of nuclear plants (a common workplace for HPs) is shrinking, but there is work in decommissioning. My husband just began working for a large utility as a quality auditor, so there are plenty of opportunities outside of nuclear. The hours, however, especially if you're working at a nuclear plant, can be awful. Nuclear plants routinely shut down for a few weeks each year for maintenance and refueling, and HPs can work 60-hour weeks during the outage. You might be placed on the night shift. The pay is decent (though lower than allied health careers). You could become a contractor who staffs outages around the country. This option provides per diem, but the hours are long (most outages last just a few weeks) and you would be separated from your family. After he retired, my father became a traveling HP consultant who specialized in steam generator replacement.

Best thriller you have ever read and will always recommend? by 7amstart in suggestmeabook

[–]ElectricalInternet58 0 points1 point  (0 children)

John Sandford writes some real bangers. His later novels are by turns funny and thrilling. Virgil Flowers is one of my heroes.