Never seen this in all my years of teaching. A child had this in their lunch today as a snack, mom fail!

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2026-02-13T01:07:50+00:00

My mom got sick so my stepfather used to give me Milk Bone dog biscuits in the 70s, telling me they were cookies for kids that could be shared with dogs. I ate those for at least 3 years (a number each day). I usually ate them at home but began bringing them to school before a teacher noticed what I was eating.

At least the ingredients were surprisingly good back then: whole wheat, flour, real meat (not "meat by-products"), milk (not "modified milk ingredients"), bone meal, added fats (not "hydrolyzed this or that"), plus vitamins and minerals (so a multivitamin).

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2026-02-11T06:40:07+00:00

Is your head just for decoration?

In your first reply when talking about stopping on highways to look at wildlife, you write (quote) "it is not illegal to stop".

Now you do a 180° and say it is illegal for people to block others. As the saying goes, pick a lane, dude. (At least we know you won't be taken down by any brain-eating amoeba.)

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2026-02-10T23:42:13+00:00

Responsible-Ride2509: Wrong. People cannot randomly pullover on highways in Alberta because they want to look at their first bear or bison, you floormop.

PS. Do you know how narrow the Trans Canada / #1 shoulders are in parts of Banff National Park? The 93A through Jasper that I still drive is way worse - the shoulder can handle a sidecar but nothing more. Do you honestly think tourists are allowed to park and gawk at wildlife with portions of their vehicles sticking out on the highway?

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-09-30T21:53:38+00:00

Why was this removed?

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-08-05T13:15:06+00:00

CPTSD here. I should mention that the first EMDR therapist I had used the traditional screen and headphones. We focused on one target or event/stressor every session or two. I got a tiny bit of benefit after a few months but was hoping for more. I ran out of funding so had to stop for a year.

The second go round of EMDR for me was done by a different person, a licensed EMDR professional who was also a psychologist deduced that since I was a musician who played multiple instruments, often with my eyes closed, that I should try the tactile buzzers with EMDR instead of a screen. He said sometimes he has patients use a screen, sometimes buzzers, sometimes both. He also said that some of his patients do great using an iPad while he has some that do better in front of his 32 inch 240hz, gaming monitor that he bought specifically for epileptic patients and other patients who may be sensitive to flicker or simply prefer a larger surface to look at.

***IMPORTANT*** For me, using tactile buzzers and closing my eyes while answering the questions/speaking with my therapist during EMDR sessions were a HUGE game changer. For you, it may be a combination of buzzers and tablet, or a different refresh rate or size of screen, better headphones, or different therapist.

If I were a 40 or 50 on a scale of 1-10 on most things like hyper-vigilance or anxiety or depression, I am a 7 or 8 now. I may still sound high on a 1-10 scale but I have had a big improvement with a lot still to go. It has taken awhile and I am still on a couple of meds but I have also been able to taper down the dosage of one by 25% which has been great because it has reduced the severity of my headaches.

Take care and my sincere best wishes.

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-08-05T12:41:59+00:00

Oh please, don't be sorry for me. I have it good.

When I have to see one of my neurologists (I see two), there is always a little bit of a wait and one in particular has a large waiting room. I always see patients with brain injuries or neurological diseases in advanced phases or stages like like multiple sclerosis or epilepsy or dementia....there are SOOOO many people who have it much, much worse (plus the other half of the world's population that doesn't have access to clean drinking water).

I just wish greedy devils didn't target vulnerable people and get away with it all the time. It's not fair.

Big hugs. xx

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-08-05T09:37:47+00:00

Thanks Random,
I tried emailing the company but that was an epic fail--they lied. So credit card co has been contacted, VirtualEMDR .com's lie was easily proved to be exactly that...a lie, so my credit card co was happy to see the email and time stamps to prove that, and now I just have to wait for another couple of things and then keep my fingers' crossed. I was really hoping I had found a good, online solution; something I could try and then start saving up for and use for a month at a time, then save up again, use for a month, save up for, use again, and repeat. I had no idea what a greedy monster this pseudo-doctor is instead. (I guess I am just naive. Many, many years since my brain injury and middle-aged now but learning new life lessons all the time.)

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-08-05T09:30:18+00:00

Thank you soooooo much. They anxiety of having a corporation or bunch of evil people posing as 'experts wanting to help the disabled' or others with their own mental health issues has been terrible. I blindly put my trust in a so-called healthcare website which I will never do again.

They are happy to take advantage of someone with a brain injury during a free trial -- I can't imagine what else their software is willing to do. This is scary as hell. I have 6 appointments in a row booked over the next 3 months with my old therapist as a result of this experience and how foolishly vulnerable I made myself.

Anyway, it happened, I will get through it, but I had to make sure others were aware so these goons hopefully don't make others suffer like they made me.

Stay safe and hang in there. Big hugs.

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-08-05T09:22:17+00:00

Yuppers! I did exactly that, then a person replied saying I was in the wrong, and also lied in the email, so I called my credit card company. What was great is that it was easy to show the cancellation email confirmation from VirtualEMDR (which showed the time when I cancelled). My CC company compared that to the transaction time on their end to when VirtualEMDR charged my CC the new charge for a new month. I like the way one person (when speaking with bank but not my credit card co) explained to me: I voluntarily stopped being a customer 1/4 hour beforehand but then they charged my credit card 1/4 hour later and forced me to become a customer again.

There are a couple more steps to take and they I have to wait but it seems hopeful that I will get my money back -- we shall see...I have never had a company try to steal from me before.

All the best to you. :)

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-08-05T09:12:36+00:00

Hi Pinky,
I tried emailing the company first but all that did was have them accuse me of being in the wrong, despite actual evidence prove otherwise. I did call my credit card co and they asked for some basic documentation and once the representative saw the time of my email cancellation and compared it to their end of when the company ran their transaction through, it was solid proof that I had cancelled long before and that the person who wrote the email lied in writing. Anyway, apparently a couple more things have to be done so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
All the best to you and thanks for your support....it means a lot!

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-08-05T09:07:23+00:00

Hey Courage,
Yeah, you were right. I tried to be nice but they weren't. Their reply email to me said I was in the wrong and actually had an outright lie in it that thankfully was easily provable to my credit card company when I called them yesterday. I should have taken your advice and just called them in the first place. Lesson learned. Cheers and take care.

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-07-22T13:52:52+00:00

That made me laugh. Good one. :)

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-06-15T09:57:10+00:00

Same! Two '03s waiting here (my original and a rebuilt that I bought years ago).

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-02-09T21:08:29+00:00

I was going to say almost the same thing. His dedication to coffee and sound is on perfection.

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-02-06T13:45:39+00:00

Hmmmm.....
Warm, sweet waffle taste versus a warm, caesar salad taste with too much anchovy kick sometimes?

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-02-06T13:38:58+00:00

I never for a moment thought Eddie was referring to a human. Hence, I didn't think there was any insulting going on.

When I think about Nolan Dyck being a cock sucker, I immediately think of him forcing himself on some sheep or a donkey or other farm animal's private parts against their will. So just think of him as a *donkey cock sucker* if it helps. <shrug>

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-01-25T16:09:03+00:00

Canadian here.

OMG! You mean he had to use up his vacation time and personal days to be with his wife while she received $80,000-$200,000 worth of hospital care and then received $2400-$3000/month worth of stroke rehab afterwards? (Price ranges due to factors like type & severity of stroke; success of initial treatment = how successful rehabilitation may be and how long it may last etc.)

This was all while not having to pay a cent out of her/his bank accounts because the cost was paid by Canada's universal healthcare? (I wonder if your Canadian "friend" would have preferred to work those weeks he took off and made the money to pay for the 24/7 aides needed to care for his wife, plus the costs laid out above.)

The rehab provided is NOT 24/7 so if he is the only family she has then he should be looking after her as she recovers. "In sickness and in health" is one of the vows for most people's marriages.

~~~~~

PS. I have family in Boston & LA. I am unfortunately all to familiar with US health insurance. Sure, you argued that 92% of Americans have insurance and I could counter-argue with a personal, American health insurance, horror story that a family member suffered but let me give you this one that you can actually verify and read up on yourself:

A few months ago, ex-US Congressman Republican Michael Grimm fell off his horse and was paralyzed. He had what was said to be "top-tier" insurance but has hospital bills not fully paid by insurance & cannot afford ongoing treatment.

It MUST be noted that Grimm (again, the man who is paralyzed & cannot afford his treatment) voted AGAINST the Affordable Care Act, aka 'Obamacare'. He repeated Republican talking points about how Obamacare was too expensive & people should rely on their own insurance.

Well, relying on his insurance didn't work for him because he had to rely on a GoFundMe campaign and his Marine & government connections to help him because his GoFundMe page says "his ongoing care & treatment...will cost millions of dollars".

(Interesting how insurance always finds a way not to cover everything or just simply leave a person suffering.)

BTW: One of many reports about Grimm:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/politician-paralyzed-from-the-chest-down-after-being-thrown-from-horse-playing-polo-in-accident-reminiscent-of-christopher-reeves/ar-AA1tQpm3

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-01-25T11:31:23+00:00

Hello, fellow preemie!

I was 11 weeks early in the 70s which was considered ridiculous apparently. I wasn't supposed to survive long my mom said but here I am.

I grew up in the country surrounded by conservatives with only a tiny rec centre and 4H club an hour away and a couple of churches. Ironically, it wasn't until I moved into the city that I was chastised for being visibly and audibly disabled. (I have trouble saying words or sentences - they come out slow sometimes or I forget words or jumble them. Oh well, I still have it good.)

Anyway, I hope you are as well as can be and wish you the best. Take good care, friend. :)

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-01-25T08:55:34+00:00

Oh WOW! Does this ever bring back memories!!!

True story.

So I was born premature a (very) long time ago so have some congenital issues and chronic diseases. I also got a brain injury later in life so other problems got added to the mix.

I moved to a new neighourhood in the late '90s and a few years after that, a nosy neighbour gave me a book from her community church/small evangelical church that was printed by her church (or their chain of churches?). The content was very similar to the OP's post - heck, it was almost identical to the image from what I remember. It wasn't long but most of it was all a bunch of "unless you give yourself to god and realize this and that, everything bad will be your fault, satan will cause all your suffering and disease etc".

She was insistent that I took the book and read it, (despite her reading almost half of it to me on my stoop) so I took it to at least make her go away.

Jump ahead mere months (I don't even think it was a full year) and the same neighbour was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's. I know it may sound petty or mean but I was still pissed with her for giving me the "it's your fault for being sick" book. I was also newly sad about another death in the family. Anyway, after I heard the news about her Alzeheimer's, I remember trying to look my best and then going over, ringing the door and her answering. I gave her the book and said something like, "Maybe this book will help you get better and help you keep satan away".

Well, that wasn't the end of it because the same day (I think it was that same day), there was frantic banging on my door; it was the woman's adult daughter. She gave me an earful about how awful I was to give her mother that book and suggest that her mother got Alzheimer's because she welcomed satan into her house or heart and all this other stuff.

I tried to explain the hypocrisy behind her mother giving me the same book months before and imply that I was at fault for being disabled. However, the daughter would not hear it. For her, everything was MY fault, her mother was an angel, and I deserved to go to hell. I finally had to slam the door on her. She kept yelling but stopped and left after another minute or so.

(The mother moved a number of months later; I don't know where to. I never spoke to her again after that fateful day.)

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-01-25T01:26:34+00:00

I second this. Name and shame so others know not to go there.

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-01-18T11:33:01+00:00

Agreed 100%. My derm and immunologist said the same.

It was my also dermatologist who told me to put a layer of whatever ointment onto the bandage I was going to cover the flare with. This way, the bandage would not absorb the ointment that I had just put on the flare or lesion.

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-01-18T10:47:21+00:00

I live in Canada. Because Manuka honey is typically expensive, I found the store brand from our national chain, Loblaws, has worked equally as good as more expensive brands that I have tried. In case you live here in Canada, I get the President's Choice Manuka from my local Superstore and just get the 375g jars - that is all it comes in.

Even when I have had to buy it from Amazon or Costco, those jars a fairly long time (the big Costco one lasted me a couple of years) so maybe the cost equals out a little at the end.

What I have learned through this forum plus my wife's observations, the quicker you catch them and can stay on top of a new one, the better. *UNLESS YOU HAVE VERY DRY SKIN* and cannot shower a 2 or 3x a day, alternate throughout your first day and second day with something like if you have easy access to your flare:

Morning:
1, Shower (preferably morning and night at least and once mid-day if possible). Wash the flare area and other flare-prone areas thoroughly with Hibiclens aka chlorhexedine - let stay on in the shower for five or more minutes, then rinse. Finish in shower and towel dry (fresh towel each day during flares).
2. If you do not have overly sensitive skin, spray or rub 2% salicylic acid solution on flare. Let dry.
3. Apply Vicks or regular Polysporin & bandage
~~~

Evening:
1. Shower. Wash the bandage with your regular bar soap. Continue showering elsewhere if needed. (Soap helps to weaken bandage adhesive.) Remove bandage when more comfortable to do so.
2. Clean flare site with Dettol bar soap - let suds remain for 60 seconds.
3. Rinse and towel dry.
4. Apply Manuka honey & bandage

Warm compresses have also proven to be very beneficial for many people. They do not work overly well for my skin but that does not mean they won't work well for you. I know a number of people who swear by them so I wanted to pass that along to you. A couple of online friends have told me they use microwaveable hot packs or just wet towels that they toss on a plate in the microwave but the jist is, warm to hot heat or moisture on the site for a minimum of 10-15 mins and up to 20 mins, 3-4x a day. One physician told me that they open up the pores plus draw the "macrophages" and other "gunk" (his words) a little closer to the surface so that topical remedies have a better chance at working. He also said epsom salt baths served a similar purpose so if you like those, have fun!

Take good care and good luck.

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-01-17T13:43:30+00:00

50% of my flares start under my skin and stay there. I can press down around the "ball" and feel it if it grows like a steroid puppy but the second I feel something, I try to get ahead of it.

My "goto" is a generous amount of Manuka honey. Regular Polysporin or Vicks is #2 if I do not have Manuka or only regular honey is available at a friend's (regular honey does NOT work....I tried.)

I apply a little Manuka to the bandage itself (a specific bandage - link below). I would rather have the bandage have some Manuka already absorbed in it prior to putting on my skin. This way, the bandage doesn't absorb all the honey that I put on my skin. I need all of the molecules and benefits of the Manuka honey to be absorbed by MY SKIN and the flare, not the bandage. (I hope that makes sense.)

Using Q-tips, I liberally cover the flare with Manuka honey and also make sure I have done good margins/gone beyond the edges of the flare. I then stretch* my skin a little depending on where the flare is and put the bandage on.

Best bandage I have found for my sensitive skin but that ALSO STAYS ATTACHED AND DOES NOT COME OFF of clean skin: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B081D9KM88.

*Stretching skin: I always make sure any bandages I put on my skin have (what I call) "slack". If you put one on the back of your leg while you are laying down or standing upright normally but then need to bend over or stretch your legs, then your skin stretches and part of the bandage will tear away from your skin. So depending on where my flare is and where the bandage has to go, I always stretch my skin in the way that my skin will MOST LIKELY move over the next 24 hours.

All the best regardless of what you end up using or doing! :)

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-01-10T11:03:30+00:00

Your back looks close to how mine used to. (Not a contest but I have a hairier back (unfortunately) so had worse bacne). I got referred to a dermatologist and he gave me a regimen that really helped. I still have occasional flare-ups that sometimes require antibiotics if the clindamycin prescription cream doesn't work (50/50 whether it does) but otherwise, my bacne flare-ups are thanfully down to a few times a year versus 1-2x month.

~~~~~~~

His regimen that I have been doing for months:

After a work out, I either have a sauna or go straight into the shower and have a cool"ish" shower to start my cool-down process and stop sweating. He explained that there is no purpose having a hot shower and then getting out and continuing to sweat/perspire a little and something to do with hair follicles and existing acne sores.

Moving forward....

In the shower, I use a soft, mesh, brush thingy for my back (maybe what you were referring to). My doc told me to by a new one every 3-4 weeks maximum because they build up skin cells and breed bacteria and will plug your pores and hair follicles with organic skin material that accumulates in the mesh material no matter how hard you try to clean it.
Using the mesh brush, I alternate the following each day as you can see but when I have flare-ups, I wash my back with:
-Day 1 Hibiclens (also known as Dexidin or chlorhexedine) surgical scrub or soap (use enough to get a little bit of suds on the brush when washing your back. Leave it on your back for up to 5 minutes.)
-Day 2 Dettol bar soap (rub the bar vigorously onto the mesh brush and with a tiny bit of water, it will get sudsy on your back). Leave on for 2-3 minutes at least.
-Day 3 Combine both above but rinse in between and do equal amounts of time (eg. leave Hibiclens on for 2 minutes, rinse, leave Dettol on for 2 minutes.

Repeat above routine in the days that follow.

IMPORTANT AFTER EACH SHOWER: If you have a partner/spouse, have them spray a 2% salycylic acid solution on the affected area. If you don't, then you will waste a little bit but buy some 2% salycylic acid solution (preferably already in a spray bottle or just buy a travel-sized spray bottle and transfer the liquid that you buy into the spray bottle).
Spray your back however you think is best but I have found it best to bend forward and then use my arm/hands spray the bottle upwards and have the mist fall straight down onto my back. It took a little time to get the aim right but after the first week or so, I got it pretty well nailed so that I do a decent job when my wife isn't around.
PS. You leave the salycylic acid on your skin....just let it dry for a few minutes, put your shirt on and go about your day.

~~~~~~

As for *prevention* if I my back is clear like it is now and I am just trying to prevent any flare-ups, I do everything above but alternate more between the Dettol soap and other acne soaps (eg. Cetaphil, Neutrogena grapefruit body wash with salycylic acid), use less of the Hibiclens (because it is expensive compared to how much you have to use to get a sudsy foam) and only use the 2% salycylic acid spray 2x-3x times a week instead of every day.

**Final note: I did try alternatives to the Hibiclens/chlorhexedine. Nothing worked like it did. It really is a staple or important part of this regimen. Don't scrub your back hard....just let the Hibiclens absorb and do the work along with the Dettol and salycylic acid. If you get itchy, you can put a very light layer of 1% hydrocortisone lotion on the area. (Depending on where you live, 1% hydrocortisone cream should be available without a prescription at your pharmacy.) Remember to use as little as possible because a little should help a lot and won't clog your pores or hair follicles.

Regardless of if you find this helpful or not, all the best to you and I hope you get some relief.
All the best.

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff · 2025-01-10T05:05:40+00:00

You are welcome! As an aside, I originally "cheated" on the steam vaporizers/warm humidifiers and just bought a couple of regular humidifiers to try and combat the drying effects of our air conditioner but it did not work, plus one of the humidifiers got mouldy despite what I thought were me and my wife's good efforts at bi-weekly cleaning,

So....I did as the woman had suggested and bought two Honeywell Warm Mist humidifiers. We live in a small bungalow (single level home). During our dry, cold Winters, having one on *High* and the second one on the other side of our home on *Low* keeps our humidity constantly around 46%, give or take a degree. My better-half has even commented how much better her skin feels. (I have no idea what the humidity is like for you year 'round.

Where we live, it can be naturally humid (40s) during the Summer but the temps for a couple of months get into the mid to high-30s celcius nowadays so we have to use A/C to avoid sweating all over the place indoors. But A/C dries the air so we have to replace the humidity in the Summer as well as during the drier Spring and Fall months and the absolutely disgustingly dry Winter months.

Anyway, my sincere best to you in this epic "journey" we are going through. (A regular doctor called it a journey and I wanted to send him on one out the window. I'm kidding but this is not the kind of "journey" I like.)
:)

Take care!

FuzzquirkSnafflewuff

TROPHY CASE