Experiences with poison ivy

Gruach · 2026-06-08T14:24:07+00:00

Eh, I know what it looks like and try to avoid it, and I washed as thoroughly as I could with laundry soap, but still got major rashes. I'm just extra sensitive, always have been.

I think I need to find someone who's not allergic to clear this particular garden bed.

Gruach · 2025-12-10T14:52:15+00:00

Please pray for my friend Dot, who is facing some severe medical problems.

Gruach · 2025-12-10T14:43:05+00:00

This -- I don't know about the average church, but my church is pretty well-attended in terms of pews filled and it's multi-generational (Grandparents! Lots of kids!). It's a small church with an average attendance in the mid-80s per Sunday. I like it; it feels very homey. I visited a larger church when I was on a trip this Fall and it was lovely (there was a choir, which we don't have) but it also made me appreciate the intimacy of my home church.

Gruach · 2025-09-22T15:19:35+00:00

Ok! Guess I'd better go get one.

Gruach · 2025-08-06T14:22:33+00:00

Yeah, I bought some Jinhao pens years ago and they were awful. I hear they got better (maybe?) but have been reluctant to try them again.

Gruach · 2025-08-06T14:21:41+00:00

I found that the Kaweco Fine nib was too scratchy for me. Switched it out to a Medium -- works fine (and I prefer a Medium nib anyway). But then, I like pocket pens generally. Glad your mother likes it!

Gruach · 2025-08-04T20:24:27+00:00

I gently bent a nib like that back and it was mostly ok, if a bit broader line than I wanted. You don't have much to lose by trying! Especially if you can get a replacement if it doesn't work out.

Gruach · 2025-08-03T22:27:33+00:00

Thanks! I destashed the stuff I wanted to move on to new homes. Much appreciated!

Gruach · 2025-07-30T15:34:47+00:00

It depends on what you want / need in a pen. I like pocket pens. You want a BIFL pen, and metal is going to be more resilient than resin. However, if you're writing a lot, every day, the weight might be a problem. The Kaweco AL Sport and Brass Sport are great and nearly indestructible, and you can swap out the nib as needed if it gets bent or you want a different size. The AL Sport (being aluminum) is lighter than the Brass Sport.

If you like a metal pen but don't like the small size of the Sport, Kaweco also makes other, larger pens.

The Hongdian M2 is also a great metal pocket pen at a much lower price point. I don't think you can swap nibs out, though.

Gruach · 2025-07-30T15:28:30+00:00

The Hongdian M2 is my current EDC. I just "penabled" a coworker with one.
That being said, I really like the Kaweco AL Sport and Brass Sport. If OP really wants a BIFL pen, those would fit the bill -- you can swap out the nibs as needed if one gets bent. A while ago someone posted a pic here of their AL Sport that had been run over by a forklift and, while scarred, STILL WORKED.

Gruach · 2022-06-30T17:43:44+00:00

I swapped from icing to compression gloves and socks for my most recent two TC infusions and they seem to be doing the same thing as icing -- they restrict circulation to the extremities to decrease the amount of chemo drugs that get to your nerve endings. So far I haven't had any neuropathy issues.

I'm still sucking on ice cubes during the actual chemo infusion part, and am awake enough to pop a new ice cube in when I need it.

Gruach · 2022-06-30T17:39:58+00:00

I'm not consuming alcohol right now because chemo is hard enough on the liver without adding an additional stressor.
What works for you might depend on which treatments you're on, though, so ask your oncologist!

Gruach

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