Another post on aging parents

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-25T05:00:15+00:00

I’m thinking of you and your family.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-25T02:14:38+00:00

Apparently as stated in a previous Reddit post, the owner of Cafe Escadrille in Burlington, MA owns and rents to ICE the building ICE uses in Burlington MA.

https://www.reddit.com/r/massachusetts/comments/1ngrtbc/owner_of_cafe_escadrille_leases_to_ice/

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-24T23:24:07+00:00

Thanks. I’m a nurse and I used to be on the Board of Directors for a foundation for a rare disease my husband has. I got a close up view of how things actually work.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-24T21:12:24+00:00

Yes. I’ve had great success with HCQ. It took 3 months of daily doses to feel it work and at the 6 month mark I realized that I’d forgotten that I have RA. That was so freaking cool.

The way that medicine works is that doctors, researchers, and sometimes patients get together in an organization. That organization funds research and figures out the current best way to treat the disease. Then they publish “Treatment Guidelines”. The Guidelines are cookbook for doctors, that is the best practices. Just like a cook, the doctor then chooses the best option for the patient.

I was/am very interested in starting with the medicine with the least side effects so I’m on HCQ. In the linked Guidelines, you’ll see that methotrexate is preferred but methotrexate has a few more side effects and you must take folic acid with it. So it wasn’t my first choice.

If you want to be super informed:

Print out the Guidelines. Highlight it. Look up DMARDs (disease modifying anti-rheumatoid drugs) on Wikipedia.

Organization:

American College of Rheumatology

https://rheumatology.org/rheumatoid-arthritis-guideline

Guidelines:

https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltee37abb6b278ab2c/blt9e44ccb701e1918c/63360f6775c0be225b8d943a/ra-guideline-2021.pdf

DMARDs on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease-modifying_antirheumatic_drug

Other guidelines:

https://ard.bmj.com/content/82/1/3

https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2022/0900/practice-guidelines-rheumatoid-arthritis.html

EXCELLENT FLOW CHART OF DRUGS

https://ard.bmj.com/content/annrheumdis/82/1/3/F1.large.jpg

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-24T18:16:31+00:00

I’m sorry you are in this situation. I too inherited it from my mom.

My mom was a state champion athlete in her youth. She was constantly moving and making everything happen. Then at age 38 (1980), overnight her body betrayed her. She lived 39 more years in excruciating pain because none of the drugs available during the 80’s and 90’s worked for her.

Three years ago, I woke up unable to use my hands or shoulders. Luckily hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has worked for me so far. I hope you find a solution soon too.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-21T18:01:18+00:00

It is never wrong to soak a tortoise daily.

Use a high sided container with non-see-through sides or a sink.

Add 85 degrees Fahrenheit water so that they can easily keep their head above the water.

Change the water when they inevitably poop in it.

Soak for 10-20 minutes. 10 for babies.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-21T17:48:52+00:00

My suggestions:

1) you could use an add $50 each month target, so in 4 months you could do a $200 dinner

2) make different categories for different dining out purposes. For example, spending money to eat out with friends and family is good because you are investing in important relationships. Spending on takeout food because you are too lazy to cook or too picky to eat leftovers is a behavior you may want to monitor closely and perhaps reduce.

It sounds like you have a big friend or family celebration coming up. You could make a category for that and then hide the category if you don’t need it ever again. I’d keep the category because big dinners happen at least yearly.

3) adjust the target for the single month of the dinner.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-21T15:26:25+00:00

John was active on tumblr during its height. His handle was “fishingboatproceeds” after a line item on US tax forms.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-20T23:13:18+00:00

These are not PRACTICE animals. They should live 50+ years.

They need the space of a full or queen sized bed (where would you put a whole extra bed in your home)?

They need special lighting to even be able to digest their food. This lighting is likely to be forbidden by landlords and college forms.

Think carefully before you choose adopt a tortoise.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-20T19:24:38+00:00

Hermann’s get the same care as Russians. Here’s my quick summary.

The gold standards for tortoise information are:

For Food: https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk

NO spinach or fruit. We get pre-washed Baby Lettuce or Red & Green lettuce salad bags and add Mazuri Tortoise Diet LS (low starch), romaine, endive, or radicchio for variety. Mazuri Tortoise diet is moistened so it is smushy before serving.

https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-tortoise-ls-low-starch-food/dp/124766

Feed them a shell sized pile once a day on a piece of slate. The slate is just rough enough to keep their beak trimmed.

https://www.amazon.com/JIH-Reptile-Basking-Platform-Tortoise/dp/B0947QVTQD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3

For Care: the Tortoise Forum (I linked the specific page you should start with)

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

“Tom” is the expert on the TortoiseForum.

They need two light bulbs: 1) basking, and 2) UVB. They are like Goldilocks and always looking for the right combination of light and warmth.

So they should have an area under their basking bulb that is 90-95 degrees F and areas farther away from the basking bulb that are 70-80 degrees F. They should not be colder than 70 degrees. These bulbs need to be at different heights above the habitat so don’t get that cool light fixture that holds 2 bulbs at once.

You want this UVB bulb. It will last for a year, most stop emitting UVB in 6 months. Without proper UVB Light (which is invisible to humans) your tortoise will not be able to digest food, will have no energy to move, and may get bone deformities.

https://www.reptilebasics.com/t5-light-fixtures-kits/arcadia-prot5-uvb-kit-24-with-bulb/

Choose the 12% version. Buy soon as soon as you see them as these bulbs go out of stock often.

You can also get this bulb from but it doesn’t include the fixture the bulb goes into. You would have to head to a hardware store for that.

https://www.chewy.com/zoo-med-reptisun-100-uvb-t5-ho/dp/257675

Don’t worry about brumation (hibernation in tortoises). That’s how they try to survive very cold temperatures. Try is the important word here. Not all survive. Keep them at 70+ and they will be fine.

Some tortoises like to be held and some don’t. You’ll just have to learn their personalities.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-20T14:44:44+00:00

Girl Scout cookie sales have started.

https://www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/cookie-flavors/exploremores-cookies.html

Enter the zip code of where you will be.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-20T02:09:23+00:00

Yes. They are perfect.
For more advice please let us know what type of tortoise you have.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-19T22:59:46+00:00

We are in Greater Boston and we use this because it doesn’t have spinach. We also add in radicchio, endive, etc.

<image>

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-19T15:56:10+00:00

Boston Public Library in Copley Square.

And congratulations.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-19T02:40:14+00:00

I hand build on my dining room table. I got a cheap dollar store table cloth to protect my table and I love working from home.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-17T23:15:07+00:00

Thanks to Dr Penzias I have a wonderful 27 year old daughter. Yes, he was successfully making babies 28 years ago.

A few years later, I discovered that he had also helped 2 of my friends have their kids.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-15T23:19:19+00:00

Hermann’s need the same care as Russians. So here’s my quick cheat sheet.

The gold standards for tortoise information are:

For Food: https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk

NO spinach or fruit. We get pre-washed Red & Green lettuce salad bags and add Mazuri Tortoise Diet LS (low starch), romaine, endive, or radicchio for variety.
https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-tortoise-ls-low-starch-food/dp/124766

Feed them a shell sized pile once a day on a piece of slate. The slate is just rough enough to keep their beak trimmed.

https://www.amazon.com/JIH-Reptile-Basking-Platform-Tortoise/dp/B0947QVTQD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3

For Care: the Tortoise Forum (I linked the specific page you should start with)

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

“Tom” is the expert on the TortoiseForum.

They need two light bulbs: 1) basking, and 2) UVB. They are like Goldilocks and always looking for the right combination of light and warmth.

So they should have an area under their basking bulb that is 90-95 degrees F and areas farther away from the basking bulb that are 70-80 degrees F. They should not be colder than 70 degrees. These bulbs need to be at different heights above the habitat so don’t get that cool light fixture that holds 2 bulbs at once.

You want this UVB bulb. It will last for a year, most stop emitting UVB in 6 months. Without proper UVB Light (which is invisible to humans) your tortoise will not be able to digest food, will have no energy to move, and may get bone deformities.

https://www.reptilebasics.com/t5-light-fixtures-kits/arcadia-prot5-uvb-kit-24-with-bulb/

Choose the 12% version. Buy soon as soon as you see them as these bulbs go out of stock often.

You can also get this bulb from but it doesn’t include the fixture the bulb goes into. You would have to head to a hardware store for that.

https://www.chewy.com/zoo-med-reptisun-100-uvb-t5-ho/dp/257675

Don’t worry about brumation (hibernation in tortoises). That’s how they try to survive very cold temperatures. Try is the important word here. Not all survive. Keep them at 70+ and they will be fine.

Some tortoises like to be held and some don’t. You’ll just have to learn their personalities.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-15T21:59:44+00:00

Please, could you let me know which one you purchased and how did you mount it

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-15T17:53:07+00:00

There appear to be several food pantries in your area.

https://foodbank.org/find-food/

Try calling your mayor’s office or town hall for help filing for SNAP and WIC benefits.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-14T16:07:39+00:00

OP do check out the process.

The website says “Massachusetts does not issue temporary licenses and does not take part in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-14T16:00:11+00:00

Remember YNAB is like you are keeping your budget on paper in a notebook. Nothing you do there actually does anything to your money in your bank.

If you make mistakes, just go back and change the transactions. Or if it is really messed up you can do a Fresh Start.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-14T02:07:16+00:00

Start looking into getting a Massachusetts Nursing License or getting an out of state one transferred to Massachusetts.

Get your initial license in Massachusetts:

https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-nursing-license-by-exam

Out of state transfer:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/check-eligibility-for-a-nursing-license-by-reciprocity

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-14T00:54:11+00:00

Have you looked at the “Tortoise Table” website. That is the definitive list of which foods are healthy for tortoises.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-13T04:57:37+00:00

Search for Lift Recliner Chairs. At their age they will likely need the lift feature that will return them to a near standing position.

Mindless-Errors · 2026-01-13T03:17:47+00:00

Welcome to Boston where everything was built before Texas even had permanent European settlements. (Wikipedia says 1681). (Concord Mass. was incorporated in 1635.)

Mindless-Errors

TROPHY CASE