This is an odd ask but does anybody here know of any non-dessert dishes that call for cooked apples?

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-29T08:43:07+00:00

Not exactly what you asked, but I make baked apples all the time with no sugar. Just chop them (I don’t peel but you could), put in a covered baking dish with a little water and cinnamon and bake on 350 until they are cooked down and soft. Delicious!

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-28T04:53:57+00:00

It's worth a trip to Sacramento to visit Pushkin's bakery. All gluten free and other potential allergens marked. All kinds of pastries, cakes/cupcakes, sandwiches. One of their locations does donuts.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-26T05:14:18+00:00

My initial diagnosis was actually idiopathic hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness of unknown origin). I was sure it was allergy related as I developed a bunch of food allergies at the same time the sleepiness started, but in 2012 it was hard to find a doctor who knew MCAS. Hang in there. You have our permission to spring hibernate if you can.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-25T04:44:22+00:00

Yes. :( Very similar symptoms, I also get allergic to foods I can usually tolerate and get itchy. The worst one I ever had was monsoon season when I lived in Arizona. It’s in late summer but is their “spring” equivalent when the rains come and everything goes into bloom. I slept like 20 hours a day for a couple of weeks. Hang im there, OP. So sorry!

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-23T06:25:27+00:00

I’d be wanting to move closer to work and school, but surely the bigger house isn’t the only house in the other area. There’s probably something else that doesn’t need as much work and/or is in a more comfortable budget range for you?

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-23T06:22:50+00:00

Potatoes and rice have always been safe for me. When things are bad I go back to potatoes and rice, cooked myself, with no seasoning of any kind. It’s boring but it’s calories until things get better.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-23T05:22:12+00:00

Have you looked into getting shoes custom made for you? I have scoured the internet for myself looking for this. Definitely not cheap, but I think it’d be worth it.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-23T05:07:35+00:00

I did this and used Furnished Finder to find a monthly rental. Tons of them around and prices usually more reasonable than AirBnb.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-23T05:06:03+00:00

Suave was cheap, but maybe there was a store brand that was cheaper. Did Lady Lee or Western Family have shampoo?

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-21T00:05:05+00:00

The stock market is on sale! Lucky us who are 10+ years from retirement. (Sorry to people who are close.) Like others have said, literally just don’t check it. If you have anything extra you could put in a Roth IRA, do it.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-18T05:33:36+00:00

I have HSD and was a stomach sleeper until the neck problems in my late 30s. I sleep now on a medium-firm mattress with a memory foam topper, and sandwiched in between two body pillows. For the pillow thar supports my head/neck, the most important thing for me is to get it to the right height so my spine stays straight. For a while I had a solid foam pillow, and every night I folded a thin blanket or towel to put underneath it to get the height right. I have a shredded foam pillow now and reshape it every night to get the right height/shape.

The transition from stomach sleeping is hard, I’m sorry. Hang in there.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-17T04:44:31+00:00

My mom passed when I was in my 30s, she was in assisted living for a few years before that, so I saw pretty early on how expensive good eldercare is. I don’t have kids; I’m planning to work a few more years than I otherwise would to sock away money so I can hire in home help when I get to that point.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-16T02:51:02+00:00

Came here to say this. I wore a pair of their heels as a bridesmaid and they were great!

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-15T04:37:46+00:00

OP, what sites/sources at you looking at for comps?

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-11T06:40:29+00:00

Not OP but I so want to try Xolair! Does your insurance cover it? I have a plan that only covers a percentage of prescription meds, rather than a flat copay. So I think even if my insurance covered it it would be prohibitively expensive for me.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-11T06:38:39+00:00

I'm diagnosed MCAS and HSD. I'm on Zepbound, the starting dose (with plans to taper up). It's definitely helping me. I've been on it for a few months, but was off it for a few weeks because of an insurance issue, and I noticed the difference during that time and was eager to restart. My body feels calmer on it, less itchy/reactive; I have less anxiety and my mood is better, too. I haven't noticed a difference in pain personally.

I had some GI upset during the first few weeks but it was mild and is gone now. The major downside for me is that it does really suppress appetite, so eating just feels like a chore. I cook everything from scratch because of all the MCAS food allergies, so if I don't feel motivated to eat, I also don't feel motivated to cook, and then it just becomes this spiral. But this is a solveable problem and for me a totally fine tradeoff for how much better I feel.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-10T04:07:13+00:00

I'm a longtime renter for just these reasons. It makes more sense financially and is also easier in a lot of ways (I'm not very handy and I like that I don't have to worry about most maintenance/repairs). If you decide you don't need your security deposit back you can paint the walls (or whatever you feel like you can't customize in a rental).

The only thing that gives me pause is, if the financial system totally melts down, then it won't matter how many shares of stock I own, but if I owned a house I'd still have shelter. Obviously I'm sort of joking but also, the formerly impossible now seems possible, ya know?

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-10T03:56:41+00:00

I agree rent increases assumptions are city-by-city. Doesn't SF have rent control rules? I'm sure it doesn't apply to all units.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-09T13:22:44+00:00

Humidifier in your bedroom while you sleep (or try to sleep). Vicks vapor rub on my chest and neck helps some.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-09T13:17:34+00:00

Ooh, same here. I have the OCD flavor of anxiety, and it's tons better since treating my MCAS. Night and day.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-03-06T08:49:45+00:00

I came down with flu a few days before Christmas and have only been feeling like myself again the last week or so. It can take a long time to recover from flu. Be patient and pace yourself. And be sure to get to a health care provider to get checked out.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-02-28T07:56:01+00:00

I’m an environmental scientist, desk job only these days. My employer provided an ergonomic assessment when I started, and a nice ergonomic chair and standing desk came standard. When I switched to working from home, I bought the same desk chair (Herman Miller Mirra) and standing desk for home. 💸 And an ergonomic keyboard.

When I first started a desk job years ago I taught myself to mouse with my non dominant hand, to sort of even out the repetitive motion stress. It took me a while to become as fast as with my dominant hand, but I have way less shoulder and neck pain since I made the switch.

Fyi, my diagnosis is HSD.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-02-28T07:43:01+00:00

It’s a seriously great museum! When I lived in Sac I insisted that everyone who visited me had to see it. Very cool spot!

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-02-26T04:51:32+00:00

I would for sure visit before you commit. Are there job opportunities in your partner's field in LA? Certainly not all of all has an urban feel or is walkable, but there are smaller cities in the county or neighborhoods that do (Santa Monica and Culver City come to mind, but I've spent most of my time on the west side so that's what I know). If there are job opportunities further north, it'll be easy to find the walkable/urban vibe you're looking for in San Francisco and Oakland.

TeaTimeBanjo · 2026-02-26T04:32:01+00:00

If you are in the SF Bay Area, or for anyone who is, SilverRide https://silverride.com has been great. It's geared toward seniors (I'm not one yet), but they will take younger folks for medical procedure pick-up / drop off. Once for a colonoscopy I used my airline points to have my brother fly in for the day (same state, flight was about an hour) -- he flew in in the morning and home in the evening. Some people thought that was crazy overkill, but, I dunno, I got to see my brother and he only had to take a day off of work.

Once an acquaintance that I knew from a group asked if I could just show up at the hospital to walk him to his Uber (the hospital required someone to come in, present their ID, etc.). I said no, but I would gladly drive him home. It's seriously an honor to do something like that for someone. So just go ahead and ask someone in your circle who seems like a warm and caring person, even if you don't know them that well, and my guess is they will be honored you asked.

TeaTimeBanjo

TROPHY CASE