Weekend Open Thread

180 Comments

1. Gift idea for an 8th grade boy? We are getting him cash/gift card but want a small gift to go with it. Doesn’t like or play sports.

   <$25

   1. Something from Spencer’s gifts? Maybe a book with a movie tie in like Dune or Wheel of Time?

   2. Is eight grade about mid-teen? (yes, I googled, but got a page full of movie references and couldn’t be arsed to wade several pages in).

      Proper comic books. Really nice but neutral scarf, like black and grey stripes. Art supplies if he draws. Smart phone friendly neutral gloves if he lives somewhere cold. New games if he does Nintendo switch or similar. Headphones either for use at home or about. Some nice brushes like Morphe if he likes makeup. Upgraded ring light, memory card or phone stand if he does video or similar. Super cozy blanket. Books – try TJ Klune’s House at the Cerulean sea. Retro board games. Bag of favourite treats. New sneakers. Disco lights for his room. Some hair styling products, if he cares.

      1. 8th grade is ages 13-14 :)

      2. I appreciate the inclusiveness, but “some nice brushes like Morphe if he likes makeup” – don’t you think they’d already know if this was a boy who was drawn to makeup?

   3. Headphones or bluetooth speakers.

   4. Hydroflask or yeti

2. What are your favorite Christmas cookies or cocktails to make?

   1. Checkerboard sugar cookies, dyed red and green. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/holiday-checkerboard-cook_b_2334479

   2. These cookies: https://smittenkitchen.com/2010/12/spicy-gingerbread-cookies/

      I looooove hot buttered rum, and I just buy the mix at the grocery store.

   3. I grew up in New Mexico, so biscochitos is the only answer! Delicious lightly sweet sugar cookies made with lard, anise seeds, and a cinnamon sugar topping, they are my only hard and fast Christmas tradition.

      This is close to my recipe: https://innofthegovernors.com/famous-biscochito-recipe

      1. From New Jersey and the answer is always Pizzelles. I can’t make them as good as I can have them flown in.

      2. As a fellow New Mexican, I 100% agree!

   4. Mulled apple juice or cider with a shot of dark rum.

      Parisian Blonde with a dash of nutmeg or pumpkin spice.

      Grasshopper – disgustingly sweet, but like eating a peppermint stick.

   5. Decorated iced sugar cookies. Which is my favorite cookie to make anytime, but the christmas-themed shapes are easy to decorate.

   6. I’m really into German Christmas cookies like Zimtsterne (cinnamon stars – no flour), Spekulatius (a spiced stamped thin cookie). Not a cocktail but I like adding Bailey’s to my coffee on xmas

   7. Related question – what is the EASIEST Christmas cookie to make? I’m interested in participating in an exchange but I am not skilled in the domestic arts…

      1. Any type of drop cookie (like chocolate chip), or peanut butter blossoms (PB cookie with a hershey kiss stuck in it).

      2. Premade dough, rolled unless pre-rolled, cut and put on a baking sheet and then press red and green smarties into it before baking, and dust icing sugar on after baking.

         1. Note for US readers–these are NOT the chalky, tart powdered Smarties candy sold in the States, but milk chocolate M&Ms are an appropriate substitute.

      3. I love these. Easy and end up so pretty: https://smittenkitchen.com/2016/05/confetti-cookies/

         1. Yes these are a dream! Red + green sprinkles and you are GOLDEN.

            I also like to do something chocolate + pepperminty. Chocolate cookie dough either with a candy cane Hershey’s kiss pressed into the top or rolled in Andes peppermint chips. Delicious.

      4. shortbread. I melt chocolate and spread over it and sprinkle with peppermint sugar if I want to be fancy.

      5. peanut butter blossoms. Super easy, delicious. Recipe on the NYT website is great, but double it.

   8. Cinnamon Old Fashion. Make a cinnamon simple syrup (a couple of cinnamon sticks with sugar/water). You can also do apple-cinnamon or cran-cinnamon.

      1. Or you can substitute maple syrup for the simple syrup.

         1. Senior Attorney, you’re speaking my language!

            1. :) Cheers!

      2. Maple syrup, lemon juice, and bourbon with a dash of cinnamon.

   9. The NY Times had a bunch of recipes to MAKE cookies, called 24 days of Cookies. Here is the link:

      https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/11/30/dining/cookie-calendar.html?searchResultPosition=1

      I learned when I was a little girl that was still svelte that anyone can BUY cookies, but Grandma Trudy told me that if I am able to MAKE good cookies, I will be able to find and keep a good man. She had Grandpa Sy for 50 years before he died. I remember Grandpa Sy as a nice chubby old guy with a heart of gold. I hope to find and mate with a guy like Grandpa Sy. YAY!!!

   10. Gingersnaps (depending on who I’m baking for I may remove them from oven early so they remain slightly soft in the middle) & pecan butterballs (similar to biscochitos/Italian wedding cookies).

3. Well, I suffered the infamous “roomba dog poop” experience this afternoon. As well as receiving a big matter that will likely take up my entire weekend. Hope everyone else’s Friday is going better than mine!

   1. Chronic cat puke is the sole reason I haven’t pulled the trigger on a Roomba. Somehow my eldest trained her little brother to only puke on the kitchen tile–they actually run to that room when they start gagging. I refuse to press my luck.

4. During the pandemic, has anyone ordered an upholstered chair (like to curl up and read a book in) that they loved? Stores in my city seem to have no furniture (or things I don’t need — $$$ sideboards for dinner parties I’m not having) so I’m looking at ordering something and crossing my fingers for 2022 delivery sometime. Anthro seems to have cute things, but I think that cute is their forte (vs manufacturing furniture, so IDK). Ikea is sometimes good, but I would need to travel to check out things in person. We have showrooms for LaZBoy (not always my style but IIRC so comfy) and Stickley and a lot of brands that seem cheap and fall apart. I have a queen bed and a couch but want a chair for my room vs always having to read in bed (so I sleep vs read often) and also to sit in to put on shoes. I have a used wood piano bench now but it is not comrtable for long periods and also has no back. B/c I’m now more years out of school, I could spend $ on a good piece. [Also, with chairs, do you buy 2 if you have room? Or just 1? And a side table?]

   1. Get just the one! You don’t need to clutter up your room with an extra chair.

      I would just get an IKEA Strandmon wingback chair, if it’s in stock in a color you like. You can upgrade to a better one if you end up using it a lot. A small table or shelf is nice, and a reading light.

   2. I didn’t order a chair but Apt2B has been my best pandemic ordering experience by far — delivered when they said it would, good combo of price and quality: https://www.apt2b.com/pages/chairs.

      1. I have also had a great experience with apt2b.

   3. From someone with no interior design / interior decorating genes: what do you put in a reading nook? Chair and . . . things. Now that I’m not in a studio with no $, I have Questions.

      1. Small bookshelf, reading light, plants, area rug, art piece, foot stool, knitting basket, globe or world atlas.

         1. Other than Rooms To Go, are there places (or people maybe) who assemble all these things so that they are all scaled for the space and go together? I could make a pin board that looks good as a pin board but is a hopeless mess IRL.

            1. Honestly this is where the room setups they have in IKEA come in really useful.

   4. Don’t forget thrift stores near you or estate sales if you’re comfortable bringing in upholstered items (and not worried about bed bugs or whatever)

   5. If I had the money and space, I’d get a womb char and ottoman in a cheerful color. I would do this regardless of whether mid-century modern decor continues to be “in” or not. They are so comfortable and I have always loved the look.

      1. +1 except I saw some on 1st dibs reupholstered in ivory cashmere and sheepskin and it just looked perfect for my dream life…are they really as comfortable as they look?

         1. I think so, but everyone is built differently.

      2. Similarly, Eames lounge chair and ottoman (real or knockoff). We just got a pair for our family room and they are divine.

   6. I’d go for a loveseat – it’ll likely cost the same as a good chair and you’ll appreciate the extra seating. We’ve bought two in performance velvet from the Comfortable Couch Company and love them both (one english roll arm, one chesterfeld).

   7. Are there any good furniture consignment or antique stores around? Or estate sales? I know people who waited 6+ months for new furniture delivery.

      Usually, there is one chair in a bedroom but that is more of a space issue.

      1. Around where? That seems, um, rather local information?

         1. And it makes perfect sense as a response to the OP, which it was (not a freestanding question).

   8. I had a one and a half chair/twin sleeper that was really useful. You can fit with a kid or very close friend, ha, and it opens up to a twin bed. I didn’t move it when I moved cross country because it weighs a LOT, but was very useful. I’d do a chair and half 9sleeper or not) before I added a second chair.

      I’ve generally had good luck wiht all modern, and they have open box specials sometimes.

   9. Is there an Ethan Allen near you? Our local store has a lot of styles in their showroom.

   10. That is a lot of overthinking about a chair. Pottery Barn has a section on their website of in-stock furniture.

   11. My answer to questions about upholstered furniture is always Sherrill — incredibly comfortable, reasonably priced for NC-made furniture. They’re custom made, though, so even in normal times typically take a month or two for delivery. I’d go the second-hand furniture route if you’re okay with used upholstered furniture. I got a super-comfy Hickory Chair chair, second hand, for my office for like $100.

   12. If you have the $$$, I’d say Ethan Allen, Crate & Barrel, or Room + Board. We just got a new sectional from Room + Board — it was supposed to come in 12 weeks and arrived in 3! Miracle! — and are super happy with it. We’ve bought from EA and C&B in the past and the quality of both are terrific.

       1. Furniture orders are unpredictable. A friend ordered a couch from Crate and Barrel over the summer. The order has been pushed back several times. I ordered a couch from Restoration Hardware in September and it came over a month early.
          If you cannot sit in the furniture in advance, I would suggest Room and Board. The website has reviews and they have an amazing return policy. Wherever you choose, request the sample fabric first.

5. What are you doing to “limit spread” (versus protect yourself/loved ones)?

   Playing the devil’s advocate: if your child was positive but asymptomatic and couldn’t be in school or other childcare for 10-14 days, would you go somewhere fun in driving distance and be masked indoors at museums/shows? What about not masked – waterpark or dining indoors?

   1. You’re kidding, right?

   2. Absolutely not. As a close contact of someone who tested + within 14 days of when asked, you’d likely be persona non grata anywhere. Stay the eff home! [And by that, I mean stay in your house and get deliveries dropped off on your front steps, not just “don’t travel.”]

      1. This!!!!!

   3. Holy hell — I don’t eat inside in my city with my vaxxed kids. So that they don’t test +. I’d never in a million years bring them to an indoor restaurant when they had tested +.

   4. Op – not a real Q, totally theoretical. (Put another way: What duty do you feel you owe to people who are dining indoors and engaging in riskier activities in the middle of a pandemic?)

      1. I believe that kids learn by what we do much more than by what we say. And that g-d is all-knowing and all-powerful. Just because people eating in restaurants can’t see how selfish and reckless this is, my kid and g-d sure can. My kids aren’t stupid and if they were +, they’d expect to stay home (and as a close contact to them, I’d stay home) not to have some sort of Rumspringa.

      2. This is stupid and you’re annoying

      3. I’m much less risk averse than a lot of people who post here, or at least the ones who are posting constantly. I would never go out in public if I found out I was positive, even if asymptomatic. Not until I’d had follow up negative tests. That is so selfish and entitled. What a terrible lesson to teach your kid.

         1. +1000. Definitely less risk averse than many here, but also fully vaccinated with a fully-vaccinated family and I would never, ever leave the house if any of us had a positive test.

         2. Right? Holy hell, OP. How did you even think up that question?

      4. As a vaxed/boosted person who is Covid-cautious and married to same, and no elderly people or young ones in our household … *my* dining indoors (masks unless actively eating, socially distanced tables, etc) in a high-vax/high-mask-compliant part of the country is not a “risky activity” – the car ride to the restaurant is probably a higher-risk activity. But to answer your question, it’s not that I feel I “owe” anything to other people specifically — it’s that I strive to do the right thing in general when it comes to modeling good behavior and certainly not going out and about if I were to test positive.

   5. If my kid were Covid+ he would stay home. No, I would not take him to a water park or museum. Are you serious?

   6. Is this some weird troll question designed to rile up the anxious poster from this morning?

      1. We’re just going to have competing tro11s on both side lobbing these posts back and forth and everyone else is going to get caught up in the middle of it.

         1. Thanks for calling me a troll for wanting breakthrough infections tracked this morning. Really nice of you. I know everyone here loves to diagnose anxiety rather than offer substantive comments (or god forbid, collapse the thread). I’ve never seen such a pointlessly cruel commenter base – honestly, it’s SO different on nearly every other website on the Internet.

            To those of you this morning who did offer useful and informative responses, thank you. I know so many of you are dealing with individual situations too and I wish you all the best in getting through this pandemic. I think the time has come where I’m no longer getting benefit from this website, but I am so grateful to so many of you for excellent advice and funny posts over the years (pandemic and otherwise).

            1. Love a good flounce post.

            2. In the immortal words of Taylor Alison Swift, you need to calm down.

            3. “honestly, it’s SO different on nearly every other website on the Internet.”
               I would consider spending more time on those other sites, and less time here, if you feel that way and it’s causing you this much emotional distress.

            4. Anonymous is right. The callous, wanton cruelty here is disgusting. I often wonder what people get out of posting these things – what high they get from random b-ness, just smacking someone down for no reason (and very often, without good reason).

               I honestly wonder who their people are who think it is an acceptable way to behave.

            5. Well, you’ve clearly never visited GOMI.

               And frankly, I think this place has gotten nicer over the years. Does anyone remember the snark site “STFU corporette” that was active circa 2014? Now that was some mean ish.

            6. My favorite corporette snark was somebody commenting on how much wine people drink. She said something like, “no wonder you’re all always working on your budgets and your waistlines!” I think of it whenever I do (or decide not to) drink wine on a weeknight now (which is not often, I’m doing fine) and laugh.

               I do remember the tumblr call out blog if that’s the one you mean.

            7. Anon at 5:09 – so if it’s so awful, why are you here? I don’t think anyone’s holding a gun to your head. If the content here makes you that angry, it’s probably best that you don’t visit the s!te any more.

      2. Obviously

   7. Please go away psycho.

      I’m not doing much to limit spread but I’d sure keep myself in my house if I had Covid.

   8. I’ll play.

      If my non-existent child was positive but asymptomatic they would stay at home for whatever amount of days required for them not to be positive or being able to spread disease, whether that is 5 or 10-14 days.

      No, we would not go anywhere “fun” masked with a confirmed, positive child.
      No, they would not go anywhere.
      Home isolation for the required time. WFH for all adults.

   9. Op – not a real Q, totally theoretical. (Put another way: What duty do you feel you owe to people
      who are dining indoors and engaging in riskier activities in the middle of a pandemic?)

      What are you trying to ask? If it is okay for you to put others at risk by exposing them to someone known COVID because you feel like they are engaging in risky activities (even though those activities are within the public health guidance). So you feel they should be punished by possibly exposing them?

      1. Wow. Is this actually how people think? I now have a weapon in my Covid+ kid, who can I hurt? Oh, I know.- strangers whose behaviors I disagree with even though they are not unreasonable, like dining out while Covid-free and vaxxed and boosted. I’ll make them regret that decision that would otherwise have been fine. For the good of mankind, I will prove there is risk by being the risk.
         This has a little Jussie Smollett about it.
         The fact you contrived this question is itself disturbing.

         1. I agree; there is some serious pathology here.

            1. I’ve tried several times now to suggest this person needs help. I’m not diagnosing anxiety or anything else- I t’s just so clear she’s suffering.

               OP go see someone. People, by and large, are not nearly as evil as you might believe. Also I’ve notice you’re particularly focused on children as disease vectors and it’s all so dark and strange. Just go talk to an actual therapist- things will get better if someone can help you manage your thoughts here.

      2. I think my own morals would be fine once we got a negative, even if we were still in the school’s quarantine time frame.

         Not punishing just less need to protect yourself if your immune system is strong. would be nice to live like 2019 again.

   10. Knowingly bringing a Covid-positive child into a public place for fun is sociopathic behavior.
       Limiting the spread and protecting myself and others are the same thing. I’m vaccinated, boosted, wear my mask in public and avoid large gatherings.

   11. wtf is this clickbait tr-ll nonsense, please go away

   12. With a positive test we wouldn’t be going anywhere indoors, period, masked or not. I would be willing to take the kid to the park during a weekday, as our neighborhood park is empty on weekdays. Nowhere else. This would be an excellent opportunity to do crafts, read, watch movies, play pretend, etc. at home. No kid is going to go crazy or be otherwise damaged from spending 10-14 days at home. My best friend’s 11 y-o daughter just had to do this (she tested positive but was asymptomatic) and ended up teaching herself to knit and has already knitted like four scarves. She also reorganized all the bookshelves in the house alphabetically.

       The question does make me ask myself, how many parents do we think probably are taking their positive-and-quarantining kids to the mall, grocery store, library, etc.? I would bet it’s a lot, and that’s pretty scary.

       1. Or purposely not testing kids who’ve been exposed so they don’t have to quarantine?

       2. Friend’s child is a Virgo? And even though she’s 11, can she do consulting? Would love for her to quarantine here and arrange my place :)

          1. OMG she is a Virgo! I believe she also has her closet arranged by color.

             I will let her know she has potential job opportunities coming her way in the future because of her Virgo characteristics!

             1. I’m a Virgo and I love this!

   13. Right now my kid is unvaxxed and so we’re doing nothing, but that’s mostly to protect her. Once she’s vaccinated and we get back to something resembling normal life I’d say our contributions to slowing the spread would be the following: getting everyone in my house vaccinated/boosted as soon as eligible, testing adults when symptomatic or after any high risk activity like travel, wearing masks wherever recommended or required and in some cases voluntarily wearing masks indoors, staying home if anyone tested positive for Covid.

       Absolutely never ever take a child who has tested positive anywhere indoors until the official quarantine period was up. I think even leaving your house to go to outdoor public areas is questionable. I’d only consider it if you were going somewhere like a beach where you could maintain a distance of 50+ feet from everyone, but honestly we would probably just stay home. Staying in your house/yard for two weeks isn’t that hard, especially in suburbia.

       1. My young adult daughter tested positive last fall (pre-vaccine). She had been working from home since March, lives by herself, but had unavoidable medical visits where she took public transportation and that’s where she suspects she got it. She was asymptomatic beyond a very slight sniffle, and she adulted up and stayed in her apartment for the required # of quarantine days, with groceries dropped off (so she ventured outside masked only enough to pick them up and go back in). She masked and sanitized to grab her mail periodically. That was the responsible way to handle it. The idea that she would have gone to a waterpark, museum, whatever other setting around other people is insane.

   14. My child would be at home, as would I and other members of the household.

6. I was told today that if I do not attend the holiday party tomorrow night, I will be in jeopardy of no raise/discipline in my evaluation next week. I had changed my RSVP because I am nervous about COVID with recent numbers in my state. I live alone, am low risk, and can quarantine after if needed – I just didn’t want to risk it.

   I think I am going to go. If I wear a KN95, sit at a table, only take my mask off for dinner, keep my mask on for cocktail hour, shower after, don’t shake hands – do you think I’ll be as reasonably safe as I can while showing up and not risking a docked raise or discipline? I am looking for a new job but would rather not have to dip into my savings if they fired me over not attending.

   I have also thought about not eating the meal, but I’m less sure I would actually do that when I’m at the very expensive restaurant watching everyone else eat.

   1. I assume you’re vaccinated and not otherwise high risk? You’re fine. Your employer sucks, but covid-wise you’re fine.

      1. Agree on both counts.

   2. Good luck finding another job! Pandemic or not, punishing someone because they aren’t attending a party reveals some management problems.

      If you don’t want to risk COVID, can you show up in a mask, be very visible and chatty, then leave? Taking off your mask to eat dinner exposes you.

      Just as an anecdote, I generally don’t eat indoors in public spaces, but I have made exceptions and took on the risk for a couple of weddings. (There were definitely unvaccinated people at these weddings). Didn’t get COVID.

   3. Shower after? Wildly not necessary.

      1. Seriously.

   4. I went to a breakfast meeting this week the same way: mask on, off to eat, back on. At an all vaxxed table half occupied, well-spaced tables. I’m pretty conservative, but I wanted to go to this (fundraiser for a cause I volunteer with) and figured early December was better as a risk profile than early January. So it’s my one event for the month, which I think is overall OK.

      Plus, if you work with these people, aren’t you already exposed to them?

   5. I’d just go and be normal. No reason not to. Don’t jeopardize your job because you’re anxious.

   6. Don’t eat if you’re not comfortable.

   7. Your boss sucks. I would for sure be looking. But, realistically, I’d probably also go in this instance, then stay home for the weekend and rapid test on Monday or Tuesday (I forget the correct timeline).

   8. I see what you are doing here.

      1. Yeah, it’s not even a little bit subtle.

      2. I might sound like a regular poster (?)- sorry – this is actually the first time I’ve posted about exposure here. I’ve heard through the grapevine in my city that two law firm holiday parties from last weekend resulted in covid positive notifications. When I went to HR to change my RSVP, I was really surprised at the blowback. Other firms are advertising for paralegals and I am hoping to swap firms but this is the first time I’ll have seen a lot of the attorneys in person since the pandemic (I’m required to come to the office, but they have WFH arrangements) – I don’t want to get in trouble but it’s so close to the holidays that my quarantine (if needed) would expire right about when I hope to drive to see some family. Didn’t mean to beat the drum more and set people off, I really appreciate the thoughts so far.

   9. Can you skip and say you have symptoms and are waiting on test results? If you do go, I’d step out while people are eating and keep myself masked the whole time.

      What a horrible place to work and I hope you are looking and will land somewhere better in the new year.

      1. This is what I would do. I’d probably even get a PCR test the day before so you can truthfully say you’re waiting on test results and show them the result if they eventually demand it. Sorry you’re in this situation, OP, this sounds awful.

         1. Yeah, I would feign illness if i was really worried. (FWIW I am going to my office party. We are all vaxxed, restaurants require vaccinations here, and we now have to test before the party too though).

   10. Oh I hope this is a coincidence and you don’t work at my law firm (our party is tomorrow night).

       Coincidence aside, no one should have performance judged on attendance to what should be a fun and voluntary event. I would show up, masked, try to mingle with your known crowd, and leave after dinner.

   11. Are you vaxed and boostered? That’s really all you can do at this point.

7. Teenage boy shopping question:

   I’m buying gifts for some kids through a local Secret Santa-type program. A 17-y-o boy has asked for “pants,” with no further detail. I plan to go to Kohl’s or Targets and of course get a gift receipt, and am thinking one pair of jeans and one pair in a non-denim fabric. But any thoughts on what might be well-received (or what might be hopelessly uncool)?

   1. Joggers or other tapered sweatpants! I’d go black or gray. Kohl’s and Target should have a ton. I work with Gen Z and that’s what most of the guys wear.

   2. Joggers are still in for the Catholic high school boys across the street.

   3. If your store has brands like Lee or Levi’s, which might not be the coolest, but available, you can try getting the 101 model (both brands) which my local uber cool skater shop carries along with serious skater brands, or Levi’s 551. These are looser models, and could work both for a sporty/muscular and skinnier frame.

      For the non-denim, maybe something that could be interview pants if necessary? Non-cargo Dickies? Or thick, black sweatpants?

   4. Thanks, all. I wouldn’t have thought of joggers, actually, so I appreciate this!

8. For anyone who knows DC well – is Georgetown nicely decked out for the holidays? Not looking for over the top displays or anything but in light of some rough news recently, I’d like to take a few hours for myself to just walk around in a cute town – I love architecture and old houses; love Christmas decor. I’d like to keep this outdoors which is why Georgetown came to mind. Ideally I’d drive in, garage my car somewhere so as not to have to worry about tickets etc., walk around, stop someplace and grab a coffee or cookie (masked in the store, to be enjoyed as I walk), walk around a bit more and then leave. Can anyone give me ideas – either in Georgetown or elsewhere in DC or Va.? (I live closer to Richmond so ideally I’m looking to road trip a few hours north of there).

   1. Not sure about holiday decorations, but I think Annapolis is the easiest place to walk around in and explore in that area.

   2. Lots of enjoyable bustle of commerce, obviously excellent coffee and cookies, but not super Christmas-y looking.

   3. They’re definitely pretty houses but I don’t recall them being super special for Christmas.

   4. I haven’t lived in DC for a while, but I imagine Old Town Alexandria fits this bill.

      1. Old Town is perfect for this. Also, nearby Del Ray has a “holiday card lane” where cool older houses are decorated and people set up giant wooden holiday cards in their front yard.

   5. Or, if it doesn’t have to be DC, there’s always Colonial Williamsburg, which wouldn’t be far from Richmond

      1. Second this and also Annapolis based on recent pics from W&M parent friends and USNA alumni friends back visiting.

   6. Old Town might have this vibe? Lots of public parking garages right in the center.

   7. They both have a cute Christmas vibe and old buildings. Old Town has more unique housegoods and antiques stores while Georgetown has ore high end boutiques. I would say Old Town is larger though. Georgetown has more bakeries to my knowledge. I adore Christophe Boulangerie for French pastries and quiches. There is also Levain and their famous cookies. Georgetown cupcakes, District Doughnuts, another cupcake place and a few other cafes. Christophe has a great outdoor patio, the others just have a few seats outside I think.

      Both good choices! Have fun!

9. Hey all! I start inpatient chemo (5 days) on Dec 20. What to bring in the hospital bag? What to wear? Is my water bottle hospital appropriate? What about hair ties on my wrist?

   Okay perhaps that wasn’t funny but the alternative is to scream. In all seriousness, has anyone done this? What should I bring? Is it kind of like the go bag for having a baby?

   1. Bring a long phone charger cord, eye mask for sleeping, warm, soft, machine washable blanket, cozy socks, and the knowledge that we are all pulling for you.

      1. Only the maternity wards seem to be adequately heated, so I agree with all of this. Long cord is usually 6 foot but 9 may be better b/c you don’t know how far away the plug will be. Also, grippy socks may be helpful to bring if you have them (or slippers). Maybe also: a good pillow. Hospital ones seem flat and I’ve always been so miserable that I sleep regardless, but over 5 days you may care.

         1. I’d definitely bring my own pillow; I always sleep better on my own pillow than anything I encounter anywhere else. Also good if the pillow smells like home as I find that comforting.

            Curious, I am so sorry you’re going through this. I am sending you best wishes and positive energy.

   2. I’ve never done inpatient chemo, but I think from my other hospital experiences, you’re spot on in thinking it’s similar to the stuff you brought for you in your hospital bag for having a baby. Definitely your own pillow. And I’ve seen others in my online cancer groups mention plug-in heating blankets as helpful in cold hospital rooms. Good luck! Sending positive thoughts your way!

   3. My mom is going through chemo and here is what is in her bag: power bank for phone since sessions are long, airpods +podcasts/music, books on kindle, a lightweight scarf, lightweight blanket, her own normal water bottle (but they bring her tea/water as well), a variety of snacks (she likes peanut butter crackers, some small cookies, trail mix) and that’s pretty much it. She wears comfortable clothes generally long loose pants and a t-shirt. She has a friend who drives her there and back because she is generally really tired after. Good luck.

   4. I’d bring moisturizer and products you like. Hospitals seem to mess with everyone’s skin, and no need to add insult to injury during a rough time. Godspeed!

   5. Dear Curious

      Dress in layers – hospitals can be freezing or too warm.
      Warmest (washable) blanket you have, ditto socks and slippers (grippy bottoms).
      IPad, lots of podcasts/audiobooks/downloads. LOOOOOOOOONG charger preferably multiple-capable.
      Snacks (hospital food is… variable at best). BIG refillable water bottle (you will need to stay hydrated).
      Hand lotion, eyedrops, soft/moist TP, super soft toothbrush/flannel (the atmosphere is very dry and depending on chemo sometimes mucous membrane ulcers appear).
      Get someone to call you every day (like scheduled phone calls) because visiting could be non-existent due to Covid19.
      Good masks (N95) and someone else to drive you home ideally at the end (the chances of being knackered are very high).
      Also write down everything (you will only think of questions later).
      Pre-gaming with antiemetics is better than trying to catch up afterwards.
      Hair loss can be minimized with cooling cap or similar – check because these may be limited and you have to book beforehand.

      GOOD LUCK.

      1. Thank you so much.

   6. Thanks all, I particularly forgot about the long phone charger and charging bank.

   7. I’m sorry you are going through this. My mother did a lot of chemo, most outpatient, but she was in the hospital a lot (she’s better now!). She appreciated having all of her personal toiletries and super, super soft and warm clothing that was easy to get on and off for a very tired and exhausted person. Blankets, cardigan, comfortable pants, easy off layers. Entertainment like books, audiobooks, tv shows, etc all queued up are good too. Loooong cabled chargers. Earplugs and eye masks. I am wishing you the best of luck and health.

      1. I’m so sorry you’re going through this, and I’m rooting for you. You’ve gotten good advice, but one more thing to note is that you should bring really comfy cotton underwear. The infusion chairs are vinyl, and your immune system is being put through the wringer, so you want something that won’t chafe and won’t retain moisture. Think giant granny panties.

         Keep us posted if you feel like it. We’re on your side!

   8. No advice but sending much love and support to you, Curious!

      1. Thank you! The only way out is through :).

         1. Awww… that made me tear up. MORE HUGS!!

   9. I just left the hospital for cancer surgery not chemo but one thing I asked for was lip balm. I’m not normally a lip balm user but it was super dry and I was really dehydrated. I also appreciated headphones with a bunch of audible books and podcasts downloaded. The podcasts were great because I could fall asleep without worrying about finding my place. I recently had infusions (iron but will be chemo soon) and the same set-up was helpful since I obviously couldn’t sit there and type or anything. I’ll be honest, this has been a really tough week. I thought I wouldn’t need chemo and I do. Thank you for making me feel a little less alone.

      1. I’m sorry, anonymous. That sucks.

   10. You are taking with you the good wishes and positive vibes of a whole lot of internet strangers.

       1. You are! Joining the chorus of friends supporting you. We are thinking about you and got your back. Good luck.

   11. Noise-reducing (or better yet, -cancelling) headphones and a white noise app, and if you have the chance before the 20th, a really soothing sound that you’ve already picked out. That way, you don’t have to think or make any effort when you just need the calm.

   12. This is perhaps the ONLY TIME IN YOUR LIFE when a hair tie on your wrist will be appropriate. Enjoy the freedom!

       In all seriousness, this internet stranger is rooting for you and will be keeping you in my thoughts.

       1. Hahaha until my hair falls out and then everyone will be confused. Thanks for being in on the joke :).

   13. As a fellow Amazonian, use the time to knock out your Forte feedback requests?? :)

       In all seriousness, totally agree with the longest phone charger you can find. During my outpatient chemo, I picked up an Apple News+ subscription and flipped through all the magazines from Canadian cottage content to yachting. I was well versed on cycling trips I would never take by the end.

       1. Hahaha that’s awesome. I didn’t know you’re at Amazon :). Is it completely weird that I will miss doing Forte feedback? I have to take disability and I am bummed. I think I’ve had too much Kool-Aid. Hope you are doing well in your recovery. What is the latest news?

          1. You know you have my good wishes too.

             1. Yes, and your practical advice! Thank you!

   14. I have a lot of hospital experience. Which hospital? The UW heme-onc floor at Montlake is a really great unit with amazing nurses.

       As others have said:
       Long phone cord. Hospital outlets are NOT placed well.
       Bring tea you like- nurses can bring you hot water.
       Bring snacks of every variety, although you might not be hungry with the chemo.
       Blanket- something bright colored so it doesn’t get tossed in with the hospital wash.
       Don’t bring your own pillow unless you really need to. Hospitals are gross.
       Eye mask, it can be really bright at all times in the hospital.
       Bring little bottles of all of your toiletries. Hospital shampoo is gross.
       Barefoot dreams type sweater and maybe also a scarf. Infusions can make you really cold. When I was getting regular infusions at home I more or less lived in an oversized Gap cableknit sweater with a gigantic infinity scarf.
       If you’re getting the infusion through a PICC or IV in your arm, it’s helpful to wear a shirt where the sleeve can roll up easily and then back down over the line without getting caught.
       A shawl blanket/poncho type blanket is nice if it’s going in through a chest port or central line because it’s hard to get dressed or undressed when it’s infusing. A button up shirt- I like an oversized flannel- can also help solve that problem. I’ve also brought button up pajamas for the same reason
       Fuzzy socks with grippy things or barre-type socks
       Slippers
       Sweatpants or leggings- you might want to bring a pair of pants you will not hate dozens of people each day seeing. I try to change into something that wasn’t pajamas each day, which is usually yoga pants or leggings.
       Cotton PJ pants are great for nights at the hospital. IDK why, but they’re just the best.
       Tablet. I always want to read in the hospital but someone is always coming in, checking on me, etc so I watch a lot of TV I don’t have to pay a ton of attention to- stuff like Law and Order or shows I’ve seen before.
       Headphones- noise canceling is great. The stupid infusion pumps can be really annoying when they’re infusing. I hear those things in my sleep sometimes.
       Lip balm- super hydrating kind. Lotion, Aquaphor.
       A normal sized towel if you’ll be able to shower. The hospital towels are TINY. But honestly I hate showering with an IV so I usually just washed my hair in the sink if I wasn’t there for weeks on end. If you are showering with a line- pick up some waterproof Nexcare tape- the foamy kind. Ask the nurses for 2 sizes of AquaGuards, one big and one small. Cover the IV site with the small one. Tape around the edges with the Nexcare tape. Cover the entirety of the tape + guard with the big guard. Tape around the edges. I’ve never had my line get wet using this method. Some people say use press and seal. Do not.
       Gum/mints. Chemo can make things taste bad. Peppermint can help with nausea, too. Allegedly.
       Moisturizing mouthwash. Chemo can cause dry mouth.

       Everything you bring should be washable. I usually go directly from front door to washing machine and dump every single item that can be washed into the washing machine when I get home, including the clothes I’m wearing.

       good luck- pulling for you!

       1. Thank you so much, Sloan. That’s the floor I’ll be on. I wish your life circumstances didn’t mean you have all these details, but I’m grateful for them.

          1. Ladies, you are both stars! Cheering for you from the frozen north.

       2. Sloan, thanks so much. My cancer treatment wasn’t chemo – my lymphoma only needed a monoclonal antibody – but I love the idea of a poncho with a port. Sounds cozier than a cardigan. I copied this whole post.

   15. Eye mask! Like the kind for sleeping on airplanes. Hospitals always seem to have random lights on and people coming in and out.

   16. Wishing you so much luck and sending you love. When my friends asked how they could help, I asked them to text me during chemo. They could not be with me in person, but I loved having them cheer me on. It’s a weird thing to walk in to chemo knowing how sick it makes you but it’s saving your life.
       You’re braver than you know.

       1. It is extremely weird for exactly the reason you describe. Thank you

          1. Xoxo brave warrior!

   17. Thinking of you and your sweet baby, Curious.

10. Has anyone upgraded/replaced the mattress in an old ikea pull out sofa?

11. If you want a chuckle on this Friday afternoon, head over to Ask a Manager and check out the best office holiday party date story of all time. So great!

    1. I have seen it before, and it holds up. I adore the ending.

    2. I wish she would be more selective about the updates she publishes. The ones that are “I found a new job so nothing happened” are very boring.

    3. The fan fiction take (link in comments on AAM) was awesome.

12. Any tips on finding a good plastic surgeon? Specifically looking for rhinoplasty in Boston, but would travel. Thanks!

    1. Go on the website RealSelf and check out reviews and doctors in your area.

    2. Look for a practice that exclusively does noses. I had a rhinoplasty earlier this year and went that route: my surgeon is an ENT/plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic and functional rhinoplasty and doesn’t offer any other procedures.

       You never know what kind of functional issues are lurking under the surface that may also need to be addressed during surgery (there were some in my case) and these are often overlooked by traditional plastic surgeons who don’t specialize in noses.

13. For those who wanted data for our long Covid discussion, Nature has a recent article entitled Do Vaccines Prevent Long Covid with links to the underlying studies.

    1. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03495-2

14. Anyone seen Six the Musical? Worth it for a non-history buff? I did love Hamilton but my knowledge of 16th century English monarchy is even smaller than my knowledge of the American revolution ;)

    1. reviews are tremendous so I don’t think you need to be a history buff to enjoy. Have you listened to the soundtrack at all? It’s great and that is what is winning me over.

       I’ve actually been listening to the podcast Noble Blood and she goes through each of the wives and that has been fun and helpful!

15. I have brown, graying hair. Before Covid, it was a long pixie and every time I got it colored to cover the gray, my stylist colored the entire head of hair. Now, my hair is almost shoulder length bob, and my new stylist has only been focusing on the roots. Is this the normal procedure? Or is she short changing me, charging for single process color, but really just doing my roots? Last time I went, I said I was bothered that the color was oxidizing to reddish, so she said she’d do more toner but then she did a gloss without noting that it would be a further charge. Is this all normal?

    1. Mine charges less for roots. I’ve also been charged by other stylists for treatments they offered but never quoted, so now I ask everyone what everything costs always. They seem put out, but hey, I’m the one paying. It seems off that she gave you a gloss without you asking for it. I might search for somebody new.

    2. It’s normal to just touch up the roots with hair that is longer. If you do a full head each time, the ends start to dry out and break. It’s also normal to charge less for a touch up then a full-head application. I get my hair colored every six weeks or so. About once a year-ish my stylist does highlights to help blend things (sometimes the touch-ups will start to look like a line separating new growth vs. the drier existing parts of the hair). A toner helps reduce brassiness (again, more common with hair that has been processed a bunch). Sounds like your stylist is doing everything right except being transparent about pricing.

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