Midwesterner here(Central Illinois). It depends on the people. Not much handshaking at all. Smiles and nods for acquaintances and new people. Hugs for my close friends and family(both hello and goodbye) and for my community theatre friends(theatre people tend to be an affectionate bunch in my area).

I only go once a month because they're the only store in town that still carries the old style of OB tampons instead of the ones with the stupid silky covering that just leak everywhere.

My Wal-Mart still carries Chocolate Lucky Charms, which is a good substitution the rest of the year.

Ha! My best friend is like that. I "lent" her my copy of Tina Fey's Bossypants(paperback, no big deal). One of her coworkers asked her for a recommendation of a funny book, and before she gave Bossypants to her, she put her bookplate in it and wrote "Don't steal this book because best friend stole it from Bazcat fair…

Then I am very impressed. I never had luck with pads anyway. The always leaked and you could see them through my leotard too.

Well I read Stephen King's It when I was 11, and it didn't scar me. Even with the group sex scene where every single has sex with the one girl and the kids were all my own age.

I agree with other commenters on the when and where it's appropriate. The other thing I would suggest, depending on the age of the child, is giving them a comprehensive book like It's Perfectly Normal that explains not only puberty and sex, but masturbation and gay and lesbian relationships/sex.

Actually the bra shop that I go to carries mostly European brands, I can find the European size on the tag.

H comes next. Then I. Until I got pregnant in March, I was wearing a 36H or 36I depending on the brand/style etc. Trying to find a bra that fits now that I'm pregnant is hell. Especially when I buy one that is purposely comfortable on the tightest band setting instead of loosest so I have room for growth and it's…

If it's Braxton Hicks, laying down on your left side, and/or drinking a giant glass of water should make them stop for awhile. If i'ts real labor, it will keep progressing no matter what you do(usually). Start timing them. If they're getting closer together, and possibly stronger, it is likely real labor. Although…

I am right there with you, only worse. I've been married to a verbally and emotionally abusive husband for 11 years and 3 and a half(24 weeks pregnant) kids. It starts with the little things. I wish I would have seen the warning signs much earlier in the relationship. In that way, you are very lucky. I'd regret the…

Thanks! I can't get myself out of it, but my BFF is very good at getting me to focus on something else and reminding me to breathe. Thank god she agrees to be my labor partner too. Meditation and I don't mix very well. I'm ADHD and obviously unmedicated during pregnancy, so calm and focus(unless its hyperfocus) are…

I also really enjoyed The Selection and The Elite by Kiera Cass. This series also has a third coming out next year. I kind of agree with you on the fourth book in the Uglies series. I think it would have worked better as a novella than as the full novel it was. More like an extended epilogue, than a whole other book.

So, it feels like my life is falling apart. My verbally and emotionally abusive husband is refusing to move out of the house until the divorce is final, and there's nothing I can legally do in my state to make him, because his name is on the mortgage too. And because his not physically abusive, nor has he ever…

Yay!!! Congratulations!

I commuted about 2 hrs one way for grad school for 3 years. My son was barely 2 when I started. Grad school is a little easier to commute since most classes only meet once a week for 3 hours. There are also a number of reputable online universities. Franklin University and University of Phoenix online pop to mind…

I would actually try some of the YA stuff out there right now. The Hunger Games is the most famous series. but there are others. I particularly like The Uglies series by Scot Westerfeld, which is older, and Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth, which has a third book due out in October. I'm a librarian, BTW.

I think some zoos and amusement parks(Disney and Brookfield Zoo in Chicago for example) do a decent job of compromising on the outdoor smoking. They have a few designated smoking areas that are out of the way of major traffic areas, and smoking is prohibited everywhere else. It makes it easy for non-smokers to avoid…

My friend and her husband both smoke. They have 3 children. They only smoke outside, always throw their butts away, and have been really great about not smoking around me at all while I'm pregnant, even if we're in their backyard. You're absolutely right, there's no reason other smokers can't do the same.

My soon to be ex-husband was not much of a cuddler, but my BFF and I cuddle all the time when we're watching TV or a movie(no bed cuddling though). Usually we cuddle like you described, or she puts the foot of her recliner couch up, and I lay on my side with my head in her lap. This is the best right now, because I'm…