The Trader Joe’s vegetarian stuff rated very high for being actually made of vegetables and the nutrition information being accurate.

Holy crap, I used to work at N 1st and 237 (not at Target, though; down N 1st a bit across from a sorghum field). I do not miss that commute, though it was just 8 miles from my place in MTV, it’d take up to 45 minutes.

Hey neighbor! I almost went to that Target today but went to Mountain View since I had to go to Kaiser anyway.

I know, right? I decided to drive to Mountain View since I had to go to Kaiser anyway, but I live super close to Campbell. Sad trombone.

Even if he wasn’t talking about the things I care about, he’d be getting my vote just because I want to see heads explode over a Jewish Socialist President. Plus I’m Jew-ish* so I think there’s something in it for me. Right?

Cenadl heb iaith yw cenabl heb galon! Typing in Welsh really messes with spellcheck. Anyway, that means A nation without a language is a nation without a heart. The Welsh take language very seriously ... that’s why my family speaks English; the Welsh-speakers wouldn’t speak it around the US-born and now we have to try…

Welsh is interesting, too. The Welsh name for Wales is Cymru, which is pronounced Kumree (and means roughly Us; Wales is an Anglo-Saxon derived name that means Foreign, which shares the same root as walnut). In Welsh, generally: w is oo (except after consonants, such as Gwenydd); dd is th as in them; ff is f; f is v;…

I think the Caitlin thing is due to a rash of Cre8v Spellers, thinking it’s cute or unique or who knows. As far as I’m aware, Siobhans, Seans and Seamuses aren’t being called Seeoban, Seen, and Seamus.*

Other factors which might indicate earlier colonoscopy, which the OP did not mention a family history of, but I’m mentioning: first-degree relatives with IBD (not IBS), megacolon and other bowel disease.

I have a history of cystic breast disease, which may have influenced my doctor’s decision to start squishing me at 40. (I don’t get flattened often, though; she’s pretty conservative.) My maternal aunt had breast cancer, and I have an almost operatic list of crap wrong with me that compromise my immune system - I'm…

I think it has to do with statistics. Of course it can happen earlier, and that's why monthly self-checks are so pounded into our heads, but it's much likely to happen in middle life. 40 is still pretty young, said the 50 year old.

Then I’m stumped ... maybe she didn’t get the memo on the new guidelines? ETA just noticed the “different doctors;” the advice isn’t out of line for you, but is “wuh?” for your wife.

If you have high risk factors for colon cancer, talk to your doctor (duh); depending upon what they are, you may be on an accelerated colonoscopy schedule and/or start sending fecal occult smears sooner.

I'm assuming neither of you have had children; that's why I was first mammogrammed at 40. Nullaparas have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who have given birth.

It, as well as Breanne, Bryanna, etc, are all modern feminizations of Brian. I remember making up a list of absurd names as a kid, and that was one of them - when I started seeing it used, I was astounded. Before the late ‘80s or so, people wanting to give their child an Irish name went Brian/Bridget - they have the…

It’s a weirdly feminized ‘Brian,’ and there’s a perfectly good Irish woman’s name (Bridget) that means the exact same thing. There’s just no need for it. I feel the same way about most feminized masculine names, though some, like Patricia and Claudia, don’t sound as much like disappointed afterthoughts to the arrival…

Knowing she was teased about her nose, I’d never say anything to her about the puppet (because we see each other so often!) but it’s the eyes, the smile and cute dimples that make the puppet resemble her - not the nose.

May I apologize for all white people?

I agree, and the names that annoy me are “white” names, like Madison (after an Avenue); Tiffany (after a lamp); Brittany (after a Welsh-settled area in France); Chelsea (after an affluent London neighborhood); Brooklyn (after a New York borough); Brianna (why?); Nevaeh (“Heaven” backwards; again, why?) ... I'll be…

My real name, in existing languages still in use, mean: female lamb; princess; of noble birth*; vernal equinox.** The first two aren’t that weird, but the last name - five letters one name, and four letters the second name - is impossible for most people to spell and/or pronounce.