Chiming in here to say that your Mexican food idea is great. We did cheap Mexican for my mom's rehearsal dinner, and it was awesome. Also, a couple of my good friends did pizza (a local chain that's nicer than Domino's but still quite cheap) for their rehearsal dinner, and that went over very well. Their goal was…

Maybe there is something special about the pharmacy I use (it's in the same med center on a university campus as my psychiatrist), but when my doctor pre-writes prescriptions like this with "Fill on or after X date", I can give the papers to the pharmacy and they hold them for me. So there is zero chance of me losing…

Um, no. No they're not. False equivalencies.

Unless the beneficiaries are rich, in which case they're not "expensive social programs", they're "essential tax breaks" and whatnot. Mortgage interest tax deduction.

Nope. I still think her intentions were crap. D-. Why do people like Dear Prudie always seem to pull the "Don't drink you might get raped OMG!" card in the aftermath of some widely publicized rape case? It's like her* primary goal is to shame the Maryville victims, secondary goal is appearing sanctimonious, and…

Wait. Didn't we discuss this on GT? Aren't you dropping out of this wedding???

I think so! And if OBGYN compliments count, then I have one to share, too. A doc giving me an annual many years ago complimented how my cervix just neatly popped into place in the speculum. Apparently some cervixes have given her trouble? But mine was cooperative, so yay.

New business idea for after you find yourself one (or anyone who doesn't have student loans and wants to get in the biz to help the rest of us out): Set up a "brothel" website to connect pay pigs to loan holders such as myself. Collect, say, 10% off the top of every payment.

So um... how do you feel about enzyme drain cleaners? You know, the kinds that claim no harsh chemicals that just have bacteria or whatever to digest the goo in your drains? I mean, obviously* they wouldn't remove a giant hairball the size of a small rabbit in the pipes downstream from your shower that caused every…

176 and counting!

I can't tell you there's been broad, systematic change, but maybe an anecdote will help. My boss for the job I had between undergrad and grad school was a woman. I enjoyed my experience there very much. She was a good mentor, set high but realistic expectations, pushed us or defended us as needed, etc. Nothing…

Heh. My cat learned a similar lesson. She was climbing around the ledges of the tub, and stepped on the cold water handle. The water turns on by rotating the handles downward, so... yeah. Very cold, wet, and pissed off kitteh. I think her ego was bruised for the next couple of days. Wish I had caught it on video…

Sigh. I wish I could drink like those non-grown-up adults, but alas, my liver tells me every time I drink even a little "HAHA sucker! Your liver is old, even if you don't feel grown up." It's sad. But yeah, so weird that partnered is the paragon of "mature". Plus you'd think, with declining marriage rates and…

28 year old 1BR-rental self-centered PhD students FTW!! I'm all of those but single. But let's be honest, there are so many marrieds who never grow up that I don't think dating is a strike against my Princess Pan-ness.

Something about that "but we work now" argument just seems so damn entitled. Like you owe him your time and attention rather than moving on to find someone whose life goals better align with yours? No.

1. Thanks for acknowledging that it varies. I'm sure every period-having person has different feelings (from worried a lot to not at all) about period sex and for a wide range of reasons.

Eh, I think it does matter. I prefer discussing tipping when both parties tip reasonably well, so it's more of a discussion and less of a quest to convince the other person to tip like a decent human being. So cheers. I always tip 20% + rounding, or more if it's a small tab (e.g., we just got drinks).

Thanks for chiming in!

How often do you get a pay cut when you have a single crappy day at work? Or even a crappy hour? Or if your teammates at work are having crappy days, but unfortunately, your ability to deliver the product on time depends heavily on them? Or what about if the person who signs your paycheck is having a crappy day or…

HAHAHAHA! You win everything for your rebuttal.