UConn James

OK, so I have to ask.... In this new barbarian / CoC / whatever update event, how are you guys (Shrader & TheOneWith21) at like 30,000+ gold coins already? What's the strategy?

Absolutely right, Avenger. Football spills into it on one end and then Masterpiece on PBS gets it on the other. I honestly don't know what the time switch to Friday 8 p.m. will do for the ratings numbers, but seeing as it's a show more geared toward family watching anyway, it may not be bad. Jack, no respect for the blondes? I'm kinda interested to see how the surfer girl with one arm (a shark got the other) will manage the challenges. Again, it's awesome that in an era where everyone else picks 'perfect' people for their shows, AR has NEVER seemed shy about casting people with various disabilities. Kudos, Phil & CBS!!! And... it's cool that by the end, you do always end up rooting for multiple teams as you come to know them as people.

I'm not understanding the phrase "I have so many on the list" there.... Could you explain that? I get that any number of people have qualms about an Rx, and I'm absolutely not trying to be a pusher, but what's the reasoning behind the 'no pills' issue? There are other treatments that can be as effective as an Rx, including exercise and talk therapy (either with a professional or a close friend... especially if that friend has some experience in the area or is empathic / good listener), counseling, etc. While I do these to some degree, I still need the pills. I did the hermit thing for a long time. Way too long. I'm not offering a harsh judgment here, but speaking as someone who was there... that's really no way to live. I'm certain it only made me more depressed. You're truly one of the nicest people on TBD, 89! Can I help?

Sorry for the delay, Poojer. I have an Rx for Citalopram 40mg, which at the Sam's Club pharmacy is $10 for 3 months. It has really helped. What is the "similar diagnosis" --- a high-functioning autism? If so, there are a number of programs and help out there today in many parts of the country. You can reply here or on PM if you want to discuss. DCTom, thanks for the note (and for not calling me an idiot LOL). It's mostly self-therapy of positive thought and staying away from negativity ("Thoughts are things" is so true), doing some exercises that are discussed on accredited places including working on eye contact issues that have plagued me all my life & on 'chit-chat' socializing, as well as trying new things and traveling. I have talked to my doctor about these specific herbals and he said it would be fine but to perhaps limit it to one at a time. (And trust me, whenever I'm taking ANYthing, i.e. TheraFlu or an allergy med, or whatever, I check "Is ____ OK to take with citalopram?" I'm very persnickety about that....) CountryCletus, I was actually switched to an SNRI (serotonin & nor-epinephrin re-uptake inhibitor) earlier this year during a rough patch which prompted my doctor to try Venlafexine 150mg and I have to say that for me it made things much worse. Just... emotionally flatlined --- dulled everything, serious brain fog --- I felt dumber and could not mentally function as I usually did/do, terrible sexual side effects that continued for months after I stopped it, and all for $85/month. I completed the month to give it a chance and the doctor switched me back to the Citalopram. A lot of people are noting the change they see in me and it feels really good to finally be out of the weeds... or, rather, not nearly as deep in the weeds as I once was.

I've been on an SSRI med for a year and half. How long I was depressed before I started it, I don't know, but it was a while. Maybe always, but especially with some pet losses, deaths in the extended family, and health conditions in the nuclear family (2 cancers, Lyme). But it happened two Februarys ago that my heartbeat was just runaway, couldn't sleep more than an hour for ~ 3 weeks (I always had sleep issues, but that was hellish!), I physically could NOT eat, hand tremors/shakes (still have this, to some degree), thoughts racing beyond anything before or since, and I finally said that I needed help. I'm also told by some people who are in a position to know... that I'm on the autism spectrum (high-functioning) and depression / anxiety are often part-and-parcel with that. This comes a little late in the day for me, but I was one who just toughed it out and I am so thankful to have had awesome parents and brothers (and a few close friends) who've gotten me through. Right now I think I'm doing pretty good, but there are things I still need to work on. Doing some self-guided therapy, have done some road trips this summer that were nice getaways with friends (included the HOF ceremony and game), trying to socialize more --- and the anxiety of doing that has been helped a LOT by the med and the push of 'Do this, James. Don't be afraid to talk and meet people' and my nearby 6-year-old niece has been a GODSEND during this time. Literally since the first day after coming home from the doctor, it's like the Me&Her show. Trying to focus on getting work --- which has been a real struggle. I did VERY well in school and am a person who accomplishes stuff / is ultra-focused, but with large resume gaps b/c of the depression / autism stuff, I'm just not getting callbacks and I'm not quite sure what to do at this point. Starting to date as well... something I've really never done. Weight has never been an issue for me --- on the contrary! --- but I've taken to long walking with the dog most days. Trying some herbal stuff for anxiety as well. Ashwagandha Root and/or Holy Basil.

I just got tickets this morning to the ceremony and the game as a birthday gift from my best friend. #RoadTrip!!!

I just got tickets as a birthday gift, for the ceremony, game and museum. Also have never been to Canton, and this is my first game in the digital/social media era. How does everyone meet up?

My mum has been battling what the surgeon said is a very rare ampullary cancer --- basically at a convergence of the stomach, duodenum, and pancreas --- since Oct 2012. Had the Whipple surgery done which removed the duodenum and the tip (~1/5) of the pancreas. Chemo, chemo, radiation, chemo. It spread to several spots in her liver early this year. Two more rounds of chemo. Latest CT scan had the liver spots not reducing and metastasis to her lungs. She says it feels like playing Whack-a-Mole. They are trying a more aggressive chemo now. This has been such a tough road. Add into it that my dad had Stage 2 prostate cancer discovered early this year, too. He's had treatment with radioactive pellets implanted and it seems like that's that. MadCap, and others in this thread, my thoughts are with you.

I like my soup hot.

Yeah, what jboyst said!

http://tmonews.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/death-star-att-1.jpg

The part after your ... is what my comment was referring to, Tom.

Justice is blind. And deaf. And dumb. And on the take.

Hmm. For me, most of the loose threads got tied up pretty neatly once I thought about things and put it all into the right order. I never really got people who said they were still confused about this or that. I haven't done a rewatch yet. Maybe the 10-year anniversary would be a good start date. Still the most beautiful final ~10 minutes of a series on teevee, in my book.

This is simply appalling. Kids with autism spectrum disorders face bullying to extremes. That this bullying is being done by a special ed teacher makes it all the more heinous. And make no mistake, this is bullying. Making a video in such a situation and then sharing it with people and having guffaws and taunting him will now follow him. This treatment is beyond what is allowed in the Geneva Conventions for captured soldiers --- that may be a clue that what you're doing is wrong. An appropriate response would be to help. An appropriate response would be to get on the horn with maintenance and telling them in no uncertain terms that a child is trapped in a chair and that it's very much not "low-priority." An appropriate response doesn't to include breaking out the cell phone camera and talking about Tasering. Seriously? Who the hell running-jokes about Tasering? ASD comes part-and-parcel with high levels of anxiety, which were already in play, the sense of being trapped and of people making fun of you only heightens it all. It's a wonder he didn't try to unbudge himself and separate a shoulder or something. (As I've written on here before, I have been told by several people in a position to know that I have Asperger's (it really didn't get any attention in this country until 1994 when I was into high school) and getting a diagnosis at this point doesn't really do much. )

This is a no-brainier. Keep the guy who performed. And to anyone with a hang-up about the $.... WTH? $3M as a percentage of today's cap is probably on par to the percentage kickers were getting ten years ago when Lindell came aboard. With the rising tide, all the boats float higher. I'd rather have a clutch kicker than an unproven, injury-return rookie & whatever pride comes from squeezing a nickel until the buffalo stevestojans. Pay the man!

I'll raise my hand. I binge-watched the whole second season Friday night, yesterday and this morning. At the end of Episode 14 (the first of the second season), my jaw just hit the floor. And I couldn't stop watching. Netflix announced before the s2 release that there will be a third season.

:,(

My GSP had been taught to wait until I say OK and then to take milk-bones/scraps/pineapple/what-have-you gently Great dogs, great breed. A bit high-strung in youth, but they mellow out with age. Fun personalities, and the GSP head-tilting is second to none. I've had some real characters! [sniff] and my current little buddy is no exception. Oh... and... Labs are nice dogs, too.

IINM, that's a German shorthaired pointer.

Speed-skating (long- and short-track) and biathlon.

Think of it as giving Valentines' to the characters. Then again, I dunno.... this update seems a bit shallow, except for the Tunnel of Love for Krustyland. It seems as if the Squidport tile trick has been figured out by TPTB. Nice while it lasted!

My favorite U.S. Winter Olympic female athletes: Hilary Knight - hockey Alyson Dudek - short-track speedskating Amy Purdy - Paralympic snowboarder http://www.girlisnota4letterword.com/2013/11/going-to-sochi-with-amy-purdy.html#.UvE2FSq9KSM

Seven donuts for finishing the Super Bowl quest! Woo Hoo!

So... my 6-year-old niece just tapped on the boardwalk section after I expressly told her not to. I scrolled over to the left and she was like, "I wanna see the cemetary!" and moved back over. I said again not to click on that. And then BAM! Yep, she's a female. *Sigh* 3 1/2 days until regeneration now.