The Land of the Free & the Home of the Brave (expats)... All Those in the US!

[UnderRated]

I just finished the old thread by accident

chigarid

one site said it was sold out, very popular stuff I think

Thanks dooney and jabberwocky (would never have guessed that spelling for chigger stuff!) - think I should pop out to find some before dd is home from camp.

dooneygirl - your dh was right. There is no chigarid at the drugstores here. Don't know if it's been recalled/discontinued or what the problem is. We were sent home with some hydrocortisone cream instead by the pharmacist - hope that does the trick.

I found it after you posted you were leaving. The product was recalled in April because there was a defect in the packaging that caused the product inside to evaporate. They have been very slow getting it back on the shelves for some reason. Hard to find that info, though, Google only brought up one reference to it at all. DH actually called a store in Tennessee, but they just said they didn't have any, and were clueless as to why.

Have been having a hard couple days. I had to go back on the pill due to 16 day periods. Have been really nauseous, bad headaches, and am very panic attackey, and over-emotional, which is not who I am. At least not any time in the past 10 years, as I have no reason to be anymore. It is how I was when I first went on them, and then both times after I went back on after having my two.

Did a big picking of Marionberries today. We picked almost 20 lbs. If you don't have them, they're a native Oregon strain of giant blackberry that have just a slightly different taste to them, but way less seeds. None of us had ever had them before, so I guess it is a good thing everyone liked them.

Oh, that's too bad. If the cream doesn't work you might try some clear nail polish - I've always suspected that's all it was anyway, lol. But it does work!

dooneygirl - thanks enormously to you and your dh for 'watching out' for us. I'm touched (thanks to you too Jabberwocky for the initial recommendation).

Sorry to hear you're unwell. Sounds unpleasant and unsettling and utter crap. Any reason you've having 16 day periods (sorry if you've already explained, and I missed it). Hope you get things sorted soon. In the meantime, take care. xx

I don't know why. DH got "fixed" and when my prescription expired in spring of last year, I just stopped taking them, (I'll do anything to keep from going to the Dr) and every month or so, they just kept getting longer. I've always had long ones anyway, and was actually on them not for birth control at first, but to try to get regulated, or I would have a period every 2-3 weeks. After Colin, everything seemed to sort itself out fine, but after Caitlin came, everything was all weird again, so I guess I should have expected this when I went off.

SOrry for feeling yucky, Dooney. Does it get better with time, once your body adjusts to the pill or do you have to take something else. 16 day periods must be awful. I have about 16 days of PMT, I think. Or maybe being witch-like is part of my personality. Do they need to find out why things have gone weird? I'm under observation for my irregularity - apparently a cycle that can be anywhere from 25 - 137 days is not usual and should be investigated in case it is more than just stress. Am sure you all wanted to know about that. Sorry if tmi

I love Marionberries. What will you do with 20lb of them?

Oh, I do great on b/c after I get used to it. I'm already feeling better in many other ways. I loved being on it, but I hit the magical 35, and figured I'd take myself off of it. The ob/gyn said I would be good to be on it, since heart disease is the one thing that doesn't run in my family, I've never smoked, and it actually helps prevent against 2 of the cancers that my mom and sister had. I'm not sure how yours is tmi, as you provided less info than I did.

Hey do you have a specific name of a hotel off Michigan ave, or just an area to look for. DH has said nothing and now is looking to book our trip as I type.

jam/syrup/freeze them. The kids eat a lot of pancake/waffle type stuff for breakfast, and I tend to mix berries together, and take them out of the freezer and heat them up with a little water and a very small amount of sugar and use it on their pancakes in winter.

Oh gosh, now you've asked for hotels, I can't think of any. The Marriott is right next to the bit Nordstrom Mall, where the lego Store is but I've never been in it. Parents used to stay at Intercontinental which was ok but way overpriced (they got discount through mum's job or something) although v good location or the Sofitel but that's quite a long way north for you.

Do you want to find a couple and run them by me? Am sure any are fine.Just be careful - Mich Ave runs for many many miles - make sure you are on the Mag Mile/ River North area if you want to be central to shops. Nr Millenium Park might be ok too.

Yeah, am trying to slow him down a bit, but it is hard when he's got his mind set. Will try to slow him down and email you.

ok

Does the weather change much from the beginning to the end of September??? Like here it is a bit cooler, but still summery at the end of the month compared to the beginning.

Stormier and cooler at end of monthb than the beginning but should still be ok - jeans and tshirt weather, nothing colder than that - maybe bit of rain but shouldn't be awful although it did seem to rain a lot when DS was born and in the days after and can't remember other years. Check wunderground trip planner for average weather conditions.

Ok. Won't bother you anymore tonight. Do be on the lookout from an email from someone with an odd email address, though.

Am off to bed now but will check back tomorrow. Or email. Either way. Or just book and tell me when you're coming!

Intrigued re email address now!

Night night

dooneygirl (like the new name ), I stayed in the Majestic Hotel for a week in the Spring and it was quite nice. I was on my own though (bliss), so not sure how it is with kids. You could take the L to go shopping, there are some nice diners around there and it's close to the lake. Actually, the boys stayed with me the last night in Chicago and it was fine. I have not been posting a lot - life gets on top of me, so generally lurk only! I hope you are starting to feel better.

I am here for the summer; my grandmother retired here and now my parents and a couple of aunts are here.

UR - I had weirdo periods (or one looonnngg period) a few months ago. Twas down to stress as you said and also slightly wonky thyroid levels (am hypo always but needed my dosage adjusted). Where are you in Chicago? Don't feel you have to answer that, natch. I lived in Lincoln Square; the L ran through the alley behind the house! I loved it.

I had bloods done for my thyroid and other things last week so I'll find out if that is ok in a few weeks. It's just really annoying being irregular. Mainly because I can't tell if I am premenstrual or just being a bitch

I'm on the Southside, JJ, nr the Museum of Science and Industry. It has a bad reputation but my neighbourhood is a bit of an oasis. Lincoln Square is nice. I wish I were nearer the Old Town School of Folk Music.

I went to school at U of C, so know the area well! Are you associated with it? Why are you down there?

How funny that you know where I live, JJ. How long ago were you here? It probably hasn't changed much. My ex works at UofC. I did too before I became a SAHM. Been in Chicago for 4 yrs now and no signs of leaving. I have a fab view of the city from my window.

Is there anywhere you haven't been, JJ???? [impressed emoticon]

Lord knows SittingBull! I am a Kiwi (though with English parents who emigrated), DH is English and we are just about to go back to the UK after 2 years in NY. I am a settle-down type and DH is a traveller with lots of languages. It is very difficult. I would happily live in NZ, Australia or England/ Britain. DH wants to live in places that speak other languages and move around every few years. If he wants a promotion to a job he is interested in he would probably need to do that. For now we are going back to the UK but I know he will be spreading the word at work to see what jobs he could get in Paris, in particular. DS1 starts school in January and I want him settled. I don't know what will happen if/ when DH comes home with a job offer. He might have to go alone and we would see him on the weekends (if it were in Paris). I grew up in a country with no family apart from my parents and sister and I don't want that for my children. I also don't like leaving the boys with anyone except family so DH and I have never been out alone whilst living in the US! Sorry, I have no helpful advice - it is a dilemma indeed.