Hec, it could be the beginnings of arthritis. Also there's of course a genetic component - some people's cartilage breaks down sooner, some people's doesn't at all. You can help your cartilage with - of course - moderate regular exercise. Certain supplements have been shown to help, but I think that's very individual - some supplements help some people, some don't. I've found a combo of glucosamine, MSM, and hyaluronic acid makes a notable difference in both how my joints and my backbone feel, and how my skin looks. This might or might not work for anyone else.

Well, do you give it regular, moderate exercise?

A fair amount of walking but that's it.

I've found a combo of glucosamine, MSM, and hyaluronic acid makes a notable difference in both how my joints and my backbone feel, and how my skin looks.

I feel like I really should start doing something to look and feel better. Clearly I need to get on the Retin-A/Glucosamine/Exercise train and ride it out of the West before I diminish like some used up ol' Galadriel.

now we also have an elaborate peeing process (while pouring warm water over her)

Does that work at all for her? Is it worth the trouble/mess? (I'm a grown-ass adult, and trying to pour water over my ladybits when peeing is really a tribulation. But it did help with the pain, so I called it worth it.)

I... probably should not contribute to the aging discussion, because it would make y'all hate me. But I will note that I can't pull all-nighters anymore like I could even four or five years ago.

(I turn 26 in like two weeks. Eep!)

lcat and Sophia,

so, the student is a master's level student and I think if she passes both classes this term, she will graduate. Whether or not she graduates this term now has no impact on my decision. Before I was thinking I would try to help her meet the December graduation deadline, but that consideration is entirely off the table now.

Get this: she plagiarized on a rewrite of a paper I made her redo from last semester. It was bad and I would not let a student complete my class with such bad writing. Beau thinks just on GP that I should fail her because the rewrite WAS her 2nd chance.

Two things are at issue for me that aren't personal (as in: WHY did she do this in my class? *scream*) -

1) I think it is a serious problem for someone to graduate with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree and not know how to properly cite and not know what plagiarism is. She claimed not to realize that if you paraphrase, you should include the author and date and that direct quotes from the internet should be cited.

2) given #1, if I read the problem as partially the result of her ignorance, she won't become knowledgeable about it unless I make her do an assignment.

She is not a good student, she does not write well. I sent her to the Writing Center previously and her papers (supposedly after their help) are barely "B" level writing.

OMG, a MASTER'S STUDENT?

Yeah, I vote thumbs down - she fails.

(I turn 26 in like two weeks. Eep!)

No way. You're still a teenager and an eskimo.

Ugh. She's master's level and this is her rewrite? There is no excuse. None.

How appalling, and how frustrating for you.

I will always be an eskimo. But teenager is far behind me. Along with my ability to go without sleep.

Thank you all. Your comments are helpful to me in terms of perspective.