Things are up in the air on Tim's diagnosis -- it's either rheumatoid arthritis or gout. His blood test markers are iffy for RA but also iffy for gout, but his x-rays seem to be more indicative of gout than RA. Which is good, because gout is more easily treatable.

It's just going to be funny if it's gout, because he's a skinny vegetarian who hasn't had a drop of booze in about 25 years.

Keep his feet warm! Drink coffee!

according to my mom, drinking coffee cured gout. but mom drank a lot of coffee and never got sick (except for when she was dying) so theoretically she could say drinking coffee cured almost anything and it would be hard to prove she was wrong. worth pointing out she smoked all her life and did not ever have lung problems. possibly because she gave them to ME but never mind that now

Fingers crossed for gout, is what I'm saying. Because RA sucks.

Largely, though, my focus is on activity, because that's what research shows improves/maintains health a great deal, independent of weight.

If there's a magic bullet, it's exercise.

What's your blood type, Steph? Do you know? I ask for an informal "study" I've been doing for a few years.

What's your blood type, Steph? Do you know? I ask for an informal "study" I've been doing for a few years.

A+ (which I make sure to say as "A plus, baby!").

You are skewing my data. I shall therefore ignore you.

My skinny non-drinking mom got gout a few years ago. It lead to a lot of jokes along the lines of "Mayhap you quaffed too much port to have thus afflicted your limb" to her. Needless to say, those jokes were from me.

You are skewing my data. I shall therefore ignore you.

When you submit the paper to Steph for publication, she's going to be pissed when you don't give her all the data.

Awesome, thanks! The Van's website claims they have them at my local supermarket, so that's perfect. I also just found a simple recipe, so I'll see what I feel like closer to game time. (And how likely it is that the one vegan actually comes.... she's a solid maybe for baby reasons.)

I just checked -- the Van's Organic waffles are the ones that are vegan. I've also got a waffle recipe that I really like, but it's not too simple -- they're yeasted, so you've got to make the batter the night before and then let it sit. (Which I actually like, because I am so not awake enough to measure ingredients in the morning before I eat.)

You are skewing my data. I shall therefore ignore you.

It's her cat DNA.

What's your hypothesis, Zen? I'm curious now.

Also, didn't I read recently that having too precise a correlation in test results was a sign of systematic error? Which is to say, if you include Tep you might actually be more convincing.

Also, didn't I read recently that having too precise a correlation in test results was a sign of systematic error? Which is to say, if you include Tep you might actually be more convincing.

The exception proves the rule?

What's your hypothesis, Zen? I'm curious now.

Me too, esp since I only recently found out my blood type, so I wanna contribute!