Writing on Quora

Can I be a donor in a bone marrow transplant if I drink and do drugs?

Drink, yes, drugs, maybe not.

Think about how sick someone is when they get bone marrow. They have virtually no immune system. They cannot fight off any of the diseases that are associated with IV drug use.

Pay first, pursue later.

The property tax people do not care who defrauded whom. They want their money, and they know where the property is. Set up a payment plan with them if you cannot cover the entire bill right away. The interest will be substantial, but it’s cheaper than what they can do if you ignore them.

Then chase the property manager.

We now have a howling pack.

New dogs who join the pack quickly learn to howl. Some are better than others. Some never quite catch on but go through the motions nevertheless. We can’t hear the Chihuahua, but his posture suggests he is howling and he’s tiny, so maybe the sound is simply beyond our hearing.

Be careful what you wish for. They howl at every siren.

By the time some skin cancers are 1 cm across, they may have metastasized and be very nearly fatal.

Don’t muck about with creams. See your doctor.

We have one of those cats, but only one.

Now that he shares the house with a cat who eats constantly, he has taken to guarding his food and eating a bit more often.

While he may whine piteously to get us to pay attention to him when he eats, we have noticed that he doesn’t lose much weight when he spends the weekend on his own.

Someone told us that rubbing his back helps stimulate digestive juices, making it easier for him to eat.

Doing anything that involves force when my injured knee is bent is excruciating. I cannot imagine being able to do deep squats regularly.

If your injury is expected to heal, take it easy until it does heal. If your injury is permanent-until-replacement, don’t give away the functionality you still have. You’ll want it one day.

Saying “I want to marry you” is not the same thing as asking you to marry him. When he asks, and when you accept, is the time to let him know you are testing out wedding dresses.

Now, Pinterest would not exist if no-one planned a wedding until she had accepted a proposal, but that’s what Secret boards are for.

Plan away. Daydream away. Until you are actually engaged, keep it to yourself.

Where I live, basic dental services are readily available at basic costs. What is expensive is extensive repair work and all cosmetic services.

Dentists figured out “reliable profitability” a long time ago.

Brush and floss, and get professional cleanings twice a year.

The yoga pose “downward facing dog” is the classic remediation. Start slow; you may need to work against a wall in the beginning.

When I got it, the medical professional (jokingly, and appropriately) said, “fat, 40, and female.” Work on the factors you can change.

That, and give up the Crocs. When I quit wearing Crocs, the pain diminished considerably. (When I said, “So I’m too fat for Crocs?,” the professional didn’t exactly agree, but indicated that was true.)

Exercise and weight loss have less to do with each other than many people realize. Exercise is good. You will benefit from exercise, whether you go on to lose weight or not.

Therefore, do your pushups. Use the correct form, and don’t push past shoulder pain, but do them. Movement is good.