I’d be inclined to blame a small raccoon returning trash it found unacceptable.
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Once upon a time forever ago I was on a college campus eating a snack between classes. It is noteworthy that the trash cans were cube shaped, including a flat area on top with a square opening in the middle. The squirrels, living on a college campus, were very brave and very chubby. I saw one such brave squirrel not too far away and I didn’t especially like the large apple I had taken a couple bites of so as an experiment I put it on top of the trash can and returned to my bench while I waited for my next class. Sure enough, the bold squirrel came over in a few minutes and not only stole the apple but carried it twelve feet up a tree and very adorably gave me the stink eye when I walked by later.
All that to say I think it probably got very excited about it’s find and then was probably by your porch when it got a better taste and noped out.
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I’ve only had pet insurance for the last year and never tried to use it before. Is it like car insurance where if you aren’t going to hit the deductible you shouldn’t do it cause they’ll raise your premium, or should I submit so the health issue is on their records?
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Squirrels will carry very heavy things if they think they’re tasty. (Source: watching the squirrels raid trash cans at my undergrad)
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They’ll raise your premium as your pet gets older. And if you change insurance, they’ll ask for vet records anyway so any older health issue will be an existing condition. Just submit it!
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I have a new house problem! 
None of us can get the outdoor water spigot to turn off. It was off, Daughter turned it on to use the hose, and then when she tried to turn it off it just never stopped letting water out. So I tried, no luck. Then I got Son to try because he’s a bit stronger. Nope. The water is not just running and running because the hose that is attached has a stopper thing at the nozzle, but we can hear that the water is still “on.” You can hear the droning noise, if that makes sense. Any ideas?
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There should be a valve to shut it off in the basement (if it’s like mine), before the outside spigot? Hopefully.
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No basement. It’s a townhouse built in 2012, I’m pretty sure it’s on a slab. I watched some youtube videos so now I think I know what to do. I do need to figure out where to turn off the water to the house, and then wait for the hardware store to open. It’s early here, and Sunday.
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I suspect the vacuum breaker failed (it’s the cap on top). It recently happened to me and I had to replace it. It’s specific to your faucet.
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What have people’s experiences with hormonal IUDs been, versus taking hormonal birth control pills and skipping the sugar pills as an alternative? I don’t want periods anymore but don’t want to do something as drastic as a hysterectomy
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I had terrible acne on a hormonal IUD but otherwise it was much easier. I don’t have terrible side effects on oral bc so I went back to that after pregnancy. They have packs with only 4 sugar pills so you don’t get much of a period at all
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So I have the Mirena IUD and, um, I’m getting a hysterectomy Friday 
.
My IUD somehow migrated downwards from the correct position, so potentially is less effective and I think is also causing unnecessary cramping and bleeding. When I first got an IUD, it took multiple months for my body to adjust/stop near-continuous spotting, and I was always worried it wasn’t in the correct spot (with good reason, turns out).
I haven’t done BC pills with no placebo week, but I had a bad enough experience on the pill that I’m just done with all of it, lol. If I could do it all again, I’d probably start with the continuous BC and then do the IUD if that didn’t work for me.
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My mirena was basically perfect but I also had no negative side effects on the 4 periods/year bc. Until grad school when I stopped remembering to take my pills every night so decided to do something more permanent.
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Hello there friend! I have been on hormonal birth control pills continuously since I was 18 and I am 37 now. For the last ten years or so, I skipped the ‘sugar’ pills to skip having a period altogether since its not medically necessary to have one.
I haven’t really had any side effects. Well, my boobs did get half a cup size bigger and I did gain about ten pounds, but that’s probably because I was no longer so nauseous I couldn’t eat for two days every month.
I would HIGHLY recommend doing the pill route and skipping the ‘sugar’ pills. As long as you aren’t at an increased risk of blood clots.
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Have not had IUD but was on the pill for many years. Did not skip the sugar pills though. Earlier this year my gyno had me go back on the pills for period control, but I think the dose was too low and I just had periods that wouldn’t end. I would have asked to try a higher dose if I wasn’t getting a hysterectomy anyway. But I think if you’re good about remembering to take a pill every night, this is pretty easy way to do it.
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I had an IUD, the copper one, not the Mirena. I don’t know why I chose that one, if I went back in time, I’d pick the Mirena. But it was great, overall. The first few months were a little crampy and not great, but that sorted it self out and the next 9 1/2 years were super.
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Did you just ask your GYN to prescribe 2 extras a month and pay out of pocket for the extras? I guess it can’t hurt to ask my GYN!
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Interesting! My GYN thought the copper one gave most people heavier periods, but clearly it wasn’t true for you
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I have done both of these things, probably for at least a decade each (when I was younger I took birth control pills continuously, skipping the sugar pills; and since about 2015 I’ve had a hormonal iud-- I’m currently on my second one).
Personally, I find the iud to be significantly less hassle and I much prefer it to pills! I don’t get my period with the iud, just occasional light spotting. I haven’t had any side effects that I’m aware of. I love how little I have to think about it. My only caution is to be sure to take some pain killers (ibuprofen or whatever) before you get one put in and especially if you get one replaced with a new one.
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This was my experience too! I had the mirena and except for some cramping for a few weeks (which was annoying), I was totally period- and symptom-free for as long as I had it. When I was on the pill I was just too worried about human error. Whether that’s logical or not I was more able to trust that the IUD was working.
ETA if it gives you trouble it’s very easy to get it removed. Way easier than getting it inserted.
Also also you didn’t ask but: I’ve actually had two, one pre-baby and one post-baby. The post-baby one went in WAY easier, which I guess makes sense. You can ask your provider about pain options too–mine gave me a cervical block the second time. The first time no painkiller was offered and it really did hurt.
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