Is anyone else getting a metric crapton of rain courtesy of Ida?

What's you're favorite way to waste a cold, rainy day?

If you drink coffee, at what age did you start drinking coffee?

TQC I NEED MORE SHOE HELP!

So after scouring the internet I come back with the the finalists for "What boots am I gonna by for my stupid 9W feet" contest. Can you help me pick a winner? Cost is a bit of a factor. I CAN afford each of these pairs of boots, but that still doesn't mean I want to part with more money than I need to. Also, I have black winter boots already (as in flat, waterproof, durable snow boots, though they are cute) so though there are some black boots in the running, I DO already have a pair, so that's something to keep in mind while making your valued judgments.

Basically what I'm looking for is a dressy shoe for winter. Sorry there's so many. Feel free to pick more than one pair, or just pick what I shouldn't get. Whatever'll help me narrow down my search.

Shoe #1 - $52.12 - Brown ("Dachshund" they call it XD)

Shoe #2 - $56.00 - Grey

Shoe #3 - $24.99 - Black

Shoe #4 - $64.00 - Black

Shoe #5 - $124.95 - Taupe

Shoe #6 - $59.95 - White

Shoe #7 - $117.00 - Taupe

Shoe #8 - $117.00 - Wine

Thanks!

Are fishnets ever appropriate for the office?
Does the color (nude v. black) or pattern (big v. small) make a difference?

TQC, I have a coldsore on the corner of my mouth. I am now dealing with with the crushing fact that I have herpes/crippling self consciousness.

Do you get coldsores? How do you handle them? Did you/do you feeling self conscious about them, and how did you get over it?

The concept of the movie "2012" is really puzzling me. All the previews for it I've seen seem to be suggesting that John Cusack and his family are trying to...outrun the end of the world or somehow escape from it.

What is the reasoning here? I get that in any situation you'd obviously try to save your life and the lives of your children, but THE WORLD IS ENDING and let's assume there's no chance of survival. Why create such chaos for yourself?

If you found out that the world was ending in 2 days, the planet was going to be obliterated and there was no chance of survival, what would you do? Assume that everyone else also knows the world is ending so things are likely not running in a "business as usual" fashion.

1. You live in an apartment building, and your bedroom is either right next to or above/below your neighbor's bedroom. You can tell by the loud coughing that someone is sick. It's been going on for a few days now, and a lot of the night, too. Do you ever tell them that they should see a doctor?

I'm scared my neighbors are going to start leaving me notes on my door. I've been coughing for a few days, taking both over the counter and then prescription medicine. Neither has had an effect so far :(

2. I need to read newer books. What are your favorite books that have come out in 2009?

1. I'll delete the first question once it's answered since people ask it here *all* the time... I really can't remember though so I apologize! What is that syndrome called where after you hear about something you start hearing about it everywhere? I swear it had a German name?

2. When's the last time you stayed up longer than 20 hours? What did you do?

Bacon makes everything better, y/y?

If bacon doesn't do it for you, what does?

What do you do when you realize you hate almost everything about your best friend?

Has this ever happened to you?

1. When/ What is the last time/ thing you thought you didn't like that you trued and discovered that you actually liked/ enjoyed quite a bit?

2. When is the last time you slipped and fell?

3. Where is a good place for someone to write an online syndicated column?

4. How does one go about getting readers to such a column?

How would you suggest a person go about delving into Shakespeare?

A few years ago, I was given a large set of books containing all the known works of Shakespeare. I have yet to even open them. The only acquaintance I have with anything Shakespeare is modern movies, and once when I was about 16, I saw a production of Twelfth Night. I feel that it is about goddamned time that I read all this stuff, because come on. Any suggestion on where to begin?

What music have you been listening to lately?

Have you hugged a Veteran today?

I've been having major problems with Flash in both Firefox and Safari, unless I disable the plugins I can't use either browser but then I can't watch YouTube videos or any other Flash content so that's not really a permanent solution. I've googled and tried a lot of different suggestions but none have worked for me. So my question is this, considering I'm using a Mac and it seems to be a Mac problem from what I've seen online (and you know..Safari is an Apple program) do you think if I set an appointment with the Genius Bar they'd be able to fix it for me or just tell me this is not their problem?

Thanks

What's the worst thing you've ever puked up?

My vomiting experiences have all been quite tame. When I was 7 or 8 I had mumps and my mum could only get aspirin crushed in milk down me. We went to my aunties and she managed to tempt me with some blackcurrant cordial. When we got home I puked it all over the bathroom floor. I HATE puking so was really quite traumatised by it. To this day I don't like like having purple foods/drinks and my first thought is always, 'what if I puke it up?'

I think popcorn woud be the worst thing to throw up.

OKAY SO SINCE WE ARE POSTING IN CAPS NOW, IVE GOT THIS I WANTED TO ASK Y'ALL:

DO YOU KNOW A CRAZY PERSON, SOMEONE WHO DOES COMPLETELY BATSHIT THINGS IN THEIR LIFE? IF SO, WHAT DO THEY DO?
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF DOING CRAZY STUFF AND WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE?
WHAT ARE SOME CRAZY STORIES CRAZY PEOPLE DO?
DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN MENTAL ILLNESS BUT YOU CAN IMPLY WHATEVER

OKAAAAY NOWWWW

I recommend you all try to get to a screening of Paranormal Activity (there's quite a few) before it opens December 3.

People who've seen it, discuss it but let's not spoil anything.

Melbourne-related? Tangentially - there's certainly a big push for it locally.