annabanana4883

We've had a TV for a few years and the last few weeks, there was a green bar horizontally across the top of the screen about two inches wide. The entire picture was shifted down as well so you couldn't see the bottom of the screen. We thought our TV was malfunctioning and I thought it was time for an upgrade so we bought a new TV today. It's an LCD HDTV...we hooked it all up...and the exact same green bar/picture shift is appearing on the NEW TV.

There is no electrical equipment around the TV besides the cable box (AT&T) and the DVD player (which we put far from the TV but still get the same green line). I'm not sure what the problem is or who to even contact for help. I'm not sure what would cause this. Can anyone help?

I have a 1996 Saturn SC2 and I live in the south suburbs of Chicago/NWI area. Everything else with the car is great...just need to get the rear strut mounts and rear struts fixed and wondering what an average price is. Thanks!

I have a lot of questions about stroke, but think I've narrowed down my main question....

My fiance's dad had a stroke 36 hours ago (blood pressure in 290's when brought in; stabilized now in 180's). His left side was numb but has regained movement. They say he has fluid in his brain and been running tests every couple hours.

He's still in the ICU right now and I'm just wondering if any complications can happen (coma, another stroke, etc) WHILE HE IS IN THE HOSPITAL. I have no experience with strokes so I don't know much about any of this.

IS IT NORMAL TO BE IN THE ICU THIS LONG after the stroke? How likely is it that he can enter a coma or get worse?

He's been alert ever since Thursday and seems to be ok for the situation he's in....it's just bothering me that he's still in ICU.

Can he get worse still? I know that there's a chance for complications and has to change his lifestyle later on, but I'm asking IF HE'S STILL IN DANGER of something serious happening?

My fiance's father had a stroke Thursday night (about 36 hours ago) and he's still in ICU. His entire left side went numb and he was in the hospital one minute later. His top number for blood pressure was 293...it's stabilized now in the 180's. I know he has fluid in his brain and they've been doing tests every couple hours (cat scans, CT's, etc) to see if he needs surgery. I know he hasn't eaten since Thursday and he's complaining he's hungry.

I don't know much at all about strokes or high blood pressure. Could someone tell me what to expect from this scenario? He's been awake and alert (even though he's doped up on medicine), but he's still in ICU....

I want to think everything will be ok, because my thinking is that if something worse would have happened, it would have happened already, but like I said, I have no experience with strokes and he's still in the ICU....

Can anyone tell me what to expect from here? Can he get worse in the hospital? What can happen?

I just found out an old college friend of mine is pregnant and is due any day. I want to send her a basket of goodie for her baby boy as a surprise, but I'm not sure what to send for clothes. I really want to send some clothes, but I'm not sure what because she lives in Guam and the weather is hot year round (are socks out of the question??).

Does anyone know any good baby gifts for a baby from Guam (or another place with similiar hot weather?) Thanks!

Ok, I reallllly don't want to have the type of bachlorette party that my maid of honor is set on. She's pretty wild and throws sex toy parties and keeps talking about the strippers she's going to get for the party. I am totally grossed out with strippers....I don't want any strange guy getting freaky or naked or whatever and am TOTALLY uncomfortable with all that stuff.

The idea of a strange guy taking shaking his stuff around realllly makes me want to puke. I've told my MOH (my older cousin) all this and she's known it for years. I told her let's go out to bar or go to a spa (that's what I'd REALLY like) or just have some kind of other non-sex oriented party. I'm not much of a drinker and that sex stuff really grosses me out and it's got negative connotations I'm not gonna get into. But she just downplays it and thinks i'm overreacting cuz I've always been labeled the "goody goody".

How can I stop this situation before it gets outta control and causes drama?

I am really giving some thought to having silk flowers for my wedding for a number of reasons...it's an outdoor summer wedding so real flowers will lilt AND attract bees PLUS...I am allergic to fresh flowers. I'm just worried about them looking tacky...

I've come across a few wesbites where the silk flowers are really pretty, but I'm worried that when they're delivered, they're going to look cheap.

So, can any brides / brides to be recommend a place or website where you got your silk flowers? I'm looking for people who have used silk flowers and like them so much, they'd want to refer this bride to be! I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

About three months ago, I bought those energy efficient bulbs (by GE) and replaced them in my ceiling fan (and a few other lights). The first week, they were super bright, but over time they seem to be dimmer and dimmer. I'm not talking about when you first turn them on--I know they take a while to "warm up." But when I've had my lights on for any amount of time--let's say an hour after I turned them on--they are now about half as bright as they were three months ago. When we first them, they were too bright to look at (which isn't necessarily a good thing), but now I have turn on extra lights just to get adequate lighting (for when I'm working on the computer, etc). Is this normal?

I just got a Fossil watch for my boyfriend for his birthday and I was really hoping on getting it engraved. There isn't room on the back of the watch, and I was wondering about the clasp. It's stainless steel so I know the material is fine, but do people ever get the clasp of a watch engraved? I guess it would be facing out because I think it'd be too hard to do inside. Any suggestions or does anyone know? This will be my first engraving experience :-) so I don't really know what protocol is (and what engraving stores can/will do!).

I just got a Fossil watch for my boyfriend for his birthday and I was really hoping on getting it engraved. There isn't room on the back of the watch, and I was wondering about the clasp. It's stainless steel so I know the material is fine, but do people ever get the clasp of a watch engraved? I guess it would be facing out because I think it'd be too hard to do inside. Any suggestions or does anyone know? This will be my first engraving experience :-) so I don't really know what protocol is (and what engraving stores can/will do!).

I'm making pot roast and was going to use an angus beef top round roast I just bought today. In the package, it looked fine, but when I opened it, on the underside, there was a part that was frozen solid and patches of REALLY dark brown....I was just going to cut off that piece, but it when down to the middle of the meat (wasn't just at the surface). I just bought it today at a reputable place and the freshness date is tomorrow. Is this ok to cook?

ALSO, it smells fine and is not slimy

A mechanic told me I needed to replace my front axle wheel bearing soon. It's a Dodge Neon 2002. He said I don't need to worry it about for a month or two and it'll cost a few hundred dollars. I am not trusting this guy because I've been doing some research online. No one is open over the weekend so I thought I'd post it hear. It's making noise (not too loud) and I can feel it a little.

1. How long can I wait? It doesn't seem right I can wait a month or two but I'm also trying to figure it into my budget. (I mostly only drive under 35 around town)

2. How much will it cost (ballpark)? I've been looking around and a lot of people say it's a fairly easy job and the part is 20 bucks so "a few hundred" just doesn't sound right. I'm just trying to see if I can trust this guy.

I have not trusted any dog foods since the recall several months ago, but for many reasons I want to ease my dogs off food that I've been making for them (of which I had my vet's approval and I've been giving them a daily vitamin). Because of the recall, I've had major trust issues with big name commerical pet food companies so I heard about Timberwolf. I'm thinking of trying it, but I wanted to know what your experiences with it are.

How did your dog react? Would you recommend it?

I know it's more expensive than other brands but I don't mind...I just want to make sure I can trust what I feed my dogs (a three year old border collie and a one year old chihuahua/wiener dog).

Thanks!

Hi. I have a 3 year old Collie and a 1 year old Chihuahua/Wiener dog (I know....wierd mix...just imagine a 6 lb wiener dog...lol). Anyway, I used to feed them dog food before the recall months ago. Since the recall, I've switched them to total human food...usually chicken and rice or toast with turkey (with my vet's approval) and I give them a vitamin every day.

However, I know there have been no studies on the long time effects of human food diets and it can be a challenge time wise (or when we have to board them overnight).

I was wondering if anyone out there can recommend a dry dog food that's healthy. I want to stay away from highly commerical foods like Beneful and all that cuz I still don't trust the companies. I have one lead and that's for Timberwolf Organics (anyone with experience with them?).

I'm just looking for a food I can trust...any recommendations? If it helps, I live in Chicago if there's a local store I don't mind a drive.

I don't know if this is indigestion or heartburn or something else because I've never had it before and am unfamiliar with the symptoms.

Basically for the last three days, I feel like I am stuffed/full. I have not been hungry and occassionally I burp and feel like food is going to come up but doesn't. I feel like I have food in my chest and lower esophogus. I have been eating some food because I have low blood sugar, but it's all healthy. However, whenever I eat anything or even drink water, I feel like I'm going to throw up (which I haven't done in 20 years). Also, it's not like I'm laying down after I eat or anything...this has been happening all day long for three days now.

Anyone know what this is? Anyone know how I can make myself feel better?

I have severe pain in my mouth cuz my third molars are coming in, but I don't have insurance. Today, I went to a clinic that uses a sliding scale (which was awesome) and the dentist informed me that my widom tooth is impacted (it's both bony and running into my gums). He explained that they don't do impacted extractions at the clinic and referred my to an oral surgeon (and i can't afford the 1500). The dentist advised me either to wait till I get insurance or get on medicaid but obviously, both take a while. In the mean time, he said my tooth should go back in under the gums (because it's done that already a few times). He was really nice and took the time to explain everything in great detail so it's not like he was blowing me off.

So.....my question is, is there anything I can do till then? My mouth is so sore. I'm taking two Advils every four hours but this pain feels unbearable. Any advice?

I desperately need to see a dentist, but I have no insurance. My molars ache like crazy, but that's the least of my worried. I have (what I believe) is an infected tooth (the gums above it in front and back are swollen and red and it hurts but I have no fever). Also, I believe I have gingivitis (possibly even peridontitis). I'm panicking because I know the seriousness of both conditions. I just don't know what to do.

The dental insurance plans available only offer coverage after a very long waiting period (average is 12 months) and I just don't know what to do. I do work, but it's only 30 hours/week so my job doesn't extend insurance for me.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I live in the south suburbs of Chicago if anyone can recommend a place locally that can help...I just don't know where to start. Even if it's general advice, please help!

And please don't be mean...I'm already scared enough.

I absolutely love pasta, and I'm looking to switch to whole wheat because of the health benefits. However, I've read some pretty mixed reviews about the taste and texture. I know it'll taste different and I'm sure I'll get used to it, but I don't want it to taste like cardboard either!

Soooo.....can you recommend some of your favorite whole wheat pastas?

PS. I'm not looking to cover up the taste with lots of tomato sauce or cheese. Usually, I just have plain pasta tossed with some mixed veggies and sometimes a little parmesan cheese.

I'm reading Insomnia, and King is writing a lot about different theories and sleep problems. Unfortunately, I'm one of the many that suffer from insomnia...although it has GREATLY improved in the last year or so. I, however, am always tired no matter how long I sleep or how comfortable the bed is. I almost always remember my dreams, and they're usually quite vivid and ALWAYS full of color (I've never had a black and white dream), but I never seem to get good night's sleep. About a third of them are nightmares so I don't know if that's got something to do with it.

In the book, there is a pharmacist that goes into detail about how people really only feel rested after having lucid dreams (the ones where you know you're dreaming and you're able to cause things to happen in your dream just by thinking). I know I've never had a lucid dream (at least one I remember) and I'm wondering if there really is a correlation.

Also, is there any way to give yourself lucid dreams?

I'm reading Insomnia, and King is writing a lot about different theories and sleep problems. Unfortunately, I'm one of the many that suffer from insomnia...although it has GREATLY improved in the last year or so. I, however, am always tired no matter how long I sleep or how comfortable the bed is. I almost always remember my dreams, and they're usually quite vivid and ALWAYS full of color (I've never had a black and white dream), but I never seem to get good night's sleep. About a third of them are nightmares so I don't know if that's got something to do with it.

In the book, there is a pharmacist that goes into detail about how people really only feel rested after having lucid dreams (the ones where you know you're dreaming and you're able to cause things to happen in your dream just by thinking). I know I've never had a lucid dream (at least one I remember) and I'm wondering if the correlation really exists.

Also, are there any ways to give yourself lucid dreams?