No More French Kissing!

effing hickster
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 08:53 am: [report]

Oh, for a second I thought they’d banned the tongue-in-the-mouth thing. Carry on.

retro chic
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 09:35 am: [report]

Another report I saw said England’s health minister is following suit with the handshake greeting. But, I’m glad at least ONE health minister of a country is taking a stand with these steps. I know the egos of human behavior being what they are, it’s met with le resistance, as the article said a propos, “when pigs fly”... Incoming!
Do you think the US would follow? [rhetorical]

I’ve already told my daughter there is no need for unnecessary touching, esp in middle school. Am considering buying stock in Purell and masks.

effing hickster
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 09:43 am: [report]

Well, you can only take it so far.

“You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose,
but you can’t pick your friend’s nose.”

retro chic
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 09:52 am: [report]

^ Wow, you really are Texan, haha.

As I said… rhetorical.

_jsw_
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 09:55 am: [report]

Now that most of us have access to the Internet, I’m frankly dumbfounded as to why we’d need to meet in person anyway.

writergirl
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 09:58 am: [report]

@jsw—no kidding!  We should all repair to our singular existence connected only via technology.

Now, if only my mother saw it that way…..

retro chic
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 10:45 am: [report]

@jsw and @writergirl: Well, then it’s a good thing we live *here!* The one thing France would poo-poo more than the ban of la bise, is our preoccupation with l’Internet. And, same here with the father.

He will have none of the Internet, tho. We tried. He started tinkering with it like it was old Chevy and broke it. Also, I’m constantly accused of withholding the child from him. He, in the middle of the PS desert in 115° heat, wants us to schlep to his swamp-cooled home AND on school days! At least if there was a virtual relationship, I could turn down the volume, set the swearing filter, and fast-forward. The encounter would end of course, with a virtual la bise. He is, after all, French.

effing hickster
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 10:58 am: [report]

@retro chic: Oh Noes! He brokes the internet!

majicksand
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 11:21 am: [report]

Yay! for germ paranoia.  Let’s all cocoon ourselves in individual bubbles and weaken our immune systems to the point that the first germ that breaks through will kill us all instead of giving us the sniffles.

In good news that will reduce our collective carbon footprint on a grand scale.

retro chic
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 11:44 am: [report]

@majicksand: Aw, why didn’t someone tell me it’s Hyperbole Monday? Yay! We’re talking Purell and unnecessary touching in vulnerable, close-contact middle school populations of 2500+ students per school, much more in HSs and Univs. Even if your child doesn’t come down with it, they can transmit it to more vulnerable people at home. No ‘phobes here. Great avatar, btw.

@eh: hehe, right… the computer. At least in his old age he’s not fantasizing claims he invented it – the computer or the Internet.

Meg
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 11:51 am: [report]

Alas! That’s kind of harsh! But who French kisses someone when they have the flu anyway? Last time I checked it was very unsexy to be making out with a runny nose and congestion!

majicksand
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 11:57 am: [report]

Don’t mind me today.  I just realized all my posts this morning have been really cranky.  I’ve been nauseous for 4 days, and now I’ve added minor cramping to the mix.  For the record, I’m pretty sure it isn’t swine flu!  I think I may have managed to get pregnant on schedule.

Sorry if I’m a little bitchy.  I will try to reign it in a little.

retro chic
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:06 pm: [report]

@Meg: It’s the French 2-cheek-to-cheek touch with air kiss greeting (aka la bise)... no tongues involved. As for the tonguers, unfortunately showing symptoms is not required to transmit it, like any common virus. Alas!

retro chic
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:10 pm: [report]

@Majicksand: No probs. Hope you are pregnant… I know you’ve been trying… a lot.

writergirl
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:16 pm: [report]

@majicksand—yay!  Bitchiness is always a good first-indication of pregnancy!  Hope you are!

But seriously though…

I am like the anti-germaphobe.  I wash my hands when the prescribed social rules call for it, but that’s about it. And I never think to have my kid wash his hands after we’ve been at some communal play area or whatever.

I was at a party a few weeks ago where a third of us attendees got taken out by a stomach virus 48 hours later and were down for at least a week.  I never WOULD have paid much attention to swine flu notices, updates and suggestions if that hadn’t happened. 

Not that I’m any more dilligent about germ prevention…but I keep thinking I should be.

majicksand
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:19 pm: [report]

Even during the last few days of nausea.  I figure that I want it so badly that it is possible my mind is creating false symptoms.  If I wait to see if it’s real, I may end up missing my window of opportunity, so I take one for the team and ‘suffer’ through sex even though I don’t feel good.  My husband is starting to look at me sideways, but I’m on a mission.

writergirl
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:21 pm: [report]

My husband is looking at me sideways too, but for a different reason.  I think he’s getting tired with being seated firmly on the bench for the past two or three weeks….

effing hickster
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:22 pm: [report]

@Meg:

When you kiss your honey,
and your nose is runny,
you may think it’s funny,
but it’s snot.

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

majicksand
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:37 pm: [report]

@writergirl: That sucks.  I hope you get better soon. 

I actually feel kinda bad.  One of my girlfriends has been trying to get pregnant for a year, and nothing.  She hasn’t had a period in two months, but the test says negative.  I’ve been trying for less than two weeks.  We’re on the same pool team, so she has to see me every week.  Add in that one of the other girls on the team is 3 months along and another just miscarried (but was able to conceive at all) at 6 months due to a bizarre chain of events.  She can try again as soon as she’s ready. I almost feel guilty getting knocked up this easily.

writergirl
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:45 pm: [report]

@majicksand—thanks.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, so hopefully soon, but before he leaves for London.

Don’t feel guilty.  Having been one that couldn’t get pregnant unless the moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and the Star of Bethlehem were aligned over the house precisely at the moment of climax and not a moment sooner, I’ve never begrudged a person’s fertility.  It gave me faith that for some, it was as simpe as 1-2-3.

majicksand
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 12:53 pm: [report]

Thank you, writergirl.  One of my guy friends asked me last week if I was doing all the temperature taking, ovulation cycle stuff.  I told him, “no way.  All my husband has to do is point and shoot; I’ll take care of the rest.”  He responded with, “cool.  So you’re like a Minolta!”  That made me chuckle.

retro chic
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 01:17 pm: [report]

@writergirl: you’re holding with one, no? I only have one also but wanted more. I think it makes me more cautious.

re germs: I was exactly like you when my 12yo daughter was your son’s age (5±?), and had zero issue with the virulent germs in daycare and preschools you hear so much about – scoffed at all the warnings, “surviving” early childhood without incidence. Actually, the parents were the ones that got sick ‘cause we weren’t exposed to the same strains as children.

But now with MS/HS schools reactively requesting vaccinations for bacterial meningitis where kids actually die within 24 hours (a friend’s niece died), your perspective changes. N1H1 also kills healthy people, not just the weak or polarized age groups. I won’t do the vacc and don’t use anti-bacterial cleaners/soaps at home, but, will do the first line of defense by limiting contact. Hey, I’m a parent who likes to sleep at night.

effing hickster
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 02:35 pm: [report]

One of the kids on my brother’s high school soccer team died of bacterial meningitis, which freaked a great many parents out at the time. However, the doctors of our community had to point out that the risk is extremely low, and usually occurs in infants.
Many people catch it, but don’t realize it because it only manifests itself as an ear, nose, or throat infection. Only a small fraction are affected seriously. Just because you catch the bacterium doesn’t mean you will get meningitis. Plus, you have to have VERY close contact over a period of several hours. I would think a person’s immune system would have a lot to do with its effects.
My brother’s friend was extremely handsome for his age, so I assume he probably got it from making out with one of his girlfriends. However, it was an extremely rare case. Most kids stand a better chance of getting hit by a car, or struck by lightning.

writergirl
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 03:21 pm: [report]

@retro chic—yeah, we’re holding at one.  We really don’t have any option.  Which is fine.  We’re a pretty happy family

Yeah…I can see the concern over increased contact at your daughter’s age group.  Telling a bunch of five year olds not to touch each other is like trying to hold back the tide, though, so that option is out.  I just make him wash his hands more often now.  There’s really nothing more I can do.

retro chic
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 04:02 pm: [report]

@writergirl: Oh, I remember “5” – even the kid version of handwashing helps.

@effing hickster: True, the kissing. Too bad. It’s bacterial and faster-acting than a virus. It’s also sharing food and bevs, esp since it’s a food source for the bug itself to grow there too, and is in larger quantities with longer exposure; as you said, several hours. It’s an alchemy of behavior, bugs and immune systems due to fluctuating hormones. Docs always underplay to prevent panics. Common sense and moderation should always prevail or no one would get out of bed.

effing hickster
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 10:03 pm: [report]

@retro chic: True, but never getting out of bed sounds like a great option sometimes!

retro chic
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 10:08 pm: [report]

@eh: whatever cures what ails you!

AChanceAtHeaven
wrote on September 14 2009 @ 10:17 pm: [report]

A true Kiss of Death.