Dave G

I'm a 46 year old guy, disabled in a motorcycle crash three years ago. My residual disability is a leg that is mostly metal and still hurts, every single day - bone pain, nerve pain, muscle pain, plus pain in other joints from not walking properly. My kid is in Elementary school, my wife is 38, and I feel like a washed up mess.

I've thought about vocational rehab to learn a new career (can't do my old line of work because it has a physical component that I can no longer meet) - my old career was extremely lucrative, and in order to replace that income, I am going to need to get (at least) a Bachelors degree, as well as some training in a new career, but I have no clue where to start, and my messed up State has very weak support in the area of vocational rehab for injured workers - they just clean 'em up and park 'em in the front of the local Walmarts as Greeters - and that is not a future of which I want any part.

Do any of you disabled people out there have experience with getting an insurance company to send you back to college/professional school/Graduate school? And if so, what the hell do I do? No jokes, please - I am entirely serious. Thanks in advance!

We (wife & I) just adopted two 3month old girl rats - littlermates. They love us and vice-versa, but they have one peculiar habit they like to lean into our mouths and clean any bits of food from our teeth that they can find after we've eaten but before we've brushed. We don't have a problem with this as they are quite hygienic, but we want to make sure we are not fostoring a behavior that will prove unmanageable when these sweet sisters are 12" long with teeth capable of doing some serious damage. This almost seems like something a young rat might do with it's mum - is that true? Your expertise appreciated - thank you so much!

We've all seen "Cops" and/or heard stories from friends on BOTH sides of the equation - cops who tell you of pulling over little old ladies for a busted taillight only to find $500,000 worth of crack in the trunk - or people who literally were breaking no laws, but they were "randomly" pulled over, and "acted nervous" so the police decided to search their car, found a crack pipe their teenage daughter's friend dropped in the back seat, and the next thing you know their life is ruined. What is the right answer to that question "Do you mind if I look in the trunk?" How do you answer that and preserve your rights? And refusing the request - isn't that probable cause for the officer to assume you have something to hide - meaning he/she is going to proceed with the search anyway? If there are any legal eagles or law enforcement officers out there who would like to posit an answer, I would really appreciate it. I think this is a fascinating issue, and I'd love to see the facts and opinions.

I just bought a student model violin for my wife, and the slaes rep encouraged us to swap out the factory strings for better ones, as the ones on the instrument at shipping have been on there a while and are not the best quality. So, how do I go about it? I've strung guitars, mandolins, 12-string guitars, and ukuleles, but never a violin. Advice appreciated - thanks!