Alarmist indeed. We'll have to see tomorrow just how bad it sm

That sounds great - I'll give it a try. [2008-11-23]
A plus is they grow really well. Another item to add to the garden next year if we like them. Thank you so much. I will always try something new with an open mind. However, I still hate beets and did when I was a kid. But I do like snails. HA HA.

I'll tell you what it is...just plain sick...nm [2008-11-22]
ss

May be she'll learn a lesson? [2008-11-13]
I'm glad to hear you made an official police report.

you'll have a retainer for life to wear while sleeping. sm [2008-11-08]
and please do. a family member had braces in elementary school and they came out beautiful. somewhere after marriage, kids, she stopped wearing the retainer. she is not in her 40's and her teeth shifted back to almost day one. wear the retainer while sleeping - it's no biggie compared to the waste of time and money and beautiful smiles.

Starting the first week in November, so tomorrow [2008-10-31]
there are two radio stations in town that plays Christmas music 24/7. I like Christmas music, but I think it's a little early to listen to it all day every day. Although, my daughter watches Christmas videos all year round.

If you do this tonight, you'll not run into any problems! - sm [2008-10-30]
Tomorrow's Halloween!

I hope I'll see a message like that! [2008-10-29]
My daughter will be going away to college next year. We're very close, but it would still completely level me if I got a message like that from her! What a precious gift you have!

Does anyone know if we'll be changing time?? sm [2008-10-27]
I thought it would Every Halloween it I haven't heard or seen anything about time change.

She'll be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge [2008-10-26]
She will still have that little piece of your heart. I hope you feel peaceful, you did the loving thing. Wise

Well I'll let you know how it turns out [2008-10-22]
Since I ordered one, we'll see. Talked to hubby and he said he had talked to somone who actually has one and they think its great, they also heat with wood and use this to supplement at night, that's why he left the article. I don't want to give up my wood and convert because its free and I love the smell (hubby cuts me hickory!) but I know someone who has a corn stove and they love it. I love my wood stove and wouldn't go back to central unless forced to, its the only time in my life I've been truly warm in the winter!

Thanks for the affirmation - I'll talk to him. - nm [2008-10-20]
xx

I'll bite [2008-10-17]
But first I will have to point out the differences between this and a gay person going about their every day life. No gay person is standing on the corner collecting anything, recruiting, or taking one nation under God from anything. They (we) are simply asking to walk our own paths unassaulted. Period. Don't put your hands on us in anger or hate, keep your discriminatory legislation out of our lives, don't key our cars, don't burn our houses, don't threaten our children or have your children threaten our children. If you don't like who we are, don't associate with us. It's that simple. Leave us alone. With that in mind, no, you would not be shoving anything down anyonelifestyle. WHO you are is not a lifestyle.

Today's children are tomorrow's leaders and [2008-10-16]
your future neighbors be closed-minded and intolerant of you? What if YOU had something about yourself that was [gasp!] 'different'? Would you want neighbors and community leaders who persecuted you and limited YOUR freedoms? Or would you want to be an equally-valued member of society?

I'll second that! [2008-10-08]
I have only done it once though because I feel incredibly guilty doing it...well make that twice...I did it tonight too. :)

Poor MT..I live in Michigan, pick me up will you? I'll even bring my own plate and fork. LOL. nm [2008-10-02]
nm

Happy Birthday! I'll be there in the spring. nm [2008-09-24]
x

I'll stick with my antenna! [2008-09-23]
A lot of people think when TV changes over to digital, they will need to switch to cable or dish TV and I just wanted to point out that isn't true. You can get the converter box and stick with your antenna. That's what I'm doing. Plus I found with the converter box, I get over twice as many channels as I did before. Best of all, it's free! (Well, the converter box isn't free, but at least I don't pay a monthly fee.)

maybe a dose of Pam 'll make em [2008-09-23]
x

My heart goes out to ya'll down there - sm [2008-08-27]
We were stationed in Biloxi, MS, for several years, then moved up here to AL in 1999. We go back to Biloxi every 2 months to see my hairdresser, to eat, enjoy the beach, look around, you name it. Westill feel very connected to the coast and its people. I cannot tell you how devastated we were by the destruction done by Katrina. We went through a cat 2 hurricane in 1998, which was bad enough to be without power for a week with 4 cats in a stuffy house, much less what you all endured after Katrina. Please, please, please make a plan to get to safety NOW while there is still time, just in case. My heart is in my throat every time a hurricane enters the Gulf now. Best wishes for your safety and that of your pets.

I'll vote for that!! [2008-08-20]
x

Okay, I'll do two hours [2008-08-19]
So the tougher the cuts the less time you marinate?

Well, if I get a major inheritance, I'll be there [2008-08-13]
xx

You'll have to copy and paste. [2008-08-09]
xx

I'll second that! [2008-07-29]
No malls or shopping for me!!

I'll take that one better [2008-07-21]
I moved here with 9 cats, and Iin the mood for love.Now there's Lil Rust, Baby Face, Tuxedo, BC (stands for black cat), Dusty (resumbles a cotton puff with legs and a face), Gypsy, Willow, and Gizmo. Scooter found a home.Anyone get the impression that I love cats?

I come from one of those fighting families. [2008-12-04]
There have been many, but the defining event would have to be at my father's viewing when his own brother started a fight in front of the open casket. If it were a screenplay, it would have to be a comedy, because the reality of it was too painful to endure. Needless to say, I don't deal with my family unless I have to. I've had too many holidays ruined over the years, and when my children were small, I realized that their holidays would be ruined, as well, if I kept returning to these toxic family gatherings. Now we do things on our own, and life is much nicer. We don't have the Norman Rockwell gatherings of 20 or so people, but that's ok. Maybe some day when I'm a grandmother and great-grandmother, our healthy family will have grown to Norman Rockwell size, and then we'll have a family group that wants to spend time with each other. That is so much better than dreading family gatherings!

Pet peeve [2008-12-03]
Know what I hate? E-cards! I mean if someone can't bother buying an actual birthday or anniversary card, don't bother sending some lame e-card. I'll stick with the post office on that one. As far as cell phones, I don't know of ANYONE whose cell is better than their land line! I'd love to get hold of that Verizon Can You Hear Me Now guy - I could drag him around to a dozen areas near me where he wouldn't be hearing anyone!

Sounds good. I've been looking at them again. [2008-12-03]
The coal stove heats our whole house except the bedroom when the door is closed at night and the fan DH put through the wall is so noisy, you can't sleep for about a week until you get used to it. Thanks for the info! I'll let ya know if we get one. Have to do some cajoling now.

Just sharing sm [2008-12-03]
My sis was 59, had tried to quit several times, but every time something stressful happened, she would smoke again. I canYou have Stage IV so keep smoking, what I care about you. Please stop! There are no excuses. My sister would not accept my tough love, I hope you do. I don't have any idea who you are but I will beg you to stop. No excuses.Use lollipops, cinnamon sticks, ice cubes, Nicorette, something to keep your mouth busy but smoking. You'll feel better, smell better, look better. Treat yourself to a manicure or something each week you make it.

appreciate the feedback (sm) [2008-12-02]
Thanks for the info, guys. Sounds like it might be more of a headache than a help. Guess I'll look into some other options :)

These 10 things definitely ain't right: [2008-12-01]
1) MTSOs who want people with top-notch skills and experience, but don't want to pay them what that skill is worth. 2) HMO's: So-called *health-maintenance-organizations* --yet they spend every minute and every dime of their far-too-large profits on denying healthcare, meds and procedures to their patients. These organizations have ruined American healthcare, and many American lives. HMO's have been a con-game since their inception. 3) The Bailouts: Giving money to companies who can too bad for the rest of you.* Then the Big Three show up in DC to beg for a handout, and fly there in private Lear jets. My answer to them would be, *I too bad for the rest of you.* 4) Apartment managers that won't allow even a single quiet, well-behaved pet, but will rent to people with continually screaming small children, and out-of-control older children and teens. Give me the pets for neighbors, ANY day. 5) Businesses that give an age-discount to absolutely everything that walks, runs or flies, but not to the middle-aged middle-class, who need it the most. Take the ski-industry: Young children ski for next-to-nothing, and sometimes nothing. There is a Teen Discount. There is a Student Discount for college kids. There I'll probably never be old enough - it's a carrot-on-a-stick, always just out of reach.) There are even corporate (UGH) discounts. But for those in my age group, who barely make ends meet but like to go up once a year for a couple days of bliss, there is NOTHING. 6) Travel-lodging deals that are always based on double or quadruple occupancy. What about singles? NOTHING. 7) TV commercials that are about a million decibels louder than the regular shows. Why can't it all be the same volume? Same with online newscasts. THEIR commercials will blow your eardrums out if you aren't quick enough turning down the volume before they start. 8) Surround-sound: Everything is too loud, already! Why do we need it coming at us from 4 directions? Why do people living in tiny apartments feel they need it? I've lost count of how many fights I've had with neighbors over this issue. Same with movies and music concerts. Why do they feel we need to feel the music in our SPLEENS? I went to Universal Amphitheater last week. (Now named something else). There is actually a sign outside warning that the decibel level inside might damage your hearing! (?!?!?!) Why do they need this? (To avoid lawsuits, obviously). If it's so loud you have to post a warning sign outside the entrance, then DUH.... it's TOO LOUD! 9) Banks that charge you a fee to use their ATM. They (I haven't actually been INSIDE a bank in YEARS).... and they want to charge US for using the machines instead of the tellers? Forget it. I won't give those banks my business. 10) The Post Office: Talk about rewarding slow, inept performance! The worse their employees are, the longer they seem to stay there. I'd rather have a root canal than go to a P.O. during the holiday season.

Do you have a store that sells the little [2008-12-01]
discs of chocolate to melt that are more for candymaking? These work the best as the parafin is already in the candy, so they set better. You could try also anywhere that sells supplies for baking cakes to see if they have the candy-making chocolate discs. Also, you may want to let the peanut butter balls sit before coating, as I think it has something to do with the oil in the peanut butter. Let them sit to dry before coating with any type of chocolate. Candies that are homemade should be stored in tins with wax paper in a cool dry place and not necessarily in the refrigerator. If you do store in the refrigerator make sure the container is air tight as the chocolate will pick up the flavors of other things in your refrigerator, i.e., onions... My mother made homemade candies; all types! RIP: Mom; we

This is some advice I recently read [2008-12-01]
which would benefit me as well. In a nutshell: Worry only about the things you CAN change, not the things you CAN'T. You'll never change your sisters so let it all go. Change the way YOU handle your life and move forward.

Unless things have changed [2008-11-30]
As far as I know, you have to have a converter box, if you don't have a HDTV TV. You can't use a DVD or VCR player for a converter. Maybe what they meant, is if you need a converter box, and don't have one, the only way you can watch your TV, is using a DVD or VCR player, playing the DVD discs, or VCR tapes. I have bought 5 converter boxes, ending up taking two back. First one I got was a Magnovox, and I didnt' like it. My antennas wouldn't fit it. I took it back and exchanged it for a RCA one. I couldn't get my money back, with the coupon, so, had to exchange it, and am stuck with the RCA one. It works OK. Not great. Then I reviewed and found the TiVax was recommended. I got it. I liked it, till I got a DVT Pal today. It is better than any of them i have tried. I traded a Zenith for it, didnt' like the Zenith. My antennas wouldn't fit it, either. So I took the Zenith back, got the DVT Pal. The Pal is the only one , so far, that I have gotten 4 stations. The others I have only gotten 2. With the ZEnith, I got none. I think I'll stay with the DVT Pal. I have one more coupon left.

Cowboy Magic [2008-11-30]
Cowboy Magic is great stuff. If she has any really bad snarls or is matted, use the gel and put it on them and leave it for a while. They It's what I use on the horse's tails when they're a mess and we're getting ready for a show.

Same problem here. [2008-11-30]
My husband works with loud machines and we both have noticed his hearing is going. I actually thinks he likes it because when I ask him to do something and it doesnI didn. Very frustrating for me. My husband also expects big presents for Christmas, birthday, etc, wrapped up all nice and pretty. Last year, he received a big gift and I received nothing from him. He says I'm hard to buy for so he won't do it. Or else on Christmas Eve, he will say he's going shopping what should he get me. He always takes the fun out of any gift-giving occasion. This year, I told him we are not exchanging and that means BOTH of us will do without. We'll see how he likes it.

I have a very old Sunbeam egg cooker [2008-11-28]
makes soft, medium, and hard boiled eggs. It also has a point in the lid (where you measure the water for the type of egg you want) and you use this to put a hole in the end of the egg, so this may be true. I love this cooker. Uses no more than a 1/4 cup of water and automatically shuts off when the eggs are done. Never a guessing game. Don't know if they still sell them but I'll be in a world of trouble if this cooker dies. Of all the automatic counter-clutter devices I own, this one is my favorite.

TY everyone for your responses. [2008-11-28]
Since we'll all be doing this again in a few weeks for Xmas - I now know what to do !

Black Friday Shopping [2008-11-28]
My husband got up really early and went to Target. He said it wasn't bad at all. He got my daughter two seasons of House on DVD and got my other daughter one of those Crayola Light Up Boards, all were on sale. Then we went out at about 9:00. We went to Kohl's, and the line, literally went around the whole store! Needless to say we didn't need anything that badly (I bet the wait was 4 hours, no kidding). Then we went to Target again and looked around (actually not very busy at all). Then we went to the Mall and got a slew of Twilight stuff for my oldest daugter and picked a few other things for my oldest. Then we ate lunch went to Walmart and just got home about 3:00. Now my husband is finishing up the Christmas decorations outside and tomorrow is tree day. I love shopping on Black Friday. And with the exception of Kohl's are wait was 5 minutes or less.

BLACK FRIDAY [2008-11-28]
Stayed home just relaxing -- when I heard earlier on NPR that a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death when a crowd of early shoppers pushed in the front doors! They said the store was on Long Island, but gave no town. Guess what? I grew up on Long Island (that's NY) but have lived in Maine for years -- haven't seen a crowd yet! Bargains will still be there tomorrow. Rosie

PLUS SIZING [2008-11-28]
Probably a 3X or larger, depending on how busty she is. Talbot Woman Withincatalogs and search for larger sizes. You but lost 220 lb. over 13 years ago with GBS. And yes, I kept it off. Rosie

I went through this myself about 20 years ago. [2008-11-28]
My husband is the eldest of 4 siblings. They tend to give expensive gifts, and none of them have children. I came from a very poor family, so our Christmas holidays never included lots of gifts. When we were first married I stressed over the gift selection and the money we spent. My husband, who is an accountant, stressed over every penny. When our first child came alone, I quit my full-time, downtown career-oriented job and stayed home. Our family income was cut in half, and so we had to tell everyone, our siblings, parents, friends, etc., that we couldn't afford to give any gifts. Family members wanted to give us gifts anyway, and we begged them not to, as it really made us feel uncomfortable to receive but not give. We didn't need anything, really. We just couldn't afford to spend anything on gifts. It took us about 3 years to get everyone to play by our rules. Twenty years later, and we're doing better financially, but we still don't exchange gifts with anyone but our children. Even my husband and I don't exchange gifts. We try, instead, to make donations to charities or causes that we care about. Over the years, some of our family members have experienced financial difficulties, and they opted out of the gift giving either temporarily or permanently. It always feels a little strange at first, but eventually it's ok. The season isn't about the gifts, and if the gift-giving becomes a burden, then that's certainly no fun. You have the financial responsibility for your family. You make those decisions, not family members who make you feel guilty. They'll get over it. Don't let it get you down.

Holidays are hard [2008-11-26]
My parents were divorced so my sister and I spent many years shuffling between two houses. When we each got married and had our own families the situation got even more complex. My parents are now deceased and my sister and I are estranged (even though we live in the same town), so in some ways life has gotten simpler. I still get very emotional and depressed around the holidays because of my dysfunctional childhood and negative expectations, but I don't have as much guilt and stress anymore. My husband's parents and family are back in our hometown 600 miles away, and for the last few years he's gone back there for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas with our youngest child. I don't begrudge him that because his folks are elderly and I don't want him to have any regrets later. I can't go with him because we have a lot of animals to take care of, and frankly, I'm really comfortable just hanging out at home with them anyway. We have adult kids too, and two grandchildren, and I encourage all of them to live their lives without the burden of guilt and feelings of obligation. If they can come by and have dinner or visit that's great, and if not BIG DEAL. Honestly, it's just a day. Things got easier for us when we realized we didn't necessarily have to celebrate a holiday on the exact day it was scheduled. I really understand your not wanting to let your mom down, and I would feel the same way. Your husband is a big boy and has made a choice, so that's on him, not you. He's probably being a bit immature and stubborn on this one. I hope you'll extend the invitation to your husband one more time, then go to your mom's and enjoy yourself whether he comes along or not.

Don't give up! [2008-11-26]
Iso easy, even a child can do it! I learned to sew before I even went to school! He even had some antique machines with foot pedals that we kids used to play with. I have all sorts of machines, from antique hand-crank Singers to cheap Wal-Mart plastic machines, and high-end Pfaff and Viking sewing machines and sergers. Check out local sewing and fabric stores for classes. You can also try visiting Meetup.com, which is a really cool place to find all sorts of people who get together to pursue their interests. I don't know where you live, but I checked in my area, and there are several groups for beginning sewing listed. Maybe there are in yours, too. With that said, I really have to tell you that Singer machines are not the best. Since the company was sold many, many years ago the quality has gone downhill. They are not built to last and have many parts that break very easily. In my experience, a simple mistake in threading some Singers will place a lot of tension on a weak part in the thread line. Something will snap or break, and once it's broken, you can't get the machine to feed thread properly as you sew. Unfortunately, a really good machine can cost hundreds of dollars, and it's hard for a beginning sewer to make that sort of investment not knowing if it's something they'll be doing for a long while. I always recommend going to a store that deals in higher end machines. (Pfaff happens to be my favorite.) Then ask to try machines or take classes with their display machines. You learn basic sewing techniques and you learn what makes one machine better than another. I suggest that if your machine is brand new, you return it for a refund. Take some sewing classes first, and try different machines. Then you can make a better, more informed purchase, which in turn, should result in successful and fun sewing! I'm sorry. You probably didn't want to hear that, but I can't say that I'm a fan of Singer machines. Even if you get it to work, it's likely to fail not long down the road, which will only frustrate you. I'm willing to bet it's the machine and not you.

it's not lying [2008-11-26]
It's just not. I was about to get all preachy and talk about how we need mythology in our lives--stories that tell teach us morals, that remind us of our traditions--but I'll stay off the soapbox for now and just say that for as long as my kids are willing to believe, I will give them stories to believe in. The five-minute cry when they discover Santa isn't real, is more than made up for by the years of joy beforehand, don't you think? As for talking in front of the kids, I don they're good at that.

just go, forget this child play and really, really enjoy ---- [2008-11-26]
yourself without him. He'll change his tune. If you allow this behavior and kiss pratt for it - you'll have to do that whatever and whenever the whim suits him. agree with other poster - he he can't put himself aside for a couple of hours for your sake and the sake of the whole family...then it is he the problem.

I have a 14 year old daughter also [2008-11-26]
Thankfully right now she doesn't have any boyfriends, although there are boys in the neighborhood who are friends that we've know for 13 years that she'll meet up with when the weather's decent and everyone is outside. She has amazing friends who come from good families and I trust her and them. I guess you just have to trust your children and decide how much leeway you feel you can give them. There are a couple of younger girls in the neighorhood that hang out with a whole group of older boys and just walk the streets. Those are the ones I'd worry about. Just this past year we've been letting her go to the mall with her friends alone and she has started going to parties, but she always has to go in a group and come home at a decent hour.

Depends on who's bringing the desserts. [2008-11-26]
In my family some of us are cooks and some aren So it depends on who brings what. If it If Ibringing dessert, I usually make the pies.I have a sister who does not cook, so she always buys them. BUT she buys really good ones from local pie shop.For the first time, this year my 12 yo niece has been put in charge of dessert for Thanksgiving, with my SIL overseeing it. She I P.S. I do have a pumpkin pie stashed here at the house for later tomorrow night though!

HELP! Turkey Day dilema [2008-11-26]
We are going to MILs for Turkey Day. She made a big thing out of doing dinner and everything for her family this year. My husband just went to her house and comes home to tell me we are going to starve tomorrow. lol There are 9 people in the immediate family and she has invited at least 4 other people that we know of. She is makinga small turkey breast, 4 potatoes for mashed potatoes, gravy, dinner rolls and that Oh, and an apple and cherry pie. Nothing else. Any ideas on how I can creatively make food to take without upsetting her. I am already bringing a pecan pie and pumpkin pie because I was in the mood. Any suggestions, ideas? We are expected to spend the entire day and evening down there. Already made plans to play cards, games, etc. and make a day out of it when I get off work.

If the store is still open.... [2008-11-26]
If you have a big platter or can get a throw-away one, make a nice cheese and cracker platter and put a bowl of grapes in the middle, that way youScoops with salsa. Just happen to have them in your trunk. Hurry up, it's getting late, maybe the drug store is open or a 711.