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toys [2008-12-02]
Slinkies
Lincoln Logs
Yo-Yos
Tinker Toys
Silly Putty
I love them all......
Toys, also [2008-12-02]
Hoola-Hoops
Last vent on obnoxious toys. LOL. [2008-11-25]
The LeapFrog Tag thingy. I saw them at Wal-Mart and it looks like certain books work with it. I saw the advertisement andthought it wasneat until that crazy man in the lizard costume or whatever it is insinuated that books are boring unless they can be used by that talking pen. I cannot figure out how that thing helps kids learn to read as it says it does. It looks to me like that pen reads for them. My 6-year-old is in first grade and they are trying to teach her to read by phonics. So when she and I read together whenever she stumbles across a word I have her try to look at it and sound it out before I will give her an answer and most of the time she can. I think I am just frustrated by that whole industry now anyway because I have had salespeople come to my door basically telling me that my kid is going to be a dumbazz if I don I guess I am not giving those electronics a chance. I cannot see what they can do for my child that I cannot.
Halloween candy warning [2008-10-30]
HALLOWEEN CANDY RECALLED
There is a new warning put out by the Canadian Food InspectionAgency....Sherwood brand Piratethat has caused many infant deaths in china. These candies are sold atCostco, as well as many bulk and dollar stores. please make sure tocheck your childrens halloween candy and DO NOT LET THEM EAT THE PIRATECOINS (you know the ones wrapped in the shiny gold foil) and please letother parents know about this!
I used to LOVE soap with toys in it. [2008-10-13]
I think I had one when I was little called Fuzzy Wuzzy--or maybe I don (I But what a great thing to recreate.
You need to read sticky warning at the top of Politics board. [2008-09-26]
let people express his or her opinion and move on
Use the Golden Rule, don't go over there if you get headache, stay on MT boards.
Severe warning about dangerous dog-toys!! [2008-08-29]
I came across this blog today on Craigslist: http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com/
And if you have a dog, it It details what happened to a dog that was severely injured by a dog toy called a Pimple Ball made by Four Paws, Inc. The dog ended up losing his tongue, and the pain he had to endure was excruciating.
The dog After watchinghis video linksof his poor dog's suffering, even though I have cats, I plan to be sure I don't purchase ANYTHING from this company, andhopefully you won't either.
Toys for Tots [2008-05-06]
I believe it is the one run by troops collecting toys for underpriviledged kids at xmas.
Why are you SM tellling me not to post here? Is this a warning because this is a false website? nm [2008-03-04]
I think the few of us who are here need some straight answers. Sold, Stolen, Hijacked, Owned by a Foreign Country?? What is the truth?
Buy one of those bathtubs and fill them up with bath toys sm [2008-02-04]
and baby towels, washcloths, Johnson & Johnson stuff, etc.
Or buy one of those dishwashwer tubs that fit into the dishwasher that holds nipples, pacifiers, etc and wrap that up in a baby bath towel with a big bow on it.
Get a basket and fill it up with onesies, socks, kits that include medicines, etc.
I love going to baby showers and creating unique gifts!
We just use those D-con(?) rat poison - sm [2007-12-29]
those black trays with the green poison pellets. Lucky for us the rat went who knows where to die but it did not stink up the house. Though something did die right under our living room a few months ago and the smell came up through the electrical outlet in the floor (have 2 there), just covered it up though with the phone book with couch over it and the smell went away in a week or so. Neither one of us would crawl under the house to remove the remains (not a lot of room in our crawl space 12-24 inches). But I would go the poison route and just hope it goes outside to die.
Note that AquaDots has been recalled. I went into a KB Toys and found one on [2007-11-29]
they couldn I turned it in to the manager and asked him hadn't those been recalled and his eyes about popped out of his head and said that they had and thanks for catching it.
lead in toys/Made in China...beware of Happy Meal toys [2007-11-26]
I watched a special on CNN yesterday about lead content in toys. I did not realize by your child simply touching a toy and putting his fingers in his mouth he could be ingesting lead. The special included a segment on a nice family that lived in a brand new home with a 2 year old and 6 month old. They both tested positive for lead. A 2 year old!!!! Worried, I went to my boy's toybox this morning and it is AMAZING how many painted toys are from China. Most notably this includes happy meal toys. I haven't gotten through one toy box and already have a trash bag full of toys. Please, please go through your children's toys. Lead ingestion can lead to brain damage. Be paranoid. Throw away all of the made in China stuff. Christmas is just weeks away--they will be getting new stuff (hopefully stuff that is paint-free!). Your best bet is to buy made in the USA toys but even safer toys are unpainted blocks, Legos and books. A good, safe place to look for toys is www.mindware.com. pass this on!
Aqua Dots toys contain poison - a warning. [2007-11-09]
Millions of toys recalled; contain 'date rape' drug
Two U.S. children went into comas after swallowing Chinese-made Aqua Dots found to contain a chemical that converts into 'date rape' drug when ingested.
November 8 2007: 10:13 AM EST
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Millions of Chinese-made toys have been pulled from shelves in North America and Australia after scientists found they contain a chemical that converts into a powerful date rape drug when ingested. Two children in the United States and three in Australia were hospitalized after swallowing the beads.
With only seven weeks until Christmas, the recall is yet another blow to the toy industry - already bruised by a slew of recalls this past summer.
Video
More video
Child deaths have prompted FDA hearings on the safety of cold and cough medicines. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen reports
Play video
cnnad_createAd(308674,http://ads.cnn.com/html.ng/site=cnn_money,200,220);
In the United States, the toy goes by the name Aqua Dots, a highly popular holiday toy distributed by Toronto-based Spin Master Toys. They are called Bindeez in Australia, where they were named toy of the year at an industry function earlier this year.
It could not immediately be learned whether Aqua Dots beads are made in the same factories as the Bindeez product. Both are sold by Australia-based Moose Enterprises.
The toy beads are sold in general merchandise stores and over the Internet for use in arts and crafts projects. They can be arranged into designs and fused together when sprayed with water.
Scientists say a chemical coating on the beads, when ingested, metabolizes into the so-called date rape drug gamma hydroxy butyrate. When eaten, the compound - made from common and easily available ingredients - can induce unconsciousness, seizures, drowsiness, coma and death.
Naren Gunja from Australiaquite serious ... and potentially life-threatening.
The recall was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday several hours after published reports about the recall in Australia.
Fisher-Price recalls 155,000 toys for choking risk
The two U.S. children who swallowed Aqua Dot beads went into nonresponsive comas, commission spokesman Scott Wolfson said Wednesday afternoon.
In Australia, the toys were ordered off store shelves on Tuesday when officials learned that a 2-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl were hospitalized after swallowing the beads. A 19-month-old toddler also was being treated.
The news jolted the toy industry because Aqua Dots has been one of the few bright stars of the toy selling season, which, along with overall retailing, has gotten off to a sluggish start. The item, which had been heavily advertised, had appeared on many toy experts' list of must-have holiday toys, and toy sellers are now in the midst of canceling advertising and scrambling to figure out how to replace it.
Chris Byrne, a New York-based toy consultant, noted that the incidents could have been isolated, and Spin Master may be erring on the side of caution.
This is something that they could not have foreseen. This is an extremely hot toy. ... It Byrne said.
In a statement, Toys R Us Inc., said that it issued on Tuesday a stop sale on the entire Spin Master Aqua Dots product line in its North American stores and on its Web site after it learned of the news. We understand that Spin Master and U.S. regulatory authorities are investigating this product and we have asked Spin Master to fully explain what it believes happened, said the toy seller in a statement.
Meanwhile, a separate recall was announced for 405,000 children's products made in China, most of them toy cars, because of dangerous levels of lead.
The recall includes about 380,000 Pull-Back Action Toy Cars imported by Dollar General Merchandising Inc. of Goodlettsville, Tenn., and 7,500 Dragster and Funny Car toys imported by International Sourcing Ltd. of Springfield, Mo.
Four of the recalled products were imported by Schylling Associates Inc. of Rowley, Mass., including the items Duck Family Collectable Wind-Up Toy, Dizzy Ducks Music Box, Robot 2000 collectable tin robot and Winnie-the-Pooh Spinning Top. The company recalled another 66,000 spinning tops Aug. 22.
Representatives from Schylling Associates Inc. were not immediately available for comment.
WednesdayBig Red Wagons imported by Northern Tool Equipment Co. of Burnsville, Minn. Totaling about 405,700, the recalled children's products all had excessive levels of lead in their surface paint.
Although no illnesses connected to the toy car recall have been reported, lead is toxic if ingested by young children. Children
More toys recalled on lead paint hazardPanel to push for greater U.S. recall power
I call Target, WM, KB, Toys R Us... [2007-11-03]
Circuit City, Game Stop, Sears and Best Buy every day and have been for the past 3 weeks - no one has any in stock. They are really popular right now and when they do get them in stock, they sell out within minutes. I'm also signed up to receive emails from Toys R Us and KB Toys when they get them in stock online, but they too always sell out within minutes. It's just ridiculous how hard it is to get one of these. My parents are actually in central Texas this weekend and I'm hoping they'll be able to get one for me while they're there. ebay has them, but they're at least $100 over the normal price and right now I'm not willing to pay that. Oh, well. Hopefully, I'll be able to find one before Christmas.
Oh SOOO cute. But please read inside for a warning (I'm a dog owner) sm [2007-10-11]
Puppies develop habits really quickly, so discourage licking the can thing. Mine would get cans out of the garbage and one had a cut edge and he terrribly cut his mouth and tongue. I felt like such a careless dog mom. A true accident, but now maybe I can help you prevent the same thing? Please excuse my post... I am not a know-it-all and I actually don But this is an adorable picture and I love your puppy.
Chili peppers and little tiny plastic pinball toys. [2007-10-04]
g
Free shipping on tons of toys on line at Toys R Us. nm [2007-10-04]
x
Aqua-Teen Hunger Force's Ignot and Err. [2007-09-20]
I could never explain the cartoon...it
Design Star - warning West Coasters: spoiler [2007-09-16]
Did anybody ever doubt it would be Kim? Woohoo!!!
Pick your poison [2007-09-07]
I figure you can do one of two things:
First, buy the Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus books and learn how to talk like a man. You know - short, sweet and to the point or maybe just a couple of grunts. No blow-by-blow descriptions. None of that emotional/feelings garbage. Don All that [insert your expletive here] stuff.
Second, and the one I would prefer, is to go out and buy a T-shirt that says *If I Actually, I
And I wonder why I'm not married! (she grins)
Dark furn. with pale aqua paint and dark brown accents being [2007-07-23]
s
Warning: gross [2007-06-16]
Sometimes when I've popped a really big one, that night I will dream about little white worms coming out of my skin.
Yuck yuck yuck yuck yuck!
Warning. Technique inside. [2007-06-15]
He would lay down, grab is nuts in his mouth and kick his leg (like he was scratching) until the deed was done. How he first figured this out, who knows!!! LOL
Child Protective Services needs a call about this situation. This has a big red warning [2007-05-25]
s
I'm in the bedroom... [2008-12-02]
Unfortunately, the unfolded laundry gets shuffled from my chair to the bed and back and forth. Folded laundry ends up on the corner of my desk and the other corner of my desk has little toys and a gameboy on it from my 7 yo because he likes to watch TV in my room and it's right beside my desk. Top of my desk has hubby's wallet, loose change, etc. (sigh)
toys [2008-12-02]
Slinkies
Lincoln Logs
Yo-Yos
Tinker Toys
Silly Putty
I love them all......
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.
Men [2008-11-30]
I think his quality of life would go up if he'd be willing to see an audiologist and have his hearing evaluated. There are a lot of new technologies on the market these days. They will usually allow a person to take a device home for a trial before purchase.
But it sounds like he doesn't want to admit his body is aging. He still wants to act like a kid and spend money on toys instead of health. My hubby is 50, and is just now realizing sometimes expensive electronics just aren't in a real-world budget. I haven't cared about gifts since I was a kid. I found gifts very disappointing and giving them a lot of work, so thank goodness we only buy for nieces and nephews now and all the adults go without. It had just become a silly exchange of gift cards anyway.
Times gone by......... sm [2008-11-30]
I remember when I was a child the dime store in our town. It had everything from pencils to yard goods to toys to old medicinal remedies. They had a wonderful candy counter where you bought your candy by weight. You made your selection from the glass-fronted counter that was juuuuust above eye level for a small child. The clerk would scoop out the desired amount of candy with an old brass candy scoop and weigh it on an old balance scale. Then she would put the candy in a little white paper sack. There were all kinds, jelly beans, butterscotch that melted in your mouth, peppermint that really cleared the sinuses, and wonderful little maple goodies to name but a few. It tasted so much better than candy tastes these days. And yes, they had Evening in Paris and Old Spice and hankies for both mom and dad. I even held my very first job there in high school where I helped take inventory every year right after Christmas. We had to count each and every item (well, probably not the jelly beans) by hand. I remember counting boxes and boxes of pens and pencils and rulers. I miss that store as it closed down many years ago when the big discount houses started opening up in the nearby big town.
Does anyone play board games or card games anymore? [2008-11-25]
My 7-year-old child was invited to a B-day party for a little boy that was also turning 7. Anyway, when it came to opening gifts, he got Wii game toys, the different controlers and games. I did not even know the kid had a Wii game, but it seemed like everyone else did. I bought him a race track and a game of Go Fish. The race track got an I already have that comment and the Go Fish was what the heck. He did not say that but he kinid of looked at it like that and put it back in the bag. I wondered if he even knows what Go Fish is. The only gamesmy child has are board games, card games, those free games you can play on the computer and 1 game that plugs into the TV. It looks like a joystick and it has 3 games in it. These games have helped her in her reading because she has to read directions. She can identify a lot of the ocean fish.
I was treated like an outcast at the party anyway. Itried to join in conversations with the other mothers, I would get ignored or very short answers, some would actually walk away. Then one mother actually turned her back to me to talk to another so I would just listen. They were talking about building houses, they have lots of land blah blah blah. They were giving each other advice on what to do with it all. When the conversation turned to how their kids are struggling in this subject or that that is when I got up and left because they toned their conversation down and then shut it off completely when then thought I was listening, so I thought that was my cue just leave so they can vent to one another about it. Itwas moreabout the teachers expecting too much blah blah blah.I have known some of these mothers or their spouses since we were little kids. They really treated me like trash back then. I thought that now that we were in our 30s, have not had much contact with each other since HS until now that our kids are going to school together, it would be like water under the bridge. Guess not. The families were wealthier than we were (just about every family was wealthier than we were back thenlol)but I know theycan Well, actually I don The only thing I did have over them is my kid is not struggling in school. She is making straight As on all her subjects.
The only reason I went was because my 7-year-old and the7-year-old boy are really good friends and Ithought thatmaybe me and the other mothercould find something in common.At school, they are in separable so I really wanted dd to go to help him celebrate his special day. I could not help but notice that dd played with him more and the others were playing among themselves. I do worry if that tee I worry that they are going to discriminate against DD because I was a poorlittle nobody back in school and they were popular.I worry that they are going to start refusing to let the little boy play with dd and it will break her heart and hate me. I take baths, I practice clean living, always have, no drugs, alcohol. I don I pay my bills. Everything I own, I got honestly, paid for it myself. Of course, it isn H is not from here, he went to school elsewhere. I used to worry about that too back when we 1st started dating..Him finding out I was an outcast, dork or whatever and hate me. Now I worry that my child is going find out and resent me.
This all comes down to the parents [2008-11-25]
I think those women are making a big mistake. I love my sister and nephew, don But he is like that 7 yo and it drives me crazy. BUT my sister and BIL are to blame, I feel. He gets a toy every time they He gets a new toy if he My sister feels guilty if he likes something and she doesn They buy him major video games just because, instead of reserving these things for birthdays or Christmas. They will go out and buy him a $200 item in the middle of the week and when I ask what the occasion is? Nothing, we just thought he'd like it!
He is well behaved and they don Yes, it Growing up when we would talk, my sister had definite opinions about what she would and would not do when she had children, and this is not how she felt back then.
But he doesn In my opinion, they Just my opinion.
How exciting for you -- sm [2008-11-21]
I My mom always drug me out an hour before the stores opened.
The ads usually come out in Thursday In the past, I Get the paper and makea game plan. Some stores open an hour or 2 later than others, so you may be able to get to both in time for the specials you Wal-Mart generally has a lot of specials, especially in the toys dept. Our Wal-Mart gives you a map when you enter to tell you where each BF special is located in the store. They put some stuff in strange places -- like TVs in the meat dept, computers in dairy, etc. It Ask the Wal-Mart greeter when you enter. Our Wal-Mart is also open 24 hours, as are most, which means no waiting outside. We usually arrive an hour before the sales start so we can be in position for the item. Obviously, the most-sought after items are electronics, so be there early if you
Target is 1 of my favorite places because their specials run all weekend, not just until 11 a.m. (I hope it They usually open an hour after Wal-Mart. I usually head there second because even though the specials run all weekend, they do run out of stock.
Kohl The cash can be redeemed usually starting the Sunday after Black Friday.
Don If there
General advise: Wear comfortable shoes. Be polite to others, but don If you got there first, it Make sure you and DH have cell phones so you can communicate if you get separated. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!!
Let us know how you make out afterwards.
According to DH, our budget is $1,000 [2008-11-20]
But more likely I We have 3 kids. We usually get them 1 big gift to share and then round it out with smaller gifts. This year, they It
The breakdown of the other $350:
Parents $150, Grandma $25, Gift Exchange $60, Siblings (from my kids $20, Niece/nephew: $40, Teacher Gifts $30, Student Gifts: $15.
The remaining $30 will go to Toys for Tots! Each of my kids like to pick out a $10 gift to put in.
I have 3 siblings and 1 that My brother that Of course, my 2 unmarried siblings also buy small gifts for my children, so we always get them a little something from them -- usually lottery tickets or a gas card for Sheetz. $10 used to fill We do our exchange party on Christmas Eve. It keeps the kids entertained and gives them a little preview of what I have to say I enjoy Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day. It
Teacher gifts kill me. It I usually go for a coffee mug with a Christmas scene or teacher saying on it and fill it with candy.
Of course, DH thinks I do all this for Christmas for $1000, but why tell him and spoil it? We do a Christmas Club for $1000 every year and I just buy the other stuff here and there.
We already got our Christmas gifts for ourselves -- a 46-inch LCD TV for DHand a Dooney Bourke purse with matching wallet for me.
Now you all got me excited again about shopping next week. I I always wait until the day before Thanksgiving to do that so I know I won
For those of you below who posted that you don Let me just say that I don I sometimes snag a deal or 2, but I learned a long time ago not to wait until Black Friday to get the most sought after items. Best to get them in Sept or Oct.
Explaining a couple of things sm [2008-11-14]
I studied IQ as part of my Masterget you because your sense of humor is probably well off the beaten track. You probably lack social skills from an early age. Your peers would play childhood games while you preferred to try to improve upon the toys they played with. In school, you didn't have to work very hard in most areas. It all came very easily. You didn't learn how to learn, which is a very valuable skill. You probably have a low frustration level and when something doesn't come very easily, you are prone to giving up. Because you see the world in completely different terms than people of more average intelligence, those same average people call you crazy or mentally ill and tell you that you should be locked up. You don't fit in and despite the higher intelligence, you are remiss to know how to accomplish the feat of being more ordinary.
I alluded to this in my previous post. I have the unusual combination of being very artistic, creatively gifted AND being rather intellectually gifted. Yes, I did fall at the 99.6% percentile on the Wechsler. I know what it means and I have a firm understanding that indeed, that score suggests that I possess more intelligence than 99.6% of the people who have taken that test, and only 0.4% are smarter than I am. It has been a life-long struggle to fit in. I am too cerebral for artistic people, and too artistic for intellectuals. I literally have no one I fit in with. I have learned to tone myself down to make it work. I didn't say dumb down, I said tone down. That means I don't intentionally talk over the heads of others and I won't cram what I know down anyone's throat.
I have had those people in my life who have been jealous of me. I learn quickly if it is artistic, musical, creative, the written word, history and philosophy. I struggle with math. I took piano lessons 10 years ago. I had 40 of them and had never played the piano before. In 40, 1-hour lessons I could play the Moonlight Sonata in piano solo (not a dumbed down easy version). Most people cannot do that. There many other things I have done in a similar fashion, but this is an example for you.
You ask why I am an MT if I am so smart. I make very good money as an MT and I enjoy the challenge. My photographic memory comes in very handy too. I often stop and read up on a disease process I am transcribing about, so that I know what it means. Show me a word once and I'll know it forever. It makes my job easier for me to accomplish.
This all sounds like I am blowing my own horn, but I am merely trying to explain. Being highly intelligent wonreally smart is not only not helpful, I think it is the root of the housecleaning issues in my life.
In short, it is just great to have a good ol' high number and in the end it makes absolutely difference...if you don't count the fact that people with IQs over 150 are 3 times more likely to be depressed and commit suicide than the average population. People who are 125 to 140 are the most fortunate. They succeed in greater numbers in school, in a job, in life. They are very bright, and likely have learned how to learn. They are more likely to persevere in the face of frustration and challenge.
It really isn't all you think it is.
Bah humbug on Santa? No way! [2008-11-14]
When kids get on the school bus or talk in the cafeteria, what would happen? Perhaps group mentality which we learn in Psych 4, is what you are thinking, but what about going along to get along? For Petep double ee on their parade. Kids know - they believe in a Sants, i.e., St. Nick, i.e., blue and white stuff for 8 days for the Jewish kids. So what -- for goodness sake, let the kid ge a kid! Play - toys - Chris Kringle - whatever! Donabove it all. Get real! DonSanta. He is not Satan - he is S A N T A. Got your letters crossed.
There are no jobs where I am sm [2008-11-13]
I had thought of working part-time in a mall to get the discount, do some Christmas shopping, get out to see people, only a few days here and there. Our newspaper used to have at least 3-4 full pages, 7-8 on the week-end, down to 1 column on weekdays, 2 on weekends. Most are heavy lifting jobs for men and/or must speak Spanish, especially if medical. So I buy extra at every sale, extra everything, use coupons, got 30% off from Kohlnice dress with atoy inside.The only thing is I am getting depressed from clutter, too much stuff all over but have to remind myself some have nothing. We do not go out to eat except perhaps soup in a sour bread bowl on special just every other week or at a Panera Bread just to say we went out, bought video movies for a dollar at church bazaars (all Disney) for grandkids, using our VCR which will be obsolete soon but can still watch movies on old TVCutting back in general, baking bread, baking cookies, really clipping and saving everything I can get my hands on. Walmart does not accept internet coupons, so check the newspaper. I do read labels on food from Walmart as some is from China.Joined a wholesale club but found it more expensive than most stores, so we can get our money back, refundin 3 months so they tell us. I really wish I had been more frugal when I made decent money at MT, I can now see I was wasteful and shame on me! I should know better, have been through recessions before. They do turn around and the only good thing is they give us a swift kick in the rear! Feel sorry for those who can barely make it, work is hard to come by in New England and a lot are losing their jobs, even teachers with over 20 years. No one knows when the next shoe will fall, even malls are failing. I am leaving all tags on gifts this year, usually cut them off, but with so many people returning things for the money, they said itand even though I get gift receipts, I want them to see where it came from so the store won't give them grief. Target is the worst for returns. So that's my story here in cold, sleeting today, NE.
No Hallmark family for me, either. [2008-11-11]
Theredysfunctional in the dictionary. When I married, I tried for many years to force not only my dysfunctional family but my husband's dysfunctional family into a little Hallmark picture frame. I did grand Martha Stewart holiday events at my house, spending hours cleaning, preparing gourmet meals, crafting little table decorations, etc. Of course it never worked out, and all that I ever got from those days was more disappointment and longing after something that I didn't have. Finally, we just stopped trying to make our families into what they would never be. My husband and I and our two children celebrate by ourselves. We give no gifts to anyone but those who live in our house, and even those are kept to a reasonable budget. That immediately took the financial stress out of the holidays. Now that our children are older and have lives of their own, we have an even quieter Christmas. There will be just three of us for Thanksgiving, and we'll still have a wonderful time. I put more effort into helping at food cupboards and Toys For Tots type programs, and that makes me happy.
It took me quite a while to stop trying for the Hallmark thing. And even after I made the decision to stop, I had to go through a few more years of mourning for it. Eventually I found peace with it all. While I don't have 35 people gathered around a golden turkey on a holiday eve, I do have a lot to be grateful for. Today, my life's motto is: It is what it is. Make the most of it.
All they do around here for Copperhead bites - sm [2008-11-09]
is antibiotics, people included. We have lots of Copperhead here though they seem to keep to themselves for the most part, have only seen 3 in our yard in 10 years, but I know they are out there. But their poison is not poisonous enough to require antivenin luckily. It basically does nothing to dogs neurologic wise (neighbors dog has been bit by copperheads numerous times, dog is fine, only treated with antibiotics), though it can cause neuro problems in people, it cetainly won't kill you, not like your rattlesnakes there. Used to watch that show Venom ER, nasty around there, you really have to be on your toes in that area. I have almost stepped on 2 copperhead just while walking on our road, since they like to come out and lie on the rocks of the gravel road we live on, I never look down at the road while walking.....not good. I can spot the black snakes a ways off as they obviously stand out, see lots of them, just go around them and they usually sliter off when they hear someone coming close, the copperhead don't unfortunately, stand their ground, so have to be careful when walking, luckily it is getting colder now though so they should be going into burrows for the winter.
Ugh. Reminds me of (sm) [2008-11-02]
I remember dating this very handsome eligible batchelor when I was in my early 20s. He had his own apartment and a good job. He proudly told me about the fancy set of pots and pans he'd bought, so that was one thing he'd already have when he got married. I don't even care about cooking, but I didn't like the idea of the male picking out stuff for his future wife. I'm sure he made somebody a great husband, but it's funny how that conversation set off alarm bells for me.
My husband also bought a car without talking to me about it while we were engaged, and I was quite shocked. It did say something about his attitude about money and purchases, and I should have listened to those warning bells too.
She IS cute, but mine is even cuter! sm [2008-10-31]
You have to know, I am NOT a dog person, although dogs think I am. We never had them growing up. I have not been around them and when I have, I mostly can't stand them. They are either filthy and stink, have terrible behavior or terrible owner behavior towards them. It is always something. I would have told you I hate dogs, especially little poodles.
THEN, I downsized because the family grew up and moved out (well for now). I had not been here 3 months when I looked at my fenced yard and my loneliness, and started thinking about a dog. I thought I wanted a big dog because I have poor balance and I trip and fall all the time. A friend who used to breed poodles told me I wanted a poodle or a bichon. She said that poodles don't shed and that I probably needed a small dog. They often live longer with fewer problems and make better companions for quiet people who don't (in my case can't) take them out walking. Then, she got a poodle puppy for herself.
OMG I was IN LOVE. I said, find me a poodle! She said it could take a while, but she'd find me a red poodle. She called the next morning, my pup was on her way here. She was sold to me as red, but she is apricot with white trim. Yup, a 2-tone poodle. She was 8 weeks old, tiny and adorable. I was terrified of her, but I was determined I'd learn to love her and I'd take very gentle loving care of her, no matter how scared and stupid I felt. I'd take her out and play with her and hope I could manage to house break her when I had not a clue. We had many issues over finding a food she could tolerate without puking or scours, but we got there.
You know, she was house broken in under 3 weeks. I worked at teaching her to fetch a little ball and bring it back and she does it beautifully now (she is almost 2). She knows that I require she beg for a treat properly, so that I know what she is asking for and she knows she will get it. She knows how to tell me she needs to go out. When I got her, I said, that dog will N-E-V-E-R sleep in my bed. That lasted until she could jump up on my bed with me and I could not keep her off. She can sleep without me some, but I can't sleep without her at all. She has never chewed a shoe, never peed in something she should not, never chewed furniture or anything like that.
My daughter says she is spoiled. She has a basket of toys and she really does play with them. When she was in that chewy stage, I gave her tiny rawhide bones, which is why I have all my shoes intact. When I go out shopping, which is not often, I buy her a toy or a treat. She is so smart. I bring in the bags and she will go through each one to find what I got her, and never ever takes something that isn't hers.
Last year when my DD came home from college for a weekend and I had not had the dog too long, she kept telling me that my dog would love her better. Nuh uh! The dog loved on her only if I was not there to do it and then ignored my DD when I was!
We have the sort of relationship that every pet and every owner deserves to have. She is like an extra arm or leg, an extra heart with extra love. She is so much a part of me, and I know I am a big part of her too. I love this!!!! I still don't like other people's dogs for the most part, but I love this one to bits.
Halloween candy warning [2008-10-30]
HALLOWEEN CANDY RECALLED
There is a new warning put out by the Canadian Food InspectionAgency....Sherwood brand Piratethat has caused many infant deaths in china. These candies are sold atCostco, as well as many bulk and dollar stores. please make sure tocheck your childrens halloween candy and DO NOT LET THEM EAT THE PIRATECOINS (you know the ones wrapped in the shiny gold foil) and please letother parents know about this!
Yes, I read it, but [2008-10-25]
I found it very odd and not believable. It sort of disturbed me that
(SPOILER WARNING)
see below only if prepared for a spoiler
the image of Father God was depicted as a woman (after the shack was reached near the end). It seemed too mother earth, which is a pagan god, for me. I just couldn't shake that idea.
Coupons [2008-10-22]
Clip coupons from your local newspaper or print them online. Also see if any of your local stores double coupons. Freds doubles coupons on Saturdays and Kroger always doubles coupons (up to a certain amount). If you can catch things on sale and double a coupon on it you can get stuff free a lot of times.
If you shop online, check the internet for coupon codes for the store before you check out. A lot of times you can get free shipping or a percentage off your purchase, especially for national chains like Best Buy, Toys R Us, Target, etc.
Check stores you normally wouldn I findgood deals onhousehold necessities (toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, etc) at our localfarm supply store.
See if your power company offers real-time billing based on peak and off-peak times. It
If you can On the really cold nights I hang heavy blankets or towels over all the windows to help keep the heat in and avoid the cold air radiating from the window.
My grandparents used to shut off part of their house and just heat half of it. Of course, they were empty nesters and had more house than they needed, but it could still work for any rooms that aren I have vents in my pantry and my closet that I shut off every winter. No sense in heating rooms I
Instead of cooking enough to eat for a day or two, make up a bunch and freeze some. I It saves a ton of time and saves power because instead of cooking 5 or 6 small batches you
I have a thing that goes on the exhaust hose of my dryer to vent it into the house instead of blowing the heat outside in the winter. It also adds lots of moisture to the air. You can also justtie piece of pantyhose over the end of the hose, just make sure to keep the lint cleaned out of it.
Christmas gifts will be practical sm [2008-10-22]
Fortunately, was able to start today but bought warm, fuzzy clothing, will put a little something to play with in with that to lessen the blow of clothes! I have grandkids and they don't want clothes. Kohls had some great lounge pants at 50% off, Guitar Hero, Mario Bros., etc. Used another 15% coupon off. The grownups are getting warm PJ's,etc., working DIL will get something to wear to work.
I was poor as a kid, and I can remember getting a 16-color paint set and thought I'd hit the lottery. I went to Michaels Craft Store and bought some craft kits instead of toys today with coupons. I don't think I'll be too popular this year but I'm being practical. I know it isn't what the holiday is about and think many are going to be suffering. I can remember my mom rooting plants early on, buying white cotton cloth, and every grown up got a beautiful plant and a home-sewn apron. I know what it's like to have lean Christmases and if you can start now, you can come up with something basic if possible. I hope the house of cards does not blow down any further for us. I feel for those struggling to make ends meet, everything is affected. I will probably spend much less. Church bazaars are good for some things as well, every little bit helps.
Gift for transcriptionist? HoMedica's heated rolling massager on sale, helps with the back problem and husband uses it also,best gift I ever received (aside from home made cookies and brownies).
I hope some positive change is in the air for everyone so no one goes without this holiday season, especially the children.
This may be your last chance, your only chance... [2008-10-18]
This may be the only chance--it may be the last chance for you to save your son.
My son started in with smoking pot and drinking alcohol at about the same age. I, unfortunately, was too soft, was a push over, and I, too, didn't want to go overboard. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret my decision.
Every time I hear the wail of a siren in the distance and it is coming toward this part of time, I cringe, and I wonder if theythe knock, associated with the police coming to tell me my son is dead.
My son is 28 years old now, and he is not only an alcoholic (and a nasty, obnoxious drunk at that), he is addicted to meth. He will take anything just to get high. He stole the phenobarbital that I give to my dog to control his epileptic fits. He drank 2 whole bottles of cough syrup with DMX just to get high and hallucinate. It doesn't matter what the drug is, he'll take it. His primary jones is with meth. I saw my son the other day for the first time in about a year, walking down the street. If he hadn't had the particular one-of-a-kind jacket on, I would not have recognized him. He looks like a walking corpse. His face has morphed, looking like the faces of meth you can google. He's 28, but he looks older than I am (55). He was, at one time, brilliant, with an IQ in the 160s. Now, he is what I'd describe as dull-witted, unable to reason his way out of a paper bag. Even his voice has changed. He walks the fine line between severe psychotic episodes and sanity--and he is toppling toward permanent psychotic behavior more and more. In short, my son is dying, and he lives every day to get more and more of the poison that is killing him.
Don't go into doormat mode. Tell your husband. Get mad. Do what ever you have to do--including having your son committed to a rehab facility against his will until he is of legal age. If you stay in doormat mode, you enable your son's habit--and it is a habit...one so well established that he thinks nothing of posting pictures of the crimes (and they are crimes, and YOU are responsible for what goes on in your home) on the Internet.
If you don't act aggressively and act NOW, you will be responsible for its outcome. My son is dying because of my inability to act.
Do whatever you need to do, including taking him to the police department--anything and everything. Once he tries meth, he'll be a goner.
I'll be saying some prayers for you and your family.
If you think Itoo harsh and don't do something, any refusal or inability to act right now may very well end up killing your son. I, unfortunately, am speaking from experience.
I guess next time...... [2008-10-16]
I should preface my comments with: WARNING: BIBLE SCRIPTURE WITHIN? I think NOT!
I read most of these boards on a daily basis and have seen plenty of instances where gay rights, just as an example, are being forced down the throats of Christians every day. Of course, the gay community probably does not see it that way since that is their lifestyle and we Christians should not judge them for it, or so they believe. Yet, let a Christian post their point of view based on their tenents of faith as outlined in the Bible and we are jumped on like a bug by a hungry hen. Can you not see the irony here? Christians must live in this world, that is true. But we don By the same token, gays (or whatever group is feeling picked on) do not have to conform to the Christian belief system. Each person will have to answer to his/her own on Judgment Day, and like one old guy at church says, There
We have been living in ... [2008-10-13]
the me me me society where everything is now now now. DH and me cut up credit cards and paid off debt for the last 3-4 years instead of remodeling the house, buying new clothes/cars/toys.
I live in a $60,000 house that many people turned their nose up at because it wasn't an McMansion. Well we are about two years from paying it off without any help from anyone and those that turned their nose up at us are in foreclosure right now.
I had a feeling the stock market was going to crater - just didn't know how bad. I'm doing everything I can to keep my job and make the most of it. Now is not the time to go job-hopping.
Time for folks to live within their means and businesses/corporations need to realize that slow and steady growth isn't bad - its better then the alternative of not even being in business.
Finally I think we need to STOP rescuing this fat cats that make these stupid decisions that bankrupt these companies and put 1000's out of work. Make them return their golden parachutes and live like the common man. Same goes for salaries for actors/actresses and sports figures.
If things were as she stated then yes ...sm [2008-10-08]
she was a good owner. The only thing I disagree with the former pitbull owner is personally I won't take my dogs out in public loose. On a ranch wherever. They stated they had the dog at a ranch with them where the dog went frequently with no leash. I understand they had no reason to leash it because they didn't see it as dangerous but mine has never been dangerous eitehr. But see with me I wouldn't even let my dog run loose in my front yard and I live in the country. There is too much potential for accidents. What if he runs to the road and gets run over? What if someone pulls up and he doesn't know them? How would he react to a stranger? As the owner I have to make sure he doesn't get harmed or harm anyone else. They have to be on a leash if I take them anywhere. That isn't just my pitbull but beagle also. My pitbull is kept either in my backyard in a fenced in area he can't get out of or in the house. My pitbull has not given me reason to isolate him but I just have a rule that he stays in my control at all times. Some people do allow their pets to go in public without leashes or to go to friends houses or where they work and not leash them and that is okay for them but that is also how accidents happen. My dogs are not mean. But they never have that opportunity to bite or anything. If someone comes over my pit doesn't know he is put in the backyard and then maybe brought in and introduced to the new person and he is usually fine. I am a responsible owner. This is with any dog I have not just the pit. I don't allow the beagle out in public either not cause I think she is dangerous by all means she isn't but what if she gets ran over if she isn't leashed or in the fenced in yard. I just feel like it is my responsibility to protect them and other people from them whatever breed they may be. That is the only thing I think the former pit owner could have done different BUT not all people agree with dogs being leashed or isolated in fenced in yards. Everyone has a right to not like pits. And some are mean. Some are very dangerous. But a lot of them are so sweet and so loveable. You just don't know the love some can show. I have a beagle and a pit inside and the pit believe it or not is more affectionate. Not to say the beagle isn't affectionate but she is not AS affectionate as the pit. I am just stating that I believe all dogs should be kept on a leash or in a fenced in yard they can't get out of. I also have a warning sign on the fence saying warning: Dog. Just in case. He may not would bite but in case I will put the sign up and people will know he is there.
The girls are 7 and 9 [2008-10-06]
Their friends all have the real American Dolls and they have read the books so they want the American Girl Dolls that are in the books from the library and catalogs we get in the mail. They have seen the movies too and loved Kit Kittridge and her friend Ruthie so had their eye on them. Very, very expensive toys but they take good care of their things so I hope I can pick somethings up second-hand.
Thank you for all for all of your help.
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