Bassetts are prone to back problems and hip dysplasia. sm

Buy him a hearing aid for Christmas - Both problems solved! hah. nm [2008-12-01]
.

2 problems with hubby - any advice??? [2008-11-30]
Problem #1: His hearing. He will not go to the doctor, complains to me all the time that he can not hear me and talks SO loud. I can't tell him anything in the stores or I might as well announce it over the loud speaker which in turn creates an argument (hence, miserable day out shopping yesterday). Problem #2:I dread this time of year with him. He turns into this greedy person that is beyond comprehension for me. Every time he opens his mouth it I always grew up being thankful for what I got and can I never ask for items for Christmas - I appreciate the thoughtfulness that a person puts into getting me something (even if it I also believe the kids come first (3, 2 of which are teenagers) and we buy for them first but it seems I always have to budget my money for the kids and then for him. He does not like inexpensive items either. The last few months I'm the only one who has bought gifts for the kids - he hasn't spent any of his money and is counting on a bonus from his employer that may or may not come through and you never know how much it's going to be. Sorry - and thanks for letting me vent. I've been so stressed lately.

Hubby with hearing and greedy problems [2008-11-30]
Dear NOT Silly Girl, I am a clinical psychologist and now teach medical transcription. I lost my deaf old sweetie 2 years ago. He was incredibly vain about wearing aids and/or his glasses. FINALLY got him to an audiologist in Canada (half the price than here in US) but getting him to wear the aids was another matter. Solved it by training just like dog or horse. Yep! Intermittent positive reinforcement - rewards, treats, smooches, etc. I told him I would only go out to dinner or shopping with him if he wore the hearing aids. Refused to go out of house with him unless he had them on -- and he loved going out! It worked, except then I still had to repeat everything 3 times inside! Many, many frank discussions also helped. Turned out he was incredibly vain and thought he looked old with hearing aids. I finally convinced him that shouting at people REALLY made him look old. He got contacts instead of glasses. As to self-centeredness, that has to be educated out of him, too. All this takes time. Just talk to him about values whenever he acts that way, and when he stops the selfishness, reward him. That is not acceptable behavior in an adult -- and I would tell him so directly. Good luck. Rosie By the way, I would take

back of the store [2008-11-25]
Lately, I have noticed a lot of manager's specials at my store. The only thing they have in common is that they are due to expire that day. I guess they used to throw that stuff out, but a lot of people need it now. Usually everything is around a dollar or so. There is one for dairy, meat, and bakery at my store which is actually in a wealthy neighborhood. I guess everyone is having a hard time lately.

I agree and when you do get it back [2008-11-24]
hide it! HAHA! No one can find to lend it out ever again!

Ted Kennedy back on Capitol Hill [2008-11-17]
returning to work 6 months after his brain cancer diagnosis. He looks and sounds great. Good to see him back. He has his wife anddogs with him too.

Run away fast from this tramp and don't look back! nm [2008-11-16]
n

No, Blondie, give the dogs back or call the Humane Society.....s/m [2008-11-16]
who can take care of 10 (t e n ) dogs? This is CRAZY! Your husband is a coward. He should protect you. God knows what a 'deal' he made with this 'friend'.

The only back-up plan is for us both to get an additional job each. [2008-11-13]
DH already has 3 jobs. I have 1 IC, and looking for more accounts. The only thing is that my job has to be at home because we cannot afford and do not want to put kids in daycare. So, it would mean my working 2 full time jobs, I suppose. I am up to it if I have to. THing is, there are jobs out there but that does not mean the work is there. So, if needed I will take third shift and sleep the 4 hours husband is home from his jobs. That way between us we'd have 6 jobs instead of the 4 we have now.

you don't know the long term problems with it, but we know what happens without it! nm [2008-11-12]
x

Would LOVE to see the recipe board come back! [2008-11-06]
Hopefully the rest of you feel the same in this economy and with the holidays coming up. Perhaps a moderator will look into it.

Coming back as an animal is not reincarnation sm [2008-11-01]
That is transmigration. I do believe in reincarnation of the spirit, as so many of the gnostic early Christians did. I believe our spirits come back over and over again. Ummm I'm a gnostic Catholic.

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

I was at JFK stadium back in 1980 [2008-10-30]
In fact, I went to the 6th game of the WS and saw it happened from the last row of a 700-level section at the vet. I went with some guy from my econ class at Temple. I was a freshman and he was not a baseball fan. LOL. In 1980, the parade took place the very next day after the game. Professors told us that they were not cancelling class and that we were expected to show. Right. I lived at 18th and Snyder back then, so I was sitting down in JFK by 9:00 a.m., waiting for the parade to arrive. I had the time of my life. What's really cool is that my youngest son is now a freshman at Temple, and he was told the same thing. Classes are not cancelled, and he is expected to be there. I told him to go to the parade. No one will be in class, and who knows how long he'll have to wait to see this again. Wow, the Phillies win the World Series. I think I feel the earth shifting on its axis!

but remember, back then that WAS scary. LOL. sm [2008-10-26]
I remember going with my friend to a matinee and when the shark came up onto the back of the boat, we both of us pulled our feet up on the seat. LOL.

Not to mention all the postnatal problems lots of those [2008-10-24]
I type that stuff all day long. They're comin' over the border every day with their multimillion-dollar pregnancies, having them here, and then our hospital and social services system has to pick up the tab. I guess those people who think it's 'humane' to reproduce like rabbits haven't thought it through to what will be the result when our already-overpopulated planet gets even MORE overpopulated. They say they're 'doing it for the children' - yet look at the kind of world they're going to leave them with. Those people are sure a buncha head-cases, with nothing more useful or productive to do with their lives than try to regulate other peoples' reproduction. What a crock.

love it. to be honest, I wish we were way back in - [2008-10-23]
the days where people gave things like a made from scratch pie and the recipe, a promise on a piece of paper, donated hours devoted to a project of your choice, etc., and kids made crafts.

Are you cutting back on Christmas this year? [2008-10-22]
With things being the way they are with the economy are you cutting back on what you buy for Christmas this year? I will to some extent but then I'm always pretty careful anyway.

I don't know how I can cut back any more....sm [2008-10-22]
I'm cut to the bone as it is. I only have my 2 sons and my mother and brother in my family to buy for. However, I do have a couple of friends that I buy for and my pastor and his wife. My youngest son wants a bow and arrow set at Wal-Mart that costs $97. I don't know how I will afford that, much less anything else.

DH paid off credit card. Now I'm paying him back. No [2008-10-22]
nm

We cut back on driving, and the demand dropped. [2008-10-21]
Goes to show there is no reason for it to be that high anyway. If they think they can charge that much and get it, they will.

I think Carlos does get his sight back, don't remember where I read that. [2008-10-20]
I prefer Mike and Susan together also, I do not care for Jackson (although I was sorry to hear about his accident).

I couldn't stand it, had to come back - I agree with you actually (sm) [2008-10-16]
There is plenty of scientific evidence to show that many people are born gay. I agree with that. I actually am a Christian, but I believe we are called to not judge things we do not understand. I think people should stop being so convinced of what is right or wrong. I know plenty of gay people who are very good people. I may not agree with their sexual preference, but you know what? I had premaritial sex - what is the difference? Do I approve people heterosexual or homosexual who live promiscuous disgusting lifestyles? No! Do I want someone else teaching my child what they think is right instead of letting me do it? No!

Has anyone ever had problems with... [2008-10-14]
their sinuses draining down the back of the throat and causing nausea. I can taste this kind of sour not good tasting drainage and it is coming from the back of the nose or sinuses. It has made me feel a little nauseous. Yesterday I ate a lot and it made me really nauseous. Even not eating it is just this queezy feeling and bad taste. My husband He is congested and has pressure. I pulled up the carpet in my whole the other night. I wonder if that made the sinuses start draining a lot. Cause Lord knows that carpet was nasty underneath.

I posted back in late August about cc debt - sm [2008-10-14]
in response to someone else giving advice on what to do. I told you about how I had a ton of debt my DH knew nothing about, how I was afraid of him, etc. and that I just did not know how to tell him.I consulted a lawyer and got some insight and advise in case things went really bad whenIdid tell him.Well I finally bit the bullet and told him on Monday. He was off from work, kids were in school, I wrote a 4 page letter laying it all out. I went out in the LR and I asked him if he loved me and was happy in our marriage, I got yes Then I handed him the note (bawling at this point) and said I was going out for a little while and we would talk when I came back. He called me 10 minutes later, upset yes, but not nuts as I expected. We ended up talking for 2 hours. He was quite good about it which really surprised me, he was in shock though. Later last night after he got drunk not horribly so but enough, though he did not turn nasty. I hadasked him not to drink but he ignored that, so as a result he broke down said a few things which I probably deserved, though he does not believe I was scared of him....denied ever threatening to kill me, said if he did he was kidding and it was his sick sense of humor. I told him I take all death threats seriously. But comes down to he does not want to divorce over it, for which I am happy and grateful, and I think this will ultimately help us. We are taking a 401K loan for the debt on his cards, and I will go to a credit consolidator for the debt on my cards......any recommendations on that front? My credit is in the dump so this is not going to make it much worse. In five years we will be free and clear, paid off debt and house at that point. I have a huge breach of trust to heal and don So he learned whata conniving wife he has and I learned that I had what I wanted all along, just didn We still have a lot to work out, and I am in for 5 or more years of snide backbiting remarks at times I am sure, but I think there is hope for us actually.

That's not true. I've tried to quit 6 times [2008-12-04]
in the past 5 years. I made it for 3 weeks by being cooped up in my house while everyone else was having fun in the garage. But DH had an important phone call he had to take, so I braved it and went up to tell him. Just the whiff of smoke did it for me. Back on them. I tried cold turkey, the patch, herbal supplements, and even hypnotism. Ichew gum. Itired of hearing from me. I don't have a PMD, so I can't get an Rx. My DH quit 16 years ago by throwing his pack out the car window as we were driving. He is so kind to me because I haven't been able to quit. He never harps on quitting. He understands. He's seen me go through withdrawal and it's not pretty. My son and his wife quit when she became pregnant. He used Chantix and also had the wildest dreams so went off them after 3 weeks, but he hasntouched up a cigarette since and being around people who smoke doesn't bother him. I guess I I whish the best for everyone who wants to quit and hope you all make it. I've stopped trying.

lol sounds like my MIL [2008-12-04]
My MIL was pissy this year too. Apparently because I got off of work (due to no jobs) and we arrived an hour early to spend extra time with them. She was mad at me. I thought it was a good thing!? We have always gotten along as well but I have come to realize I just tolerate her and move on. Itstuck in the kitchen and feels left out. Of course she says this to her children. I always offer and more than once but I have come to realize if I just step in and do it won't be right regardless. She doesn't talk to any of her own kids that way even though I know for a fact my husband does things very different from the way she does. Somehow she doesn't notice with him but alarms go off when it's me. She also hates to allow me to make anything to bring for dinner. I am martha-stewart-ish and she is the pull a pie out of the box type of person so I think it intimidates her or something. It's just the way I am and I enjoy doing things from scratch and old fashioned, plus I like to know what I am feeding my kids. I usually ask but just bring stuff along because I know it is the right thing to do and forget about the rest. She talks nice to the other DIL in her presence but the moment she turns her back she bad-mouths her. A few people recently have told me she does the same to me (Imom any more. I feel for her but dang, I will be glad to relinquish the dinner reins to my DIL or SIL so I can just sit around and play with grandkids some day!

DH and I are w/my family for lunch [2008-12-04]
and his for dinner. I have ex-aunt that still gets invited to holiday get togethers since she was married to my uncle for so long and her kids and now a grandaughter will be with us. She and a real pain in the but. Even when it is not her house she tries to dominate everything. Where everyone should sit, when we should eat, the conversation somehow always revolves around her. She will ask you a question and even before you finsih answering she is off talking about something else. We basically just roll our eyes and try to avoid her. This year she wrote a letter to my mom asking her to move her Christmas Eve plans to a different time (have been doing the same thing for years) to make it easier on her. Not going to happen. At DH I like her most of the time, but lately I have found that I just tend to tolerate her. She and I have never had any problems but I think her getting older is starting to take its toll. She and I differ anyway. Every Thanksgiving it is the same, everyone that comes brings a couple of dishes but she also does some of the cooking. She doesn This year as soon as we got there she took a hot pot off the stove and put the food into a serving dish. I decided to go ahead and wash it. The pot was extremely hot so I turned on the cold water to cool it off just a bit before I washed it. She came to the sink and turned the hot water on. I politely said I was just trying to cool if off a bit before I stuck my hands in it. No, that is not the way I do it. I was stunned. I have been married to her son for over 20 years and I always wash the dishes. I don But this year I said, well if you want me to leave these for you to do, fine. I did help clean up after dinner but I did not put my hands in any dishwater. Besides they were still a bit pruned fromcleaning upafter lunch. LOL! Btw, this is thesame woman who gives me something that she collects every year for Christmas even though I andher daughter have very politelylet herknow this is not something I want.

We just bought a new mattress - sm [2008-12-04]
It's a Sealy. Can't recall exactly which one but lower end on the price bracket. I think it was about 1000.00 for the mattress and box springs. We had one of those air beds for a long time and I will never ever recommend one of those. My husband also has back problems and needed a comfy mattress so he wanted that number bed thing. It was horrible. I would wake up with lower back pain that would stick with me half the day. His pain was worse too. Not to mention the fact that his side of the bed sprung a leak so after about the first year or so, there was no adjusting it to a comfort zone. Had to pump it all the way up and by morning, it was completely flat and he was laying in a hole inside the foam frame. It was cheaply made, uncomfortable, and a HUGE rip off. Go for a Sealy, it's worth it. I'm loving it.

I'd say it depends how long you have smoked - sm [2008-12-04]
and how old you are. A friend of mine quit and went about 8 months or so, is now back to a 3-4 cigs a day due to stress, brother died (accidental drug/alcohol OD--plus he had diabetes and hepatitis), then mom got lung cancer (was still smoking at 78, 50+ years smoker, 2 heart attacks), I don't know if she quit but she had stage IV so they knew she did not have long (3 months or so). My friend is still doing the 3-4 cigs a day though she felt so much better NOT smoking. Yes she gained some weight, but she had a 3 floor walk-up apartment so that helped her some. I am hoping she will quit for good here soon. Her stress level has dropped as she moved back in with her dad (though he is not the easiest person to live with)...he wants her to have the house when he dies which is probably soon....he was terribly affected by his son and wife's deaths. Smoking sucks, plain and simple. I am a nonsmoker. I hate the smell, cannot understand how anyone can deal with stinking all the time, having a smelly home, smelly clothes, car, etc. We just stayed in a hotel last weekend, a nonsmoking room....I smelled the cig smoke the second I walked in the door, wanted another room but it was fully booked. It was not too bad but still annoyed me that I had a room, that had a balcony, where someone smoked where they were not supposed to. Sorry, ranting. ---Unless you are over 55 or so and have smoked for 30+ years I would not worry about lung cancer. My DH quit before I met him, had smoked for 12 or so years, pack a day. He is in great shape, lung cancer in his family too. He has been smoke-free for 20 years now. His lungs get sore when around lots of smoke though, and he did have pneumonia really bad right before I met him that I think did some damage (he was seriously ill for 3 weeks) to his lungs as they are very sensitive now as I said. But other than that he is healthy as a horse. Quit. Set aside the money you save and take a nice vacation next summer. You will lose your chronic cough, smell tons better, get your taste buds back, get rid of that stain on your teeth and fingers, and once all the nicotine is gone add a few years BACK onto your life. Good luck!

I am too. I have tried moving to our [2008-12-04]
but the kids moved their computer by me. Seems whereever I go they follow. I had no big windows in there so I went back to the family room, which is now called the office. But it is more like the kids room with mommy trying to work and bothering them. They play classroom in here, webkinz, toontown, do homework, etc. I used to have it in the bedroom, for years, but got depressed because I literally never left the room except to take care of the kids and do chores. I got depressed and the doc said I had to take the computer out of my bedroom, because even when not working, in bed, I'd think about work or see it constantly. I once had an office with walls, but the kids took up camp in there too. They are all 11 and under so I can't wait until they want mommy less and are teenagers for example. Maybe then, they'd spend time by themselves and only come to me for money. LOL. I love them, but the noise and clutter that come withs them well just not exactly a good environment for a doc who speaks no English and eats chips at the same time.

Not this year but... [2008-12-04]
Many years back my 2 SILs got in a fight over their brother and one ended up with a bloody nose! Nowdays we do our own Thanksgiving with our kids...so no fights yet, of course my DS did just get married and my DD will be getting married next year, so who knows!

Backaches and mattresses - sm [2008-12-04]
My husband wakes up with a backache every morning. He does have some back issues but our mattress could be contributing to his problem. Too many choices re mattesses, so would like to know if anyone has an opinion as to what type to try. Thank you.

You may want to see a doctor if you [2008-12-03]
haven't already. I had tinea versicolor many years ago. My experience was that I noticed the pigment of my skin was changing - having the usual color with sort of white spots all over. The doctor told me it is a fungal infection. I never had problems with irritation, burning or itching, just the loss of pigment. He gave me a body wash that I had to use 3 X a week. You apply it to the body and then wait for 20 minutes and then take a shower. It took close to a year to get rid of it. Although I am not a doctor, it doesn't sound like tinea versicolor but more like an allergic reaction to the wire of the bra. I would see a doctor to find out exactly what it is.

I understand your feelings [2008-12-03]
My in-laws woncut back which means what exactly???? I don't know. I didn't grow up with big Christmas presents and all that...family and dinner was emphasized. It makes me wish xmas was just another day. We can't afford it this year but when trying to talk to anyone about it they act like we have no head. If you want to participate, I would do the flat $25 in a gift card for dinner or groceries and leave it at that. How can they get upset when you stick to the agreement. If they don't like your choice, that's too bad. Maybe they shouldn't participate next year if they have such high standards.

My mom smoked for 63 years. She [2008-12-03]
always had healthy lungs. After she broke her hip the first time, the doctors kept telling me to get her off the cigarettes. She would not quit, but I finally got her to quit 2 years later by telling herI quit, because she also started falling asleep with lit ciggies and burning things. Three months later, she was in for another broken hip. After the films came back from her chest x-ray, the ER physician pointed out a nodule in her lung...not sure if it was the start of lung cancer and wanted to keep close watch. I hate to say this, but thank heavens she never came home. I would have felt very guilty for making her stop and she might have gotten lung cancer through not smoking. My husband's mother died from lung and back cancer. She had smoked all her life and quit. A year later, she was gone. Makes you think and wonder about it.

Smoking in Grocery Store [2008-12-03]
I remember my mom pushing me in the grocery cart, I must have been 3 or 4, and she would be smoking away. When the cigarette was gone, she would throw it on the ground and step on it. Classy lady, I know, but really, that was the norm back in the 60's.

My father quit at 65...........sm [2008-12-03]
after practically a lifetime of heavy smoking. He started when he was just a boy, which was common back in the 1920s. He quit at 65 and lived for 20 years before being diagnosed with lung cancer. Of course, we have no way of knowing how long he had it because he never really had any symptoms until about 6 months prior to his death. His cancer was found on a chest x-ray for pneumonia. It was inoperable as it was behind the heart and could barely be seen over the top of the heart when he had the x-ray. I thought his death would make me stop smoking, but it hasn't. I have smoked for about 25 years now and I know I should stop but I haven't found the will power yet.

Am I the Wicked Step-Mother? [2008-12-02]
I know I don't post here much but I do read and feel you are all friends. I offer prayers for those that request them and feel for those with troubles. I would like to know what you think about my latest dilemma. I came home from town today to find a phone call from my step-daughter, age 43. She has my cell phone number but for some reason she wonno this time and now I feel terrible. She started out by saying she had a medical bill to pay and then turned it around to a DUI fine that has to be paid by Jan. 1. She got picked up in August for a tail light out and had been drinking with co-workers. Her story. I was advised by the court not to help her so that was part of the reason I said no. She works two part-time waitressing jobs. She's divorced and no kids. She said she would pay me back $100 a month. If that is true why couldn't she have saved $100 a month and had the money to pay the fine? She called me a few weeks ago and I know she wanted money then but she didn't come right out and ask until today. Thanks for listening, I appreciate it.

You get to an age where being with your family of origin is a choice, sm [2008-12-02]
You have hit that time! You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. Friends are God's way of making up for your family. You know many of the other sayings that go with these. Ummm could there be a universal truth behind them? Yes, and you have come up on it. NO you donAunt Becky to have a relationship with only ONE of your THREE precious children! NO you DO NOT have to put up with negative, nasty, hurtful talk to your face, to your back or to your ar$e!!! I am not that much older than you are. I donfamily and so they are. I call my family a pain the ar$e. Family becomes a choice later in life when your head is screwed on straight. Yours is on straight, tell the riff raff to take a HIKE. Live your life and be happy.

I have cleaned my house and now I have adjustment disorder sm [2008-12-02]
I have been working on my bathroom remodel since Memorial Day. It should have taken 4 weekends and I only just finished on Thanksgiving Day. I did 95% of myself, including cutting holes for and installing, 2 sinks in the vanity. I am pleased, it is gorgeous, but that is another story. Okay, I put my bedroom back together after 6 months of being a disheveled PIT. I am cleaning the house because my daughter will be home in a couple of weeks to get married at the JP in a nearby town. I still have to make her a dress too...but I wanted the house clean for she and her fiance/husband. It is coming along very well. My problem? I can't manage a house where I am not stepping over crap on the floor, shifting stuff around so I can get to my clothes or go to bed. This is all new to me, clean floor space and no dust, a place for everything and everything in its place...I can't cope. It is clean AND tidy, the antique linens are pressed and starched, on the surfaces. IT is lovely!!!! I am depressed now. I don't adjust well to change.

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)

Different places when no office available [2008-12-02]
I have been in just about every room of my house at one time or another. I started out working in the kitchen years ago because I had dialup and the apartment I lived in had only a phone jack there. The kitchen was my favorite because it was away from all the noise--that was when the kids were smaller, though. I have had a desk in the bedroom before. It was handy when the kids were at school or hubby was home to take care of them, otherwise it was a pain because it was in the back of the house and if they needed something I had to get up from my desk. The family room is okay, unless you have really loud family like mine. My kids must be deaf sometimes, I swear. Oh yeah and they argue in there over the TV the PlayStation, etc. However, you can deal with some of that from the desk without having to get up. It is a fair trade most of the time. I had two different mobile setups over the years. One was laptop which was okay, but before WiFi, so expensive. The second, I had a desk on wheels that had everything I needed. I could roll it out to the back porch and sit there to work while the youngest was out playing. This was good for mild weather. Be forewarned, if it is really hot outside where you are, you may have PC problems. I used to have one that would overheat and shut itself off. Ugh!!. Oh, BTW, direct sunlight is bad if you have a laptop or plasma screen, so make sure you have shade! I currently have my own little room for now which basically is the size of a really huge walk-in closet with a window and a door. I shut the door when the kids are home because the words please be quiet, I cannot hear when you are yelling at eachother apparently are not in teenager-ese. Hope this was helpful!

Things you never thought would still exist [2008-12-02]
1) Pirates. 2) The threat of nuclear war. 3) Polio. (Yup, it's still out there....) 4) Cars that guzzle gas, (and they keep on building 'em!) 5) Gas. 6) Racial discrimination and homophobia. 7) Still no cure for the common cold. 8) The dinosaur also known as - the Post Office. 9) Liquid Paper. (But I'm sure glad it's still here!) 10) Telephone poles (and the land lines that go with them). 11) Spam. (The so-called 12) Use-once-and-throw-away rocket boosters for Space Shuttle launches. (Why can't those things just take off from a runway and fly up to space by themselves?) 13) California condors in the wild. Also wolves, bears and mountain lions. I'm glad they're still here, too. 14) Dog-fighting, cock-fighting, bullfights, etc. Barbaric. 15) Terrorism. That's all getting pretty old. 16) Bank tellers. 17) The corporateglass ceiling for women, and gender-based pay discrepancy.Yup, stillthere. 18) Destruction of the Earth's natural environment, pollution, etc. 19) Runaway, uncontrolled human population growth. I wonder when someone's finally going to figure out that #18 will never be solved unless we do something about #19. 20) Plastic bags, styrofoam food packaging and coffee-cups, throw-away diapers, etc. Why are they still here? ....... and so the list goes on and on, but I have to get back to work. So, add YOUR list of things you though would've disappeared by now!

I would give them what you can afford [2008-12-02]
and if they don't like it, it's their problem. It's the thought that counts. A teenager should enjoy a gift certificate to the movies or to his/her favorite clothing store. As for the adults, my husband and I have been giving our parents gift cards to their local grocery store. Everyone needs to eat. I'm glad we don't run into these problems with our families. Everyone is happy to get something no matter how inexpensive. Try not to stress too much about it.

The year is going downhill... [2008-12-02]
My husband has4 sisters and of course they are all married, have kids of their own, some grandkids, etc. Graduation has always been a big deal and we usually have one each year or every other yearand afterwards a big family get together, etc. This year one of the nephews has decided he wants to get married in May but hasn I just sent an email out to everyone to save the date because my oldest son (from a previous marriage) is graduating this coming May. The mom of the nephew just sent me an email back and said that graduation better not interfere with the wedding. Since the wedding is not set, why not put it on a date that won On my side of the family it It's definitely turning into a bah humbug time of year. {sigh}

I had my own store. Got a following almost became [2008-12-02]
But the fees added up so much that is listing fees,final value fees, that I made about 33% after paypal took their fees too. Then, I shipped all over the world too so I'd be sure to make sure the shipping costs were right or I would get burned there. Then, there became the people who would want their money back even if the listing said only store credit. Customer is always right. So, by the time you count the money I spent on the item to begin with (usually something I thought I would naturally make money on), the fees, the time spent taking pictures, the digital battery, etc. I had a gigantic loss this year. Plus, if you buy on e bay, you should watch your selling, because you just might spend all your profit, which comes out to about 5 to 10 bucks an hour. I loved doing it, don't get me wrong. I met people from all over the world. I sold a dress to the Prime Minister of a University in England, and other interesting people. I still have friends on there who are sellers too. But, I had to close down shop because the fees just got to be too much for me. I would rather sit and type and have free time doing artistic things and having hobbies. Some of my friends who have a following on e bay and have been selling for years range in the 25K a year range, and they have a business license, and charge state tax. Don't forget as well, you have to pay income tax just like any other IC job. Just was not worth it to me. Good luck to you.

Things that are better NOW........ [2008-12-02]
Cell Phones: If I ATM Machines: I remember running out of gas on a weekend when the banks were closed back in the 70 The Internet:About 12 years ago, Iremember asking someone what the Internet was, and why we needed it. Now, I Remember the HARD way of doing things in the past? Like buying theater or plane tickets? Looking up directions? Comparing different brands of something you wanted to buy? Selling something you no longer wanted? Looking for a house or an apartment? Getting the latest news? The list is endless. Long Live The Internet!!!! Google: Who can live without it? Especially Google Earth Google Maps? Now I Back in the day when I had to rely on someone Digital Cameras: When I think of all the money I spent on film, and then developing said film, and all the film wasted on bad shots in my lifetime, it makes me cringe. I love the freedom and flexibility digital cameras give me to take as many photos as I want, and to experimentwith them,as well. MP3 Players/CD Players: Think of all the fights youin the car over which radio stationto listen to listen to, and how loud. Then think how they never would Dad could Solar Lights: I love solar lights! Garden lights! Floodlights! Christmas lights! You can fill your yard with them, and the power source is FREE!!! Hair-straightening and CurlingIrons: Remember the 60frizzy or too-curly hair with an IRON on your mom Or sleeping with HAIR CURLERS? UGH!!! You can probably think of a million more great things than I did. Let's hear 'em!

Internet and cell phones - I remember before (sm) [2008-12-02]
I was a secretary in the late 80s for a medical association...I had to make up and send out hundreds of meeting packets to the doctors who were going to attend every month's meeting. Pages and pages of copies, colating and stapling them, addressing every FedEx label...it was an all day job, sometimes two days. Now you could just do a mass email and send it to all of them in 5 minutes. Amazes me every time I think about it. I also used to keep a monthly calendar of accredited events doctors could attend and had to mail that out to everyone...now, that can all just be put on a website to be viewed by anyone who needs it. The cell phone thing though...other than being really glad I have it when I have car trouble or something, I'd rather not be tied to my phone like that. It is as though everyone expects you to be available all the time. I don't answer mine most of the time and call back if I need to.

Tell her you've gone into the petsitting business [2008-12-01]
(In my area petsitters charge $20 per visit for one animal, $5 extra for each additional animal in the household. That doesn't include extras like walking dogs, giving medications, etc. If she expects you to take a cat to the vet if it gets sick while she's away, she should leave you a signed, blank check made out to the local emergency veterinary medical center. Most won't let you in the door for less than $500, and won't treat the animal 'til that's paid. My guess is your sis would be inclined not to pay you back if it were to come out of your pocket. Might consider having her sign a waiver of liability, too.)