Been to lots of places

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!

We do...we have lots of board games.. [2008-11-25]
while my son has video games, he likes board games just as much because he knows we will play them with him...it is good quality time also!!!

Hi, not just the ads here, although I do think that of all places,,,,sm [2008-11-15]
an MT forum and networking site should be more representative of what actually takes place in this field. There are ads on the internet, TV, magazines, just about everywhere. I think they should tone down the rhetoric quite a bit, and stop using hopeful young woman/moms as THEIR meal ticket with mostly UNREALISTIC and misleading guarantees! Really gripes me! Thanks for responding!

Granny Smith with lots of butter, sugar and cinnamon and a dash of cloves&nutmeg. [2008-11-11]
xx

I have a feeling there are lots of us out here - sm [2008-10-24]
I have to say I think I may have it better than most. I've been working home almost twenty years and now both kids, 17 and 19, are on the brink of leaving, probably next year. My husband started his own business working at home four years ago, and we're literally (almost) joined at the hip. We share a 10 x 10 office. Yet, we almost never talk. When we do it's business or kid related. Right now I'm making more money than he is, and his business hasn't grown as fast as he had hoped, and now with the economy . . We started bickering about everything and about once a month have a big blow-up. I went to see a marriage counselor starting a year ago - he absolutely, positively will not go! So I'm going, mostly to find a way to survive another year or two until the kids are gone. I believe it will go one way or the other after that. I hope we stay together. We've both been divorced before and I wouldn't wish that on anybody. And I know the man I married is still in there somewhere. I'm going to do all I can to find him again so we can share the good stuff that we've worked so hard for - not to mention grandchildren when the time comes! Good luck to you. I've got no advice for you, but you are definitely NOT alone!

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.

This offends me, the fact that places can get away with it sm [2008-10-24]
Yup, I'm a Catholic and I have 6 kids. If not for birth control, I don't mean natural family planning, I mean medical ordinary birth control I WOULD HAVE 12, not 6. As a matter of Catholic principles, I refused to have my tubes tied, that part is true. But I used birth control of all sorts, BCPs, barriers like French letters and diaphragms, cervical caps, IUDs and the like. I still got PG no matter how hard I tried, so I accepted the children and busted my fanny to support them. For the record, never been on welfare, but had food stamps for two months when the ex stopped helping support them. It was too much hassle for the $118 a month they gave me and I could make that amount of money in the time it took to go and fill out the papers and have an interview. That alone should tell you something about those of us who prefer to work than take a hand out, and about others who line up for hand out rather than work. As I have gotten lost in what I was going to say: This just pisses me off! A woman has a right to CHOOSE what goes on in her body, from birth control to abortion to you name it. This country was founded on the idea that we are all free to do as we choose, follow our conscience and NOT suffer at the hands of those who would TELL us what we can and cannot do! EWWWW!

I thought about it too. Michaels has lots of beads. Just wondered if my mature [2008-10-20]
xxxxxxxxx

Have you tried your local Salvation Army, United Way, or places like that? sm [2008-10-15]
The town where I live has a place called Mell Trotter Ministries. You can donate your vehicles and then the people to live and work at Mel Trotter fix up the cars and are learining a trade at the same time. They then sell the cars to the public. The money they make on the cars goes back into the organization. Also our United Way has something called 2-1-1. You just call 211 and tell the person you talk to what you are looking for or need and they can steer you in the right direction. Good luck to the family you are trying to help.

Coffee, cereal with lots of sugar on it, and [2008-09-07]
nm

But obesity IS life-threatening. I type lots of that stuff - [2008-08-23]
and for the most part the psych. evaluation is more to be sure the person has not only the desire for the operation, but the support in place to help them through the difficult time afterward. It's not a walk in the park, not only is it major surgery, but there are lots of eating problems afterward. Too much food, or too much fatty or other hard-to-digest food, and they can become quite ill. They also have to begin a diet and lose a certain percentage of their weight before they get okayed for surgery. I think in part to make them safer to operate on, but also to begin to change their eating habits. After the gastric bypass, one still has to watch what they eat so as not to regain weight. But of course the bypass helps with how much they eat - because the stomach is a lot smaller. Still, if all the requirements are in place, I think for many people GP is much preferable to dying of other diseases caused by obesity. It also can make it possible for them to exercise and build up their cardiovascular system, further improving their health.

Try Florida. Lots of foreclosures there, and unfortunately the price of housing is way down. [2008-06-28]
you should be able to afford something there. Always warm. My sister just moved there, on the gulf side.

Patience, Lots and Lots of Patience [2008-06-24]
First off, she is TOO CUTE! Oh how I miss those days. I have a 2.5 year old Basset boy. He is my third Basset. He was the easiest to potty train, I highly recommend a doggie door. My two prior Bassets weren't trained with a doggie door and I had accidents galore! Once I trained them on a doggie door, no more accidents (they were 4 and 5, so you can teach an old dog a new trick). Crate training is good too, it just takes patience. Basset Hounds are stubborn, but don't give in! I have loved these guys for a long time, they have the best personality.

My grandparents swore by it for LOTS of things [2008-06-10]
xx

Chances are if he's doing it in the same places, (sm) [2008-05-28]
some urine has gotten under, between, or into the wood panels on the floor. You may end up having to pull those out and replace them. Don't use any kind of cleaner that has ammonia in it - as it will ATTRACT the cat to that spot. There is a very good product called Nature, and they also make a cat-specific formula, too. It has enzymes that eat the invisible crystals of urine that you canAnti-Icky-Poo that works the same way. Be sure your cat has more than one litter box, and try keeping them as clean as possible. Most cats don't like scented litter, so try using unscented only. The hard-clumping kind is the best, because you'll leave less traces of urine behind when you scoop. Experiment with litter depths. Lots of cats don't like it very deep. (Like my cat). Kind of defeats the scooping feature, but having to wash & replace litter more often due to using less may actually be a good thing. My cat actually prefers NO litter... and either just a bare box, or one with some paper towels on the bottom. Only thing is, that way it's only good for one use, and has no odor-control. If you use a domed litter box, try removing it. Some cats feel claustrophobic in them, and they can intensify odors inside (like a humanjumbo litter box.) If you only have one box, add a second. (A good rule of thumb is one box per cat, +1 extra). My cat likes to pee in one box, and poo in the other. Try putting the box(s) in the spot(s) where he goes. If it's not in a good place for YOU, but he's using it reliably, you can gradully move it about an inch a day to your desired location. Is there anything psychological that could be going on? (Which is MY cat's problem!) Is the litter box in a noisy place, like next to a washer or dryer? Is there a new cat hanging around outside that he can see and is worried about? (That was also happening here... I bought some cat/dog repellent and spray it around outside every couple days to keep them away from the front door, where my cat can see them.) I also tried spraying some of it in areas where I didn't want her to pee indoors, but with about 80% success. IComfort Zone synthetic pheromone products right now. It's EXPENSIVE stuff! But anything's worth a try at this point. One bottle is a diffuser (kind've like a bathroom scent-thing) that you plug into an electrical socket in the room. I use mine in the corner of the kitchen where the litter boxes are. There's also a spray bottle. If the cat is SPRAYING (like on the walls), they say to spray it where the cat sprays. It's supposed to be pretty effective. But for litter-box avoidance it can be less effective. For that problem I sprayed a little bit IN the litter boxs (she has 3!), and found the first 2 days it worked well. Kitty had a relapse this morning, so I'm hoping that was just a slip, and that the Feliway will keep on helping. I called Rescue again, and they said that even though she tested negative for a UTI, that she would still have a very low-grade one that doesn't register on the test. They swear by putting the litter-box-avoiding, negative-urine-tested cat on about a month of antibiotics anyway, and that it often clears up the problem. So I may try that next. The ONLY other thing I haven't tried yet is putting her on an antidepressant such as Prozac or amitriptyline... which I don't think her pet insurance will cover, and I don't think I can afford. I guess amitriptyline is sometimes a good choice, not only for its calming effects, but also it's anti-inflammatory properties. It's not an easy problem to deal with, so I wish you luck, and I hope I might have had an idea that might help.

Don't drink coffee, but lots of tea, but [2008-05-20]
am quitting the tea. Thank you kindly

they have truckloads of that stuff in Big Lots [2008-05-06]
packages, never bought it. I sure won't now because you said it was nasty, tia

Go for a walk someplace where there are lots of people (sm) [2008-04-14]
Sometimes I appreciate my alone time and other times I am sick of it. Maybe you could volunteer a couple of hours someplace once a week or so, or find other things to do where there are people around. I know with working at home, sometimes I have to put myself out there to remind people that I still want to socialize!

Seen movie lots and scene only recently deleted. [2008-04-13]
X

Last visited lots of retirees. Ft. Myers beach [2008-04-07]
nm

My parents live in N. Ft. Myers, lots of retirees, sm [2008-04-07]
Lots of people and traffic, but I love going to visit. Good beach and pier. If you're not staying at the beach and want to go, there is a trolly where you can park your car (We usually do this at Summerlin mall) and ride the trolly to the beach, to avoid finding a place to park. Also, Sanibel and Captiva islands are close by, which are neat. There are a few major league teams that have spring training in the area, which is fun. Make sure you get a street map to make it easier to get around there. If you are going to live, Cape Coral is nearby and that is a nice place to live. There is just about any type of living arrangement - apartments, condos, manufactured homes, regular homes. It is a great place. Golf course communities.

Happens at other places - certain posts take over for a while [2008-03-30]
no harm really - gets people involved and more people coming, etc. It's playful - try to enjoy

Best places to visit on the East coast [2008-03-11]
In June, my husband and I will be attending the HD Bike Week in Laconia, New Hampshire. If you had to name just two or three places that everyone should seeon the East coast {Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, etc. down to North Carolina} what would they be? We will be visiting Maine - that is already on the agenda. We plan to visit Arlington National Cemetary and the Capitol. We have been on the Freedom Walk in Boston. We have not determined how much time we will be spending onthe East coast. Please just name the places you think we should visit if time wasn Thank you very much for your time, assistance, and input. I appreciate this very much!

you mean stomach bugs? Lots of sick folks [2008-02-23]
x

Lots of flu in California [2008-02-23]
Flu vaccine only covered 40% of flu bugs so I hear.

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!

Gotta agree with the point about smoking! (sm) [2008-12-02]
I hated it when I was a kid and everywhere you went was smoke-filled. I am so glad that there are rules about it now, although I do think some places go a little overboard with things like no smoking on the premises at all, etc.

we also make a quick [2008-12-02]
salmon soup....drain most the juice, add about 2 tbl of butter to the meat in the pan, salt, pepper, and then add a can or so of milk and heat. eat with saltines crushed in it too. lots of omegas, warm, quick and tasty.

odors [2008-12-02]
That may just be one of those places you are not supposed to check for odors. We all have stinky parts at the end of the day.

Is it necessary to see a doctor if you've got mono [2008-12-01]
From what I read (doing the Internet doctor thing ) there's nothing medicinal they can give you for it, so why bother going to the doctor in the first place? Everything I've read says all you can do is treat the symptoms - take Tylenol, get lots of rest and fluids, gargle with salt water for sort throat, etc.

e-bay [2008-12-01]
Since VR is taking the wind out of my income, I I live in an area with lots of retirees who might want to sell some things, but mightbe a little computer-phobic. Does anyone do this or know of anyone else who does it and whether it might be a lucrative business or a train wreck waiting to happen? Also, would a business license be required? Thanks for any input or opinions.

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.

Ah! There is your problem, Singers are worthless! sm [2008-11-27]
Seriously, they are. They have been made in Japan for 35 years or better. Japanese sewing machines are the WORST. Janhome (sp?), White, Necchi, Juki...all Japanese and all terrible things! Brother is from there too these days. They don't keep their tension, they are notoriously difficult to thread and they don't stitch worth a $hyte. If want something you can use for many, many years...you get a Pfaff, an Elna or a Bernina. They are European made. Pfaff has lots of bells and whistles for less money (I swear by a Pfaff and own 4 of them (2 regular, 2 sergers). Bernina is an excellent machine, but plenty of money gets you basics and fancy stuff like an extra presser foot is very pricey (A Pfaff ruffler is like $100, but a Bernina is more like $250). I know Pfaff's best. They have a hook around back to thread your needle for you. They have a fully adjustable tension and it DOES hold and will revert back when you change it. This is something a Singer will never ever cooperate with. Change the tension once and it won't go back no matter where the knob is. They are dead easy to thread and do so in a way that you never have to thread a slot, hole or needle eye. I know you are thinking too much money. One, you get what you pay for, and two, a second-hand Pfaff that has been reconditioned by a factory-trained mechanic is every bit as good as a brand new one. Unlike the Japanese machines, European ones have almost no moving parts, and they are modular. Burn out a motor (I have done this) and the old one snaps out and the new one snaps right in. I can also tell you I was a professional dressmaker of 10 years. In that time I killed a Singer serger, a Juki serger, a Singer lightweight, a New Home and a Necchi. For the second half of those years, I went to a Pfaff. I used the first one so much I wore the carbon brushes out in 15 months, grooved the armature on the motor and had to replace the motor!!! It worked great after that and I sold it for $200 less than I had paid for it new. Right now, to replace the 4 I have would cost me $20,000, but I own the very best, latest thing when I bought what I have. I own the first sewing machine model to retail for over $3000 (at $3399) but I didn't pay anywhere near that because you CAN negotiate on prices of sewing machines at independent retailers. I traded something in and bought 2 new regular machines with a total retail of $5000 and walked out with both for $1800 and that trade in. On a used machine they often make even better deals. No Virginia, it is not you! It is the SEWING MACHINE.

Boy men are such children - sm [2008-11-26]
my DH is a j*e*r*k like that too sometimes. He refuses to stay at my dad's house because he re-married so quickly after my mom died. (he wants to stay in hotel--which is very expensive where they live--....though we have not done it yet because as yet he has refused to go, so I go w/o him and the kids and I have lots of fun--he did go once 2 years ago though he made us stay at a friends apartment, very silly). There is more to it than that but that is a big part of it, and he thinks my stepmom's family thinks he is a loser. He is hung up on what people think about him and imagines slights, looks, etc. all the time, very hard to live with. But he know I will leave him in the dust and do what I want as he is acting like a 2-year-old. I would just go and not worry about him acting like a baby. If you stay home with him you will be mad, resent him for making you miss out spending time with your mom (which you will regret if something happened to her any time soon), and probably have a boring day at home while he watched football all day and you cook or twiddle your thumbs. He will probably never be the bigger person and bite his tongue and go, though he should. Men really are babies though at times.

Thank you to all for suggestions/advice [2008-11-26]
It It is so isolating working from home sometimes. I don Working from home is a mixed blessing sometimes... I do this so I can be available for my kids, but at the same time I feel I am always working and can On the days they don Iguess I thought it would be easieronce they got older, but it is just as complicated in many ways.Well, another day off from school is almost over and at least we all survived.

You can check at midnight online [2008-11-25]
I think they usually say if they The last couple of years, their servers crashed because so many people were trying to get online to buy. If you really want it, it Lots of people do it or have someone else who's going pick it up for you.

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.

I think you are doing the best thing for your kids [2008-11-25]
My youngest is now 21, but I was much the same kind of mother you are. I hated video games from the first time they came out and my boys NEVER had any of them. We played lots of board games, they had a few little computer games, but none of the Nintendos or any of that stuff. They built stuff with Legos, played with each other, played outside in the yard and probably their favorite things were large cardboard boxes and their imaginations. My kids have grown up to be happy, healthy and well-adjusted, much more so than their couch-potato, gamer peers. So hang in there!

Calling all you animal lovers - live and let live or intervene? - sm [2008-11-25]
I have a dilemma. I am an animal lover and have something I cannot come to a conclusion about. At a restaurant where I eat lunch every Friday with a friend of mine, I have noticed a young male kitty hanging around outside looking for food. This past week he ran up to my friend and rubbed her legs and quietly meowed. I purposely did not try to pet him because I knew I would get attached and ignored him. Well, ever since then I find myself thinking about him and wanting to rescue him. Meanwhile, I already have 4 inside cats (2 rescues, 2 Maine Coons) and hubby really does not want another cat in the house because a few years ago I promised we would never have more than 4 (had up to 5 at one point previously). I actually have a huge screened deck he could stay on indefinitely because I do not believe in letting cats run loose for their own safety. I could provide plenty of food, a warm place to sleep, and veterinary care. At some point I would even probably work him into our household, but I just cannot do it at the moment. Just not sure I would be doing right by that kitty because I am sure he would be upset and confused for a good while as to where he was and what was going on, but is that better than being hungry and cold? I know there are lots of animal lovers out there. What does everyone think??

First off, you're pregnant [2008-11-24]
that in itself will make this situation feel 10 times worse than it is. Having said that, I do agree that I would be a little miffed, myself. It She I would also agree with the poster below that you have grown apart. Being that you Ifun years before I got married and then before I had children. You're just at different places in your life. The best way to handle the situation is to go to her party as planned. I would not splurge for the $50 gift card. I If youwild days. You don Anyone would understand a pregnant woman would be tired from such a long travel and then the party. When you leave, be sure to seek her out and let her know that you If not, let it go. If you haven Believe it or not, some people would think they didn You have so much to look forward to and baby showers are way better than bridal showers/receptions anyday. You can eat as much as you want and all your guests will say is how cute you look. Don

My kids and I are chocoholics [2008-11-24]
and one of the recipes that we love and is really simple is the No-Bake Cookies. That's what we called them when I made them (all the time!) as a kid. Also called Refrigerator Cookies, and the recipe I use today, from a cookbook my Mamama gave me that her church put together, calls them Quick Fudge, I believe. I call them Chocolate-Oatmeal-Peanut Butter Yum-Yums. They are made with sugar, butter, and cocoa boiled, then add the peanut butter, quick oats, and vanilla, dropped on waxed paper and cooled, then chilled in the fridge. If you want to make them post here and I'll grab the recipe tomorrow to give the quantities. Also, I absolutely love Pine Bark, and it is very easy to make as well. Lots of recipes for that on-line. Have fun!

I live on the very edge of Philly, just into the suburbs. [2008-11-22]
Lots of people, lots to do. The weather changes a lot, which is good because I have a very short attention span. :) I love it here.

Boobage - SM [2008-11-21]
I feel ya, girlfriend...I wear a 32DD and the choices are so limited. Believe it or not, ICurvation. I bought a couple of them when they were on sale because they were really cute (black with pink ribbon trim and leopard print demi-cup with pink ribbon trim), but didn't really expect much from them and figured they'd just look nice. Imagine my surprise when not only did they look great, they actually provided support, lol!!! I found that the demi-cup is actually even MORE supportive than the full cup style, which I hadn't expected. Have fun and show those girls off to full advantage :-)

Just check all the ads in the newspapers. [2008-11-21]
Most stores have special coupons for early birds on Friday morning. Around here, stores open around 4 a.m. and last year we got there at 3 and stood in line in the cold just waiting to get in. Good luck. Don so unless you are first in line at those places you are usually out of luck. I know last year, people were in line at Best Buy at 2 a.m. waiting for it to open at 5.

Whatever sale item is most important to you [2008-11-21]
start there...early. Sale ads from Wednesday night's or Thursday morning's newspapers should tell you the store hours and sale hours. Many end at 11am. My dd and I like to go about an hour after stores open, though it's still dark outside. The crowds that were waiting in line overnight for the big ticket items are gone by then, and most everyone else avoids the stores until the afternoon hours, thinking they will be less crowded. Wrong they are though. There are more employees on duty early rather than later, so things move more quickly in the morning hours. We've also found the earlier crowds to be friendlier. DD starts singing Christmas carols while standing in line and soon lots of others join in. She's a blast to shop with. Then we go to a late breakfast and go home before the unfriendly crowds show up. Hope your experience is an enjoyable one.

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.

What about the ones that are solar-powered? [2008-11-21]
Easy to find in most mail order catalogs, probably places like K-Mart or Walmart, too. Then you can have your lights, and thumb your nose at PG&E!

This may sound a little weird [2008-11-21]
But I live in a really big city and I would put him in a retirement complex. That is a really good place for people with lots of money who don't feel like cooking for themselves or being alone. I hope you live in a big city too. Good Luck!

Please know you are definitely NOT alone! [2008-11-20]
Lots of us are struggling these days. Times are touch all over. Can you look into getting a second job to help with expenses? That's what I do, just to make ends meet. I'm alone too but don't mind that - I have pets to keep me company. The best thing you can do is not sit around doing nothing. Make a plan, set yourself some goals and KNOW you can get through this. Just take it one day at a time and/or knock off one goal at a time and you'll persevere.