In the middle of the night

"fend for yourself night" [2008-11-18]
They scream and beg for it. One eats two bowls of cereal for dinner and one eats mac and cheese.

COF night [2008-11-18]
We do a COF night - clean out the fridge - where we just warm upall theleftover from the meals during the week. Usually was something leftover from every meal or frozen in containers to just microwave as all it takes isadding a bit to the weekly meals. Everyone seems to like it and finds plenty - just get out some applesauce or fruit to add and we are good. Sometimes throw in a batch of cornmeal muffins.

DH and I went to see the new Bond movie last night... [2008-11-15]
Daniel Craig...yummy!

Sorry about the typos, been up all night and can't see straight or spell it seems. nm [2008-11-03]
nm

And Thursday night is safer than Friday night - how? [2008-10-30]
We used to live in a town that was once in the Guiness Book of World Records for number of churches per capita (which by the way was the worst place I've ever lived - discourteous, Nazi schools, etc.), and they wouldn't let us trick or treat on Sundays. Ridiculous! People can say what they want but celebrating Halloween doesn't make you a devil worshiper! Just my 2 cents!

Something nice my DD said to me last night sm [2008-10-29]
She is away at college and out of the blue, my IM flashed and this is what she said: I just wanted to tell you that I am very grateful to have a mother like you. I have heard about other mothers and read in books and none of their moms listen to them like you do for me. you try to understand me and usually do. you don't tell me what to do, you make suggestions. you don’t treat me like a child and you are just awesome. I know that when I make a mistake it is not the end of the world for you and that is so important to me. You are always there for me when i need and even when I don’t. Thank you so much for being the mother that you are. You mean so much to me and I would never trade you for anyone else. I love you mom. I IMd back: OMG I don't know what to say. You know, you bring out the best in me. She said: No mom, YOU bring out the best in ME. Thank you.

Last night Bravo had "The 100 Scariest Movies Of All Time" and number one was ...sm [2008-10-26]
Jaws!?!?! I didn The Exorcist and Audition are the scariest for me.

I made baked sweet potatoes for dinner last night [2008-10-21]
You cook them just like a baked potato. My 10 y/o daughter and I just like butter on ours. I love sweet potatoes though! I also have a really good recipe with apples and sweet potatoes in a casserole (see below). I brought it for Thanksgiving dinner last year and it was a hit! It's more tart than sweet and really delicious! Apple-Sweet Potato Bake 3 pounds sweet potatoes 4 medium tart apples, peeled 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup butter, cubed 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup honey 2 tablespoons orange juice 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1. Scrub sweet potatoes with a veggie brush under cold water. Pierce skin in several places; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until almost tender (I bake them a little longer cuz I like them pretty mushy). Cool slightly; peel potatoes and cut into 1/4 inch slices. 2. Cut the apples into 1/4 inch slices; toss with lemon juice. In a greased 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking dish, alternately arrang sweet potato and apple slices. Sprinkle with pecans. 3. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, honey, orange juice, cinnamon and ginger. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; pour over potatoes and apples. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until tender. HereHeavenly Sweet Potatoes by Campbell's Soup. Vegetable cooking spray 1 can (40 oz) cut sweet potato, drained 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 1/8 ground ginger 3/4 cup Swanson Chicken Broth 2 cups miniature marshmallows Spray a 1-1/2 quart casserole with cooking spray. Set the dish aside. Place the potatoes, cinnamon and ginger in a 3-quart bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until the potatoes are fluffy and almost smooth. Add the broth and beat until the ingredients are mixed. Spoon the potato mixture into the prepared dish. Top with the marshmallows. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until hot and marshmallows are golden brown.

Thanks guys. I talked to him last night and..... [2008-10-18]
he told me that the pictures weren He says he is too afraid of his dad. We live in a small town where everybody knows everybody and their business so he's afraid it would get back to his dad somehow. In some ways I believe him because, like I said, he doesn But in other ways I It What if I tell him I don't believe him and he really is telling the truth? Shoot! I have to go,,, I'll finish later. Thanks again for your advice.

She gets a light and the TV on all night, but... [2008-10-11]
she says it is not fair that she has to be lonely in her bed and the grownups have somebody to snuggle with.

You know it's going to be a long night [2008-10-03]
When the doctor continuously stutters OVER HIS OWN NAME!! C'mon guy.... *sigh* javascript:editor_insertHTML(

Its a semi-cooking night for me [2008-10-03]
First I have to say I love ham and beans. One of my favorite winter food. Tonight DH said he would like to snack - hooray! so its chili dip for us. Sooo easy - I can of chile (any kind you like - we always use no beans) and one 8 ounce package of cream cheese. Heat together til cream cheese is melted. mmmmmmmmmmm - I can eat the whole thing alone.

How true. Last night I was thinking SM [2008-09-30]
Wouldnand if the abusersthe animalswho suffered at their hand. I don There must be a special place for animals. I pray there is.

did you see on the news last night [2008-09-26]
with Charlie Gibson the bit about how women are the men of the house now? I can find absolutely no reason for a woman to get married anymore. Women are working, taking care of the house, taking care of the bills, doing everything and the men just seem to be there, and the men admitted that. I am married, have been for a loooong time but sometimes I look at my husband and think I would be better off on my own. He's a good husband, good father, the main bread winner but dang if he doesn't drive me nuts! If anything ever happened to my husband, I would never get married again. Don't feel the need and I don't understand women who can't seem to live without a man. Even though I'm married, I feel the same as you. I would be very content to be on my own again.

I just had this conversation with my hubby last night! [2008-09-17]
And he will only be turning 40 next month! He was complaining no one wants to be around him anymore, so, against better judgment I jumped in. He has become one of the most judgmental people I know anymore, no one can do anything right, and we are ALWAYS wrong. I don't care if you tell him the sky is blue, he'll tell you how stupid you are! And men say woman are hormonal....HA.

liar is my middle name [2008-09-09]
or is it fraudulent, deceitful, duplicitous, or two-faced? I kind of like the sound of two-faced. It's perfect for me.

I have 2 children in middle school (5th and 6th) grade. sm [2008-09-03]
They have 4 different lines they can choose from. They have the regular line; the Mexi/Itali line which has spaghetti, raviolis, tacos, etc, the sub line which has sub sandwiches, baked potatos and salads; and the the fast food line which has popcorn chicken, steak fingers, etc. They also offer sports drinks, ice cream, tea etc. Our school website is set up where I can view what they have for lunch on a daily basis and so if I see them making a bad choice, I can discuss it with them. Might want to suggest something like this to your school officials.

last night the tests were back from the "air" testing...sm [2008-08-29]
They tested the air in the trunk to see if there was really human decomposition. They didn As of last night they were still waiting on the DNA results of the hair samples from the trunk also. Apparently they can tell if it was from a dead/decomposing body and of course whether or not it was the baby Maybe those came back. Oh! The guy who posted her bond said last night that he was going to revoke it. I'll bet that's it. It was so obvious right from the beginning that she was a lying sack of sh**! First of all, what mother just looks for her missing baby for a month without calling the police? or even telling her own mother? Then, what kind of freakin Not only that but she also had a FEW boyfreinds during it all. Men would be the last thing on my mind and Imight be drinking but it sure wouldn I I wouldn Even with the lame excuse that she gave about some babysitter taking her. If that were the case, then I I I There isn That poor baby girl doesn Casey will get what she deserves in prison though, I can almost guarantee that. And I don The women in there will give her the justice she deserves! You can bet on it!

I missed it last night...what happened? [2008-08-07]
I searched the net but was unable to find any thing on last night's show....

sounds like middle-child syndrome nm [2008-07-28]
nm

"I Can't Live." by Harry Nilson, heard that the night, sm [2008-07-28]
my boyfriend Jack broke up with me when I was 17. He just walked into where I was working and introduced me to Barb. He broke my heart. He is now an ophthalmologist in Florida.

saw a commercial last night for ACE of Cakes [2008-07-25]
and the next episode is New Season. Don't know exactly when that episode is, last night, tomorrow, or sometime this weekend, but at least you are getting your wish.

Saw Momma Mia Saturday night and it is great! SM [2008-07-21]
The theater was packed, and even the men in the crowd were laughing and enjoying it. At the end the people in the theater broke into a loud applause!It was a light, funny movie with all thosegreat songs!

That's what we had last night - I baked up some Flounder [2008-07-15]
My 7-year-old gobbles that up like crazy!

If the daughter's friend spends the night she SM [2008-07-09]
should abide by certain rules. Being found under a blanket with a house guest is not acting appropriately. I am by no means excusing the boy she is interested in. This situation is not good by any stretch of the imagination.

So It's 0200 PST.... [2008-11-22]
And I'm taking a 10-minute break from transcribing and was just wondering... Any other nightowls here working the graveyard shift? Or any other nightowls not working but just up perusing the boards? I know what I'm always doing at 2 a.m., but was curious to see what everyone else who's awake might be up to. Hope you're having a lovely night

live in a town of <150. No zeros. [2008-11-22]
that's less than 150 people, 13 miles from nearest grocery, in the middle of the USA...and i grew up in a big city in CA. but whoohoo!! now we have a cell tower too. turkeys roam the yard every day. sometimes deer, right in town :) and we've been upgraded to high speed I/N as well. Living is good!!

Buy more than one paper Thurs. a.m. [2008-11-22]
It will be worth the price to get extra coupons, especially if you have someone else to go with. Preplan the day/night before. Layer clothing as it may be really cold out usually (where I live anyway) but the stores get hot, crowded and nasty. But it's worth it if you really still need to shop for some special things. I would not want my husband with me as he gets frustrated with crowds and holds me back. Better to bring a friend who will help you shop and likes the excitement of it all. Have fun!!

Birthdays with holidays. [2008-11-21]
Sometimes I like that the birthdays are around the holidays because then I can buy extra stuff and look at it all and decide how to split it up between the 2. Other times, like this year, we don't have much $ so I would really prefer them to be separated more but can choose that one! My husband normally leaves the lights on all night. Turn on when he gets home from work and off in the morning...not this year. I think its reasonable to just do a few hours each evening. I don't think we'll put up as many as we normally do either. Usually we line all the windows, roof, bushes, etc. Probably keep it simple this year.

Something to definitely consider. [2008-11-21]
I would skip putting lights up but that is usually my husband's domain. I'm sure he will want to do as usual for the kids but we will definitely have them on a timer so they only run while it's dark and the kids are awake so just a few hours a night probably. I'm not even going to mention it yet and hope he procrastinates to the week before Christmas.

lights [2008-11-21]
We put ours up every year. We only leave them on for about 2-3 hours a night and not every night. We do it because our kids love them.

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.

It's 23 degrees here [2008-11-21]
and we're having our first major blizzard. Just got home driving in it. No fun. Did I mention I hate snow?! Inside it's a nice toasty 68. Just watching The Ghost Whisperer and ready for a very early night.

Here's my problem....sm [2008-11-21]
My dad is irresponsible and is in financial debt and doom. There is no way he can make the money to pay the bills he has accumulated. He has borrowed money he shouldnt have. Well the situation is... He has been knowing if he didn He refused to pay it. Every time he would get acheck he wouldn Well he kept not paying it for 2 months. Well yesterday they turned them out. It is freezing here. It is going to be in the 20s tonight. He said I don Well he was told and told to pay it and wouldn So now what does he do? As soon as he gets off work he comes to my house cause he don I can So I can He also said he had no money for food because he had to use it all for diesal for his dump truck. So I offered him food too. He also rumages through my cabinets for snacks. I feel like I am the parent and he is the child. My husband drives a big truck and he has been gone. When I tell him what is going on he gets aggravated because he is sitting at our house and all. He said he is a grown man and needs to step up and take care of himself but he is my dad and I can My husband will be home either late tonight or first thing in the morning and this is not going to go over too well with him. I am at a loss.

Now he is laying on my couch watching TV...sm [2008-11-21]
I have the night off and would love to lay on my couch and watch a movie. But I dont guess I will get to. Sad. I can't relax in my own house.

I have a friend who left her live-in ...sm [2008-11-21]
boyfriend of 11 years who she had a baby with because he was doing drugs and wasn't coming home at night, going to strip clubs after work and not coming home, etc. She lived in MS close to me and her parents and all of her family lived in Las Vegas, NV. She left and never looked back. She said it was the hardest thing she ever had to do but she doesn't regret it and is so much happier now.

We did something similar [2008-11-20]
but it was a local theater gift card instead of the netflix. I didn't know netflix did such a thing. That's a great idea. A smore's kit is nice to make or homemade marshmellows (they are not that difficult to make as most people think) with homemade hot chocolate mix and some cute mugs. Also made fleece throws for everyone for xmas one year. YOu can get the no-sew fleece and just cut a fringe around the edge to finish it. Offer up a free baby sitting night to the parents, all you need is a card. Tuck it in the tree with their name on it. If there is something special that you make that someone likes you can make up a basket with many of the ingredients and include the recipe card. If it is cookies or something nonperishable you can include a finished version in the basket.

I don't think I understand [2008-11-20]
so just let him do whatever, support his decisions, and hope for the best? He has a good job it is just that so much of it is eaten by the attorneys, support, transportation, and crazy things the ex dreams up that the child must have and we are told we just have to pay it. It costs more than what I make to cover the mandatory expenses of my step-child. I gave up our finances about a year ago to give him a taste of what it was like. Stupidly thinking this would help. Obviously it hasn't but has made things worse. I always reassure him and tell him we will get through it, etc. but when he asks me to make a decision I tell him honestly. Recently asking if I mind if his teenage nephews come stay for the weekend I ask where is the extra money going to come from to feed them and get them to/from work as its an hour round trip. I offer maybe just one night instead of the entire weekend. Automatically thatthey asked for the weekend. He says he doesn't know where the money will come from and he won't ask the his brother either and asks me to call and tell them no. Of course when I refuse I can tell he gets upset although he won't say it. We don't argue about stuff its just more of one of us getting pi$$ed off until it blows over and then starting again the following week when another circumstance comes up. Honestly, I'm just getting tired of putting up. It has been nearly 10 years now but only 4 since our finances went together. We are also expecting a child, which we could afford before the last 6 months came crashing down on us. Of course this is part of my anxiety over finances but being a man and his usual self he wants to live in la-la land until we don't have money to buy diapers. I'm just so frustrated. Thanks for listening and letting me know that there is hope things will change. Atleast I know when the step-child becomes an adult it will be like winning the lottery!

Anyone go through a divorce w/younger kids? sm [2008-11-20]
Iit just isn while I have always felt you don't throw around the word divorce unless you mean it. Well, I mean it now. I gave him an ultimatum - straighten himself out or I leave with the kids. I am not going to go through 5 years of this again. It is affecting the kids, and my son is acting out to the point of saying he wishes he had never been born. I am giving my husband until after Christmas to decide what he is going to do, and if he does not value our marriage more than his alcohol, I am moving out of state. This is not to keep him away from the kids but because my parents (divorced also) are in a different state than I am and I have no family at all here. Has anyone had to make a decision like this? I donno other options. He refuses to go to counseling or to see a doctor about what I am positive is depression. Any tips or suggestions? Sorry to dump on everyone like this, thanks for reading.

Anyone not putting up Christmas lights? [2008-11-20]
I usually make a big to-do out of having the house and yard lit up, but this year I don't think I'm going to. The few hours they are on a night sure packs a punch on the electric bill. How bout everyone else?

Although for different reasons, I'm putting mine up [2008-11-20]
later than usual. I usually have them up by Thanksgiving, but this year I think I We don I Our current house is a little small and the tree really clutters it up. We If I didn I love Christmas, but things are just too hectic and cluttered right now.

Ok...I have a question [2008-11-19]
Is there some secret to wearing a pushup bra? I cannot for the life of me figure out how to wear it so it looks right. I always get the muffin look and I hate that. I am large breasted, 36D, so is there just to much for a bra to push up? I have a party coming up on Saturday night and really wanted to wear this bra with my blouse..you know kinda looking sexy but not skanky. I'd appreciate it if anyone is willing to share the big secret!

We have been spending less than 100 [2008-11-19]
And we are starving. DH took over going to the grocery store from me (He thought I spent too much when I would spend about 150 a week.) It has been months since we do not have a bare cupboard. I am not complaining. I understand we are broke and he needs to pay the creditors. But the one person who has pretty much stopped eating is me. I am home all day and there is never bread to make a sandwich and I often pass up supper because I am tired of eating junky stuff like mac and cheese or spaghetti with meat sauce. He and our 11 year old son, on the other hand eat thirds of whatever meal it is. I get kind of annoyed. Our littlest boy and middle girl eat very little. All 3 take their lunch to school. I say to DH either stop eating so much (for him and the older boy) or buy more. He flips his eyes at me. We even stopped getting microwave popcorn which used to fill them up. So, now I am hoping to work extra to go to the grocery store myself and put an extra 100 a week in myself, but I keep running out of work. You see, this all started when we started running out of work in transcription about a year ago this fall, and my DH took over the bills. Apparently food was the first to be cut. And, BTW I don't ever go anywhere because there is no gas in my car, and it has 2 flat tires. We live by the school and I borrow DH's car to take the kids but it is always on empty. We seem to make it every time. Oh, well. No need to complain. Just cutting back. The family is lucky I work at home, don't use gas, barely eat. But I do have to pay 10 bucks a month for nerve pills, because it is hard doing without. Like I said, when work picks up transcribing first place I am going after I get gas for the car is to the food store. Eventually I can repair my flat tires.

My mom had a similar problem with [2008-11-19]
Ambrielle. She also bought several and took the tags off to wear them, but they still left her return them. She did save her receipt, though. JCP has always stood behind their products. I have bought and returned numerous things over the years and never had a problem. One time in particular comes to mind. I had purchased a Worthington purse for $40. A year later, I was still using it and it broke on me in the middle of the mall. I didn The clasp on the side just came apart. I took to the JCP in the mall and they allowed me to exchange it for a similar purse in the same price range. No receipt, no tags, and a year old. Can't beat that!

Here is how to measure yourself sm [2008-11-19]
Measure under your bust, around your rib cage where your bra band goes. Take that number and add 5 inches. That is your band size (i.e. 35 inches +5 you are a 40). Then, measure around the fullest part of your bust. This will determine your cup size. Using the BAND SIZE (adjusted measurement above)... 1 inch bigger = A cup 2 inches bigger = B cup 3 inches bigger = C cup 4 inches bigger = D cup 5 inches bigger = DD cup etc. By this method, I am supposed to be a 36C, but I know that Hanes Her Way and some Bali's I need a 36D. You still have to try stuff on, obviously (it should be obvious but I have bought thinking I knew and could not return them!) because styles and brands vary a bit. I will say this about Wonder Bras and others with removable padding in them...they just are not as nice and smooth as one that is molded foam for pushing up. I think it is either Vasserette or Bali that makes several styles with foam cups with the pad molded in. And...your bra should fit on the very last hook always and be parallel to the floor, not riding up in back or front. You should not look like your breastages are pushed squished up towards middle. That is not like pushing up, that is from cups that are too close together to start with, the wrong size bra! I used to wear a 38, but I didneven and only one cup would be full at a time. Umm they were too close together? I got a 38 and discovered I had more chest than I had thought. Now, I have dropped 55 lbs and I am back to a 36. So, if you shift weight, remeasure.

I'm in Florida and spend about $175/wk for 5 sm [2008-11-18]
I5 and 158 lbs,eats more than my husband, who is 6 and 345 lbs. FIL had to have a feeding tube put in last July, and I had to cut down meals by half because we were having so many leftovers and wasting money. Just when I thought I had it figured out, he was able to get the tube removed, so II donwe (FIL and I) will just eat a sandwich or leftovers from the fridge As far as special foods, we dona recipe, and for a while we were buying meat ata butcher shop but have had to cut that out for now. It was really good but was close to DH's work, and if he couldn't pick it up while he was in the area, it was a 45-minute drive. I cook most things from scratch, except lasagna because I hate making it. Once a month, we have a luncheon at church that I bring a dish and a dessert, and I cook Wednesday night dinner there one night per month, but I get reimbursed for the Wednesday night dinner. I do include paper products and toiletries in with my grocery budget but that's it, and I usually go to Sam's once a month for those. I have it easy compared to my parents though. My dad got paid once a month, and there were 4 kids at home all the time, 5 when my sister came up during the summer. They used to have 3 grocery carts slap full of food, and my mom figured out that it took something like 18 boxes of cereal to last a month, each one with a date marked on it so we didnWe also hada freezer to keep extra bread and other things, and my mom also used to mix in powdered milk when the gallon was half-way gone. I never knew until I was grown, so she definitely blended it well.

About $100 a week give or take [2008-11-18]
That's for four of us and I live in Upstate New York. My older daughter is a vegetarian so we do have to buy special food for her, but because she's the only one that eats it, it lasts a lot longer. We eat a lot of chicken and pork, but occasionally a good piece of steak. We're in the process of getting a small freezer so we can buy more frozen foods so we don't have to go shopping as much for certain things. My daughter's lunches are $2.00 a day also, but for the types of food they get there's no way I could feed her for less. We eat out once a week by ourselves with our good friends on Saturday night and at least once or twice on the weekends to either McDonald's, Arby's, Burger King, pizza, etc.

Well this makes me feel better [2008-11-18]
We tend to eat out quite a bit on the weekends, although we never intend to. We usually eat out on Friday night, then sometimes on Saturday for lunch and dinner, then usually cook on Sundays...if I feel like it and we've had a chance to go to the store. Anyway, it's nice to see we're not the only ones who do this...

We eat out mostly at the local pub. [2008-11-18]
We're lucky to have a real neighborhood Irish pub, and we like to meet up with friends there, listen to music, have a beer and a sandwich. It probably costs us about $30 for two of us. Since we're nearly empty-nesters, it's just DH and I who go out. Big, fancy dinners are usually just for birthdays or anniversaries. When wefend for yourself night . My sons know how to cook. DH not so much. But he can make a sandwich, and there's usually something leftover that he can make. My youngest son is a good cook, and if I ask him he'll usually make dinner for all of us when I'm just too tired to bother. Also, a Crockpot is a marvelous thing! I love it. A little planning and effort, and dinner is in the pot cooking all day and ready for dinner time.

Mine does too. She will come home for [2008-11-18]
school and ask Is this whatever I can find for dinner night? She is 14 and has just started cooking, so she absolutely loves it.