Joys of childhood (caution: Mushy mom note) (sm)

What are your favorite childhood memories [2008-08-15]
Watching the kids in the neighborhood play takes me back to my childhood days. Lots of people say they would never go through childhood ever again but I would in a heartbeat. I Mine were 1. Playing all day and night on weekends and after school. My only concern was getting in the house before dark (or by supper time). 2. Grandma Grandpa lived up the road so spent lots of time with them (they taught us how to do the polka to Lawrence Welk). 3. Didn Everything was prepared for me. And, no laundry. Always had clean clothes hanging in the closet. 4. School. Learning, learning, learning and being with friends. 5. Being free enough to have imaginary friends and nobody would tell me I was losing my mind (or were they really imaginary????) 6. Girl Scouts (need I say any more). 7. The idea that I could be a ballerina, movie star, singer, or anything I wanted to be when I grew up and my parents entertained that as though it could become a real possibility for me. 8. Mom and dad tucking me into bed and kissing me good night. 9. Thanksgiving with the whole family over. 10. Best Christmas gifts were Lite Bright, Easy Bake Oven, Feely-meely, Incredible Edibles, Frisbee, Slinky, dolls, and anything that was not mechanical or electrical. 11. Ice skating,sledding parties, and slumbar parties. 12. Being innocent enough to not know about all the kooks and problems in the world while I had the protection of mom and dad always. Well I could think of a ton of things, but those were the best times of my life. What are yours?

Of further note... [2008-07-07]
My husband and I started going to counseling for us to have someone to talk to about the ex and get ideas on how to handle difficult situations with the child. We then slowly introduced the child after the counselor found out information and suggested it.

Positive sayings from your childhood [2008-05-14]
What sayings do you remember your parents telling you?Do unto others as you would have them do onto you.

I would use a check and be sure to note [2008-05-13]
Saw this on Judge Judy 1 too many times where people didn Depending on the type of debt and whether you are mailing the check or dropping it off, I would ask for a receipt. If mailing it, send it certified (check with your post office) and you will get a return receipt for a dollar or 2.

Note my surprise... [2008-05-13]
I did not realize we knew each other so well. You seem to know my age, my mortgage amount, what kind of car I drive, the amount of my household income. You should really be in a different profession.

Please note sm [2008-05-08]
This is not the original poster.

Agree, but on a lighter, but actually maybe a more serious note... [2008-04-18]
I blame Ronald Reagan for taking down the solar panels Jimmy put up on the White House. Just think of what we could have accomplished all these years had they taken seriously the concerns of the 'environmental doomsdayers.' Actually I blame us...

Note from an ex-smoker [2008-04-05]
I smoked for for 11 years. I quit 5/23/85 at midnight - cold turkey. IYou know whats more rude than telling someone they have a bad habit to their face, is to look into another person. Then if the friend said something to me about talking to his/her child that way, then I would have said my parents taught me to respect others privacy. Anyway...I knew when I smoked how bad it was for me. I knew that cigarettes caused cancer and all that crap, but it was my choice to smoke, just like it was my choice to quit (well actually I quit cos I was tired of arguing with my DH about my smoking). Honestly I do not like smoking at all. I am so against it because of many reasons. The main one being that when I am around someone who is smoking I just canit. Iholier than thou attitude) - which is why I am so against forming an opinion about anyone. Ispite because I refused to be forced to quit, but figured my marriage was worth more than the cigs (even though I smoked when we dated those whole 2 weeks). So good luck to you. Try and not let the butt-heads get to you. (get it- butt heads) HA HA HA. PS - On a sadder note my mom died 3 years ago from lung cancer. Oh it was so awful to watch what she went through, so I really do hope you'll feel the time is right sometime soon to try and stop when your ready. I did quit by eating lots of red liquish (don't know how to spell that - Twizzler licorice - yeah think that's it). I held it in my hands like I was holding a cigarette. I told my DH I was going to gain a lot of weight and he said he didn't care how fat I got he just wanted me to quit smoking. 22 years later I am glad I quit (but it was a struggle for a short period of time - took me a couple months to get through the cravings).

End note!...sm [2008-02-07]
Perhaps I shoulda put in my firstpost that you seem to be rather mean-spirited. I heard it in your first post indicating that youThe second post was absolutely atrocious....(I am the grandaughter of...yada, yada, yada). Piffle and snot! Hayseedis very tender-hearted,has extraordinary witand humor,thinks before she speaks/posts, and works very hard. Please donEnd note. Cat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8

Just another note [2008-01-30]
Iblasted for my thoughts and its nice that people respect other people. You did have some good opinions too. One thing I should have mentioned though is that I don't have kids and I think that plays such a bigger role for people who do, and it is easier for me to make my decisions about moving on with my life than it would be for someone else. Growing up it was the other way around. My mom cheated on my dad. My dad was a truckdriver, and yes he may have had women on the road but we never heard about it. My mom on the other hand we knew was having affairs (thereI want to make love to you). My mom also became pregnat by a sailor at the navy base when I was 3 years old and we ended up moving 2 states away where she had the baby and gave him up for adoption, unfortunately 3 months after she gave the baby up for adoption my little sister who was 16 months old died from meningitis. My dad ended up staying with my mom until my sister and I were old enough to understand why they were divorcing (which was 12 years later). We loved both my mom and dad equally. Mom's now in heaven with baby sister and grandparents etc. Anyway...what I'm trying to say is in my case I would have an easier time dealing with this type of situation (because of no kids). As for the hollyweird people I don't think any of them (or at least the majority of them) ever think when they get married it's going to be for life. They are just a different breed of people. Oh sure, they get on TV and say this is for life, but then 3 months later they turn around divorce and a week later marry someone else. I do think Brad & Jennifer were quite different than the usual crowd. I did feel bad for her when all that happened. In my case I am committed while I am in the marriage, but if anything did happen I wouldn't be devistated because I'm basically doing everything myself anyways, but having an affair is just not something my husband would ever do (just not in his nature), but I also just look at life a little differently and figure if anything ever happens I will be committed to making myself happy.

My husband had a childhood no child should ever have to [2008-01-22]
endure. Both of his parents were alcoholics. He was passed from relative to relative, whoever happened to take pity on him at any given time and provide him with a place to live.When he did live with his parents, he was physically and verbally abused. Believe me, his past is very painful and I He didnHe dropped out of trade school.However, he shared all of that withme because not only am I his wife, II, on the other hand, was raised in a very loving, very happy, Christian home. My father was a minister and for most of my growing up years my mother was a stay-at-home mom. I can There a lot of people who donbut IOnce again, Ihis childhood with me.JMO

I forgot to add to the above note [2008-01-09]
My children, sibling and parents do not have a key to my house and we are all very very very close, and I don Why in the world would anyone want a key to someone elses home when they don I know...maybe I should give them all a key to my house and they drunk on the corner down the road too. Give me a break everyone....better yet give the person who originally posted a break (and some credit for knowing right from wrong).

Deviled eggs!!! Nice and mushy, full of protein! MMmmmm nm [2007-12-22]
,

Should be " a more serious note"- [2007-12-20]
x

Note for Siren (sm) [2007-12-18]
I saw your note below about how you are recovering from foot surgery and trying to lose weight. I lost weight about 5 years ago doing Oxycise when I had severe plantar fasciitis. I kept it off for over two years and then stopped Oxycising and gained back what i had lost and more, slowly over the last few years. I just recently started back on it and it is working like a charm. Anyway, it is 15 minutes a day of isometric and breathing exercises. The DVD is kinda nerdy looking and it doesn It is about $30 and it really does work. Back when I lost so much with using it I was practically their spokes person telling everyone I knew but then I slacked off! Anyway best wishes to you!

Thanks for your note, here's more info...sm [2007-12-06]
She is doing well in school in some subjects and struggling in others as she has a couple of learning disabilities but has made great improvement with that so far this year. Itesting them and parents like we used to do when we were older. She doesn't make friends at school easily and that's something a counselor is working with her on, because she does things to really annoy other kids and make them not like her. We already did the drastic measure of taking everything out of her room and that really got to her for about a week, esp since she had to spend every moment she wasn't in school or in bed in her room during that time. She has only earned a few of her things back. Some days she does well and other days she's, like a brat trying to see how much she can get by with. We don't believe in spanking but when I was growing up, if we ever talked like that we'd have been knocked across a room! I told her tonight when she got mad at me and screamed in my face to STOP that if she kept this crap up she'd have a very miserably severely grounded life, and that my next measure would be to add to the grounding to her room no afternoon snack, which she loves, to see if that helps get her attention. She also knows that we're going to see Santa soon but we haven't told her the date for that and that if she's not behaving then we're going to make her tell Santa she hasn't been good....and she knows I'll make her do that.

Note that AquaDots has been recalled. I went into a KB Toys and found one on [2007-11-29]
they couldn I turned it in to the manager and asked him hadn't those been recalled and his eyes about popped out of his head and said that they had and thanks for catching it.

As a side note, when son was 3 WEEKS old, she asked if he could sleep over! (sm) [2007-11-20]
I was breastfeeding and he was a newborn and I said no! Husband was angry and so was she! He spent the night at about 5 months old. They gave me pictures of his visit - he had been sat up on a countertop in a garage with a concrete floor, about 3 feet up. He could not even sit up yet, yet someone had sat him there and backed up to take a picture. So I did have reservations about their safety.

could have wrote you note but sm [2007-10-22]
I have a daughter that is a sophmore.Wamted this certain college. Could not convince to stay in state. It costs her 10,000 dollars more beingout of state. She goes from wanting to b there to not wanting to be there to liking it it to hating itIt depends on what day you talk to her. Joined the band dropped out, had problem with boyfriend moved across the campus, than they started dating again, then he ends it. She gets upset wants to come home. I get a phone call every night. Everytime we decide to have her transfer or come home she decides to stay. Has changed her major three times. What worries me is she is on Student loans that she will be responsible to pay when she graduates. If she leaves college she will have to start paying immediately, where she would have 10 years if the stays in college. This month she is already over 80 minutes on the cell phone and there is two weeks more to go. She spends hours talking to the ex-boyfriend and they are on the same campus. My husband and I are going to talk to a therapist about this because I want to do tough love. Hang up when she calls crying at 11 p.m. Telling her if she does not get her act together she will have no choice to leave etc. He is the softy. Nothing makes her happy. By any chance is your son going to a college in New England.

For sure. Can't wait to see my childhood kitty! [2007-10-05]
The Rainbow Bridge There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge, there is a land of meadows, hills, and valleys with lush green grass. When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other. There is only one thing missing: They are not with their special person who loved them on Earth. So, each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly looks up! The nose twitches. The ears are up. The eyes are staring. And this one suddenly runs from the group. You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her into your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet. Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated. -Anonymous

Our neighbors used the yellow caution tape [2007-10-04]
and I thought it was a very clever idea. Their house looks great. Myabe depending on the area you live in. We are in a new housing development and they are at the end of a cul-de-sac.

Note to self: Never again leave home without a back-up outfit! [2007-10-04]
.

I should note--I did the opposite of what OP is asking [2007-09-22]
I'm the youngin'. DH is the oldie but goodie.

Just read a short note about her appearance [2007-09-12]
I just wish my husband would ask me to put on a slutty show. He and I both would be amazed. When in actual court noticed she kept her eyes down not looking up. I believe in establishing good eye contact. She says she picked up a shotgun, never thought it was loaded (double duh) and shot him. I think anytime you are upset, angry, get a gun you think it is loaded or otherwise why pick 1 up? I have been abused (even broken arm) in years past and I never ever wanted to kill and really do not care to hold a gun at anytime.

We do owe our children a decent childhood (sm) [2007-08-05]
I know you say it didn't matter to you - apparently your mom did a good job raising you on her own. Maybe you weren't that close to your dad. But the best decision is always based on weighing out a combination of circumstances - it is not the same for every person. While yours worked out well for you and your mother and brother, it doesn't always go that way for everyone. If it was that easy, no one would complain, we would just make quick selfish decisions and not worry about anyone else. The fact that some of us are on here complaining is a reflection of us caring about other people, not just ourselves. It means we are thinking things through and taking time to decide, hearing viewpoints of those who have experienced it for themselves and those who have not. Sometimes you don't know which is worse, to stay or to go - you may be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, so staying isn't necessarily accepting second best. It's a huge, big, important decision and one not to be taken lightly. Not everyone ends up as fortunate as you have and we all know it.

hide it and give them a pirates' map or [2008-11-20]
give them a note in a stocking (or whatever) with a riddle sending them somewhere else where they would find another note and riddle sending them yet another place, and so on, and so....until they finally get the gift card! then you could put the card in a really funny place like the frig.

chicken soup [2008-11-18]
Good olJewish penicillin - chicken soup. Use leftover chicken or steamed chicken thighs or breasts if no leftovers are available. Use Swansons natural chicken broth (nosodium) but can use bullion, but it contains a lot of sodium. Use about a quart or moreof natural chicken broth. I like to usebaby carrots whole,but can certainly usesliced carrots. Season with lots ofminced garlic and a little dill weed (maybea teaspoon).I slice in a couple of things ofcelery or sliced celeryhearts with leaves. I sometimes add noodles, or rice, sometimes I use a package of frozen mixed vegetables which are really terrific, depending on what I have available and what type of soupmy family wants.Add some white pepper, not black pepper. Simmer until carrots and celeryare soft. If using pasta or rice, add that last, otherwise it soaks up too much broth and gets soggy. My family would eat this even if they were sick and nothing else appealed to them, that is why I call it Jewish penicillin. This is a Jewish mama Enjoy - it is so simple and so delicious not to mention nutritious and healthy. Note: Never let your chicken leftovers go to waste - make a pot of chicken soup!

chicken soup [2008-11-18]
Good olJewish penicillin - chicken soup. Use leftover chicken or steamed chicken thighs or breasts if no leftovers are available. Use Swansons natural chicken broth (nosodium) but can use bullion, but it contains a lot of sodium. Use about a quart or moreof natural chicken broth. I like to usebaby carrots whole,but can certainly usesliced carrots. Season with lots ofminced garlic and a little dill weed (maybea teaspoon).I slice in a couple of things ofcelery or sliced celeryhearts with leaves. I sometimes add noodles, or rice, sometimes I use a package of frozen mixed vegetables which are really terrific, depending on what I have available and what type of soupmy family wants.Add some white pepper, not black pepper. Simmer until carrots and celeryare soft. If using pasta or rice, add that last, otherwise it soaks up too much broth and gets soggy. My family would eat this even if they were sick and nothing else appealed to them, that is why I call it Jewish penicillin. This is a Jewish mama Enjoy - it is so simple and so delicious not to mention nutritious and healthy. Note: Never let your chicken leftovers go to waste - make a pot of chicken soup!

I'm so sorry for you pain... [2008-11-14]
My dad drank a lot too. I donan alcoholic though. My dad was a horrible father when all five of the kids were at home. He beat my oldest brother horrendously in front of all of us many, many times. He lined us all up by age when I was 5 (I There is a long list of other things that happened. Once we moved out of the house, he turned into a different man. He did apologize to us. He became the best father and friend I could ask for. He was always so thrilled when I stopped by and made me feel more loved than anyone ever has. Fourteen years ago yesterday, my dad was killed in an airplane crash. He had an experiemental airplane and was flying by himself. I have never forgotten my childhood because it has a lot to do with who I am today, but I am so thankful for the time I did have with him once things changed. Maybe you could tell your dad how you feel about him, explain how hard it is to be around him now and let him take the next step. It might beworth a shot. I I know it is really difficult to sort out all the emotions sometimes. I'll be thinking of you.

Explaining a couple of things sm [2008-11-14]
I studied IQ as part of my Masterget you because your sense of humor is probably well off the beaten track. You probably lack social skills from an early age. Your peers would play childhood games while you preferred to try to improve upon the toys they played with. In school, you didn't have to work very hard in most areas. It all came very easily. You didn't learn how to learn, which is a very valuable skill. You probably have a low frustration level and when something doesn't come very easily, you are prone to giving up. Because you see the world in completely different terms than people of more average intelligence, those same average people call you crazy or mentally ill and tell you that you should be locked up. You don't fit in and despite the higher intelligence, you are remiss to know how to accomplish the feat of being more ordinary. I alluded to this in my previous post. I have the unusual combination of being very artistic, creatively gifted AND being rather intellectually gifted. Yes, I did fall at the 99.6% percentile on the Wechsler. I know what it means and I have a firm understanding that indeed, that score suggests that I possess more intelligence than 99.6% of the people who have taken that test, and only 0.4% are smarter than I am. It has been a life-long struggle to fit in. I am too cerebral for artistic people, and too artistic for intellectuals. I literally have no one I fit in with. I have learned to tone myself down to make it work. I didn't say dumb down, I said tone down. That means I don't intentionally talk over the heads of others and I won't cram what I know down anyone's throat. I have had those people in my life who have been jealous of me. I learn quickly if it is artistic, musical, creative, the written word, history and philosophy. I struggle with math. I took piano lessons 10 years ago. I had 40 of them and had never played the piano before. In 40, 1-hour lessons I could play the Moonlight Sonata in piano solo (not a dumbed down easy version). Most people cannot do that. There many other things I have done in a similar fashion, but this is an example for you. You ask why I am an MT if I am so smart. I make very good money as an MT and I enjoy the challenge. My photographic memory comes in very handy too. I often stop and read up on a disease process I am transcribing about, so that I know what it means. Show me a word once and I'll know it forever. It makes my job easier for me to accomplish. This all sounds like I am blowing my own horn, but I am merely trying to explain. Being highly intelligent wonreally smart is not only not helpful, I think it is the root of the housecleaning issues in my life. In short, it is just great to have a good ol' high number and in the end it makes absolutely difference...if you don't count the fact that people with IQs over 150 are 3 times more likely to be depressed and commit suicide than the average population. People who are 125 to 140 are the most fortunate. They succeed in greater numbers in school, in a job, in life. They are very bright, and likely have learned how to learn. They are more likely to persevere in the face of frustration and challenge. It really isn't all you think it is.

I do pity you...sm [2008-11-13]
It sucks when you have a parent who has chosen to put other things/people before their children. I donjob and not coming home to see his family for long periods of time. So you kind of feel like why should I feel guilty when he didn't? It is up to you if you want to see him more than the holidays and b-days. My dad has chosen another family over his family. I am 31 years old and my parents divorced this year because my dad was running around. Well according to bank statements he is paying not only the woman's bills but is paying her daughter's car note and her son's electric bill, etc. Anything they want they got it. This woman's kids are in their 20s. I have to work to pay my car note and I am his own daughter. Which I realize it isn't his place anyways. But it is the principal. He has NEVER payed anything for me and I mean NOTHING. He has never given me money at all. My mom has helped me when I needed it but not him. But yet he can give them anything. He doesn't know I have seen those bank statements so he doesn't know what I know. It kind of makes it hard to want to be around him when I know what he does for them and has never done for me or my sister. I kind of know where you are coming from in that I don't specifically care to be around my dad either and sometimes I feel guilty about it. But then again does he feel guilty for what he is doing? Apparently not.

Slightly different perspective. [2008-11-13]
So maybe I shouldn't post about this since I have not exactly been in your shoes but I think possibly I can lend a help perspective. I lost my father to cancer when I was 19. My FIL is an alcoholic. No I didn't grow up in a divorced family or without a father through my childhood and no I haven't experienced my father being an alcoholic. What I feel I can tell you is there is such a thing as being too late to say the things you wanted to say, good or bad. If it does come to that, you will never let it go. He is still your father regardless of the choices he has made in his life. You only have 1 father. After seeing my FIL, I believe alcoholism is an illness. Sure people can fight it and get help if they wan, but it takes a very, very strong person to overcome it and it is a constant battle. From the sounds of your post it seems as though you have some things you need to get off of your chest. Whether that means sitting down and talking to him or putting the past in the past and moving on with any kind of relationship - I think only you can figure that out. Even a relationship that is only on holidays and important events is still a relationship. Who knows, maybe talking to your mom would help her as much as it might help you. It certainly can't be a short conversation, it needs to be thorough to get through the surface feelings and to the nitty gritty. Maybe, just maybe, your mom could shed some light for you on why she has been able to forget the past to a certain extent and move on. If nothing else, this might make you and your mom even closer and it sounds like no one else (professional or otherwise) would understand better than her. With my FIL, we do not stay when he is drunk or starts drinking. The entire family knows we pack up and leave, regardless of the situation. It hurts his feelings sometimes I can tell, but he knows the circumstances and we have small children that we will not subject to that. It was difficult at first but over the years it is just the way it is and no one says a word anymore and respects where we are coming from.

Been there done that [2008-11-13]
If you haven't already, read books about Adult Children of Alcoholics. My dad was a serious alcoholic who managed to hold down 2 full time jobs. He was either coming home drunk in the middle of the night and waking up everyone fighting with my mother, or when he would have a day off, he was an awesome fun Dad. He never drank at home or in front of us. So it was very confusing. Fast forward many years, at 63 he was diagnosed with cirrhosis and bleeding ulcers and had an emergency subtotal gastrectomy because he almost died. From there on, he stopped drinking because he had to, not because he wanted too. He died less than 3 years later. He lived with me for the last 2 years and I took care of him, and we became very close. It didn't erase all the bad stuff, but I was at peace when he died. I would try to make amends with your Dad now and let go of the past, because to put it bluntly you are a big girl now and you can't be angry about your childhood forever. It is not healthy.

My best one was the Christmas I [2008-11-12]
After everything was open and my brothers and I were so excited to be playing, my Mom asked me to get something from the kitchen. Of course it was dark because we There it was my Barbie Dreamhouse in the kitchen! I loved that Christmas and it got lots of play... Fav foods are cookies, cookies, and more cookies that my sister-in-law makes. I have an aunt that makes Walnut cookies to die for! Every year she On a lighter note, I love seeing our kids opening their stuff! It brings back great memories!

FYI [2008-11-11]
This information comes from the Mensa International web site: Mensa was founded in England in 1946 by Roland Berrill, a barrister, and Dr. Lance Ware, a scientist and lawyer. They had the idea of forming a society for bright people, the only qualification for membership of which was a high IQ. The original aims were, as they are today, to create a society that is non-political and free from all racial or religious distinctions. The society welcomes people from every walk of life whose IQ is in the top 2% of the population, with the objective of enjoying each other's company and participating in a wide range of social and cultural activities. Mensans range in age from 4 to 94, but most are between 20 and 60. In education they range from preschoolers to high school dropouts to people with multiple doctorates. There are Mensans on welfare and Mensans who are millionaires. As far as occupations, the range is staggering. Mensa has professors and truck drivers, scientists and firefighters, computer programmers and farmers, artists, military people, musicians, laborers, police officers, glassblowers--the diverse list goes on and on. There are famous Mensans and prize-winning Mensans, but there are many whose names you wouldn't know. The term IQ score is widely used but poorly defined. There are a large number of tests with different scales. The result on one test of 132 can be the same as a score 148 on another test. Some intelligence tests don't use IQ scores at all. Mensa has set a percentile as cutoff to avoid this confusion. Candidates for membership in Mensa must achieve a score at or above the 98th percentile on a standard test of intelligence (a score that is greater than or equal to that achieved by 98 percent of the general population taking the test). As this list suggests, Mensa is a remarkably diverse organization. While Some Mensans noted here are well known, many others lead interesting lives out of the public eye. Geena Davis: Academy-award winning actress, who has starred in The Long Kiss Goodnight, A League of Their Own, Thelma and Louise and Hero. Donald Petersen: A former chairman of Ford Motor Company. While at Ford, Petersen was involved in the development of two of Ford's most successful cars--the Mustang and the Maverick. Marilyn Vos Savant: Listed in the Guinness Hall of Fame for having the worldAsk Marilyn!, a weekly column in Parade magazine. Bobby Czyz: A former two-time World Boxing Association (WBA) Cruiserweight Champion. Czyz now commentates on many nationally-broadcasted fights. Dr. Julie Peterson: A former Playboy Playmate, Peterson is a graduate of Life School of Chiropractic. Alan Rachins: Portrays DharmaDharma Greg. Rachins, who left the Wharton School of Finance to pursue an acting career, also portrayed Douglas Brachman on the hit TV series, L.A. Law. Adrian Cronauer: Radio personality, lawyer and subject for the movie Good Morning Vietnam. Terance Black: Screenwriter of HBOTales from the Crypt, syndicated series Dark Justice and the feature film Dead Heat. Barry Nolan: Co-anchor of TVHard Copy. Deborah Yates: Member of the world-famous Radio City Rockettes. Bob Speca, Jr.: Professional domino toppler. Speca travels internationally doing domino shows and has appeared on TV programs and commercials. John N. Moore: University of Virginia law professor who specializes in international law. Moore was hired by the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait to help the emirate recover damages inflicted during the August 2, 1990 invasion. Jean Auel: Best-selling author of Clan of the Cave Bear, Valley of Horses, and Plains of Passage. Linda Warwick: Creator and producer of the billboard mega-hit childrensBabymugs!, and the Toddler TOGS series--the fantasy video for highly creative tots. Maurice Kanbar: Inventor and owner of Skyy Vodka. Henry Milligan: A boxer and scholar, Milligan was the 1983 National Amateur Heavyweight champion. Patricia P. Jennings: Pianist with the Pittsburgh Symphony. She is the symphony's first black member and has performed internationally. Richard Lederer: A master of the pun. Lederer has written dozens of books on word play and is a frequent guest on National Public Radio. Judge Ellen Morphonios: Nicknamed Maximum Morphonios for her strict rulings in Florida. Morphonios is a former model and beauty queen who passed a Florida exam that allowed her to enter law school without an undergraduate degree. Richard Bolles: Author of What Color is Your Parachute? which at one point had been on The New York Times Best-seller List for 228 weeks. Velma Jeremiah: A retired attorney who graduated fourth in her law school class at the age of 47. She is a former chairwoman of Mensa International. Dr. Abbie F. Salny: Author of the Mensa Quiz-a-Day books and calendars. Dr. Salny is a retired college professor and expert in intelligence who has served as Mensa's supervising psychologist. Note: most of the members listed are members of American Mensa.

Asthma info [2008-11-08]
So I haven Something I have just been thinking about recently and thought this might be a good place to start. Who knows, maybe someone here has looked into this topic before and can give me some good info. or starting place. :) I have had asthma since early childhood. My mother was recently diagnosed with it for the first time in her late 50s. I am wondering if there is a genetic/hereditary link (or possibility of) and it is something that I should keep in mind with my children. I had always thought it was more due to environmental with me but now I wonder if there could be more to it with my mom being diagnosed. I also have pretty severe allergies and my niece was diagnosed with the same, both of us at the age of 3.

I have a jar in by my bed...sm [2008-11-06]
as we speak and am never without it in the house. My Mom (who would have been 80 had she lived) said they used to EAT Vicks VapoRub when she was a kid. I use it in each nostril for nasal congestion. The aroma is so soothing to me, maybe from my childhood. Needless to say, this news is exciting. Wish I would have known about it last week when my grandson was coughing his head off. I'll keep it in mind for the next time and will be sure to tell others. Thanks for sharing with us.

Ideas . . . thoughts on this? [2008-10-31]
Good afternoon, I am hopeful someone here can answer my question. Does anyone here type for a pediatrician? I was wondering . . . if a child bent all four fingers in a backwards position, would this action cause a lump to form on the back of the hand? Why do I ask? Well my daughter (in first grade) came home from school with a lump on the back of her tiny hand. At first she did not tell me what happened, but it has since come out that the bully in the class bent her fingers backwards. I I had planned to take her to our doctor to have it checked out, but today the lump is gone. I wrote a note to the school teacher asking that this child (the bully) be kept away from my daughter�now there seems to be this big coverup. This little boy was always in trouble in kindergarten and he was known to throw chairs etc.. .. you name it. As a matter of fact the kindergarten teacher couldn My daughter told me that when this finger bending/spitting occurred that her music teacher sent the boy to the office for punishment . . . now the school claims he was never sent to the office, like this never occurred. And no, I wasn Also, I should mention other parents found out there were coverups over bad behavior when this boy was in kindergarten. What should I do? Would a lump result from this type of bending of the hand? I guess I have to wire my daughter to find out what is going on in the classroom. Any suggestions or answers?

I just went thru something similar - sm [2008-10-24]
I was the one back in late August and then back on Oct. 13 or so----I had racked up a ton of debt on his and my credit cards which he knew nothing about. I finally confessed to him, he reacted pretty well considering the bomb I dropped on him. He does not want to divorce over it thank God but some amazing miracle. Obviosly your situation is a bit more complex. My DH is not that controlling. I was/am the one to get the mail, and would decide what he would see or not see, though he had no scruples about reading my mail, he would get upset if I ever read anything personal sent to him. As I know it is nothing to get bent about I let that one go. He has never cheated and even confirmed that when I confessed my deceit and financial infidelity to him. Luckily he still loves me enough to keep it together. He is trying a little more, though he has backed off doing a few things he used to around the house, I have taken on more responsibility around here, the price I have to pay I guess. I did 85% of it before, now, 95% (he used to cook dinner....now it looks like I get the pleasure of doing it from now on as he has not done it once since the 13th. Granted any reference to buying anyting is , we cannot afford it....which we can, but yes things are going to be a bit tight for the next five years, but we will manage. I have not done it yet, but Monday going to get the wheels rolling and do CCCS for my debts. His will be taken care of soon as we are selling off a bunch of mutual funds from the 401K (loan) so no penalties though with the economy we will have to sell more than we would have a few months ago which stinks. ---He is willing to economize now that he knows there is an issue though (he makes about 4x what I do). You will have to bit the bullet and confess as well. It is not easy. I wrote him a note and then left the house for a short while, then came back and we talked it all out. I figured my marriage would be over, but I think for the kids and still some feelings for me he wants to keep it all together. We have a good life together for the most part and he knows that. We do things together as a family, still have enjoyable sex once a week (took him 9 days after my confession), and are in tune with each other and the kids. Considering it he has been so good after it , you never know your husband might surprise you like mine did. He has not really made any comments for a week now, which is amazing in itself. My DH generally is the type of guy who blames everyone else for his mistakes and takes no responsibility for anything, so that is why it was such a shock that he is handling this all so well. Generally he acts like a 3-y/o and holds grudges. So it is possible your husband can be a standup guy. I guess it will depend on how much he cares for you, keeping the marriage together and not becoming a part-time dad or having to give you the house or a ton of money.....I am sure that all factored in in my situation. All I said was that no one would win in a divorce. He has been divorced before so I know he does not wnat to go thru that again, sees it as personal failure. But I feel so much better for telling him, a huge weight has been lifted. I still have a lot to get thru but the worst is over. I know my streess is still up there some, but I know longer have to worry about him finding out, etc. So you need to formulate a plan, maybe set aside some ready cash, and and tell him what is going on. You can email me if you want. I hope it all works out for you.

I wish I could do this! [2008-10-23]
My family basically does this. Mom buys all the food and the kids cook (mostly me because I love it). We decided last year that we would not buy gifts. We only exchange gifts that have a meaning to them. We call it Crafty Christmas (or Crappy Christmas as the husbands joke). It can be something that is meaningful from childhood, pictures, something regifted from your house, something funny, or crafty. We actually had a fantastic time last year and everyone voted to do it againt this year. We agreed not to spend more than $10 getting the gift together, but I don't think anything cost more than a couple dollars as most of it was made from household things. Grandma still bought for grandkids under 18 and did stockings but that was it. Now my in-laws insist on making a big thing of Christmas every year. They spend thousands. I suggested it last year as they were planning to retire and letting us know that they had to cut back - but MIL was obviously offended at my suggestion. My husband's brother and family are in no way financially able to provide any gifts this year (they are living with the in-laws) so I'm thinking of proposing the idea to him and his wife for agreement and let the others do what they want. I can't feel bad for not being able to afford gifts for everyone and wanting it to be more about family than presents. I would love to make dinner this year since we are not going to my mom's (she lives out of state) but that's another thing that my MIL doesn't want to give up and obviously didn't care for my brunch a few years ago BUT since we have the only young child in the family I insisted that we have Christmas morning at our own home and my hubs backed me up.

Cutting out the grandparent(s) sm [2008-10-21]
Please before you take such drastic measures, try everything possible to get your message across in a nice way. The pain of not seeing grandkids is so great and once you lose the offending person you may wish you had them back in your life so you could talk it all over and keep them in your life. My MIL was awful, awful, used to think she suffered from xenerism but miss her. I wish I would have been more patient with her instead of hurting her and my husband by dreading her visits. Life is temporary. I can remember my horror the day my dad showed my grandmother to the door for offering me candy, He literally threw her out. I will never forget how hurt I felt for her. I was only four but my heart was broken and I can still see it in my mind. There are other ways rather than banning someone from your life or your children's lives. I know this will make you even madder, so please don't flame me. Just my humble experience. Unless there is a personal injury, things can be talked over rationally I hope and rules can be set, even if you have to write it down in a nicely-worded card or note. Don't be sorry at the funeral..You have a brain or you wouldn't be a transcriptionist, be the adult but don't be mean about it. Banning is being very drastic IMHO.

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.

I haven't made this yet, but I got it from Allrecipes.com. I like sweet potatoes anyway so will g [2008-10-21]
6 sweet potatoes 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 pinch ground cinnamon 1 pinch ground ginger 1 pinch ground nutmeg 1 pinch ground cloves Add to Recipe Box My folders: Add to Shopping List Add a Personal Note DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter one 9x13 inch baking dish. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes; cook until tender but still firm. Drain, and transfer to a large bowl to cool. Peel and quarter. In a sauce pan, combine pineapple, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Bring to boil and reduce heat. Arrange potatoes in a single layer in baking dish. Pour sauce over potatoes and bake for 45 minutes.

Help! I live next to parents and they ...sm [2008-10-15]
are driving me mad, well my dad is anyways. I have always lived on my parents land next door to them. I live in a mobile home. Well my mom and dad divorced this year because my dad was cheating. He was calling another woman up to 10 times a day, going to her house, has give her everything he has. He owned cattle and sold them and got $32,000 for them. Well the money disappeared and he was broke before long. This woman he is cheating with is on disability and lives in a house and has a SUV. Her daughter has a car and son a truck and none of them work. Mama has looked on his bank statements and seen where he is making their payments. Well of course mom put him out. Like to never got him out. He got a mobile home and parked it on the land. She got 3 acres and the house in divorce. He has the remaining 7 acres. Well he puts his mobile home on his part and refuses to hook it up. He is staying in this trailer with no power, no sewage, nothing. There is only a bed. He has had the money to hook it up right. My mother has offered him part of the furniture and a TV. He doesn He refuses to live like a normal human being. Then he comes to my moms house every day when she gets off of work and wants to come in and take a shower. She is like no we aren You have a trailer and you go hook it up and take a shower over there. Well it has water to it he just doesn Well that is his own problem. He chooses not to have it hooked up because I guess he wants an excuse to come over to moms. Well she tells him no. Then he comes to my house and sits and sits. He comes over because he has no furniture and no TV or nothing. He comes and rumages through my cabinets and bums food. If me and my mom are at my house and decide to cook something he invites himself over there and helps himself. I have never seen anyone who was so annoying. I can He refuses to get a washer or dryer which without electricity it wouldn So he comes to my house and says can I wash my laundry? Well gues what? I end up doing it cause he doesn Then he leaves it there and expects me to finish it. I can not hardly do my work because he comes over and says are you busy? I just wanted to talk. I won Then he just sits there. I am at my wits end. I just want to move. He came over and said can I borrow a duffle bag? I said ok. I give it to him. He says I am gonna go buy one and I will bring it back. I never have got it back. Then he comes over and says can I borrow an ice chest. I let him borrow it and never get it back. He bums off of everyone here but this other woman and her children he gives whatever they want. He has taken money from me and my sister. He has borrowed money against my sisters extra vehicle she had paid for. He asked and she let him. he didn THis is his own daughter he did this to now. My husband had a pickup in my dads name because his credit wasn Big mistake. When the truck was almost paid formy dadborrowed money against the truck behind our backs. THen the truck is stolen and insurance has to pay it off. Well it was worth more than what was owing so we got the differnece. Well he had borrowed $1600 against it and said he didn So it came out of our insurance money from the truck. Finally when we knew he had some money we had to bug him and bug him for the money and he said $1000 is all he owed. He borrowed $1600 and paid one note on it before the truck was stolen. So we were out about $500. He takes from his children. I am at wits end. I want to get far far away from him. My sister lives an hour an a half away and she seems pretty lucky right now. What the heck to do?

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.

Mine pretty much soaks in immediately but [2008-10-13]
I have found that if you use a primer it does go on a lot smoother. BE has a face and eye primer that I like a lot. On a side note I just got the eyebrow powder in today and love it!

do you speak with your hands - and I don't mean [2008-10-06]
My husband does not listen to me either. He looks like he's paying attention but he misses half of what I say. Couple thought I have is. Awhile ago we were watching a TV special it said that people listen and remember what you say when you talk with your hands (the study was done on school children). Well I don't talk with my hands. Never have and don't know how and when it do it just looks odd. I told him maybe I should start talking with my hands because then he would remember what I tell him. Iwhat he. He's been out of work for about 5 years now and he doesn't know what he wants to do with his life (he's 50 years old). We will talk and talk and talk and then the next day it's back to square one like I never said anything. Sometimes what I will do that helps is I take scratch pieces of paper and I write notes on them and them leave them all over the place. Like I keep a running list of errands we have to do and keep it on the corner of the table and a couple times through the week I will say we need to to this or we need to do that, and then I ask him when he would like to go do them (usually ityour not interested in what I Maybe the note thing will help, it does with me. I wish you luck.

How many of you think this might be true [2008-10-02]
That young men marry women who look similar to their moms? I heard this once and I started to take note... I'm beginning to think that maybe there is some truth to it...

you sound like the big sis I need [2008-09-30]
Thanks for your note. I could be making more of this than what is really necessary. It is a horrible way to live (always planning for the worse and worrying about what's going on for things we can't control). I think he realized today that all the negative news and me having to work was really getting me down. I just feel myself getting heavier and heavier and I'm so exhausted right now I feel like I'm about to fall asleep and I have got to finish the rest of my work (about another 4 hours). The reason we don't celebrate holidays is actually an agreement we both have. We used to celebrate holidays but every year I found myself so depressed because I've been away from home for close to 30 years and it is still hard, and I cant just go home every year. And he does not like family rituals or whatever those things are called (can't think of the word), as in it's Thanksigiving so we eat Turkey because it's thanksgiving (family traditions - that's it). So over the years I found it easier to deal with the holidays by not celebrating them. If I do cook a turkey on Thanksgiving its because I feel like having turkey that day. When I say I can't throw too much at him, he doesn't have health problems, but he just can't handle too much. We take one situation at a time. I learned that years and years ago. Me, I'll do 10 things at once, but I keep it simple for him otherwise, so he doesn't get too overwhelmed. Yes I know he's a big boy, but not all men act like it. I may not be expressing myself too good at this point. I'm so exhausted and need to go lay down. Thanks for listening. I liked your last line bout thinking his down and out feelings are more important than my well being. I will be thinking on that one more. Thanks again.

If I were his GF, he could count his remaining days [2008-09-29]
And note: I'll bet if he'd done it to a DOG, he'd have been convicted. For some reason, society (especially men) seem to put little to no value on the life of a cat. Well, after hearing that story, I put no value whatsoever on HIS life.