Seen movie lots and scene only recently deleted.

This is some advice I recently read [2008-12-01]
which would benefit me as well. In a nutshell: Worry only about the things you CAN change, not the things you CAN'T. You'll never change your sisters so let it all go. Change the way YOU handle your life and move forward.

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!!!

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

Grapes of Wrath had an accompanying movie sm [2008-11-14]
Tobacco Road - never saw such depressing movies back-to-back in my life, but they were truthful. Saw them in college for history lessons. Can you believe some people are going to put more on their kids by telling them he truth about Santa in this awful time? Talk about depression -- did we come this far to go back in attitude - read some of the above posts - probably born again and saved and we are the lost. I doubt it, I think we have lived it and don't want to see that negative attitude again. Oh boy, flaming, her we come. I am going on a 2-week hiatus. Fight on! Worse than the politics board - too much negativism in what is already a troubled time. Think positive! Geez! Santa, I love you!

Love movie "A Christmas Story" when dogs eat the turkey and they go out for Chinese. We love d [2008-11-13]
nm

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

I recently received info [2008-10-31]
on ViaCord from registering at Babys R Us. I have heard of them before but not participated in such a thing myself. I'm sure they have information online or you could drop by any store and pick up a brochure. I have received it from other places too and this is the only one that I receive.

I recently realized [2008-10-29]
that I cannot compare my family to my husbands. It's hard when you grow up with such different values focusing on basic things like the importance of family and relationships. MIL was recently in the hospital with heart concerns and they just dropped her off and went home. This is the 3rd time her husband has done this. Atleast this time he called the children. It is beyond me why one of her 3 boys (or their spouses) did not make the 15 minute drive to go sit with her. I would have but I was working and figure if out of all those people no one else could make the effort, why should I turn my life upside-down to do it. I can't imagine anyone in my family doing that, even if it was something routine or scheduled. My sister is the one who told me to let it go.

yes, its a wonderful life -- a feel-good movie :) [2008-10-27]
x

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.

My husband work midnights until recently. [2008-10-21]
He would get home at 8 a.m. By then, I had been up and working for a few hours and was ready for a small break. We would talk while I ate breakfast. He would go to bed and I would continue with work. By the time, he got up around 4 or 5 p.m., I would be done working. We were able to spend time with the kids together and have dinner together before he went to work again. He has been on night shift at different times during our marriage, the last time for 4 years. We've never had any problems as far as my working. I just adjust my work time accordingly. If your husband is sleeping days and your kids are in school, what type of problem are you having getting work done?

Has anyone seen movie "Enchanted"? It is [2008-10-20]
nm

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

as i am typing, i bet it is getting deleted [2008-10-16]
I cant believe it has been on here this long! I am quite sure that it is going to go fast. By the way, look up the EU, European Union. Go to Google and Images and check out the building. In front of it is a statue of a woman riding a beast. Also, their seats for the congress/senate or whatever they are called are numbered, going up to 800 or something. all filled up with the persons name, except number 666 is empty.

What price range? I recently made a slide show for a relative (sm) [2008-10-13]
from their old photos

Been going up and up for 2 years around here not just recently! [2008-10-11]
xx

Fireproof movie [2008-10-08]
My daughter and I went to see it last weekend and I would recommend it with 10 thumbs up. It really was the best I have seen in a long time since Amazing Grace. We are also planning on seeing the Billy Graham movie.

Fireproof movie [2008-10-07]
Has anyone seen the new movie Fireproof yet? It is great and you definitely should! It was produced by a church near my town and they did an amazing job! Even if you are not a Christian or other belief, it is still a great movie. Yes there is a lot of Christian overtures in it (I mean it was made by a church!) but the main theme is love, and I think that is something everyone can understand! I give it two thumbs up! In the days of every other movie being drugs and naked people, it is refreshing! Let me know what you think!

I just recently went out and got my own account sm [2008-09-20]
to avoid the arguments over money. He is not very happy about it, but I told him that after 18 years of being together I cannot have this argument any longer. My husband was a real mama's boy and he got whatever he wanted when he was a child (an ONLY child BTW). I came from a large family where I wore my brother's hand me downs and share clothes with my sisters. I have decided it is never going to change, but I needed to get that stress out of my life. I told him as long as you pay these bills, your leftover money is yours to do whatever it is you want to do. I am exhausted with this situation. I love my husband, the children adore him, so I am hoping this will help the stress in our marriage so we can stay together. I am sorry to stay this will only get worse. We don't even have a house, we rent an apartment for God's sake. He has no desire to even buy a house . . . I am going to try to qualify on my own. Wish my luck . . .

your post reminds me of the Jim Carey movie [2008-09-10]

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

tv show/movie board [2008-09-02]
Do any of you feel we could use a TV show/movie board?

I wanna watch the new Vin Diesel movie [2008-09-02]
hot!!

Movie buckets are fun too.... [2008-08-23]
We've given those before. We buy paper tubs of microwave popcorn and put in there 2 movie rental tickets or a gift card equal to it, some bottled soda and boxed candy. Movie night in a bucket. I got it as a gift years ago, and I liked it so much I give it to others now.

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.

This happened to a friend of mine from high school........sm [2008-12-01]
He had mono after we graduated from high school and was off work for about 5 weeks. He went back to work too early and, while driving home from work one day, his spleen just burst and he crashed into an oncoming log truck, killing him instantly. It was really a double tragedy because the first people on the scene to find him were his mom and dad, who had a bad heart anyway. His dad suffered a major MI on the spot and had to be taken to the ER. His poor mom lost her son that day and almost lost her husband.

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.

About the coming change to all... [2008-11-30]
If there's anyone left on the planet (well, maybe it's just this country) who doesn't know this, and isn't sick and tired of hearing about it, seeing TV spots about it, etc. It's been going on for what, almost a year? It started before Feb 2008 because some got the idea THAT was when it was going to change, but it was 2009- over a year away. I haven Thinking it was some big news story, I read it, and I don't know if it's been saying this all along but, along with saying you won't get (or might NOT get) good or any TV when it changes, unless you get a converter box, it also says YOU CAN USE A VCR OR DVD (as a convertor)! Not a lot of people don't have a VCR or DVD player and if not, you can get a cheap one for $39.99 or so. So, you can hook up your antenna to the VCR or DVD player and that converts it to the digital the TV needs, and you also get the VCR and DVD player (if you don't already have one)? So, why haven't they said this before? Or, if they have it wasn't stressed. People can get coupons to buy a converter box, more wires and things to hook up, when they can use their VCR or DVD player (or buy a cheap one and watch tapes or DVDs or record, etc. on them, too)? Maybe I have this wrong, but I know it said you either MIGHT need a convertor box, OR a VCR or DVD player to get the digital signal (just not with your TV and anntenna) Just thought I'd pass this on, in case anyone who uses an antenna still hasn't gotten a converter box but might have a VCR or DVD player (or would rather buy one, instead)

Do you have any [2008-11-30]
Secrets about your past or family that your spouse does not know about or found out that your spouse was keeping one from you? Things tend to slip when family spends a lot of time together around the holidays. Do we need to know everything about our spouses or should bad decisions from high school and childhoodbe left in the past? I firmly believe nothing should be deliberately kept from a spouse. My spouse knows everything about me but I have nothing to hide from my past. I recently found out thatsomething has beenkept from me. Deliberately I He does not know that I now know this secret. Not sure if I should keep the secret and pretend I don A part of me wants to hear from him that he believes it was a mistake and would never encourage our children to do the same.

I just need to VENT and see what you all think...Beware...this is long...sm [2008-11-30]
I have tried twice to tell this story but deleted it both times because the story is just too long so I will be as short as I can. I have a bunch of ROTTEN TO THE CORE sisters.My sisters are just about the worst people I have ever met in my whole 43 years on this planet. There is one who is especially bad and I just told my other sister that if she ever dies, to please not call me as I won I come from a very large family with 5 sisters and 1 brother with my brother being the oldest. He is not involved. He sort ofleft the family years ago because he couldn They did terrible things to him after his divorce. We rarely see him now.I am considered a scumbag and a loser because my husband and I don We don We don We can We love our children with everything in our souls. They have made fun of me and my husband and insulted us to our faces.My husband and I have a difficult marriage as he is tough to get along with so they hate my husband My sistershave all gone out to dinner without inviting me. I have found out because of someone They have made threats and sent rumors flying throughout the family, without me knowing, about calling DCYF on me. I heard that one too from a slip of the tongue. I cried for 2 hours in the shower that day. They talk about everyone and I mean everyone badly. They have awell known reputation ina couple of our towns here for being mean horrible girls. They are about as fake and phony as a person can get. Sweet and all smiles to your face and when you turn around, they stick that knife in as far as they can get it in. They have what they have in their lives because of what someone has given them. My sister had her property given to her by her in-laws. It is worth about $1,000,000. My other sister had land given to her by her husbandto lessen their mortage burden so now they owe almost nothing on their $500,000 house. They think they are fabulous people. They think they are the cat In the past years when we were all talking and I would be invited to a holiday, I was not spoken to at all the whole time I was there. I am a venter and I always have been so if my husband and I are fighting, I will always go to my older sister (one up from me) and vent and vent until I can She gets on the phone the second I leave and tells every person in my family what is going on. They in turn judge me and my husband, make their threats, and so on. This is also happening to my oldest sister and her partner (she is in a gay relationship but was always dating a man and was married twice) and my sister The three of us, me, my sister and her partner, and my sister We get along well. We are happy with each other. We don Whatever happens in each other lives, we just accept it and don I now attend holidays at my sister I don I don The sisters (I like to call them the Witches of Eastwick) all attend holidays with each other up at my sister The three of us are not invited. My older sister has a son. Several yeas ago, my sister and her partner had a terrible fight with him. He went to the witches and told them a bunch of lies and now they have pretty much shunned her and her daughter and me too because we still talk to her.I have a sister, who is involved in all of this, that I speak to on a regular basis. She is close to my kids or at least my oldest son. She pretty much ignores my other two children and they tell me, It She is the one who has spread rumors about me in the family trying to get everyone to call DCYF on me. I heard this too by a slip of the tongue from another sister a few years back. I tend to be a forgiving person so I quietly forgave her for this without her ever knowing that I knew what she was trying to do. Now that they are all inviited to the holidays up to my sister They are extremely fat just like her. These holiday trips up north are usually kept quiet and I only know about it the day before they are leaving to go, which is when she inevitably asks me to come feed her f******g cats. This is how Iknow that a big party is going on up at the cabin and once again only the chosen selected few are going. This is usually for 3 or 4 days and they get fed twice a day so I have to goto her house twice a day. Sometimes I have to give them medication and the last time she asked me, I even had to soak her sick cat She lives about 20 minutes away from me. This girl would NEVER, NEVER, EVER do this for me. My husband and I took our children on a cruise 3 years ago and we have a cat and I never asked her to do this for me as I know she would have laughed in my face. I have been feeding her cats for years now when she goes away. Keep in mind though that she was in the select chosen few to be invited up to the cabin. I was not as I am considered trash in the family. I am SICK AND TIRED of feeding this girl My sister who invites everyone to go is a mean, horrible, sadistic, vicious, backstabbing wretched b***h. No one will say anything to her like, Gee Pat, where is everyone else? Didn They could care less. All they know is that THEY were invited. Anyway, I am sorry this is so long. I cananymore. I have been thinking of this all day all weekend long. I am really to the point where I just don I am goingto tell my fat a** b***h sister to fnd another way to get her cats fed because I She is just using me and believe me when I tell you, she enjoys it. She is verydiabolical. She loves it that I am not invited and she and her husband are.She even questions me and counts the cat food cans to make sure that I came on all of the days they were gone. These people have balls of brass and I have had ENOUGH.I am just sitting and waiting patiently for the next time she says, Oh, we Can you come and feed the cats? I just canNo. I can I will never feed your cats again! Find some other sucker to do it! I believe that they are severely narcissistic people and this is nothing to take lightly.These types of people are very destructive. Do any of you have family members like this and what do you do about them? How do you stop them from making you feelsad, lonely, excluded andless than you are or deserve? I think it is time for me to cut all ties with them. I just can

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.

Share your recipe?? [2008-11-26]
Funny - I've just recently gotten back into salsa (bad single days experience involving too much drinking and that was over 14 years ago!) Anyways, hubby loves salsa also and I would love to surprise him and make some homemade! TIA

MIL [2008-11-26]
My mother-in-law has been the same way recently. The last couple of years when we visit I have to make a run to the grocery store. The last time we actually ate deli sandwiches from the Safeway in our car because she had no food in the house! It is so frustrating trying to be subtle with the kids around who complain and are hungry!

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!

I do know that I don't need them [2008-11-25]
as friends or my life is going to end if they don I never was a peoplemagnet. If they don To each his own. My child gets along with all their kids.She really doesnshe just sees kids and that is how they view her, as a kid.The boydid not say, mom take mehome now so I can play with my Wii. He wanted to stay and play with dd and the other kids. Yes, this kid is an only child which is probably why he gets so much. I have 2. I cannot afford a Wii except on credit and I don I did consider it once, I was looking at one with dd and she was not interested at all. She wanted to go down the isle where the dolls were and the art projects were. I asked her if she even knew what that was. She said Yeah! that is a Wii. We play it in the afterschool program when it is raining outside. She just doesn She does like the board games and that game of Go Fish and Old Maid I got her. I never really knew what a Wii or an Xboxwas until 6 months ago. I knew what Playstation was. When I was a teen I thought they were annoying because of all the bleep bleep bleep.. and kids sitting there like zombies. I never thoughtabout them again until recently and noticed that they have all advanced since I was a teen. But, I am still out of it. Someone was talking about a Guitar Hero and I thought it was a song from the 70s. It took me a while to realize that was some sort of game.

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??

What would you think? [2008-11-24]
Here Best friend and neighbor from kindergarten through highschool. Grew apart with college but stayed in touch. After college I moved out of state, she moved back in state - still stay in touch and email regularly. I see her every time I am in town, if she is available. She is got married in November and eloped in Jamaica. She is having a reception in December. I planned to come to the reception, take my stepchild out of school, etc. only for this reason and its on a Friday so its a 4-day weekendtodrive there.I am pregnant and not able to travel after the holidays. My family decided to throw me a shower there that same weekend because I really canafford to go down again. They specifically planned it for Saturday night so she would be able to make it after her festivities Friday and any of her family leaving on Sunday. So I saw her recently when I went for a visit and she said she wouldn She then gives me a gift, not wrapped, obviously thrown together and tells me that she picked it up quickly on her way to meet me because she won't be able to make the shower. It When I got married she sent me nothing, not even a card but she was just out of college. I had planned to give her a $50 gift for her wedding. I received a $10, maybe $20 baby gift of which 1 outfit is the wrong gender. She was well aware we know what were are having. This is my first baby. My feelings are conflicted on this but the more I think about it, the more upset I get. I just dont Is it truely that she is just wrapped up in herself right now and the marriage moment and happily every after and (after almost 10 years) I am over the marriage thing being some huge, happy,perfect day and realize there is more to life? I feel like she could have atleast planned to stop by the shower for 10 minutes and I wouldn Or she could have even told me she planned to come and then couldn Sorry this is getting long. I just can Am I clinging to a friendship that is not there?

Mac&Cheese [2008-11-24]
LOL, I made homemade mac and cheese a couple times and the kids didn But they love the Kraft. My 12 yo niece recently told us that when she was little she though Grandma made the best mac and cheese in the world. Yep, it was Kraft in the box. I wouldn In our family we just always make mac and cheese for the little kids and they're happy.

I have a BFA too, in metals though-sm [2008-11-24]
went in for design originally then got into metals work, jewelry, functional art stuff, unfornately you have to either make sometime mainstream that starts a fad and keep it fresh all the time, or die basically. I have known a few successful jewelers (worked for one of them) who just kind of fade out after a few years. I never hit it big, did so some good shows (juried only), never made a lot, had reps who peddled my stuff to local galleries for me, but have not done that in quite a while. Neighbor wants me to go with her and split costs at local craft fairs, but I really have never made any money that way. I love crafts though, into crochet though don't have the time for it. Recently got a very nice used table-top weaving loom and hope to use it at some point, maybe do some runners or placemats---took a weaving class my last semester, wish I'd done that sooner, really enjoyed it. Sounds like you have done a lot though. I have done just about everything you have listed there except the interior design, not really my thing, but have made clothes, and cakes, very good at those, and have had people suggest I do it for a living but both are so timeconsuming. I love gouche and acrylics, have never done oils, I am more into abstract though I do love landscapes just never tried them. My plan is once we get all the bills paid, the house, and kids are done college to get back in my jewelry.....this way my DH won't drive me nuts being home all the time too. Maybe I will put him to work wtih some fabrication and assembly!

My opinion [2008-11-24]
While on some level I agree with the others about having a giving nature, I understand where you are coming from completely. I am not really a material girl, but some things I would rather not lend, at least not without being able to explain how to care for the item. I mean, if I paid for it, and I am by no means rich or even the slightest bit well off, I do not want to have to save up my money to purchase another of the same thing that I would have kept in good condition for life, and I shouldnI usually use a fork too, but DH just bought these and offered her a large plastic cooking fork. She just explained that she wasn't going to scratch it and kept right on doing what she was doing. People oftentimes do not care when it is not theirs. Sorry so long, guess it hit a nerve. I have so many of these it wasn' theirs so they didn't care stories I could just go on and on. It is annoying.

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!

Well its 11:35 PM Saturday night here [2008-11-23]
on the west coast. I am a late person by nature. I absolutely hate going to bed and I hate waking up. Weekends I usually stay up til 2 or 3. I just finished watching the movie Twister. Now I'm going to try to work on some reports but I think I will end up going to bed. Nothing too too exciting going on.

I have a BFA and am an artist sm [2008-11-23]
I am not, at this point, trying to make money at it. I have sold things in the past, however. Stuff I do: scratchboard landscape painting in watercolor and acrylic, some oils colored pencil drawings for really intense and detailed color reborning dolls I design and make rag dolls and their wardrobes soft sculpture stuff interior design (have done loads of this for money) silk ribbon embroidery and regular too crochet knitting tatting (needle and shuttle types) sewing (a particular passion because I design clothing, draft the patterns and make the item, always fits like a dream) decorate cakes which I have been paid for I don't quilt. Because I make garments I can't see the joy behind taking a big piece of fabric, cutting it into little pieces and sewing it back together to make a big piece of fabric. I know there is a lot more to it, but this is what stops me! I don't scrapbook because I don't need another hobby (see above). I especially appreciate the efforts of others with regard to scrapbooking and quilting, because I don't do these things. I have used my design skills to make a living. I am an extremely good costume designer and I have built some incredible costumes in my time. There is not a lot of money in community theater and more to the point, I don't like theater types. It is not my scene. I prefer to work in a solitary environment without a lot of other people's input. This is probably at the root of my being an MT. The money is good and I have enough time and funding to participate in my avocations.

Just paid $1.67 here near Richmond, VA- sm [2008-11-22]
we are about 45 minutes east of Richmond, and have 5 gas stations within 6 miles of each other, and one recently reopened after being closed for over a year (was just doing car repairs, closed the pumps) and has been undercutting all the competition. The other stations are at $1.77 or higher.