So corporate cheating is fine

Kind of cheating [2008-11-21]
At work our user names are the first four letters of our last name and the first two of our first name. Mine came out Horski which I kind of liked and on the boards, no one knows my gender right away too. I'm female by the way! You trying to pick something?

It should be fine as long as it is cooked. [2008-11-05]
xx

Cheating spouses [2008-09-18]
I look at it this way, when you cheat on your spouse in the eyes of the Lord your marriage is dissolved anyhow. If my spouse ever cheated on me, I would definitely not stick it out for companionship or otherwise. It would just not be worth it to me because there would be massive trust issues from that point on. Just not worth it. For goodness sake, I would buy a dog before I would stay in a loveless marriage always wondering if my spouse was getting ready to cheat again!

Cheating spouse/boyfriend, etc. [2008-09-18]
Many years ago I was married to a cheating spouse. I was pregnant with our second child when he took it upon himself to cheat with an underage girl in the back of our brand new station wagon. Well, I learned about this when a paternity suit came up with his name on it. Apparently he was so dumb that he did not know the girl had a boyfriend and being the sucker that he was he did not know that they would pin the paternity on him, and get money from him. Too bad it wasn't in this day and time because he would have been in jail because she was only 17, and he was in his 30s. This was only 1 in a string of women that I found out after the fact, and even contracted an STD when I was pregnant!! I also suffered spousal abuse, and have the scars to prove it. After 5 years of this I got out,and the only reason I stayed was for the children, but that was a huge mistake on my part. Now, whenever, I hear or see this on a program it makes me furious that these men think this behavior is okay. It is never okay and leaves many people, including children, to suffer much heartache.

Really? I'm 50 and it works fine for me; however, sm [2008-09-15]
I do use a good moisturizer before applying. I also have to use a bit extra of cream make-up to conceal redness and then apply the Bare Minerals.

Does your city have a fine if you get caught? [2008-06-10]
Does your city have a fine if you get caught? I don't know about mine. I don't think there's one, but I could be wrong. ALBANY, N.Y. -- The New York state Legislature has given final passage to a bill that would charge $250 for pet owners who don't pick up after their dogs in some parts of the state. Dog owners currently have to pay $100 if they don't pick up the poop. The change would apply to the five boroughs of New York City, Albany and Yonkers. The Assembly passed the bill Wednesday and the Senate had already passed it. A spokesman for Gov. David Paterson said the governor will review the measure.

I think the letter is fine (sm) [2008-05-08]
until it reaches the Bullying is... paragraph. I would have left that section out. At that point, it appears you are attempting to psychoanalyze these children, which is strange (and arrogant).

So corporate cheating is fine [2008-04-25]
You said - However, it does NOT justify lying, cheating, stealing insurance dollars and benefits just because you don't like it. What do you call it when someone pays their premiums for years, they are told they are covered, then the insurance company decides they don Sounds like what you just described above. Butit happensevery day, and its supposedly OK, because its business, I used to do medical billing, outrageous how many claims were denied because the ordering physician didn The providers didnpatient ended up in collections,,,and IMO the patient was lied to, stolen from, and cheated out of his insurance dollars and benefits. BTW, I do make my own money. Idiligently seekreasons to deny a claim, even if I play by all their ever changing rules and memorize my policy. And that includes the entire insurance industry, be it medical, LTD, life, auto, or homeowners insurance.

I understand the problem with cheating by using phones [2008-04-23]
and my children do carry the cells to school but keep them turned off and in their locker....which kinda defeats the purpose of being able to call in an emergency but I do know the problem it can become. The kids are also not supposed to have them on field trips that are just for the day (they are allowed to take them on overnight trips). Well, my son was on a high school field trip to VA Tech on Apr. 16. If hadn't had a teacher that allowed them (just don't abuse them) we would not have known for hours that he was okay. I went to the middle school that very afternoon and spoke to the principal about my DD taking her phone on a field trip and the principal said that it would be okay. That's good, cuz she was taking it no matter what.

It works fine if you live in a dry climate, [2008-04-08]
but it is a nightmare if you live in a humid climate like we have in NC. Sheets don't dry, they just get covered in pollen.

He just got a $175 fine a few weeks ago for not having a duck stamp (nm) [2008-02-27]
x

Their dad is fine - where would you have them go? (sm) [2008-02-25]
People amaze me when they think kids should be ripped out of an imperfect home and thrown to the wolves....do you not think these children would be sad, upset and terrified and scarred for life to be torn from their family? They are not being abused or treated badly. There is no reason to suggest taking the kids from their parents that is just ridiculous!!

If their Dad is fine then enough is enough sm [2008-02-25]
The Dad has to protect these kids then from the fallout of what the Momhas chosen to do if it is truly what the original poster has outlined.He shouldnbooty call -that is not language meant to be in childrenbooty call should never be used in these childrenBooty call - not Parents Magazine talk!

okaay - dad does not sound fine [2008-02-25]
I, for one, did not suggest that kids be taken from the home. I suggested the dad take himself and the kids out of that situation. If you will see my prior post, I am sympathetic to this man Do you not think that the kidsfeel what is going on? When they argue, dad or mom is sad, depressed, etc? Maybe daddy should get a playmate and see if mommy like it - okay, that is not a good idea, but this is just an unreal situation - unreal because the woman is willing to travel to another country - okay, not like France or Canada but to EGYPT of all places - place herself in danger of not ever seeing her kids again - for what? A man? OMG, I know kids will suffer from being taken from mother, but what situation is better? If other than this, she is a good mother and takes good care of kids, then she will keep kids and your brother will have to make that tough decision to leave and have to leave kids and do visitation and all that, but who wants to have a sham for a marriage? Unless they get serious counseling or maybe find God or whatever, this marriage is doomed, only a matter of time.

It doesn't matter "where you stand." What works for you is fine. What works for me is fine. [2008-02-15]
Comparing ourselves as to frequency is ridiculous.

Corporate scandals [2008-02-11]
What gets me about these scoundrels is their lack of ethics, and the insult to the pubic when Ken Lay spoke of being a Christian - pleeeze!!! A psychiatrist explained that it is really not about the money with these pigs, it's about control - they have plenty of money, but they have a deep sickness to control, to feel control.

What makes you think he's cheating on you? [2008-01-30]
p

As far as I know, he's fine. sm [2008-01-17]
My dad does not take care of himself. He He eats whatever (fried foods, hamburgers, etc). My dad doesn He has a family history of cancer and heart disease. His mom died in her 40s of cancer. I think he In his mind not knowing is better. HeDad, I, he I Neither one of them eat well and they both smoke (no offense to anyone who smokes). My mom My dad had a really rough childhood, and I think he needed some counseling, but that would never happen. He Thanks for listening. I

If live byself, fine but roomies have to be considerate. [2008-01-14]
x

It's probably just fine to eat...but..sm [2008-01-01]
if youand put in in ziplocs and freeze it....Itvegetables and real meat mixed with their dry food. Just an idea. Cat

No. Bacon is loaded with carbs and saturatated fat. It would be fine without the bacon. [2007-12-13]
NM

That's just fine with me! [2007-12-10]
Just reading that list put me in the Holiday SPIRIT! Now between your cookies and that egg nog with laying under the tree (no not under the table, under the Christmas tree), you are all definitely getting me there... now to walmart for Charlie Brown music and to put money in Salvation army (I know type-A again). LOL. Anybody got more cookie recipes, there's a lot of pauses in between dictations here.... Thanks again! :)

i've always thought there was a fine line [2007-12-05]
between homicide and suicide. It seems like if one is prone to either, they are prone to the other.

My sister-in-law did just fine with her pregnancies. [2007-11-22]
First of all, congratulations! I My sister-in-law is morbidly obese and has had 2 very healthy, very beautiful, intelligentchildren. She doesn She has been thinking about getting the Lap-Band procedure too. She tried LA Weight Loss and worked her tail off but only lost about 15 pounds in the end, so the Lap-Band might be a good option for her too. Take care and make sure to give yourself lots of pampering while you grow a whole human being! Congrats again and Happy Thanksgiving. :)

It is fine for them to stay home alone that evening (sm) [2007-11-14]
They will have to understand that previous plans have been made. It sounds like they really just don't want to have to do quite so much driving on Christmas day and so to spend the night before makes it easier. Either way, they get to wake up with your family on Christmas morning, which will be a wonderful treat for them. I think they will be fine to just stay home - they have chosen not to go with you - that's their choice. It's really not a big deal.

These 10 things definitely ain't right: [2008-12-01]
1) MTSOs who want people with top-notch skills and experience, but don't want to pay them what that skill is worth. 2) HMO's: So-called *health-maintenance-organizations* --yet they spend every minute and every dime of their far-too-large profits on denying healthcare, meds and procedures to their patients. These organizations have ruined American healthcare, and many American lives. HMO's have been a con-game since their inception. 3) The Bailouts: Giving money to companies who can too bad for the rest of you.* Then the Big Three show up in DC to beg for a handout, and fly there in private Lear jets. My answer to them would be, *I too bad for the rest of you.* 4) Apartment managers that won't allow even a single quiet, well-behaved pet, but will rent to people with continually screaming small children, and out-of-control older children and teens. Give me the pets for neighbors, ANY day. 5) Businesses that give an age-discount to absolutely everything that walks, runs or flies, but not to the middle-aged middle-class, who need it the most. Take the ski-industry: Young children ski for next-to-nothing, and sometimes nothing. There is a Teen Discount. There is a Student Discount for college kids. There I'll probably never be old enough - it's a carrot-on-a-stick, always just out of reach.) There are even corporate (UGH) discounts. But for those in my age group, who barely make ends meet but like to go up once a year for a couple days of bliss, there is NOTHING. 6) Travel-lodging deals that are always based on double or quadruple occupancy. What about singles? NOTHING. 7) TV commercials that are about a million decibels louder than the regular shows. Why can't it all be the same volume? Same with online newscasts. THEIR commercials will blow your eardrums out if you aren't quick enough turning down the volume before they start. 8) Surround-sound: Everything is too loud, already! Why do we need it coming at us from 4 directions? Why do people living in tiny apartments feel they need it? I've lost count of how many fights I've had with neighbors over this issue. Same with movies and music concerts. Why do they feel we need to feel the music in our SPLEENS? I went to Universal Amphitheater last week. (Now named something else). There is actually a sign outside warning that the decibel level inside might damage your hearing! (?!?!?!) Why do they need this? (To avoid lawsuits, obviously). If it's so loud you have to post a warning sign outside the entrance, then DUH.... it's TOO LOUD! 9) Banks that charge you a fee to use their ATM. They (I haven't actually been INSIDE a bank in YEARS).... and they want to charge US for using the machines instead of the tellers? Forget it. I won't give those banks my business. 10) The Post Office: Talk about rewarding slow, inept performance! The worse their employees are, the longer they seem to stay there. I'd rather have a root canal than go to a P.O. during the holiday season.

I still love giving gifts and have a solution with my family. sm [2008-11-30]
We all buy gifts for our parents (there are 4 of us, all married) but we wrap them all in the same paper and they are from everyone. That way, if someone is having a tough year, then it still looks even. Over the years, all of us have had a year that extra money just was not there during 1st babies, 1st homes, high gas prices, unexpected bills, lay-offs, new jobs etc. This way, our parents don't know who did what and they can't turn them down or worry about one family when they don't want to share with them their troubles. We treat the kids similarly. We all buy for all the kids (7 total) but no set limit. Some years, when having a good financial year, they get big presents, some years they don't. They all get to open at least 5 presents (counting Grandma and Grandpa) and we torture them until after dinner before they can open gifts! There have been years of Dollar Store gifts and years of video games. We all look for things during the year that we can give to all equally. Last year, I found pajama bottoms at Old Navy for $2 in the summer and bought a pair for everyone, including the adults. One year, my sister got them all Uno decks which were $3 each because that's all she could do and they are still the favorite gift and go everywhere. Uno tournaments, using all the cards are a family tradition and we make up different rules all the time! I am fortunate to be in a good position the last few yeas and have bought more extravagant presents. Not to show anyone up, but because I can. Not to make up for the very lean years, which were many, but because it is easy for me to do right now. We don't have jealousy and I don't expect anything in return because if I need something or want something, I usually buy it for myself. I just like to give gifts and can, and everyone is fine with that. But I have to tell you, my best gifts from the others are from years when there was no money and have now become tradition ... strawberry jam from my SIL, fudge from my brother. Christmas is what you make it. We are loud and loving and crazy and if we exchanged soup cans, the kids would still love it. It is what you make of it and how fun you make it for them.

On the gift side, do like we do... [2008-11-30]
he wants a $1200 item this year; fine, he can have it, but I get that same amount to do something with. If he wants to buy me a ring or some such bauble, fine, or he can just give me the cash to buy what I want.

I feel exactly the same way. [2008-11-29]
When my siblings and I started having kids, we agreed not to buy for each other's families. That has worked out fine. This year, we have NO money. Even though we still have our same jobs, it seems like more money is going out than is coming in. I don't quite understand where the money is going myself, try explaining that to family. I would just like to completely forget Christmas this year. I would even volunteer to work to get out of it. Don't feel bad about being bitter. I find myself getting tired of having no money and having to explain why we can't do the things we used to do all the time. I've started preparing the kids for Christmas, telling them it is going to be real skimpy around here. They are old enough to understand but whether they believe me is another thing.

Has society become this bad and why [2008-11-29]
I saw the post down below about the Wal-Mart worker. Here is a new article that just came out (link below). The police are now looking at video surveillance to see who trampled this poor worker to death. Personally I hope they find all responsible and prosecute them to the fullest. It doesn I like their store just fine, it is what society is doing to people that nobody even bothered to stop and help this person. I grew up in the 60s/70s in a small town in New England. Maybe I'm old fashioned but my parents/grandparents taught me better than this. I just can And for what? Getting a Christimas item? This is one of many reasons why I do my Christmas shopping (what very little I do) online and gift cards. I think the traditions of the big shopping day the day after Thanksgiving should go away. I really donlove thy neighbor, not trample, bite, and spit at them so you can grab that item. (BTW - you can shop online at Walmart too). I think to myself that I thought the spirit of Christmas was supposed to celebrate Christ. Oh yeah, I'm sure he is so proud of people like those who harm others and cause death so they can get what they want. I hope those guilty are sitting at home worrying about whether or not their face is going to show up on the video camera. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081129/D94OJ4NG0.html

As far as what is an "old" egg - [2008-11-28]
I have found that if the eggs are in my fridge for atleast a week, they seem to peel just fine. Often if I'm at 1/2 a dozen and I know I'm going to the store, I will buy another dozen out of convenience and hard boil the 1/2 dozen when I get home. Just seems to be my experience.

Depends on who's bringing the desserts. [2008-11-26]
In my family some of us are cooks and some aren So it depends on who brings what. If it If Ibringing dessert, I usually make the pies.I have a sister who does not cook, so she always buys them. BUT she buys really good ones from local pie shop.For the first time, this year my 12 yo niece has been put in charge of dessert for Thanksgiving, with my SIL overseeing it. She I P.S. I do have a pumpkin pie stashed here at the house for later tomorrow night though!

STOP IT [2008-11-25]
quit putting yourself down - Your child will never hate you - your husband will not hate you - You have done nothing wrong.. SOME people today do put too much emphasis on material things -but you know as well as I do that material things are not that important. . Your heart is what is important. . Love your child and husband and continue being the good person you are - Do you think those people are better than you because they have a lot of land? No - they may have more money but they are no better - and from the way they treat other people - it sounds like they are not as good as you. . And the gifts you gave the child were fine - people would be a lot better off playing board games with their kids than letting them play video games all the time.

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.

I just got a Scrabble game on EBay [2008-11-25]
We play Scrabble each holiday - kinda got a contest going on. We have been through 2 regular games but thought it would be great to have the turntable. I decided to checkEbay 2 weeks ago and one had an hour left on the bid and I won the bid for $19 w/ SH. There was one tile gone but they told meahead of time about that which is n problem really as we had all the tiles from the old game and they fit justfine. Bought an egg timer at the dollar store and looking forward to this year Good for you playing a board game with the grandkids. Teaches them a little spelling subliminally too.

I Have Never Been So Frustrated In My Life [2008-11-25]
I asked my sweet hubby for a sewing machine as I wanted to learn the basics of sewing. I cannot for the life of me get this machine to work. I was able to somehow get it right once to use it to mess with but I cannot seem to get it right. These machines are so finicky. I took it to a repair shop the other day because my friend who can use a machine couldnt figure it out either. They fixed the tension etc on the machine and told me a couple tips about the bobbin. Worked perfectly fine when they did it. I get it home and cannot get the *(* thing to work to save my life. I have threaded and rethreaded, got my book out and tried again. Have taken the bobbin out and tried to put it back in a hundred times and it is a mess. I am ready to throw the *(^% thing out the window!!!! I cant learn to do even a basic thing cause I can't seem to get the machine going to start with. AARRGGHHHH

My SIL swears by mac & cheese [2008-11-24]
YUCK -- but my kids like noodles -- the egg noodles in turkey broth. They also like the turkey drumsticks and the wishbone. They love Stove Top stuffing, but not homemade stuffing. They don They love deviled eggs. Are my kids weird? One year, I thought I They didn Truth be told, most kids don Too much excitement I think. Try to make sure they have a good breakfast, then let them pick what they want to eat. I usually ask my kids to try 1 thing, just a small amount. When they come back later, I give them a turkey sandwich (if they like turkey) or PBJ. Don They It's only 1 day.

I did a 7-day sex challenge but for different reasons. [2008-11-24]
My husband had to wake up an hour before me for work. Every morning, he liked to wake me up with him and then tried to get some before getting ready. I went to bed usually 2 to 3 hours later than him. Needless to say, I wasn So, I decided to give him a taste of his own medicine. One night, I came to bed about 2 hours after him and he was sleeping soundly. I woke him up to have sex with me, which he did without complaint. The next night, the same thing. The third night, the same thing. He never complained. By the 5th night, when I woke him up, he said he was just too tired. He needed to sleep. I laughed a little and said,Funny, that He got the hint and apologized. He agreed not to do that more than once or twice a week and things seemed to be fine. That was 6 years, 9 months and about 2 weeks ago. You see my son was born 6 years and 2 weeks ago. The little lesson I taught him ended up teaching me a much bigger lesson. How come we women always get the short end of the stick?But I love my little guy!

Probably to him, it's more like lending out a hammer [2008-11-24]
I really doubt that he thought of that as much more than you lending out his hammer to a neighbor. I guess he would have felt stupid saying, Uh, yeah, we have one but I better ask before I let you use it. If it's ruined, ask him to get you another one of the same quality. Chances are though that it's fine and no worse for wear.

How dare you say I resent my children [2008-11-24]
I do spend every night reading to my children. I also tuck them in and rub their backs every night. I get up every morning to prepare them a warm breakfast before driving them to school so they don My kids are all on the high honor roll because my husband and I help them with their homework. I volunteer at their school once a week. My husband and I attends every sporting event with them, be it practice or a match, to make sure no harm comes to them. I make sure they have a hot meal on the table when they come home from school. I worked extra all summer to afford a trumpet for my son who wanted to join the elementary band. I don I love them very much. But I do resent others critiquing my parenting abilities. I It She Where are your scruples? It Why is that so hard to understand? Do parents not deserve a break? So many GPs have the mentality, you made and that No one said GPs should be raising their GKs, but is it that wrong to think that GPs could give the parents a break evenjust once a year? Maybe they

TV crush -- Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs is So Hot!!! [2008-11-21]
Oh man, he is so funny and manly and smart. That show is so loaded with sexual innuendo. Can Think he is a fine specimen of man... yummy yummy.

No I live in the boonies. In Nothingville. SM [2008-11-21]
I think he has had someone for so long and my mom took care of the bill paying and he never had to worry about bills or shopping or being alone. And now he can't deal with it. They divorced because he was cheating with another woman. I told him go be with her. I mean they are divorced now. If that is what he wants go get it. He said she has a 28 year old son and a 22 year old daughter with a baby who neither one work and lay around her house. He says how am I supposed to be with someone with that kind of mess. He said if I am with her I will basically have to take on her grown kids too. I said well that is her own fault she allows her grown children to be bums. It is just a dang mess. He got himself into it though. With his bills it is like he can't sit down and say hey I can't pay for 2 vehicles and I have to get rid of one and he has other multiple bills I won't even go into. But if he is struggling to pay for both let one go back. I told him go file bankruptcy if you are having really bad problems with finanes. He said I don't want to file bankruptcy. Oh no. I said well that or lose your stuff. I have tried to give him advice and help him but he won't listen. He is stubborn.

Thanks for the suggestions. [2008-11-20]
Where the step is concerned it won't help. The situation is what it is and I knew it when we married. It's just frustrating at times but I know it is only temporary. I would hate to be the hateful ex who treats someone this way. It must be a terrible life to live constantly dreaming of ways to hurt your ex and his family instead of enjoying your own family and knowing that your child is well taken care of. As for the family stuff. I have tried to talk to the leaders of the family and they looked at me like I was a complete loon. That's fine. They can do what they want. He can do what he wants, but our budget is what it is and that will mean less for his child. Next year I WILL have a xmas fund set up so that I can provide for our kids and we don't end up in this holiday mess again. If nothing else $20 a month is more than what we have now and I'm sure I can scrape that together if I really try. Thanks for your help. :) I wish I could be oblivious like your husband!

My family is hurting :( [2008-11-19]
Some of you may remember the recent pet picture postings here. I posted a picture of my baby girl, Daisy, nursing her three babies who arenow nearly two years old. My husbandcame home about an hour and a half ago and went to let them inside, and the only boy (besides the dad), Chewy,did not come with the others. They all always come up on the deck when they hear his car, so he knew something was going on. He came into my office and asked if we had Chewy with us, and then went to see if he had gotten out of the fence. A few minutes later he came in and said that he found him still in the backyard, lying under the trees on a pile of leaves, and that he wasdead. We are all so sad . We do not know what happenedto our baby .. . he had been fine just a couple of hours before, when my son got home from school and went to see the dogs. He said that Chewy was acting no differently than usual and seemed fine. I am just beside myself not knowing what happened to this sweet little guy. He was the SWEETEST EVER and we will miss him dearly. WE LOVE YOU,CHEWY!!! May you rest in peace.

My family is hurting :( [2008-11-19]
Some of you may remember the recent pet picture postings here. I posted a picture of my baby girl, Daisy, nursing her three babies who arenow nearly two years old. My husbandcame home about an hour and a half ago and went to let them inside, and the only boy (besides the dad), Chewy,did not come with the others. They all always come up on the deck when they hear his car, so he knew something was going on. He came into my office and asked if we had Chewy with us, and then went to see if he had gotten out of the fence. A few minutes later he came in and said that he found him still in the backyard, lying under the trees on a pile of leaves, and that he wasdead. We are all so sad . We do not know what happenedto our baby .. . he had been fine just a couple of hours before, when my son got home from school and went to see the dogs. He said that Chewy was acting no differently than usual and seemed fine. I am just beside myself not knowing what happened to this sweet little guy. He was the SWEETEST EVER and we will miss him dearly. WE LOVE YOU,CHEWY!!! May you rest in peace.

It's actually something like a second job to get the bill that low. [2008-11-18]
I spend a lot of time studying sales and clipping coupons (doubled and sometimes tripled in our area). And I use bonus cards and shop at places like Aldisauce I just use olive oil, salt and pepper, GOOD cheese, maybe a little bit of chopped ham or dried sausage as a flavoring. Add some sauteed spinach or escarole, a little salad from whatever veggies looked good at the market. Add some beans to the salad to boost the protein, and we're eating very fine! I also haven't bought canned soup in .... probably ever. I save up chicken carcasses or buy the backs to make stock. I also make veggie stock and buy beef soup bones and make my own beef broth. The home-made stocks make all the difference when cooking from scratch. I keep the grocery bills low by planning my shopping expeditions and cooking from scratch. It depends on how far you want to go with it. I love to cook. It's a creative outlet for me, so I find it relaxing. Someone else may not, in which case, buying convenience foods would lower their stress level and would be worth the extra expense.

I need some advice [2008-11-15]
Ok this is the story: My husband is still friends with his first girlfriends family. This does not bother me. She did a couple of things to really disgrace her family when she was dating him but after a period of time he still kept in touch with them as we live in a very small community. When we met and got engaged they were all very kind to me and the mother even did the cake and flowers for our wedding. The ex is never around much so no big deal. Well this past weekend her great grandmother passed. My husband had known this woman for sometime and the mother asked him to come to the funeral and told me I was not to feel like I shouldnI. To which the ex rolled her eyes and looked at her HUSBAND. So we walked away. To tell you the truth, we didn't really care. Well we get a phone call about an hour ago from the exum we aren Well, knowing how immature the ex and her husband are, we knew they were behind this (plus we could hear them in the background). So my husband told the boy Look, it Well a few minutes later he gets a text message from the brother saying my mom can (which obviously is not true since we saw her Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon and she was obviously not mental). So my husband sent back a message saying Look, whatever issues your sister has with me and your mom having an ADULT friendship, she needs to take those up with your mom, but quit trying to start drama. Well a few minutes later the phone rings. My husband handed me the phone. Knowing how mad he was at the moment, I answered. It was the ex. She asked if she could talk to him, and I said No. This needs to stop right now, it She said well my mom is really going crazy and she can. She went on for about five minutes and I said fine, we won I'm just so angry right now! I mean this is high school drama! What would you do? I know the mom will be absolutely heartbroken if my husband and I just stop coming to see her and talking to her (since her lovely daughter never comes home). I mean except for the funeral, we never go around if she is going to be there, and we don't sit there and talk bad about her or anything. I honestly think she knows she screwed up by messing around on him SIX YEARS AGO and is just upset that he's married and happy and it sounds like her husband is a jerk.

Oh my gosh!...sm [2008-11-14]
He just looks like he is smiling all the time. He looks like he would be laid back too. He doesn't look like a hyper dog. I bet he's a sweetie. Do the English Bulldogs show protectiveness like Pitbulls do? Or are they pretty much mild mannered? I think English Bulldogs are adoreable but I have never known anyone who owned one. My Pit isn't mean but he is protective if he doesn't know someone, mostly men. He doesn't like strange men to come around. But women he is fine with.

Has This Ever Happened To Any Of You Here? [2008-11-13]
This was unreal...I had made a trip to the store for cat food (before I became cat food LOL!) and while slowing down behind a car that was turning, I got hit in the back. No real damage, just a scruff on the bumper of my Subaru Forester, and a bit of a blow to my ego, but the dang kid who hit me was texting her boyfriend while driving and obviously not paying attention to the road. She was only 19 years old! Holy cow! I got out, she got out...still texting. She said, Wait a minute, and continued texting. I couldn't believe it. I have that hands-free voice-activated cellphone setup in my Forester that DH set up for me, so I got back in and called the police department. If she hadn't been so rude, I might have let it go, but when she pulled that, I decided to teach her a lesson. She was horrified to learn that I called the cops while she was texting. She actually yelled at me, saying, My Dad and on and on. I just stood there and looked at her. The cop got there, threw the book at her: failure to yield, following too closely, texting while driving (it's a law here now -- you can't do that) and she has a nasty fine and her insurance is definitely going to go up. She was horrified. Maybe she'll think twice before texting while driving again...before she causes real damage and people get hurt. So thatHang up and drive! Has this ever happened to any of you?

My Rottie did the same thing [2008-11-13]
He loves everybody. He will get up and see who is coming in, but if we tell him okay, he goes back and lays down. We had some repairs being done after a leaking roof. Painters and carpet installers in and out. Roofers on the house. All sorts of noise and men for a few days. The day after they finished the work, I was home by myself, andone of the carpet guys came back and knocked on the door. When I opened the doormy Rottie got between me and the screen door, growled a low serious growl, and his hair on his back came up. The guy wanted to come intocheck on the carpet job. I told himthe carpet was fine, I would call the store if there were any problems, and closed the door. A few weeks later the same guy raped a woman the day after he had been to her house installing carpet. Turns out he didn I trusted my dog Although I don't know what the guy was thinking that he could come in and hurt me without fighting off me and the dog, but you never know!