They are hiding behind a computer

Computer starting to freeze up every now and then. Any suggestions? It is [2008-11-21]
only 3 years old and not sure what is causing this.

So you do regular maintenance on the computer..sm [2008-11-21]
Such as check for Windows updates, deleting your cookies and browsing history, scanning for errors, and defragmenting? If you need help with any of this let me know. I can give you instructions on it. I have Windows XP so that is the version I know about. I don't know about other versions. These things really make a difference.

I'm not working - so why am I at my computer? [2008-10-12]
Today is the first day off I've had in about 2 weeks or more. Sometimes it feels like I haven't had a day off since the 5th grade. Weather is getting cold here in Oregon so bringing our plants inside (we're expecting a freeze tonight). I should be cleaning, quilting, and doing a ton of other things, so now that I've read this board I ask myself - why am I using my off time to type? HA HA HA - Okay I'm off to clean.

computer addiction [2008-10-08]
see below.

I have Vista on my home computer, XP on 2 others. [2008-09-25]
I cannot stand Vista. I now only use that computer basically to print things or run a simple Word document. I never had problems with it before having Vista installed. I tried to load my transcription programs to that computer and never was successful. My other 2 with XP, never have problems with anything. I bought a used laptop for remote use simply because I could get it ith XP and not pay more since all the new ones start with Vista.

Anyone know how to get started having a computer program made [2008-09-24]
I have an idea I have been thinking about for a while, a software program actually. I think it is a good idea but I have no idea where to begin to try to have it made and marketed. If anyone knows I would really appreciate any advice you have. Thanks!

Check if you have a computer lemon law in your state.nm [2008-07-19]
nm

God bless ya! I can always count on my computer savy co-workers SM [2008-07-02]
for answers! Thanks again. I had that terrible question rolling around in my head all day and worrying myself to death. This will be a lesson well learned in the future.

They are hiding behind a computer [2008-06-11]
They know if they said it to the OPs face, it would be punched. I see it on all message boards that I go to. Sometimes the OP is in the wrong but I do think there is a nicer, gentler way to put it. NOTE: I am not referring to the one below, I have not read it. I am just talking about MB posters in general.

Anyone else get low back pain from sitting at the computer all day. Any [2008-04-28]
suggestions to help this.

i get low pay from sitting at the computer all day [2008-04-28]
actually I think my neck problems are from my computer use, staring up at the screen for so long

Slow computer [2008-03-26]
All of a sudden my computer is running as slow as mollasses. I used to know what to do but forgot. Even when I Please help!

slow computer [2008-03-26]
Panda Titanium - an old program

I do miss the hiding and hunting for eggs [2008-03-23]
since my children are a little old for that. We hid eggs in neighbors yards (the ones will small children) when we knew they werenThanks Easter Bunny. We were only able to watch one little boy look for eggs, but it was so worth it. Happy Easter to all!

not computer savvy [2008-03-03]
How do you check the history on your computer? How do you know if there is a separate e-mail account? Thanks!

How long have you noticed your hard drives lasts when you are on the computer 24/7. My computer is [2008-02-24]
doing odd things and it looked like the hard drive is getting bad. It is about 2-1/2 years old. Actually thewhole computer is about 2-1/2 years old.

My computer also [2008-02-24]
I am going to be buying a new one and have this one as back up and give my old back up away. But mine is 6 years now. But it is starting to grind and make noises. My neighbor that works on it says it is still okay but I think it is time to get a new one. He wants me to get an HP that has nothing on it and he will download Windows 2003 and take off the Vista.Will also help me transfer everything over. Needless to say, I have started backing up more lately. I am on my computer between work and play 12 to 15 hours a day and so to me it has paid for itself over these six years.

My computer is more than 5 years old - sm [2008-02-24]
I used to work 60 hours a week and have now cut down to less than 25. Mine is still humming away. Let me add that hubby is the computer king and takes care of any little issues I have. He says mine is still fine. I highly recommend Dell if you are replacing. This is my second Dell. Love them!

Thank you! I didn't realize they made computer glasses. Will make an appt. Spit didn't wor [2008-02-21]
3

Glad yours are helping.....my computer [2008-02-21]
xx

If your computer has fax, just plug phone line into back [2008-02-20]
nm

I bought me some reading glasses for computer use the other day sm [2008-02-20]
and I am seeing much better, feeling less headache tension, and not squinting to look at the screen. I love them. However, I have a funny problem I need help with! They keep getting foggy or glazed over. HELP!! I am not a glasses wearer either so this is all totally new to me. It makes no difference if I turn my desktop fan on or not. I clean them off and within a few minutes they are glazed back over again. Anybody got any solutions to this???? I have tried not using them and my eyes go bonko again. Maybe it I bought plain jane cheap as could be until I saw if I could get used to it and it helped or not.

Got a computer question. I have a mouse with a wheel on top but what I have noticed lately is the [2008-02-16]
screen you are typing on will sometimes keep rolling down by itself. Is this a mouse problem or computer problem. It just keeps moving down by itself.

Looks like someone's kid is on their computer. [2008-02-16]
x

I download to my computer..sm [2008-02-08]
and print from that, if I want to. You would need a UBS cable to attach to the camera and your computer, as well as some sort of software to post the pictures to. However, I also have a printer with memory card slots. If you use the memory card inside your camera, and your printer has a slot that it fits into, you can print right from the memory card. I have never done this, though. good luck. and YES, the books ARE confusing.

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.

it's not lying [2008-11-26]
It's just not. I was about to get all preachy and talk about how we need mythology in our lives--stories that tell teach us morals, that remind us of our traditions--but I'll stay off the soapbox for now and just say that for as long as my kids are willing to believe, I will give them stories to believe in. The five-minute cry when they discover Santa isn't real, is more than made up for by the years of joy beforehand, don't you think? As for talking in front of the kids, I don they're good at that.

That's really petty [2008-11-25]
I did sympathize with your plight until now. The idea of now taking something of his and hiding it is about as childish as humanly possible. I assume you want this disagreement to last well into 2009 and, at the same time, apparently you don't care if your marriage DOESN'T last through 2009.

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!

no way [2008-11-25]
my daughter has nada of this junk. She reads on a third grade level. I taught her to read using D!ck and Jane books and that was ALL. My son did the phonics computer stuff....yes...you guessed it, not good at English, but he can read because of Harry Potter books. D!ck and Jane was worth tracking down!

Yes & could you help me find the best Scrabble game ?? sm [2008-11-25]
I have turned my grandsons onto Scrabble. They are very into Wii and computer, etc. When they come here we have a Scrabble challenge and I cannot believe they want a board game so when I go over there we can continue. There is one at LL Bean for $50 that turns and is wood. One at Hasbro.com which is an anniversary addition for about $39 but plastic. I am just so happy we have this connection and this contest going on, I am searching, but perhaps you know the best place. Of course, I am Grammie so it takes me longer. Keep on playing board games as these kids are addicted to technology!

keeping a secret [2008-11-21]
taking addiction too seriously is a mistake. Keeping it a dirty little secret is a mistake. Hiding Pa in the basement because he is an embarrassment is a mistake. There is NOTHING shameful about being addicted to a substance. I hardly think there is one person on this board who does not know someone on antidepressants or takes them and that is considered healthy? But medicating depression with vodka is shameful? The best disinfectant is light.

agree with the clean up, and remove programs not used. sm [2008-11-21]
research the computer site, like dell, etc. sometimes they have forums, questions and answer areas. sometimes they offer fixes if it was a company glitch. but first get your ducks in a row by defragmenting and freeing up space.

You might try posting [2008-11-21]
On the main board about this. If find that I get more help about equipment and IT issues over there. I would say find a used computer store. Some times they only charge $50 an hour to look at it for you and if they can fix it in that hour there are no additional charges. I would definitely work on it before it goes out completely on you.

Sounds very much like to do with RAM or HDD [2008-11-21]
These two components are ones that make the computer freeze......the life of RAM and HDD depends on the usage, so 3 years can be quite some time...sorry, if this does not help you! Just another suggestion

The only extended warranty I buy [2008-11-15]
is for my frontloader washer and dryer. It's only 250 bucks a year, they come out as often as I want free of charge and make sure they work okay and ANYTHING that needs replaced will be paid for, including the $400+ computer for the control panels.

I checked that site out a couple [2008-11-15]
months ago. They didn't have any stores on the list for my area. Our stores won't even take computer-generated coupons for some reason.

Now the question is, would you like a glass of water? [2008-11-14]
Water or Coke?Could not believe this..... Very interestingWATER#1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.(Likely applies to half the world population.)#2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weakthat it is mistaken for hunger.#3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangsfor almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University ofWashington study.#5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.#6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses ofwater a day could significantly ease back and joint painfor up to 80% of sufferers.#7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-termmemory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing onthe computer screen or on a printed page.#8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk ofcolon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breastcancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to developbladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of wateryou should drink every day?COKE#1. In many states the highway patrol carriestwo gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood fromthe highway after a car accident.#2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Cokeand it will be gone in two days.#3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into thetoilet bowl and let the real thing sit for one hour,then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removesstains from vitreous china.#4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers:Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of ReynoldsWrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.#5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Poura can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubbleaway the corrosion.#6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Colato the rusted bolt for several minutes.#7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola intothe baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake.Thirty minutes before ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing thedrippings to mixwith the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.#8... To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Cokeinto the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and runthrough a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosengrease stains. It will also clean road haze from yourwindshield.FOR YOUR INFORMATION:#1. the active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid.It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoricacid also leaches calcium from bones and is a majorcontributor to the rising increase of osteoporosis.#2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup! (the concentrate) thecommercial trucks must use a hazardous Material placecards reserved for highly corrosive materials.#3. The distributors of Coke have been using it to cleanengines of the trucks for about 20 years!Now the question is, would you like a glass of water?

Thanks! She's a mix (Yorkie/ShihTzu), but [2008-11-13]
my sister, who brought her to us from Floria, says she is an Exquisite! Ibabies too. They are almost 2 now, born the day after Thanksgiving 2006. Just didnall growed up on my computer. Your kids are adorable!

You know how they say dogs sometimes can sense things about people? [2008-11-12]
We had that ATT U-verse stuff installed in October and three installers came to the house. Not a single problem with the dogs. (We still had LouLou at the time.) They sniffed the installers and then let them go on about their business. The one installer was at our house for 12 hours. On Saturday, two ATT techs came over to fix the computer. Again, not a single problem with Duke. He sniffed them out and didn't bother them for the rest of the time. On Sunday, the ATT tech who came over called to say he was on his way. He said he was somewhat spooked by dogs and he just wanted to make sure we had a friendly one. I assured him Duke wouldn't bother him. Duke didn't care for that man in the slightest. He growled at him and the hair stood up on his back. Every time the man came in the room, Duke reacted the same way and would back away from him. I wonder what it was about him that Duke didn't like?

settings...sm [2008-11-11]
Someone who uses your computer obviously set Youtube to allow adult content. I remember having to put in my DOB, etc. when I was trying to view some surgery I was curious about.

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.

IQ does not equal happiness [2008-11-11]
I There have been studies that suggest the smarter you are the less happy you are, and there may be some truth in it. The first reason for this would be people with attitudes like yours, abc. They hold smart people to the highest standards. They donbut they do have weaknesses. Imagine spending your whole life hearing If you. There is enormous pressure put upon them by others to do something great, to perform mental tricks for the amusement of others, to prove how smart they are.Some become as insecure about it as beauty queens do about their looks - I remember when I was married to my genius, we watched a show about a child prodigy who could play great compositions at the age of 4. This show upset my ex, I could see it made him jealous and insecure, and nervous that he was not as great as everyone assumed him to be. Just like there's always someone richer, thinner, and better looking, there's always someone smarter too. Another reason would be lonliness. The smarter you are, the less you have in common with the majority of the population. The things that interest you most people can I think one purpose Mensa was created was so that they could find people to talk to on their own level. The pitfall there is most of them are so specialized in their own areas of interest they still don't have anything in common - the gifted musician does not want to discuss quantum theories with the scientist, they can understand it, they just aren't interested in it. In my ex He self medicates with substances to escape the misery of being in his body. Second, he He started abusing substances to try to be one of the cool partying folk, to fit in. All of his current friends abuse substances, but he at least has some friends now, that Third, the pressure to perform has caused him to give up. He was a computer guru before computers were cool. Once computers were mainstreamed to the general populace, and new software was coming out on a daily basis, he could no longer know it all. When he reached that crossroads, he panicked, gave up and dove into the bottle to hide from his insecurities. Ahigh IQ is often just as much a curse as a blessing. I am assuming the reason to abuse substance ispretty universal - the desire to escape reality for a while, then it becomes a habit. If a person doesnmay choose to destroy it instead.

Bet it had a pound of butter too;-) [2008-11-11]
I actually love the lady. What a hoot. Have to take my break from the ole computer during her show.

Thanks a bunch! [2008-11-09]
It was my popups. I knew it had to be something with my computer because my husband did get the popup on his last night, but it was late, he was busy on his computer, and the pics were on my computer. Thanks again, I appreciate it!

I have had the pleasure... [2008-11-09]
....of working in several nursing homes as a CNA and nurse before coming to medical transcription. It's hard work and usually staffing is sometimes paltry, even in the good homes, but we really do care. Really. Every place has bad eggs, the hospitals, home care, etc., but everyone usually has to have some sort of heart to work in a nursing home. First things first...I always would check for jobs with this litmus test, and I recommend anyone do this. This is a make or break kind of ordeal. You look for the state inspection report. It HAS to be placed in a prominent place in the facility. If you cannot find it readily, ask where it is. If there is anything going on with hiding these documents, you leave and never come back. The other thing is to smell for stale urine or strong air fresheners. If you smell either of those, leave. (Do not check for BM smell--the smell often radiates and may be new, for lack of a better term.) Look at the residents. Do many of them seem content? Do you see aides with gait belts around their waists? Do the nurses look terribly stressed? Please also do not judge by tones of voices in the direct care staff. Often the staff must talk very directly, succintly, and abruptly--it sometimes comes off as harsh, but it's not--for particular residents to hear and/or understand. If you go in a facility in the evening, often the place is chaotic, particularly if there are demented residents. There is a condition known as sundowning that is very, very real. The ones with dementia who are sundowning may give the impression that care is not being given due to the chaos and behaviors brought by the condition. It's not the case. Usually these residents are kept in common areas until they are calm enough to retire for the night. If you go in the nighttime, often there is one night nurse for about 65ish residents. If you are so inclined to come in at this time and do not see anyone at the nurse's station for some time, know that the nurse may be tending to a medical issue and the CNAs are tending to personal care of the residents. If you ever see nurses eating a sandwich in one hand and writing in another hand while sitting at the nurse's station, this is sometimes the only break he or she gets. It's not out of disrespect that this is done. It is so that nurse can care for the residents as best as he or she can. What you are describing in your original post, unfortunately, is quite common, from what I have seen. Two people who are married a long time will often pass not too far apart. It seems people often do decide when they will go. As a nurse, it's one of the more incredible things I've seen. When I saw it happen, I always had the sense there is an extremely strong bond between the spouses that absolutely nothing could break. I'm not trying to say anything is amiss with your mother. I'm not. It doesn't always happen that way. I hope I don't come off that way. I'm sorry you are going through this, because no one wants to send a loved one to the nursing home, yet caring for an ailing parent is one of the most stressful things anyone can experience. I have never been in your position, so I hope I don't come off as too forward, rude, or presumptuous, but I wanted to tell you a little more about what you may be getting into. If you live in Iowa, I'd recommend you to a great one that has the best nurse I've ever met working there now. He has cooked up oyster soup in our kitchen when a resident stopped eating because the resident loved oyster soup. He has taken residents fishing for the heck of it. He wears a scrub shirt with chickens on it because many of our residents were farmers and like the shirt (and because my husband has a silly sense of humor and a wife with a sewing machine). I've known CNAs who buy (with their own money) residents pop and even steak just because the resident wanted it and could have it. Shoot, lots of us do it, even when we don't have a lot of money to our names. I loved to sing with the residents that had dementia (music seems to be retained) and chat about life with the residents who had their faculties. I promise it's not all doom and gloom. Sure, nursing homes could do better, but if you find the right one, it may just work out. All my best to you and your mother.

Help. I have made my own prison. Please make suggestions sm [2008-10-24]
I will try to make this brief. I have marital problems, husband is gone all the time. I came to work at home again because I have no help with our children. I need to be here if they are sick and be here when they get home from school. But I have become once again socially isolated (I did this type of work for years and had a job outside of the home and enjoyed it, except for the fact that my children did not get enough attention, so I quit). I do have friends but I don I used to walk several miles a day but never do that anymore, have gained weight, eat junk food, stay on the computer too long. I am constantly busy. I still do volunteer work with my children - Scouts, church, etc., but I am so overwhelmed. My husband is almost never here. It almost feels more like he comes to visit us sometimes than actually lives here, but I need his help financially and my son is very afraid for me to get a divorce (long story, but he is afraid he would have to live part-time with his dad, and they are not close). I have debt that my husband doesn But he won When I tell him I need more money he tells me things like, turn off the cable TV or don The thing is he spends lots and lots of money on entertaining himself. He makes 3 x as much as I do (or maybe 4 by now). I have not been allowed to open his mail for years and we pretty much never talk. I have started to allow things to pile up, mail around my desk, weight around my middle, clutter here and there. I just feel like a big slug. I am tired much of the time. In reading this I sound depressed but I am already taking an antidepressant which I started a few years ago because of my marriage.I love my children so dearly but I am afraid of leaving and disrupting their lives. If I left I would at least get my part of the equity in ourhome, etc., and maybe have a chance at having a life again. Anyway, I know this is long and rambling and jumbled, but I just woke up, from another night of poor sleep. Please suggest what you would do. Thanks

My child has been on both sides of that fence (sm) [2008-10-22]
He has been bullied before but he has gotten really good at standing up for himself. I literally have given him comebacks that he can use if he is being verbally bullied, and have told him that while he is never allowed to start a fight he is always allowed to defend himself and even though he may get in trouble at school, he will not be in trouble at home. One time last year (fifth grade) he was verbally bullying a boy in his class. He said some pretty mean things. I got the phone number to the boy We talked for a long time beforehand about how the boy must feel to have to go to school and have someone say things like that to him, role-playing such as how would you feel if that was you sort of thing. He also lost computer priveleges for a week. He has never bullied anyone else. However, he did kick a boy in the shin earlier this year when the boy hit him and said he was going to beat him up. My son is strong but doesn I think all kids should be able defend themselves if needed though.

Wow guys [2008-10-21]
wonderful responses and so quickly. I hope we can keep this thread going to help each other out. I wrote down these ideas and am going to start implementing many of them right away. Here are some of my ideas: 1. Utilities - We had 2 cell phones, got rid of one, which was mine, and I hardly ever used it. My husband has to have his because we run our own business. We had 2 house lines, one for our house phone and one for a fax machine. We got rid of one line, and kept the fax line, converting it to accept phone calls as well as faxes. 2. We heat our house with corn which in Northwest Indiana is a pretty cheap way to go. It will cost us approximatey $600.00 to heat our 2600 sq ft house for the winter. We would normally pay almost $450.00 a month with our heat and electric if we paid or electric company who has a monopoly in this area; no where else to go. :-( 3. I used to throw a load or two of laundry in every day, no matter how big the load (I have an energy efficient washer), to save time and so the laundry did not pile up. However, I realized that I was wasting soap, softner, and water even though I have an energy efficient washer. So, I am doing laundry only 2 days a week, maybe three if need be. Washing bigger loads at a time. 4. In regards to above, I use my dryer as a time management issue, because I run the office of our business during the day and transcribe at night. I think I will implement hanging my clothes out next summer, because I do not think it would be efficent in the winter right now - - would it? 5. I buy all snack foods at Aldi You save $1.00 to $1.50 an item. I shop at the most least expensive store in the area when possible, only shopping atthe higher-priced stores if there is a sale. 6. Turn off lights, computer, etc., when not in use. 7. I buy my cleaning supplies and laundry supplies at our area dollar store. They carry name-brand items as well as generic-brand, but quite a bit cheaper. I am brain dead now. I am sure there are many more. Please keep them coming. There were many things that you guys mentioned that I never even thought of, and I am sure we can give each other good ideas to implement. I feel we are in a war here, and we need all the ammunition we can get as we carry out our role as our homemanagers :-)