They look pretty, I wear them, if I am going somewhere special.

I think probably they did not have as much to put on special - [2008-11-26]
I bet that people are just not buying as much and they are having to mark it down before it ruins. I don't think they ever threw it out - they just were able to sell it before it got old.

They were good to wear if you didn't do [2008-11-23]
your homework that day and got paddled! The sound of the 1 thick wooden paddle made a wumph, wumph sound and never hurt a bit.

I use Firemountain Gems - pretty good prices. [2008-11-22]
....

Did people really wear poodle skirts [2008-11-22]
DD#2 is 6 and has joined Daisy scouts. They are having a sock hop in December. I was amazed at the number of Mom's who did not know what it was. I wasn't alive in that period either, but we still had them in high school, once a year for some reason. So now I gotta find a poodle skirt. My Mom said she never saw a poodle skirt in the 50's. Did people really wear them? Did they wear those poofy slips under them? I am curious about that. Mom said most of the stuff you see on TV as being in the 50's was really the late 50/early 60 period. I saw a ton of poodle skirts on ebay. I think I have seen those slips in stores, but can't remember where. Anybody seen them?

yes some did wear them [2008-11-22]
My mom used to tell me about it. I was not born then either. She actually had one. The underskirt is something like the slip they wear under a square dance dress, they are made of very stiff tulle/mesh. Mom said they get that stiff because they would spray them with spray starch/sugar water and hang them to dry. The most of the poodle skirts you will see now are made of felt. You can get a pattern for it in the Halloween catalog for the major pattern companies. Look on line for McCall or Simplicity.

I'm large-chested, but I only wear push-ups [2008-11-19]
I wear a 42DD and I wear push-ups because even though I Push-ups provide more contour and shaping than regular underwires. If you are having problem with muffintop, though, you Go to JCP or Victoria Secret and have them measure you. Oprah says 40% of women wear the wrong bra size. As far as push-ups go, I really like the ones by Ambrielle, which are sold by JCP.

Yes, that's pretty much it. Phone tells you when they're due. [2008-11-17]
nn

I think they are pretty worthless and not really an IQ test because sm [2008-11-10]
if you have ever had a Wechsler, you know that those kinds of questions don't play into it. They are mind teasers and trick questions, not something that a Wechsler uses. A Wechsler is several hours long and goes through your math, language, spacial relations and problem solving skills, and it is timed. Part of IQ is how fast you can solve complex problems. I have taken a Wechsler and while I won't quote you a number, I will say the person who gave it as part of a psychological evaluation, told me he would diagnose me as way too smart for my own good. He stated that I probably didn't suffer fools gladly because I view most of the world as fools. I only fall at the 99.6 percentile on the Bell curve. No, I don't suffer fools gladly, but I try to be nice while others catch up.

you'll have a retainer for life to wear while sleeping. sm [2008-11-08]
and please do. a family member had braces in elementary school and they came out beautiful. somewhere after marriage, kids, she stopped wearing the retainer. she is not in her 40's and her teeth shifted back to almost day one. wear the retainer while sleeping - it's no biggie compared to the waste of time and money and beautiful smiles.

I used Debt Free Today. Pretty good [2008-11-03]
company. Never had any troubles with them. Just sent them a check once a month and they distributed among my creditors on the agreed amount. I think we paid off in 4 years. Was really nice!

Wear your clothes more than once before washing or [2008-10-22]
I wear jeans, khakis, and dress shirts at least 2 or 3 times before I wash them. They key with dress shirts is wearing an undershirt. Some of you may think it’s gross, but your clothes will not fade as quickly and you’ll spend less on detergent and dry-cleaning bills.

Thank goodness both my kids are pretty much grown up sm [2008-10-22]
Both are in college, one away and one at home. My gift will be supporting them in everything they do unconditionally, past, present, and future. Just can't do gifts this year. But I WILL have my traditional 3-foot tree LOL. Rays in WS is enough for us all, though!! :-)

If it were MY child, I'd buy her a pretty dress to wear [2008-10-16]
You bigots are appalling.

Whaaat? That's pretty bizarre. And why would [2008-10-16]
It's a perfectly civil conversation about different beliefs. Unless you think that a thread that doesn't follow strict Christian philosophy would automatically be deleted from MT Stars?

Pretty scary, isn't it? [2008-10-16]
I just don Those cities must have been wicked beyond compare. Part of me says Wait just a little longer, Lord but another, ever increasing part of me says Come even so Lord Jesus.

Pretty sad to stunt a child's intellectual growth. [2008-10-16]
.

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

Thanks you! I wanted to say that you are a very pretty [2008-10-10]
doggie mom! (If that was you in the picture). They are soooooo lucky to have you! Have a great weekend and kiss those babies for me!!!!

OMG...That makes my eyes water just looking at it. And I DON'T wear contacts. nm [2008-10-07]
nm

There is no way I would wear the one ...sm [2008-10-07]
with the jewelry hanging from it. That irks me. I just want to grab the thing and jerk it off. LOL. The one with the crystals in the contact lense without the thing hanging I think is cool.

There is a special place for them [2008-10-03]
The worst crimes committed are abuse to children and to animals. In the bible it does state that hurting or maiming an innocent animal is one of the worst sins, the first being abuse to children. These are innocent creatures who are here to help us and give us comfort and love. They never ask for anything, are always there for us and never complain. It sickens me to my stomach to hear of abuse to animals. When I was younger I had a dalmatian pup. He was outside one day, fenced in, and got out through a small place in the fence. Someone in our neighborhood saw him, hit him with their car, and left him to die. I was heartbroken and it took me a long time to get over it. I would not like to be the person that will have to stand before God in judgment when it comes it comes to abusing these blessed animals. Only a coward and a bully would commit such an act.

Good grief - I hope not!!! Mine was not pretty! nm [2008-10-02]
..

Our daughter is pretty trustworthy - sm [2008-09-11]
Actually, she just turned 17 two days ago. Generally, the rule of thumb was that on school nights she was home for supper and thereafter. On the weekends her curfew was 11:00 and she never violated it. This summer, as she neared 17, we let her stay out until midnight, and often she would just stay outside on our lawn swing with her friend talking until 1 or 2, which was fine - we knew where she was and what she was doing. Oh, yes - when she was babysitting on school nights she still had to be home by 10:00. That worked out fine.

I swim for fun a lot - and I wear contacts - sm [2008-09-04]
I keep them in and so far haven't lost any but don't open my eyes under water unless I wear goggles :-)

Thanks - they are running a special [2008-09-01]
ItI Thanks for the tip.

I had mono or Epstein Barr Virus...sm [2008-12-01]
which ever you want to call it. Epstein Barr Virus causes mono. I had it in 2003 and I was so sick. Believe it or not, I had it for 1-1/2 years. I was diagnosed after doing extensive bloodwork. I was house bound. I couldn't rarely go anywhere. I was so weak I couldn't get out of bed some days. It was the most awful thing I have ever had. And nothing could be done about it. It just had to kind of wear off. I did take a lot of vitamins toward the end of it and they seemed to help.

Fake [2008-12-01]
I'm allergic so real is not an option. We have a big one but bought a thinner one last year. They are both pretty tall though. It just took up so much room in our living room. We were tired or rearranging the furniture around the xmas tree. The new one rotates so you can see all the ornaments!

Well ... [2008-11-30]
She's old and feeble, and so am I! She looked really pretty when she got back from the groomer couple of months ago, but now she's looking all matted again, but I haven't really noticed an odor. I have a permanently damaged right shoulder and arthritis in both hands, so it's very hard for me to work on her for more than a few minutes. I was thinking about mixing some of the Cowboy Magic conditioner with water and putting it in a squirt bottle, and see if I could comb her out better.

Same problem here. [2008-11-30]
My husband works with loud machines and we both have noticed his hearing is going. I actually thinks he likes it because when I ask him to do something and it doesnI didn. Very frustrating for me. My husband also expects big presents for Christmas, birthday, etc, wrapped up all nice and pretty. Last year, he received a big gift and I received nothing from him. He says I'm hard to buy for so he won't do it. Or else on Christmas Eve, he will say he's going shopping what should he get me. He always takes the fun out of any gift-giving occasion. This year, I told him we are not exchanging and that means BOTH of us will do without. We'll see how he likes it.

Hubby with hearing and greedy problems [2008-11-30]
Dear NOT Silly Girl, I am a clinical psychologist and now teach medical transcription. I lost my deaf old sweetie 2 years ago. He was incredibly vain about wearing aids and/or his glasses. FINALLY got him to an audiologist in Canada (half the price than here in US) but getting him to wear the aids was another matter. Solved it by training just like dog or horse. Yep! Intermittent positive reinforcement - rewards, treats, smooches, etc. I told him I would only go out to dinner or shopping with him if he wore the hearing aids. Refused to go out of house with him unless he had them on -- and he loved going out! It worked, except then I still had to repeat everything 3 times inside! Many, many frank discussions also helped. Turned out he was incredibly vain and thought he looked old with hearing aids. I finally convinced him that shouting at people REALLY made him look old. He got contacts instead of glasses. As to self-centeredness, that has to be educated out of him, too. All this takes time. Just talk to him about values whenever he acts that way, and when he stops the selfishness, reward him. That is not acceptable behavior in an adult -- and I would tell him so directly. Good luck. Rosie By the way, I would take

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

This shows what one person, acting [2008-11-29]
upon their thoughts, can do. Look how many lives were touched and the day made special. thanks for sharing.

Gift Giving [2008-11-29]
I just got married in July 2008, bought a new home, and am now expecting my third child in April 2009 so we ourselves have had many blessings this year but our financial situation is also pretty tight. We will not be buying gifts for anyone but our children. Our family will receive homemade treats this year. We still like to do something nice for them because they have done so much for us this year and every year but we don't have a lot of money to play with. In my case, we take care of our obligations (bills, our children, etc.) before we worry about gifts. We feel that providing our children with things that need and the love that they deserve is more important than any material gift will ever be. Our family understands our situation and is very happy just to spend the holidays with us without the expectation of a gift because honestly the quality time with family is the biggest gift we could give each other. In my opinion, you should just explain the situation to them and let them know that you will not be giving gifts this year. They may take it hard but they will get over it. You have to do what you have to do. Gifts aren't the real reason for the Christmas season anyhow. Good luck to you!

English Toffee--super easy [2008-11-26]
You can put down any kind of nuts you want--if you want in a raised-sided cookie sheet. Cook 1# of butter and 1# of brown sugar plus a little vanilla to hardball stage (I put a little in a cup of cold water and if it is crunchy, it is done). Quickly pour into cookie sheet because it is easy to burn. Scatter one bag of chocolate chips on top and wait to melt a little before speading across the top. Everyone loves it and it is pretty easy to make. Once it cools, you break it into pieces.

Take a sewing class, and take the machine - sm [2008-11-26]
with you. There you will learn how to use it and how to sew too. I have been sewing since I took home-ec in 7th grade. I have a Singer that is about 20 years old or more. It is a pretty basic one with about 12 different stitch types. Have never had an issue. Sounds like you donhow to sew class. Call a local craft store and see what they offer. Even one private lesson would probably do you a world of good. Good luck.

Guess you never had a bad experience [2008-11-26]
My ex likes to lend things. They get returned...sometimes. When they do get returned, they And usually whoever had them is irritated thatthey had to be naggedto return it, and the friendship suffers. Some friends of his borrowed and destroyed an expensive carpet cleaner last year, he They are no longer friends. I lent my car to a friend once after she wore me down with her whining. I begged her to treat it gently, it was an old car and I knew she was a rowdy driver. She supposedly needed it to take her poor hurting, mother to the chiropractor. She destroyed my transmission, then refused to pay a cent to help me fix it, because my family had more money than her family. These were people we thought we knew pretty well beforehand. Rough way to find out what people are really like.

Hanging out at your house is a good thing [2008-11-26]
as long as you are there. My house became the hang out house, and it was hard, especially when I was trying to get my work done. But I knew where they were and could step in and keep things under control when necessary. I donrule of 16 which meant my sons could not date until they were 16 years old. Boys don't really seem to fight this so much. My oldest didn't have a steady girlfriend until he was 18. My youngest was 17 when he first started dating. I also had problems with some of their friends being just plain rude. They'd swear, never say please or thank you, and just generally act like snotty brats at times. That wasn't a problem for me. I corrected them and taught them manners. I used humor, which again boys seem to respond to. Usually, when we had girls over who acted that way, the boys were quick to correct them, and I didn't have to step in myself. As far as going out, my boys did go out to hang at the local pizza parlor in mixed groups when they were 13. I never had a problem, but they were held to time limits. I think itYou know, I Good luck!

Sure! It's the easiest ever! [2008-11-26]
Actually based on the Tupperware recipe. I keep everything chopped and frozen except for the canned tomatoes. I buy a packet of salsa seasoning at the grocery store for ease and I can usually find it on sale for 33cents and stock up. 1 large bell pepper 1/2 a medium onion 1 large can of tomatoes (chopped or whole but no seasoning) 1 large garlic clove or garlic powder I add a squirt of lime juice (if I have it) and black pepper. Then a packet of seasoning mix and some dried about 2 teaspoons of dried cilantro (if I have it). Keep it chunky or blend it/food process it to the texture you like. We like it pretty smooth. I add Tabasco sauce to taste for heat. Less than 5 minutes preparation and it is the thing that everyone now asks me to bring to parties and gatherings. :) Enjoy!

Your mom probably didn't want you to [2008-11-25]
give your kids McDYour mom probably sees in you the parent she wishes she had been. It may help to tellyour mom yourealize she did the best she could. She must have done something right because you sound like a pretty decent person.

I tried to email you and it wouldn't let me [2008-11-25]
Everything sounds pretty obvious on what to do, but can you send me the recipe for the peanut butter kiss cookies please? Thanks!

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.

Alton Brown's website [2008-11-25]
Check Alton Brown's website for recipes. I am a pretty good cook and make Christmas cookies for all of our neighbors and friends every year. Cookies or not, if there is something that I just can't seem to pull off I go to Alton Brown. I have not found a recipe of his that hasn't worked for me yet. It took me 15 years to make a pie crust but I was only able to do it well with Alton Brown's recipe. I know he also has some recipes where you can make 1 dough and then divide it to make 4 different cookies. I think his black-and-white cookie is that way. Also, marshmellows are not difficult to make but they are so impressive and everyone loves them! It's a little messy with all the powdered sugar but the kids LOVE to make them. Its minimal ingredients and its like a science project when it grows in the mixer. You can also get extracts and make mint marshmellows, strawberry, whatever you want. They go great with hot chocolate. Actually I think this year we are only doing those and sugar cookies because everyone loved them so much the last few years. and maybe some fudge, to give me an excuse to make it. lol

You definitely have the right idea [2008-11-25]
As long as it's done in moderation I don't see anything wrong with it. It definitely sounds like you have a system that works for you and your family. I guess I'm lucky in that I have daughters, the youngest one is pretty young for video systems, although she does have an educational V-Smile system, and the older one (14) has a Play Station 2 that got old really fast as she got older (we've had it for quite a few years). Now she's into all the girly stuff and has never wanted any of the other systems. We almost got a Wii this Christmas for the whole family but decided against it because of the cost. Our friends have one and it really looks like a lot of fun.

About tatting sm [2008-11-24]
I tried to learn as kid and I just didn't get it. The gal who tried to teach me was very good and got me interested, but I could not get it. It is very like making a fishing net. Those little knots have to be just so or you end up with a knot. I have done that more times than I can tell you. I had a neighbor who handed me a can before she moved. In the can was a shuttle and some tatting thread. She says to me TO ME! LOL I'll bet you don't know what that is. As it happens, she didn't know what it was! I picked it up and said bet I do...and started to tat. By the time I was in high school, I could TAT pretty well. I made a couple of blouses for work that had Peter Pan collars. One was baby pink, the other baby blue. I embroidered on the collar and then tatted enough matching lace for the edges. I loved those and wore them a very long time. I wish I had time to make another one in white, but most of my efforts going into sewing for others. I have 15 pr of boxers on my sewing table for my son who won't wear anything else...as in he hates store bought boxers. He is married and should grow up, but he won't until I am gone and can't do it for him any longer. Right now, I have a soft sheer crepe that I am making into a wedding dress for my daughter. They are going to the JP in January before he deploys and we'll do the first ceremony. When he returns they will get married by a lake in Minnesota. He wants to build a pontoon with his dad and get married on the pontoon at sunset. We'll do her wedding gown next summer. Both dresses have to be baby pink and please don't ask! She gets what she wants, it is her day(s).

I love cross stitch, to look at. I don't see well enough to do it myself sm [2008-11-24]
but I sure think it is pretty and there are several things I would love to have for my house. I could translate them into English smocking, which I can well, and put them up. I have a couple of Pullen pleaters and that helps. I have a baby dress for my mom's reborn doll I am doing right now and she wants that smocked.

Yes they did! And I have a real one and I [2008-11-24]
If you go on e bay, please don't get the felt ones which are fake. You need to get a real one. Though the vintage collectors (which I am) will pay top-dollar. I took a lot of time to find one and it is real wool and I love to wear it. The crinoline underneath can be found on e bay and you can put in the search as square dancing crinoline, or crinoline. Make sure it does not go below the skirt much like the wedding dress crinolines, 2 different things. I do suggest e bay, but do not look under costumes. Look under vintage poodle skirt and make sure that your mom or someone who knows the real thing from the fake. If you are going to spend money, don't waste it. Also you can get saddle shoes, (white and black tie shoes). Believe it or not, I wear it around (I live in Florida) and may elderly women stop me and so do their husbands to thank them for the memories. BTW: Friskyfrocks vintage is one vendor on e bay who knows all about crinolines. You can e mail her and ask her anything you want to know. She is very honest. Her name is Nellie. Tell her Diane from Florida sent you. Good luck!

Well, at least they're working to [2008-11-24]
support their children. Raising kids in this generation isn The pressure are on parents these days isn In addition to making sure our kids are well taken care of and that we attend the all important PTO meetings, baseball meetings, wrestling club meetings, soccer meetings, football meetings, dance recitals, cheerleading practice, on and on, we also must make sure our 1st and 2nd graders are doing their 1 hour worth of homework each evening and in addition to that make sure we are reading a book to them every night. These are the requirements now set by the schools. The parents must also deal with sex, drugs, and peer pressure at a much younger age than you probably did. Just last week, I had to explain to my second grader what a virgin was. Did he learn that word at home? No, he learned it on the bus because our school district decided to save money by busing all the kids together, high school through kindergarten. The meals you mention your GKs eating, that More than likely, your GKs won You seem very harsh on your kids, and IIs either one ofthe parents involved in their children Do you have any idea how much time that takes? Arethey struggling with finances? Were you a stay-at-home mom or work-at-home mom? Having to get kids ready in the morning and get yourself ready, then spend 8 hours a day working, only to come home and pick up the same kids and do homework with them is not an easy chore. More than likely, your DS and DDIL are tired. Instead of criticizing, why not ask where you can help? Maybe you could offer to make them dinner once a week after work. Give them an evening out without kids to just relax a little bit. I As for the kids But aren Maybe he Maybe mom and dad didn I, myself, grew up in a home where I had frozen pizza at least 2 or 3 times a week for supper. My mom worked nights and my dad didn If my mom could make us a meal before she left, she did. Frozen pizza didn I graduated high school at 140 pounds, normal for 5 tall. My mom and dad were there for everything for me, though, and it It Your words are so harsh and I just have to wonder, if you think they Is it because you know the children are well taken care of, just not up to your standards? Perhaps you should have a conversation with your DS and see what his impressions of your child-rearing of him were. Perhaps there were areas you could have improved on.

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.

Need ideas please [2008-11-24]
Hey everyone. I almost never do this, but I want to bake some things this year (like cookies, candy, etc) to put in Christmas tins to give to some people. I need some ideas on what things we (kids 8 9 and I) can do together. I already have this one chocolate cherry bars that my friend made last year and they were so good, so I am definitely going to make them, although they Would appreciate any ideas. Thanks!

Mine would have said, "No" but I hate that sm [2008-11-24]
You probably have a generous husband. Mine is but only with family, sometimes he is rude to the point I get upset. I would rather be nice about it, but then again, it sounds like an heirloom so with the holiday coming, just say, Hi, are you finished with my heirloom rolling pin, I can Then next time, say, Gee, sorry, the thing was so old, I guess you Just work around it and be happy you have a guy who shares. Mine drives me nuts when it comes to this subject, not a good sharer, what's his is his and don't dare borrow it!