athiest soldier doesn't believe in God but

It doesn't sound dumb... [2008-11-16]
...at all. I miss my Noni girl every single day. She was the light of my life, my soulmate who happened to be a different species. I have gotten 2 new dogs, but my heart will never feel the same.

God doesn't judge animals. [2008-11-09]
I don Animals don They are merely animals and they act on instinct. If an animal possesses an instinct to kill a human when there is no threat, then that animal should be put down. The life ofa human is infinitelymore valuablethan the life of an animal. Somehow it doesn

mine doesn't have any. NM [2008-11-06]
.

My brother has done the same as you and she doesn't get it at all (sm) [2008-10-21]
He has not been to see her in 5 years and has a one-year-old baby she has never even seen, plus older children she has not seen in 5 years. To this day she thinks it is because his wife has turned him against her. She still doesn't understand that she did anything wrong.

That is my mom, she just doesn't get [2008-10-21]
it. She also thinks it is because of my husband. Nobody is good enough for me. Doesn She has been telling everyone it is because she will not lend us money. My husband and I both work our butts off and have never borrowed money from anyone but the bank. My brother and I have not been the closest and about two weeks ago, I called him. I now believe that a lot of reason why we arenot close is due to my mother. He is four years younger and I was out of the house by the time he was 13. I always got my mother She told me he doesn He and I thought we didna lot in common, so most of the communication was between him and my mom, then mom would tell me. He doesn He said that she was always intervening in his life, no matter what it was. She kicked him out of her home when he was 15 and he has never looked back. He now has his PhD as a recent graduate and is very successful. We both believe it is a control issue with her. That leads to this, I have researched grandparents rights as well. In Michigan, as long as the parents are married and fit parents, grandparents have no rights. If you were never married, separated or divorced or worse yet, proved to be unfit, then they have rights to see the children. Something to think about.

But not believing in Christianity doesn't automatically [2008-10-16]
.

Check-writing doesn't bother me [2008-10-11]
so much as the little old ladies with their frail eyesight and arthritic hands, bless their hearts, digging in theircoin purses for the exact change. It

Check-writing doesn't bother me [2008-10-11]
so much as the little old ladies with their frail eyesight and arthritic hands, bless their hearts, digging in theircoin purses for the exact change. It

It doesn't change [2008-10-09]
I married a man with 2 grown daughters, a grown son, and a stepdaughter from his deceased wife. We have been married for 7 years and they were 31,33,43 and 35 when we married. They are now 38,40,50 and 42, and things have not changed a bit. They told their father they did not want him to get married, and the next to the oldest told me that I should come to her for advice, as she ran the family and everyone came to her for advice, and the youngest one sat on her stepfatherthey were daddy The son lives in another state thank goodness, and he is what I call a freeloader when he visits. Expects me to wait on him. He takes his father's chair in the living room because his excuse is that he cannot see well and needs that chair closer to the TV, when I actually caught him not wearing his glasses, which is why he could not see!! He doesn't ask his father if he needs any help (my husband is 8 years older than me and he is 70), nor has he ever offered to take his father to dinner when he is at home, until I talked to him kindly and thought it would be a nice gesture. He takes over the TV when he visits, and will not pick up after himself, and this guy is 50 years old!! I have never, ever seen such spoiled adults in my life. Whew, just needed to get that off my chest. What I mean is that this type of behavior does not stop as they get older, unless the father has a good talk with the children. At 9 though you have to have patience, but she knows how to manipulate her father and girls are good at that. She might just feel insecure and maybe your attention will change that, but I do feel for you. Good luck.

Well my son doesn't like girls to be too skinny lol (sm) [2008-10-02]
He always says the Victoria's Secret models are way too skinny. And I am not a small person, so I guess that could be why?

It doesn't look good! [2008-09-19]
I sure wish our government could see how many factors they are responsible for, such as giving our jobs away.

It doesn't make me mad but it doesn't sound intelligent either (sm) [2008-09-16]
I am sure if all of those people who were aborted were living, some would be good and some would be bad, in the same proportion as there is good to bad now. Your statement makes no sense. So somehow the babies who were aborted were meant to be aborted because they were bad seeds? Whatever. Sorry, that's just silly.

he may love the dog and doesn't want something bad to happen; he is 14. [2008-09-05]
nm

he may love the dog and doesn't want something bad to happen; he is 14. [2008-09-05]
nm

The one with a woman who doesn't want free TV, [2008-08-31]
who turns out to be made of gold. She punches the table and runs out. Thank goodness for DVR to fly through that rubbish!

i'm athiest and I agree. Christian holidays have been [2008-08-23]
easter bunny, santa claus. It almost seems like businesses are exploiting your beliefs by pressuring you into buy bigger, buy more for your family than you did last year.

That doesn't surprise me. [2008-08-18]
It seems like companies try to nickle and dime you with every charge they can get and very often the description they give is not accurate. I used to work in the hotel industry and it was very common there but customers rarely questioned it.

Why doesn't she get her own [2008-08-06]
It sounds to me like she wants you to pay her bills. She Why should you compromise what you have with your boyfriend when she Let her know she

soldier's option [2008-08-05]
Of course they can deny things but the soldier also has the option of fighting that which they deny by going to the IG, inspector general, of the base. There will be a hearing and more than not, the solider will get what they need, especially in a case as this woman

If a dog doesn't have anything [2008-07-30]
to do, he will occupy himself. His thing is barking, which isn't fair to the neighbors. I had a neighbor who'd let his laborador bark for hours on end while I was trying to work. Almost drove me insane. To catch a break I'd occasionally take a rawhide, stuff all the cracks with peanut butter, and throw it over the fence. Ah, blessed peace for a while. Cesar Millan has a website. I'm sure you can get lots of ideas there. It's all about exercise, discipline and then affection. You have to communicate your leadership and also use up his energy and teach him what it is you expect of him.

But doesn't it stink up the bathroom? [2008-07-26]
I don I can I realize that bathrooms are made for the purpose of excreting stool, but it seems such a waste to have a tub like that and not use it for its intended purpose. I always use my garden tub once a week to rejuvenate with a long soak. I figure I'm entitled to that even with the water shortages since I save on gas by not working outside the home. To each his own I guess!

I like to eat--doesn't matter if I'm hungry or not. [2008-07-25]
During high school, I lost about 30 pounds eating only 1 salad a day and Special K cereal for breakfast. I ran about 5 miles a day and was able to lose 30 pounds in 30 days. It was a complete turnaround for me. I gained self-esteem. I kept the weight off until I went to college. Of course, in college, I started to revert to my old eating habits and didn I had settled to a comfortable 180 pounds (which wasn After the birth of my first child, I weighed in at about 220. When he turned 1, I tried some sort of diet pill (probably had ephedra in it) and lost down to 170. I felt wonderful. I kept that off until 3 years later when I had my second child. I lost some of the baby weight, but not all of it. Two years later, I had my third child. I weighed about 230 pounds and really wanted to lose. I tried Stacker with ephedra and lost like 40 pounds in 6 weeks. I felt wonderful. I kept that off for 2 years. At that point, I started Effexor and the weight just slowly crept up on me. I won Now, I I I've tried most of the ephedra products, phenteramine prescribed by my doc, Nutri-System (but only for 2 weeks - the food was yuck!). I I know from past experience that diet pills only work for so long, but I really think that if I could just get in the groove, I I like to exercise. I only work about 4 hours a day, so I have the time. I just can I especially love to eat late at night when watching TV. I can do so good all day long and then 10 o My other problem is that I The only veggies I really like are corn, potatoes, and green beans. The starchy ones. I like fruit, but it I get tired of eating chicken and I I I love junk food - chips, candy bars, nachos, cookies. I eat when I Okay, I know I Is there a good appetite suppressant? I These are the ones I Leptovox, Fenphedra, Proactol. Anyone try any of these and did you see results? I know I have to eat healthier and exercise. I

From what the police have uncovered so far, it doesn't seem to be heading to a good outcome [2008-07-22]
I agree it's very fishy that the grandmother didn't ever have the opportunity to drop off or pick up the little girl from the babysitter. Considering she and the mom lived with the grandparents, you'd think she'd have had one opportunity in these years to have met the babysitter. Well, it's all fishy. Seems to not be heading to a good outcome. Don't know what the mom is trying to prove by not saying anything and the grandma... she's a real piece of work.

But that philosophy doesn't work unless [2008-07-18]
practiced from the beginning. You can't expect a child who has been virtually allowed to make no decisions from the get-to to be capable of making them later. I completely agree with your philosophy, but I think at this stage in the OP's situation, it may be too late for that. I actually insisted my daughter make her own decisions since she was able to communicate. Of course, you don't let them run out in the street if they want, but I taught her right wrong, guided her (which included punishment guidelines for inappropriate behavior), and gave her my opinions, but for the most part, she was in control. When they're able to make the little decisions (like the example you gave) when they're young, they are more equipped to graduate into the more important decisions down the road. My DD is 21 now and I feel like the luckiest mom in the world because other than just menial, normal things/stressors, she's really been just a wonderful child. I'm not saying I'm mom of the year because I do believe in the 'bad seed' theory and I just think she'd have turned out good if the wolves had raised her, but I do believe she has a certain confidence in herself that is a result of being able to make choices and suffering the consequences or reaping the benefits. I-) Just want to say one more thing. I've know many kids there were raised 'do it my way or no way' and just about every one of them are the worst behaved kids outside of the presence of their parents. And what's really bad is they're sneaky about it. They've mastered how to get away with things because they have to... and that's dangerous...

Doesn't give the dog a right to bite her??? It's a freakin animal. [2008-07-04]
It doesn't know right from wrong. Geez lady! Doesn't give it a right...lol whatever.

The other poster is correct.... [2008-11-19]
I think it was on What Not To Wear or one of those shows where I heard if you have that problem it is because the cup size is not big enough for you. With that size naturally I wouldnpush up because those have a lot of extra padding to give the push. Maybe go to a store in the mall and talk to them. Surely they will have a suggestion for your size and style interest. Doesn't mean you have to buy it there, just get the idea and then go to Target or someplace and buy what you want a little less expensive.

Ambrielle [2008-11-19]
I was really impressed with the feel of Ambrielle in the store but I cannot wear it for more than an hour without it irritating my skin. I'm not sure if it doesn't breath well or what the problem is but it becomes very uncomfortable and itchy. Of course I bought 3 of them at the time and can't return them now that I wore them and threw the tags in the trash thinking that they would be great, until I wore them for a length of time. I'm sure this doesn't happen to everyone but I would just suggest if anyone buys them to hang on to the tags a week or so to make sure. I also didn't care for the straps as they are fabric over a small string and they tend to twist as the day goes on and bunch up if you have to adjust them more than an inch or so.

I would use coupons more if FL doubled them sm [2008-11-18]
As it is, I will use them if it is something I normally buy, but most of the stuff I get is not stuff they have coupons for, or it is for a different brand that I don't like. Florida doesn't charge sales tax on groceries and we don't have state income tax, but we pay higher grocery prices on a lot of things for that reason. And as much as people hate Wal-Mart, that is where I do my shopping because it is affordable and the prices don't change from week to week because of sales ads, which is mostly bumping up prices on stuff so that you really aren't getting that much of a deal anyway.

Dogs v kids [2008-11-18]
I am a sucker for a pretty face & don't have kids, so I am at my dogs' mercy. You should see their stockpile of dog treats. It's ridiculous. School lunches. $2 a day! Doesn't sound like a lot for a meal, but it sure adds up...you would think they would give you some kind of deal because you have 3 kids. I guess I'm assuming they all go to the same school. Now I'm dating myself, but when I was in elementary school I think it cost 40 or 45 cents for lunch. A nickel for milk. Amazing!

Eating Out - About the Same as You [2008-11-18]
We usually get take out on Friday's because I don't cook on Fridays (it's my day off so to speak). Then we go out on Saturday nights just my husband and myself and our best friends and usually spend about $40+ depending on where we go. The kids get together with their kids and they usually get some sort of take out. Then on Saturdays we usually either eat lunch out (fast food) and then Sundays either lunch or dinner out (fast food - I hate to say sometimes it's both). We have been trying to cut down the Saturdays and Sundays as far as the fast food goes. My daughter who is a vegetarian doesn't usually get much from the fast food restaurants so our bill usually isn't that large (About $10). We always use coupons, though (buy 1 get 1 free - we have what is called Entertainment Books that the schools usually sell). My husband will cook, and I hate to say he cooks better than I do.

I can't imagine affording all those meals out, but I have some suggestions sm [2008-11-18]
I usually cook from scratch. My idea of fast food is a can of lentil soup, and I have that about once a month, occasionally twice. I make crockpot soups a lot because I am busy. I will tell you, there is a place that is sort of between a restaurant meal and home cooking. I used to have kids at home, lots of them, and I would get too tired to cook. My answer was to hybrid the dinner, so to speak. You can get Stouffer's lasagne which is good. You can pickup some ready-made stuff in your grocery store deli or freezer case. We liked the frozen Banquet chicken back in the day. I might get that, a box of flavored instant potatoes, potato salad or ready-made mashed to go with it. We might get a bag of salad too. Fresh fruit cups were nice if they were on special. You know, make a nice meal you don't have to 100% cook, but isn't going out. These days, I see that you can get beef tips in gravy, or sliced beef in gravy and other prepared stuff at the store. It just takes looking. It is more expensive than doing it all yourself, but it is much cheaper than going out. You can try another thing that is NOT everyone's cup of tea, and that is OAMC or Once A Month Cooking. This is my favorite website: http://snider.mardox.com/plans.htm I donmini plans using what is on special in a given week. They have breakfast plans, muffin plans, potato plans, chicken, beef, pork plans, ground meat plans, even some dessert plans. With planning, you can do this in bits and pieces. From people who have done far more of this than I have, they tell me that with soup already made, no chopping or messing, they are more likely to make fresh rolls, salad and even a quick dessert...round out any meal because the work is done. Obviously, it saves money.

Pitbull Hero [2008-11-17]
Stray Pit Bull Saves Woman, Child from AttackerPet Pulse Staff Reports Browse NewsFront Page BY CATEGORY:Alerts Notices Animal Attacks Care Safety Crime Law Cruelty Abuse Deaths Accidents Entertainment Health Science Heroes International Lost Found New Trends Petlanthropy Strange But True Survival BY PET:Dogs Cats Fish Birds Horses Reptiles Small Pets Other Pets November 5, 2008 A dog came out of nowhere and stopped a knife-wielding robber from accosting a mother and her young son on Monday afternoon. (Pet Pulse Illustration by Tim Mattson) PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The wandering 65-pound Pit Bull mix might have seemed menacing to some passerby, but one woman will always remember him as her guardian angel. The dog, which authorities think is lost and not a stray, successfully thwarted a robbery attack on a mother and her 2-year-old son, who were held at knifepoint Monday afternoon. The Florida woman, who has been identified by authorities simply as Angela, was leaving a playground with her toddler son in Port Charlotte when a man approached her in the parking lot with a knife and told her not to make any noise or sudden movements. Angela didn't have to do either to protect herself and her child -- a dog mysteriously ran to the scene and charged the man, who quickly fled. I don Animal Control Lt. Brian Jones told Pet Pulse. I don The exceptional part of the story, Jones said, is that the dog had never met or even seen the people it quickly jumped to defend. You hear about family dogs protecting their owners, but this dog had nothing to do with this woman or her kid, Jones said. He was like her guardian angel. After the alleged thief ran away, Angela quickly placed her son, Jordan, in the car and tried to drive off. Before she could, though, the dog jumped into her backseat, waiting with her for the police and animal control officers to arrive at the scene. The dog was transported to a local shelter and if his owners donAngel. Animal control officers and shelter workers believe Angel is lost, and not a stray, because of his good health, sturdy weight and mild temperament. It Jones said of Angel's possible owners. For Angela, it doesn't matter where the dog came from, just that he was there when she needed him most. I don Angela told NBC2 News. For a small town with a population of 46,452, animal control officers were kept busy Monday afternoon. Jones says they department also responded to a report about a boa constrictor in a church parking lot. The snake found its way into a car engine and was able to be removed without being harmed. It took three people to move the massive, seemingly random placed snake. It he said of the Gulf Coast town. And we can go for four or five months without the media contacting us about a story. It Officers from the responding county sheriff's office canvased the area and were unable to locate the suspect described as being in his 20s, tall and dark haired. Tell us what you think about Stray Dog Saves Woman, Child Held at Knifepoint below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204. Pet Pulse reporter Amy Lieberman and NBC-2.com contributed to this article.

Bakes potato soup [2008-11-17]
I like to make baked potato soup. Bake 3 large potatoes or 4-5 small ones. Cut them in half, cool slightly, then scoop out the middle. While they are baking I takes some time to heat up some chicken stock with a bay leaf, garlic, black pepper, a little time. Sometimes I use boulion (sp?) if I donbake the potatoes in the microwave if you want). I find that kids love it if you call it cheese and bacon soup. lol Usually for the bacon, I don't cook a new package but instead when I cook bacon for breakfast, etc. I save 2 or 3 pieces in the freezer each time. Then when I want some for soup, green beans, or salads it is available.

I would start charging the JA for room and board - sm [2008-11-16]
If he is so lazy he wonfriend, and tell him the gravy train has stopped and he needs (1) to either take the dogs and take care of them himself, (2) start paying you $200 a week to feed and board the dogs (a bargin)--and if he fails to pay the dogs go to a no-kill shelter (and stick to it), (3) in the future if he does take the dogs back, that he has to find other arrangements for their room and board whenever he is away, unless he pays you in advance with cash and supplies the food.-- yeah he will think you are a shrew but who cares, I'd be so mad at both of them, DH for not understanding and being a wuss for not talking to his friend, and the friend for being the typical male and taking advantage of a good thing. Good luck, and stick it to them!

What a kind post..sm [2008-11-16]
I am a very caring person. I have an extreme soft spot for animals. Dogs especially. I have a stray that was apparently dropped off here, and he is a big dog. My husband said he is a Catahoula Kur dog. He is such a sweetheart, but he can aggravate you to death. He is bad about running in the house when you open the door, and he is so big I can't hardly get him out. I have had to literally drag him by his feet out the house. As annoying as that is I can't be mean to him. I feed him everyday and talk to him and pet him. I don't need another dog but I feel so bad for him. I feel like he needs a home and and someone to care for him. So I guess I am stuck with him. I don't have the heart to take him to the pound. I just can't do that. My husband loves dogs too but he says I am just ridiculous. He thinks I treat them like people. I just see it as they are living breathing animals and they feel. There are some people who say I wouldn't feed the dogs that belonged to the guy. I could NEVER let those dogs starve. That is the thing, I think the guy knows what a softie I am and he knows I will not let them do without and he takes advantage of it. This guy, by the way, is single and fully capable financially of feeding and caring for the dogs. He just is lazy and doesn't want to be bothered when he gets home from work. It isn't my place to care for his dogs but I can't let them starve either. I don't know. I am caught between a rock and a hard spot.

Don't know about "sweet" but dog is God spelled backward sm [2008-11-16]
I put up with a terrier mix (not a pit - just a mutt) who was hyper and ate everything, my house shingles, kitchen floor, rugs, etc., tried caging her and she bent the wires, scaled a 6 ft. fence or dug holes underneath to get out. We called her Hogan's Heroes. When she literally ate my whole couch one cold Christmas Eve with 20 people coming, I called the SPCA in tears and they said no one would take a dog like her, they would only bring her back and she'd be put to sleep. So I kept her over 16 years and she's buried in a pet cemetery nearby. I now have a 120 lb. Golden who had big paws when he was born and the last one left because he was going to be big, so I took him. People have dropped off dogs to me crying and I found homes for them. I understand how we can't turn away these beautiful animals others don't have the heart to understand. I would present your husbandbill for food, etc., but don I believe in good deeds being rewarded. It takes time but good only leads to good things coming back at you. I doesn't seem that way right now and times are tough, but hopefully you will be rewarded in other ways.

Yep, RUN, she was never really a friend to start with. [2008-11-16]
A true friend doesn Dating a friend Sounds like your new husband has a good head on his shoulders. Hope it works out well for you.

Yep, RUN, she was never really a friend to start with. [2008-11-16]
A true friend doesn Dating a friend Sounds like your new husband has a good head on his shoulders. Hope it works out well for you.

Just to lighten things up - this morning's news - sm [2008-11-15]
SPAM (the canned meat) is back, factory working overtime, two shifts. Only Christmas and Thanksgiving off. Remember Monty Pythom and Spamalot? One of the workers said he was glad to be working but doesn't think he could eat it. Before we knew what was in it, used to have Spam and eggs. I guess it's not that healthy but history repeating itself? Gotta keep it on the light side. A little humor helps sometimes.

My thirst is Sjogren's disease! sm [2008-11-15]
I am always, always and forever chronically thirsty, but I don't have the polyuria to go with it. I have dry eyes, dry nose (to a point where it is usually pretty full of scabs), dry mouth with caries at the gumline. I have gastroparesis and proctalgia fugax which often go with Sjogren's just like the rest of it. Dry skin and feeling like you are drying out from the inside out is part of it. I even get a nasty, clay-like sludgy feeling in my mouth and throat from my stomach being too dry to digest. It is misery and even better than a gallon of water a day doesn't fix the dry feeling, but it keeps my kidneys from shutting down from being dry. Lovely huh?

I still get a couple loaf pans of it every year at butchering time [2008-11-15]
DH doesn't touch it but I love it. I grew up on it too. I also grew up on Spam. Mom had a stove that had a pull out griddle above the oven and she would put spam and egss on there for a Tuesday night supper. I have 2 cans of Spam in my pantry now. The ingredients state: Pork with ham, mechanically separated chicken, water , salt, modified potato starch, sugar, hickory smoke flavoring (I have the hickory smoke flavor), and sodiu nitrite. Opps. There's that bad word-sodium nitrite.

You are definitely being taken advantage of [2008-11-15]
You You have every right to be mad. I would tell hubby that either his buddy comes and gets the dogs, and doesn It I think his friend is taking advantage of both of you and your husband is being wayyyy to nice about it. By the way, where I live the going rate of a kennel is about 25-30 dollars a night per dog. Maybe you should bill his buddy? Good luck.

Actually these beagles won't kill the ...sm [2008-11-15]
rabbit or do anything to it. They will only trail it and let you know where it is and if you want to kill the rabbits you can do it but the dogs won't touch it. BUT my husband just does it for sport. He doesn't kill the rabbits either. He just gets a kick out of watching the dogs get all worked up trailing the rabbit and if you have never heard a beagle on a rabbit trail. They howl and sing like you would not believe. But I am happy to say the beagles won't kill. I told my husband do not kill any rabbits and bring them here. And he doesn't. It is just a hobby. No killing or mauling takes place. We are animal friendly. :)

Blondie, have read your posts before sm.. [2008-11-15]
You sound like a very good person, very caring. I was in the same situation once with a neighbor's dog. He would go to Canada hunting and just leave his dog tied to a dog house in mid-winter in New England and I would take her into my home, feed her, keep her warm and all. This neighbor today I can say with full confidence was borderline-retarded without a doubt. I am so glad I did this. I even at one time went to the dog pound and claimed this dog who had gotten loose and said it was my own. I could not let this poor dog suffer because of its owner. All I can say is do what is in your heart, it may cost you a few dollars more but think of it is abandoned children and you are there for them. Take a good look at this guy and truly ask yourself is he is capable of the love and caring you have in your heart. I know times are tough, but perhaps you are the one who is meant to save these poor animals. Sounds like this guy is either not the sharpest tool in the shed or something else wrong with him. Does he have enough money for beer or etc., and not his dogs? Then he doesn't deserve them! Think hard about the dogs and what would happen to them if it were not for you. You are a very nice person. I hope you find an answer. As for your husband, only you can answer that question. I think he should at least stick up for you and address his dumb friend as to what his responsibility is in the situation. Good luck, Blondie, you are a sweetheart to put up with all this, and I am sure the dogs are in a better place with you. Do you have an SPCA or someone who could help with the food? Perhaps online you can find a way to make your own food suitable for dogs at a reasonable price. May God be with you. Perhaps you are meant to care for dogs in some way that would be beneficial to you in other ways. God bless you for caring.

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.

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

Please...I need someone to talk to...sm [2008-11-13]
Okay, its pity party time. I may need to get a professionalfree therapy. I am feeling really, really guilty about not seeing my dad as much as I should. So, heredad just up and leaves sort of way. He got a job in another city about 5 hours away. I remember we were all really excited about it as it was a really good career move for him. Mom didnagreement was that he would come home on the weekends and see us (right). So this turned into seeing him every month, to every couple of months, to about twice a year (thanksgiving and Christmas). Him and mom are still married (don't know how she does it) but I feel such resentment toward him that it is hard for me to go see him. We only live about 15 minutes away from my parents and are in their town a lot to see my husband's family. However, I choose not to go see my father because it is awkward and weird and it stresses me out to the max. I get to see mom about 3 times a week as we work together (both as transcriptionists) at our local hospital. I love spending time with her, but not with my dad around. I know I'm hurting his feelings when I don't see him but on his birthday, father's day, holidays, etc. He doesn't drink THAT much anymore, a beer or two a day (we think), but it still bothers the heck out of me when I see him drinking. Although it is better than mom and I trying to get him to bed while he is falling down drunk or driving away, getting a DUII, etc. I would never tell him how I feel because I love him and wouldn't hurt him like that. He isn't very healthy (hep C, high BP, neuropathy, etc) and I don't think he'll be around for that much longer. NEway..getting off track...I just need some advice and/or to hear someone else's stories about something like this. I don't know what to do and it is really getting to me. It does feel better to be able to talk to someone about it though (husband doesn't understand and talking to mom about it just makes her feel bad). Thanks ladies for all of your support!!!

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

I agree, trust your pets [2008-11-13]
Dogs or cats for that matter. Whether they sense trouble or they sense the personality, it doesn they just know something isn't right. I have had this experience with several pets, including my cat. Yes, I said my cat. lol She is like a dog in a lot of ways. They just know when something is off and they will tell you the best way they can. I never tell them a person is okay or to stop barking. If things are okay or the person is okay they will stop on their own without me saying a word. Somehow they just know.

My dad drinks a lot...or at least I think he still does... [2008-11-13]
but I am not really sure now because I live so far away...and I miss him terribly and I worry. Sometimes, just from my point of view, I think that we might not fully understand what makes people do what they do and we need to love them anyway. It doesn't make the bad things they have done or the disappointment go away, but it does make me feel better. Also, with the health problems, you might not have that long to see him, so why not take advantage of every minute. He couldn't have been all bad. I'm not saying you should buy him a 12 pack, but maybe try to accept him as an imperfect man. Everyone has faults, even our parents.