home remedies

Mine does too. She will come home for [2008-11-18]
school and ask Is this whatever I can find for dinner night? She is 14 and has just started cooking, so she absolutely loves it.

I had to place my mom in a nursing home [2008-11-09]
temporarily when she broke her hip the first time. It was very hard. (I had made a promise to her that I would never put her in one when she got older.) I visited her every day and every day she begged to come home. Shedidnand encourage her to keep up because the sooner she could walk with little assistance, the sooner she could come home. The PT team was great, too, always encouraging her, and she did her best. I found out that they had a hairdresser that came in every week and I paid to get her a haircut and style. After that, she kind of settled in a little bit, but still begged to come home. Thank heavens, she was only there2 months. I don't think I could have stood it much longer. Then when it was time to come home, she wanted to bring the furniture with her. LOL They had cherry dressers and headboards. It was almost like a regular bedroom. Momhe sat there for hours. No one came to see if he needed anything. The room was awful, so small andcheap furniture with old iron hospital beds. Reminded me of a regular hospital. Talked to his son and that's all the insurance company would cover for him so he was stuck. As the other poster said, research the homes as much as possible. Go when the activities and/or PT is taking place and just watch. Talk to the people that live there if possible. Talk to activity director, DON, etc. before deciding. Check the rooms. Watch to see if the CNAinsurance runs out; i.e., where the patients go after that. Mom would have been transferred to the first (MediCare) floor, but she came home before that.

nursing home decision [2008-11-09]
I am living this as we speak. My father died in March of 2007. My mother became bedridden in June 2007. I had hospice come in to assist, Home Health and Hospice to be exact, and they are wonderful. They actually have their own private nursing home-type facility in the next town over. With hospice, on an occasional basis and when a bed is available, they offer the caregiver a 5-day respite at their facility. After momma went for the first time she was offered a bed there and I immediately accepted. The facility is very small and only for the 3HC clientele, with only 12 private rooms divided into 2 sides - one side with 6 beds for the terminal clients and one side with 6 beds for residential clients. Momma was able to stay on the residential side for 7 months; however, her condition was stable and Medicare would no longer pay the fee. Momma came home after that and I have again been her primary caregiver since January of this year. She is contractured, bedridden, and rarely speaks or opens her eyes. I do have a sitter that works during the daytime hours M-F so that I can actually work, run errands when I need to, and get the kids to and from school because otherwise I cannot leave the house at all because momma cannot be left alone. I feel blessed to have found this line of work not quite 6 years ago. I have a 4-1/2 year old and a 6 year old and momma to care for so working from home has been a lifesaver. I, too, made the promise to momma that I would not put her in a nursing home and I will stand by that. Itcare most of the public places provide. It's a tough decision to make - even tougher if there aren't funds available like there are in our case (thanks to my great daddy) to pay for the sitter to come in and assist. But when the sitter isn't here, the kids and I must be. For the most part they understand, but sometimes they really just want to go somewhere or to the park or to McDonalds and we just can't do it. It's a huge personal sacrifice for your entire family to make to keep a parent at home. The decision isn't always just personal, though. It can be financial, too. You will make the right decision for whatever your situation is. Whatever you decide to do, just know that your parent respects you enough to make that decision for them and that they love you. Best of luck to you honey... hugzzzzz

nursing home - hardest decision ever sm [2008-11-09]
I had also made those promises to my folks, Dad was kept home on hospice 14 months, he had suffered brain damage from not being found for hours and was awful to all of us but we managed with a hospital bed, hospice and nurses, however, my whole family fell apart, fighting, etc., until he fell so many times and was so sick, we called 911 one night for help and hospice literally threw us out of the program. You are supposed to call them (in my state anyway) and they will sit with you while you watch them take their last breaths. Could not go through with that. Then we had no choice but nursing home, they took every cent they could get their hands on without touching my momshow up to check on them. Sometimes theyassisted living scenario, and after they clean out the bank book, they put them in a nursing home anyway, so thatsandwich generation between what to do with the parent and if you have kids, what is best for them. Itshow up and if you don it's tough to walk that walk. Take care, hopefully you will make the right decision. In some states you can have her in a nursing home and if she qualifies, you can also have hospice go in there for special care such as you desire for her comfort. Good luck, know we are all thinking of you.

Has anyone here had the painful problem of having to place their parent in a nursing home? SM [2008-11-08]
My beautiful dad passed away last year. My mother and father were devoted to one another, my mother always taken care of by my father in every way, married 67 great years. My mom has always had excellent health, but after about 1-1/2 years, she has deteriorated to the point where I do not know her and I am scared, she is frail, not eating, almost unable to walk, struggles to dress herself or do for herself, will not accept a home health aide, we are trying to cook and clean for her at home but it is getting very scary, she just turned 90 and she seems to be failing fast. I am so sorry this is so long, but it is all so complicated, it is like she gave up the second my dad died. Anyone go through this yet????

I have a 16yo son. On school nights, he has to be home by 9p. SM [2008-11-04]
On weekends, midnight. However, he is not allowed to be gone every night during the week. It helps that his girlfriend Plus they do their homework together which is nice. My son when from failing classes last year to make all As and Bs this year. So I try to give him a little more freedom because of the effort he's been giving.

Anyone have any home remedies [2008-10-31]
My back is killing me (time of month again), but this time my back seems to be killing me worse than ever. I can I Anyone know of anything that might help? How bout home remedies for other things. My grandfather was an advocate for a teaspoon of honey and teaspoon of cider vinegar in a glass of OJ each morning to cure what ever ailed you (he lived until 92 years old and hardly ever went to the doc).

Home Alone 1, A Christmas Story, Home for the Holidays, Chevy Chase's Christmas, sm [2008-10-27]
There The Gift of the Magi, He sells his gold watch to buy her a comb for her hair and she sells her beautiful long hair to buy him a chain for his gold watch. It used to be on Short Stories by O but thatIt -- too depressing, especially with banks closing, too intimidating right now!!!

Home Alone 1, A Christmas Story, Home for the Holidays, Chevy Chase's Christmas, sm [2008-10-27]
There The Gift of the Magi, He sells his gold watch to buy her a comb for her hair and she sells her beautiful long hair to buy him a chain for his gold watch. It used to be on Short Stories by O but thatIt -- too depressing, especially with banks closing, too intimidating right now!!!

Home Alone-1, & Christmas Vacation (with [2008-10-25]
Oops! Almost forgot the cartoon, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I LOVE that ol' green Grinch!

my Home Depot has 'em. no message inside. [2008-10-24]
.

Seeking home remedy [2008-10-21]
I have been having horrible Charlie Horse I have been reading online that there is really no relationship with low potassium, magnesium, or calcium like most people think. The only suggestions I see are stretching or a hot bath. Anyone have any suggestions of things to try? TIA!

Of course I would want to be equally valued. Why can't that be taught at home? nm [2008-10-16]
x

How often is she at your home?...sm [2008-10-10]
Maybe if you could just try to hang in there for the time she is there. How is it when she is not there? Do you guys get along, does he spend time with you? It sounds like she is a spoiled brat. You have obviously done the right thing letting him know how you feel but why donshe. That is disrespectful to you. You have a name. I don't have this problem. Don't have any stepchildren. The only advice I can give is give them all the time they want. Ignore them if that is the way he wants to play it. If he says something about you ignoring them or not being socialable say oh I thought that is what you wanted since you don't include me in anything. I would just do my own thing and let him do his with the little darling.

Yep that was it....Taste of Home...nm [2008-10-10]
ss

I have to agree here. Go home and see your family....sm [2008-10-05]
who needs doom and gloom day-in and day-out. Really, you need to celebrate the little things in life, like waking up and just being able to breath the fresh air!! Family is what makes you happy and feel fulfilled........go home and see your family. Be happy, enjoy life...cause you only get one shot at it. Best of luck and I wish you happiness and peace!

home made mac n' cheese and apple pie NM [2008-10-02]
x

Don't think its home alone as much as [2008-09-28]
having something to do...atleast for my hubs. I work at home so I'm almost always here but he can't stand to stay home most days. He has to be running somewhere for something. Drives me nuts! I always have a list of things to do around the house. It is never ending.

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 other ways of making at-home money sm [2008-09-03]
I have been transcribing for over 12 years - and I do like the profession and I am grateful that it has allowed me to stay home with my children. But I am getting sort of burned out....and want to do something different for a while at home. Have been looking at all sorts of online sites that advertise working from home but I don I know this is an MT site but does anyone do anything other than MTing that has been successful? I am thinking of maybe doing MTing part-time to stay up-to-date with it, and doing something else part-time, or maybe just taking a break from MTing for a while altogether. Any ideas would be appreciated.

working at home [2008-08-28]
One more reason why I'm so grateful I can work at home!

there is a reason and why would you consider sending an 8-year-old to a home? [2008-08-26]
nm

Natural remedies...tea bags, cucumbers, potato slices.... [2008-08-19]
I used to use cucumbers, but any of these will work....check out these web sites for more info, too.... http://www.darkcirclesgone.com/homeremedies.html http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Black-Circles-Under-Your-Eyes http://www.care2.com/greenliving/quick-fix-for-under-eye-bags.html

Home [2008-08-15]
Western Colorado. In a flash!

LOST, also Project Runway, Grey's Anatomy, various HGTV home buying/selling shows [2008-07-25]
x

We have been spending less than 100 [2008-11-19]
And we are starving. DH took over going to the grocery store from me (He thought I spent too much when I would spend about 150 a week.) It has been months since we do not have a bare cupboard. I am not complaining. I understand we are broke and he needs to pay the creditors. But the one person who has pretty much stopped eating is me. I am home all day and there is never bread to make a sandwich and I often pass up supper because I am tired of eating junky stuff like mac and cheese or spaghetti with meat sauce. He and our 11 year old son, on the other hand eat thirds of whatever meal it is. I get kind of annoyed. Our littlest boy and middle girl eat very little. All 3 take their lunch to school. I say to DH either stop eating so much (for him and the older boy) or buy more. He flips his eyes at me. We even stopped getting microwave popcorn which used to fill them up. So, now I am hoping to work extra to go to the grocery store myself and put an extra 100 a week in myself, but I keep running out of work. You see, this all started when we started running out of work in transcription about a year ago this fall, and my DH took over the bills. Apparently food was the first to be cut. And, BTW I don't ever go anywhere because there is no gas in my car, and it has 2 flat tires. We live by the school and I borrow DH's car to take the kids but it is always on empty. We seem to make it every time. Oh, well. No need to complain. Just cutting back. The family is lucky I work at home, don't use gas, barely eat. But I do have to pay 10 bucks a month for nerve pills, because it is hard doing without. Like I said, when work picks up transcribing first place I am going after I get gas for the car is to the food store. Eventually I can repair my flat tires.

I'm from Michigan and s/m [2008-11-18]
I have 6 in my home, 2 teens, 2 younger (78), 2 adults. I spend minimum of $150 a week on food, probably closer to $200. I do plan my meals out for the week prior to going. I really need to get back to my couponing days! I will do it religiously for months and then fade out when I don When I do couponing, I spend about the same, but get a lot more food for my buck. This also includes cat food, cat liter and dog food (little dog), cleaning supplies.

I'm in Florida and spend about $175/wk for 5 sm [2008-11-18]
I5 and 158 lbs,eats more than my husband, who is 6 and 345 lbs. FIL had to have a feeding tube put in last July, and I had to cut down meals by half because we were having so many leftovers and wasting money. Just when I thought I had it figured out, he was able to get the tube removed, so II donwe (FIL and I) will just eat a sandwich or leftovers from the fridge As far as special foods, we dona recipe, and for a while we were buying meat ata butcher shop but have had to cut that out for now. It was really good but was close to DH's work, and if he couldn't pick it up while he was in the area, it was a 45-minute drive. I cook most things from scratch, except lasagna because I hate making it. Once a month, we have a luncheon at church that I bring a dish and a dessert, and I cook Wednesday night dinner there one night per month, but I get reimbursed for the Wednesday night dinner. I do include paper products and toiletries in with my grocery budget but that's it, and I usually go to Sam's once a month for those. I have it easy compared to my parents though. My dad got paid once a month, and there were 4 kids at home all the time, 5 when my sister came up during the summer. They used to have 3 grocery carts slap full of food, and my mom figured out that it took something like 18 boxes of cereal to last a month, each one with a date marked on it so we didnWe also hada freezer to keep extra bread and other things, and my mom also used to mix in powdered milk when the gallon was half-way gone. I never knew until I was grown, so she definitely blended it well.

Last month I spent $321 for 3 of us. [2008-11-18]
It's just DH, 18 year-old son, and I. We live in the Philadelphia area. We generally eat far less meat than most American families, but we aren't vegetarian. My son commutes to a nearby university and works there, as well. He provides his own lunches, and probably only eats breakfast at home half of the time. Now, if you want to factor in what we pay for the meal plan for our son who lives away at college, well then... that's a whole other story! KA-CHING!

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

I 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.

OMG!! I have cried a river reading this...sm [2008-11-17]
I am a softie for dogs anyway, and I especially have a special place in my heart for pit bulls and beagles too. This goes to show what wonderful dogs a pit can be. I am not surprised at all that this dog did this because a pit is one of the most smart, loving, feeling dogs you could ever meet. If they are raised right that is. It is so typical of a pit to risk his own life to save someone in need. This pit who some people claim are dangerous could have very well saved this woman and her son from a tragic end. And then for him to jump in her back seat as if to say please take me home. I just would have begged them to please let me take him home. I am glad to know if nobody claims him she will take care of him now because he deserves it. He truly is an angel. THIS is why I love pit bulls. Until you know one you don't know the love they are capable of.

I used to feel the same way, but [2008-11-17]
my family loves my e-cards, which I have only sent for birthdays and Mother's Day (also sent flowers to Mom). They know that I don't get out to shop much, though. I actually bought a subscription to Doozy Cards because at that time we only had one car, and with us living so far from everything and wanting to spend what time I could with my family, it seemed senseless to have to go out at night after hubby got home from work. For Christmas I would send paper cards. To OP, I do not think handing them is tacky. I've heard others say that it is, but I think it is the thought that counts.

Anonamiss, you are a sweet person too [2008-11-16]
and you I I had a neighbor drop 2 elderly ponies offin my pasture under the pretense of needing a place for them to stay for a week until she sold them.I fed and cared for them for half a year before my husband called her and demanded she come pick them up. They went to a really good home at a therapeutic riding stable that same day, thankfully, but it turned out she was trying to get money for them all that time and HER husband didnUGH. I would have kept them myself if it came down to a choice between that and letting them go back to her. Blondie, men don Women are caretakers by nature. I think your husband and his friend are inconsiderate and immature, but my husband is like that too. So glad to know the dogs don't hurt the rabbits!

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.

So sorry, SeaMT...sm [2008-11-16]
Such a wonderfully long life. He obviously had a happy home. Last week was the 1-year anniversary of losing my 17-year-old cat, and as dumb as it sounds, it still hurts. RIP, Fred. Take care, SeaMT.

Andy & Jenna [2008-11-15]
no, they are not the same breed. I got Andy (laughing boy) at a shelter when he was about 8 months old. No idea what breed he is. Have had people guess retriever, greyhound, ridgeback. He has some spots on his tongue so I figure some Chow but I'm not really seeing it. He is a wildman, a real play-maniac & my arm was falling off from throwing the Kong, so I figured he needed a playmate. I got Jenna (serious girl on the left) at a different shelter. They told me she was part collie & part lab. That pic was taken right after she came home with us. She has gotten much more playful & interactive & has her own sweet smile. When I first got her she wanted to hide all the time & was afraid of everything. She & Andy get along great. They still have some shelter baggage but they get both happier & happier every day, even Andy, who looks in the picture like it's not possible to get any happier. But it is. :D

I am so fustrated I am in tears...sm [2008-11-15]
Ok here goes...My husband has hunting beagles. He has about 5 of them. I love dogs and I love beagles. Well he drives an 18-wheeler and is gone a majority of the time. I take care of the dogs daily, i.e. feed them, clean their kennels, and put fresh water. It is a chore, but I love the dogs so I do it. It is for my husband anyway, and we are supposed to help each other. When he is home it is his chore. Well he has a buddy down the road who lives about 10 minutes away. They take their beagles out together and let them run rabbits. Well his buddy is bad about leaving his beagles over here and not coming to get them in a timely manner, and I have to take care of 5 more dogs. Food isn Well you have to make him come get them. A couple of weeks ago his buddy went on a hunting trip in Tennessee and needed someone to care for his beagles. Well I didn I was fustrated to learn though he brought them and left them in the kennels and left no food for them. I had to feed these dogs of his out of our food and there was 5 of them. I mentioned to my husband that I thought that was rude. I was nice enough to care for his beagles while he went away. He should have brought food for them. I felt taken advantage of. Well he came over last weekend and I thought good he has come for his dogs. Well he leaves without them. I said oh here we go again. I had forgotten to mention anything to my husband because I got busy working among other things. Well today when I went to feed the beagles I got really fustrated because he STILL has not come and got his dogs. So got downrightticked and called my husband. I said you call your buddy and tell him I am not in the kennel business. He can come get his dogs. I said first of all he is back in town and has been a week. Why hasn I said you should have made him before now. I said I was not asked do you mind taking care of these dogs for weeks. I said you should not allow your friend to take advantage of my niceness. He said well I just figure that if you are taking care of our beagles then why can What difference does it make? You are already taking care of these so what is so hard about putting a little more food out. I said I will tell you. It is twice the dogs to feed. I said he did not bring any food. It is twice thesh** to clean out the kennels, which is done, by the way, by spraying it off the concrete floors with a hose with a spray nozel. I feel like I am being taken advantage of and I think my DH should stick up for me to his friend.

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.

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.

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

For what it is worth, you are right on target sm [2008-11-15]
For one thing, this didn't come from the ex's mom, it came from the ex. You are 100% right in saying if she calls or comes to your home, you will not be rude to her or ignore her. Since you are included in things with the ex's mother, I doubt she is carrying any kind of a torch for your husband and her daughter. I think she is well over that, but thinks a lot of your husband and wants him to be her friend. It sounds like the mom takes people into her life as she finds them, which is a mature attitude...then again she is an adult and you and your husband are also adults. The ex is acting like she never graduated from high school! SUCH GAMES! You handled it with much more grace than I could have. My hat is off to you.

Believe me [2008-11-15]
I really wanted to just tell her off, but I figured that would just fuel her fire, ya know? I just don't understand drama like this. I guess it's why I work at home! :)

I'm so sorry for you pain... [2008-11-14]
My dad drank a lot too. I donan alcoholic though. My dad was a horrible father when all five of the kids were at home. He beat my oldest brother horrendously in front of all of us many, many times. He lined us all up by age when I was 5 (I There is a long list of other things that happened. Once we moved out of the house, he turned into a different man. He did apologize to us. He became the best father and friend I could ask for. He was always so thrilled when I stopped by and made me feel more loved than anyone ever has. Fourteen years ago yesterday, my dad was killed in an airplane crash. He had an experiemental airplane and was flying by himself. I have never forgotten my childhood because it has a lot to do with who I am today, but I am so thankful for the time I did have with him once things changed. Maybe you could tell your dad how you feel about him, explain how hard it is to be around him now and let him take the next step. It might beworth a shot. I I know it is really difficult to sort out all the emotions sometimes. I'll be thinking of you.

never froze cereal or flour. [2008-11-14]
I have never had a problem with weavils either but I know what they are because we had them once when I was a teenager. I bake a lot and we are all about breakfast here so maybe that's why. Even though I stock up we still go through it pretty fast and I am sure to rotate everything to the front of the shelves when I bring it home.

I think it's a shame s/m [2008-11-14]
to deprive children of the traditional Santa Claus. Heck, I still believe in Santa Claus myself. It is a spirit that lives within the hearts of old and young. Kids eventually figure out for themselves that Santa is a fantasy. We took our kids to our church We opened gifts when we came home. There was no lying involved and their personalities were not warped either.

I always buy generic. [2008-11-14]
I oftentimes laugh when I am shopping at my local store as I know when a meal or baking is done what the problem could be in doing this as doubt anyone can tell or if there is a difference that I made this with generic eggs for say 1.29 a dozen rather than those fancy eggs with a little stick-on at about twice as much. Doubt it. Find a local closest to home discount grocery. Stock up on staples and store them appropriately. If you bake, store brown sugar with a piece of bread in it to keep it soft, replace it if you need to. Lots of items can be stored in freezer bags of the appropriate size, spaghetti, macaroni, etc. Better than the bag it comes in. Get those generic too. I buy all my paper items in bulk - much cheaper to buy a 12-roll of TP on sle definitely than not. Just make sure its not single-ply!!

Before you push the panic button sm [2008-11-14]
This is a recession, quite possibly the mother of all recessions. It may turn into a depression, but it will run a very distant second to the Great Depression, IF it does. Pre the GP (Great Depression) you several things going on that are NOT true today. We had come out of WWI not that long before. It had been a very bloody war, the first war with mechanized destruction. What the Doughboys witnessed was for them what we saw on 09/11...unimaginable death and destruction. It changed how they viewed America. When these boys came home from the war, they came back to the farm, by and large. We were an agrarian country and with the exception of east coast, there were hardly any factory jobs and most people worked the land. Plenty of places all over the country people worked on shares and they were not all in the deep south and they were not all black. There was not nearly the land/home ownership that there is today. Most of these dirt farmers lived in poverty and barely scraped by enough to eat twice a day. When the great Dust Bowl came through Oklahoma, it took the enormous clouds of dust eastward and dumped it into the Atlantic Ocean. This was a man-made disaster and the story of the Joads in the Grapes of Wrath centers on the Dust Bowl and the farming habits of families, like the Joads caused them problems. It was their fault that the top soil blew across FDR's desk in the Oval Office. There was no infrastructure to speak of, in those days. There were roadways, but not the spider web of paved roads there are today. Goods were carried on the rails, not over the roads. You didnin town and the Sears-Roebuck catalog. If you couldn't find it there or could not afford it you either cobbled something together or did without. You can look the Coal Miner's Daughter about being so low-down dirt poor it is unbelievable. That movie is quite cleaned up and Hollywood presentable. You could look at the sparse surroundings of the ranch house in Broke Back Mountain where Ennis goes after Jack dies, and while the time frame is more modern, the very plain, only the very basics of life appear in that ranch house. They are both a bit sanitized, but reasonably realistic. Today, Americans live extraordinarily different lives than we did 80 years ago. Most people have a vehicle. Most people have more than a dirt floor shack to live in. We, have thanks to the Great Depression and FDR's recovery plan, electricity, roads, water, sewage and other sanitation. We take these things for granted, but we should not. The GP did bring some food shortages, not because of the depression, but because of the lack of infrastructure combined with people on the move to find work to subsist. The food shortages you are thinking of came with WWII and rationing...another problem secondary to lack of infrastructure and subsistence farming where there was not enough food produced to meet the need. If you are going to stock up on food, let be for more common sense reasons. If you put your money in the bank, you will make 2% or 3% return on $500. If you put that same amount into nonperishable food (think canned goods), you make a better return on an investment. You don't earn 2% or 3%, but you can end up leveraging against future price increases that will meet and exceed what interest you make from a bank, which is nothing right now. You will need food whether you buy it now or buy it later. Squirreling away extra under the bed or whatever place you can find room, is a wise investment...financially and in peace of mind.

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.