Just a suggestion though. . .if you do go the more "gag" route, you might also want to put a $5-$10 gift card with it. I felt bad b/c one kid got a purely gag gift that didn't even go home with him and other kids got gift cards.

Those things are so much fun! I had as much fun as the kids did when DH and I were youth leaders. Ours was more of a "gag" type thing (b/c it was the whole group-girls and guys) and I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard! She's gonna have a ball!

Hearing the suggestion for V reminded me about Alien Nation. It was cheesy but DH and I enjoy it. And what is the connection b/t V and Alien Nation? I have NO idea. My brain works in strange ways!

PLEASE DON"T HATE ME. . .I watch Al Roker with his big weather map every morning and this morning it looked like the whole country with the exception of the south east and south west coasts looked cold. And the SW coast (CA) Looked like it was gonna get some snow today. . . Here. . .the high is 76 today. It's 67 right now. It's overcast. . .not sunny, but it sure sounds like we've got the most temperate weather in the whole US right now.

But isn't the mat'l supposed to be lead-free, if so then it's the company/manufacturer responosibility to use suppliers that comply. I still don't see why a whole industry has to be turned upside down for this.

That's what I'm saying! China has guidelines that their importers have to follow if they want to sell to China. I don't understand why we can't do the sayme and if they don't want to, sell your stuff somewhere else. The problem for them would then be. . .who would want it. The US is one of the most materialistic nations in the world, so if we cut them out who's gonna buy their stuff. It would be incentive for them to comply.

So b/c one manufacturer didn't comply we should have the backbone to do what other countries do. . .don't allow them to sell here. I don't think we need to revolutionize the whole textile/toy industry b/c one company dropped the ball. Fine them, don't allow them to do business here. . .something. . .we shouldn't ALL have to pay for this b/c one company messed up. I fail to see how this is a good thing. With the economy in the shape it's in I don't thing the benefits outweigh the risks on this one. This sounds like someone's pork. . .very few people will benefit from this one financially. This will drive prices up and force more unemployment.

So are you saying that until now we haven't tested these products at all for any type of compliance?

This whole issue (including food) with the US receiving hazardous products just leaves me shaking my head. . .DH works in the food industry, so that's where my "knowlege" is based. If we want to export food to other countries (and I'm thinking specifically of China in this case) we have to jump through SO.MANY.HOOPS, sometimes it's not even worth it to sell to them. Why is the US so lax on it's import guidelines? Now that we've allowed this to happen for so long we go to the exact opposite end of the spectrum and say EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE has to be tested. I don't understand why we can't adopt a slightly more aggressive stance instead of this "go in with guns blazing and shoot everyone" mentality. I know you guys won't be able to provide answers. . .it's just my rant and observations of a broken society.

I'm a bit confused about something. You say that the items will have to be taken apart to be tested. Why is that? Why wouldn't it be tested at assembly and paperwork filed that it is compliant? The gov't doesn't test every food item that is produced for consumption after the fact. The tests are done during production under a USDA inspector and independent tests are done by the manufacturer as part of it's quality processes to ensure no contamination is present. I'm not sure why this would be done any differently? Are we sure we're not reading more into this?

I don't know if this would work in your house, but DH has put a lock on our bedroom door (a keyed lock). If food starts getting abused, it goes to my room and I dole it out. It is so counterproductive to find a decent snack food (not just snack foods. . . their fave cereals or pop tarts too) on sale and then stock up only to find it's all gone in a week! That might help with the Christmas treats. We've also locked remote controls, computer keyboards and mouses (mice) and phones up in there too. When a behavior is changed to our satisfaction and we feel we can trust them with a privelege (which ALL of that is) they can get them back with some restrictions. It's worked for us. . .we don't have to use it too often though. . .I do see some WII restriction coming up though if the attitudes don't change.

I would probably over chlorinate as well. I had to help db clean his house when his xw moved out and it was like this. We sucked all the droppings up with a vacuum cleaner and then bleached the heck out of the house. We occasionally get a field mouse or two and use live traps and glue boards due to pets and young children.

I'm agreeing with Chris on the alternative school. That was NOT an option for us although DD wanted it to be. She knew the kids that were there were the partying, druggies and kids she had cut school with, so it wasn't a big deal for her. We took that off the table the first time she mentioned it.

Yay Heather. . .I'm trying to talk DS11 into joining our local shooters team, but everytime I bring it up he says he would rather join his friends paint ball team. . .uh, no. . .there's a big difference! The shooters club shoots BB's at targets. Paint Ball shoots pellets at people! One day maybe he'll realize that it's not an option and if he wants to shoot he's gonna have to do it my way. I know you're proud of him!!!!

I'm on this boat too!

Lots of hugs and prayers. . .I have been in the same situation with DD and all I can say is thank God she's now 18. I'm PM'ing you as well.

Just wait till they're old enough to drive and are chauffering you everywhere. DD used to ask me how to get to church. . .it would drive me CRAZY!!!!

You also have to remember that if you're following Dave Ramsey's plan that your credit score will lower just by the fact that you're paying off your credit. Dave even says himself that your credit score will lower. I would stick to the plan regardless of the hit to your credit b/c in the long run it will be worth it. And remember. . . Live like no one else so you can live like no one else!

I'm stumped.

That's the bad part about COBRA, the premiums are usually not affordable. If the company is dissolving, then I can understand that there would be no insurance policy to offer. Also most companies benefit years run Jan. 1 through Jan. 1 so they probably didn't renew the policy. That stinks! I'm sorry for you and your family. . .this is the worst time of year to be going through this! I will add your family to my prayers! Our family has been through this. DH and I were both laid off from different companies within 6 weeks of each other back in the mid 90's, so I know your fears and struggles and frustrations! I will pray for peace and comfort as well as financial and job stability.

I saw that too. . .I don't know how "into" this you want to get, but if they are keeping any employees around in other stores or at a corporate level, they are more than likely going to still have some sort of health care plan. I would still dig into this a little deeper to see. If they're completely closing the doors in a couple weeks I can understand no coverage, but if they're phasing out which is probably more likely they may have a plan.

That's what I thought!

I'm not sure that's entirely accurate. The employer doesn't usually pay ANY portion of the insurance once you go on COBRA. That's why the premiums are usually MUCH more than you were paying through payroll deduction. The company is not required to pay any portion (and usually doesn't), but is required to offer you COBRA (where you pay the entire cost). Please check into that a little more. I've been out of HR for a couple years, but I haven't heard of any laws changing like that since then.

AMEN sistas!!!!! That thing looks horrible! Yes, it was for a movie, note I said WAS. There are red carpet pics of them at the premiere. The filmings over Brad. . . you can shave it off now. Surely, Angie doesn't think that looks good?????