Hello all, Looking to see if I can copy my avatar pic for use at another forum, can't see the url in this new format

Love it, very funny!

:grouphug: Well Lady, I will cave and tell you that I was the one left out of my brother's wedding last year. Not a good feeling in the heart. Every other person in both families was in the wedding in some fashion. I even volunteered several times- 'Is there anything you need me to do?' in the months before the wedding. Nope. I sat in much the same fashion, over at the tables while the rest of my family came 'limbo-ing' into the reception hall. Thankfully I had the wonderful gf of my other brother's to sit with. Oh- I was asked rush and be sure to light the candles on all the tables before the partiers arrived.

LOL Love it! :iagree:

I am low carb, I feel your pain! Sometimes I just cave too. Hope you can find some ideas!

We had this recently in a wedding in our family. It was quite glaringly obvious that one person was the only family member not included in the wedding in some fashion. Very hurtful.

Sometimes it really does sound tempting as a break. But, our oldest son attended PS all the way through. It really is just trading one set of issues for another. You have to live life by the public school schedule. If your kid doesn't feel well, you have to inform the school. If your kid has an appointment, you have to inform the school. Basically- getting their 'permission' for your child to be absent. School lunches here are a huge waste of money- around $3 a day, or you have to take the time to have everything you need every day to pack. It is an endless procession of fees- book fees, picture fees, sports fees. Even in our little po-dunk town, if the kids wear clothes from wally-world or (heaven forbid :tongue_smilie: ) the thrift store (I love thrift stores), then they are tormented and literally badgered until they succumb to the consumer mentality, and harass you endlessly for 'mall' clothing of ridiculous wasteful price. Oh- and certain shoes and coats too. (all expensive) I spend next to nothing in clothing compared to what I spent on our oldest son, just so he would 'fit in' at PS. Yes, once they are home for the evening, after spending almost all their daylight hours sitting in a room, they typically have homework. (Dont' forget, while in that room all day, having to ask permission to go the bathroom every time- which may or may not be granted, depending). Once in a while I am still tempted, even after having gone through it all, just because I need the break, I am overwhelmed. Then I drive by that middle PS and shudder. I have been doing such as these ladies suggest, taking breaks and changing things up. It really helps.

LOL I was thinking the same thing.

This week I am reading Janet Frame's- Faces in the Water. Very good, and typical Janet Frame style. So far this year: 1. Mockingjay 2. Le Morte D' Arthur (way too much head chopping) 3. Voyager - Diana Gabaldon 4. Garden Spells - S. Allen (fun but simple) 5. Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men - Donald McCaig (Very good) 6. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck (fantastic) 7. This Time of Darkness - H. Hoover 8. The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield (ok) 9. Paganism: An Intro to Earth Centered Religions (very good & eye opening) 10. Make a Mix 11. Full Dark, No Stars - Stephen King (good in the typical King fashion) 12. Drums of Autumn - Diana Gabaldon (ok, I am hooked into this series- a guilty pleasure :tongue_smilie: ) 13. Faces in the Water - Janet Frame

Sending positive energy your way. :grouphug::grouphug:

May peace and loving memories enclose you. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

We have never had one water bill in our lives- we have always had a well. Just as an aside- the local town's water here comes from a river that starts behind a nearby village- their drainage pipes from the village's sewer plant hang out over this river and dump the flow-out. In this area there is an murky, oil, foam scum floating in the water. (We drive our atv's back in this area). This is hidden far back in a woods where almost no one would ever see. The river travels a mile or two, to behind the town's reservoir- there the river water is collected and processed to become the town's water. I always wanted to tell someone, and this seemed as good a place as any. :tongue_smilie:

We have enjoyed using Freewebs, now called 'Webs'. I'm not sure about the game playing option, but I taught myself using their site, and even learned a bit of coding using it. Fun too, with many templates and options.

Audrey, you have been on my mind also. Those ideas sound good. S.

:iagree: :grouphug::grouphug:

That is it, thank you!

Ok, I am drawing a blank. Can anyone tell me the title of this book? The story line goes something like this- A man is traveling and ends up going back in time to ancient China?Nepal? I believe they were traveling by plane. He has companions with him who want to leave and he does not. I believe he is in some position of power with that government. Thanks!

I love these! Thanks Bill! Our middle son is actually going to a quiet room to read on his own this year!! He has actually enjoyed books and told me so. When we pulled him out of PS three years ago, he would literally cry if told to read. This alone has made it all worth it for me.

I feel your pain Audrey, and you have been doing this a lot longer than I. To tell you the truth, I just started cutting things. We are not doing 4-H this coming year, I am not advising 4-H dog group this year. I had to just start slashing, I felt (feel) beyond overwhelmed. It was a difficult thing to tell friends and advisors, but I felt a huge weight lift off of me as soon as I sent the message. I know you are very environmentally conscious, like I am, but I had to break down and use some paper plates and (:sad:) styrofoam for right now. I cut meals down to simple affairs, nothing elaborate for now. I am even placing a couple of our dogs to loving families. When you have a good amount of outside chores, it really adds to the daily grind. It is tough right now. Like Bill said, wait just a couple days, spring is almost here. :grouphug::grouphug:

Wonderful!!

Exactly! :thumbup: Ahhh! Adam came back to play! :D Gotta love those planets! Fun!

Oh my. Be safe!

:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

Awww Come back and play! I should be going to bed but this was more fun. :tongue_smilie:

:grouphug::grouphug: