I'm intrigued by the educated guesses, inspired by the ones based on personal information, and giggling at the sillier ones (like mine). I'll just add this one thought, which I think will sum up everything quite tidily: Where there's a will, there's a way! :D .....And that, my dear, is the rest of the story.

Why on earth do you think the SCHOOL HOUSE was invented!? :lol:

For dd12, we opted for the Skullcandy ear buds, because they offered two different size options in one package. The smaller ones worked out well. We also have the JBL speakers which suit our needs for decent sound from a compact speaker. HTH,

You're right, Liz. I have had waves of emotion all day, most of it kept just below the surface. When I got up this morning, I asked dh if I could borrow a pair of his pajama pants, and he directed me to a trunk at the foot of our bed where he keeps these. I pulled out a pair of festive looking flannel pants, red and green, that were unfamiliar to me. We finally determined that they had been my father's, brought here by my mother on Thanksgiving. I wore them all day and felt my Dad's presence all the while. It's so hard to describe this place of happy-sadness that I'm in. But, you're right to remind me that some of my melancholy may be about more than how Christmas Day turned out. Hugs and thanks!

Oh, mine wasn't even close to a complete downer. In fact, the bit that was disappointing was the *only* bit that went wrong, as far as I'm concerned. So, I'm truly not swimming in regrets here. But, there is a little something I'll definitely want to change about next year, if I can. :001_smile:

I'm curious. I have a theory that big occasions like Christmas quite often leave us feeling let down in some way. There's so much build up. So many feelings at stake. We create this image in our minds of how it *ought* to be, but it almost never is. What happens? Often we find ourselves in stressful situations, rushing to get things done when our days are already so busy, or spending time with family members who may rub us the wrong way. Sometimes we end up sick, or a child decorates the bedclothes with Christmas Eve dinner before Santa has a chance to arrive. Maybe it's our own selfish/childish/immature reactions that are truly at the root of our disappointments. Whatever the cause, I'd love to know how people *really* felt about their holiday. If you're being totally honest, was it all or nearly all you'd hoped for? Was it the best you could have expected? Or was there some significant let down or upset that caused Christmas to lack luster for you? I suppose you could guess from my post which sort of Christmas I had. :glare:

I know there are many holidays and traditions represented among us. I hope these days are memorable and filled with joy for you and your families, however you choose to celebrate. Here are a couple of happy games that some of you may enjoy. http://www.theweepies.com/snowglobe/ http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=XE13117730 Peace and light to all!!!

Apparently, some areas accept wrapping paper, possibly as curbside recycling, or with cardboard products. Check with your local authority. http://www.recyclenow.com/what_can_i_do_today/can_it_be_recycled/paper_products/wrapping_paper.html I don't believe they are recyclable.

Your story just added such a giggle to the day here! Please, don't change a thing. This little -- um -- creation of yours is bound to become a family tradition that you will laugh about for years to come! Too funny!! :lol:

Sending the same wishes and understanding back to you. We opened a present from my mother tonight which was marked as "from Dad". It was a photograph of him, still robust, wearing his hunting clothes and a very big smile. I am as choked up writing this as I was when I opened the picture. Yet, somehow, that photo also helps me put Dad in the room with us...as I know he is anyway, in his own way. Hugs to you, dear. I sure do know where you're coming from.

And hoping the day continued to improve. If not, just remember....wrapped presents aren't really so much better than unwrapped presents. And, if all heck broke loose, you could postpone Christmas until Friday. But, I hope you feel better before then!

Local Harvest --- http://www.localharvest.org Search for your city, town, or the place nearest you that is likely to have a farming going on. Hopefully, you will find sources for locally produced dairy, meat, and eggs which will enable you to learn about the specifics of a farmer's practices. As others have stated, none of the following labels will guarantee what you're looking for in your animal products. organic free range cage free all natural no antibiotics or hormones added Hope this helps,

I know what you mean. Traditionally, I've been "the communicator", and have sent an annual letter (I know those two words side by side give some people the shudders) for many consecutive years. But, in 2004, I never got around to it. Managed one in 2005, then blew it again in '06 and '07. I hated like everything to ruin that tradition, so even if I'm not consistent, I'm still going to try. I'm noticing that this year, I've received fewer cards from people. I've been assuming it was because I've let them down for two years in a row. But, it could also be one of the many ways people are trying to save money. At $.42 a pop, some people may feel they just can't go there. I don't know. It also could be something akin to disorganized laziness, which is what I'd say of myself for the previous two years. ;) Just keep sending your love out and don't take it personally. They mean well. They really do.

My brother, is someone who gets it. He and his wife have an only child, a son, who is five. The son delights in those kinds of decorations. But, my brother (48) is an overgrown kid. He's a nut - a nut who generally has good, conservative taste (not that those things are mutually inclusive or exclusive). But, he's not subtle about much, and yard art lands in this category. He has a huge inflatable Grinch that pops out of a chimney repeatedly, and he also has an inflatable penguin, I think. I can't remember the other one, I only know there are two. The son thinks they're fantastic, but it's my brother who gets the biggest charge out of them. So, you know..."Whatever lights up your reindeer and flocks your tree. May the Grinch go on popping, cuz' it's not about me." :D

I can blush with the best of them! It's part of my true southern charm, of course. And, if you laughed right out loud at my earrings, well, I'd just laugh right along with you honey, blushing all the while, then delicately point out that at least I know where kids come from! Duck, duck, troll -- boy are you cracked...er....I mean you crack me up! :lol:

...IF you choose to fill them earlier in the evening, then you WILL upset the entire balance of the holiday, and the cosmos and set off some sort of imploding star reaction which will, evermore, make Christmas null and void. But, nevermind that. You just go right ahead and fill those things. :lol: Do what works for you. Since your kids already "get it", there's no need to wait. Just make a joke of it. Wear a Santa hat if you want to, and say, "Ho! Ho! Ho!" a lot. Me? I'm thinking of not even DOING stockings. I know, I'm a Scrooge.

Actually, I guess I'm such a complete sugar addict that I don't ever remember stopping to think, "Gee, I wonder if the kitchen this came from is sanitary?" before shoving the thing in my mouth! :lol: I don't have a mailperson (P.O. Box here), and I'm not giving or receiving a lot of baked goodies, to my knowledge. So, it's not much of an issue for me. But, I suppose if one feels the way you do, Colleen, one would think twice before (1) making a purchase at a bake sale (2) eating dinner with a new acquaintance or (3) eating out at all. I guess the last one at least has the image of being required to follow certain Health Dept. codes of standard. But, yeesh! The stories I've heard about the things that *really* go on behind those commercial kitchen doors! It's interesting to note that in MD, certain products are permissible for sale at farmers' markets without the requirement of being prepared in a certified commercial kitchen. Among them, baked goods such as cookies, muffins and sweet breads. Here's some precise verbiage: Anyway, I guess you have a point. But, that line of thinking seems to me to apply to so much more than Christmas goodies. Maybe you feel the same no matter what the occasion. ETA: I see that you've commented that it's not the level of sanitation that concerns you. I guess that makes this a moot post. But, this remark of yours sure led me to think it was more about the cleanliness and not about the need or ingredients.

...'60s and '70s

I am a chocolate head. Years ago, I remember liking Hershey's Special Dark, then Dove, and eventually, Ghiradhelli Dark Chocolate Chips (which used real vanilla not vanillin). Now, those types are only eaten in dire emergencies. The bar I choose most often is Lindt 85% (they also make a 70% which is a tad sweeter, so preferable to some). I discovered just this week that these are sold at Target for considerably less than I pay at my local grocery store. I am, apparently, willing to let all my convictions fall to the wayside in the case of chocolate, for the Lindt bar is neither fair trade nor organic. Sadly, what compels me is that I can actually afford it. I pay around $2.75/bar (but the Target price was $2.12). I eat 2-3 squares of it a day, so one bar lasts me less than a week. By comparison, the Endangered Species bar is a dollar more, and the Theo bar (which is not easy for me to locate here), recommended by Colleen, is closer to $5.00/bar. Same with Scharffenberger and Dagoba. I just can't allow myself that much indulgence. I might then have to give up my cheap wine! :lol: Amazing how "scientific" I am about all this, huh? Any of the options mentioned in this thread are worthy of a taste test. I'm sure you'll find more than one you love and Dove will suddenly seem terribly uninteresting. ;)

I know you must be really worried. I am only chiming in to offer you support and to let you know that I've witnessed similar behavior in a number of teenage girls and boys. For the most part, all have emerged from their darkness after a period of time (a year?) as if someone flipped a switch giving them permission to go on living like they once did. But, what a hard year! I like the idea of you (or dh?) spending alone time with him somehow. At a minimum, you might be able to explore the idea of continuing the counseling despite the counselor's recommendation to the contrary. Hugs to you. He's got a good Mama.

Yep. Naugahyde came from Naugabeasts, and these little critters were the "mascots". My father and a partner owned a business in High Point, NC which had the sole rights for distribution of Naugahyde in the southeast...or maybe it was mid-atlantic. I can't quite remember. But, we kids got to have bunches of these guys. And, I still have a blue one tucked in storage somewhere that I'm just dying to get out and put on display. Such a great memory from my past. :tongue_smilie:

(((Amy))) -- I know you're reeling from this diagnosis. Just remember, she's still the same kid she's always been. The label doesn't change that, but it will/should help you know how to proceed, eventually. Sending good thoughts your way.

Fungus? I don't really know (don't you hate it when people answer who really have no information!?), but I'm thinking a fungal infection could look like what you describe and be contagious. :confused:

I'm really laughing aloud here at the image of your cat absconding with produce! How funny is that?!? :lol: You're correct. The pine pellets are used and marketed as: (1) Cat litter = most expensive (2) Large animal bedding = middle cost and (3) wood stove pellets = cheapest but unavailable in my area so, maybe harder to find. HTH,