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*anj*

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Posts posted by *anj*

  1. We usually go out to dinner, though when the kids were younger and we didn't have baby sitters sometimes we'd feed them early, put them to bed and then have a nice dinner by ourselves.

    We don't do gifts, although dh will usually bring me flowers.

    That's about it. It works for us!

    When our 20th rolls around we'll still have kids in the house, but by our 25th we might be able to go away. If we can afford it with four children in college at the same time! :eek:

  2. I reuse 90% of the jars that I get. I use them for leftovers or for storing dry goods in my cabinets. This means that I don't need (as many) plastic containers, and it takes me forever to go through a roll of plastic wrap.

     

    I hang my clothes to dry. This started out as a necessity because our dryer died and we couldn't afford a new one yet. Now we have the money for a new one, but I love the idea of not paying to dry my clothes.

     

    I combine the bones of several chickens in a freezer bag and make homemade stock for pennies.

     

    I try to use vinegar and baking soda for cleaning as much as possible.

     

    Those are the ones that popped into my head. I'll add more if I think of them.

  3. That's a problem in my town too.

    The library is across the street from the (enormous) middle school. When school lets out the kids go pouring across the street to hang out in the library. About a year ago they had to hire a security guard just to keep the kids under control.

     

    I won't go there at that time of day because I know I will throttle one.

     

    A few weeks ago my family went there on a Saturday afternoon and I was hanging out in the children's area with my kids. They have these big couches that are shaped like books and pencils and so on, and here was this kid, running back and forth on the furniture--jumping from piece to piece. I just stood there glaring at him, looking around for a parent. Finally I saw his dad, but he was too busy looking at cds to get his kid to stop running on the furniture.

     

    I called over a library worker, but she was very hesitant to say anything. The kid was like 5 years old!!!! By the time she got up the nerve to approach him, my glaring and mouthing "stop it" made him go over to his dad. I think he thought I was going to go and move him physically because he went and stood right next to the dad until it was time to go.

     

    Brat.

  4. We really don't bother. Long ago we stopped going out to dinner on that day because the restaurants were crowded and the food wasn't great.

     

    Now that we have kids we sort of celebrate "family love" if anything.

    I make heart shaped waffles and a cake or cookies in heart shapes.

    Sometimes I give dh a card, sometimes not. He usually gives me a card, and the children make cards.

     

    As someone else said, the best gift I can give my husband is something that doesn't cost me anything. :cool:

    He's not a terribly gift-oriented guy, and he'd actually be bummed out if I spent money on him for Valentine's day.

  5. Yes, my dh has been a serious runner until recently (injuries have kept him from running as much as usual.) He has run marathons and when he's training he keeps close tabs on the number of miles he's put on a pair of running shoes, and gets new ones at regular intervals. He also has plantar fasciitis, and has found that going to a specialty store has made all the difference. His running shoes cost about $100/pair, but they are worth it to him.

  6. Good points. I wish that we'd discovered Dave Ramsey 15 years ago too, but better late than never, right? I'm also glad that when we bought our home we followed someone's excellent advice to buy a house at the lower level for which we'd been approved, and not the upper level. This house is not as big as we'd like, there are many things we'd like to change about it, but in this economy we are going to stay put for the foreseeable future. We have a mortgage that is well within our means at a rate that won't be seen again for some time, I think.

     

    And now, we are working on teaching these principles to our children in the hope that they won't have to learn the hard way. Our parents thought that money handling was "caught" rather than "taught." Wrong!

     

    Oh, and this subject reminds me of a funny skit from SNL where there was a "commercial" for a great way to get out of debt. The "announcer" said "Stop buying things you can't afford. It's a revolutionary idea!"

     

    It was cool. Unfortunately NBC had it yanked from Youtube.

  7. This is from the front page of today's Wall Street Journal. Just another reason to move on over to an all-cash economy!

     

    By ROBIN SIDEL , SUDEEP REDDY AND JANE J. KIM

    February 8, 2008

    America's love affair with credit cards may be headed for the rocks.

    Credit-card delinquencies are rising across the nation, a sign that some Americans are at the end of their rope financially. And these mounting delinquencies, in turn, have prompted banks to tighten lending standards, keeping people who have maxed out their cards from finding new sources of credit.

    The result could be a sharp pullback in consumer spending that would further weaken the slowing U.S. economy.

    Such a pullback may already be taking shape. Yesterday, the Federal Reserve reported an abrupt slowdown in consumers' credit-card borrowings. In December, Americans had $944 billion in total revolving debt, most of it on credit cards, a seasonally adjusted annualized increase of 2.7%. That was off sharply from seasonally adjusted growth rates of 13.7% in November and 11.1% in October. And it reflects the volatility in consumers' spending habits as economic growth sputters.

    Sinking home prices have made it much harder to convert home equity into cash for living expenses. At the same time, plastic has pushed into every corner of American life, making new inroads that worry some economists and card issuers.

    In past economic downturns, Americans used credit cards mainly for discretionary purchases, such as furniture, appliances and jewelry. Now, however, many of them regularly whip out plastic to pay for groceries, gasoline and other everyday necessities. Credit-card issuers won't disclose exact figures, but they say it is evident that a growing percentage of card volume is for basic purchases. Many issuers even dole out extra rewards for such transactions.

    Evidence is mounting that the plastic-fueled spending spree won't last. In December, an average of 7.6% of credit-card loans were either at least 60 days delinquent or had gone into default, up from 6.4% a year earlier, according to research firm RiskMetrics Group. The analysis includes a broad swath of more than $200 billion of credit-card loans that are sold off to investors by major card issuers like Citigroup Inc., Capital One Financial Corp., American Express Co. and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

    Card delinquencies are ticking up from historically low levels, but the trend is sending shudders through lenders already reeling from the subprime-mortgage tumult. As a result, leery card issuers are bulking up their reserves against future card-related losses -- and getting so much tougher on borrowers that some consumer are reining in overall spending.

    Yesterday, card issuer Discover Financial Services said 49% of consumers it surveyed in January plan to reduce their discretionary spending this month. That was an increase of five percentage points from its December survey and a 10-point jump since September.

    Consumers typically increase their borrowing in the early stages of an economic downturn as they try to maintain their living standards amid a weakening job market and slowing wage growth. That trend seems to be holding true to form so far.

    For consumers who are in financial distress, paying for basic needs with plastic 'is the easiest way out of that box,' says Bryan Derman, a partner at Glenbrook Partners LLC, a Menlo Park, Calif., consulting firm that specializes in the payments industry.

    Indeed, many Americans are so dependent on their credit cards for basic needs that about 25% of the clients walking into Margo Mitchell's credit-counseling office in Tulsa, Okla., have opted to pay their monthly credit-cards bills before their mortgages. 'The credit card is a means for them to supplement their income and becomes a cushion to buy groceries,' she says.

    But when recessions hit, consumer borrowing typically drops off substantially as consumers, facing the mounting threat of job losses and lower household income, can no longer keep up with their card payments.

    'Many Americans don't realize the direct correlation between the need to change their behavior and their income,' said Bill Druliner, a credit counselor for GreenPath Inc. 'The longer somebody maintains that lifestyle, the bigger the crash is when it finally comes down to earth.'

    In the past decade, card issuers have made it easier than ever for Americans to put more of their spending on plastic, in part through juicy rewards programs. At the same time, banks persuaded more merchants to accept cards, touting data showing shoppers often spend more when paying with credit cards, rather than cash.

    McDonald's Corp. started accepting credit cards in 2003, and some utilities have started letting customers pay with plastic. Cards emblazoned with the MasterCard logo now are accepted at more than seven million merchant locations in the U.S., up from 4.3 million in 2001 and 2.9 million in 1991.

    As a result, three out of four American families have credit cards. Their balances averaged $5,100 in 2004, up 16% from 2001, according to the Federal Reserve.

    Much of the card industry's growth has come from debit cards, which aren't included in the government's revolving-credit data because they immediately draw funds out of purchaser's checking account. Still, credit-card portfolios managed by card-issuing banks are growing at single-digit percentage rates each year as consumers put more small payments and everyday purchases on their cards.

    This isn't the first time changes in credit-card usage have affected consumer borrowing. In 1980, then-President Carter sought to cut back consumers' use of credit cards, blaming them in part for the nation's runaway inflation at the time. Consumer spending tumbled as a result.

    Politicians have also turned to credit cards as a way to spur the economy. In 1991, as the economy rebounded from a recession, President George H.W. Bush, the current president's father, tried to urge banks to lower interest rates in order to propel consumer spending.

  8.  

    I don't think I was particularly remarkable or exceptional, not in my circle of fundamentalist friends, anyhow. I think any of the families in my church and in like-minded churches would have helped an individual in need, or found practical help for her and facilitated this help.

     

    Life isn't always neat and tidy and perfect. And she without sin can just pick up that stone to cast. (Not.)

     

    Maybe we would have had a different attitude if we'd have owned an SUV, I dunno. ;)

     

    Thank you for saying this. Life isn't always neat and tidy and perfect. And we're better off for it...makes things more interesting.

    There have been at least 5 cases in our extended family where young girls got pregnant. A couple of them were really young, like 14. Dh and I offered to adopt the children, we offered assistance to the moms as well. No one ever took us up on it, but we would've. For Pete's sake, every time I see a news story about an infant found in a trash dumpster I say "okay, let's go get him, we'll raise that baby." And I would, but they always end up finding a home for the baby. We don't plan to have any more babies of our own, but we've never completely ruled out the possibility of bringing another baby into our family.

     

    And we don't own an SUV either. :p

  9. http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=7841296

    Leprosy outbreak causes concerns in Northwest Arkansas

    Posted: Feb 7, 2008 11:21 PM Dr. Jennifer Bingham

    Mayoral candidate Nancy Jenkins

    7841296_BG4.jpg SPRINGDALE - The medical community is warning the public: a leprosy outbreak in Springdale could blossom into an epidemic, if something isn't done soon.

    Doctors say at least nine cases of leprosy have been confirmed in Springdale. Local doctors say they would be shocked by even one case of leprosy in their entire career, so they say something must be done soon, in order to stop leprosy's spread.

    Springdale MD Jennifer Bingham says, "my initial response was: I am shocked. I am shocked we are seeing this. It's a true reason to be very worried."

    Medical specialists say the Marshall Islands have the most cases of leprosy, in the world. And the city with the largest number of Marshallese people, outside the Marshall islands, is Springdale. And Bingham says, it makes sense, then, that leprosy is spreading to the city. "It's from the Marshall islands; that's why we're seeing it."

    Bingham says she is all for Marshallese people entering the United States, after proper medical tests. But whether they're immigrants or not, she says people must stick to treatment, when infected. And she says, when she treats those from the Marshall Islands, this doesn't happen. "We're not getting the compliance that is absolutely essential to take care of this process."

    Bingham says without cooperation, leprosy, which has no vaccine, and is transmitted through the air, will spread, and could easily become an epidemic. "People absolutely should be concerned. What I'm afraid of, is when people start thinking about it enough, it will already be out of control."

    So now, Bingham, and others like Mayoral candidate Nancy Jenkins, say government help is the next step. Jenkins says she's angered the federal government has been so lax with border patrol. She says, "We've just opened the borders and said, 'Come on in! Bring your diseases! Bring 'em!' Why are we doing that? Those who have it need to be quarantined and treated, or sent back to their country."

    Dr. Bingham is requesting the public take action, and write everyone from legislators, and presidential candidates, to Congress, and the Health Department. Shey says, "the only way to truly protect our community and our economic growth, is to think of this as a very important, panic-mode attempt to treat leprosy: before it gets out of hand."

    Doctors say leprosy will appear as a discoloration, or nodules, on the skin, especially the fingers, toes, arms, and face. With treatment, it is curable, but it can take from six months, to two years, to completely disappear.

    Springdale is also reporting over 100 cases of tuberculosis.

  10. anj--please re-read my post and don't assume that I didn't take in to consideration that there are people like those 3 who will do this.

     

    One thing I want to correct in my post was the stats, I was typing without thinking about what I was trying to say--Peek is right that 93% of them are for "social" reasons (unwanted, etc...) so that I have to correct.

     

    Okay, I'm glad to hear that.

     

    But the "stats" (that is, based on experiences of people who've tried to get said help Peek, Kelli speak of) say that the help just isn't there.

     

     

    My experience is not atypical and you know that. You know that there are more "mean ones" out there than "nice ones". It may not be your church, or Peek's or Kelli's, but they are there and more frequent than you nice ones. And, see above.

     

    I can honestly say that I don't know anyone who has tried to get help, but was unable to do so. I can also say that if any woman came to me and was in need of help I would be willing to help and I could also point her toward at least three (privately run) agencies off the top of my head.

     

    I also have to say that I don't know whether or not your situation is atypical. I cannot say that there are more "mean ones" than "nice ones." Truly, truly that has not been my experience. Have I known "Christians" who weren't especially "nice"? Of course. But I have also known non-Christians who weren't nice either. I think that is what Cathy was saying above. There is good and bad in everyone, and yes, even professing Christians fall short of the glory of God. I fall short every single day, but I know that God is so much bigger than I am, and that He can work in the human heart despite my failings.

     

     

    Yes, I will stand up and stand my ground and say YES. If you can't put your money where your mouth is, shut up

     

    I agree with you here. And thanks for clarifying that you weren't talking only about physical assistance, but financial as well. I'm also going to thank you because I just realized that there is more that my dh and I can do to help support this cause. We've been giving on an "as needed" basis, but we could do more. Thanks for that challenge.

     

     

     

    This thread isn't about abortion though...

     

    From our LEADER, who stood on the corner right next to the clinic "I don't have time or funds to help them. I'm just glad they didn't abort"....

     

    This pisses me off, Anj. Sorry. you don't have the time and funds to help them survive, but you'll drive your big honkin' over priced SUV through traffic, cause multiple traffic jams with your protest, practically get arrested, assault two nurses and you count this as a "win"?

     

    True. All true. Not good. And this is what frustrates so many of us, because that behavior defames Christians, churches, and most importantly, the name of Christ Himself.

  11. It is really simple. Your owner's manual will tell you what type of bulb you need, and it even has instructions. The big thing is to make sure you don't touch the new bulb with your fingers because the oil in your skin is bad for it. If you go to a place like Pep Boys you will probably even find an employee who would be happy to give you advice and encouragement for free.

     

    We recently changed one on our Town and Country, and we are not all that mechanically inclined. Easy peasy!:)

  12. I am a Bible believing Christian....

     

    I was extremely discouraged and disappointed in people, but even if I had not found a church to be a part of t would not have changed my beliefs. What people do or fail to do will not change my beliefs. After all, I believe that the Bible says we are all sinners. I believe the Bible says that we will have trouble in this world. I can't say I believe that and expect people to behave in sinless ways. I could have never found a church that fit my family, but I would have still been a Christian because of my beliefs.

     

    It's a great thing to have found, but even if I had not, my beliefs and relationship with God would have still stayed strong because it isn't based on people.

     

     

     

    Cathy,

    Thank you so much for saying this. You spoke my thoughts far more eloquently than I could have.

  13. And Kelli, you, Peek, and Cricket, would be very big rareties. Peek, your example of the "extreme other side" is just that--way too extreme to be taken seriously.

     

    I'm not doubting you three at all. But you three are lost to the statistics. It just does not happen.

     

    Toni,

    With all due respect (don't you love it when someone starts out with that phrase?), but really....

    I understand that you have had a bad experience. I really do. But can you grant that maybe your experience is atypical? Can you fathom that there might indeed be many Christians who would be willing to help out in a situation like this? Is it possible that some Christians may truly be unable to open their homes in this way? And are you saying that because they cannot open their homes they should not encourage women not to abort?

     

    What statistics are you talking about above?

  14.  

    For those looking to buy eggs, the very best option would say "pasture raised birds", and these are usually only available at a specialty market or farmers' market.

     

    Doran

     

    Once a month we have eggs (and other things) delivered by a Mennonite farmer. His product list says that his eggs are "totally pastured" but he's in PA in the winter, so that can't be year round, right? And because they don't lay as many eggs this time of year, he sometimes brings us some Nature's Yolk eggs because there are quite a few families ordering and he just can't produce enough for all of us at once.

    His own eggs are excellent! The NY eggs are good too, but his are the best!

  15. Nope, we tried them and no one here liked them. And I didn't even add the oil, because I just could. not. do. that.

     

    Butbutbut.......

    I made a very yummy thing yesterday with just frozen strawberries, whole milk, and a little sugar.

    I was surprised at how frothy it became in the blender. We made two batches and they were still asking for more. It was sort of the consistency of a frappe. Not quite thick enough for a milk shake, but much thicker than milk. Yummmmmy!!! Tomorrow I may try it with blueberries!

  16. Thanks, Doran. This is good to know. There's so much talk right now about whether or not chickens free ranged or whatever and I wasn't completely convinced that there could be such a thing as a 100% free range (fed) egg layer.

    That makes sense!

     

    No, they don't need adult diapers. Whether or not they need a diet supplement depends on your locale, how widely they are willing and safely able to range, and what kinds of goodies they can find while foraging. I would say that it is RARE for any property to provide for the dietary needs of a laying hen without some supplemental feed.

     

    Color of yolk is mostly due to the beta carotene in the grasses they are eating. Sunshine is wonderful, but it won't necessarily make for lovely yolks all by it's lonesome. And for the best production, and the healthiest birds, you would want to supplement their diets with a high quality feed. We always preferred a feed which was a mixture of grains and minerals, all in their "original" form. But, commercially, many people choose pelleted feeds or "layer mash", which sort of clumps everything together into a little...um...clump. :rolleyes:

     

    HTH,

    Doran

  17.  

    PS. If you ever decide to fill your freezer with red meat again, I have a great source!

    Thanks for the chicken info, Jeri. secret.gif Although I will now need to do a brainscrub to get rid of the picture of chickens fighting over a field mouse!

     

    Oh, and yes, thanks for the head up on the meat. I'm glad that worked out for you. Ahhh, someday, someday we'll be ready for a big old side o' meat!! :D

  18. Humph! What can I possibly say to her? :confused:

    First I want to say that it's nice to see you!! :D

     

    As for the Pencil Pilfering Piano Prof: tie a piece of string around the pencil and then attach the other end to a notebook or a clipboard, or a brick, or your ds, or whatever it takes! :p

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