It's because they have to do it year after year after year. Usually the same choreography, the same roles, the same everything. It gets boring. Every dancer in a company can dance every part in that darn thing. It becomes very routine and very redundant. There isn't anything particularly challenging about Nutcracker, and it really isn't a stretch for any dancer. However, it is the bread and butter of most ballet companies, and so there is no choice. For some people, it's the only ballet they will see in their entire lives. The typical audience is not one who supports the company for any of their other performances during the year, and they are mostly uneducated about ballet, and this performance is comfortable for them. Then you have the fact that most professional ballet companies will have auditions for the children's roles. And while companies have a love/hate relationship with that as well, it sells tickets. Little Suzy's parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and their friends and neighbors will all buy tickets to see her march around as a blue soldier. Probably multiple tickets for multiple shows. You cannot reject that kind of box office. It's pure gold. And that is why American companies perform Nutcracker every year. For the money. Merry Christmas!! :D

I loathe it, too. I haven't seen my dd do Nutcracker in over five years. If it makes you feel any better...all professional ballerinas detest it as well.

You could ask about Tramadol. Staying off NSAIDS before surgery is a requirement. Too high of a bleeding risk, and we really hate not being able to control surgical and post-surgical bleeding. A lot of doctors will tell you no NSAIDS for two weeks prior to surgery. Ibuprofen is processed through the kidneys, not the liver, and liver damage is not a side effect of Ibuprofen usage. It can cause kidney issues, however.

I call the specialist directly and make the appointments on my own. I don't think I've ever had a primary doctor do that. My insurance allows us to go directly to a specialist if we choose...we just pay a higher copay for it. My dd is a professional ballerina, and when she has typical dancer issues, she just calls the orthopedic surgeon and makes an appointment with him right from the start. Having to go through our primary doctor first would be ridiculous and a waste of money for the insurance company. I regularly make appointments for dermatologists without going to a primary first as well. It just makes more sense. My dh had to see a neurologist for some numbness issues he was having (turned out to be nothing, thank goodness), and we called a neuro that our primary suggested, and were able to see him two days after we called. I guess we have amazing medical care and availability here. I'm grateful.

Where I live, within a week. I've never had to wait longer than that.

Here's a quick link to get you started with a week's worth of meals: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/09/slow-cooker-freezer-meals-make-8-meals.html

If the cat is fine after 10 days, it doesn't have rabies.

Never. Not once in 21 years of homeschooling.

You are. They'll run a credit check on you and see if they think you're an acceptable risk.

I do freezer meals on my own, every month. It saves a ton of money, and they're easy for my kids and dh to prep. If you decide you want to try that, let me know...I have cookbook links. lol

The doctor can stitch it closed. That's really the only way to solve it. It will most likely not close up on it's own.

Hard to know for sure....we were hopping last night!!! A large percentage of the kids did, but a lot didn't. Some had a history of bronchitis or pneumonia after a regular old cold in the past. Some had a history of allergies. The thing I noticed most was that this is causing asthma symptoms in children who had not previously been diagnosed with it. It may be something that carries over and they will now be considered asthmatic in the future. It's quite nasty.

It's spreading rapidly. Last night, Children's in Denver had 450 kids hospitalized with it. Here in Utah, we have just over 100. It takes kids down fast. If you have a child with any sort of respiratory issue, don't delay in getting them to a doctor if you suspect they may have contracted it. We have several children in ICU with it, and they went from slight wheezing to respiratory distress within an hour. Not fun.

The books are even funnier. Honestly, the site is lame compared to the books!! :D

Trust me...buy it!! I was laughing so hard I could hardly breathe. Tears were running down my face. It holds up with multiple readings, too. And the food ones? Just as funny. This is his site. Scroll way down, and you'll find links to some of his old pages with lots of retro goodies. http://www.lileks.com/#everything

I use our Southwest Visa and our Disney Visa for almost everything I buy. I have earned thousands of dollars in free airline tickets over the years this way. And I get Disney rewards (Disney gift cards and discounts) constantly. Both of these cards save us so much money on our vacations every year. And I never pay finance charges.

Oh, 1970s how I miss you....not. :ack2: And I actually had those overalls with the rainbow stitching. But mine were shorts. And I was 9. If you really want some laughs, you need this book. Seriously, you will laugh so hard you will cry. James Lileks is a genius. Buy all his books! :D http://www.amazon.com/Interior-Desecrations-Hideous-Homes-Horrible/dp/1400046408/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410059008&sr=1-1&keywords=interior+desecrations

Ok, this week's menu: Monday Soft taco bar made with Shredded Salsa Beef Mexican rice fresh melon Tuesday Broccoli Cheese Soup whole wheat rolls green salad Wednesday left overs Thursday Chicken in Raspberry Sauce fresh steamed green beans oven roasted potatoes Friday Calzones green salad Saturday left overs Sunday Barbequed pork sandwiches fresh veggies with ranch dip pasta salad All of the above are freezer meals. Most are defrost and heat. The chicken requires baking, but all you have to do is put it in the oven for 30 minutes. You bake the calzones for 10-15 minutes. My kids or dh cook the veggies. The potatoes I prepare and season in the morning, and my kids put them in the oven and bake them. All of the recipes for this week (with the exception of the calzones), come from this cookbook: http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Panic-Dinners-Freezer-Great-Tasting/dp/0800730550/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410058237&sr=8-1&keywords=don%27t+panic+dinner%27s+in+the+freezer I also like these freezer meal cookbooks: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0800733177/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3VDZHMJRFAZC&coliid=ILDILUDM5YHVD http://www.amazon.com/dp/1603427260/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3VDZHMJRFAZC&coliid=I38P166627I6AS http://www.amazon.com/dp/1558323511/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3VDZHMJRFAZC&coliid=I3AD4GSFJSW2O1 Here are a couple of great sites for freezer meals: The original site and the ladies who founded this whole thing well over 20 years ago: http://www.once-a-monthcooking.com/ And these cute girls are from my city. They have a great site with lots of fun stuff. I love their latest cookbook! http://www.amazon.com/Year-Six-Sisters-Stuff-Families/dp/1609078160/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410058553&sr=1-1&keywords=six+sisters This is a link to their website, where you can try out freezer cooking and see if it's for you. These recipes will only take you an hour to assemble, and you'll have a week's worth of meals taken care of: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/09/slow-cooker-freezer-meals-make-8-meals.html Hope that helps!! Feel free to ask questions if you have them!! :)

Yes, I will do that! I'm off to take a walk with my dh, but when I come back, I'll post this week's menus and some resources that I use. I have lots!! :D

Freezer meals. They save money and time. I work 40 hours a week from 4:15 PM to 12:45 AM. Every month I make 20ish freezer meals (allowing for leftovers), 10 or so side dishes, and 5-8 desserts (frozen cookies, quick breads, etc.). It's not hard. They all fit in my regular freezer, and my family has a good home-cooked meal every night. I do it mainly because I cannot afford to have them eat out every night, or eat frozen chicken nuggets, pizza, or corn dogs. It's a win-win situation. I can't tell you how much it's reduced my monthly food bill. And it's as easy for them to prepare as a store-bought frozen dinner.

Just wanted to give (((hugs))) to anyone suffering with this. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I'm sorry you have to go through such pain. :(

You know, I have offered to play in my ward. Unfortunately, they have never had need of my repertoire: The Entertainer, Born Free, Scarborough Fair, and Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious. Personally, I think that would make for an awesome Sacrament meeting line up. :lol:

He should come to Utah. We have "the greatest snow on earth". Scientifically proven. So powdery, I sweep it off my sidewalks with a broom if there's less than 3 inches. And all of our many universities are only 20 minutes away from the slopes.

You need to keep that info quiet!! LOL I'd tell him that this is the only thing you've done for the past 10 years, and you really would love to serve somewhere else as soon as they can find a replacement. And whatever you do....don't tell him you play the organ. ;)

Yep, not everybody's kids are the same, and there is no "one size fits all". I was just trying to encourage those who might feel like high school is too intimidating to teach at home, and beyond their abilities. It's not any harder than teaching a six year old how to read. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's easier. Those days were HARD. lol