I don't get why people are so determined to believe in a flat earth. The Bible doesn't teach it. I also love how they conveniently avoid any answer to the question of why no one has fallen off. Is it just because people love to think there is some huge government conspiracy?

I agree pack light, and make sure to get a suitcase for carry on at least that's got the four way roller wheels. SO nice. And even your son will need some sort of "man purse" to carry on the plane to put things Iike water bottles, magazines, etc. into. A backpack or whatever. My dh always wants to put everything into his carry on suitcase but then it's a real pain to get to stuff during the flight. I convinced him to take a tote bag with him on a trip he took without me because he wouldn't have me and my big purse and he said several times how it was a lifesaver. You know it was really necessary if a man thanked me for making him carry a bag. He felt a bit old for a backpack but your son should be fine with it. Oh also maybe a nice gift would be a good water bottle if they don't already have one. Buying beverages adds up quickly, especially in Italy. You don't get free water easily everywhere like you do in the US.

Mirena iud stopped mine. And insurance pays for it to treat bleeding.

I think the thighs would be fine but the wings might be overdone. Not an IP expert!

This isn't me but I would love to go! My sister is a single professional and lives in another state, and has to work thanksgiving. She and some other friends out there are having a gourmet dinner at her house, complete with a menu. They are getting together to cook probably tonight, drinking wine, having a great time!

In general, I don't think going into debt of hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans is ever a good idea except perhaps to become a doctor. And then if you can't afford an Ivy League medical degree without debt, get one from a state school. You can still be a doctor. I have a Masters degree in Social work, for example. When I was looking at programs, I saw one at Harvard. (I'm gen x). I knew that even if I had a Harvard degree, I would never make enough money to justify that expense. So I got one at state school and it was fine. Yes not getting loans like that does keep the private schools full of rich, or else super elite smart who get scholarships. But if the other option is crippling debt for the rest of your life, the choice should be clear. I do believe that schools, culture, and student loan agencies do a good job of encouraging people to go into crazy debt, and what seventeen year old can actually fathom what they are signing up for? My parents just told me going into debt was not an option, that I would go where we could afford it. If I hadn't been able to get a scholarship, I might have gone to a tech school for the first couple of years. I don't know. Work my way through. That's what I would suggest to people now. A friend paid his way through college by working nights, full time, at a grocery store. He probably had some debt too, but nothing crazy. He had a very minimal lifestyle, numerous roommates, etc. I don't know all the ins and outs of the details.

But I think the bigger issue was that he didn't want to work full time. He just wanted a part time job so his wife had to go back to work to earn money, AND he wouldn't do women's work.

I don't, but DH knows quite a few through his job.

Choking hazards to sort and examine. (Also fun erasers and buttons). Paint brush and small cup of water to paint on construction paper. At three, just any fun small toy that only comes out at school.

Re: evidence for God and why he doesn't just show himself...this is the best idea I have, give to me by a Priest. (I'm Catholic, but this idea is non-denominational). God wants us to seek Him, to want Him. He could definitely make us all believe, but He wants to have a relationship with us, and relationships are governed by choice. You choose your spouse and your friends. He wants us to choose Him, and to enable that, He puts within us a deep desire for Him, or for something larger. He wants us to CHOOSE to love Him and to follow Him.

Reduce the number of items. Perhaps you can divide the manga tiles into two batches and put one away temporarily. And reduce the number of things in the playroom. As for cleaning up, with young children, I find it best to tell them to "pick up all the manga tiles" and not try to sort anything. Sorry that's all I have! 😆

Charleston is a foodie destination. And you can get history, nature, basically anything you could want there or within an hours drive. I detest myrtle Beach.

I've never lived in Europe, but during a recent trip to Italy i observed that everything is sold tiny at the store-- half gallons of milk, half dozen eggs, etc. imagine how much fun that was with all the people we were trying to feed! Huge bottles of coke don't exist. They drink sparkling water, which is quite expensive so you can't buy tons of it. Frankly I don't see how the entire country isn't chronically dehydrated! 😠I doubt mayo, mustard, and ketchup plays much of a part of their diet. And salad dressing is oil and vinegar. That's pretty much your only choice. I also observed that even if you have a car, it will be so tiny that you couldn't possibly put a typical American load of groceries in it. Chances are good that you will have to walk to the store.

I don't say things out loud to people I don't know. I am kind to people even if I don't agree with them. I don't argue with people. I don't post rants on Facebook. But I do have very clear ideas about right and wrong that I did not have when I was young. I teach my children that x is morally wrong, very clearly, instead of saying, well, you know, everyone gets to choose their own behaviors and whatever works. I do delineate, where age appropriate, about things that are legal rights and things that I think are wrong morally, even if they are legal. So I don't know if that makes me judgemental or just mature and confident of my beliefs. I'm sure I called my parents judgemental when I was a teenager and they told me things were wrong, or to not hang out with certain people because of things they did. I have come to understand that they were correct in their judgements though. ETA and to avoid becoming a judgy old person, well, I'll take another lesson from my parents: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Obviously this doesn't apply to real problems and that you should become a doormat, but it does cut out complaining about things about which you have no control and gossip. Not to say you can't talk about controversial topics Iike politics, or a relatives bad behavior, but it stops becoming a gossip or constant negativity.

I've always liked Enid. I think I read a book with a lovely character by that name when I was a child.

Thanks, but I also think I was slightly stupid! I could have been bitten again! It was completely a reaction, to look to see what on earth had caused such pain. I needed to know what hit me, but in hindsight, I really put myself at risk in the way I did it. If it had been a rabid cat, say, it could have leaped on me. Or the snake could have gotten me again too.

I have decided to not let the snake win! I can't let go of my garden.

I've read that too. And it's not something that ever gets cheaper, like making a pill. It's always extremely dangerous and perishable.

I was actually at one of the biggest hospitals in the state, and there is a zoo there, with snakes. I mean it's not a major city by US standards, as there are none in our state, but it's definitely not rural. I don't know if they had to fly any in or not. I understand that part of the cost is also that it's highly perishable, and some poor soul has to milk the venom from the snakes!!😱😱😱😱 I'm thankful someone is willing to do that. ETA do you know anything about a dog snake vaccine? I know it exists, because I had it for my dog and it saved his life as well as a lot of money...instead of antivenin he only needed some Benadryl. He was bitten and then I didn't know it until many hours later.

It sounds like you have quite the population! How awful! I'm also glad for the arrival of cold weather and I hope we have a really cold winter (although this is unlikely!) The current advice to treat snakebite is to remain calm (ha!) and to do nothing to the bite, just get to ER ASAP. I think mine will heal without any scarring. Just need this swelling to go away!

We live in the southeast US. I was throwing up, felt just horrible, and felt terribly confused. I could barely speak. My fingers and lips started feeling numb before I got to the ER. Yes I agree it's the worst pain I've ever experienced, especially because it encompassed my entire leg.

After it bit me and I pulled back the bush to see what sort of wild animal had bit me ( my first thought was a cat or a possum or something, although that would have had its own set of problems as it could have been wild and diseased) I saw it coiled there and have seen copperheads before and knew immediately. And I quickly got sick, which doesn't happen with non venomous snakes.

Is she okay now? Yes, the noise etc, just made this snake mad!! She had plenty of time to leave.

I was home alone with my kids, oldest 11, youngest 2. I didn't know how long I had, so I called dh and 911. Within ten minutes I was so confused and ill I couldnt dial the phone.

My oldest is in sixth grade. However, I'm pretty sure my mom could have written your post. I did some experimenting. It's hard to tell from your post what your dd is actually doing. I'm not asking for details, either. But I think there's a big difference between going to some keg parties underage, while continuing to make good grades, etc., and starting to use IV drugs and flunking out. Or skipping church sometimes versus I don't know, deciding you are an atheist. Or whatever.