Do you have a bumper sticker? Would you be in violation of this policy? I'm curious what you think. http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/national/dpgo_HOA_Asks_Vet_to_Remove_Bumper_fc_20090528_2518563 Of course, I live in Marine Corp housing (we're Navy), I'd like our private housing company to even try to outlaw Patriotic stickers and decals off of the cars. :lol: It wouldn't be pretty. Jo

You want to come over and clink some mugs? I'm all about that. :D In Hawaii, "Aloha Friday" can start at any time. Us Tom-boys have to stick together. ;) Jo

apparently I can't post today if I'm going to whine. :D Allright, God, I hear you!

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I agree. I was very strong when I left the house with the dog. But I cried like a baby after he died. The kids would not have wanted to see me break like that. Jo

We did this last year. We let all the kids feed our dog a hunk of steak (he was still eating, but his back had completely given out). Then we took photos of each child with him. They said good-bye at home and I drove him to the vet. They cried rivers, but when I got back from the vet I told them how they gave him the medicine and his heart stopped and he was peaceful and without pain of any sort- our dog was in a lot of pain. We looked at puppy photos, and some photos of him in his younger years. Compared to his last day, they could tell he wasn't well. That night we went out to their favorite eatery (The Spaghetti Factory) and they seemed fairly quick to recover. Of course they remembered him with sadness for weeks, but the pain of loss went away, and I encouraged them talk about him freely. I'm so sorry you are going through this. :grouphug: Jo

Yep. I wish she could just live in my base housing neighborhood for a week. If she could see what these ladies do with so little. We are fortunate enough to be officers, and I consider the pay very reasonable, but some of my neighbors have a crop of kids in these homes smaller than the Gosselins first home, and they are thrilled (it is new housing- not the cinder block WWII housing it was 2 years ago). And the pace of deployments between Iraq and Afghanistan right now is amazing. The good news is- we are seeing some more new "Welcome Home Daddy" banners lately. :-) I hope for those precious children, Kate figures out how to swallow her pride and work it out with her husband. She should be willing to chuck it all for the sake of her family. We have to be ferocious about protecting our marriage relationship. [stepping down]:chillpill: Jo

Thanks for the websites. I've never been to any of those. I'll check it out. Jo

I get you. I respect your self-awareness in bag functionality. I completely understand the requirements of a bag. And my everyday bag would probably be described as utilitarian. I am soooooo okay with that. I have mourned the lack of separate outside pockets in my current bag. I recognize the value of separate key/cell phone pockets. :lol: What I need is one nice bag to use when I go into social situations. I do attend a fair amount of these. I'm thinking of cocktail parties- in Hawaii these aren't black dress though. "Aloha attire" is a unique thing. Confusing, I know. I don't need a semi-formal clutch, but it must be...oh, blast...."stylish?" In addition, dinners out with my husband don't require the three ring binder capable tote. :D I think the current trends are just to trendy for my taste. I refuse to drop the bucks for a bag that will look dated next year. Jo

What do you think of these? They are all too expensive, but I'm strictly looking at style at this point. http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2941050/0~2376779~6008000~6023785?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6023785&P=3 http://www.bluefly.com/Marc-by-Marc-Jacobs-chocolate-leather-Punk-Posh-convertible-clutch/cat20430/303497201/detail.fly http://www.bluefly.com/Jalda-black-textured-patent-Rock-buckle-flap-clutch/COLOR_CROSS-SELL/302489201/detail.fly http://www.bluefly.com/Monserat-de-Lucca-mustard-leather-Vida-large-tote/cat20428/303175102/detail.fly http://www.bluefly.com/Cole-Haan-black-leather-stud-detail-messenger-bag/cat20428/302597401/detail.fly More my style: :D http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/totes/ivory-black-cargo-tote http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3440975&cp=1779792.1761176&clickid=mainnav_browse_txt&parentPage=family&colorId=1010370 http://www.titlenine.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=3095&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=697&iSubCat=700&iProductID=3095

I need a "going out" purse. I like clothes- I have a good feel for fashion. I'm even starting to appreciate variety in shoes. But purses baffle me. I think the current trend in purses are all ugly. Especially those hobo things, and Coach, etc. I'm not flashy. All the fabrics seem to be gaudy to me. I currently carry a small canvas black tote with my monogram in black on the side. For daily use, this is fine. I need the space for planning notebooks, books, etc. But I need a good purse to carry on social outings. Not a clutch for fancier occassions, something in between canvas and bling. Any suggestions? I've been looking, but I'm lost. Jo ps- I've been looking on endless.com because of the free shipping. Any website suggestions are appreciated.

I just started to listen to that book while walking. I think I'd rather read it so I can stop, reread, and process. It is absolutely nothing like his radio show, which I dislike. Jo

:iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree: I watched last night- like passing an accident on the highway. My neighbor across the street had been watching the marathon and told me about all the hoopla yesterday afternoon...so I watched. I wanted to smack her. "it's all for the kids" :001_huh::glare: Puhlease! She is simply selfish and proud, and she is ruining her family. Jon isn't perfect, but it is clear who steered that car off the road. I was so disturbed by the end of the show and I was quite animated. My dh, who hates all reality television, even watched a little because I was ranting at her for saying she wakes up every morning to work for the kids. My dh and I had a wonderful discussion about getting what you wish for and being content. Crazy. But true. Ahhhhhh. I feel relieved to get that off my chest. :D Jo It is really very sad.

Pick me, pick me! I've had seven pregnancies and they have all been a little different, but the ones that required me to be off my feet and rest---mercy! I nearly went mad. I don't like people doing things for me. I felt like a failure. I could reason all day long that I was doing the right thing but mentally I wasn't comfortable slowing down. If I'm brutally honest, it has to do with my self-worth coming from accomplishing things. But we won't peel back that onion in this post. :tongue_smilie: Take it easy, while you can. Then be super-duper mom when the time comes. :D You are doing good work, just not visibly. Jo

We want to make a family website. It really is just a project for the older kids to teach them about website design. I have zero knowledge about this topic. "Clueless" sums up my current level of understanding. :tongue_smilie: Ultimately, we want this to be a project for our kids, but I need to get the basics under my belt. Where do I start? Thanks. Jo

Well, my Hawaii sista', who I still owe an email...who do you order from? :bigear: Jo I really do want to "talk" soon. It has been crazy here with family in town.

I have always had success with them in the past. But recently, I've been striking out on my delivery estimates. Grrr. I'll just have to tell my son that his birthday present I ordered on May 11th for his May 22nd birthday, will get here eventually....trust me. :glare: Stinkers. Jo

My neighbor is having horrible post-spinal tap headaches, Nausea, and vomitting. He couldn't keep cola down. I'm going to try tea next, but I doubt it will go down. Caffeine is indicated for post spinals. Has anyone ever conquered the post spinal tap crud? Residential nurse...apparently, Jo

Okay. This helps me to clarify. We read the Bible together as a family every morning. I guess I'm really looking for a topical study. It could study a person, or a character quality, etc. We want something short and light, but not just a devotional. Clear as mud? Thanks. Hoping the mind meld continues.... Jo

I thought I would do the Chuck Swindoll "David: Man of...." study, but I'm rethinking that decision. The chapters seem a little long. This is for my Dh, older sons, and I to do in the evening. I don't particularly want a study that we need to prep for. I just want a read, look up verses, discuss, repeat type o' thang. I don't think I'm explaining myself very well, but I'm often amazed at how well some of you read my mind. :D If you could only hear what I hear next to me you would understand my distraction..... Thanks. Jo

I buy the next curriculum as we are reaching the end of the current curriculum. We school year round and we don't have a clean start or stop. Not ideal, but so it is.

Don't buy those machines they use at weddings by the Wilton company. They stink...as I found out this past week. :glare:

Laughing and cringing at the same time. You made the story so humorous, but I know it must have been a difficult night. Bless you. you are probably running on adrenaline at this point. rest while you can.

I haven't checked my 10yo sons math-work in a while. He is generally responsible and likes math, so it hasn't been on my radar. I have had an active radar lately. Today I decided to get caught up and what I found in his math book was surprising and disappointing. He hasn't been completing his assignments, and worse, he's been grading them as correct. I flipped through probably 3 weeks worth of workbook pages that were incomplete and marked with check marks. :glare: What was this kid thinking?! :001_huh: He's not a deceptive type of child. I have seen deceptive, and he would be the last of my children I would suspect. He isn't a perfectionist, so I wouldn't suspect fear of failure as the root cause. I think he has just been lazy. My mind is whirling with consequences, but I thought I'd come here and ask if anyone else has seen this and dealt with it successfully...before I pop off and act rashly. :) Thanks for your collective wisdom and help. Jo

They have completely redone their website. Wow, they were user friendly. I feared the shipment time. No need. They were quick and efficient (and it was a big box going to Hawaii). I am impressed. They have redeemed themselves admirably. I just had to post. Jo