I know many here work ahead of their dc's planned studies for better understanding and teaching later on. I was wondering if anyone here is studying something purely for their own pleasure. I am not homeschooling this year so I have time to myself each day. I was thinking of putting that time towards educating ME.

:iagree: Yeah, I finally got to use the agree smiley! :) I couldn't get the word 'overwrought' out of my mind as I was trying to watch. I really want a decent show to look forward to each week. I'll try watching the next episode but I just don't think Fringe is gonna be it for me.

I don't forsee any changes... but then our yearly tradition is a family potluck meal at the in-laws who live next door to us :D

These threads are always dangerous for me. I just know by tomorrow I'll have another long list of must reads :D I'm currently reading Innocence of Father Brown by GK CHesterton. I tried listening to it on audio d/l but it was literally sending me to sleep. Zzzzzz. After having listened to one of the tales 3 times over and still not remembering even one part of it, I've decided to set aside the headphones and read it the old fashioned way. *lol* I'm finishing up My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. It's been a fun read and I've enjoyed it. And for the RIP III reading challenge I'm reading The Ghost Writer by John Harwood. I'm having a difficult time staying interested in it but I plan to keep trying for a few more days, or pages... or yawns?

My dc are older than yours and I've been moving out of the "alert mummy mode" at night. In fact I often sleep through noises that should wake me! :) For years I always sulked at my Dh sleeping through the children waking in the night, bangs and bumps that made me tense up waiting for something to crash or someone to call. I could hear if my dc had music on softly in their rooms at night and I wouldn't be able to rest. It was not fun but it did change as my dc grew older. I'm past that stage now, thankfully, and I sleep fairly soundly once more :D

You and I share similar tastes in reading. Some books I've thoroughly enjoyed Jane Eyre, Madam Bovary, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Mayor of Casterbridge. I enjoy Oscar Wilde, Wilkie Collins, HG Wells, the Bronte's, Tolstoy.. perhaps you could try some of Tolstoy's shorter stories. I often find when I've stopped reading I need something simple or short to bring me back into the deeper reads once more. HTH

I only skimmed a few lines of a news article about this subject yesterday so I'm sure there are many facts, ideas and rumours I know nothing about. But no, I don't think so. One reason is the length of time. Plausible in a country like N. Korea for a short duration, but 5 years? I don't see the reasoning, someone would surely have stepped in and taken power over the course of 5 years. Besides, the rumour started with a guy promoting his book. :shrug:

Here's a site with some good choices. I especially like some of the Proverbs. HTH. http://encouragingbiblequotes.com/versesgossipa.html

I cook 5 nights a week (Mon-Fri). We go out to eat on Saturdays, dh's treat. Sunday is when Dh and our 3 dc take turns to prepare food for the family.. AND clean the kitchen afterwards :)

We've had vonage for a few years and I love it. Given the length of time my mum likes to chat each time I call and knowing it doesn't matter because it's free. Just can't beat that for calls to the UK! :D One thing you'll want to check is the strength (?) of the cable running to your house. It should be a certain size to carry the vonage without interference.

I'd get it x-rayed. My dd(18) broke her foot earlier this year and she could move her toes at first, there wasn't even much swelling. She had it in a cast for 3 weeks. Hope it's all better soon. :hug:

I loooooooooooove cats! My beautiful maine-coon mix, Nanshe, died this past February. We were all heartbroken, even dh who'd never wanted me to get a cat in the first place all those years ago. She was 2years old when we adopted her from the local county animal shelter and was always such a sweet and lovely girl. She'd hug like a small child when she was being held. Paws one over each of our shoulders and body turned slightly and one paw would grip, just like a little child's hand does. absolutely adorable, and what a way to brighten our day receiving a cuddle from her. The house felt so empty after she died and we all still miss her. We adopted two very young kittens from a local rescue group in May. They had been dumped at the county animal shelter without being properly weaned. The shelter staff had simply placed a tray of dry food in front of them and left them to fend for themselves. At 5 weeks old they were too young to be adopted (to the general public) but were kept there for the usual 7 days in case someone came to claim them. At the end of the week they were about to be euthanized when a local rescue group saved them. I adopted themfrom the rescue group when they were 8 weeks old. Their names are Aine and Aoife and they are quite different in personality. Aine is larger, floppy, cuddly, quiet and gentle. Her nickname is Luna Lovegood. Aoife is smaller and more wirey and tense. She loves to be petted but not held, and she meows all the time which has earned the nickname Moaning Myrtle. My avatar picture is of Aoife in her favourite pose, mouth wide open and moaning at me :)

My youngest ds(13) started back to ps 8th grade yesterday. He's so excited to be back in ps. He was previously in ps until the beginning of 3rd grade. I hope this works out to be a positive experience for him. My older ds(16) is in ps 11th grade. He's been in ps for all three high school years to date. My dd(18) graduated as a dual enrolled homeschooled/public high school student this past June. Her college classes began last week. I'm a bit of a loss today, my second day home alone while they're all off elsewhere. :(

Dh picked one up at Costco a few weeks ago. They're kept at wall behind the the checkout end of the store. He had to purchase it immediately, he was not allowed to place it in his cart and continue shopping or have them hold it until he was ready to check out. ToysRUs did have some on their website but it's been a few weeks since I noticed that. HTH

My dd took dance for her p.e. credit in high school and enjoyed it so much she joined two afterschool dance groups. Dance class was a much better choice for her than the traditional sports oriented p.e. lesson. Does your dd's school offer that choice?

I voted "Something else..." though it was a difficult choice :) I loooooooove watching Rugby but hardly ever get to thanks to limited cable channels. It's my choice as favourite. I can get rather heated while watching a good Rugby match! Watching Wimbledon is like a mini-holiday for me each year. Love that. The Olympics, both Winter and Summer, are so packed with a variety of sports they were each a top contender as most enjoyed. Ice hockey is exciting and can still take me back to being a teen attending local games. Again, limited tv coverage here in NC so it's harder to follow teams each year. My dh is not a stereotypical American, he doesn't usually watch any sports, but I'm slowly getting him hooked on some of my favourites :hurray:

I am British and have always used some form of 'Brit' as a username since first getting online over a decade ago. It seemed like a good choice waaaay back then, but now it's just habit :)

Yeah! I'm slowly winning Dh and the kids over to loving it too! :) Go PANTHERS!

I spend between $100-$150 for each of my dc and for Dh. That includes the usual gifts, plus some special edible treats for us to enjoy over the Christmas season, and stocking stuffers. We spend up to $100 for Dh's parents, sometimes the same for my parents. I try to find cheap but nice gifts for the american nieces and nephews. They're much younger than my own dc and I'll often purchase them a gift based on a theme such as an $8 book for each of them, or a $10 animal gift from the Zoo store. For Dh's aunts and uncles we have no set pattern of gift giving. Some years we have something to give, some years we do not. It's never a big deal and nothing is expected. Usually the gift will be something family oriented if we do give, not much monetary value. One year I made candles, another year it was a large cookie selection. Last year Dh spent a few dollars converting a recorded interview of his Grandfather to dvd's for each of the family members. We don't usually receive any gifts in return from aunts/uncles/dh's brothers and our dc do not usually receive anything either. I don't buy Christmas or birthday gifts for my english nieces/nephews or my siblings.

I voted Eva because it's the nickname of one of my kittens (real name Aoife) and it's a cute name for your puppy! Funnily enough my other kitten's nickname is Luna (as in Luna Lovegood, because she's kinda spacey like the character), but I don't think puppy looks like a Luna. :D

I don't know about the hype of antiperspirant being bad for your health. I swtiched from regular deodorant because of even the unscented seemed to clash with my body chemistry. I recently started using Lavilin, it's a deodorant but not antiperspirant. It works well for stinky me, no residue on my clothing, and is aluminum free so I am happy.

I live a whole ocean away from where I grew up, roughly 3000 miles. I'm English, born in London, raised in a town about 80 miles west of London. My dh is American. He grew up in the house right next door to where we live now. His extended family all live locally (his parents still live next door), and we're always meeting folk who remember him from school or old jobs. When our teenage children bring new friends home, Dh asks about their parents and often finds some connection via an old school or friend of a friend... I never do. :(

Anything by Kate Bush or Samantha Fox comes to mind. Sadly, I recognised Kate Bush singing a soundtrack to a movie my dd was watching recently. Bleugh! All those bad 80's memories of hearing her screech over the radio. :ack2:

Too, too funny! My ds (16) just loves your second choice. He'll play it over and over at loud volume and sing out of tune. ARGH! Why'd I ever try to share 80's music with my kids :D

My dh was based in Minot, perhaps we should have a spinoff thread "Who has lived in Minot?" :D I never lived there, dh was based there while in the USAF and he got out to return to his homestate of NC a few weeks before we were married.