I am actually a morning person -- but I find that I stay up way later than I should (and wake up way earlier than I should, given the late bedtime), primarily because it's the only way I ever get any peace and quiet!

I find that I often give them out in lieu of posting. I don't like to put a lot of stuff out there for the whole world to read (just because you never know who might find your words floating around out there in cyberspace), but sometimes I want to let people know that I appreciated a post. Also, I always rep people who have helped me by responding to a question I have asked. For the past several weeks, though, I've been doing the rep fairy thing and have been giving it to people for the sole purpose of helping them earn more squares. I suppose it does kind of defeat the original purpose:001_huh:, but it's fun. I like looking for people who are close to getting a new square and being the one to push them over the edge.:)

Shameless begging apparently works quite well. I have achieved the much-coveted third square. Thanks, ladies!:thumbup:

Me! Me! We finally bought our first new furniture (couch, love seat, and recliner) last December. It only took us 17 1/2 years to get around to it, and we've been griping about having spent that money ever since.;) It was necessary, but the fact that we had to do it just drove us crazy. My homeschooling space consists of our dining room table, which my parents bought when my dad came home from Vietnam. They offered it to me a couple of years ago, and I jumped at the opportunity to take the table I grew up with. The chairs are woven rush and have seen far better days -- I can stick my hand all the way through the seats of 3 of them. We just make sure our legs are centered on the wood that goes along the outside and then we don't fall through. Repairing or replacing them is the next thing that we're saving up for (they just recently started to fall apart, and all at the same time. I guess 40 years is their lifespan.). I took a set of encyclopedias out of the trash at a car wash a couple of weeks ago. They look brand new. I love the free table at my homeschool association meetings -- it's the only reason I go! (I do contribute generously to it, as well.)

Lolly's right -- that's how I knew! That's usually how I end up spending my rep points. I think it's a lot of fun watching the square count change before my eyes. I kind of consider myself a little 'rep fairy'.:001_smile: (And if anyone wants to watch how it works . . . I'm pretty close to that third square myself. Not that I'm hinting or anything.);)

I do this to some extent, but not to the extent that you struggle with it. Death hasn't been as present in my life as it has been in yours, but I have lost children (two to stillbirth and one after an hour of life). Personally, I think that once one has buried a child, one is allowed to have moments of panic regarding one's surviving children (I am saying that with a smile, but there is a small element of truth to it). I am the most protective mom I know IRL. My children don't stop riding in booster seats until they reach the weight/height recommendations. They don't ride their bikes without helmets. They don't go swimming alone (in our rinky-dink above ground pool, even). They don't jump on trampolines. All of these things are what I consider to be perfectly normal safeguards and what parents should be enforcing. I don't think these things have anything to do with being overprotective, but I'm still the only one I know in real life who enforces them. But there are other little ways in which I know I'm different, and in which I am a little bit 'out there' in the overprotective department. A couple of years ago, my daughter competed on a Bible Quiz team, and she traveled quite a bit. The coach was one of those people who was always late, everywhere he went. She was forever getting home hours and hours after the predicted time, and every time my imagination would work overtime. While I allowed her to stay on the team, during this time I knew exactly what picture I would use in her obituary, and I knew exactly what her obituary was going to say. While I don't limit my children's activities because of my concerns, I have found that my mind will immediately jump to the worst possible conclusion more often (and sooner) than other mothers' minds will. (Do I really think my children will die in a house fire every time they spend the night with friends? No. Does it cross my mind? Every single time.) From having spoken with other mothers who have lost children, I think a little bit of this is common. Even though I could not have prevented any of my daughters' deaths, as a mother I have struggled with the fact that I was unable to help them. I was supposed to be their protector, and I was unable to protect them. Even though my brain completely understands the difference, I think my heart sometimes wonders if I will one day be unable to protect my surviving children (which, of course, is true -- such is the nature of growing up). I think my heart is afraid I'm going to fail again. I am a Christian, and I find comfort through praying about it -- but I still have times when I struggle with it.

I didn't know that. I haven't always agreed with a couple of the story lines, but I've always enjoyed reading it (it's the only comic strip I read on a daily basis). Just thought I'd pass it on for anyone else who didn't realize it and who will be mourning its passing (though it's not going away entirely). Here's the article: Lynn Johnston's Drawn-Out Adieu to Cartooning

I like it with candy corn sprinkled throughout it. Yummy stuff!

My dh (a pastor) uses them for hospital visitations, but that's all.

You're very welcome. It was fun -- glad I could help!:001_smile:

Just a reminder to those who participated in repping this way yesterday -- it's a new day, with new rep to give away!;)

This afternoon, I blogged about being irritated with my children and the state of their bathroom. Friday, I blogged about my son and his newest moneymaking scheme. (My blog is private, but if you want to take a look around, send me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll be happy to let you -- or anyone else -- in.):001_smile:

I haven't been able to figure out exactly how much they need, but I've seen enough people's rep immediately go up when I've done it that way that I am assuming my theory is right, and that those closest to the next square level are those closest to reaching that level. ;) I just gave rep to someone whose square count did not immediately go up, but I figure it got them that much closer, anyway.:)

I'll take the credit for that one, NevadaRabbit. I watched it happened, and it was mighty, mighty fun.:lol:

Go to the Members List and sort by Reputation. Somewhere around page 8-9, you'll see the 2 squares change to 1 square. The first person with only 1 square is the closest to receiving 2 squares, if that makes sense. Around page 4 (I don't remember for certain), you'll see 3 squares go down to 2 -- and the first person with 2 squares is the closest to receiving 3. After I determine who's next, I click on their name, which takes me to their user profile. I click on 'find all posts' and choose a recent one -- I click on that, and give the rep that way (with a note saying I'm just doing some random repping for them since they're so close to moving up). I've given rep to 4 people this way in the past couple of minutes and have moved 3 of them up to the next level. It's a lot of fun to do!!!

That has become my favorite way to rep someone -- to find someone who's just on the edge and to push them over. I've gotten away from it lately, though, and haven't been doing much repping at all (shame on me). :001_huh: Thanks for the reminder! Off to mend my ways . . . .:)

83 because that's what we can afford, though dh keeps trying to turn it down to 80. It's still a good 20 degrees cooler inside than outside, but 83 is killing us. We're switching to a new electric company and are locking in a 12.1 cent/kwh rate (last month ours jumped to 25.7), so as soon as they switch it, we plan on lowering it.

My name is Lorna and, when I first started posting, I lived in the boonies (specifically, boonies which have become extremely well-known over the past few months due to certain polygamous activity).

I asked to drop piano at about that same age. My parents were not thrilled, but they allowed it. For about 3 months, I didn't touch the piano. And then my desire to play returned with a vengeance. From that point on, I played because I wanted to, not because I had to or because anyone else expected it. The piano went from being a duty-but-still-a-pleasure to being a passion. I'm 41 now, and it's still a passion of mine. I don't know if that's the course your son would follow if allowed to quit, and I know it would be taking a huge risk, but that's my experience, if it's worth anything.;) (It doesn't really answer your question, I realize.)

We haven't had insurance for over 15 years now. My kids qualify for CHIPS, but the state won't accept one of our proofs of income as proof of income, so they have fallen through the cracks there. We do belong to Samaritan Ministries, which a previous poster has already mentioned. It has helped us immensely (our church pays for it for us -- dh is a pastor, and there is no way we could afford it on our own). It's not insurance, but it is certainly better than nothing. We've belonged since 1997, and it has covered 3 c-sections, a broken arm, a broken thumb, two hospital stays due to illness, and one surgery (in addition to the c-sections). It doesn't cover doctor visits or immunizations or anything of that sort, but it has certainly been a godsend for the bigger items. If you have any questions about it, feel free to ask, and I'll try my best to answer.

Mine isn't working right now, either.

When I got to the hospital with my first, they asked if my water had broken yet. I told them it hadn't. When they examined me, they said, "Oh, yes. It has!" Never felt a thing. No dampness, no leaking, no nothing. :confused: With my others, it never did until long after I got to the hospital.

triple post??? I'm sorry!

double post -- sorry!

When my oldest got them a few years ago, we had success with vinegar and baby oil. We mixed it, equal parts, and then I thoroughly soaked her hair with it and let it set for half an hour (she wore a shower cap). It took forever to rinse the baby oil out, but it worked. And because I was paranoid, the next day I coated her hair with vaseline and left it for half an hour. It was a real bear to get out (corn starch or corn meal will absorb it and that makes it much easier). The vaseline was messy, the corn meal was messy, and I regretted the decision to try it. And because I was still paranoid, the next day I coated her hair with shaving cream and let it set for half an hour. It was much easier to wash out, but it really left her hair feeling dry. All of those were remedies that I read about on the internet. The vinegar and baby oil would have worked on its own, though. I know this because she got lice again the very next year! Two treatments with the vinegar and baby oil were all it took (I think one would have done the trick, but we've already established that I was paranoid, so we repeated it the next day). I now keep a gallon size ziploc bag under the bathroom sink. It holds three shower caps, a nit-picking comb, and a 3x5 card with those three home remedies . . . just in case I ever need them again. Good luck to you. I hope you're able to avoid them entirely -- but if not, my recommendation would be for the vinegar and baby oil solution.