Because everything reminds me of a story lately! This is taking me back to soon after I was first married, and the neighbor "kid" (who would be around 30 now) would come home off the night shift at 3:30am, sit in his trashy little car with the *awesome* stereo system in the alley next to our bedroom window and listen to metal music for an hour or so. I swear the bass made even the bed frame vibrate. This happened 3-4x a week for several months. Calling the police in the little burg did nothing - I'm not even sure they had anyone on duty that time in the morning! When we mentioned it to him, he seemed properly apologetic, but stopped for only one night. His parents just screamed at us to stop hassling their son. It finally stopped on its own - when someone busted out the driver's side window to steal the stereo system! It's shameful how happy we were at his misfortune. Good luck with those neighbor kids!

EE After a year in the music department (piano), and tired of throwing up every time I had to perform, I switched to engineering.

Midwest (OH) - have always called it hamburger. When we order our side of beef each year, they always ask, "And do you want the rest ground into hamburger?"

What she said! I'd like the kids to see the real places, not the recreations or re-imaginings.

I was just coming to post this! It's A Severe Mercy. And thanks for this thread! Very inspiring!

for the GS troop to research France. Good text for 10yo's; nice pics. 3 volume set: http://www.amazon.com/France-land-Lands-Peoples-Cultures/dp/0865053219/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207534894&sr=8-14 http://www.amazon.com/France-people-Lands-Peoples-Cultures/dp/0865053227/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b http://www.amazon.com/France-culture-Lands-Peoples-Cultures/dp/0865053235/ref=pd_sim_b_img_1

http://www.washingtonsuitesgeorgetown.com/ I can't personally vouch for it, but my co-leader loved it when she stayed there. Besides a suite w/kitchen, it offers: Close proximity to Metro stop and shuttle service to the stop. Outdoor pool Free continental breakfast (I've found to be rare in DC) And I have found it to have great rates! I think someone else here has vouched for it, too.

:iagree: Though I enjoyed his talk much more than dh!

...had cable television in my home. (and until 3 years ago - had air conditioning in my home!)

I got the board equivalent of crickets chirping. (And effectively killed the thread!) (And I even ended my witty response with "ba-dum-bum"!) So, yeah, I usually answer the subject line - but now I keep it to myself. And, for whoever asked - strong left-brained tendencies.

And you're doing awesome! Since January - wow! They're menu tracker is extremely useful - I like being able to record my "cheats" as well as marking off the items on the eating plan.

that there are other people besides me who are shocked by this. I'm amazed at the number of people around me who think of extramarital affairs as inevitable. Now to hear of it on the morning news shows. I'm starting to think that *I'm* the one who's crazy!

10 so far! I'm loving sparkpeople! I'm aiming for oh, roughly 30. If I get down 20, I'll be overjoyed! This is just following the nutrition plan (1200-1500 cal./day - usually coming in around 1300 or so.) Haven't done so well with the exercise;) Thanks for asking! I've been keeping it pretty quiet IRL - waiting for someone to notice before I mention it. (So far am at the "clothes that were getting tight fit again" stage - haven't actually gone down a size - YET!)

So does the phrase "strong woman" have negative connotations for anyone else? My mom's family had many "strong women". That's how we referred to them. My grandma had 4 sisters and 2 daughters - most of them were "strong women". They were "strong women" because they stoically tolerated their husbands' philandering, joblessness, neglect, drinking, gambling, and/or abuse (and after all of that, also stoically tolerated their "advances".) They did this while managing the household, being breadwinners, raising the children, and in some cases caring for parents or in-laws (who were also philandering, jobless, neglectful, drinking, gambling, or abusive.) They did all of this without complaining, whining, falling apart, or "laying down on the job." I decided somewhere around my pre-teens that I did NOT want to be a "strong woman". When my xh became abusive, the advice from my aunt encouraged me to follow the family tradition with the august advice, "You made your bed, now lie in it, like the rest of us." Sorry to be such a downer - I prefer to be a "loved woman", a "capable woman", a "loving woman" or any number of things. But nope, I hope I never again am called upon to be one of those "strong women".

I've read that Rose Kennedy had a similar philosophy. And I've met couples - everyday, ordinary people like me(!) - who live by that philosophy. As long as he keeps it quiet and it doesn't intrude on "their" or "her" life, he's permitted whatever indiscretions he desires. She's usually happy to have him "out of her hair". I've never delved into the health issues with such an arrangement, though I've always wondered. I just know I could never stomach it. I'm surprised not to see my theory represented yet. Doesn't anyone else think that these high-profile, high-power marriages are (at times, not always) a contract? I've always expected that a wife in such a union would have specific and restrictive responsibilities regarding how and when she can/should present herself in public. Maybe this is an extension of the "marrying for money" discussion we had awhile back? Marrying power? It all reminds me of a high school classmate whose sole ambition after high school was to marry a man with money who would provide her the lifestyle that she wanted. She returned to our 10 year reunion a CT society housewife with 2 kids and a husband commuting to NYC. She serves on boards for local arts organizations and supervises the decorating and running of her house. The lifestyle is completely foreign to me and the rest of our classmates here in central OH! And it seemed to me that her "job" is much more difficult than any I have had: the house, the kids, her life, her manner, her body must be kept "just so" to fulfill her part of the bargain. Maybe ignoring the husband's dalliances is just another part of the bargain for some of these wives? And standing stoically, supportively beside them when they face the music is another part?

I've always wanted a pet named Wimsey! I guess the other could be Harriet?

Welcome to the boards. What part of OH are you in?

This board never ceases to amaze me!

Ya'll had my answer so quickly last time - here's another one for you! Can someone spell out the pronunciation of eclaireuse for me? (Our girl scouts are studying France.) TIA!

Wow - I could have written your post! I've been pondering this very thing lately. I was so "smart" and now I find that I'm actually dumb! (Maybe not dumb - uneducated? not wise? ignorant?) Is this where wisdom starts - when you realize how much you don't know? And thanks for this thread! I second (third?) the Teaching Company tapes - I've enjoyed the ones I've listened to.

We're staying at the Washington Suites Hotel. I have no first hand experience with it, but my co-leader stayed there a couple years ago and said it is fantastic. 2-room suites, complementary breakfast (rare find in DC!), near the Foggy Bottom metro stop - very accessible. Rates are good, too. (Except I'm floored by the $30.00/day parking fee!) http://www.washingtonsuitesgeorgetown.com/

Anj, you summed up just how I felt when I saw the picture and headline today. I've read so many of his remembrances of friends and colleagues in recent years. It's hard to imagine that anyone will be able to do him justice.

You guys are good - and fast! Lady Dulcinea, the first one you sent has exactly what I wanted - and the second is one I had found and considered, too! Everything else looks good - I was trying to find one without a label and on a white background. The hive never fails, does it?

A picture of a gallon jug. That's it - I need a picture - a black line coloring type picture would be best - of a plastic gallon jug. Googling hasn't yielded anything yet. So would someone here know where to find one? (Our Girl Scout troop is hosting a Thinking Day fair, and we're asking each troop to make a paper "quilt" showing how much water per capita per day is used in the country they're learning about.) TIA!

Dd10 just asked for it again the other day (when we started the adverb chapter in R&S). We had the entire cd set from the library a couple years ago and she and dd13 loved it.