I've found the two alcohol threads recently fascinating. As I've read through them, it's become clear to me that our experiences and expectations around alcohol consumption vary drastically for many reasons. It's a poll because polls are fun. :coolgleamA:

brisk walk/run clean main bath clean second bath vacuum do the shopping I've been putting off paint one small section of a very large project All done but one!

I'd head to a nice department store. Do you have one near you that's a step above Macy's? I'd want some place with really good customer service. Then I'd tell the saleswoman my budget and my event and ask for help. A black dress would be fine, but if it's ill-fitting, you need something else anyway. I'd look for a dress that would work at other similar functions, like an evening wedding, for example.

You got it! Doesn't the sun make a huge difference? I just ordered a light box. I'm hoping that will help on days like the past few!

After a couple of days in the doldrums, I need this thread. Oh, boy, do I ever need it. (And for "doldrums," you can substitute "deep funk of depression while molding the couch to the contours of my hiney.") Today it is sunny, and that helps. I'm also determined to go for a brisk walk and run every morning, rain or shine, to see if that will help me maintain a better mood. Today: brisk walk/run clean main bath clean second bath vacuum do the shopping I've been putting off paint one small section of a very large project

I wouldn't be frustrated, but it would seem extremely odd. In my area and social groups, most people drink, and a formal social event in the evening would almost invariably have alcohol. edited to add: I missed the Christian organization part. I'd still be a little surprised if it were a denomination where alcohol use is not frowned upon, but I wouldn't find it frustrating or feel the need to comment on it one way or another.

This is what I was getting ready to post. Unless that girl is working very, very few hours, that could easily be considered trafficking. The OP said that she is military. I would be especially concerned about following all labor laws to avoid future problems with clearances. It's also just the right thing to do. Usually if a situation sounds too good to be true (like $75 per week for live-in childcare), it is.

I'm still stuck on actually making gifts for people you don't like! To me, handmade gifts like a crocheted hat are signs of love, and I can't imagine spending the time to make one for someone I don't like! I agree with the rest. Buy some simple, civil gift and be done. It's not worth all the thought and angst.

We eat dinner, but I grew up in an area where some folks called it dinner and some called it supper. The people who ate supper seemed to eat a bit earlier, generally speaking.

Well, do you?

I can (and have) split it, but I really can't use the maul very well. I do fine with an ax. The wood just has to be seasoned enough--not recently cut.

That might leave a nice protective barrier, but it doesn't contain the hydrocortisone to help reduce the inflammation.

There is also a hydrocortisone ointment. It's in a petroleum-jelly base. Even though the cream was irritating, the ointment would be much less likely to irritate his skin. Think about putting petroleum jelly on a wound versus putting a cream or lotion on. The cream would sting, but the jelly would just provide a protective layer. It will also help keep moisture in and prevent it from getting even more dried out and irritated.

There are only reports on the registry because someone put them there. However, bedbugs spread really easily, and a lot of people still have no idea what to look for. You may be the people who report the place your husband stayed. When he gets home, I'd have him strip, dropping all of his clothes into a garbage bag (NOT onto the floor first). Bag the suitcase, and close it tightly. Be sure the bag is heavy-duty enough to not rip. (How is he getting home? His own car? Taxi? If there's a way to bag the suitcase before it goes in your personal vehicle, then I'd do that.) Then I'd have him go take a shower because I've heard reports of people finding a bug in their hair. It's probably unlikely, but it seems like an easy precaution, so to me it would be worth it. Take the bagged clothes and wash on hot. Tie the bag shut again and take that bag outside to the garbage (NOT In the house, NOT in an attached garage) immediately after dumping the clothes in the washer and closing the lid. Don't set it down. The really key thing is to dry those clothes on high for a good long time. I've heard 20-30 minutes at 130 degrees will kill bugs and their eggs. After we were bitten in a hotel, I ran them through our hot dryer for about three hours because I really, really, really did not want the bugs in our house. You want to be sure all parts of the clothes have reached a high enough temp for long enough to kill the bugs and eggs. Don't pack the load too full in the dryer. You can bag some of the wet clothes while you dry half the load if necessary. As for the suitcase, how often does he travel for work? If he travels regularly for work, or you all do for pleasure, then if you can afford it, you might consider some sort of heater that will fit the suitcase like this. There are other versions. Do you live somewhere it gets really cold in winter (like 0 F or colder)? You might research how long it takes to kill bugs and eggs with freezing at different temperatures. I know someone who moved frozen goods to the freezers of friends and neighbors and put the suitcase in their chest freezer for a couple of weeks. Good luck!

I wonder if people are reasonably good about returning carts in Seattle simply because it rains 10 months a year. It's rarely a hard rain, so people won't get that wet returning the cart. It's almost never too hot to leave the kids in the car, and there's pretty much never snow on the ground to make driving the cart difficult. So maybe it's just easier to return it when you don't have to worry about kids roasting in a vehicle or slipping and sliding all over the frozen slush?

DH is out for dinner tonight, so I'm feeling all proud of myself that I cooked a real dinner anyway. Kale-broccoli rabe-ricotta lasagne with garlic bread on the side

They'd really do better with taller rain boots. Besides the shortness issue for snow boots, snow boots also tend to have lots of padding that will take forever to dry if they step too deeply or a wave rushes up and fills the boot. For warmth, we particularly like Bogs, but I always buy the ones without the hand holes because I'd rather have the extra height. If Bogs are out of the budget or wouldn't get used much where you live, then you'll do fine with regular rain boots with a couple of layers of socks. Enjoy the coast! I love the northwest coast in the fall and winter.

If you have the space, I would definitely go for a 36" cooktop or rangetop (rangetop will give you six burners in the same 36") with separate double ovens. Have you seen the kitchen forum at Gardenweb? Take some time to browse there; the folks there have a wealth of information about all things kitchen. I would not be nearly as happy with the outcome of our kitchen remodel if I hadn't found that forum!

How was the experience? What can you tell me about what to expect? I'm not looking forward to this.

I know this was reactivated by a spammer (who I reported), but I wanted to add Kristan Higgins' books to the list. They're definitely light reads, but they're really funny (I laughed out loud several times), and they're not super smutty.

Paul Krugman's blog posts are usually quite interesting. It's a good way to learn about another perspective on economics and, especially with all the debt crisis and financial uproar, he provides an interesting commentary. http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/

We just toss the kale (stems removed) with avocado oil and sprinkle with kosher salt, then roast at 375 - 425 (depending on what else we're baking). The avocado oil is key; we've found that it makes the kale chips extra yummy. Plus avocado oil is supposed to be one of the healthiest oils and very stable at high heat.

I think it really depends on the area. In some places townhomes seem to hold their value or appreciate like other real estate. In others, only new townhomes get top dollar, and older townhome developments are worth less. I'd strongly encourage your DD to do her research on market trends in her area and to talk to several realtors to get a range of opinions.

This is how it is for me. I've been wondering if this is a hot flash or not. I'll wake up, and often I'll be cold, then I'll roll over, and all of a sudden, I'm so incredibly hot that I have to kick all the covers off and lie there with no clothes on for several minutes to half an hour or longer. Other times, I'll just wake up and be miserably hot and overheated and have to kick all the covers off. Our bedroom is really cool at night except in the summer, so that helps. Still, I'm amazed at how long I can lie naked in a 58 degree room and still be hot. I'm never drenched in sweat, though, so I don't know if these can be hot flashes. Does anyone know?

Have you tried Finish? Finish on Amazon I've found them at Costco for a little less recently. They work great and get off all the gunk from even baked-on cheesy casseroles. I think that etching can also be caused when you rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. The new detergents use enzymes that work on the food; I've heard that if there isn't enough food in the load, they'll etch glassware. We don't rinse flatware, plates, or casserole dishes at all (just scrape to get off the large chunks), and our glassware hasn't etched. As an added bonus, it makes post-dinner clean-up much easier to just shove it all in the dishwasher. Hard water might also interact with the detergent and cause etching--or at least that's what we always thought caused the bad etching on my MIL's glasses twenty years ago with old-style detergents.