Thank you all. I am okay one minute, and completely undone the next. This is so hard. You know, when I was little, every night my parents would come in and pray with me before bed. My prayers were, "God bless (list of direct relatives), Aunt. S, Uncle S, Stephen.... Oh, God. This is just too hard. Ria

LOL. I agree completely... If something is on the banned booklist, yeah, I'll read it (if I haven't already). But do I monitor and approve all that my kids read? No. That would be censorship. They are sentient beings. They can read. We can discuss. Ria

It's junk. I've seen it before...a few years ago, actually. Ria

Did you see Ree's recent tomato soup recipe? It's outstanding. www.pioneerwomancooks.com (I think) Ria

My youngest son has been seeing the orthodontist since he was 6. His teeth were so crowded that the only option for us was to do what is called "serial extraction." Over a period of years, he will have 12 teeth removed; 8 baby teeth and 4 permanant teeth. Right now he's had the first 8 done, and we're waiting for the 4 permanant teeth to come in so they can be removed. Once that's done he should have enough space for the remaining teeth. Even a palate expander wouldn't have helped this child! Anyway, we are hoping to avoid braces with him. I'm very glad we saw the ortho early on. I have other boys who have also had early treatment for what is known as an open bite. Ria

Stephen was my first friend - our moms were pregnant together. Since both our families were Navy, we lived near each other and saw each other often all during our childhoods. These days he lived across the country from me, but we'd see him each summer in Maine (our parents still spend part of each summer together). Evidently he got the flu and fell behind in his work...he had some type of breakdown. After a week in the hospital he was released. His parents were visiting every day, and his wife had taken time off from work. But no one could reach him, and he took his life yesterday. He was 45 and leaves a wife and adult stepson. I feel so, so sorry for my Uncle and Aunt (that's what we always called them...we are very close). I sent them an email, and will send a card and flowers. I am devastated. I don't look forward to telling my children. They loved him to pieces, too. :( Ria

No, not under any circumstances. Ria

I'll be praying! You'll do fine, don't worry!! Ria

Well, shoot. Make your own and stir in the jam of your choice. Voila...fruit yogurt. If you can heat milk, you can make yogurt. I make a gallon at at ime, but you can make it by the quart if you wish. Ria

Get them. Sealants are worth every single cent. My kids with sealants have had 95% fewer cavities than their siblings. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. I only wish the first ones had been born sooner! Ria

Obviously, he must not have gotten enough sleep since he's so cranky. LOL. Tell him that, and put him in his room for an hour-long nap. That ought to fix him. Good luck. I can sympathize. Ria

It's for a pharmacy tech job, part-time. I think this would be a great fit for me since I enjoy all things medical. The hours will allow me to be home when the boys get home from school. I'm not too worried about the actual interview - I was a biology major, and that's got to be a plus considering you don't need a degree or anything for the job. But ladies....what on earth do I wear? Would khaki slacks, black loafers, and a nice shirt be okay? I don't have to wear a skirt, do I? I think I'd be overdressed. Help! Ria

LOL! You've had your share of wacky neighbors, haven't you? You have my sympathy! Ria

I have the Kitchen Aid Pro 11-cup model; they don't make that one anymore. If I had to buy a new one, I'd go for one of the 12-cup models. We use ours for chopping everyday (it's great with onions and other veggies). It makes a fantastic pie crust. Grating cheese is done almost instantly. We use this thing so often that we bought an extra bowl for it, so we can keep using it if one bowl is in the dishwasher. This, along with the Kitchen Aid mixer, are the workhorses of my kitchen. Ria

Ours have never buzzed. We bought ours from Lowes and Home Depot...they are a name-brand (but I forget which). Ria

Absolutely no running or roughhousing inside. Period. They can go outside to do that. We had five boys in under 8 years...there's no toleration for roughhousing or running here. I'm outnumbered! Ria

We adopted two cats a year and a half ago. Both are neutered males. One was a kitten when we adopted him, and the other was approximately 3 years old. Both are absolutely wonderful pets (indoor only). I suggest you contact a local cat rescue organization in your area. They often have lots and lots of kittens, as well as wonderful adult cats. The kitties are usually in foster homes, and the people who care for them can give you a very good idea of the cat's personality. We have had a great experience with our kitties. Good luck, and I'm sorry about Rajah. Ria

I think I understand how you feel, Suzy, especially the part about wondering if they'll be anything left of you when the kids leave, and feeling trapped. That's how I was feeling. In my case I did decide to give the public schools a try (and can I just say we've been thrilled beyond belief?!). I'm in the process of finding a part-time job (not a career-job, mind you, just something I'll enjoy that will bring in some much-needed extra cash). I know you say you don't see the public school system as an option for you, and I respect your feelings. I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone - I for one really identified with your post. I will pray that you find a solution, or at least find peace. Ria

B.A. in English/Biology. Ria

I wouldn't be comfortable with that even with my internet-saavy 15-year old. Why not let your dd get instant messenger and an email account so she can chat with friends that you already know? Ria

I wouldn't get a Nalgene...have you read about the problems with chemicals leaching from them? They've been pulled from the shelves by the largest outdoor retailer in Canada, and even the FDA has recently issued a "caution" about their use. We threw all of ours away and have ordered stainless steel Klean Kanteens. Yes, they are expensive, but I'm not willing to risk my kids drinking a chemical that acts like estrogen...ugh. My boys spend 6 weeks in Canada (wilderness canoe tripping) each summer, and they have to have water bottles. I'd rather spend more for peace of mind. Ria

You need to know if the tumor is malignant before you decide on a course of action. Does the doctor know? If it's malignant, there's really not much your vet can do...although he could remove the tumor, it has probably already metastisized. If it's not malignant, however, you'd need to decide if kitty could survive the surgery (doubtful given the kidney issues) - you really need to discuss your options with the vet. Unfortunately, it sounds like it might be more humane to have him put down. I am sorry you are going through this. Ria

Chili with Cornmeal Dumplings Red Rice Pilaf with Roasted Root Vegetables Herb/Cheese Stuffed Chicken Thighs on a bed of leeks Green Risotto; Homemade Cream of Tomato Soup, homemade bread Spaghetti w/ Bolognese Sauce Eggs Benedict w/ Asparagus

Actually, they've done this very thing for years with dummy ballistic missiles. In fact, during the tests all the ships know is that a missile will be fired within a certain time period. Trajectory, etc. are unknown. The system locates the target in space, locks on, and sends a missile to intercept, all within seconds. The reason the ships have to know that the missile is coming is because the US has to clear the air and ocean space for several thousand square miles, lest anything go wrong. Of all the armed services, the Navy's ballistic missile defense system is the most reliable. Ria