When we lived in KS we went to eat at Cracker Barrel. Every single party in the restaurant had at least one person in camo. It was deer season and if they weren't military they were apparently hunters. I'm sure there was a full arsenal in the vehicles in the parking lot. It was pretty funny to me after living in N. Dallas and seldom seeing anyone in camo (except dh of course).

I just use semi-gloss interior latex. Finish with Rustoleum polycrylic. Easy clean up and I've had zero problems even on our coffee table that I painted two years ago. We sit, stand, put our feet up and it still looks great. I love painting furniture!

I can't imagine. I'm just a mom and I'm tired - adding all the other on your plate must be overwhelming. Hugs to you!!!

I LOVE Louise Penny. Inspector Gamache - so wonderful. Back to the question - I just search them on my kindle and preorder if possible.

We've taken to buying our avocados at Costco - two bags at a time. Even my carb junkie dd will eat this happily!

I posted this a few weeks ago - it is divine. Bacon avocado cups

Something else to consider - when you discontinue a contract, grant program, purchase agreement, etc. (from a military POV) there is definitely money to be saved. We have contract gate guards. That used to be the job of the MPs but was contracted out at some point. Now we have MPs coming in to cover some of the shifts, which saves money. That MP gets paid the same whether he's working Sunday, midnight - 6 shift, whatever. The guard would get overtime, extra pay for 2nd shift, etc. So money is being saved. But that guard is out money. Dh is in school right now and they had private contractors teaching the classes. All of them were retired military so this was a second income, on top of their retirement. With all the craziness in the budget mess, they've had warrant officers come in and take over teaching the class. Which begs the question, why did they have contractors in to teach when they have fully capable people able to teach the class at the military pay rate? Of course, now those teachers are out of a job or have taken a significant pay cut. Anytime there's a cut - someone will be affected. (paragraph break because of stupid Windows8) Funny story about waste though - neighbor works in a secure room. The gov required that a dutch-door arrangement be put in to help maintain security. So they hired it out and the contractors came in and put in a half door. The 'desk' area of the door came loose and friend went to get a hammer to nail it back in place. A nail - single, one nail was loose. He was informed he absolutely could not touch it, that's a contractor job. But it was Friday afternoon so there was no way they'd get there til Monday. That means the door had to be guarded 24 hrs a day because it was no longer secure. Rather than tasking a soldier (who would be required to do it ) they had to call the security company and have guards ordered for the room for the entire weekend - at overtime rates, working 6 hour shifts. Seriously? Another - dh was the S6 on his first deployment (in charge of communications/computers for the battalion). They were replacing outdated computer systems while he was there, so he had to figure out what was needed and work up a proposal within a certain budget. Dh is nothing if not frugal. And smart about computer systems - that was his civilian job (he was National Guard at the time), he knows how to get the most for his money. He got it all put together and it was sent back because he didn't spend enough. The second proposal was three times the cost because he used name brand parts rather than the best parts. That second one was approved. There are thousands of these stories - but behind each expensive bolt, computer part, whatever is a person who made it that will be penalized when that pork is cut. It's a terrible catch 22.

There was a story on NPR (sorry - can't remember which show- Science Friday maybe) discussing the program to create a system to restock the space station. It was set up as a competition with the winner getting the contract. Expenses for the r & d were on the private company, the benefit was to the gov and the private companies. Sounds like a good plan to me. I'll see if I can find the link, it was really fascinating.

I agree!!! K12 is a pretty intense curriculum. And through a charter you will have other requirements aside from the K12 part (test prep, online class times, etc.). I've no other advice, just wanted to mention that!

I heard this on NPR this afternoon! Too funny ( not necessarily for him, but ykwim).

Good heavens! I'd be terrified too! I would take him to the ER if you see it happen. I have zero experience with this - but I'll be praying!

Shoot - my dd was introducing herself to the new people as they were LOOKING at the house. They did move in but I think she scared them. We don't see them much.

My daughter pops her ears. Not like normal people - not to equalize pressure in her ears. She pulls her earlobes and her ears pop. Loudly. Where I can hear it across the room. I have never, ever seen/heard of that. Completely weird.

Yup - those little runningbacks who are 5'8" with 200 lbs of muscle would be fat by bmi standards. Dh is in the army and part of is ptntest is height/weight measurements. When he was lifting weights (on top of daily P90X and Insanity workouts) he had to be taped because his BMI was too high. Never mind that he's never NOT maxed out the pt test. Because, ya know, strong soldiers aren't a good thing. He's dropped serious weight lifting so he's not as bulky. Makes me more than a little angry for him.

This. I have several CK maxidresses I got for $20 at TJMaxx. eta: I have some with adjustable shoulder straps so I can make them shorter. I'm 5'4 and can wear them with flip flops just fine.

I think she would have been successful anyway. Someone with the drive and determination to do well - they seem to take their situation and make it work. This weekend I was listening to " From Scratch" in NPR. The guest was the founder of match . Com. He was a juvenile deliquent apparently - but everything he's done as an adult has been wildly successful. I think that kind of intelligence or ability is innate. It always seems to be they could be a criminal mastermind or wildly successful - nothing in the middle.

This. We share data with at&t - it comes with unlimited talk and text. It ended up being cheaper than the family talk plan. Of course its still ridiculous, but dh won't consider cutting it.

Has anyone here successfully reupholstered furniture? I have two beautiful chairs we inherited from family, but they are seafoam green. GAG! They don't match anything in my house but it looks like it will cost about $500 to have them done professionally. I'm pretty good with crafty things - I can sew relatively well. I'm wondering if I'm capable of doing this. Any experience to share?

San Antonio isn't quite west Tx yet. Think San Angelo, Lubbock, Amarillo and west of there. Of course then you have cotton to be allergic to - that is terrible. Not to mention the fact that living where it is so flat, dry, and dusty is miserable in its own right.

I so feel your pain! He will survive. My sweet ds fell over the back of the couch that he had climbed up on - at 8 months old, before he could walk - and broke his nose. Then about 2 mo. later he climbed into the kitchen chair and fell out and gave himself a concussion. It was absolutely nothing to come in and find him ON the kitchen counters, all around the time he was learning to walk. We had every childproofing measure known to man and he could simply defeat them. The doorknob covers did keep him in his room but unless I kept him locked up all day - he was climbing. He is a sweet, super-smart, well adjusted 6 yo now who even has a healthy dose of fear in his soul! I was truly terrified of what he would be like he was so unstoppable as a baby. He's still unstoppable, but in a good way.

Id let the instructor know simply because I think 9 is to young to deal with this type of crap. I wouldn't ask her to intervene - just be aware of it and head it off if possible.

I'm so excited! Dh and I are going this weekend. Thanks for all of your input - makes me feel much better about spending the money.

Ah - Used to be in TX - not anymore. We're in GA and moving back to TX, but unfortunately El Paso - which is nowhere near any Ikea. Thanks for the info. I've loved everything I've bought from Ikea and been pretty impressed with the quality. Couches do get beat up more than most things though. I don't want to spend big money because everything gets beat and battered in moves but I don't want something that will fall apart too quickly. KWIM?

We have sold our couch and loveseat and are looking for something cheap, sturdy and I think this is what we've settled on. Any reviews? Good, bad, indifferent? We'll have to drive to Atlanta to get it - shipping is outrageous, so I'd like to be relatively certain before we head that way. TIA!

My answer will not be popular - throw those nasty things out! When the kids were little we read Down, Down the Mountain. The kids in the story grew turnips and took them to town to sell. To go with the story we bought turnips and boiled the heck out of them and mashed them. All the butter and salt in the world didn't make them edible. The girls still remember that......