Another vote for tripadvisor website. Also, there is a bedbug report website somewhere (search for it). We do a lot of bagel sandwiches, etc. when on the road. And we try to find hotels that have free breakfast and maybe enough free snacks at night to call it a meal.

Oh wow, that's what's for lunch -- crock pot m&c and some raw veggies. Here's the recipe: Slightly undercook 12 oz. macaroni or other small pasta. Drain. Heavily butter your 4 quart or so crockpot. Mix in the crockpot: The cooked pasta 1 can (12 oz or so) evaporated milk 3/4 c. milk 1 T olive oil (I'm guessing you can skip this) salt and pepper to taste 3 c. shredded cheese, pick your favorite. Today I used 1 cup pepper jack and 2 c. cheddar. 2.5 to 3.5 hours on low, stirring every half hour or so. It's basic but it works.

I also like I Slap Floor! We bought Novacom a couple of years ago and it sure made that 24 hour road trip go better. It's a bit darker than some other AIO series, so probably for older kids. Our first AIO's were those on the eight red disks in the CD visor pack. Based on mysteries or something like that. It was a nice introduction to AIO. Since it's an older set sometimes we see it on sale for $14 or so. Date with Dad is also good. And they have a set of historical ones where the kids bump into Nathan Hale, visit the Underground Railroad, etc. Actually, can't think of any I don't like!

Great replies with great ideas. When you approach your megachurch, make sure you also ask for some one-time or short-term work that you can do. Can you fill in for the janitor while he takes a vacation? Can you help with filing? Deep clean the nursery? Do something in exchange for them helping you. I agree with PP to stockpile whatever water you can if you really think they'll cut you off. If you have a little bleach (either liquid or a scouring powder like Ajax or Comet that contains dried bleach), clean the tub out first. Fill it up... This only works when you have a tub that can be dedicated to that purpose. In addition to your megachurch, ask every other church in town. Ask those churches that you'd not really consider attending. Maybe you're Baptist or Non-Denominational. Then call the Catholics or Mormons. They're happy to help. Call the city helpline if you have one. It's usually a number like 511 or something. Think of things going on this time of year that might be seasonal work. Are there nearby hotels that need two weeks of maid service? Are there swimming pools that need help cleaning the restrooms, manning the snack bar, testing the pool water, or closing down in a few weeks? Do the schools need any back to school paperwork done? Do they need help inventorying the library or counting textbooks or looking for damage in the books? Testing the PCs before the kids come? Deep cleaning? Call them up and ask. Any landscaping companies feeling the pinch of summer ending that needs some help hauling wheelbarrows full of dirt? Anything you can dream up to help new college students go to college? I'm not sure what that looks like, but maybe you could help a new freshman move into the University. First you'd super-clean the room and then you'd help the new freshman set up his or her room. Car washing? Does your doctor, dentist, etc. need temporary help so that someone else can go on vacation? Can you do some web design? I understand it's easy to learn, but I don't know. Many companies' fiscal years end in August or September and have some bookkeeping to do. Hey, in our town, there are people that make a lot of money poop-scooping rich people's yards! I understand they get paid well. Could you be a diaper service? Could you pick up cloth diapers and return them clean? Could you be a laundry service doing the same? People going on a end of summer vacation might need a pet sitter, lawn mower, house sitter, etc. And, perhaps they are sick of mowing their yards. They provide the mower and gas, you provide the push and sweat. Call around and ask businesses and schools what you can do. Tell them you are in a bind and that you are hardworking and need a four week job (or whatever). Tell them that you are willing to do the job nobody else wants to do, or the job that will help them start the school year of fiscal year. I agree, let the water company know you have little kids.

When she met up with her long lost brother, she discovered he was now the tribe's chief. Not really about her, but they ate dog meat during the trip. So, she probably ate it too. She saved a lot of the equipment that capsized. She died young but the age of her death is disputed. But it was really young.

Nope -- shows lack of self-respect and asks for trouble.

Another vote for asthma, which is not always dramatic gasping. Have her tested please.

Yes, and the good thing is that the holes have NO calories.

I think that would be fine. In fact, I wouldn't have even wondered. I just grab and go. Don't forget that you can call a pharmacist. They answer questions like that all the time and might be able to give you hints like, "If your ears start ringing, cut back on the aspirin."

What I'd do... Go to several popular airlines' websites and find the smallest possible dimensions for carryons and that is your target size. Chances are, even if you have a favorite airline now, there will be a day in your future when you will fly some other airline that is an inch smaller, sigh... Then go to the local cheap-o store like Marshalls, TJMaxx, Bells, Ross, Big Lots, etc. and actually bring your tape measure. Many stores like this have some decent luggage. It doesn't matter if they match or are a brand name. Check all closures, zippers, wheels, pockets, seams, and handles. Are they all easy to use? Do they look durable? We went through this a few months ago and found some decent ones for $40 to $60. Also, you might check the thrift stores, but I am thinking the restrictions on carry on size are too new for there to be many there. AND, there's always the option of borrowing from a neighbor. If you were my neighbor, we'd happily loan you our six carry-ons.

Cost of our co-op: $15 per family per semester, $10 for those who take on substantial volunteer jobs. Financial aid available, just ask. Yes, we've had people have free semesters. We usually quietly ask them to do some sort of job for us if they are not already volunteering. Cost of individual parent-led classes: Usually free. But we've got exceptions. For a few semesters we had a professional art teacher whose kids were grown (so she really didn't need to be there...) and I think we charged $20 per student per semester. A semester is about 11 weeks, give or take, depending on the calendar. Some teen classes require textbooks, such as high school physics or Latin, or a lab fee such as chemistry, so we try to keep these fees down by using first edition books (often you can use more than one edition of a book in a class with little effort), sharing lab equipment, and borrowing things. Whenever we offer a fee class, we make sure there are no-fee options for the same age group available. It might just be a study hall for the teens not doing chemistry, but when we had the art class for elementary aged kids, we had some sort of history or music at the same time that was free, so that the parents didn't feel forced into the art class. We are big on using "recycled" materials so that individual teachers don't strain their budgets with craft materials, etc. For example, if a teacher knows she needs a dozen sheets of blue construction paper, she'll do a Yahoo shout-out a month in advance and usually a dozen sheets (maybe of slightly different colors) will show up. Also, we have a freebie box of kids clothes and used curriculum that anyone can take home. We don't take many field trips but the ones we take are close to home and free or cheap. You know, tours of companies and free museums, etc. Our dues go to scholarships, office materials, and giving the church some money to pay for electricity and toilet paper, etc.

Give the generics a try. Do remember, though, that there are more generic drug companies out there than just one. This means that... 1) If you don't feel good on the first generics you try, call around a few drug stores and ask who supplies their thyroid meds. The sheet that you get from drug store should say "Made by Acme." So you call around and find something made by someone else. 2) If you feel good on generics for a few months or more and then start not feeling well, check the little white info sheet that came with the last prescription. It could be that RiteAid (or whomever you use...) changed from Acme to PharmKing. Then, you need to find a new pharmacy that uses Acme.

Last year our 16 year old refrigerator was starting to act up -- stuff in the back would freeze but if we adjusted the temp, the temperature up front would be too warm. For months, we had to be careful that the lettuce (etc) didn't go too far back and freeze. We kept our eyes open and got the same frig as Phoenix (aka Monica) except in white to match our appliances. It was a scratch and dent with a scratch on each side (easily hidden by kids artwork held up by magnets), a small dent (hard to notice) and a huge ding on the top of the freezer drawer. Nothing hides that, BUT considering we got the unit for half off (so $1200), when I look at that ding, I simply see little dollar signs... A great frig for a relatively low price. Meanwhile, we donated the old frig (it DID still run, tho' a bit flakily) to the rescue mission in town that gives big appliances to those new to town and broke. We explained its idiosyncracies. I hope it's still running a year later (now). I do tend to "lose things" in the back of the freezer and do need to be careful and organized. I think I really liked the side by side design as being more ADHD-friendly. I've even lost a few frig things. Things I like: The alarm can be switched on and off. Lots of neat drawers, shelves, and racks. Well lit. Filtered water in the door. Ice too. Newer refrigerators have thinner insulation so the wall is thinner. More food storage space for the same exterior size. Wipes up well. The things we use most (frig things) are at our level. The rarely used things (frozen food) are down. And I don't like: I've lost some food. The water dispenser is confusing to visitors, so we have to give them the Ice and Water Briefing on their first visit. The ice in the door sometimes sticks if nobody's used ice in the last few days. The ice bin capacity is low. HTH

You'll not miss it. You might actually want to try to sell the instruments, sewing machine, etc. Then donate the other stuff that is not yet trash (of course, trash is trash -- don't bother anyone with looking at it, pricing it, storing it, cleaning it up). I like the idea of taking it to the senior center. Otherwise, Goodwill is fine (or a smaller, local thrift store). Anyway, think of people that actually WANT the serger, guitar, those clothes, those linens, the craft supplies. Items are worthless if nobody is using them (actually they are less than worthless since they require you to dust them, insure them, think about them, move them to get to the drawer under them, look bad sitting out). But items are worth a lot if someone is using them and getting joy from them! Bless someone else with things that are done blessing you! You will NOT regret it. It's so nice to have more closet space, clothes that are not wrinkled due to overcrowding, less time spent digging through stuff, or any sort of guilt of "I should finish..." Kiss it goodbye!

Spoke too soon -- this AM is just as busy as yesterday AM. Sigh... Interesting weight loss plan??????

I never have but in the days before cell phones when I was a SAHM of an infant, DH would kindly call home before he left work to see if I needed anything. He called one day and I figured he'd be pulling in the driveway in the usual 25 minutes. An hour later, he humbly walks in saying he ran out of gas on the interstate exit where the road is banked (he said the banked road pulled gas in the tank away from the intake to the engine...). He had to walk to the nearest gas station and get a gallon. That story is sort of unremarkable except for the fact that he ran out of gas a month later in the exact same place. Now that we have teens learning to drive (and learning when to fuel up), I give that knowing glance to them when Daddy says, "Well, when the fuel light comes on, you can go another 50 miles..." or whatever he says.

Wow, I just went through this and the doctor first thought diverticulitis but that's been disproved via cat scan. So it's now the diagnosis is changed to "just a virus." Maybe there IS a virus that attacks there...

Thank you. I'll go ahead and get those brands... And follow your advice. The doc said diagnosis can take a few days. Thankfully tonight, things have been a bit slower. Still nasty, but less frequent.

I almost want to suggest starting your own hiking, camping, outdoorsy club. I'd discuss with the AHG leaders why you are leaving (too religious, not enough camping). They may not change, but if they hear the message a few times from different deserters, then they will take notice. Are there other AHG troops around? We have three nearby, all with different amounts of the religious aspects... Visit a few Girl Scout troops. I have found that many don't camp (they leave it up to the council to provide summer camp, but that's more a retreat in cabins -- not a lot of knot-tying, fire-building, orienteering, outdoor cooking) but some do. Take a look at the handbooks the troop is using and ask about the upcoming year. Each troop is different.

ER is a good idea. USA staph map:

First, I was floored with the diverticulitis diagnosis because I am not old, not overweight, and like my fiber, though not obsessed with it. When they offered me the appointment with the PA from heck, I declined and decided to head to the urgent care center. I got there at 9 and stayed until 1:30 or so. I talked to a doctor and they took blood. Then, they did a cat scan of my abdomen. I had to drink a half gallon of this dye. It tasted like purple Koolaid but had a bad aftertaste, like some pasty grainy stuff you might feed a geriatric horse. I figured with the dye drink, a 20 oz. Gatorade, and about 20 oz of water, all before 10:30, that I'd be plenty hydrated. But I was still dehydrated and they had a heck of a time starting an IV in me. I had seven pokes, by three people, two of which worked -- one for blood draw and one for IV. The cat scan showed that my intestines are totally fine. No pouches or bulges (aka no diverticulosis, which are the pouches that often develop in older folks). They are suspecting C-diff. I took Flagyl and Cipro. And last month I had an ear infection (isn't that something kids are supposed to have, not moms???) and took Biaxin. I have to wait until tomorrow for the dye to clear out cause it could skew the wonderful test (stool sample) I have to take. What caused the original twinges, pinches and then fever and nausea. He's saying, "virus..." I'll have better answers by Monday as it takes a while for the samples to be run through the lab. So, on one hand, I'm glad I don't have to watch my diet like a hawk (but it was a good wake up call to ramp up a little...) and that I don't have diverticulitis. On the other hand, the runs have not improved since they suddenly started on Sunday. Whatever... Lost about 8 pounds during all this.

Could be tonsil stones and coincidentally a virus causing a fever.

No, I don't have a smart phone. In fact, the dinosaur of a cell phone I carry for emergencies (and for my youngest to beg "Moooooommmmmmmm, can I use the computer while you are at the grocery store?????"), is pretty stupid. Downright dumb.

Thanks for all the replies. I tried to get an appt with my usual doctor, but she's on vacation this week (is she REALLY allowed to take a vacation when I, her favorite patient, is not well???). They tried to put me in today with the PA that floats office to office but I encountered this lady once before and don't want to go to her. I do plan on taking this seriously. The episode I went through was mild as it was outpatient, nonsurgical, etc. But it was NO fun at all (remains no fun). I realize that I need to be proactive. Being not yet fifty, I've not yet had The Scope but I know it's in my near future. I'm going to buy really soft TP for that. The flights home went okay though I experienced about 10 flushing experiences between the start and end of it.

We are walking distance to the Waldo Canyon fire damage. I'm sure it looks very similar to the High Park damage. For those who are trying to understand how these wild fires rip through a subdivision, Denver Post has an interesting before-and-after comparison of Mountain Shadows: http://www.denverpost.com/wildfires/ci_20962928 To me, this is a good visual to illustrate to those who are not here what the destruction is like. One moment a beautiful big house is there, the next, the moment, the house is gone.