Well, JFS we must have lived pretty darn close to each other because every summer night in the 70's was spent on our roof in Garden Grove watching the fireworks. Disneyland is where my heart is, but since I now live closer to Disneyworld, I'll be heading there this year 35 years after my last visit. Still excited! Luckily, we have remaining relatives in CA so I have an excuse to head back over there too!

Dd works at Sonic and depends on her tips to pay her car insurance and phone bill. Not sure about other states, but here she makes less than minimum wage.

Yes. TOPS, at this point, only goes by your child's ACT or (SAT) score if they're homeschooled. They must score two points higher than their public schooled peers. Our dd is graduating this year and we've done the same thing as dlcricket, just signed her up for the home study program in her junior year and had her take the ACT test to send in for her senior year renewal. Easy.

Well, since it's not (really) fall yet, I'm hoping by the time September 23rd comes around we'll have some eighty degree weather. That will *definitely* feel like fall to me and perhaps put me in the decorating mood!

Do you have a Bass Pro nearby? This is a good price, not sure if it's nice enough to wear to Target..? http://www.basspro.com/Natural-Reflections-Radiance-Anorak-ParkaStyle-Jackets-for-Ladies/product/10205751/-1648805

A female character in a book I recently read was named Colquitt. My mind wants to say it like "Coal'quit", yet I'm wondering if there is a different regional pronunciation for it, as I've never heard it before. Thanks!

I hate to make assumptions, but that's what my dd's was like before we had hers removed 3 years ago. Sore to the touch, bruised, and raised. Hope it's not coming back :-(

I have not. We're searching for a new church home and the church we visited last Sunday talked about this site. Sorry I don't have more info on it.

This may help: http://www.shorttermmissions.com/?STM=1ffed1a651a87107451afbeefbdfd456

Good!! No more muscle pains? How's your dh feeling? Happy to hear you're better!

BTW, it's also funny you should mention the brown recluse, as the same dd was bitten by one last year (still paying the medical bills on that one)! Here was my post on it: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1787518#post1787518

The doctor gave no diagnosis. The only thing he mentioned was viral menningitis (which scared me half to death), because she also had a terrible headache. He said to take her to the ER if the headaches worsened or if she got a fever or intense neck pain. Looking back, dd believes that the headache may have been caused by the heat and smells of the fast food restaurant she works at, because she is still getting them when the smells get too strong. Her back pain went away after about four days. My husband's pain is still going strong; it's been about a week, and youngest dd is feeling better now after five days.

Wow, Very strange. I had to take my dd to Urgent Care during the week of Christmas because of this. They gave her some muscle relaxants and antibiotics and it eventually went away. This week, my dh and younger dd are complaining about the same thing, upper back/shoulder pain. No red spot, though. How odd!

JFS, I worked at Penny Lane , a vintage (punk, rock-a-billy, mod) clothing shop in downtown Orange, when I was 14. Do you remember that place?

My dh is about to start a website for his business, he'll be offering a Paypal option, but we're unclear how to accept credit card charges. Is there a particular company that offers this that you can recommend? Would dh be billed monthly, or does a percentage come from every charge (or both)? Thanks for any help you can give!

This was back in 2008, though. This candy wouldn't still be around in stores, would it?

Our local Walmart sells Taco Bell brand hot sauce. Mild and hot.

I worked for Liveops. It's not a scam AT ALL. I made decent money. You do have to pay for your own equipment and drug testing, but it's all a tax write-off. If she does work for Liveops, she would have to make sure that the kids are not heard in the background. Phone calls are recorded and complete quiet is a must.

Love the book AND the movie! We named our cat Boo Radley.

Ahhh, maybe we're getting somewhere. I live in Louisiana now.

I've always said, "All of a sudden," but have noticed recently that some people say, "All of the sudden." Perhaps it's a regional thing?

Dd was bit by one 4 weeks ago (we are still dealing with these horrible things in our house). It bit her on the arm while she was sleeping, and woke her up. She said it only felt like an ant bite. No pain at all for 48 hours! We were able to find the spider in her bed and bring it with us. It was confirmed as a brown recluse from the doctor and our pest control folks. Here's what we've had to go through: Mon: Got her into the doctor less than 4 hours after bite. They gave her a steroid shot and told us to come back if it got worse. Thu: Arm completely swelled up. Doctor gave antibiotics and referred us to a hyberbaric chamber specialist. Fri: 2 hours in the hyperbaric chamber. We were told to come back for 14 more treatments everyday for 2 hours (excluding weekends). Sat: Arm swelling completely reduced. Mon-Wed: After the 4th day, doctor says she can stop treatment. Arm looks great. Now: Scar on arm, no pain. Our lives have changed very much. We won't walk around the house without some kind of shoes on. We shake all sheets, clothes, shoes, etc. before using. Sealed up all cracks and crevices leading into our home. Dh checks the entire house every night for spiders; traps everywhere. We're on a regular pest control program now. It's been tough.

Rag - sink Magic Eraser - bathtub/shower Paper Towels - toilet/floors/baseboards

Yes. And without giving away too much, two characters in The Stand have a strong (sometimes very descriptive) sexual relationship.

There are a lot of homeschoolers in the Shreveport area, too.