ONLY if you have special software installed on both your laptop (or desktop) and the "watcher" computer. And of course you have to have a webcam. As I understand it these computers are owned by the school who of course have the right to install any software they choose.....BUT, the line that I see they crossed was in turning on that software and taking photos (nude or otherwise) without the students knowledge. As for whether it's on YOUR COmputer....chances are slim, but never absolute. A virus or trojan that you inadvertently allowed in could theorectically load such software. It's not common that's for sure, though so I wouldn't panic about it. But...if your webcam is one that has a light or indicator to show it's on....and you feel it's lit when it shouldn't be....I would get a professional to check your computer for payloads. But...I wouldn't really panic about it unless strange things seem to be handling. Of course, had these children NOT had the laptop in their bedroom, or left them running when not being used, the photos would only have been with them sitting at the computer, instead of other parts of the room which normally would have been blocked by a person sitting in front of the camera. But....had they been aware.........

Just be sure to check coverage for your area....we tried this company but weren't pleased with the coverage. It showed "good" or "best" for our entire region, but the reality was that "good" wasn't. Moving from room to room in my own house we'd have dropped calls. I'd never want this to be a phone my child had for emergencies...what if the street they were on was only "good" coverage and they couldn't get through to me. We cancelled because they have no plans to upgrade in our area (a major city) in the immediate future, they are concentrating on getting at least "good" coverage in all of the US before they upgrade to "best". Midwest and east coast have the best coverage, but west coast/southwest is spotty at best. We now have the phone and plan from Walmart (straighttalk.com). No dropped calls, and it was cheaper than the landline we replaced. They have two plans, $30 for 1000 minutes/texts and some internet...$45 for unlimited. The $30 plan is more than enough for us.

See, and I think that makes it a crime in my book. Child p*rn...it's illegal to view photos of n@ked children online, and isn't that what they were doing? How is this viewing any different from the security cameras that were in the dressing rooms at stores? or the holes drilled in the wall at the fitness center women's locker room? I can't quite buy the "we did it so we could see who stole it".....first if that's the case, why would TEACHERS be viewing the photos (of course, I guess actually first is since it wasn't stolen why is the camera on in the first place), but only admin or security folks should then be viewing to see if they can identify the thief. Not that I agree that is ok either, but if it's not stolen there shouldn't be any photos, and if it is stolen certainly it shouldn't be something that teachers see and share comments about. And yeah, sadly I agree with others, the teacher's union will find someway to either prevent firing, or drag it out for years and years of paid leave while it winds its way through the legal system. If it were MY kid, I'd have called the police first and asked for s*x charges against ANYONE who viewed the photos.

Fix a little marinade to soak it in for a few hours (or overnight). I don't measure because it's a marinade....but I like to use some kind of citrus (lemon juice, orange juice, lime juice) as the base....add a splash of soy sauce.....a little vinegar (basalmic if you have it, but regular is fine too)....and then spices....garlic, ginger, rosemary, sage, some diced onions. After it has sat in the marinade a while, broil the fish, boil the marinade for several minutes at a full rolling boiling. Server over a plate of wild rice with a little spooned marinade.

wow...and then they called the parents accusing the kid of using drugs when he was eating candy! Makes you wonder how many years it's been going on, but perhaps this was the first time they THOUGHT they saw something serious. And............Hmmmm, let's think about this....it took pictures of him eating, sleeping....but what comes between those two activities....undressing to put on pajamas? Yeah, lawsuit time big time. No one, and I mean no one, has the right to videotape/photograph you in your own home without permission.

Yes, we did this twice, both times as part of "Homeschooling Days". I think it was $25 per kid per class, but it was several hours long and very well done. We did one at EPCOT where we went through the Land, we got behind the scenes to the point that we were in the gardens that you just see when you're in the ride. They also got to go into the backstage area (or actually the underwater area) of the Dolphins. We didn't get to pet the dolphins because they were doing training, but apparently that is sometimes an option. I can't remember all the other little things we did, but we definitely got to know The Land a lot better than we did as regular guests. Same thing the next year when we did Animal Kingdom....behind the scenes in many of the animal habitats and a lot of great information about the animals and the programs at Disney (which by the way is in the top worldwide for their animal program, something I hadn't even considered, let alone knew, lol). The kids got booklets at each event to fill out as they went along or to do on their own (which is what we opted to do). And special pins. We didn't make it to the one at Magic Kingdom, but I sure wish we had because it was about the physics of roller coasters and as with the others, lots of backstage time. Part of the price typically includes admission to the park, but if you already have that as a package or an Annual Pass you can buy just the class....or at least we did. Have fun!

I asked for a Vitamix for Christmas and ended up with two, lol. One is still in the box, but the other is used probably 4x or more a week. Started out with just smoothies, but now I do so many different things with it that I can't imagine how I got along without one for decades, lol. Honestly, I've never heard anyone complain about their Vita-mix, and I've been listening for years wishing for one of my own. The ONLY complaint is from people who say they don't use it much....and after learning all mine can do I have to think that they were simply uneducated! Hey...I've got one brand new in a box if you're interested in buying it, lol.

I'm all for encouraging, even pushing kids when it comes to eating healthy but I totally believe that should be the PARENTS duty...not the school. A better idea would be to educate the parents on how to feed their children, and themselves healthy.....you know that kid that misses Oreos is going home and gourging on them because they're forbidden! Changing one meal is going to make only a small difference if at home they eat the junk they were denied, but I also wonder how stressed out some kids are as they open their lunch sack worried that the teacher is going to snatch it away and give them peanut butter instead! (and gee, whatever happened to no pb in schools because of allergies?). And while white flour tortillas aren't perfect, the beans and cheese inside make up for it, and the PB and HONEY that they substitute has a lot more sugar and won't sustain the child nearly as long as the proteins of the beans and cheese. And unless the child has weight issues, the white tortilla shouldn't be an issue when the rest of the meal is good. Where do you draw the line? What about those (like me) that don't like PB....I'd go hungry rather than eat it. That certainly isn't healthy for a young child. I think the desire for the kids to eat better is wonderful....but the delivery is wrong. Just wrong. Oh well, reason #456,876,789,125,973 that I homeschool, lol. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/04/14/20100414arizona-school-bans-processed-food-for-kids.html TUCSON - As her second-grade students take out their lunches, teacher Leticia Moreno quickly spots two with forbidden food - a burrito and quesadilla made with white flour tortillas. "I will get them peanut butter and honey on whole wheat," Moreno says, taking away the offending meals. Moreno is a teacher at the Children's Success Academy, a 10-year-old school on Tucson's south side for children in kindergarten through the fifth grade. The school is unique for its food rules - it bans not only white flour, but refined sugar and anything it defines as processed food. "It has to say 100 percent juice. If it just says natural,' that's not allowed," 8-year-old third-grader Jacob Price says as he bites into an apple. "I wish we could bring more kinds of food. I like Oreos." But Oreos will never blight the Children's Success Academy as long as school director and founder Nanci Aiken is in charge. Aiken, a scientist who holds a doctorate in cell physiology and once worked as a cancer researcher at the Arizona Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins Medical School, is an unabashed food cop. "I feel like the Wicked Witch of the West a lot of times, but it makes such a big difference," says Aiken, who is also president of the governing board for Tucson's El Rio Community Health Center - Arizona's oldest and largest community health center. "When you eat sugar, especially by itself like a candy bar, you get a rush and crash. An apple will not give you instant gratification or a rush, but it lasts longer," Aiken says. "An apple and a piece of cheese is ideal - your blood sugar will go up gradually and then will go down gradually over a period of hours." The rules seem drastic to many parents sending their children to the school for the first time. Since the school has no cafeteria, all students must bring their own lunch. "It is challenging mainly because in grocery stores it's so hard to find anything without sugar. When you look at the label, so many things aren't allowed," says Breanna Chacon, 30, who has two children at the school. "It really does make a difference. It balances them out," says teaching assistant Isabelle Medeiros as she confiscates a student's packaged Ritz crackers and cheese spread. "I will send this home with a note, explaining why it isn't allowed." The school's emergency food supply of "yes" foods like peanut butter and honey is provided through donations and fundraisers. Among the "no" foods: flavored yogurt, canned fruit, American cheese, processed meats, white bread, peanut butter made with sugar, and virtually all packaged crackers except Triscuits, because they are baked with whole grain. Not everyone supports such extreme food rules - especially if they extend to the home. "There are all kinds of emotional and behavioral problems that can happen if you tell a child to never, ever eat a cookie. They may do just the opposite once they are at a rebellious stage," says registered dietitian Nancy Rogers, coordinator of the Worksite Wellness Program for the University of Arizona's UA Life & Work Connections. "Food is in such abundance here. It's not like living on an island where you are never going to see an Oreo. You want to train kids to make good choices to keep their bodies healthy." Rogers recommends moderation. Sugar is not bad in small amounts, she notes. It's a carbohydrate that is burned for energy. "The studies don't substantiate that additives or preservatives would cause behavioral problems in children. However, there is anecdotal evidence," Rogers says of Aiken's approach. "If the parents are wanting to try it, there's no harm in that." Aiken does not relent. Not for Halloween nor Valentine's Day. Not even birthdays. "I always say no. It makes them think and be more creative," Aiken says. "You don't need a cake. They can have nuts, or fruit." If all U.S. families followed her school's food rules, Aiken believes, childhood obesity would be a rare problem. "There is also the physical activity aspect to consider," she says. "However, it is much more difficult to become obese by overeating fruits and veggies." Preventing obesity is only one reason behind Aiken's rules. Overall health is the key factor - particularly for children who, like many of her students, have behavior problems. Andreina Barrios, 6, often brings plain unflavored Fritos corn chips, which are a "yes" food because it's a whole-grain food. One recent lunch included scrambled eggs wrapped in a whole-wheat tortilla, as well as water and tomato juice. Her classmate, 5-year-old Luz Michel, brought whole-wheat noodles, plain chips, juice and sliced peaches. "We are what we eat. It's true," Aiken says. "If you buy a new car you aren't going to put sand in the gas tank. Why would you want to do that to your body?"

No problem here, but if they do close one day a week, then I'd like to NOT see a price increase next year, lol. Dreaming. :grouphug: Hope the distraction works.

And I'd include a pamphlet about autisim to educate him on the condition so that in the future he knows what he's talking about. There is a huge gap between speech delays/problems and autism. I'm sorry you're going through this, it does sound so sad since he was a great grandpa when you were younger....most times this description comes from people who include "he's always been this way". Perhaps you could try to have a private uninterrupted conversation with grandma to find out if there is a particular reason that he's changed his attitude towards you. It can't just be homeschooling, or at least I hope not! And perhaps if grandma knew how sad it makes you that your child isn't getting to see the same love and affection from grandpa, maybe she'll put a bug in his ear. Sometimes grandmas tend to look past the bad habits in their spouses because they've lived with it for so long, until they have their eyes opened that it's hurting someone they love, like you. If not, then yes, best to keep your distance so that your memories of him will be positive after he's gone and not about his latest rude uneducated comment. For various reason we have little or nothing to do with my inlaws (my folks are gone)...so effectively my kids have no grandparents....or at least not blood grandparents. They have a whole host of older adults that love and adore them (and spoil) just like grandparents are supposed to....but I did have to cultivate that, but I did it because, like you, I have vivid wonderful memories of times with my grandparents and I wanted that for my kids....whether blood or heart. Maybe you can look into developing the same....we found many of our grandparents from visiting retirement centers (not convalscent because we wanted healthy grandparents, lol). We went with our support group to put on little shows for them (think talent show or show & tell, not heavily rehearsed, just each child having the chance to take center stage and do their thing, recite poety, read a book for beginner readers, sing, dance, play an instrument, etc). That led to more time, doing crafts together, etc etc and well, some just grew on us or us on them. Even though we move often, we've kept in touch with quite a few, even visiting them, or having them as guests, over holidays and such. Every new station we seek out retirement areas to make new friends.

I hadn't thought that far ahead....but you're right.....if they truly fire teachers for failing student grades, than half the schools would likely be closed down for lack of teachers, lol. If they really want to see who the good teachers are and who the bad ones are, then maybe those overpaid school board folks ought to "drop in" and monitor a class at random. Even though I'm a very strong advocate for homeschooling for MY family, I'm not a teacher basher. I know some really great teachers....and I know some mediocre teachers. I hung out in a teacher friend's class once....and it really was awful! She was very disorganized, didn't have copies made for the lesson (so I had to run down and make them for her since she couldn't leave the class alone....always wondered what does she do if no other adult is there, but I digress), she didn't have enough stuff planned for the class period, so the kids finished early and then had "free time" to do whatever they wanted, including talking on their phones and being very noisy...felt sorry for the class next door. And she actually thought the class had gone well because she didn't give anyone detention! Love her, hate her as a teacher...and yeah, she should be let go. But I also know many wonderful teachers who are well prepared, have extra ideas at the ready in case class goes quicker than expected, and really draws out the students, not just the eager ones with their hands up, but knows their students strengths and weaknesses and works to push them to excel. And yet, several of them are now "subs" because layoffs hit them....usually because of senority. THEY should be in the classroom and the inadequate ones, like my friend, should be the subs. But...until the powers that be decide to actually rate each teacher on his or her merits instead of the easy-way-out system they have now, we will continue to have lousy teachers in the classroom and great teachers substituting or having moved into other fields because of the poor pay, lack of job security, etc. Evaluations need to be done by someone other than principals who have forged friendships with the teachers or are too close to see reality. Preaching to the choir here, since many homeschoolers took their students out of school because of the poor classroom experience. Those of you who teach in the classrooms (or are married to teachers), my heart goes out to you for all the turmoil you are in for the foreseeable future. But I also thank you for your service to the students whose parents weren't able or willing to homeschool, lol. Keep up the good work, those are my childrens' future employees you're training, lol.

Hee hee, I did suggest that.....now put down your mouse and pay attention. :lol::grouphug:

This has always sounded to me like rehashed "no child left behind" only now they're laying the blame on the teachers....which will only result in them "teaching to the test" even more so. I totally agree with you that teachers can't be held responsible for a child's lack of desire to learn. Frankly, I think the first teacher to be fired under this will probably not make it off the school property before a dozen lawyers will be offering to defend them. And rightly so. I would suggest that with that probablity in mind that your husband (and all public teachers) keep very very good lesson plans, copies of students work, maybe even a daily diary of what students slept through class, texted, gazed out the window or giggled with friends. And start keeping track in that same diary of all the extraordinary things the teacher did to keep the kids interested and encourage them to WANT to learn. A major part of the defense is going to be to prove that the teacher did everything possible to teach the kids and placing the blame right back on the shoulders of the students, who are the ONLY ones who can improve and only if they choose. I'd like to see some of the administrators let go.....and replaced by counselors who CARE about the kids and will do more than be the bearer of bad news and threaten the kids. I remember both my high school counselors, they were pretty close to being friends (but of course no student will admit to friendships with teachers, lol). They spent a lot of time at lunch and breaks out and about talking to kids, taking an interest in them....and it wasn't unusal to be called out of class into their office if they'd heard a rumor that you were having a really bad day. It wasn't to solve the problem, but to let you know that they knew about it, and wanted to help if you wanted their help...and LOTS of us took them up.

Ok, I have a question about this....there have been several threads on this board, and on others, about the dangers of eating foods from cans. I haven't reacted much because, well, we love tomato based products so we have to use canned tomatoes because my gardening skills are zilch and fresh tomatoes are too expensive most of the year and my canning skills are only slightly higher than my gardening, like maybe non-existant instead of zilch, lol. We don't use much other foods in cans, as I hate the taste of veggies from cans and will resort to frozen if fresh aren't available but never cans. So....is buying ORGANIC tomatoes in cans somehow ok? I thought it was something the CANS were doing, not the tomatoes? These are also about twice the cost of the tomatoes (non-organic) that we use, so I'm wondering if that's really necessary if the can is going to make them bad for you anyway? And, I was reading an article online that talked about which organics to buy and which to pass up and tomatoes was on the pass up. It only talked about certain foods absorbing the pesticides and others not.....apples I recall was one that they recommended buying organic, but tomatoes not necessary. I would think that the skin of tomato would be just as thin as that of an apple wouldn't it? We eat the skin on both.

Well, if you read the "standards" and other information on most any school district's website you'll find that it SOUNDS wonderful on paper (errr..screen?). But....the proof is in the pudding. Before you make any decisions I would suggest that you ask to sit in on a day or two of classes to see what is the reality of a school day and how those wonderful programs actually work. Kinda like reading TWTM and getting a picture in your head about how wonderfully educational and classical and wonderful a school day will be if you follow TWTM....and then actually implenting it and finding out that it's still great, but not quite what you imagined. I think I finally started calming myself from thinking I was a failure after reading Susan's articles and posts about how HER typical days were nothing like the book makes it out, lol. And to answer your question....yep, I've been inside public schools checking things out on a number of occasions.....and always come away with the idea that our worst day homeschooling is still better than their "normal" days....and I always had the impression that the teachers are showing off to some extent, so I always wish I could be invisible and sit in, lol. In my opinion....school districts can talk the talk, but not walk the walk. If they could, then the schools would be a much better place.

I agree that Dad's can be just as involved as moms....and maybe in this particular family Dad is more interested in the sport than mom is....I know in my family there are several activities that the kids are involved in that I just don't go to the meetings and such because I have no interest. Thankfully, Dad does, so he goes...and for a couple of the things it was Dad who already had an interest and the kids came along with him and now they have an interest too. I have had to take the kids a few times over the years when Dad is out of town....and my lack of interest is clear to see...I have no clue what they're doing or how to respond other than to say "that's nice dear" type of thing. Of course, the times that Dad has had to take the kids to dance class or something that he is clueless about, I'm sure his experience was similiar, lol. SO, in OP's situation, it could be that Mom has zero interest in gymnastics but Dad is interested and knowledgeable so he goes with daughter. Nothing wrong with that. And if it were a Mom taking pictures, making comments, knowing all the names, we'd probably not think twice about it (or we'd be whining about how this Mom gets in the way or thinks she's in charge, etc, lol). But...in OP's case she is feeling decidedly uncomfortable about that Dad....that alone is all I would ever need to say no to sleepovers and play dates.

Congratulations!!

The things you described and the way it obviously makes you feel about this guy....no way would I allow a sleepover, AND I also would not allow a playdate that I wasn't attending. He's probably fine....but if your gut is talking to you, you need to listen. It's there for a reason.

I totally understand your frustration....but remember, they have to look at the issue from both sides, seller and buyer. YOU know that the seller is at fault, but they have to give both sides the benefit of the doubt. While the post office has improved their delivery times for media mail over what it was a few years ago, they have always kept the policy that media mail can take 4-6 weeks. Half.com's Buyer Protection program sayd they have to wait 30 days after your claim to give it time to arrive. I copied the below from half.com's FAQs (the RED highlight is mine). I just read on another forum a case where a buyer was abusive to the seller, sending multiple emails each day for over a week because their item hadn't yet arrived, but the seller apparently provided a delivery confirmation number proving it had been sent, but the post office hasn't delivered yet. Others on that thread have said they have had similiar abuse from buyers so I guess some sellers may ignore emails in that fear. Personally, though I would think you'd at least answer one reminding the buyer to be patient for media mail to arrive. Subsequent ones, especially abusive ones, I could understand ignoring (and obviously I'm NOT saying OP was abusive, just trying to grasp why a seller might not respond). Others are saying that book dealers never respond because they have such a high volume they just can't keep up. I can't say I find that ok, but what do you do? I know I've bought things from a seller and gone to look at the rest of their listings only to find it's tens of thousands of items, so I can imagine the volume of email they get....not that it's a valid excuse to me, but many people run their business differently from how I do...communication is the cornerstone of good business in my book. Anyway...I wanted to be sure that you realized that the delay does not mean they didn't receive your claim or are ignoring you like the seller did....but that they are waiting to be sure that it doesn't just arrive later than expected. What are the Guidelines for the Buyer Protection Policy? When you order on Half.com, we provide an estimated arrival date for each item in your order. The vast majority of the items you order will arrive within that timeframe. In rare instances, items will take somewhat longer to arrive due to shipping carrier delays and other factors beyond the seller's control. Because of this, we encourage buyers to contact their seller through the Half.com Email Forwarding System. Most issues can be resolved amicably via email between buyer and seller. A Buyer Protection Claim cannot be filed until the seller has been contacted at least once via the Email Forwarding System. The "Contact Seller" button should be visible as soon as a buyer places an order. The "File Claim" button should be visible 2 working days after the "Contact Seller" button has been used. Buyers may file a claim for "not received" after the estimated arrival date has passed. Buyers have a maximum of 60 days from the date of the order to file a Buyer Protection Claim. **Note: the "Contact Seller" button must have been used first allowing for 48 business hours to have passed so that a claim can be filed by the 60th day. Buyers are limited to filing one Buyer Protection Claim per month with a lifetime maximum of three Buyer Protection Claims. There is a $750 per item limit on the Buyer Protection Policy. However, there are situations that need to be investigated further even though the monthly or lifetime limit is already reached. For this reason we will review each claim on a case by case basis. Claims for "not received" may not be reviewed until 30 days from the order date to allow the item ample time to arrive. A claim may take over 30 days to fully investigate and come to a complete resolution. Please note that an investigation does not guarantee that a refund will be issued for the transaction. We reserve the right to change this policy at any time. You may not contact the seller or submit a Buyer Protection Policy Claim to Half.com if you have instructed your credit card company to charge back the disputed item. Buyers who go through their credit card company to dispute a charge may lose their privilege to buy or sell on Half.com. Buyers may not file a Buyer Protection Claim on any purchase where the seller had a feedback score of -1 or less at the time of the purchase.

It sounds like your grandmother dearly loved her children/grandchildren to have made arrangements for a dinner party after her death. I think therefore that grandma would understand, appreciate and approve of you being there for your child (her grandchild after all) on his special day. I'm sorry for your loss and this added heartache.....it's never easy when you want to do "what's right" but there are two rights and you can't do both! Grandma will smile down on your son's birthday and agree that you made the right choice to make memories with him that will last his lifetime....and take a moment on his day to have a cup of tea and remember HER and all the memories she obviously created for you and your family. Happy birthday wishes to your son. EDITED TO ADD: Ooops....should have read the whole thread before answering....I'm glad it all worked out for you. Grandma's work in mysterious ways, lol.

If you leave in less than a week, I would NOT recommend buying a new shoe. You are going to be doing a lot of walking and you need shoes that are already broken in, or you'll be in a world of hurt! I wouldn't worry about fashion (I know for some that is unthinkable, and while I sympathize, I ask you to think whether blisters and other sore spots.....or limping from the pain....will be the fashion statement you wish to make, lol). Wear the most comfortable shoe you have in your closet already......go and have fun without pain. That's a fashion statement!

I mash up avocado and use it on sandwiches in place of mayo. Especially wonderful mixed up with tuna and put on toasted bread. Also love it the way many others have said...just eaten.....in guac.....sliced on sandwiches.....cubed in a salad......

Sounds like you're talking about Ginger Dressing. Some restaurants add ketchup to the typical ginger dressing recipe to give it that odd orange appearance. You might check Recipezaar.com or allrecipes.com for ginger dressing and then find one that includes ketchup. True asian ginger dressing would not have it though. Edited to add: The reason some places add the ketchup is for extra sweetness and bulk. Makes the normal recipe go much further and is more to the American flavor. Edited again, lol: I found this recipe for you: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Famous-Japanese-Restaurant-Style-Salad-Dressing/Detail.aspx

My kids, thank heavens, are very UNpicky eaters....yes they have strong preferences, but we let them know early in their lives that this is what is for dinner, eat it or go hungry....there's another meal in a few hours or in the morning. I do think that a lot of picky eaters are made....but I also think there are some kids who just have the personality that they'll starve rather than eat the green beans and mean it, lol. I can only base this on watching my friends with their picky eaters.....rather than insisting they try something new or at least be a little more flexible, they seem to cave into their children's demands.....and I'm not talking just on food so it's not a food issue/allergy that I'm not aware of, lol. I see it more and more and believe it's developing a lot of very picky people who believe they are entitled to their demands...about everthing in life. My husband has some of those tendecies himself.....but we've been married long enough that a particluar look from me kills that off, lol. Maybe my kids just learned early on about the look and never tested it, lol. I actually feel sorry for these picky people because they always seem so unhappy when their needs can't be accomodated.....being flexible and going with the flow is not being wimpy (like one mom who told me she wanted her kids to stand up for exactly what they wanted, even what kind of bread, rather than be a wimp!!). It's accepting life as a varying adventure to be marveled at and enjoyed, not whipped into compliance with your comfort zone, lol. I know the joys that these people will never experience because they aren't open to them. I have one child that would turn cartwheels if I ever told her no more vegetables ever....but she eats them. Some days when she's feeling particularly sassy her chewing is with a grimace on her face as though she's eat live worms, but that's her personality. She's probably "gone hungry" the most but she's survived it all. I don't particularly like crusts either (we save them and make croutons) nor do I like cold bread (but 5-10 seconds in a microwave is long enough for bread to warm up). Of course, as an adult I'm aware of the social graces that say you don't complain at someone else's home about minor things like this (though I also typically volunteer to help so my bread gets nuked, lol). A child without a parent around to guide probably either won't remember this rule or hasn't learned it yet, and is reacting like they would at home "Mom you know I don't like heels or cold bread". I probably would have just offered to warm up the bread and moved on....the Mom did warn you after all, lol. But...I'd also probably not bother to invite this particular child to stay again....unless I was serving PB&J on warm bread. At our house 50% of the invite is to partake of our food...the other 50% is companionship of course....but I really like full participation, lol. I would NEVER take it personally though, as I doubt the child (or even an adult) is trying to insult you or drive you insane with their food requirements. But around here they'd be killing off their future invites, lol. So...anyone wanna come over for dinner, we've having live worms on warm bread. No fish, sorry.

I haven't ever had an issue with half.com....but I believe that they are owned by ebay so chances are their claim process will work the same...and I've had several issues with ebay. So assuming that ebay/half.com work the same: Now that your claim has been filed, and escalated because the seller didn't respond, if it's the same as ebay then someone will review your case and attempt to contact the Seller. Ebay/Paypal require that the Seller provide proof of mailing of your package....failure to have that proof means they'll lose the claim. But, if they have proof from the post office that they mailed it, YOU will likely lose the claim. If that happens, your remaining option to receive a refund is to contact your credit card company. I've had to do this several times over the years (not just through ebay or paypal, but other merchants as well). My credit card company will remove the charge from my balance immediately, marking it "pending" so that I don't have to pay it, nor will it incur finance charges or late fees or whatever. Then they will contact the merchant to learn their side of the story, but unlike ebay/paypal if it comes down to a "he said she said" I ALWAYS have won. In other words, my credit card company believes me when I say it never arrived, and they hold the merchant responsible for getting the package safely to ME. Not to the post office which is ebay/paypal's policy, that the Seller is simply required to prove that they gave it to the post office. After that ebay/paypal considers it a problem with the post office....and while I'll agree the post office isn't perfect, far from it......there is little that a buyer can do at that point, because the post office won't even conduct a trace unless initiated by the seller...so the buyer is dead in the water. All that said....remember that if it was being sent media mail it CAN take 4-6 weeks to arrive. Media mail is the lowest delivery priority, and the lower the delivery priority the better the chance that it doesn't make it on a truck or plane today. Since that is based on the volume of each post office not the state, that could account for your other package from the same state arriving but this one not. I've had cases where my large order was put in two boxes and the two boxes from the same company mailed at the same time arrive a week apart. One box made it on the truck or plane, the other did not. If the next day that same exit point has a large volume of non-media mail it can sit there again...and again. It is worrisome that the Seller doesn't respond to 5 emails....but sadly that seems to be common even with "good" Sellers.....they ignore emails for whatever reason. Seems silly to me given that it makes buyers feel they aren't a good seller, I would want to assure my buyer that I did mail it and remind them to be patient since it was sent media. But it's amazing how many stories like yours get posted and everyone thinking "oh poor lady she's never gonna see her books" only to have the OP post in a week or two that it finally arrived. I'll hope that is your case as well!