It's been a little more than a week. Still could be OK depending on your fridge. I would smell it. Any doubt, throw it out.

When we visit my parents, I'll always do grocery shopping for them (and us) while I"m there…so to cover some of the costs. (We're a big family…six) We'll also try and take them out to dinner or something like that. Now that we have GF issues, though, we do bring rice cakes in the car or some GF bars or what not. My Mom is really good, though, about asking for a list of what she should buy before we arrive.

Found this too…. it's a discussion by former Scouts...http://edcforums.com/threads/do-you-think-being-an-eagle-scouts-is-important-later-in-life-a-poll-for-my-son.99917/ I'm not sure what EDCForum is…though…so take that for whatever it's worth. :)

I lost my favorite stuffed animals after moving so many times in college…but my favorite doll has been passed down to DD. My husband saves everything….in original packaging….but has no favorite stuffed animals. He does have these little video games from when he was a kid. (That still work perfectly.)

I've never been asked. If I knew the family, and knew more about the story (how much they'd wanted a child, etc.), I'd probably donate. If I didn't know them or we'd never talked about it or what not, then I probably wouldn't. We have good friends who've gone through years of IVF, and I would totally contribute big bucks to them if they ever wanted to adopt. I think they'd make amazing parents. As an FYI, I found the papers from my adoption and my brother's adoption. Our fees were $5000 back in 1965 and 1968. In today's dollars, that's about $25k. So, while international adoptions are expensive today, it appears that my parents paid a similar fee back in the 60s for a private domestic adoption.

I agree too. But that's also why I think some thought should be done as to what one's project is… can you transfer it into a future internship, even start your own nonprofit, etc. Don't just do it to check a box. Heck, maybe can you use it to rule out a field you're interested in, so that you can focus on something else in college. It does still seem to me like quitting a job before your stock options vest, or quitting the military at 19 years before you get your pension. I'm sorry that's not a popular opinion, but it is what it is. Sure people can have very good reasons for doing so (and I can think of a few I would back for quitting boy scouts), but for the vast majority, I really do think it's better to stick it out and finish. As for Girl Scouts, all of the GS marketing is on people who've ever been a Girl Scout. They were even touting Shirley Temple Black as a former GS when she died. I haven't seen figures regarding former Gold Award winners and what they've accomplished. When I was a GS many moons ago, I don't remember it being stressed like Eagle Scout is in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc. I don't even remember being encouraged to go beyond Junior GSs. I honestly think for careers in corporate America, medicine, or law, it's far more useful for women to learn golf. (Men, too, should learn to play of course). Sexist, perhaps, but that was one of the outcomes of a women in leadership panel I was on. You'd be surprised on what is decided in the foursome, how many events and networking opportunities revolve around golf.) :p (OK…waiting to be blasted for that opinion too.)

Both are really doable. We typically go to New Smyrna Beach on the Atlantic, but you could easily drive to the Gulf. Maybe 2 hours away, give or take, while NSB is about an hour. (Depends on where you're staying, of course. If you're in the Disney area, then you're probably even closer to the Gulf…1-1/2 hours or so.) It's cold though. :) Even though it's 80 degrees, the water is still too cold for swimming for me.

Ouch. That happened to DD when she was only 18 months old. She followed her brothers up a play slide, stood up at the top to get in position, and fell the other way. I was there when it happened and felt awful. The pediatric orthopedist did put a cast on, but I think it had to do with her age…and the fact that she had young siblings as well. Hugs.

Perhaps it was known that this company valued it, I have no idea. But quite frankly, saying you were an Eagle Scout which is nationally known and has national requirements would hold more weight than saying I was Valedictorian at school nobody's ever heard of. Also, if it shows a pattern of leadership, so I was an Eagle Scout, then I was president of my frat or this school club, then I did this. Usually, you'd find it an awards or extra type area (languages, what not). It was not the focus of the CV, but it was there. Similarly, if people attended Phillips Exteter, Groton, Choate, or a similarly well known college prep school, that would show up on a resume whereas a non well known school (boarding or regular) would not make it to the resume. This can also apply regionally to well known college prep schools. Once again, it's a networking thing, it's a nationally-known thing that held weight. For the typical applicant, of course one would ignore one's high school and put university level experience on up. I'll also say that we recruited mainly East coast, so it's not like it was a big LDS area that might index high for Eagle scouts. It was rare to come across one. Once again, it's an opening…and it's a way to bond during an interview, whether or not the interviewer was a boy scout, s/he may have kids involved in Scouting or what not. So that starts the process….starts the humanization….makes me think, "hey, I remember John, he was the Eagle Scout". As for the Girl Scout Gold Award, I never encountered one. I don't think it's as well known or well thought of as the Eagle Scout, although of course, it should be. Better marketing by the BSA I guess. :)

Teach her to poach an egg in the microwave. Place an egg in a glass bowl with water and a bit of vinegar. Pierce the yolk. Now, nuke for about a minute…check…and continue to nuke at 10 second intervals until the white is cooked. She'll eventually figure out a rough time for her microwave. We also love these egg beater mug meals. You can make them with a real egg too. http://www.eggbeaters.com/recipes/microwave-scrambled-egg-recipes My favorite mug brownie recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/microwave-chocolate-mug-brownie-349246 If she likes fish, it's really easy to nuke a salmon fillet or what not in the microwave. Usually takes about 4-5 minutes if frozen.

My Dad dropped out before Eagle Scout. He was an extremely successful physician, but always regretted that to some degree. He's encouraged my boys to go all the way. Did not having it make him less successful? No…but still, it was a regret. I can tell you that as somebody who used to work at a Fortune 50 company, it was something that mattered on job applications. Of course, it wouldn't get anybody the job, but could be the deciding factor in getting the interview, having an opportunity to make an impression, etc. Even with an MBA, experience at other well-known companies, etc., Eagle Scout still mattered. Many of the senior executive men throughout the minor companies were Eagle Scouts, so at least where I worked, it seemed to be part of the "boys club". I truly believe it's worth pushing through the discomfort, if he's so close. Yes, there are lessons to be learned either way, but depending on where he wants to go in his life, it's far more likely to open doors, than close them. I think that could be part of the reason his decision bothers you, because you know it's something he will not be able to go back and change once he ages out. I know it's something we may face in the future, so you have my sympathy.

You should look into competitive intelligence/business intelligence. Look on Linked In for SCIP and follow the boards. It was my pre-SAHM profession, and you would be a good fit with your background. More and more consultants, etc. work remotely.

Honestly, I'd probably do something very simple like looking at different countries/cultures, etc. Nice if you have a connection, so you're Great Grandma came over from France, let's try and find it. Then maybe read Le Petit Prince or Madeline or something. Sing Allouette or Frere Jacque. Have a croissant, etc. Then either continue with Europe, or do something else that interests her or based on a book you've read, etc. I'd also include talking about various holidays, President's day, MLK Jr day, as part of social studies. I'd make sure that she knows her phone number, address, etc. In Waldorf third grade (I think it was third grade), you start by making a map of your room…then your house…then your neighborhood. So you look at the environment where you live. The Evan Moore Daily Geography books are also well liked. They have them for each grade. I don't think it needs to be very formal or even a real curriculum at that stage. Oh…and review the states and capitals so she doesn't lose them.

OK, I saw this linked under another article I was reading. I had no idea that he was ever accused of such a thing, or that he settled. Am I the only one? http://gawker.com/who-wants-to-remember-bill-cosbys-multiple-sex-assaul-1515923178

In a review I read, it says that there is a pronunciation guide in the back of the study guide. Of course, things could have changed. http://cathyduffyreviews.com/history-geography/famous-men-rome-memoria.htm

Try the NashTrash tours. :) http://www.nashtrash.com

Pamela, no matter what your surgeon recommends, please get blood work done at 6 months and yearly intervals. I had very low D and elevated PTH at my 6 month post-op…(I'm now almost 6 years out)… and it's continued to be an issue…even with supplementation. Had I waited to address that until my one year anniversary, I could have already bone loss issues.

DD cut out six hearts and wrote each person in our family's name on them. Now, everybody is writing one nice thing about that person on their heart. I'll probably make pancakes with heart sprinkles in them. A few years ago, I bought a heart shaped mold, but it drove me crazy. Much easier to just add sprinkles.

I saw this on Facebook this morning. :thumbup:

The fact that your relationship is such that your 14 year old was even willing to share this with you shows that you've been a good Mom. I would venture that there's a good portion of 14 year olds who would never bring this up with a parent. Your response was fine. You did a good job. :)

So many people have come to rely on the May OM sale (20% off). Well today on Facebook, the woman who handles OM's Facebook page posted the following Hi, as you know, we are currently running a 15% savings off ALL our curriculum (syllabi, books, craft kits and individual items, resource books, and teacher manuals) as well as all NEW enrollments. For families already enrolled, there will be a special offer on re-enrollments in April. There will be another special offer on curriculum and new enrollments in June. The current discount runs through Feb. 14. A bit of a change from past years, but hoping to give people more entry points to save throughout the year. Hope this helps. Liz So…..no sale in May. Re-enrollment/special offers in april. Then another sale in June. Will it be 20%? Or maybe now they will be 15%.

Ds1 and 2 did really well with Click-n-Read phonics. DD did a combo of Hooked on Phonics Pre-K and Reading Eggs. All are great readers. (NB: We started with the LeapFrog Letter Factory DVDs.)

The thing is that for morbidly obese folks, diets usually don't work long-term. The sleeve helps because it reduces your stomach by 90% or so…takes off the stretch bit…so you actually feel full sooner. A lot of times, people with a sleeve will find that they can finally stick to their WW points, because they finally feel full. Weight loss surgery is his best chance to keep off a significant amount of weight long term. I'm don't mean 100% of his excess weight, but more like 50%. Drugs are considered a success if they can keep off 10% of excess weight for 6 months. Diets for the vast majority don't even come close to meds. When you weigh 300 pounds, losing 20-30 pounds is nice, but you're still obese. He needs to make that decision. The duodenal switch requires more adherence to protein supplementation and vitamin supplements than a sleeve, but has 20 year data on keeping the weight off and diabetes resolution.

I know you've mentioned American School, before Hunter. Do you have a link?

Interesting…I hold my pencil in a strange way as does DS1….in spite of many teachers trying to change us both. So far, the other kids seem to hold theirs the "correct" way.