Oh my goodness.

I so agree with the bold. I was really hoping that the subscription idea would tank and they would go back to the standalone software but I don't think that's going to happen.

ETA: You can buy Photoshop Elements as a stand alone software (Costco sells it), but not the regular Photoshop. Elements is fine for someone who's not doing photography, serious editing, or graphic design as a profession.

It depends on how creative you want to be with your photos. I've been using Photoshop forever (I think I started around 1994), and now use CS6 because I'm back in college for Web Development. In Elements, you can use layers. Think: multiple sheets of transparent papers on top of an image, say a photo of your dog at the dog park with other dogs. If there's a pile of poo in the photo, you can add a layer to remove the poo. If want to highlight your dog, add a new layer to make the image black and white except for your dog who's in color. Just keep adding layers for each type of change. Your original image is still intact on the bottom. You can see layers or hide them so that you can analyze your changes and make sure they are what you want in the final image. You can move layers from one level to the next or delete them if you want. It's great for trying out different ideas and being creative. It looks like Elements has added the ability to process RAW files (I think). From what I've read, Lightroom doesn't have that feature. I have never used Lightroom but for me, that would be a deal breaker because I really like the creative aspect. However, Lightroom is good for dealing with large quantities of photos where you're not doing advanced editing. Think: wedding photography. The photo organizing library is superior and it's easier to learn initially. It will get you through your backlog of photos quicker and you can do some of the things that I described but they won't be in layers. So, you would do all your edits in one layer. If, after several changes, you decide you don't like how it looks, you have to undo, undo, undo. Again, not a big deal unless you want to be creative. Either way, take the time to really learn the software (YouTube and Adobe.com are your friends here). Also, it looks like you can do a free trial of each from Adobe so you can try them both out. There are so many cool things you can do! I hope this helps! (Here's one link I found: Improve Photography)

I'm having an allergic reaction, I feel horrible, and it's my own fault. (It's not anaphylaxis so I'm not in danger. Symptoms are congestion, migraine, nausea, general malaise.) Back story: I'm on medication for something else and have been taking it for years. My mail order pharmacy changed manufacturers so now there's corn starch. I have a corn allergy. I took this medication for a week! I thought I was coming down with a cold because those were the symptoms initially and my son is mildly sick with a cold. Every day, the symptoms got worse. This morning I woke up thinking I must have a sinus infection but then I started wondering about this medication. Looked it up, called the pharmacy and sure enough, that's what it is. Why did I not think of this a week ago?! Ugh. I'm fortunate that my allergy hasn't put me in the hospital but there are so many people out there who live with this danger every day. If you have allergies or are caring for someone who has does, how do you constantly stay vigilant?

Sorry, I have no advice but I suffered through the same thing with my very attached, non-sleeper dd. For what it's worth, she's a very independent teenager who loves to sleep now! Hang in there. :)

We just got smartphones. We had to switch from very pricey Verizon to T-Mobile in order to do it, though. T-Mobile is buying out one of the contracts and our plan includes unlimited talk, text, and data, although the data goes to a slower speed after a certain amount. So far so good with coverage and I love my Samsung Galaxy. We got a deal on the phones at Costco when they were having a promotion a few weeks ago.

Thank you! I really needed an alternative to pricey spa peels. I ordered my 20% last night!

I agree that it really depends on the type of surgery. I had back surgery in Feb of this year after dealing with on and off back pain for 18 years and trying everything. I had a laminotomy (not laminectomy) and have no hardware in my back. The pain was unbelievable the first couple days after surgery but the doctor told me to expect that and gave appropriate pain medication. It was still really painful. The pain gradually receded but I had MAJOR restrictions. No bending over at ALL for 6 weeks (no loading the dishwasher, my kids put my socks & shoes on, etc) and many other restrictions for the first 3 months (I hired a cleaning person to do deep cleaning, I didn't lift anything, etc). I started physical therapy at 6 weeks post-op and that helped a lot with the residual numbness & pain. I still need to be very careful about how I bend over or pick things up because I'm high risk for re-herniation. Hope this helps.

Holy cats! :svengo:

The big sewing pattern companies used to have a blurb on their patterns that you could not use the pattern to make items for sale. I don't know if they still do. In my opinion (quite a bit of research, but not a lawyer), this is not something that's enforceable under current US copyright laws. When a pattern is copyrighted, it's the written words, diagrams, photographs, etc., that are copyrighted, not the finished garment, bag, scarf, whatever. Many pattern makers do not understand this & just write their own unenforceable blurb.

I initially thought about this as a date night but then realized the kids would probably like it also. We have difficulty "coloring inside the lines" as a family. :)

We bought a show package at our local performing arts center for dd's birthday so I get advanced notifications. The "cheap" seats are $30 but that's where we always sit. My dd says it's better to sit farther back & see the shows then to not see them at all, so that's what we do! She's really into theater & choir but my ds isn't. I wondered if it would be a fun family thing to do. From what everyone is saying, it sounds like it is!

Has anyone seen this show? I have the opportunity to buy "cheap" seats for the family. Is it worth the price? Would teens like the show? Opinions, please!

:grouphug:

Maybe you could do something with grommets? Like this or this?

A few months ago we euthanized our old dog and it was such a difficult decision. Many of the symptoms were just as you described, painful arthritis no longer responding to treatment, decreased searching for attention and contact, as well as hind end weakness. Our vet said that dogs suffer when they potty in the house and they also hide pain very well. If you are seeing some evidence of pain you can bet there is a lot more that's not showing. Only you and your family can make the decision but it's a difficult and painful process. Some people say, "You just know" but we never really felt like that. It was agonizing. We were second guessing all the way to the vet's office. By the time we got there, he was in so much pain and he couldn't stand. They had to carry him in. I guess that's when we "knew" but by then we'd already made the decision. :crying: :grouphug:

He's been switched to the regular Algebra 1. The counselor said he was placed in the other class because there were no records since he was homeschooled last year and was at a charter school out of district for the 2 years before that. She looked at the table of contents for the pre-Algebra text I'd brought & then signed off on it. She advised him to see her if the class moved too fast or too slow and then she could help him find an alternative. It was all very civilized!

Web Development. I can't handle bodily fluids, so any type of hands-on healthcare was out. I loathed accounting class in college. I know too many unemployed teachers. I can't be on my feet all day. All these factors came into consideration when I was figuring out what to do. I landed on IT as an option but I really like to be creative. I love the internet (big, puffy heart love; weird, I know). Keep in mind, though, this career is a total shift for me as I used to work in QA at a biotech company. I have a LOT of learning to do and that can be scary. Programming is really challenging for me (I'm a beginner) and every day there's a real risk that I'll smash my computer to bits in frustration. I'll get there eventually, though. :) Seriously, though, I do like my classes & feel like I'm on the right path for me.

I agree. I'm currently doing a certificate program at the local community college because of time & money. I need a good job relatively quick. I'd love to go back for an advanced degree but that's just not an option for me right now. I'm okay with that. I like the classes I've taken so far and, while it may not be my dream career, I think I'll be reasonably happy.

Thank you for your support! I really needed the reinforcement because I have a bad habit of second guessing everything.

I talked to the secretary in the counseling office (all counselors were in meetings) & she said this is a new class, Algebra 1 taken over 2 years. That's pretty much all she knows & I need to speak to a counselor during the allotted time for schedule changes. I'm concerned that he was placed in this class because he was homeschooled last year, so they have no record of his pre-Algebra class. (Our state doesn't require curriculum submissions for homeschool.) Also, he didn't take the standardized state test last year because it wasn't needed for 8th grade homeschoolers. I plan on bringing his records from pre-Algebra with me and really hoping it's enough to get him into regular Algebra 1. My ds worked so hard on Math last year by his own initiative so that he would be ready for high school algebra. He'd be disappointed if he wasn't in the "regular" class and I think he'd be bored by the slower pace. He's not gifted in math but he seems to "get" algebra concepts easily and he likes working quickly.

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