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trailofsparks

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Posts posted by trailofsparks

  1. in the off chance that I'm wrong or there are definitely more desireable options in some over others, I'll ask.

     

    I have only used PCs, but other than the price difference, I certainly have no loyalty. We are on the market for a Mac and I don't know a thing about them, other than folks who have Macs never go back to PCs.

     

    Can you Mac users make some recommendations for me to consider? Pretty sure I want a desktop, not laptop. Yikes - I've done no research, so I feel a little guilty asking for input. But I feel so overwhelmed - maybe you can give me a starting point?

     

    TIA.

  2. The scene: a public restroom

    The set-up: a long row of toilets along one wall

    The situation: you're the only one present, all stalls are equally clean and aroma-free

     

    The question: which stalls do you gravitate towards, and do you do so habitually?

     

    LOL! Usually one of the end stalls, b/c I somehow think they are least used, thus fewer germs :D I hope you get a lot of responses so I can learn whether I've been right or wrong in my assumptions.

     

    ETA: I'll be choosing the middle stalls from now on! LOL

  3. Are you in the counseling room with her? If she were my dd, I would want to be in with her, at her age. I would try to reconnect with her.

     

    Plus, it sounds like your ds needs counseling or discipline or something. Do his postive behavior changes last? That's great if he is in a process moving toward more positive behavior in general. . . . But if not, maybe he needs some help, too. I see that he has aspergers; I know very little about the spectrum.

     

    I'm concerned your dd might be getting the wrong message: she's the one who needs fixing, so she's going to counseling. Not ds.

     

    I'm sorry. . . I read your post 3x, but I don't feel like I have a good idea of what you're asking for - and I hesitate to post this.

  4. Your church sounds controlling, and your spiritual life seems to be diminished rather than enhanced by your experience in it. Personally, I would find a new church. I would also look for ways to volunteer outside of church (at a foodbank or shelter or wherever you feel led).

     

    You sound like a very nice person. There are friends out there for you somewhere. :grouphug:

     

    :iagree: Plus, I am familiar with spiritual/church abuse. I had a pastor who, from the pulpit, made manipulative comments that were so far off base and hurtful - intending to keep folks from leaving the church. Oh, he liked to (still likes to, probably!) keep his "core" group intact.

     

    I have been "unchurching" for a few years now. One thing I am so very thankful, and has been a part of my understanding since becoming a Christian, is that church-going isn't part of my salvation - at all. Not one bit.

     

    If you are fighting bitterness, I encourage you to "go back to your roots" to the place of knowledge and wonder, when you first were found by the Great Shepherd of your soul. See what He has to say to you. I don't mean to preach at you. . . . I only mean to try to encourage. I have found Him to be the Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

     

    Re friends - I now have some. I lost lots. I came to a place where I finally said, I'd rather have no friends at all, than those who use and abuse. That's when friendship with Him was rekindled. And after that was when older friendships (those who proved to be true friends) were deepened; and new friendships found.

     

    :grouphug: Lots of hugs and said a prayer for you just now.

  5. this book would really help with what you are looking for....it has really made me feel more confident when making things like pad thai :)

     

    Oh, my stars! This book is for me. I hate reading recipes, but the only way I've gotten by is with several that I've made over and over again, then variations of them. I'm always getting stuck in a cooking rut w/the same ol, same ol. Thanks a bunch. Can't wait to look into this one!

     

    Here are a couple from DrMcDougall.com. I usually make the first one, but the second one looks delicious, too.

     

     

    THAI NOODLES

     

    This is a wonderful meal for hot summer nights because it requires minimal cooking and it may be made completely ahead of time and served cold or at room temperature. It also keeps well in a cooler so it is a great picnic food.

     

    Preparation Time: 30 minutes

    Cooking Time: 10 minutes

    Servings: 4

     

    12-14 ounces linguini (broken in half)

    1/4 cup honey

    1/4 cup natural peanut butter, creamy

    1/4 cup soy sauce

    3 tablespoons rice vinegar

    1-2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce (see hints)

    ¼ teaspoon sesame oil (optional-see hints)

    3 tablespoons vegetable broth

    1 bunch green onions, chopped

    1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic

    1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

    1 ½ cups mung bean sprouts

    1 ½ cups shredded carrots

    7 ounces baked seasoned tofu, thinly sliced

    chopped cilantro

    chopped peanuts (optional)

     

    Prepare noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

     

    Meanwhile, combine the honey, peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili-garlic sauce and the sesame oil in a mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Set aside. Place the broth in a non-stick frying pan with the onions, garlic and ginger. Cook, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes. Add the sauce, mix well and heat through. Pour over the noodles and toss well to mix. Add the bean sprouts, carrots and tofu and toss again to mix. Serve warm or at room temperature. Let each person add chopped cilantro and/or chopped peanuts, if desired.

     

    Hints: Rice vinegar and chili garlic sauce may be found in most supermarkets in the oriental section. One brand of chili-garlic sauce is made by Huy Fong Foods. It is quite spicy, so you may need to adjust the amount used according to your tastes. I use a small amount of sesame oil in this recipe for the unique taste it adds to foods. It may be omitted, if desired. This dish keeps well in the refrigerator and may also be served cold. This is great to fix on those busy evenings when everyone is eating at different times because it tastes best at room temperature.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Thai Noodle Stir-up

    By Heather McDougall

     

    My daughter, Heather, and I like to experiment in the kitchen. She has become very creative and we have lots of fun working on new recipes together. This recipe is one that we really liked and we hope that you will like it too.

     

    Preparation Time: 30 minutes

    Cooking Time: 10 minutes

    Servings: 4

     

    7 ounces uncooked rice noodles

    ¼ cup vegetable broth

    1 teaspoon minced garlic

    1 cup broccoli florets

    2 cups sliced fresh button mushrooms

    ½ cup chopped red bell pepper

    4 green onions, sliced in 1 inch pieces

    6 oyster mushrooms, sliced (optional)

    12 ounces smoked, baked tofu, sliced

     

    Sauce:

    6 tablespoons soy sauce

    6 tablespoons sugar

    2 tablespoons lime juice (2 limes)

    2 tablespoons rice vinegar

    1 to 2 teaspoons red chili sauce

     

    Optional garnishes: Chopped cilantro, chopped peanuts, lime wedges, hot sauce.

     

    Soften rice noodles in boiling water according to package directions, drain, and set aside.

     

    Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

     

    Place the vegetable broth and garlic in a large non-stick frying pan or wok. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes. Add broccoli, button mushrooms, bell pepper and green onions. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add oyster mushrooms and tofu and continue to cook for another minute. Add noodles and sauce. Cook and stir for 3 to 5 minutes, until vegetables are at desired tenderness. Serve hot.

     

    Hint: Various hot sauces (red chili sauce) are sold in most supermarkets in the ethnic section. Some are very hot. Use as much or as little as you like. Serve the optional garnishes in small bowls and let each person add them to their noodles as desired. Rice noodles are sold in most natural food stores and some supermarkets in the Asian food section. They do not need to be cooked, just soak them in boiling water, usually between 5-8 minutes. Drain, add cold water and ice cubes, let soak for a minute or two, then drain and set aside.

     

    Thank you for sharing the Pad Thai recipe - looks yummy! and especially thank you for including one of your own!!! I'm inspired to try both :D

     

    from pioneer woman

    http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/special-dietary-needs/vegetarian/vegetarian-pad-thai/ (vegetarian recipe)

     

    Or the non vegetarian

     

     

    mmmmmmmm

     

    Thank you! I'll look into these as well!

     

    I haven't used this book, but Sri Owen is a terrific cookbook writer and I've been very pleased with two of her other books:

     

    http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Thai-Cooking-Sri-Owen/dp/0711216118/ref=pd_sim_b_12

     

    And anything by this guy is very authentic. You might need to do some special ingredient hunt, but he is the "real McCoy":

    http://www.amazon.com/Vatchs-Thai-Street-Vatcharin-Bhumichitr/dp/1904920578/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307455520&sr=1-15

     

    THank you. I pretty much feel the cookbooks on my shelf are 'outdated'!

  6. We have school desks and they've always worked well for us. But 1/2 way through this year, I began thinking about one table, no more than 6 ft long, about 3 ft wide w/comfy rolling chairs, adjustable height (maybe IKEA). I think it would be easier to, yes, have more room for them to spread the books & papers, but also to teach 2 of them together.

     

    My 2 youngest do certain subjects together and my 2 oldest do certain subjects together.

     

    But for my dc's younger years, the desks were perfect - never even thought of wanting a table!

  7. I finally went to a chiro who deals w/sports injuries. After only 2-3 months of regular therapy, 5 years ago, I have had no relapses or problems! They did deep tissue massage and used some machine, I can't remember what it was called.

     

    My dad had the surgery and I thought for sure I was headed down that same road - just thought it was genetics. I'm so thankful to have found a chiro who healed me and, judging from his initial outlook for me, I am a routine success story. All the best to you.

  8. If you know he'll have a chance to go again(though I wouldn't tell him that), I'd leave him home with the clear understanding that it isn't even about the $$$. He lied and is a thief. Missing a day at DW seems small in comparison to juvenile detention.

     

    This was my first thought. BUT never brand a kid by calling him a thief; he stold money and if he continues on that path, he could become a thief. Imo, 5 years is old enough to reap these consequences, since you have taught him before. Also, his attitude while looking through his room would bother me. He is not remorseful, it seems. This would concern me.

     

    When my children were young, dh and I really came down on them for lying. Now all of them are honest - even when it "hurts" them. At times it was hard to meet the consequences, but I am so glad we did. We have lots of trust in our family.

  9. I would really appreciate hearing from from you. My ds has always been more average, at best, for energy level. But lately, sheesh! his energy is extremely low. With sports schedules at our house, he's getting to bed around 9:30-10:00 and wakes up around 8:00-8:30 (I've been letting him sleep in as long as he wants, thinking this would help.) I would think 10 hrs is enough!

     

    He eats well, takes good supplements, gets some exercise daily. He is a healthy weight for his height. I don't get it. :confused:

     

    Do you think, at his age, that a good mattress would matter? I've asked him to sleep in the guest bed, but it's in another part of the house, so he doesn't want to. I don't really think it matters that much at his age, so I haven't pushed it.

     

    I know our weather has been crazy - one day humid and hot, the next day cold and rainy.

     

    So, how much sleep does your son, who's entering adolescence, need to feel good the next day?

  10. Zone cleaning has worked best for us. Each zone includes dusting, vacuuming, cleaning bathroom - whatever is in that zone gets cleaned. They clean when they are not doing school with me. They know they don't get to play until all their work is done, including school (if I'm available), so they are very motivated to get chores done asap. If they don't complete the work thoroughly enough, I interrupt their play time to "do it right". They don't like that, so it happens rarely; they usually do a good job the first time. I don't zone clean with them b/c my job is the kitchen - whether I am cooking or cleaning, that's my area - except for mopping the floor (see below). Also, I am busy teaching them for the better part of the day and they understand this. In the beginning of this schedule, of course, there were things I needed to teach them so they could do a good job.

     

    M - clean bedrooms and kids' bath (they switch off now and then, but mostly prefer to do the same chore each week. But I let them work that out - the longer they argue, the longer they are working.

    T - clean main living area, includes a bath

    W - clean another zone, includes a bath

    TH - clean kitchen floor; pick up the entire house (if they didn't lay things around all week, this is easy. In the beginning of this chore "schedule", they had a lot more picking up to do on TH than they do now, come to think of it!)

    F - clean another zone

     

    Oh, and they each have morning chores to do before school ie ablutions, plus they each have an additional daily job - empty dishwasher (dd), feed dog (dd), pick up dog waste from yard (ds).

  11. This is what I would do. You can store shoes, coats in a 12" deep space using bins and coat hooks at various levels. Take the rest of the closet depth and add it to your bathroom.

     

    We have a weird little closet like this in our laundry room right by the door and it works great for storing those things.

     

    Definitely worth it, to compromise the space. 12" in a shower is quite a difference.

     

    My other thought: we keep our shoes in the garage, which is attached to the house. I use my coat closet as a kitchen pantry, and a coat rack on the wall.

  12. I would definitely educate my children that police officers are regular people, and if they approach you, you should treat them in the same way as you've been taught to treat every stranger.

     

    I don't know what your backyard situation is, but I'd strongly encourage you to have them play there unless you are *right there* with them in the front yard. It takes less than a minute for something terrible to happen - less time than for you to realize you haven't heard their voices for a few minutes.

  13. There was a real police officer (or maybe it was a sheriff officer) on the news within the last month arrested for something like underage p*rn.

     

    I would keep an even closer eye on them while they play out front. I would not call the police station.

     

     

    OrganicAnn,

    Why wouldn't you call the police station? Just curious.

  14. Yes, I would. I wouldn't trade a longer commute time for a larger kitchen. I've seen countertops that attach to the wall and fold up when not in use. Do you have wall space for something like that? I like what others suggested re: negotiating w/your landlord for upgrade to stove. I also like the idea of a portable dishwasher w/island type usage. Not sure where you live, but grilling on the bbq might be something you'd do more often!

  15. I have loved RightStart B, C, D, and E. We are into Geometry now and it's going well, too!!! LOVE IT. In fact, I can't bring myself to sell my Level B and we've been done with it for a while. (But my grandkids might need it someday, and it may not be available :lol:)

     

    Each of my 3 kids are very different learners, and RS covers it all. I don't know what pps are talking about re: choppiness in the curriculum or repetitiveness. Well, there is some review at the beginning of each level, but that's the way it is with other curricula, isn't it? You can either skip review or move through it quickly - I have done a little of both. But b/c I'm convinced of the importance of a strong math foundation, I don't skip much. We play the games as needed, which are fun for dc.

     

    I originally began supplementing Level B with Singapore (CWP) b/c I didn't think RS had enough word problems. But when I saw my first dc just skip through CWP, I thought it a waste of our time, and discontinued CWP. My dc are excellent with word problems and math IRL application. RS gives just the right amount of worksheet practice for each of my dc. I've never used the practice sheets even. But my dc are not bored with a bunch of repetition either.

     

    My ds used Life of Fred before going into RS Geometry and he really missed the way RS taught the concepts. I'm so thankful my dc all have a great grasp of math concepts - and so do I now!!! Love RS!

  16. We've been a part of different co-ops or field trip groups. In the end, we've made our closest friends just hanging out at a local park. It's great b/c we live in close proximity to each other.

     

    My suggestion: go to a local park in the middle of a school day and see who you'll meet! I do hope you meet someone soon.:grouphug:

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