I don't think Fred is even close, but Kingie is :).

My family buys 52 gallons/year. That's one/week. We buy from a cow share & we use glass jars so I put "other" for the empty jars.

Just a caution re:melatonin. I gave it to 1 son once & he experienced vivid nightmares. I read after that other folks have experienced similar effects.

I think 50 is more than he is normally asked to do, which is understandable as this was a penalty. I think he can do 50. In fact, he even says the pushups were fine & he doesn't think they were the problem. He's decided the problem was the 2 slices of pizza he had right before going to TKD. He might be right, although brother & I ate the same pizza w/o a problem. Maybe he just needs less-fast-food. I am having a harder time than they are with our new leadership. It's good for me to hear from others that the penalty was reasonable (I really don't know what it was under our previous Master. We never came up against it). My misgivings about the current situation do not need to be further emphasized by events that really...are fine. I'm still in mourning for sure over the loss of a man that I had imagined would remain a mentor for my boys for their teen years. He modeled strength, determination, integrity, leadership, etc. masterfully. He knew his craft intimately & he knew how to teach anyone who walked in the door. It was impressive. Our new owner took on the school, thankfully, as it might've closed without him, but he is busy with his own school in a neighboring town. He installed a lead instructor - whom just turned 18 this summer. Not only are we in mourning, but the transition from a mature, experienced leader to a young, inexperienced leader has been HARD. We've lost more than just TKD experience...but really, life experience.

I agree with the previews being awful. My kids even said, "why are these approved for this audience?" Skip them.

Yes. In fact, I did. An 11 year old too. It was very, very good-although not as good as the book. My 11 yr old then read the book. I didn't even care that there were f-bombs b/c the book is otherwise that good. The science behind all of his survival was so interesting & there was just no time to include all of that in a movie. He's this super-smart, super-cool-under-pressure guy that curses. He's stranded on Mars. He doesn't just give up & lay down & die. He gets busy. It is completely awesome.

This is a good point...he actually has great form, but I wasn't there watching tonight. I can imagine a situation where he was trying to bang them out as quickly as possible to minimize the unwanted spotlight.

I was very choosy when we selected our previous Master. When the school changed hands, my kids wanted to stay. Their whole community is there. They lost so much when they lost him to cancer, they are trying to find the good in the new leadership so they don't lose everything they love about TKD. They really don't want to start again somewhere new. And I really don't blame them. But, as all martial arts moms know...the Master is everything. There are some good, some great, some bad, some terrible. The leadership is so important.

I kinda think that too. He said his arms were tired, but that was about it. Both boys do lots of this kind of conditioning & have for a lot of years. They don't do 50/day or anything, but if you'd have asked me earlier if either one could *do* 50 pushups, I'd have said "Yes, I'm pretty sure."

No, I'm not sure. But he was fine all day - no complaints - & his only complaint after is exhaustion. Still could be sick. I haven't ruled it out.

Here's why I'm asking ~ he left his belt as his friend's house this weekend. Friend is also a TKD student & was bringing the belt, but ds didn't think about that. He was stressed to enter w/o his belt, but he knew he'd be penalized, & then get on with it. Fwiw, he's been attending about 5 years. He's 11. He's never been w/o his belt before. Unfortunately, our beloved school owner was dx w/stage 4 cancer in Jan & passed away in May. The school has been taken over by another owner in the group. The new owner has his own school, so he is not there & has installed a lead instructor in this, now, satellite school. Anyway...the penalty was 50 pushups. He did them & then hit the mat for class. He said during stretching, then drills, he was beginning to feel poorly, cold sweats, blurry vision, nausea. He asked for permission to get water - granted. He returned to his spot but immediately got up & went to the side of the mat where he sat down trying to get okay. He sat for a short while, then laid, then vomited. At this point the lead instructor & an assist came to his side. I'm trying to think reasonably here...he's a tough kid...was this too much? His brother, also in the class, exited, borrowed a phone from a friend in the lobby, & called me to come get him (I was getting a couple of groceries up the street). He's okay now. He says he's just super tired. This description was pieced together based on his & his brother's accounts. I'm seriously not loving our new leadership & I'm finding myself with the not-so-nice thoughts that he got what he deserved by giving the 50 pushups before class. But, I also realize my not-love could be coloring my perception of the event. Thoughts?

For those of you with kids in TKD - or other similar activities - In our TKD studio, if a student shows up without his belt, he has to do pushups. If your activity has a similar rule...can you share it? How many pushups/situps/whatever it is for the infraction.

This sounds like a perfect Thanksgiving Day.

Yep, we got T-giving dinner from Fresh Market a couple of years ago. My guests said turkey was delicious (I don't really eat T-giving turkey). I thought the sides were fine, but of course, not the homemade flavors I love. It was totally worth it. Another idea is to just get a turkey breast - already cooked - & let everyone pick one favorite dish & prepare it. Last year, we were alone for Christmas for the first time ever. We went outside of our traditional meal that really is best shared with family & friends. I asked everyone what they wanted & that is what we had. It was totally silly - we ended up with 4 dishes that were a complete mis-match but everyone at the table had exactly what they wanted. It turned out to be pretty special & memorable :).

We have one & it works, you just have to sit very close. And create a line item in your budget for propane.

This might be the most neck-and-neck poll I've ever seen on here. Looks like the Hive isn't helping you much with this decision. We're split almost down the middle.

I voted Gatlinburg in this situation. Excluding the "near a holiday" portion, I have done Atlanta the way you described & I live near enough to G'burg that we can easily spend a day there. Do you have an idea what types of activities you'd be interested in? I only ask b/c Gatlinburg activities can be costly. Obviously, hiking, mountain drives & the like will be free, but if you're looking to fill some time with paid activites, they will add up super fast. Dollywood at Christmas is so beautiful. There are also lots of decorations & lights throughout Gatlinburg & PF. There is a trolley that runs around so hanging out in G'burg at the holidays has a very quaint feel about it :). The mountains are especially crisp & clear from now through the winter. Ober Gatlinburg offers snow activities such as ice skating & snow tubing. If you shop around, you may be able to find a little cabin or condo for a more reasonable price than you might think! Have fun whatever you decide!

Y'know, I am so happy I found those 28x32s. They're a great improvement over the 30 length. Turns out though, what he really needs is a 34 length! I guess we'll be ordering online for a while.

dp

We also have Backyard Ballistics...talk about blowing stuff up!!

Oh, & Fluxx!! We have the Monty Python version & it is so much fun to play!!

We have Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction. I'll never forget when ds approached w/a cardboard tube, duct tape, a ping pong ball, & a lighter & asked for hairspray to complete his MWoMD. Fun book!

We found them at Planet Exchange, not AE. So really, REALLY lucky. PE is a consignment store. These jeans have been very, very loved in their previous life, but they're in perfect condition which is kind of even better-they're all broken in!

We're out of time. Old Navy was a strike out. I was heading back to the mall when we passed a Planet Exchange & popped in quickly, hoping to find something slim in 28x32. The stores we'd been at so far do not stock that combo on the shelf. 28x30 is the longest length without ordering. Well, we lucked out!! There was one pair of AE 28x32 & they were slim straight & we scooped it up!! Best part--$11.95!! Yeah!! Now, the waist is too big. The 26's we had tried on earlier were too small. We got a belt & called it good. Whew!

He tried on 28x30 at AE. It's too wide in the waist, too short in the leg. Y'know how jeans from different manufacturers all fit differently (for women anyway)? I was hoping someone could point me to a more narrow fitting brand. I think the numbers are as close as we'll get...now just looking for the ones that work. I think I have a good start with Old Navy & Wranglers. If necessary maybe I'll check in A&F too. Idkfs, b/c I've never shopped it, but those clothes seem small & teen-ager-sized.