Just wondered if any of you have children attending, my 16 year old will be there and apparently is the only one from Alabama so hoped to link him up with other students if possible. FEE (www.fee.org ) offers free week seminars on economics if they get accepted through the application process..you just have to provide transportation to the event and they take care of the rest....I had friends that went last year and raved about it...hoping it will be a week of thoughtful discussion. Any alumni from previous years? Thanks!

:) yes, the Hill dorms 'were' all girls when I was there in the late 80's! :) I was in Dorm G and H and had the lovely experience of signing away future lawsuits due to the asbestos in them....:tongue_smilie: All that is cleaned out now and give him really good walking shoes...I had shin splints the first 2 months, because they're not called "hill" for nothing! :) Going through the architecture dept was easier on my shins than the big 'hill' :) All the homeschoolers I know planning on going to Auburn will be there in 2012...surprisingly, most the ones I know graduating this year decided on Mississippi State because they offered fuller scholarships...Auburn has been tough on offering scholarships even with those who scored 30+ on ACT...they may cover tuition but nothing else...while MS and others give full rides. I do have 3 cousins there..all will be sophomores this year...if I run into any more Auburn students from our area, I'll let you know! It has changed so much since I was there..but I know he'll really enjoy getting to know his floormates and will stay fairly busy! :)

Not to veer this in another direction..my rising 10th grade son will have Physics this year having finished AMSCO Chemistry last year...he did well and I am planning for his junior/senior year...I want him to take ChemAdvantage...but will this only help him if he's a non-science major in being able to earn credit for science? Right now, I think he's likely going to be economics/political science major but if he does decide to jump the fence and go chemical engineering...would the AP credit even help him? I want to be very certain we are not wasting time earning 4's and 5's if it's just for a transcript and will not allow him to waive classes...what has been the experience here the past few years? I was pre-med/Chemistry and while it allowed me to go up to Honors level my freshmen year, it did not earn me any course hours..wondering if things have changed..

First, :grouphug: for the accident, it's always tough...thankful that it was not a major one! We were rear ended 2 years ago by a car going 55 mph...we were stopped he had 8 feet of skid marks before impact...so not much relief from the speed..we were in a large truck and he was in an Isuzu Trooper...completely totalled his car..amazing he walked away from it. Our truck took 7k of damage (well made!!)..we had to pay our deductible at the body shop and we paid our ER visit fee (daughter hit head really hard and had a goose egg on the back of her head)...their insurance reimbursed us for my copay at the ER but no other medical and paid the body shop directly..I was just thankful we were alright and did not want to fight it. I am not sure if our insurance recovered the fees for the rental car or not. But, I honestly would not go see the doctor if I did not have insurance..you will be sore for a week..the worst days are the 2nd and 3rd..take an OTC antiinflammatory...not worth it to get an attorney...be thankful no one was hurt severely and let insurance companies work out the damages. Even though we were at a complete stop on a 2 land road, had witnesses, the other driver's insurance went through a 2 month dragging their feet investigation to confirm...it was a bit infuriating..the driver never denied fault and was a teenager texting said he never saw us...our state passed a law about no texting months after this.

Tough one, I always err on the side of love they neighbor...which to different people can take different positions. As much as they are consistent in their lifestyle choices, you be the same with yours...over time, they will either deselect each other or find the honorable qualities in each other's lives that ultimately make us all better people... We had a point in time where friends of my girls were making poor choices and being quite rude...it really hurt one of my girls (the other one just lets everything roll off her) and we had a discussion that living in this world is one of the hardest challenges we face....the easy way is to want to be part of this world to feel accepted...the harder (narrow way) is to know that we were called to something larger than this world....try not to cut off friends, but that does not mean you condone everything they do, but when they do come 'around' you embrace it and find value at whatever level friendship you are. It also gives you a great responsibility to pray for the friendship...if it's bugging you then let God deal with the details..He always manages. I encourage the good innocuous things, like making an effort to take said friend to the park, play on the playground, bake cool things...do service projects...help her figure out what your family does 'do' and what you don't... Some families honestly believe that you're depriving your child b/c their child gets such 'joy' from these things...I actually think that is kind of them to want your child to have such joy....but it's just coming from a different perspective...but, instead of thinking of how this family 'might' influence yours or their perception of yours, think more on how your family might influence them through kindness and care...hard to do, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't but pull away from the details and see the bigger picture...

Well with two teen boys to boot, you're going to be busy being creative! :) We did a kitchen remodel and honestly, we ate out too much...just easier, not only are you dealing with construction but all the dust that comes with it... I would use your crock pot often, grill most things (boys love meat), and possibly buy an updated toaster oven, many will heat pizzas and such...you could do sides in here... http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-TOB-155-Toaster-Stainless-Black/dp/B000PYISIW/ref=pd_sbs_k_6 Enjoy your new kitchen!!

I think you're being fairly "it's all about me"...this is about a sweet baby, the name you mentioned is perfectly fine...you have issues with it, the rest of the world does not and I think it is rude for you to be more focused on what you think than what your sister lovingly has named/called her daughter. If my sister were behaving like this I would say she was being snarky. For everyone to call her one thing and you to put your considerations above everyone else's is not very loving or considerate. I was literally expecting a very off the wall name, go to Scotland/Ireland and you'll see this name quite often without your preconceived notion..but I find her name refreshing when I was just reading about 'bizarre' names that people choose...."Petal Blossom Rainbow" "Bandit" "Bear Blu" "Diesel" "Denham" "Sage Moonblood"

I think the meaning of 'submissive' has a different connotation in our society today, some look at it like a king's subjects should 'submit' to his authority... Hupotasso comes from two Greek words, the word hupo, which means: "under," and tasso, which means: "to set in place." In other words, the word means to set something in place up under something else... Hupotasso is the Greek word for submit.... So, in this light, when I married my husband I was looking for a protector a provider and a partner..(I need to also add that I was the breadwinner for the first 5 years of our marriage, that does not mean I did not submit, he was finishing his education and we supported each other..I'm all about helping it happen...roles are not firm in stone and many can be supportive)..I was placed 'under' his authority because he has taken on the role of providing and caring for us...it's only when you are placed 'under' someone that is not loving and does not have the best interests for his 'subjects' in place that it becomes oppressive and the words take on a whole new meaning. But, the gift of having a husband who willfully takes on that responsibility to love and care for those 'under' him is a beautiful thing! Granted, I make almost 100% of our schooling decisions because he trusts my leadership in this area...even with our finances, I do all the buying/choosing/management...but because I do these things does not mean I am not submissive to him...I honor him as the head of our household and he is our provider/leader..just because he has not problem with me leading many portions of it does not mean he is not ultimately leading...many kingdoms were not ruled by the king but his trustworthy aides/assistants....but they were still subject to him...I feel honored to be in this role and blessed to have a husband who cares so deeply for our family.

Exactly this! I just get so excited knowing a new baby/life is on its way! I get my fix in the church nursery, and I'm always the one cooing at them in the grocery store....I love the look in a new parent's eyes when you tell them how precious their baby is...love love love new babies!! Brings out the best in most!

We love our covering and no it is not brick and mortar...no problems with that whatsoever..ours is statewide and most likely the one mentioned above...I offer to give SAT testing to the local kids in our county (well ove 200 families in our area) and I only pay a portion of our yearly fee..it's a great help and I love helping administer the testing, the kids are a joy! The main thing with a covering is to find one you feel fairly certain will be there when your kids graduate...it is a pain to have to switch if a small covering folds...we've had several fold here locally and the families had to scramble to enroll elsewhere...I picked one that was run by a family with many children and their youngest is younger than mine, so I know they'll be in it at least until mine are gone! :)

What does your husband do and where do you live in AL? Networking is the last hope for many....we had our struggles with 2 mortgages for 31 months...hopelessness was a frequent visitor...but we kept looking ahead, knowing that one day we would not be in that situation...it's here, still not rosey, but much more tolerable! We've had dear friends who, due to NASA cuts lost their livelihood, today was his one anniversary without a job....my husband was able to find something for our friend that he's well overqualified for but it may open up doors for him down the road...praying one job at a time! Putting word out to local churches (emailing resume to secretaries with a note of needs) really helps, churches have a variety of parishioners and you never know when those doors open up!

Second Chesterton's book - A Man Called Friday Also Willa Cather's My Antonia, and Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby Oh, and The Scarlet Pimpernel or Ivanhoe

:) I understand about the pasture maintenance!! I am in the opposite boat, 8 acres with 3 horses, too much for them to maintain by grazing..so am bushhogging too much! With mine being fat and one with a cresty neck, I really need a place where I can put them where they can still move but not eat...so fencing is a must...thanks for your help!

:iagree: No tax increases...the government needs to learn how to live on a budget, period. If you raise taxes, you will be putting a larger burden on the private sector/small businesses/corporations that need to stimulate jobs..our government (as seen by the failing roads program that was meant to stimulate jobs all across the country) fails at stimulating job increases. If jobs increase, revenue increases..when you are in an economy where unemployment is getting worse by the week, raising taxes will cripple our economy....cut unnecessary programs, cut earmarks on spending, a simple 8 million dollar project once hit with earmarks can end up being 80 million...that has got to stop. It is time we demanded that our government be fiscally responsible, period. Not look for avenues to make it 'look' like they're being responsible by raising the debt ceiling "See, we don't owe that much...." when the bucket is about to explode. It is outrageous.

It's been a mystery to me, but over the years (and I've grown up in the South where you felt naked going to high school without mascara and such) I have come to a point where I do not wear makeup...almost never..for church I might put on lipstick that has a faint color, but mostly for moisturizer... When we went on a cruise last year, I wore makeup to our one nice dinner alone (dh and I). I am a snob when it comes to makeup...I just can't stand the smell of over the counter lipsticks...something in there (I remember all the bat poo facts) just stinks. I didn't like Mary Kay either...so when I do buy makeup, I'll spend $40 on foundation (usually Lancome) and buy it when it comes with the free makeup kit that includes mascara/lipstick/eyeshadow/moisturizer...that is the extent of my makeup expenses a year...I spend more on facial sunscreen for swimming than on makeup.... But, I will admit, I do like Lancome! :) Not much help, but found it funny my change in makeup from the days where I would feel naked without anything!! :)

I need to talk to you! :) I am doing a 70x200 arena...my plan was just to get my backhoe guy to come and scrape off the vegetation and put down 2 inches of angular/coarse sand...it will only be my three horses, the drainage is good, our base used to be a 1 acre garden that is loamy but clay based...a garden was there for 30 years so it was tilled up (no rocks etc.) every year...I was just going to put in step in fencing...and eventually go with a 3 post cedar fencing (wanting something on the inside of the arena to be able to step up and mount easily) How is yours looking? Can you post any pictures? Footing? Thanks!

Yes, she's a rescue..horrific story..four of her pasture mates died in the past 3 months and her and her mother were taken away..the owners still kept their stallion (breeders)....it really makes me nauseous thinking about it. I've been very careful with her grass...she had beet pulp/alfalfa pellets for 3-4 weeks from the vet who saved her and free choice hay...I let her graze 1 hour 3x a day her first 4 days here, then we upped it to 2 hours 3x a day...she has free choice hay/alfalfa in her eaten down paddock when she's not on pasture...my horses only graze 2 hours a day and get some hay for roughage and eaten down nibbles the rest of the day..so while she's grazing they do have to be separated...but at night time they could be in the eaten down lot together I guess... I'm just about to start building my arena so I will finally have an area that will be a dry lot with no vegetation, my two horses need that as well as a good area to exercise them. But it may take me awhile to get it fenced in... Thanks for your help, time to go move them again! Thanks!

We've had Liberty Belle for 8 days, I tried briefly to let them together and after a misplaced kick (boss mare aiming for the lovey gelding and he moved but the kick found Liberty) I decided to keep them apart until I could get her weight up...so it's been a dance of moving horses from pasture to pasture, my guys are on a weight loss plan and she needs to GAIN GAIN GAIN! So, naturally, there will be separation....but I have worked hard to keep them apart. This morning, I wake up at 5:30 to move them to their respective areas and they are all three together!! Now, I KNOW horses know my thoughts...every morning the horses whinny at me with their loving ways...this morning, no whinnying, they just lift their heads (my two, Liberty just keeps on grazing) and look at me as if waiting to see my response...I honestly believe they were thinking, "Uh-oh, here she comes, do you think she'll be happy or mad?" They looked like they got caught with their hoof in the alfalfa jar!! I just casually walked up to my boss mare and walked towards the back pasture, they all three followed....my two went in but Liberty kind of hung at the fence for a second, my gelding went to kind of give her a nod to come on in, then my boss mare threw her ears at him and did a swinging kick (she was 15 feet away from him, but telling him something)..so with that I just closed their gate and put Liberty in a different one. I know that it is calming for Liberty to 'be' with her herd...but her lack of weight really concerns me...now that they've been together (who knows how long 2 hours, 8 hours?) should I work with that or go back to my playing the move the horses dance? Thanks for any insight! I'm just not used to handling one so undernourished...

I would not mind doing both if I had a Congress/leader who proved to me they could provide a budget and stick to it, one who has shown strong efforts at reducing spending...but when you have leadership that has a carte blanche mentality with spending/programs with no fiscal responsibility....it's like giving a drug addict more money...they have never proven they can abstain...and the more money you give, the more they will spend...just not wise economics.

The best answer is deflection...there is no way anything you say or do will change her perspective, she's ruminated on it too long and I'm sure found a sounding board with your father. The best answer is simply to say, "Give me five years, and let me hear your opinions then...when I ask for them"....change the subject, no need to get snarky back at her....ask her how her sister is or what happened this week on her favorite show...anything, but make it clear, this is not up for discussion...these are your children, not hers....she made her education selections and so have you. My parents would give little 'inputs' here and there...my favorite was, "Surely, you'll put them back into school for high school." But here I am 10 years later and homeschooling high school...they're doing great! My parents are pleased and actually promote it to their friends/family now...time changes many things...but words alone simply will not motivate the fool to leave his/her foolishness :)

Too many hands in the pot...NEA, unions, too many 'interests' being catered to....not focus on the basics...administrative tsunamis that are impossible to navigate. Discipline....took tools away from educators...threat of lawsuits that school boards do not have the money to defend if they expel students/fire underperforming teachers/etc. That would be my start.

Someone asked this question 2 years ago, when some were hoping things would look up with a new leadership...we were neck deep into 2 mortgages that took over 31 months to sell off one...I predicted then that this would take 7-8 years to correct (that is IF we have leaders who will do the corrections)...we are two years into it, so I see no lifting of the economy for another 5 years. You can not raise the debt ceiling unless you are responsible and cut spending...I think it is outrageous for me to have a credit card, have a balance of $50,000 on it...I can barely make the interest only payments but I want to raise the limit on it...ultimately it will crash and there will be no bailouts, not enough taxes to handle the burden and families will be wiped out. I say do away with the IRS completely, our technology is so great now that we should have 1/10th the number of employees in that system...go to a fair tax system...no deductions/no exemptions...you pay or else...but stop spending money we do not have.

http://oyc.yale.edu/ Only looked at the Greek History one, but the others look decent, has anyone used these? Thanks!

We don't listen to most 'pop' music...because 8x out of 10 it does have some sexual or otherwise lesser character lesson...don't get me wrong, sex is great, but to sexualize our youth is not. Just as I don't like messages in music we do listen to (mostly country)...I just change the channel and we do discuss why it's not a great position to take...but at the same time we explain why some songs could have been written...in country music, it's clear cut, usually about feelings (anger, jealousy, hurt, etc.) but in pop culture I am hit too often with sensationalism..trying to sell a record because it has the most 'shock' value... Katy Perry is one that is going after shock value...most her videos show her meaning...that just doesn't hold value for me. Same with Lady Gaga, however I have to admit, after 20 years of avoiding him, Weird Al has hit my sentiments about her on the head with his new I Perform that way video...it's horrible! But an "I can't believe he did that" kind of way. I really hold true to putting in what is lovely, pure, trustworthy...and honestly, we don't listen to Christian music much at all, mainly because it sounds either sooo hard or very moaning/depressing...I go for the joy in music all the time...make me smile, make me want to do good things, make me encouraged, ....give me a good "International Harvester" song! :)

Clean or Dirty. Seriously. No time to sort.