I talked to my DH about this. He is former law enforcement. He said that the librarians would have to be the ones to trespass them, at least in our state. The police can't do anything unless the business, in this case the library, is willing to order the no trespassing. The mandates, while legally binding, are a civil not criminal matter as frustrating as that is. Trespass is what the officers can enforce, but if the librarian won't or can't follow through with trespass then law enforcement's hands are tied.

I am sorry. I wish I could help. I am having a really hard time right now with depression. It is hard to get out of bed every morning. I have two kids with severe anxiety that need my help, so my energy goes into that. My other kid has joined the military and is at boot camp and we can only communicate by letters. I worry so much about the current tensions with other countries. I am so proud of my son, but I don't want him to have to go to war.

Assuming DD is back on campus then, I will send a cute card and enclose a gift card for her favorite restaurant so she can get some take-out. I am not allowed to send any sort of packages to DS, and he was very clear about no cards, so I will just send him a nice plain looking letter of encouragement.

Yes.

We keep them closed so the dog doesn't get into them. Before dog, we kept them closed or mostly closed especially the main one in the living area because it was in full view of the family room, and no one wants to see the bathroom in a living area. We can tell if someone is using it by if the light is on or not. None of our bathrooms have windows (except master bathroom in our bedroom) so they are dark when no one is in there and light when someone is using it.

I am sorry for your loss.

Our first one lasted around 20 years, and was still working when we sold it. The matching washing machine died and we were about a month from moving and decided just to get new ones after the move. My moms dryer lasted for over 30 years, but she didn't use it very often. She mostly hung up clothes to dry. Our "new" one is three years old and we haven't had any problems so far, but I have been told that new appliances aren't made to last near as long.

My first thought is that she doesn't want the stuff, she just wants to see your reaction, but I could be off base. I would probably ask her what exactly it is she wants. She may not want everything you have, but just a few things that may not be as expensive to ship. I think that you are in a tough spot where there is no good answer. No matter what you do, she will still perceive it as you didn't do it right. What I would be tempted to do is to offer to send it once she provides the money for shipping. I think dropping it off for her to pick up at a mutual friend or relatives would also work if there is such a place/person. Take pictures of everything. I can't imagine how painful this must be for you.

For being close to family and the mild climate and geography where there is a bit of almost everything in driving distance, I would say where I am now in southwest WA. However, I would like to live in a bit more rural area. I dream of a little cabin in the woods with a trickling stream nearby.

We are just playing it by ear. After DH and I were vaccinated and numbers were down early last summer we went out to dinner, once, masked and it was still limited seating in the restaurants and in a county that takes things more seriously. We have not felt comfortable doing that again. I feel like every time I think things are looking up, then the other shoe drops, so now I just don't make plans very far in advance, which is really hard for me. I am a planner. The only thing I am planning for at this time are DS's graduation from boot camp in the spring. We will take all the precautions we can, but unless the Marines shut down graduation again we will be there. Other than that we just take everything as it comes up and make a decision at the time with the information we have. Our numbers are still on the rise here, so I don't see us doing much for a while.

Our dog has a very sweet nature. He is very friendly with people and other dogs. He has never been around cats before, so no idea on that. As a puppy he was a chewer, but we were able to get him toys that helped so he wasn't chewing on things he shouldn't. He loves being around people, and while he enjoys his backyard, he does prefer when people are out there with him. We got him from a former breeder who wasn't planning to have any more litters. This was a surprise litter. We got to meet both parents. His dad is an Alaskan Malamute and his mom an Australian Shepherd. All of the puppies were cute and healthy. He was around 8 weeks old when we brought him home, if I recall correctly. We had him neutered when he was 6 months old and it had no effect on his personality. He is still his same sweet self. He can be suborn at times, and doesn't always listen to commands the first time. But a lot of that is lack of training/follow through on my part. I am a pushover. He is a family dog and he obeys enough to not be a problem, he just needs to be reminded to mind his manners sometimes. He does shed, but not as much as our husky did. I think it is because he has thicker hair from his malamute side, but it isn't outrageously bad. Our roomba is able to take care of most of the shedding, along with brushing. He is also on the bigger side. He is around 90 pounds. I have never been a dog person, but I am very glad we got our dog. He has been a great addition to the family.

My DH's cousin is on life support right now, but they will be taking him off tomorrow. He has no brain function, and his organs are dying. I suspect he had covid, but that is not what we are being told so I can't know for sure. He is only in his early 50's. They are likely going to have a service and I don't feel comfortable going. DH's aunt and uncle are anti-mask/anti-vax and the church where the service is likely to be is also. DH says, if he goes, he will go alone, but he is the one all of us in the house are worried about protecting at the moment. He lost 30% of his lungs to cancer, and I do not want him to get covid if we can avoid it. Our area is getting really bad, and our local health department is making it sound like it is no big deal. People are not masking in public, even though it is required. I am avoiding stores like the plague, literally. DH had to go inside a store last weekend because I needed an OTC medication that has to be bought in the pharmacy and they wouldn't let us get it in the drive-thru. He was disgusted with how many people were unmasked, including employees. Covid numbers are higher than they have ever been and I don't think we have peaked yet. The new associate pastor at my parent's church died of covid recently, as have several members of the congregation. I think my mom was the saddest about the pastor who was young(ish) and left behind a wife and teenage daughter, all of whom laughed about the mask mandates and talked about how stupid they were. My parents who have gone to church all their lives have stopped going because of the lack of precautions, and it makes me angry. One good thing is DD's college classes are online for the first few weeks and she can even work remote for her campus job.

My Australian Shepherd/Alaskan Malamute mix, Mytraxion (goes by Trax).

Three rapid test in the doctor's office, all were negative. One was before a procedure (required) and two were for symptoms that turned out to be sinus infections. I also did one at home test on Christmas morning before family came over.

I am the middle of three kids. We get along well now. It was a bit touchy in the teen years. My sister is only 15 months older, so we were one grade apart in school. That made things a bit rough sometimes. I don't talk to my siblings as much as I would like due to the busyness of raising kids, but I hope that will change as the kids grow up and move out. DH and my brother were actually friends before we met. We don't really have any sort of hierarchy that I have noticed, although to be honest I mostly just go along with whatever my brother and sister decide on many things. We have had a couple of crises come up in the last few months, and they have been handled well with no disagreements or hurt feelings. My sister is really good to make sure I am in the loop on things as she talks to my parents more often than I do. I think it will be interesting as my parents age to see how it all works out, but my parents have been pretty good about having things in order legally. My sister and I share power of attorney if anything happens, and my brother will be the executor of the will. My mom had a horrible time working with her siblings after her mom died and again after my grandfather disappeared and eventually declared dead. I think they wanted to avoid that for us by having things as ironed out as possible. I haven't really pulled anything from my growing up years and sibling relationships into my own parenting of my children that I can think of, other than letting my kids work out their own conflicts with as little interference from parents as possible. My kids have had times they fought a lot, especially youngest and oldest, but it has smoothed out over time (and DD going away to school for a while) and now they get along well.

We have an Aussie Malamute mix.

I was a member of our local one for years, but recently dropped it. We haven't gone since the pandemic started, and I don't see myself going back until the pandemic is dwindling and case numbers stay low. There are too many people in my area that don't mask even though it is required. I have heard the staff enforce it if they see someone with their mask down, but staff can't be everywhere. All that said, I was very hesitant to go to a gym at first. DH joined and liked it and convinced me to give it a shot. I really, well wouldn't say liked necessarily, but got along okay with it. Most of the staff were friendly. It was clean and most of the members seemed nice, but not overly friendly. I just wanted to go in, do my workout, and go home. The first time I was there DH showed me the machines and how to use them, how to set the weights, and stuff, although you can get a staff person to do that. I got my routine down: three days of weights, three days of cardio, and then I just forced myself to make it a habit. I used bluetooth earbuds and my phone to play music. I kind of miss it right now, but can't be helped. I got a cheap collapsible stationary bike at home I am using until I feel safe to go back to the gym.

I got a small coffee maker as a wedding present many years ago. I am not a coffee drinker, but DH does once in while. I used it for heating water for tea for years. Now youngest likes a cup of coffee every so often, so I have stuff around for that. But I never really think to make coffee when guests are here. My coffee drinking family members stop and pick some up on their way over if they really want some. I thought about making a pot on Christmas but we had so much other stuff, I didn't bother. I just made a big crockpot full of hot cocoa which was popular.

According to the guide the advancement if it is approved by the merit badge counselor a troop has to accept it. But I have met many scoutmasters who can be overly controlling of these things. Fortunately, I never had to work with one in my troops. 7.0.4.6 Once It Is Earned, It’s Earned A Scout who has earned a merit badge from a registered and approved counselor by actually and personally fulfilling the requirements as written will have met the purpose of the merit badge program and the contribution to the aims of Scouting. The Scout may keep the badge and count it toward advancement. See “Personal Growth Is the Primary Goal,” 2.0.0.3. The same holds true if a Scout, without intent to violate national BSA procedures or policies, fulfills merit badge requirements with someone who is not registered and approved as a counselor. This could happen, for example, if a Scout, in good faith, contacts someone who has inadvertently been dropped from a unit or district charter or otherwise has an expired membership, but who remains on an approved list of counselors. In cases where it is discovered that unregistered or unapproved individuals are signing off merit badges, this should be reported to the council or district advancement committee so they have the opportunity to follow up. But it is also the responsibility of unit leaders to help Scouts understand that only registered and approved counselors are to be used. If a Scout to whom this mandated procedure has been made clear has ignored it, then the unit leader may require the youth to work with another counselor who is properly documented and who will verify or ensure that requirements are met. A unit leader should discuss any potential follow-up counselors with the Scout and provide the name of at least one, but the Scout must be allowed to work with registered and approved counselors of his or her choice.

I was advancement chair for many years. I would not have credited a merit badge without a signed blue card. They can be signed off on scoutbook now too, rather than a physical copy. Once the blue card is signed off by a registered merit badge counselor, either physically or electronically, it is recorded as officially completed. We did not require anything beyond a signed card, nor can you really going strictly by the guide to advancement.

In the spring, we are planning to go to San Diego to see our DS's graduation from boot camp. Hopefully families will still be allowed. In the fall, we may go on a make up trip that we missed last fall to the coast.

My DD asked me to let you know that she really appreciates you all taking the time to vote in the poll and respond. It has been very helpful.

My DD is a speech and debate student at her college. She is working on finding a topic to use for a persuasive speech, and I had suggested the problems facing Native American tribes getting and keeping federal recognition. She took a class last semester that covered the topic and it was the subject of her final project. It is also an issue I feel strongly about. My cousin's husband's tribe is not currently recognized and they have been fighting for recognition for years. DD said it might not be a good topic because "everyone" has already heard about it. I am not sure how many people really are aware of this issue, so I thought it might be interesting to put out a poll to see how much this is a well known issue.

DD's college is starting with everyone testing when they get to campus, but remote classes from their dorm rooms for a week. Meals will be to-go from the dining hall. They will then re-test everyone. They are also requiring N95 or KN95 masks for everyone and boosters. No visitors on campus this semester, at least right now. The mask compliance of staff and students has been really good according to DD, except the football players who have to be reminded. Our local k-12 schools have a state-wide mask mandate, but the amount of compliance is lacking. My brother teaches in a middle school and gets push-back not just from kids but also staff including the principal. He said that many kids who are told to pull up their masks respond that the principal doesn't wear his, so why should they. There are also a lot of kids that come to school sick, and parents are furious when they have to take them home. I am expecting an explosion of cases a week or two after school goes back tomorrow. I hope I am wrong.

I just don't think I could give diapers as a gift to a child. I would be happy to get some for the parents if they needed/wanted but not for a child/baby. I would, however, look into non-toy gifts if they are feeling overwhelmed. I think books are a great idea, as are experiences. Some of my kids' favorite memories are time spend with they grandparents. I might also invest in savings bonds or money toward college/adult expenses. I would also talk to the mom first and see if there is something that she would like for the kids.