I know how you feel. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

"All the liberals that I know are the exact opposite of this, even though they say that they are. Liberals that I know are only open minded, if you are agreeing with their point of view." This applies when I hear about liberals on the news, as a group. However, I know people personally who call themselves liberal and aren't that way. I have a good friend I've known since 1980 who is VERY liberal/left and while we've had debates about issues, she listens to my pov and respects it, even if she doesn't agree. And, vice versa. I have another friend who is a Christian (as opposed to the previous friend mentioned) and she calls herself liberal and is not closed minded. So, I can't really come up with a definition because it seems to be a flexible term, depending on how it's applied.

OH. My. Gosh. Please go google Bill Gothard and ATI before you make such statements. Seriously.

My thoughts are probably influenced by my own experiences, but I have a really hard time buying a plea for forgiveness after something's been publicly exposed. If he were really sorry for what he's done, he'd have stopped it before it became public and dealt with it privately and sincerely. I don't believe he's sorry for what he's done; I think he's sorry it became public and he got caught. Despite that, I truly hope this exposure leads him to true repentance and true healing of his soul and the relationships he's damaged. I hope Anna CAN forgive him, not for his sake, but for hers and for her children. Not in the sense that what he did is all ok now, but because unforgiveness seeps into bitterness and her children don't deserve a bitter mom. I hope they can find a way out of the abyss of ATI and find peace and have happy lives. I hope for this, but I honestly don't expect it. Unless they break away from the cult, he'll continue to do what he's doing and she'll continue to endure it, blaming herself--if not fully, then most likely partially. It makes me angry at him and sad beyond words for his wife and children.

Pads make noise? I haven't had that happen since the late 70's, before ultra thin pads came out. What pads make noise nowadays? Anyway, I hated tampons. Painful, leaky, caused more angst than any pad ever did.

Character can't be taught; it comes from the heart. No program on the planet can shape someone's character. Their behavior, maybe, but not their character.

I got a big, fat four digit bonus this week. :D :D :D

I know how it feels.

Coders have been prepping for the ICD-10 changes for over a year. The hospital I worked for did hire a ton of additional coders because the ICD-10 is significantly more detailed than coding with ICD-9. That said, coding isn't a breeze. You have to learn anatomy and physiology, disease progression and more. It's a lot of reading and discerning. Where I worked didn't care where you were trained because the first year on the job was going to be training, anyway. Another thing to know about coding: the promises vocational schools make about your salary are greatly over-inflated. Where I live, inexperienced coders start at $14 an hour. I have a friend who has been a coder for 20+ years and makes about $30 an hour. So, the pay isn't fantastic out of the gate. Also, if you research the average salary in your state, take into consideration if you have a huge metropolitan area, because those areas usually pay more and can skew the average. Whatever you decide to do, please please please research any vocational school you're considering. And, I'll give you a hint: most lie. Their sole goal is to make money so they'll tell you what you want to hear to get you to sign that enrollment agreement and possibly sign for a loan. Find who approves the school in your state and call that agency and ask if the school is in good standing. Ask if there have been complaints against the school and why. And lastly, if you have time, check your community college before a vocational school. A community college is a more stable entity than a vocational school and they are typically held more accountable because of the funding they receive. Good luck. :)

I have a wide margin, large print bible, but I can't find one now on Amazon or CBS. I like it because it has no notes and it's just the Bible text with room to make my own notes if I want to.

NOT Whirlpool. I think Lowe's is the only place that sells them (at least around here). I have one and the heating element went out. The repairman said Whirlpool was the worst brand for hot water heaters. However, I can't recall who he said made the best ones.

My dermatologist recommends the Neutrogena sunscreen with Helioplex technology.

I know someone who lied on his resume that he'd attended community college and had taken computer classes. He got a job based on his "education" and alleged knowledge. Except he never actually attended. He'd signed up for classes, but never went to a one. He argued that he did not lie on his resume--he was registered for classes so that meant he took them! (His employer fired him over this when he couldn't produce a transcript).

I had someone (a grown woman with many children) argue with me that Arizona is on the west coast. I pointed out that Arizona is land-locked so she brought her mommy into it, and because mommy lived in Arizona longer than I'd lived in California, that clearly made her right. She would NOT let it go. She was right; AZ is on the west coast and EVERYBODY knew that. :glare: At work, I've had callers argue with me that I really do have their student records from a closed school in another state. Yes, we are the warehouse for all student records from every state in the nation. :001_rolleyes:

My pic is my new grandpuppy, Stanley Pup. I'll let him talk you out of a puppy...

I don't think I've attached anything. Why does it say this and why can't I post a picture??

I was living in north San Diego county and we felt that quake that far away. I was in Hands Across America!

When I found evidence of his gay speed dating, meeting men from Craigslist at Motel 6, and his emotional, financial and physical abuse (more emotional and financial than physical). After finding emails and evidence of at least 11 different men, I threw him out. I went through 7 years of counseling with this person, only to have the same cycles repeating with no real repentance or remorse on his part. I. Was. Done.

Pro with retina display.

I subscribe to: Criminal This American Life Serial Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine Stuff You Should Know Stuff You Missed in History Class History Chicks Search The Scriptures* The Morning Offering* Approaching the Wardrobe* *These are from Ancient Faith Radio And, I just added Mystery Show.

I can always use a new podcast!

Peach or chocolate cherry

We're 9 (almost 10) days into the new fiscal year and our state has no budget. We may not have a paycheck next payday. All the politicians have their pants down and are having a big old p*ssing match that's holding 65,000 state workers hostage. Some banks and credit unions are offering payroll loans at 0% or very low percent rates, so we'll be ok. But this whole thing just p*sses me off (as p*ssing matches are wont to do). You all have had all freeking year to figure this out. Knock it off, grown the h*ll up and come to an agreement. Meanwhile, we continue to go to work every day, do our jobs and hang on to our pennies. I swear, if I had somewhere else to go, I'd move there tomorrow. This state is so messed up, it's a joke. And, because of this, my house-buying/selling is on hold. And the worst? The pink-carpet condo just went down in price by $5K. I keep telling myself it's all going to be ok, breathe, it'll all work out, but honestly, I want to march my fat backside down to the governor's mansion and start kicking a$$es and taking names. "Welcome to Illinois! Have some dreams? Let us crush them for you!" :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: And you know what else has really hacked me this week? Someone called and left me a VM about homeschooling, asking some questions. I listened to the message, but put off calling back because 1) I thought her questions were stupid. She's been at this a lot longer than I have, has graduated two kids already so why is she bothering me with this? and 2) I'm busy. I'm working two jobs and trying to get house stuff done. Anyway, she approached me this past weekend and made a snide comment/question about if she called me, would I actually answer the phone. I told her probably not. I'm busy. She asked her question again and what it comes down to is, she wants me to do some research for her. She has internet. She can do it herself, but she wants me to look stuff up for her. I told her I'd email her, but her email bounced back. I checked with her dh what her email is and he confirmed I had the right email addy. So, I'm done. FCOL, I'm all for helping a newbie, offer some direction where to search for info, etc, but this woman is a veteran and why she thinks I have the time or desire to do her research is beyond me. I've not researched curriculum in years. Once DD hit high school, we pretty much cruised with curriculum, for the most part. I'm probably being a hag about it, but I'm exhausted, stressed out and feeling pretty defeated right now. I do not need to do someone else's busywork. I'm going to bed!

Happy Happy Birthday!!

Originally, I was going to just do what she suggested and put down carpet. But here are my problems: I don't have a lot more money to put into this place. I have a friend who's a carpet installer but he's really booked up for the next month or so. He did say he could get me remnants for the rooms and the remnant he was thinking of is, as he put it, 'poop brown." I don't care, but I'm not sure how well that'll go over in such small rooms. My other issue is that we have pets and I don't want to risk the new carpet getting soiled before it sells. I have more friends who can install laminate than I do friends who can install carpet!