We just had a stray cat adopt us. Can't let him in though because of allergies and asthma with ds and allergies with me. The only time he wanted to come in was when it was raining. He's been hanging around for about a month now and winter is coming. I don't know what we're going to do for him when it starts getting really cold. Maybe make him some sort of house? Right now he's sleeping in a makeshift house dd made for him out of a cardboard box and rags.

I would consider California rolls a finger food. Easy to pick up and pop em in your mouth. I say go for it. Dh and I LOVE sushi. It's one of our favorite foods.

These are the BEST kinds of announcements! Off to go get me a free cookie! Thanks mommylawyer!

My girls cleaned their rooms on Monday...I mean a deep, under the bed, behind the dresser, in the closet clean. It took the hours because they are like pack rats and save everything. I called it "Practical Arts" which I am required to teach by NYS law. Yippee!

Yep, me too! I have my to do list, my news, my gmail and my calendar all there at a glance.

It's very refreshing to see that kind of character.

Very clever and funny disclaimer!! :D

Wow! Children are by nature lazy creatures (with exceptions of course) and they will rise to the expectations we set for them. If we expect nothing, then that is what they will deliver. Where is the incentive to do well and to try hard when the kid next to you does nothing and gets a 50%? I think the lady they quoted was right on the money when she said "Judy Leonardi, a Stanton Heights resident and retired district home economics teacher, said she objected to the notion that a student could "walk in the door, breathe the air and get 50 percent for that." "I don't think it sets kids up properly for college, for competition in life," she said. To Ms. Leonardi, a 20 percent score means a student isn't trying or needs more help with the material. Automatically putting 50 percent in the grade book, she said, doesn't help the student in either case. "To me, it's morally wrong," she said."

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. If you have a Big Lots near you, I've seen them there for just a few dollars.

These are the various speakers we've had at our convention over the years that have been very popular: Diana Waring (History Alive) Keynote speaker (?) Jay Wile (Apologia) Keynote speaker Steve Demme (MUS) Keynote speaker SWB Keynote speaker George Sarris - Keynote speaker Jim Weiss (GreatHall Productions)

I can't STAND The View. I really can't. I saw a clip of the McCain interview on TV and I burst out laughing. I couldn't help it. I saw the look on Barbara Walter's face and she was not happy. At. All. At least she could have pretended to be nice for the sake of professionalism but I guess it was too much for her. I also saw a clip of the Obama interview and she was fawning all over him. If I remember correctly, she kept her hand on his leg for a lot of the interview. Again, professionalism out the window!

Remudamom, you totally crack me up. There is no beating around the bush with you. I think that is why I find you so refreshing. BTW...:iagree:

I find this whole thread funny. I guess when you blog, you open yourself up to all kinds of people. Oh well, you can't take their comment seriously if they didn't believe enough in what they said to leave their name.

Hi Jen, I am so sorry that you felt denigrated by the OP's post. Of course, I can't speak for her but I *think* she mentioned being a Christian because she wanted people to know that she wanted spiritual advice too but she didn't want to limit it to just "Christians." The "non-believer" phrase simply means "not a believer in Christ" as used by the OP. As a Christian, I would be considered a non believer to a Muslim or a Buddhist simply because I don't believe as they do. It is a general term that can be used by any religion. So much has been made on these boards about whether to put CC in the title of a post, how christian content should be handled...it seems like no matter what a poster does, there will be someone to find fault with it. The OP was trying to be inclusive of everyone. A little grace goes a long way.

First off, here's a :grouphug:. What a tough situation. Have you consulted a lawyer about this? Maybe there is something that can be done legally because of your dd's handicap. I totally understand your frustration about your ex-dh and his lack of involvement with your dd. And yes, I would be mad. And probably frustrated that he "just doesn't get it." He has no idea of the joy he is missing by not getting to know his dd and getting involved in her life. To me, this is not the mark of a true man. A true man takes care of his responsibilities even when he doesn't have to (by law). And even though it is really, really tempting to try to cut him out of the picture all together, I would seriously pray about your motivations for wanting to do this because it appears that this would be your way to get "revenge" on him and God says that vengeance is His, He will repay. Not only that, cutting him out deprives your dd of knowing her dad (as imperfect and selfish as he is). I'm guessing that she loves her dad and would probably not understand why she doesn't seem him anymore. I just want you to know that I admire you a lot for all you are doing. Being a parent is hard. Being a single parent is even harder. Being a single parent of a disabled child has to be one of the hardest thing a person can do. But remember...you serve a BIG God! :001_smile:

That's exactly what I thought when I first saw it.

My dc's all read with lunch so I either read or come here to the boards (which is what I did today!)

I put the subscription in all their names and they share.

We are the owners of two piggies under a year old. Our previous piggie died at about 5 yrs old. We love them! But everything the previous poster said about the cages is true...my two dd's take care of it though...that was one of the conditions of getting the new ones.

I think this advice is right on the money...it was similar to what I was going to say but Carol said it waaay better then I could have!

I read about this in the Reader's Digest a while ago. It was so tragic and completely avoidable.

The only one I know is newlifemom. We were part of the same homeschooling group and our girls were really good friends...and then she moved. :( We miss you guys Pam! The group is not the same without you.

LOL...from what I remember Pam, there were a few other SWB groupies at the convention weren't there? As a matter of fact, it was seeing her at the convention that made me remember this forum and I'm so glad I did.

I may read the first few posts in a political thread, but that's about it. I simply choose not to get involved in those conversations because it just seems like everyone is trying to change the other person's mind. And of course no one's mind is going to be changed. It would be much better (imo) if posters could agree to disagree politically and just move on instead of beating that poor dead horse...

Um...she has horses right? I would never see my children again...