We're currently running around trying to put books, clothes and other things we can't take with us in "safe spots", whatever that might mean. I have a Scion Xb, so we have precious little cargo space. DH has a $30K toy collection with no insurance rider, so he's a bit on edge, to say the least. We'll take the high end stuff, but he's got hundreds of pieces, so most will stay behind. We learned our lesson with Katrina and we're bringing 2 weeks worth of clothes, lol - we brought enough for 2 days last time and ended up having to hit the thrift stores and Target for our 3 week evacuation. I cried for about an hour tonight, but I'm okay now, I think - I've pretty much resigned myself to losing the house, so if all we come back to is wind damage and a ruined fridge, I'll be on top of the world. I'm about to go pack up my leather corsets - those things are NOT cheap, no sense letting them get ruined, lol!

Yesterday there were memorials all over the city, as it was the third anniversary of Katrina. Today they are bussing the elderly and infirm out of all areas around New Orleans, and they are calling for mandatory evacuations today in many areas, including where we live. I understand the mass hysteria, but I'm not going to get caught up in it. We're staying until Sunday night or Monday morning, and making our decision only when we're much, much more certain of where this storm will make landfall. The good side of that is that most people are leaving today, so by Monday morning we should spend 16 hours driving 350 miles like we did with Katrina. I just went to the grocery and everyone was in total panic mode. You have to realize that most of these people just got done rebuilding their homes - just moved back into their houses after 3 years in a tiny FEMA trailer. The Katrina wounds are fresh, even still raw, in many of the residents here. I've been having mild anxiety attacks since Wednesday just from the "intensity" of everyone in the area. I refuse to watch the news, I'm just keeping an eye on the NOAA tracks on the internet, and we'll use that to make our final decision. To many of you, Katrina may seem like ancient history. To me, I remember it like it was 3 weeks ago, rather than 3 years.

ITA. We do some contributions each Christmas through our homeschool group to the local AIDS counseling/testing center, so my kids have been exposed to posters about AIDS, condoms, and other STDs since before they could read - we're the family that brings all the donations in to them each year. We've had brief discussions about them, and about the purpose of the clinic. I don't assume my children will abstain from sex as teens - I know I didn't, and I wouldn't go back and change that fact if I could. I'd rather them go into their teen years fully informed about sex and all its ramifications than with half-truths and admonitions to "just say no" like many other teens end up experiencing. I know the general consensus here is that teen sex and premarital sex is wrong, no matter what - but I think responsible sex as an older teen/young adult is an acceptable course of action.

Heck, I usually notice the next thing, then ignore it for a day or two. I'm TERRIBLE at housekeeping. One of my goals is to work on that.

I couldn't care less about the Olympics. My parents started talking about it yesterday and I nearly went into a boredom-coma. It's just never interested me in the least.

I'm just wondering how a Senator having an affair 2 years ago is worthy of "front page" coverage on CNN. This country leaves me scratching my head most of the time...

I just found this thread, but I'd have to agree to that. I've been guilty of saying Greg's home babysitting so I can go to a movie with my friends, but I've also said the same of myself if he goes out with HIS friends to do something in the evening or on the weekend. If we were BOTH out, we'd have an actual babysitter and pay her - if just one of us goes out, the other one does the sitting. I don't call being home with the kids during the day babysitting, because that's just what we DO every day. Something special at night, though, where one of us stays home with them while the other goes out - I have no problem calling that sitting.

Not gross at all. My kids used to swim naked in our pool when they were younger. I'm still bummed we didn't make it to the nude beach on our trip to FL this past weekend. We had every intention of going and were really looking forward to jumping in the ocean naked!!! Oh well, there's always next time...

I could never do it, nor would I want do. I lost 60 pounds and have kept it off almost 5 years now by doing a lower carb and now "healthy carb" way of eating - I have eggs every morning for breakfast and chicken or turkey at some point every day. Beef a few times a week. I couldn't do veggies and beans only - it would kill me. We don't eat tons of meat around here - but we enjoy things like yogurt/fruit smoothies for dinner - and no dairy would mean no smoothies! And much to the disapproval of the Eat to Live crowd, I usually toss a scoop or two of protein powder into our smoothies as well :D I try to eat lots of salad and veggies, but I need my eggs and meat too. And a life without sushi at least once a week? Well, it's just not worth living!!!

Due to a condition I have, I contract MRSA 2 or 3 times a year, or more - I've never ended up hospitalized for it. Just read up on it and be aware of the symptoms. If she shows any, then get her on some antibtiotics. I really wouldn't worry about it, as long as you know what to look for and don't wait to take her in if you think she needs meds.

My summer favorites: So You Think You Can Dance Swingtown Project Runway Weeds Looking forward to new seasons of: Californication Heroes Eureka

Wonderfalls was pure, unadulterated genius.

I can't even imagine holding onto it until Christmas - you guys should start enjoying it NOW, then give some games for Christmas!

My 7 year old daughter does this. She's still acting out scenes from Nacho Libre and Monty Python and the Holy Grail, both of which she saw 2 years ago. I think she has more fun reinacting scenes than she does actually watching the movies...

Two come to mind - I don't eat these often - maybe twice a year - but I LOVE them! Big Mac Hubig Fried Pie