'Cuz Florida is too d@mn hot! Seriously, I would never leave my heavily air conditioned house.

I get it. I live in Alaska now and it gets so much colder here than it ever did in Pennsylvania but the cold on the east coast is brutal compared to the weather here. I suspect it has to do with humidity in the east. But, oh my, those Pa winters were horrible.

I heard the same words from my son last night. He is, at the moment I am typing this, at the store buying a pressure gauge and pump so we can inflate it enough to get it to a repair shop.

We rarely have 'groups' over because we really don't have enough people from any one specific activity or organization large enough to host a gathering. We have a big yard and a fire pit so at least two or three times a year we do something around the firs pit- usually a sport team of church group. We supply hot dogs and brats and everyone brings something to add. Sometime it will just be the neighbors. Ther's very little work involved for me since it's all outside. But, as far as casual drop-ins, my kids know their friends are ALWAYS welcome. So, at any moments notice we may have an extra person for dinner or someone who needs/wants a place for the night, But, that isn't 'hosting' in a traditional sense. The kids generally do the work for that. The most I do is remind them there are fresh toothbrushes in the basket on the bathroom shelf.

Most cash registers are computerized. If they scan the coupon, the register will reject it if it isn't valid. On the other hand, stores can override - many stores take expired coupons. I would just insist the cashier 'try it'. I find it happens at JoAnn fabric store. (Not maliciously, just accidentally because they are unaware) when there are several available coupons. I may be told, you can use this one (item deduction) or that one( savings on total) , but not both but, lo and behold, they scan it and they both work. Sometimes, they don't. No worries. We tried.

Grimm is good. - although not alien Agents of SHIELD - not strictly alien but I love it. Librarians - again not alien but I like this one too.

My mother was a lot like that. That kind of behavior is why our family hasn't had contact with her in over 10 years. I could take the crap she piled on me ( and I did for many, many years) but when she started hurting my children, that was a line I wouldn't let her cross. I gave her a choice about amending her behavior with the children or expecting us to remove ourselves from her life. She chose the latter. We're all the better for it.

Very cool! I've wanted to try this with ds 16 but I figured it was safer to wait until DH was back from overseas. He's an electrical engineer and I figured he would do his best to make sure I didn't electrocute myself or the youngin'. DH will be back for a few weeks in Feb. I may put it on the 'fun things to do' list.

No, you think people are stupid. You said so yourself.

The Amazon-fu was weak in Alaska and more than 50% of the gifts were some form of IOUs. But, the kids were pretty funny about it. DD bought me a pair of sheepskin lined gloves that didn't arrive so she wrapped a pair of regular gloves inside an old baby lamby and tied it with a big ribbon. Several people got pictures of their items with silly notes. My son 'loaned' my his kitchen scale until mine arrives. Lots of silliness so it was fun. DS who requested gum - and underwear - received gum - and underwear- in his stocking. Everyone else received a pair or two of socks in their stocking. Since he received no socks, he borrowed someone else's stocking, and along with his stocking, wore them on his feet for part of the day so he had new 'socks' too. Same ds works as both a gymnastics and skating coach. He got a t-shirt that said, "Don't make me use my coach's voice!" He's excited to wear that to work! Older ds got a spaetzle maker so he can make it at home instead of coming to my house for it. Usually I use spaetzle as an incentive to change my tires winter/spring. I probably should have thought that through a little better. ;) DH who is overseas skyped with everyone s it was a nice, low-key Christmas. Nice people. Good food. And, best part is the kids do all of the clean-up!

No it isn't what you said. I quoted what you said. You said, "Just gross, " which can easily imply that you think the previous sentence expresses what you find gross. You didn't say you HAD to put it in a plastic bag (implying it was soooo wet/messy you couldn't transport it any other way) you just said you DID put it in a bag. I certainly drew no assumption about its state of utter disgusting from what you wrote. You call people stupid for not thinking the same way you do and you argue with people who disagree with you. Would it make you feel better if we just agreed with you? In the spirit of Christmas, I can do that. I proclaim, You are absolutely right that anyone who does not know what a dust mop is or how to use one is STUPID. They should be rounded up and sent back to 10th grade home-ec classes with the other STUPID people and not be allowed to mix with the enlightened until such time as they have proven themselves to be rehabilitated and no longer STUPID.

Myth Busters tested the toothbrush scenario and found there was actually very little difference in bacterial growth. If I'm remembering correctly, the one stored in the medicine chest actually had the worst contamination. So, you are correct - very little concern. (I suspect the same with the jelly, as well)

Dan Fogelberg's Christ the King. I just love the flugelhorn part of the instrumental section.

Anchorage, Alaska...barely any on the ground at our house. We had a 'pineapple express' blow through a few weeks ago and it melted almost everything. Since then, we've had one little snow that left a few inches. It's pretty sad that we can see bare ground under trees. :unsure:

That's sad and hurtful. I'm sorry. I hope she just doesn't realize she does it and it's an innocent foible. :confused1:

Hoping for good news for your pup!

Do you realize you DIDN'T say this in your original post? You just said someone used it to wipe up a wet mess. You can't get angry and blame people for commenting before they read any additional material. You have posted so may additions pointing out that you can't believe people just don't know what you know. Then you are incredulous when they don't respond to the situation the same way you do. You called people 'Stupid'. It's right in the title. It's as if you are saying to any/everyone, "If you don't know how to use a dust mop, what it is, or what it's for, you are STUPID." And then you wonder why people respond as they do. And, you get angry and say it wasn't a big deal but that you are just intense. Well, if you give 'intensity' why do you expect to receive less? Can you not accept that there are people here, not one or two, but several, who tell you that you over-react to less than life-threatening circumstances. Perhaps, just perhaps, you might want to think about why they post the way they do. You might just be calmer for it. Honestly, I wish the world's worst problems could be solved so easily as a sharpie on a dust mop. Have a peaceful Christmas and enjoy the many blessings of the season.

I can not like this enough! You are being very gracious and kind with your responses.

Mine too. My sweet children have told me to expect to be eating something around 3:30 so I should plan my mealtimes accordingly. And, since the youngest at home is 16, and dh is stationed overseas, it will just be 4 of us for Christmas. I promised the kids spaetzle but the rest of the meal is pretty much easy ( roast beast, roast veggies, rolls from frozen , and I think Mrs Smith is preparing a pumpkin pie for dessert. So, my tomorrow should be easy - especially if I get all the wrapping finished tonight.

Yep, I agree. Adhesive . Completely normal.

Tammi - and let's just hope that stays dead.

We have a tradition of inviting 'randoms' ( as my daughter calls them) Basically, the kids pick up whatever college students are left hanging around, unable to afford a trip home. We also gather anyone new to the area that doesn't have family in town. We can have anywhere from one extra guest to 10. We never know. It sounds like that isn't your style. Which is fine if you can work it out with family. Now, if what you really want to do is whack someone on the head for getting you into the mess to begin with, I got nothin'. But, if extra guests is what you have to deal with, here are a few tips that work for us. Have a few extra bags of frozen veggies in the freezer. If you don't have freezer space, buy a few cans. A box of instant mashed potatoes is super quick to whip up, jar of turkey ( or appropriate meat) gravy for the 'taters, and, a small spiral or heat 'n eat ham can all be tossed on the table or a counter for a buffet in just a few extra minutes and it adds extra food to the mix without a lot of work. And smile. Everyone will feel welcome and there will be enough food to feed everyone.

Awesome!

:grouphug:

I can totally relate right now. Our kitten is about 5 months old ( not neutered yet but asap right after Christmas) and he does the exact same thing. It is getting better little by little. But, it is a slow process. he wants so much to 'play'. We do give him lots of toys, lots of attention, lots of interaction but using us as chew toys is still a big thing with him. We can actually see 'the look' come over him as he decided to go from placid petting to active pounce mode. The best thing that I've found is to encourage everyone ( and some of my kids need more encouragement than others) to stop playing/petting at that point and putting him down. It has been slow but he IS getting the idea that people don't want to be bitten. Now, not seeing your cat, it's hard to know his motivation, but this is working for our cat who is not being aggressive but just very much wants to catch her prey and pounce.