If you'd been in my house 30 minutes ago you might have shuddered. Dishes all over, pillows & blankets scattered, shoes all over, needed vacuumed, toilets dirty, bathrooms disheveled and needing attention. We have been lazy today and it has felt awesome. Finally, I told the kids we have to get caught up. Everyone got their list and went to work. I checked some areas afterward and then they came and helped me with the extra. So much better. I threw dinner in the oven and a load in the washer. I love a clean house so I have had to lower my expectations a lot. My home is cozy and warm. Yeah, there are some video games piled half-hazzardly on a shelf and I need to clean up my desk again. It's a constant battle and if you are able to find a good balance of not perfect but good enough it's not so bad. One of the most interesting people I know has a house busy with people and stuff going on. She never apologizes for her home. It's not filthy, just busy. :)

You are too nice. I just say No, thank you and hang up before I can hear their response. I have called companies back when I had a jerky caller.

You could talk to her, but it sounds like she is difficult. I don't like drama. Can you just let the friendship fade away?

Exactly, my 12dd who plays with dolls and stuffed animals everyday has a woman's body. She wears regular jeans, shorts and t-shirts and grown men look her way. She wears no makeup and is still a little kid, but she's tall, long-legged and beautiful. She keeps her hair short and I encourage it. I feel like I would have to dress the girl in sackcloth, but I won't do that to her.

So exciting!

Yes, that sounds terribly gross, but it's probably pretty accurate. And now we don't have to feel so bad about not deep cleaning enough. It's for our health ya know. :lol:

Very true. Those anti-bacterial soaps are supposed to be part of the cause for the bad bacteria out there. Bacteria learns and adapts.

I like that: hybrid vigor. :D

I agree. I asked dh which house we've owned was the least expensive for maintenance if we took away cosmetic desires? He said they were all about equal. We've had a 2 5-year old houses, a house over 100 years, and now a 41 year old house. I prefer the one we have now as it was built very solidly.

Sounds smart. Would you use it for anything? What about getting into a more distinguished university?

Right. I don't think I'd claim it either. But what about a person that looks white and is black but lived a less advantageous life and perhaps their parents and their races did have some impact on their opportunities? We also have friends that are Hispanic. They are much better off than most people I know and they look as Hispanic as I do and I'm not Hispanic. They also have a Hispanic last name.

Aren't they? Those little toddler pics make me want to kiss their little cheeks.

Can you imagine? In that case most of us are black. From what I've been told there is a black person somewhere far away in my lineage. I don't know. I'm more Irish and Native American. I am also the brown-eyed brunette in a sea of blonde blue-eyed cousins and I have 3 blondes and 2 with blue eyes. Genetics are fascinating.

No, but I would guess that a recipient of a scholarship reserved for blacks that showed up blonde would be questioned a little. People do try to fraud the system.

I remember that story. So amazing. I didn't know about the fin. aid issues, but I do know that when it comes to acceptance rates at certain prestigious colleges it can sometimes be an asset.

I'm sorry. Summer colds are miserable. I have a couple with them right now and I definitely sympathize. Hope you feel better soon. Get some rest today if you can. :grouphug:

Really? I didn't know that.

Up late with a kiddo so I just woke up! :lol: So how dominant? Is it based purely on looks?

They need to make some special ionizer or something that you can turn on like the fan to disinfect hidden germs. Can you imagine the demand?

Okay, I was thinking about the guy my dd is hanging out with a lot now. He's very cute and sweet and since he is black I was thinking about all the great scholarships he could get. My mind is constantly focused on that anymore. Then I was thinking that if my dd and he married how cute their kids would be. His dad is half-black and mom is white and so while he is very light skinned and caucasian looking he definitely looks black. No big deal right? But then I remembered a friend we have. He's the same race mixture and he married a blonde. He has blue-eyed, blonde kids. Are his kids considered black for scholarships? They are black but don't look like it.

I was kind of hoping someone here would clue me in. :lol: The thing is that when a girl comes on to a guy and is rejected they are deeply hurt. Guys are supposed to take rejection and boys are just supposed to take advantage of a situation so as not to hurt the girl. My ds is not like that, but it seems to be the reality. I'm thinking that if you are friends with the opposite sex then maybe don't be alone with them anywhere unless you are absolutely sure there is no attraction from either side. And Debbie, the guys being the more platonic of the friend couple is unusual it seems. Here is a video from a college campus that is very interesting.

How many rolls does it equal? I usually buy Charmin Basic. I'm very frugal.

I had a realtor that was insistent that we keep lids down for showings. Now I know why.

I know. That's why I buy double rolls. Less to change.

That's right! We've got great immune systems.