:iagree:My thoughts exactly. Then, stick to it!

Wow! That certainly worked out for all! I'm so glad you didn't have to have any more discussions with her.

Oh, I am so sorry. I will pray for your family.:grouphug:

The way you did it should have worked. Check your sent messages folder (pull down under "Jump to Folder") to see if they were sent. That's what I'd do. Hope you figure it out!

That was just beautiful. Thanks.:)

I have to say that this type of email would stress me out majorly! I don't crave get-togethers with people (introvert by nature) and have a difficult time maintaining the few relationships I already have. I am not rude, nor am I stuck up. People have different personalities, and some enjoy new opportunities like this more than others. Saying no with a nicely worded email does not make the OP rude, as one response stated! She was contacted out of the blue by someone she does not know, who asked if her children could come to their house to play. I will admit that this makes my warning bells go off! Honestly, I think her main reason for not getting together is quite valid (moving soon and probably not staying in the area for long).

:iagree: It has been my favorite purchase so far this year!!

Whaaat?:confused: I suppose they don't like the groovy attire of the day, either. I loved them so very much. They were dreamy!

I brush, then floss, then brush again. My reasoning: brush first to get off the "stuff" that's on there so it isn't as gross. After flossing, the spaces will be all clear for the toothpaste to penetrate all the nooks and crannies. Dh thinks I am totally weird, btw. :001_smile: I just read all the responses and am delighted to see that I am NOT totally weird! (unless all of us brush-floss-brushers are weird, but we're not weird alone!) I am so happy to show this thread to dh.

We pay $17.50/half hour (with a slight discount for 2 children). Our teacher has her own studio, graduated from college with a music degree and has multiple awards for performance. We live in western New York.

Oh, that is great! Btw, I love that your dog's name is Ray.:001_smile:

Okay, so even if was a faux pas (which I am not convinced it was, btw), how in the world would that be construed as adversarial?? :confused: I know you must feel terrible about the reaction you received, but you did nothing wrong. Really.:grouphug:

Oh dear!! My family would love to see a giggly me, I'm sure! I already have a fuzzy brain - can't imagine me on this.:blink: Seriously, though, I think for car rides (a source of anxiety - as a passenger, not a driver) or other intense situations it would be helpful. Is this something you have to take for a while to take effect?

Thanks, everyone! I need to do some research as to which meds cause weight gain. I definitely cannot afford to gain weight, as I am already overweight. Bleh. Thank you for bringing that to my attention so I can be informed when I go in. Hmmm...someone asked about exercise. I'm afraid I am in a vicious cycle. I need to lose weight, but it hurts to exercise because I am overweight. Consequently, I don't exercise nearly as much as I should. Maybe a combination of a better diet, some exercise and a low dose of something would be good. If I go on meds, I don't want to be on them forever. A good regimen might help facilitate that?

Thank you! I will certainly do that. I am going in for a physical so hopefully will be checked over thoroughly. My mother has hypothyroid, but my tests have always come back okay. Maybe there is a more simple answer than I think. That would be great. I really would like to avoid meds if possible.

Ha! I don't know why the title didn't save to the cable title instead of antidepressants! Anyone know how to delete a thread? I pushed edit but there is no option for this. I'd like to start over with the correct thread title. :tongue_smilie:

Hi, all- I am going to the doctor tomorrow to talk about possibly starting some medication for anxiety. I have denied the need for it for a while and find myself getting worse. I have intense anxiety at times, and I find I am constantly annoyed with people and very intolerant. Quite honestly, I am most happy when I'm alone and not able to be bothered by things that most people could handle just fine (kids arguing, teenager issues, kids not doing chores the right way, deadlines, etc.) It is getting to be quite debilitating, and I'm afraid I am pushing my family away. There is also a need for perfection that plagues me constantly. Anyway, I am wondering about the best medication for these types of issues. I know everyone is different, but I would like to know of experiences people have had with different meds, good or bad. I am terrified of going on medication but suspect I should have done it a long time ago. Ugh. If you want to pm for privacy, that would be fine. Thank you!

Have you regretted getting rid of your cable? We are thinking of dropping down to basic cable. Unfortunately, Time Warner has only the $10/month basic or the expensive major package. I sure do wish they had al a carte channels! I know I would miss HG channel and Food Network, probably TCM and AMC as well. It is so expensive, though! So, are you :001_smile: or :thumbdown: that you gave up your cable service?

Oh, that's awful! I will pray for this being a temporary thing! I suffer from reflux also and know how much it can affect normal life. The feeling of not being able to swallow is a common symptom of nasty reflux - ugh. Mine showed up as a feeling of a lump in my throat. Talk about panic! I had anxiety with that until the meds helped. I can only imagine how awful it must be to have difficulty swallowing. :sad: Have you tried OTC reflux meds? There are many that could at least make it feel better (liquid antacids or pills). Your doctor can help. My dr. looked at my throat (with a tiny scope through the nose) and noted that it was quite red, a sign that it was being burned on a regular basis, even when I wasn't feeling the burning sensation. Not good. I now take a proton pump inhibitor (Prilosec or Nexium [when it gets bad]) but used OTC meds before that. Hope you feel better soon! :grouphug:

I want to be sure I understand. 5 kids, all 11 yrs. old, 3 people to watch them in the pool? I would never expect parents to stay for the party and would be surprised if they did! (Not offended, just surprised.) I must be a bum of a mom because after my kids turned a certain age, I was thrilled not to have to go to any more birthday parties with them! Three hours of screaming children does not make me very happy. I am a dropper-offer and hope nobody ever gets upset about that. My kids have a nice mix of friends, home schooled, public schooled, Christian schooled, etc. Honestly, I don't think any of the parents go to parties with their kids, especially at 11 years old. This has been an interesting thread to me. I'm going to pay more attention from now on to be be sure I haven't been committing a faux pas. If I find I have, my children will go to FAR less birthday parties!

All of my kids spend some of their money on food. My youngers love going to the bulk section of the grocery store and buying $1-$3 worth of bulk candy. I try not to be too controlling, but I do have to tell them how many pieces they can eat or they'd down the whole bag! My ds18 buys Coke (keeps it in the other refrigerator) and other snacks that I won't buy. Sounds normal to me!

I simply sweep (Swiffer Vac) then use the Shark Steam Pocket mop. No chemicals, just water. The shark can be used on almost any floor as long as it is sealed. It can dull the wood floors, but many have easily polished them after this happens. I don't really care as long as they're clean. I love having only one mop to use for the whole house and using no chemicals. I do this once a week. The kitchen usually needs a touch-up about mid-week.

Little Women Jane Eyre Oops, I think you only asked for one so I'll stop there.;)

I make this one at least four times a year. I use store bought dough (the already rolled kind). I cut the cinnamon in half. ---------------------------------------- King Arthur Flour Mr. Washington's Cherry Pie In honor of George (of course), the following recipe uses canned, frozen or bottled sour cherries. Canned cherry pie filling is a bright-red, gelatinous substance that bears only faint resemblance to the fruit from which it supposedly springs. Bakers who've used sour cherries know they're well worth the effort. Hopefully your store carries these cherries; they’re a tawny red, rather than neon-colored. Many coops carry individually quick frozen sour cherries, which have a beautiful bright red color and unforgettable flavor. 1 recipe King Arthur's Pie Crust 5 to 6 cups (three 15-ounce cans or jars) sour cherries, packed in water or individually quick frozen 3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces) sugar 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup (1 1/2 ounces) quick-cooking tapioca or 1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) Pie Filling Enhancer 1 teaspoon almond extract 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) butter (optional) Divide the dough in half, and roll one half into a 13-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie pan. Drain the cans of cherries, reserving 2/3 cup of water from one of them. Place the cherries and reserved liquid in a large mixing bowl. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, and tapioca or Pie Filling Enhancer. Stir this into the cherries until everything is evenly combined. Stir in the almond extract and salt. If you’re using tapioca, let the filling sit for 20 minutes before using it to fill the pie shell. Spoon the filling into the pastry-lined pan, and dot with butter, if desired. Roll out the second crust and place it on top of the filling. Cut a design (two cherries? a hatchet?) into the top to vent steam, and squeeze/seal the top and bottom crusts together, fluting with your fingers or a fork. You may also choose to make a woven lattice crust. Place the pie on a parchment-lined (to catch any spills) baking sheet, and bake in a preheated 425°F oven for 40 to 45 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling. Remove the pie from the oven, and cool it on a rack before slicing, so the filling can set up. Yield: one 9-inch pie, 8 slices.

I love this! I can so easily picture people sitting there playing checkers or Monopoly...really cool!:thumbup: