I ordered the EZ Stitch Sampler for my daughter for the holidays, so no review yet, but I enjoyed the sample video and I like the way it's laid out to help master different stitches.

I make baked potato soup with cheese sometimes: just bake some potatoes (duh) and while they're in the oven sautee some onion/garlic in olive oil and butter. When it's soft, I add a handful of flour or two, cook the roux a bit, then add milk. When the potatoes are done, I scoop them out into the soup, adjust the seasoning, adjust the thickness (by soft butter and flour paste), and add sour cream and/or cheese to taste. (Most of the time, I add the sour cream and cheese on top of the bowls, and a splash of wing sauce on mine)

That isn't love of reading, that is engaging in an isolationist activity. The same is true for people who block out the world with their iPod or video games. They aren't connoisseurs, they're blocking out the people around them. The book/iPod/game is just their preferred tool.

I have never found a significant difference between the price of Parcel Post (5-7 days to Maine) and Priority Mail (3 days, tops). In fact, there have been times when PP cost a few cents more! :001_huh: And, yes, UPS adds an annoyance premium to oversized boxes (I'm sure they don't call it that) so shipping in multiple, regular sized packages is generally cheaper.

My 7-soon-to-be-8 y.o. is getting the EZ Stitch Sampler, because I know she will really be into learning to sew. She loves her MP3 player, which has music, her Latin and French vocabulary, and some stories. Her auntie is giving her pearl earrings. That's a special Auntie gift, though. My dad is planning to get her the Chronicles of Narnia...

I'm reasonably sure you will not hear anything positive about ANY technical customer service provider. Also, I would absolutely NOT purchase the extended warranty from any box store (Circuit City, Best Buy) because they are third party warranties and the companies are, bar none, the absolute WORST I have ever dealt with. And, frankly, after dealing with Circuit City corporate, still could not get satisfactory service for my Sony, even though the "special cases" team was involved. Horrifying.

I didn't vote. I have a Dell, that replaced a Sony, that replaced a Fujitsu. The Dell is a complete relief because the others were crazy proprietary, so you couldn't get them fixed anywhere but through the manufacturer. If it were me, I would call a local (not chain store) computer repair shop and ask them about their experience fixing those three, whether any has chronic problems they see over and over, and what their thoughts are about the brands overall. ETA: I have not had any problems with the Dell, which is a refurbished corporate trade, by the way. I just didn't vote because I don't have enough experience with Acer or Compaq to formulate a valid opinion. But I do like the Dell.

I would probably tell him we ARE planning to take over the world... through toast. And then move, so he couldn't find me. ETA: Oh, ok, see, I should work on my literacy skills because I thought he was including in his rant the dollar value OF toast, not the value of the dollar IS toast. Well. Now he seems a little less crazy. (Not much, though.)

I had that kind on a large sofa with two seat cushions, bought before they had the separate seat cushion offering, and it was great. It did come untucked for about a year, until I became smarter than the slipcover and discovered that you have to pull the elastic strip at the back under the corners of the cushions, like a fitted sheet. Then it was fine. It won't be a problem with the separate seat covers. Washed nicely, too, for 4 years, until we gave it away with the couch a few months ago.

Oh, wait. Are they admitting it now? Presumably we have ditched the "pretend everything's going fine and nobody will notice the recession" plan? :001_huh: It's about time.

I have Vick's Warm Mist ones in the bedrooms and think they're great. I have also had their steam vaporizers (where the heating element submerges in the tank) and cool humidifiers, so I can give you a comparison review: Steam vaporizers vaporizer would spit - literally shoot water up about 8" - if it was not completely rinsed of any residual water (which contained salts/minerals) and its construction made if difficult to thoroughly rinse and to fill, as well as carry when full. even the 2 gallon one would have to be filled at bedtime, or it would run out of water. The medicine cup - where I would use eucalyptus and tea tree oil when someone was ill - was tiny, difficult to fill and the plastic got gummed up and couldn't be cleaned. The heating elements corroded inside the steam chamber and the pieces would either come out in the tank or block the holes that allow water in. Weekly cleaning was necessary to prevent spitting and non-steaming. This involved soaking the whole heating element piece in vinegar, then lots of rinsing through the tiny water holes and steam head. On cool models Vicks cool (evaportation) humidifiers seem to cool the room and has evaporation filters that would need to be replaced every month or so. They also seem to need additions of anti-bacterial stuff to the water. Ultrasonic cool mist models create a "cool steam", which shoots out a bit and then falls on the floor. It doesn't appear that this technology has been improved in the 20 years since I first experienced it. Warm Mist tank is easy to fill and maneuver - no spilling has two settings, so you can control the level of vapor and even on the high setting, it lasts about 10-12 hours. steam chamber lifts off for easy cleaning, and the steam chamber itself is dishwasher safe. It does not spit, as there is no high salt/mineral water that is left in the tank. The medicine cup is easy to fill, wipes clean and has not gummed up (harder plastic, I would imagine) The heating element is coated and does not seem to react badly to the water. I clean mine with straight vinegar (rinse and wipe down the tank and whatnot) to get rid of salt/mineral buildup at the end of the season and then store them. This is our third or fourth year with these and there have been no issues at all. Does that help a little?

I would suspect it's either muscle tone or, simply, positional and there is a drop or two of urine still left in her urethra so, when she stands up and relaxes, there's a drip. (Remember, cotton wicks, so a quarter sized spot isn't very much. I have experienced something like that when I have waited a really, really long time to go and the bladder muscles don't seem to fully contract to empty completely. And my dad has recently claimed that this is a regular occurrence in men... but I haven't polled any random men to corroborate his story. (and, yes, I have the most bizarre conversations with my dad.) Is she drinking more? Urinating less frequently? Maybe some Kegel exercises?

Or maybe the slip-on cap here?

How 'bout a snood? Some of the sleep caps out there a) scream 1970s cafeteria lady and b) I think long hair would pull them off. A snood seems like it would hold it together better.

I would point you toward Strayer. A friend and colleague of mine finished her BS in some IT field there, while working full time, with a small child. I'm pretty sure the vast majority of her work was distance learning. He can probably also knock out a number of his GERs at the local community college, but he should have a plan first, so he can make sure the credits will transfer before he takes the classes. In my experience (I'm a former software engineer) IT positions mostly look for a BS or higher degree, and 5-7 years experience. I would suspect IT forensics would want more than that. That said, I don't have a degree at all, just a lot of experience and absolutely no fear when it comes to hacking something I don't already know. ;)

No, some of them (ok, tea tree oil) will actually eat through plastic and make the exterior of the bottle all gummy. :ack2: I've never had that experience with lavender, eucalyptus or any other that I use a lot and tend to buy in large bottles, though. Only the tea tree.

Maybe this is it?

Well said, Karen. Your comments reminded me (also non-Christian) of a reading side trip we made during first grade, after reading the story of the Sumerian king who was found as an infant, floating in the river in a basket. That, of course, led to the story of Moses, then to looking for other, similar stories, and talking about how interesting it is that this is a recurring theme throughout ancient history.

Interesting. In Western Maine, it's just thick, coarse hair. Or thick, fine, or or whatever. Must be a flat-lander thing, that thick and a lot of it.

I get essential oils at Whole Foods, or through eBay if it's something I use a lot. I get containers for stuff at Wholesale Supplies Plus I gave you the company president's blog link because she puts recipes on that. The link to the company page is at the bottom of their banner. They also sell "compare to" fragrance oils that are similar to popular scents, in addition to essential oils and whatnot.

I keep it up - otherwise, I'd look like Cousin Itt. :D Actually, I just keep it up because it gets stuck in everything... my lip gloss, my fingers, DOORS. True story: one morning on the way to our homeschool co-op, I left it down to dry a little on the way... it got stuck in a bush next to our driveway, twice, then slammed in the car door, then sucked out the sunroof. :glare: I just roll it up into something that starts out as a twist, loops back around a couple of times and ends up like a very loose bun. Then I stick a barrette or sticks in it. Otherwise, it's braided.

As Plaid Dad mentioned, we have read the Greek and Roman myths with our children, along with other literature. Along with giving meaning to part of our vocabulary, the myths are the basis for the names and depictions of our constellations. My children also read/ are read stories with talking animals, but they don't spin that into any expectation that our dog will chat with them, nor does practicing yoga make us Sikh or reading about Dia de los Muertos make us Mexican. Know what I mean?

Mine too! "Play it again! Play it AGAIN!" As if they haven't heard it all before. :001_huh: Thanks!

Mine's the same and knee length. I was just thinking the same thing - I probably do, though not intentionally. Many people I know who go "no-poo" (using baking soda paste and apple cider vinegar in lieu of commercial shampoo / conditioner) find that, yes, brushing thoroughly with a natural bristle brush is great. First, it does distribute the natural oils, giving the hair body. Second, it brushes out dust, pollen, etc. that clings to the hair. Remember that during the Victorian / Edwardian days, hair washing was a big deal. Thorough brushing (as well as keeping the hair long and up) would keep it clean. Ok, I have to know - because I grew up in New England (Maine) - what different term for "coarse" did we use? I can't think of one.

I'm probably not much help, but I loved Peter Beagle when I wasn't much older than that... A Fine and Private Place was my favorite. I do know that his intended audience is adults, and I pilfered it from my Dad's book case. I would imagine you would have to determine how sensitive to such things she is. My 7 year old is reading the Narnia series... no issues, but there are parts that are graphically violent. She doesn't seem to get bogged down in them, though, they're just part of the story.