Same here, my youngest's last WBC was also her first at 7 weeks :tongue_smilie:

Lost The Big Bang Theory Prison Break Fringe Colbert Report ER It drives me nuts when dh suggests we check out a new show. This list is already too much to keep up with! lol

Like this or this?

This sounds like the real issue. There's a huge variety of tracts, and messages they put forth. Some preach sinners going to hell, while others focus on God's love and forgiveness. I think you may have a narrow image of the type of person that would give out tracts. I'm not totally opposed to handing them out. If I did, I wouldn't do it because I was angry and bitter over people celebrating Halloween, it would just be a good opportunity (how often do you have 100 people come to your door asking you to hand them something? lol). I also wouldn't choose tracts that simply preach repent or go to hell. I'd much rather focus more on an "introduction" type message to God's love and forgiveness and who He is.

I think thats awful that anyone would be the victim of a hate crime from a Christian :( That makes me sad. I still stand by what I said before though. When you (general you) go door to door asking for free treats, you're not in a place to deem what is a "treat" and what should be given out. All you can do is choose to deal with it or not participate anymore if you are not happy with the results. What is an "actual treat"? Its something someone gives to bring pleasure to the recipient. I'm pretty sure that is the goal of those who give out tracts (may not be very effective, but it's their goal). Some people give out circus peanuts :tongue_smilie:But I try not to get offended lol

It wouldn't bother me if my kid went up and asked them for it. :D But, then again, the only way I can really see that happening is with my consent (at least while they are young). And someone might say "Well, they aren't asking for that, they are asking for candy". It's Trick or Treating...not Give Me Candy. When I was a kid, people gave out all kinds of treats - homemade popcorn balls (which we were never allowed to eat lol), gum, money (pennies, nickels, etc), tracts, and candy. Money isn't candy, but it sure is a treat! And call me corny, but I think learning about Jesus is too :D So if someone wants to share that "treat", they have every right to. And people have every right to choose not to Trick or Treat.

Thats where I get all my cast iron :D I love Lodge Logic, and when I discovered Amazon offers free shipping on it I was so excited! After spending nearly $1000 on a stainless steel set years ago (still have them), I much prefer my little collection of cast iron! I have a cheapy set of stainless steel too from when I first moved out. I probably use these more than the expensive ones (steaming veggies, boiling water, etc). Lodge Logic has a set that I think is perfect for starting out with cast iron (actually, there's two). The lid acts as a second skillet... http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Logic-Pre-Seasoned-Combo-Cooker/dp/B0009JKG9M/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1224519701&sr=8-36 http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Double-Casserole-Skillet-diameter/dp/B000LEXR0K/ref=sr_1_46?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1224519774&sr=8-46 I'd go with the last one considering the size of your family. They are a little pricey, but it's two pans and they last forever (you'll be passing them on to your grandkids lol).

If you don't want to risk an infringement on your beliefs, you should re-consider trick or treating. This is why a lot of Christians choose not to participate in trick or treating...they realize the potential of something infringing on their beliefs. I don't hand out tracts, but I certainly feel I have the right to do so if someone comes to my door asking for me to hand them something. If someone was handing out something I didn't believe in, I wouldn't expect them to stop, I would stop asking them to hand me something ;)

If we're talking about not allowing programs to directly receive federal funds, I can see the argument. But if we are strictly talking about a student who receives federal aid choosing to attend the school of their choice, that's a slippery slope. If students are no longer allowed to use that aid for religious studies or for religious institutions in general, it should apply to all religious studies (or all institutions offering religious studies). Matters of the heart and what they truly put their faith in should not matter at all (so whether it is secular study of religion, or religious study of religion). And if we're going to take it THAT far, to further control where aid is used, we should require more control in welfare. Surely we would have to disallow recipients to use cash assistance (TANF, unemployment, etc) on anything religious. Obviously, the above is not going to happen. And I think we all realize that how aid is used isn't always in a way we would personally agree with. If it isn't a life or death situation, sometimes we just have to suck it up and choose battles.

We have been wanting to get a bit more land, raise some animals (not for the meat though...not quite there yet lol). I was kidding with my dd and said we'd get bunnies - "Really? Yay!" - and we'll give them names like Stewy, Meat & Potatoes, etc :tongue_smilie:She didn't appreciate that lol

Here are our favorites. Taco Soup 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey 1 medium onion, chopped 1 can (16 oz) tomato sauce 2 cans (16oz each) tomatoes, cut up 2 cans (16 oz each) pinto beans 1/2 - 1 pkg taco seasoning Brown meat (drain if not extra lean), Add remaining ingredients and simmer 30 minutes. Three Bean Soup 1/2 tsp chopped garlic 1 can (28 oz) tomatoes, cut up 3 cups water 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste 1 tsp chili powder (I always leave this out) 1 tblsp dijon mustard 1 tsp dried basil 1 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp pepper 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained 1 can (15 oz) blackeyed peas, drained 1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans, drained 1 can (15 oz) whole kernel corn, drained 1 cup chopped carrots 1 cup chopped zucchini or celery 1 medium onion, chopped Combine first 13 ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 10 minutes. Add the rest and simmer covered 10 minutes more. Both are incredibly easy and freeze well. The Three Bean is nice because you can leave off what you don't like, add in what you do. French bread and butter is a must for the three bean, and homemade tortillas for the taco :D

It looks good! I'm using my pressure cooker right now. I cooked a whole chicken earlier, cleaned it, and now I've put all of the squidgies back in to make some stock :D

A tip I remember reading once was double layering (or barely staggering) them on the line would make them softer. They take longer to dry though. Flats/prefolds aren't the easiest diapering system to use, but they are the easiest to wash and dry. You could always use them in pocket diapers to get the best of both worlds :) I would definitely still use cloth if I didn't have a dryer. I would be line drying our cloth now if I had a more private backyard (new development, no fence yet).

If it makes anyone feel any better about using a collar, my sister tried it out :lol: She wanted to see how it felt so she put it up to her neck, barked as loud as she could pulled away laughing (and saying ouch). So the shock really isn't that bad lol It worked for our big mutt (lab, german shepherd, etc). If we had the collar off for a while (1-2 months?) he would get back into the habit of barking again. Once on again though, he stopped.

I'm not terribly thrilled with all of the left/right leaning sources on the internet, and we don't have cable (not that those are any more neutral...). I'd like to subscribe to a couple of news magazines (Newsweek, US News, etc) but I definitely want something with totally neutral viewpoints. Any suggestions?

If Monegan was under her authority, isn't it her job to ensure he is doing his job? And since he did not fire a loose cannon like Wooten, I would say Monegan wasn't quite doing his job. If I were in her place, I'd probably give him the boot too and get someone in there that wouldn't keep a man like Wooten on the force.

We used to freeze a LOT more, but we've stuck to a few basics lately - meatballs, taco soup, taco rice, three bean soup, meat mix (ground beef w/onions & celery), and shaped bread dough (ready for thaw and last rise). Now, it would be great to see some recipes :D

I hope you two can come to an agreement about all this without too much hard feelings or hurt :grouphug: Do you think he would agree to an "allowance"? Maybe if you budgeted in some fun money for him he would be more open to sticking to a budget? Just budget something less than what he spends now. Once he sees the cash dwindling in his pocket, it might help it click. Or...try the envelope system. I think sometimes part of the problem is when we don't actually SEE the cash (and see it dwindle) spending is a lot easier. If he can see divided up where it all needs to go it might help. Also, you might want to work in some sort of reward for saving money. If there is money left over in the envelopes, make a deal that half goes to savings, half goes to him to spend as he chooses. If it were me, I'd probably just completely take over and take away any form of spending. I'd tell dear old hubby that if he is not willing to help manage finances, he's part of what must be managed.

This is what my husband is counting on as well - that when the economy gets bad, people go back to school. He works in higher education (SunGard HE). The area he works in is online/distance education and they are planning on expanding in the near future. So we're definitely counting our blessings. We do have a bit of debt though and we're trying to get a handle on that...

I have nice set of stainless steel, but I absolutely love my Lodge Logic cast iron. I plan on collecting more, including a few enamel covered pieces which would be better for boiling water, etc. They are inexpensive (this brand anyway), healthy and last forever :)

You'll find a lot of good info here http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/ Search for book recs. there as well, something is sure to come up (I'd recommend one, but I've only done square foot gardening, and that may not apply - at least, it wouldn't apply to me if I had a whole acre for a garden! lol)

I don't mean to sound all conspiracy theorist on you lol but there is software that can simply flip the results to read 51 to 49, for a particular candidate. There was a video on youtube of a software programmer testifying to this, saying he was hired to create such a program. He said that it is not detectable at all. In the case of using a test stack, a program used to rig the results could be programmed to not kick in until voting actually start. So, its still possible......you never know who had access to the machine or how corrupt the manufacturer may be...

Either way though, the effect is, as a Republican having received those offensive calls, I have absolutely no interest in participating in any polls (I received about 5 or 6 calls, I believe only 4, maybe 5, was from that one company). Like stated above, there are definitely cohort effects concerning who pollsters actually get feedback from (even with legitimate ones).

Hey, I've been polled! More than I care for. It was truly bizarre too. They called with "positive McCain questions" first....nothing too detailed serious (basically, are you voting for McCain). Then I believe the same polling company called several times more, so I answered questions with the next call. They were agree/disagree questions. The person would say "Obama said such and such...." (all positive things he has promised and it dragged on and on) and I would have to agree or disagree. Then they would move to McCain statements and it was ALL very negative things that he has been accused of or has been said about him. Basically, by answering their questions I would be made out to be a crazy right wing republican that doesn't believe in all these great things Obama will do for our country, but yet I am fine and dandy with *insert negative thing (true, twisted or false) about McCain*. I stopped answering their questions after that, but they kept calling and calling. I had to get a bit rude with them to stop calling me with their partisan polls. So, basically...all that to say I don't care what the polls say :tongue_smilie: I don't know who will win though. I don't trust fairness in either party really (not necessarily distrust for the candidates themselves though....well, at least McCain lol). I don't trust the media at all (and their part in it all is way too big). Elections seems to be one big crapshoot, but I try to do my part :glare:

Stocking up because of the economic situation :) I've always wanted to, but either we never had the money for everything (storage equipment, bulk purchases, etc) or had a hard time justifying it. Now neither is standing in my way so I am getting it all taken care of. My main reason for wanting to do this is to save money - as we use and rotate our bulk stores, as well as having inexpensive food on hand when prices go up. Should something happen to the food supply, we'll be okay, but that isn't my main concern. So far I have ordered storage containers (I wish I would have taken a closer look at those gamma seal lids! I didn't realize they fit a standard bucket!), seeds for the garden next year, and some canned goods. I'm tapped out for now, but we should have more room in the budget very soon. I plan on getting a grain mill and start working on bulk food, toiletries, kids clothes (they grow like weeds, hopefully I can find some good deals!), and other necessities.