I usually have my receipt so I don't know. Not sure how they ever would have refunded the purchase price without a record of the purchase price, though. I still think it's pretty amazing they would refund $19K on a car more than 20 years later.

Lands' End is sort of famous for their return policy. In 2005, they accepted the return of a $19,000 vintage car purchased from the cover of their holiday catalog in 1984. They gave a complete refund, no questions asked. I've never returned a car, but I've always found them to go above and beyond anytime I've needed help.

If dd is really ill (i.e., she would be staying home from school if she still went), I let her stay in bed, watch TV, play on her 2DS, etc. All the things I would do if she was staying home from ps and didn't have work to do anyway. We might have to pick up the slack over the next week or two to catch up if it goes on for more than a day or two. If she is just a bit under the weather, I sometimes lighten the load for that day to the minimum subjects. I usually find that, on days that I am not sick but don't feel *great*, it often helps me to get up and go about my usual routine. So that's what I try to encourage her to do.

Just wanted to post this here, in case anyone is inclined to help: http://savingsweetbriar.com/ Full disclosure: I'm an SBC alumna.

Just wanted to post this here, in case anyone is inclined to help: http://savingsweetbriar.com/

Can you link to any of the ones you've considered? Do you have a price range?

I tend to agree. If your marketing strategy is to cultivate a feeling of friendship rather than business-client relationship, that could work to your advantage. Although I still reserve the right to look down on you for it. ;) Private employers certainly can opt for whatever policy they choose. I guess I'm looking more from the customer's perspective. At what point does it become a turn-off? A little surprised by the "don't cares." Would you really be okay with conducting sensitive business via a Hotmail account? Would you communicate with your doctor that way, for instance? I'm surprised those didn't at least go with the "sensitive material" option.

I am sick and bored (and sick), so just thought I'd take it out on the unwitting Hivers who stumble into my trap, er, poll. I assume most everyone has heard that the former US Secretary of State has come under fire for conducting a large percentage of state business via a personal email account instead of a government-issued one. Although the story has important political/legal/security implications, I'm not trying to address it directly here. (Would that violate board rules? I'm always confused about when we cross the line from policy into politics.) Anyway, as a marketing and communications consultant to various nonprofits, I always encourage my clients to require all staff (even part-timers and key volunteers who interact with the public) to use an email address from the organization's domain (e.g., buffy @ chihuahuahandbagsforstarletsinneed.org). It's kind of a pet peeve of mine when they don't. I think using personal addresses makes the organization look sloppy and this has major implications for donations, etc. I think the same applies, maybe more so, to for-profit companies. Plus, it's very difficult to remember to email softkittywarmkitty @ yahoo.com about your commemorative plate order if you're not dealing with someone you know personally. The biggest objection I get is, "But I'm not always in the office!" but of course it's ridiculously easy to route another domain's email through Gmail. (Obviously, if you're trafficking in state secrets, this might not be your best bet. But there are tons of easy and free ways to make networked email web-based for the average company.) IMO, domain names are so cheap that pretty much every company should have one, even if it redirects to a Wordpress blog or Facebook page. What? I'm rambling? It's the fever talking. So... GO! *Edited to fix my fake email addresses. :)

You know why I quit watching? Because they always advertise some drama and said drama never really materializes and every show ends with them saying how lucky they are and how much they love each other... What can I say? I'm from the Jerry Springer generation. ::slinks away in shame::

Haven't watched in a while, but wasn't the whole set-up between Kody and Robyn Meri's idea to begin with? Maybe she's playing a longer-term game than anybody realizes. Her daughter has left for college or will soon, right?

1901. I was in the centennial class.

That's my hope. Alumnae are already mobilizing. They are saying they have agreements with several nearby colleges to accept all credits and allow for restructured degree programs if necessary in order to graduate current students on time. They say they are committed to making sure every current student transfers successfully (to whatever schools they choose, not just those few). We will see how that all plays out. Unfortunately, there are also many incoming students for next year who have probably turned down offers from other schools. I can't imagine what they are feeling.

Yes, Sweet Briar. There have been ongoing issues but everyone has been blindsided by this extreme measure. They just completed a major renovation of the library and had sophomores declaring majors last week!

Just got word that my alma mater is closing its doors. Permanently. At the end of this semester. :crying:

Everything stops here when it snows. If we aren't going out for our other usual activities, then we have plenty of time to both school and play in the snow. I always remind dd that she'll be smiling in May when we're starting our summer break and her friends still have a month of school left!

This.

I don't think the Mod Podge will smear the ink. You could do it on photo paper. I know for sure it won't run (I've done it before myself and it comes out great). If you don't want a glossy end product, just use the matte Mod Podge.

Appreciate all the feedback. DD wants to step up her math so she can go deeper into astronomy and physics, but I can tell she's a little apprehensive about trying something new. She's a bright math student and learns quickly but isn't really working ahead of grade level at the moment. I'm hoping something like this can help her get her feet wet and help me evaluate how quickly we can move forward. Thanks!!!

I did look at DragonBox. It's pricey -- but worth it, in your opinion? Would you suggest the 12+ or starting with 5+?

I'm looking for games/apps for my iPhone that introduce or practice pre-algebra or algebra concepts in a fun way. Any recommendations?

A lot of women I know layer sports bras. So maybe you could wear a prettier style over your industrial-strength one? I have a lot to corral myself, but I tend more towards sleeveless tops (as opposed to tank tops). I'm cheap so I usually get the Danskin ones from Walmart. They hold up surprisingly well and cover what I need covered while being lightweight.

Depends on the closeness of our relationship to the bride/groom. It didn't bother me that my cousins, who live 6 hours a way and I haven't seen in at least 10 years, didn't invite our kids to their weddings. It did bother me that my mother pouted about our not traveling that far and hiring a stranger to stay with the kids at the hotel. Not happening. If one of my sisters tried to exclude my children, I'd be ticked. They wouldn't, though. In general, I prefer to attend events like weddings sans kiddos; it just makes it easier on me. Not that we go to very many formal events. If a couple prefers not to invite children, I do wish they would be blunt about it on the invitation. I know you're supposedly able to tell by whether it's addressed to the couple or the entire family, but I've not found that to be an entirely accurate indicator. Another of my pet peeves: People who treat grown adults as children on an invitation. Another of my cousins invited my sister to his wedding on MY PARENTS' invitation! She's 30, lives two states away, and is a successful attorney. Just because she isn't married herself doesn't make her a child. :rolleyes:

I had gestational diabetes with ds and was pre-diabetic after that. What worked for me was a modified-carb diet. Basically, not eating any kind of carbs without pairing it with protein and/or fiber. These both help slow adsorption rates of the carbs and help keep blood sugar steady. I, personally, had to be extremely careful in the mornings. I did (and still do) eat only protein for breakfast. I love my juice too, but that had to go. Otherwise my sugar would shoot up. This varies from person to person, however. Now that my sugar levels are normal, I occasionally eat a bowl of cereal, but always something high-fiber. I very rarely have juice as a treat. I don't buy it because I can't resist it. Whole fruit is much better because of the fiber content. It looks as though his current choices for breakfast and lunch are pretty carb-heavy and light on the protein and fiber and veggies. If it were me, I'd rethink those. It was also important for me to eat smaller meals and snacks in between. Again, a carb/protein mix, like a small apple and a Babybel mini cheese. Fruits vary in terms of sugar levels. It's a good idea to check the glycemic index and choose those with lower values, if you love fruit. Pay close attention to portion sizes. A serving of carbs is usually around 1/2 cup. That's not much if you're used to slapping several serving-spoonfuls on your plate! If he has a family history and is not significantly overweight, it might be harder to tame, I don't know. I was morbidly obese and my diet was HORRENDOUS. This is what worked for me. Good luck!

This is probably going to sound strange, but for me it was the realization that the way I was eating was not compatible with my faith. I was being controlled by my emotions/cravings/compulsions/flesh/{insert descriptor of choice here} and, as a Christian, I believe that Jesus died to set me free from those things. I still fight it, but my battle has become so much easier now that I realize that. YMMV. :) Really vigorous, push-myself-to-the-limit exercise was also a huge benefit for me, as was balancing my carb intake. I still eat them (there's white rice on my plate as we speak!) but always balanced with lean protein and lots and lots of veggies. Those blood sugar spikes do nasty things to me! Also, the understanding that it's not an all-or-nothing proposition. I'm a perfectionist, so this is hard for me. If I mess up, I just start over the next day. Sometimes, I've had to "hit the reset button" for many days in a row. But I keep getting back up, as many times as it takes. Good luck. Those of us who have been there know just how hard this is. :grouphug:

I miss it too. Also the links back to the discussion board pages. It used to show at the top AND the bottom, but now I have to scroll all the way to the top every time. #firstworldproblems #amiright?