I wasn't gonna mention the kraut crock thing...only because there seems to be controversy about it v/s Mason jars. But...it does need to be anaerobic as it ferments to keep mild completely at bay. I use the exact method you describe. The 5 gallon one.

Trent Reznor and Gavin Rosdale...yes! But, admittedly, I was in my mid 20s by then. I still feel wistful thinking of the Rolling Stone cover I framed on Gavin in ..1997..was it? Sigh......

I'm not sure if the vinegar will help or hurt, even being raw, but the thing I love about fermentation (I ferment a lot of different things) is that it's an experiment! So try it out...see how you like it. Or..see if it ruins it. Just do a little and go from there.

Sweet!

I've been making kraut for 2 yrs with just salt and cabbage. The surface of the cabbage has more than enough microbes to start the process. Mine comes out really good every time. However, mine isn't quick kraut. I let it go 6 weeks. Maybe the vinegar is used because its the 'quick' kind.

At 12 I decided I wanted to be a SAHM to two children...a girl and boy.(check). But I didn't think about where, who I'd marry, etc. Other than MacGyver...I thought of him a lot, lolol.

Ohhh, and my pre-teen crush was HEATH from The Big Valley. LOLOL

I saw them in concert, too! Called it a highlight of my LIFE. LOL Have you seen Bret Michaels w/o a scarf or hat on his head? I thought he was cute as a teen, too. But now..he's bald or thinning a ton under there from what I understand. :(

Well until I was 23 I was one of 3 siblings that used my dad's Ford Ranger..I don't even know the year. Before that, I briefly drove his beat up old Plymouth...something with a V8 in it. He should have thought twice about that one. LOVED how fast that thing was. At 15..yeah..lucky nothing happened. But the first car *I* personally had as mine was a brand new 2004 Honda Civic. I waited until I got a salaried job before I got my own car so that I could choose just what I wanted. I kept it for 3 yrs until I didn't owe much on it, then I traded it in on a brand new 2007 Honda Accord Coupe...black, every option possible. A single girl in my 20's with a smoking job, car and boyfriend and we lived by the beach...........ahhhhh the good old days.........

We are gun people and I think it would be very inappropriate and highly inconsiderate to do so, given that there are so many different feelings about it. We carry often (but not always) but we leave it in the car under the seat. It's my feeling that it's totally unnecessary to take it IN. I'd also be extremely worried that a little hand might find it's way into my purse if I had it and I don't want that responsibility or take the chance. I only ever want the responsibility of it being in/on my own property...only.

Hey..I still have a crush on Sean Connery! And always will. Dh thinks its weird and gross. Lolol. And Harrison Ford is very crush worthy!

Yes we have several guns for hunting, target practice, etc. We use them pretty frequently.

Did you have one? Who was it? And where are they now? I had eyes for only one...ever.... Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver). Holy-extreme-teenage-crush, batman! How I loved to stare at that man. LOL! I think Joe Elliot (Def Leppard) might have been a close second. Lately I googled Richard Dean Anderson and was SHOCKED at how he's let himself go. When he was on Stargate, I thought...Oh he's aging well, with his distinguished gray hair and chiseled face . Now, I didn't even recognize him if I hadn't double checked the caption. Very disappointed and just wanna remember the gold old MacGyver days. :001_wub: you?

It really upset my DH when he spent good $ on a pair of Keens, only to find out how much they stink...he couldn't bear it. His hunter-friends (who hike for miles at the time, and whose boots tend to REEK) told him about a moisture wicking toe type sock that controls the moisture, therefore cutting the stench. He's not here for me to ask, but they are low socks that are barely, or not at all visible above the shoe. he says you don't feel the toe part of it and it even makes the shoe more comfy too. Since using them, his back to being real happy with his Keens.

i had a super intense dental procedure today in which I was prescribed Valium ahead of time, and it did nothing for me. I trembled and weeped through the procedure, my hands went numb (an anxiety symptom of mine) and though I felt no pain due to the numbing agent, the rest of the day I felt like a truck ran over me. Presumably b/c of the emotional upheaval and near panic attack I felt. Put more simply, my vent is........I HATE dental procedures!

I voted cream only because the lighter color tends to make the room feel bigger. And I just personally like it better with the color of wood you describe. It's also easier to change things out with that color. Maybe go for pops of color in the decor.

That sounds like a good idea, if it's very gentle, intro type stuff. I use some yoga poses just for the stretch it gives. But I wouldn't do any that 'work you out' for now.

In my experience, a really crazy spasm can last a REALLY long time. I have problematic muscles that, when spasming, last months. The only quick remedy I've found, after making sure my body has what it needs to soothe muscles, (mentioned above), is to correctly ID the muscle with issues and stretch, work, correct it. OH and I forgot to mention something that REALLY helps as well is a warm bath with plenty of epsom salts and some baking soda in it. That REALLY soothes things for and encourages everything to try to relax as you are working through therapies. I also second chiropractic, but my chiros have told me that muscle-care is as important b/c muscles hold bones in place so they have to be fully functioning to keep their adjustments in line. I haven't found all chiros to work extensively with muscles, so try to find one that does. I can only speak for myself, but I've done many of the exercise programs you listed and have certainly experienced suffering muscles afterwards. Not sore muscles typical of exercise, but debilitating issues like you describe Now that I know exactly what muscles give me the most problems, I still do such programs, but my problem-muscles get a ton of attention after the workouts to soothe them along so they don't spasm. In fact, I have tried 6 times to become a runner but lower back pain and the spasms have forced me to throw the towel in SIX times. I was so sad each time because my body responds the quickest when running. This year, I decided to go from ou- o- shape to running a 5K with DS. I was scared b/c I know my muscles don't tolerate running. But I decided not to skimp on spending PLENTY of time with my problem muscles after each run and as long as I did that, I progressed. I finally went on to being able to run that 5K and never suffered from muscles spasms. All it took was a lot of muscle education and correctly ID'ing which were causing me a problem and working with them. Sometimes it meant adding in that epsom soak, but it ALWAYS meant lots of water and magnesium and stretching.

I have honestly loved every stage and the teens are no different. The challenges are much different but as growing people, I couldn't be more proud of them. Watching this type of maturity blossom is such a joy. I'm really intrigued and amused by a lot of it. Both are pretty funny kids (though DS is 12 he is very teen-like), entertain me daily and make the *most* interesting choices and observations. There are clashes, and every day isn't full of rainbows, but it's in the to-be-expected range for now. Both of mine are very loving and hug and kiss me daily on their own....how could I not love that? What I don't love? ..how they have honed certain gaming skills and now the master (me) has become the student. :lol: So now, I never win at much. But on the flip side, they are both very good at math and have mostly self taught it this year. So I'll take that as a WIN. So I guess my sanity on school days loves how stinkin' smart they are. But since they are just newly teens, I know many changes are to come and I know I won't love all of them so I'm just relishing in today and hoping for the best like I always have. :hurray: But I think the thing I love MOST about this age is they have, which in turn gives me a lot of independence again. They are old enough to stay at home (and finish school work!) if I need to run an errand or get groceries, they are dependable to run into a store for me and pick up a couple things for dinner while I sit int he parking lot to make phone calls or appts., they do a fair share of the housework, DD even makes simple phone calls for me and is starting to cook dinner at times. They mow take care of the lawn sometimes, too. I look back when I had much younger children that needed me, my lawn needed me, my house needed me, dinner was up to me, it was up to me to schedule everything, etc etc. And I'm loving the reversal of that thanks to their independence and abilities. LOVE the teens years so far!

I have honestly loved every stage and the teens are no different. The challenges are much different but as growing people, I couldn't be more proud of them. Watching this type of maturity blossom is such a joy. I'm really intrigued and amused by a lot of it. Both are pretty funny kids (though DS is 12 he is very teen-like), entertain me daily and make the *most* interesting choices and observations. There are clashes, and every day isn't full of rainbows, but it's in the to-be-expected range for now. Both of mine are very loving and hug and kiss me daily on their own....how could I not love that? What I don't love? ..how they have honed certain gaming skills and now the master (me) has become the student. :lol: So now, I never win at much. But on the flip side, they are both very good at math and have mostly self taught it this year. So I'll take that as a WIN. So I guess my sanity on school days loves how stinkin' smart they are. But since they are just newly teens, I know many changes are to come and I know I won't love all of them so I'm just relishing in today and hoping for the best like I always have. :hurray: But I think the thing I love MOST about this age is they have, which in turn gives me a lot of independence again. They are old enough to stay at home (and finish school work!) if I need to run an errand or get groceries, they are dependable to run into a store for me and pick up a couple things for dinner while I sit int he parking lot to make phone calls or appts., they do a fair share of the housework, DD even makes simple phone calls for me and is starting to cook dinner at times. They take care of the lawn sometimes, too. I look back when I had much younger children that needed me, my lawn needed me, my house needed me, dinner was up to me, it was up to me to schedule everything, etc etc. And I'm loving the reversal of that thanks to their independence and abilities. LOVE the teens years so far!

I have lived a life of dealing with severe muscle spasms. Lots of gentle (at first) stretching helps, making sure you are getting magnesium and water, and foam rolling has worked wonders. Now, when I exercise, my warm up stretches and cool down stretches take as long as the exercise itself. if I don't stretch well, there's heck to pay. I had a similar experience once where I found myself on the floor and couldn't use my legs. xrays showed nothing and I was sent for a 6th month round of physical therapy where i was taught a LOT about muscles use. At the time I had just started running and as it turns out, my lower back does not tolerate it well, so I learned that most back pain is 'referred pain' where another muscles is angry but you feel it in the lower back. For me, the hamstrings, hip flexors and periformis muscle refers pain there so I learned how to stretch those two muscles to loosen my lower back. However, there are several other muscles that pull on the lower back and a PT can target that and assign specific stretches to help out. I was also taught that a strong core will head off lower back problems. Are you doing any new physical activities?

Pming you!

Dh and other males in my life have assured me of this as well. I think overall both genders explore boundaries and are more assertive and such but with DS I've noticed that whatever it is, is decidedly male in nature. What makes it different than DD, in MY experience, is that I recognize much about what is going on with her because I remember these stages in my youth, but with DS it's not as familiar so it's more intriguing. DS has become assertive with me in a way that feels like he's taking care of me, but yes, with DH it takes on a bit more of a confrontational tone. DH is easing through it with him because he says he doesn't realize he's doing it.

Lol! I don't mean roles are changing.. He's no alpha here, for sure. Just curious if other moms noticing puberty encouraging an increase in assertiveness. Cute to watch...

The thread about 12 yr olds growing made me wonder if you boy mommas notice that when they hit puberty, they start become more assertive and trying to take charge? My DS has given me quite a kick lately as he'll tell me, "this is how we're going to do this......." then he outlines his plans. LOL I follow his suggestions when I can but recently we were out of town, just me, him and his sister, and I was watching the navigation on my phone, and right there on the interstate he took my phone off the dash, did something to change the nav and told me a better way to get across town and that he was going to get us there. I was like,...?? What the...? So I did have to put my foot down and ask him to quickly get my nav going again so I didn't pass my exit. And ..his sister isn't appreciating it lately, either. It all just cracks me up.