I like both of those!

Ooooh. I like that one. Sadly, I'm just collecting names for my novels or to pester my children with someday when they're trying to find the perfect name for my grandchildren. :D Didn't "Anne of Green Gables" have a beau named Royal??? I could totally see a Royal and a Worthington in the family. :001_smile:

make a comeback that haven't (so far, at least)? My sweet grandmother was Ethel. I'm not so crazy about that even though I adored her. However, there are quite a few in her generation I'd love to hear more often: Mary (I've heard a few times, but not frequently) Lora Vera Alice Suzanne Sonia Helen Lucy From my own peer group, I find we're missing a generation of: Deborah Linda Donna Lisa Michelle Pamela Cynthia Jane Patricia Susan For boys' names . . . well, in my ancestry, the men had such incredibly outlandish names that I can't imagine sticking new children with them OR they had names that never really went out of style. Mostly. Maybe I'll think of exceptions later. They had names like: John Thomas Steven David Brad Charles Robert or some really really really unusual names. There was a creative streak somewhere in our family tree. :tongue_smilie: What about you? What names do you just kind of miss when you read the current most popular lists?

3 years for me. The day-to-day has gotten easier. I miss her but I really really really focus on remembering the blessing she was and still is to my children and me. She's mentioned in our conversations often (maybe once every 2-3 days one of the children will mention something she did or said or I'll remember something). I try to steer them in a positive direction. "Yes, we miss her so much. Wasn't it wonderful that she loved us so? You know, you'll have that love in your heart your whole life!" Mostly the memories give me a little tug but they make me smile. But I still get blind-sided by a random thought or occurrence, too. Probably once every several months something will trigger a great wave of grief. It doesn't last long. I give in to it. Tell my husband. Or write about it. Give myself a few moments to cry. To miss her. I asked my husband (a counselor) about all this since he lost his mom 25 years ago. He says he doesn't get blindsided anymore but he did for years after his mother's death. For him it's become a loss without the acute waves of pain . . . My advice isn't professional, but I would give myself time to do whatever I feel is helpful and honoring of her memory. Set aside time to look through an album or visit the gravesite or make a familiar recipe or whatever . . . maybe it will comfort you and maybe it will hurt, so let it be what YOU pick and give yourself the time to feel whatever you feel and don't tell yourself what you should feel or what you should do . . . :grouphug:

her mind was clear but her body was stiff and it was difficult for her to get herself clean. I was 20-ish. She had had a home health aide, but her benefits changed and it was no longer covered. She asked me. I may have been a little embarrassed at first (I was young and very modest), but she was matter-of-fact and I wanted to help her. It became a non-issue. I would have helped when my mother was on hospice care, but it bothered "her." She was bothered by the home health nurses, too (my mom was EXTREMELY modest), but they were so professional and gentle . . . well, it became a non-issue for her, too. In my mind, you do what is necessary. And when you are the one in need of assistance (childbirth/sickness/etc), modesty/embarrassment take a secondary role. And you don't look back on those times any differently. I have run into my ob/gyn at concerts or recitals. He shakes dh's hand, kisses me on the hand or cheek, asks us both about the children . . . There is a separation between the professional/medical relationship and the casual social one. I wouldn't hesitate to tell friends I met him because he delivered our babies -- I just don't think about THAT when I see him. In addition, after our first little one was born, dh and I ran into an old college chum who was just finishing his residency in ob/gyn. If I hadn't already established a relationship with my dr, I would seriously have considered switching. I knew the friend was brilliant and caring and I would have trusted him to help get my babies safely into the world! Dh even asked me if I wanted to switch because he wanted me to be especially comfortable with our babies' care!

About popular names: I think the popularity of classic names is very different from the popularity of a name that suddenly hits the lists because of a celebrity or soap opera character. A "flash-in-the-pan" name that says, "I was born in 2011." For instance, "Emily" and "Sophia" are in the top 10, but I knew the names from my childhood/college. And I suspect my mother and my grandmother also knew girls with those names. They may be more popular now, but the names aren't "dated." Sorry for rambling. Names are some of my very favorite things to think about. Guess I need to get on my Great American Novel so I can use some more of my favorites! :D

Like your other children's names, it is easily spelled and pronounced. Classic. Timeless. Romantic without being too fussy. http://www.babycenter.com/baby-names-charlotte-954.htm

I'm pretty sure some departments don't have one. I instruct Teacher Education classes, and I have heard the rationale that we are preparing TEACHERS who will be expected to be punctual and dependable on the job. That makes sense to me. Students who miss 4 class meetings have their grade dropped one letter, and students who miss more will have to repeat the course. (A 'D' won't count toward TE requirements.) I'd prefer not to worry with attendance, so I assign a written response question at the beginning of each meeting that counts toward the students' grade. That way I have hard evidence of a student's presence. If a student fails, I have to note the last date of attendance for financial aid records. It amuses me that students will write on their course evaluations: "Don't have the class at 8 a.m." What time do they think they'll have to show up to teach school???

but I'm thankful we wound up with ranch homes. My grandmother used to be stranded downstairs all day until her dd/sil helped her up to her bedroom at night in the years she lived with them. My mother was in a wheelchair during her hospice care. My 13 yo dd had to have back surgery (scoliosis) and her recovery took 6 weeks. My 26 yo brother had to have hip replacement surgery -- one at a time. I would not only consider my own current health situation, but also think about what will happen if we are called on to care for family members. Our dear elderly friends are in a ranch home that has one step down in the living room, and she is terrified that he will get confused during the night and fall on that step. Maintenance on a ranch is much easier and cheaper since you can do it yourself. I appreciate the positives of a two-story, but I find a ranch much more practical.

Children can get hurt while in the care of a teacher (field trip, for instance) and the teacher can be sued. Teachers can be falsely accused of abuse and exhaust all of their savings on legal costs even if the accusations are dropped or the teacher is acquitted. Even if you do everything "right," bad things can happen and you need to be covered.

Professional liability insurance is offered through teachers' unions, but we (dh -- public school counselor -- and I -- former ps teacher) opted to add a rider to our homeowner's policy instead. Now our insurance co has reduced that coverage option. I'm not sure how to find a substitute . . . Thank you!

I teach adjunct courses at a university. We're moving toward the end of the school year and several activities are on the calendar: a retirement luncheon, a senior's graduation party for the students of our department, and a president's appreciation luncheon for faculty/staff. I received a printed invitation to the retirement party, so I'm planning to attend. I've talked with the retiree several times over the past 2 years and want to wish him well personally. It seems appropriate (I hope). A senior professor went out of her way to tell me about the senior's party several weeks ago and told me to save the date. I taught several of the graduating seniors, so maybe I should go to that, too. Especially since the professor told me to! The president's party invitation is posted on the workroom bulletin board AND was extended through the college email . . . They're just asking for a headcount. I like my coworkers. I enjoy my job. I would like to go. Yet . . . Does it look . . . hmmm . . . foolish?? . . . needy?? . . . inappropriate?? . . . for me to attend these things? I feel I'm walking a fine line between being one of the crew and not really being a part. Does that make sense? I'm homeschooling my 2 high schoolers and they don't need my attention every moment any more. It's not as if these activities are cluttering my calendar. I'd go to everything if I weren't self-conscious about my true position on the "faculty/staff." WWYD?

I'm assuming it can be disassembled to move in the back of our minivan. Hopefully! We have a space (game room) where I think it could go, but we use that room for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with many guests. Is it difficult to move once you've set it up?

A friend has decided he doesn't have room for his (his mother was recently widowed and moved in with him) and has offered it to us. I don't know anything about it, except that it's some sort of strength-building machine. And, I know I have 3 sons and 2 daughters and there's bound to be someone living here who would make use of it. Right? Just how much room does it take? Any reviews from past/present owners? Thanks!

Dr did not make it in time for the first two and the nurses who delivered those babies were amazing. The dr arrived in time to repair the internal tearing that occurred during the first precipitous birth. The nurse called the dr EARLY for #3 and there were no interventions. Dr let me help rub and clean him as the little guy lay between my legs on the bed. And dr sang "Happy Birthday" to him -- so sweet! I allowed myself to bow to family and dr pressure to be induced for #4. (Trying to coordinate the care by working family members of the other 3 complicated things), but I'm not complaining. I really had reservations about being induced for #5. I really wanted to labor at home. I really wanted no interventions. Again, coordinating the care of 4 young children and having dh with me . . . I was in labor when we got to the hospital. I wasn't crazy about all the monitoring, but I'm glad in retrospect. Dd was delivered with the cord around her neck and I'm happy for the assurance that her heart rate was normal throughout labor. I was fascinated by my friends who wanted homebirths. I guess it was my "ideal" but it isn't legal in our state and friends had to travel . . . I don't want to travel while I'm in labor! The hospital supported my wishes and respected me, but I also trusted them to keep my babies and me safe. My doctor LOVES babies and I knew he would do his best to watch out for them!

This really varies, doesn't it??? My '96 Windstar has 88,000 miles. When my babes were little, I went out as little as possible. We traveled to Colorado once, Texas once, and made a few trips to see my brother 4 hours away, but mostly stayed at home. We also live right in the middle of everything we do -- nothing takes us more than 15 minutes' travel. The grocery store (depending upon which one has the sale I want) is either 3 blocks or 2 miles. I don't really enjoy driving. I just like to have reliable transportation that gets me (and the family!) from Point A to Point B with as little cost/time/energy as possible.

ARTICHOKE CHARTREUSE PARAKEET PARROT MARTIAN LIMEADE ASPRGUS TROPICAL FOLIAGE GRNYSMTH (the apple) BROCCOLI VALLEY BOTANICL VERDANT LEPRCHN TREEFROG CLOVER CRCODILE SPRIG MINTY SORBET

Green makes me think of: DINO T-REX IGUANA IGGY GECKO YODA SHREK GRINCH KERMIT OSCAR GROUCH MARGRTA JULEP KEYLIME CAESAR (salad, I mean) SHAMROCK (too many letters?) LUCKY PICKLE MYKIWI EMERALD Fun. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the color!

I've been researching new cars and reading consumer reviews. I was surprise by the number of cars some reviewers had owned. One mentioned he has bought a new car every year since 1991. Does that surprise anyone else? I know people have widely-varying budgets and that plays a big role! But I wondered what is typical. We typically drive our new cars longer than 10 years. Our Windstar is 14 and we're keeping it for 2 reasons: 1) it doesn't have significant $ value and 2) it's less expensive for insuring our younger drivers. I wonder how long it will last. 15? 20 years? What do you consider a car's lifespan?

I don't know if it's the best, but I have very sensitive skin with reddish patches and it is so gentle. It has improved my skin's appearance and feel. I'm so glad I discovered it. I was allergic to almost everything else I tried.

:grouphug: Bless you both! I pray for his recovery and for wisdom for you!

I won an auction for a DVD that was advertised as "very good condition." What a deal! Less than $1 plus shipping that was less than $3! Then I received a message from the seller. While packing the DVD for shipping, he/she decided it wasn't up to the standard of "very good condition" and refunded my money (confirmed by my paypal account). I did not respond at the time, waiting to see the item on arrival. It looks great. I've watched the whole movie and it is fine. I don't know how everyone else rates DVDs, but I only care if it plays. The case and DVD look like they have been used but gently. Would you repay the seller? And if you would, does it go directly through paypal or through ebay?

Dh and I went to test drive a few cars yesterday. I would be happy to get a slightly used car, but the one we saw had a strong smell of smoke. There must be a way to get rid of it, right? Then why didn't the dealership do it?

Thanks for the suggestions!

I'm on the USPS site trying to figure out an estimate. I'm sending souvenir t-shirts, so it's nothing fragile. Could I send them in a poly envelope? Or should I use a box? Should I have them packed before taking to the PO or use one of their packages after selecting the kind of shipping I want? Thanks!