If it can be a specific sandwich, I want the #3 from Jimmy John's - it's tuna. If I can't have take-out, then I pick the sandwich my best friend's mom used to pack her for lunch: peanut butter on wheat, no crusts, stuffed with Doritos. We didn't really eat sandwiches growing up, and I don't really eat them now because I never got into sandwich meat. These are about the only two I can stomach, much less survive on. LOL

When I worked outside of the home, I had to travel a lot. Sometimes I liked the work companions on my trips, sometimes not ;) Rather than waste time away in a hotel room, I got quite in the habit of going places by myself. It did take some getting used to, though - dining alone, especially. I always brought a crossword puzzle with me. LOL So yes, I'm quite in the habit of going places by myself: movies, concerts, church, restaurants, shopping ... these days I even crave it!

I just bought a panda ornament at Cost Plus World Market! For some reason I can't link it ... but if you go to www.worldmarket.com and do a search for panda ... it'll come up. There's a set of 2 (glass) which won't work, but there is also a set of 3 (wood) that might. Bonus, if you have a store nearby you can check it out for yourself to see if it's gift-worthy.

Whoa - your kids get real gold coins? LOL That's awesome. I never even thought about that before, but I like the idea! Sorry to hear your party was canceled, hope she has fun at the grandparents!

We still do stockings on Christmas Morning. Not only am I too disorganized to get those done by the 6th (on top of making sure the Jesse Tree and Advent calendars go up on time!), but it's the one feast day my MIL does. They're from communist Europe, and it's always been their big celebration day. The extended family gets together for a big party on the weekend closest to the feast day. Kids leave their shoes by the door as they arrive. At some point during the party, St. Nicholas rings the doorbell. He hands everyone a candy cane, says his spiel, then comes in for a shot (or five!) with the adults while the kids dart outside to see their shoes. He stays in costume for the rest of the party, and the kids take turns listening to his stories and having pictures taken with him. The party is tonight, and the kids can't wait! Rumor has it my ex-husband might be getting a mighty big twig in his shoes ;) my SIL isn't pleased with him, and she's hosting this year! LOL

I enjoy reality television. Scripted or not, watching the human animal in action in a controlled social environment seems no different than watching a sports game or game show. Both of which I also enjoy, thanks much. I think the only people elitists are fooling are themselves. I believe humans are serial monogamists, despite socio-political benefits or religious pressure to remain singly monogamous. I care more about expression than mechanics; as such, poor grammar doesn't register on my radar if I can understand the sentiment being expressed.

audiobook or dvd - something historical fiction or maybe interesting biography of historical figure ...? What home projects does he (or do you) have on the to-do list? Maybe something there will hint to other good ideas. How about an experience of some kind? This year I gave my impossible-to-shop for ex-husband a class at the local glassblowing store. In the last few years I've gotten him a helicopter tour, a parachute jump, a racetrack lesson and race, and an organized canoe trip. Things he wants to do, or maybe didn't realize he wants to do, but never felt he had the time for and would never get for himself.

I use straight vinegar also. I have well water, and it works well!

When I worked outside the home, I spent an average of 200 nights per year in hotels. I had my little routine. :) When we got to the hotel, we always did a room scan. We propped the door open with our suitcase, opened closet doors, checked behind shower curtains and drapes, kicked under the beds, and checked the phone for a dial tone. Less for safety and more for convenience, we usually checked that the tv/remote worked also. LOL If we were on the same floor, we'd stay outside each other's door during the checks; if we were on different floors, we'd check our rooms and call each other before closing the door. I always safety locked the door. I've never been walked in on, but numerous times a room was double-assigned and I walked in on others! After changing out of flying clothes, I always filled the ice bucket. If it came with a bag, I kept it dry and separate. One time I fell and sprained my ankle getting out of the tub, and had to hobble two floors down to find the ice machine. That stunk. Now I keep ice on hand always. It's been handy when I get headaches, I fill the bag with a few cubes and make an ice pack for my head. I keep bags in my suitcase since not all hotel chains still stock them. I didn't order room service; I called down and order it to go, then picked it up. We had a few cases where colleagues were attacked. It wasn't always the initial delivery, sometimes it was the person coming back under the guise of forgetting to give/get something. It was particularly bad in some cities where there was no true room service and deliveries came from local vendors. I also didn't call down for toiletries or anything; I met whomever by the elevator on my floor. I had to haul an ironing board one time, but by that point it was just habit. I always put a hand towel on the chairs by the big window. In case I ever had to signal during evacuation. That was paranoia more than safety. LOL I watched a news story once (in a hotel room, of course) I think after one of the big hurricanes. People died because they couldn't open their hotel windows, couldn't get out, and rescue crews had no idea where people were. Footage showed one dude waving his towel, and since he was saved ... seemed worth doing! When I left the room, I wrote a note saying where I was going and what time I left. I put it by the tv. We had a few colleagues go missing. One guy I actually knew. He had gone for a run, been attacked, and since had no ID the hospital listed him as a John Doe. He didn't show up for the airport shuttle, and when we checked his room there was no indication of where he had gone. It took a few days for him to come to and for the hospital and company to figure it out. If I miss the shuttle, I want them to have a head start on where to look for me! I never kept my room key in the pocket they gave it to me - the one with my room number on it. I kept the key separate in my back pocket and tried to memorize the room number - four different rooms a week got tricky, so I usually keyed it into my phone. I almost always had the newspaper crossword puzzle with me, so if I had to write it down I jotted it on that piece of paper. Yes, we had colleagues mugged then their rooms ransacked. It was usually in a few particular cities known for crimes against Americans/tourists but became practice even in other cities. I kept a go-bag. I never unpacked it, it was always in my suitcase. It held: $20 in singles, a small spiral notebook, pen, granola bar, pint water bottle, flashlight w/extra batteries, and a pair of disposable gloves. I hung it from or right by the door. Every night before I retired, I added my work wallet (it contained my work ID, work keys, work contact numbers, and a $100 Visa gift card) and my room key. I had a pair of shoes ready to slip into and go. Like the OP, I've been through a number of fire alarms, and also blackouts due to natural disasters.

This is one of those duh/lightbulb moments for me. I have always worked Christmas morning, so breakfast was always my Mom's gig. I retired this year, and she let me know that she's ready to retire (from breakfast) also. I've been trying to figure out what to do, since our family tradition is to attend Midnight Mass. I kept hearing about Quiver's buns, so I copied the recipe down. But secretly dreaded the work to do it. LOL Now I worry no more. Everyone gets sugary cereal in their stockings. Bam. Done. I could kiss you.

We've always adopted rescues who came pre-named, so I've had my fair share of calling out dumb names. I feel ya. It's like wanting to pin the "I dressed myself" button on your kid, wanting the world to know that you weren't the one who came up with the dog's name! Every dog we've had has always come to be known by about sixteen different nicknames, so to that end the official name didn't really matter - we'd string together 8 of his ridiculous corny nicknames and say them all in one breath whenever we addressed him. In your situation I'd have each person come up with two names. We'd vote on the best from each person's list, then put the final 4-5 names up. If I had a sensitive, dramatic kid I'd draw randomly to spare myself having to deal with the fallout. If I had somewhat resilient kids I'd put the final names up for a vote - everyone writes down their first and second choice names. First choice is worth 2 pts, second is worth 1 pt. Name with the most points wins. And if I really, truly couldn't live with the name ... I'm not above fudging the results and going with the least horrible of the two finalists. Rank exists for a reason. ;)

I think it sounds very reasonable. :) Have a good trip!

I bought a FSBO. It worked out much better for me than it did the seller! The sellers over-priced the home, so it sat for about a month. Then they held an open house and made several poor, but not deal-breaking, decisions: 1. Followed me around the home instead of letting me look for myself. 2. Trying to hard to sell me on small details that didn't matter to me. (too emotionally attached) 3. Left the dog locked in the garage - leaving that area un-viewable, and the dog stressed and barking. 4. Not seeking outside opinions on how to best stage/de-clutter the home. 5. Not being familiar enough with the comps. (justifying the over-pricing) They got what they paid for. A professional would have priced it better to begin with, and advised on how to stage the home. Later that month, they reduced the price to something more reasonable, but still no offers. I think it sat too long, and people had moved on. At the three months they pulled the listing. It stayed off for four months (winter holidays). It went back on at a slightly reduced price - the magic number I was ready to move on. The pictures they uploaded were lacking: mediocre quality, nor the rooms most buyers care about. I was familiar with the home and really wanted it; someone passing by the house or listing online was probably less likely to give it a second glance. Four weeks later they held a second open house. It had been close to a year since the initial listing. I asked if they were open to me bringing a realtor, which they were so long as I paid the fees. Fair enough, except I'm deducting my imaginary "their half" from my offer. I wrote an offer at 50K less than asking. They countered with 25K under asking, which was still a good deal for me but at this point I wanted a great deal. I declined and said to contact me if they changed their mind. Two months later they texted me - they had found another home and put a contingency offer on it. I wrote an offer at 40K under their last asking price, which they accepted. Mistake: looking for another house before theirs had sold/had offers. Now they were desperate to sell. Mistake re-visited: not pricing it well; pricing it right from the get-go likely would've sold it for more, much sooner Here's where they really lost out by not using a realtor -- I had to push back closing two times due to financing issues. In between my two offers, I retired from my F/T job. The lenders wanted all new paperwork and proof of income and all of that, which delayed things significantly. While my financing got worked out by the slowest, least motivated people on the planet ... the sellers were stuck with two mortgages. A realtor could have helped them avoid that by writing specifics into the contract. I don't know what would've happened to the sellers had my financing not gone through ... shudder! They lost more on extra mortgage fees (sitting on the market longer AND during my financing fiasco) than they would've paid out to a realtor. That last bit alone convinced me that while I *could* likely sell my home FSBO ... it's a big enough investment that I'm better off paying a professional. Now that could mean a full-out realtor, or a real estate attorney for paperwork, or an a la carte realtor who does something in between. And not all real estate agents know what they're doing, so if you DO decide to use one ... more homework, more discernment. LOL I was happy using an a la carte realtor. If I wanted to sell FSBO, I'd find one to put me on the MLS for a one-time flat fee and/or a consultation re: pricing and staging.

I finished up our advent countdown calendar last night. I filled each spot with one chocolate and one Jesse Tree ornament. We celebrate a few feast days this month, so those spots have little-something-extras. I have about 60 little slips of paper, and each kid gets one per day. The papers suggest an advent activity or intention - like, "Today I will do a good deed for a sibling" or "Today I will pray an extra Hail Mary for the souls in Purgatory" etc. Last week we rolled out our advent candles. I put the appropriate colored candle in each Sunday's countdown calendar bag, and we'll add it to their wreaths on the right day. We have a family wreath on the dinner table, plus each kid has a personal wreath.

Ho Boy, it's getting deep in here - and not the kind of deep usually associated with philosophical discussions. :thumbdown: OP, if I had witnessed what happened I would've thought the same as your daughter. I would've said it, too. LOL She knows better than I if her husband would mind, but Dad and I have similar personalities. I know better than she how the request would make him feel. My dad is all about keeping the peace and doesn't mind things like changing for the woman he loves and is taking out ... he loves her, it's nothing to him if it will make her happy ... but I also know he'd just as soon stay in his funky ugly azz clothes, and would love for Mom to let him be. I don't get the impression you were nagging him, or he was devastated by the request. I hope your date was as lovely a time as you both looked! :coolgleamA:

My problem is in my arms, not my knees, but the description of what was happening fit my situation to a T. I also saw a neurologist, and was also told it is nerve-related. The good news is that it was an easier heal than something like arthritis! I hope you figure it out soon. :)

I hope you're on the latter end of that 6 day visit! Sounds like MIL took a page out of the kids' playbook - Mom gets 'lonely' if she's ever left alone longer than 20 seconds ...

I always use the one on the back of the bag of chopped Andes mints. Unfortunately I don't have a bag to be able to give you the recipe. LOL But if someone else does, or if you're out running errands today ... it's definitely a great recipe.

I do. I had a job that had me staying in hotels every week. I often relaxed in the lobby for free wireless internet, if it wasn't available in the rooms. I also hate being alone, so if I were staying more than a few days I'd usually take coffee and read my paper in the lobby also - just to be around other voices. I like the chit chat scene. :) I met many interesting people, some I continue to correspond with still!

Whittling or Wood carving - lots of options here Leather crafting - he could do bookmarks, wallets, maybe moccasins Punched tin - my son has made nightlights and tree ornaments Beadwork - my son makes rosaries, bracelets, earrings, key chains Macramé - paracord is currently popular, but rope would work also Tie-Dye or Shibori - we've done sheets, tablecloths, tee-shirts, etc. What about sewing? He can start with a simple patchwork pillow and move from there.

Maybe it's more about saving sanity than money. Just think - instead of cooking, cleaning, prep, dealing with family drama, and all of that ... this guy pops a tent, gets a few days of downtime and the gravy? Saves a few hundred on a television. LOL

I suck it up and fake it. That's pretty much the expectation I have of them, so .... I won't be winning any Academy Awards but I get a gold star for effort! It helps to remember that it's not personal, even when it feels like it is. It also helps to remember that as the higher rank, it's up to me to model the ideal response to the situation. I figured that out after hearing my eldest freak out on my youngest one day, sounding just like I did when I freaked out on him. That was an eye-opener, for sure.

I wonder if she says it almost as a deflection - like being embarrassed or taking it personally (perhaps realizing she shouldn't, but not knowing how NOT to) when she expects one thing and he delivers something more age-appropriate. Like it's totally about her, and how he makes her look. Maybe even how he makes her look TO YOU, given the history there. It wouldn't really bother me unless said in a certain tone. But it's not wrong that it bothers you, and you're totally justified in saying something. I normally prefer to let certain dogs lie or lay or whatever it is they do, but this is a dog I'd prep for a fight. I like the words bolt. offered because they seem firm but respectful.

I'd rather my kid find a way to source his own "wants" than to bug me to buy them for him. So for the most part I'd be fine with him selling off gifts he had received. I might want first right of refusal, but I'd also be willing to pay or negotiate the asking price to make it a win-win. In my case it hasn't always been wanting the next great, big thing; it's been about prioritizing. The wii games aren't being played with, why not sell them to buy computer parts - since he uses and prefers playing on the computer? I consider it resourceful when my daughter sells her read-and-done books to fund the purchase of new ones. If it's a book I want to keep I either don't offer it as a gift (semantics, really, I let them know it's mine but for them to read) or I offer to buy/trade for it so she can buy new books and I can still keep it.

Mujadara? You can use a small amount of oil to carmelize the onions and/or broth instead of oil.