Thanks for getting it. I really thought it was just me. Guess it does save me a trip to the airport. Reminds me why I don't post much.

Oh, they give me my money back for the second seat, eventually. And I understand what everyone is saying about negotiations, but... l can't really impress on you how demeaning the whole thing is and how much they try to pressure me into giving up both seats (for the comfort of all passengers on this very full flight). It is just so loud and so public that it is all I can do not to cry. I really try hard to avoid flying unless there is no other option.

I am overweight. I buy 2 seats to fly. More than 50% of the time, it is taken away from me at boarding. So I am faced with two options -- leaving the airport and cancelling travel plans or being harassed (yes, harassed is the word) by my seat mates. They don't care that I did buy the extra seat, that I did try to make the flight comfortable for everyone; they just rag on the fat lady next to them. What should I do then?

Got to have black eye peas along with cabbage to symbolize money. In our case, black eye pea jambalaya and creamed cabbage topped with paprika and coarse black pepper (2 different things). I can't remember a New Year's meal without those 2 symbolic ingredients.

Dude and Dudette. Awesome. Other than that, a lot of old, old Southern sayings like "you are cutting your own switch'" (as in you are getting into trouble and will get switched).

I still use checks. I use them because I am tired of my credit card number being stolen. I don't use debit cards because my sister had her entire bank account cleaned out by a person who either knew or guessed her code. I guess, to me, the aggravation of having to write a check is much less than the hassle of cancelling stolen cards, dealing with the fraud department, and waiting and changing all automatic accounts to the new credit card. Aggravating the people behind me is just an added plus.😁

I have a common name that is spelled weirdly because my family is Cajun/Creole French and did not know how to spell the name correctly. I have had a lifetime of trouble over it and would have changed the spelling, but my mother cries when I bring it up. I feel bad for this kid.

Really? What age group? I ask because I grew up in Cajun Louisiana and that is not true of my age group or my mother's age group. In my mother's age group (80s), the French names or American names with French spellings are common, with Marie as the middle name for girls. In my age group (50s), most of the people I have met professionally and privately have very American names. This is thought to be a result of our parents being beaten by the nuns and priests for speaking Cajun French. They wanted very much for their children to sound "normal" and gave them names they heard on TV (again, with some weird spellings). In fact, the most common jokes starts out "Marie and Pierre, they be sitting eating gumbo... (Marie and Pierre being the common names of a Cajun couple) Now, genealogy is hard because no one goes by their real name, as in Marie-Josephine is called JoJo or Elizabeth is called Lizette.

Congrats on your decision. I am very impressed by your research. Goldens are great dogs.

Between 7 and 10 years. After 7 years, it depends on which dealership is having a 0% interest deal. For the farm truck, we replaced it when the cost of repair becomes too much.

I am in love with the herding breeds. They tend to be very high energy and more than slightly neurotic. The less they are exercised, mentally and physically, the more neurotic they get. You probably know all that. They also tend to nip small children. They tend to gravitate to one person, which can hurt the feelings of the rest of the family. They will form bonds with the family, but one person is usually their "all". Are you sure you don't want a nice Golden? I ask because they are usually very attentive and good with kids. it is easier to find a good Golden breeder than it is for the herding breeds. Just a suggestion because you have young children. I grew up with Germans, wolf hybrids, and herding dogs. I know of a place in VA that has German lines if you are interested, both long-haired and normal Germans. Their dogs look good and, more importantly, show no aggressive behavior or weirdness. They are BIG dogs, though. Which means they can accidentally hurt a small child or elder person without even trying. They are on the bite list so you need to check if your home insurance will allow you to have such a dog. Last thought, have you looked into American Eskimo?. They come in three sizes and make good family dogs. They are definitely eager to please.

I lived this as a teenager. The only thing I can recommend is the mentioned self-defense classes. The only comeback that ever seem to work was: Would you say that to your mother? Would you say that to your daughter? depending on the age of the guy. What really helped me was my family and friends praising me for things other than looks -- being nice, getting good grades, etc. It made me see myself as something other than just the "outside". Unfortunately, my answer to all the attention was to gain a lot of weight. My daughter has gone the same route. I wish I would have gotten her a counselor because it is very much an issue that destroyed a huge segment of both our lives. My best wishes to both of you.

No, everyone hugs me. I don't know why -- maybe I look like a toy bear or something. Doesn't matter where they are from or how long I have known them, I get hugged. My husband finds it hilarious; he makes bets with me on how soon I will be hugged at the airport or when we are shopping. Never fails -- almost like I have no personal space warnings.

Don't doubt yourself. You love your dog and have assessed if he is comfortable. You have given him a good life and a loving home - hold that thought close to your heart and fall back on it when you need to.

Congrats!!! It feels awesome when they achieve what you know they can. I hope you two have a long life of teamwork ahead!

Aren't some of them collector's items? I seem to remember my husband's friend saying that some of them have a high resell value.

Could you make the crate into a tall end table or a sofa table in the corner of the room? That way there are people in the room and the space can be used to keep keys (useful) but not so in the middle of things that he can't have privacy.

I live in Great Dane-ville. I have never met so many Dane owners in one area before. I have even met a few that are completely deaf. I have a friend that just picked up her third rescue Dane. You can't sit on the couch (wrap sectional) at her house at all -- it is the lounge spot for her Danes.

Well, having been a military spouse and moving eleven times in 20 years, I can say from the bottom of my heart: "I dang sure hope so!" I will either die or be going into care from here.

Even split now that my daughter is in college. Before, it was all me. Now, after an epic meltdown by me after unexpected dinner guests, my husband is learning how to cook.

I am with Pet Partners, mainly because that is where everyone I know gets their certification. I don't do hospitals though. I work at nursing homes and facilities for vets. My dog is okay with kids but loves, loves men. Since she is a breed traditionally used as a "Dog of War"; we go where there are injured military dog handlers, VFWs, etc. I don't know if anyone has pointed this out to you, but be careful how much you let your dog work. Dogs can become depressed if they go on too many therapy visits in a month, especially if it is a stressful environment. It really depends on the dog --some can go every two weeks and some can only go once every month or two. There are lots of options besides hospitals and nursing homes. Some teams work with children as assistant play therapists, reading assistant dogs (not right name but can't remember), and other things. You might want to look up Therapy Animal Services near you to get with a group. It is expensive, but I would train anyway. I also carry umbrella insurance, just in case.

I don't even share a bathroom with my husband. "Use and clean your own bathroom" went into effect when my daughter left for college. Seriously, the smell would not be the first thing that hit him --I'd nerf ball his butt every time he unlocked that door, sorta like a nerf ninja in underpants. Slide bolt. Slide bolt.

Well, I fell in love with a guy in a uniform and was a military wife for over 20 years. We moved every 2-3 years because we had to. When he retired, we were shocked that it was not easy to find a job anywhere outside government work. We took the one job he was offered after months of searching and ended up in rural VA. It is beautiful but I miss my Deep South culture badly. So badly, that on hearing the guy who fixed my garage door speak, I knew that he was from near where I grew up. I invited him to lunch and he, my husband, and I had a great time "talking home." I cried my heart out for the rest of the day. We send money to our parents because, over the years, that became our way to help. The closeness is no longer there; we are the outsiders of the family. They see our leaving and staying gone as a choice; we see it as the price of liking to eat and pay our bills. You can't help it when your vacation is suddenly cancelled in the military. You also have to take the job you are offered that will feed and house your family.

Typical for me. I am from the Deep South and currently live in rural VA. Half the time, though, I am the one starting the conversation. I am the person who will stick my stuff in my car and then go help an older person I have never seen before (only if they have a dog sticker ?). My daughter hates, HATES, going anywhere with me after a veteran with the cart ahead of us asked me if I had ever eaten cat and he and I had a two cart register conversation on how you would cook that thing if you were really hungry.