FWIW, our Odyssey had 275,000 miles on it before we got a different car (dh's decision). I was really proud to be headed toward 300,000 and really wanted to get there!

Amen, Sistah! You are enough. Thanks for sharing your testimony--we all need to hear it now and again!

Amen, Sistah! You are enough. Thanks for sharing your testimony--we all need to hear it now and again!

We have all of those things in this lovely, modern city ;) . What are you looking for? I think Columbus is a great place to live.

This strategy benefits everyone--you will be lovingly helping this young man to be a good husband!

Congratulations to you and ds! Just put your blinders on, and forge ahead. When you meet encouraging people in the arts, hold on to them---they are gold. Let the haters hate. :thumbdown:

Hi everyone, There seem to be a lot of us who like a good deal on quality, supportive shoes. I just received this link in my own email and wanted to share it with you--there seems to be a good selection of Chaco, Teva, Earth, etc. sandals at reasonable prices after the discount. Just wanted to share. (I don't receive any credit if you use the link. It just lets you have the extra 35% off the price shown.) Oh--if you want to try some comfortable heels/wedges, I can personally recommend the Earthies shoes. I bought a pair last summer (wedges), and they were very different from other heels I've worn. Somehow, the footbed stops your foot from sliding forward, and your weight is evenly distributed despite the heel. If I hadn't broken my ankle this winter, I would be ordering more right now! Alas, it's flats for me. Sierra Trading Post extra 35% link

Does your dog have dandruff along with the itchiness? I have to supplement our good quality dog food with fish oil capsules to keep my dog's itchiness to a minimum. We are headed into the environmental allergy season, though......

Sorry--double post

The Mozart Sessions (Mozart piano concertos; St. Paul Chamber Orchestra--upbeat) Mendelssohn Octet (recorded by the Emerson String Quartet; this is party music in my house! I love all recordings by ESQ.) Beethoven String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132 (recorded by the Cleveland String Quartet; the mvt.iii is 17 minutes long and achingly beautiful; this is reflective music)

If your dd is particularly headstrong ("I can do this on my own, Mom!"), connect her to a local counselor. Encourage her to go to the counselor whenever she feels she needs to, and on her own terms. She need not tell you about it. This is a great time to empower your dd to handle her own medical issues, and a counselor may be more believable about the self-care aspects than a mom :glare: .

Will do! I'm always happy to promote my dc :hurray:

My family is not affected by Celiac or Chron's, but I learn so much from posts like this. Also, I work with lots of people, so sometimes I am able to point a person in a direction they hadn't considered. Thanks for updating and teaching all of us!

I just want to reassure you that this is a fairly standard practice. My 22 yo dd and I are regularly asked this question, and nobody would think we are similarly aged. Chalk it up to allowing modern women of any age to be friends? Enjoy that you look young!

My first thought would be to ask if you have worked through the online applications with him. Just like with paper applications, incorrect or incomplete applications will not receive appropriate attention. Sometimes the instructions are unclear, and people new to the "game" don't fully appreciate the importance of a particular question. Additionally, almost all retail chains (including grocery stores) require some sort of personality or integrity testing as part of the application. These multiple choice tests take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes to complete and are filled with situational questions designed to predict whether the applicant would be a good fit for the company. These tests are tricky and require the applicant to think like an employer. They also require a fair amount of mental focus and persistence. Google "sample Unicru questions" for an idea of what I'm talking about. Perhaps it would be helpful for you to talk directly with your son about employer expectations just in case the personality test is a problem. Generally an employer will not tell an applicant if he has failed this test.

Having just had surgery, I can tell you that meals that can be frozen are very nice. I also appreciated fresh salads--both fruit and vegetable. Standing to prep fresh foods was impossible for me, and people tend to bring things that can be frozen (although very welcome, also.) When my friend was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer, she wanted two dear friends to come and pray with/for her weekly. She needed rides to her chemo treatments, because she would take benedryl before and didn't want to drive drowsy. Her family included young adult children, so meals weren't super important to her--the kids stepped in and contributed in this way. This friend was particularly extroverted and it was important for her to receive calls--she loved talking on the phone! (Painful for me. Hahaha!) This journey will be a marathon, not a sprint. She will discover new needs as she walks through it. As others have said, listen to her and respond. Beth

It is actually going to air on public radio stations the week of May 13, so I'll be able to post a link after that. They record the show live (about 1 1/2-2 hrs.), then do the edits to create the program.

I know my youngest dd isn't a hs'er anymore, but she did a cool thing last night, and I just want to share with a group of people who appreciate hard working kids. Dd #3 was asked to be a performer on From the Top (NPR show about musical kids), and last night she recorded the show during a live concert. What a fabulous program! It really demonstrates so much of what all of us here have known for a long time--just keep working at it, and you will get better. It doesn't matter whether it's learning to read, overcoming a learning challenge, or practicing a instrument or a sport. If I can embed or link the trailer, dd is the last clip. http://www.facebook....151493107428606 Here are the performers with host Christopher O'Riley. Dd is in the print dress.:

I know my youngest dd isn't a hs'er anymore, but she did a cool thing last night, and I just want to share with a group of people who appreciate hard working kids. Dd #3 was asked to be a performer on From the Top (NPR show about musical kids), and last night she recorded the show during a live concert. What a fabulous program! It really demonstrates so much of what all of us here have known for a long time--just keep working at it, and you will get better. It doesn't matter whether it's learning to read, overcoming a learning challenge, or practicing a instrument or a sport. If I can embed or link the trailer, dd is the last clip. http://www.facebook....151493107428606 Here's a pic of the performers with host, Christopher O'Riley. Dd is in print dress.

Will she be auditioning as a voice major? Those requirements are very specific to each school, and students need to prepare a fair amount of repertoire. Audition season is late Dec. to early March and many schools will not accept recorded auditions. I've gone through music auditions with two kids now, and all of their schools award scholarships bases on the auditions--whether live on campus, regional (recorded by an admissions officer) , or recorded audition repertoire. If you want to get a recording now, your dd really needs to compare the repertoire requirements from several desired schools and see if she can find some pieces in common. Please know that the music auditions/scholarship process is usually pretty intentional, even for lesser known programs. It really does require some research and specific preparation.

Three separate schools, and they all close the dorms right away for breaks. The more remote the school, the more difficult it is for the students.

I had that exact pair of shoes in brown. They were extremely comfortable, but the leather was so supple that it became a drawback. The shoes really stretched in the width, and then the strap broke through where it threaded through a metal, rectangular ring. The shoes were about a year old when it happened, but they hadn't been worn nearly enough to be in such bad shape. I would buy them if you could get them for less than full price.

I've been on crutches for a broken leg for the past five weeks, and never again will I judge anyone who stores items in their bra! :lol:

I'm headed to Oberlin tomorrow for my flute dd's audition! Good luck at St. Olaf!

I am hoping that Matthew's death sets up Mary of the executor of her son's estate, which now includes Downton (I think). This scenarario would allow her character to grow from the snobbish old school Mary into a modern woman. I think it could provide some great character development. I agree about Rose being annoying--don't look forward to her as a regular.