:001_smile: When I give tennis lessons I expect the kids to bring their own racquet. I do provide the balls and we meet at the city courts. I do agree with most everyone - the notice was poorly worded.

I agree those are sad stories. The national 4H program is currently trying to shed that "farm kid" image and encourage youth from all areas to join 4H. More emphasis is being placed on the non-livestock projects. There are many city clubs and non-livestock clubs for kids to join. 4H offers: sewing, cooking, rockets, electricity, entomology, small pets, photography, art, family life, robotics, woodoworking, and on and on. My kids are in 4H and neither is showing livestock. DD used to show her horse but gave that up three years ago. Between the two of them there are 6 projects being entered in this year's fair: cooking, cat, entomology (2), rocket, community service and small pets (a gecko).

I use WW Online and enjoy it. It is an easy way to track what I eat and how much I exercise. With the computer ccalculating the point values for everything it is much easier to know what I have eaten (if I am honest about the portion sizes). I have not followed plan for the last two months like I should. I have been ill and under a doctor's care and have not lost weight. Having all of the records though was wonderful. I could show my doctors exactly what I have eaten for the past few months and had all of my weight records right there. I can't wait to get back on plan and begin losing weight again.

This was probably an offer to give lessons that are going to benefit the kids showing horses in the summer 4H shows. There are specific things that need to be learned to please the judges. A kid who hops on their horse and rides around on the farm is not going to know how to show a horse in Horsemanship or Showmanship classes. It takes a lot of practice to get a horse to stand square, back it up while using nothing but a 6 foot lead rope, have it spin on one hoof, etc. Then there are the riding classes. Kids need to learn arena etiquette (riding the rail vs. riding through the arena), getting through the gate, etc. They need to practice the for the walk/trot classes where there are 20 other horses in the arena. They need to be spaced out so your horse is not riding up some other horse's rear end. The students need to learn to listen for the ring master's instruction on when to walk or trot. I could go on and on. There is so much more to a show than just getting on a horse and riding around. Most 4Hers who would be taking the lessons would be beginning riders hoping to learn what to do.

:iagree:. It's not that big of a deal to trailer a horse.

DS and I saw it last night. It wasn't too bad. There is a lot of war violence and way too many computer assisted stunts. The scene where the throat is cut - you don't see it occur (the sound effects are there though) but it shows the whole wound when he is lying on the floor. I have seen similar wounds and stuff on CSI or NCIS. No foul language Very little s**ual inuendo Lots of violence Christian as well as pagan references Importance is on good character traits I would give it a 3.9 out of 5 stars. It loses points for the stunts.

I would try to stay away from such a dark color. You shingles are too light and wouldn't compliment the dark shade. I rode my bike passed the cutest little bungalow the other day. It was painted a vanilla color with black shutters and trim. It looked very classy.

She is so cute! You have a beautiful family,Nadia. Congratulations on all of your children.

Thank you for the responses - many of them brought tears to my eyes. You ladies are so much more articulate than I am. :grouphug:

I have gained weight (about 30 pounds). I am less confident in myself - as a person, a woman, a mother. Or maybe I am a little more humble and realize I don't know everything.:confused: I am becoming more of a homebody. Mostly because of DH's work schedule and not wanting to go places by myself all of the time. I have given up on some of my dreams and am trying to bloom where I am planted. I am no longer the youngest one in the group who amazes all of my co-workers with my intelligence, zeal and capability. I guess the only thing that has not changed is how much I love my DH. He is my rock, although I am quite perturbed with him at the moment. We are both dieting and I have plateaued (mostly due to 8 weeks of ongoing health problems) and the little bugger has lost 10 pounds and is looking HOT! --- I wonder if my detox from aspartame is making me emotional?

I don't know if our house looks like a homeschool house or not. I didn't homeschool until DS entered junior high so we don't have any of the elementary school accessories. I think people can tell that someone in our home loves knowledge and learning. Our house has always been filled with books and items from nature and history. Books are in every room, tucked away in antique crates or bookcases. Every room has some treasure to pick up and inspect or explore. We have reading chairs and lamps readily available in the coziest spots. We joke about moving into a museum of natural history, which is where three of us would be most comfortable. I am in the process of trying to make a science area in the basement but the recent rains and water issues have derailed that plan for awhile. I am currently waiting for a water tray and sump pump to be installed. I am sure once that area is complete our home will cry out "Homeschoolers". I have great science posters to hang and shelves for all of the science equipment. DH is making a lab table for wet labs (thank goodness he knows how to weld and has access to a weld shop).

The real question is: If Anikin would have been psychologically healthy would he have turned into Darth Vader? Would he have been able to stand against the Emperor? (I have not seen the second set of movies so I have no idea how the plot progresses)

Nope, mostly in women but there is an increase in the number of men with BPD diagnoses.

:iagree:

I decided not to have my DS read it. He has read and will read other books where women, girls and feminine issues are the main focus (foci?) but I couldn't bring myself to assign Little Women or Anne of Green Gables.

I love it! I think it's interesting that the authors stayed with the personality disorders, though. There are so many other great psychiatric/psychological diagnoses that could be touched upon. Why stick with Axis II? --- Interesting thread.

Thanks for clarifying for me. This is so sad, made worse by knowing they are not the only children to have experiences like that in the USA where so many have so much.

Yeah! Now you can go ride those freshly trimmed hooves.

I do not want to start an argument, and I have thought about this quite a bit, but I will post anyway-- If you were driving by and they live two blocks away from you how did you happen to hear him announce lunch, watch him feed them junk food and watch him and the grandma smoke in their faces? Are you speaking from more than just today's experience? Now that I asked that question I will add that I, too, find situations like that heartbreaking and frustrating. Our society certainly ties our hands when it comes to helping those who really need it.

Can I come, too?

I have one sitting in the garage sale pile. I haven't used it in three years. I used it to make jerky from deer and antelope (ooooh, I loved it so.) when we lived in CO.

I hope it went well. Horses can be such buggers.

You bet I will, Big Penguin! Riding my bike to work has been great. I am already making "road" friends. There are a couple of other people I pass on the road at certain spots. My students are encouraging my efforts, too.

DH bought me a new Trek Navigator about a month ago. We had a computer installed on it so I could tell how far/fast I was riding. It hasn't worked at all - except for the clock. We also ordered a cute basket for the handlebars. The bike store called when the basket came in so we took the bike in to have it attached. I got the 'wood' basket and it looks nice with the tan handle grips and bike seat. They also fixed the computer. It needed a minor adjustment. I love my new bike and I adore my DH for buying it for me. My old bike was a $79 Murray mountain bike I purchased from Montgomery Ward in 1991. It still has the price tag on the front fork and "Made in the USA" stamped on it. Ah - memories. I am certainly enjoying riding my Trek to work and all around town. It embarrasses my 17yo DD, which makes it even more fun!!:lol: I hope all of this bike riding helps me lose my extra weight! This is my new bike. We got a great deal on it since it was last year's color (Rootbeer), which I love. I have a book rack on the back and the basket on the front.

Yeah, keep going!