talisyn

Gosh I'm glad I'm not the only one, I was beginning to wonder what I watched during pregnancy. I'm almost positive there were no Chuck Norris movies involved.

Not enough swinging room, those things are huge! Great katanas are out for the same reason. Crossbows though, that I like. It's great that people have kids that will understand and respect guns enough that they will leave them alone and are not curious about them. My little spawn and her cousins, however, are enthralled with Star Wars: Clone Wars to the point where they tried to make their own lightsabers using parts of an electric fence (yes the zappy parts), a couple of sparklers left over from New Year's Eve, rope, and a couple sticks of bamboo. Sparks and hilarity ensued (so I was told, I was at work at the time). I can just imagine the conversation involving projectile weapons: Jer: Hey let's pretend the stray cats are evil Sith lords and we have to stop them! Elijiah: Ok, let's grab our lightsabers! Genie: Why do we always have to be Jedi? Let's be Sith! Jer: But we don't have red lightsabers... Genie: We can be droidikas! I'll go get mom's guns! Yeah no guns in my house for about 5 more years.

I read once (please don't ask me to find the reference, because I just got off work ><) that girls decide on their ideal guy attributes when they are 8 years old. I guess that would apply for guys too? At work there was a few Asian-Americans hired the last round and omgosh the girls are just adorable, like little dolls, so I can see why you would like them physically. That being said these are people, with all the feelings and flaws and absolutely not dolls to be played with. Try to not have preconceived notions about how your dates must be and you just might find the girl of your dreams. And keep in mind the girl you need may not fit your picture. Case in point, my fiance and I. He likes cute little Japanese girls (what's with the schoolgirl uniform anyways? How can that be such a fetish?) and happily ends up with a viking goddess instead. I like hugely tall vikingish guys and happily end up with a medium tall guy from Philly. Love is weird like that

I totally sympathize. I didn't drink any soda pop for 6 years until I went back to a graveyard shift a little over a year ago, and found myself newly addicted to cherry coke >< Some nights it seemed all I could do to just stay awake (12 hour night shifts suck, but I bet you already know that ). When I figure out what to do about my problem I'll tell you all about it. I have a feeling my solution involves baby carrots and copious amounts of sugar in hot chocolate form.

that is a beautiful temple indeed. maybe the water in Australia is naturally perfect?

I hate to be picky, but don't you mean 'modestly'? Kind've gives the sentence a whole new meaning And it's very good advice. No one should feel pressured to participate in off-job activities to keep present job.

I wanted Hillary for president. Just wanted to say that, in case anyone got the idea I was a full supporter of Obama all along.... Altho I admit he's def got potential to be a really great president. I'm pleasantly surprised

I've never found Pink Floyd uplifting, maybe I'm not listening with the right spirit? I have found the Sex Pistols good for my more thoughtful moments though I think contemp. Christian music can be good, in it's proper place. Nothing wrong with drums as long as you make time for the quietude needed to hear the still small voice. I think our society as a whole is losing the ability to be still. Between texting and internet and 24 hour television and reality shows our brains are going ADHD out of sheer self-preservation. That being said, don't you just love the Newsboys? *wanders off singing 'Shine'*

I love the link thingy in this forum, I didn't have to type anything and 'poof!' instant title of link lol. I agree, there is a lot of speculation and very few hard facts the either prove or disprove who is to blame. This article came closest to what I was looking for. Once upon a time a few months ago an economic reporter researched and presented a time line of the meltdown. It was very clinical and dry but it showed how things sort of started snowballing sometime in 2001, pre 9-11. But I think people are not looking back far enough. I got off work a bit ago so I'm feeling hyperbolic, I apologize in advance. Well...remember the Savings and Loans scandal in the 80's? The dot.com bubble bursting in the 90s? The market has been warning us for decades it needs shoring up but the only response I've seen is artificially inflating the value of homes.

Actually....I had to find the article but here's a good one Your kids will imitate you. Use it as a force for good. - By Alan E. Kazdin and Carlo Rotella - Slate Magazine Mostly it's about kids mimicking parental behaviors, but I'll quote the passage that caught my eye So if you spend many hours imagining yourself romping on the beach with Jessica Alba or Orlando Bloom parts of your brain really think you did! The implications for those who claim pornography is harmless....scary.

I know where Red Deer is! I have a very very dear friend that lives in Stettler. When people ask where I'm from I say Idaho, and that's usually that since hardly anyone knows any cities here. I don't blame them, but it is funny when people in the national media try to pronounce 'Boise' or cassia.

While I can certainly understand the sentiment I have to urge restraint Is there any kind of law in your state about identity theft that would cover your situation with Facebook? Just imagine if she took out credit cards, library cards, or even held up a bank using your name. Scaaary. Eternal vigilance! She'll get hers soon enough, sadly you just have to wait it out until she makes a mistake.

Your sort of kind of BF doesn't seem to have a great track record when it comes to responsibility. I propose a challenge to you both. If he can keep a job for the entire time you are pursuing your PhD then moving closer to him has merit. If he cannot, knowing full well it is the main condition of the continuation of your romantic relationship, then you have your answer (such things as getting a better job or a once in a lifetime chance to go to Paris will of course be taken into consideration). You waited for him during his mission. Now it's his turn to wait while you improve your income potential for the both of you. BTW, even if your looks were such that small children ran screaming to their mothers and dogs tried to bury you in the yard you would still be a daughter of the Most High God and worthy of every blessing, even and especially that of a worthy companion. Don't settle!

This is true, to a point. A couple actually. One point is these risky loans that all of a sudden were everywhere. The Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac thing has been around since the late 70s I believe, so I don't see the bill you're referring to as being the main problem. The problem started when banks and investors started doing business like Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart usually has very little mark-up, but is able to make tons of money by selling a lot of stuff for only $1 or so above wholesale. Some genius thought they could make just as much money off 500,000 small $75,000 house loans as they could with 2 or 3 $1million dollar loans, and with a more enthusiastic market. Next point is people started bundling these risky loans and sold them to investors, which made these loans valuable, which caused the 'value' of the houses to rise so people took out second mortgages when they still had like 25 years left on the first loan. That $75,000 house suddenly was worth $250,000 so they refinanced at the new rate, then 3 years later is back to $75,000. That's a lot of money to pay out for a plain old house >< And this was happening everywhere. My favorite British online paper has daily articles about people getting kicked out of their homes for failure to keep up. I'm sorry. I had a rough night at work and this is just making me depressed. I was planning on buying a house in 5 years, but I don't see how, with the banks being so scared, that's gonna happen without at least 35% down instead of the traditional 20%.

But what if they thought it was funny?

Ohh let me see if I can find the article.... Are Minorities to Blame for the Subprime Mess? | Newsweek Voices - Daniel Gross | Newsweek.com This isn't the exact article I wanted..I'll look a bit more.

I disagree. The girls who say they want a nice guy yet choose the bad boys make it very hard on us girls who really do like nice guys. Yet....all those guys who want to marry a nice girl but overlook about 1/2 the available women out there because of various physical 'flaws'...I'm glad I found my puppy

lol nice to meet you too

Oh goodness, I bet those were quite the talks.

I would have let my daughter go to your daycare, Hordak :) My child is surrounded by females, more male influences in her life at an early age would have been great. She currently has a 4th grade male teacher and is totally enthralled, like he's from a whole different species she's observing for science. 3rd and 4th grade seems to be about the time society lets the guys teach kids, why not earlier?

Yikes! I reread what I posted and realized it didn't come out quite right. What I meant was physical changes had already taken place the year before, not the sex part ><

They do. But kids (esp girls) are maturing a whole lot faster. When I was in school it was 6th grade and it was already a year too late for me and a few others girls lol.

*smacks head with rolled up newspaper* I cannot believe it hasn't occurred to me to ask for divine help on this matter. I guess the whole thing kind've blindsided me and I'm trying to not think of it. As much as I would like my daughter to stay in her own little Eden a few years more genetics has other ideas. I've spent the past little while tallying all the things I have told her, and at what age. I'm thinking our family home evening tonight (we have them Mondays and Thursdays depending on my work schedule) will be devoted to eternal ramifications of personal choices. We've already talked about genetics and biological processes but I haven't done such a good job about linking sex with eternity. Well, linking sex with it at all to be honest lol.

I cannot believe it's been almost 10 years since I held the most beautiful little girl in the world for the first time (I say this knowing full well every baby is the most beautiful baby in the world). It was just a few months ago I looked at my daughter and realized she left the 'child' stage and is well into the pre-adolescent stage of physical development, kind've like a german shepherd puppy, all big feet and ears. I now have the task of giving the talk, and I'm at a loss. There have been a few times when I was all ready to go when my heart just failed. I'm usually fearless, and I've answered questions when they've come up, but how do I get to the part of answering questions she doesn't even know she needs answered?

Wouldn't it be insanely funny if Chris Buttars was right? I'm not saying he is, I just wanted to explode my mind a little bit.