Rina - I grew up as one of four adopted kids, with extra foster kids always a part of our family. We numbered at least 6 kids at all times, sometimes 8 or more! My parents took us camping every opportunity they got! We were fortunate enough to see all the sights, from coast to coast, and everything in between, all as a result of camping trips! We went fishing often, and as I got older, my friends and I would hunt and trap, too. I've always lived way out in the country, always lived a more self-sufficient and down to earth life... and I've always had so much fun doing all those things! I couldn't even imagine being told to stop singing, or stop playing a musical instrument! Who goes camping to sleep, or goes to a lake and finds a reason to complain about a single harmonica player? Good grief! Neighbors never even complained when we'd have large parties with a rock band! We'd have a stage set up on the "back 40" with power running to it, a horse trough with 3 barrels of beer on ice, about 200 people, a giant bonfire, grills of food cooking, and tents set up for people to spend the weekend! Never got a complaint! Everyone would pitch in and help, throw a few dollars in to pay for food, beer, and the band... and we'd all have fun! And if no one complained about a huge party out on a farm, why would anyone complain about a single harmonica? Or kids singing? What a messed up world we live in. This is why I could never live in such a controlled environment. I don't need a babysitter or a parental figure telling me what I can do, and what I can't... I'm an adult. I think I can figure out for myself what is considered courteous, neighborly and decent. If we thought our party would be too loud for the neighbors way down the road, we'd contain the noise, keep it down a bit. But the neighbors were more inclined to come down and listen to the band with us, or they were situated far enough away that it didn't bother them. We could hear other weekend parties going on elsewhere, occasionally... but we certainly had no intention of calling anyone to make them stop having fun. Who does that? Al - I can barely find Christmas spirit this year! We don't celebrate anything here... we only celebrate because of the grandkids... it's a season of fun for them. We usually drive up and spend a few days with the family, but we only do gifts for the little kids. Adults in our family just don't have the budget to splurge anymore. Everything has gotten so expensive. We gather for dinner, watch the little kids have fun opening presents... and that's it. We stay a few days, visit, maybe do some side work, then come home. Without snow, it doesn't even feel like Christmas... and the older I get, the less I like all the commercialism and everything. I don't know... it just doesn't feel like Christmas this year for some reason. I almost feel like the Grinch! LOL! I don't know... maybe I'm getting old and grumpy, or maybe it's because I just don't feel physically good this time of year... or maybe it's because of the weather... it just doesn't feel much like Christmas. I'll feel differently once we're up north with the kids, I'm sure! I do hope everyone else has the spirit of the season, and enjoys time spent with family and friends! I wish everyone the very best this time of year has to offer! Well... my chores won't do themselves, unfortunately... time to get busy! Have a good one!

Yes, Arum, I read it several years ago... great book... it really gets to the meat of the matter about the internal dialogue we all have with ourselves every day, almost every waking minute when we're not talking with someone else or actively mentally engaged in something else. The simple act of learning to think "I'm a capable person and I can do what I set out to do, etc.," rather than "I'm such a loser and nothing ever goes right for me," and so forth, can have a powerful impact on how successful we are in our daily lives. I probably need to go back and read it again, though, as I've fallen back into some of the old, bad habits. Enjoy the book and try to apply what it says. I highly recommend it. Jeff

You are probably well aware of what YOU'D like to receive as a little gift, Stacie... your hubby no doubt has favorites, too, and probably a list of "Oh, no, not another one of THESE!" LOL!! Here are some ideas for you... Great Gifts for Teachers Special Gifts Ideas for that Special Educator Better than apples! A+ gifts for teachers Great Gifts for Teachers After you read through these ideas, you will see that most teachers like something they can actually use... at home or in the classroom, like a gift certificate, cookies, homemade breads, a supply of pencils, markers, a tote... Bet you'll find something that is just what your hubby would like to receive! So probably his colleagues would, too!

LOL Annie, little man liked that Michigan Sushi idea. I reminded him of his experience from the past year but he didn't seem to worry. When I asked him "What do you do when one of your friends tells you that you have bad breath?" He said, "I will say 'it's too bad that you don't eat fish.'" I am so proud! Jim, I have never tried lox myself so can't say if it will be less smelly or not. Since fish is one of our favorite foods we never have any leftover fish from the night before. Our mornings seem to be very short and we always end up rushing out of the door so canned fish is what we will settle with for now. Tami, little man has never tried mints before. I personally don't like them so I have a feeling that he may not enjoy a mint in his mouth. He loves tic tac. I bought him some tic tac in little colorful containers with the pop-up lid. So I won't have to worry about school people mistaken them as pills. Terri, lucky you. At least he can still take peanut butter to school. It's an absolute no-no to bring any nuts or anything that contain trace amount of nut to school. Little man loves peanut butter banana sandwiches. I don't want him to eat PBB sandwich every day but once in a while would be nice. I definitely will make the rolled fish bread for him tomorrow. In fact, we have already planned for the rest of the week... Thursday will be sardine sushi. Instead of using nori I will use sesame seeds on the outside. Friday will be BBQ seitan strips with raw carrot and cucumber. It's gonna be a good week for him. Al