I had two females in April last year. One Terrier/Lab the other Lab/Weirmaner. This after losing my third, a Shepard/Lab 3 months earlier. Things were in a funk and needed something desperate. A puppy would keep everybody busy. She is now about 90 pounds. Everyone get's along great. I did do a lot of homework before committing myself to this. Three dogs are a huge amount of work, and a puppy has what I refer to as "a force to be reckoned with". They can be very cute one second and incredibly destructive the next. Are you crating your pup when you are out? This should be done for at least the first nine months after you bring it home. If the crate is to big for the pup, put something in it that they can't destroy. Dogs and especially pups love the feeling of being closed in. It also keep them from getting into mischief. When the pup can't be supervised every second, it must be crated. Gradually wean the pup away from the crate after about 6-8 months. Allowing them to much freedom all at once will confuse them. If you scold your pup you need to do it in a way that the pup is going to get. One word corrections like STOP are good ones. They simply don't get babbling outbursts. You also must also catch them in the act. If this cannot happen, forget it. They will not know why you are upset. To get them used to STOP, crate the pup, put a sheet or blanket over the crate and when it starts to whine or do something you do not approve of GENTLY tap on the crate and firmly say STOP. After a few times, when you say STOP it will associate the word with the crate noise. Your older dog could see the pup as a threat on her territory. You need to make sure that both get the same thing, food, water, attention, toys, everything. Otherwise you are setting things up for problems. You are looking at a process that could take 6-9 months, not only with puppy issues but other things as well. When things get worked out, it will be great! I don't see any reason why it can't work. Good luck! SG

You know, Don, I was afraid that replacement was going to be the answer, too. If that opener didn't torment me with random perfect operation, I probably would have given up on it long ago. So I went back to it a couple of nights ago to jiggle all the wires one more time, bang on the logic board, whisper sweet nothings to it and such. Only this time I pulled the jack completely out of that balking sensor, which I guess I had never tried before. Plugged that sucker back in and lo and behold the whole system comes back to life and has been in perfect working order since. Cost to repair: $0 Eight months of suffering: priceless

I think it's funny that I'm one of the few who actually use her name, and it's my real name - not my middle name, not a nickname, but my name. I guess that isn't prudent, but I've been on a couple of boards where I've done the same, forged great friendships, etc. kk: Please don't even hint that Southern's education is fictional. That's insulting. She is genuine - I have no doubts - I've enjoyed her take on some medical issues dealing w/ my family. I guess you don't believe me w/ my profession, either, as it could be 'made up.' Really, I'm sure neither of us would have the time on our hands to be able to look up answers to questions so that we could pretend to be something we're not. Sheesh! In fact, I was once on a board for moms wishing to add to their families and one of the other women called me at my office! I must have given my last name at some point, my city has never been a secret, and she felt badly about something and gave me a call. I've also met another cyberfriend who was visiting my area, and exchange Christmas cards w/ my email group of moms parenting only boys or only girls. I've had phone calls - actually once, late at night, of a cyberfriend needing dental advice. It was great to be able to help someone in rural Nebraska who would otherwise have nowhere to turn at that hour. I don't hide behind anything but the truth. I'm happy to help anyone in their hour of need, really - a real life person or a cyberfriend. I wonder if we were biomoms - would you accept everything we said as gospel? Dana

I agree with Cat about the marriage situation. I think the adult children problem will work it self out. It maybe that they will never be close to you, does that bother you? If you love the man try to work out a solution. I really think in most cases the 'kiddies' are jealous. Just be sure to discuss it with him in a calm manner and let him know how you feel. Try to keep emotions in check and a trip to a professional does help. It does seem that many adult children are not very 'adult' at all. I met DH when I was 47 and we started a romantic relationship when I was 48. He had transferred from the state where his adult children lived and each year he would pay for 4 to 5 of them to come for a week or two vacation. This cost about $5000! For some strange reason it was always the same oldest daughter that came with her children. I stayed out of it and they were polite. Then he retired and I still worked, they expected the same trips, plus send one of hers to France on a school trip, another two of hers wanted to come each year at Christmas, all at our expense. He had been buying Christmas gifts for each grandchild (12) from a list they provided, plus giving all three of his daughters $300 for gifts and $100 each to shop for themselves. Can you spell guilt lol!!!!! And his 3 girls took advantage of it. I was paying the house payments and other bills and the oldest had the nerve to ask him who was getting the house when he died. I told him we could not afford all of this after he retired and he agreed. That's when they started to get nasty with me, they do not even say hello when I answer the phone and my name is never included on the cards. Of course, it was all my fault. I explained to them we didn't have the same amount of money as before. I guess to punish him they stopped calling, send no cards Christmas, Father's Day, or his birthday. This hurt him deeply and he talked to a counselor. After we had been together for 6 years and a Christmas without hearing from them I called one of his sisters and explained what was going on. I asked her if she thought I was out of line if I called them, she said no, that she thought they were selfish. I wanted until DH went to bed (3 hour time difference, we were later) and I e-mailed one and told her how disappointed I was that as big of a family as he has not one of them could call him on Christmas or the other holidays. I said I would send her the pre stamped cards if that was the problem. I had the phone number for the oldest and I called her. I politely and calmly told her the same thing. She started screaming at me so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear. She said everything was fine until I came along, he was retiring in their state until he met me. They all 3 did send cards the next holiday so it was worth it. They will not come to visit unless we pay for it. It is not that they can't afford it. We moved to a small area and they say there is nothing to do here. Doesn't visit your father count???? When we send gifts we never get a thank you and DH will call to see if they received the gift. The last time I embroidered 4 burp cloths and we mailed the gift. We had been invited to the shower in another state, but no one sent a thank you or even bothered to send a birth announcement. I told him this hurt my feelings and I would no longer make personal gifts for them. If he sends a gift it's up to him. We have discussed the situation and we met with an attorney and had all papers drawn up and the house is in both our names. It finally came to an understanding for him when his oldest called us last year and was telling him she had to put the kids school clothes on credit cards. I did fell a little sorry for her. 3 months later he receives a post card from Italy, she was on a 2 week vacation with her boy friend. His chin fell to the floor, but now he understands his daughter perfectly!!!!! His brothers and sisters treat me very well, but I did let him visit last year alone when his brother was in hospice so he could visit his children without the tension of ME lol!!!!