I live on the Lakewood side of 6th and Sheridan. We've only been here a few months, but one of the first things we learned from multiple neighbors, was don't count on the cops ever answering a call. They aren't interested in thefts or gunshots in the middle of the night. Consequently, I doubt the culprits here would worry about a camera. I do like the motion activated sprinklers though. At the moment, I moved all pots and planters to the back yard. Which only took two hours. I now have multiple pots on the front porch so that in the dark it still looks the same. What they don't know, is DH rigged up under each pot so that if any are lifted, it triggers a full package of firecrackers. (He has his uses!) I hope is scares the holy you know what out of them!

Yes to controlling the food intake and separation at feeding time. Even with smaller amounts IF she eats too fast and the problem continues, try putting/mixing in rocks (about several inches in diameter) with her food. I can assure you she WON'T eat the rocks, but will have to take time to move them around to get to the food and it will slow her down. Do watch closely though the first several times and adjust number of rocks/size to determine what works best. Had to do this with my horse once who was bolting food during rehab from surgery. Worked like a charm....in fact, I think she missed the ROCK GAME after she recovered!

Of course I don't want to hurt her, I love her. She has told me that her mom does not like it that she calls me mom (her mom also sent me an e-mail explaining to me that she is SDs' mom, NOT me) I feel like SD is torn between being loyal to her mom and not hurting me. Because of the loyalty to her mom (and I understand and accept that)I end up getting hurt and she ends ups feeling "bad". She doesn't need that kind of pressure, she goes through enough with the guilt trips her mom puts on her. I need to find a way to be a good role model for her and show her I love her without getting so involved. I don't think her mom is a good role model for her. SD (who is only 14) has told me about her mother discussing the importance of penis size with her (SHOCKING!)she has also told me that her mom acts inappropriate around men and just "wants to go to bed with them" Oh there's more, I just don't want to get into it. But now you can see that she needs someone to talk to. It's very difficult because I just want to tell her that her mom is a horrible person and she should not model herself after her in any way, but of course I can't say that. It would make SD feel awful. Anyway, I think I'm getting off the subject here. I take the brunt and get the disrespect because I am the stepmom. When I think of the word mom, respect, love and kindness come to mind, guilt and disrespect do not. It may sound like I'm being selfish, or making a mountain out of a molehill, but it just bothers me. Thank you all again for your advise.

Full service department stores with Notions, shoe repair, hat trimming, hair salons, travel and ticket agencies, Post Office, tailoring, camera and film developing, watch and jewelry repair, framing and more than I can recall - and then their own delivery trucks that brought your merchandise to your home - free. I remember accompanying my Mother to the Hosiery counter at the department store while she selected new stockings. The sales person would place one of the small, flat boxes on the counter and my Mother would carefully place her hand inside the nylons to check the color.