Owbist - I'm not too good at this stuff and can't give a picture like Urlee but when I go to all programs - it says Microsoft Office PowerPoint Viewer 2003. If I click on it, I get a box with a browser space on top that says My Documents in it. On the bottom are 2 lines - one is file name (blank) and the other is Files of type. In that box it says Powerpoint Presentations (*.ppt;*.pps; *.pot). That's all I get. But if .ppt is listed - wouldn't that mean that the extension .ppt would be opened by PowerPoint? If that's what it means, then my pc is doing what it should - right? Could I try .jpg instead?

Good post Bob. Mine is nothing like that- but I wish it was! The pps come as attachments to email, Windows Live Mail -I hate it. Right click on attachment pps: Mine opens little window/box in center of screen. Top left says "mail attachment" Top right has red "X". "Do you want to open this file?" "Name: Beautiful pictures.pps" "Type: Microsoft PowerPoint Slide Show" Then offers choice of "Open or "Cancel" Selecting "Open" brings message: Big Red X "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel". I do have Windows PowerPoint viewer installed- and have booted several times since then. It is in my programs list.

Earning money around the neighborhood is way less difficult than you'd think...my neighbor boys put out a little flyer advertising sweeping driveways (they're 8 and 6) and lo and behold, they've got regular gigs! Their mom even asked my DD to join in, because they didn't want to do it, they just wanted to send the flyer around LOL -- but they've got to live with the results of their actions, and their mom figured my DD would keep them on task :) So seriously, older folks *love* to have younger folks help around. I know I'd love to give the money to an "enterprising young man" over a service. And who knows where it will lead, whom he'll meet, etc. Cutting back on activities is difficult *if* you focus only on what you can't do. If you can go about finding things you *can* do instead, you'll find your time is completely full and maybe he can tell friends about it and take them to the things *he's* going to! We went to the coast on Saturday and attended a great free talk on fossils that entranced my daughter and all the kids in attendance, for two long hours--a *great* educator, IMO. I found out about it from the paper. The same presenter also gives expensive admission talks sometimes, but this one was sponsored by the state and was free. I consider it money saved :), and great education/exposure, and our friends are really interested to find out when he'll be speaking again. I found out from a friend that Apple computers has been doing free one-day media classes this summer. FREE. They do it every summer. Classes on podcasting, moviemaking, music, etc. I would bet where you are there are loads of great free opportunities; look in the paper with an eagle eye. They aren't promoted as obviously as the profit-making events, which makes it extra rewarding when you discover them :) Maybe your son will become the new source of cool unknown things to do. We just decided not to buy mochas out of the house and we figure it will save enough to pay for a medically necessary gym membership for me. That's how much we were subsidizing the Starbucks shareholders. I also drink a lot of protein drinks instead of breakfast, honestly, and sometimes (like today, when it's hot), instead of a dinner. I use protein and milk and ovaltine, or sometimes just make a smoothie with yogurt, fresh fruit, and protein powder (if you are interested, I'll tell you the names of the protein powders my daughter doesn't snub :)). Serving for serving, it's not expensive and it's *wonderful* nutrition. There are also products now that can do a passable job of drycleaning at home...you can have things *really* drycleaned much less often. I feel odd mentioning all these ideas like the above because I don't know what you're doing already in this regard. And re stocking up when foods are on sale: OH yeah. I buy organic ground beef *only* when it's on sale, then put it in the freezer. Same with frozen organic fruit/vegs. Bread freezes/defrosts very well too, so when the good bagged bread (not the fresh baked paper bags, the plastic bags, but there are some that are organic) is on sale, stock up and freeze it. Saves a significant amount of money. If you don't have a real freezer (non defrosting), you can probably get one for pretty inexpensive or possibly free off craigslist or freecycle. You could even post a wanted post and see what happens... and btw, this is probably a great thread for lots of people; I know I've learned from it already :)

Hey All - Holy cow! Sorry... I'm not usually so dismissive - in fact I'm surprised I "ignored" everyone's comments as it appeared I did (although I did read and appreciate them, honestly - I just must have gotten distracted and either fallen asleep at my laptop which is sadly common (Queen of TMI) or else run off in a hurry! Easy to do with 3 kids underfoot. It probably sounds like I'm just making excuses...). What I failed to mention is that I'm in freak-out mode over here with yes leaking pipes, and this is in fact a coincidence. Our bathroom's above our dining room (well sits above part of the kitchen and part of the dining room) and the beautiful old unpainted wood above the swinging dining room door (leading to kitchen) is dripping onto the floor slowly. It's causing the wood above the door to expand and now the door won't close without rubbing. I'm worried about the beautiful wood and the moisture underneath (don't want rotting). I wouldn't be as concerned if it were painted - though would still be concerned of course. So I've seen 4 plumbers and the most reputable of them have said - after examining closely (we even have a big hole in our bathroom floor from previous owner leaving it that way after a plumbing repair, so that's helped them see more - including the fact that that ring under the toilet is dry) - that it's time to replace it all. There's some question as to whether the drain pipes are necessary and a lot of testing has been done by them to evaluate what's going on. But because our tub and sink drain so terribly anyway and things look shoddy (lots of evidence of past repairs), we've been advised to put new stuff in. They can also start with the supply lines and see what they see when the get up in the walls to do that and possibly just do that. What's funny is that I asked him to do your flushing thing Bus Driver and he went up there to do a few things including that - and I heard the toilet flush even - but now I can't remember what he said (blush)! I get way spacey when I feel overwhelmed... I apologize for acting so ungrateful and inconsiderate. Damn. The cost of plumbing alone (various bids and options depending on what we want to do) isn't as bad as I thought it was - not that it's going to be easy - but the demo and patching is where I have no idea what to expect price-wise (am waiting to hear back from people - just left messages). And if we rip out our lovely old floors :( it'll cost a fortune. Hoping to just find close-enough matching hexagonal tile and patch in...but I digress. Ha - great - meanwhile a lil' sprog has just come down from bed so I'm signing off YET AGAIN to get him down but will come back later. Thanks. and sorry again for my rudeness.