Welllll.... I did manage to get started on the task after taking the rest of the day away from it. I talked to DH too, which was helpful and he was supportive of organizing them in a more efficient manner- including the possibility of getting rid of the old albums. Started this morning by quick sorting the box into piles based on time frames. Tried not to let emotions interfere. After looking at the old albums, I realize that they had been rearranged already and were out of order, as well as having quite a few blank spots. Add to that they are older and starting to yellow, so all the photos are out of those and into their proper piles now. So far have sorted a few piles, getting rid of any duplicates and any photos that are just bad condition or that I've always hated. Putting them in labeled plastic bags temporarily as I go. I think it will require a bit of fine tuning and for now I'm pulling out the obvious and seeing what is left- from there I can go through them yet again, and cull them further. It is time consuming, but I think it will be worth it in the end. Sort of thinking about going with photo storage boxes, where you have a bigger box that then holds a number of smaller boxes, which hold about 100 photos each. I like the idea of having the photos in that type of system, where you can pull them out and look at them by category if you actually do want to look at them, but it will depend on how many photos we are left with in the end, and if the boxes will be compact enough to make that a good solution. DH also offered to scan some into the computer. Might end up doing that too- not sure if we'd need the smaller organizing boxes if we just did that. Oh well, just thinking out loud now. If anybody here has done such a thing, I'm still listening. OK, now this topic can start moving down the list :)

I stand by my earlier complaint while also acknowledging what sleeperblues said. It is indeed a sad fact that for many people, when money gets tight, medical bills get pushed to the back of the line and frequently don't get paid at all. Unfortunately, those doctors still have a practice to run and employees they must pay, regardless of whether someone has paid their bill or not. I suppose I pine for "the old days" myself. For the majority of my adult life, we lived paycheck to paycheck. We could budget to pay you in installments but we just didn't have a lump sum to give you upfront to pay in advance. Hubby and I have managed, over the past 10 years, to work our way out of that lower class (paycheck to paycheck) predicament into a solidly middle class status. Before that, it was (largely) an honor system. We promised we would pay what we could, when we could, until the balance was paid; the doctors took us at our word AND we fulfilled our obligation. Unfortunately, too many have gamed the system for too long and now, an increasing number of doctors and facilities require full upfront payment. Luckily for me, I've established a rapport with my regular physicians and dentists and they KNOW I'm "good for it" and they allow me to get needed services and pay out over time if I need to. I worry for my children though. It has taken years of seeing the same practitioners before we reached a comfortable spot that I could get what I need and they know I won't shaft them. What will my kids do in 15 years if they are just starting out and can't afford 1000 upfront for, say a root canal and crown?

Thanks mad. Ive done the jar test and it was really helpful in combination with a ph test. One can use pool strips for the latter or the red cabbage Straw often posts, but we usedany blueberries cuz that what I had at the moment. Anything with anthocyanins should work. Agree ub geberak about the clay, but her in parts of Ohio it really is clay and Im sure in PA as both were/are huge pottery clay areas.

I always start with "STARE" or "ASTER" as these contain the most common letters. Next is "QUOIN" which knocks off all the vowels plus the common "N". Then I think of words which eliminate as many consonants as possible, whether they have the right vowel/s or not. The goal is to eliminate consonants. Bonus if I use a vowel and it ends up in the right place. If there aren't enough vowels consider if the word might end in "Y". Don't forget the less used letters or the possibility that one of the correct letters is either a double or is used again in the word. I have a 97% success rate and often get it in 2.