Personally I wouldn't want a boulder or brick wall because I don't wan to kill anyone even if they are stupid and talking on a cell phone while digging around on the floor for change. To save your house and front lawn a long term solution you might try is putting in what I think of as a tire trap. Dig in 2 to 4 rows perpendicular rows of 8 x 8 treated landscaping timber. See if you can get it pre-drilled somewhere so you can pound rebar down the holes into the ground. Bury them a few inches. Anyone coming off the road's front tires will, hopefully, bump up over the first one, go back down and not have enough energy to buck over the second, if they are at higher velocity, they will hit the third one. You might want some cop traffic expertise on spacing. They will look kind of weird, you could try hiding with some shrubs because weeds will grow inbetween, but you cant fill in with anything like flowers and mulch because that would defeat the purpose. Maybe some heavey duty weed barrier and dark colored gravel? As for the mailbox, I've seen some country people put their mailbox's out on a long long long horizontal pole, the base is set way back. Paint it a bright color and put reflectors on it. May not stop people from hitting it but would help in court if it ever comes to that.

I agree that the guaranteed, short workouts in a group activity at Curves is much of what makes it work. In my case, the upbeat cheerful atmosphere is a bonus. I don't know if the machines are anything special, but I can tell you I feel much stronger than I did 3 months ago -- MUCH stronger. So they are doing something! I don't have time to spend more than that at a gym each night, as I have a very early bedtime therefore I need to eat dinner early as well. The guaranteed 30 minutes of exercise is great for me and I have never missed a week of going at least 3 days. I can't say that about any other gym I've ever gone to. Jen

I joined Curves last month (end of May '03) and I LOVE it. It is truly the ideal thing for me. In January of this year my schedule changed and I couldn't take my walks any more, and boy did I notice a difference. I'm about 30 pounds overweight but I'm tall and my weight is extremely evenly distributed (literally, from my face to my feet) so I don't look really heavy but my strength and endurance are very low. I knew I needed to start some form of exercise and began looking at every possible option, and ended up choosing Curves. I go to Curves straight from work. My heart rate goes up within the first 10 minutes and stays there the rest of the time. After just 9 sessions (in 2-1/2 weeks, 3x a week), my resting heart rate is noticably slower which tells me I am getting a good cardiac workout. I'm not as winded when I go up stairs. And that's what is important to me -- not how much weight I lose, but how fit I am. At nearly 50 years old, strength and endurance are far more important (actually, at any age, they should be most important but I wouldn't have listened to that when I was younger, LOL). I'm also starting to notice that my heart rate doesn't go too high now like it did at first during the work-outs, another sign that I'm already in better shape. I believe that weight loss will eventually take place, since I need to lose weight (if I didn't really need to, I might not lose any). but right now my overall fitness is more important. Everything else will fall into place. Curves is great for me in every way. A fun, cheerful, up-beat atmosphere (typical gyms are very visually unappealling to me), perfect for my schedule, and I look forward to it. I don't diet and don't believe in it. I believe in eating healthy foods in moderation without unrealistic restrictions. Eating when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm full is best. I don't eat just salads and soup. I don't count calories. What I do is choose a salad and fruit instead of chips to accompany my sandwich -- because it is a healthier choice not because it is lower fat or "diet" food. It works for me and I can stay with that for the rest of my life. And sometimes, during special occasions, I'll partake in the chips and dip without going overboard. BTW, the women at my Curves gym are all shapes, sizes, and ages. So, it is NOT just for overweight and/or older women. Anyone can enjoy and benefit from it. But like everything else, not everyone will like it. Hey, even chocolate isn't liked by everyone! :-) Jen

A woman up the river gave me wise advice ten years ago when my metabolism shut down. She is in excellent condition. She told me she eats whatever she wants but has to work it off. Her approach to food is like budgeting and saving money: 'do I want to waste calories on this junk or do I want to save up and have a really good dinner later on?' she asks herself. This way she has always has a choice. She's never backed into a corner. She also turned me onto this little tip and by golly it works! Get an exercise bike or a treadmill. Rent one or buy at a second hand store if you can't afford new. Park it in front of tv. In the evenings, while you are watching tv, ride the bike or walk the treadmill during the commercials. I do this three nights a week. My average ride on the airdyne is FIVE MILES for a one hour show. At first take it easy but as you get stronger, up the speed/resistance. I've never kept track of the time I ride but it's a well known fact that without commercials a one hour show would only be something like 1/2 hour long....LOL I've lost a little weight since Christmas. How much, I don't know but my clothes fit better. I keep a big tupperware bowl of celery, carrots, radishes, green onions, etc in the frig so I have a choice between eating that cookie(s)or veggies to hold me until time for a real meal. I love how the bike riding tones me up and makes me feel strong. My sister lost sixty pounds (over a two year period) by eating anything she wanted. She cut her portions by a third and doesn't allow herself seconds. She will eat desserts but cuts that portion by half. You can do this. Just don't look at it as a chore or make it into something you dread. Give yourself some choices. Most of the time you'll make the right choice. Lori