Good points, greenguy :-) Unless you can get humans to stop generating garbage, you will never be able to do away with landfills completely. Not everything we throw out as waste is recyclable or compostable. And I'd venture to say commercial waste/garbage is a far bigger contributor to the problem than residential garbage production. And I'd avoid making generalizations about dumping of toxic wastes in landfills. I don't doubt that it HAS happened but I'd venture that it is an extremely limited occurrence. The EPA fines for illegal dumping of toxic wastes are enormous and can carry stiff prison terms as well. Rather than a blanket letter writing campaign, we would all be better served if we individually did our part in changing local practices. Focus on local municipalities and encourage recycling practices and organic waste recycling/composting. Make it a community outreach project. I am fortunate to live in an area that places a huge emphasis on recycling of all kinds. Local waste/transfer stations separate all recyclable products - old appliances, TV's and electronics, light bulbs, metal parts, car batteries and motor oil as well as the more common paper, plastic, tin and aluminum, and yard waste. In fact, ALL areas have curbside recycling for the common stuff and if it is not sorted and placed in the proper recycling pick-up container, you can be fined. Just last year, the yard waste recycling was expanded to include ALL domestic organic waste, including kitchen scraps and compostable food containers (like take-out and pizza boxes). This also includes all the organic waste generated by groceries and restaurants - they have the same recycling requirements. These get taken to a huge, state-of-the-art, commercial composting center and get converted to a highly desirable, certified compost product. Of course those who compost at home can still do so, but the alternative is out there for those who do not.

I just went to an open house and I got a flyer from them....Here there example that you may want to use: 1st page: Should include address: #### address, city, state, zip code. Then a brief description of the house: EXAMPLE: Beautiful________ in truly " move in condition". This home is __ story w/hardwood, carpet etc... Formal living room and dining room w/ neutral painted walls throughout. Kitchen features include:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.The house has __ bedrooms and __ bathrooms. Master suite has spacious closet space.Finished basement is great for entertaining(or if you have a den or familyroom)Additional amenties include low maintaince lawn, 3 cable jacks,3 high spped internet jacks and a insulated garage. PRICE 2nd page : should have this info. GENERAL INFO: bedrooms:# Bathrooms:# subdivision or neighborhood: name if any PROPERTY INFO: approx. age: # style of house:-- square feet:-- lot dimension: # x # total acres: # INTERIOR INFO: attic: basement type: kitchen: fireplace if any: kitchen fixtures: total rooms: EXTERIOR INFO: porch or deck: UTILITY INFO: central a/c: what type of sewer: what type of heat: SCHOOL SYSTEM: elem. school name: middle name: high school: MISCELLANEOUS INFO: $500 FINDERS BONUS at closingfor a referral that leads...... I hope this help you in any way. Good luck and keep us posted. maria

One thing that helps me is to think of "my husband's adult children" instead of "my stepchildren." It may sound like simple semantics, but it puts the focus where it needs to be to keep myself from getting too vulnerable emotionally. Again - in my case, I didn't raise these kids and they only lived with us for brief periods as adults. They are my husband's flesh and blood, and he has much, much more invested in them than I do. To them, I am their father's wife - and my 'value' to them is in making their father happy. Try thinking of it as 'your wife is having her daughter come for a long visit' and treat it as if your SD were one of your wife's oldest and dearest friends. (Not yours, your wife's.) You want your wife to have a lovely visit with her daughter, and you want your SD daughter to feel like a welcome guest in your home. SD is there to see her mother, and the best way to ingratiate yourself into her heart is to support her relationship with her mother. Give the two of them lots of time to visit and keep yourself busy with other things. That also gives you an easy and ready exit line to "Let you girls catch up."

One thing to be aware of is that many word processing programs will store information about the original author when the document is created. So if the recommendation letter is going to be sent electronically, it might come through listing you as the original author, in which case the jig will be up. Of course, read over the letter more carefully than your quick post above. Threatening to "spear" someone, doesn't make for a good recommendation. :-) Furthermore be careful to maintain the correct third person voice, it would be easy to slip and write, 'I also managed the XYZ account' Content-wise this link has some useful info for recommendation letters in general: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/employment-references/fl/how-to-write-a-letter-of-recommendation.htm Perhaps it could end with the letter mentioning that "In 2013 I sold the business, and am now {adjective/adverb} retired. Two25acres' exemplary work for me played a substantial role in making this happen.