Braydyray: You are a generous person with a very selfish 'friend'. I do understand people who don't want to toil forever in their yards. I am one of them. I hate pulling weeds. So I paid my neighbors grandson to spend a few hours pulling them this past week. Best $25 I've spent this summer. The point is, I PAID someone to do this. I would never let a friend come to help me out and watch them slave while I did nothing. Dinner, flowers, some token of gratitude should have been shown to you. One of my neighbors cut back a few of my bushes (she knows where to cut them back, I just hack away), for me while I was gone for a weekend. Upon my return, I saw the work she had done. I asked her to let me pay her (she does not have any money). She refused; so I bought her a gift certificate for a pedicure. She's a runner, and loves pedicures after running 5 miles a day. It was a gesture to say 'thanks for what you do for me'. Your friend places no value on what you do. This is NOT a friend, as I am sure you know by now. Wish you were my neighbor, though!

"Gifted" in our school district (Capistrano Unified) is identified by placing at a 95th percentile or above on the Otis-Lennon test (an IQ-like test). Prior to that, in order to qualify to be nominated to take that test, he had to score at a 90th percentile or above on both reading and math on the CORE test (a standardized test the district gives to all students in addition to the SAT9). At the end of 5th grade, all of the students are given the Math Challenge Test (the placement test for 6th grade). Typically, about 80% are placed in 6th grade math, 20% are placed in pre-algebra (including ALL of the GATE students, such as my son), and 1% are placed in 7th grade algebra. The pre-algebra class is the 7th grade curriculum but the classes are all 6th graders so he will always be with his peers. I also want to say that he had 6th grade math LAST year and got an A on his report card in every trimester. He scored a B in two chapters and spaced on the test. He still mastered those chapters, technically. THIS CHILD does not belong in 6th grade math AGAIN next year. The tutor is there to make sure he knows those chapters up and down and inside and out. Bottom line, if it's beyond him, he won't pass. He has one of "those" minds. Last year, when they were working on three and four digit long division, he came to me with a completed homework assignment. Just answers, nothing written out. I said "hon, you can't use a calculator - please go write out all of the problems." He swore up and down that he did NOT use a calculator and challenged me to test him. So I flipped the paper over and wrote out a few new problems. He stared at each one for about two minutes, then gave me the answer. *I* then had to check them on a caculator, and he had each one correct. You know, everyone told me when he was in preschool that I should hold him back for kindergarten because he was born in the fall (cutoff in CA is Dec. 2, he was born Oct. 22) and he was a boy. I heard countless stories of their kids and their friends kids and the milkman's kids who were either held back and they were glad, or the child repeated kindergarten, or started on time as a 4 year old ("early" in their minds, on time actually) and they regretted it. But I knew my child. I also knew kindergarten - I was teaching it, after all. I knew that kindergarten is designed for the 5 year old, not for 6 year olds, and I also knew that I could not tell a difference between the kids that had started at 4 (and turned 5 by December) and the ones that had spring birthdays. Where I did see a difference was with the 6 year olds, who did exceptionally well in my class, but for good reason - because they were too old for the curriculum. They weren't being challenged. Thank goodness I knew my child and I knew kindergarten because I might have been tempted to listen to them. He was ready and wanted to go more than anything, and academically he was ready as well. He did start kindergarten at 4 1/2, did amazingly well, and has been ever since. I am glad I chose to challenge him rather than wait and put him with younger kids so I'd have a "guarantee" that he'd succeed. That's what I'd feel that having him repeat 6th grade math would be. It would be pointless at this point. Sure, they may be times when something might need to be repeated if he truly struggled. This isn't one of those times. And if it is, him not passing that test will make that known. Here is a link that might be useful: GATE/AAA program in Capistrano Unified

A lot depends on for what events/contingencies you're preparing. Some of the list is humorous. "Big dogs"? Kind of goes with goats & chickens? Liquor for bribes! And seeds? Probably should include an alternate mate to repopulate the world! LOL Ease up folks, some of it clearly was for entertainment purposes. But there are basic items I can't excuse people for not having in stock. If you don't have a supply of batteries in your refrigerator drawer, purchased when free or cheap, you deserve to suffer during a power outage. Again I endorse the crank flashlights/radios (until analog radio is turned off of course). I would suggest going with propane for lantern and stove fuel rather than the white gas ("Coleman" type) fuels. That stuff is explosive. If you doubt it, take a tablespoon and throw it on a campfire sometime. But be back a ways when you do it. A 20# propane tank can have splitters on it to run multiple lanterns and a stove, even a heater, much more safely than the white gas. Heavy garbage bags make excellent makeshift raingear. And don't forget about firestarters. If you're talking emergency situations, I'd suggest waterproof matches. Make your own by dipping the wooden matches in paraffin wax. Firestarters are many different kinds. Save some dryer lint. Works great. Keep it in a coffee can. Dip some cotton string in paraffin wax. Some books of matches waterproofed (with? yes, paraffin) works too and even the end pieces from candles you use in the house at holidays. A hatchet is a good idea to keep handy too. Essentially, camping fans will do fine in a lot of emergencies. Other cooking sources are your propane grill, kettle grill if you have charcoal and starters. A good alternative to thermal underwear is sweatpants and shirts. Even southerners often have these. Depending on the clothes sizes you can put a pair under and over a pair of jeans. Or the flannel lounging pants under and sweats over them. A few cans of waterproofing spray like Scotchguard will help keep them and you dry. Another little camping tip. Oh, and instead of a dedicated toilet, a portable toilet is made easily from a 5 gal pail, seat if you want to get fancy or even a folding camp stool or a lawn chair! A camp shovel and squat will work too. And if truly an emergency, modesty goes out the window. Fasten the toilet seat to the 5 gal pail and you won't have to argue about who left the seat up! :) Wire clothes hangers can be versitile tools. Use them to make your own lantern hangers, repairs, tie things together, and you can even hang clothes! (To dry and more.) Can also be used as a weapon to beat off people trying to steal your rats, chickens, goats and big dogs! ;) Personally, I think I would use duct tape instead of stockpiling screen patching but the idea of all of these suggestions is to get you thinking. I really think that doing some research on camping tips and tricks would be of great benefit to a lot of people. I live a rather modest life, austere to the view of many. But when the power was out for a week here the last time, I survived quite well. Comfortably under the circumstances and even had some luxuries that many others didn't. I had tv, radio, light, food, water, telephone... Not a huge disaster compared to some, but being prepared not just with supplies, but also in a state of mind. My last suggestion. On these ideas, why not put together a 3 ring binder or something with lists of what to do in certain situations? For instance, power outage, turn off as many breakers as you can, the crank flashlights are located in the hall closet, 1st aid tips, important phone numbers, insurance info, etc. Even ideas for food, crackers & PB (sans-salmonella, eat first from the frig, etc.) and how about including notes like check on the handicapped neighbor, your elderly relatives, etc. Could be helpful. Even though I disagree with some of the ideas, I do like these lists minnie_tx. Keep 'em coming. I like going through them and see how they compare to my checklists and I get ideas from most all of them. I appreciate your efforts.

I've loaned money a lot but have pretty much stopped it. I've been stung a couple times by people I thought were friends. I've just decided it has to be something extraordinary for me to do it anymore. It's tough. It goes against many of my beliefs but then again, I worked and work hard for my money. I live a frugal life. When someone is a spendthrift, makes more than me and wants to borrow from me, I've started feeling a bit offended. In addition to what Minnie_tx said, I'd suggest you say in your own words (and practice it several times so you say it smoothly) I know how it is these days. Let's share some tips on making our money go farther, or economizing, or something to that effect. Maybe mention a couple frugal websites you found interesting and you'll share them or something. Frankly it's what they need. If they have to borrow $5-$15 they're probably not budgeting their money properly. Turn off some lights, quit driving as much, buy cheaper and smarter, etc. Are they borrowing it to go to a movie? Go out to eat? Maybe it's time for them to turn off the cable and the contract cell phone(s)? Another good thing to do is to get pro-active on it. When you see these people, just mention how much it was for a prescription, to fill the tank, etc. Mention something like, guess we won't take the trip to see ____ at least for a while. And be sure to give a heavy sigh and say oh well, we're all in the same situation in a way, aren't we? Smile, take a deep breath and change the subject quickly. (Nice that summer's here, doesn't the lawn look nice or whatever) How can someone hit you for a loan after that? And the beauty is you're being honest. I'm one who is opposed to lying to people especially to keep from telling them what they often need to hear but to simply say you just can't do it this time and mention that you understand since you saw your (prescriptions, groceries, car repairs or other honest things) go up and you know how it is to have to tighten your belt. And certainly to be expected to be a bank for a number of people in the building? That's abominable. And to not give you some interest is pretty tacky too. I have a relative in Texas who was impacted by hurricanes a few years back. She called in desperation that all the banks were closed, she couldn't cash her paycheck, needed gas to get to work and the stations that were able to operate were only taking cash and would be closing soon. The power was out and she knew it would be out for days so she wanted to get a few supplies since all refrigerated/frozen items would spoil soon. All she needed was to get $200 until she could cash her check and would pay me back next week. Well, next week became next month, then later and later and I did get paid back over 2 years later and she paid me some interest and costs of wiring the money. What ticked me off was when she was talking she had most of the money but not all of it so she couldn't pay me back right then (she never heard of paying something?) and then it was comments about they deserved something special so she bought some special food and they went out to eat, etc. She was buying things that she really didn't need, well, you know how it goes. And was saying how ashamed she was that it was taking so long and she was afraid to even email me, etc. Well, after finally getting it back, she called again within a year or so wanting to borrow again. This time it was only going to be a month to two months because she had a new job, her husband's disability payments would be coming in, etc. Well that took more than a couple months. She's been hinting again and I've just said that things are tight here. I mention often about gas bills in the winter, insurance, etc. For her own good she needed to be cut off. I'm pretty sure she'll hit up my sister who won't do it after seeing the last couple times, well she says that anyway so it could be she is loaning her something! IDK. All I know is that the Dotmom saving & loan needs to take care of herself. It's easy for things to get out of hand and while I'm sure $5-$10 isn't going to make you go without food or medicine, it cannot go on. That's Buster's catnip fund that's being threatened! ;) Good luck to you my dear. And don't feel bad about protecting you and your husband's (and of course fuzzball's) interests. That's not selfish, that's common sense. A lot of friendships break up over money. That's the way it is. But to me they're not friends if that happens. Friends don't cheat friends out of their money. Wow was it hot and humid around here today! I'll take 30° over this any day! :)