Summer is here! It was down right hot the last 2 days. I'm shot but survived yesterday. We had about the number of people that we hoped for and made about 1/3 more in donations than what I had for a goal. So all was a success. I will post a few pictures after I upload them. I tried once and got some weird error message that the picture couldn't be copied to my computer. I gave up. We had a busy "family" day today and so the weekend is over. I did get in about 4 hours on Friday and about 5 hours of gardening on Sat. so all wasn't lost. So much to comment on that I won't attempt it tonight. I did think of this email I got recently when I read about Chelone's mum. Sorry things aren't up to snuff. No Nursing Homes for Us No nursing home for us. We are checking into the Holiday Inn! With the average cost for a nursing home care costing $188.00 per day, there is a better way when we get old & feeble. We have already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn. For a combined long term stay discount and senior discount, it's $49.23 per night. That leaves $138.77 a day for: breakfast, lunch and dinner in any restaurant we want, or room service. Laundry, gratuities and special TV movies. Plus, they provide a swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer-dryer, etc. Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap. $5 worth of tips a day will have the entire staff scrambling to help you. They treat you like a customer, not a patient. There is a city bus stop out front, and seniors ride free. The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp). To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays. For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants there. While you're at the airport, fly somewhere. Otherwise, the cash keeps building up. It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Holiday Inn will take your reservation today. And you are not stuck in one place forever, you can move from Inn to Inn, or even from city to city. Want to see Hawaii? They have a Holiday Inn there too. TV broken? Light bulbs need changing? Need a mattress replaced? No problem. They fix everything, and apologize for the inconvenience. The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid checks to see if you are ok. If not, they will call the undertaker or an ambulance. If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life. And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini-vacation. The grand kids can use the pool. What more can you ask for? So, when we reach that golden age, we'll face it with a grin. Just forward all our email to: us@Holiday.Inn Night all Michelle

Hey, I can swear with the best of you, although I rarely do. Raising a bunch of boys after their father died taught me the value of 'holding my tongue', as it were. Once in a blue moon, when I'd had enough and really let loose, the effect was electrifying. Just as sherrmann described, my sons' friends still talk in hushed and awed tones about the time "Miz B told Jason to take his sorry azz and all his chit out of her house and never, ever bring his effing scumbag self back". They were in such a state of shock, they barely said a word for 2 days afterwards. rofl Okay, not exactly the language my mother taught me. But I caught Jason with dope, so Southern manners were the least of my concerns, right? I'm just fine with 'salty' language, as long as nobody is around who would be offended. For instance, I'd never insult my 90-year-old great aunt by using words that would upset her. (You may call that hypocrisy. I call it courtesy.) What I'm not okay with, under any circumstances, is crude language. And the word "snot" is painfully crude, particularly when used to describe food. Turns my stomach (and I don't have a weak one!) sm P.S. And I have to add that comparing Julia Child's voice to coarse language is THE most ridiculous 'strawman' evah!!!

" but, I am still angry that my daughter and I got the short end of the stick and he gets to be praised by the universe for his actions." He gets praised by the universe?! Are you kidding?! He sounds like a Grade AAA Jerk, and you're lucky to be rid of him. Yeah, maybe his life looks pretty good right now, but character is the 'gift that keeps on giving', and this guy's poor character is guaranteed to screw up his life pretty completely pretty soon. And YOU have your daughter, without any interference from him. That may not feel like much of a blessing right now, but take a look over on the StepFamily forum at some of the drama and trauma caused by dysfunctional bio-parents. If you get a check and nothing else -- you're probably better off. You've also learned from this relationship. You're stronger and smarter, and sorry -- but he's still a jerk. You don't have to stay angry with him. Just recognize that he's a schmuck, a dysfunctional person, a louse -- and you don't need him in your life.

This is really nice, thanks for sharing it. There is so much talent. Sal