Kathsgarden ... and others, Our body and the daily-operational part of our mind try unquestioningly to live up/down to what the deeper level of our mind tell them to do. Tell them they/you're stupid ... and they'll make you operate as though it were true! While it's not a good idea to think inordinately, unjustifiably highly of ourselves ... it's betraying the more potentially capable part of ourselves to run ourselves down, too. Lots of other folks out there willing to do that for you - don't do it to yourself! Why is it that some folks seem to think that they can build themselves up by running others down? What a shame! How much more valuable if we can all help kids and others - including ourselves - to evaluate themselves in a more realistically, objectively, factually-based way! Look yourself in the mirror, kathsgarden, smile, give yourself a wink and tell yourself that you're a prize human! Do it again with hubs, together. Find yourself a friend (even two or three) who, when s/he gets to know you well, will corroborate that view! And if you have kids - same medicine for them, O.K.? Hubs, too - except when he needs being taken down a peg or two! Go for this new challenge ... and good wishes to you and yours! (Sorry for all of the exclamation points). (!) ole joyful P.S. What's the best medicine around? Respect for others, affection ... and love! And if we can't give ourselves permission to love ourselves, with all of our faults - we can't do better than a pretty flawed job of loving others, either. I figure that if God can put up with me ... love me ... surely I can love myself! o j

Whats your favorite thing to do when your bored? --Read or play a game What do you do when it is rainy outside? --Read or play a game. ;o) Honestly, I'm probably just doing routine chores inside. Is there something that is always on your mind? If so would you like to share it? -- I call "Mom guilt:" Whatever I'm doing, I should be doing something else. Even if I'm doing something I have to do, I think of other things I have to do. Have you ever gotten into a akward conversation if so what was it about? -- Wow. I remember one with a college botany prof when I was a freshman. Several students went to his desk after class to ask class-related questions, me included. As he answered questions, he somehow got into a philosophical monologue about how a man of science balances the scientific with God/religious faith. He told us about his son dying, and how he lost his faith and had to find it again. By the time he stopped, he was sobbing and every other student had somehow slipped out of this awkward moment. I was the only one still standing there. Then he looked up at me and said "What do you think about that?" I don't even know what I answered, I was so stunned. I also don't think I ever got my questions answered. LOL. Do you love yourself? -- Hm. I like myself, respect myself. But if I really loved myself, you'd think I would take better care of me! Do you think the wilderness spectacular? -- Awesome, in the true meaning of the work, not the slang. Are you living life to the fullest? -- No, I think the day to day bogs me down. What is you main focus in life set on? -- Raising kids who are kind, responsible and happy. What is your favorite brand of chocolate? -- Oooo, the Starbucks caramel macchiato truffles I bought yesterday. What was the last thing you downloaded on your computer? -- DH has updates to our firewall downloaded automatically every morning. What is one thing you wish would happen today? -- A miracle would happen to someone who needs it somewhere to day. I don't need one today, so I wish it for someone else. What emotion do you feel a lot? -- Frustration.

I knew when I read the OP that this could NOT be what was requested. Knowing a number of people here would go off on a tangent rather than answer a simple question. Start a different thread to debate it, a healthy debate on it would be good, but why not respect the OP? So I'll bring this back to the original request: "But I am wondering what reasons may be for someone not voting. Do you have friends that don't vote, and if so, what do they give as a reason? I'm genuinely curious. I won't debate the reasons (and please, other responders, please don't), just want to try to understand." I've worked a number of campaigns and elections in various capacities over the years and after talking to people, door knocking, fundraising, fielding questions and other things I've heard a number of reasons WHY people don't/won't vote. Other than being incapacitated, hospitalized at the last minute or something like that, I can't think of legitimate reasons but that's not the question. Some of the reasons I've been given include: - Some say they feel "it won't do any good" - Some say they feel that voting for a 3rd party or a write in would be a waste so they won't vote for anyone - Some say they feel afraid of jury duty, IRS or other retribution. - Some say they feel it's not a duty to vote. - Some are "too busy" watching TV or things. - Some say they feel they don't have the time to vote and that the law that says they get time off to vote isn't effective or they don't want to utilize it. - Some say they feel it's a protest. - Some want to disavow any responsibility and this affords them the opportunity to say "Don't blame me - I didn't vote for him/her" - Some don't believe that if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. - Some don't want to stand in line to vote when they could stand in line to spend money somewhere. - Some don't know that they could vote. (For instance, in MN you can register at the polls) - Some feel exempt from those who feel if you don't vote, don't complain. - Some feel there's fraud and legitimate voters can't offset it. - Some don't know how they feel on an issue or candidate so they don't feel they should vote. Some don't know how to become more informed on it. - Some listen to the churches, emails and other political groups who tell them not to vote - Some get so angry with the political ads and posturing starting years before the election they become so numb they won't vote because of that. - Some say they don't like the "tone" of elections so that's why they won't vote. I know there's more but can't think of them right now. I really think a number of these should be discussed, in another thread. Though I've resisted, I have to ask, Azzalea, do you have any documentation to back up the claim "Absentee ballots aren't even counted unless the election is close."?

This was a chain restaurant, & the bill for 2 dinners was just under $40. Servers in those places aren't "professional" waiters who are likely to make good incomes. They're likely young people trying to support themselves or pay school expenses. "Professional" waiters work at places where dinner for 2 would be $150 or more, & where no diner would dare leave a chintzy tip. which has...what?...to do with punishing a harried waitress for forgetting or not realizing that she should have brought smaller bills.