QOD - I WAS supposed to go camping this weekend, but I am staying home inside my nice warm, DRY house. I have plenty to keep me busy here, but I was looking forward to a walk in the woods, a nice campfire and some fresh air. DeeMarie - I am glad the reading went well. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with Shel Silverstein. After I suggested him to you, I started rereading The Sidewalk Never Ends and remembered all over again why I love his work. Besh - 7 days and counting!! Raeanne - What good books are you considering curling up with? Not that I need to add any more books to my TBR pile! LOL Since I joined Paperback Swap, my TRB pile has grown out of control. And if I haven't said so yet, WTG on sticking with your WOE!! You rock! Tikanas - Did we ever hear about your birthday package from Raeanne? I love to hear about what others received. Maddie - Front and center young lady!! BJ - Same for you!! NHSuzanne - How is Tillie? You haven't mentioned her in awhile. Milkdud - Are you back from visiting your son? Did you get to talk with Patti? Zig - The early bird gets the rabbit! LOL I too tried to stay up to say rabbit-rabbit, but didn't make it. I am trying to get back on my school schedule, which means no more late nights. :~( School starts for me on Tuesday and I am not mentally ready to give up my summer. I am trying to get some things done (that I put off for too long) in the hopes that I can at least start with a clean house and a short to-do list. I fully expect to be crabby for the next two weeks! DH has been warned. But on the bright side, DS is finally coming home for a visit next weekend. He is in a wedding in State College, so I will only see him Thursday night and Sunday afternoon, but that is better than nothing. DD called and she has a fever and a sore throat. I hate when they are sick and far from home. :~( Since it is cold today (high of 59º!!) I am going to self-clean my oven. I hate to do that when it is too hot out. Hope everyone has a nice weekend (in spite of the weather). Hi to everyone I missed. Marci

I haven't watched every episode either but have found myself catching it the last few weeks - I thought Stephanie would be the perfect match for him with a little one of her own, who better to understand the single parent role than someone that's right in the thick of it. Of the girls that are left, I'm rooting for Gillian, but Jason seems to not like her strength, which you've got to wonder about. I'm pulling for her 'cause she's from Canada! But I think it's her family that doesn't want to meet him, that could be a major problem. Suzan J

Good morning all, quick check in here, then I've got to get moving. Little GD is coming over today to play with Gma, and then we are going over there for dinner tomorrow evening for Mother's Day. Our weather warmed up again this week, but is only hot for a few hours. Mornings and evenings are still cool, so we haven't even had to use the air conditioner yet in spite of the 90 degree temps. Bebe, I remember you saying that you like dishes too. You really have allot to work with, but are you like me and don't bother since it is mostly just the two of you? My DH prefers to eat in front of the tv, so I mostly decorate the table when we have company coming. Once in awhile, I'll set the dining room table just to "play" then leave it a couple days just to enjoy how pretty it looks! ;o) If I had the storage, I'd love to have all kinds of dishes and accessories because I think they are so pretty--but we downsized a few years back to get ready for retirement so not much extra space now. I sure enjoy seeing what the gals on Holidays put together, and love checking out Tablescape Thursdays on the blogs. ;o) I also keep trying to find things to paint that can be used in tablescapes too. Guess I really need to try painting on glass to be able to do more of that. Have hesitated to do it because I need to buy special paints for that. More money and more storage issues! ;o) Punk, hope you get lots done at your son's house. Have they moved in to it already? Nice that you are close enough to be able to go help. Sure sounds like you will be eating well this weekend with those two events going on. Hope you have lots of fun too. Anj, you are right, a crockpot is a really good idea. I only have two, one small and one large oval one and love using them. Used to be so nice when I would come home from work and dinner was already cooked and the house smelled so good. I like to watch that Semi Homemade show on tv and she has done several shows with crockpot meals. I think those countertop grills make good gifts too and most everyone likes them too. I always hate trying to think of gifts for people, always want it to be something they will like and use, but never sure what they like. LOL Okay, gotta run. Have a good weekend. Luvs

"has to balance what's best for him and best for you. And sometimes they just aren't going to work. IMO, childs needs come first." See, this is interesting. I think what is so interesting and diverse about this forum (or even when talking to friends in RL) is that EVERYONE is going to have their own opinion; and that opinion is one we have formed based on our own experiences and perspectives. Nivea, you were treated in a really cruel and hurtful manner by your SM, correct? (or am I mixing you up with another poster?) I believe it was you. Anyway, naturally, you are more inclined to empathize and identify with the child (stepchild) and perhaps even project a bit of your own feelings; and that's normal, we ALL do that. Just as I am more likely to identify with someone like Ima or Lamom or Silver, someone who is a SM dealing with difficult situations. Anyway, I know what you mean about the child needing to come first; but I think you are saying this out of your own experiences, which included being emotionally hurt by your cruel and emotionally immature SM who insisted HER needs come first. Correct? That is awful that happened and it's sad that your father allowed you to be pushed aside. (And please correct me if I am mixing up your history with someone else.) Our situation is a little different in that DH had continually made the mistake of doing things to harm our marriage---all under the guise of "it's best for SS." But a lot of what he was doing wasn't even really best for SS. DH wanted me to smooth things over and be nice to BM, even after she attacked me in front of SS. Sure, it might be superficially easier for SS if everything seemed hunky-dory again. But in the long run, what lesson is that teaching him? That violence is acceptable? That it's okay for his mom to behave like that and I will just pretend that everything is okay? Those aren't lessons I want SS or DD learning. So sometimes what IS best for SS isn't necessarily what one might think at face value. Sure, it would be more *pleasant* for him in the short term, but in the long run, I think it does more harm than good. (I don't think this particular weekend issue is even really about anything being "best" for SS, though.) And one thing our marriage counselor has been helping both of us see is that sometimes what's best for the marriage has to come first. And I will say this with 100% conviction: it would NOT be in SS's best interest for DH and I to divorce. Not at all. That would be one of the worst things that could happen for both him and my DD. I may be "just a stepmother" to him but I have been a positive and caring person in his life for almost 7 years. He views my daughter as his sister. He genuinely loves our family and feels a TOTAL part of our family unit...because he is! We are not just some people he spends a few days a month with, he has two families and we are one of them! If that unit were to dissolve, it would honestly devastate SS. It would devastate my DD, as well, but I really think it would be worse on SS. He is very sensitive to these things, and he is the type of child that turns his upsets inward. I know if he were to lose his family, it would really impact him negatively in an emotional sense. So in marriage counseling, one thing DH is having to focus on is sorting out when SS's needs really DO come first, and when it's just BM manipulating "in the name of their son." Obviously, there are times that the child's needs have to come first---heck, that is 95% of parenting! But it is my belief that this is not one of those times. SS's mom is doing well and there is no reason he can't be with her.