When your pet suffers from stress or anxiety, try a combination of the extracts of Oats, Valerian, and Chamomile. Rub a little Lavender oil near the animal's muzzle, or place some on a cotton pad in the pet's bed or in his sleeping area. And remember that if you are stressed, the animal will be too, so sniff a little of that calming Lavender for yourself as well. These measures will only work if the anxiety or stress is temporary or very mild. If you pet suffers acutely, he will need conventional medication. My little doggie suffered very badly from anxiety disorder, especially in her last (17th) year of life, though she'd had it for 3-4 years before it became disabling. It got so bad that she'd had a fit, or a stroke, or a heart-attack if separated from me by more than a metre or so. DESPITE the meds she was taking! In the end, it became so distressing, both for her and for me, that the vet advised euthanasia, and I took that advice. That level of stress is caused by dementia, for which there is no cure. Drugs helped for a while, but with increasing age and severity of the condition, her quality of life was at ZERO. She had pain, she became increasingly blind and deaf, her muscles were affected. Etc. We did the kindest thing, and while I miss her, I'm glad we literally 'put her out of her misery'. I tell you this to prepare you for what you may be facing.

Bunny in your case the profession would be gigolo! Nice work if you can get it. I was never pretty enough and my gag reflex is too strong. Math has haunted me all my life, unfortunately I can't stay away from it as I am in the science field. I can barely keep my two phone numbers straight in my head. Last summer I suffered through college algebra (again) in a vain attempt to raise my GRE anayltical score. Plus studied all the tutorials for the math part in my spare time. I would hate to imagine what kind of score I would have gotten had I not done all of that! Still it wasn't good enough to get into a doctoral program. So if I ever have any spare time again, I will be back at the math tutorials. I just don't have the knack, it's a real struggle. The job I want is to write trite, innacurate platitudes and make a bundle selling books to miserable bourgeoise who dream of being a forest ranger! People say I'm a good writer. Another gig I fantasize about is travel WRITER. You know, go on fantastic trips, and then write about it for the poor slobs stuck in the office! Having had jobs that a lot of people fantasize about being easy and stress free, it is one of my pet peeves. Like the idea that teaching science to kindergarteners is "easy" because it is at a basic level. Yes of course it's easy for a college educated person to understand the science part, but the difficult part in managing the kids with their different perceptions, experience, maturity level, and 15 minute attention spans, etc. It's not just a matter of speaking slower and louder! And to work as a tour guide at a national park you have to put up with years and years of grunt work and moving from park to park. One of my former students works for the National Park Service. Sure he has had some great jobs--he once lived in a lighthouse on an island off the coast of WI on Lake Superior. But i saw him last summer and he says he longs to settle down. He said he wants to finally know where the hardware store is and what box he left that book in. He's lived in five places throughout the country in eight years--FLA, WI, CA, WA, and now ND. Yes, he's finally gotten a job where he can settle down a bit--in the Badlands! Going on a nature hike in a park is fun and relaxing, but it isn't necessarily fun and relaxing for the person who's job it is to lead it. They work hard to make it look easy. Not that I haven't loved my career, but non-competitive and stress free it aint. The visitors feel non-competitive and stress free--but they are on vacation. The employees are not, and all the things that they deal with and take care of are the stresses the visitors are there to avoid. That's what they get paid for, to deal with them so the visitors don't have to. If you live in a tony vacation spot it is even worse. On your way running errands or to the grocery or laundromat you have to pass by folks lounging around on the beach, something you would LOVE to do, if only you had the time! But you're NOT on vacation. It's like torture, lol! I much prefer grungy Allentown where the housing is affordable and the parking is ample and folks are as stuck here as you so might as well smile and make the best of it! But having worked outside most of my life I am unfortunately spoiled for a desk job. It also doesn't suit my personality--I need to be up and doing.

Kat, Those are adorable! Stars aren't only for Christmas time. You can just change the color of the bows to make them seasonal. Pastel colors for Spring, Red White and Blue for summer and then orange or brown for Fall. That makes a nice and easy, yet interesting year round display. It makes me wish we had saved ours after it rotted.

Thank you for your response. Glad to hear your DH is supportive. I am going to sit mine down and have long talk before ss returns. Not sure how its going to go yet but I am hoping for best. I'll keep you posted :)