I thought I would check in before leaving for the weekend. Yesterday was a day from hell. I am asking you again for prayers and support for my family. What I am going to tell you is almost impossible to believe. It concerns two of my nephews. One is ninth grade, the other away at college, finishing up his senior year. Last week my brother and his wife received a call from the ninth grader's school, saying that he had suffered an "episode" and recommended taking him to the doctor. To make a long story short, he had gotten extremely stressed out at school (he is always on the honors list) and just cracked. They described it as a manic episode. He is seeing several doctors and has gotten better, went back to school yesterday. When talking to my mother yesterday morning, she said she had started receiving some very bizarre emails from our other nephew, who is away at college. She didn't want to bother my brother, because of everything they had been going through with the younger son. I asked her to forward them to me, and gosh almighty, they were more than bizarre, really out of it, almost suicidal. So I told her I was going to track down my brother and/or his wife at their work and let them know. To make a long story short, this nephew has also suffered some sort of manic breakdown - they tested him and did not find drugs or alcohol in his system and will be committing him to a mental hospital for evaluation. My brother is with him, as my sister-in-law had to stay home with the other son. I was hesitant to post this on a forum, but I believe in prayer and that it can help heal, and my poor brother and his family need it in the worst way. They are just stunned and in shock. They are the last family you would think something like this would happen to. Very stable environment, very supportive of their children. Thank you for letting me share.

Good morning. It's already 72 degrees here and heading up to 85. Sunny, too! Welcome, Dody and Groomingal! This is a great place to come for support, for weight loss and other things. I'm heading out in a few minutes to do my weekly grocery shopping. I keep a running list all week on my computer, so that by Friday morning, I'm ready to print it and go. I never used to be quite this organized until I started on Weight Watchers this time. It really keeps me in line to know exactly what there is to fix and eat. I'm still cooking every evening, and so far, most of the recent attempts have been successful! QOD: No plans so far. We did so much running around last weekend, and hubby is taking it easy this week but still going in to work after having a heart cath on Monday. So, he'll probably just want to lie around and watch tv. Thanks for the good thoughts for Aubrie. I'm really proud of my Dson and DDIL for remaining so calm about things so far. That's also the reason I was so happy to keep the girls for them Easter weekend while they go visit my other son and DDIL for a nice distraction. And, it has nothing to do with the fact that I LOVE being with my granddaughters! LOL McPeg, I had cabin fever yesterday, too. It was very overcast here and it just made me feel so gloomy. I'm thankful for the sun today! Have a great weekend, everyone!

HAPPY DAD'S DAY TO ALL THE LURKER DADS!!!! It's pouring rain here---absolutely miserable but the fire danger level was high, so a higher power took over that situation, obviously! Yesterday middle DD and I hauled and DH and youngest DD stacked about 2 cords of wood at the new place. We took some trees out and a guy stripped them, cut them into rounds, and split them. We have 4 1/2 cords to haul and stack, but got a lot done during Baby V's nap. Today, despite the rain, I'm heading over there to try and finish the job. I really felt good getting the exercise, but took 2 Aleve when I got home, just in case! Wodka, I ordered the book. They didn't have it at the library here, but whilst I was at the library, I managed to check out 6 books on spritual and calming home interiors and one on island homes, so I have enough "picture" books to keep me busy until the book you suggested gets here. Milkdud: Here's my cell story. Bought a new phone and asked for a "local" island number. Sprint had to change my number 4 times before they told me they were "out" of island numbers and I finally ended up with a Seattle number! AND they cancelled my rebate for the phone because "I" changed my number so many times! Gadfrey! So, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!!!! Canasta sounds fun whenever people describe it. I should check it out. Raeanne- I "use" the dogs at the shelter because I don't have time for my own dogs and the dogs there are happy to see me anytime! lol Well, the word must have gotten around this small town that I am trying to move because 2 college kids have called the office, offering to use their own trucks and move me for extra dough! Gotta love the go-getters! NHSuzanne- Bon Voyage!!! Got to the bottom of your foot problem---good one! But I am sorry for the diagnosis if there is no relief in sight. I know that the worst pains in my mind are headaches, back aches, and foot aches. I hope that, at least, there is a pain relief med out there that you can use to relieve some of that discomfort. Have fun on your ride, sistah! WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT UPON YOUR RETURN. Going off coffee for your feet, though, milkdud? I don't know if I could handle THAT!!! We're doing lunch out for Daddy's Day. The kids all made cards for him (even Baby V.) DH is at work today, so we're gonna pick him up and take him to a crowded restaurant! Warm fuzzies to all! Love you all for checking in!!!!!! Reading what everyone's doing makes my day WAY more interesting!

IMO, your father is playing both of you like a fiddle. As long as each of you are complaining about the other one, all focus is off of him. Brilliant! Golddust.. I agree. I've started replying 3 times and deleted all of them. I think there's more to the story & doubt it's just the girlfriend. Reading her letter, she probably thinks she's helping her man. Danielle, the best advice I can give you is to try to understand where she is coming from; but don't let her walk all over you. This is a very touchy situation; you know what your dad was like when you were growing up & she came into the picture after he was out of his "unhappy" marriage. While he's probably told her his side; she's never going to know what really happened because she wasn't there and IMO.. she needs to respect your feelings & how hurt you were by him but try to respect her for trying to be there for your dad now. I have issues with my step son. He likes to go back to his father & say that I said this or I said that. When my hubby fell off of his truck I sent him an email because he stopped speaking to my hub & wouldn't you know it, he twisted my email around trying to start a fight between my hub & I. Thankfully my hub knew about the email before I sent it; it was a rude awakening to my hub of just what his son would do to get me out of the picture. This is all in SS's head, not mine because I can be grown up about it & smile like nothing ever happened but he can't. The best advice I can give you is to try to have a relationship with your dad without the GF around every time. You still need father/daughter time. I encourage hub to call his son or go golfing with him because even though we can't see eye to eye, it's still his son. My hub does not talk about me when they are together & if the kid starts, he says it's between you 2 and not me. SS's mother was an alcoholic - probably why he hates me so much because we have the life he never had growing up & his father has been raising my 2 kids for the last 10 years.. so he's bitter; but he's also an adult man in his 30's & a divorced father. I don't feel that the GF was trying to place "blame" on any of the kids for the marriage/drinking problems, I read it as her just stating why he was drinking. My dad stayed in a bad marriage because "It was cheaper to keep her" & we kids suffered with the fighting. Dad was not around most times, he chose to work as much as he could.