Imageevent.com is the best photo storing site IMHO. After I load photos from my camera to my computer, I then upload all the photos to Imageevent.com. The bad photos are then deleted from Imageevent.com but they are still retained on my computer (I don't know why I save them but I do). A nice thing about Imageevent.com is all the photos are the same size as what is stored on my computer so it provides a backup to my computer photos (it would be cumbersome to get them back from there but it would be possible and I think they will someday add an enhancement to download photos back to your computer). Photos do not have to be resized to post on the forums, just pick the size you want to post. When I store photos on my computer they get this filename YYMMDD.01.Description. The 01 is a sequence number so if I use more than one memory stick on a day, photos with different descriptions (family photos & Hosta photos for example) or if photos are coming from different cameras they get a different sequence number. I don't use any special photo storing program, just that naming convention. Sample of photo sizes from Imageevent.com (extra large and original were not posted because they would cause word wrapping on future posts) Icons Small Websize Large Here is a link that might be useful: My Imageevent homepage

I'd find someon who'll take a shorter listing. Several years back we signed with a hotshot - a real legend in our area apparently. Well, turned out he didn't really "do" small houses and had a team member take over. It was a month before our house was advertised anywhere, including even getting feature sheets printed. He had us sign for six months and didn't even return our calls. Being the witch that I am, I called the real estate board here and they told me who to call in his agency and exactly what to say to get out of the contract. Suddenly this guy was at my door. Wow. After much arguing and listening to him say, "Well, I know I didn't return your calls, but I didn't realize they were important..." (AS IF?!?!?!?) we finally got him to let us out of the contract. Mostly we let him know that the person in charge of his office was on side with us. He went to his car and called the gentleman and came back with a much better attitude. He then balked at putting our cancellation in writing and then the whole thing started up again. I didn't back down, but my husband was ready to give in. We finally got the cancellation in writing AND added a clause that we would not be pursued for any commissions after the fact at all. (We had had an open house and couldn't get any info on whether or not anyone came, I think the answer was no as it wasn't listed anywhere, and I didn't want them to come back and claim something when another realtor found a buyer later.) Three weeks after all of that was finally over we had an offer through our new realtor and sure enough, the first gentleman came back and tried to claim that he was "sure" the offer was from someone who had attended the open house (which he didn't even do himself). He tried to put forth the idea that our document was not valid. (Remember, he assured us it didn't even need to be written and yet look what happened.) Remember, he wouldn't even confirm that anyone came to our open house when we were still his clients, and then suddenly he was quite sure this prospect was his?!? Again, it took a call to the head of his agency to get him to leave us alone. Apparently the "great legend" in these parts didn't like not getting his way. We've worked with four different agents (four different moves) and the others were all great. I know most agents are above board and do the right things, but just to protect yourself I think it's a great idea to get everything in writing and insist on terms that you can live with. If that means someone won't take you, it's not the end of the world, someone else will. Our "hotshot" sold a lot of properties and really put on the charm when he was trying to get our business, but honestly did a complete turnaround after. I'm glad I at least pushed for written documents through the whole thing. And I'll never sign for a long term again. (I'd also suggest looking at a reasonable escape clause regardless of the term.) Assuming you're above board and honest I see no reason why you shouldn't have a way to get out of a bad situation. You change doctors, dentists, etc if you are unhappy. Go for three months and resign later if necessary (and you're still happy.) But that's just my humble opinion...

I sat in court last week (haha, they issued a bench warrant for BM's arrest because she didn't show up for TWO hearings... the first for DCSS ~requesting an order that she seek work since she has not paid in over 6 months, the second ~ a contempt DH filed for her not paying her half of SD's medical bills) but being so close to Christmas... lots of the cases were about that. It was really pathetic to watch two people fight over how to split up the kids' Christmas day. One mom wants until noon, the dad wants them at 9am. I remember splitting it with my son's father & once, his wife came outside & assaulted me during the exchange... cops were called & of course nothing happened because she told them I hit her... they offered to take both of us to jail or do nothing. It was NOT the way any of the kids should have to spend the holiday... my son or the other five kids in the car that witnessed it. It is just so much better for the kids to spend the day with one parent & celebrate the holiday with the other parent on a different day. After the 'cops on Christmas' incident, that is what I did. and of course we had to get an order for every other year so we no longer split the holiday at all. We had to do the same for Thanksgiving but now that he's in his 20's, I look back and it was more harmful for HIM to split up his days. When the parents get along, I think it can work out fine.. but if they don't, it will ruin a kids holiday so what is the point of even getting them? I see many parents doing it for themselves, because THEY have an expectation of how they want their holiday to be. They are not thinking about what's best for the children. The sad thing is when one parent is going to see relatives for a holiday or vacation, that may be getting together from far away & they only have that one opportunity to see them but the other parent won't let them go.. it's the children that suffer. I see lots of that too. For that, there is no answer except that sometimes we have to sacrifice so the child isn't placed in a situation that makes it worse for them... and know that when they grow up, they will see through it. And there's no guarantee that they ever will see the truth. My son is almost 24 & is trying to plan part of his Christmas weekend with his dad, whom he hasn't spoken to since before he was deployed. We don't even know if he's incarcerated or not (he's been in & out of prison for many years) but my son has the hope that his dad will step up to be a dad to him & a grandpa to DGS. I had to talk to him when I was getting guardianship of DGS... he actually told me that he's fine with it as long as I allow him to see DGS when he wants. I said that's fine, anytime you want to see him just give me a call. That was several months ago.. not one call. (well, first he wanted me to agree to an every other weekend visitation schedule... and I said "you're going to come get him every other weekend?" and then he changed it to "let me see him when I want." I think he just wanted to see if he can engage me in a battle but when I refused to fight over it, he went away.) My stepmom always said, "kill 'em with kindness" because they thrive on conflict.

Glenda- You must be a pro at packing by now because you travel a good bit. Aren't you going to Ireland and England - or do I have my travelers and trips mixed up? And where are you and your girlfriends cruising to Ms. Rita?