kkny, This thread was starting (and I referred to the other thread because that was where you wrote the line I thought was judgmental on your part) but I wasn't clear in my original post. I have quoted the line that I meant from that thread and I thought it is ridiculous that you are basically saying that SM's have a double standard regarding responsibility when you apparently have never made a mistake, except letting your registration expire. Maybe you are more perfect than I thought, so I apologize for thinking you might have ever done anything wrong or that your DD was a normal teenager with problems that normal teenagers have, I guess I am wrong there too. It must be nice to have a teenage girl that doesn't get moody, talk back occasionally, or do anything wrong, except get B's. Now, I envy you a little. We all have a right to express our opinions and disagree. It is more about the personal attacks against moral character. and I don't think your profession (or socioeconomic status), regardless of what it is, has anything to do with deserving to express your opinion, but perhaps it has been the way you write "I'm a professional" that makes it sound like you are saying you are better than the next person that isn't a "professional", when your being a professional has nothing to do with your opinions on step families. Some of the sleaziest criminals were "professionals" but that didn't make them better than the honest guy picking up garbage for a living. My careers have had some direct influence on my opinions because it's what I have experienced that caused me to have the opinions I have. And it's also my life experiences that I have learned from that formed my opinions, so that is why I have shared them. I made mistakes many years ago and I'm not the same person, I have learned and grown from it. I've been very open and honest about my life. I don't see that you are as open and honest, yet you lump SM's into a group and judge. finedreams, I don't think you were told not to talk about children, but if you only have one (that is problem free) and you use her as an example, then you should realize also that all kids are different. If you work with kids or have other experiences, then use that as an example. and I agree with you on cheating, it is never right. Is it really necessary to personally attack each other?

I wasn't asking if the step parent should decide how to treat the biological parent. I was asking you if you think, for example, your ex husband (since you keep saying how little he see's his children) should have the same level of input as if he were involved with his children, seeing them on a regular basis? Do you think he has the right to call you up out of the blue and tell you what to do? Forget that a step parent is even involved. I can tell you that I raised my two younger children without their biological father's coming around and if I got a phone call and was told that I should be doing things a different way, just because they share DNA, I'd tell 'em to take a flying leap. It takes more than the contribution of egg or sperm to make a parent. At least in my book. You can have your own view on that, but then again, you said you would take back your ex even though he's chosen his wife's money over his kids. That must be okay in your book.

Faith, as my mom said, good riddance to bad rubbish. One of my girlfriends, when I told her how they had been acting, suggested I pay them off and get them out of there. Which is essentially what happened but on their terms. I'm happy they are gone. I went to Walmart and replaced the stolen tools. I think I can hire some teenagers looking for work to do the clean up off the Nextdoor web site for less than what I would have paid them to do it. So I'm good. I decided not to worry about it today. Maybe mid week or so I'll start looking to hire some help to clean up. Most of the problem was they left the branches and debris all around and walked on it all week so there are tons of little sticks and such in my rocks. When they did the bush trimming they tried to blow all the debris into the rocks so that has to be vac'd out with our blower vac. I don't like letting that stuff decay in there because then we have organic matter that grows weeds. Yesterday I sat out next to my new fountain on a lounge chair in the shade and read a book - The Singing Sands by Josephine Tey. It was heavenly. The sound of rushing water this fountain makes exceeds any we have had in the past so I love it! The ever performing ice plants were blooming away in the background adding a lovely dash of strong color.

"1. the strap's hardware is designed for plywood cab sides, and would need modification for the MDF." So screw a piece of plywood to the side of the MDF cabinet. $1.29 and 5 minutes. No one looks under there. "2. The Prolific has welded 90 degree corners and its bottom is almost flat, so the straps would only contact with the sink at the welded sharpish corners." So? What's the problem? "Is this a good idea?" No. "Is the 1/8" strong enough?" Yes, but I wouldn't do it. "Any pros/cons?" The aluminum is plenty strong as is his fastening method, however, no matter how well done, it remains static. It cannot provide constant upward pressure on the sink as does a strap method with a turnbuckle. It does not turn the sink into a truss. Before the sink is installed, screw 1/2"x2"x20" plywood blocking to your MDF cabinet sides. Run the straps through the clips on (2) Sink Straps (Regent Stone Products), screw the strapped clips to the blocking, one strap in front of the drain and one behind. Silicone the sink flange, clamp the sink in place through the drain hole, check your reveal, tighten the straps, pull the clamp, Windex the silicone squeeze-out, wipe it away and you're ready to install the disposal immediately.