Here is what is so sad. The price probably is the same as it was before, or if reduced just in a minuscule amount. So, if production costs are so much cheaper to outsource manufacture, who is getting all this money they saved? The consumer is told that it's them. And they bite, for a few cents savings, but pay for it with their jobs. I don't have a problem at all with buying imported items, if it's a foreign owned company. But, I do have a major problem buying goods from an American Company who gets their revenues from selling to their own people, and turns them out to pasture from their livelihood and then pockets the savings from outsourcing to a few executives and major stockholders. I went out last week, and for the first time in 23 years bought a new wardrobe. I didn't go to a box store, but that doesn't make any difference anymore. Not one item..........NOT ONE.......was manufactured in my own country, but all had "American" name brands. First we're told we are a post agricultural economy and now we are told we're post industrial. So, where does our GNP come from? Building houses? LOLOLOL. Yeah, but they're all being foreclosed.

Sounds like she wasn't prepared at all. I hope that she learns from it instead of deciding to opt out of holding huge gatherings. My comments below probably will sound really ignorant, but, believe me, I don't mean to be... it's just that I'm very bold and say things straight out. After months of offering help when I had the time they called me three days before in a panic. I was out of town on vacation due to arrive home the day of their party. So what did you do to help? At one point during the party I looked up to see the host who was still in jeans and a ratty t-shirt (it was a cocktail attire party) peppering dishes of food and adding olive oil. Clearly she wanted the food to taste good. But, at some point it's time to mingle and enjoy your guests. It doesn't make for a fun party when guests watch the host running around. She ran out of time getting so much ready herself she never got to change. It was sad because they have her in jeans and her husband in shorts in family photos where everyone is in shirts, ties, and dresses. Being a friend who was asked for help 2 days prior, why didnt you say something like "Here, let me take care of this while you go up and change. It might help to make you feel more relaxed." If she protests, I would say something like "Hey! What are friends for? This is my way of helping you out." But, to make it clear as a guest I as well as my husband were the perfect guests. We mingled. We raved over the food. We never once gave a clue that we were dying inside for our friends wishing that we could do something. But, after an initial "Is there anything we can do to help" (after doing what I could for two days from vacation and arriving home to help that day) we were told to go and enjoy ourselves. We were guests we were told. So we did so. You were the perfect guests. If you're a friend and were "dying inside for our friends wishing that we could do something", why didnÂt you anyways, especially since she called you two days prior. I should add I do this for a business. So I guess when I am sitting back and see what went wrong it is hard for me. Especially when they didn't want help then call me two days before begging for it. If they were a client I would have fired them along the way! :) Again! "call me two days before begging for it"Â what did you do? How did you help? Obviously, from what youÂve stated that was all wrong with the party, you must not have helped much. You do this for a business and youÂre a friend? Again, I apologize if I've offended you. It is not my intent. It's just that you have failed to mention your part in this, if any... seeing that she had asked for your help. Your post was very informative. A person also needs to learn what "type" of help to ask for. Whether it be a caterer, bartender, decorator, etc.

As a medical professional, it continues to frustrate me that we easily do heart transplants - but the treatment of depression is still very challenging. The incidence and prevalence of depression is significant. Many people will experience major clinical depression in their lifetime. Suicide is a complication of depression, just like infection is a complication of a laceration. Some get the complication, others don't. Yet talking about mental illness is so taboo. Depression is impaired brain chemistry - not a personal transgression. Insurance coverage for mental illness is so lacking. Insurance pays generously for for the complications of alcoholism, overeating, and smoking - things people have far more control over. Sorry for my soapbox rant, but in emergency medicine I see so many victims of suicide, both the individual and family & friends left behind. Hopefully his death will bring more attention to the need for better mental health care.

Can someone also lend their opinion about my rug size? I'm torn between an 8x10 (having just the front of the sofa, ottoman, and chairs on the rug but not the side tables), an 9 x12 (having the front of the chairs and sofa, half of the side tables (the otter legs would be off the rug), and all of the ottoman on the rug), and 9x12 having all of the furniture on the rug except for the tv stand). I'm torn between the 9x12 and 8x10. I like the idea of the 9x12 but hate that the width wall-to-wall would reduce the walkway between the tv stand and rug to just 3 ft. Should this walkway be larger? Should I get an even bigger rug to go under the tv stand?? My living room size is 16 x 16. Thanks for any input in advance...The holidays are coming and I need the help. :-)