I must take issue with snidely's item #2 re automatic Windows updates. A few years back there was a real problem with some HP computers that had AMD processors. This may have been the update for SP3, but my memory can't say for sure. The machines went into an endless reboot loop. My desktop was one of the affected ones, as was my friend's. There was finally a "fix" issued by HP which we were able to employ. My HP laptop, also with an AMD processor, although a different one, was not affected at all. I have also had minor problems with some of the .Net updates, so I always install those separately from other updates. Just my experiences, so one does learn from those not to just blithely set automatic updates. Obviously snidely is not a mother, or he would know that 13 year olds can be very sensitive and sometimes overly dramatic. This has nothing to do with good parenting, so he would best keep remarks about such to himself. I am a great grandmother as well as a former school teacher (12, 13, 14 year olds), so I have seen it all.

Hi naturelle, What I would do first is put the document you need to send on the desktop so you can easily browse to it. Open your E-Mail and click the attachment feature now a browse tab should open, click browse and browse to the desktop and double click the word document you need to send. It will be set as an attachment.

Lou, You may be able to recover your file (or an older version) by using an undelete programme. Ideally you should save any recovered file onto another drive. (This prevents the recovered file from overwriting and corrupting the original one if it tries to use the same place on the drive.) As a last resort if you haven't got another drive (or USB thumb drive or CD writer) and, providing that you drive isn't too full, then you could just try to recover it to a temporary folder. There is usually a fair chance that you can recover the file. You are more likely to be able to recover a file if the computer isn't used too often between losing the file and trying to recover it. Try using the simple FreeUndelete programme from: www.officerecovery.com/freeundelete/download.htm Here is a link that might be useful: FreeUndelete

Thanks ladies. I decided--it doesn't MATTER if he *gets it* or not. I cannot make him understand my feelings on the matter, all I can do is decide what I am comfortable with--draw and enforce my own boundaries. I am responsible for SS after school on ALL of DH's custodial days---every Wed, Thurs and every other Friday. I know this and I am FINE with it, even enjoy it. BM knows her own days and this is her issue. SHE can decide all by herself if going to Parent Night is important enough to drive back and forth or not. That is her choice. DH is not angry with me or anything, he seems to respect my decision, even though I can tell he doesn't understand. "And I know you don't mind having SS with you... and that's where they got you. If you say no, you're the evil SM who doesn't want to care for SS. If you say yes, you're their doormat." Silver, that is exactly it. I need to FORGET about that, though. It doesn't matter what BM thinks or doesn't think.I care about SS and she knows that, and so does DH, but caring does NOT equal being a doormat. As far as I'm concerned, SHE needs to take me out of the equation. No more of her asking "Can Love do it?" She is welcome to ask DH for a favor anytime she wants, but if HE says no, that's the end of the line. Parent---grandparents are not an option. DH's parents are not in town and BM's parents are just NOt grandparent-ly, helpful types. They just do not do that kind of stuff---ie, helping out with the grandkids. "