Brenda im so sorry you cant see it ,it is so funny. I will explain it a little bit. It is the music to Funky Town its a fast beat and it is a feeder camera catching chickadees and tufted titmouse at the feeder eating. But they put it to the music and speed it up and it looks like the birds are dancing and getting jiggy with it. The titmouse is the main character and the chickadee dances along and drums with his beak. Its really cute. And it is real pictures i think they put to video ,its not computer make believe. Its the titmouse being dominant over the feeder and the chickadee looking for danger and cracking seeds but it looks like they are dancing and drumming, very funny, I wish you could see it.-------bonnie

This storm came from the west. Last week's storm (and it was a doozy here too!) was from the north which brought the cold arctic air clear down to us. Your problem Connie, is you live close to the arctic air. It doesn't have to travel very far before it gets to you. LOL The four day a week school system is great for students in sixth grade and older. The little kids struggle way to much for the schedule to be a success. The district tried this for two years when Jesse was in first and second grade and she struggled and struggled and struggled. For on thing, the days are longer and the breaks are shorter. Because of being required to cover X amount of subject matter in less time the teachers cannot/will not do the refreshing little kids needs....like, on Monday go over the new math concepts covered the Thursday before, etc. etc. It being too hard on the little kids was the reason the stopped doing this before. Now they are doing it again. Morons. This time Digger was a junior and a senior and things went much smoother. But then, she is older, more mature and learned the first and second grade basics. We're such a tiny school that when there is an away game everybody goes and not just the students. Teachers travel with the teams too. We got into trouble with the State Board of Education because of the low attendance scores. During the basketball season it wasn't unusual for the boys and girls teams to travel to a game on Wednesday or Thursday, then again on Friday. Throw in the wrestling team traveling somewhere during the week and that's a lot of time for students and teachers to be missing school. Now, supposedly, we are not to travel to games/meets on any day but Thursday to cut down on absenteeism. This is a joke. Most games are legal but about 1/4 are not. The starting and ending dates of the school year concern is strictly for the teachers, They don't want to start early and stay late. To this I say 'big woo'. Building in a snow day means we would have to have that many more days on the calender so they just don't schedule one. The board thinks they can fool mother nature. Morons. The thing that baffles me the most is if our schools are in session until noon (or if a student is in school until noon) it is considered a full school day. They could send everybody home at 12:15 any and every day and still meet the attendance standards. (Test scores would suck but that's beside the point) So why didn't they bundle the kids up and TAKE THEM HOME at noon, in full daylight? *sigh*. "There weren't any kids on the bus" is how the district is excusing the two drivers who ran off the road yesterday. Again. 'Big Woo'. Morons. Sometimes I think a man named Crandall actually owns this coal mine. Long ago if the roads were closed and guys couldn't get to work the mine would just not pay them for that day. New management changed that policy ten years ago and started taking a guy's sick/personal day. In a bad winter could pretty much eliminate a guy's sick and personal leave. While he was boss guys had to be pretty careful when they called the federal safety hotline because he would get even with them. Right now the union and the company are arbitrating two cases of harassment because miners either called the hotline OR said 'I won't move my piece of equipment because it isn't safe." The pit bosses will try to intimidate the miners. They can't fool with the old timers like Custer but guys who just started are pretty careful because they are afraid they'll lose their jobs. Yes, I think Mr. Crandall's son or nephew is running this mine. Now they have a new manager and he seems like a decent guy. Maybe there won't be any flack over last night? There's been times when the roads were closed and carpools would run the blockade, go to work and divvy up the fine between them. They've stopped doing that. The union lost an arbitration over road closures because if one carpool gets through (and takes the risk of a wreck or a fine) the manager figured EVERYBODY should get through. That's why they all stayed home last night. One fellow in Custer's carpool has only worked there two weeks and until he's off probation he has no time off. He was nervous and wanted to go by himself. Custer finally got the union president on the phone who assured him NOTHING would happen to his job if he stayed home where it was safe. I'm not sure he believed the guys but when Custer pointed out that collectively the guys in the carpool had over a hundred years at the mine compared to his two weeks he did calm down and listen to them. LOL Poor Kid. Driving on bad roads does not bother me. When my babies would get sick I would drive into the jaws of hell to get them to a doctor. I know what to do on slick roads; my vehicles were heavy and reliable. I also know 4x4 doesn't mean you can't drive 76 miles an hour on ice/snowpacked roads. LOL What always worried me was people who aren't as cautious as I am. They're the ones who'll get you in a fix. Today is beautiful though. The skies are blue, the wind isn't blowing and the birds are stealing cat food and driving the cats nuts. I'm feeling pretty good too. A little stiff and sore but I think it's because I've laid around all week. My house is starting to bug me too. My living room is a wreck and the carpets are begging for a vacuum. I think this means I'm feeling better. Lori

I've been reading this forums for 2 days straight non stop because we're in the process of selling our house, and this is the most ridiculous piece of advice I've heard so far. I'm sorry to tell you, but as a seller, if someone cam to me with this ridiculous list of things to do, we would sooner back out of the deal. Yes, we would do things that needed to be done do to code violations, and we would also do things that WE could do ourselves. But if you think a homeowner is going to start hiring all kinds of contractors and get on the phone to start calling and asking about bids, you are sadly mistaken, and you've been watching way too much HGTV. A lot of sellers rather just not deal with it, maybe they'll give you a deduction on the price, but to go all out like that. omg, that's crazy. Put down the remote control, walk away, and step back into reality. Quote: From what you've written, it sounds to me like you need more time to determine if the price you've agreed to is fair, but that you also need to respond to the inspection clause promptly. If that's the case, I'd suggest you use your repairs list to fine-tune your price. Be very agressive in your list of requested repairs and corrections. Throw in everything your inspectors brought up and ask that they hire licensed, bonded contractors to correct it and that the sellers obtain permit waivers (or whatever their called) for their DIY work from the city. Your list should be as long and burdensome as it can be without making you look like a total jerk. (Looking nervous is OK.) The sellers will need time to formulate a response, price out your requested repairs and get bids, and you should use this time to get all of the information you will need to determine in your own mind what price is fair and appropriate for a house:

A little late to the party but what incredible and joyous news! I can imagine how thrilled you and your husband are and the doll story really made me smile to know that he's as thrilled and involved as are you. They sound like wonderful children. So sad about their eating problems in the past and yes it'll take a while to get over that but you're clearly taking great steps to help her and them settle in and soon they'll know that this is a different and better life. One suggestion, take it for what it's worth. How about letting them help plan out meals? Do a menu for a week or so and let them help. I would think that would relieve some apprehension about whether they will eat and it's never too early to let them help in their own way on the meal prep. BTW, don't forget about the library! That can be a regular outing. One thing I want to say though, there's a lot of comments and I'm sure even more thoughts about the natural parents and I want to point out how many people give children bad lives but WON'T give them up. I want to give credit that the mother realized she couldn't handle them anymore and willingly gave up her rights. That must be difficult to do. And the fathers gave up their rights too. Kudos to them too. I hope they're not left out in the cold. Not suggesting visitation or anything but maybe an update occasionally to let them know how the kids are doing could be nice. Just something to think about... not that there's anything else on your mind now!!! ;) They'll probably ask about their parents sometime and should know the full story age appropriate and I have confidence you'll do what you feel is right. I have the utmost confidence in you and your husband, respect for you for doing this and taking all three - not everyone would take on a chore like this, and it really is a win-win-win situation. For you, the kids and yes the bio-parents. Make that a win-win-win-win, since they didn't wind up in some shelter, orphanage or something. Really puts a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart. Good for you and all of you. So many things to do, so much fun too. Of course there'll be ups and downs but I can tell you'll do just fine and be one big happy family. My best to all of you!