Yes, Petal, thank you for reminding me of that great little movie! My family invited me over to their house one Fall evening for Pizza & a Movie Night, and Songcatcher just stole our hearts. She was so determined to find and SAVE those old tunes. It was an incredible little movie. (my Grandmother's little recorder used wax cylinders, which were sent off somewhere and transferred to some kind of pliable green vinyl, which could be played on a little phonograph she had) You know what other movie comes to mind along those lines?---not the content, but the DETERMINATION of the true-life character?---It's a little movie called 'Temple Grandin'. She was autistic to a point, I believe and was able to tune into the livestock being held in stock yards, as they waited for the end. She was able to read them as no one else had and by the time the movie ended, it was because of her, many stockyards put a much kinder Last Walk in place for the animals. I think Claire Danes won an Oscar for her performance as Temple, with Temple, who was there, just over the top with joy over it! As a weepy 'barely-eat-meat' animal lover, I can recommend it----I even stood in the doorway, waiting to bolt at the first sign of animal suffering, but was able to watch the whole thing. Her undying determination is what finally got her where she is today. A real hero in my book.

I feel the same way about my husband's exwife. I am custodial stepmom of 3 chlldren. My husband has always had custody because the exwife decided one day she no longer wanted to be married or a full-time mother. Before I came along she constantly dumped 99% of her time on my husband, he of course never said no, she had full control of her old household only she lived in a differnt place and had her own life. It was a very unhealthy situation. My husband just never stood up to her, he struggled to keep a full-time job and take care of 3 children. I give him tremendous credit because many men in his situation would not be able to take on that responsibilty. Well, then I come along, we get married and all of a sudden she begins to take a deeper interest. Mainly because I would not allow her to control my household and my husband began saying "no", She always used us as her babysitter, whether it was a work meeting, an exerecise class or a European vacation. She has been nothing but a major PIA, she wouldn't pay child support when my husband enforced the order she opened a full blown custody case, suing us for full custody because she did not want to financially support her children. We also have a screwed up schedule. During the school the chldren visit their mother Mon&Tues 4-8pm with alternating weekends. During the summer they visit her Mon-Wed 4-8pm with alternating weekends. The exwife wanted some crazy, they live with her 3days one week, then us 4days, and the next week it was the reverse. Mind you, she only had a 2bedroom condo. All three children sleep in the same bedroom. 2 girls 13&10 and a 8yr old boy. The master had enough sense to reconize that the living arrangemnents were not appropriate and would not grant anymore overnight visits except for the already standing 2 weekends a month. The schedule is crazy. The exwife is crazy. She teaches the children it is ok to lie to us. She is NOT supportative of myself or my husband. She has harrassed us to the point that she is not allowed on our property, she can not contact us by phone, she may only communicate via email, unless it is an emergency related to that day's schedule, then she may leave a message on our cell phone. She would call my husband at work and pull him out of meetings with the CEO of the company for some nonsense question. HE would get numerous calls on a daily basis. I never saw 2 divorced people talk on a daily basis. We have insulated ourselves as much as possible but everyday there is some new issue. She never returns clothes that the kids wear over there, one day she sent my ss home with no shoes on. She won't take the kids to baseball games and then tells them we did not give her the information. I could go on and on. But your words say it best I HATE HER!!!!! If I had hindsight my posting would be alot differnt. I would be like that one woman who used to be involved with a man with children. Trying being involved with a man who has custody of his children. The rewards have been few and far between. I have lived this from the first day I moved to where my husband lives (I moved from a different state). So the entire two years of my marriage have been filled with this crap. My husband's relationship with his children has also suffered terribly. I was divorced for 11yrs before I remarried and never experienced one ounce of the trouble I have in this life, and it isn't even my divorce. The best advice I can give you is stand your ground. Say NO, she is responsible for her custodial time. It took my husband a long time to be able to say no, it is very easy for me. I know that he is still uncomfortable with saying no but I help him, Remember you can't let her control your life. Good luck, God Bless. I understand, it's one hell of a way to live.

During the week of Vacation Bible School, Alyssa started dancing for us at home and we did not know where she picked it up. We think she saw the hand motions they were to do with their songs at Bible School and she just added a dance to it. Yes, she likes watching her video and she will dance for us now, with or without music. She says when she is older she is also going to sing like Josie does. Josie does have a wonderful voice and we have several young girls that do in our church and our church is only about a 100 that come on a good day. She always picks out her shoes and dresses for church and during the week too. She knows which are for church and which are for everyday. She is a lot of fun. Thanks for all of your replies. Grandma Sue

Michele, I love seeing Tina Turner and the Ikettes dance - I was not familiar with that song. I do well remember Heart of Stone by the Rolling Stones, however.