I have lived with 'functional' alcoholics for years. They can walk, talk, act 'normal' while having consumed enough alcohol to knock over a horse. Unless you know them, you can't tell, and until they've gone over their usual limit that is when most people will say "oh, Bob is drunk, don't let him drive". DH and I won't allow these people to drive to our home, and NEVER did we let our family members ride with them. Sounds to me like this woman is that way. 10 shots early in the day? Normal to a person like that. She'd likely pour vodka into her juice, pop, whatever she was drinking. You usually can't smell vodka (like you can say whiskey or gin) especially if it's her drink of choice. Whether or not her family knew, hard to say. They might know that she drinks, but assume it's 'socially' and not be aware that she's downing a 5th a day in her Big Gulps. One of the most difficult things to do is to deal with an alcoholic family member, that doesn't fit the stereotype of an alcoholic. Most people think of the mug shots of drunks when they think of alcoholics, not Aunt Betty who bakes cakes for everyone's birthday. Lots of people see nothing wrong with toking. They don't believe it impairs you. I disagree. But I won't go to the point of telling people what they should or shouldn't think. I do know that people I know will not smoke weed around me, or knowingly do so when they know I'll be around, since I do tell them I can smell it on them. We watched an interview with a woman I believe was the MIL, and attorneys for the family. Man. I'm a lay person, but I'd have fired those bone heads in a minute if I was hoping they'd represent my family.

TGIF! This is still one of my favorite threads here. It's always so good to hear everybody's exciting plans for the weekend and week ahead. Katie, I bet if 100 people entered, you'd still win! Stacie, right now I would pay you for some of that soup! Janet, good luck with chance's arm. Enjoy your vacation. Annie, happy baking and shopping (I certainly can't get myself to say happy mowing, carpet cleaning, and pool cleaning). I did a little shopping for Mackenzie this week. The clothes are too cute for that age. Chace, your weekend sounds perfect - absolutely perfect! A busy weekend as usual here. It's the last weekend before school starts (Wednesday). We're heading to New Hampshire with about 35 family members to go to an amusement park. It's always fun. We do it every year before school starts, and we act like we own the place. I hope the weather is warm enough for the water rides. Kids love it. So do I. Thursday night my 18 yr old nephew was a passenger in a car with three other friends. It was speeding, hit a tree, and the three others were killed instantly. My nephew walked away with a broken bone in his hand and a few minor scrapes and bumps. He was so incredibly lucky. Seeing the car would make you cringe. His best friend was in the back seat. He's got a very long road ahead of him emotionally. So, I'm really looking forward to the part of the weekend that will be spent with my brother and his family. Once again this summer, we are fortunate to be in a situation that could have turned out much worse. I'm so sad for these other kids and their families, but very fortunate to still have my nephew. Okay, enough of that. This is supposed to be an upbeat thread!!! Saturday night's Powerball has a 300 million dollar jackpot. Everybody else can save your money because I've already bought the winning ticket. Big plans for my winnings! A special clink this weekend to everybody who is sending the young'uns back to school next week. May you regain your sanity soon! LOL *CLINK* (be safe out there!)

I totally agree that the idea of raising meat for slaughter is very disturbing too! I really try not to think about the slaughter houses, etc!! i couldn't be a livestock farmer either!!!! I have a sibling who is a vegetarian still because the very idea of eating an animal went against her grain when she was 15 or 16... I personally could happily live with eating very little or no meat, but my husb would not, so I cook meat at least a couple of times a week. so, I buy meat/fish for my family and leather for my furniture/clothes/shoes and try not to think about the animal's life before my consumption, to be perfectly honest... but, there are many hunters- most, if not all, I have known in fact- who hunt for sport, even if they also eat the animal..... I am sure there are hunters out there who hunt because they want to eat meat, but refuse to buy farm raised meat so they hunt for ethical reasons-- but I think they are the exception rather than the rule. I could not hunt, period, even if I spent many hours at the shooting range and bought the finest guns/bows!! I could get into target shooting I think or archery, but I could never find enjoyment in killing an animal and I don't want animals killed for sport (even if killed instantly with one shot and eaten too) displayed as trophies or as décor in my house. others feel differently and that's ok!

Cattyles, yes I'd be very interested in hearing more of what she thinks and perceived too. I had a feeling she would see the protective gestures and so comment. I hope she talks about it more in the future. I'd really like to know what she thinks about when he was dragging him through the water. As I recall, he ran off with the boy when the commotion ranked up. I noticed the same thing in the linked Jambo tape. Jambo was nurturing the child but when the boy's mother started screaming hysterically at the top of her lungs a young male ran onto the scene. The zookeepers had some difficulty managing him but luckily were able to keep him at bay and under control without anyone getting hurt. In the tiger incident with Siegfried & Roy, they also thought the tiger was actually being protective, although Roy was hurt in the process. They were very close. I think he had raised him from a cub, not positive.