Cranberry or Pineapple??

[Jsme]

OMgoodness Marcie. That is just horrible about him falling. He is one lucky child.

Aeriel is in 8th grade, right? I am thinking she is sandwiched in between my two. Mac has a decent size group of friends who she hangs out with. I do not remember her really acting shy at that age. I remember when she was in grade school that she was shy but she came into her own in Middle School. The only thing I see is that Mac has a lot of drama going on all the time. Girls can be so mean and spiteful. I would not worry too much about Aeriel. I say that because she seems to be fine with herself. I have always been a very shy person...UNTIL I get to know you. She might be the same way.

MacKenzie has mentioned babysitting but saying something and doing for her are two totally different things. She is lazy. All I can say is she will see Erik with money and she will have none and maybe that will prompt her to want to get a "job".

 

[ImMarcik]

OMgoodness Marcie. That is just horrible about him falling. He is one lucky child.

Aeriel is in 8th grade, right? I am thinking she is sandwiched in between my two. Mac has a decent size group of friends who she hangs out with. I do not remember her really acting shy at that age. I remember when she was in grade school that she was shy but she came into her own in Middle School. The only thing I see is that Mac has a lot of drama going on all the time. Girls can be so mean and spiteful. I would not worry too much about Aeriel. I say that because she seems to be fine with herself. I have always been a very shy person...UNTIL I get to know you. She might be the same way.

I wonder if the drama is what it is about. She has mentioned more then once how much drama goes on in 8th grade and she's ready to go to high school where she hopes everyone will be a little more grown up.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Coffee and beer are both ICKY!

HEY WOMAN! Them's fightin' words!

Just spent three hours walking around a job site. I'm tired.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Jrsy - my feet would be killing me if I ahd to walk around for 3 hours. Lucky for me, my mom passed on to me bad feet and feet problems!

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Jrsy - my feet would be killing me if I ahd to walk around for 3 hours. Lucky for me, my mom passed on to me bad feet and feet problems!

At least she also shared her smokin' good looks to compensate...

 

[jiminyC_fan]

HEY WOMAN! Them's fightin' words!

Just spent three hours walking around a job site. I'm tired.

I knew I could get your attention on that one!!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

At least she also shared her smokin' good looks to compensate...

Gosh, you've got me blushing. Only if the statement was true!!!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Marcie, how scary! I sure can understand how that could shake you up! As far as Aerial I would just observe her for now and if you think it is a big problem later on and that she isn't outgrowing then maybe you could talk to her counselor as a last resort for some insight. I am extremely shy but once I get to know you, I get better. Trying to carry on a conversation OFF the computer is hard for me so I can truly sympathize with her.

Selena, I admire you. We tried to instill good financial habits with our girls, too. Both are HUGE savers and we are so proud of them. They understand the value of the dollar and have for a very long time. My hairdresser once confessed that she thought we were mean when the girls started paying for her services around the age of 17. She told me that she wished she would have done something like that because her three are not finance savy now. It made me feel better.

 

[ImMarcik]

Marcie, how scary! I sure can understand how that could shake you up! As far as Aerial I would just observe her for now and if you think it is a big problem later on and that she isn't outgrowing then maybe you could talk to her counselor as a last resort for some insight. I am extremely shy but once I get to know you, I get better. Trying to carry on a conversation OFF the computer is hard for me so I can truly sympathize with her.

Selena, I admire you. We tried to instill good financial habits with our girls, too. Both are HUGE savers and we are so proud of them. They understand the value of the dollar and have for a very long time. My hairdresser once confessed that she thought we were mean when the girls started paying for her services around the age of 17. She told me that she wished she would have done something like that because her three are not finance savy now. It made me feel better.

Sandy, same thing happened to me. When I got a job, I started paying for my own hair appointments, my own lunches at school half the time. I just didn't ask for money anymore. I got a checkbook at 17 too. Aerial's Dad's sister may be opening a chocolate shop just a few blocks from my house and wants Aerial to work there. I already told Aerial half of her money she would make would go to savings for special things and the other half she could spend.

As for her being quiet, I've always been on the quieter side too unless I know you. I was just really in a worry mood last night. I am going to keep my eye on her though.

I ended up going to lunch with some friends and blowing my diet, but I am so tired that I am thinking about showering and going to bed, I may skip dinner altogether. Poor Aerial, dealing having to deal with me during the busiest week of my year. I'm not in a bad mood though, just majorly tired, I can feel it in my face.

 

[Jsme]

Sandy I started work at the age of 16. I saved for one year and had saved $2000 towards a car. I bought my first car and made every single payment by myself with no help what so ever. I remember my payments were $133.38. lol It was a brand new Escort. lol

Like Marcie once I started working I never again asked for anything from my parents. I mean nothing. I paid for everything from then on out. I have no clue why I no longer expected my parents to buy anything, I just did not. I bought all my clothes, gas for the car, food and anything else you could think of. I was able to budget my small paycheck for a week. Back then I only worked like 2 hours and only made $35-$50 a week. I have to admit my tastes were not huge but I always had whatever I wanted.

I guess I want my children to have the same values. I do give them an allowance but only if they earn it thru chores. If they want something like expensive shoes I will give them the money I would have paid for them to have new shoes and then it is up to them to earn or pay for the rest of whatever it is.

In this day and age you have to have good money management skills. I try so hard with my two children but Jeff does not help. He has always had things given to him and he does not understand the concept of waiting another week for something. Unfortunately the children have some conflict on who they feel. I am trying so hard to make them understand they can not have everything the moment they decide they want that item. It is hard when I have no support. Jeff is a good husband and father he just was raised so vastly different than I was that we see things so differently.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I am glad to read that I didn't abuse the girls. After my hairdresser talked to me, it made me wonder if we did the right thing even knowing how our girls turned out. Sounds like we all feel the same way. Phew.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I am glad to read that I didn't abuse the girls. After my hairdresser talked to me, it made me wonder if we did the right thing even knowing how our girls turned out. Sounds like we all feel the same way. Phew.

You did abuse us!!! I remember when we opened our first savings account and I was so upset because I thought the bank was stealing my money. You did an awesome job and I thank you for that.

 

[ImMarcik]

I think I need the manual for raising teenagers. Anyone seen it?

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I think I need the manual for raising teenagers. Anyone seen it?

 

[Jrsy Boy]

I think I need the manual for raising teenagers. Anyone seen it?

I'll take it when you're done; I'll probably need it by then. So far my parenting has been modeled on Calvin's dad from Calvin & Hobbes.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Good morning everyone!

Oh dear. Sorry Marcie, I gave away my parenting book ! Heck, you don't need one. You already are a good parent just going by your instincts!

Oh my goodness, Heidi. I DO remember trying to convince you that the bank wasn't KEEPING your money. That was so funny. And by the way, you are welcome. Thank you for being awesome. LYMI

Jrsy, well then, I guess Calvin's dad knows what he is doing. Alex is great.

 

[ImMarcik]

Heaven Bacon
Hey, Steak 'n Shake -- keep your fatty, greasy, ridiculously high-calorie bacon and cheese melts to yourself! HG's got one that uses slimmed-down ingredients and tastes almost as good as the real thing. Yeah, it really does. Try it.



Ingredients:

2 slices Wonder Light White Bread (or another light bread**)

2 strips Jennie-O Extra Lean Turkey Bacon

2 slices Kraft Free Singles, American (or another fat-free American cheese**)

20 sprays I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Spray



Directions:

In a skillet sprayed with no-cal cooking spray, cook bacon strips on medium heat until crispy and fully cooked (about 5 minutes). Evenly spritz butter spray on 1 side of each slice of bread, using 10 sprays per slice. Top the unsprayed side of 1 slice of bread with a slice of cheese. Place cooked bacon strips on top of cheese, and cover with second slice of cheese. Next, top with the other bread slice (with the buttered side facing up). Place sandwich in a skillet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and cook over low to medium heat until bread is brown and toasty and cheese is nice and melty (about 1 – 2 minutes per side). Use a spatula to press down on sandwich while it cooks. Slice sandwich down the middle, diagonally, or just bite right into it!



Serving Size: 1 sandwich

Calories: 195

Fat: 3g

Sodium: 850mg

Carbs: 23g

Fiber: 5g

Sugars: 3g

Protein: 18g



*3 Points



**If you substitute brands, nutritional info will change accordingly.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Hey, that sounds pretty good, Marcie. I am glad you posted it. I want to quit eating out on the weekends.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Jrsy, well then, I guess Calvin's dad knows what he is doing. Alex is great.

Calvin's dad answering questions, quoted from various Calvin and Hobbes books by Bill Watterson.

Q. Why does the sun set?
A. It's because hot air rises. The sun's hot in the middle of the day, so it rises high in the sky. In the evening then, it cools down and sets.
Q. Why does it go from east to west?
A. Solar wind.

Q. Why does the sky turn red as the sun sets?
A. That's all the oxygen in the atmosphere catching fire.
Q. Where does the sun go when it sets?
A. The sun sets in the west. In Arizona actually, near Flagstaff. That's why the rocks there are so red.
Q. Don't the people get burned up?
A. No, the sun goes out as it sets. That's why it's dark at night.
Q. Doesn't the sun crush the whole state as it lands?
A. Ha ha, of course not. Hold a quarter up. See, the sun's just about the same size.
Q. I thought I read that the sun was really big.
A. You can't believe everything you read, I'm afraid.

Q. How come old photographs are always black and white? Didn't they have color film back then?
A. Sure they did. In fact, those old photographs are in color. It's just that the world was black and white then. The world didn't turn color until sometime in the 1930s, and it was pretty grainy color for a while, too.
Q. But then why are old paintings in color?! If the world was black and white, wouldn't artists have painted it that way?
A. Not necessarily. A lot of great artists were insane.
Q. But... But how could they have painted in color anyway? Wouldn't their paints have been shades of gray back then?
A. Of course, but they turned colors like everything else did in the '30s.
Q. So why didn't old black and white photos turn color too?
A. Because they were color pictures of black and white, remember?

Q. Dad, will you explain the theory of relativity to me? I don't understand why time goes slower at great speed.
A. It's because you keep changing time zones. See, if you fly to California, you gain three hours on a five-hour flight, right? So if you go at the speed of light, you gain more time, because it doesn't take as long to get there. Of course, the theory of relativity only works if you're going west.

Q. Why do my eyes shut when I sneeze?
A. If your lids weren't closed, the force of the explosion would blow your eyeballs out and stretch the optic nerve, so your eyes would flop around and you'd have to point them with your hands to see anything.

Q. How do bank machines work?
A. Well, let's say you want 25 dollars. You punch in the amount and behind the machine there's a guy with a printing press who makes the money and sticks it out this slot.
Q. Sort of like the guy who lives up in our garage and opens the door?
A. Exactly.

Q. What causes the wind?
A. Trees sneezing.

Q. Why does ice float?
A. Because it's cold. Ice wants to get warm, so it goes to the top of liquids to be nearer to the sun.
Q. Is that true?
A. Look it up and find out.
Q. I should just look up stuff in the first place.

Q. How come you know so much?
A. It's all in the book you get when you become a father.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Did you get that book, Jrsy? All those responses are just what you would say!!