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Word Travels - Vancouver Sun

It's been, I admit, quite the trip. Six years ago, a car jumped a stop sign in downtown Vancouver, drove into my scooter, and kick-started the ultimate adventure. As a result of my broken kneecap, I collected $20,000 from insurance, reassessed my ...

Approval of Molokai TVR moves forward - Maui News

WAILUKU - The Maui County Council's Land Use Committee voted unanimously on Wednesday in favor of a rare conditional permit that will allow a Molokai family to run a three-bedroom transient vacation rental next to the beach. Christine, Frances and ...

Paradise worth the price - The Spokesman-Review

... on the various islands during the first 11 months of 2009, according to Smith Travel Research, some of the deals for ... car on five-night vacation packages in May and from September through Dec. 15. To find out how real the deal is, check the ...

Eighth is enough - The Spokesman-Review

Partick Werry of Century 21 RiverStone is pictured during a tour of a condo at Schweitzer Mountain in late February. New vacation homes are being built slope-side at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, with three bedrooms, 3 ½ bathrooms, large decks and ...

Cruise trends: Solo cabins, fewer discounts - Seattle Times

This rendering shows a virtual porthole on the Disney Dream, with a live video feed of the ocean from cameras on the ship's exterior and Disney characters superimposed. If you're planning a cruise vacation in 2010, get ready for higher prices, better ...

Vince Wilfork ‘pleased’ by 5-year, $40M deal - Boston Herald

V ince Wilfork took a break from the family vacation, whipped out his cell phone and typed the words he’d been aching to write for more than a year. As soon as he hit the send button on his Twitter account, the public could share in his elation ...

Palmer's grandson looking to make own name - Fresno Bee

He cited a family vacation that was missed last year when he was getting his family through his wife ... I think he'll make his own mind about how to deal with things. All I want to do is give him whatever influence I can to help him do the right ...

Overworked? Here’s how to deal - Boston Globe

Nearly 10 percent of Massachusetts workers are out of a job, and the other 90 percent may be counting their lucky stars. But a recently released University of Puget Sound study, which followed thousands of workers at Boeing over a decade, suggests ...

Florida Panhandle's spring break spot Panama City Beach wants new ... - Denver Post

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLA. — The few beach walkers, surfers and sidewalk shoppers who ventured out on a recent chilly afternoon created a very different scene from the craziness that will soon crank up here as temperatures climb and students descend ...

Wilfork signs 5-year extension - Boston Globe

NFL teams began shopping at 12:01 a.m. yesterday in a free agent frenzy considered the NFL’s version of Black Friday. Only time will tell who picked up the best deal, but the Patriots spent the most right in their own backyard. The Patriots and ...

Open Question: How to deal with life? Please anything helps.?

I already asked a question like this before but i left out a lot of details. Okay so my mother and real father divorced when i was about 3. my step father came in when i was.. about 5 i think. He's not abusive or anything but he looks at me weirdly, almost like hes checking me out or something. It's very uncomfortable and stuff. me and my stepfather have arguments sometimes. He makes me do EVERYTHING. My mom and stepfather had a daughter and shes four now, and shes so messy, and he just makes me do everything as far as cleaning. He's even trying to start a janitorial bussiness and he cant clean worth shit. No, im not even exaggerating. He doesnt even work, hes living off of the money his uncle left for him. He yells at me all the time and i don't understand why. I try to tell my mom and she doesn't really do anything. And my real dad barely speaks English and so yeah that's difficult. My stepfather treats his real daughter a lot better than me, and its really depressing. We live in a apartment ( ive lived here all my live except for about two months. I swear to GOD im not lying) and its always dirty and i try to clean and she just gets in the way all the time and i almost feel like a parent because they don't do anything but yell at ME for asking her to just move for a second. My brothers in college now and i rarely see him. When he did live with us he, when i was younger, he would call me names and stuff and he just ruined my self-esteem. When i first started school i would walk with my head down and just feel so horrible about myself all the time. I'm trying to work on that. But its funny, in a weird way, because before all the name calling and stuff started getting to my head, i used to think so highly of myself, and be so proud, and think i was beautiful, correction, knew i was beautiful. and i would sing and dance all the time, (i was a funny kid lol) but now i feel so disgusting, and worth nothing. My moms very sickly, overweight, and our familys not that close. All of the other people in my family are normal, they live in huge houses, and i just feel so alone even with THEM. Ive never really been a kid or anything and im almost a teenager so this is really hard on me (I know i sound like a whiney bitch but ive never been on any vacations like every other kid i know. Like disney land and stuff). I try to be nice, i really do, but i'm just not happy and i feel like i have all this anger built up inside of me. ive never really had many friends or anything. I feel like an outcast at school. Its hard to get good grades and stuff but i want to grow up to be successful as an adult ( i want to be a childrens nurse, or an actress or comedian and within the next two months i want to start a webshow. i think im funny :)) i try sooo hard and no one really cares. I do get good grades but its tiring to concentrate with all thats on my mind.Then i come home to a dirty apartment with a sickly mom and a mean stepfather and i just feel all alone. I cry randomly and i don't understand why, then suddenly id feel happy. This is confusing. Ive thought of suicide and scary things at times but i try hard not to. The only thing really keeping me alive is that i want to grow up and get married, and have lots of children and all that stuff. i have alot of dreams. And if i did leave, my mother would be heart broken. i dont really think she loves me that much, but if i left she would notice all that i do for her. ( i know i sound like a bitch now but she doesnt even work or anything and just lets my stepfather abuse me, verbally). I'm 12 years old. Please can someone help me with some advice on what i should do to have a better relationship with my family and for them to love me more and for me to be happier. I don't know what to do. And if i sound like i'm not worth living, are there any easy, painless ways to end it? more

Open Question: What do you think of this ariticle i wrote about todays food industries? Any feedback, greatly appreciated?

What Happened to Freedom Of Speech? By Chloe Barron Everyone has the right to voice their opinions, so why has it come to, that mass production companies are suing everyday people for voicing what they believe in? Companies such as Smithfield, Monsanto and a great amount of other companies (most of which are involved in the food industry) are now suing people money for finding faults with their products and for putting these faults out into the open for people to see the truth behind what they are putting into their bodies. Companies that provide us with food are no longer trying to provide us with good, fresh food. Instead their aim is to make money. Money, the root of all evil, has driven food suppliers into doing things such as hiring illegal immigrants as workers to package and distribute out meat. They do this as it is a clever way for them to save money, by paying the workers pitiful amounts of money as their wages, and forcing them into working long, extended hours as they cant complain about their unreasonable and unfair working conditions for fear of being turned over to the government. Smithfield and Monsanto both have close ties with people working within the government. This stops them for getting into trouble for doing things such as hiring illegal immigrants as workers and using illegal ways of producing food. Three weeks ago a law was passed in the Supreme Court, that there is no limit to how much money a candidate can spend when running for election. In other words this is saying “Most Money Wins”. Powerful companies, who want to extend their power further, benefit greatly from this. They give candidates money, to help them win the election, which is an easy ticket for those such companies to get laws passed in their favor. Current President, Barack Obama, was not in favor of the law passed nearly a month ago. But because of the way the court system works, the Supreme Court was able to override President Obama. This such law us not a good thing, for us as we are the ones who have to deal with the consequences of these companies, illegal and irresponsible decisions. Why do we, the consumers, no longer get a say in what we eat? Just over thirteen years ago, popular icon Oprah Winfrey, was sued on her show for saying that she no longer wanted to eat meat that was produced in such an unnatural way. It took six years, but Winfrey won the case, although it cost her over one million US dollars. Just a few years ago, a family took a vacation. Soon after, their three year old son died- as a result of E-Coli (a disease which infects cows and other animals, that is caused by feeding them corn) infected burger. Now, years after their child’s death, the little boys mother refuses to discuss how the tragedy has changed her way of living, for fear of being sued by mass food production corporations. How did it come to this? How did we, human beings, just like those who run these powerful industries, lose the right to voice our opinions without fear of being sued? How did it come to, that we don’t get to decide, even know what we’re putting into our bodies? How did we lose our voices in today’s society? And what happened to freedom of speech? The question now, for us all to ask ourselves is, what are we going to do about it? Written By Chloe Barron, 3/6/10. I OWN THIS. DO NOT STEAL! more

Voting Question: Whats the deal with my Bf and his best friend?

My boyfriend and his best friend- we will call him John have been best friends for their entire lives. I have been with my boyfriend for almost 2 years now and we live together and we're both in our late 20's- We seem to be pretty serious he talks about getting married some day and having kids together- However, I'm starting to have my hesitations For the last year all he does is spent all his time with John- As soon as he gets off work he doesn't come home he goes and spends time with John- they eat dinner together and hang out and then my Boyfriend usually comes home between 9 pm or 11pm at night. It's really frustrating that he spends soo much time with him- last week we were both on vacation and rather than spend time with me he hung out with John from 11 to 11 everyday ! they call each other non stop all day (I get yelled at for calling him at work and he NEVER calls me) He has other friends as well (also whom he ditches to hang out with John) As soon as we finish family dinner's he calls John or John calls him ASAP so that they can meet up- I've tried talking to him over and over again and he refuses to listen and tells me that I am crazy- He;s also told me to not talk to my friends about when all the time he is with John because it's none of their business and he can't trust me if im going to give my friends a play by play of what he's doing. Im starting to feel like nothing more than a roomate and it's really frustrating and sad because I love this man- I'm not saying he has to be home with me all the time and spend all his free time with me but I want him around atleast twice a week (right now I get 1/2 a night with him once a week) I'm just frustrated- I don't ask him about it anymore bc he gets angry and defensive and then brings up how we did something for my bday or valentines day or something like that and how I don't appreciate the those things. Am I really wrong ? Or do I have the right to feel slighted ? I also know he is not cheating on me and that he really is with John all the time- But I'm his gf shouldn't he want to spend time with me ? more

Voting Question: What should I do with $10,000 month?

I make 10 grand a month managing properties dealing with problems like two neighbors arguing etc. I am 23 and so bored all of the time. I cannot take a vacation (working) or even spend my money because family has before felt that I don't help them enough. Like loan them money. I have already accumulated 40 grand in half a year. What should I do with my money? more

Voting Question: What should I do with 10,000 per month?

Voting Question: So does it make sense for the Governor to close NY STATE PARKS ?

People can't afford to take vacations like they use to so the next best thing that families are doing is going to the State Parks for the weekends. I would think the parks are getting used more now then when people had jobs and were able to take vacation's... away from home, & the Governor will close the parks as his last hooray before he is shown the door. So why NOT raise the prices up a little I'll bet the people who use the parks wouldn't mind. At least they still have a place to take their families. And NYS parks are already sending people letters that their reservations have been canceled and sending their money back even before this is a done deal . So I guess the PARKS already know that the Governor is going to shaft the NY'ers one more time . They shouldn't even open the door for him they should just push him thduker918 : Unlike cutting gover. workers People would be willing to pay a little extra for the parks he NEVER even suggested that so ya I DO BLAME THE GOVENOR more

Voting Question: How to deal with leaving everything youve ever known?

My mom is making us move to WI to live with her fiance i dont even like , not even a year after my parents got a devorce and im so freaked out by the idea of moving i have gone through depression before and im soo scared of change . I dont think i will be able to deal with not being with my family , the best people in my life , or being away from my friends whom i love to death . But my family is my support system and once i freaked out because they went on vacation and i could not call them while they were away . I know your probably thinking well shhe can vist , but its not the same all i would want to do is stay in CT the place where ive made a home a life a perfect safe haven . And visting well costs a lot of money my fam doesnt have ......... Im crying right now more

Resolved Question: Any tips on how to get an ex to take more responsibility w their children?

I have 3 children and the father does pay child support (not very much but it is being paid every month of which I am grateful)...2 have disabilities and one was born with a cleft of which there are tremendous sick issues. I live in a snowy area and between daycare/latch key closing (due to inclement weather) and sick appts, iep meetings, therapist appts, medication management appts, I struggle to get in hours at my job. He refuses to take a day off (even a personal or vacation day) to take a child to a dr. I have primary custody...he has secondary (sees them about 12% of the time). He said b/c i have primary and I get child support to deal with it and my job is not as important as his. The courts say they cannot take secondary custody away from him b/c he wants it and they cannot make him be a good parent so to just do what i could do. I have no family in the area. I should mention the reason why we are divorced is because he said I should throw away my son (b/c he has autism) and is emotionally and physically abusive to me. Any ideas??? I have no time at my job to take off anymore.Ryde On: What kind of an answer is that? I did not complain about support as I am getting it. Money is not an issue and the reason he doesn't pay a lot of support is because he works under the table for half the pay. Just because someone pays support does not give a license to not be a parent when the children are sick. I also want to say what about the paycheck I am supposed to receive to pay for 90% of the children's needs as well as medical. Think before you speak. more

Resolved Question: Baby name game #2! Have even more fun! + BQ?

1. You meet your husband at a party one evening. You eventually get married. Where? 2. You honeymoon in a place you have never heard of until he mentions it out of a brochure (For example the Seychelle Islands). Where do you go? 3. You find out that you are pregnant with triplets. Boy, Boy Girl. All their names begin with A and their middle names begin with J. What are their names? 4. You take your family on a vacation to China. While their you have some fun and when you get home you find that you are pregnant again. This time with twin girls. You name them something to do with China (For example Mei- May) . What are their names? 5. All five of the kids are now in school and you are at home alone as a housewife while your husband goes off on a business trip. You leave your kids with your parents and have a nice night in with a fancy dinner and after meal movie.Again you have a little fun. Your husband leaves and you find that you are pregnant again. This time only with a boy. He is a miracle baby because he was diagnosed with cancer two hours after ebing born, he pulls through. You name him your favorite boys name. What do you name him? 6. When your youngest is 3, you and your husband try for one more. You have a little trouble conceiving. But soon you are pregnant again. One doctors appointment later you find you are having octuplets. Four of them have the initials J M and the other four have the initials T L. There are 3 boys and 5 girls. What do you name them? 7. You and your husband decide that you have enough children. The oldest ones are already about to graduate from college. Your are having to deal with girlfriends,boyfriends, coursework, exams and college applications. Your husband gives you a night all by yourself with him to try and lower your stress. Soon you find that you are pregnant again with two boys. You decide that this is your last batch of kids. They are born early but are cuties. You name them both first and middle names from the bible (For example Isaac James). What do you name them? BQ- You end up having 14 grandchildren. What are their first names? more

Voting Question: Was this really rude to do to my wife?

I've been married for a year now to a woman who has 3 kids from a previous marriage. Honestly, we've been having a number of disagreements and whatnot, and additionally, she is very stressed from both work and with dealing with her 3 rowdy kids. Her birthday was the other day, and I thought about how stressed she is from work and the kids, andbecause of some problems her and I had been having...so I thought the best gift for her would be for her to get away from it all for a little bit. I took money that I had been saving up from my own job and bought her a ticket to Cancun for spring break for a week, as well as reserved her a room in a classy hotel room, and included a few hundred bucks for spending money. Unpredictably, she actually got angry and upset at me, telling me that I'm just trying to get rid of her, and that no sane person goes on a vacation somewhere without taking the family along. Or at the very least, without taking their spouse along if they really feel they need alone time from the kids. Either way, she says "normal" married people don't go on vacations alone, and that I'm being passive aggressive. Problem is, I only had enough cash for 1 person to go on a vacation, not 2. She doesn't see it that way, and just thinks I'm just trying to "take a break" from her, and now she won't talk to me. I just thought she needed some time off to relax her mind! Or was my gift really tacky as she makes it out to be? more

Voting Question: How do you deal with this girl situation?

I work for my family. I ran one of their retail stores for the fours summers I was home on college break. We hired this girl who was five years younger than me. When she was a freshman in HS I was a sophmore in college. We worked together for three summers. She always hit on me, actually told me she loved me a few times. I rejected her all the time. She kept asking me out over and over. Always would try to hug me and I would always push her away. The .ast summer I worked with her she really wanted to stay in contact with me when I went back to school. I said no. She said we could just be friend. Then she told me she was the age of consent and then she said she was 18. She seemed like frantic to stay in contact with me. She told me she loved me and looked like she was going to cry the last day we worked together. I refused to have any contact with her outside of work like I had for the last years I worked with her. It is completely inappropriate to have any outside contact with her outside of work. I added her to facebook a few months later and she sent me a message she was the age of consent. I told her no. She flipped out on me told me to never talk to her. She basically told me to F myself. I have never said a word to her since. I came back that summer after graduating. She never worked for us again. Guess who was standing in my place of work the day I came back. I ignored her. She did it again at the end of the summer and I ignored her again. She "bumped" into my mom the days after both occasions that I ignored her. The next summer I guess she was 18, she came in my store every day for two weeks, randomly bumped into my parents a lot, even my co workers mentioned to her friends how much she was in my store. I found out that someone was calling my store asking when I working, this happened a lot. I also notice a ton (like everyday) someone hanging up when I picked up the ringing phone. I ignored her every time she tried to talk to me. Mutual friends of ours have talked to each other and she was never mentioned. This past summer she came into my store the day I came back from a long vacation. She stared at me and I ignored her and she walked out. I haven't heard from her in almost 10 months. Her mom comes into my store every couple of months like nothing has happened. I like being tempted to get involved with a underage female employee and then having her stalk me. more

Resolved Question: Settle an argument please.....I know its a long story but I really need an opinion?

Im going to take weeks vaca off of work.... during that week I have to take my son to the doctor, the dog to the vet and have a very small simple ambulatory surgery that I have had before so I know its not a big deal and it only needs one day's recovery. I have 10 days off total and these are the things I must do there is no exception the dog and the baby appointments are set but the surgery and the presurgery in not yet have a date other than its during that week. So I didn't offer to watch my niece yet because I wanted to be able to tell my sister what days I could offer once all my appointments are set. I didn't see a problem with it but my sister is pissed she thinks I should have just said I'll watch her for you I just don't know when but my sister never said she wanted me to watch her she just told me that she was stressing that her nanny resigned I though she was just regular venting but had intended on offering just because I knew at least one day I would be available. now she has the whole week filled with other family member sitters and she is mad I never offered. I think she got prematurely pissed at me cause she thought I was on vacation last week and I went thought the whole week and never helped her out but its really next week but when I told her she messed up the week I had off she still thinks she's right because she think I should have told her last week" I'll help you but I cant tell you what day until next week and I think its no help to her until I know what day I can help her so that's why I hadn't said anything yet and I though it would be a given that I could help her, it never accrued to me I had to say anything now she stewed in it all week and just blew up on me. She thinks the way I reasoned was dumb and selfish (her words) what do you think.. .....Back ground she said she didn't want to just come out and ask last week because I have a lot of medical problems and she didn't want to burden me.....but to me it was not an issue, in my mind I figure once I got the dates I'd let her know and Id be able to help her out more

Resolved Question: What should a 19 year old do living at home?

So basically here is the deal. My parents have always been young and immature, and now they have an entirely separate family. I am the oldest at 19 and they have two younger boys, 5 and 3 and are expecting another one. They really don't pay any attention to me and are usually too busy with the kids and I'm busy with a 2 part-time jobs and full-time school. Recently I went to China and got a boyfriend and gained a lot of independence. I am still living with them for now and they are they keep telling me I can never leave or do anything else but stay with them every time I'm with them. But as soon as I try to go out with my boyfriend or to school they suddenly have reasons for me to come home such as "please take in the trash" or "come sweep the kitchen". Many times I am too busy to make the trip all the way home to do something like that, and it seems unfair since my mom is always on the computer shopping when she could simply do those things herself. Since I am a college student I am still pretty broke, but nonetheless I get nagged for not taking any extravagant vacations or going to really fancy restaurants with my boyfriend. Basically, ANYTHING that I can't do at the moment, I get nagged at for. I feel like my mother is smothering me and many times lies about my father's views on it to make her point look stronger. I understand I have to get out of this situation a.s.a.p but does anyone have some advice for the present? more

Voting Question: my boyfriend of 2 in a half years broke up with me, but i believe he is unsure...please give advice!?

So my boyfriend and I have been together for 2 in a half years and we are completely in love. Or so I thought. Just weeks ago he was talking about marriage and children with me. And a year ago he bought me a promise ring and he said to me weeks ago " If we have a daughter, we should give this to her on her 16th birthday". He's a complete romantic when he wants to be. Anyway, We have always argued and had our tiffs here and there and he has broken up with me in the past about 4 times before because he wanted his freedom and he wanted to spend time with his much younger friends, but he has always come back after a few days. Another signifcant matter with us is that he is 26 and I am 19. However, I seem to be the more mature and certain one in the relationship. I never go to clubs, never have smoked, drank, and he is the only man i have ever been with. I go to school, work, and take care of my sick mother who is currently in the hospital, and I have been dealing with my 27 year old brother who has a serious drug problem who also lived with me and my boyfriend. The intense arguing began in the beginning of this month (February) and we got in our biggest arguement on the 9th( mind you, all these arguements are about my brother who is addicted to drugs)...things seemed odd between us, he went out the rest of the week with his much younger friend (20 years old) and the friend is a DJ. My boyfriend then told me that friday that he wanted to break up with me and I told him I understood, but he should really think about the situation. So then he decided to take a break from me and he moved most of his stuff out the following day. He waited for me to get home while he moved his stuff to tell me he loved me and hes not going anywhere and that we are just on a break..its temporary. He called me later that night to make small talk and he told me he loved me and that was the last I heard of him for a couple days. He then called me a couple days later saying how confused he was and he didn't know if he wanted to be in a relationship but he still loved me...he is only working part time right now and does not have a full time job and is now living with his 20 year old friend who parties constantly. Again he called me a couple days later telling me he still didn't know what he wanted and he would figure things out when he came home from his Vacation in Vegas to see his bestfriend( he was also saying he may want to look for a job out there)...I found a picture of him dancing with another girl so I called him on Friday and suprisingly, he answered. He knew I was going to see the picture, and I believe he wanted to see what I was going to say. I did end up yelling at him because I was so hurt..and he told me things were over between us and that he still cared but didn't love me anymore, and took the break to see if it's what he really wanted and he said it was. So I left him alone and he texted me on Monday ( a couple days later) to meet up with me because he owed me money. He gave me a hug as soon as I saw him and he was trying to make small talk and jokes with me like he normally does. I asked him to really think things through while he was in Vegas to see if this breakup is what he really wanted and he said " of course i will, but you know were not together right?" and I said "yes". Before I got out of the car he told me he loved me and that "that doesn't change after 2 in a half years". and he said he would call me. I havent heard from him, and I know he is on Vacation. However, he won't speak to anyone in his family either and hasnt since him and I took this break. I have been miserble this past month between everything that is going on with my brother and my mother and he did tell his sister I relied on him too much and that he was getting way too stressed out. Another thing is though, while we were in the car, he seemed sure about the break up, he said very cliche things like" I still care about you and your family, and I want you to do good for yourself." It's very difficult trying to cope with everything that is going on because just weeks ago we talked about moving in together and getting our own apartment, marriage, kids, etc. And because of that intense arguement it was all washed away in a matter of a week. So what my question is, do you think he will come back? He has other times before but it only took him a few days, its been 2 weeks now, but he is in Vegas. He did leave a lot of things at my house and he didn't mention anything about getting them when I met up with him. Do you think he is just confused and really needs his space and is having an early mid life crisis? I just don't see how you can tell someone you want marriage and children a few weeks before breaking up with the person. Please give me some advice if you, or anyone you know have been through something like this. Thanks so much. xoxo more

Voting Question: Does anyone feel like filling out an 8-question survey? It's for class. :D?

Some retarded project for french class. Have to ask 50 people 5-10 questions about vacationing. Pretend you're in Ontario. From there, which direction would you go? North or South? To a warm or cold climate? Close to the sea, or close to a pool? Close to the mountains, or could you not care less? If you didn't speak it already, would you learn that place's language? Would you go with family, friends, collegues or alone? (Significant other qualifies as friend, since I forgot to include it before I started. XD) Would you go for luxury, or the real-deal experience? Would you prefer an organized trip or a do-whatever trip? (I can't find the proper word olol.) Please don't pick "both" as an answer... Seriously... Here's a form! Copypasta format: North or South? Warm or Cold? Sea or Pool? Mountains or... No mountains? Would you learn the language? Would you go with family, friends, collegues or alone? Luxury or experience? Organized or do-whatever? Thank you! more

Resolved Question: All stressed out & don't know what to do!?

I'm 30 weeks along now, and so stressed out I'm going f***ing crazy. I just keep thinking about the problems, I never seem to have enough time in the day to get what needs to be done done! Ive only got 50 days before the baby is full term and could come any time. Before then I need to clean all the baby stuff I have in storage (the highchair, walker, sit and spin, car seat, swing, portable swing, diaper bags, bottles, baby cloths, blankets, etc...) from my son for the new baby. I need to set the crib & changing table up. I need to get my son (he is 2) back to the dentist to fill a cavity before it becomes worse than it already is. I need to finish planing and throwing my best friends baby shower in 3 weeks, & attend my own shower. I need to find a new place for my family to move in to in the area. We need to move by the end of April and I still need to find a place in our price range and in the area.! Ive got to start packing up what I can in the house so it is ready for us to move. I need to start cleaning the no-so-often cleaned area's in the house so we get out deposits back on the place. Not to mention that my husband just got passed over for a promotion (2nd time in the last 6 months) at work... I'm starting to become scared of the actual birth part of having the baby (last time was a C-section and this time my doctor is going to allow me to try a VBAC)... My mom (who is my normal baby sitter) has been sick for almost a month, so I haven't had a single moment to myself... My other best friend (my cuz) is going through a divorce, and I am trying to be helpful and supportive... But this is just making me go crazy! This stress is all adding to the already stressful crap that comes along with pregnancy, the bathroom endeavors, swelling, fatigue, nausea, mood swings, and all that other crap! Its making life unbearable! Anyone else have this overwhelmed feeling? As much as I try to take it slow, life just seems to keep throwing more and more crap on my plate to deal with! God I would kill for a vacation My husband try's to help as much as he can, but he has been very busy at work (I'm a stay at home mommy), and he rely doesn't have much time as much as he works. My mother usually helps a lot, but she is having some serious health issues... Of my two best friends, well like I said, Divorce, and the other is 36 weeks pregnant, & she has just as much on her plate as I do... more

Voting Question: How do you deal with fake people that you care about?

Ok, my sister is being SO fake. But I miss my old sis. And my sis has changed the family.. so now my family is kind of different. I miss my old family that I used to have fun with. We don't hardly ever go out on vacation trips anymore. :( and by fake I mean forcing things and not being herself, but just changing her image to what she would want it to look like. and also she has changed a friend that way too. How? by her being under depression, she doesn't know how to act and yea... loosing a LOT of respect from both.. any comment is good. more

Voting Question: could you please proofread this?

it is one question for my scholarships. 1. It’s obvious that continuing your education is important to you. What is your intended major or program of study? What attracts you to this chosen field of study? What are your goals upon completion of your college education? My intended major is in marine science. I would either like to study marine biology or marine ecology. My passion for marine life started when I was about ten years old. I was on vacation in Florida with my family. I remember i was walking along the beach when I came across a small starfish. I picked it up and grabbed a large cup from a vendor selling sodas. I kept the starfish in the cup in my room over night, and when I woke up, one of its arms had fallen off. I remember feeling terrible and thinking I killed the starfish by keeping it in my room. So i went back to the beach to find my mom to see what I should do. Being just a kid, well, i forgot about the starfish once I got outside. When I remembered and came back into my room to show my mom, the starfish had grown another arm, and the arm that fell off was growing more arms as well. I was fascinated by this, and have wanted to study marine life ever since. I am currently studying a college level biology course in high school. It is a cellular biology course, which is interesting; however I enjoy science that concerns organisms, primarily those that live in or near the ocean. I am very interested in their interactions with the environment, as well as the global effects on not only the marine environment, but the environment as a whole, due to pollution and human activity. Upon completing my college education I would like to have a job position dealing with the protection and conservation of marine habitats and organisms. I would enjoy learning how to do my part in cleaning up and protecting the marine environment. more

Resolved Question: Any issues to expect leaving my dog while on vacation?

We have a 10 day trip planned to Europe in May and I want to know how best to deal with my puppy. She's a flat-coated retriever and at that time she will be 9 mos old. She's VERY friendly, but sensitive. We're planning to leave her with my brother and his family - she loves them, they love her so attention/affection will not be an issue. They have an 8 year old dog, and we've socialized them, (e.g. take our dog to their place when we go for dinner, and walk them together periodically), but their dog is not 100% comfortable around ours. She likes our dog and gets excited to see her, but keeps her distance as she needs her space and our puppy always wants her to play and often tries to lick her face. Their dog is a golden so has similar exercise needs, and is not aggressive with other dogs, though she has snarled and snapped at our puppy occassionally - when our puppy won't leave her alone. Our dog will be in a crate at night and possibly parts of the day should they be out. Theirs has run of the house whether they're home or not. My biggest concern of all this 1. interaction of the two dogs 2. separation anxiety issues in our dog with our being gone 10 days. Any helpful hints or comments on how best to deal would be appreciated! more

Voting Question: Question about labor laws and work environment?

I have a family member that works in a grocery store bakery. Recently a woman who worked in the front of the grocery store was promoted to Bakery Manager. She has no prior bakery experience and was selected over another bakery employee who has worked there for several years. Problem is that the new bakery manager is the store manager's pet. Anytime anyone in the bakery complains about anything she does or doesn't do, they get written up. Recently a baker and the new manager, lets call her Lin, got in a heated conversation. Lin got upset and walked out. When the baker went to the Store Manager to give her side of the story he refused to hear her out. He just told her that he was too mad to hear what she had to say and walked away. A few days later, they called that baker, along with another baker and the bakery worker who had applied for the manager position to the office. They proceeded to tell them how horrible they were and wrote all 3 of them up. The bakery worker was on vacation at the time they called her in. Another note about that worker, her husband works in the meat dept. Before this big meeting they called him into the office and told him he needed to do something about his wife, which in turn created friction in that marriage. The workers were also told that the last manager left the bakery because of these horrible workers, which isn't true at all, since the last manager was my brother I happen to know that he transferred to another store because of the store's management! Recently a few of the girls in the bakery, including my relative, went to a concert together. It was a big deal to them as one had just went through a divorce and they were all trying to cheer her up. They went to dinner and everything. Well 'Lin' wasn't invited and in the big meeting the bakery workers were told that they are no longer allowed to plan events like this without inviting Lin along. Now it's not like she was never invited to anything, they have but she didn't show up. But they shouldn't have the right to tell the workers what they can and cannot do in their own free time! Tell me what recourse these poor workers have. Everyone is positive that the store manager and Lin have a little something going on on the side and that is why she is so protected. But these poor workers can't afford to quit or get fired and they are truly just doing their jobs. more

Resolved Question: I need some good diet tips on how to stop eating junk food and lose weight! Help?

Hi. So I am trying to start a diet tomorrow and I want to continue my diet hopefully for good, but my main goal is to lose weight by summer vacation so I can feel comfortable and happy if I go to the beach or the pool. I have cut down my eating portion size a lot over the past few months but my main problem is cutting out the junk food. I have noticed that when my family brings home junk food or junk food is in the house, I am always drawn to having some of it. And once I take a little bit, I want to eat the whole package. Its starting to get really bad and I'm tired of it. I have a fast metabolism so it doesn't affect me too much, but I still feel like I am eating way too unhealthy and I'd like to go on the track of eating a healthy diet. I am 17 years old, 5'3", and I weigh about 107 right now? I haven't weighed myself in a few months, so that might not be accurate. Also to add to a healthy diet, I've decided to become a vegetarian and not eat any meat. And so far, I've cut out all beef or red meat, pork, and turkey. But I have still eaten a tiny amount of chicken and fish, just so my body won't crash when I completely stop eating meat. But my other issue with this is that my mom keeps ragging on me everytime I say, "Oh we're having steak for dinner? I'll just have the salad and mashed potatoes." And she'll respond by saying "You need to eat meat. You're going to get sick if you don't. Your body needs protein. You're losing too much weight. Are you anorexic?" And these accusations are starting to annoy me and I try to handle things calmly but my mom keeps making a huge deal out of it. I mean its my decision, right? Does anyone know of any ways to not eat junk food? How do I cut out junk food? Its hard for me to not just eat it when its there looking straight at me. Also, do you know of any good, healthy snacks that could maybe replace junk foods and treats? Any suggestions would be helpful! Also please no diet pills or weight loss drinks. I'm not for that. Thank you! more

Resolved Question: Was this on original proposal?

My fiancee had a feeling that I was planning something and that a proposal was coming, but she was expecting it during our vacation to Niagara Falls and while we visited my family in that area. I knew she was expecting it so I tried to do something a little more original. Her and I enjoy going to different places and playing different games like Skee Ball and those types of games so I decided to take her to Dave and Buster's for a nice relaxing night out. I had it in my pocket all night and looked for a good time to ask. Finally it arose. She was playing Deal or No Deal and was really into the game when she came to a decision that she was concentrating on. I sneakily placed her ring on top of the Deal button and slowly dropped to one knee. Her eyes lit up and she forgot about the game. She said she loved it, but I wanted some other people's opinion... more

Resolved Question: I want to quit-but might get fired!?

Lately ( last 3 months) I've been getting panic attacks when at work( call center for verizon wireless). They've been escalating to the point where I feel i cant breath. I'm not a quitter, and this is my second job in my work history, which i've been loyal and met expectation and above for last 2 yrs 5 months. I've tried filing FMLA (family medical leave act) however, it was denied bc i've worked a total of 1194 hrs in last 12 months and they require 1250 hrs. I started full time in Sept 2007 but went back to school full time, therefore lowering my work hours to 20hrs/week. I spoke to a HR rep in my company, he said maybe we could do a work place arrangement. I filled out the paper work. My psychologist has signed documentation asking that because of my depression and anxiety to be allowed to be off work max of 2 times per week ranging between 2-8 hrs, this time of course will be unpaid. Its going to be 2 weeks, regardless my constant emails, there is no response. I am on final warnings for using 29 hours of sick time , all non payed. Full time employees receive 40 paid sick hours. i used my 29 hours due to an accident (which i also have documentation) that left me with stitches on my lip, therefore i couldn't speak clearly.i'm a customer service rep for VZW call center in utah.This job deals with high stress not only from clients but specially from the company. I want out. I've spoken with a supervisor that will provide truthful feedback about my work in case i need a reference. I had an anxiety attack on wednesday, i only worked 2 hours bc i was left very weak from it. I asked to use my vacation/personal hours, it was declined. Since i am on the final warning, the next step is them firing me. what recommendation do any of you have? I'm not doing this intentionally. I've been told by a couple of coworkers to get fired and get unemployment bc of my illness. I rather not do so, do not want to damage my record. I've also been told that in Utah, if you are a full time student you may be eligible for unemployment aid if you do quit. I am a student, about 2 years away from finishing my undergraduate, i pay my own tuition and few bills, I obviously need some sort of income at least till this semester is over and can commit to the full time training to get a stable job. Please any informational input on this matter would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance!when i started working at Verizon in 2007 I was not going to school. almost 1 yr later i went back to school. To clarify, are there any benefits for someone that is a full time student while working part time? - i receive no help from FASFA or any type of financial aid, pell, or grant.I've never been absent without proper notification to a supervisor. I haven't had any "no call no show", the only thing i have used is my sick time, and that is why i've been placed on a final warning until Sept 2010. Then and only they will allow me to use a prorated portion of 20 hrs or so of unpaid sick time more

Resolved Question: i thought it would be a unique idea to do this to my house, but my family?

disagrees and wants me to change it i had our house painted as a surprise for everyone while they were on vacation and now they are mad at me whats the big deal, i thought everyone loved red and bluehttp://i978.photobucket.com/albums/ae264/ashantifan1224/new_paint.jpg more

Resolved Question: please help my mom is driving me insane?

Please help my mom is driving me? i love my dearly. I am 20 years old. my fiacne thinks is ridicolous. I want to go out for a job opportunity. my fiance and other friends. will also be going. my has come up with every possible thing as why i shouldn't go. she said that she was would let me go and would not hold on to the fact that im going. I'm looking for this as to be a good opportunity. they will train you on the job, put through school, plus vacation, and transportantion. my thinks its a bad a idea for me to go because of religious. everyone thinks she is having trouble letting me go and grow up. she has also messed up my school here. she has been very controlling with it. she likes my fiance and thinks he's the right one but, she is trying to talk him out of a job opportunity. he's isn't buying it. now she is trying to stop him from going as well. I understand that she has been going through alot lately. lately i have been feeling like there is strain on our relationship. she made me take it a class at college im at now. i have it changed like 3 times now because of her im dropping that class. its hard to understand because her and my counselor didn't care about what i wanted. also she has been really hard on me ever since. i left her family business to go to college she has been controlling but, that was years ago and that was hopefully handed with forgiveness. my fiance is getting upset with her and thinks im to old to be treated this way. this is driving me insane and i have alot to deal with already please help? i asked her forgiveness what more does she want. more

Resolved Question: Help with American Airlines ?

Hi guys My family and i are going on vacation to india this summer from Toronto, Canada. I haven't ever been there before so it is my first time. So because we are going in the summer, the tickets for British airways, Air France, KLM are through the roof. We found a good deal in American Airlines (AA); where we will fly to Chicago then to New Delhi. My question is, American Airlines good? Like the customer service, food, seating and overall experience. I am nervous about it and it would really help my nerves. Thanks guys ! more

Resolved Question: I don't know what to do about my parents and me?

Ok to start I should say that financially we're ok. By no means rich, but definetly not poor. Middle class, maybe the lower tier of upper middle class. So I'm 17, and all along since I when I was younger, I would hear stories of my friends going to different states, or countries, or even just camping out. I have lived in California and Washington, and the only place I have gone on vacation was to Vegas for two or three days with my dad (in retrospect a horrible idea. I got sick and it wasn;t very fun. What idiot dad has a 9 year old choose a vacation destination, and then later act like it was the best thing ever?). Or how their parents would have a really cool skill or interest, like skiing or running, soccer, scuba diving, etc, and my friends/their parents could bond over that. My parents and I have not gone on any vacations together, let alone a camping trip, and my parents don't have any interests....at all. Basically all they care about is the life/day to day crap and our dog. So I've been able to deal with this, but now it's break and pretty much all of my friends are going on some cool vacation....and I'm not. I asked my dad once why we never went ANYWHERE and he said "I've already done that", and then I asked him why we've never been on a roadtrip or camping or anything, and he answered "I went camping once before"....that was for a cubscout trip that we went one of three days for. He never answered the roadtrip. And then I continued to look at my friends. Maybe this is self defending, but I am very intelligent, tons of people come to me for help/school work and for intellectual conversation, but I have a much lower GPA than all of them. And then I looked and their relationship with their parents.....all of their parents had some kind of bonding activity with them, or were a big part of their lives, and then me......I have nothing. Even kids who I know are lower income than me had a better relationship with their parents. Everyone who excels at something or is smarter, seems to have been helped by their parents in some way. And that makes me envious and angry at the same time, because my parents have NEVER tried to do anything of the sort. My mom is slightly better than my dad. She used to drive us to amusment parks and the such. But that wasn't exactly mentally stimulating, and it hasn't helped to sculpt me into anything worth while. My dad does no housework, doesn't drive us, all he does is walk our dog twice a day. He doesn't cook or clean or anything. So here I am now, admittedly in teenage angst, but I think I am justified. My parents have never made it a goal to mentally stimulate or nurture, or physically nurture me. It honestly seems to me as if they thought parenting just meant keeping a kid alive....honestly, they've raised our damn dogs better than me, they often drive it with them because it "likes to go on rides", or "walk it because he's bored", and I can't even fathom how much money they've spend on medical stuff for them....where as for me it's been basic shots and stuff, and one issue where I needed three stitches. So basically here I am, a rather unfullfilled 17 year old with only so much to offer. I have not traveled outside the country, or outside the west coast. My family has never taken a single vacation together, my mom/sister went on one to Italy together, and my dad/I went to vegas. We are far from poor, and I know the issue has not been money, because we've had enough money to buy new appliances, get a yard which goes unused for my dog, medical bills for said dog, etc. And then my parents have really not cared about my grades, or outside school life. Basically I have parents who help me sustain life, but take absolutely no interest in generating bonds or a relationship.Oh yes, also recently I was really depressed about this. My mom wanted to go get something, and I just said no/that she could go. So then she said "it has to be done" (referring to the task), punch me on the left side of my face, and called me a loser/said I had to friends.......and she was yelling a fair amount and then said our dog didn't like to hear yelling. And my dad is pretty volatile too. Once when I asked if I could go on some trip he said he'd never spend that much/it was stupid, then I said he spent that much on my sister's trip and he said an explitive to me. Then my mom said something, he got up as if he was about to hit her (later he said he was just going to get in her face), I defended her my throwing my foot in front of me, he then jumped on top of me and tried to smother me or something. After he said he'd "hit me when she wasn't around". And he has yelled alot too, and hit my sister a few times (pushing and the such, nothing horrible, but nonetheless).Ok, this also seems to be some confusion so I'll clear this up. I wouldn't care if my parents took me to Europe, or took me to some nearby national park, the point is they blatantly refuse to do anything to try to bring us together, because we are pretty damn disfunctional. I submitted a poem before for a scholarship, and my mom accused me of plagerizing it. I of course didn't, and when I got the scholarship she asked what it was for, and she still thought I stole it. My dad has always refused to do anything with us, whether it's going to disneyland when I was young, or whatever, it's nothing new. And when I've asked him to go to a football game or a college game, he's said no. And he likes football/sports. And I've asked them to try all kinds of new things, all have been met with "I;m too busy", or just straight no.... more

Resolved Question: How do I deal with an abusive family situation?

My older sister physically, verbally, and sexually abused me when we were children. The sexual and physical abuse ended after four years, but she continues to verbally abuse me. Last year, after she subjected me to a particularly nasty outburst, I finally had enough and cut her off. I haven't spoken to her since, and I've felt all-the-better for it. Fortunately, a cutoff is easy as I live 3000 miles away from my family. Recently my 90-year-old grandmother and father asked if I would see my sister for their sake when she comes to the city I live in to attend a convention. I never told anyone about the sexual abuse, but they are aware of the verbal abuse. I've explained that I want nothing to do with my sister, but they have no regard for my feelings. I reluctantly acquiesced out of guilt (and because I have no backbone) to one meal together, and I am "permitted" leave the table if she behaves in a way I find threatening. Well, now my sister is planning a whole vacation--it seems she is turning her conveniently located convention some elaborate event for the two of us. My father asked me to call my sister and cement our plans for this vacation I never agreed to. I reiterated the terms--one meal and nothing else--and my father actually ordered me to call her and then hung up on me! I have no idea what to do. I do not want to see my sister at all, but agreed to for my grandmother and father. I can't stand up to my father--he is volatile and insensitive, and my sister honestly scares me. I'm a grown women, yet my family seems to be insistently colluding on turning me back into a frightened and abused child. What do I do? This situation is making me feel sick. I'm very well versed in my own PTSD, and I can feel myself becoming re-traumatized. Serious answers only, please.I have tried standing up for my convictions with my family, but I always fail miserably. I have zero comfort level with them, and I am so frightened of their anger that I become completely incapacitated. I can't think. I can barely talk. I end up sounding like an idiot, then I hate myself afterward. I don't know what to do. I just want this to end.I've tried being friends with my sister and letting bygones be bygones, but she continues being abusive and unpredictably volatile. I have also tried standing up for my convictions with my family, but I always fail miserably. I have zero comfort level with them, and I am so frightened of their anger that I become completely incapacitated. I can't think. I can barely talk. I end up sounding like an idiot, then I hate myself afterward. I don't know what to do. I just want this to end. more

Resolved Question: I think there is something mentally wrong with my mother? (not a joke.)?

Before I state my problem, I am 12 years old, and I have a brother that is 9. Many people have told my mother to go to the therapist, but she always declines. My mother is very cheerful and ambitious. For example, on my birthday, she always plans a big party. And on Christmas, she plans a huge tradition every year that continues on and on. Although my mother is very... happy, let's say, sometimes she blows ridiculous, sudden tantrums. If she "asks" my father to do something, and my father is tired and he declines since he just came back from work, she starts accusing that my father doesn't love her anymore and always states this: "I know you want a divorce from me, I know there are hotter women out there that you're obsessed with." Now, there is NOTHING wrong with my father. He is a hardworking man that does his job. My father is also very independent and doesn't get angry easily. He is very friendly and kind, I don't know why my mother would think that my father is a two timer. After she says all that, she goes straight to her bedroom and starts thinking about what just happened, like it's a big deal. And while my family acts like it was nothing, she's blowing up her mind and accusing random, ridiculous, unreasonable ideas WHY my father wouldn't want to do a chore, or fix something up. (This is just an example.) I have been through this for a long time, since I was born, and now it's getting unreasonable. This is not only to my father, but it is also to my aunt, cousin, and many other people in our family. A lot of my family members suggested her to go to the therapist, but as usual, she declines and refuses to go. My mother does have some work problems, that she discusses all the time. And plus, whenever we are having a decent conversation, such as what's for dinner, she pauses all of a sudden and shuts her eyes tight, having her hand rapidly move around for about 10-15 seconds, and then comes back to the situation. And while that process, if I disturb it, she'll say, "Hold on, I'm thinking." The exact statement, every time. I am in a desperate need of help. I have heard from my family members that she did awful things to my father before I was born, and now she is much better when my brother and I were here. But still, I'm very scared. I never know what my mother is going to do. I remember the time when I was 6 and she locked my brother and I up in a room when we were on vacation, because my father did something bad (to her, at least) and decided to get revenge back by torturing us. Fortunately, an incident like that hasn't happened since about 6 years. But I'm still scared. Please help me. I'm only 12. [I know, I write a lot for my age. Sorry...]Please don't have the police involved with your answer. My mother is a very good person with lots of faith inside of her. She just has a part of her brain that is... damaged. My mother has always been there for me, and always listens to me. I love her a lot. But I'm still scared; not that she'll do something to me, but if she'll turn more "crazy" and do something dangerous to herself. Even though my mother has mental problems, she has a good heart. So please don't have the police involved in your answer; thank you for reading this. more

Resolved Question: tell me what you think please on this one. My mom is seventy seven and me and my?

sister are the only family. we are both married and my sister has one child and i have four. well my mom had a cyst on her ovary but the doctor said it was not cancer and that she would eventually need surgery. my sister made a big deal out of it and made us all sick for months on it. well my mom didn't want surgery right away because she still wanted vacation and things to do well i had a aneurysm on my aorta and had to have open heart surgery and my mom made her surgery date six days after I had my surgery and acted like my surgery wasn't anything is it me are what but it just doesn't seem normal to me why would she do that. thanks alot more

Resolved Question: What can I do to deal with my parents?

I am to the point where I can not eeven enjoy a family vacation. I even question the amount I want my parents in my life after high-school. In order for you to answer my question, i will give you some backround information JUST FROM TODAY. My parents are EXTREMELY controlling. I will give you some examples of what I mean from what has occured today alone for both parents (I'm 15 just to let you all know"). We are currently on a mini vacation to visit my dad who is attending school, and so I have simply been forced to put up with them more than normal. Mom Tells me everything to do and exactly how to do it, even though I have been doing it all of my life. Then when I mess something up because she wont get off my back and let me think a minute, tells me how irresponsible I am. Tells me how I will never be able to drive, because she can somehow predict the future apparently (sarcasm). Tells me how immature I am when I yell at or bug my younger brother (12) because he is annoying. (I do believe I will have a good relationship with him, however, when he gets older.) Tells me how I will never get a girlfriend (even though I have in the past). Yells at me for doing something, when I am not doing anything (ill explain later). Dad: Thinks he knows everything, always has to be right, even if he is wrong. (He seriously does NOT believe in global warming). Controling, he will tell me to get off my computor, for no reason, and if I take more tha literally 5 seconds, (even though it can take a moment to shut down a laptop) he begins to yell at me, slams it shut and tears it away from me. In fact if he knew I was writing this, he would probably make me get off. Ignorant, he will accuse and punish me for some reason (even when he really doesnt knmow what is going on, then when I try to explain to him what is going on, he tells me he doesnt want to hear it. Complains about every little thing Both: Controlling have to know what I am doing at all times (if i am hanging out with my friends I have to check in evry hour. I am 15. Treat me like I am still in diapers Invasive, wont let me lock my door for privacy (once I did and my dad shook my door until I woke up simply because I had my hamster out and didnt want people comming in and letting him out, only to be attacked by one of my three cats. I fell asleep and forgot about it.) And for a final example, they wont lend me any trust. They say they do, but really dont. Tonight my brother and I went to swim in the hotel pool. They said "they were going to trust us by letting us swim without them sitting in the pool room". They checked on my brother and I every 5 minutes. We were simply hanging out the first time they called us out. They thought we were trying to bully each other, when all we were doing was swimming and talking, which apparently must be against federal law (more sarcasm). They ASSUMED we were doing something wrong and told us to leave each other alone. Then 5 mins later I ad swam to the end of the poll my brother was on because I was being splashed by little kids and my brother asked me why I hade, and then I told him. But never fear, super parents were there to save the day. I "had been harrassing and chasing my brother". They mad us get out of the pool and we both tried to explain what happened. They wouldnt listen, true to form, insisted that they had "seen" us, and said we shouldnt have been near each other. IT WAS A HOTEL POOL. IT IS NOT THAT BIG. There is no way to simply stay away from each other. How can I put up with this for three more years. I feel that I am going to go insane. Does anyone have any advice or have parents who are just as annoying who know how to deal with it. more

Resolved Question: Disney world Vacation?

Ok so our family wants to go to disney world this summer but money is really tight. I found a cheap package deal but it's only 4 days long. Can i purchase this package twice and just use ithem one after another so we can stay for 8 days? here's the link to the package if you need to see it: http://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/OrlandoFL/vacationPackages/5DayWaltDisneyWorldVacationPackage.cfm thanks for your help :)We also want to go to the harry potter theme park in Universal orlando. Does anyone know of any package deals that would be under $3000? more

Resolved Question: My extended family likes my sister better than me?

My extended family (aunts, grandparents & cousins) live in Europe so my family only visits on summer vacations and sometimes they come here for summer vacation. Anyways, I feel like treat & like my older sister way better than me (two years older). Whenever its her birthday or some special occasion is coming up for her (Confirmation,Graduation etc..) she always gets a card from them and inside it, its all about her and only includes one thing about me "Hows your FAMILY" & gives her approx 40 euros. Whenever its my birthday, no card/money from them, no phone call or anything. Also, when it was her confirmation my aunt wanted to be her sponsor so bad and she ended up being it but when It was mine, no one wanted to be my sponsor but a bunch wanted to be hers. And once when we visited them, my grandparents just came from a vacation in California & they bought something for her & they also bought something for me, but the problem is that her present was from California and mine wasnt so technically they forgot to buy something for me or they just dont like me (I choose the second). This is all from my dads side, I dont mind my moms side. My parents treat my sister & I equally, but I know my dad likes me better, maybe only cause he knows his side of the family doesn't like me better. How can I deal with this whenever I visit them? They might be coming over sometime in the summer. more

Voting Question: I really need help fast!!!?

Hi guys, Ok here's the deal: My parents just paid all our taxes and we were supposed to get a lot of money on a certain date. Except the money still hasn't come in yet. My family is supposed to go on this huge vacation next week and my parents have taken two weeks off of work so we can all go together but we won't be able to go if the money isn't here by this Saturday-Sunday. Please help me figure out how to get it to come in and fast. I really want to go on this vacation and my parents need time to relaxe away from work. Please help me. Thanks for any advice. more

Resolved Question: I am thinking about going to UC Riverside?

Okay so I am going to be asking a lot of questions so can you answer as much as you can. Thank you in advance!! So i got into UCR and I really want to go to school in SoCal because I visited the areas around there (Orange County, LA) and rly loved it and the people. I met and loved a lot of ppl down there. The other schools i got into r CSU's and they r all within 30min of home, but i kinda wanna go away 4 college. But I hear that Riverside is a really ghetto and bad school. I understand it's an emerging UC so it's not perfect and plan on being a pre-med student. A lot of people said Riverside is a pretty bad city but is it like on of those really bad as in people get shot and raped or is it like as in San Francisco Tenderloin and Mission district where if your out having fun during safe hours in safe places and not looking for trouble you're fine?? I also heard there's not much to do there, but I am not like a 'party hard' kind of person. I mean I like to have fun but not the drinking and drugs kind of fun, Im more of a quality time with friends, movies, shopping kinda person. Then there is the people, Im cool with diversity like im the kind of perosn that is open minded and get along with anyone no matter race etc, I could laso deal with some homelessness like San Francisco downtown area.(despite the fact that Im coming from one of those rich privelaged vry little diversity towns) It's a small UC which I like because I want 2go2 a small college. This is going to be the vry first time Im ever away from home so I want to feel safe, so like which dormitory would be best for me (I'd like a private place, so that i dont hav 2 wry bout ppl invading my privacy but a place where I could still meet new ppl) and also r we allowed 2 request a roommate with specific things ie religion? Also im the vry spirited and involved kind of person at school so r there clubs and organizations whether it be on/offcampus that i could join?? So over all i guess im just worried about the environment, is it rly that ghetto and dangerous on and around campus?? Im most likely going to spend weekends in orange county or LA and long vacations/holidays up north with my family. I am going to visit the campus sometime in the spring break but I just want to start gathering things to expect. Thank you so much in advance for all your answers! more

Voting Question: How to deal with sister in law pressuring us for a visit?!?

How do you "tactfully" tell your sister in law that you and your husband do not WANT to spend a week "vacation" with them? My husband and I are really broke -- newlyweds. We work hard and we are in debt. We work hourly jobs with little benefits or paid vacation. Going to visit them - they are 1,000 miles away involves not get paid for the time, but also having less money to pay our bills. Even if she pays our airfaire, we can't afford it. Not only does it present a hardship, but we don't like kids --- and spending our only "vacation" time with family in a small cramped house with small children...is so stressful after traveling --- I would honestly rather work doubles everyday than that! My husband is in complete agreement and keeps changing the subject or brushing her off. Now - she is starting on me....what do I say? She doesn't understand our lifestyle - and thats been proven by other circumstances....she also doesn't realize how different we are and assumes that we just dont' want to be in her life --- when really its just totally inconvenient to OUR needs. How do we graciously combat her guilt trips? Thank you! more

Resolved Question: How to deal with a pathological liar?

I could write a novel about what I have endured. TO summarize I have been in a relationship for 11 years. Durring the past two years my girl started an on-line relationship with a person I introduced her to for a future job. I am so depressed and tired now its hard to write the full story but lets just say I lost everything trying to save this womans soul. She hurt me so bad, the affair was taken to a third world country 3 day vacation and you can guess the rest. She became so strong and manipulative that I could not control her at all. She changed everything about herself. I am so lost. I know I do not want her, or even love her but I am still so emotional. I have endured this for over two years and I am so tired I cannot get up. I am wasted and everyone sees it in me. I have become so sick and weak and so tired of hearing the complicated lies she tells. THe root of the problem is she has a very low intellegence and no character. She has learned to define things as she sees them like well if a kiss was less that five seconds it was not a kiss. Or if I did not tell the whole truth I did not lie. I am exhausted, I have nothing left. I have to work to survive, but I can barley get through the day without breaking down. Turning to someone else will not work as I have lost all faith in love. I spent the past year going crazy each day with her fighting to the point of serious self injury, crying, I lost over 25 pounds and I am only 170. I have been through living hell, and I just can not find it in me to finally let go. We are on opposite sides of the world now and I am addicted to either emailing or sms'ing her. I know I have to let go but I can't. No one will be able to tell me why this all happened, or convince me that I am better off. I have nothing. No family, no money, a bad job, I am 40, no children and no hope. I am so seriously depressed I just can not get up. I have ruined my reputation and worn out all my friendships. THis woman has ruined everything I am. I want to end it all, but somthing inside me wont allow it. Maybe its a sin, maybe I just cant leave the burden on someone. I just dont know, but I do know I am going no where and getting worse each day. I am so messed up, thats all I keep saying to myself Please be kind with your answers, I have heard them all before. I need somthing, anything to pull me out of this. I am misserable more

Resolved Question: Wives: what would you do to me if I was your husband in this situation?

So here's the deal. I am a pretty well off person, and I keep my family very well taken care of. However, I did something really stupid. We have a savings account we keep just for vacations/big purchases for entertainment, etc... well my judgement wandered a little bit this past week and I bet all of it (a bit over $15,000) on the Colts winning the Super Bowl tonight. Obviously I lost and am going to have to pay up. I haven't told my wife yet and I don't know how to, but she will find out soon when we get our bank statement. So what do I do, and what do I have to expect?? thanks in advance more

Resolved Question: my boyfriends leaving for the navy and i have a HUGE QUESTION?

well we've been together for almost two years and we have a really good relationship. But theirs one really big thing that i feel keeps getting in the way. His parents...they never allow me the time of day to get to know them or even be around them. They don't let me come over to their house at all. It's been months since i've seen them and it kind of hurts. Cause i try try and its like they ignore me. My family smokes but i don't and if i go to there house his mom looks me up and down and gives m dirty looks. They don't try to have a converstaion and all i get is a hi. His Dad never even comes into the same room as me. Well my boyfriend is leaving for the Navy and this is his last month. His dad is leaving for Iraq in maybe a yr or so. And they want to go to Hawaii for a week or two. It makes me angry because they don't even try to get to know me and then take him away weeks before he leaves. I just thinks its inconsiterate of my feelings because they aren't the only ones who want to see him before he leaves. I can't tell him my feelings cause he always defends them. When i say things like i wish they would include me. He would get so angry if i said that to him. But i have to deal with them alot when he leaves cause i have to be there with them at his graduation and other things. is it right for me to be angry that they want to go on vacation before he leaves. Thats why its so important to get to know them and im doing it for his sake because i think it be really upsetting for him to hear that i hate his family. And im scared it might hurt our relationship. If i had it my way id toss them out of my life altogether and run away with my boyfriend. but im willing to try for him. more

Resolved Question: How to handle a boyfriend who is a schmuck!!?

Ok, so here's the deal. My boyfriend (of 3 years) is driving me nuts! He is either lazy, uninterested, or both. For instance, he doesnt reply to my texts or initiate dates very often. He seems perfectly content letting me do all the work and he just doesnt seem to put in an effort. If i talk to him or express emotion about it he either says "its that time of month for me" or that I am "just acting like a girl" He doesnt really take care of himself (like not showering for me or dressing up) he mostly goes to work and school (as do I) but lies around playing video games in his spare time. I think he really does like me because he has made some comments like, we'll go to so and so place for vacation next year, you should meet my family, etc. I also dont feel like I am smothering. I barely ever text him. we see each other MAYBE 1 or 2 times a week, due to our limited schedules but we talk on the phone basically every night for a couple minutes at least. I really dont know if maybe its just that we have been together so long or what. when i did speak to him about this he actually responded by saying "well now i have you.." So please help because i am seriously goin crazy here!!dang, the truth hurts, but i know it!! :( more

Resolved Question: How can I "cross a bridge" with my future mother in law?

Okay so here is the deal. I have been dating the same guy for 5 years and the last 3 years we have been working towards getting married. There have been some major challenges as there are in any relationship. The biggest one...his parents and just family in general. His family is very conservative and religious in everything they do. They try to control their childrens lives to the extreme. Sadly, they don't see how this effects their children and their children can't and don't talk to them about things they should be able to. Let me explain some more which is essental to the problem. We both come from LDS families (yes please no comments about being lds thank you.) He grew up being raised LDS since he was born and same with his family (except his dad he is a convert at 19 and went on a mission right after). Part of their religion is the boys at 19 can go on a mission for 2 years. His parents always expected and even pressured him to go on a mission. Jeff decided on his own that he didn't want to go on a mission and he wanted to go to college. Which they are educated people and support college, but they believe the reason he didn't want to go on a mission was because of me (this is where the problems really started.) This isn't true, I told Jeff I would support him on whatever he chose and that it needed to be his decision. He even asked me what he should do and I told him I didn't want to tell him and he needed to decided on his own. So basically his parents blamed me and told him he shouldn't date me anymore and date more people. Okay so part of them blaming me got worse, I decided to go to college 300 miles away from our hometown and Jeff decided to follow me. We lived in the same school sponsored apartment complex but not in the same apartment. He told his parents he was moving a month before he actually was, even though he knew months ahead of time. Basically he can't tell his parents anything. So now 5 years into our relationship he has bought a ring and we are planning on getting married in October. His parents have no idea how serious our relationship is. The thing that bothers me is in 5 years I have been to their house maybe 15 times total but only been for dinner 3 times. Jeff just avoids telling his family anything because they just yell at him and make him feel like a failure (which he isn't he is going to school right now to be nurse and then getting a masters in physical therapy). I want this to change and I mean it has started to in a sense... I went on vacation with his entire family, though it was really awkward and I was kinda ignored most of the time. I also went to thanksgiving this year (one of the dinners I've been to) and I went to the christmas party a year ago (couldn't make it this year). Anyways, his family is very close and the other children in his family one is married and they completely adore him to death. HIs sister has been through many boyfriends and they have invited them to spend christmas eve with them and bought them presents and are invited to everything their family and just loved them. (even if they don't believe in their choices like the current boyfriend isn't lds and smokes and drinks (very against their beliefs, not that it is a bad choice). But when it comes to me i'm ignored and never introduced as the girlfriend, just as katie or a friend. I am lds which is important to them but i wasn't raised that way. My family left the church when they were teenagers because they aren't religious and are spiritual. Which is their choice and I love my family and I can tell them anything and they love jeff and jeff loves them. I want to be close to his family and I want to let them know that I supported him going on a mission and that I care for their son and that I want to be closer to their family. I just don't know what to do to improve this situation. I don't want their to be this hostility between us and have it continue when we have children. more

Resolved Question: What do you make of this?

In 2007 I was on vacation with my family in Spain. Me and my brother (I was 18 then and my brother was 15) we were out on the town during the daytime and my brother saw this really nice jewerly in the local shop and he kept saying to me that he was going to steal them for himself. We walked to the shop (my brother wanted me to cover for him) and he cut the string attached to the jewelry. He ran away but I just froze and stayed at the shop and when the owner came over to me I shrugged my shoulder pretending I had not part of it. The shop owner was upset and told me to go inside. Inside the shop I tried to protest my innocence and she threatend to ring the police, I then made an deal with her that I would find my brother and get the jewerly back of him. I found my brother and he gave the jewerly back to me and i returned to the shop and she did not take it any further and let me free. We told our mum what happened but my dad does still not know becasue he would loose his temper. Who do you think was in the wrong in this situation? (This incident happened on my parents wedding aniverserry. more

Resolved Question: Vacation ideas with my 5yr old?

Ok, so here's the deal I need some vacation ideas for my family (my 5yr old son & myself) somewhere warm, like the beach that isn't going to cost me a fortune, but I don't want to go during the tourist season when it's all crowded, anyone have an idea? Let me know! Thanks! more

Voting Question: Should I meet an online friend offline?! help?

I've been talking to this guy for 4 months via internet and text msg. I really wanted to go to a concert that is an hour away and he is interested as well. We thought of getting tickets (its tomorrow) but now I'm having second thoughts. I need to make a decision tonight. I am extremely nervous and the more I think about it , the more nervous I become. He is a sweet guy, same age that I am and all of his facts have matched up in the past 4 months ..Weve seen photos of each other, he told me he was vacationing with family in FL and sent pictures, all of his Facebook/myspace accounts match up. I am nervous that I wont have much to say in person or that it would be an akward night. He doesn't seem so nervous about it. Like I said, the commute is one hour away ,he would be driving us and the concert is a quiet type acoustic show that isroughly 2 hours long. I am not so much worried about my safety as I am in being in his presence. He has not showed any romantic interest or creepy stalker type intentions. He is willing to pick me up at a public place even and is willing to call the whole deal off if I dont feel comfortable. What do you guys think?I know he is who he says he is. I asked him at one point to show me to send a pic to my phone of him holding a certain item and he did. We arent children either, I'm 23 and he's 25...I've met three guys online since I was 18 and they all turned out to be good friends. Anyway, we talked it over and decided not to go, we are going out to dinner sometime next week instead. more

Resolved Question: looking for a decent priced Christmas time vacation for my family.....?

I am looking for a reasonabley priced vacation for my family for next Christmas and new year. My family includes my boyfriend and 4 children(14, 17, 21 and 23)....everything is priced higher due to the holiday seasons. I am willing to pay extra for the holiday but wondering where the best deal on destionations may be.... being it is the holidays and 6 of us. Will will be in a winter wonderland next Christmas so looking for somewhere warm, beach and perferably out of the US. Thanks for any opinions.... more

Resolved Question: Want to share Vacation ideas for families?

We want to take a vacation with our kids this spring but we are lacking ideas on what to do. Please share where you vacation or where you want to vacation so we can get ideas. Our kids are 4, 2 and 6 months. We love road trips so driving is not a big deal!Disney is an obvious choice...but we want to wait until the kids are a little older to do that adventure. more

Voting Question: Long distance/Boyfriend/Parents = problems?

So late March of 09, I met a guy online, we hit it off right away... We got to know each other till mid-August, and I decided we should meet. We live 2.5 hours away, so I took a coach bus met him and we instantly clicked. Anyways, when we seeing each other I was sneaking around and lying to my parents about seeing someone and traveling to see him. I got away with it for a while but in early October I got caught and was in huge trouble with them. My boyfriend ended up coming down the first weekend of November and met my parents and they really liked him. So we continued seeing each other back and forth every weekend, if possible. This is where it goes down hill... So I went to his house just before Christmas, he told me we were exchanging gifts; I got him what he asked for, an ipod, and clothes(spending over 300 dollars). After giving him his gift, he told me that we'd be going into town to get my gift the next day, okay no problem. We go in town the next day, to the store, it doesn't have what I wanted. So he told me not to fret over it, he'll order it online, and bring it over on New Year’s Eve, as we’ve made plans for that night. Okay no big deal, I wasn't too concerned. Besides this whole gift thing, it was the first weekend we ever 'it', and it was both of our firsts, so it meant a lot to me. So Christmas came around, and Boxing Day, I hear from him and he said he can’t come down on New Year’s and won’t be able to get me a gift because he spent all his money Boxing Day shopping for himself, video games and other things. I was extremely upset, feeling used for what happened, so we didn’t talk for a couple days. He calls me on New Year’s Eve, and tells me I ruined the plans and ditched him...meanwhile I only made plans after he told me he wasn’t coming down. Since then we haven’t seen each other in person, January we had exams so it was hard for me and him to see each other during that time. We’d talk on MSN, phone, etc. Then just 2 weeks ago he found out his dad has cancer, so he’s been depressed and this past week I feel he’s been trying to avoid me more than usual, I’ll msg him and he won’t even reply, but I’ll get msgs 1-2 in the morning saying I love you... He wants to come down this weekend to see me before I go on family vacation, but my parents know what happened that weekend before Christmas, and aren’t happy with his actions. So I don’t know how they’ll react if I tell them he’s visiting, and even if they’ll let them stay overnight at the house like they usually allow him as the bus trip costs a bit. I just need advice in what to do, this is my first relationship, I have really strong feelings and I still want to see him, but I can't be the only one forking out money into this relationship. I don’t know what has gotten into him lately, it hurts me and I find myself depressed and used but I still have feelings because I know how good things could be. I just need a helping hand/words of wisdom. Thanks : ( more

Resolved Question: Honeymoon vs Family Wedding?

**I'm a girl, used Bob to disguise my identity. We are giving up the money we were going to use for our honeymoon this summer to attend my sister's wedding. I would rather save myself from 40 years of family resentment over not going then go on our honeymoon sooner. We have been married since November. The problem is that it hurts everytime she talks about her honeymoon to me. She knows we are not going on our honeymoon anymore (this summer) so why does she insist on talking about hers ALL the time?! I know she is excited but how does she not see this is hurting me?! Futhermore, I am scared that 1.5 - 2 years out it isn't even going to feel like a honeymoon, just a regular vacation :( We are not wanting to mini moon. We want our first vacation to be our honeymoon. Any ideas how to deal with these hurt feelings? I just feel horrible and like I'll end up being the bad guy regardless of what happens :( We even picked the month for our honeymoon before she was even engaged and then she picked her wedding to be the same. I don't know how she figures we can possibly afford both :(I like the idea of taking the honeymoon after their wedding but er the wedding is in iowa...not exactly my idea of a fun honeymoon (no offense to anyone in iowa :)Also, we originally were going to go on the honeymoon and we told her and she gave us such a huge guilt trip. So she KNOWS that we gave up the honeymoon to go because I told her we couldn't afford to do both when she asked... more

Voting Question: Can a 16 year old move out without permission if she has been working and supporting herself in state of Mo,?

I have become friends with a 16 yr old girl through work and have took her under my wing... I no longer work in the town she lives in however she spends more time with my family then her own. Her mother took her out of school last year to start home schooling and she has never started paperwork or put girl back in school... Now the 16 year old wants to stop work and finish school... I have told her she can move with my family and we will help her...This is what she wants to do... however her mother now has decided to tell her she can not do this...Here is the deal mother lives with a boyfriend part time, none of the 4 children have finished school an older sister has locked herself in the home not been in school since 7th grade,or stepped foot out of home in a year no doc apts or nothing...home that has had no water for past 3 weeks...While mother of kids has been on vacation in California with her boyfriend.... not a good home life...Needless to say...What can I do legally to help this child?. Can she leave and put herself in school where I live at 16 or do we have to take her mother to court first?...My husband and I have adopted two children would we have to go through this process?...and also how do I get help for her sister?. more

Voting Question: The guy who i thought liked me . . .?

Last week was the school dance. It wasn't a big deal, not like a prom. I was on vacation with my family, and i missed the dance. There is this guy i like, and everyone is telling me he likes me. One of my friends asked him (my friend is his best friend) and he said he does like me. Well, my friends were texting me while they were at the dance saying that the guy i like looked lonely. My friends kept saying that he was looking for me left and right to see where i was. BUT, one of my closest best friends told me he was slow dancing with another girl toward the end of the dance.. Does he still like me?By the way, this guy asked one of my friends if i was going to the dance... he didn't ask me. My friend told him, that i may go, still not sure. **My friend didn't know i was going on vacation until a few days before the dance. more