Honeycocoa

Catfin, there is a handy website called Grown and Flown about parenting high school /college age kids that you might like. https://grownandflown.com/ I came here to post a link to this weird high fashion article about dressing Modestly from the New York Times. it's just interesting.. ( no mention of the Duggers) https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/t-magazine/modest-fashion-clothes.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=Moth-Visible&moduleDetail=inside-nyt-region-0&module=inside-nyt-region&region=inside-nyt-region&WT.nav=inside-nyt-region Y'all stay healthy now.

Happy, Healthy thoughts to Arwen! Yea!! Catfin that's a great picture! About 75- 100 trick or treaters here. There are lots of kids in the neighborhood and in the apartment buildings near the neighborhood. Our neighborhood has several very decorated houses. Although as I was walking the dog this morning, I was noting to myself how two of the major decorators have yards that are completely abandoned looking the rest of the year. Dead lawns, inches of fallen leaves, weeds, fallen branches etc. I get that not everyone likes to garden, but a quarterly raking and weeding would be a huge improvement. Why do they suddenly want everyone looking at their decorations once ( or twice - Christmas) a year, when they clearly could care less about the yard the rest of the time? It's just weird.

The winds sent the smoke elsewhere today, though it still smells weird outside. People are walking around with masks on. (90 miles south) The fires are still going, Calistoga was evacuated the other day, North winds are supposed to whip it all up again tonight. So far only 31 victims have been found, but something like 400 people are still missing. There is a cool wild animal attraction near Calistoga called Safari West, lots of stories in the media about the owner staying and saving all his animals while his home burned down. We stayed there one, it was beautiful. Daiquiris sound good, though I'm more of a Mai Tai girl. Budweiser is a beautiful dog, Netfoot. One day at a time...

Donations to help fire victims the Sonoma County Medical Association Alliance Foundation ( that's a mouthful) 85 years old, very local https://scmaa.org/Relief Ceres Community Project https://www.ceresproject.org/ North Bay Fire recovery fund http://www.caff.org/north-bay-fires/ Sonoma Humane Society http://sonomahumane.org/ The winds sent the smoke elsewhere today, though it still smells weird outside. People are walking around with masks on. (90 miles south) The fires are still going, Calistoga was evacuated the other day, North winds are supposed to whip it all up again tonight. So far only 31 victims have been found, but something like 400 people are still missing. There is a cool wild animal attraction near Calistoga called Safari West, lots of stories in the media about the owner staying and saving all his animals while his home burned down. We stayed there one, it was beautiful. Almost Like Praying (Lin Manuel Miranda's benefit song for Puerto Rico) is great) the musical theater nerd in me wonders if people know that's the song Maria from West Side Story?

Smama, thanks for updating us, and good luck with those restorative liquids, that's basically the only reason I buy Gatorade, ( stomach flu) What's the acronym? BRAT? Bananas, Rice, Apple juice Toast? When my son was tiny he barfed do much they hospitalized him ( us) I'm a tad sensitive to the subject now. I suspect a lot of people are suffering stress symptoms these days, you are not alone.

I'll bring crab dip. Last time we went out for Tapas we noticed almost everything we ordered included ham... ( tasty but a little heavy and salty) JCBrown and I might be neighbors, we are 90 miles south of the flames but the smoke is impressive. My sons school has kept them in the gym for PE all week because the air quality is so bad, I guess they are getting good at dodgeball. I've heard of a few friends/acquaintances with homes in Santa Rosa that were spared and one whose home burnt to the ground. It's just really sad. I realized recently that I'm starting to have some physiological stress reactions, though my life is fine. I'm still missing a friend who passed this summer, but other than that life is ok. But still, Hurricane, flood, earthquake, mass shooting, wildfires.... it's time to dig out the yoga dvds and start trying to get more sleep. MarshmellowMollie My favorite market turned into a Safeway, they are everywhere, it's so boring. I find myself going out of my way just to go to a different kind of market. Marigold I'm very sorry for your loss. You might check with your local suicide prevention org and see if they have any survivor groups that might be appropriate for friends and family memebers. Smama I hope you hear your mama soon!

Many professionals would not share much about their lives with a client, no matter how much they enjoyed them. And sadly, medical professionals are often pretty effective at suicide. I'm so sorry , I remember when she treated Buddy's leg. Hugs to you guys. We are about 100 miles south of the wildfires in the Northern San Francisco Bay Area. It's been smelly and smoky since Monday morning. My son's PE classes are being held in the gym since the air quality is so bad. I've heard of at least one long lost friend whose home in Santa Rosa burned to the ground. It's a little bizarre how many disasters and tragedies there have been lately, hurricane, flood, earthquake, hurricane , mass shooting, wildfire. my life is just fine, though I still mourn the friend I lost this summer. but I find my body feeling rather stressed anyhow. I need to dig out my yoga dvds and try to get more sleep or something. and, ya know, send money. take good care, people.

Ah Netfoot, sometimes all you can do is take care of yourself, your dog, and try to do something productive once a day. Nothing wrong with novels and dumb tv, there are much worse options out there. I'm sorry about your friend, I lost a good one this summer too. Sometimes it just slows me down, I'm just much more distractible than I used to be. It's hard. I think you did your best for Foxy. You gave her some food and some good times and I'm sure that made her feel better. I'm glad you were able to do that and I'm sorry shes still missing. and very sorry about your vet , too. I know how much you enjoyed her. Just take good care.

Hey @Netfoot, Still thinking about you guys, just checking in. take good care.

Oh my God, @Netfoot I'm so sorry. That's so very sad, You've had way too much loss lately, this is just not fair. Depression is a terrible tragic disease and I'm so very sorry. I hope you and buddy are doing ok and taking good care of each other. Life is hard sometimes. please be gentle with yourself.

Second square over, third one down, lower right corner? I think.... or is it actually in the big swirly mass? Yikes! Take good care, Netfoot . It looks awfully damp...

Stay Safe Netfoot! Foxy has been on her own for a while. She may be just fine. and whatever you've done for her has helped. Sorry about your doc moving on, unwanted change is annoying. Stay dry!

Does she fetch the ball Netfoot? You could teach her to fetch ( treat whenever she brings it back and drops it) and then eventually toss the ball into the crate a couple times. Better yet just leave the crate there so she gets used to it. Stella doesn't use her crate much , but she likes curling up in small spaces sometimes. I would ask around the neighborhood or the vet for anyone who might have an old crate they aren't using. They are easy to come by here, but there's probably less in your islands.

So if they are filming TAR season 30 in October, we obviously don't get to watch till the Spring, dammit. Life is hard, I miss our show. Arg. And I met Joni the Glamazon once, she was very fun. I'm sorry for her loss.

Hi Netfoot! and Spunkygal! If you did take Foxy into town, you would probably need to get her into a dog crate before you put her in the car. Terrified dog in car without crate sounds dangerous for all of you. Maybe this is your relationship with her. She is your remote dog , who you take food to on a regular basis. You might be able to give her some medicines mixed in with the food - flea control, heartworm etc. But this may be as good as it gets for her, for now at least. And this is a huge improvement. She's not starving. That's a lot. Maybe you could chat with your vet about if she has any suggestions for what else you can do? Thanks for taking care of her. And once again I'm glad the hurricane stayed away from you. We're good out here in California. Our neighborhood "dog park" - it's a baseball field- is being remodeled - sunk down several feet to be a water retention basin when in rains, so Stella and I have to drive to another local park for dog socializing. I feel a little silly, driving her to the dog park three times a week, but we meet up with our former neighbors and she has a blast, so it's good. Sometimes the huge dog across the street hitches a ride with us. Tonight was ice cream night, the local Ice cream place lowers it's prices on Tuesdays, so we walk down there, the dogs get vanilla and the humans get whatever they want. I was delighted to see chocolate peppermint on the menu.

They better renew Amazing Race. It's seriously the only show I watch. I'm gonna get way to hermit like without it.

Not loving the format, but it's still my show and I'm glad it's back. and thanks to whoever pointed out the cinematography was off - I knew it didn't look quite right, that's what it is. Thank you.

"Cause our show's not on and not many people come here anymore? Man, some days I really miss the old "Meet Market". It was so cool to have all the friends all over the place. I miss them and I wonder what happened to them. All is well in California, finally getting some rain. I started in at TWoP with a baby in my arms, he turned 13 recently. Nice to see you Netfoot, best to Buddy!

HFC, Very sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. May her memory be a blessing. Take good care, be gentle with yourself.

"Unorthodox: the Scandalous Rejection of my Hassidic Roots" by Deborah Feldman was pretty good. I also liked "Escape" by Carolyn Jessop - not so much her second book. And other books to recommend? Hang in there Cherry Malotte! Can your dad see his friends without bugging your mom? Just to get him out of your hair for a while... HFC, so glad to here your daughter and grandchildren are back in the first world and the BOD is being responsible!

Laughed so hard I cried. Thanks, Fun in Fundieland!

re: Possum Glory! The opening act will be a slutty folk group called "Joyfully Available and the Hey, Hey, Heys!"

Middle school seems to be 6th through 8th. Junior High seems to be just 7th and 8th. But that's just my version. Kid returned from camp today. I managed to not cry when picking him up , so that was good. It was annoying, I missed him a lot, but whenever people asked me about it, and I said I missed him, they would get all patronizing and say "he's fine!" and I wanted to smack them. I know he's fine, I just miss him,. I happen to like my child and enjoy his company. Arg! Anyhow. Heard a good story, you know how there's always that one kid who doesn't listen? A couple of weeks ago a friend of mines kid was at this camp, and they all got an email saying someone had to be taken to the ER. While they were out on a hike they found a rattle snake. and that kid wouldn't stop poking it. They told him to put down the stick, so he tried to touch it with his hand. They got the anti-venom in him, in time, he's ok, but dang that is some Darwinism in action in there. My kid knows to not touch the rattlesnake, that's for damn sure.

That was a great Episode. Lots of scenery, lots of excitement. I don't really want to hang out with Justin, but he doesn't bother me as much as he seems to bug most of you. Logan and Chris are what makes me turn the volumes down. Really looking forward to next week!

Wow! that's beautiful, Netfoot! Way back in Junior high ( "middle school") I took wood shop, twice. I really enjoyed figuring out what to make and how. My mom still has the little chest of drawers I made for all her jewelry. But that shell is amazing! And Buddy trying to take the mask off your face is hilarious. I'm sure he thought it was hurting you somehow and he was going to rescue you! And then him getting stuck under the mask too! Oh my, that's a good laugh. I've been taking Stella to the local ball field in the mornings where many of the friendly dogs ( and owners) congregate. Some of the dogs really want to play ball and many of the others don't quite get it. This is evolving into a game where the ball obsessed dog runs after the ball, and then all the other dogs chase her around and keep her from getting back to her owner easily. it's pretty funny. It's like their all playing defense. My son is away at outdoor education/ science camp this week, with his entire grade and teachers. It's only for the week days, but it's just ridiculous how much I miss that child. This is the longest he's been away from home and it's way to quiet in the evenings.