I'm going on a trip....and I have very, very mixed feelings. On one hand I am delighted because I get to see my son who was taken away from me after 10.5 years of being raised by me solely. It was unprecedented and I am still in shock over this. My ex is very abusive and maintained that he doesn't have autism, that…

Unfortunately, that's where I stand, too. :(

My dad frequently had a new "flavor of the week", It was difficult to keep track of them and he often dated more than one woman at a time. Many didn't care for children. He started dating a new lady that was really sweet and she snorted when she laughed! I really liked her. I mentioned a concert we'd been to the day…

Wow, it sounds like your boyfriend is part of the whole mess and drama of that situation. I think that it's a huge warning flag. Talking to the family is the gracious, civilized thing to do, especially when there's awkwardness or bad blood. His lack of understanding of something so basic is troubling. Combined with…

I always check out the local attractions when going to a new place: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g3…

Parenting does improve a person a great deal if it's done properly. So does learning any new skill set and practicing it regularly. Parents should get creds for a job well done. Of course, sticking one's nose into the business of another, approaching parenting as a competitive sport and casting judgement on grieving…

I've definitely become a great deal smarter since I've had children. I'm so brilliant, in fact, that I can tell you that some people have no valid arguments and so they attack wherever they can. My opinion is that it's lack of confidence, and inability to argue a point on its merits alone without becoming emotional…

You know, I'm nothing like my family, either. That's why I love being a grown up and getting to choose my friends and spend the holidays with them!

Me too! Good policy!

Thanks! It's definitely an experimental garden! I'm a novice and it's so much fun! Maybe I'll be more optimistic next year and plant everything a little farther apart! It's grown - here it is as of today! So exciting.....

Thank you :-) I'm doing my best not to think of her obsessive determination to rip me down. She thinks that she's brilliant, so much smarter than anyone else but she isn't. No one would go to the lengths that she's gone to. Truly, nothing seems to be beneath her at all at this point! Everybody I've known and worked…

Thanks :-) It's definitely experimental and lots of fun!

My lettuces

This is from a few weeks ago. I've added more things since!

She's brainwashed my daughter. They are very effective at alienating people from each other so that they have the control of being the "gatekeepers". If I don't get along with her I don't get along with anyone in my family. She's been relentless in her campaign to demonize me even going so far as to say I've always…

Yum! Now I wish I'd planted more tomatoes!

Your dad has a really good point.

Thanks, now I know why I hate them so! :-)

My mother has NPD and has made it her personal mission to ruin my life. She's done well so far.....teamed up with my abusive ex and now has both of my children much to the shock of friends and community members that know me and my children well. After my experience I've made a point to be a good mother.

Lower 48! You must be from Alaska! Tickets are pretty cheap right now. I suggest getting a ticket anywhere that intrigues you and researching up on what's available there.