Deanna, I’m in absolute agreement.  People can say the most shocking things to others children or not and it will leave a lasting impression.  If the grandfather chooses not to be a part of the kids lives that is his choice no one is telling him he can’t, let sleeping dogs lay and keep it simple just like Margo said, some people are just harder to get along with than others. 

My dr and I just were discussing this very thing, at this point nothing has changed so I’m going in for a mamogram, which will be my first.  There are so many things that aren’t taken into consideration and being adopted I don’t have my medical history from both sides of the family.  It is also being reported that women should wait to have pap’s which I just don’t agree with especially if a young woman is sexually active.  I could possibly agree if the age were dropped to 45 however they are talking about the age of 50, I know many woman who are 45 who have had breast cancer or had things that needed to be checked out. 

Chris that’s a LOT of money for one party, no question about it.  I wonder what the wedding registraty is going to look like!?!  Can anyone imagine what the invites will read??  LOL?

Hot shower or walking 20 min alone, that does the trick for me!

Oh my I must be in the minority, I’ve never been fond of the Baldwin family as a whole.  Some of the things he says (forget about the rest of the family) are mind boggling not to mention completely off target.  I agree that he’s human, I don’t find him funny or appealing.  I never saw the appeal with KB either, again just me .. lol.  He just has always struck me as a bully. 

Letter #1, it sounds like the little blue pill is involved in all of this, even if he’s not admitting it.  More marriages have ended because of this little blue wonder and literally it’s no wonder. 

Since we’re not going to get to hear the daughter’s opinion from letter #2 if there are unresolved issues to place it all on the daughter seems to be unfair.  Mom, might ask what is the issue/s are, she may not like the answer to her question.  Seriously, my mother could have written this letter.  I have to limit not only the time I spend with my mother physically, even on the phone or internet.  The woman would suck me emotionally dry if she could and I allowed it.  It could be this is the daughters way of keeping distance because she’s unable to verbalize she needs the space it comes out in anger.  I know at least in my case, when it comes to my mother, it’s never one time in saying that is enough mom.  It literally takes an mini explosion to get her attention and then it’s the play of "oh what did I do?"  So I think the mother in letter #2 regardless of what the situation is maybe she needs to take a little time and reflect inward and see if she’s actually listening to her daughter cues or outright words.  As for defensiveness she’s feeling from her daughter I know again in my case it stems from constantly feeling under attack when it comes to every aspect of my life, what I should be doing, why didn’t I do this, why wasn’t I like so and so, blah blah blah, it’s such a conditioned response that people think I’m being defensive and honestly .. lol .. I’m not on purpose at least.  So yes, unresovled issues I’m sure at the same time the mother does need to look at her own behavior as well.  This kind of stuff usually doesn’t happen over night. 

Snooks if you ever want a seriously good laugh or even a good thought Carrie Fisher has a blog that has it legs over butt in witism (probably not a word .. lol) and wisdom.  I love Liz she is one in a trillion. 

Frannie Em, it’s refreshing to know I’m not alone in my ponderings.  Thanks for the responses!

Frannie Em, I completely agree.  Something needs to be done, .. not what they are talking about though in the way that the government is talking.  They are going to wind up only affecting 12%; it’s not the right 12%.  The people who don’t have any coverage at all.  I don’t know what the answer is, where you are coming from makes a lot more sense.  I would also like a politictian to sit down with me and explain to me exactly how this bill will affect me personally and my family.  I can’t look at all of the other crap at this point, what does it mean to me and then get further answers from there, they won’t do that because I don’t think any official could explain the bill as they don’t understand fully what it means. 

Every single government personnel should have to use the same exact insurance we the public do.  I also think if someone in a government position commits a fraud they should loose ALL of their benefits including pensions and so on.  There are so many of these people who get away with so much and then have no reprecussions outside of loosing face.  I’m frustrated with the issue that no forethought goes into any policy that is thought of.  It’s let’s slap a bandaid when the dam is needing of patch work that is much greater than a bandaide!  I’m extremely curious to see what happens if this is shoved down people’s throats and it backfires and we are all in worse than we were, it will cause a major revolution in how people choose to vote.  I think we’ll see more people in the Reps and Dems flat out leave their parties to go to a different one that is considered 3rd party.  

The public usually "forgets" vs "forgives" because some new and greater scandal has reared it’s head and whatever transgressions have occurred aren’t on the front pages anymore. 

If Edwards had really come clean all of it all in one shot, it would have been a better outcome for him.  This has been bleeding on and on for years and now the headlines are screaming that his wife has given up her battle with cancer.  The guys eulogy will now read forever, "John Edwards, promising political career that he trashed by having an illegitimate child with his mistress while his wife was dying of cancer." I don’t think that one will fully ever leave him. 

David Letterman’s situation actually bothers me from the standpoint that was abuse of power.  Women gained for sexual acts or attraction and the payoff was cushy jobs.  Do I personally care if he cheated on his wife, not really, he’s not my husband and I don’t work for the man.  I surely feel bad for his wife’s embarrassment and wonder what is obviously not discussed in their home.  This wasn’t a one time fling this went on for years and years.  I keep waiting for more to come out.  He will come out cleaner in the mud slinging and the public will be more willing to forget, .. until the next scandal.  

Once again I’m caught in the middle.  Been on the end of no insurance or paying seriously outrageous amounts for premiums, family with company coverage was over 500$ a month.  First time in years not paying out the butt and grateful for it and hope more people are able to get something.  I have a part-time job as my family needs the income at this point, dh was laid off through the summer.  Now based upon how the language in the bill is written I’m not sure if I will now have to quit or be let go because the company won’t be able to afford me.  I really can’t do full-time work as I have my own schooling as well as elementary children attending school as well.  I can’t take the insurance if they offer it although I’m legally obligated to because of the company dh works for, because I can’t afford the insurance on a part-time salary.  Let’s not get into the issue of child care for while I’m at work and the kids are out of school.  There are other issues because of new legislation in the industry that will shut down many cemeteries in our state.  Either way I don’t know if I will have a job after January and we are not an afflent family and have had some set backs.  Dh’s insurance is horrible and they made some good changes, I don’t know though I don’t trust the insurance company or the place dh works.  After seeing all of the back door politics that goes on during a state issue can’t imagine what happens on a national level.  I don’t think the government should be involved, at the same time I agree something needs to be done.  Where they are going is going to cost more jobs and then people who can’t get insurance are going to be hit with fines should they have no coverage and if no job and the state can’t help with insurance people are going to be in even worse situations than they are right now.  I agree with so many of the posters who have pointed out the governments lacking ability to police itself, how they will be able to run a new program with new rules and regulations?  It’s all coming way to fast with no forethought to the future.  By the way, .. when are the car companies going to pay back the money they already have "borrowed" again?

I tend to disagree with that because I’ve heard it all almost literally, I def have never lived in New York.  I’ve heard as an only child how much I look like my mother; how much I look like my father and what a shock I’m adopted.  My fav was when someone asked if I was my father’s wife .. oui.  It got to be a really sore spot when I got into my early 20’s especially when I was with my father since he’s been out of my life more than he’s been in it.  Why should he get any kind of credit for genetics .. lol .. he didn’t contribute any.  People tend to ask very inappropriate questions or make blanket statements about situations they really know nothing about.  The lack of social grace or social boundaries in some people is clearly an issue in our society.    

Susan I know exactly what you mean and I agree.  Someone to derail the PR circus and just call it what it is and allow these people to truly know the hurt they caused their family. 

Phyllis, I work in the funeral industry and truly it’s such a load off of loved one’s not to have the stress, worry and financial burden of what to do when someone dies.  Everything is planned out, there are no surprises, no one gets to object as long as all of the forms are signed ahead of time.  Costs are skyrocketing and it’s more than just that, many families can’t afford to bury their loved one’s and it’s a truly heartbreaking senerio to see a family struggle with the costs.  The biggest thing that I hear from people who are pre planning things is that they had to go the a recent burial that they were left "in charge of" with no idea of what the deceased wanted.  So good for you that you can do that for your loved one’s it’s a large relief not to be dealing with those kinds of choices in the middle of trying to grieve.