I was thinking Rick would be a good one to start it as well.

Same here. For a long time there was no actual violence, but the threat of it was ALWAYS there. I can remember literally walking around numb for weeks on end, afraid I was going to say or do something that would be the last straw.

Then one day the last straw happened. It wasn't pretty. Thank God my son wasn't there. My husband held me in our home, alternately beating me and making me sit in a chair for hours on end. He dragged me into the bedroom, slammed my head into a marble table top (I had a brain aneurysm a few years later), announced he was going to kill me and went for his gun. I told him if he did, he'd be shooting me in the back, and I ran like the wind to the neighbors next door.

The police stripped him naked and put him in a "protective" (padded) cell. He was given the choice of prison or a mental hospital, and he took the hospital. It was a long haul for him, but he finally cooperated with his doctors and counselors, and last I heard he was having a fairly normal life...far far away!

Yep, mighty (or should I say mytee?) glad to see your beautiful, smilin' face!

And be consistent and persistent with this! If he gets up, turn him right around and put him back. If you keep it up, he'll get the picture.

As for feeling like dirt if you don't spend tons of money on him...that's YOUR issue, not his, and you need to address it. You are only harming him in the longrun with this attitude. He'll come to expect that the world owes him, and you will have an even bigger problem on your hands when he's older.

Children need structure and stability and consistency. They need to know just where "the wall" is and that if they push the wall, it won't move. Be firm...not mean, firm...and show him you have self-respect. He'll never respect you if he sees you don't respect yourself.

Indeed. While Brady is by no means one of my favorites (I think HE'S arrogant as all get-out), I hate it when anyone gets injured, especially to the point of being knocked out of a season. Here's hoping the injury isn't as bad as it first seemed.

Don't they have shots for that now?!

Yeah, I joined in January at Mark's urging then got too involved with school to post then couldn't even remember the name of the site (which had changed anyway). If it weren't for Papersmile, I'd still be wandering around in the great beyond all by my lonesome!

Good! I was thinking about her just last night. She was always a good padnah in crime...I mean cohort.

And we need to get Trace posting in earnest. Oh...and Suzi...someone drag Suzi's butt over here.

My name is mytee, and I approve this message!

This is one smart chickadee. Folks would do well to listen to her.

Oh you're making me swoon! I've been to MB concerts for more years than they will admit to doing concerts!

If someone were to put together a "10 must" list, I'd probably make a 2. And yet I'm smarter, wiser, sexier, more loving, more understanding, more giving, more forgiving than I've ever been in my life.

These days when I look in the mirror I can barely see the spit-fire, hell bent for leather teeny tiny girl I once was. But if I stick my nose right to the mirror, I can see the loving, caring, BS-sensing woman I've become....the one who knows exactly who she is, what she wants and where she wants to go.

I have smushy places where muscle once ruled. But then I have this lovely little grandchild who loves the smushy places.

"For every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven."

Anyone in your life (be you male or female) at whatever age who cannot understand that you are a growing or changing being is going to hold both of you back, and you are doing nothing for either of you in remaining in such a relationship.

I have.

Back home when we were doing "cooks," we'd rent a couple of rooms for our "down shifts," and there would be a number of people sleeping in the beds and on the floor.

I tended to wind up sleeping on the floor because most of our lead cooks are big, burly guys who, if they threw their leg over you during the night, could squash you! Plus I like to sleep in the cold cold cold, so I'd wind up sleeping right under the AC.

Might not be what you were looking for, but that's my answer to your question.

One of my oldest and dearest friends lives in your area.

I think you'll like it here. Post early, post often.

I remember when Ann Landers (if you don't know who that is...look her up) was getting a divorce. She said she not only made sure all his undies were clean, she even bought him new socks!

Now in this "kick-em-to-the-curb" age, this might seem silly. But there's a certain cleansing ritual in this action, I think: You are sending them on their way knowing you've done all you can...no after effects. It's a mental "I've done what I can, bon voyage" sort of thing.

By all means, clean and fold his clothes. This phrase isn't used that much anymore, but it is a "sign of class" on your part!

Your answer lies within your question. The mental abuse breaks you down to the point that you are made to feel that you "deserve" the physical abuse.

Physical abuse is quick and obvious. Mental abuse is slow and devious.

Of the two, it is far easier to heal from the physical. The mental abuse never quite heals.

"This is the [thread] that doesn't end. Yes it goes on and on my friends!"


Couldn't resist.

One thing we know for sure: If Phil is a mod, we'll never have to worry about him turning into a spelling Nazi.

I think I'll cross-stitch this and hang it on my wall.

Today I am boycotting housework.

Oh oh oh! This is the perfect time for you to use my "poll" technique! It served me well when I had to track down lawsuit defendants who did not want to be found:

Call the contact number you have for the person, be it mother, brother, cat's cousin, and tell them you are conducting a poll regarding the presidential election. Have a couple of valid standard questions ready. After the standards, ask their "opinion" on a hot-button issue. Then let them talk. As their rant unfolds you'll be able to pick up on personal matters. Feed into those, and before you know it you'll know what size undies the skipper wears, not to mention where he/she resides, a recent phone number, etc.

When people think someone really values their opinion, their lips get really loose and their guard drops.

This method worked so well for me that all the attorneys in the firm came directly to me when they needed to find someone. Good luck and have fun with it!