RyanH

Awesome compilation. The crazy thing is 15 years from now when she's off to college or moving out you are going to look at this thing and need a towel to dry your eyes. I hope we are blessed with a daughter the next go round. Enjoy these memories man....from everyone I talk to the years go so fast we can't believe it.

We built our home in GA about 16 months ago...already have lots of black stuff on the paint and the gutters are horrible. Gutter consensus: undersized gutters and roofs with too great a pitch. In GA for some reason they love to build high steep roofs and put tiny gutters on. When it rains, water overflows and carries roof oil with it and streaks the gutters. That's my theory, anyway. Mildew consensus: we have such huge swings in temperature around here that we hit dew point every night with rare exception. With that much condensation on a house at night and sunlight during the day, siding is a buffet for stuff to grow. Fortunately, I'm not concerned since I know someone who owns a few thousand $$$ worth of pressure washing equipment and the know-how to use it ;) My neighbors are lucky.

When I tought taekwondo, some of the most fun I had was teaching the 3 - 4 year olds. kids are great before they develop attitudes. They are fun to "punish" too because the parents really get into it. We had paddles they kicked...occassionally one of the kids would sling the paddle across the room when it was time to put them back. Then we all got to stand around and watch as the kid got down on his hands and feet (no knees) and *pushed* the paddle across the floor with his nose from the point from where the threw it. The parents totally dug it and the kids rarely messed up a second time. Congrats on raising a kid with discipline and not a television-tubby kid.

Should you decide to take it, here are some considerations.... Bleach solution and LOW pressure on the painted cinder blocks. Cinderblocks are porous and can have mold/mildew in the pores under the paint. Significant pressure can blast weakened paint off with no problem and you'll be stuck painting the mess. Similar consideration with whatever siding it is. If you don't have a hot water washer or good chemicals you'll probably end up needing to scrub the siding with an extendable brush. Old windows = leaky windows when you direct the water stream at them. Use passive rinsing AT BEST (this means to hit the house above the windows with water and let it come down similar to the way rain does). You may also want to consider misting. You'll have to hand scrub with a brush and solution. Not fun if you suspect lead. If you see water running down the *inside* of the glass panes, STOP and reevaluate your situation. I've done some older structures like this before and they are very easy money, primariy because the expectations aren't very high to begin with so the HO isn't looking for stellar results, just to have some green and dirt knocked loose. Make use of chemicals and use your "pressure" washer only as a means of delivering the chemicals quickly, not powerfully.

A good rule is to offer a discount, upon request, equivalent to any outstanding coupons you may have offered. This way you accomplish two things. 1) The customer perceives the situation as a positive because they got a deal. 2) If they present a coupon after you give your price (as this one did), you can make the claim that you have already applied that discount in newly quoted price. You aren't selling used cars here! Just be sure to tell them *why* you are applying the discount. Tell them you are running coupon specials for those that call with coupons and you can apply that discount for them.

" Power Washing can also help point out problems that are just starting to show in the painted surfaces of your home or commercial building." Yeah, or it can allow the pressure washer--who just happens to own a painting service--to cause paint damage to a dirty but otherwise undamaged finish. Beware of the pharmacist who also engineers bugs.

If you want to carry but don't want the bulk of a heavy weapon, there is a .22 (I believe Taurus makes it) that, when used with a specific type of round made in Mexico, will make a hole larger than any large round handgun. I didn't believe this, of course, so I had to try it. The gun store owner let me plug away with my Glock 21C (.45 caliber) and my Beretta .380. Then I used the .22 and couldn't believe the size of the hole. It may not have the mass of a large round but the velocity was incredible and "damage" was something you really had to see to believe. When we used to go to the theaters every weekend I routinely took my .22 during spring and summers because I couldn't conceal my .45 with shorts and a Tshirt.

I carried a gun with me when I was at Tech in Atlanta. I used to get there sometimes around 2 in the morning to sleep in the car and study before classes (worked 3 jobs at the time, so not much time to sleep at home). There was only one time when I actually had my hand on it in the car but I never had to show it. It was easier to just run the red light than to show the guy slobbering on my window my weapon....I could see his hands at all times and wasn't concerned about him having one. I rarely carry it now as I feel I can take on pretty much any attacker out there. Just remember....a strong kick to the knee cap will take down pretty much any assailant. As for your crazy guy situation, a gun would have been the best bet since you were sitting and had someone approaching your vehicle. The dangers with carrying in your vehicle though are that when you are away from it there is a possibility of it being stolen.

Having a heart and giving from your heart is completely different than using the power of your vote to steal money from others. I've argued this issue with co-workers before. They say I have a diminished view of society because they think I don't want to help my fellow man. Quite the contrary. I have no problem helping--voluntarily. I give money that nobody even knows about with NO expectation in return. I do have a problem, however, when someone else not only tells me I should be helping others, but then digs into my pocket at the point of a gun and takes it from me. "Point of a gun," you ask? Just try to not pay your taxes and see what the ultimate conclusion is. You will be investigated. Turn that down and you will be arrested. Fight that and the guns come out. Slippery slope, sure, but the end result is the same. Our government uses force to take what they want from citizens. Citizens realized they can use the power of the government to take from other citizens. Want more money from your daily job? Vote for a minimum wage increase. Don't bother friggin ASKING for a raise...don't bother trying to improve your skill set and EARN more...just vote for it. It's very easy to sit back and say our government should do this and we should all do that, but you keep missing the point...you can't GIVE without first TAKING. And it is my CHOICE to not have my efforts taken from me against my will. The statistics on minimum wage vs. small businesses are inherently flawed. The implicit assumption there is that all small businesses pay minimum wage. I've yet to work for a small firm that paid minimum wage. I've worked for 3 small businesses and have known owners of 7 more....all have started pay out at around $10 per hour. Why? Because they want to retain talent they have trained. They understand that once someone has been trained they are a more valuable commodity. There is a shortage of people trained in their field. There isn't a steep learning curve to operating a cash register or taking food orders, so the job pool for these positions pay less. Do I think current minimum wage is too low to live on? Sure. There is an inherent motiviation to grow above that, or atleast there should be if someone is going to complain about it being too low. It's all about standards of living. Nobody ever said you have a right to a particular lifestyle.....from what I remember it goes something like "The Right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Well, nothing in our laws prevents any of those. All americans enjoy the same liberty and freedom to do what they choose. All americans have life (unless they don't...err). And all americans have the same freedom to pursue happiness. What some do with this freedom is not as wise as others. THAT isn't my problem.

I've already stated that I'm not a republican. My claim about the democratic party is that it wants to destroy the concept of the individual and focus on groups. Taking the minimum raise from around $5 per hour to over $7 per hour equates to about a 50% raise, and it required nothing from the individual, it just required the stroke of a pen by a legislature in exchange for a larger voting base. If your kid currently makes an allowance, just throw him a 50% increase....it's the same thing. I earned an allowance for doing things around the house growing up. Some were expected as part of the family...when I did extra things I made an allowance. If I wanted more money, I did extra things. Everyone has a reason to work for money. For those who support a family, sure, it benefits the family. For those who pay for college, then it means they can work fewer hours and still afford school. If you have a car, insurance, etc. it makes it easier to do that. Great. But it requires no extra effort from the individual, and the money comes from either a reduction in company profit or an increae to the consumer. You still haven't conceded to that ugly fact. The truth is, wages are paid based upon ability. Pretty much anybody in this country with an arm and dextrous fingers is capable of flipping burgers, so there is no shortage of work to do that. Being a supervisor requires a little more capability in organizing things, managing time and money, and carries more responsibility, thus the reason they are paid more. There is not an endless supply of people who are bright or dedicated enough to perform brain surgery, design bridges so they will not collapse, or run a multi billion dollar company successfully without going bankrupt. There isn't an endless supply of people *willing* to miss seeing their families for weeks at a time while they drive trucks across the country, or live on oil rigs, or fight in wars. These people are given better benefits (income, insurance, retirement, etc.) than the guy who pushes a mop bucket around. I am not attacking democrats, I'm attacking *individuals* who think it is quite alright to take money out of the pocket of one person and put it into the pockets of another. Money is nothing if not a symbol of one's acheivements and ability. To receive it without earning (to get a raise without bringing more benefit to the person paying you) denigrates the efforts of those who constantly seek to improve themselves. I've left three jobs before because the "boss man" didn't see my value. Perhaps I was overinflating my value or perhaps he was undervaluing my value...regardless the benefits I received for providing my services to the company didn't match MY perceived value of my services. I took my skills elsewhere, proved myself, and made more money with each move. My problem is with people who don't make that effort but try to swim along in the current of other people's actions. And if you think you are worth $7 per hour but aren't being paid that amount, then you aren't worth it. There is always someone who will come along and do your same work. Perhaps you are overqualified for the position you're at and should move along. I'm all for a free and open market where the individual makes himself or herself. I'm not for rich or poor, big or small.... I"m for the individual, and I believe that everyone is where they are because they allow themselves to be there. Whatever political party you think that makes me, then put me there. That was the founding attitude of our country and things were going just fine until "they" started to destroy the individual and lump folks into classes.

Dammit. I'm using a professional board devoted to residential and commercial cleaning and the only thing I've posted in the past few months doesn't even relate to either. I've become a troll. I'm sorry.

This is a really amusing point. One day, when we are all enlightened and have learned the error of our ways, we are to look back and think that being fiscally responsible was a terrible thing? I'd like for you to do a few things, privately or publicly: Consider a politician who tells the "public" that those who "have not" are going to get handouts from the government. Then tell me where the government get's the money. Consider a politician who tells corporations they must increase the wages they pay to the employees. Then consider: who's money is it the politician is promising? That money was made through the efforts of those who started the business. The great minds and risk takers who put everything on the line to start small hire other people to help them out, sure, but it belongs to those who start it. Who is going to pay for the raises? Hey jnoden...give your kids a 50% increase in their allowance. Right now. Don't expect more out fo them. Don't ask questions, just give it to them. If you are on a budget, you may have to pull that extra money from somewhere else, like improvements to your house or investments in your future. Consider a corporation that pays taxes. When taxes on the company are raised, where does the money come from? A corporation doesn't have money any more than the government does....they collect it from consumers. Consumers pay ALL the taxes that are paid in this country. Corporate tax increases / benefit inreaseses will be funded by consumer spending....your jeans will go from $25.99 to $26.99. May not be much, but to some it may be. Nobody owns money, it is a commodity that is traded in exchange for services. People who offer good services or do not squander their money accumulate more than people who are not as valuable in the economy and marketplace. That isn't ignorance...THAT's reality. Now, if you want to get enlightened, get behind an idea that will jump start the economy and bring jobs back to our country so there are more job options. Support the Fair Tax.

Jeff, Apparently you didn't fully read what i said happens when you have a mandatory raise for employees. Please read again and if you still don't understand I'll try to make it simpler. Try the SOB Foley with the same laws we use against any other sexual predator..checking himeself into rehab is a cop out and he should be tried and jailed if he is truly guilty. And if you don't improve your job skills after being at a job after several years, maybe you just aren't motivated enough. You don't need a college degree to be a manager...I knew a regional manager at our grocery store who made $160k per year and started out as a bag boy and a GED. Don't ask the government to make up for your inability...do something about it yourself. That's the difference between a lib and a conservative....you apply pity when you should expect a little individual responsibility. Lowend wage earners aren't necessarily lowend people, I agree. But EARN a raise, don't just get one through your vote.

If you think the wealthy will make less think again. You run a business. Your workers come to you and ask for a 50% hike in pay. What are you going to do? Decrease your level of comfort in your lifestyle? Take a lower pay yourself? Not hardly. You are either going to decrease your staff and expect more work out of fewer to compensate for the increased pay, you are going to raise your prices on your customers, your are going to invest in a technology to do more work with less people, or you are going to shut down your business and put your efforts elsewhere. Remember when you could buy a candy bar for $0.30 each about 10 years back? And now it's roughly $0.59? When the minimum wage increased, it increases prices across the board. Hershey's needs to pay their bottom workers more. The companies from whom Hershey's buy increase their costs. The grocery store raises it's costs. Lots of embedded costs in getting that product to the store, and an increase in the cost to produce it will cause an increas in the cost to make it. I think that's one of the principles behind inflation. When I bagged groceries and the minimum wage was increased, co-workers cheered. We were running each checkout lane with 1 cashier and 2 baggers. 3 months later, in a company where turnover was rather high and folks were quitting at a rate of 1 per week and another was hired in his place, we were running at about 70% of the previous staff level. The store stopped hiring as often. They reduced hours. Just try to go in a grocery store around here now and find a bagger at every counter. Most cashiers are bagging and rining up the purchase. I can guarantee you most companies will adjust their prices to acheive the same profit margin.

What scares me is when I walk through the airport and I hear the recorded voice over the intercom: "By order of the director of homeland security...." By order of? Director? Does sound like something that would come from "the motherland" as in Mother Russia.

I get your quote, although I don't understand the relevance of the Brady Bunch to tax system. Good point about alternative sources of retirement income..I didn't consider those. Yet another reason for the Fair Tax, though....eliminate special interest tax brackets. And do away with that damned death tax while you are at it!

Zell Miller (former democratic governor of GA) would be the ideal candidate. Bill Cosby might be a good choice. Currently we have no good choices for governor in GA, just lesser of to idiots. ************************************* Sonny - Republican: talks about "sticking it" to the "big oil" companies, then in his commercial he has a clip of a fat black guy with a smug smile on his face just after he says this. Apparently he thinks/knows the population is dumb enough to thing that it is a government's place to "stick it" to private industry. When the hurricanes were raging last year, he started a crusade for people to call in with cases of "gas gouging." Now, personally, I don't believe gas gouging exists. Fuel is a necessity and I will pay for it up to the point where the value i get from fuel doesn't match the cost they're charging. Since he has been in office, GA has not advanced in national scoring. He can talk all he wants about the HOPE scholarship, but schools aren't getting any better. Personally, I'd be happy if every kid could read by the 3rd grade. We have high school kids who can't read, but oh hell yes atleast the scholarship is still in existance. He didn't even bring it in...that was a Zell Miller initiative. He talks about getting more money for teachers, but never mentions the people he will rape for taxes in the process. What he really needs to do is get some balls and start telling parents that education starts at home, but I guess that isn't politically correct. If he wants to better the education system, push for school vouchers and let schools compete for the money instead of just granting it by virtue. Wants to stop state income taxes on the retired. First, if you are retired you don't HAVE any income unless it is through the form of interest from investments, so this doesn't have any real effect on them. But I guess a benefit for the old folks sounds good, so it's a voting point. Again, deception. He says "you've paid long enough, you deserve a break." Know what? I've paid more in my 10 years of working life in taxes than some people will pay in the next 40 of theirs. Don't I deserve a break? I think he may have made a few attempts to bring industry to GA but inevitably the tax structures deter people and they end up building up north. ************************************* Mark Taylor - Democrat: His slogan "The Big Guy for the Little People." Sorry, I'm not for any politician who is supportive of a particular group. As a state governor, he should be in favor of benefiting ALL Georgians. He also wants to give more money to schools (this must be a big voting point for stupid parents) but doesn't say how he will get it. He wants to make sure that every child in the state has medical insurance. So guaranteed medical coverage is now a responsibility of the government. Forget the fact that governments fund schools to produce doctors, now we have to also pay for the care. The only way to fund a program is to take the funds from someone else. Again, no mention of how he will get the funds, but I'll bet it involves me paying for those kids whose parents can't. So not only will I be working everyday to pay for my family's insurance, a portion of my income will now go to pay for someone else, against my wishes. That's pretty much all he has. No big plans to improve school grades, no big plans to invite private industries to improve the job market. Basically he just wants to move into a government position where he can sit for the next few years, get paid (notice I dont' say "earn an income") and leave without making much of a difference. Classy guy. ***************************************** Cynthia McKinney (sp?) - Socialist under democratic guise - Pretty much a waste of space to type about her. Anyone who hits a cop--whose responsibility it is to serve and protect--should just be kicked off capitol hill with a cold boot. He tries to prevent someone-who refuses to identify herself--from entering into a secure facility and she hits him then claims he is being racist.....who would vote for that type of blatant stupidity. BTW, she was a congresswoman and won't lower herself to run for a measly governor position. So, given the options who would I vote for? The socialist who claims to be a republican or the socialist who claims to be a democrat? Neither because a vote for either would still give me a socialist in the seat. I'll vote libertarian ---knowing full well they will lose---because I don't want my vote for either of the others to be considered as support for the candidate. I don't support either. I voted libertarian in the Bush/Gore election because I got tired of them telling the media during the debates that the other had good ideas. They parroted each other. Gore was really just an idiot and Bush didn't seem to be that effective. I voted for Bush last time simply because I was too damned scared of Kerry getting in, but I still didn't necessarily support hiim (although it has nothing to do with the war...I'm all for keeping the war out of our homeland and fighting it elsewhere before it ever gets here). Thus ends my discussion on the topic.

Seems like your primary issues with the republican party is their touted sense of ubermorality and stance on moral issues. It's like this....our country was founded as an escape from the overwhelming oppression of the church state. Why would we want to try and become that which we escaped? If you are against abortion, you and your immediate community should have it banned in your city. Once your city has it's issues worked out, maybe other like minded citizens can work on the county. Then the state. Once you have figured out the problem in your state, get with other states to work on a federal level, but don't think a president can bring about change of this magnitude...thankfully the president doesn't have that power. If you want homosexual marriage to be legal, fine, make it legal. But don't call it marriage...marriage is a sacred ritual in a church (atleast for some of us). Call it a legal union, because that's all legal marriage is anyway. I can marry my wife and we can enjoy a special tax bracket. Why should the tax benefit only heterosexual couples? If you are going to be for true equality it must be unbiased and applicable to ALL citizens. Seriously, the only reason you should truly support democrats is if you are in favor of the Robin Hood practice....rob from the rich and give to the poor. If you are in favor of singling out groups and telling them they are oppressed and are deserving of special things, go ahead and vote democrat. If you are in favor of telling people that all that matters is that you try with no mention of the importance of success, vote democrat. Just know, hold out long enough and republicans will be hammering the same mantra. GA is a fantastic example. Sonny (our governor) loves to talk about how he has supported the HOPE scholarship. He won't tell you that GA is near the bottom of the list in standardized scoring. Some good he's doing....people are going to college more than ever before, but they can't compete in grades with the rest of the country. Grade inflation is the culprit, of course teacher unions don't want to do much to change that lest individual teachers be pointed out as being inadequate in their profession. Libertarians have their own group of problems and are also human and are prone to frequent acts of stupidity, but atleast they don't have a concerted plan to ***** out votes and make a mockery of this country. So, I'll put my votes with them almost everytime.

Jeff, for clarification, I am not a Republican. Also for clarification, not ALL democrats are wrong. Personally, I think the socialist liberals have been bastardizing the democratic party for the better part of my life. Fundamentally, the ORIGINAL democratic idea was to give people the opportunity to better themselves. I will wholeheartedly agree that there are just some situations where, without intervention, people can never better themselves. Think Clinton was a great president? I think he was just fine primarily because he was ineffective. But you have to admit...when they bombed the towers the first time, he pretty much rolled over and let that thing go. He did give us the line item veto, though, and that is pretty cool. 8 years and that's his monumental contribution. Way to go (seriously though, line item veto is a good thing). Want to talk Bush? How can I put much faith in a leadership that rants and raves about the fight against terrorism and wants to protect our homeland, but simultaneously turns his back on the border issue? We have people coming across the border illegally by the thousands and our government is doing nothing to stop it because of political pressure. I can't take a damned bottle of aftershave through the airport security anymore but our borders are wide open for God knows what to walk though. Bush wants to talke about tax reform, but it is just an extension of what's been happening for decades, he won't even mention the Fair Tax. In my opinion, he's putting too much effort in one area and completely ignoring larger issues. And the TSA? Biggest example of FUBAR in recent government history. Those people are a knee-jerk joke. Now Jeff, let's talk about why I'm against social liberal politicians (again, higher concentration in the democratic party). They don't acknowledge that it is only with individual effort that an individual can acheive. Without individual accomplishment, our society and economy would completely fail. Which party wanted WalMart to HAVE to provide medical insurance for every employee? Flawed logic. In order to cover the insurance, walmart simply reduces current cost by eliminating positions or they increase the cost of goods. Of course they would never tell voters that..."the prices you pay at walmart are going to increase, but atleast walmart is now paying it's fair share to everyone." Which party wants to ensure medical coverage for every citizen? Notice the NEVER propose a way to pay for it. Programs like this sound find in commercials with the smiles and cheerful background music and kids on a swing the foggy atmospheric effect they usually have in dream sequences in soap operas, but when it comes time to fund it, who will actually pay for it? When I see that statement, they are telling those who can't provide for themselves that they are going to get the coverage they "deserve." They are telling me: "Grease up. If these people vote for me we are coming after YOU to pay for this program." Which party wants to tax companies for "windfall" profits? Who in the hell is a politican to tell a company how much profit it can make? As a business owner, would you want the government to tell you that you can only make X amount of dollars in profit, and if you make more than that you have to give it over to the government because a group of people think you are too expensive? I recall you recently got some pretty big commercial accounts in your business. Did this happen by accident? That house you just built is much nicer than some on the other side of town from you I'm sure. How does it feel that many people think they are more deserving of it than you simply because they "want it" even though you "earned it?" Want more money for schools? The average budget per student is $30k. How much more do democrats want? Just what would it take? $50k? $100k? Liberals will never address a crowd of parents and tell them that the resonsibility starts at home. They just say "the schools are underfunded," knowing that as long as the schools remain underfunded they can say "see, schools are still bad because we don't have the money." Liberals will never tell teachers that they need to be effective. Teachers unions are among the most liberal of them. Why won't they allow competition amongst teachers for pay? Pay is determined by your level of education and your length of employment, it currently has nothing to do with performance. Name one job in "the real world" that rewards like this. I sure can't. What's sad is the republicans are seeing what it takes to get votes from our increasingly apathetic society so they are pandering to it. They won't build fences on the border because they want the hispanic vote just like the democrats. I couldn't care less about the homosexual or abortion issue...my focus is on economics and freedom. Our last great president was Thomas Jefferson. Roosevelt was close. And I wouuld totally vote for David Palmer (from 24).

I don't see how anyone who has built a successful--without the assistance from government grants, that is--can be in favor of the democratic party. I've never known of another party in history that is more against the success of the individual by personal responsibility than the democrats. I fear ANY person/party who puts security and safety above freedom. The democrats, for far too long, have been a party pandering to the helpless and those who want "someone else" to come along and help them out. They are always quick to tell the people in their support crowds that "your government" should do this for you, and provide that for you, and give you better schools and provide for better medical care. Here's a little secret that they don't teach in schools anymore: THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GIVE ANY OF THIS WITHOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO PAYS TAXES!!!! Just try and develop new drugs without someone's dedication of mind and talent. Just try to stand in a barren field and will the oil to the surface on need and demand alone. Engineers came up with that little task. They don't tell people that in order to give them better schools or more drugs they first must take--BY FORCE, mind you--the revenue from those "who can" before they distribute it those "who can't." How come they never just come out and tell the truth about their programs? "Assistance" to pay for school lunches comes from people like me who busted my butt to make an income, and it sure as hell isn't "free" when it's coming out of my pocket. Everyone on this board who goes out everyday and works to support themselves and families should be very proud of their acheivements and be shameful of the bastardization of our culture by the democrats. I applaud anyone who wants to give VOLUNTARILY to charitable causes, but to have 40% of my efforts ripped away and then to be demonized for my acheivements really pisses me off. That being said, republicans have pissed me off too. They too are now pandering to the helpless crowd. Our republican governor in GA is now running ads to the affect that he will bring about changes in clean fuel requirements that will benefit everyone...."except those big oil companies." Okay, like I'm going to vote for someone who singles out a legitimate industry and makes them look like the evil bad guys? What about the guys who do studies to find where the oil is? What about the guys who risk their lives on the derriks to extract this stuff from the ground? Are their families and the fruits of their efforts no longer important just because Americans want a cheap commodity like gas? I am agains any politician--regardless of party--who wants to "give" anything to any particular group of people. The ONLY function of the government is to protect the freedoms we have and to give us all the freedom to pursue the acheivements we want. It is not to try and level any playing field by playing Robin Hood. Please oh please don't hope that one party or another "takes the house" in the next elections. Politics is not a baseball and shouldn't be treated as such. When one special interest party is in charge then only special interest groups get attention. I'll be making my voting decisions based upon who supports the Fair Tax, those who support personal freedoms, and those who don't try and demonize the people who actually make this country successful. I didn't get where I am today in my life because I sat around and hoped for it. I got up early, stayed up late, passed up on partying and goofing off and studied like hell. I washed houses and toilets and dug ditches and bagged groceries so I could have something in my life and I have succeeded in that. I'm sure atleast one of you have a sob story about how you were down on your luck and now you are better because of some assistance you received, but just understand that your assistance wasn't possible without the hard work and efforts of others. It wasn't by the grace of our government. And if you are a proclaimed democrat and you truly think democrats are trying to do a wonderful thing for our country by providing all of these social services, read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Hell, I'll buy a copy and mail it to you if you promise to make reading it a top priororty on your list. And vote against any republican too who wants to "give" everything to the "unfortunate" crowd. **** on that. you can't give what you don't have, and you can only have what you take by force, and you can only take from me because I have it and I only have it because I worked for it. Again, don't demonize my efforts!

My wife has "suggested" that I take her somewhere before our child is born (February) and I am totally at a loss as to where good place would be. I checked into places in the carribbean and such but she's not really digging the idea of being in a bathing suit while with child, and she figures what's the point of being at the beach if you can't get wet. Anyone got some ideas of cool things to see or do? Perhaps something worth visiting in your neck of the woods? Everything I can think of involves hiking or swimming, but then again I am a little prone to tunnel vision on certain things. Any input would be welcome. We're looking to keep this trip to around $1500, so her first choice (Disney) is out of the picture. I considered DC but am a little afraid I'll temporarily lose my mind and go give a big "WHAT THE HELL" to just about all of congress. Except Linder. He's cool. Thanks! Ryan

Some of these sound really great. Depending upon my work schedule and how far out we'll actually be going somewhere, I'm considering these places (some based upon your recommendations): Biltmore (Asheville, NC) Blowing Rock, NC area (nice drives from what I remember), we may combine this with biltmore and spend 2 or 3 days at each. AZ..grand canyon sounds really cool and the caves/deserts too. Ron, if I rented a Hummer I think she'd go into labor on the spot! She would totally dig driving that around and would love it. Still considering some coastal town in the northeast perhaps near Maryland or Maine. Cozumel, mexico. I figured if I'm going to have to go somewhere, I may as well get some good scuba diving in. We found some all-inclusive places for 6 or 7 nights with airfare for around $850 pp. Florida Keys for the same reason as mexico. Thanks again for the tips. She (and I) appreciate everyone's input and help.

If they are having trouble paying, or are delaying payment, there is a possibility the parent company could go under or become unable to manage the accounts. Notifiying the client of your availability in the future should the other company be unable to fulfill the customer's needs is the responsible thing to do. that's how I'd justify hijaaking someone else's work. I did in the janitorial field....two months later they called me and I had the new contract.

Thanks for all the advice! We used to to the Gatlinburg thing but the best part was motorscooters and the hot tubs at the cabins, neither of which are good ideas for pg peeps. Helen,GA is cool for a day but unless I can ride the tubes it gets a little boring (I have a funny story about Helen involving some hot candle wax, but that's for another time). We did Disney for our honeymoon....I stopped counting at $6k (who can afford to take 3 kids to that place???) but she would LOVE for me to take her there. I'm liking the idea about Biltmore and that mountain Celeste mentioned, I think she'd like to get outside of GA. Where is that mountain? Anything from the west coast? Canada? Thanks again.

That's why those lazy union guys I used to work with said they always give 100% when normally you found them kicked back in a chair with their feet up on the rail......zzzz