How Cute is This ???

Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial Unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II

LONDON -- Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a new memorial for the Royal Air Force's bomber command on Thursday, honoring tens of thousands of airmen who died in World War II.
The massive bronze statue placed along the edge of London's Green Park has been a long time in coming. The bomber command had been omitted from earlier memorials, in part because many civilians on the European continent died in the bombing raids.
But many high profile supporters, including the late Bee Gee Robin Gibb, had campaigned for the airmen. Many argued that the actions of the airmen – conducted in a time of war – honored their country in equal measure to that of any other service.
Thousands of them came to the ceremony, nodding at the accounts of their missions as their medals glinted in the brilliant sunshine. The queen paused to speak with many of the men and their families, offering a smile and white gloved hand.
Dudley Hannaford, 88, who came from Sydney for the service, described the ceremony as "absolutely wonderful."
"It makes me think of release and victory," he said. "I only played a very small part in that, but it is something to be very thankful for."
The German city of Dresden – where 25,000 civilians died in bombing raids – initially objected to the memorial. But the objections were eased by the placing of an inscription commemorating all the lives lost in the bombings of 1939-45.
Heike Grossmann, spokeswoman for the mayor of Dresden, stressed the close relations between Britain and Germany now.
"The inscription is a further gesture of reconciliation between Britain and Germany," Grossmann said.
The service was followed by a flyover of the Royal Air Force's last flying Lancaster Bomber, which dropped poppies in a message of remembrance for those who died.

Ask Maxy

Dear Maxy ,

I am a 17-year-old who was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome at age 10 . My AS is mild and allows me to function better than most . However , I have an indivudualized education program and access to the learning / emotional support system in my school .

Since I have a mild type of As , my teachers often tell me they ""can't see any hint of AS." But they don't realize how difficult it is for me to talk to them .. and anyone ... about my condition .

I see a therapist on a regular basis , and she has confirmed my diagnosis . Could you recommend a support group ? This would be extremely helpful to me , especially since I will be leaving for college soon .

Aspie

Dear Aspie ,

Asperger syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder characterized by some degree of impairment in language and communication skills , as well as repetitive or restrictive patterns of thought and behavior . Treatment includes social skills training , cognitive behavioral therapy , medication , occupational or physical theraphy , specialized speech/language therapy and parent training and support .

You sound very high functioning , which is undoubtedly why your teachers question your diagnosis . The Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support (OASIS) center has joined with MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome to provide online support website at http:aspergersyndrome.org please check it out .

Maxy

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Dear Maxy,

I am an American female , and I recently went abroad to a country where women are not respected nearly as much as they are in the United States . There , women are treated as second class citizens and as though they could never be as talented as men .

In restaurants , I always recieved worse service than men , and I was quick to go up to the waiter directly when he was taking too long with something . But when in a country such as that one , how should a visiting female behave ? Should we conform to the standards of the country or act the way we would in America ?

Culturally Correct

Dear Cultually Correct ,

I can understand your dismay at the way women were treated in the country you visited , but I would caution you about your reaction . Have you ever heard the saying , "When in Rome , do as the Romans do ?" Well that applies here .

It is unrealistic for you to believe that the mores of a country should change to accommodate your lifestyle , needs or beliefs . When you visit another country , you should respect it's basic codes of conduct .

While the waiter may have been slow to respond to you , there's a good chance he may have just been slow . If it is not customary for a woman to complain about poor service , it's likely that the service did not improve after you said something . You have to pick your battles .

Many countries have dress codes that are different from the United States . For example , in Islamic countries , it is usually preferred that women cover their heads and dress modestly .

I would never want you to be harmed or mistreated wherever you are , but when you travel , one of the best ways to figure out how to be in that place is to observe closely . It may not make you feel good that women are not seen in the same light as they are in America , but you cannot change that in one trip . Your travels may help you to have a greater respect for the gains we have made in our country .

Maxy

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Dear Maxy,

I work at a cheese store , and often deliver cheese platters to people who are having specials events . Recently , we delivered a platter to someone who lost a love one . We like to follow up and receive feedback from our clients , however , in this circumstance how de we approach it ?

Treading Gently

Dear Treading Gently ,

You can follow up with a note saying that you hope the platter comforted the family and guests during their bereavement .

Maxy

EEG Brain Trace Can Detect Autism

 

A simple brain trace can identify autism in children as young as two years old, scientists believe.

A US team at Boston Children's Hospital say EEG traces, which record electrical brain activity using scalp electrodes, could offer a diagnostic test for this complex condition.  EEG clearly distinguished children with autism from other peers in a trial involving nearly 1,000 children. Experts say more work is needed to confirm the BMC Medicine study results.
 
Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that it is not a single condition and will affect individuals in different ways. Commonly, people with autism have trouble with social interaction and can appear locked in their own worlds. It can be a difficult condition to diagnose and can go undetected for years.

The latest study found 33 specific EEG patterns that appeared to be linked to autism. These patterns consistently spotted autism in children across a range of age groups, spanning from two to 12 years old. The researchers repeated their analysis 10 times, splitting up their study group (children with a medical diagnosis of autism and children with no signs of autism) in different ways.  Around 90% of the time, the EEG patterns could correctly detect the children diagnosed with autism.

The team now plan to repeat their study in children with Asperger's syndrome - one particular subset of autism. Typically, people with Asperger's have higher-than-average intelligence and struggle less than people with other types of autism with their speech. Dr Frank Duffy who is leading the investigation said the work could help determine if Asperger's should be thought of as an entirely separate condition.

And it could point the way to determining if younger siblings of children with autism are likely to develop the same condition themselves.
"It is a great cause of anxiety when an older sibling develops autism.
"EEG might offer a way to check for the same condition in younger siblings in advance of them having symptoms."
EEG could also be used to track what effect different autism treatments are having on the condition, he said.

Caroline Hattersley of The National Autistic Society said: "We welcome any research that may help us to understand autism better and improve diagnosis times for those with the condition. "In a recent survey we commissioned, 50% of people with autism and their families said it was difficult to get a diagnosis and 55% said the process took too long."
"While further testing of EEG scans is still required, any tools that help identify autism at a younger age could potentially improve a person's quality of life by allowing the right support to be put in place earlier."

Kids Say The Darndest Things 'Free For All'

Little Jacob had a hard time getting use to a new baby in the house. Coming out of his bedroom talking rather loud and being told to be quiet, the baby is asleep, he very seriously said, "Well ya'll better be quiet, cause my foot`s asleep."

~~~~~

One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small boy into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?"

The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't, dear," she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room."

A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice: "The big sissy."

~~~~~

After putting her children to bed, a mother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin.

At last she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings.

As she left the room, she heard her three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was that?"

~~~~~

An acquaintance of mine who is a physician told this story about her then four-year-old daughter. On the way to preschool, the doctor had left her stethoscope on the car seat, and her little girl picked it up and began playing with it. Be still, my heart, thought my friend, my daughter wants to follow in my footsteps!

Then the child spoke into the instrument: "Welcome to McDonald's. May I take your order?"

~~~~~

A new neighbor asked the little girl next door if she had any brothers and sisters. She replied, "No, I'm the lonely child."***************I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me, and always she was correct. But it was fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door, saying sagely, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself!"

~~~~~

While her mother was studying the chapter on hematology for her nursing class, four-year-old Danielle asked what she was reading. Her mother said she was learning about blood and she explained how the heart pumps blood all the way through the body. Then she taught Danielle to feel her pulse in her wrists and feet.

Danielle wandered away and her mother noticed her looking at the soles of her feet. Then Danielle twisted and turned and pulled down the top of her shorts to look at her bottom. She stretched her arms all the way around and managed to feel her back. Her mother didn't pay any attention until Danielle came back and asked, "Where do we put the batteries?"

~~~~~

The child was a typical four-year-old girl -- cute, inquisitive, bright as a new penny. When she expressed difficulty in grasping the concept of marriage, her father decided to pull out his wedding photo album, thinking visual images would help. One page after another, he pointed out the bride arriving at the church, the entrance, the wedding ceremony, the recessional, the reception, etc.

"Now do you understand?" he asked.

"I think so," she said, "is that when mommy came to work for us?"*********A little boy opened the big and old family Bible with fascination, and looked at the old pages as he turned them. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible, and he picked it up and looked at it closely. It was an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed in between the pages.

"Momma, look what I found!" the boy called out.

"What have you got there, dear?" his mother asked.

With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered: "I think it's Adam's suit!"

~~~~~

My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo while I asked, "No, how are we alike?"

"You're both old," he replied.

~~~~~

A class professor was giving a lecture on company slogans and was asking his students if they were familiar with them.

"Joe," he asked, "which company has the slogan, 'come fly the friendly skies'?"

Joe answered the correct airline.

"Brenda, can you tell me which company has the slogan, "Don't leave home without it?"

Brenda answered the correct credit card company with no difficulty.

"Now John, Tell me which company bears the slogan, 'Just do it'?"

And John answered, "Mom."

Ask Maxy

Dear Maxy,

Should I tell my best friend that I caused her breakup more than five years ago ? One drunken night , I accidentally told her ex of her trifling , cheating ways . She always wondered why he broke up with her all of a sudden , but he swore he would never tell . And he didn't . Now they are dating again .

Every time I look at him , I think about what I did . The guilt is swirling around my head . I can't stop thinking about it .

Help me weigh the pros and cons of telling my friend of seven years this deep dark secret . Should I just bury this secret and act as if I didn't do anything ?

Feeling Guilty

Dear Feeling Guilty ,

I have a question for you : Why do you want to confess to your friend ? If the reason is that you feel guilty , I say get over it .

If you tell her about your indiscretion now , after she and her ex have found their their way back to each other , your disclosure will be about you . But this relationship is not about you . It's about your friend .

If her ex has come back to her after learning about her previous suspect behavior , let them be . What you can learn from this situation is to remember to stay out of people's business . If you stay in your lane , you will be able to sleep better at night .

Maxy

Dear Maxy , I feel like I'm addicted to the Internet . I do everything on the computer ... surf the Web , watch TV and movies , listen to music , even interact with my friends through Facebook , Skype and instant messaging . I don't want to become a couch potato , but the Internet is so important to my life and the lives of most of my friends that it is almost as if I don't have a choice but to use the computer a lot .

How can I limit my computer usage without falling behind socially ?

Plugged In

Dear Plugged In,

I have a revolutionary idea : Use the Internet to invite your friends to meet you in a place where you can physically be in one another's company . Make the activity appealing so that your friends will be intrigued enough to show up . Once the event is successful , it will be easier to get people to come out for another activity .

Essentially , you will be reminding people how rewarding shared face to face experiences can be .

Additionally , I recommand that you ration your time on the Internet . Decide that you will step away from the computer for social encounters , for rest , for chores and for your-time independant of it . I believe your social contacts will be curious about why you aren't as plugged ia as before and seek you out . You may win bigger than you can even imagine .

Maxy

Dear Maxy ,

I am a high school senior , and I plan to attend a four-year university in the fall . I am supposed to be designating my preferred housing option now , including whether I want a roommate . At my school , if one requests a single room , he or she will probably get it .

I am tempted to ask for a single because I would appreciate the space and privacy. However , nearly all freshmen live in doubles ot triples , and I am afraid I will be missing out on the quint-essential first-year experience if I don't have a roommate . Is it worth sacrificing the convenience of a single ?

Future Freshman

Dear Future Freshman ,

The good news is that you probably don't have to have a roommate all four years , since as a freshman you are being given the option of a single room . (Many colleges require freshman to have at least one roommate).

Since you are intrgued by the social experience of welcoming a roommate , I say , go for it . Be aware that you may have a broad range of experiences ... from fun and excitement to frustrating and boring . Savor them all . Then , when your sophomore year comes , you can decide if you want to share again or go solo .

Maxy

Insulated Drink Tote or Cover..For Soda..Water Bottles

 Insulated Totes For Soda & Water Bottles

Bring your own beverage to parades and community events and keep them cold.
Materials

• fabric
• light weight fleece or quilt batting
• 1/4" wide elastic
• Optional: 1" wide nylon webbing for strap
• Optional: Hook and loop tape
• Thread

Cutting

• 8 oz water bottle
  • Fabric One 8 1/2" X 9" rectangle and two 3 1/2" circles
  • Batting One 8 1/2" X 4 1/2" rectangle and one 3 1/2" circles
  • Elastic 6"
• 20 oz soda bottle
  • FabricOne 10 1/2" X 16" rectangle and two 4" circles
  • BattingOne 10 1/2" X 8" rectangle and one 4" circle
  • Elastic6 1/2"
• 25 oz water bottle
  • Fabric One 10 1/2" X 17" and two 4" circles
  • Batting One 10 1/2" X 8 1/2" rectangle and one 4" circle
  • Elastic 6 1/2"
• 2 liter Soda Bottle
  • Fabric Cut 2 - 5" circles of fabric. Cut 1 - 22 1/2" X 15 1/2" piece of fabric
  • BattingCut 1 - 11 X 15 1/2" piece of batting and one 5" circle of batting.
  • Elastic 8" of 1/4" wide elastic

Insulate and Quilt

• Place the batting on on the wrong side of the fabric, matching the edges and covering half of the fabric.
• Quilt the batting area.

Optional Belt Loop

Not recommended for a 2 liter bottle.
Materials

• 12" of 1" wide webbing - Carefully use a lighter or candle to gently melt and fuse the raw edges of nylon webbing to prevent it from unraveling. If you are using cotton webbing, zig zag or turn under the edges of the webbing.
• 3 1/2" hook and loop tape

Construction

• . Sew "hook" section of the tape, 1" from one end of the webbing, stitching around all edges of the tape.
• Sew the "loop" section of the tape even with the opposite end of the webbing, stitching all the way around the tape.
• Lay webbing on the middle of the fabric rectangle, aligning the end to the edge. Sew a 6" rectangle starting at the bottom edge.

Side Seam and Elastic

• Fold with right sides together and align the long edges. Sew a 1/4" seam.
• Press Open
• Place the elastic around the tube, matching the ends of the elastic to the top of the batting and seam allowance edges. Sew the elastic at the seam line, back-stitching to reinforce the stitching.

Sew the Elastic Casing

• Fold the wrong sides together, enclosing the batting. Zigzag the raw edge.
• Pin the elastic to the fold and top stitch 1" from the folded edge.

 Bottom

• Layer the two circle pieces with a piece of batting. Zigzag the edges together.
• Match the circle to the zigzagged edge of the tube.
• Sew with a 1/4" seam.
• Turn inside out so the seam allowance is inside.
• ENJOY! HAVE A COLD ONE!

Can Cheating Help Your Marriage?????? ( I Think Not)

Can cheating on your spouse really help save your marriage? Many experts would say no, it doesn't. But Eric Anderson, the author of The Monogamy Gap: Men, Love and the Reality of Cheating would beg to disagree.
In his new book, Anderson, an American sociologist who specializes in sexuality and sport, claims men have a need for sexual variety. While they may love their wives and don't want to leave them, he says they can get sexually bored, and concludes that monogamy is unrealistic. He even goes so far to recommend men seek casual sex outside their relationships instead of walking out on their wives, and that women should be OK with this.
"Dr. Anderson, professor of sociology at the University of Winchester, interviewed 120 men and discovered that those who cheated did so because they were sexually bored, and not because they weren't in love," reports The Daily Mail. The Guardian points out those 120 men were university students, aged 18-22.

But Vancouver-based couples and sex therapist David McKenzie, Ph.D, isn't buying it.He says studies have shown both males and females to be equally promiscuous and that cheating is never a good idea. What does McKenzie mean by cheating?

"I don't mean having sex outside your relationship if it's agreed upon by both of you. I don't mean that having a polyamourous or open relationship. Cheating is deception. Cheating is telling one person one thing and then going behind their back and doing something else deceptively. That is always wrong. It breaks trust. It destroys a relationship."
He goes on to say that sex outside of a marriage does not destroy the relationship when it's consensual — as evidenced by the swinging community. It's when trust is broken that the damage occurs, as it's hard to get it back.
There are three types of cheating, according to McKenzie. The first example is someone who has a meaningless one-night fling, at, perhaps, a conference after having a few too many drinks.

"Those are usually very hurtful but they're usually recoverable," he says.

The second type of stepping out is the affair, which he says is the most damaging.
"It goes on for a long time, you're developing a parallel relationship," he says. "It's actually a cry for help. An affair is never, ever about the new relationship, it's always about the old relationship."
McKenzie's coined the third type of cheating pathological cheating. In this example, "A person is getting all they want at home, there's no problem and yet they're still going out having affairs or seeking prostitutes. And that is an issue that arises, not from the primary relationship, but from deep pain in one's past."
So how does a couple work it out if one spouse has cheated? Well, for starters, the cheater must cut off communication with the person with whom they have been cheating with, they must become visibly transparent to their spouse, and then seek professional help.

Morning People Happier Than Night Owls

Night owls often wake up for work or school with a scowl on their faces and wishing for an IV drip of coffee, while morning people come skipping in 15 minutes early. However, morning people aren't chipper just as the sun is coming up; they are happier and more satisfied with life overall, a new study suggests.  Teenagers' night owl tendencies fade as they age, and the study says this switch to a morning-focused schedule could be why older adults are happier than younger ones.
 "Past research has suggested that morning-type people report feeling happier than evening-type people, and this research was only on young adults," study researcher Renee Biss, a graduate student at the University of Toronto, told LiveScience.

Early birds

The new study looked across the lifespan to see if the morning habits of older individuals contributed to their overall life outlook. The researchers studied two populations: a group of 435 adults ages 17 to 38, and a group of 297 older adults, ages 59 to 79. Both groups filled out questionnaires about their emotional state, how healthy they feel and their preferred "time of day." [Life's Extremes: Early Birds vs. Night Owls]

By age 60, most people are morning types, the researchers found. Only about 7 percent of young adults are morning larks, but as the population ages, this switches — in the older years only about 7 percent of the population are still night owls.
 "We found that older adults reported greater positive emotion than younger adults, and older adults were more likely to be morning-type people than younger adults," Biss said. "The 'morningness' was associated with greater happiness emotions in both age groups."

Social jet lag

Morning-type people also tended to say they felt healthier than did night owls. The researchers said this could be because they are getting better sleep since they are naturally morning people. It could not only make them feel more alert, but actually impact their immune system.
"We don’t know why this is, but there are a few potential explanations. Evening people may be more prone to social jet lag; this means that their biological clock is out of sync with the social clock," Biss said. "Society's expectations are far more organized around a morning-type person's schedule."
 For instance, most people rise early for work or school, even if they don't like it. "An evening person may go through their week feeling unhappy because they have to get up earlier than they would like to," Biss said.

One easy happiness booster? Hack your sleep schedule to turn yourself into a morning person. "One way to do it is to increase your natural light exposure early in the morning, and to wake up earlier and go to bed earlier," Biss said. "It's easiest if you have a consistent schedule, to make sure you are waking up at the same time every day."

Facts That Make You Smarter

'Stewardesses' is the longest word typed with only the left hand
And 'lollipop' is the longest word typed with your right hand.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

'Dreamt' is the only English word that ends in the letters 'mt'.

The sentence: 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' uses every letter of the alphabet.

The words 'racecar,'and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).

There are only four words in the English language which end in 'dous': tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: 'abstemious' and 'facetious.' (Yes, admit it, you are going to say, a e i o u)

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

A snail can sleep for three years.

Almonds are a member of the peach family.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.

February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.

Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!

The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.

The cruise liner, QE 2 moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls
froze completely solid.

There are more chickens than people in the world.

Winston Churchillwas born in a ladies' room during a dance.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

Now you know more than you did before!!

Ask Maxy

Dear Maxy ,

I am an only child who was reared by loving but extremely controlling parents . They tried to dicate my attire , my friends and my opinions . I moved away and married , but things only got worse . I considered moving home to help them , as they are getting older . My husband was skeptical . He seen me cry from quilt trips my prents have put on me and has heard the bigoted remarks about my rixed-race grandchildren .

I found an online listing for a fixer-upper and asked my folks to see whether it was worthwhile . When we drove to my hometown , I discovered that my father was already working on the yard and dealing with a realtor . But the place was a wreck , and the backyard pool looked like the Loch Ness monster resided there . Repairs would cost at least $ 50,000. I knew this wasn't the house for me .

Meanwhile , my father pointed his finger in my face and dared me to backed out the deal he had arranged , and then he said in front of my husband , that I should buy the house myself and let my husband and kids make their own way in this world .

That evening , my parents railed at me about my daughter's mixed-race children , saying they would never be allowed to visit . They told me I needed to dump my old friends so they could introduce me to better ones . My mom was busy trying to get me jobs I didn't want and told me I was unappreciative of their efforts .

I decided I could not live this way , and we left . My parents was furious and haven't spoken to me for months . My cards , gifts and emails go unanswered . I am miserable , and I know this is exactly how they want me to feel . My question is : Do I still try to be the better person and send a Father's Day gift ?

Sad

Dear Sad ,

Your parents sounds manipulative and diffcult , and I'm impressed that you turned out to be so well-adjusted .

You don't owe your father a gift , but would it make you feel better to send something anyway ?

I suggest you handle future communications in whatever way gives you peace of mind . You have tried to please your parents and discovered that it is impossible . It's okay to please yourself .

Maxy

Dear Maxy ,

I am 31 and a never-married single mother . Along with raising a happy 5-year-old , I have a samll business , and I attend school part-time .

I'm tired of supposed well-meaning friends implying that I should marry . They ask , "Do you want to die along ?" or "Don't you want a father for your son ?" I answer them with humor , but I don't appreciate the questions .

Please help your readers understand that it is OK not to be interested in marriage . Not everyone wants to share a bed or a bathroom or a bank account .

Many of the married moms I know are unhappy , and quite a few end up raising their husbands , as well as their kids . Being single isn't a mark of failure and doesn't require an explanation .

I understand the value of society places n marriage , but what happened to the value of minding your own business ?

Happy Single Parent

Dear Happy Single Parent ,

Good luck with that . If the same friends keep making the same intrusive remarks , tell them politely, "I cannot imagine why you think this is your business ." It's less gentle than you like , but it shouls put an end to the questions .

Maxy

Dear Maxy,

I have a friend who means well , but she will make comments about what I'm eating if she doesn't deem it healthy , and she has told me I could lose a few pounds . She doesn't say it to be malicious , but how can I remedy this without causing drama ? She is becoming a broken record .

I have a bit of a weight problem , but I recently started a fitness routine with a trainer , so I'm on it . I would appreciate encouragement rather than constant critiquing .

Feeling Fat

Dear Feeling Fat ,

Congratulations on taking steps to become healthy . The best thing you can do for yourself is to claim a healthy lifestyle and then maitain it .

Enroll your friend as a cheerleader . Assure her that you are paying attention to your health , and reveal your new fitness plan to her . Share how excited you are about developing this discipline . Ask her to support you , then decribe what support looks like to you .

Be sure to tell her that you prefer she not scrutinize your food choices , and that you are uncomfortable when she criticizes you .

Maxy

" To Sleep: Perchance to Dream"



Ask Maxy

Dear Maxy,

My Husband and I have 6 adults children between us , all making a good living . Some of our children expect us to pay for their airfare to come visit us , in addition to picking them up at the airport , being their taxi service so they can go drinking at night and letting them use our car . At no tme does anyone put gas in the car or even treat us to a cheap breakfast .

During a recent visit , we made reservations for dinner with one son , his girlfriend , their daughter (who lives nearby) and the daughter's boyfriend .

That morning , my husband drove them to the beach (10 miles away ) . They then called to say they ate a late lunch and asked that we push back the reservation and that my husband pick them up from the daughter's house and bring them home to change . It seems the daughter didn't want to drive the 10 miles to our house .

I have told my husband that from now on , the kids must rent their own car when visiting . I'm tired of being their private chauffeur . Am I over reacting ?

Selfish Guests No Longer Welcome

Dear Guests ,

Of course not . If your children are old enough to have kids of their own , they should not need to be driven around by their parents . But I recommend a tactful approach . For the next visit , simply say , "We wish we could pick you up at the airport , but it won't be possible . We suggest you rent a car so you can have your own independence .

Maxy

Dear Maxy ,

I am a married wife (25-years-old) with a small child and one on the way . My husband and I live in a small apartment . We know most of the people living around us , including the divorced woman (about 45) living below our apartment .

A few nights ago ahe brought home a guy . The weather was warm , and we had our windows open for the night . This lady had her bedroom window open as well . In the middle of the night , my husband and I could hear this woman and man having sex . It was discusting .

This isn't the first time this has happen . How do I politely tell her that we can hear her and that she should close her window .

Sound-Proof

Dear Sound-Proof ,

I want you to let go of any judgement you have about her . Otherwise , whenever you communicate with her , you may come across as insulting . Keep your goal in mind ; no more sex sounds .

It's likely your neighbor doesn't realize that she can be heard , and there's a good chance she may be embarrassed to know that you hear her . Approach her with the belief that she will be surprised and will be intereste d in resolving the matter .

You should speak privately with her and ask that she close her window doing those personal moments . Or slip a note under her door telling her your concerns .

Now , there is a chance it won't work . She may not care . If that's the case , you can either close your window or get a white-noise machine to help dull the sounds coming from her window into yours .

Maxy

Dear Maxy ,

Before my mother passed away from her long battle with lung cancer , she and my father renewed their wedding vows on her deathbed . It was the most amazing experience in my life and I cried like a baby seeing my father renew his wedding vows .

My relationship with my father has not been the best over the past years , and I would like to make it better . What are some ways I can improve the relationship ?

For the Love of Mom

Dear For the Love of Mom ,

Choose to spend time with your father . Ask him to tell you stories of his relationship with your mother ; how they met , when they fell in love , what was it like when you were yong . Get him to travel down memory lane . This should warm him up .

Tell him stories about your life . Storytelling is a great way to connect with loved ones and may become the salve that heals and strengthens your bond .

Maxy

Prince Philip : Hospitalized Amid Jubilee

Prince Philip was hospitalized on Monday in the midst of the ongoing Diamond Jubilee celebrations for his wife, Queen Elizabeth II.

The 90-year-old Duke of Edinburgh (who turns 91 on Sunday) is suffering from a bladder infection, confirms Buckingham Palace.

He’ll remain hospitalized for a few days for observation.

On Sunday, the Prince and the Queen spent several hours in cool weather on the River Thames for the Jubilee Pageant.

Last December, Prince Philip underwent heart surgery after experiencing chest pains at the royal family’s Christmas retreat.

He and the Queen have been married for 64 years.

Gossip Cop will have updates on his condition ... stay turned.

http://gossipcop.com have updates on his condition

Kids Say The Darndest Things 'Bombshells Away'

In the field of comedy , Bob Hope's most precious possessions are called "one liners." They're terse , pithy sentences that can get the build up and punch line condensed into one devastating srntence . Children , by their very directness , are master's of the "one-line" delivery .

Here's a choice collections of " BOMBS."

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*** did you see santa this year ?

See him ? I fixed him a bourbon and water .

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*** If you could change school any way you wished , how would you fix it ?

Burn it down .

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*** What's your best subject in school ?

Recess

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*** What are muscles ?

Sick meatballs .

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*** Have any brothers ?

I have two .

*** What ages ?

Ricky's two months , and David's nine months .

*** That's a pretty fast production record ... do you want a sister ?

Yes .

*** What does your mother say ?

She says , "Oh . puh-leeze no !"

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*** Who does your baby sister look like ?

"My mother .

*** Add your older sister ?

"My father ."

*** And you ?

"The mailman ."

How so ?

" That what my mother is always telling the neighbors .

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*** Do you have any pets ?

A cat .

*** What's his name ?

We're going to change it because he's a boy cat and next week he's going to have an operation to become an "it."

*** What will you call him then ?

Christine . If he doesn't like that , we will call him Sam Spade .

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*** What do you think you'll be when you grow up ?

According to my mother , I'll be a lawyer , probably .

*** What makes you think so ?

Well my mother says I talk so much all the time I might as well get paid for it .

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*** What do you want to be when you grow up ?

Nothing , because I don't want to grow up .

*** That's unusual . How come ?

Because of all the bills you have to pay at the end of the month .

Queen Elizabeth ....Diamond Jubilee

 



 

1,000 boats sailed down the River Thames in london to celebrate Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The river pageant attracted thousands of people despite soaking rain and cold. The spectacular event saw all members of the Royal family sailing through in specially-designed boats accompanied by tugs, pleasure cruisers, dragon boats and kayaks.