[lostkitty]

Powayseller-
So sorry to hear about the lay-off – the week before Christmas?! It is stressful, even with cash reserves. I hope he can find new work quickly.

We’ve been there, as you know. My husband was hired back to his airline pilot job after only six months laid off, but he realized upon his return that some of the companies he interviewed for were actually better than the big airline job. Fast forward three years, and he is out of the airlines and into a small local company. He loves it, says it is like stepping back into the 60’s working for this company… Hams and Turkeys given out at the holidays, hefty bonuses, often, and for all, not just the top dogs (although he is one of the top 5 dogs).
The company took a huge hit after 9-11 as well, and lost a giant project building a significant portion of a new military aircraft a few months later, however, they did not layoff a single employee. they cut back on hours, but everyone remained employed.

Interestingly, this company opened a San Diego branch about ten years ago, and it was eventually closed due to “cultural work issues”… meaning, they wouldnt work very hard out there. Couldnt produce the same amount and there was all kinds of whining and carrying on.
The weather is gorgeous, and it is my hometown, but leaving there was the best thing we ever did. Things are just too messed up.
Anyway, leaving San Diego probably isnt an option for you with kids in highschool, but certainly the layoff could end up being a good thing for you… so GOOD LUCK to you and your husband. I wish you the best.

[lostkitty]

The best are those SPAM onegiri things they sell in Hawaii ABC Stores. Anyone else ever try them? On rice, wrapped with a single small circle of nori?

Delicious!!! My kids love them.

[lostkitty]

nestingcouple-

This time last year I was watching the inventory very closely as we seriously considered moving back to CA from NY (changed our minds – new, better job here for my husband, and thanks to global warming, upstate NY is not so bad last year or this! : )

Anyway, I was keeping track and there was a marked uptick in inventory in those areas even a few days after the New Year. It continued increasing steadily until late February / early March when suddenly it exploded. I think if you are patient, you will see the same, and the builders will change their incentives and pricing yet again.

[lostkitty]

“to kill the right turn people borders on money grubbing scam.”

Maybe it is an area where people/bikes have a crosswalk, and the 3 second rule would make a lot of sense. They aren’t “killing” the right turn people, just slowing them down a few measly seconds for SAFETY. Jeez.

[lostkitty]

cardiffbaseball – I have to laugh… arent you the same guy that was saying you prefered people who drove “with a sense of urgency” or something? At least she didnt hold anyone up behind her!

[lostkitty]

Here's an even better sex offender map site:

http://www.familywatchdog.us/

[lostkitty]

Well put, Mark Holmes… I hadnt thought of it from your perspective.

[lostkitty]

I have to agree with the “you feel like it’s being shoved down your throat.” Comment. (No pun intended.)

Recently I was very sick for a large number of days (six LONG weeks, but who’s counting?). I checked out a bunch of movies, and ALL of them had some sort of heavy gay story-line. Only one of them advertised it ahead of time. I am not against homosexuality, but this is just getting to be too much in the movies/tv shows.

[lostkitty]

Pregnancies.

[lostkitty]

Here are two completly different ways of discussing the fact that our county is a mess right now:

"I believe President Bush is doing his best in service to the country, just like JFK did. I also believe that both of them overreached (JFK in vietnam, Bush in Iraq) in their efforts to spread democracy to other countries."

and

"I believe we are doomed. There is no America or American values anymore. Its a memory for some of us, for others its a dream. I think this is perhaps the way all previous civilizations go. In 5 years or less, its going to be completely different looking than it is now."

Although both are valid opinions, the first would be less likely to incite an angry response from someone with opposing views.  I think I'll use it in my own conversations in the future… thanks CONCHO!  I do love LookOutbelow's take on things also, but I am lately looking for ways to discuss this more calmly since I do not WANT or country to continue in this divided fashion.  We need to figure out what we agree on, and move forward, like in a marriage….

[lostkitty]

Thanks for the Colbert link. i dont have cable either… (Dont like the kids vegetating in front of the tube with all those channel choices), I do watch Colbert all summer at my mom’s though. Funny! (We watch AliG too, has anyone seen his new movie? I cant wait. i love how he draws people’s prejudices out into the open and they publicly humiliate themselves.)

[lostkitty]

JG – take a closer look at that link you posted. On the left there is a “multimedia” graph and link. If you open it it clearly spells out that men’s higher incidences of heart disease may be related to higher percentage of tobacco and alcohol use. I bet if we searched for studies on eating habits, men would show higher percentages of overeating and excessive meat eating as well. All directly linked to heart disease… no mystery there!

In regards to incresing spending on women’s health issues research… well.. the pendulum swings. Historically, medical research did not even consider women. Almost all research was based on males, medical and psychological scientific research… so get over it. I entirely disagree with you…. Disproportionate coverage of women’s breast cancer research vs. men’s heart disease research does not equate to a “liberal” slant in scientific journals.

[lostkitty]

jg said: “The Lancet is a leftist medical journal, as is JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association): every other paper or article is on AIDS, breast cancer, …”

Are you kidding me??????? Since when is breast cancer a “leftist” issue? That was a positively assinine posting. You show yourself to be a real ‘boob’.

[lostkitty]

mydogsarelazy,

Sort of OT.

Are you into art? Do you know of any free places on-line to look up prices of individual pieces? I dont want to join artnet just to look up a few I have. I never pay for on-line research (sorry powayseller), unless I NEED to, I do not part with my money easily.

One in particular piece I bought before the artist died, and i am certain it has increased in value due to popularity of the artist. I am pretty certain i could not find any decent appraiser here in upstate NY and i do not have time to drive to NYC.

[lostkitty]

“And let’s think about it, is it really costing $70,000 per classroom to build and maintain the schools?”

My only experience with schools has been in Coronado and now NY. The difference is stunning:

In Coronado, gorgeous new massive buildings and classrooms, lots of constant maintenance and new fields, new equipment, expensive artsy sunshades over the playground, etc etc etc….. but average learning. Very little music, art, foreign language, poor math & science coverage and equipment and just mediocre volume of information learned in general. They are always touting their test scores, but I can tell you from experience (I went to TPines) that the education is very specific… not well-rounded. I couldnt have argued about politics, science, or history with an adult the way the kids around here can.

In NY, old brick buildings, old chairs, old sinks and bathrooms (not dirty or disgusting, just old – would have been replaced long ago in CA), old floors, the parents take care of any planting or landscape other than the mowers and most basic shrub shearing (and the shrubs were planted 30+ years ago and often should go), teachers dressed up every day in ties, dress shirts, etc, equal number of male & female teachers (dont see that much anymore in CA), and best yet…. EXCELLENT subject matter, and a lot of it.

In our tiny elementary school, a full band, full orchestra, with two teachers (one for each group and even AIDES in these groups), weekly private or semi-private lessons at school (depending on the instrument, but never more than two or three kids in a group) AND a third who teaches basic music theory to all kids and runs three choruses which all participate in. All three have at least a Masters in music. As a matter of fact, most of the classroom teachers at our school have a Master’s. This is a PUBLIC school.

The reason we have such different quality of schools? The “Right” will say TAXES!!!! (because they are high in NY no doubt about it). But that is not the reason – our teachers do not get paid too differently, the reason is… lower cost of living, specifically housing. A man or woman can actually CHOOSE teaching as a profession, and live comfortably. Own a home, have a family, drive a decent car, take vacations. Can’t do that on a teacher’s salary in CA.

I love CA. Loved growing up there, and hold out hope it turns around (which is probably why i keep coming back to this site even though i no longer am looking to move back).

Incidentally, I posted in early summer about many houses coming up for sale here entitled “Not in MY Neighborhood”. As an update: Although it was slow, I am now seeing nothing but SOLD signs everywhere. So I guess things have slowed to normal, but not died. We’ve had four on my street alone turnover this summer, and all sold briskly, and for only the usual price negotiation. None were flippers, just people getting older and leaving. Nothing notable.

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