And you're wondering how to explain the smokiness to your kids. It's time for a priority check. If your husband is really that sensitive to coffee and alcohol, he might have food allergies that have been passed on to your boys. (Refined sugar really does make some kids hyperactive, and it's in pretty much everything you don't make yourself from scratch.) Or your husband could have a mental illness that's being passed on to the boys. Or they could be reacting horribly to each other.

Outdoor time is great and important for boys and girls, but if you're having to make them run laps just to get them calmed down enough for school, there is a problem. If your husband can't stop himself from pulling his hair and cursing in front of the kids, there is a problem. You know it, but I think with your husband's issues in the mix you don't want to deal with it-- it just seems like too much. The fact is that the only way to improve the situation-- for all of you-- is to face it head on.

Good luck.

Those words, which I always thought were part of the 'green' mantra, describe almost none of the gifts in the article. Especially that last one-- yikes! I didn't realize my income was so far from Salon's target demographic.

Go to a local craft store. Buy a gift card (but only if you know it will be used). Pass on a family heirloom while you're still alive. Vist etsy or Ebay or make your own presents and/or wrapping paper. Listen to the others in these comments, who are wiser than I am. Try to have fun!

What's disrespectful about Obama saying he is too? I thought it was funny, a nod to Hillary's experience, and (although I just heard it on the radio and didn't see facial expressions) I thought both candidates handled it well and with humor. It was one of the rare exchanges between the two where I thought they both came off relatively well.

I think Miami also has an emotional edge, given Wayne Huizenga just announced that there will be a half-time commemoration and celebration of the perfect, '72 team. Think the current wants to lay a duck egg with that background???

Or it'll rub salt in the current Dolphins' wounds. "Our '72 season was perfect, and you fuckers can't even win a single game!"

My guess: If the Pats win as many or more games than the '72 Dolphins but don't go undefeated, they'll break the record of games won but the Dolphins will still hold on to that "perfect" word.

Wonder how Google is preparing for the inevitable wave of Holocaust deniers and marijuana advocates.

I wonder if the study was colored by porn consumption in their state-- IIRC Utah's the highest porn consumer in the nation, at least as far as pay-per-view is concerned.

Groucho Marx said he would refuse to join any club that would have him as a member. That is a far more principled stand than the puffed-ego nonsense we get from Lieberman, who gleefully supports the ONLY club that would have him.

Nicely put. Lieberman's shock, shock at not being big buddy with the Democratic contenders is ridiculous; after parroting every right-wing talking point, cheerleading the Iraq war, and ignoring the Democrats in his own state, Lieberman's surprised no one likes him? What a maroon.

And chime me in with the chorus hoping to have the nasty anti-Semitic anons deleted. Ugh.

I think you need to share the recipe. Or did you use a mix?

And yeah, you can get a really high-quality pan for $15 or so and take care of those uneven areas. You won't need a special spatula (that will inevitably get lost) either.

Keeping onions in the fridge slows down the release of the enzyme, as I recall. It works even better if you pop the onion in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before slicing-- as long as you don't forget and end up with a frozen onion in your fridge.

It is very unusual that your son hasn't asked about his other mom. Sit down and talk to him-- there are all kinds of questions probably going on in his little head, or your wife has been so distant and stress-causing he's relieved-- or both. He may be blaming himself for your wife's sudden disappearance. He may well need some counseling.

I would take a careful look at your legal options. You may well be able to take advantage of your wife's turn in rehab (and her tango with the courts) to gain some time and perspective on everything. Right now, I'd guess you're in the honeymoon period of her absence; you may start missing her later on. (Alternately, since you can often be held accountable for a spouse's drug-related activities on your property, you may have to make a quick break for the sake of your child.) I think you're well within your rights to leave, and it might be the best thing for all of you-- but I'd warn you to think it over. Good luck, and take care.