Without reading any of the posts, I just want to say that when I was little I was happy to get anything given at any time. Holidays have become insanity. Children (and adults) are spoiled. It's a bummer.

So I guess I agree with you mostly LW. But here is another thought:

Why don't you suggest that in lieu of that list on the fridge, your entire family donate any "gifts" to a non-profit or some kids who really are needing a gift?

LW,

I'd have a similar initial reaction to this malicious betrayal. You must be anxious and angry and as well as disillusioned with your church. While we are on the topic of church: if you follow a Christian faith you must know this is a fantastic challenge for your faith. To be tested in this way, when you must want to kill the anonymous tipper, is actually a gift. Also, it will allow you the opportunity to be more focused on your parenting skills and communication with your child.

Try if you can to make it smaller in the big picture of a life. Easy to type here from my distance, but really, if you are a good Mom, they can't do anything to you. You have more rights than you probably realize. Don't give power to their thirst for a witch hunt. Certain people spend their entire lives participating in witch hunts.

By the way, where the heck are you living? The theme song to Deliverance keeps popping into my head.

"We should care about power and tyranny and killing. But I believe that thinking should not be limited to our own species, or those particular species who share our homes."

YES! BINGO.

Bummer to return from a long trip and see that people want to kill doggies. Time and age can both be cruel. This surprises someone? Yippy dog nipping at your ankle in addition to what you are enduring does sound awful though.

Killing the manifestation (a dog) won't make it better in the end. Cary is certainly right about that.

Alzheimer's. My Grandma had it and it was horrific and exhausting. Support is what you need, in bulk! My heart goes out to you LW.

Massage is for relaxation and muscle soreness, pain and stress-reduction, not for getting off or finding some kind of "intimacy". Unless of course you are frequenting those seedly little slave labor joints dotting the Tenderloin area.

A bikini wax ain't intimate or about touch, it's about ripppp and "OOOOOOuch!" and "Sh** that hurts!"

Having strangers touch you... mostly creepy.

I call BS on Arlie.

Didn't know Pat read Ann Coulter. Didn't know these men with all the answers were so fake and vainglorious( borrowed that word from a recent column here and it fits perfectly!) They are just embarrassing to this country. I'd love to see them say this same crap in Europe. I know, all over the world political figures are not known for sincerity, but these guys take it to a new level of cheese.

"The attacks of September 11 were horrific, but they did not give us the right to destroy our moral fabric as a nation or to reverse a course that for two hundred years led the world towards democracy, prosperity and guaranteed the rights of billions to live in peace." -MVN

If that doesn't reach people, they have stopped listening. Unfortunately, most have, or at least it is clear that willful denial is rampant. Thank you for using your rep to remind citizens of the U.S. that torture is happening right now and that it is horrific, but most obvious of all... it doesn't work!

People would rather pull the shade down, turn away and pretend that another new car and another vacation will make everything better. You are doing something about this. I suspect some will attempt to quiet your truth, but I hope you never shut up. This was a courageous piece.

Yes, Stephanie is pretty hot. I meant to mention, of course, how could I forget while typing on the internet and looking for great writing!

Looks like you've got an admirer below.

Signed,

Master of the Obvious

The Hollywood moneytruck never ceases to amaze me. Let's spend a few million on a movie about Santa Claus's bro and let's cast Vince Vaughn. Sophmoric humor has an audience here in the U.S., that much we know. What a waste of money, energy, time, resources. If you've been on a movie set, you know what I mean this in every way.

Vince was great in Swingers, Wedding Crashers, and even when he deviated from his schtick, as in The Cell, but what is all this silly pottypants teen crap and why do they bother? That moneytruck must run out sometime, right? Boring.

Cary I don't know how you do it, everyday, bringing something like this to us. I don't have a thing to add because you wrote what I was thinking.

Sincerely,

A Silly Person

If an emotional affair is the INSTEAD part, then why have a partner? A question for the LW to answer for herself, not asking for debate.

I think that was well put, Realist.

What a strange world our bodies have to fit into. I spent time trying to keep muscle and weight on when I was sick. Probably this info is not new to diabetics, but it's a bummer vanity trumps health.