Back up about 14 months ago and my lovely dd introduces me to this kid. Didn't like the looks of his physical appearance and when he opened his mouth that was even worse. O.K. so it's just a friend, right? This is harmless. She's finishing up her sophmore year and he's finishing up his Sr. year. They hang out more and more and more until she finally admitted they were bf and gf. O.K., I can handle this. Don't really like the kid but....just keep an eye on things. Last summer I found out the high school wouldn't let him graduate because he didn't have enough credits. O.K., I can handle this. Maybe he should just go get his GED and get it together. Well.....here's where it gets worse. Come to find out he was already 2 years behind in 12th grade which makes him 20 and she's 16! I'm friggin' livid at this point. So this was last summer. No matter what me and Kenny said, she was going to see him regardless so.....after many "talks" with him and her I just kept an extra ear/eye out on the relationship hoping it wouldn't "last" long. Well....here we are a year later! Yep, they're still a "pair". She's 17 and he's 21. He doesn't come over here because Kenny and I can't stand him. He's a punk, he has no job, he has no car. I tried talking to his parents and they just wouldn't have any part of the discussion. Worthless! She started skipping school, her grades dropped bigtime and she had an attitude of all attitudes. The past 6 months or so she has rebounded with her grades and is back on the honor roll and has been at her job for over a year now. Our relationship is MUCH better! Him, NOTHING! Still no job, no car, sleeps all freaking day. They have been arguing like crazy the past couple of months and i think she is finally starting to "get it". She came home last night crying her eyes out! She's very stubborn, independent and is a real spit fire, I'm always right kinda girl. So when she spilled her guts to me about the way he treats her just made me sick. No, not physical but.....other things. Neve tells her she looks nice, never takes her anywhere. (How can he, no money, no car, no class, no education) Apparently last night over at his house she was looking for a wisk in the dishwasher to stir some gravy and couldn't find it, he opened up the dishwasher and found it right away and threw it across the table and made some lame remark to her that must have really touched a nerve. Her reaction......she picked up the wisk and winged it at him and cold cocked him right in the forehead, grabbed her keys and came home telling me she can't stand being with him anymore and that she deserves to be treated better and that she wants to break up with him. The whole time were talking he's trying to call her and apologize like he does all the time and play the "pity me" game with her. She's working with dad today at the shop and then going to the races tonight with him so......she's trying to stay busy. Whew! Talk about airing out the dirty laundry....... To my daughter, if you read this, I LOVE YOU and you deserve better. You need to raise your standards! Jewels

Just keep reinforcing that you love her and that she deserves better.

Great advice Leslie and my heart goes out to you Jewels. Just gotta hope that you put enough good sense into her so she can see things for herself. Sounds to me like you have . Hang in there and you guys will weather this storm.....

Leslie - bummer about Western States It's been super-smoky around here, even though the fires arent' all that close. Here's a picture from space of the fires: http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2008-06-25 Jewels - you have the patience of a saint! You've let her learn on her own, surely the best way to go... r2 - I hope the rest of your week is a little less crazy! I started teaching summer school this week, I've never done summer school and the odd thing is that I'm feeling it in my legs! It's a bit more standing than I'm used to, but still...oh well, more time on the feet is a good thing, right? Arla

Pregnancy, Estrogen, and Women PREGNANCY Q & A & more! Q: Should I have a baby after 35? A: No, 35 children is enough. Q : I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move? A: With any luck, right after he finishes college. Q : What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex? A: Childbirth. Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational. A: So what's your question? Q : My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right? A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current. Q: When is the best time to get an epidural? A: Right after you find out you're pregnant. Q : Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor? A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you. Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth? A: Yes, pregnancy. Q : Do I have to have a baby shower? A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly. Q : Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again? A: When the kids are in college. "ESTROGEN ISSUES" 10 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE "ESTROGEN ISSUES" 1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem. 2. You're adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet. 3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans. 4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say. 5. You 're using your cellular phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: "How's my driving-call 1- 800-". 6. Everyone's head looks like an invitation to batting practice. 7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from "outer space." 9. You're sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy. 10. The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday. TOP TEN THINGS ONLY WOMEN UNDERSTAND 10. Cats' facial expressions. 9. The need for the same style of shoes in different colors. 8. Why bean sprouts aren't just weeds. 7.. Fat clothes. 6. Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best time. 5. The difference between beige, ecru, cream, off-white, and eggshell. 4. Cutting your hair to make it grow. 3. Eyelash curlers. 2. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made. (I couldn't resist!)

5.3 miles thru the Amazon jungle this morning! 72 degrees with 94% humidity. The humidity is always high in the early a.m. Within a couple of hours it drops dramatically. But......I gotta get it done when I can! TGIF everyone.......Jewels

Hi Kids - TGIF- Leslie- congrats on the toenail.That is a weird thing isn't it? I have yet to lose one from running but some of my "carpentry" attempts have resulted in lost fingernails .Ouch Jewels- Fla weather up here for us now. About 90* and 95% humidity .Kinda like living in a bowl of soup. Got my run in at 6am this morning and very happy I did. Don't tell Buddy though, I had to ditch him because of the heat! Jim- hope your week has not been ALL Mondays ! I laugh at your ability to motor through your problems.I know all about life's adversities (we all do) but I can just substtute your farm equipment breaking with computer parts and it's all the same.Right on the border of laughing and cursing! Arla- Hope those fires steer clear of you. Still mucking up the air around you? Between that and the heat out there,you're a real trooper for getting out to run. Sunday's long run should bring me around 170m for the month ,breaking my previous mark of 164. Been having some fun out there but this heat has been brutal!! Good Weekend to All !!!

Leslie - you need one of these t-shirts: http://t-shirts.cafepress.com/item/got-toenails-ash-grey-tshirt/89992848 Joe and Jewels - you can keep your humidity. At least my sweat/sponging does me some good here, even when it's triple-digit-time. The fires aren't too close, but yeah we have an air advisory, people are being advised not to excert themselves outside, but I have no lung issues so I've been getting out there anyway. It's MUCH clearer here than up in the northern reaches of CAs central valley - up there, they're even having low visibility. Ugh.. Arla

Cindy good luck on the Half tommrow, is Doug doing that also? Jewels way to "Bungle in the Jungle" in that humidity. Hope your daughters rough patch is short lived. Leslie, I think you should flaunt your new partial toenail, paint it up as a badge of trail running courage!! Oh that and that Tshirt Joe congrats on the new monthly mileage PR!! Arla I can imagine standing at the front of a classroom is much tougher on the legs than running. When I go stand at winter farm auctions I come home more tired than if I was doing physical labor all day. have a great weekend fab fit 40's Jim