Posts by courtbarb

Forum	Topic	Date	Replies

The Lounge	I want to install a stripper pole in my house.	Sep 29 2008 14:59 (UTC)	10
I've got one installed in the bedroom, and the only time it was a problem was when my mother and her husband popped by and insisted on having a full tour of the new house. I tried to warn her, but...
The Lounge	I want to adopt	Sep 09 2008 04:54 (UTC)	2
I just wanted to second the prior post recommending Wellness as a really great food. It's made with human-grade ingredients, and you really can't do much better for your pets than it.
The Lounge	Cooked Cyclists Testicle anyone?	Sep 08 2008 11:46 (UTC)	1
I guess it gives the single ladies a good comeback for those guys who try to seduce you with that whole "Well, I'm a real good cook" routine.
The Lounge	Freaky - Doll Lovers	Sep 08 2008 11:44 (UTC)
There is not enough "eww" in the world. The way the guys name them and dress them up and give them personalities is beyond creepy.
The Lounge	Funny things pets do....	Sep 08 2008 11:23 (UTC)	12
My baby (3 years old, but the youngest) kitty steals straws. He doesn't want to play with them, he doesn't take them out of a box if its lying there, but something about the sight of a straw in a glass drives him crazy. He'll wait until he thinks you're not looking, sneak up, and very carefully pull the straw out so the glass doesn't tip over. Then he'll run away, drop it in a corner, and go about his business. Adorable. Except for the time I was very sick after a tonsillectomy went bad, could barely sit up, and wanted nothing more than to sip at water all the time. And every time I came halfway out of consciousness, I didn't have a freakin' straw. My dog that was adopted from a research lab doesn't make noises, no matter how excited/hyper/angry she gets. She's also very bad at navigating stairways, and has to run without stopping either up or down, just crashing into whatever's in her way. If she loses momentum, she slides back down to the bottom. My pomeranian is shameless about asking for belly rubs, and if you stop petting her, even for a second, she stand on her back legs and paw at the air. She will do this for hours. She also once managed to eat an entire pack of cigarettes one of the cats had knocked on the floor. And another one of my cats fetches twist-ties. They're his favorite toy. :sigh: I've got so many more stories, too.
The Lounge	I want to adopt	Sep 08 2008 11:10 (UTC)	12
Cats are affectionate, but they're not as needy as dogs when it comes to attention. Besides, most kitties will demand love when they want it, and ignore you if they don't. So you'll know when they want you to spend more time with them. Start-up costs for a cat, particularly a kitten, are on the high side. There is their first round of vet appointments and shots, a litterbox, litter, food, bowls, collars, tags, microchip (if you decide to go that route, which I highly recommend), toys, scratching post, treats (for training), etc. (If you need some extra help, however, you can take your adoption papers into a PETCO and we'll give you a coupon booklet for all the start-up stuff, like free bowls, and that sort of thing. Just FYI.) The regular maintenance costs on a kitty aren't too bad. Litter runs me about $20 a month for my three kitties, and their food (which is a premium brand) works out to about $30 a month for the three of them. A good trick to saving money is to get one of those big plastic sealable food containers and buy the food in bulk and store it in there. Buying smaller bags of food constantly adds up to spending a lot more in the long run. Medications are in there, too. About $20 a month for Frontline or Advantix (or whatever brand you use), and about another $10 for Heartgard. Cats aren't quite so destructive as dogs, so their toys are rarely anywhere near as expensive, and you don't have to replace them so frequently. Besides, kitties are normally pretty easily satisfied with something as simple as a cheap ball to roll around and chase. A further thing to consider is grooming tools, if you're getting a longer-haired cat. To prevent matting, a long-haired cat needs to be brushed out at least once or twice a week, if not more frequently. Again, this is one of those preventative measures you can take to save money, as the grooming cost for a matted cat is around $60. And even with the best prevention, incidentals may come up. One of my babies has had about $1,800 worth of medical treatment due to an unforeseen bladder condition. He's fine now, but that was a big blow to our budget when it happened. Of course, the people you would be adopting her from will probably be able to answer more questions about her specific needs, and they might be able to give you a rundown about how much her care costs will be. I hope that helps, and that the kitty works out for you. She is very adorable.
Health & Support	TTOM very serious question	Sep 03 2008 03:24 (UTC)
I took a pregnancy test about a week and a half ago with negative results. But research I've done since then shows it could be that I took one too soon. I'm only on prophylactics for birth control, so I know that's definitely not a 100% safeguard. I have had some pains to one side, but I've had some health problems in the past that caused that. I'm definitely going to get to a doctor as soon as I get a chance, because, even if it's not related to any sort of reproductive problem, I've been way too sick for too long to not get checked out. Thanks for all the input. I'll post again once I've found out something concrete.
Pregnancy & Parenting	Kids say the cutest things...	Aug 22 2008 19:39 (UTC)	6
Two sisters, one about 4, the other around 3, were in my store the other day. They were walking about 20 feet in front of mom, you know, acting like "big girls" out on their own. The bigger one turned to the littler one and asked, "Do you want me to hold your hand so you won't get lost?" Too sweet.
The Lounge	Does Any One Else Here Play World Of Warcraft???? =]	Aug 17 2008 12:51 (UTC)	26
I'm a Tauren Druid on the Burning Blade server. Much fun, when I have time. : )
The Lounge	Hard Candy starring Ellen Page	Aug 11 2008 14:50 (UTC)
I love that movie. I hope that if I have a daughter she turns out like that. I think my favorite thing is the way she's always saying his name so sarcastically. "Isn't that right...Jeff?"
The Lounge	Is it stupid to be upset over the death of a fish?	Jul 20 2008 04:14 (UTC)	2
Of course not! Fish are the best pets, anyway.
The Lounge	New I-Phone.. Would you sell your spot in line????	Jul 12 2008 05:12 (UTC)
I was at the mall today and saw all the people camping out, line wrapping down the wall and all that nonsense. Someone had to explain to me why there were people waiting, I'd forgotten all about the silly phone. I know I wouldn't like it as much as I like my own. Mine sends calls, receives calls, gets voicemail, tells me the time, and I can set an alarm on it. Oh, and it's a contractor phone with an external casing of thick rubber, so it hasn't broken even though I drop it at least twice a day. Steve Jobs can keep his overhyped toys, for all I care. (That being said, if they made an iPhone I'd be convinced I couldn't break, I didn't have to pay for it, and I didn't have to wait in line, then sign me up, those things are cool. tee-hee)
The Lounge	Hiding money from your significant other?	Jul 08 2008 11:29 (UTC)	1
Hubby and I have no shared accounts; everything is separate. If I wanted to hide money, I easily could, but I don't.
The Lounge	Would You Fight?	Jul 06 2008 15:31 (UTC)	12
I suppose that depends on what you mean by "fighting to keep him". I imagine that you would, in essence, drive your guy away if you weren't showing some intentions of working to keep him. The lassez-faire attitude might imply to him that you don't care very much.
The Lounge	Would you appear on "Moment of Truth?"	Jul 03 2008 11:07 (UTC)	6
If you win, it's a million bucks. That much money can buy a lot of forgiveness. I'd do it. I don't think there's anything they could ask that would really ruin my relationships with anyone else.
Foods	Rum and Diet Coke or Coke Zero?	Jun 30 2008 02:46 (UTC)	7
If you aren't a fan of diet soda (yet), then better to stick with the Coke Zero. It tastes closer to regular Coke.
The Lounge	Words that stick...	Jun 26 2008 12:39 (UTC)	15
I had a boyfriend who told me that my walk was "gangsta runway". Then when my asked my parents if I walked any particular way, my stepmom told me she'd always thought of it as my "coming to kick your ass" walk. So now when I'm in a hurry or working quickly or just really busy, I wonder if I'm walking "gangsta runway".
The Lounge	What the **** do you do?	Jun 23 2008 11:11 (UTC)	2
I stare at my fish tanks! They really are the best stress relief. That, and, as stated before, snuggling a puppy.
The Lounge	i need someone to tell me im not crazy	Jun 23 2008 11:10 (UTC)	3
You can see them too huh? Just remember, once you see them, they see you.
The Lounge	awwww!!!	Jun 23 2008 11:08 (UTC)	5
I just want to throw in my 2 cents... ...I'm kidding digging on the long-haired brunette in the blue and the redhead in the yellow. Those smiles are killer.
Fitness	running outside was waay harder than I thought	Jun 11 2008 19:54 (UTC)	8
Where I live, running outside has been impossible the last week or so. It's topped 100 degrees the past four days.
The Lounge	Ladies: What Sets off your Play-Dar?	Jun 11 2008 19:19 (UTC)	58
The hardest kind of player to look out for is the real pro. I'm talking about the "sensitive, nervous guy" player. He'll be closed off at first and then gradually open up about all his pain, troubled past, blah blah blah. He'll seem really nervous during this disclosure and make you feel like you're "the only person he can talk to". He'll act shy and sweet around you and seem really hesitant to make a move, instead letting you reach out to him. Expect some sort of bull about being "afraid to ruin the friendship". If you meet this player, keep your guard up. He's way harder to spot than the skeazy bar-diving type.
The Lounge	people getting married younger and younger	Jun 11 2008 18:57 (UTC)	14
My husband and I are are both 23 (well, I will be tomorrow), and we've got our second anniversary coming up in August. We're both still in school, have great careers (I, for one, absolutely love my job and have advanced quite quickly in it), and the house we're building will be finished in a couple of short weeks. I do not consider my prospects limited in the least. I suppose we could have waited until we were 25 or so to get married, but...why? If you're in a good financial position, you've been together long enough to know you can stick it, and you're in love, what's the point in waiting? So strangers who don't know your personal situation won't think you're backward hicks? Oh, and one more thing... Why can't being married and "living it up" be synonymous? I have more fun going out and partying with my husband than I do without. I didn't die or become a Puritan when I got married. I just got to put my best friend's name on my tax forms. : )
The Lounge	Would you rather be dangerously underweight or dangerously overweight?	Jun 05 2008 13:59 (UTC)	66
I'm not going to nitpick a hypothetical situation. My vote goes to dangerously underweight. And if I were going to be dying anyway, I'd rather die from leukemia than melanoma. Lung cancer vs. brain tumor, I'm going for the brain tumor. Obviously I'd rather not be in danger of dying at all. But it's just a "what-if" question. I don't think answering a simple hypothetical question in any way diminishes or discounts the suffering of people who have had to go through that scenario. Let me put it this way (and please, be honest). For the older of you out there, how many of you, after watching "Sophie's Choice" for the first time, turned to the person you were with and asked, "Which would you have chosen?" It's a horrible thing to think about. But it's also a completely fictional scenario. /rant
The Lounge	This makes me ill. And furious. And completely disgusted with our justice system.	Jun 04 2008 04:32 (UTC)
Being sent to war doesn't make someone a child molester. It just happens to make a child molester into a veteran. I'm sick of seeing people use "Well, I went to war," as an excuse for disgusting and abusive behavior. The majority of the people who got sent over there are just d*** unlucky and have had to suffer the mental and emotional consequences. However, there are also the ones who had some major moral issues before going, and when they came back and acted upon those issues, used their (voluntary) military service as an excuse. I think that's what happened in this case.
The Lounge	What do you think is the best dog breed?	Jun 04 2008 04:23 (UTC)	27
I think trying to recommend a particular breed is a bad idea. My little pomeranian is a calm little cuddle dog. Not at all the stereotype of a "yappy little dog" that most people associate with poms. (Same goes for my dad's bichon frise/yorkshire mix.) However, my mutt is a big ol' spaz. Just goes to show. I would recommend going to local shelter and meeting dogs until you find the one that's right for you. If you feel that little "click", you'll know you have the right dog.
The Lounge	Question about returns	May 30 2008 11:36 (UTC)	9
I'm with your mother. It's not the right thing to do to return them. You didn't make sure you had the right product ahead of time. You took the product home and altered it. Even if the store can return it to the merchandiser or distribution center, it still hurts their sales and figures (the sort of things their higher-ups look at). Enough returns can make the difference on promotions, bonuses, etc. (Not that retail pays that much to begin with.) But, it you must return, please have the consideration to go during a non-busy time, like a weekday. Dealing with a return (particularly one that may be iffy, like the situation you're describing) in the middle of a Saturday when the store's full is a major hassle for the employees.
The Lounge	What are you doing to adjust to the higher cost of living?	May 30 2008 11:31 (UTC)	54
Let's see, I... - Pick up ANY extra hours at work (or at other stores) that I can. - Buy everything in bulk. (This has actually helped the most with pet food. That stuff's expensive.) - Started grooming the dogs at home. - Stopped running the A.C. in my car. - Stopped eating out. (That's a major one.) - No manicures or haircuts. And the one I'm most excited about is, when I get a job closer to home (I commute about 25 miles now), we're getting a scooter. Even though it'll cost money initially, it's going to pay for itself in gas really quickly.
The Lounge	My Puppy was SOOO BAD!!!	May 29 2008 16:13 (UTC)	22
The craziest thing my pom ever did was probably the time she somehow got hold of a pack of my cigarettes (I'm guessing one of the kitties knocked them off the counter) and ate the whole pack. Pomeranian puppy on a pack's worth of nicotine. Enough said.
The Lounge	"That" guy	May 25 2008 19:35 (UTC)	5
"That" girl severely overestimates her own cuteness and tries to pull off skimpy clothes 3 sizes too small...paired with a belly ring. "That" guy thinks he's hilarious because he responds to every statement in a conversation with moronic quotes from "Borat". "That" guy normally gets lambasted by me after about the eighth time he spouts, "That's niiice!"

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