Samcatlover

My dog's favorite ball collects so much sand at the beach that even when we do our best to keep it clean, she ends up swallowing enough sand to make her very sick. (Vomiting, dehydration, constipation & sandy diarrhea, the whole works; it was no fun for anyone)

I want to be able to take her to the river and beach more (she had a blast before the sand caught up to her), but taking her current ball along is a no go in the future. I tried looking to the internet for any solutions as far as fetch toys that won't collect very much sand (I know that collecting no sand is impossible on the beach, but just LESS sand), but I was unable to find any helpful information.

Has anyone had a similar problem or have any ideas as to fetch toys that would collect less sand than a regular tennis ball or rubber Chuck It ball?

I don't know if this info helps at all, but I have a medium-sized dog. Thanks in advance.

It turns out that, while our new rescue dog doesn't care about seeing people during a walk (she is even fine going into a store around tons of people), she is very reactive toward other dogs while we are on walks. She will leave almost anything alone (smell, food, etc.) just by saying "let's go" and walking away, but other dogs are a totally different story as she gets so over-aroused/upset that she will lunge and bark and it's near impossible to control her past dragging her away from the other dog. So I'm at a loss as to how to deal with this issue.

She's so high energy that she needs regular walks, but dogs drive her crazy while on leash and it's inevitable that we will run into at least one dog nearly any time of day. It doesn't help that the neighbor right across the street from our house has two Rottweilers that are left outside 24/7 and are TRAINED to bark at and be aggressive toward anyone and anything that goes by their chain link fence, so it's a pain just to get out of the driveway. We're not sure how to fix the problem.

I also want to mention that she has been perfectly fine with the other two dogs in our house. She displays no aggression or barking even when she's barked at by them, so I'm pretty sure that it's a leash-related issue. I'm just not sure how to handle it.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Since I started taking the bc pill (Orthocyclen 28), 6 months ago, I've been getting frequent major panic attacks. I've always had a small anxiety problem, but before I got on bc I only had about 3 or 4 big panic attacks a year. Since February, I've been having 10 or more each month.

It's ridiculous and causing serious problems. I dropped out of my driver's ed class (a $200, nonrefundable class x_x) because it triggered panic attacks every time, and the smallest thing can set off a major attack.

I've also been waaaay moody and sensitive and it's making my boyfriend upset too. He always thinks it's his fault when I get upset out of nowhere. 

Has anyone else experienced anything like this, and what do you think should I do about it?

I really need to be on birth control, but the panic attacks are terrible...

By the way - in case anyone cares or is under the impression that I'm 12 - I am 18. And I'm sorry that the post is so long.. x_x

I've been working on my new novel for a couple months, but I still have come up with a name for the town it takes place in.

The town is supposed to have a population of about 20,000 to 25,000. It's located in southwestern Washington off of Interstate-5 about 30 miles south of Olympia. (Here is a crappy map: http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=qnl3k2&s=6)

Anyway, it is also near a river (Cowlitz River, which is only a couple miles from the town). If that helps at all.

(There is also a lake / state park named Sky Lake nearby, but it's supposed to be a good hours drive away, so I doubt that it would affect the name of the town.)

Try to avoid choosing the names of prominent existing towns in Washington. It'd be nice if it were somewhat vague or unassuming (so nothing too crazy, please) to help it to fit in.

Throw names at me so I don't have to do anymore painstaking research, please. I'm not going to be picky here or give you limitations on the naming (or the amount of names.)

I've been researching other things all night and it's been exhausting. Thank you.

Best answer goes to the town name I pick or, if I don't choose any of the names given, the first answerer.

I'm curious because I'm scared of spiders (big, little, venomous, not venomous, just all of them), but I'm not scared of tarantulas at all.

I thought that it was odd, so I wanted to know how other people feel about this. xD

My best friend has been struggling with her feelings for me for the past several months. She's been really depressed and conflicted, which has caused a lot of tension between us. On Valentine's Day, she had a complete emotional breakdown and I somehow ended up in a one-week trial-dating relationship with her.

Unfortunately, she's taking it too seriously, talking about prom and stuff like that.

She's the kind of person who needs a deep, committed relationship. I, on the other hand, am not cut out for relationships at all. I'm fickle and don't think highly of relationships in the first place (I think that they are pointless). I also can't handle my emotions, so I don't like them. Plus I'm definitely not in love with her.

I did it to make her happy because she had been really depressed, and it's achieved that much. But I'm in a bit of a downward spiral and I'm already feeling guilty about it. I don't want to break her heart by cutting it off, because it had mostly been my idea. On the other hand, I'm not sure if I can handle her being so excited about it while I'm just like "What have I done? oAo."

I'm kind of stupid.

Anyway, what do you suggest I do?

(Also, yes, we are both girls. That's why she was so worked up about it. But, seriously, I need help. I can't just ignore the problem since she is still my best friend, a lot of people already know about it, and I see her every day.)

This morning, I went to my school registration. (I'm 16, so I'm going to be a junior in high school.) Right before I was about to get my school pictures taken, I randomly started crying for no reason (there was literally no logical cause for it!). I ended up having to leave without getting pictures taken because it was so bad (as I couldn't stop, no matter what I did). I'm still not sure what it was all about, but I kept crying on and off for several hours. The whole time, my mood was never really negative, although being frustrated about randomly crying like that (and not getting my school ID), and was actually having a pretty good day.

Today was the first time anything like that ever happened.

So... Does anyone have any idea as to why that happened?

(Sorry if it was a long question; I just wanted to add details so I hopefully get some reasonable answers. :3)

Randomly, my laptop seized up and all of my programs/files/documents/photos/music "disappeared." At first it looked like it was deleted, but after restarting the computer, iTunes came up and all of the songs still work, so I'm confused. All of my program's files were still in my Program Files folder. But in the (C:) there was a program/virus thing called "System Restore," so I deleted that and it's folder. I'm now running a few virus scans, but I'm really concerned as to what will become of my "hidden" files and such.

Honestly, I'm not even sure if the "System Restore" thing is related to the "disappearance" of my stuff since the laptop is so screwed up anyways. =A=;;

Still, can I get some help, please? I'm freaking out! D:

How does it work for you?

His personality really doesn't need to fit or anything, since names are given right when you're born anyways. It just needs to sound good/flow well.

Thank you~

Just asking. ^-^;

I'm a 15-year-old going into my sophomore year, by the way.

Like sci-fi, action, romance...?

Or an actiony-romance-thriller with blood being splattered all over the walls and maniacal laughter...?

Right... I'm so bored. x)

I'd like LONG lists because I have to find one that I haven't watched...

and I've watched a lot.

Thank you~

I'm looking for one that teenagers would like to watch... since I am 14, but yeah, I've posted this in two sections. Don't beat me with a stick over it.

I'd like LONG lists because I have to find one that I haven't watched...

and I've watched a lot.

Thank you~

Seriously.

Answer the question as best as you can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Game_(mind_game)

for those of you who don't know what im talking about

From Page 110 of my novel (so you'll have no clue what's happening)

Ice always ruins it.

James turned to look. Ice was in the doorway.

He laughed hysterically after seeing James' face.

"Looks like someone finally beat you, and it wasn't me! How sad..."

James growled before wincing.

"I hope he busted your f***ing jaw! Maybe you can shut the f*** up now. With my luck, probably not..."

"I can f***ing talk just fine!"

"Damn."

"Get out of here!"

"Go away, Ice!" I cried.

"Oh, so it speaks? Look how she clings to you. Trusts you with her pitiful life. So easy to end..."

"Shut your f***ing mouth!" James pulled me closer to him.

"I'm not dealing with this lovey-dovey s*** today. I'm feeling destructive and a good beating is overdue for the both of you."

"You're not touching her!"

I was beginning to freak out.

Ice studied us carefully. "Fair enough."

I knew that they were going to fight.

"Don't get in the way," James said quietly.

He pushed me aside and I screamed.

The first punch was from Ice. James dodged and tripped him.

"Son of a b****!"

I couldn't watch. I ran into the kitchen, not knowing where else to go.

Shouting, yelling, breaking stuff. Loud and scary.

A few minutes later James stumbled in.

My eyes got huge.

"F***er had a knife."

A knife... sticking out of his chest.

I cried out in horror. "I need to call 911!"

"Pull it out..."

"What?! No!"

"Please, Jayde..." He leaned over the counter. Blood trickled down his shirt.

I shook my head. "I can't! I need to call for an ambulance!"

I got the phone and dialed. I told the emergency operator that I needed an ambulance. I gave her my address and told them to hurry. She told me to stay of the line but I hung up.

I turned back to James. He was leaning over the counter, both hands on the edge. Blood dripped from the knife handle and splattered into a small, red puddle.

"Pull it out," he begged, "please..."

He turned away from the counter toward me. My eyes watered as my hand closed around the bloody handle.

"Do it." He braced himself, eyes closed and teeth grit.

"I can't... I don't want to..."

He opened his eyes. "You couldn't hurt me, just do it."

I tugged on it. It slid out easily. I felt sick.

Blood gushed out of the wound, soaking his shirt. Blood covered my hand, holding the knife. Blood was everywhere.

I dropped the knife, it clattered to the floor. I slammed my hands over the source of the blood.

"Why did you make me do that?!" I cried, putting pressure on his chest.

"I wanted to see..." Blood came from his mouth, I wanted to cry. "...if you would do it for me..."

"Why?!"

"I was to scared to... to do it myself..."

Blood slipped through my fingers, my hands did nothing to slow it.

"You're going to bleed to death!" I cried.

"Not today, Jayde." His breathing was ragged and he coughed up blood.

I started to cry so he hugged me. I just kept pressing my hands to the place where the knife had been. My shirt soaked with his blood but I didn't care. I cried as he ran his bloody fingers through my hair.

It must have been my bloodiest moment... And it wasn't even my blood.

So, what do you think? (Just so you know he doesn't die)

This is from WAY in the middle of the book (page 110 in fact) so you'll have no clue what's going on but I'd like you to read it :) I put this in adolescent because I am 14 and the "novel" is for teens anyways.

Ice always ruins it.

James turned to look. Ice was in the doorway.

He laughed hysterically after seeing James' face.

"Looks like someone finally beat you, and it wasn't me! How sad..."

James growled before wincing.

"I hope he busted your f***ing jaw! Maybe you can shut the f*** up now. With my luck, probably not..."

"I can f***ing talk just fine!"

"Damn."

"Get out of here!"

"Go away, Ice!" I cried.

"Oh, so it speaks? Look how she clings to you. Trusts you with her pitiful life. So easy to end..."

"Shut your f***ing mouth!" James pulled me closer to him.

"I'm not dealing with this lovey-dovey s*** today. I'm feeling destructive and a good beating is overdue for the both of you."

"You're not touching her!"

I was beginning to freak out.

Ice studied us carefully. "Fair enough."

I knew that they were going to fight.

"Don't get in the way," James said quietly.

He pushed me aside and I screamed.

The first punch was from Ice. James dodged and tripped him.

"Son of a b****!"

I couldn't watch. I ran into the kitchen, not knowing where else to go.

Shouting, yelling, breaking stuff. Loud and scary.

A few minutes later James stumbled in.

My eyes got huge.

"F***er had a knife."

A knife... sticking out of his chest.

I cried out in horror. "I need to call 911!"

"Pull it out..."

"What?! No!"

"Please, Jayde..." He leaned over the counter. Blood trickled down his shirt.

I shook my head. "I can't! I need to call for an ambulance!"

I got the phone and dialed. I told the emergency operator that I needed an ambulance. I gave her my address and told them to hurry. She told me to stay of the line but I hung up.

I turned back to James. He was leaning over the counter, both hands on the edge. Blood dripped from the knife handle and splattered into a small, red puddle.

"Pull it out," he begged, "please..."

He turned away from the counter toward me. My eyes watered as my hand closed around the bloody handle.

"Do it." He braced himself, eyes closed and teeth grit.

"I can't... I don't want to..."

He opened his eyes. "You couldn't hurt me, just do it."

I tugged on it. It slid out easily. I felt sick.

Blood gushed out of the wound, soaking his shirt. Blood covered my hand, holding the knife. Blood was everywhere.

I dropped the knife, it clattered to the floor. I slammed my hands over the source of the blood.

"Why did you make me do that?!" I cried, putting pressure on his chest.

"I wanted to see..." Blood came from his mouth, I wanted to cry. "...if you would do it for me..."

"Why?!"

"I was to scared to... to do it myself..."

Blood slipped through my fingers, my hands did nothing to slow it.

"You're going to bleed to death!" I cried.

"Not today, Jayde." His breathing was ragged and he coughed up blood.

I started to cry so he hugged me. I just kept pressing my hands to the place where the knife had been. My shirt soaked with his blood but I didn't care. I cried as he ran his bloody fingers through my hair.

It must have been my bloodiest moment... And it wasn't even my blood.

Do you like it? (just to let you know, he doesn't die...)

It's homecoming at my school next weekend.... I've never been to a dance before.

I'm planning to wear a silky knee-length red dress and some black flats. Is that considered semi-formal? I would wear heels but I really don't like them....

Also it is pretty cold here (plus the dance is at night) so would it be weird to wear plain black gloves and a scarf?