Angel

My mother's 60th birthday is coming up and I would love to take her on a nice relaxing getaway. We are originally from Northern California, but we currently live on the east coast. Unfortunately, travel back to the west coast would be to taxing on her so I am looking for places around the area. One of her all-time favorites was in St. Helena called Meadowwood. If anyone knows of something that is relatively similar to that and is willing to suggest I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks and have a great day!

I feel on my garage steps yesterday, and while it has been sore and bruised instantly, I just noticed that it it is now red and hot to the touch. Is this something to be concerned about or just normal healing? I am concerned because while I have had many bruises, I don't recall one ever being warm. Thanks for your help.

I had a cyst on my kidney discovered when I had an MRI on my back. My PCP had me go to an urologist and he wanted an ultrasound done. The ultrasound was done 3 months after the MRI and it had grown from 2 cm to 3 cm, and the urologist gave it a label as level 2 since it wasn't a simple cyst. He told me to follow up in one year since the cyst hadn't grow (it had grown 1 cm) even though the radiologist who did the ultrasound said to follow-up in 3 months. As the urologist hardly spent any time with me or explaining anything here are my questions:

1. Is that fast growing?

2. What does level 2 mean? Is it not being a simple cyst a bad thing?

3. I will be starting with a new PCP next month - do you think I should request a second opinion and have another ultrasound done before the one year timeframe?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and insight.

Also, it is not giving me any discomfort or am I dealing with any affects from the cyst. It was an incidental finding - no problems with it and I recently had a full panel blood work done and all was good.

For the past few months my direct manager (who I do not have many dealing with at all, my 'bosses' are the two executives that I work with - the manager is the person I call if I am out sick, need a day off, etc.) has been acting very cold with me and I feel like she has a huge bone to pick with me and I am not sure what it is. The only thing I can think is that she doesn't like the amazing working relationship I have with my 'bosses' and how that might undermine her authority (?). I am really at a loss as to what to do. It has gotten to the point where anyone who socializes with me or is within the same 'team' as me has become her whipping post and targeted. This is odd because she was very nice to me when I first started and for a good year after, then BOOM - I feel like I have an office enemy and I don't have any clue why. I have never been reprimanded for anything at work and I am often given praise and accolades for my work. I am afraid if I talk directly to her about it things will only get worse, but I feel like her actions towards me (speaking down to me in front of other employees, purposefully excluding me from discussions in which I have a specific interest [work wise], etc. etc.), and I don't know if I should bring my actual bosses into the fray because I try to leave them out of HR issues because they are so busy. I am hoping someone here might have some insight on what to do other than what I have been doing (distancing myself and limiting contact). Thanks!

Recently I received a settlement (approx. $10,000.00) and I am torn on how to apply it. I have always been told that you should pay yourself first - so I was considering that I should apply half to savings, and the other half to credit card debt. I have approx. $18,000 in credit card debt (between two cards), no student loans, and a minimal car note. Do you financial gurus have an input on if I should indeed split in half between savings and credit card debt? Or should I apply more than half to debt? And also, is it right to apply all the money that would go to the credit card to just one card (the higher interest rate of the two, although the interest rates are darn near the same, 9.99 and 10.29) or should I split it between the two? Thanks in advance for your input~

The reason I ask this is because my employer (non-government) is denying me the ability to bring my dog, which I am training for therapy dog certification. I know that therapy dogs don't receive the same concessions as service dogs, but I am curious where the line is drawn. My employer is stating that their lease does not allow for dogs on the premises. I know this to not be the case as, 1. I have seen the lease and it is silent to animals on the premises, and 2. Other tenants in the building bring dogs on a daily basis. I believe that this is simply a case of the manager not liking dogs (or possibly me! lol) and not allowing it. I am training my dog so that he can go to military hospitals and work with recovering soldiers, so I am not doing this to just bring my dog to work with me. Part of the training is evaluating the dog in a variety of situations and circumstances and bringing them to the office is part of that training. So, what does this forum think...is there a requirement to allow the dog on the premises or no because it is not being trained as a service dog? Is it a form of discrimination (someone mentioned this to me, but I am not sure if this can be true) since the lease thing is bogus?

I thank you in advance for any information you can provide me. I have been searching all over looking for answers and I have not found anything that really pertains to this type of situation.

I just went on an interview and I have found out that after giving them a specific listing of references for them to contact they went ahead and contacted a previous employer who I was open in stating that the employment relationship did not end well. I did not sign anything or complete any application that stated they had the right to contact employers, verify employment, etc. I am thinking because I provided with a list of references, and they did not explicitly ask if they could contact (especially after what was discussed with regarding the previous employer) that they over stepped their right of contact. Can anyone shed any light for me?

I am going to be going to Atlantic City this weekend and I was wondering what some suggestions that you might have for some good eats there. I already have the "nice" dinner planned for Morton's in Caesars, but any suggestions that could be provided would be wonderful. Thanks!

I am going to be going to Atlantic City next month and I was wondering what are good places to go - casino wise - good resturants (affordable, yet nice - not fast food) and other fun things to do while there. I was there once before, but it was just for a day on business, so I really have no idea what to see/do. We are going to be staying at Harrahs which I know is not on the Boardwalk - is there anything near our hotel rather than going to Boardwalk for an alternative.

Thanks for your suggestions and advice in advance!!! :-)

Does anyone know what and where I can get this song that the Foo Fighters covered aroung 03-04? I have gone on their website and it says that you can get it on the "Have it All" single, but I can find no such thing. I love their version of this song so much, and have been searching for it since the first time I heard it. If anyone can give me a suggestion on this that would lead me in the right direction that would be wonderful!!

Who sang the sone "Still a B*t*h in my Book" about 7-8 years ago? Thanks.

I am going to be having a birthday party for my great dane in a couple of weeks. We are going to be having about 8-10 of his closest canine friends in attendance. I was wondering if you had any suggestions as to any games that could be played (with the idea that the "winner" gets a prize) making there be interaction with the dog and its owner.

So far I have the owner that can get its dog to kiss them the longest; best trick; and longest stay while a treat is nearby. Whoever wins is going to get a prize for their "person". Any ideas that you have outside of what I have already thought of would be wonderful!! Thanks :-)

What do you think is going to happen with the paternity test? I hear a report this morning where they think that Howard K. Stern is going to hide the baby in the Bahamas and not produce the child for the test that has been court ordered. What is the fate of this poor child?

Personally, I think that this child has a very rough path before her, no child should have to face their whole life without their mother, no matter who she is or her past transgressions. I only hope that they do find out who the real father is of this baby girl and that she is not put through a tug-o-war match to see who can get the most out of her deceased mother's former husband's estate.

Below is a link to a petition to have Washington removed from Grey's Anatomy. I know that there is a diverse span as to who thinks this way or that about the incident, but I figured this would bea good forum to get the petition out there for those who think that Washinton's remarks and behavior (past and present) is not acceptable.

http://www.petitiononline.com/at343sh7/petition.ht...

I was just wondering the concensus of all of the avid viewers of Grey's Anatomy after the information that has been brought to light by T.R. Knight (George) in regards to the homophobic remarks made by Isaah Washington (Preston)? Knight has openly adressed the rumor as being true that Washington indeed called him a f@g*t on set, as well as again at the Golden Globes. What is your opinion on this? I don't think that the right idea is to stop watching the show and therefore causing it to go off of the air, but do some of you think that there should be a resounding call for the removal of Washington from the show? I can't imagine as to why this should be tolerated, I just wanted your take on the situation.

Furthermore, if roles were reversed and it was Knight calling Washington a racist name, wouldn't Knight be off the show already?

Thanks for your imput, I am just curious as to what the feelings are about one of the actors on todays most popular show.

I am currently working for a solo lawyer. While I love my job, I often wonder if it is the right move to stay in such a small office (it is just myself and the attorney). Part of me thinks that it is good because I can honestly say that I run the office without help from supportive staff or upper managment, but part of me also thinks that if in the future I deceide to change jobs (as might be necessary - boss is looking towards retirement) that a larger firm would not look so highly on small firm experience. What is your take on this? Just for further info - I have been working at this job for 3 years. Prior to that I was with a mid-sized firm for 2 yrs and a solo practitioner for 1 yr prior to that. My ultimate goal is to become an attorney, so I am further confused if it would be worth the change as this is not going to be my career (I mean being a secretary/ofc mgr).

By the way, what would be the going salary for someone with my experience in a larger metropolis (i.e. DC or SF)?

I am going to be relocating back home to northern California very soon. I know that the housing market is very high and that the average housing price is within $500-750K for a decent home purchase. I was wondering if you had any suggestions for suburbs of SF that would fall within this price range that are nice, safe, have good access to the city, etc.

Thanks for your suggestions in advance!

I am just curious about current property prices in northern CA. I was born in raised in the bay area and am looking to move back very soon. I am a young professional who makes a decent income on the east coast, so it will only increase with the economy of the west coast. I am just curious what the average cost of a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom home or townhouse with a small yard and parking (preferably a garage) runs in the bay area nowadays. I know the cost of living is high in SF, and although I would love to live in the city, I am not objectable to surrounding suburbs (as I used to live in the east bay and also love the area). Thanks for your input and information in advance.