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My sister and I (in our 60's and redheaded and twins so we stand out whatever country we are in) are living in the middle of the U.S. This spring we are driving to Los Angeles and on the way back going through Phoenix and then Midland TX. I worked for a few weeks in Rosarita Beach a few decades ago, but have not been back to Mexico since. My sister has never been there. Although we will pass within a few miles of Ciudad Juarez, I know that is not the city to show her. I want to take an afternoon and spend it in Nogales. She has heard all the rumors about border cities. First of all, is it fairly safe to just cross for an afternoon? Second, knowing we will be on foot, where should we go? Thirdly, US money is ok there, right? Fourth, I hate to bargain for goods but know it is expected. Not wanting to cheat anyone, how low can I offer without hurting the livelihood of the vendor?

My niece, a busy career woman who can cook but doesn't like to, has recently been diagnosed with Celiac's disease. So she has to go gluten free. This is going to put a crimp in her lifestyle as she usually eats out. She's not big on spicy foods, is a committed vegetarian and follows basic kosher rules. For those of us gentiles, that's not just no pork - for example any seafood has to have fins so no shrimp, lobster, etc. One of the biggest surprises I had was when I bought a prepared pie crust and found out they are usually made with lard (pig fat). Who knew? And gelatin and marshmallows are made from horse's hooves apparently so that isn't kosher either. You get the picture? This girl is a challenge. Does anybody have some good, fast and easy recipes that I might pass along to her?

I can recognize a garter snake and a rattler. I know most snakes are beneficial and don't believe in killing them except for self defense. But I need to know if it is safe for my dogs and the neighborhood toddlers to be outside. Saw a fairly small black tail slithering under my fence. That's all I saw. Couldn't run around the fence to see more because I was walking with a construction guy, and didn't know if he would a)freak out or b) do the macho thing and try to kill the little guy. So I kept quiet. I know this isn't much to go on. But any ideas from people who like snakes and/or at least know about them as to who is living in my yard right now? Or at least the possibilities of it being venomous. Not sure what category this goes in so posting it in environment and in pets.

I can recognize a garter snake and a rattler. I know most snakes are beneficial and don't believe in killing them except for self defense. But I need to know if it is safe for my dogs and the neighborhood toddlers to be outside. Saw a fairly small black tail slithering under my fence. That's all I saw. Couldn't run around the fence to see more because I was walking with a construction guy, and didn't know if he would a)freak out or b) do the macho thing and try to kill the little guy. So I kept quiet. I know this isn't much to go on. But any ideas from people who like snakes and/or at least know about them as to who is living in my yard right now? Or at least the possibilities of it being venomous.

I foster animals for the local Humane Society. I'm invited to one of my former foster's birthday party. I need to bring something for the humans to eat. They are having hot dogs and "puppy chow". Any other ideas?

One year, in desperation (93 relatives and friends between us to get gifts for since we were also doing the shopping for aged parents) my sister and I found ourselves buying a lot of slipper socks. Now it's a joke between us. But I suspect other people have their fall-back ideas as well. I get a lot of calendars, for instance. And I know a friend who ends up buying dish towel sets when she can't think of anything. Just for fun, what ends up being the gift you buy when you are out of ideas?

Our shelter is planning on doing our major fundraiser them in 2013 as "Tail Gating". This is a main source of income for our shelter, and like most charities, funding is down. We'd like to get the endorsement of some football players for this event, even just an autograph would be better than nothing. We are in a rural area close to 3 states - but the fans around here tend to be for St. Louis, for the Bears, for the Packers and a few for the Colts. However, a football fan pays attention to any NFL players. Colleges closely followed are either Big 10 or Missouri. Does anybody have any idea of people we could contact who might be willing to help us out (for free).

I know most of us won't know this, but if there is someone who might actually know, I'd appreciate it. The rescue for which I foster has a heartworm positive dog. They started her treatment shortly after getting her from a hoarder. Now they've discovered she is pregnant. Since she would have become impregnated before we got her, she's somewhere between 6 - 9 weeks along. There are at least 3 pups showing strong heartbeats on an ultrasound. Now she's living with me. I've asked if there's any possibility that the medication used on the heartworms will have caused problems for the pups but no one seems to know and I can't seem to find it on-line. She's been treated twice, a month apart, before she popped out and looked pregnant. I'd just like to have an idea what to look for.