kes_12

I have smoke detectors in a beach house that are constantly giving me grief. Changing the batteries in them is onerous. The battery is nearly impossible to remove and insert into the compartment and it has to be done perfectly or the compartment will not close. When one of them fails (always at 3 am) it sends a signal that causes all the batteries in the house to start chirping. Also, if the humidity in the house is wrong, which often happens in a beach house, it sets them all off and there is really nothing you can do about it. I've even called in the fire department and they shrugged their shoulders and told me that is one of the problems with the new smoke detectors.

So I am going to try and replace every one of them with something that works better. But I want to find somewhere that I can learn about the different types so I can try and get the ones with the least problems.

Can anyone give me the requirements for the new Girl Scout Public Speaking Badge? It's the one in the new Cadette Girl Guide. Or can anyone point me to a source that has it. I'm trying to plan an activity for my Troop and I don't have the book with me. Thanks so much for any help.

Whenever you try to buy something now, you have to play 20 questions at the register: Are you paying with your (this store's) credit card? Would you like to save 10% today? Do we have your email? Are you one of our preferred customers? Even when you politely say "No thank you" there are the followup questions? Are you sure? You'll save 10% today? We'll email you coupons? Can I have your phone number? Or sometimes they just start asking for your personal information to enter into their system. Has anyone come up with a polite phrase that just shuts down the questions? I realize the sales clerk is only doing their job and I don't blame them personally but it is so irritating that I have to go through this hassle now every time I want to buy something. Right now I just say "No thank you", or "Not today" but I often have to say that two or three times before they actually start ringing up my sale.

Any one know how much parking is for this amusement park if you "drive up". On their website, you can buy an "advance purchase" parking ticket for $15 but I don't know if that is a deal or not.

So many Ebay auction title's the seller puts: LOOK at the end, like a command. Often they dress it up like: L@@K or ^^LOOK^^! That seems to be a waste of precious letters to me. I would think it would make more sense to further describe the item. Does anyone know if putting "LOOK" actually helps raise your page views? Has their been any actual research on this or does anyone have any personal experience that it works or doesn't?

I'm having a really hard time coming up with something that flows. It can't start with a hard "C" or "K" because my last name starts with that sound. None of the names that I like seem to go.

I generally don't like "nick names" ie: Jimmy rather than James.

Any thoughts?

I would be willing to pay per use or become a member. I am especially interested in using a high end planer or joiner. Somewhere in Maryland on the Delmarva Peninsula would be fine too. Thanks in advance.

My DD's teacher is on vacation and I need to register for a Feis. My daughters both have had a birthday since their last Feis, which was their first ever. Do they move up to the next age category or do they stay the same for the year? Also my older daughter is now 11 and for light jig their is only U11 and 12&O. Which category should I register her for? Thanks in advance for any help.

Or do you think she just saw that as a stepping stone to the White House? Now that she has lost the nomination, is there any reason for her to stay in the Senate?

I'm not talking about eloping where just you two or the two of you and a few CLOSE friends/family go. I'm talking about having a full on wedding with 100 or more guests that you would normally invite but making everybody follow you to some place to go to your wedding. It's like "we're so important that you should have to spend your vacation days on our wedding and rent a hotel and spend a fortune AND get us a gift!" Or, if you don't want to then just send us a gift and save us the cost of having to pay for your meal. Or my absolute favorite: I'm going to decide where you are going to spend your precious vacation time and dollars this year, and "BONUS" I get a FREE vacation for forcing you to spend your money here.(OK, can you tell that my nose is a little out of joint over this.) Anyway, I'm just wondering other peoples opinions on this. Are there others out there that agree with me? Am I being unreasonble ? Is there some justification for this that I'm just not getting?

I have:

Martini & Rossi extra dry vermouth

Martini & Rossi Rosso ( I guess regular?)

Crystal Comfort

Harveys Bristol Cream Original Superior Sherry

I need a 1/4 of a cup to go in a Beef Teriyaki recipe. Will any of these work or do I have to go to the store?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Some dog left a present in my front yard right by my steps. I know that dogs often prefer to return to places that they have already marked. Since I have no idea what dog it is, I'd like to treat the poop or area to make in offensive to them so that they'll move on. Can I pour something on that area? I was thinking bleach, vinegar or ammonia. Any ideas? Thanks so much.