tinythesp

My 2003 Saturn Ion just started accelerating sluggishly today. It's been working just fine until now. It does so whether I am taking off from a complete stop or speeding up while already moving. It's an automatic, though I'm not sure whether that plays a part in this at all. Any info you can give me would help greatly as I'm trying to figure out how much money I'll have to spend to get this fixed.

My 5yo son loves having his fingernails painted! He sees Mommy painting hers and wants his done also, which I have no problem with. I have always told my son that he can do, be, and like anything he wants whether it is for boys or girls! His father (my ex-husband) and his father's family tend to see things a bit differently (and somewhat close-mindedly, might I add.) They tell my son that fingernail polish is for sissies and looks ugly so they should take it off. I keep impressing upon my ex that right now our son doesn't know the difference between gender-specific things unless they make him aware of them and that I do not want our son to be limited by some stereotype of what boys are allowed to do/be/wear. If he eventually decides that fingernail polish (and whatever else he might happen to like) isn't for him, then that is fine. I just cannot see how it is right for anyone to tell a 5yo that they can't do something they want to do because of something so stupid like a gender stereotype. Am I wrong about this? I understand that when my son goes to school he may get made fun of for this, but I have explained to him that anyone who makes fun of him for something he likes to do isn't really his friend and I can't see how conforming to the "norm" in society is the way to deal with a situation like that instead of teaching the other kids not to make fun of others in the first place. Please answer with manners and without judgement.

I drink vitaminwater and occasionally will drink half of them and accidentally leave them out with the cap on overnight. They never taste odd to me, but I was wondering if this was unhealthy in any way. Is there a certain amount of time that a covered drink can be left out before it should not be consumed?

I have Linda Goodman's "Love Signs" and I noticed she talks about sun sign patterns a lot. I have tried looking this up online, but I can't find any information about what exactly a sun sign pattern means or is much less how to figure it out. Any info would be appreciated!

Out of the significant relationships in my life, there has been a Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius, Aquarius, and Virgo. I am a Scorpio and oddly enough the worst out of all of my relationships combined was the one with the Pisces. My questions are:

1. Why is it that the astrological sign that is supposedly most compatible with my sign ended up being the worst of them all?

2. Why am I attracted to/attracting men who are signs that are completely incompatible with Scorpios?

I had a very odd dream a little while ago that was so beautiful it has stuck with me. In the dream, one of my best guy friends (we'll call him A) could manifest butterflies out of thin air. I was completely fascinated by this and wanted to do so as well, so I tried. All I could do was make smoke come off of my fingernails. I went to A and told him I tried to manifest butterflies but that all I could do was make smoke come off of my fingernails and I showed him this. His response was one of amazement. He then manifested a butterfly and gave it to me. I remember holding it in my hand and thinking how beautiful and soft it was. It was a pretty blue-green color with black trim and it glowed. A said that I had to be careful with it because it was very fragile. I asked him what would happen if I dropped it and he said it would die. I asked him if it could fly and he said it couldn't.

I have looked up a few of the main points in dream dictionaries, but can't seem to find a meaning. I don't have dreams like this very often, so I can't imagine it is anything other than significant. Any thoughts/ideas?

My best friend, who claims to be Republican, aggravates me to no end when she states that the state of the current economy is because we have a Democratic Congress. I do not claim affiliation with either party and I refuse to believe that only Congress is responsible for our economy and I have told her so. If that is the case, what is the point of having a President? I just can't see how Congress can be solely responsible for something as important as this. I have heard that both President and Congress are responsible, that big businesses are responsible, and that previous Presidents are responsible. I'm a bit confused and what I really want to know is who is mainly responsible for today's economy? If it is a combination of things, fine. I just want to settle this once and for all so I can make her stop saying Democrats are to blame!

Friday night I was over this guy's house whom I've been dating for a few months now. We weren't able to hang out much that night so I asked him about possibly hanging out Saturday night. He said we probably couldn't because he'd most likely be partying, but he'd see. This didn't bother me...we have a non-exclusive, very laid-back relationship. Saturday night rolled around and I txted him about hanging out. No response. Sunday rolled around...I txted about maybe doing a movie night...still no response. Finally, getting annoyed about being ignored, I said screw it! He THEN txted me saying that he would deal with me tomorrow (Monday) and that this was not good. I then apologized for bugging him and informed him that I can't stand being ignored...it pisses me off. He has yet to contact me and vice versa. I'm not completely sure why he's upset with me. I also am not sure as to how I should proceed to handle the situation...

My FWB/Ex-BF has recently been mentioning a couple of things that are odd. He has said that if, by the time he's 29 or so, he hasn't found the one yet, he wants to have a baby with me (and is serious about this...I made sure to ask b/c I thought he was joking...he's not). He also has said, "You should just marry me and then we can be together forever." There are a couple of other smaller things similar to these comments that make me a bit perplexed. I've reiterated the fact that our relationship is purely FWB...no relationship b/c neither one of us has the time nor the energy to maintain one. Just recently (prompted by the previous comments) I asked him whether he thought we could have a relationship once both of our lives settled down a bit and he said, "Possibly." I'm still treating everything as I was before...nothing but FWB. But this has all made me curious as to his intentions behind what he has said. What does this mean and how can I get a straight answer from him?

I have had my IUD for more than a year and haven't ever had this happen before. I check for the strings every month after every period like you're supposed to. My period is now 1 1/2 weeks late with two negative pregnancy tests. However, I'm also feeling very tired all the time. I can get my usual 8 hours of sleep and still want to take a nap which is very unlike me. I'm especially worried since I've gained a few pounds in the past couple of weeks which I attributed to water weight which I usually gain around my time of the month. I'm going to make an appt. with my OB/GYN but I just want to be prepared for any possible causes. I've gone to WebMD's symptom checker and the only thing it lists for my symptoms is ectopic pregnancy.

I have read time and time again that meeting men in a bar or club is probably not the best way if you are looking for anything more than a fling or one-night-stand. I've also read that meeting guys in classes, while shopping, and while doing things you have an interest in are better places/ways to meet men. I am not a party girl and don't frequent clubs. I will go out to a bar with my girlfriends occasionally for drinks. However, I never meet men who are available and I am interested in. When asking my friends why this is, they say I'm not going to the right places (like clubs) to meet guys. I do take classes @ college but most of the guys there are fresh out of high school and a good 7 years younger than me. So I'd like to know...where can a woman go to meet men who are interested in more than just sex?

I have a tattoo on my lower back of a naked fairy sitting on daffodils with her knees drawn up and head down crying. It is in color and I'm trying to decide whether I should expand the tat. I'd like to add something but nothing is coming to me. Any interesting ideas? Something pretty and delicate but not too ordinary.

I have been looking online all over the place for inspiration, but I simply can't find any that I like! I would like to leave my hair long-to-medium length, but if there is a really cute short cut I may go for that as well. Pictures, websites, or names of cuts w/ descriptions are all welcome!

Some that I already have are:

'Angel' and 'Teardrop' - Massive Attack

'Speechless' - Beyonce

'Slow Like Honey' and 'The First Taste' - Fiona Apple

'Lose Control' and 'Freak Me' - by Silk

'Lollipop' - Lil Wayne

'Glory Box' and 'Roads' - Portishead

'Red Light Special' - TLC

'Secret' - Maroon 5

'Doin It' - LL Cool J

'T-Shirt and My Panties' - Adina Howard

'Wicked Game' - Chris Isaak

'This Woman's Work,' 'Whenever, Wherever, Whatever' and 'Til the Cops Come Knockin' - Maxwell

'Untitled' - D'Angelo

'Would You Mind' and 'Anytime, Anyplace' - Janet Jackson

'So Sexual' - Sisqo

'Oops (Oh My)' - Tweet

'Colorblind' - Counting Crows

'Come Away With Me' - Norah Jones

The entire 'Best of Sade' and 'Who Can You Trust?' CD's from Sade and Morcheeba, respectively. Anything along the same lines (but no Barry White or Marvin Gaye, please...I know which songs to pick from them)...or even some songs like 'Closer' by NIN are welcome.

I found out about a month or two ago that my ex-bf (who is 25, almost 26 like me) was attracted to this 15 year old girl he was in a play with, but knew he couldn't do anything because she was jailbait. He said she flirted with him blatantly. Since he and I are still friends, I was checking out his Myspace one day and saw a message from her about wearing his sweatshirt, it smelling like him, and reminding her of him. I thought it was a little odd to allow her to have his Myspace and be friends on there, but tried to give him the benfit of the doubt, figuring it would end when the play did. However, the play is over now and they are still friends and talk to each other @ least through Myspace (not sure if they talk in person or on the phone as well.) She has asked him about his astrological sign and he recently asked me to borrow an astrological book he actually bought for me when we were together! He said it was for his roommate and his roommate's girlfriend.

My boyfriend just broke up with me recently, breaking my heart, of course. We live together with my 4 year old son, who loves him. He says the only way we can maybe work things out is if we both go to therapy, which I'm fine w/. We can't go to couple's therapy, which is what we both wanted, because our schedules completely don't allow it. We both have full time jobs, and go to school, not to mention my son. The thing is, he wants to break up and work on possibly getting back together, though I don't see the point of breaking up if that's the case. I don't want to break up because I'm in love w/ him, which I've told him throughout our relationship, and he used to tell me as well. He now says he thinks he has fallen out of love with me. He says there's someone out there better for me than him. No matter what I tell him, he still wants to break up.

My boyfriend was 23 and still lived with his parents when we started dating a couple of years ago. He got his mother's opinion on everything, and even tried to have me get her advice on some of my decisions! I never thought anything of it until on day he said he was getting depressed because he had spent almost a week at my place and hadn't seen his family in that long. We live together now and things are better. He no longer needs to see his family every other day. He has dinner with them once a week. He still asks her opinion on major decisions, and we make the final decision together. My problems now are that when he sees his family, he doesn't want to spend a couple of hours over there...he wants to be there almost all day! Also, we bought his mom's house, and it seems like everything I want to change he wants to keep the way his mother had it. He says he just knows how things work best in the house and how he likes things. He still talks to his mom every day.

Before I begin, I want to say I know I was horrible for everything I did and it was all completely my fault. I've changed and am no longer that person. I'm now trying to repair the damage done.

My best friend and I lived together for about a year. After I got a boyfriend, which was a few months after she and I moved in together, I started hanging out with my boyfriend more. She didn't like him being over at our house so much, which upset me. Our friendship went downhill from there. Eventually I kicked her out and started living with my boyfriend in the apartment. We haven't talked in about a year, but I've apologized and she finally forgave me a couple of months ago. We've hung out since then, but it's been a bit strained. It seems she's shutting me out still. I have made an effort to hang out with her and talk and make plans more often to no avail. I'm not sure what to do or say. She says she has forgiven me. I don't want to push the issue with her.

I normally go to Dr. Jeff P. Frizzell, but he is not in my new insurance plan. I don't know of any other dentists in the area, and I'd like a dentist that is recommended by someone who has gone to him/her. All of your suggestions are appreciated.

Bush and the Bible: A Letter to George Bush

Dear President Bush,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you and understand why you would propose and support a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. As you said "in the eyes of God marriage is based between a man a woman." I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev.21:20 states that I may ! not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle- room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.