Scooter's Roofin'

A few weeks ago I got an e-mail describing a change in how Illinois enforces speed limits and catches violators & I'm wondering if it was true?

That there are vans set up in construction areas with photos & radar guns positioned to get a picture of the license plate, another one to get a picture of the driver and get the speed as well? That even 1 mph over the limit will get a driver a $375 fine the first time, $1000 the second?

I'm curious if anyone else had heard of this - OR if anyone has dealt with this? Is it true?

I'm planning a trip to Illinois soon, and am considering taking a different route to bypass Northern Illinois, since the area around I-94 & I-39 seem to be constantly under construction.

Thanks~

OK, I grew up in the Midwestern US, with some Southern relatives - don't know if that makes a difference here, but there it is. I have first cousins, second cousins and third cousins. After that we don't count - they're distant relatives - aka "shirt tail relations".

I've never understood the whole first cousins "twice removed"...or however that whole thing goes.

Now I have a neighbor who grew up on the East coast and this is what he's taught his kids to say...and my kids are confused...and so am I.

Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Thanks~

Hi, I started taking belly dancing lessons a few months ago - nothing super serious - just through the school district's extension courses, but it's really fun.

Anyway, during the summer there aren't classes offered and I would like to keep on top of what I've learned. Does anyone have an opinion on instructional DVDs for the "advanced beginner"?

Also, I have zils and am practicing (practicing, practicing) but they are really frustrating me - does anyone have advice on how to get the dance steps while using the zils mastered?

Thanks~

I've never dealt with this with my husband.

On the eve of my birthday, he hit on a friend of mine that is not only 15 years younger than me but really good looking too. I was standing about 2 feet away from her when he did it, so I witnessed it.

It's bad enough that he did this - but dang it, I'm having trouble with this whole aging thing. 40 was bad enough - now 41 has become excruciating!

I called him on it immediately, told him he was being lecherous and creepy and told him to go home. And I slept on the couch.

He apologized to me and to her - but only to keep the peace. The reality is he doesn't see that he did or said anything wrong. He has verbalized this - I'm not assuming this.

I've tried expressing how hurt I feel, how undesired, old, you name it...and he's bent out of shape that I called him lecherous...that "what at 42 I'm just so old...so gross that I couldn't get a woman that age?"....

WTF?!? He still does not get how this has made me feel!

On one hand, with his birthday coming up...I wonder how he would feel if I flirted with a man in front of him...but I know I couldn't willfully hurt him - it's not me. I just can't figure out how to better explain it. He knows I'm upset. I'm hardly talking with him, sleep on the very edge of the bed, shrug off his touches and most important have expressed it - told him how he's hurt me. And he can't or won't own this.

I've always been 'it' for him so this is really throwing me for a loop - I don't know what to do...I keep in good shape - take really good care of myself and always try to keep him satisfied in the bed & out...and this is what I get?

I've been reading the book "The Longest Day", by author Cornelius Ryan and I've been very surprised at how little I knew about the French resistance to the Germans during their occupation. Their resistance has been one of the more fascinating aspects of this book, so far. And it got me wondering...

Growing up, I had really only heard of how some of the French had aided the Germans - and that after they were run out, the women who had been the lovers of the German soldiers suffered the wrath of their people. I recall there was a name for those that aided the Germans...but the only word that comes to mind is "collaborator". But I think I'm wrong about that word. Was it something else?

I think it is a simple, ordinary word....but in the context it was being used was about as bad as the F-word...

But I can't REMEMBER the darn word that was used.

Does anyone know?

Thanks~

7 months ago I strained my hammy in an aerobics class. At first I sought no advice on rehabbing it - just stuck to my usual routine, minus the aerobics. I finally had it checked by a doctor and spoke with a trainer at my gym about it and am following his advice; and while it is feeling *better* it still aches.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Did the discomfort finally go away? As the trainer said, at 40 years old, I have to consider this will be a lifelong weak spot and will always need to stay on top of the exercises he taught me...but I really hope the discomfort will end.

Thanks~

Hi there.

I'm wondering if anyone has used the home - dry cleaning product, Dryel?

Were you satisfied with how it worked?

Thanks~

Hi.

I'm 40 years old and I've recently been diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome, a genetic mutation that puts me at higher risk for developing colon cancer (at an early age). In fact the one polyp they found was the type that COULD turn - adenomatous.

Overall I lead a very healthy lifestyle. But I'm looking for ways to get even better in my habits.

I want to incorporate some vegetarian eating into my overall diet - I don't want to give up meat all together, and I have no interest in debating meat in my diet. I just want to make it a bit less carnivorous. The biggest thing is cutting back more on my red meat intake. I only eat beef maybe twice a week. And I want to cut it back even more. I'd like to get to a point where red meat is a "treat" to have once in a while.

That said, I can't give up much when it comes to protein - I'm hypoglycemic - protein works for me; and I'm raising a 13 year old boy that will be bigger than New York City once he's done growing (already 5'11, with a size 12W shoe...yikes!)

So I need some ideas for cooking that have worked well for the vegetarians out there.

Thanks in advance.

I was diagnosed & successfully treated for cervical cancer almost 3 1/2 years ago. (HPV was most likely the cause)

So as a survivor, my gynecologic oncologist has had me do the mammogram & now a colonoscopy to screen for any other cancers. I'm 40 years old, btw, and have always been very healthy. Honestly, the cervical cancer was a big "hiccup" in a pretty good life.

So I get the colonoscopy done, and when I come to from my sedation the doctor tells me he found 1 polyp, 8mm in size and removed it for biopsy, but that judging from it's shape/characteristics, he believed it to be Lynch syndrome. Explained it put me at a higher risk of DEVELOPING colon cancer.

He handed me some info from the Mayo clinic on it and I was out the door.

Today I had a re-check with my gynecologic oncologist and told her to expect a report from the colonoscopy to be coming in, told her what his suspicions were and she replied, "but Lynch syndrome IS cancer".

So now, of course I'm in a real twist about this. It's one thing to think it COULD happen, another to be told it HAS happened, if you know what I mean.

As I read the info, it doesn't match up to my family history, as I know it. There are no 1st degree relatives with colon cancer - none - and I'm from a big family. Now I realize with a genetic disorder such as this, it's a roll of the dice as to who gets what. But out of 6 kids, no one has had colon cancer - and I'm the youngest.

Plus, there's been no stomach, kidney, endometrial, ovarian cancers. My Mom had a cancerous mole removed, but that is about it.

And of course, right before Christmas, the timing is really bad. I'll not mention any of this to my husband until I have reason to mention it, and it will come after the holidays, if at all.

So is there anyone out there with a firm grasp of this disorder that can offer some advice?

Thanks in advance. Have a Merry Christmas.

What would you suggest we do?

My ideas would be to get rid of the electoral college - do we truly need the "electors" representing us anymore?

Also no lobbyists allowed in D.C. If an organization wanted to sway a Senator, etc. make the law to only allow written or video appeals. No wooing, wining & dining the politicians.

No adding pork to spending bills. The bill as it's originally intended is voted on, no additional projects, etc. tacked on.

How about if state legislatures run over their sessions, they have to pay for their staff, and electricity etc. out of their own pockets? I bet they'd manage to get it done in the allotted time...

And a flat tax rate for everyone - no exceptions.

Any ideas out there?

Anyone?...Anyone?

I've been in with my husband for over 20 years. I wasn't a virgin when we met, but was still pretty naive & inexperienced. I was 18 when I met him...

Now here we are all these years later, kids in tow....and this other one has shown up. We met volunteering.

We have engaged in a lot of e-mail flirting and talking of what we'd like to do with each other. Recently we got together and engaged in some intimate stuff....not all the way, but I think it might be considered 3rd base? It went way beyond heavy petting.

I don't even know if I can explain what is happening.

He says he's never cheated before, but I really feel like a little mouse and he's this cat toying with me.

Every time the situation has intensified he's gone silent, only to have me totally primed for the escalation of things, if that makes any sense at all. Every time he's gone silent, I've gotten worried and sought him out and he's simply put the ball in my court...and I've made the decision to allow things to move forward.

He gives me nothing really - never talks of his situation.... no information. No pretty words of love - nothing like that to turn my head. He's real about what this is and in a way so am I. I don't share much with him either, but I've told him I'm not sure why I'm there, that my husband adores me and that I know I should run. And then he kisses me and I'm undone.

Am I out of my mind? Wait...I know the answer to that one....

But I feel like this man is a total player...a villain...all wrapped up in smiles and gentle touches.

I've never done anything like this before. I feel....like I'm nearing the end of my rope.

I know my husband doesn't deserve this, no matter what little issues we may have.

I'm aware you may be breaking a guy's code in sharing any insight, but please I need that insight. I need to know if I'm right on or way off base in my suspicion. Please.

I've been with my husband for 21 years, married 16.

I met the other one doing volunteer work. We've had intimate conversations, about our mutual attraction. We've kicked around the idea of meeting, but I have really cold feet on this. My husband is a really nice man, good husband, good father.

I'm horrible.

I told the other one we have to stop what we're doing & haven't been in contact for a week now....and I'm going crazy wanting to hear from him.

I know it's wrong to want him, but I'm having a nearly impossible time getting him out of my head. And I want to. Truly.

How do I stop thinking about the other one? I really want to.

This isn't me. I've never done anything like this before and I hate myself. It's killing me.

In 1987 I was infected with HPV. I don't know how many strains of the virus I contracted, but I did get the visible warts and was treated for them. By 1988 there were no more outbreaks.

In 2005 I was diagnosed & succesfully treated for cervical cancer - radical hysterectomy. I don't know if you need all this info, but....I was able to keep my ovaries, and the cancerous lesion (tumor?) was small enough that the actual biopsy got all of it.

Now it's 3 years later, I'm as healthy as the next person and considering a relationship now that my marriage has ended.

Is there still a risk of me transmitting this virus? I know how horrible I felt when I was diagnosed and don't want to do that to anyone else. But I can't imagine a life alone.

I'm feeling really stuck and don't know where to look on-line for information that would relate to this?

Thanks.