For a while in L.A. dogs went missing from people's yards. It was traced back to a family from there who were eating them. :-(

In fact, even a neighbor had dog meat. I don't know where they got it. I just know that they were very open about it. Oldest dd had stew at their home, and when asked, they said that it was dog meat. You can imagine that dd was upset.

I do my best to respect foods from other cultures, and to understand that ours is not the only way, but I can't really deal well with dogs, cats, etc. being used for food. When I was a kid, I saw a photo of a dog hanging by his back foot at a meat market in China. It was a chow.

So, while I want to be more understanding, I guess that I'm not in some things. :-( I don't eat baby animals, either. I did a little when young, such as I had veal a couple of times growing up, but once I really understood it, I stopped. No veal, no suckling pig, no squab, etc.

We all have to choose where we draw the line. I can imagine what a shift in thinking that's been for your Ddil.

What do they normally use, aside from cheddar? Every time I see Italian deli meats, I think of you, and wish that I could get it to you. :-)

It's scary when things like the missing people happen. Please do be careful. The most recent cases up here - well, north of me in the next county - involved people using a taser to make kidnapping people easier. I tell Dh all the time that, though he's quite proficient in other ways, a taser levels the field for them.

How interesting that Charlie is off his apples. Hopefully, he'll enjoy the carrots.

I've seen your gov on T.V. quite a bit, especially when things happen, such as people over-heating/freezing. I think that somewhere there they just changed a law, or want to?, allowing for water breaks for workers.

Here, too. It's 'cooled off' today. It was 113, and is currently 'only' 110. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, I actually am glad that it's 9 degrees cooler than 2 days ago - we really felt sick. That day, I draped my arm around a frozen liter of water. It's not drinking water, it's just washing water that's for sitting in front of the fan to cool off with. I wrapped it in a thin towel, and made sure that my wrist and inside of my elbow was on it.

My Dfil used to use honey, too. He even liked it on his vanilla ice cream. I love French toast!

No, you don't ever look your age. I think that we all notice things that have changed...crepey skin in places, etc., but the overall effect doesn't mean that anyone looks their age. I think that it comes down to genetics, overall sun exposure over the years, how people care for their skin, etc.

I like late appts. generally, since having things like FM. Mostly, it's because I can never predict how or even if I'll sleep any given night.

Are you supposed to eat, or will they be doing a fasting bs test? If you don't know, you might want to call. We've had the Drs. office run tests that require fasting, or urine, etc. which does no good at all if you eat, empty your bladder, etc. They always say, "Oh, didn't we tell you?" Argh, no, you didn't! Just a thought!

Donating that which you don't want is a great idea! The kids won't be looking for them, will they...?

Boy, at a quick glance, bull snakes resemble rattlers. Not if you really look carefully, but still...

Also, if bitten by a bull snake, even if you have a positive ID, seek medical attention anyway. They don't have venom, but their mouths, like some other common snakes, are full of bacteria that, within' days can cause death from blood poisoning. I know that you aren't thrilled about this, but better informed than not, I think...

May was another hectic month for you. Anyone could have forgotten in your shoes!

Happy safe 4th!