How weird. that's essentially SS's posting philosphy.

So, say someone were to want to acquire some of this magic potion? Where would she (or he) go to fulfill her (or his) needs?

Monkey poo? Talk to Flinty.

I was mistaken - it's Oxy Fantastik, not 409. Anyway, I got it at Kroger - next to the regular Fantastik. They probably carry it at Walmart etc., but it's relatively new, so YMMV. I've been using it on clothes stains and it works fabulously - it got pure blueberry juice stain and pizza sauce splatters completely out of a colored T-shirt without bleaching. And it's not stinky - it smells kinda like before it rains. The main ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, which accounts for the lack of stink. Oh, god - I need a life.

Pocono ski suggestions
 

I would like to take my three children (13, 11 & 5) skiing for a few days for their first time. Does anyone have any personal experiences with the ski schools at any of the pocono resorts? I am trying to keep the cost down as much as I can. Thanks in advance.

Gifts/Stuff
 

Oh, I am so behind on commenting here:

Lexling’s B’day: So are ya doing chile? As for gifts, you will really appreciate getting toys for when he gets older (if you have enough now) – same for clothes that will fit later. But you should hide the toys and bring them out slowly and make sure he doesn’t find your stash.

Preggo sister’s swing coat: Well, I adopted but I know when I get paunchy in the belly I hate confining clothes and I get pickier about clothes so I can just imagine being pregnant (or actually I can’t). A swing coat will be nice (the cut) but for fabric, I’d go for a nice Cashmere blend or something thin and plain (black is safe) because the material you picked may make her feel just big and furry. And I’d make sure that although the swing coats are roomy on the bottom, they aren’t too fitted across the bust. I just tried on a cute, fitted Pea Coat at JCrew but didn’t buy it because I felt too confined in the bust/upper arms movement-wise. You might consider doing what my friend does at Christmas: she shops for about 5 gifts for me, brings them to me and asks me to pick one. I do the same for her and it’s fun. Obviously the rest get returned.

Gwinky’s: Hot gifts for 4 and 5 year old: If you want something with an American feel since they are in Africa, anything Disney I’d think. Hot toys/stuff I know of are: (1) Fur Real Friends; (2) Video, CD Players and other stuff in bright colors like purple; (3) Disney Clips. As for the Fur Real Friends, they sound a bit like that Ferbie thing which Vietbabe got for Christmas last year. For the life of me, I couldn’t turn the thing off. I couldn’t even take the batteries out. I’d throw a blanket over it to shut it up but then it would make loud snoring noises. I’d keep him in the car overnight so he wouldn’t wake her up and then transfer him from car to house when we drove. What a nightmare. I finally chucked him into the basement and I have no idea if he’s still yapping away.

Threesome discussions on this board: :band:
Whoah! More power to ya. I am so tired I have to be honest – I’m not even motivated for a Onesome. :guitar:

PS – Epilogue to my post about my bumpy front and backyard with roots sticking up all over the place and no grass: I’m having the huge trees trimmed and I just plopped down some huge bucks for a complete regrading and sodding so front and back is a level layer of pristine grass now. Now I’m supposed to water it everyday by moving the sprinkler into 7 zones, 45 minutes in each zone, front and back. I wish they told me that before. That’s gonna suck. Can’t I hire a water boy or something?

Pocono ski suggestions
 

Years ago I went to a teeny ski place somewhere in the Poconos - not a big hill there. I had a good ski school instructor but you'd be bored at that place with kids. I don't know if Camelback is in the Poconos - sort of I guess and that place is small but nice for a few days. I don't think it has too many kids activities. Take them to Steamboat! Ski in Cowboy hats! Cute men in wrangler jeans! (If you're La Deal Toy and not Le Deal Toy that is."

Pocono ski suggestions
 

I went to windhgam last year with a 9 year old. His instructor was good. Mine was a chinese guy who spoke 0 english. This year we will try okemo VT. Supposedly good beginner program. Maybe we go for 2 days.

Pocono ski suggestions
 

If you're going to VT, consider Killington. Maybe I'm showing my age, but when I learned their lessons had two advantages: 1) graduated ski method (which everyone uses now--but it's a lot better to start on really short ski) and 2) tons of people, meaning they can divide up better by ability (once you're past complete beginner).

Nanny benefits Q
 

My new nanny (with whom we are very happy) has raised the question of sick days and paid vacation time. Which we didn't really discuss (or think about, honestly) when hiring her. What is standard? We are in NYC, and are paying her $12/hour (but are more or less treating it like we have her on weekly salary at that rate, so if she comes in late or we get home late we don't bother counting minutes).

Is it customary to pay her for a certain number of sick-days a year? If so, how many? Is paid vacation even heard of? (Is $12 per hour exhorbinant for a CPR trained nanny with experience?)

I'm really OK with giving her 2 weeks paid vacation and 2 weeks worth of sick days per year (maybe only because I don't want to be a nasty, rich cheapskate extorting the labor of the lower classes, or whatever) but she already makes more than my husband brings home after taxes, so ....

Nanny benefits Q
 

In Boston, we've always paid for the period we were on vacation, but not for a separate vacation to be taken when she wants. We have never been strict in counting sick days, but have dealt with it individually - either paying the time or having it made up based on the situation (so when a caregiver was very sick for a week and a half, no questions asked, we paid her and sent chicken soup, but with someone else where at one point when it was looking like sunny Fridays were designated sick days we dialed back). Our attitude is that there is not a number of sick days someone "gets", but that people get sick and we deal with it without disruption to anyone's budget.

Nanny benefits Q
 

We pay two weeks paid vacation, as well as a hefty bonus at Xmas time (two weeks salary). We don't pay sick days, but if my babysitter has called in sick once, I don't remember it. She's amazing. I pay $10/hour, and $15/hour for OT -- which is usually about 6 hours a week.

The second babysitter gets $10/hour.

We think we're a little on the cheap side, but neither babysitter speaks much English, so it's not like they could be getting many other jobs. Both are US citizens, but don't speak English -- I know, strange...


ETA -- We do have a "rule" however, which is she's got to take the vacation when we take our "go-away" vacation in the winter. Our summer vacations, which we spend in the area, the two of them split up the week and come stay with us. We also pay for legal holidays if both my husband and I have the day off.

Nanny benefits Q
 

My sister and her husband pay their nanny a salary of $35,000 per year. In Minnesota. Is she waaaayyyy overpaying her nanny? The nanny does do a lot of educational things with my nephew but she only works four days a week, though for probably more than 8 hours per day.

Nanny benefits Q
 

I am too am shocked at how little the NYers pay for nannies. I used to make upwards of $6/hr fifteen years ago in the boonies for babysitting, and I provided no education.

Nanny benefits Q
 

Excellent - timing of vacations was something we were wondering about: it's fine if it is in the summer months, when my husband gets time off and can cover as primary caregiver, but at other times during the year we could be totally screwed.

We don't pay an overtime rate, but our agreement is that there really isn't overtime and, if in some emergency no one gets home in time (train derails, struck by lightening, whatever) everyone will just deal with it (she'll stay until we can get someone there, and we'll figure out how to get someone there ASAP).

I was also planning on about 2 weeks pay for a Christmas bonus.

Nanny benefits Q
 

Not neccessarily. There may be an unusual local market, or your sister may have needs that increase costs. For example, if they live in a suburban enclave that isn't supported by public transportation, they aren't going to be able to hire someone who takes the bus. If they expect the nanny to haul the kids around to various things in her own car, and don't want their kids to be caught in a broken down '83 Caprice Classic inthe middle of a snowstorm, they better pay enough she can afford a moderately new Outback. There are plenty of reasons to pay that much.

I also think $12 an hour is pretty decent, especially for the East Coast. Our nanny/babysitter is very, very part time, so the vacation thing hasn't come up, but paying two weeks vacation seems reasonable. I'd just make sure that if you reduce the obligation to writing, you have the time off accrue per pay period, instead of per year. Otherwise, one can end up paying a departing nanny 2 weeks vacation in mid-January.