My parents probably still have a foot out at their place. It's crazy how just an hour away can make such a difference.

Less than a week, Frank!

Don't SAY that! I remember April Fool's Day, 1997. We certainly don't want that again.

You're right; I shouldn't be taunting March, especially since it started posting in Bitches.

You're right; I shouldn't be taunting March, especially since it started posting in Bitches.

HA! I haven't caught up there yet, but that's funny.

Holy crap. My credit line on my single tiny $300 limit credit card has apparently jumped by 2k. A good thing, I guess, if only that it might be a sign that I've finally started making some headway on repairing my disastrous credit.

Now to be extra careful not to get into trouble again. Fortunately, I've gotten out of the habit of using it, but also, I'm not at all in the same place financially as I was before - I'm not flush by any means, but I'm no longer living right on the edge and using credit as a lifeline between gaps.

Good luck, Brenda. I live in the mixed hope/dread of the day they decide to bump mine up, for the same reasons.

Not that I have this type of discipline, but I do know people who use their cards often to build up credit then weekly, or monthly, go online to pay from their debit cards any balance to keep from getting finance charges.

Susan -- don't know if you still need answers, but don't discount hitting with the pistol. It's generally a bad idea to assume a gun you've taken from soneone is useful as a "hot" weapon -- but it'll always be good as a cold one. Don't trust other people's weapons -- does he know enough about guns to think that?

Otherwise, if you want to punch someone unconscious, the goal is to get their head to snap. You want to make that grey matter bounce off the brain pan. Strikes to the jaw (especially uppercut style) are good for that.

But unconsciousness (as noted) is unpredictable like that. How long do you need him out? If it's not too long, a carotid choke (that pinches the arteries supplying blood to the brain) is a good choice, since it's pretty much guaranteed.

ION, I am in love with my new vacuum cleaner. One pass, and it sucked up a truly appalling amount of dog hair and dust from the carpet.

My question now is - how did anybody buy anything before the internets?

I looked at vacuums at Bed Bath and a couple of other places the other day, picked a couple that looked good, and then went home to check them out. The one I was really leaning toward had very mixed reviews. In the course of searching, though, I found another for not much more money that was getting pretty much across the board raves - bagless, HEPA filter, the works. Then I searched around a bit and found it somewhere when it ended up costing me exactly the price of the other one, including shipping. Less, actually, since I didn't have to pay the sales tax.

Now I just have to see if I can get my sister to take my crappy old one off my hands, and all will be well.

Wow! I have 3 vacuums and they all don't suck the way I would like them to. Mostly I have tile and the need to get pet hair bunnies from corners. It should be easier.