re: cheating--I think some people get too attached to a sort of collaborative approach to work and figure "Well, he'd have helped if I asked, so why bother asking?" Some people simply have no grasp of doing the work yourself and letting it stand on its own merits, when they can get help. Plus, if you're too good at something, no one will believe you didn't have help, so there are few intrinsic rewards for not cheating. Self-satisfaction only goes so far.

Suzi, don't give up or beat yourself up over this. Every kid has to learn this at their own pace. My daughter finally twigged about 12, my nephew only twigged within the last few years and he's 24. Just be consistent, which is what it sounds like your doing.

And speaking of ethics and Rove . . .

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House votes to cite Rove for contempt

Suzi, I don't know how old your son is, but can you explain to CJ that his lying creates a new situation, one in which you can't trust his words, and that he should want to have a parent who trusts and believes him when he says a thing? Maybe point out that he'll have an easier time as a teenager if you generally trust him than if you generally don't? He's old enough to have an interest in what happens when he's a teen, isn't he?

I just bid on ebay on an $125 book for one of my classes. Current bid is $5.99. Here's to hoping it doesn't go much higher!

Does it contain her actual ashes or something, why so expensive?

Suzi, I don't know how old your son is, but can you explain to CJ that his lying creates a new situation, one in which you can't trust his words, and that he should want to have a parent who trusts and believes him when he says a thing?

He just turned 12. And yes, we have covered that ground over and over again. He is finally hitting an age where he is asking why K-Bug got to do certain things at his age that we won't let him do. The response is usually that we were able to trust her and she showed us she was responsible. We need to see the same from him if he wants half a hope of doing any the stuff she got to do.

Nobility? just last week a gunman went into a church and a man died because he was protecting a child. Last spring when there was a gunman shooting students at Virginia Tech, one of the teachers blocked the door, and was killed, to give his students a chance to escape. I think some people rise to the occasion; others don't.

House votes to cite Rove for contempt

Please, for the love of goD, let two words become true - Perp. Walk.

Much to my relief, and contrary to a dream I had during a nap this morning, Harvey is home, and well, and nothing interesting turned up during the exam, either dental or otherwise. In the dream, he had been walking with his back hunched up, so they wanted to do X-rays of his spine and hind legs.

Tap, tap, tap. Is this thing on?