trinacriabob

Falcon Crest (nice house, IIRC)

This is symptomatic of everything that is wrong in this country, and probably the whole "Western World." In short, we are: - civilly too harsh - criminally too lenient - the educated white male of European stock is blamed for everything - political correctness trumps logic and reason (reverse discrimination in securing admission to competitive academic programs, for example) Basically, it is one big C-L-U-S-T-E-R-F-U-C-K.

Yes... ...the fine-tuning of the lens brings the answers ...frustratingly, this process can take some time...it has for me...

Nancy Reagan (just say no)

forensic psychology (is there such a field?)

Chris, Every situation is different, just like fingerprints. I am sure you know this. For any of us to get to the bottom of the dynamics of a specific family constellation, it would take hours, which we don't have here. With respect to my dynamics with my parents, there is a clear line of demarcation - they need to take responsibility before (insert a particular date) and I will take responsibility since (insert a particular date). That date differs for every child-rearing situation. Parents are partly to blame and children are partly to blame. Whenever you have two people, each has their own agenda.

racial overtones

+1 Could you imagine seeing that "typo" on a legal brief written by a student in a law curriculum somewhere? Let's get back to the matter at hand...the kid in trouble...

The Napa Valley (pretentious and full of $h!)

refrigerator

Wow. This issue has been "thematic" for me in the last decade, or so. Family members: I was willing to give family members more chances because they are family members, but they too need to abide by the rules of having to learn. My last remaining parent caused a lot of (completely unnecessary) problems a handful years ago. It was completely UNnecessary. I was drained. Then it dawned on me, she had that exact same problem when I was a kid...all the drama was UNnecessary and a way for her to get attention. As applied to the more recent issue, since she interrupted what was a long stretch of peace, I have refused to make amends and our rapport is more business-like than family-like. I once glanced through a book on the display tables at B&N about "forgiveness" and it said forgiveness has to be earned. If the same mistakes are repeated again and again, my feeling is that the person has not learned and is therefore not entitled to my forgiveness. Or...I can forgive, but don't need to forget. Friends: I have friends that I've had since I was in grammar school and have never had problems with them. No problems. I, however, have had some problems with friends who encroach on boundaries more than they should. They have been told "not to go there," but they don't listen. I have one friend (picture a Madeline Kahn upper face with a Margaret Thatcher lower face) who I let into my circle of friends because we were in the same line of work. She constantly tried to set me up on dates with friends of hers. I told her "no way," especially since she seems to toss out my "checklist," but she kept on trying, probably because she knows my "checklist" wouldn't include her, so that's her sick way of taking a jab at me. Most recently, she e-mailed we with the same M.O. (I started a thread on "boundaries"). I did not respond to her e-mail. OTOH, a co-worker needs to find a HOUSE for me. He is addicted to risk and buying/selling (even if it's bad), so he needs to spread his misery. I have told him repeatedly to back off (and others around here also resent the fact that he's such an intrusive idiot) but he seems to forget the reminder he's been given. I will no longer go to lunch with him and keep him at a distance. Bottom line for your situation: We don't have enough information, nor are you expected to provide it. You know what the short-term and long-term impact of your actions might be. This is where most of your "weighing" ought to take place. I've taken a tougher stance and have fewer friends because of it, but I should have chased them away earlier. So, in my case, I am detaching from a parent who is addicted to drama (and I'm the opposite - completely into organization and logic) and a couple of friends who need to push their co-addict/co-dependent agendas down my throat. These are not big losses. I know you can evaluate the cause and effect of your personal situation. However, it ain't easy, so I feel for you. Good luck with it.

Then bucketed Toro with trestle automatic shifter and analog gauges would have been my choice of the Riv/Toro combination. I saw one going in the other direction on U.S. 101 at the Oregon Coast on a coffee-weather overcast day. It was the driftwood metallic color and in perfect condition. It's like it was yesterday. What a beautiful car!

Yes! Beautiful. In "Medium Driftwood Metallic" with alloy wheels. The Riviera "twin" of the same vintage, and in the same color, is also beautiful. Did both of these have all-digital dashes, or did either have them have analog?

Sounds like a great trip, wrapping up in CA...you're ending in the southern part of the state, quite far from where I live. Like they say "Get your kicks...on Route 66" - love that stupid old song, as they call out all the cities, and I especially like the documentaries about Route 66. For me, there is nothing I like more than a road trip in New England/Quebec when the fall colors are peaking (generally maples) or in the mountains of BC or Alberta (when the stands of aspen turn yellow). Beautiful beyond description.

riptide (I've heard Guincho, nor the whole north of Portugal, are suitable for ocean swimming....it ain't the eastern Algarve, that's for sure )

surfer

big

Thanks. I like the front to back, too, just out of caution. I will examine the sidewall labeling tomorrow.

Alberta Canada (that's where that "babe" (ahem) is from)

What's wrong with this picture! We don't intersect on ANY Oldsmobile. But see what I bolded...

Even easier! The 1998 Intrigue with a 3800 V6 in the medium/dark metallic blue that I never bought brand new from the dealership! Ok, sorry, light bulb just went on...

constant

Kleenex (another brand as the household word)

A very short list: My 1992 Buick Regal 3800 coupe. It was a present to myself for finishing grad school, it was my first "real" new car (that wasn't handed down), it was equipped exactly the way I wanted, and it just turned over 260,000 miles this weekend. No regrets!

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