OK, I'll bite. Lived a nondescript life with no highlights, camping and fishing - learned how to kill the day's catch with a rock, shot a rifle at birds a couple times, brothers terrorized local wildlife (in a small town) with bb guns. I have one child who is *sob* about to go to college. We live in a large city and she is the love of my life. Is she a city girl? Of course. Interesting though. I would LET her and encourage her to do some of those free range things, as many of her friends do, but she doesn't want to. Is that a result of her upbringing? Or just because she's a basically quiet kid? Is she a quiet kid because she's an only child, or would that be her personality regardless? I find it an interesting topic. Sociology at it's finest. I like to THINK I would encourage her, if we lived in NYC, to be able to and not be scared to take the subway on her own. I think that's a pretty cool thing for a kid to be street savvy.

I'll gladlly explain why I like the Dalai Lama. He's likeable, he says peaceful things, he makes other religions seem silly and superfluous (ie, just be good) and he's the exiled ruler of a mythical land which is being persecuted. We're all about the Free Tibet bumper stickers, don't get me wrong. But I really like (and I'm sorry to be so stupidly and brutally honest, but some of you asked) is that he gives me permission to not feel guilty for my lack of churchly obligations. I like that he reminds me to just be good. Really, what's not to like about that. Tibet, I truly don't know enough about it and I hate to make comments on things I'm not aware enough of. I know lots about certain things, but not this one. I wonder if so many of us actually know what is really going on in Tibet when they put the sticker on their car. Honestly.

I can't even watch this. My own mother (late 60's but quite young actually) won't allow any of her children or boyfriends, anyone, in her house and hasn't for years. The reason? In her 3 level, 4 bedroom house, there is a path. She hasn't slept in her brand new bed ever. You can't sit on the couches or at the table - no room. She keeps my old dollhouse from 40 years ago, even though it's consumed by mold, for my daughter (who is 17). It's in her 2 car garage which you literally cannot take a step into. Yet when we plead for her to let us clean her house out, she won't let us or even admit it needs it. We might throw out something important. Something sentimental or expensive. So sad. But what can I do, she's a functioning member of society who just refuses to admit she has this illness.