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Our daughter moved back  last year after living on her own or with partner for five years.  (She moved back after a breakup.) Moving back wasn't her first choice, nor is she totally happy with living with us,  but we love having her. She is working hard on completing her education. She contirbutes to the household in many non-financial ways.   While we weren't suffering "empty nest"  syndrome, it is nice to have another adult in the house.

posted 2 years, 4 months ago
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I spent Thanksgiving 1972 in Rome, Italy, with a group from my university.  Our administrators convinced our food providers to do a turkey dinner -- with a lovely roast turkey including head  paraded through the dinning room.  It was quite an event.  

Thanksgiving is my favorite cooking holiday. I've been the one who did the bulk of it since 1977, when I was 24 and in graduate school, cooking for the "orphans".  I love the bustle of it, having anywhere from 4 to 15 at the table depending on who had nowhere else to be. 

1979 we were living in southern Oregon.  Three friends and a turkey made the trip from Portland on the bus to have the holiday with us.

 My daughters have helped since they were small.  Now in their mid-20s, there are parts they do so much better than me.  One receipe we've done for years but can't find the original source anymore.  And we've had vegitarians at the table for over 30 years.  Just make sure there are lots of interesting things for them -- mushroom dishes are a key.   

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
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My spouse has a neuropathy that is well recognized as being helped by marijuana.  Normal pain medications - including opiates - make him quite ill, unable to work.  He is a fantastic gardner, so growing his medication is no problem for him.  However, as his condition continues to worsen, I do not feel competent to grow for him.  If the measure passes, will he be able to continue to grow as long as he is physically able to do so?  By the way, getting a MM card is not as simple as some make it seem, and it's not inexpensive.  Our medical provider commented he rejects at least 85% of requests, but my spouse is a prime example of why medical marijuana is a good thing.

posted 2 years, 8 months ago
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We voted as a family - me, my husband, our younger daughter - the day after the ballots arrived. We discussed each candidate and ballot measure, with each person marking the ballot when they felt they had the information needed. We then dropping them off at the elections buidling. Our older daughter voted in Pennsylvania early this morning (by 6:10 Portland) and said turn out was very high. She misses the Oregon Voter's Guide -- and her friends envy that we have such a wonderful tool.

posted 4 years, 6 months ago
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When I read the Voters' Pamphlet, I generally vote the OPPOSITE of Don McIntire, Bill Seizmore, and Kevin Maddox. Most often they are against schools (and teachers), libraries and anything else that might educate or enrich people's lives. "Provide for the common good" includes schools, roads and the like. The only thing Mr McIntire, et al, think should be paid for is prisions. Talk about a waste! They obviously feel that the best thing is to keep people as ignorant as possible, see only the immediate and not the long term. I am so frustatedly tired of this. It's not "liberal" - it's thoughtful. Oh, wait, thinking is liberal.

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
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