Change of Address

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Learning to type is one of those crucial skills that everyone needs to know, especially considering how commonplace computers are becoming. They’re in our offices, our homes, our schools, our cell phones… they’re everywhere. Some employers have even made typing skills a job requirement, having prospective employees take typing tests before they even interview. Mastering this skill early on is the best way to tackle it.

1. Texting – You may think this is a joke, but with how often kids are on their cell phones these days and the fact that most cell phones keyboards mimic computer keyboards, texting really is making people better and more adept at typing. While it may not be the preferred way for kids to learn how to type, it is rather effective…
2. Typing games – Any game that makes a learning experience fun is a great way to get kids involved and ‘studying’. A lot of typing games are so geared towards looking like a game that kids don’t even realize how much information they’re absorbing in the process. For instance, when I was growing up I learned how to type playing Mario Teaches Typing – it was set up exactly like the Mario video games and every letter you typed correctly made Mario jump up and bump a coin out.
3. Typing sentences – While it may be a little more boring than learning to type while also playing Mario, typing certain sentences repeatedly will help you learn the lay of the keyboard and get comfortable with all of the letters, obscure ones included. Sentences like “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” and “pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs” are effective sentences to practice typing when you’re trying to learn how to type without looking at the keyboard.
4. Websites – There are a plethora of websites out there that are geared towards teaching you how to type correctly – some free and some for a fee. Websites are a nice tool to use because you can access them virtually anywhere with an internet connection and practice to your heart’s content.
5. Software – Contrary to websites, you can also buy software to install on your laptop or desktop computer that will help you learn the ins and outs of typing. The benefit to having software is that you don’t need an internet connection to be able to use it. It will also give you all of the relevant information you need to know, like your accuracy rate and speed at typing.
6. Typing Tests – The internet has plenty of online typing tests you can take to gauge how good you are at typing under pressure. Most of them are timed and some of them don’t allow you to delete so that you can see how well you type without backspacing. You should consider taking a typing test throughout your learning experience to assess your progress and see your improvements.
7. Toy Computers – If you want your kids to learn how to type early on you should consider investing in a toy computer for them that has preloaded games and quizzes on them so that they can get familiar with the keyboard layout while they’re still young. This allows it to become almost second nature.
8. Computer Classes – Most schools and local colleges will offer typing courses that you can enroll in throughout the year that will teach you or your children everything you need to know about typing correctly and effectively. Since no one wants to use the hunt and peck method for forever, these are a good way to learn correct techniques and have a teacher there to ask questions to when you hit a snag in the learning process.
9. Practice with the keys covered – One way to get comfortable with typing without looking at the keyboard is to cover kid’s hands while they’re typing so they are forced to learn the layout of the keyboard and rely on instinct to type the right letters.
10. Hide the letters with colored tape – Another way to get kids used to typing without relying on looking at the keyboard is to place colored masking tape over the different letters on the keys. Cover the letters that each finger uses with the same colored tape so that they remember which finger touches what. This will help them learn to keep fingers on the home row and to branch out to the top and bottom rows accordingly.

Learning to type is a key skill that everyone should learn at some point in their lives and one that you will never regret investing time in perfecting. Plus it can be a fun experience if you engage the right tools to help you along the way.

Christmas season will be here before you’ve figured out what to dress up as for the neighbors’ Halloween party, so it’s not too soon to start planning. For instance, what do you get for the man in your life who knows you inside and out? No, not your boyfriend or husband. We’re talking about your proctologist.

Let’s take a moment to consider ten Christmas gift ideas for that special someone, your butt doctor:

1. Beano – Hey, it’s the least you can do to make life rosier for your favorite doctor. A gift-wrapped case of this stuff for his office would do wonders for the, um, ambiance.
2. Hand Warmers – This is the gift that keeps on giving – at least for the next seven hours – for a whole day’s worth of appointments. Your doctor will thank you, and everyone else who is booked after you.
3. Manicure Kit – Think of this as an investment. A gift to yourself, even. Things will go more smoothly for both of you with this thoughtful gift. Nail polish is of course optional.
4. Face Shield – There are occupational hazards inherent to practically every job, and your proctologist is no different. This Christmas, why not help him face the music with confidence?
5. Stick Ups – As a precautionary supplement to the Beano, this gift idea can be a real lifesaver when dealing with patients who raise a stink. They can also double as props for hands-free operation. For the bigger jobs, however …
6. Bottle Jack – Let’s face it, some jobs can be more of a handful than others, and your proctologist needs to keep that other hand free for other things. And to help set the proper mood, you could combine the gift with this one. Or as a change of pace …
7. A Case of  Heineken – Then again, he could be a beer man. Hopefully one with a good sense of humor too. So go ahead and treat him to some Heinies he can actually enjoy.
8. Headlamp – You don’t want Dr. Ben Dover to miss anything, so be sure he’s got the proper lighting. As an added bonus, you can select a model with assorted lens colors for a suitable holiday setting.
9. Hand Cream – Here’s another gift idea that benefits everyone. This one makes a good gift combination along with the manicure kit. Bonus points if it contains cornmeal.
10. Shinola – If you think about it, a poster ad for this stuff can serve as a sort of diploma on his wall. It’ll make it clear to all his patients that he knows his job … and the difference.

Mother Nature has been flexing her muscles in recent years,with flooding, drought, storms and record high and low temperatures. Sometimes people have been well-prepared for inclement weather, while other times have borne witness to some nasty surprises. When arctic cold whips southward, it first hits places like International Falls, Minnesota., where the locals are accustomed  to competing for “coldest spot in the country”. When folks build a place up north, they don’t lay plastic water pipe in a shallow trench. No, all that gets buried below the permafrost line. But, people down in the mid-south and up in the Sierra foothills are not ready when the mercury drops toward zero. Every year we are shown clips of Florida citrus farmers trying to protect their crops from the annual “surprise” cold weather. Most of the problems involved with cold have to do with surprises, and not the good kind. Below, you will find some of the tricks Jack Frost can play, and a few tips on how to thwart the chill.

1. Water Pipes – If you don’t live where pipes are routinely installed below-ground you may have to wrap pipes with insulating materials.
2. 2. Doors & Windows – Wind, combined with freezing rain or sleet, can seal doors and windows shut. Usually the situation is worse on one side of the house than the other, and you may be able to open a door on the leeward side of the building.
3. The Commode – Just the thought of the seat being ice-cold is enough to send someone to Amazon.com for a heated toilet seat, and there are plenty available.
4. 3-Dog (or Cat) Nights – On really cold nights you may find that all your four-legged friends decide to join you on the bed. Hint: whoever gets to bed first gets the best real estate.
5. Back of the Fridge – For some reason, everything that finds its way to the back of the refrigerator comes out frozen solid.
6. Spouses Feet – It’s a true scientific fact that all spouses have feet that are made of ice. You can look it up.
7. Garage Door Opener – Extreme cold can affect some garage door mechanisms; be careful when you choose which side of the door to park your car before the cold spell settles in.
8. Outside Faucets – Outside faucets and taps are prone to freezing. Wrapping them with insulating materials can help. Letting a faucet drip keeps water in motion, and can prevent pipes from freezing. In northern climates, ‘frostless’ outside faucets are usually installed to protect against freeze-up.
9. Satellite Dish – Ice storms and freezing rain can impact satellite performance when the dish gets coated in ice. Pans of hot water can fix the problem, or even a garden hose if it, too, isn’t frozen.
10. The Family Car – If the garage isn’t heated the family car can get awfully cold; usually it’s the loser of paper/scissors/rock who has to go out  and warm up the vehicle.

Even firewood works better if you have it in the house long enough for it to get to room temperature before you toss it into the wood stove. The best fix for winter freezing, and this hasn’t changed in recent memory, is Spring.

In today’s suburbs the houses seem to be getting closer and closer together.  Soon I feel like you’ll be able to pass a cup of sugar between your windows.  With this close proximity of our neighbors it’s kind of hard to not be aware of things that are going on next door.  The key to good neighbor relations is to mind your own business and if you do hear something pretend you didn’t.  Now, some people didn’t get that memo and are kind of nosey.  Check out 10 indications your new neighbors are nosey.

1. Peaking through the blinds: Do you notice your neighbor looking out their window every time you are outside with your family?  The curtains are moving as you pull into your driveway.  One slat in the blind is open while the rest of the blind is closed.  Maybe you are all the entertainment they get in a day.
2. Taking the trash out at the same time: Do your neighbors seem to take their trash out at the exact same time you do every week?  That seems rather suspicious doesn’t it?  It seems like they are in hopes that you will strike up a conversation with them.  When you do say hello to them do they stand and talk your leg off?  Maybe they are just lonely you think so you chat with them, week after week it keeps happening so that taking out the trash is an hour long event.  After weeks of this you decide to sneak your trash out at midnight to avoid the neighbor.
3. Asking you personal questions: While you and your family are out in the yard the neighbor appears and strikes up a conversation.  No problem at this point because you want to be good neighbors, but then you think it’s odd that the neighbor asks about where your wife was last night until 1 in the morning and other specific questions.
4. Neighbor gets your mail: Once or twice a month the neighbor comes bringing over your mail because they received it by “accident”.  You know they are nosey when the envelopes seem a little damp like they’ve been steamed open and then resealed.
5. Borrows sugar, but doesn’t bake: You know your neighbor is nosey when she comes over to borrow a cup of sugar, but you’ve never seen her bake.  While in the house waiting for you to get the sugar she wanders around looking at everything.
6. Takes too long in your bathroom: You’ve invited several neighbors over for a barbeque and the nosey neighbor uses your bathroom and takes forever in there.  Next time you go in there everything is a little out of place like every drawer and cupboard had been gone through.
7. You find them looking over the fence into your yard: While taking out the dog you look up and see your neighbor looking into your yard.  When you look right at them they just walk away without explanation as to what they were doing or looking for.
8. Other neighbors tell you things: Then other neighbors start knowing things about you and your family that there is no way they should know.  Or they tell you that the nosey neighbor asks specific questions about you or has told them stories about what goes on at your house.  They heard an argument the other night; they sure hope you don’t get a divorce.  Nosey remarks that are cloaked as concern.
9. Items you’ve left out for trash appear at your neighbor’s house: The baby pool that had a crack in it or the old broom that you put in your trash can appears at the neighbor’s house.  You may see them using the broom to sweep the walk or using the baby pool as a planter.  You are all for recycling, but it seems weird that they dug around in your trash can.
10. Voices and opinion about your argument last night: You really know your neighbor is nosey when the lady of the house tells you that your husband was completely in the wrong and that you should stick to your guns.  When you ask what she’s talking about she refers to the argument that she overheard last night.  If this happens, I think it’s time to move.

Many cities in the United States are now seeing increased bicycle traffic. With the difficult economy and high gasoline prices, there are more people choosing bikes as a primary transportation mode. This increase in leg-powered traffic, when combined with the already high levels of motor-powered traffic, can make for some conflict on the roadways. Let’s look at 10 reasons why bicyclists and motorists have trouble coexisting.

1. Speed Difference. No matter how fast a bicyclist can peddle a bike, there is no competing with a motorized vehicle for speed. When you have vehicles moving at different speeds on the same roadway, there is going to be potential for conflict and danger of accidents.
2. Visibility and Distractions. Because of the narrow profile presented by a bicycle and rider, they are more difficult for a motorist to see than are other motor vehicles. When this is combined with the distractions that some motorists allow themselves while driving, crashes and near-misses are often the result.
3. Narrow Streets. Increased bicycle traffic coincides with a movement in some cities and neighborhoods toward what is called “traffic calming.” Among the methods used to encourage slower traffic are the narrowing of streets and addition of mild curves. This leaves little room for a motorist to pass a bicyclist, especially when there is oncoming traffic.
4. Shunned Bike Paths. Oftentimes, slimmed down streets in a neighborhood are accompanied by the addition of paved bike paths. This is a wonderful idea for maintaining safety, if the bike paths are actually used by bicyclists. It seems that there are two issues involved that keep bikes off the paths. These will follow.
5. Bicyclist Arrogance. Some that choose to ride bikes for transportation or physical conditioning are determined to exercise their right to ride the roadways, regardless of the existence of bike paths and narrowed streets. It has been noted that bicyclists taking this attitude are most often riding high-performance bikes and wearing the most expensive of cycling gear.
6. Walkers and Casual Riders. Bike paths are often used by walkers as well as riders, and many of the conscientious bicycle riders that use bike paths are those that are in no hurry. This can cause impatient riders to take to narrow streets rather than have to deal with the slower moving obstacles on bike paths. There is some irony in this, as the higher speed riders now become the same sort of slower moving obstacle to motorists that walkers and slow riders are on the paths.
7. Motorist Ignorance. There are some motorists that don’t understand how much space they are required to allow while passing a bike. Quite often, bicycle riders find themselves squeezed up against curbs or forced into yards and ditches, as cars and trucks pass without offering sufficient space between.
8. Ignored Traffic Control. Some that ride bicycles appear to think that stop signs and traffic signals at intersections are only for motorists and walkers. This could fall into the Bicyclist Arrogance category above, but it really deserves its own slot on the list.
9. Between Lanes. Bicyclists have the ability, because of their narrow profile, to pass between motor vehicles in adjacent lanes when traffic is slow or stopped on multi-lane streets. This has real potential to cause conflict and/or injury. Some motorists will not see a bicyclist approaching from behind, while others may be having a bad day and do something illegal to obstruct a rider’s progress.
10. Mutual Antagonism. This brings us to the last and potentially most dangerous issue, between bicyclists and motorists, and the fault can be on either or both sides. Some motorists think bikes should only be allowed on sidewalks and bike paths, and they try to intimidate or startle cyclists. Some bicyclists think that everyone should either ride a bike or take a bus, and purposely do things to annoy or obstruct motorists. Either of these can end in injury or tragedy for all. Let’s chill, folks.

Perhaps after reading of these 10 reasons that bicyclists and motorists have trouble with coexistence, we’ll all be just a bit more aware and considerate of each other. At least, one can hope that is the case.

Afraid to fly in an airplane? There’s a support group to help you deal with that. Spending too much of the paycheck at the track? There’s a support group for that. Drink too much? There are groups for that, too. Worried about the alarming decline in the White Abalone population? Help is available (for the abalone, that is). There seems to be a group for every personal issue or social concern, but people are often still unaware that help is out there.

Below are some groups you may not have heard about; some are traditional 12-step groups while others speak to different issues.

1. Beasts of Borneo – Silica mining, shrimp farming, forest mono culture and agricultural pesticides are threatening the rain forests and orangutan habitat of Borneo. The OFI (Orangutan Foundation International) hopes to establish programs that will protect nearly a million acres of rain forest and some 20,000 orangutans. www.orangutan.org/
2. Couples Coping – Available through www.webmd.com/, discussions and advice columns are used to address issues involving dating and relationships.
3. Binge Eating – Online forums and threads offer support for people who suffer from this eating disorder. Online counseling is also available, for a fee. http://binge-eating.supportgroups.com/
4. Arachnophobia – If you fear our eight-legged friends, you are not alone. If you google “Arachnophobia Support Groups,” you’ll see  nearly 42,000 results pop up.
5. Sacharuna Foundation – P.O. Box 130, The Plains, VA, 22171. The Sacharuna Foundation is one of many groups dedicated to furthering the cause of a free Tibet.
6. Pharmacophobia – Many people have suffered from side-effects and allergic reactions when taking medications, and this has led them to have an overriding  fear of taking any medications. Support is often available through hospitals and clinics, and there are many online connections to help.
7. Coulrophobia – The fear of clowns has been used so much in literature, television and film that it has become something of a cliché, but the fear does exist and there are support groups that deal with this fear, as well as other anxiety disorders.
8. Clutterers Anonymous – A classic 12-step program designed for those who find their lives hopelessly cluttered, physically and emotionally. Meetings are available across the country.
9. Pet Loss – At http://www.pet-loss.net/ pet lovers who have been devastated by the loss of a family pet can communicate with others who have suffered a similar loss. Advice content is posted, and forums are available for those who wish to share their grief.
10. OLGA – On-Line Gamers Anonymous, or OLGA, is another 12-step program for those addicted to computer gaming. The program was initiated by a mother whose son committed suicide over online gaming.

Don’t be afraid to reach out, either to receive help or to lend a helping hand. For every person who has something to offer, there is another person who needs something.

We’ve all had to ship a package at one time or another and we need to be able to track it in case it doesn’t arrive on time. There are several different options available to ship packages with varying degrees of tracking capabilities. Here are 10 different options for you to consider when you need to send and track a package.

1. Fedex – “When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight” was the Fedex slogan from 1978 to 1983. With Fedex you can send a package anywhere in the world with excellent tracking capabilities.
2. UPS – The United Parcel Service is another worldwide package delivery company. UPS is usually the first option you think of when you need to send a package. They also have a great system to keep track of your package after it ships.
3. DHL – Based in Bohn Germany, DHL also delivers packages around the world and anywhere in the U.S. Starting out just delivering between San Francisco and Honolulu, they’ve now expanded their delivery service to countries not served by other companies.
4. TNT – Starting with one truck in Australia, TNT now delivers worldwide to over 200 countries. They have a variety of options for sending and tracking your special package.
5. Purolator – Another choice you have for shipping packages within Canada, the United States or worldwide is Purolator. They’re based in Canada but have shipping locations all over the U.S. as well.
6. Spee-Dee – This delivery service ships packages all over the upper Midwest and is often sub-contracted by larger companies for rural deliveries. If you live in the Spee-Dee area, they may be a good bargain for shipping packages locally.
7. USPS – Of course you can send and track a package through the United States Postal Service. They have several options such as flat rate boxes, express mail, certified mail and return receipt with each option having different tracking capabilities.
8. PackTrack.com – This online service gives you the option of tracking packages shipped by UPS, Fedex or DHL. It’s free and quick, saving you time at one simple website.
9. ParcelsPackages.com – You can compare rates of the major international package delivery companies at this website. With so many options available, it’s confusing and time consuming trying to find the best rate, so this can be a great tool.
10. Local Courier – If you just need to get your package delivered across town, you may want to use a local courier service. They will usually pick up and deliver the same day, but you want to make sure they provide track and trace service.

The option you choose to send your package depends on where it’s going and when it needs to get there. Each company has different levels of reliability and rates especially if you’re shipping your parcel internationally. You want to compare rates, but sometimes it’s worth it to pay a little more to get reliable service. Convenience is another consideration when making your choice, so you need to know what companies service your area. Whatever you choose, make sure to get that tracking number.

Most people think of four letter words as inappropriate for children. If you can get your mind out of the gutter, you will realize there are many positive four letter words we should be teaching our children. Here are 10 four letter words we should encourage our kids to use every day.

1. Hope – Children tend to live in the here-and-now so they may need to be reminded to have hope for the future. If things aren’t going well today kids should have hope that everything will eventually turn out alright.
2. Love – Everyone needs to know they’re loved, especially children. Let your kids know you love them and encourage them to love others as well.
3. Good – Kids need to be taught the difference between good and evil. A strong sense of what’s right and wrong will help them later on in life as the lines between the two tend to get blurred.
4. True – Besides good and evil, kids need to know the difference between true and false. With all the cartoons and video games they’re exposed to, they need to know what’s real. They also should learn how harmful a lie can be.
5. Give – Children can learn at an early age the importance of giving. Kids need to know that sharing with others, especially those less fortunate, can really make them feel good about themselves.
6. Care – Kids tend to get pretty wrapped up in themselves, so it doesn’t hurt to remind them to care for others. Teach your children to be caring for other people in their daily lives.
7. Life – How critical it is to teach your kids the importance of life. Encourage your children to enjoy life every day and let them know how precious it is.
8. Play – Parents can get so focused on their child’s education and development that they sometimes forget to let kids be kids and just play. Make sure your kids know how to have fun.
9. Best – There’s so much emphasis these days on making sure kids don’t feel like losers that the importance of kids being winners gets lost. Encourage your children to work hard and always strive to be the best.
10. Wise – Children are so perceptive and often express a wisdom that amazes us adults. Take the time to learn from your kids and help nourish their ability to be wise.

Come to think of it, these ten words are not only good to teach our children, but these are also four letter words we should remember to use in our own lives every day. The next time you hear a bad four letter word or are thinking of using one yourself, think of a good four letter word to use instead. Then just think of what a better place the world would be if everyone did the same. Remember to teach your kids that the words they choose to use can really make a difference.

Mother Goose stories and rhymes have been around for centuries and were first introduced in America by Charles Perrault just as we were gaining our independence. Although these tales were told to children as bedtime stories, many of the stories had political origins. How ironic that many of these nursery rhymes would be considered politically incorrect in today’s society. Let’s discuss a few of these Mother Goose fables that parents may hesitate before reading to their children.

1. Puss in Boots – Although this is a great rags-to-riches story all children would enjoy, just the title would give politically correct parents pause. Although the term puss was commonly used to refer to a cat in ages past, it’s now usually used as a somewhat lewd expression.
2. Wee Willie Winkie – Another title with lewd connotations, this cute little rhyme could be quite upsetting to the PC crowd. I’m sure if there were someone dressed in a nightgown running around town peeking in windows, someone would have him arrested.
3. Gorgy Porgy – I’m sure this darling little ditty has completely innocent intent, but those more cynical may think it has sinister undertones. People may wonder why all the girls started to cry when Gorgy kissed them and why he ran away when the boys came out to play. H-m-m-m-m.
4. Three Blind Mice – We can’t possibly be telling such violent stories to our children. How cruel for the farmer’s wife to cut off the tails of those poor little visually challenged mice.
5. The Black Hen – Now this fable is just plain racist. Why is it only the back hen that’s laying eggs for the gentlemen? We also wonder why these guys come by every day to check her out.
6. Humpty Dumpty – They always portray Humpty as an egg, however the name could possibly suggest someone who may not only have a weight problem, but a physical deformity as well. We can’t be exposing our young children to such intolerance.
7. Little Red Riding Hood – This bedtime story is politically incorrect in so many ways. One wonders what the red riding hood implies about this little girl and why is she allowed to roam the forest alone? The horror of the wolf eating her grandmother and the hunter cutting the wolf open are likely to give your kids nightmares.
8. Bye, Baby Bunting – Here’s a short rhyme just chock full of gender bias. Why does the father have to do the hunting instead of the milking or silking? Then they send the brother to do the shopping and he buys a skin for the baby instead of a nice soft blanket. The whole family is totally dysfunctional.
9. What Are Little Boys Made Of? – This is another poem that uses a stereotypical way to describe boys and girls that simply would not be considered politically correct today. I’m sure you don’t want your sons to think they are made of nasty things while their sisters are made of everything nice.
10. There Was an Old Woman – In today’s PC world we can’t be calling women old and the local zoning board wouldn’t allow her to live in a shoe with all those children. If she was only feeding her kids broth and whipping them soundly every day, social services would definitely be called in.

How sad to think that children of PC parents wouldn’t be told these fanciful tales that millions of kids have grown up with for centuries. One wonders about the loss of a more innocent age when wide eyed children imagined a pussy cat in boots or a woman and a bunch of kids living in a shoe. I don’t think there is anyone in therapy blaming nursery rhymes for their problems. I hope we never lose these timeless Mother Goose fables that entertained us when we’re young and make us ponder as we grow older.

Looking for a reason to skip out on a family reunion? Do you ever wonder how other people get out of attending one? Listed below are ten common excuses people use to get out of attending a family reunion.

1. Someone died. This is a popular one; just make sure that the funeral that you are claiming to have to attend is not one of a relative’s. Better yet make it someone from out of town and then actually leave town so you don’t get busted.
2. I’m sick. Although this one can be useful, make sure that you only use it if you know no one from said reunion will try to come over to take care of you.
3. Someone else is sick. If you use this excuse you have to be careful that you don’t have a parent or other close relative that is attending the reunion who will offer to relieve you from your nursing duties, so that you can attend the reunion.
4. I already have plans. Make sure that you really do have plans and are not home in case you get busted by someone driving by. Or make plans for that specific day so that it is the truth.
5. I have to work. Again, this is another one where you want to make sure that you do not get busted by being somewhere other than at work. It could be quite awkward running into someone who is running an errand for the reunion when you are running from it.
6. We have a family emergency. Be prepared for a more detailed answer than this. More than likely you will be questioned on what the emergency is and if there is anything they can do to help.
7. I forgot the date/time. This one can only be used after the fact and only if no one talked to you about the reunion recently to remind you of it.
8. I can’t find a babysitter. You may want to save this one until after the reunion as an excuse as to why you didn’t show up and not an excuse beforehand as again someone may volunteer to help or tell you that you can just bring the kids.
9. I have tickets to… Do your research for this one and make it a believable one. Saying you have tickets to a concert that isn’t playing is not a wise idea.
10. I can’t afford to travel right now. With the way the economy is going right now, this is a very believable excuse, as long as no one offers to pay for your trip.

If you are worried that you will get busted with an excuse used prior to the reunion ,you could just skip the reunion and use the excuse after the fact, if someone asks why you didn’t come. Remember, family reunions can be a great time to get together and reconnect. However, there are some circumstances where you may be uncomfortable attending. If none of the above excuses works for you, try the truth. You never know, the person you are telling may not want to be there either.