Thank you helena. i couldn't have thought of anything better myself. lately i have pursued option #3. ignore, ignore, ignore. do you want to know the latest phony thing she's doing? she "blew out her knee" (actually a minor strain) and was given crutches. doctor said three days. i've seen her walking around her room just fine without them (she leaves her door open and i see her when i pass by), yet she hobbles around on them in public and waits for people to give her sympathy, compassion, ATTENTION....whatever the hell she expects from us. she also uses it as an excuse to miss her "health and wellness concepts" gym class. a lecture....please, like that's too much physical activity. sorry about the late response. i've gotten into this nasty habit of not checking my e-mail regularly (actually, every two weeks or so is a fairly regular schedule, isn't it?). jessica :)