Hope things continue to improve. Maybe the doc can prescribe something that makes him feel better very soon. I hope you didn't take offense at my first post. I was just trying to give you a chuckle. I tend to laugh at my own miseries. (There's one weekend 20 years ago that I continue to call "The Weekend in Hell." I've thought about writing a book based on our misadventures that weekend.) Take care, Amelia

I have 3 burpless cukes & 2 Armenians side by side & I've been getting cukes for a long time. I planted them a few days after the last frost. (to replace the ones that froze) I almost gave up on the Armenians because they just sat there for so long. Then when it got SO hot, they really took off. They never even get wilty. I started them indoors & they germinated really fast. Next year I'm going to try the Armenian tiger melon too.

Scarlett: Amen to that! But we all need to keep up our end of the bargain by not shopping. As much. Hopefully, I can turn the tables with my kids and they can be the generation to see Christmas as a simpler, reflective celebration. I'm all for fun, however: one of my favorite traditions is cutting down a Christmas tree. We take the drive to the southern end of the county, roam through the fields, find the tree, we all take turns with the saw, and get it on the car. Then we stop at a restaurant on the way home(HUGE treat for all of us). And we park the tree outside a window so we can admire it. But the fun doesn't stop there, because at 2 the Big Man with the Red Suit makes his appearance. He takes his time writing down three things that the kids are wishing for (yes, this Santa limits! He gets it!). We get the tree in and decorate 'til we feel like stopping and maybe watch a movie or make a light dinner together or play a game or do a craft. It is one of the best days of the year to me since it's marked there on the calendar and we do it together. And my oldest is 11, so I know the time's coming when things'll get really crazy busy and/or he might get dragged along. It's not fancy, it's not exotic, it doesn't cost a bundle, but it's worth a million-bazillion to me in mom-currency.

Well, luckily I knew the couple quite well and we chatted long enuogh for my wife to show up with the cards, they never knew I had forgotten them. One wedding I had the groom was drunk the whole reception and hiding from the camera the whole night, then, when they got the proofs he wanted to 50% discount because the wasnt any pictures of him. I did not mean to laugh out loud but I did and it turned out to be a very interesting conversation after that. Your in TX right? Where is the wedding going to be at? Dont worry I am not fishing, just interested. Joe