Kate; The state of Kansas opened in 1993 a season for hunting Sandhill Cranes- thus the seven (7) hunters in Kansas last year who shot and killed 2 of the 3 Whoopers that morning not only tarnished the public image of "ethical hunters" and undermined the DNR reputation for wildlife stewardship, but caused great harm by reducing the population of adult Whoopers traversing from Canada(Wood Buffalo) to Texas by 3% percent. The other bad thing about this is it took "other" people to report the shootings ,after finding wounded Whoopers.- What are we teaching our illustrious "gun-slingers", "Humanity" going Backwards. --------------------------------------------------------- - On March 15,2005 another one of the youngsters from the 2004 class of Whoopers who left Wisconsin last fall following the trike planes , and have stayed in Florida was found eaten by a bobcat. The remaining 12 youngsters from 2004 class should be starting thier 1200 mile journey back to Necedah anytime soon- this time they are on "their own", no one to lead and guide them, they might even wonder all over the Midwest Area, just like some who wondered off into Michigan, one who stayed in Illinos all year, it's nice hear their KREER- kREER overhead when they spiral, float and head North to the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

Thank you all. Chispa, I think my nephew will have a unique view of his moms life. My BIL threw my SIL a surprise retro frat party themed shindig. We weren't able to go, but it essentially was a living wake that went into the wee hours of the morning with people there she knew in grade school, highschool, college and post grad life as well as family. However in keeping with the frat theme, the guest could only get a "red solo cup" if they turned over a memory or story of LC. My BIL then had the memories all bound in a book for his wife. He told her it would help her smile on the rough days when she felt alone or worried she didn't leave enough of a footprint on the world. I saw the book a few weeks ago. Some of the stories are hilarious reincriminations of IHGS stubborn or mischievous side (like sneaking her dachshund into her back bag and into her kindergarten classroom so the dog could learn to talk too) to touching memories of kindness or slightly embarrassing but endearing memories. It was amazingly thoughtful. Some shared several short stories, others a detailed letter of why they loved her. It was so funny to see how she jotted rebuttal memories in the margins of some of those embarrassing stories or defenses or her own memory of the writers foolish endeavor. Just reading through it had some of us in stitches. Hopefully one day her son will appreciate the multiple views of his mother through other's memories or her short written retort. But the coolest thing (IMO) is what IHGS did for him. She couldn't write letters to a future son at various milestones. But she wanted to leave him some piece of her or her thoughts or how she approached life. She spent days in the hospitals over the last few years really cultivating playlists from her vast itune collections. The playlists tell chapters in her life labeled as these were your lullabies aka i rocked the mothering thing or are labeled with identifying things as songs to impress your future date, this will help you get an a, fight for your right to pahty, expression of the teenage angst, yes I know your dad is impossible, etc etc... I think it's such a cool glimpse into who she is and how she thinks. I think it's something he can go back to several times in life and listen with new understanding... Dorothy, I'm so glad to see your grandson is doing well. So much has changed from the time IHGS was a teen. The chemo is now so targeted and less harsh. Her particular chemo regimen is no longer available because they discovered a large percentage of the teenagers ended up developing new refractory cancers years later. Basically these kids would beat one to have something else pop up. Usually a transplant cured them, but not IHGS. She had the wicked trifecta of poor genetics, exposure to environmentsk dangers as a kid, and then the toxic demo, Her leukemia was termed beautiful and wickedly smart, mutating with each new treatment. anyway as IHGS would say hope your grandson is soon "hanging with NED at the cool kids table". Ned = no evidence of disease. I'll keep you, your gs, snd his parents in my thoughts. Cancer sucks no matter what the age. It's so sad to see it cheat kids and teens of their belief in invincibility.

It is unfair of you to say that my DD is unreasonably demanding. Go back and read what I originally wrote about her New Zealand trip. There is a huge difference in what my SD24 did and what my DD did. My SD24 planned in her mind a 7 night cruise to Hawaii, which would mean that air flights from Wisconsin to California would have to be included in the trip, as she lives in Wisconsin. The price that she expected us to pay was for the entire trip, it would be at least $5000. My DD said that she would like to take the $1000, that we were offering each child, and apply hers to her New Zealand trip. We said we didn't care where they took a trip, as long as it was without children. We were not paying for a family vacation. The trip was offered as a weekend getaway for the couple only. We said right up fron that if the kids go, we do not pay anything. My daughter did not ask for a trip to New Zealand from us. She was already planning a trip there, and wondered if the cash could be applied to her already planned trip. We offered this trip because we wanted to do something nice for our children for their 5th anniversary. I do not feel that we are trying to buy love. My daughter did not ask for money, it was offered to her first. She only clarified with me how she could use the money that I offered to her. It is OK for SD24 to clarify details of the weekend getaway that we'd offered her too. But she only heard that her brother was going on a cruise, and translated that to a cruise for her too. We'll send her on the same 3 day cruise out of San Diego as we sent her brother. Her brother got himself to San Diego, he happens to live nearby. The problem with her, is that she made the assumption that whatever she planned, how ever long it was, or where ever it went, that Daddy would pay. Far different from what my daughter did. And now that the first kid took the trip, we can't very well retract the offer for the others. This will be the last offer of anything like that after they've all gotten their turn. As far as buying something for DD and not for SD, well they are keeping score. If they hear of something that I did for my kids, and not for them, then there are problems. I mailed a "care package" to my son in the Marines while he was in Iraq. At the same time my DHs daughter was 200 miles away in graduate school. I didn't see this as the same situation, but I was newly married, and didn't want to cause waves over a care package. It seemed like my DH wanted me to send one to his DD too. So, I did. I get an email for DS23 for Iraq telling me that he shared the brownies with the rest of his troops, and they all said thanks. He said they lasted about 5 minutes. The culture on base in Iraq, is when you get a package, you share. 2 weeks went by and I heard nothing from DS25. My DH phoned her and asked her if she got the package or not. She said yes, but was to busy to call and thank me. I never bothered to send her another one. My son now is in Somolia, and I send him one about every 4-6 weeks. If he starts taking them for granted, I'll stop with him too, but he hasn't. It's OK to disagree on the forum, but I think we should be curtious to each other. I don't think we should write something here that we would most likely not say to someone's face. I think we should share our experiences to help each other, but refrain from telling others how wrong they are just because they don't do it our way.

You are from a long way from most posters here, Rishabh! My post was from just after I moved here to what used to be step-uncle's farm - fifteen years ago March 1st. I'm near London, Ontario, Canada, in southwestern Ontario - not far from 4 of the Great Lakes. Half way between Detroit MI and Toronto ON or Buffalo NY. I rent a farmhouse and can share use of a barn and shed with my landlord. ole joyful