Sorry to hear this. They raid my neighborhood often too, not fun! That's why I grow a LOT of Euphorbias which they avoid due to the toxic/bitter sap. I have several big Euphorbia royleana in my front garden, plus E. rigida, E. tirucalii and some others, and they never bother those. I also grow a lot of large growing aloes and they have never bothered those either. I'm taking my chances with a few other cacti they might enjoy, but they avoid the Euphorbias and soapy Aloes. Good luck and sorry again. Keep us posted!

First, let me thank everyone for their contribution to this topic. In these trying times, with so many people homeless and with the crazy weather we are having, we need to ALL be our brother's keeper. "Except for the grace of God, there go I" definitely applies, even if you don't believe in God. Secondly, this is a very rural area. Towns are scattered and small (less than 1,000 people in most). There are only 285 people within the city limits in the town nearest us. When I called it a hamlet in the past, I meant a hamlet! Three churches, a city hall-library combo, a convenience store-gas station, a post office and that's it. We used to have a feed store, but he closed down this spring. There's a tire repair shop there now. The local school closed in the 70s and combined with another town's school system 12 miles away in another county. Until this past year, we didn't even have a police station or a building to house our fire department's pumper trucks. Lots of bean suppers, weeny roasts, and chili cookouts helped us raise the money to finally get our little building. We are all so proud of it too. The president's stimulus package gave us sidewalks downtown. We didn't have any before. That is so nice, especially for children, the elderly, and the disabled. The little town where I saw the man laying in the ditch is more of a village. It has a thriving school system and a Senior Citizen meeting place and a new home-style cafe, plus the Convenience store-gas station-laundry mat combo. I think it has at least a a thousand residents, but taking in all the rural folks, that could double the population. There is no Salvation Army, Homeless Shelter or any other services to help the homeless or poor. The only town around that is big enough to support a homeless shelter in Stillwater, and it is abt. 30 miles from there. They only have one that I know of and it is full to capacity and has been for several years. There is a long waiting list. Sad situation. Thirdly - All the fire departments are volunteer with pumper trucks. All the little towns within a 60 mile radius or maybe more, come to one another's aid when there are fires or natural disasters. The nearest town of any size with Ambulance services is Chandler, the county seat, about 14 miles away. They are fast to come though, when you call. I have called them for my dad a couple of times. Such nice young men and so tender with my Papa and helpful. Fourthly - I was in my husband's car that day. His AC is out, so it was probably 120 degrees in my car, even with the windows down. Keeping water or food was no option. Also, I had accidentally left my cell phone at home that day for some reason, I NEVER do that! If I would have had my cell, I would just have pulled over there and called 911 and waited for them to come help. However, I was already feeling sick myself, so quickly drove to the convenience store to seek help for him and get something to drink for myself! * I will remember that info about not giving fluids or food. Thank you! I didn't know that and I used to be a trained nurses aid! Just common-sensical though. Doh, on my part! These days, it isn't wise for a person, especially a woman alone, to stop and help someone. I have heard of people being ambushed in a sucker-trap set up to rob people and do they harm, and even of people being attacked when trying to help someone, but sometimes you just feel you have to do something! There were shade trees higher up on the bank and maybe when he laid down there he was in the shade, but he wasn't when I drove by. And lastly, as for the school situation - We have snow days here, too, bt no "Heat days". This year they started schools early, but the new governor and majority party in the state Congress decided they needed to cut back on expenditures, so they decided one area they could cut costs was to eliminate buses for city or town kids. Kids who live within a mile of school will no longer be provided with bus services. (I don't know if this applies to handicapped or special needs children or not). So those kids have to walk to and from school in this heat, (or rain, tornado, floods, snow or ice) for the first time probably in their lives. Also, think of the little ones who have no other way to get to school or kids who have no one to walk with to school. What will happen to them? A lot of parents are really upset over the whole situation, as they should be. Those children could end up as prey to the crazies, if not merely the victims of the weather, especially right now. That's why I said earlier that it was a case of indifference or stupidity or BOTH! They did not plan ahead for these things before they changed the laws. It just makes me so angry! When I was a little girl, buses only ran for the country kids. In California, I rode the bus to school as we lived out in the country, but when we moved back here, we lived in town, so I walked, come rain, shine or snow. We didn't have snow days either. It was awful sometimes. (I actually fell through a snowbank once and had an older boy not seen it and pulled me out, I might have frozen to death.) But, for the most part, kids back then played outside - all the time! We were used to walking everywhere we went and being out in all kinds of weather. Not so with children today. Most parents are afraid to let their kids run all over the neighborhood and town like we used to do. We roamed the hills and dales and mother never worried about us. We all played together outside until dark every night. She had to call us to come in. But it isn't safe anymore. Too many crazies! Cars go faster now too, and frankly, neighbor people and people in general don't watch out for one another's children like they used to do. Everyone is in their own little world. Those who have their own vehicles and women who don't have to work out of their homes can manage to drive their kids to school - they probably already do anyway. But the poor and the working poor probably don't have that option. Riding the school bus was the only way for their kids to get to school safely. It's cruel to do that to the poorest of the poor people. Just plain cruel and calloused. ~Annie

I'm so sorry for your loss. What a lovely way to inform us, citing all the good things you were able to share after being reunited. Your story reminds me of the suitor my mother refused when they were both very young. (She was only 17, and she and her parents thought this was premature.) As my mother was dying of leukemia, a lifelong friend sent her news of this man -- by then a widower of many years. He came across the country to spend a week with my mother, bringing the photo she'd inscribed to him so long ago, and bringing the perfect little diamond ring he'd kept all these years. I know their marriage would have been uneven. He was a quiet, homebody person, and my mother became a successful career woman. However, I thought he was a much finer person than the successful businessman she did marry (and divorce) -- my father. Sometimes we underestimate how romantic and sentimental a man can be.

I am like Marilyn. I don't do dress up. I own one pair of gray pants but they are probably too big for me now since I lost a bit of weight since last year. I'm overweight,over 60, wear jeans and mens t shirts. Still get hit on all the time. Like Emma said, it's attitude. I walk into a room like I own it. Using Poor posture and stance is the most aging thing one can do. I learned my lesson years ago at an awards ceremony for a scout thing. I was in my late 30's. After shopping most of the afternoon I was practically in tears. I hate most women's fashion. I am short and they make me look old and frumpy. Don't even get me started ranting about those stupid looking hobbit pants. LOL So DH said to wear what I wanted and I did. I went in clean newish (not faded) jeans and a nice sweat shirt which were in style back then. When we got there there we a sat down at an empty table. Later all these men came in and sat with up. The whole room was either in uniform or dressed up. The women were all in dresses and jewelry and such. Guess who had the best time? ME!!! We talked sports, autos and guy stuff. I think had I been dressed girly they would have been more subdued. The guy next to me was tipsy and hilarious. Turned out the guys at our table were all the national head honchos. They had been partying earlier. Now had I worn a dress or dressy clothes I would have been so uncomfortable I would have been evil. My personality changes for the worse as the layers of "feminine" clothing go on. So I have learned to stay in my comfort zone. The heck with what others think. The church thing? How nice of those women to judge. Bless their brittle little hearts.