I have to work this week end (I do every weekend) but I am also working tonight. I usually don't work Fridays but I am trying to get all the time in that I can before school starts back. ( I am only taking 3 hours this semester so hopefully I wont be that crazy) Figure I will be busy this semester since my eldest will be graduating from high school. Mary

Eloise I am sorry that I only know that they are Castor beans. That is a plant that reseeded itself year after year while I was gone and when I came back I planted just ONE in that corner and the frost got it night before last and it is a goner now. I am still hoping thou that the seeds might still develope. Anybody knows if they would still be viable? I always come back and read all your postings, just sometimes I forget to come back again and answer if there is a question lol. sorry. Kylie I let you know in a bit how cold it is here today. I must be crazy to go out there now. Lucy

Stick to your guns Susie. I can feel your tension and hope you take good care of yourself. You will never be there for mom if you don't attend to your needs first. Being healthy and strong allows you to give more with less effort. Sounds like your mom is throwing a guilt trip at you so shrug it off. So hard when you want to help someone and they turn good intentions against you. Moms good luck with all those children... hope the sicky ones recover, those to be come healthy, and those that hope find their dreams. I didn't post yesterday as I was on the road for hours. My alma matter had invited me to attend a lunch/lecture/ and what was probably a wake. A dear departed "sociological technologist" was appreciated with a presentation of his final study given by one of his associates. Lunch was steak strips with a fancy peppery sauce. My table was joined by three beautiful current students happy to enjoy a free lunch. I couldn't hear those across the table from me but the young lady next to me was excited about pursuing a career in enviromental law. We had an alumni at the table currently working in that field so the talk was hot and heavy about what law school might be a good choice. The study was presented after lunch and was about the Internet habits of young people. It looked at the integration of technology into the social lives of high school students... facebook, my space, and creative outlets. Later we met in a quiet room of mostly faculty and memories of the late 60's and 70's and the school's founding were shared by those who were at the scene of the crime. Then we got down to business with cocktails and a connection time. I was a bit of an oddity because most students are fairly wealthy and go on to graduate programs and fancy careers. The college has some intest in using me as an example of what can be done with a liberal arts education without law school. They like that I was able to reinvent myself over and over to meet the challenges of my life. For awhile I sat with the Dean and drunkenly bent his ear about skills I've found critical but aquired after school. I stopped for a burger at a the Harrison Roadhouse which is just off campus and sobered up for the long drive home. For me drunk is about three drinks these days so an hour and food was plenty to get me on my way. I so needed that touching back with a place and people that gave me my adult life. Back to work today. A pocket full of business cards and head full of projects. : ) lyra

Chalkboard Art - the site is in Japanese but you can still look at the amazing pictures of chalkboard art. http://kokubanart.nichigaku.co.jp/