Hi Rosemary, I am sorry that you are feeling rather isolated from your young ones. It sounds as though they are either in process of, or on the verge of, getting more and varied responsibilities. As you realize, and a number have said, even the nearby ones sometimes don't visit a lot, though there are more opportunities of seeing the grands (even if for babysitting). And one can get a fleeting glimpse of them from time to time. Rosemary, do you find that you sit at home quite a lot? Don't sort of stew in your own juice, I hope. Have you found some social, church, sport, community, etc. functions where you can meet new friends? How about some volunteer activities? There are many people who find it hard to get around, or are lonely, who would apprciate a friend. In our area they have organized a goup of younger seniors who help some older ones do chores in their home, to permit them to live there longer. There's Meals on Wheels in a number of areas, and driving people dealing with cancer for treatment, etc. We've heard of Big Brothers and Big Sisters but I haven't heard of Big Grannies (Oh! Oh! I think I made a boo-boo!) but many families with children have the Grands at a long distance, so could use some substitutes. When we were in Korea, our children used to call a number of the other unrelated adults Aunt Helen and Uncle Frank. Our chilfren's mother was head of food service in major hosp. for 20 years and I overseas missionary for several years, parish clergyperson, liberal protestant, for a number of years, then a personal financial advisor for several. Our children were taught by both parents to choose their own way, and I've often said that it seems to me that one of my main jobs as a parent is to help my offspring prepare themselves for independence. Two children, both in their 40s, no grands. My daughter is rather footloose. She spent a year in Hamburg near the end of H.S. (2nd last?) and later a recent German immigrant, initially speaking German to me, thought that daughter spoke it so well that she'd learned it at home. She spent a few years in AZ a few years ago, then was connected to a S O 120 mi. away for several years, but now breaking up and she's moving to back to AZ - planning to buy a place and taking her stuff with her. So helping her move the last of it to storage on Sunday was rather bittersweet. Serious business. Bachelor son lived in Toronto, 120 miles away, for several years, and here in London for a number of years recently, and we have spent quite a lot of time together. He hasn't had a driving licence and I've driven him around quite a bit in rcent years. He'll be getting his licence back soon. Their mother died in this city about three years ago and they were busy for some time disposing of her assets and selling her home. I've always felt rather close to daughter (her mother and I parted when she was 6, son was 9). AZ is a long way away. I've done some long distance driving, going 1,600 mi. from here through U.S. to Sask. several times. But I'm nearing 80, and my son is making objecting noises about my idea of driving 1,600 mi. out there for family reunion at brother's farm in July. Would also like to visit former colleagues in British Columbia, and son doesn't like that idea. Also have some idea of visiting NC (former overseas workers' reunion) and GA (niece's family) at the end of July. Daughter is thinking of attending family reunion at my brother's in Saskatchewan in early July, I said maybe get one way ticket, we drive her home to AZ, then I head for NC. Son doesn't like that idea, either. This business of his vetoing my major travel is a new thing. So I am feeling rather bereft at the idea of "losing" daughter. We call back and forth and send emails. I have an old computer but may upgrade to one that will allow me to have a mike and webcam. But, living in the country and unwilling to use satellite, I am confined to landline and am not sure whether webcam works on that. M a y be sl o w m o t i o n! Rosemary, I hope that you find ways to alleviate some of the sadness and emptiness (empty nest syndrome?) that have been part of your experience lately. And not just some sort of stop-gap alleviation, but some ways of operation which will prove increasingly satisfactory over the long term. ((((((Rosemary)))))) ole joyful

Shee, I'd put it as close to the sink and over the countertop as you can to eliminate drips everywhere. I love that toilet paper holder that you found though. whitdobe, that towel looks so nice there. I've never thought of using a larger towel on a wall ring. It's a great idea because I don't like seeing all the drips down the wall from reaching over to the towel from the sink and this would eliminate those. With a pedestal sink, the options are limited. I've looked at the "Healthy Shelf" that holds paper towels but it just seems too big.

Just, we have a 16 year old pool in Vegas. It has an 8 ft raised section, about 1 1/2 ft tall. We were required to put 3 handholds on the tile surface, DH had them tape them instead of mortar them in, removed them after final inspect. They looked like soap dishes, were code even back then. I thought they were an injury waiting to happen, kids were already old enough to reach the top of the RBB if needed. Barb

At our house, we subscribe to a daily newspaper including a Sunday issue. Its the only place we can get decent TV listings for the weel for our local stations. TV guide has turned to junk and is total useless in regard to our local stations. I do the daily Soducu and my other half does the crossword puzzle. However, our paper's organization is having difficulties. Last month, Gannet Publications completed buying the paper and this month, it has been converting to the new newsprint size (narrower pages). Print media has taken a hit all over the country. Quadgraphics, one of the largest printers, is headquartered in our little town. It does not do books; It does not do newspapers: It prints everything else and has managed to stay alive. Two years ago, its business was down, bur now is stable. It prints magazines, catalogs, advertising sheets, and develops and sells high speed color printing presses. Its amazing to see their press accelerate back up to about 2000 ft per minute after changing a roll of paper. They do not stop the press to change a roll of paper, just slow it own to about half speed. I've watched the process. The change-over happens so fast that it can not be seen. One hears a BANG, the new roll has been pasted to the end of paper strip in the press, and the motors begin to accelerate back to full speed. I thought that magazine printing would be high tech also. Well, it is processor controlled, but the final makeup of the magazine is very simple. As sections are printed (about 10 double width pages), a group of pages are folded in half and laid on a clothes-line! This wire line is about 3 ft off the floor and each section is laid on top of each other by automatic equipment until the magazine is complete. The magazine is manually lifted off the wire and taken to a finishing station where it is stapled, labeled, and trimmed.