Beanmomma, I caught part of a program recently about the autistic and how many are able to communicate via computers. Amazing to see their faces as they typed what they couldn't convey through speaking. Most beneficial was being able to correspond with other autistics. So interesting about your letter "M"...I myself have sent/received seeds and cuttings to faraway places, plus garden book swaps...most due to a casual post here or on another garden site. To receive a box of strange seedpods from Australia...what a thrill. Meldy, I do feel "touched" by posts here and elsewhere...perhaps from my years of reading I can empathize with emotions sometimes more readily thru the written word than perhaps in person. This is no doubt my failing, but I feel uncomfortable in some emotional conversations face to face. I myself often write what I can't say...I think many of us here probably keep journals. It helps sort out my thoughts. Perhaps the computer is a boon to some in that way...we wouldn't join in as readily in a conversation in real life...particularly in a large group. Here we can add our 2 cents ...and not worry about the glazed eyeball and the scroll button...LOL I'd give up my clothes dryer and dishwasher, even more readily cable tv, before I'd give up my Webtv...lol Cellphone is just in case...we take it into garden or to mailbox with us. Everyone of us probably adapts the new technology to our wants and needs...I don't use much of it but I'm awfully glad it's available. josh

Well that's a fine kettle of fish! They are building that Spitzbergen seed vault because they consider every other seed bank on the planet vulnerable to destruction of one kind or another. Its remoteness seems to suggest to them that it won't get nuked. It's 426 ft. above current sea level, so if Antarctica melts and raises sea levels 200 ft., it'll still be high and dry. I guess somebody forgot to consider that even permafrost can thaw. :) But never fear, they'll probably install a standing army of solar powered wind turbines to power refrigeration units and after the rest of the world gets nuked, the seeds will still be viable, however long they must wait for someone to discover them and replant them. :)

Oh your sooooooo mean LOL....... I cannot go I cannot go I have to many plants and swaps to enable me as it is, not to mention that my car is on auto pilot to all the good nurseries in town. Stopped by Green mamas yesterday and got some cosmos :) and two sedums. But thanks anyway for the info. Maybe some others can go.

--"Things have gotten better, but I can't say I'll ever relax or trust her. "-- A bit of progress? However big or small that is, it's a positive for you, Thurman. Congrats on this part. If the contact is under business relations, I'd think it would be mostly , well, merely about business. It's not like your sibling will be inviting SD over for Mother's Day or a picnic on Memorial Day. I'm assuming SD will be being billed for sibling's services and the services will be short term. Leave it alone. You handed out the email, now let sibling on his/her ownn decide whether or not they want to assist SD in whatever her business needs are. Sibling is under no obligation to give business services to SD solely because SD is your SD, and/or if sibling is too busy or does not wish to service family member relations. If sibling is willing to offer professional services, I doubt it would go any more than perhaps polite small talk besides whatever the actual business it. Afterall, if you've managed to keep your sibling private from SD for over 20 yrs, I doubt it's much of a threat now.