Gigi - The old leaves on streps do dry on the ends. You can just trim the dry part with the scissors. The streps like to get dry before you water them again. The pot should be light and dry - just before the leaves start wilting - or just start showing the lack of luster because of the drought. You let them dry just a bit - may be they want to dry even more. The streps like it cooler and more light than AVs. What are the temps? May be it is not enough light? What are you using for fertilizer? Good luck Irina

Well, the party was a success so I thought I'd share the results after your thoughtful replies. Invitation: Cut out a large letter B from paper printed with balloons. I randomly wrote on the front B=Ball, B=Balloon, B=Book, B=Bubbles, B=Bugs. Then I wrote the party details for the Big Boy Birthday Bash on the other side, including that this was a "B" themed party. Food: (I was cooking for about 43 adults and kids.) Beefy Ribs and (Buns with Hotdogs for the kids) Brown Rice and Chickpea Rainbow Salad (GREAT pesto vngrte) Beans with Lemon and Walnut Vngrte Bacon and Blue Cheese Mashed Potato Casserole Biscuits with fresh herbs and Basil Butter Drinks: Basil lemonade Blueberry lemonade Cake: Banana cake in the shape of a bumblebee. I found a baseball cake pan the shape of half of a ball and thought "why not make that the body of the bee?" So I did. I used a 6" round cake for the head, but I cut it out a bit to fit snuggly into the round body cake piece. I frosted it with golden yellow buttercream. I was in a hurry so instead of mixing black icing for the bee's stripes, I sprinkled on brown jimmies in stripes. I used black licorice for the antenna and legs. I made wax paper wings with popsicle sticks as veins. I found those black licorce wheels as big eyes. It was so cute!! And tasty! Since I needed cake for 43 people, I made some extra banana cupcakes frosted with the bee frosting and some jimmies. Games: Balls (football, baseball, tennis balls, curvy ball and catchers, bouncy balls, soccer ball, beach ball, etc.) Bubbles (FIL makes his own bubble juice and has tons of fun wands) Butterfly pinata (couldn't find a bumblebee) filled with small bouncy balls, bee rings, etc. Treat bags: Black Bags filled with small "B" items like bubbles, ball erasers, blowers, etc. Decorated the house and deck with tons of balloons from the Dollar Store. Some of the gifts given to DS began with B, and some even decorated their gift bags and cards with B. It was cute to see people get into the theme. All in all, it was a great party. Kids had a fabulous time--too much of a good time at moments. ;) Thanks for your help!

I just came back to this thread...and have read through your comments. I would like to add a bit to my earlier post. Alcohol is served at most all of our Yacht Club functions. But, with the exception of one couple...nobody ever gets buzzed much less drunk. The guys who drink limit themselves to either one/two beers or a single glass of wine. Many, if not most, of the women don't drink alcohol at all. We are BOATERS first & foremost. Being drunk is not a good quality in a Captain or First Mate! We are conditioned to always be in control of ourselves. Lives depend on our ability to make clear decisions. People who choose boating as an activity at the level that you are in, I can almost assure you, have cultivated proficient seamanship skills...and being tipsy or drunk is NOT one of them. I have found it rare in life to run across a person who dramatically changes his/her "colors" from one scene to the next. If you're unfortunate enough to have somebody at your marina who allows beer or wine coolers on board...then, they might be expected to also indulge at other marina activities. But, I'll think they will be very much an exception. As far as the dancing thing goes...I'll also suggest that not many of the men do dance. Sure, there is always the few couples that shine on the dance floor but they are usually by far in the minority. Most people just enjoying watching those few who can really kick up their heels. My husband would not dance either at a dinner/dance event. I hope you can find a way to enjoy your marina friends & still remain true to both your principles & your personalities. I also can not drink alcohol, for different reasons, but it doesn't matter. The result is the same...I absolutely can't drink so I understand your situation. I sip my Diet Pepsi and nobody ever says anything about it. I don't think people at your marina will even question why you're not drinking alcohol. Our marina is a Hunter dealership...nice boat! Tricia

Don't forget the boys too. I have a vivid and wonderful memory, from my early childhood, of being dressed up by my mother for a special family function. I was primped, poked, combed and made up. It was glorious to have all the attention and the white dress was soft and silky. I was on my best behavior and everyone said I was beautiful. From then on I looked at myself a little differently and felt closer to my mother. I imagine most girls have had this experience. When do little boys get to have anything similar? I guess the closest thing would be winning at sports. My younger sister and I dressed up our little brother in frilly stuff for years (mainly in the winter when the snow was too deep). The three of us are grown and married now and still very close to each other. Was it that early play that helped us bond? When my son was well advanced into the terrible twos, I spent a lot of time thinking about the above questions. My daughter was born when he was two. We had prepared him for it. But eight months later he was defiant and demanding, This is my son I'm thinking about -- from a mothers prospective -- not a little girl playing with her brother. Although my parents did know about us dressing up my brother. Actually they took their "three girls" out to Mc Donalds or the movies every once and a while. Any way I started researching what happens to little boys that have worn girls' clothes. The answer is not much. If kids grow up to be gay, it has nothing to do with what clothes they have had on. We wear guy's clothes all the time. Also some men (adult cross-dressers) have said that when they were kids and wanted to experiment, they were not allowed to. So it became a really big deal for them. They started sneaking, and felt guilty. So I paid a visit to my local thrift shop and found a wonderful little flower girl slip and dress for cheap, some ruffled nylon panties from a square dance shop, a pair of black shoes and white tights from a neighbor. Then on his third birthday we had his special dress up day. His father, my mother and few neighbor moms and children came over for the party. Everyone made a fuss over him and he had ball. Heck he was the bell of the ball. He is six now, the defiance and other problems diminished and then disappeared about two months after that first party. There have been several more since, all in dresses at his request. Robbys' little sister is getting his hand-me -downs. That wonderful little flower girl dress has been very busy. Many of the mothers of Robbys' friends have asked to borrow it for their son's parties (the boys want their turn). Robby is well adjusted and happy. He is devoted to his baby sister and looks out for her. He plays well with others. He enjoys both boy and girl activities. He is looking forward to first grade . At school he knows that he needs to be in boy clothes. But I will be happy to help the next time he wants to play dress-up.