Jim: I'm starting with one foot in the grave given it's size. I really want this fella to have the "Fairest" shot of surviving but I think I might have to do what Wetsuiter suggested on extremely cold nights. Size wise, I probably can throw a large plastic garbage can over it in a jiffy. xero: I spoke to Americana at Manhasset and suggested they try my Fortuneis. I'm still waiting to hear back from them. The Port Washington Yacht Club wanted them but the wind coming off the Sound was way too much for Fortuneis. I suggested Waggies but for the size they wanted, it would have cost too much. Prinbama: That's what I thought they were. This place is located in Island Park which part of greater Long Beach on Long Island's south shore. Seems like a very young crowd...I'm married, in my mid-40's so I'm guessing they'd look at me like an old fart. Wetsuiter: Great suggestion/compromise given the size. I'd say the general populus wants to see if my formula is for real sooner rather than later so I think I will have to follow your advice and make exceptions, just for specific weather events. In other words, I will leave it unprotected 95% of the time. When it gets bigger and reaches it's true cold hardiness, then we can see what it can take. I also agree that this place got bad advice as to which palms they should use. Plus, the pots that they are in seem to be 30-gallons at best, so what kind of healthy root system could ever be established-given it's size? Those babies must have cost a fortune, what a waste. The owner has another place on the water in Lindenhurst, and has another 20 there. He had to have spent a minimum of $1600 per palm at very cheap wholesale prices...probably more like $1800.00 to $2000.00 given what I know about pricing. He probably flushed close to $80K down the toilet.

LOL...and thank you! hugs, Karen

DS moved out. DD got her apartment & is nearly moved out. I'm buying paint today so I can paint the room this weekend. SD has mumbled goodnight to me twice this week & that is the extent of it. It's actually been a bit emotional for me... all of MY kids have left & even though I have DGS still, I'm sad... I guess this might be what they are talking about with "empty nest" syndrome? At least there hasn't been any talk over who gets the room. I told DH on Sunday, that when all the kids move out, I will finally have a room for my exercise equipment. Then, after he found out my daughter got her apartment, I told him that when my daughter moves out, I'm gonna move DGS's stuff to that room because I'm tired of tripping over his toys.. because his room is so small. & mentioned my bike & treadmill will go in the smaller room. He didn't say a word, but he sorta looked like he wanted to... then said, ok. He is well aware of how SD is with me so he probably figures it's pointless to argue over it? I don't know... and I don't care. It's not an issue & I'm happy to have peace. In reading Yabbers recent post to JNM... and hearing about how bad things are there... and with me... and with pseudo... and with others... maybe it's just unrealistic to think we can ever build an unbreakable bond with someone else's child like we can our own. I don't think it is really possible anymore. It's not that I don't think step parents and step children will always wind up like this, because I know some have GREAT relationships at all different levels of family/caring. I guess the "secret" ingredient is DESIRE. If the child (or step parent) do not DESIRE to have an unbreakable bond, then it can be as close of a relationship as they want as long as they want, but when that desire fades, the bottom line is "you're not my parent" or "you're not my kid" and either or both can walk away from it... no legal ties... no emotional ties??? I guess I'm bringing it up because it's part of why I'm sad this week. Years ago, JNM's situation gave me hope that one day, my SD would realize I care & would accept me as part of her life. I had hope for the kind of relationship she had with her SD. After a couple of years, I realized it was never going to happen. BM wasn't going to allow it... and SD didn't want it. I can, and have, blamed BM for being a wedge to me having a relationship with her daughter... but the truth is that SD has never warmed up to me (or anyone else in her dad's life) and probably never will. She is entitled to feel that way I suppose. In my opinion, it is very sad because her dad is aloof and her mom is self centered so neither of them is giving her what she wants. Nobody sees any problem, except me. Maybe I'm the problem??? Anyway, it's just discouraging to hear so many of these stories... I mean, I watched my dad treat my stepsister like (sometimes even better than) one of his own kids... took her & her family (husband & kids) to Disney for a week (he's never done that with his own kids) and paid for her to go visit her husband's family back east, was "grandpa" to her kids, etc. She would give him Birthday, Christmas & other cards "To Dad" with heartfelt messages... I will admit I was a bit jealous but we were all grown ups & he's entitled to have whatever relationship he wants. But, just before my stepmom passed away, my stepbrothers filed in court to make my dad account for their mom's assets. They were worried when she died, they would get nothing. She really had nothing. All her income (disability) was paid out to caregivers (and my dad paid a good chunk out of his pocket in addition to that) but dad had given my stepsister all my stepmom's clothes, jewlery, her Mustang (after HE paid it off) and family heirlooms (piano, china, etc) and the day before court... my stepsister was visiting my dad to ask for the only thing left belonging to her mother... the silver. My dad didn't think twice, he gave it to her. She mentioned that what her brothers were doing is BS and she wanted nothing to do with them. (one of them had molested her as a teenager) Anyway, the next morning my dad goes to the court hearing & who do you think is sitting there with the brothers... yep, stepsister. After 20 years of calling my dad "dad", going on vacations, holidays, grandkids, weddings, and caring for her mom together for 6 years, she was sitting with the brothers. My dad was served with a declaration she signed, stating she had taken care of her mother for all those years and was "woefully underpaid". She had lived in the marital home, expense free [he paid the mortgage, utilities & bought groceries], she had a vehicle (w/ins. & fuel) provided, and when she moved out... he refinanced & gave her 60K, which she used to buy a new truck & a down payment on her house. All of that was on top of giving her all of her mother's things... seriously, my dad went into a deep depression over it. So, maybe no matter how long things are good... maybe it's just never enough. (I just needed to vent... thanks!!)

Kathy, click on my ID name Patty57_gw. When there, you will see a tab to the right at top that states: Message. Send me a pm there. You are not set up to receive messages from members. Maybe change that on you account page if you like that option. You will also see my Trade List when clicking on my ID. HTH patty