Sorry Treefrog, they're not that ugly. Penny is David's significant other, by the way. D'Ann - don't forget, David is only there on the first Saturday of the month - May 3rd in this case, the day before our swap. Might be some long driving for you that weekend!

Unless you want to be very unpopular with your husband's family, or have weeks on your hands to visit, it is unlikely that you will be able to hit the west side of the state (Holland & Grand Rapids etc.)which will be around 4 hours from Ste. Clair Co. But Hidden Gardens would be a nice trip. I don't disagree that May is a beautiful month in Michigan. As a gardener it is my favorite, because it really caps off several months of yearning to see color and some sun. However, if you are looking for wild explosions of flowers, as you have in the south in the spring, you might be disappointed, as at that time we are just beginning to put annuals in the ground, and most of our perennials are not blooming yet. But listen to Dave, who is in S.E. Michigan. What you will have the advantage of seeing is our native plants (wildflowers) blooming, as well as the flowering fruit trees, which are glorious. You will also see many of the late bulbs that require overwintering that you cannot grow. So, it is best to visit the kind of arboretum or nature center that has native plants and lots of trees. BTW, Michiganders wondering about the Kzoo arboretum, you are thinking of the Kellogg Biological Station around Gull Lake, which belongs to MSU.

Ah Red, sellers make the rules, don't you know that? Here are some things you may want to consider from someone who has been buying and selling heavily on CL for several years... 1. I have a hearing loss, hence it's much more productive to do business by email. An ad that says phone is the only contact method, I usually skip over unless it is absolutely, without a doubt, THE perfect _________. And then I usually have to get DH to call, and that is not a good thing on so many levels. 2. What if I posted the ad at 2am? Would I want or expect someone to call me at that hour because they "want it NOW!" That would be "NO!" Works the other way for me too; I wouldn't call someone at that hour, knowing full well they had just placed the ad and probably are available. It's not appropriate. Email I can do at my leisure either way. Everybody's hours are different. 3. I, and most I would guess, ENJOY the photo for the phone number/20 questions trade-off. Big time and gas saver! I skip over ads with no photos, too. 4. There are too many weirdos out there... you're in the minority here and you're definitely in the minority on CL. The Thrifty Nickle scenario, I'm against also. I would never have my phone number printed in the newspaper, then or now, cheap classified rag or major news outlet. A lot of people who do list their phone numbers on CL try to disguise them by typing some of the numbers out or other equally clever things, which, to my understanding, do nothing to protect them. If I had a sleigh bed for sale it probably wouldn't get sold to you because you want to play by Red's rules. I'm the seller, I make the rules. You don't like my rules, I'll sell it to the next sleigh bed lover who will. There are far too many out there. Just this last Friday someone emailed me 2 hours after I had updated and edited my ad with sizes and prices of boards I had left for sale (I'd had at least one of each size available when I placed the ad). This person emails the question, and I quote "What sizes do you have left? Prices?" Why would I want to field that over the phone? It's right there in the ad, fool! I'm not making that much on these things anyway, if I've got to spend time with you on the phone, profit just goes downhill from there. Via email, I can just ignore it or remail them at my leisure to look at the updated ad in the same amount of time it would take me just to dial a telephone number.

sarschlos_remodeler and twoyur - Jungle Jim's is an oddity of a grocery store/market in OH. It is seriously one of the weirdest grocery experiences. But, the selection is AMAZING. It's like a bunch of ethnic grocery stores under one roof. Stuff from Hungary, Norway, Japan, China, India, the list goes on and on. It's even got rare fresh produce that I have never seen in some of the best grocery stores. It also has some random displays - example: the exterior of the bathrooms look like port-o-lets, there is an 8 foot bear (I think) that is animated and dressed up and sings elvis songs. There's a giant swinging Campbells Soup can with arms, legs, eyes, etc. Weird but neat.