Well...I am very sad, and there's only one thing I can do to combat depression; I will turn to gratitude for what I have received from Vintage, and a pouring out of love to Gregg and Gita. First to them, for they've both been so kind to me over the phone and through emails....I've never met them but they have a place in my heart. Then the roses! Ah what beauty they've brought to the abbey. Cymbaline, Halloween, Miss Atwood, Souvenir de Pierre Notting, Marechal Niel, Maman Cochet, White Maman Cochet, Etoile de Lyon...and friends, I'm only scratching the surface here...Huntington Pink Tea, Mrs. Foley Hobbs, William R. Smith (Best clone in the world!), Mrs. B.R. Cant, Mme. Berkeley, Mme. Lambard, Condesa de Sastago, Devoniensis, Alliance Franco-Russe... This is nowhere near exhaustive...but I am filled with joy every day as I walk through the gardens and see these plants, put in with my own hands as tiny bands, now towering 5-8 feet high and some 12 feet wide. Mme. Berkeley! I thought she'd never put on heft...and now, what a giant plant. I just had a dinner party to attend last night, and brought an armful of Etoile de Lyon, Maman Cochet and William R. Smith roses to my hosts, all from Vintage. How blessed we are at the abbey for the years of selfless service Gregg and Gita have given us all. Thank you many times over - your legacy will live in my gardens forever.

Looks like I'm the last to chime in as usual. I ended up working all day Sunday and into the night. It was with folks I'm fond of and hopefully they've found a new home they'll love though so I'm not complaining. Of course I had to blow off a date with my DH to try to start getting the stuff in our house under control... I'm so glad I went to the get together. What a treat meeting folks in the flesh. I'll now really notice what everyone writes, and can put face and personality to virtual voices. I have to say that after all of our focus on kitchens I was surprised at some of the conversations that happened. And it seemed like they could have gone on for hours more. We'll definitely have to do it again. And it would be great to meet the other local folks. Bill - you're a definite, especially after all the discussion! It was also fun having Mindstorm and Abfab into my still partially done kitchen. I haven't allowed too many folks in, but figured they would understand. I now have a couple of people that can vouch for the great feel of my honed granite. They did what everyone seems to do - fondle it! OT: Abfab - I think you mentioned someone local who had Marianna soapstone. Can I have that contact? You could list here, or I think still email me privately through the this site, or get my phone # from Mindstorm. Thank you so much Pauline for organizing us and telling us stories about the old days on the Garden Web. What fun! Thanks to all who came - that wss one of the more interesting afternoons I've spent recently! Emmie - I hope you're better and that you and others can join in the next time.

I remember reading that...but it's still just as funny.... I am completely surprised that I didn't find a post from me on there...My DH has done a few things during our 42 years that I tell on him every now and then. patti

sheesh, you're right that most diagnosticians have little or no patient contact. But there will always be in-person radiologists and pathologists at medical schools and research facilities (both those affiliated with hospitals/schools and those in the private sector). What kind and size of a hospital does your son in law work with? Is it in a populated metro area? Remote radiology is becoming more common in the veterinary world. One reason is that boarded veterinary radiologists are not that numerous and only the very largest practices have enough work to keep them busy full time. Before detailed imaging was so easy to handle over the internet, veterinary radiologists even in populated areas needed to travel, to split their time between practices, to have full time work. Human medicine is different, of course, but the remote access that so many practice almost begs the question - why do I need you when someone else is cheaper? It doesn't need to be India, I'm sure costs are cheaper in Europe too and the standards of training aren't that different if at all.