Hey Tally, I sympathize with you. We had a little house over in Gilchrist that had been in the family for over 50 years, all gone but the pilings. It wasn't much of a house, but my father's father bought it in 1948 for 2k. In it were Grandpa's old fishing hat with his favorite lures all rusty since he passed in '57. My dad loved the place and we have pictures of him holding up possibly every fish he ever caught off Boliver. Daddy passed in '03. His sister, my old Aunt Tressie had taken two old double beds down there that she didn't want any more, couple of solid walnut Jenny Lind beds. She passed in '72. The house had one of the old 'monitor top' refrigerators in it and the last time I was down there it was still working like the day it came out of the showroom. We didn't lose anything that was really valuable, per se, but we sure lost a lot. I feel sad when I think about it and can't decide if I want to go rummage around on Goat Island and hope to find some old treasure or just look at the pictures and remember it how it was. My brothers can't even talk about it cause all their best childhood memories of fishing with Dad were down there in Gilchrist. I realize that losing an old shack is nothing like losing your beloved trees and plantings. It will take another 100 years for you to get the trees back. It's just a darn shame that so many great things are gone with nothing left but the memories of how they were. E-mail me your address, I'll send you some seeds. And if you happen so see my grandfather's old fishing hat, just feel free to pass it along back to me. My brothers would love to have it. Cheryl

Brom Phil, My Labrador ate a few Broms until she turned two, she was pretty particular and only ate my favourites, I didn't realise they were my favourites until she ate them though. One very nice one she ate was a 10-15cm yellow neo with red spots, I would be interested if anyone might know what the name might be so that I could find another. My dog has stopped eating Broms however I don't place singular plants within her reach anymore just in case. Rick

hey TallyHO! I am so glad you brought that up! i got kind of busy during xmas (leaving town and all) and haven't had a chance to come back on here. i finally came back on last night and was trying to find that tread, but couldn't find it because the cactus forum is so much busier. anyway, i did go find my plant and unfortunately, it didn't have a tag on it. however, i did confirm that mine looks exactly like yours. i think i got that plant on the free table at cactus/succulent club. have no fear, tho. SOMEBODY at our club knows (it scares me sometimes what these guys know off the top of their heads) and i will bring mine in and have it ID'd and let you know. btw, sans are great! and it's good to hear more people getting into it. i have a few varieties. if you let me know which ones you're looking for or don't have, i'd be happy to send you some. Brian.

Sorry! I haven't been to conversations for awhile. Did you make it down? Except for the people, tree and UTMB most of the island is back to "normal". The state park finally reopened but is not finished-some boardwalks are still being replaced. The trailer park just off 61st has reopened but the one that was just before Moody Gardens washed away and has no plans to open. 61st pier is open and work has begun on the 91st pier-the one the people stayed on and had to be rescued by helicopter. Fertitta-Landrys-has started work on the Flagship, the hotel will be torn down in January, work has begun on the pier and building a new ramp. The hotel can't be imploded. There will be a restaurants, carousel, games, 120' drop ride, "dark building" ride-like it's a small world or one of those, picnic tables, viewing scopes, a ferris wheel, etc. There will be a 400 parking space lot across the street, next to Fishtales, if the city grants a variance, which I think they did. The Grand is back. The Strand is mostly back,some shops have changed, some changed their names, some are still empty and there seems to be a lot more bars. Everything is open on the Seawall. We don't have any 24 hour stores anymore, with the population down they have all cut their hours. There are a ton of trees that have been carved and are easily viewed from the street, Galveston.com has a list and map, they are really cool. The ferry is open, Bolivar is still pretty destitute but more is being built and Stingarees is open. Oyster season! Moody gardens has fully reopened. UTMB is a mess with mud still on windows, in stairwells and the first floors gutted. Tally HO!