Hey Everyone, I recd some GREAT seeds from Diene, Annnnd My box is here from Deb !! I think this is going to be the best lookin yard around this summer ! I cant wait !! Diene sent me... impatient mix ( ive never done them from seed, cant wait !) pink astilbe zinnia asters fuschia ( gotta get them going, I love asters !) veronica liatris fireball ALLIUM ALL seeds I really really wanted, sooo AWESOME, thanks so much !! Debs box contained..... morning glory seeds ( I just said I needed more !) cleome seeds ( bflies will love them) Boston Ivy, I just saw this in a book, and wanted it, so cool aloe plant ( hubby already claimed this one) Iris, unknown color 4 glad bulbs a really cute candle light..did you make this Deb ? a cute little birdhouse, I am gonna use with my plants in the kitchen. a snowman, which is really cute...cant wait to use him ! a silicone toppings spatula, which will be great at Christmas when we make all our cookies. Thanks so Much Deb...I really appreciate everything. Diene, thanks for sending the seeds...and I got alot of growth on the "unknown" plant, it is loving all the rain. Thanks again to you all for making this a wonderful BDAY !!

Hi all - now that I am over the flu (not a bad bout just inconvenient!) and got a grip on the Principal at my daughters school - no, not around his NECK like I wanted! Bad deal with death/bomb/gun threat's against the cheerleaders - yes, my daughter is one - because one English class had to read a book about popular vs. non popular school mates. The teacher told them that the media was right in saying that it was understandable and some other B.S. about any kid that has EVER been teased, made fun of or any of other things that happen to us all as we grow up has the right to defend themselves with any means at their disposal. Then the discussion turned to bomb making and they all looked up how to make them with the teacher present on the net and then had a discussion on which one would be best in what setting!!!! Any way.... My daughter came home last week telling me that several students had a 'preppy B*&^%$es must die' list and pictures of a bomb, they had made. The Principal called a meeting with the students telling them that there was nothing to worry about and to just ignore what they heard - no need to involve the parents!! I contacted several of the other parents and we went to the Sheriff. The guilty party's that started this, the teacher & that JERK of a principal have been dealt with! GRRRRR.... Probably nothing would have happened but these things need to be dealt with .... The principal has NEVER called or spoken to any of the 'list' parents but did send out a letter saying that he has the sheriff's department involved... What a crock of **** Us parents are the ones that got them involved and are having them patrol the games! He didn't even have the ****'s to show his face at the football game on Friday and that was when the kids where planing to put their plans into effect! GRRRRR.... on to better things..... Melissa - yes I love the idea of having a "New Years Resolutions" swap! not that it would do me any good cause I alway fail at them LOL but it would be fun if someone else could tell us what the resolution would be, maybe do kind of a spoof resolution : ) Fran - Secret SANTA!!! has one YES vote! these are so fun :) I am all booked for October though - several swap here and with a craft group & my daughter volunteered me to help with homecoming, 2 concession stands each week of October and fund raising for the freshman class... Maybe if it is something simple I could do it though :) Have a great evening everyone - now I have to go find a Wyoming Cowboys Hat - daughter's boyfriend is having a birthday and that is what she 'haaaaasssss' to give him... being the Mom of a 14 year old girl is so much fun - ya right! I need to stop over at the MNF's and see what is going on for the weekend... I need a pool party with all the extra's! LOL Marie

Interesting review of Vista and MS, as a company, in todays NY Times. Although they feel Vista has a long way to go, the writer built his own machine from scratch and marvels at how MS managed to build an operating system which can coordinate all these different components of software and get them to work together. I'm not explaining it right, but he said Apple never did that. They only use their own stuff which made their life simple. MS built their Windows OS to act like a 'Conductor' which runs an orchestra of players who write different music. He is not promoting MS, but rather finds it amazing that Windows works as smoothly as it does. Jane

Wow- you really dislike Pella, I take it. Since the lawsuit, I wonder if Pella has changed their windows, and maybe opinions of them would change- or do you think the quality continues to be horrible? My brother got them on his new build- they 'look nice' - but who knows what will happen in 5 years. I have Andersen casements now, and they are OK after 25 years (wood exterior and interior starting to rot out now). Regarding Andersen-and mixing- Do the quality reviews on 200s vs. 400s carry down to patio doors? Meaning, are the Andersen 200 French and Sliding doors 'just as crappy' as the Andersen 200 windows, in your opinion? If I'm trying to stay on budget with Andersen, where does it make sense to splurge for the 400s (say for all 27 double hungs) and go with the 200s for the 2 patio doors, 2 large Fixed windows, 1 casement, 1 smaller fixed window)?