Nothin' better than camping at a good Bluegrass Festival, I'll be camping at the Huck Finn Festival in California next month, can't wait. A couple of friends that play a little music will be coming along as well. Second trip of the season, did a short one out to the desert last month. That was a wild trip! I usually a get a NOAA weather forcast before leaving and it was calling for wind 15-25 mph for the first day then calmer over the next few days. The first night it blew 45 with gusts to 70 that flatten my daughter's nylon tent and blew the door out. I've been in some crazy weather with my wall tent but I think this was real close to the limit. Anyway we had to put the camping on hold while the tent is getting a couple of holes that chaffed through repaired. Hope it gets back in time for that festival.

dedtired, Hints for seasickness... 1.) Look off the stern instead of the bow; 2.) Fix your eyes on the horizon instead of looking a few feet ahead of the boat (you'll be out of sight of land); 3.) Sip on cold Diet 7-Up; 4.) Many people do fine underway; but when drifting they start feeling queasy. Whale watch boats stop frequently for whale sightings. While drifting, stand at the gunnel stanchions & hold on to a rail if it's rough rather than sitting down...much better. Actually, more people get seasick in calm water than in rough seas (within limits, of course!) When there's good wave action your body gets into a rhythem. In calm seas, there's just a slight up/down, up/down that gets to some people. Beam seas are the worst! That side-to-side motion can do in even the saltiest of seamen! Since I've been a boater, I can't imagine WHY people stick babies in cradles! Inhumane punishment, IMO! Also, if you're focused on looking for the blow spouts of whales your body won't notice the rolling sensation nearly as much. We need Lori. She's more local to Newport...I'm about an hour away. But here's a place to start...a fun lunch spot in Newport is the Red Parrot. Allow about an hour just to read the menu & make your selection. It's also a great place to people watch. And go hungry! Parking is tricky. Don't be a hero & try to find a parking spot on one of the side streets...it's mostly "Residents Only". Just pay your $15 & chock it up to a good day in Newport. You can also rent the most adorable two-seater scooters in Newport. The shopping is one of two things...either touristy or very expensive boutiques, gallery quality art, designer jewelry, home decor, etc. There are also some great bookstores. History lesson on Newport: Did you know that most of early Newport was built with slave labor? Most people don't realize the extent Newport relied on slaves. The wonderful granite cobblestone roads, the houses, the ships...all slave labor. By 1770, the entire workforce was slaves mostly from Ghana. They came as children & were different than the southern plantation slaves. In Newport, most slaves lived in the same house as their owners often slept in the same bedroom as the owner's kids. They were taught skills & became highly trained. By 1830, most Newporters had freed their slaves. They went on to found businesses, become councilmen, teachers, policeman, fireman, & held high offices. But they came to America as slaves. End of history lesson. Follow the signs for Ocean Drive/Mansions & go to Brenton Park. It's right on Ocean Drive. On weekends, it's a popular place to fly those huge kites in different shapes. The water is right across from the parking (free). Actually, you could just sit in your car & stare at Newport Channel for hours watching the boats. You'll see many huge international & corporate yachts. The rocks at Brenton Park are also a popular dive spot. Look for small boats with a red flag floating in the water near the boat. The red flag means, "Diver Down". When's your trip? /tricia Here is a link that might be useful: The Red Parrot

Tamar, Sorry, I haven't read all the threads here - did see them going off on yet another tangent, lol. But, I think (as I said, didn't read everyone's posts) I'm the only one to advise you NOT to attend the session if it meant you must miss your own child's first day of school. I just wouldn't do that if it were me. And, I'm w/ you on the camping thing, lol. Yeah, I've camped many times - at the air conditioned cabins at Disney World's Ft. Wildernes Resort, lol. I realize it's very important for SS, but SS has made his bed. I realize he has some issues that are understandably out of his control, but he has made poor choice after poor choice. And, I'm not completely up to date on his current issues w/ you, but apparently he made it clear that you aren't his cup of tea, so now you are supposed to miss seeing your youngster off for his first day of 'real' school? No way. Your little one did not have anything to do w/ this and should not be brushed aside for NOT being the squeeky wheel. If your area is anything like ours, you will most likely be one of the only moms not there, taking pictures, etc. I don't think I could live w/ that. Your little one has done nothing wrong and he should have his mom walk him in the first day of K. I would tell DH to take notes for me and rest assured that SS has his biomom and dad w/ him, the two he apparently wants around the most. I'd have no issues w/ my DH and his ex being on this little jaunt together, either. DH wouldn't like being subjected to her, lol, but I'd have no problem - and that would be added incentive for me not to be there! I am still wondering if my SS will reappear next week when his boyfriend moves back to S.FL. If so, I wonder if he will have any issues that will land him in some sort of rehab. If so, I'm certain I won't be doing anything other than landing an ear. I'm hoping I can be civil after the he!! he's put us through...I imagine you can relate... All the best, Dana

I put about 20 of the to the left of my front door, about 30 of them in front of the house to the right side of the front door, about 12 of them in the side yard in the back, 2 of them on a trellis right next to the street, 5 of them on the fence, and the rest are in very big pots in a narrow patch of sunlight in the side yard. It's absurd how many I have when you consider the fact that my yard, which is mostly backyard, is mostly deep shade. I posted a pic of my backyard on Jin's "Roses for $7 antiques" thread. But I found places to tuck them in just about everywhere else. In about three years there will be roses everywhere in the front and most of them will still be blooming in the winter. I'll be "that crazy rose lady."