Sorry for the delay in introducing myself (we switched computers and have been without until today). Last fall my husband and I moved to a new-to-us house (1 acre) in San Antonio that literally had 3 trees and a few bushes. I decided to dive into gardening and try to add some color and life to our home. I started flower seeds for the first time last winter/spring and a lot of them grew. Now, I believe I am addicted. When my husband can't find me, he knows I'm out picking the "little grenades" off of my four o'clocks or looking for something to dead head and get the seeds out of. Of course, I've had quite a few failures, but those just get thrown over the fence and we don't talk about 'em. :-) I look forward to becoming active on GW, it seems like a lot of fun! Thanks again for letting me join!

Mike, read your post as I was headed out the door and decided that I would flip a couple of rocks. Under about as many rocks, I saw a very large gravid syspila (28"), an attractive 18" sypila and a racer. This is the time of the gravid females incubating. When we were in Cali, it was interesting how many things we were told we wouldn't see or would, or more generally, how many things were "always the case" and how many of those things we proved wrong. We left thinking, don't these people know their own species behaviors better than this? (even though we did receive great help overall out there)-- Anyway, the point is that we probably do the same thing out of "the season" because instead of testing as constantly as we do in April/May, we write it off as "season ended" and our knowledge base drops back to general and assumptive.

Sorry, Dianna55... IT'S ME! IT'S ME! Thank you Donna (Lackboys3). When the FedEx truck was coming down the street, I just knew that for once it wouldn't be computer parts for DH or yet another present from a grandparent for DS, but for ME! How did you know that I broke the handle off my last favorite oversized mediterranean yellow coffee mug (I had already broken the other one in the pair) this past weekend? I almost went shopping for replacement mugs, but I showed great restraint and kept my shopping to my swap partner only. Thank you for a gorgeous pair of replacements. And the coffee and the spoons and the book to go with it. This is so much fun! Did you know that manatees are my most favorite sea creature of all? (DS will love the cookies too!) A favorite book of his that we have to sing/read with great regularity, is "I'm a Manatee" by John Lithgow. I mean, how can you not love lyrics like... I'm a manatee, I'm a manatee. I'm every bit as wrinkled as my grann-atee. No difference between my face and fann-atee. A noble manatee, That's me. Thank you again, Donna, for such a wonderful swap package. Ann PS... Kayaks have pointy ends, front and back, and the paddles (not oars) have blades on both ends. But I really like your drawing! Have you thought of a new career as an illustrator?

I have only had three outbreaks (OB) of genital herpes in the last two years. I have taken Zovirax on the previous two occasions and the sore was gone in days. However, the most recent OB started in at the beginning of May 2014 and I didn't take Zovirax because I wanted to try some of the home remedies on the sore (only one) such as Baking Soda, Corn Starch, Tea bags, Cider Apple Vinegar, acetone, Aloe and many more. I felt none of them really helped. After 3 weeks the sore disappeared, however, I still have an uncomfortable stinging feeling in the head of my penis. Does anyone know what it may be? Have I damaged the head of my penis with some of the home remedies I tried? Would a course of antibiotics clear it?