First of all, a sincere thank you to each of you. The situation has been resolved. Norton contacted me this afternoon. The problem has to do with the Norton Firewall, and appears to have been fixed. If the problem recurs, I am to uninstall the Norton program and re-install it. Upon learning of my experience with i Yogi, the Norton representative explained that i Yogi has a redialer that sends your Norton call to them. i Yogi is a TOTAL SCAM. For those experiencing similar problenms in future, the Norton representative assures me that this toll-free number will get you to the real Norton Support people. 1(800)745-6061 When we go through the internet to get to Norton, even if we are entering through the Norton site, i Yogi can intercept the call. Again, my sincerest thanks for your time and attention to my problem. :O)

Hi everyone, Thank you for your kind words and expressions of sympathy. It really helps. I've been working at home today and keep expecting to step on the lump of gray fur who always chooses the most inconvenient spot for her naps. Alas. It's very hard and lonely. My son is being married in late May and I think after the wedding, when I will be working from home for two months, I'll go to the APL and adopt maybe two kitties so that they will each other to play with. I would love to get a dog, but living alone, I don't think I have the stamina to take care of one. And I have such a small yard. I keep imagining the winter, with the walk covered with you know what. Gibby3000: I'm sorry for your losses, too. I am really glad I could stay home today because I've been a weepy mess. My eyes are swollen and the least thing sets me off. Your so lucky to have three cats -- Catluvr: I'm sorry too, for your loss. My dog died the day I came home from a 10 day trip. She failed within an hour of my picking her up at the kennel and I am certain she was just hanging on to see me. The guilt was ferocious. I understand how awful it is. It still makes me cry. (Well, anything makes me cry right now). Flyleft: thanks, too, for your sympathies. I really do still feel her around, but I actually hope that she's reuniting with my dog, who was her lifelong friend. I just hope my mother isn't there poking both of them with her cane. Uxorial: How lovely to have a Lucy. I was telling my son today that if I get another cat I want to name her Lucy-two. He thinks I'm nuts. But how can anyone not love a Lucy? I hope yours stays well for a good long time. Pecan: Good luck with your pug. 19 years is pretty miraculous. I hope you'll know what to do. I'm very glad I persevered with Lucy. She actually started using the litter box almost exclusively in the last couple of months, and so I'm glad I hung in there with her. Thank you all for your sympathies and e-hugs and understanding. It means a great deal. Molly

Ruthanna hit the nail on the head. Heat-and-eat and ready-to-eat foods work best. I teach cooking/nutrition classes at our local Food Bank, and more often than not, it's the children in the family who do the "cooking". Depending on the economy, it's mainly substance abusers and the learning disabled folks who frequent the food bank, not necessarily people who are down on their luck. Food preparation is not a priority for most of the folks. Having something to eat, is. Many have only a few pans or a skillet, and most depend on a hot plate or a small microwave for food preparation. Many live in a cheap hotel room, not a house, and don't always have a refrigerator. Beans of all varieties are plentiful at the food bank, but many people don't like them, have no knowledge of how to prepare them, or an inclination to cook something that takes so long, and will give them back to the food bank if they find them in their bags. I've had some luck teaching a class on how to "cook" beans and rice in a Thermos bottle using boiling water, but had to provide the Thermos bottles. Tortillas and cans of refried beans seem to work better than beans they need to cook, plus it's a complete protein (grain/legume). We mill beans into bean flour so they can make "instant" refried beans (cooking bean flour and water for a few minutes), and this has worked well for many of the folks. I base many recipes on USDA commodity foods. Those are foods people may commonly get free and need recipes and help using. -Grainlady

chisue, you if you have a Whole Foods near you, you must try their dark chocolate salted caramels. They are better than any I've ever eaten before no matter the cost. They are fresh, I've tried to hunt down where they come from and its a chocolate company in L.I. NY. Please, try these. They are hidden in Whole Foods, no one knows they are even there. They are fresh in a clear plastic container with Whole Foods name on it. In my store they are stuck in a corner in the produce department. They are the best caramels I have ever eaten and I've bought the best. I always loved the Ghiardelli and bought them. But found the Whole Foods ones and thought I'd try them. OMG! Jane