I've managed to save a two cane wonder after it was split down the middle to the crown. I used twist ties and bamboo canes. Bamboo in the middle each cane tied up to the bamboo, with the injured tissues pressed against each other. Kind of hard to explain, but it worked. I noticed my DH knocked a new shoot almost off of a main cane awhile back. It was hanging on by a sliver. It took me about 4 days to get around to cutting it off. In that time the cane remained green and it also bloomed.

Great idea, we made a serial spoken bed time story for a while - my son and I. Good idea to write it down as he is now in 4th grade and they are really requiring lots of writing practice.

Okay, so my GardenWeb friend, corgimum, checked out the Ballard outlet in West Chester, and she found my coveted bench there - in black . . . sigh. And, while it is shrink wrapped, it is not boxed. corgimum even found me the name of a shipper, and I called, but they are only open on weekdays. corgimum - a huge thank you to you! I'm so fortunate that you checked this out, or I would have given up long ago. So, I called the store to see about making arrangements for a shipper and told them my story and situation. They gave me the name of an errand service in town that makes purchases and ships. So I called that number, and we soon determined that the bench was bigger than what FedEx will allow and would require a different shipping company. She also doesn't do packaging, but would take it somewhere for a price of $25 per hour. I then searched for other pack-and-ship locations around the West Chester area, and I found one that is open today. The gentleman was very nice and said they could pick up the package, box it, and ship it. It will cost quite a bit, but the bench is on sale at the outlet for several hundred dollars less than its usual price. So, I'm in the process of making the arrangements. Ballard will hold the bench for me for a couple of days. The biggest hitch now is that the Ballard store requires the credit/debit card used for the purchase to be that of the person making the purchase. So, somehow the shipping company needs to pre-charge my card for the amount, etc. I'm still a bit afraid to get my hopes up. I'm not sure that will all go smoothly. In the end, I'm sure this will all be worth it, right guys? Only you would understand my plight. :o) I'll keep you posted. Jan

Oh heck yeah. I guess I look at friendship differently than a lot of people. Just because I've known someone a long time does not make them a friend. If someone craps on me, they're not my friend. Of course they get chances, but probably my closest friend and I have not spoken for some time. He got into a variation of a cult and I can't, rather won't deal with it. I've given him chance after chance and warning after warning but more of the drivel about politics and probably direct quotes from Fox "News". For a while, I'd prove him wrong and laugh in his face. I asked if he had the opportunity to choose the flavor of the Flavor Aid he's going to drink. I'd reply with videos of his diety du jour and prove him wrong but he'd continue to spout the rhetoric. I suspect much was an enticement to an argument. He loves a good debate. I like an intelligent discussion and don't mind if there's disagreement, that can make for a good debate. But there's limits. I finally had to go no holds barred and then he got all upset, asking why I was attacking him and insulting him. Well, I'm getting off track here, but people change. Interests change. And just because you don't see someone doesn't mean they're not a friend. Life is full of acquaintances, some closer than others and all subject to change. I think too many people are hung up on having "friends" and/or worry about losing them, rather than having quality, or at least non-toxic relationships with people. Life doesn't have to be a bowl of cherries, you can disagree with a friend and still be friends. But "friend" is more than a word to me.