>One of the biggest problems that we have is that boss's dont like to give proven workers anything. . . . This has always amazed me, and it is more the norm than the rare exception. So many employers across all occupations insist upon paying the least possible and have no respect for their employees. So many of them are so cheap that they hire on a project by project basis, grabbing the first loser that they come across figuring he will work for damn near nothing, rather than taking the time to find someone that has their act together, and maybe throw in a bonus if the employee is worth it. Yes, I understand people start a business to make money, but most of the businesses that have been around for any length of time are there because they have good employees that helped them build a good reputation. Sometimes money can be tight, but having an employee like that is priceless. You get what you pay for. If you are going to pay fast food wages you are going to get fast food quality employees.Exactly, on all counts.

lynn2006, thanks for the link. I did find it. I think I've got it narrowed down to a 2x4 in silver sands slate or a quartzite in the golden white or oracle. I think the brick shape is a nice medium between the diamond I have now (and like the shape of) and 4x4 squares I don't care so much for.The store we hoped to buy it at (prices are great) doesn't carry Crossville, and that's where we'll be stopping on our way home from vacation, but I really want to look at the Oracle too so maybe we'll have to make an another trip to the Big City. Thanks very much to you and to all.

DH and his brother use a travel agency and traveled with Globus tours. Never had a problem and they are well know especially overseas. They used AAA for some and some special Asian agency in Los Angeles CA for the China tours. Regardless who you use, be sure and get complete travel insurance, including medical. That is very important. Oh yes, be sure that any hotels that you do get booked actually work with the agent/company that does the booking.. We were at a hotel in AZ several years ago and a couple went to check in and the hotel said they had no record of the reservation. They told the couple they had to check it out because the hotel did not have access to any records from that agency. It was a company that both the hotel and myself had never heard about. And the hotel was full. The hotel refused to help them at all, and they had helped me because I had booked directly with the hotel using the AAA card and a CC. Just a thought to check out. This post was edited by marie-ndcal on Wed, Oct 22, 14 at 15:46

Like many of you, I take old paperbacks and leave them behind. We are leaving for Cape May in a week or so and I will have my bag of paperbacks at the ready. Usually, I find one or two mysteries I HAVE to read at a rental cottage. I feel no qualms taking one or two home with me if I have the same amount to take their places. If traveling by plane, boat, or train, my system is thus: Pack three in the carry-on, pack ten in the suitcase. What's a few more pounds in the suitcase now that everything has wheels on it, right? And whilst on vacation, I usually look like quite the bum. I take old clothes and toss them out, diddo the old socks. Wear and toss. By doing this, I always have room for the books I buy while I am on vacation. And when I really find a lot of books I want, I just stop at the post office and ship them home. I've done this a couple of times from both England and Australia. But this only works if you are not on a guided tour. Netla, I feel for you about your Iceland trip. What a wonderful adventure! My own two cents is a book per day to start and then try to figure out the average number of hours you'll be sightseeing per day and then adjust your number of books. If you are anything like me, you'll come up with a reasonable number, then toss in three or four more at the last minute "just in case". HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME! PAM