I think a lot of it comes down to why we "need to know" whatever. To advise of the tragedy is newsworthy only in its exceptionalism, and that could have been summed up in a 1-sentence soundbite repeated ad infinitum, ad vomitum. And that's pretty much what happened. More info can be categorized: who did what to whom, when and where. And let's be honest - "Why" is invariably speculative, becoming informative only well after the event -- consider the news reports about Hitler at 1-year intervals. "Why" has no place in the immediacy, and is of use only to those can study it after the event. The general public does not have the training, skills, knowledge or interest to actually make use of any determination of "why". Unless we are in the vicinity and have the needed skills to assist the authorities, we certainly don't "need" to know tragic or horrific details on a minute-by-minute basis. And if we do need those details, news teams are unlikely to provide am acceptable means of communication of the required information. The rest of us fall into the categories of being involved and/or being an observer. Involvment means you are personally connected to one of the victims -- and I don't mean living in the same home state, I mean you actually know the person. People who are involved would have been grateful for specific information regarding the victims, both in learning who was injured or killed; or confirming that the known person was safe. In this category, public media could have been useful, but I found the publicized information was scanty and late in being delivered. Non-involved observers do NOT have a "need" to know. The media can pander to their morbid curiosity and demands, but catering to inquisitive ghouls is sensationalism and neither admirable or necessary.

It has been beautiful here the past few days,but too hot for tender seedlings and old widowed women. I sat some plants out by the front door (purchased plants, WS seedlings, and bulbs that didn't quite get the care they needed during their stay in the garage over winter)and to my dismay, or shock, when I stepped outside they all looked like they had been plopped down in the middle of the Sahara Desert not the middle of the Appalachian Mountains! It's hot. And let me add, I am one that has been whining about how cold it has been lately. So we go from what felt like freezing to this?? They are calling for rain/thunderstorms starting Wednesday, and that is fine by me. I only wish I had my plants out in the garden before then, but doubt it. Somebody pass me the Pina Colada, or Margarita, or whatever the popular beach/hot weather drink is!

Well, for me there can never be too much quilting fabric. I've been doing the Round Robin challenge, and just discovered that while I had a lot, there were still some centers that I needed to run out and buy more to accommodate what I WANTED to do. And I am always one to buy more than I likely need, in the event I run out and have to find a way to "make do". In fact, before I logged on here, I just got back from JoAnn's where I bought 1/4 yd. of a fabric I needed two 5" squares from to finish a RR quilt center. My stash is stored in 2 underbed storage bins on wheels that fit under my queen-size bed. Then there is a large rectangular laundry basket that is full in the closet, stacks and piles on one sewing cabinet in the bedroom, more stashed and stored away in the basement, and currently about 15 yards or more on the sewing cabinet in the living room. More in 3 tubs in the living room, all dedicated to various swaps that I am currently working on. I keep out what I am currently using/selecting from, and will hopefully put it away at some point this week so that we can have a "fabric-free" Easter (but don't tell my husband; he thinks it's possible, but I say it isn't likely to happen!). Will I ever stop buying fabric? Unlikely. It is my medium of choice for creativity. It is my canvas; my paint. Without it, I am lost. It calms my nerves and de-stresses me. It makes me feel good. And it's cheaper than paying a therapist every week for God knows how long, just to find out that my problems all begin and end with "my mother"..... What an excellent question! Odessa

So many people with issues with parents...sad. I was loved, I had toys and gifts,dresses, dolls, books, sport stuff, games,I lacked for nothing . But as I got older, I think I tried to "recapture" my childhood. As an adult, I loved antique shows, flea markets, garage sales. Any time I saw something we had in our house growing up, I had to buy it. I even bought too many rose bushes and planted them in my garden, trying to re-create my Grandma's rose garden. I now have a linen closet stacked with doilies and tablecloths I'll never use, sets of fancy glasses too fragile to use, things like that. Oh, and on the funny side, my daughter cleaned out my bathroom just yesterday. She found eleven bottles of Listerine. I don't know, I hate the stuff, it burns... I remember buying one bottle because it did everything, whitens teeth, freshens breath, makes gums healthy, strengthens the enamel. I'm just always looking for something to make me happy.