ooh, yes... the sound of silence - that reminds me....I'm going to put on some classic Simon & Garfunkel when working on some slabs this week. For the slabs I'm using big pieces of slate from my mom's old dug up 1950's patio (beautiful red, blue variants, and black/gray slate)....... Ive been creating these miniature landscapes with muck, driftwood, some accent rocks, some real small jinned Japanese Junipers, and yes - moss. Collecting wild moss for my bonsai - I always make sure that I collect moss from areas that have similar soil to my muck for easier adjusting. I also only collect moss where it gets good sun exposure - this way I know the moss is sun tollerant, doesn't demand shade, and won't burn in the sun. A problem I've had for years with moss, is that bonsai fertilizer burns my moss brown. I've used 10-10-10 slow release pellets, and have also used 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer. I have to stick the pellets in the soil deep and away from the moss, or if using liquid fetilizer I water the bonsai trees around and away from the moss. Anyone else have problems with fetilizing their bonsai & it killing/browning their moss? I'll go post my question at the moss forum - http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/crypto/

About the cold hands, the reason is most likely that blood flow shunts to the large working muscles, ie your quadraceps and other leg muscles. It's nothing to worry about. I had a problem with gaining weight while on a diet too. Turns out the diet plan was more calories than what I had been eating previously. Strange, I know. I went back to the way I used to eat and started losing weight again. Another possibilty is that if you are eating a lot of prepared foods, you are probably also eating a ton of salt, which will cause fluid retention. Exercise won't cause fluid retention, just the opposite- you lose salt and water when you sweat. Hope this helps. And keep up the good work!

Well, to answer the question, I listen to books through the Talking Books program that is run by the US Library of Congress National Library Service. I do all of my "reading" this way and have done so for the last 25 years. I'm very used to books on tape. Soon they will be converting to a digital format. Of course, being this kind of reader means that I don't often get to take part in discussions of books on boards like this one. I can't just order up a book from the library and expect to get it in time for the discussion. Sometimes I wait many years for a requested book. Just the other day I got one I'd requested 12 years ago, for instance. On the other hand, I get to keep the books for up to a year. I know of no other library with such a generous policy. Back in my student days, we often had to get library books for 24 hours only--and race back with them to avoid stiff fines.

You mentioned Orange County, CA in another thread and concerns over humidity. I lived in the city of Orange in my early twenties and don't recall anything excessive. Prolonged periods of high or low humidity is what can cause issues and not four or five days here and there. Looking at the past year in Orange itself doesn't ring alarm bells. Averages are in the 60’s from my glance. I didn't see 80% I did most of my work in SW Florida where humidity was much higher. The work was anywhere from beachfront, island, to twenty miles inland, but before the days of five inch wide solid planks. Then it was more three inch solid. Yes there were a few issues here and there especially with stilt homes that had no climate control underneath (open to air). That’s all changed now with nearly all homes using those areas for game rooms, guest bedrooms and the like. As far as concrete slab sub floors, which I’m guessing you probably have, engineered floors are all over the place. No issues. Be careful with the reviews you read. Many are probably a matter of installation related failures and lack of awareness, especially with DIY’ers and inexperienced installers. Think about these three M’s Moisture testing - material, subfloor Moisture awareness - in, and around the home. Before and after Moisture control - barriers