I mentioned the "kiddie pool on the deck" idea today during an 8 hour drive back to Jersey from my niece's wedding in Pittsburgh. My sister laughed hysterically knowing we had to listen to the same old "I never get to use my deck" lament from my father who hasn't sat on his deck in years long before I ever started this gardening thing last year. I'm going for it...LOL. Now I just have to find a kiddie pool after our killing frost which was abundantly clear when I saw the mailbox garden as we rounded the corner. Heavenly Blue MG hydra, Zinnia, Aegeratum and Cleome are all goners for the year. First thing tomorrow that bed gets cleaned out although the thought of it being bare isn't acceptable...LOL. Gotta buy some ornamental kale seeds with my last seed order for this year (?) so I'm ready to sow them midsummer next year. Stores and nurseries around here want $3. per cabbage...no way, Jose. You're right about putting plastic sheeting down first to protect the wood. There are stains where I had saucers under containers but luckily my father is considering laying that plastic decking material cross wise right over the wood that's there now since his many attempts at using weather proof paint haven't been weather proof at all. I just keep agreeing about what a great idea that is! The Agway I found in this county is holding a case of germinating mix for me. I can't leave it outside or it'll be like cement for winter sowing but still haven't figured out where I'm going to stash it. Already hid recycled containers under the ancient ping pong table in the basement...no one looks under there but me.

behaviorK - funny you mention a teacher getting into an annuity as part of her retirement planning. Just last week on Suze Orman, a teacher in CA called about this very thing. She was told the 403b was her only option and the caller didn't feel right about it. Suze told her not to contribute to it. At what age does this annuity mature? In the caller's case, it was at 85 YO, which is ridiculous. You may want to get your GF to suck up the 10% or just leave it and stop contributing to that 403b altogether. In the caller's case, she had not started contributing and Suze advised her not to. If she sucks the 10%, you should help her try to find a bit more aggressive fund in which to replace it and try to earn back some of the funds she lost in the surrender. Depending on her age, she can still invest in ROTH, traditional IRA's and have a nice nestegg. That is what Suze recco'd to the caller - to divert the money she would have allocated to this annuity to much more reasonable retirement savings. Whatever you do, she needs to stop the contributions to the annuity pronto and find another avenue - be it Vanguard or whatever else. I think the episode ran last Saturday, which means it repeats tonight with the new episode. If you have TIVO, record all SUze Orman shows and see if the ep with the specific question aired again. Like you, I"m surprised that the employer has such a crappy retirement plan.

Sure there are tons that will keep charging and the interest goes skyhig and they don't pay it off and they pay very little on it or they ignore them all together. Many won't pay their taxes either, ignore that too. And the bills, ignore them too. And yes, many if they have $1 in their pocket will find something to spend it on. I did find that when you put all your change as I paid by cash everything, no charge card and so I had change and put that into a jar and I found that I owuld have like $60.00 or so and would use that for my vacation and boy did that ever help me out alot. I do use the envelopes for not bills but other things that I like to go too or do yearly so that money is there when the time comes. I put away for lunches out with my friend, the local fair every year. For the bills, then put aside more money in there just in case its high or prices have risen and so you do have the money. Also how many put away for emergencices, how many put away a year or two salary to fall back on if need too? How many are putting away and not just from work but on top of that for retirement so you have more to live on and pay those bills,etc. How many are paying off their mortgages and so when emergencies or retirement or ill health comes along, you can't work or spouse can't work anymore and you are paying big mortgages? I also made a rule to window shop and don't bring cash or cards with you so you don't be tempted. I also look for sales on items and look around to see what it out there and what is good prices and then buy that needed item. Like I went to my brother and sil's house for a trip and found great priced, really nice bedsheets and other items I so needed and all on sale, it was so great, great savings and I found and got what I have been looking for and needing to use. I also buy like pair of runners and wear them out before buying another pair to wear and I mean wear them out. Same with winter boot shoes, I wear them until no more grips on the bottom and unsafe to go walking daily with them and go looking and buy another pair to wear. Right now, my jeans I wear to go walking with my dad and our dog are so worn out, torn they are on the legs and I stitched up a bit on one leg and my sweatshirt got a hole in it and I stitched that up too. I know many of you wouldn't wear it like that and throw it out but the cost of clothes to keep buying is too costly and so I decided I will hang onto them and wear them. We are the throw away society and so we need to hang on and make do with what we have on hand. Yes, you do take from Peter to pay Paul when you have those envelopes but that is okay as you have the money to juggle around. I even put aside too for christmas I give to my friends two sons and so its there when christmas comes around and so you do'nt go, oh, no, its almost christmas and go spend a fortune you don't have. I also love to buy christmas books as that is my splurge for christmas to me and I save up and put money aside for that too. I also love to buy fresh veggies and fruits and corn on the cob every summer and its getting more and more expensive each year and so its nice if you have that money put aside, they like smaller bills and so I have $5 and $10 dollar paper money and also I keep putting aside $1 and $2 coins too for that reason and other reasons too. I like to buy lottery ticket here and there and they cost $6.00 the one I buy now and so I use my $2 coins to do that. I had saved up $1 and $2 and quarters and got over $400.00 saved up. I also put aside each money a certain amount and have this bank account that isn't connnected to my instant bank card at all and so its save, I can't touch it and don't see it except for monthly bank statement what is in there and when I put in to it. You do save, its incredible what you save. If you expect tons, then forget it, every little bit helps I find and it does help for vacations or whatever you like to do for extra that will help out. How many take their taxes, bonuses, etc. and put towards debts or mortgage payements and keep paying off towards that goal to one day, yippee, not more mortgage payments and then take those payment mortgage payments or other payments that you used to pay out, put them, into retirment funds, savings, emergencies? Or do you spend it all on oh, boy, I get to buy a huge tv set or lets go traveling? And still have to pay off rest of it that you don't have? How about saving by downsizing everything and rethinking spending out on stuff that you could do without and really don't use or at all. Do you really need that huge house that most of the space is not used or its just used to buy more stuff to put in and it sits there? Get rid of those tons of credit cards, and how about those store cards. Those store cards rank high interests and how many pay off those completely when the bills come rolling in?

Looks like it might be a Euphorbia. Similar to this one, if not the same: Euphorbia bicompacta var. rubra http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/262431/