Oh thank you so much for asking Jen. It's been such an ordeal. I went to see him yesterday during my lunch break (I'm fortunate that we live & work close to where he's housed). On Easter Sunday there had been a series of fights at the prison which resulted in a week long lockdown. Fortunately my son was not involved with these fights, over 100 inmates were! But all visits and yard had been cancelled until this past Wednesday. We'd gotten a couple of letters from him, that assured us he was fine, but couldn't see or talk to him. No updates on a release yet. We're thinking it'll be sooner than later, but have no guarantees. It's just so frutstrating because every day I read of someone who's committed REAL crimes (not that what my son did was not a real crime, but it was something that should have been a misdemeanor not a felony) and they're getting such minimal sentences! 14 months for manslaughter?? And my son gets 13 months for putting up stickers? Ok, no soap box here...just updates. Jon looks too thin for my taste. I'd say the worst part for him is the overall IGNORANCE that he's exposed to daily. He's a smart, intelligent, well read kid, but he's locked up with people who have no regard for intelligence. So we keep him updated on current events (he finally has his own TV so he can watch CNN) and cerebral conversations ;) I send him photos all the time, as do his friends & family. He gets visits frequently, and that is helping his morale. Yesterday he told me he's written a 'bucket list' that included climbing a mountain, learning a foreign language, skydiving, and visiting Canada. He's told his sisters that he wants them all to go on a trip to some place none of them have ever been, and they're considering a trip to Utah when he's out. He's also going to start college. He's probably going to break up with his girlfriend because I don't think he sees her sharing his life goals and she'd hold him back. I'm mixed on that, but I think it would be good for him to be unencumbered and live life when he's home. His sister wants him to move to her town and go to the school she'd attended. They're so close and he's considering doing that. I think it would be great for him. MEanwhile, we're caring for his dog, and we might end up with his cats, but I think he might try to rehome them because the girlfriend is too flakey to keep them. We're making plans for his return. And I visit him every chance I get. I love my son so much, and he's gong to be such a wonderful contribution to society when he's home. It's such a shame they've taken such a bright kid and thrown him into that pit, but fortunately, it hasn't hardened him; it's made him more determined to put it behind him and live a full life. He always tells me how grateful he is for the generosity of everyone and the kind wishes. I'm so sorry, I forgot to pass that on! It means so much to him to know he's not forgotten. (And it means so much to...

Thank you for the update, golddust. I realize now that you've been crazy busy and my request couldn't have come at a less opportune moment...so I really appreciate that you took the time to write such a great reply. What an amazing soul Daniel is, and lucky to be surrounded by so much love and support. I remember Daniel's interest in gardening, and it's wonderful to hear that he has followed through with it. It reminds me of Martin Luther's (supposed) statement that "even if I thought that tomorrow the world would end, I would still plant my apple tree" (rough quote). There's something so powerful and eternal in the world of plants, even little annuals and weeds. The story about his doctors having to fight for his medication coverage makes me shake my head. How does someone make a decision to deny something like that?! Like Daniel needs more stress. It's got to be pure ignorance, which makes a dangerous admixture when combined with power. Maybe you all will be able to find a place for him to live that's close enough that he can comfortably come back and keep tending his original garden, in addition to beginning a new one? A garden one has worked for any length of time has such memories and energy; I remember my angst at leaving my 'first' garden back in NC when we moved west. And I second pesky's request; please send Daniel and Sandy a g'webber's warmest wishes for problem-free coverage, sunny days (both meteorologically and physically) to work in the garden, and of course, fertile organic soil : )

Happy Birthday Ter!!!! I hope you found some time in the baseball season cuisinart to do something for yourself. You deserve every iota of being treated to great day or at least a rain check for an evening off! You're amazing! Don't ever forget it!

My dear my dear, How did you know? Are you perhaps a long lost relative of mine? I just came down to the computer (long stair climb for an old biddy like myself - OK not THAT old but it makes a more interesting tale)after just putting some Earl Grey into the teapot to steep. You should perhaps look through some catalogues or something and just see how they work on a busy pattern and do the framing. I had a girlfriend who once ordered a pair of curtains and when they arrived looked them over carefully and made notes, ordered the same fabric from the same catalogue and sewed up identical curtains to the ones she first ordered at less than half the price. Some may think that is terrible but I bowed to her overall plan. She returned the original curtains and got full credit as they had only been opened and looked at. Oh and I won't bring my sewing with me for tea, you just might discover all my mistakes that I cover over.....