I live in a snail and slug mecca, until 20 years ago we didn't see snails just slugs but things have changed. One evening a couple of years ago I picked 40 snails off the trunk of my pink dogwood, I don't know how many more there were I couldn't reach them. The same year any window we looked out in the evening you'd see them slithering across the window panes. It looked like a massive escape from a escargot farm. I think Floral can relate to this. I use copper tape on pots and have bought several rolls of copper mesh, the later I even covered one of the benches in the greenhouse with it. I've seen slimy trails over this at times the little %#$^% must have put rubber boots on. I have no problem with hand picking, it's pick and stomp when I see them, why waste the salt. Annette

Sorry - a little more info to be added: (IÂm a believer itÂs best to get a private policy before one turns 50 [most carriers will not write an LTC policy on anyone younger than 45] as the premiums start to rise substantially after that age. As the first article states, the premiums for the CLASS program are not much cheaper than a Preferred risk would pay for a much better private LTC policy if purchased at age 50 or younger. Our own policies (purchased thru DH's employer 10 yrs ago) are miles better than the CLASS program offers, but if we tried to obtain these same policies now, weÂd either get turned down or have to pay three or four times more than what we currently pay.) Further info: Article: With Health Reform, Long-Term-Care Option Becomes Law CLASS Act enacted with health care reform 3/24/2010 By Stephen Miller Under the CLASS Act program, all premium costs can be charged to employees. Employers who chose to participate in the CLASS program wil be required to permit employees to make contributions by means of a payroll deduction, once the CLASS Independence Benefit Plan is designated by U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is to be no later than Oct. 1, 2012. Employers either would create automatic enrollment procedures that allow workers to opt out, or allow workers to choose to enroll and pay premiums. Participants must pay monthly premiums for at least five years before they could receive benefits. Seniors (over age 65 years old) who have paid premiums for at least 20 years and are not actively employed are exempt from paying any premium increase. Premium payments will be placed in a "Life Independence Account" on behalf of each eligible beneficiary and managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a new insurance program. As the CLASS program is developed, participating employers will need to coordinate with their payroll services providers to facilitate these deductions and contributions. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the monthly insurance premium will average about $123 in 2011. Premiums vary with age and will not increase once employees signed up, but they would increase for those signing up later. After five years of paying into the program, enrollees who continue to pay monthly premiums would become eligible for assistance if they experience limitations in two or more so-called activities of daily living, including eating, bathing, dressing and taking medications. This assistance would take the form of a modest daily cash benefit, estimated at $50 per day for impaired enrollees living in the community, for services such as respite care, home care aides and accessible transportation, and up to $75 a day for enrollees who become institutionalized. These amounts would increase with inflation. Here is a link that might be useful: Earlier info on CLASS program

I'm about to find out. After my daughter's dog was diagnosed with lymphoma last January, she underwent surgery and then chemotherapy. In addition, she had x-rays and MRIs. All this without insurance. Unfortunately, Missy died 2 weeks ago and my daughter added up her expenses- just over $10,000. In March of this past year, my husband and I decided it might be a smart idea to buy pet insurance for our 2 dogs, ages 7 and 12. I did some research and came up with Trupanion, one of those that reimburse you directly. You can select your own deductible, of course, with a resulting decrease in premium the higher the deductible. We chose $1000 for each of ours. None of the local area vets here participate in any of the other insurance programs except for one which gives you a 10% discount on "services." Doing web searches for info about Trupanion yielded some pretty positive reviews. Last Thursday my 12 year old was diagnosed with diabetes and put on an insulin regime. Yesterday she began to have more difficulty walking than she had been and was put on other meds as well. I will be submitting the bills to trupanion and after passing the deductible, I expect to be reimbursed for 90% of the cost of exams, procedures, labs and meds. I'll let you know how that goes. If you're interested in checking out Trupanion, I can post a referral link which will credit me with a $25 charitable donation in my name if you decide to sign up. I will not get anything personally from it and NAYY.... Helene

This is a thinking post. Really make you crawl into your head and ...ponder. I've been hesitant to speak much about myself in the KT lately, but I've been drawn in by the pure bittersweet. As some of you know I've been diagnosed with metastasized lung cancer...it's in my right lung, lymp nodes in my chest, around the heart, in most bones and two tumers in the brain causing swelling and fluid. Im undergoing brain radiation treatments at present..I'll have 10 of these..today I finished 6...my 10'th will be Thursday than I'll start chemo and immunotherapy I think I was told I'd have 3 chemo and immuno than 21 days off than 3 and 21 off for a total of 4 or 5 sesions. My Oncologist wasn't pleased to postpone chemo but they won't do it with radiation and the brain must be saved first. So I'm facing death. There's no cure for me unless God sends me a miricle. I ask my brain doctors when radiation started if he could give me a week...he told me....I'm so very sorry but where your brain tumers are located and the stage...I can't promise you tomorrow but....we are all fighting this with you and a LOT of Prayers, HOPE, and new medicines have given many people in your situation TIME and LIFE. This is what scares me the most....the not knowing from one moment to the next...as if I'm a time bomb...ticking. already I have arm seizures daily, head pain, but it's lessioning up some... God how I've been thinking for weeks the same questions Lucille has ask.. From the first moment I was told about my cancer... My family became my first priority. Nothing absolutely nothing is more important than family, no pretty clothing, no nice cars, no amount of money could ever be more important than family. And Dear God my boys and Amiee. I've also thought about all the other important things that must be taken care of, such as....well....important papers, etc all in a neat folder and labled. So much to do and get in order..sometimes I just don't want to think about any of the mundane stuff I must do and just grab the family and have fun. Like after this post last night...I sent my son for ice cream and even though it was a school night I kept the boys up and we had a ice cream fest..the boys LOVED it. Right now my family is filling up air mattresses in the family room, digging out sheets , pillows, blankets...we're having a weekend PJ party. My adult sons are here to join us as is Amiee's BF Kody. Lots of ice cream, cookies, etc along with some good breakfasts and dinners thru the weekend....huge messes with all this bedding, but SO WHAT...the boys were absolutely thrilled that I cancelled their showers tonight and told them to get into their PJ's. Everyone will just be vegging, laughing, and having fun. Limited work except the basics...bare basics. This makes me happy...I love my family and I want to share and feel their smiles. I've installed enough good habits in the boys that they know the importance of good eating habits, bathing, ect....letting up, easing up once in awhile won't hurt them one bit but will go a long way in giving them peace of mind and some real laughter. Guess I've realized a little slack in routine and all the good healthy life is great, but there must be enough balance to provide a healthy body and mind. For me it's all about family...and the boys and Amiee are of course my greatest concern right now. I try so hard to stay strong, not dwell on what's to happen....but God how can I leave these kids..this is the question that's always on my mind...I know I cant...as long as my brain is still functioning, and there's a breath in me I refuse to give up. I'll take the fear, the pain..I'll suffer the agonizing....I'll do whatever I must do to continue to be with my kids....and we will eat ice cream while I do it. I'm sure I got way off topic Lucille, I found myself saying, sharing, to much yet again. I always did have this bad habit. Lucille, I truly Pray all is well with you. Enjoy those cinnamon rolls, and other cookies, your bike rides, and everything fun your life offers. Do it all with a peaceful heart, and a smile. ((((HUGS)))).