I am glad to hear you are in good shape. One handed typing is my mode of operation frequently, cats on the lap do that :)

Maryl.yesterday we got a flood.It rained buckets all day and some of my roses are just sitting in water,and they are forecasting more rain on thursday.I don't need no more rain.Its turned cold today too.We didn't get the snow,unless it was just some flurries during the night.Nothing on the ground today.I don't know if you sent me a picture on that other post.I seen a little box with a red X in it,but I couldn't make it open up.Some times you can right click on the X and it will open,but not this time. Any who, that you for the good wishes. Jean

Pesky; this issue is so very close to me; especially now as my dad will be gone 5 years from Leukemia on Sunday. When he was diagnosed; there was one daughter that hadn't spoken to him in 10 years over something trivial; him not closing his business to go to her sons communion. I couldn't make it either due to my bathroom floor falling apart unexpectedly & not having water in the house; we didn't speak about 4 years. Anyway, when he was diagnosed, he hoped she'd forgive & forget because he was terminal; but there were days he changed his mind & didn't want the cancer to be the reason she spoke to him again. The only way we got her to the hospital was because the oldest kind of conned her into bringing my nephew to see his grandpa. That broke the ice but didn't heal anything. My dad tried calling; emailing but no reply. He then had a change of heart after reaching out & decided he was done. At one point; she was asked to be tested for stem cells & refused- they didn't want me because they'd have to do a lot of work to clean mine due to medications I'm on- I was tested anyway; they rejected me because of high sugar & something with my liver which turned out to be nothing. Anyway, word of his will got to her; she wrote him a nasty letter via email & Christmas card & it sent him into a depression. Eventually she came around a few weeks before he passed. Next; my hub being diagnosed with cancer; there's one person in his life that my hub is sad that hasn't reached out; especially under the circumstances with not knowing if/when it will rear it's ugly head again. He has the type that usually comes back. I side tracked here.. but I gave 2 different circumstances- one terminal & one up in the air; one wanting the rift to just go away & the other not caring. Politics & religion are 2 touchy things for some people. I personally try not to let anyone know how I feel about anything because it just causes problems & it's stupid. I have a FB friend who's family isn't speaking to her over religion. She just posted about it the other day; between all of the posts lately; it's bringing a lot to the surface with my dad. She just had a death in her family; which led her to post.. My opinion is that the issues will still be there unless everyone can agree to disagree & agree that everyone has a right to have their own opinion; even if its different. In your case is she the type of person to say "F" you; you're only contacting me because I may have cancer? If so, it may cause even more problems in the family; then again, if you don't send some sort of card/flowers/phone call will they see you as a heartless b!tch? Every situation is different, depending on the dynamics of the relationship; so only you know what you should or should not do.

chase: It wasn't that bad getting the "treats" here. Williams-Sonoma shipped them very quickly and very cheaply. They're the chocolate croissants that Oprah says is one of the "best things she can buy". Also, fyi, the orechhiette pasta with a sausage-fennel-pistachio cream sauce is my recipe: Orecchiette with a Sausage and Pistachio Cream Sauce Serves 4-6 Ingredients 1 pound pasta (farfalle, penne, orecchiette) 1/2 pound mild Italian sausage, skinned 2 Tbs butter 1 small onion, sliced thinly 1/2 small bulb fennel, sliced very thin 1-1/4 cup heavy cream 2 Tbs mascarpone cheese 1 Tbs grated parmesan 1/4 cup chopped pistachios salt and white pepper to taste Directions Put on pasta water to boil. Cook crumbled sausage in skillet until done but not overly browned. You can mop up the drippings now if you donÂt want this dish overly oily. Add butter, onion and fennel and cook until soft. Add heavy cream and cook on medium heat to reduce by 1/3. Add mascarpone, parmesan and pistachio and stir until mascarpone and parmesan become creamy with the sauce. Season. Add cooked pasta and toss well. Garnish with fennel leaf. Joe