bobbi: Cleyeras are prone to leaf spot. Is it branchs or is it on of the several cuttings that growers put in the container? If it is Branches you may have some root die back problems. Art

This is a great thread. I first have to say that I had my husband look at some of this, and I will say upfront that he is totally engaged (he does most of the cooking). But I'm terrible. My family is here and rated me at a 9.5 out of 10 for being a witch the hours before a party. I remember yelling at my daughter because I had just hung up a perfect clean towerl on the hanging ring and went in, they had used it, and wadded it up over the ring. I yelled at them, and still feel bad about it today. Most importantly because I don't want them to think that entertaining is awful and never have a dinner party because they remember it being hell day. I grew up with my mother keeping a horrendous house. It was a mess, and I mean a mess. Counters piled with crap, dishes not done for days, and she didn't care. She was always having friends stop by. Even as a young child, it embarassed me to all heck. I can still remember coming home from babysitting at midnight or so when I was 12 or 13 years old (I started young), and I would clean the kitchen from top to bottom. It would take a couple of hours. I was different than her even back then. When my dad remarried, it was Martha Stewart land. She had to have it spotless. Every Saturday was crack and corner day. We quite literally had to pull the couch out and vacuum under it at least every other week, and we had to bleach the counters. Crazy the other way! So, I can't seem to have anyone over unless my house is totally cleaned! And our parties themselves are quite memorable to everyone who comes. They talk about it afterward for weeks. I do enjoy having wonderful parties but I also wish I could relax about my house. I know its wrapped up in my childhood psyche. I will even make sure the main counters are clean as guests are arriving for a dinner party. And that's while we're using the kitchen! But I'm also so proud of our kitchen and want to show it off. Now one time, we had a Chinese extravaganze where we covered our desk with Chinese ingredients, friends came over at noon and didn't leave until midnight. The men mostly cooked and it was a blast. Every inch of every counter was covered with crap. I remember walking in the kitchen, the dust was flying from someone rolling out potstickers while someone else was frying a whole fish over the wok burner, and someone else was mixing something up. I didn't care what the kitchen looked like that day. I'll never forget that party. I don't know if I'll ever change about the clean house though. It's so engrained in me. Well, my husband is making London Broil so I'm off to the kitchen!! Great stories though. I think we have more in common than we realized.

I found this persons' book at the library (Sweet Poison). I stopped using artificial sweeteners after reading it. You may find the authors website helpful! "Janet Starr Hull has a very diverse background with academic degrees and experience in geology, international geography, environmental science, fitness training and nutrition. She is an OSHA Certified Environmental Hazardous Waste Emergency Response Specialist and Toxicologist, a former firefighter and college professor. In 1991, Dr. Hull had an unexpected change in career after she was diagnosed with âincurableâ Graveâs Disease. Through diligent research and her thorough understanding of toxicity, she later discovered her âGraveâs Diseaseâ was actually aspartame poisoning. She has since worked to inform consumers about the health dangers of artificial sweeteners." An Aspartame Detoxification Program www.janethull.com/about/index.php

Yeah.....Lee was an ex-alcoholic. He had a large belly, maybe liver disease? He worked two jobs. He was a 3M copier repairman. He drove ALL day in a van to get to small Colorado towns to repair their copier. He NEVER exercised a day in his life. Then worked nights & weekends @ Sears, with me, as a commissioned tire salesman/shop writer. He mentioned his son, was a mess....and would you expect otherwise he joked. He said The ARC saved his life. It had a sober program, he attended meetings off & on. I shopped @ The ARC Thrift store. I remember he used to buy dress jackets there for .25cents. When they got dirty, he'd throw it away. ☺ We worked together for nine years. Most of the guys were really nice....but I have stories....!