Bam, I had the exact same symptoms on my potted SHB this past summer when all the sulfer I added to the potting medium at planting finally settled out. Smaller than normal leafs, no new flushes of growth, pinkish chloratic leafs. I've learned to use sulfer a pinch at a time especially when using rain water. If I was using this nasty Houston tap water I probably wouldn't have seen these issues. On the other hand it would have drove the ph up and I would be playing chase one way or the other. I think that's the big advantage of using rain water. Once the ph settles in the range you want it , it should remain so for a very long time.

well, I work w/ graphic designers, and it's very true--their tools have changed quite a bit. Classwork will really, really help. You know what also might help? Being able to sit at the elbow of someone doing a similar task w/ the software you're learning to use. Take the class first, but while you're taking it, start scouting out a publication, or advertising agency, or something--tap into those friends!--that uses the same publication you will. Contact a designer there, not necessarily the top cheese in the dept., and call. Explain yourself, and ask if you can come spend a little time watching them work. I've learned so much by seeing them do something quick, and then saying, "how'd you do that?" They then explain the tool to me, and bingo, I've got it. Seeing it happen in real life is such a big plus in terms of learning. Bcs I don't even know enough to realize the "tool" is in the program. I'd just figure out what the long way was, and do that. Then, once you're going, see if you can get them to come watch you design something. They may find efficiencies you could use. Also, one other thought: Efficiency is going to be really important. Maybe more so than creativity. So, try to spend some energy creating templates you can then simply tweak or use outright, without further fussing around. Another thing I've found: the PRINCIPLES are the same. We ship files electronically to our separator. We still send the "mechanical" (except now it's an electronic document, the QuarkXPress file)--it is the real, live, perfect thing that they will actually use. And, bcs an electronic file *can* be change and is therefore more vulnerable, the "mechanical" is now two parts--the one they use (the file) and the one they check it against. That second part used to be a printout. Now, it's a PDF. But the PRINCIPLE is the same as when it was paper. It just has another name. And often digital pictures are sent to the separator instead of actual artwork for them to photograph themselves (and sometimes actual film is sent by the advertiser, here), the principle is the same. Time consuming steps shaved off, that's all. So, as you learn the system for transmitting to the printer, or a program like Quark, with all the tools inside it (dragging, dropping, drawing, step-and-repeat, etc., try to compare with previous systems and methods--because the parallel is there. The same things are being accomplished. Also focus on the GOAL of each of these steps and not their names; it will help you understand them. And, you'll be able to mark them up even if you can't remember the term. (Remember the old days? You could write "KO type" on the tissue overlaying the mechanical; or you could have written "type should be white"--and the people reading it would know what you meant even if you didn't use the "KO" jargon) More random thoughts. Is it that you're intimidated by learning something new? Or is it that, because you are older and a better planner (and not idealistic and unrealistic, which we are when we're younger), that you have a clearer grasp of how complex this could be, and how inefficient you will be at first? That doesn't mean you should quit--just that you should STOP deciding this is an age-induced character defect, and start thinking of it as a "signal system" that's telling you something. It's telling you where the difficulties will lie which hopefully will help you tackle them. What software will you be using for your page design? I'm curious. (oh, and...if your printer can handle more than one software, you guys should use the one that your friends use, so you can use them as coaches)

Sue VA, that must have been the most rewarding experience of your life. Your response gave me the biggest goosebumps. I was thinking about it and I would love to teach at a center for underpriveleged folks how to get a job. Teach them to bring their own pen (I have watched SO many people fill out job aps and have to ask for a pen or pencil), to dress in a suit whether they were going for the president of McDonalds or a fry cook at McDonalds, and how to shake hands and look people in the eye. Giving people pride in themselves is where I want to take the people I teach. In high school I was involved in a program called Eco-Act and we went in small groups weekly to grade schools and taught 4-5th graders ecology. It was really great, I met a lot of the kids later in life and they told me they still remember a lot of the activities and many are very active composters. It is cool to know you made a difference in someone's life.

I was mostly taught to cook by watching, but Mom did pass a couple recipes on to me. Not that my family cares all that much... she never was the best cook. Too Irish I suppose. My Gran, on the other hand, took her recipes with her to her grave. Dad is still bummed nobody can make her rolls or cinnamon buns. Regarding working in a restaurant... I suppose I learned more there than I did at home. Especially about prep and food storage. It taught me new methods that my Mom would never attempt. It also taught me to rely less on salt and to use actual seasonings instead such as herbs. ... And I think a stint as a prep kid should be mandatory for high school graduation. Kids here have to have volunteer hours to graduate and while that's great there's no comparison between shelving books at the library and learning how to feed yourself.