Thanks so much for sharing your experiences, bejay! It sounds like a great career. And, like my career of editor, which is the same thing my mother did, it sounds like the technology used day to day has changed greatly over the decade, but the base skills remain the same. As with anything, a lot seems to depend on hardworking, flexible and willing to learn. (When my mom began as an editor, there were not only no personal computers or word processing software, but no Post-Its or photocopies. In the space of my 17-year career, I've gone from doing all my work on paper to doing 98% of it on the computer, and moved from teaching my editing class in a classroom to teaching it online. But I would say more is the same about my day to day work than different! Dangling modifiers and insecure authors haven't changed a bit.) ANyway, I'm glad you spend your time gardening, canning, and sharing the stories with us. Hope you're feeling better! Z

Well, we've made at least four batches of this no knead bread. It's really GOOD! Yesterday morning we turned out our first batch of no knead sourdough bread. It came out very well. I suspected, however, that when they said that one only has to use a 1/4 cup of sourdough starter instead of a 1/4 teaspoon of instant yeast (no mention of baking soda), for this bread, that they were using "fake sourdough." "Fake sourdough," is simply a yeast culture, used like sourdough, but which started with packaged yeast. "Real sourdough" starts out as a "captured yeast culture," without any commercial yeast added. It tends to be stronger than packaged yeast. So, when we did our sourdough no knead bread, we added 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to the batter. It worked. I might even try 1/3 teaspoon of baking soda, since our sourdough was, well... a little sour. Still, it's good enough that I have to be careful not to eat too much! The beauty of the no knead method is that one can through it together in less than 10 minutes. Let sit for at least 18 hours (I have let it sit 24 hours) and then there's less than five minutes of work before a 1 1/2 hour rise and one pops it in the oven. 45 minutes after that presto! One has a really crispy tasty bread, very much like a good French bread. It's very little work, but one does need to time things. George

So you knew huh? Plllog at least stop me next time when I'm getting into trouble! OK so I wondered how an informed, educated, alert mind could fall for such a rope a dope Ponzi scheme. First, man hears about invigorating mind body results of a Yoga based practice. Man has a "hole" in his overall mind body armor in the depths of a long, dark, grey, depressing, Winter and figures this is the answer-WEAKNESS. Man pays the $390.00 "dues" and attends the "course" with absolute openness in order to attain maximum results. In the first 10 minutes the course begins with everyone asked to walk around the room and greet everybody with: "My name is .... and I am your's." Everyone follows. Therefore the Cult's Goal #1 has been achieved-TOTAL and ABSOLUTE SURRENDER in the guise of family brotherhood. Before the course begins, everyone is asked to sign a rather auspicious form with more than the usual contact information: "I agree to keep all the teachings of this course strictly confidential and will not teach or share the Sidushin Kriya with anyone else. The Sidushin Kriya is a registered trademark of Art of Living." Now that should have been clue #2. You are buying a product, even trademarked!, plain and simple. This is a money making profit motivated operation. Simple. A Biz guy like me again should have clued in and walked straight out. So I complete Part 1 of "The Course" with a reminder to all that the 2nd part is the "Advanced Course" which brings you to a euphoric high and "magical mental clarity." Then I go to the "tune up" long Kriya sessions. Free, thank God. During that one, 2 weeks ago, my "mental clarity" started to click, unfortunately for Art of Living LOL!!! When the Yoga exercise began, this time there was the Ponzi's, sorry "Gurugi", the self proclaimed Holy God's framed photo on a low wooden carved table right beside the teacher. -IDENTITY INSTILLING Of a SUPREME FIGURE We all follow the teacher and the teacher is a disciple of this great Ponzi crook. Throughout the class and previous ones we are always sprinkled ever so subtly, the magic of this man Gurugi. So far we have been told that the Teacher, who had full blown Lupus since age of 15 and 2 divorced marriages, not only threw her medicine away but one magical day at the "Ashram" in Montreal, the GOD Guruji united her with the very special man who is now her husband. He also came to our class one day with a "Pep Rally" on the "Greatness of Gurugi" and "how he is a man of high society in India's elite, spiritually "saving and guiding" Mittel, the 5th richest man in the world. FAME INSTILLING During this same class (my last one), midway, ever so subtly, the teacher asks all if we know about "365" the "Gurugi's save a child Initiative". You just give $1 a day and shazam! some hopelessly deprived slum child in India, Africa or whatever will benefit with one of the special schools and "village assistance projects" carried out by Art of Living "VOLUNTEERS". That part is actually true. This Ponzi crook not only rakes in Billions of Dollars-TAX FREE_ but he does it with ZERO Labor costs! The workers are all "dedicated to the universal cause of helping those in need". Brilliant. Even Bill Gates and Jobs could learn from a swindler like this. Thank god they don't. So it gets better. Just as we are about to get up, another very subtle reminder of " The Benefit Concert" in TO next weekend with all proceeds directed to "365" and yes blah blah blah. Here's the knee slapper. And I quote: "So everyone, if you can attend it will be ever so nice and such a beautiful evening, tickets are only $15 AND even if you can't make it, you can still buy a ticket as a donation for those POOR impoverished children".!!! Pressing the button of HUMAN SENSITIVITY and CHILD SUFFERING to profit. Again Sad. GENERATE PROFITS FROM MEMBERS WITHIN THE CULT The layperson thinks, if "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar" is immersed in the society of India's famous Bollywood Stars, Business elite, Politicians, etc. then he's obviously special. The skeptical person thinks, in a grossly corrupt society like India, a Ponzi schemer like Sri Sri can get away with tax free income under the disguise of a " International Non profit Aid Organization" and never be scrutinized since the politicians who allow the "tax-free status" obviously profit from it too. Sad. Thinking even deeper, WHY are Sri Sri's photo opps always with the elite and never with a homeless Indian orphan without legs and flies crawling all over his face. No, that would dirty his Egyptian Cotton White Suits and Italian hand made shoes. He boasts to have "sold" his course to 30,000,000 people x $390.00 = a Cool 12 Billion Dollars Cash-TAX FREE!!!! Not bad for a day's pay of crookedness. No wonder he wines and dines with the Mittel's and Ashrai Rai's of India! So, the sad part of all is that a low life like this profits off people's insecurities, physical ailments, and social or financial life problems. I feel bad not only for the 30,000,000 around the world that have helped this Ponzi build his Multi Billion Dollar empire but for all the precious hope that he has stolen from the hearts of so many. For me the $390.00 was disposable, but for many they may have given their precious earnings in the place of food, medicine, schooling etc. That is saddening to me. Also, I feel bad to have shared this with you and Stef, my favorite Senoritas! The nice lady I met at Wegman's in Buffalo whose husband is dying of Cancer and based on my enthusiasm was willing to take the course with him. (still waiting to hear back from her)-I wrote her this morning asking for a luncheon meeting this weekend to explain. I also mentioned this to another friend whose lady friend is going through Cancer therapy presently. She was immediately interested. Again, people on the verge of death are receptive to ANYTHING. I have already asked her not to consider this at all. I did both of the above after asking my Teacher if there was any positive results with Art of Living and Cancer Patients. I was given the "story" of their Cancer Hospital in India and all kinds of studies, none which can be verified, as one of my Google LINKS clearly outlined. But to anyone that I have shared my experience with, I have done so in absolute sincerity and good faith. I should have known that you can NEVER unquestionably follow anyone in this world. No politician, no leader of a Church, no employer, Law enforcement agencies, businesses, family member etc. Doing so only leads to possible distortion of reality. Finally, other than contributing to the wealth of an unscrupulous organization and man, has there been any tangible benefit from doing the course? 1. I have discovered the art of deep Yoga breathing and meditation both of which undeniably help calm the mind. 2. Because of the course, I have become more diligent in the structure of my diet-and Vegetarianism which does make you feel lighter, fresher, slimmer, more alive. 3. I am more focused on fitness. I immediately went running when the insane temps went up at Easter. 4. The course did push me to make a lifestyle change, not that it was unhealthy by any means prior. Just stagnant. In one of my Google Links, I found it very interesting when the astute writer made the connection of Yoga Teacher and Yoga Student. He said all accomplished Yogi's in the History of India always acknowledged their Master's under whom they studied. Yes Sri Sri RAVI SHANKAR is an accomplished Yogi, no doubt. But it is interesting that nowhere on his website or in public has he ever talked about his Master or Teacher. To do so would take attention away from "The Star" The Ponzi-who must always be front and centre of any show. I also like how the writer picked up on his Self-Naming and the name of a Holy One or God. "Sri Sri being His Holy One" in the Hindi language. Another sign of a Ponzi Ego Maniac that has already begun his sales pitch by name alone. The above steps which I experienced first hand are likely similar situations of how all Cults indoctrinate their members and generate financial profits. Obviously the head of the scheme, the Ponzi, controls the multiplying income. Thheee Thhhhat's all folks! P.S. Plllog, that course could have paid for my multi- colored Le Crueset sauciers, or that sexy Induction Belgian??? Wok. Grrrrrrr:::::''' Deep breath in, breathing out :)

coconut, how WILL Aunt Coke be able to cook Thanksgiving dinner without help? It won't be the same, you know. Poor Aunt Coke... Diane and RR, she will indeed be five in November. I know, it's hard to believe. Sigh. I'm going to cry when she gets on that bus for Kindergarten..... Deanna, just borrow some young mother's small children! I borrowed nieces and nephews and neighbors until I got Makayla and Bud. (grin Yes, Bruvver does need to learn. First, though, he needs to learn to use the potty. (grin) Sally, Linda, sure I'll be your Grandmother. LOLOLOL. The age thing might be a bit difficult to explain, but the cupcakes will make it all worthwhile, I'm sure. Jessica, the scrapbook is a good idea, I'll have to remember that. She could have her own cookbook with her favorite recipes, she'd like that. Annie