When the average person entered the computer age it was either enough to get you committed or totally hilarious. Some business men were offended by such things as graphics (other than pie charts), a 12 year old who could write code and being forced to deal with the guys with the screwdriver in the pocket protector. Color other than green was strange. I always figured it was because it was the color of money. I think it was Word Perfect that come out with a blue screen and I had several people that thought something was wrong. Programs came with huge instruction manuals and they always had glitches. I would get weekly updates for one program that had 12 books. Sometimes the update would be 20 or 30 pages long. Then the update got updated. I had a six foot long bookcase with 4 shelves devoted to the hardware manuals and I read them all. Those got updated too. There were memory upgrades that couldn't be accessed except by turning off the programs that needed the data that was stored on the upgrade. Not all floppies were 5.25. There were also 8 inch. I think I may even have a few somewhere. The computer is long gone but DH keeps taking them out of the trash. There's even a partial roll of flat rainbow wire for making cables to connect anything. You had to make your own because there were no standards between manufacturers. To change printers or add stuff you had to know which of a half dozen or more toggles to flip inside the CPU. And that was after making a cable that had up to 64 wires on each end to hard wire. Clip on type connectors were a great time saver. Do they still sell diddle sticks? A common practice was to protect a program from being copied by changing the speed of the disk drive to the point where the data was read only or insert so many blank areas on the original and the copy would automatically eliminate them and make the copy crash. All a teenager needed to pirate a program was a diddle stick (you couldn't use a regular screwdriver to adjust the screw that controlled the speed). If the case covering the drive was missing the screws that held it on you knew you had a pirate. Are you bored yet?

Good Morning Idylls! Yeah, Im wireless (but still getting used to this laptop). The party NYE was really fun. The food was outta this world and the dessert was a hit. It was everyones last splurge before the start of dieting. We decided not to spend the nite and I was the designated driver this yr so only had 2 glasses of wine. These are special friends and funny as heck. We were sad to hear theyre going to move to TN in the next yr or so but vow to continue to host a NYE party and were all invited. Despite what I said, I think Im ready to put xmas decorations away. Inspired by Cynthia, Wendy, V, Monique and Michelle, yesterday, I spent 5 hrs. in the basement going thru old stuff, reorganizing and labeling Today Ill pick up a couple on-sale storage containers and pitch the limp old, cardboard boxes. I set the DVR so I wont miss any of the Rose Parade. Gosh, I love that DVR. Monique, I have two huge piles of paperwork, too gardening and misc. Ill be weeding thru that in the next couple weeks. Wendy, one of my winter projects is to organize photos, too my own and helping DD with hers. Seems to be no end of projects here to tackle. OK, catch up. T, I like word puzzles. I just cant get my head into this craze. Woody, I loved the pix of your DH and furry friends! Great to have a peak into your world. Eden, Bella is a real cutie! And all that hair! My grandniece just had her first bday and is a peanut by comparison. Shes healthy, but very, very petite (fathers side of the family are all small). Shes seriously entertaining and knows she has everyones attention b/c shes so adorable. Your scrapbook project sounds real interesting. Please make sure you show us your contribution when youre finished. Oh, and how proud you must be of your DD. What a loving thing to do for her sister. You have great kids and theyre all so supportive of each other. Taryn, I loved the pix you shared. You have such a lovely family and everyone looks so happy to be together. And a bum shot! You are so baaaaad, girl! T, your grandson is sooooo cute. Its great you get to spend so much time with him. Im sharing Marians concern about Jerri and the wildfires in her area. Hope she checks in soon. Marian, I understand about the stuffing. Somehow, that day my mind wasnt in geat! I heard from Jain and she said she lost a rose garden to a mudslide, but is grateful for the minor loss in view of the misery in the valley. Cynthia, I can understand how you get caught up with the GH rescue. The pix you posted of Miss Blue do remind me of Monty. I hope shes adopted to a loving home soon. Wendy, the story of your nephews and the desserts cracked me up! You guys must have been hysterical with laughter. Martie, I loved that gift of dinner for a week! Thats so creative. I have such trouble getting my Mom something and usually supplement her gifts with gift certificates to her fav restaurants. She loves them. She and her BF and neighbor catch the lunch or senior specials every week. Mary, good luck to your DS in her new home. How great of you to drive out with her and help with the move. Its been quite a harrowing year for your family and I hope the New Year is full of fun, happy times. Babs, how awful the deer ravaged your gardens! I usually have to find and replant the rhizomes in the back of my garden. They take a taste and usually spit them out 100 yards away. Grrrrr. Sue, EP and Marian, Im amazed and so jealous you can get out and garden this time of yr. Altho it has been unseasonably warm, its just too darned damp and chilly for me to indulge. After the xmas décor is put away, Im going to dive into plant catalogs. Cant wait! Yeona, Barb, great to hear from you, too. Oh and a special thanks to EP for the recipes on the other thread. In fact, thanks to one and all. Im going to copy them to my recipe folder. Sylvia, great idea to make provisions for our pets should something happen to us. Im sure my DD would take Bullet in, but its good to have a plan in place. Marie, the creek is just beautiful! Our show has melted with all this mild (damp) weather. Were in for a cold snap soon. Hope we get some snow to insulate the plants. Eden, my fav movie is "Somewhere in Time" with Jane Seymour and Chris Reeves filmed at our own Grand Hotel up north. I cry every time. Well, where the heck is Deanne? Deanne, were missing you. Hope all is OK. Well, the sales are calling. Have to shower and get this program rolling. Enjoy the extra day off, everyone!

Well, it's the last day of March. Thanks to ALL of you for taking time out of the busy early spring season to send to Birthday Gals. As this is my first year as a serious gardener, I can honestly and truly say I've never had such a fun March. March is usually that in-between-nothing-to-do month. What a change this year! I know you all were just as busy or busier, especially ya'll in the warmer temps. So, again, thank you so much for taking time out to make our birthday ladies feel extra loved and special. And, I just mailed out my one birthday card today. Pretty sad for the host, huh?! Heres' to blue skies a-comin'! Deannna

Thanks Kathleen and Yachter, my friend next door says I get to celebrate all month not just the one day so you are not late at all. ;o) Yachter, so sorry your back is still giving you problems. You need one of those Ipads so you can lay in bed and connect with us here, right?? Karen, when you are paying for someone to stay with DH and your alloted time is almost up, you have no choice but to do a quick run thru! I get their emails with coupons as well as the ads in the paper so will be sure to take a coupon along when I get to go. Luvs