As a very young child, I remember playing a 45 of John Phillip Sousa's Stars and Stripes over and over on my little record player. I referred to it as "The Train Song" because there was a blue train on the label. I also had a recording of a Japanese song that I sang along with, although I had no idea what the words meant. My father collected recordings of folk artists, celtic musicians, marching bands, bagpipes, and fiddle music while his friends listened to Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra. My mother always had the radio tuned to the rock and roll station, so I remember hearing all the hits from the 50's and early 60's while in the house. I took ballet lessons beginning at age 3 and became familiar with the music of great composers without knowing any of their names. It was only later that I learned we were doing plies and sautes to Chopin and Tchaikovsky. In 5th grade I got my first guitar and the first tune I learned was "Frog Went A-Courtin'", played all in one chord, D, with finger picking. I spent hours in my room learning old folk songs and guitar licks. Like Kathy, I got my own radio around jr. high and listened to KRLA in the dark, late at night when I was supposed to be sleeping, but that was the only time I could pick up the signal. I loved Neil Diamond's "Cherry, Cherry" and The Doors' "Light My Fire" equally well. In college I became fascinated with bluegrass music, it just yanked on my heart so hard, especially the fiddle. One day my father told me his dad had owned a violin and I should go get it from under Aunt Vivian's bed. So I did. I had it repaired and I've been playing it ever since. I get together with a group every week to have fun making music, and I consider it central to my well-being. And it has spread. My husband has learned blues guitar in the last 10 years, daughter plays guitar and piano, son plays electric bass and guitar.

Hi LunR (and to Linda, also, following reply to LunR), Your plants from Fancy Bloomers look great! Donna sends large plants! Yes, she usually includes a FREE plant that goes with your color selection. You will love Louisiana Lullabye. Thanks for the advice on the cups! I agree, in an office, you want something more attractive than solo cups. In the book "Growing to Show," she talks about how to use an AV watering pot. The link that was sent on the various types of alternatives to cups or pots was very interesting. @ Linda Thanks for advice on florist packaging! I actually thought of that very thing! Trader Joe's grocery store has plant and bouquet bags, they were very kind to let me take what I needed! (I buy plants and flowers from them often.) Today, one more idea ... I got a shipment of violets from Jo's Violets. She packaged them in tubes shaped from lightweight corrugated cardboard. She left the tops open, then covered the tubes with a thick layer of insulation, so that nothing moved and no soil shifted. All arrived in perfect condition, and are easy to unpack as the only taping is a small piece to secure the tube. My plan is to first wrap the violets in cellophane so that they can be displayed on the table, then wrap each again in a tube of corrugated cardboard. Well, just "thinking aloud"here. Elsewhere, in these posts, I 'fessed up to a crime I did not actually commit. Someone had commented that if leaves "headed south," it could mean the plants had chlorine toxicity. I thought she meant pointing downward; she probably meant dying. Several of my plants have leaves that drape downward, but are healthy. It is probably just the way they grow, as others grow flat or upward, under the same lighting conditions. So, I now "plead the Fifth"-- I do not have to disclose what type of water I use or how long I let it sit to evaporate the chloramine (if it evaporates.) My next task is to research this forum about water. The question that will be coming up next also is how folks track themselves, or if they/you do ... Do you use Excel or a hand-written notebook, or both? Or print-outs in a binder with photos? or folders on the computer? Are some "paperless"? Do others love to have log books on their shelves? All of these, or none of these? Thanks, Joanne 47

Hey! I got home from having more blood drawn, and there was my box from Joan on the porch! Paula helped me open it, and it was fun to watch the excitement on her face as she pulled out the shredded paper and saw the goodies Joan sent! Here's what we received... Plants... One Big Mystery Plant (Joan, what is this?) Mexican Heather Cypress Vine Rosemary Seeds... Sweet William Echinacea Spider Flower Blue Flax Goodies... Blue Terry Wipes Mountain Lodge Scented Candle Frog Statue (he looks like a tourist, how cool!) Garden Journal Gardening Gloves 3-Piece Gardening Tool Set Photo Refrigerator Magnet Catnip Toys for the boys Foot Cooler Black Iron -n- Raffia Planter (can't wait to try that out next spring!) All in all, a great box! Thank you Joan! ***now I'm off to investigate how to grow all the plants*** -Dan

I should have said I get to look at Irish Eyes over here. Not mine, the hubbies. I'm a brown eyed girl. My Brown Eyed Girl! That's what he sings to me. Love that song! Bunny, you are so much like my best friend (also named Tracy). Silly as ever but smart as a whip. She says the darndest things and just busts us up! One of my favorite quirks of hers is she is constantly mixing metaphors or just makes new words.She will say things like "flustrated". She means flustered, slams it with aggravated, and boom we have a whole new word. But she can outsmart me any day of the week. LOVE THAT GIRL! Wouldn't change her for the world or you either! You should see the words she makes when she has a couple of beers in her. I then serve as interpreter. You are special... I keep thinking of the church lady on Saturday Night Live. Picture her taking over for Mr. Rogers. SCAREY!