Thank you all so much!!! Especially Carla. I'm so sorry I haven't kept in touch with you lately. I saw this the day of my birthday but was too depressed to respond at the time. I don't want to bring the spring mood of the whole forum down, so I'll just say I had a very difficult fall and winter - emotionally with 3 losses in the family, and in a few other ways. But I'm better now and glad spring is here. I can't wait to let everyone know about my new roses and cats. Again thank you so much! Rob

Connie, Happy Birthday to you, too! A couple of my fifth graders have the same b-day, too. It is a great B-day. It is a beautiful day here. I need to squeeze in some gardening. I have some pods that have matured, and I need to finish gathering those. My DD is making a cake. How about that? They do grow up!! Thanks Teresa, you are always so thoughtful about all these birthdays. Janet I love the sunflower graphic! Is that picture from your garden? Thanks also to Janet and Koi. It has been a great day. Mary

Happy St. Patrick's Day you guys! MILKDUD!! You are back!! My knee is having sympathy pains for your knee! I hope that the luck o' the Irish is with you and that the pain will soon be gone forever. Nobody likes bike riding here?? 3 years ago I did a 30 mile benefit ride and had a blast! I guess you guys won't be joining me.... : ( You all and your SHOES!! lol! I own 2 pairs of heels, one white , one black, 1 pair of Nike walking shoes, 1 pr tennies, 2 pr hiking boots 1 pr slinky little black ankle boots and a pr of zorries. And that's IT!!! Raeanne, TIA for your help on the 24th ;) Wow, you are really working out, personal trainer and all. Is it very expensive? Zig, I always put green food coloring in the closed bathtub drain (kids turn on shower and are up to their ankles in green!) and put it in the cereal bowls under the cheerios : ) What a busy week this has been! It's raining hard here and the highways have been a mess all day! I was so eager to get home, that I skipped my nail appt. DS has poker night with the youth group guys tonight and I am curling up with a good book or a movie. We are celebrating St Paddy's day on Sunday w/ corned beef n' cabbage when DD can get over here. I start my knee therapy on Monday, along with my new walking tape. (Zig, I'll let you know...) I hope things are better for Joanne's Mom, John's Mom, Besh's family, Patti and Dave and their family. I hope that DeeMarie is having a wonderful time on vacation. And I hope that BJ is behaving herself! Tikanas

John, be careful when you read about awards. 'Tuition' and 'Cost of attendance' and even 'scholarships' are different. For example, at 'Bama and Cooper Union you still have room, board, other fees - bringing the cost to about $15 to $20k/year. 'Scholarships' can be eroded by increasing tuition/fee costs. X% of tuition usually increases with price bumps so there is protection. Deep Springs is free.....$2,800/year COA....heh heh EJ strikes again... Of course the best thing she can do - if she is a National Merit Finalist - is get a full ride (tuition, room, board, fees, transportation, EVERYTHING) with a good number of schools looking to increase their prestige. Happy hunting.