Kswl, I'm going to have to check out Absurdistan because Confederacy is one of my favorite books EVER. I re-read it for our book club a few years ago. That was another one that some people loathed. As for Freedom, count me in as a non-fan. I think what bothered me was that the author didn't make me care about a single character. In fact I actively despised each and every one. Not to say I expect to love everyone in every book. However a good writer pulls you in and makes you at least care what is happening. Makes you understand someone or something. Makes you stop and say 'huh, that's so true' or conversely 'huh, never saw it that way before.' Jonathan Franzen did not do that for a single page in Freedom. I actually tried to read The Marriage Plot a few weeks ago and dropped it immediately for the same reason. In that one, I did not for a second believe the Eugenides even had an inkling about who or what his characters were supposed to be and do. Feh. Life's too short and there are too many amazing books out there. Which brings me to a recommendation of something I just read that was stunning: Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman. Have linked to it below. A coming of age story, not a light read but what an amazing debut novel. The writing, the protagonist, the structure...all incredibly well done. Warning-it's episodic too and the chapters aren't strictly expository but well, well worth reading. IMO of course! Here is a link that might be useful: Girlchild: A Novel

Response from Kohl's: Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding the damaged Fiesta Ivory 5-pc. Dinnerware Sets from your recent order. I understand your concern, and I am happy to assist you. I am very sorry to learn part of your order arrived damaged. Please carefully dispose of the damaged Fiesta Ivory 5-pc. Dinnerware Sets. At this time, we are unable to send a replacement item. A return for the three Fiesta Ivory 5-pc. Dinnerware Sets will be processed. Please allow 14-30 business days for the credit to be applied to your American Express account. If you would like to place a new order for this item, please visit Kohls.com to place your order. We will be happy to honor the original sale price and free standard shipping on a replacement order. Once you have placed your order, please reply with your new order number so we may process the necessary adjustments. If you find you need assistance replacing your order you may contact us at 1-866-887-8884. You can reach us Monday through Saturday from 7am to 10pm Central Time and on Sunday from 9am to 10pm Central Time. I apologize for the inconvenience caused by receiving part of your order damaged. I have forwarded this issue to the appropriate management teams at our corporate office and Kohls.com Fulfillment Center. You can be assured that we will identify the problem and resolve this issue for any future orders. Not sure why they can't process a replacement, but apparently I can go back online and reorder. Whatever ... I'll just find the sets I need elsewhere, or take a drive to Kohl's. ::sigh::

I feel that she declares herself a vegan and requiring a gluten free diet as a way of getting attention or singling herself out in a crowd. She did strike me as very immature and not confidant in her own skin. It was a briefly awkward moment, but mostly for her family, I think. I'm thinking that she'll outgrow her dietary choices before she even figures out what is involved. I took her under my wing and her real personality came out shortly....shy, funny, searching for her confidance. She seemed to really enjoy herself once she relaxed. I wish that she had been a 'real' vegan or truly gluten intolerant because I would have loved some one on one education. I knew that she wasn't going to be ligit when I saw her dive into the homemade buttermilk veggie dip I made.....and the couscous salad.....and deviled eggs, potato salad, strawberry shortcake, etc. :-) In truth....an individual with those two dietary restrictions would have gone hungry last night unless they brought their own food.

Jon, I finally clicked on the web address under your original post. At those prices at HD these are packs of 6 or 9 individual bare-root hostas. That's why they are so expensive. Each plant might be $3 to $4. Our HD had better garden prices than Lowe's and Walmart. A 3 lb bottle of Ortho Bug-Geta Plus anti-slug pellets was costing $9.45 two years ago. But now they have only a 2 lb bag for the same price at my store. But on the internet you can buy the 3 lb bottle for $10.97 from HD with free delivery to their store, but it is out of stock online now. Others offer the 3 lb bottle for $9.99 plus delivery, but my order got messed up.