We recently had an invite to a party that read "the courtesy of a reply would be greatly appreciated" along with the phone number. It was for our niece's 21st, I didn't ring because we had told both my BIL and SIL on different occasions that we were coming. My husband told me a few days before the party that most of the family members invited had not replied at all. This was for a catered sit-down meal that had to have definite numbers ahead of time.

Thanks pattico for the link. My neighbors were commenting on these the other day and couldn't believe they were something I made myself. I do plan on bringing them in during the winter months just in case. Hadn't thought about the rock from a lawn mower though. Oh well, that'll just be an excuse to make more. LOL! As for it being windy...it gets pretty windy here as well, so you need to be sure your bottom piece is very heavy. Or silicone on a large, heavy piece like a microwave oven plate (2 bucks or so at thrift stores) and cover it with rock or mulch if you want to hide it.

"All waranties and representation contained in the agreement shall survive the closing unless otherwise stated in this agreement." Interesting statement. Here, it would be the other way around. There are no automatic items that survive the closing unless they are spelled out. i.e. the air conditioning unit has 2 years remaining on it's warranty and shall transfer to the new owner at closing.

Well, today is going much better. (Of course I am probably jinxing myself.) I went to the library and spoke to a few acquaintances who all remembered me and none of whom told me I had ratty hair or pimples. The Kindle Fire session went more smoothly, thanks to Frances I think I have figured out a thing or two or three. I think the problem is just plain old slowness. What I took for nonresponse is just plain slowness. I need to wait...wait...wait...wait a little more...voila! Being used to lightning fast responses on my work and home computers, I have become spoiled. It's not that bad, but it is definitely slow. And my two Kindles work differently - my old Kindle can receive books just about anywhere but my new Kindle Fire can only receive books if it has a wireless connection. Except for library books, which are a whole different animal. Yes, it is a learning experience. Anyway, I am tired of Christmas, not the spiritual beautiful part, but the I-don't-have-time-to-be-nice-to-you-because-I-have-better-things-to-do part. I will be glad when the holidays are over and my friends don't hang up on me because they are busy and stressed. I don't have the busy stressed part, because I pretty deliberately eliminated it quite some time ago. For instance, we don't exchange gifts in my family as a general rule. We all agreed quite some time ago that we all have too much stuff. But today is beautiful. It is snowing lightly and looks gorgeous. I'm so happy to have some snow that does not come part and parcel with a huge and ferocious storm. This is lightly falling, moderate temp, no wind, only half-an-inch expected snow. And yes, this is all tongue-in-cheek, I'm hope I have generated a bit of laughter!