re Graduation: I'm working on it. ;) I'm a mechanical engineering student with a minor in math, but I'm planning to go into research. I'd like to work to develop systems that will run more effectively on alternative fuels. It'll fulfill my need to save the green things. Until then, I've got some plants. :) re Community Gardens: That sounds promising, but I really do not have the time to go out and do that. I take an average of 18 credits per semester while also learning Swedish. (Going to Sweden for study abroad next Jan.) As much fun and joy as growing things gives me, I cannot devote that much time to finding somewhere here and going back and forth. I also just really do not feel safe at all leaving campus. re Sprouts: I saw this the other night and it looked interesting so I hunted around in my little "mini-kitchen" (a little plastic thing with some shelves, a microwave, and a minifridge) and all I found was some popcorn. I only get the plain kind in the plastic bag that you have to put in a paper bag yourself. The package didn't say anything about them being pre-treated, so I looked up sprouts online and these should probably be done some time tomorrow if what I read was correct. I was rinsing them today and saw that they are growing tiny little things from the end of the seeds! That's so neat! re Chia Pets: Chia pets sound fun too. While I couldn't eat them, if I were to find that they were not toxic to rats I could probably give them to my darling rat-girl when they are done growing. She loves to dig. :) re Lights: I went to home depot and got a little setup for $12 that is a ballast and 2 48" flourescent lights. Each light is 40 watts, 3300 lumens, CRI 70, and 4100K. I am not sure if that will be sufficient for the current veggies, but even if it is not then it was not much money lost and I'll have an extra light in my room! I tried to set it up today but I do not have the proper hooks in the ceiling. Tomorrow I will get duct tape. ::maniacal grin:: Do you think that mushrooms would grow more easily in low light? In nature they grow in the forest, which is dark, right? I love portobellos... I'm not sure how things will work out with these veggies, but by the end of the summer I am quite determined to have found a few things that I can grow here that aren't flowers. Because I hate flowers.

Got a lot of smiles from these posts. Remembrances of my four going off to college, each for the first time. First to go was DD. She took 125% of everything she needed. The school sent a list and I got another list from a different school too. We got it all. took 2 vans to move her in. She shared a 7 x 11 foot room with one other girl! We have a pic of her room on move in day. Oops, that super size box of Tampax on the bed shows in every picture! Her and old room mate laughed about that one at DD's wedding shower! Now, the next 3 were boys and they take 100% of what they need (meaning: 25% of what you KNOW they need). One set of sheets, who needs to wash except at Xmas and Spring break?! I mean it simply amazed me! If they didn't have something they needed, they just went down the hall and "borrowed" it from someone else (usually a girl who had it all). If they knew they were coming home in 2 weeks, then they didn't do laundry. No, I do not do anyones laundry except mine and DH's, they just didn't want to haul it anywhere. So don't worry, what they don't take with them you can mail or they will beg from soneone else. BTW mail them a package one day BEFORE they leave. Amazing how much a box from home says "I love you". Still have 2 in college, had all 4 in at the same time one year! Kathy G in MI

Land's End has 400 count Supima sateen sheets. I haven't bought those exact sheets, but I have two sets of Land's End sheets and I really like them. They also make their jersey knit sheets in XL twin. These are possibly the softest sheets I've ever slept in.

I would just cut the fitted sheet somewhere near the bottom and add a piece 7" wide. 7" to allow for the seam allowances (4 times 5/8") and serge them together. How much deeper does the topper make the mattress than the other way? That would be a pain to adjust for. I got my dd college bedding on clearance; her college started 3 weeks after the big "state" college did and I was lucky to get the jersey bedding for under $4.00. Hope this helps