Your ideas gave me a brainstorm, but with the following caution---if I potted the newly-arrived gorgeous hostas individually and set them outside, I am afraid that they would "develop legs". Nice things outside do have a habit of developing legs, especially with a housing project a few blocks away marring an otherwise lovely neighborhood. My Brooklyn friend, for whom all these plants are destined, has a large elevated brick porch at the top of her porch steps. It has brick walls all around, to boot. Upon the front wall sit 2 long skinny plastic planters, which is where I plant annuals for her every year. I seem to remember one of them is sort of aged and could stand to be replaced. I can buy a long skinny green plastic planter to replace it and use it here to plant the lovely new hostas in it. Then I could set this behind the Obligatory Bushes, out of the sight of passersby. Once the hostas are planted, we could just use this new planter on her porch. I think the hostas would be safer in a heavy planter than in individual pots, soooo tempting to pick up and walk away with. I would just have to pick up the heavy planter to put it into my car, but I think I'm up to that task. If not, I could ask a neighbor, like the strapping son of my handicapped neighbor. And, I just this minute got off the phone to HostasDirect, asking where my heuchie order is. The heuchies are to accompany the hostas under my friend's 2 big ball-shaped bushes in the front "yard" (by Brooklyn standards, it's a front yard. By you outoftowners' standards, it would be big enough to set 3 very large doghouses on, maybe). I should know by tomorrow, via phone call and/or email, when to expect the heuchies. They will be lil bitty things, as I could not find large specimens for all the varieties I wanted. I will have to explain to my friend that they will get bigger next year.

Rosewitch, England was definitely one of my favorite places I have ever visited. My folks took me there when I was 14, and I remember bits and pieces the Crown jewels, walking amongst the Stonehenge stones (roped off now, vandalism), Stratford upon Avon. Time for me to take my own 14YO. Im trying to think how I can get over there for a whole summer, LOL. Dlynn, I could have worked so much more. I didnt really look at night time stuff and there was loads to do. Greece: cant help you, but shoot Yasou a line, she went a few years ago. LOL Annie! Teresa, well go together. I wanted to explore more cooking and food shops/stores but didnt get to. Terri, here is more a link to Pictures of England, a website pointed out to me by Denise. I started it on Bourton on the Water, where we stayed for a few days. Thanks Sharon, I was actually thinking how can I even come close to posting her quality of travel guides, I dont do the pictures she does LOL. We might have sat at the same table in the Cheshire Cheeses dining room! Sawdust still there, but we didnt make it to the cellar. I missed a lot of the British Museum. It has changed.check out the new atrium. I couldnt keep up with DH and DS16. Afternoons, when I planned museums, I crashed. Next time! Pam, lots of people did more than we did per day! Theater every night, more attractions, I cant imagine. Gina heh heh yeah I need another vacation like a hole in my head. Speaking of whichDH has another week off in August. Nooooooooo! Kathleen, DH says he took an average of 200 pictures a day. Yup. Me, I just buy the post cards or Google the images, same thing (DARFC from the photo bugs here) Cathy, thanks for giving me the War and Peace moniker heh heh. Next time I go with CF friends! LindaC, I know. Im still exhausted. Speaking of the V&A, did you know there was a Dale Chihuly chandelier in the entrance room?

When I am changing time zones, I start to shift my schedule forward every day by an hour for as long at is it feasible. I try to get up and go to bed an hour earlier each day so that I will have already started the shift. Food is a big signal for our bodies about where we our in our day. Try to only eat when you would normally be eating at your destination that last day and onboard the plane. I actually had the attendants save our dinners for us and we had a big meal in the morning after we woke up on a 13 hour flight. (That was First Class...not sure if I would even try it in coach, which is where we usually fly.) I never ever ever eat the meal they serve for "dinner" on an overnight flight. I have taken Ambien to sleep. I also have had a glass of wine and a plate of pasta to knock me out. Really good earplugs, a memory foam eyeshade (Brookstone) and my own blanket are essential. I like to bring a special roll-aboard I bought specifically because it works as an ottoman for my short legs. Staying hydrated for those last few days is a good idea because you won't want to be drinking water or waking up to pee while you're sleeping. Needless to say, be careful what you eat at the airport. When we arrive, we always do some kind of physical activity like go for a long walk, visit a park, or an outdoor sculpture garden. I think it is important to stay outside. I do not agree with the advice to take nap, even a short one. I think it makes sense to push through if you can. I often find I need help with sleep for a few days after I have arrived and continue to have the Tylenol PM or Ambien around, just in case. Just because you've gotten through Day One doesn't mean it's over!

emerald..thank you for posting. I just read your thread...my goodness you have so much strength on your journey. I am wishing you the best of luck and will continue to follow your story as well. Here are some pics from the past couple days. We just finished the second day of riding. Lovely weather today . Did 50K yesterday and today. DH was riding quite fast in front today and missed a turn. I didn't realize it till a bit had passed. We waited and waited in town and he finally showed up ! What a worry I had for a couple of hours ! All is well and he won't ride so far out in front and alone again . start of the ride at the hostel in Vienna on the 30th: some of the many riders...we are 50 strong ! It includes 3 folks who are riding with their arms as the " wheel turners...a bras ...as the French say. A wheel chair like affair for one and the other two have their legs braced out in front of them...and use cranks to turn the tires..all 3 had polio as children. the center of Tulln, yesterday where we spent the night in another hoste..it is the rose city...I didn't get enough pics of the roses...they are astounding !! And the fragrance... DH all set to start his first tour ! Tulln is also noted for their strawberry fields ...yum !! new friends at dinner tonight. the remains of one of the 2 Flammkuchen...it was fantastic ..arugula, pesto and prosciutto the Danube path...Velo 6 picture from the dorm roon where we are staying tonight in Klems Austria. the wide and beautiful Danube. that's enough pics ;) WIll keep you posted as able. So different from my previous tours but really really fun !! And such great new folks...we have already been invited to stay with the couple on the right of the pic at their 30 acre vineyard in NZ...we get to pick grapes too. c Thank you all for your truly lovely and encouraging notes. c