Christan, I'm with you. Those tastykakes are might tasty, all of them! After Linda got to talking so much about them last spring, I ordered a box of them to try out, and I've been wishing there was an outlet here in Michigan ever since. Now, this is for all of you who knew me last year. Tomorrow, November 30th, is the 1st anniversary of the accident which took Paula away from me. It's been an extremely rough year, but you've all been a great help in getting me through it all. You've put up with a lot, encouraging me and providing some big shoulders to lean on the whole way. The Day started looming in my mind even more a little over a month ago, driving me to distraction and a lot of mood swings, as Linda can attest to. I was thinking that I'd be a complete basket-case by this time, but I'm doing okay. I've been listening to a lot of music today, wrapping Christmas gifts, making out cards for Kym's Secret Santa Seed Swap, and just generally quietly enjoying the day. Anyway, knowing all of you wonderful people and how much you care, I just wanted to let you know I'm okay. It's kind of funny, in an ironic sort of way, that the one song that's helped the most today is by Savage Garden. Savage Garden also did the song "Truly Madly Deeply", which was the theme song for Paula and myself. I guess it's kind of fitting that today I find myself turning to the same group, and their song "Crash and Burn". It says a lot about the friendships I've found here in the threads of the GW, and about the relationship I was lucky enough to have with Paula. here are the lyrics... "Crash And Burn" When you feel all alone And the world has turned its back on you Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore Let me be the one you call If you jump I'll break your fall Lift you up and fly away with you into the night If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart If you need to crash then crash and burn You're not alone When you feel all alone And a loyal friend is hard to find You're caught in a one way street With the monsters in your head When hopes and dreams are far away and You feel like you can't face the day Let me be the one you call If you jump I'll break your fall Lift you up and fly away with you into the night If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart If you need to crash then crash and burn You're not alone 'Cause there has always been heartache and pain And when it's over you'll breathe again You'll breath again When you feel all alone And the world has turned its back on you Give me a moment please To tame your wild wild heart Let me be the one you call If you jump I'll break your fall Lift you up and fly away with you into the night If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart If you need to crash then crash and burn You're not alone Everyone Have A Good Week Peace. -Dan

Of course, there are people who are naturally rude. And there are people who are tired; who are stressed over a family member's illness; who are simply preoccupiedby how their child may get home from soccer practice. And there are people who simply are not good at their jobs. Let's deal with them when they may be encountered. These are the exceptions, not the common rule of everyday contact. And if these are one's common everyday contact, there may be another problem entirely. It sounds as if the issue may be respect. When it comes to respect, however, there's a simple and basic truth: respect is never given away, it's always earned. No one is "entitled" to respect. And the first step in earning respect is to always give respect. That means in one's dress, manner, communications and habits. For example, one certainly doesn't earn or give respect by being in a bank for a mortgage wearing a tank top, shorts and flip-flops, now do they? For those who are young and/or look youthful, congratulations! You will be the envy of your peer group for years to come. If you want to be taken seriously, then be serious. Earn respect by giving respect. For some at least, earning respect is as simple as courteously giving it to others through how one appears, presents and conducts oneself. For example, when was the last time you said "yes, mam" or "yes, sir"? This discussion seems like a lot about a little. It seems like something that would be discussed in an affluent region of a developed nation and no where else. Only a thought.

Thanks, purplemoon & luvs! $135! Wow! Hope you'll see a better deal one of these days...cause my BabyDoll was my Mom's but she's not antique or anything. My sis has the "twin" (which was dressed as a baby boy) & when Mom gave it to her, my sis changed the doll into "girl" clothes! LOL! (actually, they are identical "it" dolls...hair cut the same, etc.) Think I will e-mail my sis some pics of Dollbaby...she will think I've "lost it" & need something more to do! NOT true! I stay busy all the time! LOL! I buy 3 - 6 mo. clothes...like that jumper was $3 ... but now I'll be watching GS's cause can get better buys! LOL! Thanks, gals! Jeanne S.

You know you're a mosaicin' maniac when ...... Working on a project right up to the minute I had to leave, and then realizing OH NO I'm late, I grabbed my keys and dashed out the door to meet a best friend at Home Depot to help her pick out crown molding, not seeing her car (she's late also) I sit down on a bench outside the store to wait, and in passing, a little girl with her mommy hands me a dollar. I'm shocked and speechless...in a panic, I go back to my car, assess myself, and realize I too hadn't showered, brushed my hair (much less my teeth), was wearing my worst stained, siliconed, and ripped jeans and t-shirt, had BLACK stained HANDS and finger nails, AND to top it off, I had painted my laundry room that morning and some white paint must have dripped on the top of my head which, to a little girl, must have looked like bird doo doo...IÂm sure the little girl thought I was HOMELESS! I was mortified, determined I wasn't getting out of my car again except to go in to my house...I called my friend and told her I couldn't make it..sorry, something had came up. It was several weeks before I could tell her what REALLY happened. We laughed so hard I almost wet my pants....but I wasn't laughing when it happened. Addiesue