Interesting individual. I read a bunch at the top of this thread and then gave up, so I haven't read the more recent postings. One thought that kept popping up in my head is that she probably is sick--clinically mentally ill. Perhaps with addictions issues on top of that (self-medicating perhaps?). Some of you posted quotes from her. The ones where she is responding to direct confrontation sound a lot like someone who is mentally ill. If that is the case, then she probably can't help what she's doing (at least not without mental health treatment and her own committment to deal with her illness). It would also account for the fact that her behavior is completely illogical (plant the damn things--you'll never have to beg seed again!). I find, when dealing with someone who is seriously mentally ill, that one of the most therapeutic ways of dealing with them is to remain calm, non-judgemental, and set CLEAR, CONSISTENT boundaries. So the blunt messages people have sent her telling her they will not trade with her under any circumstances are actually a good thing! This is sounding preach-y---NOT what I meant. I really want to say to everyone out there who has posted, thanks for protecting the rest of us! If she's really ill, then she probably won't go away, but at least we have the good souls on GardenWeb looking out for us and spreading the word! Diana Lynn PS--Could this post be kept near the top of the Seed Exchange page as a sort of permanent alert? Would that be appropriate?

man, paul, i sympathise. been there, done that, though not with that quantity of cats. that's why i don't bring in all the cats i find (but i do with monarchs b/c so far we have so few). i guess nature thins them to the point they can succeed outside. anyhow, the times i flat ran out of food, if they were close in size, they will just go on and pupate a bit small after a day or 2 sans food. that must be what happens outside if they run out. if they're really little, there isn't much to be done. you probably know this, but they'll eat the pods, too. just thinking aloud here- there are a couple of monarch web sites- i wonder if you could order stems of milkweed & have them shipped? i believe they sell the eggs to hatch & watch, so logically, they must also sell a food source. or, is there a zoo or butterfly garden close who may be able to help or point you in the right direction? i wish i could help. with this in mind plant more now for next yr (need tuberosum seeds? i got lots). or, try to plant one of the larger leaved kinds, like syrica, that last a lot longer. that's what i'm trying to get established. nandina, i have to think that you were seeing black swallowtail cats on the parsley and monarchs on the asclepias. monarchs can't eat anything else but asclepias members- they can't digest other things. now, strangely, black swallowtails can eat most parsley family members and also rue of all things- odd. they do look similar, especially to someone just glancing or not into butterflies.

dlm--sorry to hear of your brother's health misfortune. I hope you are able to enjoy a spa vacation soon. I think perhaps you are right about the comfort factor--sticking with what you know. The lady that I befriended at Red Mountain had been there, along with another lady I met, back in the late 90s when it truly was a weight loss facility and food was carefully rationed. I like the variety of activities, the hikes, food, and quiet atmosphere at Red Mountain. If you want to sit by the pool all day and read or have massages and facials you can; if you want to hike at 7 am and exercise all day long in classes, whitewater raft, horseback ride, take classes--it's all up to you. The food is healthy but very good and beautifully presented. If I ever rent a vehicle instead of taking the shuttle to Red Mountain I will check out Green Valley. Right now a friend and I are considering Mll Amo Spa at the Enchantment Resort at Sedona. I've been to Sedona but not this resort. Every woman I think deserves such an experience at some time!

I'm not familiar with Aruba, but my brother & wife just got back from a week in Jamaica and, although they enjoyed their resort ok, they were more than a little turned off by the crime everywhere outside the resort, it seemed. I've heard the same thing from many people and so we've never gone there. What about looking into renting a condo of private vacation home instead of just a room? There are some great deals out there and more so this year. We like this route instead because it gives us more room to spread out, a living room to relax in and a kitchen for at least some of our meals. I like having a fridge to keep snacks, drinks and breakfast things in. It may run a bit more than a room, but the savings you get from breakfasts and even lunches in can make up for the difference. For me, though, the biggest advantage would be the extra space and not having to get little ones ready for restaurant breakfasts. Plus, when somebody needs a nap, there's abedroom or bedrooms with doors for quiet and the everyone else can be elsewhere in the home/condo enjoying themselves. Although not the Caribbean, we just reserved a condo for a Spring trip to Galveston Island, and found the selection to be priced very near or the same as that of a single room. The choice was a no-brainer for us. As for specific Caribbean resorts, I don't have many to suggest as, like I mentioned, we tend to rent homes or condos, but I can comment on some of the islands. Peter Island is nice, but was on the expensive side. It has a reputation of being very safe, though. Tortola, which is nearby in the British Virgin Islands is lovely, with a rain forest and mountain in the middle of it. I don't think there's a traffic light on the entire island, just roundabouts, but it's got beautiful beaches and is very laid-back. We especially like the north shore area, which has great vacation homes on the beach to rent. This would be the Long Bay, Apple Bay to Cane Garden Bay area. It's a very safe place to vacation. For a resort there, my choice would be The Sugar Mill, but probably not for small kids. The food is fabulous there, though! St.Thomas is fun and easy to get to. It's congested, though, and the traffic -and parking!- can be daunting at times. We rented a home there in the Peterborg Estates area overlooking Magen's Bay and it, like most there, came with its own gorgeous pool. The Coki Bay area is especially congested as is it's public beach. The two times we went, the air was redolent with the strong scent of pot . . . but the people are very nice. For resorts, the Marriott Frenchman's Reef Resort was very nice, although we didn't stay there. We had two lunches at the outside restaurant on the beach at Belongo Bay. It looked like a nice place, as well. St.John is flat-out gorgeous. Lush, green, tropical and it's very safe, from what we've seen and heard. We lovew it! The beaches are lovely and the water crystal clear. St. Martin/Sint Maarten: it may have just been us, but we weren't very impressed with this island. It came across as too crowded and a bit too commercial, but we did run across some pretty views and places. Puerto Rico, outside the cities you can find some nice places, but I wasn't crazy about it myself. Hope you find someplace that works for you. Let us know where you end up going. Lynn