Whitecat, no, I don't think any *one* person's responses seem like bashing. It's as the thread goes on, everything cumulates into a big piling on that I find really like watching someone being kicked to death by a mob. I'm distressed by it because of the unfairness. We are talking here about decent people trying to make an honest living and providing a fair product as if they were crooks and needed to be shunned or maybe horsewhipped. In this case, I felt the offer of $10 for the spike was fair, not something to stay mad and be insulted over. As for your reference to "mixed experiences"-- Sorry, whitecat, don't mean to be rude -- but I believe those words don't really describe what's happening here. The implication is that there are frequent, major problems. A *few* people have complained here about Norman's. *One* person who bought several very expensive plants got one with crown rot. That's a serious complaint, but it was *one*. It seems to me that your definition of a mixed experience is an occasional experience short of perfection. Then, you see, I've had "mixed experiences" with my husband of 40 some years, my son, other relatives, all my friends and neighbors, co-workers, and even myself! As you can imagine, I would call that kind of "mixed experience" quite lucky and blessed. By that definition,then as I said, I've had those with every vendor at some time or other, even the ones I love to buy from. To sell enough orchids to make a living for even one person, there has to be *one* along the line that's got poorish roots-- those don't show up til the top of the plant starts to deteriorate. Why blame someone over it, and demand reparations if I can easily bring it back in two months with my handy root hormones? If they're all like that, that's cheating people. If one out of 10 or fewer is like that, it's just what happens. To me, the back and forth of arguing about whether a plant was or wasn't perfect isn't worth the time and the aggro, which necessarily goes on over a period of time. And shipping it back just adds to the time and aggro. I would complain only if the plant wwas unredeemable, or was visibly shoddy merchandise, so that it was clear I was cheated, or a very special plant was mislabeled. A broken spike is something to be sad over for a few minutes, not something to ruin someone's reputation over, or to make broad generalizations about them. It's not as if they cut off the wrong hand, for heavens sake. I just accept that when I'm buying something sight unseen, I might not get exactly the quality I would get if I could pick out for myself. So I haven't had any experiences with complaints at Norman's. And I wasn't commenting on that. Just the tone of it, and the piling on. Unfair. Sorry if I came across as harsh. I held back as long as I could, and it just didn't stop.

isn't nice you had your gs to be with you? my uncle had a quad done and went back to work as principal, and walked everyday...while he's had a stroke (now in his 80's) he continues with visits to the hospital wellness center...guess what i'm trying to say... keep the good thoughts! my aunt found the authorized cookbook by the heart assn. very helpful with meal planning, ect...they followed it to the letter...

mimiboo ~ We live in Wiccopee/Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County. Would you be interested in finding out about some of the off-beat "local flavor"? There are some great art galleries in Beacon and Newburgh, some terrific restaurants, and some fun places to visit.

I guess I am really glad I live in the northeast. Twenty years ago when my then toddler was sick and hospitalized for several days, his siblings, who were 5 and 7 at the time, were allowed to visit whenever and for however long we wished. When my youngest was born almost 13 years ago, all 5 older siblings visited at the same time. Two of them were present at the birth, and they all could have been had they wanted to. The only requirement was that there be someone there who would be willing to take them out of the room if they changed their minds in the middle of labor. I recently visited a relative who had given birth by c-section, and one of her husband's friends came to visit with his wife and toddler about 24 hours after the baby's birth. Hospitals in this area, especially in maternity, are desperate for patients, and they try very hard to be patient-friendly. Of course the other thing to remember is that YOU are in charge of your own medical care, not them. You are the one paying a whole lot of money for the hospital's services. The patient has the right to decide who can visit and who can't. There is no reason to ask for permission. Actually, that is a good thing to keep in mind before you go into the hospital in labor, at which time you may not be thinking terribly clearly. Decide what you want - whether or not you want medication, whom you want to be with you during labor, whether you want anything special like a water birth - and let your doctor and the hospital know in advance, in writing. Then, barring an emergency, you are much more likely to have the type of birth experience you want. Also, I would recommend using a doula, especially if you are not confident that your husband will say and do all the right things during labor. Fathers are often not thinking particularly clearly at that time either, and it has been my experience that they are often more scared than the mother, who may be too busy to worry. It is very helpful to have someone reassuring you that you can do this, especially if the hospital staff is saying, "here, take some drugs." It is perfectly possible to deliver even very large babies without medication, as long as you have support. Bring the number of the local LLL leader with you to the hospital, and if possible attend at least one meeting beforehand. Child birth is not normally a medical event, but a wonderful but natural part of life. One of the many reasons the first labor is often more difficult is lack of confidence. The hospital staff and others (yes, I know, including me) tend to tell you what to do. After the first one, they are more likely to leave you alone and assume you know what you are doing.