Before you kill yourself, you can come over and put me out of my misery. I thought I had Lyme, but that test came back negative. Whatever I have, has made it almost impossible to walk for the last six weeks, so I haven't been out in the garden much. When I have been out, I've been shocked at how much has been eaten. I didn't mind a few nibbles now and then, but this is wholesale carnage in certain areas. This is after I almost ran over a very young fawn with the garden tractor this spring and made it run off, hopefully for good. (this is for the people who worry about mowing chipmunks) A fence is definitely in our future, but I really don't see how to only enclose the garden in a manner that doesn't look like a fortress. I'm also not sure I've really got enough room between my gardens and my neighbor's property.

superchick, you are not a prude for wanting to keep your child, a child and not have her talking and acting like an adult at age 5!! The problem with today's society is they forget that decency never goes out of style. That "she'll hear it from her friends" is an excuse by some not to parent, but rather let society parent for them I have a neighbor who thought it was alright for her 13 yr. old to watch R rated movies that included language, sex, nudity. When he was 15 she also thought it was OK for him and his 15 year old girl friend to make a baby right there in her house, under her roof. Her ignorant philosphy is "well I'd rather have him do it here than somewhere else." How ignorant is that? Oh, forgot to mention he went to jail at 16 for selling drugs. Again, he was selling it on the sidewalk outside of her house. She and her husband knew it, but because he was doing it in front of the house, it was OK with them. When they carted him off to jail, she didn't think that was OK. I personally thought she should have served time for ruining his life. So chick, you keep shielding your child as much as you can. Children are not allowed to be children. Adults think children are little adults and they are not. They are not emotionally able to handle "adult" subject matter and it only serves to confuse them.

Oak,there won't be a next time. LOL. Just the one. I thought about going to Toys R Us but decided to ebay instead. I do shop on Amazon but I didn't check them. This was all kind of spur of the moment. I'm at my daughter's as my computer has something wrong with it and went out on me last night. On a weekend of course. I nearly went nuts without it during the midnight hours since I don't sleep and NEED it. I read and watch TV but the computer is my lifeline to distraction from Fibro. I hope guy can get out tomorrow, if I don't shoot myself tonight with nothing to do. And nothing on TV either, figures it would be a bad TV night as well. Arrrggghhh. I may try to come back over here around 9 or so, if ok with not disrupting their evening routine. But just for a short time to check mail and and my Forum stuff. Cross your fingers I get back online tomorrow. hugs, K

Since you sincerely like this couple, and enjoy their company, you are doing the right thing by not letting it spoil what could be a great friendship, if you are able to roll with the flaws in human nature, that remind us that we are not perfect, and can disappoint others, when we do not really mean to. Perhaps there were circumstances they are unwilling to share. Like they got into a huge argument and neither were in the mood to go and fake it at a party. Or they are easily distracted, and are embarrassed, because they sometimes really do "forget" and are horrified. A friend recently told me that she had a dentist appointment. The dentist called and left a reminder the day before. On the day of the appointment, the dentist office called and talked to her, to tell her they were running 1/2 hour behind, so to come at 10:30 instead of 10:00. She hung up, and left to run a couple errands. She said she was thinking about other things, (a problem with one of her kids) and totally forgot to go to the dentist, even though she had just been on the telephone an hour before. She was horrified, that she could totally "forget" when she had just talked to them. And she is only 41. When she called to reschedule, the office was miffed, and charged her for the appointment anyway. She said she was really embarrassed, and cannot imagine how she could do such a thing. In regards to you being offended that they have never invited you to their home, you must understand that some people do not entertain in their home. There can be many reasons why. Perhaps behind the beautiful exterior, lurks a big mess, that would take hours or days to get in order. Have you seen the show "Clean Sweep, or the English ladies who come in when things are in awful shape? The people on these shows are often attractive, and successful in other areas of their life, but cannot keep a home in order. Many people have phobias about entertaining in their home, and do not enjoy it, or feel like it is not worth the stress and work involved. Or perhaps they do not enjoy cooking for others, because they are not very good cooks. Some people love to entertain in their homes, and others would rather have a root canal! Smile. There have been many articles written about many people who have huge fears about entertaining in their homes. So do not be offended unless you know for a fact that they entertain regularly in their home. I once saw an interview with Martha Stewart and she talked about how others would not invite her to their homes, and she longed to be invited into the homes of others for dinner. Everyone was too intimidated, because she did everything so well. They also thought she would be judging them, and it was just too stressful to even contemplate for them. So do not take it personally, unless they entertain frequently and do not include you. They may have "personal issues" you may not be aware of. Or you may just be so awesome (like Martha Stewart) that they are afraid they could never measure up. I think most people mean well, but they are human. And flawed. If you can accept them, flaws and all, you will be rich in friendships, throughout your life. And isn't that a tremendous gift? Isn't it more valuable than material riches? I have read that if when you get to the end of your life, and have one true friend, you are fortunate. But for someone able to overlook some of the flaws in human nature, and love others in spite of their shortcomings, I would imagine them surrounded with friends, and they would be fortunate indeed.