Natesgram, I've worked in a NICU for 15 years and I can't tell you how much we appreciate those fleece blankets for our babies. We also have local volunteers who make isolette covers to keep the environment dark for our babies because it is developmentally appropriate (they shouldn't be born yet). Have you ever seen one? And when my late grandmother was getting chemo for pancreatic cancer, she was really appreciative of the person who made her a cozy fleece for when she got her weekly chemo infusions. I just want to send a big thank you to you for your work, because I know how much such those small things mean from the other side of the fence. Yes, I volunteer. I have volunteered in the medical tent for the NYC marathon for several years. This was before children. After 911 I volunteered making sandwiches for the rescue workers at ground zero. Before I started my career as a PA I volunteered at my local hospital transporting specimens to the lab and escorting patients out of the hospital. Currently I volunteer as a girl scout leader for my 9 year old's girl scout troop. I was never a girl scout as a child, so I am learning as I go. Even though I rolled my eyes when I was asked, I truly enjoy the girls and having a positive influence on them. We are currently involved in a project in building butterfly gardens in our community to restore monarch butterfly habitats. It is so much fun seeing these girls get involved. My mom is getting ready for retirement, she has been volunteering at our local animal shelter. I think she has always been involved in some sort of volunteer project for as long as I can remember. I guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree. :)

Oh, yes, I think everyone's had this experience. It often happens when you've been told about a family story so often that you think you remember it, even though you weren't much more than a baby at the time. Have you ever read anything by Elizabeth Loftus about memory creation? Scary stuff.

I found the nursery. It was Valley Grow in Defuniak Springs, but it went out of business in 2013. The man's name was Earl, and I believe that's where I got my Ecuador Pink and Charles Grimaldi cuttings way back when. He used to sell unrooted cuttings very cheaply. I think I paid about $10 postage included for 2 cuttings each of three different varieties. I found a review on him at Garden Watchdog, and it seemed things started going downhill in 2013. I do remember him giving the varieties over to someone else to grow, but I can't find out who or where. Maybe I'll ask at the brugmansia forum.

Yes. I was 17 and worked at Subway. I had been there 2, almost 3 years and wasn't really even offered the job. I was told I was being made manager, and getting a whooping salary of 9 whole dollars an hour. I accepted because I was 17 and dumb. While I have no issue confronting problems with staff ,suppliers or customers, I had no desire to either. After a year or so of it, I went to a temp service and asked them to find me night shift industrial work. I had enrolled in college and did not need or want the extra stress of being paid pennies for a thankless position full of stress and responsibility. I found I enjoyed being able to clock in, work, clock out and FORGET ABOUT WORK. I was only responsible for my actions, no one depended on me. No one was calling me with problems, no one was giving out my phone number to angry shrews who took offense to the tomato selection that day. And I was making twice as much. That was enough. I did not finish college because I took issue with what I saw and still see as the huge scam they are running. But through my experience I found my way to the job I have now which I really really enjoy. A few years ago my supervisor died suddenly. We all knew who was going to be our next supervisor, the only issue was they tended to go with seniority, and both myself and the other night minion had seniority over him. HR called and asked "Um, you don't want that position do you?" To which I assured her that no, I did not, and no, I take no issue with the said person being my supervisor. I wish to be a worker bee. I no longer have ANY desire to be over anyone or any department. I do not want to trade my low stress living for those problems. I want to come in, clock in, do the necessary work, maybe a little gardening, decorate for the holidays, walk every night, and then clock out and go home. And collect a check, that is the ultimate objective here. I truly feel as though I have hit the jackpot with this job, even if it has a few...challenges. (coworkers) In your case, if those people are unwilling to submit to your authority or create a hostile environment or wish to quit because of their opinion on staffing, then good riddance. It is not their business and therefore their opinion on who should run it should not matter to anyone. Be extra kind and hold the door all the way open for them to walk out.