Well, if the addiction wasn't bad enough, I had to look at your pictures. I must say I think these are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen, the colors are so vivid. You should be doing the photographs for the hybridizers. Love the seersuckering on Tiffany Gold (did you get that one because your daughter's name is Tiffany?), gorgeous Castle Camelot, I really need a DL that color, don't have any. Your pic of Lucky Streak kind of threw me since it so much resembles our Oriental lily Black Beauty. Love the green throat on Nancy Britz, and that's a stunner on Bird Talk. I could almost break my rule of not buying "shorties" but Siloam Show Girl is a color combination I love, and same goes for Toast and Jam. Really, they are all wonderful to me, and I will be looking forward to as many as you have time to post. Sorry to hear about your mom, wish there were some real words of comfort to offer, just know that we all care about you. Avedon

My thoughts are with those in the immediate path of Ike and the others that may also be affected by this hurricane. What few people realize is that Hurricanes often spawn tornados around their periphery, making them a double whammy if/when they hit shore. Even our weather in Oklahoma may be adversly affected by Ike. Hanna gave us some sprinkles but with Ike's projected path, flooding is now a distinct possiblilty over this week-end. Arkansas and the mainland Texas are also in danger. Prayers to all of us in Ike's path. Plants are replaceable, people (and their beloved companions) are not.

Sharon, I would love to see you and meet Bobby and Cathy in Florida next year. Kevin and I have a place to stay in Tampa at his friend's house, and I think I would enjoy exporing Tampa Bay and the surrounding area. I would love to see Clive again also - I enjoyed talking with him very much when I first met him. Kevin has lots of vacation time - me not so much, and so I have to ration it carefully. What time of year were you thinking of going? I don't do well in heat, and so May through September might be uncomfortable (I'm remembering when I lived in Houston). I remember September still being hurricane season. Jasper is a beautiful cat, Bobby! Lars

No--I doubt you actually see how big a deal it is. A 22 year old who is resorting to emotional blackmail now, will only get worse and worse, more demanding over the years. My SIL was the same way with her parents--anything she wanted, she threatened to keep them away from their grandkids. They caved every time. I have no idea how many thousands and thousands of $$$ they lent (read 'gave' because the money was never paid back) her over the years. Cars, appliances, dr's bills, overdue household bills--they paid them all--and mind you, SIL's husband made a 3 figure salary and they lived in a small house in the cheapest area of town (WHERE was SIL's money going one might ask). Eventually, when she stressed her dad into an early grave, and got control of her mother's finances, she stole over a quarter of a million $$$ from the money left for MIL's end care--she had alzheimers at that point. We ended up spending over $20,000 of our own money for legal fees, forensic accountant's fees to get the courts to appoint a guardian to take over MIL's finances. Look, your daughter has all the earmarks my SIL was showing at that age. PLEASE stick to your guns. I'd recommend that it wouldn't hurt to sit down with a lawyer in the next week or two. Most reputable ones will offer a free initial consultation. I'm NOT suggesting you start legal action against your daughter, but you DO need to know what your rights are in this situation, what you'll have to do to get her out if she refuses to go, how long it will take, what are the legal rights of grandparents in your state, etc. Information is ALWAYS the best way to go. Arm yourself with it now, so you know what you have to do, and if you may need a lawyer down the road. Trust me on this--it's far better to ask question and get the answers BEFORE you need them, than to let a situation progress until it's in the critical stage--that can cost a LOT in both money and emotional stress. I wish you the best--sounds as if you've got a tough road ahead. Oh, and while you're about it, start keeping a journal about what your daughter is doing/not doing around the house and as a mother. Documentation may save you down the road.