I love your little animals susieq! I do think a nice tall vase of flowers on the side would certainly look great in there - don't think you need to keep it low... Here is mine..I'm a plain jane...I hate to unleash the debated white mirror that most people hated LOL...but I kept it. What the heck.

I know I am ridiculously late on this discussion, but in case some crazy person comes and rereads it the way I did, I'll still post my thoughts. I had some comments on the original question of why Kathy is blind to Ruth's faults, but also some ideas about Kathy and Ruth's relationship (as was mentioned above), and the character of Ruth in general. Kathy and Ruth's relationship, and the way Kathy was blind to Ruth's personality flaws irritated me immensely throughout the novel. As many people have mentioned, perhaps Kathy is "blind" because she has been conditioned to accept the fact that she doesnÂt understand everything. From the time she was young, there were facts about Hailsham, her future, and about her life in general that she didnÂt know. Yet questioning was discouragedÂperhaps not explicitly (Kathy notes that the guardians never forbid it), but at least de facto. The students would punish each other for curiosity, so Kathy learned to keep her mouth shut and not to spend too much time wondering about it either. She doesnÂt question, she accepts. Perhaps that is why she doesnÂt analyze or look deeper into RuthÂs actions, doesnÂt realize how selfish motives are governing RuthÂs decisions. She just accepts that that is the way Ruth is, it is only when Ruth makes her angry that she confronts her. RuthÂacting manipulatively and selfishly throughout the novelÂirritates the hell out of the reader. Or at least me. Probably most people have known a person like Ruth, had a friend that was domineering, nice on the surface, but secretly deceptive and selfish. If I am honest with myself, I realize that, although I dislike it, I can identify with RuthÂs emotions and motives...if not her actions as well. Ruth isn't an unusual child. On virtually any playground, you could find a child who wanted to be the "boss", the one in charge. Especially among girls, it is common to find one child who establishes her importance by blatantly displaying and calling attention to some possession or quality that she has and the others donÂt. (RuthÂs horses and her knowledge about the plot to kidnap Miss Geraldine). It is also completely natural that the girl would then proceed to solidify her power and her importance by exercising control over the others. For example, which girls are "cool" enough to spend time with her, or which students are "favored" enough to play with or even look at her special toy or possession. In my opinion, it becomes clear to the reader throughout the novel that RuthÂs precious displays of her own importance are merely compensation for her insecurity and her fear that she is insignificant. (Which is completely logical when one realizes that they are seen by society as "creatures" not humans). This is subtley shown in the way she manipulates the other girls and alludes to being Miss GeraldineÂs favorite,. It becomes obvious during their years at the Cottages as she tries to impress the veterans. ...

Some I'd consider in the "friend" category: (The late) Rodger Kent (Radio/TV personality, businessman and was a very close friend for a lot of years), Barry Zevan (who I almost hired one time, a very interesting and cordial fellow) and Jesse Ventura (like him or not, a very intelligent man). Others I've met: Baron von Raschke, Al De Rusha, Jim Brunzell (all of AWA and other wrestling fame), various other television and radio personalities. Met a number of broadcasters and production people at a monthly breakfast where both past and present TV folks would meet and shoot the breeze. Great time and tremendously interesting to people who were involved in and interested in broadcasting and production. (And they are/were not adverse to telling a few gossipy stories about other "personalities"!) A number of them were pioneers in broadcasting. There's really not a lot of "new" broadcasting, where, in the 40s, 50s, 60s etc, they were finding their way into the medium. Creating new shows, ideas and didn't have the special effects available today. Broadcasting was a passion for these people. They weren't just in it for a multi-million dollar contract like people are today.

When I first moved from Ca to the Deep South I was surprised at many words. I had to ask a woman what she was talking about when she kept saying buggy. She explained that means grocery cart. When I heard another woman say, “you’ins” I though maybe she meant a type of sheep?? I asked someone what a you’in was, they explained it’s like y’all. I also was confused when I would help with the dishes at a dinner party and the hostess would say, “Put those casserole dishes up” why would she say up and then point to a cupboard that was down. I quickly learned putting something up in the south means anywhere that it’s supposed to go.