Just catching up with this. I didn't see the Trevi Fountain. It's under repair although I understand you can still walk past it on some sort of scaffolding. Coins prohibited during repairs! The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel were mind blowing. Same for The Borghese Gallery. Bernini's sculpture of Apollo andDaphne was beautiful, along with many others. The Borghese Gardens reminded me of a mini Central Park. After 19 days, I was ready to come home although I miss being so busy and having so much company. I was lucky that the people on my tour were so nice (well, a couple pills). I've had major jet lag all week.I actually get to have the end of Daylight Saving twice -- once in Italy last week and then again at home tonight. My internal clock will never figure it all out, but I am always grateful for more sleep. The company is Overseas Adventure Travel. I can't say enough good things about them. I was originally attracted because they do not charge a single supplement, which is a huge plus for me. They limit the number of people on the tour to sixteen, max. I saw some of the larger tour groups walk by and I would have been miserable with them. Some looked as if there were as many as 60+ people, all following a leader who had to hold up a stick with a scarf or fuzzy duck to be seen by all. One group all wore lanyards with ID cards. Ugh. I understand it takes half an hour to get everyone on or off the bus. We had a small bus that seated maybe 20 people. Plenty of room for all and it was able to go places a big bus could not. Our drivers were friendly and funny. The hotels were all lovely and well located. They took us to great local restaurants for meals, which is possible with a small group. Our tour leader was fabulous. Now there is a job I would never want! We got to see and do many things because the company is well connected and because there weren't so many of us. I gasped when I saw The Pieta. So moving. Anyway, anyone postponing travel -- time to get out there and do it!

Just thought i'd give you an idea of what could be done for $75. The two flower fabric area ready made from pottery barn, $25 each. The remaining 5 fabrics are purchased from Joann Fabrics $25. There is enough to make 5 pillows with the same fabric on each side ore 10 pillows with the pattern on the front and a cheaper fabric choice on the back. What I do is use the more expensive fabric on the front and use a drop cloth for fabric on the back. Since I change my pillows about every 3 months this is the most cost effective way. Even if you cant sew you can make pillows. There is an iron on tape on the market that can be used to put all the seam together. You coud even buy napkins and tie the corners around the pillow form, buy a scarf or table runner and wrap it like a package and tie with a large ribbon in the middle, theres lots of ways to get what you want for little money, you just have to get creative. Good luck, daisy

KSWL, Yes, so you know the Wall Street mentality. It is understandable though when 95% of your pay is "bonus" and usually the bonuses are pretty subjective at the individual level. In any given year they can be zero or a heck of a lot. Yes, it keeps you tethered (as does the form of the payout, a good bit of it stock). SueB, What serendipity! Thats more fun than one more Christmas present, no? Tell 'em to hide some more! Running, DH got me studs for mother's day a few years ago, and it occurs to me they may be (may be?) the one thing that truly never goes out of style! Sounds like you deserve 'em! Outside, Too funny! A shotgun! But sweet that he knew exactly what you wanted. : ) Tina, I love to send and recieve flowers, but I am very particular about quality/design. ONe year at work I received three different bouquets of roses. ONe was from Dad and two were from love interests. That caused a stir, and I never said a word, LOL. I like your reply. I retired a few years ago, for about a year. Then an exboss recruited me to his new firm. I say I work "one day a week" now; i go into our office 1 day, but I also do some work from home. Once in a while I travel. It is perfect for me. I have to say, I do not recommend flat out retirement at all,and I hope to do this forever.

I love scarves, I have periods when I wear them a lot, and periods I wear them less..some are more like neckerchiefs indeed, some are bigger and longer, I have favorites obviously(the ones I chose myself, that is)). I have a shawl too. I try not to spend money on them, so I try not to buy more, but I'm perusing them sometimes. I love looking at them. Sometimes I'm almost about to buy another scarf, and then I stop myself. Well right now I'm in a saviing mode, so it's easy to do too. But I really love all sorts of things for the neck. Be it scarves or interesting collars or chockers..Doesn't mean I get them, but does mean I check them out.