I was one of those involved in the recent discussion of a particular ebay iris seller. Even though my rhizomes were rather small and kind of dry, I reluctantly left good feedback because others in the feedback forum stated that if they left negative feedback to that seller, they received undeserved negative feedback in return. I have 100% positive buyer rating with ebay, and I didn't want to have it damaged, as I hope to sell things on ebay soon. I think their feedback policies need to be revamped to protect honest buyers. Luckily, when I first read about this seller, I still had all the information on the auctions, emails from her, description of items, name and address, etc. I am saving them until I see these bloom. I'm labelling each iris in my garden, and also making a chart of my bed on paper in case any labels are lost or become illegible over the winter. I'll have to give the seller the benefit of the doubt until I have proof that she was being dishonest. I did become suspicious when I did an internet search and the names of 6 of the irises I bought from her didn't come up anywhere. So now I play the waiting game. I got beautiful rhizomes from every ebay dealer except this one. I did buy 3 other irises from a different dealer. She said they were from her grandmother's garden and that she was very careful about the names on her irises. As a newbie, I also ordered these before the legitimacy questions came up in this forum. I did a search on these three and didn't find them either. Is anyone familiar with Grape Tango, Electric Lavender, and Sultan? Thanks. Charlotte

A Different Christmas Poem The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child. "What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts, To the window that danced with a warm fire's light Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night. It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times." "No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at Pearl on a day in December," Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas Gram always remembers. My dad stood his watch in the jungles of Nam, And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile." Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag. "I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home. I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother, Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall." "So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But isn't there something I can do, at the least, give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son." Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long. "For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled Is payment enough, and with that we will trust That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Owbist, I am using the MSE (MS security essentials) anti virus program... the machine (OS) is a vista, but I think MSE turns off the defender program which I believe is ( or was ) the firewall I could be wrong. Does anyone know for sure that there is a firewall up and running with the MSE in place ? Damccoy, I sorta know that certain sites can be a problem ..my concern is to have something in place to at least give me an edge for protection, I can self govern myself. And I do a scan for malware etc at least once a week. My question is do I have a firewall in place now even if I run MSE ???

Chuckling here.....nice post Cube....I like your touch of wry humor......what a single has to realize is tht the first thing they are going to do is be reminded by other single friends that THEY aren't available anymore and it's kind of a nya nya nya type of thing.....of course there are exceptions to the rule, but I would be willing to wager that she will be back on the single side before long, with her self centered attitude.......God makes sure we meet fools every day to reassure us that we are normal. The best way to deal with a fool is to ignore them...easy?....no....mind fulfilling?....absolutey!!