Haven't seen this one, but thank you, Lorna, for bringing up a thought process! Fact is, here and abroad, there is a HUGE untapped resource in prison populations and little effort to not only tap manpower, but teach and encourage them to pursue better lives thru realistic means. Sad. The penal system is pathetic. Gardening wise, where I grew up there was a 'county jail', referred to as the 'County Farm'. Said jail and its inmates ran a gorgeous farm - some livestock and lots of agriculture. This county jail provided a huge percentage of the foodstuffs for the local hospital. Physically, they were next door to each other making for easy access - (and a blip or two - my grandfather tried to discharge my Mom at the Jail entrance, having missed the Hospital driveway when she was set to deliver twins!!). The County Farm was a respected and great contributer to the area. On another track, I have seen footage of inmates paired with canines (usually problem dogs, like their new handlers, but with attributes akin to becoming service dogs) and the spectacular results to both man and dog in the training process. Nothing but good there. Given the obscenely huge prison population is this country alone, why is it that a 30 minute chance to rub out their fellow inmates in frustration in the 'execise yard', trumps the mere thought of putting them to work? Why is said work, which would teach and redirect them, so esoteric? I just don't get it. Such a huge waste. So many possibilities.

What a pretty cat Caramel is. A soft tawny color with white. I've not seen many with that delicate coloring. Of course Little Boy is precious as are all strippers (mine included)...Oh Yeh, the daylily. It's pretty too. I love the color combo.......Maryl

My one comment is that even if you decide not to take it, wouldn't it be better to have it fixed anyway? You know what's gonna happen! That said, I too think "Culver" has chosen you. It's kind of wooded in your area isn't it? Remember the late Larry "Bud" Melmin of the David Letterman Show? His name was Calvert DeForest.... Culvert DeForest... is that a little spooky?????? More than a coincidence perhaps??? My sister had a cat come to her house and chose her. She made the poor thing weather a terrible winter before finally giving in to her the next summer. My cousin did the same thing. They were chosen. And it's an honor. Think of it this way: This way if you're feeling "gray" it could be a good thing! Better than feeling 'blue"! One thing, these don't sound like feral cats, especially with "Culvert" came up to you like s/he did. (BTW, the translation there was what's for dinner mom???) I'm sure they'll adjust to indoor life just fine. And I'm sure they'll like the furnace at this time of year. You might start with him/her in the basement if you have one. But I don't think you'll need to. I have some pet food coupons I could mail you! :D

that's one way to look at it. It sounds worse the way you describe it... He/we borrowed money to pay off credit cards... which consolidated everything to one lower payment a month so then he figured he could afford a motorcycle payment. After I said we can't afford it, he got together with his parents & they discussed how it would save money on gas and all the pluses... he could get to work & home faster. Then his parents made me feel like a heel for wanting to deprive their son of having his own motorcycle... after all, he works so hard. His brother has one & soon after DH got his, FIL bought one... they said to go riding together, which hasn't happened yet. He justifies it because he works 40+ hours at his job, works at our business on his days off & in the evening, maintains the 6 acres during Spring & Summer. He does work hard, but I disagreed, his parents butted in (with his invitation of course) so when they complain he hasn't made his payment (on the debt consolidation), I ignore it or tell them how much he loves riding his bike... when it's not raining or cold. He doesn't miss the motorcycle payment though. No, it doesn't escape me that he is willing to buy what he wants & tell his daughter we can't afford it when she WANTS something. He does pay for the health insurance but I pay all the co-pays and other things because he puts his entire check toward the bills, including paying his parents back for the debt consolidation loan... and it was mostly HIS pre-me debt. He did sell his truck because it was only driven a few times a year & we wanted to get rid of that payment when the economy tanked. If she needs something, he will make sure she gets it. But, he'll take it out of our bill paying account & then tell me he needs me to cover some of the bills that he usually covers. It still comes out of my pocket... but it is really OUR pocket. I buy those things because it was what I did as a mother for my own kids... he thinks some of it is unnecessary ~ the extra's like school pictures, yearbooks & fundraisers, not the health care. He also doesn't like shopping & doesn't have patience... he used to go into the store knowing her current size & buy a few cheap outfits at a department store... sometimes the SAME outfit in different colors. That was when she was 5-6. She's now 11 & he would do the same.. he took her shopping for school clothes & dragged me along. It was a nightmare for me because he is so impatient & they argued over what she could get. (wanting low rise skinny jeans) plus she was upset that nothing fit her. Then he about had a heart attack at the register... until I told him that the last time I took her shopping, it was at least twice that much. AS for the update on MIL: We went to dinner at the restaurant last night & left baby at home with my DD. MIL sat furthest away from her parents (across from me) & SD between us at the end of the table. She interrogated... er, conversed with SD about life at our house & life at her mother's house.... anything to avoid her own parents, who seemed miserable. Then, MIL had planned us to come to her house tomorrow evening but I had plans so she moved it up to tonight. DH went straight from work. I took SD & my DS stayed at my house with the baby. By the time I got there, they actually had tried to cancel the whole thing... DH was upset that I didn't bring the baby because THEY WANT TO SEE THE BABY! So, I asked him WHO is making such a big deal about the baby being there? HIS MOM of course. I told him that first of all, the baby is not really related to anyone... he's a step-great great grandson at best. I doubt they really want to spend the night fawning over him as much as MIL wanted to see if I let SD play with him at HER house. Secondly, he wants the attention of the room. When people are talking, he tries to get in on it & gets noisy. I asked hi do we really want the evening to be about DGS or DH's grandparents & Aunt? So, since SD is having trouble in school (all F's & D's), I had her bring her homework. She took it out & MIL spent the entire time (along with MIL's sister) helping SD with her homework... focusing the entire evening on SD. I think that's the way it should be... SD is their granddaughter & SHE is the one that needs attention & help, not DGS ~ who would have demanded the attention & SD would have been ignored. MIL hardly said two words to me.. trying to remain pleasant for show but she was probably pissed at me. Oh well, I told DH that after what MIL did at the luau & the way she has been on me about SD playing with the baby, I am not putting the baby in the middle of that mess. He was sleeping at home anyways.