Yikes! I'm so sorry Janet! Having had a car totalled and a front porch damaged by hit-skip drivers, I'm always sympathetic by people who try to do the right thing and get nailed by the letter of the law. Admittedly, I've skated thru more than my share of mishaps. Just out of college, I got pulled over for going 45 in a 25mph zone. I explained to the cop that I'd come back from the Middle East and was having trouble with speed limits. He thought that was funny and let me off with a warning. Here in Columbus I was making a left turn on red (from a one-way street to a one-way street, perfectly legal.) But I wasn't watching and nearly hit a pedestrian. I was pretty shaken up, so when he started to yell at me I yelled back. He backed down and told me to be more careful in the future -- it wasn't until I was three blocks away that I realized the guy was a uniformed cop -- and we'd been right in front of police headquarters. A few years ago in July I was driving behind an SUV on a narrow downtown street with construction. The driver was on a cell phone and weaving back, and I felt very morally vindicated when a motorcyle cop pulled up behind us and turned the light on. Until I realized he was signalling me to pull over. With a sinking feeling, I realized my tags had expired on my birthday in January. (I apparently have issues with timeliness.) As I handed him my license I realized that my recently replaced license was also expired. I got my ticket and had to go to traffic court. (Renewed my tags and license before my day in court.) You sit for a few hours, then get 30 seconds with the attorney; sit back down and then get 30 seconds with the judge. The attorney said, because both had been expired six months, there would be a $250 fine and I would have to take the driver's test again. In the interlude before I went before the judge, I counted up on my fingers, and realized I had renewed 1 day short of six months. I explained that, took my $30 fine and was feeling pretty smug as I went out to my car. Where I found a $30 ticket on the windshield for an expired meter. If bad catches up with you, I think good should, too. Hope your lucky break catches up with you soon, Janet!

Hmmm, took the chocolate, did he??? LOL!! Well, I hope he appreciated that the chocolate has citrus infused olive oil in it. The olive oil, chocolate, and napkins came from the Temecula Olive Oil Company, just south of here. They have their own orchards in the Temecula Wine Country and make their own products. I bought a bottle of that garlic infused olive oil for myself and my 3 sisters for our BD's. (I also bought the blood orange infused olive oil and the vanilla balsamic vinegar for me too--their products are YUM :-))) Hope you enjoy them, julie! Barb

Shelley, what a terrific swap box Pam sent you. The theme is so cute. Love your "man" in the apron. I look forward to seeing that beautiful dish show up in your dinner photos. Just so you know Shelley, you aren't the only one that worries about all of those things you mentioned. I think that everyone that participates has the same worries. Ann

I would have had the box open before I even got into the house. I don't know how you can wait. Swaps are so much fun.... patti