another med i have found really useful is zanafel. it's a scrub that you use after the rash has started- at that point technu is of no use. it doesn't work for me as well as claimed, but it does cut my rash's duration down to about a week from my typical 6. it also keeps the blisters from getting to the point of breaking & oozing- the really gross part- if i start using it asap once the rash shows. it has microbeads in it, and you are supposed to scrub with it until there's no itch. and boy, does it feel good to use it! then when it starts itching again (more urishiol surfacing) you scrub again. i typically scrub a few x a day the first day or 2, then once a day or less for about a week before it's all gone. it IS expensive- about $40 for a tube, not on sale, but you can catch it on sale sometimes for 25 or 30. about the same as a prescription, is my rationale. and it goes along ways. another thing is, there ARE prescription creams out there, that for some reason go untold about that work wonders. one is triamcinolone 1% and another is: lidex aka fluocinonide 0.05% (this one is stronger- they won't prescrib for kids). ask your doc to give you a prescript to have on hand when you get it. i found out when someone loaned me theirs. i don't usually get it enough to justify the shot or steroids, but it sure makes me miserable. since my daughter gets it too, i got the less strong cream (the triam). the blocking prduct that technu sells works ok, but i don't like the gerasy feel or smell. i never tried the other one. a home remedy that works ok if you can't wash up quickly is jewelweed. crush the juicy stems up and rub them on the affected/exposed area. the american indians treated their PI this way. fortunately, they often grow in close proximity. shari, i emphasize. my butthead neighbor lets his grow deliberately next to our line. i round it up when i can if i know he isn't home. you have to use the brush strength roundup- the reg isn't strong enough to kill. so far he hasn't complained, but then we aren't on speaking terms, either. oh well- no loss, believe me. good luck with your problem! tammy

Oh by the way, one of my flats of Alstroemeria wasn't doing anything at all so I put it back in the refrigerator for more cold stratification. (The other flat has 17 out of 48 seeds germinated) I'll let you know what happens. According to the Thompson and Morgan Seed Germination Database germination time is 30-365 days at 65-70 degrees covered 1/16 inch. There is also a special note that I'll cut-n-paste: ------------------------------------ 6. Alstroemeria; Bonsai; Clematis; Hardy Cyclamen; Eucalyptus; Flower Lawn; Helleborus; Hosta; Primula; Iris and similar. Sowing OCTOBER-FEBRUARY. Sow the seeds in John Innes seed compost, covering them with a thin layer of compost. After watering place the seed container outside against a North wall or in a cold frame, making sure they are protected against mice, and leave them there until the spring. The compost should be kept moist but not wet at all times, and if the seed containers are out in the open then some shelter has to be given against excessive rain. In the spring bring the seed containers into the greenhouse, or indoors on to a well lit but not sunny windowsill and keep the compost moist. This should trigger off germination. If the seeds do not germinate in the spring keep them in cool moist conditions throughout the summer. As each seed germinates we would recommend that you transplant it almost immediately into its own pot. Sowing MARCH-SEPTEMBER. Sow in John Innes seed compost, or something similar, and place each container in a polythene bag and put into the refrigerator (not the freezer compartment) for 2-3 weeks. After this time place the containers outside in a cold frame or plunge them up to the rims in a shady part of the garden border and cover with glass or clear plastic. Some of the seeds may germinate during the spring and summer and these should be transplanted when large enough to handle. The remainder of the seeds may lay dormant until next spring. ------------------------------------

Outsmarting the tree rats (squirrels) around my house is a full time job. This past spring I hit on a new idea. When I plant a container I invert an empty wire hanging basket over the container and the plant gets sun and can be watered but the squirrels can't dig in it. Another idea: I bring in a lot of plants to "over winter" under lights in my garage. I have so many that it is hard to reach my hand under the lights (4 shop lights) to the middle for watering. So I bought a pump sprayer with a long wand and it works great! In late winter I add a little liquid Dawn detergent, few drops, to each gallon of water and not only does the soil get wet easier but the worms that are waiting to hatch into distructive pets just don't hatch. Don't know what it costs me to run those four shop lights all winter but I don't care. It is a small price to pay to be able to "garden" every weekend in the garage. Many people have mentioned that they mark their outdoor plants with a "permanent Sharpie". In my experience there isn't a "permanent Sharpie", they all fade and quickly too. A grease pencil/china marker or expensive "no fade" garden center marker are the only markers I have found that won't disappoint you by fading. Eight years ago I decided to learn about gardening so I tapped into my local library. I checked out nearly every book they had on gardening and learned so much. The Gardenweb forums are also a wealth of information and entertainment. There is always something new to learn and I appreciate all of you who take the time to write in your ideas. One last idea from me...I keep a small notebook on my computer table and jot down any idea I find that's new and I will want to try. Little pieces of paper get lost but I always know where my notebook is and also use it when I order "on line" so I will remember the name of the company and the order date. Tina or Trowelgal

Amy, I think he's lying, and the wife is actually the one with the scruples. At least she's trying to dodge you and not lying to your face. She's also not "using" a property they are not making payments on. She probably knows that would be wrong. Just a different way to look at it. He knows they missed payments, he has to know, he's married to her and it sounds like she's done it before.... Maybe they are financially strapped and they just can't make the payments.. Bet, he didn't fess up to that... no, he just passed the buck onto blaming his wife... What a guy. He's just as much at fault for the payments not being made. And, by the way, what was his reason for not showing up when he was suppose to - bet he can somehow blame that his wife to... how convenient. I love guys like that... can someone get their wives to agree to sink money they don't have into a place only they will enjoy and somehow make the wife look like the bad guy and still come out smelling like roses themselves. How do they do that? So, by the way, when do you expect to get that check I'm sure he is sending right off in the mail to you for all the missed payments? And, will that check come before or after the call from their lawyer asking for half the worth of the house? Sorry, I still think there's a lot more to this story, and that you need to get a lawyer and straighten this whole thing out once and for all.