Thanks for the speedy replies, everyone! I'll try to address all questions. Rhizo: I'm really not sure; I've used both the same type of soil and the same type of pot before, just not this large. Al: Thanks for all the links! I have absolutely no knowledge of soil, so this is a great start for learning! Purple: I don't have AC, so it's pretty tropical in here when the sun hits the house (unfortunately for the human occupants). A benefit of the outdoors would be extra sun; my plant generally gets bright indirect light (that the stalks eventually bend towards, so I rotate it every couple of weeks). When I repotted, the plant was slightly rootbound, but nothing too tight. This is my second time repotting this plant; the first time I waited until roots were poking through the drainage holes on the bottom, and the guy who helped me took some time unwinding the root ball and told me next time to check on the roots before it got that far again. I'll try to get a picture up in a few days if I can get a friend to lend me their camera. Pirate and Hopeful: I should have given more description. :P I just measured diameter and turns out it's a 7.5 inch pot, glazed ceramic with one center drainage hole that's half an inch across. I put in some rocks at the bottom (taking care not to plug the hole) because that's what I was told to do by the guy who helped me repot last time. I keep it in a dish to catch any excess water from the bottom, but I was told that dracaenas dislike wet feet, so after I water (I believe extra water is better than not enough, so I tend to flush the pot and let the plant tell me how much it needs), when I know that all the excess water has worked its way out the bottom, I empty the water dish to keep the roots from developing any rot. By same soil, I meant the same bag of potting soil, but it is fresh soil for the pot; I discarded the old soil and removed as much of it from the root ball as I was comfortable doing. (I'm a little nervous messing with roots; I don't want to do irreparable damage.) Pictures to come!

Bathing suits? Doesn't bother me in that regard. If they don't like it, they don't have ta look I say. As for WW prices - I kept my full package, made my own excel automatic tracker (anyone want one email me). I'm re-doing my food list of common foods I eat with measurements for points. The biggest and best thing for me - eat more fruit, drink water that doesn't have coffee in it (challenge), get walking - snow is no excuse I can mall walk and watch my portion sizes. It's those portions that kill me and stop eating starches all the time. It's hardest in the winter but now that spring is coming it's worth a shot to at least get my fanny shaking - one shake is all it takes - the blubber reverberates so much on my legs I get 10 free! Now that I mid-40, I'm more concerned with my hip grinding and back spasms which I never had before the last few summers. It's awful. So I don't spend much money on it anymore. My money goes on good food, not junk. Also the dollar store has lots of those little, single serving storage containers which help if I make jello, sugarfree puddings, salads, rice, pasta - make ahead, single size it and pop it in the fridge. On my food chart, which once done I will post on my fridge, I can quickly get the point values and tally them up. Going to print a daily food tracker and cover it with a transparency on the fridge and get a wipe off marker so I can update it as I go. You don't have to spend money to win at this game - think portion control, healthy balanced meals and exercise. Today it's housework - hauling trash out (still purging this place). So yeah, anyone feeling blah after this horrible winter, a body tune up never hurts - even if you just get eating right again and taking some very valuable 'me' time. Cheers for all the positive thoughts. I've posted on the diet forum - Hey Dee - where's this weeks thread????

Thank you, Bluebell66! Since I wrote, which was WOW, almost a month ago, I still haven't had any of my Reese's cups. I gave up my espresso because calorie-wise, 100 calories of skim milk for coffee are calories I'd rather enjoy elsewhere. Gone to straight tea. When I'm out, sometimes I'll Starbuck's, but try to remember to get decaf, small, not THE LARGEST YOU HAVE, PLEASE! No withdrawal yet. I'm down 5 pounds and seem to be hanging out there. That in itself is a big deal, give those 800 fewer calories a day. I'm still choosing brown rice for my starch and loving my cabbage soup and apples. I did make a lentil soup. I hate beans, but tried the Carrabba's spicy sausage and lentil soup and was hooked. So a little protein there. A friend says to throw lentils in anything you'd make as soup, or into even the rice, since the cooking time is the same. Ideas. Just gotta keep at it and not forget 1) that I'm trying to do this, and 2) that I'd like to weigh less! Best of luck to you, Bluebell66!

When we built our house a 100-pound husky-malamute became a regular visitor when the workmen broke for lunch. She was an older dog, but knew some tricks -- had been trained. She had a collar that was very tight and embedded in her fur. She growled when we tried to see if there were tags. We didn't know most of the neighbors; those we asked knew of her, but didn't know who owned her. She was was filthy and flea-ridden -- and frequently swam in the creek. As the weather cooled, we decided to call the city, hoping animal control could at least loosen her collar, and check for tags. A week later I saw a tall man walking this freshly groomed, very HAPPY dog -- on lead. She did belong to a neighbor, but their sons were now grown and gone. She'd been fed, but neglected. This turned out great for the dog. Her master continued to walk her and play with her for the year or two she had left. She never had to beg for attention again.