What an odd year it has been! And I know I will feel slighted next year if I don't have blooms in October:) Your blooms are very pretty...I like the ruffles on Summer Hymn, and the geraniums are a lovely color. kay

This is Mama Mia,which looks like another Wide Brim,but isn't. It is in the other pic,at the top left. I moved it here a few years ago,from deep in the other part of the garden. It didn't want to grow,at first,and came back as a very tiny plant,but this year,it is finally back. Hostas have the will to live! Phil

Sable, yes I think your workshop leaders were over-zealous. Federal guidelines are quite explicit in defining sexual harrassment as UNWELCOME sexual behavior on the part of one party towards another. I have linked the guidelines below. Here are the relevant definitions: Title VII does not proscribe all conduct of a sexual nature in the workplace. Thus it is crucial to clearly define sexual harassment: only unwelcome sexual conduct that is a term or condition of employment constitutes a violation. 29 C.F.R. � 1604.11(a). The EEOC's Guidelines define two types of sexual harassment: "quid pro quo" and "hostile environment." The Guidelines provide that "unwelcome" sexual conduct constitutes sexual harassment when "submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment," 29 C.F.R � 1604.11 (a) (1). "Quid pro quo harassment" occurs when "submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual," 29 C.F.R � 1604.11(a)(2).1 29 C.F.R. � 1604.11(a)(3).2 The Supreme Court's decision in Vinson established that both types of sexual harassment are actionable under section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e-2(a), as forms of sex discrimination. A. Determining Whether Sexual Conduct Is Unwelcome Sexual harassment is "unwelcome . . . verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature . . . ." 29 C.F.R. � 1604.11(a). Because sexual attraction may often play a role in the day-to-day social exchange between employees, "the distinction between invited, uninvited-but-welcome, offensive- but-tolerated, and flatly rejected" sexual advances may well be difficult to discern. Barnes v. Costle, 561 F.2d 983, 999, 14 EPD � 7755 (D.C. Cir. 1977) (MacKinnon J., concurring). But this distinction is essential because sexual conduct becomes unlawful only when it is unwelcome. 2) Isolated Instances of Harassment - Unless the conduct is quite severe, a single incident or isolated incidents of offensive sexual conduct or remarks generally do not create an abusive environment. So, saying "You look nice today" does NOT constitute sexual harrassment. And because there is NO evidence that Monica felt that her relationship with Clinton was unwelcome or a condition of future employment in her job, it did NOT meet any criteria of sexual harrassment. I am not defending Clinton's behavior. But there was NO basis for impeachment. It was a very expensive partisan witch hunt, lead by the oh so holy Henry Hyde riding in to save the country. So indignent was he when his own behavior hit the news. What a bad bad joke. To set up a system that you have described where any sexual behavior in the workplace is prohibited and can reported on by fellow coworkers who then sit in judgement as to whether the relationship meets their criteria of a "genuine love affair" is frightening. It is also open to tons of potential of abuse of the kind of "hey, I want your job so I'll accuse you of having a relationship, even if both parties feel it is consensual." Oh wait, that is actually what happened to Clinton. The Republicans wanted his job, lol. Here is a link that might be useful: Federal guidelines for sexual harrassment

It wasn't on the decorating forum, but another one here at GW. The little girl has been called 'repulsive' and 'homely' and 'illiterate trash' and it was implied that her family should be 'neutered' so 'people of this ilk' don't populate the country. When I voiced my objection, I was called a "rightie", lol.