Fran, I sowed most of my Zinnias from seeds I collected last year. I have one red one where it has no petals, just a center (and that one bloom on the red Zins looks almost like the flower from Spilanthes). I do wonder if the heat is kinda forcing blooms sooner and stunting the growth? I'm probably going to deadhead all the Zins that are blooming this week, just to see if they get taller. Fran and Nancy, The Petunias are acting normal for me this year-- as opposed to last year. And I even got a pleasant surprise and have reseeders from the ones that seemed to do nothing last year! But the ones that are blooming now were WSed this year. The white is a grandiflora, the little ones are the milleflora, and the others are a mix of grandiflora and multifloras. I got the seeds from Stokes and Fothergills...I've always had good results from Stokes' seeds and I didn't want any room for error on Petunias this year. I may transfer those millefloras to a basket (they are so cute I don't want to lose sight of them!) Nancy, The periwinkle one is Stokes' multiflora "Sky Blue". The dark purple one (you can't really see how deep a lush it is in the pic)is supposed to be dark blue. But I like the looks of them in the colors they turned out too (especially the periwinkle). Proud, Hubby was working out-of-town this Spring so I was the one doing the first mowing of the grass...so luckily, I was the one to find the verbascum first and dig it up to give it a new, more permanent home :-) It was also like a gift from God to me, because I'd lost the container of Verbascum "Banana Custard" when I had to run back and forth dealing with my parents' deaths. It was one of the plants I was really looking forward to having, then the container got flooded out while I was away. When I transplanted this little silver plant from the middle of the yard to the garden bed, I thought the plant was just Lambs Quarters. Imagine my (pleasant)surprise when it suddenly shot up and then burst with yellow blooms! Carrie and Shasta, Thank you...that makes me feel better :-) I feel better after weeding so I can finally SEE the blooms! lol Linda

Hi Susan. Yes, there is a Spike Luckstone, sortof. That is the name of my Second Life identity, that much you already know...yes I am a real person in real life ("RL" in Second LIfe speak), and the short bio you reprinted is mine and real. Ronf gave a nice if brief description of Second Life. It's not easy to really explain all about Second Life (SL) to someone who has never seen it or been in it. It is an online virtual world, but it is definitely NOT one of those computer video game types of things that most people are familiar with, it is much more than that. It is known as the "game with no object", because there really isn't a goal or object, there's no bad guys to shoot or damsels in distress to rescue, although there are areas made for roleplay where you can do those things if you wish. I discovered SL by accident a little over 3 years ago when I stumbled across this article on Businessweek.com: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982001.htm It will tell you a bit about SL. SL may look cartoonish and silly to those who don't understand it or not been in it but the first thing an SL newbie learns is that although we are represented by cartooney-looking avatars, those avatars have real people controlling them with real personalities and feelings. Second Life is very much like this Real Life... except in SL we inhabit bodies made of pixels instead of flesh. Just like a really good book or movie can draw you in so you feel as if you're part of it, SL does the same. You are where your mind is. I've met many wonderful people in SL and have friends all over the world in SL. About the music... there are at least hundreds of clubs, bars, "outdoor" concert venues of all types and description and SL and as many musicians playing at them. The musicians may be anything from one person singing along with karaoke tracks, or accompanying him/herself on guitar or piano, to full bands playing live and streaming it into SL. Real-life band U2 has even done a live concert in Second Life. The google listings you mentioned of me (Spike Luckstone) playing in various real-life cities is a computer search-bot error, and understandably confusing. Weblogs of events in Second Life post event listing of who is playing and when, for their various SL venues. Somehow, search bots (little search programs designed to search and compile listings, in this case for entertainment) see these listings and somehow relate them to their cities. How that happens I couldn't tell you, but it is an error done by the website compiling the listings. No one in SL makes or wants these false and erronious listings, least of all myself, who supposedly am appearing or have played numerous places in real life that I have no intention of travelling to and I have no need or desire for false information or publicity of any kind. As for me, I am a semi-retired professional musician, I have never wanted to be a "star". My desire was to play guitar with good musicians, and play onstage with the "stars", not to be one myself. I did that already and don't need to do it anymore. I quit the road and settled down years ago. Playing in Second Life is nice because I can play whatever song I want, whatever instrument I feel like, can get bookings nearly any time I feel like playing, I have my own club where I can play any time I feel like it. I don't have to lug my equipment anywhere. I walk into my home studio and there is my stuff all ready to play. I can, and have, play a show in my pajamas if I feel like it. Another thing about music in SL, just about any wannabee can play in there... because of this you hear a lot of people who really are not professional-grade, but I'm glad they have a place that they can play and sing and for many of them it fulfills a life dream that they cannot do in real life. There are also some excellent musicians and bands in SL, as good as you'd find anywhere. I hope this clears up some of your questions. If I can answer anything else just ask. I do have a myspace page for my Second Life self at myspace.com/spikeluckstone if you'd like to hear some newer sound clips and it has a little more of my real life bio if you're interested. I do have a better-looking avatar now than I did when those videos were made. By the way, In Second Life, you can be anything or anyone you wish and no one expects your avatar to look exactly like your real life self. Why do that... SL is where you can be your idealized self so why not. :) You can see some screenshots and find more information at secondlife.com if you wish. Take care, "Spike Luckstone"

Eloise - boy did I sleep well. I was late getting to work!! But I needed it even without the raking. If you'll look, you'll see the time I did that post last night. It was entirely too late to be up. But, having problems going to bed - STRESS!!! My boss told me today that I should be looking for Plan B - she is. Our new VP is really making life difficult. We don't think she wants any of us there - so she can bring in her own people and also confirm herself to everyone. So, we'll see on that one. Let's just say though - not good at all. I'm too old to be considered a real candidate anywhere other that someplace 50 miles from home. That's the kicker, I'm 8 miles from home now - never had that before. Plus, I like the company. We just have a micro micro-managaing, self-absorbed, control-freak for a boss that is begining to remind me of a wicked witch! She is so much so that I don't trust her as a person. It's one thing to not trust your boss, but I don't trust her as a person - too high on herself and what she can do. No telling what she will do to prevent someone from seeing her faults. The bad thing - I think that's why she was hired!!! The other stressor - my folks. Found out today that they are OK -somewhat. They are being moved to the other facility to have more intense care - thank Goodness! But that's not saying things will be OK but I do feel better that they can be watched. My step-mom is becoming very manipulative and they are worried about my dad's safety. So, THAT saga continues. At least they are dead and my step-mom didn't kill someone!! Hey, I'm 139, I think. BTW, What's going on with TNMN2???? Check in Michael when you can. Miss you, big guy!!!

I iron my top sheets and pillow cases. Any wrinkles in the fitted bottom sheet come out when you put it on the bed. I have tried to buy iron-free sheets but they are usually sateen sheets and even though they are 100% cotton, my husband and I don't like the feel of them. We like crisp, fairly heavy sheets and they are hard to find, especially if one's on a budget. I have one perfect set and 3 other not so perfect sets in addition to sets that have gone to Goodwill because we hated them.