I lost 45 pounds just before I turned 50 last year. I didn't want to be a fat 50 year old. Just like they tell you, quit eating & exercise. It sucks but it works. Of course I'm now on the stress diet so should be skinny soon! We're staying at Nancy's apt, it's kind of like a big hotel room with no TV and a bad bed. There is a fridge that will hold about some water and red bull and a microwave big enough for popcorn. We're taking over the TV & VCR that didn't burn. I took this week off and am packing and moving everything downstairs that didn't burn. The ceilings are starting to fall in, all the sheetrock got wet from the water. The guys are standing by as soon as the adjuster comes to gut the place. They will just rip out everything. It's such deja vu, the house burned 20 years ago & had to be completely gutted. The good news is we will have new sheetrock, floors, doors, windows, insulation..... My dad is an electrician and is training my nephew so they will do all the electrical work starting next week. My brother will pull his guys off jobs and so will my bro-in-law(the one who is responsible for my hiring these roofers). They will do the work for whatever the insurance pays. Probably $29,000.00 since that's what I owe on the house and that's all it's insured for. Sounds like a lot until you start thinking..12 ceiling fans, flooring in most of the house....we spent almost $800 on glass panes 20 years ago. I bought new reading glasses, I assume the old ones melted, I'm so glad we weren't home, I would be dead, and I CAN SEE! There are no scratches, both arms are there. Jim is really tall. But to me everyone is tall. I charge the computer at Nancy's-we've been watching videos on it-then use Debs internet. She is going through chemo so we don't really want to stay with her too much. It is nice cause she's across the alley. She's a musician. I have too damn many books. Wait, they are all gardening books! I can blame 1/2 of them on Jim. So now I don't have enough books. I just mailed a bunch of my antique childrens books to my sister thank goodness! After the hurricane I kind of freaked out about stuff and sent things to her. I also packed up some stuff when I cleaned EVERYTHING for 3 days. So not all is lost. The storage room has some things like my grandmothers quilts, pictures-waiting on me to paint the hall and hang. Sometimes it's good to procrastinate!! We were just jealous of everyones piles of debris. We got a dumpster, nah, nah. That's way more cool than a pile of debris. And it has barricades around it. How cool is that? All right, I'm going back to work. No rest for the wicked. Got some stuff from the janitorial supply co. to try and clean some of the ceramics, glass that survived the fire. He says I'll have to really scrub it, see more exercise! And people pay to go to a gym. I'm still shocked at what melted in other parts of the house. The shampoo. Tally HO! Some guy just stood across the alley shaking his stuff at me!! I called 911. Too bad the gate was locked, I have a pitchfork right handy. Idiot, got his plate #.

Hi, Y'all-- Whew!! What a week! Sorry I haven't been posting in the last few days, but my sister has been visiting from North Carolina since last Monday (11-7). She only gets out here to Texas about once a year, so when she's here, naturally every last minute of my time gets used up. Even though we've become "scatterlings" in adulthood, my siblings (2 little sisters, 1 "little" brother) and I are still very close, and although we all talk frequently on the phone, it's just not the same as actual visits. Anyway, Cathe's flying back home to the Asheville area this morning, and I'm now trying to catch up on this computer (I have 334 messages--mostly "junk" I suspect--in my Inbox!!!!!). Well, Marsha, to confirm your suspicions, yes, I was/am sending to Debi, and I've been pretty sure for the last couple of months that you were the one sending to me. And, Debi, you'll be receiving a private e-mail from me. I've been taking pics of most of the things I sent to Debi, and here are a few of the items: For April, a gardener's apron-- In May, I sent Debi some hand-tatted doilies and 3 sachets that had tatted "medallions" on the front (sorry...didn't take pics of those). June was a "garden hose" wreath, along with her "Summer" mini-bouquet (I've been sending seasonal mini-bouquets, one for "Spring", "Summer", "Fall" and yet-to-come "Winter", all year)-- July was a table runner and matching placemats, (sorta) hand-painted to match the color of Debi's kitchen-- And for August, an arrangement of paper flowers made out of the brown paper from chicken feed bags-- I got in too big of a hurry in September, and didn't get pics of those items, either, but I'll try to remember before I send her October gift, and post those pics if anyone is interested... Well, I guess I need to close this and try to muddle through all those messages in my Inbox that await my attention. Best regards to all, this has been WAY too much fun!! Cheryl

Wow -- is there still time for me to join in? I'm kind of a newbie but from your lists I see lots that I can send to fill wishes- so here goes. Any heuchera Coleus (black dragon or others) Columbine - single colored varieties- bright colors or an all white variety is better! Lobelias -- or other trailers for pots Black, rust or peach colored flowers for my peach garden Echinachea- other than white swan or the plain purple variety(Peach would be great) Daisies - have clara curtis, giant white, and white shasta-- my three little girls just love to cut and cut all season long and far be it from me to discourage future gardeners! Coreopsis of any variety I don't have (coreopsis I have include: pink, zagreb, seashell, mahogohny midget, moonbeam) Lavendar - Spanish Pink Forget me nots Black Eyed Susan Vine - all colors Gladiola Seeds Monarda Flowering Groundcovers -- nothing invasive like vinca or ajuga I would prefer not to get-- Daturas, Moonflowers, Four O'clocks -except for the variegated kind -would love those, Cactus, Succulents or shade lovers --other than what was listed above-- I have very little shade. Also not interested in herbs and have all my veggie seeds for next year allready.

Ok...I just copied what it said I needed from the instructions. The installation from my old Dell was all on one disk. I'd be afraid I'd mess up the installation if it ended up on multiple CDs. Maybe I should say that there would be more chance for error on my part. The instructions also said that the USB key should have a minimum capacity of 8 GB. Well, when I go to Control Panel, I see there are 45 programs now with total space of 1.12 GB. So what gives with them saying I need a minimum of 8GB? I'm guessing that it would all go on one of the disks at the link below. About them...it says, "This recordable DVD features AccuCORE technology which is 100x more scratch resistant than standard discs. Fights static, repels stains and fingerprints" Here is a link that might be useful: 25 DVD+RW Re-Recordable DVD 4.7GB