Oh, I've been making jam (only 5 jars per batch, I don't use pectin so 1/2 lb of berries per jar) every other day. Winding down now - I just came in from picking (didn't pick yesterday) and haven't weighed them but probably less than a lb. Finished making that batch started yesterday (it needs to sit a while both before and after cooking). Made 3 batches this week so 15 jars, sold 2 at market Wednesday and hope to sell a lot more next week. I don't think DS watches TV at all - unless it's a rare time when I'm not watching The Voice so he may join DH for Antiques Roadshow. And my parents have satellite, will record nature shows, country music awards shows for the kids to watch when they visit but DS is too busy to visit them often. I watch The Voice and Revolution when they're not reruns, but our antenna broke about 2 weeks ago so I had to catch the season finales online. Wouldn't you know it was just that one channel affected (though we never were able to pick up ABC so now we're down to CBS, PBS, FOX and some Spanish channels). We went to my cousin's kids' birthday party (they live next door 1 mile down the road) yesterday, he was really bored the whole 4 hours (didn't take a book) since he and DD were the oldest ones there (she's 9, he's 14). He just went for the food. He didn't ask to go home though.

Interesting way this discussion has turned. There is a boy at our local public high school who is doing what Jeanne's acquaintance is doing. Full scale, nearly full time, mow & blow. He's an A student, is involved in sports, academic extracuricular projects, at least one of which earned he and his team a trip to California for the national competition. He also has a girl friend! I was able to get him out here twice, but my yard & field are difficult, and he is VERY busy, so he hasn't come back. I'm sad, because he did a good, quick job, and now I have to! Back when President Bush was Governor, he instigated, or strongly encouraged, a system to help do away with quotas and discrimination. The new system automatically allows the top 10% of ANY public (or private???, not sure) high school graduating class to be accepted into any State College, maybe also the private colleges. It sounds like, and probably still is, a good plan. But there are some difficulties in the system. A TV station did a story this late winter about 2 girls vying for a place at The University of Texas (which is, I think, THE most crowded school in the nation, and has become overrun w/ top 10 per centers). Anyway, both girls were straight A students, but one came from a lower economic school somewhere, and the other from an elite preppy high school somewhere else in the state. The girl from the lower economic school got into UT, but didn't have NEAR the GPA or SAT scores as the other girl. Preppy girl was in advanced classes, in possibly a larger school, and tho she had high scores, must have "just" missed out on being the top 10% in her school, therefore, no admittance to UT. No one in the story wanted to deny the good education to the girl from the lower economic school, she was, after all, the top 10% of HER school, but all were worried (even the girl herself), if she could compete w/ the higher achieving scholars who'll be her classmates, and the rigors of first year at UT. It's been months since I saw that story, so I'm sure I've left out or forgotton some details. I know it's a big concern at UT and at Texas A & M, the two biggest schools here. I heard once that "they" (whoever) are considering raising the top 10% to the top 8%. If a kid ISN'T in that top 10%, he/she has virtually NO chance of getting into UT as a freshman, the crush of kids there is so huge. Wow, long derail of the subject! LOL! None of my kids applied themselves enough to be in the top 10%, so whichever colleges they've gone to have involved more complicated admissions processes. One of my friends has brilliant kids, and as they went off to Georgetown or UT, were reminded that MOST of the other kids they'd meet at their colleges were ALSO brilliant, and probably valedictorians/salutatorians/private school alums/ and National Merit Scholars, too, so the competition would continue to be difficult. I sure hope my kids' eventual careers earn them more money than the mow & blow young men we've been discussing here, but they may not. I know a mow & blow guy in another town who made THAT his career, and he told me that one year recently he SAVED $5,000 per month, and used that as a downpayment on a new fancy home. He has a crew of 30 ish, maybe 10 trucks, advertises and self promotes heavily, and is making a FINE living mowing people's yards. He was in the Air Force for many years, may have acquired some college along the way, but I don't think he has a degree. And, back to the child's homelife thoughts: the young man that helped w/ my sewer & moved the compost apparantly DID have a good close family: multiple siblings, all home schooled, and apparantly a strong religious training and action in their home. The highschool boy who has His own business is now in a combined family, with each separate family having massive tragedies in the past--dad of one family died, wife of the other died, the two remaining parents marry. Church is a big part of their family too. I never thought I had the patience to home school any of my kids, but in retrospect, I wish I had. But, they've all turned out pretty good, in spite of me, the plusses and/or minuses of public school, and "average" grades. Gone WAY too long, I'll hush now! Susi.

Hi everyone. I talked to our humble leader and she agreed this is an important topic and doesn't mind me posting this. We all love children so why would anyone mind? Right? ................................. I'm just going to cut to the chase, you need to contact both Senators in your state and you also need to email the Senate Majority Leader, its up to his discretion, Senator Harry Reid...Nevada, whether bills are up for being voted on. Please send him emails, he's 'the' most important along with your Senators. If he's not contacted, they might not get heard at all. If you have any questions please email me, I'll be more than happy to help and thanks Marea! You're awesome and I appreciate your thoughts! This is what I received from (1) of my Senators. Mind you, I also have a residence in NC and I've not heard from either. How dissapointing. I still say we need to also email the Senate leader. I hope you will, whether you post on here or not. I'm not asking for posts, I'm just asking that you act on it! Dear Mrs....., Thank you for contacting me to express your support for child protection legislation. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue. As you may know, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware introduced S.1738, the Combating Child Exploitation Act on June 28, 2007. This bill would establish a Special Counsel for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction, improve the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, increase resources for regional computer forensic labs, and enhance the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute child predators. Like you, I am outraged when sexual predators prey on innocent children. There is a growing need for legislation that modernizes the reporting requirements for child pornography violations and enacts stricter penalties for the use of the Internet in violation of child pornography or sexual exploitation laws. Unfortunately, the Senate Democratic Leadership has twice objected to the passage of S.1738, insisting it will only pass if it is included in a package of nearly 35 other bills, many of which are unrelated and address less vital concerns. The Democratic Leadership has continually refused to bring S.1738 up separately for consideration. Blocked by these repeated objections, Senator Tom Coburn has introduced S.3344, the Protecting Children from Pornography and Internet Exploitation Act. This comprehensive child protection bill combines S.1738 with the Securing Adolescents from Exploitation-Online (SAFE) Act, which passed the House by a 409-2 vote. However, the Senate Democratic Leadership has objected to this legislation as well. Currently, S.1738 and S.3344 have been placed on the Senate legislative calendar and may be called to the Senate Floor for consideration at the discretion of Senator Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader. Rest assured, I will keep your thoughts in mind if and when either of these bills comes to the Senate floor for a vote. Thank you again for sharing your concerns with me. Please feel free to contact me in the future about any issue important to you or your family. It is an honor to serve you and the people of South Carolina. Sincerely, Jim DeMint United States Senator Dear Senator Reid, I hope and pray you will make sure S.1738 and S.3344 are voted upon before the session ends this month. I beg your cooperation in this matter for our children's sake. Its long past due and I'm sick and tired of 'our leaders' coming up with any reason they can find to trash legislation that will help save OUR children. Thank you in advance, my signature I admit, I'm not an elequoent speaker, thats why I need all of you! Maybe one of you will say it better than me, I don't care as long as it gets through to them. Thank you to everyone that helps! Sassy You can go to protect.com or oprah.com whichever is easier. Either way, please just do it! I've always posted pics but have never posted links, so anyone that can do that, please do it now. This is so important, session ends on Sept. 26! Think of how many children will be hurt and killed before they come back in session. Really, think about it:(

I especially enjoy the lovely historic Willard Hotel in DC. Guests include many of our presidents including Lincoln when he was smuggled in by detective Pinkerton, as well as PT Barnum, Mark Twain, Buffalo Bill, Harry Houdini, Jenny Lind, etc. It's on Pennsylvania Ave (can't beat that!), 2 blocks from Metro Center (can't beat that!), and is central to just about everything in DC. I enjoy Georgetown but as others have noted, many of the shops are chain shops, and it's not easy to get to. There is a circulator bus which you can get either at Dupont Circle or the Rosslyn metro stops and that will take you to Georgetown. Check out some of the old stand-by eateries in DC. Bistro du Coin is wildly popular, and I especially like it in warm weather because when the entire front of the restaurant to the street, but try Ben's Chili Bowl, Old Ebbit's Grill, 1789 (Georgetown), or the Tabard Inn (Dupont Circle) for some local flavor. Also, I recommend Cafe Saint-Ex (as in Saint Expury, the writer). It is situated near the U street corridor, a wildly popular area in central DC. The Studio Theater is nearby, and I've seen some great plays there.