Dear Friends: I can add a little more about Gardenia. There is a possible species or a cultivar of gardenia in Taiwan, China. You can spot it in the Botanical Garden in Taipei. The flower is single with six narrow pointed petals. It is also called Bird's Tongue Gardenia in southern China. I also saw one identical plant of very long life because the trunk was measured about 8 inches in diameter. The whole yard, fenced by brick wall, was filled with fragrance.

When I was in high school, there were three kids in the family that lived on one side of us. The parents disliked nicknames, so gave their children names that they thought people would actually use, rather than calling their kids by nicknames. One daughter was named Betty. Didn't name her Elizabeth, because they knew folks would end up calling her Betty, so they gave her the name Betty. Another daughter was named Barbara. HUH? That kid was called Barb, Babs, and Barbie all the time. The parents goofed on that one. Their son's first and middle names are Bobby Gene. Now, I think Robert Eugene is a great name, but they named him Bobby Gene. Why not Bob? Bobby is ok for a small child, but think about a 60-year-old man with the legal name of Bobby...

Back in town again, hate those one hour notice trips, just because I am the only physically mobile older family member. Mt favorite Darwin quote: Man is an eating animal..............

Oakley, yes I read it when I was eight(which kinda excuses me for stealing that bun lol)..didn't understand half of it properly, all these chapters on monasteries, and sewage system, and Battle of Waterloo, and whatnot. It just somehow didn't bother me-if I didn't understand sometthing back then I'd just read around and through. Didn't prevent me from becoming crazy about the book. I read many books in this manner when I was little. I do remember trying to understand why Milady was half-naked in the scene where D'Artagnan discovers she has this fleur-de-lis..okay, they kiss, okay, he sees her shoulder..still, why half-naked? I was six. Well "Three Muskeeteers" is really, really easier to understand nevertheless. Than "Les Miserables". Even though I didn't quite get all the theological disputes Aramis would get into..)) I re-read a lot. Each time you understand some more. oh. to add to that list. Entertaining, more like Dumas style. "Captain Fracasse". "Captain Blood: His Odyssey" (hmm. Lots of captains. lol) Carol, I was very happy to see your definition because I thought about it myself and wasn't sure I'm on the same page as others?..