Ok ok... So here is the latest news in my life! Last week my boss asks to speak with me in one of our training rooms. I am thinking...oh this is raise time..she is giving me my raise. So...she looks at me and says " I am done. I just don't want to work this hard anymore. This business is bigger than I thought it would be." Talk about total shock...BUT WAIT...it gets better. She then says..."I am going to sell my company" I say..."To Who?" Her response: " You if you want it." Now before you all think that I am one wealthy woman...think again...you have heard my struggles of daily life!!!! We are a very small company with a big presence in Chicago. I am her only full time employee and not to toot my own horn...I basically run the company other than paying the bills and doing the marketing. She said she would stay on as one of our software trainers. She just doesn't want to work as hard as she has been. She is 34, two small kids and a husband who does quite well himself. She really doesn't need to work but uses the business to enable her to travel and write off the trip. So I am in the process of figuring out how to accomplish this. I had actually thought about starting my own company similar to the one I work for. I do all the work and I thought...hmmmm shouldn't I be making more money than I do now..... I am consumed with figuring it all out. I feel like I kind of won the lottery...I have struggled so much of my life and I just always felt like I was going uphill all the time...now I can see the top of the mountain...and I am wondering what the view is like from up there. I was also in San Francisco at the beginning of March for a Photoshop Convention. Took the SO with me and we had a good get away time...My mom came and took care of DD. When I lived in CA my Mom lived in TN and could never get out to spend time with my kids. This was a very special week for my DD and Mom. I came out of San Fran not liking it as much as I used to. The bums are all over and really bad. Loved the food though. Speaking of food....I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF!!!!!!! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT??? HELP? Oh yes...the SO gave me the nicest thing anyone has ever given me for my 49 going on 50 birthday. He bought me a diamond ring from Movado. Has anyone seen their jewelry? They have several boutiques around the country. One just opened up in our mall and we stopped by there one day just to look. I fell in love with this ring. Very simple yet something you won't see everywhere. Solid band and boy does it sparkle. Very unusual and different. It is an 18kt white gold ring with three diamonds spaced out and oval shaped. The DEX is at it again...enough said. Ok..I am off to see how I can become a business owner! Gretchen

My allergen cycle gets to at least 154F and thats measuring temp of clothing after a 25-30 second drain. I do like this for kitchen towels and vintage sheets/pillowcases which is all we use here. The older cotton sheets can handle this higher temp which is my main reason for needing a 150+ cycle. A true allergen cycle needs to reach at least 131F for 3 minutes. Sanitizing temp is 150 something can't remember the exact I think its 158F. If allergen or sanitize is important to you make sure the cycles are NSF certified. I personally don't really care so much about the sanitizing as I do the cleaning...but you should be advised that these sanitizing temps are not recommended on normal fabrics, they will shorten the lifespan of the garment. For instance don't wash a cotton/poly blend sheet this hot or most modern day sheets for that matter. Steam...I think it might be helpful breaking up some stains..least that's what I heard, I never use it. Seems I get a shorter actual wash time if I do. Now steam in a dryer is an expensive gimmick. Lol.

I am going to have to cancel as well - daughter is still sick, in fact, I think she may have added either a sinus infection or a bad reaction to one of the medicines to her list of issues, because she has a super bad headache and says the room won't stop spinning. So it looks like I'm going to be spending my afternoon at the pediatrician's office (again!). But definitely next time - anywhere in King of Prussia works for me -- has anyone been to the new mall extension part yet? We could make it a group mall tour! Thanks for organizing this and I hope we'll try again even though life got in the way for some of us this time.

As I am still working and don't yet live in the area, It's less likely that I could join but perhaps one of these days... Again , I think it's great that you are reaching out and organizing.