Simpson Stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) or Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria). Both are native and need no care once established. They are evergreen and dense growing and if they get to big tolerate heavy pruning. They also both produce berries for birds and the dense growth is good for cover and nesting. The flowers on Simpson Stopper are fragrant. With the Yaupon Holly, find the "wild" species type. A lot of the time nurseries sell the dwarf compact forms, such as 'Schillings', 'Stoke's Dwarf' or 'Bordeaux'

I ALWAYS begin to cry when I hear the song "Ooh Child". I was driving home from visiting a very close family member in the hospital one day when I was a senior in high school and it was pouring outside. As I was driving my windshield wipers stopped working and the rain was so bad I had to pull over and sit. At that moment I was so upset because I knew that soon that family member would die and I was also upset because here I was stuck in a rainstorm. All of a sudden whatever song that was on the radio cut out and "Oooh Child" came on. I felt like it was her speaking to me because she was in a coma at the time and died a few days later. Years later I had my son and had just left his father and was in the car driving and I was sobbing over my life. I was talking to that family member in my mind and again that song came on. Now whenever I hear it I become teary eyed and think of that special family member. O-o-h child, things are gonna get easier O-o-h child, things'll get brighter O-o-h child, things are gonna get easier O-o-h child, things'll get brighter Someday, yeah We'll put it together, and we'll get it all done Someday when your head is much lighter Someday, yeah We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun Someday when the world is much brighter O-o-h child, things are gonna be easier O-o-h child, things'll be brighter O-o-h child, things are gonna be easier O-o-h child, things'll be brighter Someday, yeah We'll put it together, and we'll get it all done Someday when your head is much lighter Someday, yeah We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun Someday when the world is much brighter Someday, someday, someday We'll get it together, and we'll get it all done Someday when your head is much lighter Someday, someday, someday We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun Someday when the world is much brighter O-o-h child, things are gonna get easier O-o-h child, things'll get brighter O-o-h child, things are gonna get easier O-o-h child, things'll get brighter Right now, right now, oh yeah Right now, oh baby You just wait and see how things are gonna be You just wait and see how things are gonna be Right now You just wait and see how things are gonna be Right now

GO Active Living makes double-walled insulated beverage holders for hot and for cold drinks. You can buy direct from their website (linked) or from Amazon, an authorized reseller. If you go to the website and fill in the form to get emails from them, they'll send you an e-mail that will give you 50% off on your purchase. We have several of the 24-ounce and 32-ounce beverage holders and they are GREAT at keeping cold drinks cold. Haven't tried the ones intended for hot drinks yet. The 24-ounce and 32-ounce holders for cold drinks will also keep hot drinks piping hot -- it's just that they don't recommend sipping the hot drinks through the built-in straw because you'd be more likely to burn your mouth/tongue.

I'm changing the subject a bit, but if you're interested in books that really "put you into the mind of someone else" and are interested in autism, try The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. It's told through the eyes of a teenaged boy who is autistic, and it was quite interesting. He made "rules" for himself, and although they were somewhat logical, they were not sensible at all. He couldn't see things that were blatantly clear to the reader, yet he was a brilliant mathematician. A secondary plotline shows the reader the frustration of a loving father who was trying very hard to do what was best for his son -- with difficulties from multiple directions. Not a true story, but an excellent read.