This site gives you very extended forecasts. I think it is still more art than science in giving these forecasts, and they are really only valid in a general sense so on any given day 3 months from now could be very wrong. But, they are interesting. http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/longrang.html

The powder I spoke of was layers of a greenish clay with centurys of limestone fines accumulations, part of the hardpan and often layered between limestone shelfrock. It has the color of wet Portland cement. I never went out to plant anywhing without a mattock and rock bar among my tools. Often they were needed to break through the shelfrock to get to the next layer of clay. It felt more like growing in pots that we've made out of the ground. Many plants prone to crown rot like azaeleas and heucheras had to be placed in raised beds. If they weren't raised just a little rain would fill the planting hole and never drain. Then of course most of what water that did come in the summer was run-off. Many unthinking people die every year from being washed off low-water bridges by flash flooding. As a youth during a vacation to Lake Norfork my sister and I took out horses for a ride only an hour after a gullywasher, where run-off on the dirt road had flowed like a river. Our ride was shortened because we were chocking on the road dust our horses kicked up. That's typical Ozarks. But when it gets rain it is beautiful. I miss it. Sandy, I really pray that you get some nice gravely needed rains. Not tornadic rotations but what is needed is a week of slow steady drizzle. Hopefully next year you will be able to post positive response regarding the long term effects on your hostas. Phil, in the Ozarks what weather one gets is greatly affected by the presence of water, like larger rivers and the Corps of Engineer reservoirs. The cooler air heavy with moisture seems to steer rain away as rain comes from wasrm moist air rising into the cooler upper air. Wrapped around me when I lived there were the huge reservoirs of Bull Shoals and Lake Norfork and the cold waters of the White and North Fork Rivers. It could be frustrating watching rain pass to the north and south while we baked. But I grew hostas and as all the forum remember Sandy had simply wonderful hosta gardens. She doesn't complain much but I haven't seen a pic of her gardens since the Springfield/Joplin (and Branson)MO. areas were tornado ravaged a couple of years ago. As I have already said, my heart goes out to all suffering the drought. Les

I got it a couple years ago - I'm 54 now. It was offered through Prudential with an open enrollment through my employer. Employer does not pay for it but I took advantage of the open enrollment as I don't know that I'd qualify otherwise. It's a decent plan though not over the top - currently about $900 per year. Both DH and I did a lot to help our parents in their later years and since we have no kids there will be none of that if we live to be old. We'll be paying for help. DH's mother was in a nursing home for 11 years after suffering several mini strokes and his grandmother was in for 20 years after suffering a massive stroke. My grandmother was also in for many years. I hope I never end up there but if I do I'd like to somehow be able to pay for it myself and not end up being covered by taxpayers. My FIL paid for MIL - had LTC insurance for the first few years then self funded. I admired their ability to do that and would hope to be able to do the same.

I'm new, so I apologize for my ignorance, lol I just learned in a college class of mine, about the role of drugs and chemicals in our society, how they came to be, and generally(with my pre-existing knowledge) how they are used today and may be used in the future. I am trying to find a qualitative answer to a question I asked myself and my professor once I learned this information... If drugs and external chemicals have consequences, both bad and good, and were invented(or used once discovered) for temporary enhancement of _ What are some substances, whether in chemical form or otherwise that I or most people can intake periodically, and fit the following criteria?: 1. They Create positive enhancement of life by enhancing some sense(e.g. More energy, less pain, sexual performance, better hearing, better taste, everything else in the book) 2. Does not overwhelm natural homeostasis, and does not have chronic or substantial long term side effects.(e.g. cancer, diseases, loss of senses, loss of brain matter, etc) i.e. What foods, and drugs can we intake that will not be detrimental in the the future, whether used in moderation or daily? Keep in mind, i'm not talking about short-term side effects, because in the end...they end; you don't have to deal with them weeks, months, years down the road, so they can be dealt with in a much better way than long-term effects. I know that alcohol is an effective poison but for example, the hangover you feel after consumption of alcohol the next day is something i'm not worried about. The cardiovascular disease, CNS damage, and liver complications years later are things I am worried about. An example answer to my question might be, the Glycoprotein called Miraculin or "the miracle fruit"(i.e. Synsepalum dulcificum) people today are raving about, that causes sour food to taste sweet. I'm assuming this harmless fruit and chemical, if taken weekly or monthly would probably not have any crazy long term effects, though I might even wrong about that. Perhaps, even if the taste fibres were damaged long term, everything would taste better forever! haha. Anyway, I really appreciate any helpful information any of you can give me!!! Effects i'm truly interested in learning about are enhanced energy, and perhaps sensory changes as alternatives to caffeine(energy drinks), and alcohol for "life enhancers". I often lack energy throughout the day even though I workout every so often and have a decent diet(oatmeal, sandwiches, meat with vegetable dinners). I also drink alcohol every couple months and to be honest, i'm in my early twenties and it's fun :/ The thought of stopping is somewhat painful, though doa