I have had it for several years affecting my hawthorns that I had planted for the birds. I believe it may have originated on a juniper nearby that eventually died. I never found the site where it overwinters but I read that the infected host could be some distance away. Lots of wild eastern redcedar around here. I tried several different fungicides which were supposed to be effective for rust but never could keep up with the spraying ("reapply after every rain", and it rains every other day here in the spring). Either for that reason, or just because, they haven't helped. Last year which started out very rainy then got very hot was the first year that it affected my quince. Had a huge crop coming on and had to toss every bit. My nearby crabapple is unaffected so far, neither is my farther away Juneberry. I drastically pruned the hawthorns (back to the trunk) and the quince to get rid of every bit of affected wood and prevent spores from forming. I plan to finish taking out the hawthorns before they leaf out next week. Then I will spray the quince and hope for the best. I really hope this stops it in its tracks; I have several apple, cherries, a pear and native plum and would cry if they all get infected.

The letter I copied above, must not have been read too recently! I kept reading it and thinking--"I don't think ACORN is doing the Census since there are several controversies they are involved in that have called them in to a questionable status." Here's what I found: "The Census Director has sent a letter to the National Headquarters of ACORN notifying the group that the Census Bureau is severing all ties with the community organizing group for all work having to do with the 2010 census. "Over the last several months, through ongoing communication with our regional offices, it is clear that ACORN's affiliation with the 2010 Census promotion has caused sufficient concern in the general public, has indeed become a distraction from our mission, and may even become a discouragement to public cooperation, negatively impacting 2010 Census efforts," read a letter from Census Director Robert M. Groves to the president of ACORN. "Unfortunately, we no longer have confidence that our national partnership agreement is being effectively managed through your many local offices. For the reasons stated, we therefore have decided to terminate the partnership," the letter said. The news follows the firing Friday of two more ACORN employees after new hidden-camera footage showed workers for the group advising a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute how to subvert the law." I thought so! Okay--now that's taken care of, what next? :o)

Hi Kschipper621 - Don't know where you live, but have you researched law schools with evening programs? I stated in an earlier post that I'm in an evening program and am probably on the younger side of the class at 32. My study partners are 36, 43 and 45 (I think). I'm also quite good friends with at least 3 other women in their 40's - one has a son who just graduated college himself, one has 2 small girls and the third is single, never married. At least 2 men in my class have daughters my age. I don't think you're ever too late for law school. Some of my older classmates often joke that no one under 30 should even be allowed to apply.(Again, no offense intended to those who went at younger ages - each person comes into it in their own time and for their own reasons, but you know how the old fogies like to joke...). So I would encourage you to seek out programs that welcome non-traditional students. They are becoming more popular and slowly (very slowly) the legal community might be starting to recognize the value of the life experience and legal training that we bring to the work place. It is probably especially helpful if you want to practice in a field that you have some past related work experience or if you have some business/marketing experience. It seems that there have been more and more articles written lately about the importance of being able to network and build a client base for the firm - especially if you want to work in a private firm. If you want to go into public interest or social justice work, you might find that it's even more acceptable and easier to get work. Those jobs tend not to pay as well and there can be a great deal of emotional stress dealing with some of the clients in those areas, but that's where your background and maturity can come into play and really be a benefit. Evening programs tend to draw those of us who work during the day and/or those who want to be in a class with older, more non-traditional students. However, I know at our school at least, you are not forced to remain in the evening program during the course of your schooling. I started taking a mix of day and evening classes this semester and was able to flex my work schedule to accomodate some scheduling variety at school. So, no, you're not too old and your GPA is the same as mine was when I applied. I think given your age and life experience, a well written and thoughtful personal statement coupled with strong references would be important and could get you over the hump if you're worried about your scores. I can't say that it worked exactly that way for me, but my scores were somewhere in the bottom of what they accepted and I feel like I wrote a very good letter of personal intent and had some great personal referneces who knew me quite well professionally and personally. I was a Teaching Assistant for a first year class at our school and that program is linked with a special admissions group of students who maybe don't have the top scores but have personal/professional experience that makes the school think they would make good attorneys. Those students who are accepted under the special admissisions criteria are placed into the TA sections and receive some additional assistance and resources to help them be successful students. After being a TA for about 20 of those students, I'm not sure I really saw a difference - they were really energetic and very devoted to their academics. It was a great program that lends some extra support where needed. I'm fairly certain that my school is one of the schools to pioneer the program in the country and we've received awards from the ABA in recognition of it's success. ALSO - final tip - submit your application EARLY in the timeframe that they accept them - ESPECIALLY if it's a school with rolling admissions. Time is on your side if you get it in early. Wow - I babbled a bit, and I sound like a recruiter for the school, which I'm not, I just really like my school. So I say, go for it! You'll never know unless you try.

you have so much going on all at the same time! i bet you're also suffering a raging case of cabin fever, i know i am. the oppressive heat and humidity puts me in such a funk that i just want to pack everything up and move to alaska. i have cleaned out every closet, every drawer, washed every window at least twice, patched spots of wallpaper that i have neglected for years, rearranged furniture more times than i can count, and i'm left with very little to do. i'm with you...give me winter or give me death!! well, not really death but sheesh, could it at least get back down to temps that are more conducive to not feeling like i'm walking into a damn sauna every time i open the door? at least for me, the intolerance i have of summer always magnifies every other little thing to the point where, if it wasn't so hot out, i'd go out in the woods for some good ole primal scream therapy but the heat/humidity has made it so buggy outside, i'm afraid i'd get hauled away, kicking and screaming, by mutant mosquitoes! have you changed anything in leo's diet or perhaps added any new treats? even if you haven't changed his food, oftentimes a manufacturer will change a formula that can elicit a reaction like you are seeing with leo. these changes are pretty much always made without the consumer ever knowing. here's my suggestion...stop feeding kibble and treats, start feeding a mixture of boiled lean ground beef and cooked white rice (equal parts). do this for 3-4 days and then gradually introduce his kibble back into the mix or switch to a kibble for sensitive tummies and add that gradually. i can really sympathize with you because i've had dogs with urpy tummies. when it's great danes, they leave piles of vomit the size of texas and i won't even mention the dreaded "d" word. i sure hope things even out for you soon but in the meantime, you seem to have a darn good sense of humor about all of the trials and tribulations. hang in there, autumn and pretty leaves and crisp temperatures are right around the corner for we who hate summer!! :)