thank you for the suggestions. i got a 4 cu. ft. bag of vermiculite from a pool supply - i'm hoping its the right kind. i'm going to return the perlite and give the guy an earful for selling me perlite when i asked for vermiculite! not really, but this is really a headache! i'll feel better tomorrow once i get my soil mixed up and my seeds in =)

Not to get political, but the title of my post makes me sound like John McCain. All you guys who say you look like sh!t too are full of it. You're all beautiful. The puppy (Toto) is doing very well. She's housebroken (at least when I'm home). Mackenzie is looking forward to Halloween, since she will dress up as Dorothy and take Toto with us. Of course, I'll be the wicked witch. Mackenzie says I'm not a witch - "Witches are grouchy and old and ugly. You're not old and ugly." Eh...two out of three...LOL I went to the one-on-one counseling and I really don't think it's for me. Maybe it just wasn't a good match, but she kept just staring at me, waiting for me to talk. I'd talk for 10 minutes, then stop. I figured she'd ask the, "and how does that make you feel" questions, but there was just this silence. So I'd talk about something else again and she wouldn't say a word. By the end of the appointment it was more like a staring contest. I'm going next week just to say I gave it a fair shot, but...nah. I can do the same thing in my car when I'm alone. The group counseling with the widow support group - now that's good. They can relate to the littlest things. That's what I need. Every single thing I've felt, somebody has been through the same thing. I also feel like I'm helping somebody else in some way, and that's important to me. Laurie, if I had connections, yes, I'd love to write a book -- if not just for my own sanity. Lyra, yet another thing Marilyn Monroe and I have in common...who knew?! ;) I don't think I have Menieres Disease. I think I have stress. In the last week or two I've controlled it much better and I'm feeling much better, although not 100% I'll get there. Today happens to be a good day. Dlynn, yes, I believe I still have the link on my laptop at home. If I remember right, her husband's name was also Bob, but he had an illness?? I will check back in with it. Yes, Maria, let's get together soon...please! I hope all of you are doing well. I miss you all and want to post more.

camarogirl219, I am so very sorry for your loss. That's a lot of years for you to pack into a single goodbye, I know. My heart aches for you and Daisy, who must be traumatized and disoriented by the loss of her bud. I suspect that the addition of a new feline might be a difficult adjustment for her, but I do think it would be best for her in the long run. I would NOT, however, recommend adopting a male feline UNLESS you find an older adult who is known to be laid back and to live peacefully with other cats. Male kittens and young adults tend to be VERY rowdy, demanding, and rough and relentless in their play. I think that might be completely overwhelming for Daisy. But an older, mellow, well socialized boy might make a wonderful companion for her after the initial adjustment period. A young female kitten might also be a good choice of companion, as they don't tend to be nearly as overwhelming as males. And Daisy might find it easier to accept a young kitten, since she will not see the kitten as either a territorial or physical threat. An adult female probably isn't the best choice, though, as they tend not to bond with other adult females with whom they have not been raised. That's my experience after having integrated many felines of both genders and all ages into my household over the decades. I wish you a peaceful grief and happy future with Daisy et al. Laurie

My phone can't upload photos, I will try later, but here is some if what I have Purple Oxalis Aloe'Pepe' Aloe vera Rex Begonia Green Oxalis Philodendron selloum? Sunburned Chamaedora elegans Fuscia tiphylla Ivy Gerainium Spider Plant, green and variegatum Kalanchoe 2 phalenopsis orchids I have more, I need to take inventory.