Looks like o j doesn't add (or is that "subtract"?) very capably ... ... 'cause when ya start from 7 and ya count down 11, or 12, part of full days, ya arrive at 19 which will likely be a good enough day on its own, but doesn't get us to where we want to go. To get from 7 to 30 ... takes about 23 - so to deal with my big day - see ya in 23 days! ole (lousy mathematician) joyfuelled

Hi (again) Angela - why do I pick on you so often?? "Your call is important to us: please stay on the line. Our next available associate will be happy to assist you". Check your watch. When a warm body's voice appears at the other end, you say, "I've been sitting here holding the phone, which meant that I couldn't even twiddle my thumbs to relieve the boredom ((and frustration at not being able to get working on even one of the half dozen things that I need to get done in the next hour)). (1) Your company has been saving money by having too few associates to answer your phones, but you've been wasting my valuable time for the past 27 minutes and 30 seconds! So ... I propose to pay your company back by talking nonsense to you for the next 27 minutes and 30 seconds, then discussing the reason for my call. For example: Do you know how some Canadians are able to get a DOLLAR's worth of charitable value for 50 or 60 cents (or even fewer)? If you buy a dollar's worth of food in the grocery store and put it in the big box for the Food Bank, by the exit, or the firehall or at your church, the food cost you a dollar, retail price ... and you chose what to give, which might not be high priority for the Food Bank. Usually at least a couple of times a year several food stores let a customer give some money at checkout to go to a charity. If you give them about 80 cents, the charity gets the food in bulk at wholesale cost ... and they choose the kinds most needed. If you visit the Food Bank and give the 80 cents to them, they buy: -what they most need -at wholesale price. And they give you a receipt for the 80 cents. Next year, when you prepare your income tax return, if you're in 25% tax bracket, you get a credit of a quarter of that 80 cents that you gave the Food Bank, or 20 cents, which reduces your actual cost to 60 cents. If your tax bracket is above 25%, reduces your actual cost below 60 cents. Your net cost reduced even more if you transfer stocks/mutual funds that have appreciated in value to a charity: no tax on the capital gain (in Canada, normally half of capital gain taxed, at regular rate). Here, community foundation/United Way will send part to a list of your choice of charities If (s)he hangs up - you've lost: seldom have on me. Usually say they're too busy for such nonsense - but will discuss it. If they don't want to - I ask to talk to the supervisor. Seldom get higher. ole joyfuelled 1. You may not want to mention this much if you plan on making a big thing about your planning on wasting their company's time.

'Ringo' Hitchcock

I saw this on a t-shirt the other day. Had to stop and write it down: Drink water Love hard Fight Racism