I am so sorry first of all about this very unfortunate happening. I need to say that some people can only focus on their own greed and desires rather than take time to think about who their actions affect. I just hate to see anyone or anything suffering because I know how undeserving of misfortune most people are. But, rest assured that these immoral, lowlife, inconsiderate b*stards WILL be judged as will anyone who has a breath in their lungs. I have to say that the idea of putting chips to track plants or id plants does not work the same as dogs because with dogs, they are taken to the pound or humane society to be ID'd first. Plants just taken by a theif would not be brought somewhere to be ID'd so unless you could have a police officer escort you into a suspects domecile and use the laser to ID the plant(s), how likely is that? I think a good idea in order to prevent some theivery would be to organize a neighborhood watch and that way all neighbors are keeping eyes out as well as you so if one neighbor is lying, you would still know. Second of all, please notify EBAY of the orchids you even SUSPECT of being HOT or lifted plants and they will at least keep an eye on the transaction but also notify them and tell them YOUR side of the story- tell them you had orchids stolen and be very specific so that if any items match, ebay can properly monitor and notify you of possible recovery, and do the same with craigslist because if you report the user who is selling those plants and as SHADY as they sound, EBAY should monitor that seller and double check their resources or at the very least hold them up because you can report a seller on ebay and have them reviewed by paypal and/or ebay. keep in mind i am not the brightest person here, but you should check the seller again just to be sure- what if you could recover a plant or 2 or maybe even 8 or 9 out of the 20 or so you lost? I think it is worth it to do all you can in your community and the online community. Also, one last thing you can do is talk to others in your community- see if anyone else has had the same misfortune or if maybe they saw something. you can be your own Nancy Drew and possibly prevent others in your community from having the same misofrtune befall them. Another thing I would do is tell people you filed a police report and the police have done an investigation. Tell them the police have limited their investigation to a few select people and maybe you can make it seem like the pressure is on to catch a theif- check for fishy or shady behavior and maybe scope out anyone you suspect. I think you have one person in mind who is responsible and until you can prove it, the cops will not help. posession is 9/10ths of the law. Maybe you can find out something helpful in any case to prove yourself right or wrong.

I brought back truffle oil, garden seeds, olive oil and wine. Italian seed packets are huge. Also, they add nothing to the weight and bulk of your luggage. The olive oil and wine were from a vineyard/olive grove tour. Four bottles were packaged for travel. Bologna is the main objective for my next trip to Italy. From what I've learned, it has the food I would most enjoy in all of Italy. That should be quite wonderful, since all the food I ate on my trip to the region around Florence was wonderful. For a month after that trip, I tried to duplicate those dishes on a daily basis. I did quite well for a while but now the memory needs refreshing. I need another trip. Mementos to bring home would be a low priority for me. The live experience is what's important -- the meals, the wine, the sights, the creature comforts which are abundant and essential to Italian life. They can't be packaged. The glass and pottery are beautiful though. I would probably shop for one of those serving bowls. Also, Italian shoes are the finest. Have a great trip. Jim

Well, thank you all for the comments. I don't think I really made myself clear, though. Probably because (as Asolo so smartly pointed out) I was kind of wallowing in self pity last evening. I do that. Wish I didn't. But I do. I was not actually asking for a solution. I made promises when I married and I take those very seriously. And I've done the math here for quite a few years. Yes, it's lonesome. No, it's not what I had in mind. It isn't even what I had reason to expect when I married this time. It wasn't like this in the beginning. But I have no intention of leaving. I have a lot invested here - literally. When we married I was the one who had a house and that went a long way toward buying the place we have now. If we split up, so does this place and it's all I have. Half of it isn't enough to keep either of us in rent. I went through one horrific divorce and came out with something (not much but something). But that was southern CA and that's a community property state. This isn't and what we have isn't worth nearly that much. So, for practical reasons alone, I won't leave. My ex is now a millionaire and I will have to work until I drop. (sigh) But I do have a home. It's not fancy or worth a lot of money but it's rural and private and pleasant and I like it. Besides that, I don't hate my husband. Far from it, in fact. I am just very disappointed. And I get very lonely and sad. I guess what I wanted from this post was a bit of encouragement. I read so many posts by women who seem to be in similar situations...I just thought that there might be a bit of comfort. Well...just goes to show, doesn't it? If I knew how to get what I want I wouldn't be in this mess. A few of you seem to have gotten the impression that I am happier alone than when my husband is home. That is not exactly right. I do enjoy the time I spend by myself because I get busy and work in my garden or do some chores around my house. I enjoy that. But not the way I would enjoy an affectionate spouse. I would much prefer to have his company IF I felt that he really wanted to be with me. That is the part that troubles me. He spends so much time elsewhere that it seems to me that he would rather be someplace else than with me during the short times I am home from work. If he doesn't WANT to be with me...well...I don't want to inflict myself on anyone. I only meant that I don't just sit and cry when he isn't around. Or, for that matter, when he is. I make a HUGE effort - usually successful, I think - to be upbeat and positive. I don't complain or pick fights. I try very hard not to give him reasons to want to be elsewhere. And for the short times he is with me he doesn't really seem miserable. He just doesn't treat me like a wife but rather like a roommate or a casual friend. I can only assume that it's enough for him because he is definitely setting the pace here. But it sure leaves me feeling rejected. I do value the (somewhat unexpected) advice you all have given, though. Thank you all for your concern and suggestions. "From what you've written, it seems to me you're living in wishes. This is your life. You've only got one of them. Act. If you don't, you'll be 58 next year and nothing will have changed." Asolo, you are always wise. Not always tactful - go ahead and laugh - but you do cut through the brush. You are quite right. I am living in wishes. And you are right that it's pointless. What I need to do is figure out some way to more fully enjoy the life I have. I don't really expect much change from the outside but maybe I can change what I am wishing for. Still, I think that the desire for a kind word -a hug now and then, I friendly glance, a compliment - is a real human need. If you are fortunate to have those things you probably don't even give them a thought. But imagine for a moment if you didn't have any of them. If the "thank you" at the fast food window was the friendliest thing you would hear all day...might you not even write a pitiful, whiny post online at night hoping for something more? Pathetic? Yes. But understandable, I think.

Hahahah, oh, I'm not all alone after all. I'm always complaining about morning newscasts, "stupid Maggie", or "stuff it Charlie", Or "you big bunch of fakers" in front of my dh. He doesn't comment, just lets me! And that's just the nice things. I'm glad I don't do that to anyone that's not in a TV. They have shown their true colors way to many times, so I don't trust anything they have to say, especially about the government. They're so left they can eat dinner on their a$$. If they could report just the facts, good, bad and inbetween, on the 'stimulus package' as they are, I might be able to digest it all without commentary. I'm preparing to call my congressman, probably Friday.