the articles pertained to perchlorates... In 2002,the EPA rcommended regulation of perchlorates in drinking water at 1ppb base on a rat study involving 3000 mother,pups,and fetal rats where abnormalities in brain development,thyroid and hormone output were found at low exposure: (0.01 milligrams /kilogram rat body wt.)The 1ppb assessment also considered risk to babies and other sources of perchlorate contaminants:vegetables,fruits,some dairy products and breast milk...Critics argued that the study design was flawed and the National Research Council stated that the rat study was inconclusive and recommended 24ppb standard for drinking water. __________________________________________ (2002)(WSJ) Peter Waldman articles on perchlorates can be found at http://www.mindfully.org/ (left margin)>pesticides/toxins/endocrine disruptors>>2002; Perchlorates and Perchlorate Salts:EPA site http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/1007.htm some debate--letters to the editors:(Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology: 40(2004)...having difficulty linking directly....will try again later... see EWG for some updates...

Hi Everyone - can't believe it but I have finished digging the garden, laid gravel along the outside of the fence along its edge (area was full of weedy grass 3 years ago - I took an AXE to get most of it out - it was embedded in clay/gravel/builder rubbish - been weed killing the area last year and finally felt I was beating the weeds/grass so I could haul the gravel to tidy up the area. Have also finished the second coat on the kitchen walls - still have a second coat needed on the plaster ceiling. Rushed to get this done before DH returns home Friday morning. The bottoms of my feet hurt. Tomorrow - back to work - also my grass is poking through the front lawn where I top dressed and put more grass seed. Rain tomorrow and for the next few days! Even got a few more plants in the garden, put up trellis and will vacuum tonight and then collapse in a nice, soaking bath. Meals have been very, very erratic and NOT ON PLAN - but I have more aching muscles this week from heavy yard/house work that it feels something everywhere, everytime I move. Looking forward to settling back into routine and just doing my stepping machine for exercise. Kathy, will take you up on that offer of heat - what is heat to you?? I consider anything at 80 degrees and up. Our friends are moving into a newly build house in Oct/Nov. I have been invited to help them with their garden. Will be splitting some of my plants and shifting them across. Also teaching their daughters a little about taking care of plants too. Have also managed to get a couple of cook ahead meals in the pressure cooker and oven before sitting down to eat. I think I am missing DH - not good at sitting still for any length of time - have to keep busy and doing things. Take care everyone! Have to get a few things put away and get my bath running! McPeg

WOW!! This is great you are over the hump!! I went online and put in my city,state and Red Hat Society and came up with 27 groups in my area. Over half are taking no new members. Four of them had websites so I lurked at them~~I found one that has two ladies from my quilt guild in it, one is even he Queen (what is that??) In fact I went to her 60th b-day party a few months ago and always sit with her at the guild meetings. Maybe if I chat with her they may consider letting me in:) BUT with so many how do you find one that is a good fit?? I would hate to join one and find out later I do not get along so well with the gals:( WC how do you choose a RHatter group????

Over 10 years ago I had to have a double mastectomy. When they originally went in there were not sure if it was cancer-turned out both breasts were completely full of pre-cancer. They removed all of the tissue (left my nipples-but scraped them). I had a friend who had also had to have this done and 2 year later she died from cancer of the ovaries. When I met my husband (we've been married less than 2 years) I was having problems with them leaking-common after about 10 years, and knew they would have to be replaced. WE married and he picked the surgeon (works with surgeons so said he knew the best). I had the surgery and I feel they look and feel better. This was a year ago this month. The only comments he has EVER made are painful. Such as; well you know you have a dent in this side, they are not the same side, they should have more projection, he should have done this... I think he could have done better....never one kind loving word. I have cried and cried and begged him for one kind word. Never. I have even explained to him that if he could look at me through the eyes of love maybe he would be able to say some thing nice. I know in the past relationships he had breasts are a biggie for him-bit I guess I didn't realize how big. I now cannot find it within my soul to have a physical relationship with him. Because when he does touch me (not very often) it just reminds me of what he has said and how he reacts to me when he walks in and I have my bra off. I feel ugly and hurt. Today he just left mad-because he says he doesn't understand why I don't want to have a physical relationship-after I explained to him how I feel and said I only think about MY feelings. Am I being unfair. Should I work at displacing my pain -what to do? I feel like I am old and ugly and just an object to take care of a need when he has one. (which is maybe once a month and it didn't start out that way)...what to do or think? Any thought's...