This gardening/preserving life certainly has taught me a lot about life. It makes me wonder - too - about the changes in climate that I have seen in this part of the world. It's hard for me to believe that "mere man" could be causing these weather changes - but perhaps. We had lots of very cold and rainy weather - mostly winter -so probably good for fruit trees. On the other hand, tomatoes are usually grown in winter in this part of the country, but certainly not in my back yard. I just picked my first cherry tomato yesterday. The vines are running all over the place. With my advancing age, I just decided to let "em" ramble. They probably can find there way - somehow - to see their way clear to burst up through the squash vines - to get a peak of sunlight. Well - finally finishing up the last of the "cots" and picked slightly green - putting them under screens to ripen - not as good as tree ripe, but at least I gave my winged friends the message - somewhat. The next tree will be awhile - thank goodness. Things are beginning to come ripe fast - now that we've had 2 days of sunshine. Crazy weather - I agree. bejay

Oakley: Was it a debit card? I wonder if debit cards have tighter rules. But then again, my ATM won't dispense more than a few hundred at a time. I'm sure the bank would say they don't want big spenders emptying them out and keeping other patrons from getting money. BLFenton: I get your point about building a credit record. But people can -- and do -- overdraft their accounts. Some people are responsible using them; others try to game the system. Banks have built-in mechanisms that allow them to permit the overdraft and then charge the user high fees to cover it. Some users don't even notice the charge part in their card agreement. (How can they not know they don't have enough funds to cover a purchase? One situation: similar to writing a check and thinking the bank has deposited your paycheck already when really it's on hold and hasn't 100% cleared.) Bank of America, not too long ago, settled a case about debit-card overdraft fees for $400million. Card issuers need to make money somehow on these debit cards, which are typically given to you for free with your bank account. Credit-card issuers, at least, can charge an annual fee. That's why Bank of America tried to start that $5 debit card fee.

Depending on where you live in the Midwest, you may not find Michael Angelo's, I've never even heard of it. I've never purchased or eaten frozen lasagna but my son in law likes the Stouffer's. He heats them up in the microwave for a lunch when he's at work or when he's working in the evening. He always has two, one is never enough, but he's a mechanic with his own garage, so his hours are sometimes long and the work is physically demanding. Also, the Midwest is full of something called Gordon Food Service, they're a warehouse type thing that you don't need to be a member to shop at. They provide food to schools, restaurants, etc. Elery says he's gotten lasagna there and it's "OK". You do have to buy large pans of it, though. Annie

I have no problem with mashed potatoes or stuffed baked potato, which is seasoned mashed potatoes in the potato skin. I think that the butter, milk, and cheese keep the potato flesh nice. Potatoes in soup or anything else turn nasty in the freezer. I, also, cook baked potatoes at high heat in the oven, but I will cook only one or two at a time, just what I need for that meal. They are not good left over, even in the frig. If I cook more, it is to make the twice baked stuffed potatoes as a planned leftover/freezer meal.