I feel so conflicted reading this thread. I've been yelled at by a plant vendor... I misread an email about plant availability and my subsequent response was perceived as pushy/insistent/entitled, when really I just completely misunderstood. I tried to immediately follow up and correct it, but my correction wasn't seen. I'm very conflict averse so after I got that super hostile response I was so shocked/hurt/mad I never went back, even though I'd been a loyal customer for years. So, I think we're entitled to our feelings and sometimes just need to walk away. I'm sorry you had to go through that. That said, I think that, when you are collecting rare plants, the situation (for good or evil) is that the vendors have self-selected into the industry due to their love of the plants, not because of their love of business and customer service. And people in small businesses tend to wear a lot of hats and not all are in their strong suits. Sometimes you have a plant vendor who is a super professional organized sweetheart, but usually one of those variables is missing. Generally you have to shoot for "has good plants" + "is honest" and that is a hard enough bar to cross as it is. Your post freaked me out, because at the time I read it (yesterday) I had a VB order sitting behind me unopened, that was shipped during snowy weather and had had to sit in my work office for a week after it arrived, due to an unforeseen event in my travel schedule. I have taken hits of >$200 losses, as has anyone who collects plants (somewhat) seriously. And it is absolutely horrible horrible horrible. I don't think vendors should accept responsibility for transit death. Although a plant replaced here and there can be a good customer relations policy, it's a slippery slope to promise a replacement for every loss unless you are a mega nursery. I definitely think they should remove the "guaranteed" language from their website. "Express shipping in winter is highly recommended and usually successful" ... or "We only ship via express mail in winter" would be more appropriate, and it's language like that that most Hoya vendors use. Can I ask if you are trying to save those Episcias in the picture above? I don't consider myself an expert on Episcias, but it seems like if you put them somewhere humid and warm, like a terrarium, you've got some good stems on them still and they might surprise you and bounce back. My VB order did come through okay this time. I've ordered probably hundreds of plants from VB over the years and some have arrived DOA. I never asked for a credit or replacement because it was such a small percentage that I didn't hold them accountable. The 100% DOA orders I've had have been Hoya orders (from other vendors) and of course part of me was like, "They must have done something wrong/different... why didn't it work this time?!" But then after a few days the rational part of my brain kicked in and I realized that they processed the order like every other order and I just drew the horribly unlucky straw. I try to think of it like how sometimes you go out for drinks with friends and spend a lot of time/money/energy and have 0.0000% fun. I've definitely wasted more money on failed social events than failed plant events. That probably says something about my personality limitations. @xmahini I applaud your attitude. I do think the first few orders you make with specialist vendors can be very rattling, because your expectations are almost always wrong, not quite being an insider yet. But obviously you did the right thing, taking that risk, since your husband ended up very happy. I have to say it's so sweet listening to you praise him for his hobby and skill. He's a lucky man. :)

I have had a lot of dealings with SSL. There is also a very old post somewhere here on gardenweb about SSL. SSL was founded by Dr. Bill Rhoads an Avid heirloom seedsman. It has always been a one man show with limited resources. What started out as a research projesct with a grant to collect seeds and memories of southern appalachia turned into Southern Legacy Seeds. The best asset for me was the annual Seed swap. Some of the best Appalachian seedsman showed to trade stories and seeds. I was named Seed saver of the year several years ago thru SSL and will always cherish that honor. Dr. Rhoads passed away rather quickly after being diagnosed with cancer March of 2010. Jim Veteto a former student and administrator of SSL completed his Doctorial degree in Anthropology and had hope to stay in the SouthEast but was offered a Job in Texas. Since he helped run SSL in the past it was a perfect match for him to carry on SSl after Dr. Rhoads. So SSL is alive and well but in Tex. There will no longer be a Ga. Seed swap but Jim states the seed swap will contine. I believe they have various levels for donations to support this nonprofit seed bank. And for the donation you have access to the many seeds that are maintained. I know they list everything that has been donated many of the items from myself , but not all are always in sufficent supply to give out. The only catch for access to the seed bank is that you grow out the seed keep 1/3 for yourself return 1/3 to the seed bank and PASS along to others the other 1/3. Please remember that when you request seed that it needs to be grown to maintain purity so that the next person also receives the same seed not some crossed mess. If you just want some unuasual vegetable there are plenty of commercial resources out there. If your intersted in Heirloom Varieties that are non commercial then Seed savers Exchange is a great organization an resource. Or give me your wants I have hundreds of varieties of beans and other rare heirlooms that I will share for the cost set forth by Seed Savers Exchange. If you want to help a grass roots movement that banks southern Appalachian seeds then I would recommend Southern Legacy Seeds.Rodger

I had an ablation about 6 years ago. I had previously had surgery to remove a couple of fibroids and that helped considerably, but a year later I was still having bleeding issues and I had the ablation. (my doctor had suggested it at the time of the fibroid removal, but I didn't want to do them both at the same time). My periods didn't stop, but I discovered Light tampons, and only needed about 5 of them a month. I haven't heard of women having hormonal problems after ablation. I certainly didn't have any problems with my procedure, which was done with the balloon method. I had cramping for less than 12 hours, then felt fine. You do need to use birth control, because you can conceive, but there is no where for the embryo to implant without the lining, so a pregnancy could be dangerous. I think that it's important to know why you are having bleeding problems. For example,if you have fibroids like I did, an ablation isn't going to remove the underlying problem.

I too was afraid it would be depressing, but I came away with a feeing that if the warning signs are there and if (a big "if") you are cognizant of what is happening, you can control to a certain degree the progression. I don't want to spoil it for those that might read it, but putting myself in her situation, I was more disturbed by the ending then the progresion of the disease. My mother and my mother-in-law both had Alzheimers. One enjoyed smoking, an occasional cocktail, loved deserts and thought exercise was walking to the mailbox. The other one ate salads, climbed mountains, didn't smoke and drank red wine. Both showed symtoms when they reached 80. Go figure. The transition of reality to the state of confusion or lack of reality was the most difficult for them and heart-rending to watch. Then once they had made the full transition, it was harder on those of us left behind. It is a dark subject, but I could identify with Alice's need to control and despaired that things couldn't play out as she intended. I too would want to leave notes to myself. Would you?