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• Published! -- KatRose, Monday, October 30, 9:39:35 [10]
  I shot an event a week ago Saturday (Oct 21) and the pix ended up being used by a local paper!! It's not the LA Times, but I'm tickled nonetheless. :-)
  
  Come inside to see.
  

  
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  • Inside please -- KatRose, Monday, October 30, 9:41:02
    • Good for you!! (NT) -- AmyLynn, Monday, October 30, 11:07:33
    • Good for you! Nice work. It looks like it would have been a pleasant event to photograph. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, October 30, 11:12:49
    • It's great to see a friend published. Good work, Kat! (NT) -- judy, Monday, October 30, 12:17:13
    • Great going Kat!! :) (NT) -- Kathleen, Tuesday, October 31, 5:40:28
    • Congrats Kat! I'm happy for you! (NT) -- Shaz, Wednesday, November 01, 17:12:58
    • Congrats to you Kat! (NT) -- Heather--- catching up on BFZ times (dam activeX), Monday, November 06, 7:10:05
  • Congratulations, Kat. The pictures are wonderful. (NT) -- abrah, Monday, October 30, 19:50:15
  • Gosh see what happens when you miss a few days????? Congrats Buddy! You've earned the recognition! (NT) -- Jennifer, Tuesday, October 31, 15:17:12

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• Question for some of you computer addicts -- Ninja_Girl, Sunday, November 05, 16:39:52 [1]
  Does anybody know anything about printers?? Like does the prompt "Pen failure" mean your printer just died? It's an inexpensive HP Deskjet.
  
  It has been giving trouble for a week or more, but the cure was to take out the ink cartridges and put them back in. Once the printer told me to perform an alignment, which I did. It worked for a couple of printings. Then I realized the printers' contacts were dirty where they sit against the cartridges' contacts. I cleaned them. Now the printer won't do anything but throw up the "Pen failure" prompt and flash its on/off light constantly. It has been flashing for 2 days now - if you unplug it, it starts flashing again when plugged back in.
  
  Any solutions (other than getting a new one at WalMart where this one came from)???
  

  
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• Are You an Internet Addict? -- KatRose, Friday, November 03, 12:20:09 [4]
  I found this article and thought it worthy of sharing. I doubt any of us fall into the "addict" category, but I know that a few of the symptoms do look a little familiar. :-)
  
  ~~~~~~~~~
  
  Are You an Internet Addict?
  Fri Nov 3, 2006 7:58AM EST
  
  I was reading through an AFP report on Yahoo! News that says Serbia is now treating people with Internet addictions. This counseling center considers anyone who is not interested in daily activities with family and friends as a potential Internet addict and looks for other signs such as spending prolonged hours online, turning to virtual friends, and isolation. I'm not sure exactly how they treat Internet addiction, but they say treatment usually lasts one year.
  
  After reading this, I headed over to Net Addiction and took an Internet Addiction Test (IAT) that told me my Internet usage is causing occasional problems in my life. I won't take that test too seriously because my occupation requires me to be online a lot of the time. However, I will keep that in mind next time I choose surfing the web over, er, household chores. Can you blame me?
  
  Internet addiction can be harmful for those who delve into the darker side of the web, such as online gambling, cybersex, online affairs, and online gaming. But how do you know when you or someone you love is addicted to the Internet? When is it time to pull the plug and seek treatment?
  
  Here's a list of common symptoms to watch out for:
  
  1. Lying about how much time is spent online.
  2. General decrease of physical activity and social life.
  3. Neglecting obligations at home, work, or school to spend time online.
  4. Spending too much money on computer equipment or Internet activities.
  5. Feeling a constant desire to be online when they're away from the computer.
  6. Going online to escape real world problems.
  7. Disregarding the emotional or physical consequences of being in front of a computer all day.
  8. Denial of the problem.
  
  There is much debate about the reality of Internet addiction. The bottom line is that anything can be harmful when abused. If you find yourself spending more time online than with real people, then plan for some quality time with the family or friends every other day. Find an activity the whole family enjoys and make a date with them.
  
  I personally disconnect completely every weekend and get out of the house so I'm not tempted to check email. I also have movie nights and "Lost" nights during the week, which are a great excuse to turn off the computer. Different things work for different people, so just find something you enjoy and don't hesitate to shut the computer off.
  
  What do you do to escape cyberspace?
  

  
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  • I'm only addicted when I have somnething listed on eBay (I have a great item going up tonight LOL) and I just HAVE to check how many hits and watchers I have. (NT) -- Shaz, Friday, November 03, 13:52:53
    • The addiction has begun! I just posted my friend's item 30 minutes ago and it has already has 6 hits! Please keep you fingers crossed! (NT) -- Shaz, Saturday, November 04, 16:28:26
  • Now that I am working part time outside the home, I have much less time to "linger" on the puter. I tend to be a food network addict. Hubby, at times, seems addicted, since he spends a couple of hours a night on it. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Saturday, November 04, 6:00:32

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• Cardinals Win! -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, October 30, 11:28:09 [4]
  At the risk of upsetting any fans of the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, or Detroit Tigers, my St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series Friday night, on home turf at that! This is the 4th Series win during my lifetime and 10th in team history, and it's fun.
  
  They weren't consistent and sometimes not particularly good all season, plagued constantly by injuries and physical problems, but somehow the players who weren't out for the season recovered just in time for the post-season. And the rookies improved to major league level by then. It wasn't pretty, and truthfully we got real lucky sometimes with Detroit, but we won. The World Series wasn't nearly the fine set of games as the League Championship Series with the Mets the week earlier.
  
  It's not like this in all places, I know, but baseball is still supreme in St. Louis and Cardinal Nation of which I am a longtime citizen and right now a happy one. Never thought it could happen this year.
  

  
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  • Congrats to the Cardinals! Here in Lakeland is Tiger Country, because they spring train here. And back in the day, they were the only baseball around, so a lot of the city is Tiger fanatics. I secretly wished they would lose, because it's all my boss talked about for months, about how good the Tigers were doing. (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Tuesday, October 31, 9:12:02
    • Tigers fans are great people. They've put up with a lot for a long time, so they have good reason to be happy with the team's turnaround this year. It was just short of miraculous. I myself rooted for them through the playoffs and loved to watch them play, and the coach Jim Leyland is such a class act. Now that I don't have to pay so much attention to the public school schedule, I want to come to Florida one March and make the spring training rounds, starting in Jupiter with the Cardinals. Maybe I can look you up! (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, October 31, 9:40:58
      • Absolutely you can, NG! I'd love to meet you! (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Thursday, November 02, 12:40:13

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• New shows win extra eps -- KatRose, Friday, October 27, 9:10:52 [3]
  Daily Variety
  October 27, 2006
  
  Nets order 2nd helping
  Alphabet extends lifeline to trio of new skeins
  By JOSEF ADALIAN
  ABC has ordered more scripts for the Ted Danson laffer 'Help Me Help You.'
  
  ABC has delivered some positive news to a trio of its frosh shows, ordering extra scripts of laffer "Help Me Help You" and dramas "Men in Trees" and "The Nine."
  
  Also getting a temporary lifeline: Aaron Sorkin's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," which has snagged a three-script extension from NBC. Deadline is nearing for Peacock brass to decide whether to greenlight additional episodes of the skein.
  
  Save for Ted Danson starrer "Help Me Help You," which is produced by Regency Television, all the extra script orders confirmed Thursday were for Warner Bros. TV projects.
  
  WBTV has also snagged an order for an extra episode of its longrunning NBC hit "ER." Skein, from John Wells Prods., will produce 25 segs this season.
  
  Meanwhile, ABC also confirmed Thursday that the WBTV-produced "Traveler," which had been given a 13-episode midseason order, will instead produce eight episodes (including the pilot) for its first cycle.
  
  Alphabet decided it only had room on its spring schedule for an eight-episode arc of the skein, and asked WBTV to produce five fewer segs. Because of the serialized nature of the skein, ABC wanted to give producers a chance to wrap up storylines for the first season, rather than leaving viewers hanging in the event the show doesn't make it to a second season.
  
  Two past ABC success stories -- "George Lopez" and "Grey's Anatomy" -- became hits after abbreviated spring runs. And another ABC midseason skein, "Day Break," had its first season capped at 13 episodes in order to ensure a resolution to the season one story arc.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  For those that have short memory spans (ME! LOL), "Traveler" is the new Steven Culp series.
  

  
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  • So they're getting eight episodes to "make it?" Seems like rather a short time to hook an audience. But I suppose that for a serialized drama you hook an audience right away or not al all. If it's good, that will hopefully be enough to get them a second shot in the fall. anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing Steven again. I've really missed him on Desperate Housewives. (NT) -- judy, Friday, October 27, 23:17:20
    • A good friend is a big Desperate Housewives fan but had not watched JAG. When she was bemoaning the loss of SC's character, I told her not to be surprised if he showed back up since he "died" at last twice, if not three times, on JAG. His character has had surprising ability to resurrect itself. (I don't watch Desperate Housewives.) (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, October 28, 8:31:57

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• The death penalty-- So why now? -- Heather---, Thursday, October 19, 8:41:12 [21]
  As some of has probably heard, a cop was shot this week in Manchester. (see www.wmur.com for all the details)
  
  The DA wants to go for the death penalty. I can understand this. But why now? Just because it's a cop?
  
  With the other "killings" that take place, the death penalty is rarely saught. The red-head that barbue-qued a guy recently is not up for lethal injections. So again I ask why now?
  
  My cousin was killed in the line of duty back in 1994... some say the death sentence was carried out that day and my cousin's shoot was "swiss cheesed."
  
  I personally am for the death penalty. As the bible states (translation in very loose form)... due unto others as they undo to you.
  
  So again, why now? If one kills, shouldn't they be killed themselves, regardless if it is a cop or J Q Public? Who you kill should not make you privy or exepmt for that matter from certain penalties.
  
  Look how many states have the death penalty and I think FL is the only one that carries out. This cop is not the first in NH to be killed and the way society is going, he's not the last either.
  
  So why now and where do you stand?
  

  
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  • Heather, I can understand your problem with thinking there's a double standard if the victim was a police officer, but I belive that's because of the position a policy officer has in society. They are there to protect the citizens and to help keep order in society, and as such, some feel the need to be harsher fora cop killer. I know I'm niot expressing myself too well. -- Kathleen, Thursday, October 19, 10:13:03
  • Regardless of one's own views on the death penalty, I think the thought process behind giving stiffer sentences - up to and including the death penalty - for crimes perpetrated against law enforcement is because if there's a lack of respect for the men and women who are asked to protect the rest of us, how much worse would it be for the rest of us. (I hope that sentence made sense). Come inside for my take on this. -- KatRose, Thursday, October 19, 10:51:49
    • IMO, one of the big problems with prison is it is too comfortable. On the inside they get decent food, clean clothes and a place to sleep, plus free medical and dental care, tv, internet, etc. Many criminals cannot handle being on the outside. They are supposed to be there to be punished, but that's not happening. I like the idea of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's tent city jail and chain gangs. Make jail an uncomfortable situation. Make the inmates work! Make a public spectacle of the kids who get in trouble instead of slapping them on the hand. Let the punishment fit the crime. (NT) -- Shaz, Thursday, October 19, 18:03:55
      • I was just going to mention Mariposa County jail. Sheriff Arpaio has the right idea. (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Friday, October 20, 8:27:25
      • One of my hubbies goonie friends... purposely gets arrested just before the winter so he can get the free roof at the Billerica House...domething minor but would violate some probation so he's got a warm bed for the cold NE winter (NT) -- Heather, Saturday, October 21, 10:19:59
  • We had a deputy and his k-9 killed here in Lakeland a few weeks ago. A man who was stopped for speeding shot the deputy and his dog, then went back to get the deputy's gun and shot him behind the ear after he was already down. Now if that isn't cold-blooded, I don't know what is. We had over 500 law enforcement from all over the state looking for this man. He shot and wounded another deputy and shot at two others. He hid in the woods until the next morning when SWAT went in to comb the area. They found the man, told him to raise his hands, and he only raised one. They told him again to raise both hands, and he lifted the deputy's gun up in the other hand. 110 shots were fired, hitting the suspect 68 times. Some people would say that was overkill, but this piece of scum chose his fate. They gave him a choice. He chose the quick way out. Saved the taxpayers, friends and family of the deputy a lot of heartache having to pay for his incarceration. Read inside... -- Ryne's Mom, Thursday, October 19, 12:44:23
    • That's a pretty powerful letter. I don't disagree with any of the sentiments stated within. (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, October 19, 14:28:48
      • Agreed! (NT) -- Shaz, Thursday, October 19, 18:08:32
        • Sorry about the earlier rant. I guess I just needed an outlet. (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Friday, October 20, 6:21:40
          • What rant? I saw a post that was written with passion. Nothing wrong with that. (NT) -- KatRose, Friday, October 20, 13:14:25
            • I saw no rant either....this issue is one is a tough one, there is no gray with it. I'm pro-capital punishment...maybe that's because my Mom's bestfriend was murdered 30 years ago, leaving behind her husband & two children under the age of 9....don't know....I agree with the sentiments above about the Arizona Sheriff, & prisons should be like this, not the country clubs that they are....Inside for the rest.... -- Jennifer, Friday, October 20, 13:39:23
              • Thanks girls. The letter I posted earlier was in the paper Sunday as 3/4 page ad paid for by friends and colleagues (including myself). (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, October 23, 6:16:43
    • A few years ago Missouri and Texas were about equal in carrying out death sentences, and death row cleared out considerably. Lethal injections are on hold at the moment because this year a guy got a stay on his execution a couple of days before it was to happen and has tied it up in court ever since. If I remember correctly, his claim is that one of the drugs in the sequence may not eliminate the pain involved, and he may feel it, creating cruel and unusual punishment. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Friday, October 20, 17:40:09
      • Cuel punishment my BUTT... you kill a man, you got it coming to you as far as I care.... there should be no 10 year appeals. I say this alot, what happened to the old days of sentence and hang within a week! (NT) -- Heather, Saturday, October 21, 10:23:11
        • This will be long so come inside. -- Beth, Sunday, October 22, 8:19:04
      • Beth, sorry we are tying up Ohio's system, too. It makes you wonder when these folks got so concerned about inflicting pain; I guess it's different if it's you who's hurting. The guy in Missouri, IMHO, is a pawn for the anti-capital punishment people. If it doesn't work for him, there is a line of death row people waiting to sue, too, so this could go on for years. They may die, but it will be of old age in prison. There was a federal court ruling about this last week - go to http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2006/oct/20061017news021.asp . Another problem is that a ruling this summer said that a board-certified anesthesiologist must take part, and the state medical association is asking its doctor members to stay clear: http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2006/aug/20060807news014.asp . We may have to uncrate Missouri's version of Florida's Old Sparky, which I remember lethal injection being introduced several years ago to be less cruel. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, October 23, 7:04:36
        • Justice has been served in Ohio. Jeffrey Lundgren was executed at 10:00 AM today. I hope his victims can now rest in peace. (NT) -- Beth, Tuesday, October 24, 16:22:30
    • I"m right with you... Inside -- Heather, Saturday, October 21, 14:51:42
      • There's a guy from here, convicted of murder and sentenced to death for the third time in late summer, who probably will live out his life in the state penitentiary because of the automatic appeal provided by a death sentence. He is very low i.q., which has been the defense used by his lawyers, and in the early 1990s got high on crack, robbed a convenience store as it was closing and killed the 3 workers in an unbelievably cruel way. They let him in at closing because he was a frequent customer and likeable guy when not high. He is locked in this circle of automatic appeals, and I expect it to go on forever. The prosecutors ought to go for life in prison, which would end it, but the crime was so heinous that I guess it just doesn't fit. Every time it comes back up, the 3 victims' families are dragged through the memories again, get the conviction, and know it's not the end of it. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, October 23, 7:23:43
  • Inside............I know I'll be long-winded -- Texasbrat, Monday, October 23, 10:58:37

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• Since we've been on the subject of criminal sentences -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, October 23, 14:59:55 [3]
  An acquaintance has helped me become aware of the difficulty many ex-prisoners have when they start trying to find work. Depending on their offense, they are automatically eliminated from many types of work, which of course makes sense but is difficult nonetheless. This woman's brother served 5 or so years for an assault and almost never found a job. While in jail he got off dope and did well in rehabilitation. When he got out, he found no opportunities and closed doors about everywhere he went. A relative finally hired him, he got some experience he could use on future job applications, and made some money. It doesn't always work out so well and might explain why a lot of these folks backslide.
  
  This is a problem I have no answers for, and I'm not sure I would want to hire the guy either, but knowing this woman has raised my awareness of the problems a lot of people face after leaving prison. I'm curious about your experiences or opinions.
  

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  • Oh for Pete's Sake.......Voy says I have a big mouth.........inside -- Texasbrat, Monday, October 23, 15:45:15
    • I've worked with prisoners.... -- Heather, Monday, October 23, 16:22:46

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• World according to... -- Heather..., Tuesday, October 17, 10:06:59 [7]
  Okay... so you got a boo-boo. You go to the doctor and show them it hurts when you do this. You poke the sore spot and he says "then don't poke it and it won't hurt. That's $300 please."
  
  Now I went to the doc yesterday for belly pain. Told him I thought it was a blown cyst and it's killing me! What does he do, POKE IT...
  
  They say don't poke it and what do they do POKE IT!
  
  By the way I was right on my own diagnosis, anitbiotics and pain killers later... oh and the "thanks God I got health insurnance" bill that followed!
  

  
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  • Ouch and I hope things get better soon. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, October 17, 13:43:53
  • Owie! I hope you feel better soon! (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Wednesday, October 18, 13:14:51
  • Don't you just hate when you tell the doctor what's wrong and they torture you to tell you the same thing you said? I hope you're feeling better soon. (NT) -- Shaz, Wednesday, October 18, 18:57:43
  • Glad you're doing better. I hear that doctors usually make terrible patients; maybe they're paranoid because of all the pain they've inflicted, intentionally or accidentally, on their patients throughout the years. Even with all the $$, poking, prodding, etc., don't you wonder what people did before the days of medical help? I guess they just suffered or used home remedies passed from one generation to the next. I for one am glad I live after the invention of the aspirin, as basic as it is. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, October 19, 5:43:27
    • Not having insurance or the $$ to see a doctor, I just suck it up, suffer through it and use home remedies passed down through the generations. The only time I see a doctor is when I HAVE to have medication (i.e. antibiotics, tetanus shot, etc). (NT) -- Shaz, Thursday, October 19, 7:09:18
      • I hear you. I've got to be at death's door before going to the doctor. I pretty much do the same things as you when sick but really am thankful for medical advances and that there are over-the-counter drugs and painkillers, and antibiotics when those can't help. If I had lived in 1900 I wouldn't have survived childbirth due to some surprise problems at delivery, and I would have died of an aggressive infection if I had lived as recently as about 1940 before penicillin and antibiotics that followed. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, October 19, 13:13:14

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• Gas prices - surprise, surprise, for once I got lucky -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, October 17, 2:33:18 [3]
  I heard on the news yesterday that Missouri currently has the lowest average gas prices in the country, under $2/gal. Here it is $1.99 and has been that price for about a month with a few days when it bounced up to $2.09. How is it where you are?
  
  In my book, $1.99 is still not cheap, but I'll take it. One reason it's lower than most is that the state always has prided itself on our low tax on gasoline, the reasoning being that it keeps travelers and truckers coming through and stopping here for fuel rather than in any of the 8 states around our borders. Of course that tax also builds and maintains roads and bridges, so you wonder if it's such a great idea to keep it so low. We also don't have toll roads.
  

  
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  • Ours is currently bouncing from $2.02 up to $2.05, but the news said that B'ham is now under $2/gal. Just got back from Texas (yes, there is a story there) & it was as low as $1.95 & as high as $2.45(that was in Vicksburg). I say "Oh look $1.95 gas", Hubby says "Oh look, I'm past the exit & the next one isn't for 5 miles". (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, October 17, 10:54:04
  • My local station is selling gas for low price of $2.51! LOL (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, October 17, 14:10:21

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• Shaz, just remember.................. -- Texasbrat, Friday, October 06, 15:40:48 [5]
  
  
  as you juggle flights, planes, airports, and autos to get out to your Mom ----
  
  You are in our thoughts and prayers. I hope you get a flight, car, & hotel, and are able to see Mom.
  
  When you get a moment, amongst the mayhem, drop us a line to let us know how things are going, or at least that you made it there.
  
  Have a safe flight,
  
  TB
  

  
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  • Thanks TB! It has been an absolutely horrible experience that I hope none of you ever have to go through! (NT) -- Shaz, Wednesday, October 11, 9:16:32
    • I'm sorry you're having such a hard time right now. I hope you know we're here - on the board or in e-mail - if you need us. Take care. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, October 11, 14:39:25
    • You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. I'm so sorry for the situation; at best what you're dealing with is a nightmare. Take care of yourself. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Wednesday, October 11, 14:45:25
  • Shaz, you and your family are in my prayers. All the best to you. Hang in there. (NT) -- Kathleen, Thursday, October 12, 17:41:08

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• Chai tea mix -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, October 09, 8:19:12 [5]
  Not intending to turn this board into a recipe column, but since I spend a lot of time with food related to my part-time business, I see a lot of recipes. When we were on the topic of tea several weeks back, the subject of chai tea, specifically decaffeinated, came up. Look inside for a recipe I have found that is good and best of all - EASY. Hope you find it useful.
  

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  • Inside for recipe - -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, October 09, 8:29:17
    • This looks really good but I cant have dairy...what if I left out the dry milk and added regular non dairy creamer??? (NT) -- jagglebelle, Monday, October 09, 15:55:07
      • Surely it would work. You would have the super-creamy version, but I'll bet it would be good! If you are adventurous and try it, you might use plain creamer as the dry milk substitute. More French vanilla flavor might be too much. I'll be curious about the results. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, October 10, 6:36:14
        • I would definately use the plain creamer....I agree the other would be too much flavor! Im going out of town for a few days but when I try it out I will let you know how it tastes! (NT) -- jagglebelle, Tuesday, October 10, 7:14:24

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• SSHHHH..........................don't tell anybody, but -- Texasbrat, Thursday, September 28, 11:29:10 [16]
  
  My local gas station just dropped the price of regular unleaded from $2.21/gal, to $2.19. YIPP.....oh, sorry, don't want to break the spell.
  
  Hubby said he saw a blurb where some place in Dallas had gas for $1.79/gal.
  
  His diesel has come down to $2.59/gal.
  
  What about everyone else, are you seeing prices drop?
  

  
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  • I was so excited a few weeks ago when it dropped to $2.99 and then a week later $2.91. Just before I went to see Jen it was down to $2.78 and now it's sitting around $2.71. I'd be surprised if L.A. ever saw anything under $2.50 again, but I still keep hoping. :-D (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, September 28, 11:33:27
  • $1.99 for a week now. It's $1.79 other places in Missouri, and I won't be surprised if it goes down here pretty soon. Yippee! (never thought I could get excited about 1.99 gas) (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, September 28, 12:09:23
    • Dang!! I was excited to see $2.09 here in Ohio. Guess you and Jen have us beat (NT) -- Beth, Thursday, September 28, 15:44:32
      • Of course, the next day, it's up to $2.19. Knew we wouldn't get below $2 again. (NT) -- Beth, Friday, September 29, 17:50:08
  • It's $2.02 here Yippee!!! Now why couldn't it of been that the weekend Kat was here & I had to fill the boat & the truck up??? LOL! I too am hoping for below 2 bucks by the weekend! (NT) -- Jennifer, Thursday, September 28, 12:12:50
  • It's down to $2.62 in my neck of the woods. Gee, wish it would go down to what some of you guys are paying. :) (NT) -- Kathleen, Friday, September 29, 5:45:55
  • $2.16 for SAM's Club... 2.29ish everywhere else... Diesel is 2.69..... Glad I didn't lock in on winter oil rates! (NT) -- Heather, Tuesday, October 03, 7:18:31
    • Hah! It was 1.99 at Wally World on Sunday! Yippee!!! Let's see how long it lasts :) (NT) -- Jennifer, Tuesday, October 03, 8:56:43
      • Well, alrighty little Miss Smarty -- ours is down to $2.11/gal, diesel is $2.53/gal. Heard it was in the $1.89 range in Texas & we're headed that way next week when the kids are out for fall break. If I could make the emotiy thingys work, I'd do something appropriate. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, October 03, 10:13:23
        • Oops, forgot, I locked in propane at $1.94/gal, but if the price goes down, my cost goes down with it, I just don't have to pay more than $1.94/gal til next summer. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, October 03, 10:15:14
          • Ours is down to $2.65. Not bad for the state with the historically highest prices. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, October 03, 10:41:59
      • Still $1.99 here. Cheaper in southern Missouri. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, October 03, 11:36:55
  • Our gas went up yesterday by 12 cents - now $2.11/gal. For some reason it went up 20 cents in Kansas City earlier in the week. I hear OPEC is pressuring members to cut back production, the effect being to lessen supply and raise the price. Don't ya love 'em?? (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Friday, October 06, 7:39:52
    • That was my thought too NG...of course they are going to cut back production, BIG OIL is probably pressuring for this to happen cause they are mad that their 30 billion dollar profits are going to shrink cause GASP gas prices have fallen below 2 bucks. Heaven forbid the consumers get any kind of break, I knew this was going to happen after I read where the price of a barrel fell below 60 bucks, I was like "okay what are they going to do now to get prices back up" & the next day comes OPEC's announcement. Surprise Surprise Surprise...NOT! I really wish something could be done..you knew as soon as the prices started falling BIG OIL would come up with something to stop it. Congratulations, you'll keep your 30 billion in profits. What a crock! (NT) -- Jennifer, Friday, October 06, 9:37:37
  • News flash - Sat., 10/7 - gas back down to $1.99. Go figure. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Sunday, October 08, 13:20:19

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• Those IMs Aren't as Private as You Think -- KatRose, Friday, October 06, 15:18:55 [1]
  Working Life
  Those IMs Aren't as Private as You Think
  The Wall Street Journal Online
  By Amol Sharma and Jessica E. Vascellaro
  
  Recent Scandals Highlight Ways Instant Messages Can Haunt You; Disabling Google's Auto Save
  
  It's already a workplace maxim that employees should be careful what they say in their emails from company computers. But fewer office workers know to apply caution to their use of instant-messaging services.
  
  These immensely popular computer programs, which let users exchange short text messages with online buddies in real time, are no haven for private chatter. Companies and government agencies can monitor and log IM conversations conducted on company-network computers. And though it seems that IM conversations disappear into a cyber-vacuum when a session is over, that isn't always true.
  
  Two scandals currently dominating the headlines highlight the risks. In the past week, instant messaging came back to haunt former Republican congressman Mark Foley of Florida. He resigned abruptly when he was confronted with his emails to a young Capitol Hill page, which showed a member of Congress taking an unusual -- and perhaps disturbingly close -- interest in a subordinate. But the most damning revelations came from his sexually explicit IM sessions with several pages.
  
  Mr. Foley sent emails to pages from an AOL email account with the screen name "Maf54," and he used the same ID for chats on AOL's AIM instant-messaging service, says a person familiar with the matter. The pages were most likely AIM users as well, though it is possible on AIM to write to users of Apple Inc.'s iChat software. It's unclear how those IMs were saved. If they were using AIM, congressional pages could have saved sessions on their computers or copied and pasted them into separate files that could be printed or emailed.
  
  And Hewlett-Packard Co.'s leak-investigation scandal, though it has centered on the use of "pretexting" to obtain phone records of journalists and board directors, also involves IMs. H-P tracked the instant-message communications between a company spokesman and a Wall Street Journal reporter.
  
  Most companies are just beginning to wake up to the popularity of IM in the workplace. While more than a third of employees use instant-messaging services at work, only 31% of organizations have policies in place that specifically restrict the use of IM, according to a survey on workplace monitoring by the American Management Association and the ePolicy Institute. But the issue has caught the attention of leading industries. The National Association of Securities Dealers requires member firms to "supervise" the use of instant messaging the same way they do written and electronic communications and to retain electronic copies of instant messages for at least three years.
  
  The survey found that only 13% of companies have started logging IM records, but the crackdown is starting to take effect: About 2% of employers have fired employees for something they said over IM. By comparison, the study said, 26% of companies have terminated employees for misuse of email.
  
  There are several ways users can save IM sessions. Google Inc.'s Google Talk instant-messaging service automatically saves the chat sessions of users that have signed in with Gmail email accounts. Users of Google Talk can disable the setting or choose to go "off the record" during a particular session if they want to avoid having it saved. Other instant-messaging services, such as AOL's AIM, Yahoo Inc.'s Yahoo Messenger, and Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Live Messenger, don't store conversations on their servers automatically. But they do offer various tools for companies and individuals to log conversations. Users can save an IM session by using a built-in save feature or by copying it into another file.
  
  Some of the instant-messaging services are trying to expand their current offerings to give businesses more tools for tracking their employees. AIM Pro, a new free version of AIM for businesses and individual at-work users, is, by default, set to archive conversations on a local hard drive for 14 days, although the feature can be extended and turned off. A more robust fee-based version, WebEx AIM Pro Business Edition, will store all of a company's IM conversations on servers hosted at WebEx and can block messages that contain certain keywords from being sent at all.
  
  Microsoft's Live Communications server allows companies' information-technology departments to log and search employees' IM conversations, including those conducted on other easily available consumer instant-messaging services like Yahoo and AOL.
  
  On top of that, some companies are also purchasing separate hardware that can trace and block IM conversations companywide or set rules for particular employees. One appliance, offered by San Diego-based Akonix Systems Inc., tracks the traffic that goes through a company's firewall, scans it and logs it for compliance and liability issues at a starting cost of around $5,000 plus $20 to $70 per employee. Companies also could read employees' IMs by using key-tracking software and programs that capture what appears on employees' screens at a given moment.
  
  World-wide, the corporate-messaging-software market hit $2.5 billion in 2005 and will climb to $3.3 billion by 2009, according to the Radicati Group Inc., a Palo Alto technology market-research firm.
  
  Gregg Lemley, a labor and employment attorney with Bryan Cave LLP, said instant-messaging sessions are joining email and other company records as an important element in cases dealing with everything from sexual and racial harassment to violations of noncompete agreements. "Most employers now have a firm-wide policy that says what you do on your computer and in your internal emails isn't subject to a privacy right," Mr. Lemley said.
  
  Still, he said, employers would be smart to expand their internal communications policies to make specific reference to instant messaging, explaining what it can and can't be used for, to insulate them from privacy lawsuits.
  
  As for whether the government can subpoena instant-messaging records, as it does with emails, Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said the law isn't so clear, because emails are often stored on the servers of Internet service providers, while instant-messaging sessions aren't. "It's a new issue from the legal perspective how privacy rules might apply," he said.
  
  ---- Matthew Karnitschnig contributed to this article.
  

  
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• My dilemma of the week....I need advice!!!! -- Jennifer, Monday, October 02, 6:34:42 [18]
  Here's the gist.....do I or don't I???
  
  I'm thinkin of going on a cat rescue today. This sweet, sweet cat technically belongs to Mom's neighbor, who has 6 dogs and 3 other cats. There are 4 adults, two teenagers, and an infant (plus the animals) residing at this place...
  
  Anyway, this cat is a domestic house cat who has been de-clawed and was basically thrown outside when the kid & the baby moved back home. He's got no defenses, he's beat up, he's nothing but skin and bones. I don't see any food put out for him, and even if there was, he'd have to battle with the two Toms for food, which is why I think he's not getting any. He can't forage for himself, nor can he escape because they declawed him.
  
  We talked to the owner's live in boyfriend last night, who confirmed he's declawed and we told him that the cat shouldn't be outside then cause he can't defend himself. Nothing but a shrug.....
  
  They don't care...its obvious if they did they wouldn't of thrown this domestic house cat outside leaving him to his own devices.
  
  I'm thinking of going and getting him today. My friend works at a vet's, and I think that if I do get him I've got Sweetie talked into taking him as a companion for his little Cleo.
  
  Advice? I hate seeing animals suffer, it really p***es me off!
  

  
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]
  
  Replies:

  • I don't know how people can make a cat defenseless, then force it to defend itself to survive. It sounds like they wouldn't miss it if it were gone, and if you don't rescue it, it may permanently gone. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, October 02, 6:45:56
  • Oh, I'll jump in ....inside... -- AmyLynn, Monday, October 02, 7:04:21
    • Hello Amy Lynn...inside..... -- Jennifer, Monday, October 02, 7:21:49
    • There are two things you can do right now, 1) talk to the neighbor and ask if they would let you take the cat off their hands or 2) call animal control and have them come out to survey the situation and offer to take the cat off their hands. If you ask the neighbor and they say "no", then you can tell that to animal control which would give your request more substance. If the neighbor says "yes' then Sweetie has a new critter in the house. It sucks having to call animal control on anyone, but sometimes it is necessary. I finally got in touch with my animal control because of the uber-barking dog in the apartment beneath mine. Barking dogs are a nuisance and the owner can be fined and/or cited for it. If they're cited often, they can have all their animals taken away. You might want to investigate the laws in your area on that regard. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, October 02, 8:51:21
  • I called the cat's owner.....I think she's in favor of letting me adopt him, but says he is her daughter's cat & needs to run it by her daughter. But then said her daughter is taking care of him yoddy yoddy....Mom fed him again today, & thinks he's looking better so maybe he is putting on some more weight. We'll see..... (NT) -- Jennifer, Monday, October 02, 12:51:41
    • Your mom may be doing the highest form of rescue for the kitty - just feeding it. Good for her. It's not really fair for her to bear the expense and trouble of seeing that the cat is fed, but it is bridging the gap for the moment. You are doing the right things to help the cat, and it looks like there may be a good solution coming. Sounds like there is a lot going on inside that house - more people, a baby, lots of extra animals. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, October 03, 7:01:44
      • I'm gonna go to Wally World tonight (Wal-Mart for those who don't understand Jennifer speak...i.e. Kat LOL) & pick up some food for the cat. Something that is that hungry won't object to Wally World's brand of cat food LOL! My "child" of course turns her nose up at it....well she turns her nose up to Fancy Feast as well....what a brat! Anyway, I'll go help Mom with some food for the kitty, until we hear from the neighbor. (NT) -- Jennifer, Tuesday, October 03, 8:55:57
        • It's not that I don't understand Jennifer speak (I've been calling it WallyWorld for probably 20 years), it's that I won't step into the place. :-D (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, October 03, 15:25:43
  • Jen, got an idea for you inside....... -- Texasbrat, Monday, October 02, 15:05:11
    • Your idea has possibilities and might be a real kindness for the daughter. The situation was different, but when we lived in town, our next-door neighbors had two cats, ages 11 and 12, and their daughter wanted a kitten (the cats were older than the girl and not much "fun"). Even with the vets' help of introducing the baby into the household, the 11-year-old cat just didn't take to it. Mr. Cat had always spent a lot of time with us in our backyard, and we ended up as the "safehouse" when Mr. Cat had enough of the kitten. Eventually he spent more time with us than at home, nights included, and when they moved to Colorado, the little girl chose to leave him with us. He lived to be 19. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, October 03, 7:13:14
    • IMO, it is unfair to move the cat from home to home. The poor thing deserves one home to be loved and spoiled in. (NT) -- Shaz, Thursday, October 05, 11:19:46
  • It seems as though Mom has a permanent "guest" on her deck LOL! That's where she's feeding the cat, & he likes it there so he's kinda made himself at home. She can't let him in cause of the other "kids", but she's feeding him everyday & says he looks better than he did on Sunday. Still no word from the neighbor..... (NT) -- Jennifer, Tuesday, October 03, 16:33:45
  • Jen I appreciate you not wanting to put your Mom in a tough spot. If it were me, I'd choose morality over legality. If you go the legal route, you may set your mom up to harassment or worse. The so-called owners are neglectful for not feeding it and tend to it's need and are abusive for sending a de-clawed cat outside. I vote for convert ops and take the kitty to Sweetie. (NT) -- Shaz now owned by a 9-week-old feline fur ball, Thursday, October 05, 11:23:45
    • Mom has a permanent resident on her deck LOL! She's put a bed outside, & he can free feed on dry food all day long. He's got water & his wet food too....Mom says he talks to her when she goes out on the deck LOL! Inside.... -- Jennifer, Thursday, October 05, 13:05:20
      • I'm happy to hear Diaz has someone to care for him! My concern would be the elements and wild animals. Ellen needs to be responsible for her cat and either help him feel comfortable in his own home or find him a new one, for good! Dickens is getting used to Pip, but it hasn't been easy. IMO Pip need to play attack Dickens a couple times like Dickens did to make friends with Clancy! (NT) -- Shaz, Thursday, October 05, 14:15:13
        • That was my concern too....and Mom & I have already devised a plan to move him into the basement if the temperature drops dramatically. Its still in the 80's here. On the deck, no wild animals can get him cause of the way Mom's deck is. Her house is a story which slopes in the back so the deck is basically a two story deck on poles. She's barricaded it & made a shelter for Diaz, & he is quite comfy in his new digs LOL! I know what you mean about responsibility, but with 6 dogs & 3 other cats, well yeah, LOL! We are hatching our plan & in the meantime he's safe & secure. Pip? That's an extremely cute name! You need to post pics of the little nipper! (NT) -- Jennifer, Thursday, October 05, 17:33:10
          • I figured Pip from Great Expectation by Charles Dickens LOL! He lives up to his name! Life has been too busy to grab photos. My Mom was air-lifted from Havasu to Las Vegas last night and I've been playing musical flights to get out to see her. Now I have to get a hotel and car rental. (NT) -- Shaz, Friday, October 06, 7:29:41

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• The banners are at it again........................ -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, October 03, 10:34:44 [3]
  
  I'm sitting here laughing at the fact that one of the ads in the banner is about Marriage & how to become the most irresistable mate for someone overnight, guarranteed. Then it says it will help you find that perfect mate for your irresistableness (I made that up thank you very much).
  
  My first thought was Marriage, who mentioned having marriage & problems in the same sentence, cuz I'm thinking "Dr. Phil's Cure-All Exlicer" or some other psycho-babble. Then, I read be irresistable, so, I'm like oh, okay, make the marriage better in the bedroom. THEN, I read we'll find you a mate, & I'm thinking "what if you don't want another mate". Course, the light bulb came on about that time that this was an ad for a matching service.
  
  Anyway, the ads are giving me a good laugh today, which I needed since my daughter is puny with a cold.
  

  
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]
  
  Replies:

  • Right now the ads that appear are "9-11 Trauma" to find financial assistance; "Working at home" to earn up to 5K-10K per month; and "Jag" on eBay. LOL (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, October 03, 10:41:10
  • Mine has now changed to one about "naked chocolate". Is it naked cuz the wrapper is off? How do you dress chocolate? Maybe AmyLynn, our resident chocolate guru, can give us a clue. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, October 03, 12:30:05

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• Fair Trade Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate -- Ninja_Girl, Friday, September 29, 8:32:36 [3]
  You folks may know all about this, but I became aware while working the August primary election about Fair Trade coffee, tea, and chocolate. Since these three subjects seem to come up often on this board, I found this interesting and have intended ever since to mention it, just now getting around to it. Does anybody know about it? It seems to be almost a movement with a wide variety of supporters.
  
  I worked a poll inside a United Methodist church, and a lady from its office offered us some coffee or tea, adding "It's Fair Trade." I didn't know what that meant. Apparently the UM denomination has encouraged local churches to buy and use "fair trade" coffee for church functions (since churches use a LOT of coffee) to assist and support small farmers in Central America and Africa. This particular church also has a not-for-profit Global Market Gift Shop, open 3 days a week, where they sell fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate and items made by artisans (70% of whom are women) in developing countries in cooperation with SERRV International and other fair trade organizations. Money received from sales is returned for development.
  
  Buyers pay more for coffee and cocoa beans and tea from the Fair Trade farmers who, according to their brochure, guarantee to pay a fair wage in the local context; provide equal opportunity for all people, particularly the disadvantaged; engage in environmentally sustainable practices; build long term trade relationships; provide healthy and safe working conditions; and provide financial and technical assistance to workers whenever possible. Apparently each of these are revolutionary to that industry.
  
  A guy here is setting up a chocolate business to open soon. He is very particular about the cacao beans he will be using (he starts from scratch), so much so that he is traveling to growers in South America and is making Fair Trade buying agreements related to growing specifications and labor & wage requirements. I would guess this idea is catching on.
  

  Last edited by author: 09/29/06 12:08pm   Edited 1 time.
  
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]
  
  Replies:

  • It sounds like a great idea, but the cynical part of me wonders how they can guarantee that the people actually doing the work back in these other countries really are getting the benefit of our paying higher prices for the end product. (NT) -- KatRose, Friday, September 29, 13:08:49
    • Yeah, I hear you, Kat. Glad I'm not alone with my cynicism. LOL As for this Fair Trade thing, I think I've heard of it. I believe that Starbucks had a coffee they sold that was part of this fair trade arrangement ... or maybe all their coffee comes from places that pay higher wages even though they aren't officially part of this group ... or they were experimenting with one of their coffees being from this group. I know that I read *something* while I was waiting in line, but alas, as you all can tell .... I wasn't awake enough to be lucid (otherwise why would I be there buying coffee!! HA!!) (NT) -- AmyLynn, Monday, October 02, 6:36:44

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• JAG Season 2 -- KatRose, Friday, September 29, 17:56:30 [1]
  http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6457
  
  TVShowsonDVD.com announced that the following special features will be on the Season 2 DVDs.
  
  Audio commentary on select episodes
  Setting Sail With Season 2
  Inside The Real JAG Corps
  
  You can preorder the set from Amazon.com for $39.76
  

  
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]
  

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• Not to push everything down... Anyone smell burnt pork? That distintive smell of burnt school principle? -- Heather, Monday, September 25, 17:39:24 [15]
  Inside for rest... part of reason I haven't been around for the last couple of weeks... and the Ice Queen just got a good hunk of sweet revenge!
  

  
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]
  
  Replies:

  • Inside -- Me again, Monday, September 25, 18:03:57
    • Sounds like you got a good chunk of pork "loins". :-D Good for you. I'm sorry you and your family and community are dealing with NutBall, but at least everyone's aware now and should be on the lookout for future incidents and/or other nutballs. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, September 25, 18:30:37
      • It's funny how in the last year or so the crime has dropped/gone into hiding, but the Nut-Ball rate has increased. There are so many people who are responcible in this. The judge, the town/police, the school. Not to stand on a soap box, but why is this John Q Public the only one saying something in the hope something will be done! This is not right! I've notived one of the other Nutz has been keeping a low profile! (NT) -- Heather... off to sleep, that's if I can sleep due to my victory!, Monday, September 25, 18:43:39
    • The Judicial system fails a lot of the time....its b/c of high price scum lawyers who don't care about any other people than themselves & winning at all costs. Look at the d*** judge in Maine who sentenced a child rapist to like 3 months in jail! Bill O'Reilly (not that I'm a huge O'Reilly fan) called him on it, & kept on & on till I think the state stepped in. Its not only lawyers, its judges & the whole system is most definitely flawed. But its better than what other countries got....There is no answer....of course no one can force Nut-ball to take her meds, & that's the problem. You can prescribe them, but who is there to make sure a person actually takes them? I hope she stays away, but keep your kids protected & lock all your doors. Get a window sticker for your house that says "Protected by Wesson" LOL! (NT) -- Jennifer, Monday, September 25, 18:56:49
      • If you're a judge in Massachsetts and you let pediphiles out on probation and are rudely abusive to lawyer (including swearing at them), they give you a television show (Maria Lopez). Of course I won't be watching because of her action in MA courts, but also because her voice is grating and scrathy like a 30 year smoker! (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, September 26, 5:26:10
        • I was wondering where she came from! You are right Shaz, she is rude & obno LOL! She's on one of my cable channels here at 1PM, & that voice oh vey! (NT) -- Jennifer, Tuesday, September 26, 6:34:29
          • I refuse to watch her, not just because of the voice, but because of her background! (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, September 26, 9:19:05
    • Isn't it scary that so many people up and down the line just almost turn their heads, hoping a problem like Nutball will go away. Good for you, Heather, because what you did isn't easy, although somehow I imagine this won't be the end of Nutball. Society kicks into gear when a child is taken, but sometimes you wonder if it would be necessary if everybody who knew had taken action earlier. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, September 26, 6:36:48
      • Sometimes family and friends of those suffering with mental illness just don't expect the person to do some of the things they do. .... some comments inside .... -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, September 26, 7:33:35
        • You make very astute points. There is a state mental health center & clinic attached to the university hospital here, and every time the state budget forces cutbacks in funding, you can always notice the increase in very troubled people among the general population in town. I am always amazed that among the first services states often choose to cut back is mental health. I guess it's because they aren't able to advocate for themselves, but society sure feels the effect, and for sure the individuals whose services are less. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, September 26, 10:38:28
  • 'm glad your daughter had the sense to not make further contact with this woman, and that she's smart enough to tell you that she was approached by somebody. I know schools are supposed to protect the kids in their care, but I'm not sure how far their care extends when kids are walking home. Then comes personal responsibility , and I'm a strong believer in this. A parents job is to be responsible for their kids & not intentionally put them in dangerous situations. It sounds like you're doing your job as a parent & I'm sure you're glad to see her common sense. But what .... inside.... -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, September 26, 7:20:38
    • I don't know if you have children, but if not, you will make a very good parent! You do have to teach your kids to stay away from danger if at all possible, and I do feel sorry for this woman and her mental state, but up and down the line people were made aware that this lady was, if nothing else, a potential danger to children and should be at least taken in for some type of observation by appropriate authorities. This person should not be allowed close to school property, doing what she was doing. The school officials are not substitute parents like some force them to be, but they may have been the first to know about her and needed to be more proactive about this woman early on. She could have been referred on to some other agency who could help her & get her away from kids. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, September 26, 10:51:21
    • In this case, the school knew there was a problem and had the police involved by having them on the property when school got dismissed. I didn't know Nut-Ball had gone to this extreme. KNew she was losing it but not to this point. My daughter has always walked home with her friends without a problem in the past. Now there is a parent that walks the troop home. The cops are also guillty, they should have said something too. But since they have been hanging around the walkers route and walking the streets during dismissal while Nut-Ball was still on the loose (know locked up and all is quite again) (NT) -- Heather, Tuesday, September 26, 18:05:06
      • At least they've got a group of walkers and nobody is alone. I know that I would prefer walking to a friend's house after school, and staying there, to walking any distance alone. Glad to know that things are quiet. I hope they stay that way!! :-) (NT) -- AmyLynn, Wednesday, September 27, 6:26:45

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• Seeing Jennifer -- KatRose, Sunday, September 24, 22:06:17 [9]
  As some of you know, I went to see Jennifer in Atlanta 10 days ago. For those of you who didn't, I guess we managed to keep it secret by NOT having any disastrous weather converge in Georgia or unexplained phenomena that made the news. LOL
  
  Jen has an annual boat show out at Lake Oconee to give kids and their families from Brain Tumor Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation and, new this year, Starlight-Starbright Foundation. Last year she called me on Monday and asked if I could hop a plane late Wednesday nght. This year, I got a little bit more notice (months!). However, that didn't stop things from being a little chaotic the closer it got to being time to go.
  
  We booked my flight in July and got a really good deal. That meant a layover in Dallas, but doing so saved me about $150, which was worth the stop. The problem arose when American Airlines decided to change the times of my flights going to Atlanta and changing my flights on the way home. Originally I was going to land in Atlanta around 11:30 PM. The change pushed it to 12:30 AM, which meant that poor Jen was going to have one long-ass day just to come pick me up. The change on the way home was another matter. My original flight would have gotten me home around 8PM. Well, American decided to cancel those flights and put me on an earlier flight out of Atlanta and landing later in L.A. *Not* acceptable since it was a Monday flight and I needed to go to work the next day. I was able to change the flights, leaving Atlanta at 3:05 and arriving in L.A. at 7PM. Not bad. Or so I thought. I'll get to that later. *grin*
  
  My plane touched down in Atlanta about 10 minutes early and as soon as the captain said we could turn on our cell phones I called Jen to let her know I had landed. She said she was just coming through downtown and would be there in about 20 minutes. That would be perfect as I still needed to get my luggage and meet her out front. I collected my bag and came to a place where I either took an escalator up or went out a door to the street area. I called Jen to ask which way, she said "street" and out I went. But it wasn't the right street. LOL
  
  I called her to say, "I think I'm in the wrong place" and she's like, "Yeah, where are you?" I found an elevator and took it up one level and came out in … the parking garage! Yep, somehow the door I went out, in spite of the fact it opened to a street area, was actually a substreet that was under the parking garage. So when I came out the elevator, I had to go *back* across the street to find Jen. Even from a distance, I could see her laughing at me. Heck, I was laughing at myself. LOL
  
  It took us a while to get home and by the time we got there and into bed, it was probably 2AM. I'd been up for hours and traveling for most of them. All I wanted was a bed, a pillow and hopefully a blanket. Jen was kind enough to provide all three. :-D
  
  Thursday morning we spent working. Jen's computer had died on Tuesday and she had replaced it with a reconditioned machine that needed to have some reinstallation of software, plus the installation of the old hard drive. While I acknowledge that I'm a bit of a computer geek, dealing with hardware is oftentimes beyond my scope. I can do many things, but hooking up two hard drives, both with programs and files, well, I needed help. We also needed to hit Costco to get food and supplies for the barbeque on Saturday. So we packed up the computer and accessories, grabbed our wallets and headed out to the computer store. Luckily the guys at the computer store were able to help get everything functioning again and we met up with Jen's mom for the Costco run. An hour or so (and several hundred dollars) later, we loaded up the two cars with LOTS of supplies and went for dinner then returned home.
  
  A friend of mine from my days at Paramount now lives in Nashville. I had called her and asked her to join us for Oconee, she willingly agreed. She was originally planning on arriving around 10:30 PM. The problem was, she forgot that Nashville is one hour behind Atlanta *AND* got an hour later start. She finally arrived around 12:30 and then we sat up and talked until around 4:30 AM. I felt bad for Jen having to listen to the two magpies going at it down the hall, but I hadn't seen Mary Lu since June the year before. We had a lot of face-to-face catching up to do.
  
  Friday morning loomed too quickly for our tastes, but we had a lot of things to do. Jen had to take care of some business, then she returned and her mom arrived and we packed up the truck and Lu's car for our 2 hour drive to Oconee. We actually managed to get on the road about the time we wanted. That's pretty miraculous for this group. LOL
  
  The drive down was beautiful. Lu and I had a chance to talk more and she got to see Georgia in the day light. We took a lot of nice back roads that eventually got us to the highway and the turn off to the beautiful lake. Jen's mom has a friend who let us borrow her home at the lake so we could be close to the event site. What a blessing that was. We got there, unloaded our personal stuff, then went back into town (actually a one-stop light spot in the road – LOL) for dinner at a pretty good Mexican restaurant. As someone who lives in L.A. and has a lot of great Mexican restaurants around, I was duly impressed by their quality – not to mention the quantity of their margarita (42oz – Jen, Lu and I all tried to make a dent, but I think we left more than we drank!).
  
  As the sun was beginning to go down, I shanghaied everyone and forced them to tag along as I found a nice spot on the lakeshore to take some sunset photos. Here's what I got:
  
  
  
  
  We returned to the lake house for some relaxation and sleep. The next morning I awoke early (as I usually do on vacation – why? who knows) and saw that the sun was creeping up and the mist on the water. I grabbed my camera and ran down to the shore without bothering to put any shoes on. It was cold on my feet, but it was beautiful.
  
  
  
  
  
  It wasn't too long before Jen got up and we left for Reynolds Plantation (where the event is held). Lu and Mom were going to join us around 10 so they could both get a little more rest. We arrived with Jen's boat in tow and immediately started our unloading and setting up.
  
  The event was fantastic. I'll get some pictures posted in a bit, just need to decide which of the over 300 I should post. Thank God for Lu. She actually shot more than I did this year because I had a brilliant idea that I didn't think through completely. I thought it would be fun to print out photos for the families so they had something to take home with them. The problem with that is that someone needed to sit and print. Every time I came back to download photos from my card to my computer, someone wanted a print out. That meant I spent more time at my computer than out taking pictures. WAAAAAHHHHH!! LOL Next year, Jen's got a friend we're shanghai'ing to do the printing while Lu and I concentrate on taking lots and lots of pictures. :-D
  
  There was one bad spot of the entire day for me. I'd been dealing with a monster headache off and on for over a week. I thought I'd had it put down by the time Friday arrived. Well, it wasn't gone, it was just hiding … until we were cleaning up on Saturday. Then it came back in full force and, literally, laid me out on the lawn. Everyone was so good to me, bringing me ice and towels and helping me to Lu's car so I could get out of the sun. I took a bunch of meds and drank all the water that I'd neglected to take during the day. By the time we got back to Jen's house a couple of hours later, I felt a lot better and then crashed from 9PM to around 7AM the next morning. Man, that felt fantastic!
  
  Sunday was another slow starting day. Jen and Lu didn't even begin to move until around 10. By then I was a little antsy since I'm an early riser, but I tried to be patient. We eventually got moving around 1:30 and drove off to Kennesaw (I think that's the name) area northwest of Atlanta. That's a big battlefield from the Civil War. I don't often see living history like that out in L.A., so when I visit Jen, she always tries to give me some exposure. We drove to Murietta and visited the Confederate Cemetary. It was pretty amazing. I don't believe in the major underlying cause for why the South seceded (slavery), but I can appreciate that these men stood up for their beliefs (no matter what they were) and were willing to die for them. I'd like to get out to the battlefield itself next year. Lu left us so she could drive back to Nashville and Jen and I headed back for her house.
  
  Monday we opted for a closer touristy place: Chateau Elan, a winery not too far from Jen's home. It was beautiful. The vineyards we saw weren't huge, but they did have life to them. We wandered around the fields close to the winery and then had a nice lunch.
  
  
  
  
  Afterward, we hopped into her car and headed for the airport. We left at noon knowing I needed to be at the airport around 1 so I'd be there 2 hours before my flight. Well, this is when things started to go a little caa-caa. We hit downtown Atlanta and traffic, literally, came to a standstill. We sat for so long that the semi in the lane next to us shut down its engine. ::growling:: About 20 minutes later we finally started moving again. It was now 12:40 and we were still about 40 minutes from the airport. We finally get to the airport and the line to get into the north terminal (where I needed to go) was stop and go – emphasis on stop. The south terminal was pretty clear, so after asking Jen if I could reach my check-in from the south, we made a beeline for that side and after getting my luggage and giving her a quick hug, I ran through both terminals yelling "Make way!" and "Passing on your left, don't move!" It was pretty funny.
  
  As I'm dashing down the north terminal check-in area, I see a HUGE crowd ahead and thought, "CRAP! Don't let it be American." Lucky for me, it wasn't. I found the American check-in and no one was there. It was now 2pm. I had an hour before my plane was to leave. Well, got my boarding pass and saw "3:30 departure". Not great, but not too bad. I went through security and found my gate figuring I was going to have an easy time of it going home.
  
  WRONG!
  
  We were supposed to board the plane at 3. By 3:30 we were still sitting and waiting. I looked out the window, no plane. NOT a good sign. I went up to the counter and asked what was going on and whether or not I'd make my connecting flight in Dallas (it was scheduled to leave at 5:45). They offered to change my flight, to which I emphatically said no, that would have been the flight American originally switched me to. LOL They promised we'd be leaving soon. I pointed out that there was no plane for us to board and they assured me it was on the tarmac waiting to park. We finally get on the plane and leave around 4ish. It's a two hour flight and Dallas is an hour behind. So I might just make it. Yeah right. Not with my luck.
  
  We land in Dallas around 5:10 and it takes us about 10 minutes to get to our gate and start to deplane. In spite of the flight attendant's request that anyone without an impending departure to sit down and let the rest of us out, everyone stayed standing and I finally made it out to the concourse around 5:25. That left me about 10 minutes to get to my plane. I thought I'd gotten lucky when I saw a courtesy cart at my gate. I ran out, asked for a life to concourse C (we landed at A) and was told, "You must take the tram." I told the driver that we'd been told the tram was only running in the counterclockwise direction (meaning going from A to B to D to E to C and back to A) and that my flight was due to leave in less than 20 minues. He wouldn't budge and I had to run for the tram which was upstairs.
  
  I made the tram and then had to wait through seven agonizing stops as we hit each concourse on the way to C. As we came around the curve to C, I saw a bunch of empty gates and started looking for C-32, hoping the plane would still be there as it was now 5:36. It was and I dashed off the tram, ran towards the escalator and C-32. I was going so fast I almost missed it (it was at the bottom of the escalators – who'd have thunk it?) and dashed up to the gate. They smiled politely and let me on after saying, "Where's your other party?" I said I didn't have anyone with me and they asked, "Are you sure?" Yeah, I was sure. LOL
  
  I made it. Barely. The woman I was sitting next to turned out to the "other party" they were asking about and she was about 2 minutes behind me. They closed the door only a few minutes after she arrived. We were lucky. We just hoped that our luggage made it too. (It did.)
  
  I managed to get home to my apartment around 8:30-9. I was worn out, had 480 photos to edit just from Reynolds and needed to eat something more than a cracker or two. But I was so glad I'd gone and helped out. Those kids were pretty amazing. Seeing Jen again was great and seeing Lu was fantastic. I can't wait to go back next year (though I'm hoping for a little less drama on the flight part).
  

  
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  • Awesome photos, Kat!! And a wonderful Kat & Jen story. Glad to hear you are home in one piece (I assume the luggage made it), & you can get back to work so you can get some rest. I knew this event was coming, but didn't realize it was upon you. Sounds like you had tons of fun, in spite of the lack of sleep & airlines with a lack of brains. Can't wait to see some more photos. (NT) -- Texasbrat -- wishing I was on the shore of that lake relaxing, Monday, September 25, 3:17:19
  • You wake up early on vacation because you don't want to miss any photo opportunities! You're early morning pics of the lake are very pretty (they're *all* nice pics!!). You have more turmoil surrounding your flight schedule than I could handle. I usually fly non-stop because I don't want the stress, LOL, or else put the two flights as far apart as possible from each other. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Monday, September 25, 7:11:05
  • See the world didn't collapse, there was no shifts in the universe or any feeling of dread amongst our gang, so all was well in the universe LOL! Maybe the vacation disasters have been put to rest, well hopefully.....My boat didn't run properly, Sweetie gave me a heart attack on Saturday with his "I'm leaving at 8:AM" & I get the call at 930AM that they've just left....3 boats broke down at one time, which meant I had 4 running & about 50-75 families waiting for rides....Kat you need to post a picture of Princess Midge, you forgot about her .....The kids were fantastic, our buddy Megan was the 1st to arrive, & she's going to LA sometime next April & was very excited when she found out Kat lives in LA & might be able to come see her at the Ronald McDonald house....it really is a small world isn't it? (NT) -- Jennifer, Monday, September 25, 8:59:03
    • Sounds like a great event for a number of really worthwhile causes. I wasn't on the board the last time around to know much about the show. Do you give boat rides for a fundraiser or to the affected kids and their families for fun? Maybe there is a website you could point me to. And my curiosity is getting the best of me about Sweetie and his status in relation to you. Friend who's a boat expert? Significant other? Old boyfriend? How's that for nosy? (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, September 25, 9:59:01
      • Hey NG.....its a gathering that I'm in charge of for the kids/families of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Starlight/Starbright Foundation, & Brain Tumor Foundation for Children. My boating buds & I (we all belong to ACBS Blue Ridge Chapter) all own Wooden/Antique Boats, so host a picnic & boat rides for the kids & their families. Just a day at the lake, where they hopefully can forget their illnesses & just be kids. Most of us let the kids drive our boats, & its just a fun day at the lake. I'm working on getting some pictures to the Blue Ridge Chapter's website, & BTFC will probably have some on their site as soon as Kat is done with the editing. Inside.... -- Jennifer, Monday, September 25, 10:28:57
    • 
      
      
      (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, September 25, 10:01:34
    • Hey Jen, Kat, I DID notice that you were "missing" on the board. I figured that you were busy doing something. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, September 27, 6:08:03
  • Loved the photos, especially at the winery and the early morning ones. What a variety of experiences you had in such a few days' time. Glad you got there and got back on the airline, albeit barely. An old man told me once that he would like to travel around the world if he could be home by nightfall. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, September 25, 10:04:19

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• Close To Home -- KatRose, Friday, September 22, 10:43:59 [7]
  For those of you who are DJE fans, don't forget that Close To Home premiere's tonight. Here's an interview DJE did with TV Guide:
  
  Friday, September 22, 2006
  JAG Star Reveals Why He's Come Home
  by Matt Webb Mitovich
  
  "When will David James Elliott come back to television? I want to see more of him." E-mails like that come to TVGuide.com regularly, inquiring as to where and when people can again see the former star of JAG, the military/legal drama that ran for 10 seasons on two networks. Starting tonight at 9 pm, Elliott's many fans can enjoy him anew, as he joins the cast of CBS' Close to Home, now in its second season, as ADA James Conlon. The actor recently phoned us while hauling his kids to Disneyland.
  
  TVGuide.com: Ever since I got here a little over a year ago, I get regular e-mails from readers asking, "What is David James Elliott up to?"
  
  David James Elliott: And you thought I was a nobody. [Laughs] I was taking a break, man. I worked a little doing a great film called The Man Who Lost Himself....
  
  TVGuide.com: And are now running a shuttle to Disneyland?
  
  Elliott: And now I'm running the shuttle to Disneyland, exactly. Hey, I gotta earn a living.
  
  TVGuide.com: I was excited to report to your fans back in January that you had a pilot in the works, Sixty Minute Man.
  
  Elliott: Yeah, it was a good show, too. Jon Avnet (Up Close & Personal) directed it, it was a well-written Graham Yost/Chris Brancato project, everybody loved it, and for whatever reason, ABC decided not to pick it up.
  
  TVGuide.com: What was the premise again?
  
  Elliott: It was a guy who had an hour stolen from him every day. It takes him a while to clue into it, and it turns out that it's either our government or some evil faction that's behind it. They put a chip in his brain and for an hour each day, they put him on a mission, and he would come out of the experience not knowing what had happened. He was, like, superhuman for an hour.
  
  TVGuide.com: And would he come back with bruises and cuts, not knowing what happened?
  
  Elliott: Yeah, he'd be like, "What the hell...?!"
  
  TVGuide.com: Instead, you're back spouting legal jargon on Close to Home.
  
  Elliott: Yeah, they came to me and said, "Would you be interested in doing this?" It was under the [Jerry] Bruckheimer banner, which was interesting to me immediately, the character was rich, and I didn't have the burden of carrying the entire show. I was promised I would not be a scheduling casualty. Conlon creates a lot of conflict and animosity. He's a Manhattan DA who realizes that Manhattan may not be the fastest track to chasing down his political goals, so he transfers to Indiana, where he's second in command. But he brings with him his New York timetables and New York attitude, so he's immediately perceived as abrasive.
  
  TVGuide.com: What's his initial dynamic with Jennifer Finnigan and Kimberly Elise's characters?
  
  Elliott: They just don't know what to do with this guy, but he's their boss, so there's only so much they can say and do. They're quite flummoxed, and it takes them some time to realize how things are going to be done from now on.
  
  TVGuide.com: Will the show be playing some sparks, ultimately, between Conlon and Annabeth?
  
  Elliott: I don't know about that. You're going to have to ask them. So far, nothing. It's tender ground, since her husband was killed in the [season finale], so they probably don't want somebody jumping right in there immediately. Audiences tend to be sensitive to those kinds of things.
  
  TVGuide.com: Fans are a little concerned that they've changed a lot of the things that were unique to Close to Home, by killing off the husband, bringing in new characters....
  
  Elliott: Well, they needed to. From what I understand, the show was almost canceled, so they changed it to give it more of an ensemble feel. They brought in me as well as Jon Seda and Cress Williams, who'll be doing most of the police work. Last year, I believe, they had lawyers running in with guns, which was completely unrealistic. And they have a new headwriter, Eric Overmeyer (Law & Order), who's a very talented guy. I think it's a much better show all around, with the changes they have made.
  
  TVGuide.com: How would you compare Conlon to JAG's Harm?
  
  Elliott: Well, they're both highly driven, but Harm operated on more of a moral plane, he was more caught up in doing the right thing for the right reason. Conlon is caught up in doing the right thing, but he's....
  
  TVGuide.com: More brash?
  
  Elliott: Harm could be pretty brash, too, but Conlon is brash for different reasons. Harm would be up for maybe doing things someone else's way; with Conlon, we're going to do it his way. Conlon could be perceived as being more of an egomaniac. Harm had more humility.
  
  TVGuide.com: Why do you think JAG was so resonant with its audience?
  
  Elliott: I think the times speak to what's going on. When we started, we were under the Clinton administration, which was downsizing the military, so we teetered on the edge of disaster and certainly teetered on the edge of obscurity for a long time. We clawed our way up to the spot we eventually [achieved]. We were dumped from one network [NBC] and picked up as a mid-season replacement on CBS, and wound up with a 10-year total run. After 9/11, the show certainly spiked, as people realized, "Hey, the military is not defunct. It's pretty necessary." Before that, our fan base was probably largely people who had been in the military, or older veterans who remembered a time when a man in uniform was the greatest thing you could be. Plus, we dealt with relationships. That's what gets me tuning back in to a show, to see the relationships. That's something we didn't do initially, but I pushed the producers to deal with it. You've got to know about the characters.
  
  TVGuide.com: Plus, Catherine Bell and yourself weren't entirely bad to look at, viewers probably found.
  
  Elliott: Yeah, everybody found a little something that kept them coming back. We had some explosions and jets, a little bit of everything!
  

  
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  • There's that "burden of carrying the whole show" line again. Regardless of how we, his audience, felt, maybe he really was made to feel a burden. At any rate, I am looking forward to seeing him in a fresh role. And this show did need an infusion of reality and excitement. The stories (the few I saw) weren't bad, but the whole flavor was quite bland. With nothing else much in this time slot, I hope the infusion of new blood, both behind and in front of the cameras, will jump start this show. And whether it was DJE's insistence or the inspiration came from another quarter, he's absolutely right that character development was key to JAG's success. That's how, at least in our minds, it became almost an ensemble show, and why it lasted so long, IMVHO. (NT) -- judy, Friday, September 22, 11:49:21
  • When you read the whole interview, I dont think that one remark is very important. I think that if he or CB had scheduling problems it was a big deal as the perception was that they were the stars of the show. It wouldnt have been Jag without either of them so neither "carried" the show IMHO. Actually my life is so busy right now I dont have time to really get into any show because something always gets in the way of watching (very frustrating) (NT) -- jagglebelle, Friday, September 22, 16:00:31
  • I wish him luck, hope that the show is a success & that he gets a chance to direct some eps too. Its not a show that I've watched, & I'm not going to start now, but I do hope its successful for DJE, & hey its a tough business & work is work! The comments to me still seem arrogant, & I'm sorry that IMHO DJE continues to "discount" the other cast of JAG, it took them all to make them JAG a success it was a burden they all carried, but enough on that. Others are fine with his comments, they just seem poorly worded to me...but again hope he finds success on Close To Home...me personally I'm waiting for Las Vegas to start, NBC keeps moving it around on me LOL! (NT) -- Jennifer, Saturday, September 23, 8:23:59
  • I watched Close to Home last night and enjoyed it. Never watched the series before, so it was like new for me. I thought it was pretty well done, the story interesting, and the acting good. AmyLynn and I may be the last surviving DJE lovers on this board (not intending to start another war . . .), and we got our fix after a year-and-a-half dry spell. It was kind of nice to sit and stare for most of an hour. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, September 23, 11:58:39
    • I can't claim to be a member of your club, but I have no ill feeling for him either. I, too, watched (most of) Close To Home last night and liked his character. The mop of long wavy hair was a bit of a shock at first, but I thought he looked great. I found it interesting that his character seemed to be the Chegwidden role of this series. Anyway, its nice to see him on another show, and I do wish them success this year. (NT) -- judy, Saturday, September 23, 22:44:24
    • I'm still a DJE fan, and I believe, as stated above somewhere (LOL), that he and CB both felt more stress as leads than the other supporting actors would have felt. Saying you felt a burden isn't saying nobody else is doing anything, it's stating you feel burndened at times. ... Moving on .... I hope the show does well, and maybe I'll remember to tape it. I hate scheduling things/life around *TV*, so I try and tape. Except for Gilmore Girls --- I do laundry on Tues nights, so that's my one night that I can usually count on to be home to watch something. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Monday, September 25, 7:15:45

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• I'm almost afraid to be too excited about this -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, September 21, 6:20:16 [4]
  My son who hated high school likes college. He's actually doing pretty well and is starting to get the hang of the academic world. It seemed backwards to encourage a kid who disliked school so much, didn't put out much effort, and dealt with a receptive language disorder to go for further education, but everything he's interested in for the future would require it. He finally decided he should give it a try, so there he is.
  
  It's been a month now, and somehow he's gotten interested in his classes, likes his instructors, and is taking more responsibility for his classwork and projects than since he was probably in 5th grade. He's had success on a couple of tests and projects, and he's asking for help when needed. I hope all this continues because he's always had the capability but was a square peg trying to fit in a round hole. The language disorder made many things harder for him, and he's kind of an artistic free spirit for whom good grades wasn't a badge of honor.
  
  It's an answer to many prayers over the years, and I felt like telling someone about him.
  

  
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  • Maybe it's a mental difference: he's *choosing* to go for these classes, rather than *having* to. Or maybe not. Be happy for yourself & for him and enjoy it!! It's very good news. :-) (NT) -- AmyLynn, Thursday, September 21, 6:23:27
  • Yippee, for you & your son. I understand how hard it is when a child doesn't like school much. My 10 yo has been like that, he could have cared less about school, he did what was required, but will not do any extra. He seems to like 5th grade & changing classes, maybe it helps him to know that each subject is taught for a certain length of time. He has some troubles with rapid naming & written expression (your probably familar with those terms, NG) which translate into his ability to remember math facts quickly (i.e. timed tests) & expressing thoughts on paper. Hopefully, he wil be able to maintain his current grades through high school, so he will be able to get into a college to become the engineer he wants to be. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, September 21, 11:08:06
  • I'm sure it's partly his growing maturity. But also, many kids find that their college courses are more meaty, not being aimed at the lowest common denominatior of student interest and ability. And choice is a very important factor. Being able to choose the classes you take, even those which fulfill a requirement, give a sense of impowerement and of responsibility. If you choose something you are more motivated to make it work. It's wonderful that he's willing to ask for help when needed and that he's finding something in the academic world to interest him. I hope his sucesses will build on each other! (NT) -- judy, Friday, September 22, 11:57:10

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• So ...I know some people are really into shoes, or clothes in general, but do any of you have a "thing" for purses, handbags etc.? Im addicted and was the family joke until my sister-in-law came on the scene and she is just as bad! -- jagglebelle, Thursday, September 14, 16:48:21 [8]
  
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  • I'm not, but my 8 yo daughter is. She has more purses & bags than I know what to do with. I'm trying to get her to cull a few, especially the ones that are torn. She has, probably a dozen of her own, then she takes my old ones & uses them too. I have a "bag lady" in the making. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Saturday, September 16, 4:33:04
  • I'm not into purse. I own one. (NT) -- Shaz, Saturday, September 16, 8:57:58
    • Your sooo lucky....I wish I could find one and love it and use it until it fell apart! (NT) -- jagglebelle, Sunday, September 17, 19:27:11
  • Purse? What in the heck is that? LOL! I admit that I don't carry one, I usually use one of those small backpack/purse thingies or just carry a small wallet....I'm addicted to watches, I LOVE getting me a new watch & the different styles! (NT) -- Jennifer, Sunday, September 17, 20:09:21
    • It depends on what I'm doing whether I carry a purse or not. I have a slight t-shirt addiction. I think I'm down to about 80 right now. People have switched over to giving me sweatshirts (they think I have enough Ts) and sometimes golf shirts, but I'm pickier about those; I only like the shorter collars. Basically any printed or embroidered shirt. I get them fom friends and family when they go away and local business people. (NT) -- Shaz, Monday, September 18, 5:21:15
  • I love shoes/boots. I am always looking for something new when I am in the store. Not so much the tennis shoes but, dressier shoes or boots to wear with my jeans. I have quite a closet full but, I am always on the lookout for a new pair. (NT) -- shippermom, Monday, September 18, 10:32:25
  • Actually I wish I had some apparel "thing" that I have too many of. My weakness is china. In this house I have 7 full sets of dishes, from very plain to real china, and only 3 sets were from family that I have ended up with. I learned how to use eBay because of a set I was trying to piece together. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, September 18, 11:24:54

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• September 11, 2001 -- KatRose, Sunday, September 10, 22:43:44 [10]
  I know we all remember exactly where we were when we first heard the news about the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the flight that was missing for so long before it crashed into the Pennsylvania countryside. I know I remember.
  
  I remember the fear for my friends in NYC. I remember the anxiety that LA might be next. I remember watching the skies and waiting for a plane to blow-up or crash into tall buildings (and to some degree I still do since I'm on the flight path for Burbank Airport). I remember the feeling of community and feeling of isolation. I remember the many sleepless nights and the weird moments of laughter.
  
  Five years later we honor the men and women who lost their lives in the attacks and in the war afterward. I send prayers to their family and friends and hope their sacrifices mean something to all of us who survived.
  
  I never saw that towers before they fell and only saw a giant hole where they once stood, but I can tell you that the presence of solemnity at the hole was strong and I, who isn't very religious, prayed and cried for all those that perished. I shall never forget this any more than I forgot the day the Challenger blew up. I can only hope that our younger generation doesn't get so acclimated to this disaster that they don't remember what it really means to our country, to ourselves and to the world.
  
  To all those who gave their lives, you are in my thoughts and prayers. May whatever God you believe in hold you in their hand and keep you close.
  

  
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  • Amen. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, September 11, 4:23:25
  • What a lovely post Kat, and a great picture. I did get to visit the World Trade Center once, and I remember just looking up at them and amazed at how tall they were. That morning I was listening to the local NYC ABC radio station when the local news guy cut in and said a plane had hit the World Trade Center. Then proceded to hear the whole thing unfold on the radio till I left work. I couldn't for the life of me understand how this could have happened. Even today I have problems understanding it. I had relitives living and working in NYC so I had to call them to make sure they were all right, even though I knew none of them should have been near the WTC. (NT) -- Kathleen, Monday, September 11, 5:52:27
  • Wonderful, Kat; thanks for today's beautiful photo. Missouri is far from NYC, but events of that morning hit home early as I called to check on my friend Valerie, a transplanted Long Islander (she ended up in the hospital later that day). As sick as she was, I wasn't sure she should hear the awful news about the first tower. I guess I gasped when the second tower was hit, which forced me to tell her what was going on. Between her husband and her, they had 3 siblings or in-laws who either worked in the WTC or on Wall Street just blocks away. It was about 24 hours before they had word on them, and then it was through go-betweens. All were safe, even though one brother-in-law had just gotten to work and was in Tower 1's lobby when security moved them to, of all places, the lobby of Tower 2. He finally decided to leave the area and just started walking, getting out of the danger radius just ahead of the first tower falling. Their L.I. towns still suffer from all the losses. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, September 11, 8:53:37
  • well put... myself, I was pulling into the dump. I thought it was a radio joke. Then the guys said it was on their country stations. All the sudden the dump was quiet,, a stand still, no machines and then there was the radio. (NT) -- Heather, Monday, September 11, 18:13:38
    • I don't know about anyone else. But I did watch or listen to any of it. I agree with the bit I watched last night. A teen who lost there father "he's moved on" and "why does the media play it over and over. The mass killings" (general words, not a true quote) Today was my bosses birthday, that was our focus. It's one thing remembering, but are we playing into Bin Laden's hand by remembering? (NT) -- Heather, Monday, September 11, 18:17:03
      • Part of me understands why the focus continues to be on what happened on 9/11/01 and part of me wants to get back to "normal." But then the question becomes, should we treat this as merely a bump on the road in life or should we look at it as something monumental that affects not only