Linda Z

I agree, Goey. I know a family with three severely mentally handicapped children (all grown now). After they had the first, the doctor said it was a genetic thing and that she shouldn't have more children because they'd have the same problems. She asked her priest if, under the circumstances, she could use birth control. Absolutely not, he commanded. Obedient RC that she was, she followed the rules. Sure enough, two more severely handicapped children came along and a few more more kids without mental difficulties. I think if God had intended abstinence between a husband and wife as the only means of birth control, he'd have designed our bodies so they'd only experience sexual desire when the woman was fertile.

Aw, Abi, that's so sweet about Buster taking care of Scrappy. Bless his little furry self. I know how hard it is. It will pass, but I don't think we ever stop missing our little friends completely.

I know what it is, I know what it is, nyah nyah, nyah nyah nyah.

Abi, Sushi, and boys, I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is to make the decision you made, but I'm glad you did, and I'll bet Scrappy was, too. RIP Scrappy, you beautiful boy.

I'd root for the Mavs, experienced as I am at rooting for the underdog. But somehow the teams I root for always lose in any sorta playoff situation. So maybe you true fans would rather I didn't. :D I will peek in on this evening's game to see how the Mavs are doing, though. Good luck, Mavs fans!

Mine doesn't, exsie. Maybe I'm doing something wrong!

Very funny, Roy, and very clever. Thanks for the grins.

That's what I was clicking, but I kept getting the air traffic controller. Your second link worked, though, thanks. How many car accidents were caused by this sudden lack of visibility?

Wow, Topsy, that must have driven the 6/6/06 folks nuts! I can't get the video to play. I keep getting audio that sounds like an air traffic controller talking with a pilot. The still shots are amazing enough, though.

Good point about copper being soft, especially since one of these little mothers is really hard wood. So much for the grand experiment. I guess the hatchet thing could work, as long as I don't miss and knock holes in my foundation--or me! Thanks again, everyone, for your input.

Thank you, Tom. :P Next question: Where in the heck can I buy big copper nails? I've already tried the small hardware stores in my neighborhood and Home Depot. Nada. I thought maybe a place that sells roofing supplies, because sometimes they put that copper flashing stuff on, but my dad thought they used short copper nails for that. Any ideas?

Lovely poem! And I hear ya!

YIDGTC: Let me try to understand. Because there's a high level of poverty in New Orleans, we shouldn't feel bad for the thousands of people whose homes have been flattened? Because, after all, they're all lazy down there anyway? It seems like you're saying everyone who's been unable to rebuild is a welfare-sucking lazy person. That's odd, because I have friends down there who have never seen a penny of welfare money, since the husband is a doctor and a med school professor. It took about 9 months for them to get a roof on their house. And, sadly, the two hospitals where he practiced and the university where he taught...still nonfunctional last I knew, which wasn't long ago. While I agree that living on welfare generation after generation creates learned helplessness, to dismiss the entire aftermath of the hurricanes in New Orleans as just desserts for the whole area just doesn't seem fair. Krys: I'm not sure what you're saying. Do you mean it's just superstitious to pray for a less devastating hurricane season this year? I'm not naive enough to think that our prayers will send every hurricane out to sea, but it would be nice if the cities and towns on the Gulf Coast didn't get slammed so hard two years in a row. I get that these storms serve a purpose, but can't they serve it somewhere else this year? :)

Dot, if your dad has diabetes, couldn't he just follow the diet his doctor or nutritionist gave him? People who follow their diabetes diet lose weight, and it seems less complicated than what's in these diet books. Just a thought.

I've never been to Amster-amster-sh-sh-sh, so I have nothing to add, except have a safe and fabulous trip, Hope, and take lots of photos to share, please.

Thanks for the precaution about salt, Krys!! I think for one tree I'll go with the copper nail (I'm hoping they sell them at regular hardware stores) and for the other, I think I'll go with Rhino's suggestion of cutting back the suckers that sprout up around the stump. Here's hopin'! Glad this thread was useful for you, too, Kit. CWF, great to "see" ya here!

Thanks, Roy. A holy kiss back atcha. Wow, so many great suggestions. I just wish I had more tree stumps to kill so I could try them all. NOT!

Vickles!!! So nice to see you here!! Yeah, the chain & truck thing would work, except I have a chain link fence around the yard, so there's no way to get a truck lined up right. Who knew a couple seeds (probably pooped by birds ) could cause such trouble. I think I'll try the cutting the new growth thing on one tree and the rock salt thing on the other, for my own little experiment.

Thanks, everyone. I knew I could get some answers from this illustrious group! I like these ideaas much better than poisons.

I didn't explain all the variables because I was in a hurry. From what I read, to be effective, whatever you use to treat these stumps needs to be applied within 2 or 3 hours after the tree is cut, while the cut is fresh. Yes, I could have borrowed a drill, but the rains started coming down. I'd have had to drive to my mom and dad's to borrow Dad's electric drill, which I probably shouldn't/couldn't use in a downpour. And (even if I could) then I'd have had to go find some diesel oil (not sure where--this isn't a big truck stop neighborhood) and try to pour it down the holes without getting any on my rose bushes right next to where one of the trees used to be. So far Rhino's solution sounds best. I can snip away the new growth as it springs up and try to kill the tree stumps/roots that way. Sounds like a plan. Home ownership is not for sissies. I miss being able to call a landlord for repairs and maintenance.

Thanks, guys, for responding. Garth, one of these trees is extremely hard wood. Not sure what it is, but this time I got my nephew to do the sawing, and he said that one was a bear. I just had him saw it down to ground level. I can't imagine digging down and trying to saw underground, unless I want to dig a huge hole in my yard. Rhino, I did read on one site that you should keep cutting back the suckers, but it wasn't clear to me whether that would actually kill what's left of the tree. I think that's the approach I'll take, unless someone comes up with a better idea. As much as I'd love to add a goat to my menagerie, I live in an urban residential area. Somehow I think my neighbors would object. It sure would cut down on the lawn mowing, though!

I agree, Topsy. I saw recent footage of areas of Louisiana that still look almost like they did right after Katrina. So sad. I'm hoping these puppies veer out into the ocean this year. The people whose homes, and life as they knew it, have been wiped out could really use a break.

I have two small trees that are growing right up against my house. I cut them down and of course they grow back. Obviously I have to find a way to kill the stumps and roots. I'd prefer some folksy, nontoxic method because I'd like to avoid dumping poisonous chemicals into the ground and don't want to risk harming my dogs. They're about 3 inches across and I understand the time to act is now, when they're freshly cut. I've searched the Web and found lots of toxic stuff. I also read you can burn them out--obviously not an option given their location. One site said drill holes in the stump and pour deisel oil down the holes, but I hate to buy a drill just for this. I'm STUMPED! Can anyone offer suggestions? Thanks.

He sure looks different, but then I guess most of us do after 20 years! Not fair, though. He looks better! Somewhere I have a video I taped when he was on the Johnny Carson show in the late 80s, I believe. Does he still play with Jon Bon Jovi, too?

New Midwest-Based Airline: Norwegian Viking Airline WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE NORWEGIAN VIKING AIR IS NOW OPERATING IN MINNYSOTA, AND ALSO SERVING VISCONSIN, NORT AND SOUT DAKOTA. If you are travelin’ soon, consider Viking Air, da no-frills airline. You're all in da same boat on Lutran Air, where flyin’ is a upliftin experience. Dere is no First Class on any Viking Air flight. Meals are potluck. Rows 1-6, bring rolls; 7-15, bring a salad; 16-21, a main dish, and 22-30, a dessert. Basses and tenors please sit in da rear of da aircraft. Everyone is responsible for his or her own baggage. All fares are by free will offering and da plane will not land 'til da budget is met. Pay attention to your flight attendant, who will acquaint you wit da safety system aboard dis Viking Air 599. Okay den, listen up. I'm only gonna say dis vonce. In da event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, I am frankly going to be real surprised and so vill Captain Olson, because we fly right around two tousand feet, so loss of cabin pressure would probably mean da Second Coming or someting of dat nature, and I wouldn't bodar witdoze liddle masks on da rubber tubes. You're gonna have bigger tings to worry about den dat. Just stuff doze back up in dair little holes. Probably da masks fell out because of turbulence which, to be honest wit you, we're going to have quite a bit of at two tousand feet, sorta like driving across a plowed field, but after a while you get used to it. In da event of a water landing, I'd say forget it. Start saying da Lord's Prayer and just hope you get to da part about forgive us our sins as we forgive doze who sin against us, which some people say "trespass against us," which ain't right, but what can you do? Da use of cell phones on da plane is strictly forbidden, not because day may confuse da plane's navigation system, which is seat of da pants all da way. No, it's because cell phones are a pain in da wazoo, and if God meant you to use a cell phone, He would have put your mout on da side of your head. We start lunch right about noon and it's buffet style wit da coffee pot up front. Den we'll have da hymn sing; hymnals are in da seat pocket in front of you. Don't take yours wit you when you go or I am going to be real upset and I am not kiddin! Right now I'll say Grace: "Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, And let deze gifts to us be blessed. Fadar, Son, and Holy Ghost, May we land in Dulut or pretty close." Happy Landin’ wit da Norwegian Viking Airline.