Linda Z

Congratulations! May the next 19 be even better than the first 19!!

Thanks, everyone, on behalf of Miss Emma. You're so right, DMiller. She is always ready to go. In fact, she has an uncanny way of knowing when I shower and dress in the morning on days off that I'm not going to work and if she really, really begs maybe she can go along. She darn near needs a valium if I give in and say the word "ride." Oh, and Krys, she enjoys me for sure. She rarely leaves my side. In fact, she's on the floor about 3 feet from me as I type. She'll only eat when I'm home, and if I feed her in the kitchen, she picks up her dish and carries it to whatever room I'm in before proceeding. I had to quit feeding her in the morning, because she didn't touch her food all day, but the cat was getting fatter and fatter! WyteDuv and Rottie, your dogs are beautiful, too, no doubt about it!

I've also been getting a lot of similar ones, with the ebay item #, only from "buyers" seeking more info. Only problem is, I've seldom sold anything on ebay and it's been a couple years since I have, so I've just deleted them, too. Thanks for the heads-up, Mo.

Thanks, Exsie, Act2, and Socks. Act2, I work with a friend who's terrified of dogs. I didn't know this when I called for a work-in-the-park day a few years ago and brought Emma along. Even she fell for Emma. Socks, you've pegged her exactly. She's a player alright, and a major tail wagger.

I totally agree, Mary Cate. Dogs are a special gift, whether they're mutts or have a classy pedigree. I love 'em all. Chris, I'd like to see Jazz moonwalking!!! Emma would do more tricks if I'd work more with her (i.e., bribe her with food). She learned to roll over in about 15 minutes, and I've almost got her sitting up on her haunches on command, but she gets a little nervous and doesn't hold it very long. Her best trick is winning hearts. Her ears perk up so high, and they have these long tendrils of hair at the tips, like little antennae. My dad looked at her one day and said, "She'd really be ordinary looking, if it weren't for those ears!" You can't tell in the picture, but although she's got the color pattern of a shepherd, she's got the whiskers (not to mention many personality traits) of a terrier. She's not the most obedient dog on earth (my fault--I'm too much of a pushover), but she's sweet to the max!

Thanks, Chris (hi!) and WhiteDove. She is a sweetie. Everyone who meets her falls in love with her. Just between us, she isn't a classic beauty (covering screen so she can't read this), but she more than makes up for it in personality. {{{WhiteDove}}} I know you miss your little sweetie. I hope the time will be right someday soon for you to get another furry companion.

Nah, it's the ears. The ears are the window to EmmaDog's soul.

I don't have a Web site right now to park photos on, so I hope one little attachment of my EmmaDog's photo is okay here. Is she cute, or what?!? :)-->

Well said, Oakspear. If I'm remembering correctly, on WayDale you couldn't even post on a "My Story" (whatever it was called there--I don't remember) thread because extwi didn't want it to become an open door for trashing the person who poured his/her personal thoughts out for all to see. Anyone else remember that?

Aw heck, I thought it was hilarious. We need a little levity around here. Scratch that. We need a LOT of levity around here. :D-->

Thanks, Mark, I needed that--just filed yesterday!!

Some wise and tender words from Littlehawk: "Perhaps we all need to hold hands a little more often as we recall our former Wayfer days."

Raf, I don't think Greek2Me was trying to insult you. You've heard the expression, "You can argue/talk till you're blue in the face, and he/she won't listen"? That was how I took it, at least.

All you wedding celebraters have fun and be safe. To Steve! and Chinson: All the best to you and the Chinettes as you begin your life of wedded bliss!! {{{(almost) Mr. & Mrs. Steve! and family}}} Suz, have a couple belts for me, will ya??

"3) I put the domain name up for sale with an e-mail address for the sale so that TWI could discretely purchase the domain through an innie and save face" I'm confused. I thought you said a few pages back that selling the domain name was a joke. Or was just the $15,000 price tag a joke?

A large percentage of homeless people are mentally ill. A decade or two ago they'd have been in mental hospitals, but the laws/funding changed and they were put out on the streets. Many of these mentally ill homeless people are paranoid schizophrenics. They avoid going to shelters for fear of being killed, robbed, raped, whatever. I know that doesn't account for the other people who decline help from a shelter, but it accounts for a lot of them. Linda Z

What a hoot, Jim! I love it. Thanks for sharing.

I'm aware that some people begging for money are just scamming the public. I do my best to listen to God and give when it seems right. I might not always be correct, but I'd rather be wrong and give to someone who doesn't need it than be wrong and not give to someone who does. Oldiesman said: OM, your post leaves me almost speechless--but not quite. Are you aware that not all disabilities--disabilities that might prevent people from getting a job--aren't obvious? Are also you aware that some people are overweight because (a) they're physically unable to exercise, and/or (b) they're subsisting on bread and crackers and rice and other cheap but filling foods because that's all they can afford? If you think those people got fat on steak and lobster, check out the Atkins diet. If I didn't have a job where I could work in an office, I'm not sure where I'd be. For now, the more physical work I've done in the past, even involving only a moderate amount of walking, is out of the question because of a chronic pain condition I have. I'm thankful I have a good job, but I sometimes think, "There but for the grace of God go I." I'm also thankful that I have a loving family who would take me into their homes in a heartbeat if I found myself in dire straits. Not everyone has that support system. Doesn't the account in the Bible of the good samaritan speak to your heart? Linda Z

For me it's a tie between Cindy Sheep (named for Cindy H***) and the little baby goats that would playfully climb all over my son and me when we went to the barn to feed Cindy and her pal Rita (also named after a childrens' activities sweetie). My son was allowed to raise the two of 'em for 4H. We went back to Rome City a couple years later. Cindy was out in the pasture with the flock (she didn't get sold at the fair because she was 1 lb too light--an answer to my little boy's prayer!). They kept her on the farm for breeding. My son and I walked down the road where the pasture was and called, "Cindy, Cindy." She came trotting over to us at the fence, looking so happy to see us. We were told that because she was the only tame ewe, she was the first one to get pregnant every spring. She was the only one who didn't run away when the farm crew brought the male into the pasture. LOL Least loving nonhuman: the head rooster. He attacked me every time I went to gather eggs. I never had a moment's remorse at chicken slaughtering time. Chickens are MEAN!

I'm sorry, Ex10, I don't know, but I was just thinking about them today myself and wondering where/how they are. They are wonderful. My LEAD hitching partner was friends with them. On our way back to Rome City, we spent the night in their home and they prepared us a champagne breakfast in the morning and drove us the rest of the way. Sweeties!

Geo: I'd agree with you if I were substituting train transportation for flying because I had to be somewhere in a hurry. But for me, the journey's as much fun as the destination. I don't think I'd get much out of the scenery at 150 mph or whatever it was! Actually, the little economy sleeper compartments remind me of those hotel-like places--are they in Japan or China?--that travelers rent just to sleep in...they look like berths on an old-time train. Galen: I'm glad the prices went down! diazbro: I've never been on a European train, but I feel the same way about trains today compared with 35 years ago. It's not as pleasant, but I still like it. Linda

Vick, they're in the hundreds when you book 'em in advance, but I was told (and Galen confirmed it) by an Amtrak worker that when you get on (with your regular coach ticket), just ask if they have any open sleepers and how much extra it would be. I think they'd rather get something for them than get nothing if they're empty. The shower's no luxury spa, but at least it's a shower. I wasn't on the train long enough to hassle with showering while lurching from side to side, but I bet I would on a 3-day trip. It sure would beat trying to wash up in one of those little sinks in one of those tiny bathrooms! We want a full report on your train adventure after you get back, vickles! (living vicariously) Linda

Wow, Galen, it must be a supply & demand thing or something. Cleveland to D.C. is a lot farther than NY to Connecticut, and before my upgrade to sleeper, it was $84 round trip (after my AAA discount of $15). I'd heard about that cheap upgrade once you get on the train. I paid more, on a special promotion they were doing. The sleeper cars were full going to D.C., but coming back, I think only three compartments were filled in my car. Sometime I'll try the on-the-train upgrade, maybe. Vickles, they have big family compartments. One that I looked at had a bathroom, even. Nice thing about sleeper cars is there's a shower...handy for those 3-day trips! If you could upgrade for cheap, it might be worth it! Hope you have fun. I really enjoyed traveling with my son by train when he was little. I could walk him around and take him for snacks and there was plenty of room for him to sleep and color and play. The good old days. I miss my little towhead! Now he's a big handsome man, but we sure had fun when he was a little guy. Let us know how your trip was, Vickles! Linda

I just got back from a trip to D.C. via Amtrak. It ain't perfect, and it ain't what it used to be when many different train lines competed for passenger business, but it still beats the heck out of being crammed into an airplane like a few hundred sardines: --with your ears popping, --with the head of a snoring businessmen (with Jack Daniels breath) flopping over onto your shoulder, --with a kid in the seat behind you kicking you in the back as hard as he can --and with at least one poor little baby crying nonstop at the top of her lungs the whole way. (Can you tell I'm not a big fan of flying?) I tried a sleeping compartment this time...had never done that before. I've decided that what you gain in privacy, you lose in comfort. The seats in the sleeping compartments are okay when folded down into a little bed, but for sitting, they're not a fraction as comfy as the big ol' reclining seats in coach. No foot rest, no behind-the-leg rest. I don't think I'll be forking over the extra money for that again. Anyway, I do love trains. Used to pop back and forth between Calif. and Ohio pretty often before my son was in school. If you've ever thought about taking a train ride, I'd suggest the fall or spring. The scenery is breathtaking then, and there are lots of interesting things to see. Even on this little trip from Cleveland to D.C., there are fascinating little towns, like Harper's Ferry, WV (of John Brown fame) and Martinsburg WV, with it's fantastic old train station (they're restoring it) and more. When I retire I'm going to buy one of those rail passes and ride all over the USA. No driving stress, no high gas prices...just sit back and read and nap and look out the window and enjoy. I'd do it now, but I can never take more than a few days off work at a time. It's definitely one of my dreams for a few years down the road. Anyone else like trains?? Linda Z

Krys, you must have been posting while I was still typing. I don't want to see you go. I enjoy your posts, usuaally. We just happen to disagree on this issue. You think Rocky's the only one who stirred things up, and I think there were two people with a spoon in hand. These skirmishes heat up from time to time and then they die down. I really don't think this particular one (they're always intense when we're in the midst of one) is going to mean the demise of GS. Hope you don't feel the same way in the morning. I'd miss you and your butterfly. Linda Z