Best of Chat

Last few days of messages from the archived topic: __ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 221 of 241: Kathleen Grant (Kaffeine) * Mon, Feb 3, 1997 (10:38) * 5 lines Margaret - Since its just a test site, the odds were that you wouldn't find anyone there. It IS good to know, however, that you AOLers can get into it! Now all I need to do is find a similar program that will allow for speaking in more than short sentences, so that we can ALL get together!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 222 of 241: Bernie Parkin (bernie) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (05:28) * 3 lines Kaff, here's an interesting pronblem. I just went over to see the temporary chat room and all I get is a blank black page and a message, which says "Applet can't srart; class JavaTalkClient not found". I'm using Netscape Gold 3 with an ethernet connection ot the Internet. PS Sorry about the spellings, but editing in a shell account is still an awful lot of hassle :( ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 223 of 241: The Mysterious H.C. (churchh) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (15:16) * 1 lines I got a "connection not made" error when I tried to connect... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 224 of 241: The Mysterious H.C.Henry (churchh) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (15:17) * 1 lines ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 225 of 241: The Mysterious H.C. (churchh) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (15:22) * 26 lines Here's some impromptu ad hoc imprecations and poetry, devised on the occasion of finding oneself alone in the chat room: From: Ann2 at 2/2/97 5:15 PM Forever empty is this room, why is it so? Wrong choice of time I do assume, I grieve hoho... From: Grace at 2/4/97 3:27 PM Everyone goes out the door... I am left alone once more! It is a condition I deplore. From: Grace at 1/25/97 10:41 AM Amy, Henry, Ian et al.... I am now channeling all my wishes and thoughts to you in hopes of persuading you cosmically to now appear here..... From: Ann2 at 2/2/97 3:26 PM Oh no, not again... those walls however elegantly covered with tapisseries and paintings, echo the sound of my lonely thoughts... Oh where are the friends that once I knew? Where have they gone? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 226 of 241: Cheryl Sneed (Cheryl) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (15:35) * 2 lines Oh how sad! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 227 of 241: Kathleen Grant (Kaffeine) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (20:25) * 5 lines That's wonderful - graffiti in the chat room!! If you have your towel, click here! (wav file) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 228 of 241: Susan Christie (Susan) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (20:43) * 4 lines I tried to go into A Place to Practice HTML under this new configuration and got a Server Error message (I was able to get in before). Help? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 229 of 241: Joan, too (jwinsor) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (20:56) * 1 lines Kaff - connections to the PCR seem to have ground to a complete halt - is there something happening in your part of the world interfering with connection? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 230 of 241: Joan, too (jwinsor) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (21:01) * 1 lines Kaff, Netscape said that the .wav file was "invalid"??? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 231 of 241: kathleen (elder) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (21:13) * 1 lines Joan, too -- I was able to access Kaff's .wav file, using Netscape. Local server problem? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 232 of 241: Joan, too (jwinsor) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (21:20) * 3 lines Just tried it again - Netscape (3.0, Mac) does not seem to like it. The PRC has not accepted a connection for almost an hour now... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 233 of 241: Johanne (JohanneD) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (21:22) * 3 lines " So long.... and thanks for all the fish" :) all I need to hear now is Wallace to say " Cheeeeeze, Gromit, we need some more Cheeeeeeezzzzzeeeee" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 234 of 241: Johanne (JohanneD) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (21:24) * 3 lines oups, sorry, forgot to mention I'm on Netscape gold 3.1 Windoze95 like it :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 235 of 241: Joan, too (jwinsor) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (21:42) * 1 lines The last time I tried the .wav it froze my whole machine and I had to restart. But I did save it and it played OK offline... go figure! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 236 of 241: Ian Davey (geekman) * Thu, Feb 6, 1997 (03:37) * 1 lines Well, I'm very pleased to see the PDR back again, Kaff. Bernie, Amy and I were all tossed out yesterday morning (USA Eastern Time) while having a great repartee. C'est la vie! ;-) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 237 of 241: Kathleen Grant (Kaffeine) * Thu, Feb 6, 1997 (17:26) * 13 lines Re: Chat outage. Here's the response from my ISP: ----------------- Kathleen, We noticed some instability in the hard drive about 1 -1/2 ago and we are replacing it now. We have shut off ftp access so that no one can write to the drive while we transfer the data to the new one. Should be up again in another hour. -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 238 of 241: Ian Davey (geekman) * Fri, Feb 7, 1997 (02:08) * 1 lines Thanks for the explanation, Kaff. Actually Kathleen, I hope you do get enough sleep ? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 239 of 241: Kathleen Grant (Kaffeine) * Sun, Feb 9, 1997 (00:03) * 4 lines Here's a link for you HHGTTG fans (a screensaver) ftp://sunsite.cnlab-switch.ch/mirror/winsite/win3/desktop/panic11.zip ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 240 of 241: Cheryl Sneed (Cheryl) * Sun, Feb 9, 1997 (00:25) * 1 lines Thanks Slartibartfast! From Ford Prefect. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 18 of 171 [austen]: Best of chat Response 241 of 241: Myretta (mrobens) * Sun, Feb 9, 1997 (08:51) * 5 lines Thanks Slartibartfast! From Ford Prefect. And from one of the Arthurs. Myarthur

And thanks Slartibartfast! From the one of the other Arthurs. Arthurian

Here is Becky's lovely graduation picture: Shortly, I will be setting up a Rogue's Gallery for anyone who wishes to post their picture on the web (this includes group get-togethers - Candace, where is our pic?!!!)...Anybody with a scanner can just pop the image up here in th Chat topic, and I'll take care of it from there. If you don't have access to a scanner, e-mail me and we can arrange for you to send a photo to me...

I see what you're doing, Kali. Get back to that thesis.

Myretta: I see what you're doing, Kali. Get back to that thesis. Such a Mom! ;-)

Sorry, but I still mean it...;)

Ahem Kali, I certainly appreciate your efforts regarding the Rogue's Gallery, and it is lovely to put a face to a name, but did the lady in question give you her permission to post her image here ? ;-) Just being picky, sweet Emma ! ;-)

She did...

Thanks Kali for making tangible what I wanted to do for such a long time (but have'nt learned yet all the ropes)

Maybe you two could work together on it?

Fer shure!

FER Shure! AWWWWW!

:)

This is just a totally irrelevant thought that struck me the other day which would not be of interest to anyone except Austen fans (and constitutional lawyers, of which I am one) There is this really important American case, which you well-educated Americans may have heard of called Dred Scott v. Sanford. It was pre-Civil War, and decided (terribly) (1.) that African-Americans were not and could not be citizens of this great country and (2) that the Missouri Compromise was illegal. Anyway, the Dred Scott who brought the case (he was a slave, arguing that he had been made free by travelling into a free state and territory) was married to a woman named Harriet. They had two daughters, called Eliza and Lizzy. As soon as I read this I thought "I wonder if she had ever read any Austen?" What a one-track mind.

I did not know that about Scott's daughters, Kate. Thanks. Actually I was married in the old St. Louis courthouse where the case was tried. Hadn't been a courthouse for years.

]Maybe you two could work together on it? Will be happy too

Cool, johanne...e-mail me with your ideas...I was thinking something VERY simple...

http://www.spring.com/~mhc/achtzzzm.html

Thank you Henry!

Here are two new smileys for people. They mive! You don't have to do anything differently than you would with regular gifs: <img src="http://www.spring.com/~anneh/loadlove.gif"> = and <img src="http://www.spring.com/~anneh/demismile.gif"> =

Thanks, Ann -- whatever happened with your Jeep and your job? You left us hanging!

Susan, neither are resolved yet.

Cute idea, Ann.

CHAT LOG - AUSTEN IN BOSTON REPORT From: Caroline at 2/23/97 8:58 PM Hello Myretta! How was your afternoon? From: Myrettaat 2/23/97 9:00 PM Hi everyone. Our afternoon was wonderful! Arnessa should be joining us soon. We wanted to report back on our tea. From: Amy at 2/23/97 9:01 PM Hi ladies. Tell, tell, Myretta. Did you giggle too much for the Ritz? From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:01 PM OK. I'll start. I saw the log from last night and I know that you guys want DETAILS. From: Anna (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:01 PM ] We wanted to report back on our tea. please do! I'm glad it went well! From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:02 PM We giggled just the right amount for the Ritz and the waiter offered to take our picture. From: Anna (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:03 PM ] I know that you guys want DETAILS. yeah, show us how it's done ;-) From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:03 PM Arnessa, Jane, Johanne, Laura, Celia, Paula and I all met at 3:00 at the Ritz Carlton and were seated at the table reserved for Austen. Introductions to all who had not met. Then we launched right into an Emma discussion. From: Anna (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:04 PM ] the waiter offered to take our picture. goodie! I hope you intend to post a copy... From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:04 PM Laura, Celia and Paula arrived a little after the first four and immediately shifted the conversation to actors - particularly Rupert Graves (if you know what I mean) From: Arnessa (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:05 PM Automatic Message: Arnessa Joined Chat Room From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:05 PM Hi Arnessa. I was just beginning the narrative. Please jump in. We took pictures during tea, but opted to go out by the pond in the Public Garden for the group Pic From: Caroline (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:06 PM [particularly Rupert Graves (if you know what I mean) I can imagine. Did you learn anything new about him that you wish to pass on? From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:06 PM We talked about what we all did and learned that Paula Lovejoy is the webmaster for the ZD-Net Page. From: Anna (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:07 PM hi Arnessa. ]out by the pond water Myretta? where's Cheryl??? From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:07 PM ] I can imagine. Did you learn anything new about him that you wish to pass on? No Of course, water. Since there was water in the pond, we decided not to wet down the doorman. From: Caroline (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:08 PM And did you get any big surprises once you met all these people? From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:10 PM ] And did you get any big surprises once you met all these people? I know I always form visual impressions when I start talking to people, but once I've met them, that is no longer operative. None of them were a great surprise. Johanne's spoken English is as good as her written, by the way. From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:11 PM Arnessa is writing about this, so perhaps she should tell you her impressions. From: Arnessa (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:12 PM It was a delightful tea. We laughed a lot. We talked about P&P, everyone was so pleasant, just what you might expect from our group. From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:13 PM Shall I continue, then? We talked a lot about our community and how we all came to it.... I sent your love, Amy and a *samooch* from you know who... Jane's husband is from the UK so she goes back to visit often. And visited Lyme last year...Jane, Laura and Johanne all have young daughters, 6, 2 1/2 and 3 1/2. Laura and Johanne had pictures. From: Amy (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:19 PM Did Laura try to make you watch anything? ;) From: Arnessa (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:19 PM I was surprised a little at how normal it all seemed, like we'd known each other for ages. There was very little awkwardness. We almost forgot that we actually knew very little about one other. We were well into the middle of the tea before Laura remembered to show us the pics of her little girl, and we got around to asking what everyone did. (and found out that Paula works for ZD-Net) From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:20 PM I took individual pictures at the table and some of the food.(which, by the way, was delightful). There was a harpist. The environment couldn't have been better From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:22 PM Arnessa is quite right. It didn't feel much like a first meeting. And we agreed we need to do it again soon. From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:21 PM ] Did Laura try to make you watch anything? ;) Laura tried to make us watch everything she'd seen recently. From: Arnessa (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:22 PM Yes, the harpist was lovely. I thought of Mary Crawford and her harp. It was you, Amy, was it not, who first mentioned JA's prejudice against harps? From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:23 PM We did think about throwing a passing roller-blader in the pond for effect, but decided against it. From: Amy (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:24 PM Yup, that would be me, Arnessa. I'll tell you more sometime how the harp and card playing theory relates to why I left off posting on the list. From: Arnessa at 2/23/97 9:25 PM The doorman was very handsome, and would have looked good wet, too. But we could think of little pretext to lure him to the pond. From: Caroline at 2/23/97 9:25 PM ] We did think about throwing a passing roller-blader in the pond for effect, but decided against it. Presumably didn't have enough of a resemblance to Mr Darcy to warrant it!;-) From: Myretta at 2/23/97 9:26 PM Fortunately, Johanne and I had just seen Hamlet so Laura wasn't able to proselytize on this front. From: Myretta at 2/23/97 9:26 PM ] Presumably didn't have enough of a resemblance to Mr Darcy to warrant it!;-) No, but he had a passing resemblance to Rupert Graves ;-) From: Amy at 2/23/97 9:26 PM ] we could think of little pretext to lure him to the pond. Nice Austeny language, A. Will you do any of that flavor in your article? Just for fun. You do it so well, even if it does tire you. From: Carolineat 2/23/97 9:28 PM No, but he had a passing resemblance to Rupert Graves ;-) ________ So who was for the throwing, and who against throwing Mr Graves' doppelganger? From: Amy at 2/23/97 9:28 PM Laura's great. We are lucky to have such a mix of Es and Is. Cheryl is a blessing for her ability to point and say, "We'll do this; we'll do that." From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:29 PM I can't remember who was for and against throwing. I think it was probably a group decision. . . It seemed a good idea for a moment, but the moment passed. From: Myretta at 2/23/97 9:31 PM ] We are lucky to have such a mix of Es and Is. Cheryl is a blessing for her ability We had a nice mix at the table, too. And Cheryl is a blessing in many ways From: Caroline at 2/23/97 9:32 PM Laura's great. _____ Agreed Amy. I wasn't picking, just curious...She's a genuine aries, like me. From: Arnessaat 2/23/97 9:32 PM "Will you do any of that flavor in your article? Just for fun. You do it so well, even if it does tire you. " Yes, I think using some Austeny lingo would give it a certain flavor. I only hope I can turn it off though. I can mimic other writers easily enough. It's actually harder for me to use my own voice sometimes. But I'm working on something for the writers guild, too. So you'll get enough of me mimicking Austen, I fear. From: Kate (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:33 PM Automatic Message: Kate Joined Chat Room From: Amy (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:33 PM ] But I'm working on something for the writers guild, too. __ Can't wait for that! Based on your sequel idea? From: Amy (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:35 PM Cheryl is an all-around blessing. From: Lisa (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:37 PM Thank you Caroline, that's nice of you to say. I'm kind of embarassed by it though! From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:38 PM What else? We talked about most of the Austen Adaptations. There was agreement about P&P2 (of course) and, I believe, agreement about how much we liked Persuasion (the Amanda Root one) From: Arnessa at 2/23/97 9:39 PM Hi Kate. No, Amy, the sequel idea is a bit too much for me to tackle right now. It'll be a shorter sketch about Mrs. Darcy and Mrs. Knightley From: Caroline at 2/23/97 9:39 PM Why, Lisa? It was inside you, and needed to come out, obviously! It came out in the best possible place!I am rarely inspired enough to write, but it does me good when I do. From: Arnessa (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:41 PM We also talked a good deal about Austen-L and its current state since some of us departed. It was really weird talking about people we all knew though we'd never met them or each other. From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:42 PM Celia, who works with Laura, was very familiar with the conference, but I don't think she has ever posted. Did you know, Arnessa, Amy? From: Anna (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:42 PM ] It'll be a shorter sketch about Mrs. Darcy and Mrs. Knightley delightful, I always thought they'd get on well... From: Amy (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:42 PM I think it is really cool how many people have written fiction. It's almost like it's inevitable that everybody eventually will break down and do it, now. Well, maybe not Henry. From: Myretta at 2/23/97 9:44 PM ] Well, maybe not Henry Who knows? Look at what an undergraduate thesis has done to Kali. A dissertation could drive Henry to a write a novel. From: Amy at 2/23/97 9:44 PM ] Mrs. Darcy and Mrs. Knightley __ Agreed, Anna. If we ever get around to making a game, it would be fun to see how the charcters might interact. From: Kate (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:44 PM ]A dissertation could drive Henry to a write a novel. What about do you think? From: Amy (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:45 PM I enjoyed Arnessa's posts from day one, and we tended to agree with each other most of the time, I think. I liked her right off the bat. From: Myretta at 2/23/97 9:45 PM ] What about do you think? I wouldn't begin to guess. From: Arnessa at 2/23/97 9:46 PM "Well, maybe not Henry." Oh, I wouldn't bet on it Amy. This group will draw even him out eventually. He may try to resist, but it's inevitable if he hangs around long enough, we'll get to him. I'm convinced of it. From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:46 PM ] I liked her right off the bat. As did I. And she's just as great in person! From: Anna (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:48 PM ] What about do you think? Fanny? From: Myretta (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:49 PM I learned this weekend that Johanne studied fashion design and is the proud possessor of a book of authentic period patterns. She's dying to share them. From: Amy (New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:50 PM Real patterns? Wow. I guess they did it on a grid? From: Myretta at 2/23/97 9:51 PM ] Real patterns? Wow. I guess they did it on a grid? I don't know how they did it, but one of the reasons Johanne is so interested in learning how to create and post graphics is so she can post some of the patterns. From: Caroline at 2/23/97 9:51 PM ] the proud possessor of a book of authentic period patterns. She's dying to share them. Do you happen to know its name, Myretta? From: Myretta at 2/23/97 9:52 PM I don't, Caroline, but ask Johanne. She'll be glad to tell you. From: Arnessa(New Msg) at 2/23/97 9:54 PM Yes, I guess there's not much else to say except that it was extraordinary that everyone was so agreeable. It might have made a better story had it been otherwise, but I'm glad it wasn't.

*sigh* How wonderful! I'm so envious! :-)

So am I!

If Only They Knew Rupert Hinslow, doorman at the Ritz, arrived at work after a tormented night of of fending off the calls of his ex-girlfriend (whom he had nicknamed CyberMoll when he learned firsthand her habit of daily credit card bingeing at CyberShop) and working on chapter 16 of his Austen sequel to S&S, What Love Has Learned. Disillusioned with modern women's illiterate and shallow ways, Rupert expected no further happiness from them and certainly gave none, having become a bit morose and defensive in their eal world presence and only allowing himself to be captivated with them in his novel. He was therefore caught offguard when a number of pleasant ladies passed him, giving him a quietly approving look and murmuring about their upcoming Jane Austen gathering inside the Ritz. Despite his training to be the perfect doorman - handsome, attentive, and quietly alert - he found his mind attempting to discover a reason for leaving his post and joining these kindred spirits in a scintillating discussion of his beloved author. Moreover, in that instant of passing his masculine sensor had detected a quaint and barely smothered feminine arousal under their Austenlike semi-austere, semi-provocative garments that threatened to obliterate his recent carefully constructed barrier of distrust and disinterest in women... The waiter, a more worldly fellow and yet a friend, surreptitiously reported to Rupert that several of the Austen party had been commenting on his attractions and their whimsical desire to see him wet, like someone named Darcy, by throwing him in the pond nearby. Having seen many times the A&E production of P&P, Rupert instantly knew the sensuous and emotional import of the remark, and despite his continued outward composure found himself desiring to dive in of his own accord, taking at least one of the ladies with him and... But the moment passed. Habit, reason, and a little more melancholy resumed their grip on him, and Rupert Hinslow stoically watched them depart. That night he added some new characters to his story, however, and decided on a different ending.

Wendy, It's almost like you were there. Thanks for letting us know what he was thinking.

Hey, I'm going to combine the Fanny Price theme and the science fiction theme, (see the posting by Lura R. in last Friday night's AUSTEN-L digest -- I think I'll post it over in Ramble), so that the title of my novel will be "Fanny Price, Galactic Empress"!!! (Just kidding -- I think...)

Henry, this is going to be fantastic. Fanny takes on obnoxious aliens at planet mansfield and defeats them single - handedly. Coudl someone copy the Lura (or is that meant to be Laura) posting over here so non-AustenL types can read it? It sounds _excellent_

Henry, what a marvelous idea (even if inspired by team writing gone awry)! Be sure to share it w/ us, chapter by chapter. ;-) Boston Austenites -- what a super wonderful time it sounds. I should have liked to be there.

H.C., since you have evinced yourself to be a fan of Heinlein, I am waiting in anxious anticipation!;-)

Actually, though I read and have read a fair amount of science fiction old and new, I am NOT particularly a fan of Heinlein... I tend more towards Cordwainer Smith, Lois McMaster Bujold, Lord Dunsany, Zenna Henderson, and some of Ursula K. Leguin, Anne McCaffrey, and Andre Norton (these last three somewhat erratic in quality)... As for the classic "great masters" of Science Fiction, I read a lot of Asimov in my youth, but don't reread his works much now, I like some Clarke stuff (especially the second version of The City and the Stars) but am not a fervent fan, and never saw much in Heinlein or Bradbury to start with...

this may be just what I need to justify to my DH. He keeps asking "when do we get to the car chase?"

Designated hitter?

dearest husband, tho' that might be interesting to contemplate at times

I hope your dearest husband is not your designated hitter, Cindy! ;-) Have you shown your husband the "team writing assignment" that I posted over in the Ramble topic (from Lura Raplee's posting to AUSTEN-L)?

Again, not funny, Henry.

HC, I have not for he's snoring on the couch at this writing

]I am NOT particularly a fan of Heinlein... Nor am I, HC, but was always particularly taken with his idea that all literary characters live in universes parallel to ours. I did not mean to (and certainly hope I did not) imply that you were 'taken' with those of his tales where morality is decidedly lacking. As for supposing that you were a fan, I halfway remember seeing a reference to a "fair witness" on one of these threads, thought it came from you, and leaped to a hasty and erroneous conclusion. Oops. Sorry.

HC, there is no hitting going on, only LOTS of tag-team parenting (I'll drop him off at basketball practice on my way to rehearsal if you'll pick him up after her dance class lets out and meet you back at home in time to crach and do it all again tomorrow) DH read the story just now - I'm not shure just what level, but it was definitely LOL. I think he thinks there's hope for JA, yet! Thx for the chuckles

that's "crash" I'm not sure what crach might be