I've been holed up here all day but I don't have cabin fever. I love it at my place. It's night time. Outside it's drizzling. I've been building new boxes to put on the net, reading, studying and writing today. The evening news is on the tube. I feel like making a pot of coffee. I keep getting a box on my screen that says my outbox in Microsoft Mail is damaged. My outbox is empty! I got some interesting email from Elizabeth Gipps, an old friend today. And that's part of my world tonight.

I can't believe I'm actually doing this - I usually steer clear of such threads :). But then this has not been a typical day! I baked muffins for the first time in my life (my mother is slightly obsessive about anyone cooking in her kitchen, but she's w orking at the moment) and they were a success. Hey I'm doing better than the Bennet girls - they couldn't cook. I also just got rudely interrupted from my spring-browsing by a door-to-door salesman wanting to give me a voucher for 20 free meals - only I'd have to pay $30 for it! I blame Neil Finn for it all. Huh? I hear you say. Mr Finn was lead vocalist for Crowded House - my all-time favourite band who announced they were breaking up in June. Their final charity concert on the steps of the Sydney Opera House was televised he re on Sunday, and I'm am currently slowly working my way through a grieving process involving contimuous playing of all my Crowded House CDs - maybe that's why the salesman looked happy to depart. Top that people!

Tough to top. The only rule in this topic is that are no rules and that you can talk about anything and everything. Total free form.

During my one excursion outside, I acquired a stud finder and 16 yards of unbleached muslin. Prize for the most creative use of these wares.

Hope you find that stud. I'm kicked back watching the music awards on Fox. And I'm scanning in some ancient family photos of my Norwegian relatives in Minnesota. I'm building sort of a family album web page for my folks and family at Christmas. It's my life story too. Dishwalla's playing on the tube.

Moody Blues boxed set CD is playing (the poetry is a bit surreal), and I just finished making up an algebra exam to give to my students tomorrow. I have not had time to browse here since Saturday evening, and I must say that I have missed all of you. I skipped (church) choir rehearsal to relax this evening, so I suppose I feel a bit guilty. Saman, congrats on the muffins. It has been an absolute age since I used my kitchen stoves to do anything other than heat soup or cook frozen dinners! As soon as the semester is over, I will go to San Diego for a week over Christmas -- mom and one brother's family out there. I plan to take the S&S video to share w/ mom.

Moody Blues. Santana was just on the music awards getting the Century Billboard award. Only George Harrison and three others have ever won this award. Still scanning pictures and working on some website proposals. I've got 4 computers hooked up to a switchbox here and I'm flipping from one to another. Bastrop Internet Services is working on building up the new server, I popped another 20mb of memory in it last night and Scott's putting NT 4.0 on it. I don't know if it's back on line yet. Their website is http://www.bastrop.net Tomorrow, Matt is going to build up a new primary server to replace http://access.spring.com which bit the dust. I got a 2mb hard drive to replace the 1 gigger that went down. The rains have past. It's quiet out in Cedar Creek, like it always is. I wonder what Amy's doing tonight.

Amy slept for a change -- but awoke at 4 am

Good morning Amy, it's 6 am here and you've already been up for two hours, are you ever bright eyed and bushy tailed today! I'm going in to Austin today to take care of lots of business and things that are piling up. I've got to get that contract going with Texaltel (see projects) and get that machine to Matt (to replace the server that crashed) and a bunch of friends are meeting at pub on 6th street tonight. We had some interesting comments in one of the NetMeeting topics yesterday (not the one that's linked to here) and you may want to check them out in the 'apps' conference. Did you know that if you hit the 'enter' key twice that you will get a menu here if you're in a shell? But only about half the menus work so far. I'm writing shell scripts to do a whole bunch of things. Is anyone here good at writing shell scripts?

Even though I won't be online for the next 8 hours. I left my microphone aimed at my radio. So you may be able to hear me talking to other folks if you connect to me on NetMeeting.

Here are some of the pictures I scanned: http://www.spring.com/~terry/albumjpg/ And me as a baby: http://www.spring.com/~terry/albumjpg/terry2.JPG

I have to start making Christmas cookies and wrapping presents. I would like to get most of this done while my "the little angels" are in school. I will be very busy during the morning hours. Every year I say I will not go crazy but every YEAR we do. Oh w ell, "tis the seasons to be joLly, fa,la,la,la,la,la,la" * *** ***** ******* ********* *********** *** ***

1 "Merry Christmas" 232 "Happy New Year" 34443 4555544 566666665 67777777776 7888888888887 101

I guess half a tree is better then none. HO! HO!

HO!

I have to make it down to see the tree of lights in Zilker Park. See my comments in the food conference about my wonderful dinner tonight.

I'm having a hard time finding any holiday spirit this year. I usually enjoy gift giving and all the events but Novemeber has worn me out. Someone remind me what's it like to have a life outside of work. Donna, could you pls send a little of your xmas spirit my way? I'm in grave need. Mich

Sure Mich, no, problem it will be a "surprise"

D'Arcy or Pemberley shape cookies anyone ? Donna, you already got some gifts ? Got to get them before the usual 24-hour-prior-to-Xmas-day. And it is a major plus to have kids, they really put you in the spirit don't they. Almost no choice but to feel it. My trick for the past years, particularly when all I had was a job and friends at the other corner of the earth, was to give time to needy causes (filling baskets of food. Nothing like seeing a two/three year old receiving is only plush teddy. Even if my situation as quite change, I remained faithfull to this commitment and it makes me feel great. Sending you my warmest wishes of joy and happiness, mich.

Not a good day today. Two girls in my homeroom were making fun of my friend Tara because she is skinny and short. They called her a Balemic Monkey (I dan't know if thats spellled right). They spread nasty rumors about her for absolutly no reason. They threw her books in the garbage, STOLE a few of her belongings, and on top of all that they threw away her BIBLE!! I am sooooooo pissed off right now. We also lost our game by ONE piont. It was a good game. I am not going to get any sleep tonite becaus John has invited 4 friends to sleep over. They are all loud and abnoxious (forgive spelling).

Cat, hope you were able to give Tara some support and comfort. At a time like that one really needs one's friends. Insecure young people can be so hard on one another. (And some of them never do grow out of it and become Caroline Bingleys!)

They should have a class in grade school/high school to teach people how to to love each other

But Donna, I believe that this is what parents are for?

Cheryl sometimes that is not enough.

People can just be so nasty to each other it disgusting! Tara was hysterical all day yesterday! I feel so bad as if I've done something awful. I feel so helpless! I want to comfort her but I can't. She is too upset. Things like this have been going on since fifth grade with her! I thought people in their last year of high school would at least be mature enough not to do that sort of thing. I hope she can forgive them. I hope I can forgive them. It is times like this to where the only way I can f rgive is when I look back and remember what Jesus did for me. Even though we laughed at Him, spat on Him, beat Him, and even killed the Messiah, the son of God, He asked His Father to forgive us all. He could have just jumped off that cross and destroye d all mankind with the snap of a finger but He didn't. He did not want to die but He loved us all so much. He wanted us to be with Him in paradise when we leave our earthly bodies. We do not deserve His love, but He gives it willingly. For those who a e offended by this message I am sorry for invading your beliefs.

People can just be so nasty to each other it disgusting! Tara was hysterical all day yesterday! I feel so bad as if I've done something awful. I feel so helpless! I want to comfort her but I can't. She is too upset. Things like this have been going on since fifth grade with her! I thought people in their last year of high school would at least be mature enough not to do that sort of thing. I hope she can forgive them. I hope I can forgive them. It is times like this to where the only way I can f rgive is when I look back and remember what Jesus did for me. Even though we laughed at Him, spat on Him, beat Him, and even killed the Messiah, the son of God, He asked His Father to forgive us all. He could have just jumped off that cross and destroye d all mankind with the snap of a finger but He didn't. He did not want to die but He loved us all so much. He wanted us to be with Him in paradise when we leave our earthly bodies. We do not deserve His love, but He gives it willingly. For those who a e offended by this message I am sorry for invading your beliefs.

I thought I hit that button once. Sorry.

I spent the night waiting in a hospital emergency room....the victim is home and doing well, but meanwhile, I now feel like I am the one who need a doctor's care..... in an unrelated incident, I hit someone's car (black ice...nothing I could do)....my son 's snake is loose in the basement (Indiana Jones and I have similar feelings about vipers;I am contemplating a move to the Hilton)....I have to turn out a shepherd costume for my son by Monday or the PTA gestapo will come after me......On Sunday, I must s epherd a bunch of cub scouts carolling at a nursing home; only threats of bodily harm will get them to behave like angels(Hope the elderly won't notice the 'Batman smells' version of Jingle Bells).....my house looks like a sewer....by way of holiday decor ating,I'm thinking of stringing lights on the pumpkins that have frozen to the front porch......and friends keep wondering why I spit at the TV every time an ad for the Martha Stewart Christmas special comes on. Sorry to ramble, but just wanted to let you know it has been a typical week in the House of Grace. Ho, Ho, Ho! P.S. Amy, if you really want to find that stud, I would advise AGAINST using all 16 yards of the muslin....try working with 2 or 3 yards to make some low-cut little number that will hammer home the right message....be sure to wear that WonderBra (or if y ou don't have one, duct tape works the same kind of Wonders) ;-)

] I hit someone's car (black ice...nothing I could do)... ___ Oh Grace. How awful for you. Do treat yourself to the Hilton. Why not? And popcorn and champaign and P&P tomorrow. Can I come over?

Oh dear, Grace! Who is the "victim" and of what, if the black ice was an unrelated incident? ANd what variety of snake is loose? Fear not - in general, many snakes make very good pets and many others are of an extremely shy and retiring character and u nlikely to do anything to anyone unless provoked. When in junior high I was one of a group of kids who "volunteered" at the museum, and among our duties were, every two weeks, if there were no live mice available with which to feed the snakes, to force-f ed them hamburger, which they would not eat on their own, preferring their food alive. So two of us took on each snake, one holding the mouth open and the other poking the hamburger inside - then we had to hold its mouth shut till it swallowed the bite. The experience really stripped the poor snakes of all dignity and ability to inspire fear. Joan, too

Joan, the victim of last night's hospital escapade was my husband....he had gone to a Detroit Pistons game and was done in by a hot dog.....a piece lodged in his esophagus.......only with an ambulance, drugs, and a surgeon now behind us,and the victim fee ling much better, can I even dream of talking about the whole thing. (My husband was at the game with friends, one of whom is a thoracic surgeon and the other, a pediatrician. I'm left to wonder where they were during this whole thing!) My husband is a man of few words but because of this incident, those few are down to NONE, and he has to lecture on Monday. My son assures me that the snake missing from his collection is a milk snake...but I think this is a conspiracy to paint images of some benign creature hiding down there rather than a horrible lurking monster. (I am the only person on the block with cans of carnivorous snake food and freeze-dried crickets in her refrigerator - Woe to the guest innocently looking for a midnight snack.) Be assured that we are all now doing well.....and the HIlton says they do offer special rates for extended stays. Grace

Re: 59:31 - what a nasty and scary experience. One would have thought that in the company he was in, he'd have been in good hands! My husband is a man of few words but because of this incident, those few are down to NONE, and he has to lecture on Monday." Hopefully the swelling will have gone down at least somewhat by then. And if not, tell him to borrow a PowerBook, feed it a SimpleText textfile and let MacInTalk read it for him. [grin] I am the only person on the block with cans of carnivorous snake food and freeze-dried crickets in her refrigerator For a year or two I had siamese fighting fish, and was the only one on my block with live brine shrimp tubifex worms in my refrigerator. Equally disgusting- especially the tubifex worms! Joan, too

You beat me to it with the muslin, Grace. I'm glad you and your husband are okay.

About beating you to it with the muslin, Hilary.......I couldn't help myself; Amy gave us an opening that was 'sew' inviting. (By the way,I threw in the duct tape just to please you.) If I had been smart, I would have gotten Amy to whip up my shepherd costume with the extra yardage and send it by overnight mail. The family survived a difficult week....I was just beginning to feel optimistic about life again.....and then I went to that party last night at the home of a Martha Stewart clone...... which was enough to plunge this hapless homemaker into endless depres sion! So begins another week.

I'm off to work this morning. I had a nice weekend. We had very pleasant weather here in Austin. I started topic 82 in hopes that some of you will email folks that are interested in the Spring. If you find someone to your liking in topic 82, please email them and let them know they are most welcome here on the Spring. This would be most appreciated. I finished tape one of P&P and am part way in to tape two. I'm savoring the experience of seeing these tapes!

Who is Martha Stewart? Should I know? Thanks for the virtual ducktape! I should really use some round here - three of our 11 ducklings have died, probably at the beak of our drake. What we will do when we go away is a problem. Saw Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt last night. JB was enjoyable, ultra smooth, BR was WONDERFUL, great voice, fantastic blues slide electric guitar, and one raunchy lady.

Martha is the US doyenne of elegant entertaining. 'She' is an empire...does TV specials, has books by the dozen, her own magazine -Martha Stewart Living, and a catalog of upscale merchandise. People either adore her, or, as in my case, live to make fun o f her. Diane White, a columnist at the Boston Globe, has for years kept up an anti-Martha campaign. Martha parody books are a hot item for Christmas around here. Jackson Browne AND Bonnie Raitt? Wow.

quote for the day "Boring Women Have Immaculate Homes" (from my fridge magnet)

Hil, my nearly dead nap page has a Jackson Brown song as its theme song: http://www.bluemarble.net/~amyloo/wno.html

Donna, tell your story about meeting Hornsby in the music conference, and I will tell about Mellencamp? Did we not tell each other we met them while pregnant?

Amy, do you mean the music conference here at spring? I haven't got beyond here yet. 'Running on Empty' is a great song, BTW. Sorry it is applicable to your nap page, though. Or are you happy its run its course? Just musing that its 16 years since John Lennon died. I still get sad about it. 'And so this is Chrismas, and what have you done, Another year over, a new one just begun'.... And Joni's still ricochetting around in my head: Its coming on Christmas They're cutting down trees They're putting up reindeer And singing songs of joy and peace. I wish I had a river I could skate away on....

] Just musing that its 16 years since John Lennon died. ___ I happened to be in New York just after the murder and went to the Park for the vigil. I will never for get it.

I love those old Joni Mitchell songs!!

Hilary, I am so glad that Martha Stewart has not poisoned Australia yet. If she stages a coup and completely takes over here (she decorated the White House last year on her Christma she knows her way around), Grace, Anna and the rest of us may have to co me and hide out at your place. Jane

Jane - I am in Australia :)

... at a safe distance from Martha Stewart.

I am no where near even the fringe of the nieghborhood of Christmas Cheer. I have baked no cookies, I have sent no cards, I have bought no presents, I have not decorated my house (I did decorate my piano studio for my students, but that's all.) I am up to my eyeballs in Christmas in everything I do but none of it has affected me. This is the busiest time for musicians, everyone wants special Christmas programs- I have 9 more events in addition to my regularly packed schedule in the next two weeks. I a so busy "Making Christmas Bright" for everyone else that I have none left for myself. An occupational hazard, I know, and in the past I've always been able to rise above it, but not this year. The only day I can even see a few open hours to shop is Dec . 23, and I get the heebie jeebies just thinking about entering a mall two days before Christmas! Santa, help me!

Anna, I realized after I posted my message that I was only guessing that you were within reach of Martha's clutches. That gives the rest of us another potential refulge! Cheryl, I am in a similar boat, not as busy so less of an excuse for failure to make cookies, decorate, shop. My husband is out of town this week so I am with our 2-year old--I tried to go shopping but had to chase her around, and ended up spending a few hours at the mall buying only stuff for her. But here's a shopping tip that I found out about on the Austen-L, and bought for my aunt. Blockbuster has, for $29.99, Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility packaged together. The problem is, it is probably better present for you than for anyone you know! Jane P.S. Music is such a great part of Christmas---at least you can enjoy your work!

It is funny how the weather changes here in Oulu, Finland. In the morning it is quite warm (about +2 degrees centigrade, which is warm this time of the year), and there's little water in the streets. In the evening, returning home, you have to walk through several inches (20 in worst cases) of snow, and the temperature is -15 degrees C. I have to get used to it. Usually it has been -20 and 20 inches of snow all the time. The worst point is that it is VERY slippery... Hope I'll live through Xmas, I'll visit my parents and eat well... And have a decent sauna, with my mother's healing spells. We belong to a family of witches, after all.

Real witches, Mixu? Tell. Jane, just think. Unless you are going to have more kids, it gets easier every second with the little ones. Today you can't shop. In another few months you will be able to avert your eyes for a few more seconds at a time to attend to what you need. Amy

Re 59:32 Joan, just wanted to let you know that my husband was able to croak his way through Monday's lecture and everything went well. (I had dragged him over to read your solution, he got quite a kick out of it.... and said to tell you thanks!) Grace P.S. This madhouse I live in also boasts siamese fighting fish....but we don't spoil ours with the worms you mentioned.

Re 59:38 Anna, what an inspirational fridge magnet...BORING WOMEN HAVE IMMACULATE HOMES......I'd love to put one on my fridge but I find the dirt layer keeps magnets from sticking......time to buy a new fridge, I guess!

Hil, Re: Running on Empty 59:32 (Joan I am getting to like this notation) Did the MIDI link work for you? Amy

Re: 59:51 - Grace - glad he enjoyed it. :-) If you don't have to "do" tubifex worms, you must have a reliable supply of live brine shrimp - mine were too picky to eat the feeeze-dried ones. Amy, re: 59:53 - using the numbers is better than nothing, but not nearly as good as an automatically created link! For example, "Re: Running on Empty 59:32" - "32" is not about MIDI - it's about tubifex worms. (It's too easy to copy the wrong numbers! - especially for those of us who are numerically challenged! I count myself as one of these, having scored in the 4th percentile in a math aptitude test.) I have been playing around in the redisplay box below and have discovered that to go back just to a referred-to response, typing in "32-32" will get just that one response (which is how I knew that it was tubifex worms). And that typing a negative number , say "-4", will show just the last 4 responses.

] And that typing a negative number, say "-4", will show just the last 4 responses. ___ That might be handy.

"Blockbuster has, for $29.99, Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility packaged together" Thank you! I just called my local Blockbuster and they have it - and my husband is going x-mas shopping tomorrow night. Guess what just made it to the top of my list?!

I'm busier than you can imagine, and will be till the weekend. Keep the home fires burning Amy!

Mixu, have you discovered 'austen' yet? You're in for a treat!

I lost my wallet! This must be the worst time of year to be without credit cards.

Gosh, sorry to hear this Ann. Is there any chance of retrieving it? Where did you lose it?

Oh Dear - you have my deepest sympathy. This time last year I had mine stolen. Had to stop and change everything - including house and car locks, since there were spares for both car and house in the wallet, and had no ID. Then about 3 weeks later a ma il carrier found it in the bushes in a neighboring community - everything there but the cash.

Subject: "software" Last year, my friend upgraded his GirlFriend3.1 to GirlFriendPlus1.0 (marketing name: Fiancee1.0). Recently he upgraded Fiancee1.0 to Wife1.0 and it's a memory hogger, has taken all his space; and Wife1.0 must be running before he can do anything. Althoug h he didn't ask for them, Wife1.0 came with plug-ins such as MotherInLaw and BrotherInLaw. Some features I'd like to see in the upcoming GirlFriend4.0... - A "Don't remind me again" button - Minimize button - Shutdown feature - An installshield feature so that Girlfriend4.0 can be completely uninstalled if so desired (so you don't lose cache and other objects) I tried running Girlfriend 2.0 with Girlfriend 1.0 still installed, they tried using the same I/O port and conflicted. Then I tried to uninstall Girlfriend 1.0 but it didn't have an uninstall program. I tried to unstall it by hand, but it put files in m y system directory. Another thing that sucks -- in all versions of Girlfriend that I've used is that it is totally "object orientated" and only supports hardware with gold plated contacts. ***** BUG WARNING ******** Wife 1.0 has an undocumented bug. If you try to install Mistress 1.1 before uninstalling Wife 1.0, Wife 1.0 will delete MSMoney files before doing the uninstall itself. Then Mistress 1.1 will refuse to install, claiming insufficient resources. passing along funnies for the day. Mich

Amy, #4 response. I got ahold of a stud finder once. It was recommended by Norm Abrams, I think. Well, I figured this device would soon have me in touch with one or more outstanding specimens of manhood. Unfortunately, the device was not a stud finder at all. It was a turkey caller. I guess the items got mixed up in the display; this happens at flea markets. As a turkey caller it was effective. Several real losers showed up and asked me for a date. A week later I donated the turkey caller to the Chamber of Commerce because they were holding their annual Sport-o-rama and there was to be a turkey calling contest. At the height of the contest, my ex flew in from Texas. So I know the turkey caller worked properly, when used by an expert. As for the bolt of unbleached muslin, you could make several sets of sheets. 108" X 90" for standard flat sheets, I think. That's after the hems. It's good to have plenty on hand if your stud finder works well. Keep us all posted, hear?

Amy, I could get through to click on "Running on empty" but then it just gave me coded screen messages, it didn't play anything.

I'm new on this, but after reading this I don't feel so bad. Christmas is kind of a bummer this year. Both daughers left home this summer, and the house is empty. I have a new granddaughter in Germany that I haven't got to hold yet.So am not really in t he Christmas spirit yet. My best to all of you. As for Martha Stewart, I wish she was real. No one can be that creative all the the time. I think she is a defense department robot that went haywire. Have a happy holiday to all, and to all a good nig t!

That explains Martha Stewart! No wonder.

I found a nice #7 sable brush half covered with mud under a pine tree during my walk. I think it is a present.

I called Scott Holman over at BIS and he got the dedicated ip to resolve. But that's another topic. I've been rambling around the house today, cleaning and organizing. I started today driving through the fog to a breakfast at IHOP. As they say around town, 'onward through the fog'. I feel like going out for a night time walk.

Hmm. Been pretty noisy today. Attended #1 son's play off basketball game (we won), took same son Christmas shopping (he was miserable), went to my 91 year old grammies for a real baked bean supper (we go every Saturday night), came home around 10:00 to complete chaos. #1 Daughter crying because Dad had carted her away from 3 boys & 2 girls spell TROUBLE. (She is 14 and was horribly embarassed. One of the boys had been RUDE. Dad didn't like it. Parents call. Apologies. More howling. Daughter VERY MAD not at Rude Boy, no, Mad at Dad for intefering) This is the only quiet spot in the whole house (and it's already Sunday). By the way, I agreed with Dad and not Daughter and am trying to convince her that her 'friend' owes her a BIG apology. That the whole incident is really about respect and dignity. Being a parent is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

Well, me and significant other were going out to eat when we decided to go by 15 year old stepson's fathers house (who is out of town) to check it out. Stepson was supposed to be spending the night at a friends house. Seems we had a idea that stepson mi ght be up to something. When we drove up to the house there were and wife unit walked in, about 50-75 adolescents scurried out of the house. The house was full of beer, liquer etc.. When it was time to go stepson had set it up where one of his friends icked him up and he left. We chased after him but to no avail. Needless to say, stepson is grounded till next year, which I do not know if that is more of a punishment for me/us or him.

I am so glad I do not have kids!

And that's what I'll have the privileged to, in about 10 years. Preparing myself, I think....

Hi, I'm new to Ramble. It's about dawn in S.F.Sunday morning the 15th. I hoping to get some leads on how to find out information about who actually makes those holiday ornaments in China, etc. or the toys. Having just watched the TV special last Sunday Mrs. Santa Claus, and the part about the kids making thetoys, I couldn't help wonder, as I went shopping yesterday. Me, I'm getting my elementary teaching credential with an emphasis in technology. If posssible, now that finals are just about over, I'd like to throw up a web page about this topic. The page would be dedicated to Iqbal Masih http://www.digitalrag.com/mirror/iqbal.html a 12 year old who was killed on Easter Sunday organizing against child labor My e-mail address is crapak@sfsu.edu. not the one that I had to register with Any leads would be appreciated. I'll try to check back on this conference but e-mailing me directly would also be appreciated since time is short and I want to have it up before next week shopping. I'll be doing research on who makes toys for leading toy makers, GUND, etc. and other importers who may or may not be using children to make the ornaments, toys. Happy Holidays Please feel free to forward this request to any appropriate list etc. Thanks for the help!

Sure, we'll be happy to let you set up your web page. Send your request to: mailto://terry@spring.com Be sure to let me know what username you would like.

Terry and Amy - there are now so many threads - that it takes a long time to review just today's messages. Lots of IO time just to see that person "A" is LOL at person B's comment yesterday. I love those comments, but there is a lot of download time inv olved here. If we get a day or two behind, we drown. Is it possible to combined threads - maybe the older ones - on similar topics so we of limited time can cover the ground a little quicker. Maybe after a topic is a week old, it could be folded in with other similar topics. We have two addiction threads, two duckfaces, several minor character threads, lots of others that could be combined so that IO time could be reduced.

The way to "combine threads" or topics as they're called, would be copy and paste a complete topic into a single response in another topic then "scribble" it. Or make it hidden unless you clicked on it. We'd have to ask Dave how to implement a scribble command or hide command or whatever you wanted to call it. It's not currently implemented. But this could be a solution. Is this what you mean?

Re; It seems that you have to be one step ahead of them. At least no one was injuried. I would definitly ground him{a year is pretty hard to enforce} and make him do chores around the house.My son said {who is 13} he should not be allowed to drive until{n o permit} he is 18 years old. I am very surprised at this punishment. He knows that most kids can't wait to drive just, like him.

I just got caught up on reading my e-mail! 37 messages deleted from the trash bin! Whoohoo!! Free at last, free at last, thank God amighty, I'm free at last! (at least until tomorrow...)

I hate what Christmas does to my hard-earned savings (perhaps dislike is a better word). I went shopping today for the major presents which I have been planning to but for weeks and ended up spending twice as much as I intended - mainly on stuff for me! I just checked my email and I got a lovely reply from the moderator of the Crowded House list I subscribe to. In my eagerness to inform the listies of an upcoming interview I mailed them, and then when it bounced back I mailed it again (and perhaps even a third time). Stupid me - it only bounced from one list member so now people around the world think I'm a hopeless newbie (I really dislike that). But Marck (the list operator) was really sweet and has made me feel a whole lot better. I think I'll stic to lurking on that list, and compensate by posting excessively here, because it's such a supporting environment :)

Amy (and all the others who are interested) Yes, a sort of. You know, the meaning here in Finland is a little bit different. It actually means "A family with strange powers", or something like that. Anyway, in my family there HAS been a real witch (I think it was my great-great-grandfather), who could, for example, make the neighbour's cows to disappear. Then there are some healers (like my mother's uncle, and, to a limited extent, my mother) and my elder little brother sometimes sees the future in his dreams. My gift is the same that my grandmother (from my mother's side, because that's the family) had: I have an inborn empathy towards people and animals. Sometimes I can predict very accurately the actions of some people, even though I don't know them well. It usually works for friends only, though. A disturbing gift, I'd say. I even saw the destruction of my 1,5 year relationship, because my girlfriend fell in love with a good friend of mine. I was the one that knew it first (even before they did), but since I've sworn I won't try to interfere with my empathy, I did nothing. Maybe it wouldn't have helped. They are married now, and happy. I think. I should visit them at Christmas... Okay, that's enough for now about the Finnish witches. I think it was no wonder that in medieval times the Finns were feared wizards. There's still some of the powers left. I know of a couple of other witch families, too.

I have a similar ability to your brother's. Sometimes, when I am about to fall asleep, I get a sort of dream, but with a difference--I know that they are predictive of the future. Before I ever went to college, or ever visited the campus, I saw a glimpse of one of the classrooms and the teacher giving a lecture; about two years later what I saw came true. It used to happen much more often when I was younger, but actually occurred t wice on the same day last week. As a physicist and a scientist this is a bit disturbing. I must conclude from personal experience that time is not linear, but folds upon itself in a way which allows information from one time to be viewed in another. I also keep in mind a line from Billy-Boy: There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. (By the way I'm 1/4 Finnish (my paternal grandmother))

In regard to the punishment for stepson, we agreed for him to be grounded till Christmas. You all are right, you must stay one step ahead of them. He being only 18 years younger than me helps as well. It only seems like yesterday that I was up to simil ar shaningans. In regards to the above, Well I have to think about whether time is not linear, but folds upon itself. Being of the logical sorts who did too much experimentation when younger, I tend to pulled between logic and experience.

Terry, just checked out the apps conference looking for help on a problem I have been having with realaudio - yikes, that conference is huge! - anyhow I kept getting a server error message when I tried to get into the realaudio section - thought I should let you know and also to ask who/where else could I turn for help with realaudio questions - specifically I am looking for a way to obtain a new copy of the old raplayer 2.x plugin for netscape/win 3.x - it seems that now that realaudio has come out with .0, they don't offer it anymore (snobs)- and 3.0 merely taunts me with bandwidth error messages on my poor old 486/14,400 set up.... I tried clicking my red shoes together and saying "there's no place like version 2.x", but it didn't work......

Hello Peoples! My computer has been used by my mother and younger brother for the past WEEK. It has been hard to be away for so long but I have comforted myself and have started to read Northangar Abbey. Who is ready for the Flu\Cold season? The Octe t (my singing group) gave a concert this morning. Yours Truely got a solo in "Emmanuel" ....in our darkness, in our bondage, child of hope we long for thee, walk among us, dwell within us, be our light and set us free, Emmanuel, Emmanuel, our God is with us now Emmanuel, the daystar of our night is sleeping on the straw, be with us now Emmanuel.....Isn't that song BEAUTIFUL! I am also singing it on Christmas Eve. Is that cool or what?

Maddog, check out http://www.realaudio.com and try our conference again. That server error happens every now and then but you'll probably be able to get in next time.

thanks - I all ready been to realaudio, of course they no longer offer 2.0 (must have partners in the modem business) - It's really a drag when a company will not support a product that is less than a year old, just because they have a newer release. It k ind of leaves people like me in the lurch if we can't go buy a new pentium to run their new product. (sounds like some other company I won't mention but whose initials are microsoft!) I will check your realaudio conference again to see if there is anyone that made a backup copy of version 2.0 they might share...

Ladies, just have to share the words of wisdom on my perpetual calendar yesterday; reading it made my day. "There's nothing wrong in the world that a sensible woman couldn't settle in an afternoon". Happy Holidays!

Amy-- have you used all your muslin? I heard there is a KKK for persons of color: they call it the Black Muslins. Cat-- I hope your friend Tara is doing okay and you are feeling better about that ugly situation. Maybe the kids who stole Tara's Bible will peek inside and find something helpful. I find it very hard to pray for people who are mean to me, or to others. B ut when I am able to, it is liberating. Cheryl-- we have something in common. I teach computer stuff a lot these days, but I have not been able to give up teaching piano. But hey, keyboards is keyboards, hmmm? I like to think about how the piano was developed by Bart. Cristofori, whose huge tro uble was perfecting the escapement. But they said it couldn't be done-- you couldn't have a keyboard instrument that you could control, as to amplitude or loudness, by the way you struck the keys! Then many years later the whole thing was repeated from Mo g on, with electronic keyboards finally becoming polyphonic and TOUCH RESPONSIVE. Wow! I think Bach would have been nuts about electronic music stuff. Joyous holidays, all!

Terry - within 24 hours of posting my plea about my realaudio problems in your apps conference, I have been in contact with a very fine dude named David Bowles who searched/found and mailed me a new copy of version 2.0! I bow long and low to him, you, and The Spring for making this possible - I never fail to be in awe of the power of the net and the kindness of the people I have met here. peace and joy

I can't believe Christmas is only 3 days away!

I am so bored I changed the curtains in my kitchen. Just a few things to wrap and a couple of cookies to bake. Hope everyone has most of their shopping done because I know I hate fighting the crowds. that must be the reason why it is so quite around here . Merry Christmas.

I know that some of my friends here have been concerned about me and my complete and utter lack of Christmas spirit. I have had a few glimpses of it this past week; last Thursday when I attended the Jr. High School Band Concert and watched 11 of my piano or handbell kids play their band instruments in public for the first time, and again at my students Christmas Piano Recital, all of them dressed up in their Sunday best and playing all the old favorites! This morning my church choir offered our Annual Christmas Cantata and I felt the closest to Christmas that I have been, singing the wonderful words about our Lord choosing to become one of us to save us. I even came home and did some decorating! Tomorro w I am spending the day baking, for who can be a Grinch when eating Grandma's famous Christmas cookies! I am very thankful this Christmas for all the new friends I have found here. God bless you all!

God Bless You Merry Gentlepeople at this festive time. I'm so pleased to have met all of the wonderful people who make up the growing band of Austenites. I am especially thankful to Amy and Terry for their time, patience and perseverance, and of course their server space.

Hi Terry. Hmm. Suspected we had similar ancestry. Pretty nice place! Soon on way to bar to see friends before all take off for xmas. Fill myself with liquid "charm and intelligence." Then probably enter cyberspace - again. Merry holidays to all from Frisco! Lars

You're Norwegian Lars?

Today, my sister and I trekked out into the blizzard we are experiencing here in Minneapolis and went to what locals refer to as the Mega-Mall, also known, more formally, as the Mall of America--the largest shopping mall in the United States (there is a larger one in Edminton Canada). I was pleasently suprised to find that the mall wasn't very crowded--on this Christmas-Eve Eve. Perhaps even hearty Minnesotans were afraid to wade through the snow and ice to go shopping (thank God for 4-WD!). But I believe it is more likely that they were all hanging their heads in shame after the trouncing the Vikings took yesterday at the hands of the Green Bay Packers 38-10 (GO PACK!!!). Your Eternal Cheesehead--Ann

Well, here in Austin its a balmy 60-70 degrees. Being of the male persuasion, I find myself compelled to wait till the last 2-3 days to shop, so I was one of the many hurried masses going madly from place to place (thank god for Valium and relaxation tap es) trying to find that perfect gift within my price range. Need a John Madden Super Nintendo ASAP, stepson can't have all clothes. And all the while trying what this years Christmas symbolizes to me. But more on that later, Wallmart is open 24 hours.. .

So, Ann, you're one of those folks we see on tv with face painted green and a big block of cheese mounted atop their heads?

I got a cheesehead for Christmas!

Can we see a picture of you wearing a cheesehead on your web page?