Don't worry about me - I'll be able to pay for myself, so between us all we should be able to get our favourite student across too. Perhaps you could find out about hotel costs in America, Ray? And Mike could find out about air tickets from London. (See if you can get a youth fare, Mike), we see how much the approximate cost would be for him, how much of that he'll be able to manage, and then think about scraping the rest together. How does that sound?

I think they should sell magazine subscriptions door-to-door.

Work their way across on a cruise ship?

I don' think so! There would be no room service and no waiters to be found if we were doing that!

Porn movies!!!

Rees don't watch those, they make those!

car washes? hey, that's what the schools do around here!

Make a new adult web site, plagarize other adult web sites, hook up to a 900 number, and watch the cash roll in.

An adult web site??? My guinea pigs would earn more money doing that than I would!

Sounds like you have some very talented guinea pigs. Maybe you could make a video with them in it.

I shall indeed! Just hope you'll be able to contain yourself.

Maybe we could run off several hundred copies and set up a distributor. OH dear, I forgot. How long do guinea pigs live? 'Cause you know, we can't have actors under 18 .

About 3-5 years, I believe....OOPS! That might be a problem! Someone in America is SURE to sue me!

Well that is out of the question, Child pornography is against the law here. Never mind what nature says, the law says they are children til 18yrs of age. (please don't misunderstand this. It's a good law. I'm just having a bit of fun)

I know, don't worry! I also realize that we'll have to come up with better suggestions. In my case, I think I'll just do as many translations as I can lay my hands on to pay. I'll have to go now, Tim, my girls are very quiet - which means they're being naughty!!! I'll come back when they're having their afternoon nap.

O K Riette- Enjoy the day!!!

You know what they, those angels of the previous topic, were up to???? Doing their 'toilette', so to speak....that is, combing each other's hair with the toilet brush!!! Yes, and dipping it in the loo to make it look prettier! EUGH! I KNEW they were being naughty! You think I should get another toilet brush, so they'd each have one?

Why yes... of course!! And get them a bidet so they can wash their faces, too. I enjoy this tremendously, because they're not my kids, I can fully appreciate the humor of the moment, Knowing that I don't have to find a way to convince them that what they are doing is not a good idea. Children are such fun when they are young!!!

They have a good sense of humour too. Isa has a sort of silently ironic personality. Once I sent her to her room, and she thought she didn't deserve it. So she made a pee in her toybox to show me how disgusted she was. I asked her why she had to pee in her toybox, and she said, because I wasn't nice to her. So I said, she could only not be nice to me back, she didn't have to pee in the toybox. And she said: 'But THAT'S how not nice you are!' So I gave up, and said she was right, and we were friends again!

I like that! It shows that she is not afraid to express her feelings to you. That is absolutely fantastic! Sounds like you are a really great mother.

It also sounds like she is developing a personality similar to yours.

God forbid! Poor child! But Isa is not afraid to express her feelings to anyone - I don't think it's due to anything I do; she was born that way, I'm sure. But I love the way she can express herself so coolly, the reasoning behind it; some kids just kick and scream and throw tantrums, but there is nothing of that about Isa's stubbournness. She tells you exactly why she does what she does, and if you don't except that, it's you problem, not hers! I can deal with that.

I love kids period. They are so Individual, and they all have something to say, if you just listen.

They sure do. What's your son like? And what is his name?

He's nothing but trouble. His name's Jim. He's 5 years old, just like me. He uprooted Tim's palm trees with just one hand when Tim was not nice to him. He doesn't have a toy box. Uh-oh, write now he's righting a letter to Isa.

My son's name is Curtis. He is energy translated into human form. xtremely bright. and personable.

Sounds familiar...

It does? Like one of your children, Riette? Which one?

Like you.

Thank you, Riette. Merci beaucoups! He looks exactly like I did at his age.

And until you send a photo, I won't have an idea of what that might be, will I?

OK Riette, I'm working on it. I Don't have any recent photos so i"ll have to get one made.

Send an old one - I don't mind. You can e-mail it if you want. I'm just curious to see if you look like I think you do.

Riette, my old ones are very old. I have drastically changed my hairstyle since then.

Alright, alright, I'll be patient. SIGH!

I'll send them to you by FED-EX letter as soon as I get them.

FED-EX??? That's not a nice thing to call one's former wife, you know! (just kidding!)

I never thought of it that way, Riette. Actually FEDeral EXpress.

My sister says they're very quick, actually. And the are!

That's true, Riette, AND, UNLIKE the post office, the packages get to their destination.

Even if it IS without the card. HA-HA!!! Cheap shot, I know! Just teasing you, though - you know how I like to.

That's Ok Riette. It's better for the package to arrive without the card, than for the card to arrive without the package.

ha-ha! Absolutely! How strict you are with me today!

I don't mean to be strict, Riette.

You mean you're not going to get even stricter?

I hadn't intended to, Riette, unless....

Yes? Yesssss!

Well, I am very glad you see thing that way, Riette!!!!

Did you ever doubt that I would??

No Riette, I have no doubts about you.