QOD: Youngest DD went to a friend's house to spend the night. 2nd youngest DD had a summer slumber party here-I don't know why they call it that; no one sleeps and she has a party to go to today! 15 y.o DD was out last night with 18 y.o. BF - he now has his own apartment whcih she likes to visit. She starts pilot ground school today 8-6 for the next few Saturdays and Sundays. Oldest DD got a job running projectors at the local movie house, so she was working the last couple nights till 3 a.m. w/ the "Pirates" openings? I haven't yet. Me, I'm walking dogs, watering lawns, studying philosophy, ethics, and moral obligations, topped off with a load of meteorology and LOTS of laundry and weeding! I am going to spend an hour in my office as well--cleaning! DH is taking the bar study course 24/7, so things are running smoothly around here, really. GOOD LUCK, ERICA!!! Pictures, please! You are our "SS Daily Queen" mascot EVERY DAY! Zig~ Hope the funeral was okay for you. Those things are tough, but bring people together---and that's a good thing. Dee- Good to hear you're continuing the walking, but sorry about the pain of all. Syill thinking of your co-worker and her DH... Donna~ Did you get to go out to dinner? Raeanne: The questions on the body shape quiz didn't give many options for answers. I was an hourglass too, but have never thought of myself this way---I really think I have a boy's shape, sort of squarish w/ large shoulders. I was wondering how much stock to put in that quiz. Work-outs with enough weight to cause a fair amount of resistance is a great way to prevent bone disease and just plain be healthier---so I'm foregoing the femmy looks for that. Besides, as I get older, I sort of want to look like I can kick some @ss---lol!!! As well, I have really enjoyed increasing the weight at the gym from time to time--POWER! John-cats yet? Besh-CONGRATS on the 2.6 at WW Friday!!!!!!!!! I read about you unpacking your canvas bags and had to laugh---I have the same deal after an outting! Sounds like your weekend is FULLLLLLLLL! Be good! Milkdud~ What kind of swimming do you do? I've been hitting the pool for low key water walking twice a week. It's just a nice way for me to mellow out really. Maddie! Let us know how the Tedster's concert is. We are going to see Kenny Loggins in August at Saint Michelle Winery--1/2 hour from our house--so beautiful out there. Good luck on Monday's interview---I didn't catch what kind of business you're interviewing for... NHSuzanne~ You are so lucky to live where you do. Haven't heard you talking about DH and his sons lately...how's that going? Marci~ Cookie Lady! Good luck--taste and walk, taste and walk! It's sunny here---RARE, so I better finish my indoor stuff so I can get outdoors! Make this weekend a good one! Has anyone seen "The Inconvenient Truth?" (The Al Gore movie) and Has anyone seen "Pirates of the Carribean?" I haven't seen either but want to.

Good Morning :) WHEW!!! I am so pooped out with all of the fun things I have been doing lately~~~I really live a boring, quiet life, but lately WHEW!!!! My DD and I had a great time in Santa Barbara at her swim meet~~~ages 18-80!! Seeing the older gals in swim suits and having so much fun and looking so healthy is really inspiring!! They all have such good body image, in the dressing rooms walking around in different stages of their nakeness, not sure I feel that good about my body:( I want to tho:) My weigh in was good, I am down another 1.2 pounds?? How can that be?? I ate so off the program last week with my visitors and all:( I did eat breakfast and lunch good, and when we whipped out the snacks I never ate like I would have before WW's:) As I was driving away from my meeting I was thinking WOW how much junk and extra calories I must have been eating in the last few years to be carrying so much extra weight!!! I am down 22.5 pounds YAHOOO!!! I feel so great!! Down about 4-5 more pounds than I even planned on:) AND the best part is I do not even feel like I have been dieting, just eating healthy!! I just hope I can keep it up:) Since I do not feel hungy or deprived of any foods I think I should be able too eh??? I have two vacations planned one at the end of July with my DH going up to Tahoe~~~two days after we get back from there my DD and I are leaving for a world swim meet in Palo Alto Cali @ Stanford U~~~we will be there for 4days and 3nights then on to San Francisco for 3nights:) That my diet friends will be the big test!! If I get through all of those days eating out and all of the temptations of vacationing I will know forsure I have made a lifestyle change:) I did not make it to CRUVES at all last week, except to weigh in, my pre weigh in before going to WW's for my weigh in LOL!!! But, I was walking and running around everyday so I guess that has to count. I will get back on track tomorrow:)

Thank you all for taking the time to share - some great info there for me to think more about with it, and more research to lookup all those plant names hoovb provided :-) Your mention of thyme was an interesting trigger NHBabs. I do have some lemon thyme and Italian oregano growing closer to the house, and they do well here. I was thinking 'I don't want to grow them in the parking strip - too many questionable things that might happen making them un-edible.' But, I never really thought in the way of 'they are nice looking plants, may be good to plant there, even if I don't plan to eat them.' And thanks gardengal48 also for the mention of the sight line reason - that really never occurred to me. But now that you mention it, it does apply to me. My driveway is a downward sloping driveway. So I almost always back in to the driveway for just that reason, so I can see what's coming when I leave. When I don't back in, and then go to leave, I now realize even on my side that having a 3 foot hedge there would really make it harder to see what's going on back there, combined with my downslope drriveway. I'm not looking for a 3' dense hedge in the parking strip. But, you mentioning that did help me realize why the city probably has that 18" limit. My hope is to be able to add just 2 or 3 plants like those brown spiky plants that get a little taller, but with them being non-dense (not sure what the word is for that in gardening.. sparse?), and I think now I understand what to work towards in that area - if it will get above 18", make sure it's something that isn't dense and allows good view on the other side, even with it there.

There's over 700 species of Pandanus. Most of the common variegated ones are varieties of P. tectorius although they are usually sold under other names, like P. sanderi, P. baptisii, P. veitchii. Those are synonyms of P. tectorius, one of the most widespread species. Prop or stilt roots are important to P. tectorius because they grow mainly along the shoreline subject to a lot of wind and shifting sand. Some of the variegated forms grow dwarfed but some grow quite large. Cold climate and lack of direct sun would be limiting factors. P. amaryllifolius has a plain green colour, never seen or heard of a variegated one. The fragrance isn't strong but I've never used it in cooking. Maybe the heating process brings something out of it that's not so noticeable in the fresh leaf. Other Pandanus leaves I've crushed haven't had any hint of fragrance in them.