(Lilo, how could I possibly mind such a thing? I'm honored!) Greetings from Panama City! Steve is asleep after a complete day of travel and two non-stop days of tourism, and I've helped myself to his laptop and the internet connection he set up to work while he's here. The world has become an amazingly small place. This is a very short trip for me... I go back tomorrow! But Steve had to come here for work, and my airfare cost only 35,000 of the 200,000+ frequent flier miles he had... so I couldn't say no. For someone who doesn't speak any Spanish, I've really surprised myself (and Steve) with my ability to read menus, understand and answer questions, ask for and follow directions, and interact politely with people here. On the plane ride here, the captain announced that "for those of us who cared, the Panama-US soccer match had resulted in a 0-2 US victory" and I cheered out loud... not because I care a lick about the standing of the US in world soccer, but because he had made the announcement in Spanish, and I understood it fluently in real time. That realization has made this trip richer than I'd imagined. So far we've gone to Gamboa, taken a boat tour to an island to see wildlife and feed monkeys, visited an orchid collection, gone to the zoo, enjoyed several walks and restaurants, toured the city ruins and the old part of the city (which is a strange combination of slums, regentrification, and one town square in particular that was bordered by no less than seven churches), gone to the canal museum, gone to an emerald museum (where Steve offered to buy me whatever I wanted, but where my practicality did not allow it... someone is sure to take away my "chick card"), and we are getting ready to go out to dinner with some important laboratory owners/managers. Someone at work asked my why I was going to Panama the other day and her tone irked me a little so I non-chalantly replied "genital warts" and walked away as though the exchange was in no way unusual. When pressed, I explained that we were here because Steve was presenting some new HPV technology to an important lab here and giving a talk to a group of gynocologists... "so really, my trip is all about genital warts..." She shook her head and walked away, vowing that she'd spare herself my answers by asking me fewer questions. Win-win, really... Di, I got some interesting pictures of a giant freaky bug for you... though I'm sorry to report the pics I took of the unimaginably large spiders didn't turn out so well. Marda, thanks for the book recommendation! I bought a copy of The Omnivore's Dilemma right before we left, and I've been reading it voraciously during the travel time on our trip. I should finish it up in Houston (GBI) during my five freakin hour layover tomorrow. Sorry for the excessively rambling nature of this post, but I don't have time to proof read it! I need to hop in the shower and get ready to enjoy my last night in this city. This has been a phenomenal trip so far!

Phil, I'd be more than happy to call you when Paisley Parfait is selling for $10.00 anywhere, but I really think the devil will be wearing a parka before that happens. It's not a fast grower and I have no intentions of offering it to a Tissue Culture lab to have it mass produced. I also believe it would fail in TC due to its unstable nature. It's strictly a plant for serious collectors and hybridizers. As for the high price paid for these plants...it's to support the American Hosta Society, and I applaud the good folks who dig deep into their pockets to support one of the best plant societies in the world. Phil, if you're not a member of the AHS, consider joining. It is $25.00 well spent! Cheers, Kent (The hybridizer of Paisley Parfait)

I have only discovered this forum recently, so not at all aware of the poor reviews on Viking ranges. I bought my 30" dual fuel Viking range over 10 years ago, and it will be going into my new kitchen. I initially had some trouble w/ the heating element. It was under warranty and Viking covered all the replacements and extended the warranty. It's been fine otherwise and I bake alot. I am very pleased w/ the gas cooktop. Since I have had a good relationship w/ Viking as a company and the product itself, I have nothing bad to say about them. I have a bottom freezer KA fridge , that I estimate at 8 or 9 years old. Never had ANY issues w/ it. LOVE the bottom freezer and will probably always have that arrangement. I have a Bosch DW less than 1 year old that I am very pleased with. This kitchen is open to our family room and quiet operation was high on the priority list. We barely hear it running, just a faint swishing sound . I DO pre-rinse, so have no problems w/ dishes coming out clean. SO in addition to my newer DW, the other appliances are going into my new kitchen. In time I suppose my Viking will die, and I will cross that bridge when the time comes. Beside the Viking I am not brand motivated. Bought the KA fridge due to bottom freezer and good pricing. The Bosch DW was a no brainer. My favorite appliance store was selling a few floor models and I got it for about half price. Good luck in the selection process. I know from my experience in making decisions for my remodel I wavered thru parts and was decisive in other aspects. Sometime you just have to stop the research, decide and then live w/ the decision.

Hi everyone! Great to see folk coming back. The Atkins is really popular in the UK too. It seems there are now a few of us at work slimming down and I can see results everywhere. I caved last night to about 1 cup of popcorn. Tonight is movie night and PIZZA HUT (I thought that was NEXT weekend!!!!) I'd better behave myself today. I know a slice of pizza is about 7 points (a whole meal)...so I will start with the salad bar (skipping the pasta portion). Going to get some flavoured water to sneak into the movie and skip the high priced coke. Might even bring a bag of sliced, crunchy NO CAL veggies (yep - good plan) - like celery, peppers and carrots. Going to drink lots of water BEFORE going out to fill myself a wee bit. Pizza Hut and I are squaring off today - I HAVE TO BEHAVE. For those of you stalling - that has been my weight loss for the last few months and still the same - 1/4 to 1/2 pound and then stay there. I know part is my body and part is my eating but I am eating better, losing slowly, changing shape and generally feeling better. Got home last night and my stepping machine was at the back door from my ebay purchase. Today is my Saturday morning stroll - library, grocery - with my wheelie shopping bag - NO BUSES - and then carry on to visit two very young friends (5 & 7) to get my hair and makeup done (lots of fun). Finally drag my wheelie cart back home to get ready to go out to P.H. and movie. Keep in mind my neighborhood is HILLY, I will be carting a large box of laundry soap and other things that are usually heavy and library books. Will be very interesting over the next month to see how I get on with that stepping machine. I need to change my physical routine to get my metabolism going again. Even the lightest setting is not easy and I can feel the muscles I forgot about. This will be great since we are back into windy, cold weather again. YEACH. Candy - glad to read your post - you are doing great! It's good to see the Atkins on here too as the results are encouraging. I am not much of a meat eater and prefer more fruits/veg. Keep us posted you are helping us think about choices. Teresa I have heard about the South Beach diet. It sounds similar to Atkins. Great choices there too. Do you feel better as well cutting down on the carbs? Looking forward to hearing more from you too! Yellowhair - never hurts to reassess your habits. We will have to maintain our successes after all of this, so looking at your routine and checking yourself is probably something we will all have to do. Planning empowers you towards making that goalpost. Last week was last week. You are still here, still making progress. If I showed you my graph of weight loss since xmas it goes down, up, sideways, down, up, up, up, down, across - basically all over but in the LONG HAUL slow loss and it is moving down. That's fine with me. I mentally started this thinking - at least 6-8 months before getting close and then another 6 months of making sure I have healthier habits without thinking about it. Overall I am targeting 18 months of 'taking better care of myself'. We deserve this. We have looked after our families all these years, it's time to look after ourselves. Best part is, our efforts seem to cascade around us and everyone else seems to pick up on better habits to. It is true/proven that the meals we serve our families are the meals that set things - they eat what is infront of them. Really, no offense to the guys, but I feel the fellas see us as their 'mom' when it comes to meals. If we put a balanced meal in front of them - they just eat it. Also, Kathy posted a very interested link on an earlier Diet Pals thread about spreading the food around on the plate instead of piling it, using flatter soup bowls instead of large deep bowls - mentally folk generally thought they were eating the same amounts when in reality they were eating less. Is this a strategy/tool we can use at parties or events out? Instead of piling up the plate from the buffet - flatten the food on your plate, spread it out - eat slower, put your fork down - chat with your pals, drink some water and by the time you finish your meal the food should be registering in your bloodstream and you should start to feel satisfied. Do your homework - today I searched on nutrition portion control - here's a link with good reading. Have a fabby day - I have to get moving! McPeg Here is a link that might be useful: Portion Control