Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    Don't think about this being Friday the 13th.  
    
    Stop that!  You thought about it!!  :^)
    
    grins,
    Marge

    
    
    OK.  What was in .1?  Or is the feather I saw instead of text
    enough of a hint?
    
    What can we talk about in this topic that won't lead to a 
    discussion of the g-word, the v-word, the a-word, or the 4 s-words?
    Good question.
    
    hmmmm...  the first thing that pops into my mind would undoubtably
    lead into a discussion of one of the s-words, darn it!
    
    Well, Ellen, due to the rules of the base note, I guess I can't
    tell you what I'm going to be doing tonight :-).
    
    						practice makes perfect,
    						nancy b.:-]

    All I'm thinking about is boxes.  And moving vans, and
    packing boxes, and closing dates, and where to stack the
    packed boxes, and the dollar figure on the cashier's check
    (yikes!), and where to put the empty boxes until I get time
    later this weekend to pack them, and making sure everyone
    gets the gas/electric/water changed at the right time, and
    whether I've got *enough* empty boxes, and...

    -- Linda, who's moving next week and will be glad when it's over!

    P.S.  In the spirit of .0, I'm *not* thinking about violence,
    but if I *were* to think about violence, I'd probably think
    about it right after stubbing my toe on a box full of
    books...Oh, to be unpacked again!

I'm regretting the 3 grocery bags full of apples that I picked up in Vermont
last weekend just because they were free. I've made 6 pies so far and have
barely dented the first bag! AAARRHH!!

    .4 - Be sure you have enough TAPE to close those boxes.
    
    .5 - Do you have one of those slicer/corer thingies?  They're great.
    And consider making a broiler pan of apple crisp.
    
    						Ann B.

    Do I detect a breath of fresh air here?  What a delightful change
    of pace!
    
    Thanks!
    
    Barb

    
    boy i wish i'd thought of this
    

    Why how interesting JWHITE, I'm thinking about and needing an oboe
    player. I have the french horn (me), a flute, a clarinet and even
    (how did I get so lucky?) a basoon player. But where can I find an
    oboe player! liesl

    
    i must know a half a dozen oboists up here in the rain city, but alas,
    zero in your part of the world.
    

my ex-roomie played the oboe...

and, liesl, believe it or not, she was next to your office today when I left
there!  :-)

kat

    Something not in the list of .0 to talk about huh???
    
    Well.. I bought a new button today it says:
    
    
    	Life begins when the kids leave home and the dog dies...
    
    
    I thought it was special (my 10 year old thought it was mean :-)...)
    
    
    And hey Nancy...  (Nanci?)...  why couldn't you talk about (s)ailing???
    
    Gale...  trying to wittle away at 3 more hours.... 

    Fortunately, today's flat tire was reparable, and I didn't need to
    push my bicycle home ... and it took less than 20 minutes to fix!
    
    DougO

    
    
    i'm through about the first 50 pages of "ROSEANNE" by
    Roseanne Barr, and i *like* it! it's good. 

My running club got a rave review in the Wall Street Journal (last
Wednesday).

M.

I'm at work on a Sunday, and it's all Ellen's fault (she got to finish up
Friday night :-).

But I like gray skies against autumn leaves.

And we put a down-payment on a new dining room set yesterday.
	Mez

    This struck me while eating some yuppie (lo-cal, with cheese) popcorn
    the other day -

    When a package says "Cholesterol Free", does that mean there's no
    cholesterol in it?

    Or just that they're not charging you for it?

    re: .12 (buttons)
    
    a friend of mine who has just turned 30 got a button for his birthday
    
    the caption:
    
    Of all the things I've ever lost, I miss my mind the most
    
    ;^)
    
    PJ
    

    Did anyone go to the "raindate" of THE OUTING at Canobie Lake
    Park???  Funny, what *was* that stuff coming down from the
    clouds???

    The Flume ride really was fun!!!

    justme....jacqui

    
    This week I'm going to be a bridesmaid and maid-of-honor
    in 2 weddings, attending 2 rehearsals, and 2 receptions, 
    entertaining out-of-town wedding guests, etc., etc., etc., 
    
    Any creative suggestions out there for what to do with 
    old bridesmaid's dresses?
    
    What about this:  a theme party where everyone wears old 
                      bridesmaid's dresses that they've spent
                      a small fortune on but haven't been able
                      to use since the wedding
    
    						  nancy b.
    

    Nancy..

    A practical solution is advertise them as PROM gowns in April/MAY of
    next year :-)...

    G

    re:.17
    
    And does "Pepsi Free" contain no Pepsi?
    
    --- jerry

    
    
    I saw this on a bumper sticker over the weekend:
    
    "Behind every successful man is an exhausted woman"
    
    
    Wes
    

    And at Saturday afternoon's soccer game, thanks to unexpected rain
    in bright daylight, I had the unexpected pleasure to see.....
    
    a double rainbow, 2 full arches, bright and clear and beautiful.
    
    Alison

Nancy, invite me!!!!!

Gail, this is serious: does it really work? I can't just throw them away...
	Mez

    Well.. it always did for me...  I know some girls want a REALLY nice
    prom dress and can't really afford the hundreds of dollars they are
    going for now in a bridal shop...  The only problem is WHERE to
    advertise so that teen girls will see it..  

    Another place (if you don't live in MASS), if you don't want to throw
    them away and will never wear them again is check with your local
    Masonic Lodge...  Most Rainbow girls wear long colored gowns (Mass only
    wears white for some odd reason), and a lot of Rainbow girls would give
    their right arm to pick up some new gowns for a low cost... 

    
    Re: .20, what to do with old bridesmaid dresses.
    
    I went to a party once that had as its theme "bridesmaids & ushers".
    If you couldn't (or didn't want to) come dressed as a bridesmaid
    or usher, it was requested that you bring a bottle of champagne.
    I didn't have a bridesmaid (or old prom) dress hagning in my closet
    but I found something very nice in a consignment shop (and then
    I went looking for shoes to match and paid more for them than for
    the dress).
    
    The idea is a fun one, if you know people who have the same idea
    of fun.
          
    CQ                  
    

re .22

>    And does "Pepsi Free" contain no Pepsi?

	Judging by it's taste, yes.

				Tom_K

RE .24

You're sure it wasn't a MacDonald's?

re:  .26

>    ...............  Most Rainbow girls wear long colored gowns (Mass only
>    wears white for some odd reason),.............


    Most likely the hierachy feels this will keep them "protected"!  ;*)

    How many ex-Rainbow Girls out there???   

    justme....jacqui
    New Bedford Assembly #3
    Card carrying Majority <ahem> Girl
    

    re .30
    
    Bancroft Assembly #70 (Worcester, MA.)
    Also a majority girl.
    
    Carol
    

    Geez.. I'll have to admit that I'm also a majority girl, and past
    Worthy Matron too...  I have since gone on past that phase of my life,
    but I do keep my dues up to date.. 

    I think Rainbow girls helped get me past more than a few awkward stages
    in my teen life...

    Well, since we're going down this hole, I was a Rainbow girl, too.
    Can't remember the chapter number, but it was in Lamar, Colorado.
    (We wore all-white choir robes.)  My memories of the group aren't so 
    great, except for the dances, 'cause I was always the pianist and 
    spent most of every meeting tinkling away at such thrilling  songs as 
    "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Climb Every Mountain."
    
    On a funner note -- I used to use my aunt's old bridesmaid dresses for
    playing dress up.  Loved it so much that I grew up to spend $5 at 
    Goodwill on someone elses dresses for my daughter to do the same.  She 
    loved it and still (as a freshman in college) talks about the fun she 
    had!
    
    Cheers!
    Karen 
    

    
    well, i give up.
    what the heck is a rainbow girl?
    

    Rainbow girls are the junior female auxiliary of the Masons.
    
    Bonnie

    re .29
    
    Yep, really, really rainbows.  Probably the most spectacular sight
    I'll see in years.  The watchers were in bright sunlight, the rainbows
    were against dark rain clouds, and between us and the rainbows were
    some spectacular fall foliage in orange and red and yellow.  The
    kind of thing that you have to take a "mind picture", 'cause a camera
    can't capture it all.
    
    Alison

    Speaking of foliage, isn't it spectacular in the greater Maynard
    area about now?  Sure hope the sun's shining on my way home tonight!
    
    Karen

    Re:.22

>    And does "Pepsi Free" contain no Pepsi?


	The real question is:

	When you buy Pepsi Free...



		...what exactly are you paying for??



	>>AL<<

	I have stood in front of vending machines and without putting
	any coins into it, I pushed the NO ICE button. I got just what I
	asked for.

    I wonder, when I'm in Boston and I see a space marked "No Standing"
    can I PARK my car there?
    
    Also, are signs that say "Densely Populated"  a slur on the 
    local inhabitants' IQ?
    
    And didn't "Blind Driveway Ahead" used to play blues guitar at
    Passim's?
    

    
    My favorite is the parking meters in Colorado Springs. They have a
    small sign that says "for your convienence we accept quarters", of
    course they give you the same amount of time as 2 dimes. liesl

    often when I see a sign that says 'slow, down ahead' I want
    to put a litle stickon over the word down that says 'polyester
    fiber fill'.
    
    yeah, I know, small minds, small pleasure
    
    sigh

>    And didn't "Blind Driveway Ahead" used to play blues guitar at
>    Passim's?

    You're thinking of Blind Lemon Pledge.

>    often when I see a sign that says 'slow, down ahead' I want


	 I always expect to see a head in the road and never do!

	 bummer.

	 kat

    in re .44
    
    
    kat
    
    right! like the old old joke...
    
    'what's that in the road? a head?'
    
    or 'what's for dinner? mother.'
    
    sounds like we have a similar sense of the absurd!
    
    bon

    I'm thinking of my Christmas shopping. It's >.5 done. My parents
    are always the toughest to buy for. What do you buy your's?
     
    Kate
    

We're getting Papa Doc, the ex-urologist with everything, one of those rotating
tie racks. It's the first time in years we actually have a present for him
ahead of time!
	Mez

    Yes, parents are hard.  One class of presents I've succeeded with
    is Things for the House.  As a guest in their home, I've noticed
    things that they don't see any longer.  One time I realized that
    my mother's kitchen utensils had gotten *old*, and that she was
    missing a few goodies.  Another time it was replacement door stops
    (the kind that go on the hinge itself -- they have a high infant
    mortality rate).
    
    Books, clothes, exotic foods, adorable tree ornaments.  A photograph
    of yourself will work once, one of grandchildren, always.
    
    Duh.
    
    							Ann B.

    RE: My parents...

    Well, my mom and dad have been grinding their coffee beans then putting
    them in their drip Mr. Coffee type coffee maker...  Lechmere's has a
    coffee machine, that grinds the beans and then drips water into the
    grinds all in one step, so I'm getting them that...  I also always
    get them a Hickory Farms (or Figi's) cheese order to arrive a week
    before Christmas for all their Christmas guests...

    Gale

    Well, I can't buy my parents anything, unless it would be a soft cloth
    to polish their haloes.
    
    A year or two ago, when my mother had been dead for a year or two, I
    had a dream about her -- well, really more like an experience than a
    dream.
    
    I was sitting in a room with some other people, when she came hurrying
    in through one door.  She gave me a quick kiss, and was on the way out
    the other door, looking proud, looking busy, looking like she had a
    task to do that she could easily do.
    
    I called out to her, "What are you doing here!  You belong in the next
    Kingdom!"
    
    Briana

My mom mentioned that she'd like to have an answering machine, which I never
would have thought of.  Problem is, she'll probably buy one for herself before 
Xmas.  So I'm still left with having to wait and see.  To make matters worse, 
both mom's and my brother's birthdays are the week before Xmas!

    Getting presents for the folks is tough.  Last Christmas my Mom really
    liked the fancy Braun coffee maker I got for her, complete with gold
    filter so she'll always have a filter.  One year I got her a very nice
    teddy bear (she'd always admired the ones she got to give to kids) and
    put very a pretty necklace and earrings on the bear.  She actually
    sleeps with the bear!
    
    I give her snuggy gloves every year as she has Reynard's syndrome and
    always has COLD hands.
    
    Mom always seems to like getting pretties and luxuries that she'd like
    to have but cannot afford.  (But a gift certificate to the local skin
    salon for a day of beauty was a bomb.)   

    Don't you JUST HATE people who buy things for themselves from the
    months of October to December????

    The other thing I hate is having to ask for specifications on some
    gifts, it rarely becomes a surprise when you ask "What kind of jewelry
    box* do you want" because you'd MUCH prefer to get them what they want
    then what they don't REALLY want...

    Then again, if you want to get the information from them via someone
    else, how easy is it for a good friend to work a jewelry box into the
    conversation, when the other person would NEVER be asking THAT sort of
    question (eerrrrrr!!!)


    * --> jewelry box can be substituted for any other item :-)
    
    

Re: Note 827.20  SYSENG::BITTLE 

>    This week I'm going to be a bridesmaid and maid-of-honor
>    in 2 weddings, attending 2 rehearsals, and 2 receptions, 
>    entertaining out-of-town wedding guests, etc., etc., etc., 
>    
>    Any creative suggestions out there for what to do with 
>    old bridesmaid's dresses?
>    
>    What about this:  a theme party where everyone wears old 
>                      bridesmaid's dresses that they've spent
>                      a small fortune on but haven't been able
>                      to use since the wedding
>    
>    						  nancy b.
>


gee, don't you just hate it when someone responds to something 
way late?  but i just got time to catch up on notes and ran 
across this one.  the timing is so appropriate, too.

what to do with old bridesmaids dresses?  why, wear them to the 
annual (5th this year) bridesmaids dress costume ball.  this 
event is now held around halloween, so you have a choice of 
bridesmaid dress or costume.  every woman i've ever mentioned 
this to loves the idea.  it's pretty east to start your own
"annual ball", and it's quite amusing to see the different dress 
styles.  last year we gave out a prize for best dress too.


  

    
    When I'm super-organised, I jot down things that I think someone
    will like whenever I happen to think of it, or whenever they happen
    to mention it (be that April, June or September).
            
    Last Christmas, I sent my mother a "mini Christmas tree".  She made
    these for my two older sisters when they first moved away from home
    (a long time ago -- 25 yrs.) and I decided to make one for her.
    
    It's not too hard, though I will admit that my second came out better
    than the first.  You just buy a styrofoam cone of the appropriate
    size and as much fake fir greenery/holly/pointsettia and decorative 
    doo-dads as you think you'll need.  You can also make one of dried 
    flowers/herbs/whatever, and add ribbons, lace, fancy stuff -- the ones 
    I've seen in craft stores are quite expensive ($70-$100) and pretty.  
    There's a good supplier for this sort of stuff (silk and dry flowers, 
    and other crafty stuff) in Lawrence (MA) but I don't remember their 
    name.  I didn't see it in the phone book, but the shop is in one
    of the old mill buildings.  Maybe someone else knows who I'm talking 
    about? 
    
    My mother is now living alone and hasn't enough energy for a real
    tree (or a fake one) and she liked this very much.
    
    Usually my sisters and I all chip in for a big present (TV, VCR,
    microwave) but I think we've just about exhausted the big stuff
    category.  
    
    Another idea I had for my Mom, because she's always cold in the
    winter, is a down comforter (duvet).  These are the most wonderful
    things, especially if you don't like electric blankets or 20 lbs. of 
    wool weighing you down just to keep warm.  A good one will go $400 
    (for a full/queen) in a "Scandia" down shop, but there are much better 
    deals to be found elsewhere!  I've got a catalog for a company called 
    "The Company Store" that has good prices -- if anyone's interested, 
    send me mail and I'll post the info here.  There's an added expense 
    because you buy covers for them and they're not cheap, either.  But, 
    maybe you have other people who can "go in on it" with you.
    
    CQ 

    There are several of us who regularly visit Europe and can bring back
    these things at much cheaper prices than they're selling for in the
    US: eg. A queen-size duvet at ~ $120, and a duvet-cover dor around $40.
    If anyone's interested, send me mail - I can bring one in per trip...

    
    The prices in The Company Store catalog might be close to $120 but
    it's hard to tell from a picture and a description what they're
    _really_ like.  I've got one from England and it's wonderful, but
    I don't know how the ones in the catalog compare because I "don't
    understand the language", if you know what I mean.  I'd go for one
    from Yrp!
      
    'Course the lighter weight ones are good for spring/summer...
    
    CQ
    
    Thanks John!

	Gee, what perfect timing.  Just got the new Consumer's Report 
	yesterday, and guess what they rate -- comforters!  Both down
	and polyfill.  I just glanced over it, but they do mention the
	Company Store (several price ranges), L.L. Bean ($275), Scandia
	and others.  Sounds like you can get a top quality down comforter
	in the $200 - 300 range.  

	Sue

    Christine, John etc all,
    How does one clean a down comforter? Can they be dry cleaned?
    
    We're playing with getting my folks a VCR for Christmas. What is
    the difference between 2, 3 or 4 heads? (besides the price)
    
    Today I'm thinking about how pis%ed I am that I didn't take that
    day to go see the foliage. The weatherpeople say it will all be
    gone after this rain.
    
    Kate   

    
    	Christine, I have a duvet cover from The Company Store.  It's
    	more lightweight than those I've slept on in Europe, but it's
    	very durable and easy to keep clean.  I only wish they had a
    	better selection--they've got too many pastels and not enough
    	interesting (e.g. wild) patterns.
    
    	Carla
    

    I can't answer for comforters, but down jackets are washed in cold
    water and cold air in the dryer WITH a sneaker.  The sneaker pounds
    the down's container ( in this case a jacket) and makes it come out
    fluffy and the down well spaced out.
    
    Hope this helps
    
    Cathy

    
    Re: cleaning duvets.  I've never cleaned mine.  I haven't aired
    it out, either, but that would probably be a good idea, come spring.
    I got the Consumer Reports yesterday, too (but didn't look at it
    till after I entered my notes!) and I saw that some duvets can be
    washed -- I'd probably have mine dry cleaned, if I thought it needed
    it.  The covers keep the duvet from getting soiled -- cleaning isn't
    usually necessary unless you like eating breakfast in bed and are
    prone to accidents -- just get a few covers and wash them as often
    as you like.  According to CR, one cleaners charged $40.
    
    I've not yet bought any covers but I don't think I will -- I'm just
    going to make them from flat sheets.  You get as wild as you want,
    this way!  The covers I have are sheet-weight material.
                                                           
    CQ

    re duvet covers
    
    If you have access to a sewing machine (or have a friend who is
    willing), you can make a duvet cover for less than $50.
    
    Buy 2 flat sheets and batting (available at most fabric stores) in
    whatever size you need.  (Note:  batting comes in several thicknesses
    and sizes.)  Place the bottom sheet, right side down, then the batting,
    then the 2nd sheet, right side up on top of each other.
    
    The easiest way to sew it together is to sew a center line from top to
    bottom, then measure parallel lines (5" or 6" is a good width), mark
    and sew.  Either bind or turn the edges under.
    
    It's not a down comforter, but it's warm!  (Frostline carries a kit for
    a down comforter.  They used to have a store in Framingham at Shopper's
    World, but I'm not sure if it's there any more.)
    
    Judi
    

    Re: washing down comforters
    
    I actually wash my down comforters in the washing-machine, 30 degrees
    centigrade, and dry them in the dryer with warm air: I then shake
    them energically do undo the down which has gathered into little
    balls. Dry cleaning would be extremely expensive, apart from the
    fact that I don't have the time to run to the dry cleaner every
    time our eldest cats get's mad at something and takes revenge by
    peeing on the eiderdown...
    
    Re: talking about anything except the *** word:
    
    I am very glad to be given this opportunity to boast about my youngest
    daughter, who came in 7th in an inter-school cross-country
    championship. I am especially proud of her, as both her parents
    are extremely gifted couch-potatoes, and our eldest daughter follows
    in our steps. We are the proud duck-parents of a baby-swan...
    
    Joana

	 RE: VCRs

	 2, 3 ,4 heads has to do with the quality of the picture.  On
	 a 2 head VCR, if you freeze the frame, you will get a lot of
	 distortion....with 4 heads you will get a very clear picture.

	 It all depends on if they just want to watch a movie, or
	 whether you want really high quality video.

	 Hi-Fi Stereo is another option.....if you just are interested
	 in listening to the movie and not appreciating the quality of
	 the sound then don't spend the extra money for Hi-Fi Stereo.

	 I would suggest getting one with a remote tho...it's sooooo
	 much nicer.  :-)

	 I have a 4-Head Hi-Fi Stereo with Remote VCR and I payed
	 about $400 for it.......It does more than I'll ever need for
	 it to do, and its fabulous......

	 Best brand(s) on the market?  Masushita......you won't find
	 it under that name, but by buying a Panasonic, GE, Magnovox,
	 you will be getting Masushita.  Best product for the price.
	 Mine is a GE.

	 kath

    I'd also recommend a 4-head machine...I've a Toshiba with HiFi that
    cost me around $260 if I remember correctly.  I've never actually
    shaped up to record anything with it, but its playback is very
    satisfactory (I watch it while peddling my exercise bike...easier than
    trying to read).
    
    						=maggie

    OK, you electronic wizzards who know about heads on VCRs, what do
    you know about compact disk players?  Someone I know has requested
    one for Christmas.  (Ron, I hope you're not reading this, but if you
    are, I'm just asking because I'm really, seriously interested in
    compact disk players!  You know how excited I get about high-quality
    sound!)
    
    So, for a complete novice (who still has to check the record jacket
    to determine whether to play a record at 78 rpm or 33 1/3 rmp),
    what does one look for in a CD player?
    
    Karen

 re: Karen and CD players

 Depending on how much you want to spend...

 Technical:

 Dual D/A converters,
 Digital filtering,
 2x or 4x oversampling (higher is better)

 Convenience:

 Programmability for at least 12 tracks
 Remote control (to turn off to answer the phone :-)

 That should get you going...

 The Doctah

More specifics on CD players:

It's gotta have tubes. (It's okay if the tubes are only used to light up some
ventilation holes so you know they're working.)

It should have a power supply separate from the main unit, preferably installed
in a different room.

The audio cables should be the kind which require a pipe bender to manipulate.

It really should be manufactured in some sleepy English hamlet by people with
no measurement equipment whatsoever (because ears are so much better).

    Thanks, Mark.  Now if I only knew what it all meant!  NO, DON'T
    EXPLAIN IT TO ME!  I don't really want to know!
    
    But I'll take the note with me when I shop.
    Karen

    Karen, IMHO the best shopping approach for you would be to look at
    sale flyers from stores in whose reputability you're pretty confident,
    pick an on-sale player that has suitable features and price, and just go
    buy it with minimal contact with salespeople. Asking to listen to the
    chosen model would be good - just to satisfy yourself that it sounds
    good - but any more interaction with sales types would be risky.
    
    I fervently hope you won't take this as demeaning, but I think that
    going in to the store with a list of not-well-understood features
    would make you an irresistible target for manipulation, even by
    reasonably honorable salesfolk. Reminds me of when I went shopping
    for a sofa, armed only with the thought that "doweled construction is
    goodness" and not knowing much about what that meant. I got took.
    
    If you buy on sale from a reputable place, you can feel fairly safe
    that you're not getting taken. And if need be, you'll be able to
    return/exchange the purchase at such a place. I like Lechmere,
    myself. They're probably not the bottom dollar solution, but they're
    about as 'safe' as you can get. They carry a reasonable selection
    of CD players.
    
    Regards,
    Chuck

    Karen, Consumer Reports has had several articles on CD players in the
    last year or so.  You might consider finding a copy of their Buying
    Guide and/or the latest issue (which will have an index so you can find
    which recent issues have the articles).                                                  
    
    As I recall, they say that virtually all such devices offer superb
    sound and that the distinguishing characteristics tend to be
    single-disk -vs- multiple, programmability and convenience, seek time
    for finding some track, accuracy in finding the track, and ability to
    cope with substandard (scratched, warped, dirty) disks.
    
    						=maggie

    Conferences such as DSSDEV::VIDEO, DSSDEV::AUDIO and COOKIE::CD
    contain a wealth of information and opinion about home entertainment
    gear.  A look through the titles of notes there may be helpful.
    
    Speaking of Consumer Reports, the latest issue contains a good article
    on building a mid-priced stereo system with recommendations for
    components.
    
    				Steve

    The feature I've enjoyed most on my CD is that it's a *changer* not a
    player.  That means it has a cassette into which you can put up to 6
    discs at a time.  Put it in, and you've got music for hours without
    ever going back to the system again.  You can even play in "random" mode,
    which means that instead of playing each disk straight through and then
    going to the next, it picks a random track from any of the 6, then
    randomly goes to another track on any of the 6, etc.  It has the
    effect of variety, something like a radio station.  Plus you don't
    always expect the same sequence of songs.  Works great for popular
    music, but produces a sort of bizarre effect for classical!
    
    I wish I hadn't spent the money for the remote control.  But then, I
    have to leave the room anyway to answer the phone.
    
    Finally, I'd also recommend Waltham Camera & Stereo in the Boston area. 
    I trust them, and they have a "match the lowest price" policy (provided
    the warranties are equivalent.)
    
    Enjoy -
    
    Susan

    Wow, such a wealth of information.  Thanks to all of you, especially
    STAR::BECK (.69).  Talk about setting me up!  Can't you see it now;
    I walk into my favorite entertainment store and ask for a CD that
    requires pipe benders for the cables.  "Yes, sir!  Green as key
    lime pie!  Take me to the cleaners!"
    
    (For any of you out there who are as new to this as I am, the above
    referenced note is a put on.  Don't, I repeat DON'T follow its
    suggestions unless you're throwing money away.  Thanks to Mark Levesque
    for setting me straight on this.)
    
    Karen

    
    Eat your heart's out, My Christmas shopping is done and hs been done
    for several months. Everything is boxed and labled, just not wrapped
    yet. I'll do that right after Thanksgiving. Also, I have baked 10
    batches of fruit and nut breads, and several batches of cookies
    (warm-ups) :-) :-). I do the real baking starting the week after
    Thanksgiving. If my daughter and the 4 cats would let me, I would put
    my tree up next week, i'll wait till around Dec.1st.
    
    To those who have mentioned replacing old things for their parents as a
    gift, don't be surprised if they don't use the new replacement. I have
    some items in my kitchen that I inherited from my mom that I wouldn't
    give up if you paid me. I remember giving my mom a new set of dishes
    because I thought the ones she was using were in pretty bad shape. 
    Month after month I would visit and she would still be using the old
    ones, I finaly asked her why she wasn't using the new ones, and she
    replied there is nothing wrong with the old ones. Some years later she
    gave the new set away to "someone who needed them worse than she did".

>    Eat your heart's out, My Christmas shopping is done and hs been done
>    for several months. 

 Wonderful! Are you for hire? :-)

 The Doctah

    
    re.77
    
    That depends on how big your shopping list is. I could add personal
    shopper to my long list of things that I do I suppose.  I usually get
    real good bargains too. The secret is to shop in the off season. I
    start next years shopping on Dec. 26th. I listen all year and take note
    of things the family says they like/want, put it in a little notebook
    and keep your eyes open. Also keeping a size chart updated is real
    important.
    
     
    
    

    
    	re Christmas presents:
    
    	A book (or roll if you can afford it) of stamps makes a 
    	great stocking stuffer.
    
    	Jane.

	re: .0 (Ellen Gugel)

	Ellen, can this be the no R-word topic also?


	I would like to experience a blizzard.  A _real_ blizzard.

	The kind I was promised I'd see upon moving up to New England
	from Florida.  

	How 'bout it?  
						nancy b.

	(who never received "snow days" off from school; 
         only 1 "hurricane day" )

    Shall I modify the title, Nancy?  I started to do it, but then
    changed it back because the title would have to mention that
    "word".

    re: .81 (Nancy)
    
    Hang around a while, Nancy, and I'm sure your wish will be granted.
    However, if you want to fully experience a blizzard - not this wimpy
    sit-by-the-fire-roasting-Christmas-elves stuff, but the *real* get-
    out-into-the-fury-of-the-storm stuff - what you should do is promise
    to shovel out several driveways (like mine, f'rinstance) when the
    next blizzard hits.  
    
    Steve

    Okay Nancy... heres one for the title...
    
    The famous line of the century was probably spoken this morninig after
    spending an hour up in the air in a Cessna 172...  Seems like I had
    taken a **VERY** hard landing during a touch-and-go, and well, the
    unicom people even called to see if the runway was too slippery still
    (no, I said all red faced, I couldn't even blame the horrible landing
    on the runway :-)), anyway..  after putting the plane up..  I go to tie
    the plane down, and realize that as I hit the fin of the plane [when I
    landed], I also broke off the tie down ring (VERY heavy metal) when I hit 
    the runway..
    
    and I just looked up, my eyes as wide as half dollars and said to my
    CFI Mitch..
    
    
    "Ah.. Mitch...  I broke the plane"....
    
    
    now I won't explain the laughter that came from others when they heard
    me say that....

    The lack of snow in New England last year was all my fault - I bought a
    Jeep the previous spring to handle the conditions - but my guess is
    that the spell will wear off this winter (the Jeep being old enough now
    to break down in the middle of a storm). I was thinking about buying a
    snowblower to extend to spell, but haven't done so yet.
    
    You have to be careful following this approach to weather modification.
    I bought a portable generator to ward off power outages, but it didn't
    work. Why? The one I bought wasn't *quite* big enough to start up the
    compressor on our refrigerator.

    re: .81 Nancy
    
    Now I know why I am shuffling around in this white stuff.  I am only
    in central Maine so I got just a taste of what my sister in Northern
    Maine got - 28 inches and still going!!!!!!!!
    
    NEVER, but never question the weather in New England or else it will
    occur just so show you that it CAN do it if it wants to.......
    
    Cathy

          re: .82 (Ellen Gugel)
          
          >  Shall I modify the title, Nancy?  I started to do it, but
          >  then changed it back because the title would have to
          >  mention that "word".
          
          Yea - modifying the title is probably not necessary.  I was just
          expressing a sentiment of the moment.
          
          re: .83 (Steve Mallett)
          
          > ...  - what you should do is promise to shovel out several
          > driveways (like mine, f'rinstance) when the next blizzard
          > hits.
          
          For your information, I had lots of fun shoveling snow yesterday
          morning, and wondered what poor, bedridden soul would also
          appreciate their driveway being cleared!
          
          re: .84 (Gale Kleinberger)
          
          >  -< So, who's going to go up with me when I get my
          >     license??? :-) >-
          
          Thanks, Gale.  Good story.  (but I wouldn't expect too many
          volunteers after that story about your "touch and go" landing :-)
          
          re: .85 (Paul Beck)
          
          >   I bought a portable generator to ward off power outages,
          
          *Generators* - you mean those obnoxious, noisy contraptions that
          people crank up 15 seconds after a power outage hits?!
          
          You'd think people would realize there are better things to do on
          those rare and wonderful occasions when the power goes out :-].
          
          re: .86 (Cathy Firth)          -< so YOU did it >-

          >   Now I know why I am shuffling around in this white stuff.  

	  Heh Heh :-).  Look at it this way, Cathy - what's the use of it
	  being cold out if there's no snow?

							nancy b.
          

Ah, but the whole *point* of spending big bucks (clearly not enough bucks in
my case) on a portable generator is that you *won't* have to start it up 
because the power will now refuse to go out just to prove you've wasted your
money.

    Since you ask.  May I defer answering until after megabucks?  I love
    spring, summer, fall.  Its the fourth element I could do without.
    
    What about multiple choice.  Say, two falls, 1 spring, 1 summer or 
    2 summers etc.  There is an answer somewhere.  But I want to keep my
    three favourite seasons!
    
    As for what is cold weather for?  A roaring fire in my fireplace.
    
    Cathy
    

	But Paul, you're neglecting Murphy's Paradox:

	"Any attempt to manipulate Murphey's Law to your benefit
	 will fail."

							--D

    I feel sorry for you, Paul.  It works the other way for me.  For
    instance, I didn't have snow tires last year, but got them installed
    two weeks ago.  One year I waited until February to put them on,
    and the snow waited until after.
    
    Power never goes out where I live, but it did after I got a generator.
    I remember my neighbor going out and shaking his power wires the
    night I used it.  (not used to having city folk having their own
    generators.)
    
    I haven't seen a blizzard in the 14 years I've lived in New Hampshire.
    I've seen lots of snow, but lacking a real whiteout.  I was in one
    of those once in Canada..literally unable to see my hand.  Coming
    from Maryland, I was determined to walk blinded by the snow to school
    entirely based on feeling my way there.  I was late.  Everyone else
    was already there.  Hm...and my mother would have understood my
    taking the day off.
    
    Bud

>    I haven't seen a blizzard in the 14 years I've lived in New Hampshire.
    
    Were you out of town in February of 1978?
    
     Curious,
    
    The Doctah

    Feb 78 was a big snow storm and even dropped twice as much snow
    as the blizzard I mentioned.  It was just missing the high winds
    that result in zero inches visibility.  It was a big storm though.
    
    
    77 was nearly as bad and I lived in a camper in the NH woods that
    year!
    
    Bud

  <<< Note 827.84 by ICESK8::KLEINBERGER "Shoot it, stuff it, or marry it" >>>
     -< So, who's going to go up with me when I get my my license??? :-) >-


	Ooh!  Pick Me!!  Yo!  Over here!  Me!!



	>>AL<<

  <<< Note 827.84 by ICESK8::KLEINBERGER "Shoot it, stuff it, or marry it" >>>
     -< So, who's going to go up with me when I get my my license??? :-) >-

    
    Sounds like the "going up" will be OK; it's the "coming down" that
    might be a problem!
    
    					Nigel
    
    ps: I love your personal name!

    Re: .94
    
    Okay, Al, I promise, you can go up with me...
    
    RE: .95
    
    Yep, you've got that right Nigel.. I can get up really S_M_O_O_T_H_L_Y
    I'm just taking a little longer on the getting down side :-)... But
    by the time I get my license, I'll have that mastered too!!

    
    I'll go too!  Of course it's a pretty long cross-country flight to
    Colorado!  But, then again - a -WN- party in the air may justify the
    length of the flight!  
    
    Nanci

    .89 reminded me of an old complaint:
    
    When there is a leap year and an extra day gets added,
    why the heck don't they add the day to May or June?
    Why February?  It's an awful cold nasty wet story windy month.
    Who in their right mind WANTS an extra day of February???
    
    Apologies to those born on Feb. 29.  You're no doubt a swell person, but
    wouldn't you rather celebrate your bithday in a more hospitable month?
    
         :^)     :^)     :^)
                             --margaret

    HELP..
    
    I am making a basket for part of a Christmas present...
    
    However, I need some advice with a small problem I'm having...
    
    If you know about making baskets, and have made them in the Boston
    area, can you send me some mail please???
    
    Thanks!!!
    
    Gale

    re .98

    Uh, does having an extra day in February *really* defer the onset of
    warmer weather by 24 hours?

    Another way of looking at it is that leap year allows May to be just a
    little warmer by virtue of having started a day later.

    Sorry Paul,
    
    I can be just as optimistic with an extra day of swimming thank you
    very much.
    
    Now watch the mail with all the skiers clammoring for our heads.
    
    Cathy

    Re: .98
    
    To make things worse, 1989 is another "leap second" year where an extra
    second is tacked onto the end of December 31.  Why couldn't it
    be during a work day to give me more time to get my project done?
    
    				Steve

    Nancy Bittle.. The snow this weekend was *all* your fault :-)
    
    So... did you like it????
    
    
    :-)

	Gale, it was great fun !!

	I shoveled snow for a lot of Saturday morning and discovered
	a few back muscles I didn't know I had on Sunday morning.

	Did a slight fishtail in a mall parking lot Sunday.

	Still haven't gotten into a good snowball fight with anyone
	yet, though.  But then again, Steve Mallett is only one floor
	beneath me in the Mill, and there is *lots* of snow right 
	my office.  Hmmm...  I bet he'd never notice if I...   :-] :-]

						nancy b.

	re: 907.26  (Mike Valenza)
    
	>    P.S. Hey Steve, aren't you supposed to be in Colorado?

	Yea, he retreated from MA after I won round 1 of our snowball 
	fight :-P !!

							nancy b.

    re: .105 (Nancy)
    
    "Retreated"?  After you "won" what?!?  Seems this tourista
    thinks that leaving a snowball on one's office chair whilst
    one is out of the office constitutes a "snowball fight".
    
    Now this leaves me with something of a dilemma: if I take
    up the challange, I run the risk of being a bullying MCP.
    Yes, I may be assuming the outcome of the contest, but
    I do have the advantages of height, weight, reach, distance
    of throw, and the experience of innumerable snowball wars 
    over the last, uh, well, more than a couple of years.  And
    yes, I'm also sneaky, treacherous, and underhanded.  On the
    other hand, if I don't respond to this verbal glove slap,
    my ego will have to live with the thought that I wimped
    out. . .to a "girl" (yeah, I know. . .she's no "girl", but
    egos don't think rationally about such things, y'know.)
    
    But hey, I'm a 90's kind of a guy, right?  I can understand
    these petty whinings of my ego and, in letting go of them, 
    achieve a fuller, more integrated personhood, right?  
    
    Hmmmmm. . .
    
    Nancy, my advice to you would be to find a jacket with a hood
    on it and wear rear-view mirrors at all times.  Especially 
    when you're heading out to your car. . .
    
    En garde!
    
    Steve

    ALL RIGHT!!... Go get her Steve...

    Nancy... did I ever tell you about the time I froze snowballs in my
    freezer, and when someone was least expecting in August... he got
    bombarded with snowballs???  :-)

    Bombarded indeed; the time I tried that, when I looked in June they
    were solid ice.

    Well, Paul... they were indeed a little on the hard side...  but
    I did let them them soften-up a little...
    
    but I will say if you try it Nancy, be prepared to run like a rabbit!
    
    G

re: .106 (Steve Mallett)
    
>    "Retreated"?  After you "won" what?!?  Seems this tourista
>    thinks that leaving a snowball on one's office chair whilst
>    one is out of the office constitutes a "snowball fight".
 
	Well, Mr. Mallett, the snowball melted *before* you came back
	from your meeting, leaving your office chair a _little_ wet. This
	was then transferred to your ummm, clothes, when you sat down...
	I would say the same effect resulted (probably better) than had
	I thrown a snowball which had landed squarely on your tush :-).  
	So there :-P.
   
>    Now this leaves me with something of a dilemma: if I take
>    up the challange, I run the risk of being a bullying MCP.
...
>    Nancy, my advice to you would be to find a jacket with a hood
>    on it and wear rear-view mirrors at all times.  Especially 
>    when you're heading out to your car. . .

	Aha!  I knew it!  THAK LIVES.

>    On the other hand, if I don't respond to this verbal glove slap,
>    my ego will have to live with the thought that I wimped
>    out. . .to a "girl" (yeah, I know. . .she's no "girl", but
>    egos don't think rationally about such things, y'know.)

     ^^^^^^^^^^==> should read "Thak doesn't" 

	OK.  That does it.  "Girl",  Steven?    THALIA ACCEPTS.
   
							    

 Ah, a new decade dawns, Steve and Nancy are cooing; there is indeed order in
the universe. :-)

 The Doctah

>    And, from the "All-the-Gossip-That's-Fit-to-Print" Dept:

 Read: Thak loves to play "I have a secret!"

>    BTW, Doc, I hope your lunch date with that foxy blonde was most
>    enjoyable. . .

 Yes- I do so adore to have pizza, especially in pleasant company. 

 The Doctah

ps- Maybe you shouldn't sound so jealous. :-)

    Ah kids, its great to be back at work after two weeks off, and to see
    that nothing has changed - thank goodness!!!
    
    ...dale
    

    
    
    
    			Happy Birthday, John Heffernan !
    
    
    

    
    	
    	When someone gives you directions saying:
    
    	"Park at the top of the driveway"
    
    	Where does one park - near the garage or near the mailbox?
                              
    							nancy b.
    

    to .116: At the end. :-)
    
    (In other words, I don't know what that means either.)
    
    ed

    
>    	Where does one park - near the garage or near the mailbox?


	 It depends on which way the driveway is slanted......if it's
	 flat, you're in trouble.


	 Which end is the head of the table?  ;-)

	 kath

    	In the house I grew up, that would mean out by the street, but
    that's because our driveway sloped up severely to the street.
    
    	By the same token, I had neighbors who lived on top of an
    incredibly steep hill, so there, I'd say the top was by the house.
    
    	If all else fails, park on the lawn! ;-)
    
    						--D

>>>	 Which end is the head of the table?  ;-)


    Do we dare answer *that* one?   8*}

    
    justme....jacqui

>                             -< I'm with Kath... >-


	 You are?!?!  Where are you hiding?  Behind the GPX?  Oh come
	 on!  My office isn't THAT big!  ;-)


	 kath

>    	Where does one park - near the garage or near the mailbox?

	Take a cab.  :*]



	>>AL<<

.118>	 Which end is the head of the table?  ;-)

    
    Well, in *my* house, its where the man of the house sits, whether that
    man be my father or my husband, or SO.

>    	If all else fails, park on the lawn! ;-)
    
    Now, I would say this is the only place the top of the driveway
    can't be.
    
    Me, I'd take it to mean that I should park on top of the pavement,
    not underneath it . . .
    
    --bonnie

	Well, I thought the "top" of the driveway referred to that
	portion closest to the garage, regardless of elevation.

	Kath, you get the prize -->

	.18>  It depends on which way the driveway is slanted......if it's
	.18>  flat, you're in trouble.

	The driveway inclined down steeply from the mailbox and circled 
	around to the garage.  Due to the large amount of snow we were
	getting Saturday night,  I was told to park at the "top" (near
	the mailbox) because getting up the incline later that night after 
	a couple inches of snow would be no trivial feat.

	Luckily, I parked in the right place because I knew it was already
	too icy/snowy to go down the incline, and because everyone else was
	parked at the "bottom" of the driveway also.  But that didn't prevent
	a semantic debate from occurring :-].  They told me what I said would
	make sense if I were standing on my head :-), and that I just lived
	in one of the flattest states in the US for too long (FL).

	I think it's absolutely *gorgeous* outside, now!   My snow-shoveling
	muscles aren't even sore today.  Speaking of snow, I wonder if 
	Steve Mallett is in his office...
							:-] :-]
							nancy b.

	re: 945.17 (David Wittenberg)

	What is a "wet nurse" ?

							nancy b.

Nancy>	Kath, you get the prize -->


	 So.....when can I expect my 8"x10" glossy of Steve Mallett
	 being nailed in the head with a snowball?!?!?!


	 kat

Isn't is a woman who nurses (literally; you know, provides a place for them to
suckle) others' children? Like the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet did.
	Mez

    Yes, exactly.  The term wet nurse distinguishes the nurse with
    breast milk from the dry nurse, whose duty was to take care of the
    infant but not to suckle it. 
    
    Contrary to what the present pro-breastfeeding propaganda says,
    many women can't produce enough breastmilk, especially with the
    poor diets the upper classes generally ate in western Europe.
    Also, in the days when maternal death rates were higher, there was
    often a need to feed a motherless baby.  In preformula days, the
    only alternative was to find another woman who had enough milk,
    usually someone who was suckling her own child and was able to
    produce extra milk.  
    
    --bonnie

So, like, what day is the Assignable Day holiday this year?

D!

    re .132
    
    December 24th is 1990's assignable day (Christmas falls on a Tuesday)
    which gives us Monday and Tuesday off.  AND, we get our 1991 assignable
    day on December 31, 1990_, giving us Monday and Tuesday off the
    following week as well.
    
    

Why is it that the Oreo's you buy in vending machines have about half the
filling or normal Oreo's?

Did you know that the "cream filling" in Oreo's is whipped animal fat, shaped
into a disk and coated with sugar?  Really.  You can fry stuff in it.

The real question - why am I eating Oreo's anyway?  (Notice I didn't ask
myself that until the package was gone...and the package of Junior Mints,
too...)

D! (on yet another binge...*sigh*)

    > Which end is the head of the table...
    
    The head of the table is the end that faces the front door of the
    house.
    
    SandieD

    I wanted to write something gentle after all the arguing that has been
    going on so...
    
    Lately, I have mostly stayed to my self due to illness.  I had alot of
    sick days accruing and was pretty scared.  I have Epstein Barr so have
    very limited energy and get sick very easily.  At any rate, my manager
    and I had a talk and we worked out something to help both DEC and
    myself. I became database administrater for stars/dsin/dsnlink
    communications database, thats Decservers, tsm, bridges, lat, stuff
    like that. I write, edit, research problem/solutions etc.   The great
    part is, that I have a workstation at home so that I can work from home
    when the virus is virilent, when I am too sick to leave my house, when
    I am just too tired to move.  Whats so neat, is I set up my work area
    by this big window that overlooks this empty lot where my neighber
    raises ducks.  My little Westhighland Terrier pup sits on my lap,
    (occasionally hitting a key with a curious paw), we watch the ducks while
    waiting for processes to finish and feel pretty good mentally. 
    Just the feeling of still contributing to the success of DEC, working
    projects, keeping my productivity high does wonders.  Until the virus
    goes into remission, I know that I have the support of my manager and
    district manager and after more than 9.5 years, DEC still takes care of
    its own.  
    
    this file has always been a warm fuzzy to me, it kept me abreast of
    what was happening in a non-threatening way.  I know there is some
    "stuff" going on right now, but thats ok, the community is still a
    whole, and healing place to be.
    
    thank you for always being here...
    
    vivian

That's great, Vivian -- thanks for sharing it.

--bonnie

yeah; what she said.
	Mez

    	Nice to hear the situation is working out good for
    	both you and DEC.
    
    	Scott

    Vivian, that's great to hear, thanks for sharing it!
    
    [*hug*]
    
    						=maggie

    Damme, but that's good.
    
    						Ann B.