Richard/JD - while we were in Denmark on vacation, we talked at length with our tour guide who sang the praises of their health care program.  Reading the posts between you and JD made be think about what it is that makes us love our grandones on a different level...it has to be their innocence and their willingness to trust us unconditionally.  They make getting old worth every minute of it - which makes me think of that catchy phrase...if we knew that grandchildren were so much fun, we would have had them first!

Karen, you can find almost anything at any price on www.craigslist.com.  A lot of the items are used by an individual but the prices are fantastic.  My son has a leather sofa and recliner for sale on that site right now!

Sandy McGee & JD; I related the health care story in the UK to my British hotel manager in San Luis Obispo (where I live most of the time). He gave a completely different view of the English health care than related to me from my co-workers; bad service, long waits, huge mortality rates, huge death rate from cancer in particular...he was quite vocal about it.  He compared our hospitals as Five Diamond compared to England. He said that you're "out the door in two days" after any kind of treatment. (I'm just trying to stay fair and balanced here).  Of course, he just had to say he's a Michael Moore fan after seeing "Sicko", which opens the door for even greater debates.

RN...enjoy the ride...I love my children more than life itself...but Jacob owns my heart...as do your GC own yours...enjoy the ride...it is as wonderful as anything you will ever experience. Just an experience being shared...friends among friends!

JD, I didn't take it as a retort.  You asked the question once in a very early posting (couple of years ago), "is it possible to love your grand kids more than you own kids?"....I admired your position on the subject; still do.  The question, however, haunts me a bit...kind of a cognitive dissonance issue; trying to reconcile a greater love than your own kids.  For whatever reasons, every time I see a news story about somebody wiping out their entire family, infants & all (getting way too common), that question pops into my mind....can't explain it.

RN...I too probably stated my "for granted" incorrectly...it was just a statement issued by my recent health issue...which was closer to the end than I care to discuss and think of...had nothing to do with your comment...please don't always believe I'm retorting back...sometimes it is simply a general statement...I consider you a good friends as I do of Sally...and all of the Oak Cliff members.

Okay ladies, I know some of you will know where I can find some good furniture outlets in the Dallas area. I need a casual dining set and I've heard there some good outlet stores in the area but I can't seem to locate where they are. Any ideas?

The Brits, by the way, do go back to merry ol' England and do get their medical issues addressed.  Of course, they also mentioned the tax rate in the UK to pay for all of this...I think in the 40-60% range.  I don't have a position on this one way or the other and it's their experience, which seems to be good.  I think Jack once told me to come back to Dallas and go to Parkland Hospital where all the service is at no cost and supported by the tax payers.  Give it a name, but it sounds like socialized medicine (we just don't like that word).  Either way, I've reached a point where I don't have a strong position on medical care for everybody....it seems like the right thing to do, but I can see the opposition as well.  I suspect as I continue to get older & sicker, etc., I'll be much more in line with low cost to free medicine(s).

JD, I probably phrased that wrong. I knew you don't take your grand kids for granted or any of the associated memories...just the snow, perhaps.  I didn't mention the snow angel...we got a good picuture of Avery doing just that.

Toni, regarding the Crest Theatre, I have to confess to nevre evre having gone there nor have I been an eatre of popcorn or drinkre of Dr. Peppre at that particular Lancastre area theatre.