....that it's soooo great to be able to talk to you all again!! In the past, I've either been away or, for some other reason, could not be online. But when I actually COULD NOT get back here it was quite frustrating and I really missed all of you!!!!!

BTW...the reason I've been gone so long is that one of my housecats tipped over a glass of orange juice onto my keyboard. Most of the keys were not usable....except for some. And it's getting difficult to locate a cordless keyboard for older webtv systems like mine since they are being replaced with the new msntv systems. But...I'm back and have even bought a "new" old set top box to be able to stay online. We bought our original webtv system in 1999 and have used it regularly since then with NO problems so hopefully our new set will be just as good...or maybe I should just eliminate some of my cats :-)!!!!!

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2005

Answers

Glad to see you're still with us, Marcia!

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2005

Glad you're back, Marcia! Those dern critters, always causin trouble! My pug is drivin me nuts with some kind of allergy she's picked up.She used to get itchy skin when people would sneak her commercial dogfood, but no one will fess up to it now. She sleeps at the foot of my bed, and has been keeping me awake with her incessant licking of her tummy and toes.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2005

Wondered where you were, especially for your Birthday. How was it, by the way. Get anything special?

EM, there is a new dog food out that I'm gonna try. Holistic and human grade ingredients, no corn or wheat. Merrick

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2005

Welcome back Marcia. I just assumed you were busy or had nothing to say . . .

I got my Mom a WebTV this year. She couldn't deal with the computer. She really can't (won't?) deal with the WebTV. If she'd spend some time on it, she'd get used to it. Before she had it, she'd always be asking me to look stuff up on the Web. Now, she neither asks me nor does it her self. Perverse woman!

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2005

Don't ya just hate that incessant licking, EM??!! A collie we had years ago had some "hot spots" that she would lick constantly and talk about aggravating....!! We knew that she couldn't help it, though.

Dee...nope, didn't get nothin' special, I'm too old don't ya know :-)!!! Harry did invite some close friend over (unbeknownst to me) for a quiet get together. And....he was very "romantic" afterwards!!!!! Quite surprising since it's usually ME that has to take that "initiative". Guess he still appreciates me!! On the downside, I didn't hear from my two sisters or my brother at all. My half-brother did call me the next day! Oh well...c'est la vie!

Joy, how old is your mom?? If she's anything like Harry's mom, she's probably unwilling to learn anything new! We've been trying to convince her for a year to get a webtv system because of the many private discussion groups available online. She could really use the companionship. Just tell your mom that webtv has everything available that the ordinary person needs!!! And...it's indestructable :-)!

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2005

I've been quiet b/c I got my braces and couldn't talk too well (are ya buying that one?).

Actually I did get my metal mouth, and so far not too bad. I did rather shred the inside of my cheeks and tongue for a while (but dental wax helps). The jaw/tooth pain is manageable, probably b/c I have a thin wire at this time (the medieval torture wires come later). My teeth are already moving...my front teeth are already back to about where they were when I was in college.

We are busy with the house we are buying in E. Washington and doing some close-by traveling in W. Washington. Mom and I are going to LaConner this weekend to celebrate her having quit smoking 6 years ago. The next weekend, Mr. S. and I are off to Bellingham to visit friends who are up from Arizona looking for retirement property.

I wanna dog! Can't wait to hear the puppy stories!

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2005

Hey sheepish, have I got a dog for you!

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2005

Gee, is it a pug????

I almost rescued a pug a couple weeks ago from the hospital. However, they don't do well in heat and shed profusely (so I'm told!).

I think they also pee on beds?

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2005