Joan, that's a thoughtful idea.  I think it could also work as posts in the existing group.  Tyler Clementi's situation is one I don't fully understand - I don't think anyone does.  I confess I need to look up Kevin Massey.  I was also thinking about this, and what to do when the next one comes along.  Which I imagine it will.  I hate to always feel powerless and just comment on events, rather than being involved.  The question is, in life overbusy as it is, is it possible to be involved in a meaningful way.  I don't know the answer to that.

Love your garden pics.  They show your gentle nurturing spirit.

thanks ,madam ,for your invitation

Joan,

Thanks for the note, darlin'. I'm terribly behind on reading as well. Been doing too much offline writing as of late (can you imagine!?) and haven't had time to devote to discussions here. However, I was rather put off by some of the hostile and negative responses to some of my comments that didn't need to be as hostile and negative as they were. Sometimes it just seemed that they enjoyed putting somebody down, and that somebody was me. Not very fun.

David

Thank you, Joan! Compliments to my family are always the most special.   :-)

You are one very cool lady. So happy to see your comments. 

Joan, I will look for those recordings and writing. I, too, am always interested in learning something new.

Boy am I slow. I just noticed your great new picture for Politics, Economics & Religion. Been to busy to look at the group lately. :)

Hi Joan!

I hope you are having a relaxing weekend!

Steph

I am very glad, that you experience things improving for you.  

Brilliant, Joan. Hopefully the message got through to most of them. It's like most things in life -- the thrill is in the hunt!

Very cool pics, by the way!

Thanks a lot for the friend request!

I love your quote above: "Living in the question is a whole lot more interesting than living in the answer." Is that an original?

I agree: what would humans be like if they had no curiosity because they already knew everything? (I shudder to think of it.)

The change of USDA climate zones is new.  I think it reflects global climate change.  I suspect it's still unpredictable and individual results will vary.

You are made of tougher stuff than I am.  I grew up in zone 5 midwest.  When I first moved to Western Oregon, I thought I was in heaven!  Last week in Chicago...  Brrrrrr!  Still, if you have hot summers, it can be good for gardening.  Here is it tool cool in summer for much of a tomato crop, let alone sweet corn.  But the cherries love it!

Hi Joan, thank you for your comments.  You might be surprised - I looked up one Spokane zip code on the USDA Hardiness map and it has changed to Zone 6A.  Might depend on what part of town tho.  My Zone ia 8B and it used to be 7B.  We usually get a couple of hard freezes per winter but nothing like you get.  I have a windmill palm that has survived 9 years in my yard and is now 15 feet tall, roughly, and fig trees that have survived as long.  Ive seen 20 foot fig trees in town.  Eucalyptus lived a couple of years then died in a freeze.  The daffodil leaves are starting to show now.  Heliborus is usually blooming now but I haven't checked lately.  Keep warm!  Spring will come soon!

Joan, sorry to have misunderstood you as someone having a need to vent, because I am very astonished, how much many personal information you reveal on an open forum like AN, that everybody on the web can read.  

So I acknowledge, that you know, what you do, and that you are strong enough to make yourself vulnerable.    

My parents are having a harder time with me being an atheist.  Right now, we are playing the, "don't talk about it" game.   I think they see it as childish rebellion, which is insulting, but, regardless, I don't know how to make it ok, or if it can be ok. 

I love your writing too.  See you around the Nexus.

Joan, I just happened to read Ruth's thread about a personal attack on you, which I did not read. Revealing too much of your private life story in a public forum makes you vulnerable. If you ever want to vent to someone in private, you are welcome to write to me: marulaki@hotmail.com