Old obsolete models can still have use, it seems...

A Pacific Sand Dab is a flat fish that usually has its fins and eyes on the left side, one of few animals thought to be left oriented. They're real, unlike North Pacific Deckpeckers...

Guess what? I won, Congratulations on winning a Spectrum Potion in the Potion Lottery!

Thanks for the tickets !

alright way to go potion lottery winner

Thanks I was surprised, it shows you dont have to buy or be gifted a lot of tickets to win.

like the old saying goes it only takes one to win

Exactly! Any helpful hints with hoarfrost, I beat him 2 times.

no I was trying to battle him but I just haven't the time to sit and figure it out yet that is y I haven't commented back yet

Thanks for letting me know! I hope you figure him out.

: Sacramento is near when Grandmama Donna lives (she's my Author Mark's mom, but I call her Grandmama...) If you drove up to Sacramento from the South all the way on the 5, you missed Fresno. If you took the 99 at the Grapevine, than you went through Fresno and you were within 1.5 minutes from my Author's house in Fresno. In any event, I can tell you had a wonderful time at the concert. Next time, message me and we can all meat-up at a Starbucks. There's approximately 57,341.23 of them between you and me. It shouldn't be difficult to find one that we can agree upon with all that data.

Has anyone heard from Ciebreeze lately her profile page is blank

Duane I havent heard from her, but going to ping her to this comment, so she knows we are wondering about her.

Hi Bears :)

Did you mention cookies? I saw a whole tray and...I ate them all but don't tell I think some were meant for her...they were delicious :P

I just got back from a two week rail trip. I bought an Amtrak rail pass. First trip LA to Chicago on the Southwest Chief. I've never seen Chicago and I've always wanted to see a great lake...any great lake....so there was Lake Michigan looking much more like an ocean, waves and all...it was really cool to see...took the California Zephyr to San Francisco then the Coast Starlight to Seattle...and we were ten hours late because the train got stuck in the snow! That was exciting. Then it was the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago...then home again on the Southwest Chief. I loved every minute and hope to do that again some time. Got home today and still feel the rocking of the train... :P

Oh I would love a trip like that! I am jealous.

I was open to the possibility that I'd get home and say I never want to get on another train...but instead I got home looking forward to my next train trip...which as the last part of my pass I'll go LA to Seattle and back. It really was fun and I met so many nice people. Hey Sydney as I read over some other posts I saw you mention the corner to corner crochet. I haven't tried that but want to. Looks complicated at first but then it's all repetitive right? Love the idea of starting in a corner.

Well while in Seattle did you go to Pike Place Market? If you didnt its a must. Oh corner to corner is easier then it looks, and fun to do with multiple colors. BUT when you get it to the width you want you have to decrease, so there are instructions for that too. After 2-3 rows and understand its repetitive.

: You have just described my dream vacation. I've only been on the San Joaquins from Fresno to Lodi (as recently as Thanksgiving). But all those other trains are legendary! I would also love to ride the train from Williams to the Grand Canyon. I think it's in Bakersfield....And I'm OK about the cookies...Welly just made some this evening.

Oh, I've ridden some excursion trains, the steam train in Felton, Ca...the steam train in Yosemite near my house, the steam train in Jamestown, Ca. and the steam train in Sacramento. Welly and I get to go on all the train rides we want to for free because we are free creatures...LOL.

Thank you! I'm going to look into that and try to get a corner to corner started...never mind the unfinished projects staring at me :P I'm always ready to start something new. Yes, I did visit Pike Place in Seattle. I wandered and was happy to find a used bookstore...I had finished my book on the train and needed another so perfect. Also got a chicken curry "Piroshki" and ate it like some kind of starving wolf it was so good!! I'll be going back to Seattle in a couple of weeks to use the last of my rail pass and will be eating Piroshkis again...they are like a little dough pocket filled with chicken and curry but they have a lot of varieties even sweet ones...that one is my fave though.

thank you for your understanding about the cookies. I could not help myself I was going to have just one...and maybe two...and suddenly the tray was empty. I'm still not sure how it all happened! Frieda it is so nice that you and Welly can ride the rails for free! I bought a rail pass...normally $500 but I paid $300 when they were on sale and what a deal. When all is said and done I will still have 3 unused "segments" but overall I think I did well with the pass. I wanted to include New York City but did not have the courage to visit NYC for the first time solo. I will do a version of this trip again. Even as I sit here typing I miss the rocking of the train.

omgosh there is a railpass here?? could you tell ne where to find that info and what it entails as far as how many places each allows you to go. This is fantastick new man...fntastic. I always wished we had an equivalent to eurrail pass!! I used that when i was 18 and agai when i was 22,,had a blast riding for free and staying in youth hostiles. Yu r trip sound absolutely marvelous!!

woo hooo so much news I miss one or two days an bam lol glad everyone is doin good an feelin fine congrats on win potion win too wowzers train tip sweet . We used to ride the train a lot when I was younger sure miss that. My grandparents lived beside the track when they went by teacups rattled in the cupboard <3 it the whistles used to put me to sleep when I visited them :D Thank you so much everyone for the potion tickets too . Okie dokie off to do dailies have a great day everyone :D

- The pass is always for sale for $499 on the Amtrak site but sometimes they go on sale for $299. I bought mine on sale but I think the $499 is a good value too. The pass has 10 "segments" that once started need to be used within 30 days (30 days of the first trip) I traveled for two weeks and now home...but I'm going out again for a round trip to Seattle. Also it is for coach travel only. It wasn't bad but after 3 days and 2 nights I was usually ready for a night in a hotel...a good sleep and a shower then next day back on the train. The only city I had the hotel for two nights was Chicago because I wanted a full day to wander. Speaking of hostels...I stayed in hotels but after talking with an older woman on the train I think I'll try a hostel. I thought they were only for young people but apparently older people stay in them too...so for my Seattle trip I will stay at a hostel. I am looking forward to my next rail pass :) I am going to be brave with my next one and go to NYC.

- my grandmother's house was near a train track too! Her couch would shake a little bit when the train went by. She lived in that house from 1923 to 1987...during the depression she used to make as many sandwiches as she could to give to those who showed up at her back door...they came mostly from the trains...I guess they rode the rails and told others where the sandwiches were :)