Helen, until my problem became more of a problem (time now for Liz's signature line), I scarcely ever even came on. In fact, I hung out with a farmgirls forum...but as things began to change I decided it was time to seriously start to regard the ick and as I saw the farm dream leave my ability (excepting of course the dear chickens), I began to read. Not so much here, where it seemed hard for my non-tech ability to learn my way around, but at a different ALS site. I don't doubt you'll do the other kind of reading when it becomes necessary, and meanwhile you're making friends here. Win-win.
Liz Girl. I so wish I could make you believe in yourself. There are compassionless people of all ages, but there's a reason why grandparents attract children. They really care, and have usually had lots of hardship to learn from. Your age is wonderful, but most of your contemporaries don't spend their time with an ill person and probably can't understand why anyone would do it...unless they had also suffered. Here, we get to see your shining qualities and can truly appreciate what you do.
Joni, you are such fun. I hope you and your pup and Bruce are having a good day. I'd love for you all who are able to get together, and I'd like to be a fly on the wall--I know you'd have a blast. Of course, Aly never jokes and is serious all the time, but you might get a smile out of her, too. Hahaha.
Diane, I will say only this about Dover Downs. There is a heck of a lot of traffic, and it's good there will be sobriety in your designated driver. Our experience with it was the following: We packed up to head to Nova Scotia the next morning, and Phil said, Let's go now! So around noon, we left for parts north with no reservations (this was a long time ago), got close to Dover and stopped. Cops had cars pulled all up the road, backed up for miles. It took us three hours to go about twenty miles. I think the state got funded that day. And yes, earplugs are good!