Re Texas: summer weather here (Houston area) is extremely hot (but cooler than, say, Death Valley, but not by much) winter weather is fantastic (seldom gets down to 35). No state income tax. People are extremely friendly. Easy-going laid back lifestyle. Freeway traffic is heavy, but the freeways are wide (one has a total of 24 lanes) and the traffic generally flows at 60 or better. Except for the Gulf and many lakes, we're no match for your scenery. The state is growing like crazy, and the state treasury has about $10 billion just sitting in a rainey day fund. On balance - OK.

Enjoyed your post on NYC. I lived in Flushing 1958-1966. Found NYC an unbelievable fun-filled place. More going on in a bus line along Fifth Avenue than in entire cities elsewhere.

It's not so much whether or not a thief can access your zip code or pin#. Even if the card is a Debit, you can still use it as Credit and you're insured, whereas by using it as a debit, you are then held responsible for unathorized charges. Using it as a Credit is like having insurance.

Because when a a card is entered as a Debit, you have to use a pin# which can be used by others more easily, than using a card as Credit where you only have to put in your Zip code. A Deibit card can be used as Debit or Credit. It's also safer to use it as Credit unless you need to get cash, then it must be used as a Debit.

Somebody stole my racing stripes over the long weekend. Let me know if you see them on someones car.

I am no techie either - the pic was already in my windows program to insert - I do not know how to get a pic from the internet to use!

The bird pic was from my computer - I love cats, dogs, birds, opposums, deer - everything but the skunks, cyotes and raccoons that inhabit the area!

Is he a Burnese Mountain Dog (THey have similar coloring and I don't know what they look like as pups, they are huge when they grow up though, so I think not.or just a cute puppy?

Thanks ...he's a bit bigger now. That picture was taken a couple years ago. I like to think of him as a puppy, never growing up. Linda like the Peter Pan syndrome. :]

I am hosting a SURPRISE Whiteboard birthday party for our buddy Sneakers55. Please stop by and post a BD message on his WB. Thanks.