the tree was struggling and I figured it needed all the leaves it had ==>> pure genius.. if i say so myself ... i have quoted you a hundred times .. in the last few years ..... lol ... at this size ... age ... etc... i think you ought to go find something else to worry about ... this thing is bulletproof ... i see the clay cracking in the hole... but some peeps say a root mass can be twice as big as the tree ... though in a different form ... so even if the disturbed soil at the trunk is dry ... who cares... its roots are 20 feet in every direction by now.. and it is not suffering for water ... and the pic shows that ... and i think i see some fine lawn out there.. if you fert the lawn.. this will get any and all fert it ever needs.. no need to ever fert this tree again.. in any manner .... and finally.. nice to see a planting ... with a tree planted far enough from the house.. that it wont crush it ... in the decades to come... its like you really thought this all out.. and acted accordingly .. in other words .. great job all around ... it so refreshing to see someone who did not plant it 15 inches from the house.. and now wants to know.. if it will effect the foundation .. or on top of the septic field.. etc ... two thumbs up ... just dont worry about it any more ... ken

If being irritated by all the gratuitous, obnoxiously over-done christmas stuff makes one a "humbug," then count me in! BAH HUMBUG! For the first year ever, our family (my sister's family, my husband and I, and my folks to an extent) are forgoing buying gifts for each other. Instead, we're opting for donations to charities in each others' names. And I cannot tell you how LIBERATING it feels! No more wondering what in the world-wide-web to get for this person or that person! No more worrying that they won't like what we picked out for them! No more worrying about getting something we either won't like or won't ever use! No more adding to the already monstrous collection of "gifts of christmas past" (you know, all those things you couldn't return and will never use that are just taking up space in your home)! No more simply acquiring MORE STUFF! My God, we can breathe! :) Of course, I wouldn't necessarily complain if someone was to get me succulents or cacti as a gift... ;) But otherwise, donations donations donations! There are scores of good causes out there that need support far more than I need a new bottle of perfume (from Grandma, who STILL doesn't get that I don't like perfume). *CG*

This is what I was talking about, not intended for those that love the joy of Black Friday shopping. Even if there are occasional instances, it sheds a bad light. I have no complaint against Black Friday, just what happens some times and this is one of the ones: -- A woman suspected of showering Black Friday shoppers with pepper spray surrendered to authorities but was released pending further investigation after she refused to discuss the incident, police said Saturday. The woman, whose name was not released, is suspected of firing pepper spray into a crowd in order to clear a path to a crate of Xbox video game players that were being unwrapped late Thanksgiving night at a Walmart in the upscale Porter Ranch section of the San Fernando Valley. The suspect got away in the confusion, and it was not known if she bought one of the Xboxes. Ten people suffered minor injuries from the spray and 10 others sustained cuts and bruises in the ensuing chaos. "Last night at 8:30 the suspect involved in the pepper spray incident at the Porter Ranch Walmart turned herself in," police Sgt. Jose Valle said Saturday. She immediately invoked her right against self-incrimination, however, and refused to discuss the incident further. Police released her pending further investigation. Valle said investigators still have nearly a dozen witnesses to interview, including several spraying victims. He added it would likely be at least two days before an arrest in the case could be made. If the woman who surrendered is indeed the person who sprayed the crowd she could face battery charges.

You know, Walmart and other large companies create a lot of jobs that require little to no training,education, or experience. You cant expect them to offer 6 figures a year to a cashier or a stocker. No one is forced to work there. I am willing to bet that the vast majority of those employees that rely on government help to make ends meet are unmarried women with children. That is a tough (though largely preventable) circumstance. But you cant expect Walmart or anyone else to raise the pay of unskilled workers to more than what that job is worth to support the life you WANT. These jobs and others like them, such as fast food,etc that are screaming for 15 bucks an hour minimum because they need it used to be for kids to earn extra money and learn basic job skills. Now that adults are taking them over, there is this argument that the companies must raise the wage to support an adult lifestyle,including a family. That's insane and shows a level of entitlement that borders on vulgar. Walmart is not the problem here.