bdobs- First, what we have here in the Bay Area is the Tobacco Horn worm, not the Tomato Horn worm. The difference is in the striping along their sides. They start out very small (so does their poop) But once they get going they increase in size at a fantastic rate because of their appetite. I intended to raise one to go through the phases to a mature moth a couple of years ago but the thing ate so much so fast that I was cutting branches off of my tomato plants to feed it. They eat 24/7. As they increase in size so does their poop. Which is one way to find them on your plants. Anyway I didn't want to keep cutting my plants to feed it so I put it on the patio table and within 30 seconds a Bluejay swooped down and grabbed it. Can't say I felt too sorry for it after seeing what it did to the leaves and unripened fruit. The one in the video below attacked my tweezers as I tried to pull it off of a branch. Didn't know they could move so fast. Here is a link that might be useful: Tobacco Horn worm attacking tweezers

From the website IRS.GOV: Is interest on a home equity line of credit deductible as a second mortgage? You may deduct home equity debt interest, as an itemized deduction, if you are legally liable to pay the interest, pay the interest in the tax year, secure the debt with your home, and do not exceed certain limitations. For more information, refer to Publication 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction; and Tax Topic 505, Interest Expense. References: Publication 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction Tax Topic 505, Interest Expense AND I took out a home equity loan to pay off personal debts. Is this interest deductible? Where do I enter this amount on my tax return? A loan taken out for reasons other than to buy, build, or substantially improve your home, such as to pay off personal debts may qualify as home equity debt. The interest would be deducted on line 10, Form 1040, Schedule A (PDF), Itemized Deductions. The amount you can deduct as interest on home equity debt is subject to certain limitations. For more information, refer to Publication 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction; and Tax Topic 505, Interest Expense. References: Publication 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction Tax Topic 505, Interest Expense Here is a link that might be useful: Where I found the above

I just wanted to thank everyone here for being so helpful and sharing your stories about perimenopause. I used to be so full of energy, happy, positive -- all that began to change once perimenopause kicked in, which for me was around 47. The first sign was when I had a period just two weeks after my last one. My period became erratic after that. But the crap really hit the fan when I turned 50. I had always told myself that I would never act/feel frumpy/unhappy like a lot of women I had seen who were in their 50's. Well that's because I didn't know how very difficult perimenopause could be, and no one gave me a heads up about what can happen. I think many women go on hormones and thus do not suffer from much of this. But my doctor made it clear that she did not think they were a good idea. There have been days, though, where I've thought, enough is enough, I'm going to take them. I've experienced almost every symptom that's been discussed on this forum. I've had some truly awful panic attacks, which for me begin with a sensation of vertigo and feeling like I might pass out. My doctor gave me xanax for this, and I take a half or whole pill when the symptoms start. Since I now recognize what's happening, I know it will pass. The panic attacks usually occur when I'm out somewhere -- in a mall, grocery store, etc. Stress does play a big role in all of this, but it's made far worse my the fluctuating hormones. Regarding heart palpitations, I, too, have had them throughout my life, and wore "halters" from time to time to look for rhythm disturbances, etc. Of course nothing was found because magically when I wore the halter I must not have had any palpitations. Fast forward to a few months ago -- one day out of the blue my heart started flip flopping such that I had to sit down. After a minute or two it passed, but it got my attention. My doctor did an EKG which of course found nothing because again, at that moment, I was not having them. My doctor prescribed a low dose of Lexapro to address underlying anxiety. I have the pills but have chosen not take them right now. I've been taking Wellbutrin for the past twelve years to help with depression and it's done a pretty good job. I get them a couple times a day. I will say that since I cut out caffiene (including my beloved chocolate), the palpitations have decreased a little -- but I still have them. On the advice of several friends, I started taking CoQ10, which my doctor said was "unnecessary." I'm taking it anyway in the hope it might somehow help. Sometimes the palpitations start at night when I'm laying on my side in bed. But they can appear anytime during the day, whether I'm dealing with something stressful or not. I"m also trying to eat healthier and drop some weight, knowing that can only help in terms of feeling better. I'm tired of feeling like a sick, old person!! No one in my family understands so I don't talk about what I'm going through. I often pray and ask God to heal me from these symptoms. Sometimes my muscles/joints are so sore it's an effort for me to turn over in bed. I do not sit around all the time, I have three teens and tend to my family's needs, and I am involved in other things as well. My oldest is going to college this Fall, and I can see a time in the near future when I will have to get a job. Given how difficult some days are for me, I dread this thought. As many of the ladies here have said, "I want the old me back!!" And I wonder if that will ever happen. I truly hope so. Back to the heart palpitations, maybe I will try the calcium/magnesium supplements. I think I read somewhere that one should only take these for a certain amount of time. Thank you again to all who come here and honestly tell what's going on. I am very grateful for all the stories, advice, information and support I see here. Hoping and praying we can all move past this phase and get back our peace of mind, good health and happiness!

Hi chemicals that'd curl yer hair, As I mentioned, this seems a useful strategy for Canadians as an alternative to a tax-deferred retirement fund. Here, if I borrowed to invest in the tax-deferred retirement system, interest paid on the loan is not deductible. If I borrow to purchase stocks outside of the tax-deferred system which have a good possibility of being profitable, the interest is deductible. When in regular account I buy Canadian stocks that pay dividends, I pay tax on them at a much lower rate - 4% interest earnings and 3% dividend earnings produce about the same after-tax result. If that dividend income is in my tax-deferred account, that tax benefit is lost. If I invest to earn interest, usually the value of the underlying asset, while it can't shrink ... ... it can't grow, either. So - all that it will ever earn for me is earned - NOW! And taxed now - at top rate. But - the value of the underlying asset deteriorates each year, due to the depradations of inflation ... which means that I must put part of current earnings with the asset in order to preserve purchasing power. I expect that you've read my story about the two rats that eat your cheese. But - if I borrow to invest, and pay interest-only on the loan each month ... ... a few years down the road, I pay back precisely the number of dollars that I borrowed. Each one of which will buy less than when I borrowed it, so I gained from inflation. One wants solid, strong companies in his/her projectred retirement fund, and share prices of such companies tend to stay more stable during down markets ... especially if they are paying a fairly good dividend. If I buy a stock inside of the tax-deferred account, when I sell it, if before the time that I'm to withdraw it, I pay no tax on the capital gain, either, at that time. But the problem is - that when I withdraw funds from that account, which I must do, beginning at age 70, I must add every dollar to my income at the time that I withdraw, with no deductions - and whether or not I'd prefer another course of action, e.g. if I had a substantial other source of income in one year, to put me into a higher tax bracket. And I'm required to withdraw an increasing percentage annually, to 20%, I think it is, at age 90 and at that rate annually from then on. In the regular system, if prices of the stocks that I've bought go up, when I sell them (or die) I deduct the amount that I paid originally, then pay tax on half of the gains, at regular rate - but I pay no tax on half of that gain. When I invest in stocks inside the tax-deferred system, I lose the tax advantage of both the dividend tax credit, and of the deductibility of half of the capital gain. If I hold those quality stocks for long periods, which I tend to do, I don't have to answer to the income tax people till I sell them, which gives me most of the advantage gained by the people who use tax-deferred retirement accounts. When the value of my assets increase, I laugh some. If they go down, I cry a bit. I don't want to be in a position where I must get out at a time not of my choosing. And as I showed you in the message to you the other day - the major composite index in the U.S. has always been up in the last 50 years, give it a 10 year span. You expect to be around for more than that, don't you? If not - no doubt your kids will ... and if they inherit a stock that's doing well, they'll not likely dump it. However - if I buy a chunk of the index here, I can't get share certificates issued, which means that I can't use them as collateral for a loan at the bank - but I can from the broker (as far as I know). Broker's interest rate charged is usually about 1% above the rate that the bank charges. Ideologically speaking, I'd rather do business with the local credit unions, but the rates that they charge are usually substantially higher than those charged by the bank. I've had gains, and I've had losses, but I've never been caught where I had to sell stocks when the market was low in order to keep the bank off of my tail. As some people in the investment group that I've attended for years say - "Losses are the tuition in the learning-how-money-works game". Good wishes for your skillful participation in that game. ole joyful