Okay - everybody sing: (to David Bowies “A Space Oddity”) Ground Control to Major Peg, Commencing Countdown, Patch in place, Took my vitamins, May God’s Love be with me…… For Here Am I breathing in the clean air Far from the smoke Planet Earth is Blue And I finally have a clue……

Message received, Frannkie, thank you! :-) I noticed. And everything IS in the language, isn’t it?

Linda - Re: your friend: Thanks for sharing that, it will become part of my “juju” to succeed! And only you will know when you are ready to quit - just keep aiming for it. All of the support from WoWers has been incredible, hasn’t it?

Oh, and I forgot to say that my dear mother in law’s name was also Lily. I had to look up hogamanay, because I’m not familiar with the name, but I have heard of the tradition .I, too, think the customs are lovely. I have a friend from Scotland that, whenever we watched sports on television, used to play his bagpipes every time his team scored! He is back in Edinburgh now and watching sports is not nearly as much fun.

Tomorrow it begins. I’m going to show up for the life I want to lead!! That is my new mantra. Visualization, positive thinking, I’m ready. I realize that it won’t be easy, but I KNOW I am stronger than that ol’ devil nicotine. Thanks for asking, and how ‘bout you, Linda?

Lily - My Mother in Law told me it was bad luck to give a gift of a purse or wallet without first putting money in it. Usually a penny or any coin. I do that now because I think it’s a cute little “extra” part of the gift. Although, with inflation, I now put in a dollar bill. It also reminds me of her. She was Irish, but I don’t know if the custom is.

Wonderful comments this week. I enjoyed them very much.

As am I, Mugsy. I think this is all beginning to sink in.

I remember, in grammar school, the teacher had us make a card for Father’s Day and how sad I felt because I had no Dad to give it to. I didn’t bring it home because I did not want to see the sadness in my mothers eyes. What he taught in absentia: The importance of being present in your childrens lives, even if you think you don’t have what it takes to be a parent. Dad was a singer and a disc jockey and his ambition and insecurities collided head on with the responsibilities of family life and he ultimately succeeded at neither. When he would go on auditions he’d get an early start, find the nearest bar and drink away his insecurities, never making the audition. That way he would never find out if he was a failure, would he? The other big lesson learned: Believe in Yourself. We did reconcile when I was an adult, and he adored his grandchildren, writing and singing songs to them in his beautiful deep baritone. When he died, I found it difficult to cry for him and when I finally did it was more about the grief of what could have been.

Busy day, today, but I’m here now. My target day is Monday - and Mugsy is right - good advice as usual - banish them from sight forever. That has always been my downfall. “Oh, just this one” at the party with my drink. I usually make a beeline for the nearest smoker at those times. But now I know I cannot. Wishing you a good day, too, Linda. I hope Liza reappers soon.

I wondered that, too, Bonnie. Here is what I found: mossback Definition ☆ moss·back (môs′bak′) noun an old fish, shellfish, turtle, etc. with a greenish growth of algae, etc. over the back Informal an old-fashioned or very conservative person. Star - don’t be calling yourself names!! :-)

Deni - LOVE your response! Like Aaron Neville said “Tell it like it is” . :-)

No, I never worked in a business that required that strict a dress code, thank God. In the rock and roll world of recording studios, I sure didn’t want to out dress the clientèle!! When artists and musicians are recording they dressed comfortably, so we could, too. Now I work in the tropical plant world and it can be messy at times, so comfortable attire rules.

Kitty - If you go to www.urbandictionary.com they will have explanations for many of the abbreviations commonly used here. But, be forewarned: websters unabridged it ain’t !!

I don’t think even that would help, Maurine!!