Now there are multiple books.

Personally, I use only one book. The Feist book has all of the towns in it that are in our circle of commerce. We do not buy ads in the yellow pages, but if I thought we needed one it would go in the book that covers the most territory.

Kind of like buying an ad in the Free Press.

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It's a whole new way of calling your kids and grandkids. I mentioned recently there is a way to call computer to computer via a free software called Skype.

We have now had several experiences with it and am sure it will be our preferred way to keep in touch with daughter Amy and her family in Atlanta. It's almost like being in the same room with them.

What's nice about it is that you don't need to hold the receiver and anyone within 10 or 15 feet of the computer can participate. Amy suggested we could now eat dinner together and talk the whole while.

The only issue is a bit of an echo because of feedback through the speakers. The next step is to throw on a video camera so we can see each other as well.

Seven-year-old Alex thought it was a little weird that we could hear what he was saying since he wasn't the one who called us.

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Others probably already know this, but if you try to dob your zwiebach in low-sugar jelly, it won't even stick to it. In fact the jelly almost repels the zwiebach.

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In the unusual department...I heard that some people who farm near the reservoir had carp in their wheat after the recent big rains.

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Making the deep-fried crullers that go with watermelon is an art. I heard that someone made a batch that looked like dog bones.

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Many people I have spoken with lately say they are working harder now than they ever have...or that they didn't expect to be working this hard at this age (meaning they are nearing retirement age).

Could this be true, or is it because we're just getting older and don't quite have the energy we once had?

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I keep noticing ads by the big-city car dealers promising to pay off your lease or your existing car note, regardless of how much it is.

Shouldn't the ads say the dealership will pay off your old note and then add it to your next purchase-and then you will pay it off in your new loan?

The bold statements about giving the buyer "thousands more than your trade is worth" is in the same category. That also gets added on to your new loan, I presume.

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We've been trying to find affordable airline tickets to Seattle this summer but had trouble. Found out the reason it's so difficult is because there are so many cruises that leave from there this time of year.