Wow, Emily!

Hive-mind flower-getting question: The last three times Daniel's gotten me roses (a single rose twice, then half a dozen) they've died - wilted then dried up - before opening to full bloom. Upon receiving them, I trim the rose's stems at an angle under cool running water, and I follow the directions for mixing the nutrient/preservative pack. What's more, the vases are blue or green glass, which I had heard should contribute to longer lasting flowers. This is three times in a row now, so that makes me wonder if the problem is something in our water, but does anyone else have any ideas on what is going wrong?

58 pages! Yay!

I've never seen that happen, WindSparrow. Do you have hard water? I don't know that that would make any difference, but I'm willing to believe it might.

OK a quick question. My 84 year old mom has Osteoperosis. She has been taking Fosamax for some time and has not had a bone density scan in 8 years. The doctor refuses to approve another one, on grounds that he would not change any of his recommendations for treatment regardless of what the results were. I can't help but wonder if this is bullshit. If degeneration has continued we would know what areas are worse so as to be extra-careful in protecting them. If she has not gotten worse, or has gotten better it would be good to know in terms of feedback that the diet and excercise regieme she follows is right. I'm getting ready to send him a polite letter objecting to this; if the response is not good it would be followed by a second polite letter mentioning the word "breach of contract" which is one of the few things ERISA will let a medicare provideer be sued for. But I want to make sure I'm right before I go down this path.

Don't have any ideas, since you've done all the things we'd normally do in the Flower Shop where I used to work. But you could try putting them in lemonade (by which I mean Sprite/similar). We used to do that to revive the roses that were wilting. Or put them in hot water, possibly.

I've heard both putting a penny or putting an aspirin in the water, but I've not tried either.

TB, wish I knew what to suggest. That sounds crazy.

Do you have hard water? I don't know that that would make any difference, but I'm willing to believe it might.

Yes, but we've got a household water softener, as well. Of course, it is really old, but still....

Fay, by putting them in hot water or Sprite, do you mean, dip the ends, dip the blossoms, dip the whole flower in it for a short time, or do you mean empty out the water in the vase, and replace it with the hot water or Sprite?

Typo Boy, putting in writing as many reasons as you can as to why you and your mother want this test performed should help - in your shoes I might feel more comfortable about making an appointment and discussing those reasons in person - having written out the list of reasons, and made a copy of it for the physician. But if sending him a polite letter outlining the reasons seems right to you and your mother, then that's how you should do it. Consider packing in more reasons that what are really at the forefront of your minds.

But ya know what? Asking for an official second opinion could be a good thing, too. How difficult is that to arrange?

I've heard both putting a penny or putting an aspirin in the water, but I've not tried either.

My mom and I used to do that with wildflowers we would collect on walks. I've gotten the impression that the florists' packets are a bit better, if available. But they are better than nothing.

Gar, it sounds *really* irresponsible to me that the doctor won't approve a BMD scan in an elderly woman with diagnosed osteoporosis. If nothing else, I would think the damned doctor would want to know if your mother's bone loss has slowed/stopped, or is continuing.

I can't imagine, for instance, a cardiologist telling my dad "Oh, my treatment plan would be the same no matter how clogged your arteries are, so I won't approve an angiogram, even though you have a history of heart disease."

That's, as I think about it, seriously fucking irresponsible on the part of your mom's doctor. "MD" does NOT mean "me, deity."

Andi, as for the hot water advice - put the stem into the hot water while holding the head straight. After about 20 seconds the water will reach the top of the rose and revive it. Then you can transfer the roses back to their vase.

With Sprite, I think you just add some to the regular vase water.

noting the flower advice

My word Gar, 8 years seems like a long time to me.

Speaking of flowers. My son is going to his 8th grade dance. He had told me a couple days ago he wasn't going, but apparently a certain Brittney had other plans, so now he is going. It's a dressy thing. So I told him that if he was going with Brittney then he should bring her a corsage. He of course thinks I'm nuts. He should, right?

Brittney is a new interest apparently. Last month he had 3 text messages on his phone. This month so far he has 1341. Um, ever hear of talking?