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?

being some one that works better at following a regime if I can see results - that alone is a good reason for a scan.

You know what pissed me off? A man who, if there isn't EVERY single ingredient to make tacos/tostadas, says, "we can't have that." Good lord. Will the lack of refried beans KILL him? *sigh*

uploading photos from our easter train trip and a few garden photos. I spent time wandering around the gardening doing a littl eof this and a little of that . I am a pollen storage unit.

Windsparrow, cut the rose stems at an angle, under running hot water and transfer immediately to warm water in the vase. The trick is to not expose the cut ends to air at all, if possible. I throw out those stupid packets--they always make the flowers wilt and die faster, for me. The axioms that work best for me are "warm water, cold air." And keep the vase up high enough that the damn cat won't eat the babies breath, or the lillies, both of which are toxic to cats.