Raq, I'm so glad to hear about those women, and I'm hoping they get the time they need to heal.

GC, I sympathize on the cavities. I had to have 4 root canals when I was 15, and I had excellent oral hygiene. Biology just sucks like that sometimes.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one whose mind goes to technicalities when confronted with the gruesome.

I've got all this new gun knowledge flittering around my head looking for a home, and it's being quite intrusive at times.

OK, when feeling something odd and krinkly in one's shirt pocket, then reaching in and discovering that it's a piece of popcorn from this morning, a well-bred lady would probably not go, "Hey, a snack!" and pop it in her mouth.

Well, maybe if its square and white and looks like a tooth but isn't a tooth...

I don't know from well-bred, but popcorn in a shirt pocket is fair game. It's not like you don't know where it's been.

I don't want to know what's in your shirt pockets, Trudy.

If I've already shared this, forgive the double-share, but...the summer between 8th and 9th grade, two girls from my school both had their throats slahed during a robbery. No major ateries severed, and both lived and returned in the fall, where they endured much head-craning to see the scars. I didn;t especially like either of the girls, but I always felt bad for the curiousity they had to endure, and always being the "thoat cut girls."

Ugh. I can't even imagine.

I'm always paranoid about someone getting into my apartment. I lock the door every time I leave, even if I'm just taking out the trash. The big patio door worries me, but there's not a lot I can do.

Having been mugged inside my apt. after I left the door open to go get a 2nd load of groceries out of the car, I am vigilant about the door locking. And I like having only one door...with a secured entryway. And I now live in a VERY high traffic area. I feel pretty safe.

Patio door? I'd string bells all over that fucker, and I'm not joking. I like to leave my window cracked for the kitties, but I have lots of breakable shit scattered on the sills, and bells and clangy windchimes hanging from them. Anyone can get in; I really can't do much to stop that, if they're determined. But I'll fucking KNOW it.

OK, I've said a lot of nasty things about Utah, but I'm trying to think when the last time was that I locked the front door of my house. And I'd have to test the keys to figure out which one is for that lock.

I love my dogs. They are not big but they do put up a good bark when strangers come over so I know they'd put off all but the most determined or desperate criminals.