No jokes here..my brains fried and sozzled and working slower than a snail trying to beat a sloth! Nearly 40 deg here.. 90 deg F says the cooking therm in my pencil jar. Yup..me back in India.
I know I've disappeared from the forum ..forgive me. 
I survived the chicken pox in Hong Kong..itching the bed, bashing pillows, and cussing whoever created this disgusting disease. A bunch of marks all over are al that remains..but happily fading thanks to being told to rub ale vera all over me. i swear i smell forest fresh nite and day. (Um...men..stop sniffing! :-p )  :-P It seems I got it during a Hindu festival, and it is said that one of the Goddesses seemed to have paid me a visit by way of the pox. can't figure out why she'd choose that way.. but it seems i've been blessed??  Don't ask, even I can't figure it out...
I got waylaid for a month after in HK.... two kiddos (my grand niece and nephew) capturing my heart.
I'm back in India..been back 4 days now with a bang.....my laptop had to get reinstalled, the broadband modem had to be changed and the company gave me  one which is supposed to be the same speed as the older one..but I find it way slower. I haven't reinstalled bryce since I think the laptop may have to go to the hospital for a day or two.
I've got 3 weeks here, then I'm off to London to do a 2 month stint with a museum. I need my laptop spic and span and bursting with health for that.
Trust me..you guys don't want my life... with brains working so slow..getting things done here is taking 4 times slower than it ought to be.
Give me a few days to sit andcatch up with reading all that I've missed and I'll be back as normal.
Fran..incase you read this.. how is that xray mat going? I'll start working on one as soon as I install bryce..
PS.. i didn't install bryce on my sis computer since she had win xp service pack one. ONE I tel you..not 2. Absolutely horrendous.