I have been lurking for several weeks, am back in Tel-Aviv till mid-
January. A few thoughts:

As one from the U.S.A. who is outside the shores of the Land of the Great PX
(do PXes still exist? that's army 'post exchange' shops where the military
could buy personal supplies at a cheaper than cilivan rate)- Happy
Thanksgiving and really gives thanks for all that you have. Special thanks
to our cybergoddess of the snow who makes LACTNET possible and those of you
who patiently answer our personal questions off and on-line (O.K., a giant
hug to our Southwestern sex symbol- Dr. Tom).

Anna in the U.K. - am really enjoying your posts and glad you are on the
LACTNET - a few questions - what's the story with the RATBAG in your address
and PLEASE give us some turnpike information.

Janna- appreciate your list of herpes rememdies- as a sufferer for almost 30
years in all parts of my body, there were a few new ones there for me. I am
amazed at the comments about vaginal herpes and BFing, were the medical
professionals so freaked as the babies were being born? HELLLLO!!! That is
the time to worry, if at all. Another piece on info to add to our list of
what doctors don't learn.

Overdue update on an almost dead issue- while in NY I manged to get hold of
someone at UNICEF who is a bit further up on the evolutionary ladder than
the human who sent all of us the magic form letter. He was very nice,etc.
both by phone and email. These are media people who know zip about BFing as
well as its part in the UNICEF pictue. They were told to find a celebrity.
After trying to find some other females who are mothers they found our
favorite TV doctora of the frontier. I personally don't think they looked to
hard. In any case, he also saw the Marie Claire 11/96 photos in which our
Jane was standing next to her Merceds Benz, with her hand casually off to
the side stuffing a bottle in the mouth of one of her twins and looking at
the camera. To his distress this fellow found out that the Mercedes people
weren't so nice either during the last 60 years. Bottom line- there are
other things besides BFing in the UNICEF picture and they will channel her
there as much as possible. Will not give you any more of the dialoge but he
really did not know his a__ (that upon which we sit) from his elbow. He was,
however courteous and respectful.

I also was gifted with one of the wonderful form letters from Rodale press
and hope those of you in the U.S. can make some noise about it. This is such
an example of breastfeeding not being the norm in infant feeding - I am also
scratching my nails on the blackboard.

Remember- get thru this weekend, keep positive thoughts, recharge your
batteries. Next month we have the holidays and the beginning of the
countdown for our special cyberbaby to be - Jay we are all going to watch
what you eat this weekend.

To all of you going to the WABA meeting - looking forward to your reports
and hoping that all of the good energy you are bringing will accomplish
something.

EVI