Dear George and list, I was glad to read about the success you're having with your night blooming cereus. A friend passed one along to me last winter and I've been keeping it going outdoors once it warmed up here. It has the strangest looking leaves I've ever seen. Like a paddle cactus almost splayed out almost horizontally. No sign of bloom on mine, but she told me it might take 2-3 yrs to get a blossom from the new sprout she gave me. Is that your experience with it? My dad had the carotid artery cleaning out procedure done a few years back and had great results and no complications. And he was in his early 80's when it was done. All my best wishes to you for your procedure, George. Carolyn Bethesda zone 7a _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com