I started a few years prior to that, but I too remember everything you all have discussed. Even worse, I got my unsuspecting Mother hooked; she used basically the same tools we both started with until her death in 2003...and she was a very good quilter! I have moved on to the rotary cutters, rulers, Accuquilt, a LA and 12 more machines...and she out-quilted me to the end! Oh well...it was, and IS, fun!