Hi, Linn -- and Jon Freeman, too --

Thanks very much; I had a grand birthday. I'm afraid that I let the celebration vibe die down as soon as possible, as I don't feel equal to the challenge of maintaining that level of elation for an entire month.

WRT strings: Maybe it's because I live in Canada, close to Mandolin Central in the bluegrass-loving U.S. of A., but I've never had trouble finding strings suitable for my mandolin. I used to have an octave (strung like an Irish tenor banjo), but that was no problem, either -- I put guitar strings on it, because that's what the builder used.

I never let anybody buy strings for me, as I am the only player of things with strings and frets in the part of my kin-group that gives me prezzies. My husband gets a dazed look on his face at the very idea, and my brother would probably come up with a bagpipe reed.