Well it's Saturday night and my dad just called from Florida. Seems he is moving back to the Burlington area. His companion, Rachel, has children living there and they have convinced Dad and Rachel that they can no longer take care of themselves and need to "come home" and be taken care of. So when the house sells that's what they will do. It would never have occured to me to tell my dad that he couldn't take care of himself. At least not at this point. He's only 75. But he doesn't want to live alone and so he is going along with this plan. At least as he says, he'll be closer. Guess I'll be over in northern Vt sooner than I figured.

Jeez I'd like to be able to walk away from my monitor and go for a drive. Sounds wonderful. Think my students would notice I wasn't in the room? Maybe not.

Next week I'm traveling with Dave to Las Vegas. He's on business and I'm tagging along. Unfortunately it's cold there too. I was hoping to be poolside with a good book. Oh well. I'll find something to do I'm sure. I'll be staying at the Paris Hotel in case anyone wants to call or come by.

Well, if it reminded you of driving the backroads in Spfld, then you must have been drinking, smoking or looking for a place to go parking! Hope you didn't throw your empties out the window! HAHA!

I just took a drive up around the western side of Mt. Mansfield. It's cold, snowy, and really beautiful today. After lunch, I couldn't stand the idea of being back here staring into my computer monitor, so I decided to drive until I felt like turning around. It reminded me of driving around the back roads of Spfld during high school. It also reminded me of what a drag it is to be staring into this monitor. I think I need a ripping day on a snowboard to make it all right again.

Karen I'd love to pop over and do your decorating. I enjoy it actually and miss having people around to do it for. The "guys" expect to have it done but are too old to participate anymore. All busy with work and that sort of thing. They certainly notice when I don't do the usual overwhelming do over the entire house thing. I tried just not bothering, kinda went on strike a couple of years ago. I'm the one who missed it the most though so back to it I went. This year I'm having a bunch of my gal pals from school over for a cookie exchange on the 22nd so there will be someone to ooh and aww over my efforts.

On a whole nother topic: I'm not a fan of wings. Any wings.

I do make a terrific pumpkin pie and I'm not sure how it can screwed up. Although I don't like to cook particularly I do great deserts and volunteer for that part of most get togethers. Dave has a gluten allergy so 20 years ago I found I needed to come up with some creative cooking when it came to deserts. I make a spectacular gluten free chocolate cake. It's surprising actually how many people find they are gluten intolerant.

wings are only good on maxi pads ........... sorry!

Are the seven foot wings that the Victorias Secret models wear on the runway considered "actually wearable". Gerda would look very good with seven foot wings. Thanks for the ideas! I will get busy now before it's too late.

A massage, a great bottle of champagne, some aromatherapy or massage oil, a certificate for a weekend get away, JEWELRY - anything but especially diamonds, a manicure, pedicure or facial, a good book, actually wearable items from Victoria's Secret, gift cert. to a class of interest to her (cooking, computer, crafts, MASSAGE!), a family portrait sitting before your first one leaves home, perfume, warm fuzzy stuff like slippers and robes, gourmet coffee, anything that you make yourself (maybe woodworking in your case) kitchen gadgets from Williams Sonoma and ......... naughty stuff from that store with the black paper on the front door!!!!! Hope this helps, now go take a cold shower!

I like the honesty of "Your cooking sucks". It reminds me of the hunting camp where anyone who complains becomes the next cook, though. My theory with my sister in law has always been that I am dealing with an iceberg, where most of the story is hidden under water. I guess I have wanted to keep it that way and haven't really been very honest. And, I really think I could maintain my dishonesty if that pumpkin pie would stop popping out of the water like a penguin with a gas problem.

A Southern Living magazine subscription would be a very unexpected present to slip into, my wife, Gerda's Christmas pile. Any other ideas for that special someone?

A tatoo was the best present that I never had to actually get for her. The fact that I suggested it made her feel like a wild woman. My boys called it off, because they couldn't handle the idea of having a mom with a tatoo.

Twelve hours of driving time Pat, and with the stops about 14. We are used to it now after being away for the last 10 years. When we lived in KY it was a 14 hour driving trip. The older my parents get the more I would like to be back closer. I like things about everywhere that we have lived but in the end the heart brings you back. Glad you have the holiday spirit Pat. Would you like to come do my decorating? Richard, don't you think at almost 50 that we have the RIGHT to speak up and say "Your cooking sucks"? Okay, well then buy her a subscription to Southern Living magazine or the food channel........ Just trying to help!

I had 3 wreaths delivered to me at school today by one of my students so I have a fun project tonight decorating them. Hope to put up our tree later this week. Awfully cold here too, like most of the north east low temps and windy. Guess fall is over. It's too cold to string lights on the house. Our neighbors are way ahead of us in the decorating department but we'll catch up bye and bye.

Glad to hear Janice and Butch are doing well. Sounds like a good trip Karen. How long a ride is it for you?

Hi, we also made it back safely and had a good time with family. Saw Janice and Butch for a little while too. They are great. Here it is quite cold, low 20's this morning and we are expecting snow for Fri. and Sat. I guess I will have to try to get in the spirit and put up a tree this weekend. Just really wishing we could skip right over it all. Bah Humbug!!

Hey ya'll, made it back to GA safely and only saw three accidents on the way. One was the usual HUGE. Took a side road and stayed out in the country in VA then arrived back here early afternoon yesterday. Mom had me bring furniture back this time so good thing I drove and had the Grand Caravan. They had a few cdold nights while I was gone so the impatients finally bit the whatever and its time to plant the winter stuff. The dog and cat were sure glad to see me and I played with them the rest of hesterday aftermoon. Back to work tomorrow. Got to finish unpacking today and maybe get the rest of the leaves up in the yard.

And once again, my sister-in-law brought new life and meaning to the words "truly unremarkable".

Did you see the "Audio Blog" option on the http://new.blogger.com/ web page? You can connect to our blog account from your cell phone and listen to voice messages. Gee whiz, I have trouble leaving a message that I can live with on my voice mail and it usually takes me 4 tries. I think that this dinosaur is not ready to audio blog yet. Note to self: I bet Dale Carnegie can help me.

You're welcome Roland but all I did was get some e-mail addresses together. The credit for the work on the reunion goes to John LaPlante and countless others living in the Spfld. area. They did all the real work and it was a great event! The blog idea came from Brian and although we never see him here anymore, the credit for all our continuing conversations certainly goes to him.