Karen, I know what you mean about sadness, but we are also all involved in incredible things as well that really are miracles and gifts with only an occasional fondue that is unclear if it is either one.

On the topic of fondue, I have to say that the mixture of ementhaler, gruyere, white wine, kirsh, and garlic can be a little hard on anyone that is not in the mood. My favorite fondue is done with long thin strips of beef that you roll up on a skewer and cook in a broth that has oriental flavors. Then dip it in a curry mayonaise, horseradish sauce, or some other fabulous flavor. At the end you can eat the broth (although this was never my favorite part).

On the topic of sadness, the bad news is that our peers will soon be starting organ recitals, where we hear the current state of affairs with everyones' internal organs. Somebody shoot me if I ever start!!

Please deliver my best wishes to Rich on his new job! The best man at my wedding now lives in Atlanta. I would love to come visit y'all sometime. Maybe I can swing it as a business trip!?!?

Lori, I hope things get better soon. Is it me, or our age ........ I feel like there is constant sadness and trauma all the time ...... of course it could be menopause! Richard, about the fondue ........ it was not that big a success. The kids didn't appreciate the tanginess of the wine in the cheese. We have only done cheese and chocolate but there must be others. Guess I haven't told you all that Rich is starting a new job north of Atlanta in January and we will move down after my number three child graduates in June. We have been here less than two years so I feel like it is too soon to leave, and my freshman doesn't want to go either. But we hear good things about the area and if we can't be close to family then I am glad to go somewhere warm. I will be here with three of my kids for the next 6 or more months so I will probably be communicating with you all alot ........... sanity! Happy New Year!

I wouldn't want to be going off to any war. I love Israel, but when my kids got close to army age, we left. I didn't want them fighting in any wars, and especially not because I was the one who wanted to live there (though that wasn't the only reason we left. Avi was travelling back and forth at that time, and it was hard to manage his business here with all that travelling.)

Boys in the class of '72 were very aware of the possibility of going to Vietnam and I was very releaved when my number was 229 in the draft lottery. Then it turned out that none of us would get drafted as they changed to an all volunteer army. The guy in the room next door to me in my college dorm was #1.

On the topic of fondue, I think that this can be a really fun tradition. I used to work at a restaurant called the Swiss Pot. This has a different meaning now that the Swiss have legalized marijuana, but at the time it only meant fondue. We served cheese fondue, beef fondue with either oil or broth for cooking and interesting sauces for dipping, and a chocolate fondue served with fruit. I do not know if there are any others. . . are there??

Tough week Lori. I hope everyone comes through all right. Like much of America right now we are enduring the time of friends and loved ones leaving with the military. Both of the boys best friends, Kevin's current roommate and Colin's roommate last year when he was living away; are leaving. One is with the National Guard and is being deployed to Iraq leaving here today. The other is a 20 year old who joined the service 6 months ago and expects to be in Iraq within a few months. He leaves for basic training Monday and then is being sent to Germany, the expectation is that from there he will be shipped to Iraq.

When we were in high school and our brothers were going off to Vietnam were we too young to really understand the ramifications. I remember missing Hal terribly but I don't remember fearing for his safety and wondering if he would survive. Maybe it was too long ago to remember the feelings or maybe it was just me and I was too naive. I certainly have strong feelings about this war and my son's are very frightened for their friends.

It's a rainy rainy Christmas here in L.A. It's also been a week of hospitals. Avi's partner had an operation to unclog an artery in his leg. He seems to be recovering pretty quickly from that, but 2 days later, he had a terrible toothache and had to have 2 teeth removed. And Avi's mother has been in the hospital since last Saturday night. She had stones in her gall bladder and had her gall bladder removed yesterday. She'll be all right, I think, but she's in intensive care right now. It's supposed to be a simple operation, but wasn't so simple in her case. Avi and his brothers and sisters are taking turns sitting with her. And besides all that, a friend of my daughter's was in a car accident yesterday. He had head injuries and is still unconscious. His family is in Israel, but he's not on such good terms with them. I hope the New Year will bring better days. Happy holidays to all of you.

We also have fairly mild temps and no snow, might get a dusting tonight. We are possibly starting a new tradition ......... Christmas Eve fondue! Have done fondue some over the past year and the kids really enjoyed it. As I sit here in the kitchen typing the deer are about 30 feet from my back deck having their Christmas Eve feed, seven of them right now. We are allowed to feed them and I buy 6-8 forty pound bags of feed every two weeks. I just love them. Hope everyone has a great holiday season!

You won't find me out in the cold if I can avoid it. Which frankly is a challenge up here. though not today. It was so warm I didn't even zip my jacket. The snow is melting and the rain is raining.

"I'm dreaming of a White Christmas."

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah everyone, may you all enjoy the holidays.

You won't find me on a double black diamond trail. Maybe the bunny slope...

I just got back from snowboarding. I tried a double black diamond trail today that I had not been on before. Steep and narrow is tolerable and pretty fun if the snow is good. Bumps can put it over the top because they are difficult on a snowboard. Rocks, roots, stumps and ice make it impossible. I saw all of the above when I had my eyes open.

I'm feeling comfortable and warm now, kind of like an old slipper I guess.

Oh yum, I love those only now when they serve them at school I call them dogs in a condom. Times have changed.

Swapping boys and girls classes in Shop and Home Ec. was an early and practical adjustment to changing roles. For me, it was where I learned how to wash my hands and make pigs in a blanket. There have been so many times in my life when I have thanked my lucky stars for this experience. As I sit here now with five sparkling fingers wrapped around a Pilsbury covered Oscar Meyer dog, I can only say have a great holiday mates!!!!