Roland, thanks. My new job is good. I have missed being needed, even it people are being paid to need me. I will send you a CD, it has just been nuts staying on top of things. Things are picking up speed now and it is so much fun. I visited an old woodworking friend tonight and showed him my process. He says he totally believes in it. He is no light weight in the world of woodworking and he is interested in playing a role in what I am up to. I am going for a federal grant for research that I will title lunch@the museum. It is an installation piece that involves a constructed space with people eating lunch in it at different museums around the country. Y'all need to cross your fingers cuz this is going to be a gas. Of course, I will need the grant or this is going to be out of gas.

My Daughter calls their band a heavy melodic progressive rock. they also like to use these bands as barmeters:tools, rush,you never know who/lsning

Hey Richard, forgot to congradulate you on your recent promotion. Also I'm sure you're presentation went well. We got the bid for the 14 acres over in Loganville and plan to be in by the 15th of next mo. Its a fix er up er but well worth it and theres and option on an adjoining 35 acres and another barn house. Its got a small creek and lots of pasture room for the critters. Quite apriject but should turn out nice. Presently I feel like I'm one of the Clampets or something. At least its out of metro, no sirens and much less traffic. Venive Beach is usually nice this time of year but the weathers been quite unpredictable so be careful Karen.

Hi guys! I have enjoyed reading everyone's entries. Glad you all came back. I am headed for Venice, FL this weekend with my husband and youngest son to check on my mother in law. I hear it is going to be cold there this weekend and getting cooler here in Atlanta as well. Its about a 7 and a half hour trip for us so not too bad. Have a good long weekend and I guess some are getting some extra days off up north with the storms. Is anyone else out there doing South Beach for the new year? This is my second time on it and this time I am feeling deprived of the sugars. I find that the second time on any diet is for me like sex over the years ..... you know what to expect and its not quite as exciting as it was the first time! HAHA!

Kathi, I remember you mentioning a while back that one of your kids is a musician. Is it your daughter or your son? How is he/she doing? What kind of music?

Patti, you don't sound so thrilled about Dave's job opportunity! I can understand why, but hopefully you'll enjoy having a lot of time to yourself to do whatever you feel like doing ...

Hi Everyone, I'm back. Just been heaven knows where but here I am again. It's interesting as always to read what everyone is up to.
Maui was fabulous and lush; We'd go back there anytime we had the chance. But the Big Island and Kilaua were amazing when we went to the rainforest and walked around on the volcano. Simply amazing. I was awestruck and dumbstruck. It doesn't happen often. I've never seen anything like it.
It's cold here and the weather is crummy. Some snow coming but rain on top of that so it won't last and the skiing isn't so hot, for those who care.
I'm getting ready to be a single woman.
Dave is moving to Baltimore for 4 months, leaving on Monday. He'll be working on some big deal program and I'm sure it's an honor to be chosen. (gag) I expect winter to hit with a vengeance the minute he's out of sight. My snowblower and I are going to become bosom buddies. do I sound bitter? It'll pass.
I'm travelling down to see him in Feb. and then the four of us are going to Plant City, FL to see my dad in April. It will be such fun to travel with the boys. It's been a long time since they've wanted to do anything like that with us. I'm anxious to see my dad.

Lori, thanks for the update. Its interesting that your kids are musicians and so is one of mine. Just by reading here on the site you've done a lot of traveling and seen lots of the world. I'd never been further than PA until I was 40. Now I'm a big traveler, hah, having been to SanDiego twice to visit my sister-in-law, and Raleigh, NC 5 or 6 times,to visit our daughter. Since we closed the vegetable stand, Neil has been driving truck for a company in Brattleboro. He drives in NE, with PA and NJ thrown in sometimes. So with all the driving he does, traveling really doesn't interest him. We're pretty much homebodies except for visiting family. I'm glad that your writing has been good to you. Its nice that your parents can come and visit with you and the rest of your family. Be good to yourself.

Kathi, here's a brief update. My husband, Avi, is Israeli. We met at the university in Jerusalem, and our 3 kids were born in Israel. We have a girl (25) and 2 boys (24 and 20). The older two are musicians, still struggling to make a living from music--though our daughter also works for my husband, helping him with the designs for the shirts he manufactures. The youngest works as an assistant sales rep for BCBG (women's clothing). And I write poetry and have been published in various literary magazines, which is rewarding for me (not financially!).

Lori, tell me about you, your family. Its been a long time. If anyone else would like to share the things I've missed, please do. Hope the rain stops soon. We are forcasted nasty weather for late tonight into tomorrow. Another Snow Day????? Hope not. They add them onto the end of the year. Well, everyone have a great day.
Happy Thoughts...

I'll skip the goldfish and dogs! I'll go straight for the grandchildren, whenever that happens. And, no, Kathi, I'm not bored by the Nana stories. And, yes, it's still raining here. It hasn't stopped for about 2 weeks. Our son went snowboarding at Mammoth over the weekend (about a 5 hour drive from here), and we were worried he wouldn't make it home since some of the roads were closed. He did get home safely, though--and thrilled about the snowboarding conditions there.

lori, the only one that ever got famous in forestry was smokey the bear and i don't think i have what the bear had. kathi is right about having another beautiful day in paradise here. i have to say that the grandparent thing still scares me a little. i am just hoping that my boys will be contributing members of society for starters. then maybe they could work up to it by beginning with goldfish and then maybe a dog. i suppose greater miracles have happened.

It was a beautiful winter day here in Vermont. We have 8 inches of new snow. Luckily it is the light and fluffy stuff that doesn't take too much effort to shovel. This week is suppose to get warm (for us). Maybe even a record high by Thursday. The shoveling was probably the highlight of the day. Besides the laundry, making dinner and watching football. My oldest daughter is coming home next weekend and we will have our Christmas. I put up this funky fake tree because I was gone over the holiday and didn't want to buy a real tree for my husband to forget to water. It certainly didn't smell like Christmas. And burning the tree smelling candles doesn't work. Oh well, next year. Hope everybody has a good week. Lori, is it still raining in LA? Hope I don't bore you with the Nana stories. You have to cherish every memory.

Thanks for the poem, Richard. Any words of inspiration are always welcome! And congratulations on your progress with your wood ideas. Will you still talk to us when you're famous?!

Kathi, I like hearing about your grandmother experiences. I'm not there yet, but it's good to know what to expect!