I explained Ground Hog Day to a person in Switzerland on Thursday and assured her that spring would come early this year. She said that my explanation helped her to understand the movie with Bill Murray (which she liked), but can you imagine seeing that movie without knowing what Ground Hog Day is? Didn't he wake up every morning to "I got you babe?"

Okay Lori, no secrets. I am having fun because I am organinzing a grant application with a team of wonderful people. There are some stellar local people and some from the national forestry scene as well. A lead researcher from the Forestry Sciences Lab in W Va and a forestry professor from NC State are flying in to Burlington to spend Wednesday with me. I have never had people take me quite this seriously before. Gosh! So, get those rabbits feet and whatever mojo you got in the backroom out of the closet. I need GOOD VIBES over the next few months or else I will continue to be the charming clerk that I am during my Clark Kent daytime role for the rest of my frickin life. I'm not dissing it. I am a pretty cute clerk.

I'm doing it all myself and that's why it'g going to take forever. I'll looking forward to seeing it done. I'll feel proud but jeez it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Not the room, the job. the room is big enough. It's the size of a small bedroom. A waste of space really but there you are.

I'm going out on the the 19th to spend the week with Dave in Baltimore.

Hey Ya'll, General Beauregard didn't see his shadow this week so looks like Spring is coming. He lives at the Yellow River Game Ranch a few miles from here in Stone Mountain. Up north we call them hedgehogs and the ACJ carried a story on the myth etc.

What are you having fun doing, Richard? Or is that a secret?

hi guys, life is soooo crazy. i'm having fun though. hope you are too.

Patti, it sounds like you're keeping yourself busy in your life as a "single." Just don't get too used to it! Just kidding. When will you be seeing Dave?

Are you doing all the work yourself or having someone come in and help? Hopefully, you have another one you can use while working on this one!!! A friend of mine is coming over on Saturday and we are going to craft together. She does a lot of stamping and its always fun to get new ideas. We are busy in the Valentine mode in Kindergarten. Lots of hearts and giving of phone numbers around. Thats the new thing...to write down your phone number on a tiny piece of paper in hopes that your "friend" will call you. Not sure how many parents appreciate it, but at least they are practicing number writing!! It was in the 30s here today....although it is predicted that there will be six more weeks of winter!! Like seeing his shadow really makes a difference! Hope all is well is everyone....happy thoughts!

the bathroom project kathi is a whopper. I've already run into the oops factor and so it will of course take me longer than hoped for but I'm pressing on.

This coming weekend I'm working as a scorer at the Jr. Biathlon. Although an official race this is our last "practice" before the Jr. Olympic Biathlon next year. Pretty exciting stuff. I have purchased new long johns for the occasion!