I forgot to mention that we have another wedding coming up! My son Rafi and his girlfriend, Kristine, are back to normal after their break-up and have decided to do what my daughter did--have a civil ceremony at the Town Hall! They set a date for Jan. 18. I'm not sure what the point is cuz they are planning to have a regular wedding, too, but they just "feel like doing this." Guess that's a good enough reason. I don't know when their other wedding will be, but my daughter's will be on July 13. They might end up doing theirs this summer, too. Who knows?

Happy New Year to all you bloggers! Hope you're having fun. We haven't decided yet what we're doing. We'll probably either stay home for a quiet, romantic evening or spend it with Avi's family. No noise and crowds for us this year! I wish you all the best of everything for the coming year.

ya' know, i found a 2005 cd release that had slipped by me until now. i really, really like it. it is called- the very best of rosanne cash. she and i have been pretty tight since about 1980. (that is one of my secrets that i haven't told her yet). i found it for $12 at best buy. she has some great, great songs.

I like that tiger idea. Sounds much more exciting than making resolutions. Richard, you have to do something with your writing. You have so much imagination!

santa's sleigh and posse made their usual stop at my place. everything seemed a-ok with the reindeer and all claimed to have plenty of gas in the tank. i used to think that sushi is strange, i have wondered if our universe really needs to be so big, and what is up with anteaters anyway? i realized this year that santa's crew have always been cool with me. i have never found the whole thing to be strange or questionable. next year, i will be looking forward to their return. i have time off from work this week. that is sweet. i just finished making a coffee table. i needed one and it gave me a chance to try out the details in construction that i hope to use on the luv shak. i set it up in my living room and headed out to the lumber yard to get more wood for my next project. i have a new boss and a new assignment at work when i go back next week. that was sort of sprung on me. it eliminates lots that i did not prefer and lets me focus on more of what i like. i haven't met my new boss yet, but it could all be good. hope so. by the way, don't make any resolutions. it has been shown scientifically that there is no evidence that resolutions work. the truth is we all have a tiger inside of us, who is us and whom we are riding upon. we all have pretty good tigers, so just enjoy the ride.

The guys are clearing the dinner table and washing the dishes. I'm having a quiet moment in my study to say hello to all of you. It's been wonderful having the boys home. They leave sometime on TH. As do Dave I . We're heading down the Bangor, TH morning.

So I'll say Happy Holidays whatever they may be and save my Happy New Year thoughts for later on in the week!

Thank you, Richard. We need you here on the blog to remind us to feel good about ourselves. Love you, too. Did Santa come down your chimney?

lori, i have always known that you are a party girl. you have just had a little trouble figuring it out for yourself. there are so many things that are pagan, like santa, that a goy boy like me celebrate. it really is okay to party like it's 1972. it is odd that paganism is the modern way to say plolytheistic and polytheism (it is code for believing in goddesses, too) is pushed in the direction of- maybe she doesn't believe in anything at all, and she sure does love to party. hey, i believe in a lot. i work my ass off for my beliefs and for this reason alone i want santa shooting down cashmere chimneys, i want goats smiling in the back yard, and i want smiles on all the beautiful people's faces. by the way, you are a 10. love ya, richard

When I hear you all talk about Christmas, it makes me wish we celebrated it! It sounds so fun!

On a less upbeat note, we found out yesterday that Omer, our youngest, sprained his ankle while snowboarding at Mammoth. He's in pain and really disappointed that he won't be able to snowboard and surf for a while--besides being worried about how he'll manage at work, etc. He has crutches now and can't put any weight on his foot. We haven't seen him yet. His friends will be bringing him back today.

You all are great! We had our family Christmas today and we head to FL in the morning. My lesson this year, that I managed to pull off so far (not sure how the morning will go) is that if you just "don't sweat the small stuff" (that I see, that no one else sees) then you can really have a good time and appreciate the great family that you have. It was a great day, not a perfect day, but a really fun, calm day with grown kids and a husband who pitched in, appreciated everything, talked, laughed and fell asleep in various places. I have to go pack but I wish you all a really great time with those you love. Be sure to come back in the New Year!

Heres a special Holiday wish to all .....that Santa doesn't get stuck in too many chimneys....embers burn hot and that you find peace and love in your hearts, not just now but in all 2008!

My little ones are on their way to Nana's house! I am so excited that I finally started cleaning the house...why I'm not sure...no one will know after they arrive! But guess its the holiday spirit kicking in. Some little darlings from school gave me a plate of decorated cookies...been munching those inbetween scrubbing...really yummy. I had waited for the maid but guess she ran off with an elf or something.

Please enjoy your families and friends....keep spreading that cheer, Richard! Travel safely Karen. Hope to catch you in Springfield! Peep when you drive by. Wonderful things are around the corner!

Happy Thoughts....................................

http://www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf

Good morning to all! My Uncle Woody (Oliver Woodruff) mom's brother sent me this link today and I wish you'd all use the link and enjoy it as much as I did. It's the perfect Christmas card message. Cheered me right up!!

Merry Christmas one and all, celebrating the holiday or not, I' bet you get a smile on with this.

My Love to you - Pat

hot 'lanta karen, you got it right. i had been missing you. i was at a point where i could have used some of your fun perspective. i have been running into too many scrooges out there this year. i have actually offered to give away some of my positive energy to a few of them. i got one who took some and smiled and another who was on the fence. maybe the second one didn't know what kind of mojo she would be messing with. i am worried that this might be a year when santa gets stuck in a lot of chimneys. when embers in a fireplace don't burn hot enough, too much soot builds up. when embers in your heart are still just barely lit, there is plenty left to hope for. here is to hearths on fire and hearts that are smokin'.

Having read your book Lori, If I didn't already have a copy, I'd buy one in a heart beat!

I proud of you for considering going to work after the holiday Karen. If it's something you enjoy doing, then you'll surely enjoy it. Good it for you.

Good luck with your New Year's JOB resolution, Karen. I'm impressed! It sounds like you're good at what you do, and you're lucky you have a skill like that that can get you a job. The closest I've come to a job is selling some copies of the poetry book I published in Israel to the women in my writing group. I was embarrassed to take money. I was going to just give it to them, but they insisted on paying. I also went to an Israeli store here that sells Israeli books, music, and decorations, and the owner took 6 books on consignment, 3 for each of his 2 stores. That means he only pays if he sells them. Most of the books are in bookstores in Israel, which I'm excited about--though I'll be very surprised if anyone actually buys one.

You may be talking to Karen V and not me but hell, I am taking this one! Afterall, how often do you have a male (that you are not married to) tell you that he loves you?? So Richard, thanks and back at you with the love!

And I am definitely glad that you feel that life is heading in the right direction, whether possibilities or realities. We all deserve that or at least have learned that we shouldn't hesitate to make it happen. I toast to that for sure!

I have been thinking about New Year's resolutions ... losing weight and getting in shape is always there, but I have added a JOB this year! The other day a woman that I met while I was doing the painting job in the fall (she was building a deck on the house) called me and wants to meet about a business she wants to start. Its called G.O.T. (Get Organized Today). It would involve staging houses for sale, rearranging rooms with things people already own, doing cosmetic makeovers (which is what I did on that job), and organizing clutter. I told her I would talk to her after the holidays. I guess I misspoke 18 years ago when I said that I would go to work when my youngest went to school ...... must have meant COLLEGE!

On a sad note, I took my dog to the vet today and she has an enlarged heart (congestive heart failure) which came on rapidly as her August xray was very normal. $225 later, she has a heart med and lasix and hopefully they can stall it for awhile. She will be 12 in March.

I am off to buy a couple of last gifts and hit the grocery store for our Christmas dinner, which will be Saturday for us. Then Sunday we are off to FL to do the Stover side and from there to VT for my side. I have not really found the spirit(maybe I should say that I never got into the chaotic "have to" do a million things) this year but am feeling good about remaining calm with hopefully a "whatever" attitude when things don't go perfectly. Also I thought of some personal, more sentimental gifts, like cookbook binders of family recipes and a framed panorama of Acadia, which made me happy. My middle son is coming home tonight and my oldest son will be home Fri night. I am getting out my tubs of 30 years of pictures and hoping to get the kids to help me put them in albums ... or at least they can look through them together and get some good laughs.

Happy Holidays to all and best wishes for 2008! Thanks for listening and sharing these past years.

karen, love you, miss you, mean it, richard

Glad to hear you got home safely, Kathi, and it sounds like it was really fun surprising the grandchildren like that!

I can't remember (am I getting senile?) if I already told you all that my daughter's wedding plans are finally taking shape. They signed the contract at the Skirball Cultural Center and will be getting married on July 13--about a year and a half after they officially got married at the Town Hall. I guess they'll have 2 anniversaries. And my son and his girlfriend are re-engaged. I'm still not really sure why they broke up, but it seems like the break-up period did them good. Nothing like the fear of losing someone as far as appreciating each other goes.

I am toasting tonight getting home from NC. Our flight was cancelled yesterday, luckily before we were on our layover in Washington. We left here Friday morning at 2am in the snow. It was very nasty traveling to Manchester, NH airport. They changed our flight but it worked out that we got in sooner. My daughter came to Raleigh to pick us up. Camille was in the backseat thinking...her idea...that she was going to the airport to pick up a princess package. Imagine her surprise when it was Nana and Papa...and not a princess box....she was so excited. It really was a precious thing....unfortunately, it took the baby a little while to connect the crazy lady voice with the person...she finally did! Caleb got off the bus and it took him a minute to figure out that we were standing there. All in all the surprise was so worth it! My son-in-laws graduation went well and we (with his side) went out to dinner to celebrate. Afterwards, my sister-in-law who lives in Durham came down and picked us up. She thought she had us overnight and was taking us to the airport but ended up having company for an extra day and getting up at 5 to drive to the airport. We had a great time....coming back to shovel out the car and scrape off a inch of ice off the windshield.....and to come home to shovel the walkway into the house...I am so not a world traveler.
I'll toast to the friendships that we have all made and that peace and love may find you all! Thank you for all of you being YOU! Happy Thoughts...................................

Okay, I'm pouring the champagne. You always say it the best, Richard.

lori, yes, please, let's toast ourselves. i feel like i have had enough of a chance to get to know each other again over the last few years and a toast is appropriate. life remains hard and seemingly more complex than ever, but i see my fellow bloggers in the light that shines on you all best. that is your own light, shining on you and the ones you love that are around you.

That sounds good to me, Patti--a toast to possibilities!

I'm all for toasting, just haven't figured out who I am or who I want to be. Is it alright if I have a toast to possibilities? To figuring things out? Sounds good to me.

Another huge storm on its way so "my beloved" to borrow Richard's term if I may; is heading to Bangor mid morning this time. he's staying down there next weekend since his sister is flying in from CA to visit their Dad in Wayne, ME (near Augusta).

So by Christmas Eve I'll have my guys back home with me. It definitely is #1 on my gift list. The boys are taking two days following the 25th off too so we'll have an extended visit this time.
Happiness to you all, my friends --Patti

So are we making a toast to ourselves, Richard? Are we finally, at age 53, starting to get who we are and be okay with it?

karen, consider this. if for no other reason, get yourself jacked up for Christmas on the fact that the people that you are talking to on this blog have finally started to knock themselves out to have the lives that they want to have. too many of us could not be the man or woman that our beloved wanted and still be the man or woman that we are. sometimes our beloved gets that and sometimes not, but it is plenty to celebrate in this season of light. lots of love, richard

Pat, glad that everything turned out okay! Was it determined that anyone was in the house??? with the door closing? Smart to get out of the house and call 911! It is a scary thought being home alone so much...I think of that when Neil is on the road....but we do what we have to do.

We are suppose to fly this weekend..now I hear of a Northeastern coming in on Sunday....to go or not to go...to loose airline $$...that is kind of why I don't like to travel in winter!! I don't really want to get stuck in the airport in DC... keep your fingers crossed ..maybe the track will go different!!!

I took a picture of my tree...not sure if I can get it here...very simple decorating this year.

I think you're really brave, Patti. I don't think I could have slept there by myself after all that fear and commotion. That's good that you found the culprit!

Good morning everyone. I want to tell you what happen to me last here last night. A terrifying experience. I had only been home for about 45 minutes and was on the phone with Dave. I heard distinctly the sound of a door closing. Really just like the sound the door makes that opens into the house from the garage. Since everything had been locked up all day, I was completely startled of course and for some reason started hello-ing like that was a good idea. Dave kept saying whats happening who's there and I told him what I'd head and he kept telling me to get out of the house but I was standing at that point in the living room and frozen in place. to get to the door would have meant going through the area where the sound had come from. I finally did run out the front door having hung up on Dave so I could dial 911. What I didn't know then was that he was parked in a grocery parking lot on his cell phone couldn't call 911 from his cell so he'd driven home to use the phone 3 directly to the PI police who told them police were already on their way here. So I'm standing out in the snow in my stocking feet, no coat hysterically talking to the 91 operator. I suddenly realized that the police wouldn't be able to get into the house because all the doors were locked so I started sobbing again. I didn't go over to any of my immediate neighbors house because I felt like such an idiot. I called my friend Elaine who lives nearby and she couldn't understand my babbbling but she came right over and made me get out of her car. Unbelievably I had unlocked the front door and I gone out of it and the office was inside; I could see his flashlight moving around. I heard him say if anyone is here you better come forward right now or I'll shoot when I find you. That scared me even further. this is all before Elaine had arrived. the officer came out finally and told me that he was sure there was no one there but he took me inside (elaine came too) and we went everywhere. He'd gone through all the closets and the shower stalls. It was creepy. Finally he left saying i did the right thing to leave the house and call them. I felt like a fool though. Elaine tried to get me to stay at her home or stay over with me but I felt like I had to tough it out. Tough it was too. But I did it. This morning I found a picture that had fallen off the wall and had to have hit the heating thing along the all when it fell. The sound would have been exactly from the right place. I'm so relieved but still really shaken up.

Luckily these holidays are only once a year!
No snowday....which is actually a good thing!
Neil and I are flying to NC on Friday for the weekend. My son-in-law is graduating from Nursing school...and this way I get to surprise my babies! The two little ones will come to the airport to get us and we'll be there by the time Caleb gets off the bus....can't wait to see their faces! The are driving up for Christmas and staying almost 2 weeks!
Remember to smile................Happy Thoughts.......................

Thanks, Kathi. We've been lighting the candles and trying not to eat TOO many "soofganiot" (like jelly donuts)--500 calories each!

Sitting on ones butt sounds like an excellent way to energize oneself. Sometimes thats what you have to do.
I spent the afternoon wrapping gifts..Neil said he would help as long as football was on...so I let him watch the game...such choices we have to make. Made dinner and then sat and vegetated....
Lori, glad that you had a wonderful trip. Happy Hanukkah to you and yours.
Hoping for a snowday tomorrow! Happy Thoughts to all.....

mule's ass finds ground- doesn't move. that should be the headline for my last few days. if traveling was all about being on the go, i can tell you that everyday since getting home has been about doin' nuthin. i did do laundry and ran the dishwasher. i burned up a $100 gift certificate i got at the company holiday party last year. it was to a great restaurant, but i do not think it is the venison ravioli, calamari, salmon that looked like a volcano, or the two jack daniels manhattans that have brought this boy's bottom to a halt. don't know when i am likely to move again. don't care, much. i hope you are all taking this sitting down, cuz i think it has benefits. i do not wish to fly like an eagle for a while.

Glad to hear everyone's travels are going so well. Karen your entryway is gorgeous. Are you in the same place now? That's quite a space to have available. You can do a lot with it.
With all the snow we have everyone's holiday lights and decorations are all the more lovely up here.
Once again Richard, you've made the most of your travels. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Hi. Got back this morning at 6:30. I'm too tired to write much now, but I've been enjoying reading what all of you have written--and seeing the picture, too! Richard, my 15-hour flight seems like nothing compared to all your flights. I didn't have any stopovers this time. I prefer the direct flight. I hate the airport part of flying, but I like reading on planes.

some years ago, i said that i wanted to take mignon home with me. do y'all see why now? what a great dog! that is the closest any of us will come to looking into the face of a divine being. karen, the pic is fabulous and decorations are even more so. it is okay to not be having that same feeling at the moment. my experience is that when you come to this kind of place, it makes you first collapse in disgust and then move your ass forward toward new feelings of hope. that could just be me. maybe it makes other people do something different. hope is also good.

hi, bloggettes. the number who are sitting close to the campfire is dwindling, but the warmth of the flames and yarns being told remains quite warm. well i have a story to tell. have you ever had a really annoying experience at the grocery store where are checking out and your store clerk seems like they are in a different world? i think that is as close as you can come in everyday life to my recent time in airports, where i completed seven flights (not counting connecting flights during the last ten days) with little help from support staff. that is not the story that i am going to tell. . . . nine days ago, it was midnight. i laid down and fell asleep in the usual way. it was relaxing as i wish all things would be. it was just a natural kind of letting go. three and a half hours later the alarm goes off, my wake up call rings twice, i pull myself out of bed and i am into the shower, then i am on a shuttle bus, and then i am onto a plane. some hours later, i am near the rockies. biz goes fine and then the real story begins. i have a great date for lunch. no names, just the facts. she forgets her cell phone and mine is about dead. i have a voicemail from a cellphone that she borrowed and i am able to listen to it before mine gives up the ghost. now i know where to find her and i have already been wandering for some time. i am counting every minute cuz i don't have that many and i am psyched to see her. we find each other and, as expected, she still fits in her pants from high school (for the record, she left the bell bottoms at home). that is not a big issue with me- just the facts. the really special thing is that i was able to see just how great she is in so many ways during the next few hours. as classmates, i feel that we all have a way to let each other feel a sense of being at home as we interact and i really value that. in this particular case, we had never talked much or known each other very well. that was not much of a surprise to me and it sure was nice to talk now. we were in a great town. lots to see in its buildings and the sun shines quite bright there. we went to a very special teahouse for lunch. beautiful wood poles support a brightly colored ceiling of tile. all the tile patterns seem different and i have pictures to prove it. we made a plan on how to attack lunch- get strange things and share. the food was good and the main course was just being able to talk. it was perfect. how great is it when you can see so easily what a classmate has been up to for so many years? i know how alive and smart she used to be and i heard about the in-betweens. she is on fire now. she is smart, dedicated, passionate in the best possible way, and following something that feels so right to her. pretty sweet that i could have lunch with her, wouldn't you say? time went by too quickly, but, then again, we talked about so much. i have been told there is a special chance to grow if you can find people from the past, spend time with them, and remember what it is that made being with them so great. she and i had never really had that peice in the past, so this was extra special. i got to see what i missed and appreciate it now at a time when i can appreciate what it is all about. dinner in atlanta with karen and rich was like that and visits with lori have been like that, too. all are bright and special moments that are not lost in the smallest way upon me. thanks, thanks, thanks.

We only got 5-6 inches of snow here in P.I. but areas around us were really hammered. Dave had 15 in Bangor. It was a nice day off. I had the chance to do some decorating and relaxing. It was nice. I had dinner over at the home of some friends last night. It was good to get to get out. I have trouble going out at night. I get easily settled in here at home and I'm not crazy about going back out. We're having friends over to share a big pot of chili on Sat. I'm glad there will be someone here to see my decorations. The boys have never really cared too much and I like to show off my efforts. I'd just hope they (Kevin and Colin) are able to get time off to come home.
Christmas Day is a given but the restaurant is open Christmas evening I think and the store is open for sure the 26th. It's 4.5 hours to drive in good weather if they have to make a day trip of it. I've never been without them for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I don't want that to happen. I'm having a lot of empty nesting issues!!

All the snow and cold is making me COLD, too! lol.....Shoveling is such a treat....we had about 9 inches here in Springfield. Monday was a snowday for us. I didn't get as much done as I thought I would, kept getting sidetracked doing something else! Never ending. Kids could not go out for recess at noon today because the windchill was too low. Personally, I think 15 minutes of fresh air wouldn't have hurt them but you know you can't have those few children whos parents don't dress them appropiately go outside. They would be the first ones to be upset if their child was cold! Karen, you'll just have to invest in some new long underwear so your little body won't freeze! Think warm and happy thoughts...................

By 6 PM last evening school had been closed for today. High winds and continued snow make the roads very dangerous. Much less snow than was predicted though has actually landed. Fine by me. So today I'm going to work out for a while, and do some more Christmas decorating.

I had lovely fire in the fireplace last night but somehow it was anti climatic. Oh well.

I'd be thrilled to receive a copy Lori! I was telling a colleague of mine about you and your poems, we had an interesting talk about interpretations and reactions. Particularly how reading the same piece on a different day can give an entirely new meaning to that piece.

Sounds like you had a great experience again on this trip. I'm glad for you. Travel safely. I'm off to school.

Hi everyone. I have a few more days here in Israel. I leave Wednesday night and get back to L.A. on Thursday. I'm still running around from place to place to see family and friends as much as possible. No snow days here, but the high school teachers and some university teachers have been on strike for more than 40 days, which means the kids are home getting bored. Still no end in sight to the strike. Two of my sister's kids are affected by the strike. I hope they don't have to make up the semester in the summer.

Patti, I can mail you a copy of the book if you want. The reading went pretty well. They were a nice group of women (and one man) who seemed to like the poems and asked quite a few questions afterwards. My friend had the table set up nice with cheese and bread and wine, etc. My sister Katie came, too, and read a few of her Hebrew translations of my poems. I'm glad I did it.

Kathi, say hi from me to the Springfield gang next time you see them.

Well Kathi, that's an interesting question. The chicken sandwich was gross. I threw it out. Ended up with a broccoli and cheese baked potato that was tasty. My lasagna tonight was delish and the lemon cake was fab! So some stuff is good and others yuck!

It's so horribly cold out that we couldn't do anything regarding lights or outdoor decorations. The wind is brutal. So we put our tree up with lights at least and I brought out my Christmas dishes. A little of this and that and I feel pretty good about the day. I'm keeping things much simpler in my decorations this year. At least that's what I say today.

I am hosting the annual cookie swap here on the 12th. So far about 10 of my cohorts from school are planning to come. I need to bake 6 dozen cookies. Should be a blast as usual.

Big storm coming in, as you mentioned Kathi. Dave may have to head to Bangor early tomorrow to get there instead of leaving here Monday a.m. I don't mind the snow day if it comes. There's always plenty to do instead of going to work!

So let's see, who's "listening in"? Janice?, Debbie?, and who knows who else? Well here's hoping you're all staying warm and enjoying the holidays so far! I would love to get Christmas cards so here's my address 30 Lombard St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Anyone????????????????????

While at the Craft Fair at Riverside this morning, I ran into Ron and Deb Young (Ron was selling framed Photos, very nice work, Ron!)...Deb said she "listens" in to us and enjoys the conversations! As do a few others.... I told her to add something to help us out! Linda Brochu was there, too. Almost a class reunion right in Springfield!
It is bitterly cold here. Windchills are brutal. Snowstorm headed our way for Sunday night and Monday...hummmm, snowday??? I hope to go get our Christmas tree tomorrow, we'll see. Did make my bows for my wreaths today. Hope all is well with all....hope your party was fun, Pat....what's for lunch??
Happy Thoughts..................

Hey Lori when will your devoted fans get a chance to purchase a copy of your poetry? I'm really looking forward to it! Come home soon

Well it's official, I'm now a Jenny Craig girl I received my first crate of food last night and yum I just loved the pancakes and sausage I just gulped down! The consultation I had by phone last night was informative and helpful. Yippee skippy I'm gonna stop going hungry. It's a good thing.

My knitting group is having their holiday get together this evening. I'm in charge of wine. oops. What about the food plan????

I can't believe I somehow deleted all that I had typed....I'll start again.
Sounds like everybody is getting into the Holiday mood. I took all the fall stuff down and bought a couple of wreaths, just need to make a bow then will hang them. Can't believe that it is almost December. This weekend I'll go to the "big" (relative) Craft Fair at Riverside and out to lunch with my niece and that will get me into the mood. I did make 25 Christmas Cards on Sunday. Now I need to sign them and buy some stamps. Neil has tomorrow off so I'll send him to the Post Office. I bought a kids CD of Christmas music for the grandchildren...it'll drive my daughter nuts..lol...so he can mail that too. I am going to keep it very simple this year and try very hard not to get stressed and enjoy it. The little ones are coming on the 22nd and the rest of my kids after Christmas. This will be our first one with "children" in a long time. It will also be Camille's 3rd birthday on the 20th....Nana bought her a pair of pink cowgirl boots. I think she'll love them.
Lori, it sounds like you are on your way to being a known poet! How exciting for you. Glad you are having such a great time. Enjoy it all.
I have been cleaning out "junk" too, Pat...I have boxes of stuff from my mother's still in the basement that I finally started to go through. Not a fun job...but one that needs doing!
Karen, I am sure your decorating is georgous....I would like to put lights, candles, etc up but Neil says we already pay the electric company more then enough...I put a little funky fake tree in the kitchen...figure that's where I spend alot of time, mights well enjoy that!!!
Richard, you'll have to let us know which turkey design you made....
Happy Thoughts........................

Hello out there faithful followers! Time goes by quickly. I was away for a week with no computer access and have barely checked in since then.

I finally finished unpacking last night. I still have lots of "things" around. Wreath decorating doodads and ribbons. That sort of things. We did some holiday shopping around town and so I have some presents to wrap. This is pretty early for us. I get home after dark though so I haven't done any outside decorating. I told Dave to gird his loins cuz this weekend I'd have him outside hanging lights and stuff.

I have some organizing in the family room to do tonight so my cleaning lady can get after things down there. When the boys come home for Christmas I don't want them to have to slog around amidst the storage stuff to find a spot to sleep in. It's odd, they won't sleep in their bedrooms anymore. The stay together downstairs in the family room. It's become storage more than a family room though since Dave's mom's things arrived and stuff that should have stayed in the camper came back; and on and on.

Dave has asked me to have a Realtor come in for an estimate. I won't do that without making sure the place is at its "best". We want to know what the house is worth at this stage and what minor things can be done to raise that figure. We looked at several properties in the greater Bangor area last week. We're looking for a home or camp on water. Much $$$$. So terribly expensive. I'd prefer to do just a camp so Dave can live there in summer - between there and camp in NH. then I get to keep my home and job here in Presque Isle.

Hello Lori over in Israel. Enjoy yourself!!

What's all this deprivation, Karen?! Don't be too hard on yourself!

I'm doing my usual running around here in Israel, trying to see as many people as possible every day. I'm exhausted when I get into bed at night, but it's good to see everyone. I'm also happy with the way my book came out. They'll be sending it soon to bookstores here and also to some newspapers, magazines, radio stations, etc. Then it's a matter of luck whether someone likes it and writes something about it in his/her newspaper or just ignores it. I gave them some info about myself and my poems to send out with the book, so hopefully that will help a little. And I'm giving a reading to a small group at my friend's house in Jerusalem on Saturday night. So wish me luck!

I don't always have time to write while I'm here, but I still like reading what you all write, so don't think I'm not "listening."

Thanks! 35 years and where did the time go?? "Remember when.....???"

Karen, glad that your nephew is going to be okay...puts everything in perspective, doesn't it.
Lori, travel safe...enjoy your family, hope your book is ready!!
Pat, cherish the moments.
Richard, good luck with your bird...lots of great ideas with foil. I'm sure you'll come up with something!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you....guess we should all be Thankful for everyday!
Happy Thoughts...

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I'm off for the airport soon. We usually take taxis, but my son Rafi said he's going to break tradition and take me this time!

I'm leaving later today for Bangor and will be off-line for the week. Dave has no internet at home. I'm not feeling like schlepping my lap top around town looking for wifi. Starbucks charges for the privilege so I guess I won't do that. Though I'm really looking forward to their white chocolate coffee (yes please I do want the whipped cream) and a piece of low fat coffee cake. Yum.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Wherever you go please be safe and happy!

Oh well, we forgive you, Patti (I don't know about Dave, but....). What's going on? Are all of you going to bed early now?!

I like the bikini turkey, Richard. Whichever you do, I'm sure it's going to be something special. We usually have Thanksgiving at our house, but I'll be in Israel this time. I'm leaving Sunday. My sister Amy has an American friend on the kibbutz who does Thanksgiving at her house, so I'm invited to that. Glad I don't have to miss turkey and cranberry sauce! I don't care how it's made as long as there's cranberry sauce. I'm going to Israel to get my book, which was supposed to be finished by now, but hopefully will be finished a few days after I get there. It's poems in English with Hebrew translations by my sister Katie. I might give a reading at my friend's house in Jerusalem. If it turns out okay, maybe I'll do more, but if it's too stressful, I'll pass on the readings.

Those are some interesting cooking choices Richard. I was thinking about trying the beer butt chicken recipe on my turkey. It might take a couple of cans of beer tough since I like cooking a bi bird for lots of leftovers. I'm also not sure I can do that in y oven as it's typically a grill item. We'll see., Just a thought.
I'm heading to Bangor tomorrow and will probably find I don't have much to cook with anyway. I'm planning on bring some some of my own kitchen utensils and dishes. Dave says the 80 year old couple he rents from have a sparse kitchen when it comes to "things".
I'm really looking forward to seeing the boys next week. Its' been too long for this gal. I'm used to having Colin around every day. Even though it's been since August, I just haven't gotten used to it.
I realized this morning I'm quite the scum bag. Yesterday was Dave's birthday. Not only did I not send a card, (I'm hoping his gift shows up here in time for me to take it with me tomorrow), but I didn't even call him last night. I came in from a meeting and headed of to an early nights sleep. I suck.

hi. well the holiday season is closing in on me. i saw a great recipe for turkey where you can get the bird to come out of the oven in a reclined position looking as if it had been sun bathing cuz it has bikini tan lines, both bra and bottom. that is how i will be putting foil in place to get my juicey bird this year. i have a simulated intact family coming together at my house. somebody shoot me. there is another recipe where you baste the bird with a full bottle of bourbon. it takes many hours and then concludes with the bird getting tossed and you drink the sauce. hmmmmmmmmmmm, so hard to decide. i am asking myself, "what would spindler do?" he used to be a beacon for so many of us and i just can't make the call on this one without having him here. he might do two turkeys to be able to enjoy both. i know those deep fried bird systems at wallmart are the new wave, but i am more traditional. i will send the wishbone(s) to anyone who sends me recipes to go along with my rock 'em and shock 'em harvest feast theme. too dark? i can send some white meat, too.

Night before last I was so tired I decided to go to bed....it was only 8:00....anyways, I was sound asleep . I had turned the ringer off the upstairs phone so it wouldn't wake Neil up). I heard Neil's cellphone ringing thinking it was the alarm going off (he sets it as a backup)... he answered it and handed the phone to me. It was my oldest worried because I had not answered the phone for the last two hours. She thought that maybe I had fallen down the stairs or something....didn't dawn on her that I might be sleeping!!! I can remember calling her and wondering where she was!!! So, I guess it was finally payback time. Just thought that was a little funny.
Chocolate cake sounds really yummy....I'll imagine I enjoyed it too!

Vermont has definitely taken the toll in this insane war ....unfortunately, every time someone else sacrifices their life emotions emerge again...so I never feel that I can get away from it...PFC Adam Muller, 21, from Richmond, is being buried tomorrow, remember him in your thoughts as well as his wife and family. They need it....

Mmmm! Outrageous chocolate cake. That sounds good. I don't know what that doctor Patti saw on TV would say about that, but it sounds delicious to me.

Patti, that's good you have neighbors around in case you need anything when you're alone. I was imagining a more isolated setting. At least you know your neighbors. We only know the one on one side of us--a 96-year-old lady who lives with her son.

Kathi, it sounds like there are a disproportionate number of fallen soldiers from Vermont--or does it just seem like that to me?

Lori, to answer your question. I live in a neighborhood with homes beside and across from me. My neighbors are very nice and have offered to help whenever it's needed. My friend Elaine with whom I hang out most lives just the hill a bit. We work together too so we do some car pooling in bad weather. Today we went out and picked up some yarns for our hats and some Christmas paper goods for a couple of gathering we'll be hosting in a few weeks. She, a party for our knitting group and me, a cookie swap amongst our ladies at school.

I'm watching a funny show called You are What You Eat. It's a BBC show about being overweight and unhealthy. Dr. goes in to your kitchen to show you how awful the food in your cupboard is. Then gives you a better eating regime. It's funny because I empathize with the "bad" choices and also because the Dr. is so out there with her information about flatulence etc.

I'm making a nice onion soup for supper tonight. It smells wonderful here. It'll be odd to cook for the guys next week. A treat actually. I'll enjoy it. Even if I don't eat it Ill love cooking for the boys.

Kathi if you send me your address I'll send you a couple of easy knitting patterns. We're presenting our hats in January. I'm hoping to make several. I'm really needing to finish a rug I starting a year ago for Colin though. It started out smallish and took on a life of it's own. It's not room size but much larger than I had intended when I started. I just kept going. I'd love to give it to him this Christmas. Dave doesn't have TV or internet so I have a lot of knitting coming at me next week in Bangor.

Karen I told Dave about the restaurant you mentioned in Bar Harbor. We're going to go there for sure on Monday. Anyone you'd like me to say hello to?

Sounds like everyone is keeping busy. I have a Inservice tomorrow to go to...suppose to be on stress management...hopefully, it won't make me more stressed thinking about destressing! I commend your determination Patti..good Luck! Are the hats an easy pattern?? I can knit but sometimes have difficulty with reading directions! Maybe you can send me the pattern. Certainly a wonderful thing to do.
I went to the Veterns Day Rememberance today in Springfield. I actually met up with two other VT fallen families that live in Springfield. So, it was nice to show that bond. My sister-in-law went to one up in St. Albans and Ron Bolio (Jerry's brother) from Springfield was at it. She was pleasantly surprised to meet someone from Springfield there. Unfortunately, another Vermont soldier has fallen in Iraq, he is a 21 year old from Richmond area. Seems it will never end....disgustingly sad.
It was certainly cold here today. High maybe 40...and windy. Neil spent the day finishing up the leaves in our yard. I went grocery shopping....seemed better then raking! Made potroast and dumplings for dinner...certainly wasn't the Jenny Craig or fruit that I need to have, so good for you girls doing the right thing!! Safe travels for Avi's uncle Lori, glad you had a great visit!
Sounds like everybody is heading in the right direction! Happy Thoughts.............

How did the birthday celebration go, Karen?

Sounds like you're keeping busy, Patti. Our friend did the Jenny Craig diet about 20 years ago and lost a lot of weight. And Avi's sister is doing something similar where they bring you all your meals, and she's also gradually losing weight. Seems good to me not to have to cook or plan meals. Do you have any neighbors close by or are the houses really spread out there?

Avi's uncle has been staying with us, but he's leaving on Tuesday. It seems like the visit went fast. He's gotten us used to eating fruit for breakfast. The way he cuts the fruit looks like art on the plate--papayas and kiwi and cactus pears and avocado. So tempting. I hope I won't be too lazy to continue doing that after he leaves cuz I really like eating that stuff for breakfast--with some toast, of course. I can't give up on my bread!

Happy Birthday Rich. Sounds like a wonderful celebration has been planned.

Dave's birthday is coming up next Thursday. He'll be 54. Then the following day I'll be heading down to Bangor to spend a week with him in his new digs.

I'm looking forward to the week together. I'm getting pretty lonely up here. It's not too bad during the week because I'm so busy, then tired from work; but this weekend (a 3 day) he and the boys stayed together in Bangor and went hiking in Baxter State Park. It's kind of OK, it's the evenings that get to me. I'm working on being more organized about the time instead of just going through each day. I've done some good extra cleaning and thrown out some things that I've hung on to for too long.

I even signed up for Jenny Craig today. It's too easy to go without meals when you're on your own. I'm going to do it for 3 months and take it seriously. I'm working on doing a 30 minute walk every day. That's a tough one but if I get into it I'm sure I'll want to continue it. I told them to send my first meals on the 26th. No sense in trying to start this in Bangor. Unfortunately the nearest JC Center is in S. Portland so I have to do Jenny Direct which is on the phone and on-line.

I'm working on knitted hats for cancer patients. It's an easy way to do something nice for people while doing something I enjoy. Even gives me an excuse to sit around!!

There's enough room in the garage for my truck and the yard is all cleaned up in preparation for the coming cold. I'm ready to batten down the hatches and hibernate a while. If I get some weight off and get healthier I'll be ready for x country skiing conditions.

Thanks, Karen. I got it. Haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but I will,

Reynaud's? Is that what it's called? I didn't know there was a name for cold hands and feet. I have that, too.

I agree, Patti, that it's special what we have here on the blog. Every once in a while it seems like it's dying out, but someone always manages to revive it. I guess we're all committed! I don't always have something special to say, but I always like "listening" to what you guys are saying, each one from his/her corner of the world. So keep talking....

Good morning all and a special hello and welcome back to karen V. It's great to find out how things are going for you. You're right it was frustrating this summer to keep talking dates and still find there was no getting together.

We're lucky you know, all of us, to have this site. When I talk about how we get together here and "talk" so regularly from all the different corners of the country, folks are surprised and impressed. I'm impressed too. I don't think it's the norm for friends from so many years ago to be in contact the way we are. Even when one of us has to step away for a while, the blog is here waiting and you can catch up by reading the past posts and if you want; join in! We are lucky to have it say I. I'd miss this if it weren't available.

Dave left a little earlier yesterday morning but we realized that he won't e back until Dec. 1. Very strange. He and the boys are hiking in Baxter State Park this coming weekend and then the next 2 weekends I'll be in Bangor with Dave. I told him last night to gird his loins because I'd have him busy stringing Christmas lights on the house when he come back home! Not his favorite project. He has a speech thingy in Bar Harbor to do on Monday the week I'm there so I get to travel over with him and we'll spend the day checking out Bar Harbor. If you can imagine it, living in ME 15 years, I've only been there once for a couple hours a bunch of years ago. I'm looking forward to going off season. We'll be able to enjoy it without the summer crowds. Though I'd like to enjoy the summer weather. Cant have everything.

Gotta get ready for school. Not looking forward to playground duty these mornings. "Baby It's Cold Outside!!" Take care all- pat

I think we all like to read what everyone is doing. Sometimes our lives are pretty mundane and boring to us but to others, it is news! I have trouble thinking of things to post here at times because I really don't do anything exciting....work at school in Kindergarten, come home, make dinner, maybe clean up and now that we have changed the clocks...yuck...keep looking at the clock to see when it is bedtime...
My daughter came up with weekend and we went wedding dress shopping! That was so much fun. Just her and I quality time. And, on a fluke we went to Claremont to the Bridal Shop on Pleasant Street...and she found the perfect dress. It is Ivory lace, style like the 20s...straight and form fitting. It had this lacy bustle (made like the veils we wore to church) that was too busy for the dress with her in it (she is 100 lb...maybe) so the woman is turning it into a cape. That way she can use it as the veil too. It is really different...like my daughter. So, that was exciting.
I did make pie (she doesn't care for cake) for her birthday that is this week. We just had a nice weekend, and the Patroits pulled off their game at the end, so that made my husband happy!
That is all the excitement here....up too early with the time change...back to Kindergarten and the cycle starts again!
Happy Thoughts.....................

Thanks for the detailed update, Karen. Maybe it seems boring to you, but it's not boring to us, at least not to me. It's good to hear what you're up to. And thanks for the info about Curves. I don't see any change on the scale, but maybe my muscles are getting heavier! You went down a pant size or 2? You were already thin last time I saw you--you must be disappearing now!

Avi's sister is having a big barbecue today for their uncle (who's visiting here for 3 weeks). It's also to celebrate 2 birthdays. I wish we could do away with the present part. I have a hard enough time shopping for myself; it's worse choosing something for someone else.

Hi all!

Thought I’d take a few minutes and drop a line. Really should be doing my homework. Got a project due Monday and seem to always pull an all-nighter beforehand. Doesn’t matter how far ahead I start. Had a construction lab today. Put up part of a deck. It was 67 and gorgeous out. AM was 30 deg though. Last week we laid a brick patio. I’m pretty stiff right now…(Just so you don’t feel bad, we had our first snow on Oct 21st. Just enough to cover the ground.)

I had a class the night of Halloween. Reeeeally miss seeing the little critters all dressed up. Left a bowl of candy out on the porch with the light on. Glad I live in a neighborhood where I can do that.

My son, Michael, came down from Gunnison (4 hours away) the weekend before to help me celebrate my birthday. I went out to dinner with him and his older brother, Chris, and his new girlfriend. Both boys are doing fine.

Was back in VT this summer but didn’t get to meet up with too many of you. I’d left a message on Facebook, but left it on the wrong page and I don’t think anyone saw it. I think I was in town when you all got together. Oh well. Maybe next time. I’m thinking about coming back over New Year’s. Might be the last chance I get to visit for awhile, since I’ll probably be getting a job next year. Summers are usually 16+ hour days, so I probably won’t be able to get back there in the summer for awhile, which really kills me. And though it slows down in the winter, if I’m newly working for someone, I’m sure I won’t get vacation for awhile or much of it.

Re: Curves. I joined a year ago May. Didn’t really lose weight but did go down a pant-size or two. I’ve actually been to the one in Springfield! Went with my Mom and Kristine on vacation last year. Didn’t get there this year. I like it. Nice people of all ages. No guys gawking. I can do more than the 30 mins if I like. It helps me stay limber and since I’m not that active, gives me some much needed exercise. Would like to go hiking and stuff but can’t always find a partner to go with and I don’t really want to end up mountain lion food . Plus I have to drive a ways. Maybe I should get a dog so I’d have to get out. But then I’d have to move to a place that allows pets...

Am I boring you yet?!?! Love reading about all of your exciting lives. Mine is so predictable compared to yours. I log on once in a blue moon to see what's going on. Usually don’t have anything exciting to share; kinda like now… 

Hey Richard, if you’re coming to Denver, look me up! I am NOT in the phone book so I’ll have to give you my # if you send me a msg on facebook. Would be fun to see you. That goes for the rest of you, too, if you’re ever out here.

Well, I’ve goofed off enough. Back to the drawing board!

hi. nice music karen. you are right about c&w having a song for anything (except red beans, now that i think of it. i do not think there is a country song that talks about red beans. you would need a zydeco song for something like that). anyway, i like your trailer boy. i have a small country collection. the mine shafts at the back of my jaw are healing, no problems, just lots of wine to make it through. my days are okay. i lack news. i have a wild trip for ten days after thanksgiving. i'll be in a different state everyday, from coast to coast. i only get a couple days to play. i am thinking of checking out portland, or for those days. trick or treaters were fun this year. i had a spanky and alfalfa who were fabulous. a very proud 4 year old, who was a bus, came by. he had made his costume with help from his mom. two boxes were the basic story, but he had done great painting to create the whole effect. as he was walking away, i saw some writing on his back bumper. it said, "how is my driving?" what a crack-up. happy weekend.

Happy Halloween...hope you are getting lots of ghosts, witches, and goblins coming around to your house. More likely, Power Rangers and Cinderellas...I am sure we won't get any trick-or-treaters here...although we are always prepared! Parties and parades at school today....I went as a......witch, imagine that! Someday I am going to be a really spooky something...I'll have to work on it before I retire! Only 9 more years and I can make $400 a month....by that time it won't even pay for gas!
Dark and snow.....luckily we only have the dark here! I thought they were going to do away with Daylight Savings. Guess I'll have to get some new boots and be prepared for the dreaded snow....Karen you can always wear those fingerless gloves while at the computer! hahah
Happy Thoughts............

Snow?!!!!! And here I am thinking of taking Avi's uncle to a restaurant by the beach to sit in the sun a while.....

there is snow on the ground..................Yuck!

I liked the music, too. I don't know how you find all these things, Karen.

Happy Anniversary from me, too, Brian--if you're on the blog. If not, Richard can pass on the greetings from everyone.

A while back I mentioned that my son and his girlfriend broke up a few weeks after getting engaged. Well, now he moved back in with her. No decisions in the meantime about marriage. They're just taking it day by day, but it seems to be going well.

The music from Trailercana is terrific. I've really been enjoying it. I'm glad you posted that link Karen. I'm planning to pick up the CD for my self now.
After the school dance last night some of us chaperones went out for some drinks and had quite a good time. It always interesting to me to see the out of school side of my colleagues. They're quite a fun group.
Rainy day so a nice nap was in order. Felt great to snuggle down in the sheets in the early afternoon. A good day to be inside and toasty for sure. think I'll make shepards' pie for supper tonight. Its a comfort food day.
Sorry your mouth is recovering so slowly Richard. should it be taking this long? Must have been some major work.

Happy Weekend. Beautiful full moon last night.....today rain. We need it but I really wanted to finish my lawns. I did rake, mulch up leaves for 2 hours late afternoon yesterday. Got dark at 6 so I had to stop...well, I suppose I could have kept going as the tractor has lights...but no! We had a frost yesterday morning.
Congratulations on your 25th Anniversary Brian and many more!
Wish we could send some rain to California for the fires. Hard to imagine someone would deliberately start fires. My daughter said it was raining in NC the past few days so hopefully, that'll help with the drough down there as well.
Great that Evan is getting a job to be able to support you soon, Karen!!! Good job!
Are you all getting ready for Halloween??? I need to come up with a costume for our "party" at school...after 20 something years its hard to come up with good ideas anymore....nose glasses might be the way to go!
Happy Thoughts...............

hi. it was brian king's anniversary party last weekend and he and debra have worked and played hard to get to this point. it really was a great party. the week since has been just okay. my hurting jaw is ready for the next party, but i guess this weekend is going to be a bit dull. i have projects around the house. super! i have been putting together my next whirlwind business trip for the week after thanksgiving. i may start to lose my sense of humor with this one. i have the same great travel partner, but we are hitting denver, portland, san jose, huntington beach, chicago, and points in wisconsin in as many days. i better pack some zone bars. richard

That's great that your son got the job, Karen! And he'll be nearby, too.

The sky has a different color from the fires, Patti, but we're not in any danger. Malibu is about 45 minutes away.

Avi's uncle Avner is arriving today for a 3-week visit. He's one of my favorite people--the kind of person who everyone seems to feel comfortable talking to. Avi's other uncles are nice, but I have nothing much to say to them. This one is different. He has lived all over the world cuz his wife is a French diplomat. They live in Kenya now. He's a house-husband. Is that what you call it? His wife works, and he stays home--although now he organizes parties, dinners, etc. for the diplomats there.

Glad to hear that you had such a wonderful visit with your family Lori. I've been wondering where your home is in relation to the fires. I hope everything will be all right for you guys out there. Dave's sisters seem to be ok.

We're all done with pretty views for the fall. Too much rain and heavy winds. The final soccer game for the high school varsity ended in a 1-0 loss in the rain. Overtime and all. A sad ending. The temperatures have been so strangely warm though. Somethings very wrong with the weather.

Time to go deal with laundry. g'night all.

Congrats on the new job Karen!!

Hi everyone. Just wanted to say I'm sorry I didn't get to see any of you this time when I was in Vermont, but hopefully the next visit will be longer and I'll have more time then. My daughter and I got home last night. We were really lucky with the weather. It rained once, but only at night, so it didn't interfere with any of our plans. We were lucky with the foliage, too. It was at its peak and was really beautiful. We walked on various trails in the area with my parents and my brother and his family. I was glad I did decide to go cuz I don't get to see my family that often; even a short visit is worth it. We laugh a lot when we're together. Our flight was in the afternoon yesterday, so we had time in the morning for a bike ride by the lake in Burlington. Anyway, now I'm back in L.A. where all the fires are raging--not right by us, but nothing's that far.

Wisdom teeth out was a long time ago for me. I don't remember it being followed by great parties though. Maybe it was great drugs I had for the after part.

hi. recovery from wisdom teeth is slow. i guess i did not expect miracles on this one. the parties are helping. went to a good one saturday night/sunday morning. this guy named brian has been married to debra for 25 years. good party, nice people, and dancing till dawn. richard

Your exercise class sounds good, too, Kathi. And, Patti, you're lucky; it's always good to have an excuse NOT to exercise! When we run out of excuses, we have to start doing something--though I guess it's not an excuse when it's the chiropractor telling you not to do it. As for the moving issue, sometimes the choice isn't between good and bad, but between bad and worse! It's still good that it's a choice, though. Doesn't sound so bad to me. Maybe both choices have some good and some bad points.

Here's my exercise story. It had me laughing to tell you the truth. I haven't worked out or even walked in quite a few months, tendonitis, arthritis, whatever, it hurts so I've been laying low. So. Today I absolutely convince myself to take advantage of this beautiful afternoon and talk a walk when I get home. First stop though is my chiropractor who while adjusting my hips to relieve the knee pain tells me no way am I to go walking for another week or more. I'm just cracking up because here I've spent all this time talking myself in to working out with a minor walk and nope. No go.

I'm not sure if I won or lost on that one but it sure made me smile.

As far as living alone goes. The week days go by quickly. Dave has been coming home each Friday night and is now leaving 6ish on Monday mornings. I'm not planning on going down until Thanksgiving week. I'll have a week to go and relax and look around. There's plenty to do here it's where my life is. So I just keep doing it only I have to do alone. I don't like it but I don't dislike it enough to move. It's a choice

After watching Dr. 90210 on TV and seeing what they actually do for plastic surgery...yuckkkkk not sure that I would put myself through that sort of self torture.....but then again, if someone else was paying...hummmmm. We do have Curves in Springfield...I've not been. It is up on River Street on the left across the street from Austin Memorials. I think its great that you are going Lori...anything that makes you feel good about "you" is an important thing. I go to a class on Tues and Thurs after school (4:15-5:15). We do a lot of weight training things (small weights 5-8 lb) for bone density..with aerobic stuff and other stuff thrown in. We are all about the same age and have the same issues so its nice. We cheer each other on, moan groan and whine together. Richard, I hope that you are recovering nicely from having your wisdom teeth out...at least you got to be 50plus before loosing them! Most of us lost that wisdom a long time ago....Happy Thoughts...Teacher convention Thurs and Friday so no school for me....yeah!!!

Don't worry, Richard. We're (I'm) not going in the plastic surgery direction. Just sick of seeing some of those rolls of fat.

hi gorgeous women of spfld. i get the whole thing about being in shape, but i hope that you know that being in shape just means being in shape for the things you want to be able to do. please don't chase yourself into being in shape for something that is not really you and heaven forbid that you ever not love yourself for who you are. i like the red wine that i am drinking. happy truths in every glass. i had my wisdom teeth out today. that is all forest gump is going to say on that subject. i picked up a nineteen seventy two release on cd a couple of day ago. love it. it is fleetwood mac's, "bare trees" release. peace, richard

Karen, it sounds more exciting at your gym, but I guess I fit in better with the old ladies! Actually, there not all old, and they're pretty friendly. We don't really have much time to talk, and I find it hard to do 2 things at once anyway (talk and exercise)! I like going with my daughter, but I don't want to go to L.A. Fitness. You're probably right, Patti, that this isn't much of a work-out for someone who's used to more serious exercise, but I'm not one of those people. I walk, but that's it, so now at least I'm using my muscles.

How have you been managing, Patti, when you're alone during the week? Do you visit Dave some weekends or does he always come home?

All the Curves around here have closed. The woman who owned them went out of business unexpectedly. I went for several months a few years ago when it first opened. I liked it sort of but it really wasn't enough of a workout if you had been doing anything else. It seemed to be most successful for those who had not been. The concept of only needing 30 minutes was a huge draw. I was actually thinking of going back and trying it again since I'd been off my feet for so long. That was just about the time it closed. Oh well.

The weekend is over and Dave will take off by 5:30 am. Yuck.

Do they have Curves in Springfield, too? You might like it. Good music, nice people, and it's over pretty fast so it doesn't feel like torture. Our 3-week trial period is over on Monday. I'm not sure my daughter will continue cuz she feels like she gets a better work-out at the regular gym, but I think I'll keep going.

We had a great family visit, although very short. I always love having people here and of course, eating is the main focus! That is why I am not going to Curves and having my fat measured! You are brave!! Lots of women do Curves here. I think it is great that you and your daughter are doing something fun and healthy together. Just do it to help yourself be healthier and stronger!
We had our first official frost last night....sigh....guess we knew it would come eventually! Pretty chilly here today too. I put on a extra layer plus a fleece to go out and mow. Last time cleaning up stuff in the yard...the leaves on our maple trees haven't even turned yet let alone fall off the trees. We'll probably be raking in November! Unless it snows first. Have a good weekend everybody. Happy Thoughts...

Your food always sounds so good, Kathi. Lasagna and apple crisp. Mmmm.

Karen, I think they did do a fitness analysis on us--you mean when they tell you how much body fat you have? That was pretty discouraging. It can be excellent, good, fair, or poor, and I came out fair. But so did my daughter, and she's really thin. Maybe that instrument they used didn't work. You're lucky you're strong enough to do "tough love." It's hard to be tough when things aren't clear. My kids always had a good reason why a "no" should be a "yes," and when I really thought about it, I agreed with them most of the time. So it was hard to scream, "I said no!" and really mean it. Oh well, they turned out okay anyway.

Hi Everybody.
There is nothing overly exciting happening here right now. Sometimes I don't want to bore you with 5 year old stuff and that is as exciting as it gets lately. We went to Wellwood Orchard yesterday...had a tractor ride, picked some apples, watched the animals and ran around trying not to touch all the pumpkins laying around to tease little children. Luckily it didn't rain because we were going rain or shine. There is talk about SNOW in the higher elevations tonight.....last weekend it was high 70s....not ready for snowsuits...which is another story.
My elderly relatives are coming to visit this afternoon (my Aunt from Denver and my Uncle from Brattleboro, they are my father's remaining siblings). I am making lasagna and apple crisp. It will be nice to visit with them at my house where their parents once lived.
Oh, and the cat woke me up at 4:00 to go outside....got the dishes done (that I was too tired to do last night) and the lasagna put together...now I just have to vaccumn through and I'll be all set for company.....and need a nap before they come!
Happy Friday and have a good weekend....hope for no snow, please!
Happy Thoughts.......................................................

I don't think it's your posts Richard, thought provoking though they are. I think sometimes we just get involved in our day to day and have to step back from the computer. I know I do. Sometimes, I don't think there's anything worth sharing. I think it would be fun to sit in a quite corner with you and talk. You have such a great way of telling us what's going on and what you're thinking about. Do you have that same gift in the face to face? I'll bet you do.

the blog has a way of being dead from time to time, but i feel like it always goes dead for at least a few days after i post.

i am thankful for friends- y'all included. my mother kissed the school bus when it took me away to school for my first day. how did i fashion any social life from origins like that? karen, you have just been a busy mom who has been on the move and that makes it more difficult. and, by the way, having friends doesn't mean that you have to suffer fools gladly. i'm guessing that even marion morrison (john wayne) had some friends, but maybe not very many. his "don't apologize—it's a sign of weakness" attitude was probably a deal breaker. i'm also guessing that he didn't have any african american friends. different subject, but what was up with all his latin wives- pananama, mexico, and peru? anyway, i'm just saying that your "up against the wall" attitude could work for more than arranging furniture. get some friends and slap them into shape.

Yes, those little glances and touches make a big difference. Sounds like you're doing well in your new situation, Patti.

Did I mention that my daughter and I have been trying out Curves? Do they have that on the east coast? The gym for fat old women! Well, maybe that's not the right way to say it. All I know is I feel comfortable there and actually like it--which I can't say about regular gyms.

Dave and I just enjoyed a nice weekend at the campground for our final weekend of camping and especially for our 28th anniversary. It was long on the campground part and short on the anniversary part but with such great surroundings and good friends how could we go wrong. It was really odd to have such temperatures (80's) on the 6th of Oct.

Dave's in his 3rd week of travel now and we're starting to get a pattern set for our new way of life. So far so good. We've always done fairly well living apart as has so often been the case with his work.

It's been interesting reading to find when I got home. I find myself seeing all the points of view and agreeing with them all as well. Spending time alone I often long for the touch of my lover even if it's just to say good night. On the other hand, I also enjoy the meaningful glances or just plain comfy-ness of companionship that comes with the day to day. Depends on my psychy at the moment.

I'm sorry I'll be missing you this fall Lori. We'll keep trying though.

Richard, I don't think I've written that poem yet! If I do, I'll let you know. Right now I'm really stuck in my writing and will probably tell my poetry group today that I need to take a break. I need to slow down the pace and can't come up with something new every 2 weeks. Karen, you should have an advice column in the newspaper. I love the way you put things.

By the way, after changing my mind about 50 times about whether or not I'm going to Vermont, I did finally buy tickets. My daughter is coming with me this time. Her husband is busy with work, and it's a busy time at Avi's business, so it will just be the 2 of us (Oct. 18-22). I won't make it down to Springfield this time, and I realize it won't work out to have the mini-reunion we were talking about, but if anyone does have time to meet in Burlington, I could fit that in. We'll be busy with my parents and my brother and his family most of the time. Patti, I'm still hoping to get there sometime when you're in the area.

i like what you guys are saying. lori, i did see that you were talking about a special kind of communication and i think that your poem is beautiful for that. that is one of a few reasons why i like it. it was fun to exchange some messages cuz of recent experiences for me and what you had written in "signals." i also really enjoyed what you wrote, karen, and i was waiting to hear you weigh in. i agree with your perspective of no news is good news. some calm moments are okay and i do hope (like you) that my next connection thinks that she is lucky. i guess we better both feel that way or i will probably just hang tight with my bowling team. some of my perspective was just being offered cuz i am not in quiet moments with that person that has the comfort of an old shoe. probably, some of both is nice. i could say- don't underestimate the specialness of a great and unexpected kiss, but hey, who do i think i am talking to here, anyway? now, lori, this is where i don't actually need to know specifics, but i would enjoy reading any poems that you have written on the topic of a great and unexpected kiss. love (like the appropriate kind that you can have for one of your high school buds), richard

Yes, you're right, but maybe that's what follows after the intention is clear. But I think I was talking more about communication in that poem--not the usual way of communicating, but something coming across from the other person's presence.

hi lori. i like your poem. it only leaves me wondering about ignition sources. i see potentail fuel in the intentions of he and she and i see some oxygen in the fact that they are together. in this picture i do not see openness to ignition. i do not see he and she being the headline together. i see a disturbing lack of eye contact (line- head to head) and a man that fears real connection with his lover as he uses the paper as a prophylactic measure and as his veil of connection to the real world. that is the impact for me and probably not what you intended. you asked me, "isn't the impact there when you're aware of the intent?" i say, no. it is like the difference between potential and kinetic energy. how different is it to have the awareness that your lover probably wants good things for you and having the skin of his lips pressing against yours? how different is it when the real world is looking deeply into your eyes, smiling, and telling you that it loves you with passion? i think these are different.

Richard, I think I might have misinterpreted half of what you said, so keep doing what you're doing with the engineer and keep dancing on the beach with your breakfast partner when you find her, which I'm sure you will. As for impact and intent, isn't the impact there when you're aware of the intent? My poem is pretty short, so I'll just print it here:

SIGNALS

She listens with her eyes and hands
and lips, maybe with her breasts,
and knows that he's talking, though his mouth is closed;
just the rustle of his paper
as he sits over breakfast and the news.
It seems to come from his forehead
or his eyelids or the skin around his mouth.
Sometimes just a whisper, not easy to detect,
but today she hears it humming
through his robe--this language
of a man behind a paper, the pulse behind the print.

Perhaps he is responding to a fragrance or a color
or the slightest tremble in her neck.
He reads her silence with his shoulders,
maybe with his chest; tastes her texture in the chair.
Knows exactly when he'll find her hand
resting, tender, on the table.

at the risk of god knows what, i respond. so, i may have exagerated about leaving before breakfast had arrived and getting a hotel room. there is a very good chance that i would not have made it past the back seat of my ford fusion rental car. i certainly would not have made it to dinner and dancing with my imaginary breakfast guest. i would have been dancing on the beach together before noon and, yeah, you are right that you are wrong about that particular couple. it was sad and i had to see it. have a bit of pity for me, not them, cuz i got it and they never will. i would love to read your poem, "signals." it is not in any of my currently held lori levy works. i can only say that if signals have impact and not just intent, well i am for them. as for my "engineering activitities", i really do not wish for more. i feel really blessed that we dialed it in to where we have great impact as great friends without intent that reaches into places that are not real. we have a very secure spider's web that has joined wall to ceiling and it brings out the best in both. it surely is love, but not one that needs a back seat in, for, or about fusion. i love you, too. by the way, i expect myself to stop and listen when i meet teachers of the heart. still need to learn a bit more. richard

I think we all would relish those intimate moments wishing life could be like a romantic novel....

Glad its Friday today! Kids were wild today. Not sure if its the high 70/80 degree temperatures in Springfield on October 5th or what. Crazy. The fall leaves are starting to turn here. Way behind. Colors are not the brilliant bright ones...more muted. Probably from the lack of rain this summer.

I heard that Mrs. Birsky died this past week in Florida. Haven't seen the obituary in the paper yet but heard that the funeral will be in Springfield on 10/13...at St. Mary's.

Big Apple Festival at Riverside this weekend. It is suppose to be a beautiful weekend so should be good for that. I will probably go down and check out the big happenings. Have a wonderful weekend everybody.

Happy Thoughts...............

Richard, I don't know exactly what Karen told you, but I'm sure she gave good advice. You deserve the best. It sounds like you had a really good time with that engineer, and it's good to have someone like that in your life even if it can't become as intimate as it sounds like you'd like it to be. But about the couple eating breakfast in "hollow togetherness," I've learned that there can be a lot going on under the surface sometimes. One person can be feeling the other's presence and feeling a lot of love even if they're not talking or touching and it seems like they're in their own worlds or just reading the paper. I wrote a poem about it, called "Signals." I'm not saying you're wrong; you were probably right about that couple you saw. I'm just saying I'm learning to see all the good things that ARE there instead of expecting life to be like a romantic movie and getting disappointed when it's not like the movies.

hi lori. you did not miss anything REALLY interesting because nothing has happened. that is the part where engineer and engineer respect each other's current relationships. you did miss that i spent two weeks going to amazing places with an engineer back in may. the same engineer works and plays with a group that i am close with in my company. she and i had a chance to see the alsace region of france, the black forest in germany and some good times with friends within the larger group we both work in a couple of weekends ago. she is not the c&w chick. i posted a blog after returning from switz a couple of weeks ago that i revised from how psyched i was to be with my fellow engineer to how lovely the scenery was. karen saw the original version and offered some encouragement to me before i am put out to pasture. karen is right to offer encouragement and recognition for the small accomplishment that i found someone that has a great sense of humor, sense of life, and we love the way each other smiles in spite of the age difference between us. there is so much life to be lived. this engineer and i have the structure and life to fill up our splendid friendship. in contrast to this, i see couples that have the structure for their relationship, but not the heart that fills it up. i was sitting in a breakfast place today and watched a couple that quietly stayed separate from each other as he read the front section of the paper while she looked like she would rather be bowling and then she read the same section, like an indian women that walks behind her man, and he had breakfast on the way. i would have given anything to be with my love, soul connection, squeeze that fills the framework of my life with heart and i can tell you that i would not be reading the newspaper. in my shallow, god i love you way, i would have been studying every move that she made and i would be winking, smiling, poking under the table and getting a hotel room before breakfast arrived. where are people's priorities? do people really think that an english muffin will blow their hair back? maybe, but they sit in hollowness together and i am the one sitting alone.

I must have missed something--or is this the same one who plays in the country and western band? You're lucky you have a job that takes you to all those beautiful places.

Karen, the version with the young beautiful engineer is good. We are a great international couple that travel to exotic places pretty often, we do fun things together, and we keep our hands off each other. As long as we both have someone else that is not keeping their hands off of us it is all really great. I am a very emotionally, advanced male. How crazy is that?

Lori I do wish that was a 3 day weekend. You're right about that part for sure. It'd be a awfully quick turn around. You don't have much time with your family on a 3 day trip for yourselves either.

Now that I told everyone I probably won't be coming to Vermont, I'm starting to have second thoughts and feel tempted to change my mind. I guess I better decide one way or the other in the next few days. As I said, if I do go, it would be for the weekend of Oct. 19. Just a long weekend, so I'm not really sure I'd have time to go down to Springfield this time. I definitely want to get together with all of you, so if it doesn't work out this time, we'll have to figure out something else. Patti, you probably need more time than just a regular weekend, don't you, to drive 9 hours back and forth to Burlington? And, Karen, whenever you do make it to L.A., I hope you'll have some time to meet me.

Roland, I wanted to say I was also sorry to hear about your mother and wish you strength to deal with this change in your life.

Well ladies although it's disappointing it looks like it'll be a while before we get together. lf something comes up spontaneously let's give a whirl! I'm open to the opportunity. We're doing Thanksgiving in Dave's place in Bangor but Christmas is HOME for sure.

Roland, I'm sure your mom is now at peace and with time you too will find peace. It does take time however. When you least expect it you will smile with some random thought and for Dave and I those moments have made 07 a bitter easier.

May God continue to bless your family

Roland,
I hope your Mom was surrounded by love and family during this time. May she find peace and fullfillment.
Treasure the memories in your heart. Happy Thoughts.....

Hey all. Mom passed away this morning around 7am. Its a blessing as her lungs were filling with fluid and Hospice had her on morphine, not a nice way to exist. No big funeral, small memorial @ Congo Church in Cheshire, CT. Garry and I will do the honours later with her ashes as she didn't believe in wasting all those $$ on such.. I'm ok will all now as Lords let me have it gradually in that last year and thank all of you for listening to my off the wall excerpts. New chapter begins. Gos Bless ya'll R

I'm glad you still have that dream Richard and I trust you will keep that end goal in mind.. Things in our lives certainly do change and I've heard myself say before "My life got in my way". Sometimes that's a good things, sometimes, not so much.

well pat there is always the difference between the dream and reality of life. give it a few years and you will be right about me and wood. the luv shak has been a blogger topic of mine and that is definitely a wood project. it has previously only been a hobby and is only now moving toward reality. more to come on that. it has been my sanity and i can see plenty of room for confusion.

Well I am truly confused now Richard. Why do I think (thought) you worked with wood?? I remember going to the Smithsonian to see a chair you told us about.

Patti, right now I'm feeling that I'd rather postpone the Vermont trip to another time, not October. There's a chance I might go to Israel in November or December cuz my poetry book should be ready by then and I'd like to be there when it's finished (the publisher is still working on the book, but it won't be that much longer). They could mail them to me, but I guess it's a good excuse to go again. If I do go, I think I'd rather wait on the Vermont trip. If you guys get together in October, could you do it again at a later date? And, Karen, are you still planning to come out here in October? Avi's uncle (my favorite one) is coming for a visit from Oct. 24-Nov. 13. If I do decide to go to Vermont, it would probably be the weekend of Oct. 19. Anyway, I'll let you know if I have a change of heart and do decide to come.

Richard, you should be a travel writer. You definitely know how to make us want to go to the places you describe.

pat, i work in telecommunications on the radio base station end of what your cell phone connects to. the company that i work for is global. essex, vt is their north american home. i have responsibility for a group of engineers that work closely with no. amer. opportunities. for example, i will go next week to massachusetts to look at a new antenna design that mit is working on and i will go the week after to philly to see the folks that make 911 work on cell phones. i will present in dallas to a global consortium on semiconductor testing in early november and will probably break to the left coast from there. my fam spent one month with me in switz and in italy a while back but now both boys are at college and my wife probably would not travel with me if her boyfriend could not come along, too. you are right, that i am lucky. i am willing to look past the inconveniences of travel and knowing where i might be next week. i have to pull this philly trip out of my ass. still haven't quite figured that out, but their last contract with us was HUGE (about $30 million) so what choice do i have?

Wow, Richard what a wonderful experience. If you don't mind my asking, just what you do for business, I"m awfully curious if it's still working with furniture making? Does your family ever travel with you? These are such tremendous opportunities to see the world. In that sense, you're a very lucky fella.

Any word on fall travel Lori and Karen?

switz was really nice. there were delays to get to and from there, but that is just the unfortunate thing about travel these days. i got to zurich nine hours late and missed a good afternoon in the mountains because of that. still i had some days high in the alps with beautiful views and nice temps. there was about four inches of snow a week ago that added real beauty to the otherwise gray rocks. one of the best moments for me was to stand at a small church above the last village as you travel up the valley and take in the panoramic breathtaking view. the church is hundreds of years old and yet it sits there sparkling like a drop of dew that just arrived that morning. i traveled back from the alps to the home office with a woman my age that plays in a country and western band. i brought her the new bon jovi cd (yup, you guessed it- it is c&w) and we listened to that as we drove. work was good with nice dinners and then i headed to the alsace region of france with a great friend. we stopped in basil to go to a museum there- good museum architecture and nice collections. then we headed to strasbourg which is quite wonderful. there is a large old town, a fantastic cathedral, and lunch at a cafe was super. i spent saturday night in the vorges area (mountains and countryside) with a french family. they have two young boys that are way cute. we played with an air powered rocket that i had helped their dad select a while ago. we all went to chateau du koenigsberg- a very large castle. it is number three for most visited place in france. the weather was perfect. lunch was in bergheim, which is a little town where a couple of days with your lover would seal your connection forever. lunch was french again, meaning that you can know when it starts but you can never know when it will end. we walked around the town and then drove into the black forest of germany. all these places are close to each other. i caught late afternoon sun beside a lake and then headed back to eastern switzerland. my time after that was wrapping up my business and saying good-bye to friends. i know i am lucky to have the chance to do all these things with really excellent people. that was the best. i am ready to be home and have been liking that, too. peace, richard

Karen, one can only hope that a storm with your name doesn't pick up speed and lash out with destruction! It might just whirl around being busy bringing a little needed relief to those around her! Guess we'll just have to wait and see!!! Happy Thoughts...............

Hi from Springfield. Happy Autumn! Nothing overly exciting happening here...no yodeling, no evacuations, no organizing, no new equipment. The weather was so beautiful this weekend. High 70s with just a little breeze and lots of sunshine. The leaves are beginning to turn colors, which is beautiful but one always knows what comes next. Chester had their big craft fair this weekend . It was fun to look around at. I always go early on Saturday morning. Caught up on the yard work in the afternoon and some today. Those little darling children at school are coming in with snotty noses and sharing those lovely germs with me..hard for those parents to keep them home now that they have discovered "freedom"! I wish you all a better week! Happy Thoughts...........

Thanks Richard, I knew that you'd come through musically.

It's been quite a week here. We were evacuated due to a bomb threat on Tues. Luckily it was a warm day. We walked all 450 students several blocks away to the nearsest university where we hung out in the gym for several hours. Most of the students hadn't had lunch and finally all students were sent home on buses starting around 1:30. We were not allowed back into our building until after 3 PM when the dog and police had completed their check of the building. The student in question had in fact gone home "sick" just as we were evacuating. Strange. So we have not seen this person since. It was determined today who it was and 10 day suspension was put in place. Our superintendent is on a European trip so will determine what's next from the school's point of view upon his return. The police have all information are are also acting. Students and staff will not be given the name of the student. But I know................................

Also this week, I spent several hours one evening tearing up the 30 year old wall to wall carpeting in our 160 square foot upstairs bathroom. Took me a while as you can imagine. Two days later I have a lovely new laminate floor but no toilet. I was quite surprised to come home tonight and find the flush sitting across the room from where it ought to be. I have a call into my plumber.

Good to see you here again, Richard. I thought we had scared the men away from the blog. I always liked Seals and Crofts, too. That music makes me think of NYC cuz I listened to it all the time when I was in NYC for 2 months for the off-campus winter term at Bennington. Keep yodeling. We're listening.

i can tell you about a crisp as bacon morning. try twenty six hours in airports, jet lag of six hours and a three day, all day, everyday, oh-and evenings too training event in the alps. it's nice around two in the afternoon when you kinda wake up, but the air is thin and there are no hot chicks from springfield anywhere to be found. that's when i start to yodel, "i like my bacon crisp. it makes me yodel when i piss. yodel lay hee hoo ahhhh oooooh eeeeh hmmmm yeah hmmmmm ahhhhhh." sure i remember that song. i have been in switz for the last five days and will be here till next tuesday. i'm going to the alsace region of france this weekend. i think they do less hiking and more eating and drinking. you DO have to find balance. it snowed yesterday with about four inches of accumulation. i was in arosa. it is at the end of a dead end street that goes about thirty miles straight up into a high mountain valley. i hiked the big one there on sunday and then had to do a scavenger hunt on monday that involved hiking, boating, cable car, scooter, bus, more hiking, and a beer. my frickin thighs feel crisp as bacon. i can tell you that. actually, pat, i liked seals and crofts harmonies but never followed them too much. the important thing is i do remember 1969. thank God for that. lots of love classmates!

Of course, there is never just one thing that needs replacing at a time! Its always the way. It is very cool here. Only 37 this morning. My house feels colder then that right now...much too early to turn on the heat with oil prices being what they are...so I added the sweater and fleecy socks to the look...
I had a house full of company this past weekend. Suzanne and John came from NYC, Andrew and Amy from Concord and my sister-in-law and kids from Milton. My niece had gotten married a couple of weeks ago and my brother was having a potluck reception at his house. So, I cooked and cooked...and cleaned...but it was nice to see everybody. Now, there is the laundry to do. And it is very quiet here! I need to go and finish Caleb's birthday card so I can get it into the mail for Thursday. I am running a little behind!! But with him only being 5, I don't think he'll be too upset! He loves his Nana!! Happy Thoughts.............

Oh. Well, that's not quite what I was imagining by the good life!

Wow, you guys are living it up--going out for beers and appetizers, going away to a B&B! Sounds good! We're in the process of giving our house a "facelift." It started out with a fence (putting one of those black iron ones around our front yard), but then we decided to redo the whole yard, so we're having someone tear out all the stuff we don't like so we can put in what we do like. And that got us looking at the house, which we decided needs to be painted. Right now the house looks bald with no bougainvilla growing all over it, but we're kind of enjoying the clean-cut look while it lasts. I'm sure we'll fill it up pretty fast with color and green. We're not the Zen types, though I do like looking at those spare Zen gardens and houses....

"On a crisp as bacon morning with the sunlight on my head" Anyone remember those words from the early 70's? Richard, put on your thinking cap...

Sunday morning today is beautiful and sunny. Dave and I went to a wonderful B&B Friday night. Not far from home but a terrific retreat. Rain on the roof in the morning sounded beautiful.

Deep freeze predicted for tonight so we'll be picking pumpkins and tomatoes this evening and bring them in. It's too bad, the tomatoes really need the time on the vine.

Dave's job is official tomorrow a.m. and he leaves for Bangor this afternoon or evening. I had a jewelry party last week and that was lots of fun. I like all the free jewelry I get for hostessing!

I still don't really understand what happened, but I'm trying to see it as something that happened for the best. They do still really care about each other and want to stay friends and they haven't ruled out the possibility that they'll decide to get back together in the future. So we'll see what happens. It's too big a commitment to make if one or both aren't sure about it.

Lori that's remarkable about Rafi. I wonder if perhaps when they finally decided on marriage the reality was not what they or one of them expected? It's a shame that it has worked out this way.

I don't know how Karen's idea sounds to you, Patti, but it sounds good to me--a cozy little place to be together on the weekend without the headache of taking care of a bigger place. Maybe it doesn't make sense to get a bigger place now when you're not sure you want to move there. I understand your feelings about the move. On the other hand, I think the only thing that helps in these situations is when both people try to see things from the other person's point of view. You might not agree with it, but it could still be valid when you understand the way he thinks. It's so hard to find the middle ground sometimes! I'm like a little kid sometimes. I want to do things my way...

I'm feeling down right now. I told you all that my son Rafi got engaged to his girlfriend last month when they were in Barcelona. Well, yesterday he told me they broke up. I thought he was kidding at first. They've been together for about 5 years and seem so good together. I was in shock. I guess it could still change, but for now, that's the decision. He didn't want to go into much detail, so I don't really get what happened. I think it's something about her needing to figure some things out. I feel so bad for him. He really loves her.