We are home from NC. We left last night at 5:45 and got home this morning at 9:00. Of course, there were a lot of pit stops and a stop for breakfast in CT. Neil was also conserving fuel and only driving 60-65....we averaged almost 30 mph with our Ford 500. It was 50 degrees and chilly when we got here. Not the 80s that we've been getting used to all week.
We had a great visit with our grandbabies...they are growing up way too fast. My birthday baby is almost walking...Caleb is reading up a storm...and Camille is the ultimate princess who likes to practice her posing. I so hope that they are really moving in June and that this will be our last long trip down to visit! I think we are getting too old to drive 14 hours at a time.
Pat, you have to listen to you.....not others! It has to be what you and Dave really want to do with your lives. Life is all about the choices that we make!
Sending only Happy thoughts to all and your loved ones needing it..........................

Patti, I love your Plymouth Rock analogy. I know exactly what you mean by that! And thanks for summarizing A New Earth for us! I think I'm resisting reading the book cuz I can't stand the guy's voice--not that I'll be hearing it when I read the book. Avi has it on disks, and he likes his voice. I also can't stand Deepak Chopra's voice, so I guess I have to just read the books and not think of their voices. I didn't realize you're still having a lot of doubts about the decision to move. Do your friends think you should stay married, but not move? I hope the counselor will help you get more clear on what's best for you. It must be really stressful.

Hi everyone, we're back from DC finally. Even though it was several days, we made a lot of running around the norm so it was very tiring, but exciting. I found however that I used my Plymouth Rock analogy a couple times though. Which is to say that sometimes I have a build up in my expectations that isn't met. If you've ever been to Plymouth Rock you find that it is not some huge boulder for the Pilgrims to step out onto but a basic looking rock by the sea that is in captivity for all of us to look at and wonder. One looks down at it surrounded by iron bars to protect it from being chipped away by enthusiastic historians. Nature will polish it off eventually. So anyway, it has become my way of saying I was a bit let down. Our tour of the White House (self led) and especially the Library of Congress met this description. Especially the library where I kept wondering where are all the books? It turns out they are in 23 separate reading rooms that are not open to the public. so what you go to look at is the magnificent architecture and art work. The fellow who toured us at Congress told us about The Capital Grill where we promptly became regulars for dinner. I highly recommend their beer Fuel.

I think A New World requires a particular willingness. I'm not sure I can explain myself. The classes are held too late at night for me to be part of but I've discovered I can download them through iTunes and watch/listen at my convenience. Though I haven't stuck with it I have very much enjoyed what I have done with it. I think it makes a lot of sense; isn't a new thought so much as getting back to knowing and acting on what we already know. In a nut shell, "play nice with others". There, that was easy. Really though it is a complicated process: I believe: of doing just that. Where it gets really difficult is the whole letting going of yourself and your beliefs about who/what you are or what you are supposed to be. I guess if you can do that it allows you to free yourself up to your "real" potential as a person without the trappings of expectations, real or imagined. Well that was awkward, just ignore me.

Happy belated birthday Lori! I'm glad so many good things happened for you and mostly that you say you feel you have got yourself back. I know precisely what you mean and I'm honestly delighted. It must feel wonderful to be able to feel that way.

I need to call my counselor this week and arrange to begin again. I need someone to talk with that isn't involved in anyway. Those folks who have weighed in here in P.I. think I'm making a mistake to go with Dave. I'm really quite freaked out about it and even had a bit of an emotional break out on our trip saying I just wanted to go home! We are looking at two places today and 4 tomorrow. I'd like the whole looking process to go badly and Dave to give it all up. I know I could stop this whole thing cold but I've been back and forth on it so many times I feel guilty. Not much chance of that changing. I've found it amazing how stress acts on my body. The fibromyalgia is remarkably reactive. Sleeping in my own bed last night was wonderful.

Karen I'm sorry your mom is ill. Having you there will help I know. You'll have Kathi and Janice's support too while you're there. Please know the rest of us are here and keeping all of you in our best and most hopeful wishes.

Karen, I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I wish her the best for a speedy recovery. She sounds like a really strong person, so hopefully she'll pull through it okay. I'm sure she'll be happy to have you there.

Patti recommended A New Earth a while ago, but actually I just started reading it now, so I don't have an opinion yet. My therapist recommended it, too. He said The Power of Now is more theoretical, and this one is more practical. I think it's an individual thing. Avi has been influenced a lot by The Power of Now, but it hasn't had as much of an impact on me. This week I told my therapist (the one I've been going to for individual therapy) that I think I can stop coming cuz I'm feeling really good about myself and my life now. Can you believe it??? Only took 54 years!!! I don't know exactly what happened, but I feel like something finally clicked inside and all the pieces of the puzzle came together and now I've got myself back. The self I want, not the needy, insecure one. I hope this doesn't sound too weird. We're still going for the couples therapy, but if this keeps up, I think I'm ready to stop that, too! By the way, thanks for the birthday wishes.

Glad you had a good day for your Birthday, Lori! Its always nice to get lavished with attention, love and gifts! We girls went shopping this morning....always interesting with two little ones...we tried leaving the oldest one with Papa but I think he really wanted some peace and quiet. Right now he is taking the baby for a walk...I am waiting for Caleb to get off the bus from school. 10 more minutes of quiet....lol....it has been showery, windy and in teh 70s for the past 2 days. I think it has been warmer up in VT....it'll probably change by Friday went we go back home.
Have a good trip to Florida, Karen...talk to everybody soon. Happy Thoughts....

The kids came over last night for my birthday. I got a lot of nice presents and cards from them and Avi. Avi also wrote me a really nice card this year, so I'm feeling really appreciated. Feels good! On Friday night his family will have a cake for me, and on Sunday my friend, Irene, is making me a meal. I've been hearing about her grilled salmon for so long and have never tasted it, so this is my chance. My sister-in-law thought I should be pampering myself more for my birthday (massage, etc.), but that's more her thing than mine. I could go up in a hot air balloon and circle the world, but family and friends are all the balloons I want right now.

We arrived in Durham about 8:00 Sunday morning...in time for breakfast. Spent the day with my sister-in-law. Went to the mall and had a cookout...except that it started raining (that they desperately need) just as we waited for the charcoal to get ready. Spent the rest of the day visiting ...sleeping...eating. This morning we left her house about 8 and drove 2 hours to our daughters. I knocked on the door...I could see Camille (3 yr old) sitting at the table drawing...I knocked again she looked up and good this big grin...ran over opened the door and just hugged and hugged. It is the sweetest thing. Caleb was at school so I waited for the bus at 2:30...he ran off the bus, up the driveway looking for us....He has gotten too tall.....he is almost up to my neck with the top of his head...We all went to the Golden Corral for supper....it also rained here quite heavily this afternoon. Another funfilled day. Going to school to see Caleb's kindergarten and to library storyhour....with Camille. Chloe has the silliest crawl...she pulls herself along sort of on her butt pushing with one leg and sitting on the other. Pretty funny. More details to bore you to follow....Happy Thoughts......

wahoo. i tested my first luv shak beam to see if my design will meet the building code. it is 40% stronger than required. that means i can focus on the look of the design knowing that i am structurally where i need to be. wahoo!