Mea Culpa Richard, why don't you like the runners? At least they're probably fairly quiet as they travel through. When I am out in the woods enjoying birdsong and wind in the trees, it's the 4-wheelers and snowmobiles that make me crazy. They're too fast for me to knock down though. One winter I put chunks of wood in my yard to block the snowmobiles from coming through. They were cutting through from the woods out back to the street.

ouch, pat. but important for me to think about, none the less. i was in torrey pines state park in california yesterday. the torrey pines have cones the size of grapefruits, needles ten inches long pointing in all directions, they only grow twenty or thirty feet tall and they only grow right there and on a nearby island. that was magical to see them. i love them and know enough to realize how special they are. odd spot, with sooooooo many people being sooooooooooo california. i had to stop for many runners to go by me on the trails. i wanted to push them down and beat them. it is a good thing that i am a rational person who is in control of my emotions :-)

Poems or fleas, Richard?

I might have to steal some of your metaphors.

i am no poet, but like fleas escaping the flailing toenails of a dog, i have been around a couple that excite me.

Where do you come up with these things, Richard?! I like your combinations--putting snow conditions and colonoscopy in the same sentence and then seedless grapes and boneless chicken with believing in yourself. You're a poet.

lori, it is not as if i am saying you should go for a colonoscopy everytime the snow conditions are good where you live, although that does seem to be what you are waiting for. ya' know like when hell freezes over :-)

keep the faith, pat. seedless grapes and boneless chickens are just a marketing fad. real value starts with faith and believing in yourself.

karen, please tell me i am being clear in my own lost and confused way.

We are all here to lend an ear when our friends need it...so, good or bad, that's what we do.
I am sorry that things are not working out the way you wish it would Pat. I am sure you are frustrated about everything. Good Luck in getting everything together. Remember, to
take care of yourself, too.

Well, I won't be able to chicken out much longer with all of you behind me cheering me on. Can't say I see any resemblance to snowboarding, though!

Patti, it's good to have you back! Sorry you've been going through so much trouble, though. With the economy in such a mess, I guess this is a bad time to make a move. And not having a job must make the stress much worse. I wish I could say something more helpful. I hope something works out for you.

colonoscopies are like snowboarding. you can't think about it. you just have to do it and you are so glad that you did, after the fact. the prep? well, that really isn't anything like snowboarding.

Many apologies and Hello and thank you to Lori, Karen, Karen, Kathi, Richard for the notes of concern I've received. You all know that I'm not a big fan of being a voyeur here but for the last several weeks that's how it's been. Having said that though I have to tell you just being able to take a quick peek every evening and know that you all are well has been a lifeline for me. I didn't want to come here and whine and complain. But unfortunately so much has gone wrong that I couldn't find something to say that wasn't a downer.

I won't bore you with the details so "In a nutshell", We lost the house we were buying, I lost my job, we're trying to buy another house but things with that are dicey as well. Our house has not sold and isn't even being shown because the market is so horrible up here. Dave is staying at an unheated camp and those of you in New England know that the temps are way down at night now.

Moving on - we closed up the camper in NH this past weekend. It was a spectacular weekend weather wise and great to get away and enjoy being with friends. We went to the Sandwich Fair and enjoyed fried bread dough and farm animals.

Lori, I've had a couple of colonoscopies, the worst part is the prep and the best part is the long nap and the good news that you're healthy! The first time was kind of scary though because of being so unsure of what might be. It's an unfortunate right of passage though.

I was heartbroken to hear that Brian Helberg died. I had heard that he was living in the Spfld. area taking care of his dad.

I love you all, miss you, and I'm glad to be back. - Patti

I know, I know, you're right. I've been doing the stool test, hoping that was enough, and the doctor has let me get away with that so far---but I'll do it. My father also said I should do it, and he's the only doctor I listen to cuz I know he's never in favor of doing a bunch of UNnecessary tests, but this one IS necessary. He's also the one who told me about the Vit. D, so I figured if he thinks it's worth checking, I'll check it. Sometimes I wish I were more like my sister--she doesn't bother with a lot of these tests and doesn't get nervous about not doing them. I think too much.

Lori, Lori, Lori.....trust me, having colon cancer would be much worse then ever undergoing a colonoscopy. (I watched my Mother have it for 10 years)...anyways, you drink some crap, spend hours in the bathroom...go and get lots of drugs and know nothing until its over, so its really not bad at all. So just make the appointment!
Karen, the apple festival here wasn't much...some crafters, authors, some food....the weather was beautiful. My niece and I went to Chester and did some shopping at my favorite Simply Country store. It makes me want to throw away all my stuff in my house and start again! Dreaming.....
Another nice day! 70 for tomorrow....yeah!!!

I can't help with that technical stuff, but I don't understand why it's so complicated to get onto the blog. We're not some elite club that doesn't allow new members in, so why can't these people get in??? Guess that's the problem with new technology....

Karen, did you test your Vit. D level? Now they're saying it's important to have the right level cuz it (probably) protects against cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and we don't always get enough from the sun anymore cuz we're so busy covering ourselves with sunscreen. I thought mine would be high enough living in a sunny place like L.A., but it wasn't--so now I'm taking Vit. D. I've also been doing the usual check-ups, but I can't get myself to go for a colonoscopy.

Glad things ran smoothly getting back home. I am sure you had a wonderful time in VT. This past weekend was just beautiful. Sunny, warm with beautiful colors surrounding us. If it could only stay like this for a few months! I would be happy. Have a great week everybody!
Happy Thoughts....

I'm back home in L.A. Our flights went smoothly this time, and we got home when we were supposed to. My son Rafi picked us up from Burbank airport, and Danit came over to see us. Haven't seen Omer (the youngest) yet, but he lives a little farther away, so I wasn't expecting to. Now I'm going through mail, bills, all that boring stuff....

hi. i just wanted you to know that i will soon be playing hockey with my cat in the kitchen and checking my raspberry plants for just a few more berries. i will be singing willie nelson songs in the shower like "blue skies smilin' at me- nothin' but blue skies do i see. bluebirds singin' a song- nothin' but bluebirds all day long." i hope all of your skies are blue, too. i was in one of napoleon III's (napolean's cousin) houses yesterday. some people had it all, but screwed it up just the same. his wife left him and required a bigger place further up on the hill. i could handle either location with enough hired help. wow.