Then they might still be capable of squashing him like a bug if he's in the wrong kind of car. My son, Omer, seems to find the women here boring. Maybe he's not looking in the right places.

probably.

You mean the ones who only care what kind of car a man drives?

what he likes and misses most about LA may not be too big for you. i had the feeling he was thinking most about what he misses as he was describing tall strong women in rural north carolina who he suspects are capable of squashing him like a bug. it is just a guess, but i think it is the women in LA that he misses.

What does he miss in L.A.? It has its good points, but I still don't feel attached to this city.

wow lori, you and wendy are funsters. i did not go in the dark room where you feel interesting things and i am kicking myself for missing it. i also have not been to the winchester house. i have checked it out on-line and will make it a priority on my next visit. there is also a really nice japanese area in san francisco. there are some shops with furnishings that are especially nice. i met a friend of mine from LA, yesterday. He has just moved and is now living in far western north carolina. he says that he misses LA.

Wow, that's a long time to wait on line. I hope I won't have to wait that long. And that's supposed to be shorter than the line on election day?

By the way, Richard, I took one of your recommendations. Wendy and I went to the Exploratorium in San Francisco. It's a neat place. Did you go through the Tactile Dome? It was fun, but kind of scary to be in total darkness for 10 minutes--walking through narrow places, sliding, climbing. I felt a little claustrophic in there, but it was definitely worth experiencing! We didn't have time to go to the other places you mentioned, but we did go to the Winchester mystery house in San Jose. Have you been there? A really strange house with doors that lead to nowhere and tiny steps, really curvy, narrow hallways, etc. I wasn't expecting San Jose to be a pretty city, but Santana Row was really colorful and artistic-looking. Color wasn't what I was expecting to see in the hi-tech world. Anyway, it was really fun going on trains, seeing new things, walking all over, etc. etc. Wish I had more fun friends in L.A.

Patti, at least you have time to say good bye slowly to your friends and life in P.I., so you can get used to the idea of leaving.

Snow squalls here today too and incredible winds. Dave will be home in a couple of days and then the countdown really starts. Our paperwork has all be signed and sent off to the relocation company and we're ready for Monday a.m to close on the Hampden house.

We're going to avoid Halloween by meeting at a restaurant and then hiding out at home.

I've been knitting like crazy. Not having to go into work has meant I've been able to meet some friends downtown to knit while they're on their lunch hours. It's been fun catching up on some projects I haven't been able to finish. Plus our evening group has gotten so large that we can't even all speak with one another. So the smaller group is nice.

Hi Everybody,
I hope your week is going better. It has become cold here in Vermont. Snowshowers today...nothing on the ground in Springfield...but the kids at school were excited.
I wasn't...It is much to early for me...We don't even have all the leaves raked off the lawn! Richard, you might have some on the ground...keep it up North!

hi. thanks for your comments and thoughts about my stinky week behind me. this morning will be the first time people at work will be looking each other in the eye about our co-worker's death. i am sure that means many interuptions for me. of course, i don't mind. i just don't know anything, including knowing what to say. i agree with the view of suicide as a selfish act that has far reaching impact. i also know that some people are in lives that have become so painful that it leads to that place. it is all just so sad. anyway, i will put on my game face and try to get past it.

To answer something I think you asked about Lori. Hampden is approximately 5 miles south of Bangor. Close enough that Dave will will riding his bike to work when the weather allows. We were aiming for south of the city so that we'd get to camp and the boys more quickly. Dave's dad too. We have company coming for Thanksgiving, the boys, Jack, (dad) and Taylor, Dave's niece who is a freshman at Harvard.

Dave will be back this coming Friday night. Then he'll stay with me for our last week here. He's taking a full truck load and pulling a trailer down with him this trip. So all the gardening equipment and heavier house things, like gym equipment are gone as well as a lot of boxes we had packed up ourselves in preparation to show the house.

Richard, I'm sorry about the loss of your friend. There can't be understanding for those left behind.

I hadn't read about the burton situation but went to the web tonight and read about it. The cutting issue is a huge one for me. I've worked hard with a student who is only 11 and spends much of his time cutting. For him and for many county kids the "new cutting" is to use an eraser until you have broken through the skin for the bleed. It's horrible and I've caught him at it, it makes my stomach turn and my heart break. Too many 11 year olds have parole officers and court dates for the way they live.

I have a problem with suicide, too. We had it happen in our family and it is very very difficult to deal with. They have no idea of the aftermath to the ones left behind to pick up all the pieces.
One selfish (in my opinion) act leaves many unanswered questions..making one wonder if they missed the "signs" and what could have, should have been done to prevent such an event. I've never come up with the "answers". We just have to remember the good things.....

Lots of company at my house this weekend. Suzanne and John came up on Friday. Finally got the rest of all the wedding stuff out of my house! I made lots of food...including 2 apple pies, which were pretty tasty! Andrew and Amy came up last night. We played the game Apples to Apples for a couple of hours, and then they played Taboo...it was fun. Today was spent doing leaves...making cheese blintzes...cornbeef dinner..watching the Patroits win...and waving goodbye. Very quiet here now...need to work on those Halloween cards for my little kids...hope things are going better for everyone! Happy Thoughts............

I didn't know about the Burton thing (guess we don't get the news out here in L.A.!), but I agree with both of you.

Sorry to hear about your friend at work, Richard. I have a hard time understanding suicide. It seems like there are enough obstacles in life already, and no matter how desperate or depressed we feel, there's always the choice of doing something else, isn't there? Last night I went to a condolence evening at the house of a woman who is in my poetry group. Her husband died last Monday, after battling leukemia for a year. It was an evening of prayer and spiritual poetry--really emotional. I've never been to a "shiva" like that. People also told stories about Norm, the husband. I didn't know him, but his wife, Jean, is an amazingly strong and special person. People said Norm was a good listener, very empathic, and gave really good hugs. I was on the edge (and beyond the edge) of tears most of the evening just listening to how much love people had for Jean and Norm. And I was impressed that Norm cared enough to vote before he died.