Richard, good advice and a bit of your humour you're so famour for. Yes, we have a direction and are headed FORWARD while keeping what is good in the old. Its a real experience and too much too tell here but it never ceases to amaze myself of the insecurities of some people that really have nothing to be insecure about. Oh well.........

Roland, All that good-ol-goy stuff is only one piece and I hope your elections help to clean house. If you have a fortune teller from the West Indies or Haiti in your new little town, go see her. Don't think what whe tells you is the final word. You can change it, but you have to know where you would be headed before you can know what to change.

Roland, All that good-ol-goy stuff is only one piece and I hope your elections help to clean house. If you have a fortune teller from the West Indies or Haiti in your new little town, go see her. Don't think what whe tells you is the final word. You can change it, but you have to know where you would be headed before you can know what to change.

Vermont behind? We thought so but actually they are an experimental state for most programs after they leave the CA theory stage. Ga has got to be the most behind state in the nation. I love the climate but their mindsets are still: Yankee leave us alone, we were fine till you came. Not refering to myself but just in general and if you think Vters are clannish you ain't seen nothing yet!! You know they still ran stills way into the 80's and some still but not as much gov't interference. Those Daisy Duke stories had to come straight out of here. Vt hasn't always had the funds available in the rural areas to keep up but down here they "just don't want to" and that attitude I have a problem with. Also, you know the 2 speeds in VT (ha ha) slow and stop, well here its slower and permanently head stuck in the ground. Oh well..... in the metro area its not visible with all the divirisity. Down in Barnesville we are having a real fight between the new and the old "pot bellied sheriff" ways. He seems to rule with an iron hand and with no real supervision. Its slowly going away but its like really stepping back into "Ol Dixie". He actually threatens people to get what he wants. Well, January is election time and as one of my friends says, they will actually find enough testicals to drag into the booths again and do the right thing. Interesting, or NOT.

E-mail for all it's spendor, can in fact be a real pain in the tushy. To put it politely.

We just discovered that a former co-worker of Dave's has been living in Hawaii since this past June and so our plans to go are looking better. We would be able to stay with her after the conference and Tamra would be a wonderful source of local information. tht would save us a huge bundle of $$. So Im trying not to get too excited but I am.

And Lori is Richard, you are wonderful.

Well you know, Vermont always has been a little behind! Gotta love it!

Pat, I am learning much about beauty and, as slow as I am to learn, I can assure you that beauty is not lost on me. Karen and Lori wrote to me at my knew address, made me feel awesome, and verified for one technological moment that my new **^#"/!_-+ f--king email is connecting some of the time. I am now hearing from my "server" that the Vermont connection will not be happening for the next five hours. I can only say that I am comforted to know that my future is five short hours away.

Patti, you must have written at exactly the same moment I did. Good luck with your vacation plans. Don't give up on Hawaii!!!

Patti, I was the one who wrote. But I forgot to tell him how wonderful he is. You're wonderful, Richard! Call me when you're in L.A. and maybe we can meet in the middle somewhere, wherever that is. I'll look at a map in the meantime.

Vacation Vacation where should we vacation.

Started with Mexico, then we thought we'd do an all-inclusive Sandals resort in the Caribean. OOPs. Then we had a Hawaii possibility. Still do actually. Dave has an early December conference to go to and I'd be going along so we'd stay a few extra days. After all it's 18 hours to get there. I'll need a day of rest before I go lay in the sun and surf. The trip is still up in the air because of the cost of the flight but we're working on it. I'd miss about 10 days of school. For me, that's the hard part. but it's an opportunity i hate to pass up. He's sure not going without me .

I'm not sure how well my home email address is working yet. I'll let you know in a few days

Richard is this your way of saying you have changed your e-mail address? I will change it on the list if you like.
I want to know who wrote and told you you were wonderful?

My email works, thanks!!

Can someone send me an email at lovelessr@verizon.net . I just set up a new email account at home and would like to see if it is working. Any message like "Richard, you are really awesome!" would be fine.

Gerda and I spent the weekend in Montreal. We did many fun things including a comedy club late Saturday night. Not so funny on Sunday morning was the smashed window on our car. A pair of sun glasses were all that was stolen, but what a hassle. Apparently it is a big problem in Montreal. The police won't even come to check it out. The Montreal Marathon was Sunday and 18,000 people ran in it. The Kenyans started to pull away from me at mile 23 (just kidding). We didn't run, just walked through the botanical garden Sunday Afternoon.

Hi Lori, Right now it looks like I will have a car and could get together Monday evening the 20th. Email me your phone number and I will call you: rloveless@hubersuhnerinc.com

Hi, Patti. So you ruled out Mexico? I think Hawaii is a good choice. It's beautiful there. I've been to Maui and Oahu. Both were nice. Honolulu is pretty touristy, but once you get out of the city, it's really nice.

It sounds like they're getting a lot of rain in Vermont, from what my brother says. Maybe not hurricanes, but he and his wife have been vacuuming water out of their basement almost non-stop for the past week. There were a few sunny days in between and then again the rain started seeping in. If they don't vacuum, they'll have a flood. They said it's been a nightmare.

Richard have fun in CA, it sounds like you have plans to have a good time regardless of what you do. Since Lori has gotten together with you in Burlington I definitely think you should get with her on the West Coast now.

right Lori?

Now that Ivan is getting set to attack the west coast of FL I'm after my dad to get the heck out of there. He's been lucky with the last two and although they had to evacuate to a hotel, enough is enough. We just have orange leaves, rain and the usual windyness up here in the County. Fall has arrived. The potato harvest begins soon.

Dave and I are talking about going to Hawaii this Dec. He has a business trip potentially and I'll go along. We should know after this weekend. We'll consider it our 25th anniversary trip. Anybody been?

Karen, the weather is HOT. Hotter than usual. Eventually, he might need a sweater in the evening, but right now that's the last thing you need in L.A. Will you be visiting him here?

Richard, what do you mean by north L.A.? Are your friends in the Valley? I think Anaheim is about 50 minutes from us. Will you have a car? Will you have any free time on the weekend or will you be busy working? If you see you have some free time, maybe you can call and we'll see what we can work out. Do you have my number here?

Karen, great to see that you are taking in most of the local colours etc. The taste of Atlanta is happening too and you might enjoy it. There is a "DaisyFestival" in Stone Mt in the spring is you like crafty stuff and too see the park. It is the largest deposit of granite supposedly in the world (exposed that is). Wake Forest is a great school. Hope your son likes it. As for the falling trees yes, lots of old oaks have fallen as the ground was so dry and then so wet that the roots were closer to the top of the ground and let go. We sometimes get bad tornadoes too.

I have my sister in law, her husband and son, my mother in law, her friend and friend's dog all coming to my house to escape Ivan tomorrow. The word is to get out of town early to avoid the crush of people trying to leave. They told me it looks like it will be Tu before it hits FL. Good thing I love my inlaws!! Gotta go, lots of beds to change!

Lori, I would love to visit, but I don't know how difficult it is to get from Anaheim to see you or to see my friends who are all on the north side of LA. I will either be spending my evenings drinking to excess with boring sales guys or I will figure out how to connect with friends after 5. Any thoughts?

Richard, have a great time on your trip to LA. Roland, good luck with the new place. Lori, nice to hear from you. What is the weather like out there right now? Want to help my son pack.

Richard, you're going to be in L.A.?!! Give us a call. Maybe we can meet if you have time.

Karen, I am arriving in LA on the 18th for one week. My trip will be two days of fun with an old college friend and four days of work in Anaheim. I hope that your son has a good experience at Warner Bros. Studios. I have friends that work at Disney, Jim Henson Company and some independents doing special effects.

Karen, I have friends that have been and like it much. I do the coffee house thing over @ Gwinnett Historical Society. Yes, I found another place and grabbed it. Thats how things go with myself, feast or famine, ha ha. I will be trading the suburban life for a more rural life where I can have my beloved critters at my side or at least close without neighbours objecting and also a nice 10 ac pond. I don't plan on living there permanent till early next year.

Roland, things are going okay. We had a big tree come down in our yard today with all the rain and wind gusts. I was just happy that it didn't fall on the roof or in the driveway. Rich's job takes up more of his time than we would like but he likes what he is doing. His company makes exhaust components and other parts for the automotive industry. On Sat. he is leaving for the plant in South Africa for the first time and won't be back until the 17th, so guess we won't be catching the jazz this time around. But thanks for the info, that sounds like a fun thing to do. We went into downtown Atlanta last Sat. My daughter went to the zoo with a friend and the rest of us did the CNN tour and walked around Atlanta Underground, Olympic Centennial Park and then ate at the Hard Rock. We were going to do the World of Coke but my son who had been, said it was not worth the long line. He is 15 and went to the High Museum on a field trip last week - Egyptian artifact exhibit I think. Of course, he said it was boring, and he was also disappointed at the Varsity ...... which we had read was a "don't miss" for best fried food high. I guess it is hard to impress that age bracket unless it has something to do with computers or video games. Richard, my 21 year old son is headed out to LA on the 17th for 12 weeks to do a co op quarter with Warner Bros. Studios. Thought that might entice your son who is interested in digital design to look at University of Cincinnati ... has he decided on a school yet? Actually Nolan says the program has been going through some rough times with the loss of some good faculty in the past year. My son Evan is a freshman at Wake Forest and we haven't heard much from him. He told me the last time I talked to him that he is going to sign up to do a one hour radio program where he gets to DJ and play his own choices of music with commentary that is received on campus over the internet (I think). Hope he finds some time to study! I am hoping that hurricane Ivan is going somewhere other than the US, too much for one month!

Karen, How are things working out at your new place? Does Rich like his job?

I was just snooping on-line for fun things to do in Atlanta and found Friday Jazz at the High Museum. It is an evening of art & music on the 3rd friday of each month. The next Friday Jazz is on September 17th from 5-10 p.m. It looks like a relaxed, fun thing to do. It appears that the jazz is free and they have dinner, desserts, and drinks for purchase. They say is was voted "Best of Atlanta" by Creative Loafing. The pictures of the museum make it look like a really interesting place. Let me know if you do it!

Roland, congratulations on your new place. Am I confused or did you buy another place just a short while ago? You must like to move more than I do. BTW, are any of our classmates in the path of this latest storm? We are keeping contact with my sister in law Kathy who lives in the West Palm area, but they are sure they will be fine. Here will just be rain at the beginning of the week, but yesterday we had traffic reports on the influx of people coming here from FL.

Pat, thankyou. It will be nice when I finish with it. We are going down this w/e for a big cook out and to plan fences for the critters etc. Its something I've wanted to do for awhile so I'm grabing the opportunity while I can. I'll send some pics of the Buggy Festival next month for you to see too if you're interested.

Richard, yes....its exciting. The town used to produce most of the buggies for this great nation of ours and yes, they have3 a big festival which we are planning on attending next month. In 05 I will probably have at least one entry in the parade. I'll see if I can take some pics and email them to you. We are going down there for a big picnic / cookout tomorrow and to plan the new fences etc for the critters.

Roland, I understand that your new town is the buggy capital of the south and that there is a big buggy weekend coming up in two weeks. I love old carriage building techniques and love to look at the carriages that have been built. I saw quite a few in a museum in the Stockyards in Fort Worth TX in June. I hope you check it out.

Congratulations Roland, your new home souonds terrific.

School stated this week. I'm tired. Labor Day Weekend is a welcome promise. Fall is in the air here. cool and Windy. Oh well, it was bound to come.

Richard, yes by the first of the year I plan to be there full time. I can't wait but have to work out all the details and finish the house too. I am already looking at employment prospects in the Macon area or communting say 3 say per week with a long weekend. We sign papers sometime this week I believe. Its all approved we're just waiting on the final writte contract.

Karen, yes....its very sad. In addition you have probably viewed the commentaries about the "good kids lies". We all did it and luckily never got hurt. They tell their parents that they are one place and then go another and then.......things like that happen. What upset me more was that there were two others in the car and they were found walking down the road away from the accident. Evidentally thwey pulled the couple out and left. Another story hit about two best friends that got totally wasted and while driving home one had his head out the door and it got decapitated and the other continued to drive home not even knowing spewing a blood trail. He awoke the next am to police surrounding him and he knew nothing. Eigh!!!!! As you know its really rough being a parent today. It IS the parents responsibility to know everything. You've got to be parent, friend, detective, and counselor all in one rounded package while probably holding a full time job. There are many good ones out there but the peer preasure today is sooooooo great it really has to start at home. But then again most of you reading this are doing the stink correctly and have not many problems. I think personally that in the metro areas like here the peer preasure is much more. Out in the country there are other activities to keep busy with and more room to "do your own thing".

Karen, That is really creepy!! It reminds me of when I lived in NYC. There were times when I would hear too much "news". It usually had the effect of keeping me out of the subway for a couple of weeks. Inevitably, convenience would overcome imagined risks and I would return to subterrainian travel.

Okay, here is a true story, that you can tell your kids to drive home the point of the evils of drinking and driving. Roland, I am sure you have heard it because it has been all over the news here. Two kids, 21 and 23 were out partying heavily and left a bar in the wee hours of the morning. The passenger was leaning out the window vomitting and the driver went off the road, hit a guy wire, decapitated his friend, then proceeded home, 12 miles, and parked in his driveway and went to bed. The next morning at 8pm a man was walking his one year old, saw a headless body hanging out of the truck and called the police. They came and got the guy out of bed, he was covered with blood and still drunk ... the story goes that he had no idea of what had happenned. Now is that the grossest thing you have heard in a long time? How sick! One thing about living in a big city, you can really get down listening to all the stuff that goes on in the course of a day ... accidents, murders, you name it.

Roland, the new place sounds great. Will this be your primary place to live?

50 acres pending about 80 miles so of here. I can finally have the horse there and my friends can have their criters too like llamas and exotic pigmy goats & chickens. Great to hear about Pete & Larry. Those are two I wondered about. Mom was friendly with Petes mom in church groups and Doc Noble asked about Larry as they used to be in contact. Oh, got a great 10acre pond on the property too so I can learn to fish for some brim. I want to create some nature trails and there is a garden plot with irrirgation too.

I stopped by to see Pete Kochalka and Larry Kruse at their post and beam company in Jeffersonville VT on Friday. For them, they come to work and see lots of work and projects that need their attention. For me, I saw great works in process, a dynamite business, and a couple of Springfield guys that have plenty to be proud of. I saw some wood that just about made me fall down and I also saw their awesome robot that makes complex joinery seem like child's play. It was better than a tour of the Ben & Jerry's Factory!!

School starts for us Middle school and Elementary on Tues. next. High School went in on the 16th. but the high school gets out in a couple of weeks for Potato Harvest. I start on Monday, staff only and then kids on Tues.

Colin starts college as a second semester Freshman on Monday.

The heat of summer always starts here the week that the High School students go back. The town pooll closes as the life guards are all students. Immediately the temperature go way up. Never fails.

We met Kevin's girl friend last weekend. She's a real beauty ( they would make pretty babies). Also and more importantly, she is a lovely person. We're hoping they'll be coming up for Labor Day Weekend.

Hey Richard schol has been in session here for almost a month!!!! I can't see it myself but they are really pushing to go year round here but as slow as some of them go........well. 10k condoms hugh? Wow!! Suppose it was a good thing though. Looking @ 50 or so acres about 80n mi so of here. It has a 10 acre pond, nice brick ranch, irrigated garden, and pastures. We'll see. If they take our offer looks like I'll be having a w/e spot. The full basement is finished and done with Japanese influence as the current owners spent lots of time in the orient. Even comes with an old Ford tractor. No traffic noise.....way out on the end of a road too. (Barnesville, GA).

I can't believe that school starts here next week! I am kind of sad because we never really got the heat of summer here this year. Rob Massoneau was visiting here from Texas last week. He was over for dinner on Saturday along with a few of my local friends. Rob and I lost two games of doubles in Ping Pong to a tennis instructor and "condom man" (my friend that handed out 10 thousand condoms at the Phish concert). It was a good time.

Thanks, Patti. Yes, I did notice that Kathy joined. Hi Kathy! I hope others will join, too.

Yeah, you never know what these kids will do. We're glad Omer found a job he likes after looking around almost all of last year. He's an assistant sales rep for a big company called BCBG. He works in their showroom at the California Mart. He's working hard, but seems to be okay with that. As long as he likes what he's doing and likes the people, he doesn't mind working hard. Right now they sent him to Dallas for the weekend to help sell the line there.

Maybe your reunion will bring about some positive changes! If they decided to have one, they must have some desire to see each other. For me it was really nice seeing family and friends in Israel. The only problem is I came back 5 pounds heavier. Avi's also on a diet after seeing pictures of himself in a bathing suit!

Hey Lori ! Welcome back!

After you get some rest you can tell us all about your trip. Did you see that Kathy Sheehan has joined us? Things have been a little quiet here but maybe we're getting back together again.

Dave and I are looking at a couple of trip options. Mostly rightnow the idea of an all - inclusive trip is appealing. When you arrive everything from soups to nuts is already paid for. No tipping even. So we're looking around. Probably won't do anything til Feb. vacation. Otherwise I have to take time off from school and I hate doing that. We don't really have a Thanksgiving vacation anymore. Just Thursday and Friday off. Certainly I don't want to go away from the boys at Christmas time.

Colin starts classes the 30th just like me. We're so relieved that he's going back to school. Hope springs eternal!!!

The Mahoney clan is getting together this coming weekend for a family reunion of sorts. Should be odd. We rarely see Dave's sisters and for good reason. They don't get along and togetherness is not something they like to do. Mostly I'm delighted that our boys are coming. That was a nice surprise. I haven't seen Kevin since June. He's bringing a long a friend he met this summer at work. Her name is Hannah. Oh my.

Bye for now everyone!

Hi everyone. I'm finally back home in L.A. We got back last night. We had a really great time in Israel and Turkey. I won't bore you with the details. (Actually, I'm too tired to go into detail right now.) By the way, Richard, I saw that Sweet Sixteen club you mentioned. Now I'm trying to get back into routine and reality, which is always the hard part for me. Not for Avi--he had a good time, but he always likes getting home, back to his (our) own bed, etc. I've been catching up on everyone's news on the blog. Sounds like you're adjusting to your new home, Karen. Good luck! As for Cancun, I haven't been there, Patti, but our friends have and they loved it. Roland, it seems like you've been everywhere! Janice and Butch also went somewhere near Cancun and loved it (can't remember the name of the place). Now that your father is moving back to Burlington, maybe we'll be able to get together one of these days.

Pat, I think Lori gets the world traveller award. I have not been to Cancun, but my running buddy goes every year with his girlfriend. (He is the same one that lived in your part of Maine when he was young.) I think Cancun is a good choice for beach, tennis, and other resort fun. Go for it!

Roland, it seems that's the case in most any of the island resorts. Nassau, Jamaica, MX the poverty surrounds the resort and hotel area. When I asked a resident of St Martaan if she minded all of us tourist types coming into her town and wandering around she assured me that without us coming and spending our money the local economy would be even worse. Even though the residents are paid below what many/most Americans are they would be worse off if they didn't have the jobs at all. I don't find that all that re-assuring but not going doesn't help either.

Karen, welcome!! You're correct. Most of metro you won't find accents but get just outside and you find wordings like "I'm fixin to go etc". I have always found people very friendly everywhere and if you get some "country" friends the food is fantastik. Try a good ol BBQ if you get the chance.

Pat, Cancon is great but just outside the "resort" areas its nothing but poverty. Kind of disapointing but the weather is great and the drinks are potent. We're having unusually cook weather but its great for a change. Actually turned the air off most of this week. Have a great w/e and good luck and Happy 25th!!

Hi guys, Dave and I are looking at a Club Med trip to Cancun, MX. We're celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this fall. Looking for somewhere warm and wonderful to go. Any thoughts? Anyone been to Cancun? Richard, you seem to be the world traveler of our group, every been?

Hey Karen welcome back! So glad to hear that the move is over and you are settling in. the trip to Spfld. sounds like it was fun but like you said hard to leave again. The kids are getting busy it seems. That's helpful for you I imagine. Getting them settled too.
My dad is finally moving back to VT. He and his friend Rachel are moving into a new senior housing unit not far from St Mike's. For a while I was planning to go over and help him get settled in but the timing is off. I start back to school the day after their furniture is expected to arrive. So now I'm looking at the posibility of going down to FL to help with the packing. We'll see. It's a tough time to be off - with school so close and much to do to get ready. I'm really anxious to see Daddy though. At least now he'll only be an 8 hr. drive away.
Welcome to your new home Karen and Rich!

Hi Everyone! I am here, living in GA now, the move was bad but things are going better now, just very busy. My 15 year old started school on Monday. My 18 year old is getting ready to leave for college next week. My 23 year old is looking for a job. My 21 year old is hopefully coming to live with us for a co op quarter from college in September. The weather has been wonderful lately, low humidity and 80's. People are from everywhere, friendly, and not so many southern accents as when I lived in Lexington. While I was seeing family in VT I had a few blast from the past experiences. My mom visits the nursing home on the Chester Rd. everyday to see her brother. I went with her a couple of times. Lots of familiar names, including Ruth Henry (ninth grade English) and Nanci Brown's mom. Saw Stuart Stocker's mom at Market Basket in Claremont (my mom introduced me). Met Butch and Janice Stearns at the Summer Place in the "Plaz" for ice cream. Also saw lots of Springfielders at the memorial for Rich's dad - the Tafts, Lawrences, Chip Watson's dad ...... can't think who else. Also, went to Charlie Spencer's service as Larry ( ex Butch) is my brother in law. Was hard to leave my parents and family again. We all gathered for my mom's 80th birthday too. Went to Dunmore to see my sister Marleen's new little camp there and drove past my old house in Pittsford. It was pretty good weather in VT and ME but cool temps. The drive back was a killer, my 50 year old butt will never recover!

I will be in San Francisco on Halloween. That should be a trip!

Krishna is living in the San Francisco area now I believe. However, I think you have her latest e-mail address.

I had dinner with Krishna Khalsa the last time I was in Toronto, which was in 1982. Maybe I will be able to escape the tech nerds and find her or some of the other people I used to know, thanks.

Richard, Krishna Khalsa lived in Toronto for many years. You might snd her an e-mail. She could tell you all about the city.

Sorry Richard I've never been to Toronto. Krishna Khalsa lived there for many years but I don't think she's on line here. You might send her an e-mail though, she could tell you all about the city.

I'm headed for Toronto on business next week. Does anyone know how to have fun in Toronto??? I'm afraid my only option will be seeing lots of movies while I'm there.

Happy monday crew..... yes Richard I think you're correct in asuming its not happening for this year but I've made plans to visit next leaf peeking season (05). Heat in the 90's and higher hasw been the case for us this year. The ol electric bill hit 100 big ones last month and thankfully the gas only went to 1.68 /gal. We had our first bash this wekend. It went well. Seemed funny that most of us 50 something really hadn'd changed. Lots of good food, booze, flirting and of course the horseshoe pit and target practice with the pellets. Yup, a real Foxworthy event, ha ha. The komikozi shots did in a few but the hardy Nascar fans lived. Just practice for the big event this fall over in Talledaga. This year we'll be in style with a 45' Holiday 5th wheel though, talk about comforts, I'd just assune stay in in rather than our house. Course it dosent have a 30' kitchen that I'm used to. Oh well......