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.

I really don't want to move. It's Dave who keeps saying he is going to spend his time looking for just the right community down there so I'll be willing to drop everything and go. Last night though he was talking about a nice little one bedroom apartment with no cable and no internet. What on earth does he think I'm going to do down there? Not even be able to use my computer unless I go over the library across from his new office? I don't think so...........

He figures and I agree it will take time to learn about the areas available and so he'll get an apt. in the meantime. But I don't don't see myself going from 3 bedroom to 1. No dining room, no space, no yard. No way.

I'm not expecting the worst but I wish that Dave could understand that his desire for change and more cash in his war chest does not readily translate to me. I am a person of simpler desires, content with the good things I already see in my daily walk. I'm not overly worried about being financially solvent in retirement. I know he's got that covered and frankly I'm not looking for extra. With my physical liabilities I see "right now" as more of a focus point. He's already dropped his coming home every weekend concept and didn't come home until after 8 last night. Instead of a nice apartment or small house to rent where we could be comfortable together when I travel down there he's already talking about one bedroom apartments because they are cheaper. Again, he doesn't hear me when I talk about creating a nice home for us down there. Instead it's how cheaply can he get by. It's too bad we aren't hearing each other when we talk.

Karen your trip to Savannah sounds fabulous. A lovely area to be sure. You describe the area wonderfully. I could picture it in my mind and hear the music. Nice.

Let's just say that marriage is hard work....guess one has to decide if the payoff outweighs the options.

On Saturday, I walked in a 10k run/walk up at Camp Johnson. It was put on by the National Guard appropriately called Vermont Remembers. After the race, there was a BBQ and entertainment, games and activities for all the kids. It was very well participated in and I felt very rewarded doing the walk. My nephew started off walking with his "old" aunts but I let him go and run ahead. Everyone was impressed that he finished the race along with the other adults. He was the only 9 year old to do it. They had a seperate race for kids but he wanted to do this one for his dad. On a personal side, I passed a team of soldiers marching with their packs on singing in cadence...they were funny, cheering us on and after getting by there they started with the song "There she goes walking down the street...etc....made me walk faster just so they wouldn't be watching the body move!!! I think the 2 hour drive back home was the worse part....I got so stiff sitting in the car I could hardly move...not so bad this morning, thank goodness! I will definitely do this again next year...hopefully, it won't be on the wedding weekend!
I am so glad you feel good about leaving your son off at college, Karen. I think there is something to be said about the last one going off...you are happy for them and should be proud of the great job you have done!
Rained here yesterday for the first time in over a month. Think we might have showers off and on today too...let's hope we can take those little ones out for recess!!!
Have a great day everybody! Happy Monday......with Happy Thoughts.............

I don't think you should expect the worst, Patti. You said it's 2 and a half hours away, right? That's not really so much to have to drive on a weekend. Maybe you'll start enjoying your time alone and appreciating each other more when you are together. It was sort of like that for us when we moved back to Israel for 5 years. Avi traveled back and forth and was usually in Israel for a month and then in L.A. for 3 weeks. The traveling was hard on him, but I kind of liked having a few weeks to myself and then a few weeks with him when he didn't have to work. So don't rule it out yet!

It's strange being alone this time actually. Knowing that this is the beginning of a permanent lifestyle change. I don't expect he'll come home on the weekends as often as he thinks he will. that will get old pretty quick.

there's a women expo this weekend that I'm looking forward to. it's 54 vendors from ME and CA all geared around women's "issues" or interests. Should be loads and fun and there are great give aways all day. Maybe I'll win a new bathroom or a x-country ski package. It could happen!

Got a note from Colin this morning. He has taken a job in a restaurant in Portland. Back to the kitchen he goes. I'm surprised but he said it's not that he didn't like cooking it was the pay scale that frustrated him.

How are you doing so far, Patti? I hope you're enjoying your time alone.

Well Dave left for Bangor today. He's spending the weekend with his Dad though so he won't be home till Sunday night.

That sounds good, Kathi--sitting outside and reading a book all day. Much better than cleaning the basement. Have fun back at school. Patti, too.

Thanks for the invite Kathi!

Back to school in just over an hour. Booo Hooo. I'll be glad when the parameters of new job leverl out. Every day is so random. I just get started on something and suddenly it's something else the office wants done. I have the feeling I'm picking up all the "junk jobs" no one else wants. At least I'm off my feet and that's what I needed so I should stop whining.

Have great week everyone!

It was a beautiful day here today. High 80s but with a breeze. I started cleaning out the basement (a job that I put off all summer) and got one corner done! Then I decided it was too nice to be inside so I sat out back and read a book. Neil was working and didn't get home until close to 5. So, it was a relaxing day before I start Laboring back with Kindergarteners tomorrow!
I hope that everybody comes back this fall....you could meet at my house. I might have it cleaned by then!

No yard work for me. We're just dying of heat out here. It's like an oven outside. We haven't gotten back into our walking because it's been too hot. Last night Avi and I jumped in the pool at 10:30 p.m. to cool off a little. The air conditioner is on but can't seem to keep up with the heat.

That would be fun if we could all work it out to get together. I know what you mean about seeing your parents, Karen. I just saw mine in Israel, but every time they go to Vermont, I feel like I should take advantage of the opportunity to see them when they're a little closer.

Karen, I don't think you're a blabber! But if you are, what's wrong with that? At least you get out whatever's on your mind. Thanks for your comments, though.

Patti, give this Bangor thing a chance. Maybe it will turn out better than you're expecting!

I just came in from trimming out a whole bunch of trees. I used a bow saw and so I got a lot of upper body exercise! I had to drag all the branches out to the "way back" to where Dave will want to have them rot. Dave is painting window sills and trim outside. He replaced the gutters out front yesterday. He says he's going to mow today too. I think he's feeling a little pressed for time what with taking off this Wednesday for Bangor and not coming back until Sunday night, after a side trip to his Dad's. Then next week he's out of town Wed & TH. After that, well who knows. His first day of work officially is the 17th. He says he's coming home every weekend. Wonder how long that will last?

Karen I really hope we can all get together! That would be wonderful. Let's all hope for a workable Date...........

Just give me a holler when you know what you'll be doing and I'll try to work things out. I hate to go till next summer time. Debbie Young was asking me if I thought people would like to get together randomly like when folks from away are around. Personally I think it's a great idea. She, Janice and Linda were saying they already miss the class meetings they were enjoying while preparing for the reunion. If it works out maybe we have do something this Oct like the bunch of us did last year!

I haven't decided yet, Patti, if I'm coming in October. My parents will be there so I was thinking of going to see them. I'll let you know. That would be great to see you!

Lori when re you coming back to VT? this fall sometime? Hope so cuz it'll come and see you if you are.

Thank you, thank you! I'm already feeling better. That confidence issue just hits me every once in a while. Or maybe more than once in a while, but it doesn't usually get me so down like it did this time. Patti, I just realized that since you weren't at the reunion, I didn't give you a copy of my book of poems. I'll have to give you one sometime.... It's so good to have "blog friends." I love you guys.

Well it just so happens that I keep my copies of your poems (circa 2005) close by. Having just re-read them, I can tell you in no particular order my favorites of the day.

Unwelcome Guests, Scar, Tears, and Sweet Tea.

Here's the great thing about today's choices. Lori, your poems are so personal and meaningful that my need for them and feelings for and about them change with my moods and my life's needs. In a couple of days, I might have different needs for your poetry. I'll find it, I'm sure of that.

Thanks for being so willing and for be able to share these parts of you my very dear friend.

Lori, you are great and your poems are heartfelt! You have no need to feel unworthy of the others. We are all different and they should respect that aspect. I used to worry about how others thought of me at school (adults) and now, its like this is who I am. I don't have to change myself or worry about what they think because the only thing that matters is how you feel about YOU! Be confident in who you are! I avoid confrontation because I don't like it but if I have to give an opinion I can. Sometimes I just choose not to.
Trust me I know about the not understanding things too....just tell them you have to think about it a little longer! I think you are wonderful, creative, sensitive and giving. Believe in You. Happy Thoughts.............

Happy Birthday from me too, Karen! It's good to hear what you've all been up to. I'm not up to anything exciting right now, Kathi. I felt good the first week back and thought I managed to escape the effects of jet lag this time. But I guess it hit me a week later--that overwhelming feeling of having a million things to do. And I'm feeling sorry for myself and need to complain a little. Hope you don't mind. If you do, don't read this! I'm just having some bad feelings about myself regarding that poetry group I'm in. I feel like I'm the "dumbest one in the class" and hate feeling like that. There are only 5 of us, but I feel like the others write much better poems than I do. I also have a problem giving feedback to them on their poems. I like to talk when I have something to say, not when I feel like I HAVE to say something. Then I suddenly have nothing to say. And sometimes I don't understand their poems and am embarrassed to admit that cuz it seems like I'm the only one who doesn't get it. Okay, is that enough? Can you just tell me how wonderful I am????

Happy Birthday Karen, hope you have some help at home taking care of Rich. You seem to be one of the busiest ladies I know. Family care taking, travel and general doing. It's what's keeps you going I suppose. All those things that are on your schedule. Hopefully you are finding time for just taking care of you too!

I guess that we've gotten the rain you need Kathi. Lot's of hard rain but this weekend is supposed to be cooler but pleasant. A nice long weekend.
Dave is looking at housing in the Bangor area. He keeps saying he's going to find a nice, fun community that'll entice me to come down to live. He's crazy, its not going to happen . You don't move somewhere and randomly find the perfect little neighbor community. It takes years of living somewhere to meet people and get involved in the life.
We talked about getting a place on a lake but that can't happen without selling this house. That's not going to happen.
Our first week of school finishes up tomorrow. Then we have two more 4 - day weeks before we get into the usual 5 day week. My new job is changing everyday. I get assigned more and more different tasks each day. I only see a couple of kids in my "room" each day. Later on, a few weeks or more from now we'll start an after school program for at risk students. That means anyone failing even one class will be required to participate. For now, I do mostly clerical duties.

I guess there just isn't much exciting news for anyone to write! I am back into the swing of school. I have written names so many times that I could tell you, alphabetically who is in the class really fast! Kindergarten teachers are doing homevisits this week so our kids don't actually come until Tuesday. It makes it nice that we get some sort of idea what the group will be like before they come. Interesting so far! We do have a new librarian who is also a redhead, so we might start a "redhead club'....she is pretty funny. Anyways, I think things will go well.
Pat, I hope that your new class has started off well....What are you doing?
Lori, what exciting adventures have you been up to since you got home? It really was fun getting to see you in June.
I know that Karen was in Florida last week taking care of her mother-in-law and got home Tuesday night on her birthday. Happy Birthday Karen! Yesterday Rich had surgery on his shoulder, so now she is playing nurse again!
Brian and Richard, where are you guys? Kids are back at school so now you have no excuse!
Hot here today, thundering now, not sure if the storm will hit here or go around. We really need rain.
Happy thoughts and .....hello, back!

yeah, what she said............Hello, Hello???

Hello??? Hello???? Anyone out there?????