Karen that sounds like such a wonder place to visit. Very relaxing with no motor vehicles. Bet it pretty.

Lori I'm glad you are far enough away from the fires to be safe. The smell is terrible though isn't. There were fires in Montreal last year that were so bad we could hardly stay outside the house or car but we were in no danger otherwise.

Happy Halloween everyone! Do you have your costume on? I still have my orange and black spirit day at school clothes on. So I have pumpkins hanging from my ears and a pumpkin decorated vest on.

Karen, you should be a travel agent. You always seem to have good travel advice.

The fires are still raging here--not right near us, but you can smell it in the air and see it in the sky from some places. They're having a hard time controlling it, but the weather seems to be changing now so hopefully that will help.

Richard, how about trying Newport, RI? We went there and stayed at a B&B several years ago, toured some of the mansions, had dinner at the warf and also went to the Kool jazz/food festival. Saw Hammersmith farm where Jackie grew up and she and JFK were married, Rosemont (I think) cottage where the Great Gatsby was filmed. The shore walk is beautiful. I love Newport! Don't know much about Providence, sorry. In PA, we have friends in Bucks County, near Philly. Stone farms, cute villages, very picturesque. Good luck in your travels! We went to Mackinac Island, MI a couple of weekends ago. No motor vehicles are allowed so you walk, bike or ride horses. We took a carriage ride around the island. The views were beautiful and most of the village is Victorian homes, lots of B&B's. Its great and only about 4 hours from us.

Wow, long quiet break here in the Blog. Richard may I ask what you did in Portland? We don't get there often as it is a good 6 hours or so drive. I know people who go down and back in a day trip but not me. We're more likely to drive through on our way somewhere else, like NH or MA. We go maybe once a year if there's a weekend concert and we can plan to stay the night. Last time we did that we heard Ray Connick , Jr. perform. He was amazing. That was a couple of years ago.

We've moved back into fall. There is no more snow and the rains just keep coming. In fact with temperatures in the 50's it's almost like spring. I'll tell you, I wouldn't mind if we were already on the other side of winter and getting the screens back in the windows. I love Summer Time. I'm afraid we may have to mow soon!

Be well everyone - for those out west in CA - please be careful

Hi Bloggers, I feel like I just pulled my finger out of an electric outlet. I have been working non-stop since Jan '03 trying to stay employed (that is the electric outlet in this story) and forgot to take vacation. Now I have a lot of vacation time saved up and the company has a "use it or lose it" policy. I will be taking many weeks off between now and Jan '04. I went to Portland ME last week- I had never been there and I had a pretty good time. I am calming down, it feels good! Anyone have travel tips for Providence or Philadelphia? These are on my quick-trip, check-em out, try to have fun list.

Snow.......ugh......its still in the 80's here during the day but does get a bit chilly going into the high 50's and dewy at night.

So you have to get out the boots for a while?! Soon you'll all be freezing and I'll remind you how warm and sunny it is out here!

Lori it's funny you would mention walking barefoot in my garden. Last Sunday I was doing exactly that and this Sunday we are expecting SNOW. Boy how things have changed over the week.

Its always uneasy when making changes, espically big ones. Lots of umemployment in ATL also. Lots of people don't want to learn a new trade or change where they live. Got to these days or at least be willing to do so. My company is trying to "smooze" me into staying but I told them they now have to show myself what THEY have to offer as I have certainly shown what I can do and I am in the drivers seat to an extent. When I resign in a few weeks it will take them time, effort, and $$ to keep up what I built. If they totally go down the road which they appear to be doing they will loose all advantage over the competition and loose all within a few years. Oh well.............can't tell some people anything and thats a motivational item pushing myself to make money for myself now. I try to keep abreast of the markets and open to suggestions within limits or should I say perimeters. I am trying to do more with my church and also donate more usable items and now food items as much as possible too. CT has been through hard times for a few years and they just seemed to recouver and then this. 911 has also given the greedy CEO's an excuse not to take responsibility for their own actions to an extent. Like KMart, they didn't listen to their customers and employees........Oh well....... as my bro used to say, "Roland, always remember, nothings permanent."

Hi Lori............maybe we can all start on the next one..............35? I know what you mean, Roland. So many companies we reveiw have gone through such drastic changes and it all started with 9/11..........we had whole companies close down..........it was so sad to see, and still is. I hope that the economy does move upwards, as some people say.........I still can't see much improvement at my level. I am the Combined Federal Campaign lead for our district in Hartford, and going to the United Way and talking with others is a indicator............the food shelves in the area are already limiting the hours they are open and the food they can give out..............so I have encouraged all to donate food to them if they do not want to donate to a charity................too many people are unemployed. Good luck with your business, Roland, it sounds like you have your feet firmly on the ground and should do well..................

Hey all, Really nice pic! Been real busy starting another business and buying back another small one I had. The company I have done so much for in the past year is going through a rather hostile take over with lots of politics. I can play the game and win but decided it just isn't worth it so.......back to making money for myself. Got a partner I can trust and hopefully more freedom too. Tying up loose ends for the other company for a few weeks then I hope to be out early next month. I am looking forward to spending time around the new to me house I just moved into and also the cats and dog will see more of me now. I plan also to actually put some permanent roots in and get envolved with the Elks and other local orgainzations as well as my church. Been selling off some physical toys to raise some immediate capital but kept my 86 Volvo. Just can't part with it. Good ol faithful. Was going to just keep the cells but finally installed a landline last week, meanwhile I'm in Al having some fun and heading to FL next week to visit friends.

Hi Nancy. Yes, it was nice to have a mini mini reunion since I couldn't make the big one last June.

Nice picture, you all!! It is good to see you Lori after all these years!! It was good you all could get together. I was surprised at how many at the reunion were still in the Burlington area as well as the Springfield area. Ssome are coming back after being gone for a bit......It is interesting to see that we all age well and don't seem to have changed much after all these years. Glad you got a hold of a passerby..............I was supposed to go to Burlington to give a seminar and supervise a new employee brief as well, but my supervisor decided he wanted to go instead.........he is from NYC and can't get over that it will take him 4 1/2 hours to get there............not sure how close he thought Burlington was to us here in CT. Hope everyone is doing well and can get a rest this extra day off we have (if you have it off). The leaves are beautiful down here already.........one of my favorite times of the year in NE. Take care all........

Karen, I like the way you call us 49 year olds. Somehow that sounds much younger than 50!

Sounds like you have a nice place there in Maine, Patti. I can just see you walking around barefoot in your garden.

Geez Lori I wish I did but no we pretty much are never back in VT. We've moved so many times now I've gotten used to looking forward and not back. We were only in our last home in VT for 18 months. I've lived here longer than I've lived anywhere else. never though that would happen. We looked at moving back to the Burlington area a couple of years ago. The cost of housing was so bad that we would have had to completely change the way we live. Much smaller house, year round work for me. I like having my summers off and we like where we are now. Though we may still move again. Who knows. I would sure love to see you though.

You know, you all look pretty damn good for 49 year olds!!! Keep up the good work!

Save your questions for next time, Brian. There WILL be a next time, right?!

Patti, I hope I get to see you sometime, too. Do you ever get down to Vermont?

Hey folks, I'm back in the groove as it were. Much family stuff good and bad going on up here and it's been very distracting. I'm on a forced unpaid day off today though I'm playing catch up.

Your trip to Burlington sounds like so much fun Lori, I'm envious. I'm awrfully glad that we still have the blog to turn to. We all live so far away from each. Well some of us.

Hi Janice, I know you're out there! Thanks for the anniversary card. I lied though. I told you it was 25 but it was 24. Math and history were never my strong points. Dave says I should send it back and you can up-date it next year!

Fall is falling and with it the temperatures. I might have to put my sandals away soon. I hate the thought of socks and coats. Ick. Our boys are good but still living at home. That's starting to get old. Kevin starts a new job in early Nov. and we're hoping he gets settled into an apt. real soon. Colin is still hiding out in the kitchen as a short order cook. Wish he'd go back to school but that's not lookin too likely right now. At least they're here in town so we get to see them. When they live away we miss them terribly.

Nice to see you again Brian. Great that the three of you were able to get together. I loved Carbur's. Does anyone remember the Black Cat? You could get yards of beer. It burned down a bunch of years ago. I used to love drinking there. It was challenging not to hit somebody in the head with your glass! I've never seen another place where you could buy your beer in a yard long glass.

Hey look! A photo!
We snagged a passerby to hold our cameras. Thanks to PhotoShop, this one was salvageable.

It was a blast, but there are still so many questions. I really only wanted to talk about the East School/High School experience, and not to reminisce, but to figure it out. Wouldn't it be great to really find out what your classmates were thinking, and thinking about in those crazy days? We did cover some ground, and for that I am deeply grateful. More!

I agree, we had a great time. And Richard and Brian look great, too. I'm glad we had a chance to get together after all these years and that we cared enough to arrange a meeting. I won't wait 30 years for the next meeting! And it was fun seeing Janice, too. We did a lot of talking and laughing.

East School was a popular topic. Lori' and Brian's memories were better than mine. I had forgotten about redistricting. It was sort of an intermediate step to being with more kids like the way it would be at Riverside. Lori certainly has dealt with moving around- first coming to East School and then heading to Israel during college. It sounded like it was hard but also a chance to experience new things.

I saw Shorey Wilson from my car just a few days ago. I waved, but she didn't see me.

Did you talk about the old days at East School? I was there for fifth and sixth and had Mrs. Woods and Mrs. Wilson (Shorey's mom). I was redistricted from South to East, that was a very big deal for me......... now I have moved my kids around and I think of that and can relate to how they must feel. So glad you had a chance to get together.

Brian and I had dinner with Lori last night. Lori looks great and is great. Between the three of us, we have 60 years as happy married couples. Who would have thought it possible?

I'm feelin the love, Bri! I still see the kid that was at my 5th birthday party whenever you and I get together. I think the real wisdom is being OK with 5 for life. I know you prescribe to that.

Karen, I was Pete's room mate at the time and he and I also had a woodworking shop together, then. Pete is in Cambridge Vermont where he runs a (post and beam) timber frame and stress skin building company. Larry Kruse is his partner.

Jeez, that was an interesting story, Richard. I wish it WAS Macs that I had to spend all this time with. Actually, my work is done on Bill Gate's money maker. I would like to work less, but our company is struggling in this economy, and we all put in many extra hours a week unpaid, just to survive as a company. It's challenging work, I enjoy it, as well as the time I spend with my family, but that often leaves too little time for anything extra, like a social life. Luckily, I am simple-minded enough to find delight in all my moments on earth, so no harm done.

It's always a pleasure to see you, and I think it is so cool to see Lori again after all these years spent in other worlds. This really is fascinating, to look at a 50-ish former classmate with the reference of a sixth grader's impressions. I mean more time has passed since the school days than we ever spent there, and our real wisdom has formed in the years we have been apart. But not too many people will see that little child in you that is still there, and it's kind of wonderful to have that perspective. Well, I think so anyway.

And for that reason, dear classmates, I love you all.

Great trivia, how do you know so much about Pete's love life? Do I detect some jealousy? Where is Peter now?

It's right next to what was Carbur's. It used to be a Swiss place called Edelweiss or something- you know expensive little sandwichs etc. Carbur's is now the Biltmore Grill. Pete Kochalka used to work at Carbur's during what I call Pete's Summer of Love. It seemed to me that all the women in Burlington loved Pete. His kitchen manager status is probably what made him sooooo attractive. He had great personal control- escaped unscathed- and in many cases unkissed, but he was happy every single day. There were even some really gorgeous twins that were digging him for a while.

I wish you could come too, Karen!

Wish I could come. Did that used to be Carber's (sp?) at the time that we would have been in college? Seems like a hundred years ago.

It's on City Hall Park. It's a right hand turn onto St Paul St. off of Main Street (if you are going toward the lake, one block after Church St). Pacific Rim is 3/4 of a block up St. Paul on the left, just before the open lot that once was Ben & Jerry's original gas station. Let's talk before then (802-764-4353 is work for me).

That sounds good. Where is it? Yes, if anyone else out there wants to come, come!

If there are other Burlingtonians looking in, maybe you can come to dinner with Lori too! One good idea is Pacific Rim- it's kind of a small place, with an eclectic atmosphere, and has Asian noodle things.

Brian!!

Who??!!!

So Lori, guess who is coming to dinner?

Good question, Karen. Unfortunately, there is a very sad answer. There once was a "Brian King", but his demise (ultimately total) was long and slow. First, he was fooled (like most of us) by the Devil's greatest trick, which was to get everyone to believe that the Devil is not real. Then, the Devil incarnate, appeared as Steve Jobs. The rest is obvious, but I'll tell the story. The Devil made Apple computers. Brian took a bite. His desent from the garden was underway and unstoppable. Since that time Brian's lust for the latest Devil-Box has only been matched by the sleepless nights he spends being consumed by them. The Brian we loved eventually lost touch with the consious world and was being exclusively tube fed.......... and that's right- in the end Apple Computers completely devoured Brian. They didn't even spit out the pit. Ahhh, but he was a good lad!!! Never mind the settings Brian, the Devil has got you now.

Hi Karen, yeah, sorry to submerge for so long. I tend to simplify my life by focusing on only the immediate peril. It is nice to be here among friends, though.

Hmmm. Where are the settings? I really should change that 15 Basin St. thing.

Do we know a "Brian King"??????????? Let's see, its coming to me slowly............. wasn't he ........... uh, no that's not it. Never mind!

15 Basin Street? Well that's new. It's really me, Brian King. I guess there are settings to check over. You check yours, and I'll check mine, okay? It's nice to see this is working, finally.

Hey, check it out. The site works at http://www.shs1972.blogspot.com!
I'll have to add in the secret photo link (and add a bunch of new photos I've had for a while). But Hooray! This is good. Thanks for keeping this blog alive, good people!

Hi Karen and Richard--and everyone else out there. Sorry about your brother, Richard. Hope he'll be okay. Thursday night might be a good night to meet--but that would be without Avi. He's joining me there on Friday. Maybe Friday would be okay, too. I'll be in touch.

Hi Lori and all! Meeting anywhere in the Burlington area would be fun. Let me know what your schedule looks like (at rloveless@hubersuhnerinc.com). I just got back last night from working in Switzerland and having fun in Munich, Zurich, and London. I saw so many things that were new and wondeful for me. I went to see "Phantom of the Opera" Monday night in London. It gave me chills at times- with spectacular voices and amazing production work.

It sure has been a bad spell for peoples' health. My brother fell from a ladder 3 weeks ago and was in a coma for a week. He is now able to speak and it is clear that his thinking abilities are pretty good. He has a lot of rehabilitation left to go though. Be good- have fun- all for now.

Hi Lori! You will be leaving soon I guess. Hope you have a good time with your family. Hope some friends are able to take you up on the offer to meet ........ wish I could. Here in MI it has turned quite fall like this week. The highs are only in the 60's and some trees have started to turn. We are visiting the Univ. of MI on Friday with my senior, Evan, but then over the weekend we might drive up north and see some of the state. I have been waiting to see Mackinac Island. So much to do ......... so little time.

Hello???? Did I scare you all away?!!!

Just finished reading through all the blogs I missed while I was in Israel. Patti, that was interesting what you wrote about seeing your mother in the mirror. I haven't seen my mother in the mirror yet. Maybe cuz I look more like my father. But I do find myself behaving like my mother. The older I get, the more I seem to be like her.

I guess Richard is still away. Sorry to hear about Hans, Richard.

Hi Lori great to see you back. I'm amazed that Janice told you what was up with the site. Has anyone ever seen her here?? Janice are you looking but not talking? If so, Happy Anniversary!! I sent you a card but I'm just doing it today so it'll be a little bit late.

Roland, they are doing it because of the storm surge that is expected. thank goodness the storm is now a strong cat 2. You have no idea what they can be like. I sat through many a storm in FL when we were there. I can imagine NC coast is getting pretty scarce..............saw on the news that they evaked the planes already............I was on Okinawa when a typhoon struck there and they didn't have enough time to get the jets out...........some had some bad damage................the SR-71 was still around then and they had a special hanger for that one, but they even evacked that one to CA...........I think alot of the boaters are taking their boats out of the water as a precaution...it isn't manditory, just recommended at this stage.......

Hi everyone! Yes, I'm back from Israel. I got back Aug. 7, but haven't managed to get on to the blog until now. I finally asked Janice what I'm doing wrong, and she told me how to get on to the site. Did you guys change something while I was away or is it my memory?! I haven't had a chance to catch up on all the news, but I read the latest messages. Karen, I'm glad your mother's doing okay now. I've been really busy with guests since I got back from Israel. My niece and nephew have been here since July, and a friend of mine from Israel came for a week at the end of August. It was a bit too much all at once and not that long after I got back from Israel, so I didn't enjoy my friend's visit as much as I did her last visit. In fact, I was totally stressed. Oh well, maybe it will be better next time. My nephew left last week, so now just my niece is here. She's an easy guest. By the way, Avi and I will be in Vermont the first week in October at my brother's house. My parents will also be there, visiting from Israel. Anyone want to meet me in Burlington one day?

Hey Nan, is Ct boarding up? They usually don't get it that bad. Our employee in Wilmington has already evacuated with their family. Awful thing hurricanes when they are that big. Was going to go to SC and then FL next week but think I won't. Had a great dinner meeting with my boss and another guy we hired to help him tonight. I think I am going to opt to go onto the sales side and do a bit of all. Mostly liaison work. I like that and its needed. They want me to stay here and do more but I need something more and I like constant change. I am getting into a rut but then isn't that what ones does when we're looking at the half century mark? ha ha.

Hi Roland, I can still hear my dad as well..........try having to live with that. He used to get us all around the dinner table at night. I know sometimes he must be sighing a big sigh with the things I write...........have to take remedial grammer lessons some time. People are boarding up places on the coast, the storm surge expected is going to be a big one.

Karen, hope things are going better now. Keep us posted. Nancy, Atl area usually dosen't get afected except for deluges of rain. The city itself floods out in places as its systems are old and the true southerners believe totally in if it ain't broke don't touch it. They pocket the money instead but that is coming to a screaching hault with so many Yanks moving in and replacing the corrupt locals in politics. I thought Ct & RI were corrupt. Here ii is more of a silent "club" Billy Bob thing, ha, ha. Presently still in Memphsis and the first time I was here back in Dec we had tornadoes plus the equivalant of typhoons then ice!! What an intro eigh? The only people out were myself and the cops and they couldn't handle the roads. Yes, those cameras are popping up everywhere. Good or bad I'm not sure. Some areas here they put them in and the people screamed so loud that they took them out. GA passes a rule years ago that it is illegal to ticket someone unlessw they are going more than 10 miles over as they really did have some bad reps of speed trap towns and it was killing the tourist industry. Course then they put in the interstates and people didn't have to drive on those roads anymore. The worst was on the way to FL. We did have one just outside of ATL and they wound up firing the entire police dept including the chief!! So.....in the end justice DOES reign, ha ha. We are restructuring the management hierarchy (sp) of the company and I have a meeting today to start that. I am excited that we are finally getting some actual order. We have been small enough that everyone knows everyone but that can create some confusion with the new guys as to whom they report to etc. I don't know exactly how much "headaches" I want to manage. There is something to be said about being on the bottom as long as your future is secure but somehow I always wind up in the upper third or more as I can't slow down and they seem to recogonize my organization and pr abilities. I do enjoy it. I am trying to get to where I have those areas of responsibility but in a non management capacity. I like and am good at the retraining and trouble shooting areas. I don't really like teling people WHAT to do but I can. I usually set a schedule, describe the job or position and give it to someone to own and let them go and just checque on them from time to time to make sure we are on target and it usually works. Windy today aren't I. (cuse the grammer, I hear your dad talking Nancy)

Karen, I'm sorry to hear about your mom but glad that she's recovering well. Yes Vermonter's are tough and they weather well. I think Lori is back but not talking here yet. I'll check with her today and see.

We had a 32 degree morning this week and 37 right after. Some plants are down even though they were covered. 80's yesterday and this weekend too. Fall in the county is always all over the weather map! Great soccer weather though and the nights are cool for sleeping.

Karen, Sorry to hear about your Mom.........but glad she is doing okay................I just got back from Baltimore and Brandon.........my sister had a water gusher at 2:30 am in the morning and Mom and I went to clean up...........not sure what the insurance will cover............I think I got "shot" at by VT DMV on 91 coming back from Spfld............I think it is one of those new picture ones...............they have them all over England, was wondering when they would do it here...........I was going 70, will see if I get a post card from the VT DMV (wink), of course those Ct plates don't help, either.........have a good weekend................Roland, I see a storm a brewind down your way.........how far are you from the coast? I remember our days with hurricanes and am glad I don't have to deal with them any more..............we never evacuated, always rode it out................take care all.................

Sooooooo hard to believe its fall already. Having fun here in Mamphsis for a few weeks. Jaunts out into Ar and out lying towns close here in TN and MS. Still in the high 80's and about 70 something at night. Looks like rain coming in from TX. I'm lucky. Both my parents are in their mid 80's. Mom still travels and uses her computer. Dad's in AZ and loving the weather. Course the true French and Irish are just stubborn you know, ha ha. Found out my Caravan will be slightly over 100 the other day by mistake. Drafting a truck while coming back from Jackson, oops...... very smooth ride. Technology really IS good. Still running the ac on high due to the himidity. Finding some great places to eat and meeting some really nice locals and learning the REAL places to go when I have spare time. MS has casinos which are only 8mi away. I'm not much of a gambler but like to eat and people watch.

I miss Lori, too!

Hi, spent the last 10 days in VT. My mom had a heart attack, angioplasty, and two stents. She is doing very well and early thoughts are that the damage was minimal. Both my parents are 79, still in their home and taking care of 6 acres, gardens and snow removal. Mom was digging out a stump on their property when this happenned. Vermonters are great, aren't they?????? Sure did feel like fall up there at the end of my stay. Does anyone know when Lori is returning to the US?

oops, very tired and the message shows it. Night all........

So glad you are getting the opportunity se view Geiger. Its awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! Had dinner tonight at my favourite Italian sopt in Memphsis. No desert needed and the cappicino (sp) is supurb. So Richard, enjoy.... you only go arond once dude. Also so glad you appreciate such creativity. I had my start at Gazelle Institute at Yale and a good foundation it was to build on.

I leave a week from this Saturday, spend a week in Switzerland, and then 4 days in London. I am very psyched. Switz will mostly be business but I will get away for a couple of days. I plan on checking out the Geiger Bar in Chur. Geiger is the artist that did the artisitic stuff for the Alien movies and his bar is also "out of this world". I will be in Zurich for a day and maybe one other day I can schedule.

Richard, you are so correct. That is exactly how I manage to do so many tasks and stay sane and focused. Sometimes it seems like I'll never finish a single thing but then by your 5 min theory it all comes together and the finale is all worth it. Right now things are going so fast at work I wonder if we will implode but I am managing to keep everyone on an even keel and my department (operations) is the only one functioning without hitches so we get saddled with lots of tasks BECAUSE we get them done. Its that ol 5min thing again. Just keep pecking and before you know it you've got that hole dug. Crazy like a fox.....you've got alot of common sense AND a creative mind. So....... are in in England yet?