Lori, Neil's parents lived for over 50 years together in Springfield...his father ran the Suburban Furniture Store (that was next to where Neil's Farm Stand was) on Chester Road for years...until Youngs became dominate in town. The Stern family also ran a hardware store downtown (by where the phone company used to be) before that. Poligemy was outlawed (I think) and isn't approved of by the Mormon church.... there still are those radical ones who defy...or desperate ones who need more then one! Did anyone see Oprah yesterday on the Challenge Day at some high school....? It was quite enlightening to watch. Have a good weekend! Happy Thoughts...

It seems like everyone is getting used to the idea. The ones who weren't planning to come are now saying that they WILL come. They still don't agree with Danit's change in beliefs, but they realized they do want to be there to celebrate her marriage. I guess they care enough about her to overcome the other stuff. Karen, your analysis hit the nail on the head.

Kathi, was Neil's family living in Springfield when I lived there? It seemed like there were about 5 Jewish families there at that time--I didn't know about his family. Can I ask a stupid question? Do Mormons still believe in having more than one wife?

Yes, his parents were very kosher 60 something years ago. His mother came from Boston and a very Jewish family. His fathers family came from Russia settling in Springfield. She came here to live and over the years it became very hard to keep a Kosher house so they gradually did away with a lot of things. I was raised very Catholic.....needless to say, there were a lot of concerns on both sides...with even the priest trying to put us off...obviously, didn't work...anyways, my kids know about both religions (somewhat) but were not raised one side or the other, we just valued each others beliefs. Neil's relatives eventually apologized for not accepting...knowing what a wonderful person I am..hahahaha.... When my middle daughter was in High School, new neighbors moved in her age and somehow she ended up with the Mormons. When she went to NC after college...Boston having a big Mormon college circle...she met her husband who is also Mormon. They are raising their children with their religion and seem happy with it. I don't make a big deal about their religions. I think they all have good values and are thoughtful and caring (I hope) and like we said...believe what you want just dont' involve me. Guess like Richard said....tolerance. Life goes on whether we accept it or not. Life is too short. Happy Thoughts.........

Thanks, you guys, it's good to hear what you have to say. And, no, you're not causing more trouble, Richard. Kathi, I didn't realize you've had first-hand experience with all this. I didn't know your husband was Jewish! How did you raise your kids? Both religions? Neither?

i am intolerant of this intolerance. i am not like, hey whatever. i just can't stand posturing with people that impose their presence and values on other's personal choices. a marriage is an extremely personal thing. guests are just that and should act appropriately- like very respectful from the time the invitation arrives. how dare someone do more than discuss it discreetly, offer their blessing and give whatever support they can? i hope i am not causing trouble by saying so.

Lori, I can relate somewhat. 34 years ago when Neil and I planned our wedding it was stressful. He is Jewish and I am Catholic...there were some people that didn't come to our wedding on both sides but we're still together. There is nothing you can do about the actions of others only the way you react to them. Just remember that the wedding day is only 1 day and enjoy it. Good that you have someone who can "help" you. Don't be overwhelmed...take one thing at a time. My daughter (who is Mormon....more diversity in our household) got married in the Mormon Temple in Boston...we couldn't go because only Mormons are allowed in the Temple...then they drove home here and had a small reception in our backyard. It was very simple but elegant. I feel the same way about them believing what the way they want as long as its not forced on me...life is too short to worry about it! Happy Thoughts...

Sounds like you're being taken care of at least--drugged or not. I had a stiff neck once, but that's the closest I've come to experiencing the kind of pain you're going through, Patti.

To change the subject, I just wanted to let you all know that my daughter, Danit, is getting married on March 3, to her boyfriend of the last 2 plus years (Darren). It's been a little stressful cuz we've been dealing with some religious intolerance in our families. We're Jewish, as you all know, and Darren is a believing Christian. Danit has accepted his beliefs and is now a Messianic Jew (Jew for Jesus). Avi and I are okay with all this, but not everyone is as accepting. We love her and think she's old enough to decide for herself what she wants to believe--as long as she doesn't force her beliefs on anyone else. Tolerance is the main thing for me. Darren is a nice guy, and they love each other. What else matters? Anyway, some of the ones who were threatening not to come to the wedding at first have changed their minds and will be coming. I'm glad. But for some reason I'm finding this whole thing really stressful. I've been worrying about every possible thing there is to worry about. The list goes on and on. Anything to do with organizing food and a large group of people is enough to send me over the edge... though I'm sure I'll enjoy the wedding when I'm finally there. I have a friend who LOVES planning occasions. Every time she calls to remind me of another thing that needs to be taken care of, I feel more overwhelmed. Okay.... I'll stop complaining now. The details will work themselves out, right?

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the good thoughts. I apparently don't have migraines though. The muscles in my shoulders and neck are quite swollen and tender to the touch. I am scheduled for an MRI this Th, looking for a herniated disk. Sounds like fun Yes?

I have caved into the inevitability of drugs so that I can go back to my students. I am on a 9 day course of Prednisone for its anti inflammatory aspects. Picture me chubby. Plus at night I am to take a muscle relaxant. all this started today. continuing with the P/T. Hope springs eternal.

The boys are home for a couple of days and that's been nice. They're quite a pair. Snipping and wrestling and playing with Kevin's dog. Since Dave is away overnight, it's lovely to have their company. Apparently though they have finished off the Halloween candy. bummer. It's been worth it.

Night all. Back to school in the a.m. so time for an early night.

pat have you tried simple things like not tensing your jaw. a friend had migraines and he would make room for an imagined egg in his mouth as a way to release jaw tension. there are something like 1.3 million muscles in your head for chewing (actually, i think it is only 23, but still the point remains). i hope something can be identified to help you with a change from the chronic condition. good luck!

You have best wishes from me, too, Patti. I hope the pain goes away and you start feeling well really fast.

Are these Migraines??? I sure hope that you are feeling better. I guess I don't know why people enjoy that painkiller feeling either...bad enough when you need to take them. How long do they usually last? Take it easy! Pat is right about the cold weather and mouse hunting!
Happy Thoughts...........

In this moment of clarity "sort of", I thought I'd stop in and say hi.

23 minutes more to my next Percocet and then I'm unavailable for intelligent thought. Lori knows a little bit about my headaches, and last Fri I spent 3 hours in the ER while the Morphine and Valium shots they gave me played havoc with my butt. I've been on Percocet every 4 hours since they sent me home that night. I don't get why so many people enjoy painkillers. I really don't like it. I'm not having any fun at all. My sons tell me it's because I'm supposed to crush the pills up and snort them. I guess I'm doing it wrong.

Not enough snow here for the mouse prints to show so the varmints are fairly safe still. Be brave out there Richard! Temperatures are dropping so you might want to think about covering up!!

there is snow in the air and that is okay with me. i hope we have a good winter for a change. ya' know a little snow on the ground really helps track mice for you hunters out there. hopefully me cats won't pick up on this.

Kathi, that sounds more like what I'd do with a mouse--throw it in the garbage or down the toilet. Not release it in the neighbor's yard so it can come back again!

Have you gotten your voice back yet, Patti?!!

Well Richard, for the moment at least you've left me speechless. No many can claim that honor....

pat, you are not perky. you are a babe! you will still have plenty of time for perky when you start to downshift from total babeness. no hurry there.

kathy, you crack me up like karen does. good move with the slipper. neil blew it with the almond joys. probably it would be best if he just pleads insanity and takes you out to dinner.

This conversation is way too involved! Commando and perkiness....I would think the northern weather would have a lot to do with both! So Lori, I am the natural flannel type that doesn't chase mice with yogurt containers...My cat brought one and was chasing it across my bed once, I hit it with my slipper and used the dustpan to scoop it into the garbage...I shoo away the deer from the yard otherwise they eat the garden and my plants...and I didn't get one single trick-or-treater. I tried to get Neil to go around to the front door and ring the bell and say trick or treat just so I could hand out candy but he didn't want to play the game. And I did have Almond Joys!
We had new storm doors installed today. They really look nice...hidden screens so we don't have to change the screens and glass. I subbed today and will for the rest of the week so hope for nice weather so we can have long recessess!! Happy thoughts.............

Ouch!! Richard are you suggesting a lack of perkiness ??

pat, life is different there. wow, i guess you wouldn't take a mouse steak either if i offered it. that's okay and definitely keep covered. that is no place to be free-balling or whatever the female version would be. maybe it should be called going cowommando. anyway, don't!

Wow! I can't keep up with you guys. All of you east coast people going commando or talking about going commando. Kathy, what about you? Are you running around naked after mice, too? Nothing exciting like that going on over here. No mice in yogurt containers.

Karen, I liked your poem. You're really trusting to leave your candy out like that. I always buy the kind of chocolate I like so I get to eat the left-overs. Avi was disappointed that I didn't get Almond Joys.

I have to agree with Karen, though the free-balling term caught me by surprise.

There's not a lot of volleyball up here in The County. Given the recent temperatures we're layering not uncovering so ladies going commando isn't real common.

Here it is , shortly before 7 in the a.m. My phone rings and it's my team-teacher guy. Just letting me know that since his son shot a deer this morning he'll be coming in a bit late. Apparently he needs to go dress the thing. This deer will not be going commando any more. I told him not to bother bringing me a steak.

okay, then! i literally laughed out loud, so lol, karen. i always truly enjoy your opinion, not to mention your descriptions! i will go with your definition. thanks.

i would like to think that we have the awareness as the occasionally intelligent creatures that we are to know that going bra-less is going commando. the question i have is whether you are going commando catching mice in presque isle or possibly when playing volley ball. those seem to be a couple of popular ways to put a little commando in your game. by the way, i was absolutely commando when i was asleep waiting for the cat moan with mouse-in-mouth that never came last night. does that count?

I'm just wondering> If I go bra less am I going commando? Or is that just a jockey, boxer, panty, kind of thing?

going commando means without underwear. as a man catching mice alone in my house at 3:00 in the morning, i would think that very few people except for pat would think to ask (just kidding). the term applies to men or women and it is typically only an interesting thing to know, indicating a certain freeness in the person's attitude. however, if a man or woman is going commando while wearing a kilt, sarong, skirt or dress while bungee jumping, it would be much more than interesting.

Why am I always the stupid one who needs everything explained to me? What's "going commando"? Maybe that term didn't make it to California.

How about using a mouse trap? Or is that too easy? Or cruel? I love your descriptions--but I'm not sure they'll fit into any of my poems right now....

I have to chuckle Richard. Yes, going commando means up here what it means over there. However, I learned the term on the tv show Friends. I'd never heard it before then. I wasn't really thinking about "that" when I used the term commando though.

What's with all the wildlife in your house? Do you have a mouse door they're coming in through?

5:00 am, no sign of mice. another job well done!

hi pat. you did pick up on one detail that i was too shy to mention. i actually was going commando at the time (does this have the same meaning in northern maine??). however i assure you that i had pants and a tee shirt on. the reason that i was online blogging about it is because when it is 3:30 am here, it is 9:30 am in switzerland. since i work for a swiss company, emails start coming at about 2 or 3 am. AND, maybe i did feel the need to brag a little about catching the scampering vol. -richard's catch and release program, part 2. my cat, biggles, brought another one in tonight. with 16 oz all natural yogurt container in hand i flew like superman across the mudroom and scooped up yet another mouse and it did occur to me that it may be the same mouse as last night. so i went for a looooooooooooong walk with him this time and left him a mouse marathon away. it's a wild wild life!

Let me understand please. After going commando with a mouse in the wee hours of the morning, you wrote a blog about it? Amazing. Did you get back to sleep?

3:30 am. richard's catch and release program. cat making noise. richard investigates. cat has fully live mouse in house. cat becoming bored with his new toy and mouse scurries for spots that the cat will never get him out of. richard pounces with arms, legs, and ricotta container akimbo. adrenaline surge. yes!! i got him. go out back and throw the little fella onto my neighbors back lawn. now, back to bed. (lori- if you want to use "ricotta container akimbo" in one your poems it would be okay with me.)

i like what you all are saying. i saw it from a different side tonight. my older son came home with the van i let him drive and it was covered with mud. as it turns out, the parking place he pulled into at a halloween party last night was very soft- in fact it was mud. he was not able to get out and his date who does not drive, but has triple a coverage (huh??) was able to make the call and get them pulled our for free. getting off the hook for free is a key point. he then dropped the car off with pride in the mud that covered it (no intentions of ever cleaning it) and i gave him a ride back to his dorm. i let him know during our ride that i am very upset with him about the effort that he should be putting into college and isn't. i let him know that i do not see the level of effort that i need to see. he ducked, darted, and dodged. he launched a small fit and through it all i did not flinch. he suggested that i deal with my anxiety the way everyone else in his dorm does with herb or alcohol. i assured him that his suggestions would not be what i would follow and i told him very simply that what i want him to do is to care. i said, "what i really want you to do is to care." isn't that really the point?

When we observe the altercation or the situation, like with the kids on the airplane. It's clearly a parental (in my opinion) lack.
In schools we often blame the parents, well let's face it the mom, when the kids act like they own the place. Sometimes that's valid but just as often, not. I've observed first hand, many occurrences where in spite of the family's best intentions and modeling of acceptable behavior the kids take a different path. I believe it behooves all of society ( it takes a village) to step up to the plate. Oh lord did I really say that??
Wherever I observe inappropriate behavior; whether I'm on duty or it's my "charge" I step in. It's easy to say "It's not my responsibility, he's not my kid, what's wrong with those parents." Now this is only at school. I don't feel I have the right to chastise, though I'd love to, some dope in the store. I did turn someone in for shop lifting in the grocery though.
I think what Richard did is fantastic. It sounds like he put up with more than I would have. I can imagine that I would have said something less pleasant much sooner. I think parent's don't want other's to think they're being bad parent's or mean to their kids in public. Not realizing that the truth is they look like bad parents when their kids are out of control. It goes back to what someone told me once, I've sure you've heard it, Don't give an ultimatum of consequence unless you are willing to see it through. "Stop running around or we're leaving." "Put that back or you won't get any at all."
I'm a big fan of "Shut the hell up!" Though I never actually say it out loud. Ha Ha

When we observe the altercation or the situation, like with the kids on the airplane. It's clearly a parental (in my opinion) lack.
In schools we often blame the parents, well let's face it the mom, when the kids act like they own the place. Sometimes that's valid but just as often, not. I've observed first hand, many occurrences where in spite of the family's best intentions and modeling of acceptable behavior the kids take a different path. I believe it behooves all of society ( it takes a village) to step up to the plate. Oh lord did I really say that??
Wherever I observe inappropriate behavior; whether I'm on duty or it's my "charge" I step in. It's easy to say "It's not my responsibility, he's not my kid, what's wrong with those parents." Now this is only at school. I don't feel I have the right to chastise, though I'd love to, some dope in the store. I did turn someone in for shop lifting in the grocery though.
I think what Richard did is fantastic. It sounds like he put up with more than I would have. I can imagine that I would have said something less pleasant much sooner. I think parent's don't want other's to think they're being bad parent's or mean to their kids in public. Not realizing that the truth is they look like bad parents when their kids are out of control. It goes back to what someone told me once, I've sure you've heard it, Don't give an ultimatum of consequence unless you are willing to see it through. "Stop running around or we're leaving." "Put that back or you won't get any at all."
I'm a big fan of "Shut the hell up!" Though I never actually say it out loud. Ha Ha

There are a lot of overindulgent guilt ridden parents who want to be friends with their children, who think that giving them many choices and not following through with consequences is the way to parent. Its obviously not working! (for us!)

Sorry, that blog came out twice and I can't seem to delete it.

one of the things i ask myself when i see how a person behaves is to take a guess about how they found their first success. i have a bias to believe that the way a person first finds success becomes a model approach for almost all future attempts at success. many of the situations that you are talking about from the terrorists that play tag too hard to the anarchists that drop things on the floor with vengeful disregard found way too much success with their first hissy fit, in my opinion. we are a overly child-centric, hissy-fit rewarding generation of parents in my opinion. the control through chaos that is won through these approaches really scorches my ass, it is not the chaos in itself that irritates me. of course, i just got off a plane where two small children screamed at the top of their lungs from charlotte nc all the way to nyc. we landed and then got parked in the penalty box for twenty minutes waiting for a gate to open and the two screamed much, much louder. the whole time many appeasements were offered. it was like club med for small screaming infants. they just never found the mai tai that could stem the tide of requesting the next best offer.

Personally I see no reason why kids can't pick up after themselves. We have the Kindergarteners clean up after themselves and even (imagine) hang up their own backpacks and jackets. Have one that thinks he can get away with just throwing it on the bench and walking away...he'll learn soon! The parent does everything for this kid, so he doesn't see where it is his responsibility. I told him his homework was to learn how to zip his coat. Can't wait for winter when there are boots and snowpants to go with the jacket! I did my part today cleaning up.....there was someones dog poop all over the bottom of the slide. I went and got papertowels and cleaned it off....imagine, I didn't call the janitor out! Wonder if that was on my job description???? lol.........Unless you are there in the schools seeing what is going on with todays kids you have no idea. Time for parents to take back some of the responsibility of educating their children on the "real" world. I am so glad it is Friday! Have a great weekend everybody. Do something fun for YOU! Happy Thoughts...............

Tough call Lori. Respectful tones and words will go a long way between both parties. I try to be compassionate when I'm talking with my students whatever the issue. I think that's important. Sometimes power seems to be a problem. Both sides want it.

I don't know the answer.

I'm not really around kids that age very much, so I guess I didn't realize they play tag in a different way than we did. What will be next--Hide and Go Seek?! Maybe that's too dangerous, too, the way things are going. Kids today don't seem to have any fear of authority. I've heard how they talk back to teachers and principals. I don't think that's good, obviously, but on the other hand, I think I was TOO afraid of authority and didn't stand up for myself enough. How do you teach kids the right balance?

Kathi's right about the kids on the playground. The level of violence is apalling. We've had to separate the three grades, 6, 7, & 8 to different time outdoors so they don't interact. Even so, it shocks me sometimes to see how they hurt each other physically, to say nothing of what they say to one another.

In the cafeteria yesterday I asked a 13 year old boy if he knew where all the pizza topping on the floor next to him had come from. He told me it had fallen off his pizza and he just figured a custodian would clean it up. Not him though, no sir. He was mystified when I handed him a pile of napkins and made him do it himself. Couldn't imagine why he should. That's very common. The floor is littered with wrappers, milk bottles, and food. They spill drinks and just laugh. Many, if not most just expect someone else to take care of it.

Lori, I think the tag issue is because kids don't play tag the way we did! They are overly aggressive on the playground. Our kids can't just play tag at recess either....they do play those games a more controlled environment, like PE!
Richared, We always love them, just don't understand them! Mine actually like me now and just call to chat which is nice. Maybe they don't really change, maybe we just change our reactions and the way we respond to them.
I had my kidney stones blasted with ultrasound...Lythotrypsy...they drug you up, put you in a huge bathtub and zap the stones (hopefully) with lazer. This way it makes the stones small enough to pass! again, Hopefully! That's one of the reasons they tell you to drink so much water.. keeping the kidneys flushed makes it harder to make stones. Some people make too much calcium in their bodies and some are caused by too much caffine....It is truthfully an unpleasant experience so I would recommend the water drinking!
Pat, sorry about your mother-in-law. Its hard when one sibling is more responsible in the caring process, unfortunately, that happens often. You'll look back and be glad that you did all that you could do to keep dignity in the last part of her life.
Happy Thoughts...............

Karen, you're right not to suggest surfing to your son. I do worry about my son surfing. It's better when I don't know what he's up to.

What you said about the banks not allowing Halloween masks reminds me of something I read in the news lately about schools forbidding kids to play tag. I know kids can fall down and get hurt, but isn't that going a little too far??? No tag???

Karen, I prefer the move out west to where Dave's sisters both live. I'll be they have some dandy faciities out near San Francisco. To be brutally honest if not a bit cold, I don't want our next move to include bringing mom along. I'm sure if it was my mother I'd feel differently. I'll admit to that.

Dave is looking at Sept. of 07 for a move to Bangor unless something opens up before that. I'll have to decide before the next school year whether I'm coming back or not. It wouldn't be right for me to start the school year and not stay. That'll be tough. I've been here 11 years now. 3rd position in the same building. I'm a fixture.

kathi, you are so right. my older son is like 10 kidney stones! we spent some time together today and i can definitely say that he is getting better all the time (he used to be like many more kidney stones). i do think that things are brighter than parents like me can see sometimes. i love 'em- nuff said!

Kevin and Dave drove all over New England on the college tour and then Kev just went to a school he'd shown no interest in and didn't tour. Go figure. Course he only stayted a semester and I'm not sure he went to any classes after the first couple of weeks. That was a bunch of years ago and he never went back. Colin didn't tour and attended one and a half semesters but he too didn't stay with school.

Touring didn't happen for me; I don't remember that being a option that kids did. I just went off to CSC and thought everyone just sort of picked a school out of the catalogs in the guidance office. Was there more to it? OOPS

The surgery went well but medically Dave's mom is not doing well. She was moved to a rehab ctr. this morning but she won't comply. I was afraid of this and hope there is a way for them to get through to her. She has been evicted from her room in the extended living center and now has nowhere to go. She doesn't know this and won't until the social workers decide she is ready to leave rehab. Either because she can or because she must. Non-compliance means the center gives up eventually because they can't do anything to help the patient. We are looking a various nursing home options now. This will not go over well with her but we won't be saying anything until we have to.

Really funny how all the kids are so different. Eventually, they do all find their way. Some need more tough love then others. Sometimes we are just too close to see how much they are like us and we all want more for our kids then we had/have. Personally, I am glad to be done with that stage of parenthood. My son called this morning to tell me he was on his way home to his apartment after being at the hospital for 4 hours with a kidney stone. He told me how painful it was (I can relate after having them myself)....I was sympathic, wanting to tell him to multiply that by 10 and that was childbirth! He called tonight to tell me that it had passed and was feeling much better. So, even though he's adult, it can still be stressful on a parent. Good luck on the college stuff...Happy Thoughts..........

I like the way you put that, Richard--the blow-apart option!

When I was applying to colleges, I applied to 3. One accepted me, one rejected me, and one put me on the waiting list. It was an easy decision--I went with the one that wanted me.

hi, the searching for college thing has been okay with my younger son and probably typical to what a lot of kids do. my older son has taken two years off and is now in his first semester at a local college, so that didn't take any hunting around. the difference for me between the two has been a case of either growing apart or blowing apart. the older has always walked too close to the blow apart option of leaving home and the younger is on the grow apart path. the older one will probably still be at home for the next 52 years with that threatened explosion always only a moment away. if so, i will go find a college for me and leave home, too.

Just been thinking about some of you working hard to help your kids find the right college. I guess my kids saved us time and money as far as education goes! Not that I'm saying that's a good thing; that's just the way it worked out. The 2 older ones studied music for one semester (one at Cal Arts and the other at CSUN) and decided they didn't like studying music in a framework. So that was the extent of their college experience. Our youngest studied marketing and merchandising at a 2-year college in downtown L.A. So we don't really know what it's like to go through that whole college-searching experience with kids!

Glad to hear he likes Santa Monica, Karen. How about surfing? Has he tried that? My son Omer lives in Santa Monica. He's obsessed with surfing. It's his therapy.

Lori, Nolan likes Santa Monica alot and his new job is going well. He was somewhat familiar with the area because he spent time doing a co op out there for Warner Bros. Online. Now he is looking forward to having enough money to buy a good bicycle to ride along the coast. He is in temporary housing and will probably have a great bike and no furniture when he gets his own place ... priorities of youth!

karen, vermont has nothing special (yet) in hockey either. i sat through a uvm loss saturday night. i will say that they are fast on their skates. they just seem oblivious to the fact that there is a puck involved in the game. good luck with applications and visits and thanks for the tips on some to consider. i wish we had done a few college visits sooner. it would have helped my son to focus a bit more on what matters by knowing why he should. good call on the birdhouse!

Richard, if you are driving cross country, you may want to check out Univ of Cincinnati's DAAP college (Design, Art, Architecture and Planning). Also,Miami University (Oxford, OH) and Perdue have programs so we did those tours a few years back. Each of those schools has a different flavor. I will be right behind you buddy in the college tours and believe me I won't sleep in the car either. We will be hitting NY, PA, RI and MI ... thats alot of miles! Right now we are just trying to get the applications in by deadlines.

Finally turned on our heat this weekend. Its in the high 30's this morning. Our time in the GA mtns was fun but it really didn't remind me of VT that much. I bought a bird house that has a VT license plate as the roof and a maple leaf on the front. It was a toss up between that and the KY one, but my friends said I should be loyal to my roots so had to go with VT ... if only they had a good basketball or football team, damn!

hi, i have been college touring with my son, thomas. we drove 24 hours of the last 72. we spanned from boston to buffalo. he is interested in architecture and we and he had a good chance to see a lot up close. he is also a great one to travel with. univ. at buff. did not interest him, so rather than taking the afternoon tour we headed for niagra falls. we were howling in the maid of the mist boat ride beneath the falls, hiked around, and headed for other places. now i am pretty beat. as the driver, i did not sleep in the car the way he did. i may go watch the baseball bame if i think my mind is up to it.

We are back from NC....left last night at 7 and got home this morning about 8....I always say, Theres no place like home!" It is freezing here. Yesterday it was in the high 70s..plus we turned the heat down while we were gone...brrrrrrrr.

Thanks for all the good thoughts everyone. Surgery was put off till tomorrow so they could transfuse her. Her blood platlets were too low for surgery. Now we're looking for 11 tomorrow. She was pretty confused this afternoon when I was visiting.

I'm very glad to hear that your daughter won't be ungoing surgery Karen. You must be very relieved.

Glad to hear your daughter is doing well, Karen, and doesn't need the surgery. By the way, how does your son like Santa Monica?

Good luck dealing with your mother-in-law, Patti. We have a 95-year-old neighbor who always seems to be falling, breaking something, and then recovering. She's frail, but amazingly strong. But she doesn't have dementia--at least not as far as I can tell.