Reynaud's? Is that what it's called? I didn't know there was a name for cold hands and feet. I have that, too.

I agree, Patti, that it's special what we have here on the blog. Every once in a while it seems like it's dying out, but someone always manages to revive it. I guess we're all committed! I don't always have something special to say, but I always like "listening" to what you guys are saying, each one from his/her corner of the world. So keep talking....

Good morning all and a special hello and welcome back to karen V. It's great to find out how things are going for you. You're right it was frustrating this summer to keep talking dates and still find there was no getting together.

We're lucky you know, all of us, to have this site. When I talk about how we get together here and "talk" so regularly from all the different corners of the country, folks are surprised and impressed. I'm impressed too. I don't think it's the norm for friends from so many years ago to be in contact the way we are. Even when one of us has to step away for a while, the blog is here waiting and you can catch up by reading the past posts and if you want; join in! We are lucky to have it say I. I'd miss this if it weren't available.

Dave left a little earlier yesterday morning but we realized that he won't e back until Dec. 1. Very strange. He and the boys are hiking in Baxter State Park this coming weekend and then the next 2 weekends I'll be in Bangor with Dave. I told him last night to gird his loins because I'd have him busy stringing Christmas lights on the house when he come back home! Not his favorite project. He has a speech thingy in Bar Harbor to do on Monday the week I'm there so I get to travel over with him and we'll spend the day checking out Bar Harbor. If you can imagine it, living in ME 15 years, I've only been there once for a couple hours a bunch of years ago. I'm looking forward to going off season. We'll be able to enjoy it without the summer crowds. Though I'd like to enjoy the summer weather. Cant have everything.

Gotta get ready for school. Not looking forward to playground duty these mornings. "Baby It's Cold Outside!!" Take care all- pat

I think we all like to read what everyone is doing. Sometimes our lives are pretty mundane and boring to us but to others, it is news! I have trouble thinking of things to post here at times because I really don't do anything exciting....work at school in Kindergarten, come home, make dinner, maybe clean up and now that we have changed the clocks...yuck...keep looking at the clock to see when it is bedtime...
My daughter came up with weekend and we went wedding dress shopping! That was so much fun. Just her and I quality time. And, on a fluke we went to Claremont to the Bridal Shop on Pleasant Street...and she found the perfect dress. It is Ivory lace, style like the 20s...straight and form fitting. It had this lacy bustle (made like the veils we wore to church) that was too busy for the dress with her in it (she is 100 lb...maybe) so the woman is turning it into a cape. That way she can use it as the veil too. It is really different...like my daughter. So, that was exciting.
I did make pie (she doesn't care for cake) for her birthday that is this week. We just had a nice weekend, and the Patroits pulled off their game at the end, so that made my husband happy!
That is all the excitement here....up too early with the time change...back to Kindergarten and the cycle starts again!
Happy Thoughts.....................

Thanks for the detailed update, Karen. Maybe it seems boring to you, but it's not boring to us, at least not to me. It's good to hear what you're up to. And thanks for the info about Curves. I don't see any change on the scale, but maybe my muscles are getting heavier! You went down a pant size or 2? You were already thin last time I saw you--you must be disappearing now!

Avi's sister is having a big barbecue today for their uncle (who's visiting here for 3 weeks). It's also to celebrate 2 birthdays. I wish we could do away with the present part. I have a hard enough time shopping for myself; it's worse choosing something for someone else.

Hi all!

Thought I’d take a few minutes and drop a line. Really should be doing my homework. Got a project due Monday and seem to always pull an all-nighter beforehand. Doesn’t matter how far ahead I start. Had a construction lab today. Put up part of a deck. It was 67 and gorgeous out. AM was 30 deg though. Last week we laid a brick patio. I’m pretty stiff right now…(Just so you don’t feel bad, we had our first snow on Oct 21st. Just enough to cover the ground.)

I had a class the night of Halloween. Reeeeally miss seeing the little critters all dressed up. Left a bowl of candy out on the porch with the light on. Glad I live in a neighborhood where I can do that.

My son, Michael, came down from Gunnison (4 hours away) the weekend before to help me celebrate my birthday. I went out to dinner with him and his older brother, Chris, and his new girlfriend. Both boys are doing fine.

Was back in VT this summer but didn’t get to meet up with too many of you. I’d left a message on Facebook, but left it on the wrong page and I don’t think anyone saw it. I think I was in town when you all got together. Oh well. Maybe next time. I’m thinking about coming back over New Year’s. Might be the last chance I get to visit for awhile, since I’ll probably be getting a job next year. Summers are usually 16+ hour days, so I probably won’t be able to get back there in the summer for awhile, which really kills me. And though it slows down in the winter, if I’m newly working for someone, I’m sure I won’t get vacation for awhile or much of it.

Re: Curves. I joined a year ago May. Didn’t really lose weight but did go down a pant-size or two. I’ve actually been to the one in Springfield! Went with my Mom and Kristine on vacation last year. Didn’t get there this year. I like it. Nice people of all ages. No guys gawking. I can do more than the 30 mins if I like. It helps me stay limber and since I’m not that active, gives me some much needed exercise. Would like to go hiking and stuff but can’t always find a partner to go with and I don’t really want to end up mountain lion food . Plus I have to drive a ways. Maybe I should get a dog so I’d have to get out. But then I’d have to move to a place that allows pets...

Am I boring you yet?!?! Love reading about all of your exciting lives. Mine is so predictable compared to yours. I log on once in a blue moon to see what's going on. Usually don’t have anything exciting to share; kinda like now… 

Hey Richard, if you’re coming to Denver, look me up! I am NOT in the phone book so I’ll have to give you my # if you send me a msg on facebook. Would be fun to see you. That goes for the rest of you, too, if you’re ever out here.

Well, I’ve goofed off enough. Back to the drawing board!

hi. nice music karen. you are right about c&w having a song for anything (except red beans, now that i think of it. i do not think there is a country song that talks about red beans. you would need a zydeco song for something like that). anyway, i like your trailer boy. i have a small country collection. the mine shafts at the back of my jaw are healing, no problems, just lots of wine to make it through. my days are okay. i lack news. i have a wild trip for ten days after thanksgiving. i'll be in a different state everyday, from coast to coast. i only get a couple days to play. i am thinking of checking out portland, or for those days. trick or treaters were fun this year. i had a spanky and alfalfa who were fabulous. a very proud 4 year old, who was a bus, came by. he had made his costume with help from his mom. two boxes were the basic story, but he had done great painting to create the whole effect. as he was walking away, i saw some writing on his back bumper. it said, "how is my driving?" what a crack-up. happy weekend.

Happy Halloween...hope you are getting lots of ghosts, witches, and goblins coming around to your house. More likely, Power Rangers and Cinderellas...I am sure we won't get any trick-or-treaters here...although we are always prepared! Parties and parades at school today....I went as a......witch, imagine that! Someday I am going to be a really spooky something...I'll have to work on it before I retire! Only 9 more years and I can make $400 a month....by that time it won't even pay for gas!
Dark and snow.....luckily we only have the dark here! I thought they were going to do away with Daylight Savings. Guess I'll have to get some new boots and be prepared for the dreaded snow....Karen you can always wear those fingerless gloves while at the computer! hahah
Happy Thoughts............

Snow?!!!!! And here I am thinking of taking Avi's uncle to a restaurant by the beach to sit in the sun a while.....

there is snow on the ground..................Yuck!

I liked the music, too. I don't know how you find all these things, Karen.

Happy Anniversary from me, too, Brian--if you're on the blog. If not, Richard can pass on the greetings from everyone.

A while back I mentioned that my son and his girlfriend broke up a few weeks after getting engaged. Well, now he moved back in with her. No decisions in the meantime about marriage. They're just taking it day by day, but it seems to be going well.

The music from Trailercana is terrific. I've really been enjoying it. I'm glad you posted that link Karen. I'm planning to pick up the CD for my self now.
After the school dance last night some of us chaperones went out for some drinks and had quite a good time. It always interesting to me to see the out of school side of my colleagues. They're quite a fun group.
Rainy day so a nice nap was in order. Felt great to snuggle down in the sheets in the early afternoon. A good day to be inside and toasty for sure. think I'll make shepards' pie for supper tonight. Its a comfort food day.
Sorry your mouth is recovering so slowly Richard. should it be taking this long? Must have been some major work.

Happy Weekend. Beautiful full moon last night.....today rain. We need it but I really wanted to finish my lawns. I did rake, mulch up leaves for 2 hours late afternoon yesterday. Got dark at 6 so I had to stop...well, I suppose I could have kept going as the tractor has lights...but no! We had a frost yesterday morning.
Congratulations on your 25th Anniversary Brian and many more!
Wish we could send some rain to California for the fires. Hard to imagine someone would deliberately start fires. My daughter said it was raining in NC the past few days so hopefully, that'll help with the drough down there as well.
Great that Evan is getting a job to be able to support you soon, Karen!!! Good job!
Are you all getting ready for Halloween??? I need to come up with a costume for our "party" at school...after 20 something years its hard to come up with good ideas anymore....nose glasses might be the way to go!
Happy Thoughts...............

hi. it was brian king's anniversary party last weekend and he and debra have worked and played hard to get to this point. it really was a great party. the week since has been just okay. my hurting jaw is ready for the next party, but i guess this weekend is going to be a bit dull. i have projects around the house. super! i have been putting together my next whirlwind business trip for the week after thanksgiving. i may start to lose my sense of humor with this one. i have the same great travel partner, but we are hitting denver, portland, san jose, huntington beach, chicago, and points in wisconsin in as many days. i better pack some zone bars. richard

That's great that your son got the job, Karen! And he'll be nearby, too.

The sky has a different color from the fires, Patti, but we're not in any danger. Malibu is about 45 minutes away.

Avi's uncle Avner is arriving today for a 3-week visit. He's one of my favorite people--the kind of person who everyone seems to feel comfortable talking to. Avi's other uncles are nice, but I have nothing much to say to them. This one is different. He has lived all over the world cuz his wife is a French diplomat. They live in Kenya now. He's a house-husband. Is that what you call it? His wife works, and he stays home--although now he organizes parties, dinners, etc. for the diplomats there.

Glad to hear that you had such a wonderful visit with your family Lori. I've been wondering where your home is in relation to the fires. I hope everything will be all right for you guys out there. Dave's sisters seem to be ok.

We're all done with pretty views for the fall. Too much rain and heavy winds. The final soccer game for the high school varsity ended in a 1-0 loss in the rain. Overtime and all. A sad ending. The temperatures have been so strangely warm though. Somethings very wrong with the weather.

Time to go deal with laundry. g'night all.

Congrats on the new job Karen!!

Hi everyone. Just wanted to say I'm sorry I didn't get to see any of you this time when I was in Vermont, but hopefully the next visit will be longer and I'll have more time then. My daughter and I got home last night. We were really lucky with the weather. It rained once, but only at night, so it didn't interfere with any of our plans. We were lucky with the foliage, too. It was at its peak and was really beautiful. We walked on various trails in the area with my parents and my brother and his family. I was glad I did decide to go cuz I don't get to see my family that often; even a short visit is worth it. We laugh a lot when we're together. Our flight was in the afternoon yesterday, so we had time in the morning for a bike ride by the lake in Burlington. Anyway, now I'm back in L.A. where all the fires are raging--not right by us, but nothing's that far.

Wisdom teeth out was a long time ago for me. I don't remember it being followed by great parties though. Maybe it was great drugs I had for the after part.

hi. recovery from wisdom teeth is slow. i guess i did not expect miracles on this one. the parties are helping. went to a good one saturday night/sunday morning. this guy named brian has been married to debra for 25 years. good party, nice people, and dancing till dawn. richard

Your exercise class sounds good, too, Kathi. And, Patti, you're lucky; it's always good to have an excuse NOT to exercise! When we run out of excuses, we have to start doing something--though I guess it's not an excuse when it's the chiropractor telling you not to do it. As for the moving issue, sometimes the choice isn't between good and bad, but between bad and worse! It's still good that it's a choice, though. Doesn't sound so bad to me. Maybe both choices have some good and some bad points.

Here's my exercise story. It had me laughing to tell you the truth. I haven't worked out or even walked in quite a few months, tendonitis, arthritis, whatever, it hurts so I've been laying low. So. Today I absolutely convince myself to take advantage of this beautiful afternoon and talk a walk when I get home. First stop though is my chiropractor who while adjusting my hips to relieve the knee pain tells me no way am I to go walking for another week or more. I'm just cracking up because here I've spent all this time talking myself in to working out with a minor walk and nope. No go.

I'm not sure if I won or lost on that one but it sure made me smile.

As far as living alone goes. The week days go by quickly. Dave has been coming home each Friday night and is now leaving 6ish on Monday mornings. I'm not planning on going down until Thanksgiving week. I'll have a week to go and relax and look around. There's plenty to do here it's where my life is. So I just keep doing it only I have to do alone. I don't like it but I don't dislike it enough to move. It's a choice

After watching Dr. 90210 on TV and seeing what they actually do for plastic surgery...yuckkkkk not sure that I would put myself through that sort of self torture.....but then again, if someone else was paying...hummmmm. We do have Curves in Springfield...I've not been. It is up on River Street on the left across the street from Austin Memorials. I think its great that you are going Lori...anything that makes you feel good about "you" is an important thing. I go to a class on Tues and Thurs after school (4:15-5:15). We do a lot of weight training things (small weights 5-8 lb) for bone density..with aerobic stuff and other stuff thrown in. We are all about the same age and have the same issues so its nice. We cheer each other on, moan groan and whine together. Richard, I hope that you are recovering nicely from having your wisdom teeth out...at least you got to be 50plus before loosing them! Most of us lost that wisdom a long time ago....Happy Thoughts...Teacher convention Thurs and Friday so no school for me....yeah!!!

Don't worry, Richard. We're (I'm) not going in the plastic surgery direction. Just sick of seeing some of those rolls of fat.

hi gorgeous women of spfld. i get the whole thing about being in shape, but i hope that you know that being in shape just means being in shape for the things you want to be able to do. please don't chase yourself into being in shape for something that is not really you and heaven forbid that you ever not love yourself for who you are. i like the red wine that i am drinking. happy truths in every glass. i had my wisdom teeth out today. that is all forest gump is going to say on that subject. i picked up a nineteen seventy two release on cd a couple of day ago. love it. it is fleetwood mac's, "bare trees" release. peace, richard

Karen, it sounds more exciting at your gym, but I guess I fit in better with the old ladies! Actually, there not all old, and they're pretty friendly. We don't really have much time to talk, and I find it hard to do 2 things at once anyway (talk and exercise)! I like going with my daughter, but I don't want to go to L.A. Fitness. You're probably right, Patti, that this isn't much of a work-out for someone who's used to more serious exercise, but I'm not one of those people. I walk, but that's it, so now at least I'm using my muscles.

How have you been managing, Patti, when you're alone during the week? Do you visit Dave some weekends or does he always come home?

All the Curves around here have closed. The woman who owned them went out of business unexpectedly. I went for several months a few years ago when it first opened. I liked it sort of but it really wasn't enough of a workout if you had been doing anything else. It seemed to be most successful for those who had not been. The concept of only needing 30 minutes was a huge draw. I was actually thinking of going back and trying it again since I'd been off my feet for so long. That was just about the time it closed. Oh well.

The weekend is over and Dave will take off by 5:30 am. Yuck.

Do they have Curves in Springfield, too? You might like it. Good music, nice people, and it's over pretty fast so it doesn't feel like torture. Our 3-week trial period is over on Monday. I'm not sure my daughter will continue cuz she feels like she gets a better work-out at the regular gym, but I think I'll keep going.

We had a great family visit, although very short. I always love having people here and of course, eating is the main focus! That is why I am not going to Curves and having my fat measured! You are brave!! Lots of women do Curves here. I think it is great that you and your daughter are doing something fun and healthy together. Just do it to help yourself be healthier and stronger!
We had our first official frost last night....sigh....guess we knew it would come eventually! Pretty chilly here today too. I put on a extra layer plus a fleece to go out and mow. Last time cleaning up stuff in the yard...the leaves on our maple trees haven't even turned yet let alone fall off the trees. We'll probably be raking in November! Unless it snows first. Have a good weekend everybody. Happy Thoughts...

Your food always sounds so good, Kathi. Lasagna and apple crisp. Mmmm.

Karen, I think they did do a fitness analysis on us--you mean when they tell you how much body fat you have? That was pretty discouraging. It can be excellent, good, fair, or poor, and I came out fair. But so did my daughter, and she's really thin. Maybe that instrument they used didn't work. You're lucky you're strong enough to do "tough love." It's hard to be tough when things aren't clear. My kids always had a good reason why a "no" should be a "yes," and when I really thought about it, I agreed with them most of the time. So it was hard to scream, "I said no!" and really mean it. Oh well, they turned out okay anyway.

Hi Everybody.
There is nothing overly exciting happening here right now. Sometimes I don't want to bore you with 5 year old stuff and that is as exciting as it gets lately. We went to Wellwood Orchard yesterday...had a tractor ride, picked some apples, watched the animals and ran around trying not to touch all the pumpkins laying around to tease little children. Luckily it didn't rain because we were going rain or shine. There is talk about SNOW in the higher elevations tonight.....last weekend it was high 70s....not ready for snowsuits...which is another story.
My elderly relatives are coming to visit this afternoon (my Aunt from Denver and my Uncle from Brattleboro, they are my father's remaining siblings). I am making lasagna and apple crisp. It will be nice to visit with them at my house where their parents once lived.
Oh, and the cat woke me up at 4:00 to go outside....got the dishes done (that I was too tired to do last night) and the lasagna put together...now I just have to vaccumn through and I'll be all set for company.....and need a nap before they come!
Happy Friday and have a good weekend....hope for no snow, please!
Happy Thoughts.......................................................

I don't think it's your posts Richard, thought provoking though they are. I think sometimes we just get involved in our day to day and have to step back from the computer. I know I do. Sometimes, I don't think there's anything worth sharing. I think it would be fun to sit in a quite corner with you and talk. You have such a great way of telling us what's going on and what you're thinking about. Do you have that same gift in the face to face? I'll bet you do.

the blog has a way of being dead from time to time, but i feel like it always goes dead for at least a few days after i post.

i am thankful for friends- y'all included. my mother kissed the school bus when it took me away to school for my first day. how did i fashion any social life from origins like that? karen, you have just been a busy mom who has been on the move and that makes it more difficult. and, by the way, having friends doesn't mean that you have to suffer fools gladly. i'm guessing that even marion morrison (john wayne) had some friends, but maybe not very many. his "don't apologize—it's a sign of weakness" attitude was probably a deal breaker. i'm also guessing that he didn't have any african american friends. different subject, but what was up with all his latin wives- pananama, mexico, and peru? anyway, i'm just saying that your "up against the wall" attitude could work for more than arranging furniture. get some friends and slap them into shape.

Yes, those little glances and touches make a big difference. Sounds like you're doing well in your new situation, Patti.

Did I mention that my daughter and I have been trying out Curves? Do they have that on the east coast? The gym for fat old women! Well, maybe that's not the right way to say it. All I know is I feel comfortable there and actually like it--which I can't say about regular gyms.

Dave and I just enjoyed a nice weekend at the campground for our final weekend of camping and especially for our 28th anniversary. It was long on the campground part and short on the anniversary part but with such great surroundings and good friends how could we go wrong. It was really odd to have such temperatures (80's) on the 6th of Oct.

Dave's in his 3rd week of travel now and we're starting to get a pattern set for our new way of life. So far so good. We've always done fairly well living apart as has so often been the case with his work.

It's been interesting reading to find when I got home. I find myself seeing all the points of view and agreeing with them all as well. Spending time alone I often long for the touch of my lover even if it's just to say good night. On the other hand, I also enjoy the meaningful glances or just plain comfy-ness of companionship that comes with the day to day. Depends on my psychy at the moment.

I'm sorry I'll be missing you this fall Lori. We'll keep trying though.

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...........