Hi Debbie welcome back it's good to hear from you! It's easy right!

So, kidney stones, ick, painful, not enough drugs in the world to make me want to go through that. I really hope this passes quickly for you Karen.

It must have been wonderful to have everyone with you for your birthday Kathi! Loads of fun and being able to take them to school with you is fantastic!

Gas prices went to $4.04 today. It's terrible. So expensive for Dave to come home every weekend.

In between rain storms, I got the lawn mowed with the help of a friend's tractor. Even trapped a woodchuck! My first of the spring season. First of many probably. When Gary came to pick up his tractor his took the little varmit with him. Off to a new home. I won't set the trap up again until I see another one.

Good luck with the iPod, Kathi. I've never used one. I'm a little technically retarded. I don't know how to send a text message on my cell phone, and I don't even have phone numbers in my phone. All the numbers are still in a little green address/phone book that I'm not ready to give up.

Good to see you here, Debbie! Keep writing!

Karen, I'm in pain just reading about your pain. I'll pray that the stone comes out.

Hello there all classmates in cyberspace. This is only a test, to see if this will actually work. I'm probably the most computer illiterate of all humankind. But I do want you to know I occasionally check in to hear what's new.
I really enjoyed our evening at McKinley's when Karen was in town.
Kathi, I love the stories of your grandchildren. The youngest of my 2 is just 5 mths old. So far only girls in our family.
Pat, thanks for the invite AGAIN.

Karen I feel your pain....I had lithotrisy (sp) kidney stone blasting done in both kidneys in 2002...my stones were way too big to pass. The blasting part wasn't bad because they drug you pretty well..but I ended up having stents put in so the blasted particles didn't get stuck. That hurt worse then the procedure....I had no idea you could get that up close and personal with a urilogist! If you don't have to have surgery it is much better! So I'll keep my fingers crossed that that stone passes quickly!
My little ones just left so it is very quiet here at my house. I had the best time with them. I took Caleb to Kindergarten with me today. He was very well behaved and everybody wanted to play with him...which he ate right up. Camille is just the most girly girl...who is very artistic and has the vocabulary of a 8 year old in her 3 year old body. Chloe is just adorable...she sits on her leg to scoot along pushing with her other leg...sort of like a scooter. She scrunches up her little nose when she giggles...and almost has "Nana" down. She likes to wave using her whole wrist..flapping it up and down, very amusing. I really wish they could get their house sold in NC so they can move closer....so help me send those "wishes" along to the great house seller in the sky! Caleb told me, "Nana, you try really hard not to cry when I go and I'll try really hard not to cry too....promise"....of course, I did my best which wasn't very good....I just adore them so...
anyways, that's the story here.
My kids chipped together to give me a Ipod for my birthday.....of course, I'm not sure how to make it work now that they are gone. They downloaded some of my CDS onto it, of course not showing me how to do it...so now I'll have to figure it out on my own...or call them with lots of questions!
Happy Thoughts....

Beautiful picture, Kathi. I love all that red hair!

Nope, not much got done....it was either too cold or everyone is too busy doing other things...so I'll just plow along doing what I can, when I can....We had fun together and that is the main thing...being together. Amanda and I took the girls over to school today to "show" them off...Camille spent an hour with Miss Alice our librarian. She just loved her. She got to sit in and hear stories with the Kindergarteners. It was really cute. Chloe fell asleep...tomorrow Caleb will go to school with me for the day....hopefully, he'll remember I'm the teacher not just Nana!
Everybody leaves tomorrow night...sadly. We need lots of positive thoughts about selling their house so they can move closer!!!!!!!
Finals of American Idol tonight!!!!
Happy Thoughts.....

Birthday, Birthday, Birthday....quite the scene here yesterday! We celebrated Chloe turning 1, Amanda turning the big 30 and mine and my twin brothers....I made him the funniest card with picturers of us when we were probably 3 months old looking like he is grabbing my hands and I'm getting ready to smack him....quite funny actually. The kids are here for 2 more days....at least the sun is shinning here today. Yesterday it was in the 40s and freezing! I'll show you pictures, have a great day everybody.

Kidney stones are so painful...The stones are actually pointy and sharp objects trying to get through a little tube, so I guess you could say its like giving birth....only once it passes you can hardly see it unlike babies....I told Karen to make sure it wasn't kidney stones last night...and then this morning she tells me I was right...unfortunately! I had the same issue the night before my mothers funeral, needless to say, I was very drugged going to. Luckily, Karen has a great occassion to attend so if she laughs a little no one will think anything of it!
Congratulations Karen and Rich....great job raising another son! You did good.
It is actually all of our birthdays.....May 19...Amanda will be 30, Chloe 1, and me 54....so they arrived here about 7:30 tonight. My little ones were so excited to be here...it was cute. Tomorrow we are having a family BBQ and birthday party....have you guys tried the Hood Birthday Party icecream??? It is really good!

Jeez Karen, please be careful with yourself. I'm such a weenie that I lay low when I'm in pain. I tried to avoid things like parent meets. I try to command the world to stop until I' m ready...........Yikes!

Kathy, I'm a little confused. Is it your birthday, your daughter's or your granddaughters? Everyone? Wow have a fabulous weekend.

I've been researching lawn mowing tractors. Gosh they're expensive. Just for fun I drove one that was $3,400. Man it was amazing. Turned on a dime, practically served snacks while you mow. Even had cruise control. Not in my price range but boy it was great.

I've heard that's more painful than giving birth. Take it easy on the weekend. Health is one of those things we only appreciate when we're NOT feeling well....

I knew your birthday was sometime in May, Kathi, but I couldn't remember exactly when. So it's the 19th? Have a very happy birthday with lots of love and fun and happiness! Enjoy your family!

Karen, that must be a relief that your mother is doing so well. I'm sure her positive attitude helps.

After hours and hours of looking for, scanning, pasting, cutting up and glueing...my infamous birth - 30 birthday card is done for my daughter. It is a pull out, accordian type card with lots of fun things on the pages. My granddaughter, Chloe's card was much easier to do because she is going to be 1...lol...so only one picture to do! Everybody is coming this weekend (all my kids and grandbabies) so we can all celebrate the "big" day together on Monday. Of course, it looks like rain all weekend so if you can all send sunshine this way it would be great! I told everybody to bring "work" clothes so they could help do some outside things.....I'm sure they are all excited about that. Now to get ready for school.....the voters have finally voted to close down Park Street school and consolidate with Union and Elm....so more renevation coming our way...sigh....It is really hard to work with kids with the construction right outside our window...noise level, workers and smells.....hopefully, within 2 years things will be "beautiful"!
Have a super rest of the week....Happy Thoughts.....

Hi Karen welcome back. I'm glad to read that your mom is doing so well.

I don't think anything has changed in the opportunity to read and or post in over a year or more. You just have to respond to the invitation and step up. I'll send another invite to Deb and hopefully we'll see her back her. That'd be great.

So I guess we can't make any definite plans yet. We'll wait till the time gets closer.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers!

Lori I meant the beginning of your time in August also.

I'll be playing much of the summer by ear since I want to catch Colin whenever he gets up there/here. At some point he'll have to cross Rte 4 by the Killington access Rd. I'd love to go over from Ossippee and catch up with him there. We have plans to bring him from the White Mountains in Conway over to camp for a swim, a feast, and an overnight. We told him we'll take care of whoever wants to come over with him. They're hiking with quite a crew right now but things change everyday out there on the trail. Many hikers have already dropped out.

Sadly his buddy Jarrod who started the hike with him has been recalled by the army. He will likely be redeployed to Iraq in July.

I didn't mean the beginning of August. I meant the beginning of my time there--around Aug. 18. Is that too late for you?

For me, the beginning of August will be best as I have school by the end. 5 more weeks of school left. Lots of sudden unexpected shake ups. It was a tough way to end teacher appreciation week. Nothing happened to me but my friends are in trouble.

Imperfectly perfect? I like that! Thanks, Richard.

Sounds like you all had fun, Kathi!

Janice, Karen, Linda Brochu, Kathy Westney, Deb Young and I all meet at McKinleys last night for our mini reunion. We chatted for hours catching up and sharing news. Funny how time just goes by when you are having fun with friends.
Karen leaves this morning for GA and will be back on sharing her words of wisdom soon. She had wonderful news about her Mom, which we are all greatful for....
Happy Mother's Day to all you special women...you've all done a great job! Happy Thoughts...........

hi lori, hearing your blog voice is wonderful. i could listen to you read a telephone book. i am so glad you are beyond stupid :-) i love when a person can say what they feel, who they are, and then go on to say that they are good with what that is. you should be. i have always thought that you are imperfectly perfect.

Yes, I hope we can have that mini-reunion we were talking about in August. I'll be in Vermont from Aug. 17-31. Avi and the kids will be there for part of the time, so I'll probably be busy at that time. I'll probably have the most free time either at the beginning (Aug. 18, 19, 20) or the end (after the 26th). Do you think any of those dates will work out for you, Patti? Anyone else? If not, let me know what works for you, and I'll see what I can do. My parents will also be in Vermont, so I'll be seeing them, too, but I'll find time for you guys!

Okay, Patti, I won't keep my mouth shut. I'm trying to break old habits, and one of those habits was keeping my mouth shut so I wouldn't say something stupid.

Karen, we're waiting for your words of wisdom.....

You should never keep your mouth shut Lori. You have so many things to say that need to be heard! Thanks so much for being open with your feelings and experiences.

Karen I'm very glad to hear that your mom is feeling better. It's wonderful that you were able to spend this time with her. I'm sure she'll both enjoyed it and appreciated it as well.

I'm hoping to be part of a mini-reunion this summer. It just depends on when everyone is available yes????

If it helped, I'm happy, Patti. I was beginning to think I should just keep my mouth shut!

Glad to hear your mother's doing well, Karen. I wish I could be at that mini-reunion.

Your words really resonate with me Lori. I think that's what I'm looking for. Acceptance for what has/is happening. Then being able to move forward together because, I'm hoping the love is still there. thank you

Its nice getting together with friends...so, like Karen said...all you "listeners", feel free to join us!

Hi Everyone, just a quick "Hi" from Kathi's kitchen table. I am having a hard time typing on her new laptop. Sounds like a lot has gone on here on the blog. I will have to wait till I get home to digest all of it and give you my sage wisdom, which I know you all can't live without.

After a full week in VT, I have finally seen the sun and warmer temps. My mom is doing well and we are living in the moment and enjoying being together. I have done cooking, gardening, cleaning, and some nursing duties. I saw Janice and Kathi today and we might get some people together at McKinley's on Thu for a mini reunion. That should be fun. Anyone out there who is in the area and wants to join us, is welcome.

I will be home on Fri, May 9th ... flying out of Hartford. Hope all is well with all of you.

Yes, those moments are there, but for me it was more important (or at least just as important) to come to an acceptance of those other not so nice moments because they're also part of the picture--instead of expecting life to be a romantic fairy tale 24 hours a day. I've finally learned that the love is still there even if we get angry at each other sometimes or disappointed about certain things. It seems that the more acceptance I have for the way things are, the more room there is for love.

but you admitted to having found the air, fuel and ignition source that you wanted to be able to see was still there in your marraige.

A simple view is good--although sometimes it confuses me more cuz I expect life to fit that view and then get disappointed cuz it usually doesn't fit; it's more gray (for me) than black and white.

it is true that i expect a little too much, and no less of myself. however, the reason i put it out there in simple terms- like air, fuel, and ignition source, is to suggest that it is okay to get the noise out of our heads and simply check for air, fuel, and ignition source. when things seem terribly complex, a simple view can be valued.

I think you all know that we went through a difficult time in our marriage when Avi told me almost 4 years ago about an affair he had had--which ended with the woman getting pregnant and a child being born. I don't think I could have gotten over it and saved our marriage if there hadn't been that kind of love between us that you're talking about. Despite all the pain, the love and sexual attraction was still there between us, helping us get through. Dealing with this crisis has actually brought us closer and given us a deeper understanding of each other. It's really only recently that I can say I'm completely over it and have finally come to accept myself. I think that was underneath a lot of our problems--that I didn't really accept a lot of things about myself, and when you don't accept yourself, you're not very accepting of others either. Now that I'm feeling better about who I am, everything suddenly flows more smoothly. But, Richard, I think it's a little too much to expect heart-stopping moments 24 hours a day--if that's what you're saying. Those moments should be there and are still there for me, but there are also those other moments that aren't so nice, but they're part of life, part of being human.

Atta girl! Blog friends are among the very BEST!!!!!!!

I can honestly say that I am content and happy with my life partner and can't imagine things any differently. There are definitely days when the heart skips more then others....good luck finding your answers, Pat.

I'm not sure I can agree. Perhaps we'll agree to disagree. I think that in a long term relationship and I'm talking years; there are many changes and there is a place for degrees of love. Over time for many, romantic love can give way to something one may think of as "less than". I'm not going to say this right probably. But I think that through no fault other than time, complacency, lifestyle, changes in family, etc., couples find themselves moving in different directions. You've said yourself that people change. (I think you said that) We find we have different interests and now may even be incompatible. Anger isn't necessarily the way. Maybe just sadness, disinterest or even a desire for change that cannot work for both. And sometimes people make decisions effecting the family that cannot be changed even though they regret what they have done and irrevocably alter everything for everyone.

blog friends are unlikely to answer that on a public blog that everyone in the world can see. the important point for me is to ask myself critically if i am doing what i can to continue to be that person who makes my love feel her heart stop when i walk in the room. that is where it starts. if you don't realistically feel like you have a shot at it where you are at now, it is a concern. people deserve to have a chance to win in the way i described and if you can't win in this way, it is not your fault or his fault, but it is definitely somebodies fault if you don't make changes. the problem is that you either get sparks of joy or sparks of sadness and anger. one way or the other, emotion needs its place and will find itself in anger when real love is not a sincere option.

That's a very interesting question Richard. I like to take a survey. Who among you out there reading this can honestly say your heart skips beat when your life partner enters the room?

there are a couple of tough questions that i believe are at the foundation layer. do two peoples' hearts stop when the other walks into the room and do the two people make each other feel like their hearts are smokin. for me, i would think about those questions if i wanted to know whether i was with a potentially great love or unfortunately with little more than a prospective bowling partner.

Hi Lori, no to all about work. I can't come back if I take time off unless there is a position open when I come. That's not too likely since the district is making cuts and money is tight. My position now is safe because it is not special ed and is a requirement given the number of students need detention. So as long as I want it I can have it.

We'll be spending a lot more time together over the course of the summer but it isn't going to be normal day to day unless I move in with him down there. Even then it really won't be. The plan would be to go to camp in NH for 2 weeks together then if I decide to stay there he'd come over on the weekends the same as he does now, coming up here. When I come home here then I guess he'd come here instead. It's a shorter ride back here from Bangor but as he says, he can go swimming when he gets there. Either way, it's an unnatural situation. Moving in with Dave means staying in some temporary quarters so that's weird too. Right now he has to have figured out his housing situation by June 26.

Patti, is there any way you can have a trial period together in Bangor without making things permanent yet? Can they hold your job for you for a year or half a year? Can you keep your house and just live in a rental apartment with Dave in Bangor for a while--until you're more clear on whether you want to be with him there or would rather be on your own in P.I.? It seems like a lot of extra stress to have to be buying a house and giving up a job at this point when you're not sure you want to be together. If you're leaning towards splitting up, is there any way you can cut your expenses so you won't be stressed financially--so that that won't be the reason you choose to stay together? I just have questions, not suggestions. Maybe Richard can answer you better. By the way, Richard, you don't have to just write happy blogs! I want to hear whatever you have to say.

I know you didn't mean to be mister freeze as you put it Richard. To be honest I've been reflecting daily on your post and I can't agree more. Parallel lives is where Dave and I have been for several years now. It's dreadful. Trying to bring our lives together back together is the part I don't get. It's enormously difficult to work on the relationship when we are only together for approximately 36 hours a week. What am I supposed to do when he has gone and wants me to follow? If I do, and i find it was not the right choice I'm screwed. I'm not 14 years old. I don't know how to break up with my boyfriend. I look forward to your responses.

well, i sure didn't mean to be mister freeze and i agree that the parallel lives one is a really bad choice. here is a good one to ask yourself if you are wondering whether to make the call for a garbage pick-up. you and your mate will paint a picture together. you have a large blank canvas in front of you and there you stand with your mate and plenty of paint. here is one response to this actual question. the wife said, "i would paint a line down the center and he can paint whatever he wants on his side and i will paint whatever i like on my side." definitely time for some work or change. i will only post happy blogs for the next six months, promise.

Yes, it looked like the blog was frozen in place for a few days after Richard's comments! I personally couldn't handle the second choice--living parallel lives in the same house. I'd rather split than stay in a loveless marriage--but I do think it's possible to work on the relationship, at least in some cases, and rekindle the love when it starts to get buried under the garbage.

Kathi, give my best wishes to Karen and her mother. I wish I could be there, too.

Hi everybody....its a very quiet week here!
I heard from Karen tonight. She asked me to tell all of you that her Mother's surgery went as expected with no complications and that she is now recovering at home. She will get her test results on Monday, so we will all send warm wishes that they will come back with good results!
We hope to get together next week!
Hope all is well with each of you....Happy Thoughts........Happy May Day!

there are actually three choices. to be or not to be- together is not the whole question. i agree with jane fonda who said that marriage to one person for life was a good idea when people died at age 50. for those of us who are still kicking at 54+, the choices are to live and love within an integrated life with your mate where you both bring something special out in each other that the other could not find or have without you, to live parallel lives in the same house, or to split. any new, and improved approach to the same old life together usually loses its shine quickly because we change at our age and the same old thing doesn't make sense anymore. i don't know if that gives you any perspective. it sounds like you are thinking, feeling, and not sure if the result is loving. a loveless life is not the right choice :-)

We are home from NC. We left last night at 5:45 and got home this morning at 9:00. Of course, there were a lot of pit stops and a stop for breakfast in CT. Neil was also conserving fuel and only driving 60-65....we averaged almost 30 mph with our Ford 500. It was 50 degrees and chilly when we got here. Not the 80s that we've been getting used to all week.
We had a great visit with our grandbabies...they are growing up way too fast. My birthday baby is almost walking...Caleb is reading up a storm...and Camille is the ultimate princess who likes to practice her posing. I so hope that they are really moving in June and that this will be our last long trip down to visit! I think we are getting too old to drive 14 hours at a time.
Pat, you have to listen to you.....not others! It has to be what you and Dave really want to do with your lives. Life is all about the choices that we make!
Sending only Happy thoughts to all and your loved ones needing it..........................

Patti, I love your Plymouth Rock analogy. I know exactly what you mean by that! And thanks for summarizing A New Earth for us! I think I'm resisting reading the book cuz I can't stand the guy's voice--not that I'll be hearing it when I read the book. Avi has it on disks, and he likes his voice. I also can't stand Deepak Chopra's voice, so I guess I have to just read the books and not think of their voices. I didn't realize you're still having a lot of doubts about the decision to move. Do your friends think you should stay married, but not move? I hope the counselor will help you get more clear on what's best for you. It must be really stressful.

Hi everyone, we're back from DC finally. Even though it was several days, we made a lot of running around the norm so it was very tiring, but exciting. I found however that I used my Plymouth Rock analogy a couple times though. Which is to say that sometimes I have a build up in my expectations that isn't met. If you've ever been to Plymouth Rock you find that it is not some huge boulder for the Pilgrims to step out onto but a basic looking rock by the sea that is in captivity for all of us to look at and wonder. One looks down at it surrounded by iron bars to protect it from being chipped away by enthusiastic historians. Nature will polish it off eventually. So anyway, it has become my way of saying I was a bit let down. Our tour of the White House (self led) and especially the Library of Congress met this description. Especially the library where I kept wondering where are all the books? It turns out they are in 23 separate reading rooms that are not open to the public. so what you go to look at is the magnificent architecture and art work. The fellow who toured us at Congress told us about The Capital Grill where we promptly became regulars for dinner. I highly recommend their beer Fuel.

I think A New World requires a particular willingness. I'm not sure I can explain myself. The classes are held too late at night for me to be part of but I've discovered I can download them through iTunes and watch/listen at my convenience. Though I haven't stuck with it I have very much enjoyed what I have done with it. I think it makes a lot of sense; isn't a new thought so much as getting back to knowing and acting on what we already know. In a nut shell, "play nice with others". There, that was easy. Really though it is a complicated process: I believe: of doing just that. Where it gets really difficult is the whole letting going of yourself and your beliefs about who/what you are or what you are supposed to be. I guess if you can do that it allows you to free yourself up to your "real" potential as a person without the trappings of expectations, real or imagined. Well that was awkward, just ignore me.

Happy belated birthday Lori! I'm glad so many good things happened for you and mostly that you say you feel you have got yourself back. I know precisely what you mean and I'm honestly delighted. It must feel wonderful to be able to feel that way.

I need to call my counselor this week and arrange to begin again. I need someone to talk with that isn't involved in anyway. Those folks who have weighed in here in P.I. think I'm making a mistake to go with Dave. I'm really quite freaked out about it and even had a bit of an emotional break out on our trip saying I just wanted to go home! We are looking at two places today and 4 tomorrow. I'd like the whole looking process to go badly and Dave to give it all up. I know I could stop this whole thing cold but I've been back and forth on it so many times I feel guilty. Not much chance of that changing. I've found it amazing how stress acts on my body. The fibromyalgia is remarkably reactive. Sleeping in my own bed last night was wonderful.

Karen I'm sorry your mom is ill. Having you there will help I know. You'll have Kathi and Janice's support too while you're there. Please know the rest of us are here and keeping all of you in our best and most hopeful wishes.

Karen, I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I wish her the best for a speedy recovery. She sounds like a really strong person, so hopefully she'll pull through it okay. I'm sure she'll be happy to have you there.

Patti recommended A New Earth a while ago, but actually I just started reading it now, so I don't have an opinion yet. My therapist recommended it, too. He said The Power of Now is more theoretical, and this one is more practical. I think it's an individual thing. Avi has been influenced a lot by The Power of Now, but it hasn't had as much of an impact on me. This week I told my therapist (the one I've been going to for individual therapy) that I think I can stop coming cuz I'm feeling really good about myself and my life now. Can you believe it??? Only took 54 years!!! I don't know exactly what happened, but I feel like something finally clicked inside and all the pieces of the puzzle came together and now I've got myself back. The self I want, not the needy, insecure one. I hope this doesn't sound too weird. We're still going for the couples therapy, but if this keeps up, I think I'm ready to stop that, too! By the way, thanks for the birthday wishes.

Glad you had a good day for your Birthday, Lori! Its always nice to get lavished with attention, love and gifts! We girls went shopping this morning....always interesting with two little ones...we tried leaving the oldest one with Papa but I think he really wanted some peace and quiet. Right now he is taking the baby for a walk...I am waiting for Caleb to get off the bus from school. 10 more minutes of quiet....lol....it has been showery, windy and in teh 70s for the past 2 days. I think it has been warmer up in VT....it'll probably change by Friday went we go back home.
Have a good trip to Florida, Karen...talk to everybody soon. Happy Thoughts....

The kids came over last night for my birthday. I got a lot of nice presents and cards from them and Avi. Avi also wrote me a really nice card this year, so I'm feeling really appreciated. Feels good! On Friday night his family will have a cake for me, and on Sunday my friend, Irene, is making me a meal. I've been hearing about her grilled salmon for so long and have never tasted it, so this is my chance. My sister-in-law thought I should be pampering myself more for my birthday (massage, etc.), but that's more her thing than mine. I could go up in a hot air balloon and circle the world, but family and friends are all the balloons I want right now.

We arrived in Durham about 8:00 Sunday morning...in time for breakfast. Spent the day with my sister-in-law. Went to the mall and had a cookout...except that it started raining (that they desperately need) just as we waited for the charcoal to get ready. Spent the rest of the day visiting ...sleeping...eating. This morning we left her house about 8 and drove 2 hours to our daughters. I knocked on the door...I could see Camille (3 yr old) sitting at the table drawing...I knocked again she looked up and good this big grin...ran over opened the door and just hugged and hugged. It is the sweetest thing. Caleb was at school so I waited for the bus at 2:30...he ran off the bus, up the driveway looking for us....He has gotten too tall.....he is almost up to my neck with the top of his head...We all went to the Golden Corral for supper....it also rained here quite heavily this afternoon. Another funfilled day. Going to school to see Caleb's kindergarten and to library storyhour....with Camille. Chloe has the silliest crawl...she pulls herself along sort of on her butt pushing with one leg and sitting on the other. Pretty funny. More details to bore you to follow....Happy Thoughts......

wahoo. i tested my first luv shak beam to see if my design will meet the building code. it is 40% stronger than required. that means i can focus on the look of the design knowing that i am structurally where i need to be. wahoo!

We are leaving late this afternoon...not this morning, like I thought, getting to my sister-in-laws for breakfast tomorrow. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to have us arrive by 7 am....
I talked to my grandson this morning. He said that his teacher said I can come any time, so like I said before, I'll be Nana from VT for show and tell. My kids at school thought that was funny. It'll be interesting to see the differences of the two kindergartens.
Patti, have a good time in DC...relax and enjoy.
Lori, Happy Passover and almost birthday.
Karen, I've missed IMing this week....too bad you weren't closer and we could meet up!
Hopefully, this will be our last time driving down to NC...at least to see Grandbabies.
Stay tuned for all the excitement.....Happy Thoughts to all....

News from the AT. The boys are in Damascus VA which is approximately 543 miles from the start. They hear that 60% of the starting thru-hikers have already dropped out. I'm so proud of them and hope they can make it all the way.

I'm glad to hear the passover plans are going better Lori. It seems that family gatherings are always a trial. No matter what the reason to gather.

I spent time outside on our deck the last couple of afternoons. It has been wonderfully warm up here but quite sudden. There is much concern in the area for flooding. I'm high on a hill so no worries for me.

Dave and I leave for DC Sunday morning. We'll be post cherry blossoms but I'm betting with temps in the 70's all that "growing" going on will be just gorgeous even without cherry blossoms. We arrive back TH night and leave for Bangor the next morning. 5 more house to look at over the weekend. Yuck.

Doesn't sound like Richard is gonna dish. What a tease.................................

Travel safely everyone!

I like that--the Nana from Vermont for show and tell!

Thanks for giving me that happy end, Richard. I'm happy for you.

Good for you Richard...Good for you Lori for asking the questions we are all wondering!
It was almost 80 here today...amazing! Our class walked down to Riverside to the playground there for the afternoon. It takes 1/2 hour to walk down with 18 5-6 year olds...then we play for 45 minutes and walk back...which is always harder because they are hot, tired and have to go uphill. I am ready for a nap now!
Got to go find my warm weather clothes to pack for NC...we are leaving Saturday night...we'll stop in Durham at Neil's sisters and then head over to Farmville Monday morning. Caleb will be in school until 2:30 but we can play with the girls...it'll work out well...I get to be show and tell one day...how exciting sharing Nana from Vermont...I could be nice and get some maple candy...I can hyper up other peoples children...haha...

lori, that is vermont understatement to say that there was no progress since our connection was already fantastic from such a long time ago. i had a great birthday and we have a great relationship. you can be happy.

Maybe I'm just stupid or something, but I don't quite get how there can be no progress in the relationship if you adore each other--or is she not available to be in a relationship? Sorry if I'm being too nosey. I just want to hear a happy end--that it's working out great and you're happy.

The Passover thing seems to be working out in the end. The ones who were mad got over it and will be coming in the end.....

karen, what can i say? it was a great day, with a great person, and we went to a great show. there was no progress in our relationship because we still adore each other as much as when we were eighteen years old and that has never changed. actually seeing each other was pretty different.

I'm sure you'll find the right house eventually, Patti. Enjoy your time in DC. Don't think about houses while you're there!

Passover is coming up for us next Saturday. We're going to Avi's sister's house, but there's all kinds of family politics going on at the moment--someone is always mad at someone else in his family--so I'm not sure yet who else will be there. Why is acceptance so hard? We all want to change people to make them like ourselves.....