We are all here to lend an ear when our friends need it...so, good or bad, that's what we do.
I am sorry that things are not working out the way you wish it would Pat. I am sure you are frustrated about everything. Good Luck in getting everything together. Remember, to
take care of yourself, too.

Well, I won't be able to chicken out much longer with all of you behind me cheering me on. Can't say I see any resemblance to snowboarding, though!

Patti, it's good to have you back! Sorry you've been going through so much trouble, though. With the economy in such a mess, I guess this is a bad time to make a move. And not having a job must make the stress much worse. I wish I could say something more helpful. I hope something works out for you.

colonoscopies are like snowboarding. you can't think about it. you just have to do it and you are so glad that you did, after the fact. the prep? well, that really isn't anything like snowboarding.

Many apologies and Hello and thank you to Lori, Karen, Karen, Kathi, Richard for the notes of concern I've received. You all know that I'm not a big fan of being a voyeur here but for the last several weeks that's how it's been. Having said that though I have to tell you just being able to take a quick peek every evening and know that you all are well has been a lifeline for me. I didn't want to come here and whine and complain. But unfortunately so much has gone wrong that I couldn't find something to say that wasn't a downer.

I won't bore you with the details so "In a nutshell", We lost the house we were buying, I lost my job, we're trying to buy another house but things with that are dicey as well. Our house has not sold and isn't even being shown because the market is so horrible up here. Dave is staying at an unheated camp and those of you in New England know that the temps are way down at night now.

Moving on - we closed up the camper in NH this past weekend. It was a spectacular weekend weather wise and great to get away and enjoy being with friends. We went to the Sandwich Fair and enjoyed fried bread dough and farm animals.

Lori, I've had a couple of colonoscopies, the worst part is the prep and the best part is the long nap and the good news that you're healthy! The first time was kind of scary though because of being so unsure of what might be. It's an unfortunate right of passage though.

I was heartbroken to hear that Brian Helberg died. I had heard that he was living in the Spfld. area taking care of his dad.

I love you all, miss you, and I'm glad to be back. - Patti

I know, I know, you're right. I've been doing the stool test, hoping that was enough, and the doctor has let me get away with that so far---but I'll do it. My father also said I should do it, and he's the only doctor I listen to cuz I know he's never in favor of doing a bunch of UNnecessary tests, but this one IS necessary. He's also the one who told me about the Vit. D, so I figured if he thinks it's worth checking, I'll check it. Sometimes I wish I were more like my sister--she doesn't bother with a lot of these tests and doesn't get nervous about not doing them. I think too much.

Lori, Lori, Lori.....trust me, having colon cancer would be much worse then ever undergoing a colonoscopy. (I watched my Mother have it for 10 years)...anyways, you drink some crap, spend hours in the bathroom...go and get lots of drugs and know nothing until its over, so its really not bad at all. So just make the appointment!
Karen, the apple festival here wasn't much...some crafters, authors, some food....the weather was beautiful. My niece and I went to Chester and did some shopping at my favorite Simply Country store. It makes me want to throw away all my stuff in my house and start again! Dreaming.....
Another nice day! 70 for tomorrow....yeah!!!

I can't help with that technical stuff, but I don't understand why it's so complicated to get onto the blog. We're not some elite club that doesn't allow new members in, so why can't these people get in??? Guess that's the problem with new technology....

Karen, did you test your Vit. D level? Now they're saying it's important to have the right level cuz it (probably) protects against cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and we don't always get enough from the sun anymore cuz we're so busy covering ourselves with sunscreen. I thought mine would be high enough living in a sunny place like L.A., but it wasn't--so now I'm taking Vit. D. I've also been doing the usual check-ups, but I can't get myself to go for a colonoscopy.

Glad things ran smoothly getting back home. I am sure you had a wonderful time in VT. This past weekend was just beautiful. Sunny, warm with beautiful colors surrounding us. If it could only stay like this for a few months! I would be happy. Have a great week everybody!
Happy Thoughts....

I'm back home in L.A. Our flights went smoothly this time, and we got home when we were supposed to. My son Rafi picked us up from Burbank airport, and Danit came over to see us. Haven't seen Omer (the youngest) yet, but he lives a little farther away, so I wasn't expecting to. Now I'm going through mail, bills, all that boring stuff....

hi. i just wanted you to know that i will soon be playing hockey with my cat in the kitchen and checking my raspberry plants for just a few more berries. i will be singing willie nelson songs in the shower like "blue skies smilin' at me- nothin' but blue skies do i see. bluebirds singin' a song- nothin' but bluebirds all day long." i hope all of your skies are blue, too. i was in one of napoleon III's (napolean's cousin) houses yesterday. some people had it all, but screwed it up just the same. his wife left him and required a bigger place further up on the hill. i could handle either location with enough hired help. wow.

It would be lots of fun to get more and more of our friends blogging! I found if you go to settings you can invite people. Come and join us!

Avi and I are flying back to L.A. on Sunday, Kathi. My sister and her husband will also be going home that day--back to Israel. This morning it's raining or at least rainy-looking, so I think I'll just stay in the house and read a little while my sister and her husband go out and do some more shopping. If it gets nicer later, we'll go for a walk somewhere with my brother and his wife. Avi is fasting today for Yom Kippur. We thought maybe he'd skip it this year, but he's too used to doing it and it's hard to break tradition. He's done it all his life. I actually fasted last year, but it's too hard for me not to eat all day. Can't see the point in suffering....

Yeah, Patti, where are you? Is the move going okay/

It was the most perfect fall day in Vermont. The weather was crisp but the sun was warm...the trees are beautiful. We (the Kindergarten classes) went to Wellwood Orchards today for a field
trip. We got to ride around the orchard in a wagon pulled by a diesel tractor...just smell....which stopped so the kids could pick a few apples...funny to see how many they could fit in their pockets....and how many they could eat and fit into their little stomachs. All and all it was a pretty good day....it is suppose to rain tonight and showers tomorrow morning. Hopefully, a good weekend. Glad you are enjoying yourselves Lori! How long are you staying? Pat, where are you???? All moved? Let us know!

Hi everyone. I'm having fun here in Vermont. We've been busy seeing the foliage--everywhere from the Northeast kingdom to Middlebury, Stowe, Woodstock, Quechee, Rutland, etc. etc. It's beautiful here. Yesterday I went kayaking on the Winooski River with my brother and sister. The spouses didn't come cuz they didn't think it was the right season for kayaking--didn't feel like falling into freezing water. We didn't fall in, but we did get soaking wet when our kayaks went over a sort of dip in the river. But it was a beautiful day, so we didn't care. It was part of the experience!

Heavy frost here this morning...brrrrrrr. Had to go find my mittens...and the scrapper!
Thanks for the travel logs everybody....so far my big travels are from South Street to
Union Street and back...so exhausting. Go safely, my friends! Remember, "there's no place
like home"!

i would love to go to a willie nelson concert. he is a fav of mine. i swear the top on his guitar only remains out of habit. the sights of sites here are special, but you should be able to guess that my best days are spent with friends. fortunate for me- i have been traveling with a few different friends of mine, most of the time. stone buildings are lovely to look at, but they ain't willie nelson. singing along with songs as we drive through the middle of nowhere has been nice and sharing tuna sandwiches bought from a street vendor as we climbed the hill through an old town was sweet as well. i have a couple more weeks to go and to tell you the truth i "just can't wait to get on the road again. the life i love is makin' music with my friends ... "

hi. i have been cruising around and i have been having a really great time. the house i was in at lake garda was so great. it is hung on a cliff and has great views. i walked into town on a couple of days and interacted with locals- none of whom spoke english. we managed. driving through little towns where the car had 3 inches on either side to get past the buildings on the main street was interesting. i went to some other great spots around northern italy, too. verona was super. big colliseum. no trace of romans, christians or lions. no real trace of romeo or juliet in the town either, but some fake stuff on them. venice and the cathedral at san marco are both still out of this world. the mosaic patterns on the floors at san marco are stellar. there is another cathedral in venice that i loved which is santa lucia (she is the northern italian version of santa claus). bergamo is an old town that had some good work done during the renaissance golden years and it is an aerie location for a great lunch and stroll. you take a funicular to get up into the old walled hilltop town there. all these places are drop dead gorgeous. then there were minor things like lunch in lugano, driving through snow in the san bernardino pass, and having just spent an awesome day in a special swiss town that have all been so nice. i am hiking in the alps later this week. there will certainly be snow there. i'm lovin it.

Karen glad that your computer is back!
Sounds like you are busy,busy, busy with cleaning and purging! I have been doing the same thing. Today, while my son was here to help, we started cleaning out the garage. What fun...At least I didn't have to lug things up the stairs!
I have all these candlelabras sitting in my diningroom. It took me two hours to take the decorations off them...I wanted to pack them away but the florist still has the boxes...I hope! She is suppose to get back to us tomorrow. I am kind of hoping that she wants to buy them because I really don't want to store them all.
We were lucky that the hurricane didn't really amount to much around here. It was very humid with temps around 72. A few rain showers but no downpours. Not sure how Maine made out.
I have been playing with my photoshop program, trying out new effects when printing. It is fun to do....
Have a great week Karen with your company and going to Nashville...again, I am living through my friends trips..so let me know all the excitement! Lori, enjoy your holiday...I am sure you do a great job entertaining. Pat, where are you??

You seem to be going to a lot of weddings lately, Karen. By the way, are you still having problems getting gas? They were talking about Georgia on the news the other day--about the gas shortages--and that made me think of you.

We're going to Avi's sister's house tomorrow night for the Rosh Hashana meal. She likes cooking and doing the holidays at her house. I always thank God there are different kinds of people in the world and that some of those people like doing the things I don't like doing! I've got the Friday night meals with Avi's family down to an art, but anything else? Forget it!

I don't think I want any bells or rain on tin roofs right now. I'll go for the peace and quiet.

We were at the photography store a little while ago. I wanted to go back in time and get a regular automatic camera with film instead of a digital, but they didn't have any so I'm back to the modern age. I just want to have pictures to put in an album without having to go through a million stages of uploading, downloading, whatever it is that has to be done. Is that too much to ask?

Rainy, rainy day. Imagine being inside a trailer with 18 5 year olds...the noise level is amazing.
We had cherrios and milk for snack...and just the sound of pouring those cherrios into the hard plastic cups was loud. Everything echos...the rain sounds like ...well, like rain pouring on a tin roof...inside recess and playing...trying to get kids to their parents and cars at the end of the day...I was just so glad that its Friday. I don't know if its because I might be getting old..but I am exhausted at the end of the day....Richard, you know how those bells sounded to you...well...now I am home and it is quiet! I did have to turn on the heat it was so damp in here....Andrew will be 27 in February....hes my baby. I have been wondering about you too Patti...hope all is well in moving land. Have a great weekend everybody.

well i can hear something. the damn bells are ringing again- nonstop. of course, it is 7:30 at night and that would seem like plenty in itself to ring a bell nonstop. i remember my first hangover. my head was ringing for days. if that was good enough for this wonder that they call bells, then why should they ever stop. no shit, they are still ringing here in heidi land. oh wow, they just stopped. i guess heidi is going to bed now. by the way, the difference between getting called to prayer five times a day and being swiss is that being swiss means that you better pray that you never stick out too much- except if you like ringing bells and then there is a kind of infinite freedom.

Kathi, congratulations on your son's engagement! How old is he?

I'm back at the gym, too, but 3 times a week doesn't seem to be enough right now cuz I seem to be gaining instead of losing! Maybe cuz I stopped hiking (since my friend is still in Israel) and got out of the habit of walking with Avi at night. We've just gotten lazy....

Richard, I hear the church bells ringing all the way over here. I guess you can't hear any muezzins over there. I like the sound of the muezzin. We used to hear it in Jerusalem.

Patti, where are you? In the process of moving?

www.myphotoevents.com
user name: Suzanne
password: John

hi, i tried to connect for photos and did not make it happen. i will try later on. i always thought that location was something special. i think you get more spirits from across the ages when you are there and i happen to think that more is better, in this case. it is six am in switzerland and i am up writing a report (think midnight on the east coast and beer-thirty in hawaii). well wouldn't you know that the church next to my hotel room just started ringing its bell. it will go on for a while. as if having cows with bells isn't enough. so far, all is well on my trip. i leave for italy tomorrow and only have one more day of working my ass off. better start.

The wedding now seems like a dream....I really did have a great time and wanted the party to keep going...They are both really happy. The wedding fever is in the air here. My son and his girlfriend just became engaged last night. He called and said..hypothetically, how would you feel about a reception that was not held in the backyard...and I said, hypothetically, that would be great.....then he told me they were engaged. I told my girls after seeing the pictures taken at the wedding that they could use that picture as their engagement one...and that's what they will do.
They are acutally coming up on Sunday....so I will make something good for dinner and we'll celebrate.
The wiring the jaw thing would probably be the only way I'll loose weight ...I do like my class...and know its good for the bones!

I find it very interesting listening to Richards travel logs..as one who has not traveled much at all. I am saving lots by living my travels through others. Now if only he would post pictures....
speaking of, if anyone wants to look at the Wedding photos, you can go to www.myphotoevents.com....user name: Suzanne and password: John. There are some (in my opinion) nice ones...
Hope all is well with everyone...its actually very quiet here..the weather is nice, in the high 60s during the day, 40s at night. We have not had a major frost here in Springfield. The leaves are starting to really show color...though the headlines on Yahoo said something about the climate change dulling the Northeast folliage. School is hectic...they are still working on the building...there is still no playground or gym or lunchroom but we are all managing to survive.
Our exercise class (with weights) started again last night and because I really don't do weights except for class, my arms feel like they are going to fall off...but that is suppose to be good for me, so I will go again tomorrow...
Richard travel safely....enjoy your sheep/cow fairs.....

Karen, I don't remember who hosted him. He was with the class of '71. I just remember him hanging out with Peter Vatne and playing chess.

Lake Garda sounds beautiful. The whole trip sounds beautiful!

lori, i had originally planned to be about 120 miles from ivrea, in ascona (former hang out for isadora duncan, carl jung and a bunch of vegetarians). that plan fell through when my travel partner left his girlfriend. i ask you, couldn't he have waited just a little longer? he left her and her friend's house in ascona went away cuz of that, too. ivrea looks like it could be pretty great. on a clear day, maybe guido can see the matterhorn (just about straight north). i will be in a place that is quite a bit east of ivrea. i will be on lake garda and that will be REALLY special for me. i know i am lucky for this chance. believe me when i say that every drop of wine will taste like nectar from the gods. i need a vacation. i have been a bit cranky, lately.

hi, holing up is pretty great. i love being home. i keep the place pretty nice, but have not been able to keep up with getting ready for winter, yet. my flowers are stellar and raspberries are hanging like a five o'clock cow. of course, ya' don't grab 'em quite the same way. oh, behave! so, i went to montreal today to see a prospect for solar cable, then i stopped at the atwater market for lunch- nice farmers market atmosphere. it is on the lachine canal- which was how boats founr their way across montreal before the st lawrence seaway. i walked the canal for about an hour. loved it.

i hit a new town (for me) near zurich on wednesday- just gonna crash and space out. then i go see my co's solar boys nearby. friday is heidi land in eastern switzerland and then guido land in italy for next week. i will be on vacation then, so i guess that is kind of like holing up for a while. when i go back to switz. i will get a couple days in the alps and then across the county i go to the olma festival which is like a state fair on steroids. i can't even imagine how many swiss cows will be ringing their bells. jamming a yummy bratwurst and drinking many liters of delicious beer- is that heaven (as women in dirndls clog nearby- liftin 'em up and settin 'em down)? i just sleep when i fall asleep and take it from there.

Richard, Guido lives near Ivrea in northwest Italy. He said that's near Torino and near the Alps. You can find him on Classmates. He'd probably like to see you. He said Peter Vatne has visited him a few times. I don't know how you manage with jet lag. Don't you go crazy from changing time zones so often?

Kathi, you're always making the best things. Apple pie! And we just have to hear about it without tasting it!

hi.

pat had a question for me and butch and how come i went to his place. well that was just where i ended up. lots of folks go through there and are none the wiser. as the affable sort, i try to find out what a place is about. so there i was and i discovered that i was on the very same dance floor where butch met women. his life was short and was not without some nasty impact. while i was in this town, i met two young men in there 30s who had just been in a flash flood with their parents. both their parents died in the incident. life is short, do what matters. i was happy to leave that town alive.

anyway -lori- i am wondering where guido rietti lives. i will be in northern italy starting next saturday and he seems like the northern type to me. note to self- get a pizza tonight. rustic northern italian can wait. i am now traveling for the next month with only one day at home between switzerland and san diego. i think it is funny, cuz i thought i was already traveling just about as much as a person reasonably could.

well, anyway, it really is true. life is short. the idea that people in marraige embrace each other with eternal vision and with open hearts that reach into the future is pretty awesome. there is some einstein e=mc2 light and vision becoming what matters in all of that. we are all just wicked amped up stardust. note to self- look for shooting stars tonight. they are just so crazy.

I had a message all typed and saved it but I have no idea where I find it...so I'll start again.
Crochety is relative....I think we all have those moments to which there is nothing wrong with that! I was crochety today after apple picking when everyone disappeared to watch the football/baseball games or be on their computers but wanted apple pie....I wanted to be like the Little Red Hen and say fine...I'll eat it myself....but I guess that wouldn't be a good thing.
Unfortuntely, the Patroits lost big time today.....so maybe the apple pie will make up for some of that. haha. We picked up the proofs from the photographer last night and some of them are amazing. I'll be able to share them when I find out what the website is....well, I guess I'll take my crochety self and go make the rest of dinner...I don't see the cook at work....

I don't think I've ever liked that--not just in my "crotchety years"! But I am feeling more sociable on a personal level (not the obligation stuff with people I don't know well). I've been encouraging friends from outside L.A. to come visit me, and it's starting to happen! My friend Wendy from Israel will be here for 5 days in October before she joins her boyfriend at some computer conference in northern California. And my friend Debbie from N. Jersey said she might want to come in December. Karen Vatne is also considering coming sometime. Anyone else?! In the meantime, Avi and I will be heading back to Vermont in October (1st to 12th) to meet my sister Amy and her husband, who will be coming there from Israel. And do you guys remember Guido Rietti? He was an Italian exchange student who was at our school one year. He left his name on my page on Classmates, so we've been in touch a few times. He lives in Italy with his wife, and has one son. He's in the computer field. Anyway, I'm just trying to get out of my box a little....

I love weddings, too. I usually cry at them, but for some reason I didn't cry at my own daughter's wedding. I think I was too nervous standing under the hupah to think about crying--besides the fact that my feet were killing me from standing still for so long. The rest of the wedding I was having too much fun dancing, so there was nothing to cry about!

Yes, your grandchildren look really cute, Kathi. And the bride and groom look really good, too!

Where's Waitsfield, Karen?

In the front is Caleb and Camille, ring bearer and flower girl. Their Mom is in the black dress next to the bride. Aren't they just the cutest???

Here is a picture of Suzanne and John coming out of the Rockingham Meeting House following their wedding ceremony.

kathi, it is so awesome to hear how beautiful and great the wedding turned out. it sounds like it was really special and i am certain that it was. so great.

I was a little busy with my daughters wedding this weekend. It was beautiful. I had no idea that this tent (the was high in the middle like a circus tent) could transform into a almost magical place. The atmosphere was amazing. Candlelabras with flowers wrapped around them for centerpieces ...the best jazz band I've heard playing for the dinner hour and beyond (requested by guests)...great food and an open bar helped everyone relax...lots of family and friends. Suzanne and John were married at the Rockingham Meeting House, which is pretty amazing. The weather was sunny and warm...we had downpours on Friday...and again today, so again, we were very lucky. We ended up getting some indoor/outdoor carpet to put down as you walked through the lattice gates to follow the luminary walkway, to keep from sinking into the wet ground. Other then that things ran wonderfully. It was a completely different ceremony including "tying the knot" with celtic ribbon....and Lori, they even broke the glass at the end to honor Neil's heritage. ...anyways, the whole day went well and everyone had a wonderful time.
I'll do pictures as soon as I have some.
My grandbabies just left for NC a little while ago....that always makes me sad...

Richard, don't take it personally. We love you. I'm just not too good on the witty comebacks, so I was waiting for someone else to respond!

Patti, sounds like you're getting into the move now. That's good! Change can be exciting (not just scary).

Now Richard, it's just that the weekend came, not that any of us were not interested. I'm a Butch and Sundance fan and found myself wondering how you came across such a place and why in fact you were looking for it? Does this place have little historical vignette's or just brass placques?

I was getting ready for and then in fact engaged in my final pre-move yard sale. We moved out a lot of items and don't have to think about them any more. So that's good. Dave and I are already bickering of the use of the rooms inthe new house. You know, "That's room's too small, why make a guest room out of the best room upstairs when it will sit idle most of the time." That sort of thing. What fun we're having. Although the new house has more overall square footage, much of it is in small bedrooms upstairs, not in day to day living space. All the rooms in our current house are larger than the rooms we're moving into. Frustrating.

okay. well i can see that my bonding with butch cassidy didn't particularly impress any of the chicks here. i hope it makes you feel better to know that i am now back at home wearing womens lingerie. oh my god, i broke a fingernail. may the ghost of butch please come shoot me or at least kiss my boo boo.

where's ricardo. i am standing in the dance hall where butch cassidy would come down from his hideout in the hills nearby to dance. fact. there is one corner of the dance floor which is now my room for the night. do you think this one has some mojo or what? i am in an outlaw town called torey utah. i already met a divorcee/waitress at the broken down diner. she raises race horses. she told me i could hang there all night. hmmmmm, what does that mean? i didn't pause after paying the check. the former dance hall was converted into a school house, but it was built as a dance hall and the mountain peak where butch hung his hat is in sight from my window. no plan, just luck. i found it on the internet with little to go on. brian k. hates me for this kind of dumb stumble into it life experience that happens to me. he would say, "of course you ended up in the one place where butch cassidy actually would show his face in all of utah and you didn't have a clue before you got there."

Thanks guys for the sympathy it helps. I'll be picking up glass for days to come. One less thing to move I guess. Had a moving appraiser guy here today figuring out the estimated weight of my goods. Yikes, Maybe 17,000 lbs. 2 days to pack, 1 to load, then the drive and another of unloading. Wow what fun!

My yard sale is this weekend so hopefully there'll be less "stuff" hanging around after Sat. Then the partying begins.

We're going out to dinner with friends Sat. night. I'm having a party here at the house after school on Th. There is no school Friday so I figured the timing was good. Dinner with friends the following weekend and two more get togethers during the week with folks from school and my knitting group. It's nice to know that people care.

10 more days of work then an interview at LLBean on the 29th. Back here the 30th to get serious about the packing. Change is good.

Like those glasses that break into a million pieces and scatter all over the place. What a pain.

pat, i had a glass top shatter on my third floor deck when i lived in brooklyn heights (25 short years ago). what a mess- jagged shards of all sizes and all over the place. i have cleaned many messes in my life, but that one stands out as one of the worst. i am so sorry.

right now I am really ticked off!

I came home from school to find that the wind has knocked my grill off the deck and onto it's back. The umbrella new this summer, is destroyed and the glass top table has shattered; of course that means there is glass all over the place. It's cold and windy and rainy. these are the moments I wish I had my man around to help with the day to day emergencies!

Hi everyone. I've just been "listening in" all week. It's just one of those times when I feel like I have nothing to say....... so in the meantime I'm getting educated in what liquor to drink, where to travel, what to expect or not expect from Home Depot, school stories--in short, this is my entertainment channel while I try to get back into my routine here. Yesterday I finally did go to Curves for the first time in 2 months. My daughter found something better, so she won't be coming with me anymore. My son Omer is recovering from having 3 wisdom teeth taken out, so he slept here last night. I'm glad I never went through that. Looks really painful.

Enjoy the weddings!

hi. i am in salt lake city. all this talk of marriage has me thinkin i should go out and git me some wives. is it the water out here? the guy at the front desk of my hotel says he only has one wife and acts gay to avoid getting more. yesterday i was in the redwoods near santa cruz. loved it. what a sanctuary. trees that are 300 feet tall and 15 feet in diameter are special. i stayed at a b+b near the edge of the redwood forest that was really nice. i hit deep relaxation after the jacuzzi and laying in a hammock looking at a patch of blue sky just above the tree tops. i drove down through five miles of chaparral to the coast where i had a tasty seafood pasta feast for dinner. being a road warrior has its moments. i will take some vacation days to do to utah parks later this week. i am sure that marriages will be super (just not for me).

Its Sunday morning and raining but yesterday was lovely. I hope your wedding weekend is sunny and dry and all things the bride is hoping for.

I am really annoyed with myself....my laptop was fine last night but when I went to start it this morning I kept getting this fatal error....anyways....to make a short story long...after talking with the technical support person at HP...who is in the Phillipines...for a hour...I had to restart my computer back to the factory settings...I have lots of stuff saved but of course, not everything....So, everybody back up your computer tonight!!!! Now I have to put all the information in just like a new computer...very frustrating way to end busy, busy week...I'll tell you about my trip to Home Depot to get the arbor for the wedding. They were suppose to save one for me, ended up being the display model, which the guy guaranteed could be taken apart to fit into my expolorer...well, after he smashed his fingers and broke off one piece, it was decided that it could not come apart and too bad for me. Home Depot does not "take apart things, it will only put them together"....just so you know! Needless, to say, the bride was not happy and called Home Depot to complain about their service.....I could drive to Keene....or Rutland...but decided to get two lattice pieces and use like a open door...even better then the arbor that I wouldn't use again...so there Home Depot. I did buy some beautiful Rose of Sharon bushes for in front of the panels..they are really pretty......so, please pray that all these hurricanes go away out to sea and not up here next weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, that is the end of my wonderful day. ....I hope you all have a great weekend. I need to go and finish reinstalling all my things on the laptop. Happy Thoughts.....sigh.

Welcome back to school Kathi! I'm glad your little cuties were cute. Mine are not so cute. we already had to send a kid out for 3 days. It's loosely referred to assault when you punch another kid. Week 2 is off and running. Or I guess we're closing week two at this point. 3 more weeks to get through. My last day is the 26th. I tell myself it'll be great. It's my new mantra.

I'm hosting my own going away party since then I can invite anyone I want to. The 18th of Sept. Should be a grand affair. Actually I'm opening my home, inviting my friends and standing back. Everyone else is bring all the goodies. Yum.

LLBean wants to interview me for a job. I may have been precipitous in applying while I'm still up here. I'll have to hope they will wait until I get down there. If not, oh well. It'll be great.

Trust me I am no saint! You are too funny.....

Its funny that once I get back into the school groove, its like I never left....the class is very cute, but imagine 18 5 year olds all in one little space....for 6 hours....imagine trying to get up off the floor after you've been sitting criss cross applesauce....imagine trying to play on a dirt flying driveway alley between two buildings with no playground equipment....imagine listening to the beep beep beep of trucks backing around buildings...imagine listening to cute little voices....imagine holding those little hands to walk in a line....imagine those little smiles....imagine answering all those why questions...imagine the end of the day.....imagine Kindergarten. I am satisfied.

Hi from L.A. this time. I got back yesterday. I had a really good time in Vermont. Now I have to readjust to my life here. It always takes me a while to get back into things after coming back from a vacation. I have more friends in Vermont and Israel than I do here, so that's part of the problem. Don't know why it's so hard to find inspiring, fun people out here. Okay, I'll shut up. I'll be okay in a few days....

I can not believe that in two weeks the wedding will be over....I only hope that the weather is as beautiful as todays. The trees are starting to change already. Seems early to me but maybe it has something to do with the wet summer. Details, details, details...I went shopping for plants for outside the tents today. Waiting for the maple candy to arrive so I can put together the wedding favors...
My grandson lost his 2nd tooth tonight. He called all excited that he hadn't swollowed it this time and the toothfairy could actually find it. He is going to turn 6 on 9/20, so we are having a birthday party the day after the wedding while all the family is still here. So, another event to plan.
School starts at Union Street School on Tuesday so its back to work...we have the portable classroom set up and it should work out fine for the year. Now, if they could get the construction going faster it would be nice. Hopefully, we won't have to make up the 3 days we have missed
so far.
Hope everyone is having a great long weekend. Be safe and have fun....

hi karen. i think that there is a history to furniture stores on shelburne road who are aggressive and unscrupulous. the lash family set the standard there over many, many decades. they have owned many of the furniture companies there. i don't know who owns this one, but to compete with wolves you gotta be one. i think that furniture stores around here really suck and it may just be part of that business. sorry i couldn't help more.

by the way, the naked truth for me is that i am a big fan of humans for exactly the way they are- all 6 billion different ways. to find one look as a definition of babiliciousness is boring and stupid and definitely not babilicious. i hate tv for its stereotypes. i really like cynical girls, which leads me to my point- which is that i think that the brain is the most important and largest of the "turn-on" body parts. how a person acts is more titilating than . . . well, you know.

If it was NAKED truth then there would be no underwires, just aged mammaries (not memories) that may not trigger much of anything but lack of appetite. In your field I am sure the underwires are much more effective.

Glad to read that you and Lori enjoyed lunch and catching up. Maybe you can help me Richard, my sister purchased some mattresses from a place called Burlington Bedrooms, the mattress outlet but is having some problems with them (kind of a bait and switch). I was wondering if you knew anything about their reputation? Are they sleezy? She was going to make sure they didn't run her card number until she gets satisfaction. I checked Better Business Bureau and they are not registered. Just thought you might have heard of the place ... think its on Shelburne Rd.

by the way, i am from a world where i have used wires that are too small and they have under triggered sensors and i have positioned sensor triggers that are wired under other mechanical devices. however, i am not quite sure i understand this one. i may need some hand holding and guidance to fully grasp the naked truth of what this underwire triggering is all about.