Karen - I had some chambourd and champagne while camping this weekend. Very yummy. It's awfully good in coffee too, with a little whipped cream on top! How was your trip to southern Maine?

Hey Mike. I didn't know you played golf. Maybe we can play a game at Rockingham......

Is there anybody out there? I must be listening to the Floyd.

There are many, many trees at the Plaza. Have you seen it lately? The only ones I saw hanging out at the Plaza were Woodsy Owl and Smokey the Reefer (whoops, I mean Bear). . . . but "he" may be right about this place here!?!

So how is your daughter? I eat lunch every day and I will still buy you a sandwich to find out. If your "zone" we can balance, weight-watchers- we'll count points, AA- we'll just have water, AAA- we'll call a tow truck, GAY- I'll give you 30 minutes to cut that out. Oh, behave!!!

hmmmm he wonders...is this the cyberspace version of hanging out at the Plaza?

Hi Richard, Just got in from camping in NH. We're about 4 hours from Quebec City. You'll want to bone up on your french, they are primarily french speaking and many folks won't even try to help you if you aren't bi-lingual. the Quebecquois (I'm spelling that wrong) attitude of sepatation makes travel in the area a challenge. However, it's beautiful and we do travel there now and again. Not as far up to see the whales though. We've talked about it and it's not really that far. Wanna plan a trip? We'd love a reason to finally go up!

Hey Pat, I was looking at Presque Isle on a map and it does not seem that far from Quebec City. It also looked like a "you can't get there from here." How far is it to get there? We talk about going there sometimes. Do you ever go paddle around with the whales in the St Lawrence?

You are good! That was surprisingly quick but not unexpected.

oooh, a reference to a Steven King novel. The Shawshank Redemption. Great flick

Hey Jerry, It is still bad at work with no relief in sight. I cope by fantasizing that I will finally be able to escape through a secret tunnel in the men's room that I have been digging behind the Marilyn Monroe poster. I hope you survived the church treasurer's report review!! It's great weather for a hike- in case you didn't notice and need a stress reliever.

Hi, Jerry. Yes, we miss you when we don't see you here on the blog. I know every time you write something, I'll learn something new either from what you say or from the answers others give to your questions. Can I ask what happened to your wife? I hope I'm not prying into something you'd rather not talk about.

River of Long Tides - that's what Kouchibouguac means. "Or something like that", says Dave. The Native American tribe is the Micmac tribe. We have many local Micmac indians here in P.I. Several of my students are living in the Micmac community across from my school.

Happy to see you here again.

I am happy when ......... classmates from the Class of '72 check up on me. I do still have a pulse. The heat wave got to me, and I'm not feeling any good local connections. Say, Mike, where on Cape Cod is that Cuddles and Bubbles place? Maybe if I had someone to share it with, I'd go there, too. In 1996, I did spend my first wedding anniversary at a nice place in Orleans, but there weren't any Cuddles and Bubbles there. We were back there for our second anniversary, also, but it wasn't very happy as we knew what would be happening in a matter of months. And Patty, that campground in New Brunswick, is that long name Native American in origin? And Richard, hope it wasn't too bad at work today. Hi Lori and others who've visited recently. I've got to present a treasurer's report with a growing deficit to the church Council tomorrow night. Money is a little slow during the summer weeks. Gee, I haven't been disconnected here yet. I don't want to push my luck! Bye for now.

I haven't heard from Jerry either here or in my mail. Frankly I'm a litttle concerned. Jerry are you out there???????

I'm not happy to be back at work, Monday morning, yeeeeeesh! Where is Jerry, has he been on vacation?

Hi Jane wonderful to see you here in blogger! I've been a terrible correspondent as you know very well. How are you and the kids?

I am happy reading what makes you all happy. Good to see your name again, Jane! Where are the rest of you? Come on, we want to hear from all of you.

I am happy when I am with one or both of my kids. And it doesn't matter what we do. God blessed me with 2 wonderful children! I am happy when I remember the beautiful fall foliage in Vermont. I am happy when reading about/or from one of my classmates. I am happy John Laplante made it through his 1st anniversary and that his health is good. And I'm always happy when I'm reading BLOGGER!!!

This is good - let's not stop now

I'm happy when I wake up every morning and listen to the birds that woke me up. I'm happy just to be happy and happy when I watch happy Gilmore play golf. I'm also happy that we had one heck of a good time at our 30th reunion.

Okay, Richard, I'll give it a try. I'm happy when I hear from old friends. I'm happy when I'm having fun talking or laughing with family or friends. I'm happy when I'm outside--sitting on the grass, sitting by the beach, walking somewhere where there are trees at least, not just donut shops, dry cleaners, pizza places, etc. I'm happy when I'm writing or reading a good book.

Hi Everybody, Yes, Pat I got those same e-mails from Brad, when there were 6 of them I realized what had happened, I hope his computer isn't wrecked.
Okay Richard I'll play. I'm happy when someone gives me a hug just because they are glad to see me (even though it's only been 10 mins.). When my 14 year old asks for my help/advise, or when she says I'm glad you're here/my mom.

"I am happy when my 19 year old son calls me mommy instead of mom, when my 21 year old son just "shows up at home", when I look at the flowers in my garden, when Dave and I fit a nice long walk into our day.


Nice idea, Richard.......

You know, I think it has been pretty normal for people from our class to drop into the blog, said hi and then disappear. My regret with this is that I really like people, I like my old classmates, I love hearing simple words from them (you). Exact meanings are a little hard to get and give, but I really have gotten a lot from what everyone else has posted. It has been great for me to hear from you all and I am sorry that it is cooling off.

Pat got onto the fact pretty early that I am a little twisted. This capacity for awareness may be important to surviving in Preque Isle, I don't know. However, I don't think that any one person's weaknesses, like my own, are where it falls apart. It seems like the more normal your message, the more easy it is to post and say hi, but maybe people feel like simple, normal stuff is ... well too simple.

You all know I like games, so here's one that I hope many will play. Complete this sentence, "I am happy when . . . " The logic behind the game is for others to remember you and what matters to you. I'll go first.

"I am happy when I hear new music that is cool, when my kids sit close and talk to me, when Gerda smiles at me." Is it too simple? I hope you don't think so. I hope you will play.

Hi folks, been away in New Brunswick for a few days trying out our new truck and travel trailer. Suddenly instead of a soccer mom with a 7 passenger van I am a trucker babe! Kouchibouguack Campground (say that three times fast) is beautiful - the ocean was great - not too cold for swimming. We're heading back to New Hampshire for a couple days labor Day weekend. Will be camping at Calumet on Lake Ossipee. It's our favorite place to go. If you're in the neighborhood stop by, we're on site 50.

Did anybody but me get mail with a virus attached from Brad Coyle? I got 6 pieces last week. Norton Anti-virus picked upthe problem and I deleted the messges. Brad said he wasn't sending anything. Apparently it was something sent to him that went through his address book.

Hope everyone is well out there. I have been really bad about keeping up with my personal mail. I owe Karen and Jane mail from way back. Now that school is starting up again and committees in church are up and running for the new season I'll be much more organized. I get much more done when I don't have the time.........

Hi, John. And thanks, Richard. And to all the others who were concerned about my safety in Israel--thank you. It's nice to know you care!

Hi Lori, welcome home!!! We missed you and, as you know, we were all concerned for your safety. And, maybe just a little concerned that you were having more fun than us.

It's less of leap, but I just returned from Montreal. We found a great apartment on the port in Old Montreal where we spent the weekend. It reminded me of living in Greenwich Village where it was always completely nuts with people dining and partying at night until???? and then complete quiet in the streets the next morning.

The only problem was it took 1-1/2 hours at the border. I think we will avoid Sunday afternoon there next time. Be good, have fun everyone!

Hey Lori,,,,

I will say hi. I don't mind. Where do we have the next party???????? Maybe at my house. lol.........

It's me again. Where is everybody? Did I scare you all away?!!!!!

Hey, it worked! Thanks, Brian. You probably did something or other to make it work. Patti told me to keep trying. That was the right advice. I've been enjoying reading about the reunion. I'm still waiting to see pictures, though. Are you posting them, Brian?

Hi everyone. I'm giving this another chance. I haven't been able to get into the blogsite since I got back from my trip. Just wanted to say hello. I'm glad to see you're all still here!

Hey Mike, First time I've heard you in here. Hey Thanks for the congrads.
The furthest we made it was to Home Depot to get some stuff for the new bathroom I am building. Holy Christ what a project. It is a totally different room then from the existing one and wow I have my hands full with all the plumbing. But hey thats how I learn, just dive in and hope you don't break your neck. Just a little pun there. Seeing how diving was almost my death bed. Anyway Thanks to all who thought of me and I will say that its been good to see and chat with you all again. Hey who knows maybe I will just find a place and we can have a little get together again, like maybe next year or so. Anyway gotta run. I am feeling like a muffler. You know a little exhausted. (heeee heeeeee) See ya........

Hey John congratulations to you and your lovely bride!!

I haven't been a bit worried about the CD. Besides my memories of the event are still very clear. It's a sign of my youth and vigor that I still remember what happened a couple of month ago. What a relief. Of course I don't remember what happened this morning, but ...........

Hey John, Really great!!!! Congratulations, I hope you both keep bringing out the best in each other. How about a little Gershwin for the occasion:

The more I read the papers,
The less I comprehend
The world and all its capers
And how it all will end.
Nothing seems to be lasting,
But that isn't our affair;
We've got something permanent -
I mean, in the way we care.

It's very clear
Our love is here to stay
Not for a year, but ever and a day

The radio
And the telephone
And the movies that we know
May just be passing fancies and in time may go

But oh my dear
Our love is here to stay
Together we're going a long long way

In time the Rockies may crumble
Gibraltar may tumble
They're only made of clay
But - our love is here to stay

OK?!?!

Oh yea Jerry forgot to mention that I will send you a CD also.

Hey Jerry and all. Thanks Very Much for the care. Yes we are still together and I finally made it a year.
I have this whole week off just to obsorb what has happened. I will keep in touch and don't worry Pat now
I have time this week to get your CD in the mail. I will chat with you all later. Thanks again Jerry.

I'll come in and get out very quickly before the lights start dimming. It must be because everyone in Bloggerland is running their air conditioning today. I just wanted to wish John and Peggy Laplante a wonderful day tomorrow as they celebrate their first anniversary of marriage. Congratulations!!!

Hi everyone, Lori is unable to post so asked me to say to everyone "hello" and she will try to write when the posting is working again. Her trip was exhausting though very rewarding. Her family are all well.

Awesome!!! The lights are getting dim, better post now . . . .

I was here before and wrote quite a bit, but I got disconnected, then my PC locked up and I had to reboot and lost the message. I'll just mention one important point while I'm still connected, then publish. Monday the 12th is John Laplante's first wedding anniversary with Peggy. You are still together, aren't you, John? So maybe we can flood them with good wishes as the day approaches.

That is good news Pat, thanks for the update.

I have the best of news!! Lori wrote to me this afternoon. She arrived home safely on the 4th as planned. She is exhausted from jet - lag and will write soon with details of her trip!!

I had a copy of her itinerary and she was going to be moving round Israel quite a bit. In fact every town she had listed was one of the places the news told of another attack in. she said she was sure she wouldn't be e-mailing while she was gone but would get in touch right away when she returned on the 4th. No word yet but I'm sure she's catching up with family.

Lori was going to Italy and then Israel and she was to return on the 4th of August. I have been thinking of her too, when I hear the news reports.

I did not think Lori was going to Israel on this trip, but rather to Italy to be with her family vacationing there. Worrying is easy to understand, but there are so many wonderful possibilities out there. Everyone has to make their own choice. I can tell you that I would go to Italy in a heartbeat and travelling in general makes a lot of sense to me. I am amazed by things that are 1000s of years old or 1000s of miles away. It makes me happy and I don't even know why. A nice bottle of Tuscan wine would be one good reason, though.

Frankly, I'm waiting to hear that Lori survived the trip at all. I've been terribly worried about her. I wrote to Avi checking upon her but the mail came back undeliverable. She was very determined to go to Isreal but the times are frightening over there.

I don't think Mike is finding the time, yet. Hi Mike. I think Lori must be back from her trip by now. It would be great to hear about the best meal, the best view, the best ??? whatever. I hope it was fun.

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to let you know Colleen and I made it home safe and sound. The trip went well, we worked hard, played hard, and ate a lot!!!!!! All the youth were offered jobs, if they are old enough, if not then when they are, and hope they come back next year, and if the church decides not to go there next year call and they will help get them up there.
Our youth loved it because they were counted on and trusted with the campers. Last year was a little too hectic, and the campers were more severe than this year, but they really got to prove themselves this year. I worked in the kitchen last year and had almost no contact with the campers, so this year I got to be with the campers this year, great kids!!!! Really tugs at your heart strings to know you are making a difference in their lives, but the truth is they make a bigger difference in ours. That's all for now.

Hi Mike, Welcome to blogger. How's everyone in SPFLD ?

Hi Richard,

Fox Brothers were o.k. I think it was a little too canned for my taste. they did a lot of joking between songs and it didn't come over as very spontaneous even though the obligatory "potato" stuff was thrown in. the music was pretty good though. The crowd really got into it when they closed with some upbeat Christian and Patriotic pieces. the fireworks afterwards were terrific! so was the fried bread dough with powdered sugar. Yumm.

I told myself I'd lose 20 lbs. by the time school started and that's probably too lofty a goal. (we go back the 26th of Aug.) As it is, all my clothes fit better and I'm wearing things I haven't warn in several summers. I'm sure glad I didn't clean out my closets!! I'm pretty happy with the way things have gone. Certainly I feel better and healthier. Congrats to you on your weight loss also. It's a tough thing to do. I was such a skinny ****** in school, thought I'd never have to worry about weight!

Patty, How were The Fox Brothers? I looked at their website. They don't look like Ozzie, but they look like they are a good band. Congrats on your weight loss! I have lost a little as well.

Tonight is The Fox Brothers at the Northern Maine Fair with Fireworks to follow. Except for the rain it should be a great evening. I can already taste the fried bread dough. We like to go early in the week to the fair while the fat is fresh but didn't make it so we'll take our chances tonight!

In between rain storms I've been working in my gardens, playing a little croquet and refinishing furniture. I've even lost 12 pounds! For me, it's ben a very good summer.

Got a note from Eileen Hongisto yesterday. She said she missed the reunion because she was having back surgery. She'd love to see photos. I have none so if someone could post a few or send something to Eileen it would be great. Thanks.

Jerry, What do you like better- watching the race or watching the people watching the race? This weekend was party time here. I went to a friend's birthday party Friday, an annual garlic party at Arnold's (a Ben & Jerry's taste developer) house Saturday (do you know the difference between Italian, French and Bulgarian garlic?), and then last night with the same 4 couples that we have dinner with about every 6 weeks (for the last 17 years) for Mexican seafood at our house (first time I had a seafood taco- yum!). Be good & have fun to all! Today is going to be a long one. People are losing their jobs where I work and, like they say, "You never know when your going to go!"

In answer to Richard's question of the 19th (maybe it was rhetorical), I didn't wear my one-piece racing suit for the New England 300 at the speedway in Loudon. Instead I wore a black (hot) t-shirt for the Kellogg's Corn Flakes car #5 and driver Terry Labonte with shorts and SPF45 Coppertone sunblock lotion. I periodically took a swig of the cold water in my cooler and ate some more of those famous carrot sticks and some cherry tomatoes. Yum! Oh, and also wore a NHIS hat to protect my fragile hairline from the sun. I ended up selling my last ticket at about 11:30 just outside the fence of the speedway to a guy who told me he was working in New Jersey and this was his first visit to this track. Not sure if I'm going in September, the 15th, or not, so my tickets might be available for that one. I was there along with everyone else the day after Thanksgiving which was the makeup date following the postponement from the Sunday after September 11 last year. Yeah, I said hi to a couple people at reunion and I was hoping to run into them again for more conversation than that, but then the evening was over and those people had left. That's why we have an e-mail address listing to at least catch up on a few things, right? I've got to get some fresh native sweet corn which is about my most favorite vegetable. So what else do you want to talk about?

Yup Pat I know what you mean. It was a good time to see everyone. I felt the sameway. There was so many of them there that I wanted to talk too but there just wasn't even time for everyone. Well you know what that means.
Sounds like we need another one before the 5 years. I may do it again, who knows.

Hi Evertbody, Even though I don't "talk" often I just wanted to let everyone know I will be leaving tomorrow evening for Colorado. Colleen and I wil be gone until next Sunday afternoon, we are really looking foward to it!!!!!! See ya'll when I get back.

Hi everyone, today I watched a video by Terry Cochran called "Life Happened". The storyline is her saying she ran into this one and that one from her high school class and how they hadn't followed their dreams because "Life Happened". She was bothered by this until she got to her reunionand realized that everyone had turned out alright. They just followed different dreams. I thought it was nice. Reminded me a lot of our reunion. I think we all turned out alright too. I wish I had more time to talk to some of the folks like Andy Warren who were there. I remember one minute I was talking with him and then I wasn't. I was such a gad about that night that I probably wandered from conversation to conversation without finishing anything!! It was wonderful to see so many people.

Hi John, I got pictures! Thanks. Brian's high school picture made my wife laugh till she cried and now my older son is thinking about growing an Afro. This is progress.

Sorry for the hold up on pictures. I have been very busy. I have brian's and richard's cd in the package. I just need to find the time this week to get them in the mail. The rest of you will get yours soon. I am trying to finish the video that I put together for this. I thought you would all enjoy to see. Hang tight, I haven't forgotten anybody. It's just time consuming on the video side. If I don't finish it soon I will just mail out the CD's to you all without it. But I think it will be worth the wait. Till then..... CHOW...... Don't worry I am still here.

Hi Jerry, When my kids were much younger and we were living in VT, we went to Park Safari, just over the CA border. Thankfully we were in my dad's car. You drive through the park with your windows down and feed the girafees and others as you drive through. I was slimed by a buffalo. It was green, wet, and gross. I loved it!! The monkees have all been moved to their own area where one walks around on bridges to see them. They were doing too much damage to the cars. Janice and Butch will remember a trip through where they had a lot of scratches to their new car.

Dave and I went to Florida's Busch Gardens some years back. That's a beautiful park. We'll be in Williamsburg, VA in early Oct. There is a Busch Gardens there also.

How's your worm research going? Have you check it out at Symantec.com? That's a great place to read up on the actual and the hoax problems with the internet. I always check there before I forward any of those e-mails I get telling me about the latest destructive virus going around.