Lori and Pat, about the time you two are "relaxing" I will be moving into a new house and lost in a sea of boxes. Having a garage sale tomorrow and it is going to rain! Tomorrow is also my 27th wedding anniversary .... I have a bottle of champagne in the fridge. Twenty days left to go in MI .... Happy weekend to all!

Hi Lori! Yup it feels great - just a little chilly today but by the weekend it supposed to be warm and wonderul. You must be looking forward to your trip. Give my regards to your family please. I have such good memories of time with you and them.
Nobodies been posting for a few days. I was glad to see your post as I began to think there was something wrong with the site or maybe everyone had taken a break from posting.

Well, time for lunch.

That message didn't disappear, so I'll write some more. I'm leaving soon for my usual summer trip to see family and friends in Israel. I leave July 1, and Avi and the kids will come later in July. My father organized another big family vacation for all of us, this time for a week in Turkey. I don't work, but I'm dying for a vacation! Just to get away from the routine for a while...

My message just disappeared, so I'm trying again. I just wrote that it must feel great to be on vacation, Patti--to get away from all those kids for a while! Just kidding. Hopefully, the work is okay, but vacation is even better!

School ended for me at l:30 this afternoon. I'm officially on summer vacation. Dave and I have rented a campsite in Naples, ME for July 3 - 10. time to relax.

Thanks for the encouragement, Roland!

Lori, thats great that you ALREADY seem to have a positive attitude and want to question things like the poem said. You'll do fine and I'm sure come out with a few new ideas on how to deal or better still how you want to deal with the 2n 50. Life is a constant learning experience and we all need to be flexible expically now in this age of instant everything. We need to be open and able to make whatever decision is for us individually while keeping in mind that most everything we do today had a much larger effect on others both in a mundane sense and globally.

I like the poem, Richard. And I'm glad you're giving me another 50 years! As for the seminar, I know it sounds like another weird L.A. thing, but I've done it before (a similar course) and survived, so I know I'm not very "brainwashable" and I'm not expecting to turn into a different person--and hope no one else is expecting that either! I'm just in the mood for something new. I like psychology.

Am I losing it? A 50 foot tall pink bunny flew by me this morning on my way to work. An equally large green alligator was flying right behind him. It looks like a hot air balloon weekend here.

This weekend seminar to get your head unlocked could be interesting. If you find yourself out there with LA movers and shakers, they may teach you more and give you more to consider than the facilitators. If they offer breakout sessions on power lunches and dealing with frenemies (1st coined for business enemies that you need to co-opt, then used in the movie "Mean Girls" as a friend who really isn't), WOW, you could come out of this as Martha Stewart redux(one brought back from imprisonment) and really turn your next 50 years into something. Here is a favorite poem that comes to mind:

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wing in the orange suns rays and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

-Maya Angelou

Thanks for all the warnings everyone! But that Amway thing sounds like a different kind of group. Forum doesn't have anything to sell except the course itself. I know a lot of it is bullshit or mass psychology, but sometimes something works and something good rubs off on you. So I guess I'm hoping that will happen!

Because they are quite charitable and philanthropic. They sponsor everything and the family members are many. We have VanAndel Arena, DeVos Hall, Amway Grand Hotel, not to mention the money that they put into the parks, schools and town with the tax bill. Some are active in politics as well. They also employ a ton of people at the actual plant, laborers and technical staff. There is nothing wrong with the products that they sell and many people make a hobby of selling stuff, like Avon sales people. I think it is the promotional part of the business that is the misleading part, so it is not a totally corrupt operation. But people are gullible and willing to believe .......... so BE CAREFUL LORI!

Karen, I saw that expose and I thought they said Questar was Amway with a "new " name. that Amway itself was gone (sorta). It was very interesting and I agreed with all that was said about the whole pyramid thing. Very few actually made the money. It's interesting that you live in the home town of Amway. Why I wonder are those guys so well thought of in town?

Yes Pat. Amway is horrible to put it nicely. Years ago I looked into it and I had lots of trouble with their attitudes. Talk about tearing you down.... I told them to take a flying leap and NEVER contact myself again for ANY reason. They started out ok and as with any "multi" org you need to get in first, way before it peaks and thats the only way the average joe makes any REAL bucks. You can always "make a buck" or two but you really have to be the first on the block to make it big and also with the original attitude. Then people get their "own" attitudes into it and it gets ugly. I never cottened up to that and usually put those aside as politely as I could but there was a point in life when I became rather gruff about it as I had had enough and then got back to myself attitude of wantding to learn, take the good out of all and disgard the "bad" or "harmful" unuseful crap.

Great! Yes, Landmark is awesome. It will get you thinking and open your eyes. We all need it from time to time. We used them @ oone of the corporations I did consulting for.

Patti, just wanted you to know that Amway is alive and well. I live in Ada, MI .... the home of Amway. It is the conglomerate Alticor and has Questar as one of its companies. 60 Minutes or one of those shows just did an expose of them and it was all over the news here. Basically the jist of it was that the guys at the top don't make their money by selling the products but by selling the tapes and books to teach you how to make your fortune. Amway founders DeVos and VanAndel along with Fred Meijer of Meijer grocery chain have just about built Grand Rapids and lots of things bear their names here. They are stinkin' rich and highly respected in this town believe it or not. The plant is huge and spans practically the entire length of tiny Ada.

Sorry I got a little wordy there folks.

Congratulations on selling and buying Karen. When Dave brought home to Esex Jct. a video of the house he was thinking we should purchase here in P.I. I thought it was an amazingly different way to buy a house and we did buy that house. I'm really surprised to hear so many of you also had your house bought by way of a photo.

Has anyone heard from Nancy Cordle lately? Her e-mail came back when I sent out the last two lists. I need an updated address for her. If you're listening Nancy, drop me a line please.

Same for Roger Belville and Peter Bibens.

http://skepdic.com/comments/estcom.html

Well, I'd never heard of Landmark Forum before, but I've been through the mill with some other large group forums that train you to be a "better/different" person while dragging you through a knothole backwards, and you get to sell their product and the business as well. They're out of business now, but I actually ran into Neil Ginter at one of these meetings in Burlington one weekend. I'm talking about Amway. Dreadul group. Lots of large group pyscholgy and mass hysteria. I came terribly close to becoming a little wifey in apron, heels and a little hat, who deferred to her MAN at every turn. It was terrifying. Thank goodness Dave came to his senses and told me to knock it off. He'd married the person I was (no apron) and was perfectly content with that. I think the night I insisted that he say grace as the man of the house was the turning point.

Anyway, I went to the link shown above and read some really interesting and conflicting pieces from people who have attended and participated in the Forum. It didn't sound like anything terribly different from Amyway. (no sales) Tear you down and build you back up. We were all going to give up our families and friends for the time of a year or two and put every second into the business then, as millionaires we would have all the time in the world to be good parents and spend time with our families. There were lots of cassette tapes to purchase and listen to. We even drove to N. Carolina from Rutland to attend a meeting. The guy we were with (our sponsor)had left his very pregnant and ill wife behind. She lost their baby while we were away.

I don't like the jargon part of it either, Richard, but I don't think I can be brainwashed that easily. I'm not really sure what will come of this course. Maybe nothing. I'm just curious. Actually, I think these courses do help, but it's hard to put your finger on the change sometimes. Anyway, I'll let you know afterwards how it went.

Lori, I read some info on-line about Landmark Forums and have questions. It seems like Landmark is a rules based experience that will change (transform) you, but if it makes you learn a new language and jargon that is not well known- how does this really help? I think it will make you live more in your head.

My view of our challenge is that we just need to grab our spears and head into the jungle. Think about skiing. You can't ski in your head. See where your instinct takes you!

We bought a house last Thu. I have only seen pictures! Roland, do you know of Champions View Golf & The Trophy Club of Atlanta? That is where the house is, a smaller neighborhood of three streets. We border woods and have 1.2 acres. Plans are to leave here on the 30th of June. The house is vacant .... a nasty divorce. Spent the afternoon in the garage with the mosquitos going through junk. My number three child (son) graduates from high school tomorrow. Hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend.

Well, I may be changing my attitude soon,Roland. Have any of you ever heard of the Landmark Forum? It's a 3-day weekend course, sort of a self-improvement thing. A friend of mine did it recently and invited me to a guest event. I ended up signing up cuz it seemed interesting. (Avi and I did a similar course a long time ago called Lifespring). Anyway, it's June 11, 12, and 13. So get ready for a transformation in a few weeks!!

Come on now ya'll. Guess I've moved around so much and lived under so many different circumstances ruts were never allowed but tolerance to chance and understanding was a daily occurance so....change is usually good in the long run. Its all about attitude people.....remember its not the aptitude but the attitude that will lead you to altitudes unimaginable. Enjoy!

That's a good way of putting it--getting unstuck. Maybe I have to look at it that way. Thanks!

I think I was nicer then too. I'll get back to that. Thanks.

50 is strange because it is my first chance to grow and change since being 30. It's hard to do without a little friction. Gerda and I are both interested in getting unstuck. Right now, we are still optimistic.

Avi bought this house without me seeing it--I was still in Israel. It worked out okay, so I guess he knows my taste by now. As for being 50, I'm not sure I like it. It seems like we're both getting more stubborn and set on doing things our way! We were nicer when we were younger. Hope this is just a passing phase.

Very funny guys! We are experiencing a first in our marriage. Rich is putting in a bid today on a house in Alpharetta that I have never seen in person. He sent photos last night and we discussed it. There is another bidder so not sure we will get it. It is at least good for a laugh as I have enjoyed the comments from people who know us well and think that one of us at least, has lost it ......... me for giving up "control" or he for sticking his neck out (or other vital parts)! See what approaching 50 can do to you?

Yes, I'd like to hire you, Karen. When you finish cleaning up your place, how about coming out here?!! Could use a good handyman. What's happening on the other end? Did you buy a house down there yet? We have 2 kids out of the house, but we never seem to have a vacant room. My sister's son has been with us for most of this year. He's going back to Israel at the end of June. And Omer still sleeps in the other room when he's in the area and is too tired to drive back to Santa Monica to his apartment. I think next year I'll hang out a sign, "No Vacancy."

Boy Karen, you're really talented. Probably pretty motivated too. I don't believe I've ever seen the back of my refrigerator. At least not since we papered the kitchen some years back. Exhaust fans, no not really gonna happen. Even when we move. I guarantee. You are a very good woman.

Thanks for the well wishes. Into a different mode now ..... the cleaning out mode instead of the cleaning mode. Actually, the inspectors come on Friday so I cleaned out two refrigerators tonight and attempted to clean the compactor, how gross! Will clean the exhaust fans in the bathrooms next and vac the back of the refrigerator. Finally got a semi dry day and got the lawn mowed. I feel like a regular handyman!

That's great that you have a contract on your house Karen. If you and Rich could sign the back of the check and send it to me, it would be just in time to take care of our "life after high school" payments.

It is so wet here that the river is up over its banks. There are fish rising and breaking the water in corn fields. Sea gulls stand nearby.

Karen congrats and I guess welcome to GA fairly soon. The $$ aspect was a motivating factor in myself picking up on my "new deal". In four years I will probably build a much smaller "retirement" estate somewhere out in the contry. Have been looking towards Columbus or AL near Columbus. Wow, payments still. But its all worth it and today the background is standard and not a luxury. If I do go back for my law degree I will stay in this area as UGA is a good school. For now on this move I am putting all excess in the basement and then will have a big sale on some Holiday we this summer, then redo the basement rooms for their intended purpose, which can change after a few months in there. Again, congrats. Once you loose the white stuff and low temps you'll probably never go back.

Karen, congratulations on selling your house. I'm glad that part is starting to finish for you. You've been through the graduation fun before so you know how exciting you can expect that to be right? We aren't worrying about the water tables for once this summer I guess but I sure would rather have the drought than all that rain and flooding. Sure looks like a terrible thing to have to deal with.

Hi All. It looks like I have sold my house today. Signed the offer with a few revisions and am waiting for acceptance. We will close at the end of June and bid farewell to Grand Rapids, MI. Its an emotional time as our third child is graduating from high school next week also. Lots of LASTS ..... Now some lasts aren't that bad, like last cold winter, and last time I see some crap that is going out to the garage sale. Meanwhile, record rains here and all around us. My lawn never dries out enough to mow. Wonder what LAST college payment will feel like? If my calculations are right I will be 57 when the last one is due, but then there are the loan payoffs. Who cares about extra rooms to reclaim, how about the extra cash????????

Back in the game of having teens around again. My friend recently got divorced and needs a place so he is going to move into the house too. Its actually much too big for myself and we get along well. I have know his kid since he was six and now he's going into highschool and on the foothball team. He's already 6'. So.... guess I'll be catering some parties. They already got my into the school supporters. Its kind of nice. Didn't really know what I would do with all that room by myself. My friend is a fellow Yank from upstate NY (Norwich) and I think it'll work out great. So Pat, I'm doing the opposite but looking forward to it.

Pat, I have been looking at the extensive areas of my house that our boys occupy now, and thinking that a little of that space back will be OK

Sounds like a nice office, Patti!

Thanks all, Hey Pat... could you send me a new list please. punchman@joimail.com and it should't be returned. Thanks in advance.

Hey everyone, Thursday nite. Dave is out of town for a few days so I'm taking advantage of Colin having nothing to do and I'm having a hole drilled in my office wall so I can run the cable in here. I'll be able to watch TV in the evening and not bother anyone who wants to listen to music or read or watch what they want. I have a sweet new office-sewing room created out of what was once one of the boy's bedrooms. I have a comfy chair, my dvd player and I'm good to go.

Since Colin is back home and not paying rent (again) he is more than willing to do my bidding. Tomorrow he will mow. I'm having a few school chums over for a Friday afternoon i't almost over gathering. Hope the rain holds off!

Congratulations Roland! Enjoy your new home. Sounds like you got what you were looking for. Have fun getting all set up. That can be fun.

Roland, your new place sounds great. I love doing all that stuff.

Hey all, on the move again but locally. Got a deal on a nice brick ranch. Lots more room and beautiful site. Convienient to all freeways too. Take it over July one. Lots of nice old plantings and room for a garden and also have a large outbuilding for my lawn stuff and tools for tinkering on carst etc. Room for a 4wheeler now too. Oh, a basement (unusual in GA) The place has 11 rooms, not fancy, just comfortable. So..... I'll be busy.

Good morning all! Birds are singing and my offee tastes good. Life is good. 3 more weeks of school!!
Yes, I can program a vcr. I'm a girl who likes to read the manual after trying things once and finding it didn't work. When we get new technology dropped on us at school (no manual in the box of course) I run out to the bookstore and buy the manual. We received a projector yesterday and I need to look into using it but I understand it's pretty much plug and play so I'll be o.k.

No Lori the new upgrade was by the blogger people, not Brian. How is he these days anyway Richard?

I'm not nuts about the new set up but I'll get used to it. I wonder if it's easier to get set up in here. there are still people who can't get in. Joanna was telling me that a week or so ago. She likes being on the mailing list as it's the only way for her to find anything out. I'll have to look into the joining section and see if it's any easier. Have a great day everyone! - Patti

I wish I saw the look on his face!!

Program my VCR? Are you kidding?!! My brother's wife is great at all those things. She's one of those people who actually reads instructions and knows how things work--like knowing how to use all the settings on a digital camera. I did manage to fix our vacuum cleaner once, though! Avi gave up on it and was amazed to see I fixed it.

Lets see, try again. I think I like this new format but it didn't publish a mpoment ago so....... Hope all is well in Cosmoland ya'll. Made an offer on another house today. I'm excited. Don't need it but I like it and the location is great. More room and better laid out that this one too. Been real muggy lately the ACs working ot. Got the Volvo back from the shop, love it still. Drives great. Going to restore it fully a bit at a time. Working on 300k and my club medallion from Volvo.

Lori, Can you program your VCR? I am not terribly proud to say that I can't.

It may not be So Cal but the water temp here (in my pool) on the West Coast of VT is up to 66 degrees. Air temp is 83. OK!! Can I survive the last 60 minutes at this desk? grrrrrrrrrrr!

Good, Karen. That's the spirit! I'm open to change for some things like food,traveling, etc. But I'm not too open to new technology. It took me years to figure out our TV remote--which doesn't really bother me cuz I don't watch much TV.

Careful, you guys are showing your age by reacting severely to CHANGE! We have to welcome new experiences and thirst for adventure! Bring it ON! Yeah, rah, rah! .......... yikes!

I think so. Still trying to figure this out. Let's see if it works. Did Brian do this?

Hey Bloggies!! Are you OK?

I think the complete expression is "Holey Moley, Batman!"

Holey Moley this is odd

Hope all you moms got the respect and affection that you deserve yesterday. I went in our pool for the first time. The water is 57 degrees- go in a man, come out a boy. It was actually (almost) hot laying in the sun afterward.

Holy cow, Karen you are a pack rat. I'd have to spend a little time working to find one of those invitaitons. They've traveled from town to state and state to state but I figure they ought to. You on the other hand, still having a copy, that's really something. I'm glad you came across it. Doesn't it make you think about what you were doing then?? 25 years this fall. my my

Are you taking it with you to MI or having you tossed it by now? I really like Mr. Vincent. I don't think I have any school work hanging around though. I wonder?........

It doesn't have to be on the couch. A picture of you in the basement or attic--or wherever it is you're sorting through all your "junk"--would be okay too. I'd like to see that poem you wrote!

At the end of the day yesterday I found a wedding invitation ........ the young woman was one Patricia Louise Smith and she was marrying David John Mahoney on the 6th of October, 1979 at the Summit Lodge in Killington!!! I never did make that wedding, sorry to say. Now tell me I am not a pack rat! What happens with me is, I get a pile of mail and then there is someone coming over and I stash it in a drawer or box and then it becomes part of what I lug around the country for the next 30 years. Also found some poetry that I wrote for Mr. Vincent's English class .... must have been soph. year. Just when you think you are still that same person you have always been ....... Lori, you wouldn't find me sitting on the couch lately, except maybe for the last episode of "Friends" last night.

Thanks, Karen. I just saw the pictures, and the house looks really nice. I feel like I visited you. The only thing missing is YOU! Too bad we can't see you sitting on the couch!

Richard, what's an octa-bong?

Lori, I just sent you my listing. I am not very computer literate either and I don't understand why the numbers change in the address bar for the listing. So it is not just you. I guess I should have just told you to go to http://www.grar.com/redesign/residential.html ....... and then put in the MLS # as 492329, that seems to work. Its a comfortable house, very open living and easy to clean. We have deer, turkeys and other critters. Lots of privacy. Today in cleaning I found some high school graduation cards and senior pictures of Mike Johnson, Celia Minnott, Mary Anne Tracy and Donny Eames, along with a 1971 yearbook. Those people don't know they have travelled to so many places for the past 30+ years!!! The sneezing is bad here though ...... dust!!