Lori, I really don't do that much! School is starting in less then 2 weeks, so I figured I better get "something" in my house done. The other stuff was necessary because Neil couldn't do it....but Now he CAN! haha. It is in the low 90s here today...lots of humidity. Did get the other yellow put up over the mustard....golden yellow...and now have a lighter yellow...hopefully one coat will look good because after putting on 3 already I am not in the mood!! Making BLT's for supper....tomatoes from the garden! Happy Thoughts...

Kathi, you are definitely not lazy. Gardening, weeding, mowing, painting..... I admire how hard-working you are!

Patti, I guess I'll just miss that Columbus Day weekend. Too bad. But now that your father's going to be in Burlington, I'm sure it will work out to get together one of these days. I'm still hoping it will work out somehow this time!

Richard, are you there? What about you? Are you going to be in town at that time, towards the end of September?

Well, we got rain last night! It poured through the night so that was great especially now that its going to be in the high 80s. Probably just enough to make the grass grow to mow again....I painted my kitchen yesterday..It was suppose to be a golden yellow....first coat has come out like mustard....not quite what I had in mind..Karen I need a decorator!! I think I wanted it more corn puff color not guldens....oh well, have to think what to do...another coat or a glaze....that is why I usually pick Dover White....you can't mess up! Wish me luck. Happy Thoughts!

Lori I wish you were going to be staying through Columbus Day weekend. It's a long weekend and Dave was suggesting that for us since school opening is getting all the more screwed up. We're back to not knowing when the building will opening and once it does we'll probably have no more than 3 days to completely do over our new rooms and get prepared for students. It's still a hard hat area and no one can get in. Latest report from the superintendant is he'll announce on the 19th.

Everybody do a rain dance for Springfield. We have had almost no rain since the beginning of July. Everything is dry especially the gardens. Yesterday I was in Charlestown at a friends pool and they had a huge thunderstorm and almost 3 hours of rain. As we drove across the "toll" bridge there was absolutely no rain on the Springfield side. Strange how that happens. I have new kitchen lights and outlets..I have washed the walls and woodwork and now must go to the paint store and pick up the paint. It was my big summer project that I wanted to get done before school started...which is the 23rd for teachers...26 for kids...and time is getting close...so I guess I better get a move on! I will put the painters tape on early in the am, go to the store, and hopefully get the walls painted one coat tomorrow. So, wish me luck! Happy Thoughts...

Okay, Patti, see how you feel about the long trip and let me know if it will work out for you! The weekend of Sept. 24 and 25 would be the best for me cuz my sister has plans that weekend to meet a high school friend she also hasn't seen in about 30 years. The following weekend we'll probably be busy with family cuz my brother will be taking some time off then. Be in touch...

Karen, I had to think for awhile about the dates. Mom died in Oct of 89. We'd only been in Essex Jct. for a couple of months I think when she was hospitalized in late May of that year. So that means we left Rutland in '89. We only stayed in Essex Jct. for 18 months before we moved up here. The past 15 years have gone by quickly.

I remember the summer fun in Ludlow very well. We had such a great time!

Lori it would be so fabulous to see you in late Sept. I need to go over Labor Day since that's when he's first moving in and I want to be part of the process and not leave it all to Rachel's family. However, after I see how long it takes to get over there maybe I can make plans to go back at the end of the month. If memory serves, the last time we went from here to Essex Jct. it was 8 hours or so.
I'd really love to see you. Karen V and I had been writing often and we had a good visit during our reunion get together supper at the Hartness House. Somehow we've managed to stopped writing to each other again. Funny how that happens. The best of intentions dont' seem to pan out.

Patti, any chance you could postpone your trip to Burlington a few weeks?! I'm going to be there for 2 weeks, from Sept. 22-Oct. 7. We're meeting my sister Amy and her husband, who will be coming from Israel. We'll be staying in our vacation house. Avi will come for the second week. Anyway, just thought it would be nice if it could work out somehow to see you, but if it doesn't work out this time, then another time.... I'm hoping to see Karen (Vatne) this time cuz she'll also be in Vermont around that time. I haven't seen her in about 30 years, but we spoke on the phone recently and it was great talking to her. Maybe I'll have a chance to get down to Springfield this time. We'll see...

Yes Pat, that would have been fun. I don't know if I have seen you since you lived in Rutland and me in Pittsford in the late 80's to early 90's. Did you leave first or did I? We left in '94. Then there were those summers that we spent running up to Ludlow every night during college years. Good times for sure! You can look up Richard while you are in Burlington and Lori, when are you headed there again? Its fun making the connections even if it does make you feel old!

Its funny that once the garden starts producing all the vegetables come at once. So tonight for supper we had green beans, squash casserole, cukes and tomatoes. Neil always plants this huge garden, remember there are only 3 people in my house now...its a throwback of running a vegetable stand and having even bigger gardens...I used to can and freeze. Not so much anymore. It really doesn't taste as good and is just as easy to buy frozen BirdsEye...plus, I'm too lazy! The fresh stuff is so good. Hopefully, we will get some rain soon so things don't dry up to nothing! Sounds like everybody is having a great summer. Its always great to see old friends, so keep in touch. Remember, Happy Thoughts....

Welcome back Lori and Karen. Glad to hear your trips both went well and you got to see so many people. Re-connecting with home after a trip can be a little strange for me as well. It takes a couple of days to start feeling like I'm back in my own little world and know what it is I want to take care of each day.
The fair is over and I'm darn glad of it. I worked 70 hours in 9 days and made a bundle of money but I'm pooped. 12 1/2 hours yesterday, the last day of the fair. We had a ton of people show up and I'm sure The Fair Association made good money at the gate. It's in the 80's all day and it's such a change from last week that I'm having to adjust to the heat again. Looks like it'll be that way for several days. Summer is back inPresque Isle!
I guess that school won't be opening for at least an extra week but none of us know for sure the date it will open yet. I'm thinking that I'll head over to Burlington Labor Day Weekend and spend a few days if all goes well. Dad arrives to move into his new home there on the 4th. I wish you were still going to be in VT then Karen, that would have been terrific. We could have had a mini reunion!

Karen, it was good to read your detailed update on your trip. I wouldn't say you're lazy! It takes time just to sit down and write all that! I'm still trying to get back into things. Yesterday I swam laps in our pool. I think I ate too much in Israel and decided I better get going on some kind of exercise. The bills can wait...

Yup, I am back! And like Lori, a little out of it. Re entry is tough when you have been gone for three weeks. I had a good vacation and lots of great weather and visits. Saw Kathi and Janice for lunch one day and had some porch time with both of them as well. Kathi got a few pics but I haven't seen them yet. Bar Harbor was fun as always, with just some fog a couple of mornings. My parents are doing well at 81, still taking care of their own place and getting out everyday and doing flea marketing on the weekends. Rich's mom was able to come up from FL for a month visit to her house in Perkinsville. Her memory is failing her but she is in good spirits. Stopped by to say hi to Pat Harrington. Took my mother in law to see Tom Stapleton's mom Doris, as they have known eachother for years. The Tafts stopped by to visit Rich's mom, they seemed great and filled us in on the kids. I met Tony Stevens who graduated in 1976 I think ... he is going to paint the house in P'ville. Saw all three of my siblings. My sister Marleen has a camp on Lake Dunmore and lives in Weybridge. She has done a lot of work to fix it up. We went to the cabaret at Weston Playhouse with Butch and Janice Stearns one night and I met a college friend at Bistro Nouveau in Claremont another. I saw my neighbors from Pittsford, VT for a couple of hours, it had been about five years since we visited. I really wanted to reconnect with people this trip and only missed a couple that I thought I would see. Before coming north we went to a wedding in Lexington, Ky and saw lots of our old friends from the 7 years there. I am hoping that we can get back to VT before winter to get some things organized for the sale of the house that Rich grew up in Perkinsville.

Jerry, Larry Millay is actually my cousin, his dad Irving was my uncle. Larry and Marlene are very nice people and have been good to my mom and dad over the years. My dad is the last sibling still alive in his family. I'm glad you had a good time at alumni weekend ....... I kind of wished we had made the effort to get to the class of '70's big one this year. We never get the info for the reunions anymore, even after I wrote to the assn.

School begins here on August 15th. My son Kellan will be at a newly built school this year, it looks beautiful from the outside and there is an openhouse next week. Evan goes back to college around the 20th, so things will get much quieter here soon.

I have been pretty lazy since getting home. Maybe Monday will be back to normal for me. Nice to see so many entries on the blog since I left.

Lori, glad that you had a good trip and are back safe and sound. Hopefully, jetlag won't last too long!
It is suppose to be in the high 90s tomorrow with lots of humidity...too bad we can't bottle it up for winter.
Karen will be back from vacation Friday night...so she should be back writing! Happy Thoughts!

Hi everyone. I got back yesterday. I'm kind of out of it at the moment. I guess most people are glad to get home, but I always have a hard time getting back from vacation and into my "regular" life again. Part of it is jet lag. In Israel I'm constantly seeing people, so when I get back here I feel really lonely at first--until I get back into it and start appreciating my time to myself again. Just need to complain a little.....

Glad to hear Neil is back to work and doing well, Kathi, and that you've got your life back again!

P.S. Neil is like a new man being back to work....it is soooo nice....not only having him work and having some time for myself...but that he is back to normal!!! It was a very long 4 months. Thanks for listening...

School is starting Aug 26 for kids...teachers start 8/23....much too early! I am just getting into the swing of vacation! Weather here has been beautiful. We need rain. We did get a heavy shower here earlier this morning maybe more tomorrow. Sat by my friends pool this afternoon. I could like that life! Sorry that Maine weather has been so cold....that is why when it is in the 90s and humid, I try not to complain too much because we know that the cold weather isn't that far behind. Lori, I hope that your trip went well and that you had a smooth journey home. Happy Thoughts!

A couple of mornings ago it was 43 degrees when I got to the fair. I was chilly!!! Makes me wonder where the summer has gone.

Pat, I noticed in the paper that Presque Isle was the low in the continental US Sunday at 38 degrees! Better wear your goose down bikini from here on out.

It's very much like the Rutland Fair Kathi but on a smaller scale. Very agricultual influenced. Demolition derby is a big draw and the horse and tractor pulls. Unfortunately the weather yesterday and today are messing up the attendance. Bad thunderstorm last night during the harness racing closed the fair down. Much of the same predicted for today.


Great news about Neil. He must be feeling so much better now. When did you say you start back to school?

Is this like the Rutland Fair? Sounds like fun. Nothing new here. Weather is beautiful. I went to Lebanon to meet my sister today. She has my brother's two kids for the weekend...they are 7 and 4...so their Mom could have a break for the weekend. So I took them out for lunch at LuiLui's....in West Lebanon. Then we hit the big bargains at JCPenny and Kohls....Neil is back to Work! We are both so excited after 4 months! He is like a new person. I hope to get my kitchen painted this next coming week...still have to decide on the "color"....big decisions in my life! Here's hoping that everyone is enjoying the weekend. Relax and have some fun and remember....Happy Thoughts!

The fair starts today and runs for 9 days. I'll be working selling tickets at the gate 6-8 hours each day. It's a lot of fun. You see "everybody". It's good money too for just a weeks work. Then school is scheduled to open a few weeks later.

Dave's sister Kathy and her daughter Lena left this morning. They're living in CA. Moved there last Jan. Today is Lena's 13th b-day so we had a little party last night.

I think his other sister and her two very energetic kids are coming in the next two weeks. Sometime in early Aug. Not too specific but that's what we hear from Kathy.

Happy days everyone!

We camp at the Calumet Lutheran Campground in Ossipee, NH. It's not far from Conway the shopping Mecca of northern NH. We've been going there for 16 years. We were living in Rutland the first year we went.
Jerry, thanks for letting us know about Bo Birsky. It's weird to me still, having to think that as we are going older so are our parents. We're sort of pushing them forward.
Rachel's house in Florida has officially sold so on the 4th of Sept. She and Dad are flying up to Burlington. They'll be moving into a new assisted living housing development up there. I'll be coming over sometime after that depending on when school opens. 8 hours in my car versus a day in and out of airplanes for several hundred dollars. Sounds o.k. to me. I wish Carburs was still there. Or the Black Cat. I'd enjoy a yard of beer.......

Glad everyone is getting to rejuvinate with vacations, families, and friends.
My sympathies go to the Birsky family. Memories are the treasures you keep for a lifetime. May you have many.
Jerry, been by your mom's house lots...they've been cutting down lots of trees up that way!
Lori, glad that you are having a wonderful time with your family. You are lucky to be able to spend the time with them. Have a safe journey home.
Karen should be coming to Springfield sometime this week. Hopefully, Janice and I are getting together with her.
Patti, where do you vacation in NH? Do your boys go with you too?
Richard, keep thinking positively! Good things do come!
Neil will hopefully, get cleared by the back surgeon to go BACK to WORK! later this week!!!! 4 months is a long time to be home from work. But he is feeling good and ready to get back to the job.
Well, have a great day and enjoy the beautiful weather. No humidity the last couple of days!
Happy Thoughts always!

Hi again from Israel. Yes, Patti, our apartment in Tel Aviv is right near an internet cafe, so I do get to check my emails while I'm here. I have to admit, though, I've been lazy about actually writing on the blog--but I am keeping up on all of you and what you're all up to! I'll be flying back to the U.S. on Aug. 3.

Here I am for a few seconds. My brother sent me an obituary from the Rutland Herald for Bo Birsky who passed away in Florida Sunday, July 17 at age 82. I think I last saw him and chatted with him briefly five years ago when I was in Springfield watching the SHS Alumni Parade. I remember David Carr from the Class of 1970 going by with his class and stopping to shake Bo's hand. A memorial mass will take place at St. Mary's Church on Saturday, August 27.

Hey everyone, we're back from our annual camping trip to NH. Had a great time, wicked hot but the water in the lake was spectacular most days. That's what I miss most when I come home I think is the ability to just jump in the water when I get hot!!

My gardens are all overgrown so that is a project I've immersed myself in and just love. It's so satisfying.

Heard a rumor that our new school won't be ready to open for a couple of extra weeks. I'm all for extending the summer vacation. Won't hurt my feelings one bit.

If it's not too late Karen, please give my love to Janice and Butch. I miss them dreadfully.

Hello to Lori in Israel. How great that you're able to keep in touch from there. I'm in a technology free place when we're away. Sometimes that tough to get used to.

Richard you know we still support your efforts so hang in there. Just wish our support made a difference in the outcome.

Welcome back Jerry!

And here we go again, my dad is supposedly moving back to the Burlington area around Labor Day. This time last year that was the case but it didn't work out. It would be so much easier for me to get to see him if he can do it.

Hurricane season hits early!!!! They say this year the east is going to get clobbered. I got hit my lightening and luckily I have a tin roof on the cabin as all it did was leave a burn mark and raise a panel about 8 in. The othere hurricane took part of my sunroom roof and its still tarped until we dry out a bit and I can fix it. But.....Alls ok. Oh, Cingular towers were down for a day too. Business is good though in fact I have to turn some down. This ol Irish Catholic is enjoying the services and studies at the Baptist Church now. We have a sat nite service that really rocks!! I also attend the wed night fellowship suppers and hwlp out in the kitchen. We just did mission trip with the youth choir to NYC with a stop over in DC. Wow did they get and education!! What a grand group of youth though. One of the finest I'ver ever had the pleasure to be associated with. In todays age you don't see may youth singing out for the Lord in public!

Hi Everybody. I am back from my weeks trip to Raleigh to visit my daughter and grandbabies. They are the most adorable, loveable little people. Being a Nana is so much more fun then the motherhood stuff! haha. Its easier to be a good Nana who can hug and play without the responsibilities of raising them! It is just as hot here as it was down there! My suitcase was not put on the flight going down so it took two days to retrieve that! It went to SanJuan.....pretty sad when the bag goes on exotic vacations without me! So remember to carry on the things you really want or need....Richard, I am sure things will start to turn around for you soon. Lori, sounds like you get exotic in person! Hi Jerry....I suppose that I will have to weed out those flower gardens tomorrow! My husband took care of the vegetables....only.....did water the flowers though....We had green beans, zucchini and summer squash from the garden for supper...pretty delicious. Glad to be back home! Happy Thoughts.

Just wanted to say hello to you all. I'm still in Israel, having a good time visiting with people, going to the beach, etc. I also took a kind of spontaneous trip to Greece with my sister Katie. I've always wanted to see Greece, and it's only about an hour's flight from here, so I finally fulfilled my dream and went with my sister for 4 days to Rhodes. Other than Lindos, which was unbearably hot and crowded with tourists, we enjoyed the beaches (cozy little coves), villages, old city of Rhodes, Valley of the Butterflies, great food, friendly people.... It was good traveling with my sister cuz we have the same pace and are really similar in what we like and don't like.

Nice to see you here again, Jerry. Richard, we're still rooting for you with your wood projects! Karen, have a good trip up north. Enjoy your summers, everyone.

Hey, this blogger looks very different from the last time I was in here. I hope I can post what I write okay. I was in Springfield for Alumni Day to see the parade. I wanted to see my brother Ron's class (1975, 30 years) float Jurassic Park which ended up winning Most Outstanding with the $500 prize. Karen, your Uncle Larry came and spoke to my mother and me. He occasionally sees my Mom or Ron walking on South St. or Parker Hill Rd. and stops to chat. What a guy! Before the parade going to get some of that good popcorn I ran into Steve "Coot" Ankuda, and then after the parade I saw Rick Ingalls. Both don't look a day over 50! I saw the Moody Blues in concert in Manchester (NH) on the 7th. Was up St. Albans way around the 4th and saw the fireworks at St. Albans Bay right on the lake. A nice spot. Keeping busy and out of trouble here in Nashua. I'll check in again soon. Yeah, I should put in my name which is Jerry unless that automatically shows up. Going to the Nextel Cup race at the speedway in Loudon tomorrow so should get to bed soon. Bye.

i liked batman begins. liam neeson was great. haven't seen war of the worlds, although i feel like i am living it sometimes with mom tossing older son out of the nest as she tells him just one more helpful thing to remember. i went to the jazz festival in montreal and had a great time. the best was dinner at a medieval restaurant. the wild boar burger with brie was fabulous and our dwarf waitress screaming "saxon" at us was definitely different. the nine inch nails coming through planks over my head in the bathroom made me nervous, but my aim did not falter.

Sorry to hear the disappointing news Richard. Maybe the next round of grants will be the golden ticket. I leave tomorrow for my three week jaunt to the north. I am hoping for good weather and not as much rain as we have seen here. July has broken all records in GA for rainfall. Saw "War of the Worlds" last weekend and "Batman Begins" the weekend before. I liked them both. Will talk to you all in three weeks. Happy Trails!

hi guys, i am chilling in burlington and enjoying the summer. i did not get the grant i applied for, too bad! i am still working on my designs and i am protoyping some new wooden parts. it is a good thing that i like the work because i see no end to justify the piles of wood shavings. 17 people lost their jobs at the company i work for. i have survived 9 layoffs in 4-1/2 years. let the sun shine and rub me silly with cocobutter!

I hope that everybody is enjoying their vacations. Must be everyone is off somewhere without computer access....weather has been beautiful here in VT. I love summer. I am flying down to my daughters house on Wednesday morning to visit with her and my grandbabies for a week. Hopefully, Neil will not be doing too many "projects" while I am gone. He is recupperating nicely. Enjoy and Happy Thoughts to all.

Seems like everybody is so busy! Weather here in VT has been hot and humid with showers in the pm. Today is a cloudy day with showers expected. Probably a good thing...I need to do some inside things that I have put on hold because of the nice weather. Seems that maid never shows up. I am flying down to NC to see my grandbabies next week for a week. I am so excited. Neil continues to recover slowly...but will hopefully be back to work by August 1st. School starts here the 3rd week in August. Summer used to seem so long now it just flies by! Happy Thoughts!

The Atlanta area will see rains from Cindy starting tomorrow morning and I think the weekend could be affected by Dennis. We have had a very rainy summer, not typical they tell me. We went to Lake Lanier to picnic and see fireworks but after we ate the dark clouds started rolling in and the skies let loose shortly after. We tried to wait it out but ended up coming home without seeing the display. The summer is flying as usual and my youngest will be starting his junior year on August 8th. Hope you all are enjoying your summer wherever you may be. Later ........

Hey Isreal, did I tell you my preacher is going sometime this summer? I can't wait to hear about it. Hope you all have a safe and wonderful time as we celebrate the 4th. They legalized fireworks in GA this year to hopefully avoid inferior products and accidents. We're doing to lazer show at Stone Mt and then a big "family" picnic around the pool.

Hello from Israel. It's great to be with family and friends again. And I love the beach here. The Mediterranean is WARM, not like the Pacific Ocean in L.A. It's so relaxing..... Hope you're all enjoying your summer.

Hope that everyone is having a relaxing enjoyable summer. The weather in Vermont has been hot, humid, and now showery, which is a good thing because the gardens needed the rain. Hope to hear about everyones great adventures! Happy Thoughts.....

Hey all, sorry for not writing but been real busy with the business et el. Summers hit here full swing and celebrating the 4th with friends @ Stone Mountain. We have a Mega picnic on the water and then there's the lazer show at night along with fireworks. Finally into my little cabin and love it. Lots of finishing to do but its livable and cheap to keep. It came with a little grey kitty too. We sold most of the critters and my friends are moving the rest. Its alot of upkeep when you are also running your own business which has just gone through the roof with some major contracts. Hope all is well and I'll try and checque in from time to time. Oh, my email address changed Pat as joi sold out to Earthlink who is just about as terrible as aol now so I kept my old address @ Juno and its: punchman1@juno.com.

Hope everybody is off having fun in the sun! Very warm here in VT...90s today...with a little breeze, thank goodness. I try not to complain in the heat because I really do not like to be cold. Too bad we couldn't think of a way to bottle the energy for winter! Think of the millions we could make. Enjoy and Happy Thoughts wherever you are!

Well, our numbers on the blog seem to be waning. I hope everyone is having a good summer. I had my oldest son home last week for a few days, which was the first time we have all been together since Christmas. It was really nice and I love to see the kids relate to eachother now that they are older. Still some sibling stuff ...... don't get me wrong, but they do appreciate eachother more. I am enjoying the GA weather and have been walking and working in my gardens. Rich is building an extension onto our deck and being the graceful person that I am, I fell through the frame this weekend and am now sporting a black eye and bruised legs. We will be leaving for our trip north in the middle of July and I am looking forward to that. Hope to visit with Kathi and Janice, some college friends and of course family. Our first stop is a wedding in Lexington, KY, then a week at the family camp in Bar Harbor, ME, followed by two weeks for me in VT (Kids and Rich will go back earlier). Can't wait! Anyone coming south? My door is open .........

Have a wonderful trip and enjoy your family! Travel safely! Happy Thoughts!

I'll say good bye to you all now. I'm leaving for Israel tomorrow. I'll try to check in on the blog from time to time when I'm there, but if I'm out of touch for a while, it will mean (hopefully) that I'm busy having fun and haven't found time to sit in front of a computer like I do at home. Have a good summer everyone!!!

Drive carefully.
It's the first day of summer vacation. Yeah! I've already been outside to work in my flower gardens. Its been raining here for 3 days but is not at the moment and looks like it might clear off. Not quite as cool either...black flies are out and biting though.
Think I'll be nice and make a potroast for dinner....well, everybody, have a good day and think happy thoughts!

So glad to hear that the surgery went well for Neil . That's great news


The funeral is for the dad of Dave's best friend from high school. Dave and Magnus have been stayed close over the years.

We're splitting the trip up going both ways so that we don't have to drive so far at once. We'll have the chance to stayed with Dave's dad overnight on Saturday and take him out to breakfast before heading back Sunday.

Hi Everyone. Neil's surgery went fine...we finally got home around 7:00, had soup, and sent him right to bed. Drugged him for the night and he slept pretty well. Last day of school is today. Its always bittersweet, but mostly sweet for summer. There was a 40 degree difference in temperature yesterday from 90s on Tuesday to low 50s yesterday. Suppose to warm up again today. Hopefully showers will stay away! Have a good day and think only Happy Thoughts!

Thanks, everyone, for the good wishes. Patti, whose funeral are you going to? Anyone we know?

Hey Lori sounds like a busy time again but of course the trip to see family is worth it. Enjoy!

Still raining here but it certainly eliminates the "drought" we usually have goin on. At least we'll start the summer season off moist. Once that sun comes back out the "stuff" will grow and bloom like the dickens.

Richard, I'm sorry this round didn't go well for you. I hope you know we're all pulling for you though for the next time.

We may be heading south for the funeral over the weekend. A 9 hour drive, ick. but we'll see some dear 'ol friends from Dave's high school days.

School is closed up for us now and closed is what I mean. Skyway Middle School is gone forever and the Presque Isle Middle School is being worked on all summer to finish up for opening in late August. I realized Tuesday as I punched out for the last time that for now on I work at a different school. We had a big party here at the house and many of us are good friends outside of school so we'll spend time together over the summer. Bringing in 20 other teachers and creating a new staff will be our challenge. But it's all for the kids and we'll make it work.

Safe travels Lori! Keep pressing on Richard. Kathi, hope Neil breezes through surgery ... again! Looks like a break from the rain here again today ... whoopee!

Have a wonderful trip. Enjoy your family and your friends...remember in the end, everything does get done!
Happy Thoughts!

Richard, it definitely sounds like there's still hope. A "glowing recommendation" for another federal grant sounds good to me. Good luck! You have us all behind you.

I'll be leaving next week (June 21) for my usual 6-week summer trip to Israel to see family and friends. Avi will be coming, too, but only for 2 weeks. I'm always tense before the trip cuz somehow there seem to be a million things to take care of before I leave, but I'm definitely looking forward to being there.

Richard...don't give up. Things have a way of working out when you least expect it. Somehow your dreams will come true. Happy Thoughts!

i have a mixed report. i did not get the grant i applied for. out of 20 finalists, i was one of the 10 losers. they suggested another federal grant and said that they would give me a glowing recommendation, so i still can see possibilities. it is fine. i am used to being squashed like a bug. hey, hold back those tears. otherwise, my work is going okay and the fam is good. that's it from here. karen, the poem does say that there is a lot in seeing the glass half full, but asks the reader to take the next step by making good on the magic that comes when you act from your heart. it is an interesting point for you to consider because you have a great heart that i think you follow a lot. don't ever under estimate how special your heart is, cuz i think you got a really good one. the description of looking into the glass probably has to do with losing yourself in introspection and alcohol. that wasn't my mom's problem, but it was all around her in the three martini lunch crowd she hung with. for me, the poem is a request to my mom to see the magic that she created in me with her heart and to look away from the dark elements of death that she moved into.

I second that one! Congratulations....can you imagine breaking in a new one? I'll keep mine ...most days! Neil is having 2 hernias repaired on Wednesday...to add to his list of ailments...so, it'll be another 6 weeks anyways before he can go back to work. School is out on Thursday.....we'll see!!!
We went for a walk this morning at 6 am...almost to the 2 1/2 mile point, "we" discover that his pedometer is missing...so we back track to find it...and get almost back to our yard when there it is on the ground....so, a 3 mile walk turned into 5 1/2...then I mowed. Luckily, my son came out to help me mow. We were having Neils brothers and families over for a BBQ. It has been so hot and sticky here in Springfield the last few days. I try not to complain too much with the heat because I know I moan and groan with the snow and cold!!
Hope every0ne had a great weekend....Happy Thoughts!

Congratulations Karen!!!! I think we all deserve medals. It seems to be getting more and more unusual for marriages to last longer than a few years.

Hi gang! Today is my 28th wedding anniversary and yes, I would do it all over again. The amazing part is how fast it has gone and to a lesser degree, how much we have changed. Going out tonight to Cafe Intermezzo as it has awesome desserts and I have an incredible sweet tooth. Pat, when you figure out how to be more optimistic please let me in on the secret. My kids always make fun of my negative nature. Richard, I got some champagne for the occasion but am currently out of Chambord .... Dang!

I like that--optimistic about your optimism! I'll have to keep that in mind for myself!