flying to Ct the end of the month for family reunion but won't get to Vt until later in the year. thinking about spending Christmas there? Flying is really cheaper than driving right now!! Cheap tickets on the net are great. Maybe I'll get to snow ski in Vt for the first time in almost 15 years. No fall here yet, still in the 80's.

Yes, it's been a really good visit here, Patti--though the foliage season is late this year and we still haven't caught it anywhere in full peak. We went up to Jay Peak, which was beautiful but still not in full color. And we're leaving soon for New York state (Placid Lake area) to try to catch it there! My sister gets us out of the house early and hiking up mountains or trails. It's what you call an active vacation, not a resting one. It's fun--but I think Avi would be glad to just sleep late one day and hang around the house relaxing and just looking out the window at the lake! Oh well, he can rest when he gets home.

I'm leaving Friday, but I'll be visiting 2 friends in New Jersey on the weekend and then flying back to L.A. on Sunday...

Kathi that souonds like such a gret time. Yesterday, Gary and I were wondering where the picnic table our school used to have had wandered off to. It was the perfect day to be outside. Would have been tough to come back in I think.

Another nice one coming up today. I'm looking forward to the long weekend and hope the weather stays nice. The local scki club is selling$5.00 lift tickets to ride up the mountain for the views. It's gorgeous and I forgot to do it this past weekend.

Would have liked to head over to VT but no such luck. I'm going to have to figure something out anyway, as a 3 day weekend becomes 2 driving and 1 to visit Dad. Not a good thing.

Lori you're leaving in a couple of days to go back to the west coast aren't you? Sure sounds like you've had a wonderful visit. I envy you!!

Glad everyone is enjoying their visits with each other! Beautiful weather here this week. Our whole school is going on a hike tomorrow at SpringWeather Nature Area up by the dam in North Springfield. Its going to be a great day for outdoor activities except for the bees. So, they decided instead of having a picnic lunch (with all the PB&J school bag lunches and kids that bring sweetened fruit drinks) attracting the bees we will go back to school and have a late lunch in the classrooms. Little kids tend to freak with swarming bugs! It'll be fun.
Sending Happy Thoughts to all....

hi, i am running to lunch, but thought i'd take a minute to give my side of the story on lunch with lori. it was great! we had a good chance to talk and catch up on things that have happened during the last year since we saw each other on the left coast last year about this time. after we left the restaurant we ran into dave andrews. dave and lori didn't recognize each other (and i thought that my memory has been slipping!). dave claimed to have known only two females in his life and apparently lori was not one of the two. the conversation did not produce any data on the males that lori has known in her lifetime. too, bad! and, hey, dave and all of us still have lots of living to do anyway.

i went to a cirque du soleil performance tuesday night. WOW!!! i loved the show and even got the female contortionist's phone number (just kidding).

Kathi, I checked out your daughter's website. I liked the site and the music! Your daughter is pretty--she looks like you but without the red hair. I was curious to see the site because my daughter is also a bass player and sings back-up vocals. She's in a rock band called Modicum. Besides her, there's a singer/guitar player and a drummer. And my middle son, Rafi, plays guitar and produced a CD recently. If anyone's interested, the website is rafilevymusic.com. It's sort of a combination of Middle Eastern, Latin, and Reggae instrumental music.

I've been reading all the blogs on "post raising kids." Two of mine are out of the house, but Rafi still lives with us-- and his girlfriend too. We don't mind. Actually, we like having them around. I think different kids are ready to move out at different times. I'm sure his time will come, but in the meantime it's nice having them there!

Patti, you asked about the visit with Janice and Butch. It was really fun. Leah came too. We went to eat at the Olive Garden and then came back to our house. My sister and her husband were here and my brother and his family, so we all sat and talked and laughed. Leah brought us a delicious apple pie that she made. I also enjoyed seeing Richard on Monday and Karen (Vatne) on Tuesday. Janice met us for lunch, so I got to see her a second time. It's really good to catch up on everyone's life and to see that in some ways we haven't changed. We can just pick up where we left off no matter how many years ago that was. I hope to see my other fellow bloggers one of these days!

Fall is definitely here in VT today! Cool. We went out for recess at 11:30 this morning..and the wind started blowing across the playground, which is like a wind tunnel anyways, the kids were running around, or blowing around..it started sprinkling. They were saying its raining....I said its just a sprinkle go play....and all of a sudden it started downpouring! Pretty funny actually, because the kids weren't sure what to do....like run to the door! I don't think they've ever been out in the rain! When we got inside they are like, we're wet....imagine! Its okay...you'll dry....then this afternoon we had a huge wind, pour storm with lots of tree branches down. Weather is suppose to improve for this weekend. I made a big roasted chicken, stuffing, mashed potato dinner tonight. My company will be leaving early Saturday morning to go back to NYC. We've had a great visit. Visiting is good.....moving in might not be! haha. Happy Thoughts!

Let me be very clear. In my experience: There's no such thing as them "taking up" their expenses. Just their lives. At least that's what I hear is supposed to be happening. So far anyhow, I still find myself now and again fixing the expenses stuff. lol

We have such a revolving front door here. We never know when one or the other will need to move back in. There's alway a room ready and we love knowing they feel comfortable and welcome back when the need arises. Sometimes, thats financial and sometimes it emotional. Bless their little hearts.

I've had people tell me we're crazy to let them move back but we agree that it's been some of the most wonderful times we've had as a family. The four of us took a trip to FL this past April. What a blast! Kevin and Colin and Dave each took the week off work while I had school vacation. The boys even wanted to go to a waterpark they remembered going to as little kids. We had such a terrific time. I think as they continue growing up and have relationships that become families of their own, these times they've lived with us as "adult-kids" will make for a great entended a family relationship.

I like having the post children relationship with my kids. Now that we have accepted that they are adults and willing to let them make their own mistakes...and they know that when they come home I might slip into that Mother mode..we get a long really well. I do miss them but enjoy them more now. My oldest is home for a few days from NYC with her friend John. We laugh and have a good time together now. If you go to www.rubybullet you can listen to the band she is in. She plays the base and sings. I am always amazed at how much more my kids do then I would even dream of doing. True friends are rare and should be cherished! Happy Thoughts!!

Wow Karen, just on its own the term "post children" gives me a little shiver too. Where has the time gone?????

Seriously I'm awfully glad to hear that you feel accepting of your place in time now. It's hard to do I find. I honestly forget that I'm supposed to be a grown up and all. I think it's my involvement with the kids in my school. I found out that I'm several years older than Gary, my co-teacher. It was a surprise to both of us. I guess that's good.

I have just one good friend here that I count on and miss when she isn't available. Our boys really became my focus for so many years and filled my time with all their fun. I miss that sometimes but the time has come for them to take up their lives. It's o.k. sometimes but and not so o.k. others.

Yeah Karen, I think he was being funny or maybe the show was. His concept as you know was to save a bunch of money now while prices are high. I don't think it's going to pan out as I don't expect to see much price fluctuation downward. I think we'll see it go up and up and then level off somewhere for us to just get used to as something we can't change or do without. I remember living in lrutland, and watching the gas pump sign o over $1. I was positive I'd never pay over a buck and now .........................

So Lori tell us all about your visit with the Stearns. It was wonderful to see them at the reunion but still there just was't time for a real visit. Strangely one of the highlights of reunion was staying at the Hartness House. I'd wanted to do that since I was a little girll. Much as I enjoy my life here I sure do miss being close enough to see folks. Nobody is willing to drive up here and that includes relatives. We do all the travelling and it gets tiresome. That's the choice we make though. Dave wanted to move nearly 3 hours south and I dug my heels in. Just didn't want to leave whats familiar. too many moves in my life already, I guess.got tired of the change and starting over. Without the boys to come with us, I'd be miserable wondering about them.

Karen, how have you done with your move as far as socializing and making new "girlfriends".

Hey Karen I saw your Gov. being interviewed about his "snow days" on TV news this a.m.

I learned how to do that stuff when I started this job. I spent time learning it, doing it, showing the kids it, and just faking it!!! Gary has many years experience and I'm learning as i go. I really enjoy it. Tonight after school I used the table saw to cut my desk drawers back so that they would fit into the desk They have swollen up over the years and I couldn't shut them. Now I can. It's really wonderful to be able to take care of your own business.

I'm impressed, Patti! Where did YOU learn to do all those things?

I'm going to meet Richard for lunch in Burlington today. Had a really nice visit with Janice and Butch and Leah (their daughter) yesterday! I'm glad the friends from my past are still a part of my life more than 30 years later.

Lori, my new area of teaching is called Technology Education. Gary, my "team teacher" likes to describe it as shop meets science. We have so far this year, in the 4 weeks we've been in done an amazing array of things. The 6th grade learns the basics of construction and flight and learning to think for themselves and to be imaginative and creative. We've built towers, cranes, rockets, and airplanes, from paper and craft sticks basically. The 7th grade has made ice scrapers from plexi-glass; stronger than you could buy in your local store. They had to use a variety of power and hand tools for this project as well as design the scraper. Then we spent a week on hand drafting and this week go into a wood working project. The 8th grade is independent study. Gary like to say that if they can think of it and it's legal, we'll build it. Candle making, clocks with picture frame in them, picture frames, silk screening, dirt bike stands from metal, stained glass, candy dishes make from plastics, stools, it's just amazing really. All of this has to be accomplished in a 5 week period. We have the 3 grades of students for 90 minutes each every day. It's a new program (timing only) this year. Exhausting and exhilarating. We start with a new group of students every 5 weeks or so throughout the year.

Better go get ready to go. Have a beautiful day folks - yes Roland I wrote down your e-mail address.

Lori, I hope you brought your warm fuzzies with you to Vermont. Here in Springfield highs were in the 40s...guess my blood was thinned by our warm summer!!! Right now I am wearing fleece! Neil told me to go find my mittens too! Fall is definitly here today! Glad you are getting to visit with Janice and Butch. We went to Wellwood Orchard today and picked apples. I made apple crisp for dinner....I have to say...its was pretty tasty! It is certainly encouraging to hear of all the good things that people are doing for those affected by Katrina/Rita. Personally, I limit my news watching. Lots of the media just want to suck us into sensationalism and panic. I wish everyone Happy Thoughts! and me, warmth! Karen, send up the sunshine!

Bluetooth technology is awesome. Had to upgrade my old digital phone. This one wireless connect to my laptop and also mobile vehicle devices plus lots of other stuff I haven't figured out yet.

Pat... did you get me new (actually back to old) correct email @ punchman1@juno.com?

anyone hear from Jane or Nancy? sounds like they might have had to evacuate or been effected by the latest storm. Hope not.

Been volunteering with the red Cross in the midst of all this mess we've had here. Its been amazing at just how wonderful people have been and contrarty to what you see on the news there are sooooo many success stories and people either being aided by the churches or actually being "saved" by witnessing. It just makes me realize how fortunate I really am not only to have good health but relative good fortune. Our church (the summitchurch.com) has had many members helping and giving without end. Yes, our gov did call off school this next week for a few days to help and I had found him a refreshing breath to the ugly politics that had previously been here. You can't blame the Gov for the mess at the pumps it the news media, greed, and just plain stupidity in that order. Ch 11 was saying something about 4-5.00 per gal also. My opinion of them in the couverage of this disaster has gone WAY down hill. Such sensationalism and no real good semitarian stories. My dad was in the oil business and his comment was only that they are still playing their games....now, if you want to make laws there should be one to limit the price on necessities. Utilities are a necessity today and no longer a luxury item or one which should be over "profitized". Enough said. Course my cousin in Ireland dosen't know what I am complaining about she was paying over 3.00gal years ago. ciao for now. Peace to ya'll.

Yesterday was a beautiful day in Vermont. I went with my sister and her husband to meet her friend from high school who she hasn't seen for more than 30 years (Joan Whalen). They were giggling like old times. And now I'm waiting for Janice and Butch to come. They're driving up to see me today. Kathi, I like your positive attitude. Thanks for reminding us all to enjoy our families and appreciate what we have.

I did have some bad news recently, though, from a friend in Israel. Her son committed suicide. He was in the army there and must have been having a hard time, though no one really knew that. We're all still in shock. It's especially hard because she's divorced and he was her only child. Sorry to bring up bad news. Just had to share that with all of you.

Patti, I don't quite get what you're teaching? Is it shop? I thought you teach computers?

Glad you're in safely Lori and enjoying the beauty of northern VT.

Picked up gas at $2.77 Friday after school. It's rumored that it will hit $5. a gallon here shorty so I'm planning to watch and try to remember to keep the tank topped off. What a pain.

Karen, it's a shame your governor is causing this kind of panic. The gentlman I teach with also works for an oil company and the amount of oil in storage here in the US is astounding. There is no shortage, not even here where it's going to be really cold. The problem could come eventually he says if the refineries are destroyed. At some point the existing oil will be used if there are no replacemnets then clearly that's a huge issue but that is not expected by the those actually deally with it. I haven't seen the news this a.m. but as far as I have heard the refineries on the gulf coast are still in place.

I didn't go by any gas stations today so not sure of the price. I had heard yesterday, at the bank no lesss, that the T-Bird Station on Clinton Street would be raising the gas to four to $5 a gallon. So, I don't know if they did or not. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. Hope you have a full tank Karen...Good luck and happy thoughts!

Lori, enjoy your family! Embrace the moments....I came across a picture of my brother Kevin, taken 4 years ago before our mother died, we were all raking the leaves and cleaning up her yard...and he threw me in the leaves..so there is this picture of him laughing covering me in the leaves. And that is how I like to remember him... Nothing can take those memories away...so enjoy and smile!
We hope for the best on the gulf coast...and that everyone stays safe.
Have a great weekend and enjoy our sunshine! Happy Thoughts...

Hi everyone. I arrived safely! Went on the bike trail in Stowe today with my sister and her husband. It was beautiful. We're going over to my brother's house soon for supper. Avi will arrive here next Thursday. In the meantime I'm having fun with my family!

Boy Kathi, you're right, most of New England used to seem all land locked to me and I wanted to be nearer the water. Not so much with global warming wrecking havoc on our oceans.

Travel safely Lori, an uneventful ride is my wish for you tonight. We're still enjoying a beautiful fall day and chilly evening temps. Sounds like VT will be the same for you when you get there.

Jane and Nancy live in the Plano, TX area which is near Dallas. I'm not sure who else may be living in TX and I don't know of anyone along the coast. I'm hoping for the best but it doesn't look good.

Maybe it was better when we were all innocent and the news didn't report things live....Lori, I hope your flight is smooth and uneventful. Luckily, there aren't that many incidents like that! Think of all the times we have all flown without problems. Another beautiful day here. Last day of summer....I always think its sad! The season seems so short. Hard to realize its almost the end of September. I pray that Rita isn't as severe as they fear. Vermont seems like the place to be right now! Please keep safe....happy thoughts.

Did you all see (on TV) the emergency landing that Jet Blue plane made at LAX yesterday? Hope I get the same pilot cuz that's the airline I'm taking in 2 hours! Can't wait to get to Vermont!

Lori you set it up and I'm good to go. Seriously, for many years this is something I've longed to do.

We're hoping Karen, that no one wigs out on us and so far so good. However, we've found out after the fact that some of our students have "control issues". It's a little unnerving when you have a temper encounter with someone and find out later you were lucky they didn't blow up on you. A little info ahead of time would be nice. You know?????

Hope there will be nice weather in Vermont when I'm there! And beautiful leaves.

Patti, you'd love Jerusalem! So when are we going?!

Beautiful fall day here today, too! Never enough of them...rain coming in tomorrow. Lawn is mowed so that's good news...maybe it won't need doing again until the leaves fall off and we can mulch them. You can tell its full moon time with kids at school....hyper! Maybe I'm just getting too old for Kindergarten! My grandson, Caleb, will be 3 years old tomorrow. How time does fly! Makes you want to capture all those precious moments and hold them close to your heart. Hope everyone is well. Happy Thoughts!

Putting those tools to use will be a lot of fun I think. Today the table saw was demonstrated but not by me. Other than a lathe there's nothing else they'll need to know aout this year. I need to decide what I want to build. I was thinking of starting with a cribbage board but that's just a lot of drilling. Maybe a coffee table or a book case.

It's a perfect fall day again. Now that the potato harvest has officially begun we need loads of days just like this one. The rain this past weekend was nasty. It's past now though.

Lori I want you to take me to Jerusalem. what do you think of that?

Now that you're going in November, Patti, I don't feel as bad--at least I won't be missing you by 1 day. I'm impressed that you remember the NAMES of all those tools, to say nothing of using them!

We decided not to go over at all until Vet.'s Day in November Lori so it's going to be a while for us. Hopefully next time you're heading to NE we'll be able to plan in advance so we can get together.

Gorgeous sunny day here in PI. perfect fall weather. I should be sittin out at a soccer game. think I'll take a book out to the deck instead.

In the last 4 days of school I've learned to use the following: band saw, scroll saw, disk belt sander, 1/2 belt sander, planer, jointer, and vsr drill. Now if only I had the time during school hours to start building something. Actually i am making a snow scraper. It's quite fabulous but I'd like to make a cribbage board i think. Then on to bigger and better things.

I'm withdrawing my request to be adopted if those are the conditions!!!

Patti, I guess I'll be missing you by a day. Too bad. I'm leaving Friday morning, and you'll probably be getting there Friday night. I could have stayed for the weekend if I had planned it in advance, but I already planned to have a stopover in N.Y. on the way back so I can visit 2 friends in New Jersey who moved back there from Israel. We'll work it out next time!

Somebody wants to be Lady of the Manor.....I don't think its suppose to work like that anymore but nice try Karen!! I guess Vt is hoping all the leaf peepers will be out on Columbus Weekend. Gas was down to 2.94 last night. Funny how once its lower then $3 we think we are getting a bargain....Its suppose to be 90 here again today. Nice last touch of summer....too nice to be in school! haha. The weather will change real fast I am sure..predicted 70s Friday. Have a good Wednesday everybody...Happy Thoughts!

Hey folks, this is quite a love fest going on. Just how many extra bedroms have got there Karen? Sounds like you're gonna need them. Funny how the nest seems to re-fill........

So last night I'm looking on the internet to get a room for a couple a nights over Columbus Day Weekend to go back and spend some more time with my dad. I guess I should have remembered this since Dave and I were married 26 years ago CD weekend; there are no rooms available within a 50 mile radius of Burlington. Don't you find that hard to believe!?! Guess I'd forgotten just how beautiful those trees get.

Taking our trailer over would cost a trememdous amount with the gas but I may end up that way.

I can only adopt you if you don't mind cleaning, doing laundry, cooking and yardwork ... oh yeah, and addressing me with "Maam". Tough Love!

Everybody wants to be adopted! Friendship is great. I was/am actually freezing here today. It was only in the 60s, so Richard you are very courageous to jump into the pool. Our house is great in the summer when it is hot outside being nice and cool but this time of the year is cold. Neil told me I need to get my mittens out and not rely on him as a bodywarmer. Oh well....warm again tomorrow. Hope everyone had a great weekend.
Happy Thoughts....

Sounds like you two had a really great visit. Karen, can you adopt me, too?!!!

dinner with karen and rich was great and i mean the connection, the company, the comfort of their home, the food, the fam, the cutest dog you ever saw. i was hoping that karen would adopt me and came just short of asking her to sign the adoption papers that i had the foresight to bring with me. we talked until late/early and it was really great. i am back in vt with cool but beautiful conditions. i am about to jump in the pool as this may be the last day that i can jump in as a man and not come out a boy.

Thanks for the kind words. I had an excellent visit with Richard, he looks great and I think we covered some good ground ... past, present, and future. I am so impressed with his talents and insight. It has been really fun to reconnect with high school friends. I had a great time with Kathi this summer and it was surprising to me with both how easily the conversation flowed. I don't know if it is that we have that past link or just that we are mature now, but it has been rewarding. Thanks Kathi and Richard for initiating the contact. Here it has been absolutely gorgeous weather. At my house kids are coming and going (Richard got to meet the entire bunch). I have some company lined up for the fall ( my sister for one, and friends)a weekend in Lexington, KY in Oct., a trip back to VT for a long weekend, and then we will be heading into the holiday season. About this time of year I start looking for fall festivals ... they always remind me of VT. Happy fall to all!

Karen looks great, don't let her fool you!
The weather is changing to fall...its cooler in the mornings, warm during the day and cooler /darker faster in the evenings. The summer produce is done and winter squash, beets, and pumpkins are thriving. I bought mums for my garden....I still have a few roses blossoming, lots of zinnas and marigolds. The putunias are on their last legs. Spent a couple hours tonight mowing our field up by the garden...we are down to one crappy push mower...Neil took the other one apart...guess what that means! haha....it might get put back and work...or it might not! It is always amazing to begin the school year with 5 year olds and marvel how many dont' wash their hands after using the bathroom...(at home)...don't know how to sit still....play with others...among lots of other things...you never assume they know..you just model and show! But all and all they are pretty endearing and I am exhausted at 3:30! Just getting old!!!! Anyways, hope everyone is well....happy thoughts!

I'm sure you look as beautiful as ever, Karen! Forget the diet!

Too bad it won't work out this time, Patti, but I'm sure it will at one time or another. I don't really have a set time that I go there. We've also gone in the winter, but fall is my favorite time. I love the foliage. Sometimes I go twice a year, so if I get there again, I'll definitely let you know!

Well I certainly was reminded last weekend of how beautiful VT is. Just gorgeous. I'm heading back to Burlington Columbas Day weekend and will hopefully get to see the fall colors before they fade.

Dad is settled in and happy to be back "home". He's hoping I'll come overy regularly though and so I guess there's gonna be a lot of driving going on. He's as far away from me in Burlington asnd he was in FL. It's just a wicked long car ride instead of a plane. Strange. On a 3 day weekend each trip will basically be drive a day - stay a day - drive a day.

Maybe one of my trips over, I'll be able to catch you at home Richard. How was the Champlain Valley Fair? Have fun in Atlanta with Karen.

I'm disappointed about missing you Lori but hopefully next trip you make. Do you come over once in the fall or other times as well?

Okay, Richard is coming to town and I am really looking forward to it ..... now, can anyone tell me a good diet that drops about 20 lbs a day!!! Ha Haaaaaaah!

Atlanta, ho! I'm on my way tomorrow. I hope that I can see Karen and Rich (maybe Thursday night works, Karen??) Being 72-centric, I promise to defend Karen on any differences on remembering the way things were. Pat, I ran out of Burlington to the Northeast Kingdom as soon as I heard you were here (but it wasn't because of you- I just thought that I would say it in kind of a dramatic way). Gerda and I spent the weekend with our gourmet club at a friends camp. It was so great. I hit deep relaxation early and stayed there. We were kayaking and biking and, oh yeah, drinking and eating and drinking and eating. Sorry we couldn't at least talk by phone. I know how busy family keeps you, even when you aren't doing anything. For example, my mother in law is here now and I think I may see Gerda sometime on Saturday.

I forgot to mention that Leah, Janice's daughter, is visiting us now. She's a really nice girl. My kids are having a good time with her.

Yes, we've been glued to the TV, too, shocked at what's been going on in New Orleans. The description of the conditions in the Superdome sounded like something in a book I read, called "Blindness," by Jose Saramago--no power, no running water, barely any food, no place to go to the bathroom, dead bodies around. Terrible....

Karen, that's nice that you'll be seeing Richard next week. Did you see each other at the 30th reunion? We're also planning to meet when I'm in Burlington at the end of the month. Patti, how did your visit with your father go?

Hi, We are having absolutely gorgeous weather here but a lot of the time I have been glued to the TV watching the coverage of Katrina ... how unimaginably horrible. I know the Atlanta area has already received some people in their hospitals, and probably shelters and homes as well. This weekend I have come down with some upper respiratory thing that my kids had before me, so I haven't been moving too quickly. We had some friends from SC visiting on Fri and made a visit to friends in the GA mountains on Sat. My mom's brother, my Uncle Mike, died last week in Springfield but I did not go home for the services. Thats the hard part of living so far away. Tonight, my oldest son who goes to college in Cincinnati, will be flying home for the week. Next week I may get to visit with Richard while he is in Atlanta. I hope that everyone has had a great Labor Day weekend, spent with people you love ... stay safe!

This afternoon when I was out mowing, a job I hate, I was thinking about how lucky I was to have a lawn to mow. Guess we never know how lucky we are until we see the news. I suppose higher gas prices are the least of our worries.

Good morning Lori, Yep, we heading over to Vt this weekend. I tried to set it for later in the month but Dad really wanted us to be there this weekend. I think to show his side of the family is involved in the process also. Rachel's family made all the arrangements for the move. I think he's feeling like he's being dragged along.
We leave tonight and plan to stay with Dave's Dad at the half way mark and then head over in the a.m. Probably get there early afternoon Sat. Dad won't arrive until sunday afternoon. We're staying at the Fairfield Inn in Colchester. Wish Carburs was still there, we'd love to go over there for a couple of beers around the world. We'll be leaving lunch time Monday to come back. so it's a pretty short trip over.
We're up to $3.19 a gallon for gas now. That more than the long drive is more likely to keep me from going back over in a couple of weeks. I haven't made a decision yet though. I really would love to see you.

Patti, are you making the long trip down to Burlington this weekend? I guess, depending on how bad it is, you'll decide if you feel like doing it again at the end of the month?!

Today is the first day with Kindergarten students. They will be so cute! Hopefully, they will stay that way, when their real personalities come out! Patti, have you started school yet? Rainy here for the last few days...more so then all summer. We wish for only Happy Thoughts in the disaster of Katrina. Guess we shouldn't complain about the snow....

hi karen, i did not get your email cuz i am not using my old email address. i'll update my listing. i just use rloveless@hubersuhner.com now. i'll write to you.

Richard, you reminded me of the summer after I was married and moved to Schenectady. I worked at a camp for handicapped kids and at the end of the sessions I got an award "To the sweet girl with the bad mouth". Still proud of that one! I am turning 51 this Sunday, not sure what the plans are. They are seldom wild now. By the beginning of the week we are going to get some rain from Katrina. I am worried about losing trees as that has already happened in past storms. We took our soph. back to college last weekend in about 95 degree temps. It has been nice this week though. This morning I watched a mother and two fawns eat the corn we put out and play in the back yard. Richard, did you get my email question about realtors in Springfield?

Speaking of missing classmates, where is Karen? I have learned that it's the quiet ones that hide at the back of the classroom that are really the wild ones. Guess she is out there being wild somewhere. Someone's gotta do it. I still respect you (a lot), Karen.

Guess summer must be winding down and we are all back closer to the computer. Its nice hearing what everybody is up to.
Our friend finished putting the new light switches and wiring in our kitchen this morning and I touched up the paint on the sanded areas. My one big project finished just in time....before school starts. So I am excited about that. Patti, it will be nice having a spankin' new school to work at. They are suppose to "redo" Union Street, Elm Hill, and update Park Street schools in the future. Voters rejected the proposed consolidated school...so, we will see what brilliant ideas they will come up with.

F.Y.I Bo Birsky's memorial service is in Springfield on Saturday at St. Mary's.

Happy Thoughts...

Patti, glad to know your memory's coming back! My sister's even worse, though. She doesn't remember her own sister (ME!) visiting her at college in Wisconsin before we moved to Israel.

Good to see you here again, Jerry!

Yes, I know the "enabler" thing. Our kids never stop being kids. My middle son is always reminding me that they're adults now, but I keep calling them kids.

Richard, don't disappear. We miss your observations!

WOWEE!!! Hard to believe I was last in here a whole month ago today! How time does really fly. I've got today off to go to a state beach on Newfound Lake near Bristol, NH with my friend Carol who really likes that lake. Last Tuesday we went on the very nice 90-minute cruise around Squam Lake in Holderness where "On Golden Pond" was filmed. Got to see a loon with binoculars off the 3 o'clock side of the boat, and then the real treat was seeing the protected little island where bald eagles have nested. Saw three of them including the very large chick and the HUGE nest atop a pine tree. One of the adults took off in flight for us. Our driver/guide gave us some of the inside scoop on the filming of the movie and where Katherine Hepburn changed her clothes by herself instead of with others. Thanks for setting me straight on your cousin Larry, Karen. Glad Neil is back to work following surgery, Kathi. Yeah, the garden needed some more shade on South Street so those big basswood trees came down. I haven't seen it yet. Glad you had fun working the fair, Pat. Hope you're back in the right time zone, Lori. Been out on Lake Champlain, Richard? Have fun everyone. I'll try to be back sooner next time. Jerry

Funny how us parents are the ones doing most of the lifting, carrying, and paying for!!! I don't remember it being quite that good for us back in the old days! haha. Where is your son going to school? It'll seem strange around the house for a while but somehow we get by...then they come back and we start all over again. My daughter and her boyfriend were here from NYC this weekend and we had a good time together. Now we can be more friends. She is doing all this sewing and selling on ebay so she went through all my fabric, etc....of course, that meant I had to clean out the closet to get to the stuff. Wonder who was left to sort and put it all back....hummmmm...good guess..ME! But when I am done, it will be good and cleaned out! School starts for me on Thursday. As I said before I am just getting into vacation...2 more days. And my son is borrowing my car to get to West Leb to work as his car is in the shop....hopefully, not too much $$$ and days later, I'll have mine back. See, thats what we parents do. I hope that you can all get together for a good visit this fall. Happy Thoughts!