We are back from NC....left last night at 7 and got home this morning about 8....I always say, Theres no place like home!" It is freezing here. Yesterday it was in the high 70s..plus we turned the heat down while we were gone...brrrrrrrr.

Thanks for all the good thoughts everyone. Surgery was put off till tomorrow so they could transfuse her. Her blood platlets were too low for surgery. Now we're looking for 11 tomorrow. She was pretty confused this afternoon when I was visiting.

I'm very glad to hear that your daughter won't be ungoing surgery Karen. You must be very relieved.

Glad to hear your daughter is doing well, Karen, and doesn't need the surgery. By the way, how does your son like Santa Monica?

Good luck dealing with your mother-in-law, Patti. We have a 95-year-old neighbor who always seems to be falling, breaking something, and then recovering. She's frail, but amazingly strong. But she doesn't have dementia--at least not as far as I can tell.

Sorry to hear about your mother in law's accident Patty. Hope the surgery and recovery go well. At least you live close and will be able to be supportive.

My daughter is recovering from her fall and will not have to have surgery. That was a big relief for me. Now if we can just get workman's comp to be upstanding and pay the medical bills .... they never make it easy.

Rainy here today and in the 60's so far. Leaves are falling and unimpressive but we are going to visit friends in the GA mountains this weekend for an Apple Festival and I hear its pretty there.

hi pat. my mother went through that and it was a mixed result because of the dimentia. the hip surgery is one of those miracles of medicine that goes very well. my expereience and opinion to a certain degree is that the recovery time is not too bad except if the patient has dimentia. what is not that long of a time to be immobilized can be enough- like the straw that breaks that camels back- to be too much for this patient. maybe you could ask about special compensations that could help her spirit while she is immobilized. i am certainly no expert of any kind, but i think encouragement in every form without being over the top is a good thing. maybe not encouragement exactly, but reassurance- some focused attention fairly often from any of you that she remembers could be good.

Dave's mom fell last night and broke her hip. She is scheduled for hip replacement surgery tomorow afternoon. This will be a difficult recovery as she suffers from dimentia.

This is about a UVM student. Tragically, the young lady's body was locatd by hikers yesterday. No one has been arested yet but a man is being watched. The student had dined with her parents; who had come up for the weekend from NJ. She went out with friends afterwards and after leaving them was murdered. It has been about a week now since she went missing. An awful situation.

What happened with the UVM student? We don't seem to get the news out here in L.A. At least, I didn't notice it in the paper. Maybe it was on TV, but I don't watch much TV anymore.

Tragically the news of this young woman's loss is all over the news. It's very sad. I wonder if more of this is happening or do we hear more about it? I don't know.

On a happier note; I am busily bidding on stemware and other types of glasses on E-Bay. Tuscany Seasons from Lenox. I love it and there's none to be found in all of Maine. I used to buy it in NH during the summer but the store went out of business.

Now you've got it Lori. Mrs. Avery is a very controlling woman.

Thanks for printing out the song, Patti. Now I see what Richard means--I don't see any strong women in there. Just a mother interfering in her daughter's life!

Have a good trip, Kathi. Little kids are fun.

We are off to NC to visit our daughter and grandbabies early Saturday morning in our new red car! I am so excited to see them. Caleb is so happy that the car is red because that's his favorite color, so he told me yesterday. We will stop at my sister-in-laws in Durham NC and then to the NC State Fair on Monday, meeting up with the family. So, it should be a funtime. Its suppose to get pretty cool here this weekend so warm sounds great! Happy Thoughts...........

Sylvia's mother says "Sylvia's busy"
"Too busy to come to the phone"
Sylvia's mother says "Sylvia's tryin"
"To start a new life of her own"
Sylvia's mother says "Sylvia's happy"
"So why don't you leave her alone?"

CHORUS:
And the operator says "40 cents more for the next 3 minutes
Ple-ease Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her awhile
Please Mrs. Avery, I just wanna tell 'er goodbye

Sylvia's mother says "Sylvia's packin"
"She's gonna be leavin' today"
Sylvia's mother says "Sylvia's marryin'"
"A fella down Galveston way"
Sylvia's mother says "Please don't say nothin"
"To make her start cryin' and stay"

CHORUS

Sylvia's mother says "Sylvia's hurryin'"
"She's catchin' the nine o'clock train"
Sylvia's mother says "Take your umbrella"
"cause Sylvie, it's startin' to rain"
And Sylvia's mother says "thank you for callin"
"And, sir, won't you call back again?"

CHORUS

Tell her goodbye

the song is unremarkable. an ex boyfriend calls and gets his girlfriend's mother as the girlfriend is packing to leave. the mother will not let him talk to her.

I think I'm missing something. I don't know that song and don't understand all the talk about Sylvia's mother. What did she do?

lori, no offense taken. strong is okay, but it is better to not have to be strong when you really don't feel like it. it is kind of like different degrees of something that is way too much in either case. strong in the face of love as controlled by sylvia's mother is not a story where less is more- less is still too much. all i can say is that if the guy singing the song just made it up with no one in particular in mind, i feel so used. i feel cheap. i feel like a dinosaur in jupiter gravity that had too much wine to drink. that is the truth.

I'm laughing so hard right now!!! Richard you're killing me.

I have the feeling that if Mrs. Avery would just let him tell her goodbye,,,,,,, She might change her mind and stay. So who is the stronger??? Mrs. Avery.

I wonder if Sylvia was only 16??

I don't remember the song, but you're right, Patti, we can count on Richard to help us out with these things. So what the song's basically saying is that women are stronger? I'm beginning to believe that's true. No offense to you men out there.

sylvia's mother has sappy lyrics that remind us one more time (though women rarely remember) that breaking up hits the guy hardest and sylvia's just pushing on with her life- not that there is anything wrong with it.

Richard's Mind: that depository of fascinating memories will I'm sure come up with some insight about Sylvia's Mother

Think Peter Pan....................

I think we should be able to replace lots of stuff after 27 years! Including steak knives!! lol
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary. Its great to celebrate all those years together.

I don't remember Sylvia's mother.....

Chocolate mice and Okemo Weddings, great stuff going on. Fall weddings are so pretty if the trees ar still loaded.

David and I celebrated our 27th this past Friday. I have actually just replaced 27 year old steak knives. They were a wedding gift but just don't have what it takes any more.

I just printed out lists of the top 100 songs of 1968 - 1972. Anyone remember Sylvia's Mother? Let's play Who remembers the music games!

Chocolate mice sound delicious. There is a Chocolate place in Walpole that makes them....too yummy! Lucky friends.
I actually went to my first Gay wedding. It was in the Sugar House at Okemo...very tastefully done. They both live in NYC...one is a flight attendant and the other other a buyer at Bloomingdales. I work with one of the mothers at school. It was beautiful out on the deck overlooking all the folliage. Deer in the field.
Went and picked apples today. Will take some and maple syrup down to the grandchildren next week.
Happy Thoughts are being sent...............

A ceremony with little chocolate mice? Talk about odd!!!! Actually, it sounds interesting. Anything at Shelburne Farms would be beautiful.

Kathi, whose getting married?

lori- the simple answer is yes. i am about to go soak up all i can. y'all throw some happy thoughts in my direction. that would be more than nice. i hope to do a small is beautiful ceremony tomorrow with two old woodworking friends that have their shop at shelburne farms. it is like a japanese tea ceremony except not. a local bakery makes little chocolate mice. i will get one each to first appreciate visually and then consume as we enjoy seeing each other for a moment. it is small, but beautiful- like vermont.

It is a beautiful fall day here. Very cold this morning..32. I did cover some of my flowers because I'm just not ready for them to die! I am off to Okemo for a wedding in a few minutes...should probably bring a heavy coat! Have a wonderful weekend everybody. Happy Thoughts.........There is this beautiful Vermont Song, I think they tried to have it the state song, but its really pretty and makes you appreciate "these green hills"...

So after all the places you've seen, Richard, don't you think Vermont is the best place to live?

We have some foliage here, too! Nothing compared to the hills of Vermont, but I still love to look at those trees!

sweet photo! my trip to wichita was a chance to win some new business and that all went well. i toured a frank lloyd wright house while i was there and that was great. i have made touring famous homes and buildings a hobby to fill in time when i travel. one of my favs has been mark twain's house in west hartford, ct. that is definitely worth seeing. the stories of the people who lived in these places are as interesting as the homes are unusual and there is a good brazilian restaurant closeby to sam clemens place, if you ever go. i am staying with the fam for a couple days out on shelburne point this weekend. it is something i won at work. that should be great. kayaks, fall foliage, and old people- cool, huh?

Very well done Karen! We can post pictures.....good to know! I thought so but I haven't ever done it. What a good lookin bunch 'a broads! I'd know them anywhere

And who might those "beauties" be???

It is definitely fall here. The leaves are turning and it is cooler. It is suppose to be a beautiful weekend. Full moon tonight and the kids acted it today! It was Open House at school which is always a fun time, meeting parents.
Karen, I hope that your daughter is feeling better and her nose will heal correctly without surgery!! Sounds painful.
We bought a new car....A Ford Five Hundred...it is so nice to have a "real" new car. Neil decided we need something really comfortable now that we are "getting older!" Especially on long rides to NC. I thought we were going grocery shopping....
Richard, hope your trip to Whitchita went well....safe trip home.
Happy thoughts........

karen v - You can post photos. From this window - look at the icons above.....See the little photo?? Use that to upload your photos. give it a try!!

Hi All! Wow! What happened to September? Geesh. Well, I have a month of classes under my belt and I'm doing fantastic. So different than when I was younger!

Fall is definitely in the air and most of the trees are at their peak. Sorta early. Wish I could post photos on here. Usually the trees peak in the high country in September. (Would sure love to see another autumn in VT!) It's been in the 70s and 80s the last week. Though we got close to snow a few weeks back. I spent Sunday down on the Pearl St Mall in Boulder at their Fall Festival with lots of artists selling their wares and live music. Then a nice dinner outside. Great people watching, beautiful weather, leaves sifting down. Nice break before booking it again.

Speaking of trains...I seem to recall that there used to be trolley tracks running through the center of town.

And, FYI, I paid $2.589/gal for gas on the 20th. Ouch. I believe that included the 3-cent discount I received from my grocery store...

i am in kansas and i had to fight like hell to get here. last june i sat drinking a beer with a corporate vp in san francisco who is in the wireless infrastructure world and i cast a line looking to talk with their supply line management folks. all of the right fish bit and i am now at a global meeting of their procurement people in wichita. so i will dazzle with foot work tomorrow. i got a hawaiian shirt to die for and will have a really fun presentation. like wow did anyone ever think of that? the answer is, "not in the world of rf (radio frequency, or infrequency depending on your cell phone reception at the time)." so i am having a blast, cuz this is prospecting that i did on my own and so far this $600 million dollar company seems very interested. they currently spend less than 0.2% of their annual spend on my company. the company i work for is pretty well known so there really is untapped potential here. okay, i better go eat a plank of salmon- say what- salmon in wichita. i swear i do not need marijuana anymore. reality is far more chill.

You mean Kansas? You really are a world traveller. See old cowboy sites??

go ahead. ask me. say, hey richard what is happenin in wichita. . . . . . . nuthin 'cept its over 95 degrees here. eeeeeeeeeeesh.

Speaking of goats, my friends and I raise the minis. they are really cute. Yes, gas here in the metro area varies but we've gone under the 2.00 mark as of last week. I had pneumonia and it sucked. Had to rest most of the week.. I went to pick up leaves in the yard and it tired me out. However this week i'm back up and running. So.... the 23 of June at the at the HH eigh? I will try and clear my schedule. Its certainly enough notice. Ciao

Okay, I'll stick to odd...

i don't know what normal is, really. bruce cockburn says the trouble with normal is it only gets worse. odd that you would ask and maybe better not to know.

Thank you, Richard (and Patti). If that's what you mean by odd, I'll accept it. Sounds pretty good to me! So then what's your definition of normal?!

Wow, that was very poetic Richard. Lori, he's right !

absolutely! as someone that i count as a friend and care about very much, let me tell you how odd i think you are. i think that you are very odd because you care about friends when others only seem to have time for themselves. i think you are extremely odd because you are honest even when you are feeling a little insecure. odd that you write beautiful poetry when others barely write at all. it is odd that what you need from life is "not an answer, just a flavor in the chest." that is what i like about the very odd person that you are. my other odd friends are kind of like that too.

Many are friends? Does that include us?!

very funny, pat. you are right. i do like to look at the odd ones. many are friends. many are more like me than i am.

Evidently this has been going on for quite some time....................

i see odd people. they are everywhere!

You have some odd memories...........

the plastic webbing holding a six-pack of 16 oz. bud cans from doug stokes belt was a good look!

How about leaning on the hoods of parked cars drinking Boone's Farm wine surrounding a bonfire at Fergies Pits or HoJos? I can picture that on a flat bed truck.

well, i am not hearing thundering applause for that theme. there were the train tracks on clinton street that always were a bitch to ride over with a bicycle, there was the springfield airport where lindberg landed 30 years before we were born and lets see there was kissing in cars on mile hill and wherever it was dark and secluded. am i taking this too literally? what were the organizers thinking? if you guys want to do a float with a car park on mile hill, i will volunteer for the back seat with anyone except an inflatable doll.

I just heard from Gail about the theme for the alumni weekend. Planes, Trains, and automobiles. the parade is Sat. the 23rd starting at 10:30.

So there's your answer Karen!

You lead such an interesting life Richard. When was the last time you were home?


We have a reservation at the Hartness House for the 23rd of June folks but no details as to food and beverage. May be looking for an estimated head count soon. They wanted the information at the time of the reservation. Oh well..........

i know a springfield goat when i see one and this was the real thing. the few times that i have stopped at that gas station i have felt like i was at the champlain valley fair. usually it is similar only with the look of the people (including me), but now there is a petting zoo that puts it over the top. apparently the goat lives nearby. his owner walked him home. i am in maryland at the moment. i have a potentially interesting meeting tomorrow. gotta crash now. sweet dreams to all.

Imagine Richard seeing pet goats at the gas station by Exit 7...do you think they were residents or just passing through??? I'm not sure if the symbol is still hanging at Riverside Gym or not. I know it used to be...

Wow I remember that that arm & hammer so vividly Richard. It was a great piece and hung in the Cosmos' gym for many years. I wonder where it is?

springfield moments. driving on the interstate today, i saw a bumper sticker with the arm&hammer springfield logo that has stuck, i guess. i proposed it in 1970 and did the scaling to take if from a box of baking powder to a 25 foot by 25 foot canvas. steve sysko worked his ass off to actually paint it. seemed like it changed his life at the time. dunno. he went into theater arts and became a very capable scenic, lighting, everything that you can imagine brilliant driver that gets the show to go on. anyway, it warmed my cold heart and i decided to stop at the gas station near exit 7. there at the gas station was a man with his pet dog and goat. that is right- pet goat. seemed nice, didn't need to be called, seemed to be checking his master for hot dogs, followed with the man's pet dog in close formation. yeah, i was not high and i was not high on a hill with a lonely goat herd. just saw a guy out for a walk with the pets. hey, if i didn't blog, who could i tell these things to?

We have a confirmed reservation at the HH . Spread the word!

$2.49 gal up here at the pumps

Gas is $2.38 here in Springfield today. Interesting how we are now finding it "cheap" to buy gas...And who knew heating oil price would go down....we prebought ours for $2.69 a gallon..and that seemed a bargain in July when you have to prebuy. Oh well...It is definitely fall weather here...calendar says tomorrow but the thermometer says it today! At least it was sunny, here rain coming in Saturday night and Sunday. Means the yardwork should be done in the morning..but big craft fair over in Chester on the Green this weekend. Fun to look around. Wonder if Debra Webster will be selling her artwork there. I usually see her over there. She paints the most georgous oil paintings of scenes around the area. She also does photography print postcards. I'll see if her email is up todate...Well, have a great weekend everybody. Happy Thoughts...

No word from HH yet. I called tonight and left a message - they'll call me tomorrow evening.

I checked the SHS alumni site and it hasn't been updated. All the information is about this year's alumni event. So no answer to the theme question.

Questionfor all Vters that reside outside "metro" Btown. (ha ha) Do ya'll have hot spots forwifi. I remember when I lived there last my cell had to bounce off a tower in Plattsburgh and thus wasn't practical. Doc Noble in Shelburne told me she had trouble in lots of areas. By the way she is still having trouble with that tumour in her brain. They operated in Hanover awhile ago but didn't or couldn't get it all. It affects her balance and makes her sick to her stomach. Mom finally went home last week and hopefully will have a little better quality life but her tumour hasn't shrunk but it is showing grey matter instead of total solid. She has a 24hr care nurse from I believe Nigeria staying with her but neither one can presently drive so my bro hasto run the errands and groceries etc. At least the cost is cut from 300.00 $$ per day to about 160.00 $$. She also has her puter there and cando email so she can be in touch with all. Ciao and God Bless ya'll.