Hello to all,

Weatherwise it certainly hasn't been drought season but I can't really explain why such a drought in my postings has been the case except that it has been.   I appreciate the honesty and regularity of those you whom I hear from. and contniue to keep me updated.  It's GREAT having this sort of life line with eadch of you. 

Most recently the sun has been shinning and boy this does a lot to lift the spirits.  I often prefer outdoor puttering, work in the yard, and walking the dogs to the usual indoor kind.  There finally seems to be a hint of spring transitioning into summer.   Those of you who know me are familiar with a remark I make about my other life.  It seems the older I get and the longer I teach the more I try to keep separate these two.   When the weekend rolls around I just need a day to recoup and regroup from my teacher dealings and am finding I have become more lazy, enjoying a slower pace.  The irony of the whole thing is that on some weekends I find myself looking forward to the work week so that I can resume a somewhat regualr pace to my daily activities. 

Bummer gas and food prices are on the increase!  Will it get any better?   The largest raid in US immigartion history was in Postville, IA this week and I don't even think it made a ripple in our national news.  How can this be?   Will the next US president and congress address this?

On a happier note, our girls have been the bright spot in my life.  They keep me seeing the glass half full instead of half empty.  I'm grateful to them and feel remarkably blessed to have such terrific girls.   I recently saw a newspaper column disapproving of the notion of a kids day since everyday is kids day but when your kids grow up to be such terrific young ladies I most definetly would support adding this to our celebrated calendar days.

No Way! When live gives you lemons make lemondade...

I'm always receiving updates from those whom I priveliged toinclude me on their mailings.  No way could I believe it's been since Thanksgiving that I've updated all of you.  Seems this is  an update long overdue.  Recounting what's happened between then and now might be a bit boring or if I just highlight some of the noteworthy times/events perhaps this will give an idea what I've been up too.

We spent a good weekend with Kim & Dylan.  It's great when they express coming home is a respite for them and a place they opt to be.  As the kids' say it's good "to hang out together" which we did from Friday night to early Sunday afternoon.  We enjoyed talking, shopping, a stop at the New Pioneer Co-Op, a movie, and dinner out and a homecooked meal.   Not to mention Mark usually comments he likes that I cook when they here and it's not just opening a can of soup or each person for him/herself in the kitchen.

A week ago we got news that our family dog Olive who's hoping to celebrate 14 years with us in May has lymphomia     .  We all took the news pretty hard and Kim especially came prepared to memorialize Olive.  Her footprints were made and photographs poured over.  She started the project Friday night and left saying it's for us to finish the framing after the molding material dries.  She did provide the frames which was thoughtful of her. We all will treasure the Olive memories.

Weekends have also found us making trips to see Mark's mother.  Mark's sister has been dealing with an unusual problem at the assisted living center where their mother resides.

Snow, freezing rain, ice, blizzard like conditions, and now this morning ligthning and thunder showers have all added excitement to our daily routines.  Today, I'm updating courtsey of the weather and school being cancelled in our district.  This is one of the 5:30 a.m. phone calls I don't mind getting.

In the evenings we are enjoying more reading and together time compliments of the writers' strike.  We aren't big tv fans, never had cable, and don't really miss watching the boob tube.   Although I do miss watching occasional Big Ten college sports  and Mark thinks the Fox 24 program has pretty much run its course. It's actually ok since Hawkeyes football & basketball are rebuilding programs.

Christmas was great family time.  The three girls were here, plus our son-in-law who helps to balance out the hormones in the household.  I/we are once again THANKFUL that our kids want to come home and spend time with us.  How LUCKY is that!

Let's see if some of the photos will help recount our time since my last update.

yoga or pilates anyone???

Why is it when I'm at the computer I think of the other computing... aka...school reports, entering data for those reports and answering work related emails but instead, find I prefer checking in with family and friends?  This is especially true after I took the afternoon off for a consultation at the Women's Midlife Center in @ St Luke's in CR.  The visit was especially informative. I learned about specific  hormones, differences between synthetic and bio-identical hormones, the havoc hormones can reak, and what can be done to combat some of the wacko fluctuations during this time.  Did you know that the salvia test is more accurate than a blood test for determining hormone levels?  Something else I learned today during a friendly visit with  an ARNP.   Yoga or pilates anyone?  I think this recommendation might cause me more stress altho it is suppose to be a stress reducer. I'll see

Another great stress reducer is spending time with loved ones and particularly those who are younger than me.   I thought you'd like to see why having these two is so much fun.

This is dedicated to Kim & Dylan.  You two are a terrific twosome!  Thanks for being there for each other, especially when your Moms can't be with you.  Kim, feel better soon.  Dylan, Please stay healthy.

Aren't we lucky

Kim has be under the weather to say the very least and I thought it would help her to see herself in a place where she is feeling much better than she is now.Don't they look happy?  How lucky we are that she has chosen such a terrific guy to be by her side!  Dylan has been helping to take care of her and being her nursemaid and I know she is in good hands! 

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