hi everyone...still busy...running around doing such and such...glad you're feeling a bit better, Sandy...
Hope everyone has a safe and happy celebration tonight...we're going over to some old friends' house and will probably celebrate new years drop with New York, since we can't stay awake for the chicago drop...

we love it when you ramble, Finny !!

Hi everyone! I am back home. I got here about 3 hours ago, and I am already checking up on you all. I guess I missed all of you. I tried reading all of posts that I missed while gone, but there were just too many. It was making me dizzy. I hope you all had a good/decent/ not too bad(?) Christmas, and wish all of you a very Happy New Year.

We do not start back to classes until the 12th so I have some time to recover and to work on getting my course syllabi done. I also have to make a trip to St. Louis next week to Barnes Hospital to see the MS specialist there.

Frank, I spent the whole time in my exciting hometown of East Liverpool, OH. It is a small, run down town in NE Ohio (rustbelt)-- it is on the border of PA and W VA -- about 45 miles from Youngstown, OH and about 45 miles from Pittsburgh. Pottery and steel used to be the major industries. All of my family was there except for my oldest brother -- the Bob -- who felt that the drive from Philadelphia is just too tough on him.

Now during Spring break I will be heading for Austin, TX.

For those of you in Illinois, can you believe Blago's latest decision?

Just wanted to stop in and say hello one last time this year.

To the party animals out there behave 'cause there will be roll call in the morning. If ya don't show up for it a search party will go out huntin' ya. Skip me though. This place is dry. Rats.

As for some end of the year thoughts... well... I can not express what you all mean to me. I'm sitting here trying but my thoughts of love and gratitude just refuse to be put into words. My wish for all of you in the new year is peace, love, and joy like you have never known before.

Behave out there tonight. And that's an order! See ya next year!

me too.........

my favorite restaurant in Monterey California is Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, on Cannery Row.



and my favorite part of dining there (besides the shrimp, I mean!) is the wall murals of Forrest and Jenny, and the decorations (props from the movie)

Fried shrimp, shrimp gumbo, shrimp salad, boiled shrimp, shrimp sandwich, shrimp cocktail, stuffed shrimp, shrimp po'boy, steamed shrimp, broiled shrimp........and that's all I got to say about thaaaaat.

Why do I suddenly have the urge to clean the bathroom floor with a toothbrush!!

lol Kelly floors clean now onto the margaritas

good evening everyone .... today has been a lazy day for me .... weather has changed and with it came the electric shocks that i get in my hips and my shoulder feels like a neck does when it has wiplash .... hurts to even move my head or my arm ... doing better now though i am glad i am off tomorrow ....

gotta love that husband of mine .... beautiful poem .... breakfast in bed .... a pot of bean soup made with the ham bone from christmas is simmering on the stove .... had a bowl ... fantastic .... and then he made this rye bread appetizer that we all love .... without a doubt .... i am very blessed .... i love you very much frank

sandy ... get better ... am glad jim didn't have to go to the hospital ...

I wanted to say Happy New Year one last time before I head off to watch a movie with Jim. I had Nik pic up a spiral ham and supplies for dinner tomorrow. Yummy.

Love ya all!

Happy New Year to all hugsssssssssssss toott toot..well not quite time..but close enough...hugsss and wishing us all good health and good days..hugsss,sarah

(my dad dr already called, the spot is cancerous, he goes for blood work friday, monday a CAT scan and then later monday up to Marquette..for apt with a surgeon to discuss CAT and what the step for surgery will be...)

I am not really ready for the cancer stuff again, some I know are reminding me that they probably caught his early...and some of me is like yes I know..but I kept having so many hopes for Madeline each time the prognosis looked good..then boom around the corner was more bad news....so just trying to stay positive...

hugsss all, gotta go snuggle the little ones..

oh 13 year old, yes a friends parents have a whole group of the girls over, sleepover fun, hot tub, games and foods...they all brought gifts to exchange....

I feel old...hubby fell asleep on couch..and I feel like sleeping as well..hehe hugssss,sarah