Faithful,
It's also good to see happy posts from you. As I told Weaver, I know a lot more happens than you talk aobut.

I know you must have difficult days - so I continue to pray for you. All of you.

Time passes, and the longer I live, the more quiclky the years fly by. We can never really live in the past or the future - Time always takes the form of ~now~. Enjoy your time as a mother. It may be that you won't get to do, or have all the things you want, or even all that you need, but you can still be happy.

I think that is one of the big secrets of life - be happy with what you have, find things to be thankful for each day. We always work for a better life, and we should, but so often we already have what is needed for happiness right in front of us.

I doubt I am telling you anything new, but sometimes it helps to hear it again.

God be with you always.

SS

I can't pass this up. From an article in the Washington Post about the National Archives:

The chief archivist of the United States of America immediately seized on a single, all-important question when an aide woke him at 1:40 a.m. Monday to report massive flooding at the National Archives. Tens of thousands of gallons of water had gushed in from Constitution Avenue, knocking out transformers that power the building's lights and air conditioning.

Are the Charters of Freedom safe? Allen Weinstein asked groggily, referring to that venerable trio of documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

...

When he arrived at the building at 6 a.m. Monday, Weinstein said, the first place he checked was the rotunda, to see for himself that it was dry. Then he called the White House to pass along word that the country's most storied documents were safe and sound.

He got its voice mail and left a message.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...mail/components

I really hope George got the message...

You know GC, I thought of this post this weekend. I think, but I'm not quite certain that this is one of the nicest posts you've ever posted to me.

Seriously.

Made me content and happy.

The Wookie bought me a pool stick this weekend. It's got green stained inlay pieces on it. It's loverly. He's teaching me the game. I kinda know it already. I understand the physics better than most beginners anyway. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> But it was fun sunday.

We've been kidless since Saturday night.

I miss the noise.

I said it before, sister. You're too easy.

GC

And I told you not to say that too loud. Everyone will want one of me.

I don't come in six packs, you know?!?!

Pity. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Gray,
Many of the good ones are taken, but not all.

After all.............. you're single.

SS

Hi everyone,

Hope your 4th was happy!

I keep up on the reading here, mostly, but don't get much of a chance to write.

I had to say something about this:


Sounds a lot like my H's ex, also.

Such a compassionate way to look at it.

I haven't seen the hurt in a long time because I don't trust it. The hurt pulls me in and I believe in the human spirit and all that is good -- and then -- well, let's just say I find out differently.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

It's nice to see all of you around the campfire, this being the best of camping season and all. I miss my grandparents who used to take my sister and me out every summer... such warm memories... oh, I could write a book about those trips. ::::::

Faithful -
(words & music by bill strange - scott davis)

Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened thru the ages just like wine

Quiet thought come floating down
And settle softly to the ground
Like golden autumn leaves around my feet
I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories,
Sweet memories


This is actually a love song - but it applies to families too. Here are some photos of Zion Park - one of the accessible trails we hiked on July 4th. DS would love it, as would DD, and you adults too - I know it

Zion 1

Zion 2

Zion 3

Then there are the non accessible trails -

Zion 4

Zion 5


Memories do sweeten through the ages - kids love remembering......... later, when they get older. You don't have to do this trip, but you do need to go somewhere.

Soon - the days are flying by.

Memories........

SS

SS, you must be a mind reader! I just said to my H the other day that my dream is to take a family vacation to somewhere like Utah. Maybe rent an accessible motor home and head out on the road. I want my DD and DS to have a memory of at least one family vacation. I actually mentioned Utah because after seeing CARS last weekend I had a strong desire to go there. If you haven't seen CARS the scenary suggests Utah. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Haven't seen CARS yet. Maybe we'll have to see it.

If you want lots of varied scenery all close together, this end of the state is a good place to go.

More important......... is that you go.

Give me a time line - when are you thinkin?

SS

Not sure, SS. Have to wait to see if they hire someone new at H's work. Right now he is the only fulltime worker in the office. The other guy is now nearly part time. Can't take off until they fill the vacancy. I am hoping for August but that may be too hot for DS.

Looking at the website I would have to say late October/early November would be ideal weather wise. DS cannot handle heat.

Wow, SS. I've been there. It's cool to see pictures of a place I went, oh, 25 years ago or so. I don't remember exactly how old I was. I do remember that my sister threw one of her shoes into the canyon. She was old enough to know better, probably 8 or 9. We didn't get it back, and I seem to remember a grumbling stop at a shoe store on the way back to the hotel.

Haven't seen "Cars" either, but must, because not only does there appear 2 be a "splittie" VW transporter in it, but a Hudson Hornet as well (my dad had one that was way 2 cool).

So, got back from OOSP last friday night (SS, we caught some really yummy rainbow trout up at Puffer on the 5th) after a 500 mile drive. Stared at my eyelids for a few hours and hopped on a plane 2 Portland, OR at 7am the next morning.

Paid the balance on my "new" 1931 Model A panel truck and have been driving it down the coast since. 2day, I thought I'd blown the head gasket, but it's not leaking and there's no water in the oil or oil in the water, just some blowing out the radiator cap on the grades. I met with some really cool Model A nuts in Eureka who told me it may have a slight leak but it's fine, just keep it under 45mph from now on and keep it full of water (no pressurized system, so it will lose water anyway on a long drive). Made it 2 Garberville for the night, and now it's late so I should stare at my eyelids some more. Fig're I've got a 2ple more long days ahead of me. Would love 2 hook up with some MBers on my way home, but frankly I move 2 slow and will need 2 drive 2 much of the day. But if you see a Model A driving by on the 101 or the 1 next 2ple days, be sure and wave - it just might be meself!

-ol' 2long

2long - safe travels, sir.

BTW - what in the heck is OOSP?

Yo Gray! Whassup?

far

"out of state property"

Can't remember whether it was me or someone else here who thought that one up.

It's about 2 hours from SS' place.

-ol' 2long

Thanks for the news 2long. I haven't been to puffer for a while. It's about time. I know the weather is a lot nicer there than here in July and August.

I hope DS liked it - I assume he was with you.


J,
Maybe you should all come to Zion and let me show you around. I bet you would STILL like it.

I just hope you don't come when I have to be somewhere. (like work)


Faithful, Oct, Nov is a nice time of the year. Weather is nearly always good then. Spring is nice too.

What I would really like to see is a date on the calendar for you guys. No matter where you go, or what you do.

Hi Graycloud. People care about you.
I was thinking about you - you need a vacation too. Sanding floors gets the work done, but it's not the same. (I was tempted to add "and you know it, too." but I decided to leave it out.)

Hope the music is helping. It does create moods. (Can create? Does create???)

J,
I don't know how long it takes to recover from the stress of helping someone heal, and having your house flooded, and cleaning up, and repairing. I am sure it takes longer than the actual cleanup and repair, which must be ongoing.

You are in my prayers. May you recover quickly, and well.
Sorry for the stress, and the loss of time when you could be (and should be) loving life, not just enduring it.

Happy trails 2long. Don't blow a gasket. (I always wanted to say that.)

SS

2Long, it's too bad your timing wasn't a little different. HoFS is in Portland this week for a conference. (Anyone else out that way?)

SS, it's been a rough time and I'm only just now starting to figure out how to recover. Yesterday my brother, the one who lives with me, left for Japan for a five week work stint. So I'll be doing all the household chores and stuff myself during that time. He didn't necessarily do a lot -- but he fed the cat and mowed the lawn and did a few other things as well. So it'll be a bit more work for me.

So I decided that I would give myself a 5-week health makeover. Sorta like going to a spa but staying home. I'm eating what I want to eat -- what I think is healthy, that is -- without worrying about getting a formal dinner on the table every night.

I did yoga last night and did some again today with DD. And we went to the park today. I'm going to go for a walk in a little while and do some more yoga later.

I'll keep working on the house stuff as much as I can. Estimates for the drainage stuff will happen next week and a bit after that. I've moved almost all the things that need to be moved so that I can have the floors refinished. I think I've picked out a new fridge and clothes dryer. So I'm making progress.

I hope, too, to figure out a way to get more sleep. It'll probably look something like, "HoFS, my love, it's 10pm and I'm going to sleep. Yes, I know I stayed up until 1am last night. Please have me checked to see if I'm a changeling... in the morning."

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Oh, and yes, the reasons to come west for a while are myriad. A trip to Zion with you and your lovely wife as guides? Very high on the list.

Hi Graycloud. People care about you.

Thank you, SS. My floors are done. My house is very hospitable, though with a few big incompletes to settle before I can take a real break. By winter I'd like to have it ready to sell. Though I haven't decided to move away. Just want to have the option.

Don't have much to say besides hello.

GC