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Zen -- Sorry to hear about your vacation time being spent trying to get there (and all the money and effort it has taken). As you've said, hopefully you'll get to do it next year! I also know what you mean when something begins to nickel and dime ya and can't stand when I'm in that position with anything -- it's always a tough call, but it does sound as if you spent a lot of effort on it, so hopefully you'll make the right decision when it comes down to it. Good luck with it all. Hope everyone has had a good last week of July-- the summer has certainly flown by, hasn't it? This weekend is WOMAD and I have wanted to attend WOMAD in the UK ever since the beginning and it still remains way up there on my bucket list. This year, I had gotten as far as looking into it more seriously -- airfares and b&bs, etc., but the airfare was so out of control for me to fly that it was an impossible dream for me. I was disappointed, for sure and still wish I was there, but overall, I'm glad to have put it off until next year(?) -- when the airfares, hotels, etc., might be more reasonable and no olympics taking place! I send my good thoughts and wishes out to all those who are there and hope they're having a great time! This past Friday, I was able to meet up with a fellow lunie -- James F. We had a few drinks, fish 'n' chips and chit 'n' chat for a few hours at a pub near my home in Lancaster, PA -- Quips Pub -- it's a traditional British pub and we had gone there a few years back when Ste and Deb Grant were visiting me in Lancaster. James lives in central PA and likes the pub, so we met up. We shared a few hours together and I had mentioned to him how wonderful it was to just hang out on a Friday evening -- I have not had that opportunity for the longest of times since I had been working weekend, night shifts for the past 10 years! That's every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 7p to 7a spent working -- I was only ever able to take off 4 weekends per year and they had to be scheduled several months in advance (without ever knowing for sure if I'd have off). Anyway, it felt so nice to just be able to do that and it occurred to me how much fun it is to catch up on things with family, friends and familunies! Today, being Sunday, I'll be preparing things for my work week and I've been invited to my brother's home for dinner, so I'll be joining them for a nice dinner on a Sunday afternoon/evening. Hope that everyone has a great week ahead! Stay cool when it's hot, hot when it's cool and most of all, stay happy and lunie! Kind regards to all,

Love when Lunatics get together. Especially when food and drink can be added to the meeting. Thanks Pat, now that I'm done doing the running around trying to fix the truck myself, it's still something of a vacation. May just run up to Traverse City, MI and visit a friend up there this weekend. Depending on when I get my truck back, might stop at Warren Dunes in Michigan on the way up. I'm sure Yellowstone will be there next year. In anyway, tried to look at a car to replace the Sunfire with, but it was already sold. Which means it was as good a deal as I thought it might have been. Probably sold before I saw it on Auto Trader Saturday and should have called first, but it was kinda fun to bop around on the motorcycle. Mostly thinking if I had replaced my drowned car sooner, perhaps the mechanic would have spent more time trying to figure out and fix all that should be. Instead of just trying to get it back to me quick. Kind of pissed at him, because I'm pretty sure one of my issues is from something he should have replaced when he replaced the pulley on the crankshaft. Would have saved me some money and him some time to work on another project. I don't really think he needs the extra work and money, so much as I think he thought he was doing me a favor. Only problem is, if the Harmonic Balancer fails it would at the best break the crankshaft, at worst it could break the crankshaft and send it through the engine block. That would be a very, very bad thing. Sigh. Wish I could do more then I did, but some things are best left to the mechanics. Not sure he liked that I fixed the stalling issue myself. Hopefully I'll find out what this is going to cost me tomorrow. I have too much money involved now to stop now. If I was going to cut my losses, it should have been before I started this course. Now I really have to drive it a few more years to get my money's worth out of it. I can hope it's up to the challenge. Hey, it's just the day to day details of life, no complaints really.

Hello all! Went to my 30th class reunion this weekend. Wow, what an experience. Some people haven't changed much, others can barely be recognized. Had alot of fun, though!

Glad you had fun at your 30th class reunion Big. Reunions certainly can be interesting. My brother's 30th is this year and mine is two years from now. My class tried having a 25th for some reason and not many went. The only reason I went to that one was someone I know who said she'd never go to a reunion let me know she was going to that one, so I had to go.

Well, don't have the truck back, so if I do go anywhere, it may be somewhere a bit more locally, such as these two places. Don't know yet, as some of the other boarders at the barn will be at the Kankakee County Fair too. Will see. Probably should do some actual house cleaning to go with the garage cleaning too. Anyway, a couple of interesting places in Illinois: http://www.visitrockfalls.com/Attractions/89-Albany-Indian-Mounds-State-Historic-Site/View-details.html http://www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/dickson/ I've been here a few times, but worth a visit: http://www.cahokiamounds.org/

BTI -- Glad to hear about your reunion -- I've never been much on them and went to a few of my high school reunions and like you, I was always surprised by the number of people who changed so much that I didn't recognize them . . . and then, of course, as more years go by, the more difficult it becomes. This year in November, my nursing school is having a reunion -- I've chatted with a few others from my class (of so long ago ) and I'm not sure I'll be attending -- but with my new schedule I can at least consider it -- I no longer work weekends. Yay! Zen -- I'm sorry to hear about your truck and I do hope that you are able to enjoy some of your vacation time. I'm still adjusting to my new work schedule -- and so is Harry. Although when he was fostered, his fosters worked a normal 9-5 Mon-Fri job, he's been with me now for nearly a year and had really gotten used to me being home during the weekdays with him, so he likes to go out -- just to socialize, mind you . So, I've decided to have the dog walker take him out each day for a little bit - just so Harry can get out to see his pupps (and some peeps ). As much as I'm getting used to getting up very early for work, I'm still having a difficult time going to sleep early, so my nights of sleep are short, but I'm still able to function during the day. I'm thinking that by the time fall and winter come, I'll be able to go to bed a bit earlier also -- we'll see. I'm spending some of today (Sat) in housecleaning (and garage cleaning also, Zen!) and after this weekend, I expect that I'll have a better system down so that I don't feel that I need to spend my weekends doing all my housework, etc., I like to go out and "play" on the weekends now -- it feels so nice to be able to do that. My niece Melissa is expecting her new baby very soon -- August 13th is her due date, but she's so close now that it won't be long now when I'll be making a weekend trip to Philly to visit. Have a great one everyone!

Ok, don't be deceived, I'm wearing heels. I'm not really this tall- https://picasaweb.google.com/113687970225842732627/CHS198230thReunion?authkey=Gv1sRgCK23pp78tLbVGw&feat=email#5771513004755401154

Plus I am NOT photogenic at all.

What are you talking about? You're gorgeous!

Your fine Big, or maybe Not-So-Big. Is that handsome guy Mr Big next to you? Bet he thinks your gorgeous. It is funny sometimes our concepts of ourselves. You look great and fortunately with age, you really don't worry about it so much anymore. Or at least one shouldn't. I try not to, some days do better then others. Anyway, the good thing about my Brother's reunion in September is I get to see him while he's in town. BTW, no I didn't go anywhere this weekend, decided to do a little rust rehabilitation on the truck and use a product to let clear up my headlights a bit. There will be better weather for travel later this year. Meaning, too damn hot to go anywhere this weekend.

BTI -- Your photo is gorgeous and you look like you had a nice time! That's the most important thing, yeah?! I'm finishing up some housework on this incredibly hot and humid Sunday! Had plans to do some things outside, but that'll probably wait until another cooler day. I've had word the my niece Melissa is in the hospital now, hopefully will be delivering her new baby sometime later today. I'm super excited and am so happy to know that I will be able to go to Philly to visit her next weekend without having to run around and beg people to work on my weekend -- really nice to have a normal schedule again. Have a great week ahead!

Aww, thanks guys. Your sweet. That is Mr. Big- she caught him with a funny look on his face. Congrats on the new baby, Pat! It will be fun to see them next weekend I'm sure. Zen, you tell that truck we all said to behave itself! Jen-

Thanks again for your sweet comments guys. I haven't felt particularly gorgeous lately so I really appreciate it. Whoa, we had a dust storm brew up this evening. It started over in the west in the desert toward Baker City, Ore., and moved over this way. Luckily it started to dissipate (sp.?) as it got closer to Boise, but what was left of it got stopped by the mountains that are on the northeast side of town and it settled down onto town. Blech. It looks really weird outside. I usually open the windows at night but I can't, it's still too dusty outside. I hope it's breezy tomorrow so it blows out of here. They showed it on the news as it was heading this way and it looked kindof like the ones they've been having in Arizona. We do get dust storms sometimes but this was pretty dusty.

Wow, stay safe there in the dust storms, BTI -- we've been having incredibly bad thunder storms each night (due to the intense horrible heat) and oddly enough, my specific area hasn't gotten hit nearly as bad as some places that are only a few miles away -- it's always fascinating to me how weather works. I'm fortunate in that we haven't had any damage from any of the thunder and lightening, but it's rather scary to hear it and see it and wonder which way it'll go. My day yesterday ended with great news -- a new great-niece for me and although I had all the details last night shortly after her grand entrance, I did not have a name -- or I should say, she did not have a name. My niece, Melissa, is always undecided about everything and naming her baby was no exception. She had a name that she was "okay" with, but that David and Rachael (her 16 year old daughter) really liked -- Riley Anna (Magnotta). Melissa liked the name, but wanted to spell it differently -- Ryleigh (I think) and hence, the debate ensued. By the time Melissa was in labor and ready to deliver the baby, she still wasn't sure about the name at all but didn't have any other name to consider. Of course, she's in the "driver's seat" so to speak when it comes to naming the baby -- I think she should have first dibs on it since she gave birth to her and also, she's the one who will complete the birth certificate for her. As of this morning and most of the day, still no name for the beautiful baby girl. At 5 pm, my sister Anna (her grandmom) sent me a text to tell me that her name is: Riley Anna Magnotta -- after all that! (I think it is so sweet that they have given her Anna's name as her middle name -- my sister Anna is a wonderful person and a very good/great grandmom -- I know she's honored by this). So, here are the details on Riley Anna Magnotta -- born 8/5/12, 8:15 pm, 6 lb 15 oz, 19 1/2 inches long. She looks just like Rachael when she was born -- a full head of black hair and fat pink puffy cheeks! I cannot wait to go to Philly on Saturday and see her and hold her and possibly take a photo or two . Off now to have dinner and walk Harry. Have a great night all!

Hi peeps! Been in hospital for the last give days, just got home today. Without getting into details, it was PTSD related and I am feeling much better now. Did I miss anything?

Hope you're feeling better these days, Darcy. Glad to know that the help is there when you need it -- that's probably half the battle, I think. Stay well.

So glad your ok, Darcy. Thank goodness you got yourself in when you were not feeling well. You rest up with your doggie. Congrats, Pat! Bet she's adorable. My youngest son's name is Riley. Wanted an Irish name. That's one of those names you can use for both sexes. The news corrected themselves and said the storm came from the southeast, from the Owyhee mountains, which have alot of cool red rock formations, but there is still a red haze hanging over the valley. It's been settling on cars and everything else. Weird. There are also fires, so some smoke has come this way, too. It's also been in the 100's again for a few days.

Thank you Pat & big! After paying all my bills today, I decided to treat myself by buying a brand new 42" flat screen TV. I love it and can't wait to watch a movie in it with my roommate later! And so looking forward to next months mini vacation in Colorado! Seeing PG with the old band, meeting up with lunatics that I've meet before and ones I have not met yet....absolutely thrilled. Christmas in September!

Big, very glad the worst of the dust didn't reach you. Drove through a few dust storms in North Dakota, not fun. My own neighborhood is having a dust issue, but it's totally man made. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlQXyKk40mA Fortunately, or perhaps apparently enough of us sent emails to the right people and they have not tried to do this to the rest of the neighborhood. Sad thing is, this is the main road and they did quite a bit of it. Had to do the video at night as during the day it kind of washed out the worst of what they did to the road on my first attempt. Apparently with the loss of value in our houses, largely due to the banks underselling their foreclosures in the area, they felt the need to do something to make us lose more value? Since gasoline taxes are supposed to largely fund roads, you would think collectively we are paying as much or perhaps more then some 'richer' areas. Anyway, glad the worst of the dust didn't reach you Big and so far the truck is behaving, except the damn radio stopped working again. Still don't know why. Guess I should have never tried to upgrade to a newer radio? Still not sure if it's my truck or a Pioneer radio issue. If it was my truck, you'd think it would blow a fuse and not the radio? Who knows, have to find time to get it checked out again. Haven't opened my windows in a while, but it's been more because of the heat. Pat, we could use more of that rain here. That's supposed to be changing soon, had a little rain today and supposed to get more then next day or so. Not complaining, really need the rain. Congrats on the new niece Riley. Darcy, congrats on the new TV and returning from where ever your mind took you. Don't think you've missed much (perhaps a few things that worth missing) and should be able to catch up pretty quick. A Shocky's for all. Just wish Shocky would pop in more often.